Train your mind. Build your Inner Margin.
In a world full of endless short-form content, it’s time we return to the basics: paper and pencil.
You don’t lack motivation, you lack structure. The Inner Margin removes the friction between you and your goals. This research-backed training journal helps you create the systems and habits to reach peak performance.
Like many high school athletes:
→ I knew what I wanted to achieve, but had no idea how to connect my daily training with those big goals.
→ I was confused about my identity in the sport, unsure which actions actually mattered, and how to make my identity intrinsically motivated.
→ I wanted to create habits, but the barrier to starting felt too high. I thought I lacked motivation, but I lacked a system that removed friction.
So, like any budding scientist, I dove into the research, majored in psychology at Duke, met with the top sports psychologists, and developed a research-backed system with my brilliant teammates. Whether you’re a seasoned vet when it comes to the mental side of performance, or a complete novice (like I was most of high school), you’ve come to the right place.
Build Your Inner Margin
Table of contents
Get a look at all of the content covered in the book.
Chapters
1
How to use this Journal
2
S.M.A.R.T. Goals
3
Daily Logs
4
Weekly Reflections
5
Competition Day
Extra
Creating impact, expressive journaling, performance reflections
About the author
Julia Jackson
In high school, I was a 4x NJ state champion, ranking #2 in the US in the 400m dash my senior year. The funny part? I only joined track my freshman year of high school.
After COVID knocked out my sophomore season and half of my junior year, I became state champion for the first time. This time drop had nothing to do with my physical training, and everything to do with my mental training.
Now, as a First-Team All-American sprinter and a team captain at Duke, I’ve seen firsthand that with the proper systems in place, no goal is too small. I’ve condensed my process, piloted this with D1 athletes, and realized all athletes can develop their Inner Margin.
What our pilot Duke Athletes have said
★★★★★
“What made me come back after my first day using the journal was the easy, clear, and simple prompts. I found it easier to answer questions versus just writing my thoughts/refections on a blank piece of paper.”
★★★★★
“I love how this introduces advanced ideas about the science behind training in a way that’s really approachable and not intimidating.”
★★★★★
“I seriously loved it!! The structure/prompts are so helpful for me so I found it so motivating to have something guiding me.”
Become a part of the limited Founder’s Edition of The Inner Margin.
Have the ability to provide direct feedback to fuel future versions. Help us build the system.
The Inner Margin: a journal by athletes for athletes 