Today, I am joined by James King, best-selling author, peak performance expert and advisor to elite athletes, military leaders and business pioneers.

In the world of business, James has helped companies such as Onyx Commodities to become the number 1 liquidity provider for oil derivatives in the world, through 'hiring and training some of the world’s best traders'.

In the performance world, he has counselled government agencies and specialist military units, which is where James and I met just over half a decade ago.

He also provides guidance to coaches, managers and athletes within the English Premier League (EPL), Team GB, and the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He holds a first class degree in Applied Sports Science, and an MSc in Performance Psychology, both from the University of Edinburgh.

He has spent the last fifteen years hitting all this theory hard with the biggest metaphorical hammer he could find, to see what breaks in practice.

James has presented case studies on his work for the MBA programs at the University of Oxford, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

In this episode, you can expect to understand;

- How to unlock your potential by aligning with your unique "sweet spot."

- Why real success comes from pursuing purpose and values-led goals

- Ways to accelerate your career and avoid stagnation

- The scientific, no-bull**** development strategies that lead to lasting fulfilment and sustainable high performance.

If you enjoy the episode then please like, share and subscribe so others can do the same.

You can find James Book ‘Accelerating Excellence’ on amazon and visit him at his website jamesaking.com.

Thanks as always for listening, and I hope you enjoy my conversation with James as much as I did.

00:00 Episode Intro

01:29 Introduction and Background

18:01 The Importance of Pursuing Concordant Goals

27:57 Finding Your Sweet Spot: Aligning with Strengths, Interests, and Values

32:13 Activating Your Psychological Firepower

36:22 The Role of Interests in Goal Pursuit

40:07 The Significance of Values in Driving Performance

41:52 Aligning with Strengths, Interests, and Values

43:44 The Importance of Self-Understanding

45:04 Creating Conditions for Motivation and Confidence

49:27 Crafting Roles to Align with Strengths and Interests

52:42 Accepting and Embracing Discomfort

59:55 Taking Action and Pursuing Meaningful Goals

1:02:26 Removing Excuses and Embracing Personal Growth

Today, I am joined by Jack Swift, CEO of Liminal Collective, for a fascinating and pertinent conversation on how to thrive in our increasingly complex world.

After a career as a US Army Ranger, elite athlete, and successful serial founder, Jack is now focussing on helping humans to develop what they need to keep up with the pace of change set by AI through his work as CEO of Liminal Collective.

Jack, and the rest of the Liminal crew have worked with some of the highest performers in the world. From Cirque Du Soleil artists, to Red Bull athletes and US Special Operators. Through these learnings, they now help teams, founders and execs rapidly develop the core skills and virtues necessary to thrive in an increasingly volatile, unpredictable, chaotic and ambiguous world.

Through experiences such as their vision quest rituals, and Cirque du Soleil style training, Jack and the Liminal team take individuals to their growth edge, creating a space for them to safely explore and unlock new frontiers in personal development.

In this episode, you can expect to understand;

- How leaders can thrive in an increasingly unpredictable world

- Why creativity & imagination are crucial skills for the next decade

- How business school didn’t prepare him for today’s leadership challenges

- How to rapidly transform your mind and skills as a leader

- And how to build teams that thrive under pressure and uncertainty

If you enjoy the episode then please like, share and subscribe so others can do the same.

Thanks as always for listening, and I hope you enjoy my conversation with Jack as much as I did.

Today, I have the honour of speaking with Captain Bradley Geary.

Brad most recently served as the commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare Centre, located on Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. The organisation responsible for the outreach, assessment and selection of Navy SEAL and SWCC candidates and the subsequent advanced training to the Navy’s SEAL and Special Boat communities. Brad oversaw the rigorous selection and training programs that identify and prepare Navy SEAL candidates for the demands of special operations.

His leadership at the Naval Special Warfare Centre was pivotal in shaping the next generation of SEALs, ensuring they possess the physical, mental, and tactical skills required to excel in the most challenging environments.

In this episode, you can expect to understand;

- How leadership can cause ‘brain damage’

- How to build resilient, high trust organisations

- How to use vulnerability as a leadership superpower

- The necessity of non-conformists and mavericks

- How a US Navy Seal commander would hire in the corporate world

As always, if you enjoy the episode and want to be the first to hear when new episodes drop, please like, rate, review and subscribe to the podcast.

Most importantly, thank you for watching and listening. This podcast was created for you, and I hope you enjoy the episode.

(00:00) Episode Intro

(00:48) Introduction and Background

(02:29) Building Trust: Empowering Team Members

(07:52) The Importance of Proportionate Accountability

(15:52) Identifying High-Potential Talent: A Multi-Day Selection Process

(27:06) Transparency and Vulnerability: Keys to Building Trust

(37:10) Leadership as Leading, Coaching, and Mentoring

(39:50) Countering Hubris Syndrome in Leadership

(43:47) Fostering Non-Conformity and Diverse Thought in Culture

(48:02) The Role of Conflict in Innovation and Problem-Solving

(53:42) Recruiting for Diversity and Welcoming Diverse Perspectives

(01:02:41) Empowering the Next Generation to Challenge and Provide New Perspectives

(01:14:20) Embracing Pre-Existing Scar Tissue and Self-Confidence

(01:18:59) Overcoming Fear and Finding Opportunity in Suffering

(01:24:45) The Role of Trust and Vulnerability in Team Dynamics

(01:29:29) The Power of Collective Suffering in Building High-Performing Teams

(01:36:44) Word Association

(01:39:28) Summary & Takeaways