The Game Changer Life: Recent Episodes
Dave Anderson
Being a game changer is all about being energized, passionate, consistently focused, and creating a high impact every single day. Join author, speaker, and President of LearnToLead - Dave Anderson - in this energetic podcast based on his 14th book, Unstoppable, as Dave reveals principles gained throughout his extensive career and conducts interviews with special guests from a variety of industries, all to help you: become more focused, stay energized, remain effective, and live The Game Changer Life!
What if the resistance, criticism, and unexpected opposition you're facing aren't signs you're on the wrong path—but clues that you're getting somewhere? In this episode, discover why you should Expect Bugs and the one mistake that can turn those distractions into something far more costly.
In this episode, Dave unpacks how to get the right things done every day learning how to manage the daily distractions.
The greatest leaders don't just correct people—they leave them better than they found them. This episode uncovers a perspective that can reshape the way you influence others every day.
Could your desire to help actually be holding someone back? In this episode, Dave shares a powerful perspective on breaking the cycle of dependency while empowering the people you care about to grow stronger, more confident, and more independent.
What if the reason you're losing momentum isn't the goal—it's what you're focusing on? In this episode, Dave reveals a simple mindset shift that can keep you motivated, build consistency, and help you make progress even when the results seem far away.
Most plans don't fail from effort—they fail from what's missing. In part 2, Dave uncovers the hidden gaps that could be stalling your success—and how to turn your plan into real, consistent results.
You might have the goal—but what if your plan is quietly setting you up to miss it? In this episode, Dave reveals the overlooked gaps that could be costing you results—and how to fix them fast.
Your habits are quietly deciding your future—are they working for you or against you? In this episode, Dave reveals how one small shift can break self-sabotage and unlock a whole new level of performance.
You don't need more tips—you need more reps. In this episode, Dave reveals why repetition beats variety and how mastering a few critical skills can turn average performance into automatic excellence.
Why do so many change initiatives start strong… then quietly die? In this episode, Dave reveals the 10 hidden reasons change efforts fail—and how to make your next move actually stick so you don't lose momentum, credibility, or results.
Avoiding accountability feels easier—but it's quietly costing you respect, results, and culture. In this episode, Dave breaks down how to toughen up and tune up accountability so you can lead with clarity, protect your standards, and help people actually grow.
Do people really buy into your leadership—or are they just going through the motions? In this episode, Dave unpacks why buy-in is earned or possibly lost overnight and the 5 critical traits that quietly determine whether people commit to you… or merely comply.
What really makes an MVP teammate—and why top producers don't always win that title? In this episode, Dave breaks down how to become more valuable, add real value to others, and build the kind of reputation and impact that elevates both your career and your team.
In this episode, Dave revisits the second half of his timeless 15 Commandments for Organizational Peak Performance—giving leaders a clear lens to diagnose where they are, what's holding them back, and how to raise the bar immediately.
In this episode, Dave revisits the first half of his timeless 15 Commandments for Organizational Peak Performance—giving leaders a clear lens to diagnose where they are, what's holding them back, and how to raise the bar immediately.
Most leaders think they have a strong culture—until they discover the hidden traits that are quietly weakening performance. In this episode, Dave reveals the next set of high-performance culture essentials that can transform your team's focus, accountability, and results.
What separates leaders who elevate teams from those who quietly erode them? Dave breaks down the mindset high performers use to create accountability, alignment, and real results.
Are your setbacks really bad breaks—or the result of small daily decisions stacking up against you? In this episode, Dave reveals how your attitude, standards, and choices quietly shape your outcomes—and what to change before they cost you more.
What if talent isn't your biggest advantage after all? In this episode, Dave reveals the hidden traits that outperform talent every time—and how to develop them to live and lead at a higher level.
Serious about getting the outcomes you want? Dave shares the truth about what complacency is, how to spot it, and how to clear it out for the success you truly want in business and life.
What if the secret to hitting your biggest goals wasn’t about doing more—but about doing less, with sharper focus and a simpler plan? In this episode, Dave breaks down how to cut through the noise, simplify your strategy, and finally move the needle where it matters most.
Your talent deserves more than a paycheck. It deserves the right environment where you’re noticed, valued, and set up to grow. Here’s how to find it.
What happens to a team when growth becomes the norm instead of the exception? In this episode, Dave unpacks the hidden messages leaders send—and how they can make or break a true culture of growth.
Ever feel stuck between two big decisions, overwhelmed with options and data? In this episode, I share a powerful, practical framework that helps you sort through the noise and move forward—with clarity, confidence, and peace.
Unmet expectations can quietly drain your energy, distort your focus, and damage your relationships. In this episode, we explore a better way to confront and resolve them—before they grow into something bigger.
Feeling stuck can sneak up on you—and the longer you stay, the deeper it gets. This episode offers a fresh way to shift direction before you sink further.
Dave shares how to benefit from gratitude journaling. It's proven to transform your outlook and shift you into more success each and every day. Give it a try.
Are you coasting without realizing you’re slipping? This episode breaks down the four silent stages of decline—and the subtle signs you need to catch now before momentum turns into a downward spiral.
Are your goals set up to succeed—or are your daily habits silently sabotaging them? Find out what to look for and how to fix it fast.
7 simple, powerful ways to grow your value, build your brand, and stand out—starting with how you use your time and your attitude.
You don’t have to like every teammate, but choosing to love them through action, honesty, and support is what drives real team success.
Don’t apologize for high standards—they build self-respect, discipline, and a mindset that pushes you to keep growing and raising the bar!
Stay motivated by stacking wins, guarding your mindset, and taking disciplined action—these 10 steps will help you fuel your drive every day!
Real, lasting change takes more than a checklist- it requires ownership, urgency, and daily discipline. Follow these eight steps to break the status quo and build momentum that sticks!
Dave unpacks the steps to creating balance, focus, the right priorities and the next one right thing to do.
Dave dives into the power of consistency, strengthening your why, and becoming the person who can show up no matter how they feel to reach the success they want.
Learning keeps your mind sharp, fuels creativity, and often bridges your interests with your work—boosting growth in unexpected ways. Prioritize what supports your goals but explore beyond to expand your potential!
In this episode, Dave encourages you to start writing daily—it’s a game changer for personal growth, where your reflections become a lasting legacy or a book like his did!
Starting fresh on social media with purpose! Tune in as I share daily tips, quotes, and insights to inspire, challenge, and elevate your game in life, business, and relationships.
In this episode, Dave explores challenging yourself to go beyond what's easy and comfortable to unlock your true potential.
In this episode, Dave unpacks how mastering these three daily disciplines boosts performance and longevity, while neglecting them can hold you back. Small habits, big impact!
Bad days happen, but how do you still make them count? In this episode, Dave shares strategies for turning a tough day into a productive one by focusing on what you can do. Learn how to leverage your effort, stay in the game, and keep moving forward even when the odds feel stacked against you.
In this episode, Dave explores how investing in the right mindset helps you leverage talents, skills, and experience for greater impact. Discover the "power in now" with tips to build momentum and be ready for each new arena in your day, starting with just ten focused minutes.
In this episode, Dave shares how to redeem your time for greater impact. Learn how to upgrade your daily rituals to stack wins early ensuring your routines always serve you and keep you on track for success.
In this episode, Dave emphasizes the power of being fully present in the moment. Learn how structured routines help you stay focused, grounded, and resilient, even when disruptions and distractions try to pull you away from your goals.
Momentum is easier to steer than restart, and it's earned by setting the tone early in your day. Dave discusses how to create a process that builds momentum and confidence, starting with winning the first hour of your morning. Learn how to steer your day toward success from the start.
Is your downtime getting you to where you want to go? Dave discusses in this episode why having a high regard for you time is more crucial than you may think and why you need to start anazlying how you spend your time today.
We don't realize in our every day lives how we can waste time on unimportant things that don't take us where we want to go. In this episode Dave goes in depth on why tightening up on time management is important and some tools to do that.
People believe that avoiding pressure and being easy on oneself is some sort of self-care. When really self care is taking the time to relax and relpensih after you've accomplished something worthwhile brought on by pressure. Dave and Ryan discuss getting out of your comfort zone and using pressure as a force to help you test your limits and help you get to where you want to go.
Game changers know that the key to a successful day is starting your day with a win and in this episode Dave and The Killer discuss one particular thing that you can do to now to not only improve your physical and mental health but get you on your way to being more productive in all areas of your life.
It’s natural for humans, because of our survival instinct, to avoid situations that involve change, risk, or that are uncomfortable, and in this episode Dave and Ryan discuss the importance of thinking and acting unnaturally to keep moving towards your biggest goals in all life’s arenas.
