Most people believe that getting better skills, habits, or information is what leads to growth, but that belief is exactly why so many stay stuck at average. In this episode of The Next Level Podcast, Jeremy Miner sits down with Michael Bernoff, bestselling author of Average Sucks and an expert in human behavior, communication, and influence.Michael breaks down why identity and language, not effort, are what drive long-term results, how internal mental frames quietly control decisions, and why people often live the life they have instead of the life they want. This conversation explores how certainty is created, why congruence matters more than tactics, and how learning to reframe your thinking changes outcomes in business, leadership, relationships, and life.If you want to stop hovering below your potential and start operating at your next level, this episode will fundamentally change how you see yourself and how others respond to you.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:22) Why Most People Stay Stuck At "Almost"

(03:29) Identity vs. Wanting More

(05:02) Congruence: Why Skill Without Identity Fails

(08:01) Influence Starts With How You See Yourself

(12:30) Frames, Language, and Decision-Making

(16:43) Certainty, Emotion, and Human Behavior

(30:19) Reframing Reality to Create Better Outcomes

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