Episode # 45: How Air Force Vet Mike Johnson Transformed His Mindset

✍️ EPISODE OVERVIEW

In this transformative episode of the Five Core Live podcast, host Will Moore sits down with Mike Johnson, Air Force veteran, author, and former Bachelor Nation star, to explore the critical difference between a "fixed victim" and "growth owner" mindset. Johnson shares his journey from military service to reality TV fame, revealing how maintaining a growth mindset helped him navigate life's challenges and opportunities.

The conversation delves deep into practical strategies for personal development, with Johnson emphasizing the importance of being introspective and deliberately surrounding yourself with growth-minded individuals. He shares candid insights about his military experience, which taught him to appreciate diverse perspectives and reinforced his belief that anything is achievable with the right mindset.

Most importantly, Johnson and Moore discuss how to combat the modern epidemic of instant gratification and social media comparison, offering actionable advice for building sustainable success habits. They explore how to transform short-term dopamine hits into long-term, fulfilling achievements, making this episode particularly relevant for young professionals seeking to level up their lives.

📖 CHAPTER SUMMARIES

1. The Power of Mindset Transformation (0:00-15:00) Mike Johnson and Will Moore dive into the crucial distinction between a fixed victim mentality and a growth owner mindset. Johnson emphasizes how being introspective has been key to his success, discussing how this awareness helps navigate challenges and setbacks. The conversation highlights how your response to failure defines your growth trajectory, with Johnson sharing personal examples of bouncing back from setbacks.

2. Breaking Free from Instant Gratification (15:00-30:00) The discussion shifts to addressing one of society's biggest challenges: the culture of instant gratification. Johnson shares insights about the importance of delayed gratification and building sustainable success, drawing parallels between military discipline and personal development. They explore how technology can be leveraged for growth rather than distraction.

3. The Military's Impact on Personal Growth (30:00-45:00) Johnson reveals how his military service transformed his worldview, teaching him to appreciate diverse perspectives and cultures. He discusses how this experience helped him develop resilience and adaptability, crucial traits for success in any field. The conversation includes powerful examples of how military discipline translates to civilian success.

4. Building Success Through Environmental Design (45:00-1:00:00) The discussion focuses on the importance of deliberately crafting your environment for success. Johnson shares his practical approach to surrounding himself with growth-minded individuals and how he strategically uses social media to maintain a positive mindset. They explore the concept of "making life easier for yourself" through strategic habit formation.

5. Authentic Growth and Future Goals (1:00:00-End) The episode concludes with Johnson discussing his upcoming projects, including a new TV show focused on mental health and insecurities. He shares his philosophy about continuous growth and setting new goals after achieving success, emphasizing the importance of following your passions rather than chasing external validation.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Introspection is Essential: Success starts with honest self-awareness. Johnson emphasizes that regular self-reflection isn't just helpful—it's absolutely necessary for personal growth. By understanding your strengths, weaknesses, and patterns, you can make intentional choices about your development path and create strategies that actually work for your unique situation and goals.

2. Environmental Design Matters: Deliberately curating your physical and digital environment is crucial for success. This means being selective about who you follow on social media, choosing roommates who align with your goals, and even deciding where to live based on proximity to growth-oriented individuals. Your environment should make your desired behaviors easier and undesired behaviors harder.

3. Failure Recovery Speed: The key difference between successful people and others isn't avoiding failure—it's how quickly they recover from setbacks. Develop the ability to learn from mistakes quickly and get back on track. This resilience muscle grows stronger with practice and is essential for long-term success.

4. Leverage Technology Wisely: While technology can be a source of distraction, it can also be a powerful tool for growth when used intentionally. Use apps and digital tools to automate positive habits, create accountability systems, and connect with like-minded individuals who support your growth journey.

5. Growth Never Ends: Success isn't a destination but a continuous journey. Even after achieving significant goals, maintain hunger for new challenges and growth opportunities. This prevents stagnation and keeps life engaging and fulfilling.

6. The Power of Location Change: Sometimes, physical relocation can be a powerful catalyst for personal growth. Moving to a new environment can help break old patterns and create space for new, positive habits to form.

7. Authenticity in Growth: Focus on personal passion-driven goals rather than comparing yourself to others. This creates sustainable motivation and leads to more fulfilling achievements.

8. Military Mindset Applications: The discipline and perspective gained from military service can be valuable in civilian life. This includes appreciating diverse viewpoints, maintaining high standards, and understanding that most limitations are self-imposed.

9. Combat Instant Gratification: Develop systems to overcome the natural tendency toward instant gratification. This might mean creating artificial barriers to undesirable behaviors while making positive actions more accessible and rewarding.

10. Strategic Social Media Use: Instead of avoiding social media completely, use it strategically by following accounts that align with your goals and inspire growth. Unfollow sources that trigger negative comparisons or drain your energy.

🥇 GOLDEN HABIT

Definition of Golden Habit: "A 'Golden Habit' is the optimal habit to relieve a pain point/replace a bad habit because it's personalized to your DNA, goals, and lifestyle in order to maximally reduce the friction to form it. The Golden Habit should be: DESIRABLE, PRACTICAL, and IMPACTFUL."

This Episode's Golden Habit: Johnson shares his golden habit at 1:02:20: Being introspective and deliberately surrounding himself with growth-oriented influences. This includes carefully curating his social media feed to only follow accounts that promote financial literacy and positivity and choosing roommates who align with his fitness goals.

Related Core Area: Mindset Core - This habit addresses the pain point of lacking direction and being influenced by negative external factors that hinder personal growth.

🚀 READY PLAYER ONE?

Are you ready to transform your life and achieve big through disciplined habits? It's time to take the valuable insights from today’s episode and put put them into action. Discipline isn't just about adhering to a schedule—it's about building a foundation that will catapult you toward success in all areas of your life.

OUR MISSION: Accelerate your growth in the 5 Key areas of life by making your habit transformation journey so simple, fun, and rewarding that your happiness becomes inevitable.

PRESS START NOW: Click HERE to dive deeper into the Moore Momentum System. Begin by taking our short quiz to quickly identify which of the pillars of life you're struggling in most and discover the success habit to improve it. Don’t just dream about success—make it a reality.

Whether you're dealing with procrastination, lack of focus, or simply seeking a positive way to enhance your productivity, our system is designed to give you the tools you need to succeed. Start your journey today and see how small changes can lead to major transformations.

Are you ready to level up? The time is now—let’s build momentum together!

🫅 BIO

Mike Johnson is an Air Force veteran, bestselling author, and television personality who first gained national attention on Season 15 of The Bachelorette. Following his military service, Johnson has established himself as a powerful voice in personal development and mental health advocacy. His book "Making the Love You Want" focuses on self-love and personal growth. Beyond his television appearances, Johnson is developing a new reality show centered on mental health and personal development. His approach combines military discipline with emotional intelligence, making him a unique voice in the personal development space. Johnson currently resides in Austin, Texas, where he continues to create content and speak about personal growth, mental health, and the importance of maintaining a growth mindset.