04.25.2025| Read Online​

For the First Time in Forever

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I don't know if you're like me and you habit stack your chores with watching sports. On Wednesday, it was Handwashing Dishes and Half-watching Hockey. But. And. There was a story that stopped me in my tracks, mid-scrub. "Timeout, he's back?"

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This is the story of the Captain of the Colorado Avalanche, Gabriel Landeskog.

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It's June 2022 and you've just won the Stanley Cup as the Captain... Is there a higher peak moment in hockey? Not according to my notes. After that season, he underwent a radical knee surgery from which, no NHL player has returned to hockey. The original injury was actually from a cut on his leg in 2021, and something was very wrong with his knee.
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It took 1032 days (almost 4 years)...after rehab, a big setback, another knee surgery, and more rehab to make it back to the lineup on Wednesday against the Dallas Stars. Sure he didn't score a goal, but who cares. He was back.
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As I'm also diving deep on the book notes for "Atomic Habits" by James Clear...I'm seeing some of those models play out for Gabe.

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1. Kept a daily journal of his mental and physical state, both good and bad days.
2. Kept a habit of showing up. Even for the Home Opener, knowing he was unlikely to skate for the team this season.
3. Up until this point, he's only ever identified himself as a "Hockey Player" now he had to find a new identity, new habits to shape his sense of self.

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And my favorite quote from Gabe about his slow, painful climb back to the ice?
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"Some days I find it easy...and put one foot in front of the other, and other days, I'm wondering what's next."

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Even the highest performers struggle with motivation. What they choose in that moment, is to find a way to keep going. Even a bad rehab session is better than a missed one. They find a way to deal with the boredom that comes with mastery (if you've ever been in physical therapy, you feel this in your body and soul.) After the easy gains, the anxiety sets in. Will I ever get back? The path to return to form is an emotional roller coaster. There's a wonderful docuseries on his journey on MAX.
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Thought: Do you have it in you to work through the little steps that will take you back to the top of your game?

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And for the first time in what must feel like forever? He's a hockey player again. Welcome back Captain.​

[and yes, that's 100% a Frozen reference. Annie has discovered "Elsa Songs", wish me luck.]

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As we look ahead to Book Notes coming up, here's a preview of some of the titles we're summarizing for you!

• 10x is Easier than 2x by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy [first on the list]
• Fanatical Prospecting by Jeb Blount [almost done]
• Atomic Habits by James Clear [next up]
• ...and many more to come.

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