-15 Minute Read-
In Part 1 of this series, we set the standard and explored what Mental Performance Training is — why it matters, and how it separates the average performer from the elite. We also outlined the critical distinction between mental performance and mental health, and introduced key mental skills and tools that form the foundation for peak performance. Emphasizing that true greatness comes from mastering both mind and body.
Now it’s time to take that next step.
In this second part, we’ll guide you on a positive path to begin your mental performance journey: understanding the importance of finding the right coach or mentor for you. We’ll explore what credentials and qualities to look for in a coach, and how to align with someone who fits your goals, communication style, and environments. We’ll also tackle some of the common myths that hold people back from seeking this kind of training.
Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or driven high-achiever, this article is your guide to building clarity, confidence, and the right support system as you pursue mental performance mastery.
Choosing the Right Coach & Environments
What To Look For
By this point, maybe you’re interested in the idea of mental performance training and working on the skills necessary to build success — and if so, you’re on the right path. But as you continue down this road, the next challenge quickly arises: how do you find the right resources? Where do you find the right coach or mentor to guide you on this journey?
Let’s dive into a few essential concepts and qualities to consider as you look for the best fit.
Let me start by sharing this: everyone needs a coach. And coaching isn’t just for professional athletes competing at the highest level. We all have goals and aspirations we want to accomplish — so why wouldn’t we benefit from the guidance of a coach or mentor?
I’ll say it again because it’s that important — everyone needs a coach in their life.
The truth is, no one gets to the top alone. We all need mentors and people in our corner who push us, guide us, and challenge us to build the best version of ourselves. When I educate people on this topic, I often encourage them to create a board of advisors — a small group of trusted individuals who are honest and transparent, who challenge and push them, and most importantly, who genuinely support them and understand both the life they live and the goals they’re striving to achieve.
Even the best of the best had mentors and coaches:
→ Dirk Nowitzki credited his longtime personal coach and mentor, Holger Geschwindner, with shaping his game and guiding his career.
→ Bill Gates leaned on Warren Buffett as a trusted mentor throughout his journey.
→ Tiger Woods credited the legendary swing coach Butch Harmon during his rise to dominance.
→ Michael Jordan hired Tim Grover as his strength coach — at a time when lifting weights was not yet recognized as essential in team sports.
→ Jesse Itzler describes in his book Living with a Seal how spending 30 days with Navy SEAL David Goggins pushed him beyond limits he ever imagined — completely reshaping his outlook on discipline and comfort.
If game-changers like these individuals relied on coaches and mentors to push them towards an elite level, why wouldn’t you?
As the saying goes, iron sharpens iron. Whether you’re a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, the star player on an NBA team, a stay-at-home parent, or a recent college graduate finding your way — we all need coaching and guidance in our lives.
In my experience, it often takes working with three to five different mentors, coaches, or psychologists before you find the one you truly connect with. I say this because I don’t want you to get discouraged or give up if your first experience with a consultant isn’t what you hoped for. Finding the right mentor or coach is much like dating — finding someone you naturally connect and communicate with, who has the right qualifications, skills, and character to guide you on the path to success.
It’s important to understand that your environment matters. The people you surround yourself with will define your direction — both personally and professionally. Choose wisely who you allow into your inner circle, because your circle will ultimately shape your ceiling.
Great coaching starts with clarity — and that begins with you. Before you set out to find the right coach or mentor, take time to reflect on your goals, your obstacles, and your learning style. Ask yourself: Where do I want this road to lead, and how can the right coach help me get there?
This kind of self-awareness is what makes mental performance training stick — transforming it from an idea into a daily practice that changes how you show up. When you know what you’re looking for and why, you’ll recognize the right coach or mentor when you meet them.
Here are a few key considerations to reflect on before you begin your search.
Where to start your Mental Performance Journey
Questions to ask yourself
1. Why now?: Be honest— what has led me to explore mental performance training at this stage? Was there a specific experience, setback, or curiosity that brought me here? Did someone I trust introduce the idea — or did I simply feel it was time to take the next step in my growth?
2. How do I define success?: How do I define success? How do I measure it for myself? Is it achieving results, experiencing growth, gaining recognition, completing a challenge, learning a new skill — or something deeper that truly drives me?
3. What are my current goals, and why do they matter to me?: What am I working toward — and why is it important to me? What do I truly get out of doing all this work? Gaining clarity on what I want to accomplish helps set the direction and purpose for my journey. Do I have specific goals, and are they both short-term and long-term? Are they focused on process or purely on outcomes? Most importantly — are these goals within my control?
4. What’s holding me back from reaching my full potential?: What’s the main limitation or fear preventing me from becoming the best version of myself? Is it my mindset, negative self-talk, poor habits, or inconsistency — or something deeper I haven’t yet confronted? And most importantly, is it something within my control?
5. What’s my preferred learning & communication style?: How do I learn and communicate best? How do I prefer coaches to communicate with me to get the most out of my performance? Think back to the teachers, coaches, or mentors who had the biggest impact on me — what made their approach work? Did they push hard, or were they more collaborative and supportive? Do I thrive with structure, written plans, and accountability check-ins, or do I respond better to open conversations, encouragement, and flexibility? Understanding how I learn and communicate helps me identify the type of coaching relationship I’ll respond to best.
6. What am I willing to commit?: This is my mental performance journey — no one else’s. It’s not a destination, but a long-term commitment to growth. What will it take for me to show up every day and move closer to greatness and my ultimate goals? Is it time, effort, openness, adaptability, and consistency? Be honest about what I’m truly ready to invest in this process.
What to Look For In A Mental Performance Coach
Finding the right mental performance coach or mentor can make all the difference. Here are a few key things to keep in mind and prioritize as you look for the best fit.
