Christen 00:00
When I did my therapy, it's like, it just really opened my eyes to, Oh yeah. When you start getting honest about things, and you stop hiding things, that's where I believe you can be the most confident. I always say like, that confidence always revolves around the truth. So if you're constantly faking it, guess what confidence can't live there.
Lindsey 00:30
Welcome to the Mindset Coach Academy Podcast. I'm Lindsey Wilson. And I am a High-Performance mindset coach, a mom, a former professional athlete, and an entrepreneur. I help coaches and high performers optimize their mindset to improve their coaching their performance and those of their athletes and their lives. Here you'll learn all about Mindset, how to live it, how to teach it, and how to sell it.
Lindsey 00:57
Today, I'm so excited to welcome Christen Shefchunas who is a confidence coach. Christen works with professional athletes, a lot of women athletes, Olympians, World Champions, NCAA, and all Americans, she was a former division one swimming coach and athlete, and now takes her message to really athletes, coaches, and everyone all over the world.
Lindsey 01:20
So I got to sit down with her today and talk about confidence. And you know, what I really love about this conversation is, I think a lot of the things that Christen teaches are really simple things that really all of us can take into really all aspects of our life where there's the pressure to perform. And we really talked about that normalizing fear. And, so many of us are taught to like, not be fearful or just be mentally tough or suck it up.
Lindsey 01:43
And she talks about that, behind-the-block moment where, as a swimmer, we're behind the blocks, but it could be any of us in those pressure situations and really talking about and again, normalizing fears. He has some really cool techniques that she teaches, so I'm gonna get right into it. I know you're gonna love this episode. And Christen Shefchunas.
Lindsey 02:04
Alright, guys, we got Christen Shefchunas in the house. Hi Christen.
Christen 02:07
Hey, how are you?
Lindsey 02:09
Good. Thanks for joining us today. So you call yourself a competent coach? Is that right?
Christen 02:13
Correct.
Lindsey 02:14
That is right up our alley with so many of our listeners. And of course, I always had a special place in my heart for women that are talking about women in confidence. So I think we should just get right into it. Tell us a little bit about you know, I didn't bio ahead of time. But tell us a little bit about what you're doing and what your sort of mission is if you don't mind.
Christen 02:31
Yeah, of course, I come from the swimming world. I swam and coached for many, many years. And now I just work one on one with mostly female athletes. 95% of my business is women. And I also work with a few men as well. So yeah, work one on one as a confidence coach, just really helping athletes handle those pressure to perform moments handle those fears and doubts that come along with that. And then I go across the country, and I speak about confidence to athletes and to people in the business world.
Lindsey 03:06
And so when you're talking about, we have a lot of coaches that coach women, and it's probably because that's what I gravitate towards. But I also think that there's something about those coaches that understand fundamentally that women have, you know, I think men and women do have a lot of the same things. But I think it manifests itself a little bit differently. I don't know if you agree, but tell me a little bit about your experience with women, women athletes in particular, that maybe is a little bit different. Or I guess maybe the better question is like, what do coaches have female athletes and or parents of female athletes and be trying to help female athletes? What do they need to know from a performance or competence Issue?
Christen 03:47
Oh, gosh, there that's a big question. There's a lot of stuff out there. Let me say, first of all, I coached college for 13 years, and I watched 16 and all but 13 as a college coach, and I watched women never be the priority. So I kind of made a decision when I started my business, that I would make women the priority because they just never are. But anyway, I think, well, I will say every time I speak and there are men in the room, almost always because I talk a lot about fear and doubts and stuff. And without a doubt every time at least one man, you know comes up to me and they're just like, we have the same fears and doubts. We're just better at faking it.
Christen 04:32
But I think there's a lot to it. I mean, obviously, like I think our brain generally is different. I mean, we have 1200 thoughts going on at all times. But I also think that there's, I think I was just saying this recently, I think we're also taught that we're not as confident working with men and women. Something that's popped up lately for me is that for example, if I work with a swimmer, a guy and a girl like with the men, if they have a bad swim or something doesn't go, right, a lot of times, they're told, hey, you need to work on your stroke or your turn or something fixable.
Christen 05:12
With women, almost always if there's bad performance, it's a, it's your confidence, you need to work with confidence, you need to work on your confidence. And it's just like, I mean, so many women have come to me, and they're just like, my coach tells me to, I need to work on my competence, but they're not telling me how, like, they're not telling me what to, to help that. So I think it's also been ingrained in our brains, especially as athletes that, we do have this big confidence problem.
