THE ED MYLETT SHOW

Episode: How to Start Winning Again
Release Date: October 18, 2025
Host: Ed Mylett | Cumulus Podcast Network
Featured Guests: Cody Sanchez, Demar Hamlin, James Lawrence (Iron Cowboy)

Overview

This power-packed weekend special is devoted to the art and science of "starting to win again" in your life—whether you’re facing setbacks, distractions, lost momentum, or a desire for next-level achievement. Ed Mylett blends his signature energy and real-talk motivation with conversations with business leader Cody Sanchez, NFL player Demar Hamlin, and ultramarathoner James Lawrence (Iron Cowboy). The episode is filled with practical frameworks for destroying distraction, embracing sacrifice, recovering from setbacks, building next-level habits, and reframing what it means to win.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power and Peril of Distraction (Ed Mylett, 01:43–07:54)

• Total Immersion: Most people underestimate their potential because they never go "psycho obsessed, laser focused" on anything.
  • Quote: “Humans have an unreal capacity to get great at things, even if they don't have a natural talent for it, if they're immersed in it.” (01:53)
• Cultural Diversion: Society, media, and even our own interests (sports, TV, social media, gossip) are designed to keep us distracted from our dreams.
• Living Vicariously: Many live through sports teams, celebrities, or even their children, confusing others’ wins or losses with their own.
  • Quote: “You running around wearing a jersey with another grown man's name on the back of it…isn't that a little bit ridiculous?” (03:19)
• A Call to Refocus: Your true wins are the ones you claim for yourself—none of these external victories meaningfully change your life.

2. Embracing Suffering: The Price of Winning (Ed Mylett, 07:54–16:29)

• Sacrifice as Progress: Pain, discomfort, and sacrifice are not signals to quit but indicators that you’re moving towards your dream.
  • Analogy: You don’t question pain in the gym; you accept it as a sign of growth—apply this everywhere.
• Pre-Negotiation of Pain: Decide in advance what you’re willing to suffer or risk, rather than constantly renegotiating your commitment.
  • Quote: “The price you will pay for not making your dream come true, far greater than the one that you will pay to make it come true.” (09:56)
• Scarcity vs. Worth Mindset: Scarcity mindset asks, “What will it cost?”; a winning mindset asks, “Is it worth it?”
  • Quote: “Successful people and wealthy people have a subtle distinction. They don't look at price, they look at worth.” (13:04)
• Commitment as Kryptonite Removal: Total commitment is freeing—eliminate the habit of constant negotiation with yourself.

3. Healthy Obsession as the Secret to Happiness (Ed Mylett, 14:32–16:29)

• Focus = Fulfillment: The happiest, most fulfilling times in life occur during obsessive, high-focus periods (e.g., expecting a baby, early love, passionate business building).
  • Quote: “The most focused times in our life…the less distracted times in our life also equals the happiest times in our life.” (15:58)

Featured Conversations

4. Business, Sacrifice, and Goal Setting with Cody Sanchez (17:24–25:39)

• Set Sacrifices, Not Just Goals: Instead of making lists of wants, list what you’re willing to give up. Cody and her husband do quarterly and annual “sacrifice lists.”
  • Quote: “Don’t tell me what you want. Tell me what you’re willing to do to get it.” (17:35, Cody)
• Sacrifice Pre-Negotiation: Avoid constant fatigue in decision-making by predetermining what you’ll give up. Cody shares how her ex-Navy SEAL husband’s routines eliminate decision fatigue.
• Levels of Ambition: There’s no shame in wanting a “level four” lifestyle, but be honest with yourself and partners about your ambitions.
  • “I am a psychopath that wants to be a multi, multi billionaire…I just like the game.” (19:26, Cody)
• Vacation Myth & Entrepreneur Reality: True momentum doesn’t allow for frequent vacations, especially during the “takeoff” phase of building a business.
• Two Philosophies in Life: You can choose family-centered or ambition-centered life blueprints, but be intentional—and honest—about your sacrifices.
• Tough Love Culture: The internet over-delivers on messages of ease, but more people need the truth: “It sucks, it’s worth it, it’s not going to be easy…but after you achieve, other people can’t assert their will as easily on you.” (22:29, Cody)

5. Resilience and Comeback with Demar Hamlin (27:05–38:49)

• Dealing with Setbacks: Take it one step at a time; don’t wallow—get up, move, and commit to incremental progress.
  • Quote: “You can’t conquer the world in one day…put the right foot in front of your left foot.” (28:03, Demar)
• Emotional Recovery: Don’t “sit in the pool of pity.” Focus on movement and micro-goals.
  • Quote: “Go through the ugly phases. Don’t be afraid of it, embrace it.” (28:55, Demar)
• Perspective Shift: Surviving his cardiac event gave Demar a profoundly grateful perspective. Even on hard days, he finds at least one thing to appreciate.
  • “There’s no day where I can…allow myself to get too low anymore because…I have the appreciation of life.” (32:06, Demar)
• Personal Accountability: Change requires new actions; don’t accept the things that put you in your situation if you want different results.
• Facing Rumors/Identity: Demar clarifies his loyalty to the Buffalo Bills and discusses the emotional rollercoaster of public attention.

