The primitive side of the brain makes us only focus on survival, and that can hold us back. How do you make sure you’re not letting your mind sabotage you? How do you find silence in your mind and live in stillness? What are the biggest challenges when it comes to climbing Everest? On this episode, we are joined by the legendary Erik Weihenmayer, who shares on creating the discipline to make your mind a beautiful, still stream.

The nature of mind is like water. If you do not disturb it, it becomes clear. -Erik Weihenmayer

Takeaways + Tactics

At the start of the show, Erik shared what it’s like to stand on top of the world and the importance of having stillness in your mind. We talked about the importance of knowing the right time and place to trust your brain. “The most relaxed fighter is the fighter who wins.” We also talked about team dynamics and why it’s so important for everyone to have the same mission. Towards the end of the show, Erik shared the experience of climbing Everest.

Erik also spoke about;

It takes a lot of practice and discipline to find that quiet place in your mind, but on the other side of that is peace and fulfillment. You have to learn to know your brain and be aware of when it’s sabotaging you and when you can listen to it. You need to talk down your brain when it’s sending you false signals. When you commit to something and you’re fully there, try to stay in that moment and be fully there, be hyper focused on what’s around you and don’t let the fear, doubt, and questioning sabotage the moment and what you should be feeling. Remember to keep your mind still like a mountain stream.

Guest Bio

Erik is an American athlete, adventurer, author, activist and motivational speaker, and the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest, on May 25, 2001. He also completed the Seven Summits in September 2002, joining 150 mountaineers at the time who had accomplished that feat, but the only climber who was blind. In 2008 he also added Carstensz Pyramid in West Papua New Guinea,

Being a successful entrepreneur can bring about a lot of benefits and generate a lot of profit. How can good mentorship help us break into a competitive field and create an entrepreneurial mindset? Can mistakes early in life set us back on our path? And if there's a mastermind in all of us, how can we utilize this on our way to success? Entrepreneurship guru and star of the Millionaire Mindcast Matt Aitchinson talks about this and much more, revealing the story of his own success and the best values an up and coming entrepreneur can harness to achieve success.

You have to weed your brain daily. You have to improve your environment daily. You have to be 1% better every single day. - Matt Aitchinson

Takeaways

We kicked off the show by talking about Matt's mentoring and how he sees himself as more of a mentor rather than a coach or a teacher. Matt then also talked about his background and the support he has received to leave his days of dangerous living behind. We also discussed how going to college could benefit you and create healthy habits in your everyday business life. Another point we made was that there are people who get into entrepreneurship for all the wrong reasons. Matt then talked about the success story of his own podcast. We also discussed the best communication practices and the importance of having an authentic dialogue. At the end, Matt and Chris talked about the significance of our mindset regarding money and the way a good or bad financial situation can affect your life.

We also talked about;

Regardless of your start in life, there are always ways to redeem yourself and take your skillset to its full potential. Even if you make a mistake, it's important to readjust your mindset and surround yourself with the right people, who will motivate you and support your goals in life. Entrepreneurship is a good way to follow your dreams and knowing what you want to change about the world....

The ultimate goal for many businesses in any sector is to be the category king - the one and only player in this particular niche. Is this an achievable goal? How can a good knowledge of category design help you stand out and develop your brand in full? And can you read someone's work habits by their shoes? Join Tenable CMO Jennifer "JJ" Johnson for her top insights on how knowing category design can put your business one step forward from your greatest competitors.

We all have moments where we're in a position to be our greatest self and we have hesitations around these moments. - Chris Lochhead

Takeaways

We started off with JJ explaining how important it is for CMOs to focus on category design and how controlling your category can mean everything in business. We then talked more generally for company values - with mentions of Mercury, Uber, etc. - and how working for a company with contradicting values wouldn't result into anything productive. JJ also talked about how upbringing can influence your business mindset later in time and gave an example with her own upbringing. Then JJ also talked about her experience with Andreessen Horowtiz, one of the Silicon Valley market leaders, and how she moved on to a portfolio company afterwards. Finally, we talked about JJ's plans for the future and how she feels about what's coming up for her company in the next few years. We also mentioned the problems of the headstrong outlook of CEOs in the security technology space and how a fear of innovation can lead to companies losing their market lead to new competitors that were brave enough to take ownership of a new category.

We also discussed;

Knowing how to best your competition is one of the toughest parts of running any business. Category design can help with that; at its core is the creativity and innovation to define your own niche in the market that you can dominate. But dominating a category also requires courage. Some big companies are too set in the values and ideas of their business' past that they risk being outperformed by newcomers with a lot more drive to try new things. Trendsetters belong in the present and future - that's why every CM...

Good marketing relies on a faithful, relevant story that you can sell. But is that all there is to it? What makes big brands fail? How can you get your idea out there? Does artificial intelligence come in to the future of marketing? All these questions and more will be answered in this week's episode with marketing guru and founder of Double Loop Marketing Christian Sarkar.

