We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kai Laird. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kai below.

Kai, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The idea for starting our performance psychology consulting company, The Performance Pursuit, was born out of a combination of personal passion, professional experience, and a deep-seated desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of athletes. Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, sports were an integral part of my life. My family’s ethos of athleticism meant that I was always surrounded by relatives who excelled in various sports, from hockey to soccer, and even competing at the Olympic level. This environment fueled my own passion for sports and competition from a young age.
As I pursued my own athletic endeavors, I became increasingly aware of the mental challenges that athletes face. I realized that physical talent alone wasn’t enough to succeed at the highest levels – the mental aspect of performance was equally crucial. This insight became even more apparent during my time working at the Trinidad and Tobago Sports Company, where I had the opportunity to collaborate with Olympic-level coaches and athletes. I saw firsthand the difference that mental skills training could make in an athlete’s performance.
When I moved to the United States to pursue higher education, I continued to explore the intersection of psychology and sports. While studying counseling and sports psychology in Chicago, I teamed up with a few classmates who shared my passion for supporting athletes. We noticed a gap in the market – while many athletes had access to physical training resources, there was a lack of comprehensive support for their mental and emotional needs. This was the spark that ignited us with the idea to start The Performance Pursuit.
We envisioned a consulting firm that would offer tailored sports psychology services to athletes at all levels, from high school to professional. Our goal was to help athletes unlock their full potential by addressing the mental barriers that often hold them back. What excited us most was the prospect of making a tangible difference in their lives and careers.
The logic behind our business was clear: we were solving a problem that many athletes faced but few had the resources to address. We believed that by combining our expertise in sports psychology with a personalized approach, we could offer something unique and valuable. Our services would be grounded in robust research and best practices, but also adaptable to the individual needs of each athlete.
Launching The Performance Pursuit was both exhilarating and challenging. We faced the usual hurdles of starting a new business, but our conviction that we were offering something truly worthwhile kept us going. The positive feedback from our early clients reinforced our belief that we were on the right track. Seeing athletes achieve their goals and knowing that we played a part in their success has been incredibly rewarding.

Kai, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

For those who might not have come across my story before, my name is Kai Laird. I was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, a place where sports are more than just activities—they’re a way of life. My family was deeply involved in athletics, with relatives competing at high levels, including the Olympics and Pan-American Games. This environment naturally ingrained a passion for sports within me from a young age.
My journey into the field of sports psychology began with my own experiences as an athlete. I played various sports like hockey and soccer, and while I loved the physical challenges, I quickly realized that the mental aspect of performance was equally critical. This understanding deepened during my time working with the Trinidad and Tobago Sports Company, where I had the privilege of collaborating with Olympic-level coaches and athletes. I saw firsthand how mental resilience, focus, and psychological preparation could significantly impact performance.
In 2008, I moved to the United States to pursue higher education, earning a degree in business management from the University of Tampa. However, my true calling became clear when I furthered my studies in counseling and sports psychology in Chicago. Along with a few classmates, I founded The Performance Pursuit, a sports psychology consulting firm dedicated to helping athletes and performers reach their full potential.
At The Performance Pursuit, we offer a range of services designed to enhance mental performance. These include personalized sports psychology consulting, individual and group mental skills training, and counseling services. We work with athletes from high school to professional levels, helping them overcome mental barriers, improve focus, and achieve their performance goals. Our approach is tailored to the unique needs of each client, ensuring that they receive the support and strategies that best suit their circumstances.
What sets us apart is our holistic and personalized approach. We understand that every athlete is different, and so are their mental challenges. Our services are grounded in robust psychological research and best practices, but we also emphasize flexibility and individualization. This ensures that our clients not only perform better but also develop the mental resilience and skills needed for long-term success.
One of the aspects I’m most proud of is the tangible impact we’ve had on our clients’ lives and careers. Seeing athletes achieve their dreams, knowing that we played a part in their journey, is incredibly rewarding. Whether it’s a high school athlete earning a college scholarship, a professional overcoming a slump, or a team reaching new heights, these successes drive us forward.
For potential clients and followers, I want you to know that The Performance Pursuit is committed to excellence and genuine care for our clients’ well-being. Our goal is not just to improve performance but to empower athletes with the mental tools they need to navigate both their sports and their lives with confidence and resilience. We believe in the transformative power of mental skills training and are dedicated to helping you unlock your full potential.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it brought unprecedented challenges and disruptions to many industries, and ours was no exception. The world of sports, which thrives on in-person interactions, competitions, and training sessions, came to a sudden halt. At The Performance Pursuit, we quickly realized that we needed to adapt to this new reality to continue supporting our clients and sustaining our business.

Before the pandemic, our consulting services primarily involved face-to-face interactions with athletes, teams, and organizations. We believed that the personal connection and physical presence were integral to the effectiveness of our work. However, the lockdowns and social distancing measures made it impossible to continue with this model. We had to pivot, and we had to do it fast.

Our first step was to embrace technology and transition to a fully remote consulting model. We invested in high-quality video conferencing tools and platforms that allowed us to conduct virtual sessions with our clients. This shift required us to rethink our approach and adapt our techniques to fit the virtual environment. We had to ensure that our clients still felt connected and supported, even from a distance.

One of the key aspects of our pivot was maintaining the personalized and tailored nature of our services. We developed new protocols and strategies for virtual consultations, ensuring that each session was as effective and engaging as our in-person meetings. We also created online resources and digital tools that clients could use between sessions to continue their mental skills training independently.

Despite the initial challenges, the pivot to remote consulting opened up new opportunities for us. We were able to reach athletes and organizations beyond our geographic limitations, expanding our client base across the country and even internationally. This broader reach not only helped us sustain our business during the pandemic but also allowed us to impact more athletes than ever before.

One particular success story from this period stands out. We worked with a professional athlete who was struggling with the uncertainty and disruption caused by the pandemic. Through our virtual sessions, we helped them develop coping strategies, maintain their mental focus, and stay motivated despite the lack of competitions. This athlete later credited our remote support for their ability to return to their sport with renewed confidence and achieve one of the best seasons of their career.

The pivot to remote consulting was not without its difficulties, but it reinforced the importance of flexibility and innovation in our business. It also highlighted the resilience and dedication of our team, who adapted quickly and effectively to ensure that our clients continued to receive the highest level of support.

In retrospect, the pandemic forced us to rethink and reinvent our approach, leading to a more versatile and scalable business model. As we move forward, we continue to offer both in-person and remote consulting services, leveraging the best of both worlds to meet the diverse needs of our clients.

Any advice for managing a team?

Managing a team and maintaining high morale is essential for success. My advice is to focus on open communication, empathy, and professional growth. Keep your team informed with regular updates and actively listen to their feedback. Understanding individual needs and promoting wellness through supportive programs and flexible schedules can significantly impact morale.

Recognition and appreciation are crucial. Celebrate successes, provide constructive feedback, and acknowledge individual and team achievements. Offering professional development opportunities and clear career paths enables your team to grow and stay motivated.

Clear goals and expectations help keep everyone focused. Foster collaboration and an inclusive culture to build camaraderie. Empower team members by delegating responsibilities and encouraging initiative, which fosters a sense of ownership. Be adaptable and support work-life balance, especially during challenging times.

Lead by example with integrity and a positive attitude to inspire your team. Regular check-ins through one-on-one meetings and pulse surveys help gauge and improve team morale. Implementing these strategies creates a positive, productive work environment where team members feel valued and motivated, boosting productivity and fostering long-term success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theperformancepursuitconsulting.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theperformancepursuit/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theperformancepursuit/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-performance-pursuit
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyMQA0cYohpIc9WT1TzP5-w