The School of Greatness Hall of Fame

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…

2 Loka 20191h 16min

He's one of the top dating coaches in the world. He’s also one of the best on stage speakers I’ve ever seen. He’s also a good friend and previous podcast guest. Yes, I’m talking about the incredibly handsome and intelligent Matthew Hussey. If you’re a longtime podcast fan, you remember him from Episode 189. He’s got incredible insight into love, dating, communication, and human behavior. Which is just one reason he’s a celebrity dating coach, an incredibly successful entrepreneur, and a brilliant marketer. So when I was planning the line-up of speakers for the first ever Summit of Greatness, I knew Matt had to be one of them. He gave such an awesome talk on stage (followed by a great Q&A with the audience after) that I haven’t forgotten it. I wanted to share the whole thing with you guys on the podcast because it’s some of the best dating advice I’ve ever heard. Matt agreed to let me publish it, and that’s why you have the chance to hear him speak from the stage at Summit of Greatness in Episode 512. In This Episode, You Will Learn:How cognitive dissonance affects our love lives (6:05)The 2 things we need to succeed in love (7:45)How to use “The Bliss Point” in communication (16:50)Why confidence is a misunderstood concept (20:40)Why it’s so important to make old friends now (25:59)How to get someone addicted to you (26:30)Plus much more…

2 Loka 20191h 2min

One of my favorite women in the world is back on the show today for her third episode. She is the queen of self-help, spirituality, and wisdom. So I got really excited when I saw that her newest book is an uncensored truth-telling about that world — what most people won’t admit to. Danielle LaPorte is one of the few people who can take on the myths surrounding the world of self-development and expose the truth . . . while still inspiring you to keep going in your own path. And that’s just one reason why I love her. One reason why I think Danielle’s message is so needed is because it’s easy to get lost in the “doing” of self-development and spirituality and forget the “being” part. What Danielle taught me is that all wisdom is paradoxical — there’s truth in both sides of it. If we’re willing to get curious, explore, and trust our gut, we find truth. If we go on auto-pilot and focus only on “doing” things we think should make us better, we will get lost, burnt out, and stuck. Get ready for a breath of fresh air and some powerful truth-telling in Episode 481. In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why sometimes less is more when it comes to spiritual support (4:52)The simple key to self-help (9:16)Why it’s okay to change our beliefs often (18:15)How to forgive people when things are a mess (21:27)The keys to getting past judging people (25:05)Plus much more…

2 Loka 201953min

Have you ever asked yourself why you feel so stressed all the time? It’s pretty common these days to just assume a stress-filled life is the norm, especially if you’re an entrepreneur. Today’s guest on The School of Greatness has known stress above and beyond the norm. Amanda Enayati had to flee from her home country of Iran when she was a kid (without her parents), lived in the West Village in NYC during 9/11, worked as an attorney for years and then got late-stage breast cancer (while raising two small children). Yes, that’s all for real. So you can take her word for it when she says she knows about stress. But what is incredible about Amanda (including what she has gone through) is her devotion to researching and teaching the best ways to understand and handle the stress that comes to all of us. If you listened to the last episode with Todd Kashdan, you’ll really enjoy this interview as well. Amanda shares some different and some similar ideas from Todd about how to use stress to your advantage and how to find healing from traumatic stress. I know you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as I did in Episode 155 with CNN contributor and author Amanda Enayati. In This Episode, You Will Learn:What mattered to her when she got diagnosed with cancer:she needed to be who she was meant to beshe didn’t want any strife with anyoneThe fact that life is suffering isn’t all bad“Suck-it-up-itude” – the attitude that failure isn’t an excuse to give upSerenity means that you have found what you are meant to do and you are sharing that with the worldHow the little whys behind what we do add up to the big whysWhy we think of ourselves as so stressed outTo re-frame your stress mindset: 1- Tell yourself better stories about what’s happening 2- Remember all stress isn’t the same 3- Re-draw the map of your stories and what they are telling youThe problem with stress is a design issueWhy kids need some stress to develop into happy, healthy adultsThe power of belonging and its ability to heal usPlus much more…

2 Loka 20191h

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…

2 Loka 20191h 1min

If you’ve been following me or The School of Greatness for long, you know I’m a big fan of salsa dancing. In fact, I was obsessed with learning how to get good at it in college and spent A LOT of time practicing. I still love going out and dancing when I can in LA. So when I got the opportunity to interview Julianne Hough, award-winning dancing queen of Dancing with the Stars (and now a judge on the show!) I couldn’t pass it up. And not just because I wanted to hear her story of how she has created incredible success. I wanted to test my salsa skills with a professional. But what I got in addition to a dance with Julianne (she is amazing) was an open-hearted, authentic, first-hand account of her experience in the dance and entertainment world starting as a 10 year old girl in London. Not only did she learn to grow up fast and perform with the pros, she then set her sights on film, singing, and is now working on many incredible projects and tours. In our conversation, Julianne talks about the intense pressure of the dance competition world and the high standards she set for herself. And then she talks about the transformation that occurred within her just a couple of years ago when she attended a Tony Robbins event (you know what a big fan of his I am). I loved every minute of our conversation and dancing and have been so excited to share this episode with you. Sit back and enjoy the light and inspiration of Julianne Hough in Episode 148 and be sure to judge my salsa dancing video with her below 😉 In This Episode, You Will Learn:How a Tony Robbins seminar changed her perspective on who she was trying to beHer experiences being in a professional dance enviroment at 10 years old in LondonHer struggle with perfectionism – not feeling good enough when she won somethingHow she shifted her passion and drive after realizing she just needed to please herself and not others.To think about how you’re going to “be” in the day versus what you’re going to “do”How she got addicted to learning (not in school)What she is changing in her health routine to be focused on more than just vanityWhy she appreciates the opportunities to be authentic versus polishedHer quirky operatic voice (that comes out when she’s tired)How her purpose has changed from receiving to givingHer mission statement: My purpose in life is to be an infectious light of love and joy, to celebrate the little things, and to inspire others to embrace their true essence. How she would pump herself up before auditions Her view of her brother and how their relationship has changed as they have learned to see each other for who they really are. Her advice for young dancers (and parents)Plus much more…

2 Loka 20191h 1min

If you’ve never seen a Chicken Soup for the Soul book, I don’t know where you’ve been. But did you know that the same original author of that wildly successful series (7 NYT best-sellers at the same time!) is also one of the experts interviewed in The Secret? And did you know he coaches some of the top leaders and entrepreneurs in the world? Actually, you might. Today’s guest on The School of Greatness has an incredible bio and reputation and it was an honor to sit down with him for this interview. Jack Canfield has given so much wisdom, coaching, service, and insight into the world of self-improvement, positive mindset, and success that it’s hard to imagine it without him. His landmark book The Success Principles has been out for 10 years. But I wanted to take the opportunity to talk to him about it in person because it is one of the first books that helped turn the light on in my mind. In our conversation, we go over a lot (and Jack references a ton of books and people I link below). But our discussion keeps coming back to the basic, core success principles his book is founded on. Ideas like gratitude, abundance, kindness, clarity. You know, my favorites. If you haven’t heard Jack speak before, you’re in for a treat. He is an incredible human, speaker, thought leader, and giver. I am so excited to bring you this episode with the legendary Jack Canfield. In this episode you will learn:How The Success Principles takes the inspiration from Chicken Soup books and shows you HOWThat kids in China learn English in schools by reading Chicken Soup booksHis tips for networking at events if you’re shy (stand by the door and act like it’s your party)How to visualize positive outcomes instead of negative ones to overcome fearWhy he volunteered to be a chauffeur for someone he wanted to learn fromThe Steps of Forgiveness: 1 – Own your anger 2 – Take responsibility 3 – Explain what you want 4 – Express forgivenessHow negative self-talk affects our brains (science on this!)What uncommon appreciation is – verbally appreciate someone five times a dayHow to go on a “rampage of appreciation”What to look for when making an investment (go where there is a line of people waiting)How he manages his emails (so he only gets a few a day) – answer your emails in one block at a timeThe daily review: at the end of your day, ask yourself how you could have improved on your day in relation to your goals and then visualize those changesPlus much more…

30 Syys 20191h 14min

Let’s say you were the youngest ever news anchor at CNN – and then at CNBC, covering major financial stories. You also reported during one of the biggest financial crises of the century. You have interviewed and rubbed shoulders with the who’s who of the financial world for years. But you don’t know that much about how to manage your own money. Let me introduce you to the motivation behind today’s guest on  The School of Greatness. Nicole Lapin is an incredibly successful and talented reporter and television personality, but it wasn’t until years into her career that she faced the truth about her own financial ignorance. After years of study, credentials, and re-shaping her financial health, she is releasing a new book, Rich Bitch, where she tells the stories of her own journey while offering her best tips to creating a rich life. I met Nicole through our mutual friend James Altucher (a money genius himself) and we had a great conversation about the inspiration behind her book. While her work is largely focused on helping women take control of their finances and learn the language of money, her insight and tips are useful for anyone. She even takes me to task for how I’m investing and I pick up some advice during the interview. If you’re interested in finally understanding the myths surrounding investing and healthy finances, you’re going to love Episode 128 with Nicole Lapin. In This Episode, You Will Learn:How finance is like a language you have to learnHer story of what motivated her to get into finance (hint: she had to buy a plane ticket with actual paper money)Why she wrote her book of money “confessions”The idea of “financial dieting”How to set finance goals around the three F’s: fun, finance, and familyWhy it’s important to come up with a sustainable spending planWhy you should never buy a house just as an investmentThe reason you should think of ALL your time as billable hoursWhat to account for with your savings plans: essentials, endgame, and extrasWhy you should talk about how much you make with your friends (and ask them as well)Plus much more…

30 Syys 201949min