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- Week 4: Build the Mindset of a GOAT
Parents, this week’s topic is one of the most powerful tools I’ve ever used with the athletes I coach, because it changed my life first.
We’re talking about building an Alter Ego.
And no, I’m not talking about pretending or being fake.
I’m talking about unlocking a part of your athlete that already lives inside them—the version of themselves that’s fierce, focused, confident, and fearless under pressure.
Why the Alter Ego Works
Whether it’s game day or practice, the moment an athlete starts overthinking, second-guessing, or worrying about mistakes… they lose presence. They lose power.
But when they flip the switch and step into their Alter Ego, they tap into something different:
✅ Mental clarity
✅ Emotional control
✅ Unshakable belief
✅ Peak performance
This isn’t just motivational fluff.
This is science-backed mental performance.
Todd Herman, author of The Alter Ego Effect, has done the research. His work has impacted elite athletes, military leaders, and CEOs. And I’m proud to say I’ve studied under his program and now bring these tools to the athletes and families I work with.
Real Athletes. Real Alter Egos.
You’ve seen this in action, even if you didn’t realize it.
Kobe Bryant didn’t just play basketball—he became the Black Mamba. The Black Mamba wasn’t just some marketing ploy. It was created and crafted to perfection so Kobe could be the best he could. Cold. Ruthless. Locked in. That identity wasn’t who he was at home or in interviews. It was who he chose to be when he stepped on the court.
Bo Jackson, one of the most dominant multi-sport athletes ever, referred to his alter ego simply as “Bo”. He would tell himself, “This is the guy that shows up to destroy.” Oddly enough, he would look to channel Jason Vorhees from Friday the 13th to use on the field. Someone who just wouldn’t stop and was cold and calculating, the way some NFL stars need to play.
Beyoncé, although not an athlete, famously used her alter ego Sasha Fierce to help her overcome shyness on stage—stepping into a fearless, empowered persona when it was time to perform.
These aren’t gimmicks. These are performance strategies grounded in neuroscience.
Why It Matters for Your Athlete
Many of the young athletes I work with feel like they’re carrying two worlds—what’s happening at school or home, and what’s expected of them in sports.
An Alter Ego allows them to create mental separation between those worlds.
To be exactly who they need to be in the moment.
It gives them permission to let go of doubt and fear and show up as their most powerful self when it matters most.
What It Looks Like
When we build an Alter Ego in coaching, we go deep:
Who does your athlete need to be to dominate in their role?
What qualities must they step into on game day?
What’s the name and identity of this powerful version of themselves?
What song, movement, or phrase will “flip the switch” into that mode?
We build this version with intention, so that when it's time to compete, they don’t hope to feel ready.
They know exactly who is showing up.
What to Expect from Coach Dave
This is one of the most exciting parts of my mental performance work—because I’ve seen it change the game for so many athletes.
If your son or daughter struggles with confidence, fear of failure, inconsistency, or pressure... the Alter Ego strategy might be exactly what they need to break through.
In my coaching programs, I guide athletes step-by-step through this process. It’s not about putting on a mask—it’s about bringing out their inner superhero when it matters most.
👟 If you want to explore this for your athlete, I’d love to talk.
Let’s schedule a free 20-minute call to walk through how we can unlock this powerful tool for your child.
Let’s help them step into the version of themselves they were born to become.
– Coach Dave