The Work Behind the Breakthrough
Why extraordinary performance begins with ordinary daily habits.
When a pitcher struggles, it’s often time to shift his focus away from the pitch itself and back to “a task” before the pitch.
“Clear the rubber like a big leaguer.”
The pitch will take care of itself.
The simple commitment to one controllable task—clearing every bit of loose dirt from the rubber EVERY time—often improved execution.
It wasn’t about the dirt.
It was about doing one small thing exceptionally well. Breakthroughs nearly always begin with disciplined attention to the next controllable task.
While big goals belong on paper, and look good there……
The mundane work of achieving them is what elevates performance.
This week, we continue our Three Nights in July series by looking at one of the most overlooked skills in human performance: Executive Function.
Systems Beat Motivation
We often think success comes from motivation.
It rarely does.
More often, it comes from systems.
Organization. Time management. Self-control. The ability to finish what you start.
These invisible skills quietly shape the trajectory of students, athletes, leaders, and teams.
This week, host Josh Hammer is joined by education leader and Just Start LA Founder & CEO Jordyn Shapiro to explore how Executive Function helps student-athletes perform consistently—in the classroom, on the field, and eventually in life.
You’ll learn how to:
Build Executive Function through simple daily habits.
Turn goals into visible tasks.
Celebrate small wins that create momentum.
Stack micro-goals into meaningful progress.
These aren’t complicated ideas.
They’re repeatable ones.
Just Start
The challenge is built right into the name.
Just Start.
Founder Jordyn Shapiro believes independent thinking isn’t developed through one life-changing moment. It’s built through hundreds of intentional acts.
During this practical (and fun) 45-minute conversation, she shares systems students can begin using immediately—at school, at home, and on the field.
You can follow the Just Start team on Instagram for inspiration, ideas, and reps of the task before the breakthrough.
Too Good Not to Share Again
One of my favorite moments from Week One came from Danielle Martin. She reminded us that mental performance isn’t something athletes are born with.
It’s something they build.
Confidence. Awareness. Resilience.
These aren’t personality traits.
They’re skills.
If you missed the conversation—or simply want to watch it again, I’ve included it below.
One More Week
Next week we’ll complete the series and publish all three conversations together as a single resource for athletes, parents, coaches, and educators.
We finish with an important question:
What does sport actually prepare you for?
Former student-athletes Grant Cleghorn and Matt French explore how athletics develops far more than physical ability.
They’ll discuss the transferable habits that separate great teammates, trusted employees, and effective leaders—and why showing up with three thoughtful solutions instead of one complaint changes careers.
Athletics eventually ends. Leadership doesn’t.
Invite Someone Along
If Thrive Notes has helped sharpen your perspective, consider sharing it with someone else. Parents. Coaches. Teachers. Business leaders. Students.
As evident by the dynamic pros who are willing to share, this is a human performance community, with over 125,000 members.
Almost to the day, in 1921, Babe Ruth broke Roger Connor’s all-time Major League home run record with his 139th home run.
More than a century later, over 17 players have surpassed that mark in three seasons or fewer.
Every generation redefines what’s possible.
Make your breakthrough in the task before the blast.
On the adventure,
Greg Moore
greg@thriveware.ai
🇺🇸
Our Team
ThriveWare Inc. transforms athletes, students, and employees through whole-person training and technology.
At ThriveWare, we’re building what the world needs: a new category of technology focused on human development.
Instead of creating apps that compete for attention, we build systems that help people think more clearly, build better habits, and grow over time. Whether serving athletes, students, educators, coaches, or professionals, our platform delivers short, meaningful daily learning experiences that lead to long-term transformation.
Our technology powers a growing family of learning platforms—including Trosky 365, Crossbar 365, Just Start 365, True Mindsets 365, and Four AB’s 365—all built on the same enterprise platform that allows world-class experts to coach and inspire their communities every day.
Grounded in behavioral science and over one million learning interactions, ThriveWare is proving that small daily decisions can produce remarkable long-term outcomes.
Less scrolling. More living.
Learn more about our mission and platform at ThriveWare.ai
Let’s impact a generation together.
I hope everyone takes advantage of these helpful systems. They’re such valuable tools, and I truly loved being part of the conversation!