In Search Of Excellence

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is Kelly Hansen, the lead singer of the legendary rock band Foreigner, which has had five platinum records and sold more than 80 million albums. He was also a lead singer of the heavy metal band Hurricane – one of the most popular bands in the 80s. Kelly is a great musician with an amazing life story.  00:00 Kelly’s Family and Growing Up- A vivid picture from his childhood of his parents carrying albums under their arms- Mom had a GTO convertible- At school, he sang in the school choir – a part of the curriculum- Discovered that he can sing almost accidentally- Didn’t know how to use his voice, took some singing lessons- Realized he could do that as his job 09:55 The Beginnings of Kelly’s Singing Career- The first gig was at teen dance night- He was a part of a cover band- Later, they played at high school dances- Ended up playing all over Southern California- Played a military base in Yuma, Arizona- Music requires a lot of sacrifices and hard work- The band Hurricane- Parents were supportive 18:00 After High School- Left the high school band- Had his own bands - Kelly Hansen band, The Last Tango- Played around LA- His father was his manager- Also started doing sessions- Played in a couple of cover bands- Played 5-6 days a week- Tried to connect to the audience- Played with Ross Bolton, a great guitarist- The Guitar Institute of Technology - GIT 23:39 The Rise and Success of Hurricane- Met the drummer of the band- Later on, met bassist Tony Cavazo and guitarist Robert Sarzo- Started making music together- Found a new drummer - Jay Shelton- That's when they really became Hurricane- Did some demos with the producer called Kevin Beamish- Mixed them themselves- Sent them around to record labels- Made an EP with the producer Max Norman- The record label noticed them- Went on a tour- Went on the road- Made their second record- The third record- Continued doing shows and making songs- Doug Aldrich came to the band- Enigma records- Doing shows on the road, trying to sell records- Canceling the rest of the tour 41:48 Becoming a Foreigner’s Lead Singer- In the early 90s, a new style of music was coming in- Tackled the other aspects of the recording business that he loved- Album production started to slowly sank down as technology advanced- Realized he had to go back to what he does best - being the lead singer- Foreigner was trying to get back together- Set up a meeting with Tom Gimbel of Foreigner- Back and forth conversation with management of Foreigner- Received 5 Foreigner tracks - the original recordings, but without any vocals- Mick Jones got to hear that CD in New York- Kelly was one of the first ones to jam with the guys- He got into the band- Printed lyrics of songs and was memorizing 24/7Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to In Search of Excellence and the second part of our conversation with Dr. Mike Roizen.Dr. Mike is a world-renowned physician and author whose work has helped tens of millions of people improve their health and wellness through lifestyle changes, and whose purpose in life is to spread the message that we get to control our genes to a large degree. Dr. Mike formerly served as the Chairman of the Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, and Dean of the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Chicago, and in 1997, he left to co-founded a company called Real Age, a consumer health media company that inspires people to adopt healthier lifestyles. Shortly after selling the company, Dr. Roizen was named Chief Wellness Officer at the Cleveland Clinic, the first such position at a major healthcare institution in the United States. Dr. Mike has published more than 185 peer-reviewed scientific papers, has written 18 books, including 4 New York Times bestsellers, and has received 13 and many foreign patents. 00:55 Stress management- Most stressful events are financial- The Christmas Eve story- Stress management technique- 10 breaths in the morning and evening 04:25 Vaccines in general and COVID-19 booster- The initial COVID vaccination and the first booster were beneficial- Long COVID and Spanish flu- Dr. Mike is scared of the inflammation- Flu vaccine 10 years in a row decreases the risk of dementia by 40% 11:15 Food recommendations- Eat things that are healthy, that you love and that will love you back- Eating bad food in moderation- Fruit is a sugar and fruit is bound to fiber and is not easily absorbed- 20g a day is fine 18:30 Obesity and fat reduction- Obesity, especially obesity around your waist, causes inflammation- White vs. brown fat- Side effects of drugs for reducing fat- We don’t know the long-term risk 22:40 Are hot sauna and cold plunge useful?- We have more data on the sauna- Sauna decreases heart disease and stroke risk- Increases longevity 24:05 Effectiveness of vitamins and supplements- The longevity playbook analyzed 53 supplements- 15 have enough data on humans- Creatine was a surprise  26:25 Can we live 120 years and do we really want to?- As a society, we need to- We are not producing enough kids- The working age will go from 40 to 60 years- The whole body will have a chance to get younger- Old people can be functional as young people 30:45 Is there just a simple checklist that we should be looking at every day?