How this podcast was born…
How this podcast was born…
My story began with a sharp realization when I was 16: despite what others would perceive as “successful” as a teenager – getting good grades, being a good athlete, being a ‘good guy’ – I doubted myself. I doubted my abilities. I doubted what I could become.
After all – as the little voice in the back of my head said – who am I? Who am I to be great? Successful? Wealthy? Famous? Unbeknownst to my conscious mind, that little voice had created a ceiling for what was possible for my life.
I was a kid in an average (and loving) household, in an average suburban city. I knew of NO ONE who became “big” in my hometown. And I didn’t have the wherewithal or the tools to think beyond that. I mistakenly believed that my lot in life had been handed to me. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t…thrilling
In my teens, I burned a lot of energy thinking things like…
Early (and humble) days in Chris’ entrepreneurial journey.
“Am I good enough?”
“Why would people listen to me?”
“He has more experience so he must be better than I am”
“She came from a better background so she’s destined for more than me”
“Will I ever achieve my dreams?”
“Am I man enough?” (whatever that means)
“Will she like me if I show my real self?”
“Am I good enough?”
“Why would people listen to me?”
“He has more experience so he must be better than I am”
“She came from a better background so she’s destined for more than me”
“Will I ever achieve my dreams?”
“Am I man enough?” (whatever that means)
“Will she like me if I show my real self?”
I started getting curious about what it took to become an elite athlete, like an Olympian or NBA or NFL player, privately dreaming I could maybe – just maybe– become one too. I started reading books by famous athletes so I could learn their “secrets of success” – the training, the drills, the workouts they did to become great.
I quickly realized that those “secrets” were less secret and more consistently common that I expected. That achievement and success was driven less by ‘physical gifts’ and more by inner qualities: optimism, confidence, work ethic, mindset, beliefs, faith, determination. Qualities that can be learned. Qualities that could be cultivated and built.
I started getting curious about what it took to become an elite athlete, like an Olympian or NBA or NFL player, privately dreaming I could maybe – just maybe– become one too. I started reading books by famous athletes so I could learn their “secrets of success” – the training, the drills, the workouts they did to become great.
I quickly realized that those “secrets” were less secret and more consistently common that I expected. That achievement and success was driven less by ‘physical gifts’ and more by inner qualities: optimism, confidence, work ethic, mindset, beliefs, faith, determination. Qualities that can be learned. Qualities that could be cultivated and built.
That launched me on a quest. I needed to see what I was made of.
I started to ask myself one primary question, repeatedly: “How can I be the best I can be?”. That wasn’t a day-dreaming, airy-fairy question. That was a motivating, go-getting, life-affirming quest.
Asking that primary question set out my ambition to explore what is possible and began to shape virtually every major area of my life, my career, my relationships, my accomplishments, and the clarity of my purpose and mission. It became my duty to explore my potential.
The definition of hell is dying, getting to heaven and meeting the person you could have become.
The idea (truth!) that we have vast capacity to grow beyond our current circumstances inspired me to be a lifelong student of success, continually seek out real-world knowledge and in turn, share and teach these powerful insights to others.
That launched me on a quest. I needed to see what I was made of.
I started to ask myself one primary question, repeatedly: “How can I be the best I can be?”. That wasn’t a day-dreaming, airy-fairy question. That was a motivating, go-getting, life-affirming quest.
Asking that primary question set out my ambition to explore what is possible and began to shape virtually every major area of my life, my career, my relationships, my accomplishments, and the clarity of my purpose and mission. It became my duty to explore my potential.
The definition of hell is dying, getting to heaven and
meeting the person you could have become.
The idea (truth!) that we have vast capacity to grow beyond our current circumstances inspired me to be a lifelong student of success, continually seek out real-world knowledge and in turn, share and teach these powerful insights to others.
