Challenge.Me: Recent Episodes
Attorney Damian R. Castaneda
The number one lie that we tell ourselves is that you have to be smart to get A’s in school.
But it’s not true.
Did you ever have a sick feeling in your stomach because everybody else in class was getting it, but you didn’t? Is it like World War 3 every night to get your high school student to do their homework? Or if you are a student, are you suffering from depression, stress, or anxiety because you feel like you are defined by your grades, but you want so much more out of your life?
Hi, my name is Damian Castaneda. I have been a litigation attorney in California for 21 years. I struggled in school. And I felt less than everybody else because I was in the slow group. I never understood what the heck the teacher was talking about. But one day all of that changed. And I want to show you how that can change for you.
I am on a mission to create a worldwide movement to help students learn the secret skills to getting “A’s” in school and still have a social life. I am doing this because I am the student that nobody believed in. But I believe in you. I believe that you CAN excel in school. I believe you really CAN be the person you have dreamed of becoming. I believe that you are just one A away from self-confidence, one A away from getting your parents off your back, and one A away from getting into the college of your dreams.
Stop listening to people who just tell you to get better grades, but don’t show you how. Join me on the ultimate student journey that I call Challenge.Me.
Today's episode is dedicated to my friend Rose.
Here is what she had to say about it. She texted me her response below. She had no idea I would share it online when she wrote, but she gave me her permission.
==========
[From Rose]
Hi, thank you for sharing this episode
I love it
Very moving and inspiring
Lies, lies, lies was my favorite episode until now, (you have an amazing singing voice btw :)
YOU are deserving
YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made and having or experiencing the best of everything is your birthright, not a byproduct.
You are destined to help many, many people and todays episode was incredible …..
You mentioned so many things and then I finally heard it…. You are not broken - we are imperfectly perfect
I read a quote the other day that went something like this:
“God created the moon to remind us that it’s ok to go through phases; God created the sun to emphasize to our soul to rise up again each morning and try again.”
Know your worth and then add the tax.
I will forever cherish you…. feel so blessed to know you… continue to tap into this creativity because your words are going to heal so, so many people
The world needs you!!!
I listened to this twice and it’s back on now
Woke up to check your text and so happy that I could listen to it …..
God whispered to you when you felt the wind blow on your face, the sunshine and warmth you felt was His kiss….. this is your second chance and Corinna is so wise….. your heart is being refined… be gentle to yourself …. Love yourself…. I look forward to watching you shine
So very proud of you!!!
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order.
I'm going to get nasty letters for this controversial title. But I did it to make a point. And the lesson is this. If you don't steer clear of this one thing, you will live a life in prison, but not the prison you think I'm talking about.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order. Trust me.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order. Trust me.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order. Trust me.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order. Trust me.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order. Trust me.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order. Trust me.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order. Trust me.
This is just one portion of a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order. Trust me.
I am inspired by the stories of a 2021 college graduate and the movie Cast Away. Both are stories of survival. And they raise the ultimate challenge: If you were stuck on an abandoned island with no phone, how would you get out? If you ever felt stuck, isolated, or had a feeling that there is no way out, then this series is for you. The ultimate challenge is when logic tells you that you will never get out of a situation. Learn the lessons from this dramatic movie and a real life story to change your life for the better.
This is a multi-series episode. Please don’t skip around because each episode builds on the previous episode. You will get lost if you don’t listen to it in order.
This is part 8 of an 8-series episode. Don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode.
This is part 7 of an 8-series episode. Don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode.
This is part 6 of an 8-series episode. Don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode.
This is part 5 of an 8-series episode. Don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode.
This is part 4 of an 8-series episode. Don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode.
This is part 3 of an 8-series episode. Don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode.
This is part 2 of an 8-series episode. Don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode.
I've been a Zombie student. Trust me. It sucks. Now, I'm back from the dead to save you from yourself. So, why do zombies have a beef with the living? Because the living are living the life zombies don't have. And why do the living have a beef with the dead? Because the zombies want to keep the living from living. Duh.
