Paradigm Shifting Books Why Knowing Who You Are is the Key to High Performance (Part 2) with Dr. Craig Manning
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
Book
Dr. Craig Manning
Britain Covey
Stephen H. Covey