Fear or Fire? The Mental Game of High Performance with Dr. Erin Shannon

What separates high performers who thrive under pressure from those who become overwhelmed by it?In this episode of the Builders of Authority Podcast, Adam McChesney sits down with Dr. Erin Shannon, a doctor of clinical psychology who has spent more than 15 years working with elite athletes, Olympians, CEOs, veterans, and other high performers.Growing up in a family of professional athletes gave Dr. Shannon a natural understanding of the pressure that comes with performing at the highest level. She shares how an unexpected opportunity to help a professional baseball pitcher in 2011 led her into the world of sports psychology and performance coaching.In this conversation, Adam and Dr. Shannon discuss:• The mental and emotional pressure behind high performance• Why every game is ultimately a mental game• The difference between making decisions from fear or fire• How fear limits creativity, confidence, and vision• Turning pressure into energy, focus, and a flow state• Why entrepreneurs and athletes face similar psychological challenges• Breaking the stigma around therapy and performance coaching• Using mental health support proactively instead of waiting for a crisis• Simple nervous system regulation techniques, including EFT tapping• The benefits of vagus nerve regulation and morning sunlight• Dr. Shannon’s work with athletes, CEOs, veterans, and prison rehabilitation programsDr. Shannon also explains why mental health professionals should be viewed like family doctors: trusted resources for regular check-ins, personal development, and long-term performance rather than people you only contact when something is wrong.This episode offers practical insights for entrepreneurs, athletes, and leaders who want to manage pressure, strengthen their mindset, and perform at a higher level without sacrificing their mental and emotional well-being.🔗 CONNECT WITH ADAM: Facebook  https://bit.ly/3td8PdoInstagram  https://bit.ly/3HmCR3mLinkedIn  https://bit.ly/3hjU4jq🔗 CONNECT WITH Dr ERIN SHANNON: Facebook https://bit.ly/4fPqv7hLinkedIn https://bit.ly/4w5qimqInstagram https://bit.ly/4x9Y7Uu✉️ CONTACT:Email  [email protected]  adammcchesney.comBook a call: https://buildauthority.com/contact-us/About me:I’m Adam McChesney: an entrepreneur and marketer who’s spent the last decade building and scaling service-based businesses. I’ve been on both sides of the table: running companies myself and helping other business owners grow through smarter, more disciplined marketing.I’m the founder of Builders of Authority, where I work with service businesses to improve visibility, strengthen their brand, and build marketing systems that actually perform over time. Everything I share comes from real experience, what I’ve tested, what’s worked, and what hasn’t.Today, I create content, speak, and have honest conversations about marketing, growth, and leadership, with one goal in mind: helping business owners stop relying on last-minute tactics and start building something sustainable.Built for the contractors the market keeps overlooking. #BuildersOfAuthority #DrErinShannon #HighPerformance #MentalPerformance #SportsPsychology #EntrepreneurMindset #PerformanceCoaching #MentalHealth #LeadershipMindset #FearToFire