Super U Podcast

Being busy doesn't mean we're making progress. So how do we focus on what truly matters? In this special episode of the Super U Podcast, bestselling author and keynote speaker Erik Qualman joins the Florida Virtual School Book Club to explore practical lessons from his book, The Focus Project: The Not So Simple Art of Doing Less. In a world of endless distractions, Erik shares how educators, leaders, and lifelong learners can focus on the BIG instead of getting buried in the BUSY. From learning to Fail Fast. Fail Forward. Fail Better. to balancing technology with human connection, this conversation explores how small shifts in focus can lead to meaningful results. Drawing on his experiences teaching at Northwestern University, helping pioneer online learning through edX, and speaking to audiences worldwide, Erik shares stories and strategies for turning ideas into action. In this episode, you'll discover: BIG vs. BUSY: Why doing less can help you accomplish more. Fail Fast. Fail Forward. Fail Better.: How setbacks become opportunities for growth. Technology + Humanity: Why human connection matters more than ever in a digital world. The Power of Storytelling: How to connect with different audiences and inspire action. Focus in Action: What Erik would change about The Focus Project to help book clubs turn insights into results. The future favors the focused. Tune in to discover how to spend less time being busy and more time making an impact.

What can actors teach us about confidence, resilience, rejection, and performing under pressure? In this episode of Super U, Erik Qualman sits down with acclaimed actor, director, educator, and acting coach Rob Brownstein, whose decades-long career spans film, television, theater, and commercials—including appearances in Argo, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Straight Outta Compton, The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Gilmore Girls, and Young Sheldon. Rob shares the lessons he's learned from a career where rejection is inevitable, opportunities can disappear overnight, and you never quite know what will happen when you walk onto a set. He explains why he doesn't view rejection as rejection at all, how he learned to keep showing up when the pressure was overwhelming, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is let go of trying to control the outcome. The conversation goes far beyond Hollywood. Rob and Erik explore how professionals can navigate career uncertainty, adapt when the rules change, create their own opportunities, prepare for high-pressure moments, and turn setbacks into opportunities to get better. You'll also hear Rob's advice for approaching interviews, auditions, Zoom calls, and any situation where you're being evaluated: It's your time—so take control of it. Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, performer, or simply navigating your next big challenge, this episode is a reminder that you don't always have to wait for the opportunity. Sometimes, you have to create the work, take the leap, and keep showing up until you find your way. An Actor's Space: https://www.anactorsspace.com/about Five-time #1 Bestselling Author and Motivational Speaker Erik Qualman has performed in over 60 countries and reached over 60 million people this past decade. He was voted the 2nd Most Likable Author in the World behind the Harry Potter series. Have Erik speak at your conference: [email protected] Motivational Speaker | Erik Qualman has inspired audiences at FedEx, Chase, ADP, Huawei, Starbucks, Godiva, FBI, Google, and many more on Focus and Digital Leadership.

What happens when the biggest battle isn't happening around you—it's happening inside your head? On this episode of Super U, Erik Qualman sits down with retired U.S. Navy Captain, engineer, leadership expert, author, and speaker Dr. Jenn Donahue. During her 27-year military career, Jenn built a bridge across the Euphrates during the Iraq War, commanded an 800-person battalion in Afghanistan, and survived an assassination plot. Yet she reveals that one of her toughest battles wasn't enemy fire—it was self-doubt. Jenn shares how a toxic boss nearly broke her confidence, why you shouldn't let your "head win," and how to recognize the inner voices that keep us stuck, including her "mean little voice" and "sneaky little bastard." She also explains why everyone needs a "battle buddy," how great leaders see the individual rather than just the organization, and why the best leaders focus on making their people better. This is a powerful conversation about resilience, leadership, self-awareness, trusting your team, and finding the courage to become who you're meant to be. Get your copy of Jenn Donahue's quote book here: https://www.daretorise.co/quotes Five-time #1 Bestselling Author and Motivational Speaker Erik Qualman has performed in over 60 countries and reached over 60 million people this past decade. He was voted the 2nd Most Likable Author in the World behind the Harry Potter series. Have Erik speak at your conference: [email protected] Motivational Speaker | Erik Qualman has inspired audiences at FedEx, Chase, ADP, Huawei, Starbucks, Godiva, FBI, Google, and many more on Focus and Digital Leadership.

