49: Embracing "The Suck" and Walking Backwards Toward Your Goal with Matt Young

In this episode, Dave is excited to welcome Matt Young. Here is just a sampling of some of his accomplishments:

A winner of Canada’s 40 under 40

• An Earnest and Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist twice
• He has authored and co-authored 7 books
• He’s Founder of over a dozen businesses, 8 of which he still owns
• He’s a TedX speaker
• He’s raised over $5.6 million for charity
• And if that is not enough, he’s a Guinness world record holder
• 2 time iron man finisher
• And has summited everything from Mt. Kilimanjaro to Manchu Picchu

Dave has spent some time with Matt and the thing that impresses him most is his humility and his devotion to helping others, especially young athletes and coaches with his latest business, Personal Sport Record which he describes as a tech disruption company providing support to important aspects of athlete development (beyond the schedule & score).

The first time Matt and Dave spoke, what was to be a 15-20 min call turned into almost an hour and they could have kept going if it weren’t for other commitments. They continue that with you alongside them in this episode.

www.PersonalSportRecord.com ​

Connect with Matt and LinkedIn

Matt has had a very interesting journey, but he knew early on that he want to help improve people’s lives and do it through health and fitness. He started out creating personal training centers, then moved into developing a charitable organization. Along the way, Matt started speaking and consulting with businesses on improving performance. Most recently, he has been disrupting the way people track and develop kids in youth sports. Everything that he and his teams have done is really all about supporting people’s physical and mental journey.

Matt talks about “physical literacy” and the need for people to better understand the full life benefits of physical activity and what it means to integrate it into your life.

At the 9 min mark, Matt and Dave talk about the changes that have happened in the way that kids play and what they are allowed to do in today’s world, especially sports…and the impact and societal shift that has had.

“Sports are a dress rehearsal for real life…”

Best lessons learned that translate to entrepreneurship?

• There is no learning by not doing. When others do it for you – you don’t learn.
• Change is imminent. “Everyone says they want change, but no one wants TO change.”
• Struggle builds character and competence which builds confidence.
• YOU have to figure it out.
• You have to learn to meet people where they are – not everyone, in fact most, will not be at the same level you are. That doesn’t mean they can’t be a part of the journey in some way. The better they get – the better you will get.

Do you have a formula or process for building a successful team or organization?

• It’s like building a house that will stand the test of time.
  • It starts with a rock solid foundation
  • Then you have the frame and structure
  • Then you add the fixtures
• The foundation starts with the vision
  • The vision is the overriding end goal – the why
• The structure is the mission, values, and goals
  • The mission is “the what”
  • Define your core values and make sure that those with you share them as well
  • Set your goals and objectives – how and when specifically

At the 25 min mark, Matt talks about the secrets of harnessing the minds power and the mental game.

At the 32 min mark, Matt talks about his latest business, Personal Sport Record and how it can relate you, your teams, and your business.

The formula for success need not be re-invented, it needs implemented!

 

Best Quote:  "Great leadership is walking backwards to your goal while bringing people forward toward theirs..."

 

Matt's Misfit 3:

1. Embrace the process no matter what it is.  Enjoy "the suck", learning, pain, and pleasure - take it all in.
2. Have fun.  Don't take yourself so seriously.  Enjoy the journey alongside the suck.
3. Humility.  Keep it and embody it.  Humility allows you to be grounded and pay it forward by paying it back.