Ep. 154: My co-author whose life inspired the hit movie The Blind Side is back with an inspiring and motivating book on overcoming any obstacle, no matter how tough the odds! Click here to order the book! The next chapter of Oher will be about positively impacting young people who are like he was before the world ever heard of this warm-hearted giant of a man.  Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. Special thanks to Francisco Nunez and Vincent Jones for making this episode possible.

Ep. 153: This prominent businessman serves on the board of directors at TD Ameritrade, a company founded by his father, and acquired by Charles Schwab in 2020.  Whether it is financial services or sports, Ricketts is a big believer in the power of culture, a belief that was reinforced after he donned a fake beard and glasses on Undercover Boss.  Working odd jobs around Wrigley field, Ricketts discovered something that vindicated his family’s focus on culture: “a contagious love for the organization.” The leadership lesson, said Ricketts, is as clear and crisp as a walk-off homer: “People should seek to be a part of something bigger than themselves and have a love for the organization in which they work.”  Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Lauren Hafner and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 152: Baseball and tennis shaped this co-founder of the Human Performance Institute. In the episode and BONUS RESOURCE Jim shares his philosophy and practical approaches to building healthy and high-performance teams, including: Listening to the most important coach no one hears but you.  How to reset your energy to be fully present and positive at work and at home. Keeping that engagement-promoting hormone oxytocin flowing through your team. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Cade Stransky and Daniel Madden for making this episode possible.

Ep. 151 REWIND EPISODE: College football shaped Keith Hoskins whose Navy career included serving as Commanding Officer for Naval Air Station Pensacola, where he provided leadership oversight for more than 25,000 military and civilian personnel. You will learn incredible lessons in collaboration, character, and why compartmentalization isn’t always a bad thing Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Francisco Nunez and Lauren Hafner for making this episode possible.

Ep. 150: Swimming shaped Kris who climbed the corporate ladder at PwC and IBM before arriving at Ernst & Young. You will learn how to build effective coaching and mentoring into your daily routine. Kris is a recipient of Consulting Magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award and she brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, acquired throughout her career and enhanced by her MBA from Harvard Business School. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Ethan Salzberg and Lauren Hafner for making this episode possible.  

Ep. 149: Rugby, golf, and fishing have shaped Andrew, whose clients have included Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. He received international acclaim as a leading figure in his industry from Consulting Magazine and teaches why humility is a leader’s most potent leadership trait. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  +Special thanks to Kyle Smedley and Lauren Hafner for making this episode possible.    

Ep. 148: Equestrian and track & field shaped the leader responsible for Visa’s partnerships with the NFL, Olympics, and FIFA.  In the months leading up to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Andrea’s team will launch a marketing campaign based on the premise that “behind every number, there is a story” that will bring the achievements of these world-class athletes to life!! Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Kyle Smedley and David Beira for making this episode possible.

Ep. 147: Brown University football taught Damola about hard work and sacrifice, core values that he took to heart in a career that has taken him from the world of Wall Street to the C-Suite at P.F. Chang’s.   +Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. ++If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Cade Stransky and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.  

Ep. 146: Wrestling shaped this founding member of the Disney Cruise Line who rose to President. When I first met Tom, he handed me the coolest business card I had ever seen. He was the chief executive of a 1-ship cruise line called The World. The business card he handed me let me know I was talking the President of The World.  Today as CEO of Virgin Voyages, he leads a world-class team in all elements of ship design, sailor experience, construction, crew, safety, operations and service delivery.   Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource.  If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!   Special thanks to Davd Beira and Ethan Salzberg for making this episode possible.

REWIND EPISODE: Featuring the highest ranking woman in the oil drilling industry honor of Mother’s Day! Kim is a proud mother and learned valuable lessons from her time playing volleyball at Texas A&M and I know you will love her wisdom. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  +At the time of the recording, I was recovering from a battle with COVID that put me in the ICU for 9 days, so you will notice my voice does not sound as it does today.  ++Special thanks to Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.    

