Beck: Hey everybody, good afternoon, good morning, good evening, or whatever time you happen to be tuning into the Chad GTM podcast. I'm your host, Michael Beck, joined by my co-host and business partner, Mr. Chad Horn. How you doing today there, Chad?
Chad: I'd be doing good back.
Beck: Maybe doing it.
Chad: yeah, exciting times.
Beck: You look very studious with all these books behind you and not your usual children's art.
Chad: makes it makes me look smarter. It's ki it's kinda like wearing glasses, right? You you're around books, it makes people think you're smarter than you are.
Beck: This is called learning osmosis. so this is is this our first episode back since Prosper? Or we've done one since?
Chad: we've done one so we did one like two days ago, yes.
Beck: That's right. We get in so many reps. Well the the reason I was asking is this the the guest that's coming on today, clearly we met him at Accelerate. Did were you able to sit on that session?
Chad: Yeah. I gosh, was it forum? I don't know. But no, I this is the one I missed. This was like this is this is the big one I missed and I felt bad about it because I'm super into
Beck: That's right. I I I actually remember lighting you up. You missed such a good session.
Chad: Super into Ninja Warrior. And I just watched I just introduced my five year old to Ninja Warrior too. And I thought about missing this amazing guest keynote from that event. Thanks for those sour reminder.
Beck: That's all I'll throw you under the bus. But the good news is in October, I think October 28th through the 30th, is the Prosper Accelerate Conference in Dallas, Texas. And I just learned from our guests who we're gonna introduce here a second. He's gonna be there again and start kicking off the show. And I love that because they are so high energy. So I think that tees me up for my quick read-in, and then we can actually talk to the gentleman, act like he's actually here. So everybody, today's guest is Mr. Ty Bennett, also a very patient person. A best-selling author, entrepreneur, and one of the leading voices on leadership, influence, storytelling, and high performance. Chad and I first met Ty at Prosper Accelerate, where he did something that I caught when that none of us expected, which is instead of opening up with slides, he brought his sons on stage. He had them tackle a full Ninja Warrior obstacle course built right there in the room. And I was, and it wasn't about the obstacles, it was about resilience, encouragement, trust, and how great leaders help people accomplish things they didn't think that were possible. And that's what Ty does really well. And we're so excited to have him on the show. And he's also the best-selling author of The Power of Storytelling, Partnerships is the new leadership, and his new book, The Power of Influence. wait, no, that's not his new book. His new book is actually redefining high performance, which you'll see right behind him there on the screen. Anyways, today we're gonna get in with Ty and learn what he's up to and what we're gonna be seeing a little bit at the prospect prosper accelerate conference. Ty, welcome to the show.
Ty Bennett: Yeah, thank you for having me. Good to be here and good to talk to both of you.
Beck: Smastering of block.
Ty Bennett: I appreciate that. Yeah. That's probably about the standing ovation I get.
Beck: Yeah, thank you. And and thank you for taking the time, especially for some as on the road as much as you are.
Ty Bennett: No, this is fun. Good timing and great to great to have
Beck: Well I
Ty Bennett: the conversation.
Beck: I I remember when your sons were doing the obstacle course, I was a little bit too close. In fact, my chair was almost in the way of when they were running from stage to the actual obstacles. And I was like, I'm gonna get run over. but anyway, so so Ty, I'm gonna say I'm just gonna go off scripture for a second because it's so interesting, you know, as as a father and some of raised some kids and Chad's got a a bunch of them running around as well. You know, the what you did with your sons is something I think all parents wish they could do, which is get that level of of I don't know what you call this screen de core, professionalism, intensity, drive, commitment. Like, how did you get on the path to doing that? Was that something you were into before you had kids, or this is a thing you and your wife thought of? Like, we're gonna make these exceptional human beings by merit of the following things. Like, how'd you get in in on this road?
Ty Bennett: I think we always wanted to have exceptional human beings and luckily they get my wife's genes, so that helps the cause. but I no, Ninja Warrior was never part of my path. My boys found the show when they were eight and ten years old and they just became obsessed. we've always driven them towards I think sports are great to teach so many of those lessons, right? I think getting them involved in any kind of activities. Teaches them discipline and, you know, teamwork and all of the things that you want to, how you push yourself, how you stay committed to something. So all my kids have been involved in different sports, but ninja kind of came out of nowhere for us. And the short version is I'm we just try and support them in everything that they do. And so Ninja became something they started pursuing. We started taking lessons, we built some obstacles, and now it's kind of taken over our lives. We we own two Ninja
Chad: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: Warrior gyms in Utah. somewhere during COVID, I was not traveling enough, and I ended up buying a couple of gyms. And but for me, as a speaker who's always spoken about high performance and leadership and how how do we raise performance, ninja was a unique space where I could visually see what I was talking about. It is such a visual sport, and so I started looking at it number for two reasons. Number one, going, This is like a laboratory. Like when we're talking about adaptability, when we're talking about preparation, when we're talking about how we overcome obstacles, like this is exactly what's happening. So how do I put that on stage? And number two, it's just such a cool sport to watch. Like Chad, you mentioned that it's so fun. I went as a speaker, what if I could turn a speech into ex an experience? And so that's what we've ended up doing.
Beck: Yeah, everybody in the room is rooting for your boys. Like, go, go, go. I like literally I was going nuts. Chad?
Ty Bennett: Yeah,
Chad: in with my question. So, Ty, one of the things I've noticed as a fan of ninja is that every now and then there's an obstacle that stumps and tricks up even the most experienced ninjas at times. And it's like, huh. And so I'm wondering, but not all of them. So I'm curious, what have you found is it that is in ninjas and you know the connection to leadership? What is it that's in those ninjas and people? that allow them to succeed on something that's really a unique obstacle that they might be encountering for the first time.
Ty Bennett: So I think that when you think about there's so many commonalities, but ninjas have to perform when the pressure is highest, which I think so many leaders face too, right? You're put in situations where there's a lot of pressure to perform, there's a lot of pressure to make a decision, there's a lot of pressure to move forward. And so one, keeping a level head, keeping we talk about a mindset that came out of our research called relaxed intensity. Which is how do I move forward with a sense of urgency without getting frantic? How do I stay level-headed, keep control of my nervous system, but also take action and have some speed and execution, right? I think that's the mentality that ninjas have. I think that's what leaders need as well. but I think they have to rely on their preparation. Ninja is unique because you face new obstacles, but you've trained all of the movements. Right. So you're not you can you can take and adapt and go, I've done something similar on this obstacle. How do I adjust it and make it fit here? So it's not that they've never done a movement like that. They just haven't done that exact obstacle before.
Beck: I noticed something about your boys that that you have developed or they developed, and I'm sure it was with your guidance, a real sense of teamwork. also around celebrating each other's wins, not comparing themselves to the other, but comparing themselves against them to to who they were yesterday. So I was it it stood out so much that he was so proud of his older I think it was his older brother. It was the older brother, the younger brother outperformed. Right. But he the
Ty Bennett: Younger. Yeah.
Beck: yeah, the yeah, it it but they're so but their own accomplishment stood on its own. It wasn't this this pain of comparison.
Ty Bennett: That that's been a process, to be honest. And in fact, we actually are still dealing with it and just faced it again. both the boys now are old enough to be on the adult show, the regular show of American Ninja Warrior. when they were eight and ten, ten and twelve, they applied for the junior show. And Drew, who's the younger brother, got on the junior show and Tanner, the older brother, didn't. That's hard, right? That's hard to deal with. we just had
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: that same experience happen. Drew just got a call to be on the show and filming is this next month. And Tanner did not. and it's not something that you control, right? You you just put in an application, you're you're
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: it's casting, right? You they didn't try out and make it, it was just choice. And so to Tanner's credit, that's been something that he's worked hard at because he values the relationship because he is genuinely happy for his brother. It's not taking anything away from him, but
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: it's so easy to fall into that trap of feeling like that, right? Like feeling resentment and feeling like so because that's been their lived experience, often when we speak, I have him bring that to the stage and share that because it's so powerful to hear that because I think all of us can relate.
Beck: Well, I I think it's massive, especially, you know, when we think about parenting in the age of Instagram and TikTok and and where everybody's living this fantastic digital life that everybody looks at and go, Why am why am I not living their life? Why, you know, this comparison culture that we we're you know, existing in. And I think it's so smart that you're able to help them get through that, that they're running their own race. Right. I just I I I I had to give you credit when I
Ty Bennett: Yeah, I think Ninja does a good job of re
Beck: saw it.
Ty Bennett: I appreciate that. I think Ninja as a sport does a good job of that. But yeah, it's it's been something we've lived through and had to figure out too.
Beck: Chad.
Chad: So, Ty, we're talking about your boys, your family. And I I've definitely experienced a theme throughout my life where it's like, I'll learn something about work and how to show up professionally and how to run a company or a team and try to bring some of those lessons home. Where's the limit? Where's the line where that's a good idea? Because you know a lot about running a successful team. And where is it? No. Families as a unique piece, don't bring it there.
Ty Bennett: I'm not sure where the line is because I think sometimes the line moves, right? Because the interesting thing is, is at every stage, I have kids now from age 20 down to five. and so I think at different stages the line's different. I think they can absorb more and there's certain principles that apply at different places. But I do think there's, you know, leadership is leadership and Building connection matters whether that's with the people on your team or with your kids. And so I I I do think I a lot of those principles blend for me in it, like you were saying.
Beck: so thinking about your your new book, because I keep seeing it behind you, and I need to ask you about it. when it comes to high performance, right, everybody wants a high performing team. Whether whether we're leading a family or a business, we want everybody to be doing the very best. What what is the one of the biggest misconceptions you know leaders might have about creating that that culture or that mindset?
Chad: So Ty, when I think about the high performers I've met, you know, as I got to know them, I realized how they were just real people with a bunch of really awesome attributes, some not so awesome attributes, and a bunch of mediocre attributes in the middle. So I'm curious how a person who wants to be a high performer takes all that they are the good, the bad, and the indifferent, and shapes all of it, work all of it to be that high performer that you write about.
Ty Bennett: Yeah, so what led me to writing this book, you know, redefining high performance, we actually did a research study on high performance in working America today. worked with a group of PhDs across all of working America, different segments, all demographics, et cetera, asking a lot of questions and trying to decipher what are the drivers, right? What are the things that those who are performing at the highest level, what are they doing? What are the barriers? What are the things that hold people back? And what are the particular mindsets that they may have or operate from that other people don't? And so that's what really came out of the research, what went into the book and what we're sharing from stage as well. So I think, like you said, I don't think they're different people. I think that they focus in on key metrics, key drivers. And I think they've learned how to at times, I say at times because nobody gets it perfect, overcome some of the barriers that hold them back. more often than others, right? So as an the the the five key metrics and some of these will sound pretty self-explanatory, right? If some of them my assumptions were confirmed based on the research and others were a little bit surprising. the number one driver of high performance based off the research is preparation. That was surprising to me. I wouldn't have put it at the top of my list. Number two was consistency. I would have put that at the top of my list. Number three, adaptability, also on my list, right? We live in a world that's constantly changing, learning how to adapt and and change approach, super important. Number four, motivation. I think you have to be the kind of person who's driven. And but understanding the framework of what motivation really looks like and how leaders can create an atmosphere for it, I think that's important. And number five, connection. I think that multiplies high performance. People show up for when they're around people they enjoy, all of those things. If I go back to the preparation piece, if you put yourself in the situations that move the needle, preparation for those situations matter. That's the spending a little bit of extra time to do the research, to prepare the pitch, to know your people better, to have some track lines for the important conversation that you're gonna have, whatever it is, the that preparation for key moments is a game changer. And I think s some of those high performers really get that and they they understand that and because of that they prepare for those moments that matter most.
Beck: I think your boys evidence that at Accelerate when they did the course 'cause they were talking about how they ran the course, they knew every single step and shaving seconds because they they had studied that course so well, right? And that that that feeds right into that idea.
Ty Bennett: Yeah, yeah, for sure. In our in their training, we call it coursework. And often when I'm talking to leaders, I'm asking them, like, what is your coursework and what you do? What does the preparation look like? I I got a text today from an executive that I'm helping him prepare for a presentation coming up. And he asked me that question, Okay, what does my preparation need to look like in preparation for this? And I was like, Great question, right? Like let's break down that so that you can Be fully prepared. And the beautiful thing about preparation is that adaptability and all of those things, they're on the other side of preparation. Right? If I'm fully prepared, then if I'm given a presentation, I can adjust in the moment. I can move with the audience. I can respond to what's in front of me or in an important conversation or whatever it is. But it's because I'm fully prepared that I have the opportunity or the capacity to do that.
Beck: Well, let's be real. There's also a mental state you hit when you're when you're fully prepared. Like think about the times when you didn't study or you didn't get ready and you're just losing your mind because you had that you knew you were gonna take that test and you sat up all night worrying about it and didn't get the sleep you needed.
Ty Bennett: Yeah, for sure.
Beck: Or you study, you roll there like I'm I'm gonna ace it because I knew I did the the pre work. Or same thing if you're going into a meeting and you knew you had the questions in mind that the that your your prospect or somebody you're talking to might potentially ask and have those responses ready, you're you're equipped.
Ty Bennett: Well confidence studies show that confidence comes more from what you've done than what you say. I can talk myself into a little bit of confidence, but I behave myself into real confidence. Right? So that preparation, I can come in confident. I know my stuff. I'm ready for this. I've done this a million times. Like this is and now I'm just showing up to perform what I already do, right?
Beck: So i with that in mind and and and helping get people ready to to be excellent and ready for excellence, how do you challenge people without pushing them to that I mean, there's that fine line of we're gonna push hard and then we're gonna burn out? So how do you how do you keep that balance in the in the mix?
Ty Bennett: Yeah, that was a big one that came out of this too, from a research standpoint, because I think that's shifted. I know for me, my fallback and my answer would have always been high performers, they just push harder. You push through, you grit and grind, you like white knuckle it and get the job done. And
Beck: Yeah. Yeah.
Ty Bennett: we're experiencing a lot of burnout because of that. We're we're losing pe good people along the way. And so I was more interested in like what is sustaining high performance look like. one of the interesting insights that came out of the research is that high performance has much more to do sustaining high performance has much more to do with working deeper than working harder. Because I can only work harder than you for a period of time. But working deeper is about prior prioritizing what's important. It's about building sustainable practices. It's about understanding your strengths and your needs, right? Like this idea of self-care. It's not a selfish thing. It's not an unimportant thing. It's a it's a priority to sustain what you're trying to do. You can't perform at the highest level. All the time. And just because we're using the example of athletes from a ninja standpoint or any athlete, you're not training every single day as an athlete. You're not in games every single day. You're not on stage performing every single day. There's there's patterns to it and their rest days are just as important as training days. And so you've got to find how that's sustaining what that looks like. And as leaders, that we're not driving our teams too hard to where we're driving them out.
Chad: So back, you mentioned sleep. Ty, you just talked about rest. And I'm curious where where where
Beck: Yeah, bless me for not sleeping enough, are you, Chad?
Chad: those other things that aren't your core drivers fit in your overall framework for high performance sleep, diet, supplements, meditation, you name it, how does that fit?
Ty Bennett: I think it's an important piece. I think it's a little it's gonna be different for every person, right? I don't think that I'm not big on mandating a formula for all of those things that everybody wakes up at this cause everybody's life is gonna be different, right? And and different seasons require different things. I think that prioritizing that I know for me, as somebody who speaks fifty to seventy five times a year all over the world, prioritizing my health is it is necessity. Like it's top of my list. And there are times that I haven't done as well. I've recently like focused in on it, lost some weight. I was crazy surprised when I looked at the scale of where I was a few months ago.
Chad: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: just, you know, when you travel and you're not eat like not choosing how you're eating and not prioritizing exercise because, you know, you have long travel days or whatever, you can lose some of those habits really easily. but I can show up so much better, clearer, more present, with more energy, all of those things. So I do think that it is important to prioritize those things and that your help is something that you focus on and sustain because that y I you know, I guess being able to show up is the best form of, you know, ability, right? You can't if you're not there, you can't perform in a big way. So I don't know that I would mandate it, but I when I look at for me, I have a clear schedule and understanding what I need to do and what's important and and scheduling that, prioritizing that for my boys and the the athletes that they are same kind of thing. And so yeah, making sure that that's happening.
Beck: Let's pivot the hospitality for a second. And I know what when we were coming on the call, you'd shared with us that you hadn't spent time in hospitality, but you'd you'd spent time with some very significant organizations in hospitality, you're close friends with the you know, the founder of Prosper, David Job. And and thinking about the idea that hospitality is built around taking care of people, in your observations, why do you think this industry produces so many exceptional leaders?
