In this episode of the Coaching Minds Podcast, Ben takes listeners on a journey through his personal experiences as an athlete, coach, and mental performance coach. From the lessons learned to the advancements in science and technology, the episode provides a comprehensive look at the evolution of the field of mental performance coaching. With a focus on helping athletes control the mental side of their game and perform at their best in high-pressure situations, Ben shares insights and tips...

Kamryn Babb has battled through the pain and heartache of seeing his athletic hopes and dreams be crushed by a torn ACL not once, not twice, not three, but four separate times. This week we sit down with Kamryn to discuss his mental toughness, the kind of impact and leadership it takes to be selected captain twice, and the strength that his faith gave him amid seemingly insurmountable odds. In an amazing story that was featured by both The Big Ten Network and College Gameday (Link:...

This is the second installment of On The Spot, where Ben and Zeek ask questions on the spot, with no planned-out content ahead of time, just honest conversation.  At the 1:35 mark, Ben asks Zeek why he is so positive and where that comes from. At the 22:30 mark, Zeek asks Ben why building unity (in the weight room, for example) is so important. If you are interested in helping Zeek support the National Down Syndrome Society, here is the link: https://give.ndss.org/fundraiser/4239969 As...

Steve Sebolt is a mental fitness coach from the east coast who helps individuals establish their principles, passion, and purpose. Steve has utilized the Focus Cycle framework within his own life and has also seen it give his daughter a set of tools to overcome negativity on the lacrosse field. Steve reached out to us about partnering with Mental Training Plan in his own practice, but we ended up learning so much from each other that we asked him to join us on the show. In this episode, Steve...

Imagine talking to MLB scouts about signing bonuses as a high school player but never getting a chance to play at the next level...even after a very successful D1 college career. In this very real conversation, Justin Glass shares some of the dark times that he went through when his career came to an end, as well as some ways to overcome those dark days and find passion and purpose moving forward in life. Sports will come to an end for all of us. This episode sheds some light on how to battle...

Dee Mahoney played NCAA Division I softball at Oregon State University. She graduated in 1985 and completed graduate work at the University of Miami (Fla.). She then began her career with USA Track & Field. Spent 25 years raising two lovely children and being an athletic trainer at Westfield High School on the north side of Indianapolis before retiring, moving to Colorado and traveling the world with Team USA. An experienced athlete herself, Dee has a unique insight into the minds of...

On The Spot (OTS) is our new segment that will be mixed in from time to time. No preparation, no script, just questions asked ON THE SPOT with Ben and Zeek about topics relevant to what's going on right now in the sports world.  This week we talk through these topics: - Aaron Judge feeling pressure to break the record - High school fall sport athletes feeling pressure entering the playoffs - Finding your sweet spot or playing "in the zone" - Mental preparation and mental reps to prepare you...

In this week's episode, we sit down with Indiana High School Football Hall of Fame head coach George Gilbert to talk about things he has learned throughout his career. In this episode, we talk about how he got his start in coaching, some of the biggest challenges he's faced, and the most important lessons he's learned. George Gilbert was a high school football for 41 years. He is currently ranked 41 st in wins all-time in Indiana football. Took over a team that went 0-10 his first year and...

Our perception of any given situation is determined by four main factors: the filter through which we see it, how we frame it, how we evaluate it, and how we respond to it. The filter is our individual lens on the world, shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and values. Our frame is how we choose to see the situation, whether we focus on the negative or the positive. Our evaluation is based on our judgment of what is happening, and our response is how we choose to act in the situation. By...

Full disclosure to start this post...this is not advice from some expert who has everything figured out. This is simply a look into a very difficult time in Ben's life, some ways he dealt with anxiety, and some of the lessons he has learned from feeling overwhelmed. Here is the link to the blog post on this topic: BLOG LINK Link to the Focus Cycle: Controlling your mind and body in Big Moments book that Ben wrote that is referenced in this episode. Link to Dr. Matt Walker's book Why We...

This week we sit down with Jeff and Debra Wilson who are on the Wilson Team with Keller Williams in Indianapolis. Purchasing a home is one of the largest purchases (both financially and emotionally) that a couple or individual will make in their lifetime. Jeff and Debra have decades of experience in the world of real estate, investing, renting, relocating, general contracting, staging, and appraising. Their vast experience in all things real estate gives them the unique ability to both give...

