ROBERT HAMILTON OWENS ON ADVENTURE, PURPOSE, AND LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE
That's the spirit of an outlier, and at UNAFRAID &
Ever have that feeling you just don't fit the mold?
Like you were born with a cowboy hat and boots, ready to ride your tricycle eight blocks to adventure?
Outlier Magazine, we celebrate those who break the rules and color outside the lines.
In this issue, we dive into the life of Robert Hamilton Owens, a man whose stories from childhood paint a clear picture: he's always been an outlier
An interview with Robert Hamilton Owens
From hitching rides in milk trucks to yearning for skydiving before the thought was even mainstream, Robert's life is a testament to embracing your unique wiring
In our interview, Robert explores the moment he realized he was different, the influence of his adventurous birth mother, and how he learned to harness his outlier spirit for success
Join us as we celebrate Robert's journey and discover the power of being unafraid to be who you truly are.
- Scott MacGregor
In a lifetime that is literally littered with achievement, what are the most important things that you've done in your life?
RHO: Gosh, I think the most important thing is working with young people, just trying to keep them on track A lot of kids don't have a lot of parental guidance So, high school and university students offer a great rate of return when you make an investment of your time with them.
They're soaking up what you share with them; they ask questions. They want to grow. They look for mentors.
Born disabled and left at hospital by mom. Sent to orphanage, had severe feet and ankle disabilities
As far as what I have done in my life, I think probably the most important one is my work with kids. Second is working in my city. When I was in Reno trying to help the low-income mothers and the food bank, I was a social activist pastor
I figured that if I helped the city, the city would respond I didn't try to build a church I tried to reach out and do good things for the judges, for the juvenile hall system - everything Then word spread and people started coming I know that those 25 years of social work were beneficial. Many of the judges frequently told me that they appreciated my help.
Adopted at 3 mos. by a couple; learned to run without foot braces in 6th grade
6th grade: Mom contracted Lupus when there was no cure
1950s to 60s
Mother was disabled until she was 91.
Photocredit:wwwroberthamiltonowenscom
You've had so many athletic achievements. Is there unfinished business there, or are you satisfied with that incredible body of work that you've done, whether it's the world marathon, rowing across the Atlantic, or any of the other things that you've accomplished?
RHO: I have a ton of things I'd like to do, but I have a wife and we’re in our 70s. She says, "Are you going to leave me alone because you have to do another stupid thing? Haven't you done enough to back off and live a life with me? I mean, dream about some vacations with us versus your next adventure "
I said to her, “I got asked to row the Pacific It's only 30 days, not 43 ”
So, she said, “No. What else is in your brain?”
I said, “Well, North Korea is on a lockdown at the moment but when it opens up, there's the North Korean marathon. I'd really like to take the train from China to North Korea and spend a couple of weeks. They open up for a window of time, then lock up again They will invite 30,000 people from around the world to come in and run All of the people in the stadium will have to clap and applaud ”
Sexually abused in 7th and 8th grades
Started drinking a lot in 8th grade
She said, “You're not going to North Korea!” I said, “Oh, yeah? I am, and you're coming with me!” She said, “No, I’m not!”
I said, “That's such a rare opportunity.” She just laughed and said, “We're going to Greece or something.”
So, I have to keep a lid on these things She doesn't want me to die and leave her a widow I am trying to be more openminded and not be a narcissist But there are still a lot more things that I'd like to do
Despite all that you've accomplished, you seem to be looking more through the windshield than you are in the rearview mirror, which makes me believe that you think there’s still unfinished business.
RHO: I think working with more young people is probably my main pursuit My wife says, "You know, you're always around only guys All you do is work with guys, talk to guys, help guys You need to work with some women too "
I just say, “I don't know I got it wired somewhere [like Special Ops] that it was fun to hang out with guys and do guy things. So, I think I'd like to flame out in
Developed poor self-worth Felt lost and didn’t fit in
Became a beach life guard in Orange County California
1950s to 60s
Had a surfer die in his arms as a sophomore in High School
my 90s still mentoring and helping guys because I was a messed up kid I am where I am today because these men have had input in my life and redirected me, or kept me on a straight line That inspires me to give back."
Who's had the biggest influence on your life?
RHO: Jesus! You know, there's one thing about making Jesus your savior You think, “I'm going to go to heaven, thank you very much ”
That's a vertical line. But really, it’s “Jesus is Lord, and that's not my will but thy will be done.” And when I asked him into my heart, He said, “We're not going to go vertical just yet. You're saved. I'll see you in heaven when you get there. I need you to work on Earth for the next 60 years to do what I want you to do versus what you want to do ”
And I thought, “This is gonna be a long life You’re gonna make me go to church every week, stand up, sit down, put money in the bucket I think this is miserable ”
So, He said, “I'll let you have some fun.”
Trying to do what He wants brings a lot of emotions -bitterness, anger, forgiveness, vision, and joy.
At 18, he dodged the Vietnam War Draft
Made sure he had a disqualifying arm injury
And so, making Jesus the Lord of my life is the hardest thing I've ever done, because it's an every day deal It's been 50 years, and it has not always been easy But it is what matters most
Two other people who have had a big influence on my life are John Maxwell and Dr. Edwin Lewis Cole. Both were mentors to me for about 25-30 years, and thank goodness for both of them.
What role did they play in your life?
RHO: When I got out of the military and then planted this church with athletes, I had raw leadership. I didn't really understand it, but I knew what it was.
When Maxwell first started writing books, he'd been a pastor for 20 years, he wrote his first leadership book, “The 21 Laws of Leadership ” This was a big seller of his, and he wrote the outline of the book on yellow pad while visiting our church
I got to hang out with him, and to have him explain leadership and how to grow self-leadership and how to grow others, developing the leader within and leaders around us. I spent 15 years traveling with him, and he offered me a job to leave Reno and to come work with him and all
Went to college 4 times. Quit to surf, snow ski and party.
At 19, got job in Snow Ski Motion Picture Business
Collected the money from theaters at night
1950s to 60s 1970s
the men that he works with But I turned it down
Dr Edwin Cole was a guy that just worked with men Not leaders, but men, and on how to develop better men. We were in the Philippines, and we were speaking to the Joint Chiefs of Staff some 20 years ago. And General Santos of the Philippine Joint Chiefs of Staff said, “We have good generals, but we need better men.” So that became a critical topic of leadership and character in times of conflict
Around the globe, what makes a man a better man? When we would travel the world, we would say, “What is it that every man, in every culture, needs to learn to be a better man?”
We visited different countries and continents - Australia, New Zealand, the UK, France, Africa. Each country has their own traditions and educational norms.
Each country has a slightly different tweak on what makes a great man
When I was doing a conference in Spain, we had 2,000 men in attendance I was sitting with Dr. Cole onstage. One of the things we spoke about was the differing views on families and marriage.
That brings us back to the question of how to make a better man. Conversations around the world all brought us back to that discussion in the Philippines with the Joint Chiefs of Staff We have good generals but we need better men - how do we develop better men? That's a character issue
Maxwell and Cole, they didn't know each other but they respected each other, so I brought them both to Reno at the same time and had them stay in the same hotel. I sent them to a boxing match, and they sat next to each other for four hours watching guys beat each other up. They became best friends.
Slept in van often in New England in the winter.
Traveled on US 91, US 93 and US 95 all winter in 1970
Worked on th of the Pacific Stock Exchan downtown L A d
Quit and moved back to Utah mountains to be a Ski Patrolman
So my two heroes are best friends and they talk about each other around the world.
They impacted my life an awful lot Photocredit:wwwroberthamiltonowenscom
Do you have any regrets?
RHO: You know, that's a great question to ponder. You're walking in the light that you got at the time Everything I've done, I've tried to do the best I can do with what I know Would I do things differently? Not really, only because I didn't know any better. I gave it my best shot - raising kids with my wife, being a church pastor, starting from nothing, selling cars I was selling Volkswagens,
Desperate for change, structure, and more adventure.
Underwent 6 months of physical, mental, and emotional training.
trying to make a living, work with kids, and there's nothing harder than starting a business or starting a church or starting something. It's a full-time job. I'm a risk taker, an entrepreneur, I roll the dice and see what happens I had a wife who was not a risk taker You marry your opposites She got really tired of let’s-rollthe-dice-and-do-it-again
Once she turned 40, she said, "Can we just mellow out? I just want to nest" I never wanted to nest. We had 10,000 more people to reach. So, you just give it your best shot. I don't have a whole lot of regrets. The things that I have messed up, I have said I'm sorry.
Went into the Air Force at 23.
1970s
Became Air Force Special Operations Pararescueman. Was assigned to do rescue work in Alaska.
What drives you, and has it remained consistent through your life?
