Boost Mode is changing. Not a little. A LOT.
Teaching good sportsmanship in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Why? Because I'm writing for TWO people now.
The athlete. And the parent in the stands.
Both fight a battle in the mind. So both get a seat at the table.
Here's what you'll get every other Monday:
1. THE HOOK 📖
What I'm reading. And how it hits real life, right where I am on the planet this week.
Some weeks it's a dugout in Austria. Some weeks it's a dusty field in Tanzania. Same lesson. Different sky.
2. GAMER REP ⚡
One skill. Sixty seconds. Try it this week, then use it in the game or practice.
Small reps build big minds.
3. PARENT PLAY 🚗
One thing to say, or NOT say, on the car ride home.
The truth is, that ride can build a kid up or tear a kid down. Let's make it build.
4. GAMER OF THE WEEK 🏆
A real shoutout for a real person. It could be a player, a coach, a parent. Anyone who showed up when it counted.
5. QUICK POLL 👉
One question. One tap. Right in the email.
Your answers shape what I write next.
6. WHAT'S NEXT 🚀
Your next step. Join the Think. Play. Win. challenge, or step into Gamer Mode.
The best part? It's still free. Still short. Still every other Monday.
Practice players are everywhere. GAMERS ARE RARE.
Let's find yours.
THE HOOK 📖
David Yeager’s 10 to 25 The science of Motivating Young People
I don't speak Swahili.
So this week, every word I say goes through a translator.
That got me thinking. What if the words aren't the most important part?
I'm reading 10 to 25 by Dr. David Yeager. Big idea? Young people are NOT broken. They aren't just "irrational." They want respect. They want status. And how we talk to them decides if they lean in or shut down.
Yeager says adults usually pick one of two styles:
THE ENFORCER. High standards. Low support. "Do it my way or sit."
THE PROTECTOR. High support. Low standards. "It's fine. Don't worry about it."
Both fail.
One makes kids feel small. The other makes them feel weak.
The third way is THE MENTOR. High standards AND high support. It sounds like this: "I expect a lot from you because I believe you can do it. And I'm right here to help."
👉 Here's what I keep thinking about on these fields.
A translator can carry my words. He can't carry my tone. Kids read that on their own. My face. My body. Am I pointing at the mistake, or pointing at the fix?
They know in one second. No translation needed.
Me trying to speak Swahili
Respect speaks every language.
GAMER REP ⚡ (60 seconds)
This one's for the athlete. Use it the next time a coach corrects you.
BREATHE. In through your nose for 4 seconds. Out for 6.
REFRAME. Tell yourself: "This is help, not an attack. He's correcting me because he thinks I can get there."
REPEAT. Say the fix back in your own words. "So I need to keep my front shoulder closed."
That's it. Three steps.
Why does it work? Because you just turned a sting into a plan.
Gamers don't take correction personally. They take it to work.
PARENT PLAY 🚗
The car ride home. It can build your kid up or tear your kid down.
Skip this:
"What was going on with you out there?"
Try this:
"I love watching you play."
"What was your favorite moment today?"
Later, when the mood is right: "What's one thing you want to work on? How can I help?"
See what happened there? High standards. High support. Mentor.
The truth is, your kid already knows what went wrong. What they need to know is that you're still in their corner.
Be the safe place, not the second umpire.
GAMER OF THE WEEK 🏆
Mr. Brown.
He gets me from school to school. He translates my English into Swahili for young players, teachers, and coaches.
Think about that job. Every message I try to send lands on his shoulders. If he gets it wrong, the kids miss the lesson.
Mr. Brown translating for me
He never does.
No stat line. No spotlight. Just showing up so everyone else can grow.
Mr. Brown, thank you. You're a GAMER.
QUICK POLL 👉
Be honest. On the ride home, which one are you most?
Tap one. I'll share the results next Monday.
WHAT'S NEXT 🚀
Something big is coming to Boost Mode.
A free challenge. A full program. Built for Gamers just like you.
Not ready yet. But close.
👉 Hit reply and tell me: Enforcer, Protector, or Mentor? I read every single one.
Practice players are everywhere. Gamers are rare.
See you next Monday.
Coach A/B
