In Search Of Excellence

Latest Episodes:

Mike Posner on "Cooler Than Me," "I Took a Pill in Ibiza," and His Walk Across America | Podcast Interview | E113 May 28, 2024

Show notes

My guest today is the incredible Mike Posner. Mike is a singer-songwriter, record producer, and poet. He has released four albums and is best known for his hit song "Cooler Than Me," which he wrote as a sophomore in college. He is also known for the smash hit "I Took a Pill in Ibiza," which is one of my favorite songs of all time and, as of today, has 1.9 billion streams on Spotify. He has written songs for Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, Nick Jonas, Snoop Dogg, and many others, and has been nominated for a Grammy and various MTV Video Music Awards. As the author of the poetry book Teardrops and Balloons, he is also the only Grammy Award-nominated musician to walk across the United States on foot.

00:00:00 - Introduction.

00:02:57 - Lessons from family and mission-driven values.

00:05:50 - A pivotal moment of change.

00:08:45 - Entrepreneurial efforts during college.

00:11:38 - Early interests and influences.

00:14:36 - Challenges and motivational moments.

00:17:31 - Discussing patterns of depression and emotional states.

00:20:26 - Overcoming self-doubt and silly feelings.

00:23:18 - Achievements: Walking across continents and Grammy nominations.

00:26:15 - Socio-economic background and educational environment.

00:29:08 - Reflections on personal achievements.

00:32:08 - Rethinking career and life questions.

00:34:56 - Balancing career aspirations with financial realities.

00:37:56 - Academic experiences and personal capabilities.

00:40:51 - Memorable encounters with celebrities.

00:43:43 - Evaluating creative collaborations.

00:46:40 - The power of visualization and goal setting.

00:49:36 - Long-term commitment to music and personal growth.

00:52:28 - Supportive family dynamics and early creative experiences.

00:55:27 - Creative process and spontaneous songwriting.

00:58:18 - Brief moments and lasting impressions.

01:01:16 - Learning about the music business.

01:04:11 - Recognition and personal identity in the industry.

01:07:06 - Networking and spreading music through social connections.

01:10:00 - Philosophical thoughts on happiness and external circumstances.

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:

Dana White on Suga Sean O'Malley, Conor McGregor, and Building the UFC Podcast Interview | E112 May 21, 2024

Show notes

My guest today is the incredible Dana White. For last 23 years Dana has been the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the leading mixed martial arts company in the world. During these 23 years, Dana has transformed the UFC from an unwanted, unloved, unsuccessful company heavily indebted into one of the greatest and largest sports franchises in history, and he's viewed by many as the greatest sports promoter in history. He is also the founder of Power Slap, a slap fighting promotion company owned by Ultimate Fighting Championship showcasing his innovative spirit in sports promotions.
00:00 - Introduction
01:16 - Sold UFC for $4 Billion
03:25 - Reflecting on Past and Future
06:03 - The American Dream
08:05 - Joe Rogan's Impact
10:14 - Innovating Fight Production
13:24 - Discovering Conor McGregor
15:20 - Importance of Superstars in UFC
17:55 - Story About Jon Jones
20:31 - Motivation Post-UFC Sale
23:49 - Dana's Current Motivation
27:48 - Impact of Money
31:15 - Family and Prioritizing Children
34:03 - Importance of Preparation
36:45 - Loyalty to Joe Rogan and Donald Trump
42:26 - Starting a Company: Reality vs Expectation
44:26 - Sphere Live Event
46:52 - Power Slap: New Venture
48:30 - Philanthropy: Helping Those in Need
51:53 - Emotional Impact of Charity

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Dana White: Podcast Interview on His First Fight, Joe Rogan, the Mafia, & Building the UFC | E111 May 14, 2024