The best advertising for an idea is that people will love it and steal it. - Christian Sarkar

Takeaways

To start off, we talked about how you can engage customers with their story, even if it's one they've already heard - even retelling the story is valuable in itself. Then Christian went into a bit more detail for one of his clients and why authenticity should prevail over perfectionism. He then explained the two ways of telling your story, emphasizing that the thought leadership model is a lot more flexible and doesn't penalize mistakes as harshly. We rounded off by talking about ways and strategies to get your idea out there and make sure that you're heard, both by customers in your category and your competitors as well.

We also discussed;

Having a reliable story to fall back on when marketing your business is important but it's by far not the only step on the long path to success. It's imperative to stay on message constantly and not lose confidence in your brand. A product is also an idea - and the focus of your marketing should be how this idea will make a customer's life easier because it can do a certain thing better than them. The other important thing to consider is your category and what it lacks because if you're not thinking about this, then somebody else is: and there can only be one category king. Finally, to stay afloat,

Has Western medicine failed you? Do you know how to build a successful business or podcast? In this episode, self-made millionaire J.V. Crum talks candidly about his diabetes diagnosis, how he shunned Western medicine in favour of a holistic approach, and the fantastic ways it has helped him in every avenue of his life. J.V. also discusses why he has been so successful with his daily healthcare podcasts.

I am clear about how much impact I can make with the rest of my life. I can only make that impact if I make the impact with people who are ready to make impact with their lives. – J.V. Crum

Takeaways

We began this episode with J.V. telling us about his upbringing in Florida, how his parents influenced him and how he grew to be a millionaire in his twenties. Next, he spoke openly about his diabetes and how it has completely changed his outlook on both life and business. He also shared on the holistic approach to treatment he has taken. Later in the episode we spoke about the importance of entrepreneurs and why there seem to be less and less in the millennial generation. Following on from that J.V. spoke about his love of podcasts and how he got into the area, as well as how the diabetes has changed the output of his shows.  We finished up by discussing his father’s death and his greatest fears.

J.V. also shared insights on;

Western medicine isn’t always the best way to heal, and holistic techniques can be much more effective. Through harnessing the power that your body already possesses with things like hypnosis and visualization, and combining them with good diet and exercise you can heal yourself. J.V. is living proof of this. It is important to live your life with purpose and the only way you can truly be happy is if you look back on your last day on earth and say that you lived your life to its fullest.

Guest Bio

J.V. Crum, III, MBA, JD, MS Psychology, became a self-made millionaire entrepreneur and investor by his twenties. He is an author, speaker,

More and more companies fall out of the market because their fear of experiments and innovation drives stagnation in their development. What are they missing? How can we overcome our fear of failure and see it as a learning tool instead? What are the benefits of recognizing the need for innovation and creativity? All this and much more in this week's episode with Dr. Samuel West, who shares his experience and research on the benefits of failing.

You learn to walk by falling down - everything you know, you learn from failing. - Dr Samuel West

Takeaways

At the start of this episode, we talked to Dr. Samuel West about the importance of embracing failure as a chance to develop yourself and making your endeavors even more successful. Then Dr. West explained his concept behind his Museum of Failure and told us about some of the more interesting exhibits he's got on show. Afterwards, we got into the broader topic of introducing fun and improvisation into the workplace, discussing both the benefits and the risks of that model. Towards the end, Dr. West recapped why failure is an important asset to embrace and what constitutes a higher risk of failure.

Dr. West also talked about;

As a society, we've been educated to fear failure and to avoid it for the sake of success. By avoiding opportunity for creativity and innovation because we're afraid of failing, we risk falling behind our competitors, who are swiftly moving with the times. Fun and doing things for the sake of it can sometimes lead to amazing, groundbreaking results - or not, but that's okay. Imitating big risk-takers such as Amazon and Google and encouraging a positive and proactive attitude towards failure can help any company or individual maximize their potential to the fullest.

Guest Bio:

The millennial generation is shaping up to be the least entrepreneurial in history. What is driving this crisis in entrepreneurship, and making people not want to take risks? What are the biggest challenges the millennials have when it comes to running their business ventures? On this episode, we have a fantastic conversation with 3 young entrepreneurs winning in the game and making an impact.

Entrepreneurial tendencies and philosophies are great ways to live as a person. -Connor Gillivan

Takeaways 

At the start of the show, Hector, Mani and Connor told their stories and shared what led them to take the entrepreneurial path. Next, we talked about the crisis in American entrepreneurship and why so few millennials are becoming entrepreneurs. We discussed the importance of meditation and having hard lines. We went onto discuss painting a compelling vision, and the new ways entrepreneurs can access capital.

We also spoke about

What’s holding people back from being entrepreneurs is the lack of preparation and having nothing driving them to want to take risks. For young people, the idea of improving yourself isn’t quite sexy yet, and the avenue to get there is through entrepreneurs. The old paradigm of working just for money is gone and how people want fulfillment and happiness. To succeed, structure is important, as well as being driven to succeed through the obstacles. The answer to the question, of becoming an entrepreneur is always yes.

