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

In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with entrepreneur, speaker, and author Jess Ekstrom to explore what it really takes to build confidence, find intrinsic motivation, and share your voice without losing yourself in the process.
Jess is the founder of Mic Drop Workshop, where she has helped thousands of women become more confident speakers and step into their voice. Her upcoming book, Making It Without Losing It, focuses on how to stay grounded, purpose-driven, and intrinsically motivated in high-pressure, performance-based environments.
At the heart of this conversation is a powerful shift: moving from being a "spotlight speaker"—focused on how you're being judged—to a "lighthouse speaker"—focused on how you can help others. 
Jess shares how this shift not only reduces anxiety but also improves performance, authenticity, and impact.
The conversation also dives into intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation, and why chasing outcomes, recognition, or approval can lead to burnout and disconnection. Instead, Jess encourages us to reconnect with purpose, focus on what we can control, and measure success by impact—not applause.
This episode is a powerful reminder that confidence and fulfillment aren't built by performing for others—but by staying connected to what truly matters and using your voice to serve.
 
 
You'll Learn:
• The difference between a spotlight speaker and a lighthouse speaker—and how it changes your confidence
• How to shift from outcome-driven thinking to purpose-driven performance
• A simple "purpose test" to evaluate your motivation
• Why intrinsic motivation leads to more creativity, fulfillment, and impact
• How to stay confident and authentic—even in high-pressure environments
 
 
Episode Resources & Links
Learn more about Jess Ekstrom:
https://jessekstrom.com/
Register for the Mental Performance Summit April 17th: 
https://mentalperformancesummit.org/
Learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute:
https://mentallystronginstitute.com/
Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call:
https://freementalbreakthroughcall.com/
Download the Confidence Research Study:
https://confidencestudy.com/

Have you ever felt ready… until doubt showed up?
 
In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares how limiting beliefs, thoughts we repeat until they feel true, can quietly derail performance. Drawing from her own running career, she reveals how nothing changed physically in a race, only her thinking did.
 
Listen to this episode and learn how to question those thoughts, refocus on what's true, and respond with confidence when it matters most.
 
Key Takeaway: You don't need to eliminate doubt, you just need to stop believing everything you think.
 
Power Phrase: My doubts are not facts. I trust the work I've put in.
 
🎯 Take Action
📅 April 17 | Virtual
👉 mentalperformancesummit.org

"You don't rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your training."
 
If you want to perform better under pressure, you have to train your mind.
 
In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares how the Mental Performance Summit can help you build confidence, stay composed, and perform consistently, using the same tools as elite athletes and leaders.  If there is one thing you attend this spring, let it be this! 
 
💡 What You'll Gain
Confidence under pressure
Clear, focused thinking
Tools you can use immediately
🎤 Featuring
Josh Lifrak
Lauren Johnson
Kris Goodman

Zach Brandon 

Dr. Kerry Guest 
 

🎯 Take Action
📅 April 17 | Virtual
👉 mentalperformancesummit.org
💬  Today's Power Phrase: "I train my mind so I can perform at my best."

In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with University of New Mexico Head Football Coach Jason Eck to explore what it truly takes to build belief inside a team.
In his first season leading the Lobos, Coach Eck engineered one of the most remarkable turnarounds in college football—leading the program to nine wins, a bowl game appearance, and Mountain West Coach of the Year honors after being projected near the bottom of the conference.
But behind the wins is something deeper.
Coach Eck shares how leadership, culture, and mindset shape the foundation of a high-performing team. Drawing from more than two decades of coaching experience across Division II, FCS, and FBS football—including championship runs at Minnesota State and South Dakota State—he explains how leaders create environments where confidence grows and teams outperform expectations.
Throughout the conversation, Eck discusses how belief is rebuilt in struggling programs, how players develop mental toughness for high-pressure moments, and why culture must become player-driven rather than coach-driven for lasting success.
This episode is a powerful reminder that confidence and culture aren't built overnight. They are created through daily standards, aligned leadership, and a mindset that prepares teams to perform when the stakes are highest.
You'll Learn:
• How Coach Eck helped players build real confidence after a turnaround season
• What leaders can do to help teams handle pressure and rising expectations
• Mental habits athletes use to stay composed in high-stakes moments
• How leaders rebuild belief in teams that haven't experienced success
• Leadership lessons from rebuilding multiple football programs
 
 
Episode Resources & Links
Learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute:
https://mentallystronginstitute.com/
Follow University of New Mexico Football: (1) New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) / X
Follow Jason Eck on X: (1) Jason Eck (@Coach_Eck) / X
Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call with Dr. Cindra or her team: https://freementalbreakthroughcall.com/
Download our Confidence Research Study: https://confidencestudy.com/

In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with Belinda Jensen—Chief Meteorologist at KARE 11, science communicator, children's book author, and beloved "Bel the Weather Girl"—to explore what it takes to perform under pressure when the stakes are high and the forecast is uncertain.
With more than three decades on live television, Belinda shares how she manages stress and decision-making during severe weather events, when clarity, calm, and trust matter most. She explains how high performers stay grounded when conditions change rapidly—and why preparation, presence, and purpose are essential to sustaining excellence over time.
Throughout the conversation, Belinda reflects on her unconventional path into broadcasting, the resilience required to stay energized across a long career, and the mindset habits that help her balance demanding deadlines with family, writing, speaking, and community impact. She also shares why making complex science simple is a leadership skill—and how clear communication builds confidence, reduces fear, and helps people take action.
Belinda also opens up about her passion for educating kids through her Bel the Weather Girl books, especially helping children manage anxiety around storms and inspiring young girls to see themselves in STEM careers.
This episode is a powerful reminder that high performance isn't about controlling conditions—it's about learning how to stay steady, confident, and purposeful no matter what the forecast brings.
 
 
You'll Learn:
How to stay calm and focused during high-pressure moments

Mindset strategies for making decisions when outcomes are uncertain

Why clear communication builds trust and confidence

Lessons in resilience from a 30+ year career in broadcast media

How preparation and presence fuel consistent performance

Ways to reduce fear and anxiety through education and understanding

Advice for performing at your best—on air, at work, and in everyday life

 
 
Episode Resources & Links
Learn more about Belinda Jensen:
https://beltheweathergirl.com/
Download our 2025 National Confidence Crisis Study:
https://confidencestudy.com/
Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call with Dr. Cindra or her team:
https://freementalbreakthroughcall.com/
Learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute:
https://mentallystronginstitute.com/