My guest today is the incredible Mike Posner. Mike is a singer-songwriter, record producer, and poet. He has released four albums and is best known for his hit song "Cooler Than Me," which he wrote as a sophomore in college. He is also known for the smash hit "I Took a Pill in Ibiza," which is one of my favorite songs of all time and, as of today, has 1.9 billion streams on Spotify. He has written songs for Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, Nick Jonas, Snoop Dogg, and many others, and has been nominated for a Grammy and various MTV Video Music Awards. As the author of the poetry book Teardrops and Balloons, he is also the only Grammy Award-nominated musician to walk across the United States on foot.

00:00:00 - Introduction.

00:02:57 - Lessons from family and mission-driven values.

00:05:50 - A pivotal moment of change.

00:08:45 - Entrepreneurial efforts during college.

00:11:38 - Early interests and influences.

00:14:36 - Challenges and motivational moments.

00:17:31 - Discussing patterns of depression and emotional states.

00:20:26 - Overcoming self-doubt and silly feelings.

00:23:18 - Achievements: Walking across continents and Grammy nominations.

00:26:15 - Socio-economic background and educational environment.

00:29:08 - Reflections on personal achievements.

00:32:08 - Rethinking career and life questions.

00:34:56 - Balancing career aspirations with financial realities.

00:37:56 - Academic experiences and personal capabilities.

00:40:51 - Memorable encounters with celebrities.

00:43:43 - Evaluating creative collaborations.

00:46:40 - The power of visualization and goal setting.

00:49:36 - Long-term commitment to music and personal growth.

00:52:28 - Supportive family dynamics and early creative experiences.

00:55:27 - Creative process and spontaneous songwriting.

00:58:18 - Brief moments and lasting impressions.

01:01:16 - Learning about the music business.

01:04:11 - Recognition and personal identity in the industry.

01:07:06 - Networking and spreading music through social connections.

01:10:00 - Philosophical thoughts on happiness and external circumstances.

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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

My guest today is the incredible Dana White. For last 23 years Dana has been the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the leading mixed martial arts company in the world. During these 23 years, Dana has transformed the UFC from an unwanted, unloved, unsuccessful company heavily indebted into one of the greatest and largest sports franchises in history, and he's viewed by many as the greatest sports promoter in history. He is also the founder of Power Slap, a slap fighting promotion company owned by Ultimate Fighting Championship showcasing his innovative spirit in sports promotions. 

00:00 - Introduction

01:16 - Sold UFC for $4 Billion

03:25 - Reflecting on Past and Future

06:03 - The American Dream

08:05 - Joe Rogan's Impact

10:14 - Innovating Fight Production

13:24 - Discovering Conor McGregor

15:20 - Importance of Superstars in UFC

17:55 - Story About Jon Jones

20:31 - Motivation Post-UFC Sale

23:49 - Dana's Current Motivation

27:48 - Impact of Money

31:15 - Family and Prioritizing Children

34:03 - Importance of Preparation

36:45 - Loyalty to Joe Rogan and Donald Trump

42:26 - Starting a Company: Reality vs Expectation

44:26 - Sphere Live Event

46:52 - Power Slap: New Venture

48:30 - Philanthropy: Helping Those in Need

51:53 - Emotional Impact of Charity

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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

My guest today is the incredible Dana White. For last 23 years Dana has been the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the leading mixed martial arts company in the world. During these 23 years, Dana has transformed the UFC from an unwanted, unloved, unsuccessful company heavily indebted into one of the greatest and largest sports franchises in history, and he's viewed by many as the greatest sports promoter in history. He is also the founder of Power Slap, a slap fighting promotion company owned by Ultimate Fighting Championship showcasing his innovative spirit in sports promotions. 

00:00 - Introduction

03:18 - Dana's Tough Childhood

10:12 - Dana's First Fight

17:58 - Dana's Work Experience as a Bellman

25:18 - Move to Las Vegas

27:15 - Timing is Everything

34:29 - Is College Important

40:44 - Cleaning Up the UFC

43:06 - The Ultimate Fighter Breakthrough

48:09 - The American Dream, Hardship, and Perseverance

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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

My guest today is incredible, Lele Pons. Lele is an actress, writer, producer, director, singer, model, brand ambassador, and is one of the most important content creators of all time. She has 54 million followers on Instagram, 39.1 million followers on TikTok, and as 18 million subscribers on her YouTube channel. She stars in "The Secret Life of Lele Pons" – a YouTube Documentary series that provides a look at our personal life, – and is the host of the podcast "Best Kept Secrets with Lele Pons" on Spotify.

00:00 - Introduction

01:47 - Dancing with the Stars Experience

05:12 - Realizing and Handling Fame

10:01 - The Pressures of Fame

12:11 - Staying Humble

23:59 - Risky Adventures and Sharks

34:18 - Meeting and Falling in Love

49:12 - Idols and Meeting Shakira

59:52 - Work Ethic and Preparation

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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

My guest today is incredible, Lele Pons. Lele is an actress, writer, producer, director, singer, model, brand ambassador, and is one of the most important content creators of all time. She has 54 million followers on Instagram, 39.1 million followers on TikTok, and as 18 million subscribers on her YouTube channel. She stars in "The Secret Life of Lele Pons" – a YouTube Documentary series that provides a look at our personal life, – and is the host of the podcast "Best Kept Secrets with Lele Pons" on Spotify.

00:00 Introduction and Early Influences  

03:35 Getting Kidnapped as a Child

05:17 Health Challenges, Diagnosis, and Anxiety 

07:49 OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

12:50 Exploring Tourette Syndrome

16:05 Dealing with ADHD and Executive Functioning

19:45 Bullying, School Experiences, and Coping Mechanisms

34:40 The Start of Vine

44:45 Being Original and the Source of Creativity

48:50 Body Image and Content Editing

57:39 Lele's Father

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is the incredible Flex Lewis. Flex is a serial entrepreneur, coach, motivational speaker, and one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. He has won 7 consecutive Mr. Olympia titles.

He's also the co-owner of Arsenal, strength gym equipment, the fastest-growing fitness equipment company in the world, and the owner of the famous Dragon's Lair Gym in Las Vegas.

01:21 - Joe Gold recruiting Flex Lewis and living with John Cena and Hulk Hogan

11:50 - Motivation and background of Mr. Olympia

25:15 - Flex's last Mr. Olympia

28:00 - Flex's parents supporting him

38:20 - Hustling, relationships, and free protein powder

49:45 - Having a long-term view and the shelf life of careers

1:00:33 - Dana White

1:10:05 - Extreme Preparation

1:17:09 - Flex's family

1:23:54 - Extra questions, Joe Rogan, and pigeons on creatine

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is the incredible Flex Lewis. Flex is a serial entrepreneur, coach, motivational speaker, and one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. He has won 7 consecutive Mr. Olympia titles.

He's also the co-owner of Arsenal, strength gym equipment, the fastest-growing fitness equipment company in the world and the owner of the famous Dragon's Lair Gym in Las Vegas.

Time stamps:

00:55 Flex’s family and background

• Grew up in a loving home in Wales
• His father was a steel worker and his mother a nurse
• Decided to be a millionaire as a kid

03:52 Born with a rugby ball in the mouth

• He started playing rugby at the age of 6
• His full name is Steven James Lewis
• Flex is a nickname he got as a kid

06:27 The pressure to better himself

• A pressure to become better
• His first entrepreneurial moment
  • Delivering papers on his bike
• Learned responsibility and dealing with money

13:22 Investing the money he earned

• Bought a male and female finch
• Started breeding and selling them

15:57 Starting a moving company

• Powerlifting and starting a moving company
• Bought his first truck and developed the business
• Went an extra mile to do a good job

22:05 Learning from the Quadfather

• Spent weekends at his grandparents
• Discovered a book by Tom Platz at 12
• The book changed his life
• Found weights and started doing squats

26:23 His parents’ worries

• His parents were afraid it would stunt his growth
• Stayed away from training weights for a number of years
• Funny story about his father catching him squatting

28:30 Steve Naylor and his influence

• Flex had a lot of admiration for Steve
• He was drawn by his humility
• Started training with Steve
• Bodybuilding is all about mind-muscle connection

