Put Your S.H.O.E.S. O.N.

The Physical Essentials You Can’t Afford to Ignore for Success

There’s a clip of Warren Buffett speaking to a room of university students. He makes them an offer: “I’ll give you any car you want. Free of charge. Raise your hand if you’re in.”

Every hand shoots up.

Then he adds a catch: “It’s the only car you’ll ever own. For life.”

The room goes quiet.

Mr. Buffett’s point? If you only had one car, you'd treat it like gold. You’d ensure it gets regular oil changes, premium fuel, and meticulous care. Then he drops the punchline: “You get one body and one mind. That’s it. Take care of them.”

Yes, this wisdom is coming from the same man who famously runs on Coca-Cola and McDonald’s. But it’s fair to say that Mr. Buffet is exceptional in a few verticals. Don’t mistake the point of his message, as the principle is sound.

In high-performance culture, we’re trained to prioritize strategy, grit, and mental agility. But psychologists, and especially neuropsychologists, know what most high achievers forget:

🧠 Your ability to think, feel, and perform is grounded in the physical body.

Success isn’t just dependent on mental framing. Biochemistry matters. So if you’re serious about performance, start where it is rooted - in the body. Or in other words… Put your SHOES on:

🌙 Sleep. Sleep deprivation cuts cognitive performance like alcohol does. (Yes, pulling an all-nighter can make you legally impaired.)

💧 Hydration. Your brain is 80% water. Even mild dehydration reduces alertness, memory, and mood.

💨 Oxygenation. Shallow breathing = shallow thinking. Breath fuels focus.

🏃‍♂️ Exercise. Movement isn’t a “nice to have.” It builds new brain cells and improves executive function.

🏠 Shelter (Environment). Your surroundings influence your stress load, your focus, your motivation, and your decision making.

❤️‍🔥 Orgasm. Sexual pleasure reduces cortisol, boosts dopamine, improves sleep, and enhances bonding. (Also, it just feels good.)

🥦 Nutrition. B12 deficiency can mimic dementia. Poor diet can inflame your brain. You literally are what you eat.

These aren’t luxuries. They’re your mainframe.

Keep in mind that:

• Chronic stress shrinks the brain’s memory center.

• Poor diet impairs neurotransmitter balance.

• Lack of movement increases risk for both depression and dementia.

Emotions are embodied: Rage clenches fists. Shame sinks the stomach. Joy expands the chest. These are more than metaphors, they speak to the body-mind interplay

If your body is in good shape, your thinking, your focus, and your leadership will be too.

Final thought: You wouldn’t show up to a boardroom barefoot. Don’t show up to your life without putting your SHOES ON.

-E.S.