Sunday Reset June 1 2025| What Tom Cruise, Serena Williams, and AI Can Teach You About Grit
🎥 Sunday Reset with Steven – 1 June 2025
“What Tom Cruise, Serena Williams, and AI Can Teach You About Grit”
What do they have in common?
They don’t stop at 40%.
Tom does his own stunts—at 62.
Serena plays through pain and pressure—year after year.
And Former Navy SEAL, Goggins? He calls it the 40/60 Rule:
“When you think you’re done, you’re only 40% tapped out.”
That hit me—not in a gym, but in the middle of late-night strategy, high-stakes M&A meetings, and planning for a transformation that’s about to go live.
FYI I lead three portfolio roles. So it’s intense.
This week in one of the intense emotionally charged go live prep meetings, I paused and asked our task force:
What behaviours will keep us grounded when the next 8 hours go off-script?
Because when things get operationally complex, leadership needs to get emotionally simple.
And that’s the power of grit.
I am reminding myself. And I am reminding you.
Here’s what I’ve observed in the tower and engine room:
The top performers I work with—CEOs, boards, founders—aren’t necessarily the most brilliant.
They’re the most disciplined.
They train themselves to push past the first wave of surrender.
→ When the room gets tense, they breathe slower.
→ When the data overwhelms, they ask better questions.
→ When AI surfaces 100 insights, they choose 1 wisely.
And that’s the paradox of modern leadership:
We're surrounded by AI and automation, yet the edge lies in stoic focus, rhythm, and composure.
This week, Paris Saint Germain made UEFA Champions League history.
A 5–0 masterclass.
Not just flair—but fierce, grounded teamwork.
That’s not motivation. That’s systemised grit.
So here’s my Sunday prompt to you:
What’s one mental habit you can strengthen this week—so when pressure rises, you don’t break… you lead?
Maybe it’s:
Starting your day without your phone.
Saying no faster.
Speaking less in a meeting, but listening more.
Whatever it is—
Let this new month be your moment to reset.
📌 “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength.” — Marcus Aurelius
I’m Steven. This is your hashtag#SundayReset.
Keep growing. Keep leading.
Until next Sunday.
Let’s get it!
Steven PAUL, CDir FIoD – shaping boards and CxO Exec teams in the era of AI for successful transformation. Sharing a decade of strategic global boardroom actionable insights on effectiveness, Gen AI, leadership, innovation and growth.
♻️ Share forward, follow for more and let's connect.
“What Tom Cruise, Serena Williams, and AI Can Teach You About Grit”
What do they have in common?
They don’t stop at 40%.
Tom does his own stunts—at 62.
Serena plays through pain and pressure—year after year.
And Former Navy SEAL, Goggins? He calls it the 40/60 Rule:
“When you think you’re done, you’re only 40% tapped out.”
That hit me—not in a gym, but in the middle of late-night strategy, high-stakes M&A meetings, and planning for a transformation that’s about to go live.
FYI I lead three portfolio roles. So it’s intense.
This week in one of the intense emotionally charged go live prep meetings, I paused and asked our task force:
What behaviours will keep us grounded when the next 8 hours go off-script?
Because when things get operationally complex, leadership needs to get emotionally simple.
And that’s the power of grit.
I am reminding myself. And I am reminding you.
Here’s what I’ve observed in the tower and engine room:
The top performers I work with—CEOs, boards, founders—aren’t necessarily the most brilliant.
They’re the most disciplined.
They train themselves to push past the first wave of surrender.
→ When the room gets tense, they breathe slower.
→ When the data overwhelms, they ask better questions.
→ When AI surfaces 100 insights, they choose 1 wisely.
And that’s the paradox of modern leadership:
We're surrounded by AI and automation, yet the edge lies in stoic focus, rhythm, and composure.
This week, Paris Saint Germain made UEFA Champions League history.
A 5–0 masterclass.
Not just flair—but fierce, grounded teamwork.
That’s not motivation. That’s systemised grit.
So here’s my Sunday prompt to you:
What’s one mental habit you can strengthen this week—so when pressure rises, you don’t break… you lead?
Maybe it’s:
Starting your day without your phone.
Saying no faster.
Speaking less in a meeting, but listening more.
Whatever it is—
Let this new month be your moment to reset.
📌 “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength.” — Marcus Aurelius
I’m Steven. This is your hashtag#SundayReset.
Keep growing. Keep leading.
Until next Sunday.
Let’s get it!
Steven PAUL, CDir FIoD – shaping boards and CxO Exec teams in the era of AI for successful transformation. Sharing a decade of strategic global boardroom actionable insights on effectiveness, Gen AI, leadership, innovation and growth.
♻️ Share forward, follow for more and let's connect.
