Let Your Yes Be Yes
Shark Theory
If your word doesn’t mean something, neither does your ambition. Show Notes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor shares a simple story with a powerful lesson. After an incredible experience at a new Italian steakhouse in Dallas, Baylor told the hostess and waitress he would leave them a review. They had gone above and beyond. The service was excellent. He meant it when he said it. But he forgot. At 2:30 in the morning, he woke up remembering the promise he had made. Most people would roll over and say, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” But that wasn’t what he said he would do. So he got up...
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Precision vs. Volume
Shark Theory
Some people win by volume. Others win by precision. The key is knowing which one you are. Show Notes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor breaks down a powerful analogy that explains why different approaches to success can both be effective. There are two types of soldiers in war: the militia and the snipers. The militia are the frontline forces. High volume. High activity. Constant motion. They kick in doors, move quickly, and engage often. In life, this looks like the salesperson making hundreds of calls, the entrepreneur trying multiple ventures, the person who believes momentum comes...
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Where Do You Run?
Shark Theory
When life starts chasing you, where do you run? Show Notes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor shares the viral story of a baby monkey abandoned at a zoo in Tokyo, bullied by other monkeys, and clinging to a stuffed animal for comfort. The image is heartbreaking. The monkey runs from group to group, searching for belonging, searching for safety, searching for something to hold onto. And eventually, after days of isolation, it finds acceptance. Baylor connects this powerful image to the human experience. At some point, we’ve all felt like that monkey. Overwhelmed. Outnumbered. Running...
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The Three People You Need in Order to Grow
Shark Theory
No one succeeds alone. Behind every spotlight are people introducing, guiding, and amplifying. Show Notes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor shifts the focus from life on stage to the people behind the scenes who make everything possible. After a recent Call it Closed Realty conference, he reflected on how many pivotal roles are played by individuals most people never see. And from that reflection came a powerful framework: there are three types of people you need in your corner. First, you need someone who introduces you. Doors rarely open themselves. Someone has to believe in you...
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Find the Thing That Silences Everything Else
Shark Theory
For one hour on stage, I only have one problem in my life. What if you could find something that does that for you? Show Notes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor answers a question he was asked after a recent keynote: What is it like on your side of the stage? Public speaking is often labeled as the number one fear in the world. But Baylor challenges the idea that fear is universal. Many fears are borrowed. Many limitations come from opinions, polls, or statistics that never actually included you. Instead of asking whether something is scary, ask whether you’re looking at it through...
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Nerves vs. Nervous
Shark Theory
There’s a difference between having nerves and being nervous. One means you care. The other means you didn’t prepare. Show Notes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor pulls back the curtain on building a brand-new keynote from scratch and the psychology behind performance pressure. Unlike refining a talk over months like a comedian workshops material, this time Baylor had to deliver something completely new. New stories. New structure. New neuroscience. And with that came something he doesn’t often feel: nerves. But here’s the distinction that changed everything. Nerves simply mean...
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What Are You Really Mad At?
Shark Theory
Before you explode, ask yourself one question: What am I actually mad at? Show Notes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor shares a frustrating piano lesson that almost ended with a keyboard through the wall and the powerful insight that came from it. While trying to master a section of the James Bond theme, he hit a wall. Repeated mistakes. Rising frustration. Boiling anger. The kind that makes you want to quit. But instead of staying in that emotion, he paused and asked a deeper question: What is the real source of this frustration? From that moment, two powerful categories emerged....
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Reverse Engineer Joy
Shark Theory
You say certain things make you happy. But what does happiness actually feel like to you? Show Notes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor shares a powerful question from a recent therapy session that completely shifted his perspective: What does happiness feel like? Not what makes you happy. Not what you’re doing when you’re happy. But what does it feel like? At first, Baylor listed activities. Walking his dog. Playing golf. Spending time with friends. But his therapist pressed further. Feelings aren’t events. They’re states. That distinction changes everything. Too often, people...
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Stand Tall in the Storm
Shark Theory
When the storm comes, giraffes don’t run. They don’t hide. They stand tall and face away from it. Maybe that’s exactly what we need to do. Show Notes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor shares one of his favorite late-night research discoveries and the powerful life lesson hidden in how giraffes handle storms. At three in the morning, a random question led to a fascinating insight: where do giraffes hide when it rains? The answer is simple and powerful. They don’t. Instead of trying to curl up or seek shelter they can’t find, giraffes stand tall and face away from the storm....
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Go for the Gold
Shark Theory
t’s easy to judge from the couch. It’s harder to compete in the arena. The question is which one you want to be. Show Notes In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor breaks down powerful lessons from the Winter Olympics and what they reveal about competition, criticism, and courage. Watching elite athletes perform at the highest level makes one thing clear: there are countless ways to be great. Some sports may not make sense to you. Some events may look strange or unfamiliar. But at the highest level, everything is competitive. Everything has a degree of difficulty. And every gold medal...
info_outlineSome people win by volume. Others win by precision. The key is knowing which one you are.
Show Notes
In this episode of Shark Theory, Baylor breaks down a powerful analogy that explains why different approaches to success can both be effective.
There are two types of soldiers in war: the militia and the snipers.
The militia are the frontline forces. High volume. High activity. Constant motion. They kick in doors, move quickly, and engage often. In life, this looks like the salesperson making hundreds of calls, the entrepreneur trying multiple ventures, the person who believes momentum comes from sheer action.
Then there are the snipers.
Snipers are strategic. Patient. Highly selective. They don’t fire often, but when they do, it’s intentional. They position themselves carefully. They anticipate movement. They wait for alignment. In life, this looks like someone who studies trends, aligns with specific audiences, and moves only when the shot is right.
Neither approach is wrong.
The problem happens when militia try to be snipers, or snipers feel pressured to operate like militia. When you chase someone else’s style instead of owning your own, frustration follows.
Baylor shares how understanding his own “sniper” approach in speaking allowed him to position strategically, align with the right audiences, and command higher fees rather than chasing every opportunity.
The deeper lesson is this: wars are not won by one style alone. They’re won by understanding roles, strengths, and timing.
In some areas of your life, you may be high volume. In others, highly precise. The key is awareness.
Know your lane. Own it. And be the best at it.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
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The difference between volume-based and precision-based strategies
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Why neither approach is superior
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The danger of copying someone else’s style
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How positioning creates leverage
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Why patience is a competitive advantage
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How to identify which bucket you operate in
Featured Quote
“Some people win by firing a thousand shots. Others win by making one count. Know which one you are.”