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

High performers focus on their improvement and reaching their standard of excellence instead of comparing themselves to others. They stay focused on their race. High performers know that people who focus on others struggle to reach greatness. Comparison is the quickest way to let your team's and your individual performance suffer. Instead, high performers celebrate others and their accomplishments and ask themselves, "What can I learn from this person?" Affirmation this Week: I pursue my standard of excellence. I stay focused on my lane and my progress. I work to be my best one step at a time.

Erika Carlson, CEO and Certified Mental Trainer at Mental Training Inc., discusses the importance of playing carefree and present. She describes that playing "carefree" means to not care about the outcome. The best train their mind to be present moment focused. When we overthink, we are focused on the past or future, not the present. She describes that many athletes have outcome goals but no process to achieve them. The key to reaching your BHAG's, Erika says, is to "focus on your process today." Erika also discusses the importance of failure, understanding "patterns" and the emotional wheel. "I have not met a person that cannot improve on their self-talk." @SportPsycher via @Mentally_Strong "There are always patterns pre-game, after mistakes, and post-game to help bring awareness." @SportPsycher via @Mentally_Strong "The quicker you can learn from a mistake, the more valuable it is. The mistake then is a blurb not a mountain." @ SportPsycher via @Mentally_Strong "A key to performance is to be calm from the neck up and relaxed from the next down." @ SportPsycher via @Mentally_Strong "When you focus on what's right, you acknowledge an additional source of confidence." @ SportPsycher via @Mentally_Strong To reach out to Erika, you can find her at erikacarlsonsports.com or on Twitter @SportPsycher.

"Comparison is the thief of joy." Theodore Roosevelt Comparison makes us feel like we are never enough. We are never good enough. Smart enough. Powerful enough. Thin enough. Athletic enough. Successful enough. Strong enough. Certain enough. Extraordinary enough. Perfect enough. Fast enough. Comparison is trap. Comparison can spin us into a tail-chasing frenzy of self-doubt. Comparison negatively impacts our motivation at work and in sport and decreases our passion and zest to go after our goals. Comparison interferes with our ability to be and stay gritty. In this episode, Cindra talks about what to do instead of comparing our self to someone else, and why it's so important to stay focused on "your lane." Affirmation this Week: I pursue my standard of excellence. I stay focused on my lane and my progress. I work to be my best one step at a time.

In this interview, Dr. Jim Taylor talks about what it means to think like a champion. He discusses that we need to strive for excellence instead of perfection, and how the need to be perfect can get in our way of peak performance. Perfection leads to an unwillingness to take risks, fear of failure, and pressure. It is never attainable. He describes how peak performance is complex. He also talks about how failure is like a mountain lion that can eat you! You can find Jim at @drjimtaylor or drjimtaylor.com where you can find information about his online courses and services. "A key is to fully realize your potential – that is where your mind comes in!" "There is no other option than to give it your all. Throw yourself into it." "If you take your shot, good things will happen." "Performance is a complex activity just like humans are complex creatures."

When it comes to commitment, 99% is hard, 100% is Easy. When you are 100% committed, you don't let excuses get in the way. The 100% commitment keeps you focused. It frees up energy so you don't have to decide in the moment. Your decision is already done. You reduce the stories, excuses, and don't allow the reasons you can't creep in your mind. You don't play mind games, and don't go half-way. You are all-in. In this episode, Cindra describes how to be 100% committed. Affirmation this Week: I am 100% committed and all-in. I don't make excuses. The next level is calling me and I hear it.

A Brain-Friendly Workplace with Dr. Erika Garms, Speaker, Consultant & Author Are you always looking for ways to better understand yourself and others? Would you like to hear what tremendous impact a few big ideas from brain science hold for you? If you answered 'yes' to either of these, you're going to be glad you're here. Dr. Erika Garms is a workplace effectiveness expert with a gift for translating powerful scientific theory to everyday workplace practice. She has been a consultant with management consulting firms -- local startups to global. She has also been a teacher, professor, internal OD consultant, unit manager, and now runs her own firm. In this interview, Erika describes a brain-friendly workplace and includes three components: calm, confidence, and doing what you are good at. She describes the outcomes of developing a brain-friendly workplace and her model that guides her work with clients. Erika also talks about her powerful experience that lead her to study and understand the topic which included a heart attack and post-traumatic stress. You can find more about Erika and her company, Working Smarts, at workingsmarts.com and connect with her on Twitter @Erika_Garms. Her book, The Brain-Friendly Workplace: 5 Big Ideas from Neuroscience that Address Organizational Challenge" is also available on workingsmarts.com.