Ty Bennett: I think fundamentally it's because people in hospitality prioritize people. They love people. I think my favorite leadership quote of all time comes from John Maxwell when he said, You can lead people without loving them, but you you can love people without leading them, but you cannot lead people without loving them. I think that hospitality people are people people. I think that they understand that they're in the people business. My very first book, you can kind of see over my shoulder, The Power of Influence. I wrote about we are all in the people business. That is the business that you're in. I speak to people in every industry and I constantly remind them that is your business, right? Like that's what matters most. And I think inherently people who are drawn to hospitality get that. And they love that. They they enjoy people. And so the focus of connection as a driver and actually the multiplier of all other drivers for high performance. isn't hard. It's pretty natural for most people in hospitality. Now, are there ways to get better at it? Sure, right? All right. But that's not where with other groups, they're constantly looking at like how do I get my people more geared towards our people? one of the one of the mindsets that came there are three key key mindsets that came out of our research. I mentioned one before, relaxed intensity. It's really about performance and how you show up. The first one we call confident curiosity. How do you have the ability to continue to move forward, but stay open, stay curious, keep learning, right? It's how you think. the one that came out of really how you lead, we call empathic drive. It's the balance of driving for results without losing relationships. Those are typically leaders tend to push people out as they prioritize. hitting key metrics over the people that are attached to those key metrics. I think that the people in the hospitality space more naturally are empathetic. They love people, they engage with people. So that becomes a little bit more natural to them. And so yeah, I think because of that, that's kind of been my mentality, although I don't have the the restaurant background or some of those things, I think we see the world pretty similarly.
Beck: Well it can.
Chad: That is awesome. so we recently at Prosper Forum, and one of the things that I walked away from having with the number of conversations we had there was that even high performing leaders, there's there's commonalities in the kind after they reach a certain point where they like, okay, they start to plateau, it's because of some lie they've told themselves or some area of discomfort they're not willing to. identify and push through. What have you identified those things as? Where are those places that even the the top people just run up against the ceiling?
Ty Bennett: Yeah, I love that you bring up kind of this concept of self-awareness as leaders. We all have blind spots, right? And and if you're if you really have that mentality of confident curiosity means I want to continue to learn, I want to continue to grow, I'm seeking feedback, I'm trying to understand it. When we looked at the barriers to high performance, the three barriers that came up the most in the research were actually pretty much self-inflicted, right? Like the number one barrier was the fear of failure. Whether we call it the fear of failure or something else, when it causes you to hesitate, when you aren't willing to go somewhere that's uncomfortable, when you decide that I don't want to do that because the I may not succeed, right? We all have areas in which we hold ourselves back because of the fear of failure. Ego gets in the way, like so many different things factor into that. The second was taking criticism personally. Feedback is fuel if you use it, right? But taking criticism personally, when somebody tells you, hey, this is a blind spot and you take that personally instead of working on it, instead of going, huh, maybe there's some truth to that, instead of changing, it keeps you stuck.
Beck: Mm.
Ty Bennett: And the third one we touched on a little bit back was comparison. We all live in this space where we constantly look at other people and And there's nothing productive in living in that space. So I found it interesting that when you actually went through the research and asked people in Working America what is holding you back and what is holding other people back, it wasn't we're lacking technology, these systems aren't in place. It was we do. Like we're we get in our own way.
Chad: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: And our ego
Beck: Mm.
Ty Bennett: gets the better of us or we're scared or we get offended because of something that somebody said and we get defensive and so we don't really change and work on it. Right. That's that's what stops us.
Beck: I think that's interesting because i if I look at the the things I've read about you and what I know so far and what you've shared with us so far and even in number two where we're talking about feedback, it it feels like trust is at the center of almost everything you teach. How how do leaders earn that trust? And and and I guess the it's a more subjective answer, but but how do quickly can they lose it?
Ty Bennett: The the hard part is losing is very quick and regaining it's even harder, right?
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: I think that the I think that trust comes down to two criteria. Number one, who you are as a person. I need to know that I trust you as a person, that you have integrity, that you show up as the same person in your public, private, secret life, that you're not a different person here than you are, you know, somewhere else, that you
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: follow through that on commitments, that you keep your word. Like I wanna know that I can believe in you as a person. And number two, I think it's how you treat people. I think that if I show up i if if the criteria I hold myself to is like I I hold my own integrity, I'm gonna follow through on that. It doesn't mean I I don't fall short or don't make mistakes. It means that like I'm not maliciously doing anything. And then based on how I treat people, You know what wanna know what I love the most about doing this speech with my boys. So they have traveled now all over the country with me. You guys will laugh because the very first speech they gave was at a Ritz Carlton and they thought that that's just how all speeches worked. Like they're like, What? Like
Chad: Ha ha
Ty Bennett: they s they they skipped a few steps for sure. What I l
Beck: Bar is high.
Ty Bennett: yeah, what I love about doing this with them is not I love the on stage piece. But even more, I love the lessons that they are learning about how to navigate life. I'll give you
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: an example. We're at a conference in Scottsdale, Arizona last year, and we're waiting, they're doing like walkthroughs of everything. We're the next day, we're the opening keynote the next morning, and they're running late. And the lady's like, I'm so sorry, we're gonna get to you, then you can set up and we'll do your A V check and all that. And I'm like, We're good, we're hanging out. So I'm sitting there with my boys, and I go, Hey, so they had had a session in that that day. And I go, guys, we're just doing nothing. Let's go pick up trash. Right. So like the ballroom people left cups and whatever. So we're just walking around picking up help trash. Like we're just buying time. The other keynote speaker the next day, who is somebody that honestly I love. Like I know I'm their friend. Goes, Ty, you don't do that. And I go, you missed the point. Like I'm not my boys are not here to get a standing ovation tomorrow. They are here for this. Like, this is what we're doing. We are learning how to be good people. Like the way that we interact with an A V team, the way that we show up, like that's what
Chad: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: I want them to get. And if we have a great key speech, cool. Like that's fantastic. But I I think that matters. People have to know
Chad: yeah.
Ty Bennett: that, see that in you, right? Like Understand that. if you lose that trust, I'm a big believer in real conversations with real people. I don't think you can
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: dance around it. I think you have to come right at it and go, hey, I screwed up and I lost your trust. And I need to fix it. And here's where I'm sorry. And tell me what I can do because I want to work on this, right? Like I I wanna have real conversations about.
Beck: It it reminds me of just the the tenet of so as you do under the least of my children, right? You treat everybody great.
Ty Bennett: I think that's the goal, right? I are there places we fall short for sure. But it's also been cool for me 'cause it holds me to like I believe these things, but d are there times that I'm tired and I probably don't show up as my very best. But when my boys are there, you can guarantee I'm gonna show up as my best, right? Like I'm gonna I'm gonna make sure that I'm doing like leading by example, and so that's a good thing for me too.
Beck: Chad?
Chad: Hi we're talking about high performance, but I want to flip it. Let's say you're talking to somebody and they say to high performance. I'd settle for performance. I feel like I'm in a I'm in a
Ty Bennett: I'm just trying to show up here, man.
Beck: Yeah.
Chad: constant failure factory and I need help. How do what I'm in I'm in this rut? What do I do to get out of it?
Ty Bennett: So, number one, I would tell you that failure's not bad. Failure is the process to learn. So, what are you learning from the failures? That that to me is is part of it, is we think failure is this horrible consequence. And in fact, all the research shows that failure is necessary for you to create your very best work. Right. And so let's change a little bit of that thought process and go, okay, what are you learning from that? How are you growing? I love this line. So you guys have probably seen a good friend of mine named Don Jaeger. He's spoken at Prosper, been there before. Anyway, sports guy wrote a bunch of books. Michael Jordan once told him in a conversation that a loss is not a failure until you make an excuse. And I love that line, right? Like, so let's
Chad: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: take some ownership of it and go, okay, what do I learn? Where did I go from here? The thing that I think you can do to start to change your circumstances quickly. The the number two driver in our research is consistency. Choose a couple of key things and let's figure out how to do those consistently. What are some of those little things that are gonna move the needle? Because the truth is we over-emphasize and overvalue intensity and we undervalue consistency. We like we get this burst of energy and motivation, like I'm gonna do this and I'm gonna run 40 miles in two days. Or just like let's be consistent about being active, right? That's what actually changes things over over time. And so if it depending on who that person was, I'd sit down and I go, okay, what are a couple of things that you can do that you have control over, that you feel like you can do right now and be consistent in? And then how do we create some accountability so that that consistency happens? Let's start to change that and make make that something that becomes a daily practice and then build on it. Simple simple thing for me. At the beginning of the summer, I told my boys like, okay, I want to be more consistent in my workout and eating and all that. I want to lose weight. We all agreed for them it was like on top of everything they're doing. For me, it was a starting point. Let's do a hundred push ups a day. And then so I've not missed a day since May fourth that we started. A hundred push ups a day. But that was something I could be consistent in. And, you know, when it started, sets of 15 maybe like and the bat last sets were not feeling great. Now I'm
Beck: Yes. Yeah.
Ty Bennett: like sets of 50, feeling pretty good.