In this episode of the Super U Podcast, Erik Qualman sits down with legendary sports agent, entrepreneur, and best-selling author Leigh Steinberg. Often credited as the real-life inspiration for the Oscar-winning film Jerry Maguire, Leigh has spent decades helping some of the world's greatest athletes turn talent into enduring brands, careers, and legacies. Leigh shares lessons from representing more than 300 professional athletes and coaches across football, basketball, baseball, hockey, boxing, and golf. With an unprecedented eight number-one overall NFL Draft picks and 62 total first-round picks, his career is defined by record-setting contracts, bold negotiations, and a relentless belief in the power of preparation, relationships, and vision. The conversation explores what it takes to build a personal brand, negotiate with confidence, and turn success into meaningful impact. Leigh also discusses securing more than $4 billion for his clients and directing over $750 million to charitable causes around the world, offering a powerful perspective on how achievement can be used to create opportunities far beyond the individual. Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, leader, parent, or simply someone looking to maximize your potential, this episode offers an inspiring look at what it means to build a legacy and use success to make a difference. Learn More About MDEnvoy: From speaking at conferences to publishing research to weighing in on public health conversations, many physicians put in hard work to be visible beyond the doctor's office. Yet most lack the resources to turn that visibility into brand deals, paid speaking engagements, or long-term career positioning outside traditional medicine. Why should doctors, much like athletes or influencers, be thinking about monetizing their professional brand, and what does it look like when they can capitalize on their visibility? Through MDEnvoy, co-founders Leigh Steinberg and Dr. Michael Suk aim to help today's physicians enter into long-lasting and mutually successful relationships with their employers and provide other strategic support, including relocation planning, wealth management, intellectual property protection, branding, and more. https://mdenvoy.com/ Connect on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn Connect on Facebook Connect on X Follow on YouTube Five-time #1 Bestselling Author and Motivational Speaker Erik Qualman has performed in over 60 countries and reached over 60 million people this past decade. He was voted the 2nd Most Likable Author in the World behind the Harry Potter series. Have Erik speak at your conference: [email protected] Motivational Speaker | Erik Qualman has inspired audiences at FedEx, Chase, ADP, Huawei, Starbucks, Godiva, FBI, Google, and many more on Focus and Digital Leadership.

What if the key to winning a negotiation isn't being the loudest person in the room—but knowing when to listen, when to pause, and how to build trust? On this episode of the Super U Podcast, Erik Qualman sits down with attorney, entrepreneur, talent executive, professor, and veteran dealmaker Ken Sterling, author of Tilt the Room. Ken shares the strategies he's developed across law, business, technology, entertainment, and high-stakes dealmaking to help people influence outcomes without becoming aggressive or burning bridges. Ken breaks down his Tilt the Room framework—trust, influence, leverage, and timing—and explains why successful negotiation is less about overpowering the other side and more about understanding people, preparing for the room, and creating relationships that last beyond a single deal. The conversation explores how to: • Build trust and rapport before you ever need leverage • Read the room and understand the people sitting across the table • Prepare thoroughly while staying flexible in the moment • Use silence and the "power of the pause" to your advantage • Stay calm under pressure instead of resorting to bullying • Avoid overplaying your hand when you have leverage • Give difficult feedback without destroying trust • Stay focused and fully present during high-stakes conversations • Approach negotiation as a long-term relationship rather than a one-time transaction Ken also shares his memorable philosophy: "Never call someone's baby ugly." In negotiation and leadership, ideas can feel deeply personal—and dismissing someone's idea can damage the trust and influence you've worked hard to build. From billion-dollar dealmaking principles to everyday negotiations at work and home, this episode is a masterclass in how to tilt the room without tipping the scales too far. Tune in for practical insights on negotiation, leadership, focus, influence, and the human side of getting to yes. Connect with Ken Sterling: www.sterlingmedialaw.com www.bigspeak.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/kensterling/ https://www.instagram.com/ken.sterling/ Five-time #1 Bestselling Author and Motivational Speaker Erik Qualman has performed in over 60 countries and reached over 60 million people this past decade. He was voted the 2nd Most Likable Author in the World behind the Harry Potter series. Have Erik speak at your conference: [email protected] Motivational Speaker | Erik Qualman has inspired audiences at FedEx, Chase, ADP, Huawei, Starbucks, Godiva, FBI, Google, and many more on Focus and Digital Leadership.