Accelerating Excellence (James A. King)

James reflects on his conversation with Sir Clive Woodward and discusses building elite performance tech teams, what it takes to win, and how to set and enforce high standards. 

Chris Billam-Smith is the current WBO cruiserweight world champion. He recently won his world title at his beloved Premier League side Bournemouth’s vitality stadium, beating his previously undefeated ex-stable mate Lawrence Okolie in a majority decision. Prior to that fight Okolie had never been knocked down in his entire professional career, Chris had him on the canvas three times that night.

Chris is the main man in the famous McGuigan training stable who’ve trained world champions including David Haye, George Groves, Carl Frampton, and Josh Taylor and is now home to some of Britain’s most exciting boxing talent- the likes of Adam Azim and Caroline Dubois. Chris also stars in an exciting new Netflix documentary ‘The Stable’ which goes behind the scenes of the McGuigan gym and will be released later this year- I personally can’t wait for that one to come out.

Chris is an athlete who has risen to the pinnacle of his sport through, determination, skill and a relentless pursuit of excellence. He’s a powerful reminder of how far focus, dedication and professionalism can take us. In this episode Chris talks us through that world title fight, providing an absolute masterclass in emotional control. We delve deep into the life and career of this incredible athlete, from his expert support network to all his routines and habits that have helped propel him to the top.

I hope you enjoy.

Chris:

https://twitter.com/chrisbillam

https://www.instagram.com/chrisbillam/

James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within the playlists section on our channel at the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence

James reflects on his conversation with Toronto Blue Jays CEO Mark Shapiro on talent identification and lays out a blueprint to help you build the best team possible.

On today's podcast, we have Dame Katherine Grainger.

Katherine is a former Scottish rower and the current chair of UK sports. She's competed at a record five Olympic games. She won an incredible gold medal race in the London 2012 Olympic Games, and she's a four time Olympic silver medalist and six time world champion at the London Olympics in 2012.

Katherine and her incredible teammate Anna Watkins, smashed the Olympic record as they qualified for the final, where they ultimately won gold for Team GB. Not just an incredible athlete, Katherine holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of Edinburgh, a Master of Philosophy in Medical Law and Medical Ethics from the University of Glasgow, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Law from King's College, London.

In April, 2017 she was appointed Chair of UK's School of And then reappointed for a second term in July 2021. She's currently leading that charge for Team GB into the Paris Olympics. Katherine was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, DBE, in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to sport and charity.

In this episode, we discuss the magic that was the London Olympics, the journey from novice to expert, And the powerful role your teammates will play in your success.

I hope you enjoy

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Find Katherine:

https://katherinegrainger.com/ 

https://www.britishrowing.org/athlete/katherine-grainger/ 

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

On todays episide we have Brett Kelly.

Brett Kelly is the Founder and CEO of Kelly+Partners. Brett founded Kelly+Partners Chartered Accountants in 2006 and, over 16 years, has grown the business to become the private business specialist accounting network, one of the largest firm in Australia. Kelly+Partners has 75 equity Partners, employs over 400 team members and assists 14,000 Private Business Owners from 25 offices in Australia and Hong Kong,

 In 1997 at age 22, unemployed, with no money, journalistic experience, connections, or publisher, he got a grip of his own mind, and interviewed 34 leading Australian achievers, raised capital, and gathered the expertise to self-publish his first book ‘Collective Wisdom’ in 1999 which became a national best seller. Every seven years subsequently, Brett has published a book focused on growing in Wisdom: Universal Wisdom in 2005, 2 Business Owners’ Wisdom in 2012, Investment Wisdom in 2019. Brett is also an exceptional keynote speaker, and also the host of the better off podcast, with guests including Shaquille O’Neill and Jordan Peterson.

Brett has become a good friend the last few years and is an absolute killer. He has high standards, is relentlessly self improving and I think almost impossible to compete with in his craft.

In this episode we discuss, mindset, eliminating obstacles and how far a can-do attitude can
take you.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Brett:

https://au.linkedin.com/in/brett-kelly-b315265 

https://www.youtube.com/@bebetteroffshow 

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

On today's episode, we have Dr. Duncan French.

