Amanda Beard, one of the greatest American women to have ever graced a swimming pool joins the show to discuss her career including a meteoric rise to stardom as a 14 year old Olympic medalist back in 1996, to how she handled the highs of further Olympic journeys as well as the ensuing lows that followed once journeys came to an end.  We hear about the role Amanda is now playing as the owner of a Swim School (Beardswimco.com) and the mother of 2 budding athletes on somewhat similar paths to the one she was on 25 years ago.  A significant topic that came from the discussion includes that of balancing passions in life to where we can have more facets to our identity so we are not guilty of putting all our focus on one thing that consumes our entire being. Amanda is a huge advocate for, firstly, prioritizing a balance of priorities in life, while also making sure we find ways to switch off from commitments we may have that consume a lot of our energy already.  You can learn everything you need to about Amanda's story at amandabeardofficial.com and be sure to check out some more details regarding the episode on instagram at career_competitor.  Contact Steve Mellor regarding thoughts on the episode at [email protected]  Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

A delicious dose of insightful conversation being served in this episode as we welcome successful health & fitness professional, Ashley Drummonds who a few years ago founded ABS Protein Pancakes that has since launched her to great success and new career highs.  With these amazing milestones she has accomplished in recent times she has also encountered frequent episodes of uncharted territory that has forced her to be vulnerable towards her weakest areas as a professional. These trials are areas that all competitors encounter within their careers that don't get discussed enough, but Ashley is kind enough to really open our eyes to the ways we must be both aware and willing to encounter such adversities.  We hear all about Ashley's career journey, the ways in which she has been willing to search for guidance and help, her perspective on how best to handle our fears, and the ways in which she competes and defines success within her day.  Be sure to head to https://abspancakes.com to learn more about Ashley's products and story, and feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] with any thoughts regarding the episode. Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

We have the honor of hearing from Paralympic medallist & World Champion Long Jumper, Lex Gillette on this episode as he inspires us to implement the very approaches that have led him to where he is today. Overcoming a truly life-altering time in his life as a child, Lex is a product of investing time and energy into the growth & development of himself the person, before then applying his efforts towards a competitive career as he has been able to successfully do.  We learn about the power of a vision, one you believe in so much that the intentions to act happen without resistance. Furthermore, we hear the power that accepting failure can have on you as a competitor and the importance of not allowing adverse an unplanned moments to deter you from reaching your destination.  Head to lexgillette.com to learn more about Lex's story and of course feel free to leave us a rating and contact me directly at [email protected] with any thoughts you have on the episodeSign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Delighted to welcome in a true legend of NFL Football in that of Steve Atwater, who as a member of the Denver Broncos in the 90's won 2 Super Bowl titles, was named to the 1990's All-Decade team, and most recently was named to the 2020 Hall of Fame Class.  Steve provides some incredible insight into the level or camaraderie he and his Broncos teammates shared during their successful seasons together, including stories of how bonds were made off the field in order to enhance them on the field.  Despite his recounts of only his time as a football player, what is so impactful in our discussion is how applicable the traits Steve relied on to be successful are to just about anyone in any walk of life. The emphasis Steve put on things such as authenticity and leadership throughout his playing years is certainly something we can all aspire to involve in our work too.  Let me know your thoughts on this episode by contacting me at [email protected] Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

On this episode we welcome in Ciera Burdick who has made a career as a professional basketball player for the past 6 years since she was drafted into the WNBA back in 2015. As a competitor she is relishing the daily opportunity to learn and better herself as she takes on the best competition across Europe and within the Women's game stateside as well.  The discussion includes the ways Cierra prioritizes giving back to others through her work and platform, the ways she integrates humility in her daily growth as an athlete and human being, and her desire to seize the opportunity she has to perform and excel for many years to come.  This is an episode that can benefit so many in relation to appreciating what it means to be true to who you are and let that version of yourself guide you through your competitive journey. Follow Cierra on instagram at c_burdick11 and as always be sure to reach out to us at [email protected] Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

On this show we welcome in highly established health & fitness professional, Katie Chung Hua to the show who today is helping people across the US build a greater version of themselves through exercise & nutrition insight. A former Ice Hockey player, Katie is a competitor in the purest sense as she relishes the chance to prove her value to clients the same way she would be enticed to compete with women on the hockey rink! Furthermore, building a career within an industry filled with less than trustworthy professionals leaves her authenticity under great scrutiny, but fortunately she more than establishes this through her humble nature and honest feedback social circle she has established for herself.  We gain insight from Katie on areas such as the importance of leaving yourself open to criticism from those you trust most, allowing yourself to be humbled by those more established at what you do, the art of composing yourself in the face of scrutiny by relying upon your trusted process, and how your competitive nature can be best used within given moments each day.  Be sure to give Katie a follow on Instagram @katiechunghua and of course let us know what you thought of the episode by leaving a rating or contacting us at [email protected] up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Welcome to the 3rd and final part of my series on a "checklist" approach to competing at your optimal level. This last chapter in this short series is all about setting yourself apart with an ever-evolving checklist that allows you to constantly build off the moments when you satisfy an objective or complete a part within your process.  There is no denying that this episode covers an idea that is easy to say, yet difficult to do, but I truly believe we can all get closer to implementing this, so long as we work with a conscious mindset that values the importance of self-assessment within your daily pursuit of success! Let me know what you think of this series and concept by contacting me at [email protected] up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

We welcome a first to the show today in that of Olympic and World Championship medalist Wrestler, James Green who joins us to tell us all about his preparations for the Olympic Trials that commence today.  Our discussion is filled with great content on the power of remaining present in performance, how our hardworking approach behind the scenes can allow us to perform within the present, and also the importance of knowing who you are as person first behind you the competitor.  Follow James' Olympic journey at whoisjamesg.com where you will find his social media handles and some fantastic insight into the man behind the wrestler. Also, be sure to be rating the show and checking out our website at careercompetitor.com  Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

In the 2nd part of this series on "checklists" we establish the need to know exactly who we are establishing this minimum standard for. When we are trying to satisfy the expectations we put on ourselves it is easier to establish a personality of that of a "doer"; we allow our actions to be based upon our process no matter how small or significant a task may be.  Part 2 is all about creating a proactive version of ourselves that is not going to be influenced by the minimum standards of our environment, and once we are able to implement this we can start to work towards standing out above the rest of the packSign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

We welcome to the show an incredible story in that of Johnny Quinn who despite reaching his ultimate goal in life of competing in the NFL saw that dream taken from him due to injury, and in a moment of potential collapse, he was available for the greatest "unexpected opportunity" he didn't even know would be perfect for him! Today, this now US Winter Olympic Team Member tells his story of how he found the sport of bobsledding in the most unusual of circumstances and allowed the very transition of going from football to bobsledding to redefine his outlook on life. Johnny share with us an encyclopedia of insight on what it means to overcome adversity, to be available for opportunity, and to have a readiness in your arsenal that keeps you hungry for more.  We cover great content on the power of both short and long term goals, the impact reading can have on a person in their pursuit to obtain information, how we can be victims to analysis to the point of paralysis, and so much more! If you want to learn more about Johnny Quinn's story and the services he has to offer, head to johnnyquinnusa.com where you can learn even more about this incredible story and the depths of the services he has available to you.  Let us know what you thought of the episode by leaving a rating or contacting us directly at careercompetitor.com Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Starting the week off right with a COMPETITIVE CALL to challenge you on a level of honesty you might not be ready for!!!  Are you some one who checks the boxes of standards expected of you each day and that's it? Do you simply show up on time, complete assignments, and do enough to avoid punishment? I believe we can all be guilty of this and I want to get you thinking with this first in a 3-part series on what is can mean to just follow and complete the daily check list presented to you Let me know what you think!!! [email protected] Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

We welcome in a historic figure in Indian sports history to the show today as Shikha Tandon - the first Indian person to represent her country swimming multiple events at an Olympic Games - joins us to share her story and provide fascinating perspective on some of her competitive qualities.  Working in her role today with Silicon Valley Exercise Analytics, Shikha has become accustomed to providing data to athletes of all levels on how they can learn from performance in order to optimize it in the future. Interestingly, Shikha had a similar approach to her competitive swimming career as she had to rely fully on lessons from her own journey with not having any blueprint provided to excel at what she was aiming to do.  We cover Shikha's story growing up in India, how she found the sport of swimming, and how quickly she established success. Later we discuss the fascinating company she is working for today at SVEXA.com and hear about the "feedback loop" we can all strive to implement it within our day-to-day. Finally, Shikha brings things full circle and highlights how she is able to use her mindset from her swimming days in assisting athletes she and SVEXA assist today.  So many concepts are presented within this discussion regarding the make up of a competitive and successful person, and you can learn more about the episode and show at careercompetitor.com  Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

On this episode we welcome in an absolute legend of the Bike world as 4x Mountain Bike World Champion, Brian Lopes joins Steve to discuss the highly competitive level of performance he has maintained for over 3 decades. A born competitor, Brian emphasizes often within the interview how he invests himself fully into everything he is a part of and how he is striving to be at his best and succeed at every opportunity possible. In addition to the competitive world of biking, Brian is making efforts to grow the sport within schools as a part of “All Kids Bike”, an organization striving to get every child in America on a bike within their PE classes. Within the discussion Brian starts by telling us why he is still so passionate to compete at the age of 49 and how he still takes part in races only with the intention to perform at an optimal level and compete with the younger and latest generation of competitors. Furthermore, we hear how Brian has been aware of never letting things become stale as he finds slightly different ways to challenge himself as a competitor within the world of biking, but using this same approach in experiences he takes on away from the race tracks as well. You can learn more firstly, about Brian at Brianlopes.com and by following him on Instagram @brianlopes and you can also learn all about All Kids Bike at their website allkidsbike.org. Be sure to follow the show on Instagram too @career_competitor and check out our website at careercompetitor.comSign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

