In Search Of Excellence

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 Hogan11:50 - Motivation and background of Mr. Olympia25:15 - Flex's last Mr. Olympia28:00 - Flex's parents supporting him38:20 - Hustling, relationships, and free protein powder49:45 - Having a long-term view and the shelf life of careers1:00:33 - Dana White1:10:05 - Extreme Preparation1:17:09 - Flex's family1:23:54 - Extra questions, Joe Rogan, and pigeons on creatineSponsors:Sandee | Bliss: BeachesWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

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. Time stamps:00:55 Flex’s family and backgroundGrew up in a loving home in WalesHis father was a steel worker and his mother a nurseDecided to be a millionaire as a kid 03:52 Born with a rugby ball in the mouthHe started playing rugby at the age of 6His full name is Steven James LewisFlex is a nickname he got as a kid 06:27 The pressure to better himselfA pressure to become betterHis first entrepreneurial momentDelivering papers on his bikeLearned responsibility and dealing with money13:22 Investing the money he earnedBought a male and female finchStarted breeding and selling them 15:57 Starting a moving companyPowerlifting and starting a moving companyBought his first truck and developed the businessWent an extra mile to do a good job 22:05 Learning from the QuadfatherSpent weekends at his grandparentsDiscovered a book by Tom Platz at 12The book changed his lifeFound weights and started doing squats 26:23 His parents’ worriesHis parents were afraid it would stunt his growthStayed away from training weights for a number of yearsFunny story about his father catching him squatting 28:30 Steve Naylor and his influenceFlex had a lot of admiration for SteveHe was drawn by his humilityStarted training with SteveBodybuilding is all about mind-muscle connection 32:19 Elbow injury and getting a tattooSpent the whole summer building his motocross bikeHad an accident and broke his elbowAfter removing the plaster cast, his arm was deadHad to make it stronger by himselfA tattoo on the weakened arm 38:53 Working in silence and achieving thingsDidn’t like school but liked PE teachersHe had dyslexia or ADHD, was labeled stupidHow schools were failing kids by discouraging themPracticing a handstand and the first day at school 47:26 The first powerlifting competitionFrom high-level rugby to powerlifting showBodybuilding in Wales is a big thingThe competition was held in the Royal Princess Theatre 51:59 Getting on a bodybuilding stageWas drawn by a free gym membershipChanged his diet and watched a lot of VHS videosThe competition and the alter egoPerformed great and won the showDeciding to prepare for British nationalsA 20-year relationship with his coachThe importance of loyalty 1:01:40 Chasing dreams and making sacrificesWinning the British NationalsGot an invitation from GolSponsors:Sandee | Bliss: BeachesWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

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 contractGot a 3-million-dollar checkBought a house for his parents 05:08 Managing money and votingManaging big money and choosing the right advisersInvesting money to create wealth and secure the futureLearning form Randall’s filling out a voting ballot 14:29 Advice to kids that want to be like himNFL and NBA statisticsFight for your dream and be realistic about your situationUse opportunities to better your life, don’t focus only on sports 19:24 The story of Brock PurdyThe underdog who made it to the topArik doesn’t understand the hate towards himBrock is a very good team player and great at improvising 22:24 Ass-kicked by the Detroit LionsThe atmosphere in the locker roomThe moments of failure that built their team 25:18 Playing in the Super BowlMost watched Super Bowl in historyReally prepared and focused on the game 27:36 Extreme preparation and top 3 ingredients of successOwes his success to preparation3 ingredients of successOwnership over what success truly means for youSacrificeDetermination 30:28 The work-life balanceIn season, it’s toughHis wife is a physician and has her own careerThey have 3 childrenNever feels like he’s doing enough 34:38 Randall’s funny storiesRandal’s being mixed up with Jimmy Garoppolo’s dadPlaying with Tom Brady in the BahamasTwo best moments with Kliff Kingsbury 40:50 Fill in the blanks for excellenceThe biggest lesson I've learned in my life isAnything worth having is worth working forMy number one professional goal isReach my full potentialMy number one personal goal isTo create a happy, healthy, loving home for my familyAnd more 46:58 Philanthropic workOne of the most philanthropic people in professional sportsNominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year 4 timesHis organization is AAP, the Arms Academic ProjectBelieves that education equity would solve many societal issuesThey partner with other organizationsFocusing on literacy with elementary school studentsOffering STEM education to middle school studentsCollege exploration with the high school studentsSponsors:Sandee | Bliss: BeachesWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