- Do what you love doing- There are many choices but do what you love and add things onCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is Dr. Mike Roizen – a world-renowned physician and author whose work has helped tens of millions of people improve their health and wellness through lifestyle changes, and whose purpose in life is help other control their gene expression through healthy living. Dr. Mike formerly served as the Chairman of the Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, and Dean of the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Chicago, and in 1997, he left to co-found a company called Real Age, a consumer health media company that inspires people to adopt healthier lifestyles. Shortly after selling the company, Dr. Roizen was named Chief Wellness Officer at the Cleveland Clinic, the first such position at a major healthcare institution in the United States. Dr. Mike has published more than 185 peer-reviewed scientific papers, has written 18 books, including 4 New York Times bestsellers, and has received 13 patents. 07:32 The difference between real age and actual age- Used to think this was all physiologic- How to calculate your actual age?- Age test on a new app called Longevity Playbook at the longevityplaybook.com    13:10 The results of the Human Genome Project- What's the rest of the DNA?- Switches that control your genes- Your habits influence how your genes function 15:58 How will 20% of our genetics we cannot control negatively influence our life expectancy?- Some of us are born with dominant genetic genes that might cause sickle cell disease- Many of those 20% we're learning how to alter with CRISPR Cas9- Stress Management turns off or on over 256 genes and reduces our rate of aging very substantially 17:51 How useful is DNA testing like 23andMe?- They are designed to let you know what risk you have from a genetic standpoint- You can take action to reduce the risk- Some of these tests aren't exactly accurate 20:19 Should parents do genetic testing of their kids?- In the future, it will be more common and more useful.- Some genetic tests are mandated state by state- We're still in the infancy of this field 24:34 38 choices to improve cognitive functioning and reduce aging- Mike’s life mission is to alter your genetics to control them to improve the quality of life and life expectancy - Speed of processing games- Favorite video games- Mike jumps rope every day 36:14 How to get 10,000 steps a day when you are a very busy person?- Walking on a treadmill as you work, making phone calls- What is important is physical activity- 10,000 daily steps are optimal 40:35 The benefits of drinking coffee- If you're a fast metabolizer, drinking lots of coffee lowers your risk of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Type 2 diabetes- 8 cancers, including breast cancerCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to the second part of In Search of Excellence, featuring an exceptional man and a good friend of mine, David Kidder.David is a serial entrepreneur, active angel investor, advisor to Fortune 500 companies, sought-after speaker, and author of four books, including two New York Times bestsellers, “The startup playbook” and “The intellectual devotional”.David has been a co-founder and CEO of three venture-backed startups, including Clickable, SmartRay, and Bionic, where he is currently a CEO.We are discussing if an entrepreneur is born or made, what is the right motivation to start a business, how to learn from hardships, what is the concept of TOAD, and the concept of Becoming. Tune in to hear more! 00:35 Are you born as an entrepreneur or you can become one?- Born entrepreneurs are very rare- Mostly conditioned at home- Creativeness and problem-solving 09:52 The motivation for starting a business- Those who earn $100 million are rare- You can't be a billionaire without being lucky- Compounding is the secret to long-term wealth 16:51 Extreme preparation and its importance for the success- Extreme preparation benefits greatly- For public speaking, David prepares like hell- Do not love people just to get something from them 23:20 Transition from an entrepreneur to an angle investor- 70% of all of our returns come from 7% of all capital deployed- There are two investment signals- You have to put yourself in a network 27:47 Dealing with difficult people and hardships- You have to have the ability to say no to people- Best books about entrepreneurship- Success is a bad educator- Growth lives in discomfort 33:34 Three most important things to look for in an entrepreneur- Why them? What is their secret? What is their proprietary gift?- Timing, their understanding of the forces within the next 3-5 years- The ability to solve a problem and create an unfair advantage 35:24 Three worst things that an entrepreneur can do- Overconfidence- Ambition, not obsession, as a drive- Urgency bias 37:14 What motivates David to be self-aware and constantly grow?- The Becoming Journey- The second stage is Love Loving point- Mike Tyson – an incredible human being- Toad principle 44:28 What is a toad and how it changes people’s lives?