What I Learned About Coaching as a Boxer

Hey there, fellow dreamers and doers! Welcome to another edition of my newsletter.

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Now, let's dive in.

Earlier this week, I dropped a video about my return to the boxing ring after a six-year hiatus. The response was insane, so I decided to share a game-changing lesson from my boxing days.

Here it is: The unbeatable power of having a coach.

Picture this: A young Jan, awkward as hell in the ring despite years of wrestling and martial arts. For a solid year, I was getting my ass handed to me by fighters who shouldn't have stood a chance. My coach, Markees, knew something was off.

We tried everything. Balance training on wheeled platforms? Check. Speed and flexibility drills? Done. But I was still getting dismantled.

I was frustrated, discouraged, and ready to throw in the towel. Then, Markees spotted it – a wrestling reflex that was sabotaging my boxing game. Every hit made me drop my eyes and lower my stance, leaving me wide open.

The solution? We flipped the script. I switched to southpaw stance, basically rewiring my entire fighting system. At first, it felt like starting from scratch. But I trusted the process.

Within a month, I was back in sparring sessions. Three months later, I was winning and traveling to train with other fighters. By year's end, I walked away with a Cleveland Golden Gloves championship belt in the light heavyweight novice class.

So, what's the takeaway?

1. Surrender to the process: A great coach will push you beyond your comfort zone. Trust their methods, even when you can't see the endgame.
2. Commit for the long haul: Breakthroughs take time. Find a coach you can build a deep, lasting relationship with, and invest in their process – physically, spiritually, and financially.
3. Apply lessons across the board: The "switching stances" epiphany made me question everything. Now, in everything I encounter in life, I ask myself: "What's not working, and how can I switch it up?"

As a final thought, I believe we should all have a coach for everything, whether it's a formal coach - or just someone we look up to. Thanks to boxing, I have designated "coaches" for all areas of my life. From psychology ( Inna Rozentsvit and Jason Mogus, Ph.D. ) to sales ( Justin Woods, MBA, CPSM ), spirituality in business with Miles Anthony Smith, MBA , nutrition with Robert J. Holliday Jr. ) , and digital accessibility James Warnken, CPACC – I've got a dream team backing me up.

This mindset has been a lifesaver in my entrepreneurial journey. When faced with seemingly impossible challenges, I ask, "How can I adjust my stance to overcome this?" It's given me the confidence to pivot quickly and tackle obstacles head-on.

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Appreciate Y'all!

Much love, as always

Jan