High Performance Mindset | Learn From World-class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches About Mindset

In this interview, Brett Bartholomew, provides us a preview of his new book, Conscious Coaching: The Art and Science of Building Buy-In which achieved “Best Seller” and was ranked in the “Amazon Top 100 Books Overall.” Brett Bartholomew is a strength and conditioning coach, author, consultant, and founder of the performance coaching and consulting company, Bartholomew Strength. His experience includes across 23 sports at levels ranging from youths to Olympians. He’s supported Super Bowl and World Series Champions, along with several professional fighters, including those competing in the UFC. Topics we discuss in this episode include: The difference between exposure and experience 3 things world-class athletes do differently Ways that he had dealt with critics and how he helps his clients do the same 3 stages of internal identification (reflection, inspection, and progression or questioning who you are, examining who you are, and owning who you are) How to own who you are His journey to get out there with yo

“If you think you can or think you can’t, your right.” Henry Ford High performers focus on the possibilities. They think big and dream about their future. They do not put limits on their ability or achievements. Instead, they defy limits. They don’t settle for average. Today's Affirmation today: I choose to see the possibilities for myself and my future. I stay gritty, believing I can do the impossible. I see all the ways I can make it happen.

Dr. Kay Porter owns Porter Performance Systems, a sports and organizational counseling firm in Eugene, Oregon. She teaches mental training techniques to athletes, teams, businesses, and school districts. She has also worked as a sport psychology consultant to the University of Oregon Athletic Department, USA Track and Field, and the U.S. Tennis Association. She is the author of The Mental Athlete: Inner Training for Peak Performance and Visual Athletics (my favorite imagery book!). In this interview, she talks extensively about her philosophy of using energy psychology within the framework of mental training. She also shares her refocusing technique which includes 3 parts: 1) blinking, 2) 3 deep breaths, and 3) looking left to right. You can follow Kay on Twitter @KayPorter or find her at thementalathlete.com.

Gritty people know what they want. In the face of adversity and setbacks, they go after their goals with deep commitment. They have passion, perseverance and purpose that drives them toward long-term goals. Are you gritty? In this episode, Cindra talks about 3 Signs to know if you are gritty! This week's affirmation: "I am gritty. I have a deep commitment to my long-term goals. I put in the hours necessary for success."

Dr. Vernice Richards is the Director of Mental Conditioning and Peak Performance at the Evert Tennis Academy. She is originally from Trinidad and Tobago. She is a certified by the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP-CC #505), received her Masters in Counseling specializing in Sports Psychology from Boston University and her PhD in Sport Psychology from Florida State University. In this interview, she discusses her pyramid of success, how she teaches breathing and mindfulness, and how we can "compete" to be the best we can be. Full shownotes are available at cindrakamphoff.com/vernice.  

Last weekend I went to an event called “Unleash the Power Within” with Tony Robbins. This episode is about 3 things I learned. High performers don’t believe their 2 million year brain. They choose to condition themselves to be happy and grateful. What is wrong is always there, and so it what is right. They focus on love, gratitude and appreciation when they are fearful. And they hang around with outstanding people to raise their game. Today's affirmation: "I raise my game. I step up. I master myself to create the future that I want."

Dr. Larry Lauer is the Director of Player Development for the US Tennis Association. In this role, he is also a mental skills specialist working with the most elite tennis players in the U.S. to help accelerate them from juniors to pros. He works with athletic coaches to help them support and develop their athletes. In this interview, he talks about how three things separate the best in the world: 1) an unbelievable work ethic focused on always getting better, 2) a commitment to the process that doesn’t bear fruit for some time, and 3) passion for what they do. We talk about how the best are almost solely focused on the process (about 95% of the time), but they check in with their outcome goals periodically throughout the season – perhaps every quarter, he suggests. Or, they use their outcome goals to stay motivated and pushing themselves during training. Other topics discussed: His “Breath and Believe” Strategy 3 Steps to Command the Moment 3 Things the Best Coaches Do Get a description and summary at cind

High performers break free of mental barriers. They dream big. They play big. They continuously push themselves and their limits. They realize fear will always be there if they are growing and learning. They choose to stay present moment focused and make a decision to be confident. This week's affirmation: "I dream big. I play big. I continuously push myself past my limits to find a new level."

High performers don’t play small. They play big. They continuously push themselves and their limits. They go after their big dreams. And each day, the work to reach their best and their greatest potential. They ask themselves, “what would the best in the world do right now?” This week's affirmation: I play big. I move forward towards my dreams and goals with passion. I do what the world’s best do!

Gloria Balague is a sport psychologist who currently works with the elite athletes and teams including the Chicago Bears, USA Gymnastics and USA Track and Field. She taught at the University of Illinois, Chicago starting in 1988 and retired just a few short years ago. Gloria has attended several Olympic and World Championships helping athletes with the mental game.  She says that the world’s best have two distinguishing characteristics: 1) they have a clear picture of where they are right now and 2) have an unshakeable belief in themselves and belief they can get there. She describes the unique environment of the NFL and how this creates difficulties in helping athletes with the mental game. The NFL is the only environment where new athletes can be signed throughout the season. She also talks about her experiences as a female working in the NFL. You can find a full description and summary at Cindrakamphoff.com/gloria.

“All stress begins with one negative thought.” Rhonda Byme High performers take control of their thinking. They notice their ANTS and talk back to their ANTS (automatic negative thoughts) in a powerful and productive way. They drive their CAR by catching it, addressing it, and releasing it. This Week’s Affirmation: “Successful people don’t believe everything they think – so I don’t have to either.”

“Negative Thoughts stick around because we believe them, not because we want them or choose them.” Andrew Bernstein High performers recognize that their thoughts are the most important factor in reaching their greater potential. But they don’t believe everything they think! They decide to reduce their ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) and take command over their thinking. This Week’s Affirmation: I don’t believe everything I think. I talk to myself in a powerful and productive way.  

Duncan Simpson, Assistant Head of Mental Conditioning at IMG Academy, is passionate about working with people to maximize their potential and help them accomplish what they haven’t. In this interview, he talks about how focus, not confidence, is the most important mental skill. The best focus on the right things at the right time. The key is to detect distractions and dial in for 1 minute. Duncan describes that confidence is a belief state. Confident is not an emotional state. It doesn’t matter how you feel. When we are performing, there is no reason to change how we feel. Instead, he suggests we move on and shift our focus. Towards the end of the interview, he describes that motivation is a lie. It is discipline that is key to high performance. Other gems that Duncan discussed include: His “Time Machine” exercise 4 parts of a routine: physical, technical, tactile, and mental. How to layer imagery His epic failure that helps him get to where he is today. Head over cindrakamphoff.com/Duncan for a description

“Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.” Mia Hamm High performers have a burning desire to be at their best. They have high standards for themselves and others around them. They are driven to succeed and get satisfaction from pursuing their goals. They take their mistakes in stride, however, remembering that not everyone is perfect. My High Performance Affirmation: I have a burning desire to be at my best. I am driven to succeed. I focus on why I love to do what I do.

“If you change the way you look at things, the thing you look at change.” Wayne Dyer High performers use reframing daily which is the process of recreating alternative frames or looking at their life, sport, or the world. They don’t ignore the injury, difficulty or pain, but instead see a different perspective and how the obstacle is helping me. This helps them feel unstoppable and jazzed about their life, sport, and job. My High Performance Affirmation: I use reframing regularly to keep me passionate and charged for my goals and my life. I see a setback as a comeback.

“If you think you can or think you can't, you're right.” Henry Ford. High performers choose powerful, possibility-oriented, process focused and positive thoughts regardless of the situation and what is happening around them. They know this type of thinking leads to success. High performers address weak, negative, restrictive and outcome-focused thinking which does not lead to reaching their greater potential. My High Performance Affirmation: I make a commitment to not believe everything I think! I talk to myself not listen.

High performers know that how they interpret their failure greatly determines their success. They approach failure as an opportunity. They see failure as essential for them to grow, learn, get better, understand themselves. They see failure as helpful in reaching their full potential. Week’s Affirmation:  I see failure and mistakes as opportunity to learn and grow. I know failure is a  learning tool so I embrace it instead of fight it.

Dr. Mark Anshel talks about his new book, In Praise of Failure: The Value of Overcoming Mistakes in Sports and Life, in this podcast interview. Dr. Anshel has written 12 other books, and over 145 research articles. He has applied his concepts with college athletes and coaches, law enforcement, exercisers, sports rehabilitation settings, performing artists and corporate leaders. Mark came to study failure from his own experiences failing. He says we are taught to see failure as harmful, but failure should be viewed as feedback. Failure is a perception, meaning failure to one person is success to another. As leaders, coaches, parents and teachers, Dr. Anshel suggests that we should criticize behavior, not character when discussing failure. When giving feedback, we should praise first, and then discuss what the person did wrong by focusing on only 1 or 2 things. The key is to give people hope – that is what we all need, he suggests.  You can reach Dr. Anshel at Mark.Anshel@mtsu.edu. * Tweet this: “Failure is a s

High performers are confident – they believe and trust in their ability. They wear their confidence armor so they don’t take comments and actions of others personally, but can still learn and grow. They appreciate their experiences that they have led them to where they are today. They choose confidence! Affirmation this Week: I choose confidence. I choose to believe and trust in my ability to be at my best for myself and my team.

JF Menard, a performance psychology specialist, joined the internationally acclaimed entertainment company Cirque Du Soleil at the age of 25, fresh out of graduate school. “They didn’t hire me for my experience. They hired me for my passion.” In this interview, he talks about how being around the best athletes in the world helped him elevate his game. He provides several lessons learned (one from a clown) and how his work at Cirque lead him to start Kambio Performance in 2013. Over the years, he is helped athletes win gold medals in the 3 biggest major sporting events:  Commonwealth, PanAms and Olympic Games. He discusses how he helps his athletes handle pressure, perform their best at the Games, and how he prepared himself as a sport psychologist to go to the Games in Rio. He also shares what he sees as the mental attributes of the World’s best one of those attributes being that  “World champions are not fearless – they just fear less.”  You can reach JF Menard at kambioperformance.com as well as on Twitter