Treating Athletes as High Performers FirstPodcast

This week, I met with Benjamin Mayfield-Smith, Founder of Matter Athletica, a coaching ecosystem built for those who refuse to settle for average — in body, business, or life. Ben is a high-performance coach, bodybuilding specialist, and the mind behind The Matter Mentality — a philosophy rooted in radical ownership, intentional suffering, and the pursuit of untapped human potential. From competitive physique athletes to everyday high performers, his work blends elite training systems with a ruthless commitment to self-mastery.

Ben's approach transcends traditional bodybuilding methodology, positioning himself as a high-performance coach who happens to operate in the realm of physique development. His insights offer valuable lessons for any coach in the strength and conditioning field who wants to elevate their practice and create lasting impact with their clients.

10 Key Takeaways from Treating Athletes as High Performers First

Treat clients as performance athletes first, not just physique projects.

Ben emphasizes that he views bodybuilding as a vehicle for high performance rather than fixating solely on aesthetic outcomes.

Lead clients toward holistic life improvement.

Ben's clients naturally begin auditing their friendship circles, assessing their efficiency and productivity, examining where they waste time and money, and becoming more accountable—not because he demands it, but through demonstration of value and leadership.

Adopt a "seasons" approach to time management.

Rather than trying to balance everything simultaneously, Ben organizes his life and work around seasons—comp prep season, university exam blocks, personal prep phases—allowing full focus on what matters most during each period.

Maintain standards even during challenging circumstances.

Ben ensures he hits his nutrition targets, hydration, and training even while traveling because he's set such a high standard that "even my step back is better than what most people will be 99% of the time."

Be a product of your product.

Ben competes himself at the highest level, demonstrating that walking the walk is one of the most important factors in business success and client trust.

Align your education with your coaching philosophy.

Ben's pursuit of a master's degree in psychology directly supports his framework of treating coaching as high-performance development, creating congruence across all aspects of his business.

Psychology often overrides technical programming.

Ben runs a simplistic approach to programming and periodization, recognizing that what happens "up top" with mindset and psychology frequently overrides sets, reps, and macros.

Without a deep "why," technical excellence isn't enough.

Ben identifies that competitors without psychological grounding, purpose, and a why beyond aesthetics eventually give in to hunger, cravings, fatigue, and develop unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Help clients establish success criteria beyond outcomes they can't control.

Ben has clients define what success looks like in a sport that can't guarantee placements, ensuring they can walk away fulfilled regardless of medals or rankings.

Build frameworks and education around your unique approach.

Ben is developing a comprehensive education platform on psychological preparation for physique competition, sharing the frameworks and intellectual property he's developed rather than keeping them as a "vault."

Ben's approach offers a powerful reminder that the most successful coaches don't just focus on the technical aspects of their craft—they understand that sustainable results come from developing the whole person. For strength and conditioning coaches looking to differentiate themselves and create deeper impact, Ben's philosophy of leading through demonstration, organizing life in seasons, and prioritizing the psychological component offers a blueprint worth studying.

Find Ben

Website -http://www.matterathletica.com/

YouTube -Matter Athletica

IG -@ ben_mayfieldsmith_/@MatterAthletica

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