New week and here we go with a new take on how to best approach the competitive journey's you are setting out on. I define toughness as one's ability to see things through to the end and I know we all have the ability to demonstrate such toughness, we just have to be disciplined enough to not over-commit to things we maybe are not ready or willing to see through to the end. Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with one of Rio 2016 greatest Paralympic stories in McKenzie Coan as we learn all about the competitor behind the 3-time Olympic champion from 4 summers ago. Occasionally this show presents someone who demonstrates a holistic lifestyle approach to competitiveness and McKenzie certainly applies 100% of herself to every component of her day, looking for ways to win every step of the way.  We learn from her how she prides herself on always giving a 100% effort towards her training as a Paralympic swimmer so that she take the confidence gained through her preparation into her races. Furthermore, McKenzie welcomes the adversities that life throws at her ranging from day-to-day challenges such as her disability, to more unpredictable things such as the pandemic she has dealt with the past 12 months. With an outlook built around learning about herself when she encounters tough moments, McKenzie shares with us some powerful thoughts on how best to come through the other side of setbacks.  Be sure to go to mckenziecoan.com to learn about her, while making sure you follow her on all social media @Mckenzie_coan as well. Let us know what you thought of the episode by leaving a rating on iTunes or by contacting me through career competitor.com or through instagram @career_competitorSign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Some thoughts I wanted to share on the power of "acceptance" and how it can be the determining factor in your ability to perform at optimal levels when in a competitive arena.  Whether it be a race, competition, presentation, test, or maybe a job interview, there is a strength that comes from accepting you have done enough, which results in surrendering yourself to the present moment so that you are immersed in the competitive situation. When we are unable to accept and find ourselves wasting energy on things in the past that are no longer in our control, we can assume doubt has crept in on some level, and doubt leads us to inevitably performing below our optimal level. Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

On this episode we welcome a true global Track & Field star in Tianna Bartoletta who has earned 3 Olympic Gold's across 2 Games (4x100 Relay in London 2012, Long Jump & 4x100 in Rio 2016) and is currently in preparations for her 3rd trip to the Olympics in Tokyo later this summer. A competitive career that has spanned over a decade at a world class level, Tianna has gradually established a version of herself that can consistently awake at 4:30am daily to focus solely on the day at hand so as to optimize her output and value to herself.  We gain some valuable insight into what it means to invest in the being you are each and every day, from the way you think to the way you act and the many things we have control over in between. When you are juggling a world class athletics career, a spiritually driven exercise service, and managing the requests of sponsors like Tianna is, it would be easy to become overwhelmed, maybe lose sight of your direction. Tianna is here to explain how she best handles her daily expectations, offering an extremely relatable and transferable outlook in how to ensure "the day is the goal". If you would like to learn more about Tianna's story, the services she provides, and to sign up for updates on her book coming out in June of this year, go to tiannabee.com. Also be sure to let me know your thoughts on this episode through our website at Careercompetitor.comSign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Here with a new Competitive Call early in the week to present a concept called "competitive rejuvenation" that proposes the need to take time on building a better version of ourselves in order to deliver DAILY rejuvenation to our careers. Imagine if you could deliver a rejuvenated competitive approach every single day?!?!? Well I am here to challenge you that it is possible, as long as the system the energy is coming from receives the attention it deserves!  Follow Career Competitor on Instagram @career_competitor and rate the show on Apple Podcasts as well!Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

This week on the show I welcome in a veteran of the game of Soccer here in the United States, Jonny Bornstein who was a member of the generational US National Team that attended the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Over his 15 year professional career, Jonny has represented his country 37 times, played in both in Major League Soccer and the Mexican Primera League throughout his career, and is currently a member of the Chicago Fire for this upcoming MLS Season. Some of the major talking points of the episode include how Jonny remained patient throughout his career, waiting for opportunities but taking full advantage of them when they came. In addition, he provides a fantastic perspective on the power of taking care of the person you are in order to optimize the competitor and career person you are. Our show is all about optimizing the competitor within you, but the clarity Jonny provides through his candid and vulnerable insight allow us to clearly appreciate that there is an almost therapeutic process to building the person required to take on a career to the highest of levels! You can follow Jonny on Instagram @jonnybobos8 and of course give us a follow too @career_competitorSign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Welcome into a brand new work week with a Competitive Call that should help establish greater expectations for yourself when it comes to performing during times when you don't quite feel it is possible.  As a coach I frequently have athletes tell me "I feel like shit" which in my professional opinion is rarely a reason or excuse to not perform, usually it means they are simply in need of being reminded about their goals and require inspiration to work hard despite feeling a little fatigued.  I believe we all can be guilty of these moments where we allow ourselves to believe we have a reason not to perform at our best, when we just need to call upon the "superhero" within us to save the day. The more we are able to practice these traits during these  emotionally charged moments, the more we will be equipped to handle the moments when shit truly hits the fan!!!Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