In this interview, Tom Dillard, a retired Navy Seal shares with us the Seal mindset and how we can apply it to our lives. Tom spent 20 years in the Navy and the last 15 years as a Seal. He shares with us how Seals "earn their trident everyday" while maintaining a sense of brotherhood knowing it is a privilege and honor to represent the Seals. Tom describes the importance of controlling your emotions and how a Seal does that. In times of adversity, Seals find the opportunity to grow from it because "resilience gets you through." He shares with us how goal setting, mental rehearsal, and present moment focus helped him as a Seal and how we can use them too. You can reach Tom at [email protected].

High performers know that their mind can be in three places: the past, present or future. They also know their flow zone can only happen in the present moment. They can do anything they want to in the present moment. High performers make a moment-to-moment nonjudgmental commitment to be aware of their focus and then make the choice to change their focus in the present moment. The present moment is where a focus on the process occurs and high performance happens. Affirmation this Week: I live in the moment. I take one play at a time. I can do anything and be anything right here, right now.

"Live in the moment. Take one day at a time. One play at a time." That's great advice from the Minnesota Vikings Wide Receiver who went from small town Detroit Lakes, Minnesota to Special Teams Player of the Year last year for the Minnesota Vikings. In this interview, Adam talks about the keys to his success including his experience trying out with the Vikings, then making the roster, and now being a key player for the team. He talks about mindset principles he learned during mental training in college and how he applies the principles. He talks about staying in the present moment, letting go of mistakes, and not dwelling on the past. He shares what he sees separate the best in the NFL from the rest, and the role of mindset in performance. A must-listen-to interview for anyone that wants to step up their game and understand how. You can follow Adam on twitter @athielen19 or on Istagram.

Patrick Cohn, Mental Game Coach, tells us that focusing on the process over the outcome leads to the results we desire. He explains his formula for success which is no exceptions + high confidence + manageable objectives. He shares 4 things that separate the best from the rest: they have a strong base of physical skills, high motivation, an incredible work ethic, and confidence/trust in themselves. The 3 things that most likely get in people's way of performing at their best is a fear of failure, perfectionism, and the fear of disappointing others. When athletes experience perfectionism, he encourages them to focus on embracing the imperfection and focusing on getting the job done instead. You can find Patrick on Twitter @ PeakSports. To get your free Ebook, visit peaksports.com, where he has a wealth of resources and products.

High performers know that growth happens outside their Comfort Zone – in their Courage Zone. They act with courage and bravery. They play big. They do things that are uncomfortable. They are comfortable being uncomfortable. They take risks and try new things. They are okay standing out. They live a life with grit and continually pursing their dreams. Affirmation this Week: I choose my Courage Zone over my Comfort Zone. I will play big, try new things, and act with courage and bravery. I get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Ben Newman, Performance Coach, has shared the stage with Ray Lewis, Jerry Rice, and assisted the record setting 5-straight Division I National Football Champion North Dakota State Bison. In this inspiring and energetic interview, he talks about what separates the best from the rest. He says the best do two things: 1) they have a deep connection to their purpose, and 2) they have the daily discipline to reach high performance. Ben explains that the best have the Power of the Reframe and are always focused on solutions not problems. They attack the process, even though we naturally focus on results, and take adversity in real-time. They stay humble and hungry always focused on what they can control – their attitude, effort, and belief. You can find Ben on Twitter @ContinuedFight. To get your free Mental Toughness Playbook, visit freeplaybook.net and learn more about Ben Newman at bennewman.net. You can also find information about his group coaching at iwantgroupcoaching.com.

