Strong mind. Strong body. Strong faith.

What is the key to consistent high performance? To keeping your foot on the gas and fuel in your tank in the pursuit of excellence every day?

That’s what I wanted to learn from Scott Blevins when we sat down for Episode 4 of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast. As a dairy manager at Wiese Bros. Farms in Greenleaf, Wisconsin, for 17 years, Scott has led the operation through growth, crisis and never-ending change, yet he never lets the bar he sets for himself or his team slip below the level of excellence. And if you know Scott, you know he operates at one speed: 100 miles per hour.

If you’re like me, you’ve got a few books on your shelf or podcasts on your list that outline the steps for staying on top of your game, but for Scott, the key to endurance and resilience comes down to these three cornerstones:

A strong mind, strong body and strong faith.

Mental strength: “Anyone is good when things are good. It’s how good you are when things get tough,” Scott says. As a manager, he owns his role as a leader, and knows his attitude creates the culture at the dairy. He expects his team to follow the same principles he holds for himself: Work hard; Respect (for yourself, the animals, each other, the facilities); Follow the rules and protocols; and Take responsibility for mistakes. (~27:30)

Physical strength: Hitting the gym every morning is how Scott stays physically strong and mentally strong. (~3:10) It’s a routine he learned from his dad, who now in his 70s, continues to run and lift weights to start his day. “It helps me make clear-minded decisions and be on top of my game,” Scott says.

Christ-based strength: Keeping his mind strong and body strong are priorities, but Scott draws his greatest strength from his faith. (~22:37) “When you’re in a job that requires a lot of you, your mind and the physical side of things, it wears on you,” Scott says. “It’s probably the biggest inner strength that I have.”

“Spiritual strength is everything,” he adds. “It’s how you live this life and where you end up at the end of it.”

It doesn’t matter if you are a dairy manager, or just a mom like me. What we can take away from Scott is the simple reminder that of all the things we try to do to perform at a high level, the most basic formula for endurance, resilience and excellence is this: A strong mind, a strong body and strong faith.

Challenge: What is one thing you can do every day to strengthen your mind, your body and your faith?

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