Champion Mindset Basics

Doubt shows up like a whisper—protective, persistent, and often persuasive. We decided to meet it head-on by tracing how fear of failure and self-doubt take root, then we mapped a clear path to something sturdier: resilience, focused execution, and realistic optimism that sticks when life gets messy.

We start with the mental mechanics: how a burned cake or a failed launch can hardwire avoidance, and why negative self-talk multiplies when stakes feel high. From there, we build a practical bridge of nine habits—reconnecting with values, limiting social media, grounding in the present, stacking quick wins, acknowledging progress, using honest self-critique, practicing gratitude, prioritizing ongoing learning, and seeking therapy when patterns persist. Each step is small on purpose, designed to shrink friction and grow agency.

Then we dig into the three core pillars of a champion mindset. Resilience becomes a learnable skill, not a personality trait; it means feeling fully and recovering wisely. Focus turns aspiration into action with clarity, prioritization, and tools like Pomodoro and focus audio to protect attention. Positive thinking shifts from toxic cheerleading to realistic optimism: challenge distorted thoughts, look for solutions, celebrate progress, and curate inputs—news, people, sleep, and movement—to stabilize mood and sharpen decisions. Along the way, we share personal examples, simple tactics, and evidence-based practices that help you act before you “feel ready.”

If you’re navigating fear or second-guessing your next move, this conversation hands you a blueprint you can use today. Press play, choose one small action, and build proof that you can follow through. If the episode helps, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review to tell us the one fear you’ll face this week and the step you’ll take to move forward.

Chapters

• 0:00 Quote And Big Idea
• 0:53 Fear Of Failure Explained
• 3:40 Everyday Examples Of Fear
• 7:18 Defining Self Doubt
• 12:17 The Nine Bridge Practices
• 20:27 Resilience As A Learnable Skill
• 26:39 Mastering Focus With Tools

