Mick Unplugged: Master Your Mindset, Master Your Life with Dr. Haley Perlis

Host: Mick Hunt
Guest: Dr. Haley Perlis (Mindset Expert, Performance Coach, Former Athlete)
Date: December 6, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Mick Unplugged centers on the transformative power of mastering your mindset and optimizing your “productivity energy” for personal and professional fulfillment. Mick Hunt welcomes back Dr. Haley Perlis for a deep-dive masterclass on flow states, energy management, and the actionable habits that leaders and high performers can use to thrive. Moving beyond the cliché of “positive energy,” Dr. Perlis reframes the conversation around “productive energy,” and explains how embracing all emotional states—positive or negative—can drive performance, growth, and authentic leadership.

Key Discussions & Insights

1. The Myth of "Positive" Energy vs. Productive Energy

• Dr. Perlis reframes energy management:
  • “We always want more time in the day, but it's actually about managing our energy.” (04:21)
  • She introduces “optimal energy flow”—the circular process of thought impacting emotion, which affects physiology and, ultimately, performance.
  • Quote:
    • “I've never, ever met someone that said the better outcome was with more time and less energy. It's all about having more energy.” (05:07, Dr. Perlis)
• Importance of “productive” over “positive” energy:
  • Productive energy can sometimes come from uncomfortable emotions like fear or frustration.
  • Quote:
    • “I don't like the word positive thinking. I like the word productive thinking.” (06:26, Dr. Perlis)

2. Flow State: Protecting and Communicating Your Zone

• Understanding and communicating flow state:
  • Mick shares struggles with maintaining his “zone” amid interruptions and asks about signaling this to others without being rude.
    • “How do we let others know we're there without sounding like jerks?” (07:43, Mick Hunt)
  • Dr. Perlis recommends clear, polite communication and developing shared cues in relationships and teams for respecting flow state boundaries.
  • Quote:
    • “The more you practice, you start teaching others what those signs are… You have to be assertive in that.” (08:03, Dr. Perlis)
  • Emphasis on follow-through—when you signal “not now,” ensure you return and close the loop.

3. The Role of Negative Emotions and Pressure as Performance Enhancers

• Embracing uncomfortable emotions:
  • Dr. Perlis and Mick both discuss high-performance moments fueled by fear, frustration, or pressure.
  • Quote:
    • “Negative emotions… can be productive too… Sometimes things just simply suck.” (16:15, Dr. Perlis)
    • “When my back is up against the wall, I promise you, I am the most clear-thinking human being.” (16:51, Mick Hunt)
• Reframing pressure:
  • “I don't think pressure is the enemy. Pressure is the invitation—to show up, to take responsibility.” (17:38, Dr. Perlis)
  • Pressure helps stretch potential and call forth best performances in both athletic and leadership contexts.

4. Preparation and Energy: The Mental Toolbox

• Preparation as the foundation of productive energy:
  • “Preparation leads to excelling.” (18:33, Mick Hunt)
  • Dr. Perlis details the creation of behavioral “codes” and personal “toolboxes” tailored for different mental states (feeling high energy, flat, or low).
    • Example: Athletes create rules like “fact over feeling” or prepare different music/affirmations depending on mood.
  • Quote:
    • “Without that mental toolbox, what if I'm feeling good? What if I'm feeling flat? What if I'm feeling bad?... Without that preparation, they have no idea how to express themselves the way they want to in competition and optimize their performance. So the preparation is the whole ticket.” (19:15, Dr. Perlis)

5. Leadership, Role Modeling & Mentorship

• Energy leadership in teams:
  • Dr. Perlis shares a story from her fitness classes, using social energy to elevate group performance.
    • “Some people … want to be the leader. So they stand up a little bit more energized… because they want to be chosen.” (22:45, Dr. Perlis)
• Role modeling in leadership:
  • Leaders elevate energy by “walking the walk,” not just talking.
  • Ongoing learning and humility are key: “I'm always leading. I'm always learning as a leader. I have mentors so that I can be a better leader.” (23:43, Dr. Perlis)
• Mentorship approach:
  • Dr. Perlis frames pressure as something clients “earn” through growth—a marker of responsibility and self-belief.
  • Quote:
    • “The pressure that you're feeling, how did you earn that pressure? If you can't answer that question, then you are putting too much pressure on yourself.” (30:42, Dr. Perlis)

6. Dr. Haley Perlis: Coaching, Speaking, and New Ventures

• Working with Dr. Perlis:
  • Helps individuals and organizations leverage productive energy and embrace pressure for competitive excellence.
  • Focuses on elite athletes and high-performing leaders/teams, helping them create clear “journey maps” for growth.
• Upcoming projects:
  • Launching a podcast with mentor Dr. Jack Groppel focusing on mentorship and competitive excellence (January 2026).
  • Continues to consult, coach, and motivate across health, sports, and corporate domains.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Optimal vs. Positive Energy:
  • “If we get into this optimum energy flow, then we can be productive. And I think that is the ultimate goal.” (06:35, Dr. Perlis)
• Pressure as Invitation:
  • “Pressure is the invitation to show up, … take responsibility, … to lead someone or something.” (17:52, Dr. Perlis)
• Preparation as Success:
  • “Once you prepare, you don't even have to think about much else.” (21:56, Dr. Perlis)
• The Power of Caring:
  • When asked for the word she wants to define her legacy:
    • “It's two words. She cares.” (38:00, Dr. Perlis)
  • Mick’s response: “If there is one thing I would definitely say, that is you.” (38:04, Mick Hunt)

Practical Takeaways

• Redefine “good” energy: Seek productivity over positivity; all emotions can fuel growth and performance.
• Protect & signal your flow: Use clear, polite communication and rituals with those around you.
• Leverage preparation: Customize your “toolbox” for different energy/mindset states and practice behavioral consistency.
• Embrace & earn pressure: Larger roles and leadership involve stress, but pressure is also a sign of growth and commitment.
• Lead with strengths: Both for self-confidence and team uplift, focus on core strengths, not just gaps.

Rapid-Fire Personal Insights (Quick Five)

(35:52–38:00)

• Go-to breakfast: Green juice (celery, apple, ginger, cucumber), egg, tomato, cucumber, sourdough bread.
• Favorite vacation destination: Beach—with soft sand.
• Pre-stage hype song: “What a Feeling” (Flashdance).
• Biggest 2025 lesson: Stay curious instead of judgmental, and own missteps with self-awareness.
• Legacy in one word: “She cares.”

Connect with Dr. Haley Perlis

• All platforms via: drhaleyperlis.com
  • LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube linked from website.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction to optimal energy: 04:21–06:43
• Flow state & handling interruptions: 07:05–11:25
• Productive vs. positive energy, fear/pressure: 15:16–18:33
• Preparation and athletic/corporate energy: 18:33–22:13
• Leadership & lifting group energy: 22:13–24:27
• Mentoring high performers, handling pressure: 25:19–31:22
• Speaking, personal mission, legacy: 31:47–38:04
• Wrap-up & how to connect: 38:34–39:29

Episode in a Sentence

Dr. Haley Perlis and Mick Hunt challenge high performers to move beyond the “why” and into the “because,” using productive energy, intentional preparation, and earned pressure to master both mindset and life.