In this episode of Run With The Cheetahs, Russell welcomes back author Jerry Freishtat to explore one of the core pillars behind every high-performing life: mindset. They define mindset as the invisible operating system running in the background of your life, influencing how you think, act, lead, and recover from adversity.
Together they discuss:
- Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset, and why people with a growth mindset believe they have real input into their destiny while fixed-mindset thinkers feel controlled by outside forces.
- How we all carry multiple mindsets (about work, relationships, money, other people) and why this is actually good news—because mindsets are malleable.
- What Jerry learned from Carol Dweck’s research on children and the environments that either nurture creativity and initiative or stifle them.
Russell shares how Shad Helmstetter’s book What to Say When You Talk to Yourself reshaped his understanding of self-talk and the subconscious mind—and reads a deeply personal morning declaration he uses to reinforce the man he chooses to be every day. They contrast traditional affirmations with the idea that consistent, aligned actions may be the most powerful form of self-talk you can have.
A standout segment is their breakdown of Price Pritchett’s “5 C’s of Negative Thinking”:
- Complaining
- Criticizing
- Concern (worry)
- Commiserating
- Catastrophizing
They explain why, from a performance standpoint, your biggest gains often come not from adding more positive thinking, but from ruthlessly eliminating these five patterns from your daily life.
Other topics in this episode:
- The “cheetah mindset” and how elite performers think about bad days and failed attempts.
- Why talent is overrated without work ethic, resilience, and a growth-oriented frame of mind.
- How high achievers handle challenges, health issues, financial pressure, and family struggles—why the problems don’t disappear, but the response changes.
- Practical ways to start your day with intention (your “golden hour”) instead of defaulting to old mental habits.
- The importance of questioning your own thinking: “Why do I believe this? Why am I afraid of this risk? Where did this mindset come from?”
Jerry leaves listeners with this challenge: you can’t go back and create a new life, but you can start today to create a new ending. Your current mindset is not a life sentence.
Resources mentioned:
- Book: Run With The Cheetahs – the foundation for this podcast.
- Book: Mindset by Carol Dweck.
- Book: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by Shad Helmstetter.
New episodes release every two weeks. Explore additional articles and tools at runwiththecheetas.com.
Jerry Freishtat
CEO of Wealth Climber | Serial Entrepreneur | Investor | Advisory for Startup Entrepreneurs | Speaker | Author | Committed to innovation, growth, and making a positive impact on the world.
Russell Anderson
Founder, President ACS Creative; Marketing & Design (30+ years of growing brands; global and local)
Serial Entrepreneur, Forever Student of Business - and Life
Buy the Book and Audiobook!
Amazon Audiobook
https://a.co/d/jbuW7Bh
Amazon Book Purchase
https://a.co/d/7Kq3MrG
Intro/Outro Music Credit
Big Thanks to Michael Fath for the use of The Emerald Isle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hva33IEU3SY&list=RDHva33IEU3SY&start_radio=1
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The MeatEater Podcast
Building on the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, host Steven Rinella brings an in-depth and relevant look at all outdoor topics including hunting, fishing, nature, conservation, and wild foods. Filled with humor, irreverence, and things that will surprise the hell out of you, each episode welcomes a diverse group of guests who add their own expertise to the vast world of the outdoors. Part of The MeatEater Podcast Network.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.