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Whether you think you can or you think you cannot, you're right. Harry Ford. Hi guys, my name is Fabio from Journey to Success and welcome. Today we're going to talk about how to have a champion's mindset. So we will discuss common mental barriers that prevent individuals from adopting a champion's mindset, such as fear of failure and self-doubt. Okay, we're gonna also explore key characteristics of a champion's mindset, including resilience, focus, and positive thinking. But before going forward, as always, please subscribe, alright? So I know this is the right direction to lead you guys, to drive you, to guide you towards your journey to success. So, first of all, let's talk about two common challenges: the fear of failure and self-doubt. Fear of failure. Let's talk about fear of failure first. Fear of failure often originates from past trauma, which in turn leads to self-doubt. Okay, so not always, but most of the times, self-doubt is a consequence of fear of failure. To have fear about failure, about failing. For example, if you ride a bicycle and have an accident, you may find it challenging to get back on the bike. Alright, so the trauma from the accident creates self-doubt. Why? Because you might think that you will fall again, you know, leading to a sparkling fear of failure in your ability to ride, guys. And we can extend this concept to other activities as well, such as backing. Imagine you invite people over for Christmas. Now Christmas is over, so I can talk about it. So imagine you invite people over for Christmas and your cake burns. So the experience can be traumatic, leading you to avoid backing again for Christmas because you know you fear making the same mistake. And the same fear applies to everything: to investing money, starting a business. If you fail, a voice inside you might say, Wait, wait, just a moment, you could fail again. Okay, as some people refer to this voice as a feeling or part of self-doubt. The truth is that this voice draws from your past attempts and influences your future. And while it is possible to succeed on a second attempt, of course, failure may also emerge, you know? And the truth is that it is possible, it can emerge. But if you fail, it simply means you need to learn more through various mistakes. That's it. Before reaching your goals, of course. The challenge, unfortunately, is that when you try again and still do not succeed, that's not a challenge. The challenge is the fact that self-doubt can become even stronger in your mind. And this can be a problem for you, you know. So let's talk about the second monster, you know, in this uh in this episode. Self-doubt. So the question is, what is self-doubt? Self-doubt is a lack of confidence in your own skills, decisions, and values, leading to uncertainty about your capabilities and choices. Okay, so it frequently shows up as a negative self-dialogue, an unsight about failing, procrastination, and a continuous cycle of self-questioning. So self-doubt can arise from a fear of failure, as we say it, arising from past experiences that may have been traumatic for you. But additionally, it can be fueled by negative childhood experiences, such as criticism and lack of acknowledgement, as well as perfectionism, you know, constant social comparison, especially online, judgment, significant setbacks, imposter syndrome, and even overprotective parenting. But before reaching a champion's mindset, right, marked by resilience, focus, and positive thinking. What is the bridge basically that connect the fear of failure and self-doubt to these three fundamental successful course? So resilience, focus, and positive thinking. There are nine points epic from choosing therapy.com. And in my opinion, these nine points are a bridge, literally a bridge between uh fear of failure, self-doubt, resilience, focus, and positive thinking. And we're gonna explore them together with my insight, my experience, and my knowledge. So the first point that is part of these uh nine factors inside, let's say, uh, this metaphorical bridge. So the first point is um the fact that you have to remember your value. It's essential to understand why you are doing what you are doing, guys. All right, so reflect on your motivations, that's very important. I'm gonna give you an exp an example. I I almost didn't want to write and record this episode because I've been busy fixing the house since we bought an old house, and there is still something to renovate after two years, and I'm planning my family vacation to the Netherlands, managing Christmas preparation since I wrote this episode in December, and growing my business. But yet I need to remember what drives me to write and speak to you. Okay, these are my values, my values are very important, and this is the reason uh why, even if in the most difficult moments or busiest moment of the year, I'm still here talking with you. Number two, limit social media. While social media can provide a quick energy boost, you know, it can also leave you feeling drained. And in my opinion, actually, it can be linked to a digital addiction, a tech drug. So it's important to acknowledge this and limit your social media usage. Number three, ground yourself, focus on the present, guys. So concentrate on the small steps in a way to in a way to to reach your future with success, you know, but only if you think and if you are focused on the present. Why it is important though to you know to to acknowledge your future, acknowledge the steps that you have to do in your future, it's fundamental to be in the present, right? It's one of the mistakes that I do over and over again. Sometimes I'm too much focused on the future, meanwhile, I should be more grounded in the present, you know. Number four, engage in activities that provide a sense of accomplishment. So I know that a long-term project sometimes can be exhausting, most of the times can be exhausting. For example, in my case, as a podcaster, success can come slowly, slowly because of the due to the algorithm limitations. There is not a real algorithm when we talk about podcasting and also limited alternative growth methods, you know. It's not like uh Instagram. Uh doing podcasting is not like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube. So, how can I say it can become very I can be very I can become very exhausting if I don't do correctly, but especially if I don't engage in activities both professionally and personally, that can easily lead to a sense of satisfaction and help me advance in my personal development. Alright. For example, right now I have also my club, my journey to success club, you know, on Soupstack. And is uh a publication website slash social media that can give me a sense of satisfaction since it's faster than the sense of satisfaction that may give me a making podcast. So you should do the same. You should always find activities that can accomplish yourself, you know. Number five, acknowledge your accomplishment. So carry that energy from the things you have achieved, especially the ones that were easy and quick to complete, all right? Positive memories, guys, linked with these accomplishments can be a great motivator, a very wonderful motivator. Number six, remember you are the biggest critic. So you have to be honest with yourself about your projects, you have to be honest with yourself about your actions, about your capabilities. Only by doing this can you identify areas for improvement and