In Search Of Excellence

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

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is Devon Larratt, one of the greatest arm wrestlers in the world.Devon is a Canadian professional arm wrestler and a former member of the Canadian Army Forces. He has won multiple world championships and is considered to be one of the best arm wrestlers of all time. He is also a fantastic person and one of the most entertaining and charismatic sports figures!We talk about this very unusual sport, his grandmother who was “the best arm wrestler in Alberta," underground arm wrestling competitions, his military career, and more!Time stamps:00:00 Is arm wrestling really a sport?Arm wrestling is a very simple sportIt has federations with rule setsIt is done on a professional tableThe size of the arm wrestling tableThe elbow must stay on 7” plain surfaceWhat does it take to winNeutral position startTake a grip, ready go, pin your opponent, win the match Advantages and disadvantages of different anatomiesHow Sylvester Stallone influenced arm wrestlingThe movie Over the Top09:39 How popular is arm wrestling in US?It is very popular, but doesn’t have government support3 prominent professional leaguesArmors, King of the Table, East vs. WestAmateur arm wrestling – WAF and IFAArm wrestling as a sport is growingWorld Arm Wrestling LeagueThe deciding factor is does it bring moneyToday it does have sponsors13:50 Devon’s backgroundGrew up in Big Island, Ontario on a farmHe was a high energy kidHis grandma was an arm-wrestlerNever beat his grandma in arm wrestlingHis brother showed him The Pumping Iron bookWas fascinated with Arnold SchwarzeneggerIdentified strength with being a manObsessed with strength, fitness, performanceTraining from a very young ageAfter high school worked in oil fieldTon of young man worked thereHe arm wrestled with them and beat everybodyDion Angel was unbeatableAt the time, arm wrestling was completely underground25:08 Are mentors necessary for success?A goal is a light in the distanceSometimes you meet people who have been where you are goingThey can be amazing guides Dion was one of those peopleMentors provide guidance and save you timeWith Internet mentors are much more available27:30 Joining the Canadian MilitaryJoined the army in 1996Combat tours are scaryIt takes time to develop psychological strength to fight Spent 20 years in arm forcesComplications from arm wrestling made him leaveYou chose to serve your country and fightBeing shot you realize how lucky you areStuck for 4 days, had to take extremely strong antibioticsDestroyed gut flora and was sick for 6 monthsBeing a follower and a desire to be the best41:49 Devon’s vision of war and sportsLife is a gift and one of our jobs is to be happyOne key to happiness to find things that make you happyDevon was always attracted to fightingCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to the second part of our insightful conversation with Mircea Geoana, the Deputy Secretary General of NATO. Mircea was born and educated in communist Romania, finished his education in the West, and built a successful political and diplomatic career.He was appointed as an ambassador to the U.S.A. and became the youngest ambassador in Romania’s history.  He later served as a president of the Romanian Senate, Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Prime Minister. In 2009, he narrowly lost the elections for the president of Romania when he received 49.6% of the votes.Mircea is a board member of several organizations, including the World Economic Forum, The Aspen Institute, and the European Council on Foreign Relations. He is also a published author and has written several books on foreign policy and international relations.00:00 NATO’s billion-dollar entrepreneur fundNATO created an ecosystem where young entrepreneurs can test their ideas for freeTesting ideas in DIANA – Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North AtlanticThe Innovation Fund – The first ever multi-national sovereign venture capital fundCompetition with ChinaEuropean HQ for DIANA is based at Imperial College in London10:23 Mistakes made and things learned from themDon't be satisfied with your learningAspen Institute in ColoradoStarted Aspen Institute in RomaniaWishes to become a moderator of Aspen leadership seminars 15:20 Five ingredients of being a great leaderThere are no natural-born leadersThere are many different types of leadersNever be happy with your success (make room for progress)17:55 How important it is to be funny as a team leaderA tendency to become rigid and dry from within over timeTry to be humble and listen to othersEverybody has