What happens when your child is doing the right thing—but other people still misunderstand them?

In Episode 163 of High Performance Parenting, Greg Francis continues his Champion Mindset conversation with his daughter Crissy, exploring a powerful distinction:

Your reputation is what other people think you are.
Your character is who you really are.

Crissy shares honestly about being intense, competitive, and committed to working hard—and how not everyone around her appreciates that.

Instead of shrinking herself to gain approval, she’s learning to stay focused on becoming the person she knows she wants to be.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How to teach kids the difference between character and reputation
• Why approval can become a dangerous measuring stick
• Helping children stay true to their values when others criticize them
• Why hard work can make other people uncomfortable
• Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset in sports and life
• Why parents should reward growth and habits—not only results
• Helping kids process disappointment without letting it define them
• What to do when your child gives everything and still loses
• How parents can support a child through setbacks
• Why effort and character matter long after trophies are forgotten

One of the strongest lessons in the episode is that parents shouldn’t only celebrate the child who finishes first. Greg explains that he was equally proud of both daughters in a recent tournament because both worked hard and grew—even though only one could win.

Crissy also opens up about the emotional challenge of sitting out competition while working on recovery, even when she knew it was the right long-term decision.

Your kids won’t always control what people think about them.

But they can control who they become.

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• (00:00) - Character vs. Reputation
• (00:39) - Intro
• (01:41) - What Is Challenging Chrissy Most?
• (01:51) - Embracing Hard Work Without a Victim Mindset
• (02:59) - Growth Is Still a Blessing
• (04:29) - Character Matters More Than Reputation
• (05:51) - Stop Building Your Identity Around Approval
• (06:54) - Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
• (08:09) - Reward Growth, Not Just Results
• (09:33) - What Chrissy Wishes Her Parents Understood
• (09:37) - Sitting Out When You Want to Compete
• (11:42) - Processing a Painful Loss
• (14:17) - Preparing for a Healthy Season
• (14:34) - How Parents Can Support Their Kids
• (15:53) - Effort Matters More Than the Trophy

What is your child saying to themselves when they make a mistake?

“I’m terrible at this.”

“I’ll never get it.”

“Maybe I’m just not talented enough.”

Those statements may sound harmless in the moment—but repeated negative self-talk can begin shaping what a child believes about themselves.

In Episode 162 of High Performance Parenting, Greg Francis continues his Champion Mindset conversation with his daughter Crissy as they explore the connection between self-talk, mental toughness, preparation, discipline, and performance.

Crissy openly shares that she can be her own worst critic and has had to intentionally change the way she speaks to herself on the tennis court and in everyday life.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why champions aren't simply born with stronger minds
• How mental toughness can be intentionally developed
• Why negative self-talk affects performance
• How children unintentionally reinforce limiting beliefs
• What athletes can say after mistakes instead of attacking themselves
• Why discipline now prevents regret later
• How physical preparation and mental preparation work together
• Why children need to focus on what they can control
• How to help kids stop comparing their circumstances to others
• Why becoming champion-minded requires changing daily habits

Crissy explains that instead of reacting to a mistake with frustration, she's learning to respond with thoughts such as “It wasn't my best, but it was closer.” That seemingly small shift helps her remain in a productive mental state rather than spiraling into criticism.

Greg also shares an important warning:

Your subconscious starts believing what you repeatedly tell it.

That's why helping kids develop healthy, truthful, productive self-talk is about much more than sports.

It's preparing them for life.

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• (00:00) - Your Subconscious Believes Your Words
• (00:41) - Intro
• (01:22) - Special Guest & Family Update
• (02:01) - Visiting the Sequoias
• (03:25) - Tennis Tournament Update
• (05:42) - Champions Build Different Habits
• (06:07) - Training a Champion Mindset
• (07:08) - The Pain of Discipline vs. Regret
• (08:49) - Retooling Your Skills
• (09:29) - Changing Negative Self-Talk
• (10:42) - The Inner Game of Performance
• (12:12) - When Thinking Too Much Hurts Performance
• (13:09) - How Negative Words Program Your Mind
• (14:22) - You Speak Your Reality
• (15:10) - Stop Comparing Your Circumstances
• (15:32) - Turn Weakness Into an Advantage
• (16:15) - Habits That Create Champions

Are champions born with something the rest of us don't have—or can a champion mindset be built?

In Episode 161 of High Performance Parenting, Greg Francis sits down again with his daughter Crissy to talk about her mindset journey as she prepares for her junior tennis season.

After experiencing injuries, heartbreaking losses, difficult matches, and opponents with more natural ability, Crissy has discovered something powerful: Talent alone doesn't determine how far you go.

