The Managing Director at the helm of Craft Sportswear. He tells Joe what motivated him to a position of success, hint: people told him he wasn’t qualified. This week we learn that when someone tells you you can’t, that can be your fuel to show them just how well you CAN! Lessons: Get past fear in life You don’t need a degree to get to the top When someone says you can’t, use that as fuel to show you can Find the balance between work, life and play Understand the value of your team Trusting your ...
Oct 23, 2018•24 min•Ep. 238
Have you ever felt like you’re in a slump? The less you do, the LESS you want to do! Take a noter from Tony Robbins; he always talks about “getting into state”. Do 1 thing to move you towards your goal. Move forward, never stay stagnant. LESSONS: Action always beats inaction Think about something you want to get better. Do 1 Thing to move towards that goal. Action beats momentum. The more forward action you take, the more action you WANT to take! LINKS: More about Zach https://zacheven-esh.com R...
Oct 18, 2018•3 min•Ep. 237
Internal emotional boundaries refer to the boundaries that are required for you to set in order to avoid absorbing and taking on the emotions of other individuals. It’s important for us to set these boundaries so that we don’t become overwhelmed by the other people’s emotions and then become overregulated ourselves. We often need to become intentional with these boundaries and develop an internal coach that can remind us that we do not need to bring in feelings that are not our own. LESSONS: Int...
Oct 17, 2018•3 min•Ep. 236
An adaptive professional athlete, veteran,and Adaptive Athletes Liaison for Operation Enduring Warrior he has been “Lopezing” friends, comrades and racers sparking their passion and fortitude to conquer the obstacles of life and on the course - over walls, up the ropes and on extended endurance challenges, all with one arm and a ceaseless smile on his face. The excuse destroyer knows you can do more than you think you can! In this interview Lopez gets honest about the difficulties he faced, even...
Oct 16, 2018•25 min•Ep. 235
What’s the most common excuse for not exercising? I don’t have the time! Well, we’re about to show you that you DO have time. Not only do you have time, but there are more options than you know to exercise with just your bodyweight or in your backyard. Opportunity is knocking, as always! LESSONS: You can train in your backyard, in your house or just take a simple 10 minute walk. You don’t need to travel to the gym. Pick 1 exercise a day. 1 exercise is 100% more than zero. You can do 1 exercise f...
Oct 11, 2018•3 min•Ep. 234
As a Spartan, resting your body is part of the training program. You rest to reduce the risk of injury, increase performance, and avoid burnout. Your mind, like your body, deserves the same level of attention and mental rest is essential for the very same reasons you rest your body. Resting your mind with intention and purpose gives your mental faculties greater clarity and availability for focus when you return to the task at hand. LESSONS: • Your mind needs rest so you avoid burnout and have g...
Oct 10, 2018•3 min•Ep. 233
Imagine 24 hours locked in isolation in a completely dark shipping container competing to see who can run the furthest on a TrueForm treadmill. Retired United States Marine, Major Brian Chontosh (aka “Tosh”) and three others (John Witzing, Josh Chessman, and Isaiah Vidal ) accepted this challenge to raise awareness around mental health with the Whiteboard Project’s LL24h ( https://www.thewhiteboardproject.com/24-hours-of-isolation ). The recipient of one of the highest military honors: the Naval...
Oct 09, 2018•49 min•Ep. 232
Whoever said you must CLIMB the ladder of success was wrong! You can JUMP the ladder of success thanks to technology and the speed of access you have to information and people who have already achieved what you want to achieve. LESSONS: Learn from the best of the best by finding a mentor. Learn from prior episodes of Spartan UP! Change your environment by attending a Spartan Race or a Spartan event to learn from others and get inspired. How to be a great mentee if you want to be mentored by some...
Oct 04, 2018•4 min•Ep. 231
When we overgeneralize, we tend to create statements and stories that are based on a single event rather than a reasonable amount of evidence. We take one instance and string it out, cutting out possible counter evidence and leaving us tethered to a single moment. Unfortunately, this can lead us to believe things about ourselves that just aren’t grounded in truth. We need to become more aware of when and where we are overgeneralizing and effortfully engage in thought processes that refute the fa...
Oct 03, 2018•4 min•Ep. 230
A man who needs little introduction is Paul Teutal from Orange County Choppers. This week we learn how he literally built his business out of the ashes, spent years overcoming obstacles with alcohol abuse and how strong bending steel really makes you. Many may wish for overnight success, but would you be ready to handle the consequence? Lessons: Be a man of your word If you make a commitment stick to it- no matter the adversity It's all about perseverance You can be successful even if those arou...
