From my years operating as an Air Marshal logging hundreds of flights per year and now as a performance coach for high-achieving entrepreneurs, I’ve collected a few travel tricks that keep you operating at your peak.

As I'll be on a speaking tour for Entrepreneurs' Organization chapters in Melbourne, Adelaide, and the Philippines this June I wanted to share my exact system for showing up at my best when counts while traveling for important business keynotes or conferences:

1. Clear Mission Focus

“Will it make the boat go faster?”—that single question powered Britain’s rowing team to Olympic gold in Rome. Every choice was filtered through it: Will this action speed up the boat or not? Whether it was grabbing another cookie, washing their hands, or taking on extra tasks, the answer decided their move.

Before I pack a single item, I get crystal clear on what my boat is. On why I'm actually traveling and what I’m looking to achieve.

For this EO tour, my mission is:

1. Deliver high-impact keynotes and workshops that transform how these entrepreneurs approach performance 
2. Have that lead to potential new 1:1 clients.

This clarity helps me make every decision through one filter: "Will this help me achieve those things?" 

When you're spending thousands on flights and accommodations (not to mention your valuable time), having clarity on your goals prevents the common mistake of treating business trips like quasi-vacations or getting sucked into unimportant distractions.

2. Use a Battle-Tested SOP

Elite military teams never “wing it,” and neither should you. City-hopping across time zones is draining, so I try to mitigate that fatigue by front-loading most decisions before I fly with a simple SOP.

My SOP includes everything from pre-trip prep (slide deck finalization 72 hours before departure) to a packing checklist (exact items for speaking engagements) to arrival protocols (immediate time zone adjustment). It also includes a more specific checklist of "Are there people who I want to meet and have we scheduled to connect?” or “Are there any distractions that I need to avoid?” 

This helps ensure I can still operate at my best in unfamiliar environments when possibly compromised by jetlag.

3. Reliability > Adventure

When your performance matters, choose certainty over novelty. I stay at hotel chains I know well rather than boutique options that might look cooler on Instagram.

Why? Because I know exactly what I'm getting. The bed quality, noise levels, gym facilities, and room service timing. This predictability creates a stable foundation for peak performance. 

I save the adventure accommodations for actual vacation.

4. Fly During Daylight Hours

This one's controversial for some reason but game-changing: I avoid overnight flights whenever possible, even when flying business class. The truth is, you simply don't get quality sleep on planes compared to proper hotel beds.

For long-haul trips, I'll break up the journey with an airport hotel to ensure proper recovery. Yes, it takes longer, but I arrive ready to perform rather than needing a recovery day. Remember, you're traveling for results, not to minimize travel time and besides, an airplane seat is a great space for deep work.

5. Order the Fruit Platter

This is a lesson I learned from a savvy old air marshal. 

Always request the fruit platter on flights. It costs nothing extra but makes a massive difference in how you feel upon landing.

Our taste buds function differently at altitude, which is why airlines load meals with extra salt and sugar. I bring a protein shake and a bag of mixed nuts to supplement the fruit platter (if you’re still hungry they always have extra food). This simple swap prevents the inflammation and brain fog that comes from processed airplane food.

6. Compression Socks

This isn't just for old people, it’s a protocol professional athletes follow on flights between games. Quality compression socks dramatically reduce the inflammation and fluid retention that happens during flights.

Is it a factor in your mental performance? No. But is it much nicer to arrive the next day without your ankles feeling bloated? Yes.  

They take all of 10 seconds to put on and make a big difference.

I use simple knee-high running socks similar to these but from Decathlon.

7. Hotel Breakfasts = Fuel Not Feasts

A health coach friend once told me that his biggest challenge is to get rich people to stop gorging on free food. 

How many times have you gone to a conference or stayed at a hotel and just needlessly gorged on the hotel breakfast, feeling a bit lethargic afterwards? 

To avoid this, I view the hotel buffet as a fuel meal, not a feast. Something to fill my body with energy, not to satiate my taste buds.

I load up my plate only with quality protein (usually eggs and smoked salmon), healthy fats, and vegetables before I sit down to eat. Then and only then, if I want to get up and take another plate with any baked goods, do I do that, which rarely ends up happening. 

