Welcome to Part 2 of an amazing episode of In Search of Excellence, featuring Devon Laratt, a Canadian professional arm wrestler who has won multiple world championships and is one of the best arm wrestlers of all time. He is also a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces.

In today’s episode, we talk about the things crucial for success, the importance of preparation, and the ability to accept defeat. You’ll hear about his most important wins and losses, the famous arm wrestlers he fought against, and so much more.

Time stamps:

01:05 The importance of Extreme Preparation

• Things important for success
• Considered the no. 1 arm wrestler in the world at 33
• As you age you start losing physical energy
• For the last four years, only trains his right hand
• A lot of sacrifices is needed to become Number 1
• You must be obsessed

05:19 How does Devon prepare for a match?

• Devon’s training falls into 3 categories
• The most important is actual practice on the table
• Breaking new grounds and pushing forward
• Muscle, tissue, and training rehab
• Staying current 
  
  

09:07 How important is a passion for success?

• Passion is probably the most important thing
• When you love something, you will be extremely motivated
• Motivation will never be a problem
• You have to know yourself

11:38 How to bounce back from a huge loss?

• Lost 6:0 from Denis Cyplenkov
• Denis is an incredible human being
• Learned a lot from Dennis
• Was defeated by an incredible arm wrestler
• It’s great to have people to keep you humble and inspired
• Denis is an inspirational athlete and fighter
• Is there a fear of losing?
• There are far more serious things than a match
• Loves to fight and wants to have a good time
• Cherishes his loses
• Losses make you stronger 
  
  

17:18 Is wrestling like poker?

• In poker, you have your cards
• Maybe not much like poker (random)
• Arm wrestling is about self-betterment and growth of self
• No Limits - a nick name given to Devon
• Endurance has been his gift, never fallen short of it

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is Devon Larratt, one of the greatest arm wrestlers in the world.

Devon is a Canadian professional arm wrestler and a former member of the Canadian Army Forces. He has won multiple world championships and is considered to be one of the best arm wrestlers of all time. He is also a fantastic person and one of the most entertaining and charismatic sports figures!

We talk about this very unusual sport, his grandmother who was “the best arm wrestler in Alberta," underground arm wrestling competitions, his military career, and more!

Time stamps:

00:00 Is arm wrestling really a sport?

• Arm wrestling is a very simple sport
• It has federations with rule sets
• It is done on a professional table
• The size of the arm wrestling table
• The elbow must stay on 7” plain surface
• What does it take to win
• Neutral position start
• Take a grip, ready go, pin your opponent, win the match
•  Advantages and disadvantages of different anatomies
• How Sylvester Stallone influenced arm wrestling
• The movie Over the Top

09:39 How popular is arm wrestling in US?

• It is very popular, but doesn’t have government support
• 3 prominent professional leagues
• Armors, King of the Table, East vs. West
• Amateur arm wrestling – WAF and IFA
• Arm wrestling as a sport is growing
• World Arm Wrestling League
• The deciding factor is does it bring money
• Today it does have sponsors

13:50 Devon’s background

• Grew up in Big Island, Ontario on a farm
• He was a high energy kid
• His grandma was an arm-wrestler
• Never beat his grandma in arm wrestling
• His brother showed him The Pumping Iron book
• Was fascinated with Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Identified strength with being a man
• Obsessed with strength, fitness, performance
• Training from a very young age
• After high school worked in oil field
• Ton of young man worked there
• He arm wrestled with them and beat everybody
• Dion Angel was unbeatable
• At the time, arm wrestling was completely underground

25:08 Are mentors necessary for success?

• A goal is a light in the distance
• Sometimes you meet people who have been where you are going
• They can be amazing guides 
• Dion was one of those people
• Mentors provide guidance and save you time
• With Internet mentors are much more available

27:30 Joining the Canadian Military

• Joined the army in 1996
• Combat tours are scary
• It takes time to develop psychological strength to fight 
• Spent 20 years in arm forces
• Complications from arm wrestling made him leave
• You chose to serve your country and fight
• Being shot you realize how lucky you are
• Stuck for 4 days, had to take extremely strong antibiotics
• Destroyed gut flora and was sick for 6 months
• Being a follower and a desire to be the best

41:49 Devon’s vision of war and sports

• Life is a gift and one of our jobs is to be happy
• One key to happiness to find things that make you happy
• Devon was always attracted to fighting

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to the second part of our insightful conversation with Mircea Geoana, the Deputy Secretary General of NATO. Mircea was born and educated in communist Romania, finished his education in the West, and built a successful political and diplomatic career.

He was appointed as an ambassador to the U.S.A. and became the youngest ambassador in Romania’s history.  He later served as a president of the Romanian Senate, Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Prime Minister. In 2009, he narrowly lost the elections for the president of Romania when he received 49.6% of the votes.

Mircea is a board member of several organizations, including the World Economic Forum, The Aspen Institute, and the European Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a published author and has written several books on foreign policy and international relations.

00:00 NATO’s billion-dollar entrepreneur fund

• NATO created an ecosystem where young entrepreneurs can test their ideas for free
• Testing ideas in DIANA – Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic
• The Innovation Fund – The first ever multi-national sovereign venture capital fund
• Competition with China
• European HQ for DIANA is based at Imperial College in London

10:23 Mistakes made and things learned from them

• Don't be satisfied with your learning
• Aspen Institute in Colorado
• Started Aspen Institute in Romania
• Wishes to become a moderator of Aspen leadership seminars

 15:20 Five ingredients of being a great leader

• There are no natural-born leaders
• There are many different types of leaders
• Never be happy with your success (make room for progress)

17:55 How important it is to be funny as a team leader

• A tendency to become rigid and dry from within over time
• Try to be humble and listen to others
• Everybody has something to offer
• There is always something to learn

20:32 What does it take to be successful

• Life is tough and has ups and downs
• There is always another chance
• Never give up

 21:36 Extreme Preparation

• Romanians are very talented people, but sometimes neglect preparation
• Hard work is very important (talent is not enough)
• In NATO, everything is done with thorough preparation
• Preparing for the unexpected
• Don’t take things too seriously

26:30 The importance of mentors

• Believes in mentorship and, even more, in indirect mentorship
• Started mentorship program with NATO
• Randall’s mentorship program
• Mircea’s dream is to bring programs to Romania

31:33 The secret to work-life balance

• The balance between mind, body, and spirit
• A tendency to have a foresight for bad things to happen
• A Randall’s intern spoke in NATO about the anti-microbial disease
• Focusing on simple things – love, compassion, giving back, improving yourself
• What is next after leaving NATO?

35:41 Fill in the blank to excellence

• Mircea's biggest lesson in life
• Mircea's number 1 professional goal
• Mircea's number 1 personal goal
• Mircea's biggest regret in life
• Mircea's biggest dream
• Mircea's advice to a 21-year-old self

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

My guest today is Mircea Geoana, the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, who has had a successful political and diplomatic career for more than three decades.

At the age of 36, he was appointed as an ambassador to the U.S. and became the youngest ambassador in Romania’s history.  He later served as a president of the Romanian Senate, Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Prime Minister.

In 2009, he narrowly lost the elections for the president of Romania when he received 49.6% of the votes. He is a board member of several organizations, including the World Economic Forum, The Aspen Institute, and the European Council for Foreign Relations. He is also a published author and has written several books on foreign policy and international relations.

00:00 Family Background and Communism

• Born in communist Romania
• His dad (an engineer) and mom (transportation company)
• Growing up in communism and feeling oppressed
• When communism collapsed, immediately went to see the West
• His fascination with America
• Apart from the U.S., dreamed of visiting France and Italy

09:25 U.S. Immigration 

• America is the land of immigrants
• People should be welcomed, but it’s not easy to receive too many people
• The USA was an inspiration for him on how to rebuild Romania
• The transition from communism to the capitalistic system
• Wanted to transfer back home the best ideas from the West

 12:00 Education

• Getting his Ph.D. in Economics and studying in Romania and France
• How important is education?
• America is an abundant example of success without formal education
• Never be satisfied with what you know (education should be ongoing learning of new things)
• Many things are available online
• Learning how to learn and understanding learning is a constant process
• Choose whatever you want, but know you never know enough
• The importance of building a social network in college

18:34 What Does NATO Do?

