Prime (noun)
the state or time of greatest vigour or success in a person’s life.

Hi, I’m Jason. This is where I share openly about the challenges, insights and lessons from my own journey. My hope is that these thoughts spark reflections that help you navigate your own path to living better and leading better. 

Jason Leavy
Founder

Prime Perspective:
Reflections on Leadership and Growth

“Failure + reflection + another rep = competence.”

– Former Navy SEAL Brandon Webb

As the pioneers on our pilot Prime Performance Program approach the end of their journey, we’ve got hard evidence that it delivers results.

While protecting confidentiality, I wanted to share some of our key learnings in the hope those insights help you lead better and live better. 

Some important points for context before we jump in:

• I define a leader as someone who guides, inspires, and motivates others towards achieving a goal. You can’t do any of this effectively if you’re not looking after yourself first. That’s why we focus on you and build out from there.

• Relating to the above, depending on the individual’s situation and needs we have also worked through specific issues around subjects like group dynamics and navigating conflict, but here I’m focusing solely on more universal learnings so all of you can benefit.  

• Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless – you have agency over your own life so explore, experiment, adapt… but act. Intention is meaningless if it isn’t accompanied by action.

On that note, let’s get into it:

1. Everything Is Connected

This is the hill I’ll die on, especially now we’ve got the evidence to support it. You can’t optimize one area of your life in isolation. Think of yourself as a computer system:

Hardware = Your physiology: sleep, nutrition, movement, recovery.

Software = Your psychology: mindset. resilience. emotional regulation. purpose.

If you build your performance foundation by looking after your hardware, your software will run better – think of it as your hardware sets the ceiling for your software’s performance.

Get the fundamentals in place, and everything else becomes easier. For example, better quality sleep = more energy + mental clarity. By contrast, have poor sleep for a prolonged period of time, and your energy drains away and you struggle to think straight – no mindset technique overrides sleep deprivation.

The system only works well when you treat it as a system. That’s what PPL’s entire integrated approach is based on. And we now have the evidence it works. 

2. Change Is Hard

Everyone talks about wanting to change, but the reality is that people frequently choose the pain of the familiar over stepping into the unknown. That isn’t a judgement, it’s simply a reflection of the fact that change is tough.

I always say we are not there to change you – that is your job as you have agency over your life. Our role is to be the best support system you’ve ever had, thanks to our collective expertise, experience and our ability to see your potential even when you can’t. I’d like to think our pioneers will confirm that. 

3. Simple Is Not The Same As Easy

The fundamentals aren’t complicated, but they’re not quick fixes and they’re not sexy either. Meaningful, sustainable change takes time.

Those pioneers who progressed the most were those who stayed focused and consistent. This is where the work lives – in the daily choice to do the thing you know you should do. 

4. Progressive Overload

One of our foundational principles – trying to do too much, too quickly, just leads to frustration and failure. Growth can feel uncomfortable, but it should never feel overwhelming. 

Think of it like the gym – if you’ve never squatted before and try to hit a 200kg lift in your first attempt, it’s not going to end well. Start in a place where it feels challenging but achievable and keep loading from there, and that ‘unachievable’ goal actually becomes an inevitability. 

Small, incremental changes compound over time. I’m sure many of you follow this exact strategy with your finances. Small, consistent investments that build exponentially over time.

It’s a transferrable skill. Apply it to your life.

5. Progress Is Never Linear

We are complex creatures and our lives are messy. Our pioneers have been running businesses, managing family commitments, international travel, etc. Plus all the curveballs that life tends to throw at you. 

Things are going to get in the way of your progress. Things are going to threaten to derail your consistency. Don’t let that create conflict, as that’s simply self-sabotage.

The key is replacing the frustration that things aren’t running ‘perfectly’ with an adaptive mindset that accepts turbulence as the norm, not the exception. 

Those who can do that show up better in role and better in life. 

6. Self-Compassion Is Essential

You will have off days. You will get stressed. You will feel stuck. A work deadline will mean you have to work late and sleep less. And do you know what? That’s OK. 

The difference between those who succeed and those who quit? Self-compassion. Recognising those times when 40% is good enough. Recognising when a ‘wrong turn’ isn’t the end of the world and the answer is simply to get back on track rather than give up.

Those who progress quickest aren’t those who never make a ‘mistake’, it’s those who don’t beat themselves up over the odd ‘detour’ and let it derail them.

7. The ‘Simmering Six’ is The Silent Killer

Every single one of our pioneers, irrespective of their background or industry, had one commonality – they were all spending too long in what performance expert Josh Waitzkin calls the ‘simmering six’ when they came to us. You know this zone – it’s the one where you’re trying your best, but not showing up at your best. That sense of being constantly ‘on’ in a way that prevents you from hitting your prime performance.

I cannot stress this enough, leaders like you need to be as intentional about recovery and recharging as you are about being on your A-game – the two are intrinsically linked. Too many of you are trying to show up as a 10/10 all day, every day and just burning through your ‘battery’ as a result. There is a skill (and a bravery) to knowing when you need to show up as a 10/10 and when it’s OK to be a 4/10. It’s true for elite military, it’s true for Olympic athletes, so sure as hell it’s true for you. Don’t get lost in the glamorisation of busy.     

8. You Are Who You Become In The Process

Don’t get lost in the illusion of artificial finish lines either. The goal matters far less than the person you become while pursuing it. The habits you build, the discipline you develop, the self-awareness you gain – this is the real transformation.

Focus on the process, and the outcomes take care of themselves.

9. Accountability Accelerates Progress

Our hyper-personalized approach has meant that each individual pioneer has felt seen and heard. But we don’t stop there, we will push, we will challenge and we will hold courageous conversations. Why? Because it creates a dynamic collaboration where we work together to realise your potential. Accountability is a critical part of that equation – self-accountability is key, but if you’re not working with us, think about who can help hold you accountable. It’s a powerful force for positive change.   

10. Perfection Is The Enemy

Waiting for the perfect time, the perfect plan, the perfect conditions – newsflash: it’s never coming.

Start small. Start messy. Start imperfect. But start. Action brings clarity.

I love this ‘equation’ from former Navy SEAL Brandon Webb: 

“Failure + reflection + another rep = competence.”

Go get the reps in. 

A final note: thank you to those pioneers who have trusted us with their growth. It’s a privilege to work with leaders who want to show up at their best, not just for themselves, but for everyone around them. 

Jason.

P.S. We have, of course, been on our own journey of growth and discovery as a team, and have some exciting things to share. Watch out for Wednesday’s newsletter to learn more!