Chad: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: but then I could build on it, right? Okay, now I'm gonna do 100 push-ups regardless. Now am I gonna run two? Now am I gonna like how's my eating? All of those things. But just start something consistently and build on it.
Chad: Success begets success.
Ty Bennett: It really does. S Stephen R Stephen Covey's definition of success was the progressive realization of worthwhile goals. And like that's when you're doing something good, you want to add something good. If you go work out, like notice just a little thing in your body. If you go work out, right after you work out, your body doesn't crave like a candy bar. It craves something good. Like it's just it's a natural consequence. And so little things like that they do. I do think it multiplies, it builds momentum.
Beck: Well, you set new level for yourself and leveling up is just kind of in our nature, also, right? you opened a little bit of a door here talking about family and travel earlier. And I think that this is something common among high performers or anybody really is I I hate their term work life balance, but some version of that, right? But if we it it
Ty Bennett: I don't know how you find it, man.
Beck: doesn't exist, right? There's there's there's life. but you're constantly on the road speaking. How do you how do you stay grounded and present for your family or with your family?
Ty Bennett: I think that yeah, the idea of work life balance, I don't know. I to me it's always a moving target. And I have people
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: ask me that all the time and I'm like, I don't know, man. Like you you've gotta find it because it your family's gonna be different than my family and everybody. And different seasons have felt different for me. I wanna make sure that A, I'm present, regardless of where I am. So, you know, I mean, that to me is if I'm on the road, I'm touching base. Like there's certain things with each kid that I want to make sure I know what's going on with them. I'm reaching out. you know, I may not physically be there, but I'm involved. There's there's not a lot that I'm coming home and I'm like, I had no idea that was happening. You know, like I'm engaged from that standpoint. I also want to make sure that my priorities are in line. that I'm not making choices and you know, have I done this wrong? Sure. that I am prioritizing, you know, work over everything else, that that becomes the the main priority. Now I get that there's obligations and you know, we gotta support family and all of those things. but I I wanna constantly kind of check myself and like where where is my focus and what where am I finding fulfillment? And I wanna find fulfillment in lots of areas, but I don't want to lose like that's an important facet in my life, right? I So for me, I I don't know how many kids you guys have. I have five. I'm from Utah. We just have a lot of kids. I don't know. But yeah.
Beck: Surprise, surprise, no.
Chad: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: but you know, it's there there's a lot going on in our family. There's a lot of and
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: all of them are super active, which we love. and sometimes it feels like too much, you know. But we're gonna try and support all of them in every way that we can and and find the balance of that. And then also, you know, with my wife to be able to support her and and make sure that she has all the things that she needs and that she feels like she's a priority. all of those things it I I don't have like a formula because I I think it's constantly something I'm pursuing. But I think stepping back at times and going, Okay, these are the important things and these are the things that matter is important.
Beck: Yeah, there's no magic bullets, right? And I and I think, you know, people h hop on the one and get their ozempic conversation going, Hey, tell me this one thing and I'll fix my life. And but I think all these conversations to lead to Did I find something in there that applies to me that I can maybe reorient my my lens on what I'm looking at and is it important? Am I looking at the right things?
Ty Bennett: Yeah, for sure.
Beck: Chad? One more before we do rapid fire.
Chad: Yeah, this might be my s last question. in three years, Ty, after AI c has continued to rip through our world, what do you think
Beck: Ooh.
Chad: you'll be talking and writing about?
Ty Bennett: I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say the same thing. and here's why. So I wrote the book The Power of Storytelling maybe 10 years ago. It sold unbelievably well, like I've spoken a ton on it. Interestingly, it has come back around, and all of a sudden I'm getting booked constantly on it. And it's because AI has made it so that everyone can write good copy, everyone has good information, it's all on their fingertips. So what differentiates you is the human story, the connection, right? I think that AI will be part of our lives and I think that there's great things that come from it. But I don't think the human elements of leadership, performance, communication, I don't think that that's gonna change all that much. I think that how you get there, you know, there's tools that are gonna help you in that process. But I I I don't think it's gonna all of a sudden make us drastically different in how we perform. AI is not going to change the fact that we all still deal with the fear of failure and comparison and our ego and all of us. Like that's still going to be part of our lives. Probably even more so, like if we're being honest. And so yeah, I I don't think that's going to change all that much if if I my focus is on human performance.
Chad: We hope you're
Beck: Yeah.
Chad: right. And think you are.
Ty Bennett: I hope I'm right too.
Beck: I think you're right. All right. Th there's other people that are echoing the same thing. The the CEO of NVIDIA was interviewed recently and they said, Well, if if coding is no longer an important job anymore, 'cause if AI's doing that and and and the tools are doing all these various things, what's gonna be the important skill in the future? And the first thing he said was empathy. 'Cause we're gonna have to think think more about people, not less. Yeah, have to work with people in a different in a different way. I think it's the it's an interesting future we have ahead.
Ty Bennett: I agree with that. I hope that's true.
Beck: I hope so too. so last question for rapid fire from me. So if somebody watches this conversation and remembers one idea a year from now, what do you hope it is?
Ty Bennett: I think that the mindset that is going to allow you to succeed in the future is confident curiosity. I think that you have to be willing to move forward and take action and take steps. Don't be scared to put yourself out there to fail to reach out, but also continue to learn. If we live in a world that's constantly changing, which is going to be the case and is the case now, then the rate of learning. Your rate of learning has to keep pace with the rate of change. So you have to be curious. You have to continue to learn and grow. And the fact that somebody's listening to this conversation right now indicates that they are, right? And so that's a good sign in and of itself. But I think that that is the mindset of the future. When I think about my kids and their potential to have jobs in the future or own businesses or whatever they end up doing, I want them to have that mentality as they go through their life.
Beck: Love it. Love it. All right. Time to shift gear. A little bit of rapid fire fun before we sign off here for the day. Quick questions, quick answers. what's the best leadership book you've ever read that can't be your own?
Ty Bennett: I'll go with Seven Habits of Highly Affective People by Stephen Arcaby.
Beck: Great one. what's who's one leader, alive or or or past, that you'd love to spend an afternoon with?
Ty Bennett: because I've never met him and I would love to sit down with him, I'm a big fan of Ryan Holiday. wrote obstacles the way. sever he r sto studies stoicism. anyway, I I think it'd be a fascinating conversation.
Beck: Okay. what's one habit you never miss?
Ty Bennett: I say a prayer every day. I don't think I've I I don't think I've missed a day in a very long time.
Beck: Here's the one well you'll know. Coffee or keynote?
Ty Bennett: Ke keynote, I don't drink coffee, so that's an easy one. But I also
Beck: That's gonna crack me up but I just saw my note. What's what
Ty Bennett: But I also would choose keynote over probably anything, so there you go.
Beck: even cookies? See? What's
Ty Bennett: Hey, hey, there you go.
Beck: one word that defines great leadership?
Ty Bennett: consistency.
Beck: Okay. And finish the sentence. Great leaders make people feel blank.
Ty Bennett: Important.
Beck: All right, and the last one, finish this sentence. The best stories always begin with
Ty Bennett: Connection.
Beck: Love it. That was great. Thank you so much for that, Ty. And this is the part where we wrap up the show and thank Ty for joining us today and you our audience for investing time with us at our show. And like Ty said, being curious to learn more and find out things that are out there. I'm sure when we started this, you guys are what the heck are they doing? Hopefully we're more on a what are they doing this time track. But you know, when we saw Ty or when I saw Ty at Prosper Accelerate and and Chad and I got to talk about him. It was we were so impressed with your boys and you already know how I mean, I can't imagine the level of pride you have in your family and what you've built and then the values that you've instilled in them. And I hope that that if anybody has a chance to see you and your boys in action, not just your boys, because I think there's this interplay that tells something really special about the family dynamic, about excellence, about really that grit and determination and all these other things that come with it. I think it's a fantastic Fantastic thing to view along. So I'm sure you're probably on YouTube somewhere where people could see that stuff. but no, honestly, it's a sincere honor, Ty. And we look forward to seeing you at the Accelerate Conference coming up here in October. I'll probably bug you for another episode if we can, but we'll see. I'm
Chad: I
Ty Bennett: I can't wait. Yeah, it'll be fun.
Beck: greedy. But for everybody for now, this is Chad Beck and Ty signing off here. And we will see you guys on the next one. As always, our our closing quote is we like to say, which is random acts of kindness, sprinkle that stuff everywhere. You never know whose day day you're gonna make better. Just like Ty's generous act of time when he's been on the road nonstop to spend a little bit of time with us. It it made our day amazing. So thank you for that, Ty. And
Chad: Thank you, Ty.