32:19 Elbow injury and getting a tattoo

• Spent the whole summer building his motocross bike
• Had an accident and broke his elbow
• After removing the plaster cast, his arm was dead
• Had to make it stronger by himself
• A tattoo on the weakened arm

38:53 Working in silence and achieving things

• Didn’t like school but liked PE teachers
• He had dyslexia or ADHD, was labeled stupid
• How schools were failing kids by discouraging them
• Practicing a handstand and the first day at school

47:26 The first powerlifting competition

• From high-level rugby to powerlifting show
• Bodybuilding in Wales is a big thing
• The competition was held in the Royal Princess Theatre

51:59 Getting on a bodybuilding stage

• Was drawn by a free gym membership
• Changed his diet and watched a lot of VHS videos
• The competition and the alter ego
• Performed great and won the show
• Deciding to prepare for British nationals
• A 20-year relationship with his coach
• The importance of loyalty

1:01:40 Chasing dreams and making sacrifices

• Winning the British Nationals
• Got an invitation from Gold’s Gym to come to the US
• It was a magical experience and a massive culture shock
• Worked to save and come again
• Coliseum Gym in California
• Slept on a friend’s sofa for 1.5 year
• Trained a lot and waited for an opportunity

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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

You're listening to part two of my awesome conversation with Arik Armstead. Arik is a star defensive lineman NFL football player for the San Francisco 49ers and a dedicated philanthropist. He has been nominated for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for four consecutive seasons, recognizing his on-field excellence and impactful community work.

Time stamps:

00:58 The first contract

• Got a 3-million-dollar check
• Bought a house for his parents

05:08 Managing money and voting

• Managing big money and choosing the right advisers
• Investing money to create wealth and secure the future
• Learning form Randall’s filling out a voting ballot

14:29 Advice to kids that want to be like him

• NFL and NBA statistics
• Fight for your dream and be realistic about your situation
• Use opportunities to better your life, don’t focus only on sports

19:24 The story of Brock Purdy

• The underdog who made it to the top
• Arik doesn’t understand the hate towards him
• Brock is a very good team player and great at improvising

22:24 Ass-kicked by the Detroit Lions

• The atmosphere in the locker room
• The moments of failure that built their team

25:18 Playing in the Super Bowl

• Most watched Super Bowl in history
• Really prepared and focused on the game

27:36 Extreme preparation and top 3 ingredients of success

• Owes his success to preparation
• 3 ingredients of success
  • Ownership over what success truly means for you
  • Sacrifice
  • Determination

30:28 The work-life balance

• In season, it’s tough
• His wife is a physician and has her own career
• They have 3 children
• Never feels like he’s doing enough

34:38 Randall’s funny stories

• Randal’s being mixed up with Jimmy Garoppolo’s dad
• Playing with Tom Brady in the Bahamas
• Two best moments with Kliff Kingsbury

40:50 Fill in the blanks for excellence

• The biggest lesson I've learned in my life is
  • Anything worth having is worth working for
• My number one professional goal is
  • Reach my full potential
• My number one personal goal is
  • To create a happy, healthy, loving home for my family
• And more

46:58 Philanthropic work

• One of the most philanthropic people in professional sports
  • Nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year 4 times
• His organization is AAP, the Arms Academic Project
• Believes that education equity would solve many societal issues
• They partner with other organizations
• Focusing on literacy with elementary school students
• Offering STEM education to middle school students
• College exploration with the high school students

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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

Welcome to In Search of Excellence! My guest today is my good friend Arik Armstead. Arik is a star defensive lineman NFL football player for the San Francisco 49ers and a dedicated philanthropist. He has been nominated for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for four consecutive seasons, recognizing his on-field excellence and impactful community work.

In this episode, we are talking about Arik’s remarkable transition from little league rejection to NFL Man of the Year nominee, his crazy spring break in Vegas and unexpected meeting with Floyd Mayweather, and the importance of humility, faith, and unwavering hard work in his path to excellence.