RHO: Ever since I asked Jesus into my heart it's been consistent When I said, “Jesus, come live in my heart Do what you want with me ” He said, “Really?”
My answer was, “Just don’t make me religious Don't make me say Praise the Lord all the time Don’t make me go to church all the time.”
And He said, “Well, you’re gonna go to church, you may have to do your time in the building, but you can have Van Halen, ponytails and stuff. You can rock it."
I think I'm consistent in that I've tried to do my best I've tried to just be the best person that I could be, and to help as many people as I can
What's your best advice for young people who are just getting started?
RHO: Humility and mentorship Ask for help Admit that you don't know what you're doing and then find mentors Whether it's in finances or relationships
Attempted Winter
Ascent of Mt. McKinley (now called Mt. Aleskya)
Almost died in ice cave
or whatever it is, find mentors who are better at it than you are. Ask them how they found success, and if they would be willing to help you
Humility goes a long way Listening to smarter guys goes a long way
My dad didn't talk to me at all about money There are people who are experts and can teach us how to do what they did to be successful. It makes sense when someone breaks it down for you. So, mentorship.
What
advice would you give to people that are older but are stuck (be it in a relationship, a job, a mindset, anything)?
RHO: How do you like it? You know, I say how do you like your stuckness? Is it working for you? Don't change a thing if you're into it, but if you think that there's a better life than that and you want to change, ask yourself some questions How do you want to change? Can someone help you with that? Are you surrounded by the right people or the wrong people to make that change?
Performed Medical Helicopter and parachute Rescues in the Arctic, Pacific Ocean and Alaska wilderness.
1970s
Did rescues from North Pole south to Washington, East Canada to Hawaii and Russia
Had over 50 ocean, mountain, wilderness rescues
When in your life did you realize you were a bit of an outlier?
RHO: You know my mom said I had cowboy boots on, and my hat, and my guns on, and I was on my tricycle and I was about four. I rode my tricycle to the end of the street, got off my tricycle, and disappeared. I walked eight blocks to school where my sister was in third grade I walked in with my boots and cowboy hat on and said, “Hi!” and just jumped in a chair and sat with the class My mom had called the police to report that I had been kidnapped The school called her back and said, “You know your son is over here sitting in class, right?” My mom later told me, “I knew in that moment that you were different, that you were unafraid, you wanted an adventure, and you just did what you felt you wanted to do.”
I've always been wired to live on the edge, even as a child. In the old days of there being milk trucks, I was always told, "Don't ride in the milk truck." One day, I went up to the milk driver at the end of the cul-de-sac and said, “Let me in!” I was six, and he said, “You're not supposed to be in it ” I got in that thing, went around, and just before I got to my house, I jumped out and missed our lawn I landed right in the street I was all scraped up, and the milk truck driver stopped and asked, “Are you okay?” I said, “All good, all good.”
Photocredit:wwwroberthamiltonowenscom
Photocredit:wwwroberthamiltonowenscom Photocredit:wwwroberthamiltonowenscom
Performed ocean scuba rescue jumps Did civilian rescue work with crashed planes.
Delivered his first baby from a native Alaskan village in the back of a helicopter at 24.
Played Rugby for 2 years with the “Anchorage Storm”
In 1978, Robert was notified that he would be leaving the AF.
For five years, he smuggled Christian Literature into the Soviet Union and political documents out of Soviet Union
I walked into the house, and my mom asked, “What happened to you?” “Nothing, just fell off my bike.” Later my mom said, “You were in the milk truck, weren’t you?” I said, “Yeah, it was way fun, mom.”
The interesting thing is that I just found out who my parents are, about 6 months ago My birth mother, who left me at the hospital, was an adventurer She was a Colonel's wife He was a pilot in the Korean War, and she didn't get along with all the other Colonel's wives because she climbed mountains, she had pro golfer status, and she was out all of the time.
So, when I found out that my mother was an outlier, they all said that's where you got it. You got some DNA a long time ago. It’s what made you who you are today
Went back to College and University for 5th time.
1970s
Throughout junior high, high school, five times in college, I was always outside the box and there was no place for me to fit I did alternative stuff until finally someone told me I was going to die if I didn't get it together That’s why I said, “Jesus, can you take an outlier like me and figure out what to do with me? Because I think I'm illegal worldwide.”
At 16, I said I wanted to jump out of a plane. My parents said, “Don’t even think about it.” I told my parents I went surfing instead, but I went and jumped out of a plane twice that morning I think each of us is gifted differently, and you have to figure out what your gift is, and how it's going to work for you, not against you
I used it against me until about 21 when I made it work for me Then it just grows because you have success at it, and you keep sharpening the pencil.
Graduated with a BS Degree in Theological Studies and Church History Finally got A’s!
Started coaching Cross Country High School Team at Incline HS at Lake Tahoe.
Became Chaplain at University of NevadaReno for 24 years
Started a nonDenominational Church at the University for 25 years.
1980s
Started a 1-hour television program on FOX Regional Network paid for by local businesses for 24 years.
Was one of the original Ironman Finishers in 1980
Raised medical relief funding for homeless families living in cars
Ran for State Legislature Won the Republican Primary Lost the General Election
Flew 4M miles over the years speaking and ching in 30 ntries
Started the Crises Pregnancy Center in Reno
Parachuted from a plane alongside Tiger Woods
Played Rugby for Reno
1980s
Adopted low-income elementary schools and established after school programs
Started a food bank which turned into the largest live-in rescue center in the county
Began to visit and work with 5 prisons for 20 years in California and Nevada because of the TV Program.
Raised medical supplies funding for Nicaraguan Contra soldiers.
1990s
15 trips to Africa 1994-2007
Made 3 trips to Albania under Communist Rule.
Sailed across the Atlantic Ocean.
Lost home in recession
Became a paid coach for SEALFIT
Married again in 2014 to High School girlfriend.
10 trips to China working for ProDemocracy Leaders
Moved home and took care of father (from age 92 to 101).
Ran 238 miles across Greece 8 days for the Navy SEAL Foundation.
2000s
Didn’t finish 13th Ironman Came home and had heart attack in 2019.
Photocredit:wwwroberthamiltonowenscom
Rowed across the Atlantic 43 days
3100 miles
Row 12 hours a day
Longest sleep: 1:45 minutes
2010s
Oldest Finisher of SEATFIT’s Navy SEAL 50 Hour Nonstop Navy SEAL Crucible known as Kokoro
Bad case of Covid Presently has “Long Covid ”
2020s
Completed Ironmans 6-12
Finished World Marathon Challenge known as 777
Went through a divorce 2009 after 30 years of marriage and 5 kids.
Appointment by two Governors to 8 years on the Nevada State Judicial Ethics Commission overseeing the Judges and Attorneys in Nevada
Declared “The Fittest and Mentally Toughest 66-Year-Old in the World” by Spartan Games founder Joe De Sena
At 72, he was running on his knee replacement in 4 weeks
Lost most of 2023 to walking pneumonia and torn up knee
Q:Inafire,whatirreplaceable possessionwouldyourisk savingandwhy?
Inahousefire,Iwouldprioritizesaving acuttingboardbearingmymom's handwrittenrecipeofmyfavoritedish, whichwasgiventomebymysister andbestfriend.Iwouldalsosavemy passportandmyoldjournals.My journalsarerepositoriesofmemories, emotions,experiences,andreflections Iloverereadingthemtogeta snapshotofmyselfinamomentand time.
Photocredit:https://wwwchefpalakpatelcom/
Photocredit:https://wwwchefpalakpatelcom/
Q:What’syourfavoritewayto spendadayoff?
Myfavoritedaybeginswithadeep meditation,whereIsitquietlyand centermyself,allowingthestillnessto setthetonefortheday.Afterthis peacefulstart,Ilovemakingahomemadebrunchwithfamilyandfriends Wesharejokesandstories,baskingin eachother’scompanyandthewarmth ofmyhome.ThenI'llindulgeinamidafternoonnap..Intheevening,Itakea momenttocelebratearecentworkor lifemomentI'mproudof.
“I TRY TO SURROUND MYSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO DO WHAT THEY SAY THEY ARE GOING TO DO.”
-PALAKPATEL
Q:Whatgoaldoyouwantto accomplishinthenext12 months?
I'mplanningahugerelocationand anaudaciousworkproject.I'dlike themovetobeseamlessandstep intothenextyearwithclarityand courage
Q:Howdoyoufindthe strengthtokeeppushing whenthingsgettough?
Ipridemyselfonsurrounding myselfwithsupportivefriendsand familymembers,andrelyonmany modalitieslikebreathwork,yoga, andmeditationforself-care.
Q:What'syourbiggestpet peeve?
Itisnotbeingaccountable.Itryto surroundmyselfwithpeoplewhodo whattheysaytheyaregoingtodo. Accountabilityishugeformeasit helpsbuildtrustinpeople.
