Welcome to this week’s Friday Footnotes! Whether you’re pushing the limits physically or scaling new heights in business, here’s some thought-provoking material to fuel your mind for the weekend.
Business of Endurance Podcast
Mark Allen: As I prepare to return from my time in Kona, I’ve been reflecting on our podcast episode with the legendary Mark Allen. Widely regarded as the most successful triathlete of all time, Mark won the IRONMAN World Championships® six times, the Nice International Triathlon ten times, and the first-ever Olympic Distance Triathlon Championship. From late 1988 through 1990, he went undefeated in 21 races, an incredible two-year winning streak. He’s been inducted into the IRONMAN, USA Triathlon, and International Triathlon Union Halls of Fame and was named “The Greatest Endurance Athlete of All Time” by ESPN in 2012.
Since retiring, Mark has dedicated himself to coaching athletes of all levels and sharing the invaluable lessons he learned about preparation, perseverance, and realizing one’s full potential. Claire and I were thrilled to chat with Mark about his legendary performances in Kona – most notably the Ironwar – how he quietens his mind, the role Shamanism played in his success, and how he’s now leveraging AI to coach athletes.
TED Talk I’ve Found Interesting
In “The Surprising Science of Happiness”, Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert explores how our brains predict happiness and how we often misjudge what will make us happy. He presents research on the “psychological immune system” and how it helps us recover from setbacks. This talk provides entrepreneurs with insights into the nature of happiness and how to better align their goals and expectations to achieve it.
What I’ve Been Reading
In The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel, he explores the complex relationship we have with money, stripping it down to the psychology behind our financial decisions. Rather than focusing on how to earn or invest, it digs into the deeply emotional reasons we make money related choices and why sometimes smart people make irrational decisions. This is an insightful reminder that wealth management, like health or fitness, isn’t just about logic; it’s about understanding behaviour and mindset.
Podcast I’ve Been Listening To
The Anti-Woke Expert: “USA & UK Are Brainwashed!”
This podcast episode dives deep into a controversial, eye-opening conversation about the cultural shifts happening today. It’s a bold discussion on how current social trends might be reshaping society and the implications for the future. Whether you agree or disagree with the views, it’s sure to make you think about where the world is headed and what that means for you.
What I’ve Been Watching
Daley; Olympic Superstar takes an epic journey to places – both emotionally and psychologically – he has never been before. This captivating documentary tells the story of the complex man behind one of the greatest all-round athletes the world has ever seen. The question I would ask is, did he succeed despite his difficult upbringing, or because of it?
Tech I’ve Found Useful
Delphi bridges the gap between influencers and their audiences by creating digital twins – AI-powered replicas that capture how someone thinks, reasons, and shares knowledge. For business owners who wish they could clone themselves, this is the next best thing. By analysing data from podcasts, videos, and other content, Delphi learns your principles and decision-making patterns, enabling your “clone” to engage with new situations dynamically. It’s like having a version of yourself available 24/7 to share your insights, freeing you up to focus on what matters most.
Quote of the Week
“The most successful organizations have a clear, powerful sense of mission that unites their people, like a magnetic force that pulls them together.”
– Daniel Coyle
The Trusted Team
Interacting with your clients and prospects while you sleep, holiday, or simply do other work, has always been a challenge for business owners. I used Delphi AI to create a clone of me. It’s in the early stages, but I challenge you to chat to it to see what you think. You can do a voice call, or a text conversation. Ask it whatever you want, and see how you get on. You can chat to it at the bottom of this page here. I’d love to know how you get on and what you think, so all feedback welcome.