Are you checking every box but still feeling like your engine is running on fumes?. You’ve built the career and hit the numbers, but the fog and fatigue won’t go away. In this episode of No Hype, Just Standards, host Zac Armstrong sits down with Jess Sargus—an Ivy League attorney, undefeated MMA fighter, and mental performance mastery coach.

Jess reveals her "Fierce Agency" framework: a science-based system designed to help high achievers think like elite athletes to lead themselves with precision and discipline. We dive deep into why high-performing environments often lead to a "hollow" measurement of life and how to shift from reactive living to proactive self-leadership.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
The 5 Pillars of Fierce Agency: Growth Mindset, Action Orientation, Present Moment Focus, Process Over Outcome, and Mission Alignment.
Why "managing" your life is causing you to rot, not age.
The physical toll of high-stakes environments, from cardiovascular issues to "energy leaks".
How to operate at your best in the presence of fear.
The 1-minute daily habit to stay aligned with your true mission.

Stop managing your life and start leading it.

Connect with Jess Sargus: Check out her upcoming book (2026): Fierce Agency: How to Be the Best Leader You've Ever Had.

Connect with Zac Armstrong:
Website: The Executive Health Edge
Instagram: @zacarmstrongfit
LinkedIn: Zac Armstrong
Email: zac@myempowermentfitness.com

Some notable moments from this episode:

00:00 - The engine is running on fumes: Why success feels off.

02:22 - From Ivy League Law to the MMA Cage: Jess Sargus’s journey.

08:43 - The Through-Line: Strategy in law and combat sports.

10:45 - The cost of high-stakes environments: Burnout and health.

14:18 - How an attorney ends up in an MMA cage.

17:05 - Operating in the presence of fear.

21:23 - Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic motivation: Why the "boxes" don't fulfill you.

24:32 - Living vs. Leading: Proactive self-leadership.

24:58 - The 5 Pillars of Fierce Agency explained.

31:40 - "You cannot lead yourself well if you feel like garbage."

34:57 - Recovery as an intentional part of high performance.

36:45 - One small change to start today.

41:12 - Rapid Fire: The biggest lies high achievers tell themselves.

#HighPerformance #ExecutiveBurnout #MentalPerformance #SelfLeadership #MindsetMatters #FierceAgency #NoHypeJustStandards #MMAWorkouts #ProfessionalDevelopment #PerformancePsychology #ZacArmstrong #JessSargus

Are you checking every box but still feeling like your engine is running on fumes?. You&rsquo;ve built the career and hit the numbers, but the fog and fatigue won&rsquo;t go away. In this episode of No Hype, Just Standards, host Zac Armstrong sits down with Jess Sargus&mdash;an Ivy League attorney, undefeated MMA fighter, and mental performance mastery coach.
Jess reveals her "Fierce Agency" framework: a science-based system designed to help high achievers think like elite athletes to lead themselves with precision and discipline. We dive deep into why high-performing environments often lead to a "hollow" measurement of life and how to shift from reactive living to proactive self-leadership.
In this episode, you&rsquo;ll learn:
<ul>
<li>The 5 Pillars of Fierce Agency: Growth Mindset, Action Orientation, Present Moment Focus, Process Over Outcome, and Mission Alignment.</li>
<li>Why "managing" your life is causing you to rot, not age.</li>
<li>The physical toll of high-stakes environments, from cardiovascular issues to "energy leaks".</li>
<li>How to operate at your best in the presence of fear.</li>
<li>The 1-minute daily habit to stay aligned with your true mission.</li>
</ul>
Stop managing your life and start leading it.
Connect with Jess Sargus: Check out her upcoming book (2026): Fierce Agency: How to Be the Best Leader You've Ever Had.
Connect with Zac Armstrong:
<ul>
<li>Website:<a href="https://www.myempowermentfitness.com/theexecutivehealthedge"> The Executive Health Edge</a></li>
<li>Instagram: @zacarmstrongfit</li>
<li>LinkedIn:<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/zac-armstrong-8489b9218/"> Zac Armstrong</a></li>
<li>Email: zac@myempowermentfitness.com</li>
</ul>
Some notable moments from this episode:
00:00 - The engine is running on fumes: Why success feels off.
02:22 - From Ivy League Law to the MMA Cage: Jess Sargus&rsquo;s journey.
08:43 - The Through-Line: Strategy in law and combat sports.
10:45 - The cost of high-stakes environments: Burnout and health.
14:18 - How an attorney ends up in an MMA cage.
17:05 - Operating in the presence of fear.
21:23 - Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic motivation: Why the "boxes" don't fulfill you.
24:32 - Living vs. Leading: Proactive self-leadership.
24:58 - The 5 Pillars of Fierce Agency explained.
31:40 - "You cannot lead yourself well if you feel like garbage."
34:57 - Recovery as an intentional part of high performance.
36:45 - One small change to start today.
41:12 - Rapid Fire: The biggest lies high achievers tell themselves.
#HighPerformance #ExecutiveBurnout #MentalPerformance #SelfLeadership #MindsetMatters #FierceAgency #NoHypeJustStandards #MMAWorkouts #ProfessionalDevelopment #PerformancePsychology #ZacArmstrong #JessSargus

No Hype, Just Standards is a podcast for high performing men who have built successful careers but feel like something is off.

Fatigue. Brain fog. Stress. Energy crashes. You have the results, but you are running on empty.

Hosted by former Marine, Naval Officer, and fighter pilot Zac Armstrong, this show challenges the sick care model and the idea that feeling average is good enough. Each episode features real conversations with executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals who hit a wall and decided to do something about it.

You will hear honest stories of burnout, misalignment, and the moment when what used to work stopped working. Zac breaks down the science behind performance health, from comprehensive blood work and data driven training to nutrition, recovery, and mindset. No gimmicks. No exaggeration. Just what actually works.

This is not about chasing motivation or quick fixes. It is about restoring standards for how you feel, how you perform, and how you show up for your family and your work.

If you know you are capable of more and you are done settling for normal, this show is for you.

No Hype, Just Standards is a podcast for high performing men who have built successful careers but feel like something is off.
Fatigue. Brain fog. Stress. Energy crashes. You have the results, but you are running on empty.
Hosted by former Marine, Naval Officer, and fighter pilot Zac Armstrong, this show challenges the sick care model and the idea that feeling average is good enough. Each episode features real conversations with executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals who hit a wall and decided to do something about it.
You will hear honest stories of burnout, misalignment, and the moment when what used to work stopped working. Zac breaks down the science behind performance health, from comprehensive blood work and data driven training to nutrition, recovery, and mindset. No gimmicks. No exaggeration. Just what actually works.
This is not about chasing motivation or quick fixes. It is about restoring standards for how you feel, how you perform, and how you show up for your family and your work.
If you know you are capable of more and you are done settling for normal, this show is for you.

No Hype, Just Standards with Zac Armstrong

No Hype, Just Standards is a podcast for high performing men who have built successful careers but feel like they are running on empty. Hosted by former Marine, Naval Officer, and fighter pilot Zac Armstrong, the show explores what actually restores energy, focus, and performance beyond the sick care model. Through real conversations and science backed insights, Zac breaks down why feeling average is not good enough. This show is about restoring standards for how you show up at work, at home, and in your life.

 

No Hype, Just Standards is a podcast for high performing men who have built successful careers but feel like they are running on empty. Hosted by former Marine, Naval Officer, and fighter pilot Zac Armstrong, the show explores what actually restores energy, focus, and performance beyond the sick care model. Through real conversations and science backed insights, Zac breaks down why feeling average is not good enough. This show is about restoring standards for how you show up at work, at home, and in your life.
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