Lindsey 05:37
Do you see any differences between individual sports, I'm just thinking of a social component. I mean, so much of the research has to do with, like, the thoughts that women have like, caretakers and as the people that are like worrying about people around them. And I'm just wondering if you've seen any difference between women I mean, everything's a team sport, essentially, right? But still, there's like the component of the individual sport and the team. And I'm wondering, from a female competence perspective, or performance issues, if you've seen any difference between the quote-unquote, individual sports versus the team sports, so if anything.
Christen 06:12
The main thing is because one of the biggest fears of a woman that I've run into in the last 22 years is we're afraid to disappoint people. And what I've seen with team sports is this huge fear of letting their teammates down, where an individual sports, it's not as big of a deal, because it's you like your own, there's nobody there to help you. So for sure, that fear of disappointing their teammates is a lot bigger, and team sports. But other than that, everything else is pretty much the same.
Lindsey 06:46
Do you ever see the flip side of that to like the idea of subconsciously not wanting to be the best? You know, like that idea of like the Goldilocks, I don't want to disappoint anybody, but I also don't want want to be the best. So I'm just gonna, like, stay right in the middle. Do you ever see that with your clients at all?
Lindsey 07:02
Well, I think that there's you know, I mean, there's no guarantee in sports. I mean, that's what makes sports so scary, because they're well, and there's so little guarantee in life. So it's scary. And I think a lot of people and let me say the reason why a lot of people won't do sports is that they want to be comfortable. And every time you show up to a game or on the blocks, or whatever it may be, you have to risk failure.
Christen 07:27
Most people don't want that, because that's uncomfortable. So absolutely. I think that there's, I've definitely run into self-sabotage plenty of times, where it's like, Hey, let me stay here in my little safe zone, because then I know what's going to happen, instead of really risking it and seeing what could possibly happen.
Christen 07:48
I find that, like fascinating that like, a lot of the coaches that I've dealt with, cuz they, I mean, your coach, like the college coaches are generally like, competitive high. People that have either don't feel that as much or they're not aware of it. And so when they have an athlete, that's like, self-sabotaging, like, why would you not want to be the best basketball player? It's like, why would you not want to score 30 points a game, and it's like, there's that underlying fear of being better than your teammates.
Christen 08:20
I will never, that was like, I wanted to be the best. So I necessarily get that, but I do understand the fear that comes along with taking a risk and trying to be that three-point player, and you fail. So I would rather stay here in my comfort zone, and not feel that disappointment of failure.
Lindsey 08:43
Yeah. So and then there's a lot of people that listen to a podcast that are mindset coaches who will be certified mindset coaches. And so I'm interested in you as an entrepreneur, a woman, how these types of things that you teach, as we know, and that's why we're passionate about sports is this is the stuff we practice in life. And I'm wondering how you either work on your mindset, or this stuff pops up for you as you grow your business or public speaking, or just wherever it sort of manifests. How are you practicing what you preach? kind of mindset side?
Christen 09:13
Yeah, I mean, I think two things. First of all, yeah, I am an entrepreneur, and I'm a single woman. So like, I'm on my own. So taking this. I mean, it was a huge risk for me to leave my nice, comfy, making good coaching career to do this. So for sure, I had to take a big risk. And I'm just such a big believer that, as I said earlier, it's like there's a lot of tips and tools on how to handle and be positive and things like that. But a lot of times we're not getting to the root of the problem, which is what are you so afraid of? Right?
Christen 09:48
And once we get to the root, then we can do some real work. So it's been I went through counseling, I believe it was 2012 because I was somebody who I had a rep to put Fact, like, let me hide everything and just put on this strong, confident woman, outside while inside, I was constantly doubting myself and full of fear, and things like that. So when I did my therapy, it's like, it just really opened my eyes to Oh yeah.
Christen 10:15
When you start getting honest about things, and you stop hiding things, that's where I believe you can be the most confident. I always say like, that confidence always revolves around the truth. So if you're constantly faking it, guess what confidence can't live there.
Christen 10:29
So I try to be as brutally honest with myself as possible. I tried to face the fears courageously instead of putting my head down or running away from them. But you know, with speaking, I always say this when I'm speaking to people, and we're in business, because with athletes when I speak, there isn't a whole lot of fear for me. After all, I know they're gonna get it. And yeah, it's my people, right, and I get into the business world.
