>> Hi.

I'm Lewis Howes, New York Times best-selling author and entrepreneur.

And welcome to "The School of Greatness," where we interview the most influential minds and leaders in the world to inspire you to live your best life today.

In this episode, Olympian Lindsey Vonn shares how you can overcome negative thoughts to develop a champion's mind-set and achieve your wildest dreams.

I'm so glad you're here today.

So let's dive in and let the class begin.

♪ ♪ What do you think made you such an instinctual, dominant athlete?

Where did the mind-set come from?

Like needing to or the desire to win all the time at the highest level?

>> I don't know.

I'm a really competitive person and I'm always kind of -- I'm like a perpetual one-upper.

You know, I think one of the things that most people said about me is when I started to succeed, they said, "Well, you know, now she's got this.

She's going to, you know, relax and it's not going to happen again."

And that's the exact opposite way that I think, you know.

I'm like, "If I get this, I need to get this, and if I get this, I need to get that."

And then just kind of like I always try to get better and better because that's the fun of a challenge, you know?

And I think as time went on too then I started to hit these, you know, marks of, you know, records and that then excited me and then, you know, just like finding constant motivation in becoming better.

>> Did you ever doubt yourself?

>> There's only one time I doubted myself.

I was -- It was right after the Olympics.

>> Which one?

>> 2002.

I was still young, you know, so I was... >> You were 17?

>> ...17, 18.

And I just, you know, I kind of got demoted from the ski team.

I was on like the Europa Cup team, which is one level below.

And I was kind of crawling my way back and yeah, I just -- I kept crashing and I wasn't sure if I was going to make it.

And then I just decided to double down on what I was doing.

I hired a trainer with money I didn't have.

I asked for an advance on my contract, and I spent the whole summer with a new trainer in Monaco.

And I got my first podium the next winter.

>> You had, like, what?

I don't know.

So many crashes and injuries, right, throughout so many years.

>> A lot, yeah.

>> A lot.

>> Just a couple.

>> I mean, you tore your knees like 50 times.

I mean, everything is crazy.

You got plates in your arm and your back.

I mean, it's nuts.

How do you have confidence after a crash and come back and say, "Well, I'm going to go back and do this course or the next course"?

>> Short-term memory.

>> Really?

>> Yeah.

I mean, it's part of the job.

>> The concussions, I guess, help, 'cause you forget.

>> Yeah.

You're like, "Oh, wait, I don't even remember that.

Shoot."

Yeah.

You know, it's like -- that's -- Crashing is part of the job description.

So, like, if you're not ready to do that, then, you know, you should probably not do that.

But for me, you know, I always use it as a learning tool, you know, what did I do wrong?

What can I do better?

You know, I always analyze my crashes.

A lot of people can't watch their crashes because they're like -- they don't want to revisit that.

>> It's painful to watch your crashes.

Especially when you're screaming.

>> I kind of love it.

I was like, "What's my style points?"

>> Oh, my gosh.

And every time my coaches -- I would crash, they would stop videoing 'cause they're like, "Oh, shoot," you know, they stop videoing.

I'm like, "You have to keep videoing.

I want to see the whole thing."

And so yeah, I mean, I just would analyze my crashes, what I did wrong and you know, I think for me you have to push the limits in order to find your limit.

And I always like wanted to be right up on the limit.

And then obviously you go past it sometimes, which you crash and you know, but if you're not pushing yourself that hard and you're never crashing, you're never going to find your limit.

That's how I think.

>> But some of these crashes, they would take, what, 3 to 6 months to recover, right?

>> Yeah.

>> [ Laughs ] >> Yeah.

>> Do you feel like you could have done it without crashing?

Do you feel like you needed to crash?

>> No.

I mean, not for me.

That's just kind of how I raced was always 110%.

So I think that's the reason why I was able to be, you know, as successful as I was in downhill for as long as I was.

But that's also the reason why I crashed a lot.

So it's kind of a double-edged sword, but I don't know.

I wouldn't change it because I think every injury taught me something.

You know, I think I became a stronger person.

Maybe not physically, but mentally I definitely got a lot stronger.

