Mindset Matters - Episode #207

Barriers to the Podium: The Mental Game Behind Peak Performance

Podcast: The Everyday Millionaire & Mindset Matters
Host: Patrick Francey
Guest: Stephanie Hanlon Francey (Olympic mental performance coach)
Release Date: October 16, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Patrick Francey is joined by his wife, renowned Olympic mental performance coach Stephanie Hanlon Francey. As Stephanie prepares to leave for France to support her athletes in the opening Grand Prix event of the Olympic year, the duo explores the psychology behind peak performance, particularly for world-class athletes poised for the Olympic podium. The episode isn’t just about sports: it deconstructs mental barriers, preparation rituals, and how these strategies can boost excellence in business, relationships, and everyday life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Stephanie’s Role & Background

• Stephanie is heading to France for the first Grand Prix of the Olympic season with five teams in competition, including world champions and seasoned Olympic medalists.
• She clarifies her expertise is "performance psychology," not physical or technical coaching. Her central focus is ensuring athletes “step on the ice completely present, with nothing in their way, able to enjoy the moment.” (04:07)

The ‘Barriers to the Podium’ Exercise

Stephanie outlines a four-part mental preparedness strategy used with athletes—and easily adapted to life and business situations.

1. Incompletions

   • Identify any tasks or issues left undone, from the practical ("phone bill paid? skates sharpened?") to personal (unfinished conversations, unresolved issues). (05:04)
   • Quote: “Incompletions are a precursor to procrastination. It means, ‘if I just get this done, then I’ll be centered and ready to compete.’” — Stephanie (05:04)
   • Applicable beyond sports: life’s loose ends can distract anyone facing high-performance situations, like an important meeting or speech.

2. Dramas & Distractions

   • Recognizing current distractions—social media, unnecessary drama, outside comments, or daily life—that can pull someone out of focus before a big event. (08:27)
   • Quote: “What drama or distraction is pulling you out of your center? Could be big or small...something someone said on social media or even just feeling sick one day.” — Stephanie (08:27)
   • Pulling “excuses” from this can help athletes (and anyone) own their narratives.

3. Belief Systems (BS)

   • Examine self-talk and beliefs entering competition: Are athletes holding themselves back with limiting beliefs or negative scripts?
   • Realize “stories” about expected finish order (e.g., “I’ll be third because of the hierarchy”) can become self-fulfilling barriers. (10:41)
   • Quote: “They have all these stories...and when you do that, of course it really skews your intention and desired outcome.” — Stephanie (11:08)
   • Focus: move from limiting beliefs to being present and open to positive outcomes.

4. Worst Case / Best Case Scenarios

   • Get worst case fears out into the open, neutralize them, and articulate the best case to create a trend toward emotional neutrality before performing. (15:21)
   • Practice: “Say it, write it, burn it, toss it behind—you have to get the worst case out. Then immediately go to best case...If you get to neutral, you’re ready.” — Stephanie (15:32)

Practical Application Beyond Sport

• Patrick frequently draws parallels between high-performance sport and business/life challenges: prepping for presentations, business deals, or navigating complex partnerships.
• "What's your podium?" Patrick asks listeners, reframing success as finding one's north star—Olympic medal or otherwise. (17:54)

The Role of Belief and Focus in Judged vs. Measured Sports

• Patrick prompts a reflection on whether judged sports (like ice dance) require more mental preparation than measured sports (like track). Stephanie asserts that the real barrier is always internal—not the judging system. (13:19)
• Quote: “Ultimately my goal is to make sure the athletes are coming down and competing against themselves and their best last performance.” — Stephanie (15:13)
• Reframing: The competition is always with oneself, regardless of the external measurement.

Partnerships — Lessons Beyond the Ice

• Ice dance teams are often not romantic couples, but must create intense, professional partnerships. This is likened to business relations—a “business of” partnership built on alignment, shared rules, and clear communication. (23:51)
  • Quote: “It's a conversation even if you're not saying anything. There’s body language, eye contact, touch, emotional connection...” — Stephanie (25:50)
  • The art and sport blend into what Stephanie calls a “spark.”

Mental Preparation — For Coaches & Everyone

Patrick turns the focus on Stephanie: how does a world-class coach prepare herself, especially when faced with sudden changes and personal sacrifices?

• Stephanie’s personal preparation involves journaling, meditation, intention-setting each morning, walking, and maintaining routine—even amidst chaos. She stresses consistency and organization.
• Quote: “I don’t get out of bed if I can’t shift my thoughts and energies to how I want my day to feel.” — Stephanie (26:28)
• She packs a “magic bag” for competitions, ensuring she’s ready for any athlete need, symbolizing her dual role as support and strategist. (29:18–31:27)
• She limits social media and curates positive content to keep mindset strong.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Incompletions are a precursor to procrastination... Life is just life. Just because they're world class athletes, it doesn’t mean the same rules don’t apply to them.” — Stephanie (05:04–07:05)
• “What drama and distraction is pulling you out of your center? Is it big or small?” — Stephanie (08:27)
• “The stories we tell ourselves about why we can’t be the best in the world... That’s just BS—a belief system.” — Stephanie (15:13)
• “The question I’d ask any listener is: what’s your podium?” — Patrick (17:54)
• “All sport and all life is a team sport—partnership comes down to conversation.” — Stephanie (26:06)
• “I spiritually pack my bag. ... I just spiritually connect to what it is I’m there to do and what my purpose is.” — Stephanie (29:18)

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|------------------------------------------| | 04:07 | Stephanie describes her coaching focus | | 05:04 | Step-by-step ‘barriers to the podium’ exercise introduced | | 08:27 | Dramas & distractions and their impact | | 10:41 | Unpacking limiting and hidden beliefs | | 15:21 | Worst-case/best-case scenario clearing | | 17:54 | Patrick: “What’s your podium?” | | 23:51 | Business partnerships vs. athletic partnerships | | 26:28 | Stephanie on her own prep rituals | | 29:18 | “Magic bag,” organization, and grounding |

Episode Tone & Style

The conversation is friendly, insightful, and laced with playful marital banter. Stephanie brings a warm, practical wisdom to psychological topics, while Patrick contextualizes everything for listeners—always drawing the line from Olympic ice to everyday life and business.

Takeaway: The Mindset Map to Your Podium

Whether you’re an elite athlete or a professional striving for excellence, the “barriers to the podium” framework can help clear your mental runway. Identify what’s unfinished, eliminate distractions, challenge the stories you tell yourself, and embrace both best and worst case possibilities. Above all, define your podium and prepare for it intentionally—step by step, event by event, day by day.