Our guest in episode 52 almost needs no introduction. Dr. Barry Franklin is one the most prolific exercise physiologists of our time. He is a past president of the American College of Sports Medicine, and has his bio below attests, he is one of the most acclaimed professionals in our field. This conversation is not about exercise physiology, however. The depth and breadth of Dr. Franklin’s knowledge extend far beyond exercise testing and prescription. This is a conversation about how to maximize your personal and professional development to lead the most fulfilling and impactful career possible as a fitness professional.
In his early 30’s, Dr. Franklin intuitively embraced Peter Drucker’s recommendation that “everyone should find at least one interest outside his/her primary area, and make that secondary pursuit into more than just a hobby.” For him, that secondary pursuit, the study of highly successful people in all walks of life, became a passion. To learn more, he read countless books on the topic and carefully studied the behaviors of highly successful people using the methodologies of a research scientist (his academic training). He simultaneously conducted a sobering experiment on himself. When he started applying these behavioral skills and strategies to his own life, he began attracting good luck and related professional opportunities, but in an exponential manner. He then took what he had learned and developed a college course titled “GPS for Success,” which he taught at Central Michigan University (2012−2017). Since the mid-1990s, he’s participated in an escalating number of media (e.g., YouTube TV) and speaking invitations on this topic, and has given success-related commencement addresses at major universities.
This hobby, turned passion, turned college course, culminated in his latest book, GPS for Success. This conversation will unpack in great detail the tangible framework Dr. Franklin presents in his book for becoming a super-achiever in any professional endeavor. Make no mistake about it, these are time-tested and well-studied lessons of how to become a super-achiever from someone who has walked the walked, becoming a super-achiever in his own right, in our field. Get your notebook ready, many actionable insights to come in this conversation.
Links to Share from this Episode:
https://drbarryfranklin.com/
Link to Buy GPS for Success
Our Guest: Dr. Barry Franklin, PhD
Barry A. Franklin, PhD, is Director of Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation at Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, Michigan. He holds faculty appointments as Professor of Physiology at Wayne State University School of Medicine and Professor of Internal Medicine, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. Pursuing his interest in combining exercise physiology with cardiology, Barry and his associates have studied the physiologic and clinical responses to numerous occupational and leisure-time activities in people with and without heart disease. Other research interests include the prevention of heart disease; cardiovascular risk reduction; obesity and metabolism; exercise testing and prescription; and lifestyle medicine.
Dr. Franklin’s professional accomplishments have been recognized through a number of honors and awards, including the Bates Street Society “Pillar of Vibrancy” Inductee (2021); Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Excellence in Clinical Research Award (2020); the University of Michigan, School of Kinesiology, Lifetime Achievement Award (2019); Honor Award (American College of Sports Medicine [ACSM], 2009); Distinguished Alumnus Award, Kent State University, School of Exercise, Leisure & Sports (2008); Award of Meritorious Achievement, American Heart Association (AHA), National Volunteer Leadership Conference (2006); Pollock Established Investigator Award, American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR, 2004); Citation Award, (ACSM, 2003); and Award of Excellence (AACVPR, 1992).
Dr. Franklin holds Fellow status in the ACSM and AHA, is an AACVPR Master Fellow, and was awarded Honorary Fellow status in the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association. Barry has also served as President of the AACVPR and President of the ACSM in 1999‒2000. The same year (2000) he served as Senior Editor for the 6th edition of ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription (Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, MD), which sold nearly 100,000 copies. He has served as Chair, AHA Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism as well as Chair of the AHA Advocacy Committee. In 2010 he was appointed to the national AHA Board of Directors as well as a member of the Administrative Cabinet. Franklin is a past Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and currently holds editorial positions with 15 other scientific and clinical journals, including the American Journal of Cardiology, Bottom Line Health, Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention, American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, and the American Journal of Health Promotion.
Dr. Franklin has written or edited nearly 700 publications, including 547 papers, 100 book chapters, and 26 books. He has also narrated 42 educational videos. His widely cited trade books co-authored with Joseph C. Piscatella, are Take a Load Off Your Heart and Prevent, Halt and Reverse Heart Disease (both Workman). In 2015, he was named by Thomson Reuters among the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds (Clinical Medicine). More recently (2020), he was listed by Expertscape as a “World Expert” in Exercise (ranked 9th in the world among scholars writing about exercise/physical activity over the past decade). During October/November 2018, he served as a Visiting Professor of Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy. Since 1976, he has given over 1,000 invited presentations to state, national and international, medical and lay audiences.
Barry is currently writing his 27th book titled GPS for Success: Behavioral Skills, Strategies, and Secrets of Superachievers. In essence, it captures all he’s learned over the past four decades regarding the principles that are the gateway to professional success. This very powerful book, which will soon be completed, represents a treasure-trove of proven behaviors that can be learned and refined, gleaned from many of the world’s most successful people.