Time stamps:

01:36 Family background

• Mother wrote a book about being the illegitimate daughter of a priest
• Born and raised in LA and was shot in a gang shooting
• Father is a respected basketball trainer
• Trained over 500 NBA players
• Arik was always with him
• Grew up as a gym rat and that shaped his mindset

07:28 Arik’s childhood

• Being around famous athletes was cool
• The influence of NBA player Mike Wilkes
• Being humble and having compassion for other people
• Your hunger to be successful must exceed your thirst to shine

15:39 Entrepreneurial spirit

• His brother started a snack bar
• When he went to college, Arik continued
• Didn’t have entrepreneurial drive as a kid
• At college, his creativity and problem-solving kicked in

19:03 A chubby kid in the gym

• Was always in the gym with his dad
• Played basketball and football
• Matt’s advice about giving an effort

23:12 Playing football

• Playing football and basketball at 11 years old
• Offered a scholarship to USC his Freshman year
• Started dunking in freshman year

26:44 Achieving goals

• Army All-American and a McDonald's All-American
• To play football and basketball in college
• Wanted to be the first person to play in the NBA and NFL
• The importance of dreaming big and setting your goals
• The importance of internal motivation

32:21 The importance of education

• Education was not super important to him
• He would do some things differently today

35:57 Being available for the highest bidder

• Oregon recruited him
• Coach Kelly’s promise
• The offers he got
• Kids should not only take the highest bid
• But what else they will get – reputation, coach, skills

44:38 The humbleness of million-dollar athletes

• Randall’s story about a million-dollar player who wanted to be his intern
• Arik was aware he needed to learn and educate himself
• The wedding

48:13 Arik’s drafting

• Drafts are spectacles
• His was in Cleveland and he didn’t go
• Didn’t want to embarrass himself
• Had a watch party with his loved ones at home

52:28 Crazy agent stories and meeting Floyd Mayweather

• How sports agents work

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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

Welcome to In Search of Excellence! You're listening to part two of my awesome conversation with Danielle Vasinova, an actor, producer, entrepreneur, avid equestrian, and drummer. If you haven't yet listened to part one yet, be sure to check it out first.

Danielle is talking about the realities of pursuing a career in Hollywood, the life of aspiring actor and their struggles, her personal near-death experience, and the importance of preparation and creating your own destiny.

Tune in for now to listen to this amazing and inspiring conversation!

Time stamps:

01:02 After The Young and the Restless

• Reality check and finding an agent
• Worked in the restaurant to pay bills
• Broke a foot and worked as an extra

04:20 A Pivotal moment in Danielle’s career

• Passed an audition and went to film in South Africa
• One of the most magical, crazy experiences of her life
• Also scary and lonely
• After that had jobs on and off

08:54 Saying No to movies

• Said No to Danica Patrick’s movie
• Refused to play a jockey
• Agreed to work on her other movie
• The whole movie ended up falling apart

11:33 Three minutes of death

• Danielle’s near-death experience
• Felt like having a flue
• Later on, felt like she was going to die
• Went to the hospital
• Lost her heartbeat for 3 minutes
• Doctors induced coma to avoid organ failure
• Discharged after a month
• She was one of the first COVID cases in the US

18:48 After the hospital

• Almost had to relearn everything
• Didn’t know what she was going to do or how to make money
• Greater sense of purpose
• Not taking anything for granted

21:35 The life of an actor

• The reality is different than what people think
• Many auditions to get 1 job
• Working many hours
• How are actors memorizing the text?

26:26 What are the elements of success?

• Discipline
• Drive
• Punctuality
• Consistency

28:21 The importance of extreme preparation

• The impact of luck on success
• You need luck, but you also have to create it
• A letter to 300 CEOs
• It’s not hard, you just got to be willing to do the work

35:25 Randall as a mentor

• Randall’s relationship with his guest
• Mike Tyson and his Instagram post
• Randall’s love for mentoring and coaching

40:02 Goals in her career and life

• The Improv Group - don't think, just jump
• You've got to create your own destiny
• A list of directors she would like to work with
• Would love to get married
• A show with Joe Russo

44:29 Fill in the blank to excellence

• My number one professional goal
  • To be in the Marvel Universe
• My number one personal goal
  • To get married and have a family
• And more

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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