The Greatness Mindset

The Greatness Mindset Plot Summary

Introduction

In 2007, Lewis Howes found himself at a devastating crossroads. A broken wrist had ended his professional football career, leaving him sleeping on his sister's couch in Columbus, Ohio, with no clear direction for his future. The once-celebrated All-American athlete who held a world record for receiving yards in football was now financially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually broken. Adding to his pain, his father had suffered severe brain trauma in an accident the previous year and showed little sign of improvement. From this place of profound loss, Howes began a remarkable journey of transformation. Refusing to let his circumstances define him, he embarked on a path that would lead him to become a New York Times bestselling author, host of one of the world's top podcasts, and a sought-after speaker with a following of millions. Through deep personal healing and the pursuit of a meaningful mission, he discovered what he calls the "Greatness Mindset" – a way of thinking that enables anyone to overcome barriers, heal from past trauma, and create a life of significance. His story illustrates how confronting our deepest fears and self-doubts can unlock extraordinary potential and purpose, proving that our greatest setbacks often contain the seeds of our most profound breakthroughs.

Chapter 1: From Broken to Breakthrough: The Couch and the Crossroads

Lewis Howes' journey to greatness began at his lowest point. At 23 years old, he was sleeping on his sister's couch in Columbus, Ohio, with a cast on his wrist after a career-ending injury during an Arena Football League game. Having devoted his life to sports, achieving All-American status in both football and the decathlon, he now faced a future without the identity that had defined him. The surgery to repair his wrist had involved taking bone from his hip and fusing it to his wrist – requiring six months in a cast and another year to heal. Compounding this personal crisis, Howes' father had been in an accident the previous year that left him with severe brain trauma. After months in a coma, his father had regained consciousness but showed limited recognition of his family and little sign of improvement. This double blow – the loss of both his career and his relationship with his father as he knew it – left Howes in a state of profound uncertainty and fear. Night after night on that couch, questions tormented him: What if his wrist didn't heal? What if he couldn't play football again? Who would he be then? What if his father never remembered him? What if no one would ever love him? What if he tried and failed? The anxiety of these questions was paralyzing, yet somewhere deep inside, Howes believed there had to be more to his story. His breakthrough began with small, determined steps. He discovered LinkedIn was helping people find jobs and devoted himself to learning everything about it. When his brother gave him Timothy Ferriss' "The 4-Hour Workweek" for Christmas, Howes devoured it, discovering a world of possibilities in digital business and online marketing. He began developing relationships on LinkedIn, forcing himself to overcome his fear of public speaking by joining Toastmasters, and even took up salsa dancing – pursuing activities that pushed him out of his comfort zone. These initial actions set Howes on a path of tremendous growth. He started helping people optimize their LinkedIn profiles, charging for his expertise and eventually co-authoring a book on the platform. He organized LinkedIn networking events across the country, which led to consulting opportunities and ultimately to his first webinar, launching him into the online business world. This period taught him a crucial lesson that would become central to his philosophy: the shortest path to greatness often requires facing our fears directly and taking imperfect action despite self-doubt. What began as desperate attempts to rebuild his life transformed into the foundation of extraordinary success. Within years, Howes had built a seven-figure digital business, launched what would become one of the world's top podcasts with hundreds of millions of downloads, authored multiple bestselling books, and even returned to sports, playing on the U.S.A. men's national handball team for nine years. His journey from that couch to creating a platform that serves millions demonstrates the power of confronting our darkest moments and using them as catalysts for transformation.

