The School of Greatness Hall of Fame

But last week, I had the chance to meet one of the coolest women ever, and it turns out she's a fan.Mel Robbins is the most booked female speaker on the planet with a 7 figure speaking business.Oh yeah, she's also a bestselling author, a former criminal defense attorney, a CNN commentator, happily married for 20 years, and a mom of 3 kids.But what I really fell in love with about Mel was her passion, energy, straight-talking truth, and beautiful vulnerability.I can't wait to be awesome friends going forward.In addition to making a great new friend, however, I am really pumped to bring you Mel's incredible wisdom about how she overcame procrastination, fear, and low self-confidence after a devastating career blow and financial hardship.I have a feeling this is going to become one of the most popular episodes ever on the show.Get ready to laugh, cry, and learn how to master your thoughts to create extraordinary results in Episode 452.Some questions I ask:Once you mastered your thoughts, did you have no more fear? (13:30)When did you discover the 5 Second Rule? (16:34)What area of your life has the 5 Second Rule had the biggest impact? (38:22) Is there any area of your life that you still lack confidence in? (41:54)In this episode, you will learn:The definition of habits (the good and bad side of them) (7:19)Why it’s so important to control your thoughts versus your feelings (11:56)What anxiety really is (15:45)The knowledge-action gap that keeps so many people from achieving their goals (24:54)How we make decisions (26:05)The moment that got Mel to shift out of snoozing through life and into action (28:02)The neuroscience behind why the 5 Second Rule works (30:39)How to use the 5 Second Rule in business negotiations (37:45)What successful people do in their minds to keep moving ahead no matter how they feel (40:07)Where confidence comes from (40:34)Plus much more...

You know how there are just some people that the minute you start talking to them, you learn something amazing?That's how I felt when I got the chance to finally meet Brad Lomenick, an author and the founder of Catalyst, and a legendary expert on leadership.I had heard of him well before we talked for this episode, and for good reason, but it wasn't until we started talking about his insight on what creates powerful leaders that I realized just how wise he is.Brad has not only founded a hugely successful company and podcast, but he found the guts and vision to pass the baton after 12 years and continue his work in new and challenging ways.I loved picking his brain on all parts of leadership, especially the relationship between confidence and humility.Whether you're leading a company or seeking to take a leadership role in your relationships, you're going to get massive value out of Brad's perspective.I am very happy to introduce you to my new friend Brad Lomenick in Episode 263 on The School of Greatness.Some questions I ask:Can you be confident and humble at the same time?How do you get "hungry" if you don't know what you're passionate about yet?What's the process for finding your calling?What's the most important habit you can have?How long do you have to hustle for?What are some ways to cultivate your influence?In This Episode, You Will Learn:The 3 H's of Leadership: Humble, Hungry, and HustleThe importance of leaders never feeling like they've "arrived"How Brad re-defined himself after stepping away from his company he had built for 12 yearsThe breakdown of how identity, calling, assignment work together to define who you arePlus much more...

But I think they're fascinating when I learn about them.This is exactly what I thought when I read The Four Agreements, one of the best known books on self-mastery.So when I got the chance to interview the son of the man who wrote that book, I jumped on it.I knew Don Miguel Ruiz Jr. would have powerful insight of his own on these same topics.And I was right.Not only did he grow up being taught the powerful mindsets outlined in that famous book, but his grandmother taught him the Toltec spiritual traditions of his ancestors.He has taken all of these teachings and built a career from explaining them in everyday terms for modern people to understand.In our interview for The School of Greatness Miguel took some of the hardest questions to answer and gave me some of the best answers I've ever heard.We talked about how to take off the masks that cover our true identity to others, how to love unconditionally, and how to change the world for the better.That and so much more is waiting for you in the wisdom of Don Miguel Ruiz Jr in Episode 358.Some questions I ask:What is the Toltec tradition? (10:25)Is it really possible to master yourself? (13:46)How does someone fully love themselves unconditionally? (17:12)How do you love someone who does horrible things? (25:40)What's the main thing that holds people back from reaching their highest potential? (41:56)How do men become aware of their masks and take them off? (44:31)In this episode, you will learn:What shifted Miguel from rejecting his father's teachings to accepting them (5:05)The difference between saying "I want to" versus "I have to" (8:05)Why we judge ourselves so harshly (18:00)The main function of the brain is to dream (33:40)How to control someone else (36:24)Plus much more...

