Episode 98- Sam Acho on How to be Real in a World Full of Fakes

What if you stopped pretending and started getting real? Most of us hide. We play small and don’t live up to our full potential. We’re…

Episode 98- Sam Acho on How to be Real in a World Full of Fakes

What if you stopped pretending and started getting real? Most of us hide. We play small and don’t live up to our full potential. We’re…

What if you stopped pretending and started getting real? Most of us hide. We play small and don’t live up to our full potential. We’re afraid we aren’t enough… or maybe we’re too much. NFL player, humanitarian and podcaster Sam Acho has been there. In his new book, Let The World See You, Sam encourages us all to discover our true selves and share our gifts with the world. We talk about the importance of not attaching your identity to your career, the highs and lows of being a professional athlete, and how his life changed when he stopped hiding and started living.

Follow Sam: Twitter| Facebook | Instagram

“Faking it will get you in the door, but being you will open up doors you could never imagine.”

Click To Tweet

Show Notes

What inspired Sam to write this book (3:00)
Stop hiding and start sharing your gifts with the world (7:03)
How going to counseling changed Sam’s perspective (9:00)
How Sam’s childhood and the intersection of cultures (Nigerian family, black church, white school) shaped who he is today (11:47)
The problem with attaching your identity to your performance (13:35)
How Sam unexpectedly got discovered and began his football journey (14:10)
The benefits of having the courage to be seen (17:20)
What an NFL locker room is really like (19:43)
What Sam has learned from the highs and lows of nine seasons in the NFL (21:24)
Don’t put your identity in something that doesn’t put its identity in you (22:50)
Why athletes are speaking out and embracing their platform (25:47)
Sam’s legacy off the field through his community impact (27:22)
Sam’s advice for anyone who is struggling to figure out who they are (28:58)
The three things that happen when you let the world see you (29:54)

Resources / People Mentioned

Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

Thanks for checking out Game Changers with Molly Fletcher. Be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app and leave a rating or review!

Get Molly’s Free 5-Minute Morning Routine to Build Better Relationships

LATEST BOOK

Dynamic Drive

The Purpose-Fueled Formula for Sustainable Success

“A very special book about finding your purpose, getting amazing things done and leading your finest life.”

A #1 USA TODAY BESTSELLER

Dynamic Drive

The Purpose-Fueled Formula for Sustainable Success

In a world fixated on fleeting success, a bold framework for pursuing your goals unapologetically without compromising what matters most. This isn’t just another self-help theory: Dynamic Drive is your practical guide to unlocking your true potential. Through her decades of experience working with top athletes and peak performers across industries, renowned keynote speaker and leadership expert Molly Fletcher has created a proven formula backed by research that outlines the seven keys to sustainable success. The truth is fulfillment doesn’t come from setting and accomplishing goals in isolation. It comes from Dynamic Drive—a holistic approach that connects all parts of you with your purpose and allows you to engage in meaningful growth, both personally and professionally. Unlike traditional approaches that dilute drive into a mere means to an end, which can lead to burnout, Dynamic Drive is a way of life, a mindset. It’s about figuring out the parts of your life where you are playing small or safe or are dissatisfied. Dynamic Drive is the process by which we implement and sustain intentional change. The greatest reward isn’t in what you achieve, but who you become in the process. Your path to sustained high performance in all areas of your life begins here. This is your manual for an aligned, joyful, and relentless pursuit of a better you.

“A very special book about finding your purpose, getting amazing things done and leading your finest life.”

Episode 244- Create Your Own Big Break with Kristin Juszczyk, the Designer Behind Taylor Swift’s Viral NFL Look

Fashion designer and entrepreneur Kristin Juszczyk didn’t wait for a big break. She created her own opportunities. What started as DIY game day outfits to cheer on her husband, NFL fullback Kyle Juszczyk, quickly evolved into something bigger. Today, Kristin is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Off Season,...

Episode 243- Find Your Burn and Fuel It Daily with Performance Coach Ben Newman

What drives elite performers to show up and do the work— especially on the days they don’t feel like it? Performance coach Ben Newman calls it “the burn”: the deep, personal fuel that powers discipline, consistency, and next-level results. In this episode, Ben shares lessons from working with some of...

Episode 242- How to Build What You Wish Existed with TheSkimm’s Carly Zakin & Danielle Weisberg

When Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg hit send on the first Daily Skimm email from their couch, they had no funding and no business background—just a clear vision and the courage to build what didn’t exist. That one email grew into TheSkimm, a trusted digital media brand that now reaches...

Episode 241- Hall of Famer Dawn Staley on What It Really Takes to Win

She’s one of the most respected voices in sports: a Hall of Famer, three-time Olympic gold medalist as a player, and three-time national champion coach. As head coach of South Carolina women’s basketball, Dawn Staley has built a powerhouse program rooted in discipline and heart. In this episode, Dawn shares...

Episode 240- 5 Habits That Will Instantly Improve Your Sleep with Dr. Michael Breus

According to the National Sleep Foundation, 60% of adults aren’t getting enough sleep and nearly 4 in 10 regularly struggle to fall asleep. If you want to change your life, start by fixing your sleep. In this episode, I sit down with renowned sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus, “The Sleep...

Episode 239- How to Lead When Everything Feels Like It’s Falling Apart with Admiral William McRaven

What do you do when the pressure is mounting and people are looking to you for answers? Admiral William McRaven has been there– leading high-stakes missions as a Navy SEAL, including the raid that brought down Osama bin Laden. In this episode, the four-star admiral and bestselling author of Make...

Resources