In the movies, it's all about surviving. School feels that way too, doesn't it? But aren't you tired of just surviving? Wouldn't you rather thrive and stop being a Zombie student? Join me in this 8-series episode. Okay I lied. It's not really 8 episodes. I just took an hour long episode and chopped it into bite size pieces (like a zombie would) so that you won't zonk out like a zombie and stop paying attention. Trust me. Don’t skip around. Each episode builds on the previous episode. If you skip around, I'm sending the Whisperers to come get you. No joke.
Parental discretion is advised. Translation. If you are not at least in High School, go to bed and stop listening. This is for big boys and girls only. And if you get bad dreams after listening to this series, you've been warned.
This is Part 1 of a 4-part series which was inspired by India. Their dedication reminds me that if you have this one characteristic, nothing can stop you.
This is part 6 in a 6-series episode. I originally published this as a single 38-minute episode. But I decided to break it into 6 small, manageable chunks.
This is part 5 in a 6-series episode. I originally published this as a single 38-minute episode. But I decided to break it into 6 small, manageable chunks.
This is part 4 in a 6-series episode. I originally published this as a single 38-minute episode. But I decided to break it into 6 small, manageable chunks.
This is part 3 in a 6-series episode. I originally published this as a single 38-minute episode. But I decided to break it into 6 small, manageable chunks.
This is part 2 in a 6-series episode. I originally published this as a single 38-minute episode. But I decided to break it into 6 small, manageable chunks.
Don't you wish people could wait on you all the time? Imagine having a personal chef who would make you whatever you wanted whenever you wanted it. Or imagine having the car of your dreams. The house of your dreams. Vacations. Leisure. Fun. Shopping. Netflix and chill. Disneyland. What's your paradise? Well, the road to paradise doesn't start in paradise. If you want to live in paradise, there are some secrets to getting there. I can't wait to tell you. Haha. See you inside.
Where the hell have I been? I did 56 podcasts in 56 days and then disappeared like a ghost. So what happened? Let me put it this way. I didn't want this to happen. But I'm glad it happened because now I have a great lesson (and podcast) to share with you. Here's to being back!
If your teacher offered you an automatic B on a final exam, would you take the B and not take the test? The automatic systematic response is that most people would jump at the opportunity and become dancing machines from their excitement.
So which are you? Are you an A player or a B player? Today's challenge is about being honest with yourself and finding your tribe.
P.S.: The title of this podcast is a reference to a #1 hit song from the 70's. Can you guess what it is?
When I was in the 5th grade, I was told to go fly a kite .... with a 1st grader. Then I was told to go read .... to kindergartners. Aside from scaring the crap out of me at age 10, these exercises taught me an important lesson: doing things for others makes you happy. Now new research from a Ph.D professor at Elon University in North Carolina goes a step further. She says that "Happiness comes from trying to make others feel good, rather than oneself."
The ultimate student challenge is not just about getting great grades. It's about balance. And being happy is part of that balance. So, go grab your Happy Meal, put up your feet, and let's get our Happy on.
What's popular is not always right, and what's right is not always popular. Stated differently, being uniquely you may not be popular to some people, but being uniquely you is the right thing to do.
Today is about embracing what makes you different. If you feel different, that doesn't make you bad, it's what makes you special. Whatever you think is happening against you, is actually happening for you. If you feel that things are against you, just know that it gets better.
Today, I share how things got better for me and how I embraced not fitting in. It's time to make some noise. It's time to challenge yourself. It's time to have the courage to be you. Let's roll people.
Remote learning has been an overwhelming challenge for students. It has caused a mental health crisis and has severely disrupted student lives. In this episode, I discuss two twin students who went from A's to failing grades. I analyze the cause for their sudden drop in grades and give you my tips on what you can do to keep from falling in this hole. And if you have fallen in a hole, I will tell you what to do to get out of it.
The COVID lockdown is just another challenge. And like any challenge, it can be overcome. Don't get fooled twice.
Here are the keys to the kingdom:
C-onsistency O-ptimism V-alidation I-nspiration D-etermination
99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer.
Forget about 99 bottles, apparently, one is too many. A new study just came out on May 12, 2021 from the University of Oxford. It's pretty disturbing. If I had known this information, I would never have started drinking.
To drink or not to drink. That is the question that many high school and college students will be confronted with. And it's a decision that is often driven by peer pressure.
