The School of Greatness Hall of Fame

I heard about today's guest because he recently came out with a new book about negotiation.If you're any kind of business person, you know the importance of this skill.I thought I was a pretty good negotiator already, but I wanted to learn more.So I invited Chris Voss to come by the studio for an interview.Little did I know how much I would learn.Within the first 15 minutes Chris and I were role playing as if a real life hostage scenario was happening and he was the bad guy.That was just the beginning.I couldn't stop asking Chris questions because I was learning so much and the information was so powerful.Chris is not just an author.He worked in the FBI (and the police force) for over 20 years as a top hostage negotiator, working over 150 kidnappings, to say the least.Now he runs a top consulting company and teaches negotiation to graduate students at universities like Harvard and Georgetown.I guarantee you'll learn something valuable within the first ten minutes of listening to this interview.Get ready to take lots of notes in Episode 379 with Chris Voss.Some questions I ask:What are the traits that make a good negotiator? (29:58)Who are the most difficult people to negotiate with? (32:04)How long should you wait to consider a deal? (33:50)How do men and women compare as negotiators? (38:03)What is the difference between sympathy and empathy? (42:51)How do you become the smartest person in the room? (56:47)What's the worst thing to say in a negotiation? (1:00:06)In this episode, you will learn:Why appearing powerless in a negotiation means you're in power (6:21)The phrase to look out for in a negotiation (10:20)Why being nice in negotiations gives you power (15:09)The bank robber role play Chris and I go through (and his critique of how I do) (18:41)The secret to getting the upper hand in a negotiation (22:46)How to tell if someone is a control freak (23:07)How to negotiate with an alpha personality (25:56)Why emotional currency is so valuable (28:07)How to trigger someone to give you the information you want (34:50)Why you shouldn't ask "why" questions (36:21)The most powerful way to say "no" (39:42)Why identifying a negative diminishes it (44:39)Why you want the other side to feel like they won when the deal is settled (1:02:10)The 3 types of yeses (1:02:53)My personal favorite line to get an upgrade (1:05:42)Plus much more...

Interested in learning how to build a life and business around doing what you love? So am I. Let's connect.Put yourself in these shoes: your mom gives birth to you at 17, you never meet your father, you drop out of high school, and are homeless as a young man.But despite this, you go to college (even though it takes you 12 years to get through your degree), then you build your own business, become a world-class speaker, and finish your PhD at age 44.Yes, this is a true story, and today's guest on The School of Greatness is the main character.Eric Thomas, aka the Hip Hop Preacher, is a true example of greatness in action.You may have heard his voice on a YouTube video giving a now world-famous speech with the line, "When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will be successful."We cover a lot including his thoughts on education, the power of executing your plans, how mentors influence your path, and the potential of hard work and focus.Welcome to Episode 121 with Hip Hop Preacher Eric Thomas.Some questions I ask:Why is accountability so important to you?Why are you so committed to excellence and greatness in your own life?How important is having mentors and coaches throughout your life?What are 3 big mistakes entrepreneurs make?In this episode, you will learn:The difference between degrees and educationHow purpose can help you find your passionOur gifts and talents do not perfect and hone themselves (we have to do this!)In every 24 hours, we can either break our life or make our lifeWhy he gets up at 3 am every dayHow he sets up boundaries for his work timeWhy your content will be stronger if you disconnect from all distractions dailyHow execution is the heart of your business – if it stops, your business diesThe story behind why his son graduating from high school is his greatest accomplishmentWhy most companies don’t make it past 3 yearsThe power of the discipline to waitPlus much more…

