100. One Decision Away: Resilience, Curiosity & Building a Life of Purpose with Alvin Brown
In this powerful 100th episode, Dwayne Kerrigan sits down with long-time friend and high-performance coach Alvin Brown to explore the mindset, resilience, and relentless curiosity that transformed Alvin’s life. From his early days as a Jamaican immigrant living in poverty, to his evolution as an elite therapist for world-class athletes, Alvin shares the turning points, challenges, and mindset shifts that fueled his journey.
They dive deep into the value of sport as a springboard for confidence and self-worth, the discipline of constant learning, and the life-changing power of creating space between stimulus and response. Packed with raw honesty and hard-earned wisdom, this episode is a masterclass in perseverance, personal mastery, and living intentionally.
Timestamps
00:00 – “Don’t get through it, get from it” – Alvin’s core life philosophy
01:00 – Dwayne introduces Alvin Brown and their 25+ year friendship
02:00 – Alvin’s immigration from Jamaica and early years in poverty
04:30 – Resilience born from cultural shifts and adversity
05:30 – Becoming one of the top massage therapists and constant learning
06:30 – Building The Centre for Healing and Peak Performance & writing his book
07:00 – Role modeling long-term relationships and perseverance
09:00 – Alvin’s early ambitions in wrestling, martial arts, and boxing
13:30 – Lessons from sport: confidence, belief, and self-worth
15:30 – The Olympic dream as legitimacy and identity
18:00 – The chance encounter in Cuba that led to a career in therapy
20:00 – Going from a “D for diploma” student to top marks in massage school
22:00 – Stacking skills: nutrition, acupuncture, energy work, osteopathy
30:00 – The importance of energy, intention, and integrative health
31:00 – Overcoming the “no degree” weakness and earning a psychology degree
33:00 – Studying NLP and the lifelong practice of mindset mastery
35:00 – Curiosity as a driver and eliminating perceived weaknesses
40:30 – One decision away – pivotal moments in parenting and relationships
45:00 – Creating space between stimulus and response to make better decisions
51:00 – The role of introspection and honest mentorship
55:00 – Lessons in ego, business building, and staying true to your gifts
59:30 – Why asking “why” matters – and when it doesn’t
1:02:00 – Understanding that “greatness” is different for everyone
1:03:00 – Preview of Part 2: handling loss and becoming a lighthouse for others
Notable Quotes
- “Don’t get through it, get from it.” – Alvin Brown
- “You’re always one decision away from turning up or turning down the trajectory of your life.” – Alvin Brown
- “Sport gave me confidence, belief, and self-worth—and that became my springboard.” – Alvin Brown
- “The space between stimulus and response is where mastery lives.” – Alvin Brown
- “I don’t seek to be smart; I seek to be wise.” – Alvin Brown
- “Sometimes you’re driving the right vehicle on the wrong road.” – Dwayne Kerrigan
Valuable Resources & Takeaways
- The Power of Sport – Organized sports teach goal-setting, resilience, teamwork, and how to come back from loss.
- Stack Your Skills – Keep adding complementary knowledge (nutrition, energy work, mindset training) to create a unique expertise.
- Mindset Over Mechanics – True health and success require aligning the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual.
- Introspection as a Tool – Use reflection to uncover patterns, eliminate limiting narratives, and avoid repeating mistakes.
- Space Before Action – Train yourself to pause between stimulus and response to make thoughtful, intentional choices.
- Ego Check in Business – Be honest about whether you’re a business builder or an income producer—and build accordingly.
- Redefining Greatness – Your version of “peak performance” doesn’t have to match anyone else’s.
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Website: http://www.dwaynekerrigan.com
Disclaimer The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.