Podcast Title: Escaping the Drift with John Gafford
Episode: John Assaraf's Guide to Breaking Barriers
Release Date: May 13, 2025
Host: John Gafford
Guest: John Assaraf

Introduction

In this compelling episode of "Escaping the Drift," host John Gafford welcomes renowned entrepreneur and thought leader John Assaraf. Known for his significant contributions to the fields of neuroscience and personal development, Assaraf shares his transformative journey from a troubled youth to a successful business magnate.

Early Life Struggles

John Assaraf opens up about his challenging upbringing, marked by a dysfunctional family environment.

• Dysfunctional Family: Assaraf describes his parents' unhappy marriage, his father's struggles with gambling and alcoholism, and the resulting physical and emotional abuse. He emphasizes how these early experiences shaped his self-image and led him down a path of academic failure and delinquency.

  [03:08] Assaraf: "I felt like I'm not smart enough, not good enough, not worthy of success in school."

• Immigration to Montreal: At age five, his family moved from Israel to Montreal to escape ongoing wars. The move placed him in a classroom with 60 other immigrants, causing him to fall two years behind academically and further exacerbating his feelings of inadequacy.

  [05:08] Gafford: "What was the hinge point that made you say there can be something other than this?"

Meeting the Mentor

A pivotal moment in Assaraf's life occurred at the age of 19 when he met Denis, a mentor who would steer him away from his destructive path.

• Encounter with Denis: While involved in drug dealing, Assaraf and his friend sold drugs to a man they later discovered was a police officer. This revelation forced Assaraf to reflect on his life choices.

  [05:44] Assaraf: "I realized my father was right—people will drop what they're doing once in a while."

• Influence of Family: Concurrently, his brother's concern for his well-being pushed Assaraf to consider a different path. His brother introduced him to Alan Brown, a respected real estate developer, leading to a transformative lunch meeting.

• Commitment Over Interest: During their meeting, Denis challenged Assaraf to differentiate between mere interest and genuine commitment to his goals.

  [13:26] Assaraf: "People who are committed upgrade their identity to match the destiny that they are committed to achieving."

• Becoming a Mentee: Recognizing Assaraf's commitment, Denis offered to mentor him, setting the stage for his entry into the real estate industry.

  [13:31] Assaraf: "In that case, sir, I will be your mentor."

Learning Real Estate

Under Denis's mentorship, Assaraf delved into the real estate business, learning essential skills and strategies.

• Goal Setting: Denis provided Assaraf with a 1980 goal-setting guide, prompting him to envision an extraordinary life. This exercise was instrumental in shifting his mindset from limitations to possibilities.

  [09:06] Assaraf: "He said, just pick a number. So I said, is three enough? He says, sure, put it down."

• Cold Calling Mastery: Assaraf recounts the rigorous training in cold calling, emphasizing the importance of consistency and resilience.

  [23:14] Assaraf: "I was terrible reading off the script, trying to talk into the phone. It was terrible."

• Script Memorization: Through daily practice and dedication, Assaraf internalized his sales scripts, eventually mastering the art of cold calling without relying on written prompts.

  [24:03] Gafford: "You still know it?"

  [24:04] Assaraf: "I still just recited the script to you. You did, right?"

• Breakthrough Success: Within six months, Assaraf achieved remarkable financial success, earning $62,000 compared to his father's $25,000, validating his newfound skills and commitment.

  [24:23] Assaraf: "Over the next six months, I made $62,000 because of the listings I got or the buyers that I found."

Developing a Success Mindset

Assaraf delves deep into the psychology of success, emphasizing the interplay between mindset, skills, and behavior.

• Structure for Success: He asserts that having a structured approach is crucial for achieving goals, likening it to solving a Rubik's Cube with a clear method.

  [27:03] Assaraf: "There's a process and structure for every goal you want to achieve."

• Overcoming Fear and Limiting Beliefs: A significant portion of the discussion centers on identifying and mitigating fears that hinder personal and professional growth.

  [33:34] Assaraf: "If I have a fear of being embarrassed or ashamed, it will override my knowledge and skills."

• Emotional Regulation: Assaraf highlights the importance of managing emotions to maintain productivity and focus, especially in high-stress environments like sales.

  [30:10] Assaraf: "Emotional regulation has to be a part for all entrepreneurs."

• Fear Circuit Activation: He explains the brain's fear responses and offers strategies to deactivate the fear circuit, enabling individuals to act despite fear.

  [32:45] Assaraf: "First, it's awareness. Awareness of thoughts, emotions, feelings, sensations, behaviors."

Overcoming Fear and Limiting Beliefs

The conversation delves into practical techniques for overcoming fears that impede success.

• Acceptance of Failure: Assaraf differentiates between failure and being a failure, viewing setbacks as lessons rather than personal shortcomings.

  [37:16] Assaraf: "Failures are some of our greatest lessons. Now the question that we can also ask ourselves is what did I learn and what can I do the next time so that I get the result that I want?"

• Number of Attempts: Emphasizing persistence, he shares his approach to tracking calls and valuing each rejection as a step closer to success.

  [36:54] Assaraf: "Every time I made a call, it was worth 15 bucks because I know 100 calls to make. 1500."

