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 Johnny Quinn—U.S. Olympian, former professional football player, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of PUSH: Breaking Through the Barriers—to explore what it really takes to move forward when life doesn't go as planned.
Johnny shares his remarkable journey of being cut from the NFL multiple times, losing millions in contracts, suffering a career-altering knee injury, and ultimately redefining his identity beyond the game. Rather than letting setbacks define him, Johnny explains how one powerful question—"What's next?"—became the catalyst that led him to represent Team USA in bobsled at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Throughout the conversation, Johnny breaks down the invisible barriers that hold high performers back, the difference between a setback and a setup, and how daily mindset choices shape our response to change, loss, and uncertainty. He also connects lessons from elite sport to leadership and organizational culture, explaining how accountability, resilience, and discomfort are essential ingredients for sustained high performance.
This episode is a powerful reminder that confidence isn't about certainty—it's about adaptability, ownership, and the courage to keep pushing forward when the path changes.
 
You'll Learn:
How to respond when your identity, plans, or goals fall apart

Why asking "What's next?" is a powerful performance mindset

The difference between a setback and a setup for growth

How daily mindset practices build resilience and confidence

What elite sport teaches us about leadership, culture, and accountability

How to break through mental barriers that keep you stuck

Johnny's definition of confidence—and how to cultivate it

 
Episode Resources & Links
Learn more about Johnny Quinn:
https://www.johnnyquinnusa.com/

Order PUSH: Breaking Through the Barriers:
https://www.johnnyquinnusa.com/push/

Download our 2025 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/

"Confidence isn't a soft skill—it's a performance multiplier."
 
Our National Confidence Study revealed a quiet crisis at work:
• Nearly 70% of employees battle a harsh inner critic
• 62% feel like they're not enough
• 63% constantly compare themselves to others
 
When confidence drops, people second-guess, hold back ideas, avoid responsibility—and 1 in 3 has quit a job because it hurt their confidence.
 
That's not personal.
That's organizational.
 
Low confidence slows performance, stalls innovation, and quietly drives turnover.
 
On this episode of The High Performance Mindset, we break down what leaders can do—starting now.
 
Because confidence doesn't happen by accident.
It's built on purpose.  
To download our full study report, visit: confidencestudy.com
To Request a Free Breakthrough Call with a Mentally Strong Coach, visit: http://www.freementalbreakthroughcall.com/
To learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute, visit: https://mentallystronginstitute.com/
To learn about Dr. Cindra Kamphoff's speaking and coaching, visit: https://cindrakamphoff.com/
To follow Dr. Cindra on Instagram, visit: Cindra Kamphoff, PhD (@cindrakamphoff) • Instagram photos and videos

What if confidence, not pay, was the reason people stay at work?
 
In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares insights from the National Research Study on Confidence, revealing the 8 leadership behaviors that build belief, engagement, and performance.
 
One eye-opening stat: 63% of employees would take a lower-paying job to work for a leader who builds their confidence.
 
If you lead people, they need you to listen to this episode!
 
To download our full study report, visit: confidencestudy.com
To Request a Free Breakthrough Call with a Mentally Strong Coach, visit: http://www.freementalbreakthroughcall.com/
To learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute, visit: https://mentallystronginstitute.com/
To learn about Dr. Cindra Kamphoff's speaking and coaching, visit: https://cindrakamphoff.com/
To follow Dr. Cindra on Instagram, visit: Cindra Kamphoff, PhD (@cindrakamphoff) • Instagram photos and videos

In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff interviews Meg Myers Morgan, negotiation expert, executive coach, and author of Everything Is Negotiable, to explore why self-worth is the foundation of confidence, leadership, negotiation, and peak performance.
Meg explains how our belief about what we're worth shapes what we ask for, what opportunities we pursue, and how we show up under pressure—long before we ever walk into a negotiation, performance moment, or leadership conversation.
You'll learn why negotiation isn't about winning or convincing, but collaboration, clarity, and context—and how many people try to solve emotional needs (like feeling valued) with logistical asks (like money or titles). Meg also introduces her Three C's of self-worth—clarity, confidence, and navigating conflict—and explains why slowing down, regulating emotions, and deeply knowing yourself are essential skills for sustainable high performance.
This episode will help you advocate for yourself more confidently, negotiate more effectively, and perform at your best by truly knowing your worth.
 
You'll Learn:
Why self-worth is a foundation of high performance

How your self-belief determines what you ask for and what you avoid

The Three C's of self-worth: clarity, confidence, and conflict

Why negotiation works best as collaboration, not confrontation

How to stop solving emotional problems with logistical solutions

The role of context when negotiating salary, roles, and boundaries

Why slowing down and self-regulation improve performance

How to ask for what you need with clarity and confidence

 
🔗 Episode Resources:
Learn more about Dr. Meg Myers Morgan: https://www.megmyersmorgan.com/
Order Everything Is Negotiable: https://www.megmyersmorgan.com/books
Download the Confidence Crisis Study: https://confidencestudy.com/
Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call: https://freementalbreakthroughcall.com/
Explore the Mentally Strong Institute: https://mentallystronginstitute.com/
Love the show? Rate and review the podcast—you might hear your name on a future episode!

Confidence at work rarely disappears overnight. It erodes slowly through everyday leadership behaviors.
In this episode, Cindra shares findings from her National Research Study on Confidence and introduces the 8 Confidence Killers. These are common leadership behaviors that quietly undermine employee confidence, motivation, and trust.
You will learn what employees say damages confidence most, why these behaviors are often unintentional, and why confidence is directly tied to performance, engagement, retention, and revenue.
You will also hear one statistic that changes how leaders think about confidence at work and a simple action you can take today to become a more intentional confidence builder.
Because every interaction either builds confidence or breaks it.
Quote of the Week: "Confidence isn't lost in one big moment—it's eroded by small leadership behaviors repeated over time."

Power Phrase of the Week: "Every interaction either builds confidence—or breaks it."
 
To download our full study report, visit: confidencestudy.com
To Request a Free Breakthrough Call with a Mentally Strong Coach, visit: http://www.freementalbreakthroughcall.com/
To learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute, visit: https://mentallystronginstitute.com/
To learn about Dr. Cindra Kamphoff's speaking and coaching, visit: https://cindrakamphoff.com/
To follow Dr. Cindra on Instagram, visit: Cindra Kamphoff, PhD (@cindrakamphoff) • Instagram photos and videos