And I think when you go through those kinds of setbacks, you also have a different perspective, you know, and appreciate what you have so much more.

So every time I crashed or I had injuries, I became more hungry to come back because I realized how much I miss it and how much I love it.

And, you know, just I wouldn't change it.

>> Yeah.

Right before you're about to go off, what is that 5 minutes before look like in your mind?

>> I mean, hopefully it's really pretty empty.

>> Really?

>> Yeah.

I mean, because up until that point, you do all the preparation, right?

You know, I'm -- I've analyzed the course.

I've visualized it a thousand times in my head.

I've done all the physical preparation I can do.

I've warmed up in the morning.

I've warmed up right before I'm in the starting gate.

And at that moment, that's when you kind of automatize everything.

Like, everything should be automatic.

You should be in the starting gate calm and like ready to go.

You know, when you're racing at 80 miles an hour, you have to be only thinking about what's right here.

You know, if you're thinking about this and that and the other thing, then, you know, that's a dangerous recipe.

>> Do you know what your fastest speed was ever?

>> The fastest I've ever been clocked at was 84.

>> Oh, my gosh.

>> But, you know, I don't know.

It could have been more.

>> That's terrifying, right?

>> The men have gone 100.

>> That's nuts.

>> Yeah.

It's fun.

>> You crash on that, you're... >> It's awesome.

>> How do you survive that?

>> I don't know.

Good question.

We have, like, back protect-- They have airbags now.

>> No way.

You didn't have that when you were 17, did you?

>> No, I wish I did.

>> Airbags?

>> Yeah.

Airbags in your back protector.

And, like, if you are inverted in any way, it'll... >> Shut up.

>> Yeah, it's great.

>> That's amazing technology.

>> Yeah, I know.

It's awesome.

>> You said you were nine when you met your hero, your idol, right?

>> Mm-hmm.

>> If your 9-year-old self was standing in front of you right now, what would you say in terms of advice to her?

>> I wouldn't say anything.

Because, you know, like, you can't correct the things you've done in the past.

And I think that, you know, again, everything that you experience teaches you something, whether it's good or bad.

And so I wouldn't be here if I had done things differently.

So I wouldn't go back and say, you know, do something differently.

I would maybe just say, enjoy the ride, you know?

But that's about it.

>> Do you feel like you enjoyed it?

>> Yeah, I did.

I mean, I definitely think sometimes I took myself a little too seriously, you know?

I mean, but that's also part of it.

You know, when you want to be, you know, the best, you have to give up a lot of things.

And, you know, you can't always enjoy everything as much as everybody else.

But, you know, I think it was well worth it.

>> Yeah, yeah.

One of the hardest transitions of my life has been from when I was done playing football into "What's next in my life?"

>> Yeah.

>> And you've been transitioning for the last few years now.

Has it been hard for you or do you feel like you've set your brand up so well that it's been easy to kind of move past the sport in a sense?

>> I mean, I tried as hard as I could to set myself up, you know, and I had plenty of work and plenty of things to do.

But, you know, as you know, it's, you know, one day to the next, your life is completely different.

>> When did you officially retire?

>> February 2019.

>> Okay.

So a year before COVID.

>> Yeah.

So it took me, I mean, the year after -- before COVID was -- Yeah, it was really hard.

And then COVID was like, okay, slow down, think about things, process things.

And now I'm finally at like a really good place where I'm not, you know, working to, you know, forget that I used to ski race.

>> When was the last, like, big medal that you won?

'Cause didn't you have -- >> My last race.

>> That was it?

Didn't you have a big crash like five days before or something?

>> Like two days before.

>> Two days before, you had a big crash.

>> Yeah.

>> How did you decide to be like, "Okay, I'm going to come back" after demolishing your body?

>> I mean, there's really no other option.

You know, it's like... >> Not race.

>> Go big or go home.

I, you know, it's -- I didn't want to go home.

>> Really?

>> Yeah.

I mean, I don't know.

I've always been the person that if I can walk, like if I can be out there, I will be out there.

I had torn my LCL, so I was racing with no LCL.

I had braces on both knees.

>> Shut up.

>> No, it was definitely -- I felt like I was being held together by duct tape.

