The Charismatic Leader

Today we sit down with Brett McDermott for a powerful episode of Persistence Playbook on what it really takes to supercharge your influence. If you’re a regular listener, you know Brett doesn’t just share ideas—he gives you communication techniques you can practice today.

This time, he reveals three deceptively simple skills that shift how people respond to you and open the door to deeper connection.

If you’re new here, get ready to learn why influence isn’t about talking more—it’s about listening better, speaking with conviction, and connecting through presence.

Key Takeaways

• Listen fully without interrupting—interest earns influence
• Speak with downward inflection to project confidence
• Use eye contact ratios that connect, not intimidate

Today we sit down with Brett McDermott for a tactical episode of Persistence Playbook that flips your daily planning on its head. If you’re a regular listener, you know Brett doesn’t just talk productivity—he builds systems that stick.

This time, he breaks down how to stop reacting to your day and start designing it like a pro.

If you’re new here, get ready to learn why time-blocking isn’t enough—and how energy-blocking, micro-recovery, and nightly resets can change everything.

Key Takeaways

• Define your “three wins” before the day begins
• Match tasks to energy, not just time
• Protect your first 90 minutes like sacred ground
• Build in recovery to boost performance
• Review and reset daily to evolve, not just execute

Today we sit down with Sterling Hawkins, a keynote speaker, bestselling author, investor, and global expert on redefining organizational culture and navigating discomfort to unlock personal missions.

Sterling takes us into the transformative power of discomfort, showing how seeking out challenges and building inner trust can lead us to a deeper purpose.

From practical strategies to insights that push the boundaries of comfort, this conversation explores discomfort as a tool for growth, purpose, and real transformation.

Lean into this one—it just might be the spark you've been waiting for.

Key Takeaways:

• Infinite commitments are more important than finite goals.
• Discomfort can be a powerful bio-hack for learning.
• The way out of discomfort is through trust.

• Building trust is a continuous practice, not a one-time event.

• Daily reflection can set a positive tone for the day.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Personal Background

03:11 The Concept of Trust and Overcoming Fear

05:47 Building Trust Through Accountability

09:12 Experiencing Rock Bottom and Finding Momentum

12:10 The Power of Community and Shared Discomfort

14:58 Hunting Discomfort: A Path to Freedom

26:41 Embracing Discomfort for Growth

29:15 Finding Your 'No Matter What' Mission

32:55 The Journey Through Fear to Purpose

38:09 Understanding No Matter What: Finite vs Infinite

40:49 Trust-Driven Leadership

47:17 Overcoming Resistance with Trust

Today we sit down with Brett McDermott for a myth-busting episode of Persistence Playbook that rewires how you think about affirmations. If you’re a regular listener, you know Brett doesn’t do fluff—he delivers frameworks that actually work.

This time, he breaks down why most affirmations fail—and how to make them stick.

If you’re new here, get ready to learn why “I am confident” might be hurting more than helping, and how to speak to yourself in a way your brain actually believes.

Key Takeaways

• Affirmations must be believable to work
• Anchor your words to action and emotion
• Use affirmations where resistance lives—not just in the mirror
• Repetition + imagery = rewiring

Today we sit down with Evan Carmichael, the same powerhouse you know from YouTube, to discuss all things mindset, fear, and success.

Evan shares his insights on fighting through fear, believing in yourself, and why that’s the fuel to achieving your biggest goals. We also dive into his unique strategy of theming your days to stay on track and keep your business afloat. You won't want to miss this episode where Evan reveals the simple yet powerful mindset shifts that can transform not only your day-to-day but your entire trajectory.

Wondering how to beat self-doubt, push forward with clarity, and finally take control of your time and success? Tune in and discover what it takes to break through fear and build your way to the life you’ve been chasing.

Books 

Your One Word Book - The Powerful Secret to Creating a Business and Life That Matter ⁠⁠http://www.evancarmichael.com/oneword/⁠⁠ 

Top 10 Rules for Success: Rules to Succeed in Business and Life from Titans, Billionaires, & Leaders who Changed the World ⁠⁠http://www.evancarmichael.com/top10/⁠⁠ 

254 Confidence: Your daily guide to building unstoppable confidence in your life, work, and relationships. ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/2L2WnqA⁠⁠ 

3 Point Landing Journal: Your powerful companion to go from just watching another video to actually taking action in your life ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/2MHabdR⁠

Today we sit down with Brett McDermott and neuroscience expert Ashleigh Di Lello for a powerful episode of Persistence Playbook. If you’re a regular listener, you know Brett brings more than motivation—he delivers mental rewiring strategies that stick.