Whether you’re an athlete getting ready to play a game, or a salesperson going for that “close,” we all have a mental reel that we run based on past experiences - and if we aren't intentional with what we allow to run on that reel, we can find it harder to get to our goals. In this episode Dave and Ryan discuss a handful of tips for running the “right” reel.
Giving feedback is something we encounter in our daily lives, whether it be to friends, family, team members, acquaintances, etc., and in this episode Dave and Ryan cover why it's important to give effective feedback and some tips to master the art of giving great feedback.
If you’re looking for a fresh start – a fresh focus – for improving yourself and your performance, in this episode Dave and Ryan present 7 “Gets” to help you “Get Better, Not Beaten” in all life’s arenas.
While tomorrow may be great, you can never “get a day back,” and in this episode Dave and Ryan discuss the “make it up tomorrow” myth that some people have, and why it’s something you need to renounce if you aspire to live the game changer life.
Motivation is defined as the reasons one has for acting and behaving in a certain way, and in this episode Dave and Ryan discuss how to be more motivated and get that level of motivation you want and crave.
How you think influences what you do, and what you do determines what you achieve. Part of living the game changer life is understanding the power of your thoughts and the effects they can have on you and how you feel. In this episode Dave and Ryan talk about doing a more intentional job managing your thoughts and why it's so important to start thinking about what you're thinking about.
An often overlooked aspect of game changing teams of any kind is positive peer pressure, and in this episode Dave and Ryan share why peer-to-peer accountability is a healthy and important asset on any team.
What does it mean to be a tough-love leader? In this episode Dave and Ryan discuss tough-love leadership and 5 actionable keys to lead with tough love on any team, whether it be in the workplace, at home, in sports, or elsewhere.
When it comes to where you spend your time, not everything has equal value, and in this episode Dave and Ryan discuss how to reevaluate your time and discover the power in doing fewer of the right things.
Everything and everyone in your life is either helping you get to where you want to go or getting in the way of you reaching your goals, and in this episode Dave and the Killer discuss why nothing and no one has a neutral impact on your life and share adjustments you can make to protect your time.
In honor of Dave finishing his 16th book "Elevate your Excellence: The Power of Doing Ordinary Things Extraordinarily Well" Dave and the Killer discuss the importance of writing everyday - whether it be starting to write that book you’ve always wanted to or simple daily journal entries - and share what it can do for you, and why it can be beneficial no matter what life arena you're in.
The reason many people don’t truly discover how far they can go, how great they can get at anything in life, is because they don’t test their limits. In this episode Dave and The Killer take a look at what it means to test your limits, what it looks like, and what the payoffs are in doing so.
If you’re trying to get others - teammates, peers, family members, and the like - to buy into an idea, goal, strategy, change, or more, there’s certain essentials to get right first. In this episode Dave and Ryan dive into five keys for gaining and earning buy-in in any arena of life.
"I'm all in" is a phrase heard a lot in business, relationships, sports, and life in general, but what does that really mean? In this episode Dave and Ryan discuss some characteristics of going "all in," what that looks like, and why it's something to do ALL the time.
It may be hard at times to avoid drama, whether it be in your home, workplace, or relationships, but in this episode Dave and Ryan discuss how drama can be a potential danger to yourself and others and why you should drop it now.
On this special podcast episode, The Killer hits Dave with a handful of killer questions he thinks listeners could get applicable lessons from – based on Dave’s experiences.
Dave is joined by his friend president of Family First Life, Shawn Meaike, where he shares his story that brought him to where he is today leading a 700+ million dollar life insurance company. He shares his struggles and victories laid out in his new book "Punch Me In The Face."
Look at any high-performing team, and you’re sure to find a culture where peers are holding one another accountable. In this episode Dave and Ryan discuss why peer-to-peer accountability is vital for any team, and offer easy-to-implement, non-confrontational ways to hold peers accountable.
Most have heard from a young age that 7-9 hours of sleep per night is important, but aren’t aware of why exactly that is or what happens when we don't. In this episode Dave and "The Killer" go over a few dangers of being under-slept, along with easy to implement strategies for sleeping better so you can perform and live well.
Accountability is normally something one can think of as doing for someone else, but in this episode Dave and Ryan discuss how it’s one of the best things you can do FOR yourself.
How you do anything in life is how you do everything and in this episode Dave and Ryan "The Killer" share examples of how the little details matter because letting up in the little things can have a compounding effect on the big things.
Part of living the game changer life is not just about getting a lot done, but getting the right things done and in this episode Dave and Ryan "The Killer" discuss "the fray" and maximizing every moment of every day.
Sometimes the biggest vulnerabilities we have are the ones we are not aware of and in this episode Dave and Ryan discuss three mindsets - that while seemingly positive - may be preventing you from reaching your fullest potential.
When feeling that you're underrated or that you have more potential than you've shown – in any of life’s arenas – there's an action step you can take which makes you impossible to ignore, and in this episode Dave and Ryan discuss what that is.
If you’re looking for a fresh start – whether it’s for a new month, quarter, or year – there are certain things to keep in mind to ensure you get the change you seek, and in this episode Dave and Ryan discuss tips for working on a new you.
In this episode Dave and Ryan examine the concept of “sowing and reaping” – setting the record straight on how the process works and why, if you want a harvest, you’ve got to plant the seeds.
Joy is a state of being that we all strive to get to, and stay in, more often; and, in this episode Dave and Ryan talk about three big thieves of personal joy to be more aware of so that you can hold your joy longer and get to a more joyful state often.
When it comes to goals, a lack of focus can leave you ending up a mile wide and an inch deep, and in this episode Dave and The Killer cover a handful of keys to help narrow your focus for more finely-tuned and maximized goal setting.
Being a good coach, whether in the workplace, in the home, or on the field sometimes requires an element of tough-love. In this episode Dave and The Killer discuss 8 basic guidelines for how to give tough love coaching and help those you’re trying to improve and impact keep growing and going.
Intentional and mindful breathing is a useful yet underrated tool to help you bring game changer performance in the moment, and in today's episode Dave and the Killer go over a specific technique you can apply right away, that can help you in all aspects of your life.
We all have blind spots or vulnerabilities that can cause us to stay in our own way, but your biggest vulnerability may come as a surprise to you. In today’s episode, Dave and the Killer discuss the BIG vulnerability and what you can do about it.
We all play a role on some team – whether in the workplace, athletics, or even family – and in today's episode Dave and Ryan "The Killer" go over five rules for looking in the mirror and becoming a better teammate on the teams you’re part of.
When things are going really well there’s a natural tendency to let up, shift into neutral, and pace oneself, but in today’s episode Dave and Ryan “The Killer” share a strategy that helps you avoid this recipe for disappointment and regret.
There’s three key components to goal setting, each with its own unique role, and in this episode Dave and Ryan “The Killer” talk about the one of these that’s often left out completely – bringing you more awareness to this missing link that converts goal setting to goal getting.
There’s three key components to goal setting, each with its own unique role, and in this episode Dave and Ryan “The Killer” talk about the one of these that’s often left out completely – bringing you more awareness to this missing link that converts goal setting to goal getting.
When it comes to attaining goals, aiming high, digging deep, and finishing strong is like a 1-2-3 punch. In this podcast episode Dave and Ryan discuss the connection these three disciplines have with each other, and a handful of certain things that must be going on within you to do them.
In this episode Dave welcomes to the Game Changer Life Podcast pro basketball player, Nate Reuvers, who played on the college championship team Dave highlighted in his most recent book "Intentional Mindset." Using the adversity the Wisconsin Badgers faced during their 2019-2020 season as a backdrop, Dave and Nate discuss how to benefit from adversity and stay together and focused despite whatever may be going on around you.
If you don't learn to lead yourself, you'll always be led by someone else. In this podcast episode Dave and Ryan dive deeper into a series of posts from Dave's Twitter (@DaveAnderson100) sharing five lessons to help you lead yourself well with excellence.
Whether in business, relationships, finances, health disciplines, or elsewhere, we can’t expect things to get easier or better if we remain the same. It gets better when we do, and in this episode Dave and Ryan share what about you may need to get better in order for other areas of your life to get better.
With a swelling number of people stuck in a baseline and caretaker mindset, it’s never been easier to stand out as a game changer. In today's episode Dave and Ryan share six ways you can stand out and set yourself apart from the rest in all areas of your life.
While people can spend a lot of time living in the past or in the future, in this podcast episode Dave and Ryan discuss why being here NOW and maximizing the time in the present moment is a more effective strategy for living life as a game changer.
