FULL CONVERSATION: Stephen A. Smith Gives No-Holds-Barred Interview About Leadership, 2028, And More

Key Concepts

Fearlessness in Pursuit of Excellence
Distinction Between Job and Career
Health and Wellness as a Foundation for High Performance
Navigating Systemic and Individual Racism
Accountability and Trustworthiness in Professional Life
Strategic Personal Branding
Value Proposition: Making Money for the Boss
Leadership as Sacrifice and Tenacity
Challenges and Responsibilities of Business Ownership
Legacy of Upliftment and Mentorship

The Foundation of Fearlessness and Relentless Pursuit

Stephen A. Smith (SAS) clarifies that his perceived "unabashed confidence" is, in fact, fearlessness in the pursuit of aspirations and excellence. His core mentality is to "shoot for the stars and you'll catch something," emphasizing that inaction due to fear or self-imposed roadblocks guarantees no accomplishment. He asserts that "there's no such thing as failure if you're learning; you either succeed or you learn." This fearlessness is coupled with an unwavering commitment to hard work, a combination he believes is essential for success.

Sustaining High Performance: Health, Career, and Work Ethic

The interviewer highlights SAS's intense work schedule, prompting a discussion on avoiding burnout. SAS attributes his current ability to sustain this pace to his improved physical health, being in the "best shape in 30-plus years" through consistent workouts and better eating habits. He distinguishes between a "job" (doing what you have to do) and a "career" (doing what you want to do), stating his work is a passionate career.

He recounts his past "grinding" lifestyle, which was detrimental to his health, leading to a severe COVID-19 experience in late 2020/early 2021 where doctors warned his family. This near-death experience became a turning point. Introduced to biologist Gary Brecka (Tenex Health, now Ultimate Human) by Dana White of the UFC, SAS learned his bloodwork showed "every single problem you can have in the human body," including being "one point away from being a full-blown diabetic" and cholesterol levels "over 300." Brecka's initial advice, addressing chronic headaches (since age 19) with sodium and water (correcting a lack of sodium, not just water), proved effective and sparked an "addiction" to health. This led to a regimen of 5-6 days a week of exercise, vitamins, supplements, and better eating, which significantly boosted his energy and effectiveness, giving him a "new lease on life." He also admits his personal "drug" was sugar, consuming cereals like Honeycombs, Sugar Pops, and Froot Loops for any meal.

His work ethic is exemplified by his time as a beat writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he strategically sought out general managers while other reporters focused on star players like Allen Iverson, always aiming to "position myself to stand out." He lives by the principle that "chance favors the prepared mind."

Navigating Racism and Overcoming Obstacles

Addressing the challenges of being a Black man in journalism, SAS acknowledges that racism is "a part of life" in America. However, he advises against fixating on it because "it's not going away." He draws a crucial distinction between "the system" (which is inherently biased, where "if white folks catch a cold, black folks don't catch pneumonia") and "individuals." He advocates for judging individuals based on their "individual character" and moving forward.

He criticizes the modern tendency for individuals with their own platforms (like YouTube channels) to believe they are unaccountable. Despite owning his own YouTube show, Sirius XM show (as a part-owner), and production company, SAS emphasizes that "everybody has to work with and answer to someone every day of our lives." He views obstacles not as debilitating forces but as challenges to overcome, believing that conquering one prepares you for the next. He strongly advises against associating with "anchors" – people with negative attitudes and excuses – urging individuals to "run through that damn stop sign" when confronted with anything that impedes progress.

The Evolution and Power of Personal Branding

SAS reveals that he only truly embraced the concept of his "brand" about two years ago, influenced by his colleague Rashad McDonald. His natural approach was simply to "be me," believing "the brand will marinate to me." He stresses the importance of consistency in being authentic, contrasting himself with others in his profession who "fake it."

He illustrates the significance of branding through his ESPN contract negotiations, which took a year and resulted in a reported "five years, over $100 million." As a Black man, he felt the pressure of "one slip up, one mistake" potentially jeopardizing the deal. He understood that when an entity invests in you, they are trusting you. His brand became crucial because it represented "what I stand for," "who I represent," and "how I resonate to the masses." He concluded that he had to "own" how people perceived him, as he was responsible for how he had presented himself for decades.

Actionable Insights for Self-Advocacy and Value Creation

For aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs, SAS offers key lessons:

Trustworthiness and Consistency: Maintain a consistent image and presentation. "You can elevate, you can grow. But I can't look at you and see a foreigner compared to what was presented to me."
Offer Value: Always bring something to the table. "I'm not here just to take. I'm here to give."
The "Two Purposes" Framework: After being let go by ESPN in 2009, he adopted two daily purposes: "Number one, how do I make my boss's money? And number two, how do I get some of it?" This mindset ensures that he approaches his superiors with solutions, not problems, making his input invaluable and ensuring his voice is heard. This strategy allows one to be "the highest paid person in an organization and the best value in the organization as well."