something to offerThere is always something to learn20:32 What does it take to be successfulLife is tough and has ups and downsThere is always another chanceNever give up 21:36 Extreme PreparationRomanians are very talented people, but sometimes neglect preparationHard work is very important (talent is not enough)In NATO, everything is done with thorough preparationPreparing for the unexpectedDon’t take things too seriously26:30 The importance of mentorsBelieves in mentorship and, even more, in indirect mentorshipStarted mentorship program with NATORandall’s mentorship programMircea’s dream is to bring programs to Romania31:33 The secret to work-life balanceThe balance between mind, body, and spiritA tendency to have a foresight for bad things to happenA Randall’s intern spoke in NATO about the anti-microbial diseaseFocusing on simple things – love, compassion, giving back, improving yourselfWhat is next after leaving NATO?35:41 Fill in the blank to excellenceMircea's biggest lesson in lifeMircea's number 1 professional goalMircea's number 1 personal goalMircea's biggest regret in lifeMircea's biggest dreamMircea's advice to a 21-year-old selfCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

My guest today is Mircea Geoana, the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, who has had a successful political and diplomatic career for more than three decades.At the age of 36, he was appointed as an ambassador to the U.S. and became the youngest ambassador in Romania’s history.  He later served as a president of the Romanian Senate, Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Prime Minister.In 2009, he narrowly lost the elections for the president of Romania when he received 49.6% of the votes. He is a board member of several organizations, including the World Economic Forum, The Aspen Institute, and the European Council for Foreign Relations. He is also a published author and has written several books on foreign policy and international relations.00:00 Family Background and CommunismBorn in communist RomaniaHis dad (an engineer) and mom (transportation company)Growing up in communism and feeling oppressedWhen communism collapsed, immediately went to see the WestHis fascination with AmericaApart from the U.S., dreamed of visiting France and Italy09:25 U.S. Immigration America is the land of immigrantsPeople should be welcomed, but it’s not easy to receive too many peopleThe USA was an inspiration for him on how to rebuild RomaniaThe transition from communism to the capitalistic systemWanted to transfer back home the best ideas from the West 12:00 EducationGetting his Ph.D. in Economics and studying in Romania and FranceHow important is education?America is an abundant example of success without formal educationNever be satisfied with what you know (education should be ongoing learning of new things)Many things are available onlineLearning how to learn and understanding learning is a constant processChoose whatever you want, but know you never know enoughThe importance of building a social network in college18:34 What Does NATO Do?NATO creates the foundation of peace, stability, and securityInsurance policy for 1 billion citizensExamples NATO efforts 23:05 Russian Invasion of UkraineNATO tried very hard to prevent invasion (in January 2021, tried to dissuade Russia but failed)How did Russia get it so wrong?Russian leadership lives in a different reality than the rest of the worldHe hopes that Russians will realize that their leadership is in wrongDoubts that Russian citizens have real informationHow is this war going to end (both sides need to compromise)?What makes a successful invasion (pre-conditions for counteroffensive)?Ukraine requested to join NATO when Crimea was takenThoughts on Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Sweden38:32 Nuclear Weapons and WW3Russia has hypersonic missiles9 countries have nuclear weaponsThree NATO countries have nuclear weaponsNuclear weapons are very dangerousThe risks of nuclear war43:47 Punishment for War CrimesSooner or later, every crime is going to be punishedWe have conventions that regulate the warAttempt to organize a war trial tribunalIt’s not easy but, in the end, justice will be servedCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Work ethic is THE single-biggest determinant of your success.  In this epsidoe, learn from how the best in the world refine their work ethic and hear their thoughts on how to achieve true excellence in life and business. What is success? What are the key ingredients to success? How to overcome challenges and stay motivated? How to give back and inspire others? These are just a few of the questions they will answer. Tune in to hear more and grow and thrive on your path to excellence!