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THE MAN WHO MADE JON GORDON START TALKING TO HIMSELF

November 23, 2015 by Jim Huber 5 Comments

Millions of people around the world seek advice from Bestselling Author and Speaker Jon Gordon. NBA, MLB and NFL Coaches want to know what is going on in Jon’s brain when it’s time to build a culture that leads to championships (not to mention future employment!) During Episode 13 of the Jim Huber Podcast “Listen and Subscribe Here,” we wanted to know WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE JON GORDON HEARD IN HIS LIFE? 

After a thoughtful pause (Jon is a thoughtful guy!), Jon revealed that a Doctor, James P. Gills Jr, gave him the most impactful words and advice he had ever heard. Dr. Gills is one of the most amazing people on Earth that you’ve probably never heard of. After reading up on him, I can firmly say it’s a sad state of affairs when we can all name a Kardashian, but don’t know about a man like James P Gills Jr. Dr. Gills has performed more lens implant and cataract operations than any ocular surgeon in the world. A prolific author, he distributes 40 thousand free books a month, many to prisons around the country. His books trail only the Bible as the most requested book in America’s prison system. As an athlete, Dr. Gills is the only human on Earth to have completed a record setting six Double Ironman Triathlons, the last one in his fifties! For the uninitiated, yours included, take a full Ironman triathlon and double the distance of each event. That means a 4.8-mile swim, a 224-mile bike ride, and a 52.4-mile run. His other accomplishments are too many to list here.

dr-james-gills-ironman

THE ADVICE DR. GILLS GAVE JON GORDON

“You need to talk to yourself, instead of listening to yourself.” 

Simple and profound. To complete a Double Ironman in his fifties, Dr. Gills could not afford to listen to that inner voice we all have, that voice that expresses doubts, fears and  the reasons that we cannot go on. Instead, he prepared words that he would say to himself during the incredible stress of the Double Ironman. Jon told us that Dr. Gills would memorize and recite scripture as his body pushed it’s human limits, in order to keep it moving forward. The words he chose to say to himself provided fuel and energized him to achieve what would seem to be impossible. Failure is not meant to define you it is meant to refine you, to be all that you are meant to be.  That LOSS, stands for Learning Opportunity Stay Strong.  The challenges we face are not challenges they are opportunities.  See every challenge as an opportunity to learn, to grow, to improve and to ultimately get better.  Jon then asked us, “What are you fueling up with on a daily basis to keep you going?” 

POWERFUL WORDS

It seems obvious after you hear it, but how many of us talk to ourselves with powerful energizing words, as opposed to listening to that inner voice of doubt and fear? Humans are often driven and controlled by their inner fear of failure. To overcome that fear, stop listening to your inner voice and talk to it instead. Pick powerful words that mean something to you, and the next time that inner voice starts whispering the reasons you will fail, shut it up with the reasons you will succeed.

Click Here to Listen to Jon Gordon’s Podcast

Click Here to View Jon Gordon’s Resources 

Click Here to Learn More About Dr. James P Gills, Jr.

Click Here to View Dr. James P Gills, Jr’s Books

Filed Under: Blog Posts

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Archie Willmore
Archie Willmore
6 days ago

Hello all, really enjoyed reading this post—it made me think about how we actually access casino platforms on our phones. Personally, when I play I often stick to browser options like https://peterblakeley.com/ because they let me jump straight into games while still using convenient payments like Neosurf that many Australian casino fans prefer for its privacy and instant funding. It feels simpler than installing apps that take storage, request permissions, and constantly need updates, especially when you can still access poker rooms, jackpot slots, and live tables instantly. Curious what others think—when is an app actually worth installing?

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Charlie White
Charlie White
3 days ago
Reply to  Archie Willmore

I get what you mean. I also usually prefer playing through the browser rather than installing another app. It feels faster to just open a tab and start a slot session or check a live blackjack table without worrying about storage or updates. Payments like Neosurf or other prepaid methods also work smoothly in the browser, which keeps things simple and a bit more private. Sometimes I browse comparison info before choosing where to play—for example I recently checked details on this page while looking at different mobile casino options. Apps only feel worth it to me if they offer smoother live streaming or exclusive tournaments.

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Harry Aston
Harry Aston
6 days ago

Very interesting blog post. It got me thinking about another angle that might be worth discussing as well: should you actually install apps for playing on your phone, or is it better to stick with browser-based options? With so many apps asking for storage space, permissions, and constant updates, I sometimes wonder if downloading them is really the best choice. It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on when installing an app makes sense and when it might be better to avoid it.

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Maria McGowan
Maria McGowan
20 days ago

What an insightful discussion on mindset and self-talk! Dr. Gill’s insights truly resonate, especially the idea that shifting our internal dialogue can transform performance. I’d love to hear more about how athletes can implement these techniques in real-time during competitions. Have you ever tried applying similar strategies while playing Geometry Dash

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Stefanie Schatzman
Stefanie Schatzman
8 years ago

Dr. James P. Gills, Jr., through Seven Diamonds, wants to put a limestone blasting mine in our rural, working class, family-oriented community. A community defenseless to stop it. A community of working class, retirees, young families, middle class, those that struggle, and small businesses. That limestone blasting mine will abut my subdivision and will be in the Weeki Wachee Springshed. I say actions speak louder than words.

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