In this episode, host Aaron Gordon sits down with US Martial Arts Hall of Famer Chris Harris to explore the mindset and discipline required for real personal and professional success. Chris shares his remarkable journey from a tough childhood in Dayton, Ohio, to becoming an elite trainer for Special Forces. He stresses that mental toughness matters far more than physical ability. Chris explains how mastering the space between stimulus and response, what he calls true mindset, unlocks growth, resilience, and high performance. The conversation covers reprogramming the subconscious, embracing discomfort, and the power of consistency and ownership. He also shares practical strategies like using "medicues" to break out of autopilot thinking. Throughout the episode, Chris drives home that success comes from self awareness and a willingness to embrace the grind instead of chasing comfort. Packed with personal stories and actionable advice, this conversation delivers powerful lessons on hustle, focus, and turning passion into purpose. It closes with Chris's favorite motivational quote from Alan Watts.

Get To Know Chris Harris

As an international keynote speaker, Chris Harris has inspired leaders and sales professionals from hundreds of companies across more than 60 countries. He teaches audiences how to shatter their limits in sales, leadership, and life by building mental toughness and learning to motivate themselves from within. Known as The Warrior Maker, Chris is a mindset and performance expert who has given over 100 media interviews. His expertise in mental toughness was forged during a 25 year career as a private contractor training military and elite special forces in close quarters combat and relative superiority. A former all star sales performer and leader in the competitive tech industry, Chris authored Phase Selling. As a keynote speaker and executive coach, he has taught his methodology to thousands of B2B sellers and executives worldwide, helping them exceed quotas and lead more effectively by adopting a warrior's mindset. Chris has authored 14 books, including The Complete Idiot's Guide to Self Defense, which was licensed by one of the world's largest publishers. In I Go Thru, he draws on real life examples from his challenging childhood to show others how to overcome adversity using the tools they already have. He is also the founder of Roku Jutsu, an elite close quarters combat system he created in 1993. After training warfighters as a private contractor for 25 years, Chris was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame and holds the rank of Grand Master. He is a member of the Forbes Council and Business Executives for National Security (BENS).

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3 Key Listener Takeaways 1. Growth Lies in Discomfort

Chris Harris reminds us that true development and transformation only happen when we are willing to step into discomfort. Whether pursuing personal growth, building new habits, or chasing excellence, real progress comes from embracing the suck and finding value in the struggle itself, not just the end result.

2. Master Your Mindset

The key to success starts with mastering the space between stimulus and response. Chris explains that developing metacognition, being aware of your thoughts in every moment, and intentionally disrupting automatic behaviors is essential for lasting change. Simple tools like medicues (mental checkpoints) can help you stay focused and build resilience.

3. Own Your Journey

Success requires brutal self awareness, acceptance, and full ownership. Before you can build consistency and results, you must first understand where you are, accept your current reality, and take responsibility for how you got there. Only then can you chart a better course, face your inner battles, and keep hustling through distractions and doubts.

Show Overview

00:00 Martial arts lessons at local church

05:36 The mental side of martial arts

07:47 Understanding basic self-defense moves

12:37 Striving for Excellence in Business

14:22 Facing Internal Doubts for Success

16:59 Understanding Metacognition and Change

19:25 Importance of mindfulness and purpose

23:17 Advice from a billionaire mentor