(00:00) IntroductionSandee domain (www.sand.ee > www.sandee.com)Become indefatigable(03:42) Mike Horn – World’s Greatest ExplorerLatitude Zero Degree ExpeditionWe only have 30 000 days! Use them!Surviving death squadDon’t worry about the stuff you can’t change! (09:05) Bob Pittman - CEO of iHeartRadioPassion isn’t something you planHired at NBC in Chicago as a 20-year-oldWhatever you do, do something you enjoy!(10:43) Jon Gordon - Best Selling Author and Keynote SpeakerDid a lot of research on how to be positiveTalented at making complex ideas simpleCreated weekly positive tipsJon's #1 tip - Gratitude Walks!That will flood the brain with positive emotionsMind is like a garden - weed the negative! Feed the positive!(13:22) Chris VossThree most important ingredients to successBe a little bit better every dayBe a better team player vs. the team leader (if you want to go far, go as a team)Hear people out(16:27) Brian Lee - Founder of LegalZoom and The Honest Company, and CEO of Arena ClubHow important is it to be passionate about what you are doing?Always passionate about the mission of his businessesWith Arena Club – for the first time passionate about the service and offerThe start of Arena cardInnovation comes from fixing something that is broken!(23:46) Caryn Seidman-Becker - CEO of CLEAROvercoming insurmountable challengesBe proactive!Look around corners!Make predictions and act on them!Take care of your own!(27:38) Ben SherwoodWhen you’re great at something, great things happen to youWorking hard is necessary, but not sufficientGiving back is a very important piece of successThe voice that leads you to excellence can be ruthless (go easy on yourself)Constant thriving can be ultimately counterproductiveBe kind towards yourself and the people around youCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

My guest today is Craig Newmark – the Founder of the incredibly successful internet marketplace, Craigslist! Craigslist serves 700 cities in 70 countries and has 250 million users a month. In 2018, only four years after formation, Craigslist reached $1 billion in revenue.  During the last eight years, Craig Newmark has been one of our country's most active and generous philanthropist. During that time, he has given away more than $200 million. In 2022 alone, he gave away $81 million, which made him the 24th most generous philanthropist in the United States that year. (01:50) Craig's parentsGrowing up in a Jewish family in New JerseyHow his father's death impacted his futureStress of going to college from a young ageThe influence of Sunday school teachers(06:29) Craig's Education (Computer Science)Mastering quantum physics and computer scienceUsing the first computer for the first timeBeing a nerd in high school and collegeBeing bullied as a kid(12:14) Advice for people who don’t want to go to college63% of people graduating college on financial aidAdvice to those who don't want to goWhy 42 is not too late to start a companyAdvice to new foundersCraigslist started as a hobbyHow Craig became an accidental entrepreneur(18:53) Turning Craigslist into a real companyHow Charles Schwab got started on CraigslistTurning a hobby into a businessThe first dollar ad on CraigslistThe monetization philosophy of Craigslist(27:04) When is the right time to leave your job to start a company?When is the right time to leave a job to start a companyThe fear of failureWhy he didn't take money from CraigslistAdvice to other entrepreneursEvaluate and make judgments on the founderAdvice to those with founder syndrome(33:55) What went into the decision to hire Jim as CEOThe decision to hire Jim as CEOEarly on, Craig asked for the privilege of not being on the phoneTreating people the way they want to be treated(40:12) Customer service is a way to make more moneyThe CEO of Verizon (customer service is important)Dunbar's number and how it's been guiding principles at CraigslistNone of the figures can be relied onTop five elements of success(57:32) HumilityThe importance of being humble in search of excellence.One of Craigslist challenges.How Craigslist has dealt with these issues throughout the years.How craigslist dealt with the issues.(1:03:04) The downsides of having a lot of moneyNet worth is estimated to be between one and $3 billionThe downsides to having a significant amount of moneyHis obsession with pigeons(1:09:32) PhilanthropyCraig Newmark Philanthropies (CNP)Pigeon rescue vs other philanthropic giftsHow to get involved in philanthropyThe one piece of advice Craig would give his 21-year-old selfCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn