HiPer8™ Principles:

The Foundation of High Performance

Origins & Development

The HiPer8™ (pronounced 'hyper-8') Principles are the 8 principles that underlie high performance in athletics, business and life. They represent a journey of discovery spanning decades of personal and professional experience. They helped me build and sell a multi-million dollar franchise business, and now I want to share them with the world to help others succeed.

My path to developing these principles began during my early years as a junior tennis player, where I first encountered concepts like discipline and grit through rigorous training. These foundational elements were reinforced during my time as a D1 athlete at Cal Poly and further expanded through my Stanford engineering education.

While athletics provided the initial framework, many principles evolved through addressing specific business and life challenges with the help of exceptional books and mentors. Through training to improve lackluster sales results, I discovered the critical role of empathy, problem-solving, and surprisingly- purpose. When learning how to be a more effective leader to address challenges of hiring and managing, I discovered the importance of accountability and communication. Each business obstacle became an opportunity to expand the framework through targeted learning and practical application, gradually building a comprehensive system proven across diverse situations.

The real testing ground came through contrasting business experiences- first building a company from scratch, and then growing a franchise business to multi-million dollar success. This journey revealed a pattern of mindsets and behaviors that consistently drove exceptional results regardless of context.

What began as intuitive understanding evolved into a systematic framework. Through studying high performers across athletics and business, consulting with mentors, and reflecting on my own successes and failures, these principles crystalized into the comprehensive system they are today.

The Framework

At the center of the HiPer8™ Principles is Purpose: your clear, compelling "why" that drives everything else. Radiating from this core are seven interconnected principles that, when applied together, create a powerful system for achievement in any arena.

Purpose

I have a compelling ‘why’

Purpose provides direction and meaning to your efforts. It creates alignment within yourself and with others around you. With clear purpose, decisions become easier, motivation stays stronger, and resilience builds naturally.

Discipline

I do what needs to be done

Consistent execution of the right activities, regardless of mood or circumstances, separates high performers from everyone else. This includes creating effective systems, prioritizing important work over urgent distractions, and maintaining balance between intensity and recovery.

Lifelong Learning

I am always learning, never a finished product

High performers always seek to improve on things that matter most to them. They maintain insatiable curiosity and openness to new ideas. They seek feedback eagerly, view challenges as growth opportunities, and continuously expand their capabilities. This principle creates the foundation for all other development.

Creative Problem-Solving

How can I...?

High performers approach obstacles with solution-focused questions rather than limitation statements: “How can I [improve employee retention]?” versus “It’s too hard to find good people.” They distinguish between factors they can and cannot control, make decisions with incomplete information, and maintain emotional regulation during challenges.

Accountability

I own my actions, inactions, and their results

Taking complete responsibility for outcomes—without blame, excuses, or denial—is essential for growth and improvement. This includes acknowledging reality, measuring results objectively, and creating structures that reinforce follow-through.

Grit

I view setbacks as necessary steps toward mastery

The persistence to continue despite obstacles, setbacks, and plateaus makes achievement possible. Understanding that effort compounds more powerfully than talent, high performers develop determination that outlasts initial motivation and find meaning in difficult journeys.

Empathy

I design experiences that serve others effectively

Creating positive experiences for others—whether team members, customers, or stakeholders—requires understanding their perspectives and needs. This includes applying the platinum rule (treat others as they wish to be treated) and designing environments that bring out the best in people.

Exceptional Communication

I listen, respond, and communicate with intention

Clear, purposeful communication forms the foundation of all successful relationships and endeavors. This includes active listening, adapting communication styles to different audiences, explaining the "why" behind decisions, and addressing issues directly while maintaining relationships.

Practical Applications

The true power of the HiPer8™ Principles emerges when applied to specific contexts. The context can be broad- high performance as an athlete, a business owner, a sales rep, a high school student. The context can also be narrow- high performance in hitting a serve, hiring employees, selling windows, studying for a test. Below are examples of how they work in different scenarios.

Example 1: Franchise Match-Making

HiPer8™ Principles: Franchise Match-Making

Purpose: "We will uncover your goals—personal, professional, lifestyle, and financial, so we know what we're working towards."

Disciplined Execution: "We will make time in our busy schedules to meet regularly and do our homework."

Lifelong Learning: "We'll explore opportunities you might not have considered on your own, expanding your vision of what's possible."

Creative Problem-Solving: "We'll figure out how to keep moving forward, whether that's taking the next step towards ownership, or deciding business ownership isn't for you at this time."

Accountability: "If things come up, we will take ownership and not make excuses."

Grit: "We'll navigate the inevitable bumps in the exploration journey, maintaining focus on your long-term goals."

Empathy: "We'll include key stakeholders (like your spouse/partner) in the process, respecting their perspectives and concerns."

Exceptional Communication: "We'll be good listeners for each other, respond reliably, and address issues directly as they come up."

Example 2: Starting Your Franchise Business

HiPer8™ Principles: Starting Your Franchise Business

Purpose: Understand and embrace the impact you have on your customer’s lives. This should be what you and your team work towards each day.

Disciplined Execution: Follow the franchise systems and processes. There's a reason behind everything; if you don't understand it, ask.

Lifelong Learning: Start by craving information from your franchisor and other owners. Once you have your feet under you, utilize outside resources to continue growing (on leadership, marketing, sales, productivity, etc).

Creative Problem-Solving: Problems will arise (even with a franchise business); utilize the franchisor and other owners and ask, “How can I...?”

Accountability: Take ownership of things that happen and their results (don’t blame others, including the franchisor). What can YOU do to prevent these issues from happening in the future? What can YOU do to set yourself up for success? Make sure your team members are demonstrating accountable behaviors.

Grit: Short-term failure WILL happen in any business, but you WILL win in the long run if you stick with it.

Empathy: Understand the point of view of your customers and team members, and design experiences to serve both of them as part of working towards your business goals.

Exceptional Communication: Respond to customers and team members promptly, listen to understand, set expectations early and often, and be the team cheerleader.

Your Next Step

Do this resonate with you? Ready to explore how these principles can work in your specific situation? Contact me to discuss your goals and see if franchise ownership might be your path to greater autonomy, wealth, and purpose.

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