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“Toughness isn’t about ignoring your feelings; it’s about acknowledging them, understanding them, and still choosing to move forward.”
In this episode of The Business Book Club, we explore Do Hard Things by Steve Magness, a powerful and science-backed redefinition of what it means to be truly tough. Drawing on decades of research in psychology, physiology, and performance coaching, Magness challenges the outdated notion that toughness means pushing harder or suppressing emotion. Instead, he shows that real toughness is built on self-awareness, emotional regulation, and authenticity.
The book unpacks four key pillars of resilience — Ditch the Façade, Listen to Your Body, Respond Instead of React, and Transcend Discomfort. Through powerful examples from sport, business, and military training, Magness reveals that sustainable success comes not from brute force, but from calm confidence and mindful endurance.
In this episode, we discuss how Do Hard Things applies to modern leadership, business, and personal growth — offering practical strategies to lead with compassion, face challenges with composure, and build resilience without burnout. It’s a guide to thriving under pressure while staying true to yourself.
Episode 66 - Do Hard Things
By Steve Magness
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About the Author
Steve Magness is a performance scientist, author, and coach specialising in resilience, motivation, and human performance. With a background in elite athletics and applied psychology, Magness has coached Olympic athletes and business leaders worldwide. He serves as a lecturer at the University of Houston and co-founded The Growth Equation with Brad Stulberg — a platform that blends science and storytelling to help people perform at their best sustainably.
Magness is also the co-author of bestselling books such as Peak Performance and The Passion Paradox, and his writing has been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Outside. Through his research and coaching, he challenges cultural myths about success, helping individuals and teams redefine strength, resilience, and sustainable achievement for the modern world.
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“A transformative guide to resilience — Magness replaces outdated toughness with science, empathy, and real-world wisdom.”
— Harvard Business Review