It's not everyday that I have a guest on The School of Greatness who has a superhero name.But today's does.The Iceman aka Wim Hof is an absolute legend in the world of endurance sports, science, health, and mindfulness.I've been hearing about his absolutely incredible records of being outside in the extreme cold for years (he currently holds 26 world records).But it wasn't until he came by the studio for an interview that I got to experience the full wisdom and impact of Wim.First, he put me through an intense and powerful breathing exercise that released all the stress from my body and mind.Then, shortly after the interview started, he put me through another one.We got deep into the science of what Wim has discovered through his own experimentation with pushing his body and mind physically.And in case you're wondering -- Wim is not a special case. He has taught hundreds of other people to do what he does.Even if you just listen to hear the 4 minute stress release breathing technique Wim teaches in this interview, I know you'll get a powerful new perspective on your health and physical limits in Episode 398.Some questions I ask:How often do you practice your breathing strategies? (11:21)What can someone who is always stressed do every day to get calm? (12:41)Was there ever a time in your life where you lost belief in yourself? (33:44)Do you face fear now in any part of your life? (37:06)Why don't we teach how to overcome fear in school? (40:18)Do you ever get sick? (44:12)Do you think we can reverse disease with mindset alone? (1:09:40)In This Episode, You Will Learn:How breathing exercises physiologically help ills like anxiety and depression (12:01)How stress is related to chemistry in our bodies (25:35)What Wim learned from a near death experience (35:01)What uncontrolled stress does to your body (and how to avoid this) (1:01:29)Why Wim uses cold to increase health and endurance (1:04:07)Plus much more...

Question: Have you hit a ceiling in your sales or profits?Maybe you've been successful, made a few million, but you want to really maximize the potential of your company.Or maybe you're still doing everything solo and have maxed out how many hours in a day you can realistically work. It's time to scale.Either way, you're going to love today's guest on The School of Greatness.Josh Bezoni is an incredible guy with a huge heart, not to mention a very successful businessman.I met him 5 years ago at an event he hosted in Austin, TX, became friends, and I'm back in that city this week for the book tour.We finally got a chance to sit down and record a podcast, which I'd been wanting to do for a long time.Josh is an incredible marketer, having worked for some of the best in the business early on in his career.Fast forward 20 years and he and his business partners have built a fitness supplement company from an inital investment of $1 million to $100 million . . . in just a year.In our conversation, Josh goes over the top 8 mindset shifts that have made the difference for him in bursting through the sales ceiling he had been hitting in his previous companies.Get excited to take notes and have your mental framework re-built around business in Episode 260 with Josh Bezoni.Some questions I ask:Do you think you can be successful without a charitable aspect to your business?How do you build redundancy into your team?What if you don't have a lot of cash to start up your business and build your team?How does an entrepreneur know what metrics to track and how to do that?Why are you so driven to push your profits and company?In This Episode, You Will Learn:How Josh and his co-founders took $1 million and turned it into $100 million in one year when they founded their businessThe power of writing good copy and direct response marketing to maximize your salesThe 8 Mental Shifts to Maximize Your SalesCreate a charitable mission around your businessPromote your passionGo into an industry that you can disruptForm alliesBuild your infrastructure at 20x what you think you'll needForce focusKnow your numbersFire yourselfHow they built an email list of millions in just 3 yearsJosh's best hiring tipsWhat bad  supplement manufacturers do (and why to avoid these practices)Plus much more...

Interested in learning how to build a life and business around doing what you love? So am I. Let's connect.Put yourself in these shoes: your mom gives birth to you at 17, you never meet your father, you drop out of high school, and are homeless as a young man.But despite this, you go to college (even though it takes you 12 years to get through your degree), then you build your own business, become a world-class speaker, and finish your PhD at age 44.Yes, this is a true story, and today's guest on The School of Greatness is the main character.Eric Thomas, aka the Hip Hop Preacher, is a true example of greatness in action.You may have heard his voice on a YouTube video giving a now world-famous speech with the line, "When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will be successful."We cover a lot including his thoughts on education, the power of executing your plans, how mentors influence your path, and the potential of hard work and focus.Welcome to Episode 121 with Hip Hop Preacher Eric Thomas.Some questions I ask:Why is accountability so important to you?Why are you so committed to excellence and greatness in your own life?How important is having mentors and coaches throughout your life?What are 3 big mistakes entrepreneurs make?In this episode, you will learn:The difference between degrees and educationHow purpose can help you find your passionOur gifts and talents do not perfect and hone themselves (we have to do this!)In every 24 hours, we can either break our life or make our lifeWhy he gets up at 3 am every dayHow he sets up boundaries for his work timeWhy your content will be stronger if you disconnect from all distractions dailyHow execution is the heart of your business – if it stops, your business diesThe story behind why his son graduating from high school is his greatest accomplishmentWhy most companies don’t make it past 3 yearsThe power of the discipline to waitPlus much more…