This approach provides steady energy rather than the crash that comes from the standard carbohydrate-heavy continental feast. 

So next time you're standing at the breakfast buffet, ask yourself your version of "Will it help the boat go faster?" 

8. Morning Movement, But Don't Overdo It

I never skip morning movement on travel days, but I’m also cautious about intensity. Remember why you're there. In my case, to speak, not to crush a new deadlift PR.

A 20-30 minute session focusing on mobility, light resistance work, or perhaps a swim wakes me up and gets me pumped to perform without fatiguing me. Save the intense training for when you're back home.

A great trick to not feel like you're falling behind is to simply view conferences or speaking engagements as the deloading weeks in your training program. 

9. Book Key Meetings In Advance

Don't leave networking to chance. I schedule strategic breakfasts, lunches or dinners well before arrival to maximize relationship-building opportunities.

This prevents both the "where should we eat?" time-waste and ensures you connect with the highest-value contacts. 

10. Debrief While It's Fresh

Within 24 hours of each event, I conduct a personal debrief focusing on three categories: what worked well, what didn't, and specific adjustments for next time.

I document these insights immediately while they're fresh, creating a continuously improving system. This systematic approach prevents repeating mistakes and compounds effectiveness with each trip.

BONUS: Create One Life Experience

Life’s too short for forgettable trips and only seeing the inside of hotel ballrooms, so I build at least one standout experience into every itinerary. When this trip wraps up in Manila, my wife and I will fly to Siargao for five days of world-class surfing with new scenery and world class waves.

This serves dual purposes: it provides strategic decompression after an intense period which is crucial for long term performance, and it ensures I'm actually experiencing the places I visit. Life is too short not to appreciate these opportunities when they arise.

What about you? Do you have any travel performance strategies I've missed? Email me at [email protected] and let me know! I'm always looking to upgrade my systems.

And if you're an EO member in Melbourne, Adelaide, or the Philippines, I look forward to meeting you. We'll be diving deep into the Elite Performance framework that's helped my clients achieve breakthrough results.

If you’re not an EO member and would like to join these events or meet up please let me know (I still have a couple lunch slots open)!

Who dares wins,

Itamar

“If you don’t clearly understand the problem, you won’t find the correct solution.”

Imposter Syndrome is a term that gets thrown around a lot these days.

It seems that whenever someone is struggling to do something in a public arena they chalk it up to Imposter Syndrome.

“I have a hard time telling my employees what to do and being more assertive.”
Must be Imposter Syndrome…

“I’m not putting out as much content as I should to promote the business.”
Must be Imposter Syndrome…

“Anything to do with interacting with other people isn’t super easy…”
Must be Imposter Syndrome…

While it’s great that people are looking for ways to understand what’s going on, Imposter Syndrome isn’t always the correct diagnosis… It’s just the end range of most people’s vocabulary around this issue.

“The depth of your vocabulary will determine the depth of your thoughts.”

A while ago, I was asked a question from an entrepreneur who said he was trying to overcome the Imposter Syndrome that was stopping him from posting more content… Despite the fact that he was 100% confident that he’s great at what he does and provides way more value than most in his field.

Sounds off, right?

Here was my response:

“Some food for thought:

From what you wrote it's highly unlikely you have Imposter Syndrome (where you believe you're not good enough).

You're just afraid of potentially being judged.

The 2 might sound similar, but the approach to resolving them is different.

An easy way to differentiate between Imposter Syndrome vs. Fear of Judgement is to ask whether we downplay ourselves internally or only externally.

I.e. Do we not believe in ourselves or do we know we're great but we're afraid of putting ourselves out there and possibly being judged/coming off as arrogant?

Most people who truly have Imposter Syndrome don't have the internal belief that they're actually really good at what they do. It's why they feel like an imposter who doesn't truly measure up to others.

But if someone has an internal belief that they're great, but they don't want to externalize that in front of others, it's probably because they are afraid of being judged, losing love/approval, or being an outcast.

There isn't an actual "success gap" they feel a need to bridge before they'll be good enough, but rather an emotional insecurity in regards to public perception that holds them back.

From what you wrote, it sounds more like the second.

