Menu
How to Create A Life So MAGNETIC Your Dreams Manifest Easily

How to Create A Life So MAGNETIC Your Dreams Manifest Easily

Lewis Howes

455 views • 16 hours ago Save 53 min 16 min read

Video Summary

The speaker reflects on his lifelong struggle with traditional schooling, which he found exhausting and unfulfilling, as evidenced by a childhood poem declaring "I hate school." This personal adversity fueled his later success in creating "The School of Greatness," a platform born from a desire to teach life skills and navigate challenges that formal education often neglects. The podcast, which has surpassed a billion downloads, became a vehicle for exploring topics like overcoming failure, managing finances, and emotional well-being. This journey led to the publication of four New York Times bestselling books, including "The Mask of Masculinity," which delves into vulnerability and healing.

Through "The School of Greatness," the speaker learned invaluable lessons, emphasizing consistency, serving others over self-focus, building for a specific audience, and prioritizing inner peace as the ultimate currency. He shares profound experiences, such as a prison visit where his book "The Mask of Masculinity" was used to facilitate healing among inmates, highlighting the transformative power of his work. His definition of greatness has evolved from mere accomplishment to discovering and utilizing one's unique gifts to positively impact others, advocating for a life centered on health, peace, and service.

Short Highlights

  • Childhood Aversion to School: The speaker's early academic experience was marked by dread and a feeling of exhaustion, culminating in a poem titled "I Hate School."
  • The School of Greatness: Launched in 2013, this podcast aimed to provide the life skills and knowledge missing from traditional education, focusing on serving others and learning from experts.
  • Impact and Reach: The platform has achieved over a billion downloads across audio and YouTube, aired on public television, and reached a global audience.
  • Author and Advocate: The speaker has authored four New York Times bestselling books, including "The Mask of Masculinity," which explores vulnerability and healing.
  • Evolution of Greatness: His definition of greatness shifted from external success to discovering unique gifts and using them to positively impact others.
  • Key Lessons Learned: Consistency, shifting focus from self to service, building for a specific audience, and prioritizing inner peace are central to sustained success.
  • The Ultimate Currency: Inner peace is presented as the most valuable asset, essential for a truly rich life, regardless of external wealth.

Key Details

Childhood Hatred for School [00:00:00]

  • The speaker recounts a lifelong struggle with traditional schooling, finding it exhausting and unfulfilling.
  • He shares a poem from first or second grade titled "School" that explicitly states, "I hate school. I hate doing homework. I hate doing papers."
  • This experience fostered a sense of dread and a wish for more meaningful learning.

    "I hate school. I hate school. I hate doing homework. I hate doing papers. I hate school."

Launching the School of Greatness [00:03:15]

  • Despite his negative school experiences, the speaker launched "The School of Greatness" podcast in 2013.
  • The initial setup was basic, using an iPhone with no studio, team, or audience.
  • The motivation was to shift focus from self to serving others and learning from accomplished individuals.

    "how can i make life about serving others how can i start asking questions from people who are extremely smart people who have experienced people have gone through horrific times and overcome those challenges"

Filling Educational Gaps [00:04:10]

  • The podcast aimed to teach essential life skills not covered in traditional education, such as overcoming failure, managing rejection, and understanding relationships and finances.
  • These are areas the speaker wished he had learned about growing up.
  • The School of Greatness sought to provide this missing knowledge.

    "I wish it taught me about how to overcome failure how to deal with rejection how to deal with my own insecurities and my embarrassments how to deal with my shame how to deal with relationship dynamics"

Podcast Success and Books [00:05:00]

  • "The School of Greatness" has garnered over a billion downloads and is distributed globally.
  • It has aired on public television and is available on airplanes.
  • The speaker has also become a New York Times bestselling author, writing four books.

    "The school of greatness has over a billion downloads on audio and youtube and it has been an incredible journey"

The Mask of Masculinity [00:06:00]

  • His second book, "The Mask of Masculinity," is a work he is particularly proud of, as it involved revealing personal insecurities and shame.
  • The book explores how men can embrace vulnerability and build stronger relationships.
  • This was a scary but important step for the speaker, aimed at releasing the power these issues held over him.

    "this is actually not a new york time bestseller who knows maybe one day it'll get on that list but it was the one where i started to reveal a lot about myself and open up about a lot of my insecurities"

Evolving Definition of Greatness [00:07:30]

  • The speaker's initial concept of greatness was tied to success, results, and accomplishment.
  • Through his journey and interviews, his definition shifted towards inner healing, peace, and self-acceptance.
  • He realized that external achievements didn't necessarily lead to internal fulfillment.

    "my definition of greatness within the first couple years shifted after the first couple years because for me it was more about success results winning accomplishment achievement"

Overcoming Past Trauma [00:09:00]

  • An early episode involved the speaker opening up about being sexually abused.
  • He feared the repercussions for his career and relationships but found peace in sharing his story.
  • The desire to help others heal from similar experiences motivated him to release the episode.

