The Tim Ferriss Show

#509: George Mumford, Mindfulness Coach to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, on Awareness, Compassionate Action, The Dizziness of Freedom, and More

Apr 15, 2021

George Mumford, a globally recognized mindfulness coach known for mentoring legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, shares profound insights on personal transformation through mindfulness. He discusses the importance of awareness and compassionate action, especially in high-pressure sports. George delves into the 'dizziness of freedom,' emphasizing how embracing discomfort can foster growth. He highlights powerful literature that shapes leadership, and reflects on his journey from addiction to sobriety, showcasing mindfulness as a tool for remarkable change.

01:20:53

Episode guests

George Mumford

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Adapting teaching methods to individual needs and learning styles

Embracing discomfort and making choices for personal growth and freedom

Customizing coaching approaches for elite athletes based on their mindset and goals

Deep dives

Meeting People Where They Are

When working with different individuals, I meet them where they are and use language and examples that resonate with them. I adapt my teachings to their specific needs and modality, whether they are visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners. I provide specific guidance based on their context and help them cultivate a mindset for growth and excellence.

Intro

5min

Mindfulness and Transformation

22min

The Transformative Power of Literature and Spirituality

2min

Influential Books for Leadership and Mindfulness

4min

Mindfulness in the Game

16min

Embracing the Dizziness of Freedom: Navigating Growth and Uncertainty

4min

Breaking Barriers: Personal Growth Through Mindfulness

21min

Mindfulness and Innovation in Fitness

7min

George Mumford, Mindfulness Coach to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, on Awareness, Compassionate Action, The Dizziness of Freedom, and More | Brought to you by Tonal smart home gym, LinkedIn Jobs recruitment platform with 700M+ users, and Eight Sleep’s Pod Pro Cover sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating More on all three below.

George Mumford (@gtmumford) is a globally recognized speaker, teacher, and coach. Since 1989, he’s been honing his gentle but groundbreaking mindfulness techniques with people from locker rooms to board rooms, Yale to jail.

While at the University of Massachusetts, where he roomed with future Hall of Famer Julius Erving, injuries forced George out of basketball and eventually into an addiction to pain medication and drugs. With the help of meditation and mindfulness, he got clean and made it his mission to teach and work with others.

Michael Jordan credits George with transforming his on-court leadership, helping the Bulls to six NBA championships. George has also worked with Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and countless other NBA players, as well as Olympians, executives, and artists.

George believes everyone has a masterpiece within. His book The Mindful Athlete: Secrets to Pure Performance — both memoir and instruction guide — can show you how to access it.

George also has The Mindful Athlete Course, which can be found at GeorgeMumford.com.

Please enjoy!

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Past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.