In this powerful conversation, we sit down with brothers Nick and Michael Ahmed, the co-founders of Seven Pillar, a revolutionary approach to developing athletes that goes far beyond performance metrics. After witnessing firsthand the mental health crisis affecting one in three high-performing athletes, these former professional baseball players created a holistic framework designed to build champions in life, not just in sport.
Key Discussion Points:
[02:00] The Genesis of Seven Pillar
- How organic conversations between teammates evolved into a comprehensive athlete development system
- The decade-long journey from personal struggle to purposeful solution
- Why traditional athlete development falls short of preparing players for life
[06:13] The Identity Crisis in Sports
- Understanding performance-based identity and its devastating effects
- How comparison culture and external validation create unstable foundations
- The transformation that happens when athletes discover their true worth beyond the scoreboard
[11:37] Sport as Life Training
- Reframing athletics as a vehicle for character development
- Why winning isn't everything, but competition still matters
- Building skills that translate from the field to family and community
[15:52] The Seven Pillars Framework
- Identity - Building unshakeable self-worth independent of performance
- Mindset - Developing mental resilience for competition and life
- Lifestyle - Creating sustainable habits that support long-term success
- Relationships - Fostering authentic community and accountability
- Nutrition - Fueling both body and mind for optimal performance
- Fitness - Physical preparation that serves athletic and life goals
- Recovery - Understanding rest as a competitive and personal advantage
[22:25] Faith and Community in Athletic Development
- Why relationships matter more than individual achievement
- The role of faith in creating lasting identity and purpose
- Building teams and communities that elevate everyone
[26:45] The NIL Generation Challenge
- How modern athletics has shifted toward individual focus
- The recruiting crisis facing college sports
- Developing intangibles and "it factor" in young athletes
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