We welcome to the show a true competitor within the photography industry, Alex Palombo who over the past 17 years has established himself amongst the best out there and delivers a unique perspective on what it means to establish success within the most intense of careers. In addition to covering his career to this point we discuss his most recent project "The 20 2020 Project; the Pursuit of a Dream" which is a book showcasing the journey of 20 Olympic hopefuls for the forthcoming games this summer.  A storyteller at heart, as photographer Alex's natural scrutiny of his own work is what puts him at ease as he and only he will be the one that assesses his work to the highest of standards in a career where people are all to willing to pass judgement.  Within the interview we cover the highly volatile environment that is professional photography as there is nothing after first place; you either get the job or you don't! Furthermore, Alex emphasizes the need to have "cheerleaders" within your camp that are willing to support you and also hold you accountable to go and reach your dreams! Much like in sports, everything within this career is "earned" and all the so called "overnight successes" out there happen because of the willingness to put in the years of work up until that moment.  For those of you looking to learn more about Alex, his work on the 20 2020 Project, and to also pre-order his book please head to Palombophotography.com Take the time to let me know your thoughts on this episode through our instagram @career_competitorSign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

We welcome Olympic Champion and Long-time friend of mine, Cullen Jones to the show to discuss the incredible work he is doing today in regards to diversifying the sport of swimming, along with his Make-A-Splash foundation that empowers black children across the United States to learn to swim. In addition to the many things he has going on today, Cullen take us back to where the competitor in him was born within his swimming career, how he handled the pressure of assisting Michael Phelps to his 8-Gold Medal haul in Beijing, and why he has his "scrappy" nature to thank for all of his successes.  Through the course of the interview Cullen provides some great insight into the ways his passion projects turned into what today is his career (7:30); the ways in which the additional work he took on during his swimming career acted as fuel and how his role today as a father does the same thing for him in relation to his career (11:00); we also get into the topic of racial injustice and how Cullen's experiences have led him to leading the charge within USA Swimming today to be an activist for change (25:00) Feel free to follow us at career_Competitor on instagram to ge3t behind the scenes footage of the interview with Cullen. Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Starting the week off with a thought on a term I heard recently when a former teammate of Tom Brady referred to him as having "incredible competitive stamina". When you look at the great athletes of all time they have this innate ability to SUSTAIN their competitive spirit in pursuit of further glory.  So many of us had our competitive stamina tested to its absolute lengths this past year when COVID derailed so many in the pursuit of lifetime goals such as those pursuing Olympic bids.  This is a concept that forced me to seek further understanding in what it can truly mean, and in turn it showed to have the potential to be something we can all potentially implement and certainly benefit from being more in tune with. Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

We welcome on World Track & Field Sprint star, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake to the show to talk about the finite details that allow him to compete with the worlds best. He has established a professional career for himself through his purpose-driven lifestyle  where today, he finds himself training alongside some of the worlds best in order to keep his competitive nature at an optimal level.  Like all Olympic athletes, Nethaneel's 2020 was derailed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, and despite contracting the virus himself he was able to still remain committed to his craft throughout last year and is now heading into the 2021 Olympics with a complete assurance in his preparations and opportunities to make it as successful as can be.  Some of the main talking points within the interview include; having appreciation for the opportunities put in front of us; the willingness to make sacrifices in life when rare opportunities come your way; the humbling need to slow down and almost stop when you find yourself stepping up a level within the work you do; and how we can all benefit from remaining purposeful in our every day approach to life. Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Happy Monday to you all and here is a slice of what I hope to be accountability for you to start the week as I empower you all to analyze closely the community within which you compete daily. To those of you that are well-established success stories, now is not the time to rest on your laurels, now is the time to actually analyze new ways to compete by figuring out what sort of things you no longer need within your community. Let's not wait for things to go wrong, lets proactively compete even harder Be sure to have a listen to my take on the need to be aware of your "Competitive Community" and let me know what you think of the episode on instagram at career_competitor or find me on LinkedIn.Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

