Mental Mastery

Today`s guest is none other than the amazing superwoman and Olympic champion in Snowboarding, Nicola Thost. After not just one but two incredibly successful careers in Snowboarding that made here the best in the world, Nicola is now on a quest to spread her love for snowboarding, her enthusiasm for life, and her deep knowledge on what it takes to turn high potential into high performance. Max Out Insights:Pain can be a powerful motivator for changeIf you`re willing to break yourself in half for your dreams, talent almost doesn`t matter. If you`re not good enough today, you can develop yourself to become great tomorrow.Your parents are there to protect you, not to throw you out of the nest and push your outside your comfort zoneMy definition of success: Being in love with life. What makes you fall in love with life is being on the Quest for Greatness and chasing the things you love for the sake of the path.To get to know yourself, ask great questionsClean your thoughts and beliefs like others clean their room Max Out Quotes:“The way you run is the way you live. When you change the way you run, you change the way you live your life.”“Sometimes, slowing down is the best way to speed up.”“We have to challenge ourselves to really feel what we`re capable of.”“Figure out what you love most and make it your meditation.”“What you do in the dark is what brings you into the light.”“What do you want to be Number 1 at?”“If you ask yourself the right questions, you will always get the right answers.”“I want to give people the best of me and not the rest of me.”“Your vibe attracts your tribe.”

Today I'm joined by one of the most inspiring humans on earth, self-proclaimed professional patient Derek Fitzgerald. After years of severe health struggles, Derek became the only person ever to finish a full distance Ironman after surviving both cancer and a heart transplant, so we’ll take a deep dive into overcoming life’s biggest struggles, dealing with pain, and never giving up! Best ideas: How to deal with life’s biggest tragedies: Imagine having a crystal ball telling you you’ll die tonight, how would you respond? Hide under your covers and forget about everything, or go out and live this day as the most epic day possible? As Derek says, none of us are given any guarantee that we’ll survive until tomorrow, so the best way to live life is by enjoying each day as if it were your last. At the same time, what would it be like to experience life for the first time, like a little child? Your first sunrise? First kiss? First smile? First opportunity to do something great? How different would you experience life? Connect with Derek: https://www.recycledmanspeaks.com/ https://www.recycledman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/recycledmanspeaks/

Today's guest is one of my personal heroes, the 2x Olympian and World Championship silver medallist over 800m, Nick Symmonds! After a hugely successful running career, Nick started his own business Run Gum, in which he now pursues success with the same dedication he used to win races and set records. What we’re discussing: How to make it in the big leagues even if no one pays attention to you Committing everything to a dream Mental training for athletes How to perform when it matters most Quotes: “Despite being a 9x State Champ I was not offered a single athletic scholarship. I went on to run in 2 Olympics. Young athletes, your running career can last decades if you want it to! But you must follow the path that is right for you.” Connect with Nick: Website Instagram

Jared Tendler is one of the world`s leading mental game coaches. After becoming a licenced mental health counsellor, Jared started working with some of the world`s best golfers and poker players to help them perform at their best. He is also author of the Mental Game of Poker. Highlights: To raise your game to the next level, your C-Game needs to be eliminated by understanding and addressing your mental and emotional blocks The key to getting better is taking responsibility for your failures, analyzing what`s holding you back, and actively addressing it The emotional system has power to shut down higher brain functions > high level of emotion compromise cognitive strategies such as mantras or reframing because they require high mental effort Goal is Resolution: resolving emotional problems to focus mental abilities on the things that matter most  High expectations are double-edged sword if they erode confidence Why is this happening? What are the emotions that are present? What are my thought? Physical changes? The earlier you catch your emotional system spiraling out of control, the easier it will be to calm down again Website: jaredtendler.com

