The Secret to Success: Smart Hard Work

Most people assume that aging means inevitable decline—but health and mindset can tell a different story. At 53, Steven Kotler set out to defy the so-called “long slow rot” of aging by learning how to park ski, a feat most experts believed was biologically impossible past 35. Along the way, he uncovered that many of our mental and physical abilities are “use-it-or-lose-it” skills—ones we can actively train to extend performance, youthfulness, and joy. In this episode, Steven shares the science behind peak performance aging, how mindset shapes longevity, and why dynamic challenges like action sports may be the secret to staying young and profiting.

In this episode, Hala and Steven will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:22) The Inspiration Behind Studying Peak Performance

(02:25) Debunking the Long Slow Rot Theory

(04:16) Use It or Lose It: Physical Skills

(06:54) The Importance of Dynamic Activities

(16:57) Mindset and Aging

(21:29) Overcoming Personal Traumas

(27:59) Fluid vs. Crystallized Intelligence

(32:43) Advancements in Regenerative Medicine

(34:07) Learning and Cognitive Health

(34:52) Three Types of Thinking for Better Aging

(35:42) Business Opportunities in Hiring Older Adults

(37:20) The Importance of Physical and Mental Activity

(42:07) The Power of Authentic Learning

(50:51) Insights from the Blue Zones

(56:33) The Role of Flow in Aging and Performance

Steven Kotler is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective. He is one of the world’s leading experts on human performance. Steven is the author of 11 bestsellers (out of fourteen books), including The Art of Impossible and The Future is Faster Than You Think. His work has been nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes, translated into over 50 languages, and has appeared in over 100 publications, including the New York Times Magazine, Wired, Atlantic Monthly, Wall Street Journal, TIME, and the Harvard Business Review. In his latest book, Gnar Country: Growing Old, Staying Rad, Steven tests his knowledge and theories on his own aging body in a quest to become an expert skier at age 53.

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Entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship podcast, Business, Business podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal development, Starting a business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side hustle, Startup, mental health, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth mindset, Mental Health, Health, Psychology, Wellness, Biohacking, Motivation, Mindset, Manifestation, Productivity, Brain Health, Life Balance, Self Healing, Positivity, Happiness, Sleep, Diet