789: Beat the Coverage: How a 157-Pound Receiver Lasted 9 Years in the NFL with JJ Birden, Former Wide Receiver, Keynote Speaker, & Author

What do you do when everyone says you're too small, not ready or not enough? Former NFL wide receiver JJ Birden was 5 feet 10 inches and 157 pounds. In one five-day stretch, four NFL teams turned him away, and Jimmy Johnson told him the NFL wasn't for him. He went on to play nine seasons and catch touchdown passes from Joe Montana. In this episode, JJ walks through the six steps of his Beat the Coverage framework, shares what he learned watching Joe Montana prepare, and explains why confidence comes from preparation. You'll also learn the "one snap and clear" reset he still uses today. In this episode you'll learn: How a strong "why" fuels you through doubt and rejection What "coverage" is and the six steps to beat it: know the field, find the holes, play to your strengths, draw up the game plan, put in the reps, and execute and adjust What Joe Montana did differently after four Super Bowl wins How JJ kept rejection from becoming his identity Why preparation builds confidence, not the other way around The "one snap and clear" reset for moving past mistakes What to do when you feel underestimated About JJ Birden JJ Birden is a former NFL wide receiver who played nine seasons in the league, catching touchdown passes from Hall of Famer Joe Montana despite being told he was too small to succeed. Today he is a keynote speaker, performance strategist and creator of the Beat the Coverage Framework, helping leaders, sales teams and organizations perform at their best under pressure. He is the author of Beat the Coverage: 6 Strategic Steps to Win in Business and in Life. Resources mentioned JJ's book and speaking Beat the Coverage: 6 Strategic Steps to Win in Business and in Life, on Amazon Order The Confidence Habit  

Have you ever noticed how something that happened years ago can still affect your confidence today? Maybe it was a mistake you made, an opportunity you missed, or something someone said that made you question your worth. While you can't change what happened, you can change the story you tell yourself about it. In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares how regret, resentment, and limiting beliefs can hold us back from becoming our best. Drawing from her book The Confidence Habit, she explains three practical strategies to help you let go of the past and move forward with greater confidence. In this episode, you'll learn: Why past experiences can continue to influence your confidence today. The three things we carry from our past that hold us back. How to reflect, reframe, and release beliefs that no longer serve you. Why you don't have to believe every thought that enters your mind. How to develop a more compassionate and empowering inner voice. This week's Power Phrase: "My past shaped me, but it doesn't define me." Your past is a chapter of your story. It doesn't have to determine what comes next. To buy Cindra's new book: confidencetools.com To download our full study report, visit: confidencestudy.com To request a Free Breakthrough Call with a Mentally Strong Coach, visit: freementalbreakthroughcall.com To learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute, visit: mentallystronginstitute.com To learn about Dr. Cindra Kamphoff's speaking and coaching, visit: cindrakamphoff.com To follow Dr. Cindra on Instagram, visit: @cindrakamphoff

What is fear telling you that you can't do? World record pro skydiver Melanie Curtis has made more than 12,000 jumps over 30 years, and she still feels fear. In this episode she shares how her first jump at 18 rewired how she relates to fear. She explains why the fear of humiliation is so powerful in modern life, and she tells the story of getting hypoxic on a world record jump at 200 miles per hour. You'll learn practical tools for facing your fears, and why confidence is the result of action, not the requirement for it.   In this episode you'll learn: Why fear and anxiety don't mean you're not ready What type two fun is and why the hardest things in life are worth it A simple breathing tool for when fear shows up: make your exhale longer than your inhale How to spot the hidden ways fear shows up in your body Why confidence is the result of action, not the requirement How to find the goal-setting sweet spot between bored and paralyzed Why the fear of humiliation feels so mortal Four ways to keep facing your fears: support, intuition, habits and deeper healing How to identify as a brave person   About Melanie Curtis Melanie Curtis is a keynote speaker, world record pro skydiver and peak performance coach with more than 12,000 jumps and 30 years of experience leading and coaching worldwide. She has appeared on Good Morning America and is the author of How to Fly: Life Lessons from a Professional Skydiver. Melanie teaches clients and audiences to take intentional risks so they can reach the far edges of their potential, personally and professionally.   Resources mentioned: Melanie's website: melaniecurtis.com The How to Fly Challenge, a chapter of her book a day for 132 days, and the 31-day Gratitude Challenge: melaniecurtis.com Melanie's books: melaniecurtis.com/store Melanie on Instagram: @melaniecurtis11 The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg Steven Kotler's work on flow state   Links: Learn more about Melanie https://melaniecurtis.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/ Order Cindra's new Book: https://www.confidencetools.com/

