#564: Performance Psychologist Michael Gervais — Fear{less} with Tim Ferriss

Welcome to another episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, where it
is my job to deconstruct world-class performers to tease out the
routines, habits, et cetera that you can apply to your own life.


You’ll get plenty of that in this special episode, which
features my interview with Michael
Gervais from my 2017 TV Show Fear{less}. The
“less” is in parentheses because the objective is to teach you to
fear less, not to be fearless.


Fear{less} features in-depth, long-form conversations with
top performers, focusing on how they’ve overcome fears and made
hard decisions, embracing discomfort and thinking big.


It was produced by Wild West Productions, and I worked with them
to make both the video and audio available to you for free, my
dear listeners. You can find the video of this
episode on YouTube.com/TimFerriss, and eventually
you’ll be able to see all episodes for free
at YouTube.com/TimFerriss.


Spearheaded by actor/producer and past podcast guest Vince
Vaughn, Wild West Productions has produced a string of
hit movies including The Internship, Couples
Retreat, Four Christmases, and The Break-Up.


In 2020, Wild West produced the comedy The Opening Act,
starring Jimmy O. Yang and Cedric The Entertainer. In addition
to Fear{less}, their television credits
include Undeniable with Joe Buck, ESPN’s 30 for
30 episode about the ’85 Bears, and the Netflix
animated show F is for Family.


Please enjoy!


*


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*


How Michael helped daredevil Felix Baumgartner mentally prepare
for his 24-mile fall to earth from the edge of space. [05:06]


What does extinguishing phobia look like? [08:07]


What was Michael’s childhood like? After moving away from their
farm, how did his family help him adjust to life in the big city?
[10:48]


How Fight Club SoCal led to Surfin’ USA, and what kept Michael’s
ambitions in check during this time. [13:48]


How Michael began to rein in this anxiety, and who was there to
help him. [17:24]


Michael describes the week he spent at the bottom of the Grand
Canyon, and how it changed his life. [18:37]


How Michael became involved in the world of performance
psychology, the mentor who guided him, and what his first lessons
as a teacher looked like. [21:24]


Michael and I share our basic life philosophies. [23:27]


What was Michael’s first paid gig with an athlete, and why is the
word “potential” often such a powerful performance killer?
[26:25]


Effective pre-performance routines Michael has seen, and why he
discourages the popular deference to superstition so popular
among athletes. [27:31]


Is the effectiveness of a team dictated simply by a formula of
individual multiplied by X number of team members? What
ingredients best facilitate a team’s culture toward success?
[29:34]


Three rules (and one bonus, unwritten rule) that govern the
Seattle Seahawks. [30:55]


What was it like to lose a Super Bowl? [33:08]


What role does mindfulness play in Michael’s world? [36:47]


Michael’s advice for someone new to — but curious to explore —
mindfulness, and what they can do if it’s just not clicking for
them from the get-go. [38:47]


To avoid encouraging false confidence leading to overly risky or
reckless behavior, how does Michael know when to draw the line?
What specific incident really put this sense to the test, and how
did he manage it? [43:01]


Something Michael believes everyone should do on an everyday
basis, and how he puts this into practice. [46:18]


What is the first step back from massive failure? [47:29]


Would the general advice Michael dispenses differ between high
performers and everyday people? [48:57]


How much of a role does Stoicism play in Michael’s life? [51:24]


What would Michael’s billboard say? [52:28]


Parting thoughts. [53:21]


*


For show notes and past guests, please
visit tim.blog/podcast.


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at tim.blog/friday.


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Past guests on The Tim Ferriss
Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh
Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin
Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew
McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth
Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah
Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine
Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary
Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael
Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria
Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de
Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly
Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard
Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael
Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan
Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit
Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim
Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval
Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth
Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard
Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid
Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick
Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many
more.


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