Q:What’syourfavoritething aboutyourself?
Myabilitytoforgeandmaintain meaningfulconnections.
Q:Whatisyourfavoritequote?
“Tomakeanendistomakea beginning”
~TS Eliot
Photocredit:https://wwwchefpalakpatelcom/
Q:Doyouhaveamentor?
Ihaveadiversesetoffriendsand businessprofessionalsthatI'vecome torelyonformakingdecisionsand gettingsupport
Q:Whatdoyouwantpeopleto sayaboutyouwhenyou’re gone?
I'dwanttobeknownformy effervescentenergy,kindness,and resilience.
Q:Ifyoucouldtimetravel, whenandwherewouldyou go?
Iwouldtravelbacktowhenboth mygrandfatherswerealive,whomI neverhadthechancetomeetin mylifetime.I'dreturntoIndiawhen theywereyoungmenraisingtheir familiesandaskthemabouttheir stories,quirks,andlegacies Though theyarenolongerwithus,their presencelingersinthememoriesI nowcarry,atestamenttothe powerofancestry.
Founder and CEO of Peels
Q:Inafire,whatirreplaceable possessionwouldyourisk savingandwhy?
Ifmyfamilyanddogweresafe,Iwould savemyjournal,whichisfullof memoriesandreflections,bothgood andbad,overthelast10years.
Q:What'syourbiggestpet peeve?
Mybiggestpetpeeveislackof preparation.Ilovethesaying,“Proper preparationpreventspisspoor performance!”
Q:Whatisyourfavoritequote?
“Recognizewhatyoucanandcannot control.”
Q:What’syourfavoritewayto spendadayoff?
Myfavoritewaytospendadayoffisto domynormaldailyroutine-wakeup at4:44am,coldplunge,sauna, meditate,workout,thenspendtherest ofthedaywithmywifeandkids.
“I FIND STRENGTH THROUGH FOCUSING ON MY “PURPOSE” AND MY “WHY.”
-CHRISHETHERINGTON
Photocredit:ChrisHetheringtonInstagram
Photocredit:ChristHetheringtonX
Q:Whatgoaldoyouwantto accomplishinthenext12 months?
Mygoaloverthenext12monthsis tosignificantlygrowmybusinesses, whilebeingpresentwithmywife andkids,andvisitingmyparents andfamilyinCTmore
Q:Howdoyoufindthe strengthtokeeppushing whenthingsgettough?
Ifindstrengththroughfocusingon my“Purpose”andmy“Why”.Also, mydailypracticeofmeditation, manifestation,andfaithhasbeen extremelyhelpful
Q:Ifyoucouldtimetravel, whenandwherewouldyou go?
IfIcouldtimetravel,Iwouldgo backtomyweddingdayinSan DiegoonJune15,2013,and experiencethatspecialdayand nightagain.
Q:What’syourfavoritething aboutyourself?
Myfavoritethingaboutmyselfismy consistentdisciplineandgrit.
Q:Doyouhaveamentor?
Ihave2mentors/heroes-mydad,Ray andmyolderbrother,Brian Theyhave beenincredibleinfluencesinmylife andhaveprovidedunconditional supportthroughoutmylife.
Q:Whatdoyouwantpeopleto sayaboutyouwhenyou’re gone?
IwantpeopletosayIwasapositive influence,avalueadder,andlivedlife withmeaningandimpact
What does it mean to be an Outlier?
To be an Outlier means you choose to live with a thirst to be extraordinary.
To have a growth mindset, and to be a part of a unique and special community of other Outliers that help you accomplish your goals, personally and professionally, with their unwavering support
Q:Ifyoucouldtimetravel, whenandwherewouldyou go?
IwouldtravelbacktotheHeian PeriodofJapantohaveafrontrow seatfortheculturalachievementsin artandarchitecture.Iloveart, calligraphy,poetry,andliterature,so thisisafascinatingtimeinhistoryfor me.IloveTheTaleofGenji!Thisis alsothetimewhentheriseof Samuraisbegan--andthe developmentofBushidocodewould beexcitingtoexperience.
Q:Whatdoyouwantpeopleto sayaboutyouwhenyou’re gone?
Iwanttoberememberedforleading anauthenticlifewhereImade decisionsthatwerenotgovernedby fear.Eachhumanonthisplanethas incrediblegifts,buttheonlywayto makeacontributionistoshowup withoutartificeorallowfearto changethechoicesyoumake.
“CURIOSITY KEEPS US ALL GROWING!”
Photocredit:AntoniaHockLinkedIn
Photocredit:AntoniaHockLinkedIn
Q:What’syourfavoritething aboutyourself?
Isolveproblemswellunderextreme stress,andthathassavedmylifemore thanonce Ithasalsoshapedmy abilitytothriveunderdifficult circumstances.Thistraitcreatedvalue formeattimeswheneveryoneelse decidedtofold.
Q:Whatgoaldoyouwantto accomplishinthenext12 months?
Ihadanexpeditionplannedtoclimb Aconcagua,thehighestmountainin boththeSouthernandWestern Hemispheres,andIhadtopostpone itin2024,but2025istheyear! Trainingforbigmountainsissuchan excitingnexusofhardwork, discipline,andexcitement.
Q:Doyouhaveamentor?
Idon'thaveamentor,andIhaven't hadalotofsuccesswiththatmodel.I dobelieveinsponsors--wherethereis alignmenttoanoutcome,andyouare focusedonthatachievement together.
Q:Whatisyourbiggestpet peeve?
CuriosityisatraitIhighlyvalue,and whensomeonelackstheinterestor engagementtoseeknew understanding,learnnewthings,or havenewexperiences,I'm disappointed.Curiositykeepsusall growing!
Q:Whatisyourfavorite quote?
TheodoreRoosevelt's"Citizenshipin aRepublic"speech,deliveredon April23,1910attheSorbonne inspiresmeeverytimeIreadit.Itis widelyknownas"TheManinthe Arena"address,andthemessageis onethatiscoretomyperspectivein life Ihavetheseminalline:"Thecredit belongstothemaninthearena" memorializedasatattoo,soIcarryit withmealways
Q:What’syourfavoritewayto spendadayoff?
Idon'treallysubscribetodays"off"--as Iseeevery24hoursasanopportunity tocreate,experience,build,andenjoy I getinspiredbybeinghighinthe mountains--aloneinnature--so anytimeIcanbe14,000ft+,Iknowit willbeagreatday!
Q:Howdoyoufindthe strengthtokeeppushingwhen thingsgettough?
"Tough"isrelative.Throughoutmy wholelifeIhavebeenbeatingthe oddsandpushingthroughreally challengingexperiences,soIdon't framemylifeinthatway.Whenyou developstrengthasaveryyoung
person,"pushingthrough"isyour normalmodusoperandi.Always betonyourself!
Q:Inafire,whatirreplaceable possessionwouldyourisksaving andwhy?
IhaveaZunitotemthatwasgiventome byatribalmemberbeforeabig mountainclimb.Hergrandfathercarved it,andshehadbeenawaitingitsmatch formanyyears.Hergrandfatheris exhibitedintheSmithsonian,butthe valuetomeisinthegiftfromtheheart andthealignmentshefeltbetweenthis MountainLioncarvingandmyenergy.I carryitwithmeallthetime,andIalways rememberthatstrangerssometimes bestowexperiencesthatconnectusto ourtruestselves.
What does it mean to be an
Outlier?
Outliers trust in their own abilities and lead life according to what brings them the greatest fulfillment. It is not about the applause from the crowd, what is mainstream, or what others will value They understand that their time on this earth is limited, and they seek to lead an authentic life-committed to their own guiding principles and purpose
THINKING LIKE AN OUTLIER
FEATURE NO. 04
Q: What is your morning routine?
In a nutshell, I wake up at 5:00 and take the dog out for a walk We come home, all hop back in bed for about 15 minutes, read a little news, and then I'm out the door to the gym or a surf, depending on the tide and conditions.
Then it’s back home for a protein smoothie, food and addressing office emails, sponsor project obligations, social media, phone calls and back in the water or training outdoors
Q:What'sanareaofyourlife whereyouneedtopractice moreself-discipline?
Timemanagementisabigchallenge I haveahardtimesayingnoandtaking ontoomanythingsatonce,especially ifIwanttobewellrestedforthenext day.
Q:Whoisyourfavorite comedian?
AzizAnsari
“I HAVEN'T MET ANYONE THAT DOESN'T EXCEL AT SOMETHING.”
-CHUCKPATTERSON
Q:Doyouspeakanother language?Ifnot,whichone interestsyoumostandwhy?