Ep. 144: Jesse is BACK as our first repeat guest to talk about our new book Banana Ball: The Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas.  Whether at the ballpark, on social media, onstage delivering keynotes, or in features for ESPN, Jesse continues to create fans all over the world. The Bananas have sold out every game since their first season and have a waitlist for tickets in the thousands. They have entertained millions of fans in Savannah and at ballparks all over their country on their Banana Ball Tour. Listen now and take notes on our free BONUS RESOURCE. +If you want to connect with Don Yaeger to next-level your company culture connect with him at maxwellleadership.com/don Special thanks to Lauren Hafner and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.  

Ep. 143: Baseball and football shaped Jim whose experience includes executive roles at Comcast and AT&T. Today his competitive spirit can be seen golfing and skiing in his home state of Colorado! “As a corporate leader, I'm always thinking about that person who takes the first phone call from our customer. ‘How hard are we making that job?’ I want to know.”  Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Kyle Smedley and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 142: Vanderbilt Basketball shaped Drew. Growing up in Tennessee, he disciplined himself as a young boy to take 750-1,000 shots a day on the basketball court because he wanted to be the third person in his family to play basketball at Vanderbilt, where his dad and grandfather played. "I want to eliminate 'destination disease.' Let's chase winning with everything that we have, but let's not allow that to become the impairment of us becoming all we can be along the journey." - Drew Maddux Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Kyle Smedley and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.    

Ep. 141: Golf shaped this PGA Golf Executive of the Year. He reminds us of the importance of building strong relationships in every area of an organization. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions.  If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture! Special thanks to Clayton Cole, Ethan Salzberg, and Lauren Hafner for making this episode possible.

Ep. 140: Tennis and gymnastics shaped Angela who has been named to the Forbes Most Powerful Women list an incredible EIGHT times. Today she serves on the Board of Ralph Lauren, AirBnb, and Save the Children International, a charity focused on improving the lives of at-risk children worldwide.  Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions.  +If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Kyle Smedley and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep.139: Princeton Lacrosse shaped this leader who won two national championships under legendary coach Bill Tierney. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. You will learn: 8:00 How to emphasize the power or "we" on your team. 15:00 The level of employee interaction required to achieve success. 18:30 The difference between being accountable and responsible.  27:00 How to identify a meaningful friend or mentor. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Nico Finol and Sam Manley for making this episode possible.

Ep. 138 Football and baseball shaped Chairman of Texas Mutual Insurance Company. Ron Simmons developed the practice of holding a 20-minute meeting with each of his team members with “no agenda other than getting to know each other.” “I learned early on that if I wanted to be able to accomplish things, I needed to have my colleagues trust me,” Simmons said. “If you can develop a personal bond with someone, then when some conflict arises, you can melt it away a lot better by drawing on your understanding of the person.” +Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. ++If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Cade Stransky and Daniel Kehn for making this episode possible.

Ep. 137: Cricket shaped the leader who grew up in Yorkshire, England where “the humans were outnumbered by the sheep.” Leave it to the CEO of WD-40 to figure out a way to smooth out the squeaks in his company’s culture, but that’s exactly what the company’s new boss Steve Brass did on day one of becoming the leader of a brand whose name has become synonymous with making things operate better. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Kyle Smedley and David Beira for making this episode possible.

Ep. 136: Harvard Football shaped this "business athlete" who bakes his company's purpose into his product while leading his 12,000 employees.  Scott founded Seattle Coffee Company in London before selling it to Starbucks and serving as the President of Starbucks Europe. In 2008, Scott and his wife Ally founded MOD Pizza in Seattle, a fast-casual restaurant chain that offers artisan-style pizzas and salads, and today they have 500 locations across America. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. +If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Samantha Clark and Daniel Kehn for making this episode possible.

