The 7Pillar Podcast

Nick Ahmed & Mike Ahmed
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement

What separates good from great? It’s not talent. It’s how you think, lead, respond to adversity, and live with purpose. Hosted by brothers Nick Ahmed, former MLB player and 2x Gold Glove winner, and Mike Ahmed, former professional baseball player and coach, each episode equips athletes, coaches, leaders, and high performers with practical mindset, leadership, and biblical principles to thrive in sport, business, and life. Greatness is built on a firm foundation: one decision, one habit at a time.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    10. Why Most Athletes Never Reach Their Potential

    Why do so many athletes fall short of their potential—even when they’re doing everything they can to improve their performance? The problem may be that we’re looking at performance all wrong. In this episode, Mike and Nick break down the 7Pillar Holistic Performance Framework and explain why elite performance requires more than physical talent, mental skills, or working harder. Everything is connected—and becoming your best starts with building the human first and the athlete second. They walk through each of the seven pillars—Identity, Mindset, Lifestyle, Relationships, Nutrition, Fitness, and Recovery—and share three practical non-negotiables for strengthening each area. Along the way, Mike and Nick share lessons from their own playing, coaching, and life experiences and explain how weaknesses in one area can impact everything else. The goal isn't simply to perform better. It's to become a more complete person—one capable of pursuing excellence, making an impact, and building a legacy that lasts far beyond the field. This week's challenge: The 7Pillar Audit. Rate yourself from 1–10 in each pillar, identify your two weakest areas, and ask yourself: How would my life and performance change if I strengthened these areas by just a few points? If you want to perform at an elite level, don't just train your game. Build the person behind the performance.

  2. Aug 11

    9: Build Unshakable Confidence | The 5 Keys Every Athlete, Coach & Leader Needs

    What if your confidence didn't have to disappear after a bad game? In this episode of the 7Pillar Podcast, Mike and Nick Ahmed break down what real confidence is and why so many athletes lose it. If your confidence rises and falls with your performance, you're building it on the wrong foundation. You'll learn the five keys to developing confidence that remains steady through failure, adversity, and pressure: Build your identity beyond your performanceDevelop unwavering belief in yourselfCreate confidence through commitment and preparationMaster positive self-talk and visualizationSurround yourself with people who strengthen your confidence Along the way, Nick shares powerful stories from his MLB career—including how one unexpected decision during a prolonged slump completely changed his perspective on confidence—and both Mike and Nick provide practical strategies for athletes, coaches, and parents to help build resilient competitors. Whether you're an athlete chasing your next level, a coach developing leaders, or a parent wanting to encourage your child the right way, this episode will give you a framework for building confidence that lasts. This week's 7Pillar Challenge: For the next 7 days, write down 7 wins each evening—focusing only on the things that were within your control. Watch how intentionally recognizing your daily victories begins to reshape your confidence from the inside out. If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teammate, coach, or parent who needs to hear it.

  3. Aug 4

    8: Leadership Myths That Are Holding You Back

    What if leadership has nothing to do with a title, talent, or personality? Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, business leader, or simply someone who wants to make a greater impact, leadership is one of the most important skills you'll ever develop. But before we can become great leaders, we have to understand what leadership is—and what it isn't. In this episode, Nick and Mike challenge five of the biggest myths about leadership before unpacking a biblical and practical framework for leading with purpose. Through personal stories from their baseball careers, lessons from influential mentors, and timeless leadership principles, they explore how every person has the opportunity to use their influence to serve others, unlock potential, and unite people around a shared mission. In this episode, you'll learn: Why leadership has nothing to do with titles or positions.The five biggest myths that hold people back from leading.Why influence—not authority—is the foundation of leadership.How great leaders build trust, create culture, and develop others.Practical ways athletes, coaches, parents, and high performers can lead every day.The 7Pillar definition of leadership and how to apply it immediately. This Week's Challenge Identify one person you can intentionally serve this week. Ask yourself: Who needs encouragement right now?Who could benefit from a simple act of service?Who feels overlooked, isolated, or left out? Choose one person, make one intentional investment in their life, and use your influence to help them feel seen, valued, and empowered.