High performers know they have more in their reserve tank. They keep in mind the 40% rule which means they have up to 60 percent more to give. They embrace the suck, but don't live there. They think and act like pros by welcoming and embracing the discomfort. They realize they need to stay the course, put their heads in the sand and stay gritty. Find the shownotes at: cindrakamphoff.com/owning-40-rule

Jonathan Zierdt, President and CEO of Greater Mankato Growth, talks about his journey battling kidney and prostate cancer. At first he tried to "tame" cancer, but has realized to embrace cancer he must "take what the defense gives him." In this inspiring interview, Jonathan talks about how he stays positive and how he sees cancer as a "tremendous blessing." His mission is to change the way we see cancer and be open to the blessings that come from cancer. To stay positive, he encourages people to: 1) find what inspires you and grab ahold of it, and 2) remember that life is not a spectator sport – we must get in the game! To connect with Jonathan, you find him on twitter @JonathanZierdt or email him at [email protected].

In this interview, David Horsager, the world-leading expert on trust, talks about how a lack of trust is your biggest expense. He describes his 8-pillar framework (clarity, compassion, character, competency, commitment, connection, contribution and consistency). Developing trust takes time - there is no quick fix. The best think about trust bigger and take responsibility for developing trust. He describes his "90 day quick plan" and the importance of asking "How?" "How?" "How?" when thinking about trust. Towards the end of the interview, he describes that we cannot provide anything of long-term value without sources of strength and provide several examples in his own personal life. You can find more about David's work including his certifications atwww.trustedge.com or learn more about his speaking athttp://www.davidhorsager.com/. Buy his products including his best-selling books The Daily Edge and The Trust Edge here: http://www.davidhorsager.com/store/

In his book The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz said, "Nothing people do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dreams." When we take things personally, we let criticism and negativity eat at us. We can overreact, get offended, and hold grudges. We create conflicts that can impact relationships long-term. When you take things personally, you allow the words of others to poison you. You get further away from your goals and dreams. You cannot be a high performer – or reach your full potential – when you take things personally. In this episode, Dr. Kamphoff provides several strategies you can do instead of taking what others do or say personally. You can reach Cindra at [email protected] or on Twitter @Mentally_Strong.

In this interview, Dr. Michael Sachs starts by talking about the importance of countering excuses and his passion to help people become more active. He talks about the importance of making exercise a lifetime endeavor and finding an activity that you love to do. The keys to the #1 excuse people give to not exercising (which is time) is to: 1) prioritize exercise, and 2) multitask if needed. He also provides us with the 2% solution and question us: "Is your health worth the 2% needed each day for physical and mental health benefits?" Towards the middle of the interview, he shares other wisdom such as a story about Dr. Seuss failing, how success is a journey not a destination, and how high performers "Carpe diem or Seize the Day." To connect with Michael, you can email him at [email protected]

"Don't spend a lot of time imaging the worst-case scenario. It rarely goes down as you imagine it will, and if by some fluke it does, you will have lived it twice." Michael J. Fox Neurologists have found that when your brain expects something to happen, it works to achieve it at a subconscious level. Your expectation creates it. Your brain takes over the job of accomplishing what you see – what you expect. If you expect the worst, you will get the worst. If you expect the best, you are more likely to get the best. In this podcast, we talk about what to do instead when you think about the worst-case scenario and how to turn your attention to the best-case scenario or what Cindra calls the my-case scenario. This week's affirmation: I focus on what I want to happen. I CREATE IT IN MY MIND FIRST, AND THEN I MAKE IT HAPPEN. I think like a high performer and believe the sky is the limit for me.

Andy Murphy, the host of the popular podcast Mindset by Design, shares that the best of the best are great problem solvers and make decisions fast. They are searching for flow, happiness, trust and calmness. He talks about his training in NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) and the importance of how our conscious and unconscious mind impacts us every day. Andy talks about how we don't have to believe everything we think, and when we fail, we should use it as feedback. Towards the end of the interview, he discusses how we should build the behaviors that we want to become already. He quotes Bruce Lee at the end of the interview: "I don't fear the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times" emphasizing that the consistency and the basics work every time. To contact Andy and to learn about his work, visit: www.mindsetbydesign.co or send him a tweet at @AndyMurphyTV.

