OPTIMIZE with Brian Johnson | More Wisdom in Less Time

We’ve been talking a lot about how champions maximize minutes—giving everything they’ve got into being the best versions of themselves. Thank you, John Wooden, Vince Lombardi, and Dan Millman for your wisdom. Today we’e going to invite Gandhi to the party to establish the fact that this isn’t a SPORTS idea, it’s a SPIRITUAL ideal.

In our last +1, we continued our chat about the fact that your perfection is already there. It’s just waiting for you to follow Rule #1 and quit doing yourself harm. I said that that just requires a little more discipline from you. (And me.) Which makes me think about the connection between our ego and the divine within. This is part of a much longer discussion. But here’s the quick take.

In our last +1, we talked about the fact that you’re ALREADY solid gold. Like, 100% jumbo-solid gold. We just need to chip away at the stuff that’s in the way. Today, I want to take a moment to drill into that a bit more. Specifically, I want to make the point (again!) that THE fastest way to Optimize your life isn’t, somewhat paradoxically, to START doing something. It’s to STOP doing something.

So, we’ve been pretty intense lately with all this “Champion” talk. Before we go any further, I want to make one thing REALLY clear. Basically: You’re ALREADY a Champion.

Continuing our time with world-class CrossFit coach Ben Bergeron, let’s look at another one of his champion characteristics: Positivity. But, first, let’s take a look inside his gym in New England. Come along, file in. Look at the wall and notice this dictum front and center: NEVER WHINE. NEVER COMPLAIN. NEVER MAKE EXCUSES. Roger. Got it.

In our last +1, we talked about the science of social comparison and reiterated the fact that it’s toxic. Remember, as per Sonja Lyubomirsky: “You can’t be envious and happy at the same time. People who pay too much attention to social comparisons find themselves chronically vulnerable, threatened, and insecure.”

Alexandra joins us as a guest teacher for this class! Learn how to activate your superpowers, increase your mojo & have more fun.

In our last +1, we talked about my mission to become a Spartan World Champion. My heart skips a beat just typing that.

A few +1s ago we talked about Stuart Wilde. He’s an old-school self-help teacher who used to lecture with Wayne Dyer and Louise Hay and Deepak Chopra. He’s really funny. He’s also a fascinating blend of super-esoteric spirituality AND super-intense discipline. (As per our “Dominate Your Life!!” +1!!)

Continuing our underwater theme for a moment longer, have you ever heard of hagfish? They’re pretty creepy. (I apologize in advance for the visual image here but I think it’s worth it…)

In our last +1, we talked about W.H. Auden’s (genius) quip that routine, in an intelligent person, is a sign of ambition. (I laugh with joy every time I type that.) Then we did a quick check in on your ambition. And, hopefully, we dialed it up a notch and made sure that your routines were reflecting that strong desire to Optimize and actualize in service to your family, community and world. Today I want to talk about work and play.

In our last +1, we talked about all the zeroes (12 of them!) in the Attention Economy. Today I’d like to talk a little more about addiction. Specifically, let’s talk about the etymology of the word. Do you know where it comes from?

A couple +1s ago, while celebrating Yuval Noah Harari’s lack of a smartphone, I mentioned the fact that we don’t need to become smashing Luddites in response to the tsunami of technology that hammers us all day every day. But… We ALSO want to make sure we don’t become addicted users. The best solution? Be an Optimizite. Let’s make the best use of technology to sculpt the best possible version of yourself. (Recall that Optimize comes from the Latin optimus which literally means “the best.”)

In our last +1, we talked about the fact that Yuval Noah Harari doesn’t have a smartphone. He’s basically written an algorithm that helps him get to the bottom of things rather than be Mr. On Top of Things. (How’re you doing with those algorithms?)

In our last +1, we talked about the humble algorithm and Professor Harari’s point that it is, arguably, the single most important concept in our world today. We also did a quick audit of the algorithms in your life. (You get to work uninstalling a sub-optimal one and installing an optimal one in its place?!)