You Are More Than Your Performance. How much of your self-worth is tied to your performance, accomplishments, or the success of people you care about? It's easy to attach our identity to our careers, relationships, achievements, and even our children's success. When things are going well, we feel good about ourselves. When we experience setbacks, we start questioning our worth. In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff joins Seth Toupal to explore why tying your identity too closely to performance can leave you feeling vulnerable and how to build a stronger sense of self. You'll learn: Why attaching your identity to outcomes makes setbacks feel more personal. How to use the "Identity Pie" exercise to recognize the different parts of who you are. Three practical strategies to separate your self-worth from your performance. How to care deeply about your work, family, and goals without allowing their outcomes to define you. This week's challenge: Create your own Identity Pie and write down five things that make you who you are beyond your accomplishments. Power Phrase: "What I do is part of me. It is not all of me." Remember, your performance is something you experience. It doesn't define who you are. To buy Cindra's new book: confidencetools.com To download our full study report, visit: confidencestudy.com To request a Free Breakthrough Call with a Mentally Strong Coach, visit: freementalbreakthroughcall.com To learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute, visit: mentallystronginstitute.com To learn about Dr. Cindra Kamphoff's speaking and coaching, visit: cindrakamphoff.com To follow Dr. Cindra on Instagram, visit: @cindrakamphoff

What if the key to achieving your goals isn't pushing harder, but taking time to reflect on where you've been? In this episode of The High Performance Mindset, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff sits down with Jobert Abueva, author, TEDx speaker, and global marketing executive, to explore why traditional resolutions often fail and how we can create meaningful, lasting change through intentional reflection. Jobert shares his personal experience with burnout, the lessons that transformed his approach to success, and the six-step framework from his book, The Janus Plan. You'll discover how looking back with honesty can help you move forward with greater clarity, purpose, and confidence. In this episode, you'll learn: Why traditional resolutions fail and how to set more sustainable goals. Three powerful questions to ask yourself when facing burnout or change. How reflecting on past experiences can improve your future performance. The six steps of the Janus Plan for approaching new beginnings with intention. How to practice self-compassion while learning from mistakes and setbacks. Whether you're navigating a career transition, working toward a new goal, or simply looking to create more balance in your life, this conversation will help you pause, reflect, and move forward with intention. Learn more about Jobert E. Abueva https://joberteabueva.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/ Order Cindra's new Book: https://www.confidencetools.com/

Have you ever held back from sharing an idea, taking an opportunity, or making a decision because you were worried about what other people might think? That fear has a name: FOPO, or Fear of Other People's Opinions. And it can quietly influence your decisions, hold you back, and undermine your confidence. In this episode of the High Performance Mindset Podcast, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff joins Seth Toupal to explore why we care so much about other people's opinions and how to stop giving them so much power. Drawing from her own experience as a college runner, Cindra explains how we often create stories about what others think of us, even when those opinions don't actually exist. In this episode, you'll learn: What FOPO is and how it can quietly control your decisions Why we often fear opinions that other people may not even have How to recognize when you're mind-reading and making assumptions Why some people's opinions deserve more weight than others Three practical strategies to overcome the fear of judgment How choosing courage over approval can help you build confidence This week, notice one area of your life where fear of judgment is holding you back. Ask yourself what you would do if you weren't trying to earn everyone's approval, then take one courageous step forward. Power Phrase of the Week: "I choose courage over approval." Quote of the Week: "Not everyone deserves a vote on how you live your life." To buy Cindra's new book: confidencetools.com To download our full study report, visit: confidencestudy.com To request a Free Breakthrough Call with a Mentally Strong Coach, visit: freementalbreakthroughcall.com To learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute, visit: mentallystronginstitute.com To learn about Dr. Cindra Kamphoff's speaking and coaching, visit: cindrakamphoff.com To follow Dr. Cindra on Instagram, visit: @cindrakamphoff