Little did I know we would become the kind of friends that FaceTime each other constantly, work out together whenever we're in the same town, and goof off like high school kids.You've already heard Steve on two previous 5 Minute Fridays on The School of Greatness, so he doesn't need a huge introduction.But what you may not know about him is that he is a NFL Superbowl Champion who is the best punter in the world - and yet he chose to retire early.He is a devoted husband and father of 4 kids who mean everything to him.And he's one of the hardest workers I've ever met. Not just in the gym. (But yes, for sure in the gym.)Of course, I openly admit I also have a huge man crush on his body.When he came into town last weekend, I insisted he stay at my place and we got to hang out all weekend.I wanted him to come on the podcast for a full episode so that all of you could get to know him like I have and get inspired to be your very best.Welcome to the incredibly positive mind and huge heart of Steve Weatherford in Episode 356.Some questions I ask:Why did you retire from the NFL in the peak of your career? (11:47)What was it like to play your last game? (22:38)What advice do you have for women who want a man that is driven? (36:54)How do you get in the zone before you work out? (48:45)What are most people missing that they could improve on? (54:07)How important is mastering your body and your health in terms of achieving any other goal in your life? (1:05:31)In this episode, you will learn:Why Steve sees retirement as starting over (9:03)The crazy idea Steve came up with for he and I to compete against each other (10:38)Why he's wanted to have a big family since he was 15 (34:16)How Steve made it through school with ADHD  (38:10)What he eats in a typical day to look like he does (42:05)Steve's best pump up speech (46:33)The power of positive self-talk (57:35)How Steve dealt with being bullied in high school (1:04:05)The reason 90% of people fail at achieving their goals (1:06:55)What being fit tells someone about you (1:09:50)Plus much more...

Yes, we are talking about relationships again on  The School of Greatness.Partly because I love learning as much as possible about how to create and maintain healthy, amazing relationships (and I need a lot of coaching in my love life).But partly because I heard today's guest speak at Summit at Sea in November and I knew I had to have her on the podcast.Esther Perel is a world-renowned relationship therapist, bestselling author, and sought-after speaker who has focused her career on exploring the role of sex and eroticism in making and breaking intimate relationships.She has an incredible world-view of relationships in many different cultures, which has allowed her to see what works and what doesn't on a bigger level.I asked her a ton of questions in our interview and she had answers.You may already have set ideas about what intimate relationships should look like, but I know you'll get some new perspective from listening to this interview.Get ready to get vulnerable with yourself as you take a look at your relationships in Episode 285 with Esther Perel.Some questions I ask:How does your anxiety and dread for things work for or against you?Why did you write this book about sexuality?What are the core reasons you see that end relationships?How does your work support or not support your relationship with your husband?What's the ideal relationship in the modern world?How do you know when it's the person you can make a life with?In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why Esther was inspired in her work by the Clinton sex scandalThe cultural differences in how adultery is viewed around the worldThe effects in the U.S. of how sex education is presentedIndifference, contempt, neglect, and violence are the main issues in any intimate relationshipWhy people often treat their partner worse than anyone else"A friend is someone who will always do more for others than for themselves."The impact our parents have on our relationship skills (this is big)Women get bored with monogamy sooner than men (because the romance usually dies after marriage)A better question than "What turns me off" is "When I turn myself off is"Why investing in being your best self and pursuing what lights you up keeps you interested in a monogamous relationshipThe relationship between emotional risk and desireWe now expect our partner to be a whole village for us since we live much more private livesThe 4 Pillars of Modern Relationships: Trust, Affection, Intimacy, DesireThe idea that your marriage can have different phases (like a new marriage each time) with the same personThe value of yearly check-ins with your partner (not when a crisis is happening) to see what's going onWhy it's important to separate the idea of failure from divorceThe Millenial generation are the children of the divorced and disillusionedThe influx of couples who are married but live apart aka LAT couples (more common in the older generation)What originally attracts you to someone is often what eventually drives you crazy about themPlus much more...

The guest we have on for EPISODE 400 (!!! can you believe it?) is a true master at training the mind.He's not a PhD or medical doctor.He's not a research scientist.He's a man who has learned from his own experiences (and much study and work) how to maximize the full potential of our brains.John Assaraf started out life really struggling.He was no good in school, got into trouble, and his home wasn't the best.But he made some key decisions (and had some key mentors) in his early adulthood that changed everything.Fast forward to today and he's written NYT bestselling books, been featured in blockbusters like The Secret, and runs several million dollar companies.He's also very wise and gives freely of his insights and learnings.I was hanging on every word as he explained how our brains actually work when it comes to peak performance and overcoming limiting beliefs.Get ready for true greatness in Episode 400 with John Assaraf.Some Questions I Asked:What holds people back from starting a business? (9:13)Why are we so wired to react to situations? (26:25)Why did you get into so much trouble as a kid? (48:44)How do you retrain your mind to breakthrough a financial limit? (1:04:38)In this episode, you will learn:In this episode, you will learn:The simplest, surest way to change your results (12:50)After decades of research, what John’s morning routine currently looks like (32:21)The big shift that is coming in neuroscience that will dramatically change how we learn (44:05)How to build your confidence (yes it’s all in your head) (47:25)The difference between wanting and committing to your goals (57:30)Plus much more…