If that resonates, then that's what you need to work on, the fear of being judged (and what the consequences you believe coming across as arrogant might have for your life and business).

Yes, owning that we have fears and insecurities is uncomfortable, especially as men.

And yes, using terms like "Imposter Syndrome" is easier, but getting clarity on and owning what truly holds us back is the necessary first step towards clarifying the actual problem and creating true progress.

Hope this helps.”

Quick question for you:
Are you clear on what’s actually holding you back?
If not, how can you get that crucial clarity?

Who dares wins,
Itamar

P.S. To get FREE Extreme Clarity Tool go HERE.

In September 2019 after 8 years of dedication, ups & downs, amazing experiences and a lot of self improvement I was awarded my Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

I was honored to receive all my belts from Rico Vieira, a leader and innovator of the art, a 9 time world champ and a truly amazing teacher.

The journey that brought me to this point was been a truly unique and amazing one.

I trained, competed and lived in 4 different continents, visited over 50 different countries and went through a lot. ?

In this 8 year period I started out working as a diplomat abroad, transitioned into being a full on Jiu Jitsu bum (slept on mats in Brazil and the States), then I went back to the counter terror world and was the head of security for a billionaire and finally I started out my own online business this past year. 

The afternoon after I got promoted I took time to summarize and reflect the journey that I had. I recognizes that I struggled well and hard and learned many lessons along the way.

This is something I wrote to myself for myself and is directed to myself for future reference.

But perhaps it can serve others as well or better yet, you will challenge me on these lessons and show me where I'm at fault. So here it is.

Lesson #1: Appreciate the Now

Confucius said that "We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one".
Your younger self only focused on the end goal you were pursuing.  
When you were competing in Brazil, all you cared for and thought about was winning the competition. When you were living on a tropical island in Thailand and training you were more concerned about training then stopping for a moment to appreciate the rare lifestyle you were blessed to have.
Your younger self thought that stopping to smell the roses for a moment would kill your progress.
Your older self understands that the two are not mutually exclusive... But that they actually benefit each other. 
Denying yourself happiness is unnecessary.

If you want to succeed in life, learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want.

Lesson #2: Set Audacious Goals

Kanye once sang "reach for the stars so if you fall you land on a cloud"
When you were a blue belt you decided that your goal was to become a black belt world champion... and you told that to anybody and everybody.
You ended up competing in the worlds 3 times but never reached the podium. At purple belt you also deviated away from Jiu Jitsu towards business... Life pulled you in other ways.
But that audaciously high anchor you set for yourself left a mark.
So yes, you never reached the height of a black belt world championship podium, but because you set that incredibly high and audacious anchor as a goal in your mind, getting to black belt was simply inevitable... and here you are today.

If you want to succeed in life, expect shortcomings. Remedy that by aiming 10 levels higher and give yourself room to fail into success.

Lesson #3: "Be Effective, Not Efficient"

One of the most disheartening lessons you learnt was to not complain, feel sorry for yourself or expect the world to reward you for having wasted A LOT of energy on the wrong thing.
This principle might manifest in various manners in your life. All the way from continuously drilling a move incorrectly on the mats to making incorrect decisions with your career or with whom you choose to have relationships with. 
Pouring your heart and soul into something and realizing that it will not bear fruits can be demoralizing, but that's life. 
Being able to look at the situation through an objective and logic driven perspective can be the difference between gaining valuable wisdom or continuing to waste your time and energy in vain.
There is no weakness in admitting that you've made a mistake, pursued something in vain and must now start from scratch. It's quite the opposite.

If you want to succeed in life, remember that you're constantly going to make the wrong decisions. While being able to push is a virtue you MUST make sure that you're pushing in the right direction.

Lesson #4: Only Focus on What You Can Control

They say that a 3rd of the outcome will be determined by us, a 3rd by our opponents and a third is down to chaos/god.
There's no need to get into percentages, but you've cost yourself many opportunities in BJJ competitions and other fields in life because you've mistakenly given your focus to things that are outside of your control.
While it's incredibly motivating and energizing to have goals to push towards, never let outcomes occupy your focus. They're outside of your control.
The moment you focus on things that you do not have control over is the moment you give less attention to things that you actually do have. It's the moment you neglect things that can actually influence the outcome. Do not fall into this trap.
Focus solely on the necessary actions that are within your "circle of control". This will be your best strategy to get to the promised land.

