From Jordan to Kobe: The Keys to a Championship Mindset with Mindfulness Coach George Mumford

Michael Gervais (0:00)

Finding Mastery is brought to you by Momentus. When it comes to high performance, whether you're leading a team, raising a family, pushing physical limits, or simply trying to be better today than you were yesterday, what you put in your body matters. And that's why I trust Momentus. From the moment I sat down with Jeff Byers, their co-founder and CEO, I could tell this was not your average supplement company. And I was immediately drawn to their mission, helping people achieve performance for life. And to do that, they developed what they call the Momentus Standard. Every product is formulated with top experts, and every batch is third-party tested. NSF certified for sport or informed sport, so you know exactly what you're getting. Personally, I'm anchored by what they call the Momentus III, Protein, Creatine, and Omega-3. And together, these foundational nutrients support muscle recovery, brain function, and long-term energy. They're part of my daily routine. And if you're ready to fuel your brain and body with the best, Momentus has a great new offer just for our community right here. Use the code FINDINGMASTERY for 35% off your first subscription order at livemomentus.com.

Again, that's L-I-V-E, momentus, M-O-M-E-N-T-O-U-S, livemomentus.com. And use the code FINDINGMASTERY for 35% off your first subscription order.

George Mumford (1:28)

It's not about the end result. It's always a journey. It's about you doing the best you can and that energy, that accomplishment is going to follow you. You don't know where it's going to take you, but it's going to take you where you need to go.

Michael Gervais (1:39)

What if I told you there was a golden thread between Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson? What if I told you he goes by the name of George Mumford? Welcome back. Welcome to the Finding Mastery podcast where we dive into the minds of the world's greatest thinkers and doers. I'm your host, Dr. Michael Gervais. By trade and training a high-performance psychologist, and the idea behind these conversations is quite simple. To sit with the extraordinary, to really learn about how they work from the inside out. Today, we are doing just that by bringing back a conversation from the Finding Mastery vault with the legendary George Mumford. Obviously, you had a lot that you imparted and helped Kobe through his life. What did you learn from him?

George Mumford (2:21)

He taught me how to trust that and the tenacity, and never quitting, and committing, and being creative about his approach to things. He had this ability to expand things. I say, I'm going to do this, and I don't have to back away from it, but to see it as an opportunity.

Michael Gervais (2:38)

George is one of the most revered mindfulness teachers in the elite sport by guiding people through their inner terrain of self-discovery to help them be more present in their lives.

George Mumford (2:48)

I didn't see myself as a trailblazer. I was just doing what was in front of me. I knew that if I wanted to really learn about this stuff, I had to teach it. And the second thing I knew is if I wanted to keep it, I had to give it away. So the best thing I could do is share my experience, strength and hope and just keep serving.

Michael Gervais (3:03)

We're re-releasing this episode now because, well, the world does not feel any less chaotic than when we first aired it. And George's message that our darkest moments can become the doorway to deep transformation is more relevant than ever. Let's jump into this week's conversation from the vault with my dear friend, George Mumford.

I have a legend. George Mumford is in the studio today. It's been so fun to see your work and to know your work. And your book, Unlocked, is awesome. So you came from a different place than your first book. And this book, like, I'm just so happy for you that you were able to get what you got down in writing for so many of us to benefit from. So I'm stoked to have this conversation with you, and thank you for sharing Unlocked with us.

George Mumford (3:58)

You're welcome. And I'm happy to be here doing this with you. I feel like we go back a ways, and I've been admiring your work. So obviously your work and the work of so many others has influenced my work. I don't know how you can do this without being able to piggyback or step on the shoulders of the giants to come before us.

Michael Gervais (4:17)

Man, that sense... So one, thank you very much. And ditto, because you were a trailblazer early on, introducing this thing to elite sport, and when most people weren't ready for it. And so I do want to have a conversation about trailblazing and how some of the headwinds and how you navigate those spaces, because we're in a world right now that there's lots of headwinds. And I think people can benefit from your insights on how to deal with challenges.