Raise Your Game Show with Alan Stein, Jr.

In today's episode, I laugh it up with my friend and comedy coach, Robert Mac. Robert is an award-winning standup comedy veteran with over two decades of experience in comedy clubs and boardrooms around the world. He was the grand prize winner of Comedy Central's National Standup Competition, and has appeared on Last Comic Standing, Dry Bar Comedy, and the very prestigious Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. I met Robert four years ago after seeing him perform at a local comedy club, and soon thereafter, I hired him as my comedy coach to help me add some humor to my speaking. This season I’m exploring what high performers do behind the scenes. I’ve been enjoying fascinating conversations with professional stand-up comedians, magicians, actors, rappers, dancers, YouTubers, athletes, coaches, and everything in between to find out exactly what they do behind the curtain – when the cameras are off and the arenas are empty – to work towards mastery of their craft and to prepare themselves to perform at a world class level. I hope you find their insights, perspectives, and personal strategies as helpful as I do and use what they share to continue to Raise Your Game.Warning: this episode contains the occasional use of adult language – words like BLEEP and BLEEP and quite possibly some nudity… so please be advised. Thank you so much for investing your time with us. I hope we helped you Raise Your Game and provided useful insight on how you can maximize your time and effort. If you found this episode helpful, would you be open-minded to supporting the show? Would you be kind enough to share it with a friend or colleague? Would you take 30 seconds and leave us a rating and review? Those two things help support the show’s mission and message more than you know. And don’t ever forget, a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.Sustain Your Game teaches you how to bring your A game to every area of your life. With advice from top CEOs, journalists, social scientists, and more, you'll learn the framework for how to beat stress, stagnation, and burnout. Sustain Your Game will help you be the best in your arena, wherever that may be.Sustain Your Game if available now at http://www.SustainYourGameBook.comPlease make sure to join the conversations at @AlanSteinJr on all major social platforms, go to AlanSteinJr.com to subscribe to my Game Changer monthly emails.Additionally, you can order the audiobook of Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best at http://www.Audible.com or wherever audiobooks are sold. You can also order paperback or hard copies, for you or your entire team or organization, at http://www.RaiseYourGameBook.com. Lastly, if I can ever be of service to you or your organization, please visit AlanSteinJr.com and StrongerTeam.com for a variety of speaking and coaching resources. 

If you’re new to our show, each of the previous 12 seasons have had a different theme, a different format, and a different approach to unpacking and dissecting both individual and organizational performance.These Rewind episodes take a look back at some my favorite shows in case you missed them the first time around… or in case you’d like to give them a second listen.I hope you enjoy, and more importantly, I hope this Rewind episode helps you Raise Your Game!You may know him as a brash, yet charming entrepreneur, author, speaker, influencer and social media personality, but did you know that Gary Vaynerchuk attributes his social media success to I the fact that he has no hidden agenda or expectations. His followers genuinely believe that he has no interest in getting anything out of them other than their attention. And in return, he’s willing to provide them with enormous value consistently.Here are the isolated responses from an in-person conversation I had with Gary Vee, in his office at Vaynermedia in New York City – back when I hosted the Pure Sweat Basketball Show. We discussed why self-awareness trumps hustle, how true self-confidence is what unlocks our ultimate potential and why he uses his legacy to mold every major decision he makes.What makes the best the best? Ultimately the best are where they are because of the mindset, habits, and rituals they have—both in their respective “arenas,” but also in private, during the unseen hours. Success isn’t something that happens to you. It's something you attract and you create. Successful people do the little things better than everyone else because they know all the big things arise from them. The highest performers in all walks of life have taken full ownership. They got to where they are and have stayed there because they have chosen to establish, tweak and repeat positive habits. They understand that you can’t be selective when it comes to excellence, that how we do anything is how we do everything.Sustain Your Game teaches you how to bring your A game to every area of your life. With advice from top CEOs, journalists, social scientists, and more, you'll learn the framework for how to beat stress, stagnation, and burnout. Sustain Your Game will help you be the best in your arena, wherever that may be.Sustain Your Game if available now at http://www.SustainYourGameBook.comPlease make sure to join the conversations at @AlanSteinJr on all major social platforms, go to AlanSteinJr.com to subscribe to my Game Changer monthly emails.Additionally, you can order the audiobook of Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best at http://www.Audible.com or wherever audiobooks are sold. You can also order paperback or hard copies, for you or your entire team or organization, at http://www.RaiseYourGameBook.com. I’ve been in the lab the past several months reorganizing and revamping my content. The result? Four standalone keynote programs that address four separate audiences:INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR GAME)LEADERSHIP PERFORMANCE (RAISE THEIR GAME)ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE OUR GAME)SALES PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR SALES)For more information on each program, please visit AlanSteinJr.com or reach out directly to Michelle Joyce (my amazing Director of Events): Michelle@MichelleJoyce.com or 704.965.2339

