The High Performance Zone

Gerry Valentine is an executive coach and the author of The Thriving Mindset - Tools for Empowerment in a Disruptive World. Gerry grew up in poverty in 1970s New York but went on to receive an Ivy League education and pursue a successful corporate career. He has extensive leadership experience in senior positions in Fortune 100 companies, and through his writing and his coaching work, he strives to help people thrive through adversity and face the future with courage and curiosity.

AJ Andrews, aka “the Beyoncé of Softball,” is a professional softball player, TV sports analyst, and the first woman to receive the prestigious Rawlings Gold Glove Award. AJ is also an entrepreneur, a motivational speaker, and the host of the Barrier Breaking Women podcast, which celebrates and elevates the achievements of inspirational women in sport and business. She is an incredible athlete with a formidable work ethic, and her mission is to break down barriers for softball players and pave the way for more women to succeed in sports.

Today, I interview one of my heroes, former USAF Colonel and recipient of the Air Force Cross, Thomas Kirk Jr. Tom served his country with courage and distinction and went on to build an extraordinary life for himself outside of the military. Since leaving the Air Force, he’s lived in multiple countries, started several businesses, and worked as a financial planner, a real-estate investor, a jazz saxophonist, and a ski instructor. Today, Tom lives in Arizona with his wife Ann, where he plays golf, works out at the gym, and participates in the Veterans Heritage Project, which aims to inspire young people and honor the legacy of veterans.

Today, I dive deep into the psychology and experience of pleasure with Dr. Jia Gottlieb, the author of aah…; The Pleasure Book. Dr. Jia is a medical doctor and a lifelong student of yoga and meditation who takes a holistic approach to health and happiness. His mission is to help people understand and experience more pleasure and stop feeling guilty about doing what makes them feel good. He points out that humans are biologically predisposed to seek out pleasure, and he draws on elements of Ancient Greek philosophy and Eastern spirituality to show us how to live more balanced, joyful, and harmonious lives.

This week on the High-Performance Zone podcast, I’m excited to introduce you to award-winning content creator, community engagement leader, and world-class table tennis player Justin Bookey. Justin has worn many hats throughout his career; he’s been a lawyer, a marketing strategist, and a filmmaker, but he’s currently focusing on his role as CEO and Chairman of PongFit, a nonprofit that promotes fitness and community through ping pong. As a former competitive table tennis player, Justin sees the world through the filter of what he’s learned from training with Olympians as well as from his decades-long experience of collaborating with innovative leaders in the corporate environment. He’s super-passionate about ping pong, and he’s currently working on a book, provisionally titled The Twenty Principles of Pong, in which he shares the lessons he’s learned from both business and sport.

Thank you for tuning into the High-Performance Zone podcast. Today, I want to introduce you to Chad Hymas, who The Wall Street Journal describes as one of the ten most inspirational people in the world. Twenty-one years ago, Chad was injured in an accident that left him paralyzed.  Despite his injuries, he managed to turn his life around and develop a career as a motivational speaker and author. Before the Covid pandemic took hold, Chad traveled the world, teaching people how to deal with challenges and create positive change in their lives. Today, he offers mastermind classes at his 600-acre elk ranch in Rush Valley near Salt Lake City. As well as being an inspirational speaker and coach, Chad is a husband and a father of four who loves learning, growing, and spending time with people. 

This week on the High-Performance Zone, I sit with ex-UFC fighter and mixed martial arts expert Eliot ‘The Fire’ Marshall. Eliot reveals how The Karate Kid movie sparked his interest in martial arts as a young boy and explains how his success at jujitsu helped him to find friends and gain social acceptance as a teenager. He recounts his experience of growing up as the child of an inter-racial and inter-cultural couple and opens up about being on the receiving end of bullying, racism, and anti-Semitism in his youth. Eliot believes that his ability to defend himself has helped him to walk more calmly and confidently through life. Today, he owns seven martial arts schools in Colorado, hosts the Gospel of Fire podcast, and has given a TEDx talk and written a book about his experiences.

Joining me today on the High-Performance Zone podcast is cognitive scientist Jacquelyn H. Berry, Ph.D. Jacquelyn specializes in studying how humans build expertise and researches how they interact with computer interfaces and learn to use technology. Jackie loves to help people find their calling and live in alignment with their purpose. Her book Find Your Carrot: Stop the Foolishness, Get on with your Authentic Self  was inspired by her time spent teaching and researching as a Fulbright scholar at the American University in Cairo, where she challenged her students to master a new skill in a semester. Jackie is also a competitive gamer who takes part in Tetris tournaments and carries out academic research into how gaming can inform learning.

Welcome to the High-Performance Zone Podcast, where we unpack the process and mindset of greatness. Today, I’m excited to introduce you to my fellow warrior and former Navy SEAL, Mark Divine. Mark is the founder of Unbeatable Mind, a program that combines elements of Zen meditation with Navy SEAL kick-assery to help people achieve extraordinary results and get beyond whatever is holding them back. Mark is also the creator of the SEALFIT fitness program and the Courage Foundation, which helps veterans suffering from mental health issues. We dive into how a Navy SEAL and a Blue Angel see the world and chart Mark’s transition from MBA graduate to Navy SEAL Commander to successful entrepreneur, author, and leadership coach.

Mark's Website: unbeatablemind.com

Guest: Bill Palmer

Show Live-with: “You cannot climb a ladder with both hands clasped to your ass.”

Topics Covered in this Episode:

• Advanced Sales Methodologies
• How NOT to use Linkedin
• Challenger Sales
• What does RNT mean? 
• Creating an echo chamber for your customer
• Counter-tactics in Sales
• The difference between change and transformation
• Applying the OODA loop to sales
• The ONE thing all sales people are bad at

Bill’s Website
https://queenswayfarers.uk/
https://www.consentri.care/