EPISODE · Mar 7, 2026 · 32 MIN
#0419 – The Confidence Trap: Why Great Performers Choke Under Pressure with Scott Papek
from Deep Leadership · host Jon S. Rennie
The Confidence Trap: Why Great Performers Choke Under Pressure Why do talented athletes, leaders, and entrepreneurs sometimes lose confidence in the moments that matter most? In this episode of the Deep Leadership Podcast, I sit down with mindset coach Scott Papek to explore why even high performers struggle with pressure, overthinking, and self-doubt. Scott works with athletes from middle school through college, helping them build the mental skills needed to compete with confidence. Together they discuss how confidence is actually trained, why negative self-talk and fear of judgment sabotage performance, and how focusing on effort instead of outcomes can dramatically improve results. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why confidence comes from preparation and belief• The real reason people choke under pressure• How self-talk impacts performance• Why worrying about what others think kills confidence• How athletes train their minds to perform at their best If you want to perform better under pressure, whether in sports, business, or leadership, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, mindset, and building better teams. Scott Papek's Resources: https://www.maxoutmindset.com/ Sponsors: Cadre of Men Farrow Skin Care Salty Sailor Coffee Company Leader Connect The Qualified Leadership Series ____ Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
The Confidence Trap: Why Great Performers Choke Under Pressure Why do talented athletes, leaders, and entrepreneurs sometimes lose confidence in the moments that matter most? In this episode of the Deep Leadership Podcast, I sit down with mindset coach Scott Papek to explore why even high performers struggle with pressure, overthinking, and self-doubt. Scott works with athletes from middle school through college, helping them build the mental skills needed to compete with confidence. Together they discuss how confidence is actually trained, why negative self-talk and fear of judgment sabotage performance, and how focusing on effort instead of outcomes can dramatically improve results. In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why confidence comes from preparation and belief• The real reason people choke under pressure• How self-talk impacts performance• Why worrying about what others think kills confidence• How athletes train their minds to perform at their best If you want to perform better under pressure, whether in sports, business, or leadership, this episode is for you. Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, mindset, and building better teams. Scott Papek's Resources: https://www.maxoutmindset.com/ Sponsors: Cadre of Men Farrow Skin Care Salty Sailor Coffee Company Leader Connect The Qualified Leadership Series ____ Get all of Jon Rennie's bestselling leadership books for 15% off the regular price today! HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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#0419 – The Confidence Trap: Why Great Performers Choke Under Pressure with Scott Papek
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