The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12    https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Ryan Holiday is the best-selling author of more than 10 books including The Obstacle Is The Way, Ego Is The Enemy, and most recently, Courage Is Calling. He’s sold millions of copies and his work impacts leaders all over the world. Notes: A philosophy of offense. General James Mattis was once asked by a tv reporter, “what keeps you up at night?” And he said, “I keep people up at night.” Captured his philosophy of offense (a bias for action… People who make it happen) Preparation makes you brave. —- the Army life handbook that was handed out to millions of soldiers in the Second World War. All about preparation. As Epictetus says the goal when we experience adversity is to be able to say, “this is what I’ve trained for, for this is my discipline.” Never question another man’s courage. “It’s very easy to judge. It’s very hard to know.” Waste not a second questioning another man’s courage. Put that scrutiny solely on your own. Be strong and of good courage. We hear in the book of Joshua. William Faulkner said  “be scared. You can’t help that. But don’t be afraid.” You can’t spend all day in deliberation — the story of a Spartan king who was marching across Greece. As he entered each new country, he sent envoys to ask whether he should be prepared to treat them as friends or enemies. Most of the nations decided quickly and chose friendship. But one king wanted to think about his options. So he thought and thought and thought until it was chosen for him. “Let him consider it then,” the frustrated Spartan General said as he fixed his jaw. “Which we March on.” Even if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. You are voting to let them decide. The power of poise — in the year 175, Marcus Aurelius was betrayed by his general Avidius Cassius in an attempted coup. He could have been scared. He could have been furious. He could have exploded. But this would not happen. He said, “the nearer a man is to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength.” Ernest Shackleton — Arctic expedition got stuck in the ice. His motto —fortitudine vincimus — By endurance we conquer The courage to care — General Mattis said “cynicism is cowardice, it takes courage to care.” Only the brave believe, especially when everyone else is full of doubt. the story of Theodore Roosevelt the biographer Herman Hagedorn wrote “is the story of a small boy who read about great men and decided he wanted to be like them.” Ryan shared a personal story about his experience working for American Apparel and his relationship with founder/CEO, Dov Charney. He was asked to do something immoral and he declined... But, he didn't stop Dov from doing it. "It doesn't age well to just be scared in the moment. All that's left is what you didn't do." When you earn some power or develop a platform, how will you use it? When Lyndon Johnson became President, he said, "What the hell is the presidency for if not to do big things?" Consistency -- How does Ryan produce so much work (publishing lots of books) on a consistent basis? You have to show up every day. Tackle the smallest component part of the project for that day. Do what's in front of you. Why does Ryan work out every day? "I like to think, 'who's in charge?' I'm in charge." Excellence = All leaders are readers Curiosity is a must Desire for knowledge Self-discipline An element of service - it's not just about you How does Ryan define success? Autonomy. "The power of my own life, who I spend time with, and what I'm doing. I don't want to be a slave to the system."

