Velocitycast: Recent Episodes
Justin Wright
Weekly deep dives into all things performance, health, wellness, and mindset to help you reach your full potential.
Final episode of the podcast - thank you so much to everyone who has tuned in and listened over the last 77 weeks.
As I pivot my newsletter to a different subject matter, and as I enter the next season of my life, this podcast in its current form no longer serves who I want to become. It has been a great experience, and I've enjoyed every second of it.
In this episode, I briefly discuss the most important lessons learned from this endeavor as well as what comes next.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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On the path to accomplishing great things, it's easy to lose sight of everything going well in our life right now. We must learn to be satisfied and grateful without becoming complacent. This fine line is crucial if we want to be happy now instead of at some arbitrary time in the future.
This episode discusses a few strategies for finding this happiness now, and covers the importance of this regular reflection.
Designing Your New Work Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
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New research has shown that there is a region in the brain called the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) which is grown specifically by choosing to do things that we don't want to do. While there has been a long-held belief that choosing to do hard things is beneficial, science is starting to support this claim.
This brain region is larger in older individuals with high cognitive function. It is smaller in obese people, but then grows as they diet and lose weight. It is abnormally large in athletes.
This episode discusses the benefits of developing resilience, the health effects of developing the aMCC, and also explores some contradictory viewpoints.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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There are countless situations in life where we face a crossroads: we put in the little extra effort to do our best, or we accept the effort we've put in already and move on.
In this episode, we discuss the importance of always going the extra mile. I also argue why it's much more like a foot than a mile. If you've done your best work to that point, the extra effort on its own isn't the hard part. The challenge is the discipline and consistency required to do this day in and day out.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Reputations take years to build and moments to tarnish. A bad first impression can lead to a negative reputation following you around, even if your interactions with everyone else is positive.
Navigating life is challenging enough without having to fight uphill because someone heard we were unpleasant. Taking a little extra effort to be prepared, and aiming to bring positive energy to unplanned interactions can go a long way in opening more doors and providing more opportunities.
This week, we dig into why first impressions are important and how to ensure we leave a good one.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Being intentional about how we spend our time allows us to gain more control over our most previous resource. If we fail to do this, we can find ourselves spinning our wheels in life and moving in a direction that we never envisioned for ourself.
This week, we talk about the importance of being more intentional and cover some basic principles for incorporating this practice. From starting small with daily intentions, to zooming out and looking at how we spend our months and years, these strategies will help you accomplish more of what you want in the future.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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If you want to truly be the best at something, if you want to reach the top percentile in any field, you must be willing to make great sacrifices and ignore all other distractions. Thinking you can achieve greatness without the work ethic required is ignorant, and a source of stress and delusion for many.
In this episode, we explore the competitiveness and drive of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Conor McGregor. We discuss the level of granular detail required to be great, and how it's okay to not want those things.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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The concept of a "tribe of mentors" has been discussed by several people, including Tim Ferris who wrote a book of the same name. Traditional mentorship works well for those fortunate enough to establish those relationships.
A modern approach that is more accessible for many is building a personal "board of advisors," close friends and acquaintances from your network who have knowledge of specific subjects and will give you honest feedback. Building this collective group can allow you to leverage a large amount of expertise and a diverse array of viewpoints, and this may prove more useful than having one singular mentor.
In this episode we discuss the characteristics of this circle and how best to build one over time.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Work, life balance is discussed often now, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Balance is important, and we can't burn the candle at both ends over long periods of time expecting a positive result.
The problem is, people confuse two very different situations when it comes to balance. Balance should be achieved over a long time horizon in all areas of life. Balance cannot be achieved in every situation, all the time. If you want to achieve anything meaningful, there will be times in your life where balance goes out the window.
You need to understand and accept this if you want to be successful. You also need to get friends, family, and loved ones on the same page.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Explorers of old used to gather crews and garner support from financial backers with a very loose promise of success. The journeys commenced without a specific destination in mind. If you were to get in your car now and fire up Google maps, you can plug in a specific address or even a specific GPS coordinate to navigate to. The destination is known, although the journey may change based on traffic patterns or missed exits. The journeys of old did not have this specificity.