Christen 10:58
And growing up, one of my biggest insecurities was I didn't feel very smart and did not like school at all. And so as a little kid, not liking school and getting mediocre grades that equaled, you're not that smart. So I grew up believing I wasn't that smart. And I know I am. Now I just didn't like school. But that insecurity pops up for me. So when I speak to people in business, I always joke with them. Because, I look out into the audience, and I see them as all these just brilliant people, you know, that is just so smart. And here's the moron stepping on stage. So for sure, before I step on stage find the courage to step on the stage. I have to get honest with myself about that and remind myself like, hey, they didn't bring me in here to talk about algebra like they brought me in to talk about it. This is what I do. I've been doing it for a long time, and I believe I'm very good at what I do. And so just really kind of try to step into that truth. When I'm afraid.
Lindsey 11:58
Yeah, I love that. I mean, I think that it's so easy to just avoid all that stuff, right?
Lindsey 12:03
I'm just gonna stay in the athlete world where I'm comfortable. And I can hit it, knock it out of the park every time. So that's really cool that you're able to overcome that and recognize and also just that comes from, like, these deep-seated stories that we have that aren't necessarily true. And I know what needs to be the smartest person in the room anyway, to have, like you said, a message that they need to hear. So that's really a cool process. So when you did all your therapy and stuff when that sounds like some sort of transformation, or work with, were you still coaching at that point? Or was that for your business? Or was that sort of in a transition period for you?
Christen 12:03
Oh, 100%.
Christen 12:37
That was when I was still coaching. I was toward the end of my, toward the end of my career, but it's really probably what gave me the courage to walk away from coaching. Because I realized it wasn't necessarily the swimming that I was so passionate about. It was the women and helping them with their confidence, and helping them with life outside of sport, because high that affects sport, too, so, yeah, it was probably me getting honest with myself, because that I mean, that's the main thing, right, having the courage to get honest with yourself. Once I did that, I mean, it took a year. So but yeah, I mean, I was retired from coaching in 2013. And I did this stuff in 2012. So didn't take too long.
Lindsey 13:24
Yeah, I'm actually interested in that transition, because a lot of people in our community are, I mean, a lot of people come to us and what we do, because they want to do mindset training for themselves or other athletes are struggling with confidence, or competition, pressure. And so they want you to use our tools for that. But then, in becoming a mindset coach and starting their own business, and I know I was talking about, like, make the high tech coaches because I've actually been doing this unofficially, for a long time.
Lindsey 13:57
And maybe you need more structure, maybe you need some more tools, or more like, curriculum kind of stuff around it. But they've been doing this a lot of times reactively with just after games, chats, and that kind of thing. But what was that transition like for you? And how much did you use sort of your coaching experience, transitioning into being an entrepreneur and a confidence coach?
Christen 14:16
Yeah, well, I think, everybody, let me say this, it took a long time. I left Miami in 2013. I'll tell you, I was having a conversation with my brother. And it was just at this point that I was realizing that swimming but wasn't, I mean, I love swimming. Don't get me wrong, but it wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. And my brother kind of interrupted me as I was talking about all the things that I wanted to do. And he stopped me and he's like, You do know you're in control of your life. Right? And I was like, I don't know. Because I had been coaching for 15 years at that point.
Christen 14:54
Like I was a swim coach, like what else do I do? Right? It was just one of Those moments of, oh my God, I am in control of my life. And if it's true that I only get one of these lives, like, I don't want it to, I don't want to spend it doing, you know what I don't necessarily want to do anymore. So I ended up resigning, I was the head coach at the University of Miami, I resigned from there in 2013. The plan was to start the business. Well, as we know, as entrepreneurs, it is not an overnight thing. And so it was really rocky the first and I was so burned out at that point, I needed rest. But honestly, it was a hard transition.
Christen 15:40
And right around the time that I was, Oh, my God, what am I done here leaving coaching because it wasn't necessarily working out the way I thought. I got a call from a guy who ended up being the head Olympic coach in Rio for the summers. And he was a group working with a group of national team and Olympians getting them ready for the 2016 Olympic trials in the Olympic Games. So he pulled me back into the swimming world for a year. And so I work with them getting them ready for 16.
