The Peak Performance Edge

Decoding the neurobiology and science of peak performance. One actionable insight at a time.

The Problem

82% of CEOs have experienced burnout exhaustion. 96% report declining mental health.

Yet hustle culture keeps selling the same lie: work harder, push through, sacrifice everything, and success will follow.

The truth? Your brain has limits. Ignore them, and you don't just burn out—you rewire your neural pathways for failure. Work beyond 52+ hours per week, and research shows measurable changes in the brain regions governing executive function.

Less than 15% of founders can sustain 80+ hour weeks. The problem isn't commitment. It's the operating system.

This newsletter exists because there's a better way.

What You'll Get Here

Every week, I break down the neuroscience of sustainable peak performance into practical protocols you can implement immediately.

No productivity porn. No hustle culture BS. Just peer-reviewed research translated into actionable systems for:

Accessing flow states on demand (not by accident)
Rewiring neural pathways for enhanced executive function
Eliminating decision fatigue through cognitive load management
Building stress resilience at the neurobiological level
Optimising energy management beyond generic time blocking
Preventing burnout permanently (not just managing symptoms)

Each edition delivers one evidence-based insight you can apply this week. No fluff. No 3,000-word essays. Just the science that matters and the protocol to implement it.

Who This Is For

This newsletter is written for:

CEOs and founders who are tired of performative overwork and want science-backed alternatives
Knowledge workers experiencing the boom-bust cycle of productivity
Senior executives who recognise that working harder isn't working anymore
High performers seeking sustainable systems, not temporary hacks

You're solution-aware. You know the problem isn't motivation—it's methodology. You're looking for evidence-based protocols, not motivational quotes.

If you're willing to question the "grind" mythology and rebuild your operating system from first principles, you're in the right place. Sign up here.

Who I Am

I'm Dr. Simon McKenzie-Nickson, and I hold a Neuroscience PhD. I'm also a certified flow state coach with the Flow Research Collective, and I've spent years in high-pressure senior corporate roles. I've lived the burnout cycle, studied the neuroscience behind it, and rebuilt my own operating system.

Now, through my cognitive coaching practice at Second Summit, I teach a 100-day neuroscience-backed programme that helps leaders achieve higher productivity whilst preventing burnout permanently and rediscovering joy in their work.

This newsletter is where I share the research, insights, and protocols that underpin that programme—for free, every week.

What Makes This Different

Evidence-based, not opinion-based.
Every protocol I share is backed by peer-reviewed neuroscience research. I cite my sources. I show my working. If the evidence changes, I change my position.

Practical AND theoretical.
You'll get a bit of the background AND the protocols you can implement this week.

Anti-hustle, pro-performance.
Hustle culture is an empty promise creating endless cycles of burnout, on the hampster wheel, barely keeping your head above water. I'm about getting the performance of hustle culture without the burnout.

How It Works

Weekly delivery:
New edition every week, delivered straight to your inbox. Monday mornings to provide intel as your're getting stuck into your week.

5-minute read:
Respect for your time.

Free forever:
No paywalls. Just value and insights.

Unsubscribe anytime:
One click. That's it.

Questions? Reach me at simon@secondsummit.co.nz

Want to work together? Explore the programmes at www.secondsummit.co.nz or book a discovery call here.