"Nothing is impossible…the word itself says 'I'm possible.'" Audrey Hepburn Nothing legendary has ever happened without someone believing it was impossible at one time. In this podcast, Cindra provides examples that impossible is temporary. Impossible is brief. Impossible is short-lived. Impossible is not permanent. As Muhammad Ali said, "Impossible is not a fact. It is an opinion. It is not a declaration. It is a dare!" She describes how high performers – or those to work to reach their greater potential – view the impossible. She shares a strategy for you to consider what you think is impossible for you to change the impossible to I'm possible. To reach Cindra, send her a tweet @Mentally_Strong or an email at [email protected] Affirmation this Week: I defy limitations. I move boundaries. I do the impossible because I'm possible!

Dr. Jack Lesyk, Director of the Ohio Center for Sport Psychology and Sport Psychologist with the Cleveland Cavaliers, sees that the best are gritty – they have passion and perseverance for their long-term goals. They are resilient and don't let poor performance linger. They have a short-term memory. Jack describes there are two different types of perfectionists: dysfunctional and functional. Functional perfectionists strive for excellence and are always looking for what went great. Dysfunctional perfectionists overreact emotionally and focus on what went wrong. Jack describes a mindfulness practice he does with his clients to help them change how they feel with their words and images. His final advice for high performers – or those who work to reach their greater potential – is to enjoy the moment. Close your eyes, scan your body and make positive self-talk a practice. To contact Jack, visit sportpsych.org or send him a tweet at @sportpsychOH.

John Maxwell said: "Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it." Most of us are conditioned to blame someone else for our suffering. We blame our parents. We blame the weather. We blame our spouse. We blame our boss. We blame our teammates. We blame our genetics. We blame our education. We blame ownership. We blame our kids. Every time we blame someone or something, we dwindle our chance of success. In this interview with TJ and Lisa, Cindra talks about how high performers create the life and performance they desire. They think and act like a victim. To connect with Cindra, you can email her at [email protected] or send her a tweet @Mentally_Strong.

Dr. Nicole Detling, Professor in Kinesiology with the University of Utah and Mental Skills Coach with multiple Olympic Teams (US Speed Skating, US Snowboarding Team, US Freestyle Aerials Ski Team), sees that the best are resilient and deal effectively with adversity. 1) They "get their rookie on" and are always growing and learning. In the podcast, she describes one of the phrases she uses frequently: 2) "Embrace the suck, but don't get stuck in the suck." She provides 3 of the 10 protective factors of resilient leaders which are optimism, social support, and failure is feedback. Nicole outlines a popular equation, E + R = O (Event + Response = Outcome). Her point is that you have no control over the events in your life or sport but have full control over your response. She believes it helps to plan to fail at something every day because 3) "failure is a possibility and a probability." Her final advice for high performers – or those who work to reach their greater potential – is to be with who you are with right now – to be fully present with the person right in front of you. To contact Nicole, visit: www.headstrongconsulting.com or send her a tweet at @HeadStrongDoc.

High performers, those who work to reach their greater potential, understand what leads them to high performance. They recognize and find their MVP level to perform at their best more often. They put strategies and tools into place to keep their mind working for them not against them. In this episode, Cindra talks about how to find your personal best, or your OWN MVP Level, and how to get there consistently.

Dr. Stephen Walker is a sport psychologist and consultant in the Denver and Boulder, Colorado area. For the last 34 years, he has been helping Olympians, professional athletes and peak performers compete at the highest level. He is the editor of Podium Sports Journal, a mental training journal that has been recognized as one of the Top Sport Psychology Websites. In this interview, Steve talks about how the best adopt a growth mindset – they understand the only way to grow is to make mistakes. He shares a technique called the Confidence Journal which he uses with his Olympic athletes. Steve shares strategies to stay in the now to increase performance in any field including sports, business, customer service, and public speaking. Towards the end of the interview, Steve talks about his own journey battling cancer. He shares his model for overcoming the odds and how this helped him maintain a positive mindset during chemotherapy and a 12-hour surgery. Every moment is a choice, Steve tells us. It is our choice what we do with that moment! Connect with Steve at drstephenwalker.com or on Twitter @sportpsychcoach.

In this bestselling book, A Man's Search for Meaning, Victor Frankl wrote: "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom." In this episode, Cindra talks about how to respond not react and shares a strategy called the Power Response Strategy. She talks about how responding not reacting applies to sport, business and life and allows us to be at our best more often. We'd love for you to share the podcast with your friends and connect with Cindra at [email protected] or on Twitter @Mentally_Strong.

Dr. Eddie O'Connor is a public speaker and clinical sport psychologist in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In this interview, Eddie talks about how the best have a total acceptance of the barriers in front of them. He describes how perfectionists can become "Perfect Perfectionists" and how to embrace mistakes. He suggests that when we receive a compliment to "marinate" on it - take it in, feel it in your heart, and appreciate it. Lastly, Eddie discusses the importance of mindfulness and how to pay attention on purpose without judgment. To connect with Eddie, find in on Twitter @SportsDrEddie or at www.dreddieoconnor.com

Your why is your purpose, a cause, or a belief you are fighting for. It is why you do what you do. When you know your why, it gives YOU the push to keep going. But OWNING your why is a little different. It is a daily practice you can use to stay fueled about your life, work and sport. Dr. Kamphoff talks about how to find and own your why in this episode. Connect with Cindra @Mentally_Strong on Twitter or at [email protected].

Kristi Schuck, founder and co-owner of WYSIWYG Juice Company, shares her story of resilience and how to see the opportunity in every difficulty. It was through her husband's diagnosis with Stage 4 Colon Cancer that they both discovered the power of juicing. Wes was given only 4 short months to live, but thrived in this life for over 3 years because of juicing and a caring and loving environment. In this powerful interview on the one-year anniversary of Wes' passing, Kristi talks about how to thrive in difficult situations, choose love over fear, and develop a practice to maintain an optimistic and resilient mindset. For more information about WYSIWYG Juice Company, visit: www.wysiwygjuice.com, connect on Facebook at: facebook.com/wysiwygjuice or on Twitter @WysiwygMkto.

There is ample amount of research and evidence that it is not someone's talent that leads to success, it their grit. It is their persistence and passion that drives them to commit to the hours and hours needed to experience success. It is a person's grit that leads to success, not the talent or gift they were born with. Grit over gift. In this episode, Dr. Kamphoff provides two strategies you can use to improve your grit. As always, you can email her at [email protected] or find her on Twitter @Mentally_Strong.

Nothing needs to happen for us to be positive. In fact, research indicates that only 10% of our happiness is determined things outside ourselves. 10%!!! That means 90% of our happiness is up to us. Our positivity is determined by our focus and how we choose to feel each day. Dr. Kamphoff shares with us three strategies to improve our positivity percentage. You can find Dr. Kamphoff on Twitter @Mentally_Strong or at cindrakamphoff.com. You can also reach out to her at [email protected].

High Performers are optimistic. They see obstacles and difficulties as happening for them not too them. They find the opportunity in every difficulty. They stay the course committed to their goals and dreams. They are gritty! In this episode, Cindra describes why we should expect the journey to reach our goals and dreams to be difficulty, but see the opportunities in every difficulty. She shares a strategy she calls "3 OPP" to help us do that.

Angie Fifer, Performance Excellence Trainer at the United States Military Academy at West Point, talks about all things performance. In this interview, she describes how confidence is a decision we make every moment and she shares ways to be more confident. Angie shares how athletes should have a mechanism to "let their mistakes go" which provides "unbelievable power." Angie describes about how and when to change your attention from the outcome to the process, and how to do that. Finally, she talks about her journey to be "100% comfortable with who she is and what she brings to the table" as she crosses gender boundaries working with Army West Point Men's Basketball, Men's Gymnastics, and the Men's Boxing teams. Angie also practices performance excellence herself as a marathoner, ultra marathoner, and Ironman triathlete. You can reach out to Angie on Twitter @afifer1 or email her at [email protected].