Beck: yeah. And we'll see you guys next time.
Ty Bennett: No, thank you guys. Appreciate it.
Chad: I'd be doing good back.
Beck: Maybe doing it.
Chad: yeah, exciting times.
Beck: You look very studious with all these books behind you and not your usual children's art.
Chad: makes it makes me look smarter. It's ki it's kinda like wearing glasses, right? You you're around books, it makes people think you're smarter than you are.
Beck: This is called learning osmosis. so this is is this our first episode back since Prosper? Or we've done one since?
Chad: we've done one so we did one like two days ago, yes.
Beck: That's right. We get in so many reps. Well the the reason I was asking is this the the guest that's coming on today, clearly we met him at Accelerate. Did were you able to sit on that session?
Chad: Yeah. I gosh, was it forum? I don't know. But no, I this is the one I missed. This was like this is this is the big one I missed and I felt bad about it because I'm super into
Beck: That's right. I I I actually remember lighting you up. You missed such a good session.
Chad: Super into Ninja Warrior. And I just watched I just introduced my five year old to Ninja Warrior too. And I thought about missing this amazing guest keynote from that event. Thanks for those sour reminder.
Beck: That's all I'll throw you under the bus. But the good news is in October, I think October 28th through the 30th, is the Prosper Accelerate Conference in Dallas, Texas. And I just learned from our guests who we're gonna introduce here a second. He's gonna be there again and start kicking off the show. And I love that because they are so high energy. So I think that tees me up for my quick read-in, and then we can actually talk to the gentleman, act like he's actually here. So everybody, today's guest is Mr. Ty Bennett, also a very patient person. A best-selling author, entrepreneur, and one of the leading voices on leadership, influence, storytelling, and high performance. Chad and I first met Ty at Prosper Accelerate, where he did something that I caught when that none of us expected, which is instead of opening up with slides, he brought his sons on stage. He had them tackle a full Ninja Warrior obstacle course built right there in the room. And I was, and it wasn't about the obstacles, it was about resilience, encouragement, trust, and how great leaders help people accomplish things they didn't think that were possible. And that's what Ty does really well. And we're so excited to have him on the show. And he's also the best-selling author of The Power of Storytelling, Partnerships is the new leadership, and his new book, The Power of Influence. wait, no, that's not his new book. His new book is actually redefining high performance, which you'll see right behind him there on the screen. Anyways, today we're gonna get in with Ty and learn what he's up to and what we're gonna be seeing a little bit at the prospect prosper accelerate conference. Ty, welcome to the show.
Ty Bennett: Yeah, thank you for having me. Good to be here and good to talk to both of you.
Beck: Smastering of block.
Ty Bennett: I appreciate that. Yeah. That's probably about the standing ovation I get.
Beck: Yeah, thank you. And and thank you for taking the time, especially for some as on the road as much as you are.
Ty Bennett: No, this is fun. Good timing and great to great to have
Beck: Well I
Ty Bennett: the conversation.
Beck: I I remember when your sons were doing the obstacle course, I was a little bit too close. In fact, my chair was almost in the way of when they were running from stage to the actual obstacles. And I was like, I'm gonna get run over. but anyway, so so Ty, I'm gonna say I'm just gonna go off scripture for a second because it's so interesting, you know, as as a father and some of raised some kids and Chad's got a a bunch of them running around as well. You know, the what you did with your sons is something I think all parents wish they could do, which is get that level of of I don't know what you call this screen de core, professionalism, intensity, drive, commitment. Like, how did you get on the path to doing that? Was that something you were into before you had kids, or this is a thing you and your wife thought of? Like, we're gonna make these exceptional human beings by merit of the following things. Like, how'd you get in in on this road?
Ty Bennett: I think we always wanted to have exceptional human beings and luckily they get my wife's genes, so that helps the cause. but I no, Ninja Warrior was never part of my path. My boys found the show when they were eight and ten years old and they just became obsessed. we've always driven them towards I think sports are great to teach so many of those lessons, right? I think getting them involved in any kind of activities. Teaches them discipline and, you know, teamwork and all of the things that you want to, how you push yourself, how you stay committed to something. So all my kids have been involved in different sports, but ninja kind of came out of nowhere for us. And the short version is I'm we just try and support them in everything that they do. And so Ninja became something they started pursuing. We started taking lessons, we built some obstacles, and now it's kind of taken over our lives. We we own two Ninja
Chad: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: Warrior gyms in Utah. somewhere during COVID, I was not traveling enough, and I ended up buying a couple of gyms. And but for me, as a speaker who's always spoken about high performance and leadership and how how do we raise performance, ninja was a unique space where I could visually see what I was talking about. It is such a visual sport, and so I started looking at it number for two reasons. Number one, going, This is like a laboratory. Like when we're talking about adaptability, when we're talking about preparation, when we're talking about how we overcome obstacles, like this is exactly what's happening. So how do I put that on stage? And number two, it's just such a cool sport to watch. Like Chad, you mentioned that it's so fun. I went as a speaker, what if I could turn a speech into ex an experience? And so that's what we've ended up doing.
Beck: Yeah, everybody in the room is rooting for your boys. Like, go, go, go. I like literally I was going nuts. Chad?
Ty Bennett: Yeah,
Chad: in with my question. So, Ty, one of the things I've noticed as a fan of ninja is that every now and then there's an obstacle that stumps and tricks up even the most experienced ninjas at times. And it's like, huh. And so I'm wondering, but not all of them. So I'm curious, what have you found is it that is in ninjas and you know the connection to leadership? What is it that's in those ninjas and people? that allow them to succeed on something that's really a unique obstacle that they might be encountering for the first time.
Ty Bennett: So I think that when you think about there's so many commonalities, but ninjas have to perform when the pressure is highest, which I think so many leaders face too, right? You're put in situations where there's a lot of pressure to perform, there's a lot of pressure to make a decision, there's a lot of pressure to move forward. And so one, keeping a level head, keeping we talk about a mindset that came out of our research called relaxed intensity. Which is how do I move forward with a sense of urgency without getting frantic? How do I stay level-headed, keep control of my nervous system, but also take action and have some speed and execution, right? I think that's the mentality that ninjas have. I think that's what leaders need as well. but I think they have to rely on their preparation. Ninja is unique because you face new obstacles, but you've trained all of the movements. Right. So you're not you can you can take and adapt and go, I've done something similar on this obstacle. How do I adjust it and make it fit here? So it's not that they've never done a movement like that. They just haven't done that exact obstacle before.
Beck: I noticed something about your boys that that you have developed or they developed, and I'm sure it was with your guidance, a real sense of teamwork. also around celebrating each other's wins, not comparing themselves to the other, but comparing themselves against them to to who they were yesterday. So I was it it stood out so much that he was so proud of his older I think it was his older brother. It was the older brother, the younger brother outperformed. Right. But he the
Ty Bennett: Younger. Yeah.
Beck: yeah, the yeah, it it but they're so but their own accomplishment stood on its own. It wasn't this this pain of comparison.
Ty Bennett: That that's been a process, to be honest. And in fact, we actually are still dealing with it and just faced it again. both the boys now are old enough to be on the adult show, the regular show of American Ninja Warrior. when they were eight and ten, ten and twelve, they applied for the junior show. And Drew, who's the younger brother, got on the junior show and Tanner, the older brother, didn't. That's hard, right? That's hard to deal with. we just had
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: that same experience happen. Drew just got a call to be on the show and filming is this next month. And Tanner did not. and it's not something that you control, right? You you just put in an application, you're you're
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: it's casting, right? You they didn't try out and make it, it was just choice. And so to Tanner's credit, that's been something that he's worked hard at because he values the relationship because he is genuinely happy for his brother. It's not taking anything away from him, but
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: it's so easy to fall into that trap of feeling like that, right? Like feeling resentment and feeling like so because that's been their lived experience, often when we speak, I have him bring that to the stage and share that because it's so powerful to hear that because I think all of us can relate.
Beck: Well, I I think it's massive, especially, you know, when we think about parenting in the age of Instagram and TikTok and and where everybody's living this fantastic digital life that everybody looks at and go, Why am why am I not living their life? Why, you know, this comparison culture that we we're you know, existing in. And I think it's so smart that you're able to help them get through that, that they're running their own race. Right. I just I I I I had to give you credit when I
Ty Bennett: Yeah, I think Ninja does a good job of re
Beck: saw it.
Ty Bennett: I appreciate that. I think Ninja as a sport does a good job of that. But yeah, it's it's been something we've lived through and had to figure out too.
Beck: Chad.
