Michael Cazayoux – co-founder of Brute Strength and host of its eponymous podcast, president of Working Against Gravity, and 2012 and 2013 CrossFit Games Champion as part of Hack’s Pack – joins the podcast to discuss his thoughts on developing a robust and resilient mindset. Mindset is a hot topic with a lot of fluffy content, but Michael explains both his personal experiences through rehab from addiction and therapy as well as the steps that he is taking to internally develop the Working Against Gravity staff.

Check out more from Michael here:

• Instagram: @michaelcazayoux//@workingagainstgravity//@brute.strength
• Website: www.brutestrengthtraining.com//www.workingagainstgravity.com
• Podcast: Brute Strength Podcast
• Recommended Episodes of the Brute Strength Podcast: Stephan Guyenet//Chris Duffin

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Show Notes

• [2:20] How podcasts facilitate having deep conversations - and how Michael brings that curiosity to his every day interactions. Plus: reframing small talk.
• [8:22] The importance of prioritizing and saying “no” to things, and how to make room for (and actually schedule) the things that really matter to you. And, how to figure out what matters to you by being crystal clear on your personal values - and what people you want to spend time with and what activities you want to spend time doing.
• [16:43] How to learn to recognize your own emotions and utilize those to develop your priorities. And how Michael used group therapy in his rehab process to build self-awareness - and how he learned to dismiss the negative cultural role models of quiet gruff men who are out of touch with their emotions.
• [24:52] The need for defining specific and measurable goals, and the formula of breaking down a long-term goal into sub-goals and processes that make it “inevitable” to achieve that outcome.
• [30:40] The importance of picking a goal that gives you a certain amount of pleasure, and the fallacy of “falling [totally] in love with the journey.” And how to focus on a specific on a specific outcome without becoming emotionally dependent upon achieving those results.
• [37:44] Rolling out a personal development program for the staff at Working Against Gravity - and getting real buy-in and accountability for behavior change (rather than just having people treat the concepts as “motivational quotes”)
• [41:55] Committing to truly sharing emotions in group therapy, and the value in being authentic in expressing emotions - and Michael’s history of walling himself off from others during his addiction
• [49:19] Being surrounded with other people who are into self-development and getting spacey with the Barbell Shrugged guys and Angelo Sisco. And how diving into your past and looking at what your faults are “will naturally and quickly improve your mindset tenfold.”
• [01:00:14] How the Brute Strength Podcast both builds trust with Michael’s audience - and how it facilitates having deep discussions with thought leaders

Links and Resources Mentioned

• Wodapalooza
• No “yes.” Either “HELL YEAH!” or “no.” | Derek Sivers
• Jack Bauer
• Commitment bias
• Hedonic treadmill
• Carol Dweck
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Angelo Sisco // Alpha Hippie Podcast
• Barbell Shrugged
• Tim Ferriss
• Deep Work by Cal Newport
• Self Authoring Suite
• Adee Cazayoux
• Kabuki Strength
• Game of Thrones