Dr. John Dentico welcomes George Haymaker to the Throttle Up Leadership Podcast. George Haymaker is a certified coach in transformational neuroscience and former entrepreneur with over 35 years of leadership experience. His personal journey through addiction and recovery in his early fifties sparked a profound passion for understanding brain function and reshaping mental patterns through science-backed strategies. After hitting bottom, George entered a 12-step program that ignited his curiosity about neuroplasticity—the brain's remarkable ability to change, adapt, and evolve throughout life.

Today, George helps professionals and leaders optimize brain performance while overcoming stress, burnout, and reactive behaviors. His coaching methodology blends cutting-edge neuroscience with practical applications including mindfulness, nutrition, and lifestyle design. He guides clients to take deliberate control of their mental activity, leading with clarity and resilience rather than operating on autopilot from outdated neural patterns.

Central to George's approach is the concept that we must develop a conscious relationship with our brains. He emphasizes that the brain is a follower, not a leader—it simply retrieves past experiences most similar to current situations to predict how we should think, feel, and act. However, through intentional practice and repetition of new behaviors, we can literally rewire our neural pathways. George teaches that transformation requires designing your ideal identity from scratch, then consistently rehearsing being that person until new neural patterns become automatic. His mission centers on empowering people to move from the passenger seat to the driver's seat of their mental experience.

00:00  Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:33  George's Early Life and Influences

02:56  Understanding the Brain and Mental Patterns

05:16  Actions vs. Behaviors: Practical Insights

09:57  Developing New Mental Patterns

18:53  Simulations and Real-Life Applications

28:50  The Role of Neuroscience in Leadership

31:39  The Power of Meaning in the Workplace

33:42 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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