Mindset matters.

Preparation matters.

Discipline matters.

Mental toughness matters.

And your choices matter.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How to help kids turn disappointment into fuel
• Why hard work can overcome natural talent
• The difference between positive thinking and mental toughness
• Why young athletes need to train their minds AND bodies
• How to stop turning setbacks into a victim story
• Why having a compelling vision changes daily habits
• Teaching children to pursue excellence when nobody is watching
• How parents can create environments that encourage kids to stretch themselves
• Why failure can become preparation for future success

Crissy shares how losing just short of her goals didn't cause her to quit—it made her ask how she could get better. She also explains how injuries are becoming part of her story of toughness rather than an excuse for where she hasn't yet arrived.

Your child doesn't have to be the most naturally gifted person in the room.

Teach them to prepare, work, persevere, learn, and choose to become better.

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#HighPerformanceParenting #ChampionMindset #ChristianParenting #YouthSports #MentalToughness

• (00:00) - Hard Work Beats Talent
• (00:28) - Intro
• (01:10) - Chrissy's Tennis Mindset Journey
• (02:40) - Are Champions Born Different?
• (03:06) - You're Born a Chooser
• (04:30) - Turning Disappointment Into Fuel
• (05:41) - Chrissy's Brutal District Tournament
• (07:14) - Outworking Natural Talent
• (08:20) - Training Skill and Mindset
• (09:37) - Stop Making Setbacks Your Victim Story
• (10:18) - What Is a Champion Mindset?
• (12:01) - Creating a Vision Worth Chasing
• (13:09) - The Habits Behind Big Goals
• (14:10) - Creating an Environment Where Kids Excel
• (15:33) - When Parenting Lessons Become Their Habits
• (16:32) - What Champions Do When No One Is Watching
• (16:54) - Helping Young Athletes Build Mental Toughness

Why do so many teenagers look confident on the outside while struggling with insecurity on the inside?

In Episode 160 of High Performance Parenting, Greg Francis sits down with his 15-year-old daughter Crissy for Part 2 of their conversation about entrepreneurship, responsibility, purpose, and what actually builds confidence in kids.

Crissy shares what she's learned from starting businesses, selling products at art fairs, building SuperKids, competing in tennis, learning from failure, and taking on responsibilities she once didn't think she could handle.

And her perspective on teenage confidence might surprise you.

In this episode, discover:

• Why authentic confidence comes from accomplishment, not appearance
• How responsibility increases a child's capacity
• Why kids should start building skills before adulthood
• What entrepreneurship teaches about failure and perseverance
• The difference between parents creating opportunities and forcing achievement
• Why preparation creates confidence
• How business lessons translate into sports and everyday life
• Why purpose, leadership, ownership, and responsibility matter for kids

Crissy explains that her parents could provide opportunities and guidance, but they couldn't make her care, learn, apply the lessons, or build the community for her. Ultimately, she had to take ownership herself.

Want to learn more about SuperKids?

Text SUPERKIDS to 33777 for more information. This does not sign you up; it provides information so you can decide whether it's right for your family.

Subscribe and join us as we encourage parents to raise champion children in a crazy world.

#HighPerformanceParenting #ChristianParenting #ParentingTeens #ConfidentKids #RaisingLeaders

• (00:00) - Why Teens Struggle with Real Confidence
• (00:43) - Intro
• (01:20) - Chrissy's Entrepreneurial Journey
• (02:08) - Learning How to Sell
• (03:08) - When Your Best Idea Doesn't Sell
• (04:13) - Learning to Build a Business
• (05:02) - Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
• (06:54) - Building Capacity at 15
• (08:09) - What Today's Teenagers Are Missing
• (09:52) - Why Kids Should Start Now
• (10:55) - Parents: Push or Let Kids Lead?
• (12:31) - Creating an Environment for Growth
• (13:19) - Preparation Builds Confidence
• (13:42) - Business Lessons That Transfer to Sports
• (14:37) - Kids Need Purpose and Responsibility
• (16:10) - How to Learn More About SuperKids

What happens when you stop waiting until your kids are adults to teach them entrepreneurship, leadership, responsibility, and service?

In Episode 159 of High Performance Parenting, Greg Francis sits down with his 15-year-old daughter Crissy to talk about the business and ministry she began at just 13 years old: Redwood Super Kids.

Super Kids serves children ages 2–12 through live online gatherings designed to help kids understand how much God loves them while developing character, confidence, communication skills, friendships, and faith.

But this conversation goes far beyond the business.