What happens in your brain when pressure rises, and how can you quickly get yourself back into a calmer, more focused state? In this episode, Cindra talks with Dr. Izzy Justice, Chief Neuroscience Officer at Neuro580 and author of Life Explained: Chasing 10 Hertz. Drawing from thousands of live EEG brain scans with athletes, executives, and other high performers, Dr. Izzy explains what happens in the brain during high-pressure moments and why mental noise can make it harder to access skills you already have. He also shares practical NeuroHacks you can use in real time to reduce tension, shift your attention, and become more present when it matters most. In this episode, you'll learn: What happens in your brain when pressure increases Why Dr. Izzy believes approximately 10 Hz is an important brain state for performance How mental noise can interfere with skills you have already developed Why negative experiences can become easier to recall under pressure How constant stimulation can affect your ability to stay present The 10-2 NeuroHack for quickly releasing tension The "Three Fields" technique for shifting attention through physical sensation How athletes use touch and sensory cues before performing The 4-2-8 breathing technique for calming your brain in high-pressure moments Why physical NeuroHacks can sometimes be easier to use than trying to think your way out of anxiety How these techniques can apply to sport, leadership, meetings, and everyday performance Dr. Izzy also shares how these ideas connect to his work at Neuro580 and his book, Life Explained: Chasing 10 Hertz. Learn more about Dr. Izzy Justice https://drizzyjustice.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/ Order Cindra's new Book: https://www.confidencetools.com/

What would you do today if you weren't afraid to fail? Fear of failure can keep us from applying for the opportunity, speaking up, starting something new, or having the difficult conversation. But failure doesn't define who you are. It's an event that can give you feedback, information, and a chance to grow. In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff explains why confident people still experience fear and how to keep that fear from making your decisions. She shares how redefining success around what you can control can take power away from failure and help you move forward with more courage. You'll also learn Cindra's Learn, Burn, Return strategy for responding when things don't go your way: learn from the experience, let go of what isn't serving you, and return to your previous level of confidence. This week, ask yourself: How am I defining failure? What does success look like if I define it by what I can control? What would I do today if I wasn't afraid to fail? Then take one action. Confidence doesn't come from knowing you'll succeed. It comes from knowing you can handle whatever happens. Power Phrase: "Fear doesn't make my decisions."   To buy Cindra's new book: confidencetools.com To download our full study report, visit: confidencestudy.com To request a Free Breakthrough Call with a Mentally Strong Coach, visit: freementalbreakthroughcall.com To learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute, visit: mentallystronginstitute.com To learn about Dr. Cindra Kamphoff's speaking and coaching, visit: cindrakamphoff.com To follow Dr. Cindra on Instagram, visit: @cindrakamphoff

What if the voice telling you that you're not ready, not good enough, or not capable is actually trying to keep you safe? In this episode of the High Performance Mindset, Cindra Kamphoff talks with Jenn Donahue, Ph.D., a retired U.S. Navy Captain, international keynote speaker, business coach, and author of Becoming the Warrior: Harnessing Your Inner Strength to Silence Self-Doubt. Jenn shares how a difficult leadership experience in the military shattered her confidence and ultimately led her to develop the Warrior Framework: Perceive, Assess, Ready, and Act. She explains how to recognize your inner critic, understand where self-doubt comes from, retrain your brain toward more positive thinking, and take action before you feel completely confident. You'll also learn why writing down one win each day can help shift your brain's attention toward what is going well, how to use a "battle buddy" when self-doubt creeps in, and why your next step should be so small that it feels almost impossible not to take it. In this episode, you'll learn: Why self-doubt and imposter syndrome can affect even highly accomplished people The four steps of Jenn's Warrior Framework How to recognize and challenge your inner critic Why taking action before you feel confident matters How to use a one-win-per-day tracker to build confidence The difference between a failure and a setback How a "battle buddy" can help you stay accountable and keep moving forward Jenn's website: https://www.jenndonahue.com/ Buy Jenn's book "Becoming the Warrior" Mentally Strong Institute: https://mentallystronginstitute.com/ Request a Free Mental Breakthrough Call: https://freementalbreakthroughcall.com/ Download the National Confidence Research Study: https://confidencestudy.com/ Order Cindra's new Book: https://www.confidencetools.com/

Fear has a way of making future events feel like they're happening right now. What if I fail? What if I embarrass myself? What if people judge me? In this episode, Dr. Cindra Kamphoff shares a simple reminder: future events aren't reality. She explains how fear can influence our decisions, why confidence doesn't require being fearless, and three ways to keep fear from controlling your next move. You'll learn how to catch the "what ifs," return your attention to the present, and "do it afraid" by taking courageous action even when fear is still there. Power phrase: "I can feel fear and still move forward." To buy Cindra's new book: confidencetools.com To download our full study report, visit: confidencestudy.com To request a Free Breakthrough Call with a Mentally Strong Coach, visit: freementalbreakthroughcall.com To learn more about the Mentally Strong Institute, visit: mentallystronginstitute.com To learn about Dr. Cindra Kamphoff's speaking and coaching, visit: cindrakamphoff.com To follow Dr. Cindra on Instagram, visit: @cindrakamphoff