Ep. 135 REWIND EPISODE: To celebrate John’s new book The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication, we are throwing it back to one of our first episodes. John began practicing leadership as a sophomore on the Circleville, Ohio High School basketball team, when was named captain.  “He might be the youngest,” his coach said to the team, “but there is nobody here that wants you to succeed as much as John.” It’s no stretch to say that what was true then remains true of his team at Maxwell Leadership, as well as the countless teams they have coached and inspired worldwide. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Francisco Nunez and Lauren Hafner for making this episode possible.

Ep. 134: Notre Dame Soccer Captain and Ad Age CMO of the Year encourages you to keep a “happy folder” of nice notes and projects you are proud of so that when you exerpience low points you can revisit the folder and get a little boost. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode is “Build Trustworthy Relationships” which includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions for this episode. Click here to download the bonus resource. Bring Don Yaeger’s inspiration and tools for culture transformation to your team! Connect with us here. Special thanks to Haley Rose and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 133: Johns Hopkins Lacrosse shaped Tracey who offers insights into skills that may not fit naturally on the resumé but belong in any true leadership toolkit. These include: How to give honest feedback that promotes learning without hurting people’s feelings. Why learning to flex your “feedback muscle” is critical to mentoring in today’s workplace. The real reason effective leaders ought to practice being calm in times of crisis. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions. Click here to download the bonus resource. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture! Special thanks to Samantha Clark and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 132: Football shaped the leader in charge of Cigna’s U.S. employer group business market strategy, sales, and local community engagement initiatives. Some people view corporate success as climbing a ladder, Mike Triplett views it as crossing a bridge, and he takes special care never to cross a bridge without bringing someone along who contributed to his success. Our BONUS RESOURCE includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions for this episode Click here to download the bonus resource. +You can now bring host Don Yaeger’s inspiration and tools for culture transformation to your team! Connect with us here: http://maxwellleadership.com/don Special thanks to Kory Gehring and Brett Rutherford for making this episode possible.

Ep. 131: Oxford Basketball shaped Stephen whose portfolio includes brands like FIJI Water, Halos Mandarins, POM Wonderful, and JUSTIN Wines. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode is “What Happens When You Walk in the Room?” which includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions from today’s episode.  Click here to download the bonus resource. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Brian Schnorr and Haley Rose for making this episode possible.

Ep. 130: When Stacie asks a client, “How do we compare to the competition,” she’s not going through the motions or being polite. She’s showing interest and creating a respectful environment in which honesty can develop—and she’s not afraid of what she might hear. Listeners to this episode will learn: 9:00 Growth questions every leader should ask themselves. 14:30 How to determine if you are a leader or a manager. 20:00 How to blindspot-proof your leadership team. 24:00 Three leadership qualities every mentor should develop with their mentees.  Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode is “How to Receive Feedback” which includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions so you can go from managing your team to leading them. Click here to download the bonus resource. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Jacob Poverman and Samuel Manley for making this episode possible.

Ep. 129: Hockey shaped this cybersecurity executive, an industry with zero unemployment and three million open jobs on any given day. Download our “Make Your Employees Feel Like Superheroes” BONUS RESOURCE for this episode! If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Samuel Manley and Nico Finol for making this episode possible.

Ep. 128: Football, track, and baseball shaped Paul who was named to Glassdoor’s list of Top CEOs determined by employee approval ratings. Listeners will learn how KPMG uses DEI principles and practices in its strategic planning, especially with talent acquisition. “Worrying is not a productive way to bring about change,” he noted. “The leader’s role is to be the calm in the middle of adversity.” Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions so you can grow your influence in 2023. Special thanks to Nico Finol and Haley Rose for making this episode possible.  

Reflection episode: After more than 100 conversations with leaders from companies like Amazon, Netflix, Disney, and Google, I've learned that sports not only taught our guests great lessons that translate to business, but it is a common denominator that makes them more relatable. For our last episode of 2022, I invited Maxwell Leadership Executive Vice President Chris Goede to our reflection episode to talk about his favorite episodes and specifically the formulas shared. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode is “Formulas For Success” which includes six formulas and one reflection question. Click here to download the bonus resource. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with me and my team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Brett Rutherford and Lauren Hafner for making this episode possible.