• NATO creates the foundation of peace, stability, and security
• Insurance policy for 1 billion citizens
• Examples NATO efforts

 23:05 Russian Invasion of Ukraine

• NATO tried very hard to prevent invasion (in January 2021, tried to dissuade Russia but failed)
• How did Russia get it so wrong?
• Russian leadership lives in a different reality than the rest of the world
• He hopes that Russians will realize that their leadership is in wrong
• Doubts that Russian citizens have real information
• How is this war going to end (both sides need to compromise)?
• What makes a successful invasion (pre-conditions for counteroffensive)?
• Ukraine requested to join NATO when Crimea was taken
• Thoughts on Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Sweden

38:32 Nuclear Weapons and WW3

• Russia has hypersonic missiles
• 9 countries have nuclear weapons
• Three NATO countries have nuclear weapons
• Nuclear weapons are very dangerous
• The risks of nuclear war

43:47 Punishment for War Crimes

• Sooner or later, every crime is going to be punished
• We have conventions that regulate the war
• Attempt to organize a war trial tribunal
• It’s not easy but, in the end, justice will be served

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Work ethic is THE single-biggest determinant of your success.  In this epsidoe, learn from how the best in the world refine their work ethic and hear their thoughts on how to achieve true excellence in life and business. What is success? What are the key ingredients to success? How to overcome challenges and stay motivated? How to give back and inspire others? These are just a few of the questions they will answer. Tune in to hear more and grow and thrive on your path to excellence!

(00:00) Introduction

• Sandee domain (www.sand.ee > www.sandee.com)
• Become indefatigable

(03:42) Mike Horn – World’s Greatest Explorer

• Latitude Zero Degree Expedition
• We only have 30 000 days! Use them!
• Surviving death squad
• Don’t worry about the stuff you can’t change!

 (09:05) Bob Pittman - CEO of iHeartRadio

• Passion isn’t something you plan
• Hired at NBC in Chicago as a 20-year-old
• Whatever you do, do something you enjoy!

(10:43) Jon Gordon - Best Selling Author and Keynote Speaker

• Did a lot of research on how to be positive
• Talented at making complex ideas simple
• Created weekly positive tips
• Jon's #1 tip - Gratitude Walks!
• That will flood the brain with positive emotions
• Mind is like a garden - weed the negative! Feed the positive!

(13:22) Chris Voss

• Three most important ingredients to success
• Be a little bit better every day
• Be a better team player vs. the team leader (if you want to go far, go as a team)
• Hear people out

(16:27) Brian Lee - Founder of LegalZoom and The Honest Company, and CEO of Arena Club

• How important is it to be passionate about what you are doing?
• Always passionate about the mission of his businesses
• With Arena Club – for the first time passionate about the service and offer
• The start of Arena card
• Innovation comes from fixing something that is broken!

(23:46) Caryn Seidman-Becker - CEO of CLEAR

• Overcoming insurmountable challenges
• Be proactive!
• Look around corners!
• Make predictions and act on them!
• Take care of your own!

(27:38) Ben Sherwood

• When you’re great at something, great things happen to you
• Working hard is necessary, but not sufficient
• Giving back is a very important piece of success
• The voice that leads you to excellence can be ruthless (go easy on yourself)
• Constant thriving can be ultimately counterproductive
• Be kind towards yourself and the people around you

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

My guest today is Craig Newmark – the Founder of the incredibly successful internet marketplace, Craigslist! Craigslist serves 700 cities in 70 countries and has 250 million users a month. In 2018, only four years after formation, Craigslist reached $1 billion in revenue. 