Look, I'm not your parents. So, I'm not about to get on some soapbox and start preaching to you about drinking. It's your decision. But this new study talks about consequences that you probably never considered.
Before I go, I want to make a toast. I'm dedicating this episode to your health and making informed choices. Salud!
P.S.: Here's the link to the original Oxford study: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.10.21256931v1
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." According to Wikipedia the exact origins of this phrase remain unclear, though it was recorded as early as 1659. While its origins are unclear, the cause of dullness is clear. If all you do is work (study), you will become bored and a boring person. So, don't be a Jack. Get out of your Jack-in-the-box and have some balance.
You will notice that I just spent the last 6 episodes to impress upon you that some of the most successful people are not the most talented, and that their secret is hard work. But to conclude the series, I made this episode so you don't get the wrong idea. Yes, I want you to work hard. But too much of anything is not a bad thing. It's all about balance. Don't be lazy. Don't be a workaholic. Make sure to develop all of you, not just one-dimensional you.
P.S.: If you really want to freak yourself out, go to YouTube and watch this scene from the 1980 movie The Shining. Type this into Google, "THE SHINING (1980) - All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." It's very creepy and a good example of what happens when you want to be a dull Jack.
"Nobody will ever work as hard as I work." Those are the words spoken by the richest professional athlete of all time when he was in college. Did anybody work as hard as he worked? We'll never know. But we do know his belief system and the results that came from that mentality. There may be shortcuts in life, but not working hard isn't one of them if you want to be your best. One more thing. Have you heard of "The Breakfast Club"? No, not the movie. It's the workout you missed while you were sleeping.
Unmotivated people are the most successful people in the World. True or False? You chose false? Wrong answer. Wait a minute mister. Don't you have to be motivated to do anything? Nope. Today I show you how you can apply a Hall of Fame work ethic to your everyday life. Now, can you pease pass the salt please so we can spice up your study life and get this party started? Haha. See you inside.
One of the highlights of Arnold Schwarzenegger's youth was was when his family bought a refrigerator. He was poor. But things like not having a refrigerator and then appreciating what it was like to finally get one is what gave him the burning desire to become the greatest bodybuilder in the World, a successful Hollywood actor, the governor of California, a successful entrepreneur, and a person with a net worth of $400 million. Learn what Arnold has to say about hard work. It's time to get pumped up folks. Feel the burn.
So what's the secret to one of the greatest golfers of all time? Is it talent that makes him as unique as a whole in one? Nope. In his own words, this golfer was not the most talented, biggest, fastest, or strongest. Discover what students can learn from this golfer to stay on par with or exceed the best-of-the best students.
I'm about to spill the beans on the secret to success for the greatest NFL wide receiver of all time. It was his talent! Wrong answer. It was luck! Wrong again. It was his speed! Sorry, Charlie. Wide receivers (and the players who defend against them) are supposed to be fastest players in the game. But there are some defensive lineman (big, slow guys) who run faster than this wide receiver. So, if this player wasn't the most talented, how did he become the greatest of all time? Join me as I grab a rice and bean burrito and share his secret.
I came across this quote that talent is cheaper than table salt. What the heck does that mean? Although there were several articles that referenced this quote, I couldn't find anybody that explained its meaning. In other words, what does table salt have to do with talent? More importantly, what do talent and table salt have to do with your academic success? Today's episode is the introduction to the next 5 episodes where I challenge you to learn and start applying the secret that five of the most famous athletes of all time have used to make themselves great.
An Olympian told me that he lost the gold medal because he looked over his shoulder and got distracted during a race. Not only did he lose the gold medal, he finished in fourth place. How many of you are looking over your shoulder and comparing yourself to others? Are you getting distracted with other people's accomplishments? Do you feel less than others? Do you get resentful when somebody gets a better grade than you do? The problem is not other people's accomplishments. The problem is that you forgot that you are running your own race. Today's challenge is about staying in your own lane and focusing on your best, and not focusing on others.
"Friends are hard to find so be careful. You'll get fried in the end, to remind and prepare you that some ain't that bad, but one might back stab, to get their fingertips on what one might have ... To be a leader, don't get lead on or lead in the wrong direction." Jody Watley - Friends ft. Eric B. & Rakim.
