Peak Performance Principles
By Christyan Gudjenov
Peak Performance PrinciplesFeb 26, 2019
Peak Performer Profile: Angelina Joyce, Best Practices for Handling Injuries and Working on your Mental Health
In this Profile, I got to sit down one of the most resilient people I've ever met, Angelina Joyce. She is a soccer star from Braintree, MA where she was a Captain of her HS Soccer team and received multiple leadership and excellence awards. She went on to achieve her dream of playing D1 soccer at UMass-Lowell. She was well on her way of achieving her next dream of trying to make the US National Team and playing Professionally, until her extensive list of injuries caught up to her. If you play sports, you know injuries are commonplace, but for AJ her specific injuries were anything but commonplace. Injuries are a part of every athletes journey, unfortunately many athletes are not prepared for the mental stress that comes with physical injury, and that stress causes a significant toll on their mental health. In this episode, AJ opened up about her mental health and gave us an insight into the toll injuries can take on an athletes mental health. She shared with us some great strategies for mentally handling rehab and specific actions we can take to continue progressing in our sport even though we cannot physically play. If your an injured athlete or know an injured athlete, please share this episode with them. If you yourself are having concerns about your mental health or know someone who is, please reach out to a therapist or counselor near you. Just like going to the gym and getting a trainer boosts your physical abilities, working on your mental health with a therapist or counselor will boost your mental abilities as well. In order to succeed at sports and life we need to maximize both our physical and mental abilities. So if you or someone you know need help with their mental health, reach out to a therapist or counselor today.
Peak Performer Profile: Justin Su’a - Head of Mental Performance Tampa Bay Rays
In this episode I got interview Justin Su’a. He is the Head of Mental Performance for the Tampa Bay Rays. He’s worked for the MLB and NFL for many years and shares some strategies for personal and team success. I hope you enjoy this episode!
Peak Performer Profile - Pete Naschak: former Navy SEAL's Command Master Chief for SEAL Team 5, Founder and Principal of Senaptec LLC and Performance Activation, Inc.
Pete Naschak Bio:
Pete retired from the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams after a 21 year career, where he held various operational and leadership positions, lived overseas, and participated in military contingency operations throughout the world. Throughout his military and post-military careers, Pete has had direct experience and involvement with strategic planning, specialized training, and individual and team development in high performance, high demand, and austere environments. After retirement, Pete finished a Master’s of Science degree in Global Leadership, a qualification as a Project Management Professional (PMP), and a certificate in Global Business Management and Strategy. Pete provides specialized consulting services including product development, individual and team performance initiatives, and organizational development for top tier companies, teams, and individuals. Pete is the co-founder and principal of Senaptec, a human sensory performance technology company focused on delivering assessment and training tools for sport, military, medical, and educational entities. He currently volunteers as President of the Board of Directors for the Lone Survivor Foundation, which supports injured military personnel and their families suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), and serious combat injury. (bio taken from http://www.performanceactivation.com/who)
Peak Performer Profile: Alan Stein, Jr - Raise Your Game
Principle 23: The 2 MOST IMPORTANT TECHNIQUES in Mental Training
Principle 22: The 2 MOST IMPORTANT WORDS in Mental Training
Peak Performer Profile: Brad and Monica Manuel and Sasha Dingle - mPEAK Training, Flow, and Pre-Performance Routines
In this episode I got to interview Brad, Monnica, and Sasha. They run mindfulness programs for individuals and teams all across the country. The program they specialize in is called mPEAK - Mindful Performance Enhancement, Acceptance, and Knowledge. In this interview we talked about what mPEAK is, strategies to bring our mind back to focus and how to enter a flow state, as well as tips on how to create a successful pre-performance routine.
What is mPEAK?
mPEAK "is an intensive course in mindfulness training for those who seek to draw upon this proven practice to achieve their goals, both personal and professional, as well as attain new levels of performance and success. This cutting-edge training program is built around the latest brain research related to peak performance, resilience, focus, and flow. The mPEAK program enhances the human capacity of mindfulness through established and empirically supported practices and exercises, tailored to fit the needs and desires of the team, organization or individual."
Reference: https://mbpti.org/programs/mpeak/mpeak-3day-intensive/
Want to learn more about mPEAK?
Check out the upcoming workshop Brad, Monica, and Sasha will be doing. Learn more here:
https://www.rsgperformance.com/product-page/ready-set-go-mindfulness-workshop?fbclid=IwAR2u7YPi3ugZjUcxS-XeIUUbIaiVdWzyZWa0Td9gV46PBLTh6k-uDvdoyXo
Principle 21: Play with Fear vs Play with Love
Peak Performer Profile: Matt Mounier
- Developing skills in sport you can use in your life/career
-Effective strategies for transitioning out of sport
- Athlete mentality
- Succeeding post athletic career
Principle 20: Better Together
Principle 19: Frequency and Fluency
This episode is for anyone that is in a slump or plateauing. With a lot of the world being on hold, it can be easy to find yourself slumping or plateauing in your performance. This episode highlights two strategies to overcome these moments. Combining these strategies can create an effective plan to not only push past slumps or plateaus but to grow and become better than the plateau.
Principle 18: Know your Story
This episode is about reconnecting with those moments in your life that ignited the path your on now. You are writing your story every day, it is incredibly powerful to reflect on where that story began. I'll share with you a strategy to help you get to know your story in a way that can build self-awareness and improve performance going forward. Sometimes the beginning of your story is difficult and lonely, but the present and future do not need to be difficult and lonely.
"You cannot go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are and change the ending" - C.S. Lewis
Principle 17: Return to your WHY
Principle 16: Dare to try
In this episode I'll share with you one of the most motivating speeches of all time! This episode is for all of you who are trying to be better, who are trying to do something hard, trying to accomplish your dreams. No matter what, dare to try!