Guest Bio

Hector Santiesteban
After training over 1500 Millennials in entrepreneurship and sales, Hector is focused on helping young people make money in a meaningful way. Go to MillennialSkills.com to find out more about his work.

Mani Vaya
Mani is the founder of 2000 Books. Prior to this, he spent 12 years in the tech industry and most recently was managing Billion dollar cellphone design projects at a Fortune 500 Tech giant. Go to 2000Books.com

Connor Gillivan
Connor is the CMO of FreeeUp and the best selling author of Free Up Your Business: 50 Secrets to Bootstrap Million...

With the surf kickflip, Zoltan Torkos went from surf news, to local news to national news and even to international news. What was the experience of becoming a sensation like? Why does he surf and enjoy teaching other people to surf? On this episode, we are joined by the man himself, the magician of surfing - Zoltan Torkos!

I think I’m a revolutionary surfer, and I should be out surfing and I shouldn’t be at school. - Zoltan Torkos

Takeaways

At the start of the show Zoltan talked about doing the surf kickflip, and the media sensation that happened after the video was uploaded and what Tony Hawk had to do with that. Next, we talked about his experiences after that moment, how he wanted to be the Evel Knievel of surfing and who he looks up to in the surfing game. Towards the end of the show, he gave us a magic trick!

We also spoke about

A lot of people take surfing far too seriously, and start to look down on people who aren’t as skilled as they are. This takes away from the fact that we have to be there for each other and just have fun. You can’t be defined by the conditions, your equipment or whatever your skill level is, just get in the water and enjoy. If your surfing sucks, blame it on the board!

Guest Bio

Zoltan is a fourth generation magician, he performs in a realm beyond playing cards and rabbits in hats.  He brings magic to the art of surfing and a passion for change that is rare and sincere.  Born and raised in Santa Cruz, Zoltan recently made international headlines as the first person to be filmed successfully completing a kickflip while surfing. Go to for more information ZoltanTorkos.com.

We’re in the era of widening appreciation of athletes who have broad capabilities. What lessons should younger athletes learn about life after all the games? How do people create a legendary business and a legendary life with your spouse? On this episode, we’re joined by all round waterman Keith Teboul who shares on coming up, losing it all and staying humble.

It’s the evolution of opportunities that came to me that I was able to see and take advantage of. - Keith Teboul

Takeaways

At the start of the show, Keith shared on going to Marshall Islands and why he likes going there so much. Next, he talked about transitioning to civilian life as an athlete, and why so many people struggle with it. Keith also shared how bankruptcy affected him, and what he’s looking forward to in his future.  

Keith also spoke about;

 People want to be a part of something, and the people we look up to are here to provide that. Humility is important because that’s how they treat all they have with respect. For Keith, his happiness comes from making other people happy. Things in life, aren’t just meant to be, you have to see the opportunities and make choices. It’s important to enjoy your day and what you’re doing.  

Guest Bio

Sixteen dedicated years of playing with concaves, rails, rockers and fin set ups have earned Keith Teboul an undisputable reputation as one of the world’s top shapers. Keith’s skills on the water are equally impressive, widely respected for his progressive, fluid style, it is safe to say that Teboul is one of the major driving forces behind modern wave sailing today. Go to QuatroWindSurfing.com for more information.

The secret of success in war time is our ability to communicate rapidly and create shared consciousness, and this also applies to business. How can you create this mindset among everyone in an organization? How did 9/11 change the military? What are the new levels of understanding the military needs? On this episode, we are joined by McChrystal Group partner, Chris Fussell, who gives insights into these questions.

The best senior leaders are the ones that are willing to admit that no single individual can handle the complexity of this world. -Chris Fussell

Takeaways

At the start of the show, Chris shared how he got into the military, being inspired by his grandfather and father. He also shared how tough military training is, and why it has a lot to do with weeding people out. Next, we talked about how wrestling connects to MMA fighting and he also shared how the military changed after 9/11. Chris also shared what it’s like to be married while you’re on active duty, as well as how the military wasn’t prepared for the information age. We also discussed the work The McChrystal Group does, and towards the end of the show, we talked McGregor/Mayweather fight predictions.  

Chris also spoke about;

In the world we’re living in today, the rule books for solutions to the biggest problems can’t keep up with how fast the problems evolve. For leaders to succeed in this environment, it’s important to admit this complexity and then close the gap between optimal performance, and how fast these new networked problems can move. Sustainable success is about how fast the solutions occur. The best leaders are constantly coming in underneath the organization and staying on their feet to solve these new problems.

Guest Bio

Chris Fussell is a Partner at McChrystal Group, where he heads up the McChrystal Group Leadership Institute. Chris is an author of the 2015 New York Times bestseller, Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World. Chris was commissioned as a Naval Officer in 1997, and spent the next 15 years on US Navy SEAL Teams, leading SEAL elements in combat zones around the globe. From war-torn Kosovo, to counter-terrorism operations in Iraq and Afghanistan,