In Search Of Excellence

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is the amazing Jesse Itzler.Jesse is a serial entrepreneur who has built and sold five companies, including Marquis Jet and Zico Coconut Water. He is an Emmy Award winner, a former rapper and former manager of Run DMC, a globally recognized keynote speaker, and a part-owner of the Atlanta Hawks NBA basketball team.He's also a passionate endurance athlete who has run more than 35,000 miles over the last 25 years, including 50+ marathons. Jessie is also the author of two awesome best-selling books, Living with the Seals 31 Days: Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet and Living with the Monks: What Turning off My Phone Taught Me About Happiness, Gratitude, and Focus. Time stamps:01:54 The influence of Jesse’s parents- They showed up for everything- They let him explore- They didn’t over-schedule him- Didn’t teach him about hard work, he watched them doing it04:12 How much is his personality a part of his success?- He has problems with memorizing things- He is great at storytelling- His personality was essential for his success05:58 The entrepreneurial gene- Jesse’s grandfather was born in poverty in Russia- He immigrated to America and came with nothing- Jesse’s grandfather and father worked very hard- Jesse grew up middle-class07:42 Should kids go to college?- Jesse went to everything and was exposed to knowledge and people- His mom encouraged him to be curious and take every opportunity- He was aware of the time and urgency12:50 The start of Jesse’s career – getting a foot at the door- Jesse's record deal – go to every door until someone says yes- He got a deal from a record label called Delicious Vinyl- It’s essential to get a foot at the door and get into the system 16:47 The ridiculous offer and believing in yourself- Started the music business doing commercial jingles- He lived on his friend’s couches- Someone offered him $10,000 for 10% of his future earnings- Can you? vs. Will you?20:32 The advice to young entrepreneurs- Some businesses require capital- Selling out equity to employees, friends, and family- Under-promising and keeping things simple is a better strategy- Take advice, go through the pros and cons, and think through the worst-case scenario24:39 How to bounce back from a failure?- Sold his business for $1 million- Tried many different things and failed- Extremely enthusiastic about trying fun things and projects- Sold celery and carrot sticks and loved it even without the profit- In business, three strikes and you're not out 29:30 Is there a time to stop trying?- Jesse kept going despite failures- He never stopped- The tolerance of embarrassment- Never got embarrassed by his failures31:51 The value of relationships- Wanted to start a private jet company but didn’t have jets- Met with the president of the largest private jet company in the world – Net Jets- Got the deal and built a $5 billion companyResources Mentioned:Type in EXCELLENCE15 for 15% off The Big A## Calendar! Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Welcome to In Search of Excellence! This is the second part of an amazing episode with Martin Luther King III, a human rights activist, advocate, and philanthropist. He is the oldest son and the oldest living child of the civil rights icons, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. For the past five decades, Martin has continued his parents’ legacy by dedicating his life to equality, social justice, and nonviolent activism, and is honored that activism through his dedication to human rights, voting access, gun violence prevention, race relations, and other important social causes. He advocates for underserved communities and he has led initiatives, including the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, and he has also been awarded the Rosa L. Parks Award and the Lantern of Peace Award. Time stamps:01:00 The case of George Floyd- The police officers got the correct punishment- Being a police officer is a tough job- Protests all around the world – mostly non-violent- Banning on books and going backward- We have to do better08:13 Black people being killed by the police- A variety of things that have to be instituted and implemented- More in-depth psychological evaluations- Civilian review boards- Constant internal changes- Human relations and diversity training- Work together to create better communities13:30 The case of James Earl Ray- MLK III and his family claim he was innocent- There is a bunch of evidence that someone else did it- Ray died after serving 30 years in prison19:22 The advice to people purchasing their dreams- You have to have a plan, determination, focus, and work hard- Don’t give up on your dreams- His mom saying his dad would be proud of him24:26 The spike of anti-Semitism- We must go far beyond tolerance- We have to find a way to get rid of hate as a society- Society has created insecurities that make people want to judge27:49 Anti-Semitism on campuses- The anti-Semitic atmosphere on campuses and the response of the leadership- There’s got to be more to it because it doesn’t make sense- Somewhere we've lost humanity as a society- We have to elevate humanity 36:57 Fill in the blank to excellence- The biggest lesson I've learned in my life    - How to forgive- Number one professional goal    - To find a way to bring people together- And moreCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Welcome to In Search of Excellence! My guest today is Martin Luther King III, a human rights activist, advocate, and philanthropist. He is the oldest son and the oldest living child of the civil rights icons, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. For the past five decades, Martin has continued his parents’ legacy by dedicating his life to equality, social justice, and nonviolent activism, and is honored that activism through his dedication to human rights, voting access, gun violence prevention, race relations, and other important social causes. He advocates for underserved communities and he has led initiatives, including the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, and he has also been awarded the Rosa L. Parks Award and the Lantern of Peace Award. Time stamps:01:56 Martin Luther King as a father- MLK III was 10 years old when MLK Jr. was killed- When he wasn’t on the road, he spent time with his children- People always wanted to speak to him05:55 Moving to Atlanta and bullying- The first African American kids to integrate the Atlanta school- A kid with issues started bullying them- The change in their relationship- Mental health issues and bullying10:37 An advice to parents whose kids are bullied- Work to build a strong foundation within your children- Figure out how to fortify your child- Martin Luther King’s speech about resilience 13:00 When did he find out how important was his dad?- Fully aware when he was assassinated- Many famous people used to come to their house- The president Kennedy was at his funeral- Listened to his dad’s speeches later in life18:46 Traveling with his dad- His dad traveled a lot- 80% of the time he traveled alone- He would always seek his wife’s advice and counsel- They met at Boston University- Moving to Montgomery and becoming the leader in the community23:16 The constant threat on Martin Luther King’s life- The incident with a burning cross- Martin Luther King was in constant danger- A bomb was thrown at their home in Montgomery- The New York attack and the cross on the skin30:30 Martin Luther’s King Jr. assassination- The day Martin Luther King Jr. was killed- Comforting conversations with his mother- His mom led the march on Memphis before the funeral35:00 The influence of I Had a Dream speech- The Civil Rights March in Washington- A speech that could be felt by everyone- The last message delivered at the National Cathedral- How to disagree without being disagreeable- It’s important to have common ground and build relationships41:38 The winning of the Nobel prize- A validation that he was on the right road- Wanted to create a better world for all of God's children- Always better to resolve conflict than to pick up arms- His message is equally needed today45:36 Forgiveness and hatred- Dad and mom taught them to forgive- How to handle losing a loved one?- His grandmother and uncle were killed in the next 5 years- The traumatic meaning of special bulletins- His grandfather meets his wife’s murderer- Harboring hatred or finding a way to release and love54:00 The burden of his name- Subconsciously felt the challenges- His mother liberated him by saying to be his best self- Saying his name to Coaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Welcome to the second part of In Search of Excellence episode with my amazing guest, Ian Boggs. Ian is one of the most successful influencers of all time. He has more than 30 million followers on YouTube, Tik Tok, Snap, and Instagram. His videos have been viewed more than 30 billion times.Learn about his first million, the importance of having passion in what you do, his plans for the future, and the struggles he had with his mental health. Tune in to hear more from this incredible young man!Time stamps:00:54 Should you be motivated by money as an influencer?Anything you can think of that you can sellAffiliate marketing02:49 Should you be motivated by money as an influencer?You need money to survive, but not make it your end-all-be-allFigure out what makes you happy and then how to make money out of itThe first thing is to build a strong core audience06:27 The importance of passionRandall’s experience with his internsPassion as a life purpose09:45 The feeling of the first millionIan wasn't even looking at the numbersMoney is just a tool to invest into the businessHiring people and building a team 12:18 Growing and planning the futureTypical age demographicPlans for making a movieA written 5-year tenure or 30-year planBuying a houseBuilding a franchise21:58 The importance of extreme preparationWriting down your personal goalsMaking realistic and achievable goalsAn interview for NetflixTrying to over-prepare for other things27:36 Mental health issuesGot stressed, anxious, and depressed at collegeThinking about suicideA help from his dad and a therapistAdvice for people suffering from depressionTake advantage of existing resources, like the suicide hotline34:38 Dating and partiesDoesn’t like partiesThere is much more to lifeThere is more fun in learning and growing37:38 The importance of giving backBuying a house for his parentsGive back to people who helped you and supported you40:11 Fill in the blanks for excellenceThe biggest lesson I've learned in my life isDo what makes you happyMy number one professional goal isTo be a billionaireThe one