Episode 6: Showing up every day and being absolutely reliable

Episode Description

Welcome back to another episode of High Performance Conversations with your host, Sam Winston.

In this episode, Sam sits down with Cici Murray—founder of the OC Speed Lab and high-performance speed coach for elite high school prospects and NFL Combine/Draft athletes. Cici opens up about her unconventional journey from kinesiology and physical therapy to training top-tier football talent, navigating her 7th NFL Combine cycle, and helping athletes run blazing 40-yard dash times.

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Cici breaks down the behind-the-scenes realities of elite athletic preparation, explaining why speed training isn't about trendy gimmicks, but foundational consistency, conflict resolution, and mutual trust. She shares how she manages diverse athlete cohorts—treating every player with the exact same respect, whether they are a high schooler or a $100M NFL veteran. Cici also addresses navigating imposter syndrome as a woman in a 98% male-dominated field, building a 100% word-of-mouth business, and her initiative, More Her Speed, designed to empower women in sports performance.

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Whether you're an athlete, a coach, or looking to sharpen your daily execution, Cici’s insights on establishing core "non-negotiables" offer a powerful framework for personal and professional growth.

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Key Takeaways You’ll Learn Inside the Episode:

• The Unseen Grind of the NFL Combine: Why elite Combine preparation requires intense data tracking, precise tapering, and leveraging modern D1 college speed foundations behind the scenes.

• The Power of Radical Reliability: How showing up consistently and building an environment of mutual trust forms the backbone of long-term athlete retention.

• Equal Respect Across All Levels: Cici's philosophy of treating every athlete identically—whether they are a middle schooler, a high school prospect, or an NFL veteran on a $100M contract.

• Building a Word-of-Mouth Business: How OC Speed Lab grew organically from five core athletes who trusted Cici's word implicitly into a thriving speed training business.

• Navigating Imposter Syndrome as a Pioneer: How Cici channels being a female coach in a 98% male industry into motivation to work harder and show up consistently for her athletes.

• The "More Her Speed" Initiative: Cici’s mission to connect, mentor, and provide resources for women entering the sports performance space.

• Defining Your "Non-Negotiables": Why identifying your core daily constants on and off the field is the ultimate anchor for high performance.

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Memorable Quotes from Cici Murray:

"I talk to you the same way I talk to them the same way. I talk to my mom the same way I talk to the head coach the same way I talk to the janitor. Everything is the same. And that way I don't have to change anything."

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"My business is athletes that trusted me six years ago and all of their teammates and their siblings and their teammates' teammates... my word was bond that that's how it kind of grew into what it is."

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"Find your non-negotiables in training. Find your non-negotiables in practice... What are those pieces of my journey that I know aren't going to change? And if they do change, what's my backup?"

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Resources & Links Mentioned:

• OC Speed Lab: Learn more about Cici's speed coaching and training programs at OC Speed Lab.

• More Her Speed: Connect with Cici's platform supporting women in sports performance via More Her Speed.

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