When I started the podcast,  The School of Greatness, one of the top three people I wanted to get on the show was Tony Robbins.That happened in Episode 109, and it's been one of the most popular episodes to date.With the release of the paperback version of his book, we were asked to bring him back on, and I gladly accepted as I knew there was much more wisdom we could all learn from someone doing this work for nearly 40 years.This time we met on his private jet as he was about to take off from LA. My good friend Nick Onken, one of the world's top lifestyle photographers, came along to take all of the photos you see on this post as well. It was awesome.And our conversation took a different turn than the first time we discussed money. Tony took a deep dive into the mindset of abundance, positivity, faith, and prosperity.He told incredible stories of how this applies in real life - even when you're broke! And he gave some important updates about his previous financial advice in the book.Don't miss this powerful conversation in Episode 311 with the man, Tony Robbins.Some questions I ask:How can someone have a mindset of giving when they can barely pay their bills? (2:03)What is the one strategy you would coach if you had nothing else to share? (13:19)How do you stay hungry? (15:25)How do you stay grounded in your personal relationships with so much demand for your time? (18:36)Is your intimate partner a big influence in how much wealth you will create? (23:40)In this episode you will learn:Why Tony is so driven (not what you'd think) (11:50)The common denominator under every successful person (13:33)What a fiduciary is and why Tony is changing his recommendations about them (33:30)Where the power of commitment makes the biggest difference in your happiness (42:00)Plus much more...

I think it's safe to say we all want to burn fat, increase our energy, sleep like babies, and eat good food. Right?But for many people this may not seem possible despite their best efforts.Even if you are in great shape and workout every day, you probably deal with injuries, burn out, and low sleep.That's why I was so excited to talk to today's guest on The School of Greatness, Mark Sisson.At age 62, he is one of the leanest men I've seen and has incredible energy.Mark is a decorated endurance athlete who used to race competitively in triathlon and qualified for the Olympic marathon team.He has decades of experience in what works and what doesn't when it comes to diet and workouts for optimal performance.His bestselling books, The Primal Blueprint, are centered on the idea that when we get our bodies to burn fat instead of sugar or carbs, we function the way we were built to.In our interview, Mark gave tons of great, actionable tips and explanations of how to train your body to do just this.I loved his perspective and by the end of the interview I felt energized myself.Listen up and take notes on how to make this simple but powerful shift in your body in Episode 314 with Mark Sisson.Some questions I ask:What's the most effective way to burn fat and still be strong? (7:40)Why does looking good naked motivate you? (15:47)What does a typical eating day look like for you? (17:00)Why don't you need to drink a protein shake right after working out? (18:15)When do you know you're over training? (48:02)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why you crave sugar so much (and what is happening in your body) (12:02)The truth about whether diet or exercise is more important when burning fat (13:40)The magic of eating collagen for athletic performance (24:24)Why "sleep when you're dead" is such faulty logic (29:00)Mark's nighttime routine that makes him sleep like a baby (30:07)Why it's better to take a rest day than to push through a workout when you're not feeling it (33:00)The reason to slow down in your aerobic training if you're an endurance athlete (39:30)Plus much more...

