Why Excellence Is Never an Accident
Shark Theory
You do not have to be in the same field to learn from greatness. Excellence leaves clues if you are paying attention. Show Notes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor reflects on watching a master at work and what happens when you intentionally study excellence instead of just consuming it. Using the example of watching Dave Chappelle live, Baylor breaks down why legends stand apart and how their habits, preparation, and attention to detail apply to every profession. This episode is not about comedy. It is about observation. Baylor explains how the best in the world approach their craft with...
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Your Grinch Moment Can Become Your Redemption
Shark Theory
Sometimes the person we judge the fastest is the one we understand the least. And sometimes the villain isn’t finished becoming the hero. Show Notes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor reflects on the story of The Grinch and why it resonates far beyond a holiday movie. What starts as a tale about stolen presents becomes a deeper lesson about misunderstanding, judgment, empathy, and redemption. Baylor breaks down how easy it is to dislike what we do not understand. Whether it’s generational differences, opposing viewpoints, or people who simply move through life differently than we do,...
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Start With the Heart
Shark Theory
You don’t need your entire life figured out to make a difference. You just need a heart and the courage to take the first step. Show Notes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor reflects on the growth of the Dreams Really Exist Foundation and a moment that put everything into perspective. What started as a simple desire to help families in need has grown into an organization that has given away more than 2,500 brand-new bikes, coats, and essential resources across South Dallas and the Metroplex. A short conversation at this year’s event reminded Baylor of a powerful truth. Impact...
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It’s Only Temporary
Shark Theory
Sometimes the most powerful life lessons come from the people who have the least, yet see the most. Show Notes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor shares a story he has never forgotten about a chance encounter on a scorching Dallas afternoon. Frustrated, stressed, and complaining from the comfort of an air-conditioned car, he crossed paths with a man who had every reason to be bitter, yet chose gratitude instead. The man described his situation not as hopeless, but as temporary. He wasn’t living with a victim mentality. He was “currently down on his luck,” and that distinction...
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Be So Good They Find You
Shark Theory
There are a lot of ways to bake a great cake. But none of them work if you refuse to commit to the recipe. Show Notes — Double Down or Drift In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor breaks down why so many people have real dreams but never fully pursue them. Using the analogy of baking a cake, he explains that while there are many paths to success, every path requires commitment. There is no single “right way,” but there is a wrong one: never fully deciding. Baylor unpacks the true meaning of decision, which comes from the Latin word meaning to cut off all other options. He challenges...
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Information Matters. Action Wins.
Shark Theory
You can gather all the data in the world, but at some point, you still have to step up and take the shot. Show Notes — Step Up and Hit the Shot In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor uses a cold round of golf and an AI-powered caddie to unpack a powerful lesson about decision-making and confidence. Advice, data, and preparation all matter—but they don’t replace the moment when you have to act. Baylor explains why getting guidance, research, and perspective is critical when chasing big goals, especially heading into 2026. But he also warns against getting stuck in analysis...
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Stop Promising “Later”
Shark Theory
If you keep telling yourself you’ll start tomorrow, this episode is your wake-up call. Progress only happens when today counts. Show Notes — Tomorrow Never Comes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor reflects on a passage from his book Wintality and the hard lesson it taught him about postponing what matters most. Through a personal story about love, ambition, and missed moments, he unpacks the danger of living in “one day” thinking. Baylor challenges the mindset of being a “just dreamer” someone who talks about what they’re going to do but never takes the first step. He...
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Why Every Day Is a Birthday
Shark Theory
f you’ve ever felt disappointed when a milestone rolled around and life didn’t look the way you thought it would, this episode reframes how you measure progress and why every single day matters more than one date on the calendar. Show Notes — Why Every Day Is a Birthday In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor reflects on why he’s never been a “big birthday” person and how years of unmet expectations shaped that mindset. Looking back on the early years of his career, he explains how feeling stuck often had less to do with lack of progress and more to do with a lack of clear metrics...
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The Power of Staying in Your Lane
Shark Theory
If you feel alone right now or stuck waiting for the “right people” to show up, this episode reminds you of a powerful truth. When you stay in the race and keep moving in the direction of your goals, the right people don’t have to be chased. They will find you. Show Notes — Stay in the Race and the Right People Will Find You In this episode, Baylor reflects on a photo from his very first marathon, a race he stumbled into and struggled through. At mile 14, exhausted, alone, and mentally breaking down, something unexpected happened. His brother and sister—neither of whom were running...
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Don’t Prepare for Everything, Prepare for What’s Next
Shark Theory
When you try to prepare for every possible scenario, you don’t become more effective. You just become slower. Progress requires clarity, not clutter. Show Notes — Don’t Prepare for Everything, Prepare for What’s Next In this episode, Baylor revisits a story from Extreme Ownership about Navy SEALs who weighed themselves down by over-preparing for a mission. They were trying to be ready for everything, but the extra load only slowed them down. Baylor breaks down why the same thing happens in real life. People think they’re being strategic, but they’re really hiding behind preparation...
info_outlineSome people don’t just experience bad days—they look for storms so they can complain about being soaked. This episode teaches you how to protect your energy from the people who drain it most.
Show Notes — “Stop Giving Your Energy to Storm Chasers”
In this episode, Baylor shares a moment from a coffee shop where a man argued loudly on speakerphone for over 13 minutes—complaining, rehashing, and reliving the same drama over and over again. And it highlighted something important:
Some people aren’t trying to get out of the storm.
They chase storms because complaining has become their identity.
Baylor breaks down how to identify these “storm chasers,” and more importantly, how to keep them from stealing your time, clarity, and peace.
He explains the first filter he uses when someone brings him a problem:
“Have I heard this before?”
If the answer is yes, the issue isn’t the circumstance—it’s the person’s unwillingness to grow. A repeated complaint means someone isn’t looking for resolution; they’re looking for a place to dump their chaos.
From there, Baylor shares the second test:
Give them a real solution…and watch what they do.
You’ll quickly learn who wants progress and who wants pity.
Storm chasers don’t want answers—they want an audience.
Baylor warns about the danger of giving energy to people who thrive on negativity. They will drain you, distract you, and eventually pull you into storms that were never meant for you.
And while you can’t always distance yourself physically—especially in the workplace—you can distance your energy.
You can choose not to get pulled into cycles that go nowhere.
You can protect your mental bandwidth.
You can refuse to carry clouds that don’t belong to you.
This episode is a reminder that not everyone wants sunshine—and that’s okay. But you don’t have to get wet with them.
What You’ll Learn
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How to identify “storm chasers” in your life
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The litmus test for determining whether someone wants help or attention
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Why repeated complaints reveal someone’s true mindset
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How negative people drain your energy without you noticing
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When—and how—to distance your energy from toxic conversations
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Why protecting your peace is a leadership skill
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The difference between problem-solvers and professional victims
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How to stay centered during the holiday season when negativity rises
Featured Quote
“Some people chase storms so they can complain about being soaked—don’t hand them your umbrella.”