On New Heights, Hosts brothers Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce talked with 7-time Super Bowl Champion, NFL GOAT (Greatest of All-time) Tom Brady about his legendary NFL career. At the University of Michigan, Tom said he worked with his sports psychologist, the late Greg Harden. Greg said, “You have a shitty attitude!” He said Tom could complain about the practice time he got, he could make excuses. He told Tom to control the things that he could control.
Greg Harden said, “No one cares!” Tom has to bring the energy. He brings the enthusiasm. He brings the juice. That’s all on Tom. Tom carried that throughout his NFL career, and life.
Tom watched the 2026 NBA Finals. The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs, 4 games to 1. Although the Spurs lost, Star Victor Wembanyama said they dominated every game in the NBA Finals. Tom said, “That’s not the point!” He said when you lose, “They were better. We need to be better.” Tom Brady is the humility GOAT, too.
Tom said, “That’s actually very motivating.” You can always be better. You put everything on yourself. That’s the way it works, in sports, in life. Tom said, “We all have the opportunity to be better.”
In Sunday morning Aikido practice, Ishibashi Sensei told me, “Nobody cares that you’re scared.” Truth. No one cares! When I’m scared, that’s on me to let go my fear inside me. That’s all on me. I’m the only one, who can do something about that. No one cares.
Aikido Founder O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba said, “True victory is victory over oneself.” I’m my greatest opponent, my greatest enemy. It’s on me to overcome myself. On me to overcome myself, not others. I apply the Aikido technique to myself, not to the attacker. It’s only me against me. Don’t make excuses. Don’t blame anyone. I put my head down. Put in the work. I control the things that I can control. Just train.
I’ve trained in Aikido for over 35 years, for over half my life. The purpose of Aikido is to let go my fear inside me. My fear of Dad when I was a little boy. The fear inside that I’m not good enough. That’s the training. In Aikido, I wait out the attack, and enter the attack. I take a glancing blow if I have to. I’m not always going to get away scot-free. It’s one time.
The safest place to be is under the attack, in the danger. I hold my position under the attack, in the danger. I make my timing. I open up. I let go my fear inside that I’m not good enough. Although my fear inside never completely disappears, every time I enter what I fear, I let go more of my fear inside me. I free myself. I’m quiet inside. I find peace inside.
Really, no one cares. I mean that in a good way. I’m responsible for letting go my fear inside me. I’m the only one who does that. That’s all on me, not on others, not on them. I don’t blame anyone. I don’t make excuses. I invite what I fear. Don’t defend against it. It’s not like I have to get somewhere. It’s not like I have to be someone else. I can be me. Just train.
Having a happy life, the possibility of a happy life is all on me. I’m responsible. I can do something about it. No one really cares. That’s in a good way.
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Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash
