Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

Today, we’re super excited to share the 14th installment of our Ask Me Anything series. The purpose behind these conversations - behind these AMAs – is to hear from you… to explore the topics and questions that you have been wrestling with on your path to becoming.

The goal is to expand on the themes, lessons, and best-practices we’ve discussed on the Finding Mastery podcast in order to make them even more applicable to your own life.

By now, our incredible co-host needs no introduction – we’re back with O’Neil Cespedes – and just a quick note of gratitude here… This show does not happen without you and your incredible questions. This is the last AMA of 2023, and O'neil and I are grateful for you challenging us with hard questions. It’s so energizing and inspiring to know our community is full of people that are pointing to a high quality inner-life, and are committed to getting better, and helping others do the same. 

I feel the fire in your belly. Keep creating a rising tide. 

 Today, we dive into:

• The psychology and physiology of aging
• Why trust is a mental skill and how to train it
• Best practices for goal-setting
• The dangers of advice-giving
• Dealing with rejection
• Performance-based vs purpose-based identities 
• And so much more… 

Wishing you an epic week, and hope you enjoy volume 14 of Finding Mastery’s Ask Me Anything! 

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“Be bold, dream big. Take the risk. Figure out what it takes to accomplish your goals, and then you will win. Or if you don't, at least you'll get damn near close… We all need to take risks to keep growing and to keep learning.”

Imagine the possibilities if you were to take radical and relentless action towards your biggest (maybe even intimidating) dreams – defying fear and uncertainty. 

Today’s guest, the remarkable Liz Elting, doesn’t need to imagine. She’s living it. 

Her story is a true testament to what can happen when vision and action align. 

Now recognized as one of Forbes’ Richest Self-Made Women, Liz’s dreams had humble beginnings in her NYU dorm room in 1992 when she co-founded TransPerfect – from scratch.

TransPerfect has since grown into the world’s largest language and business solutions provider, with over $1.1 billion in revenue and operations in more than 100 cities worldwide.

Her new book, ‘Dream Big and Win’ is a must-read for anyone who is pioneering their own path to purpose-led success. It offers practical wisdom on not just how to dream big but also how to win in both business and life. 

Now, in today’s conversation, we delve deep into:

• How to take radical action in pursuit of your dreams
• The definition of modern leadership
• How to use adversity to fuel extraordinary growth
• The art of balancing self-discipline with self-compassion
• The secret to cultivating enduring passion and purpose, no matter life’s circumstances

And so much more!

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Where are wearables leading us? In the dynamic, fast-paced world of health technology, what does the future hold? What possibilities can we unlock? How can we leverage the power of wearables to transcend mere physical tracking and genuinely enhance our psychological well-being?

These questions form the perfect springboard for our conversation with Dr. Kapil Parakh, a renowned cardiologist and the Senior Medical Lead at Google. Kapil is more than a doctor, he’s a leader in the wearable movement with keen insight into current trends and future directions.

Raised in Zambia and educated at Johns Hopkins, Kapil's diverse background infuses Silicon Valley innovations with the deep empathy of human-centered medicine. His trailblazing work is redefining healthcare and guiding us toward a healthier, more informed future.

Kapil's forward-thinking approach spans multiple domains, and his impressive body of work includes the book, Searching for Health: The Smart Way to Find Health Information Online and Put It to Use. It’s a practical guide for navigating the complexities of today's healthcare landscape.

At his core, Dr. Kapil Parakh is dedicated to empowering as many people as possible. His initiatives have already impacted over a billion lives, and he's just getting started.

Join us in this insightful, forward-looking conversation, where Kapil shares his personal perspectives and insights on the transformative potential of wearable tech. He invites us to look beyond the basic functions of fitness trackers and embrace technology as a partner in achieving optimal health and peak performance.

Whether you're a passionate tech enthusiast, a health professional, or simply looking to level up your wellbeing, Kapil's insights promise to elevate your perception of what's possible with wearables, and empower you to make informed decisions that resonate with your body's own unique needs.

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Discount Code for Dr. Kapil Parakh’s Book, Searching for Health

Finding Mastery Podcast listeners may use the discount code HTWN to receive a 30% discount on Searching for Health:The Smart Way to Find Health Information Online and Put It to Use, when purchased through the John’s Hopkins Press website.

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What can we learn about success from the phenomenal growth of digital technology and the extraordinary achievements of Silicon Valley teams?

And almost more importantly, what can we learn from the shell-shocking failures of some other seemingly great businesses?

Today’s guest has been researching the digital transformation of businesses for three decades, and he’s landed on some fascinating— and extremely practical— conclusions.

In this episode, I’m thrilled to have Andrew McAfee join us for a deep dive into cultures of innovation— environments where risks are not just taken but embraced, where failures are seen as pivotal learning opportunities, and where the status quo is openly challenged.

