The Champion’s Mindset: How Top Coaches Stay Focused, Productive, and Win Without Burning Out
Jun 17, 2025
Hey Coach,
Ever wonder how two college coaches—equally talented, equally experienced, with access to the same strategies, the same technology, and the same resources—can end up in radically different places?
One is thriving—winning games, getting great recruits, developing their team and staff…
The other? Frustrated, overwhelmed, constantly behind, and not seeing results.
After coaching thousands of coaches through Busy Coach and in my work with Dan Tudor, I’ve seen this play out more times than I can count.
What I have found is it’s rarely about talent or resources. It’s about mindset—because mindset drives the decisions that ultimately determine how productive and effective you are every day.
The right mindset isn’t about working more hours. It’s about working on the right things, with energy, focus, and consistency. That’s how some coaches create incredible results without burning out.
So today, I want to share a powerful framework I learned from Craig Ballantyne, owner of Early To Rise—but through the lens of your world as a college coach—so you can start developing what he calls the Champion’s Mindset.
Here are the 3 big shifts:
- Upgrade to Champion-Level Self-Talk
I know you work on this with your athletes.
But have you ever looked in the mirror and really evaluated how your self-talk might be impacting your success?
Coaches who struggle often default to negative mental loops:
- “I’ll never catch up.”
- “Our location makes it impossible to recruit.”
- “I don’t have the right support.”
- “This system will never work for me.”
Sound familiar?
But coaches who consistently perform at a high level don’t waste energy with that kind of self-talk. They flip the script:
- “This isn’t ideal, but I’ll figure it out.”
- “There’s always a way to recruit the right kids—I just need to find it.”
- “I’m going to lead my staff and create the support I need.”
- “The system works—I just need to stay consistent long enough for it to work for me.”
This is what separates those who build sustainable success from those who stay stuck on the hamster wheel.
Because when your internal dialogue is clear, confident, and constructive—you stop wasting time spinning your wheels. You stop procrastinating. You take action quicker. You make decisions faster. That mental clarity creates space, not stress. It helps you do less—better—and unlock more results in fewer hours.
- Fall in Love with the Process of Growth
Craig tells a story about a young Arnold Schwarzenegger falling in love with the pain of lifting weights—because he knew it meant growth.
Coaches with a Champion’s Mindset think the same way.
They don’t expect instant wins. They don’t chase quick fixes. They love the game of getting better:
- Building a recruiting system brick by brick.
- Figuring out how to lead more effectively.
- Learning how to manage their energy and time so they stop burning out.
Most coaches say they want to grow—but resist the process. They look for shortcuts.
And the best part? As they grow, their day gets simpler—not harder. They get more done in less time because they stop chasing shiny objects. Growth fuels productivity. Productivity fuels freedom. It’s a powerful cycle once it starts.
- Choose Resilience Over Resignation
Every coach eventually hits the wall.
- The recruit ghosts you.
- Your team culture slides backwards.
- Your administration doesn’t understand what you need.
- You’re exhausted, behind, and questioning if it’s all worth it.
At that point, you have two choices:
Resignation or Resilience.
Do you let it beat you?
Or do you embrace the suck and push through it, knowing you’re likely just inches from something finally clicking?
That’s what separates good coaches from great ones.
Great coaches stay calm in the chaos.
They show up with intention, even when it’s hard.
They make tiny daily decisions that keep the momentum going.
Final Thought-
The gap between a coach who builds a winning program and one who stays stuck in stress and survival mode?
It’s not resources. It’s not talent. It’s not luck.
It’s mindset—because that’s what unlocks smart systems, focused days, and clear decision-making.
You don’t need to grind harder. You need to think differently. And when you do? You win more, in less time—with less stress.
And just a few small shifts—done daily—can change everything.
To your success,
Mandy Green
President, Busy Coach
Creator of High Performance Coach & Recruiter
P.S.
If you’re ready to 2X your results while working 10 fewer hours per week, just reply to this email with:
“2X 10 LESS”
We’ll set up a quick chat to see if High Performance Coach & Recruiter is the right fit for helping you hit your next level.
Here are some other ways I can help you:
To leverage your time:
High Performance Coach and Recruiter
To leverage your staff:
To leverage your recruiting system:
How to stay consistent with social media for recruiting purposes:
The Busy Coach Planner is something I think every college coach should have on their desk for the start of 2025. Grab one here and start fresh, organized and dialed in next year.
