Episode 162 An Unlikely Olympian with Ruben Gonzalez (Part 2)

John and Ruben dive deeper into their conversation as Ruben shares stories from his speaking engagements, his journey as a parent, and his successful ventures in business. Ruben also provides a sneak peek into his book, "The Shortcut: The Fastest Way to Achieve Your Goals," which imparts invaluable life lessons through inspiring stories of overcoming obstacles. This episode is all about facing fears, pursuing dreams, and achieving success through hard work and perseverance. Listen to this episode to learn more: [00:00] - Highlights of Ruben's speaking engagements [02:21] - The importance of connecting with the audience [05:00] - Ruben's experience working at Chick-fil-A [08:51] - Ruben's prioritized family values [17:44] - Ruben's definition of success [19:09] - Ruben's #1 daily habit [21:48] - The role Ruben's faith plays in his business [23:42] - Ruben's approach to speaking engagements [25:00] - Misconceptions about introverted speakers [29:34] - The time when Ruben failed big and the result [32:48] - Mountaintop analogy for growth [35:06] - The connection between failure and growth [38:44] - Ruben's book "The Shortcut" [40:40] - Book recommendations NOTABLE QUOTES: "Success has nothing to do with fame or money or what you're driving unless it was your goal to be famous driving a sports car and be enriched. So success, to me, means I had a goal. I did my work, I reached by." "Life knocks you down; you know what we do? We pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and get back in the game. Because that's what champions do." "A great leader makes it fun, challenges their team, treats individuals differently, and always stays positive." "Very few people are willing to start at the bottom and make it to the top again. Don't be afraid to fail or get lazy. Step out of your comfort zone and improve." "Nothing grows in the comfort zone. If you want to grow, you need to embrace the struggles and challenges." "When you're willing to endure more pain and do what others won't, you can achieve great things." "Don't be afraid of the unknown. Step out of your comfort zone and face your fears." "Be grateful for the opportunities and the people who have instilled character and taught you how to dream." "Your life is a series of good things. Look for the blessings and opportunities that come your way." BOOKS MENTIONED: "The Shortcut: The Fastest Way to Achieve Your Goals" by Ruben Gonzalez (https://ruben-gonzalez.com/product/the-shortcut-book/) "Rudy: My Story" by Rudy Ruettiger (https://tinyurl.com/RudyMyStoryBook) USEFUL RESOURCES: https://ruben-gonzalez.com https://www.instagram.com/thelugeman/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruben-gonzalez-olympian/ https://www.facebook.com/thelugeman https://twitter.com/TheLugeMan https://ruben-gonzalez.com/product/the-shortcut-book/ Watch Ruben's TED Talk: The Power of Following the Leader CONNECT WITH JOHN Website - https://thejohnhulen.com     Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/johnhulen     Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/johnhulen     Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/johnhulen     LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnhulen     YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLX_NchE8lisC4NL2GciIWA     EPISODE CREDITS Intro and Outro music provided by Jeff Scheetz - https://jeffscheetz.com/