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HOUSEKEEPING 📨

Today’s piece is a real treat for me to be able to share with you. I sat down with my peak performance coach, Lukas, about all things performance. Lukas is one of our Athyna investors, and we have been working together for the last few months.

This is not any sort of paid, or sponsored post, I just wanted to share what he’s been sharing with me. What I will though is; if you are a busy founder and looking to improve, you should consider working with Lukas. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the post!

EXPERT OF THE WEEK 🎙️

Lukas Stangl, Growth Strategist at Google

Lukas Stangl is a strategy consultant at Google and executive peak performance coach who helps leaders and entrepreneurs achieve sustainable success. He specializes in designing systems and habits that optimize focus, resilience, and recovery, enabling clients to reach their full potential.

With over half a decade experience coaching startup founders and corporate executives, Lukas blends his corporate expertise at Google with science-based performance strategies to drive extraordinary results for his clients. His approach goes beyond quick wins, equipping teams with the tools to achieve long-term, high-impact success.

What does a peak performance coach actually do?

My work revolves around helping leaders and high-performing professionals design systems and protocols to unlock sustainable peak performance. This includes analyzing habits, tailoring strategies for focus, resilience, recovery, mindfulness, and sleep, as well as addressing challenges like burnout and decision fatigue.

Detail your philosophy around peak performance?

My peak performance philosophy integrates three areas: Sprint, Recover, Sustain. Sprint revolves around optimizing energy and focus during peak productive windows. This includes techniques like batching similar tasks, using focus-enhancing tools, and physically priming your body to perform at its best.

Recover is about balancing high-effort periods with intentional recovery, such as deep sleep, breathwork, or mindfulness practices. Resilience comes from allowing the body and mind to recharge effectively.

Sustain focuses on building a foundation for long-term success with habits like balanced nutrition, optimizing gut health, improving HRV, and gaining mental clarity. When these three areas are balanced, peak performance becomes not only sustainable but also scalable.

By scalable, I mean building a foundation of habits that can be expanded upon over time. When routines are in place, you can gradually build on them, much like constructing a house of cards. For example, if I work with someone who has no experience with self-mastery, we don't aim for the last 10% right away. Instead, we start with the basics, establish a solid foundation, and then scale up from there.

What separates good leaders from great when it comes to peak performance?

In my opinion, good leaders manage tasks, while great leaders inspire action and build trust. The best leaders foster psychological safety, encouraging innovation and ownership even in high-stakes situations.

At Google, I observed a common trait: radical prioritization. They consistently focus on the 20% of tasks that drive 80% of the results, applying the Pareto principle with precision. Instead of trying to do it all, they double down on what truly moves the needle—and let go of the rest.

How do you coach high-performers to avoid burnout without sacrificing their edge?

Burnout isn’t caused by hard work—it stems from chronic imbalance. I help high performers integrate recovery strategies without losing their edge. This includes energy management—scheduling recovery moments like 10-minute walks or mindful breaks between high-focus tasks—and setting boundaries, teaching them to say no to low-priority tasks that drain their energy.

I also work on increasing their stress thresholds, both mentally and physically. This involves addressing personal energy drains, as well as using priming exercises, cold exposure protocols, and progressive overload. By recovering from intense work periods, they become more resilient without sacrificing performance.

When you work in an intense environment, like a startup, there are natural ups and downs in the workload. Progressive overload outside the gym works similarly to how you build strength in fitness: you expose yourself to intense work periods, then dedicate downtime to recover.

By allowing your body and mind to adapt to these new stressors, you build the capacity to handle more over time. For example, after a capital raise or an intense project, you take intentional recovery—whether through deep rest, mindfulness, or physical relaxation. This process enables you to come back stronger. Of course, this doesn’t work indefinitely since we all have limits, but much of it is mental, and learning to balance work and rest is key.

So what would that rest look like after an extreme stress?

After extreme stress, such as a capital raise, rest is about clearing your allostatic load—the accumulated mental and physical fatigue. This can look different for everyone, but effective approaches include non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) protocols, sauna sessions, massages, or long walks outdoors. The key is to engage in activities that pull you away from screens, deadlines, and problem-solving. It’s not just rest—it’s a deliberate reset that allows your body and mind to come back stronger.

What's the most counterintuitive performance pattern you've seen?

I think many high achievers mistakenly equate being busy with being productive. But in reality, the best outcomes often happen when people take deliberate pauses to reflect and prioritize.

Overworking leads to diminishing returns, while structured downtime fuels creativity and problem-solving. It’s counterintuitive, but taking time away from work is actually essential for making progress. This is why some of the best ideas often come during unexpected moments—like long walks or those classic shower moments.

What’s a surprising lesson you’ve learned about peak performance?

