Creating A Life Of Excellence - Ben Bergeron | Modern Wisdom Podcast 295

Ben Bergeron is a CrossFit Coach and the Owner of CrossFit New England. As far as we know, we only get one shot at life, so we'd better make it count. Fulfilling our potential and making the most of our abilities is the name of the game, but how do you do this? Expect to learn why core values are so important to achieving your goals, how Ben focusses on maximising his minutes, how to embrace adversity in your life, why intentionality and focus are so crucial and much more... Sponsors: Get over 37% discount on all products from MyProtein at http://bit.ly/modernwisdom (use code: MODERNWISDOM) Get 20% discount on Reebok’s entire range including the amazing Nano X1 at https://geni.us/modernwisdom (use code MW20) Extra Stuff: Check out CompTrain - https://comptrain.co/ Follow Ben on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron Get my free Ultimate Life Hacks List to 10x your daily productivity → https://chriswillx.com/lifehacks/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom #benbergeron #excellence #fulfillment - Listen to all episodes online. Search "Modern Wisdom" on any Podcast App or click here: iTunes: https://apple.co/2MNqIgw Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2LSimPn Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/modern-wisdom - Get in touch in the comments below or head to... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx Email: modernwisdompodcast@gmail.com

Ben BergeronguestChris Williamsonhost

Mar 15, 20211h 22mWatch on YouTube ↗

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Ben Bergeron Explains How Curiosity and Commitment Create True Excellence

Ben Bergeron and Chris Williamson explore how to design a fulfilling, high-performance life by redefining excellence as maximizing your own potential with meaning, not chasing trophies or status. They break down a hierarchy of mindset from victimhood to ‘curious competitor,’ arguing that top performers actively seek adversity as the forge of character. Bergeron emphasizes knowing your values first, then operationalizing them into daily, trackable behaviors that maximize both your minutes and your focus. Throughout, they discuss meditation, deliberate practice, embracing hardship, and balancing ambition with relationships to avoid climbing the wrong ladder.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Define excellence for yourself as fulfillment, not external success.

Bergeron argues that chasing society’s version of excellence leads many to reach the top of a ladder leaned against the wrong wall; instead, clarify what a fulfilled life means to you (values, identity, relationships) before committing to big goals.

Move up the mindset ladder toward becoming a ‘curious competitor.’

Rather than staying a pessimist or blind optimist, cultivate extreme realism (embracing harsh realities) and then curiosity—seeking adversity, hard conversations, and challenges as opportunities to test and improve your character.

Turn values into concrete, daily behaviors you can track.

Stated values are meaningless without operationalization; Bergeron tracks specific daily actions under his four L’s (live, love, lead, learn) to ensure his time and behavior actually align with what he claims matters most.

Maximize focus, not just time, through deep, intentional practice.

Everyone gets the same hours, but high performers bring far more intensity and intentionality to those minutes; like deliberate practice in sport, progress comes from focused effort, not from simply logging more hours.

Use adversity as a training ground, not a threat.

From COVID threatening his gym to brutal workouts and injuries, Bergeron and Williamson highlight how hardship, properly framed, becomes the primary way to build fortitude, self-knowledge, and trust in your future self.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

You can't be a specialist in excellence because it's so elusive. The idea is to chase it, not to own it.

— Ben Bergeron

The only way you get from competence to excellence is curiosity.

— Ben Bergeron

People are rarely fearful of the future when they’re genuinely curious about what it holds.

— Chris Williamson

I can't hear what you're saying because your actions speak so loudly.

— Ben Bergeron

Self-esteem is the reputation you have with yourself. You’ll always know.

— Naval Ravikant, quoted by Chris Williamson

Redefining excellence and fulfillment versus traditional successMindset hierarchy: victim, pessimist, optimist, extreme realist, curious competitorCuriosity, obsession, and deliberate practice as drivers of world-class performanceValues, identity, and operationalizing them into daily habits and commitmentsMaximizing minutes and focus (intentionality over time spent)Embracing adversity and post-traumatic growth as tools for character buildingBuilding real confidence through preparation and controlling your definition of success

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