Who's got your back? Do they really? Learn how "people pleasing" and choosing or keeping the wrong "friends" can hold you back from being happy and pursuing your dreams. Today's ultimate student challenge is a lesson in life. Find your real Tribe.
When I was a kid, I was afraid of monsters. How silly right? Monsters don't exist. We all know that. Duh. But I was still afraid because I believed in monsters. The problem is that as we get older, the great majority of us are still afraid of monsters. We just don't call them monsters. We're too grown up for that. Instead, we call them failures. But failure doesn't exist. Strike that. Failure does exist. It exists only if you believe it exists. So, today's challenge is about slaying the monsters (failures) that don't exist. In this episode, I talk about one of the most successful athletes that ever lived who doesn't believe in failure. So why should you? Now, let's go slay some dragons.
What's made with sugar, gelatin, water, air, is 100 feet tall, and debuted in the 1984 movie Ghostbusters? That's right. It's the the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man of course! Today, I challenged myself to think of the silliest thing I could think of so you would remember this episode. And just like Ray (played by Dan Aykroyd) in Ghostbusters, the first thing that popped into my head was the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. No joke. In this episode, I challenge you to choose happiness over pain, hurt, and disappointment by thinking of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. He can't hurt you and neither can the challenges in your life. So, let's start roasting marshmallows by an open fire and have a great time. See you inside.
"Lies" by the Thompson Twins is one of my favorite songs from the 1980's. I know. It seems like a long time ago, right? But the truth is that Lies is currently the #1 hit song in the World. No, not the song from the Thomson Twins. I'm talking about the Lies that you are tuning into and believing about yourself TODAY. Listen, some of the most successful people in the World have been told Lies, but they chose not to believe them. In this episode, I challenge you to put those Lies where they belong (in the past) and start discovering your genius. Drum roll please. I'm about to sing. No joke.
Today's challenge is learning how to use your favorite songs to find the greatness inside of you or to heal old wounds. One of my favorite songs reminded and inspired me that there's something deep inside of me )there's someone else I've got to be.) What are your favorite songs telling you? Those songs could be your subconscious mind speaking to you to be more, do more, and become more. Find your true self through music when there's nobody around to support you.
Have you ever played the game "Would You Rather?" I haven't. But I saw a YouTuber do it and it was pretty ridiculous. Ironically, in this episode, I'm going to play Would You Rather with you to show you how ridiculous your "procrastination" problem is. There's only ONE thing you need to do to get sh*t done. It's nothing fancy. And there isn't anything sexy about it. But it works 100% of the time. Now, I didn't say it was easy. In fact, you might rather do something even more uncomfortable. But why would you rather do that? Haha. See you inside.
Some translation, huh? La Vida Es Movimiento means "Movement is Life" or "Life is Movement." That quote comes from one of my all-time favorite movies World War Z. In this episode, I challenge you to see and confront the Zombies in your life. How do you do that? Well, Nike tell us to "Just Do It." I don't know about you, but that doesn't inspire me to do anything. But if movement is life, then we better find something to get us moving. I am going to show you the lessons we can learn from Amazon and World War Z to finally put an end to whatever is holding you back whether that's procrastination, fear, self-sabotage, doubt, failure, laziness, or something else. It's showtime folks. I'm about to release the Zombies. Don't be scared. I've got the ultimate weapon.
Parents don't want their kids to hang around the wrong crowd. It turns out, your parents might be on to something. According to Jim Rohn, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” And according to research by a Harvard social psychologist, the people you associate with the most will determine as much as 95 percent of your success or failure. In today's episode, I challenge you to discover who you should be spending your time with and who or what to follow.
One of my all time favorite movies is Somewhere in Time, a 1980 film starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. The movie has some powerful, hidden lessons that you can use to inspire you to catapult your beliefs that your dreams really can come true, and also warn you about the destructive power of distractions. Join me as I give my interpretation of this classic movie to motivate you to go after your best life. As a bonus, I briefly talk about the 2006 movie Rocky Balboa to illustrate how your dream life is relentlessly pursuing you.