Your daily mindset disciplines, routines, and rituals have a tremendous impact on your effectiveness over time. In this podcast episode Dave is joined by special guest Paul Mulcahy of the Rutgers University Men’s Basketball team for a conversation about what changes he’s made in his routines and rituals, the impact he’s seen, and - among other things – how structure makes you stronger.
Part of living the Game Changer life is about making sure your “walk” matches your “talk,” and in this episode Dave and Ryan dive into the benefits of doing so and why – while it may not be easy – it is worth it.
The brain’s not naturally designed to make us happy or positive all the time, and in today’s podcast episode Dave and Ryan discuss ways we can rewire our brain’s natural bias towards negativity and build a robust mindset that helps us thrive.
Sometimes the voices of others - even those closest to us - can cause us to second guess ourselves when we've figured out what we're best at or designed to do, and in this episode Dave and Ryan dive into the meaning of and importance behind running YOUR race.
Swagger is a word that is thrown around a lot in sports, entertainment, and society as a whole, and in this episode Dave and Ryan talk about what swagger is, what it can do for you, and how you can earn it.
There are a lot of things that enhance performance, and in this episode Dave and Ryan discuss a secret superpower – one that’s often underestimated and easy to overlook – that will put you on the path to not only feeling better but performing better no matter what it is you do.
While we can’t always be successful all of the time, even when we lose we can always get better – if our mindset is right. In this episode Dave and Ryan cover 4 ways you can lose well, and set yourself up with a philosophy that’ll have you coming back stronger the next time you fall short.
The greatest and most consistent athletes live by a certain set of principles that contribute to their success – principles that we can take and adapt to apply to any area of our life, regardless of what we do. In this episode Dave and Ryan go over 6 of those principles, to help you not just perform better, but live better.
Every job and every role has certain fundamental disciplines that have to be done repeatedly to get you to the outcomes you want. Sometimes people do these basics just to do them, missing out on an opportunity for next-level growth. In our 300th episode Dave and Ryan discuss strategies for how to get to higher performance levels by becoming brilliant in the basics.
There are a lot of little things that can help create consistency but there is one thing at the core that a lot of people don't think about. In this episode, Dave and Ryan share THE Key to Consistency, so you can move yourself closer to your goals.
There are a lot of definitions of “leadership” and what it means to be a leader, and in this podcast episode Dave and Ryan discuss a handful of the tougher truths about leadership – to help those who are in a leadership role now or who aspire to be in the future.
Disappointment and anger are natural emotions when you fall short of a goal. When you miss out on something you're going after, these emotions can work for you or against you, and in this episode Dave and Ryan discuss how to make disappointment and anger your allies.
There are many potential reasons why people don't hold others accountable - be they friends, family, colleagues, or teammates. In this podcast episode Dave and Ryan discuss 5 of the key reasons to help you self-audit your accountability know-how and shore up any weaknesses.
While striving to become more, to get more, and achieve more is beneficial to gaining and sustaining success, in today’s podcast episode Dave and Ryan share perspective on the necessity of balancing that ambition with a sense of gratitude.
No one has a neutral impact on others and in this podcast episode Dave and Ryan talk about two different types of people and the impact and influence they have on the way others feel about themselves.
Individuals, just like organizations, can fall prey to a host of temptations when times are prosperous – leading to lost momentum and eventual decline. In this podcast episode Dave and Ryan identify a handful of temptations to watch out for so you can sustain your success, avoid backsliding, and keep things moving forward in your favor.
Life can be challenging enough as it is without our own adding to the pile on of potential stress and misery. In this episode Dave and Ryan discuss an Rx - a recipe, a remedy - to combating misery and avoiding the self-inflicted damage that can make you feel helpless, powerless, and miserable.
Very often people have a vision for the things they want to do, the type of person they want to become, things they want to own, and more; yet, they don’t execute the plan and convert that vision into results. In this episode Dave and Ryan take a look at why that is, and how you can improve your chances of making your vision a reality.
While all hours in a day matter, there’s a particular hour – or two – each day that’s most vital to your success. In this podcast episode Dave and Ryan share more about this Golden Hour, and ways you can win it to set yourself up for daily success.
In this podcast episode Dave and Ryan discuss a problem that we’re all susceptible to – one that we’ve all faced in some form or another throughout our life... a problem that can hinder you from reaching your goals and getting what you want most out of life.
Relationships are like plants, in that both require time, cultivation, and nourishment to grow to their potential. As we all have limited time, energy, and resources, knowing when to stop “watering the dead plant” is essential, and in this episode Dave and Ryan discuss important insights to examine your relationships, in any area of life, in that regard.
Our biggest vulnerability, personally and professionally, is the one we're unaware of. In this episode Dave and Ryan discuss how to defend against a common vulnerability, a punch we don't see coming, that's always present and looking for an opening into our lives - into our finances, relationships, vital disciplines, and more.
Being a gracious person – in speech, attitude, behaviors, and more – is becoming more and more rare in today’s age. In this podcast episode Dave and Ryan discuss ways you can conduct yourself with a level of grace that makes you stand out as a game changer and that flat out makes you feel good.
Growing to game changer status and peak performance in all of work and life’s vital arenas is a matter of getting intentional with both your routines and rituals. In today’s podcast episode Dave and Ryan “The Killer" explain the differences, why both are essential, and share a few examples to help you on your journey to achieving your goals.
Our associations influence us, and throughout our lives there are people who - though we wouldn't consider them as enemies or adversaries - say and do things that can get us off track, make us feel worse about ourselves, and more. In this episode Dave and Ryan uncover these "sheep with fangs," to shed light on who they are, how to handle them, and how to mitigate the damage they can do to us.
Many individuals and businesses don’t realize they’re in decline until it’s too late. In this podcast episode Dave and “The Killer” share a few warning signs to help you better understand how decline happens subtly so you can recognize it and make necessary adjustments to continue growing and avoid losing momentum.
Excellence is one of the 8 key traits that game changers bring to the table every day, and in this podcast episode Dave and Ryan discuss the true essence of that trait, and how you can develop a mindset and standard to embrace excellence in all aspects of your life.
“Why do I have to work so many hours to get the job done?”, “Why am I not getting better opportunities?”, and questions of the like are common amongst those looking to get better personally and professionally, and in this episode Dave and Ryan discuss the powerful and beneficial answer no one wants to hear.
Part of the game changer life is making a difference and leaving a legacy. Of the various ways one can leave a legacy, many arrive at the idea to write a book, and in this episode Dave and Ryan discuss some common questions on writing a book to help encourage those considering making an impact in that regard.
Most people don't understand the benefits that struggles bring, and avoid them at all costs - thus missing out on what advantages can be gained from them. In this episode, Dave and Ryan discuss how the struggles can make you stronger and a handful of ways that you can grow through struggle.
There’s a certain freshness and energy that comes from when you’re just starting out, whether in a new job, in a new relationship, with a new workout routine, or more. In today’s podcast episode, Dave and “The Killer” discuss how to not lose sight of a “Start-Up” mindset and share a handful of key characteristics to build or reenergize a start-up mindset and keep growth going in all of life’s arenas.
Where you're at now in life and where you ultimately end up is influenced by disciplines you apply, decisions you make, and steps you take. It's in your control, and in this episode Dave and "The Killer" discuss 6 ways you can get your act together - daily.
The word sacrifice tends to have a negative connotation associated with it, but in reality there’s immense power in sacrifice. In this podcast episode Dave and Ryan “The Killer” Cota discuss that power and share a handful of potential sacrifices you can make to take yourself to higher levels in any of life’s arenas.
Integrity is about much more than just not stealing, cheating, and lying; and, in this podcast episode, Dave wraps up his Game Film Finale Series with a look at the last, but certainly not least, of the unstoppable 8 traits – all to help you touch up this trait in your life for the coming year.
Everyone focuses on something throughout their days, and with one year winding down and a new one approaching it's an excellent time to evaluate and adjust your focus, where necessary, based on the important life areas that Dave shares in this podcast episode.
Attitude is a choice, and in today's podcast episode Dave continues the Game Film Finale Series with insight on this game changing trait so you can reflect on the choice you’ve made with yours and adjust as necessary as the year draws to a close and a fresh one emerges.
Game changers not only posses effort, energy, enthusiasm, and excellence but also know how to generate passion from within. Dave continues his 8 part Game Film Finale Series with today's focus on how to fuel, feed, and fire up your passion - the fifth Unstoppable game changer trait.
In this episode Dave continues his Game Film Finale Series with a look at the game changer trait "Excellence," sharing key principles to help you finish the year strong, get to that next level this coming year, and become more intentional about living with excellence in all aspects of your life.
Get some enthusiasm going for yourself NOW, and carry it into the new year, with the third installment of Dave Anderson’s eight-part Game Film Finale Series. Today’s episode highlights the third of the 8 Unstoppable game changer traits: enthusiasm.
In today’s episode Dave continues his eight-part special Game Film Finale Series – designed to help you finish the final weeks of this year strong and get a productive start to the coming one - with an focus on the unstoppable trait: Energy.
In this episode, Dave kicks off part 1 of the limited-run, “Game Film Finale Series,” - a series designed to help you finish up the final 8 weeks of the year strong and set a firm foundation for the year to come – with an in-depth look at the first of the 8 key unstoppable traits: Effort.
Game changers are always progressing whether it is in improving their mindset, daily habits, attitude, consistency, performance, or more. There are many key aspects of a game changer’s performance that assists in their attaining and raising their success levels, and in today's podcast episode Dave shares five of them that game changers don't take for granted.
We all go through things, but what makes us different is how we respond to them. In this episode Dave shares a series of "adversity incidents" outlined in his upcoming book Intentional Mindset, to help show that even when things seem to be happening "to" you, there lies opportunity to make it happen “for” you, and become stronger, wiser, and better.
While it may seem an improvement, continuing to do what is wrong less often is not good. In this episode Dave explains the dangers of settling for “less bad,” and why doing so isn’t game changer behavior.
Sometimes things deemed “old school” can be seen as outdated, unfashionable, or behind the times; but in this episode Dave reminds that old school is cool, and shares some “old school” attributes that game changers possess which NEVER go out of style.
Game changers are all about staying vigilant, diligent, and nimble - not getting stuck in a stale way of doing things and becoming oblivious to what's going on around them simply because it's what they've always done in the past. In this episode Dave shares insight on these three concepts that play a key role in your levels of productivity, relevance, and ability to develop a game changing edge.
Does the impression you leave others with make them say “WOW” in a good way? Standing out isn't necessarily a matter of what you do but how you do it, and in this episode Dave highlights how to impact others in a meaningful and memorable way.
Intelligence isn’t fixed, and we can build upon and improve our measures of it – as well as the 8 game changer traits – when we understand a couple of critical truths. In this episode Dave goes over these truths so that you can take yourself to an entirely new level of performance.
Pride and prejudice are two feelings that, among other things, will isolate you from the realities about people unlike you, to the extent that you won't be able to live your best life or help others live theirs. In today's podcast episode, Dave guides on how to improve your understanding about these feelings that can cause you to degrade and discourage others, and how to not fall into the trap that they lay for you.
When results begin to show after working hard through a struggle or towards a goal, there exists a dangerous potential of declaring victory too soon. In this episode Dave and special guest Ryan "The Killer" Cota discuss the consequences and share principles to help you stay focused, persistent, and grounded as you move closer towards your goals.
Undertakers, Caretakers, Playmakers, and Game Changers all have the same number of hours to work with during a day, with the key separator between them being what they do during those hours, and how well they do it. Here in this episode, Dave shares the game changer's approach to ensuring a strong takeoff to the day, and how to finish well - regardless of how tough the day may be.
We all experience hurts, but without dealing with the mental pain or distress they cause, they can develop into - or create - an intense and passionate dislike: hate. In this episode, Dave shares how you can tell if hurts in your life have developed into hate, and what impact it’s having on your ability to live life as a game changer.
Our lives are filled with habits, and if you're not aware of them - and where they're taking you - then you won't know which ones to reinforce or which ones you should work at replacing with something else. This episode from Dave is all about helping you develop that awareness so you can get to where you want to go in business and in life.
After a disappointment, setback, loss, or tough time in general, you have the choice to get better or get beaten. Ultimately, your decision is based on your mindset and the actions you take as you emerge from that tough time, and here Dave provides guidance on how to get better because of that tough time and not beaten as a result of it.
Game changers identify what they must do daily to move forward, and while you may not yet be able to move on physically from this virus crisis, you can move on mentally and start to plan for what you're going to do once this is behind you. In this session Dave shares ideas and suggestions for how you can mentally move forward now.
Positivity and optimism are two similar yet different concepts, and in this session Dave shares why both are necessary for living the game changer life, and how you can develop them both in your life despite these unique times.
When things are out of order or in disarray, your mindset can get so bogged down that you don't plan ahead or move forward mentally to what will come next when order returns. In this episode Dave discusses how to stay mentally sharp and focused so that you keep moving forwards instead of behaving reactively to what's going on around you.
Tough times provide us opportunities to become better personally and professionally; but, getting better as a result of a crisis, isn't so much about "getting through it" as it is "getting from it" and embracing the mindset to not miss the lessons.
During a crisis you may not be able to make the money that you're used to making; but, you can make a bigger difference than you've ever made. And that all depends on whether your mindset and attitude is to look to serve others or to be served by them.
This virus crisis isn't a reason to lose discipline and focus, slack on your productive routines, and compromise your values even when things get tough - THIS is not a license for laziness!
For many, this virus crisis feels like an off season - which begs the question, what are you doing to maximize it so you can leverage your advantage when game time comes up again?
Down times are a fact of life; but, no matter what hard times we may face in our lives, we can adopt the mindset to stay up and unstoppable - and this episode shares 6 helpful ways for you to do just that.
Regardless of whether we generate them ourselves, or if we pick them up from our surroundings, negative thoughts are inevitable, and have a huge impact on our ability to live an unstoppable life. They drain our energy, passion, and more; and, while we can’t eliminate them from our lives, there are certain steps we can take so they don’t lead to a negative mind and life. In this episode, Dave shares switches you can make to break the pattern, fortify your mind, live a life of gratitude, and not let negativity hijack your mind.
Game changers are hungry and humble: thinking how others won’t think, doing what others won’t do, and attacking each day with the mindset of an “advanced beginner.” In this episode Dave recounts a recent interaction he had with a game changer, and shares some key takeaways from his experience that you can begin to apply in your daily routine to think and act more like an advanced beginner.
Energy is defined as the strength and vitality required for sustained mental and physical activity. Having consistent energy is important for living your game changer life, and there's much you can do personally on a daily basis that will increase or decrease your energy levels. In this episode Dave shares an often overlooked strategy to boost your energy, sustain your drive and stay mentally focused in pursuit of your goals.
Self-esteem and self-confidence are often used interchangeably but in fact there’s a big difference between the two. Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself while self-confidence is how you feel about your abilities. Both are key to living the game changer life and in this episode Dave shares insight and steps for intentionally building both.
Routines are important, but when they start to feel "routine", mundane, or boring, you can find yourself doing things with less energy, enthusiasm, excellence, and more. It's not just what we do daily, but how we choose to do it that determines our success, and the start of a new year brings a great opportunity to think about your routine and see what adjustments you can make. Listen to this episode for Dave's keys on how to cultivate an energized game changing routine.
In this politically correct and soft age we live in accountability has become something seen as harsh, mean, or unfair. But in reality, when it's done in the right way, and in the right measure, there is much good that comes from both personal and team accountability. A key to embracing accountability is getting your mindset to look at it the right way, and in this episode Dave shares ten benefits of accountability to help you do just that.
In this episode Dave shares a touching, real life story of inspiration and perspective - with key lessons of gratitude and living in the moment to be learned - and offers you a chance to make a difference.
The Golden Rule advises us: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. One of the dangers of becoming successful is thinking so much of yourself and your success that you begin to regard others differently, as inferior, or incidental, or there primarily for your benefit. Game changers are concerned with impacting others, as much as they are with advancing themselves, and this episode shares steps to help you do both in all of life's arenas.
Giving is a big part of the game changer life: giving more back to your family, your team, to those you work with, to society, and more. If you look around today, there's a lot of people not fully living the game changer life because they're "takers" who never really give. This episode shares a few simple areas where you can give to others, make a lasting impact on their life, and as a result live at a higher level personally.
"I didn't have time," "I just couldn't find the time," and similar, are excuses that make you common, make you weak, and hold you back from reaching your unstoppable potential. No matter our circumstances, each of us has 24 hours in the day, and this episode shares simple steps to eliminate those excuses from your vocabulary and your life, so you can be a game changer and focus on doing - and saying - what is more productive during those 24 hours.
