“Out of my mind and into my Body”… this is comedian, Hasan Minhaj’s, key to putting himself into the proper state before walking on stage.
Hasan Minhaj and Shaan Puri recently did a podcast for Shaan’s show, My First Million. Here are the highlights from their talk…
From Hasan
Before the show (3 hours)
Exercises, getting body going , break a sweat. He makes the specific comment. My goal is to get “Out of my head and into my body.”
The best performers are not in their head they are in their body. They are in flow. They have a feel for their environment.
What demographic does this best?? I will tell you, it’s children. They have the innate ability to be fully present with what is in front of them. Noticing every bit of information that surrounds that given stimulus. The mind does not wander unless a different stimulus is presented.
then he eats
Takes a shower
Puts “the outfit” on - like putting on a uniform. This is an important piece and here is why….
Hasan wants it to feel like a show. There is a level of confidence when you move into a room and you’re wearing your armor, coming correct he as puts it. No stains, slouching, etc… being fresh, gives confidence. Part of performance is the switch getting turned on. Doing actions that bring us to this mindset are key in our being no that It. Is. Time.
Meditates. Once again Hasan puts it, Get out of the head and get into the body. Nothing crazy just breathing. Uses head space app.
Then he Prays, has to be about something bigger than himself. Establish his intention. Give joy to people.
Gets to facility, knocks down an Espresso
Then is super loose, hanging out with the staff. “How are you”, “how’s your day”. Another way to get out of his head, vibe with the people, serve the people
Shaan Responds with his take on his strategy before jumping on a podcast, speaking at an event, or teaching.
“You can’t try to cram for the test, what gets produced is a product of the last 10 years of work. The prep before the stage is not information, it is setting my mind into the right place”.
He starts 10 mins before his podcast
15/20 push-ups
3-5 mins breathwork
5 min meditate on serving - people you caring about, gratitude - visualizes the people he loves laughing - those people being in a joyful state - this way he is not thinking about his needs, wants, desires
Last thing is remember why you are here , NOT what am I going to say
If you think what you are going to say you will be in your head while your doing the thing that you are trying to execute
Shaan then imagines the end, them saying bye to each other after the podcast, people listening to the podcast saying that podcast was amazing, have them on again, etc.
One again he focuses on what he wants to deliver not what he wants to say
His closing comments…I’m not going to learn new skill in next 5 min, the performance will be based off all the hard work I’ve done over a decade, put yourself in the right state of mind so you can perform and do the things you already know how to do
What are the key takeaways here….
These are the tactics from two people who are considered masters of their craft. Hasan is one of the best comedians of today and Shaan runs one, if not the, top business podcast (with Sam Parr, no small boy stuff). They place more focus on setting your mind and body into the right state than do obtaining the right information (at the point of peforming)
The performance is based off of the preparation. A demand can only be supported to the level of preparation given over a period of time.
See the End Picture. We used this strategy in sports quite often. See where you want to end up Not the route to get there, with the correct preparation, your body will do what it needs to get you there.
Release the focus from your needs, wants, and desires and put it into how can you serve the people. We create blockage in our brain when solely worried about fulfilling our own desire. I know this feels against human nature, but at the end of the day letting go of the self allows you to find what you are looking for.
Best,
Jake R.