Today I am joined by Dr. Happy himself, Dr. Tim Sharp from Australia! Tim is a world-leading expert in the fields of positive psychology and mental health, a sought after speaker and executive coach, as well as a best-selling author and Chief Happiness Officer of Australia`s first Happiness Institute. Biggest Insights: There are 2 types of happiness in life: positive emotions and meaning. While positive emotions feel good in the moment, they usually don`t last very long. Meanwhile, purpose and meaning are harder to get but also last longer Trying to be happy 100% of the time sets you up for disappointment more than anything else The primacy of positivity: Putting happiness first leads to success more so than focusing on success leads to happiness The Knowing-Doing Gap: We often know what we should do, and yet don`t do it Happiness doesn`t require elaborate techniques and strategies, but is experienced through practicing the simple fundamentals of exercise, nutrition, sleep, and social time The Tyranny of When: Chasing outside things will never make us happy Quotes: "The happiest people spend more of their time thinking about what they have instead of focusing on what they don`t have.“ "Aquiring happiness requires nothing more than practicing a few simple disciplines each and every day.“ Connect with Tim: Website Instagram

Today I am honored to talk to one of the world`s most influential psychologists, Dr. Gary Latham. As the former President of the Canadian Psychological Association and many others, Dr. Latham is one of the world`s leading experts on motivation and goal setting. Biggest Ideas: Set goals you believe in, otherwise goal commitment will be low Milestones are a great way to motivate yourself  “Doing your best” goals aren`t as effective as specific goals (I wish I had known that one in my running career!) Enlist your friends: Tell others about your goals and have them hold you accountable Take into account your surroundings: Setting up your environment to align with your goals goes a long way in maximizing your performance7 Acknowledge progress, no matter how small Accomplishment prevents burnout > Make sure to achieve goals every day Deliberately seek out constructive criticism and feedback to improve your craft If you ask for criticism, make the person giving it feel comfortable so that you can get honest insights Learn more from Dr. Latham: Becoming the Evidence-Based Manager

Derek Doepker is a best-selling author, fitness expert, and mental consultant that will help you break through your excuses and overcome your mental obstacles! In this episode, we cover:  Why breaking through your BS is about finding blindspots in your thinking Slingshot effect: Why a little pain now slingshots you into lots of pleasure later. Useful questions like: What are you doing that you shouldn`t be doing? What are you not doing that you should be doing? Quotes: “Where BS comes in is thinking that your current reality has to stay your current reality.” “Can I just…?” Connect with Derek: excuseproof.com http://bestsellersecrets.com/

Today I am honored to talk to Dr. Procrastination himself, Dr. Timothy Pychyl from Carleton University! In addition to winning numerous teaching awards, Dr. Pychyl has been a leading authority in the areas of goal pursuit and procrastination for over 20 years now, so I am really excited to talk about what procrastination really is, why we do it, and some practical steps for you to overcome it!   You can find his website at procrastination.ca and his blog here

Today I am joined by one of my personal heroes and host of the Inner Changemaker Podcast, Jay Wong. I found Jay through his amazing podcast and was immediately in love with his energy and amazing insights into becoming the best version of yourself, so I am super excited to share this episode with you guys!  Takeaways: You don’t just have energy, you have to create it Make showing up with excellence a daily habit Anytime you learn something, ask immediately how you can apply it to your life The importance of proper hydration, sleeping, and breathing for consistent mental energy Consistency is the key to success in anything How can you leverage your biggest pain to become better? To become a changemaker, start small and integrate it into your life Do more of what gives you energy and less of what sucks your energy Quotes: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions” “High performers don’t intend on being successful, they expect it” Connect with Jay: Youtube Blog