On this episode we welcome in the founders of TAGALONG, Nick Karwoski and Scott Del Vecchio who herald from careers in pro triathlon and rowing, respectively. They have spent most of the past couple years creating an exciting platform to aid those pursuing sports like running, cycling, and swimming to connect with pro’s that can coach them up to reach new highs. These guys understand competing on levels within their sports and now in the world of tech and startups that makes them ideal guests for the show and they bring and energy and perspective to challenge all competitors. The first topic we discuss is the ways in which athletes from sport-to-sport can compare competitive levels sometimes in relation to who is the best, while at other times it is more applicable to be among the best (6:30). Next, we tackle the topic of “knowing your ceiling” in relation to what you have achieved versus what you deem your potential to be and how our awareness and acceptance of this plays a massive role on how competitive you feel (15:20). We hear all about Nick & Scott’s company, TAGALONG and how it provides users the opportunity to become more competitive within the sports they are most passionate about, as well as the multi-faceted benefits to the service that go way beyond the surface level of what’s being offered (24:00).      For anyone looking to learn more about the company and these awesome guys be sure to head to tagalongwithapro.com where you can find out everything you need to know. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show and follow us on Instagram at Career_CompetitorSign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

Here we go with a Competitive Call that will force you into analyzing how committed you truly are when it comes to your New Years Resolution.  Stop with this soft approach of acting like you are ready to make some massive commitment, it is time to face the music and highlight the problems you have and the habits you are willing to implement in order to eradicate them.  This ought to get you fired up about facing the new year with a clear perspective on what will be required to make it your most successful one yet! Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

On this episode we are joined by former Baseball player, turned entrepreneur and owner of an extremely unique franchise – the Savannah Banana’s Baseball Team – Jesse Cole who delivers a blast of energy that just about any of us can benefit from. With his own brand of customer service, bullet proof approach to handling adversity, and immense ability to get people working together, Jesse is a competitor in every sense of the word as he challenges himself and everyone around him daily to bring their “A-Game” to the table. Following a year that has hit people the world over in ways we could have never imagined, Jesse is a tonic we can all stand to take a dose of as he is living proof that we can in fact handle life’s greatest challenges. Despite seeming as though he had a long and successful career in baseball as a pitcher ahead of him, Jesse had this taken from him and was thrown into the real world and immediately challenged with what to do next. Years later, he and his wife have now steadied the ship of their once hectic life to now having a highly profitable, widely known, and one-of-a-kind business that is set up for a long run of success like few would have ever thought were possible. Jesse introduces the work he is doing today running the Savannah Banana’s baseball franchise (5:10) and the story of how his journey within the sport of baseball began (6:25). We then hear about the way Jesse realized what direction his career was destined to go (8:20) and what his philosophy is towards his work and the business he runs (10:55). The conversation then sheds light on the way in which Jesse’s personality has evolved through his years in baseball (14:30) and how he prioritizes, and is such an advocate for being yourself within the work you do (16:45). We move on to the topic of competitiveness (21:30) and how Jesse has measured his successes through the company’s existence to date, and how it isn’t always the “data” they rely but more so the “evidence” of what they see within the experience. The COVID pandemic was a true test of the culture of the Savannah Bananas and Jesse steered the ship during this time (26:40) with an ambitious vision and a willingness to experiment and compete with limitations (29:00). In closing, Jesse gives us some insight on the entrepreneur approach that has gotten him to where he is today (31:20) and how he plans to take his service and vision to even higher levels over the next 5 years (33:00).Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

We welcome to the show former NFL kicker turned Commercial Real Estate professional, David Treadwell who talks us through his career story while connecting his former athletic competitive nature to the career he is in today. An advocate for highlighting the ways athletes can transfer their traits and skillset to a career beyond sports, David provides some impactful perspectives that can help revitalize anyone’s career story to this point. With an underdog story his entire football life, David learned what it meant to earn opportunities for yourself and to make sure you did not waste them once you were there. Furthermore, while pursuing his ultimate football goals he never once lost sight of the importance of getting education and experiences elsewhere so he could be best equipped to make the jump from football when the time came. This episode is going to calm anyone who is maybe a little deterred or frustrated by opportunities they want not being there, as well as provide a perspective on the benefits of having purpose in your everyday life and why it can be healthy to have a lot on your plate. David explains to us where he is with his career in commercial real estate and how it brings him close to a competitive arena similar to sports (4:45). He then tells us his story starting with how he opted to attend Clemson University for educational purposes initially (6:05) and how playing for the football team became an opportunity through a Walk On opportunity. In addition, he explains how he established himself as a kicker on the football team and then how he landed in Denver with the Broncos in the NFL (10:00). David sheds light on the importance of not becoming disconnected from the “work world” despite chasing a footballing career, and remained proactive with his time outside of football (13:50). Other topics covered include; the  importance of pursuing your passion while being extremely aware of how you treat and interact with others (18:10); remaining open-minded regarding taking opportunities so you can just open doors to then find out more over time as to whether the opportunity is right for you (22:05); the adverse situation for a professional athlete ending their career and having to find a new career that others had the opportunity to establish themselves within long before a former pro athlete (23:20). Finally, we learn about the competitor David is and how he found the ability to be competitive beyond his football career (26:55), and how he values having a purpose in life (31:05) and how we must embrace how that can influence having the busiest of days.Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

