Desmond Howard: “It’s All About the Process!” - Strategies for Success from a Super Bowl MVP

Desmond Howard (0:01)

Like, my target is being the best. My target is giving it my all. My target is making sure not to let down my teammates. Football is way more mental than the average viewer can comprehend. I will call myself so much, I will just fall asleep before the game in my locker. You just want to be the best version of yourself.

Michael Gervais (0:32)

Okay, welcome back or welcome to the Finding Mastery podcast. I am your host, Dr. Michael Gervais, by trade and training a high-performance psychologist. Kids who grew up playing American football dream of doing a few things. Winning the Heisman Trophy, being a top NFL draft pick, winning a Super Bowl, and in their wildest of dreams, perhaps even winning a Super Bowl MVP.

Our guest today is one of the rare few who made all of those dreams a reality, Desmond Howard. Desmond's career is a highlight reel, jaw-dropping plays at the University of Michigan and in the NFL. A journey that's left an indelible mark on the sport. And now he's a prolific broadcaster for ESPN College Game Day, making him not just an athlete, but a true icon in the world of sports. What's equally remarkable, if not more so, are the strategies that have fueled his success. And I want to give a quick shout out to our partners at Mack Weldon for introducing us to Desmond. When we asked them if they were connected to anyone who exemplifies excellence, confidence and the path to mastery, they immediately thought of Desmond. It was so great to connect. It's clear why great brands like Mack Weldon and great people are attracted to each other. And this is certainly no exception. So with that, let's dive right into this incredible conversation with Desmond Howard. Desmond, I am so stoked to have you on the podcast. To have this conversation. I've been really looking forward to this for a long time. But before I jump in with all the fire and curiosity that I have about how you do your life. Yes. Let me just check in. Like, how are you today?

Desmond Howard (2:18)

I'm fantastic. I'm really good. I'm enjoying my time at home now.

This is the part of the season when I get a little downtime. So good time to spend with the family and do other things I like to do. So I'm doing right. I'm in a good space right now. Thanks for asking.

Michael Gervais (2:37)

Oh, that's cool.

Is that more often than not, you're in a good space even when you're in the rhythm of the season and doing your broadcasting? Do you feel like overall, you're in a pretty good place in life or is it the other way? It's like, look, some days it's hard to get out of bed for me. And I struggle a bit.

Desmond Howard (2:54)

Oh, that's a really good question. I think overall, even if I struggle, I feel like I don't struggle long. So even if I don't feel like getting out of bed, like you just mentioned, that doesn't last long. Like, you know what I mean? Like all of us, we have that moment where we'd rather stay in bed for another 10, 15, maybe 30 minutes. But then I think about all sorts of things that may motivate me or inspire me. And then, yeah, I get out of bed.

Michael Gervais (3:23)

Okay. So I definitely want to understand kind of the drive behind your success. Now, look, I'm going to pump your tires here for a minute.

Desmond Howard (3:30)

Okay.

Michael Gervais (3:31)

Heisman Trophy winner. All right. So that's like the best out of college. Fourth overall draft pick for the NFL. Now, to get to the NFL, it's a 0.023% from high school to the pros.

You are fourth overall. And it's a 1.6 chance to get into the NFL from college. So 1.6% of all college athletes who are extraordinary get into the NFL and you're fourth overall. Then you get to the Super Bowl. Not only do you get to the Super Bowl, you are the MVP of the Super Bowl. Okay. And now you're at ESPN College Game Day, which is kind of a, you know, it's the premier broadcast around college football. So, I mean, with all of those achievements, I don't know where you're going to take this question, but how do you think about success?

Desmond Howard (4:25)

Wow. I think it's important for you to define success in your own individual way. I really do. I think, especially with today's, what's going on in today's world and the way social media has like really started to influence things. I think it's really important for you to be able to define it for yourself. Now, I can say that now because I'm accomplished, I've done a lot and I look at life through a different lens, so to speak. But for the most part, growing up, I had heroes, I had people who I looked up to and I wanted to be like, I wanted to emulate them. So my success growing up was like, I want to be like this person. I want to be like that person.