Some planning in life is necessary. You must have a general sense of what you want to do and where you want to go. Failure to plan in any capacity is foolish; it leaves you susceptible to being swept away by the currents of life. We must set a plan in motion and be biased towards action to make progress.
But so much unhappiness and anxiety comes from over-planning, from too much rigidity. When things don't go our way, which is bound to happen, we must adjust our plans accordingly. If we keep working towards a reality that no longer exists, we will be left stressed and unfulfilled. Success in life often boils down to striking a balance between the two.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Our mental state, and our subconscious thoughts, influence our physical reality more than we may realize. The stories we tell ourselves and the thoughts we have influence our life experiences, for better or worse.
Various studies over the years have shown that our opinions of others can be influenced by something as simple as the temperature of the drink we have in our hands. In this episode, we explore some sayings from John C. Maxwell and some studies from Dr. Ellen Langer to support this notion.
Dr. Ellen Langer on Rich Roll: LINK
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I recently had the pleasure of taking a trip to visit my best friend and his family on the west coast. I had been planning to visit him out there since he moved but, as often happens, life got in the way. We had seen each other in our hometown over the holidays and in other settings, but it was important to me to make that trip.
Maintaining friendships and relationships takes conscious effort. That said, it is always worth it. Time flies as we get older, and it's easy for years to pass by before we see the people we care about.
My challenge to you this week is to make that effort, to visit a friend, to send a message, to make a call. Do your small part to maintain these relationships because, as we age, they're really all we have.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Oftentimes when we are pursuing a goal or achievement it seems as if that goal keeps getting further and further away. It can be frustrating to put all our efforts into something, only to see that goal elude us.
This occurs because the result is the one thing that we often can't control. By focusing on an outcome that we can't guarantee, we are destined for disappointment. Focus instead on the process, on why we pursued that thing in the first place.
Additionally, sometimes it makes more sense to pivot than to stay on the path we're on. If we only focus on the outcome, we won't be aware of these pivots points and often won't realize they are a better fit for us. So stay aware, focus on the process, and detach your emotions from an end-result that you can't control.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Just like the assumptions we discussed last week, our background and our experiences shape what we believe we are capable of in the future. We often put ourselves in a box and limit our achievement without realizing that we're even doing it.
It's important to gain awareness of these limiting beliefs and where they originate. From there, we can alter them and chart a new path to the future. Additionally, we need to find supportive communities that will empower us on this journey.
If everyone around us is holding us back, we will have a much harder time achieving our potential. Finding those who push us to be better will help us finally overcome our limiting beliefs.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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The way we view the world is influenced by our background, our journey, our experiences, and the people we interact with regularly. It's easy to lose sight of the fact that our opinions and perspectives are based on these factors.
In order to mature and grow, we must regularly question these assumptions. We must look at life through a different lens. We must seek out information we disagree with, and try to understand the perspectives of others.
This is especially important in the politicized, polarized landscape we face now.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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I believe that adaptability is one of the most useful skills we can cultivate and develop as human beings. No matter how much we prepare and plan, life has too many variables for things to go our way. Your plans will be ruined on a daily basis, and the ability to adapt and change course will rapidly set you apart from your peers.
We can learn much from stoicism, but its most important lesson is to accept life as it comes. The longer we delay in accepting our new reality, the longer it will take us to continue making progress. Learning to fill that space, to adjust and act, separates the doers from everyone else.
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We've now talked about how to start your 2024 off right when it comes to goals and habits, but one other simple practice has helped me drastically. In our work spaces and our homes, we naturally accumulate clutter over the years. As we organize and file, this clutter adds up. What seems out of sight is not quite out of mind.
This clutter occupies mental bandwidth that is better spent solving problems and moving forward. By taking some intentional time to declutter, get rid of what you don't need, and reorganize, you can lift this mental weight off your shoulders and go into this year with a clear head.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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As we embark on the new year, there are three practices that will aid you in achieving your goals and resolutions. Each of these is something I've incorporated in my own life and in my clients' lives to great effect. Without them, you are more likely to fall short of what you ultimately want to achieve.
If you want 2024 to be your year, then I highly recommend listening to this week's episode and internalizing its lessons.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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I used to (and sometimes still do) get incredibly frustrated by people who just mail it in on a daily basis in life. The people who show up to work mad at the world, not put together, who couldn't care less about how they interact with people. These individuals go through life contributing very little and causing problems for everyone around them.
