The Pat Flynn Show

In this episode, I play back an interview where I was asked about generalism--what it is, and how to develop it. In this talk with Dr. T, I unpack this philosophy of mine, while giving examples of how it applies to fitness, business, creativity, and life. I also make the case of why generalist (being better than most people, at most things) > specialist (being the best at only one) in almost every regard, and how people are gravely mislead when focusing too much (or for too long) in one direction. This is perhaps the my greatest exposition of generalism yet. That's why I wanted to share.

As much as I have loved all my podcast episodes, this one may be the most important. John Bair, strength coach, and business owner, joins me to discuss subjects that aren't talked about--or at least not talked about enough: Depression, anxiety, and so on. This episode starts out on somber ground, as John and I open up about our struggles with (him) depression and (me) anxiety, but soon turns into an optimistic and hopeful discussion, as we outline the methods we've used for turning these disorders around. One of them, of course, being strength training. But we dive into meditation and a few other strategies, as well. If you've ever struggled with depression or anxiety, our hope is this episode beams a ray of optimism, shows there is a way out of this, and that you can take control (and eventually overcome) these disorders with the right practice and approach, and the right community. Or, even if you've never struggle depression or anxiety, it's likely you know someone who has, so we do our best to take that into account, and give a perspective for people in support roles, as well. Please share this episode. It couldn't be more important.

Alwyn Cosgrove, co-author of The New Rules of Lifting, fought stage-four cancer twice, and won. He's also created one of the world's most successful gyms and fitness communities, Results Fitness. (Oh, and he's a Tae Kwon Do guy, like me. So, that's cool.) I brought Alywn on to ask him how he did it. From launching a successful (and, at the time, controversial) book franchise that made people think twice about "conventional cardio" to creating systems for a thriving fitness business, and more.

Steph Gaudreau, strength coach, owner of Stupid Easy Paleo, joins me to discuss all the ways she's made herself impervious to life's onslaught. From weight lifting, meditation, Jiu Jitsu, and entrepreneurship, Steph is a yet another fine example of an expert-generalist. She's great at everything she does, because she's committed herself to being in process. From high school chemistry teacher to online strength-empowerment phenom, Steph shares many of the steps (and stumbles) she's had along the way, and lessons learned therefrom. Definitely listen to this episode.

Andy Morgan, owner of RippedBody.com, loves living in Japan. He's also fortunate enough to have established a successful online coaching business to fund his adventures. I brought Andy on to talk about the success he's had, and lessons learned, in building a business based around virtual coaching for people interested in getting in shape. We also talk a lot about the amazing weirdness that is life in Japan, for someone born in England. The other day, for example, he dined at a hedgehog cafe. Imagine that! You're going to love this episode. Lot of good actionable tidbits, with plenty of fun anecdotes along the way.

This conversation features Jordan Syatt, a fitness coach known for his expertise in strength training and online business. They delve into the power of generalism versus specialization, advocating for a blend of skills to find a unique advantage. Jordan highlights the benefits of rotating focus between projects for growth, while Pat explains the 80% rule for skill acquisition. They also discuss practical strategies for coaches to enhance their marketing and tech savvy, offering insights on maintaining motivation through skill diversity.

Gary Lachman, former bassist of the band Blondie, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, joins me for an eclectic conversation on the history and mystery of consciousness. Part of what I love about podcasting is getting to talk to people like Gary on topics that we ultimately have no true understanding of--consciousness being one of them. There are, of course, theories. There have always been theories of what creates this mysterious sense of "being you." Having explored and continuing to explore many of these theories, is what lead me to Gary's work, which takes an unconventional, but not entirely unusual view on how consciousness came to be, and where it's heading. What a fun and thought-provoking episode. A little different than anything so far, but isn't that what this show is about? Generalism.

Being authentic is hard work. Most of us live in a state of defensiveness, putting our guard up to shield ourselves from criticism or judgement. While this seems like the safe place to be, being inauthentic leads to unhealthy--sometimes even downright paranoid--behavior. Opening up, becoming vulnerable, and letting people in is one of the most challenging, yet ultimately rewarding aspects of life. Authenticity is particularly strenuous in the business world and on such spheres as social media. But it's immediately important, and the closer you get to finding and unleashing your authentic self, the more meaning your life will have. Authenticity leads to trust. Trust leads to better outcomes, healthier relationships, and happier customers. Here are my thoughts on how to open up.

Jacqueline Carly of GetPlanty.com joins me to discuss the not-so-subtle intricacies of nutrition and how the job of every coach is to play the role of detective. Nutrition problems, in other words, are not just nutrition related. So if this episode has anything to teach, it's that everything is connected, and everything matters. Said another way: Just because you have poor eating habits, doesn't mean poor eating is your problem. Maybe your job sucks, or maybe your relationship is a mess. Poor eating is as often a symptom as it is a cause, and taking an overly reductionist view on the subject not only ineffective--it's lazy.

Chris Lopez, owner of fitandbusydad.com and kettlebellworkouts.com, joins me to discuss why he sold everything and moved from Toronto to the jungles of Costa Rica. Chris and his wife homeschool their children and have been living out of a shipping container. As you might suspect, I had a few questions about this, and our conversation, to no surprise, was incredibly entertaining. Chris, like myself, considers himself a minimalist/optimalist. So we tie these themes in as well, from training to business and more. This was a truly fun episode. Hope you enjoy.