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Adam Robinson: A Chess Master's Guide to Finding Clarity in Complexity - Classics Series

What Got You There with Sean DeLaney

Release Date: 08/23/2024

The Art of Seeing — Beneath The Surface show art The Art of Seeing — Beneath The Surface

What Got You There with Sean DeLaney

We live in a world desperate to be seen, but rarely do we slow down enough to truly see one another. In this soul-stirring episode, Sean DeLaney explores the quiet, transformative power of presence, attention, and attunement. You’ll discover that seeing others isn’t just a relational skill, it’s a transformative act. One that can heal, connect, elevate, and awaken the humanity in us all. We’ll explore: Why presence is the most profound form of recognition The difference between transactional attention and soulful seeing Cultural and spiritual practices like “Sawubona” and...

info_outline The Architecture of Confidence — Beneath The Surface show art The Architecture of Confidence — Beneath The Surface

What Got You There with Sean DeLaney

In this powerful episode, goes beneath the surface of what confidence truly is and what it isn’t. From earned self-trust to emotional fluency, from identity clarity to the quiet strength of presence, this episode will dismantle the myths you've been sold and rebuild your understanding of real, lasting confidence. We’ll explore: Why confidence is contextual, not universal How self-trust—not achievement—is the root of confidence Practices to train confidence like a muscle How to evolve beyond confidence into liberation You’ll learn that true confidence isn’t loud, it’s grounded....

info_outline Becoming The Artist of Your Own Life — Beneath The Surface show art Becoming The Artist of Your Own Life — Beneath The Surface

What Got You There with Sean DeLaney

Too often, we think of art as something we create outside ourselves. But what if the most meaningful art you’ll ever make… is your life? In this episode, Sean DeLaney goes beneath the surface and explores what it means to shift from passive participant to intentional creator and to live not by default, but by design. You’ll hear why your thoughts, your presence, your choices, all of it, are brushstrokes on the canvas of your life. And why reclaiming your authorship might be the most courageous and liberating act you can take. We’ll explore: Why your life is already your most...

info_outline The Ripple Effect: You Always Leave a Mark — Beneath The Surface show art The Ripple Effect: You Always Leave a Mark — Beneath The Surface

What Got You There with Sean DeLaney

This episode is about the impact you make, even when you don’t realize you’re making one. Every thought. Every word. Every choice. It all sends ripples outward and inward. In this episode, we explore the unseen yet undeniable ripple effects of our lives. You’ll learn: Why the smallest moments often carry the deepest impact The powerful truth that your presence speaks louder than your words Why every action not only ripples outward—but inward, shaping your identity How to become a more conscious source of light, healing, and resonance in a noisy world This isn’t about striving...

info_outline The Myth of Arrival: Stop Chasing the Ending — Beneath The Surface show art The Myth of Arrival: Stop Chasing the Ending — Beneath The Surface

What Got You There with Sean DeLaney

So many of us live with the illusion that there’s a final moment of arrival—a place where the striving stops, the doubt fades, and we finally become enough. But what if that place doesn’t exist? In this episode of Beneath the Surface, we’re unraveling the myth of arrival. We explore the subtle ways this illusion robs us of presence, poisons our progress, and keeps us from experiencing the richness of what’s already here. You’ll hear: Why chasing “someday” slowly erodes your joy and self-trust How to shift from a destination-based life to one rooted in presence and being What...

info_outline Where Courage Lives, Life Awakens — Beneath The Surface show art Where Courage Lives, Life Awakens — Beneath The Surface

What Got You There with Sean DeLaney

Your life expands with every act of courage.  In this episode of Beneath the Surface, we explore one of the most essential, misunderstood, and transformational inner capacities: courage. We’re not talking about the kind of courage that looks heroic or loud. We’re talking about the kind that shows up in unseen moments. The courage to tell the truth. To make a hard change. To say “I love you” first.  We’ll explore: Why courage requires fear—and why that's exactly the point How your most courageous acts might never be visible to anyone but you What it...

info_outline Awareness: The Beginning of Everything — Beneath The Surface show art Awareness: The Beginning of Everything — Beneath The Surface

