Built for the 1%

Powerlifting Client: Ashley Dunmire 
Photo: ​Zachary C. Bako

Joel Younkins

High Performance Coach

You’ve already proven you can win. The question now is…How much better can you actually get?

This blog isn’t for everyone. But if it resonates with you, you’ll know exactly why you’re here.

There’s a very small part of the world where people operate on a completely different level. It exists within a 1% space. It’s so selective that it almost feels like its own fraternity, its own language, its own way of life.

These people can be athletes, business owners, or high-level professionals. I call them high performers, people operating where small margins matter.

At the top of their game, the edge isn’t effort. It’s precision, timing, and alignment across everything you do. If you can't conquer the top of your game or if you feel stuck here wanting that next edge, it’s not because you need more effort. It’s because something in your system is off. And this game is a much different game than what the rest are playing...
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Two Different Paths
​In my line of work, there are typically two paths.

The first is transformation. These are people who know they need to be better. They need structure, guidance, and execution to get from Point A to Point B. They know they’re high performing in certain areas of life, but their fitness, health, or physical performance isn’t where it should be.

That work is powerful. It’s very rewarding. It changes how people see themselves and how they operate in life.

But there’s another group. A much smaller group...

No Man’s Land
This group is already in the conversation. They’ve done the work. They’re more dedicated than 99% of the people around them. People look at them as the example. From the outside, it looks like they have everything dialed in and "they've made it." But when you actually talk to them, there’s something else there. A void. And most people don’t understand it and will never get it.

Most would say, “You’re already doing great, just ride it out.” But that’s not how high performers think. For them, it’s not about recognition. It’s about the chase. It’s about pushing the limits of what they’re capable of. It becomes a game of curiosity and ambition.

"No Man’s Land" is where you’re too advanced for general advice, but not yet optimized enough to dominate your next level in your game.

When you’re in this space, there are very few people you can actually relate to. Very few people you can have real conversations with. This is where someone like myself comes in. Someone who understands the game your playing and where you want to go.

Precision Over Volume
When someone is going through a transformation, they need more frameworks, more structure, and more execution.

When someone is already operating at a high level, they need something different.

​They need precision. They don’t need more. They don’t need cheerleaders around them. They don’t need ten different strategies. They need someone who can identify what actually matters and help them stay on track. Because at this level, being slightly off doesn’t create small problems, it creates big ones.

Think about a high-powered drag car going down the quarter mile strip. At first, everything looks perfect. It’s fast, it’s powerful, it’s impressive. But if it starts drifting slightly off line, it doesn’t take long before things go bad, and when they do, it happens fast. Most people don’t see it until it’s too late. The right coach/team member sees it early and makes a small adjustment before it becomes a problem. And if you were to see an adjustment like that happen in real time, it might look simple from the outside. But only a specific trained eye could only catch it (more on simplicity below).

You Win With People
A lot of people chase tools, features, and resources. And yes, those things can help and create convenience and luxury. But real winning programs are built on people.

The right people in your corner can make real-time decisions, solve complex problems quickly, and keep you moving in the right direction.

The wrong people, they can set you back years. Maybe you've already experienced this?

If you’re trying to find your edge, or the next edge, it’s not about having more tools. It’s about having the right people helping you steer the ship. Your most valuable tool and asset are people.

Simplicity > Complexity
One thing I’ve noticed working with high performers is this: The best coaching advice is usually simple.

• “Just do this”
• “Keep doing that”
• “Adjust this one little thing”

And they get it immediately. They don’t argue. They don’t over-analyze. They don’t need fifteen different explanations. They just nod their head and execute. They need the cue to adjust and then the coach just needs to get out of their way...

A lot of people think high performers need more complexity because the stakes are higher for them. But in reality, it’s actually the opposite. Their minds are already moving fast. They’re processing a lot at faster rates than the average person. If anything, they need their world to slow down for a second for clarity, not more layers.

Simple doesn't mean that anyone can provide it. It means that there needs to a high degree of competence to provide sniper like feedback for what this individual needs to hear in any given moment.
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The Details Matter
This is where high performance really lives.

I get labeled as the “fitness/gym guy,” and that’s fair. The foundation of my work is physical preparation and it's a simple way for most to label me. But those who work with me understand that isn't just what you get access to...They quickly learn that high performance lives in the gray area, the space between the program, the goal, and the execution. That’s where the magic really happens. It’s about having awareness, making adjustments, and paying attention to the details that actually matter and move the needle, whether it's small or big.

When things are going well, you keep them on track. When things aren’t, you make the right adjustments. It’s not about following a program because it’s “good.” It’s about following the right plan for you at the right time. High performers don’t get lost obsessing over one small detail. They make sure all the important pieces are aligned.

• They’re not debating whether carbs are good or bad. They’re making sure they’re eating what they need to perform.
• They’re not chasing the perfect morning/evening routines. They’re making sure their routines work for them.
• They’re not worried about the “perfect workout.” They’re focused on whether it actually helps them perform.

High performers don’t obsess over random details. They align the right details.

High Performance
I’ve seen what a good training program can do. I’ve seen what nutrition and recovery can do. I’ve seen what consistency can do over time. That’s the foundation.

But high performance sits on top of that. It’s alignment. It’s awareness. It’s understanding how everything fits together.

• I look for where you’re overtraining vs under-recovering
• I plan your schedule to consolidate stressors
• I identify what’s unnecessary 
• I simplify your execution so you can perform consistently

High performance is like solving a puzzle. It's being able to zoom out to see all of the puzzle pieces and putting everything together. While everyone else is focusing on a couple puzzle pieces, the right coaches see the patterns of how all of them fit together.

Fitness builds transformation. But high performance, true high performance, is what unlocks the next level. I don’t build programs for high performers. I build systems that builds the puzzle to put people in a place to win.

Final Thought
Most people don’t need this type of focus or will even have a hard time relating to all of this...

But if you’re in that space, if you’ve done the work, if you’re already operating at a high level, and you know there’s still another level to reach...

Then you’re not looking for more. You’re looking for your edge. And finding it is what separates you from everyone else.