The Courageous Life

On What it Takes to Be Great | Sean Brosnan

Joshua Steinfeldt Season 5 Episode 152

When Sean Brosnan arrived at Newbury Park High School in 2016, 

their cross country team hadn’t so much as qualified for a California state 

championship in twenty-five years. 

Brosnan himself had never coached high schoolers, 

though he was no stranger to the sport. 

A collegiate All-American, he had spent years trying to chase his ambitions of 

becoming a professional runner, 

along the way learning from some of the most successful coaches in the country.

From day one at Newbury Park, Sean made a promise: 

"Give me your total commitment and I’ll give you a state championship in four years."

Brosnan’s runners ended up:

  • Taking an unprecedented three consecutive national championships,
  • smashing records,
  • winning Division I scholarships, 
  • and ultimately representing their country in the Olympics.

Today Sean is on the show to share more of his incredible story,

And some of the key insights he’s gained about unlocking human potential,

None of which may be more important than his steadfast belief that:

The only limits that matter are the ones you set for yourself.

For more on Sean you can follow him on IG and X @realseanbrosnan

and for the full story of his high school cross country team that went from 

obscurity to becoming the fastest squad the country, and perhaps the world, has 

ever seen check out his inspiring new book: 

Beyond Fast: How a Renegade Coach and His Unlikely High School Team Revolutionized Distance Running.

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