Duncan is the Vice President of performance for the UFC. He's an absolute titan in the world of sports science and performance enhancement and a man whose remarkable career reads like an adventure novel of achievement and innovation. 

Duncan is an internationally recognised expert in sports science, strength and conditioning and high performance coaching. His journey is a symphony of groundbreaking research, practical successes and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Duncan has cultivated his skills on both sides of the Atlantic. Hailing from the United Kingdom, he embarked on a journey that led him to some of the most prestigious institutions in the world.

Currently, within the UFC, he's busy elevating Mixed Martial Arts to new heights of athleticism and scientific practice. It's no exaggeration to say that he's transformed the way fighters prepare, train and recover, enhancing the sport's overall competitiveness. 

Some of Duncan's career highlights include key roles in premier organisations such as the English Institute of Sport, the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Yankees. His expertise has earned him accolades and invitations to speak at conferences and events worldwide, cementing his status as a global influencer in the realm of sports science and performance optimisation.

In today's episode, we'll discuss what it's like working with the likes of UFC superstars, such as Conor McGregor or Khabib Nurmagomedov, how to gain a physical and mental edge and the standards in physical preparation in an elite sport.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Dr. Duncan French:

https://www.instagram.com/dr_duncan_french/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-french-phd-a41bb9122

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

On todays podcast we have Keith D'Amelio.

Keith is a visionary in the world of sports performance, a man whose expertise has shaped the careers of countless elite athletes. His career spans roles with professional sports teams, including the NBA’s Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors and Stanford University. His journey from a passionate student of athletic training to director of athlete performance at Nike where he has worked with some of the greatest athletes on the planet is a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence.

Keith has a PhD in Applied Sports Science and has worked across almost every professional sport you can imagine. From the EPL,NBA, NFL and AFL. Keith has been instrumental in revolutionizing how athletes train, recover, and compete at the highest levels. His expertise has helped shape the careers of some of the most celebrated athletes in the world. 

Keith’s impact goes beyond just the field of play. His commitment to athlete well-being and his passion for educating the next generation of sports professionals have made him a respected figure in the industry and inspiring figure to many.

In this episode we discuss; the traits of the greats, the late Kobe Bryant, and NFL superstar Ndamukong Suh; and explore the difference between the absolute best and the rest at the professional level.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Keith:

https://www.instagram.com/keith.damelio/ 

https://x.com/keithdamelio/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-d-amelio-2166b54 

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

Watch the episode with Chris Billam-Smith here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wUqaqzHzIU 

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

On today's podcast, we have Joe De Sena.

Joe is the CEO and founder of Spartan Race. Spartan hosts over 400 races in 60 countries with over 1 million participants every year. He's also a New York Times bestselling author of Spartan Up, Spartan Fit, and the Spartan Way. Joe grew up in Queens, New York, a working class kid in a mafia neighbourhood. 

He had a successful career on Wall street as an equity derivatives trader before pivoting to compete in what would end up being hundreds of extreme adventure races in a single year. Joe competed in 50 ultramarathons and 14 Iron man events. Joe's a tireless worker, a serial entrepreneur, and a legend in adventure racing. 

In this episode, we're going to discuss the value of doing hard things, the role significant emotional events have in our lives, and how we can better navigate adversity.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Joe:

https://www.instagram.com/realjoedesena/

https://www.joedesena.com/

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

On today’s podcast we have Danny Kerry.

Danny Kerry is a multiple Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth medal-winning coach and performance director. He famously led team GB women to a penalty shoot out gold medal win in the Rio olympic final. 

Danny has over 18 years coaching, and 5 olympic cycles in leadership experience. He is one of the most sought after advisors in sport when it comes to leadership, and building high performance teams.

In this episode we explore what high performance coaching looks like, we discuss the process of becoming a great leader, and how important it is to perform from your sweet spot.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

Gorm Thomassen is the CIO of AKO Capital- one of the London’s leading investment funds, managing around 22 billion dollars in capital.

