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 Ted Ma—leadership strategist, researcher, author, and keynote speaker—to explore what truly separates average leaders from exceptional ones.
Earlier in his career, Ted built and led a sales organization of more than 6,000 people across North America. But through that experience, he began asking a deeper question: What actually makes leadership sustainable, impactful, and human? That curiosity led him to study mentorship, trust, confidence, and culture—and to develop the concept of Everyday Mentorship.
Throughout the conversation, Ted explains why leadership isn't about titles or authority—it's about the small, daily behaviors that build trust, confidence, and performance over time. He breaks down the "DNA" of high-performing teams, why culture is a true competitive advantage, and the common misconceptions leaders have when trying to shift culture.
Ted also shares research-backed insights on what drives engagement and retention, the mental barriers that limit leadership confidence, and practical ways leaders can begin building stronger cultures immediately.
This episode is a powerful reminder that high performance doesn't happen by accident—it's built intentionally, one conversation and one courageous leadership decision at a time.
 
 
You'll Learn:
What Everyday Mentorship really means—and why it matters now more than ever

The DNA of high-performing sales teams

Why culture is a competitive advantage (not just a buzzword)

The biggest misconception leaders have about changing culture

Research insights on trust, confidence, and engagement

The mental barriers that limit leadership growth

One practical framework leaders can implement immediately

 
 
Episode Resources & Links
Learn more about Ted Ma:
https://realtedma.com/
Download our 2025 National Confidence 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/

"You have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life." — Lindsey Vonn
 
After a devastating Olympic crash and yet another surgery, Lindsey Vonn didn't ask, "Why me?" She reminded the world this isn't the end of her story. That response is what separates elite performers.
 
In this episode, we explore why adversity isn't proof you're failing — it's proof you're competing. Our grit research with professional athletes shows that every top performer faces setbacks. What sets them apart is how they respond.
 
We discuss:
Why high performers believe adversity is happening for them, not to them

How doubt and other people's opinions (OPP) erode confidence

The powerful question that fuels growth: "What is this teaching me?"

Adversity isn't a detour. It's the path.
 
Power Phrase:
I embrace adversity. It's shaping me into who I'm meant to become. 
 
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 sits down with Jill Schulman—Bravery Expert, United States Marine Corps veteran, keynote speaker, and author of The Bravery Effect—to explore why bravery isn't a personality trait, but a skill anyone can build.
Jill shares the pivotal experiences that led her to study the science of fear and courage, and why so many high performers unknowingly hold themselves back by playing it safe. Drawing from positive psychology, neuroscience, and her military background, Jill explains why bravery is not the absence of fear—but the decision to act alongside it.
Throughout the conversation, Jill breaks down the hidden cost of avoiding hard conversations, the myths that keep leaders stuck, and why small, repeated acts of bravery compound over time to shape identity, performance, and fulfillment. She also introduces the three core dimensions of bravery—thinking bravely, acting bravely, and connecting bravely—and explains how these skills fuel leadership, confidence, and impact.
This episode is a powerful reminder that growth requires discomfort—and that the life and leadership you want sit just on the other side of a brave decision.
 
 
You'll Learn:
Why bravery is a skill—not a personality trait

The difference between fearlessness and true courage

The real cost of playing it safe in your career and life

The most common fears that hold leaders back

How small, daily acts of bravery shape identity and performance

Why psychological safety requires personal bravery

Practical ways to take action even when you feel unsure

 
Episode Resources & Links
Learn more about Jill Schulman:
https://www.jillschulman.com/

Order The Bravery Effect:
https://www.jillschulman.com/


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 something you set and forget. It shifts depending on the situation you're in.
You can feel powerful in one moment… and shaky in a tough conversation hours later.
 
In this episode, we unpack findings from our national Confidence Study, including:
70% of working Americans believe they'd earn more if they improved their confidence
75% say confidence propels you further than sheer intelligence
Nearly 70% dwell on past mistakes and battle a harsh inner critic

You'll learn a simple reset tool called the Truth Meter™ to stabilize your confidence in real time.
Confidence isn't about never doubting yourself.
 
It's about knowing how to respond when doubt shows up.
 
Power Phrase: "Confidence isn't a soft skill,  it's a performance multiplier."
 
 Tune in to strengthen your confidence when it matters most!
 
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 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/