advocate

YOU HAVE TO LET GO.
So many of us make decisions because we feel like we have to do something.
Whether it’s the religion we grew up in, what our parents want, or what we feel is culturally acceptable, we often betray ourselves.
But you can only live this way for so long before you start to break down.
You’ll lose sight of who you are and suddenly realize you don’t know how to find it.
It’s a lonely feeling.
For me, this point came after I got injured in football. I was forced to look at my decisions and figure out what I wanted.
On today’s episode of The School of Greatness, I talk about spirituality, relationships, and mental health with one of the most successful musicians of all time: Dan Reynolds.
Dan Reynolds is the lead singer of Imagine Dragons and a recipient of the Songwriters Hall of Fame Hal David Starlight Award.
He shares how he had a crisis of faith after being raised Mormon. He almost divorced his wife and left everything behind. But he was able to make some changes and find himself again.
So get ready to learn how to stop living a people-pleasing life and stay true to yourself on Episode 890.
Some Questions I Ask:
How were you able to make your relationship work? (05:00)
Why do you think people don’t share how they feel? (38:00)
Do you believe it’s more powerful to create from a place of pain or love? (43:40)
What’s your greatest fear? (42:00)
What was the greatest lesson you learned in the last decade? (52:00)
In This Episode You Will Learn:
Why you can’t live a people-pleasing life (00:00)
Dan’s crisis of faith and how Mormonism has affected his life (00:00)
About Dan’s work with the LGBTQ community (19:00)
Dan’s struggle with depression and anxiety (28:00)
Dan’s health journey (45:00)
If you enjoyed this episode, check out the video, show notes, more at http://lewishowes.com/890 and follow me on instagram.com/lewishowes

YOUR MOST POWERFUL TOOL IS YOUR VOICE.
We are surrounded by stories of injustice around us.
It can be overwhelming.
Screaming with anger doesn’t get you very far.
Making the other side wrong just makes a war.
So how can you make a change?
You have to come from a place of compassion. Know the result that you want. Stop leading with emotion and try instead to focus on the concrete change you want to make.
We live in a democracy- our voice counts.
On today’s episode of The School of Greatness, I discuss how the legislative system works with a powerful sexual assault advocate: Amanda Nguyen.
Amanda Nguyen is the founder and CEO of Rise, a non-governmental civil rights organization. She was the power behind the Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act, one of 23 bills to pass unanimously through US Congress. She was in Forbes' 2017 "30 Under 30" Law & Policy list and was an invited speaker at the 2017 Women's March on Washington. In 2018, California representatives Mimi Walters and Zoe Lofgren nominated Nguyen for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.
Amanda was raped in college and soon after learned of the injustices surrounding sexual assault survivors. Instead of getting angry, she made a change.
So get ready to learn how you can make a difference by taking political action on Episode 788.
Some Questions I Ask:
How does someone rewrite a law? (5:00)
How were you able to raise two million dollars in the last two years? (19:00)
What’s your biggest fear? (31:00)
How does someone who has been through trauma get a message across without anger? (37:30)
What makes you feel the most loved? (53:00)
In This Episode You Will Learn:
About the Survivor Bill of Rights that Amanda helped get passed (11:30)
How to avoid “activism fatigue” (18:30)
The process for passing a bill (22:00)
About Work/Life Integration vs. Work/Life Balance (33:00)
How to transcend party lines when trying to make a change (40:00)

VALIDATION IS REDUNDANT.
As many of you know, I didn’t have friends growing up. I couldn’t read and write until late high school. I was goofy and gangly. I got made fun of all the time.
Sports was something I could finally understand.
I was able to prove myself by what I could accomplish on the field.
But then I placed my self worth in what I could achieve in football. If I lost a game, I felt terrible. If I won, I felt great.
It was so unhealthy.
We need to be careful where we get our self-worth.
Instead of earning it through outside validation, we should get it from the kindness in our heart, the positivity that we bring, and who you are.
Learn to have unconditional love for yourself.
On today’s episode of The School of Greatness, I talk about self with the greatest diver in history who is also a great person and advocate: Greg Louganis.
Greg Louganis is simply the greatest diver in history. Today, as a speaker, author, actor, activist, humanitarian and designer, he continues his tradition of excellence.
Greg was the first openly gay diver in history. He is also HIV positive. He now uses his story to empower others.
So get ready to learn about the mindset of an Olympic champion on Episode 767.
Some Questions I Ask:
What was the greatest lesson you learned during the Olympic boycott? (8:00)
How would you approach your dives at The Olympics vs. practice? (12:00)
What was your first Olympic dive like? (16:00)
Were you driven to achieve because you were adopted? (20:00)
How do you cope with something like an HIV diagnosis? (40:00)
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your life? (48:00)
In This Episode You Will Learn:
Why Greg thinks the Olympic boycott may have been a blessing (4:00)
Why obstacles in training are important (9:00)
How to tap into inspiration as opposed to fear (17:00)
About Greg’s experience being HIV positive (35:00)
How imagination and visualization can help you succeed despite all odds (39:00)
The method Greg uses to teach visualization (1:00:00)
Follow me on:
Instagram: @lewishowes
Twitter: @LewisHowes

"YOU HAVE TO TRY BEFORE YOU CAN QUIT."
When Leslie started, his only dream was to be in Rent. When he made it, he was left to find a new dream. He struggled for a long time not finding any work.
One day his eyes were opened by a mentor as to what he was doing wrong. He wasn’t respecting his industry.
He had to show the universe what he wanted. He started taking beginner acting classes, and really researching every brand, role, producer, writer, etc before going out for an audition.
The moment he made this mind shift, the universe responded and he was booked non stop for six years.
Amazing.
You really need to learn from his wisdom on this one.
So, learn how to combat your fear of failure, mentally prepare for huge opportunity, and how to be an advocate for yourself, on Episode 677.
Some Questions I Ask:
There was a time you thought you’d end your acting career, is that right? (8:22)
What do you think is the biggest lesson you learned from your mentors? (10:59)
Were you proactively calling people at the time? (20:43)
What did you see when you watched your audition playback? (28:32)
How do you show up with the same passion and drive when you have so much to lose? (30:06)
What did you say to yourself right before the mic turned on? (34:23)
What was your dream growing up? (40:02)
What happens if we dream too small? (42:33)
How long did you think before you made your decision not to take the money? (48:04)
How did you keep your belief? (53:43)
In This Episode You Will Learn:
The importance of mentors (9:39)
What made Leslie take action (17:06)
Why you need to respect your industry (24:26)
How he lost his fire in his twenties (29:46)
What Leslie says to himself before a big performance like the Super Bowl (31:34)
How you can be a stronger advocate for yourself (36:53)
How Leslies deals with finding a new dream (41:38)
Leslie’s struggle between Hamilton and a big TV deal (44:54)
Why it’s good to be the worst in your class (52:34)
The song Leslie most loves to sing (54:43)