    "this is going to be the most you're ever going to be judged in your life or maybe one of the the most times you'll ever be judged in your life for something in your past"

The Greatest Mindset and Make Money Easy [00:11:00]

  • "The Greatest Mindset" is a book wishing he had at 16, focusing on healing and optimizing life.
  • "Make Money Easy" addresses financial psychology and the emotional relationship with money, distinguishing between being rich and wealthy.
  • These books cover topics not taught in traditional schooling, like financial literacy and wealth building.

    "and we have had a lot of experts come and talk about these topics and again these are things that they don't teach us in elementary school middle school high school or even college"

Sports as an Outlet [00:15:00]

  • Sports became a crucial outlet for the speaker to express himself and gain validation when school was a struggle.
  • It provided lessons in human dynamics, teamwork, and competition.
  • An injury playing arena football led to an identity crisis.

    "that's why sports became such a outlet for me to express myself it was my way to be an artist through my body through my actions in a in a container outside of school"

The Team Handball Journey [00:17:00]

  • After his football injury, the speaker discovered team handball and pursued it at a national level.
  • He launched "The School of Greatness" podcast while still competing on the USA national team.
  • This period highlights his commitment to multiple dreams and consistent effort.

    "in 2008 i saw handball for the first time ever on the olympics um the beijing olympus in 2008 and i saw this sport and it unlocked a new possibility in my mind"

Consistency: Lesson One [00:23:00]

  • The first key lesson is "Show up until it shows up," emphasizing long-term commitment over immediate results.
  • The speaker advises against quitting prematurely, as success often comes after sustained effort.
  • He shares his own experience of consistently producing the podcast for a year with no listeners or income, driven by curiosity and a desire to serve.

    "do not launch a show unless you can do it for the next three to five years every single week knowing that you may get zero listeners zero viewers and make zero dollars"

Service Over Self: Lesson Two [00:30:00]

  • The second lesson is to "Stop making it about you" and focus on serving others.
  • Relationships and service are presented as more fulfilling and sustainable than ego-driven pursuits.
  • The speaker realized his own self-centeredness was a common denominator in his struggles, leading him to reframe the podcast's purpose.

    "the fastest way to become someone people want to be around is to be of service to others relationships will take you further than your ego ever will"

Building for the Needy: Lesson Three [00:37:00]

  • The third lesson is to "Build it for the people who need it" from the outset.
  • Clarity in mission and audience attracts the right community and support.
  • The speaker shares impactful stories, including an inmate using "The Mask of Masculinity" to lead men's groups in prison.

    "build it for the people who need it from day one the mission of the show has been to serve a hundred million lives every single week"

Inner World, Outer World: Lesson Four [00:43:00]

  • The fourth lesson states that "Your inner world determines your outer world," equating inner peace with true wealth.
  • The speaker emphasizes the importance of inner work through various practices like therapy, meditation, and retreats.
  • He highlights that true richness comes from internal peace, not just external success.

    "inner peace is the new rich you can build everything on the outside and still push it all away from the inside"

The Future of Greatness [00:50:00]

  • The speaker discusses his vision for the next thousand episodes, focusing on greater service and continuous reinvention.
  • He aims to maintain his health, marriage, and family while embracing playfulness and joy.
  • The goal is to make a lasting impact by serving the audience's needs directly.

    "the next thousand episodes for me i just keep thinking about how can i be of service in greater ways where will i be called"

Defining Greatness Today [01:00:00]

  • The speaker's definition of greatness has evolved from accomplishment to discovering unique gifts and talents to pursue dreams and make a difference in others' lives.
  • He distinguishes between gifts, talents, dreams, and calling, suggesting that true greatness involves pursuing one's calling.
  • His current definition is: "discovering your unique gifts and talents inside of you that god has given you and only you and pursuing your dreams with those gifts and talents and in the pursuit of those dreams making a difference on the people around you."

    "my definition of greatness today is discovering your unique gifts and talents inside of you that god has given you and only you and pursuing your dreams with those gifts and talents"

Three Truths for Life [01:05:00]

  • The speaker shares his three core truths: live a healthy life (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual), live a peaceful life, and live a life of service.
  • He believes that health and peace are prerequisites for truly giving love and making a meaningful impact.
  • The greatest reward comes from giving to others and improving their quality of life.

    "truth number one would be live a healthy life live a healthy life in the total sense of the word physical health mental health emotional health and spiritual health"

Acknowledging the Audience [01:10:00]

  • The speaker thanks the audience, acknowledging them as the true "guest" for the 2000 episodes.
  • He expresses gratitude for their consistent engagement and willingness to explore deeper topics.
  • He concludes by reminding the audience that they are loved, worthy, and matter.

    "today instead of the guest being the person in front of me the guest is you the person is you and everything that came to me over these 13 almost 14 years came through people"

The Challenge of Inner Peace [01:15:00]

  • Inner peace cannot be bought and is essential for handling life's problems without overwhelming stress.
  • Without inner peace, external success and wealth do not equate to a rich life.
  • This peace is cultivated through continuous inner work and practice.

