Max Out

People have said that the science of peak performance can be divided in two eras: Before Anders Ericsson, and after Anders Ericsson. It`s rare that someone shapes our understanding of psychology and human potential in such monumental ways, and yet that`s exactly what Dr. Anders Ericsson did.

Dr. Ericsson is Professor of Psychology at Florida State University and the world`s leading expert on what it takes to become the best in the world in domains like sports, arts, music, medicine, and many more. For the last 30 years, he has studied the most accomplished people on the planet to uncover their “secrets”. What he has found is a message of hope and inspiration for anyone seeking to be great, no matter what age or background. According to his research, the right kind of practice (or, as he calls it, deliberate practice) enables even people with less obvious signs of talent to become world-class and develop expertise in their chosen profession.

Dr. Ericsson has been a personal hero of mine for almost a decade, and it`s so much fun to meet your heroes in person and realise they are even cooler than you thought they`d be!

Max Out Insights:

We all have a special gift: The ability to adapt to the demands that are placed upon us

Adaptations can range from physical (heart) to mental (focus) characteristics

Virtually any skill or attribute with the exception of your bone length can be improved through the right kind of practice

Setting goals outside your comfort zone and engaging in deliberate practive is required to improve performance

It`s not enough to mindllessly practice the same things over and over again, you have to deliberately seek out new challenges if you want to make use of the adaptation response

True learning only occurs when you change your behavior

Practicing with the intent of gaining new expertise is different from performing at the best of your current skillset > You have to stretch yourself in new ways

Experts have control over their performance, meaning they can perform at peak levels reliably

Sufficient sleep is critical for your ability to show up at your best day after day – the best performers in Ericsson`s studies slept between 8 and 9 hours every day, including a long nap in the afternoon

The best performers are religious about protecting their practice time. No matter what happens or who calls, they show up every day to do the work

Pursuing life projects where you will never run out of space to grow into is an excellent way to find purpose and gain expertise

For some people, planning for the worst possible outcome lets them forget about it

Max Out Quotes:

„Living in a cage does not make you a geologist.“

„Do your very best, and that`s all you can do. Once you have done that, you can sit back and see: What could I have done better?“

I had way too much fun on this one with Marc Allen, who is one of the most interesting people I`ve ever met. Going from total failure during the first 30 years of his life to founding New World Library and publishing some of the most accomplished authors on the planet, this guy has seen it all. After publishing the works of Mother Theresa, Deepak Chopra, Joseph Campbell, and Eckhart Tolle`s The Power of Now, Marc is an incredible souce of wisdom and insights into following your dreams, living in the present moment, and succeeding with ease!

Max Out Insights:

When you`re at rock bottom, use experiments to change because at the worst you`ll end up where you are today

2 keys to create success with ease: 1) Have a clear, challenging, and expansive goal and 2) Realize that doubts and fears will arise and learn how to deal with them

You`ll never regret going for your dreams

Optimizing your life for joy, fulfillment, and following your dreams is the ultimate form of success

Underlying Belief Process to let go of fear and anxiety:

What`s the problem?

What are you feeling physically?

What emotions are you feeling? Name them.

What repetitive thoughts are running through your head?

What`s the worst that could happen?

What`s the best thing that could happen? Your ideal scene?

Why isn`t your ideal scene happening right now? > What comes up here is your underlying belief of why you aren`t succeeding yet

What is the statement that counteracts that belief? What affirmation can you use?

Hard work does not necessarily mean financial success, but smart work does > Make a plan

Balance between work and rejuvenation is key to long-term success

Taking naps and taking time off from the daily grind is an excellent way to become more productive

Max Out Quotes:

“I`m going to go for my dream, and my experiment is to do it in my own lazy way.”

“Every moment is perfect to lead up to this moment now.”

“Once you`re in a state of love and gratitude and appreciation, everything changes and every moment is precious.”

Dr. Steven Masley is a physician, nutritionist, and trained chef that helps people tune up their brain and heart. He is a best-selling author and the creator of the #1 health program for public television, 30 Days to a Younger Heart, so we dive deep into his wisdom on the importance of good nutrition, which foods to eat, and how to finally stick to your diet.

