In Search Of Excellence

Welcome to another episode In Search of Excellence! My guest today is Danielle Vasinova. Danielle is an actor, model, producer, entrepreneur, avid equestrian, and drummer, she has been in more than 50 movies and TV shows and is best known for her colorful action-adventure rolls. And she has graced the cover of many magazines, including Vogue, and Harper's Bazaar. In this episode, Danielle shares her story of overcoming shyness through cheerleading, starting a modeling career, and landing her first movie role. Randy discovers how he unexpectedly landed a role in a movie alongside Sharon Stone despite having no acting experience and emphasizes the importance of taking advantage of every opportunity you get in life. Time stamps:01:23 Danielle’s backgroundHer grandmother was an actress and singer in PragueEscaped communism at 17Met her future husband at displaced persons’ camps in GermanyThey came to New York City togetherHer mom worked for American AirlinesDad tested airplane engines for Pratt and WhitneyFell in love and moved to Connecticut03:46 Childhood memoriesDad bought her a ponyFarm animals became her friendsPainfully shy as a kidCreating a character is a form of protectionReluctantly became a cheerleaderHelped her to break out of the shellA training accident 11:12 Modeling at 13Competition at the local mallThe scout came up to her and offered her to be a modelWent to New York and signed a contractCastings, auditions, rejections and bookings 18:23 Taking advantage of opportunitiesDanielle’s bucket listRandy’s advice on how to get to peopleRandy’s story about meeting a famous actressPeople do respond to bold movesMyocarditis on a date 29:16 Do you need education to be an actor?UConn collageWas a waitress the whole timeBecame a Patriots cheerleaderComing to Santa Barbara 32:31 Young and Restless castingCalled for casting through her momWent to LA and auditionedGot the part 35:05 Randy’s hilarious experience with the movie industryBecoming friends with Bruce McNallCasting for the role in the movieGetting the role of a police officerMeeting Sharon StoneShooting the scenesBecoming friends with a certain directorBeing offered a role in his show 50:53 Randy’s first podcast guestsMeeting Sam Zell and becoming friendsSharon Stone andCliff Kingsbury, a football coachMark Cuban responded to his emailThe greatest piece of advice Randy got from his mentorDoing things that no one else has done beforeCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to In Search of Excellence! You're listening to part two of my awesome conversation with Joe De Sena, the CEO of the global fitness and wellness brand Spartan, which has a community of more than 10 million athletes around the world.If you haven't yet listened to part one of my conversation with Joe, be sure to check that one out first. In this part, Joe shares his incredible story of perseverance, the importance of mentorship, and how pushing your limits can lead to extreme success and personal growth.Time stamps:00:58 From Cornell to Wall StreetThe entrepreneurship class at CornellWon a $5000 prize in a competition for the best business ideaThe advice from one of the judges to go to Wall StreetWent back to his pool business05:00 Joe’s bold stock investmentBuys Syntax stocks and earns $ 100,000Sells his pool business for $500,000Blew it all on the wrong stock investments07:25 How to get a mentor?Mentors are looking for basic human skillsRandall’s experience with his mentorsEarning a mentorship – a story about Max13:35 The importance of taking meetingsYou might add value to their life, they might add value to your lifeMoney comes from the most unexpected placesYou never know where a meeting could lead17:46 A risk to peruse your dreamLeaving the shore is uncomfortableTake the chances, you can always come backAn incredible red barn story21:20 The Spartan Company 24 years agoGetting people outside their comfort zoneIn the beginning, it didn’t workPeople don’t want to buy discomfortThe change that came with Facebook23:18 The Death RaceIt’s like a Navy SEALs or Delta Force eventSpartan’s toughest event meant to break youYou look in the mirror and find out who you areWhat does the Death Race look like?26:27 Serious health issues in JapanJoe was stressed out about his businessWoke up one morning and couldn’t see anythingEnded up in the hospital – and was told a part of his brain is deadHe decided not to accept that28:59 Why do people come to the Spartan race?When people experience the transformation, it’s addictiveEven if it sucked while they were doing itJoe’s philosophy - nobody cares, work harderOptimize your health and wellness to be able to operate31:01 The fear of failureFailure is a learning opportunityA lot of our fear is just fiction32:48 Three most important ingredients for successPersistence, Personality, GratitudeThe level of hard work needed for successYou must be willing to sacrifice and save the fun for later35:45 The importance of extreme preparationJoe is constantly working and always preparingHe prepares months ahead37:42 Joe’s ultimate dreamA year of some form of military service post-high schoolDisconnecting all water heatersKids doing burpees before they come into the schoolIs a work-life balance possible?38:55 Fill in the blanks for excellenceThe biggest lesson I've learned in my life isCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