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 backgroundMother wrote a book about being the illegitimate daughter of a priestBorn and raised in LA and was shot in a gang shootingFather is a respected basketball trainerTrained over 500 NBA playersArik was always with himGrew up as a gym rat and that shaped his mindset07:28 Arik’s childhoodBeing around famous athletes was coolThe influence of NBA player Mike WilkesBeing humble and having compassion for other peopleYour hunger to be successful must exceed your thirst to shine 15:39 Entrepreneurial spiritHis brother started a snack barWhen he went to college, Arik continuedDidn’t have entrepreneurial drive as a kidAt college, his creativity and problem-solving kicked in 19:03 A chubby kid in the gymWas always in the gym with his dadPlayed basketball and footballMatt’s advice about giving an effort 23:12 Playing footballPlaying football and basketball at 11 years oldOffered a scholarship to USC his Freshman yearStarted dunking in freshman year 26:44 Achieving goalsArmy All-American and a McDonald's All-AmericanTo play football and basketball in collegeWanted to be the first person to play in the NBA and NFLThe importance of dreaming big and setting your goalsThe importance of internal motivation 32:21 The importance of educationEducation was not super important to himHe would do some things differently today 35:57 Being available for the highest bidderOregon recruited himCoach Kelly’s promiseThe offers he gotKids should not only take the highest bidBut what else they will get – reputation, coach, skills 44:38 The humbleness of million-dollar athletesRandall’s story about a million-dollar player who wanted to be his internArik was aware he needed to learn and educate himselfThe wedding 48:13 Arik’s draftingDrafts are spectaclesHis was in Cleveland and he didn’t goDidn’t want to embarrass himselfHad a watch party with his loved ones at home 52:28 Crazy agent stories and meeting Floyd MayweatherHow sports agents workSponsors:Sandee | Bliss: BeachesWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

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 RestlessReality check and finding an agentWorked in the restaurant to pay billsBroke a foot and worked as an extra 04:20 A Pivotal moment in Danielle’s careerPassed an audition and went to film in South AfricaOne of the most magical, crazy experiences of her lifeAlso scary and lonelyAfter that had jobs on and off 08:54 Saying No to moviesSaid No to Danica Patrick’s movieRefused to play a jockeyAgreed to work on her other movieThe whole movie ended up falling apart 11:33 Three minutes of deathDanielle’s near-death experienceFelt like having a flueLater on, felt like she was going to dieWent to the hospitalLost her heartbeat for 3 minutesDoctors induced coma to avoid organ failureDischarged after a monthShe was one of the first COVID cases in the US 18:48 After the hospitalAlmost had to relearn everythingDidn’t know what she was going to do or how to make moneyGreater sense of purposeNot taking anything for granted 21:35 The life of an actorThe reality is different than what people thinkMany auditions to get 1 jobWorking many hoursHow are actors memorizing the text? 26:26 What are the elements of success?DisciplineDrivePunctualityConsistency 28:21 The importance of extreme preparationThe impact of luck on successYou need luck, but you also have to create itA letter to 300 CEOsIt’s not hard, you just got to be willing to do the work 35:25 Randall as a mentorRandall’s relationship with his guestMike Tyson and his Instagram postRandall’s love for mentoring and coaching 40:02 Goals in her career and lifeThe Improv Group - don't think, just jumpYou've got to create your own destinyA list of directors she would like to work withWould love to get marriedA show with Joe Russo 44:29 Fill in the blank to excellenceMy number one professional goalTo be in the Marvel UniverseMy number one personal goalTo get married and have a familyAnd moreSponsors:Sandee | Bliss: BeachesWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Welcome to another episode In Search of Excellence! My guest today