MymomisfromGermany,soitwas moreimportantthatGermanwasmy firstlanguage,eventhoughIwasborn inCalifornia Ispentmyearlyyears growingupinGermany,evengoingto aGermanschoolrunbynuns.When wemovedbacktoCalifornia,we continuedGermanschoolonthe weekendsbetweenourregular schoolinguntiltheschoolsentanote tomyparentsstatingmysisterandI neededtoputmoretimeintolearning theEnglishlanguage.
I’mgratefulasIstillcanspeakand understandGermanprettywelltothis day.
Q:Howdoyouconsume news,andwhattopicsdoyou payattentionto?
MywifeandIwakeupearlyand shereadsthenewsoutloud.Some ofitwetakewithagrainofsalt, politicsforinstance.Wekeepa closeeyeonglobalweather,which isoftenfollowedwithbooked flightsoutinthenext24hoursto chaseanincomingswellorsnow storm.
Q:Howdoyouincorporate funintoyourlife?
It'stheoppositeforme Ifind difficultyincorporatingotherthings intomylifebecauseIamsobusy havingfun!Itryandjustifyitby sayingit'smyjobtohavefun.:)
Q:Whatdecisionimpacted yourlifeinthemostpositive way?
Atthestartofcollege,Ireceiveda dreamsponsoroffertogetpaidto windsurfandtraveltheworld competing,filmingandteaching windsurfing
Iwasprettyscaredtoaskmyparents fortheirblessing,asIkneweducation wasahugepartofgrowingupand succeedinginlife However,tomy surprise,afterexplainingmyplanand expressingmypassionandloveforthe sport,alongwiththeabilitytolearnso muchfromworldtravels,culture,and beingonmyown,theybothgaveme thenod.TheyagreedaslongasIput 100%intoit,knowingthatfailureor comingbackwithmytailbetweenmy legswasnotanoption.
Thiswasdefinitelythelaunchofmy careerasafullypaidprofessional athleteandthestartoflivingout manysportshighlightdreamstothis day
Q:Whydoyouthinksome peopleexcelandothersdon’t?
Ihaven'tmetanyonethatdoesn't excelatsomething.Somepeople makeheadlinesonwhatthey"excel" at,othersmaynotevenrealizethat theyinfactdoexcelatsomething, evenifit'sjustkindness,whichfor somedoesn'tcomenaturally.
Q:Lookingbackonyour personaljourney,whatare youmostproudof?
SuchatoughquestionasIfeelvery blessedforallthelifelessons, challengesandgoalsI’ve experiencedandthehealthysports lifestyleI’vebeenabletokeepliving whiledoingwhatIlove...
Inallhonesty,I'dsaymyworkethic anddeterminationtoneverlook backwhilechasingmypassion.I amverygratefulforallofmy friendsandfamilywhohave supportedandinspiredmewhile keepingmehumble.Lastly,mylove ofsharingeverythingI'velearnedto helpothersfindtheirpassionsand chasetheirdreamswithasmile.
Q:Wereyouastudiousora curiousstudentinschool?Do anyteachercommentsfrom yourreportcardsstillresonate withyoutoday?
Iwasmorecuriousaboutsportsthan studiousinschool,butonceIlearnedI couldn’tplaysportswithoutagood gradepointaverageIhadtobuckle downandputinthework.It wasn’teasy,butmyfathermademea dealIcouldn’trefuse;ifIputmyhead downandfinishedallmyhomework andstudies,hewouldsupport anythingIwantedtodo,especiallyin sports.Mylastyearinhighschool,I graduatedwithstraightA's.
"Anythingispossibleifyouputyour mindtoit."
WhatdoesitmeantobeanOutlier?
AnOutlierissomeonethatchoosestolivealifelessordinary,anoutsideof theboxthinker,willingtoriskeverythingforwhathe/shebelievesin,not afraidtobedifferentorruntheirownpathlesstraveled Theyarealeader, notafollower
AnOutlierdoeswhatotherswishtheycoulddo,butfearit'snotattainableor "safe".
Q:Whatdecisionimpactedyour lifeinthemostpositiveway?
IknewfromayoungagethatIwanted tomovetoLAtobeaprofessional dancer.Iworkedfourjobstosaveup enoughmoney--$1,200tobeexact I packedupmybagsandsetoutfor Californiaandendedupwitha successfuldancecareer.Thissmall towngirl'sfirstgigwasadreamcome true Afteramonthofbeingin California,IdancedinMCHammer's musicvideo,"Can'tTouchThis."Ohboy! NowI'mreallyagingmyself!
Q:Lookingbackonyour personaljourney,whatareyou mostproudof?
IamsoproudthatInevergaveup aftermymotorcycleaccident,34 surgeriestosavemylegfrom amputation,beingdiagnosedwithan incurablenervedisease(CRPS)and toldIwouldneverwalkagain Notonly canIwalkbutIhavecompletely transformedmylifeandcareerand nowamblessedtobeabletoinspire otherstobeunstoppableaswell!
“RESILIENT PEOPLE DON'T LET ADVERSITY DEFINE THEM, BUT INSTEAD FIND THE COURAGE TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS A GOAL BEYOND THEMSELVES. “
-AMBERLYLAGO
Photocredit:AmberlyLagoLinkedIn
Photocredit:AmberlyLagoLinkedIn
Q: Were you a studious or a curious student in school? Do any teacher comments from your report cards still resonate with you today?
Although I was a very studious and curious student, in elementary school I was put in the special needs class because I wasn't doing well, and was probably driving my teacher crazy. I didn't fit in that class either. I would finish all my work quickly and then tap dance under the desk and made up my style of cursive writing. They then tested me and said, "Oh wow, she really is smart" I was then put in the Talented and Gifted Program at school where I went to state to compete and won. But being put in a classroom for "slow" learners always stuck with me, and for so long I really didn't think I was smart. It wasn't until I graduated with honors that I started to develop more confidence.
Q:Doyouspeakanother language?Ifnot,whichone interestsyoumostandwhy?
IhaveathickTexasdrawland sometimesfeellikeIcanbarelyspeak Englishlol.ButItookfouryearsof Frenchandhadtheopportunityto practicespeakingthelanguageasI wanderedaroundParis.Iammarried toaCubanandIcanunderstand whenheistalkingsmackaboutme, butIcan'tspeakalickofSpanish I wouldlovetolearnSpanishand surprisemyhubby.
Q:What’sanareaofyourlife whereyouneedtopracticemore self-discipline?
Ineedtopracticetakingbettercareof myselfandgivingmyselfsomegrace.I lovegritandIlovegoingfast Itendto pushandpush,andIneedtobemore disciplinedabouttakingbreaks throughoutthedayandsettingbetter officehours Ialsoneedtobemore disciplinedaboutsettingboundaries.As anovercomingpeoplepleaserIwantto helpeveryoneandbethereforeveryone Ihavetobemoredisciplinedabout beingthereformyselfsoICANbethe bestversionofmyselfandservefroma placeofgoodhealth,mentallyand physically.
Photocredit:AmberlyLagoLinkedIn
Q:Howdoyouconsume news,andwhattopicsdoyou payattentionto?
Idon'treallywatchthenews.Idon't reallyevenwatchTV.Myhubby,a formerLtCommander,lovesthe newssohegivesmetheCliffNotes versionofwhatisgoingoninthe world.
Q:Whoisyourfavorite comedian?
RonWhite
Q:Whatisyourmorning routine?
ThefirstthingIdoeachmorningis drinkahugeshakerofwatermixed withmyguthealthsupplementand immunityshot.Iwakeupearlybefore myfamily,soIcanhavesomequiet timeandfocusonmyintentionsfor theday Ireadthethirdstepprayer whichremindsme,Hiswillandnot myownthroughouttheday.Iread frommyDailyReflectionsbookand 24HoursaDaybookbecauseIam soberbytheGraceofGodsince2016 I haveagratitudepracticewhereI write10thingsIamgratefulforand thenIshareitwithmysobersisters. Wecallourselves"theGodsquad" ThenImovemybodybecauseit movesmymood.Itmightsoundlike alot,butitkeepsmegroundedand setsmydayupforsuccess.Idoallof thisbeforeIpickupmyphoneand scrollthroughsocialmediaorcheck emails.(EventhoughIreallywantto pickupthatdangphone.)
Q: Why do you think some people excel and others don’t?
We all have setbacks and challenges. Those who give up question their abilities and goals. Those who get back up again and again and persevere focus on strategy and tactics. They have grit. Resilient people don't let adversity define them, but instead find the courage to move forward towards a goal beyond themselves. I believe successful people know where they want to go. They cast a vision and focus on what they can control instead of what they can't. And most importantly, they know they need a community of positive people and support around them and that they don't have to do it alone
Q:Howdoyouincorporate funintoyourlife?