- It's a natural psychedelic that exists in both biological and organic form- The conscious physical reality that we live in is a part of the larger nature of our creation- These are not toys, they're not recreational, they're profoundly powerful- You’d probably want to experience them later in your life, in your 40s and 50s 48:12 Fill in the blank to excellence- When I started my career I wish I had known    - The biggest lesson I've learned in my life is- My number one professional goal is- My biggest regret in life isCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is my good friend, David Kidder.David is a serial entrepreneur, active angel investor, advisor to Fortune 500 companies, sought-after speaker, and author of four books, including two New York Times bestsellers, “The Startup Playbook” and “The Intellectual Devotional."David has been a co-founder and CEO of three venture-backed startups, including Clickable, SmartRay, and Bionic, where he is currently a CEO.We are talking about his background and early years, college experience, his first company, how to be successful as an entrepreneur, how to overcome the fear of failure, and what the future holds for our kids in this constantly changing world. Tune in to learn more! 02:15 David Kidder’s background and early childhood05:22 What is Montgomery Ward?08:26 The advice to companies that get offers to be bought by private equity firms11:45 How to hire the right person for the job?15:26 As a young entrepreneur, how to figure out what is good?19:30 The story of David's uncle, Roger Franchi23:25 How important are mentors for success?26:02 How important is the college experience today? 30:24 How to advise kids on caring for their mental health?35:04 The advice to students on how to deal with mental stress and negative thoughts 43:28 The start of David’s first company at 19 46:55 What is a roll-up?49:40 Fear of failure and how to bounce back from failureCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to Part 2 of Garrett McNamara, a legendary surfer who owns a world record for the largest wave ever surfed – 100 feet tall – which is the equivalent of the 10-story office building or the height of Niagara Falls.He is the first person ever to ride a wave created by breaking glaciers.Garrett is the author of the book “Hound of the Sea: Wild Man. Wild Waves. Wild Wisdom.” and the star of the fantastic HBO documentary TV series called “100 Foot Wave”.He is also a dedicated philanthropist. Garrett and his wife, Nicole, started an amazing Waves of Life McNamara Foundation, which helps kids to discover nature and be more environmentally conscious and self-sufficient, with a particular focus on disadvantaged kids.In this episode, we are talking about the big waves in Portugal, his team and preparation process, how to face the fear of death, his McNamara Foundation and so much more!10:10 Surfing big waves at 50/60 miles per hourExtremely dangerousIf there's no wind and it's glassy and smooth12:38 Coming to Nazare in PortugalIn 2005, got an email from Dino in Nazare, PortugalEmailed Larry Hamilton first, then Carlos BurleGarrett replied right away 15:40 How does a big wave form?The many variables that go into a waveIn Portugal, waves are formed by a shelf 30-60 feet deepComing of the swellRogue wave at the shoreWaiting on the wave and the thought processHow to know if it’s a big wave 23:54 Garrett’s team and what they doNicole, his wifeSafety drivers, trainersFirst responder, ambulance, fireman, lifeguardsVideographersPartners and sponsorsLawyers and advisersIt’s all about surrounding yourself with people with the same goals 27:05 Training and diet for big wave surfingTraining can be focused or openPeople aren’t drinking or doing drugsTraining 3-7 days a weekGarrett's current training regimenGarrett has tried all the dietsLoves a good organic, grass-fed, free-range steak, chicken and fish 37:12 Facing death and the fear of dyingNever lost a tow surfer until last year in NazareProbably drowned, but the results of the autopsy didn’t come outBig wave surfing deaths were many throughout the yearsEvery big wave is differentWhen you get pounded, the main thing is to relax and enjoy itYou have zero control you have you're at the mercy of the oceanIf you prepare properly and you have a good team, you know you're not going to dieHow many times did Garrett almost die?Fear of going out surfingHow to conquer your fears    52:31 Extreme Preparation in the world of big wave surfingExtreme Preparation is a good safety planFigure out the possible challenges and prepare solutionsPrepare for the worst but expect the bestThe power of visualizationEvery person can become what they want with a good plan 57:33 McNamara FoundationSharing meaningful nature experiences with underprivileged youthGetting them to fall in love with nature, throCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to the second part of In Search of Excellence episode featuring Garrett McNamara, a legendary surfer who owns the world record for the largest wave ever surfed, 100 feet tall, which is the equivalent of the 10-story office building or the height of Niagara Falls.  