Oct 02, 2018•23 min•Ep. 229
Many of the most “successful people”in the world have a tough back story. They experienced tough times and instead of allowing those experiences or circumstances to define them, they chose to use those tough times to DRIVE them to greater heights. Lessons: Use your tough times to empower you vs over power you Remember that people who are achieving success often times had the odds against them, but they chose strength & success over giving up There are other people out there sharing their sto...
Sep 27, 2018•2 min•Ep. 228
When presented with both positive and negative feedback, why is it that we tend to focus on the negative? Ninety-nine positive comments followed by a single negative one, can lead us feeling determined to zoom in on the one rather than relish in the glory of the ninety-nine. This is called Filtering and it’s a common way of thinking that has the propensity to increase negative thoughts, decrease self-esteem, and exacerbate anxiety or depression. Recognizing when you are engaging in filtering and...
Sep 26, 2018•5 min•Ep. 227
Can eating only raw fruits and vegetables improve your performance, health and recovery in racing? This week Myriam and Jacky explain how eating raw vegan has enhanced every aspect of their life - from a decade adventure racing to now conquering the obstacle courses at Spartan. Where can you find protein and what is your body really craving? … maybe they are onto something drinking seawater each day! Lessons: • Eating raw may help reduce the chance of injury and inflammation • A healthier diet c...
Sep 25, 2018•25 min•Ep. 226
Obstacles can stop you in your tracks or, with the right mindset, you can find the opportunities in these obstacles. Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach has a great quote, all those things that seem to oppose our goals are actually the raw material for achieving them. LESSONS: Write down a list of “obstacles” holding you back in any area of your life (Work / Career, Health, etc) Get creative with these obstacles. What action can you take that will move you through the obstacle and turn this obstacle...
Sep 20, 2018•3 min•Ep. 225
We have a lot of power and control to change our own trajectories. We can pivot at any moment though we often get stuck in certain thinking patterns that become barriers to us shifting direction. One of these thinking patterns is something called all-or-nothing thinking. It is a tendency to think in extremes - I’m either all in, or all out. The problem with this type of thinking is that if you start walking down one path you can feel stuck on that path because your mindset makes you believe ther...
Sep 19, 2018•5 min•Ep. 224
What does it take to mentally conquer any challenge? This week Claudio Alessi, a man with a seemingly endless list of championships and achievements, tells Joe that all of it boils down to service. Joe Desena talk with the Swiss Ski team’s team mental coach who has over 50 years of martial arts training and is a 7 time world champion - he even won the Arm Wrestling World Cup in 1996. The principles and tactics he’s learned he adapted to create mental and biomechanics martial arts training for pe...
Sep 18, 2018•25 min•Ep. 223
I was 19 years old and had just started working at Price Club. I was working for less than a month and was awarded “Employee of the Month”. How did it happen? Simple. I went above and beyond “normal” effort. This is something you can apply to ALL areas of life, not just your work or career. Good enough is the death of greatness. LESSONS: Complacency is when you find yourself saying, That’s not my job. To achieve more in life you must be willing to do more, even if the pay off is not immediate. N...
Sep 13, 2018•3 min•Ep. 222
Our values are a set of principles by which we choose to live our life. Values can not only help guide us towards what we want but they can also be used as a barometer for what truly matters to us. Sometimes, however, we lose sight of our values and find ourselves engaging in behaviors that are not in alignment with our values. This can not only create a general sense of discontent but can also lead to depression, anxiety, addiction, and other significant struggles. Evaluating whether or not our...
Sep 12, 2018•5 min•Ep. 221
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), is the REI of Canada whose founder wants you to be part of the company, find your purpose and GET OUTSIDE! Raised in South Africa and served in active combat in Angola, his toughest challenge was actually finding a job once he moved to Canada. In this episode we will learn how to define ourselves in difficult moments, find our purpose and how going through tough situations actually fortifies you with a more full life to “suck the marrow out of every experience.” L...
Sep 11, 2018•26 min•Ep. 220
During an interview I heard with Yanik Silver and Gary Vaynerchuk MANY years ago, I learned a favorite lesson from Gary. It had nothing to do with how fancy your website looks, how awesome your logo is, etc. It’s ALL about genuinely caring. That is the foundation and overall essence of what you do . You can’t fake it. Never take for granted the work you do and the people you impact. LESSONS: Take the focus off yourself and focus on helping others. Genuinely care. You can’t fake this so there is ...
Sep 06, 2018•3 min•Ep. 219
Readiness is the state of being prepared to take on a new challenge at any given time. There are two key components of being ready, 1. Your capacity to manage change, and 2. Your willingness to try new things. In this episode, learn about the stories and beliefs that you have about yourself as it relates to these two things and how they may be creating a barrier to being ready. LESSONS: Readiness is built from two key components: Your capacity to manage change. Your willingness to try new things...
Sep 05, 2018•2 min•Ep. 218
She was run over TWICE & still runs with a smile, Amanda Sullivan will teach you to be the candle that banishes darkness. Amanda is someone who runs into the fire, she has worked with little girls who have been sex trafficked, orphans and refugees from areas of natural disaster and conflict, and was hit by a car … twice. Her previous experiences fortified her with a remarkably resilient baseline, her infectious smile and enthusiasm reminds us to “be the hero your waiting for,” and that we al...
Sep 04, 2018•22 min•Ep. 217
Want to change your life? Books can, especially GREAT books. If you have the common thought of I’m too busy to read, try this simple rule: Just read 2 pages a day. I prefer reading at night but morning, afternoon or night is up to you. 2 pages takes less than 5 minutes and will calm you before going to sleep. LESSONS: Read daily or almost daily. If reading at night, do not read books that cause you to overthink or stress. Choose books that are calming and help you fall asleep easily and more rel...
Aug 30, 2018•3 min•Ep. 216
We all carry around wounds, grievances, and past hurts. Some of these are from decades ago while others may be more recent. If we aren’t paying attention what these are they can weigh us down - impacting our choices, behaviors, and relationships. In this episode, learn how to take a look at what’s in your sandbag, understand and explore the wounds and grievances that may be impacting you the most, and identify ways to attend to them carefully. LESSONS: Your past wounds and grievances can impact ...
Aug 29, 2018•3 min•Ep. 215
7-7-7 World Marathon Challenge: Seven marathons, seven continents in seven days and that’s just the tip of the iceberg for this sixty-six year old! Robert and Johnny talk this week about what it means to build a “win” into each day and when faced with struggles and challenges do you “suck your thumb, or suck it up?!” As a former Special Ops Pararescueman, Owens has lived his life for others and along the way has inspired everyone that the older you get the fitter you can be and the harder challe...
Aug 28, 2018•36 min•Ep. 214
You’ve heard the phrase, You are the average of your 5 closest friends. Well, this isn’t news. It’s been implemented in the business world, the Military and even Presidents have used this “mastermind principle” to make one another better. Here’s how: LESSONS: Surround yourself with people who make you better and vice versa. Invest in yourself. This creates “skin in the game” and you are more willing to take action with your new information. Do a self audit. Is your environment supporting your go...
Aug 23, 2018•3 min•Ep. 213
Failure is part of the human experience. We all fail. When we see failure as negative, we are not only less likely to challenge ourselves but we are also more likely to get weighed down by the experience. If you begin to consider failure as both purposeful and positive, you can gain extraordinary wisdom and growth. In this episode, learn which questions can help you flip failure upside down so that the experience works to refine you rather than define you. LESSONS: • Failure happens to all of us...
Aug 22, 2018•2 min•Ep. 212
Find out why Joe De Sena calls this executive coach, the Human Whisperer. Jason helps people to gain self-awareness, to discover blind spots and identify past traumas that are hindering that leap from being a 1 billion dollar company to a 5 billion dollar company. What simple adjustments can you make in your life and in your corporations to stop living in peaks and valleys? Here are some “recipes and anecdotes to avoid rock bottom,” and realize your true potential. LESSONS: Ask others to rate yo...
Aug 21, 2018•30 min•Ep. 211
Joe and Zach get together to record the first ever Spartan Way episode while discussing a favorite topic at Spartan, Finding Your True North. Your True North is all about discovering your WHY? Why were you put on this earth? What is the 1 thing you are so passionate and excited about that you can keep doing for the next 25 years? If you’re unsure what your True North is, don’t worry! Zach & Joe discuss the different ways you can discover your True North. Sometimes you find your True North an...
Aug 16, 2018•5 min•Ep. 210
As much as you may want to, you can’t actually control which emotions arrive at any given time. You can, however, control how you respond to them when you are tuned in and paying attention. Becoming more aware of your emotional state gives you greater agency over your choices, behaviors, and ways of relating. In this episode, learn a simple three-step process that can help you increase your emotional acuity and become more intentional with how you choose to respond. LESSONS: We must be increase ...
Aug 15, 2018•3 min•Ep. 209
