Understanding the opportunities that lie within adversity is critical for long-term success. This week Nick Ralston shares his story of facing challenges by finding his authentic self and relying on his faith, work ethic and grit. Listen in as Nick shares his daily routine as an NFL athlete, the story of how pandemic isolation inspired a better version of himself, and how he continues to find the potential, whether he faces a win or loss.   

 

Nick Ralston is a fullback for the Dallas Cowboys. He went to Arizona State, Louisiana, and he has overcome a lot of adversity to make it to the NFL. His story of going from underdog to professional athlete will inspire you.

 

Follow Nick on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/nickralston22

 

Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

Understanding the opportunities that lie within adversity is critical for long-term success. This week Nick Ralston shares his story of facing challenges by finding his authentic self and relying on his faith, work ethic and grit. Listen in as Nick shares his daily routine as an NFL athlete, the story of how pandemic isolation inspired a better version of himself, and how he continues to find the potential, whether he faces a win or loss.&nbsp; &nbsp;
&nbsp;
Nick Ralston is a fullback for the Dallas Cowboys. He went to Arizona State, Louisiana, and he has overcome a lot of adversity to make it to the NFL. His story of going from underdog to professional athlete will inspire you.
&nbsp;
Follow Nick on Twitter here: <a href="https://twitter.com/nickralston22">https://twitter.com/nickralston22</a>
&nbsp;
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to <a href="http://www.marcusaureliusanderson.com/">www.marcusaureliusanderson.com</a>. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

ACTA NON VERBA is a raw and real podcast with hard hitting interviews featuring people that live by the Ethos of “Actions, not words.”

Join TEDx speaker, Bestselling Author, Veteran, and Leadership & Mindset Coach Marcus Aurelius Anderson as he goes inside the minds and experiences of the world’s most successful Warriors, Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Experts to give you the Philosophies, Concepts, Tactics, and Strategies they use to turn Adversity into Victory and live an EXTRAORDINARY life based on ACTIONS not words.

ACTA NON VERBA is a raw and real podcast with hard hitting interviews featuring people that live by the Ethos of &ldquo;Actions, not words.&rdquo;
Join TEDx speaker, Bestselling Author, Veteran, and Leadership &amp; Mindset Coach Marcus Aurelius Anderson as he goes inside the minds and experiences of the world&rsquo;s most successful Warriors, Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Experts to give you the Philosophies, Concepts, Tactics, and Strategies they use to turn Adversity into Victory and live an EXTRAORDINARY life based on ACTIONS not words.

Acta Non Verba

Understanding the opportunities that lie within adversity is critical for long-term success. This week Nick Ralston shares his story of facing challenges by finding his authentic self and relying on his faith, work ethic and grit. Listen in as Nick shares his daily routine as an NFL athlete, the story of how pandemic isolation inspired a better version of himself, and how he continues to find the potential, whether he faces a win or loss.

Nick Ralston: From Adversity to the NFL

In this episode of Acta Non Verba, host Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with Denny Giamazzo, leadership and resilience speaker, veteran, and author of the new bestselling book "Wired for Action." Denny shares his powerful journey from childhood trauma and foster care to becoming an infantry sergeant and successful software sales professional. This raw conversation explores authentic leadership principles forged in combat and tested in the corporate world, emphasizing the importance of taking action, building the right network, and leading with both strength and empathy.

Episode Highlights:

1:08] - Overcoming Adversity Without Special Operations Background Denny discusses why he almost didn't write his book, feeling his story wasn't "special" enough without a Green Beret or SEAL background. His mentor John Doolittle convinced him that his relatability—surviving childhood abuse, foster care, and combat—makes his message even more powerful for everyday people facing their own battles.

[10:05] - The Leadership Lesson That Changed Everything Fresh into a leadership role before deploying to Afghanistan, Denny shares his critical mistake of leading without empathy. He reveals the turning point when he learned that demanding respect doesn't work—you have to earn it by showing your team you genuinely care about them while maintaining high standards.

[34:22] - Nearly Dying Before Deployment Denny recounts the harrowing story of almost dying twice during surgery from an infected wisdom tooth extraction at the end of basic training. This medical emergency kept him from deploying to Iraq but gave him time to earn his sergeant stripes ahead of peers who did deploy.

[50:03] - The Power of Strategic Networking Denny explains why he turned down multiple introductions to Nick Lavery before finally meeting him in person at a speaking event. He emphasizes that networking isn't about kicking down doors or DMing everyone—it's about being strategic, adding value, and doing it the right way.

