Performance Talk with Dr. Ewell Gordon

Turning Pressure into Power: The Psychology of Athletic Success with Dr. Haley Perlus

Dr. Haley Perlus · February 24, 2025

Author · Executive Coach · Entrepreneur · Leadershipin

Interview with Dr. Haley Perlus

Turning Pressure into Power: The Psychology of Athletic Success with Dr. Haley Perlus

Podcast: Performance Talk with Dr. Ewell Gordon

February 24, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min

Key Topics Discussed Introduction to Sports Psychology Dr. Perlus helps athletes focus mentally ("from the neck up") to improve physical performance. Embracing Pressure and Anxiety Athletes often revert to old habits under pressure. Importance of embracing rather than avoiding…

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Turning Pressure into Power: The Psychology of Athletic Success with Dr. Haley Perlus

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Performance Talk with Dr. Ewell Gordon

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Key topicsMastering Mental Agility & The Science of Thriving in UncertaintyChange is inevitable, but mental agility is the key to sustaining success. Drawing from her background in performance psychology, Haley shares how leaders can train their minds to embrace uncertainty, adapt under pressure, and stay mentally strong in volatile business environments. She discusses cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation, and how to train the brain to make clear decisions-even in chaotic situations. Why Setbacks, Not Success, Shape True ResilienceEvery high achiever hits walls-failed ventures, missed opportunities, moments that threaten their identity and drive. What separates those who plateau from those who rise is not avoiding failure but using it as fuel. Dr. Haley Perlus reveals the psychology of resilience that allows top performers to recover faster and reinvent themselves when everything seems lost. From her own experience nearly being dismissed from her Ph.D. program for challenging convention, she shows how setbacks can be springboards for growth. With strategies drawn from sport psychology and elite performance, Haley equips leaders and entrepreneurs to turn adversity into a competitive edge, building the stamina and mindset needed for long-term success. Why High Achievers Burn Out Before They Break ThroughThe biggest risk for high performers isn’t lack of ambition-it’s running out of energy before they reach their goals. Too many executives and entrepreneurs treat burnout as the cost of success, when in reality it kills focus, creativity, and long-term performance. Dr. Haley Perlus shows why stamina, not sheer drive, is the real differentiator at the top. Drawing on her background in sport psychology, she reveals the recovery strategies elite athletes use to sustain intensity under pressure, and how leaders can apply them in the boardroom. With practical, science-backed tools, Haley helps ambitious professionals learn to recharge as deliberately as they push-so they can lead with energy, clarity, and resilience over the long haul. View all topics →

About Dr. Haley Perlus

PhD Sport Psychology, Author and Expert in High-Performance Strategies

PhD Sport PsychologyTrusted by NASA, Marriott, Starbucks & DeloitteFeatured Oprah, ESPN & Business InsiderPublished author Personal Podium

Dr. Haley Perlus is a Performance Psychology expert, speaker, and author specializing in helping business leaders, entrepreneurs, and high achievers apply the mental strategies of elite athletes to reach peak performance. With a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology and certifications in coaching, fitness, and nutrition, she transforms high-stress environments into arenas for success—whether in the boardroom, on the stage, or in high-stakes leadership roles.

Her expertise has been sought after by Fortune 500 companies, top executives, and business innovators looking to master mental resilience, sustain focus under pressure, and turn obstacles into opportunities. Haley’s work goes beyond motivation—she provides actionable, science-backed tools that optimize leadership, enhance decision-making, and drive peak productivity.

She is the author of Personal Podium: How to Use Your Mind to Maximize Your Potential, which distills the psychological strategies of world-class performers into practical techniques for business and personal growth. Her insights have been featured on Oprah, ESPN, Thrive Magazine, and Beachbody, and she has spoken for companies such as Marriott and Starbucks, bringing a pragmatic, results-oriented approach to mastering high performance.

Whether coaching executives on mental toughness in leadership, helping entrepreneurs develop a high-performance mindset, or guiding professionals through the psychology of sustainable success, Dr. Perlus equips individuals with the tools they need to stay composed, focused, and driven—no matter the challenge.

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About this episode

Key Topics Discussed

Introduction to Sports Psychology

Dr. Perlus helps athletes focus mentally ("from the neck up") to improve physical performance.

Embracing Pressure and Anxiety

Athletes often revert to old habits under pressure.

Importance of embracing rather than avoiding pressure as it signifies care, belief, and energy.

Trusting Training Over Time

Encouragement from high-profile examples like Olympian Sydney McLaughlin on trusting training routines.

Responsibility in Performance

Taking personal responsibility is key but should be balanced—not taking all blame or credit.

Effort vs. Outcome Focus

Evaluating effort alongside technique during practice sessions.

Motivation Techniques for Coaches

Observing how athletes motivate peers can reveal motivational styles.

Participating in sports activities with them can provide insights into their thinking patterns.

Vicarious Learning & Modeling Success

Using role models or peer performances as motivation tools.

Understanding that failure is a learning opportunity, not an endpoint.

Personal Journey into Sports Psychology:

Inspired by early experience with ski racing coach at age 12 who used unconventional methods (betting) to instill confidence and highlight the importance of mental strength over just physical prowess.

Advice for Parents of Young Athletes:

Balance expectations—focus more on effort than results.

Create supportive environments that encourage development without overwhelming pressure.

Guest: Dr. Haley Perlus