is Danielle Vasinova. Danielle is an actor, model, producer, entrepreneur, avid equestrian, and drummer, she has been in more than 50 movies and TV shows and is best known for her colorful action-adventure rolls. And she has graced the cover of many magazines, including Vogue, and Harper's Bazaar. In this episode, Danielle shares her story of overcoming shyness through cheerleading, starting a modeling career, and landing her first movie role. Randy discovers how he unexpectedly landed a role in a movie alongside Sharon Stone despite having no acting experience and emphasizes the importance of taking advantage of every opportunity you get in life. Time stamps:01:23 Danielle’s backgroundHer grandmother was an actress and singer in PragueEscaped communism at 17Met her future husband at displaced persons’ camps in GermanyThey came to New York City togetherHer mom worked for American AirlinesDad tested airplane engines for Pratt and WhitneyFell in love and moved to Connecticut03:46 Childhood memoriesDad bought her a ponyFarm animals became her friendsPainfully shy as a kidCreating a character is a form of protectionReluctantly became a cheerleaderHelped her to break out of the shellA training accident 11:12 Modeling at 13Competition at the local mallThe scout came up to her and offered her to be a modelWent to New York and signed a contractCastings, auditions, rejections and bookings 18:23 Taking advantage of opportunitiesDanielle’s bucket listRandy’s advice on how to get to peopleRandy’s story about meeting a famous actressPeople do respond to bold movesMyocarditis on a date 29:16 Do you need education to be an actor?UConn collageWas a waitress the whole timeBecame a Patriots cheerleaderComing to Santa Barbara 32:31 Young and Restless castingCalled for casting through her momWent to LA and auditionedGot the part 35:05 Randy’s hilarious experience with the movie industryBecoming friends with Bruce McNallCasting for the role in the movieGetting the role of a police officerMeeting Sharon StoneShooting the scenesBecoming friends with a certain directorBeing offered a role in his show 50:53 Randy’s first podcast guestsMeeting Sam Zell and becoming friendsSharon Stone andCliff Kingsbury, a football coachMark Cuban responded to his emailThe greatest piece of advice Randy got from his mentorDoing things that no one else has done beforeSponsors:Sandee | Bliss: BeachesWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Welcome to In Search of Excellence! You're listening to part two of my awesome conversation with Joe De Sena, the CEO of the global fitness and wellness brand Spartan, which has a community of more than 10 million athletes around the world.If you haven't yet listened to part one of my conversation with Joe, be sure to check that one out first. In this part, Joe shares his incredible story of perseverance, the importance of mentorship, and how pushing your limits can lead to extreme success and personal growth.Time stamps:00:58 From Cornell to Wall StreetThe entrepreneurship class at CornellWon a $5000 prize in a competition for the best business ideaThe advice from one of the judges to go to Wall StreetWent back to his pool business05:00 Joe’s bold stock investmentBuys Syntax stocks and earns $ 100,000Sells his pool business for $500,000Blew it all on the wrong stock investments07:25 How to get a mentor?Mentors are looking for basic human skillsRandall’s experience with his mentorsEarning a mentorship – a story about Max13:35 The importance of taking meetingsYou might add value to their life, they might add value to your lifeMoney comes from the most unexpected placesYou never know where a meeting could lead17:46 A risk to peruse your dreamLeaving the shore is uncomfortableTake the chances, you can always come backAn incredible red barn story21:20 The Spartan Company 24 years agoGetting people outside their comfort zoneIn the beginning, it didn’t workPeople don’t want to buy discomfortThe change that came with Facebook23:18 The Death RaceIt’s like a Navy SEALs or Delta Force eventSpartan’s toughest event meant to break youYou look in the mirror and find out who you areWhat does the Death Race look like?26:27 Serious health issues in JapanJoe was stressed out about his businessWoke up one morning and couldn’t see anythingEnded up in the hospital – and was told a part of his brain is deadHe decided not to accept that28:59 Why do people come to the Spartan race?When people experience the transformation, it’s addictiveEven if it sucked while they were doing itJoe’s philosophy - nobody cares, work harderOptimize your health and wellness to be able to operate31:01 The fear of failureFailure is a learning opportunityA lot of our fear is just fiction32:48 Three most important ingredients for successPersistence, Personality, GratitudeThe level of hard work needed for successYou must be willing to sacrifice and save the fun for later35:45 The importance of extreme preparationJoe is constantly working and always preparingHe prepares months ahead37:42 Joe’s ultimate dreamA year of some form of military service post-high schoolDisconnecting all water heatersKids doing burpees before they come into the schoolIs a work-life balance possible?38:55 Fill in the blanks for excellenceSponsors:Sandee | Bliss: BeachesWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