  4. Jul 28

    7: Winning the War Within

    Anxiety. Fear. Self-doubt. Mental burnout. Every athlete, coach, leader, and competitor faces the battle—but few are taught how to win it. In this episode of the 7Pillar Podcast, Nick and Mike Ahmed unpack a practical, faith-centered framework for overcoming the mental and spiritual battles that threaten our performance and purpose. Drawing from Scripture, personal stories from professional baseball, and years of coaching elite performers, they share four essential steps to build resilience, protect your mind, and compete with greater peace, confidence, and freedom. In this episode, you'll learn: Why your mind is the ultimate battlegroundThe four-step framework to win the war withinHow to recognize and reject the lies that fuel anxiety and self-doubtWhat it means to "armor up" and build a mindset that's difficult to defeatPractical strategies to replace fear with truth and confidenceWhy your identity must be rooted in something deeper than performanceHow to play and live from victory—not for it Whether you're chasing excellence on the field, leading your family, growing your business, or simply trying to overcome fear and burnout, this episode will equip you with timeless principles to strengthen your mind, deepen your faith, and build a life of lasting impact. Challenge for the week: Identify the biggest lie you've been believing, replace it with truth, and place that truth somewhere you'll see it every day. Repetition shapes belief—and belief shapes performance.

  5. Jul 21

    6: 5th Key to an Elite Mindset: PRESENT

    Are you chasing the future, replaying the past, or truly living where your feet are? In this episode of the 7Pillar Podcast, Mike and Nick Ahmed conclude the 5 Keys to an Elite Mindset by exploring what it truly means to live Present. They discuss how gratitude transforms your perspective, why your default operating system shapes the way you think and perform, and how living with purpose allows you to compete with greater joy, peace, and consistency. Through stories from professional baseball, biblical wisdom, and practical performance strategies, they share how staying present is one of the most powerful habits an athlete, coach, or leader can develop. In this episode, you'll learn: Why gratitude is a skill that can be developed—not just a feeling.The unhealthy operating systems that rob us of peace and performance.The four mindsets that help elite performers stay present: Purpose, Gratitude, Growth, and Service.Practical strategies to stop dwelling on the past and worrying about the future. Challenge of the Week: Develop one intentional gratitude practice that you will complete every day this week. Whether it's journaling, taking a gratitude walk, or simply reflecting on your blessings, practice being fully present and notice how it changes your perspective, your performance, and your life.

  6. Jul 14

    5: 4th Key to an Elite Mindset: PERSISTENT

    What keeps you moving when life gets hard? Persistence isn't about never facing adversity—it's about refusing to let adversity define you. In Episode 5 of the 7Pillar Podcast, Mike and Nick Ahmed unpack the fourth key to an elite mindset: Persistent. They explain why consistency isn't built on motivation, but on purpose, perspective, and the daily decision to keep moving forward when circumstances make you want to quit. Drawing from their experiences in professional baseball, personal stories of overcoming failure, and timeless biblical principles, they share practical tools to help athletes, coaches, leaders, and parents develop the resilience needed for long-term success. In this episode, you'll learn: Why persistence is more than grit—it's remaining committed to your purpose despite adversity.The 4 P's of Persistence: Power, Perspective, Patience, and Process.How shifting your perspective changes the way you respond to setbacks.Why your response—not your circumstances—determines your outcome (E + R = O).How to embrace a long-term mindset and stop chasing quick results.Why focusing on your daily process creates lasting confidence and consistency.How faith provides a source of strength that goes beyond your own abilities. Whether you're battling poor performance, facing uncertainty, or simply trying to stay disciplined, this episode will challenge you to keep climbing the mountain—even when it's difficult. Challenge of the Week Identify which of the 4 P's you need to grow in the most: PowerPerspectivePatienceProcessThen choose one specific habit, mindset shift, or daily practice you'll implement this week to strengthen that area. Remember: awareness creates opportunity, but growth happens when awareness is followed by action.

  7. Jul 7

    4: 3rd Key to an Elite Mindset: PROACTIVE

    Are you proactively preparing for success—or simply reacting to whatever comes your way? In Episode 4 of the 7Pillar Podcast, Mike and Nick Ahmed continue their 5 Keys to an Elite Mindset series by diving into the third key: Proactive. Elite athletes and coaches don't wait until they're struggling to make a change—they prepare before challenges arise. In this episode, Mike and Nick share practical ways to create a clear vision for your life, take intentional action each day, and stop living reactively. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why proactive athletes gain a competitive edge • The importance of having a clear vision for your life • The four ingredients of a 10X mindset • How to take consistent action toward your goals • Why the people you surround yourself with matter Challenge of the Week: Choose your top three priority areas in life. Write down a clear vision for each one, identify one action step you can take this week, and schedule it into your calendar. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share it with a teammate or friend who's committed to becoming the best version of themselves.