Crissy shares what building something of her own has taught her about:

• Starting before you feel ready
• Responsibility and consistency
• Serving others with excellence
• Marketing and customer service
• Communicating with adults and children
• Receiving difficult feedback
• Handling rejection
• Time management
• Fear of failure
• Separating your identity from your results

Greg explains why their family doesn't believe children should wait until adulthood to learn entrepreneurship, leadership, and responsibility.

One of Crissy's biggest discoveries was that using your gifts to serve others isn't necessarily easy, it requires hard work, sacrifice, and choosing what needs to be done even when something else would be more fun.

And perhaps the most important lesson?

Your identity isn't determined by your numbers, your customers, or your results.

If you want to raise children who become doers instead of only dreamers, this conversation will challenge the way you think about preparing kids for adulthood.

What makes a family truly strong?

It's not having fewer problems.

It's learning how to solve problems—together.

In this final episode of the High Agency Parenting series, Greg and Jacquie Francis explain how families can intentionally create a culture where responsibility, resilience, ownership, and problem-solving become everyday habits.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why high agency is built through daily family culture
• How parents model resilience during difficult seasons
• Responding to setbacks without blaming or panicking
• Teaching children to ask, "What's our next move?"
• Why solution-focused families thrive through adversity
• Helping children become leaders instead of victims
• Creating a home where responsibility becomes normal

Your children won't remember a perfect childhood.

They'll remember how your family responded when life wasn't perfect.

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#ChristianParenting #HighAgency #FamilyCulture #IntentionalParenting #RedwoodParenting

• (00:00) - Intro
• (01:27) - Building a High Agency Family
• (02:48) - High Agency Is Learned
• (03:13) - Solving Problems Together
• (03:42) - When Vacation Goes Wrong
• (07:30) - What's Our Next Move?
• (09:06) - Questions Every Family Should Ask
• (10:29) - High Agency in Marriage
• (11:30) - Kids Learn by Watching Parents
• (11:53) - Final High Agency Principles
• (13:00) - Building a Strong Family Culture

Life isn't always fair.

Your child will face difficult teachers, unfair coaches, rejection, failure, and disappointment.

The question is… how will they respond?

In this episode of High Performance Parenting, Greg and Jacquie Francis continue their conversation on High Agency Parenting, sharing practical ways to help children stop making excuses and start solving problems.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why solving every problem weakens your child's confidence
• Teaching kids to become problem solvers instead of excuse makers
• Helping children navigate unfair situations with wisdom
• Why failure often becomes the greatest teacher
• Focusing on what you can control instead of what you can't
• Building resilience through everyday disappointments
• Raising children who love God, take ownership, and lead others

Life won't always be easy—but your children can become strong enough to handle it.

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• (00:00) - Intro
• (01:20) - High Agency Parenting Part 2
• (03:00) - Raising Problem Solvers
• (05:05) - Difficult Teachers & Tough Coaches
• (07:40) - Failure Builds Character
• (09:40) - Rejection Creates Growth
• (11:16) - Focus on What You Can Control
• (14:03) - Influencing Instead of Complaining
• (15:55) - Character Under Pressure
• (17:30) - Strong Family Blueprint

What if one of the greatest gifts you could give your child wasn't protection—but the confidence to solve hard problems on their own?

In this episode of High Performance Parenting, Greg and Jacquie Francis introduce one of the most important concepts parents can teach: high agency.

Instead of raising children who blame circumstances or wait for someone else to fix things, learn how to raise kids who take ownership, solve problems, and confidently move forward.

In this episode you'll discover:

• What high agency really means
• Why rescuing children can unintentionally create dependency
• Teaching kids to own their mistakes
• Helping children solve problems instead of making excuses
• Building responsibility through everyday situations
• Why natural consequences create confident adults
• Raising children with biblical ownership and personal responsibility

Your goal isn't simply to raise good kids.

It's to raise adults who love God, take ownership, serve others, and make the world better.

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📲 Share this episode with another parent who wants to raise resilient children.

#ChristianParenting #HighAgency #ParentingPodcast #IntentionalParenting #RedwoodParenting

• (00:00) - Intro
• (01:27) - Life Updates & Summer Adventures
• (02:38) - What Is High Agency?
• (03:42) - Stop Solving Every Problem
• (05:30) - Teaching Ownership Through School
• (07:07) - Natural Consequences Build Responsibility
• (08:24) - Let Kids Solve Their Own Problems
• (09:20) - Creating Structure That Builds Ownership
• (11:46) - Every Mistake Is a Teaching Opportunity
• (13:13) - High Agency in Everyday Life
• (15:19) - Why Parents Must Hold the Line