A deep dive into the world of NBA training with top coach Drew Hanlen, exploring the unseen hours of hard work and dedication behind players like Jayson Tatum and Zach LaVine. Learn about the power of consistent effort, building relationships for player development, and the transformative impact of a mindset shift towards aggressiveness in gameplay.

If you’re new to our show, each of the previous 12 seasons have had a different theme, a different format, and a different approach to unpacking and dissecting both individual and organizational performance.These Rewind episodes take a look back at some my favorite shows in case you missed them the first time around… or in case you’d like to give them a second listen.I hope you enjoy, and more importantly, I hope this Rewind episode helps you Raise Your Game!You may know him as 2-time NBA champion, back-to-back NBA Finals MVP, perennial All-Star and the newest member of the Brooklyn Nets, but did you know that Kevin Durant launched the Durant Company in 2016 with business partner Rich Kleiman. They have invested in 30+ companies like the delivery service Postmates and the micro-investing app Acorns, as well as created their own development and media firm, Thirty Five Media.Here are several isolated responses from an in-person conversation we had with KD when he was still with the Oklahoma City Thunder, at his Nike Summer Skills Academy in Washington, DC – back when I co-hosted the Hardwood Hustle. KD shared why his love for the game always comes first, the difference between playing on edge and playing with an edge and why being born with talent means nothing if you aren’t willing to put in the work to develop it.What makes the best the best? Ultimately the best are where they are because of the mindset, habits, and rituals they have—both in their respective “arenas,” but also in private, during the unseen hours. Success isn’t something that happens to you. It's something you attract and you create. Successful people do the little things better than everyone else because they know all the big things arise from them. The highest performers in all walks of life have taken full ownership. They got to where they are and have stayed there because they have chosen to establish, tweak and repeat positive habits. They understand that you can’t be selective when it comes to excellence, that how we do anything is how we do everything.Sustain Your Game teaches you how to bring your A game to every area of your life. With advice from top CEOs, journalists, social scientists, and more, you'll learn the framework for how to beat stress, stagnation, and burnout. Sustain Your Game will help you be the best in your arena, wherever that may be.Sustain Your Game if available now at http://www.SustainYourGameBook.comPlease make sure to join the conversations at @AlanSteinJr on all major social platforms, go to AlanSteinJr.com to subscribe to my Game Changer monthly emails.Additionally, you can order the audiobook of Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best at http://www.Audible.com or wherever audiobooks are sold. You can also order paperback or hard copies, for you or your entire team or organization, at http://www.RaiseYourGameBook.com. I’ve been in the lab the past several months reorganizing and revamping my content. The result? Four standalone keynote programs that address four separate audiences:INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR GAME)LEADERSHIP PERFORMANCE (RAISE THEIR GAME)ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE OUR GAME)SALES PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR SALES)For more information on each program, please visit AlanSteinJr.com or reach out directly to Michelle Joyce (my amazing Director of Events): Michelle@MichelleJoyce.com or 704.965.2339

