SRG: Unleashing Excellence: Guest: Alex Ostberg on Running, Coaching, and Life Mastery

Self reflection guide for my long form convo with Alex. Take your time with these. Maybe jot down your thoughts or talk them over with someone you trust. Enjoy the journey, and good luck.

Alex Ostberg, in our latest podcast unleashed so much gold about chasing excellence, finding balance, and living with intention. I pulled out 10 self-reflection questions inspired by the conversation. These are meant to help you pause, think, and make this wisdom personal as you figure out what fulfillment looks like for you. No pressure, just some prompts to nudge you along your journey, like we’re sitting down with a coffee, chatting about life. Let’s dive in.

---

1. Anchor Quote: “Where can I join a group where my desired behavior is already the default?” (02:26)

   Question: Who are the people in your life right now who inspire you to be your best self? Think about the environments or communities you’re part of—work, friends, hobbies. Are they pushing you toward the habits you want to build, or is it time to seek out a new crew that’s already living the way you aspire to?

2. Anchor Quote: “The pursuit of mastery is fundamentally connected at the highest levels.” (03:54)

   Question: What’s something you’re passionate about getting really good at, whether it’s your job, a hobby, or even being a better friend? How can you borrow one habit from someone who’s killing it in a totally different field to level up your own game?

3. Anchor Quote: “Any habit that you’re pursuing at a really high level comes with a cost.” (05:53)

   Question: What’s one big goal you’re chasing right now? Be honest with yourself—what’s the trade-off? Are you okay with letting go of certain things (like late-night scrolling or saying yes to everything) to make space for what matters most?

4. Anchor Quote: “An hour before 9 AM is worth two after five.” (09:29)

   Question: How do you start your mornings? If you could carve out 30 minutes before the chaos of the day hits, what’s one small ritual—like a quick walk, journaling, or just sipping coffee in silence—that could set you up to feel more in control?

5. Anchor Quote: “The only training that you can benefit from is the training you can recover from.” (12:19)

   Question: Are you pushing yourself too hard in some area of your life—like work, fitness, or even relationships? What’s one way you could give yourself permission to rest or scale back so you can keep going stronger in the long run?