Limiting beliefs are beliefs that constrain us in some way. Limiting beliefs are often about ourselves, others, and the world. They are typically broad statements that exist only in our head. Unfortunately, many of our limiting beliefs feel so normal that we don't even notice them. These limiting beliefs feel like facts, but they are not. Moving beyond your limiting beliefs is a critical first step in your success. In this episode, Dr. Kamphoff talks about how to address your limiting beliefs that are holding your back from reaching your greater potential.

Ruth Brennan Morrey's triathlon sporting history is certainly a nontraditional one! As a former Division I soccer player, Ruth "mistakenly" qualified for the 2000 Olympic Trials where she finished 34th out of 210 qualifiers. She took 10 years off from racing and competing due to burnout. In 2011, she took a dare to compete in her first half-ironman and a few years later at age 37, she turned pro. She has been unstoppable ever since! In this inspiring interview, Ruth talks life balance (oh, she also has three kiddos – ages 11, 8 and 6), competitive drive, and staying fueled with purpose and passion. She described her worst race as also her best race where she learned a new level of suffering and how "difficulties and roadblocks are part of our plan." She talks about how she uses mindfulness to control her mind which she learned as part of her PhD in Counseling Psychology. Prepared to be inspired to go after any goal or dream you have after listening to this interview! We'd love to hear from you! Tell us what stood out to you about this interview, by sending a Tweet to Ruth at @RBrennanMorrey and Cindra at @Mentally_Strong. For more information about Ruth, visit: http://www.ruthbrennanmorrey.com.

Stephen Spielberg once said, "I don't dream at night, I dream at day, I dream all day; I dream for living." Most of us are not movie directors like Spielberg, but we can follow his lead and dream about our future for a living. To become a high performer or champion at sport, business and life, we need to dream every day. To contact Cindra with your questions or topics to address on future episodes, email her at [email protected] or find her on Twitter @Mentally_Strong.

In this episode, Cindra talks about how high performers and the most successful people see obstacles, difficulties, and problems. They see them as "happening for them, not too them" and see them as puzzles they can solve. High Performers are persistent and gritty. They are persistent. They stay the course committed to their goals and dreams. You are a high performer! This Week's Affirmation: I am persistent. I am committed to my goals and dreams. I see difficulties as happening for me not to me. I solve my problems like puzzles.

In this interview, Jonathan discusses several factors that separate successful pro athletes, leaders, and high achievers. He believes the practice of enjoyment is at the center of high performance. One suggestion he provides the pro athletes he works with is to ask: "What did I enjoyable the best about today?" within 60 seconds of finishing the game. He describes how the best have an optimal "mental climate" and how they keep their "fish tank clean." The best of the best are also hungry for success, adopt a growth mindset, and remain process focused. You can preorder his new book, Life as Sport, on Amazon, and find more information about Dr. Fader on his website.

In this interview with radio hosts, TJ and Lisa, Dr. Kamphoff talks about how to have desire, passion and hunger for your goals and dreams. She talks about how if you don't have desire, you won't work towards your goals and dreams. Getting clear on our desire is the one of the factors that leads us to success and reaching our potential. She provides 3 strategies for us to use to connect with our desire. You can connect with Cindra at [email protected] or at Mentally_Strong.

In this live interview on 93.1 with TJ and Lisa, Dr. Kamphoff talks about how fear is part of the human experience. We can let fear take over our body and mind, or we can command it. In this interview, Cindra talks about 3 types of fears that we all experience and provides 4 steps to command your fear. She provides a personal example to illustrate how to command your fear.

In this interview, college football coach Aaron Keen talks about implementing mental training into the game of football. Coach Keen talks about the importance of going 1-0 each week which helps his team stay in the present moment and take one game at a time. He describes how to develop a 'family atmosphere' as a college coach and the importance of keeping relationships front and center. Towards the end of the interview, he provides his classic Find the Pony story and describes that a positive mental attitude is 'everything' in football. You can reach Coach Keen on Twitter @CoachAaronKeen.

