Podcast Summary: Digital Social Hour

Episode: Ben Newman: The 2x Daily Habit That Transformed Microsoft’s Team Culture (DSH #1594)
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Ben Newman (Mindset Coach, Author)
Date: October 29, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode of the Digital Social Hour, Sean Kelly sits down with renowned mindset coach and performance expert Ben Newman. The conversation dives deeply into the mental frameworks that drive elite athletes and leaders, transformative daily habits that shape high-performing cultures (highlighting Newman's strategy at Microsoft), the crucial role of self-talk and authenticity, and practical leadership takeaways for anyone aspiring to elevate their personal or organizational standards.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Power of Energy & Authenticity

• Authentic energy is a key driver of engagement in both sports and business.
  • Ben praises Sean’s commitment and energy:
    “There’s an authentic energy and care, which is why you’ve been so successful doing this.” [02:24]
• Both discuss transitioning from inauthentic living to embracing their true selves—a shift necessary for long-term success.

2. The Influence of Your Circle

• Ben shares advice from Tyron Woodley about surrounding oneself with genuine supporters:
  “Small circles create big damage.” [03:04]
• The importance for athletes and entrepreneurs to protect their circle from distractions and inauthentic people.

3. Distractions & the Athlete’s Mental Game

• High performers deal with relentless distractions: social media, family, fame, endorsements.
• Ben emphasizes that mental resilience and the ability to silence distractions are what separate champions from the rest.

4. Mindset, Self-Talk, and Limiting Beliefs

• The way we speak to ourselves defines our action and outcomes.
  • “If you don’t have that belief or desire ... your action would be really insignificant.” [06:11]
• Ben and Sean open up about overcoming victim mindsets and learning accountability:
  • “If somebody has an inability to take ownership, you can never have trust with that individual.” [07:46]

5. Balancing Ambition with Life

• Sean and Ben challenge the “work-life balance doesn’t exist” mantra.
• Ben urges discipline and engagement in all life domains, not just business:
  • “If you’re not leaning into doing the things that take care of you, you’ll never understand what your highest level of peak performance is.” [09:02]

6. Harnessing Darkness & Childhood Pain

• Ben shares his personal story of parental loss and abuse, describing how he transformed darkness into his life’s driving “burn”:
  • “There’s a fuel that I’ve been able to find in my darkness. And when an individual understands how to pull strength from their darkness, it’s amazing what they can achieve.” [13:32]
• He encourages Sean—and listeners—to consciously “speak to” and honor their inner child, channeling old pain into new power.

7. Mindset Coaching: From Athletes to Fortune 500s

• Ben details his roles as a mental conditioning coach for top teams (Kansas State Wildcats, Indiana Fever, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Miami Dolphins) while also consulting for corporate giants.
• Emotional neutrality is described as critical for success:
  • “When you’re really successful, people are going to try to attack you ... So it’s maintaining a neutral mindset. No matter who tries to throw you off your game, we stay neutral.” [19:11]

8. “Standard Over Feelings” – Lessons from Nick Saban

• Ben shares the central leadership mantra from his time at Alabama:
  • “Standard over feelings. We cannot allow our feelings to dictate how we show up. We have to choose to live to the standard…” [22:10]
• This applies not just to football, but all high-performance organizations and personal development.

9. The Foundation of Confidence

• Confidence, Ben insists, comes not from talent but from discipline:
  • “When your confidence comes from discipline, you start to tap into how great you can be.” [23:20]
• Even legends like Kobe Bryant are cited:
  “He never got bored with the basics.” [24:34]

10. Transforming Microsoft’s Team Culture: The 2x Daily Habit

• Ben describes implementing “unexpected intentional touches” at Microsoft:
  • Leaders express appreciation to two team members twice a day—recognizing and thanking people for their contributions.
  • This led to the highest “health score” amongst worldwide Microsoft teams:
    • “10 out of the 12 said: unexpected intentional touches. ... Sometimes as leaders, we have to slow down and remember it’s the little things that make the difference.” [32:45]

11. Leadership Insights

• “The way you do one thing is the way you do everything” – discipline and details from Saban and other all-time greats.
• Leaders can only guide others to the level of their own discipline and attention to detail.
• Never stop learning—Ben himself maintains coaches and continues daily study.

12. Ambition and “The Next Goal”

• Ben reveals his ambition to impact 2 billion people, a goal supercharged by his work with high achievers in sports, business, and beyond.
• Upcoming book: The Process, which will combine his principles on standards, leadership, and personal growth.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On energy and authenticity:
  “Energy is probably one of the most authentic tools for engagement that people overlook.” – Ben, [02:07]
• On limiting beliefs:
  “Most people… minimize their own action through their self talk.” – Ben, [06:35]
• On circles and distractions:
  “Are the people really there for the right reasons? Distractions are going to keep you from identifying your highest level of performance.” – Ben, [03:18]
• On leadership discipline:
  “The way you do one thing is the way you do everything.” – Ben (referencing Nick Saban), [28:12]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:04] – “Small circles create big damage” and the importance of your support circle.
• [06:07] – Belief, self-talk, and the link to decisive action.
• [09:02] – Creating true balance and discipline across all life domains.
• [13:24] – Harnessing and channeling darkness and pain into fuel.
• [19:11] – The power of emotional neutrality for athletes, entrepreneurs, and leaders.
• [22:10] – The “standard over feelings” doctrine from Alabama football.
• [23:20] – Why confidence stems from discipline more than talent.
• [32:14-32:45] – The “unexpected intentional touches” habit that transformed a Microsoft team.
• [33:39] – Ben’s next book project: The Process.

Actionable Takeaways

• Intentionally recognize your teammates or employees daily—even a brief acknowledgement can transform culture.
• Regularly examine your support circle and eliminate sources of distraction or inauthenticity.
• Maintain high personal standards and discipline—your ability to lead, inspire, and build trust depends on it.
• Harness your past pain constructively—speak to your inner child, let former darkness fuel your present drive.
• Stay neutral in the face of adversity or success—emotional control is the hallmark of long-term excellence.

Conclusion

Ben Newman’s appearance on the Digital Social Hour delivers practical, hard-earned wisdom for anyone striving for greatness—be it in sports, business, or personal development. From daily gratitude rituals that transformed a tech giant's culture, to the “standard over feelings” mindset that defines champions, listeners walk away with concrete steps and paradigm-shifting insights that challenge them to raise both their standards and their impact.

For more:

• Find Ben Newman’s books and coaching at [his website] (linked in episode description).
• Stay tuned for his upcoming book, The Process.
• Catch more conversations with world-class guests, only on Digital Social Hour.