Lewis Howes' Journey to Olympic Dreams and Financial Wisdom

Lewis Howes, host of the School of Greatness podcast, recently sat down for an interview to discuss his new book on money mindsets and his renewed pursuit of Olympic dreams.

Howes began by reflecting on how his definition of greatness has evolved over the 12 years he's been hosting his podcast. Initially focused on being "number one" and the best at everything, he now views greatness as developing one's unique talents and gifts while having maximum positive impact on others.

The conversation then turned to Howes' new book on money mindsets. He explained that he wanted to take a different approach from typical finance books by focusing on the emotions, attitudes and beliefs people have about money rather than specific investment advice. Howes shared how his own relationship with money has changed over the years:

"When I started making money in my late 20s and early 30s, I was so afraid of going broke again that I was extremely frugal. I had millions in the bank but I was living in scarcity and felt anxious and stressed about money. I was always worried someone was trying to steal my money or overcharge me. It took me years to heal from that mindset."

He emphasized the importance of developing a healthy relationship with money, where it doesn't define your self-worth or control your emotions. Howes encourages readers to examine their "money story" - the beliefs and attitudes they've developed about finances over their lifetime.

The author shared an exercise from the book where he asks people to imagine money as a person walking through the door, and notice their immediate emotional reaction. This can reveal a lot about one's underlying feelings toward money. Howes noted that many people have either irrationally positive or negative associations with money, rather than a balanced perspective.

He also discussed how money issues can strain relationships, recounting how financial stress contributed to conflict between his own parents when he was growing up. Howes believes developing emotional regulation and a healthier money mindset can greatly improve relationships.

The conversation then shifted to Howes' renewed pursuit of his childhood dream of becoming an Olympic athlete. He explained that he first became fascinated with team handball while watching the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Despite having no prior experience with the sport, Howes was determined to make the U.S. Olympic team.

Over the next several years, he taught himself to play handball, joined club teams, and eventually made it onto the U.S. national team. However, the dream seemed to fade as Howes got older and the U.S. failed to qualify for the Olympics.

But when Los Angeles was awarded the 2028 Summer Games, Howes saw a new opportunity. Though he'll be 45 years old by then, he's recommitted himself to intense training with the goal of making the Olympic team. He recently visited professional teams in Europe to gauge his current skill level.

"I feel like I have to pursue this as far as I can," Howes said. "If there's a dream that's been with you for a long time, you can't let it die unless you truly no longer care about it. But if there's still that fire inside you, I feel like you have to follow it."

He acknowledged the goal may seem crazy to some, but believes he has a real shot if he can stay healthy and improve over the next 3.5 years. Howes is taking it "one day, one month at a time" and says he's already made good progress in his training.

"I've lost about 25 pounds and played in a couple games recently with some 27-year-old pros who said I was pretty good. So if I can keep getting better every day for the next 3.5 years, who knows what's possible."

While the Olympic dream may be a long shot, Howes is grateful for the opportunity to pursue it and says it brings him a lot of happiness. He's focused on staying present and appreciating each day of the journey rather than fixating on the end goal.

The interview concluded with Howes expressing excitement about both his new book and his Olympic aspirations. He encouraged readers to examine their own money mindsets and pursue their dreams, no matter how unlikely they may seem.

Key Takeaways:

• Howes' definition of greatness has evolved from being "number one" to developing unique talents and positively impacting others
• His new book focuses on the emotions and beliefs people have about money rather than specific financial advice
• Developing a healthy relationship with money can greatly improve relationships and overall wellbeing
• Howes is pursuing his childhood dream of becoming an Olympic athlete at age 45
• He encourages others to follow their dreams and stay grateful for the journey, not just the end goal

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq22h2tedkg