Alan Weiss’s Monday Morning Memo® – 9/21/26
Trigger alert: I’m dealing with excrement here.
Hyrox is a competition involving racing and fitness using weights and exercise equipment. As everything in the US, it’s gone to amazing and outlandish reaches. (I’d write about Pickleball but I keep falling down laughing.)
Recently, an elite Hyrox competitor (according to the fustiness of the New York Times) “soiled herself” during an indoor competition which had common equipment and facilities that all competitors utilized. She did not withdraw, nor were competitors warned what was ahead of them on floors and machines, nor did the officials remove her, and the subsequent horror of the health hazard was cited by the other competitors and members of the audience.
Of note: This is not uncommon, for example, in distance racing. Extreme exertion can cause the bowels to void, but running in an outdoor competition doesn’t present the same health dangers to other competitors as are presented indoors with excrement on the floor and on shared equipment.
“Extreme” sports present dangers that often call for public intervention and tax payers' money: People have to be rescued from mountains, searched for after avalanches, hospitalized after crashes, plucked out of the sea after capsizes. The Everest base camp is becoming a toxic dump, and determined “bucket list” climbers often climb past (or over) bodies entombed in the ice which can’t be recovered. (Nepal has filed a law suit seeking $20 million from major greenhouse emitters such as the US, China, and India to compensate for glacial collapse and the recent, tragic floods.) To what extent should the pursuit of arbitrary experiences and competition be publicly safeguarded?
The modern marathon is derived from the legend of a Greek herald running from the Battle of Marathon to Athens to announce the defeat of the Persians, before collapsing and dying. That, obviously, was worth the trip, and any discomforts and illness and “voiding” that the runner had to endure.
But it’s not worth it for a dumb Hyrox trophy.
When I planned to ski Everest, the first thing I faced was, ‘How can I return alive?' All the preparation and training was based on this question. But the more I prepared, I knew the chance of survival was very slim. Nobody in the world had done this before, so I told myself that I must face death. Otherwise, I am not eligible. —Yuichiro Miura
If I was invincible, maybe I would take up some extreme sports. —Tom Welling
The world of extreme sports is also one of big business. Kids might think that snowboarding is the ultimate freedom, but this freedom is being marketed to them by commercial sponsors. —Lucy Walker
The somewhat fine line between prudent risk and recklessness is the line of demarcation between profit and loss, victory and defeat, and too often, life and death. —Alan Weiss
My New Book, The Courage of Your Talent, will be released in October.
You can preorder here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/checkout/p/p-106-1971249-7883468/spc?pipelineType=Chewbacca&isBuyNow=1&referrer=spc
In today’s volatile business environment, professionals face relentless pressures that erode confidence and self-esteem. Too often, worth is confused with performance―rising with each “victory” and collapsing with every “defeat.” This book challenges that cycle, showing how true self-esteem can remain steady, resilient, and empowering without tipping into arrogance or slipping into impostor syndrome.
Drawing on proven techniques, it demonstrates how resilience means bouncing forward from setbacks rather than retreating, and how self-worth must be distinguished from efficacy. By breaking free from herd mentalities, external validation, and self-doubt, leaders and teams can reclaim their autonomy, project confidence, and thrive in times of disruption.
The methodology outlined here equips readers to:
· Gain rapid acceptance of ideas and accelerate career growth in any organizational setting
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· Develop a clear, independent perspective on business and the world
· Build trust in one’s own judgment, enabling faster, more confident decision-making
This book is a practical guide to cultivating self-esteem as the foundation of resilience, adaptability, and leadership. It empowers professionals not just to survive change — but to lead it.
BONUS BOOK PROGRAM: Purchase now in advance or when the book appears but before December 1st in these numbers for these benefits:
Copies:
3: Free attendance at a 90-minute Zoom session on the topic (value $400)
6: One hour (or two half-hour sessions) one-on-one with Alan via Zoom (Value $2,500)
10: Free attendance in Alan’s monthly, 2027 Zoom workshops (Value $3,000)
20: Complimentary participation in The Den, a 45-minute, one-on-one meeting every week for eight weeks. (Value $4,500)
50: Alan will critique a book, web site, podcast series, or video series, existing or planned, with detailed recommendations for improvement and a powerful “draw.” (Value $7,500)
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You can preorder here on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/checkout/p/p-106-1971249-7883468/spc?pipelineType=Chewbacca&isBuyNow=1&referrer=spc
The Courage of Your Talent: The Zoom Session
I never assume people are “damaged.” But I do know for certain that many people do not exploit their talents nearly sufficiently. They mask their talents through false humility, senseless, fear, self-imposed guilt, and heightened stress.
In The Wizard of Oz the lion needed courage. The Wizard gave him a badge, nothing else. But the badge enabled the lion to call upon the courage that was innate but that he could not previously access. This was not so much a gift as a revelation.
Join me for 90 minutes for this unique and dynamic session based on my new book being released in October, The Courage of Your Talent: How to build your self-esteem, trust your own judgment, and constantly succeed in business (and life).
I’ve helped thousands of people directly, and hundreds of thousands through my books, podcasts, newsletters, and videos, improve their self-esteem and trust their own judgment.
Ego is external, and built to impress others based on what we wear, how we speak, what we drive, where we live, where we go. It is fragile and can be smashed or weakened by personal setbacks, malicious others, errors and mistakes, and other external events. But esteem is internal, it’s the belief in your own worth irrespective of your most recent “win” or “loss.”
Esteem declines not because of external events but because of internal neglect. A constant, appropriate level of esteem will see you through life’s journey successfully, but it requires deliberate attention and an avoidance of the neglect in which some people are unconsciously engaged.
I’m not providing outcomes or outlines here. I can put you on the right road on this journey in just 45 minutes. Of course, it’s up to you to stay on that road. But I can help with that, too.
I’m keeping the fee low: $400. I want you to want to do this. Spending this time with me can change your life. Why should you believe that?
Trust your judgment.
Date and Time: October 15, 10:30 to noon US eastern time
Video and transcription and visual photos to all who register
Fee is $400 until September 30, $500 thereafter.
Register here: https://alanweiss.com/store/quick-pay/
Live Events: 2027
1. Las Vegas February 10-11: Escape Velocity Intellectual Property
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Two days each
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2027 Zoom Learning
The Downside Myth Jan 14
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How to Magically Raise Fees Feb 16
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The Empire Strikes Back Mar 16
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Odds Are 12:5 the Customer’s Not Right Apr 13
• How Nordstrom got fed up with returns
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Using Debt Intelligently May 18
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Raising Your Local Profile June 8
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It’s Not What Happens to You That’s Crucial Sep 14
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2026 Zoom Workshops
January 6 Maximizing the coaching/advisory dynamic
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June 12 Role-playing tougher conversations
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August 13 Maximizing panels—participant/moderator
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November 2 Maximizing lifestyle potential
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All sessions are approximately 90 minutes beginning at 10:30 US eastern time. These sessions are $450 each, or the entire year for $5,000. Add three months of weekly 30-minute coaching for $2,500, a total of $7,500. (My cards are accepted for the full-year, and for the full-year and coaching options, not for individual sessions.) All sessions will include video recording, visual photos, and Zoom Companion summary.
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