Sam Acho, NFL Linebacker, on Doing the Little Things Well

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Episode Summary: Former NFL Linebacker Sam Acho not only a phenomenal athlete, he’s a truly inspiring human being. We unpack what it took for him to become a professional football player and how he found great success by focusing on small, fundamental activities. Sam also goes deep on the importance of staying true to yourself as you pursue the life you aspire to. “If you work like everyone else, you'll be like everyone else. And a lot of people don't think about it, but it just makes total sense. If you do what everyone else does, why would you expect a different outcome?”

Show Notes:

(4:00) Transitioning from NFL to current pursuits…

(5:06) Football is 80% mental…

(8:22) “I had a coach who said little things done well, make big things happen.”

(9:53) The difference that 15 minutes a day can make...

(15:30) A foothold of discipline…

(19:35) “If you work like everyone else, you'll be like everyone else. And a lot of people don't think about it, but it just makes total sense. If you do what everyone else does, why would you expect a different outcome?”

(23:12) Confidence comes from the little things…

(26:37) “There is a new level that a lot of us can attain and achieve, but we have to be willing to go there. We can't be afraid.”

(27:41) The weight of team culture…

(31:16) Being released from the Chicago Bears and learning to be authentic…

(33:22) “I felt freedom as I started to go down this path of discovery of finding out who I really am and how I can love not only others well, but love myself well, and that freedom not only freed me up, but it freed up everyone around me in ways that I couldn't even imagine.”

(38:05) “One of the simple things, but not easy things, that I learned how to do, and I'm still learning how to do, is to name my emotions—to literally speak them out.”

(42:43) Athletes for Justice…

(48:33) Uniting athletes and justice with a permanent Food Mart…

(52:17) “People follow authenticity, people follow vulnerability, people follow courage, and being real in a world full of fakes is courageous.”

References:

Sam's NFL stats - pro-football-reference.com

Sam's Book - Let the World See You: How to Be Real in a World of Fakes - Amazon

Athletes for Justice - website

Athletes for Justice podcast - Apple Podcasts

The Home Team Podcast - Apple Podcasts

Guest:

Sam Acho - Instagram | Twitter Sam's fav UCAN product: Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bar

Hosts: