The School of Greatness Hall of Fame

Tell if someone was lying?Know exactly what makes someone impressed?Win someone over within minutes of meeting them?I think of these skills as super powers and I love learning about them.So when previous podcast guest Vanessa Van Edwards told me she was coming out with a book, I was stoked to have her back on the show.If you listened to Episode 105, you remember her as the queen of human behavior.Vanessa has dedicated her career to understanding how people work, on a scientific level.She has taught me so much about how to play to my strengths in social situations.So in this interview, I wanted to get some really helpful tips for situations that we all want to make a good impression in.Things like networking events, dating relationships, and more.Vanessa delivered, and I loved every minute of it - especially when she explained how to tell if someone is lying and why this information can be dangerous.You've heard me say this before, but I can't overstate how important emotional intelligence is to creating powerful relationships.Get ready to learn from the people expert herself in Episode 475.Some questions I ask:What is PQ? (23:47)What are the best skills to use in negotiations? (1:07:30)In this episode, you will learn:What makes the most popular people popular (5:25)What to do to make a great impression at a big conference or networking event (8:14)The best questions to ask when you meet someone and why (13:53)How emotions are contagious (21:01)Why "fake it til you make it" isn't the best strategy (22:03)How to get support for the things your personality struggles with (36:05)Which personality test is actually scientifically based (39:47)The one personality trait that you need to figure out between partners (41:40)What personality traits to be mindful of when dating (50:40)How to tell if someone is lying (59:58)Plus much more...

28 Apr 20191h 21min

I just got back from Summit at Sea, which was awesome.I got to see a lot of great friends and take a quick break from the book tour (although I didn't sleep much).As I got back, I wanted to take a minute to recap what has happened so far with the book launch, since I've barely processed it myself.My man Quddus Philippe takes over as the host of  The School of Greatness for this episode as he interviews me on the success of the book so far and how I've set the goals I have achieved.If you've read the book already, you know that there's a lot of talk about goal setting and how important that is to greatness.Quddus and I discuss how I set the goals long ago to make this book happen and how I broke down the vision of being a NYT best selling author into small steps that led to success.Get ready for a dive into goals and what's possible when you commit to them in Episode 255.

28 Apr 201939min

As I have been making plans to take my business and life to the next level, I realized I have some essential guideposts that help me push myself.And since you have been asking for more solo rounds, I want to share those ideas with you on today's episode of The School of Greatness.Even one of these steps has the power to transform your life and open the door to massive progress.My hope for you in listening to this episode is that you can identify which step (or steps) will make the biggest impact in your life and then TAKE ACTION to upgrade that area of your life.As you probably know, one of my favorite words is "hustle." But hustling will only get you so far if you aren't taking the effort and time on a daily basis to set yourself up for greatness.In Episode 111, I pull back the curtain on my ten most essential steps to breaking through my barriers and getting to the next level. Please join me for this solo round and prepare to upgrade your life!In This Episode, You Will Learn:The importance of writing down and displaying your goal (so you see it every day)How your health is related to making moneyWhy it's important to hire a coach and not just have mentorsWhat the difference is when your team takes on your vision with youWhy I make my bed every morning (small win to start the day!)About the effect of acknowledging your efforts and accomplishmentsMy email to let me know how I can support you in letting go of negative self-talk: lewis at lewishowes.comPlus much more...

28 Apr 201937min

Oh man. I wasn't going to post this episode.In fact, during this conversation, I repeatedly found myself opening up and saying things I was not comfortable sharing.But since this is The School of Greatness, I knew I had to share all the lessons I am privileged to learn myself, even the ones that aren't comfortable.What could I have been talking about that was so scary to share?Relationships . . . of course.I met today's guest, Neil Strauss, after he had already been a NYT bestselling author 7 times.He is best known for becoming a pick up artist by going underground into the world of that game for 2 years and then writing a book about what he learned.But by the time I met him, he was happily engaged to his now wife, and those days were behind him.In this episode, we started by talking about his new book, which counters his former bestseller, revealing the uncomfortable truth about what makes relationships work.Soon into the conversation, however, the tables turned and we started discussing my experiences in relationships.Not the kind of thing I was expecting to discuss for thousands of people to hear.However, I learned so much from just this one conversation with Neil about myself, my relationships, and how to improve my future ones, that I knew I couldn't keep it to myself.Here's the raw, vulnerable truth about relationships, my life, and the lessons Neil Strauss has learned from his own in Episode 242.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why our parents' relationship deeply affects our own perceptions of intimacyHow our brain templates are formed in young childhoodThe power of removing blame from your parents for what isn't working in your relationshipsWhat pathological accommodation is (and how it sabotages relationships)The importance of recognizing your own issues, not your partner'sHow you can create a conscious coupling (just like you can create a conscious uncoupling)Plus much more...

