What does mental strength really mean? How do you perform under pressure, overcome fear of failure, and redefine perfection?In this powerful conversation, former professional cricketer Lewis Hatchett shares his journey of overcoming Poland Syndrome — a rare condition that left him without a right ribcage or chest muscle — to achieving his dream of playing professional sport.Now a leading mental performance coach, Lewis breaks down what it takes to thrive in high-performance environments, battle perfectionism, and master emotional control — especially in individual sports like tennis.🎯 Whether you're an athlete, coach, or anyone looking to grow mentally, this episode is packed with real strategies and deep insights.🔥 Topics we cover:The truth about mental toughnessBuilding confidence without faking itDealing with perfectionism & performance pressureFear of failure and identity in sportSelf-regulation tools & the “Inner Opponent”Cross-sport insights from cricket to tennis🔗 Follow Lewis Hatchett:Website: https://lewishatchett.comPodcast: The MindStrong ProjectIG: @lewishatchett0:00 – Who is Lewis Hatchett? | Poland Syndrome & adversity 3:40 – Journey to Pro Cricket | Purpose & Identity 10:00 – Retirement & Mental Health | Start of Inner Work 18:10 – What is Mental Strength? | Awareness & Routine 24:35 – Real Confidence vs. Fake Toughness 32:05 – Perfectionism vs. Excellence | Coaching Language 41:00 – Fear of Failure & Athlete Autonomy 48:45 – Working With Tennis Players | Crossover Lessons 54:30 – Emotional Control in Tennis | Reactions Matter 1:00:00 – Mental Resilience | Playing Authentic 1:07:00 – Excellence Systems | Junior Athlete Mindset 1:13:00 – Junior AO Takeaways | “Inner Opponent” Explained 1:17:30 – Pattern Recognition & Solution Statements 1:24:30 – Self-Awareness = Performance Edge 1:27:38 – Final Takeaways & What You Can Do Now