Fitting In Versus Finding Your Tribe: Alex Dunsdon [Potential.co]

The day you stop racing, is the day you win the race. Sick of the 9-5 grind and trying to fit society’s mold? Our guest, Alex Dunsdon of Potential.co, felt the same until he broke free. After feeling stuck in advertising for 10 years, Alex realized he needed to stop pleasing people and trying to meet society's expectations. He shares his unconventional path to finding his passion in impact investing and living life on his own terms. We dive into powerful mindset shifts like embracing your quirks, turning off your brain to find your true self, managing ADD, and adopting a “generosity strategy” where you give energy to help others. Alex believes this allows life to work its magic! He also started the company Potential VC to fund projects and people making a difference in areas like climate, finance, and education. We explore embracing uncertainty rather than rigid plans, exposing yourself to opportunities, and accepting the world as chaos. If you want to gain perspective, surround yourself with your tribe, and trust in life’s possibilities, join us for an inspiring conversation on breaking free and living with purpose. Unlock your potential today! - - - On the growth mindset podcast with Sam Webster Harris, we explore the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. Success and happiness is a state of mind unique to ourselves and is our responsibility to create. Through a process of honest self-reflection of what is holding us back and what is driving us forward, we can lose the ego and build awareness of how to be the best we can be. - - - Connect with Sam: Sam's newsletter on creativity - Explosive Thinking Watch the pod - YouTube (Growth Mindset) Twitter - @samjamharris Instagram - @SamJam.zen Youtube - @Samjam - - - Show: Growth Mindset, psychology of self-improvement Episode: Escaping the Rat Race to Find Your Passion Chapters: 00:00 Choosing Which Waves to Ride 03:24 Alex's Experience in Advertising 04:40 Sam's first job experience 05:35 What Made Alex Realise He was Heading the Wrong Path 07:42 Importance of Finding Your Tribe 11:47 Alex's Resolution in Life  12:43 Life as a Game 14:46 Sam's Vipassana Experience 16:31 How Alex Came Up With The Concept of Potential VC 22:49 Take Aways from Vipassana Experience 24:46 What It's like Running A Business with an ADD Brain 26:03 How Alex Realized He Had ADD 27:33 Alex's Version of Vipassana 32:16 Alex's Imparting Advice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Om Podcasten

Most self-help advice is guesswork dressed up as wisdom. We dig into psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science to find what actually changes lives. WHY LISTEN? Over 8 million downloads because we answer the questions that matter: How do I build mental strength? What creates lasting motivation? How can I understand my own mind well enough to work with it, not against it? This podcast is for curious skeptics who want frameworks backed by psychology studies, not Instagram quotes. Whether you're navigating procrastination, building self-discipline, or designing your own philosophy for a life well lived—we explore the hidden psychology behind real change. WHAT YOU'LL GET Mental models and simple techniques from cognitive psychology, positive psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions like Stoicism and Buddhism. Being a human can be confusing, learning about it doesn’t have to be. We cover everything from emotional intelligence and habit formation to brain health and the nervous system. WHAT YOU DON’T GET No pseudoscience. No oversimplified "hacks." No hustle porn. Just practical insights on mindset improvement, self-development, and human psychology that respect your intelligence and mental health. THE APPROACH Instead of telling you what to think, we explore how thinking works. Armed with psychology studies, social science research, and relentless curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of belief change, attitude change, and personal development. Success is personal. You might want to leverage your neurodiverse strengths, build a business, or simply discover how to be happier. We provide the mental frameworks to pursue your definition of success with mental strength and self-care that fits your life. YOUR HOST I'm Sam Webster Harris—a lifelong learner with ADHD and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions. After launching businesses, traveling the world, and nearly dying a few times, I concluded that psychology and science are where real wisdom lives. This show is my excuse to dive deep into health and fitness research, behavioral psychology, and cool science while helping you build genuine self-discipline and motivation. PREMIUM Go ad-free and access exclusive content, AMAs, and our community Discord. Growth Mindset Premium PAST SERIES Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum. Past series: — Psychology vs Stoicism — Time Management for Busy Mortals — Independence and Knowing Yourself — Cognitive Biases and Rational Thinking — Psychology of Connection and Relationships — Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets — Addiction and Behaviour Change — Nervous System Mastery and Polyvagal Theory — Mental Strength and Self-Discipline