Top Takeaways:

The right nutrition can prevent memory loss and improve brain functioning, regardless of age

What you eat for breakfast doesn`t just impact you 20 years from now, but slows down or speeds up your brain today

Cognitive decline doesn`t just happen to you, but you have active control in slowing and even reversing it through diet, exercise, and mental training

Cognitive performance doesn`t just matter at old age, but impacts your productivity, energy, and happiness every day of your life

How the Better Brain Solution improves executive functioning by an average of 25%

Sugar is one of most common ways to decrease brain function. When blood sugar spikes, brain processing speed takes a nosedive and makes your thinking slow and foggy

Exercise and nutrient-rich foods are the best ways to improve cognitive functioning

Max Out Quotes:

“You can go on a week-long weight-loss program and try to lose 5 pounds a week but if you feel terrible, you`re not gonna stick with it. So when you try a diet, you should feel fantastic! You should sleep better, have more energy, get more work done, be better at sex, be better at sports - all across the board!”

“The number 1 diet I would recommend is the Mediterranean Diet - it`s more vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, seefood, some poultry, some organic dairy, some red wine, olive oil, lots of spices and herbs - the food is fantastic and it`s easy to stick with!”

“If something makes you feel bad, it`s probably not right.”

I had such a great time on this episode with JJ Birden, former NFL wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons. At only 5`10 and less than 160 pounds, JJ was the smallest man in the NFL but still managed to last an astonishing 9 seasons in a game where the average player only lasts 3 years. Through hard work and determination, he has since become a successful business man, best-selling author, and America`s #1 Opportunity trainer.

Max Out Insights:

F.A.S.C.O. (Failures, Adversity, Setbacks, Challenges, and Obstacles) are a great time for breakthrough moments

Goals are useless without a game plan to achieve them

To achieve success, you have to be intentional about how you live each day

Max Out Quotes:

“Genetics has nothing to do with 5am. It all comes down to how bad you want it.”

“Everybody has dreams. Everybody has goals. But not everybody can execute.”

I had such a blast on this episode with best-selling author and film producer James Whittaker! After 10 incredibly successful years as a financial planner where he ran a company with over 2 Billion dollars under management, James started his own entrepreneurial journey and has since interviewed over 200 of the most successful people on the planet.

He is the author and film producer of the sequel to the best-selling personal development book of all time, Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy, which shares the epic stories of Rob Dyrdek, Barbara Corcoran and Janine Shepherd (coming on the show soon!).

James attributes much of his success to his ability to define his mission and strategy and then schedule the necessary actions in his calendar so that he always know what to do next. If you want to learn how to set and achieve big goals, schedule your life, and win the day every day, this episode is for you!

Max Out Insights:

Figure out your perfect destination in all areas of your life and backtrack it to one year, 90 days, 30 days, and today

Once you have your 90 day plan, schedule actions in your calendar and tick them off every day

What if this was your fault? By taking responsibility, you also take back the power to change things

Clarity on who you are and where you want to go elevates your belief in what is possible and gives you a blueprint with action items so you know what to do each day

Masterminds are a powerful tool to get honest feedback and the occasional kick in your butt

Defining your mission and strategy is key to success

If you wake up and have no idea what success looks like to you in every area of your life, you have already lost

Scheduling the most important tasks in your life is a great way to make sure they get done

Max Out Quotes:

“You scheduling your action steps you can release yourself from any worry about what`s going to happen in the future because you`ve already written the ending of your story.”

“Anytime you face adversity, that`s an opportunity for you to prove how badly you want it instead of shrinking into your shell.”

“Step aside or step up.”

“Each day, if you do not make the decision to win, you automatically make the decision to lose.”

Today`s guest is none other than the amazing superwoman and Olympic champion in Snowboarding, Nicola Thost. After not just one but two incredibly successful careers in Snowboarding that made here the best in the world, Nicola is now on a quest to spread her love for snowboarding, her enthusiasm for life, and her deep knowledge on what it takes to turn high potential into high performance.

Max Out Insights:

Pain can be a powerful motivator for change

If you`re willing to break yourself in half for your dreams, talent almost doesn`t matter. If you`re not good enough today, you can develop yourself to become great tomorrow.

Your parents are there to protect you, not to throw you out of the nest and push your outside your comfort zone

My definition of success: Being in love with life. What makes you fall in love with life is being on the Quest for Greatness and chasing the things you love for the sake of the path.

To get to know yourself, ask great questions

Clean your thoughts and beliefs like others clean their room

Max Out Quotes:

“The way you run is the way you live. When you change the way you run, you change the way you live your life.”

“Sometimes, slowing down is the best way to speed up.”

“We have to challenge ourselves to really feel what we`re capable of.”

“Figure out what you love most and make it your meditation.”

“What you do in the dark is what brings you into the light.”

“What do you want to be Number 1 at?”

“If you ask yourself the right questions, you will always get the right answers.”

“I want to give people the best of me and not the rest of me.”

“Your vibe attracts your tribe.”