Chad: So, Ty, we're talking about your boys, your family. And I I've definitely experienced a theme throughout my life where it's like, I'll learn something about work and how to show up professionally and how to run a company or a team and try to bring some of those lessons home. Where's the limit? Where's the line where that's a good idea? Because you know a lot about running a successful team. And where is it? No. Families as a unique piece, don't bring it there.
Ty Bennett: I'm not sure where the line is because I think sometimes the line moves, right? Because the interesting thing is, is at every stage, I have kids now from age 20 down to five. and so I think at different stages the line's different. I think they can absorb more and there's certain principles that apply at different places. But I do think there's, you know, leadership is leadership and Building connection matters whether that's with the people on your team or with your kids. And so I I I do think I a lot of those principles blend for me in it, like you were saying.
Beck: so thinking about your your new book, because I keep seeing it behind you, and I need to ask you about it. when it comes to high performance, right, everybody wants a high performing team. Whether whether we're leading a family or a business, we want everybody to be doing the very best. What what is the one of the biggest misconceptions you know leaders might have about creating that that culture or that mindset?
Chad: So Ty, when I think about the high performers I've met, you know, as I got to know them, I realized how they were just real people with a bunch of really awesome attributes, some not so awesome attributes, and a bunch of mediocre attributes in the middle. So I'm curious how a person who wants to be a high performer takes all that they are the good, the bad, and the indifferent, and shapes all of it, work all of it to be that high performer that you write about.
Ty Bennett: Yeah, so what led me to writing this book, you know, redefining high performance, we actually did a research study on high performance in working America today. worked with a group of PhDs across all of working America, different segments, all demographics, et cetera, asking a lot of questions and trying to decipher what are the drivers, right? What are the things that those who are performing at the highest level, what are they doing? What are the barriers? What are the things that hold people back? And what are the particular mindsets that they may have or operate from that other people don't? And so that's what really came out of the research, what went into the book and what we're sharing from stage as well. So I think, like you said, I don't think they're different people. I think that they focus in on key metrics, key drivers. And I think they've learned how to at times, I say at times because nobody gets it perfect, overcome some of the barriers that hold them back. more often than others, right? So as an the the the five key metrics and some of these will sound pretty self-explanatory, right? If some of them my assumptions were confirmed based on the research and others were a little bit surprising. the number one driver of high performance based off the research is preparation. That was surprising to me. I wouldn't have put it at the top of my list. Number two was consistency. I would have put that at the top of my list. Number three, adaptability, also on my list, right? We live in a world that's constantly changing, learning how to adapt and and change approach, super important. Number four, motivation. I think you have to be the kind of person who's driven. And but understanding the framework of what motivation really looks like and how leaders can create an atmosphere for it, I think that's important. And number five, connection. I think that multiplies high performance. People show up for when they're around people they enjoy, all of those things. If I go back to the preparation piece, if you put yourself in the situations that move the needle, preparation for those situations matter. That's the spending a little bit of extra time to do the research, to prepare the pitch, to know your people better, to have some track lines for the important conversation that you're gonna have, whatever it is, the that preparation for key moments is a game changer. And I think s some of those high performers really get that and they they understand that and because of that they prepare for those moments that matter most.
Beck: I think your boys evidence that at Accelerate when they did the course 'cause they were talking about how they ran the course, they knew every single step and shaving seconds because they they had studied that course so well, right? And that that that feeds right into that idea.
Ty Bennett: Yeah, yeah, for sure. In our in their training, we call it coursework. And often when I'm talking to leaders, I'm asking them, like, what is your coursework and what you do? What does the preparation look like? I I got a text today from an executive that I'm helping him prepare for a presentation coming up. And he asked me that question, Okay, what does my preparation need to look like in preparation for this? And I was like, Great question, right? Like let's break down that so that you can Be fully prepared. And the beautiful thing about preparation is that adaptability and all of those things, they're on the other side of preparation. Right? If I'm fully prepared, then if I'm given a presentation, I can adjust in the moment. I can move with the audience. I can respond to what's in front of me or in an important conversation or whatever it is. But it's because I'm fully prepared that I have the opportunity or the capacity to do that.
Beck: Well, let's be real. There's also a mental state you hit when you're when you're fully prepared. Like think about the times when you didn't study or you didn't get ready and you're just losing your mind because you had that you knew you were gonna take that test and you sat up all night worrying about it and didn't get the sleep you needed.
Ty Bennett: Yeah, for sure.
Beck: Or you study, you roll there like I'm I'm gonna ace it because I knew I did the the pre work. Or same thing if you're going into a meeting and you knew you had the questions in mind that the that your your prospect or somebody you're talking to might potentially ask and have those responses ready, you're you're equipped.
Ty Bennett: Well confidence studies show that confidence comes more from what you've done than what you say. I can talk myself into a little bit of confidence, but I behave myself into real confidence. Right? So that preparation, I can come in confident. I know my stuff. I'm ready for this. I've done this a million times. Like this is and now I'm just showing up to perform what I already do, right?
Beck: So i with that in mind and and and helping get people ready to to be excellent and ready for excellence, how do you challenge people without pushing them to that I mean, there's that fine line of we're gonna push hard and then we're gonna burn out? So how do you how do you keep that balance in the in the mix?
Ty Bennett: Yeah, that was a big one that came out of this too, from a research standpoint, because I think that's shifted. I know for me, my fallback and my answer would have always been high performers, they just push harder. You push through, you grit and grind, you like white knuckle it and get the job done. And
Beck: Yeah. Yeah.
Ty Bennett: we're experiencing a lot of burnout because of that. We're we're losing pe good people along the way. And so I was more interested in like what is sustaining high performance look like. one of the interesting insights that came out of the research is that high performance has much more to do sustaining high performance has much more to do with working deeper than working harder. Because I can only work harder than you for a period of time. But working deeper is about prior prioritizing what's important. It's about building sustainable practices. It's about understanding your strengths and your needs, right? Like this idea of self-care. It's not a selfish thing. It's not an unimportant thing. It's a it's a priority to sustain what you're trying to do. You can't perform at the highest level. All the time. And just because we're using the example of athletes from a ninja standpoint or any athlete, you're not training every single day as an athlete. You're not in games every single day. You're not on stage performing every single day. There's there's patterns to it and their rest days are just as important as training days. And so you've got to find how that's sustaining what that looks like. And as leaders, that we're not driving our teams too hard to where we're driving them out.
Chad: So back, you mentioned sleep. Ty, you just talked about rest. And I'm curious where where where
Beck: Yeah, bless me for not sleeping enough, are you, Chad?
Chad: those other things that aren't your core drivers fit in your overall framework for high performance sleep, diet, supplements, meditation, you name it, how does that fit?
Ty Bennett: I think it's an important piece. I think it's a little it's gonna be different for every person, right? I don't think that I'm not big on mandating a formula for all of those things that everybody wakes up at this cause everybody's life is gonna be different, right? And and different seasons require different things. I think that prioritizing that I know for me, as somebody who speaks fifty to seventy five times a year all over the world, prioritizing my health is it is necessity. Like it's top of my list. And there are times that I haven't done as well. I've recently like focused in on it, lost some weight. I was crazy surprised when I looked at the scale of where I was a few months ago.
Chad: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: just, you know, when you travel and you're not eat like not choosing how you're eating and not prioritizing exercise because, you know, you have long travel days or whatever, you can lose some of those habits really easily. but I can show up so much better, clearer, more present, with more energy, all of those things. So I do think that it is important to prioritize those things and that your help is something that you focus on and sustain because that y I you know, I guess being able to show up is the best form of, you know, ability, right? You can't if you're not there, you can't perform in a big way. So I don't know that I would mandate it, but I when I look at for me, I have a clear schedule and understanding what I need to do and what's important and and scheduling that, prioritizing that for my boys and the the athletes that they are same kind of thing. And so yeah, making sure that that's happening.
Beck: Let's pivot the hospitality for a second. And I know what when we were coming on the call, you'd shared with us that you hadn't spent time in hospitality, but you'd you'd spent time with some very significant organizations in hospitality, you're close friends with the you know, the founder of Prosper, David Job. And and thinking about the idea that hospitality is built around taking care of people, in your observations, why do you think this industry produces so many exceptional leaders?