What Got You There with Sean DeLaney

In this episode of Beneath the Surface, we explore the foundational force that sits quietly beneath every transformation: awareness. Without it, we’re just rearranging surface symptoms and never addressing the root. You’ll hear about: Why awareness is the beginning of every habit, relationship, pattern, and belief shift The difference between mental recognition and embodied awareness How unconscious emotional loops control your life until you illuminate them This isn’t an episode of answers. It’s an invitation to stop running, pause, and see. Because you cannot change what you...

info_outline How Are You Measuring Your Life? — Beneath The Surface show art How Are You Measuring Your Life? — Beneath The Surface

What Got You There with Sean DeLaney

The question hit me at a funeral: If I keep living exactly as I am… what will my life add up to? This episode isn’t here to give you answers. It’s here to help you ask better questions. How are you measuring your life? Are you chasing a scoreboard someone else created? Or are you living in alignment with what your soul knows to be true? You’ll hear reflections from the Stoics, wisdom from David Brooks and James Hollis, the ache behind Rumi’s poetry, and the quiet clarity of your own heart. I walk with you through the dangerous gap between what society tells us to want… and...

info_outline You Can’t Grind Your Way Into Joy — Beneath The Surface show art You Can’t Grind Your Way Into Joy — Beneath The Surface

What Got You There with Sean DeLaney

We’ve been taught to sacrifice joy now in hopes of earning it later. But what if that entire model is broken? In this episode of Beneath the Surface, we explore one of the most important truths about performance, presence, and fulfillment: 👉 You don’t train joy by training stress. 👉 You don’t arrive at peace by living in tension. 👉 The nervous system doesn’t wait for success to feel safe — it adapts to what you repeat. So if you're constantly grinding now, hoping for joy “someday,” your system is only learning one thing: how to live in stress. And that becomes your...

info_outline The Hidden Cost of Trying to Be Enough — Beneath The Surface show art The Hidden Cost of Trying to Be Enough — Beneath The Surface

What Got You There with Sean DeLaney

What if the version of you the world rewards isn’t the version that makes you feel alive? We’ve been taught that we have to earn love. Earn rest. Earn our right to belong. But what if the model is backwards? What if Being is the starting point — not the reward at the end of striving? In this episode, I unpack the hidden cost of tying your worth to outcomes, approval, and perfection… and explore what becomes possible when we finally come home to ourselves. This is not a self-help checklist. It’s an invitation to slow down, to examine the identity you’ve built, and to consider who...

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Today on the podcast I revisit one of my all time conversations with Adam Robison for our Classics Series! Adam is the Co- Founder of The Princeton Review, a rated chess master, an advisor to large hedge funds and financial institutions. The breadth and depth of Adams knowledge and curiosity is on full display in this conversation! You'll see why he’s one of my favorite thinkers!

3 things you’ll learn from this episode:

  • The ideas Adam feels have been most impactful in improving his life.
  • How to get people excited about your vision.
  • The 4 stages of all creations.

Please enjoy this conversation with Adam Robinson which took place in May of 2022 and as always you can watch listen and read the transcript at whatgotyouthere.com

I'm Sean DeLaney, the executive performance coach with over a decade of experience working with CEOs, executives, and leadership teams, guiding them beyond traditional definitions of success.

Interested in working together? https://seandelaneycoaching.com

Checkout what people are saying about the book:
“Intensely positive and upbeat, Sean DeLaney crafts a master class in personal development. This book is about the art of AMPing up your life.” – Frank Slootman, CEO, Snowflake and author of Amp It Up

“The brilliance of Masterpiece in Progress is its ability to impact us all and in all aspects of our lives, whether you’re an athlete, entrepreneur, author, aspiring executive, parent, friend, coach or mentor. Sean’s insights light your path as he delves deep, providing not just inspiration but tangible tools to help you craft the life you envision. A masterclass in self-growth and a must read.” – Scott O’Neil, CEO, Merlin Entertainments and former CEO of Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils

“Operating in some of the world’s most challenging environments, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of grit, resilience, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Masterpiece in Progress embodies these principles, offering a roadmap to all who aim to conquer their personal and professional battles.”— Michael Burns, US Navy SEAL (Retired), Bronze Star Medal with Valor

“Sean’s beautiful, thoughtful writing reminds you what’s important and calls your attention to a perspective that lifts your spirit each day. Highly recommended.” – Derek Sivers, author, sive.rs