Mydaughtersarethejoyofmylife Aswellasmyhubby!ButIhaveso muchjoywhenIgettogofishing withmyyoungestdaughter,goon adventureswithher--sheisadare devillikeme.Wewereactually playinginarainstormthroughall thepuddlesyesterday.Believeitor not,funformeiswhenIgettogoto thegym.Oneofmymostfavorite thingsIgettodoisspeakatevents andholdretreatsformy mastermindladies Thissparksso muchjoywhenIgettoconnect withamazingpeople.
What does it mean to be an Outlier?
I believe the happiest and most successful people are the ones that are a part of community Being an Outlier means I am never alone on my entrepreneurial journey. I think we all just want to feel heard, seen, and understood. Thanks to Scott we have the most amazing supportive community, and he brings the most phenomenal, passionate, positive people together.
2x Olympian, Stanley Cup Champion, 17-year NHL career, Broadcaster, Entrepreneur
Photocredit:BretHedicanInstagram
Q:Howdoyoufindthestrength tokeeppushingwhenthingsget tough?
Inmydarkestdaysasaprofessional hockeyplayer,earlyinmycareerwhenI hadn’tmasteredmymentalgame,I learnedthatit’soktofailandknowthat you’llbounceback Whileitmaysound counterintuitive,thestrengthI’vegotten fromfailing,andgoingbacktothe drawingboardtofindabetterwaytodo things,showedmethatevenfailureis justanopportunitytopointyour compassinadifferentdirection.
Q:Inafire,whatirreplaceable possessionwouldyourisk savingandwhy?
Alotofpeoplewouldprobablythink I’dberunningformyStanleyCupring. Myanswermightsurpriseyou.I’dgrab myHEDi-PACK Peoplemightsayit’s justabackpack,butit’sbeen everywherewithme,andeachofthe patchesIhaveonmyHEDi-PACKare momentsinmylifethatchangedme andmademethepersonIamtoday
“NO MATTER WHAT I DO IN LIFE, I COME AT PASSION WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE.”
-BRETHEDICAN
Photocredit:BretHedicanInstagram
Photocredit:BretHedicanInstagram
Q:Whatgoaldoyouwantto accomplishinthenext12 months?
Whensomeoneseesabackpackout intheworldwithpatchesalloverit,I wantpeopletorecognizeitandsay, “that’saHEDi-PACK!”It’swhere peopleknowthisisnotjustany backpack,butarepresentationof one’sindividualityandmomentsin theirlifethatchangedthem.
Q:Ifyoucouldtimetravel, whenandwherewouldyou go?
Iwouldgo100yearsintothefuture fromnow.It’shardtocomprehend howfarwe’vecomeasacivilizationin 2024years,letalonewhatwe’ve accomplishedsincetheturnofthe 20thCentury Imaginewhata centenarianhasseenintheirlast100 years,andimaginewhatwe’ll accomplishinournext100years.I’d lovetoknowthatanswer!
Q:Whatisyourfavoritequote?
M.O.B.=“MakeOthersBetter.”Itryto livewithaMOBmentality,because everywinningteamororganization I’veeverbeenapartofallhadone thingincommon everyonewas moreconcernedwiththeperson besidethemthanthemselves. ThroughouttheyearswheneverI’ve beenstuckinarut,orifIwas strugglingtobreakoutofanegative cycle,I’dturnmyfocustoothersand goodthingswouldhappen.
Photocredit:CarolinaHurricanesMediaArchives
Q:What’syourfavoritewayto spendadayoff?
Playingmyguitar.Inaworldthat’s alwaysdemandingourattentionor pushingustothenextthing,it’s suchanamazingreleasetograbmy guitarandonlythinkaboutthenext chordandthewordsofthesong, whichkeepsmecompletelyinthe moment
Q:Doyouhaveamentor?
Ihaveaclosefriend,asuccessful entrepreneurhimself,GregGartner, whohasbeenmymentor.He’shelped meinmanyareasofmylife,both businessandpersonal
Q:Whatdoyouwantpeopleto sayaboutyouwhenyou’re gone?
BretalwaysmademefeellikeIwas seen.
Q:What'syourbiggestpet peeve?
Thisissortofaweirdone,butIdon’t likeitwhenpeopletextback“sure”or “okay.”Likeyou’vejustinvited someonetocomeoverandbarbecue orplayaroundofgolfandthemost theycanmusteris“sure.”It’sthetext messageversionofabuzzkill,andlife’s tooshortnottobeenthusiastic.
Q:What’syourfavoritething aboutyourself?
Passion.NomatterwhatIdoinlife,I comeatitwitheverythingIhave.Ihave asaying,“IamaLoving,Courageous, Passionateleader.”I’verealizedthatfor metogettowheremypassionlives,I firsthavetocomefromalovingplacein myheart,andifIdo,ittakesmetomy CouragetonotleavethebestofwhoI amatthedoor.IfIcomefromLove,I knowI’llhavetheCouragetoshowup withallthatIam,andmytruepassion forlifewillcomeout.
What does it mean to be an
Outlier?
It means I'm a part of a community of people who have thought of others more than themselves, and to me, those are Championship type people I want to associate with
THINKING LIKE AN OUTLIER
FEATURE NO. 07
JOANNA LOHMAN with...
USNWT member, Pro soccer player, Number
Retired, Hall of Famer, Keynote Speaker
Q:Inafire,whatirreplaceable possessionwouldyourisk savingandwhy?
Truly,thereisnopossessionthatIown thatholdsthatmuchvaluethatI wouldrisksaving.Tome,theyarejust things.Thepeople,however...Mywife, Melodie,mydaughter,Luna,mydog, Dewey,Iwouldriskitallfor
Q:Whatisyourbiggestpet peeve?
Showingupconsistentlylate.Ithink timeisourgreatestcurrencyandIdo notappreciatewhenthiscurrencyis devaluedorworse,wasted
Q:Doyouhaveamentor?
IdonothaveonespecificmentorbutI havemanyclosefriendsand colleaguesIdeeplyrespectandgoto foradvice,discourse,andguidance.My parentsarealsomybestfriends. Relationshipsarethefabricofmylife andIinvestheavilyintheirquality.
Q:What’syourfavoritething aboutyourself?
TheinsatiablepassionandpurposeI haveforthislifewhichemitsitselfasa magneticforcefield
“EACH EFFORT WE MUSTER SPEAKS TO THE WAY WE CHERISH OUR IMPACT AND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR EXISTENCE.”
-JOANNALOHMAN
Q:Whatdoyouwantpeopleto sayaboutyouwhenyou’re gone?
ThatJoLohmanwasarainbow confetticannon:
Shebroughtanenergyandlight tothisworldthatbrightened everyexperienceshewasapart of.
Shecontributedtosocietyina waythatmadeothersfeelmore empoweredtounleashtheir authenticexcellenceandwalk proudlyknowingtheirworth. Shegaveeveryounceofher being,everydropofherblood, andtriedsodamnhardtobethe bestversionofherself
Q:Whatgoaldoyouwantto accomplishinthenext12 months?
Toknowmyselfevenmoreintimately andexploretheedgesofmy capacities,humanityandidentity.
Q:Ifyoucouldtimetravel, whenandwherewouldyou go?
Iwouldtravelbackto1972,theyear thatTitleIXwaspassed,tospend timewiththeindividualswhoblazed trailsandgavemetheopportunityto playsport Thiswouldincludemylate Grandmother,JesseBaum.Iwould thankthem,one-by-one,fortirelessly dedicatingtheirexistenceto progress,justiceandequalityandtell them,"youchangedmylife"
Q:Whatisyourfavoritequote?
"Togiveanythinglessthanyourbestisto sacrificethegift"-StevePrefontaine
Thisquoteconciselyexpressesseveral deepmeanings:
Eachmomentwehaveonthisearth isanopportunitytocommitto greatness;toputitallonthelinewith noguaranteeofglory
Eachpersonhasuniquevalue,and whenthisuniquevalueisgiftedto theworld,weareallbetterforit. Eacheffortwemusterspeakstothe waywecherishourimpactandthe integrityofourexistence.
Q:What’syourfavoritewayto spendadayoff?
Myfavoritedayoffwouldhavethe perfectmixtureofactivityanddown time:Itwouldstartwitharelaxing morning.Thisincludesdrinkingcoffee andreadingthesportssectionofthe WashingtonPostthatisdeliveredto mydoor.Then,mywife,daughter,and Iwouldeatafamilybreakfast Shortly after,wewouldventureoutforahike inRockCreekParkwithourdog, Dewey.Wewouldpicnicinthepark, soakupthesun,andplayinthegrass. Beforeheadinghome,wewouldeat anearlydinnersittingoutsideatoneof ourfavoriterestaurants.Thedaywould endwithloungingonthecouch, watching"TopChef"andgoingtobed promptlyat9:30pm=)
Q:Howdoyoufindthe strengthtokeeppushingwhen thingsgettough?