He is the first person ever to ride a wave created by breaking glaciers.  Garrett is also the author of the book “Hound of the Sea: Wild Man. Wild Waves. Wild Wisdom.” and the star of the fantastic HBO documentary TV series called “100 Foot Wave."He is also a dedicated philanthropist. Garrett and his wife, Nicole, started an amazing Waves of Life McNamara Foundation, which helps kids to discover nature and be more environmentally conscious and self-sufficient, with a particular focus on disadvantaged kids. Time stamps:02:05 From a hippie commune to a crazy cultBorn in Massachusetts, grew up in BerkleyRaised by a single mom in a hippie communeFound the cult The Christ FamilyHe was around 6, and his brother was 4Those were the crazy times 07:57 Life in HawaiiWas being poor motivation for his success later in life?In Hawaii, mom had a husband DarylLived on welfareAlways wanted to feel secure and not worry about the money 11:14 Surviving elementary schoolFirst went to elementary school in BerkleyIn Hawaii, he fought with Filipino gangsIn high school, fought with another guy and took him outHawaiians and Filipinos fought mostly with brass knuckles and knives 16:30 Garrett’s first surfing boardAnybody with darker skin who moves to Hawaii is accepted fasterHaole – Hawaiian term for anyone that is not a native HawaiianHis garage sale surfboardSurfed for the first time with his friend Butchy Boy Wong, a Chinese HawaiianHe fell in love with surfing at 11 21:25 Falling in love with big wavesHis bad experience surfing at Sunset and his fear of big wavesDidn’t have a father in Hawaii, but had father figures (Roy Patterson, Gustavo Liberte)Was hanging out with Gustavo, smoked marijuanaWhen he was 16, Gustavo wanted to take him to surf at SunsetGustavo literally grabbed him by the neck and took him 27:27 How Garrett quit drugs and alcoholWas using drugs often, but stopped at 19He was invited to a Triple CrownRealized that it was possible to earn a living from surfingQuit using pot, cocaine, and alcohol to become a professional surferHow much money did he earn in Japan? 33:30 Garrett’s brother LiamLiam was better than Garrett, had more sponsors, made more moneyLiam became the most photographed surfer in the worldCaught more waves than anybody at Rocky Point and PipelineHe should have won the Pipeline Masters one year but didn’tBreaking his femur and how it affected his career 41:35 What is big wave surfing?Surfing on big waves became popularAnderson Cooper described it as cruising at the side of a skyscraper but the skyscraper is collapsing on youGarrett describes his best experience with big wave surfingCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to the second part of In Search of Excellence episode featuring Ryan Sheckler, one of the greatest skateboarders of all time!Ryan turned pro when he was only 13 and became the youngest gold medalist in X Games history. At 17, he was the star of his own MTV reality show, The Life of Ryan. And in 2008, he created the Sheckler Foundation, whose goal is to support and enrich the lives of children and injured action sports athletes.Tune in to hear about his experience with the reality show, how success led him to a very dark place of alcohol addiction, how he fought hard for his recovery and found Jesus, and so much more! 00:47 The good and the bad of Ryan’s reality TV showThe first season was super funDidn’t think much about it or about anything else except himselfStopped filming at season 3 because he was absolutely over itHis parents split up in the middle of the seasonHe was a vulnerable, confused, sad, and angry teenagerWent crazy on the streets, pushed the boundaries, and filmed 08:08 A crazy lifestyle and losing controlYears 17 to 21 were crazyBought a Ferrari at 18, constantly threw partiesThose days were a learning experienceTurned into a character that people wanted him to beUsed alcohol to quiet the noiseBelieves that God had a plan for him 12:40 The drinking addiction and recoveryStarted drinking around 17Alcohol was at him to kill himHe thought he had a good tolerance to alcoholStarted partying and drinking every night, then during the dayHe was confused about who he wasThankfully, no social media back then22:10 The relapse in NorwayRyan was 25 and preparing for X Games in OsloJust ended a toxic relationshipHad a bunch of drinks and got on the planePrayed to God to make him fallFlew home the next morningLasted for 4 years and then relapsedThough he could be a normal drinker, but he could never be 31:21 Clay Thompson and Michael PhelpsClay was friends with his friend TonyThey talked a lot during the recovery phaseThey keep in touch regularlyGot in contact with Michael Phelps during his rehab 35:12 The Costco Gap and skating in TaiwanSearch on YouTube - Ryan Sheckler Costco gapHe did the basic jump successfully on the first tryFour tries later did a kick-flipIn Taiwan, almost got run over by a truck on a freewaySkateboarding in Taiwan is epicAt the time, just healed from a knee surgery51:15 Three to five most important ingredients of successPresenceFocusVariableCareBeing O.K. with failure53:53 Family life and his dogsWalter - a seven-year-old French BulldogLeo - a 