6. Endurance and “One More” with James Lawrence (Iron Cowboy) (40:01–49:02)

• Post-Achievement Letdown: After completing 100 Ironmans in 100 days, James experienced confusion, depression, and a loss of identity.
  • Quote: “I was in such trauma and turmoil that my brain was protecting me and not allowing me to feel.” (41:07, James)
• Three Phases of Any Journey: Preparation, execution, and (crucially) post-experience recovery.
• Empathy Through Struggle: Going through deep challenge creates empathy and the capacity to help others.
• The Power of “One More”: Even at the end, James did Day 101 “for the integrity of the story” and the message: “When you are broken and when you have reached your limit, you can do one more.” (48:02, James)
• Ed reveals his next book is titled “One More,” underscoring the synergy of their philosophy.

Solo Lesson: Seven Steps to Winning Habits (Ed Mylett, 49:36–end)

1. Specificity

• Define goals in exact terms (“I want $100k in income,” not “I want to be rich”).
• Memorable example: “Would you invest in a company that says ‘we made some money’?” (~51:12)

2. Catalyst Step

• Identify a “catalyst habit” (e.g., a liter of water at bedside to spark a hydration habit).
• Tie-in to “two-minute rule” (James Clear): small, repeatable beginnings.
• “Deliberation is delay—get moving.” (~55:32)

3. Eliminate Biggest Distraction

• Proactively identify and remove the #1 obstacle (Netflix, phone, self-doubt, etc.).
• “It's not always about adding a new habit, but removing something that's obstructing our outcome.” (~56:47)

4. Success Leaves Footprints

• Model (not copy) those who’ve succeeded in your chosen field.
• “If you want to know the road ahead, ask those coming back.” (~58:21)

5. Depth Perception

• Your dream is likely closer than you think—many are “one decision, one mentor, one habit away.”
• Analogy: “The Teslas were always there, but now you see them because they're important to you.” (~1:01:18)

6. Measure Performance

• What gets measured improves. Build a scoreboard for whatever you want to achieve.
• “Human beings, when they are measured, improve.” (~1:08:14)

7. Appropriate Celebration

• Reward yourself for real wins—don’t skip it (burnout risk!) but don’t overdo it (momentum killer).
• “The people that lose abandon the very habits that got them there in the first place.” (~1:13:12)

Bonus: Guard Against Judgment

• Don’t judge your former self (or others) harshly for not knowing then what you do now; wisdom accrues through experience.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Ed Mylett:

  • “The price you will pay for not making your dream come true, far greater than the one that you will pay to make it come true.” (09:56)
  • “Cost is a distraction. Worth is a focus mechanism.” (14:32)
  • “The most focused times in our life…the less distracted times in our life also equals the happiest times.” (15:58)

• Cody Sanchez:

  • “Don’t tell me what you want. Tell me what you’re willing to do to get it.” (17:35)
  • “You should negotiate the price tag of your sacrifice ahead of time. Brilliant.” (24:31)

• Demar Hamlin:

  • “You can’t conquer the world in one day…put the right foot in front of your left foot.” (28:03)
  • “Go through the ugly phases. Don’t be afraid of it, embrace it.” (28:55)
  • “I’m always able to bring myself to appreciate at least one thing, no matter what it is…” (32:16)

• James Lawrence (Iron Cowboy):

  • “When you are broken and when you have reached your limit, you can do one more.” (48:02)

• Ed Mylett & James Lawrence (on synchronicity):

  • Ed: “James, the book I’m writing right now is called ‘One More.’” (49:02)
  • James: “You just stole the title of my next book. Ed, we’re in a fight.” (49:06)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 01:43 – Main theme: Distractions and the power of obsessive focus
• 07:54 – Suffering as the price of greatness, embracing sacrifice
• 13:04 – Scarcity vs. worth: the cost/benefit mindset shift
• 17:24 – Interview: Cody Sanchez on sacrifice, entrepreneurship, and ambition
• 27:05 – Interview: Demar Hamlin on resilience, comeback, and perspective
• 40:01 – Interview: James Lawrence on endurance, identity, and “one more”
• 49:36 – Ed's solo: The 7 steps to making your goals a reality via habits

Takeaways for Listeners

• You are much more powerful than your current results reflect.
• Focus is your most precious resource; distractions are your biggest enemy.
• Obsessive immersion and clear, pre-negotiated sacrifice are the secret ingredients of top performers.
• Progress often feels like suffering; celebrate the discomfort.
• Your goals require corresponding habits; both must be specific and measured.
• Model successful behaviors, not just outcomes.
• Every comeback, every win, starts with the next small, focused step.
• When you think you’ve hit your wall, try “one more”—that’s where expansion begins.

Closing

Ed encourages listeners to subscribe and revisit these frameworks, emphasizing that mastery is less about talent and more about obsession, clarity, commitment, and continual recalibration. If you feel stuck or are ready to start winning again, this episode is a manual for doing the hard things that build true, meaningful, self-driven success.

Subscribe to The Ed Mylett Show for more high-impact conversations and actionable life strategies.