Mental Fitness - the Gateway to Success

Mikal Nielsen
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  • Self-Improvement
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Providing business owners, leaders and entrepreneurs with the 3 INs: INsight, INspiration & INtentional Actions to grow yourself and better serve those around around you. Monologues and Dialogues addressing topics like leadership, productivity, time management, work-life balance and challenges like stress, conflict, mental health and much more.

  1. 5d ago

    Mental Fitness vs Physical Fitness: Who Wins?

    (Incredibly Results from 77,000+ Business Leaders) What is most important for business owners and leaders — Mental Fitness or Physical Fitness? I asked this question to over 77,000 business owners and leaders, and the results genuinely surprised me. In this episode, I reveal the clear winner, share the fascinating (and sometimes controversial) data behind it, and explain why the outcome left me both excited and frustrated. I also dive deeper into the powerful relationship between mental and physical fitness — why they’re not actually in competition, and how the best leaders approach both. Plus, I answer some of the most interesting questions that came up during the research. This episode references these two previous guest episodes: •  EP19 with Clayton •  EP37 with JD Tremblay If you’re a leader who wants to develop Mental Fitness in yourself or across your organization, check out my Positive Intelligence profile here. Interested in bringing Mental Fitness training into your team or company? Email me at coach@mikal.nz

    34 min

  2. May 27

    Brain Athletes: The New Leaders in Business | Arnold Beekes

    In this powerful episode, Dutch-born former COO and CEO Arnold Beekes shares his bold vision for the future of leadership: Brain Athletes. After decades at the top of multinational corporations managing up to 6,000 employees, Arnold walked away from traditional corporate life and the disillusionment of his home country, Holland. Now based in Paraguay, he’s on a mission to develop a new generation of leaders through his Better for All Leaders movement. Arnold opens up about his personal transformation — moving from outer-world success to true inner-world mastery — and introduces the concept of Brain Athletes: leaders who train their minds with the same discipline elite athletes train their bodies. Key Takeaways: How to shift your inner critic into your inner cheerleaderWhy helping others is essential for authentic leadershipThe power of staying curious in a fast-changing worldIf you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or someone who wants to perform at a higher level mentally and emotionally, this episode will inspire and equip you with practical wisdom. Connect with Arnold Beekes: Better for All Leaders → brainathletes.clubFree Brain Health Community → skool.com/brain-fitness-7070Twitter/X: @ArnoldBeekesLinkedIn: Arnold BeekesYouTube: @ArnoldBeekesInstagram: @arnold.beekes Mental Fitness: The Gateway To Success Podcast Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. Let us know in the comments: Are you ready to become a Brain Athlete? #Leadership #MentalFitness #BrainHealth #PersonalDevelopment #Entrepreneurship Want to be a guest on Mental Fitness - the Gateway to Success? Send Mikal Nielsen a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/mentalfitness

    49 min

  3. May 20

    Happy For No Reason: The Ultimate Human Desire

    Happy For No Reason: The Ultimate Human Desire In this powerful episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, we explore one of humanity’s deepest drives — the pursuit of happiness. I reveal my core belief that happiness is not something we need to chase or earn — it is our natural state, our birthright, and the strongest hidden driver behind sustainable success. You’ll discover the surprising answer to this key question: What does happiness have to do with mental fitness? My answer? Everything… and nothing. I break down the powerful distinction between: •  Happiness for a reason (conditional, fragile, and temporary) •  Happiness for no reason (unconditional, resilient, and life-changing) This episode draws deep inspiration from Marci Shimoff’s transformative book Happy for No Reason and shows you how cultivating “happy for no reason” dramatically strengthens your mental fitness, clarity, and leadership presence. Whether you’re a business owner, leader, or anyone seeking more fulfillment, this conversation will challenge how you think about happiness and give you a new foundation for both personal joy and professional success

    37 min

  4. May 13

    No One Can Hurt You: Heartfelt Wisdom with Saw Myint

    In this heartfelt episode of Mental Fitness: The Gateway to Success, I sit down with Saw Myint — a Burmese-born mortgage broker now thriving in Sydney, Australia. Saw shares how she blends the Buddhist way with the fast-paced world of business, proving you don’t need to sit on a cushion to live mindfully. This conversation is packed with practical life wisdom and powerful gems, including: Why we unnecessarily hold on to past events — and how to finally let them goThe liberating truth that no one can hurt us psychologicallyThe profound power of having a genuine desire to help others Saw’s journey and insights offer a refreshing perspective on resilience, purpose, healing and success that goes beyond traditional self-help. Listen now for inspiration that will shift how you approach both life and business. To learn more about Saw Myint and her work: Facebook: One Stop Property Finance Email: sawmyint@onestoppropertyfinance.com.au If you’d like to explore meditation and its benefits for your personal and professional life, email me at: coach@mikal.nz

