The Power of Conviction in Decision-Making with Paul

Who do you look up to the most? Is it a superhero from a comic book, a famous athlete, or a historical figure? We often forget the everyday heroes who quietly make a big impact on our lives. Our dads, the real-life heroes in our families, shape who we become, teach us important values, and help us navigate life’s twists and turns.

In today’s episode of the Insight Out podcast, I have the pleasure of having a conversation with Paul Epstein. Paul has a remarkable background as a former top-tier executive in both NFL and NBA organizations, and he’s also a two-time bestselling author of the books “The Power of Playing Offense” and “Better Decisions Faster.” His exceptional achievements in 2022 earned him a spot among SUCCESS magazine’s prestigious list of accomplished thought leaders, sharing the spotlight with well-known names such as Tony Robbins, Brené Brown, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Mel Robbins. Furthermore, Paul’s work has received significant recognition and media coverage, being featured on major platforms like ESPN, NBC, Fox Business, and USA Today.

In our conversation, Paul shares powerful stories about the impact his parents had on his life, shaping his core values of growth, impact, courage, authenticity, and belief. He discusses his father’s influence on his students and his mother’s courage in the face of adversity. Paul also talks about his journey from a successful sports manager to a more authentic self, acknowledging the role of his executive coach, Suzanne, in this transformation. He introduces the “head heart hands equation” for decision-making and discusses the importance of personalizing and internalizing values. The episode highlights the significance of authenticity, self-reflection, and making better decisions faster.

Key Takeaways

• The power of belief: Small acts of kindness and belief in others can have a profound impact.
•  Courage as a superpower: Drawing inspiration from personal stories of courage can empower us.
•  Defining core values: Identifying and living by our core values can guide our decisions and lead to personal growth.
• The journey to authenticity: Staying true to ourselves and not selling out is crucial for personal fulfilment.
• Navigating decisions: The “head heart hands equation” can help align our mindset, authenticity, and actions for better decision-making.

In This Episode:

• [05:30] Age 19: A pivotal and life-changing moment
• [07:42] Real leadership and impact
• [09:44] Courage modelled by Paul’s dad
• [09:51] Courage as a superpower
• [12:13] The ripple effect of small acts
• [14:10] Finding and living your core values
• [20:31] The beauty of the journaling process
• [22:02] The importance of memorializing and defining values
• [26:23] The impact of belief and humility
• [32:18] Feeling off despite winning
• [34:09] Feedback on not caring about the team
• [37:12]Overcoming self-limiting beliefs
• [40:31] The audit and self-reflection
• [41:49] The Jerry Maguire leap
• [44:00] The head-heart-hands equation

Notable Quotes

[08:51] “I get out of bed to make a difference. I get out of bed to leave people and places better than I found them”- Paul

• [00:11:00] “Courage is standing tallest when fear and risk are highest” -Paul

• [00:14:29] “Confidence is the Annie that we need to make better decisions faster. Confidence is the Annie to play. If you want to play offence in a world that is largely stuck on defence and so confidence is the through line.” -Paul

• [00:27:16] “I want to surround myself with people that do what they don’t want to do in the unseen hours because they believe in it and because they care about it. That, in a sentence, is how I would describe people that win in life.”- Paul

• [00:32:18] “I don’t feel purpose, there’s a bunch of different shades of this, it’s a very gray kind of space but like at the end of the day you just know it’s not perfect” -Paul

Resources and Links

Paul Epstein

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulepsteinspeaks/
• https://www.instagram.com/paulepsteinspeaks/
• https://www.paulepsteinspeaks.com

This is an encore episode and was originally published on October 27, 2023