Creating a Confident Mind for Elite Performance
How can you apply the mental training techniques of world-class achievers to maximize your performance?
In this episode of the Strategic Minds Podcast, Rich Horwath sits down with Dr. Nate Zinsser — performance psychologist, long-time director of West Point’s Center for Enhanced Performance, and author of *The Confident Mind*. Dr. Zinsser shares practical tools for building unshakable confidence, how to mentally prepare for high-stakes moments, and why envisioning your wins before they happen is a key to sustained success.
He also explains how athletes, warriors, and business leaders can all train their minds to adapt to any situation they face — and why a “first victory” begins before you ever walk into the room.
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Key Quotes
How can you apply the mental training techniques of world-class achievers to maximize your performance?
In this episode of the Strategic Minds Podcast, Rich Horwath sits down with Dr. Nate Zinsser — performance psychologist, long-time director of West Point’s Center for Enhanced Performance, and author of *The Confident Mind*. Dr. Zinsser shares practical tools for building unshakable confidence, how to mentally prepare for high-stakes moments, and why envisioning your wins before they happen is a key to sustained success.
He also explains how athletes, warriors, and business leaders can all train their minds to adapt to any situation they face — and why a “first victory” begins before you ever walk into the room.
Practice Makes Profit
Rich shares how leaders can prepare for important events the same way elite athletes prepare for game day — by creating a daily mental workout to train their minds for high performance.
League of Strategic Minds
How can leaders train for confidence the same way they train for physical performance? Is it really possible to “practice” in your mind?
Winsights: Ideas for Advantage
Is your team winning? Are you outperforming the competition in providing superior value to customers? In its most basic form, strategy is how you plan to win. If you’re not currently winning, then create a new strategy.
References
Time stamps:
(00:00) Deep Dive Interview with Dr. Nate Zinsser
(47:34) Practice Makes Profit
(50:34) League of Strategic Minds
(53:16) Winsights, Ideas for Advantage
Links
Submit a question for Rich to the League of Strategic Minds
Dr. Nate Zinssler on LinkedIn
Rich Horwath on LinkedIn
Rich Horwath on YouTube
Rich Horwath on Instagram
Strategic Thinking Institute Website
Inc. Magazine’s Top 4 book for 2024: STRATEGIC Book
New executive development platform: Strategic Fitness System
Sign up for Rich’s free Strategic Thinker Newsletter
About the Guest
Dr. Nate Zinsser
Author: The Confident Mind
Performance Psychologist
About the Host
Rich Horwath, Founder & CEO
Strategic Thinking Institute
Rich is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of eight books on strategic thinking, including his most recent work, STRATEGIC, which was named a “top 4 must-read business book for 2024” by Inc. Magazine, and a national bestseller by USA TODAY. He has been the top rated keynote speaker on strategic thinking at national conferences for nearly 20 years.
This Episode Brought to You by the Strategic Thinking Institute
Sharpen your strategic thinking for long-term success.
The Strategic Thinking Institute has developed hundreds of resources to help leaders at all levels think, plan, and act strategically. In addition to facilitating workshops and strategic coaching with executive leadership teams, STI has assessments and products for functional groups such as sales, marketing, finance, human resources, operations, information technology, account management, business development, accounting, clinical, medical, and other technical specialties. STI’s experience in a wide range of industries brings your team the best-of-breed practices and resources to enable your team to outthink and outperform the competition. Remember, be strategic … or be gone.
Strategic Minds Podcast Episodes
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 1 – Gold-Medal-Winning Strategy
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 2 – Blank Page to Billions: How An “Ideas Guy” Strategizes
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 3 – Strategic Leadership Shaped by a Service Mindset
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 4 – CEO as Architect of the Future
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 5 – Constructing Creative Strategy
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 6 – AI, Atoms, and the Science of Strategy
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 7 – Storytelling to Strategize
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 8 – Transforming Complexity Into Clarity
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 9 – Think Big, Move Fast, and Own the Outcome
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 10 – Growing Talent into Competitive Advantage
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 11 – Road Trip: Scaling Brands To Succeed
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 12 – Insights from Inside the Beautiful Mind
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 13 – Business Checkmate: Techniques from a Chess Master CEO
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 14 – “All In” on Strategy: Insights from a World Poker Champion
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 15 – Battle-Tested Strategy: Lessons from a Four-Star General
Strategic Minds Podcast: Episode 17 – Cultivating a Future Ready Mindset
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