Share

cover art for S3E1 - Sir John Hargrave: How Do You Stay Focused?

Startup Hypeman: The GOAT to Market Show

S3E1 - Sir John Hargrave: How Do You Stay Focused?

•
Having trouble staying focused? Feel like you lack willpower? Sir John Hargrave, CEO of Mediashower and author of Mindhacking, is a recovering alcoholic who has been on the deepest end of the willpower spectrum, and he’s the latest guest on the Discover Your Inner Awesome podcast. To battle his addiction, he had to train his brain to think differently. We explore the ins and outs of how our thoughts influence our behavior, and the hacks and tricks we can employ to be more purposeful, mindful, and powerful. In this episode you’ll learn: +The difference between working to be busy and working to be efficient +Moving towards knowledgework +Identifying the top 3 things of your day +Removing temptations from your environment +The multi-tasking myth (are you reading this while listening to someone else talk??) +Breathing exercises to calm yourself +The importance of having an impetus to get started on a new habit +Gamifying your habits to improve your willpower +Shifting from “I HAVE to” to “I GET to” +John’s tips for removing distractions from your life +Thinking of yourself as the Director of your life’s movie +A scientist’s experiment placing senior citizens in an environment that reminded them of their 20s +The neuroplasticity of our brain, and how that allows you to change what happens to you +How the way we treat blind people actually makes them more blind +Placing positive distractions in your way to encourage good habits +Giving yourself the right rewards to strengthen your willpower +Decision fatigue and its effect on your judgment +Identifying your ONE THING that hinders or helps your success +The Seinfeld philosophy of how sex makes us stupid +Creating the path of least resistance +Choice Theory and how it impacts your decision-making +Collaborating with like-minded people to achieve a goal Resources: Peter Drucker’s The Effective Executive: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FC11JW Sir John’s book Mindhacking will be available in bookstores in January 2016, but you can download a free digital copy at http://www.mindhacki.ng now! Find Sir John online at @SirJohnHargrave on twitter www.mediashower.com Learn more about Idea Lemon at www.idealemon.com Show credits: Seinfeld - The Abstinence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfbweoXX4wI Sidewalk Chalk - Lyrically Free: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lyrically-free/id508155011?i=508155577

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 12. GTM 4-12: Creating Unforgettable Experiences (Season Finale!)

    46:59||Season 4, Ep. 12
    You can spend all your time building a product, but if the experience is poor, all that work goes to waste. Whether it’s a product, an event, or a meeting, experience matters. In our season finale, I sit down with Jason W. Taylor, Founder of CodeLaunch, to break down how a small conference room with a bad mic turned into a Hollywood-level startup spectacle—complete with lights, crowds, and its own culture. We dive into why CodeLaunch works, the value of negative feedback, leveraging partner marketing, and why sponsors never get five minutes to bore the room. Recorded in-person at the CodeLaunch production studio on the eve of the 2025 CodeLaunch World Championships in Dallas.Find Jason online:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-w-taylor-startups/Find CodeLaunch online:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/codelaunch-acceleratorInstagram: https://Instagram.com/CodeLaunchThis episode is brought to you by our friends at CodeLaunch! CodeLaunch is the only equity-free AND fee-free accelerator + Venturetainment platform giving founders software development, a massive pitch stage, and an opportunity at investment all for FREE. Use our unique link to apply to CodeLaunch today and cut the line for fast-track application review! https://tinyurl.com/7k7rjt6m

  • 11. GTM 4-11: Finding Yourself as a Founder with The Reeder Founder Devin Reed (part 2!)

    50:18||Season 4, Ep. 11
    Part 2 of my conversation with Devin rolls on! After a 2-week break we regroup and picked up as if we never stopped. We found ourselves talking about how we handle managing time, playing the comparison game, not getting too caught up in outcomes while still pursuing them, and much more.Find Devin online:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinreed/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereederco/This episode is brought to you by our friends at CodeLaunch! CodeLaunch is the only equity-free AND fee-free accelerator + Venturetainment platform giving founders software development, a massive pitch stage, and an opportunity at investment all for FREE. Use our unique link to apply to CodeLaunch today and cut the line for fast-track application review! https://tinyurl.com/7k7rjt6m

  • 10. GTM 4-10: Finding Yourself as a Founder with The Reeder Founder Devin Reed (part 1!)