make things better. In uh I don't remember if it was the previous episode anyway. Um I mean, maybe one or two or three episodes ago, we talked about how much is important to acknowledge your limits, you know, because the moment you acknowledge your limits is the moment where you can uh find better ways to improve yourself. Number seven, practice gratitude. There is always, there is always something to be grateful for, even in the most difficult moments, okay? Search for these things. You might be surprised at how easy it is to find them, I promise you. Number eight, identify personal opportunities for growth. In today's world, guys, resources like books, videos, Google, AI, and articles are easily accessible. Knowledge is free in this era, so you you need to take advantage from it. So do not under uh underestimate the importance of ongoing learning. Okay, so that's very important. And number nine, the last uh uh factor consider working with a therapist. If self-doubt and fear of failure persist in holding you back, guys, seeking help from a therapist can be beneficial, can be incredibly beneficial. So these steps can help you bridge the gap from fear of failure and self-doubt to resilience, focus, positive mindset. So now finally, let's talk about these three cores. So the first one is resilience. Alright, let's talk about resilience first. Resilience is basically the ability to reflect and adapt when life gets tough, whether it's dealing with stress, challenges, or even traumatic events. So it's not about avoiding difficult feelings or situations, guys, but instead about using healthy ways to manage and finding support from others to work through emotional pain and come out stronger on the other side. Okay. And here we have different keys to resilience. We have a positive change in growth. At its heart, resilience means being able to adapt simply to tough experiences which can help you grow as a person. So instead of simply returning to how things were, resilience helps you handle future problems better. Okay, a learnable skill. Resilience is not just a quality. You can learn and you can improve over time, all right? So with practice and the right support, anyone can develop resilience, guys. Influences, how well someone manages with difficulties can depend on their personal qualities, guys, like being optimistic or good at solving problems. It can also depend on the help they get from friends, family, and the community around them, okay? Feeling emotions, even resilient people feel negative emotions like suddenness or anger, guys. I mean, they're no robots. The key difference is that they manage these feelings better so they don't become too overwhelming, you know, and they can they can control their emotions better. And this allows them to stay focused, especially, and finding solution and moving forward. Now we have the second core. Second core is focus, so focusing on what matters. Stay focused, guys, is essential for achieving your goals. Alright, it helps you channel your energy in an effective way. Avoiding distractions, setting clear priorities, and uh creating actionable steps. Think of it like breaking big tasks into smaller ones, you know what I mean? It's also important to believe in yourself and celebrate small achievement along the way to keep your momentum going. So that's also very important. All of this leads to clearer thinking and better results. The key ideas for staying focused are clarity, of course. Understand your specific goals, all right? Make sure they are clear and achievable, like setting uh SMART goals, SMART, specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time bound, and envisioning your long-term plans. Okay. We will talk about the smart concept, the SMART concept in the next episode, so you you have a better idea about what I'm talking about. Number two, eliminate distractions, cut down and interruptions, such as phone notifications, you know, social media, and try to avoid doing multiple things at once. Okay, it's also that is very important. Number three, prioritizing, prioritize. So identify the single most important task to dive into each day or week that helps you get closer to your goal. Number four, take actionable steps. So break down larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks, guys. All right, this can help you stay motivated to finish what you start. And number five, number five, believe in yourself. Believe in yourself, keep a strong belief in your potential and visualize your goals to maintain your motivations. Okay. Now, I've noticed that I struggle with focus as well. And I want to share something that has really helped me. And I want to say this is not a promotion, by the way. I use Brain.fm. Brain.fm it's very good. It's a neuroscience-based audio platform designed to help your brain enter specific mental states, you know, enter inside the flow zone. And these mental states are like selected via app, such as focus, relax, sleep, deep work. And this platform is good. It's good if you're strong with concentration. Sorry, if you have ADHD. So, I mean, we have methods outside there, you know. You just need to look at better. But also, this app, I mean, it's maybe 50 or something per year. I don't remember now. But let's say that you don't want to pay. I'm sure you can find these alternatives even for free, you know. But even the same Pomodoro technique is good to be in focus, to manage your brakes. We've already discussed the Pomodoro technique in the past in some episode for an anchoring focus, but it was so such a long time ago. And I think I would like to revisit this uh you know this technique uh this month so we can uh we can see again. And in the end, we have the last core to achieve a champion mindset, guys, is the positive thinking. Positive thinking is all about finding the bright side, you know, the light, even during tough times. And here are some easy ways to practice it. So the first point of let's say being positive is the fact to be focused on gratitude, you know, spend just a few minutes, no, not even that much, a few minutes each day think about, you know, or writing down things you are thankful for. And this simple habit, guys, can help you feel more positive. Number two, use positive affirmations. Start your day by saying kind things to yourself, okay? Treat yourself like you would treat a close friend, guys. It's very, very nice. Number three, be mindful, take a moment to notice your feelings without judging them, guys. Try to stay present and enjoy the moment. And number four, limit negativity. Be careful, be careful about the the environment outside. We are so connected right now with the world. And it is a positive thing, of course, but also a negative thing if you don't know how to manage your emotions. So be careful about the news you you watch, or even the people you hang out with, you know. Surround yourself with a positive environment and supportive friends, guys, right? So limit negativity. And number five, stay active as well. Taking care of your body through exercise and good sleep. And I tell you, this has is gonna have a good, great impact on your mood, okay? Even small steps can. Count guys, okay, remember that. And when negative thoughts show up, here's what you can do: challenge negative thoughts. Ask yourself if those thoughts are true or just assumptions. Replace them with more balanced positive thoughts, guys. Number two, look for solutions. So instead of just worrying about problems, focus on finding