Slumps in sport and life typically last because we aren’t asking ourselves and each other the right questions. Great questions demand great answers. Here’s a few great ones (from Coach Todd Bowles) you should take into consideration if you or someone you know is going through a slump: Do you know your job inside and out? How good do you want to be? How much did it take for you to get here? How much will you lose when you leave here? How hungry are you? I believe in you, you should too! Share thi...
Dec 02, 2023•1 min
You don't need much to create a team building exercise. Physical metaphors for team building are some of my favorite things to do when working with a team. For that reason I keep an arsenal of drills to do with my teams weekly throughout the season. More often than not, the drills seem like easy, mundane tasks that should take very little time to complete. However when you add in 20 personalties, voices, brains and abilities into the mix, it can get much harder. Working together is not easy - bu...
Dec 01, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Nervousness is part of the game; you can train for it like most things. Emotion and sports have always been tied together. While some deal with the nerves that come in high-tension moments by burying them or shutting off their emotions altogether, I take the approach of getting very in touch with them, calling them out, and getting as present as I can in the moment. Like most anxiety, when you feel it, you are most likely stuck in a moment from the past or are stuck contemplating the future. Nei...
Nov 30, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 48
For the past ten years, I have practiced being present as much as possible. I fail often! When I started doing the exercises I talk about in this video, I could barely get through two minutes without my mind wandering uncontrollably. I would get pissed at myself for not being able to stay focused. Through practice and instruction, I realized that our mind's wandering is a completely normal and human thing to do. I stopped judging myself and began to focus on noticing when my mind would wander, t...
Nov 29, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Having a role is more important than having a job title. I’ve seen many young people identify and obsess over the job title on their business card. With our companies & teams, we wanted to change that, so we tried something different. Unless required for an event, call, or another reason, we don’t have distinct job titles at our place of business - we have roles. Each person who works with me or plays for me has a clear understanding of our vision and mission and their role in helping to ach...
Nov 29, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 46
My greatest sports injury taught me more about myself than any practice. It taught me that I am more than just an athlete. It taught me there are other ways to stay “in” the game other than just playing. It taught me how to overcome massive adversity. It taught me patience. It taught me resolve. It showed me how much I really do love the sport. Injuries are adversity and adversity (although sometimes painful) are opportunities. Like most sports, if you sit still, bad things will happen. If you a...
Nov 27, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 45
As athletes, we all know the feeling of “being in the zone.” But did you know this is something you can practice? “The zone” is nothing more than complete present moment awareness. You are not worried about the future or the past, but what’s right in front of you. Present moment awareness is something you can practice in your daily life through many different methods including meditation, focusing on an object, listening to music intently, or even just acknowledging your surroundings during a wa...
Nov 26, 2023•1 min
Hard work creates opportunity and results, restlessness creates stress and anxiety. I used to think restlessness, or the need to find excitement in many activities, was an ally. In my 20’s, the result of this thinking was often working two full-time jobs and throwing projects on top of those to “get ahead”. Now don’t get me wrong, hard work was an asset. Those years allowed me to gain lots of experience that would come to help me down the line - but at what cost? I realized that restlessness was...
Nov 25, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 43
It's very common for teams to go through a mid-season lull, especially if you play a winter sport. However, with that said, not many teams take action to prepare for it. If you're a coach, take the time to talk to your team about trust, communication and plans for the holiday time of year BEFORE the holidays arrive. Make them aware that "getting a little sick of each other" is normal for this time of year and we need to work through it as a team. Remember, if you aren't communicating, people are...
Nov 24, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 42
The probability of you being a human being is about 1 in 10 to the 2,685,000th power, or 10 followed by 2,685,000 zeros (look this up, its true). I try to start and finish each day by grounding myself in gratitude. It's an exercise that has gotten me through some extremely hard times in my life by providing some perspective of my place in the world and universe as a whole. Its a pathway to serenity. We all have something we can be grateful for - find yours and remind yourself of them daily. I be...
Nov 23, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 41
I’ve met a lot of people that want to “sign a pro contract.” The ones that succeed signed a contract with themselves years before. No piece of paper, trophy or award was ever achieved without a contract first being signed by the recipient with themself. Explore what you want to achieve, write the contact, and never compromise it. If you want it, you’ll make it happen. I believe in you, you should too. Share this episode with someone who you think should hear it, and let others know that you beli...
Nov 23, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Imposter syndrome is a real struggle for all of us at times. Beating it just takes a simple shift in mindset… Listen in to see what I’m talking about. I believe in you. You should too. Share this episode with someone who you think should hear it, and let others know that you believe in them when deserved. It’s a small thing we can all do to leave this place better than we found it. I believe in YOU, your friends, your family, your team, and the power of belief in each other, and you should too. ...
