What comes to mind when you think of someone who pushes limits—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally? Grit. Clarity of purpose. A willingness to meet fear with curiosity, not avoidance. That's exactly who Dr. Jen Schumacher is.
Jen is a world-class mental performance coach whose work spans elite sport, the military, and academia. She's led mental training programs at West Point and Northwestern Football, and she's an ultra-endurance athlete who's literally swum through her fears—once across the 21-mile Catalina Channel, at night, with sharks below.
In this episode of Coaching Through Stories with Dr. Eric Bean, Jen shares how that swim became a turning point—a living lab for the tools she now teaches others. Together, they explore the role of fear, preparation, and self-talk in performance. You'll hear how discomfort can become a gateway to confidence, and how personal growth often mirrors professional growth in powerful ways.
Whether you're pursuing a bold goal, facing uncertainty, or simply curious about the mental side of high performance—this conversation is full of insight and inspiration.
Key Takeaways:
Fear can be trained for—not just tolerated; the power of fear statements and how to create them
How to ground yourself in purpose before a challenge
How physical preparation supports mental readiness
Reflection fuels growth—especially after setbacks: reframing fear through education, routines, and self-talk
Use your life as a performance lab
Highlights:
[2:21] Jen's journey from athlete to elite mental performance coach
[5:55] Why she returned to open water swimming and how it shaped her career
[8:04] Treating marathon swimming as a mental performance lab
[12:11] What is marathon swimming?
[14:20] Fear of sharks and how it mirrors other performance fears
[17:11] Keys to navigate fear
[19:14] "The shark you see isn't the one you need to worry about."
[20:05] More of fear statements that help Jen with marathon swimming
[24:50] Why mental rehearsal is critical for game-day performance
[28:43] Swimming with a Galapagos shark and putting fear training to the test
[33:16] The mindset of being self-competitive
[37:15] How to respond and manage failure?
[43:52] The skill of dealing with failure
[47:28] At the core of Jen's high-performance philosophy
[52:38] Great leadership is doing what is required for you in that moment
[55:18] A Reflection piece is an important part for high performers
[01:00:27] Being authentic and stretching your comfort zone when you are the only woman in the room
[01:04:50] Attributes necessary to be a great coach or business leader
[01:10:14] Reasons why taking credit for things taken for granted is important:
[01:10:23] Reason #1: It helps build our confidence
[01:10:48] Reason #2: It is easy to remember big wins. Give yourself credit for small wins.
[01:12:11] What is the reset routine?
[01:17:22] Difference between a coach and a consultant
Connect with Jen Schumacher:
Website: https://www.jenschumacher.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenschumacher
At HigherEchelon, we believe mental performance isn't just for elite athletes—it's for anyone striving to lead, grow, and perform at a higher level. If today's episode sparked something in you, and you're ready to strengthen your mindset, lead with purpose, or build a high-performing culture, our team is here to help.
Explore our executive coaching, leadership development workshops, and culture assessment solutions at HigherEchelon.com