In the last episode, I explained the value of writing a letter to your future self. In this episode, I explain the value in writing a letter to your past self. To inspire you, I introduce you to one of my favorite movies, The Bridges of Madison County. You can watch it for free on TubiTV.com.
I give my interpretation of the movie to emotionally move you to talk to your past self. You might think it's easy to do this exercise. It's not. It takes a lot of courage. But it's worth it. You are worth it. Through story, I will explain why your best life may depend on it.
I love the movie Back to the Future because I am fascinated by time travel. I also loved Time Cop. Great movie. One of the things I wish I could do is travel to the future or to the past to talk to myself. Wouldn't that be great? Well, you can do that right now. Check out today's episode and learn how talking to your past and future selves may be the answer to finally putting your goals down on paper in a way you never thought of before.
NOTE TO FUTURE SELF: It's Tuesday, May 4, 2021, 3:20 AM. You are still a night owl. You almost didn't do this podcast. You have done 31 on 31 consecutive days. So, that kept you motivated to do this one. But you didn't know exactly how you would proceed. When you sat down to do this podcast, you knew that you wanted to talk about writing a letter to your future self, but you didn't know why it would be good for people to do this. After thinking about it for 15 minutes, it hit you! You got so excited about sharing your message that you were shocked when you looked up and saw that 30 minutes had passed so fast. You thought you would only have 1 to 7 minutes of material. One thing that you learned is that when the time goes by so fast, you are doing what you love and having fun with it. And that's how you want to live your life. I'm proud of myself because I'm being fearless and I'm sharing my music with the World.
Signed,
Your Past Self, Damian
P.S.: As much as I want to say that I can’t wait to see who you will become, the fact is that I am happy to say that I can wait. I love myself and my life right now. And I’m grateful that all of my family and my baby girl kitty "Girl" are all still alive. I’m learning to live in and cherish the present. It’s so beautiful.
Either I am really craving ice cream right now (which I am) or I am trying to teach you how ice cream can be the key to deciding what you want to do with the rest of your life. Ok, it's both. If you are having trouble figuring out what college, major, or profession to choose, then this episode is for you. Steve Jobs once said, "Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish." So, I'm taking his advice. Now, where's my double fudge ice cream?
I don't know what it is about enchiladas. But I love them. Enchiladas have nothing to do with this episode except for the fact that it's in the episode title: "The Whole Enchilada." Maybe I'm hungry, maybe I'm crazy, or maybe a little of both. I'm looking forward to Cinco de Mayo in 4 days when I can have some chips, guacamole, a margarita, and some enchiladas.
So, if this episode isn't about enchiladas, what's it about?
It's about living the life you were born for. Are you swimming around in a small fish bowl when you are meant for so much more? No matter how small a fish you are in your pond, you can dream big and make big leaps to take you to the next level. Life is a series of leaps. The more leaps you make, the better you will be at making them. In the end, it's not just about the destination. It's about the person who you become during the journey. Join me in this journey to challenge yourself to find your zone of genius and the best enchiladas in town.
I love the song 'Who Are You' by The Who. I love it because it inspires me to declare who I am. And that's what the challenge in this episode is about: YOU. Who are You? Discover and unleash yourself through journaling, song, and dance. Let's celebrate "I am" and "Who You Are"? Let's roll.
How many times have we heard our parents say, "Because I said so. That's why." Well, excuse me. I have a newsflash for the parents. Now it's our turn to say what's up. In this episode, my goal is to help you answer two questions: (1) What do you want?; (2) Who are you called to be? Let's roll, people.
If you don't get into any Ivy League schools or go to a private prep school, are you out of luck? In this episode, learn that while it's good to make a top school a goal or dream, it ultimately doesn't define who you are. Believe or not, you have an edge over the rich and privileged who go to these schools, but you have to work at it to make it happen.
Tony Robbins says that if you're not growing, you're dying. Tom Brady says that he's going to win another Super Bowl. And you should be saying, "This semester, I'm getting Straight A's." In this episode, learn why setting Straight A's as your goal is more important than just trying to get into an elite college.
I have a secret. Don't tell anyone. Do you want to be a straight A student? Are you afraid of trying because you might "fail"? That's why I created this episode. Learn why Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos may have been the biggest losers of all time, and why you need to learn their important secret.
