-10 Minute Read-
The Predator or the Prey
What kind of player are you?
If the Player vs. Spectator analogy in part-1 helped you understand the difference between being a passive observer and an active contributor in your own life and performance, then the next evolution of that mindset is this:
Once you’ve committed to stepping onto the court, fully engaged as a player in your arena of life, your work, and your leadership, you have already separated yourself from the crowd. But now comes the next distinction, and it’s a critical one:
Are you the predator… or are you the prey?
This prompts a deeper level of self-awareness, because it speaks directly to how you show up once the game (or your day) starts. Are you on the attack, pursuing what matters most with clarity and conviction? Or are you playing it safe, staying reactive, and avoiding risks?
Let’s break it down what I mean.
In the wilderness, the predator is in attack mode, they move with intent. They scan their environment for opportunity to capitalize on. Their mindset is forward-focused, aggressive in preparation, and deliberate in execution. They leave nothing on the table, they play to win. They know pressure is part of the environment and they embrace it. They use their energy, focus, and presence to dictate the terms. Predators trust their preparation and rely on their instincts. When adversity hits, they don’t fold, they hunt. Their confidence comes not from arrogance, but from trusting their instincts, and their deliberate habits.
The prey, on the other hand, operates in the defense mode. They are focused on not losing, instead of chasing the win. Their decisions are cautious, reactive, and fear-based. Prey minds fixate on what could go wrong. They move with hesitation, scanning for danger and waiting for someone or something else to dictate their next move. The prey mentality is the victim mentality. Even if someone with this mentality is talented, they underperform because they are afraid to fully commit. The prey avoids the uncomfortable, this mindset doesn’t just play it safe… it plays it small.
If you pay attention, you’ll notice it everywhere—first in yourself, and then in those around you. You see it in body language before a big moment, in the confidence (or lack) in your own level of preparation. You hear it in your self-talk and in the way your team communicates under stress. You recognize it when someone makes excuses before the game has even begun, or when blame is thrown around after a loss or poor performance. You feel it in how people (including yourself), either lean in or pull back the moment adversity strikes.
Predator vs. Prey is about mindset, not personality.
So ask yourself:
→ Are you playing to win, or playing not to lose?
→ Are you chasing what you want, or avoiding what you fear?
→ Are you committed to action, or stuck in hesitation?
→ Are you leading with clarity and intent, or waiting for permission to move?
This mindset doesn’t just apply to the athletes. This applies to YOU. As a coach, leader, or teammate, how do you approach your role? How do you attack life? How do you lead under pressure? How do you pursue your goals? Are you the one shaping your environment… or adapting to survive within it?
Being a player means showing up. Being a predator means showing up on purpose.
Predators own their preparation. They build systems to succeed. They train with purpose, execute with focus, and recover with discipline. Prey just survives the season. Predators set the standard.
I want you to continually reflect on this mindset. Not just for yourself, but for those you serve and your environments. Lead by example, because when those around you learn to shift from being the prey to going on the attack, the level of performance and personal development elevate to new levels.
And remember: this isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a daily one. It is a choice. Every morning you wake up with the chance to be either the predator or the prey. Every practice, every rep, every interaction is a reflection of that choice.
So… who are you becoming?
Let that question shape the work ahead.
Before we go further, it’s important to challenge the myths that often cloud our understanding of what it really takes to build an elite mindset.
Elite Mindset Myths, Mistakes & Misconceptions
1. Our Mindset is a fixed trait — you either have it or you don’t.
One of the biggest misconceptions is treating mindset like a trait you’re born with. Research in performance psychology and Carol Dweck’s work on growth mindset makes it clear: mindset is trainable, adaptable, and shaped by intentional practice. Believing its fixed keeps athletes and leaders from investing in its development. Remember – WE CAN TRAIN THESE QUALITIES!!
2. Mental Toughness = Grinding Harder.
There’s a pervasive myth that an elite mindset is just about pushing through pain or outworking everyone else. In reality, performance psychology shows that toughness isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things with focus, efficiency, and balance. Mental toughness can actually mean doing less of the things holding us back. Blind effort without clarity often leads to burnout, injury, or stagnation. Get organized with your mental framework and orientation.
3. Mindset develops naturally with age and experience.
Yes, maturity plays a role, but waiting for a mindset to “just happen” is like waiting for skill without training. Evidence shows that deliberate psychological skills training (goal setting, visualization, attentional control, self-talk) accelerates growth, helping athletes and coaches reach higher levels faster and with more consistency.
4. Mental skills are secondary to physical skills.
Mind – Body integration is critically important. Too many people fall short by thinking of mindset training as an “add-on” rather than a performance driver. Yet, when stress is high and pressure mounts, the mental game becomes the differentiator. Ignoring mindset until problems surface puts athletes in a reactive, not proactive, position.
5. I’m too busy, I don’t have time to train my mindset.
The reality? You don’t have time NOT to. A strong mental framework amplifies everything else you’re doing—practices, skill development, strength work. Even short, intentional mental performance strategies integrated into training create compounding benefits that save time and frustration in the long run.
The Takeaway Lessons from this Series
The Player vs. Spectator analogy isn’t just a concept—it’s a mindset and a mirror. It reveals where you stand and how you show up in every arena of your life. At its core, it’s about choice—something completely within your control.
In any situation, you get to decide:
→Will I be an active player—engaged, intentional, and proactive?
→Or a passive spectator—watching life from the sidelines, reactive, and letting circumstances dictate my direction?
The player focuses on what they can control. The spectator obsesses over what they can’t.
The player finds solutions. The spectator creates excuses.
The player owns their actions. The spectator casts blame.
The player competes with purpose. The spectator just watches others compete.
But once you’ve made the decision to step onto the court, there’s another evolution waiting: What kind of player are you? Are you the Predator vs. Prey mentality.
This is where elite performers separate from the rest.
→ The predator plays and attacks to win—focused, assertive, and intentional.
→ The prey plays not to lose—hesitant, reactive, and controlled by fear.
Predators move with clarity and confidence because they trust their preparation. They don’t wait for perfect conditions—they create them.
Prey hesitates and overthink, stuck in the trap of playing safe.
When you combine the Player’s mindset with the Predator’s mentality, you unlock a rare level of performance—one driven by focus, courage, and accountability.
That’s an ELITE MINDSET.
So ask yourself:
→ Am I attacking the opportunities in front of me, or am I waiting for them to come to me?
→ Do I play to win—or simply play not to lose?
→ What would it look like if I showed up today as both the player and the predator?
Because there’s no action in the stands—and no growth in playing it safe.
It’s time to become a game changer, to create a life you love by attacking it with intention, purpose, and belief. Lead through your effort, attitude, and energy. Because when you choose to live and lead with the mentality of a player on the attack, you don’t just change your game—you elevate everyone around you.
Mindset is our SEPARATOR: I’ve seen it take the good to great—and the great to elite.
So I’ll ask you again… Are you ready to take your mindset and performance to the next level? If so—it’s time to step on the court. Let’s build.
Thank you for taking the time to invest in yourself and explore this series on building an elite mindset. If you found value in this series, come explore more at CoachBradyHowe.com. I’ll show you how I’ve helped some of the best in the world reach another level—and how you can too.
