Mindset Matters

Hey everyone, welcome back to the Mindest Matters Podcast. I am your host Riley Jensen, and today, we are discussing the 5 Things I’d Tell You as a Mental Performance Coach If I Wasn’t Afraid of Hurting Your Feelings Stop coaching your kid from the bleachers. When you yell instructions during the game, you’re not helping—you’re creating triangulation. Your kid now has two coaches with two different agendas, and guess whose voice suddenly matters more? Yours. Because you sign the checks and tuck them in at night. That means they tune out the actual coach—the one who’s with them 5 days a week—and start scanning the stands for Dad’s head nod or Mom’s thumbs-up. You’ve just split their attention and tanked their performance. Your athlete should love you the most… but they should listen to their coach the most in competition. Keep your mouth shut or sit in the parking lot. Those are the only two options that don’t hurt the team. Quit telling them “how could anyone miss that play?” That’s the spotlight effect on steroids, and you’re pumping it straight into their veins. 99% of the crowd is thinking about their own kid, their phone, or where they parked. Nobody is replaying your daughter’s missed serve in slow-motion except you. Every time you say “everyone noticed,” you add 10 pounds of invisible pressure. Tell them the truth: “Literally no one will remember that tomorrow except you… and me, because I’m obsessive. Let it go.” The car ride home is either medicine or poison. You’re choosing poison. That 12 minutes after the game is sacred. It can refill their tank or drain it for the entire next week. If you launch into critique the second the door shuts, you’ve turned the car into a coffin. They’re trapped. Seatbelt on, nowhere to run, while the most important voice in their life dissects everything they did wrong. New rule: First person to talk about the game buys ice cream for the whole family next Friday. Watch how fast everyone shuts up and starts saying “I’m proud of you” instead. Stats are crack, and you’re the dealer. Batting average, goals, points—those numbers light up the same part of your brain as slot machines. But they’re a terrible measure of your kid’s actual contribution 90% of the time. The hustle plays, the screens, the decoy runs, blocks, the locker-room energy, noticing when there are a good teammate—none of that shows up on the stat sheet, but it’s usually why the team wins. When you only celebrate the numbers, you teach them that invisible work is worthless. Then watch them stop doing it. Congratulate the process louder than the points, or don’t be shocked when they become selfish stat-padders. Never, ever let them hear you talk about how much this is costing. The second money enters their brain during competition, performance dies. “I didn’t want to mess up after that $600 tournament fee” … “We drove six hours for this, you better play well” … those sentences are performance assassins. If you can’t afford it without guilt-tripping them, don’t sign them up. Simple. Your kid already feels pressure to justify your sacrifice. Don’t make them carry the receipt in their head while they’re trying to hit a backhand. Here’s the bottom line: Your athlete doesn’t need another coach, another critic, or another accountant. They need one safe adult who lets them play without fear, without shame, and without owing anybody anything. Be that adult. Everything else is noise. Like this if it stung a little. Save it and watch it again next Friday night when you’re tempted to open your mouth in the fourth quarter. See you on the field. And keep your coaching voice in the trunk where it belongs. Please like and share this post so the parents that need to see it, do.

"Your mindset is the ceiling on your performance—or the fuel that breaks through it. In Chapter 14 of my book, Pure Unadulterated Guts, we dive into cultivating a growth mindset—what it means, how to apply it, and why it’s the difference between average and elite. This week’s podcast expands on these ideas with real-world examples you can apply today. Tune in and level up your thinking."

This episode dives into the power of a growth mindset — how setbacks aren’t failures, but stepping stones. Inspired by Chapter 14 of my book, Pure Unadulterated Guts, I share real-world strategies athletes and leaders can use to reframe challenges and unlock performance. Want to go deeper? Subscribe to this podcast or check out my book here: 📘 Grab the Book Here: Pure Unadulterated Guts, https://www.amazon.com/PURE-UNADULTERATED-GUTS-Insights-Vulnerability-ebook/dp/B0CM42P3F5

This episode of the Mindset Matters podcast is inspired by Chapter 13 of my book, Pure Unadulterated Guts. We’re diving into the power of reframing—how shifting your perspective in the face of setbacks can transform obstacles into opportunities. 📖 Want to go deeper? Grab a copy of Pure Unadulterated Guts and learn how reframing challenges can change your game, your mindset, and your life. 🎧 Listen now.

What makes a good team great? In Chapter 12 of my book Pure Unadulterated Guts, I share the exact principles elite athletes and coaches use to create trust, cohesion, and resilience. This podcast episode breaks down those strategies so you can apply them — whether you’re on the field, in the locker room, or leading a business team.

This episode dives into Chapter 11 of Pure Unadulterated Guts—exploring how enthusiasm isn’t just energy, it’s a competitive edge. We break down the science, stories, and mindset shifts that can turn enthusiasm into your greatest tool. Featuring insights on Philip Rivers, NBA studies, and ancient Greek wisdom on en-theos. 🎙️ Listen, reflect, and refuel your fire. 🟡 Subscribe to the series 📘 Grab the book: Pure Unadulterated Guts

This episode is inspired by Chapter 11 of my book Pure Unadulterated Guts. In it, I explore how enthusiasm isn't just hype—it's a tool that creates momentum, fosters resilience, and sparks meaningful connection. If you’re looking for a mental edge, or just want to reignite your spark, this one’s for you. Listen now and get fired up with purpose.