Disappointments are a fact of life. The question isn't whether you'll experience them, but whether you'll use them to your advantage and get better because of them; or, be abused by them when they happen, and let them hijack your attention, focus, productivity, joy, and more. How we handle disappointments is key to living the game changer life, and this episode from Dave Anderson shares key steps to help you process disappointments productively and shift your thinking so you remain focused, energized, and on the path to unstoppable greatness.
So many people in life are in a scene they're unhappy with, whether it's at work, on a team they're part of, or at home. So often we take a passive approach and wait for the scene to change to our liking, instead of actively changing what we can control - ourselves. We spend a large part of our lives in the scenes we're part of, and if we want to change our scene and influence it in a positive way we've got to do our part to change ourselves first. Change yourself with the keys Dave shares in this episode and change your scene.
Living the game changer life is more a matter of your personal decisions rather than external conditions. Decisions can be very empowering or disabling - depending on who or what you're saying "yes" or "no" to. Make the wrong decisions and you can create awful conditions for yourself in your career, your life, or in the lives of those you care about. If you want to spend less time with the wrong stuff and the wrong people, you've got to make the decision to say "no" to nonsense, and this episode shares a few key things you can begin saying "no" to right now.
Living the game changer life and maintaining inner peace is not an either-or proposition. Game changers make an effort to be so well prepared and focused on what matters most, that despite whatever busyness, critics, or chaos that comes their way, they can be undeterred in their sense of calm, enthusiasm, and drive. This episode shares strategies to help you build and maintain a sense of calm resolve and confidence as you work relentlessly towards the things you want, despite whatever may be going on around you.
Excuses are common amongst underachievers, and when you're trying to live the game changer life, the effects caused by making them are devastating to your potential. Game changers are in the habit of owning it, and not making as many excuses when it comes to their performance and bringing more energy, effort, enthusiasm, excellence, passion, attitude, focus, and integrity to all they do. This episode shares four common excuses to renounce and give up so you can "own it" just like game changers do.
One of the things about game changers is that they're not just in it for themselves. They don't just live the 8 key game changer traits daily to make themselves unstoppable, but do so to also impact others: teammates, family, friends, and others who count on them. No matter who it is you're trying to impact, the best way to maximize your influence is to develop the strength of your relationship with that person. Whether you're needing to reconnect with someone, or be more intentional about building relationships with others, this episode shares a back-to-basics process to help you expand your impact and influence with those you want to help develop.
Dave Anderson's 10 ACCREDITED traits are designed to help you develop more killer instinct and mental toughness, and in this episode he introduces the first of these traits: Attitude. Use the 7 key aspects Dave shares to take an honest assessment of your daily attitude, and reflect on what you can improve so you can develop more killer instinct and mental toughness - and spend more of your days in game changer mode as a result.
Momentum is a powerful force that can work for you or against you. When you have it, things can be easier; but, when you don't have it, everything's harder than it should be. Sometimes something good or bad will happen beyond your control that will affect your momentum, but for the most part YOU dictate your momentum by the decisions, actions, and changes you take on a daily basis. This episode from Dave shares simple yet effective ways you can make your own positive momentum and get things going in your favor.
Are the things that you're continually thinking about - the things that regularly preoccupy or intrude on your mind (your obsessions) - taking you to where you want to go in business and in life? Or are they making it harder for you to get there? Not all obsessions are healthy, but this episode shares a handful of beneficial ones that you can rely on to help you become a game changer in all you do.
We can all get dealt a poor hand from time to time, but how you respond and choose to play it will either elevate you or devastate you. In this episode, Dave is joined by NBA center Thomas Bryant of the Washington Wizards, who describes his journey from being selected and released by the Los Angeles Lakers within a year, to moving on and setting records with the Washington Wizards! Applicable lessons for taking the things that appear to happen "to" you and using them to happen "for" you!
Game changers know that unconditional performance is essential for becoming unstoppable. They don't just give it their all and bring the 8 key traits only when all is fine at home, or when they feel 100%, or when they've had a good night's sleep. They tough it out, and bring it all, whether they feel like it or not. In this episode Dave shares some thoughts and benefits to toughing it out and being an unconditional performer so you can invest in your character, your confidence, your reputation, and your future.
So many people spend so much of their lives pursuing mental comfort - doing what they've always done or doing what's safe and predictable rather than changing, risking, and growing. Discomfort is a part of the growth process, and if you want to grow and become unstoppable, you need to seek it out. In this episode Dave shares the power of discomfort and how to use, embrace, and leverage it to become the game changer at what you do.
There's a lot of information available today on goal setting, but an important and often overlooked component is alignment. There are certain things in your life that have to align with your goals, and if they don't you'll fall short of reaching them. Here Dave shares 5 critical success factors of your life that need to be aligned with your personal goals, so you can set yourself up for success when it comes to goal attainment.
In this episode of The Game Changer Life, Dave welcomes Ethan Happ - Wisconsin Men's Basketball star, 2-time All American, and winner of the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award. With impressive achievements both on and off the court, Ethan and Dave discuss insights on consistency, overcoming heartbreak, the power of giving back to those less fortunate, and more.
We each have the potential for greatness; but, ultimately achieving greatness is a matter of our choices. In this episode Dave talks about making better choices so that no matter what you do, or whatever you aspire to do, you can become great at it.
When it comes to your thinking, you either have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. Because your thinking determines your behaviors and your behaviors determine your results, if you want to live the game changer life that yields high-performance results, you need a mindset that is growing. This episode gives you the rundown on traits of a fixed mindset, and traits of a growth mindset, so you can fine tune your mindset and keep it on the path towards growth.
No matter what team you're on, whether it's in the workplace, in athletics, or even just within your family, you're either adding or subtracting value to that team. Nobody has a neutral impact, and one of the key factors that determines whether you're a team elevator (one who adds value) or a devastator (one who diminishes value), is whether or not you're selfless or selfish. In this episode Dave compares and contrasts selfless and selfish tendencies so that you can determine where you stand and make adjustments to become or stay a team elevator, and add value to those around you.
Toughness itself is not a talent you're born with. It is a state that can be developed, allowing you to leverage your talent and skills, and maximize your knowledge. In this episode Dave explores toughness: where it comes from, how it shows up, and most importantly, how your toughness - specifically mental toughness - impacts team members and those around you positively or negatively.
What do you say when you talk to yourself? Whether you say it out loud or silently in your head, how you talk to yourself has a tremendous impact on your living life as a game changer. For starters, it affects your attitude, body language, energy, and more! In this episode Dave aims to bring awareness to the power of what you say to yourself, and the impact it has - or could have - on you if you do or don't change it.
We all need feedback in order to grow, and whether you're being held accountable, or holding others accountable, it's important to realize that criticizing isn't an effective way to improve performance. Accountability is, and in this episode Dave sheds light on the difference between the two so that when you're receiving feedback you view it in the right manner and grow because of it, and when you're giving feedback you do it in a way that helps the individual reach their fullest potential.
Chaos comes and goes from all our lives, sometimes having a full blitz on us, while other times having just a minimal presence here or there. Regardless of how much chaos surrounds us at any given time, its effect is still the same - distracting us and hijacking our focus from what matters most. In this episode, Dave shares vital principles to help you thrive amidst the chaos that can easily distract you, and live your life as game changers do.
There are four different levels of accountability that are present in any organization, or on any team, the best and ultimate being self-accountability. At this level people hold themselves to a higher standard than anyone else can - or ever could for that matter - and deliver the 8 unstoppable traits day in and day out. Self-accountability is a key component in the lives of game changers, and in this episode Dave shares more on the power that self-accountability can have in your life.
Consistency is a key separator between the playmaker and the game changer. When it comes to consistency there are some common temptations that playmakers are prone to fall for, which leave them falling short of becoming unstoppable - and this episode describes 6 that you'll want to be aware of as you work towards the game changer life.
We all appreciate physical comfort - freedom from physical pain - however, we sometimes seek out a different type of mental comfort to avoid any pain that comes with taking a risk, making a change, starting something new, etc. This form of comfort is a silent seducer, and has the ability to hold you back from becoming unstoppable. In this episode Dave shares a few simple areas where you may have let comfort take hold of determining how far you go, and how fast you get there.
It's not crowded at the top; it's crowded at the bottom, where there's intense competition amongst the mediocre - those who do just enough to get by, get paid, or not get fired. The road less traveled is the path for getting to the top, and in this episode Dave shares five ways that you can take that journey towards the game changer life.
In this episode Dave defines mental softness, and shares six warning signs you may currently be - or are becoming - too soft. Use this episode to help yourself wise up, toughen up, suck it up, and grow up, so you can go up to that game changer level of performance and stay there more often!
