How does Terry Crews manage social media demands while working on productions?

Crews learned to push back against the expectation that productions take all followers with them, realizing too much phone time harms performance. He creates a seasonal approach to social media, leaving his phone behind during work and finding he doesn't lose followers; instead, people appreciate his reappearances.

What books or long-form content have significantly impacted Terry Crews recently?

Crews highly recommends Walter Isaacson's biographies, particularly 'Code Breaker,' which details CRISPR and touches upon the controversial views of James Watson. He also draws inspiration from Victor Frankl's 'Man's Search for Meaning' for its depiction of endurance.

What is the biggest mistake people make, according to Terry Crews?

Crews identifies self-righteousness as the primary mistake. This mindset allows individuals to commit harmful actions because they believe they are inherently right, leading to a lack of empathy and nuance, and causing conflation of real problems with personal justifications.

What was 'D-Day' for Terry Crews, and what led to his breakthrough?

D-Day was the day his wife confronted him about his pornography addiction. This led to him confessing infidelity from a decade prior. The shift from questioning why his wife didn't believe him to asking why he lied initiated his inward reflection and desire for change.

How did Terry Crews overcome his addiction and personal struggles?

Crews utilized therapy and the principles of the 12 Steps, focusing on accepting what he can't change and changing what he can. He emphasizes moving away from a 'revenge movie' mindset and embracing the courage to change oneself, rather than seeking external validation or control.

What is the difference between competition and resistance in personal growth?

Crews distinguishes between competition, which he believes hinders creativity and leads to a zero-sum game, and resistance, which is the natural opposition encountered when striving for anything worthwhile. He advocates for collaboration over competition and facing resistance as part of the process of building and creating.

How does Terry Crews define true strength?

He defines true strength not by the ability to inflict harm (like giving a hard punch), but by the capacity for endurance – how much one can take, like a great boxer or Victor Frankl in concentration camps. This long-term resilience and teachability are keys to genuine strength.

What role does reconciliation play in addressing societal issues?

Crews believes reconciliation is the essential first step for any movement or societal change. Without it, conflicts are merely postponed. Reconciliation fosters agreement, understanding, and peace, which are crucial for moving forward constructively.

How did Terry Crews handle an incident where his agent assaulted him at a party?

Despite his instinct for aggression, Crews remembered his promise to his wife and his therapy. Instead of retaliating, he chose to walk away with his wife, recognizing it as taking an 'L' to win the larger war and avoiding a situation that could have destroyed his career and reputation.

What is the core message of Terry Crews' book 'Tough'?

The book presents a model for anyone feeling unfulfilled despite appearing 'tough.' It guides readers on how to overcome procrastination and self-sabotage to achieve true self-mastery by redefining strength and power.

What advice does Terry Crews have for overcoming cynicism?

Crews is actively at war with cynicism, advocating for positivity and hope. He suggests viewing negativity often as ignorance and believes that sometimes our greatest hopes are destroyed to prepare us for something better.

Key Moments

Terry Crews — Masculinity, True Power, Therapy, and Resisting Cynicism

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Terry Crews discusses masculinity, therapy, and overcoming self-righteousness to find true power.

Key Insights

True strength lies in endurance and resilience, not aggressive reactions.

Self-righteousness is a dangerous trap that can lead to cruelty and isolation.

Therapy and self-reflection are crucial for personal growth and overcoming addiction.

Replacing revenge fantasies with reconciliation and collaboration leads to lasting success.

A 'day one' mindset and continuous learning are essential for self-mastery.

Embracing vulnerability and humility is key to finding authentic power.

THE EVOLVING INDUSTRY AND PERSONAL STRUCTURE

Terry Crews reflects on the changing landscape of the entertainment industry, particularly the shift towards streaming and limited series, which offer less structure than traditional sitcoms. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining personal discipline through consistent workouts and intermittent fasting, regardless of the industry's demands. Crews also discusses the added pressure of social media, where performers are expected to constantly engage their followers, a task he found detrimental to his focus and performance. He learned to step back from social media seasonally, discovering that his audience remained loyal, which challenged the notion of needing to constantly 'feed the beast'.

THE DETRIMENT OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE POWER OF READING

Crews elaborates on the detrimental effects of constant social media engagement, noting how it erodes focus and presence, impacting performance. He advocates for leaving phones behind during work to preserve mental clarity. In contrast, he highlights the calming and perspective-giving benefits of reading, especially audiobooks during workouts. Reading serves as an antidote to the superficiality and anger often perpetuated by media, providing a more realistic and nuanced view of life and fostering empathy for diverse perspectives.