During the last eight years, Craig Newmark has been one of our country's most active and generous philanthropist. During that time, he has given away more than $200 million. In 2022 alone, he gave away $81 million, which made him the 24th most generous philanthropist in the United States that year.

(01:50) Craig's parents

• Growing up in a Jewish family in New Jersey
• How his father's death impacted his future
• Stress of going to college from a young age
• The influence of Sunday school teachers

(06:29) Craig's Education (Computer Science)

• Mastering quantum physics and computer science
• Using the first computer for the first time
• Being a nerd in high school and college
• Being bullied as a kid

(12:14) Advice for people who don’t want to go to college

• 63% of people graduating college on financial aid
• Advice to those who don't want to go
• Why 42 is not too late to start a company
• Advice to new founders
• Craigslist started as a hobby
• How Craig became an accidental entrepreneur

(18:53) Turning Craigslist into a real company

• How Charles Schwab got started on Craigslist
• Turning a hobby into a business
• The first dollar ad on Craigslist
• The monetization philosophy of Craigslist

(27:04) When is the right time to leave your job to start a company?

• When is the right time to leave a job to start a company
• The fear of failure
• Why he didn't take money from Craigslist
• Advice to other entrepreneurs
• Evaluate and make judgments on the founder
• Advice to those with founder syndrome

(33:55) What went into the decision to hire Jim as CEO

• The decision to hire Jim as CEO
• Early on, Craig asked for the privilege of not being on the phone
• Treating people the way they want to be treated

(40:12) Customer service is a way to make more money

• The CEO of Verizon (customer service is important)
• Dunbar's number and how it's been guiding principles at Craigslist
• None of the figures can be relied on
• Top five elements of success

(57:32) Humility

• The importance of being humble in search of excellence.
• One of Craigslist challenges.
• How Craigslist has dealt with these issues throughout the years.
• How craigslist dealt with the issues.

(1:03:04) The downsides of having a lot of money

• Net worth is estimated to be between one and $3 billion
• The downsides to having a significant amount of money
• His obsession with pigeons

(1:09:32) Philanthropy

• Craig Newmark Philanthropies (CNP)
• Pigeon rescue vs other philanthropic gifts
• How to get involved in philanthropy
• The one piece of advice Craig would give his 21-year-old self

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

My guest today is Mike Tyson, a former heavy-weight boxing champion of the world and one of the greatest boxers of all time.

At the age of 20, he became the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title. He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold WBA, WBC, and IDF titles and a member of the international boxing Hall of Fame.

Mike has appeared in many movies and TV shows. He is the actor and creator of a one-man Broadway show Undisputed Truth, and the author of the best-selling book of the same name.

Mike is also a very successful entrepreneur and a founder of two cannabis companies, including Tyson 2.0. He is an incredible person and a dedicated philanthropist through his Mike Tyson’s Care foundation, and the support of other charities including The Make a Wish Foundation and The Special Olympics.

(1:52) Fame and money

• Neither will make you happy
• Become your own alarm system
• The pain is the same at the top and the bottom of the world

(06:43) Three years in prison

• Three best years of his life
• Everything in life is psychological
• Confidence brings success
• Prison shifted his perspective (no one’s better than anyone else)

(11:33) Mike’s famous fights

• Evander Holyfield - The Bite Fight
• First fight in 1996, rematch 1997
• The Sound and the Fury match
• In the second fight – Mike got frustrated and got disqualified
• Now they are partners
• Buster Douglas – lost a fight from an underdog
• Mike was happy that happened
• He learned that losing is not as bad as you think
• Never got discouraged in his life
• Won the title again
• His message to people who want to give up
• The story of Don King
• Adversities never stop, it’s how you handle them that can change

(19:16) Mike and Rodney Jerkins

• Great friends with Rodney Jerkins Darkchild
• Rodney is one of the nicest people he ever met
• One of his best friends
• Godley soul