    36:18||Season 4, Ep. 10
    This episode was supposed to be about content creation (because Devin is a master at it — 2x Head of Content at unicorn startups Gong and Clari, 95k+ Linkedin followers, best B2B podcast in the game). But what I've always liked about the way this show runs is we don't fight momentum. Since Devin and I are so close personally, it's easy to gain momentum in unexpected places. And shortly after we began, we started going deeper into our respective journeys, our mindset, and how we've changed and grown as individuals through our businesses. As we started going in that direction, I found myself not wanting to pull away from it because I was learning a lot, and I realized you will too. So, in an unexpected twist, Devin steps to the mic this week for a conversation about figuring out WHO you are, and how that shapes WHAT you build (despite me saying during his introduction that we're talking about the future of content creation). Devin opens up about how a significant personal loss became the catalyst for taking a big swing, we talk finding time to be present for both business and family, and detaching our personal identity from our business. Our time was cut short so enjoy part 1 this week, and we'll have part 2 of the conversation ready for you in our next episode.Find Devin online:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinreed/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereederco/This episode is brought to you by our friends at CodeLaunch! CodeLaunch is the only equity-free AND fee-free accelerator + Venturetainment platform giving founders software development, a massive pitch stage, and an opportunity at investment all for FREE. Use our unique link to apply to CodeLaunch today and cut the line for fast-track application review! https://tinyurl.com/7k7rjt6m

  • 9. GTM 4-9: Making it (Nearly) Impossible for your Sales Hire to Fail with Alleyoop CEO Gabe Lullo

    55:54||Season 4, Ep. 9
    Most startups chase the next automation hack. Gabe Lullo built his by betting on people instead. As CEO of Alleyoop and host of the Do Hard Things podcast, he’s helped over 1,600 founders scale by focusing on one thing that never goes out of style—real human connection. From 11 million cold calls a year to rebuilding how companies hire, train, and lead SDRs, Gabe’s rethinking what growth actually looks like in the age of AI. He steps to the mic this week to talk founder-led selling, why most sales hires fail, and how to build a team that never stops doing the hard things.Find Gabe online:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lullo/Gabe is also hopping into our member community, GOAT to Market Club, for an Ask Me Anything this week. Got Q's you want to ask Gabe personally? Join for free today!This episode is brought to you by our friends at CodeLaunch! CodeLaunch is the only equity-free AND fee-free accelerator + Venturetainment platform giving founders software development, a massive pitch stage, and an opportunity at investment all for FREE. Use our unique link to apply to CodeLaunch today and cut the line for fast-track application review! https://tinyurl.com/7k7rjt6m

  • GTM 4-Bonus! Creativity & Betting On Yourself - Reed Between The Lines

    01:12:46||Season 4
    S4 BONUS! Creativity & Betting On Yourself - Reed Between The LinesWe've got a special bonus for you this week! It's a re-airing of my appearance as a guest on the Reed Between The Lines podcast with my friend Devin Reed. I've done a lot of interviews in my life, and this is hands down my favorite one ever. We peel back the curtain on the transformation from Rajiv Nathan to 'RajNATION' and get into the REAL stuff — setbacks, insecurities, relationships, and more. The stuff that really comes into play when you decide to bet on yourself. This interview was originally recorded in March 2024 and aired on Devin's show in May 2024. This one's long, but worth every song.Want to WATCH the show instead? We filmed on a basketball court overlooking the Chicago skyline. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/vXAQ3bf7q0c?si=n9p7tHXWs3ex9v29Subscribe to Devin's show:AppleSpotifyConnect with Devin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devinreed/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thereederco/This episode is brought to you by our friends at CodeLaunch! CodeLaunch is the only equity-free AND fee-free accelerator + Venturetainment platform giving founders software development, a massive pitch stage, and an opportunity at investment all for FREE. Use our unique link to apply to CodeLaunch today and cut the line for fast-track application review! https://tinyurl.com/7k7rjt6m

  • 8. GTM 4-8: IP as a Defensible Moat with Transformation VC Founder Bao Tran

    52:36||Season 4, Ep. 8
    What if your startup’s biggest advantage isn’t your code, your speed, or even your traction but your ability to protect what’s yours? In a world where AI can replicate your idea in days, defensibility isn’t a luxury it’s survival. And few people understand that better than Bao Tran. Before founding Transformation VC, an IP-first venture capital firm, Bao built the patent strategy for Invasalign and Shutterfly before they became mega-brands. Now, he's rethinking what early-stage support should look like, using patents, AI, and a few surprising strategies to help founders build real moats. He steps to the mic in this week's episode to talk startup risk in the AI era, how his fund is making investments, and how to protect your ass(ets). Because sometimes, it’s not about being first — it’s about being uncopyable.Find Bao online:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bao-tran-752988209/Bao is also hopping into our member community, GOAT to Market Club, for an Ask Me Anything this week. Got Q's you want to ask Bao personally? Join for free today!This episode is brought to you by our friends at CodeLaunch! CodeLaunch is the only equity-free AND fee-free accelerator + Venturetainment platform giving founders software development, a massive pitch stage, and an opportunity at investment all for FREE. Use our unique link to apply to CodeLaunch today and cut the line for fast-track application review! https://tinyurl.com/7k7rjt6m

