22 - Elvis Duran: "Surrounding yourself with people better than you"

Relationships can be the key to reaching your goals or holding you back. The producer of “The James Altucher Show” Steve Cohen discusses why he doesn’t consider making contacts “networking”, how surrounding himself with good people has made him a better person and the importance of focusing on the process of your work and not the results.

Working as a WWE ring announcer for over a decade, Justin Roberts discusses his unyielding persistence, the pros and cons of working for a company worth over $2 billion, and the importance of not always relying on others to get the job done.

Elvis Duran has hosted one of the biggest morning radio shows for the last 25 years. He was even inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. We sat down to discuss how being fired can be a blessing, asking for things when it’s not your strength, and the power of saying “no”.

Imagine seeing the frustrating obstacles affecting millions of students applying for financial aid and deciding to create a solution. Charlie Javice discusses building her startup Frank, the 300,000 students Frank has helped receive $7 billion in financial aid, starting a soup kitchen in her high school, and why rejection is a numbers game.

Being a NAVY seal in Vietnam and having part of his leg amputated due to battle, Bob Kerrey discusses the persistence he used in his recovery, the importance of asking for help, knowing when to retreat, and being Governor of Nebraska as well as U.S. Senator.

Imagine pursuing your dream of being a TV Show host, which results in massive debt, maxing out credit cards, and having to rely on your Mother-in-law to buy groceries. Mario Armstrong discusses overcoming these struggles, becoming a correspondent on The TODAY Show, winning an EMMY, and hosting his very own digital series.

Imagine starting a music venue where you’re so broke you’re forced to sleep in your office, join a gym to shower, and have the city shut off your electricity. How did Michael Dorf persevere to create two iconic, successful music venues, the Knitting Factory and City Winery? You’re about to fine out.

Imagine getting into an accident that nearly ruins your career. Magician Joshua Jay discusses how he overcame this to perform in over 100 countries, go on Jimmy Fallon, develop a card trick that fooled Penn & Teller, and even set a magic Guinness World Record.

Imagine taking Nickelodeon from last to first place in the ratings within 6 months. Fred Seibert discusses taking Nickelodeon to the top, Fairly OddParents creator Butch Hartman’s incredible persistence, why he needs to fail constantly, and the important of not saying “no” to something just because no one else has ever done it.

Imagine converting a vacant lot used as an illegal dumping ground into the first riverside park in the area in 60 years. Majora Carter joins me to discuss how she made it happen, how buying stocks in a local polluter led to real change, why she called out Al Gore, and how to stay motivated during long-term projects.