One surprising lesson I’ve learned at Google is how transformative moonshot thinking can be for performance. The culture encourages setting goals that are 10x bigger than what seems possible—and that shift in mindset often unlocks hidden potential you didn’t even know was there.

But moonshot thinking doesn’t work in isolation. It’s paired with a relentless focus on data-driven feedback loops. By tracking both subjective inputs—like how you feel during peak performance—and objective metrics like biometrics, you get a clear, real-time picture of what actually drives results.

How much of your peak performance work at Google involved biometric markers?

In my 1:1 coaching—and when working with entire teams—I use biometric data to personalize performance strategies. Tools like the Oura Ring help track key markers like heart rate variability (HRV), sleep quality, and recovery patterns. This data provides objective insights, allowing us to fine-tune habits for better focus, energy, and resilience.

_{*Lukas is a trusted advisor to top performers from the following companies. Incredible right?}

Do you have one example of performance management that lead to business success?

Yes, a recent example is a startup CEO I worked with who was completely overwhelmed with day-to-day operations. He had almost no time for strategic growth, and his team was stuck in a cycle of micromanagement, which caused delays, burnout, and frustration across the board.

We also rebuilt team morale by adding biweekly feedback sessions to foster trust and autonomy. He implemented a shared project management system with a focus on OKRs, which helped him delegate more effectively and empower his team. Within six months, employee satisfaction had improved significantly, project timelines shortened, and he closed a pivotal $5 million Series B round that had been delayed due to operational distractions.

It’s often not about a new tool or script—it’s about small, consistent changes to systems and habits that unlock big results.

If you could recommend just one daily habit, what would it be and why?

I’d break this down into the Sprint, Recover, Sustain framework because these are distinct areas. For Sprint, I’d recommend dedicating 90 minutes of deep work during your natural peak focus time, like in the morning. This uninterrupted session is a game-changer—it boosts creativity and productivity for your most critical tasks.

For Recover, prioritize getting at least 90 minutes of deep sleep each night. Optimize your sleep environment and stick to a consistent sleep schedule. Deep sleep is critical for memory consolidation and emotional regulation.

For Sustain, move your body for 60 minutes daily. Even walking counts. Since we sit so much during the day, regular movement is essential for long-term health and well-being. These small habits can make a huge difference over time.

How do you get the best out of yourself personally and professionally?

For me, it comes down to three key things: First, I commit 100%, not 99%. Consistency is everything. When I fully commit to my routines—whether it’s focus blocks, daily movement, or wind-down rituals—I eliminate decision fatigue and build momentum. It keeps me mentally and physically ready to perform at my best whenever needed.

Second, I anchor everything to a strong ‘why.’ Knowing my purpose fuels my persistence and resilience. It’s not just about achieving tasks—it’s about aligning them with my personal mission, which keeps me inspired on a deeper level. Without that, burnout becomes inevitable.

Lastly, I set ambitious and uncomfortable goals. If a goal doesn’t scare me a little, it’s probably not big enough. These goals push me beyond my comfort zone, forcing me to innovate, adapt, and consistently aim higher. Discomfort, for me, is a sign of progress.

What is one thing you wish you did better? And describe your relationship with it?

Delegation is definitely something I wish I did better. I naturally gravitate toward being hands-on—I’m a very pragmatic person—but I’ve learned to trust others by creating clear frameworks and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

I’ve realized that it’s not about finding someone who can do things exactly the way I would. If someone can do a task 80% as well as I can, it’s worth delegating. Letting go has been a growth area for me, but it’s also been crucial for scaling my impact and focusing on what really matters.

Is there anything I should have asked you about peak performance?

I think we’ve covered a lot, but one interesting angle could be the common mindset traps I see among top performers.

For example, many high achievers sacrifice their health—sleep, exercise, and proper nutrition—for work demands, thinking they’ll perform better. But in reality, optimal performance starts with physical and mental well-being.

Another trap is confusing busyness with productivity. Identifying high-leverage tasks and using effective time-blocking systems to focus on what truly matters is key.

Lastly, fear of delegation I see very often. Many leaders fall into the mindset of ‘only I can do this right,’ which leads to micromanagement and burnout. Letting go and trusting others can make a huge difference in performance and outcomes.

And that’s it! You can also find Lukas on LinkedIn or subscribe to his newsletter for PDFs and exclusive content.

TWEETS OF THE WEEK 🐣 

HIRING ZONE 👀 

Today we are highlighting AI talent available through, Athyna. If you are looking for the best bespoke tech talent, these stars are ready to work with you—today! Reach out here if we can make an introduction to these talents and get $1,000 discount on behalf of us.

TOOLS WE USE 🛠️

Every week we highlight tools we actually use inside of our business and give them an honest review. Today we are highlighting Attio—powerful, flexible and data-driven, the exact CRM your business needs.

See the full set of tools we use inside of Athyna & Open Source CEO here.

HOW I CAN HELP 🥳

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