Irememberthatagoodlifeisforged preciselyfromthethingsthatmakeit hard:Itisthroughthebreakdownthat wehavebreakthroughs.Itisthrough thechallengethatweexperience change.Itisthroughthestrugglethat webuildstrength Itisthroughthe chaosthatwebuildcharacter.Andas awomanwhoknowshowhardit hurtstofallandhittheearthface down,Iviscerallyunderstandpainis aninevitablepartofthebeautiful process.Sobringit.Oh,andIwantto dohardshitwithgoodpeople
What does it mean to be an Outlier?
To walk your path with courage, conviction, and enthusiasm and as you walk, you sprinkle that path with surrender, because you truly do not know where it leads.
Q:Inafire,whatirreplaceable possessionwouldyourisk savingandwhy?
OutsideofmybulldogsRoccoand Santino,Iwouldsaymy2009World Serieschampionshipring Thismeans somuchbecauseitisasymbolofthe yearsofdedicationandfightthatwent intoachievingit.It'satimelesspiece thatencapsulatestremendousoutput andeffortinthequestofvictory!
Q:Whatisyourfavoritequote? “Itstartswithadream,hardwork,and thedesiretoplayforever.”
-CalRipkenJr
Q:What'syourbiggestpet peeve?
Peoplethatarenotpeopleoftheir word.
“THAT GUY STOOD FOR SOMETHING. HE WENT AGAINST THE GRAIN. HE WAS PRETTY ROGUE. AND HE WAS A MASTER AT REINVENTING HIMSELF.”
Q:What’syourfavoriteway tospendadayoff?
Onmyfarm-workingoutsideand spendingtimewiththebeefherd I amalsoanobsessivelandscaper.
Q:Whatgoaldoyouwantto accomplishinthenext12 months?
IamlookingtopurchaseaUSDA Slaughterhouseandtakeourmeat brand,FreedomFarms,to8-figures.
Q:Howdoyoufindthe strengthtokeeppushing whenthingsgettough?
Whatotheroptionisthere?None. That’smymindset Soeverydaywe straponandgonomatterhowwe feel.
Q:Ifyoucouldtimetravel, whenandwherewouldyou go? 2002-backtowhenIstartedwith theYanks Itwasatimeofmagical naivety Iwouldalsoliketohave dinnerwiththeTitan,JohnD Rockefeller-thatwouldbepretty epic.
Photocredit:CoachDanaCavaleaLinkedIn
Q:Doyouhaveamentor?
Myparentsandmywifearemy mentors.Theypushmeeverydayto bebetter.Theyareallnoexcuses people.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about yourself?
I am always curious and never intimidated to try something new
Q:Whatdoyouwantpeopleto sayaboutyouwhenyou’re gone?
Thatguystoodforsomething.Hewent againstthegrain.Hewasprettyrogue. And-hewasamasteratreinventing himself
What does it mean to be an Outlier?
It means to look at the herd- and go quickly and boldly the other way Who wants to join the club when you can start your own?
THINKING LIKE AN OUTLIER
FEATURE NO. 09
HENNA PRYOR with...
Bestselling Author, Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur
Q:Wereyouastudiousora curiousstudentinschool?Do anyteachercommentsfrom yourreportcardsstillresonate withyoutoday?
IwasextremelystudiousandcuriouswithSouthAsianparentswhocameto thiscountrywithlittle,Ifeltan obligationasthefirstbornnottowaste theireffortanddoagoodjobin school.Iwasgenerallyastarstudent withoneexception:Iwouldget writtenupfortalkingtoomuchin class.Soundsaboutrightforsomeone whowentontobeakeynotespeaker!
Q:Whatdecisionimpacted yourlifeinthemostpositive way?
Itwasthesamedecisionmadetwicebothofmycareerpivots.Ipivoted fromBig4publicaccountingto executivesearch/staffing,andthen againfromthattoexecutivecoaching andkeynotespeaking.Bothtimes wereTERRIFYINGandIhadahugepit inmystomach,butthedecisionto leap(bothtimes)hasbeenthebest thingtoeverhappentome.
“BEING AN OUTLIER MEANS BEING WILLING TO DO WHAT LIGHTS YOUR HEART UP, EVEN IF IT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING.”
-HENNAPRYOR
Q:Whoisyourfavorite comedian?
Hardtopickjustone,butasfaras whomakesmelaughallthetime evenwhenhe'snotinperformance mode,I'llhavetogowithPhilly's finest,KevinHart.
Q:Lookingbackonyour personaljourney,whatare youmostproudof?
Howamazingourkidsare,despite havingtwoworkingparentswith verydemandingjobs.Theyareselfassuredbutrespectful, independentbutdeeplycaring, andincrediblykindwhilewillingto advocateorspeakupforthosewho can't Ithinkeveryworking caregiverworriesaboutwhether they'vegivenenoughtotheirkids, buttheyaretrulymygreatest accomplishment
Q:Howdoyouconsume news,andwhattopicsdoyou payattentionto?
Honestly,Idon't Iavoidthenewsas muchashumanlypossible.Ifindit doesmoreharmthangoodformy mentalhealth-Igetoverloadedby allofthethingsIcan'tfix Instead,I trytopickoneissueatatimethat I'mpassionateaboutandtryto spendmoreenergymovingthe needlethere.Ifsomethingis newsworthyenough,I'llhearit fromthemouthofsomeone.
Q:Howdoyouincorporatefun intoyourlife?
Isitcheesyashelltosaymymiddle nameisfun?Funisinmytop5values. Wetrytomakeeverythingfuninour household Funnyvoices,kitchen danceparties,stupidjokes.Itryto borrowtheskillshonedbycomedians --lookingforthefunandfunnyinthe everydayandmundane.Isthat squirrel'stailkindofscraggly?That's hilarioustome.Thebigvacationsand concertsareawesome,butlivinga fun-filledlifemeansfindingthosedaily moments.
Q:Whydoyouthinksome peopleexcelandothersdon’t? Peoplewhoexcelarewillingtotakeoratleasttry-goodadvicewhenit's giventothem.WhenI'mfortunate enoughtohaveachatwithsomeone whoisfurtheralongthanIamoris whereIwanttobe,andtheygiveme advice...Itakeit.Itshocksthem.They say,"Henna,youactuallyDOthe thingswesuggested!"Italways surprisesme,becauseotherwise,why amIasking?Toooften,peopledon't wanttoswitchthingsup,and6 monthslater,they'reinthesameboat. Ifyousaywanttodosomethingand areluckyenoughtohavesomeone guidingyou--dothedamnthing
Q:Doyouspeakanother language?Ifnot,whichone interestsyoumostandwhy? Yes,IspeakUrdu.Mymomisfrom PakistanandmydadisfromIndia (raisedinPakistan)soEnglishwasn't myfirstlanguage,Ilearnedin preschoolandkindergarten.I'malso fluentinSpanishasItookitalltheway throughcollege,andI'mstillobsessed withSpanish-speakingcountries We aretakingthekidstoMallorca(island inSpain)thissummer!
Q:What'sanareaofyourlife whereyouneedtopracticemore self-discipline?
Buyingbooks.(IhaveWAYtoomanyand Ican'tgetthroughmystackforthelifeof me,althoughIstruggletoapologizefor that-supportyourauthors!)More broadly,IwouldsayI'mconstantly workingonmyboundaries.Ihavethem, butthey'reporoussometimes.I'mquick tomakeanexceptiontoahardlinein thesandifthey"deserveit"orI"feelbad" Workingonit.
Q: What is your morning routine?
As of this issue, we're finally in summer, but my kids' bus during the school year comes ungodly early. So I roll out of bed, brush my teeth, get them on the bus, and start the coffee I have a slow morning skincare routine (my self-care) and then my husband and I typically get some time to ourselves in the morning for breakfast and good conversation before we start our work days in earnest around 8:30 or so.
What does it mean to be an Outlier?
Being an Outlier means being willing to do what lights your heart up, even if it's different than what everyone else is doing. It means having the courage to forge your own path AND the courage to get off the path all together and stumble into the grassy knoll covered with horse poop and back again, knowing with certainty that you can always wash your shoes off Everyone is awkward - including the confident people Outliers own it, live it, and embrace our quirks.
And isn't that a more fun way to live?
THINKING LIKE AN OUTLIER
FEATURE NO. 10
ANTONIO NEVES
Founder of Morning Man, Global Keynote Speaker, Author, Award-Winning Journalist
Q:Inafire,whatirreplaceable possessionwouldyourisk savingandwhy?