>> [ Laughs ] >> And so, like, my last race was literally -- I was like, "Well, this is it.

This is all I got.

So I'm just going to lay everything on the table and see what happens."

And it was hard because I didn't want to crash in my last race.

There was no do-overs.

>> You knew this was gonna be your last race?

>> Oh, yeah, it was 100%.

>> Like, "I'm done after this.

My body is falling apart."

>> Literally.

And so it was like, there's no do-overs.

"This is your last chance."

And yeah, I just -- I threw down and gave it everything I had.

And then, you know, third place.

>> That's crushing it.

>> So how did you get your mind right, though?

Like, I know when your body -- You're like, okay, I'm just going to toughen it up and just make it happen.

But how did you get your mind right?

>> Well, I actually talked to my coach that I grew up with in Minnesota the night before my race, and he's like, "What is 60 seconds in your whole life?"

>> Wow.

>> Like, "What is 60 seconds?"

I'm like, "Wow, that's a really good perspective."

I'm like, "It's nothing."

He's like, "Exactly.

It's nothing.

So who cares?

Just go."

I'm like, "Alright, yeah."

That was my mind-set anyways, but it just kind of, like, put everything in perspective in that moment.

And he made a great point.

96 years old and he made a great point.

>> Wow.

>> Yeah.

>> That's a great point.

Isn't it crazy that I mean, how many Olympics did you do?

Three?

>> Four.

>> Four Olympics?

>> Yeah.

>> That's nuts.

>> Just missed Sochi.

That's it.

>> Oh, only four times at the Olympics.

Isn't it crazy that so many athletes -- I'm sure you know as well -- train decades for 60 seconds, 10 seconds, 30 seconds.

>> Yeah, it's nuts.

And especially, you know, it's qualifying too.

You have a cold.

You're a track and a field athlete.

Your competition is 60 seconds, 45 seconds and you're a little bit off and you're done.

Yeah, it's crazy.

>> You talked about believing in yourself.

How did you learn to believe in yourself consistently with all the setbacks, though?

How do you stay in belief when it's like, okay, crash, failure?

Didn't make the Olympics here.

Whatever.

I'm going through personal struggles in my life, whatever it might be.

How do you stay in belief with yourself?

>> I kind of always went back to, especially when I had multiple injuries, I always went back to, "Why am I doing this?"

You know, I'm doing it because I love it.

I'm passionate about it.

And, you know, even if I have setbacks, I still am happy every time in the starting gate.

So it's kind of like always going back to the root of why I'm there.

Yes, I love winning and that's always what I wanted to do.

There's no qualms about that.

>> You're not going to lose.

>> Yeah.

But you know, at the end of the day, when I'm putting myself through everything that I did, you know, all the rehabs and everything I always remembered: I loved it and I wanted to go fast again, whether I won or lost, I wanted to go fast again.

So kind of keeping things in perspective.

Which again is like, you know, one of the reasons why I think having injuries is just a good way to have a different perspective on things.

>> Yeah, and reflect and see, "Do I still love this or not?

Do I want to keep going?"

>> Yeah.

>> How important was mental health for you, you know, throughout your entire career?

Because it wasn't really talked about until like the last five years, mental health and the importance of self-care and taking care of your mind-set.

How important was that for you?

Do you ever feel like you lost it at times or overwhelmed or stressed or depressed at certain points?

>> Yeah, definitely.

I mean, I definitely struggled with depression for a long time.

And I, you know, I was vocal about it not until 2012 maybe?

And at that time, you know, no one was talking about it.

It was really scary because, I mean, I hadn't told my parents like I didn't tell anybody.

And then I just was like, this is something I really need to do.

And it doesn't help me kind of process everything and like feel more comfortable about it.

But I mean, you know, being on the road is really hard.

You're always in a hotel room.

I'm always by myself.

And, you know, a lot of times, you know, people just see the athletes, like, on the podium and happy and like in the media.

But, you know, when the cameras go off, you go back to an empty hotel room and it can be really, really hard, again, especially because you're doing it for so long, you know, and the end of my career, I think, thankfully, I got my dog Lucy.

So she was like my companion and always was with me and definitely helped a lot.

But it's like the loneliness really gets to you.

>> It is lonely.

You're training that hard for something.

I mean, your team is there and I'm sure your family are there, but at certain points you're just alone with your thoughts.

>> It's isolating.

>> It's very isolating.

>> Yeah.

>> There's not many people that can probably relate to you.

>> Not really.

>> You have a couple peers.

There's a couple other athletes you can talk to and kind of understand -- your coach maybe.

>> Then also, you know, if you want to talk to somebody about it, they're not really going to have any sympathy for you because you're doing well.

>> Because you're making money.

>> "Why are you complaining about something?"

So, you know, success doesn't equal happiness.

I mean, everyone says like money doesn't equal happiness.

Success doesn't equal happiness.

You have to find that, you know, on your own.

But yeah, it's just because you're successful doesn't mean you're happy.

And there definitely were a lot of times where I was not happy.

>> Really?

>> Yeah.

>> Do you feel like you're happy now?

>> Yeah.

I'm actually the happiest I've ever been.

>> What brings you the most joy in your life?

>> I think just waking up every day and being excited about, you know, something new.

New challenges, new experiences, meeting new people.

I think... You know, I was so focused on skiing that I had blinders on and I didn't see a lot that was around me.

And I mean, you have to do that if you want to be successful.

But I just -- I get so excited every day 'cause I'm like, "What am I going to do today?"

You know, am I gonna go wakesurfing?

Am I gonna go mountain biking?

You know, all these things that, A, I haven't been able to do just because of my sport and like, B, I just have never experienced.

So I just -- I'm excited.

It's a very exciting time.

I'm very, very happy.

>> So it sounds like it only took you two years to kind of transition from the sport to feeling at peace about moving past it now, right, and kind of letting it go?

>> Mm-hmm.

>> That's pretty quick, though.

Most athletes hold on to a sense of loneliness or depression or the glory days.

>> I mean, don't get me wrong.

I miss it.

And it's easier in the summer because no one's racing, you know?

Like, ask me again in February when the Olympics are going.

>> Oh, man.

>> Yeah.

And this past winter was the World Championships in Cortina, which is literally one of my favorite places and I was commentating for NBC.

>> Oh, how was that, watching and commentating?

>> I commentated for the -- Yeah, I could only do a couple of races and I preferred to only do -- I preferred the men because then I... >> Oh, right, that's not as... You're not like, "I can beat these girls right now!"

>> Yeah, exactly, I don't put myself in that position.

>> "Let's go!"

>> But you know, it's like...

I process it as a death, you know, like a death, you know, like it's gone, it's never coming back.

'Cause the second you think, "Oh, well, maybe I could do a comeback," it'll really mess with your mind.

>> How important has rituals been in your life?

Do you do a lot of rituals beyond journaling to -- When you said this is like a death, have you ever, like, put your skis in a coffin and buried it to allow you to process or something like that?

>> Yeah.

No.

I mean, I actually did the opposite.

I always had, like, my Olympic medals in my sock drawer.

I never had them out.

Like, I mean, I had, like, a nice trophy case for my other, you know, trophies, but I never -- >> You probably had a whole room for all your trophies.

There have been so many of them.

>> I had a nice display case in Colorado, but now I moved to Utah.

So I don't have that.

Literally everything is in storage.

>> But you got your... >> But I have my medals.

So my Olympic medals, I, for the first time, like, got my gold medal framed and I got all my World Championship medals framed.

And it was like, "This is a big moment."

>> Of course.

>> And I kind of was like, "This is what I did."

You know what I mean?

>> It's not what you're doing.

>> Right.

>> Ooh.

>> Because it was kind of like, "it's put away now."

>> Ohh.

>> Right?

>> My heart.

There's a lot to celebrate, but my heart hurts.

>> Right?

[ Laughs ] >> Yeah.

>> So it was like -- It was an interesting moment to do that.

It seems weird and, you know, slightly vain, but I just felt like it was like, this is what I did and it's done now.

And I can look back and be happy about what I did, but it's not what I do.

It's not who I am, certainly.

>> Who are you?

>> I'm just a nice girl from Minnesota.

>> [ Laughs ] What would you say are the non-negotiables?

You've been living this life for a while now at a top level.

20-plus years you've been competing and now transitioning.

What would you say are the non-negotiables, three to five things that have helped you become successful and that will help you to continue to be successful?

If you had three to five habits or things that you must do, non-negotiable in your life to support your success, what would those be?

>> I mean, work ethic.

It's general but at the same time, you know, if you want to succeed at anything that you're doing in life, you know, you have to be willing to put in the work.

>> Yeah.

>> You know?

And make those sacrifices.

I honestly feel that the most successful people aren't the most talented.

They're not the smartest.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> They're the people that are willing to go the extra mile that the other people are not.

You know, rituals or habits that, you know, help you, you know, get to the place where you can work hard, so whether that's working out or in journaling or going on a walk or, you know, meeting your friend once a week or whatever it is.

You know, finding habits like healthy habits like that that, you know, put you in a mental place that allows you to then work harder and and again and be more successful.

>> Right.

>> And then surround yourself by people that believe in the same things that you do.

So that will help facilitate your success and not bring you down.

You know?

I think it is oftentimes really hard to actually find people that want you to succeed.

>> Really?

>> I think.

>> Mm-hmm.

Why is that, do you think?

>> That's just human nature, I think.

>> Or jealous or... >> Yeah.

I mean, and honestly, I haven't experienced that a lot, but sometimes it creeps up on you.

And you're like, "Wow, you really didn't want me to succeed."

>> Really?

>> Yeah.

So it's just kind of -- >> Like people you've hired on your team or friends or peers?

>> No, my internal teams, we're tight.

You know, they've been with me since I was 16.

I'm a very loyal person.

Like, we're a very tight-knit group and I like to keep it that way.

>> Peers or friends.

>> There's external people, yeah, coming in that, you know, pretend to be one thing and they're not.

And so it's good to make sure you keep yourself surrounded by people that want to see you succeed and will help you get there.

And, you know, if you have to make your sacrifice, that they're going to pick up the slack for you.

>> Right.

>> You know, because you can't do everything alone, you know?

That's the other thing.

>> Right.

What were your coaches and your team like when you were competing?

Do you have -- Do you think you could have been as successful on your own or without the team?

>> No, you need a team.

You absolutely need a team.

And so it goes with everything that you're doing, whether it's in business or sports or whatever, you know, you can't do everything by yourself.

So surround yourself by people that will help you.

And, you know, my coaches were amazing.

I had the best ski technician in the world, Heinz.

He literally was just as invested in my success as I was.

I mean, if I -- When I won, he would cry, you know.

>> That's beautiful.

>> It was great.

And, you know.

>> Did you cry too?

>> I cried 'cause he was crying.

It was like a thing.

I'm like, "Heinz, why are you crying?

You're making me cry."

And, you know, he would -- he was so nervous when I crashed.

And, you know, like, it just feels really good to know that someone's that invested in what you're doing and they're putting just as much effort into what they're doing to make you succeed as you are.

>> Yeah.

>> It's like me working in the gym, you know.

He's in the ski room, tuning my skis for hours on end.

And a lot of people don't know that about ski racing.

It's -- Your equipment is a huge part of your success.

So if I didn't have him, if I didn't have my coaches, if I didn't have my physical therapist, Lindsay Winninger, who helped me get back from all my injuries.

You know, if I didn't have, like, all of those people, I couldn't do what I did, so... >> Right.

Team is everything.

What was the greatest lesson your coach taught you?

>> It was my coach from Minnesota, the 96-year-old.

He said -- I think I was like 10 or 11.

He said I'm fast the way I am, so don't change it.

Because a lot of people at that time in my career tried to change my technique.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> And even my dad was like, "You know, this isn't -- she's not going to succeed if she stays like this."

And he's like, "No, this is her natural talent.

Stay with what you have.

Don't try to be someone else.

You know, you're fast the way you are."

And so I kind of, you know, morphed that into life as well.

You know, it's like you are who you are and that's what makes you special.

So stick with it.

>> That's a good lesson.

>> Right?

>> That's a beautiful lesson.

And how do you deal now and how did you deal with negative thoughts?