Today I have the absolute honor of speaking with one of the greatest athletes of all time: US gymnast Shannon Miller, who has won an astounding 7 Olympic medals and 9 World Championship medals between 1991 and 96. After winning 2 Olympic gold medals at the age of 19, Shannon retired and now uses her company Shannon Miller Lifestyle to promote a healthy and balanced life. Not everything was sunshine and rainbows though, and Shannon’s mental strength was tested outside of the usual spotlight when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2011. True to her nature though, she overcame cancer and now spends her time inspiring people, running her business, and raising 2 kids. Top Takeaways: Relieve pressure by doing the work beforehand Doing a little bit extra every day for years eventually leads to great results Write your goals every day Without executing on your short-term goals, long-term goals won’t come true Mental preparation is a constant and never-ending practice If you can’t visualize yourself performing well, you won’t Everyday is game day Prioritize learning over accomplishment > What did you learn today? In sports and life, you will fall down. The question is, who gets back up to win? Your goals may be out of your control, but you can always take care of today 3 things you should do every day: Learn, laugh, and say something kind to someone Fake it till you make it: Pretend like you’re confident over and over until you become it Quotes: “The work you do today not only matters for today, but it matters for 5 years from now.” “Gold medals are not won on the day of competition, they are won with the years of hard work and preparation that happened before you even stepped on the floor.” Connect with Shannon: shannonmiller.com Twitter

Today I am joined by the best-selling author and award-winning sports journalist Matt Fitzgerald. As a leading running and triathlon coach and certified sports nutritionist, Matt is the go-to guy for thousands of athletes who want to improve their performance both mentally and physically. Matt is also author of the incredible book “How Bad Do You Want It? Mastering the Psychology of Mind Over Muscle”, which has served me well in my own running career. Connect with Matt: mattfitzgerald.org

Today I am joined by the CEO of Intelligent Motivation Inc, Dr. Bill Sciacca. In addition to a PhD in Business Administration, Bill has spent over 30 years as a professor at several Universities and has decades of experience in sales and leadership training. He has also built successful businesses in multiple industries, and now teaches leadership, motivation, and goal setting to anyone who wants to improve their lives. Key lessons: Attitudes are habits of thought, and can be trained through rituals and repetition Architects of change: As a leader, your job is to develop congruence between your people’s daily actions and the vision of your company Success is not an event, but the daily process of doing the work Avoid the Adversity Scan: When you wake up and ask: What’s wrong? Best Quotes:  “Every person brightens up a room, some when they enter it and some when they leave it” “If you don’t schedule activities that are important to you, you will begin to do activities that are important to other people. You can either be the master in your goals program or a tool in someone else’s goal program” “It is better to act our way into a new set of feelings than it is for us to feel our way into a new set of actions” Connect with Bill: Intelligent Motivation Inc.

Today I am joined by Dr. Sam Maniar, founder of the Center for Peak Performance. In addition to a PhD in Sports Psychology and Counselling Psychology, Sam has worked with sports teams such as the Cleveland Browns, and in 2002, helped the Ohio State University win the National Championship in Football. Sam also works in executive coaching and leadership development, and his work has been featured in numerous publications such as the New York Times, ESPN, and Fox News. Connect with Dr. Maniar: https://www.centerforpeakperformance.com/ Facebook Twitter  

Welcome to episode 16 of Mental Mastery, where I interview the world’s greatest minds on what it takes to live an epic life. I’m your host Max Weigand, and today I am joined by Taylor Kreiss, who has dedicated his life to studying the art and science of happiness. In addition to receiving degrees in Philosophy and Positive Psychology, Taylor spent 3 years as the executive producer of the popular Psychology Podcast, and now teaches people how to live better lives.   Connect with Taylor: TaylorKreiss.com taylorkreiss@gmail.com

On today’s show, I’m joined by UCLA Professor and Positive Psychologist Emily vanSonnenberg. After surviving a horrific car crash, she found her love for Positive Psychology and, while still an undergraduate, created and taught the first UCLA course titled “Happiness”. She then went on to pursue her Master’s degree in Positive Psychology and work with such prominent psychologists such as Sonja Lyubomirsky and the founder of Positive Psychology, Martin Seligman. In addition to lecturing at several Universities on happiness, motivation, and meaningful work, Emily also works with individuals and teams to increase both performance and enjoyment. Connect with Emily: Blog: EmilyvanSonnenberg.com