I'vereachedapointinmylifewhere there'snothingmaterialIcareenough aboutthatIwouldriskmylifefor. Goodorbad,I'veneverbeen sentimentalaboutmaterialthings. However,Iamsentimentalabout peoplethings.Withouthesitation,I wouldriskmylifetosavethelifeof someoneIlove
Q:Howdoyoufindthestrength tokeeppushingwhenthings gettough?
Idomybesttonotnegotiatewith myself Instead,Irecommittowhat's mostimportant.Peoplethink commitmentisaone-timething. Nope Youhavetorecommiteveryday towhatyousayismostimportant.
“PEOPLE THINK COMMITMENT IS A ONE-TIME THING. NOPE. YOU HAVE TO RECOMMIT EVERY DAY TO WHAT YOU SAY IS MOST IMPORTANT.”
-ANTONIONEVES
Q:What’syourfavoriteway tospendadayoff?
Nothinglikespendingtimeinthe backyardwithmywifeandkids. Nagchampaincenseburning Cookingfoodonthesmoker. Readingagreatbookormagazine. Listeningtodubreggae.And tossingorkickingaballwiththe fam
Q:Whatgoaldoyouwantto accomplishinthenext12 months?
I'mexcitedtorentanamazing homeandspendanentiremonth abroadduringthesummerwith mywifeandkids,immersing ourselvesinanewlanguage, culture,andcuisine
Q:Whatdoyouwantpeople tosayaboutyouwhen you’regone?
ThatwhenIshowedup,things gotbetter
Q:Ifyoucouldtimetravel, whenandwherewouldyou go?
Iwouldgobackandcheckoutmy parentsandtheirlivesbeforeIwas bornandlearnmoreaboutthem. Weforgetthatourparentsonce wereyoungandhaddreamsand aspirationsaswell.
Photocredit:EmmaD Alessandro
Q:Doyouhaveamentor?
I'vebeenblessedtohavemany mentorsoverthecourseofmylife. Oneismylatecollegeprofessor,Dr. EdwardMayo.Hepouredintome, believedinme,andopenedmyeyes totheopportunitiesinfrontofme whenIneededitmost.Hereminded methattheskywasthelimitandthat asmalltownkidfromMichigancould accomplishsomeamazingthings
Q:Whatisyourfavoritequote?
"Allofhumanity'sproblemsstemfrom man'sinabilitytositquietlyinaroom alone."
-BlaisePascal
Q: What’s your favorite thing about yourself?
My favorite thing about myself is that I can find humor in everything, even in pain. It's been my saving grace.
Q:What'syourbiggestpet peeve?
Onethatsticksoutiswhensomeone says,"I'mstuckintraffic."No,you're notstuckintraffic.Youaretraffic. You'repartofit
What does it mean to be an
Outlier?
It's a willingness to go left when everyone is going right. It's trusting that though folks may say you're going the wrong way, you know that you're just going a way of your own It's doing what you say you're going to do without expecting a pat on the back Photocredit:https://pryoritygroupcom/
- Scott MacGregor
You found your passion early. And despite the fact that you worked seven days a week for little pay, it seems like you were very happy. How did you know so early on that this was going to be your path? Did you ever have a plan B?
Jacques: Well, not really. I mean, the point is that life then was quite different. You know, I've been in the kitchen for over 80 years now Basically, I left home in 1949 to go into apprenticeship Formal apprenticeship But home was a restaurant Home was a restaurant where, already, I was working with my brother, helping in the kitchen and so forth
Remember, at the time, we didn't have a television, we didn't have a radio. We didn't have the telephone, so it was another world. Much simpler, in a sense, than now. My father was a cabinet maker. My mother was a cook. I was going to be a cabinet maker or a cook.
So that's it I never thought that I would be a doctor, a lawyer, or anything like this So I went into the kitchen I liked it It felt exciting And so, yes, life was simpler at the time
You were the personal chef for French President Charles de Gaulle. In 1961, John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy asked you to do the same, and you turned that down to head up culinary development for your friend Howard Johnson. That seems like a really bold decision. What went into that decision making process?
Jacques: Well, it wasn't that complicated. From '56 to '58, I was chef to the president in France. You know, I served people like Nehru, Tito, Macmillan, Eisenhower. They were all heads of state Never once ever would you be called to go to the dining room for kudos That did not exist
The cook was in the kitchen That was it No one knew I never had authority in France Television barely existed, but radio or newspaper, magazine, I never had any interview like this. The cook was really at the bottom of the social scale.
When I came to America, I worked at Le Pavillon. And in 1960, I was asked to go to the White House, not by Jacqueline Kennedy, but by the owner of La Caravelle, because the Kennedy family
used to eat there all the time. It was Joseph Kennedy, the father, who asked the owner, saying they needed a chef for the White House, and they called me
I had been in New York, a year or so I was going to Columbia University I had friends in New York I had no idea of the potential of the White House, because I had done that in France and it wasn't a big deal
And on the other hand, Pierre Franey, who was the executive chef at Le Pavillon, had left to work for Howard Johnson. Howard Johnson was a regular patron of Le Pavillon, and he wanted Pierre to work for him, and Pierre asked me to go with him.
It was another world, totally different Then I was a consultant for the World Trade center, which opened a commissary serving 35,000 people a day
I was a consultant at the Russian Tea Room for a few years, too I am saying those names because I would never have been able to do any of those jobs
I never thought that I would be a doctor, a lawyer, or anything like this. So, I went into the kitchen. I liked it. It felt exciting. And so, yes, life was simpler at the time.
without the training and knowledge that I acquired at Howard Johnson's in mass production, chemistry of food, American taste, and so forth.
So, yeah, that was a good decision for me, but maybe not as noble as you think it was.
You have an Ivy League education from Columbia with a Bachelors and a Masters degree in French literature. Why was that important to you at the time?
Jacques: I worked in France at Maxim‘s and Fouquet‘s When you went out in France, to dance, to the nightclubs, it was common for people to ask what you do (for a living).
Well, I am a cook. Even if it was the greatest place in Paris, it didn't pay very much. So we always had a complex about not having an education. So, when I came to America, I came on a student boat from the north of France
There was a teacher there, and I spoke with him I said, what is the best place for me to go to learn English? He said, the best school in New York is Columbia University, which of course I'd never heard of
I was there within a week. I scrambled to look at different places and eventually, got to go to school for English for foreign students. And I did that for, I think, a couple of years. Then I wanted to continue, but I never went to high school.
So I went to see an advisor He said, okay, you can take an entrance examination If you pass that entrance examination, we'll put you in a validation program, which I did for a couple of years And eventually I was accepted in the program So I went to Columbia from 1959 to 1972, working in New York, but going to Columbia at night.
That changed my life to a certain extent. So now I didn't have a complex anymore. I think it was Gilbert K. Chesterton who said, education is important "Without an education, you are likely to fall in the deadly danger of taking educated people seriously"
So it's true I didn't have a complex anymore
Your career took a dramatic turn in 1974 when you were in a near fatal car accident. How difficult was it to come to grips with the fact that physically you could no longer undergo the stresses of running a kitchen?
Jacques: Yeah, it was difficult Difficult for my wife too, you know, because I severed my sciatic nerve when I broke my back and both hips, my pelvis and so forth. So it was difficult for a couple of years, but things were changing at a rapid pace.
It was the time people started opening little cookware shops with a cooking school in the back, and I was asked to teach in one or two of them And of course, as a professional chef, I probably work harder and faster than anyone else
And it was much easier for me to do that Even if I do two classes a day, each one two hours, it is easier than being behind a stove in the kitchen. So I end up spending over 35 weeks out of the year, teaching in all the different parts of the country.
I would go to the west coast for four or five weeks and repeat those classes So that's also what introduced me to the home cooks in America and so forth It is also the reason that I wrote the book La Technique, which was one of my first books It was an illustrated manual of cooking technique, like 1500 pages, 1500 pictures.
I would go there and I would peel a carrot and people would say, "Wow, that's how you peel a carrot?" So I said, all right, I'm going to start with doing those basic techniques, which I did. And of course, I've done many more books after that.
But that may be the book that people remember
You reinvented yourself to become an educator, a prolific author, and a pioneer as a TV personality, particularly with your longtime friend Julia Child. How did that all come about?
Jacques: Well, you know, things were happening. It's a question of luck. There are too many chefs, as good or better than me, who didn't have the luck that I had From doing cooking classes in different schools all over the country, to doing one thing or another, I met Julia in 1960 in New York through Helen McCully She kind of became my surrogate mother I knew her from Craig Claiborne at the New York Times, when I came here to Le Pavillon. The food world was very small at the time. Within less than a year that I was here, I knew the trinity of cooking, which was James Beard, Julia Child and Craig Claiborne.