JFK once said, "The best time to fix the roof is when the sun is shining," meaning don't wait for something bad to happen before making a change. The natural tendency in life is to wait for the bottom to fall out before making a change to improve our life - we wait for the heart attack, for the spouse to walk out, to be passed over or fired, and more. This episode shares areas of your life where you can't afford to wait if you want to get to game changer status. Listen to it and go fix the roof today!
You can't progress towards the game changer life when you live in denial and fail to face reality about what's really holding you back. Self-deception, or failing to look at yourself for what you really are, leads to eventual self-destruction because you're on the wrong path but don't even recognize it. This episode shares four signs and fixes for self-deception to help you stay on track to the game changer life.
Sometimes you find yourself in a situation with others where there's an evident lack of positive energy, and no sense of hope or excitement. Whether it's during a meeting, at a gathering with friends, or even at the dinner table, you have the choice to be a passive participant in the misery or to take the lead and shift the energy in the room. Game changers take the latter option, and this episode shares four things you can do in these situations, to shift the room and leave it with a sense of positivity and hope.
In this special coaching episode of The Game Changer Life, Dave addresses four key questions shared by listeners concerning improving results at work and home. These questions have wide applicability, and Dave's answers may be just what you need to move forward on your own game changing journey. Share your own game changer life-related questions with us on Twitter, on Facebook, or at ryanthekillercota@learntolead.com.
At different points in our life, we can be inspired by others' stories of overcoming setbacks, traversing through adversity, and getting over hard times - using them to help strengthen ourself or to help others in their time of need. In this episode, Dave shares a true and personal story to help you in that regard, and prepare you and those you care about to be better able to live the game changer life in the face of despair.
In today's society there is too much of a prevailing mindset that we have "throw away days" - that it is excusable to perform less than your best today, because there is always tomorrow. We each only have so many days, and the danger of this mindset is that it will leave you falling short of reaching the game changer life. In this episode Dave shares ways that you can make not only today, but everyday, a masterpiece. Get more out of each day and max it out with the help of this episode.
When you visualize a boxer training and hitting a bag, he or she is: in control, delivering the punches, being proactive, and setting the pace. The bag on the other hand is getting beat up, pushed around, and reacting rather than initiating. Sometimes in life we're more like the bag than the boxer, and in this episode Dave shares disciplines that will help you regain control and turn things around so you are more like the boxer - dictating the pace on your path to the game changer life.
Rejection is a part of life. Whether it's for a date, a job, a promotion, a loan, or something else, the way you handle rejection has the power to elevate or devastate you. In this show Dave shares 7 ways that you can interpret and benefit from rejection, so that it fuels you towards your goals, keeps you in your zone, and leaves you stronger, wiser, and better.
What does living the game changer life really look like? What is the unstoppable mindset really all about? In this episode Dave answers these questions and more to help paint a portrait for you to see what living the game changer life is truly all about. Identify where you are in relation to the key points shared, and make adjustments to get or stay on track towards living the game changer life.
Attitude, passion, and enthusiasm are 3 of the unstoppable 8 game changer traits. These 3 traits alone have a significant impact in every area of your life, and the great news is you have control over your levels of each of these daily. In this episode, Dave shares 8 key thoughts on attitude, passion, and enthusiasm - going APE - and how you can get your attitude right, stoke your passion, and ignite your enthusiasm. Use it to help yourself "Go APE" more often, and to influence others to do the same.
Part of living the game changer life is having robust relationships with people in all aspects of your life: if you're in the workplace, if you're on a team, with your family, and with your friends. Game changers understand what it takes to develop robust relationships with people, and this episode's 9 tips will help you not only bring your current relationships to a new level, but head into new relationships with the right mindset to make life more fulfilling, rewarding, and enjoyable.
In this episode, Dave welcomes special guest and three-time Big 10 basketball champion Max Bielfeldt to the LearnToLead studios. Together they discuss hunger in relation to goals, what constitutes a great teammate, remaining focused despite injuries and external conditions that may be outside of your control, and much more! Listen in to help ignite or refuel your hunger as you work towards the game changer life, and share it with those you care about to help them do the same.
Loyalty, tenure, and seniority are commonly confused, but game changers understand that loyalty is performance. Tenure and seniority can become a license for laziness for team members not content to work as hard or as smart as they once did; and, without a proper understanding of loyalty, you could be holding yourself back from living the game changer life. This episode shares ways you can show loyalty, so that you can evaluate your own mindset and performance, and help those you care about do so as well.
In this episode Dave welcomes back special guest and basketball coach Phil Beckner, and together they take a look at how to draw out the best in others when it comes to coaching. In addition, they discuss how to get the most out of the coaching that you receive personally, so you can bring out the best in yourself. Apply their insight today to not only help yourself live the game changer life more consistently, but to impact others to do the same as well.
Many people think they're hard workers simply because they put in a lot of hours and are busy during the day; but, the truth about hard work is that if it isn't smart work, it's dumb work. Game changers understand the difference between hard and smart work, and in fact do both. This episode from Dave shares the truth about hard work so that you can end your days feeling energized, motivated, and accomplished, rather than unfulfilled, depleted, and frustrated.
Game changers are interested in not only getting better themselves, but also in helping lift and elevate others to a whole new level. They are masters in the art of encouragement, and understand its potential to create a miraculous moment in a situation, in someone's day, or in someone's life. This episode from Dave shares thoughts and steps on encouragement, and how this simple act that costs you nothing can bring welcome consequences to both your life and the lives of others.
There's extreme power in now, and game changers don't just think about things, ponder things, discuss things, or procrastinate over things; they fully leverage the power in now. In this episode Dave discusses the power that now brings, and shares its importance in helping you live the game changer life.
The late Jim Rohn was a game changing mentor and inspiration to leaders worldwide for decades, and in this episode Dave opens up the door for you to learn more about him and his game changing wisdom. Listen in for thoughts and quotes from Jim, and insight from Dave on how you can apply them to help yourself and others live more of the unstoppable game changer life.
Game changers consistently bring higher levels of effort, energy, enthusiasm, excellence, passion, attitude, focus, and integrity to all they do. In this episode Dave shares areas where game changers, and aspiring game changers alike, focus on growing so that they can more consistently bring those 8 key traits and deliver unstoppable performance day in and day out in all they do.
Pruning is the process of removing what is undesirable in order to make room for growth, and is a necessity if you want to reach your fullest potential and live the game changer life. In this episode Dave shares three pruning strategies (realign, revitalize, remove) you can apply to your daily activities, associations, mindset, and more, to help you remove what's less than optimal and make room for unstoppable growth.
There are some really dumb things we can do on a daily basis, that start off as tendencies but if left unchecked can turn into habits. And without acknowledging them, facing them, and fixing them, you'll find yourself continually being taken out of your zone, and unable to consistently bring the 8 key game changer traits to all you do. This episode shares 10 dumb tendencies for you to watch out for so you can stay on track towards living the game changer life.
As Vince Lombardi said, "It's hard to be aggressive when you're confused." Game changers know this and understand that becoming unstoppable is a result of becoming resolutely clear about their: purpose, goals, values, personal philosophy, daily behaviors, and more. This episode shares the powerful benefits of clarity as well as key aspects to creating clarity, so hat you can reach your fullest potential and help others do the same.
Game changing results aren't a product of doing extraordinary things, but rather doing the ordinary things extraordinarily well - every day, without excuse, and regardless of the cost. In this episode Dave shares five keys to effective execution so you can apply the 8 game changer traits more consistently day in and day out, and execute towards your most bold visions and goals.
Having an open mind is important when considering ideas, opinions, feedback, or suggestions. But equally important, especially if you want to live the game changer life, is knowing when to have a closed mind - becoming more discretionary about where you invest your precious time, energy, and resources. In this episode, Dave shares areas where you should close your mind to, so you can assess and address anything that is holding you back from becoming unstoppable.
Some people grow old, but they don't grow up - still making the same mistakes and possessing the same mindsets and habits that held them back years ago. You can't become your best until you're learning from the past, and to help you become your best, Dave shares 10 lessons he would teach to his younger self. If you've learned these lessons already, use this as a reinforcement, or to share those lessons with others so you can nudge them closer to living the game changer life.
Excellence is about doing something a certain way, with a certain intent, every single time, and it's one of the 8 key traits game changers bring consistently to all they do. Because excellence is often misunderstood, this episode clarifies how the game changer defines excellence and gives steps for developing it, so that you can bring more of it day in and day out, and help others do so as well.