Being self-critical means that you are critical of yourself for your failures and weaknesses. We become our own judge and jury when we self-criticize. Some typical expressions of self-criticism include: "I don't have enough talent." "I'm just too old, slow, short, heavy…" "I guess I am just not meant to be a runner, athlete, author, vice president, manager…. (you fill in the blank)." Your self-criticism is important to examine because your mind determines your identity, your belief about yourself, and your self-image. In this live episode from 93.1 with TJ and Lisa, Dr. Kamphoff teaches us 3 ways to reduce our self-criticism.

In this interview with Mental Skills Coach, Carrie Cheadle, she talks about the need for failure in our lives and athletic careers. We should learn how to embrace failure and seek it out. In her words, "You have to risk failure in order to risk success." She describes how showing up as yourself and bringing 100% of yourself to your work leads to success, happiness, and reaching your best. To learn more about Carrie's work, you can visit her website www.carriecheadle.com or on Twitter @FeedtheAthlete.

Payton Manning, the Denver Broncos quarterback said, "Pressure is something you feel when you don't know what you're doing." In this episode, we explore Payton Manning's quote and discuss the 3 specific ways to deal with pressure the next time you experience it.

Bernie Holliday is a master of the mental game. At the heart of his interview, is a phrase he has adopted from this work with West Point Cadets: "embracing the suck." Bernie described how professional baseball players must embrace the suck, but also describes how he has used the phrase in his life and career. He believes there are 3 ways people approach times that are difficult: 1) by evading, 2) by enduring, or 3) by embracing. The best of the best approach times that are difficult in the 3rd way: embracing the difficulty. His mantra "BE BOLD" will inspire you to get out there with your work and take risks. He believes that a growth mindset and love is what separates good performers from great performers. Bernie also provides several other strategies you can use in your work, play and life including: 1) his 3 ups, 2 downs, and 1 takeaway strategy, 2) how he helps others "focus on the process," and 3) the importance of redefining success and failure.

Success takes something more than a talent and skills. Success takes the willingness to keep going even when the odds are against you or your enthusiasm has waned. Success takes persistence. It takes continuing your course of action despite difficulties, adversity or opposition. The great thing is that persistence is learnable. In this episode, Cindra talkes about successful people that have persisted as well as 3 strategies to develop your persistence.

In this episode, award-winning international speaker, business leader, best selling author and professional musician, Manley Feinberg talks about how to reach your next summit. Using a mountain climbing analogy, he discusses how we must expect to fall, how to refocus after the fall and how to get out of your comfort zone in the process. Points to listen for include tips he provides to consciously practice authenticity and how to make space between "the stimulus and response." Post a tweet about what stood out to you about the interview and tag @manleyf and @Mentally_Strong for a good discussion! You can find Manley at: http://verticallessons.com.

To finish 2015 with a BANG, Cindra provides 5 questions for us to consider as we reflect on the past year. She recommends we answer these questions before setting goals for 2016 to ensure our 2016 goals align with our priorities and values. The 5 questions include: 1. If you had to describe 2015 in 5 words, what would they be? 2. What one event, big or small, made the biggest impact? 3. What new things did you discover about yourself? 4. What was your biggest ha-ha moment this year? 5. What one thing would you do differently and why?

Dr. Ian Connole, Director of Sport Psychology for Kansas State Athletics, teaches us how to keep our focus and the importance of engaging in the now. He motivates us to be authentic and when we do so, this allows our success to come much easier and more likely. He says that a life worth living is being in the present moment, and a life worth sharing is about being authentic and showing up as yourself. So good!

In sports, parents impact their children in at least three ways. First, they influence the type of sports they play by creating opportunities to try different sports. Second, they provide financial support by purchasing equipment and driving them to and from practice and games. But probably the least recognized way that parents influence their children is how they "interpret" the event. What parents do or say — and what they don't do or say — impacts how invested and involved their children will be in sport. In this episode, we talk about 6 tips related to how we can best support our children as parents.