Last week I competed at the Riata Buckle roping at the Lazy E Arena. I had the opportunity to rope with some really talented partners thanks to Shane and Allyson Eliason of Eliason Performance Horses. They lined up my runs and gave me the chance to ride their stallion, DD I Be Tuff, in some of the ropings.

Kyle Alder and I ended up 6th in the 10.5 Championship and split $38,200. That was the single biggest payday of my career. And while the money was nice, the real win for me was the shift I made in my mindset leading up to the event.

The Hard Truth: Performance Matches Self-Image

Not long before Riata, I had a rough day roping at Dodge City. I left that event questioning myself—wondering if I truly believed I could win big money again.

That’s when a line from Lanny Bassham’s book With Winning in Mind came back to me: your performance and your self-image are always equal.

That stung a little. I realized if my performance wasn’t where I wanted it, my self-image needed work. And that’s on me.

Rebuilding Confidence Through Daily Habits

So I went home and went to work on my mental game. Here’s what I focused on:

Self-talk – I wrote out statements I wanted to believe about myself and read them daily: I perform better in competition than I do in practice. I start well and finish well. I can count on a good performance, especially under pressure.
Imprinting – I practiced visualizing great runs before and after I roped. Even if the actual run wasn’t perfect, two out of three of those imprints were positive.
Rehearsal – I didn’t just see good runs in my mind—I rehearsed how they felt. The rope in my hand, my horse’s stride, the release of making a sharp shot.
Directive affirmation – I wrote a paragraph in first person, present tense, describing my goal, the plan to reach it, and the habits I needed to keep. I posted it everywhere—barn, office, bathroom mirror—and read it multiple times a day.

It wasn’t easy. Self-image resists change. But consistent effort shifted how I saw myself, and that carried straight into my performance at Riata.

Trusting Preparation and Staying Present

When I rode into the box at Riata, I reminded myself: one steer at a time. Not four, not the short round—just one.

I trusted my horse, Boone, who has been through our program from day one. I trusted my preparation, because I knew I had done the work. And I trusted the changes I made mentally.

The result wasn’t luck—it was the payoff of preparation and mindset finally lining up.

Takeaway for Riders and Competitors

Here’s what I want you to remember:

Your performance will always match your self-image.
If you don’t like your results, start working on how you see yourself.
Hard work pays off, but it can’t just be in the practice pen—it has to be mental too.

We all go through slumps or seasons of doubt. But you don’t have to stay there. You can shift your self-image, and when you do, your performance will follow.

Thanks again for joining me. God bless each and every one of you. And as always—today and every day—let’s be our best.