We welcome in one of the top 10 surfers of the 20th century, successful businessman, and professional speaker, Shaun Tomson to the show who today is inspiring people the world over the establish purpose within their life using “the code”. This episode provides insight for just about everyone from current athletes trying to handle competition better, to established career men & women that need that added direction within their lives. The person that Shaun is today was built within the sport of surfing and it taught him to appreciate living life by a certain “code”. Following an incredibly traumatic experience a few years ago, Shaun decided it was time to find a new outlet for his career and his “surfers code” became the focal point of his message to those he spoke to. Years later he is now extremely well-established as a motivational speaker in how he provides people with the opportunity to press reset on how their life is going and move forwards with a new-found purpose. We are introduced to Shaun’s history within the sport of surfing (4:15) and how he was a part of the process of implementing the sport on a competitive and global stage, before starting his first enterprise with his first surfing brand (Instinct) and the many more steps in his story after that. We also get a first glimpse of the mind behind the man in his approach to pursuing a passion and turning it into a success (5:45), and how a tragedy in his life became the start of his most recent chapter as an author and speaker. The topic of purpose (7:50) is brought up for the first time and how it can provide an individual direction and actually bring people together in their similar visions for what they want in life. We then learn how surfers are who and what they are at all times in the sense that sport very much embodies their personality and behaviors where the two go hand in hand (10:50). He builds upon this concept by proposing that surfers are obsessed with the lifestyle (13:00) to the point where their entire day and life is dictated by the need to surf. We gain a perspective on competitiveness from Shaun (16:45) that is incredibly unique and yet very understandable in terms of the environment he was able to excel within as a surfer. He expands upon this by relating it to a more commonly known term today – “the state of flow” (19:40) – and how he was one of the first to embody this state that allowed him to achieve feats that had never before been seen. Shaun’s contrasting philosophy comes to the forefront (28:50) in relation to the winning culture and mindset of others that have achieved greatness, Shaun is all about the ability to “give it your all” and accept the results. We learn about “The river of life called purpose” (32:50) on how we will be better and how we will help others be better, as well as hearing the way Shaun embodies Empathy & Respect (37:00) as core values instilled in him from his parents and how that has led him to try and treat people the same way and, more specifically, be a consistent inspiration as an athlete. Other topics include; The S.A.D mindset (41:00) and how people reveal this within his presentations; The role decisions have on the way the world works and how our lives are impacted by each and every one of us (44:00); and Shaun’s final thoughts (48:30) on the value of writing your code in order to establish power within your life.Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

So happy to be bringing on a friend and former teammate of mine to the show today, Kal Jhugroo who over the past decade has built himself an ever-growing and already very successful record label and agency in Underground Artists. This episode will certainly make you more enthusiastic to go and work for a career or opportunity that you may have always wanted to pursue but not found the necessary courage to take the initial step.   Underground Artists (underground-artists.com) has evolved from a music blog into one of the UK’s most sought after artist management outfits. Since Kal established Underground Artists, he has built a superlative roster of contemporary artists, all of whom have their own unique niche and represent the very best in modern-day house music. Kal’s competitive edge comes through throughout our discussion and it is apparent that so much of his success has come from his unwillingness to accept anything less than his best. Furthermore, we learn firsthand the power that a full slate of activities and responsibilities can have a person’s performance and passion on a daily basis as Kal presents the argument that if something means enough to a person, there will always be time in the day to include it. We learn about how far Kal took his swimming career as he was very much a part of the first crop of competitive open water swimmers within the United Kingdom that started racing against the best in the world (6:00). Kal discusses how his endurance mindset has influenced his mindset in the past 10 years as an entrepreneur and the fact he is who he is today because of the athlete he was and the contact strive to grow burns within him (10:30). We hear Kal’s story in relation to when he tried to move into a regular career and no matter how much he tried to commit to a career, it never quite felt like a good fit and he had a yearning for something else and bigger (14:10). Other topics discussed include; What the future looks like for the company and Kal’s ultimate goals with what he wants to accomplish (21:10); The artists Kal is representing today and how he believes each of his artists reflect his mindset when it comes to work ethic and ambition (23:45); and why the former swimming champion has opted to return to the pool on a very consistent and competitive basis and what that has done for his life and routine as a whole (26:25). We then hear how his new-found commitment to training and being an athlete again has impacted his work life in a positive way by creating a true routine and offering an enormous amount of purpose (30:00). Finally, Steve & Kal discuss how they believe that if goals and intentions mean enough to a person they will find a way to make time to work on whatever it is they want to be successful at, specifically in relation to a person’s wellbeing (32:10).Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

