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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
Get a description and summary at cindrakamphoff.com/Larry.
You find Larry on twitter at @LarryLauer or email him at Lauer@usta.com.
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:
Head over cindrakamphoff.com/Duncan for a description and summary.
You can follow Duncan on Twitter @SportPsychDunc or email him at duncan.simpson@img.com.
“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.