Getting to game changer status doesn't happen overnight. Change, over time, is what enables us to move from lower performance levels up to game changer; but, without a proper understanding of change, you'll be left feeling frustrated or worn out as you try to change things like: how you think, your personal philosophy, your daily activities, and more. Use Dave's 6 simple truths about change to make the necessary adjustments you need to get up to that next performance level, or stay there longer.
Living the game changer life does not mean that you need to renounce relationships and become isolated or friendless on your path to high achievement. Game changers are all about bringing others with them on the journey, and impacting them in a positive way. This episode covers 7 things you need to "be" in order to have healthy game changer relationships with anyone, anywhere.
In this special one-on-one coaching edition of the podcast, Dave has devoted the entire session to answer listeners' questions. Listen for coaching and feedback on topics including: breaking out of ruts, the importance of taking your days off, raising the bar for those you lead, the perils of focus in regards to not making mistakes, and more!
Becoming a game changer doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice joy, fun, and balance in life on your path to high achievement. In today's episode Dave discusses the difference between contentment and complacency by sharing 4 keys to contentment, so that wherever you may be on your journey to the game changer life, you can elevate your personal fulfillment, and enhance the lives of those around you as well.
Accountability has become an offensive topic in today's politically correct climate; but, in reality, accountability is an absolute necessity. In this episode, Dave talks about the power that accountability brings for both leaders and non-leaders alike, and discusses strategies to help grow yourself and others to full potential.
Integrity is one of the unstoppable eight traits that game changers more consistently bring to all they do; and really, integrity is the one trait that ties them all together. You can be bringing all of the other traits, but if you're not doing things the right way, it all eventually begins to unravel. In this episode Dave presents key traits of integrity for you to evaluate where you're hitting the mark or where you may be lacking, so that you can face it, fix it, and get back on track to living the unstoppable game changer life.
In Dave's book Unstoppable, in his workshop Mission Unstoppable, and in past episodes of the Game Changer Life, he talks about four types of performers: undertakers, caretakers, playmakers, and game changers. In this episode, Dave gives you a look at the playmaker performer, and shares some traits that separate these individuals from undertaker and caretaker status, plus some traits that hold playmakers back from becoming game changers. Use the principles to take yourself up to that next level of performance and start living the Game Changer Life.
Discipline is the fuel that makes consistency go, and is a huge part of what enables game changers to consistently bring great performance in all that they do. Discipline isn't something you're born with; it's something you choose to develop - or not - and impacts whether or not you achieve your fullest potential. Because discipline is also subject to fizzle out over the long haul, this episode from Dave shares some ways you can develop discipline so you can get to that next level of performance, and beyond.
Negative people are everywhere, and at some point you'll come across them, whether it's in your family, your circle of friends, or in the workplace. For these individuals, negativity dominates their mindset, and this episode from Dave shares strategies for how you can handle them productively so you can guard your own attitude, energy, and time, and stay on track towards living the game changer life.
Anyone who tries things, takes risks, grows, and learns, is going to make mistakes. Mastering mistakes isn't so much about stopping mistakes altogether, as it is about learning how to handle them when they happen - and also how to handle when others make them too. In this episode, Dave shares how to handle mistakes like a game changer, so that you stay focused, in your zone, and making progress towards your most bold and compelling goals.
Maxing out, and getting the most out of every moment has little to do with your talent, experience, knowledge, or skill set. It's an issue of mindset - a certain way of thinking and living - and in this episode Dave shares six ways that game changers max out every moment so that you, and others you influence, can live that game changer life.
Giving is a great energizer, and is a big part of the game changer life - energizing the giver, the person receiving, and everyone around the two. Giving is a lifestyle rather than just a particular time or season of the year, and in this episode Dave discusses 4 things that you can give everyday to leave yourself and others energized, and live the game changer life.
The Law of the Mirror states, "It's my personal decisions more than external conditions that determine how far I go and how fast I get there." Looking in the mirror is all about focusing on your personal decisions rather than external conditions that you can't control, and in this episode Dave shares some decisions you can make to keep hold of your personal power to move forward, and marginalize the effect of any conditions you are facing.
Many people - often without realizing it - have chosen to make complaining a central part of their life and a huge part of their vocabulary. While there will be things in life that warrant some level of dissatisfaction, the problem with chronic whining and complaining is that doing so will hold you back from living the game changer life. Use this episode from Dave to help change your perspective, complain less, and bring more of the 8 game changer traits to your life daily.
The words we say matter, and have immense power to impact our life (and the lives of others) either positively or negatively. Getting the wrong words and thoughts going in your head can drain enthusiasm, energy, passion, and more. Focusing on the right words however, and getting your behaviors and actions more in accordance with them, can lift, elevate, inspire, and create hope. In this episode Dave shares commonly heard phrases you can trade-in for something more powerful and positive that will change your thinking, your behaviors, your results, and your life.
Consistency is a key separator between the average, the good, the great, and the best performers in any endeavor. Many people often don't need to do anything new in order to get to higher levels of performance, but rather just need to do more of the right and effective things more consistently. The great news is that consistency can be developed, and in this episode Dave provides some structured steps to follow that will help you become more consistent and deliver game changer performance more often in all that you do.
In this episode Dave welcomes special guest David Gillum, General Manager of America's #1 volume Mazda dealership, Galpin Mazda in Los Angeles, California. Together they discuss what it takes to build an unstoppable culture, and how doing so enabled Galpin Mazda to secure its spot as the number one Mazda dealer in the United States.
Life is far more fulfilling when you're surrounded by great people - by great teammates - and it's better for others when YOU are that teammate. In this episode Dave shares 7 traits to help make you a better teammate. No matter what type of team you're on (sports team, military unit, business team, or more) these traits will help you to become more valuable so that you can help make the team more valuable as well.
Zone busters are things that break your focus, distract you, and cause you to stop doing the productive activities that take you to the game changer life. The more often we take the bait and fall into the traps these zone busters leave, the less effective we are; and, to help you become more aware of their impact, Dave highlights 9 zone busters in this episode. Use these examples to help yourself and others recognize their presence and avoid their traps so that you become unstoppable.
Real commitment is about paying a price, consistently over time, to achieve a goal. Many people often say they're committed (to becoming the best, to making it their best year ever, and more), but are they really? In this episode Dave shares 7 signs of commitment for you to use in determining whether you're truly committed to, or just simply interested in, working towards your most important goals.
Developing the positive power of gratitude is key to taking yourself to game changer status, especially considering the growing sense of entitlement in society and less thankfulness people possess in the little things. In this episode, Dave shares 6 ways you can establish an attitude of gratitude. Use them to develop the state of mind to become happier, live more fulfilled, and bring the 8 key game changer traits more consistently to your life so that you become unstoppable. It's also a highly recommended share with those who've lost sight of all they have to be grateful for, and need a healthier perspective.
Excuses are the DNA of underachievers. They take us out of our zone and divert our energy and focus away from the things we can control, towards things that we can't do anything about. In this episode, Dave shares four common excuses that we all hear and sometimes say ourselves, which have the power to hold us back from living the game changer life. Listen to this episode to acknowledge them, fix them, and give them up so that you can go up - and help others do so as well.
The failure to reconcile after doing or saying something that potentially injured a personal, customer, or work relationship, is a great source of tension and stress for both parties. In this episode, Dave shares four steps to help you reconcile, make things right, stay in your zone, and get back on track to living the game changer life with more positive energy, passion, and enthusiasm.
Achieving a goal, no matter how big or small it may be, leaves you feeling great. Missing a goal however, can leave you feeling frustrated. Whether you already have your goals planned out or you're just getting started, this episode and the 7 goal-setting steps that Dave provides will help make you - and the others you share it with - unstoppable in pursuit of achieving them.
In this episode, Dave welcomes strength and conditioning coach Lyonel Anderson, and together they discuss how the things you want most (in business and in life) always require a price. Getting to your goals is not a one-time-lump-sum payment, and there will be things you need to give up in order to go up; but, game changers know that the prize is worth the price. Listen to this episode to fuel you on your journey to achieving your goals and reaching your fullest potential.
Enthusiasm is one of the eight key traits that game changers possess and consistently bring to all that they do everyday. Many people often wait around for something to happen, or to do something that they like, before they can become enthusiastic; but, living like this will cause you to be unenthusiastic for a majority of the time With a change in mindset however, you can create your own enthusiasm, and in this episode Dave shares 3 enthusiasm "makers" and 2 enthusiasm "breakers" to help bring you one step closer to living the game changer life.
Entitlement is the feeling that you are owed something that you actually are not. It's a mindset that drains the life out of an organization and its culture. In this episode, Dave shares symptoms of entitlement and remedies to help you prevent its rise in society from taking over your own mindset, and your organization's culture as well.
Mental toughness is a separator between the average and the unstoppable. It makes you more desirable, resilient, and persistent; makes people want to give you more responsibility; and makes people want you on their team because they know that something good is going to happen because you're involved. In this episode, Dave shares the key to building mental toughness, so that you can positively impact your performance and be a game changer on your team.
We all do stupid things from time to time; it's part of the human condition. From time to time we also have to deal with people who continually do stupid things and let stupidity dominate their decisions, actions, and life. In this episode, Dave shares steps for you to deal intelligently with stupidity (whether it's people on your team, people who work for you, or someone you work for). Use this episode to help avoid being taken out of your zone and away from the game changer life by stupidity.
Some people spend a majority of their career and their lives looking back to the past, and in the process turn themselves into victims. There is nothing that will make you feel more like a victim and take you further away from the game changer life, than continuing to look back on things that have already happened that you can't do anything about. Use this episode to focus your power on the things you can control, on creating your best future, and on living a game changer life.
To get to where you want to go in business and in life, choosing to grow is a necessity. Without deliberately choosing to grow, you'll still go somewhere, but where you're headed may not be where you want to go - into a state of decline, into a plateau, or out the door. In this episode, Dave shares simple steps for intentionally and systematically growing yourself so that you can get above playmaker status, and live the game changer life.
Tough times are something that we all face, and something that we can learn to handle better. In this episode, Dave welcomes special guest and power forward with the Portland Trail Blazers, Meyers Leonard, to share with you some principles he's found useful in helping him to stay up in down times. Use his insight to help yourself power through your next tough time or to help others do so.
Failure comes with a number of subtle rewards and traps that we're prone to fall into, and in the process, take us away from living the game changer life and into a life of mediocrity and obscurity. In this episode Dave shares some of the ambushes that failure sets for us on a daily basis so that we can guide ourselves out of the trap, and help others avoid it as well.
In this episode, Dave welcomes coach Phil Beckner from the Boise State men's basketball program. Together they discuss the principles of an all-star work ethic through insight and examples from coach Beckner's experience in working with various current NBA stars.
In this episode, Dave discusses the third major rule of basketball coach Don Meyer (everybody picks up the trash), and how its literal and mental application plays a substantial role in helping you live the game changer life both personally and professionally.
Game changers don't rely on pep talks, pats on the back, and other sources of external motivation to stimulate their enthusiasm - their motivation comes from within. In this episode Dave shares 7 ways for you to stimulate the game changer enthusiasm and motivation required to make you unstoppable.
Most people do not miss their goals or fail to achieve their dreams through a lack of knowledge or not knowing what to do. Very often, they know what to do but instead choose to not do it, not do it well, or not do it consistently enough to make any impact. In this episode, Dave discusses how to close that gap so that you can become unstoppable in all that you do.
Caretakers in any organization, or on any team, are baseliners. They do just enough to get by, just enough to get paid, and just enough to not get fired. While their performance is certainly a step up from that of the undertaker, doing just what you're supposed to (as the caretaker does) will hold you back from living the game changer life. In this episode, Dave provides some characteristics of caretakers for you to evaluate your own tendencies against so that if you find yourself in this performance mindset, you can: face it, fix it, and work towards game changer status.
In this episode, Dave interviews former Marquette and Indiana University Coach, Tom Crean, to discuss the steps Crean used to turn the worst team situation in the Indiana Hoosier's 100-plus year history into a championship season. If you want to learn how to play a poor hand well, don't miss this episode!
Many organizations, and people for that matter, fail to sustain their success because of complacency. All too often, someone who becomes good eventually starts to: stay in their comfort zone, stop risking or changing, stop following the processes that made them successful, and more. In this episode, Dave shares three key temptations that successful people are prone to fall into. Whether you're already successful, or just starting out, use this episode to identify and avoid these key temptations that can hinder your progress towards becoming unstoppable.
If you want more opportunities, influence, trust, responsibility, and more, then you need to start owning it! The lack of ownership and acceptance of responsibility is what often prevents playmakers from becoming game changers. In this episode, Dave provides eight non-negotiable traits of game changers that you have the ability to own and consistently deliver daily to help you live the game changer life.
Becoming a game changer isn't just about being great at whatever it is that you do; an important aspect of living the game changer life, is living a life that is in balance. In this episode Dave gives four primary sectors of life where you should work to become more balanced in, and shares some dangers of what can happen if you stay out of balance for too long in one of those areas.
Everyone has a philosophy. It's what influences the way you see things, the way you make decisions, the way you respond to people, and more. The question isn't whether or not you have a philosophy. More importantly, what is your philosophy and where is it taking you? In this episode, Dave shares some elements of his own philosophy to help you develop, define, or tweak your own philosophy so that you become unstoppable.
In life there are countless opportunities for us to become bitter: losing the game, being rejected, being disrespected, someone else getting the credit, and more. In this episode, Dave discusses how "taking the bait" and choosing to live with bitterness prevents you from living the game changer life, and offers strategies to build a mindset and attitude where you stay in your zone and avoid taking the bait of bitterness.
In this bonus release episode, Dave shares "don'ts" and "do's" with graduates to help them narrow their focus and build a game changer mindset for the next step in their journey. Inspire a recent or soon-to-be graduate with this message. Long-ago graduates may also want to review these principles to audit how they're living them out in their own lives.
People are either energy makers or energy leaks; they bring it or drain it, elevate or devastate, inspire or expire. In this episode Dave talks about how to bring the energy to whatever you do, so that you can maximize and sustain performance. In addition, he discusses how energy differs from drive, and how Game Changers bring both drive and energy to what they do every day.
In this episode Dave welcomes special guest, Shawn Meaike, president and founder of Family First Life Insurance. Shawn's energy and passion for both business and life have set the tone for his organization, and in this episode Dave and Shawn discuss the success principles (hint: a ton of hard work) that helped grow his organization from its first full year in 2014 to finishing 2016 at $80+ million, and how they're on track to eclipse that in 2017 despite intense competition in the industry.
Are you willing to fight for what you want most in life, or do you give up at the first, second or tenth setback? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your dreams when things don’t go your way? In this episode Dave shares the unstoppable mental approach that earned Yogi Ferrell a spot as Point Guard for the Dallas Mavericks, and how you can develop the focus, and unstoppable relentless spirit to fight like Ferrell. Use this story to inspire yourself and others!
Your "WHY" is what moves you. It's your purpose, your reasons for doing what you do, and what causes you to get up in the morning. In this episode, Dave talks about how your WHY has the immense power to propel you towards your dreams and aspirations, and shares insight for how your WHY can add more value to yourself and allow you to raise the value of life for others.
In this episode, Dave outlines examples and remedies to combat how political correctness has gone too far and caused: unhealthy compromises, an absence of absolutes, the diminishing of excellence, and a denial of reality that can cause you and others to settle for less than the Game Changer Life. He discusses getting back to common-sense principles like "earn" and "deserve," and giving your best to the best and less to the rest. This one is not for the thin-skinned.
Integrity is doing what you say, when you say, and how you say, without excuse and regardless of the cost. A major aspect of integrity is keeping your commitments. In this episode Dave gives three tips to making and keeping commitments, and a strategy for making up for commitments you failed to keep in the past. This episode also debuts our new "Unstoppa-bullet" feature.
While you cannot control what happens to you, you can control your response. In this episode, Dave helps conduct an "attitude audit" so you can evaluate and adjust your attitude where necessary, and avoid the people or things who can influence it for the worse.
If it’s true that you can transform yourself by renewing your mind, the question is, "What are you renewing your mind with, and what are you being transformed into as a result?" This episode presents ideas and inspiration for daily renewing your mind, if even for five to ten minutes daily, in order to live your life more in unstoppable game changer status.
No one can offend you without your consent, so when the temptation presents itself, don’t take the bait! In this episode Dave discusses the “zone,” the importance of staying in it, and how choosing to take offense can take you out of it, cause you to lose focus, and operate far below peak levels.
Mediocrity is a choice. Whether it’s in your own life, or infecting your organization, you don’t “handle” mediocrity, you devastate it. In this episode Dave explains the penalties of mediocrity and how to overcome it.
There are four primary performance mindsets in any organization: undertakers, caretakers, playmakers and game changers. This episode describes the two types of undertakers that can bring your team down, as well as advice for determining and correcting any “undertaker” tendencies you may have in your own job performance.