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12  https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 John Bacon has written twelve books on sports, business, health, and history, the last seven all National Bestsellers. His latest book is "LET THEM LEAD: Unexpected Lessons in Leadership from America's Worst High School Hockey Team."  Notes: Be Patient with Results, Not Behavior - Accept where you are to get where you want to go. Be present so you can own your attention and energy. Be patient and you’ll get there faster. Embrace vulnerability to develop genuine strength and confidence. Build deep community over efficiency and optimization. Move your body to ground your mind Reduce Your Rules, but Make Them Stick - Make your rules few, clear, and connected to your larger mission. They have to be within everyone’s control to follow every day. When your people start enforcing the rules themselves, the culture has changed. To make it special to be on your team, make it hard to be on your team. The people who apply to the Navy SEALS and the Peace Corps are attracted to the difficulty. They know not everyone can make it, and that’s what makes it special You can't motivate people you don't know - Leadership doesn’t require rousing speeches; it requires that you get to know your people.  The more power you give, the more you get -Select leaders for their ability to lead, not their ability to do the job they used to have. Leaders must know their jobs, know how to do their jobs, know everyone else’s jobs, and help them all do their jobs better! This is how you create “layers of leadership,” which benefits everyone, and keeps you from burning out. All credit goes to your people - If you give away the credit and accept the blame, you’ll be rewarded with loyalty. If your team succeeds, you will always get more credit than you need. “The reward of a job well done is to have done it.” John's two initial goals when he took over the worst team in the state: Be the hardest working team in the state Win a state title On day 1, he set high standards -- Previously, they were 0-22-3 "Make no small plans, they lack the power to stir people's souls." John Bacon's two rules: Work hard Support your teammates "Behaviors you can always control, performance and outcomes you can't." Life advice: Focus on yourself first Work hard and support your teammates

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12    https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, is President and Chief Executive Officer of SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management. With over 300,000 members in 165 countries, SHRM is the largest HR professional association in the world, impacting the lives of 115 million workers every day. Notes: "Crisis come and go, but our chance to demonstrate leadership skills is constant. In times such as these, Johnny abides by three key principles: Culture comes first Data is your greatest friends Be "extra" Mistakes made by Chief Human Resource Officers: RULES: CHROs who fail emphasize rules over solutions. ROLES: CHROs who fail develop an instinctual approach to solidifying their role, necessitating constant validation RELATIONSHIPS: CHROs who fail prioritize relationships (when hiring) above results or data. RIGHTEOUSNESS: CHROs who fail need to be right at all times without accounting for other perspectives “Culture is the cure amid chaos” -- At SHRM, they’ve defined themselves by their guiding principles: Bold Purpose Excellence & Accountability Flexibility & Agility Smart & Curious Collaborative Openness How Johnny earned the CEO role? He's had a wide range of jobs: Lawyer, a business leader in 'for-profit,' business leader in non-profit, understands being responsible for his own Profit and Loss of a business Since Johnny was seven years old, he knew he wanted to be a lawyer Why leaders need to become excellent writers and speakers: Inspiring employees has become table stakes to be an excellent leader How to work on this? READ. Johnny regularly reads with his 11-year-old daughter to help her work on this. "Grammar matters. Typos matter. We judge people on those things." Hiring: What does Johnny look for in a candidate to hire: Technical competencies - They have to know how to do the job Cultural alignment - We do not hire brilliant jerks Curiosity is key: "Tell me something you've been thinking about that would surprise me..." Self-awareness: Tell me about situations where you've been wrong or failed... Their motivation: "Why do you work? What has changed most over the years? "Culture is everything now. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are getting better." How can leaders create a healthy culture that acknowledges and prevents racism, sexism, and bias? "We have to talk about it." Acknowledge it Commonalities of people who sustained excellence: Curiosity - receptive to change Fiercely competitive - They want to win Exist for a bigger purpose The RESET - The opinion and perspective of Human Resources is changing... "They can't be the department of NO anymore." "The job of the HR professional is to help their leaders get a good return on their hiring investment." Life/Career Advice: Become really good at something. Become an expert Build relationships Build empathy - "When I was a young 'hot-shot' attorney, I would run through people." You need to build empathy for others."  

