On this episode of the Massimo Show

Rod sits down with experienced keynote speaker and author, Alan Stein.

At his core, Alan is a performance coach with a passion for helping others change behaviors. He spent 15+ years working with the highest performing basketball players on the planet (including NBA superstars Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Kobe Bryant). Through his customized programs, he transfers his unique expertise to maximize both individual and organizational performance with clients such as American Express, Pepsi, Sabra, Starbucks, Charles Schwab, and Penn State Football, and many more.

An Early Love 

Alan grew up in Washington DC and when he was 4 his parents signed him up for his first basketball team.  “Basketball was my first identifiable passion, the first thing I fell in love with.” Alan tells Rod. 40 years later basketball is still a major pillar in Alan’s life.  “I am grateful that I have been able to make a life and a living around something I love, something I am passionate about, and something I have always had an affinity for.”  Even though he now does corporate keynote speaking and writing, it is all done through the lens of someone who spent his entire career around the game of basketball.  

In addition to playing basketball Alan also played “every sport under the sun”; football, volleyball,  baseball, hockey as well as martial arts, skateboarding and BMX.  But he always came back to basketball.  He was a good high school player, and even played on scholarship at Elon College.  While at Elon, he was developing an equal love for performance training – Strength training, conditioning for fitness as well as becoming more powerful and more fit.  When he graduated college and realized his formal basketball playing days were over he decided to pursue a career where he could combine his love of basketball with his new found love of performance training. “I became a basketball performance coach right out of college for almost 20 years and I had an opportunity to work with some remarkable players and coaches.” Alan reminises.    

From the Court to Corporate 

4 years ago Alan decided to take what I learned from the game of basketball and show folks how to apply those same principles, mindsets and habits into business.  

Many of these ideas stem from what Alan calls performance training.  When Alan first started he referred to it as strength and conditioning with the goal being to get players to be stronger so they would be resilient to injury to get them in great shape to be able to be as fresh in the 4th quarter as they were at the start of the game.  Over time, the title was confining.  What Alan was really doing with these players was more than strength and conditioning.  “We worked on the physical side: flexibility and mobility, hand eye coordination and balance but also the mental side: mindset and habits.”  Over time Alan morphed that title to performance and he addressed everything except the skills of the game.  How to eat well, how to take care of their bodies, how to improve their athleticism, how to have a winning mindset and how to develop an environment and habits to support all of those things.  “I do the same thing in the corporate space, just to a different audience.” Alan tells Rod. 

Mastering the Basics 

“You have to master the fundamentals”. Alan explains.  As a performance coach in basketball you have to create the soundest foundation possible so that when an athlete learns the skills of the game they would be the best player they could be. Alan does the same thing in the corporate space.  Alan works with a lot of sales professionals and instead of teaching them a sales philosophy or protocol he creates their foundation so when they apply their sales philosophy they are as effective as possible.  

“The life changing lesson that I learned from Kobe Bryant was that the secret to his success was to never get bored with the basics.  He had a strong appreciation and respect for the fundamentals and he knew he needed to constantly work to master those.  He did that because he respected the game and the process. I bring that to the corporate world.”  

After leading a workshop one of the first things Alan does is help people to gain clarity on what their basics are.  To Alan, it doesn’t matter if they are an executive, in sales or HR, they need to know what their fundamentals are.  The one that works universally is Listening.  If you want to improve your influence or impact as a leader, improve your active listening skills.  

Master your Mindset and W.I.N.

Mindset is the #1 limiting element.  It can make or break anyone in any walk of life.  Your Foundation has to be solid.

3  pillars to Growth:

1. Foundation
2. Skillset 
3. Mindset

Alan describes Mindset as your self awareness,  your emotional intelligence, your ability to recognize and process your own emotions.  “What I learned in 2020 was that our emotions are designed to inform us, not direct us.” Alan recalls. To him, this is important if you are in a position of leadership. It is important that your emotions are not dictating your behavior.  Having an elite mindset is having your emotions and not allowing them to dictate your performance.  

Another component of an elite mindset is saying I am going to do the best I can with what I have where I am.  There will be no excuse, no blame and no complaining.  

The next part of mindset is to learn how to be in the present moment: WIN

What’s 

Important 

Now

Effort and attitude are two things Alan has control over.  He focuses on giving the best effort and attitude in everything he does.  “Part of that attitude is my response to what is going on around me.  How I choose to respond with what’s going on around me will dictate what tomorrow looks like.”  

Are the habits you have today on par with the dreams you have for tomorrow?