(22:31) The importance of Extreme Preparation

• It’s not for everyone
• Balance doesn’t exist
• Trained more than everyone else
• Extreme preparation came from fear of failing
• Everybody has a plan until they are punched in the mouth

(26:23) Life after boxing

• Went totally broke after boxing and didn’t know what to do (called his wife for help and she helped him get back his life)
• Discovered cannabis and got into the business
• People allowed to drink and smoke on the show
• Regrets he didn’t smoke pot while fighting
• Mike Tyson's definition of success
• The ingredients of success
• What motivates Mike Tyson today?
• The advice to a young boxer (prepare for disappointment and never give up and fight to your last breath)
• Mike Tyson as a dad (7 kids)
• Mike Tyson Cares Foundation

(39:16) Fill in the blank to Excellence

• Mike Tyson's 10 year vision
• Mike Tyson's biggest accomplishment 
• Mike Tyson's biggest regret
• Mike Tyson's bucket list
• Mike Tyson's hero

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

My guest today is Mike Tyson, a former heavyweight boxing champion of the world and one of the greatest boxers of all time!  At the age of 20, he became the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title.  He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold WBA, WBC, and IDF titles and a member of the international boxing Hall of Fame.

Mike has appeared in many movies and TV shows.  He is the actor and creator of a one-man Broadway show Undisputed Truth, and the author of the best-selling book of the same name.

Mike is also a very successful entrepreneur and a founder of two cannabis companies, including Tyson 2.0.  He is an incredible person and a dedicated philanthropist through his Mike Tyson’s Care foundation, and the support of other charities including The Make a Wish Foundation and The Special Olympics.

(00:00) Mike’s childhood

• His dad was a pimp, his mom an alcoholic and a sex industry worker
• He was bullied in his childhood ("you can’t run from them, you must confront them")
• Started robbing people to buy food for his pigeons
• A traumatic event with the birds that changed him
• Mike's first fight and from being bullied, to being the bully
• Went pick-pocketing and stealing with his friends
• Started with crime at 11, by the age of 13, he was arrested more than 37 times
• The stealing mentality - nobody else matters
• His mom encouraged him to steal (his goal was to be a professional criminal)

(18:13) Juvenile facilities and Mike’s first steps in boxing

• Watched the movie “The Greatest”, the story of Mohammed Ali
• Transferred to Elwood Cottage
• Mike was always handcuffed in a dangerous environment 
• Met Bobby Stewart who inspired him to finish school and started training him
• At 13, Bobby wanted to take him to the next level - introduced him to Cus D'Amato

 (21:14) Mike’s first mentor - Cus D'Amato

• Relationship with Cus D’Amato (Cus taught him to never give up)
• Cus became a father figure for him
• The time Mike first experienced love
• Cus saw in him the future world champion
• Working out for 6 hours a day while going to school
• Wanted to get kicked out of school, but Cus didn’t allow that
• There is no progress without struggle (study about rats)

(29:32) The beginning of his fighting career

• At 18, a fight with Hector Mercedes - beat him in one round
• Wasn't afraid of losing, but being a bad loser
• Mike's desire to be the world champion consumed him completely
• Became the youngest boxing champion ever
• His mother’s reaction - never got affirmed by her

(34:57) From millions of dollars to bankruptcy

• Started making millions of dollars (became highest paid athlete in the world)
• Went bankrupt being reckless, didn’t know how to manage money as a street kid
• Being rich and going broke multiple times
• Fame and money won’t make you happy
• Become your own alarm system
• The pain is the same at the top and the bottom of the world

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Jon Gordon is a best-selling author and an amazing motivational speaker. He has written 27 books including 12 best-sellers and 5 children’s books. The most popular ones are The Energy Bus, The Power of Positive Leadership, Training Camp, Stay Positive, and The Garden.

The Energy Bus has sold over 2 million copies and inspired people around the world to change their lives and achieve success. Jon also worked with many Fortune 500 companies, professional and college sport teams, school districts, hospitals, and non-profits.