What I came to realize is that these people are actually a gift. Aside from the inconvenience of dealing with them in a professional setting, they are making it easier and easier to stand out from the crowd.
If there are a growing number of people who don't care, who don't put in effort, imagine how easy it is to stand out? If you can show up and consistently work hard, opportunities will present themselves to you. Stay the course, do the work, and good things will happen!
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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I recently shared a story in my newsletter about an interaction I had with one of my closest friends in college. I asked him how his day was going and his response floored me:
"I only have good days and great days."
Ever since, I've tried to embody this positivity in how I live my life. When someone asks how your day is going, the ripple effect of breaking from the norm and responding in a positive way can be massive. Not only will your quality of life improve, but the lives of those around you will also.
In this episode we also discuss Mo Gawdat's book Solve for Happy and how the simple equation for happiness can change how you think about life.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Pivot points are moments in our professional career where we change course to something related or, often, something completely different. They come about due to dissatisfaction with our job, our daily routine, or realizing that there is no path to growth for us where we are.
This episode digs into how to recognize pivots, two kinds of pivots, and how to assess our strengths and passions to take a leap of faith into a potentially rewarding new career.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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When I started my own journey of personal development, I was confused by the sheer volume of information and struggled to incorporate the techniques I learned. Thinking of things in terms of a 3-step framework made a big difference:
Phase I is about mapping and learning the available techniques. You keep what works, and throw out what doesn't.
Phase II is about implementing mechanics and fitting the techniques that work into your new routine.
Phase III is the long road to mastery that we never truly reach. It's also where we reflect and make adjustments as needed.
This podcast is all about this framework and explores each phase in-depth.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Being busy is seen as a badge of honor in modern society. For high-achievers, we think that any time spent not working is time wasted. We feel like we need to pack our calendar to the brim in order to make progress and get ahead.
In this episode, I propose a new way of thinking about "busyness." If we instead look at the opportunity cost associated with saying yes to certain things, it will make us more cautious with what we add to our calendar in the future.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Making change is hard. I've learned that several times over the last 15 years working with clients. In order to create lasting change, there are several things that go into success or failure.
In this episode, we dive into several techniques for determining when change should be made, steps to begin the process, and how to make sure that change sticks.
To get started quickly, you can check out my new course on goal-setting below.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Respect is a funny thing in that it will immediately open or close doors for you when the people you're interacting with have never previously met you. It's directly related to your reputation, and that will always precede you for good or for bad.
Respect cannot be forced. More importantly, if you find yourself in a leadership position and the people you're leading don't respect you, you won't be able to get anything done.
In this episode, we discuss what respect is, why we respect others, and how we can act in such a way that our lifestyle and accomplishments earn the respect of those around us.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Communication is how we build rapport and relationships with those in our life. Whether we are delivering sensitive news to someone at work, or having a tough conversation with our loved ones, effective communication strategies ensure that what we say is perceived as we intended.
In this episode, we dive into several techniques that can make our messages more clear. We also discuss how to effectively listen in order to bolster our relationships with others.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Your life experience has created someone with unique strengths and capabilities. We tend to shy away from sharing our experience, but doing so, and learning to leverage it, can create great opportunities in your career.
Jesse Itzler often speaks about building our "life resume" -- what skills and abilities have you gained from your unique path? If you can learn to leverage these, doors will open as you realize you're uniquely suited for certain pursuits.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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This week is an experiment with a new style of podcast episode that I plan to rotate in on occasion.
I wanted to do a deep dive into a person I found interesting and who I think carries some of the values we aspire to hold in our lives: tenacity, perseverance, and comfort with risk.
This week we discuss real-estate developer Gary Barnett, founder of Extell Development and the man responsible for the construction of One57 in NYC. One57 was the first project to be completed on the now-famous Billionaire's Row, a stretch of high-rise condo buildings on 57th Street adjacent to Central Park. His story is interesting, and the story of how One57 was completed during a market downturn is even more so.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Modern media would lead you to believe that we all have vast differences. It's easy to hate those from different groups and use stereotypes to come up with preconceived notions.
What you will realize is that the more you communicate with someone, the more you tend to like them. We all have far more in common than we have apart.
This week, I challenge you to challenge your emotional reactions to headlines, put yourself in different shoes, and engage in conversation with people you disagree with.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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I started using a decision-making framework to help me make small choices more frequently while still giving the requisite weight and gravity to larger decisions.
Small choices have large ripple affects that create lasting change, but they require consistent action in order to do so. Utilizing this framework will allow you to make small decisions more frequently while adjusting when those decisions are wrong.
Learning to make more choices will allow you to accomplish your goals and create lasting positive change in your life.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Competition is a vital part of the human experience. Since the dawn of early man, we have been biologically wired to struggle and survive.
Modern comforts rob us of this aspect of humanity. It's very possible to go through life living safely, going through the motions, and waking up 60 years later unfulfilled.
Competition as I define it is having skin in the game. It's putting yourself out there. It's taking risks. It's putting your name and reputation behind your decisions. Ultimately, it's competition against yourself.
Without this, we cannot become our best selves. With it, we can achieve our true potential.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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Having regular rituals is important to build consistency, identify what is working vs what isn't, and live a high-quality life.
The problem is, most gurus propose morning rituals that take upwards of 45-60 minutes. The average person doesn't have that kind of time, and so I found the pieces that gave me 80% of the results for 20% of the time.
In this episode I break down my daily morning and evening rituals, as well as a weekly reflection that I do on Sundays. These rituals help me ground my day, get more done, and make micro adjustments before small issues become bigger problems.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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When you feel stagnant or stuck in place, the best way to reveal what you should do next is to take action.
The OODA loop was created by former US Air Force Colonel John Boyd -- it stands for Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act. Essentially, as we take action, we gain new information which we must observe. We then orient ourself in space (or where we are in relation to our goals), decide on the next best course of action, and finally (and most importantly) we act.
Action is the key to progress, but we often need to change our next steps based on information that becomes available to us. The OODA loop can help when you feel stuck in a rut.
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When we stop learning, we stop growing. When we stop growing, we lose satisfaction with life.
Continuing to learn and embracing our curiosity is a prerequisite to a happy life. If we aren't constantly expanding our mind, learning new things, and acquiring new skills then we become bored and stagnant.
Now more than ever we have access to so many different forms of education from books, to podcasts, to YouTube videos, to online courses. Find a way to:
1) Learn what interests you
2) Learn in a way that you enjoy
If you can do these two things, your quality of life will drastically improve and you will start to build a better future.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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I recently spent a lot of time thinking about my definition of success, and what would constitute a life well-lived. Shortly after this reflection, I listened to Nicholas Crown on the Danny Miranda Podcast, and his words helped solidify these definitions.
Success, for me, requires two facets:
1) Taking care of myself (my health, mind, etc)
2) Fostering meaningful relationships with those around me
In the future, I'll know I did things right when I'm liked by those close to me and can always find good conversation at the neighborhood restaurant.
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I got a taste of success and praise when I got a surprisingly high score on a high school entrance exam. It kickstarted an adult life spent seeking external praise and validation. While I was achieving things that I had set out for myself, I still never felt like I belonged.
My imposter syndrome became crippling, causing me to perform at the level of my negative inner voice. It wasn't until I learned to step away from my desire to achieve that I began to appreciate the small moments in life.
From there, I could regain self-confidence and feel like I belonged. This episode is a personal story of my struggles, my failures, and my journey on the other side.
As always, thanks for tuning in!
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As a high-achiever, it can be difficult to detach yourself from the results. Oftentimes, despite our best efforts, we simply fall short.
This can be due to external factors, pure dumb luck, and several other things that we can't control or influence. Focus instead of putting your best foot forward, preparing as well as possible, giving your genuine best effort.
If you've done that, call the situation a success and move on. On the other hand, if you haven't put your best foot forward, reflect and figure out how to do that the next time around.
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"Go forth and set the world aflame." - St. Ignatius of Loyola
What would you do if you never had to worry about money again? If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would you spend your time doing once you finished celebrating?
These questions are worth asking because in the answers lies clues to the most authentic version of yourself. While these activities don't necessarily need to be what you do for a career, you should pursue them in whatever capacity you're able. If you do, I genuinely believe that your quality of life will improve.
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Doing small things with available windows of time can be incredibly helpful for making progress on your goals, increasing your fitness, learning new skills, and so much more.
Try and take advantage of the small windows of opportunity throughout your day that are otherwise wasted on scrolling social media or other silly activities. By leveraging this time to take bite-sized action, you can accumulate meaningful volume and make faster progress.
Huberman Lab episode: LINK (the portion on exercise "snacks" starts at 43:29)
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"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." - Albert Einstein
The metrics we use to determine success must keep pace with your lives as things change. Additionally, we must make sure that we are playing the right game to begin with.
Regular reflection must be done to ensure that our goals and pursuits are still in line with who we want to be in the future. If things change, we must find new ways to measure success and find new goals to pursue along the way.
The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek: AMAZON
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Some of the household names in sports have achieved success by creating unbreakable contracts with themselves.
Creating a practice of setting rules, and following through, will allow you to make immense progress on your goals. It will also help you shift your identity into the type of person who models the behavior you wish to embrace.
If you can build trust with yourself, anything is possible.
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Life has natural ebbs and flows that we must learn to embrace. I am someone who is chronically impatient, wanting things to happen on my own terms.
Regardless of our desires, some things take time despite our best efforts. Learning to embrace the slow periods to reflect, recover, and regroup can lead to more progress when we are able to hit the gas pedal again.
Working like a lion, sprinting and resting, is a valuable way to approach progress. Furthermore, learning to stop and appreciate the slower times is an important lesson I've learned lately.
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I am guilty of trying to be the best at every activity I start, and then often trying to monetize any activity I'm good at. Internet influencers and entrepreneurs will tell you to have multiple side hustles, to generate income from many streams, etc.
I'm here to tell you that it's okay to take that pressure off of yourself. As humans, it's important for us to tinker and to have hobbies that we simply enjoy for their own sake. By relaxing with certain activities, you leave yourself the energy to pursue a small number of things with intense energy and effort.
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With sensationalist news headlines, it's easy to feel like the world is going to hell in a hand basket. Everything seems grim. Division is at an all-time high, everyone is arguing, and no one seems happy.
If you step away from news and social media, however, there are plenty of reasons to believe the world is actually getting better. The concept of rational optimism is that, if you like at the data, our lives are better now than they ever have been. There is also reason to believe this will continue in the future.
Tune in to hear the reason that this is true, as well as some strategies for being more rationally optimistic in yourlife.
The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley: AMAZON
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Environment is everything.
If you have audacious goals, you need to put yourself in communities that support those goals. A positive environment can propel you forward faster than you'd believe.
A negative environment can hold you back like an anchor on your life and goals. Choose wisely.
Kevin Hart I Can't Make This UpBook, Audiobook
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When I find myself in a rut (which happens often), the best thing I can often do is take some small action to build momentum in a positive direction.
While I typically encourage people to start work on their hardest tasks first each day, this strategy fails when inertia is keeping me in place. By moving in some small way, by taking some positive step forward, I can often compound that progress to do something important.
Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven
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Starting over can be scary, but I've personally been at the crossroads several times in my career. In this episode, I share 3 key points to improve your likelihood of success when making the transition.
James Clear 3-2-1 Newsletter
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Many people view the world as zero-sum: the success of others takes away from their ability to be successful. This week, I want to tell you that this is absolutely not true. In fact, maintaining this mindset is damaging your own happiness and your friendships.
Instead, focusing on a life of abundance where there is enough to go around can help you build supportive communities that uplift their members.
Cheer loudly for your friends, celebrate the successes of others. The importance of that supportive environment cannot be overstated.
Mr. Beast on The Joe Rogan Experience
Mr. Beast on The Lex Fridman Podcast
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The formula for getting ahead in your career is actually quite simple. If you can be:
- reliable
- pleasant to work with
then you will be given far more opportunities than your peers who are difficult, who complain, or who otherwise bring negative energy to the workplace.
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We all know the people in our lives who constantly complain about, well, everything. Opportunities tend to pass these people by because no one wants to be surrounded by that type of negative energy.
This week we discuss situations where the victim mindset can arise, as well as some tangible strategies for overcoming it. Consider sharing it with those in your life who need to hear this message!
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This week we discuss a technique created by Dr. Phil Stutz for dealing with situations and people that annoy, anger, or otherwise negatively influence us.
We've all been in a situation where that one person bothers you so much that anything they do or say sets you off. The problem with these situations is they negatively affect our mood for hours, days, or even weeks later.
This tool will help you preemptively de-stress before these interactions, or immediately shift to a more positive headspace after negative encounters.
The Tools by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels: AMAZON
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This week is an introduction to winning teams: how to build them, how to support them, and what goes into maintaining them.
People respond to incentives, and you must make sure that everyone on your team is playing the same game. The best teams are ones in which everyone wants to win, and that is incentive enough for them to take pride in their work.
We also discuss the dangers of putting lazy people on winning teams; nothing kills culture faster than someone not pulling their weight on a team of winners.
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I recently tried to launch a startup and, after close to 2 years of work from planning, to hiring, to building, etc. had to shut things down.
While this failure stung, it taught me many lessons about the importance of failure and the lessons it can teach us. I also share personal stories about what I've learned about failure from others, and how one door closing often opens up many doors we weren't aware of.
Success is simply the end result of failing enough times to ultimately be successful.
Listen to me being featured on the Point 1 podcast: LINK
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Taking time to define the character traits and values that are important to you is a helpful exercise. We often go through life with no clear sense of who we want to be, despite often knowing what we want to accomplish.
How can you know what goals to pursue if you don't understand how those goals align with your ideal sense of self? This week, we discuss a strategy for defining your personal ethos, values, and purpose.
Unbeatable Mind by Mark Divine: AMAZON
The Way of the Seal by Mark Divine: AMAZON
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Energy is a tangible component of how we feel on a daily basis and how we interact with those around us. This week we discuss the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who give off the right energy, while also being mindful of the energy we put out into the world.
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As Sahil Bloom says, we can increase our luck by increasing our "luck surface area" -- this means giving ourselves access to more opportunities based on where we live, who we know, and how prepared we are.
Opportunity comes to those who are prepared and bold. We must lay the groundwork by educating ourselves, acquiring skills, and practicing for countless hours. That way, when that opportunity comes, you'll be ready to seize it.
Closed mouths don't get fed. So if you want something in this life, you need to go after it with confidence and preparation.
David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell: AMAZON
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Every decision we make costs us a different decision that we could be making. Thinking of things in terms of opportunity cost can be helpful for acting in alignment with our values and our goals.
Matthew McConnaughey has a great framework for these decisions called "a quick no, and a long yes" that has served him well. This week, we discuss this framework as well as a related framework on increasing our "luck surface area."
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey: AMAZON
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When I was younger, I thought being tough was about physical toughness, violence, and conflict. As I grew older, I realized that I was deficient in emotional intelligence.
After spending time working on my own emotions, toughness took on an entirely different meaning. Toughness is about so much more than society would have us think, and this week we explore those topics in depth.
David Goggins podcast mentioned: LINK
Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday: AMAZON
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Life is composed of so many small moments that we often miss. If you think back to your greatest memories with those in your life, it's probably the small, seemingly insignificant details that you remember the most.
I recently had the chance to go on safari in South Africa with my wife. While there, we learned some incredible life lessons from someone on the game reserve. We also got to experience a magical moment with an elderly man's birthday celebration.
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No one cares about you or what you're doing. I don't say this to be harsh. I say this to inspire you...
...to walk your authentic path, to pursue what interests you, to be unapologetically you.
We often let the perception of others or feedback from others dictate our decisions in life. This episode is my call to live the life youwant, not the life others want foryou.
Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl: AMAZON
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It is imperative that we create a personal standard, ethos, or code of conduct for ourselves. This will guide our decisions, and help us resist life's temptations that would otherwise pull us away from our ideal path.
That said, we must have grace with others. It is unfair of us to impose ourstandards on the lives of others, because we can't possibly understand their circumstances. This week's podcast is about finding that line.
Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday: AMAZON
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Creating intentional time to be bored is critical for our subconscious mind to function properly. Our subconscious is responsible for so much: tying together loose ends of knowledge, pattern recognition, establishing routines and practices.
Have you ever been in the shower when a great idea or solution to a problem just comes to you? That's the power of intentional time away from distractions. Learn the power, and necessity, of this technique in this episode.
