Adam Carter

Helping athletes not obsess over results & change their definition of success

High-performance coach with @cepmindset

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

The loudest voice in your head isn't always the wisest one.

That quiet whisper, your instincts, is usually right more often that not.

As an athlete, learning to hear it over the noise might be your biggest edge.

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

Elite athletes achieve something big, then immediately feel they must prove they deserve it.

But getting it was the proof.

Stop the infinite regress of proving the proof. You're not here to convince anyone - you already did.

Now just perform like someone who belongs.

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

Your practice doesn't transfer because you're training execution but competition demands creation.

You're not a machine running a program. You're an artist creating something that never existed before.

Stop trying to reproduce. Start creating with what's in front of you.

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

Just worked with an athlete who felt guilty being relaxed while everyone grinds. But he performs better loose. Forcing intensity destroyed his game.

This is "bad faith" - living someone else's way instead of your own.

Sakic was relaxed. Messier was all intensity.

Both won.

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

Motivation is overrated. Discipline is worse.

Discipline without wanting to be there = suffering.

LeBron year 22 wasn't discipline. It was love.

You can only be consistent with something you don't hate.

Stop glorifying discipline. Start asking if you even want to be here.

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

Jealousy is just information.

You're jealous of their recruitment? You want recognition.

Jealous of their performance? You want to be at that level.

Jealous of their confidence? You want that for yourself.

The jealousy shows you what you actually want.

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

Most athletes aren't afraid of losing.. they're afraid of trying their hardest and finding out it's not enough.

So they self-sabotage because "I didn't really try" gives them an excuse to fail.

Stop hiding in "what if." Go find out.

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

Athletes spend hours training your body but zero time examining their beliefs.

"I'm just not clutch" - where'd you learn that?

You decided it after 2 bad games and spent 3 years collecting evidence.

You don't have a talent problem. You have a belief problem.

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

The best athletes I work with are almost bored during competition.

Not because they don't care - but because they've made the big moment feel familiar, not special.

Your best performance doesn't come from being hyped and locked in.

It feels like Tuesday.

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

Most athletes have a routine that is too fragile.

They miss one step of their routine and convince themselves they can't perform.

Meanwhile the best pitcher in baseball scrolls his phone for an hour before training.

You're not so bad that everything has to be perfect.

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

If you're a 3rd liner - what are 3 things you focus on each shift?

And if you get moved to the 1st line, those things don't change, right?

No matter where in the lineup you are, your job doesn't actually chance

Stop overvaluing the lineup and start appreciating your role

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

The best athletes don’t just reset after a bad play, but after their good ones too

Staying centered means getting away from low confidence AND overconfidence

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

Telling an athlete to calm down is like telling an F1 car to slow its engine…

Completely defeats the purpose of performing

Instead athletes should focus on playing anchored - having a cue or action that helps them be present in high-stakes situations

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

The best mistake an athlete can make is the one that forces them to change

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

Imposter syndrome doesn’t have to be a flaw

It can be a signal that you’re about to level up

Instead of doubting your place to be there… discover what skill this new place is pushing onto you

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

Aggression + emotion = chaos

Aggression + steady emotion = dominate

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

Nothing positive comes from a negative mindset.

But nothing positive also doesn't come from a positive mindset.

The only positive outcome is having a centred & realistic mindset... where you see both sides of the coin and choose your path.

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

For athletes to truly get over mistakes, follow these 3 steps to interrupt your brain's pattern:

1) Name the mistake... don't try and forget about it
2) Pick a physical action to reset... don't just stand there
3) One cue moving forward... don't just think about the past

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

Athletes are only confident once they are willing to be imperfect.

Confidence isn’t a feeling that you chase.. but rather a memory you create from bouncing back, giving it your all even when you’re not at 100%, or picking up the pieces after a bad start.

[Adam Carter @CoachAdamCarter]

I always try to help athlete shift from "locking in" to "dropping in"

Locking in means you are trying to be 100% focused, no distractions, no nerves... not realistic

Dropping in is all about being present, aware, and ready to handle anything that might throw you off