"We all naturally do this. We aspire to be the heroes that we see out there, and we put on their uniform or jersey and try to activate that better version of ourself."

- Todd Herman

Would you believe it if you heard that Beyoncé uses an alter ego called "Sasha Fierce" to overcome her stage anxiety? Did you know that many of the top performers in the world, from the sports to the arts, perform as somebody else?

Believe it or not, using alter egos can help us get past our own blocks and stories to get in the zone and perform at our highest abilities. Take a moment and think about your weaknesses. Maybe like Beyoncé, you struggle with being in front of a crowd. What if, before you went on stage, you acted as though you were someone who was not afraid. What if you acted like someone who loved being on stage and even received energy from it? 

Right now, it may seem hard to visualize such an abrupt change happening, but with practice, our alter egos can actually become our greatest assets. And today's guest on ONKEN RADIO (previously NION Radio), Todd Herman, will help us get there. 

Todd has clocked over 15,000 hours working one-on-one with people from all backgrounds and circumstances to develop an impenetrable mindset. He knows the mental performance game better than anyone, and his mindset strategies are used by entrepreneurs, entertainers, and athletes worldwide.

Read on to learn the importance of an alter ego in your creative work, how to develop your own, and how best to put it into practice in your daily life!

Who Is Todd Herman? 

Todd Herman has been working with elite performers, athletes, and entrepreneurs for over two decades. He's the creator of the multi-award-winning Leadership & Skills Development program, 90 Day Year, and he's the author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book, The Alter Ego Effect: The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life. His elite programs are delivered annually to over 200,000 professionals in 73 countries. 

Named by the Boston Herald as a "Training Superstar," Todd has been featured by The Today Show, Inc Magazine, CBS, Business Insider, and many others! He also received Inc. 500's "Fastest Growing Companies Award" and the "Rama Award for Wisdom and Leadership." 

 Originally from Alberta, Canada, Todd grew up on a large farm and ranch (where he developed a healthy dislike of chicken coops). Todd now lives in New York City with his wife and three young children and calls himself the "world's worst ukulele player." 

As a high-level coach for today's top performers, athletes, and creatives, Todd teaches people how to step into their alter egos to help them succeed. If you're a photographer like myself, an entrepreneur, or even a parent, Todd has the knowledge and advice you need to operate at peak performance. 

 Todd is a good friend of mine, and it's been exciting to see the impact he's making on people's lives. I was honored to have him join me on the podcast. If you consider yourself a Creative Alchemist, then this is one interview that you can't miss. Let's get started.

 Todd's Story: The Power in Activating Your Alter Ego 

Growing up in the middle of nowhere in Canada, Todd had a big imagination. He pretended his driveway was an ice rink, and he'd pretend to be his favorite hockey star, stopping goals right and left. As he grew up, he continued investing in sports, and he even went on to become a nationally ranked badminton player! 

Eventually, Todd began volunteer-coaching football, and it was then that he realized he had a talent for managing his own mental game. He saw that the greatest challenge with these young football players wasn't that they didn't have the skills they needed — it was that they hadn't prepared their minds well for the game. 

Todd grew a reputation as the "mental coach," and he started serving some high profile clients — even Olympians. Throughout these years working with top athletes,