Episode 17: How To Realise & Unlock Your Full Potential with James A King (Peak Performance Expert)

Today, I am joined by James King, best-selling author, peak performance expert and advisor to elite athletes, military leaders and business pioneers.  In the world of business, James has helped companies such as Onyx Commodities to become the number 1 liquidity provider for oil derivatives in the world, through 'hiring and training some of the world’s best traders'. In the performance world, he has counselled government agencies and specialist military units, which is where James and I met just over half a decade ago. He also provides guidance to coaches, managers and athletes within the English Premier League (EPL), Team GB, and the National Basketball Association (NBA). He holds a first class degree in Applied Sports Science, and an MSc in Performance Psychology, both from the University of Edinburgh. He has spent the last fifteen years hitting all this theory hard with the biggest metaphorical hammer he could find, to see what breaks in practice. James has presented case studies on his work for the MBA programs at the University of Oxford, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In this episode, you can expect to understand;  - How to unlock your potential by aligning with your unique "sweet spot." - Why real success comes from pursuing purpose and values-led goals - Ways to accelerate your career and avoid stagnation - The scientific, no-bull**** development strategies that lead to lasting fulfilment and sustainable high performance. If you enjoy the episode then please like, share and subscribe so others can do the same.  You can find James Book ‘Accelerating Excellence’ on amazon and visit him at his website jamesaking.com. Thanks as always for listening, and I hope you enjoy my conversation with James as much as I did. 00:00 Episode Intro 01:29 Introduction and Background 18:01 The Importance of Pursuing Concordant Goals 27:57 Finding Your Sweet Spot: Aligning with Strengths, Interests, and Values 32:13 Activating Your Psychological Firepower 36:22 The Role of Interests in Goal Pursuit 40:07 The Significance of Values in Driving Performance 41:52 Aligning with Strengths, Interests, and Values 43:44 The Importance of Self-Understanding 45:04 Creating Conditions for Motivation and Confidence 49:27 Crafting Roles to Align with Strengths and Interests 52:42 Accepting and Embracing Discomfort 59:55 Taking Action and Pursuing Meaningful Goals 1:02:26 Removing Excuses and Embracing Personal Growth