1. Qualifications & Training: Look for someone with formal education and certifications in sport and performance psychology (e.g., CMPC through AASP) or related fields. A credible background shows they’re grounded in proven methods and theoretical knowledge, not just motivational talk. Do your due diligence and research into the coach before jumping headfirst into training. There are countless so-called ‘life coaches’ and ‘self-proclaimed experts’ who do an excellent job marketing themselves but have a flimsy background in true training concepts. You may even have a strong sense of awareness of what you need and are looking for in mental performance training, and finding a specialist in that area can help narrow your search to the coach best suited for your needs.
2. Experience in Sport/Performance Setting: Look for a coach who understands your environment — someone who has the experience and understanding of your sport or field. You want a true soundboard, a coach who can communicate in a way that resonates and connects with you directly. An effective coach should understand the unique pressures of competition, whether that’s sports, business, or performing arts. Real-world experience working with athletes or performers helps them bridge the science to your practical reality. You want to work with someone who has both knowledge and experience in your specific area — whether that’s a particular sport, business, or lifestyle. Find someone who can speak your language and see your world through the lens in which you operate.
3. Personal Connection & Trust: You need to feel comfortable opening up to them. The best coach for you is someone you naturally connect with — someone you trust, respect, and feel understands your goals, challenges, and environment.
4. Communication & Coaching Style: A good mental performance coach can explain complex ideas simply, listen actively, and adapt their approach to your personality. You should leave conversations feeling clearer, supported, and challenged — not confused or talked down to.
5. Customized Approach (Not One-Size-Fits-All): Beware of cookie-cutter programs. A strong coach will assess your strengths, needs, and goals, then tailor strategies and tools specifically for you. The right coach designs a framework that feels personal, not generic. An ideal coach naturally follows a person-centered approach to their philosophy and practice that emphasizes the individual first — valuing their unique experiences, goals, and strengths. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model, the coach builds trust, listens deeply, and tailors strategies to the performer’s specific needs.
Common Misconceptions About Mental Performance Training:
1. Mental skills — you either have them or you don’t: False. Mental skills are just like physical skills — they can be developed, strengthened, and refined through consistent, intentional practice. The brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself, known as neuroplasticity has proven that many mental skills such as focus, confidence, and emotional regulation are all trainable capacities — not fixed traits.
2. Seeking mental performance training means you’re weak: Quite the opposite. Choosing to work on your mindset is one of the greatest signs of strength, courage, and self-awareness. The best athletes and leaders in the world invest in this area because they understand that mental readiness separates talent from greatness. True strength isn’t about avoiding struggle — it’s about building the tools to navigate it. This is what set the legendary Kobe Bryant apart — he trained his mind with the same intensity, precision, and consistency as his body.
3. Mental performance training is only for elite athletes: Mental skills apply to anyone, such as athletes, business leaders, performers, students, or parents. If you face pressure, decisions, or challenges, you can benefit from this training. Research in neuroscience and neuroplasticity has shown that we can continue to strengthen and rewire our brains at any stage of life, regardless of our profession, meaning it’s never too late to improve mentally and cognitively.
4. Mental performance training is a quick fix: I’ll say it again, mental performance training is a journey, not a destination. Developing the inner game isn’t something you can microwave or treat as a quick fix. If you want to reach your true potential and goals, it requires a lifelong commitment. Just as athletes continually refine their physical and tactical skills, we must recognize the importance of consistently training and sharpening our mental skills as well.
Key Lessons & Takeaways from this Series
→ Mental Performance Training is an organized framework: It’s a structured process — an intentional way of thinking, practicing, and showing up. It’s a daily process that creates clarity, discipline, and both the foundation and framework to perform at your best when it matters most.
→ Mental skills aren’t just for Pro-Athletes: Mental skills go far beyond athletics.These skills and tools can be developed and strengthened at any stage in life. Whether you’re leading a team, managing a business, or striving for personal growth, mental performance tools apply to every domain of life.
→ Process drives performance: Having the right process and practice in place will allow you to perform within your zone of optimal functioning. Outcomes are the byproduct of consistent habits, focused attention, and disciplined routines. When your process is right, performance takes care of itself.
→ Everyone can benefit from having a mentor or coach: Nobody reaches the summit alone. Even the most elite performers utilize mentors and lean on others to sharpen their skills. Coaches provide perspective, guidance, accountability, and feedback — the kind of guidance no one can give themselves.
→ Mental performance is a journey, not a destination: There’s no finish line to mastering the mind or our craft. It’s a lifelong practice of growth, reflection, and refinement — one that compounds over time, just like training our physical skillsets. Your personal development and growth isn’t a quick fix, it’s a commitment to continually refining your mind and dominating the details just as you train your body.
Final Reflection & Send-Off
True greatness isn’t built on talent or physical skills alone, it comes from the unseen work to mastering your mindset and aligning your actions with purpose.
Greatness isn’t meant for everyone, our mindset is the ultimate separator. It takes courage to look inward, curiosity to explore, and consistency to keep showing up and lead in this space. It takes commitment, and for those willing to commit, the rewards are transformational.
Mental performance is the difference between potential and performance, and I’ve seen it firsthand transform great athletes into elite athletes. When you train the mind with the same intention you train the body, everything about the way you lead, compete, and live begins to elevate.
I’m grateful you took the time to read this series and invest in your own development. I once heard a quote from Damian Lillard that’s always stuck with me — and it holds true here:
“I want nothing from you, only everything for you.”
If you’re someone exploring mental coaching or looking for a performance mentor, my hope is that this article helped guide you down a positive and purposeful path.
Are you ready to take your game or performance to the next level?
If so, I’ll leave you with this challenge:
Be the one who commits.
Be the one who builds.
Be the one who leads from within.
Greatness awaits — let’s build.
