The word “toughness” might be one of the most overused and misdefined in coaching and leadership; something we routinely seek and preach, but rarely understand.  Toughness isn’t about grinding through pain and it isn’t built doing “hard” things we routinely encounter; True toughness is better described as making smart decisions in challenging situations and problem solving through obstacles not regularly faced.  To better understand this definition and how to cultivate resilience, we welcome Steve Magness, a world-renowned expert on performance, well-being, and sustainable success. He is coauthor of the best-selling books Peak Performance and The Passion Paradox. His most recent work is Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness. In his coaching practice, Steve works with executives, entrepreneurs, and athletes on their performance and mental skills. He's served as a consultant and coach for numerous professional sports teams. We cover:  Why pain, soreness and grit can be counterproductive to toughness  The true meaning of “resilience” and how to cultivate a bigger toolbox How to reframe failure as feedback Toughness in parenting: how to make more resilient kids Connect with Steve: Buy his book: Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness Via Twitter: @stevemagness Via his website: http://www.stevemagness.com/ Today’s episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens! We get it, you’re time poor and don’t always get in the fruits and veggies you know you should. This is without a doubt the BEST tasting greens powder out there and they want to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/coach! We’d also like to thank Momentous, our longest standing partner. Whether you’re an elite athlete, weekend warrior or just looking to improve your everyday health / performance, check out their entire line of protein and supplements at livemomentous.com and use code BRETT25 at checkout for 25% off your first order! My personal favorites are their fish oil and magnesium, both of which I attribute to my better sleep and recovery. Support for today’s episode also comes from Dynamic Fitness & Strength. Dynamic offers the highest quality strength and conditioning equipment designed just for you, your space and your budget. Whether you’re looking to outfit your college, high school or professional gym or even just your garage, check out our friends at Dynamic and tell them Team AoC sent you!