Chapter 2: Confronting the Enemy: Finding Your Meaningful Mission

The greatest obstacle to achieving greatness, according to Lewis Howes, is what he calls "the Enemy of Greatness" – the absence of a clear, meaningful mission. When Howes was at his lowest, sleeping on his sister's couch, he lacked direction and purpose. This void left him feeling paralyzed, uncertain of what steps to take next. Without a clear mission, he found himself vulnerable to distraction, prone to wandering aimlessly, and susceptible to the opinions and expectations of others. Howes points to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's story as a powerful example of how finding your mission can transform your life. After being cut from the Canadian Football League with only seven dollars in his pocket, Johnson faced a similar crossroads. Though devastated by the end of his football dreams, he had a revelation: "The world was going to hear from me. I didn't know how. I didn't know when." This sense of purpose, even without a clear path, propelled Johnson to explore professional wrestling, where he eventually became a superstar before transitioning to Hollywood and becoming one of the world's most successful actors. For Howes, his own meaningful mission began to take shape during a mundane moment – sitting in traffic on the 405 highway in Los Angeles. Frustrated with his life despite having achieved financial success, he had an epiphany: "I'm stuck, and I'm literally surrounded by all these other people who are stuck." He realized there must be millions of people feeling the same way, and perhaps he could help them while helping himself. This insight led to the creation of his podcast, "The School of Greatness," where he would interview successful people and share their wisdom with others. Howes defines a meaningful mission as "discovering your unique gifts and talents to pursue your Meaningful Mission and make the maximum positive impact on the people around you." He emphasizes that finding this mission requires identifying your "sweet spot" – the intersection of your passion (what you love), your power (your unique strengths), and a problem you feel compelled to solve. For Howes, his passion for interviewing people and learning, combined with his strengths in communication and his desire to help others overcome obstacles, created his sweet spot. A crucial insight Howes shares is that your mission will evolve over time. The mechanism through which you serve others may change, but your core mission – the impact you want to have on the world – remains consistent. His mission to help people improve the quality of their lives and overcome what holds them back has remained the same, even as his platforms and methods have evolved. This perspective prevents us from becoming too attached to a particular identity or role, allowing us to adapt and grow while remaining true to our purpose. Finding your meaningful mission is not about pursuing external validation or material success. Rather, it's about discovering how your unique combination of passions, strengths, and values can make a positive difference in the world. As Viktor Frankl observed, "The first thing that gives life meaning is a project that demands your attention." Without this clear direction, we remain vulnerable to fear, doubt, and the distractions that keep us from achieving greatness.

Chapter 3: Breaking Through Barriers: Overcoming Fear and Self-Doubt

The path to greatness is rarely blocked by a lack of talent or opportunity, but rather by the internal barriers we erect ourselves. Howes identifies three primary fears that prevent people from pursuing their meaningful mission: the fear of failure, the fear of success, and the fear of judgment. These fears, Howes explains, all feed into the ultimate "dream killer" – self-doubt. The fear of failure often manifests as perfectionism or procrastination. Howes shares the story of Sara Blakely, founder of SPANX, who transformed this fear through her father's unusual dinner table question: "What did you fail at today?" This reframing taught Blakely to see failure not as an outcome but as the failure to try. When manufacturers rejected her idea, when patent lawyers priced her out, and when department stores refused her product, she persisted because her definition of failure had been fundamentally altered. For Blakely, "failure for me became not trying versus achieving the outcome." Equally paralyzing can be the fear of success. Howes observed this in his conversations with Jamie Kern Lima, founder of IT Cosmetics, who built a billion-dollar company despite being told women wouldn't buy makeup from someone who looked like her. As her company grew exponentially, Lima found herself working 100-hour weeks, driven by the fear that her success could disappear at any moment. The fear of success, Howes explains, often stems from concerns about increased responsibility, visibility, or the possibility that achievements won't bring the fulfillment we expect. Perhaps the most insidious barrier is the fear of judgment – something Howes admits struggling with significantly. For years, his fear of disappointing others or being judged negatively led him to compromise his boundaries and values, particularly in relationships. "I would get flowers or a special gift or do something to try to buy peace in the relationship," he confesses. "But you can't buy peace. You have to be peace." This fear of judgment creates what Howes calls "invisible chains" that prevent authentic self-expression and bold action. At the root of all these fears lies self-doubt – the belief that "I am not enough." This is why Howes emphasizes the importance of healing one's past and developing self-acceptance. He describes how his father never acknowledged his birthday, explaining: "I never want you to feel like you're too old to start something. I never want you to feel like you're too young or too inexperienced to chase your dreams." In essence, his father was telling him, "I never want you to feel like you are not enough." Breaking through these barriers requires converting fears into fuel for growth. Howes advocates confronting fears directly through progressive challenges – what he calls "going all in on your fears until they disappear." Whether it was overcoming his fear of public speaking through Toastmasters, learning salsa dancing despite rejection, or mastering Spanish as an adult, Howes has repeatedly demonstrated the power of facing fears head-on rather than allowing them to define our limitations. The journey to greatness demands developing what Howes calls a "love-based coach" within – an inner voice that says, "I am enough. I love myself the way I am, and at the same time I am working to improve." This balanced perspective allows us to pursue growth from a place of acceptance rather than from a desperate attempt to prove our worth.