Stephen A. Smith 2028: A Reluctant Political Visionary

SAS seriously considers a presidential run in 2028, stating, "I believe I can beat them all. I believe I can win the presidency if I really put my heart to it." However, he expresses a strong reluctance, stating he has "no desire to be a politician" due to the "chaos on Capitol Hill," the need for quid pro quo, and the financial demands of campaigning. He also explicitly states, "I ain't trying to give up my money."

He leaves the door open for several reasons:

Divine Guidance: Loved ones, including his pastor, advise him to remain open to God's plan.
Calling Out Injustice: He is deeply frustrated by what politicians "have done to our country" on both sides of the aisle, believing American citizens "have been played as suckers." He desires to debate them and hold them accountable.
Independent Platform: Unlike Donald Trump, who needed cameras to flock to him, SAS has his own extensive media platforms (TV, radio, podcast, production company) and can "turn on the cameras literally from my house." He wants to create "palpable fear" among politicians that he might be on the debate stage.

If he were president, his top priority would be poverty, calling it "the number one thing" and a "shame on us as a nation" given America's wealth. Other priorities include affordability, safety in the streets, and controlling borders. He describes his political views as a blend of fiscally conservative (dislikes high taxes) and liberal ("live and let live"). He offers nuanced positions, such as being pro-life but believing he has no right to tell a woman what to do with her body, and advocating for border control while opposing the terrorization of law-abiding citizens or family separation. He champions common sense and a focus on what truly makes the country better. He emphasizes that "looking out for you ain't telling you what you want to hear. It's telling you what you need to hear," leveraging his access to political figures and information to provide informed perspectives.

Lightning Round Insights

Ideal Running Mate: Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland, for his genuine care for people, realism, pragmatism, and long-term vision.
America's Readiness for a Two-Black-Man Ticket: "No," citing the 77 million voters for Donald Trump in the last election, and similar unreadiness for LGBTQ or two-women tickets. Josh Shapiro (Governor of Pennsylvania) is another viable option.
Campaign Slogan: "Buckle up."
Athlete for President: Chris Paul (CP3) for his brilliance, business savvy, connections, and experience running the players union.
Leadership Definition: "Sacrifice," "tenacity," "a tireless, tenacious, unrelenting pursuit of excellence," and "caring about the people you lead enough to sacrifice some of yourself for their betterment."

The Unseen Burdens of Ownership and the True Meaning of Success

SAS reflects on a "180" change in his perspective regarding ownership in business, admitting he "didn't know it would be this hard." He describes a constant feeling of not having achieved enough, with his thoughts dominated by "what needs to be done instead of what I've already done." This relentless drive, while leading to immense success, makes it challenging for loved ones to be around him. He feels a tremendous responsibility for the 22 people working under him, whose livelihoods depend on his continued achievement, leading to a life "devoid of peace." He contrasts his loved ones' desire for him to "smell the roses" with his own definition of "smelling the roses" – achieving goals that facilitate their well-being. He echoes the sentiment that "until you own... that's when you can be rich," but adds that "sometimes you don't feel rich" because the "standard is the standard," and successful people never stop, always thinking "what's next."

Despite the relentless pursuit, SAS finds moments of appreciation through his two daughters, Samantha and Nyla. Having lost his mother in 2017, he never thought he'd know happiness again, but his daughters' presence "paralyzes me. It stops me in my tracks. And in that moment, for those few seconds, nothing matters." Their happiness is his "roses."

Legacy: Upliftment and Obligation

SAS's definition of legacy has evolved. While he believes he has achieved his past goals of being a preeminent voice in America, one of the best in sports history, and reaping financial benefits, his current focus is on "who have you uplifted? What lives have you touched?" He aims to build a network, not just a show, to counsel, guide, and uplift young people of all backgrounds.

His personal story serves as an inspiration: "You can be Stephen A Smith. You could get left back in the fourth grade with a first grade reading level. You could have dyslexia. You could have naysayers telling you what you can't be." His legacy is about demonstrating that through hard work, self-edification, and diversification, one can achieve great things and, crucially, "reach back to help those" who are coming up. He views this as an "obligation" to uplift his community and "make the world a better place."

Synthesis/Conclusion

Stephen A. Smith's discussion provides a profound look into the mindset required for sustained high achievement, emphasizing fearlessness, relentless work ethic, and strategic self-care. His journey highlights the importance of distinguishing between systemic and individual challenges, building a trustworthy personal brand, and adopting a value-driven approach in all professional dealings. While acknowledging the immense personal sacrifices and lack of "peace" that come with business ownership and leadership, he finds his ultimate fulfillment and "roses" in his family and the obligation to uplift and mentor the next generation, ensuring his legacy is one of empowerment and community betterment.