Christen 16:09
And then I came back and have worked with so many Olympians, and things like that boosted up my resume quite a bit, but it still took quite a while because everything I've done has been I mean, it's been a grassroots like word of mouth business. And so it has taken a while I always say it was like, I got to a point where I was like, Oh, we're good. Like this is going to work, right? And then COVID hit. So I was like, Okay, well, now I can't speak in person, they were very few competitions. So I was scared that might take me down but luckily survived that. And we're back. Where we were. But I think you got to take a risk, obviously, but also know it isn't an overnight thing, unfortunately, like it takes time and patience and work.
Lindsey 16:59
Yeah. Is there anything you would have done differently? Looking back? Or could you have done anything differently? I'm sure your job at Miami was pretty intense. But would you have started anything ahead of time? I'm just interested because I know a lot of our coaches are sort of keeping their day job for a little while. But I don't know if that's that was something you could even have done.
Christen 17:17
Yeah, well, I started working with a coach of my own, like after the therapy and stuff. And she's kind of the one that was like, you been good at this one-on-one stuff. And so for sure, I mean, I started offering my athletes before I left an hour a week where they could say it was like either a 15-minute check-in or an hour of Kleenex and breakdowns and just talking things out.
Christen 17:43
So I did that. I also did some courses. I don't even remember what it was it was a long, year ago. But did some courses and stuff like that. So I did some preparation. I'm not sure though, that I because to be honest with you when I first laugh, I wasn't sure what it was going to look like, I wasn't sure if this was going to be a hey, I go work with a company I start my own business. I didn't necessarily know. So it's just been over time that it's turned into what I want.
Lindsey 18:15
You just knew you wanted to change
Christen 18:16
Oh, 100%. Yeah.
Lindsey 18:20
Cool. All right. So moving back into like your athletes, we talked, before we got on line, we talked a little bit about like the pressure to perform and the fear and all that kind of stuff. So talk about maybe a typical athlete that comes to you and like what they're struggling with and how you help them. What kind of things is coming up, maybe even like process, if you would? What works for them from an actual standpoint?
Christen 18:40
Sure. I mean, what is usually holding people back is what's going through their minds before they walk into the competition, or as swimmers, I always call it the behind-the-block moment. That's when you're feeling the pressure, like what's going through your mind. And let me tell you, it's some scary stuff going on there. But I think especially as athletes, we're taught to be mentally tough. And I think that we've all, I always joke and it's like, has anybody ever really given us the definition of mentally tough? I don't know. But I do know, we've all bought into the idea that it means no matter what, you suck it up and you put your head down and you just keep pushing. But that is not always the healthy route.
Christen 19:22
And unfortunately, I mean, look at to look at college softball in the last month. I mean, they've had three of their players met suicide, you know what I mean? So it's just, my main thing is like, again, what are you so afraid of? Let's get to the root of the problem. Wake up and be aware of what is going through your mind because it's those thoughts, you know, that are holding you back. And, again, I am not a believer and fearless that again, there are no guarantees. So I don't know how you walk into a situation that you've worked your ass off for it and there's no guarantee and you're supposed to be fearless. That doesn't even make sense to me. So It's okay, let's get honest about what's going on get honest with yourself because they know, I mean, they've just avoided at all costs, right? Let's face it, look at it and then understand how normal it is.
Christen 20:15
Because what I've learned about fear is that everyone experiences it. But everyone also thinks they're the only ones experiencing it. And when you think you're the only one you wonder what's wrong with you, you wonder if you're weak. You wonder my failing this whole mentally tough thing, you know, just miserably. Like, just to understand, you know, I work with some of the best in the world, I haven't met one yet that you know, is fearless up there when they're competing. So it gives such a relief to know that there isn't anything wrong with you, it gives you know, them a relief to know that it's not a weakness, it's because they care, and there are no guarantees. So, you know, then let's learn how to handle that fear. Let's get honest about it. Let's be prepared for it to come. And then let's learn how to handle it, which I'm a big believer, the only place you can really go in those scary times is true.
Christen 21:12
I am such a big believer that, because, we've been taught the whole affirmation and mantras, I always say so many my athletes have been, they told me that from a young age, they've been taught, you know, I will swim fast today, or I will do this today, or I will, you know, whatever today. But the problem was that down deep, they didn't actually believe it. Or not such a big believer that what we focus on we have to believe down deep because especially as women are down deep telling us the truth, whether we like it or not, there are so many times where it's just like, Okay, I got this, I got this, I got this and down deep, it's like, and that's Oh, sure I got this, you know, so where we put our focus, it has to be stuff that we truly believe, down deep.