Hello and welcome to Season 13 of The Raise Your Game Show. I’m your host, Alan Stein, Jr. This season I’m exploring what high performers do behind the scenes. I’ve been enjoying fascinating conversations with professional stand-up comedians, magicians, actors, rappers, dancers, YouTubers, athletes, coaches, and everything in between to find out exactly what they do behind the curtain – when the cameras are off and the arenas are empty – to work towards mastery of their craft and to prepare themselves to perform at a world class level. I hope you find their insights, perspectives, and personal strategies as helpful as I do and use what they share to continue to Raise Your Game. On that note, do you know of any organization that would benefit from hearing a customized version of this message? Can you think of someone that may be open-minded to investing in their team or in their annual event by bringing me in as speaker? If so, please encourage them to visit AlanSteinJr.com and fill out a speaking inquiry. I’d be honored to collaborate with them and co-create an impactful, meaningful, and memorable experience.What makes the best the best? Ultimately the best are where they are because of the mindset, habits, and rituals they have—both in their respective “arenas,” but also in private, during the unseen hours. Success isn’t something that happens to you. It's something you attract and you create. Successful people do the little things better than everyone else because they know all the big things arise from them. The highest performers in all walks of life have taken full ownership. They got to where they are and have stayed there because they have chosen to establish, tweak and repeat positive habits. They understand that you can’t be selective when it comes to excellence, that how we do anything is how we do everything.Sustain Your Game teaches you how to bring your A game to every area of your life. With advice from top CEOs, journalists, social scientists, and more, you'll learn the framework for how to beat stress, stagnation, and burnout. Sustain Your Game will help you be the best in your arena, wherever that may be.Sustain Your Game if available now at http://www.SustainYourGameBook.comPlease make sure to join the conversations at @AlanSteinJr on all major social platforms, go to AlanSteinJr.com to subscribe to my Game Changer monthly emails.Additionally, you can order the audiobook of Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best at http://www.Audible.com or wherever audiobooks are sold. You can also order paperback or hard copies, for you or your entire team or organization, at http://www.RaiseYourGameBook.com. I’ve been in the lab the past several months reorganizing and revamping my content. The result? Four standalone keynote programs that address four separate audiences:INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR GAME)LEADERSHIP PERFORMANCE (RAISE THEIR GAME)ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE OUR GAME)SALES PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR SALES)For more information on each program, please visit AlanSteinJr.com or reach out directly to Michelle Joyce (my amazing Director of Events): Michelle@MichelleJoyce.com or 704.965.2339

As we prepare to launch Season 13… where we’ll explore how high performers utilize the Unseen Hours… I wanted to insert this BONUS episode and share the 22 most impactful lessons I learned from a 26-hour Navy SEAL training experience I did at the of July. I’ve been interviewing magicians, rappers, dancers, stand-up comedians, YouTubers, pro athletes, actors, and everything in between to find out exactly what they do behind the curtain – when the cameras are off and the arenas are empty – to work towards mastery of their craft and to prep themselves to perform at a world class level. I’ve got a feeling Season 13 will be our best season yet!On that note, do you know of any organization that would benefit from hearing a customized version of this message? Can you think of someone that may be open-minded to investing in their team or in their annual event by bringing me in as speaker? If so, please encourage them to visit AlanSteinJr.com and fill out a speaking inquiry. I’d be honored to collaborate with them and co-create an impactful, meaningful, and memorable experience.What makes the best the best? Ultimately the best are where they are because of the mindset, habits, and rituals they have—both in their respective “arenas,” but also in private, during the unseen hours. Success isn’t something that happens to you. It's something you attract and you create. Successful people do the little things better than everyone else because they know all the big things arise from them. The highest performers in all walks of life have taken full ownership. They got to where they are and have stayed there because they have chosen to establish, tweak and repeat positive habits. They understand that you can’t be selective when it comes to excellence, that how we do anything is how we do everything.Sustain Your Game teaches you how to bring your A game to every area of your life. With advice from top CEOs, journalists, social scientists, and more, you'll learn the framework for how to beat stress, stagnation, and burnout. Sustain Your Game will help you be the best in your arena, wherever that may be.Sustain Your Game if available now at http://www.SustainYourGameBook.comPlease make sure to join the conversations at @AlanSteinJr on all major social platforms, go to AlanSteinJr.com to subscribe to my Game Changer monthly emails.Additionally, you can order the audiobook of Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best at http://www.Audible.com or wherever audiobooks are sold. You can also order paperback or hard copies, for you or your entire team or organization, at http://www.RaiseYourGameBook.com. I’ve been in the lab the past several months reorganizing and revamping my content. The result? Four standalone keynote programs that address four separate audiences:INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR GAME)LEADERSHIP PERFORMANCE (RAISE THEIR GAME)ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE OUR GAME)SALES PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR SALES)For more information on each program, please visit AlanSteinJr.com or reach out directly to Michelle Joyce (my amazing Director of Events): Michelle@MichelleJoyce.com or 704.965.2339