Ep. 126: College football shaped this executive in his 40th year with Avnet. Phil leads more than 15,000 employees across 140 countiries. Phil doesn’t believe in quick fixes and argues that integrity, the first among core values, has to be developed in the way we behave in the here and now—and over time. “There’s an old saying,” says Phil, “that people build trust penny by penny and spend it like a buck. You have to prioritize standing by your word.” Download our BONUS RESOURCE which includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions for you to complete throughout Phil’s teaching. YOU WILL LEARN: 9:00   Why substituting the word “we” in place of “I” immediately builds trust. 11:30  The steps to a successful merger or acquisition. 15:30  How to prioritize your tasks in alignment with your values. 16:30  Why you need to walk into the office with good news, and run in with bad news.   Special thanks to Samuel Manley and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 125: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro shaped the way this Fortune 500 CEO leads Insight Enterprises, a $9.4 billion solutions integrator. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode is “How to Bring your Company Values to Life” which includes four reflection questions so you can create powerful, positive change in your organization.  You Will Learn  8:00 The need for "players" to be able to play in more than one position. 11:00 How to define and reinforce your company values. 13:00 One way you can recognize your teammates for living out company values. 20:00 How to align each team member’s personal goals with the team's goals. 23:00 Why there is no “one size fits all” approach to motivating your team. Special thanks to Samuel Manley and Jacob Poverman for making this episode possible. 

Ep. 124: We’re back for part 2 with the leader behind the phrase “Ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen.”   Download our free BONUS RESOURCE for reflection questions that will empower your team and listen for lessons in: 5:30 The difference between mission and vision 7:00 How to hire for purpose, not function. 8:00 How to frame a common objective in a way that unifies people. 9:00 Horst Schulze’s definition of a team. 12:00 What you gain by “selecting” people to work with you rather than “hiring” them. 13:30 The one thing that must be in every employee orientation. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with Don and his team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Haley Rose and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 123: Become the best in a world of compromise in the first of our two-part series with longtime COO and President of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Download our free BONUS RESOURCE for reflection questions that will empower your team and listen for lessons in: 7:00 How to next-level your organization’s purpose statement. 10:30 The difference between management and leadership. 13:45 Three things every customer expects. 15:00 The fastest way to develop customer loyalty. 18:00 The non-negotiables that form the backbone of Ritz-Carlton’s culture. If these lessons resonated with you, connect with Don and his team at maxwellleadership.com/don and together we can next-level your company culture!  Special thanks to Haley Rose and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 122: People admire perfection from a distance, but they can’t relate to it. Most leaders believe that sharing their failures, shortcomings, and faults will make them less followable, and less respected. But author and motivational speaker Ryan Leak believes the opposite is true. Connection, not perfection, is the goal. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode is “How to Start Meaningful Conversations” which includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions so you can create powerful, positive change in your organization. Click here to download the bonus resource. And if you are interested in Ryan’s new book, Leveling Up: 12 Questions to Elevate Your Personal and Professional Development, order here. Special thanks to Haley Rose and Brett Rutherford for making this episode possible.

Ep. 121: The NFL’s top female executive was a competitive gymnast who grew up on a farm in Western Kentucky. Renie oversees the League’s sponsorships, new business, and media sales for their NFL Network. You have probably seen NFL players using Microsoft Surface tablets on the sideline—that is a visual example of one of Renie’s many roles on display.  Download our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode which includes fill-in-the-blank notes for you to complete throughout Renie’s teaching. You will learn how to treat your career as a series of stages, each one of which calls for re-evaluating what you’re willing to sacrifice at that time in your life. Plus, you will learn what “fake it ‘till you make it” really means! Special thanks to Julia Monkarsh and Haley Rose for making this episode possible.

