In Search Of Excellence

Latest Episodes:

Mike Horn: Extreme Expeditions, Losing Loved Ones, and Finding Discipline in Life | E33 Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

And while his expeditions are often life-threatening, and despite some incredibly close calls, he’s not one to be reckless in accomplishing his goals.

In this episode, Randall and Mike discuss his journey to becoming the world’s greatest modern-day explorer, covering everything from lessons learned in early childhood to his groundbreaking expeditions.

They discuss how mistakes can and should be used to our benefit, viewing inspiration as a two-way street, why making peace with failure is an absolute requirement of success, how psychological attitude and mental strength determine whether we achieve excellence, where money should rank in our career goals and life, and so much more.
Topics Include:
- How freedom leads to creativity
- Power of positive reinforcement
- Investing in education
- The relationship between self-discipline and motivation
- Setting and achieving goals outside of our comfort zone
- Ingredients to success
- Understanding fear
- Sports psychology
- Taking ownership of our problems
- Addressing environmental and ecological issues
Mike Horn is globally acknowledged as the world’s greatest modern-day explorer. From swimming the Amazon River solo and unsupported to an un-motorized circumnavigation of the globe at the equator, Mike’s list of accomplishments as a solo explorer is unparalleled. In two decades, he has seen more of the Earth than possibly any other human. He walked to the north pole during the dark season (more people have been to the moon) and has scaled the world’s 8,000-meter peaks including a recent attempt to paraglide K2.
For 25 years, as one of the top motivational speakers, he has inspired and educated the world by pushing the limits of human ability through a series of groundbreaking expeditions, always naturally powered and often solo. Mike also engages in mental coaching of elite sports teams. Through his coaching, Mike already contributed to the victory of several teams, including Germany’s national football team during the 2014 World Cup, the Kolkata Knight Riders cricket teams and the Mumbai Indians in India, and the Proteas in South Africa.
Resources Mentioned:
Mike Horn, Amazonas (1997-1998)

About Randall Kaplan: Randall Kaplan is a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, executive coach, co-founder of Akamai Technologies, founder and CEO of JUMP Investors, and host of In Search of Excellence. Through his Extreme Preparation™ methodology, he helps founders, executives, business owners, and ambitious professionals improve strategy, communication, decision-making, and execution.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Mike Horn: Conquer Your Fear and Make the Impossible, Possible | E32 Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

Mike Horn is a person who has redefined the boundaries of human endurance. He’s trekked to the North Pole in complete darkness, scaled four of the world’s 8,000-meter tall mountains, circled the globe not once, but twice (once on the Equator and once on the Arctic Circle), and the list goes on.
And while his expeditions are often life-threatening, and despite some incredibly close calls, he’s not one to be reckless in accomplishing his goals.
In this episode, Randall and Mike discuss his journey to becoming the world’s greatest modern-day explorer, covering everything from lessons learned in early childhood to his groundbreaking expeditions.
They discuss how mistakes can and should be used to our benefit, viewing inspiration as a two-way street, why making peace with failure is an absolute requirement of success, how psychological attitude and mental strength determine whether we achieve excellence, where money should rank in our career goals and life, and so much more.
Topics Include:
- How freedom leads to creativity
- Power of positive reinforcement
- Investing in education
- The relationship between self-discipline and motivation
- Setting and achieving goals outside of our comfort zone
- Ingredients to success
- Understanding fear
- Sports psychology
- Taking ownership of our problems
- Addressing environmental and ecological issues
Mike Horn is globally acknowledged as the world’s greatest modern-day explorer. From swimming the Amazon River solo and unsupported to an un-motorized circumnavigation of the globe at the equator, Mike’s list of accomplishments as a solo explorer is unparalleled. In two decades, he has seen more of the Earth than possibly any other human. He walked to the north pole during the dark season (more people have been to the moon) and has scaled the world’s 8,000-meter peaks including a recent attempt to paraglide K2.
For 25 years, as one of the top motivational speakers, he has inspired and educated the world by pushing the limits of human ability through a series of groundbreaking expeditions, always naturally powered and often solo. Mike also engages in mental coaching of elite sports teams. Through his coaching, Mike already contributed to the victory of several teams, including Germany’s national football team during the 2014 World Cup, the Kolkata Knight Riders cricket teams and the Mumbai Indians in India, and the Proteas in South Africa.
Resources Mentioned:
Mike Horn, Amazonas (1997-1998)

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Jimmy Pitaro: How to Prepare for Anything and Crush Your Next Big Opportunity | E31 Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

Like many who are just starting out in their careers, Jimmy Pitaro was uncertain of the direction he was headed in as he prepared to enter the workforce. He was attending Cornell University where he had secured a spot on the football team, but Jimmy knew that the odds of him becoming a professional athlete were slim to nonexistent.

Nonetheless, sports had always played an influential role in his life and he was determined to incorporate the world of sports into his career path. As the now Chair of ESPN, it’s safe to say that Jimmy had reached this goal, but not without learning many important lessons along the way.
In this episode, Randall and Jimmy discuss the progression of Jimmy’s career, how to recover from a huge disappointment, determining when you should stay on course or move on to something else, identifying the subject matter you are most passionate about to lead your career direction, finding opportunities to work with like-minded people, and so much more.
Topics include:

-How Jimmy’s early love of sports shaped his future
-Importance of having a support network
-Why having compassion and respect for others is advantageous
-Prioritizing mentorship
-Erring on the side of over preparation
-Jimmy’s “Four North Stars” at ESPN
-Creating a culture of innovation
-Why work ethic is the single greatest determinant of our success
-The relationship between fear and courage
-Networking
-Finding the right work-life balance

Jimmy Pitaro was named Chairman, ESPN and Sports Content on October 12, 2020. His focus is the entirety of ESPN's multimedia offerings - including live sports programming, sports news and original and non-scripted sports-related content, audio, digital and social endeavors - plus all sports-related content for Disney's cable channels, ESPN+, and ABC.

He was named ESPN president and co-chair, Disney Media Networks, on March 5, 2018, after serving eight years as a top Disney executive. In making the announcement, Bob Iger, then The Walt Disney Company chairman and chief executive officer, said, "Jimmy's appointment was the result of more than 20 years spent at the intersection of technology, sports and media."

Pitaro's record of success leading businesses focused on consumer products, digital initiatives and sports made him the quintessential selection for ESPN at a pivotal point in its then 38-year history: a time of unprecedented technological advancements and rapidly changing consumer habits.

Pitaro originally joined The Walt Disney Company in 2010 as co-president, Disney Interactive, where he successfully led the turnaround of the digital media and gaming division.
He serves on a variety of industry and charitable boards, including the NCTA, the Paley Center for Media, The V Foundation, The National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, Pacer and CoachArt. Pitaro also serves as Co-Committee Chair of the March of Dimes, and is a Board Observer at Draft Kings. He is a member of the Cornell Athletic Alumni Advisory Committee.

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Jimmy Pitaro: Taking Action and Moving Forward During Times of Uncertainty | E30 Oct 11, 2022

Show notes

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Sarah Friar: Extreme Preparation, Mental Health, and Finding a Mentor | E29 Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

Sarah Friar learned about the power of community from an early age. Growing up in Northern Ireland during a time of tremendous violence showed her the importance of finding common ground and taught her how to create resilience from within, both of which are lessons that she continues to live by today. Even in moments of fear and despair, Sarah was able to find her resilience and take risks throughout her career.
After checking all the boxes that she thought would lead her to become a partner at Goldman Sachs, Sarah received the news that she wouldn’t be getting the promotion she had been striving for. She could have stayed at Goldman, but her husband said something to her that she couldn’t shake — losing the promotion has set her free.
From there, Sarah considered what she’s good at, what she’s passionate about, and what the world needs, which ultimately led her to her current role. As the CEO of Nextdoor, a hyperlocal social networking service for neighborhoods, Sarah is now working to strengthen the power of community — a reflection of her lessons learned early on.
In this episode, Randall and Sarah discuss how curiosity and resilience are the keys to finding your path; how finding common ground can unlock social capital that allows you to get things done in the world; advice to women today who are working in a sexist environment; what to do when you aren’t passionate about your work but are making good money; why searching for an emotional connection helps to build stronger companies; why you should be taking risks in your career frequently; the role politics has in the workspace; how to use moments of failure to help you rise; and more…
Topics include:
-The power of community
-Why it’s necessary to do the nitty-gritty work
-Why it is important to learn both inside and outside of the classroom
-The importance of finding purpose at work
-How to use your fears to spur you into action
-Whether or not you should have a plan B
-Why extreme preparation matters
-Prioritizing mental health
-Why job hopping is a red flag
-How to strike the right work-life balance
-The secret side of philanthropy
-Why having a diversity of experience is advantageous
Prior to Nextdoor, Sarah served as the chief financial officer at Square. Under Sarah’s leadership, the company launched its initial public offering in 2015 and added $30 billion in market capitalization.
Sarah grew up in Northern Ireland and earned her MEng in Metallurgy, Economics, and Management from the University of Oxford and her MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where she graduated as an Arjay Miller scholar.
Resources mentioned:
Nextdoor
Books mentioned:
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, by David Epstein

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Sarah Friar: Taking Risks in Career and Life | E28 Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Ed Mylett: The Path to Happiness and Fulfillment | E27 Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