My guest today is Joe de Sena, a serial entrepreneur, ultra-marathoner, endurance athlete, motivational speaker, and self-described maniac. For the past 17 years, Joe has been the CEO of the global fitness and wellness brand Spartan, which has a community of more than 10 million athletes around the world.Joe is the host of the CNBC primetime show, No Retreat business boot camp, and a New York Times bestselling author of four books, Spartan Up, Spartan Fit, The Spartan Way, and his latest, 10 Rules for Resilience.Time stamps:01:46 Joe De Sena’s background and childhoodHe grew up in Howard Beach, the organized crime capital of the worldMom was a long-distance runner, vegan, and yoga practitionerDad was a workaholic entrepreneurThe story about his dad and the missing package in the warehouseThe story about moving bricks all nightAn unbelievable BMX ride to Greene, New York11:33 Working for Joe Bananno as a kidLessons from the head of the organized crime familyBecame a trusting kid and gained a lot of customersThe attractiveness of the mafia lifestyle and his dad’s adviceJoe Bananno as Joe’s friend and mentorThe best thing we can do in life is help people 18:15 What’s wrong with the mentality of today’s internsHuman beings are naturally lazy and wired for comfortThe story about Shaun and moving artworksMake yourself invaluable and irreplaceable26:48 Never ask for moneyA story about a car dealer from VermontA risk worth getting numerous customersGet your foot in the door first and provide value29:23 How rejections can fuel youApplied to Cornell and was rejectedLearned hard to prove worthy of Cornell but kept being rejectedFinally, enrolled in The Textile Department of Human EcologyIf you just keep doing it, you eventually break through35:05 The ability to hang in there and finish is changing your biologyIf the obstacle you face is not fatal, it’s just a lessonFailure can be our greatest asset if we use it rightFinishing hard things creates tracks in the brainQuitting creates gaps and more quittingCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Today, we continue the amazing conversation with Jessica Berman – the commissioner of the NWSL! She addresses the disparity in pay between male and female athletes, outlining the steps needed to achieve pay equity and grow women's sport which will drive unprecedented growth in the NWSL. Her dedication and strategic vision to continue shaping the future of women's sports is relentless.Success is not just about achieving goals but also about embracing vulnerability, building resilience, and fostering authentic connections.Join the movement to support women's sports! Together, we can empower female athletes and promote equality in sports.If you missed part one, be sure to catch up for an inspiring conversation about breaking ceilings in the sports industry.Timestamps:0:47 - Introduction to part two.2:01 - Climbing up the ranks in the male-dominated sports industry- Transition from NHL to NLL; challenges faced.- Family support and career leap into NWSL.- The importance of taking risks.9:10 - Transition to becoming Commissioner of the NWSL and the league's growth- Turning a massive landmine into a field of diamonds.- Surreal experience of accepting the NWSL Commissioner role.- Milestones achieved: team expansion, media deals, office expansion.12:20 - Challenges inherited with NWSL; league turnaround- Addressing systemic abuse issues; league investigation.- Transformative growth: franchise values, media deals, attendance.- Expansion of NWSL staff; hiring process and objectives.- Office environment and collaborative workspace described.18:47 - The disparity in pay between men's and women's soccer- Comparison of earnings between male and female players.- Importance of growing fan base and revenue for equitable pay.- The challenges of building a sustainable business model.23:53 - Importance of female soccer superstars- Cultivating stars in women's soccer; role models and icons.- Impact of star players on league popularity and recognition.27:38 - Five ingredients for success; empathy and hard work- Personal qualities for success discussed; empathy as top priority.- Role of passion, preparation, and relationships in success.29:20 - Significance of passion and preparation- Passion is inherent to success; holistic preparation for challenges.- Role of extreme preparation in achieving goals.- Importance of physical and mental readiness for success.32:05 - Importance of Vulnerability in Leadership- Role modeling behavior and building connections.- Overcoming ego to foster genuine leadership.- Creating a culture of trust and authenticity.35:15 - Legacy of Leadership- Embracing authenticity and individuality in leadership.- Fostering a culture of success and pride.- Prioritizing family and collective accomplishments.38:11 - Triumph Over Adversity- Balancing career demands with personal challenges.- Cultivating resilience amidst life-altering circumstances.- Leveraging support systems for personal and professional growth.42:40 - Resilience and Recovery- Brad's (His Ex-husband and Best Friend) miraculous recovery journey post-stroke.