Episode Intro

In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with Kelly Ruta, private advisor to high-performing women, former clinical psychotherapist, and expert in emotional agility, to explore why emotional agility may be the missing skill behind sustained success. Drawing on more than 20 years as a psychotherapist and over a decade advising entrepreneurs, executives, and professional athletes, Kelly shares how psychological skills help people perform under pressure without sacrificing their well-being. Together, they discuss why confidence, resilience, and emotional regulation are no longer "soft skills," but essential skills for thriving in today's high-pressure world.

Episode Description

Pressure is inevitable. The question is whether you react automatically or respond intentionally. In this conversation, Kelly explains why emotional agility is one of the most powerful psychological skills we can develop. She breaks down how learning to recognize emotions, pause before reacting, and choose responses aligned with our values creates stronger leadership, greater confidence, and more consistent performance. Dr. Cindra and Kelly also discuss why emotions provide valuable information without needing to dictate our behavior.

The conversation explores what the research shows about psychological skills training, including why organizations that invest in mental readiness consistently outperform those that don't. Kelly shares why so many high achievers reach success only to discover they still feel overwhelmed or unfulfilled, and how developing emotional agility closes that hidden skill gap. Listeners will also learn practical tools, including the Sacred Pause, to build greater awareness and respond more effectively when the stakes are high.

Whether you're an athlete, leader, entrepreneur, coach, or parent, this episode is a reminder that confidence and high performance begin by learning to lead yourself first.

You'll Learn:

• Why emotional agility is one of the most important psychological skills for sustained high performance.

• What emotional agility is and how it differs from simply managing emotions.

• How to recognize the difference between reacting automatically and responding intentionally.

• Discover why emotions are valuable data but should not become your decision maker.

• Learn how practicing the Sacred Pause helps improve emotional awareness and self-regulation.

• Build greater confidence by aligning your responses with your values instead of your triggers.

• Strengthen your ability to perform under pressure by developing psychological skills that reduce the likelihood of choking.

• Understand what the research shows about why organizations and teams that invest in mental readiness see stronger long-term performance.

Episode Resources & Links

Guest Website: kellyruta.com

Mentally Strong Institute: https://mentallystronginstitute.com/

Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call: https://freementalbreakthroughcall.com/

Download the National Confidence Research Study: https://confidencestudy.com/

Pre-order The Confidence Habit: https://www.confidencetools.com/

In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with Joe Paulsen, leadership coach, EOS Implementer, and creator of LEAD, to explore how leaders can retain their best employees and build high-performing teams. Joe has spent years helping organizations strengthen leadership, improve accountability, and create workplaces where top performers want to stay. Together, they discuss practical leadership habits that help people feel valued, challenged, and inspired to do their best work.

Episode Description

Great organizations don't keep their best people by accident. They do it through intentional leadership. In this conversation, Joe shares the four keys to retaining rock star employees: genuinely caring about people, leading with humility, addressing people issues instead of avoiding them, and consistently modeling the behaviors you expect from others. Dr. Cindra and Joe discuss why difficult conversations are one of the greatest responsibilities of leadership and how balancing truth with compassion creates trust instead of fear.

Joe also explains why accountability is often misunderstood. Rather than viewing accountability as punishment, he encourages leaders to see it as one of the greatest ways to show respect for their team. The discussion includes practical strategies like quarterly conversations, taking clarity breaks before difficult conversations, and using a Rockstar Retention Matrix to better understand where each team member needs support and development.

Whether you lead a business, coach a team, or manage a small group, this episode reminds us that the best leaders don't simply manage performance. They intentionally develop people.

You'll Learn:

• Why genuinely caring about your people is the foundation of exceptional leadership.

• What the four keys are to retaining your organization's rock star employees.

• How to balance truth and compassion when having difficult conversations.

• Discover why accountability strengthens trust instead of damaging relationships.

• Learn how quarterly conversations help retain top performers and uncover future goals.

• Build stronger leadership by modeling the behaviors you expect from your team.

• Strengthen your confidence in giving feedback that helps employees grow.

• Develop a practical Rockstar Retention Matrix to identify where your team members need coaching and support.

Episode Resources & Links

Joe's Website: https://retainrockstars.com/

Mentally Strong Institute: https://mentallystronginstitute.com/

Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call: https://freementalbreakthroughcall.com/

Download the National Confidence Research Study: https://confidencestudy.com/

Pre-order The Confidence Habit: https://www.confidencetools.com/

What if taking responsibility did not mean carrying the weight of everything that goes wrong?

In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff explains the important difference between blame and responsibility. Blame keeps your attention fixed on the past, while responsibility helps you identify what is within your control and choose your next best step.

Through the story of an executive who was blaming himself for challenges at work and at home, Cindra shows how even self-blame can drain your energy and leave you feeling powerless. Real responsibility means owning your part without taking ownership of everything.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why blame keeps you stuck in the past
• The difference between owning your part and blaming yourself
• How responsibility helps you reclaim your power
• Questions that can redirect your attention toward solutions
• How to identify your next best step when a situation feels overwhelming

Power Phrase: "I release blame, I own my part, and I choose my next best step."

To reserve your seat for The Confidence Summit, visit: theconfidencesummit.com 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 Marilyn Sherman, Hall of Fame speaker, Certified Speaking Professional, five-time author, and founder of UpFront Presentations, to explore how to stop settling and create your own version of Front Row Success. For more than two decades, Marilyn has helped leaders strengthen their resilience, improve communication, and lead with greater confidence. She shares practical strategies to get unstuck, overcome self-doubt, and intentionally choose the seat you want in life.

Episode Description

Where are you sitting in the venue of your life? Marilyn explains that we all have three choices: the balcony, general admission, or the front row. The balcony is where we feel stuck and disconnected. General admission is our comfort zone, where life may not feel bad, but we're operating mostly by habit. The front row is where we feel alive, energized, valued, and fully engaged in the life we're creating.

In this conversation, Marilyn shares her SEAT of Success framework: See the outcome you desire, manage your Energy, strengthen your Attitude, and build Tenacity. She and Dr. Cindra explore how fear of failure, limiting beliefs, and negative self-talk can keep us from moving forward. Marilyn also shares why taking action matters more than simply studying successful people and how starting a Win List can train your brain to notice evidence of progress and possibility.

You don't have to settle for the seat you're in. You can change your choices, shift your perspective, and intentionally move toward your own front row.

You'll Learn:

• Why fear of failure keeps more people stuck than failure itself.

• What it means to live in the balcony, general admission, or front row of your life.

• How to define what Front Row Success looks like for you.

• Discover the SEAT of Success framework and how to apply it to your goals.

• Learn how your self-talk and limiting beliefs influence the actions you take.

• Build greater confidence by creating a Win List and collecting evidence of your progress.

• Strengthen your energy, attitude, and tenacity when obstacles appear.

• Take intentional action to stop settling and move toward the life you truly want.

Episode Resources & Links

Guest Website: https://frontrowsuccess.com/

Mentally Strong Institute: https://mentallystronginstitute.com/

Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call: https://freementalbreakthroughcall.com/

Download the National Confidence Research Study: https://confidencestudy.com/

Pre-order The Confidence Habit: https://www.confidencetools.com/

Even talented, driven, and successful people experience slumps. In this conversation, Dr. Jermaine explains what a slump really is, the early warning signs that you may be heading into one, and why slumps can spread through workplaces, families, and relationships. He also shares powerful findings from his national Dump Your Slump research and explains why the environments and people around us can either help us recover or unintentionally keep us stuck.

Dr. Cindra and Dr. Jermaine explore the role of self-talk, motivation, and resilience in helping us move forward when life, school, or work feels chaotic, stressful, and overwhelming. Dr. Jermaine shares practical strategies to recognize when you're stuck, shift your thinking, and take meaningful action to build momentum again.

You don't have to wait until you feel motivated to move forward. Sometimes the first step out of a slump is choosing one small action that helps you bounce forward.

You'll Learn:

• Why talented, driven, and successful people can still find themselves stuck in a slump.

• What a slump really is and the early warning signs that you may be heading into one.

• How slumps can spread through organizations, families, and relationships.

• Discover what Dr. Jermaine's national Dump Your Slump research reveals about why people stay stuck.

• Learn how your self-talk can either deepen a slump or help you move forward.

• Understand why a manager or leader can unintentionally contribute to someone feeling stuck.

• Build practical strategies to shift your thinking and create momentum when motivation is low.

• Take the first step toward bouncing forward when life, school, or work feels overwhelming.

Episode Resources & Links

Guest Website: https://drjermainedavis.com/

Mentally Strong Institute: https://mentallystronginstitute.com/

Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call: https://freementalbreakthroughcall.com/

Download the National Confidence Research Study: https://confidencestudy.com/

Pre-order The Confidence Habit: https://www.confidencetools.com/

In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with Tim Eggebraaten, retired Chief of Police, speaker, and founder of Off Duty Chief, to explore what it truly means to lead with resilience—both professionally and personally. Drawing from more than two decades in law enforcement, including serving as Chief of Police, Patrol Sergeant, K-9 Handler, and DARE Instructor, Tim shares the lessons he's learned about leading under pressure while staying grounded in what matters most. He opens up about the importance of balancing career, family, and personal well-being, and why true leadership begins with taking care of your physical, mental, and spiritual health. Throughout the conversation, Tim discusses the emotional challenges that many leaders and first responders face but often don't talk about. He shares how vulnerability, connection, and purpose can become powerful tools for healing, growth, and resilience. His insights remind us that no matter our profession, we all face moments that test our character—and those moments can become opportunities to grow stronger. Tim's message is a powerful reminder that resilience isn't about avoiding hardship. It's about choosing hope, investing in your well-being, and recognizing that you never have to face life's challenges alone. You'll Learn:

