The Nick Standlea Show

“10,000 Hours is a Myth” | “Stress Isn’t the Enemy — It’s a Training Partner” | Dr Alex Auerbach on Coaching Mental Skills

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Most people train their bodies. The best train their minds. NFL and NBA psychologist Dr. Alex Auerbach joins Nick Standlea to reveal how elite performers stay calm under pressure, turn nerves into fuel, and master stress instead of fighting it.

Whether you’re an athlete, founder, or coach, this conversation will change the way you think about focus, resilience, and performance.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

  • How stress can enhance performance instead of killing it

  • The myth of 10,000 hours — and what actually builds mastery

  • Why a “fixed” mindset isn’t always bad

  • How to stop youth sports burnout before it starts

  • The self-talk rituals that world champions use

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    Connect with Alex Auerbach: 

    • Website: https://www.alexauerbach.com/

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexauerbachphd/

    • X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/AlexAuerbachPhD

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexauerbachphd

       

      🕒 Chapters

      00:00 Introduction — What separates good from great performers

      01:15 Meet Dr. Alex Auerbach — NBA, NFL and elite military psychologist
      03:10 From football coach to sports psychologist
      07:30 Inside the Toronto Raptors and Jacksonville Jaguars mental programs
      10:20 How elite athletes train their minds for focus and control
      14:45 The four levels of mental performance training
      18:00 Why stress is neither good nor bad — it’s your body preparing to act
      22:10 Regulating energy — what to do when you’re too amped up or too flat
      26:25 Individualizing mental skills for different players
      29:40 How coaches should respond when kids get over-stimulated
      33:00 Preventing burnout and the truth about early specialization
      37:20 The myth of 10,000 hours and why it’s a story, not a rule
      41:35 Turning nerves into excitement — the science of stress mindsets
      47:00 Team chemistry and connection — why touch and breathing matter
      51:10 Ronaldo’s self-talk and how pros build confidence on command
      56:30 The “confidence résumé” — training your brain to remember wins
      01:01:10 How to coach mistakes without creating shame
      01:05:45 The case for a fixed mindset — balance, identity and earned belief
      01:10:30 Closing thoughts — using psychology to thrive under pressure

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      Connect with The Nick Standlea Show:

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