The Athlete’s Mindset for Lawyers, with Jess Sargus

Jan 8, 2026

Jess Sargus, a former attorney and competitive mixed-martial-arts athlete, shares her journey from law to combat sports. She discusses how adopting an athlete's mindset can elevate legal practice. Key topics include the five pillars of fierce agency, such as growth mindset and action orientation. Jess emphasizes the importance of embracing failure for growth and being present-focused. She highlights how anyone can apply these principles to enhance performance and leadership in their daily lives.

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ANECDOTE

From Law Student To Combat Sports Competitor

Jess Sargus discovered boxing in law school and later expanded into MMA, coaching, and running a sports agency alongside legal work.
She competed into her late 30s, then returned to law and later combined both paths into mindset coaching as The Legal Athlete.

ANECDOTE

From Corporate Counsel To Leadership Coach

Jess worked as global head of business affairs at Jellysmack and later became chief legal officer for a plaintiff's firm in Austin.
Her corporate and startup legal roles shaped applying athletic mindset to leadership and team building.

INSIGHT

Action Orientation Is A Champion Maker

Action orientation separates world-class performers from otherwise excellent ones by enabling decisions under imperfect information.
Regularly practicing action under pressure expands potential and builds the habit of decisive performance.

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High performance in law requires more than technical skill—it requires the right mindset. In episode #596 of the Lawyerist Podcast, Zack Glaser talks with Jess Sargus about applying an athlete’s mindset to leadership, performance, and growth in legal practice.

Jess breaks down the core pillars of athletic thinking. From growth mindset and action orientation to process focus and purpose, and explains how lawyers can apply these principles to become better leaders and perform at their best under pressure.

If you want to hear more from Jess, check her out at: https://www.thelegalathlete.com/

Listen to our other episodes on Mindset & Performance:

#588 – Practice Smarter, Not Harder: 411 Tips for Modern Lawyers, with Jordan Couch Apple | Spotify | LTN

#585 – First Aid for the Mind: Mental Health in Law, with Soumya Palreddy & Jill Kluesner Apple | Spotify | LTN

#572 – Practical Courage Skills Every Lawyer Needs, with Jim Detert Apple | Spotify | LTN

#551 – Becoming the AI-Driven Leader, with Geoff Woods Apple | Spotify | LTN

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Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

03:12 – Meet Jess Sargus

04:02 – From Law to Combat Sports

08:06 – Competition, Business, and Leadership

11:15 – Why Mindset Matters

15:12 – The Athlete’s Mindset Defined

17:01 – Action Orientation and Elite Performance

19:30 – Getting Comfortable with Failure

22:05 – Growth Mindset and Competitiveness

26:03 – The Five Pillars of Fierce Agency

29:21 – Process Over Outcome

34:46 – Purpose and Mission Alignment

39:48 – Where to Find Jess

40:53 – Closing Thoughts