When at the airport I always make a pitstop at the bookstore. While traveling to a speaking engagement, a book title entered my line of vision: "Raise Your Game.” As I read the cover, chapter topics and testimonials I knew I had to get it. Especially given it was from the world of basketball. From first crack, I couldn't put it down. I finished it in two days and knew I needed to get the author, Alan Stein Jr on the podcast to talk about the principles.

I later realized both Alan and I were featured in Anthony Renna’s book, “Be Like The Best”, which led me to connecting with Alan... and here we are.

Alan is a world-renowned coach, speaker and author. He spent 15+ years working the highest performing basketball players on the planet and now teaches audiences how to utilize the same strategies in business that elite athletes use to perform at a world-class level. Alan specializes in improving individual and organizational leadership, performance and accountability. He inspires and empowers everyone he works with to take immediate action and improve mindset, habits and productivity.

In this podcast we talk about principles for success, coaching, and leadership and the values and behaviors that support it to help you raise your game.

Let's go.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

1. The two foundational principles that success is built on and that you must adhere to if you’re going to win long-term.

2. What Alan learned from Kobe Bryant about the basics, that made him the best in the world at his craft.

3. Why knowing yourself first is crucial to creating a change in your life and business, as well as impacting others.

4. The basics of what you’re trying to improve—whether it be your craft, your business, your marriage—and how to break them down into skill work.

5. How Alan addresses “shiny object syndrome” and lack of attention by using praise, setting expectations and defining a role.

6. What not to do to ensure that you're not being disrespectful to the process, your craft, and the game. Whatever your game may be.

7. The importance of environment when it comes to buying into the basics and why you should seek out environments that trigger positive behaviors.

8. How to get rid of distractions so you can perform at the highest level. The most disciplined people have the least amount of distractions.

9. Create systems and processes to make sticking to habits easier. We share examples.

10. How Kevin Durant transformed himself after hating strength training but still showed up weekly to put in work.

11. People take what you do over what you say. Why you should model the behavior of your role models, and how this will help you become a high character person.

12. Alan's exercise to discover your values and the process steps to become that person.

13. What to do when someone has not bought into the team, and the vision.

14. The self-check and the responsibility you must take as a coach to help your clients and people around you become better. Nix blaming, making excuses, and complaining.

15. The keys to sustaining a standard of excellence like Dematha High School and how you can apply it to yourself and your business.

16. Why the role you and each person on your team plays must be respected, valued and appreciated. Everyone is integral to the final picture.

17. Why communication is like a basketball pass – the person making the pass has to deliver it in a way that the person can catch it.

And much more.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

Alan Stein Jr: https://alansteinjr.com/

Alan Stein Jr. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alansteinjr/

Book: Raise Your Game - High Performance Secrets from The Best of The Best: https://raiseyourgamebook.com/

Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2

Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber

Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/