Episode #295: Todd Herman – Using Alter Egos To Transform Your Life

Todd Herman is an author, coach, and entrepreneur. His training company has specialized for 22 years in mental toughness and peak performance strategies PROVEN to work, not the anecdotal nonsense found in most personal development work. His training programs have won international awards and he’s worked over 100 Olympians, pro athletes, entertainers, and leaders in business. His website toddherman.me, and it’s where you can find more strategies to help you get on the field of play. He lives in New York City with his wife and three young children.

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“The answers are never waiting for you to sit still. The answer are out there doing it. It’s action that matters.”

Show Notes:

  • Commonalities of sustaining excellence:
    • “Negative capability” (John Keats term)
      • The ability to pursue your dream despite the fact that circumstance tells you it won’t happen.
      • Not losing faith despite the long odds
      • Mental toughness – “The ability to be flexible & adaptable despite what the world is throwing at you.”
  • The OPP framework for goal setting:
    • Outcome
    • Performance – Resources
    • Process – Who, what, when, where
  • What Todd does?
    • He’s on a mission to give people smart thinking models.  He helps ambitious people.
    • Revenue generation: He’s built programs and systems and licensed it to sports teams
    • He does sport science and peak performance coaching
    • Grew up doing speaking competitions.
      • Did 68 speeches in 90 days.  All for free.  Have to “get the reps”
  • “This is how I know I’ve made it… I loved doing a free speech for four people.  I loved it!”
  • “You must show up.  Continue to show up no matter what.  Even if nobody is there, show up anyway.”
  • “The answers are never waiting for you to sit still. The answers are out there doing it.  It’s action that matters.”
  • How Todd developed strong mental toughness?
    • Rough upbringing — He was sexually abused at a church camp when he was 12
    • He retreated and developed mental toughness to deal with it
  • Skills developed as an athlete that translated to life outside of sports:
    • Preparation
    • Routines
    • Visualization/Imagery
  • Why are alter-egos so powerful?
    • They help you get into flow state and not get out of your head
  • The Bo Jackson story — “Bo Jackson never played a down of football.  It was Jason from Friday The 13th.  I was crazy out there.”
  • Authenticity and Alter – Ego — How they work together.  Why having an alter-ego is the most authentic thing you can do
  • Cicero 44BC- “The other eye” (translated to) “A trusted friend”
    • “If you’re doing anything just to impress others, that’s inauthentic”
  • Why it’s helpful to say, “I’m the baddest dude on the planet” right before you give a big speech
  • Really elite performers are doing this… At times, it is ego driven
  • Great managers need to be:
    • Decisive
    • Articulate
    • Confident
  • Why you should use a Mr. Rogers alter-ego when you come home from a day of work…
    • Be the best version of yourself
    • Activate your “heroic self”
  • Beyonce was Sasha Fierce
  • What did Todd use as his alter-ago
    • Glasses
    • Joseph Campbell
    • Abraham Lincoln
    • Richard Branson
    • Geronimo – A “tribe of warriors”
  • How to create triggers to get into flow state — “You’ve already done it. We grow up creating alter-egos acting like super heroes”
  • Visualization — It’s a challenging but very useful skill to develop
    • Create a full sensory experience — The look, feel, touch, taste, sound of the moment you are visualizing.  The board room, the people, the smiles, the head nods, the feel of the room…
    • “As I walk into the boardroom I feel an immense sense of calm and confidence because of my preparation… I have great eye contact, they are leaning forward…”
  • Jim Rohn — Plant seeds
  • Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea
  • Use the “Get To Know You Document“

“The Holy Trinity of questions: Why? What If? How?”

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