167. Internationally-Recognized Mental Performance Coach Explains Why Confidence Becomes Dangerous for Top Performers

What if one of the biggest threats to your success isn't fear, self-doubt, or lack of confidence...

But too much confidence?

In this episode, I sit down with internationally recognized mental game coach Jared Tendler to explore one of the most common—and least recognized—performance killers among high achievers: overconfidence.

We unpack why success often plants the seeds of future failure, how overconfidence quietly erodes discipline, preparation, and decision-making, and why most people never realize it's happening until they're stuck in a spiral of frustration, anger, and self-doubt.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why overconfidence—not fear—is often what derails high performers
• The subtle signs you're taking your foot off the gas without realizing it
• Why emotional accumulation creates explosive reactions and burnout
• How journaling improves emotional awareness and decision-making
• Why elite performers view mistakes differently than everyone else
• The real reason boredom shows up when you're succeeding
• Why most people misdiagnose their own performance problems
• How to build a reflection process that accelerates growth

If you've ever wondered why you keep making the same mistakes, why success sometimes seems to disappear as quickly as it arrived, or why high performers so often sabotage their own momentum, this conversation will change how you think about confidence forever.

Time Stamps:

• 00:00: The hidden success trap that derails high performers after they start winning
• 3:25: Why success creates a dangerous lag effect most people never see coming
• 7:41: The subtle signs you're becoming overconfident without realizing it
• 13:04: Why emotionally "constipated" high performers struggle to reach their potential
• 20:52: Why boredom is often a warning sign—not a harmless feeling
• 24:27: Are elite performers addicted to winning... or terrified of losing?
• 26:07: What happens when your entire identity becomes attached to your results?
• 33:26: Why your biggest setbacks may be teaching you exactly what you need next
• 37:01: The mindset shift that separates elite performers from everyone else
• 41:22: Why solving the mistake is not the same as understanding why it happened
• 46:38: Why perfectionists struggle to recognize what they're doing well
• 49:06: Is golf really 90% mental? Jared completely disagrees

I help high performers get unstuck and out of their own way to unlock their potential. 

Apply for Private 1:1 Coaching: If you're successful on paper but feel misaligned, overwhelmed, or stuck at your next level, private coaching may be the fastest path forward. Click here to apply to work with me.

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More About Jared Tendler

Jared Tendler, MS, LMHC, is an internationally recognized mental game coach with over 20 years of experience. His clients span 45 countries and include world champion poker players, PGA and LPGA Tour winners, executives, entrepreneurs and institutional and independent financial traders. His straightforward and logical approach has been proven to help people solve their mental game problems and perform at their highest levels.

He is the author of three highly acclaimed books, The Mental Game of Trading and The Mental Game of Poker 1 & 2. His latest book, Everyday Golf Psychology, is available now and has already garnered great reviews from Top 100 instructors. He also previously served as Head of Sport Psychology for the esports organization Team Liquid. Jared's diverse experience and proven techniques make him among the best mental coaches in the world.

Proving his clients aren't the only ones to benefit from his system, Jared solved his own issues and in 2013 qualified for the U.S. Mid-am, shooting two-under. Currently, he's a member at Jericho National Golf Club in New Hope, PA, regularly plays in regional tournaments and now dreams of playing in the U.S. Senior Open.

Learn more about working with Jared at his website here. 

Connect with Jared on social media:

• @jaredtendler on X 
• @jared.tendler on Instagram
• @jaredtendler on LinkedIn