We may be eager to put 2020 behind us, but amid the uncertainty and stress, we learned a lot.

• We discovered we are more resilient than we thought,
• We learned who we can depend on,
• We found new ways to work remotely, to sell our products online, or to pivot so we could continue to bring in income,
• We figured out new methods for teaching and learning,
• We sought out creative ways to connect with family, neighbors, and coworkers,
• And, hopefully we learned that those with privilege felt the effects of the pandemic less, and that we need to find ways to level the playing field and help our brothers and sisters get the support and opportunities they deserve.

In 2020, we felt great highs and deep lows, and the Top 10 Power Up Your Performance podcasts of the year reflect the needs for hope and optimism. I've  recorded 54 podcast episodes (with three more to go) this year. Here's the top 10 list for 2020:

10. Episode 115. Become Your Best Advocate and SOAR: Jen...

We are officially in "New Year, New You" season, that time of the year where all the ads prey on your insecurities and try to convince you that their product will make you love your life and make you 1000% more fabulous. 

Advertisers are counting on you to think you're old, fat, wrinkled, and out of shape. So, let's get this straight: you are more than your appearance, your age, your pace, your shoe size, or the size of your yoga pants. You are amazing just the way you are. 

Are you loving and kind, do you make time for the people who are important to you? Do you stand up for people who don't have a voice? Who don't have the same privilege as you? Do you care about other people? These are the things that matter: who you are on the inside.

 At a recent visit to see my doctor, he said something that really hit home for me. He said: Health is pretty simple. You need quality sleep; food that nourishes, and hydration. And, you exercise; make time for connections,...

You know that feeling where you feel out of place when you join a group run because you're worried about pace and distance, and maybe the whole experience is even ruined because you spend the whole run worrying about whether you're holding your training partners back? And then you get so caught up in that mindset that you don't even enjoy the run? And so the run really doesn't even relieve stress because you've gotten yourself so worked up that you might be more stressed than when you started? 

In Episode 136 of the podcast, I share an observation from a triathlon I did several years ago. Everybody I was training with was at 40-60 years old at the time. Most of the people no longer had the ultra slender body that you would stereotype as being a "triathletes' body." Being perimenopausal and menopausal, most of the group carried a little extra weight around their mid-sections (which is completely normal and should be talked about more too!)

One of the things that has...

Right now, life is chaotic and uncertain. Schools are all online for the remainder of the year--if they haven't been canceled altogether. Seniors and their parents are grieving the abrupt end of high school and college experiences without the closure and celebration that's been envisioned for a lifetime. Those who are able to work from home are transitioning to home offices. And in the middle of it all, there are a lot of people who are unemployed or who risk losing their incomes. To say that the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is deeply affecting the way we live is an understatement.

Times are crazy. But over the next several weeks, we will settle into new routines. While those working in video conferencing, distance learning, or inbound marketing might be busier than ever, others will have considerably more downtime. We will learn to lean on each other, to support one another, and we will find new and creative ways to stay connected.

Over the next several weeks, look for blog posts...

I'm writing this on Sunday night, and the Kansas City Chiefs have just won the AFC Championship – advancing to their first Super Bowl in 50 years. Once again, the Chiefs played a remarkable game, serving us a ton of life lessons, so I want you to read on... even if you're a Titans fan (and even if football is not your thing!) 

You can listen to the entire episode, or read below for the major points. Listen via the player on this page, or search Power Up Your Performance on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or iHeart Radio.

 

Seven Life Lessons We Can Learn from the Super Bowl Bound Kansas City Chiefs:

1. A setback doesn't mean you are starting over from scratch. Last year, the Chiefs lost the AFC Championship game. They learned from it and applied the lessons to their off-season preparation and their play. We all need to accept "failure" as an opportunity to learn and understand that we are never starting over, only building on past lessons.
2. Mindset is...

Anyway, since I am not a fan of cold weather running, I took this question to Facebook, where as always, the beastly runners came through with layering and product suggestions.

The game between the Chiefs and the Texans was CRAZY last weekend! If you weren’t watching, the Chiefs were down, at home 24-0 in the first 20 minutes of the game--in the loudest stadium in the NFL. Fans were screaming at their televisions and walking out of the stadium, in pure disbelief. How could our Chiefs show up to their biggest game of the year and play like a bunch of rookies?

There's even an article about "Bad Luck Chuck," who left the game because he determined he was a jinx. After he left the stadium, things turned around--and now Mahomes and the Chiefs are asking him to "do what's best for the Kingdom" and watch this Sunday's championship game from home. Chuck doesn't seem too worried about his big sacrifice, according to the Kansas City Star, he's received calls from a producer from the Ellen Show, and fans have reimbursed him for his ticket.

I recorded a podcast about this because I'm fascinated by the speech that Patrick Mahomes gave his team...

It's that time of year where you feel pressure to create New Year's Resolutions. While I do think it's a great time to pause and reflect, I don't think there's anything magical about January 1st. I reflect on my goals and where I'm headed at three transitional times throughout the year: the start of summer, the start of fall/school, and again for the New Year.

Of course, you can change your life, or choose a new dream at any point in the day or week. There's nothing special about January 1st, or the start of a new month, week or day. You have the power to take the first steps toward creating the life of your dreams whenever you want.

I've covered this topic a lot on my podcast, so if you're ready to make some changes in your mindset, health or fitness routine, you might like the following episodes:

New Year's Resolutions are Bogus. Are you a fan of resolutions? Do you focus on the resolution you set much longer than January 15th? Most people make  it a few weeks in and fizzle....

Can YOU walk a marathon? Can you WALK a marathon? I recently recorded a podcast that was inspired by a dinner conversation. A friend asked me if I thought it was possible to walk a marathon. I hesitated slightly--but only because I was trying to do the math in my head--before I said, "YES! Yes, you can walk a marathon!" The only reason I hesitated is because most races have a course cut-off time, a time that all runners need to be off the course. The only obstacle I saw is that she would need to find a race that offered enough time to complete the race at the pace she would be walking. If a person is willing to travel to find this race, then yes, walking a marathon is entirely possible!

If you walked an average of a 20 minute pace, the race would take just under nine hours to finish. However, I know that with training and time, anyone who put in consistent effort would increase their walking pace. And if they could get closer to a 17 minute mile walking pace, there are a lot more...

When I first started the podcast, Power Up Your Performance, I did it with a mission of learning more about how high achievers think. If someone is a champion in their personal life, their work or sport, what are the thought processes that drive them? What do these people have in common? And what can we learn from them that we might be able to try in our own lives?

At the end of each podcast, I ask the question, "What three traits do you believe all champions possess?" In this episode (embedded above), you can listen to seven high achievers talk about three traits they believe are important.

Here, I'm going to elaborate on a few of those traits (but listen to the podcast because you'll want to hear it in their own words):

1. Resilience. High achievers are not deterred by obstacles. They bounce back. If they struggle, they try again. They seek out ideas and education so they can refine their methods until they ultimately are successful.
2. Grit. You have to be willing to grind and do the...