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12  https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Brad Stulberg is the author of Peak Performance, The Passion Paradox, and The Practice of Groundedness. He coaches executives, entrepreneurs, physicians, and athletes. He is also co-creator of The Growth Equation, an online platform dedicated to defining and attaining a more fulfilling and sustainable kind of success. Notes: Build deep community over efficiency and optimization. It takes more time. It has a physical connection and a sense of belonging. Don’t move so fast that you don’t see people. Keys to great leadership -- Look at the boundaries and create space for work to unfold. Don’t be the helicopter parent or the micromanager. Don’t neglect them, but ensure they have the space to grow and blossom. Move your body to ground your mind - It’s so important to have a physical practice. Make it part of your work. It needs to be in order to support your mental health. The Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA championship. Their MVP leader, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points and helped his team win. But he may have earned even more fans when he was asked during a press conference how he keeps his mind right. His three-part answer, in his own words: “Focusing on the past is ego. Focusing on the future is pride. Focusing on the present is humility.” The six principles of groundedness:  Accept where you are to get where you want to go Be present so you can own your attention and energy Be patient and you’ll get there faster Embrace vulnerability to develop genuine strength and confidence Build deep community over efficiency and optimization Move your body to ground your mind Trying to be "balanced" does not work. When you care deeply about something it draws you in. That's the point. You don't need to force some kind of proportionate allocation of your life. Aim for the self-awareness to PRIORITIZE and CHOOSE how you spend your time and energy. Wherever you are, the goal post is always 10 yards down the field. If you develop a mindset, "If I just do this, or just accomplish that, THEN I'll arrive," you're in for trouble. There is no arriving. The human brain didn't evolve for it. Enjoy the process. Be where you are. Everyone wants to be SUCCESSFUL. But few people take the time and energy to define the success they want. As a result, they spend most, if not all, of their lives chasing what society superimposes on them as success. Define your values. Craft a life around them. THAT is success. Stress + Rest = Growth. Too much of the former not enough of the latter you get injury, illness, burnout. Too much of the latter, not enough of the former you get complacency, stagnation. This equation is universal. It holds true for individual and organizational growth. "Wouldn't this be rad?" The process of striving for ambitious goals is what brings fulfillment. The process is how you live your life. "Your addiction to growth might be making you miserable." The human condition is oriented towards more. Advice on building a business: Think less about building the business and more about building the life you want to live. Brad limits himself to 15 clients and they only meet on Monday and Friday. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday are days for creativity, reading, research. Brad optimizes for autonomy and freedom. For the over-worked, over-scheduled VP: Find 2 hours a week for deep work. That's a start. Challenge the culture, test assumptions. Think of your schedule as a moral document Sustain excellence: Wise patience... Step back sometimes When making a big decision, adopt the lens of a wise observer, what would your wiser self tell you to do?  Stimulus + your response = outcome When you feel restless to do something, use that as an alarm. Force yourself to take three deep breaths. What will you regret less? No raising voices... Your language shapes how you think and act... The Good Enough Mother: Not helicopter Not each and every need Doesn't neglect Gives a safe space to grow and blossom For the insecure leader... Approach them with curiosity Musicians have intense periods of focused practice. People have breakthroughs when they have been on a sabbatical... Embrace vulnerability to develop genuine strength and confidence with others... "The way to build trust is by being vulnerable." Don't be performative. It must be real. Build deep community over efficiency and optimization It takes more time to meet in person. Brad's tattoo sleeve: Mountains sit through it all. Trees = grounded, the roots support it. We need to tend to our own roots.

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12    https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Sahil Bloom is a writer who attempts to demystify the world. He's an investor, advisor, and creator. As a pitcher at the University of Stanford, he once gave up a grand slam on ESPN in 2012 and he's still waiting for it to land. Sahil is an angel investor in 25+ startups across the technology landscape. In this capacity, he works directly with entrepreneurs and founders to identify and execute against core value creation initiatives to build scalable, sustainable value for all stakeholders. Notes: Writing makes you better at everything you do. Writing is the best way to expose gaps in your thinking. When you write, you think better. The makeup of a great coach - Never too big to do the small things. They push you beyond what you think you’re capable of. Everyone should take a moment and say thank you to someone who has done this for them. Learning Circles -- Develop a circle of people to collectively learn with. Push your thinking. I do this with my Learning Leader Circles and it’s some of the most rewarding work I do. Why the cheeky Twitter bio? ("Once gave up a home run on ESPN that hasn't landed yet"). "People take themselves too seriously." The difference between big public failures and private ones: "I think private failures can shape you more." Freshman year at Stanford was a grind... "I thought I was hot shit." "Are