Principle 15: Connect body and mind to present moment
Question of the day: Do you think that you perform at your best if your mind and body are on the same page? Like most people I work with, the answer is YES! This episode explores more about what causes our minds to get away from being present-minded and I'll share 2 strategies to help you get back to the present moment.
Principle 14: Be fearless in your adversity
This episode is all about being fearless during adversity. I'll tell you about the worlds most fearless animal and share a few insights we can learn from this animal to be more fearless in overcoming adversity.
Principle 13: Overcoming Adversity like a Donkey
In our last episdoe we explored overcoming adversity like a buffalo. This episode is about overcoming adversity like a donkey. I’ll share with a great story about a clever donkey that overcame its eminent demise by focusing and repeating on what was working. Sometimes we need to charge like a buffalo and run into the storm to get through it, other times we need to be like this donkey and shake the struggle off and step up.
Principle 12: Overcome Adversity like a Buffalo
In this episode I’ll share with how buffalo handle their storms and challenges. We can learn a lot from these majestic beasts! If your going through a challenge this kind of attitude is for you! Be the buffalo!
Peak Performer Profile: Joe Scola - HOW TO Transform your life
In this episode I interviewed my good friend Joe Scola. He is a former professional gamer and now works as an advisor to gamers and individuals looking to improve their life. Joe shares his awesome story from being a quiet introverted gamer spending most of his free time playing games in his dorm to completely changing his mindset and life to be an incredible social butterfly and now spends his time performing magic for hundreds of people, advising gamers on strategies to win games and life advice as well. He graduated from one of the top Engineering programs and currently works in Boston. Joe talks about a lot of great topics surrounding HOW TO transform your life and developing a successful routine for positive change. He is so energetic and has a magnetic personality!
I hope you enjoy this interview and go follow him on social media @joemajin
Principle 11: Personal Mission Statement
In this episode the main focus is HOW TO create a personal mission statement. I'll share a few excerpts from my personal mission statement as well as a few examples of other well known individuals personal mission statements. Also I'll share with you 3 tips on HOW TO begin creating your own personal mission statement today.
Here are few helpful links and resources I used in creating my personal mission statement. Most impactful resource is the book "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey, highly recommend it!
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=stephen+covey%27s+7+habits+of+highly+effective+people&hvadid=78615145526044&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&tag=mh0b-20&ref=pd_sl_2m1rfkiwm6_e
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_7_Habits_of_Highly_Effective_People
https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/habits-of-highly-effective-people-summary
https://www.customwritingservice.org/blog/stephen-covey-personal-mission-statement/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/11/07/13-ways-you-can-craft-a-strong-personal-mission-statement/#38270c5b2dee
https://brandyourself.com/blog/guide/how-to-write-a-personal-mission-statement/
https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/mission-statement-101/
Principle 10: See it to Be it
Peak Performer Profile - Tanner Mangum: former BYU QB, Mental Health Advocate, NFL prospect
In this profile I spoke with Tanner Mangum. He is the former QB at BYU for 4 years. You might remember the back to back hail mary game-winners in 2015 against Nebraska and then Boise State! In this episode we profiled his playing career where he experienced some incredible highs and devastating lows. He shared with us some amazing stories of HOW he overcame struggles with anxiety, depression, and serious injury. He is an amazing man and continues to spread his message of breaking the stigma between sports and mental health.
Check out Tanner on all social media @tannermangum and his website tannermangum.org for more awesome content from Tanner!
Videos about Tanner:
SportsCenter video after the Nebraska hail mary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHLIGe9CJhE
Tanner recapping his career at BYU: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJIRDDEB6dk
"Unashamed" Episode 1: I am not Invincible - Episode 1 of 4 in Football Matters' digital series on mental health throughout college football.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLvG7QnvfTQ
Principle 9 : STOP GOAL SETTING and START GOAL ACHIEVING
In this this episode we dive into how you've probably been looking at your goals all wrong. We are all really good goal setters but we need to start putting our attention on actually achieving our goals... here is HOW you do that!
Principle 8: Adjust Behavior using Neuroplasticity
In this episode we nerd out on some incredible neuroscience! Peak performers focus on behaviors and actions. Peak behavior and peak action is developed by mastering your neural network. We will talk about 2 techniques to strengthen your neural network and help you perform at your peak faster and more efficiently.
Principle 7: Hunt the Good Stuff
In this episode we talk about being resilient by "hunting the good stuff". This is an incredibly simple and powerful technique I learned while working with the US Army. It is used to build positive thinking and optimism as well as counter the evil negativity bias. Also I'll share with you the incredible story of Team Hoyt, a truly inspiring story of what resilience and hunting the good stuff is all about!
Principle 6: Use Self-Talk Positively
In this episode I talk about how peak performers use self-talk positively. I'll share two monumental research studies on self-talk and a self-talk tip to help you perform at your peak.
Principle 5: Walk the Talk, don't just Talk the Talk
In this episode I talk about how peak performers don't just talk the talk, they walk the talk. Are your actions mapped by your words? If you say your are going to be the best are you actually taking the daily actions necessary to be the best? To be a peak performer, you walk your talk.
Principle 4: Deploy Self-Awareness
In this episode I talk about the importance of self-awareness and how to properly measure your progress and success toward peak performance.
Principle 3: Utilizing Adversity
In this episode I talk about how peak performers use adversity as an opportunity to increase performance.
The 4 Pillars of Peak Performance
In this episode I talk about what the 4 Pillars of Peak Performance are and how each one can help you reach and sustain your peak performance.
Principle 2: Ask the right questions
In this episode, we talk about the 3 questions to ask yourself everyday if you want to perform at your peak.