• Reframing Obstacles: The importance of reshaping how one perceives obstacles and fears to maintain momentum toward goals.

  [35:00] Gafford: "Why would I feel like I'm going to be embarrassed?"

  [37:44] Assaraf: "So failures are some of our greatest lessons."

Health and Personal Transformation

Assaraf shares his personal journey towards better health, underscoring the connection between physical well-being and mental clarity.

• Health Catalyst: At age 48, motivated by his sons' concerns, Assaraf committed to transforming his health, leading to significant weight loss and improved vitality.

  [64:31] Assaraf: "I made a promise to my sons... I'm gonna have him get a nutritionist for me."

• Lifestyle Changes: He details his dietary adjustments and fitness regimen, highlighting the profound impact these changes had on his overall well-being.

  [63:28] Assaraf: "Within two, three weeks, I could tell a big difference. I was sleeping better."

• Sustained Motivation: The promise he made to his sons served as a powerful motivator, ensuring his commitment to sustained health improvement.

  [66:47] Assaraf: "The why was bigger than my bullshit, bigger than my fear, bigger than my addiction."

Strategies for Success

Assaraf offers actionable strategies rooted in neuroscience to help listeners break free from limiting patterns and achieve their goals.

• Neuroplasticity: He explains the brain's ability to rewire itself, emphasizing that our early experiences shape but do not determine our future.

  [43:29] Assaraf: "We develop these neural patterns which become soft wired in our brain and they move into a part of the brain called the cerebellum."

• Vision Boards: Discussing the purpose of vision boards as blueprints for success, Assaraf advocates for their role in providing clarity and direction.

  [49:17] Gafford: "The best way to change your construct or your belief or your view is through tools like vision boards."

• Consistent Action: Highlighting the importance of relentless effort, he shares anecdotes about going the extra mile to achieve outstanding results.

  [59:39] Gafford: "Make 10 more calls. There's always more."

• Tracking KPIs: Emphasizing the necessity of tracking key performance indicators to measure progress and maintain accountability.

  [38:33] Gafford: "I think I want to go back a little bit because I should have said... people need to track their KPIs."

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Assaraf promoting his latest offerings designed to help individuals train their brains for success.

• Inner Size App: Assaraf introduces his "Inner Size" app, featuring over 600 brain training exercises, visualizations, and meditations aimed at enhancing various aspects of life.

  [67:25] Assaraf: "The app is like $100 a year on the app store. Go to inner size.com."

• Final Thoughts: Both hosts emphasize the significance of mental over physical health, encouraging listeners to invest in their cognitive well-being to achieve unparalleled success.

  [69:01] Gafford: "Inner size is the drill."

• Call to Action: John Gafford urges listeners to engage with the podcast by leaving reviews and sharing it within their networks, reinforcing the show's mission to help individuals escape the drift and achieve their full potential.

  [67:25] Gafford: "Thanks for joining us for another episode of Escaping the Drift... We will see you at the next episode."

Key Takeaways

1. Commitment Over Interest: Genuine commitment involves upgrading one's identity, knowledge, and skills to align with desired goals.

2. Overcoming Limiting Beliefs: Recognizing and addressing fears and limiting beliefs is crucial for personal and professional growth.

3. Structured Approach: Success requires a combination of mindset, skill sets, and consistent behaviors, supported by a clear structure.

4. Neuroplasticity and Mindset: The brain's ability to rewire itself allows individuals to break free from ingrained patterns and adopt empowering beliefs.

5. Health and Success: Physical well-being significantly impacts mental clarity and overall effectiveness in achieving goals.

6. Practical Strategies: Tools like vision boards, consistent action, and tracking KPIs are essential for maintaining focus and measuring progress.

Notable Quotes

• Commitment Defines Destiny:

  [05:08] Assaraf: "People who are committed upgrade their identity to match the destiny that they are committed to achieving."

• Failure as a Lesson:

  [37:16] Assaraf: "Failures are some of our greatest lessons."

• Mindset and Emotional Regulation:

  [30:10] Assaraf: "Emotional regulation has to be a part for all entrepreneurs."

• Vision Board as Blueprint:

  [50:52] Assaraf: "A vision board is just a blueprint of what it looks like upon completion."

• Innate Ability to Change:

  [40:18] Assaraf: "We weren't born with any knowledge or skills. We have an innate ability to suck on breathing, cry, right, breathe, cry, you know, eat and shit and the rest is autonomic."

Resources Mentioned

• Books by John Assaraf:

  • Having It All (First Book)
  • The Answer: How to Grow Any Business, Achieve Financial Freedom Or Live an Extraordinary Life (Second Book)
  • Vision Board Kit (Third Book)
  • Inner Size (Fourth Book)

• Inner Size App:
  Offers over 600 brain training exercises, visualizations, meditations, and other techniques aimed at enhancing health, wealth, relationships, and career success. Available for $100/year on the App Store or via inner size.com.

Final Thoughts

John Assaraf's journey from adversity to success serves as a testament to the power of mindset, mentorship, and relentless pursuit of goals. Through his insights and practical strategies, listeners are empowered to overcome their own barriers and embark on a path of transformative growth.

For more insights and to join the transformative journey, visit www.EscapingtheDrift.com and consider subscribing for future episodes that promise to guide you from where you are to where you want to be.