you willing to spring when the distance is unknown?" It's all about how you bounce back from failures. "You need to be able to take constructive feedback. You can't crumble." Sahil asks, "What do I want to instill in my child?" Let them fail... It's the greatest experience. Angel Investing - An individual who provides money to start-ups. The "must-have" qualities in a person for Sahil to invest in them: Resilience and Grit. "You're going to get knocked around. They are willing to die before they'll fail." "I'm driven by relationships over data points. I like to ask: Tell me about a time you got your ass kicked..." Sahil invests because he learns so much through the process of it. The intellectual returns make it worth it. "Writing is the best way to expose gaps in your thinking. It makes you better at everything you do." Be a teacher: "I'm learning alongside you." Great storytelling... "It is a built skill." Disney, Pixar... It's a foundational skill. They infuse personality in writing. The three biggest keys to storytelling: Elicit an emotional response Novelty - That "Oh wow!" moment Punchy & Concise - "I didn't have time to write a short letter so I wrote a long one instead." Viral tweet threads - It started in May 2020 for Sahil. He went from a few followers to hundreds of thousands... Be "Positive Sum." The world is positive sum. A rising tide lifts all boats. You should genuinely root for others to succeed. The makeup of a great coach: In the trenches with the team - never too big to do the small things Willing to challenge you and call you out. They help you get better They push your thinking Coach John Beverly (Sahil's high school baseball coach) He was first to suggest that Stanford could be a reality for Sahil ("He was nuts") He had very high expectations He believed in Sahil more than Sahil believed in himself He changed the trajectory of people Cognitive bias - High expectations lead to higher performance You need to vocalize your appreciation for those who have pushed your thinking and expected a lot from you The power of learning circles: There is push & pull with others Helps you develop circles of friends to collectively learn with and push your thinking

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www. LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12  https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Sukhinder Singh Cassidy is a leading digital CEO and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of leadership experience founding, scaling, and advising companies including Google, Amazon, StubHub, Yodlee, and more. Most recently, Sukhinder served as the leader of StubHub, the premier global consumer ticketing marketplace for live entertainment, which she and her team sold for $4 billion in February 2020. Earlier in her career, Sukhinder built Google’s business throughout Asia Pacific and Latin America. Notes: “Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome.” - Samuel Johnson “We think when we do nothing there is no cost.” That’s not true. There’s a cost to standing still. Proximity to opportunity benefits us even more than planning. Sukhinder moved to Silicon Valley in 1997. She rode the tailwind of the Internet and being at the epicenter of it all. Prioritize the WHO before the WHAT. As a leader, watch what you validate with your words and actions. Reward the behavior that you want. If you want to promote taking risks, then reward the people who do that. “You get what you create and what you allow.” At one point, Sukhinder went to her boss at Google (who worked with Eric Schmidt) and said, “I’m pregnant, I want to keep running international at Google. I need for you to pay for me and my nanny to travel the world business-class. And they said yes.” BIG ASK.  She did the calculus and realized it was a reasonable ask. And they said yes. Career path - "My career is not linear, it's cyclical. It has ups and downs. I've made 13 different meaningful choices along the way." The myth that there is a linear relationship between risk and reward. Not all choices have an equal amount of upside and downside... Sukhinder sas been on the board of Urban Outfitters with Scott Galloway: Should you move to a big city? Should you move to your company's headquarters? Being at the center of the action matters... It helps if you can understand the pulse of HQ How to become a smart risk taker? What are our goals, passions, and values? What are we great at? Look for headwinds and tailwinds - (Join a growing company that has momentum) With that said, Sukhinder went to StubHub and there were significant challenges Over-prioritize the WHO over the WHAT Why did Sukhinder take the StubHub leadership role? It was a calculated risk She missed running a company of scale They needed entrepreneurial and executive energy How do you create an environment for people to take risks? You want people who are "truth-tellers, truth seekers, and authors" Make it safe to take risks -- Reward that behavior. Watch what you validate by your words and actions. Understand the magnitude and the weight of your words. People are always watching how the leader responds, who they commend, what they say... How to go for a job that you aren't qualified for? "The next level of learning is going for something you don't know..." To be a CEO, you need depth AND breadth. You need to expand your skillset. This is the path to accelerated learning. How do you know when you should leave a job? "I like 3-5 year sprints. Are you having fun? Are you making an impact? If you aren't having fun or making an impact, you'll want to leave." Think about: "Who am I doing this with? Are our values aligned?" Why did Sukhinder want to be a CEO? "A little bit of ego" "I was built to lead" "I enjoy being on the hook" People who sustain excellence: They surround themselves with other great people. They don't let their ego get in the way. They don't feel threatened by great people. Career/Life Advice: "We tend to assume that everything is zero-sum. It's not. Choice is a multiplier of opportunity and we get to control it. Make a choice and get in motion."

