What Elite Performers Know That Most People Never Learn | X-Factor Marketing Podcast with Wendy Forsythe

Wendy Forsythe
Aug 15
2 min read

🎧 In this episode of X Factor, I sat down with high-performance coach and author Alan Stein Jr., whose client list includes legends like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant.

Alan’s not just a coach—he’s a translator of greatness. He bridges the gap between world-class athletes and high-performing business leaders. And everything he teaches applies directly to what we do in real estate, leadership, and life.

The line that hit hardest?

“Motivation is a feeling. Discipline is a decision.”

Let’s unpack why that matters more than any lead generation strategy or social media playbook.

Greatness Happens in the Unseen Hours

When Alan first met Kobe Bryant, he expected some secret. Some revolutionary technique. Some 10x system.

Instead, he saw Kobe drilling the basics. The footwork. The fundamentals. The stuff most pros think they’re too advanced for.

“He never got bored with the basics. That’s why he was great.”

It made me stop and think: where in our businesses have we overcomplicated what could be simplified?

Because success isn’t sexy. It’s repetitive.

Why Confidence is Built, Not Given

So many professionals talk about confidence like it’s something you either have or don’t.

Alan disagrees.

“Confidence comes from competence. Competence comes from reps.”

That hit home.

If you don’t feel confident in your business or brand right now, it’s not a mindset issue—it’s a repetition issue.

You haven’t done the thing enough times yet. And that’s fixable.

The Three Traits Every Top Performer Shares

Alan’s spent decades coaching the best of the best, and here’s what they all have in common:

They don’t skip the basics. Mastery means revisiting fundamentals, not bypassing them.
They do the work when no one’s watching. What Alan calls “the unseen hours” are where champions are made.
They make decisions based on standards, not feelings. Motivation is fleeting. Discipline is a choice.

This doesn’t just apply to athletes. It applies to agents. Entrepreneurs. Leaders. You.

The Hardest Part is Being Kind to Yourself

One of the most emotional moments in this episode?

“Talk to yourself like you’d talk to someone you love.”

High achievers are often their own worst critics. We wouldn’t let someone else speak to us the way we speak to ourselves.

Alan says that has to change. And not just for mindset. For performance.

Grace fuels growth.

Your Move This Week

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just inconsistent, here’s what Alan would say:

Focus on the bricks, not the wall. Lay one today.
Revisit the basics of your business—and recommit to them.
Make one decision your future self will thank you for.

Because this isn’t about hype. It’s about habits.

It’s not about showing off. It’s about showing up.

Greatness doesn’t happen in the spotlight. It’s built in the quiet moments when no one’s watching.

Let's Grow,

Wendy

Watch | Listen