Chapter 4: The Mindset-in-Motion: Thoughts, Emotions, and Behaviors

At the heart of the Greatness Mindset lies what Lewis Howes calls the "Mindset-in-Motion Cycle" – the dynamic interplay between our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Understanding and harnessing this cycle is essential for creating lasting transformation and achieving greatness. Howes explains that our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are constantly influencing one another in either an upward spiral toward greatness or a downward spiral toward limitation. When we experience negative thoughts like "I'll never be enough" or "I always fail at everything I try," these thoughts trigger emotions such as anxiety, shame, or depression. These emotions, in turn, affect our behaviors, leading to procrastination, self-sabotage, or avoidance. This negative cycle becomes self-reinforcing, making it increasingly difficult to break free from limiting patterns. The power of our thoughts cannot be overstated. As Dr. Joe Dispenza told Howes, "Thoughts are the language of the brain and feelings are the language of the body." Our thoughts literally shape our neurological pathways and influence our physiological responses. Mel Robbins shared with Howes the concept of the reticular activating system (RAS) – a neural network that filters information and determines what we notice in our environment. "The bouncer in your brain lets in whatever you think is important to you," Robbins explained. If we consistently tell ourselves we're inadequate or unworthy, our brains will seek evidence to confirm those beliefs. Emotions play an equally crucial role in this cycle. Howes emphasizes that emotions themselves are neither good nor bad – they're simply information about our internal state. The problem arises when we either bottle up our emotions or become consumed by them through what Dr. Susan David calls "brooding." Both approaches prevent us from developing emotional agility – the ability to experience our feelings without being controlled by them. Howes suggests practices like mindful breathing and self-compassion to create space between experiencing an emotion and acting on it. Our behaviors complete the cycle, either reinforcing or challenging our existing thought patterns and emotional responses. Nir Eyal shared with Howes that "behavior change is identity change." When we act in alignment with our desired identity – the person we're becoming – these actions gradually reshape our self-perception. For example, consistently showing up to write each day, regardless of how we feel, eventually transforms our identity from "someone who wants to write a book" to "I am a writer." The Greatness Mindset emerges when we intentionally align our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors toward our meaningful mission. Rather than allowing this cycle to operate on autopilot, we take responsibility for directing it. This might mean challenging negative thoughts through what Gabby Bernstein calls the "Choose Again Method" – noticing negative thoughts, forgiving ourselves for having them, and consciously choosing more empowering alternatives. It could involve processing emotions through Dan Millman's approach of focusing on the present moment – "our moment of power, our moment of reality, our moment of sanity." And it certainly requires taking consistent action that aligns with our core values and goals, regardless of how we feel in any given moment. Transformation occurs when we shift from a reactive, fear-based state to a proactive, love-based state. In this state, thoughts become predominantly positive and growth-oriented, emotions serve as valuable data rather than overwhelming forces, and behaviors consistently align with our highest aspirations. This doesn't mean we never experience negative thoughts or emotions – rather, we develop the capacity to work with them constructively instead of being controlled by them.

Chapter 5: The Game Plan: Practical Steps Toward Greatness

Having established the foundations of the Greatness Mindset, Lewis Howes outlines a practical, actionable game plan to move from concept to reality. This seven-step process creates a roadmap for anyone ready to pursue their meaningful mission and achieve greatness in their life. The journey begins with asking courageous questions – the kind that challenge our assumptions and expand our sense of possibility. Howes demonstrates how powerful this can be through his interaction with entrepreneur Grant Cardone. When Cardone claimed reaching a billion dollars in his real estate business was "impossible," Howes pushed back: "What would it take? Who do you need to meet? Who has the money that you need to borrow?" This line of questioning helped Cardone break through his limiting beliefs. Two years later, Cardone had grown his business to $900 million, and when Howes challenged him to reach $3 billion, Cardone eventually surpassed $4 billion. The right questions create a bias for action and help us see opportunities we might otherwise miss. The second step is giving yourself permission to pursue greatness. Howes shares the story of his friend Roger, a financial advisor who was offered the opportunity to work with a lottery winner – a client who could make Roger a millionaire. Despite years of asking for bigger clients, Roger's immediate response was, "I'm not ready for it." Many people withhold permission from themselves to succeed, advance, or grow due to deep-seated fears and self-doubt. Howes emphasizes that no one else can grant you this permission; you must claim it for yourself. Next comes accepting the challenge by going "all in" on your fears until they disappear. Howes describes how he overcame his fear of public speaking by attending Toastmasters regularly, sometimes five meetings in a single week. He committed to giving his first free speech within three months and his first paid speech within nine months – ambitious goals that felt impossible at the time. This approach of creating 30-, 60-, or 90-day challenges helps build momentum and confidence as you face your fears directly. The fourth step involves defining your greatness goals with clarity and focus. Howes introduces his "Greatness Performance System" (GPS), which organizes goals around three key areas: Business, Relationships, and Wellness. For each area, he recommends asking three crucial questions: What do I want? Why do I want it? What's the next step? This structured approach prevents overwhelm while ensuring balanced growth across all dimensions of life. Enlisting support forms the fifth step of the game plan. Howes identifies three levels of accountability: accountability to yourself through personal integrity, accountability to someone else (an "accountability buddy"), and accountability to a community. When Olympic-level athletes like Novak Djokovic have entire teams supporting their success, why would we think we can achieve greatness alone? Surrounding yourself with the right support system dramatically increases your chances of success. The sixth step is simply getting stuff done – taking consistent action despite perfectionism or fear. Howes advocates for what he calls the "1% Rule": striving to get just 1% better each day in whatever you're pursuing. This approach acknowledges that you won't be perfect immediately but can make incremental progress. He also recommends a four-part process: Schedule (block time for what matters most), Automate (streamline repetitive tasks), Eliminate (remove unnecessary activities), and Celebrate (acknowledge your wins). The final step is celebration – recognizing that "you are enough" while continuing to grow. Howes admits that for years, he never celebrated his accomplishments because he never felt worthy of celebration. Even becoming an All-American athlete twice or breaking a world record in sports wasn't enough to make him feel he had earned the right to celebrate. Through his healing journey, he learned to pause and appreciate wins of all sizes without feeling pressure to constantly do more to prove his worth. Throughout this game plan, Howes emphasizes that greatness is not about perfection but about progress. It's about taking consistent action toward your meaningful mission while recognizing your inherent value regardless of outcomes. The path to greatness isn't about reaching a final destination but about who you become along the journey.