Andrew is not only a principal research scientist at MIT but also a visionary thinker and a best-selling author. His latest work, 'The Geek Way,' is providing a framework to help teams work well in our rapidly changing business landscape – where success means more than profits and market share.

Andrew has identified four pillars of ‘the geek way’: science, speed, ownership, and openness. 

The beauty of the geek way is it's not confined to the boardroom or the tech lab. This approach can have profound implications for all of us, in every aspect of our lives. 

Whether you’re in business, sports, arts, or really any field, Andrew has some fascinating insights, frameworks, and tools that I think you’ll find helpful on your personal and professional journeys. 

I’m excited for what we can learn together as we dive into this week’s conversation with Andrew McAfee.

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To date, the Finding Mastery Podcast has been running for 8 years and for over 400 episodes. In that time, we’ve gained extraordinary insights and timeless wisdom from some of the top thinkers and doers in the world.

While we have come to realize that there is no singular “golden thread” to how the best in the world operate – we’ve noticed some common themes, skills, and insights that many of these people have utilized on their path to mastery. 

And that’s why we’re so thrilled to bring you the all new Best Of Finding Mastery series. In each episode, we’ll take a deep dive into a specific skill or topic – pulling together the best insights and gems from years of interviews with the best in the world. These are tools and insights that have stood the test of time. 

For this inaugural episode, we’re highlighting conversations with a remarkable group of leaders who’ve made a game-changing impact leading high performing teams in the worlds of sports, branding, technology, retail, business and the military. You’ll hear from game-changers across industry like Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO), Pete Carroll (Seattle Seahawks Head Coach), Jan Singer (former Victoria’s Secret & J.Crew CEO), Toto Wolff (Mercedes Benz F1 CEO), Julie Rice (Co-Founder of SoulCycle), and more. 

Though each of these individuals comes at leadership with unique personal philosophies, core values, and historical experiences, you’ll hear quite a bit of overlap when it comes to their central drivers for success in building high performing teams. 

Now, we could have cut this episode a dozen different ways — we’ve had so many incredible leaders on this podcast, it was nearly impossible to choose which conversations to highlight. So, let us know if you like this format and what subjects interest you. There’s plenty more to choose from for a volume two, three and beyond. 

And with that, we hope you enjoy the first installment of our Best Of series on high-performing teams.

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What would you do in the face of a very public and shocking defeat? Would you crumble, or would you use it to grow and learn? 

Today’s guest chose growth, transforming one of the most heart-wrenching moments in NFL history into a profound learning experience.

In this episode, I'm thrilled to introduce a friend and former colleague from my time with the Seattle Seahawks — the exceptional Tom Cable.

Tom’s coaching journey includes three years as an NFL Head Coach and seven years as an Assistant Head Coach, including two Super Bowl appearances with the Seattle Seahawks – one where the Seahawks won in 2014 (against the Denver Broncos), and one where they lost in dramatic fashion in 2015 (against the New England Patriots). We cover that loss – and the ramifications of it – in depth in this conversation.

With over 35 years of coaching experience, Tom has left an indelible mark on both collegiate and NFL levels. His expertise is with the Offensive Line, but his influence goes way beyond X's and O's; he's a teacher, as all great coaches are, a co-creator of cultures, and a problem solver who challenges players and organizations to be honest in their approach toward mastery.  

Now, this is a special episode – not only do we get to dive into Tom’s stories & insights, but in the second half of the conversation, Tom and I get to wrestle with some of YOUR questions around coaching and leadership. We set up a call-in phone number, and you all left some great questions for us to tackle.

We cover: the mindset required to adjust when things don’t go according to plan, how to build a trusting environment, personal stories from our time together with the Seahawks (including a never heard before breakdown of the infamous goal-line call, that cost us the win in our second superbowl), and so much more. 

This conversation serves as a reminder that success is not solely defined by championships, but by the growth, support, and love shared along the path.

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Welcome to the 13th installment of our Ask Me Anything series, where your questions take center stage and our answers offer you guidance on the road to mastery.

The goal behind our monthly AMA series is to dive deep into the questions that challenge and inspire you on your path to becoming your best.

We’re stoked about all the excellent questions we received for this 13th AMA. Our co-host, O’Neil Cespedes, is back again to make sure we keep it real as we navigate the rich landscape of your questions.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

• Best practices for managing unproductive thought
• Why it’s important to square up with pain and suffering
• The connection between quality sleep and being your best
• How to push away recurring negative thoughts
• How to develop your “It Factor” (no, it’s not genetic!)
• How disordered thinking takes shape from microtraumas
• Why people-pleasing masks your fear of other people’s opinions, or FOPO*
• And so much more…

Enjoy! With fire,

MG

* The book, The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying About What People Think of You, offers more detailed insight.