I think I'm liking this format. Questions and Answers. It reminds of taking tests. I miss taking tests because of the immediate validation you get from a great grade. These are some questions I found online that are trending student questions. I hope you find my answers helpful.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THIS EPISODE 1. Should studying be fun 2. I should be studying … but 3. What studying law is like 4. What studying does to your brain 5. Why studying is important 6. Why studying business is important 7. Why studying is good 8. Will studying make you rich 9. Studying for finals 10. Studying for real estate license
I gathered some questions that are currently trending from students. So, I decided to answer them in no particular order and tell you what I think.
Here are the topics
- Studying while listening to music
- Can studying make you tired
- Are straight a's always a good thing
- Can studying with music help
- How studying affects grades
- Can studying cause headaches
- Should I start studying for the MCAT in freshman year
- Should I quit studying
- Should I stop studying
- Should I continue studying
- Should I keep studying
1991 to 1999 were some of the best years of my life. Those were the long-haired days of heavy metal and great times in Huntington Beach and Los Angeles, California. And one of the iconic bands of the day was Metallica. They were famous, rich, and it looked like everything came easy to them. But in an interview at Guitar Center, Metallica's lead singer James Hetfield shares that you have to work at things in life that are worthwhile. He discovered early that if he was going to live his dream, he had to leave the football team, his former band members, and his job. He found his voice by getting lost in the zone where all pain went away and where he found his sense of purpose and creation. You can find that place too. Find out how.
Grade Point Average. Have you figured out this Shakespearean-code-like acronym? What exactly does a 3.2 or 3.6 really mean? Make this number work for you instead of against you.
When the Karate Kid came out in 2010, I couldn't wait to see it. I went to the midnight debut because I wanted to see it so badly. While there are many lessons in the movie, one line stood out more than any: "I don't want to be scared anymore." Are you scared? Do you want to stop being scared? Find out how to overcome your fear and keep winning.
I never liked it when people called me a perfectionist. There's nothing wrong with setting high goals, working hard, and wanting things to be the best they can be. But there's another side. If it hurts you, then it takes away your happiness and eats away at your confidence and self-esteem. Don't let name calling like perfectionist and overachiever keep you from reaching for the stars. But at the same time, don't be blind if you are only hurting yourself in the process. Learn how to find that balance.
Steve Austin and I have something in common. We are both looking for the toughest badasses in the World. His challenge is physical (and mental to some extent), and mine is mostly mental. But what it takes to be successful in either challenge is essentially the same. In this episode, discover what I believe is the most important lesson that I learned from all 5 seasons and how you can use that to your advantage.
When we are young, we look at our future. When we are older, we look at your past. Sometimes it's fond memories. Sometimes it's regretful memories. Being a successful student is not just measured in grades. It's measured in life experiences. Find life balance and prevent regret.
Have you heard the story about the dad who let his 9-year-old daughter struggle for 6 hours to open a can with a can opener? He wouldn't let her eat until she figured it out on her own. This dad's philosophy resembles the results of a 2013 survey, where 82% of teachers endorsed the statement that “Students learn best by finding solutions to problems on their own.” That sounds plausible, but the reality is that the best solution is a healthy balance of detailed instruction with as much help as possible followed by implementing that instruction with practice and repeating what your teacher taught you. The idea that we need to figure things out on our own with little to no instruction is out of touch with best practices and reality.
What would you do if 100 movie studios turned down your movie script? Would you keep going? And imagine for a second that there was no Internet, no email, and no texting where you could blast your movie script to those 100 studios. Instead, you would have to see them in person or talk to them on the phone.
What if it was 300, 500, 700, or 800 rejections? Would you keep going? Learn why one person kept going after being rejected over 1,500 times before the Internet, email, or mobile phones. He turned his script into a billion dollar franchise. What made it work? Was it luck? Or was it grit? More importantly how do you develop grit so that you can ensure your success?
Reaching for the moon with your goals is great. But what's not great is when you fall short of your goals and allow perfectionism to destroy you. I wish I had this podcast when I fell short of a 4.0 grade point average in high school. Learn from my mistakes. Learn that your setback is not a setback. It's a setup to make you stronger and take you to new heights where you've never been before.