Chapter 6: Celebrating the Journey: You Are Enough

The culmination of the Greatness Mindset lies in a profound paradox: you are already enough exactly as you are, and simultaneously, you are becoming more. This tension between acceptance and growth creates the fertile ground from which true greatness emerges. For much of his life, Lewis Howes struggled to celebrate his accomplishments. Even after becoming a two-time All-American athlete, breaking world records, and achieving remarkable business success, he never felt worthy of celebration. He always believed he needed to accomplish more, be more, prove more. It wasn't until he began his healing journey that he allowed himself to truly celebrate wins and appreciate his progress. He discovered that celebrating doesn't lead to complacency – rather, it fuels motivation and creates momentum toward even greater achievements. Howes shares how this shift in perspective transformed his approach to life. Instead of seeing milestones as proof of his worth, he began viewing them as markers on a continuous journey of growth. When Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson followed him on Instagram – something Howes had hoped for after years of wanting to interview Johnson on his show – his response was illuminating. Rather than focusing on what he hadn't yet achieved (the interview), he paused to appreciate and celebrate this step forward. This reframing allowed him to enjoy the moment while remaining excited about future possibilities. The practice of self-acceptance doesn't mean abandoning ambition or settling for mediocrity. Instead, it provides a stable foundation from which to pursue greatness. As celebrity dancer Derek Hough told Howes, "If you were in a field by yourself with no clothes, no possessions, no trophies, absolutely nothing – just you, by yourself, you are enough. You always have been, and you always will be, no matter what." Only when Hough accepted this truth did he begin doing things purely for the joy they brought him, which paradoxically accelerated his career. Howes recommends a simple yet powerful practice to cultivate this mindset: each evening, reflect on three things you're grateful for from the day. Sometimes these might be significant achievements, but often they're simply acknowledgments of effort, consistency, and follow-through. This ritual of celebration reinforces the belief that you are enough while simultaneously encouraging continued growth and progress. The ultimate lesson of the Greatness Mindset is that your value does not depend on your achievements, accolades, or social status. Your worth is inherent, unchangeable, and complete. From this foundation of self-acceptance, you can pursue your meaningful mission not from a place of lack or desperation, but from a desire to express your unique gifts and make a positive impact on the world. This perspective transforms the pursuit of greatness from a burden into a privilege. When you no longer need to prove your worth through accomplishments, you're free to take risks, make mistakes, and learn continuously. You can experience both success and failure as teachers rather than judges. You can celebrate progress without requiring perfection. And most importantly, you can enjoy the journey itself rather than postponing happiness until some future achievement.

Summary

Lewis Howes' journey from a broken athlete sleeping on his sister's couch to a global influencer and thought leader exemplifies the transformative power of the Greatness Mindset. His central insight – that greatness emerges when we heal our past wounds, discover our meaningful mission, and align our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors toward that mission – offers a comprehensive framework for anyone seeking to create a life of purpose and impact. The most profound takeaway from Howes' philosophy is that greatness isn't about achieving external markers of success or comparing ourselves to others; it's about discovering our unique gifts and using them to serve others while becoming the fullest expression of ourselves. This journey requires courage to face our fears, humility to accept support from others, and the wisdom to recognize that we are already enough even as we strive to become more. By embracing these principles and following the practical game plan Howes outlines, we can all transform our challenges into catalysts for growth and create lives of authentic purpose and lasting significance. Whether facing career transitions, relationship difficulties, or personal setbacks, the Greatness Mindset provides the tools to not merely survive our struggles but to use them as stepping stones toward our highest potential.

About Author

Loading...

Lewis Howes

Read more