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 Zach Brandon—performance and leadership coach, former Head of Mental Performance and Coach Development for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and founder of MVP Mindset Consulting—to explore what it really takes to thrive at a high level without sacrificing wellbeing.
Drawing from his experience working with elite athletes, coaches, and leaders, Zach shares a powerful perspective: high performance isn't just about winning more—it's also about living better. He challenges the idea that success and wellbeing are mutually exclusive and instead offers a framework for pursuing both with intention.
Throughout the conversation, Zach breaks down what separates great coaches and leaders from the rest—especially when it comes to building belief, confidence, and trust within teams. He explains how the best performers respond under pressure, why identity plays a critical role in performance, and what it truly means to "lead yourself first."
You'll also hear practical tools from his "Coach's Playbook," including strategies to reset after mistakes, quiet the inner critic, and help individuals move through plateaus. Zach emphasizes that growth starts with awareness—and that small, intentional shifts in mindset can create powerful momentum.
This episode is a reminder that sustainable success is built from the inside out. When you strengthen how you think, lead, and respond, you don't just perform better—you live better, too.
You'll Learn:
• What drives high performance at the elite level
• How great coaches build belief and confidence in others
• What separates those who rise under pressure from those who shrink
• A practical tool to improve how you show up immediately
• How to reset after mistakes and manage your inner critic
• Why leading yourself first is essential for leading others
• How identity shapes performance—and how to intentionally build it
Zach is also a featured speaker at the upcoming Mental Performance Summit, where he'll share more in his session: "The Coach's Playbook: Strategies for Winning More and Living Well."
👉 Learn more and register here: www.mentalperformancesummit.org
 
 
Episode Resources & Links
Learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute:
https://mentallystronginstitute.com/
Register for the Mental Performance Summit: www.mentalperformancesummit.org
Follow Zach Brandon on X: (4) Zach Brandon (@MVP_Mindset) / 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 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/