Welcome back to Part II of our conversation with Brett Golliff. If you missed Part I, be sure to go back and check that out first. This week's conversation shifts from designing Corvette interiors to designing custom shoes for NBA players. Brett talks with us about the value of hard work, taking risks, and the #1 tool he uses to achieve at a higher level. Learn more or connect with us online at mentaltrainingplan.com

At first glance, the field of art & design seems worlds away from high-performance athletes. However, as Brett Golliff (Global Color & Trim Design Manager for Chevrolet) shares in this week's episode, there is plenty to learn from someone who has reached one of the highest levels in his or her field. From his passion as a 4-year-old for art to being told to pick a "real career" in school, Brett has been setting goals and chasing them down from a young age. He has experienced success,...

This week's episode is a continuation of the start of our conversation with Josh Bryant last week. Josh continues to discuss building relationships and other topics that tie both sports and running your own business together. Learn more or connect with us online at: mentaltrainingplan.com

This week we dive into our first episode that examines the link between lessons learn in athletics that can be applied to the real world with Ben's good friend Josh Bryant. Josh was a very successful athlete growing up. After college, he became a teacher and coach at a very successful high school. He later left and became a successful salesman in the corporate world. Next, Josh started his own company and has built it up to an incredibly successful packaging company in the midwest. As a head...

In this week's episode started with the question that was asked of us "who is the most clutch player of all time?" Rather than diving into that argument, we shifted the question to "what can we learn from some of the most clutch players of all time?" We also wanted to reference some great episodes related to this topic: Episode #76 - COURAGE Focus on the processNegative voice in the back of your mindDr. Jason Winkle - breathing"What's next?" or "This Shot"Failure is not final Comfortable...

From time to time we are asked for recommendations on books to read or give as a gift. With the holiday season coming up, we thought this would be a good time to put together our Top Ten!  Thinking, Fast and Slow - by Daniel Kahneman  https://amzn.to/3EvhnRs  Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds- by David Goggins  https://amzn.to/3lDLcYA   How Bad Do You Want It?: Mastering the Psychology of Mind over Muscle - by Matt Fitzgerald  https://amzn.to/3dvi4y1   Altered Traits:...

Research is very clear that there are measurable and tangible benefits to having a grateful attitude. In the world of performance, gratitude can help you shift from a negative internal focus to an external positive focus...which might be just what you need to perform at a higher level. In this week's episode, we take a look at the power of gratitude and how it can help you improve your performance, attitude, health, and wellbeing on and off the field! Learn more or connect with us online at...

Courage is not the absence of fear, but moving forward in the face of fear. Simply typing that into a Google search will bring back all kinds of quote results accredited to all kinds of famous people. Despite that quote being repeated generation after generation, it is still something that each of us must learn on our own. This week we talk about some ways to build courage in the face of fear so that we can perform at a higher level. Learn more or connect with us online at:...

We receive a lot of questions about what our training programs look like for mental performance. We work with teams and athletes from all over the country and today we take a look at how those programs are set up so that coaches looking to help their own athletes or teams can hopefully gain some insight into how they can start to build their own program. If you want more information or have any questions connect with us online at: mentaltrainingplan.com 

Many of us have either heard a coach tell us to "focus on the process" or maybe we have said it ourselves. In this week's episode, Ben takes a look at what specifically this includes and how we can do a better job of focusing on the things that will help us perform at a higher level as teams and individuals. Learn more or connect with us online at mentaltrainingplan.com

From national championship pitcher to coach, recruiter, and now Director Of Operations at Pro X Athlete Development, Mark Walther has had first-hand experience when it comes to handling intensity and adrenaline on the mound. In this week's episode, we sit down with Mark to talk about the highs and lows of his career as well as how he was able to fine-tune his own physical levels to play at his best. Connect with us online or learn more at mentaltrainingplan.com

Andy Sweet didn't walk into his high school locker room a five-star recruit or even the most talented player, but through hard work and incredible leadership over four years he was able to lead them to his high school's first football state championship. In this episode, we talk through what buying into a program looks like and how you can outwork and outlove your competition. Andy now serves as an officer in the US Marine Corps and was ranked by his peers as the top officer in his class....

When something bad happens, do you have a tendency to vent to other people? Do you feel the need to "get it off of your chest" when something happens to you? What if that was doing more harm than good? In this episode, Ben looks at a 2015 study that examined the effects of complaining and what you can do to most effectively move forward rather than just "spinning your tires."

In this episode, we take a look at research published by Virginia Tech that looks at the necessary steps or stages of change. These include:  Stage One: Precontemplation Stage Two: Contemplation Stage Three: Preparation/Determination Stage Four: Action/Willpower Stage Five: Maintenance. As always, connect with us through social media or online at mentaltrainingplan.com