AKO are one of those rare organisations that practice what they preach and have profound methodology behind the results they produce- that we’ll explore during this conversation. 

In this episode we’re going to talk about how Gorm and his team handle hundred million dollar plus pnl swings, some philosophy and the powerful role humility plays in building elite performance.

I hope you enjoy.

James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

Gorm:

https://www.akocapital.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within the playlists section on our channel at the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence

In this lesson James reflects on his conversation with Ted Rath and discusses the importance of habits and understanding how they work, so you are best able to optimise them in your day to day life.

James introduces you to a model that you can use as your own personal performance barometer and master the art of not panicking, drawing upon examples from his recent conversation with WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Chris Billam-Smith.

On todays Podcast we have Shane McGuigan.

Shane is a British and Irish boxing coach. The son of former World champion Barry Mcguigan. Barry had 19 million people tuned in on the BBC to watch him win his world title in 1985. Shane himself was a three time national amateur champion. Who decided his sweet spot was coaching. Since that decision he has taken 9 fighters to world champion status. Including; Josh Taylor, George Groves, Chantelle Cameron, Carl Frampton, Luke Campbell, Lawrence Okolie, Chris Billam-Smith, Ellie Scotney, and Daniel Dubois.

As a manager and coach Shane has the highest Win Percentage across all sports. With a 94% win record in total and 87.5% win record in world title fights. And next in line in his stable Caroline Dubois and Adam Azim.. Two of the most exciting names in world boxing… His most recent victory was a tactical masterclass as WBO Cruiserweight world champion chris Billam-Smith dismantle Richard Riakphore. Shane was recently awarded the BWAA Trainer of the Year award.

Shane features as the lead man in the recent BBC Documentary ‘The Stable’ which takes you behind the scenes of the Mcguigan gym talent factory, revealing all the harsh realities of professional boxing. I highly recommend it. Where the back of my head actually features for a split second- don't miss it.

Having had the pleasure to work with Shane and his fighters I can assure you he is the real deal. A master strategist, a fierce competitor himself and is regarded by his team as boxing savant. The Culture he has created in that gym is second to none.

In this episode we discuss: High standards, culture, values, burnout, and balance.

I hope you Enjoy.

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Find Shane:

https://www.instagram.com/shanemcguigan/ 

https://x.com/mcguigans_gym 

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

Watch the episode with Chris Billam-Smith here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wUqaqzHzIU 

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

James deconstructs his nine key takeaways from his conversation with General McChrystal. Walking the walk, taking risk, and competitive environments to dealing with adversity, the role of belief and the power of listening.

On todays episode we have Shona McCallin.

Shona is a former International Field Hockey player, playing as a midfielder for England and Great Britain. She's also the co-founder of the Ten Percent Club, a wellness supplement company. Shona won an Olympic gold medal in the 2016 Summer Games, and she's a key part of the 292 Performance Team that provides one to one support for some of the worlds most elite athletes.

In her early twenties Shona adventured to Tilburg in the Netherlands to pursue her Hockey career. She spent almost four years in Holland, gaining a degree in International Business and also becoming fluent in Dutch. Upon her return she was selected for the centralised Great Britain training program at Bisham Abbey, then selected for the Rio 2016 Olympic Squad and helped them to win a Gold Medal. Shona has also promised to compete with me at a Hyrox mixed pairs next season, which might possibly end me.

In this episode were going to discuss the practical steps you can take to build a winning culture. Were going to discuss coming back from adversity with specific reference to injury, and also the mindset required to transition from aspirational contender to Olympic Gold Medalist.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Katherine:

https://katherinegrainger.com/ 

https://www.britishrowing.org/athlete/katherine-grainger/ 

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

Today on Accelerating Excellence we have Alex Waller.

Waller is one of the most dependable and accomplished players in English rugby. A loyal servant to Northampton Saints. A one club man and a product of their academy. Amassing over 350 appearances a testament to his durability, consistency, and dedication to the game.

