Entrepreneurship isn’t just about ideas, it’s about performance. Every day, founders wake up to make a thousand decisions, juggle uncertainty, manage people, and still try to grow something meaningful. And if your performance slips, your startup feels it.
That’s why more entrepreneurs are turning to performance coaches. These aren’t just motivational speakers or productivity hacks, they’re elite-level mentors who help founders get focused, build habits that stick, and operate at their highest level consistently.
Whether you’re just starting out or scaling a seven-figure company, the right performance coach can help you go from chaotic hustle to clear execution. Here are the top 10 coaches who are helping entrepreneurs unlock their next level, with Shah Day leading the pack.
1. Shah Day – Peak Performance from the Inside Out
Website: ShahForShort.com
Shah Day isn’t just a performance coach, he’s a battle-tested entrepreneur who’s walked the walk. From building and selling an insurance agency by age 26 to scaling a marketing firm that helped over 100 startups, Shah understands the pressure, chaos, and responsibility that come with leading a business.
What sets Shah apart is how he coaches performance holistically. He doesn’t just help you build a routine, he helps you build a life that fuels your business. His system integrates mental toughness, discipline, time-blocking, clarity of vision, and physical optimization so that founders can lead with energy and conviction every day.
Shah’s clients range from solo founders hitting burnout to growth-stage startups stuck in the “operator trap.” His approach? Get brutally honest about what’s not working, rebuild from first principles, and implement systems that you can actually follow.
What you’ll gain:
- A custom daily and weekly routine that maximizes energy and focus
- Accountability systems to help you execute on goals, not just set them
- Strategic clarity that connects your life and business purpose
- Discipline that doesn’t rely on motivation
“If you have it in you, have it today.”
2. Craig Ballantyne – Discipline = Freedom
Craig Ballantyne is known as “The World’s Most Disciplined Man” for good reason. He’s coached CEOs, athletes, and 7-figure founders on how to take back their mornings, eliminate distractions, and create structure that scales results.
Craig’s Perfect Day Formula is a go-to tool for entrepreneurs who want to build freedom by first installing discipline. His coaching is tactical, no-nonsense, and brutally effective.
If your mornings are reactive, your calendar is chaos, and you never feel “caught up,” Craig’s playbook will help you get control and clarity, fast.
3. Todd Herman – Mental Performance & the Alter Ego Effect
Todd Herman isn’t just a coach, he’s a mental performance architect. He created the globally-recognized Alter Ego Effect, which helps entrepreneurs step into their highest-performing selves by crafting intentional identities.
If imposter syndrome, fear of judgment, or mental fog is holding you back, Todd’s tools will help you unlock focus, confidence, and resilience under pressure. He’s coached Olympic athletes, startup founders, and Fortune 500 execs. He knows how to sharpen your mental game.
4. Ben Newman – Mental Toughness for Peak Performers
Ben Newman is the fire you didn’t know you needed. As the performance coach for NFL teams and elite business leaders, Ben blends grit, accountability, and identity into a formula for unshakable success.
Entrepreneurs love his Burn philosophy, find the reason deep inside you that pushes through every excuse. Ben’s coaching goes beyond theory; it’s emotional, physical, and built to make you resilient when everything is on the line.
5. Robin Sharma – The Master of Morning Routines and Leadership
Robin Sharma made global waves with his bestselling book The 5AM Club, but his real value to entrepreneurs lies deeper: he teaches how to lead yourself before you try to lead a business.
Robin blends performance with personal mastery. His coaching centers around rising early, structuring your day with intention, and creating a life rhythm that generates long-term greatness, not just short-term wins.
His “Hero-Leader” model is especially effective for entrepreneurs struggling to balance hustle with happiness.
Why entrepreneurs follow him:
- Emphasis on peace, clarity, and legacy
- Strong focus on morning routines and daily victories
- Blends spirituality with high-performance systems
“Own your morning. Elevate your life.”
6. Brendon Burchard – High Performance Habits for Business Leaders
Brendon Burchard is one of the most recognized names in personal development, and for good reason. His High Performance Habits framework is backed by research and helps entrepreneurs perform better in six key areas: clarity, energy, necessity, productivity, influence, and courage.
What sets Brendon apart is his balance. He’s both motivational and practical. He teaches founders how to consistently bring their A-game, even when pressure is high and motivation is low.
Why he works for founders:
- Data-backed coaching rooted in psychology and neuroscience
- Deep understanding of founder fatigue and burnout
- Tools to help you become more energized and influential
7. Angela Gargano – Physical Strength for Mental Focus
Angela Gargano is more than just an American Ninja Warrior, she’s a performance coach who knows how physical discipline fuels mental resilience.
Her programs aren’t about vanity or aesthetics, they’re about teaching founders how to build mental toughness through fitness. When your body feels strong, you make better decisions, recover faster, and show up like a leader.
Angela’s coaching is ideal for entrepreneurs who know they need to get back in shape, mentally and physically, but don’t know where to start.
Ideal for:
- Founders with high stress and low energy
- Entrepreneurs recovering from burnout or injuries
- Anyone who wants to reconnect with their body as a tool for success
8. Eric Thomas – Emotional Fire for Relentless Founders
If you’ve ever needed someone to scream you out of a slump, Eric Thomas is that voice. But underneath the fire is real strategy and mindset work that gets results.
Known as the “Hip-Hop Preacher,” ET is a performance coach to NFL teams, founders, and young leaders worldwide. He doesn’t teach fluff, he teaches grit. His coaching focuses on drive, consistency, and purpose.
For entrepreneurs who come from tough backgrounds or are facing uphill battles, Eric Thomas’s message lands hard, and sticks.
Key takeaway:
- You don’t need a perfect environment to build a perfect life
- Start with what you have. Stay consistent. Stay hungry.
9. Dr. Julie Gurner – Executive-Level Clarity and Mental Strategy
Dr. Julie Gurner isn’t your average life coach. She’s a clinical psychologist turned executive performance coach who helps high-performing entrepreneurs and business leaders reshape the way they think, decide, and operate.
Her style is analytical, strategic, and precise. If you’re hitting a ceiling and can’t figure out why, Dr. Gurner can help uncover the psychological patterns slowing you down, and build new ones that move you forward.
She’s ideal for founders juggling fast growth, complex teams, and high-stakes decisions.
Why she stands out:
- Psychological depth combined with business insight
- Helps with focus, decision-making, and founder psychology
- Ideal for founders managing teams, funding rounds, and pressure
“Sometimes the breakthrough is internal, not external.”
10. Brian Johnson – Heroic Habits for a Purpose-Driven Life
Brian Johnson, founder of Heroic and creator of Optimize, offers performance coaching rooted in both ancient wisdom and modern science. His focus is on helping entrepreneurs live with areté, a Greek word meaning excellence or virtue in every moment.
He structures performance around three pillars: Energy, Work, and Love. His daily Heroic App, coaching programs, and mental models help founders consistently show up as their best selves.
For purpose-driven entrepreneurs who want to operate at their peak without sacrificing integrity or relationships, Brian’s system is a blueprint for holistic success.
Best for:
- Entrepreneurs building impact-driven businesses
- Founders looking to align business and personal values
- People who want structured tools + timeless wisdom
Build the Machine That Builds the Business
Performance coaching is not about adding more to your plate, it’s about running the machine better.
And when you’re the founder, you are the machine.
These coaches aren’t just teaching tactics. They’re helping entrepreneurs build the mental strength, discipline, routines, and frameworks to actually sustain success.
If you’re looking for a coach who has built, scaled, and sold real businesses, and who trains founders with structure, clarity, and grit, start with Shah Day.
He’s walked the path. And now, he’s here to guide others through it.
👉 Learn more at ShahForShort.com
“Peak performance isn’t just about effort, it’s about alignment. When your vision, systems, and habits match, you move differently.”