thing I've dreamt of doing for a long time but haven't doneMaking a movieAnd more43:48 Is luck important for success?Mark Cuban’s thoughtsIan always thought he was unluckyThat’s why he worked hard46:03 Randall’s advice to teens and young adultsAnxiety is normalWrite down your goals5 things you are best and worst atBe passionate about what you are doingWork ethic is vitalCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is an incredible young man, Ian Boggs. Ian is one of the most successful influencers of all time. He has more than 30 million followers on YouTube, TikTok, Snap, and Instagram. His videos have been viewed more than 30 billion times.Tune in to hear Ian talking about his childhood, education, and his journey from dreaming about being a doctor to becoming one of the most successful influencers online. Find out how he started doing what he loved, how his videos went viral, and how he gained millions of followers on social media. He also shares how he dealt with hateful comments and how he earns money as a social media creator.Time stamps:01:27 Ian’s backgroundAn American father who grew up in Kenya and a Japanese motherThat helped him build his audience all around the world02:48 Creating his first contentHis mother loved photography and had a cameraIan created content with Legos04:46 What was Ian like as a kid?Introverted and super creativeLearned that nothing comes for freeMade money mowing lawns07:53 The education and the shift in mindsetAP classes in ItalyCheating on testStudying to be a doctor at UCIDecide to go a different routeSwitched to Media Studies14:53 Cutting his own hair for a videoMaking fun of alpha malesStarted doing haircuts for $15Passionate about photography and videographyStarted earning money19:28 Becoming a social media creatorA dream of becoming a social media creatorA video went viralDid live of himself sleepingParents supported his dream25:44 Hitting a million followersA million followers on Tik TokHad a lot of anxietyWasn’t happy about the content he was posting27:24 Making the content he lovedGoing to California, starving, and working hardHis father cut him off financiallyHe decided to make the content he was happy about30:30 Hateful commentsHe made some cringy contentBad comments gave him anxietyLearned to deal with itEngaging with comments on social media34:45 Buying followersBought followers are usually botsFake followers are harmfulBuying followers is a scammy business38:27 How to make money on social media?Merch – selling different productsEarning with AdSense on YouTube explainedBrand deals - Marvel, Netflix, and Old SpiceCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Welcome to part 2 of In Search of Excellence episode with a good friend of mine, Luc Robitaille! Luke is an NHL Hall of Famer and the highest-scoring left winger in NHL history, with 668 goals over his 19-season career.In his first year in the league, Luc won the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year and then went on to become the only left wing in NHL history to record 8 consecutive 40-goal seasons.Luc played 8 all-star games, won a Stanley Cup as a player with the awesome Detroit Red Wings in 2002, and 2 more Stanley Cups as an executive with the Los Angeles Kings.He is giving back to his community through his Echoes of Hope Foundation.Time stamps:11:29 Becoming a Stanley Cup ChampionA hard trophy to winAs a free agent, went to the Detroit Red WingsLuc’s feelings during the game and after winning the cup18:39 Giving away his best memorabiliaA great party after winning the cupA poker night theme with giveawaysGave away the stuff he collected during his career22:42 The NHL Hall of FameIt was very emotionalLuc’s inspiring speechThe reaction of his parents26:28 The fear of failing makes you greatIf you're willing to push yourself, you're going to have successWhat do you do when no one's looking?28:25 The importance of extreme preparationLuc was very disciplinedHad to be sure he was prepared for every gameHe likes having a plan and sticking to itPicking the right marketing agency34:10 How important is passion to our success?Passion is the most important thingVery few lucky people do a job that they're passionate about36:34 Is luck an important ingredient of our success?You bring your luck through preparationSomeone can open the door for you, but you have to prove yourselfWork ethic and constant improvement41:51 Being humble and kindLuke grew up in a humble familyThe lesson from his uncleHow important is being kind and humble for our success?Very successful people are usually extremely humbleNever forget where you came from47:13 How important are coaches in hockey?Coaches in hockey are very importantA coach has to make sure every player is involved49:52 Giving back to the communityIt’s important to give back – money or timeHelped numerous foundationsStarted a charity with his wifeStarted working with foster kidsHelping them to stand on their feet56:20 Fill in the blanks for excellenceThe biggest lesson I've learned in my lifeNever give upMy biggest regret isNot spending enough time with familyAnd moreCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Welcome to another episode of In Search for Excellence! My guest today is my good friend Luc Robitaille! Luc is an NHL Hall of Famer who as a 19-year-old teenager went from being drafted in the 9th round (171st overall) to