Ep. 120: UNC Tennis and being classmates with Michael Jordan shaped Pam, who leads in the third largest electric utility company in the United States. She learned about preparedness not on the frontline of storm recovery but on the backline of countless tennis courts, where her father coached her to see how sports could teach you important lessons. Our BONUS resource for this episode is “How to lead through disaster” which includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions so you can create powerful, positive change in your organization. Click here to download the bonus resource. Special thanks to Samantha Clark and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 119: Former U.S. Bank CEO who currently serves on the board of Mastercard, Mayo Clinic, Dow Chemical, and Wells Fargo says sports taught him that win or lose, you tend to have more fun when you are in the game. So, instead of setting a goal to play a certain position, he always did whatever he could to be a utility player, in sports and business. "I've always believed that putting your hand up to do something demonstrates curiosity," he said. "And then, if you do it well, it demonstrates competency." As Richard made himself more valuable, the job titles also fell into place. All aspiring business leaders would do well to take to heart Davis' mantra to "set a direction, never a goal." Our FREE BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions so you can create powerful, positive change in your organization. Click here to download the bonus resource. Special thanks to Lauren Hafner and Brett Rutherford for making this episode possible.

Ep. 118: REWIND EPISODE: To celebrate the 25th anniversary of his charity, Homes for the Holidays, we are throwing it back to one of the first episodes we recorded. Warrick Dunn has now given homes to more than 200 single parents, and Don began sharing Warrick’s story to audiences all around the world as part of his keynote speech that teaches the 10 Elements of Well-Told Story. Don takes each audience member through a journey from their scribbled-down ideas to a place where they can tell their story in a way that provides lasting impact and deeper relationships. +If you have a company event coming up and are interested in one of Don’s in-person or virtual speeches, click here to connect with our team. +Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode is “How to Use Adversity as Fuel” which includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions to complete while you listen. Special thanks to Francisco Nunez and Brett Rutherford for making this episode possible.

Ep. 117: One of 2022's "Most Powerful Women in Accounting" plays first base on the competitive women's softball team she manages. "I have a saying," Lara Abrash shares, "Work hard. Play harder.” Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode is “Are you a leader or a manager?” which includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions to complete while you listen. Click here to download: https://donyaeger.com/corporate-competitor-podcast/episode-117/ You will learn: 5:00 How to improve your communication skills. 15:00 How to be a better listener. 24:00 Why failing is a necessity. 32:00 Why goals need to be said out loud. Special thanks to Haley Rose and Lauren Hafner for making this episode possible.

Ep. 116: Wrestling at Cal State Fullerton shaped this EY Entrepreneur of the Year judge. His technology and consulting company has been named “Best Place to Work” in San Diego for seven consecutive years. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode is “How to Make Your Employees Feel Like Owners” which includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions so you can create powerful, positive change in your organization as you listen to Cesar’s episode. Special thanks to Kory Gehring and Haley Rose for making this episode possible.

Ep. 115: Learn how he started from scratch in Brooklyn, bought Yankee Stadium, and built the largest sports marketing and memorabilia company in the country. Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode is “How to Establish Credibility” which includes fill-in-the-blank notes for you to complete throughout Brandon’s teaching. Brandon has proven himself to be a great teacher, one credible enough to earn invitations to speak on marketing strategy at some of the top business schools in the country, including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Northwestern. At such gatherings of future business leaders, he shares the importance of mastering the basics day after day because “consistency over time equals credibility.” Special thanks to Samantha Clark and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 114: Denver Bronco legend Karl Mecklenburg reveals the best goal-line defense against “big egos” on your team. Download the fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions so you can create powerful, positive change in your organization. Click here to download the bonus resource. Karl retired from professional football with more than 1,000 tackles and is now tackling public speaking, inspiring organizations, and their leaders to make long-term positive changes. In this episode, Karl proves himself to be as versatile a storyteller as he was a football player when he once played seven different defensive positions in a single game. Connect with Karl: https://karlmecklenburg.com Special thanks to Samantha Clark and Kai Patricelli for making this episode possible.