Ty Bennett: I think fundamentally it's because people in hospitality prioritize people. They love people. I think my favorite leadership quote of all time comes from John Maxwell when he said, You can lead people without loving them, but you you can love people without leading them, but you cannot lead people without loving them. I think that hospitality people are people people. I think that they understand that they're in the people business. My very first book, you can kind of see over my shoulder, The Power of Influence. I wrote about we are all in the people business. That is the business that you're in. I speak to people in every industry and I constantly remind them that is your business, right? Like that's what matters most. And I think inherently people who are drawn to hospitality get that. And they love that. They they enjoy people. And so the focus of connection as a driver and actually the multiplier of all other drivers for high performance. isn't hard. It's pretty natural for most people in hospitality. Now, are there ways to get better at it? Sure, right? All right. But that's not where with other groups, they're constantly looking at like how do I get my people more geared towards our people? one of the one of the mindsets that came there are three key key mindsets that came out of our research. I mentioned one before, relaxed intensity. It's really about performance and how you show up. The first one we call confident curiosity. How do you have the ability to continue to move forward, but stay open, stay curious, keep learning, right? It's how you think. the one that came out of really how you lead, we call empathic drive. It's the balance of driving for results without losing relationships. Those are typically leaders tend to push people out as they prioritize. hitting key metrics over the people that are attached to those key metrics. I think that the people in the hospitality space more naturally are empathetic. They love people, they engage with people. So that becomes a little bit more natural to them. And so yeah, I think because of that, that's kind of been my mentality, although I don't have the the restaurant background or some of those things, I think we see the world pretty similarly.
Beck: Well it can.
Chad: That is awesome. so we recently at Prosper Forum, and one of the things that I walked away from having with the number of conversations we had there was that even high performing leaders, there's there's commonalities in the kind after they reach a certain point where they like, okay, they start to plateau, it's because of some lie they've told themselves or some area of discomfort they're not willing to. identify and push through. What have you identified those things as? Where are those places that even the the top people just run up against the ceiling?
Ty Bennett: Yeah, I love that you bring up kind of this concept of self-awareness as leaders. We all have blind spots, right? And and if you're if you really have that mentality of confident curiosity means I want to continue to learn, I want to continue to grow, I'm seeking feedback, I'm trying to understand it. When we looked at the barriers to high performance, the three barriers that came up the most in the research were actually pretty much self-inflicted, right? Like the number one barrier was the fear of failure. Whether we call it the fear of failure or something else, when it causes you to hesitate, when you aren't willing to go somewhere that's uncomfortable, when you decide that I don't want to do that because the I may not succeed, right? We all have areas in which we hold ourselves back because of the fear of failure. Ego gets in the way, like so many different things factor into that. The second was taking criticism personally. Feedback is fuel if you use it, right? But taking criticism personally, when somebody tells you, hey, this is a blind spot and you take that personally instead of working on it, instead of going, huh, maybe there's some truth to that, instead of changing, it keeps you stuck.
Beck: Mm.
Ty Bennett: And the third one we touched on a little bit back was comparison. We all live in this space where we constantly look at other people and And there's nothing productive in living in that space. So I found it interesting that when you actually went through the research and asked people in Working America what is holding you back and what is holding other people back, it wasn't we're lacking technology, these systems aren't in place. It was we do. Like we're we get in our own way.
Chad: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: And our ego
Beck: Mm.
Ty Bennett: gets the better of us or we're scared or we get offended because of something that somebody said and we get defensive and so we don't really change and work on it. Right. That's that's what stops us.
Beck: I think that's interesting because i if I look at the the things I've read about you and what I know so far and what you've shared with us so far and even in number two where we're talking about feedback, it it feels like trust is at the center of almost everything you teach. How how do leaders earn that trust? And and and I guess the it's a more subjective answer, but but how do quickly can they lose it?
Ty Bennett: The the hard part is losing is very quick and regaining it's even harder, right?
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: I think that the I think that trust comes down to two criteria. Number one, who you are as a person. I need to know that I trust you as a person, that you have integrity, that you show up as the same person in your public, private, secret life, that you're not a different person here than you are, you know, somewhere else, that you
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: follow through that on commitments, that you keep your word. Like I wanna know that I can believe in you as a person. And number two, I think it's how you treat people. I think that if I show up i if if the criteria I hold myself to is like I I hold my own integrity, I'm gonna follow through on that. It doesn't mean I I don't fall short or don't make mistakes. It means that like I'm not maliciously doing anything. And then based on how I treat people, You know what wanna know what I love the most about doing this speech with my boys. So they have traveled now all over the country with me. You guys will laugh because the very first speech they gave was at a Ritz Carlton and they thought that that's just how all speeches worked. Like they're like, What? Like
Chad: Ha ha
Ty Bennett: they s they they skipped a few steps for sure. What I l
Beck: Bar is high.
Ty Bennett: yeah, what I love about doing this with them is not I love the on stage piece. But even more, I love the lessons that they are learning about how to navigate life. I'll give you
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: an example. We're at a conference in Scottsdale, Arizona last year, and we're waiting, they're doing like walkthroughs of everything. We're the next day, we're the opening keynote the next morning, and they're running late. And the lady's like, I'm so sorry, we're gonna get to you, then you can set up and we'll do your A V check and all that. And I'm like, We're good, we're hanging out. So I'm sitting there with my boys, and I go, Hey, so they had had a session in that that day. And I go, guys, we're just doing nothing. Let's go pick up trash. Right. So like the ballroom people left cups and whatever. So we're just walking around picking up help trash. Like we're just buying time. The other keynote speaker the next day, who is somebody that honestly I love. Like I know I'm their friend. Goes, Ty, you don't do that. And I go, you missed the point. Like I'm not my boys are not here to get a standing ovation tomorrow. They are here for this. Like, this is what we're doing. We are learning how to be good people. Like the way that we interact with an A V team, the way that we show up, like that's what
Chad: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: I want them to get. And if we have a great key speech, cool. Like that's fantastic. But I I think that matters. People have to know
Chad: yeah.
Ty Bennett: that, see that in you, right? Like Understand that. if you lose that trust, I'm a big believer in real conversations with real people. I don't think you can
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: dance around it. I think you have to come right at it and go, hey, I screwed up and I lost your trust. And I need to fix it. And here's where I'm sorry. And tell me what I can do because I want to work on this, right? Like I I wanna have real conversations about.
Beck: It it reminds me of just the the tenet of so as you do under the least of my children, right? You treat everybody great.
Ty Bennett: I think that's the goal, right? I are there places we fall short for sure. But it's also been cool for me 'cause it holds me to like I believe these things, but d are there times that I'm tired and I probably don't show up as my very best. But when my boys are there, you can guarantee I'm gonna show up as my best, right? Like I'm gonna I'm gonna make sure that I'm doing like leading by example, and so that's a good thing for me too.
Beck: Chad?
Chad: Hi we're talking about high performance, but I want to flip it. Let's say you're talking to somebody and they say to high performance. I'd settle for performance. I feel like I'm in a I'm in a
Ty Bennett: I'm just trying to show up here, man.
Beck: Yeah.
Chad: constant failure factory and I need help. How do what I'm in I'm in this rut? What do I do to get out of it?
Ty Bennett: So, number one, I would tell you that failure's not bad. Failure is the process to learn. So, what are you learning from the failures? That that to me is is part of it, is we think failure is this horrible consequence. And in fact, all the research shows that failure is necessary for you to create your very best work. Right. And so let's change a little bit of that thought process and go, okay, what are you learning from that? How are you growing? I love this line. So you guys have probably seen a good friend of mine named Don Jaeger. He's spoken at Prosper, been there before. Anyway, sports guy wrote a bunch of books. Michael Jordan once told him in a conversation that a loss is not a failure until you make an excuse. And I love that line, right? Like, so let's
Chad: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: take some ownership of it and go, okay, what do I learn? Where did I go from here? The thing that I think you can do to start to change your circumstances quickly. The the number two driver in our research is consistency. Choose a couple of key things and let's figure out how to do those consistently. What are some of those little things that are gonna move the needle? Because the truth is we over-emphasize and overvalue intensity and we undervalue consistency. We like we get this burst of energy and motivation, like I'm gonna do this and I'm gonna run 40 miles in two days. Or just like let's be consistent about being active, right? That's what actually changes things over over time. And so if it depending on who that person was, I'd sit down and I go, okay, what are a couple of things that you can do that you have control over, that you feel like you can do right now and be consistent in? And then how do we create some accountability so that that consistency happens? Let's start to change that and make make that something that becomes a daily practice and then build on it. Simple simple thing for me. At the beginning of the summer, I told my boys like, okay, I want to be more consistent in my workout and eating and all that. I want to lose weight. We all agreed for them it was like on top of everything they're doing. For me, it was a starting point. Let's do a hundred push ups a day. And then so I've not missed a day since May fourth that we started. A hundred push ups a day. But that was something I could be consistent in. And, you know, when it started, sets of 15 maybe like and the bat last sets were not feeling great. Now I'm
Beck: Yes. Yeah.
Ty Bennett: like sets of 50, feeling pretty good.
Chad: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: but then I could build on it, right? Okay, now I'm gonna do 100 push-ups regardless. Now am I gonna run two? Now am I gonna like how's my eating? All of those things. But just start something consistently and build on it.