Alex’s journey from a young prospect to one of the most respected props in the Premiership is so inspiring. He played a pivotal role in Northampton’s historic double-winning season in 2014, scoring the decisive try in extra time of the Premiership final against Saracens, to win their first ever premiership title. Before going onto win the European challenge cup against Bath in an iconic season for the club. 

With his work ethic, leadership on and off the pitch, fierce competitive spirit and extreme loyalty to his club and teammates, Alex is a role model for aspiring athletes across all sports. He embodies everything great about sport full stop. Alex concluded his 15-season career this year playing a pivotal role in leading the Saints to their second Premiership title. This victory marked the culmination of Waller's playing career, during which he became the record appearance holder, amassing 370 caps.

On this episode we discuss; fighting to find opportunities, the reaction you need to bring to failure, sharpening your leadership skills and why it’s so important to be surrounded by the best. 

I love this guy.

I hope you enjoy.

James draws on his conversation with Jerry Dipoto to discuss everything from talent identification to setting strong values and the importance of resilience.

On today’s podcast we have Ben Ryan.

Ben is the most successful men’s rugby sevens coach in history. He’s the only coach to have won Continental, World, and Olympic titles, and has been working at the pinnacle of international sport for over two decades and counting. His transformative leadership turned the Fiji Rugby Sevens team into a global powerhouse. Under his guidance, they went on to win back-to-back World Series titles and, most notably, Olympic gold at the 2016 Rio Summer Games - Fiji’s first ever Olympic medal.

The story is insane - and no surprise to me, there’s a movie to document it soon. As a leader, Ben revolutionised the way the team embraced culture, connection, standards, and mental preparation - ensuring his players thrived both as athletes, and as individuals. His groundbreaking work in Fiji earned him the nation’s highest civilian honour: the Companion of the Order of Fiji. 

He is currently in his third season as Performance Director at Brentford FC, playing in the Premier League - a club known for doing things differently. They are going from strength to strength, becoming perhaps the most talked about team in world sport, and for whom Ben is a lifelong fan. He was also an impressive athlete himself, a graduate of both Loughborough and Cambridge, a great human being, and a true leader in human performance.

In this episode, we discuss: The Fiji story, from hurricanes, dictators, and enforcing discipline, to the part I found most fascinating: the internal challenges Ben had to overcome to transition from aspiring leader to world-class leader.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Ben

https://www.instagram.com/benryan7s/

https://x.com/benjaminryan 

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

Welcome to The Accelerating Excellence Podcast, the podcast that takes you into the minds of some of the world’s most elite performers, revealing the secrets and principles that drive their success.

From the high-pressure stages of world cup finals, Superbowl’s, and world title fights in sport, to counter terrorism, covert operations and firefights on the ground and in the air in the world of elite military, not to mention the hundred-million-dollar pnl swings in the billion-dollar world of trading and investing.

We’ll have athletes, artists, entrepreneurs, generals, special forces operators, scientists and more. Most importantly to me, we’ll extract actionable insights you can implement immediately to stack probability in your favour of success.

For everyone out there striving to make things better for themselves, and those they care for, manage or lead.

This podcast is for you.

On today's podcast we have Matt Watkinson.

Matt is the author of three fantastic books, Mastering Uncertainty, the ten principles behind great customer experiences and the grid. He's a CEO at the digital agency Methodical and a venture partner at VC fund Tiller Partners, both based in LA. Matt has dedicated his career so far to helping organisations create great products and services that make people's lives easier and more enjoyable.

In this episode, we're going to discuss coming through tough times how you can master through increase your odds of success power of determination and thinking big.

I hope you enjoy. 

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Find Matt:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-watkinson/

https://www.matt-watkinson.com/

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

Ted Rath has held multiple prestigious roles in the NFL at the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins and LA Rams. He is currently Vice president of player performance for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles went 22-1 last season, making the Superbowl, where they lost on a brutal, last second field goal 38-35 to Patrick Mahomes Kansas city Chiefs.

