Mental Toughness and Leading with Vision: Dr. Dave Jones Unpacks Vision-Driven Leadership

Seek Go Create - The Leadership Journey for Christian Entrepreneurs and Faith-Driven Leaders

What does it really take to lead with vision in a world overflowing with distractions? In this episode of Seek Go Create, host Tim Winders sits down with Dr. Dave Jones—former pro hockey player, elite performance coach, sport psychologist, and founder of M is Good—to explore the link between mental toughness, authentic identity, and purposeful leadership. Discover how the R7 Vision Framework can help you find clarity, build resilience, and align your mission with lasting impact. Whether you’re an athlete, leader, or anyone hungry for deeper purpose, this conversation will challenge and inspire you to plan, act, and truly win where it matters most.

"Plan to win: when you start writing stuff down and thinking about things, it just speaks to you."

— Dr. Dave Jones

Access all show and episode resources HERE

About Our Guest:

Dr. Dave Jones is a renowned coach and consultant specializing in mental performance for elite athletes, executives, and ministry leaders. With a doctorate in sport and performance psychology, Dr. Jones draws on his experience as a former professional hockey player in Europe and his extensive career coaching high achievers. He is the founder of M is Good, a marketing agency focused on Kingdom Purpose, creator of the R7 Vision Framework for mission-driven leadership, and author of "Vision Wins: Seven Strategies for Mental Toughness in Life and Sports." Dr. Jones is also the host of the R7 Podcast, where he equips leaders to align vision with eternal impact and excel in spiritual and mental disciplines.

Reasons to Listen:

1. Discover the R7 Vision Framework: Dr. Dave Jones breaks down his unique model for aligning leadership, mission, and faith—a strategy he’s refined through working with elite athletes, executives, and ministries.
2. Real Talk on Mental Toughness: Hear why mental toughness isn’t just for athletes, and learn actionable ways to plan for success in both business and life—even when pressure and setbacks hit.
3. Identity Beyond Achievement: Explore powerful, personal stories about winning, loss, and finding lasting identity, as Dr. Jones explains the difference between chasing external success and living out purpose with Kingdom impact.

Episode Resources & Action Steps:

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

1. Vision Wins: Seven Strategies for Mental Toughness in Life and Sports – Book by Dr. Dave Jones, mentioned and discussed throughout the episode. Available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
2. M is Good – Dr. Dave Jones’ marketing agency focused on Kingdom Purpose. Website: misgood.com
3. R7 Podcast – Hosted by Dr. Dave Jones, where he shares more about leadership, vision, and performance.

Action Steps for Listeners:

1. Evaluate Your Identity: Reflect on where you’re placing your identity—is it in achievements, titles, or material things, or is it grounded in something deeper? Consider journaling about who you are beyond what you do.
2. Plan to Win: Take Dr. Dave’s advice—start writing down your goals and plans, even if they aren’t perfect. “If you don’t have a plan, you’re planning to lose.” Creating a vision for your life or work, and focusing on the process over the outcome, helps build mental toughness.
3. Assess Your Mental Toughness: Honestly ask yourself if you perform well under pressure. If not, explore resources like Dr. Dave’s book or podcast, and commit to practices (such as mindfulness, prayer, or process-oriented thinking) that develop resilience and high-level performance.

Key Lessons:

1. Vision Goes Beyond Performance or Titles - Dr. Dave Jones emphasized the importance of separating who you are from what you do. True identity isn’t rooted in titles, accomplishments, or material success, but in deeper values—especially in faith and purpose. Vision serves as a compass for life and leadership, helping you rise above identity crises rooted in external achievements.
2. Mental Toughness Is Built, Not Born - Dave’s definition of mental toughness—"playing or performing at the upper ranges of your ability consistently under pressure in the biggest moments"—shows it’s not an innate quality, but a skill that can be practiced and developed. Writing things down, planning, and reflecting on one’s emotions under pressure are essential steps to building resilience in sports, business, and life.
3. Process Over Outcome - Dr. Jones highlighted the importance of focusing on the process instead of obsessing over results. High performers, whether in sports or business, perform best when they stay present, trust their preparation, and focus on the details, rather than getting overwhelmed by the pressure to win or succeed.
4. Faith as a Foundation—Not a Formula - Faith played a central role in Dave’s journey, but he underscored that it’s about relationship, not perfection or religious rituals. Being a follower of Christ informs how he approaches leadership, decision-making, and setbacks, reminding us that spiritual and mental disciplines go hand-in-hand for true impact.
5. Excellence Is Doing Your Best With What You Have - Dave defined excellence as “doing the best you can with the current resources available to you in this moment.” It’s not about comparison, perfection, or external validation, but about stewarding what you have faithfully and pushing yourself to grow—regardless of circumstances or stage in life.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Introduction and Importance of Planning

00:42 Meet Dr. Dave Jones

01:39 The Many Names of Dr. Dave

04:35 Identity and Vision

10:15 Journey to Faith

13:23 Mental Toughness in Sports

20:12 The Pressure of Success

24:01 Real-World Example: Rory McIlroy

28:55 Peaks and Valleys in Life

31:09 Starting a Marketing Ministry

31:39 Early Struggles and Faith Challenges

32:55 Doubt and Determination

34:46 The Hallway of Opportunities

36:47 Financial Crisis and Trusting the Lord

39:44 Transition to Coaching and Psychology

47:34 Challenges with Christian Businesses

51:03 Vision Wins: The Book

57:39 Encouragement for Mental Toughness

Resources for Leaders from Tim Winders & SGC:

🎙 Unlock Leadership Excellence with Tim

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A Final Challenge: Redefine Success with Coach

Before you sign off, here’s a powerful invitation from Tim: If you’ve been inspired by the stories on Seek Go Create, take the next step with his novel, Coach: A Story of Success Redefined. It’s a transformative journey that invites leaders to rethink success and align their lives with faith, purpose, and peace. Get your copy today at TimWinders.com.

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