It was a small world. So, I met Julia there and we became friends I still teach at Boston University We worked together there many times doing a new program; it was a master of liberal arts that we created in the eighties
It's not like anything is planned Things happen that lead to another thing which happened and other things happen and so forth. And you take or don't take advantage. You know, I had a column in the New York Times for ten years in the 80's.
And that led to another thing. Then I spoke with Julia. I said, “Oh, you should do television.“
WADT in New York, and later WGBH in Boston both approached me about television But that was the end of it They never raised the money
And at some point, I was giving classes in California, in San Francisco, at Martin Yan‘s Chinese Cooking School.
And he said, "You know, KQED, the PBS station in San Francisco, wants me to do a show. Can you come with me to do it?" I said, sure. So I went there. We cooked together. Then the executive producer asked me, would you be interested in doing a series with us? That’s how one thing led to another
How does your love of creating art compare to your love of creating delicious meals?
Jacques: Both of them kind of complete me in some ways, you know? I mean, I've been painting since age 19 when I started at Columbia I took a class there, in sculpture, I believe, and in drawing And eventually, in the early 60's, I started painting
Since then, I've always painted, but it was never as big as it eventually became A friend of mine, Tom Hopkins, who lives here in Madison, Connecticut, he is my friend for 40 years. He's done most of my books. And in the last three years, my daughter Claudine asked me, “Could you do a little show for Facebook? Three, four, five minutes."
Tom said, "Yeah, I'll shoot it." So Tom and I shot them. We've done 385 videos, something like that.
About 40 years ago, Stony Creek library asked me if I wanted to do an exhibit of my paintings I said, sure I'd never done that So I had about 40 or 50 paintings I showed there I brought three cases of wine We brought food My wife Gloria, and my friend Gloria Zimmerman, cooked with me and fed all the guests who arrived.
When someone said, "Oh, I like that painting.", I said, "Okay, you can have it. I like that, but okay, you can have it." I got rid of 50 paintings. They were sold.
I never expected that kind of reaction. Then, five or six years ago, Tom said, “I'm going to do an exhibit with your paintings ”
And that's what he does now And I sell as many paintings as I sell books and cookbooks now So I've been very lucky My daughter did Facebook I would never have done Facebook. My friend Tom did that exhibit, I would never have done that. And my son-in-law did the Jacques Pépin foundation.
With 24 James Beard awards, five honorary doctorate degrees, a public television lifetime achievement award, an Emmy for lifetime achievement, and the
respect and admiration of everybody in the culinary world, what are you most proud of, Jacques?
Jacques: My daughter, my life, my sonin-law. It always goes back to that type of thing. We are a very good group here We play pètanque, which is a kind of bocce ball We can get a group of about 50 people doing that Seven or eight of us have a ball court So It's a big party
Mine was on the 25th of May, just a couple of weeks ago We had a sit down dinner for 50 people, and playing ball and drinking about 100 bottles of wine between all of us. It went from 02:00 in the afternoon until 10:00 at night.
So there are a lot of friends, and that's what counts more than anything else in your life.
And I've been, as I said, lucky I moved to Connecticut in 1976 to the house that I am in now, which used to be a brick factory in the twenties or thirties
You're still so incredibly active with your foundation. You're traveling, speaking, teaching, tv, painting, writing. It's as if there's still unfinished business. Is that accurate? And if it is, what do you still hope to accomplish?
Jacques: Well, you know, more of the same Basically I don't travel as much I was a culinary executive, the culinary director for a cruise line And, the last time I cruised was last fall I have difficulty alking because of all my accidents and all that
My back gives me trouble The traveling
itself is what's hard. The airport and so forth, not really where I'm going. So I do less of that without any question. But otherwise, I have a new book coming out next year, with more of my paintings and my recipes
So I'm still active at that I'm still doing interviews, writing, and cooking Of course, I cook for myself, but I still cook
And my daughter doesn't live too far. They live in Barrington, Rhode island. So, they come to visit. They'll be here in a couple of days, and they stay here with me, so that's good. Then I have Gaston, my dog. He keeps me company. So life goes on.
A COLLECTION OF OUTLIER AUTHORED BOOKS CURATED FOR THIS ISSUE
E ONE TRUTH N GORDON DARD MAN
RELENTLESSLY JOY
GIFTOLOGY
PERSONAL SOCRATES
MARC CHAMPAGNE
BET ON TALENT DIANE TURNER
JOHN RUHLIN
JOY BARIBEAU
TRUE GRIT & GRACE AMBERLY LAGO
ASK FOR MORE ALEXANDRA CARTER
LEAD LIKE A GIRL DALIA FELDHEIM
MY SELF CARE SHIT KATHY LECKEY
JOE FOSTER
THE IMPOSSIBLE FIRST COLIN O’BRADY SHOEMAKER
10 RULES FOR RESILIENCE
JOE DE SENA
I was never a “numbers person” until I became one
You see, for some reason that is still awfully perplexing to me, in the fall of 2015 I decided to voluntarily subject myself to pursuing a doctorate. And in the process of earning my Ph.D., I was required to undergo an immense transformation as I transitioned from being a consumer of knowledge into a producer of knowledge: I had to pass the gauntlet of statistics courses
A massive, unholy, painful, truly unreasonable amount of statistics courses, y’all And in that transition, I actually became a very good statistician. Why?
Because I had a remarkable mentor in my statistics professor who gave me a safe place to fail.
“I had to learn to walk and talk again.”
She designed the curriculum with the assumption that the coursework would be challenging. Working from that premise- that this was hard stuff that may not come naturally to mostassignments were crafted to ensure that if I put forth effort, I was going to have success This meant the only obstacle in my way would be not a lack of talent, but a lack of hard work.
Wait, work ethic and not talent was my key to success? Why, this was my zone of excellence my friends, and I was up for the task! I realized that through
this setup, I was able to shift my focus away from some specific outcome (a grade) and towards enjoying the process of learning. As a result? Despite my lack of inherent talent in the quantitative realm, I became an excellent quantitative statistician This was all because someone intentionally reconfigured the variables I had deemed as obstacles and crafted them into a situation of success.
But it wasn’t just the coursework I had to endure during my doctorate - there were personal hurdles as well
Such as…I had to learn to walk and talk again.
In the fall of 2016, I experienced significant neurological symptoms of uncontrollable muscle spasms which inhibited my ability to walk and talk correctly After a battery of painful tests, I was diagnosed with acquired torsion dystonia The prognosis was that I would be severely disabled within 5 years Two years later, I graduated with a 4.0.
Eight years later, I write this feature, able to walk unassisted and talk at the pace and frequency that I am sure makes some folks
wish my prognosis had come to fruition.
Statistically, I am an Outlier.
Less than 1% of the world’s population holds a Ph.D.
Less than 1% of the world’s population has dystonia
Of that 1% with dystonia, only 1% has acquired torsion dystonia
And those 1% of that 1% who beat the prognostic odds?
Why, that puts even my advanced statistical chops to the test.
But I’m not just a statistical Outlier, I’m an intentional Outlier also.
I’ve navigated other health issues and hardships as well, beating percentages and prognoses And while my obstacles are often considered by others as me having rotten luck, I very much believe I’ve had the opposite Because, through all of this, I’ve learned that it is the ability to transform stumbling blocks into stepping stones that is the differential of an intentional Outlier. My statistics professor taught me that.
And if my story doesn’t convince you, consider the insight of someone who wrote an entire book related to it
In 2008 Malcolm Gladwell released “Outliers: The Story of Success” In that book, Gladwell detailed how situational factors contributed to the success of “Outliers”, making them far less enigmatic and something that- with attention and intention- can be replicated. He provides myriad examples of individuals who optimized the variables they had at their disposal if only they were willing to put forth the effort to grab ahold of those variables and shape them
into the successful outcomes they desired.
And while, as a statistician, I must entertain the idea that within a margin of error an Outlier can occur by accident, I believe it’s far more probable that intentional Outliers can be purposely created
Someone wants to be an Outlier?
They need to craft it.
They need to accept there are challenges.
They need to reframe the fear of failure into a safe place to fail.
They need to transform from helpless to hopeful
They need to harness obstacles into outcomes
And they need to believe that what looks like terrible, horrible, no good, very bad luck is actually just good luck waiting on the other side.
It’s not statistical odds, its intentional action, that truly makes an Outlier
It’s not statistical odds, its intentional action, that truly makes an Outlier.
This magazine is full of folks who have crafted their situations to become those who are not consumed by life, but rather those who produce it
Their energy, impact, and resiliency are not only inspirational but aspirational
And that’s the key to being an Outlier, my friends: Knowing you’re empowered to take what life has offered and shape it into success.
No statistics course required.
Author’s Note: A special thanks to Dr Kim Nimon for not just making me a statistician, but for teaching me how to become an intentional Outlier as well