- Navigating family dynamics amidst adversity.- Finding strength and gratitude in life's challenges.43:42 - “Fill in the blank to Excellence” GameCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Today, our guest is Jessica Berman, the Commissioner of the National Women's Soccer League, a trailblazing executive in professional sports. With a history of transformative leadership, she played a pivotal role in the growth of women's soccer.From Deputy Commissioner of the National Lacrosse League to her impactful years at the NHL, Jessica has consistently broken barriers.Jessica attended Fordham Law School, interning with the NFL during her studies. She later worked at Proskauer Rose, specializing in labor and employment law, where she dealt with the legal aspects of the NHL. Her story is one of leadership, innovation, and breaking barriers in the world of sports.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro2:23 - Jessica’s Background & Influence of Parents- Diverse upbringing in Brooklyn, with an Orthodox Jewish family.- Phyllis, Jessica's mom, pursued a PhD after taking care of her.- Ted, Jessica’s dad, was an entrepreneur with golf gas stations in New York.- Dad's immigrant background, emphasizing hard work as the key to success.- Dad's grassroots business approach and resistance to advanced technology.6:15 - The Brady Bunch Family- Jessica's family, a blend of her dad's kids from a previous marriage and her mom.- The uniqueness and challenges of growing up in a mixed family.7:45 - Early Interests in Dance and involvement in sport manangement- Focus on dance and cheerleading due to limited sports opportunities for girls.- Volunteering as a student manager for high school sports teams.8:12 - Dealing with Frustration and Pursuing Passions- Lack of opportunities to play sports directly- Involvement in cheerleading.- Advice on dealing with frustration and finding alternative paths.10:36 - Epiphany at a Hockey Game- The pivotal moment at an Islanders game that led Jessica to aspire to work in the sports industry.- The Nelson Mandela quote16:38 - Inspiring Social Change in Youth- Reflection on her Jewish education instilling values of equality and respect.- Encouraging parents to inspire social change in their children.19:16 - Pursuing Dreams (Square peg, Square(Round) hole moment)- Jessica's advice to relentlessly pursue one's passion- Remaining open to different paths.- Balancing focused pursuit with openness to unexpected opportunities.24:00 - Breaking Through and Adding Value- The importance of making oneself useful.- Adding value in the absence of formal internship paths.- Challenges of breaking through.29:56 - Networking and Following Up- Disappointment in the lack of follow-ups after informational interviews.- The simplicity of standing out- Making lasting impressions in today’s competitive world.32:46 - Law School and Career Path- Attending law school- Role of a graduate degree in her career.- Working with the NFL during law school- Later joining Proskauer Rose to work with the NHL.36:39 - Do you need a graduate degree to be successful?- Jessica’s decision to attend law school to pursue her career goals.- Reflections on the value of legal training in her career.- The necessity of graduate degrees for success in various fields.41:02 - Jessica’s Law school experience- Post-law school and her decision to leave the NHL.- Balancing ego and career aspirationsCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to Part Two of my interview with Sugar Sean O’Malley, the UFC bantamweight champion of the world, who everybody believes is the next Conor McGregor.Sean pulls back the curtain on his life inside and outside the cage, from balancing training for his next title defense with fatherhood to the brand deals making him a millionaire, plus his unconventional views on love and relationships. Tune in for more!Time stamps:00:38 Sean’s training regimentRed light, cold plunge, PMF machine, meditationEggs and oatmeal, Aero Press coffeeGoes to the gym to practice, nap, lunchStrength and conditioning training 07:01 Going out and drinkingDrinking is a big distractionHe goes out with the boysStops drinking and smoking 3 weeks before the match 09:24 Dealing with the painTries not to be hitIt’s bad for the brainCTE worriesEvery month he gets a concussion 12:19 Sean’s controversial love and sex lifeInjecting stem cells into the penisDidn’t feel much improvementHe has an open relationship with his girlfriend 20:10 How did a kid change his life?Always wanted to have kidsWould like to have moreThe feelings when he saw his daughter for the first timeLucky to be able to be with his daughter 28:05 Motivated by moneyLikes to be smart with his moneyLearning about investingWould like to be a billionairePaying taxes 36:24 The key ingredients for successSleep, diet, meditation, consistencyWork ethics and passionBuilding his brand on social mediaKeeping your brand clean 43:37 Giving back to the communityHelping his friends and familyPlanning to make a non-profit 45:42 Fill in the blanks for excellenceThe biggest lesson I've learned in my life isMeditationMy number one professional goal isGreatest of all timeAnd moreCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