Did they fester for a while?

Did you have a technique that allowed you to get out of it into more positivity?

What did you do?

>> I mean, I think journaling helped, you know.

Honestly, skiing was the best outlet for me.

>> It's therapy, huh?

>> Yeah.

Which was why it was so hard to retire.

You know?

I mean, I think social media was at times really difficult, you know, because other people would say negative things about me, and that would kind of creep in.

And I wouldn't necessarily always believe it, but it still kind of -- it's like there, you know?

It's like a little mosquito and it's like, "Do people actually think that about me?"

You know?

And it kind of adds a little bit of doubt in there.

And it's not always easiest to get rid of those negative thoughts.

But I try to focus on again, like, what makes me happy?

Why am I doing this?

I'm not doing it for other people.

I'm doing it for myself.

>> Yeah.

>> And, you know, everyone's going to judge you.

Everyone's going -- There's always going to be people that say bad things about you.

But, you know, when the lights are off and you go to bed, you know, it's just you.

And are you happy with yourself?

And I think that's the ultimate question.

If you can be happy with that, then you're good.

Who cares what anyone else thinks?

>> This is a question I ask people towards the end of the interview.

It's called the Three Truths.

>> This sounds really intimidating.

I'm scared.

>> So it's a hypothetical question.

Many years away from now, it's your last day on Earth.

And you get to live and accomplish and do everything you want to do.

All the ups and downs and the beauty of life.

You get to live as old as you want to be, but then eventually it's got to be your last day.

Hypothetically.

>> Okay, this is your last day.

>> Your last day.

You've accomplished everything.

But for whatever reason, all of the words that you've said, all the content, this interview, your books, anything you create, goes away, goes to the next place.

So no one has access to your information anymore.

>> Okay, so you're a blank slate.

>> Blank slate.

No one's got your message to the world.

>> Okay.

>> If you can leave three lessons behind, and this is all we would have to remember you by, three lessons.

>> Wow, this is really intense.

>> You know, it's called "The School of Greatness," Lindsey.

It's not "The School of Average."

>> Oh, wow.

>> If you had three lessons you could leave behind, I call it Three Truths.

>> Yeah.

>> Based on what's in your heart right now, what would be those three truths?

>> Always stay true to yourself.

Never give up on your dreams, which cheesy but very true.

You can't make anyone else happy.

>> Mm.

>> You can only make yourself happy.

>> Mm, that's so true.

>> That's a good one.

>> You can't make anyone else happy.

>> Yeah.

>> Did you have to learn that the hard way?

>> Yes, I did.

>> Really?

>> Yep, many times, yep.

I cannot make anyone else happy no matter what I do or how hard I try.

So I can only make myself happy.

And I can make someone else happier.

>> Mm.

>> But I can't make someone happy.

>> My final question -- What is your definition of greatness?

>> My definition of greatness is, like, overcoming all obstacles.

I mean, I think the greatness isn't just, you know, a perfect run on a perfect day.

You know, it's when you're at your absolute limit and you're scratching, clawing to get to the finish.

And, you know, you make it and you push yourself past where you think you could ever go.

Like Tom Brady, you know his best -- He always is like his best performance isn't, you know, winning this or that Super Bowl.

There's like certain moments where he felt like he overcame a lot.

And those are like really great moments.

And again, to each his own.

So not everyone has the same experience and everyone's greatness is different.

>> We hope you enjoyed this episode and found it valuable.

Stay tuned for more from "The School of Greatness" coming soon on public television.

Again, I'm Lewis Howes.

And if no one has told you lately, I want to remind you that you are loved, you are worthy, and you matter.

And now it's time to go out there and do something great.

If you'd like to continue on the journey of greatness with me, please check out my website lewishowes.com, where you'll find over 1,000 episodes of "The School of Greatness" show, as well as tools and resources to support you in living your best life.

>> The online course Find Your Greatness is available for $19.

Drawn from the lessons Lewis Howes shares in "The School of Greatness," this interactive course will guide you through a step-by-step process to discover your strengths, connect to your passion and purpose, and help create your own blueprint for greatness.

To order, go to lewishowes.com/tv.

♪ ♪ ♪