Today I am joined by multiple times best-selling author Michael Neill, who has spent the last 25 years as the coach and mentor to CEO’s, elite athletes, celebrities and royalty who want to get more out of their lives. As one of the world’s leading coaches, he is also founder of Supercoach Academy, where he teaches others the art and science of transformative coaching. Michael is also host of the popular “Caffeine for the Soul” podcast and his Tedx talk “Why aren’t we awesomer” has been viewed over 200,000 times. Connect with Michael: Blog SuperCoach Academy Tedx talk  

Today I am joined by one of the world’s foremost experts on goal setting and grit, Caroline Adams Miller. After overcoming an eating disorder in her 20s, Caroline dedicated herself to helping others live their best lives. In addition to getting her Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology, she has written six books including “Creating Your Best Life” and “Getting Grit”, which has been named “one of the 10 books that will change your life in 2017”. Caroline has also mastered grit in her own life and used it to recover from bulimia, become a top-ranked Master’s swimmer, and receive a black belt in Hapkido. Connect with Caroline: Blog Tedx Talk Book

Today I am joined by Master coach Aileen Gibb, who specialises in helping people live bolder lives and create deeper connections. We talked about creating a compelling vision, living a bold life, and building meaningful relationships. Check out my blog maxweigand.com for the shownotes and a free ebook on mastering willpower and discipline! Sign up here for a FREE coaching session with me to learn how I can help you master your habits and achieve your goals! Connect with Aileen: Blog Facebook

On today’s show, I’m joined by mental performance consultant Shannon Thompson. After over 10 years as a professional horse rider, Shannon decided to study the science of peak performance and received her Master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She now works at the Hypo2 Sport Performance Center, where she helps elite athletes and student-athletes from Northern Arizona University maximize their mental performance. Connect with Shannon: Coaching Blog Guest blog

Today I am joined by Dr. Sunil Saxena, author of the Amazon bestsellers “Massive Action Equals Massive Results” and “30 Days to Awesome”. After graduating from medical school at 23, Sunil decided to change direction and launch a career as a professional actor and comedian. He then went on to start six successful businesses in various industries and now teaches people the Massive Action Lifestyle and what it actually takes to live an insanely awesome life. Connect with Sunil: Blog Speaking

TodayI am joined by an absolute superstar in the endurance world, Emma Pallant. Starting her career as a distance runner, Emma enjoyed early wins in Cross Country and Track and Field,  where she won several medals at the European and World championships. After barely missing the 2008 Olympics, she had her sights set on the 2012 Olympics at home in London, but was forced by an injury to pull out of the Olympic trials and end her track career. Instead of giving up on sports however, she found a new love for triathlon and soon began to dominate the field by winning Gold at the Duathlon World Championships in 2015 and 2016, as well as Silver at the 2017 Half Ironman World Championships.   Check out my blog maxweigand.com for the shownotes and a free ebook on mastering willpower and discipline! Sign up here for a FREE coaching session with me to learn how I can help you master your habits and achieve your goals! Connect with Emma: Instagram Twitter Triathlon Coaching

On today’s show I am joined by Bill Eckstrom, whose hugely successful Tedx talk on seeking growth over comfort has received nearly 2 million views until now. Bill is also the founder and President of EcSell Institute, where he helps sales leaders and teams reach higher levels of growth. Check out my blog maxweigand.com for the shownotes and a free ebook on mastering willpower and discipline! Sign up here for a FREE coaching session with me to learn how I can help you master your habits and achieve your goals! Connect with Bill: Website Tedx talk LinkedIn  

On today’s show I am joined by Chief Happiness Officer Scott Crabtree. After 25 years as a Tech Strategist at several technology companies, Scott decided to resign his job and focus on his true passion: Helping people live happy and successful lives. In 2011, he founded his company “Happy Brain Science”, and has since taught the science of happiness and engagement to clients such as Nike, Dreamworks, NBC, and Intel. Check out my blog maxweigand.com for the shownotes and a free ebook on mastering willpower and discipline! Sign up here for a FREE coaching session with me to learn how I can help you master your habits and achieve your goals! Connect with Scott: Website Facebook