    33 min

  5. May 6

    Mental Fitness: The New Superpower for Leadership & Business Success

    In this episode of Mental Fitness - The Gateway to Success, we dive deep into why mental fitness is rapidly becoming the ultimate competitive advantage in business and leadership. Mental fitness is the ability to face challenges, pressure, and conflict with clarity and positivity — free from stress, frustration, worry, or anger. Leaders who develop it don’t just survive tough environments; they thrive in them. I explore how mental fitness directly transforms key leadership areas: - Taking smart Risks - Masterful Listening - Boosting Creativity - Authentic Connecting - Team Building (and how to grow mental fitness across your team) - Sales excellence Whether you’re a business owner, leader, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode delivers insights to the importance of strengthening your mental game and unlock higher performance. If you found this valuable, please share it with your network. Want to explore how mental fitness can specifically elevate your leadership or business? Reach out — I’d love to talk (book a call here) Interested in sharing your own story as a guest? Join me on PodMatch here

    15 min

  6. Apr 29

    From Saving Souls to Chasing Sinners: A Pastor’s Incredible Journey to the FBI

    In this raw and deeply personal conversation, former Baptist pastor, FBI Special Agent, and SWAT operator Eric Robinson shares his unlikely transition from the pulpit to chasing criminals with the FBI. Eric opens up about the vastly different challenges of ministering to a congregation versus operating on high-stakes SWAT calls. He recounts intense, unforgettable stories from both worlds and reveals how he built mental fitness through reflection, sharing, the power of the pause, and staying curious. He also discusses the surprising lessons that carried over from one career to the other — and recommends two powerful books: Nudge by Richard H. Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein, plus his own highly anticipated memoir, Irreverend: From Saving Souls to Chasing Sinners in the FBI, coming out in September 2026. A must-listen for anyone interested in personal transformation, mental resilience, faith, law enforcement, or simply an extraordinary life story. Connect with Eric Robinson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-robinson-9220053a4/ Interested in being a guest on the Mental Fitness Podcast? Sign up here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/mentalfitness Want to explore personal coaching? Email coach@mikal.nz

    51 min

  7. Apr 22

    Failing Forward: Finding the Silver Lining… Faster

    Failing Forward: Finding the Silver Lining… Faster In this solo episode, I reveal the single most powerful theme that keeps coming up across all my guest interviews: learning how to grow from your mistakes. I dive deep into the concept of “Failing Forward” — a powerful mindset I first discovered from Roger Hamilton (the full story is in Episode 36: Wealth Dynamics – how one test changed my life and business). We explore: How failure can build resilience… or completely knock it downWhy Failing Forward requires mental fitness — and how it simultaneously builds itWho actually fails more: successful people or unsuccessful people?The art of finding the silver lining in failure… and doing it fasterAs JD Tremblay shared after completing 10 Ironmans in 10 days (Episode 37), sometimes you just have to “pick your hard.” Failure isn’t something you should actively chase — but when it shows up (and it will), the difference between those who rise and those who stay stuck is how quickly they extract the lesson and keep moving forward. This episode is all about consciously building your mental fitness so you can fail forward more effectively. If you’d like personal support with strengthening your mental fitness, feel free to email me at coach@mikal.nz. Drop your thoughts in the comments — what’s one failure you’ve turned into a breakthrough?

    23 min

  8. Apr 15

    10 Ironman in 10 Days: The Insane Story of JD Tremblay & EpicDeca 2022

    In 2022, only 10 athletes were invited to the legendary EpicDeca in Hawaii — one of the most brutal endurance events ever created: **10 full Ironman triathlons in 10 consecutive days**. Only 6 showed up at the start line. Only 3 finished. In this powerful episode, I sit down with one of those three finishers: ultra-endurance athlete, author, philanthropist, and founder of The Hungry Warrior Academy — JD Tremblay. JD opens up about the extreme physical and mental demands of the challenge, the brutal highs and lows during and after the event, and how he built the unbreakable mental fitness required to achieve something only two other people in the world have ever done. He shares raw stories of when his mindset failed him in the past, how he deliberately trained his mind to perform under pressure, and his powerful philosophy on life:  “It’s going to be hard no matter what path you choose… so pick the hard that’s going to give you the most fulfillment.” This is more than just an endurance story — it’s a masterclass in mental toughness, resilience, and living with purpose. Key Topics: - What it really takes to complete 10 Ironmans in 10 days - Building elite-level mental fitness - The mental battles during and after the race - How to choose your “hard” in life - Lessons on fulfillment, growth, and giving back JD is also the author of Hunger For More Life and offers free resources to help people dramatically increase their mental capacity and performance in any area of life. 🔗 Free Resources from JD: https://speakerhub.com/cta/g0Mm6R  (fill in the form to get access to the resources) 🔗 Hungry Warrior Academy: www.hungrywarrioracademy.com   🔗 Check out his book Hunger For More Life: https://hunger4more.com/ If you want to upgrade your mindset and learn how to push your limits in life, this episode is for you. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Drop it in the comments! #Ironman #UltraEndurance #MentalFitness #EpicDeca

    55 min
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Providing business owners, leaders and entrepreneurs with the 3 INs: INsight, INspiration & INtentional Actions to grow yourself and better serve those around around you. Monologues and Dialogues addressing topics like leadership, productivity, time management, work-life balance and challenges like stress, conflict, mental health and much more.

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