Neal Brennan interviews Tony Hawk, Pro Skater, about loneliness, determination, saying no, confidence, being present, accepting failure, managing time, and the movie of his life.
Tony Hawk overcame lacking confidence through skateboarding and extended this newfound confidence to other aspects of his life.
Being present is a constant struggle for Tony Hawk, but he emphasizes the importance of moments of quiet and engaged family time.
Tony Hawk reflects on the challenges of parenting and finding the right balance between support and allowing his children to figure things out on their own.
Deep dives
Overcoming the Block of Confidence
One of Tony Hawk's blocks is lacking confidence. He struggled with the belief in himself, but through skateboarding and mastering advanced moves, he overcame this block. This newfound confidence then extended to other aspects of his life, like public speaking and announcing events. He realized that the discipline and determination he had in skateboarding could be applied to other areas as well.
Being Present and Letting Go of Distractions
Tony Hawk acknowledges that he often finds it challenging to be fully present due to numerous distractions and obligations. He mentions how social media can accelerate this feeling. However, he highlights the importance of moments of quiet and being fully engaged with his family, even when it's difficult to extract information from his kids. Being present is something he continues to work on.
Finding a Balance in Parenting
Tony Hawk reflects on his parenting journey and the challenges of finding the right balance. He shares stories of taking his son on tour, being present for his kids while trying to maintain a fulfilling career, and acknowledging the need for independence and self-sufficiency in his children. He mentions that being a 'helicopter parent' is not beneficial and finding the right balance between providing support and allowing his kids to figure things out on their own is essential.
Overcoming Failure and Accepting It
Tony Hawk discusses his early experiences with failure in skateboarding competitions and how he used it as motivation to improve. He talks about being rated poorly and placing second to last in a competition, which pushed him to practice and expand his skills. Hawk also reflects on the importance of accepting failure and how it shaped his mindset and approach to challenges in his career and personal life.
Managing Time and Finding Balance
Hawk emphasizes the significance of managing time and finding balance in life. He acknowledges that in the past, he would prioritize skateboarding to the point of neglecting his family and other responsibilities. However, as he grew older and gained more perspective, he realized the importance of spending quality time with loved ones and focusing on different aspects of his life beyond skateboarding. Hawk credits therapy and professional help for helping him develop better time management skills and maintaining a more balanced lifestyle.
Neal Brennan interviews Tony Hawk (Pro Skater) about the things that make him feel lonely, isolated, and like something's wrong - and how he is persevering despite these blocks.