My guest today is Sugar Sean O'Malley, the UFC bantamweight champion of the world with a 17-in-one record, who everybody believes is the next Connor McGregor. He opens up about his meteoric rise from amateur fighter in Helena, Montana to one of the sport's biggest stars, detailing his path from early knockout victories to inking a deal on Dana White's Contender Series and ultimately becoming the champion. Time stamps:01:23 Sean’s background- Grew up in Helena, Montana- His dad was a cop, mom was a nurse- He hated school, loved sports- Wasn’t a popular kid, and never fit in with sports guys- Moving to Arizona and taking care of his family07:39 Buying houses- Wanted to be smart with his money- Bought 6 houses in Arizona- Meeting people on Twitch and moving them into his houses10:22 Sean’s relationship with school- Didn’t like school and wasn’t interested in it- Never understood the setup of school- He was lucky to find a passion- He learned the stuff he benefited from13:48 How did it all start?- A friend called him to check out a fighting gym in Montana- He liked sports but didn’t have good grades to play    - Didn’t get along with the jocks and coaches- The boxing was one-on-one and he wanted to experience that15:55 In the gym for the first time- Started with jujitsu, didn’t like it- Continued with kick box and was very good- Getting his GED- Kickboxing gave him confidence21:15 The lessons he learned from kickboxing- Wanted to be the best fighter in the world- Started learning everything that could help him achieve that- Sleeping well, eating well, taking care of his soul and body23:20 The advice to people who want to be successful- Always wanted to be rich and famous- Hustling form 16    - Making and selling T-shirts- If you want it, you’ll get there27:09 Why did Sean want to be famous?- Maybe coming from some deep insecurity- Being famous is normal for him now30:43 The beginning of his pro career- Never had street fights- It was always a sport for him- Turned pro at 21- His knockout went viral on YouTube- Offered a fight on the Contender series- Snoop Dogg made him popular- Booked his first fight in Vegas- A fight with Andre Soccer- Broke his foot37:10 Is Sean the next Connor McGregor?- Dana Right and UFC- How much has his looks influenced his success- People want to see characters- He is the next Connor McGregor- Who is the biggest star in UFC?- Happiness is a skill- The origin of his nickname42:47 The importance of Extreme Preparation- He likes to have 12 weeks to prepare- Breaks into 4-week blocks, gradually picks up the pace- Fighting is the most exhausting sport in the worldCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to part two of In Search of Excellence episode with the amazing Jesse Itzler.Jesse is a serial entrepreneur who has built and sold five companies including Marquis Jet and ZICO Coconut Water. He is an Emmy Award winner, a former rapper and former manager of Run DMC, a globally recognized keynote speaker, and a part-owner of the Atlanta Hawks NBA basketball team.He's also a passionate endurance athlete who has run more than 35,000 miles over the last 25 years, including 50+ marathons. Jessie is also the author of two awesome best-selling books, Living with the Seals 31 days training with the toughest man on the planet and Living with the monks: What turning off my phone taught me about happiness, gratitude and focus. Time stamps:02:59 The Coconut water business- As a runner researched hydration and nutrition- Discovered coconut water- Partnered with a ZICO company- Sold the company to Coca Cola 2 years later04:55 Money as a goal and motivator- What is more important is the quality of your product or service- Passion and enthusiasm are also important- Experiences and proving yourself09:08 The fear of failure- His son decided to play baseball- The story of his son failing at the game- Participant vs. spectator in life11:22 Lessons learned from Navy SEAL David Goggins- Always been attracted to people who weren't like-minded- Met David Goggins and invited him to stay with his family- Interested in the habits of highly successful people- Jesse thinks of himself as of an observation expert15:50 The power of the spoken word- Speaking words gives them power- It’s important to talk things into existence- Remember Tomorrow mantra- Think about how a decision impacts your tomorrow20:04 The value of a written letter- The energy is a lot different- Jesse still writes letters- Randall’s stance on handwriting notes23:16 The importance of extreme preparation and planning- It was very important when Jesse was younger- Also, the ability to pivot- Jesse is a planner- Already planned his 2024- Kevin’s rule28:03 Saying “No” and finding time for your family- in his 20s, Jesse was always saying “Yes”- Later in life, learned to say “No”- It’s important how you say “No”31:01 Fill in the blanks for excellence- The biggest lesson I've learned in my life is    - Marry the right person- My number one professional goal is    - Create more time to do the things I love to do- My number one personal goal is    - Stay healthy- And moreResources Mentioned:Type in EXCELLENCE15 for 15% off The Big A## Calendar! Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is the amazing Jesse Itzler.Jesse is a serial entrepreneur who has built and sold five companies, including Marquis Jet and Zico Coconut Water. He is an Emmy Award winner, a former rapper and former manager of Run DMC, a globally recognized keynote speaker, and a part-owner of the Atlanta Hawks NBA basketball team.He's also a passionate endurance athlete who has run more than 35,000 miles over the last 25 years, including 50+ marathons. Jessie is also the author of two awesome best-selling books, Living with the Seals 31 Days: Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet and Living with the Monks: What Turning off My Phone Taught Me About Happiness, Gratitude, and Focus. Time stamps:01:54 The influence of Jesse’s parents- They showed up for everything- They let him explore- They didn’t over-schedule him- Didn’t teach him about hard work, he watched them doing it04:12 How much is his personality a part of his success?- He has problems with memorizing things- He is great at storytelling- His personality was essential for his success05:58 The entrepreneurial gene- Jesse’s grandfather was born in poverty in Russia- He immigrated to America and came with nothing- Jesse’s grandfather and father worked very hard- Jesse grew up middle-class07:42 Should kids go to college?- Jesse went to everything and was exposed to knowledge and people- His mom encouraged him to be curious and take every opportunity- He was aware of the time and urgency12:50 The start of Jesse’s career – getting a foot at the door- Jesse's record deal – go to every door until someone says yes- He got a deal from a record label called Delicious Vinyl- It’s essential to get a foot at the door and get into the system 16:47 The ridiculous offer and believing in yourself- Started the music business doing commercial jingles- He lived on his friend’s couches- Someone offered him $10,000 for 10% of his future earnings- Can you? vs. Will you?20:32 The advice to young entrepreneurs- Some businesses require capital- Selling out equity to employees, friends, and family- Under-promising and keeping things simple is a better strategy- Take advice, go through the pros and cons, and think through the worst-case scenario24:39 How to bounce back from a failure?- Sold his business for $1 million- Tried many different things and failed- Extremely enthusiastic about trying fun things and projects- Sold celery and carrot sticks and loved it even without the profit- In business, three strikes and you're not out 29:30 Is there a time to stop trying?- Jesse kept going despite failures- He never stopped- The tolerance of embarrassment- Never got embarrassed by his failures31:51 The value of relationships- Wanted to start a private jet company but didn’t have jets- Met with the president of the largest private jet company in the world – Net Jets- Got the deal and built a $5 billion companyResources Mentioned:Type in EXCELLENCE15 for 15% off The Big A## Calendar! Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn

Welcome to In Search of Excellence! This is the second part of an amazing episode with Martin Luther King III, a human rights activist, advocate, and philanthropist. He is the oldest son and the oldest living child of the civil rights icons, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. For the past five decades, Martin has continued his parents’ legacy by dedicating his life to equality, social justice, and nonviolent activism, and is honored that activism through his dedication to human rights, voting access, gun violence prevention, race relations, and other important social causes. He advocates for underserved communities and he has led initiatives, including the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, and he has also been awarded the Rosa L. Parks Award and the Lantern of Peace Award. Time stamps:01:00 The case of George Floyd- The police officers got the correct punishment- Being a police officer is a tough job- Protests all around the world – mostly non-violent- Banning on books and going backward- We have to do better08:13 Black people being killed by the police- A variety of things that have to be instituted and implemented- More in-depth psychological evaluations- Civilian review boards- Constant internal changes- Human relations and diversity training- Work together to create better communities13:30 The case of James Earl Ray- MLK III and his family claim he was innocent- There is a bunch of evidence that someone else did it- Ray died after serving 30 years in prison19:22 The advice to people purchasing their dreams- You have to have a plan, determination, focus, and work hard- Don’t give up on your dreams- His mom saying his dad would be proud of him24:26 The spike of anti-Semitism- We must go far beyond tolerance- We have to find a way to get rid of hate as a society- Society has created insecurities that make people want to judge27:49 Anti-Semitism on campuses- The anti-Semitic atmosphere on campuses and the response of the leadership- There’s got to be more to it because it doesn’t make sense- Somewhere we've lost humanity as a society- We have to elevate humanity 36:57 Fill in the blank to excellence- The biggest lesson I've learned in my life    - How to forgive- Number one professional goal    - To find a way to bring people together- And moreCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn