High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset

"No man or woman is an island. To exist just for yourself is meaningless. You can achieve the most satisfaction when you feel related to some greater purpose in life, something greater than yourself."— Denis Waitley Summary: High performers live on purpose. They know their purpose. They are committed to something greater then themselves. This week's affirmation: "I live and play on purpose. My purpose is greater than myself. I have a unique purpose and live that purpose."

Jason Selk is considered to be one of the premier performance coaches in the United States. He helps numerous well-known professional and Olympic athletes as well as Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 executives and organizations develop the mental toughness necessary for high-level success. While serving as the Director of Mental Training for the St Louis Cardinals, Dr. Jason Selk helped the team win their first World Series in over 20 years. Dr. Selk's second book, Executive Toughness, is a best-selling business book and his first book, 10-Minute Toughness, is on pace to be one of the best-selling sport psychology books of all time. Dr. Selk's latest book Organize Tomorrow Today was ranked by CEO READ as the 13th best-selling business book of 2016. In this interview, Jason and Cindra discuss: How he helps his clients create an "attack mentality" How working in sports and business compare Why focusing on the process is key to success The channel capacity How elite performers differ from the rest His definition of mental toughness How his clients use success logs And his advice for people interested in going into the field of sport psychology You can find the full show notes at cindrakamphoff.com/jason.

"There is no passion to be found playing small- in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." Nelson Mandela High performers find and follow their passion. They turn that passion into their purpose – knowing that their purpose makes them uniquely you. They cultivate that passion – work to grow their passion. They keep trying new things until they find it. So, they can be one of the 11% of people in the world doing what they love! Affirmation this Week: I find and live my passion. I remind myself every day what I am passionate about.

Gregory Dale, Ph.D. is a Professor of Sport Psychology and Sport Ethics at Duke University. He is also the Director of the Sport Psychology and Leadership Programs for Duke Athletics. In addition to his work with Duke athletes and coaches, Greg consults with numerous college and professional athletes/teams as well as organizations and corporations around the world. Greg has written four books related to leadership, performance, and parenting. In this interview, Greg discusses: The difference between winners and champions Secrets of successful coaches How coaches and leadership is an art Why coaches should let athletes compete through mistakes Why service is essential to keep center as a coach and leader For full show notes, visit: cindrakamphoff.com/greg

High performers are gritty. They don't give up on their goals. They stay the course by owning their why and remember that difficulties happen for them. They imagine the finish line to keep them going, and then take the next step toward what they want. My Affirmation this Week: "I am gritty. I don't give up. I stay the course."

A world-renowned psychologist and Author of several books including the recent New York Times Bestseller Performing Under Pressure, Dr. Hank Weisinger has also written several other books including Emotional Intelligence at Work, The Power of Positive Criticism, The Genius of Instinct, the New York Times Bestseller Nobody's Perfect. He has spent three decades helping individuals and organizations enhance their personal and work effectiveness through innovative applications of clinical, counseling, social, organizational, and evolutionary psychology. He is a popular blogger for PsychologyToday.com, Huffington Post, Execunet.com, and Lifehack.org. To help more people deal with pressure, Dr. Weisinger has transformed Performing Under Pressure into a state of the art empowering E-Course Workshop Experience. You can get $5 off the $97 price with the COUPON CODE: MINDSET: Business Performing Under Pressure E-Course: https://hankweisingerphd.com/b2c/?ref=22 Young Adult Performing Under Pressure E-Course: https://hankweisingerphd.com/students/?ref=22 In this interview, Hank discusses: What is pressure and when we experience it What is choking and why we choke under pressure How our natural tools inside our body help us deal with pressure Get a description and summary at cindrakamphoff.com/hank.

High performers work to understand themselves. They are aware of their thoughts, feelings, and actions in the present moment. They are an observer of themselves and they use the ABCs to stay aware. My Affirmation this Week: "I work to understand myself and my tendencies. I master myself to reach a new level."

