The School of Greatness Hall of Fame

In fact, very few people have the guts to put the F word in the title of their NYT bestselling book (it’s been on the list for 9 months straight). But that’s one reason Mark Manson has become such a popular writer, both in the blogging and the book publishing world. He has spent years studying self-help, traveling the world, living in different cultures, and learning from his own life experiences about what actually makes us happy and successful. And what he has learned runs counter to what a lot of people say is true. I loved diving into these topics with him because I can tell Mark is a truth-seeker. He’s not afraid to speak up about what he has learned, even if it isn’t the most popular idea. That’s exactly why his writing has struck a chord with so many people — he tells the truth about why it’s important to feel sad and angry, he acknowledges the negative voices we all have talking in our heads, and he admits that it’s challenging to not judge ourselves. But Mark also has learned positive, practical methods to navigate these issues without all the sugar-coating that usually goes with them. We dove into all these topics, as well as what he’s learning about himself as mega-writing success has hit him. I learned a lot of new perspectives from Mark and believe you will too in Episode 524.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why negativity matters and shouldn’t be ignored (2:00)How to know if a certain media type is one you should be pursuing (14:50)Why it’s so important to say no sometimes (18:00)Why success and self-improvement don’t always go together (26:30)How to mentally deal with your work being massively successful (32:55)Why it’s so important to be able to fail during the creative process (47:45)Plus much more...

Coach Chris Lee is a longtime podcast favorite (this is his 12th episode on the show!) and there’s no mistake about why. Not only has he had a massive impact on my life as my coach, from the first time I took his workshop through today, but he has generously shared his wisdom with us on the show for years. There’s a reason I keep bringing him back on. Chris knows the human psyche and heart really well. He understands why we do what we do and how to elevate our whole lives to the next level. That’s what he’s been coaching me on for years. So when I got the chance to sit down with him last week to record this episode, I was excited to see the topic he had ready. He was fresh off of training an intense 5 day workshop so he had a lot of insight to share around how to create a life and mindset that is unstoppable no matter what comes up. By breaking it down into 7 steps, we really got to go deep into each one. I can definitely stand by each of the steps Chris coached since I’ve seen the effectiveness of them in my own life time and again. If you’re ready to live in consistent greatness, it starts with these steps in Episode 503.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:The connection between life and energy (6:20)The biggest way people give their power away (7:30)Why having a purpose is so powerful (8:31)How responsibility is actually an interpretation (17:05)The simple exercise that will shift your entire perspective on your life (22:50)How to trust the process when you don’t want to (32:54)How Chris has taken on something in his life that he was resisting (36:34)The secret behind creating consistent enthusiasm (49:06)Plus much more...

Yes, one of the MOST requested guests on the show (since I launched it), has been this incredible woman. She has one of the most watched TED talks of all time. She is a three-time #1 NYT bestselling author (and soon to be four). She has changed the face of emotional intelligence, relationships, and self-acceptance for millions of people. But her area of expertise is one that not many people are willing to talk about — shame and vulnerability. I’m talking about the one and only Brené Brown. Brené is a research professor at the University of Houston. But once her TED talk blew up the internet a few years ago, she has appeared on much bigger platforms around the world, including Oprah, the New York Times, and many others. Not only have her books changed millions of people’s perspectives on what it actually means to be brave, authentic, and loved, she has started a conversation that has created a ripple effect among other thought leaders. I’ve been aware of her work for years, quoted it in my books, and followed her patiently, waiting for the right time to interview her for the podcast. The time has come, on the eve of her newest book launch, and what we discussed was so powerful.
Not only did we get into what it means to truly belong (the topic of her newest book), we got real about the tragic events happening in our country and what we get to do to change what’s going on. We recorded this interview just one week before Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, where Brené lives, so all of my thoughts and love go to her and her team as they recover and support their community. It’s time to step up and live the courageous truth we each have inside of us in this episode.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:What belonging truly means (3:45)What makes people complex (7:01)What every parent needs to know about when their kids grow up (13:44)Why parents are so defensive about their parenting style (18:52)How to support men in being willing to discuss vulnerable topics (24:30)How to handle speaking up about sensitive topics (30:01)Why people hold onto hate (33:50)Why our avoidance of pain is causing so many huge issues (36:35)What Brene would say to all the men in the world (46:36)How to deal with shame (since we can’t get rid of it) (48:58)Plus much more...

Before you decide that you don’t believe in this kind of stuff, listen up. I met today’s guest, Nick Ortner, years ago in NYC during a mastermind. I have watched his career, success, and the impact he’s making (teaching people how to heal themselves from all kinds of issues) over the years since then. And I know he’s the real deal. But I was especially excited to sit down with him on the podcast to hear about the science behind the method he uses — and he explained it all. If you’ve never heard of tapping, let me introduce you to the technique. Tapping has been around for a long time. It’s a very simple method to calm the mind and body by tapping on the acupressure points around the body that are connected to our meridians. But it has as much to do with slowing down and tuning into what your mind and heart are telling you as it does with touching pressure points. What I didn’t expect during this interview, which was really amazing, was when I asked Nick to do a demo of what tapping looks like on my friend Cesar, who had been suffering from a super stiff neck for days. Cesar happens to be a pretty analytical and skeptical guy when it comes to this kind of stuff. But after spending 5 minutes with Nick (all recorded on the podcast), he was pain free and able to turn his neck freely. It was awesome. Beyond that once instance however, I truly believe that what Nick is up to is valuable, important, and powerful. Let me introduce you to tapping and the power you have to heal yourself in Episode 547.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why we are walking around every day so stressed (7:30)How trauma (even small stuff) affects our subconscious (10:00)How to deal with the issues on the edge and stay safe (15:20)The process of tapping for healing of any kind (live example on Cesar!) (30:23)Why we have a natural bias for negative thoughts (46:15)Plus much more...

I freaking love the Olympics and everything about them. I love the insane training the athletes put themselves through. I love the power of putting all that training to the test in the moment of truth. I love seeing how people from around the world come together to celebrate what is possible in human performance. So whenever I get to meet an Olympian, I’m really excited. And meeting one like Apolo Ohno was no disappointment. If you watched the winter Olympics at all in the past 15 years, you know his name. He is the face of speed skating and is still commentating at Olympics currently. But what you might not know is that Apolo was once a punk kid, who had never met his mother, was angry at life, and had no work ethic. Yes he was talented and powerful. But it wasn’t until he put his mind to train like a champion, committed fully, and became obsessed with his sport that he rose to Olympic glory. There were so many parts of this interview that I loved so much. I can’t wait for you to listen to Episode 470 with Olympian Apolo Ohno.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:Apolo’s preparation process before Olympic races (13:33)Why Apolo has never wanted to meet his mother (22:00)The story of how he won his first national competition (27:47)How Apolo had a “peaceful warrior” moment at age 15 (32:50)Why becoming obsessed with your craft is important to succeed (37:58)How to overcome the biggest challenges of leaving an elite sport (43:40)Why losing money in investments can be helpful (47:00)The difference between focusing on competition and what you really want (52:12)What failing teaches us (58:28)Why Apolo and I really want the US to win the bid to get the Olympics in LA (1:01:03)Plus much more...