I’ve been privileged to see Ted doing what he does best first hand at the Eagles HQ in Philli. The intensity, passion and focus Ted brings on this podcast is exactly what he delivers to the superstars such as Jalen Hurts, AJ Carter and Brandon Graham day in, day out.

In this episode we focus on how excellence is a series of days that repeat and that to excel we must win each day. We’re going to talk the power of process, the make-up of elite athletes like Jalen Hurts, and the habits that will enable you to win your days.

I hope you enjoy.

James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

Ted:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ted-rath-4ba02928/

https://www.instagram.com/tedrathstrengthcoach/

https://twitter.com/ted_rath

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within the playlists section on our channel at the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence

On today's podcast we have Ben Askren.

Ben is legend in the world of combat sports. A two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion, an undefeated 87-match streak holder, Ben redefined dominance on the mat before conquering the MMA world as a Bellator and ONE Championship welterweight champion. Known as 'Funky' for his unorthodox style, he's one of the most decorated grapplers in history, with an unforgettable run in the UFC. Ben has scrapped with some of the toughest guys on the planet: Jorge Masvidal, Robbie Lawler, Douglas Lima. And of course, he famously boxed YouTuber Jake Paul.

Whether he's slamming opponents or dropping knowledge as an analyst, coach, and author, Ben takes risks, finds a way to win and profits from the obstacles he encounters. He’s authored multiple books including 'Funky: My Defiant Path Through Wrestling, MMA, and Life' and most recently co-authored 'Extreme Balance', with our mutual friend, Spartan founder and former guest Joe De Sena, and psychologist David Sacks. And this is where Ben and I click on our shared obsession with mindset, he’s been studying it for as long as he can remember.

In this episode we discuss: The mindset of a combat athlete, nurturing talent, perfectionism, cowboys and what Ben means by extreme balance- and how it’s a non-negotiable for reaching the pinnacle in your craft.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Ben:

https://www.instagram.com/benaskren/ 

https://x.com/Benaskren 

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

Watch the episode with Chris Billam-Smith here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wUqaqzHzIU 

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

Today on the podcast we have Sir Clive Woodward, Grand Slam winning international rugby player and British and Irish lion, accomplished businessman. He was England's first professional rugby coach and led England to become 2003 World Championships in Australia, where Johnny Wilkinson kicked that iconic drop goal against the Aussies to clinch it for England. 

He won 12 consecutive games against Southern Hemisphere sides, which was unheard of for a Northern Hemisphere side to do back in 2003, and I'm not sure if that will ever be repeated again. He was Director of Sport for Team GB at the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the London 2012 Olympics, and he's now busy producing a high performance talent factory within British Snow Sport, with the aim of producing that first gold medalist for Team GB. 

In this episode we're of course going to talk about that iconic drop goal and what was going through Sir Clive's head at the time, but we're also going to focus on building elite performance tech teams, what it takes to win, and how to set and enforce high standards. 

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Sir Clive:

https://www.clivewoodward.com/

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/sirclivewoodward

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

On today's episode, we have Keith Breslauer.

Keith is managing director and senior partner at private equity firm, Patron Capital. He founded Patron Capital in 1999, who manage approximately €4.5B.

Keith holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, Chicago Booth, and a Bachelor of Science from the New York University School of Business. Keith began his career at Lehman Brothers, where he worked for approximately 10 years before leaving to set up Patron.

He's currently a guest lecturer at Chicago Booth, Harvard University, and Said Business School at the University of Oxford. Keith has made a significant impact within multiple charities, most notably he's a trustee and lead donor for the Royal Marines Charity. Outside of his professional interests, he's an accomplished alpinist, mountaineer, and skier.

In this episode, we're gonna discuss the power of giving back, bouncing back from adversity, and what it takes to build an empire. 

I hope you enjoy.

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Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

On today's episode we have Dr Ben Rosenblatt.

Ben famously led physical performance for the England men's football team. He has coached athletes to compete and medal at every Olympics since 2004. Ben was a key member of the GB hockey coaching team that won that famous gold out in Rio. 