becoming the highest-scoring left winger in NHL history, with 668 goals over his 19-season career.In his first year in the league, Luc won the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year and then went on to become the only left wing in NHL history to record 8 consecutive 40-goal seasons. Luc played 8 all-star games, won a Stanley Cup as a player with the awesome Detroit Red Wings in 2002, and two more Stanley Cups as an executive with the Los Angeles Kings. He is giving back to his community through his Echoes of Hope Foundation.Time stamps:01:23 Luc Robitaille’s family and backgroundHe had a great life but not a lot of moneyWorked at his dad’s scrap yardThe value of manual labor07:44 Earliest memories playing hockeyA tennis ball was goldMade their own equipment for hockeyHis first memory holding a stick11:13 The difference from other kidsPracticing all the time to be betterHis mentality was all about hard workSense of a game is hard to teach14:57 Goals, dreams, and hard workWanted to play Junior MajorThat was what they could afford to watchHe was up at 4:30 am to go to practiceNo one needed to ever push him for the next practice19:50 Getting into the World Junior ChampionshipOnly 40 players were invited to make the teamHe wasn’t calledOne of the players got injured and he got inThat changed his life permanently22:35 Getting drafted by the LA KingsNHL draftProjected to be a late-round draft pickThe scouts said he was too small, didn't skate well, lacked hand-eye coordinationHe became the 171st pickThe story about the draft and the pin29:38 Moving to LAHe wanted to focus on playing hockey onlyStayed in the boarding house with Marcel DionneDid nothing except trainingThe nickname Lucky35:18 The first gameWanted to be a part of making the LA Kings greatRecalling the first game experienceThe excitement of his first score39:17 The Rookie of the YearHow did it feel to receive the award?Didn’t think he was going to winHe was overwhelmed but moved on41:18 A special bond with Jimmy CarsonJimmy came from a different backgroundThey had a special bond and practiced all the timeThe secret signal helped them score 15-20 goalsStaying in the middle of the bench45:30 Playing with Wayne GretzkyAs a kid, he admired Wayne GretzkyWanted to impress him more than to winWhen he came to the Kings, it was hard because he was his heroThe coach took him from Wayne’s line because he was distractedCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Welcome to part 2 of our amazing conversation with Amberly Lago. Amberly is a peak performance coach, TEDx speaker, top 1% podcast host, motivational speaker, and a leading expert in the field of resilience, transformation, and health and wellness. She is also the bestselling author of the book True Grit and Grace, and the founder of Unstoppable Life Mastermind.Amberly has an incredible life story and she is sharing pure gold advice on how to overcome life challenges, how to deal with trauma, and become resilient and successful.Time stamps:00:54 Randall’s emotional story about his heart attackLife-threatening situation and a traumatic experienceFinding he had myocarditisDeath of a close friendAsked by doctors if he was taking cocaineGrateful for being aliveThe power of endorphins10:30 Hitting a rock bottom and suicidal thoughtsAmberly was always a high achieverThe pain became unbearableAlcohol numbed the painIt worked until it didn’tBecame addicted to alcohol and went to rehabDidn’t want to live but had to endure because of her daughters15:15 The importance of resilienceWe have to decide to take action and thriveShifting perspective to gratitudeFocusing on what you can do, not what you can’tAcceptance and being aware of who you areConnecting to a community – Success is built on relationshipsResting is essential for resilience21:08 The power of writing down our goalsThere is power in writing things downThe story of Amberly’s bookRandall’s thoughts on writing things down24:36 Put yourself on the to-do listAmberly likes helping people and meeting their needs firstIt’s important to take care of yourself as well28:33 Surround yourself with the right peopleGet rid of the doggie downers and stick with the puppy uppersSurround yourself with people who are passionate and go-gettersAvoid energy vampires21:28 We are all superheroesWe all have superpowers and resilience in usIt’s hard to become aware of thatFocus on what brings you joyGratitude practice and Amberly’s gratitude groupA sense of purpose and giving serviceAsk people what your superpower is37:25 Sexual abuse and its consequencesAmberly was sexually abused by her stepfatherTakes a lot of courage to tell someoneTold her dad but he didn’t do anythingAt 23, she told that to her abusive husbandDealing with triggering situationWriting about the sexual abuse was very catharticThe importance of therapy1:01:28 The importance of extreme preparationShe was an athlete and a dancerAlways worked very hardPreparing for a TEDx talkPreparation gives you confidence51:16 What are the key ingredients for success?Know your WhyHave a strong communitySeek council not opinionStick to your non-negotiables54:28 Why do motorcyclists take so much risk?There’s nothing like a feeling of freedom while ridingYou are fully in the presentAmberly’s husband stopped driving his motorcycleRandall’s traumaCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is