Published Sep 17, 2019

What It ACTUALLY Takes To ACHIEVE GREATNESS In Life| Tony Gonzalez & Lewis Howes

Tony Gonzalez, Hall of Fame NFL star, delves into his journey of battling self-doubt and embracing vulnerability to achieve greatness, sharing key insights on the transformative power of authenticity, overcoming fear, and nurturing family and personal connections.
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Episode Highlights

  • Performance Anxiety

    shares his battle with performance anxiety, both during and after his NFL career. He describes the fear of not being good enough and the pressure to perform without showing vulnerability, which led to intense anxiety before shows 1. Tony recalls a moment in Spain when he felt overwhelmed by fear, questioning if his best days were behind him 2. He emphasizes that many people, not just athletes, experience similar transitions and self-doubt, which can lead to personal growth if faced head-on 3.

    I was so scared that I was going to screw up every time and scared of showing who I really am because what if that's not good enough?

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    His journey through these emotions has made him more authentic and heart-centered, inspiring others to confront their own fears.

       

    Conquering Challenges

    Tony's approach to new challenges involves confronting fear directly, as illustrated by his skydiving experience. He describes the initial terror of jumping out of a plane and the exhilaration that followed, which taught him that fear is often less daunting than it seems 4. Tony believes that regularly facing fears, whether by talking to strangers or tackling personal challenges, builds resilience and diminishes self-doubt 5. He asserts that true greatness lies on the other side of fear, encouraging others to pursue what they are passionate about despite their fears 6.

    Life takes off on the other side of fear. I was like, I am afraid right now. There is no doubt about it.

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    This mindset shift has been pivotal in his life, allowing him to embrace new opportunities with confidence.

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