28 Apr 201954min

And he's several years older than when I first met him.I'm thinking you're already familiar with him either becauseYou heard him on Episode 92 of the showYou've had some delicious Bulletproof coffeeYou are obsessed with optimizing your body and brain and know he's the leader in the industryIf not, let me introduce you to my friend Dave Asprey.His story of getting into health and biohacking is pretty amazing (overweight, overworked corporate man turns into health phenomenon and starts a global movement around his Bulletproof Executive brand).But what I love about Dave is his consistent commitment to continuing the research, experiments, and evolution of his passion - helping people become the absolute healthiest, highest performing versions of themselves.So when he came out with his new book (all about managing your brain's energy), I was stoked to find out his newest insights on this topic.Dave has a great gift of explaining pretty complex biological systems in simple ways.I loved learning about how my body and brain work AND how I can do easy things each day to optimize the amount of energy my brain has available.Dave also tells funny stories and has a great perspective on life, so that didn't hurt.If you're looking to train your brain to work at its very best, take notes in Episode 464 with Dave Asprey.Some questions I ask:Is the brain the most important part of your health to focus on? (2:26)What are you doing right now to look so youthful and energetic? (10:17)How is inflammation the "muffin top" of the brain? (33:40)In this episode, you will learn:How your body and brain process energy like a battery (4:42)Why you should push your body to its limits once a week (15:10)Why Dave only works out once or twice a week (17:25)The new program Dave has created to get years of meditation zen effects in a few days (21:26)What is possible by taking advantage of your brain's neuroplasticity (24:30)The new compound that makes your brain able to change itself better (25:10)The worst toxins for your mitochondria and energy (27:50)Why vegetable oil is worse for your brain than nicotine (29:15)Foods everyone should cut out of their diet for good brain health (30:30)When eating a little sugar is a good idea (37:30)Plus much more...

28 Apr 201951min

Would you ever guess that the same person who works on major advertisements for brands like Nike, J. Crew and 20th Century Fox is also a high school dropout who started his career as a dishwasher in a seafood restaurant?How about the guy who was living in a trailer park on welfare was interviewing President Bill Clinton just 3 years later (in person, on film)?How do these things happen?I realize that I have an interesting story of getting from my sister's couch to making millions within a few years.But today's guest on The School of Greatness is the embodiment of the potential of hard work and vision.Casey Neistat didn't look like he was going to amount to much of anything as a teenager.And then he took a huge leap at 19 years old and moved to NYC with $800 and a place to stay for 3 months.Today he is one of the biggest filmmakers on YouTube, with over a million followers, and one of the most sought-after creatives for major brands and labs.I had heard about Casey from several friends (whose opinion I trust) and started following him on social media recently.I absolutely love his style of film, his creative and original use of platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, and his incredible success with his daily vlog.He is also an entrepreneur who just launched a new social video app called Beme.By the time he got to my studio for an interview, I already had a long list of questions I wanted to ask him.But we got so caught up in a fascinating conversation about Casey's journey and where film and social media are going, I ran out of time to ask most of my questions.One of the biggest lessons I learned from Casey is how important it is to follow your own rules and gut when it comes to using social media and new ways to create content these days.His results speak for themselves, so take notes in Episode 222 with filmmaker Casey Neistat.Some questions I ask:If you are a creative, do you think you should avoid mainstream media?What was your first branded deal that made you realize you could make money doing your own style of film?If someone offered you a TV show, would you take it?What's the key to being successful on YouTube right now?How do you manage being a father and husband with your travel schedule?How many tattoos do you have?In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why Casey left making successful feature films and HBO to make new media on YouTube and social mediaHow Casey made the most watched Nike video of all timeThat the kind of camera you use is not the most important part of making quality videos onlineCasey has never outsourced editing for any of his vlogsWhy Casey considers his son being born when he was 17 one of the greatest things that happened to himCasey's advice to young people who don't know what they want to do with their lifeHow Casey got the gig to interview President Clinton when he was 20 years oldThe movie that Casey made that coined the phrase "viral video" (before YouTube and social media!)The concept behind his new app Beme (and how he came up with the idea while working at MIT)Why Casey has no regrets about his life (despite a lot of hardship)The one thing he has done with his YouTube channel that has had the biggest impactPlus much more...

28 Apr 20191h 12min

Interested in learning how to build a life and business around doing what you love? So am I. Let's connect.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.Some questions I ask:Do you think major stress in your life was the cause of your cancer?Does every generation think that their generation is the most stressed?What are some beginner tips to help a Negative Nancy let go of stress?Why are athletes particularly good at harnessing stress?Why do you recommend people belong to a group?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 happening2- Remember all stress isn't the same3- 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...

28 Apr 201957min

Transition can suck at times.You may lose your job, end a relationship, someone passes away, parents divorce, you move to new city to start over, get injured, etc.This may leave you on your sister's couch feeling miserable and hopeless.I've been there.On my book tour I’ve often been asked, "How did you get off the couch and get to where you are now?"So many people want the results now. Little do they know this has been an 8 year journey for me. I couldn’t speak in front of people, I didn’t have any tools or skills, I wasn’t confident, and I had no clue how to make an income for myself, let alone afford my own apartment.But I did get off the couch. I did make my dreams a reality.So when you feel stuck, I'm sharing my top ways to get off the couch in Episode 258.In This Episode, You Will Learn:The Top 10 Ways to Get Off the CouchGet up to the mirror, look yourself in the eyes and say, "Enough is enough … I’m going to make something of myself, and I’m sick and tired of feeling sick and tired."  Write down in a journal who you are and what you stand for and why it’s important for you to get off the couch.Make a list of 10 things you love doing that make you the happiest when you do them.Commit to 60 mins a day of working out in the morning.Write a list of the 5 things that scare you the most.Tackle the top 3 things that scare you so you master them.Write down a vision for yourself for 3 months, 6 months and 12 months.Find a mentor who has already achieved those visions and ask them to give you a challenge with coaching.Do something in the first 30 days to give back, give gratitude, and give to yourself.Feed your mind with books, podcasts, and inspiring videos.Chart your results nightly for what you created and check in every week to see what’s been working and what has been holding you back.  Repeat.

28 Apr 201935min