On this episode we welcome in Mike Brcic, Founder of the company Way-finders and former owner and founder of the company Sacred Rides. An entrepreneur with 2.5 decades of success to show for it, Mike is an example of what it means to put value on a customer’s experience above everything else thanks to his commitment to human connection. This interview opens our eyes to the pursuit of peak human connection and the ways Mike has been able to be the catalyst for this by providing services that promote interaction, incredible experiences, and room for self-growth. We also learn about how a small passion project can grow into a massive venture by consistently prioritizing such ideals, and how someone can be competitive in nature by their desire to advance human experience. Out conversation opens up with Mike telling us about the work he is doing today with Wayfinders (4:40), along with his sport background and how he found the sport of mountain biking that would play a huge role in his future (6:30). Mike then tells the history of the company that got Mike’s career as an entrepreneur off and running and established him success around the world (9:10). The conversation then focuses more on Mike as an individual as we learn why he so enthusiastic about the opportunity to act as a catalyst for human connection within his work (13:15), while also hearing about the role sport and exercise had on him as an individual and the potential it can have on a team level as well (17:45). Mike then introduces the term “psychological safety” (23:30) in the role it has on the performance of a team and how it applies to such a wide a variety of outcomes. In relation to career development, Mike shares his opinion on how we can better analyze and then recognize when it is time to move on from a role or company, and how much of that comes back to knowing yourself (27:00). Finally, we hear how he measures himself as a competitor in his newest role as the founder of Way-finders (32:00) and the importance he believes in balancing his purpose within the company and across his life as a whole. Be sure to listen in to Steves “Keys to Success” in closing as well (36:00).Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

This episode is a special extended edition that not only brings to light some lessons courtesy of the Founder of Black Girls Surf, Rhonda Harper, but also provides an opportunity to educate you on some important black history. There has understandably been an enormous representation of support for change throughout our communities in the wake of the death of George Floyd earlier in 2020, and we are using this episode as an opportunity to keep the focus on the need for change. Rhonda’s story is one that ties in perfectly to the traditional focus of this show as she provides numerous examples of competing at the highest levels within her career. There are also numerous examples of attributes Rhonda has used to establish her success, but almost every example and experience she says stems from a place of prompting change for black people the world over.   This is a much longer episode than normal as we are providing Rhonda a platform to educate us on the history of black suppression within the sport of surfing up until recent years. She also provides personal accounts of her exposure to such resistance within her life, while telling us about the work she is doing, despite such injustices, to prompt change for black children the world over, thanks to her willingness to work from a place of love.     Rhonda starts off by letting us know why it is she is currently based out in Senegal (6:00), shares some stories on how she was first exposed to the truths that access is not for everyone (12:20), and how she gained clarity that black surfers did not exist (17:50). Rhonda then provides some incredible insight for any career driven individual in relation to creating your own opportunities (18:40), making sure people wanting to learn have a leader or role model (21:00) and the power that “working from love” can have on your work (21:30). The second half of our discussion is more geared towards career advancement as Rhonda sheds light on the ways she has stayed ahead of “trends” within her career (42:00) and also how African Surf International is empowering the inclusion of African surfers (46:00). Furthermore, Rhonda gives examples of how she is leading others by example while educating the next generation to be able to be as influential as she is (51:30). Finally, we learn about Rhonda the competitor and what she feels the future has in store for both her and her movements (53:00 – 58:00), before Steve summarizes the entire conversation with three very useful “keys to success” (64:00).Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

We welcome on Hannah Heusman to the show who has a fascinating career as a Mental Skills and Performance coach, and today is working with the Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball. Hannah grew up on the sports of Basketball and Softball before her education took over in her senior year of college and she discovered the world of mental performance in relation to sports. This episode provides some incredible messages from a very specific field that are extremely applicable to all walks of life. As a competitor, Hannah is driven by the opportunity to help give athletes that extra level of mental strength where they feel they can achieve their best.   A large part of Hannah’s role is ensuring she is providing specific advice to a very specific area for athletes and people as a whole, despite the fact a lot of professionals within her field find themselves performing more roles than they are maybe qualified to be doing. This allows Hannah to excel in her role and not potentially feel distracted by having to also counsel clients or work with them on their mental “health”. In the world of Baseball, specifically, Hannah is trying to encourage a proactive nature towards their mental skills and performance so that they can remain ahead of any possible setbacks. Furthermore, this strength can be the difference in a minor league player getting a chance within the majors or not; Hannah’s role is undoubtedly a powerful one to say the least.   We hear from Hannah regarding her role as a mental performance coach with the Philadelphia Phillies and the differences between mental health and mental performance (4:45), before then highlighting how she pursued both the sports of Basketball and Softball to a collegiate level in a rather unique way (7:47). The role of mental health in Hannah’s sports performance was something you she did not gain appreciation for until her final year of college, but it had an immediate impact on her as an athlete and immediately affected her educational and career journey (10:34). Despite the clarity Hannah gained from her new found love for her education and what she wanted in her career, she certainly did not know the direction she would be able to go with it (14:15), while introducing an issue within her field of professionals having to balance multiple roles that really require more than one individual for them (15:30), and how her role in baseball allows her to simply be available and not rely on clients (17:10). The conversation then moves towards the specifics of helping baseball players gain that extra advantage in the mental side of their game seeing as so much of their work is physical (22:05) and also the importance of seeing someone in Hannah’s role at all times as opposed to only when you are encountering adversity (23:30). Hannah is generous enough to provide a couple of her consistent pieces of advice and areas of focus with her clients across all fields that are extremely applicable to anyone listening (28:15), and Steve then provides his Keys to Success (35:40).Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