Ep. 113: Lafayette College Football shaped this Harvard Business School grad. Tony shows how attention to the “human side” of competing in the global technology sector fosters resilient teams and more trusting customer relationships. Our BONUS resource for this episode is “4 Questions Every Leader Needs to Ask” which includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions so you can create powerful, positive change in your organization. Click here to download the bonus resource. Special thanks to Lauren Hafner and Julia Monkarsh for making this episode possible.

Ep. 112: Dan Cathy reveals the rewards of “leaving everything on the mat” as a state champion wrestler and member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He is proudest of his service ethic, which has carried him for 40 years at the helm of the family business where he still welcomes guests with a firm handshake and the greeting, “Hi, I”m Dan. I work in customer service.” As delicious as Chick-fil-A food is, that's not people's greatest need, avers Cathy. “Their greatest need is being encouraged. Chick-fil-A’s  purpose is that customers leave better and more encouraged than when they came in.” Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions so you can create powerful, positive change in your organization. Special thanks to Julia Monkarsh, Brett Rutherford, and Francisco Nunez for making this episode possible.

Ep. 111: Lesley was the first woman inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the first woman to broadcast the NBA Finals, World Series, and Final Four, and named as one of GQ’s “five ideal dinner guests,” an honor which reflects her expert listening skills as well as storytelling prowess and remarkable experiences. In this episode, she shares the simple yet powerful philosophy that has steered her trailblazing career.  Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode is “Never Save Your Best for Last” which includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions so you can make every at-bat a quality at-bat. Click here to download the bonus resource. Special thanks to Kai Patricelli and Caitlin Wilkey for making this episode possible.

Ep. 110: Harvard Football taught Spencer that the best leaders are simplifiers. Do you track hundreds of metrics, assuming that more is always better? Or do you boil it down to the two or three that really matter? Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode is “Developing Discipline” which includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions so you can create margin in your life. Click here to download the bonus resource. Special thanks to Brian Schnorr and Brett Rutherford for making this episode possible.

Ep. 109: Few things will make you more competitive than growing up with an identical sister in a small town. Amy applied her competitive spirit to gymnastics and cheerleading in high school, to business degrees from Cornell and The Wharton School, and then to executive roles, including COO of Ticketmaster and CEO of FanDuel. Our BONUS resource for this episode is “Control Your Calendar” which includes fill-in-the-blank notes and reflection questions so you can create powerful, positive change in your organization. Special thanks to Julia Monkarsh and Chase Crews for making this episode possible.

Ep. 108: When you spend 15 years working as a basketball performance coach alongside Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Kobe Bryant, you gather incredible stories about the dedication required to be the best in your business. One of Alan Stein Jr.’s favorite stories involved Curry who, even as a young and unknown player, would not leave the court until he swished five free throws in a row.  “The first step of raising your game is to raise your standard. Curry did not accept the baskets that hit the rim in those moments when nobody was watching him. He took complete responsibility for his own development to guide him in becoming one of the greatest shooters of all time.”  Visit CorporateCompetitorpodcast.com/108 to download the free resource that includes a fill-in-the-blank outline and reflection questions to help you combat stress and burnout. Special thanks to Brian Schnorr and Samantha Clark for making this episode possible.

Ep. 107: New Jersey’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year shares 3 questions every leader needs to ask their employees weekly – a lesson he learned from his Hall of Fame Hockey Coach Jacques Lemaire. Visit CorporateCompetitorpodcast.com/107 for Don's episode notes and reflection questions. 9:00   How to be a consummate learner, not only from your industry but also from others. 13:30   How to better communicate to your internal team. 14:30   Three questions every leader needs to ask their teams weekly. 18:30    How to determine if your culture is “Hug-Worthy?” 21:30    How to increase the level of belief within a team. Special thanks to Samantha Clark and Kai Patricelli for making this episode possible.