Dr. Wendy Borlabi is currently working with the Chicago Bulls and is founder of Borlabi Consulting, a performance psychology firm. She is an independent consultant with the National Basketball Association, and worked for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) at their training center in San Diego for six years (two Winter Olympic and one Summer Olympic Games). She co-founded Acumen Performance Group along with six current and ex-Navy SEALs, and spend five years at James Madison University where she began the sport psychology services for the student-athletes, coaches and athletic department. She received a doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Sport Psychology and Exercise Psychology at Argosy University/Phoenix. In this interview, Wendy discusses: What distinguishes the elite from the super elite The psychological attributes of the world's best athletes The mental skill she teaches all of the athletes she works with How self-awareness it like body odor (love it!) How she addresses barriers to mental training 7 ways to address anxiety Her recommendations for those interested in studying sport psychology or want to learn more about it Get a description and tweets/quotes at cindrakamphoff.com/wendy.

"So many years of school and getting degrees yet nobody ever taught us how to love ourselves and why it's so important." Lewis Howes High performers are self-compassionate – they practice kindness. They work to not beat themselves up. They know this leads them to greatness, fulfillment and a high performance. They talk to themselves like their best friend would. Affirmation this Week: I am kind to myself. I love myself. I am enough.

A runner since age 11, Dr. Jason Karp is one of America's foremost running experts, entrepreneur, and creator of the Revo2lution Running certification. He owns Run-Fit, LLC, the premier provider of innovative running and fitness services. A prolific writer, Jason is the author of eight books including: The Inner Runner, Run Your Fat Off, 14-Minute Metabolic Workouts, Running a Marathon For Dummies, Running for Women, and 101 Winning Racing Strategies for Runners. As a private coach, he has helped many runners meet their potential, ranging from a first-time race participant to an Olympic Trials qualifier. A competitive runner since sixth grade, Dr. Karp is a nationally-certified running coach through USA Track & Field, has been sponsored by PowerBar and Brooks. Jason discusses in this interview: Why we run How running through discomfort is a transferable skill to life The changes in our body after a run How effort can become effortless How running can help us gain self-acceptance Get a description and summary at cindrakamphoff.com/jasonkarp.

"You must learn a new way to think before you can learn a new way to be." Marianne Williamson High performers live and teach. They see their problems as gifts – as puzzles to solve. They see their difficulties as opportunities. They channel their inner Gabe and are thankful for their experiences, people and moments. When they do this, they increase their performance, happiness and grit. This Week's Affirmation: I master my mindset. I grab a hold of my goals. Nothing is too hard or impossible for me!

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the decision that something else is more important than fear." Ambrose Redmoon High performers know that growth happens in their Courage Zone. They act with courage and bravery. They play big! They take risks and try new things. They live a life continually pursing their dreams. Affirmation this Week: I choose my Courage Zone. I will play big, try new things, and act with courage and bravery.

Celebrity nutrition and fitness expert JJ Virgin teaches clients how to lose weight and master their mindset so they can lead bigger, better lives. She is author of 4 NY Times bestsellers: The Virgin Diet, The Virgin Diet Cookbook, JJ Virgin's Sugar Impact Diet, and JJ Virgin's Sugar Impact Diet Cookbook. Her memoir Miracle Mindset: A Mother, Her Son, & Life's Hardest Lessons explores the powerful lessons in strength and positivity that she learned after her son Grant was the victim of a brutal hit-and-run accident. JJ hosts the popular JJ Virgin Lifestyle Show podcast and regularly writes for Huffington Post, Rodale Wellness, and other major blogs and magazines. In addition to her work with nutrition and fitness, JJ is also a business coach and founded the premier health entrepreneur event and community, The Mindshare Summit. In this interview, JJ Virgin reveals how one life-altering event taught her to tap into an indomitable mindset, trust her instincts and defy the odds, ultimately saving her son's life…and her own. She also discusses: How to develop your own Miracle Mindset 7 Mindsets of the Miracle Mindset The Mindset Score Card and how you can get it Why taking imperfect action is essential for your success How she discovered why mindset is important You can find JJ on Twitter @jjvirgin, on Facebook HERE, and at www.jjvirgin.com. You can also find the Miracle Mindset Score Card HERE. Get a description and summary at cindrakamphoff.com/jjvirgin.

"The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human can alter his life by altering his attitude." William James, psychologist High performers understand that happiness is a choice. They realize happiness doesn't come from what they do or accomplish, it comes from a decision. High performers choose to focus on the 3 Ps of Happiness – pleasure, passion and their higher purpose. Affirmation this Week: I choose happiness. I focus on what I love to, my passion, and my higher purpose.