Denny Giamazzo is a leadership, resilience, and business engagement speaker, bestselling author, and U.S. Army veteran (11 Bravo Infantry). Born two months premature and raised in foster care after experiencing childhood abuse and losing his mother to AIDS, Denny defied statistical odds to serve his country and build a successful career in software sales at companies like Oracle and Workday. He co-hosts the "Be the Standard" podcast and is a key member of Nick Lavery's Forge community. His new book "Wired for Action" is currently #1 in the military category on Amazon. 

Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

In this episode of&nbsp;Acta Non Verba, host Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with Denny Giamazzo, leadership and resilience speaker, veteran, and author of the new bestselling book "Wired for Action." Denny shares his powerful journey from childhood trauma and foster care to becoming an infantry sergeant and successful software sales professional. This raw conversation explores authentic leadership principles forged in combat and tested in the corporate world, emphasizing the importance of taking action, building the right network, and leading with both strength and empathy.
Episode Highlights:
1:08] - Overcoming Adversity Without Special Operations Background Denny discusses why he almost didn't write his book, feeling his story wasn't "special" enough without a Green Beret or SEAL background. His mentor John Doolittle convinced him that his relatability&mdash;surviving childhood abuse, foster care, and combat&mdash;makes his message even more powerful for everyday people facing their own battles.
[10:05] - The Leadership Lesson That Changed Everything Fresh into a leadership role before deploying to Afghanistan, Denny shares his critical mistake of leading without empathy. He reveals the turning point when he learned that demanding respect doesn't work&mdash;you have to earn it by showing your team you genuinely care about them while maintaining high standards.
[34:22] - Nearly Dying Before Deployment Denny recounts the harrowing story of almost dying twice during surgery from an infected wisdom tooth extraction at the end of basic training. This medical emergency kept him from deploying to Iraq but gave him time to earn his sergeant stripes ahead of peers who did deploy.
[50:03] - The Power of Strategic Networking Denny explains why he turned down multiple introductions to Nick Lavery before finally meeting him in person at a speaking event. He emphasizes that networking isn't about kicking down doors or DMing everyone&mdash;it's about being strategic, adding value, and doing it the right way.
Denny Giamazzo is a leadership, resilience, and business engagement speaker, bestselling author, and U.S. Army veteran (11 Bravo Infantry). Born two months premature and raised in foster care after experiencing childhood abuse and losing his mother to AIDS, Denny defied statistical odds to serve his country and build a successful career in software sales at companies like Oracle and Workday. He co-hosts the "Be the Standard" podcast and is a key member of Nick Lavery's Forge community. His new book "Wired for Action" is currently #1 in the military category on Amazon. 
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to <a href="http://www.marcusaureliusanderson.com/">www.marcusaureliusanderson.com</a>. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

Denny Giamazzo on Wired For Action, Leadership Through Humility and Example, Trust, and Personal Growth

In this episode of Acta Non Verba, host Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with Rhett Power, CEO and co-founder of Accountability, Inc., to discuss his groundbreaking new book "Headamentals: How Leaders Silence Negative Self-Talk and Transform How They Lead." In this raw and powerful conversation, Rhett reveals why self-talk is the most ignored driver of leadership performance and shares practical strategies for managing the mental noise that kills focus, concentration, and culture. From the 3 C's of the Maverick Method to the "plutonium problem" of toxic narratives, this episode delivers actionable insights for leaders ready to reclaim control over their inner voice and build championship teams.

Episode Highlights:

[2:10] The Seven-Year Journey to Headamentals - Rhett shares the intensive process of writing Headamentals with co-authors Ryan Gottfredson and Dr. Susie Burkin, including seven rewrites over seven years. He reveals how the book unexpectedly helped a surgeon's teenage sons prepare for exams, proving that self-talk mastery transcends age and profession.

[14:57] The Three C's: Catch, Challenge, Change - Rhett breaks down the simple but powerful framework for managing self-talk: Catch it (notice harmful narratives), Challenge it (question if it's true, useful, or even yours), and Change it (replace destructive narratives with grounded thinking). He provides a practical exercise: write down your negative narratives and track them with check marks to identify patterns.

[16:38] The Plutonium Problem: When Leader Self-Talk Infects Teams - Discover why negative self-talk is like plutonium—toxic, powerful, and invisible. Rhett explains how leaders' mental narratives leak into their teams, creating radioactive thinking that destroys engagement, retention, and performance. He shares a powerful story of a CEO who discovered his assistant triggered unresolved childhood issues with his mother.

[26:15] AI as a Leadership Mirror - Rhett discusses his involvement in developing an AI coaching platform that provides real-time data to help coaches and leaders identify blind spots. He compares it to film study in sports—giving leaders instant replay of their performance to make fewer unforced errors and exploit opportunities for growth.

Rhett Power is the CEO and co-founder of Accountability, Inc., where he helps leaders break limits, make bold decisions, and drive growth. Recognized as a global guru of top management thinkers and a Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coach, Rhett is the bestselling author of "The Entrepreneur's Book of Actions" and the newly released "Headamentals." He co-hosts "Bestseller Live" on Apple TV and is a regular contributor to Forbes, Inc., and CNBC. With decades of experience coaching executives and entrepreneurs worldwide, Rhett brings practical, science-backed strategies to help leaders silence negative self-talk and transform organizational culture.

Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

In this episode of&nbsp;Acta Non Verba, host Marcus Aurelius Anderson sits down with Rhett Power, CEO and co-founder of Accountability, Inc., to discuss his groundbreaking new book "Headamentals: How Leaders Silence Negative Self-Talk and Transform How They Lead." In this raw and powerful conversation, Rhett reveals why self-talk is the most ignored driver of leadership performance and shares practical strategies for managing the mental noise that kills focus, concentration, and culture. From the 3 C's of the Maverick Method to the "plutonium problem" of toxic narratives, this episode delivers actionable insights for leaders ready to reclaim control over their inner voice and build championship teams.
Episode Highlights:
[2:10] The Seven-Year Journey to Headamentals - Rhett shares the intensive process of writing Headamentals with co-authors Ryan Gottfredson and Dr. Susie Burkin, including seven rewrites over seven years. He reveals how the book unexpectedly helped a surgeon's teenage sons prepare for exams, proving that self-talk mastery transcends age and profession.
[14:57] The Three C's: Catch, Challenge, Change - Rhett breaks down the simple but powerful framework for managing self-talk: Catch it (notice harmful narratives), Challenge it (question if it's true, useful, or even yours), and Change it (replace destructive narratives with grounded thinking). He provides a practical exercise: write down your negative narratives and track them with check marks to identify patterns.
[16:38] The Plutonium Problem: When Leader Self-Talk Infects Teams - Discover why negative self-talk is like plutonium&mdash;toxic, powerful, and invisible. Rhett explains how leaders' mental narratives leak into their teams, creating radioactive thinking that destroys engagement, retention, and performance. He shares a powerful story of a CEO who discovered his assistant triggered unresolved childhood issues with his mother.
[26:15] AI as a Leadership Mirror - Rhett discusses his involvement in developing an AI coaching platform that provides real-time data to help coaches and leaders identify blind spots. He compares it to film study in sports&mdash;giving leaders instant replay of their performance to make fewer unforced errors and exploit opportunities for growth.
Rhett Power is the CEO and co-founder of Accountability, Inc., where he helps leaders break limits, make bold decisions, and drive growth. Recognized as a global guru of top management thinkers and a Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coach, Rhett is the bestselling author of "The Entrepreneur's Book of Actions" and the newly released "Headamentals." He co-hosts "Bestseller Live" on Apple TV and is a regular contributor to Forbes, Inc., and CNBC. With decades of experience coaching executives and entrepreneurs worldwide, Rhett brings practical, science-backed strategies to help leaders silence negative self-talk and transform organizational culture.
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to <a href="http://www.marcusaureliusanderson.com/">www.marcusaureliusanderson.com</a>. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

Rhett Power on Headamentals, How Leaders Can Defeat Negative Self-Talk, The 3 C Maverick Method, and The Impact of Dr. Mark Goulston's Work

This week on Acta Non Verba, I’m discussing the common practice of making New Year's resolutions, citing that 80% of people fail within two weeks. Rather than repeating the cycle, I have four transformational questions to help leaders align their goals with their vision and purpose. This episode provides an insight into the philosophies, tactics, and strategies used by successful leaders to overcome adversity and lead extraordinary lives. 

Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

This week on Acta Non Verba, I&rsquo;m discussing the common practice of making New Year's resolutions, citing that 80% of people fail within two weeks. Rather than repeating the cycle, I have four transformational questions to help leaders align their goals with their vision and purpose. This episode provides an insight into the philosophies, tactics, and strategies used by successful leaders to overcome adversity and lead extraordinary lives.&nbsp;
Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to <a href="http://www.marcusaureliusanderson.com/">www.marcusaureliusanderson.com</a>. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.

Nick Ralston: From Adversity to the NFL

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