In this first part of a two-part conversation, Amy Cuddy, renowned social psychologist and author of Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges, joins Stephen and Britain Covey to explore the powerful concept of presence. Amy delves into how our ability to bring our authentic, best selves to high-stakes situations, whether it’s a job interview, public speaking, or even sports, can drastically shift our confidence and performance. Drawing on years of research, she explains how presence is not a permanent state but a skill we can develop in order to show up with calm, composure, and confidence when it matters most.

Through engaging discussions, Amy shares actionable insights into how we can all embrace our bravest selves during stressful moments, access authentic self-affirmations, and overcome the paralyzing effects of self-doubt and hyperawareness. This episode also explores the science behind self-affirmation theory and how small but powerful mental shifts can improve performance in unrelated challenges. Tune in to discover how cultivating personal power and agency can turn every challenge into an opportunity for growth and success.

What We Discuss:

• [00:00] Introduction
• [01:57] Defining Presence: Being your authentic self in high-stakes situations
• [07:04] The role of confidence in preparation: Gaining confidence through training and practice
• [14:43] Over-preparation and its pitfalls: Finding the balance between preparation and mindset
• [19:52] How self-affirmation theory impacts performance, even in unrelated situations
• [29:41] The impact of hyperawareness: How to overcome distractions and perform at your best

Notable Quotes:

• [02:31] "Presence is about our ability to access and bring forth our authentic, best selves in our most challenging situations." – Amy Cuddy
• [15:25] "We often have to stop preparing the content or the skill and start preparing our mindset." – Amy Cuddy
• [29:14] "If we get hung up on what we didn’t do well, we’re less likely to be present the next time." – Amy Cuddy
• [08:58] "Confidence is not about tricking yourself; it’s about getting out of your own way." – Amy Cuddy

Resources

Paradigm Shifting Books

• Podcast
• Instagram
• YouTube

Book

• Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges

Amy Cuddy

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Britain Covey

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Stephen H. Covey

• LinkedIn
• X

In this episode of Paradigm Shifting Books, hosts Stephen and Britain Covey continue their thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Craig Manning, author of ‘The Fearless Mind’. In this second part, Dr. Manning expands on how understanding your core identity and staying true to your strengths is the key to unlocking consistent high performance in any area of life. This episode digs deep into the concept of "task orientation" vs. "ego orientation" and how to shift your mindset for success.

Dr. Manning, a performance psychologist, provides a masterclass on building mental resilience, explains the profound impact of fear on human performance, and gives practical advice for overcoming insecurity in both professional and personal contexts. Whether you’re an athlete, a business leader, or someone looking to improve everyday performance, the principles discussed here are universally applicable.

What We Discuss:

• [00:00] Introduction
• [00:17] How task-oriented focus leads to better performance
• [01:41] Trust is earned through competence, not titles
• [05:08] How staying present and focused on tasks reduces anxiety and improves performance
• [15:11] How to overcome insecurity and trust yourself more deeply
• [17:39] Why focusing on the process, not the outcome, is essential for sustained success
• [18:26] Dr. Manning’s final advice on embracing your strengths and continuing the journey to self-improvement

Notable Quotes:

• [00:06:45] “When you know who you are and you trust yourself, you don’t care what others think, you just perform.” — Dr. Craig Manning
• [00:10:29] “Fear is a concept we create. The opposite is learning. A learning mentality opens up new possibilities.” — Dr. Craig Manning
• [00:13:42] “Focus on the process, not the outcome. The outcome will take care of itself when you execute the process well.” — Dr. Craig Manning
• [00:19:08] “Flow state is a superpower. Knowing who you are is the gateway to unlocking it.” — Dr. Craig Manning

Resources

Paradigm Shifting Books

• Podcast
• Instagram
• YouTube

Book

• The Fearless Mind: 5 Steps to Achieving Peak Performance

Dr. Craig Manning

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Britain Covey

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Stephen H. Covey

• LinkedIn
• X

In this episode of Paradigm Shifting Books, hosts Stephen and Britain Covey begin a powerful two-part conversation with Dr. Craig Manning, author of The Fearless Mind. Part 1 unpacks why knowing who you truly are and unapologetically embracing your strengths is the foundation of consistent high performance.

Dr. Manning shares his journey from athlete to performance psychologist, explains why he reframed “high performance” as human performance, and reveals how to build skills around your unique strengths instead of chasing someone else’s path. From the science of confidence to stories of elite athletes like Giannis Antetokounmpo scoring 50 points in the NBA Finals, this conversation makes mental performance training both practical and inspiring.

The episode also highlights how the same principles apply outside of sports, in business, leadership, and everyday life. Because at its core, high performance isn’t about outcomes, it’s about identity.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of comparison, pressure from authority figures, or uncertainty about your strengths, this episode offers a new framework to unlock your potential.

What We Discuss

• [00:00] Introduction
• [01:27] Why Dr. Manning wrote The Fearless Mind and how it began as a personal project
• [08:18] Giannis Antetokounmpo’s “unapologetically ourselves” mindset before scoring 50 in the NBA Finals
• [11:19] Why comparison leads to insecurity and how to break free from it
• [22:32] Generational shifts: why Gen Z thinks differently and how collaboration beats hierarchy
• [30:39] Why trying to be someone you’re not sabotages performance
• [32:05] The power of owning your lane in a collaborative, commitment-based culture

Notable Quotes

• [00:08:54] “When you know who you are and you trust yourself, you don’t care what others think—you just perform.” — Dr. Craig Manning
• [00:11:37] “Comparison leads to insecurities. Insecurities lead to needing approval. And needing approval destroys confidence.” — Dr. Craig Manning
• [00:14:42] “The key to success is not being a stereotype. It’s being the best version of yourself.” — Dr. Craig Manning
• [00:22:07] “Your identity is here in the present. Too many people live out in the future, and that future never arrives.” — Dr. Craig Manning

Resources

Paradigm Shifting Books

• Podcast
• Instagram
• YouTube

Book

• The Fearless Mind: 5 Steps to Achieving Peak Performance

Dr. Craig Manning

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Britain Covey

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

Stephen H. Covey

• LinkedIn
• X