Lindsey 21:59
I think that sort of just everything you just said in the last like, minute or so like, I wish we could all just like mind meld especially like, well, there's all these different levels, right. But I think especially like that high school to college jump, like how many people just kind of lose it like lose their passion for playing and competing, lose their confidence lose their sense of self, simply because big fish in the small pond, the small fish in the big pond? And they feel like they're the only ones. They feel fear, all of a sudden. And they haven't felt it since they were 12 years old. And they don't remember, you know, they've always been the best probably, or they're taller than everybody or whatever. And they feel so alone.
Christen 22:46
And the problem with that is that they try, right, and they keep going. But walking into those games with those fears leading the way they don't play at their best. And every time you don't play at your best. It's you know, the next time you go in, you're like, Oh, God, I hope it doesn't happen again. Or what if it does happen again? And it just gets heavier and heavier and heavier on them to the point that they go do, I'm out.
Lindsey 23:14
Totally. Oh, I feel like that alone was one of the, like, biggest reasons that I started my company like seeing so many people fall through the cracks. Because of that, like, they felt like they were weak. They felt like they weren't mentally tough. They felt like they weren't cut out for this. And it's like, I don't know what my coach is, like, especially now it was like 20 years ago, they didn't, I don't know, we weren't talking about stuff. It was just like Think or swim figured out, suck it up be mentally tough, which I'm not against any of that like we all have to sort of pull our weight and you know, and do the do what we need to do but the idea that like we're not like you said not supposed to feel fear or that's a weakness or any of that, is it's so counterproductive someone moving up in their mentality to compete at a high level.
Christen 24:02
Oh, yeah, there's so much talent out there and it's just not even being dipped into because coaches don't know how to handle the fears and doubts. I mean, I just had a coach text me earlier and they're like, if I'm having a hard time even handling this I can't stand you know, hearing her and how scared she is and she's almost feeling sick because she's so scared and like angry at it and I'm like, why are you angry? Like, help them let them talk it out? Do you know? So it's Yeah.
Christen 24:38
But I gotta be honest, I swam at Tennessee in the 90s we didn't talk about this stuff. It sucked it up, put your head down and do your best to just pretend all those fears aren't there even though the fears are total, taking you down but I mean, in my coaching career, too, I mean, for sure, there would be things that I would do differently because I kind had that mentality the majority of my swim career too.
Lindsey 25:05
What kind of things? I mean, I know you towards the end, you're doing a lot more like talking about this kind of stuff. Do you have any examples of things you would have done differently as a coach?
Christen 25:14
Well, it's so funny because one, I remember one moment really pops into my head when I was in Miami. This girl on our team and she had a breakthrough swim in the morning and prelims. And so she was going in, this is a ACC, and she's going into the evening session, the finals, feet at first. And you could just see the pressure, you know, on her and stuff like that. And I went over before she walked up there to a race, and I was so serious, and I'm like, You got this, are you? You know, the, yeah, never remember what I said, which probably just put more pressure on her shoulders. And she ended up getting, out, touched and getting second place and came back. And she was so devastated. And I always think back to that moment, because I was like, oh my god, I would do things so differently now, as I would, I'd be like, just reminding her of the truth and getting her to laugh and relax and understand. Hey, it's okay, that you're nervous. Right? But let's remember, you worked your ass off. You're a warrior like you're a fighter. And the only thing you can do is show up and give your best. The good news is, you know how to do that really well. You do that? So just, you know, such a lighter, less intense moment. Could have changed everything for, blew it.
Lindsey 26:44
Oh, man, well, we all have those moments. But that kind of reminds me though, like how much? Essentially, what you're talking about with that lighter feeling is like, the joy of competing the joy of sports. And how much do you bring that into your especially? I imagine the higher level, you've talked about Olympians and people that really highlight professional levels. I mean, I know, I thought a lot in college too. Are you seeing that as sort of an antidote to some of this pressure?
Christen 27:12
Oh, for sure. I mean, when you're miserable, you're probably not going to be performing at the level that you want to be. Here's the deal. Like, I've never met any elite athlete that doesn't have a love-hate relationship with their sport, right? We love it. That's why you do it. That's why you're committed to doing it every day, but you hate it because it brings stress and failure, and disappointment.