Welcome to this special BONUS episode of The Raise Your Game Show. We recently finished up Season 12 (which focused on the core lessons from my latest book, Sustain Your Game) and we’re looking forward to launching Season 13 right after Labor Day. Season 13 will explore how high performers utilize the Unseen HoursI’ve been interviewing magicians, rappers, dancers, stand-up comedians, YouTubers, pro athletes, actors, and everything in between to find out exactly what they do behind the curtain – when the cameras are off and the arenas are empty – to work towards mastery of their craft and to prep themselves to perform at a world class level. I’ve got a feeling Season 13 will be our best season yet!But before we kick off the new season, I wanted to insert this BONUS episode and share a keynote I delivered this past April in Rapid City, South Dakota in front of a sold-out crowd of 1,600 attendees at the prestigious Day of Excellence event. This experience was one of the highlights of my professional career… and for any of you that are not deeply familiar with my work and my message… or for those that are but have never heard one of my entire keynotes… I hope you enjoy this episode and find it helpful.On that note, do you know of any organization that would benefit from hearing a customized version of this message? Can you think of someone that may be open-minded to investing in their team or in their annual event by bringing me in as speaker? If so, please encourage them to visit AlanSteinJr.com and fill out a speaking inquiry. I’d be honored to collaborate with them and co-create an impactful, meaningful, and memorable experience.What makes the best the best? Ultimately the best are where they are because of the mindset, habits, and rituals they have—both in their respective “arenas,” but also in private, during the unseen hours. Success isn’t something that happens to you. It's something you attract and you create. Successful people do the little things better than everyone else because they know all the big things arise from them. The highest performers in all walks of life have taken full ownership. They got to where they are and have stayed there because they have chosen to establish, tweak and repeat positive habits. They understand that you can’t be selective when it comes to excellence, that how we do anything is how we do everything.Sustain Your Game teaches you how to bring your A game to every area of your life. With advice from top CEOs, journalists, social scientists, and more, you'll learn the framework for how to beat stress, stagnation, and burnout. Sustain Your Game will help you be the best in your arena, wherever that may be.Sustain Your Game if available now at http://www.SustainYourGameBook.comPlease make sure to join the conversations at @AlanSteinJr on all major social platforms, go to AlanSteinJr.com to subscribe to my Game Changer monthly emails.Additionally, you can order the audiobook of Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best at http://www.Audible.com or wherever audiobooks are sold. You can also order paperback or hard copies, for you or your entire team or organization, at http://www.RaiseYourGameBook.com. I’ve been in the lab the past several months reorganizing and revamping my content. The result? Four standalone keynote programs that address four separate audiences:INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR GAME)LEADERSHIP PERFORMANCE (RAISE THEIR GAME)ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE OUR GAME)SALES PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR SALES)For more information on each program, please visit AlanSteinJr.com or reach out directly to Michelle Joyce (my amazing Director of Events): Michelle@MichelleJoyce.com or 704.965.2339

This season will be focused on sustaining both individual and organizational excellence. More specifically, what it takes to manage stress, avoid stagnation, and beat burnout. Which, not coincidentally, is the theme of my new book, Sustain Your Game, which is currently available now!What makes the best the best? Ultimately the best are where they are because of the mindset, habits, and rituals they have—both in their respective “arenas,” but also in private, during the unseen hours. Success isn’t something that happens to you. It's something you attract and you create. Successful people do the little things better than everyone else because they know all the big things arise from them. The highest performers in all walks of life have taken full ownership. They got to where they are and have stayed there because they have chosen to establish, tweak and repeat positive habits. They understand that you can’t be selective when it comes to excellence, that how we do anything is how we do everything.Sustain Your Game teaches you how to bring your A game to every area of your life. With advice from top CEOs, journalists, social scientists, and more, you'll learn the framework for how to beat stress, stagnation, and burnout. Sustain Your Game will help you be the best in your arena, wherever that may be.Sustain Your Game if available now at http://www.SustainYourGameBook.comPlease make sure to join the conversations at @AlanSteinJr on all major social platforms, go to AlanSteinJr.com to subscribe to my Game Changer monthly emails.Additionally, you can order the audiobook of Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best at http://www.Audible.com or wherever audiobooks are sold. You can also order paperback or hard copies, for you or your entire team or organization, at http://www.RaiseYourGameBook.com. I’ve been in the lab the past several months reorganizing and revamping my content. The result? Four standalone keynote programs that address four separate audiences:INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR GAME)LEADERSHIP PERFORMANCE (RAISE THEIR GAME)ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE OUR GAME)SALES PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR SALES)For more information on each program, please visit AlanSteinJr.com or reach out directly to Michelle Joyce (my amazing Director of Events): Michelle@MichelleJoyce.com or 704.965.2339