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12      https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Melissa Urban is the co-founder and CEO of Whole30, and a six-time New York Times bestselling author. She is is a prominent keynote speaker on social media and branding, health trends, and entrepreneurship. Notes: “I’ll Go First” -- As Leaders, it’s on us to do the hard thing first. Be vulnerable first. Trust first. That mindset will serve us well “I decided to look for evidence that I was already a healthy person with healthy habits.” and that helped form her identity. Whole30 -- The Whole30 is not a diet, a weight-loss plan or quick fix – it’s designed to “change your life,” the founders say, by eliminating cravings, rebalancing hormones, curing digestive issues, improving medical conditions, and boosting energy and immune function. "You can think of the Whole30 like pushing the reset button with your health, habits, and relationship with food." “For 30 days, you’ll eliminate the foods that scientific literature and our clinical experience have shown to be commonly problematic in one of four areas — cravings and habits, blood sugar regulation and hormones, digestion, and immune system, and inflammation “The food you eat either makes you more healthy or less healthy. Those are your options.” “You cannot “out-exercise” poor food choices and the resulting hormonal disruption.” The diet culture has been beaten into our heads and can make us feel disempowered This helps you take back the power. It's not a diet. Not a quick fix. It helps you figure out what works for you. Melissa always buys herself flowers... Take care of yourself first. Must-Have leadership qualities in someone Melissa hires: "I hire for talent, not skill." Entrepreneurial spirit -- "I want them to take ownership." Ambitious - "They need to want to grow and learn." Sharing pictures on social media that are not airbrushed or edited: "It is me existing in my body. It's not courageous to exist in your body. I shouldn't be seen as brave for posting those pictures." Grey Rock - This is how you respond to a narcissist or complainer... Don't react to them pushing buttons. They are trying to get you to react. Don't give them that gift. Boundaries are essential life skills - We learn about these in times of crisis. "Clear is kind." Example: "When my parents attempt to parent my child, I have to sometimes tell them that that's my job and they need to stop. That's setting a boundary." How to be a great CEO? "I have figured a lot out as I go. It helps to have mentors. I've hired a lot of talented people." It's about surrounding yourself with excellent talent and trusting them to do the job. How to have high self-awareness A lot of therapy Self-experimentation Committed to working on empathy Life/Career Advice: It's easy to tell someone to follow their passion, but that's not always good advice "Whatever job you do, overdeliver. Do it well." Be known as someone who goes the extra mile. Be kind. Go first. Be vulnerable. Get it done.        