  • 7. GTM 4-7: Sales in the AI Era with Sales Expert Leslie Venetz

    01:07:26||Season 4, Ep. 7
    Most sales advice today is either outdated or outright cringe. Meanwhile AI has made its way into every corner of life and business, and sales is no exception. Leslie Venetz is a rare (and deadly) combination of being a sales maestro, and on trend with technology. She's been employee #1 at multiple startups, sold into the likes of Kraft and AT&T, grown a TikTok account (@salestipstok) to 42k+ followers, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Most recently she's launched The Sales-Led GTM Agency helping early-stage companies build their sales motions, and authored the upcoming book Profit Generating Pipeline: A Proven Formula to Earn Turst and Drive Revenue. With this experience, Leslie is who I turn to for knowing how the field evolves. She steps to the mic in this week’s episode to talk how AI fits into a sales motion. She also shares highlights from her upcoming book, her take on the "SDRS are dead" narrative, and yes — we dissect a few real, terrible cold emails along the way.Find Leslie online:LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/leslievenetzWebsite: www.salesledgtm.com Leslie is also hopping into our member community, GOAT to Market Club, for an Ask Me Anything this week. Got Q's you want to ask Leslie personally? Join for free today!This episode is brought to you by our friends at CodeLaunch! CodeLaunch is the only equity-free AND fee-free accelerator + Venturetainment platform giving founders software development, a massive pitch stage, and an opportunity at investment all for FREE. Use our unique link to apply to CodeLaunch today and cut the line for fast-track application review! https://tinyurl.com/7k7rjt6m

  • 6. GTM 4-6: Why The Great Depression Matters Today with Author & Innovation Historian Jason Voioivich

    54:28||Season 4, Ep. 6
    Did you know some of the most iconic products and ideas in American history came out of the Great Depression? Not in spite of it — but because of it. In a time of scarcity, creativity thrived: Superman was born. Church bingo took off. Farmers started raising bullfrogs. And a banjo-playing dropout turned Scotch tape into a multi-million dollar business. All of this matters today as we face a period of uncertainty not too dissimilar from The Great Depression. One of the leading minds exploring the link between constraint and innovation is Jason Voiovich. Jason is a researcher, entrepreneur, and 3x author, most recently publishing his 2025 title Bullfrogs, Bingo, and the Little House on the Prairie, a book that dives deep into the entrepreneurial breakthroughs of the 1930s. He steps to the mic in this week's episode — his second time on the show! — to talk frugal innovation, what modern founders can learn from history, and how to spot opportunity in unlikely places — especially when resources are tight.Find Jason online:Email: jasonvoiovich@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonvoiovich/Website: https://www.repeathistory.com/Jason is also hopping into our member community, GOAT to Market Club, for an Ask Me Anything this week. Got Q's you want to ask Jason personally? Join for free today!This episode is brought to you by our friends at CodeLaunch! CodeLaunch is the only equity-free AND fee-free accelerator + Venturetainment platform giving founders software development, a massive pitch stage, and an opportunity at investment all for FREE. Use our unique link to apply to CodeLaunch today and cut the line for fast-track application review! https://tinyurl.com/7k7rjt6m

  • 5. GTM 4-5: The Science of Your Voice with Opera Singer, Voice Coach, & Peacock Voices CEO Margaret Izard Oskoui

    54:05||Season 4, Ep. 5
    Did you know experts at Yale determined with up to 80% accuracy who would win a pitch competition purely based on the sound of their voice? It's not all about what you say, it's about how you say it. Your pitch, tone, rhythm, and even your breathing. Even a small shift can compeletely change perception. In fact, your voice might be your most overlooked go-to-market asset. One of the leading minds in the art and science of 'how you say it' is Margaret Izard Oskoui. Margaret is a professional opera singer turned voice coach and founder of Peacock Voices, where she helps leaders, speakers, and founders unlock the full power of their voice. Not just to sound better, but to be heard and understood. She steps to the mic in this week's episode to talk habits, stage presence, and how to make sure your message lands every time you speak. We even cover what makes pop music so popular, how to adjust on the fly, and practical vocal exercise you can do to get your voice ready for your next big pitch or just your next big meeting.Find Margaret online:Email: m.izard@peacockvoices.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-izard-oskoui/Website: https://www.peacockvoices.comMargaret is also hopping into our member community, GOAT to Market Club, for an Ask Me Anything this week. Got Q's you want to ask Margaret personally? Join for free today!This episode is brought to you by our friends at CodeLaunch! CodeLaunch is the only equity-free AND fee-free accelerator + Venturetainment platform giving founders software development, a massive pitch stage, and an opportunity at investment all for FREE. Use our unique link to apply to CodeLaunch today and cut the line for fast-track application review! https://tinyurl.com/7k7rjt6m

Comments