(01:20) Positive Leadership

• Complaining is allowed only if you offer solution
• Negativity sabotages the team
• The science behind the positivity
• Optimists are creating better future for them

(16:10) The Four C’s (Communication, Connection, Commitment, Care)

• Communication (negativity fills lack of communication)
• Connection
• Commitment (to be committed team, you need to be connected team) - commitment recognizes commitment
• Care (show that you care and others will care about team, customers, and results)
• Vulnerability as a leader

(23:56) Most Important Ingredients For Success (Hope, Belief, Service, Care, Preparation)

• The Carpenter builds with hope and belief
• Fear paralyses you, love gives you power to overcome fear
• Serve the people (as a leader, you have to serve and sacrifice)
• Put your heart and soul in your work
• The importance of extreme preparation
• Sharing the ideas of his books with people

(32:53) Mental Health of Our Society

• Our brains are not healthy (food, chemicals, and other things effect brain)
• Neurotheology – how prayer influences brain
• Positivity elevates our state of mind
• A battle for the minds and souls of our kids is going on – we must help them to win
• Suicide and overcoming the 5 D’s (Doubt, Distortion, Discouragement, Distraction, Divide)
• Nothing can separate you from the love of God – love the Creator

(45:30) The Story of Damon West

• Jon changed Damon’s life
• You have the power to change everything
• Jon's final message

Resources Mentioned:
Be a Coffee Bean, Damon West and Jon Gordon
The Garden, Jon Gordon
The Carpenter, Jon Gordon
Power of Positive Leadership, Jon Gordon

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Jon Gordon is a best-selling author and an amazing motivational speaker. He has written 27 books including 12 best-sellers and 5 children’s books. The most popular ones are The Energy Bus, The Power of Positive Leadership, Training Camp, Stay Positive, and The Garden.

The Energy Bus has sold over 2 million copies and inspired people around the world to change their lives and achieve success. Jon also worked with many Fortune 500 companies, professional and college sport teams, school districts, hospitals, and non-profits.

(00:00) Jon's Background

• John’s father (step-father)
• New York City undercover narcotics officer
• Loving father, but with a negative world view (aught him to be stronger than the world)
•  Learned to be tough, but had to deal with negativity later
• The Lord of the Flies neighborhood 
• Jon's Father got shot (came out of it a bit more positive)
• Biological father was a social worker
• The family were encouraging and supporting
• At 30, John’s life crumbled (realized he had to start feeding himself with positivity)

(08:34) Getting out of a negative mindset

• Got married at 26
• Young entrepreneur with a restaurant business
• Ran for city council (dreamed about being in politics)
• Attacked with lies and didn’t win
• Went to law school and dropped out
• Got an opportunity to work for dot.com (everything crashed)
• Going back to your passion
• Had a second mortgage, credit card debt, and no savings / plan B
• Lived in fear that he would disappoint his family
• Asked God for help
• Success and energy vampires

(17:16) Advice to future entrepreneurs

• Do the research
• Understand what you are doing
• You have to truly love it and want it
• Even if you fail, you still did what you loved
• Choose your hard
• Side hustle before you make it full time
• The moment Jon became a true entrepreneur
• Decided never to put his family’s future in someone else’s hands 
• Except struggle and challenges
• Build a good team
• Life is short, live it with no regrets

(26:10) Building the newsletter and publishing a book

• Started researching positive psychology
• Made complex ideas simple
• Number 1 tip: take a gratitude walk everyday
• Your mind is a garden, weed the negative, feed the postivie
• Jon failed with 2 books
• The Energy Bus succeeded through the power of prayer
• Don't believe negative people
• Optimism is the ultimate competitive advantage

(44:40) The message of the “Energy Bus”

• Positivity and overcoming negativity
• Dealing with the energy vampires and sabotage
• Negative people suck your life
• George, the miserable, negative person meets Joy the Bus Driver
• 10 rules for the ride of his life

Coaching and Staying Connected:

1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn