Performance Intelligence Top 5 of 2025: Why Stress is Fricking Awesome | Andrew May
Dec 24, 2025
Andrew May, founder of Performance Intelligence and expert in performance psychology, shares his insights into managing stress and energy for high performance. He discusses the overlooked A-side and B-side of performance, emphasizing the importance of opening up about struggles. May reframes stress as a valuable tool when paired with effective recovery strategies. He introduces practical micro-recovery techniques and discusses the significance of morning routines to boost energy. The episode also highlights mindfulness as a competitive advantage for maintaining focus under pressure.
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Stress Needs Strategic Recovery
- Stress isn't inherently bad; its harm comes from lack of recovery.
- Andrew May frames effective performance as oscillation between stress and strategic recovery.
May's B-Side: Cancer And Rebuild
- Andrew May shared his B-side: melanoma, marriage breakdown, and financial loss during COVID.
- Those setbacks forced an 'iOS upgrade' and taught him to build scar tissue and resilience.
Athletes Balance Stress With Recovery
- Athletes structure stress with planned recovery, creating sustainable performance cycles.
- Professionals often lack built-in recovery, causing chronic overload and illness.