10-year-old lab mixMet his wife thanks to their dogs58:10 The Sheckler FoundationHad an experience with Make a Wish FoundationRaising $240,000The Sheckler Foundation1:03:25 Fill in the blanksOne thing in life that you haven't done yet, but always wanted to doThe proudest moment of his lifeCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is Ryan Sheckler, one of the greatest skateboarders of all time! He turned pro when he was only 13 and, in that same year, became the youngest gold medalist in X Games history. At 17, he was the star of his own MTV reality show, The Life of Ryan. And in 2008, he created the Sheckler Foundation, whose goal is to support and enrich the lives of children and injured action sports athletes.Tune in to hear about his beginnings, the skateboarding community, Tony Hawk, the crucial X Game competition that made him famous, and so much more! Time stamps:00:50 Ryan’s first skateboarding experienceHe was around 18 months oldA wild kid that moved around a lotDiscovered skateboarding as a toddler and naturally took it to the next levelAll his neighbors skatedLoves free-falling and speedThe reaction of parents when they got hurtBroke his arm when he was 505:48 Wearing helmets and padsVery important for kids that are still learningWore helmet until 14There is always a risk of fallingToday, it’s all about social mediaSocial media can work for you or against for youKids should learn in their own way and at their own paceThere're no rules to skateboarding, you’ve got to feel itRandall’s experience in Venice skate park15:00 Meeting Tony HawkTony Hawk skated at the YMCARyan’s dad emailed him and asked to come to a birthday partyTony asked for $500 and a chocolate cakeIt was an incredible experienceHis coming and the way he treated them stuck with him17:22 Skater community is a giving communityWas in Cuba years agoThe skate scene in Cuba is epicThey build their own incredible skateboards from various materialsLeft everything he brought with himself thereThe skater community is special and very givingRyan traveled the world as a skateboarderYou don't have to speak the language, speaking skateboarding is enoughWhat they all have in common is painRyan had 12 broken bones, ligaments injuries, surgeries, and pinsDo good things for people in silenceRandall’s son skateboarding themed Bar MitzvahAs getting older, Ryan wants to be more selfless27:50 Rodney Mullen and his impact on Ryan’s lifeRodney Mullen is the best skateboarder alive everRodney is the forefather of skateboardingA Skateboard company called AlmostUnexpectedly, Rodney Mullen called RyanRyan was obsessed with skateboarding and won many competitionsBut didn’t expect to go pro before 21Started traveling with RodneyThe impact he had on Ryan’s life is immeasurable 33:57 Winning the X Games at 13Getting invited to X GamesAlways enjoyed skateboarding contestsGot the opportunity to go to X GamesHe was stoked to be around all the skateboarding superstarsPreformed excellently and his score was the bestHe won the competition but it didn’t make sense to himHad to go to school the next day 38:50 Learning wrestling in high schoolWon the X Games and turned proThat summer hadCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to Part 2 of an amazing episode of In Search of Excellence, featuring Devon Laratt, a Canadian professional arm wrestler who has won multiple world championships and is one of the best arm wrestlers of all time. He is also a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces.In today’s episode, we talk about the things crucial for success, the importance of preparation, and the ability to accept defeat. You’ll hear about his most important wins and losses, the famous arm wrestlers he fought against, and so much more.Time stamps:01:05 The importance of Extreme PreparationThings important for successConsidered the no. 1 arm wrestler in the world at 33As you age you start losing physical energyFor the last four years, only trains his right handA lot of sacrifices is needed to become Number 1You must be obsessed05:19 How does Devon prepare for a match?Devon’s training falls into 3 categoriesThe most important is actual practice on the tableBreaking new grounds and pushing forwardMuscle, tissue, and training rehabStaying current 09:07 How important is a passion for success?Passion is probably the most important thingWhen you love something, you will be extremely motivatedMotivation will never be a problemYou have to know yourself 11:38 How to bounce back from a huge loss?Lost 6:0 from Denis CyplenkovDenis is an incredible human beingLearned a lot from DennisWas defeated by an incredible arm wrestlerIt’s great to have people to keep you humble and inspiredDenis is an inspirational athlete and fighterIs there a fear of losing?There are far more serious things than a matchLoves to fight and wants to have a good timeCherishes his losesLosses make you stronger 17:18 Is wrestling like poker?In poker, you have your cardsMaybe not much like poker (random)Arm wrestling is about self-betterment and growth of selfNo Limits - a nick name given to DevonEndurance has been his gift, never fallen short of itCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn