106: Ed Mylett on Happiness, Making Hard Choices, and The Power of One More
Jun 1, 2022
auto_awesome
Ed Mylett, an ultra-successful entrepreneur and bestselling author known for overcoming profound hardships, shares his transformative journey. He discusses the power of one more intentional action in discovering one's best life. Ed delves into the difference between happiness and fulfillment, the significance of genuine relationships over material success, and the importance of setting personal standards. His philosophies intertwine spirituality and practical solutions that inspire listeners to achieve personal growth and embrace the value of meaningful connections.
Ed Mylett emphasizes that our past hardships can lead to profound personal growth and a greater sense of gratitude for life.
The pivotal experience of mentoring disadvantaged boys helped Ed discover his life purpose, highlighting the importance of relatability and connection.
Success, according to Ed, is defined by fulfillment from serving others and embracing personal happiness rather than solely material achievements.
Deep dives
Overcoming Hardship
Experiencing financial difficulties can be a deeply humbling experience, as shared by Ed Milet during challenging times when he lost his home and basic utilities. The struggle involved creative tactics to manage daily hygiene, like using the communal pool showers while sharing a towel with his wife to maintain privacy. These moments led to feelings of shame and emasculation, especially when contrasted with his professional persona of success. However, this hardship played a significant role in shaping his character and instilling a greater sense of gratitude for later successes.
Childhood Influence
Ed's upbringing in a troubled household with an alcoholic father presented a chaotic environment that significantly shaped his perspective on life. Developing the skill to read his father's mood by the way he approached the front door, Ed learned to navigate this unpredictability. Such experiences instilled in him a profound understanding of human emotions and relationships. Over time, this chaos also motivated him to change his own life trajectory and enabled him to connect with and positively influence young boys facing similar challenges.
Finding Purpose in Service
Working at a home for boys became a pivotal experience that helped Ed realize his life purpose. It allowed him to connect with the boys, who were grappling with their own turmoil, and inspired him to support them through love and mentorship. This role highlighted the importance of relatability and understanding, leading Ed to feel a renewed sense of purpose in life. His work with the boys laid the foundation for his future success, both personally and professionally.
The Power of Change
Ed's experience of witnessing his father's transformation from an alcoholic to a sober individual significantly influenced his belief in the human ability to change. His father's struggle with sobriety and the ultimate decision to present a better example for his family became a catalyst for the family's healing. Ed elaborates on the idea that people are often just one decision away from a complete turnaround in their lives. This realization fuels Ed's message of hope, showing that no matter the past, individuals can always choose to change their narrative.
Gratitude Through Adversity
The hardships faced by Ed fostered a deeper sense of gratitude for the simple joys in life, especially as he reflects on his past struggles. He describes how basic amenities, like access to running water, evoke profound appreciation for what many take for granted. By actively acknowledging these moments of gratitude, Ed maintains a grounded perspective on his current success and lifestyle. This journey amplifies the lesson that pain often leads to greater appreciation and joy in life's simple pleasures.
Defining True Success
Success for Ed Milet has evolved into a personal definition that emphasizes fulfillment over material achievements. He underscores that true success comes from using one's gifts to serve others and achieve personal happiness. This perspective encourages individuals to reflect on their own life visions, as living in alignment with those values leads to genuine success. Moreover, Ed believes that both joy and dissatisfaction can coexist, fostering a continuous drive for personal growth and contribution beyond financial metrics.
My guest today is recognized as an ultra-successful entrepreneur, renowned keynote speaker, performance expert, coach, and bestselling author, but Ed Mylett has had to overcome some extraordinary hardships to become the man you see before you.
Ed shares some insight into his journey; from growing up as the scrawny son of an alcoholic father with three sisters, a pro-baseball pipe dream, and zero self-confidence to finding his purpose as a counselor for disadvantaged children, which turned out to be one of the pivotal turning points of his life.
Ed believes that you're just ‘one more’ intentional thought and action away from discovering your best life and, in this conversation, he shares some powerful philosophies to help you realize and exceed your personal and professional goals by tapping into the superpowers and gifts you already have inside you.
We also touch on how meaning defines us, the immense power of believing in someone, and the value of questioning your faith, as well as the difference between happiness and fulfillment, goals and standards, and so much more.
Tune in today to hear some valuable insights from a man who is well-known for combining spirituality, science, the inner workings of the mind, and practical solutions to help people produce real changes in their lives: the incomparable, Ed Mylett!
