February 20, 2026

Why High Achievers Run on Empty: Solving the Performance Gap with Jess Sargus

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“High achievers tell themselves the biggest lie: that their worth is their output. That’s how you end up successful on paper and empty in real life.” — Jess Sargus

Most high performers don’t crash because they lack ambition.

They crash because they lack a system.

In this episode of No Hype Just Standards, Zac Armstrong sits down with Jess Sargus. An Ivy League trained attorney, and former executive at Marvel and Disney, undefeated MMA fighter, and mental performance coach. They unpack why so many accomplished men feel exhausted despite “winning.”

Jess has operated in boardrooms and cages. What she discovered? Elite athletes train their minds with the same discipline they train their bodies. Executives rarely do.

The real issue isn’t hustle. It’s misalignment. It’s defining your worth by output. It’s living reactively instead of leading proactively.

As Zac explains, you can’t lead yourself well if you feel like garbage. Without recovery, without structure, without standards, performance collapses.

If you’re successful on paper but running on empty, this episode is your green light.

Start small. One minute. One decision. One aligned action.

Consistency beats intensity. Every time.

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