This time, Ashleigh breaks down how to override your brain’s craving for comfort and build the willpower to take action—even when you don’t feel like it.

If you’re new here, get ready to learn why your brain resists change, and how to train it to work for you—not against you.

Key Takeaways

• Your brain is wired for familiarity, not growth—but you can rewire it
• Willpower is a muscle, and it grows with use
• Identity shapes behavior: stop saying “I’m not disciplined”
• Dopamine from effort > dopamine from distraction
• Silence and self-talk are tools for mental conditioning

Today we sit down with Brett McDermott for a masterclass in one of the most underrated leadership tools: silence. In this episode of Persistence Playbook, Brett unpacks how intentional pauses can transform your presence, your message, and your impact.

If you’re a regular listener, you know Brett doesn’t just drop insights—he delivers strategies you can use by Monday morning.

If you’re new here, get ready to learn why the most charismatic communicators aren’t the ones who talk the most—they’re the ones who know when to stop.

Key Takeaways

• Pausing signals confidence, commands attention, and invites connection
• Silence helps sync brainwaves between speaker and listener
• Five types of pauses you can start using today—from grounding to emphasis to reset
• Charisma isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence

Today, we sit down with Brett McDermott and the world's top thought leader on workplace confidence, Selena Rezvani, for a transformative new episode on The Persistence Playbook.

Selena redefines confidence not as fixed bravado or manicured perfection, but as a daily practice of curiosity, humor, and a learner’s mindset. Dive into the strategies to defeat the comparison trap, master the power of nonverbal communication, and build the "ego cookie" of self-trust by making and keeping small promises. Selena provides the strategies, tactics, and game plan you need to be your most confident self when you show up for work on Monday morning.

As always, if you’re a regular listener, you know Brett doesn’t just talk theory, he brings structure. If you’re new here, get ready to learn why your confidence is not a fixed trait—it's a habit you can build daily.

Key Takeaways

• Confidence is a habit set that requires a learner's mindset and a sense of humor about life's setbacks.
• The ability to make and keep promises to yourself is a muscle and is roughly 75% of your confidence foundation.

• When your confidence takes a hit, reframe the situation with this mantra: "I'm either going to win, or I'm going to learn," effectively taking failure off the table.

• To instantly feel more powerful, recruit your body—adjust your posture and take up more space—and your mind's confidence will follow.

• Leaders can transfer confidence to their teams by using micro-actions like deferring to others, reverse delegating, and giving specific public credit.

In this episode of the Persistence Playbook, host Brett McDermott sits down with acclaimed writer and speaker Minda Harts to uncover the secrets to building a thriving workplace culture. Why is trust the most valuable currency for modern leaders? Minda introduces her revolutionary "Seven Trust Languages" framework, giving you the playbook to defeat workplace resistance and empower your team to do their best work.

Whether you're a seasoned executive or a solopreneur aiming to grow, this is a must-listen on how to create a foundation of trust that drives productivity and retention.

Key Takeaways

• Trust is a global language—it's as important in the workplace as it is in your personal life.
• Micromanagement and a lack of transparency can quickly erode trust, creating anxiety and ambiguity for employees.
• The power of specificity: Acknowledging an employee's contributions with specific, heartfelt praise is a free and effective way to build morale.
• Leaders must demonstrate, not just declare their values, backing up their words with consistent actions.
• Workplace trauma can occur when employees feel unsafe, unseen, or blocked from growth.

In this episode of The Persistence Playbook, join Brett McDermott as he sits down with author, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur Sam Demma—founder of the High School Assembly Tour, a program that’s inspired thousands of students.Sam Demma shares the powerful concept of "emptying our backpack", a metaphor for shedding the limiting beliefs and negative opinions we've been carrying. He shares his personal origin story and a revelation from a neighbor that inspired him to shift from a strategic mindset to one of passion and authenticity. We also explore the importance of creating "primary evidence" through new experiences that challenge your old stories about yourself.

Key Takeaways

• The number one way to become a better storyteller is to simply tell more stories.

• Overcome limiting beliefs by creating "primary evidence" through new experiences that challenge your old stories about yourself.

• The best stories aren't always about epic moments; they're often found in the small, interesting things that happen in our daily lives.

• "Stop playing for the points and start playing for the love of the game" to find both joy and success in your work.