“10,000 Hours is a Myth” | “Stress Isn’t the Enemy — It’s a Training Partner” | Dr Alex Auerbach on Coaching Mental Skills

Most people train their bodies. The best train their minds. NFL and NBA psychologist Dr. Alex Auerbach joins Nick Standlea to reveal how elite performers stay calm under pressure, turn nerves into fuel, and master stress instead of fighting it.

Whether you’re an athlete, founder, or coach, this conversation will change the way you think about focus, resilience, and performance.

🎯 What You’ll Learn

• How stress can enhance performance instead of killing it

• The myth of 10,000 hours — and what actually builds mastery

• Why a “fixed” mindset isn’t always bad

• How to stop youth sports burnout before it starts

• The self-talk rituals that world champions use

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Watch more interviews on The Nick Standlea Show: 🎥 https://www.youtube.com/@TheNickStandleaShow

Connect with Alex Auerbach:

• Website: https://www.alexauerbach.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexauerbachphd/

• X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/AlexAuerbachPhD

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexauerbachphd

🕒 Chapters

00:00 Introduction — What separates good from great performers 01:15 Meet Dr. Alex Auerbach — NBA, NFL and elite military psychologist 03:10 From football coach to sports psychologist 07:30 Inside the Toronto Raptors and Jacksonville Jaguars mental programs 10:20 How elite athletes train their minds for focus and control 14:45 The four levels of mental performance training 18:00 Why stress is neither good nor bad — it’s your body preparing to act 22:10 Regulating energy — what to do when you’re too amped up or too flat 26:25 Individualizing mental skills for different players 29:40 How coaches should respond when kids get over-stimulated 33:00 Preventing burnout and the truth about early specialization 37:20 The myth of 10,000 hours and why it’s a story, not a rule 41:35 Turning nerves into excitement — the science of stress mindsets 47:00 Team chemistry and connection — why touch and breathing matter 51:10 Ronaldo’s self-talk and how pros build confidence on command 56:30 The “confidence résumé” — training your brain to remember wins 01:01:10 How to coach mistakes without creating shame 01:05:45 The case for a fixed mindset — balance, identity and earned belief 01:10:30 Closing thoughts — using psychology to thrive under pressure

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