In this episode of Mindset Matters, we explore Chapter 10 – The Power of Presence from my book Pure Unadulterated Guts. When the world screams for multitasking and constant hustle, the real edge comes from presence — being fully in the moment. Whether you're under the lights, in the boardroom, or at the dinner table with your kids… presence wins. 🎧 This episode is a call to slow down, lock in, and be where your feet are. 📘 Book: Pure Unadulterated Guts 🎙️ Host: Riley Jensen 💡 Topic: Chapter 10 – The Power of Presence

The Power of Connection – Pure Unadulterated Guts Chapter 9 Description: In this episode of Mindset Matters, we dive into Chapter 9 of my book Pure Unadulterated Guts — where we explore the strength that comes from relatedness and social support. Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or everyday warrior, knowing who you lean on could be the difference between burnout and breakthrough. Listen, reflect, and take inventory of your support system. Because guts aren’t just about going solo — they’re also about going together. 📖 Book: Pure Unadulterated Guts 🎙️ Host: Riley Jensen 💡 Topic: Chapter 9 – Relatedness and Support

🔥 New Episode Out Now 🔥 In this week’s episode of Mindset Matters, we dive into Chapter 8: Competence from my book Pure Unadulterated Guts. Competence isn't about perfection—it's about preparation, repetition, and owning your craft. Whether you're a QB, CEO, or student, this chapter is for anyone trying to master their arena. 🎧 Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/riley-jensen-425842551/episode-257-competence-beats-confidence?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing&si=17802094051f45e89d5c1b35e1c98522 📘 Grab the Book Here: Pure Unadulterated Guts, https://www.amazon.com/PURE-UNADULTERATED-GUTS-Insights-Vulnerability-ebook/dp/B0CM42P3F5

Scotty Edwards | Faith, Football, and the Power of Perseverance” In this episode of Mindset Matters, Riley sits down with Stanford safety Scotty Edwards for a powerful conversation about football, faith, and the mental game of life. Scotty opens up about returning from an LDS mission, the challenges of chasing athletic and academic goals, and the importance of effort—even when results don't come easy. From handling social media pressure to finding motivation through Rocky Balboa and Rick Ross, Scotty’s story is a blueprint for perseverance, balance, and self-belief. A must-listen for athletes, parents, and anyone pursuing excellence on or off the field.

“Commitment Is More Than a Choice” Welcome back everybody, you’re listening to the Mindset Matters podcast, I’m your host Riley Jensen and today I want to talk about how commitment is more than a choice. Have you ever wondered why some people seem to rise to the top, while others—equally talented—stay stuck in place? The answer often isn’t talent or luck. To me, It’s commitment. Let me tell you a story I often share with my athletes and business clients. There was once a young man with a dream job—he got his foot in the door at a prestigious company. For five years, he worked harder than anyone: first one in, last one out, always making sure the boss noticed. He was motivated. He was determined. And when a supervisor position finally opened up—he applied with confidence. But he didn’t get it. The job went to someone who had only been there six months. Fuming, he stormed into his boss’s office demanding to know why. The boss paused, then asked him to do something simple: go buy some oranges for his wife. Frustrated but obedient, the man came back with a bag of oranges—any kind, didn’t matter to him. Task done. Then the boss gave the same task to the man who got the promotion. That employee made a call to the boss’s wife to ask what the oranges were for. Found out she was making juice. Asked the grocer which oranges were best for juicing—Valencia, by the way—negotiated a bulk discount, and even dropped the oranges off at her house on the way back. See the difference? Both followed instructions. Only one committed to the task. The truth is: motivation gets you started, but commitment gets you results. And commitment isn’t just about making a choice—it’s about owning that choice. 👉 Think about your own life for a moment: Are you just going through the motions? Are you waiting to “feel motivated” before you take action? Or are you willing to choose your path—and then commit to it fully? This is where Autonomy, one of the three pillars of Self-Determination Theory, comes into play. Autonomy is what I call the “I Choose” factor. And the more you actively choose your path, the more likely you are to stay the course when it gets hard. I often say: ✅ Choose your love—and then love your choice. It’s easy to choose something when it’s exciting. But real commitment is shown when it’s no longer new or easy. Here’s how to build deeper commitment in your life starting today: Stop overthinking. Over-analysis kills action. Get clear, get moving. Know yourself. Strengths, weaknesses—own them all. Growth starts with honesty. Write it down. A goal unwritten is just a wish. Tell someone you trust. Accountability fuels follow-through. Care—genuinely. Care about your work. Care about others. Care about your impact. And here’s the key: Be authentic. When you make choices that align with who you really are—your values, your passion, your intuition—you tap into a powerful fuel source. You don’t need motivation when your choices are authentic. You need commitment. I think of my grandfather, Clark Owen Thompson—a man who wore many hats, from grocery store owner to insurance salesman. He wasn’t the wealthiest man. But he was authentic. He chose his path, he loved his choices, and he left a legacy of kindness, humor, and hard work. Ten of his great-grandchildren now carry his name. That’s impact. That’s a life well-lived. So today, I’m challenging you: ✅ Challenge 1: Pick two things you want to get done this week. Give yourself a reasonable deadline. Then do them. Small wins build momentum. ✅ Challenge 2: Start aligning your words with your actions. If you say you’re going to do something—show up and do it, with excellence. Don’t just grab any oranges. Find the best ones. Remember: Motivation comes and goes. Commitment is a choice you make—and keep—every single day.