This season will be focused on sustaining both individual and organizational excellence. More specifically, what it takes to manage stress, avoid stagnation, and beat burnout. Which, not coincidentally, is the theme of my new book, Sustain Your Game, which is currently available now!What makes the best the best? Ultimately the best are where they are because of the mindset, habits, and rituals they have—both in their respective “arenas,” but also in private, during the unseen hours. Success isn’t something that happens to you. It's something you attract and you create. Successful people do the little things better than everyone else because they know all the big things arise from them. The highest performers in all walks of life have taken full ownership. They got to where they are and have stayed there because they have chosen to establish, tweak and repeat positive habits. They understand that you can’t be selective when it comes to excellence, that how we do anything is how we do everything.Sustain Your Game teaches you how to bring your A game to every area of your life. With advice from top CEOs, journalists, social scientists, and more, you'll learn the framework for how to beat stress, stagnation, and burnout. Sustain Your Game will help you be the best in your arena, wherever that may be.Sustain Your Game if available now at http://www.SustainYourGameBook.comPlease make sure to join the conversations at @AlanSteinJr on all major social platforms, go to AlanSteinJr.com to subscribe to my Game Changer monthly emails.Additionally, you can order the audiobook of Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best at http://www.Audible.com or wherever audiobooks are sold. You can also order paperback or hard copies, for you or your entire team or organization, at http://www.RaiseYourGameBook.com. I’ve been in the lab the past several months reorganizing and revamping my content. The result? Four standalone keynote programs that address four separate audiences:INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR GAME)LEADERSHIP PERFORMANCE (RAISE THEIR GAME)ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE OUR GAME)SALES PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR SALES)For more information on each program, please visit AlanSteinJr.com or reach out directly to Michelle Joyce (my amazing Director of Events): Michelle@MichelleJoyce.com or 704.965.2339

This season will be focused on sustaining both individual and organizational excellence. More specifically, what it takes to manage stress, avoid stagnation, and beat burnout. Which, not coincidentally, is the theme of my new book, Sustain Your Game, which is currently available now!What makes the best the best? Ultimately the best are where they are because of the mindset, habits, and rituals they have—both in their respective “arenas,” but also in private, during the unseen hours. Success isn’t something that happens to you. It's something you attract and you create. Successful people do the little things better than everyone else because they know all the big things arise from them. The highest performers in all walks of life have taken full ownership. They got to where they are and have stayed there because they have chosen to establish, tweak and repeat positive habits. They understand that you can’t be selective when it comes to excellence, that how we do anything is how we do everything.Sustain Your Game teaches you how to bring your A game to every area of your life. With advice from top CEOs, journalists, social scientists, and more, you'll learn the framework for how to beat stress, stagnation, and burnout. Sustain Your Game will help you be the best in your arena, wherever that may be.Sustain Your Game if available now at http://www.SustainYourGameBook.comPlease make sure to join the conversations at @AlanSteinJr on all major social platforms, go to AlanSteinJr.com to subscribe to my Game Changer monthly emails.Additionally, you can order the audiobook of Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best at http://www.Audible.com or wherever audiobooks are sold. You can also order paperback or hard copies, for you or your entire team or organization, at http://www.RaiseYourGameBook.com. I’ve been in the lab the past several months reorganizing and revamping my content. The result? Four standalone keynote programs that address four separate audiences:INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR GAME)LEADERSHIP PERFORMANCE (RAISE THEIR GAME)ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE (RAISE OUR GAME)SALES PERFORMANCE (RAISE YOUR SALES)For more information on each program, please visit AlanSteinJr.com or reach out directly to Michelle Joyce (my amazing Director of Events): Michelle@MichelleJoyce.com or 704.965.2339