Digital Social Hour Episode Summary: Olympic Gold Medalist LaShawn Merritt Reveals His Winning Mindset! | DSH #1202

Release Date: February 24, 2025

Host: Sean Kelly

Introduction

In episode #1202 of Digital Social Hour, host Sean Kelly sits down with the illustrious Olympic gold medalist, LaShawn Merritt, to delve into the athlete’s journey, mindset, and transition from the track to the business world. This engaging conversation uncovers the principles that fueled Merritt’s success, the challenges he faced, and his dedication to inspiring the next generation through coaching.

LaShawn Merritt’s Athletic Career

Olympic Medals and Highlights

LaShawn Merritt, a dominant force in track and field, shares insights into his Olympic achievements. He proudly discusses his gold medals from Beijing (2008) and Rio (2016).

• Beijing Gold: Merritt describes his Beijing gold medal in the individual 400 meters as the most special one, embellished with "a little bit of Chinese jade" (01:29).

• Rio Gold: He contrasts the Rio gold from the 4x400 relay as a monumental achievement, noting it's "double the size of the Beijing one" (01:48). Merritt emphasizes the extensive work and dedication that went into securing the Rio gold, highlighting the increased physical demands in his later career (01:52).

Challenges and Retirement

Merritt candidly discusses the physical toll of track and field, likening the sport to a contact sport due to the immense force exerted through each stride.

"Track and field is a contact sport. The amount of force that we apply through the foot. I mean, sometimes I leave practice and I feel like I got hit by a truck." (00:59)

Despite his resilience, persistent injuries led to his retirement. Merritt recounts the difficulties of transitioning out of a career where discipline and daily accountability were paramount.

"I was the guy who fell in love with the process. And when I was finished, I didn't have much to turn to. No wife. No kids, no daily responsibility and accountability. And it got tough." (02:54)

Mindset and Discipline

Developing the Merit Mindset

Merritt introduces his Merit Mindset, a philosophy rooted in duty, responsibility, discipline, and integrity. This mindset not only propelled him to athletic success but also serves as the foundation for his current coaching endeavors.

"I developed the merit mindset because I knew my runway in life was going to be a lot longer than sport, and I was going to have to use what I put together here in life." (23:27)

Overcoming Pressure and Distractions

Drawing from personal tragedy—the loss of his brother—and the support of his family, Merritt explains how he navigated the pressures of high-stakes competition.

"I had a brother who passed away before I started running track. He became that inner voice and that why for me, when times got hard." (17:11)

He emphasizes the importance of positive affirmations and selective friendships in maintaining focus and minimizing distractions.

"I had a great job in choosing my friends. They understood what I was doing, what I was in. They let me focus." (17:18)

Techniques Like Visualization

Visualization plays a crucial role in Merritt’s preparation. He meticulously studies tracks, marks his spots, and mentally rehearses races to ensure peak performance.

"Visualization was very important. I would always visualize myself winning. That was part of it." (28:03)

"I knew how to execute. I knew the spots. Now I just had to go out and execute." (28:07)

Transition to Business and Coaching

Role with Next Level Pros

Post-retirement, Merritt transitioned into the business realm, leveraging his athletic discipline into a role as a Mindset Coach with Next Level Pros. His expertise aids in scaling nine-figure companies by instilling a winning mindset among business owners.

"Next Level Pros... they're scaling companies, nine figure companies. And he brought me on board to be a mindset coach." (14:00)

Coaching Young Athletes

Beyond corporate coaching, Merritt remains connected to track and field by conducting masterclasses across the country. His sessions focus on the strategic "why" behind training and racing, blending his athletic prowess with his coaching philosophy.

"I'm doing a 400 meter masterclass all over the country. It's the why you're doing what you're doing." (15:52)

He passionately shares his methods, emphasizing gratitude and integrity as essential components of athletic and personal success.

"400 meter masterclass, the last 15 meters of that race. I push gratitude. Have to have gratitude." (25:26)

Insights on Track and Field

Views on Respect for Track Athletes

Merritt reflects on the perception of track athletes, noting that while respect is prevalent among fellow athletes, the general public may not fully grasp the complexities and dedication required in the sport.

"I'm not sure, because you can run, you can run, you can move. Some people feel like I'm just fast. Like, it's a lot more than that." (21:16)

Favorite Tracks and Techniques

Preferring outdoor tracks due to his height and stride, Merritt shares his strategies for different lanes and the scientific breakdown of racing.

"When I started, Nike paid me to beat Jeremy Warner... Then I had another guy, Khairani James... and later Wade Van Neekert." (11:20)

He elaborates on his favorite lanes and the importance of understanding track nuances to optimize performance.

"4 or 5. Just because I would be in the middle of the track... I could feel if somebody was coming up." (26:29)

Notable Quotes

1. On Track as a Contact Sport

   "Track and field is a contact sport. The amount of force that we apply through the foot. I mean, sometimes I leave practice and I feel like I got hit by a truck." (00:59)

2. On Developing a Winning Mindset

   "I developed the merit mindset because I knew my runway in life was going to be a lot longer than sport, and I was going to have to use what I put together here in life." (23:27)

3. On Visualization and Execution

   "Visualization was very important. I would always visualize myself winning. That was part of it." (28:03)

4. On Overcoming Pressure

   "These competitions aren't life or death. And I have parents who are gonna love me unconditionally anyway. So let's just go have fun." (19:36)

5. On Coaching and Impact

   "I'm trying to change the mindset. I'm trying to change the world almost, if you think about it, because you change yourself, you change the frequency that you put out, change others, and then ultimately have big impact to change the world." (28:49)

Conclusion

LaShawn Merritt's journey from an Olympic champion to a mindset coach exemplifies the power of discipline, resilience, and strategic thinking. Digital Social Hour provides listeners with an intimate look into Merritt’s philosophies, emphasizing that the traits fostering athletic excellence are equally vital in personal and professional arenas. His commitment to integrity, gratitude, and continuous growth serves as an inspiring blueprint for achieving success beyond the finish line.

For those interested in connecting with LaShawn Merritt or learning more about his coaching programs, follow him on his social media channels linked below.