In this powerful episode, Joe Ciccarone sits down with Jim Murphy, author of the viral sensation “Inner Excellence” that was famously read by Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown on the sidelines during a game. Jim shares his remarkable journey from minor league baseball player to mental skills coach for elite athletes, and how his book rocketed from Amazon ranking #532,000 to #1 overnight.
00:05 – Introduction to Jim Murphy and his background in mental skills Coaching 🧠
03:12 – The viral moment when AJ Brown was spotted reading “Inner Excellence” on the NFL sidelines 📱
06:45 – Jim’s personal journey: from financial struggles to overnight success 💰
09:30 – Understanding “Inner Excellence” philosophy and the concept that “every beginning has an end and every ending has a new beginning” 🔄
12:15 – Jim discusses how losing his baseball vision led to a greater vision for his life 👁️
15:40 – The core philosophy: “What’s essential is invisible to the eye” and focusing on what truly matters ❤️
18:22 – How to be “unoffendable and unirritatable” in a world full of criticism 🛡️
21:10 – The importance of understanding that “your opponent is not your enemy, but your partner in the dance” 🤝
23:45 – Freedom to choose your thoughts – breaking negative thought patterns 💭
26:30 – The PALMS acronym for ego: Possessions, Achievements, Looks, Money, and Status 🌴
28:15 – “We do not climb mountains to get to the top. We climb them to see who we can become” 🏔️
31:40 – Jim’s personal practices for clearing his mind and recharging (including cold plunging!) ❄️
34:10 – The one lesson Jim hopes listeners take away: slow down and ask God how you can grow 🙏
36:25 – Fun closing questions: dream day with the Obamas and tattoo quote “Selfless is Fearless” ✨
Jim Murphy is a #1 NY Times Best Selling author and mental skills coach who works with professional athletes and high-performers. His book “Inner Excellence” focuses on training the mind for extraordinary performance and the best possible life. After Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown was seen reading the book on the sidelines during a January 2025 game, the book skyrocketed from selling 2-3 copies a day to over 100,000 copies in a week, achieving the coveted #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list.
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