My history with today’s guest, Kyle Maynard, goes back a decade or so to my banking days when I heard him speak at an event and left completely inspired. Imagine my surprise when I met him again two years ago and got a chance to talk with him at Lewis Howes’ Summit of Greatness event. I’m so glad that we were able to get him on For the Love of Money and share more with all of you!

Many of you have likely heard about Kyle and his epic story. But for those who don’t know, he was born with a rare condition called congenital amputation that left him with arms that end at the elbows and legs that end around his knees. He credits his parents for helping him navigate life with this challenge (without prosthetics) and for encouraging him that anything was possible. And wow, did he ever prove that there were no limits – so much so that others felt his “disadvantage” was actually an unfair advantage!

In Kyle’s younger years, he found success in both wrestling and football, but most recently he became famous for becoming the first man to climb (bearcrawl) Mount Kilimanjaro. Today he continues to thrive on physical challenges, however he’s added an extra focus on photography and film.

Kyle shares his incredible story and “No Excuses” philosophy in the hope that it inspires others to banish their excuses and make the world a better place. My hope is that his story inspires you to do the same.
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Question Highlights:
o What was it like to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?
o Is filming/photography your new rush?
o How many times a year do you speak?
o What does your hustle look like now?
o What common threads do you see between those who are successful and those who are not?
o Where are you going to take this newfound love for photography and film?
o What’s one of the best business decisions you’ve ever made?
o How can people get past their BS excuses?
o Now that you’ve raised your speaking fees, do you see a difference in the quality of events that you speak at?
o What cause(s) do you care the most about and what causes should we be more aware of?

Kyle’s Thoughts…

“The map is not the territory.” – Alfred Korzybski

“Focus on the deep work.”

“Create a structure so you don’t have to make the same decisions all the time.”

“There is no end to our excuses.”

“No excuses give you the freedom to try.”

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Kyle Maynard is an entrepreneur, speaker, best-selling author, award-winning extreme athlete, and the first man to bearcrawl to the top of the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro (19,340 feet), and the summit of Argentina’s Mount Aconcagua (22,838 feet), the highest peak in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres.

Born with a rare condition known as congenital amputation, that left him with arms that end at the elbows and legs that end near his knees, he learned early on to live life independently and without prosthetics. Kyle thrives on physical challenges and is a champion wrestler, CrossFit Certified Instructor and gym owner, competitive Mixed Martial Arts fighter, world record-setting weightlifter, and skilled mountaineer.

He is on a mission to make the world a better place and to inspire others to do the same by sharing his story and living by example. He travels across continents, speaking to thousands of executives and students, athletes and warriors, to share his “No Excuses” philosophy. He is a humanitarian who passionately supports numerous charities, and commits time and resources to work with wounded and recovering U.S. military veterans.

Kyle is the New York Times best-selling author of his life story, “No Excuses,” and the focus of the moving ESPN documentary, “A Fighting Chance.” His story has been featured in countless television programs and editorials, which have been viewed by millions around the world.