The Associate Commissioner at Conference USA, Tre Stallings join us for this episode as we hear from this former Offensive Lineman at Ole Miss in College who was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL, before heading into a career in sports administration. A man whose entire career was built upon taking pride in work ethic and details, Tre offers insight into the power of relationships, the need for us to listen better, and to find opportunities to “get our reps in” when it comes to building experience. Tre provided an extremely honest account of his difficult process of establishing his identity and career after football and the episode allows us to learn more about how to navigate this difficult period of a person’s life. Throughout the conversation, it is clear that Tre has created an identity he feels he can be consistent with, and even though it took time to build this version of himself, it is this consistency that has provided him with the opportunities to get to where he is today. Show Notes Tre introduces himself to us and we hear all about his background within the sport of football (5:35) back to how he got into the sport, what separated him from so many other young kids around him, but also sheds light on the knowledge and experiences his father was able to provide from his own professional football experiences. We also hear early on the types of traits Tre relied upon in order to advance his football career (8:30) that acted as the foundations for his career. We also hear about his NFL years at Kansas City (10:50), the way more senior players mentored him, but also how he felt his professional career in the game was not everything it maybe could have been. Tre then explains some of the communication tendencies that transfer from the game of football to the board room and within any organization (12:23) and also introduces for the first time in the interview his passion for building relationships (13:30). The discussion then moves towards how both Tre and Steve view “preparing to perform” and how you can pull from experiences in sport in order to perform in the board room (15:32), specifically trying to find ways to get “reps” in order to be prepared for when the stakes are at their highest (18:00). Tre shares what he considers to be the most consistent trait that he finds in great leaders (20:35) and offers examples as to why this skill is paramount when leading by example. The conversation then becomes extremely honest as Tre explains the transition he went through from playing football to no longer being an athlete and starting over (24:30), but his insight offers great hope for anyone who truly struggles with this transition themselves (26:00) and reemphasizes the power great relationships can have through such a difficult time. Finally, we hear how Tre has moved through his career thanks to his faith, ability to remain present by focusing on performing, and of course how his strong relationships have allowed him opportunities he didn’t even plan for (29:25). Steve wraps things up with his Career Competitor “Keys to Success” at the conclusion of the interview.Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor

We welcome the Manager for Player Engagement and player programs with the NFL, Darrel Young to the show today who has a story of inspiration to share with us. A competitor that has experienced the best and most difficult parts of the professional game, Darrel was a football player within the NFL for many years before heading to the league office to a pursue a career he has been preparing for his entire life Darrel is a natural leader who is incredibly comfortable in his vision for the role he can have on this generation’s players within the NFL when it comes to preparing them for life after the game. His desire to form connections and be of service to each and every player makes him a unique and special commodity for the players to rely on, and we learn so much about his journey and skills within our discussion. We open up our discussion by learning all about Darrel’s current role with the NFL (5:15) as he explains his relationship to the organization, along with the players within it. Darrel then tells us all about his background in the sport of football (7:00), the highs and lows of his professional career, and his willingness to do what the team needed him to. Once we get into the deeper parts of the discussion we learn when Darrel first realized he had these transferable skills from football that could be used away from the game (11:35) and when he knew it was time to move on and establish the career he wanted.  Furthermore, we hear about the value Darrel places on making himself available to the players within the NFL (17:10) so that they have the access to him in order to be able to plan for the future. Finally, we discuss some of the ways Darrel is both earning and proving his worth within his role based on his achievements and the qualifications he is currently pursuing (21:00), as well as how he approaches communicating with this generation of NFL players today (25:00). Steve wraps up the interview with his Career Competitor “Keys to Success” (32:20)Sign up for the monthly newsletter with Steve and GrowthReady (formerly known as Career Competitor) by providing your details here - Request to become part of our communityAlso be sure to give him and the show a follow on Instagram @coachstevemellor