If you want to succeed in life, have the discipline to avoid trying to control to outcome and keep your focus solely on what's within your "circle of control".

Lesson #5: "Your opponent is your greatest teacher" 

The obvious "your lack of technique was exposed" part has been repeated enough times. So lets dig deeper.  
As hard as it may be, remember that every time someone or something caused you to have an emotional reaction it was because there was something within you that you were not comfortable with.
Try to remember the old proverb "If there is no enemy within, then the enemy outside can do us no harm". 
If you were comfortable with yourself and the situation at hand didn't scare you or challenge your sense of self or status then you would not have been bugged by it.
When you decided to stop pursuing BJJ full time and started to consistently lose at certain tournaments it messed with your head and made you furious. You couldn't except that there's a give and take in the world and that a part of your identity you valued and let define you could no longer exist.
Next time do not look outwards in anger and lash out, but look inwards and ask why you are feeling this way and if it serves you.
The mats have exposed your ego many times, and they'll continuously do so as you age. Be grateful for it. 
Seek to discover any enemies within that lie within your heart mind and soul.

If you want to succeed in life, seek to discover those enemies within that keep you from becoming your ultimate self.

Lesson #6: Seek Out High Level Teachers 

To gain more wisdom in any field in life you must find high level people. These people will help you understand what actions are "effective" and will help you get to where you want to go faster and easier.
Unless you're playing a zero sum game, which you shouldn't be, there's no need to try to reinvent the wheel. Learn to model what's already working and make great efforts to find people who can show you how to do that. This can save you decades.

If you want to succeed in life, venture high and far to find high level teachers who will guide you towards success.

Lesson #7: Despise Being the Smartest Person in the Room

"If you want to feel good about yourself, be in a room where you're the smartest. If you want to improve, find a room where everyone's smarter than you."
Jiu Jitsu made this remarkably clear to you. When you got consistently smashed in Brazil it was disheartening at times. But your best results in competitions always came after months of being smashed.
When life smashes you, don't have an emotional reaction. Instead find people who can help you figure it out, constantly ask them questions, apply the answers you receive and keep at it. If you do this then astonishing improvement is inevitable.
On the flip side be weary of getting your ego stroked. If you're constantly being looked up to on the mats or any other area in life and are being asked questions, it can feed your ego and feel good... But it's a short term ego boost. It means you're not being challenged and growing.
Happiness comes from growth, so remember to associate challenges with inevitable growth and happiness and seek them out. 

If you want to succeed in life, seek out rooms where everyone is smarter than you.

Lesson #8: Be Terrified of Blue Beltitus 

When you were a blue belt you acted like a jackass. You had no idea how much you didn't know. You understood the basic guards and passes and thought that you had a pretty "wide" understand of this BJJ thing.
This seems to be universal concept. People who are just past the beginning stage think that they "get it". They don't yet recognize that obtaining a "wide" perspective is just the first step. The real magic comes from being able to go "deep". In the beginning you'll have no idea of how deep a rabbit hole can go so never assume you've "gotten it".
Whenever you pursue a new venture in life be very weary of not yet knowing what you don't know.

If you want to succeed in life, always be on the lookout for Blue Beltitus.

Bonus Tip: How to Recognize High Caliber People 

An easy way to recognize if someone is of a high caliber is through the "question filter".
High level people will appreciate you respectively challenging their thought process and asking questions.
It's kind of a chicken and egg thing where a person who has a lot of good answers will be comfortable being asked questions and will even encourage it... and the reason that they've earned this wisdom is because they were open to asking and being asked challenging questions. 
If someone is bugged by you respectively asking questions recognize them for what they are. A low level player who's lack of openness will cause them to stay at that level.

If you want to succeed in life, seek out people who never shy from having their thought process challenged.

P.S. If you want to get to a black belt level in your business and mindset as fast as possible, Itamar offers 1 on 1 coaching programs and team trainings. Leave us a message below or contact us HERE for more information.