My guest today is Joe de Sena, a serial entrepreneur, ultra-marathoner, endurance athlete, motivational speaker, and self-described maniac. For the past 17 years, Joe has been the CEO of the global fitness and wellness brand Spartan, which has a community of more than 10 million athletes around the world.Joe is the host of the CNBC primetime show, No Retreat business boot camp, and a New York Times bestselling author of four books, Spartan Up, Spartan Fit, The Spartan Way, and his latest, 10 Rules for Resilience.Time stamps:01:46 Joe De Sena’s background and childhoodHe grew up in Howard Beach, the organized crime capital of the worldMom was a long-distance runner, vegan, and yoga practitionerDad was a workaholic entrepreneurThe story about his dad and the missing package in the warehouseThe story about moving bricks all nightAn unbelievable BMX ride to Greene, New York11:33 Working for Joe Bananno as a kidLessons from the head of the organized crime familyBecame a trusting kid and gained a lot of customersThe attractiveness of the mafia lifestyle and his dad’s adviceJoe Bananno as Joe’s friend and mentorThe best thing we can do in life is help people 18:15 What’s wrong with the mentality of today’s internsHuman beings are naturally lazy and wired for comfortThe story about Shaun and moving artworksMake yourself invaluable and irreplaceable26:48 Never ask for moneyA story about a car dealer from VermontA risk worth getting numerous customersGet your foot in the door first and provide value29:23 How rejections can fuel youApplied to Cornell and was rejectedLearned hard to prove worthy of Cornell but kept being rejectedFinally, enrolled in The Textile Department of Human EcologyIf you just keep doing it, you eventually break through35:05 The ability to hang in there and finish is changing your biologyIf the obstacle you face is not fatal, it’s just a lessonFailure can be our greatest asset if we use it rightFinishing hard things creates tracks in the brainQuitting creates gaps and more quittingSponsors:Sandee | Bliss: BeachesWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Today, we continue the amazing conversation with Jessica Berman – the commissioner of the NWSL! She addresses the disparity in pay between male and female athletes, outlining the steps needed to achieve pay equity and grow women's sport which will drive unprecedented growth in the NWSL. Her dedication and strategic vision to continue shaping the future of women's sports is relentless.Success is not just about achieving goals but also about embracing vulnerability, building resilience, and fostering authentic connections.Join the movement to support women's sports! Together, we can empower female athletes and promote equality in sports.If you missed part one, be sure to catch up for an inspiring conversation about breaking ceilings in the sports industry.Timestamps:0:47 - Introduction to part two.2:01 - Climbing up the ranks in the male-dominated sports industry- Transition from NHL to NLL; challenges faced.- Family support and career leap into NWSL.- The importance of taking risks.9:10 - Transition to becoming Commissioner of the NWSL and the league's growth- Turning a massive landmine into a field of diamonds.- Surreal experience of accepting the NWSL Commissioner role.- Milestones achieved: team expansion, media deals, office expansion.12:20 - Challenges inherited with NWSL; league turnaround- Addressing systemic abuse issues; league investigation.- Transformative growth: franchise values, media deals, attendance.- Expansion of NWSL staff; hiring process and objectives.- Office environment and collaborative workspace described.18:47 - The disparity in pay between men's and women's soccer- Comparison of earnings between male and female players.- Importance of growing fan base and revenue for equitable pay.- The challenges of building a sustainable business model.23:53 - Importance of female soccer superstars- Cultivating stars in women's soccer; role models and icons.- Impact of star players on league popularity and recognition.27:38 - Five ingredients for success; empathy and hard work- Personal qualities for success discussed; empathy as top priority.- Role of passion, preparation, and relationships in success.29:20 - Significance of passion and preparation- Passion is inherent to success; holistic preparation for challenges.- Role of extreme preparation in achieving goals.- Importance of physical and mental readiness for success.32:05 - Importance of Vulnerability in Leadership- Role modeling behavior and building connections.- Overcoming ego to foster genuine leadership.- Creating a culture of trust and authenticity.35:15 - Legacy of Leadership- Embracing authenticity and individuality in leadership.- Fostering a culture of success and pride.- Prioritizing family and collective accomplishments.38:11 - Triumph Over Adversity- Balancing career demands with personal challenges.- Cultivating resilience amidst life-altering circumstances.- Leveraging support systems for personal and professional growth.42:40 - Resilience and Recovery- Brad's (His Ex-husband and Best Friend) miraculous recovery journey post-stroke.- Navigating family dynamics amidst adversity.- Finding strength and gratitude in life's challenges.43:42 Sponsors:Sandee | Bliss: BeachesWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Today, our guest is Jessica Berman, the Commissioner of the National Women's Soccer League, a trailblazing executive in professional sports. With a history of transformative leadership, she played a pivotal role in the growth of women's soccer.From Deputy Commissioner of the National Lacrosse League to her impactful years at the NHL, Jessica has consistently broken barriers.Jessica attended Fordham Law School, interning with the NFL during her studies. She later worked at Proskauer Rose, specializing in labor and employment law, where she dealt with the legal aspects of the NHL. Her story is one of leadership, innovation, and breaking barriers in the world of sports.Timestamps:0:00 - Intro2:23 - Jessica’s Background & Influence of Parents- Diverse upbringing in Brooklyn, with an Orthodox Jewish family.- Phyllis, Jessica's mom, pursued a PhD after taking care of her.- Ted, Jessica’s dad, was an entrepreneur with golf gas stations in New York.- Dad's immigrant background, emphasizing hard work as the key to success.- Dad's grassroots business approach and resistance to advanced technology.6:15 - The Brady Bunch Family- Jessica's family, a blend of her dad's kids from a previous marriage and her mom.- The uniqueness and challenges of growing up in a mixed family.7:45 - Early Interests in Dance and involvement in sport manangement- Focus on dance and cheerleading due to limited sports opportunities for girls.- Volunteering as a student manager for high school sports teams.8:12 - Dealing with Frustration and Pursuing Passions- Lack of opportunities to play sports directly- Involvement in cheerleading.- Advice on dealing with frustration and finding alternative paths.10:36 - Epiphany at a Hockey Game- The pivotal moment at an Islanders game that led Jessica to aspire to work in the sports industry.- The Nelson Mandela quote16:38 - Inspiring Social Change in Youth- Reflection on her Jewish education instilling values of equality and respect.- Encouraging parents to inspire social change in their children.19:16 - Pursuing Dreams (Square peg, Square(Round) hole moment)- Jessica's advice to relentlessly pursue one's passion- Remaining open to different paths.- Balancing focused pursuit with openness to unexpected opportunities.24:00 - Breaking Through and Adding Value- The importance of making oneself useful.- Adding value in the absence of formal internship paths.- Challenges of breaking through.29:56 - Networking and Following Up- Disappointment in the lack of follow-ups after informational interviews.- The simplicity of standing out- Making lasting impressions in today’s competitive world.32:46 - Law School and Career Path- Attending law school- Role of a graduate degree in her career.- Working with the NFL during law school- Later joining Proskauer Rose to work with the NHL.36:39 - Do you need a graduate degree to be successful?- Jessica’s decision to attend law school to pursue her career goals.- Reflections on the value of legal training in her career.- The necessity of graduate degrees for success in various fields.41:02 - Jessica’s Law school experience- Post-law school and her decision to leave theSponsors:Sandee | Bliss: BeachesWant to Connect? Reach out to us online!Website | Instagram | LinkedIn