Chad: Success begets success.
Ty Bennett: It really does. S Stephen R Stephen Covey's definition of success was the progressive realization of worthwhile goals. And like that's when you're doing something good, you want to add something good. If you go work out, like notice just a little thing in your body. If you go work out, right after you work out, your body doesn't crave like a candy bar. It craves something good. Like it's just it's a natural consequence. And so little things like that they do. I do think it multiplies, it builds momentum.
Beck: Well, you set new level for yourself and leveling up is just kind of in our nature, also, right? you opened a little bit of a door here talking about family and travel earlier. And I think that this is something common among high performers or anybody really is I I hate their term work life balance, but some version of that, right? But if we it it
Ty Bennett: I don't know how you find it, man.
Beck: doesn't exist, right? There's there's there's life. but you're constantly on the road speaking. How do you how do you stay grounded and present for your family or with your family?
Ty Bennett: I think that yeah, the idea of work life balance, I don't know. I to me it's always a moving target. And I have people
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: ask me that all the time and I'm like, I don't know, man. Like you you've gotta find it because it your family's gonna be different than my family and everybody. And different seasons have felt different for me. I wanna make sure that A, I'm present, regardless of where I am. So, you know, I mean, that to me is if I'm on the road, I'm touching base. Like there's certain things with each kid that I want to make sure I know what's going on with them. I'm reaching out. you know, I may not physically be there, but I'm involved. There's there's not a lot that I'm coming home and I'm like, I had no idea that was happening. You know, like I'm engaged from that standpoint. I also want to make sure that my priorities are in line. that I'm not making choices and you know, have I done this wrong? Sure. that I am prioritizing, you know, work over everything else, that that becomes the the main priority. Now I get that there's obligations and you know, we gotta support family and all of those things. but I I wanna constantly kind of check myself and like where where is my focus and what where am I finding fulfillment? And I wanna find fulfillment in lots of areas, but I don't want to lose like that's an important facet in my life, right? I So for me, I I don't know how many kids you guys have. I have five. I'm from Utah. We just have a lot of kids. I don't know. But yeah.
Beck: Surprise, surprise, no.
Chad: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: but you know, it's there there's a lot going on in our family. There's a lot of and
Beck: Yeah.
Ty Bennett: all of them are super active, which we love. and sometimes it feels like too much, you know. But we're gonna try and support all of them in every way that we can and and find the balance of that. And then also, you know, with my wife to be able to support her and and make sure that she has all the things that she needs and that she feels like she's a priority. all of those things it I I don't have like a formula because I I think it's constantly something I'm pursuing. But I think stepping back at times and going, Okay, these are the important things and these are the things that matter is important.
Beck: Yeah, there's no magic bullets, right? And I and I think, you know, people h hop on the one and get their ozempic conversation going, Hey, tell me this one thing and I'll fix my life. And but I think all these conversations to lead to Did I find something in there that applies to me that I can maybe reorient my my lens on what I'm looking at and is it important? Am I looking at the right things?
Ty Bennett: Yeah, for sure.
Beck: Chad? One more before we do rapid fire.
Chad: Yeah, this might be my s last question. in three years, Ty, after AI c has continued to rip through our world, what do you think
Beck: Ooh.
Chad: you'll be talking and writing about?
Ty Bennett: I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say the same thing. and here's why. So I wrote the book The Power of Storytelling maybe 10 years ago. It sold unbelievably well, like I've spoken a ton on it. Interestingly, it has come back around, and all of a sudden I'm getting booked constantly on it. And it's because AI has made it so that everyone can write good copy, everyone has good information, it's all on their fingertips. So what differentiates you is the human story, the connection, right? I think that AI will be part of our lives and I think that there's great things that come from it. But I don't think the human elements of leadership, performance, communication, I don't think that that's gonna change all that much. I think that how you get there, you know, there's tools that are gonna help you in that process. But I I I don't think it's gonna all of a sudden make us drastically different in how we perform. AI is not going to change the fact that we all still deal with the fear of failure and comparison and our ego and all of us. Like that's still going to be part of our lives. Probably even more so, like if we're being honest. And so yeah, I I don't think that's going to change all that much if if I my focus is on human performance.
Chad: We hope you're
Beck: Yeah.
Chad: right. And think you are.
Ty Bennett: I hope I'm right too.
Beck: I think you're right. All right. Th there's other people that are echoing the same thing. The the CEO of NVIDIA was interviewed recently and they said, Well, if if coding is no longer an important job anymore, 'cause if AI's doing that and and and the tools are doing all these various things, what's gonna be the important skill in the future? And the first thing he said was empathy. 'Cause we're gonna have to think think more about people, not less. Yeah, have to work with people in a different in a different way. I think it's the it's an interesting future we have ahead.
Ty Bennett: I agree with that. I hope that's true.
Beck: I hope so too. so last question for rapid fire from me. So if somebody watches this conversation and remembers one idea a year from now, what do you hope it is?
Ty Bennett: I think that the mindset that is going to allow you to succeed in the future is confident curiosity. I think that you have to be willing to move forward and take action and take steps. Don't be scared to put yourself out there to fail to reach out, but also continue to learn. If we live in a world that's constantly changing, which is going to be the case and is the case now, then the rate of learning. Your rate of learning has to keep pace with the rate of change. So you have to be curious. You have to continue to learn and grow. And the fact that somebody's listening to this conversation right now indicates that they are, right? And so that's a good sign in and of itself. But I think that that is the mindset of the future. When I think about my kids and their potential to have jobs in the future or own businesses or whatever they end up doing, I want them to have that mentality as they go through their life.
Beck: Love it. Love it. All right. Time to shift gear. A little bit of rapid fire fun before we sign off here for the day. Quick questions, quick answers. what's the best leadership book you've ever read that can't be your own?
Ty Bennett: I'll go with Seven Habits of Highly Affective People by Stephen Arcaby.
Beck: Great one. what's who's one leader, alive or or or past, that you'd love to spend an afternoon with?
Ty Bennett: because I've never met him and I would love to sit down with him, I'm a big fan of Ryan Holiday. wrote obstacles the way. sever he r sto studies stoicism. anyway, I I think it'd be a fascinating conversation.
Beck: Okay. what's one habit you never miss?
Ty Bennett: I say a prayer every day. I don't think I've I I don't think I've missed a day in a very long time.
Beck: Here's the one well you'll know. Coffee or keynote?
Ty Bennett: Ke keynote, I don't drink coffee, so that's an easy one. But I also
Beck: That's gonna crack me up but I just saw my note. What's what
Ty Bennett: But I also would choose keynote over probably anything, so there you go.
Beck: even cookies? See? What's
Ty Bennett: Hey, hey, there you go.
Beck: one word that defines great leadership?
Ty Bennett: consistency.
Beck: Okay. And finish the sentence. Great leaders make people feel blank.
Ty Bennett: Important.
Beck: All right, and the last one, finish this sentence. The best stories always begin with
Ty Bennett: Connection.
Beck: Love it. That was great. Thank you so much for that, Ty. And this is the part where we wrap up the show and thank Ty for joining us today and you our audience for investing time with us at our show. And like Ty said, being curious to learn more and find out things that are out there. I'm sure when we started this, you guys are what the heck are they doing? Hopefully we're more on a what are they doing this time track. But you know, when we saw Ty or when I saw Ty at Prosper Accelerate and and Chad and I got to talk about him. It was we were so impressed with your boys and you already know how I mean, I can't imagine the level of pride you have in your family and what you've built and then the values that you've instilled in them. And I hope that that if anybody has a chance to see you and your boys in action, not just your boys, because I think there's this interplay that tells something really special about the family dynamic, about excellence, about really that grit and determination and all these other things that come with it. I think it's a fantastic Fantastic thing to view along. So I'm sure you're probably on YouTube somewhere where people could see that stuff. but no, honestly, it's a sincere honor, Ty. And we look forward to seeing you at the Accelerate Conference coming up here in October. I'll probably bug you for another episode if we can, but we'll see. I'm
Chad: I
Ty Bennett: I can't wait. Yeah, it'll be fun.
Beck: greedy. But for everybody for now, this is Chad Beck and Ty signing off here. And we will see you guys on the next one. As always, our our closing quote is we like to say, which is random acts of kindness, sprinkle that stuff everywhere. You never know whose day day you're gonna make better. Just like Ty's generous act of time when he's been on the road nonstop to spend a little bit of time with us. It it made our day amazing. So thank you for that, Ty. And
Chad: Thank you, Ty.
Beck: yeah. And we'll see you guys next time.
Ty Bennett: No, thank you guys. Appreciate it.
