While there are many definitions of stress, we like to think of productive stress as a stimulus that challenges you in a manner which promotes growth. In this episode of the Growth Equation Academy, we dive deep into productive stress. Topics include just-manageable challenges, how to determine the right amount of stress, what conditions create deep-focus work, and how productively stress yourself on micro and macro timescales.You can find the episodes on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Growth EQ Academy #2: Stress Yourself appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the universal equation to make sustainable progress in anything. In this episode of the Growth Equation Academy, we review what we mean by “stress” and “rest,” and discuss how the growth equation can be a valuable concept across diverse contexts—personally, professionally, and organizationally. Too much stress with not enough rest you get injury, illness, and burnout. Not enough stress with too much rest you get complacency or stagnation.You can find the episodes on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.The post Growth EQ Academy #1: Stress + Rest = Growth. appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil Mickelson just won the PGA Championship at age 50. That is no joke. In this episode of the Growth Equation podcast,  Brad and Steve use Mickelson's shocking victory as the basis for a  conversation on aging and performance. They discuss the importance of mindset and intrinsic drive; how to thwart the decline of raw talent that comes with aging while at the same time reaping the rewards of wisdom; Mickelson's intense fasting regime (what exactly was it and did it help, hurt, or not really matter at all?); and how hard work isn't always about training the body but also about training the mind. This episode is chock-full of wisdom and practical advice. We hope you learn as much as we did from the discussion.Here's the column mentioned in the episode on aging and the crossing wisdom and talent curves.Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessResources referenced:The book Make It Scream, Make it Burn, and the Second Life essay on its own hereThe value of doing something real in the worldWhy do rich people love endurance sportsShop Class As Soulcraft  The post Fascinating Insights About Aging and Performance appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is it that so many people seem so out of touch with reality these days? In this episode of the Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve explore a new theory that argues the best way to stay grounded (and not become an ego-maniac) is to do real, concrete things in the world where you either succeed or fail. And, they argue, these successes or failures are best when they happen privately (or perhaps in a small group). We'll explore stories involving lifting weights,  building tables, running, and gardening. We'll also talk about why so many white-collar people love triathlon. We feel that this is one of our most interesting and valuable conversations in a while, and we hope you like it too.Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessResources referenced:The book Make It Scream, Make it Burn, and the Second Life essay on its own hereThe value of doing something real in the worldWhy do rich people love endurance sportsShop Class As Soulcraft  The post The Instagram Filter Theory of Life and Doing Real Things in the World appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All the stars in the NBA are getting hurt. This comes off the coattails of a hyper-condensed season because of COVID-19, followed by a  shortened off-season that led directly into another condensed season.  The injuries, many of which are classic overuse issues, aren't a  coincidence. They are the result of lots of stress, not enough rest. In this episode of the Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve are joined by Coach Jojo to discuss the concept of “load management” and how it applies not only to high-level athletes but to all of us. As a bonus, they debate whether Lebron James is underpaid or if it's just that top CEOs are overpaid (or both). Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Load Management (In Sport, Work, and Life) appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many were shocked to hear about Bill and Melinda Gates getting divorced. But some weren't. After all, they are both extreme pushers, those who care deeply about their mission and work. The cost of this deep caring is often making sacrifices in other areas of life. On this episode of the Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve dive into what big drive, purpose, and motivation — all usually thought of as positive attributes — can leave in their wake. They not only discuss divorce in relationships, but also how a peak pursuit can divorce you from many other elements of your life.Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Divorce in High Performers appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the best ways to be smarter, kinder, and wiser is to read. Straight up. It's the truth. On this episode of The Growth Equation Podcast,  Brad and Steve dive deep into all things reading. They discuss deep  versus superficial attention, nonfiction vs. fiction, how to develop a  consistent reading habit that will work for you, and so much more.  Whether you are an avid reader or someone who hasn't picked up a book in  ages, this episode will get you thinking about reading in new and  improved ways.Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post How to Read More and Read Better appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is infinite information out there. Every day, we are inundated with principles, concepts, and ideas. How does one wade through the deluge, let alone discern where to lean in and pay close attention versus where to lean out and ignore? On this episode of The Growth Equation Podcast, Brad and Steve dive into models for right thinking, or bringing deliberateness and skill to what we take in and what we share out. Among many other things, they dive into their “three-legged” stool framework for evaluating concepts, ideas, and principles — a practical framework that much of their work benefits from, and yours could too.Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Right Thinking appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Growth Equation podcast, Brad and Steve discuss the culture's obsession with idolizing certain people, and how thanks to the internet, everyone has a chance to win at this game. But is it a game that you actually want to win? Or are the forces of so-called celebrity (or going viral, or growing a personal brand, or becoming more influential, and so on) actually just making life increasingly performative rather than real? Might this be leaving us exhausted and stressed? Is there a practical way to opt out?Check out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Hero Worship and Performative Everything appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hard work is often talked about as a be-all end-all when it comes to performance, and even personhood. On this episode of The Growth Equation podcast, we explore what hard work can (and can't do), what pursuits are more prone to be impacted by hard work, and the difference between hard work making you as good as you can be versus making you better than others. We also look at the history of hard work as a moral concept, and offer some thoughts on why it might be misguided.Resources Mentioned:Born Losers by Scott SandageRachel Hollis Instagram PostCheck out our exclusive community offers on Patreon here.You can find the podcast on:iTunes and Apple PodcastsSpotifyAndroidStitcherPlease write a review on Apple Podcasts and help new listeners discover the show!Find Brad and Steve on Twitter: @Bstulberg and @stevemagnessThe post Skill vs. Luck vs. Hard Work appeared first on The Growth Equation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.