Optimize With Brian Johnson | More Wisdom In Less Time

Patricia Ryan Madson is Emerita of Stanford University where she taught for three decades in the Drama Department. In this interview, we'll talk about her 13 maxims for improv living from her quick-reading, fun, smart, practical book.

Here's a quick look at the Top 10 Big Ideas for my upcoming class: Confidence 101: How to Create Indestructible Trust in Yourself. 

Here’s a quick look at the Top 10 Big Ideas for my upcoming class Getting Stuff Done 101: How to Reach Your Potential by Crushing it Day In and Day Out.  Big Ideas we’ll explore include: The fact that it’s more about *energy* management than time management + how to create systems that make it easy to produce consistently (we’ll look at what I do systems-wise) + time-blocking (the “#1 power tool” of productivity as The One Thing Gary Keller describes it) + creating masterpiece days + the importance of a “stop doing list” + other such goodness.

Here are my Top 10 Big Ideas on how to create habits that can change your life. Hope you enjoy!

Georges St-Pierre. GSP. If you’re into mixed martial arts/the UFC, you know GSP as one of the greatest pound for pound fighters ever. Although I’m not really a big MMA guy, I’ve always admired the sheer, visceral strength + courage of fighters and elite warriors like the UFC champions + Navy SEALs/Army Rangers. In this great book we get a behind the scenes look into GSP’s greatness. Big Ideas include Areté, Sacrifices vs. Decisions, being courageous (hint: it’s NOT about being fearless), crazy dreams + long journeys, and dedication.

Here’s a quick look at the Top 10 Big Ideas for my class Meditation 101: How to Meditate without Moving to the Himalayas!

When you're clear on your mission you structure your life to actualize. But when you eliminate distractions you're not making "sacrifices" per se. You're simply making decisions.

Here are my Top 10 Big Ideas on Relationships 101: How to Optimize the Love in Your Life. Hope you enjoy! 

If we want GREATNESS (whatever that means for us), we need to remember that our destiny is shaped by our moment to moment decision. Let's shoot into the right basket as we step forward into growth.

Ready to get your brain right? Start with your gut! In this compelling book, Dr. David Perlmutter walks us through the leading-edge science on how to dial in our microbiome to optimize our brain + overall well-being. In the Note, we explore Big Ideas ranging from the power of probiotics and your second brain to the importance of focusing on root causes rather than just symptoms along with the 6 keys to feeding your microbes.

I'm convinced Mark Divine is a superhero. Seriously. And in Unbeatable Mind, the former Navy SEAL gives us the handbook on mental toughness. In the Note, we'll look at the keys to cultivating our confidence, the importance of cultivating our concentration, learning how to control our breathing and other goodness that will make you unbeatable.

Who do LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Dwight Howard, James Harden and a ton of other top basketball players go to to get better? Idan Ravin. If you’re into sports + self-development + the pursuit of being the best you can possibly be, I think you’ll *love* the book. Big Ideas include getting paid to do what you love, greatness, obstacles and exiting the cave.

If you want to hit your outcome (or "product" goals) you need to hit your daily PROCESS goals. Here's how.

Wonder where happiness comes from? So does Jonathan Haidt, one of the world’s leading positive psychologists and Professor at NYU. Join us as we explore some of my favorite Big Ideas from his great book.

What are the Top 10 goals you’d like to achieve over the next year? Awesome. Now, what’s the #1 goal? FOCUS ON THAT!

How’s your habit-building process working for you? If you’ve stalled a few (hundred?) times, Stephen Guise tells us that Mini Habits might be just the thing you’re looking for!

Jason Selk is one of the world’s leading peak performance experts. His tagline? “The relentless pursuit of greatness.” If that appeals to you, you’ll love this book. It’s *fantastic*! Big Ideas we explore include the difference between Process and Product Goals, a 100-second mental training workout, why your self-image matters and the REMARKABLE benefits of writing down your goals.

Leonardo da Vinci. Charles Darwin. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Martha Graham. The Wright Brothers. Jane Goodall. Benjamin Franklin. Thomas Edison. Zora Neale Hurston. What do they all have in common? Mastery. In this great book Robert Greene shows us the key components of their mastery and, most importantly, how WE can each attain our mastery in our own lives.

Dr. Eric Maisel is the author of more than thirty five books. His interests include creativity and the creative life, mental and emotional health, and philosophy and the art of making meaning.

Cal Newport decodes the pattern of finding work that inspires us and tells us, as per the sub-title, “Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love.” The title of the book comes from comedian Steve Martin’s advice to aspiring entertainers to “Be so good they can’t ignore you.”