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12  https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Matthew Dicks is a Bestselling author, a professional storyteller, and a teacher. He is a 52-time Moth StorySLAM winner & a 7-time GrandSLAM champion. He’s recognized as one of the greatest storytellers in the world. Notes: Every great story is about a five-second moment of our life. The purpose of every great story is to bring a singular moment of transformation and realization to the greatest clarity possible. "Let me tell you about my vacation to Europe" is not the beginning of a story, despite what many seem to believe. This is merely an attempt to review the itinerary of your previous vacation But if someone said, "While I was in Europe, I met a taxi driver who changed the way I think about my parents forever," that is potentially a great story. “People are not attracted to people who do easy things. They are attracted to people who do hard things. It’s hard to be vulnerable. That takes courage. And that’s why we are drawn to it.” Being vulnerable opens people up. The beginning and end of a story: Beginning - Promise that what I'm going to say is worth your time End - The fulfillment of that process How to put a great story together? Start at the end... The five-second moment. "What are you aiming at?" You have to know that to craft the beginning. Use a thesis statement -- "I used to be... and I realized..." Jurassic Park is not a movie about dinosaurs. It's about love. How to open a story: Try to start your story with forward movement whenever possible. DON'T start by setting expectations (“This is hilarious, “you need to hear this,” “you’re not going to believe this.”) Requirements of a personal story: Change - your story must reflect change over time. It can’t simply be a series of remarkable events. Stories that fail to reflect change over time are known as anecdotes. Your story only -  not that of others The dinner table test - Be human Homework for life — 5 minutes at the end of each day. “If I had to tell a story from today — a 5-minute story onstage about something that took place over the course of this day. What would it be? Homework for life slows time down... Humor -- It keeps your audience’s attention. “The goal is not to tell a funny story. The goal is to tell a story that moves an audience emotionally.” “A written story is like a lake. Readers can step in and out of the water at their leisure, and the water always remains the same. An oral story is like a river. It is a constantly flowing torrent of words.” -- “To keep your listener from stepping out of your river of words to make meaning, simplification is essential. Starting as close to the end as possible helps to make this happen.” During a talk at a school in Brazil, Matt was asked why he shares so much of himself? (Writing novels, stories, teaching, blog posts, podcasts). And he thought for a while and then said, “I think I’m trying to get the attention of a mother who never paid me any attention and is now dead and a father who left me as a boy and never came home.” Your first job as a speaker (at home, on stage, or at work) is to be entertaining... Advice: When you graduate college, it's the end of your assessed learning. What do you want to study next? It will be on you to track. It won't be assessed by others... What do you want to learn next?

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12    https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Tim Grover is the CEO of ATTACK Athletics, Inc., founded in 1989. World-renowned for his legendary work with elite champions including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and hundreds of other NFL, MLB, NBA, and Olympic athletes. He is the preeminent authority on the science and art of mental and physical dominance and achieving excellence. He's also the bestselling author of W1NNING & RELENTLESS. Notes:  Cleaners have the ability to achieve the end result over and over. Cleaners know who they are, they know the difference between criticism and feedback, they take control of their story. They know that there is always more to do. The Language of Winning & Motivation - ‘In the language of winning, there is no talk of motivation. “Motivation is entry-level, the temporary rush you get from eating too much frosting. Motivation is for those who haven’t decided whether to commit to their goals, or how much time, effort, and life they’re willing to invest to achieve them.” The Dark Side turns your anger into controlled rage. High performers know how to control and use their dark side to be in control. It's not evit. It's what's unique to you. The vocabulary test  Tim gives his -- “Describe winning in one word.” Some of the answers he receives: Glorious, Euphoric, Success, Domination, Achievement. Not bad. The answers he receives from champions:  Uncivilized. Hard. Nasty. Unpolished. Dirty. Rough. From Kobe? Everything. "WINNING isn’t heartless, but you’ll use your heart less." Your mind must be stronger than your feelings. "Your feelings keep you in bed." “You can’t buy a map to the top. If you could, everyone would be up there. They’re not. The steps to Winning are infinite, and constantly shifting.” “Winning requires you to learn, question what you learned, and then learn more.” How to push through when you feel bad? "You have to capture little wins. The joy of the wins cannot be attained if you only work when you feel like it." "You have to crave the end result so bad that the work is irrelevant." Do Hard Things - Doing hard things creates trust in oneself. Doing the hard work others aren't willing to do builds confidence. The phrase "fake it til you make it" - "I hate that phrase. It's so easy to do this on social media and you end up not even knowing who you are. Those people are too worried about how others perceive them." His favorite Kobe story - "He's so coachable." He was always asking questions and listening to learn more. "And he always held himself accountable." "Confidence is the ultimate drug. And winning is the dealer." "The greats always bet on themselves." High performers always seem to be the ones reaching out for a coach... Always trying to get better. The average performers don't think they need a coach. Winning makes you different. And different scares people. Michael Jordan started lifting weights on game days and people thought he was nuts. Knowing what to think versus knowing how to think -- You need to be able to have confidence, challenge other people's thoughts and preconceptions. Don't copy others. Learn and create your own point of view. Your own ideas based on what you've learned. "You can have sight (copy others), but no vision. You need to have a vision." Winning is a test with no correct answers. "Winning is not a marathon. It's a sprint with no finish line." You don't have the luxury of time. Most people manage time. Don't manage time, manage focus. Career/Life advice: Do everything to figure out what you want to do. No job is beneath you. There is no shortcut.

