63| Todd Herman: How to Create a High Performance Mindset with Kobe Bryants High Performance Coach
The Dan Go Podcast
The Power of Identity: Using Alter Egos for Peak Performance
The speaker shares their personal story and experiences in coaching, highlighting the concept of identity-based performance. They discuss the fascination with Native American history and how it influenced the creation of their alter ego, Geronimo, who helped them excel in football.
Welcome back to the show, everyone! I am truly excited to bring this interview to you, conversation with my good friend and inspirational mentor, Todd Herman! Todd has truly been helping me achieve my potential and become the best possible version of myself for years now.
I hope that you’ll tune in because, while this is an interview in which Todd talks about himself and answers some of your burning questions, it’s also very much a journey of growth and transformation, a journey on which I hope you’ll join me. Based on the concept of his book The Alter Ego Effect, Todd and I dive deep into creating an alter ego identity that can help me expand as an entrepreneur and think bigger. Todd reveals much about the visionary side of my personal style of entrepreneurship.
He then helps me probe even further to uncover the attributes holding me back in that visionary role. While it is certainly a bit uncomfortable, Todd encourages all of us to be bold and to seek out bigger opportunities by expressing my visions and wants more clearly, even if and maybe even especially if discomfort is part of the process.
Working together, we identify the key traits that my alter ego persona would embody to help me break through: being a bold, authentic and strong decision maker. If I can connect to the right inspiration and build the right rituals, Todd explains how this alternate identity can become a tool for me to expand as an entrepreneur. I'm really excited to put this into practice and see where it takes me and, again, hope that you will listen in!
If you enjoy this fun and different conversation with Todd, then I strongly encourage you to go check him out via the methods listed below. Be sure to also subscribe on your favorite podcast app if you aren’t subscribed already so that you never miss a new episode, and if you would share the podcast with at least one other person you know who might also enjoy it and leave me a five-star review, that really helps me and the show out!
Time Stamps
0:43 - Welcome to the show, Todd Herman!
3:05 - Todd reveals how playing football led to him wanting to be in this type of work.
7:02 - Todd's alter ego Geronimo comes from his fascination with Native American culture.
11:04 - What are some common lies people say about developing a championship mindset?
14:03 - Hear why Todd recommends using nature as a filter for ideas.
17:43 - Todd goes into how he helped Kobe develop his "Black Mamba" alter ego.
26:34 - Alter egos work tap into a person's creativity in order to embody skills already there.
30:54 - Todd prefers to define himself by the verbs rather than nouns, arguing that identities can become traps.
34:26 - Alter egos are most effective when focused on a specific domain or role within a person's life.
35:54 – I point out that I'm very comfortable building and creating for my audience.
36:33 - Todd explains several of the steps of building an alter ego.
38:41 - I reveal what about my visionary side still frustrates me – making bigger decisions.
40:17 - I disclose what might be the underlying cause of that challenge.
40:44 - Humility and modesty can sometimes hold you back.
42:32 - Todd attributes my tendency towards forced humility in part to cultural factors like being Canadian.
44:02 - Todd explains how people rob themselves of the confidence needed to pursue bigger visions.
48:23 – I admire entrepreneurs like Elon Musk, Tim Ferriss, and Andrew Huberman.
50:15 - I admire all of their authenticity.
51:06 – Todd explains why he sees the word “authentic” as a trap.
53:03 - I identify bravery, authenticity, and decision-making as key attributes for my alter ego.
53:43 - Todd encourages me instead to focus on being bold.
56:24 - Todd advises me to find sources of inspiration that represent boldness.
57:29 - Todd identifies some of his own personal values.
1:02:14 - Todd recommends that I find role models who easily embody my visionary alter ego.
1:04:44 - Todd describes his rituals to embody his 'dad' alter ego.
1:10:32 - Hear how Todd uses the sound of snapping his beaded bracelet as part of his ritual.
1:16:39 - Todd discusses the most important lessons that his dad taught him.
1:21:59 - What would be the difference between Todd and a coach like Tim Grover?
1:24:23 - What does an ideal day/week look like for a high performer?
1:27:59 - Todd offers his thoughts on the merger between Live and the PGA.
1:29:35 - Todd describes his favorite thing: giving his wife a head rub.
1:31:45 - Learn where to find Todd online.
Resources
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