There's a slight chance you haven't heard of today's guest on The School of Greatness.However, even if you aren't into popular music from the past twenty years, you've probably still heard of Alanis Morissette.That's because she is an incredible human being, beyond being an incredible musician and artist.When her first major album came out in 1995, she couldn't have known that it would go on to sell 30 million copies or that she would eventually win multiple major awards for her work.Whether or not she wanted to however, Alanis had to ride the wave of fame, including the dark side of it, for the next couple of decades.What she has learned from that journey, along with her own education in emotional healing, multiple intelligences, finding her way through relationships, and her work, has shaped her into one of the most beautiful souls I have ever met.I had the privilege of meeting up with her in her studio (she's a new podcast host as well!), and it was a delight to hear her perspective and stories on her findings along the way.We connected on a lot of levels, including relationships, struggling in school, and feeling unnoticed. But by the end of our conversation, we connected more than anything on the importance of each person finding their unique purpose and following it relentlessly.It is my honor to share this deep and inspiring conversation with the lovely and talented Alanis Morissette on Episode 266.Some questions I ask:Who was the most influential person in your life before you were 22?What does "unschooling" mean?What was your biggest heartbreak from your teen years?Why were you pursuing over-achievement in your teens?How do you heal in relationship?What is a love addict?How do you emotionally deal with the idea of the best results from your music being behind you?How important is it to you to be relevant and known?In This Episode, You Will Learn:The importance of physical touch (and the lack of it in the U.S.)The idea of multiple intelligences and how the education system doesn't make room for thoseAlanis started a record company when she was 10 years oldWhat it was like to live a double life as a teenager going to school during the day and recording music at nightAlanis was also a competitive swimmer in school (the beginnings of work addiction)The basic stages of development (and how significant it is if they are missed)How Western society has allowed for men and women to have both beta and alpha roles in recent yearsThe difference between catharsis and healing in musicWhat Alanis learned from the success of Jagged Little Pill (30 million albums sold!)Alanis' advice to young artists who are trying to make it big todayThe difference between being in macro service and in micro serviceAlanis' mission now versus 20 years agoAlani's definition of love (it's a drawing)Plus much more...

If you've been a fan of The School of Greatness, you're probably also a huge fan of Transformation Coach Chris Lee - the most popular repeat guest on the show.So in honor of his new book release, Transform Your Life: 10 Principles of Abundance and Prosperity, we are doing our first repeat episode, which originally aired 2 years ago.I figured a lot of the newer listeners may not have heard Episode 54, where Chris came on and talked about this exact topic, and it's a gold mine.Chris covers the 10 principles that create an abundance mindset, which in turn creates prosperity.Get ready to take notes (or buy the book) in Episode 320.In This Episode, You Will Learn:The Key to an Abundant Life and How to Cultivate That MindsetHow to Shift ConsciousnessAbundance isn’t about what you have, but Who You AreBeing abundant is about having a state of consciousness and gratefulnessA simple abundance practice to start every single dayLearn the 10 Principles of AbundanceOutflowingClearingIntegrityVisualizationAffirmationDeclarationPersistenceSurrenderingSourcingSurround Yourself with Inspiring PeopleTo Find Your Principles for AbundanceThe difference between taking a stand and holding a positionHow Jim Carrey used these principals to achieve his dreamsPlus much more…

Jordan Harbinger has been running his wildly popular podcast, The Art of Charm, for 10 years - you read that right.He's also the founder of a training company that teaches people how to build their confidence, social skills, self-esteem, and career progression.So when he first came on the show in Episode 73, we talked all about tips and tricks to build those skills and get dates.When he was in town recently and we had a chance to sit down and record a second episode, I wanted to go deeper.I wanted to understand the core truths Jordan has learned from decades of studying people, success, influence, and social capital.And he delivered (along with several awesome stories).This time we went into the emotional and psychological reasons behind what we do and how we can build awareness to change.I'm stoked to bring you a second dose of my brilliant friend Jordan Harbinger in Episode 439. Some questions I asked:What would make this the most powerful podcast episode you’ve ever done? (3:59)What got you so interested in human social dynamics? (17:45)How can you create a positive perception in the minds of everyone you come in contact with? (34:57)What is social capital and why is it so important? (1:00:45)In this episode you will learn:The story of how Jordan got kidnapped twice in his twenties (5:01)Why non-verbal communication always trumps verbal communication (24:11)How our defense mechanisms actually work (31:33)When first impressions are really made (35:16)The drill that Jordan suggests anyone can do to boost their confidence and social perception (41:40)How to shift out of a negative mood quickly (56:23)Plus much more…