Tell if someone was lying?Know exactly what makes someone impressed?Win someone over within minutes of meeting them?I think of these skills as super powers and I love learning about them.So when previous podcast guest Vanessa Van Edwards told me she was coming out with a book, I was stoked to have her back on the show.If you listened to Episode 105, you remember her as the queen of human behavior.Vanessa has dedicated her career to understanding how people work, on a scientific level.She has taught me so much about how to play to my strengths in social situations.So in this interview, I wanted to get some really helpful tips for situations that we all want to make a good impression in.Things like networking events, dating relationships, and more.Vanessa delivered, and I loved every minute of it - especially when she explained how to tell if someone is lying and why this information can be dangerous.You've heard me say this before, but I can't overstate how important emotional intelligence is to creating powerful relationships.Get ready to learn from the people expert herself in Episode 475.Some questions I ask:What is PQ? (23:47)What are the best skills to use in negotiations? (1:07:30)In this episode, you will learn:What makes the most popular people popular (5:25)What to do to make a great impression at a big conference or networking event (8:14)The best questions to ask when you meet someone and why (13:53)How emotions are contagious (21:01)Why "fake it til you make it" isn't the best strategy (22:03)How to get support for the things your personality struggles with (36:05)Which personality test is actually scientifically based (39:47)The one personality trait that you need to figure out between partners (41:40)What personality traits to be mindful of when dating (50:40)How to tell if someone is lying (59:58)Plus much more...

I just got back from Summit at Sea, which was awesome.I got to see a lot of great friends and take a quick break from the book tour (although I didn't sleep much).As I got back, I wanted to take a minute to recap what has happened so far with the book launch, since I've barely processed it myself.My man Quddus Philippe takes over as the host of  The School of Greatness for this episode as he interviews me on the success of the book so far and how I've set the goals I have achieved.If you've read the book already, you know that there's a lot of talk about goal setting and how important that is to greatness.Quddus and I discuss how I set the goals long ago to make this book happen and how I broke down the vision of being a NYT best selling author into small steps that led to success.Get ready for a dive into goals and what's possible when you commit to them in Episode 255.

As I have been making plans to take my business and life to the next level, I realized I have some essential guideposts that help me push myself.And since you have been asking for more solo rounds, I want to share those ideas with you on today's episode of The School of Greatness.Even one of these steps has the power to transform your life and open the door to massive progress.My hope for you in listening to this episode is that you can identify which step (or steps) will make the biggest impact in your life and then TAKE ACTION to upgrade that area of your life.As you probably know, one of my favorite words is "hustle." But hustling will only get you so far if you aren't taking the effort and time on a daily basis to set yourself up for greatness.In Episode 111, I pull back the curtain on my ten most essential steps to breaking through my barriers and getting to the next level. Please join me for this solo round and prepare to upgrade your life!In This Episode, You Will Learn:The importance of writing down and displaying your goal (so you see it every day)How your health is related to making moneyWhy it's important to hire a coach and not just have mentorsWhat the difference is when your team takes on your vision with youWhy I make my bed every morning (small win to start the day!)About the effect of acknowledging your efforts and accomplishmentsMy email to let me know how I can support you in letting go of negative self-talk: lewis at lewishowes.comPlus much more...

Oh man. I wasn't going to post this episode.In fact, during this conversation, I repeatedly found myself opening up and saying things I was not comfortable sharing.But since this is The School of Greatness, I knew I had to share all the lessons I am privileged to learn myself, even the ones that aren't comfortable.What could I have been talking about that was so scary to share?Relationships . . . of course.I met today's guest, Neil Strauss, after he had already been a NYT bestselling author 7 times.He is best known for becoming a pick up artist by going underground into the world of that game for 2 years and then writing a book about what he learned.But by the time I met him, he was happily engaged to his now wife, and those days were behind him.In this episode, we started by talking about his new book, which counters his former bestseller, revealing the uncomfortable truth about what makes relationships work.Soon into the conversation, however, the tables turned and we started discussing my experiences in relationships.Not the kind of thing I was expecting to discuss for thousands of people to hear.However, I learned so much from just this one conversation with Neil about myself, my relationships, and how to improve my future ones, that I knew I couldn't keep it to myself.Here's the raw, vulnerable truth about relationships, my life, and the lessons Neil Strauss has learned from his own in Episode 242.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why our parents' relationship deeply affects our own perceptions of intimacyHow our brain templates are formed in young childhoodThe power of removing blame from your parents for what isn't working in your relationshipsWhat pathological accommodation is (and how it sabotages relationships)The importance of recognizing your own issues, not your partner'sHow you can create a conscious coupling (just like you can create a conscious uncoupling)Plus much more...