James Leath joined IMG Academy in 2015. As Head of Leadership Development, James develops and delivers curriculum for IMG Academy student-athletes across 8 sports and presents to visiting teams, companies, and professional athletes. James attended Fresno State University where he received his B.A. in Communication. During college, when he wasn't playing football, he was best known for being the beloved mascot of Fresno State, Time Out. After graduation, James went on to play quarterback for a semi-pro team in Fresno, CA. With over 15 years of coaching experience and a M.A. in Performance Psychology, James is passionate about teaching athletes the tools they need in order to be successful in life and in sport. Some gems James provides in this interview include: How you are a leader James' definition of leadership Why Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz is James' favorite leader The characteristics of a great leader Why adversity is essential to leader 5 areas of great leadership 3 people you need in your life You can find James on Twitter @JamesLeath or follow his blog at jamesleath.com. Get a description and summary at cindrakamphoff.com/james.

"You weren't an accident. You weren't mass produced. You aren't an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted." Max Lucado, Best-selling author High performers are confident – they believe and trust in their ability. They learn and let go when they make a mistake, knowing that failure is just feedback. They end their day building their confidence. And they imagine their future with excitement and picture greatness. Affirmation this Week: I choose confidence. I choose to believe in myself. I picture my future with excitement!

As an engaging and inspiring speaker who mixes humor with a powerful message, Barbara Churchill has been mentoring working women for over twenty years. Having built and run three successful businesses herself with revenues in seven-figures, she has learned what it takes to create the kind of work/life balance that is meaningful and sustainable. Barbara has lead sessions on self-confidence and leadership for Fortune 100 companies. She also speaks on communication, work/life integration, employee engagement and coaches clients on a one-on-one basis or small group format. Topics we discuss in this episode include: The characteristics of our thoughts How to be more aware of your thoughts Why deep breathing and mediation clear your brain And the thought wheel And how to choose the wise thoughts You can find Barbara at: www.barbarachurchill.com, on Twitter @BarbChurchill and on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/barbaraburnschurchill.

Mark Twain once said that: "The two most important days in your life are the day you were born, and the day you find out why." High performers, or people who are working to reach their greater potential, live on purpose. They know their purpose. They know why they get up in the morning. They are committed to something bigger then themselves. This week's affirmation: I live and play on purpose. No one else has the same experiences, knowledge and gifts as I do. I have a unique purpose and live that purpose.

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 your message You can find Brett and more information about his book at ConsciousCoachingBook.com You can also find Brett on Twitter and Instagram at @Coach_BrettB.

"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 cindrakamphoff.com/Larry. You find Larry on twitter at @LarryLauer or email him at [email protected].

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 and summary. You can follow Duncan on Twitter @SportPsychDunc or email him at [email protected].

"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 [email protected]. * Tweet this: "Failure is a stepping stone to something better." Mark Anshel via @Mentally_Strong * Tweet this: "You need to experience failure to appreciate success." Mark Anshel via @Mentally_Strong * Tweet this: "We don't learn unless we fail. Failure is feedback." Mark Anshel via @Mentally_Strong * Tweet this: "We need failure to learn and continue to be self-motivated." Mark Anshel via @Mentally_Strong * Tweet this: "Give yourself a break once in a while. Don't be so self-critical." Mark Anshel via @Mentally_Strong To order, Dr. Anshel's book, In Praise of Failure you can visit Amazon HERE. He also mentions a few other books in this interview including Between Parent and Child by Haim Ginott and Teacher & Child by Haim Ginott.

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 @JFMenardKambiop and on Facebook.

High Performers have clearly written goals that are slightly difficult to stay hungry and excited for their sport, business and life. They work hard every day to reach their goals and are deliberate with their daily activities. They go the extra mile to achieve their goals because they are gritty. Week's Affirmation: I know what I want and every day I work towards my goals. I go after my goals with passion and excitement. I stay focused and gritty.

In this interview, researcher and lecturer, Dr. Mustafa Sarkar, describes his powerful and cutting-edge findings on resilience with high achievers and Olympic champions. He defines resilience as the "the ability to use personal qualities to withstand pressure." He discusses 6 personal qualities that resilient people have which include: 1) positive and proactive personality, 2) experience and learning, 3) sense of control, 4) flexibility and adaptability, 5) balance and perspective and 6) perceived social support. Dr. Sarkar provides practical tips including "learning your ABCs" on how to build resilience in yourself, your clients, or your team.