Lindsey 27:36
What is it like, when you're talking about that, like pre-competition? Do you teach anything? I know, you talked a lot about the behind-the-block moment, do you teach anything? Is it client by client? Or do you teach anything sort of? Typically, that helps people prepare for a race or competition, that pre-competition mindset piece? Is there anything that you teach in particular? Or do people kind of come up with their own things?
Christen 27:36
And so I really believe it is just kind of this love-hate, and you're gonna go through times where there's a lot more love, and you're gonna go through times where there's a lot more hate, I think getting to a point of lets at least keep it even now, or let's keep it a little more on the love side of things. That's where I think you can perform at your best because when you're in hate mode and don't want to be there and you're just in such a crappy, place, it's really hard to perform at your best in those moments.
Christen 28:34
Well, everybody's different for sure. But this truth that I'm talking about and putting your focus in on the truth, like, that's what we really work on is okay. In those moments, because I'm a big believer, you're going there, you're going to the period outs that you're going there, you just can't stay there. So where do you go? Well, let me say this, the reason that I say that is because so often when we go there we go, oh, no, no, no. And we panic and go, Oh, I'm in a bad place. It's over. Right? I'm gonna be bad or when nervous?
Christen 29:03
And it's like, Okay, what if we get to a point of, hey, I'm there. It's normal. I don't know anybody that doesn't go there. But I also know, I can't stay there. Right? And so really figuring out where do I go in that moment, and that is just, I teach is, it's just filled with truth. Because the truth is a place where you can find some stability and feel like you're kind of in control of the situation because when you panic, you feel very out of control.
Christen 29:32
So just really creating, okay, who am I, I know exactly what I'm doing. They're reminders of truth that down deep, that's the place that I tried to get people to go so it's their work that needs to be done. So, a lot of times before competitions and say, Okay, let's get honest about the negative stuff going on, write it out, get it out of your soul, because when it's big in our heads and overwhelming, it feels very powerful. When we get it out onto paper, it's like, oh, okay, scary. Don't get me wrong, but manageable. And then hey, let's find some truth and perspective to all these thoughts that are going through our minds. So you're prepared as you walk into the competition with the truth.
Lindsey 30:18
Yeah. So two things. I'm interested in one, you just wrote a book. Correct? Correct. A little bit about that. And then I also want to hear a little bit more about the confidence nuggets. I was looking at that stuff.
Christen 30:30
Yeah. Well, the book is just, it's called 30 Days To Confident and it is a book specifically for female athletes. And pretty much what it is, it's just a short confidence lesson for 30 days, and then just some challenging questions, trying to get you to be honest, you're with yourself. It was funny, because I, somebody told me to get on, like, TikTok, yeah, TikTok, you know. And back then it was you only had 60 seconds to like, say something, while I'm somebody, I need a few minutes to talk things out because I don't like to do fluff and things like that. But I was able to get 60 Likes, I was able to get a good point out in 60 seconds. So it kind of made me think of hey, what if I did a short confidence lesson that's powerful. And then, ask some questions.
Christen 31:24
So that's kind of how I came up with this whole 30-Day, kind of kind of thing. And then the confidence nuggets. I said, you know, in those scary moments, we need reminders of the truth. I have these bracelets that are reminders of the truth, little bracelets, well, it all started with one of my Olympians back in 16. She used to write down 10 reasons why she was going to swim fast before every competition. And when she was feeling fear, that was her truth, she could go back to those 10 reasons why she's going to swim fast. So anyway, she ends up making the Olympic team.
Christen 32:05
And so I made her this bracelet with 10 beads on it to kind of represent the 10 reasons why she's going to swim fast. And anyway, it helped her so much. Because, again, when we're scared, like, I just need a reminder, of who I am. Why I'm prepared, you know that I'm ready for this moment. So anyway, when she came back, I started just making more of these bracelets. I am courageous. I am enough. I am ready. Just little reminders on your wrist. So when you are feeling it. you have that truth right on your wrist.
Lindsey 32:44
And we'll put it all in there. Beautiful. By the way, I went looking at them today. We'll put it all in the show notes. But where can people find out about the book and the confidence nuggets? And you in general?
Christen 32:53
Yeah, my main website is coachcristen.com. Yeah, that's where all the info is.
