You already know your stuff. You've built the credentials, done the work, put in the hours. So why does it still feel shaky the moment someone challenges you, doubts you, or the moment you step into a space you haven't occupied before?

This conversation with Nassim Ebrahimi is not a motivation talk. It's a masterclass on what confidence actually is, where it comes from, and why so many coaches and athletes are building it on the wrong foundation.

Nassim came from one of the most linear, high-achievement career paths you'll find, earning a psychology background (neurobiology, physiology, developmental psych) and rising to one of the youngest vice presidencies in her state. Then COVID hit, and instead of taking the next logical step toward a college presidency, she stopped. She sat in the discomfort of not knowing what was next. And from that pause, an entirely different career emerged, one grounded in mental performance coaching for athletes, executives, and coaches who want to stop cracking under pressure.

Adam and Nassim cover a lot of ground in Part 1 of this two-part conversation, including the emotional reality of a major career pivot, why your title is not your identity, and a surprisingly simple equation for building confidence that doesn't depend on everything going right.

What you'll learn from this conversation:

• Why the first day after a major life pivot is the hardest one (and what to actually do with it)
• How Nassim defines mental toughness, and why it has nothing to do with hiding your emotions
• The exact confidence equation she coaches athletes and executives with: Confidence = Trusting Your Skills + Owning Your Role
• Why unshakable confidence isn't about staying at a constant high, it's about knowing which variable to lean into when one drops
• How she went from volunteering at her daughter's soccer practice to coaching pro athletes (and why the transition was less random than it looks)
• What coaches can learn from the way athletes handle adversity, and vice versa
• What Adam means when he says "borrowing confidence" from your coach, and why authentic confidence is the only kind worth borrowing

The big idea:

Confidence is not a fixed character trait. It's a math problem. Nassim teaches it as an equation: trust your skills plus own your role. When one side of that equation dips (as it will, because you're human), you lean harder on the other side to keep the whole structure stable. That's not a mindset hack. That's a system. And for coaches who work with athletes, clients, or anyone in transition, this reframe changes what coaching confidence actually looks like in practice.

Notable Quote:

"Mental toughness brings mental clarity. If you can keep your physiology, your language, and your focus productive simultaneously, that is a stronger mind." -- Nassim Ebrahimi

Guest Bio:

Nassim Ebrahimi is a mental performance coach, former higher-education executive, and founder of Becoming My Stronger Me. She coaches athletes from youth to professional level, executives in transition, and coaches looking to integrate mental performance techniques into their work. She's also the author of The Stronger Mind, available through her website at www.becomingmystrongerme.com.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Stronger Mind by Nassim Ebrahimi -- www.becomingmystrongerme.com
• Baller Goals by Nassim Ebrahimi (soccer-specific training book)
• Nassim's coaching program for coaches: quarterly cohort launching mid-June 2026 (email [email protected] for next cohort info)
• ILC community: ilovecoachingco.com
• Instagram: @ilovecoachingco / @adamrroach / @thejesswebber
• YouTube: youtube.com/@ilovecoachingco
• Nassim on Instagram: @strongerme | LinkedIn: Nassim Ebrahimi | TikTok: @becomingmystrongerme

Timestamps:

• [00:00] Intro and welcome -- Adam introduces Nassim
• [00:39] You were born, and then what happened? -- Nassim's origin story
• [04:48] From psychology to the lecture hall to VP -- the linear path
• [09:19] The moment of pause: do I love it enough?
• [13:07] The first day after resignation (and why she cried for hours)
• [16:40] Getting off the couch: how Nassim built back
• [17:38] "I trusted me" -- the decision before the decision
• [19:44] Who are you without your title?
• [21:09] Volunteering everywhere and finding the coaching path by accident
• [27:38] Adam reflects: transferable skills and borrowed confidence
• [30:48] The confidence equation: Trusting Your Skills + Owning Your Role
• [34:58] Nassim's business: one-on-one, teams, keynotes, and the coach program
• [39:27] The Stronger Mind book origin story
• [41:46] Baller Goals and what's next
• [42:19] Adam's giveaway: first 10 DMs get a free book
• [43:23] Nassim's book club offer: 10 friends + a free hour with Nassim
• [44:51] What mental toughness actually looks like on the other side of coaching
• [47:27] The cliffhanger: Part 2 is coming
• [49:46] Closing reflections and mutual appreciation

Join the Community:

If today's conversation stirred something for you, whether about your own identity, your confidence, or the coaches and clients you serve, the ILC community is where that conversation continues. Come build with us at ilovecoachingco.com.