You’ve probably seen the photo. It’s 2024, the Philadelphia Eagles are in the heat of a playoff run, and star wide receiver A.J. Brown is sitting on the bench. He’s not staring at a playbook. He isn't looking at the scoreboard. He’s reading a book called Inner Excellence.
Suddenly, everyone wanted to know who Jim Murphy was and why an NFL superstar was reading performance psychology in the middle of a game.
Honestly, most of us treat success like a destination. We think if we just get that promotion, hit that weight goal, or buy that house, we’ll finally feel "excellent." Jim Murphy argues the exact opposite. He says that chasing those external things—what he calls the PALMS (Possessions, Achievements, Looks, Money, and Status)—is actually a virus. It makes you anxious. It makes you fragile.
Jim Murphy Inner Excellence isn't just about winning; it’s about a fundamental shift in how you see yourself. It’s about moving from a "performance-based" identity to one rooted in what he calls "Zoe"—a Greek word for being fully alive.
The Problem With Being "Good Enough"
Most high achievers are running on "dirty fuel."
Think about it. Why do you work so hard? Is it because you love what you do, or is it because you’re afraid of what happens if you fail? For Jim Murphy, the "Inner Excellence" philosophy started with his own failure. He was a professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs system, and he was miserable. His entire self-worth was tied to his batting average. If he hit well, he was a king. If he struck out, he was worthless.
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That’s a exhausting way to live.
He eventually realized that the "Critic" in his head was a liar. We all have that voice. The one that says you’re only as good as your last win. Murphy’s work, which includes coaching Olympic athletes and PGA Tour pros like Justin Thomas, focuses on dismantling that voice. He identifies three main mental adversaries:
- The Critic: This guy delivers the constant negative verdict on everything you do.
- The Trickster: This pattern traps you in the past, replaying your mistakes until you're too afraid to take risks.
- The Monkey Mind: This is just the sheer volume of scattered, useless thoughts that keep you from being present.
If you’re always listening to the Critic, you can’t be present. And if you aren't present, you can't be excellent.
Why Jim Murphy Inner Excellence Is Different
A lot of performance coaches talk about "grinding" or "mental toughness." They tell you to push through the pain. Murphy says that’s a recipe for burnout.
His framework is built on three pillars: Love, Wisdom, and Courage. That sounds a bit "soft" for a guy who coaches pro athletes, right? But look at how it works in practice. Love, in this context, isn't about romance; it’s about connection and selflessness. When you stop being self-centered, your fear actually starts to evaporate. Why? Because fear is almost always about you. "What will they think of me?" "What if I fail?"
If your focus is on the work or the people you're serving, that self-centered fear loses its grip.
The Shift from Outcome to Process
We’ve all heard "trust the process," but Murphy gives it teeth. He talks about four specific process goals that help you stay grounded when the pressure is on:
- Be present. Not 90% present. Fully.
- Focus on what you can control. (Hint: It’s never the score).
- Play with freedom. Like a kid in a backyard.
- Stay curious. Treat every mistake as feedback, not a funeral.
He tells this story about Ryan Dodd, a champion water ski jumper. Dodd had a horrific head injury that nearly ended everything. When he came back, he stopped focusing on the distance of the jump. He started focusing on the "inner world." He became more successful after the injury than before it because he stopped being a slave to the result.
The "Virus" of the Heart
Murphy often talks about "affluenza." It’s this cultural idea that we need more to be more.
But you’ve probably noticed that the goalposts always move. You get the raise, and within three months, you’re stressed about the next one. This is because you’re trying to fill an internal hole with external stuff. Jim Murphy Inner Excellence suggests that you need to "surrender" the ego's need to be right or admired.
He describes surrender like a kid trading a small lollipop for a giant one. You aren't "giving up"; you're letting go of something small (your ego) to gain something much bigger (peace and peak performance).
It’s counterintuitive. We’re taught that control is everything. But in high-pressure moments—like a playoff game or a board meeting—the harder you try to control the outcome, the tighter your muscles get and the more your vision narrows.
Actionable Steps to Build Inner Excellence
You don't need to be an NFL player to use this. You can start basically anywhere. Here is how you actually apply this stuff:
Identify your "Dirty Fuel." Ask yourself: "Am I doing this to avoid feeling like a failure?" If the answer is yes, you're burning dirty fuel. It will get you results, but it’ll leave you empty. Try to find a "clean" reason—like the joy of the craft or helping someone else.
Practice the "Mind Renewal" process. When the Critic starts talking, don't argue with it. Just notice it. "Oh, there's the Critic again." Then, refocus on your breath or the task at hand. You are not your mind. You are the person observing your mind.
Redefine your "Success." At the end of the day, don't ask "Did I win?" Ask "Was I present?" and "Did I lead with courage?" If you hit those marks, the results usually take care of themselves anyway.
Embrace Discomfort. Murphy says an easier life isn't the best life. Discomfort is the teacher. When things go wrong, instead of getting frustrated, say, "This is exactly what I need to grow." It sounds cheesy, but it shifts your brain from "threat mode" to "learning mode."
Jim Murphy’s philosophy isn't a quick fix. It’s a training manual for the soul. Whether you’re reading it on a sideline or in a cubicle, the goal is the same: to stop letting the world define your worth. When you master your inner world, the outer world becomes a lot easier to navigate.
To really start this journey, pick one area of your life where you feel the most pressure. Identify the specific "fear" attached to it—usually a fear of being "less than"—and consciously decide to focus on the effort and the connection to others in that space, rather than the final score.