Lindsey 33:00
Cool. All right. So I have five rapid-fire questions. Is that okay? If we finish with that? A few all five of them. And the reason I did this is I've heard other podcasts doing it and I always feel like those are the questions that I want to ask people anyway because I'm always interested in what other people are doing in their life and what they're learning and all that kind of stuff. So, oh, are you consuming right now?
Christen 33:32
So I'm reading Wolfpack by Abby Wambach.
Lindsey 33:36
Nice, is it good?
Christen 33:38
Yeah, it's really good.
Lindsey 33:41
And what are you creating?
Christen 33:47
So the bracelets that I was just talking about, I'm actually creating a smaller version of it because not everybody wears bracelets. So I'm creating a mini bracelet on a keychain so people can athletes can put it on their bags.
Lindsey 34:03
Cool. I'm doing that for my daughter's preschool to what is one daily healthy habit that you have running in the morning?
Christen 34:16
It's more for my mental health and anything.
Lindsey 34:20
Do you still swim too?
Christen 34:21
Oh, no. No.
Lindsey 34:26
What's the next big leap for you in your life or business?
Christen 34:35
I think Well, the first thing that pops into my head is kind of breaking into the business world with this stuff. I'll always work with athletes they are for sure my passion but moving because this isn't just an athlete thing, right? So yeah, speaking a lot more to business people and possibly doing some one-on-one work with them.
Lindsey 35:00
Like executive coaching kind of thing?
Christen 35:02
Yeah.
Lindsey 35:03
Cool. And what brought you joy or wonder right now?
Christen 35:09
Well, my dog. I just love it. And I actually just, I bought a house a couple of months ago, and I have this beautiful deck on the back of the house. So I have just been spending way too much money creating my paradise back there. So that really just brings me so much joy. It's my happy place.
Lindsey 35:30
That sounds beautiful. Sounds beautiful. We're enjoying the sun. Like I said, told you I mean like car because everything's going on in my house. But we actually have some sun peeking through. So I'm actually getting hot, which feels really good after a long winter. I know you don't have that problem in Atlanta.
Christen 35:45
It gets cold here. I'm ready for warmth.
Lindsey 35:49
Alright. Well, Christen, this has been so much fun. I so appreciate just your knowledge and your willingness to share. I know our listeners will love learning from you more. Where can they follow you on social?
Christen 36:01
Yeah, I just have Instagram, which is Coach_Christen, again, C h r i s t e n.
Lindsey 36:10
Thank you so much for your time today. This has been awesome.
Christen 36:12
Thank you.
Lindsey 36:14
Take care. Bye bye.
Lindsey 36:18
Ah, loved that episode. Love that conversation. You can learn more about Christen at coachchristen .com. But I love her little techniques for normalizing fear. And I think it's a good reminder for all of us to really talk about this stuff. I mean, we talked about it a lot, so much in our coach training and our certifications and in our masterminds because as entrepreneurs, it's such a big part of what we do, but certainly, with our athlete clients, so many people just feel like they're so alone, and stress and pressure and self-doubt.
Lindsey 36:52
And I mean, how cool is it that she has things like bracelets that really helped people just sort of get centered and that tangible reminder of all that we can do? I'm really focused on training our minds and not expecting ourselves to struggle or not expect ourselves to not feel fear and self-doubt and all those things that are so normal. And again, just a little reminder for all of us to continue talking about it and normalizing it. So we'll see you again next week. If you haven't yet, please subscribe to our podcast and rate the review. And of course share it. We'll see you soon. Thanks for now.
Lindsey 37:27
Hey, if you love this episode, make sure to check out all of our free and paid resources over at positiveperformancetraining.com You want to take mindset training to the next level we got you. But here are three more specific ways. If you want to take mindset training and live it more in your life. Definitely subscribe to this podcast. We send out bonus episodes, we have our mental Mondays, we have interviews and training episodes, definitely subscribe. If you want to teach it, meaning taking it to your athletes or your clients.
Lindsey 37:55
I highly recommend the Psychology of Competition. Again, you can check that out at positiveperformancetraining.com It is a great course that will teach you and your athletes how to have pre, during, and post-competition routines to up your performance. And if you want to learn how to have a mindset coaching business in order to sell mindset coaching, highly recommend signing up for our waitlist for our next certification cohort, which usually opens about once a year, but in the meantime, go to positiveperformancetraining.com. And check out our Ultimate Mindset Coaching Toolkit which will show you exactly how to get started with your first mindset coaching clients. Again, go to positiveperformancetraining.com for all of our free and paid resources.