Ed Mylett spent his early life in a dysfunctional home living with an alcoholic father who would often get into fist fights — at church, in line at the donut store, and even on the freeway. After his dad embarked on his path to sobriety, he soon became Ed’s first example of what it takes to succeed in life. This ultimately led to Ed’s realization that the challenges we overcome, or the parts of our former selves that we were once ashamed of, are the very things that qualify us to contribute and be in service of others in their search of excellence.
Despite this new mindset, Ed found himself aimless after an injury ended his dream of playing major league baseball. Ed had retreated to his family home where he spent his time alongside his childhood Teddy bears while watching episodes of The Maury Show and Jerry Springer. Some thirty-odd years later, Ed is now an incredibly successful serial entrepreneur and one of the most sought-after motivational speakers. Life for Ed is coming full circle as he’s now working on his own show… in the same studio that created episodes of The Maury Show and Jerry Springer he once watched.
In this episode, Randall and Ed discuss how important it is not to quit (at least for one more day); how a fear of failure is necessary and even healthy; how to recover from profound disappointments in life; the type of people you should look for (and avoid) when you need advice; why you should operate using visions and dreams, not history and memories; the importance of public speaking and unconventional ways to improve; why you should never base your self-confidence on your abilities or your achievements, and more…
Topics include:
-How adversity in Ed’s childhood influenced his adult life
-How to channel negatively-perceived emotions into success
-Why successful people embrace pain
-The concept of invisible progress
-Becoming an impossibility thinker and a possibility achiever in life
-What it means to actually step into your dreams
-The power of intention
-The difference between being wealthy and being rich
-Why confidence comes from preparation, not ability
-Why you should focus more on how you want to feel rather than what you want to get
Resources mentioned:
-Ed Mylett Show (podcast)
Books mentioned:
-The Power of One More, by Ed Mylett
-Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill
-Power of Intention, by Dr. Wayne Dyer

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Ed Mylett: The Power of One More | E26 Sep 13, 2022

Show notes

Coaching and Staying Connected:

The Beauty of Living Twice: Sharon Stone Revisited Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

In celebration of our one-year anniversary, we are revisiting a couple of our early episodes that people loved!
In today's episode, Randall Kaplan is joined by global superstar Sharon Stone to discuss what it took for her to achieve excellence in Hollywood as an outsider, how she managed to claw her way back from a crippling brain aneurysm, why being of service goes hand-in-hand with pursuing excellence, and much more.
Topics Include:
- Growing up dirt poor.
- Sharon’s early jobs and experiences as a model.
- Challenges as a woman and an outsider in Hollywood.
- The need to constantly prove yourself as a woman.
- Setting clear goals and pursuing dreams.
- The primacy of professionalism and kindness.
- The challenges of being a global superstar.
- The prevalence of sexual assault in the US.
- Finding ways to be of service every day.
- Sharon’s charity and philanthropic work.
- And other topics.
Sharon Stone achieved global superstardom for her performance in the blockbuster film Basic Instinct and has appeared in over fifty-two movies. She has won 43 awards for her acting including a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture and an Academy Award nomination for the film Casino. Sharon is intimately involved in humanitarian and philanthropic efforts and received the Nobel Peace Summit Award in 2013. In March of 2021, Sharon released The Beauty of Living Twice, an autobiography that details her life and the incredible challenges she’s managed to overcome.
Resources Mentioned:
The Beauty of Living Twice by Sharon Stone
Teenline, emotional support line for youth – 1.800.852.8336
Hotline for victims of domestic abuse – 1.800.799.SAFE (7233)
Homeless Not Toothless
Planet Hope

Coaching and Staying Connected:

The Grandfather of Modern Real Estate Investing: Sam Zell Revisited Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

In celebration of our one-year anniversary, we are revisiting a couple of our early episodes that people loved!
In today's episode, Randall Kaplan is joined by American billionaire businessman and philanthropist Sam Zell to discuss daring to be different, finding and capitalizing on opportunities, what it means to go for greatness, and much more.
Topics Include:
- How Sam’s parents escaped from Poland prior to Nazi invasion.
- What freedom and an opportunity to thrive in the US meant to the Zell family.
- Sam’s early success in real estate during his college years.
- The power of clarity to transform your business.
- Getting turned down by 43 consecutive law firms.
- Evaluating and taking on risk as a business owner and investor.
- The importance of culture, access, and a lack of hierarchy within an organization.
- Thoughts on current investment trends such as digital currencies.
- And other topics.
Samuel Zell is the chairman of Equity Group Investments and five publicly-traded companies on the NYSE. He is considered one of the grandfathers of the modern real estate investment industry and was recognized by Forbes as one of the greatest living business minds. A self-made billionaire with a net worth of over $5 billion, Sam is an active philanthropist with a focus on entrepreneurial education.
Resources Mentioned:
Am I Being Too Subtle by Sam Zell
“The Grave Dancer” by Sam Zell

Coaching and Staying Connected:

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