Go watch the Rocky Balboa (2006) inspirational speech on YouTube. In life, school, and work, you will get knocked down, again, and again, and again. The knock downs do not define who you are. But how you respond to those knock downs will define you. Will you make excuses and stay down? Or will you rise and keep moving forward? Learn what it really takes to win. Remember my reference to Dan from 'Peaceful Warrior' in a prior episode: You Are This Moment. Be a winner and respond to the Challenge.
When people call you names and have low expectations of you, it hurts. But as author Terry Cole Whittaker says, it's none of your business what people negatively say or think about you. (See, "What You Think of Me Is None of My Business" (1988).)
As you succeed, you will prove yourself right. You will gain real confidence that will give you immunity to those that try to hurt you. Today, I share multiple stories from childhood to adulthood where I experienced name calling and hurtful expectations. Learn how I overcame those experiences and how you can too.
I had to pause twice during the podcast because I got choked up and teary eyed.
The movie Peaceful Warrior is the only movie where I have cried. Ever. As I share with you the scene in the movie that got me, I was surprised that I teared up during the podcast. I had to pause to gain my composure.
Simply put, we go through high school, college, grad school, and our profession to excel; a relentless pursuit of excellence. But what is it all for? And what do we sacrifice in the process? As I challenge you to be your best, this episode explains the trap that you must avoid.
Mark Twain once said that he never had time to write a short letter. Well, here's my short letter in the form of a podcast. I did it REALLY fast. It's my shortest one ever at just under 3 minutes. In honor of my child hero Speed Racer, this is my SPEED PODCAST. If you didn't already know, when I was a kid, I was obsessed with speed. I was the fastest runner on the block. I was the fastest on my bike. When I ran, I imagined I was the Six Million Dollar Man (go look him up if you are too young to know who he is), running at 120 MPH. I became a lawyer because I was mesmerized by a Porsche that whizzed by at 130 MPH in the fast lane, while my dad and I were in the slow lane going 55. So, I love, fast, fast, fast! Faster is better, right?
Wrong.
Find out why I'm NOT a fan of speed reading.
Yepa, yepa, yepa! Arriba arriba, andale andale!
Cállate Speedy.
Slow your roll.
It's not how fast you go, it's how slow you go.
In the movie The Matrix, Neo was constantly beaten to the ground. But he kept getting up despite the pain, failure, and frustration. Why did he do it? You'll find out in this episode.
In school and in life, you will get knocked down and emotionally beaten or discouraged just like Neo. Every day is not going to be sunshine and rainbows. So why keep doing it? Why keep getting up? Knowing how to do something isn't enough. So what is enough?
What do you and Tom Brady have in common? A lot more than you think. And why am I doing this podcast? For the same reasons that Tom Brady still wants to play football. Learn why being an underdog is your competitive advantage that keeps you going to do great things.
Don't let time or money get in the way during this precious time of your life. It's time for you to learn and invest in yourself today so that you can have more time and money today, tomorrow, and the rest of your life.
Honors this, honors that, blah, blah, blah. Honors and AP classes don't define who you are. You define who you are. Learn the BIGGEST insecurity that is preventing you from leveling up to the big leagues.
Flash is the fastest super hero. That super hero showed up when I couldn't afford to buy a third-year college textbook, I almost withdrew from the class the day of the first exam. But what if I could read the book while standing in the aisle at the bookstore? I would have to read it in a flash, but would I even pass the exam?
Learning how to take notes and study your notes is one of the most important super powers you can ever have. In this episode, I share with you an incredible result that shocked my teachers, my classmates, and especially myself. When you get these super powers, you can do it too. But you have to believe. If you don't believe in the techniques, you won't do the work to make them work for you. And once you deviate from the techniques, you won't be able to fly and do amazing things.
You have a super power. You just didn't know it. To discover that super power, there are two things you need to do.
It's not where you start, it's where you finish. I didn't start in pole position. I started in last place. I had no confidence, no mentors, and no hope. Learn how I first overcame my biggest challenge, and the new BIG problem I created in chasing my dream.