the incredible Amberly Lago. When Amber was 38 years old, she was hit by an SUV while riding her Harley-Davidson motorcycle.When she woke up from a coma, she learned that she had a 1% chance of saving her leg from being amputated. After the accident, she was diagnosed with an incurable nerve disease, lost her business, fell into a deep depression, and became an alcoholic.Today Amberly is a peak performance coach, TEDx speaker, top 1% podcast host, motivational speaker, and a leading expert in the field of resilience, transformation, and health and wellness. She is also the bestselling author of the book True Grit and Grace, and the founder of Unstoppable Life Mastermind.Time stamps:02:05 Amberly Lago’s backgroundA strict Texas mom and dancing classesThe importance of instilling resilience in our childrenIt’s OK to ask for help05:00 High school experience and Amberly’s kidsParents’ divorce and physical and sexual abuseChildren need an outletDancing and drill teamsAmberley's high school jobs09:47 The importance of mentors in our livesAmberly had a mentor for everything she did in lifeThe importance of doing research and finding a counsel, not an opinionNot having a mentor is a waste of moneyPushing you to pass your limitsRandall’s mentoring experienceUnstoppable Life Mastermind for womenHaving the right mentor is life-changing16:37 What is a mastermind according to Amberly?A small group of like-minded people who help brainstorm, collaborate, and guide each otherNot expensive events with hundreds of different peopleVery profitable gatherings where hosts over-promise but don’t deliverAmberly’s Unstoppable Life MastermindThe launch of the mastermind while the world was shutting down25:07 How important is it to be in good shape?Amberly’s entire identity was in physicalityA knee injury and self-helpWent to school and became a certified trainerStarted a course to help people become trainers28:55 The horrible motorcycle accidentGot very seriously injuredThe first thought was how to save her business1% chance to save the legOur health is the most important thingHad 34 surgeries in totalYou have a shovel in your hand, you can lean on it, pray for a hole, or you can start digging37:09 The Story of a Good SamaritanAn unknown person saved Amberly’s lifeShe doesn’t remember him but would like to know who he was39:31 Chronic regional pain syndromeAfter the accident, suffered from chronic painComplex Regional Pain Syndrome – CRPSPredicted to be in pain and paralyzed foreverDecided to work hard to recoverTried every kind of medical treatmentHad to change everything in her lifeOnly when she is teaching, she feels no painWorking on a healthy sleeping pattern and other healthy stuffResources Mentioned:TrueGritAndGrace.comAmberlyLago.comCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn 

Welcome to In Search of Excellence! This is part 2 of our fascinating conversation with Mat Ishbia!Mat is the Chairman and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage, the largest wholesale mortgage lender in the United States, which had a $931.9 million net income in 2022. Mat owns 71% of the company shares that are worth $5.9 billion, which places Mat at 156 on the Forbes 400 in early 2023. Mat and his brother Justin bought a majority stake in the NBA, Phoenix Suns and WNBA, Phoenix Mercury. Mat was a member of the Michigan State Spartans basketball team that went to three Final Fours and won the NCAA championship in 2000. He is the author of the book “Running the corporate office: Lessons in Effective Leadership from the Bench to the Boardroom”, and is a very generous philanthropist who has given away more than $50 million. 1:10 What does Mat look for in a new hire at UWM?Mat doesn’t care about the diplomaHe looks for someone with a heart, work ethic, attitude, and drive to be greatKnowledge is a commodityBe a human being, be engaged and energetic 4:56 The Importance of little things for successMat is looking for difference-makersIntangibles are much more important than the tangibles 10:23 Advice to people who have dreamsRandall’s meeting with Bill DavidsonThink crazy big and then work towards itPut the work in and be the best 14:05 No meeting ThursdaysMat responds to every emailNo meetings on Thursday – talking and checking with peopleYou have to be in the weeds of your business to be successful 15:55 Advice to people who are not working as hard as they shouldWork ethic and attitude are the biggest determinators of successGo to places that provide opportunityYou have to sacrifice to be the bestMat is sacrificing for his kids and his business 19:14 The importance of extreme preparationGame plan and role playPreparation leads to successEverything is about preparation 21:40 Owning an NBA basketball teamManaging a team is much fun in all areasMaking a positive impact on team members, fans, and the communityCoaching his childrenTeaching life, skills, personality, the importance of supporting your teammates 24:35 How important is giving back to our success?Giving money is only one part of giving backYou can give your time and care 25:30 Fill in the blanks to excellenceThe biggest lesson I've learned in my life isWork ethic and attitude always winMy number one professional goal isTo get better every single dayAnd moreCoaching and Staying Connected:1-on-1 Coaching | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | LinkedIn