• Why resilience is built through life's challenges, not in spite of them
• How to balance career success with family and personal well-being
• The importance of physical, mental, and spiritual health for sustainable performance
• How vulnerability strengthens leadership instead of weakening it
• Practical ways to navigate emotional challenges with courage and purpose
• Why connection and community are essential for healing and growth
• How to lead with authenticity during both personal and professional adversity

Episode Resources & Links Learn more about Tim Eggebraaten and Off Duty Chief: https://www.offdutychief.com/ Purchase Dr. Cindra's New Book: https://www.confidencetools.com/ Learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute: https://mentallystronginstitute.com/ Register for the Mental Performance Summit: https://mentalperformancesummit.org/ Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call with Dr. Cindra or her team: https://freementalbreakthroughcall.com/ Download the National Confidence Research Study: https://confidencestudy.com/

What if the key to performing at your highest level isn't pushing harder, but recovering smarter? In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares why the world's best performers don't just train with intention; they rest with intention. You'll discover why recovery isn't a reward you earn after the work is done; it's an essential part of sustained success. Drawing from the science of performance and the work of Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, Cindra explores the seven types of rest and explains how the right kind of recovery can improve your focus, confidence, creativity, and resilience. In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why recovery is a performance strategy—not a sign of weakness
• The seven types of rest and how to identify which one you need most
• How intentional recovery boosts confidence, energy, and mental clarity
• A simple practice you can use this week to avoid burnout and perform at your best

Power Phrase: "I honor my performance by prioritizing my recovery." 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 Jeff Jones, performance coach, leadership expert, and author of The Intentional Edge, to explore what it takes to build lasting mental toughness, leadership, and high-performance habits. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in collegiate athletics, Jeff shares lessons learned from working within elite football programs and championship cultures. He explains why success is less about motivation and more about the standards we consistently uphold, especially when pressure, adversity, and uncertainty arise. Throughout the conversation, Jeff unpacks the powerful idea that when pressure hits, we don't rise to the occasion—we fall to our standards. He discusses why intentional daily actions create sustainable excellence, how elite performers respond to setbacks, and what separates those who grow through adversity from those who become stuck in it. Jeff also introduces his signature 10-Rep Framework, a practical approach to building mental performance through small, consistent actions that compound over time. His insights challenge the common belief that high performance is reserved for a select few and instead demonstrate how anyone can develop the habits, mindset, and leadership skills needed to thrive. This episode is a powerful reminder that excellence isn't accidental. It's built intentionally, one rep at a time. You'll Learn:

• Why standards matter more than motivation
• What elite performers and leaders consistently do differently
• How to respond effectively when pressure and adversity arise
• Why culture is the foundation of sustained high performance
• The mindset mistakes that often hold high achievers back
• Practical ways to strengthen mental toughness every day
• How the 10-Rep Framework can help you create lasting growth
• Why intentional actions create an enduring competitive advantage

Episode Resources & Links Learn more about Jeff Jones: https://coachjeffjones.com/ Learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute: https://mentallystronginstitute.com/ Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call with Dr. Cindra or her team: https://freementalbreakthroughcall.com/ Download the National Confidence Research Study: https://confidencestudy.com/

Confidence may be the missing skill today's workforce needs most. In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares insights from her National Research Study on Confidence and her upcoming book, The Confidence Habit, explaining why nearly half of Gen Z workers frequently feel like they're "not enough." Learn how self-doubt impacts performance, why confidence is a business issue, and what leaders can do to help people thrive. You'll also discover Cindra's Learn, Burn, Return™ framework—a powerful tool used by athletes, executives, and high performers to recover quickly from mistakes and move forward with confidence. Power Phrase: "I build confidence by learning, letting go, and moving forward." 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

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes it's the quiet voice that says, 'I will try again tomorrow.'" – Mary Anne Radmacher In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares how courage is built in the small, everyday moments, not just the big ones. Because fear will always be there… but it doesn't have to stop you. You'll learn how to:

• Take action even when you don't feel ready
• Quiet the "what if" thoughts holding you back
• Build courage through simple, daily steps
• Stay grounded under pressure with a Power Pause

If you've been hesitating or overthinking something important, this episode will help you take that next step. Because confidence doesn't come before courage, it comes because of it. Tune in and ask yourself: Where do you need to choose courage over comfort today? 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