Ben is also the founder of 292 Performance, a team of high performing coaches that provide individual support to high performing athletes across the Premier League and multiple other sports. He has a PhD and a research interest in maximizing training efficiency and effectiveness and has consulted with sports teams all over the planet. 

In this episode we're going to discuss how we design great practice that maximizes development trajectory. We're going to talk about lots of coaching techniques you can apply and of course we're going to discuss the characteristics of some of the world's most elite athletes that Ben's worked with. 

I hope you enjoy.

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Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

On today’s podcast we have Mark Warburton.

We explore how Mark went from getting up at 4:32 for 20-odd years, to be at his trading desk for 5:45, then dealing $1.5-2B a day in foreign exchange deals, getting home at 7pm and taking calls through the night from New York, to winning championships at Brentford and Rangers - two phenomenal football clubs.

Mark’s story is as inspiring as it is unconventional. A former elite trader, he transitioned to coaching and quickly made his mark where he was the dominant catalyst in Brentford’s ascent to the pinnacle of English football.

Most significantly to me, the mighty Glasgow Rangers. Under his leadership, Rangers returned to the pinnacle of Scotland's topflight. As a coach, mentor, and leader, Mark has a proven ability to build winning teams both on and off the pitch, and take it from me - he is an exceptional human being. I believe his best is yet to come. 

In this episode we talk about what excellence in leadership, and coaching teams looks like in both trading and football, we discuss the challenges that come with senior leadership, and how serious you need to take things if you truly want to perform at your best.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Mark:

https://x.com/markwarburton9

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

On today's episode we have Greg Newman.

Greg is the Group Chief Executive of Onyx Capital Group - the world's number one liquidity provider in oil derivatives trading. Greg was the second super-trader I hired at Mandara Capital and it's been simply wonderful to be their firsthand and see his journey from lost graduate, to elite leader in one of the most competitive industries on the planet. Aged just twenty-two where he launched Mandaras Crude oil desk. Within just three years his desk went from scratch,  to become the largest independent market-maker in Dated Brent and Dubai swap markets. 

In 2016 Greg left Mandara with fellow mandara Super trader Omar Kayaam to launch Onyx. As CEO Greg has been the driving force behind the development of Onyx on the trading floor and beyond. He established the group’s highly successful training programmes, its unique research offering, data services, brokerage, news and analysis. He featured in the book “40 Classic Crude Oil Trades : Real-Life Examples of Innovative Trading” and the crude desks he formed at Mandara and Onyx are also mentioned in “Brent Crude Oil: Genesis and Development of the World's Most Important Oil Benchmark”. In 2022 Greg published his book - World of Oil Derivatives: A Guide to Financial Oil Trading in a Modern Age.

Greg's success is testament to his principle based approach, his fierce drive, stoic mindset, he is a fearless risk taker. And the Onyx Capital Group, it continues to expand under Greg’s leadership, as he prepares to launch the Retail Trading Arm of Onyx Capital Group later this year, with the premise to digitize, democratize and provide access to the full range of the oil swaps markets to all. Most importantly to me, Greg has become one of my closest friends over the years, and we’ve overcome some insane situations together. So this conversation is extra special for me. Greg holds a BEng in Biochemical Engineering from University College London. 

In this episode we discuss; the early days, the stoic mindset, driving growth and the transition from trader to CEO.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Greg:

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/oilderivatives 

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

On today's episode we have Dr. John Demartini. 

John has a doctorate in human behaviour. He's delved deep into diverse fields, including psychology, philosophy, economics and theology. As a researcher, his contributions have been prolific to the fields of behavioural psychology and human potential, and have earned him international recognition. 

A celebrated author, Dr. Demartini has penned numerous books, including bestsellers like The Breakthrough Experience and The Values Factor. John's work delves into the realms of consciousness, human behaviour and personal fulfilment, offering a roadmap to a life lived in alignment with one's true purpose and values. 

