Today’s guest is Phil Beckner who is one of basketball’s most trusted and respected player development coaches and a teacher who’s coached at nearly every level of the game.

Phil is currently a Player Development Consultant for numerous NBA players and several college programs, helping performers thrive on and off the court. Through his company, Be Better Be Different, he also partners with high-performing teams, organizations, and businesses to elevate leadership, build culture, and maximize results. He’s a sought-after speaker for both athletic and corporate groups, known for translating performance principles into simple, actionable standards.

Previously, Phil spent two seasons at Boise State, rising from assistant to associate head coach, contributing to back-to-back 20-win campaigns, two NIT appearances, and the development of first-round NBA Draft pick Chandler Hutchison. His career has also included Nebraska, the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G-League, and seven seasons at Weber State, where he helped win three conference titles, reach both the NIT and NCAA tournaments, and work closely with future All-NBA guard Damian Lillard.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:

[5:22 ] — The 5 Separators for Elite Performers

[13:38 ] — Be Better, Be Different

[18:58 ] — What Elite Performers Avoid

[25:01 ] — Become Great At What You're Good At

[28:44 ] — Damian Lillard's Growth and Development

[34:38 ] — The Power of Self-Talk and Identity Sheets

[39:39 ] — Why Players Are Often Confident Externally and Fragile Internally

[43:07 ] — Intentionally Training the Mind

[51:08 ] — Higher Clarity Leads to Higher Performance

[52:56 ] — Be Better Be Different Legacy Foundation

More Resources from Phil:

• To learn more about Phil's coaching, speaking, and foundation, feel free to check out his website here: https://www.bebetterbedifferent.com/

More Resources from Zach:

• For more practical tools and mindset stories, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/