Get inspired and find your motivation
I consider myself to be pretty self motivated, but we all need inspiration, especially on those tough days where we'd rather stay in bed or want to say f*** the diet and eat that entire bucket of french fries and chase it down with a few Double IPAs. I find motivation in all kinds of places, from inspirational business leaders like Bill Gates to game changing non-profits like New Story. But watching and learning how others beat the odds, re-invent themselves, or seeing great spouses who do incredible super-human-like things is one of my favorites.
Here are just a few people who I follow in general and on Instagram, and how they inspire me:
Jesse Itzler - Jesse is a super fun dad and family man (his wife is the Spanx founder) but also INSANELY focused on ultra endurance. He's incredibly self disciplined on diet and has these ridiculous training routines that do not get compromised despite nutty business and family demands. Plus he is an author and businessman while keeping all this up. His balance inspires me.
David Goggins - David may be the world's fittest man. There is a ton written on him so I encourage you to check out his website, but in a nutshell: He had a super tough upbringing, overcame it all to become the first and only man in history to complete the training required to be a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Controller. He holds many ultra marathon records, and most recently conquered a number of running-induced knee and health issues. He's just a bulldog, never-say-die kind of dude and his ability to keep pushing past adversity inspires me.
Sandy Hill - Sandy has crazy perseverance that hasn't declined as she's gotten older. In the 1990s she attempted Mount Everest 3 times in 5 years, finally summiting in 1996. She's now in her 60s, and has reinvented herself from an accomplished mountain climber to a Crossfit athlete. She writes, she travels (or used to), and is a photographer. I love that she's not a one-trick athlete and turned a new chapter later in her life, and I am so inspired by her focus and discipline.
Todd McKinnon - Todd founded and scaled a multi-billion dollar public enterprise while keeping his health as a top priority. He's the CEO of Okta, a company that truly gets culture and one I admire greatly, yet still finds the time to compete regularly in Crossfit games. He reads (and recommends) great books, and works out with his family. His level headedness inspires me.
Shawna Korgan - Shawna is a speaker, trainer and has a great TEDTalk on the Power of Love, based on her incredible journey with husband Grant Korgan, who suffered a spinal cord injury but went on to recover and do incredible things (their story here). Shawna's ability to heal Grant, support and push him, is the ultimate story of a lieutenant. However her energy and her own story is equally as inspirational. Her ability to stay focused and positive through some incredibly tough times is so inspirational.
Shawna Korgan (back center), husband Grant (front left) and our crew of GGV CEO’s at our 2019 Summit event.