  8. Jun 29

    3: 2nd Key to an Elite Mindset: ANCHORED

    What are you building your life on? In this episode, Mike and Nick Ahmed unpack the second key to an elite mindset: anchored. Every athlete will face adversity, failure, success, and uncertainty—but the question is whether your foundation is strong enough to keep you steady when those storms come. The conversation explores why so many athletes unknowingly build their identity on performance, statistics, and achievement—and how that mindset creates anxiety, inconsistency, and burnout. Mike and Nick share personal stories from their professional baseball careers, explain the difference between purpose and mission, and offer a practical framework for building a life rooted in something that never changes. In this episode, you'll learn: Why your foundation determines how you respond to success and failureThe difference between purpose and mission—and why you need bothHow to stop chasing moving targets like performance and approvalWhy lasting confidence comes from identity, not resultsHow serving others actually frees you to perform at your bestPractical questions to help identify what has truly been your anchor Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or leader, this episode will challenge you to examine what you're pursuing—and whether it's strong enough to support the life you're trying to build. Key Scriptures: Matthew 7:24–27Ephesians 2:10 Challenge of the Week: Take an honest look at the last five years of your life. What has truly been your anchor? Has it produced peace, purpose, and freedom—or anxiety and instability? If your foundation isn't where you want it to be, begin intentionally building it on something that won't move.

  9. Jun 29

    2: 5 Keys to an Elite Mindset: INTRO

    What separates athletes who continue to grow from those who stay stuck? It starts with awareness. In this episode, Mike and Nick Ahmed introduce the 5 Keys to an Elite Mindset and take a deep dive into the first key: Awareness. From building a foundation rooted in identity to becoming your own best coach, they unpack why self-awareness is the starting point for lasting growth—both on and off the field. You'll learn: Why elite performers ask better questionsHow to close the gap between who you are and who you want to becomeThe difference between comparing yourself to others and competing against your own standardsHow athletes can take ownership of their development instead of relying solely on coachesWhy your thoughts and daily inputs shape your futurePractical ways to reduce distraction and create an environment that supports growth Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or leader, this episode will challenge you to evaluate your habits, your mindset, and the direction of your life. Key Scriptures: Proverbs 14:8Galatians 6:4Romans 12:2 Challenge of the Week: Evaluate your daily inputs. What are they producing in your life? Make one intentional change to your environment this week that helps you become more aware and move closer to the person God created you to be.

  10. Jun 29

    1: 7Pillar Genesis & Mission

    Welcome to the very first episode of the 7Pillar Podcast. In this episode, brothers and former professional baseball players Nick and Mike Ahmed share the heart behind 7Pillar, why they created it, and the mission that's driving everything they do. They unpack the 7 Pillars of high performance—Identity, Mindset, Lifestyle, Relationships, Nutrition, Fitness, and Recovery—and explain why true excellence isn't built by focusing on one area of life, but by strengthening the entire foundation. Nick also shares the powerful story of how chasing performance and achievement left him empty, and how a crisis of identity ultimately led him to discover a freedom that transformed both his life and his career. Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or leader, this episode will challenge you to ask a simple but life-changing question: What is your life built on? In this episode:The story behind the creation of 7PillarWhy high performance requires a holistic foundationThe danger of performance-based identityHow faith reshaped Nick's baseball career and purposeThe difference between building your life on results versus lasting truthA practical framework for strengthening your identity, story, and standardsAction steps to begin building a stronger foundation today If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a teammate, coach, or friend who wants to become the best version of themselves—on and off the field.

  • 10 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
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About

What separates good from great? It’s not talent. It’s how you think, lead, respond to adversity, and live with purpose. Hosted by brothers Nick Ahmed, former MLB player and 2x Gold Glove winner, and Mike Ahmed, former professional baseball player and coach, each episode equips athletes, coaches, leaders, and high performers with practical mindset, leadership, and biblical principles to thrive in sport, business, and life. Greatness is built on a firm foundation: one decision, one habit at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Nick Ahmed & Mike Ahmed
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Nick Ahmed & Mike Ahmed