In a re-shared episode of the Millennial Investing Podcast, host Robert Leonard interviews Lewis Howes, a New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and popular podcast host, to discuss broader life lessons that impact financial success. Leonard introduces Howes, highlighting his impressive background and the episode's focus on mentorship, overcoming adversity, personal development, and mindset.
Howes recounts his personal journey, which began with a career-ending injury as a professional football player. This unexpected setback left him without a clear path, leading to a period of depression while recovering on his sister's couch. A pivotal realization transformed his outlook: he needed to make "life a sport." Applying lessons from his athletic career, he actively sought out mentors and coaches, set clear goals, and consistently worked towards them, learning from failures along the way.
He explains that sports taught him crucial self-awareness, especially in handling loss. Initially, his competitive drive led to self-criticism in business failures, but he learned to adapt and respond constructively. Howes attributes his "champion's mindset" to an unwavering desire to succeed, born from significant childhood adversities, including sexual abuse, his brother's incarceration, bullying, and feeling inadequate. These experiences fueled a profound hunger to prove himself and choose to "step up" rather than be defeated.
Howes openly shares that patience remains an ongoing challenge for him. He advises cultivating patience through deliberate practices and structure, such as avoiding phone use for the first and last hour of the day, setting specific times for checking communications, and incorporating meditation or walks. He posits that structure, paradoxically, provides freedom and peace. Emotional intelligence and self-awareness are also critical, enabling one to step back from reactive behaviors and heal from past emotional wounds.
A core part of Howes' advice centers on fundamental health habits: abstaining from sugar, alcohol, and cigarettes; ensuring at least eight hours of sleep; and engaging in high-intensity physical workouts five times a week. He passionately argues that these practices enhance clarity, patience, joy, and lead to better decision-making, directly impacting success in business and life. He emphasizes that a "life out of whack" inevitably leads to a "business out of whack." While he occasionally consumes Bulletproof coffee for intermittent fasting, he cautions against relying on caffeine for energy, suggesting it often indicates deeper issues with diet or sleep.
Mentorship is highlighted as a "requirement for success." Howes views mentors as essential compasses that save time, money, and provide moral guidance. He advises listeners to attract mentors by demonstrating passion, credibility through consistent hard work, and approaching them with respect and well-researched, specific questions. He also champions "indirect mentorship" through consuming content like podcasts and books from admired figures. Beyond mentors, he stresses building a supportive "winning team" comprising an accountable friend or COO, a supportive intimate partner, friends who embody healthy lifestyles, and financially intelligent individuals, reinforcing the principle that "you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."
On the debate between focusing on "one thing" versus "many," Howes believes in self-awareness. Drawing from his background as a decathlete, he identifies with being proficient in multiple areas rather than specializing in one. Currently, he's prioritizing the optimization of his podcast, ensuring other projects support this central mission. His definition of a successful life is finding fulfillment in helping others grow, transform, and achieve their dreams.
Finally, if he could offer advice to his millennial self, Howes would strongly recommend learning Spanish to increase impact, completely eliminating sugar from his diet (likening it to "rat poison"), and mastering the art of video storytelling for broad reach. He also cautions against the prevalent "hustle and no sleep" mentality as a long-term lifestyle, suggesting it should be a strategic, temporary season rather than a constant state. Listeners can find more of Lewis Howes' work on his "School of Greatness" podcast and at lewishowes.com.