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Resources for those who may be struggling:

Need to talk to someone?

Click HERE for Mental Health Warmlines

U.S. Suicide hotlines

If you’re having thoughts of harming yourself or you’re in an immediate mental health crisis situation, people at the following suicide hotlines in the U.S. can help.

• 988 - Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org

(The old National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number will work indefinitely; it is 1-800-273-TALK [8255])

• 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE) - National Hopeline Network
• 1-866-488-7386 (1-866-4.U.TREVOR aimed at gay and questioning youth)

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"You cannot get to courage without walking right through vulnerability."

They say opinions are cheap, but the cost of FOPO – the fear of other people's opinions – is anything but.

As many of you already know, I've recently released 'The First Rule of Mastery,' a book dedicated to overcoming what I've come to see as the single greatest constrictor of human potential: FOPO.

And so, in celebration of this special milestone, I'm excited to re-release a pivotal conversation with Dr. Brené Brown, whose eloquent insights on FOPO are invaluable.

I found that while writing and beginning to share the book, I was consistently drawn back to this very episode again and again… 

For those new to her work, Brené is a renowned research professor at the University of Houston, where she's spent over two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, empathy, and leadership…

She's the author of six New York Times bestsellers, and her iconic TED talk - The Power of Vulnerability – is one of the most viewed TED talks of all time, with over 63 million views. 

Remarkable.

Brené is a legend… and her timeless and practical wisdom guides us through overcoming the paralyzing fear of other people's opinions, unlocking our full potential and dancing on the razor's edge of vulnerability, authenticity and courage.

Whether it's a revisit or your first listen, this conversation is as relevant as ever. Perhaps even more so.

And with that, I am super excited to re-share a fresh version of our 2018 conversation with the one and only Dr. Brené Brown!

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For the first time in Finding Mastery’s history, we're going where few other podcasts have ventured: Outer space.

And joining us for this historic and very episode is the remarkable NASA astronaut Dr. Woody Hoburg – tuning in directly from the International Space Station (ISS).

How incredible is that?

This is Part Two of our 3-part series documenting Woody’s epic journey – from Earth to the cosmos and back again. 

Last week, in Part One, we explored Woody’s preparations for this mission – if you haven’t had a chance to check that out yet, I highly recommend you go give it a listen here.

And today, in Part Two, he’s providing a firsthand look into life aboard the ISS.

It was a surreal experience to speak with Woody while he was literally floating around his cabin and spinning his microphone in zero gravity – if you can, I’d highly recommend checking this one out on YouTube – the visuals are epic. 

Within the close quarters of the ISS, Woody and his team model an impressive level of excellence in performance and resilience. Their dedication to maintaining solid relationships and open and direct communication is rich with lessons for us all. Especially right now. 

Tune in as NASA astronaut Dr. Woody Hoburg gives us an inside view of life in orbit, straight from the International Space Station! Enjoy the very special second installment of this 3-part series.

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This week, we’re beyond excited to share a very special conversation with you… maybe the most special and ambitious podcast we’ve ever done… Finding Mastery… is going to space.

Sometimes, life can present us with moments where even our most meticulous planning and preparation reach their limits. These moments are where we find ourselves at a crossroads, needing to decide whether to boldly leap into the unknown or to stay grounded in the familiar.  

Now, imagine the weight of that choice when it involves venturing into the ultimate unknown: outer space. 

Today's guest doesn't have to imagine; he's lived it and has found true growth playing on this edge.

Among a staggering pool of 18,000 applicants, all vying for the rare opportunity to train and become a NASA astronaut, Dr. Woody Hoburg emerged as one of the mere 13 individuals selected in 2017.

Fast forward to 2023, and on March 2nd, he launched to the International Space Station, piloting NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 mission. 

And before he left for his incredible journey, I had the absolute honor of connecting with Woody. In this episode, you'll hear about how he prepared himself – physically and mentally – for venturing into space, the most extreme environment known to humanity.

But, our exploration, just like Woody’s, does not stop here.

We're embarking on a 3-part series chronicling Woody's entire space expedition. 

Be sure to come back next week for Part Two, where I had the incredible privilege to chat with Woody directly from outer space. (Seriously.)

And Part Three (which will come to you early next year) will uncover the profound insights he’s gleaned during his time among the cosmos.

Woody truly embodies the spirit of exploration, whether it's tackling intricate technical challenges, scaling cliffs, or traversing the cosmos. His relentless curiosity isn't just admirable; it's contagious. 

And he believes we're in the golden age of space exploration. And after tuning into our exciting conversation today, I have a feeling you might just agree.  

Tune into Part One of our 3-part series as Finding Mastery embarks on an interstellar journey with the remarkable astronaut – and human – Dr. Woody Hoburg.

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Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more powerful conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and meaning: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery

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