THE DANGER OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THE TRAP OF VICTIMOLOGY

A central theme is the destructive nature of self-righteousness, which Crews identifies as the root of many societal issues, including racism and interpersonal conflict. He explains how victimology, the framing of oneself as perpetually wronged, can be a form of self-righteousness that justifies harmful behavior. Crews shares his own past reliance on victimhood, using his background as an excuse for his actions, until he realized that excuses expire and lead to an unfulfilled existence. He stresses that true progress requires humility and acknowledging that everyone is on a continuous learning journey.

D-DAY: CONFRONTING ADDICTION AND RECONCILIATION

Crews recounts 'D-Day,' the pivotal moment his pornography addiction and a decade-old infidelity were revealed to his wife. This confrontation shifted his focus from blaming her for not believing him to understanding why he lied. This introspection led him to therapy and the 12-step program, which he found instrumental in addressing his addiction and the underlying issues. He emphasizes that reconciliation, not revenge, is the path to lasting peace and that admitting one's own mistakes is the first step toward genuine connection.

REDIFINING TOUGHNESS: ENDURANCE OVER AGGRESSION

Challenging traditional notions of hyper-masculine toughness, Crews posits that true strength lies in endurance, resilience, and the ability to withstand adversity, rather than aggressive reactions or revenge. He uses the analogy of boxing, where absorbing punches is as crucial as delivering them. Drawing inspiration from figures like Viktor Frankl, he advocates for a long-term, sustainable form of strength that requires deep inner fortitude. This redefinition helps men avoid destructive behaviors driven by a need to prove their strength.

FROM COMPETITION TO COLLABORATION AND CREATIVITY

Crews argues that competition is the opposite of creativity and often leads to a zero-sum mentality, where one person's gain is another's loss. He contrasts this with collaboration, which he believes is the true engine of societal and human evolution. He critiques the 'sportification' of culture, where instant wins and 'canceling' others are prioritized over understanding and mutual growth. Crews advocates for reconciliation as the essential first step in any movement or relationship, believing it's the only way to achieve lasting peace and move forward constructively.

THE JOURNEY TO TRUE POWER AND HUMILITY

Experiencing the consequences of his past arrogance, Crews learned the importance of humility, exemplified by his decision to remove a belt from his suit on America's Got Talent when asked by an NBC representative. This act of grace prevented a potentially job-ending conflict. He stresses that continuous self-improvement and a 'day one' mindset are vital. By taking responsibility for his own reactions and focusing on personal growth, not on external validation or revenge, Crews discovered his own capacity for true power, a journey he details in his book 'Tough'.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Books

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Common Questions

Terry Crews describes his days as seasonal, with a structured routine in the past for sitcoms involving early mornings and a two-hour workout. The industry's shift to streaming and limited series means less predictability, but he maintains his personal structure, focusing on workouts and intermittent fasting (12 years strong).

Topics

Human Performance Mindset & Self-Improvement Society & Philosophy Personal Growth Addiction Recovery Philosophy Of Strength

Mentioned in this video

People

Victor Frankl

Author of 'Man's Search for Meaning', whose story of endurance in Nazi concentration camps is highlighted as an example of true, long-term toughness.

Walter Isaacson

A biographer that Terry Crews admires greatly for his in-depth approach, feeling like you're living a life with the subjects.

Michael Jordan

An iconic athlete discussed as an example of someone who achieved immense success but may not have been fulfilled, illustrating the potential downsides of fame.

John Coltrane

A seminal figure in jazz, whose profound musical creations are presented as an example of intelligence beyond conventional measurement.

William Shockley

A physicist mentioned for expressing racist views regarding the computer-learning abilities of Black people.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

His quote 'God will not have his work made manifest by cowards' is referenced in the discussion about demonstrating strength and avoiding aggression.

James Watson

Co-discoverer of the double helix, who later made controversial public statements about the intelligence of Black people based on genes, which deeply affected Crews.

Jennifer Doudna

A biologist mentioned in the context of Walter Isaacson's book 'Code Breaker', who helped develop CRISPR.

Thelonious Monk

A legendary jazz pianist whose unique musical genius is cited as an example of a level of intelligence that cannot be easily quantified or replicated.

Jim Jones

Leader of the Peoples Temple cult, mentioned as an extreme example of how movements with good intentions can tragically twist.

Books

Tough: My Journey to True Power

Terry Crews' new book, which details his path to finding true power through overcoming adversity and redefining strength.

The Last Dance

A documentary about Michael Jordan, used as an example of how immense success does not always equate to happiness or fulfillment.

Media

Tales of the Walking Dead

A TV series for AMC that Terry Crews did a stint on, which was described as shooting a movie in 10 days.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

A sitcom that Terry Crews starred in for eight years, representing a structured part of his professional life.

Concepts

CRISPR

A gene-editing technology discussed in relation to Jennifer Doudna and Walter Isaacson's book 'Code Breaker'.

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