Deep Work by Cal Newport: AMAZON
Indistractableby Nir Eyal: AMAZON
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We often focus too much on the outputs of our actions, which are almost always outside of our control. By shifting our focus to what we can control, we can increase our happiness, satisfaction, and impact.
Mentioned on the episode:
Rick Rubin on The Rich Roll Podcast: LINK
Rick Rubin on The Tim Ferris Show: LINK
Solve for Happy by Mo Gawdat: AMAZON
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We often underestimate how long something will genuinely take to accomplish. We're used to instant gratification, quick fixes, or immediate results.
Your goals aren't Amazon! Focus on better understanding how to put in consistent effort over time. Cultivate discipline. Play long-term games with proper expectations.
The Long View by Matthew Kelly: Amazon
** A version of this quote in question is also attributed to Bill Gates, which most people are more familiar with
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Creative expression is a key part of the human experience, but something that many of us let die out as we grow older.
Life forces us to be "responsible" and give up many of our childhood dreams, but learning to observe the beauty of life and create art (in whatever form it takes) can enhance our life in other areas.
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin: Amazon
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Doing what you say you'll do and going the extra mile are the easiest ways to differentiate yourself and move your career forward.
Opportunities come to those who take pride in their work and do more than is expected. This week we talk about the importance of details and how to open more doors in your life.
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Life is more about who you know than what you know. Your network will determine the quantity and quality of opportunities you get in your life and career. Learn how to network effectively, build professional relationships, and leave a lasting impact.
The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley: Amazon
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari: Amazon
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When charting new paths or learning new activities, it helps to have a systemized approach to making progress quickly.
I've spent a lot of my life learning new skills and changing career paths. I won't say I have it all figured out yet, but I've learned a number of ways to get up to speed quickly. Hopefully this framework helps you when you're trying something new.
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Finding your purpose requires the intersection of three categories: passion, skill, and income.
This week we talk about how to discover your purpose, how to monetize your passions, and how to professionalize your craft.
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield: Amazon
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This week, we talk about distraction and how to avoid it. In order to do meaningful, focused work, you will need strategies to resist the many distractions that pop up daily.
Mentioned in this episode:
Indistractable by Nir Eyal: Amazon
ToDoist app: iOS, Android
Flow: iOS, Website
Podcast on Breathing: Link
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When trying to eliminate bad habits, or introduce good habits, stacking them into established routines is a helpful strategy.
This week we explore the concept of habit stacking introduced by James Clear in Atomic Habits. We must first answer the 4 questions of habit change, then aim to introduce these actions into our current routines to reinforce them.
The best strategy I've found is to first eliminate a bad habit, then fill the void with a new, positive habit in an established routine.
(Currently on Sale!) To buy a copy of Atomic Habits: Amazon
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Why do we fear failure? Generally speaking, we fear the perception of our failure more than failing itself.
In this episode I break down several strategies for building resilience and increased tolerance for high-pressure situations. We cover things like the physiological response to fear and the importance of always having a beginner's mindset.
Steven Kotler's new book that I mention: Amazon
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This week we explore the importance of proper breathing and how it has changed and evolved over generations.
We also explore specific techniques such as:
- box breathing
- 4-7-8 breathing
- Wim Hof breathing
- double inhale
All of these techniques are meant to be used for specific physiological effects.
Purchase Breath by James Nestor: Amazon
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This week we dive into systems and processes that have been helpful for me. I discuss:
- My nighttime ritual
- My morning ritual
- Organizing my task list
- How to do focused work
- Daily reflection
These systems may work for you, or you may choose to adjust and modify for yourself. The key is they are easy to implement, simple, and don't require a massive time commitment.
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This week I dive into my personal story of finding my path after retiring from professional athletics. I needed to create frameworks and systems for myself to navigate a very different life than I was used to.
There was a void left after pursuing a singular goal for so long and having that goal change. For anyone who is facing a major change in their life, I hope these frameworks can help you find your way as well.
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In this episode, we analyze a few decision-making frameworks to help you better to take action during stressful situations.
We look at Jeff Bezos' concept of only making 3 important decisions a day, and dig into former President Barack Obama's process for making the best decisions under stress.
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This week we do a deep dive into a regular process of self-reflection and assessment. While initially uncomfortable, this technique will allow you to correct course when things are going off track and figure out exactly why you aren't able to achieve your goals to the degree you'd like.