For this episode, I had the pleasure of talking to professional Cross Country mountain biker Anton Cooper from New Zealand. At only 23 years of age, he has already set out to conquer the biking world by winning both the Junior and U23 World Championships, being the youngest winner of an U23 world cup of all time, and winning the Commonwealth Games 2014. After missing the Olympics 2016 due to chronic fatigue, he came back stronger than ever and in his latest world cup, placed second in the elite race by only an inch behind the current Olympic Champion. He now has his sights set on becoming the world's best biker and winning Olympic Gold at Tokyo 2020. Connect with Anton: Blog Facebook

On today’s show I am joined by Dr. Orin Davis, who is a self-actualization engineer, consultant, and principal investigator of the Quality of Life Laboratory, which focuses on topics such as flow, creativity, and performance. In addition, Dr. Davis is the first person in history to receive his PhD in Positive Psychology, and has worked under the guidance of world-famous psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Check out my blog maxweigand.com for the shownotes and a free ebook on mastering willpower and discipline! Sign up here for a FREE coaching session with me to learn how I can help you master your habits and achieve your goals! Connect with Dr. Davis: Website Tedx talk

On today’s show, I’m joined by Bob Tiede, Director of Leadership Development at CRU and author of the popular leadership blog LeadingWithQuestions.com, which is followed by leaders all over the world! On this episode, he shared why leading with questions is so important as well as some of his favorite questions to improve social relationships, influence, and our own lives. Check out my blog maxweigand.com for the shownotes and a free ebook on mastering willpower and discipline! Sign up here for a FREE coaching session with me to learn how I can help you master your habits and achieve your goals! Connect with Bob: Blog: leadingwithquestions.com Free Ebooks

Thibaut Meurisse is founder of the popular blog whatispersonaldevelopment.org and author of 11 books, including the Amazon bestseller “Upgrade Yourself”. Growing up in France, he decided to move across the globe and study in Japan, where he ended up staying for over half a decade. During that time, he started his blog to write about happiness, goal setting, motivation, and everything related to living a great life.  Check out my blog maxweigand.com for the shownotes and a free ebook on mastering willpower and discipline! Sign up here for a FREE coaching session with me to learn how I can help you master your habits and achieve your goals! Connect with Thibaut: http://whatispersonaldevelopment.org/  

Dr. Markman has been a professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas for the past 20 years, and has published over 150 scholarly articles on topics such as motivation and decision making. In addition to publishing over 150 scholarly articles on topics such as motivation and decision making and working on the scientific advisory boards of the Dr. Phil show and Dr. Oz show, he has written numerous amazing books, including Smart Thinking and Smart Change. Check out my blog maxweigand.com for the shownotes and a free ebook on mastering willpower and discipline! Sign up here for a FREE coaching session with me to learn how I can help you master your habits and achieve your goals! Connect with Dr. Markman: Blog: smartthinkingbook.com/ Podcast Twitter Book: Smart Change

After an incredibly successful career as a senior executive at two Fortune 100 companies, Mary Lynn Ziemer decided that money and success weren’t enough anymore and instead focused on one thing: Being happy. After leaving her well-paying job, she started her own coaching business Living A Joyful Life Now, where she uses her unique skill set as a Life Coach, Business Coach, and Master of Advanced Life Concepts to teach people what it actually takes to live an amazing life. Check out my blog maxweigand.com for the shownotes and a free ebook on mastering willpower and discipline! Sign up here for a FREE coaching session with me to learn how I can help you master your habits and achieve your goals! Connect with Mary Lynn Ziemer: Blog: livingajoyfullifenow.com Mary Lynn's free gift Email: marylynn@livingajoyfullifenow.com