Episode 17: Brad Stulberg - Achieving Global Performance Improvement
Brad Stulberg has been in the spotlight a lot recently. Last Fall, his book, “Peak Performance,”written with co-Author, Steve Magness, captivated the attention of many an endurance athlete. I mean, who wouldn’t be captivated with a subtitle like, “Elevate your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success?”
Most recently, however, this speaker and regular columnist at Outside Magazine, has garnered attention in a much different way. In March, Stulberg, in an article entitled, “When a Stress Expert Battles Mental Illness,” opened up about his sudden and terrifying diagnosis with a rare mental illness known as Pure O. Pure O, it turns out, is a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder without the physical manifestations of the illness that many know. This display of vulnerability has opened the door to even deeper conversations about performance, success, fulfillment, and happiness.
That’s where this conversation with Matt Dixon picks up. Yes, they do talk in depth about Stulberg's diagnosis, but rather than having a traditional Q&A about the book, Matt and Brad give their own perspectives on the landscape of improving performance by focusing on just a few keywords that lead to even deeper discussion; words like: balance, excellence, self-awareness, hacking, routine and more.
How do these words apply to global performance improvement? And, even more importantly, how are they often misinterpreted?
Can you really achieve balance?
When do you know if you’re balanced?
What does it mean to have “excellence” in something? Does it always mean you’re the best?
How does self-awareness define your passions?
What does it mean to be fully self-aware?
Can you truly simplify complex situations by hacking them?
Are daily routines and rituals good or bad?
How do you know if a routine is enhancing or inhibiting your life?
This ultimately is a conversation about self-discovery and honesty.
Stulberg has provided two FREE GIVEAWAYS in this podcast!
The 10 Commandments of Peak Performance - key takeaways from the book
The Peak Performance Quote Book - 57 pages of key quotes from the book