I’ve spent my career helping elite athletes perform at their best under pressure—and let me tell you, the principles that make LeBron great aren’t all that different from what makes Nate Bargatze hilarious: timing, preparation, and the ability to make people lean in when you speak.
And you know what else? The best life lessons don’t always come from boardrooms or locker rooms. Sometimes, they come from a guy with a mic, a drink, and just enough self-awareness to turn trauma into a 5-minute set.
So today, we’re leveling up—with jokes. Here are the top life lessons I live by, filtered through the punchlines and pain of some of the best comics alive.
1. Control What You Can Control
“I walked out of a Zoom meeting to get a snack. That’s how close I am to quitting my job.” – Nate Bargatze
Nate has this everyman brilliance about him. He reminds us that you can’t control chaos, but you can choose how you react to it. Some things are outside your control—like traffic, weather, and your Wi-Fi during a Zoom call. But your effort, attitude, and preparation? That’s your job.
📍Alan’s Rule: You can’t always win the day, but you can always win the morning. Start strong.
2. Own Your Past, Then Move On
“I did a lot of things I’m not proud of… and I’m not gonna stop doing them. I’m just not proud anymore.” – Shane Gillis
Look—mistakes are part of growth. Shane might deliver it with a laugh, but there’s truth in there: you can’t lead if you’re hiding from who you’ve been. Leadership starts with honesty. Reflect, take responsibility, then get back in the game.
📍Alan’s Rule: The past is a place of reference, not residence.
3. Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
“The reason I know I’m getting old is because I was in a store and I saw a jacket I liked. I looked at the price tag and went, ‘That’s a good jacket.’” – Dave Chappelle
You know what Dave’s talking about? Maturity. It creeps in like an injury in your 30s: quietly, and forever. But growth—real growth—requires discomfort. Whether you’re building a business or your biceps, if it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.
📍Alan’s Rule: Success is rented. And rent is due… every day.
4. Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously
“I saw a guy spill all his Scrabble letters on the road. I asked him, ‘What’s the word on the street?’” – David Spade
Lighten up. You’re not curing cancer because you closed an Excel spreadsheet. Self-deprecation isn’t weakness—it’s awareness. If you want to be a leader people follow, show them you’re human. Vulnerability isn’t soft—it’s magnetic.
📍Alan’s Rule: Humility is a competitive advantage.
5. Embrace the Grind (Even When It’s Stupid)
“I saw a billboard that said: ‘Life is short. Have an affair.’ That’s a great ad for divorce lawyers.” – Louis C.K.
Life is absurd sometimes. But showing up consistently, even when the work feels ridiculous or the payoff feels distant, is what separates the pros from the wannabes. Excellence is boring. And that’s the point.
📍Alan’s Rule: Fall in love with the process. Obsess over the reps no one claps for.
6. Let Go of What Others Think
“If you’re ever wondering what it’s like to be judged constantly, just become a parent or try wearing Crocs in public.” – Daniel Tosh
People are going to talk. People are going to post. People are going to have opinions they wouldn’t say to your face—but might tweet to 800 followers and a dog account. Let them. High performers don’t waste energy on critics in the cheap seats.
📍Alan’s Rule: You can’t build confidence by outsourcing validation.
7. Don’t Wait for Perfect—Start Now
“I’m not lazy. I’m just on energy-saving mode.” – Bill Burr
Bill says what we’re all thinking. Perfectionism is just procrastination in a tie. Don’t wait until it’s perfect—start messy, and iterate. I’ve coached world champions who still don’t feel ready before a game. That’s normal. The great ones start anyway.
📍Alan’s Rule: You don’t rise to the level of your goals—you fall to the level of your habits.
Final Whistle:
Life’s a lot like stand-up. You get up, tell your story, and hope someone laughs—not because it’s funny, but because they’ve been there too. So use the lessons, love the grind, and maybe next time you bomb, you’ll do it with a mic in one hand and a purpose in the other.
Stay coachable. Stay curious. And for the love of performance—don’t wear Crocs to a keynote.
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Direct referrals from ROCK STARS like you are the lifeblood of my business and are beyond appreciated. Oh, and if they end up booking me and mention your name, I’ll send you a pair of Jordan’s (I’m not kidding).
