264: Start Strong Mini-Series: Two-Time World Champion on the Difference Between Gold Medalists and Everyone Else | Arjun Dhingra

Disruption isn’t coming—it’s already here. In this powerhouse episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon welcomes Arjun Dhingra: two-time Taekwondo world champion, keynote speaker, and one of America’s top mortgage brokers. Arjun shares lessons learned from the mat and the boardroom about resilience, high performance, and adapting when the world shifts beneath your feet. From counterpunching industry changes (hello, AI!) to building an unshakable personal brand, Arjun’s stories will energize you to take action—no matter where you’re starting from.

You’ll learn proven frameworks for staying relevant and thriving amid disruption, why audacity and arrogance are career-killers, and the “gas method” behind genuine impact. Damon and Arjun dig deep on what separates gold medalists (in sport and in life) and why kindness and community are the ultimate secret weapons—plus, they riff on everything from Rocky movies to real estate shakeups and the power of mentorship. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, team leader, or simply love excellence, this episode will push you to keep growing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why disruption is inevitable—and a three-part framework for turning uncertainty into opportunity
2. What “AA” (audacity and arrogance) is, and how it silently kills careers, companies, and industries
3. How to build a personal brand that outlasts change (and a simple exercise to check yours right now)
4. The critical importance of community, mentorship, and making it about others—not just yourself
5. The “gas method” (give a shit): why success flows from service, not transactions
6. What separates gold medalists from the rest—and how belief, mental toughness, and curiosity fuel greatness

Timestamps:

00:00 – Arjun on showing up regardless of circumstance

00:24 – Damon sets up the “world-class athlete” series and introduces Arjun

02:11 – Why disruption isn’t optional (taxicabs, Uber, and the cost of not adapting)

04:09 – Audacity and arrogance: the mindset that kills adaptation

06:42 – Step 1 of the “counterpunch framework”: the necessity of visibility and building a personal brand

08:03 – What a personal brand really is (simple exercise to check yours)

11:23 – How owning his visibility saved Arjun’s career (and how you can too)

14:49 – The “selfishness” of not sharing your gifts (and why service matters)

17:59 – Step 2 & 3: the power of community and always evolving with the market

21:18 – Using the “gas method” to survive and thrive in tough times

26:29 – Don’t just take from your network—be a giver, always in service

28:14 – Lessons from coaching and competing for Team USA in Taekwondo

31:05 – What really separates top winners: belief and mental toughness

35:02 – How mentors and a supportive circle fuel belief and success

38:53 – The art of people-first coaching: learn your learner

45:49 – How Arjun defines success (and why it’s more than results)

46:43 – Taekwondo’s mantra: always learning, always teaching

50:23 – The origin and story behind the LFG Society community

56:54 – The most in-demand keynotes: managing disruption and simplifying business

59:51 – What Arjun wants his daughters to remember: “He was kind”

01:01:08 – Final thoughts and where to connect with Arjun

About Arjun Dhingra

Arjun Dhingra is a two-time Taekwondo world champion, former co-head...