Dr. Dave Yukelson, the Sport Psychologist at Penn State for 28 years, discusses how mental toughness is not something we are born with. Instead, it is an inner drive that we learn. He describes that the best athletes are mentally tough and have an ability to have a growth mindset and stay composed in the game. To do this, Yuke talks about letting go of the "mental gu" and "flipping the channel." He also discusses the skill of focus which includes being "right here, right now," positivity, composure and a choice to be confident. Other topics he discusses includes trying too hard, focal points, and the importance of the breath in performance.

High performers know consistent high performance happens when they reduce their judge. High performers can connect and lead more effectively when they reduce their judge. When they experience their judge, they notice it, talk to it, and ask themselves, "What is really real here?" Affirmation this Week: I see the good in myself, the situation, and in others. I talk to my judge and reduce it's power.

Sean McCann, Senior Sport Psychologist for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), has traveled to the last 12 Olympics to work with the nation's best athletes. In his work for the USOC, he works directly with teams and coaches, from mental skills seminars and workshops about Olympic pressure, to individual sessions with athletes. In this interview, he talks about how the best mentally prepare for a competition that only happens every four years. Sean describes that one key factor is to overbuild mental skills so that the athlete can perform when the conditions are not perfect. He suggests to focus on behavior and to ask: 1) What does it mean to do my job well? and 2) What does it look like to not do my job well? Dr. McCann says that mental skills are the bedrock to performance which athletes use to self-regulate themselves, but there is an extra layer. This extra layer is the 3-step process: 1) Get your questions answered (i.e., logistics, strategy, doubts, etc.), 2) Find a focus of 3-4 things that are process focused ("To perform well, I will…") and 3) Perform with certainty. You can reach Sean @sportpsychone and at [email protected].

High performers work to understand themselves. They work to be aware of their thoughts, feelings, and actions in the present moment. They use their ABCs to stay in control of their thoughts and emotions, and consider the ripples they want to make. My Affirmation this Week: "I check in with myself and breathe. I channel my inner CUB and master the deep breath. I take control of myself to reach a new level of performance."

High performers surround themselves with people that help them be great. They know that attitude and energy is contiguous. They surround themselves with the right people who support and encourage their vision. Because the people around you can either elevate your game or bring you down. Affirmation this Week: I choose carefully the people I spend time with. I surround myself with optimistic, confident people that are jazzed about their future. I choose people who elevate my game and life.

High performers work to understand themselves including their thoughts, feelings, and actions in the present moment. They work to be nonjudgmentally aware in the present moment. They know this mindful practice allows them to improve their performance, happiness, and reduce the stress they experience. My Gritty Affirmation this Week: I work to notice my thoughts, emotions and body in the present moment. I free myself of the habits that don't allow me to reach my greater potential. I quiet my monkey mind by staying in the present moment.

High performers are confident – they believe and trust in their ability. They have certainty that they will be successful. They are confidently humble – they have inner arrogance but don't brag. They are constantly nurturing their confidence because they know confidence can be fragile. Affirmation this Week: I choose confidence. I choose to believe and trust in my ability. I constantly nurture my confidence with my daily decisions to be at my best for myself and my team.

High performers imagine past and future success regularly. They create in their mind first, and then they live it. They imagine coming back from setbacks stronger and imagine dealing with adversity while staying in control of their body and mind. They use imagery to prepare to perform and get in their flow zone. Affirmation this Week: I imagine success. I create success in my mind first, and then I make it happen. I follow the lead of elites and use the most powerful performance weapon I have – my mind.

In this interview, Kevin King, Owner of Premier Teambuilding Solutions, Lecturer, and Leadership Development Consultant, discusses culture, trust and leadership. He shares with us three levels of trust and what they could mean for you: competence, interpersonal and character. Kevin also describes what great leaders do and how they are students of their leadership – they are constantly learning about themselves and growing as a leader. He describes that the best leaders control the controllables and how controlling what you can control is an intentional practice. He also discusses how to create culture and how physics informs how to build culture.

High performers adopt a growth mindset. High performance happens because of hard work and dedication. They we see challenges as exciting and the find optimistic ways of explaining adversity. They take failure as feedback and continuously seek to improve and help others do the same. They take a "yet" mentality and believe they will figure it out. Affirmation this Week: I see challenges as exciting. I see mistakes as helping me learn. When I get frustrated with my progress, I will remind myself I just haven't done it "yet."