Kelsey HigginsonSports Nutrition Coach and Founder at Clutch Day Coaching

The shortcut to becoming a better athlete…spend more time with athletes that are better than you

23 Oct 2025 · 1 min

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In this motivational clip, the speaker argues that an athlete’s development is heavily influenced by the environment and the people they train with. Using a goldfish‑in‑a‑bowl versus goldfish‑in‑a‑pond metaphor, he explains that staying in a small, low‑performing circle limits growth, while moving into a larger, higher‑performing “pond” enables an athlete to expand their abilities. He points out that many peers may lack the same dedication—staying up late, goofing off, or not putting in extra effort—so remaining with them will cause you to adopt their habits. Conversely, seeking out a new circle of athletes who share or exceed your ambitions will push you to adapt, improve, and become the better version of yourself.

Chapters

If you are the best athlete in your circle, it's time to get a new circle. When you put a goldfish in a small bowl, it'll stay small. But if you put a goldfish in a large pond, it has the capacity to grow to be at least a foot long because of the environment it is surrounded by. This is the exact same thing for you athletes. If you stay in a small goldfish bowl, you're never going to be able to grow into the athlete that you're capable of being. Most of your friends in your circle, they may be great athletes, but chances are they don't have the same goals as you. Chances are they're staying up late. Chances are they're goofing around at practice. Chances are they're not putting extra time and effort into their game. That's fine for them, but you have bigger goals. You have a higher mission. So if you stay surrounded in that circle, guess who you're going to become? Them. But if you can find a new circle full of athletes with the same dream, if not bigger dreams than you, you will adapt and become them, just like the goldfish can adapt to the larger pond.