In this episode we will embark on a journey through the life and wisdom of Dr. John Demartini. Exploring the transformative powers of his teachings and the profound impact he's made on countless lives. We’ll delve deep into his incredible insights into human behaviour and success full stop. This is an episode you won't want to miss. 

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Dr Demartini:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2QloGx6F3YzIVZtgEXA1dQ

https://drdemartini.com/

https://www.instagram.com/drjohndemartini/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohndemartini

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

James draws on his conversation with Jason Henderson and explores the importance of building an elite mindset, along with demonstrating several techniques to help you develop your own.

On today's podcast we have Mark Shapiro. Mark's career has been a masterclass in leadership and innovation. He's a visionary president and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays. Mark's a graduate of Princeton University where he played centre and offensive tackle for the Princeton Tigers football team. From his early days in the Cleveland Indians front office to his transformative leadership with the Blue Jays, Mark's journey is a testament to his commitment to excellence.

Before making his mark in Toronto, Mark was a driving force with the Cleveland Indians for over 24 years. He played a pivotal role in the organisation's resurgence, leading them to multiple post-season appearances, including an incredible run to the World Series in 2016. Mark is recognized as one of the most innovative minds in baseball management. His forward-thinking strategies, emphasis on player development, and keen eye for talent have not only yielded countless wins, but also reshaped the way baseball is played and managed. And now Mark's talents are shining as brightly as ever in the heart of Toronto. As the president and CEO of the Blue Jays, he's overseen the team's resurgence, leading them back to post-season and pushing the boundaries of what's possible in today's dynamic and competitive baseball landscape.

In this episode, we'll delve deep into the life and career of Mark, exploring the visionary leadership that has made him one of the most celebrated figures in baseball. From his early days as an intern to his transformation of two-story franchises, we'll discuss all things leadership, talent, and culture.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Mark:

https://twitter.com/MarkShapiro

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-shapiro-0430b51a/

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

On todays episode we have Anita Nall-Richenssons.

Anita is an American former Olympic champion, and world record-holder. She first made waves on the global stage as a teenager, when she set a world record in the 100-meter breaststroke at just 15 years old. She went on to clinch three medals at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, including a gold in the 4x100-meter medley relay. a silver medal in the women's 100-meter breaststroke, and a bronze in the women's 200-meter breaststroke. Her success is testament to her relentless dedication, discipline, and passion for swimming.

But Anita's story goes beyond her athletic triumphs. After her swimming career, she faced significant challenges, including health issues and the transition to life beyond elite sports. Anita has since become a powerful advocate for holistic health, mental wellness, and the importance of life balance. Today, she shares her insights and experiences as a coach and mentor, helping others navigate their own paths to success and well-being.

In this episode we discuss: breaking world records at 15, winning gold in an Olympic final, what’s really required to perform at the pinnacle, and the pursuit of a healthy, fulfilling life.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Laura:

https://x.com/AnitaNall 

https://olympics.com/en/athletes/anita-nall

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitanall

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

On today's episode, we have Jason Henderson. 

Hendo is a retired Master Chief in the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. For context, the NSWDG, as it is referred, is the absolute pinnacle of U.S. Tier 1 special forces. Hendo is one of the most experienced Special Forces operators on the planet. He's operated during the most active and violent period the modern special forces era has seen. He served 30 years with the SEAL teams conducting 16 combat tours from Kosovo right through to Afghanistan. Hendo was once described to me as the alpha of the alpha's within his U.S. Special Forces community. 

Hendo is a black belt under Dave Camarillo in Judo and a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu under Gustavo Machado and is an extremely impressive powerlifter. He's also the founder of the Four Pillars Collective, a not-for-profit team of elite veterans who are committed to upskilling police with tools and techniques proven to reduce and even prevent conflict with the aim of helping to restore confidence in law enforcement. 

In this episode, we're going to talk about extreme violence, the role of routines in performing under pressure and how to seize control of your emotions so you can deliver when it matters most.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Hendo:

https://www.hendosec.com

https://www.fourpillarscollective.com

https://www.instagram.com/hendosecurity

https://www.instagram.com/fourpillarscollective

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

Today on accelerating excellence, we have Laura Weightman.

