What the CEO of Google Uses to Handle High-Stakes Pressure

When I’m working with high performers—whether athletes, executives, or elite professionals—there’s one truth I come back to over and over:

Challenging times don’t just test your skills—they test your mindset.

Because when the pressure is high, clarity gets clouded. Emotions run hot, distractions multiply, and in those moments, what separates the exceptional from the overwhelmed isn’t more talent. It’s having the mental tools to stay grounded, focused, and intentional.

That’s why one of the most powerful mindset tools I coach is what I call the Mindset Mantra.

What is a Mindset Mantra?

A mindset mantra is a personal phrase you repeat—especially under pressure—to shift your mental state back into alignment with who you are and how you want to show up.

It’s not just a motivational quote or a feel-good affirmation. It’s a functional cognitive tool.

When chosen well, a mantra reinforces identity, supports emotional regulation, and enhances task-oriented focus. It reconnects you to your intentions and helps you manage the internal pressure that can otherwise derail your performance.

And it’s not just a tool I teach—it’s a strategy used by some of the most influential leaders in the world.

Sundar Pichai’s Strategy Under Pressure

Recently, I came across a CNBC article where Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, shared the mantra that helps him manage one of the most complex leadership roles on the planet.

His two part mantra

1. Making any decision is better than wasting time ruminating on the options.

2. Most choices aren’t permanent, and you can learn from your mistakes if you make one. 

As Pichai explained, “the alternative usually involves letting the pressure get to you, which could slow down the team, or sometimes the company as a whole.”

The power of a mindset mantra allows a leader like Pichai to handle one of the world’s largest companies without letting reactive stress run the show.

Why High Performers Need Mantras Too

Whether you're leading a billion-dollar company or navigating the pressure of your own goals, there are two main benefits to having your own mindset mantra:

1. It Helps You Cope with Pressure

When that pressure hits, your mantra becomes an anchor.

It gives your brain something to hold onto—a familiar phrase that signals calm, clarity, and control. Over time, repeating your mantra conditions your nervous system to associate it with composure, which can help short-circuit the stress response.

You don't need to silence pressure. You just need to know how to move through it without getting hijacked by it.

2. It Keeps You Aligned with Intentions

Most high performers don’t need more effort—they need more alignment.

We set intentions: Be a patient leader. Stay resilient through setbacks. Trust the process. But when pressure hits, intentions get buried under reaction.

A well-chosen mantra brings your values and purpose back to the surface—right when you need them most.

It shifts your mindset from reactive to intentional, reminding you of who you are and how you lead. That alignment is where real performance power lives.

Final Thought

If one of the most powerful CEOs in the world uses a mindset mantra to navigate complexity and lead effectively, what’s stopping you from using one too?

Remember: peak performance doesn’t start with more effort. It starts with more commitment to implementing what will make you most effective.

And in a professional environment that demands pressure and performance, having a mantra isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Because in the end, it’s not just about handling pressure—it’s about helping you and your team perform at their best.

Reference

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/26/worst-paying-college-majors.html