Austin Smeenk

This talk begins with a simple idea that shapes everything else: betting on yourself is a decision made long before the world gives you permission. It’s not about arrogance or even certainty — it’s about choosing belief over doubt when nothing is guaranteed. I share a moment from my own life when the odds weren’t in my favour, but belief carried me further than credentials ever could. In a world full of “why me?” moments, choosing instead to ask “why not me?” opens doors that fear tries to keep shut.

Mindset is not motivational fluff — it’s the baseline operating system. The phrase “if you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right” holds up in boardrooms, in hospitals, in locker rooms, and in life. The belief we carry into a task changes the outcome we’re likely to experience. When we approach the world with the mindset of “Win or Learn,” failure stops being something to fear — and starts being something to use. Every failure is feedback. Every mistake is a mirror. When we stop running from them, we start growing from them. Betting on yourself isn’t just a one-time leap — it’s a daily decision reinforced by the story you choose to tell yourself.

We live in a culture that loves to define people by what they’ve done. But the truth is, we are not what we’ve done — we are what we repeatedly do. Our identity is less about what’s in our past and more about what we practice today. Growth is not a switch we flip; it’s a process we show up to. I share a story where I had to reframe my own identity — where letting go of the version of myself I thought I was made room for the version I needed to become.

Identity isn’t fixed. It’s shaped by the tools we have access to, the people we listen to, and the challenges we take on. I once met a man — both a disabled person and a mechanic — whose entire sense of self changed based on the tools at his disposal. That story stayed with me. Because so often, what we think we’re capable of is less about our potential and more about our access and perspective. You don’t need to be good at everything. You need to choose something you’re good at, something you’re willing to commit to, and you need to build around your strengths. You can compensate for your weaknesses, but only if you first recognize and value the unique capabilities you already bring.

High performance doesn’t begin with talent — it begins with consistency under pressure. Confidence isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you earn by acting with courage when the stakes are high. I’ve learned that you don’t become calm by waiting for peace — you become calm by practicing in chaos. We become sailors by weathering storms. We become professionals by choosing discipline when no one’s watching.

To become great at anything, we have to decide to step up or step aside. That doesn’t mean being harsh — it means being honest. It means showing up every day with intention, with standards, with the ABCs of high performance: always be conscious. The best performers aren’t reactive — they’re present. And they don’t do it alone. Whether on a field, in a company, or in life, no one performs at their best in isolation. Building a team and seeking feedback isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that you’re serious.

The most elite performers also know that mastery includes emotional control. Fear doesn’t disappear just because you’re experienced. Anxiety doesn’t vanish when you hit a milestone. The difference is, high performers stay in the driver’s seat. They don’t let fear steer. They learn how to recognize it, sit with it, and keep moving anyway. Calm under pressure is a skill — one worth practicing.

Success doesn’t belong to those who get it right the first time — it belongs to those who are willing to try, learn, and adapt faster than others. Failing fast isn’t just about speed. It’s about the courage to act without perfect information. Learning fast is about staying humble enough to notice what’s working — and what’s not.

I share a story about trying something that didn’t work — and realizing the gold wasn’t in the result, but in the lesson. That’s the real feedback loop: try, observe, refine, repeat. We can’t always fight the lion today. But we can build weapons, sharpen tools, and strengthen strategy for tomorrow. That mindset — focusing on what’s next, not what’s lost — is one of the most powerful shifts we can make.

Control is a tricky word. Most of life is outside our hands. But influence? That’s different. We can influence our preparation, our positioning, our routines, our mindset. We begin to control the uncontrollable by stacking advantages over time — by learning, adjusting, and acting again. Momentum matters more than mastery. Don’t wait to be perfect. Start by being willing.

There’s a toxic idea in high-achieving circles: that if you’re not grinding all the time, you’re falling behind. But I’ll say this clearly — work hard, play hard doesn’t work forever. Eventually, something breaks. Recovery is not a retreat. It’s a strategy. Rest is not weakness. It’s readiness.

You can’t bring your best if you’re constantly running on empty. True high performance includes sleep, nutrition, stillness, and space to reset. Your mind might want to keep going, but your body keeps the score. And when the body can’t keep up, everything else starts to fray. I’ve seen what happens when people ignore the warning signs. I’ve also seen the transformation when they take recovery seriously — and come back stronger than ever.

Time is the one thing we don’t get more of. We’re on a spinning rock with a limited number of days, and the real power is in choosing what matters and how we want to spend our time. Focus isn’t about discipline — it’s about clarity. When you’re clear about what matters, it becomes easier to say no to what doesn’t.