solutions, guys. Okay. Number three, learn from mistakes. So treat failures as chances to learn instead of seeing them as weaknesses. And number four, imagine success. Okay, picture yourself reaching your goals. This can help boost your confidence. And lastly, to keep a positive active, try these tips. Number one, celebrate your progress. So take time to recognize and reward yourself for even the small things you achieve. You know, in a couple of episodes ago, we talked about the fact that I finally achieved my first result in terms of uh monetization, but I uh in my brain I expect a different feeling and I was a little bit in a bug, all right? And but the truth is that I was still too much focus uh on the future, I was still too much focus on how I could do better, and this is wrong, guys. Uh sometimes you need to stop yourself, you need to stop whatever you're doing and celebrate your progress, okay? Number two, build a supportive network, connect with people who inspire and motivate you. Okay. Number three, be open to change. So understand that it's okay to feel negative emotions sometimes. It's okay. So learn how to work through them without letting them take control. That's the most important thing overall. And by practice these habits and mindset, you can train your brain to be more optimistic and resilient in everyday life. So I hope I hope I was clear uh to make sure that you understand how you can achieve a champion's mindset. Now guys, before we wrap up, all right, let's take a moment to slow down and really highlight and understand more deeply what we talk about today. First of all, we started from a very simple idea captured perfectly by Henry Ford's quote. Whether you think you can or you think you cannot, you're right. And the reason this is so powerful is that it shows how much our mindset influences not only our actions, guys, but also the results we create in our lives. We also focused on the two main obstacles that prevent people from developing a champion's mindset: fear of failure and self-doubt. So we saw that fear of failure often arises from past experiences, even small ones, and that those moments can stay in our memory and influence our future decisions. And in this case, it it is also hard to achieve a champion's mindset, of course, especially when something similar comes again and again, you know, comes up again and again. And closely connect to this, there is a self-doubt which we define as a lack of trust in our own abilities and decisions. We talk about how self-doubt can show up as a negative self-talk, hesitation, anxiety, procrastination, and the constant self-questioning. And we also saw that self-doubt doesn't come from a single source, guys, but from many different factors such as past failures, criticism, comparison, perfectionism, you know, and even childhood experiences. And after identifying these two challenges, we asked an important question. How do we move from fear and self-doubt toward a champion mindset? That's where we introduce the nine practical points that help build, let's say, a bridge, you know, between where we are and where we want to be. Where we want to be mentally, especially. So we talk about the importance of remembering your values and your why, limiting social media and constant comparison, grounding yourself in the present moment and engaging in activities that give you a sense of accomplishment, you know. We also discuss acknowledging your achievements, being honest with yourself, practicing gratitude, continuing to learn, recognizing when professional help, such as a therapy, can be a powerful, a powerful support. And honestly, as we said before, none of these steps is meant to eliminate fear or self-doubt completely, you know, but that shouldn't be your aim either. It's more to reduce their control over your actions and decisions, okay? And then finally, we explore the three core elements of a champion's mindset. So the first core is resilience, right? So we define resilience as the ability to reflect, adapt, and persist, even when life becomes difficult. So resilience doesn't mean that you don't feel negative emotions, guys. It means that you learn to manage them in a healthy way. So they don't stop you from uh moving forward, you know. We also highlighted the that resilience is not something you either have or don't, you know, it's it's a skill, and it's a skill that can be learned and developed over time. And the second point, the second core is the focus. So we talk about focus. Focus allows you to direct your energy toward what truly matters. So instead of you know spread spreading it across distraction, and it is very important. It's very important to be ground. So we we we discussed about priority, breaking big goals into smaller steps, believing in yourself during the process as well. So we also mentioned practical tools as the Pomodoro Technique, you know, background focused music about this app that I like Brain.fm. And this, of course, is an these are optional supports, you know, that help train your attention and improve concentration. But they're important, they're tools, you know, that we have in this era. So then why don't you why why not thinking to use them? And finally, lastly, we looked at positive thinking. So positive thinking is not about ignoring reality or pretending that everything that everything is fine, you know. It's more about learning to reframe situations, guys, challenge negative thoughts, and also look for solutions rather than uh staying stuck in fear. It's about practicing gratitude, guys, being mindful, surrounding yourself with supportive people, you know, and understanding that mistakes are part of grow, but not proof of failure. So if we put everything together, the key message of today, what is it? What is the key message of today's episode is that a champion mindset is not something you're born with. Okay, it's not something you achieve overnight. It doesn't work like that. It's something you build intentionally, guys, day by day, through awareness, through small actions, through consistency. So today, yeah, we may experience doubt. Today you may still face fear, very enough. But these moments don't define your path. You have to remember that. So I invite you to take a moment after this episode to reflect on one small action you can take, even if fears of doubt is still present, right? Because progress doesn't come from uh waiting until you feel ready, it doesn't work like that, it's a lie, but from moving forward despite uncertainty, and now I want to hear from you. So, again, what is one fear or doubt you are currently facing in your life? What is it, and uh what is one small action you are taking or you could take to move forward, you know, regardless? You can send me a message, share your story, or connect with me on Substack. I genuinely enjoy reading your reflections and learn learning from your experiences. And if you enjoyed today's episode, guys, don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss future conversations like this. And if this episode could help someone in your life who's struggling with self-doubt or fear of failure, please, please share it with them. Alright, sometimes a simple reminder is all someone needs to take the next step. Thank you so much for spending this time with me on Journey to Success. Remember, we're not chasing perfection, we we don't do that. We're building resilience, focus, and clarity, guys. One step at a time. I'll see you in the next episode. Cheers.