What happens when your child is doing the right thing—but other people still misunderstand them?

In Episode 163 of High Performance Parenting, Greg Francis continues his Champion Mindset conversation with his daughter Crissy, exploring a powerful distinction:

Your reputation is what other people think you are.
Your character is who you really are.

Crissy shares honestly about being intense, competitive, and committed to working hard—and how not everyone around her appreciates that.

Instead of shrinking herself to gain approval, she’s learning to stay focused on becoming the person she knows she wants to be.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How to teach kids the difference between character and reputation
• Why approval can become a dangerous measuring stick
• Helping children stay true to their values when others criticize them
• Why hard work can make other people uncomfortable
• Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset in sports and life
• Why parents should reward growth and habits—not only results
• Helping kids process disappointment without letting it define them
• What to do when your child gives everything and still loses
• How parents can support a child through setbacks
• Why effort and character matter long after trophies are forgotten

One of the strongest lessons in the episode is that parents shouldn’t only celebrate the child who finishes first. Greg explains that he was equally proud of both daughters in a recent tournament because both worked hard and grew—even though only one could win.

Crissy also opens up about the emotional challenge of sitting out competition while working on recovery, even when she knew it was the right long-term decision.

Your kids won’t always control what people think about them.

But they can control who they become.

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• (00:00) - Character vs. Reputation
• (00:39) - Intro
• (01:41) - What Is Challenging Chrissy Most?
• (01:51) - Embracing Hard Work Without a Victim Mindset
• (02:59) - Growth Is Still a Blessing
• (04:29) - Character Matters More Than Reputation
• (05:51) - Stop Building Your Identity Around Approval
• (06:54) - Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
• (08:09) - Reward Growth, Not Just Results
• (09:33) - What Chrissy Wishes Her Parents Understood
• (09:37) - Sitting Out When You Want to Compete
• (11:42) - Processing a Painful Loss
• (14:17) - Preparing for a Healthy Season
• (14:34) - How Parents Can Support Their Kids
• (15:53) - Effort Matters More Than the Trophy

What is your child saying to themselves when they make a mistake?

“I’m terrible at this.”

“I’ll never get it.”

“Maybe I’m just not talented enough.”

Those statements may sound harmless in the moment—but repeated negative self-talk can begin shaping what a child believes about themselves.

In Episode 162 of High Performance Parenting, Greg Francis continues his Champion Mindset conversation with his daughter Crissy as they explore the connection between self-talk, mental toughness, preparation, discipline, and performance.

Crissy openly shares that she can be her own worst critic and has had to intentionally change the way she speaks to herself on the tennis court and in everyday life.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why champions aren't simply born with stronger minds
• How mental toughness can be intentionally developed
• Why negative self-talk affects performance
• How children unintentionally reinforce limiting beliefs
• What athletes can say after mistakes instead of attacking themselves
• Why discipline now prevents regret later
• How physical preparation and mental preparation work together
• Why children need to focus on what they can control
• How to help kids stop comparing their circumstances to others
• Why becoming champion-minded requires changing daily habits

Crissy explains that instead of reacting to a mistake with frustration, she's learning to respond with thoughts such as “It wasn't my best, but it was closer.” That seemingly small shift helps her remain in a productive mental state rather than spiraling into criticism.

Greg also shares an important warning:

Your subconscious starts believing what you repeatedly tell it.

That's why helping kids develop healthy, truthful, productive self-talk is about much more than sports.

It's preparing them for life.

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#HighPerformanceParenting #ChampionMindset #ChristianParenting #MentalToughness #ParentingAthletes

• (00:00) - Your Subconscious Believes Your Words
• (00:41) - Intro
• (01:22) - Special Guest & Family Update
• (02:01) - Visiting the Sequoias
• (03:25) - Tennis Tournament Update
• (05:42) - Champions Build Different Habits
• (06:07) - Training a Champion Mindset
• (07:08) - The Pain of Discipline vs. Regret
• (08:49) - Retooling Your Skills
• (09:29) - Changing Negative Self-Talk
• (10:42) - The Inner Game of Performance
• (12:12) - When Thinking Too Much Hurts Performance
• (13:09) - How Negative Words Program Your Mind
• (14:22) - You Speak Your Reality
• (15:10) - Stop Comparing Your Circumstances
• (15:32) - Turn Weakness Into an Advantage
• (16:15) - Habits That Create Champions

Are champions born with something the rest of us don't have—or can a champion mindset be built?

In Episode 161 of High Performance Parenting, Greg Francis sits down again with his daughter Crissy to talk about her mindset journey as she prepares for her junior tennis season.

After experiencing injuries, heartbreaking losses, difficult matches, and opponents with more natural ability, Crissy has discovered something powerful: Talent alone doesn't determine how far you go.

Mindset matters.

Preparation matters.

Discipline matters.

Mental toughness matters.

And your choices matter.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How to help kids turn disappointment into fuel
• Why hard work can overcome natural talent
• The difference between positive thinking and mental toughness
• Why young athletes need to train their minds AND bodies
• How to stop turning setbacks into a victim story
• Why having a compelling vision changes daily habits
• Teaching children to pursue excellence when nobody is watching
• How parents can create environments that encourage kids to stretch themselves
• Why failure can become preparation for future success

Crissy shares how losing just short of her goals didn't cause her to quit—it made her ask how she could get better. She also explains how injuries are becoming part of her story of toughness rather than an excuse for where she hasn't yet arrived.

Your child doesn't have to be the most naturally gifted person in the room.

Teach them to prepare, work, persevere, learn, and choose to become better.

Subscribe to High Performance Parenting as we help parents raise champion children in a crazy world.

#HighPerformanceParenting #ChampionMindset #ChristianParenting #YouthSports #MentalToughness

• (00:00) - Hard Work Beats Talent
• (00:28) - Intro
• (01:10) - Chrissy's Tennis Mindset Journey
• (02:40) - Are Champions Born Different?
• (03:06) - You're Born a Chooser
• (04:30) - Turning Disappointment Into Fuel
• (05:41) - Chrissy's Brutal District Tournament
• (07:14) - Outworking Natural Talent
• (08:20) - Training Skill and Mindset
• (09:37) - Stop Making Setbacks Your Victim Story
• (10:18) - What Is a Champion Mindset?
• (12:01) - Creating a Vision Worth Chasing
• (13:09) - The Habits Behind Big Goals
• (14:10) - Creating an Environment Where Kids Excel
• (15:33) - When Parenting Lessons Become Their Habits
• (16:32) - What Champions Do When No One Is Watching
• (16:54) - Helping Young Athletes Build Mental Toughness