    "the challenge of inner peace is that you can't pay for it you could have everything in the world you could be the most successful person in the world but if you don't know how to handle problems that are happening in your life then you're always going to have stress"

From Hating School to Global Impact [00:00:00]

  • The speaker contrasts his childhood hatred for school with his current success, highlighting the power of finding alternative learning paths.
  • He emphasizes that his personal struggles became the foundation for a platform designed to help others navigate similar challenges.
  • The journey from a poem about hating school to 2000 episodes of "The School of Greatness" demonstrates a profound transformation.

    "i hate school i hate school i hate doing homework i hate doing papers i hate school"

The Genesis of "The School of Greatness" [00:03:15]

  • Born from a desire to address the life skills missing from formal education, the podcast began as a simple iPhone recording.
  • The core mission was to serve others by learning from experts and sharing their wisdom.
  • This shift from a self-focused approach to one of service was pivotal.

    "how can i make life about serving others how can i start asking questions from people who are extremely smart"

Redefining Success Through Books [00:06:00]

  • The speaker's literary work, particularly "The Mask of Masculinity," marked a significant step in personal healing and vulnerability.
  • His books explore themes of overcoming societal pressures, understanding emotions, and building a fulfilling life beyond external validation.
  • These works represent a distillation of lessons learned through years of interviews and personal growth.

    "this is actually not a new york time bestseller who knows maybe one day it'll get on that list but it was the one where i started to reveal a lot about myself"

The Power of Consistency [00:23:00]

  • A central lesson is the importance of showing up consistently, even without immediate rewards or recognition.
  • The speaker shares his initial year of podcasting with zero listeners, emphasizing dedication to the process.
  • This unwavering commitment is presented as a key factor in attracting dreams and opportunities.

    "do not launch a show unless you can do it for the next three to five years every single week knowing that you may get zero listeners zero viewers and make zero dollars"

Serving Others as the Ultimate Goal [00:30:00]

  • Shifting focus from personal gain to serving others is crucial for fulfillment and building meaningful relationships.
  • The speaker identified his own self-centeredness as a barrier to happiness and growth.
  • "The School of Greatness" name itself reflects this commitment to uplifting others.

    "the fastest way to become someone people want to be around is to be of service to others"

Impact Beyond Expectations [00:37:00]

  • Building with a clear mission for those in need attracts a dedicated audience and community.
  • The speaker recounts profound moments, like meeting an inmate who used his book for healing in prison, underscoring the far-reaching impact of his work.
  • This demonstrates that the purpose of creation should be to serve those who genuinely need it.

    "build it for the people who need it from day one the mission of the show has been to serve a hundred million lives every single week"

The Foundation of Inner Peace [00:43:00]

  • True wealth is defined by inner peace, which cannot be bought or achieved solely through external success.
  • The speaker emphasizes continuous inner work through various practices to cultivate this peace.
  • This internal state is the bedrock upon which a fulfilling and resilient life is built.

    "inner peace is the new rich you can build everything on the outside and still push it all away from the inside"

Evolving Vision for the Future [00:50:00]

  • Looking ahead, the speaker aims to deepen his service, maintain personal well-being, and embrace joy and playfulness.
  • The focus remains on serving the audience's needs and making a positive impact.
  • This continuous evolution ensures the platform remains relevant and impactful.

    "the next thousand episodes for me i just keep thinking about how can i be of service in greater ways where will i be called"

A Personal Definition of Greatness [01:00:00]

  • Greatness is defined not just by achievement, but by discovering and utilizing one's unique gifts to pursue dreams and positively impact others.
  • The speaker differentiates between talents, dreams, and one's ultimate calling.
  • This evolving definition reflects a journey from external validation to internal purpose.

    "my definition of greatness today is discovering your unique gifts and talents inside of you that god has given you and only you and pursuing your dreams with those gifts and talents"

The Pillars of a Meaningful Life [01:05:00]

  • The speaker outlines three essential truths: live healthily, live peacefully, and live in service.
  • These principles are interconnected, with health and peace enabling genuine love and impactful giving.
  • The ultimate reward lies in the positive difference made in the lives of others.

    "truth number one would be live a healthy life live a healthy life in the total sense of the word physical health mental health emotional health and spiritual health"

Gratitude for the Journey [01:10:00]

  • The speaker expresses profound gratitude to his audience, recognizing their integral role in the show's success.
  • He acknowledges their consistent support and willingness to engage with deep, meaningful content.
  • The message concludes with a powerful affirmation of the audience's worth and importance.

    "today instead of the guest being the person in front of me the guest is you the person is you and everything that came to me over these 13 almost 14 years came through people"

The Unpurchasable Value of Peace [01:15:00]

  • Inner peace is presented as an invaluable asset that cannot be acquired through wealth or success alone.
  • It is the key to navigating life's inevitable challenges without succumbing to stress and chaos.
  • Cultivating this inner state is an ongoing process, essential for a truly rich and fulfilling existence.

    "the challenge of inner peace is that you can't pay for it you could have everything in the world you could be the most successful person in the world but if you don't know how to handle problems that are happening in your life then you're always going to have stress"

Other People Also See