Laura is a British middle-distance sensation who captured hearts and headlines worldwide. She is truly elite in every sense of the word. Born and raised in Northumberland, Laura’s journey from a young talent to an Team GB Olympian is nothing short of extraordinary. 

Laura has represented Great Britain in the 1500m at both the London 2012, and Rio 2016 Olympic games. She has multiple European and Commonwealth medals to her name in the 1500m and 5000m. Her tenacity and drive have inspired countless athletes around the world, and her career highlights include stunning performances at the 2012 London Olympics, the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

It's not just her achievements on the track that make Laura special. Off it, she’s known for her humility, her passion for giving back to the community, and her commitment to the sport she loves. Laura has since moved into a coaching role, where she is sharing her knowledge and experience with both the next generation of elite athletes along with enthusiastic amateurs.

In this episode Laura shares her insights from her racing in Olympic finals, the challenges she’s faced and how she overcame them, and why the way we define success is so important.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find Laura:

https://x.com/lauraweightman 

https://www.teamgb.com/athlete/laura-weightman/xFvJoLJCxAwt38auxnG3y 

Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5LJFspGl7b0e5YuxMfPLpx?si=e852f426c16b4f2d

🔊 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-accelerating-excellence-podcast/id1706636304

On today's episode we have Jerry Dipoto.

Jerry is the maestro behind the Seattle Mariners front office. Throughout his illustrious career, Jerry has established himself as one of the most influential and dynamic figures in Major League Baseball. From his days as a talented pitcher in the big leagues to his masterful work as the Mariners general manager, Jerry's journey is a remarkable testament to the unwavering pursuit of excellence. Before taking the helm as the Mariners' GM, Jerry left an indelible mark as the pitcher with the Cleveland Indians, New York Mets and Colorado Rockies, displaying his elite skills on the mound. 

However, it's his post-playing career that truly sets him apart. He's been a key figure in the baseball world with a remarkable tenure as the general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels and now the Seattle Mariners. Throughout his career, Jerry's talent evaluation, knack for building championship-caliber teams and unwavering passion for the game have been recognized and applauded. With a string of impressive accolades, including Executive of the Year honors, Jerry has a reputation for crafting inventive and exciting strategies to lead his teams to victory. 

In this episode, we'll discuss his career highlights, strategic insights and innovative approaches to building a team for the ages.

I hope you enjoy.

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Find James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App:

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within our playlists or by the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence/playlists

General Stanley A. McChrystal is a master strategist and visionary leader, the former Commander of special forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The retired four-star general led the war on terror carrying out unprecedented success against multiple high value targets significantly disrupting terrorist networks around the globe.

Standby for some inspiration as we delve deep into this exceptional military mind. His development of counterinsurgency warfare transformed the way special forces work. I’m sure case studies on the strategies and techniques he cultivated will be taught at Military Academy’s and within special forces communities across the world a hundred years from now.

General Stanley also the Founder AND CEO of the McCrystal Group, a leadership consulting group that specialises in teamwork and strategic planning. He’s also the best-selling author of multiple books including; My Share of the Task; Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, Leaders: Myth and Reality, and Risk: A User’s Guide- all of which I highly recommend.

In this episode we receive a masterclass in leadership, we talk President Obama and bouncing back from adversity.

I hope you enjoy.

General Stanley:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanmcchrystal/

https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/

James:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/acceleratingexcellence/

https://www.instagram.com/jamesaking_/

https://www.jamesaking.com/

The Mindset App: 

While the app is under development, we have decided to provide access to the full content for free on YouTube for a limited time. You can find the courses within the playlists section on our channel at the link below. I hope you enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/@AcceleratingExcellence

James discusses the importance of prioritising your development tomorrow, not your ego today, and examine why humility is so important in terms of optimising your development trajectory following his conversation with Gorm Thomassen.

James reflects on his conversation with Dr. John Demartini and discusses what it takes to truly access your potential. Part two of two.