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Chris Hadfield

424: Conquer Fear, Find Fulfillment & Prepare for the Worst – Lessons from a Legendary Astronaut

Imagine this… you’re a NASA Astronaut. You’re on a spacewalk, floating in the vastness of outer space, and suddenly… you go blind.

What do you do?

Our guest this week doesn’t have to imagine – he’s lived through this exact moment.

Chris Hadfield is a retired NASA astronaut, a skilled engineer, a former combat pilot, and a New York Times bestselling author of both fiction and non-fiction works. You may also recognize Chris from his viral video on the International Space Station, where he performed David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ – a performance that garnered over 35 million views worldwide.

One of Chris’s standout books, ‘An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth,’ is a great read for any high performer. In it, he shares an unconventional philosophy: ‘Prepare for the worst—and enjoy every moment of it.’  It’s a mindset I find incredibly powerful, and I think you will, too.

In our conversation, we dive into Chris’s rich experiences, including a harrowing story where he was struck blind while clinging to an orbiting spacecraft. I think you’ll love his practical approach to maintaining calm in what must have been one of the most high-stakes situations imaginable.

We also explore how he uses competence as a tool to master fear, his strategies for problem-solving and teamwork, and his step-by-step approach to making even the most daring dreams a reality. His stories are a masterclass in thriving across diverse environments – in space, business, sports, and family life.

This episode is one I’m sure I’ll revisit multiple times, and I’m pretty confident you’ll feel the same.

I can’t wait to share with you Chris’s insights, which offer a practical and inspiring roadmap to achieving peak performance, deep fulfillment, and a purpose-driven life.

“The more prepared you are, the more calm you can be. The more calm you are, the more you notice the magnificence of life itself. That equation is super important in loving this phase of life.”

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