From the Founder, Brian Mazza 10/24
Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance
Six simple words that can define the difference between winning and losing, between chaos and composure, between potential and performance.
But here is what I have learned as a father, as a teammate, and as a leader. The 6 P’s only work when they are built on vulnerable based trust.
At home, that means creating a space where your kids can be honest about their fears, failures, and doubts without judgment. It means allowing them to see that preparation is love. That showing up early, putting in the reps, and being ready for the moment is not about perfection, it is about respect for themselves, their teammates, and their dreams.
Last weekend, my son taught me that lesson again. He was out on the field five hours before his game taking one hundred free kicks. Rep after rep. No fancy stuff, not an organized practiced, no crowd, just him, me, Luke and the ball. Later that day, in the game, guess what happened? He had a free kick. Now it was his time to shine. And he ripped it upper 90 for a goal. That was not luck. That was the 6 P’s in real time. Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. The moment will always reveal how well you prepared for it.
Inside a team at work, the same rule applies. You can have all the talent in the world, but if your team lacks trust, it will fall apart when it matters most. Vulnerable based trust is the foundation that allows people to admit mistakes, ask for help, and hold each other accountable. Without it, the 6 P’s fail. You cannot properly plan when people are pretending to have it all figured out.
And as parents, that is what we need to teach our kids. That preparation and honesty go hand in hand. That real confidence is built in silence. That you cannot expect to perform under pressure if you have not put in the work when no one is watching.
Reflection
Ask yourself, are you modeling the 6 P’s for your kids and your team, or just talking about them? Do the people around you feel safe enough to fail, learn, and try again?
Application
Build trust at home by letting your kids see you prepare for your own big moments.
At work, start meetings by owning something that you worked on that maybe was mistake and what you learned from it.
On the field or in the office, remind your team that pressure is a privilege earned through preparation.
The 6 P’s are not just a performance strategy. They are a lifestyle. They are how we show our kids, our teams, and ourselves that success is never accidental. It is built through repetition, honesty, and the courage to prepare for the moment before it arrives.
That is high performance. And that is how you win at home, at work, and in life.