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12    https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 James Clear is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits, which has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide. His writing is focused on how we can create better habits, make better decisions, and live better lives. Notes: “My primary hope is that people find what I write to be useful. As long as someone is able to implement the ideas I share to get the results they want, then I feel like I’ve done my part to make the world a slightly better place.” "Working on a problem reduces the fear of it.  It’s hard to fear a problem when you are making progress on it—even if progress is imperfect and slow." Action relieves anxiety. We often avoid taking action because we think "I need to learn more," but the best way to learn is often by taking action. Lack of confidence kills more dreams than lack of ability. Talent matters—especially at elite levels—but people talk themselves out of giving their best effort long before talent becomes the limiting factor. You're capable of more than you know. Don't be your own bottleneck. What looks like talent is often careful preparation. What looks like skill is often persistent revision. You need volume before intensity. The bad days are more important than the good days. You need to maintain consistency. Preparation for a lawyer: Most cases are won long before you enter a courtroom. You must be willing to prepare. Question James asks to those who are pitching him a TV show or movie for Atomic Habits: What causes a similar show to succeed? ("I don't think people are serious enough about succeeding.") "Having a plan almost always serves you even if it doesn't go according to plan." A+ work - Good enough is ok for most things. For creators, doing A+ work is crucial. Be “selectively ignorant.” Ignore topics that drain your attention. Unfollow people that drain your energy. Abandon projects that drain your time. Do not keep up with it all. The more selectively ignorant you become, the more broadly knowledgeable you can be. At multiple points this year, the top 3 read books on Amazon were: 1) A Promised Land by President Barack Obama 2) Atomic Habits by James Clear, and 3) Becoming by Former first lady, Michelle Obama... I asked James, what is it like to see your work amongst the world's most powerful people? "It's been a wild few years!" The best marketing strategy? Excellent work Read Scott Young's article, Do The Real Thing There are 3 primary drivers of results in life: Your luck (randomness). Your strategy (choices). Your actions (habits). Only 2 of the 3 are under your control. But if you master those 2, you can improve the odds that luck will work for you rather than against you. A Chilean saying: "Criticizing a musician is easy, but it is more difficult when you have a guitar in your hand." -- Don't criticize someone else unless you're willing to do the work. Be known as a champion for great ideas versus someone who is against something. "The more comfortable I am with myself, the less I feel a need to win arguments with other people." Peer pressure applies when you don't know who you are. Fame - "I have no interest in being famous. I want to be known by brand, not by face." What he learned from a cab driver in Singapore about fame: "They have the name and not the life. We have the life and not the name." The Cardinal Rule of Behavior Change: What gets rewarded, gets repeated. What gets punished, gets avoided. Don’t reward behavior you don’t want to see repeated. The easy way is often the hard way. Shortcuts, one-sided deals, and selfish behavior create debts. You only look like a winner until the bill comes due. Short-term actions become long-term frustrations. In hindsight, the hard way only seems slow in the moment. "The target audience is always the same: myself. I like Morgan Housel's line, "Writing for yourself is fun, and it shows. Writing for others is work, and it shows." Life/Career Advice: Questions are better than advice... Ask these questions: What am I optimizing for? Can my current habits carry me to my desired future? What am I really trying to achieve? What do I really want? Go fast - "Don't rush, but don't wait."