We asked our newest ambassador, Mike Potier, what motivates him in our latest edition of "Getting to know our FITLIGHT® Family"
Name: Mike Potier
Where are you based out of?: Viera, FL
Can you share a little about what you do?
I am currently the owner and Performance Director for Pinnacle Performance Center & Sports Lab in Melbourne, FL. While we work on strength and speed & agility, one of the areas I focus on is Neuro-Performance. This is working with athletes, first responders, and the general public in how the eyes and brain receive and process information and then how the body reacts. Working on reaction time, processing speed, and motor output. All of these areas are essential for athletes but just as important for everyday life. I also try and find time to get out on the field and work with soccer players whenever I can. I really enjoy getting back out there when I can. And then whenever possible I get out to watch the athletes I work with in their games.
What are 3 Words that describe you:
Driven, Honest, Loyal
What do you do in your downtime or to unwind?
I am a big fan of Formula 1 (F1) racing. When it’s a race weekend, you can find me watching the practice sessions, qualifiers and the race. As well, I am a big fan of European soccer. I also really enjoy going to watch the athletes I train play in their respective games when possible. I like to cook and the beach is always a good place to relax. Getting out for a good bike ride is a great way to clear the brain and decompress.
Can you share your FITLIGHT® Journey?
A good friend of told me about the FITLIGHTS® while we were discussing performance training and new technology that was being used. Being someone that loves cutting edge technology, I was hooked. The potential was obvious and with all of the different programming capabilities - it made using them for performance training a “no brainer”. While attending a Human Performance Course, I met some of the FITLIGHT® team, who were there to talk about the system and demonstrate the system and it capabilities for human performance improvements. After seeing the demos and speaking with the team, it made even more sense and I immediately wanted to start them in my sessions. I stayed in touch with them and once I got my system I went to work right away, using them out on the field and indoors. The athletes loved them immediately, and with the data and immediate feedback, it completely changed the way I could train reaction time, speed of processing information, and cognitive ability.
What has changed the most since you started in your discipline?
I would say that the technology and science aspect of athletic training has really changed over the years. Everything is data driven and the need to have that information to see improvement or even the deficiencies is key to athletic performance and improvement. It also helps to keep the athletes safer and less likely to overtrain.
Who is an inspiration to you?
I would have to say many people have inspired me over the years so it’s difficult to just say it was one person. But for the last 28 years I have had the privilege of knowing and working for and alongside Dr. Joe Machnik. Joe founded No.1 Soccer Camps in 1977 and in 2017 he was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame. which I was honored to attend. Over the years I have learned a lot being a part of his camp and in other areas of the soccer world and life in general. He always put his players first and made sure he took the time to get each area of training correct before moving on to the next. And that was something that really stuck with me and has always been a guiding principal ever since.
What are you working on that gets you out of bed in the morning?
Well that’s a lot to cover. I am always trying to find the best ways possible to train the athletes I work with. Always learning new things from people I respect. Exploring different ways of training that are sometimes out of the box. I want to help them not only become better athletes but hopefully better humans. I am also really getting involved with training Law Enforcement in Neuro-Performance. This is something I am really excited about. It’s a new way for them to train and they love it and are embracing it. They are amazing to work with and I know that the training and programming we are doing will help them keep people safe. And hopefully keep them safer as well. That’s what really drives me.
What advice do you have for people that are trying to break into the field of soccer training or cognitive performance training?
I would say just be open minded. There is a lot of information out there and sometimes we get caught up in just the things we learned or did as athletes. Having an open mind can really allow you to get the best information and training methods possible and the pass that on to the people you are working with. I think the best way to say it is “knowing what you don’t know” will allow you to go far in anything you do.
Check out our webinar with Mike as he discusses how to implement FITLIGHT optimize your training sessions. Use at checkout PINNACLE to get a discount on your FITLIGHT system!
