Know Thyself:
The Secret Weapon of Champions

What do Coach John Wooden, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Ronda Rousey (before her downfall) all have in common?

They knew themselves.

Coach Wooden didn’t waste time obsessing over his competition.

Instead, he coached his team to focus on one thing: becoming the best version of themselves.

Khabib dominated the UFC by sticking to his grappling, a style no one could match.

And Ronda Rousey?

She became a legend by leaning into her judo skills—until she abandoned what she did best.

One coach.

Two fighters.

Three careers that teach us one critical lesson: knowing yourself isn’t optional if you want to win.

And whether you’re stepping into the octagon, running a business, or simply navigating life, this lesson applies to you.

Because when you know who you are, what you’re good at, and why you do what you do, life transforms.

It’s not about becoming someone else. It’s about becoming you.

The Lesson from the Legends

Let’s start with Coach John Wooden.

You’ve probably heard his stats before:

• An 88-game winning streak.
• 10 NCAA championships in 12 years.
• ​Ranked as one of the greatest coach of all time.

What made Wooden so remarkable wasn’t just the wins—it was his philosophy.

Unlike many coaches, Wooden didn’t spend hours watching tape on his opponents.

He didn’t care what the other team was doing.

His focus was singular: making his team so good at their game that it didn’t matter who they played.

“Focus on what you can control,” he’d tell his players.

And control it they did.

His teams didn’t adapt to their competition—they made their competition adapt to them.

Now look at Khabib Nurmagomedov, widely regarded as the UFC’s GOAT (Greatest of All Time).

Khabib didn’t waste energy trying to become a flashy striker like Conor McGregor or an all-arounder like Jon Jones.

He knew his strengths: grappling, pressure, and grinding his opponents into exhaustion.

29 fights.

29 wins.

He took on all comers, forced them into his game, and walked away undefeated.

And then there’s Ronda Rousey.

At her peak, she was unstoppable.

She leaned on her Olympic-level judo skills to slam her opponents to the mat and submit them with devastating armbars.

She became a champion, a household name, and an icon.

But then she made a crucial mistake.

Instead of doubling down on what made her great, she tried to beat strikers at their own game.

Against Holly Holm, she abandoned her judo for boxing—and got knocked out.

Against Amanda Nunes, she tried the same—and got humiliated.

Her career never recovered.

The lesson? The moment you stop playing to your strengths, you lose.

The Philosophy Behind “Know Thyself”

This isn’t just a strategy for athletes—it’s ancient wisdom.

The phrase “Know thyself” has been around since the days of Socrates.

Philosophers across time have preached the value of self-awareness because it’s the foundation for everything else.

When you know who you are:

• You stop comparing yourself to others.
• You focus on your strengths instead of envying someone else’s.
• You make better decisions because they align with your core values.

And life doesn’t just get easier—it gets better.

But knowing yourself isn’t a one-and-done process.

It’s a journey.

You’re not static.

You’re constantly evolving.

And self-awareness isn’t about boxing yourself into a label—it’s about understanding the core of who you are and letting that guide your growth.

The Action Plan:
How to Know Thyself

So how do you do it?

How do you start the journey of self-awareness and use it to dominate your life, like Wooden, Khabib, and (at her peak) Rousey?

Here’s your action plan:

Step 1: Assess Your Strengths

What are you naturally good at?

If you’re unsure, think back to times when you’ve excelled.

What do people come to you for advice on?

What do you do effortlessly that others struggle with?

If you’re still stuck, try tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), CliftonStrengths, or even the Enneagram.

While no test can define you completely, they can help you uncover tendencies, patterns, and talents you may not fully recognize.

For example, maybe you’re an INTJ like me—naturally strategic, focused, and analytical.

Or maybe you’re an ENFP—creative, spontaneous, and great with people. These insights aren’t limits—they’re clues to where you shine.

Step 2: Examine Your Values

What matters to you?

Take a moment to reflect on your priorities.

Is it freedom?

Growth?

Security?

Contribution?

Your values act as a compass.

They help you make decisions that align with who you are instead of chasing after things that don’t truly fulfill you.

Here’s a tip: Write down your top five values.

Then ask yourself: “Am I living in alignment with these?”

If the answer is no, what needs to change?

Step 3: Identify Your Weaknesses (and Reframe Them)

Knowing thyself isn’t just about celebrating your strengths—it’s also about acknowledging your weaknesses.

But here’s the trick: Don’t dwell on them.

Instead, ask how you can reframe them or delegate them.

Khabib didn’t waste time becoming a better striker—he knew his grappling was his superpower.

Coach Wooden didn’t try to mimic his competitors—he built his own game.

Where are you spending energy trying to “fix” yourself instead of doubling down on what makes you great?

Step 4: Test Yourself

The best way to know yourself is through action.

You don’t discover your strengths and values by sitting on the sidelines.

You find them by stepping into the arena—trying, failing, and learning.

Ask yourself:

• What’s one challenge I’ve been avoiding that could reveal what I’m made of?
• What’s one skill I’ve been curious about but haven’t explored?

Take the leap.

Let the experience shape your understanding of yourself.

Step 5: Reflect Regularly

Knowing thyself isn’t a one-time epiphany.

It’s a lifelong practice.

Set aside time each week to ask yourself three simple questions:

1. Where am I right now?
2. How did I get here?
3. Where do I want to go?

These questions will keep you grounded, self-aware, and on track to becoming the best version of yourself.

Step 6: Play to Your Strengths

This is where the magic happens.

Once you’ve identified what you’re great at, double down on it.

Like Wooden, build your own game.

Like Khabib, force others to play on your terms.

Stop trying to be everything to everyone.

Lean into your zone of genius and let that be your unfair advantage.

Be Yourself, Every One Else Is Taken

The world doesn’t need another copy of someone else.

It needs you.

Coach Wooden became the greatest of all time not by mimicking others but by mastering his team’s strengths.

Khabib retired undefeated because he forced his opponents to play his game.

Ronda Rousey’s downfall was trying to be something she wasn’t.

Your path to mastery isn’t about being like them—it’s about being like you.

Start with the action plan.

Discover your strengths, clarify your values, and lean into the unique combination of traits that make you who you are.

Because when you know yourself—truly know yourself—you stop chasing what’s not meant for you.

You stop comparing.

You start creating, building, and living in alignment with your purpose.

And who knows?

Maybe someday, people will look at your life and say, “What do they have in common with greatness?”

The answer will be simple:

You knew yourself—and you played the game better than anyone else.

P.S. If you found this content helpful, I have a favor to ask.

Actually two of them, a selfish one and a not-so-selfish one.

First the selfish one, if this was helpful to you, forward it to someone you think it might help. That helps me to grow my reach.

Now the not-selfish one, the one thing I learned on the mat and on the job was that the most successful leaders were not the ones who knew the most but were the ones who applied and taught the most.

So, if you want to be a better leader, do two things, take immediate action on what you learned today AND share it with someone else. You'll look badass, I promise you.

Also, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, hit me up, reply to this email and let me know what's going on and how I can help you to be a better warrior, leader, and badass.

Thank you, I appreciate you being here in The Daily Dojo, you can learn more at CharlesDoublet.com​