Show notes

My guest today is the incredible Dana White. For last 23 years Dana has been the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the leading mixed martial arts company in the world. During these 23 years, Dana has transformed the UFC from an unwanted, unloved, unsuccessful company heavily indebted into one of the greatest and largest sports franchises in history, and he's viewed by many as the greatest sports promoter in history. He is also the founder of Power Slap, a slap fighting promotion company owned by Ultimate Fighting Championship showcasing his innovative spirit in sports promotions.
00:00 - Introduction
03:18 - Dana's Tough Childhood
10:12 - Dana's First Fight
17:58 - Dana's Work Experience as a Bellman
25:18 - Move to Las Vegas
27:15 - Timing is Everything
34:29 - Is College Important
40:44 - Cleaning Up the UFC
43:06 - The Ultimate Fighter Breakthrough
48:09 - The American Dream, Hardship, and Perseverance

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Lele Pons: Her Funny Vines, Music Career, and Staying Relevant Over Time | E110 May 08, 2024

Show notes

My guest today is incredible, Lele Pons. Lele is an actress, writer, producer, director, singer, model, brand ambassador, and is one of the most important content creators of all time. She has 54 million followers on Instagram, 39.1 million followers on TikTok, and as 18 million subscribers on her YouTube channel. She stars in "The Secret Life of Lele Pons" – a YouTube Documentary series that provides a look at our personal life, – and is the host of the podcast "Best Kept Secrets with Lele Pons" on Spotify.
00:00 - Introduction
01:47 - Dancing with the Stars Experience
05:12 - Realizing and Handling Fame
10:01 - The Pressures of Fame
12:11 - Staying Humble
23:59 - Risky Adventures and Sharks
34:18 - Meeting and Falling in Love
49:12 - Idols and Meeting Shakira
59:52 - Work Ethic and Preparation

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Where is Lele Pons Now? | Podcast Interview With The Venezuelan Social Media Superstar | E109 Apr 29, 2024

Show notes

My guest today is incredible, Lele Pons. Lele is an actress, writer, producer, director, singer, model, brand ambassador, and is one of the most important content creators of all time. She has 54 million followers on Instagram, 39.1 million followers on TikTok, and as 18 million subscribers on her YouTube channel. She stars in "The Secret Life of Lele Pons" – a YouTube Documentary series that provides a look at our personal life, – and is the host of the podcast "Best Kept Secrets with Lele Pons" on Spotify.
00:00 Introduction and Early Influences
03:35 Getting Kidnapped as a Child
05:17 Health Challenges, Diagnosis, and Anxiety
07:49 OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
12:50 Exploring Tourette Syndrome
16:05 Dealing with ADHD and Executive Functioning
19:45 Bullying, School Experiences, and Coping Mechanisms
34:40 The Start of Vine
44:45 Being Original and the Source of Creativity
48:50 Body Image and Content Editing
57:39 Lele's Father

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Flex Lewis: The Gym Rat’s Road to Riches – Bench Presses, Business Plans, and Brand Building | E108 Apr 16, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is the incredible Flex Lewis. Flex is a serial entrepreneur, coach, motivational speaker, and one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. He has won 7 consecutive Mr. Olympia titles.

He's also the co-owner of Arsenal, strength gym equipment, the fastest-growing fitness equipment company in the world, and the owner of the famous Dragon's Lair Gym in Las Vegas.
01:21 - Joe Gold recruiting Flex Lewis and living with John Cena and Hulk Hogan
11:50 - Motivation and background of Mr. Olympia
25:15 - Flex's last Mr. Olympia
28:00 - Flex's parents supporting him
38:20 - Hustling, relationships, and free protein powder
49:45 - Having a long-term view and the shelf life of careers
1:00:33 - Dana White
1:10:05 - Extreme Preparation
1:17:09 - Flex's family
1:23:54 - Extra questions, Joe Rogan, and pigeons on creatine

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Flex Lewis Unfiltered Interview: Training Motivation, Workouts & Bodybuilding for Mr. Olympia | E107 Apr 04, 2024

Show notes

He's also the co-owner of Arsenal, strength gym equipment, the fastest-growing fitness equipment company in the world and the owner of the famous Dragon's Lair Gym in Las Vegas.

Time stamps:

00:55 Flex’s family and background

Grew up in a loving home in Wales
His father was a steel worker and his mother a nurse
Decided to be a millionaire as a kid

03:52 Born with a rugby ball in the mouth

He started playing rugby at the age of 6
His full name is Steven James Lewis
Flex is a nickname he got as a kid

06:27 The pressure to better himself

A pressure to become better
His first entrepreneurial moment
- Delivering papers on his bike
Learned responsibility and dealing with money

13:22 Investing the money he earned

Bought a male and female finch
Started breeding and selling them

15:57 Starting a moving company

Powerlifting and starting a moving company
Bought his first truck and developed the business
Went an extra mile to do a good job

22:05 Learning from the Quadfather

Spent weekends at his grandparents
Discovered a book by Tom Platz at 12
The book changed his life
Found weights and started doing squats

26:23 His parents’ worries

His parents were afraid it would stunt his growth
Stayed away from training weights for a number of years
Funny story about his father catching him squatting

28:30 Steve Naylor and his influence

Flex had a lot of admiration for Steve
He was drawn by his humility
Started training with Steve
Bodybuilding is all about mind-muscle connection

32:19 Elbow injury and getting a tattoo

Spent the whole summer building his motocross bike
Had an accident and broke his elbow
After removing the plaster cast, his arm was dead
Had to make it stronger by himself
A tattoo on the weakened arm

38:53 Working in silence and achieving things

Didn’t like school but liked PE teachers
He had dyslexia or ADHD, was labeled stupid
How schools were failing kids by discouraging them
Practicing a handstand and the first day at school

47:26 The first powerlifting competition

From high-level rugby to powerlifting show
Bodybuilding in Wales is a big thing
The competition was held in the Royal Princess Theatre

51:59 Getting on a bodybuilding stage

Was drawn by a free gym membership
Changed his diet and watched a lot of VHS videos
The competition and the alter ego
Performed great and won the show
Deciding to prepare for British nationals
A 20-year relationship with his coach
The importance of loyalty

1:01:40 Chasing dreams and making sacrifices

Winning the British Nationals
Got an invitation from Gold’s Gym to come to the US
It was a magical experience and a massive culture shock
Worked to save and come again
Coliseum Gym in California
Slept on a friend’s sofa for 1.5 year
Trained a lot and waited for an opportunity

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Arik Armstead: Jacksonville Jaguars & How to Spend Your First NFL Check | E106 Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

You're listening to part two of my awesome conversation with Arik Armstead. Arik is a star defensive lineman NFL football player for the San Francisco 49ers and a dedicated philanthropist. He has been nominated for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for four consecutive seasons, recognizing his on-field excellence and impactful community work.

Time stamps:

00:58 The first contract

Got a 3-million-dollar check
Bought a house for his parents

05:08 Managing money and voting

Managing big money and choosing the right advisers
Investing money to create wealth and secure the future
Learning form Randall’s filling out a voting ballot

14:29 Advice to kids that want to be like him

NFL and NBA statistics
Fight for your dream and be realistic about your situation
Use opportunities to better your life, don’t focus only on sports

19:24 The story of Brock Purdy

The underdog who made it to the top
Arik doesn’t understand the hate towards him
Brock is a very good team player and great at improvising

22:24 Ass-kicked by the Detroit Lions

The atmosphere in the locker room
The moments of failure that built their team

25:18 Playing in the Super Bowl

Most watched Super Bowl in history
Really prepared and focused on the game

27:36 Extreme preparation and top 3 ingredients of success

Owes his success to preparation
3 ingredients of success
- Ownership over what success truly means for you
- Sacrifice
- Determination

30:28 The work-life balance

In season, it’s tough
His wife is a physician and has her own career
They have 3 children
Never feels like he’s doing enough

34:38 Randall’s funny stories

Randal’s being mixed up with Jimmy Garoppolo’s dad
Playing with Tom Brady in the Bahamas
Two best moments with Kliff Kingsbury

40:50 Fill in the blanks for excellence

The biggest lesson I've learned in my life is
- Anything worth having is worth working for
My number one professional goal is
- Reach my full potential
My number one personal goal is
- To create a happy, healthy, loving home for my family
And more

46:58 Philanthropic work

One of the most philanthropic people in professional sports
- Nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year 4 times
His organization is AAP, the Arms Academic Project
Believes that education equity would solve many societal issues
They partner with other organizations
Focusing on literacy with elementary school students
Offering STEM education to middle school students
College exploration with the high school students

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Arik Armstead: Jacksonville Jaguars & Developing a Winning Mindset With NFL Football | E105 Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to In Search of Excellence! My guest today is my good friend Arik Armstead. Arik is a star defensive lineman NFL football player for the San Francisco 49ers and a dedicated philanthropist. He has been nominated for the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for four consecutive seasons, recognizing his on-field excellence and impactful community work.
In this episode, we are talking about Arik’s remarkable transition from little league rejection to NFL Man of the Year nominee, his crazy spring break in Vegas and unexpected meeting with Floyd Mayweather, and the importance of humility, faith, and unwavering hard work in his path to excellence.
Time stamps:

01:36 Family background

Mother wrote a book about being the illegitimate daughter of a priest
Born and raised in LA and was shot in a gang shooting
Father is a respected basketball trainer
Trained over 500 NBA players
Arik was always with him
Grew up as a gym rat and that shaped his mindset

07:28 Arik’s childhood

Being around famous athletes was cool
The influence of NBA player Mike Wilkes
Being humble and having compassion for other people
Your hunger to be successful must exceed your thirst to shine

15:39 Entrepreneurial spirit

His brother started a snack bar
When he went to college, Arik continued
Didn’t have entrepreneurial drive as a kid
At college, his creativity and problem-solving kicked in

19:03 A chubby kid in the gym

Was always in the gym with his dad
Played basketball and football
Matt’s advice about giving an effort

23:12 Playing football

Playing football and basketball at 11 years old
Offered a scholarship to USC his Freshman year
Started dunking in freshman year

26:44 Achieving goals

Army All-American and a McDonald's All-American
To play football and basketball in college
Wanted to be the first person to play in the NBA and NFL
The importance of dreaming big and setting your goals
The importance of internal motivation

32:21 The importance of education

Education was not super important to him
He would do some things differently today

35:57 Being available for the highest bidder

Oregon recruited him
Coach Kelly’s promise
The offers he got
Kids should not only take the highest bid
But what else they will get – reputation, coach, skills

44:38 The humbleness of million-dollar athletes

Randall’s story about a million-dollar player who wanted to be his intern
Arik was aware he needed to learn and educate himself
The wedding

48:13 Arik’s drafting

Drafts are spectacles
His was in Cleveland and he didn’t go
Didn’t want to embarrass himself
Had a watch party with his loved ones at home

52:28 Crazy agent stories and meeting Floyd Mayweather

How sports agents work

Coaching and Staying Connected:

Danielle Vasinova: Making It in Hollywood: Ups, Downs, and Lessons Learned | E104 Mar 12, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to In Search of Excellence! You're listening to part two of my awesome conversation with Danielle Vasinova, an actor, producer, entrepreneur, avid equestrian, and drummer. If you haven't yet listened to part one yet, be sure to check it out first.

Danielle is talking about the realities of pursuing a career in Hollywood, the life of aspiring actor and their struggles, her personal near-death experience, and the importance of preparation and creating your own destiny.

Tune in for now to listen to this amazing and inspiring conversation!

Time stamps:

01:02 After The Young and the Restless