Since then it’s been a powerful journey for me –
Training nearly 10,000 people through high performance workshops and keynote talks in more than 30 countries
Coaching hundreds of leaders and aspiring achievers in results-focused 1-1 coaching intensive programs
Being the mental conditioning coach for athletes competing at world championships
As an athlete myself, winning 3 national championships, running marathons and ultramarathons in North America, Africa and Europe, competing in the Ironman Triathlon
Being chosen as an official torchbearer for the London 2012 Summer Olympics
Co-creating and co-hosting a top 10 podcast in personal development
Since then it’s been a powerful journey for me –
Training nearly 10,000 people through high performance workshops and keynote talks in more than 30 countries
Coaching hundreds of leaders and aspiring achievers in results-focused 1-1 coaching intensive programs
Being the mental conditioning coach for athletes competing at world championships
As an athlete myself, winning 3 national championships, running marathons and ultramarathons in North America, Africa and Europe, competing in the Ironman Triathlon
Being chosen as an official torchbearer for the London 2012 Summer Olympics
Co-creating and co-hosting a top 10 podcast in personal development
An uncomfortable truth for me is the more I learned and realized (and continue to do so) how vast the capacity is for each and everyone of us to do and become more, the more I can see in such vivid detail how as a kid and young adult I had so many narrow and limiting beliefs – that ceiling of what’s possible – despite any ‘successes’.
I still find myself bumping up against those and I still have doubts at times, yet am much more equipped to face them and overcome them and keep forging on.
Today, helping people to break through their own barriers, to master their inner game, to believe in what’s possible and to grow into the highest and best version of themselves is what drives me.
Now, with The Ignition Show I’m excited to engage and join with you in conversations with the most brilliant minds and amazing teachers.
An uncomfortable truth for me is the more I learned and realized (and continue to do so) how vast the capacity is for each and everyone of us to do and become more, the more I can see in such vivid detail how as a kid and young adult I had so many narrow and limiting beliefs – that ceiling of what’s possible – despite any ‘successes’.
I still find myself bumping up against those and I still have doubts at times, yet am much more equipped to face them and overcome them and keep forging on.
Today, helping people to break through their own barriers, to master their inner game, to believe in what’s possible and to grow into the highest and best version of themselves is what drives me.
Now, with The Ignition Show I’m excited to engage and join with you in conversations with the most brilliant minds and amazing teachers.
Let’s clarify what truly matters.
Let’s learn and grow together.
Let’s expand our vision of what’s possible.
And let’s inspire others to do the same.
Let’s clarify what truly matters.
Let’s learn and grow together.
Let’s expand our vision of what’s possible.
And let’s inspire others to do the same.
The Ignition Show aims to provoke, inspire and fuel your greatness. Host Chris Janzen, Elite Success Coach, Ironman triathlete and enduring seeker, goes 1-on-1 with today’s most brilliant thinkers, researchers, teachers and achievers to uncover what it truly takes to pursue your potential. Janzen also shares his insights and stories from coaching and training 10,000+ achievers through high performance workshops and talks.
These conversations aim to leapfrog superficial hacks and dive deep into the truth behind the success and struggles – the mindsets, the wisdom, the lessons learned, the daily habits – that fuels extraordinary and everyday humans to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
The Ignition Show explores the pathways to living as your best self through business and entrepreneurship, optimal health & vitality, and creating meaningful relationships but underneath it all it’s about the amazing capacity we all have to grow beyond our current situation, living life intentionally on your terms and embracing the beauty of the journey.
In the After Show episodes, Chris and Sarah dissect their takeaways from the inspiring interviews and discuss how they are applying the wisdom in their own lives.
Following each interview, Chris is joined by his wife, Sarah, for the After Show.
In the After Show episodes, Chris and Sarah dissect their takeaways from the inspiring interviews, discuss how they are applying the wisdom in their own lives and how these topics have affected their journey on a more personal level.
Listen in for candid opinions, personal anecdotes and a dynamic interactions between husband & wife.
New to podcasting, but not new to giving her opinion, Sarah joins Chris at the microphone for the After Show episodes. Although she loves stepping up to the mic, most of her time is spent in the background making things happen for the show, the business and their family behind the scenes.
On paper, Sarah brings over a decade of experience in corporate sales and marketing, nearly five years in entrepreneurship and a degree in biochemistry to round things out.
In reality, she brings a passion for learning, connecting to new people and ideas and pushing boundaries.
New to podcasting, but not new to giving her opinion, Sarah joins Chris at the microphone for the After Show episodes. Although she loves stepping up to the mic, most of her time is spent in the background making things happen for the show, the business and their family behind the scenes.
On paper, Sarah brings over a decade of experience in corporate sales and marketing, nearly five years in entrepreneurship and a degree in biochemistry to round things out.
In reality, she brings a passion for learning, connecting to new people and ideas and pushing boundaries.
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