Nov 21, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 39
We're all guilty of it at some point – waiting for that 'perfect' moment to kickstart our goals. Whether it's in sports, business, personal life decisions like having kids, or even starting a workout routine, we often wait for the right time. But here's a truth bomb: the perfect moment is right now. In my experience, both in sports and business, I've seen countless individuals delay action, waiting for ideal conditions. But here's the thing – these 'ideal' conditions are a myth. The right moment...
Nov 20, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 38
When I was young, I struggled with a victim mentality. Teasing, problems, and a constant worry about others' opinions weighed heavily on me. However, a pivotal shift happened around middle school when I decided to stop worrying about these external judgments. I began to work tirelessly, focusing solely on my efforts, not fearing judgment. This change in attitude led to a profound transformation. My hard work and dedication to practice started attracting others. My peers began joining me, drawn b...
Nov 20, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 37
It's a profound realization I had, one that took far too long to dawn on me: I am not defined solely by the sport I play. Yes, I choose to be involved in that sport, to play, work, and dedicate a significant part of my life to it. But it is just that - a part, not the whole. This eye-opening moment reshaped my perspective. I see many young athletes defining themselves solely by their athletic identity, saying, "I am an athlete from this sport." But that's not all who you are. In sports, so much ...
Nov 18, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 36
When Hockey legend Gordie Howe signed with the Detroit Red Wings, his signing bonus wasn't a check with many zeros; it was a team jacket. This anecdote resonates with my own experiences in sports and beyond. When I first joined a team, my reward, much like Howe's, was a team jacket. This jacket, which I've held onto for over a decade, is more than a piece of clothing. It's a symbol of belonging, achievement, and a significant milestone in my journey. Success isn't just about financial stability ...
Nov 17, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 35
You have to take risks if you want to succeed. The secret is that these should be calculated risks, and they are something you can practice and prepare for. Taking a risk is the equivalent of jumping off a cliff. No matter what kind of risk it is, it’s gonna be scary and there is ALWAYS a chance you might not make it. WITH THAT SAID, the key to taking risks effectively is to “prepare for the jump”. When younger, I would often leap without looking. While I made some big strides doing that, I also...
Nov 16, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 34
I don't have many trophies in my office; I have many photos of teams I have been a part of in championship moments. It's a special time, the seconds after a championship. It's the culmination of a group of people coming together to accomplish a common goal. It's a time when miracles are possible. As wonderful as it feels, it will pass. Over time I've come to realize that the process of creating those moments is as much a gift as the championship itself. The ability to compete - to strive - to dr...
Nov 15, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Transitioning from blame to recognizing opportunities is a skill crucial in both sports and personal development. This journey from blaming to learning is about seeing challenges not just as setbacks, but as invaluable lessons. In my own life, I've encountered numerous instances where I felt wronged or deeply hurt. However, with time and reflection, I realized that these moments were, in fact, opportunities for growth and learning. When adversity hits, it's often hard to see any positive outcome...
Nov 14, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Are you feeling pigeonholed, limiting your identity to just a single facet like a sport or a hobby? Understandably, devoting yourself to a passion is fulfilling. Yet, it's crucial to acknowledge that your identity encompasses more than this singular focus. This is a vital step in personal development and self-improvement. This epiphany struck me in my twenties, a transformative period, when I ventured outside my comfort zone. I channeled the passion and discipline from my athletic endeavors into...
Nov 13, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Being adaptable is a skill set I needed to learn to level up in many aspects of my life. When I was a young professional, any changes to my “plan” would enrage me and often derail me from the goal I was trying to achieve. This was 100% on me. Through time I learned how to be adaptable to change (even though it’s still frustrating). A few things contributed to this: - Understanding that my ego was getting in the way. I focused more on how this affected MY plan over what it meant for the team. - R...
Nov 12, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Are you on the same page or are you aligned? Getting people on the same page isn't as hard as you think. It's just the acknowledgement of the direction you want to head as a group. Being aligned however is a totally different level. Being aligned is the buy in from every member on the team to be accountable to their role in accomplishing the group's goal. Anyone can nod "yes" to a good idea, but to get people moving, you have to get them motivated. Strategic alignment is the understanding from t...
Nov 11, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 29
There are levels of accountability. You cannot just expect an unaccountable person or team to become fully accountable in a day. Understanding these levels and helping the group and individuals navigate them is a leadership role. It requires awareness, empathy, and patience. Unfortunately, most organizations spend little to no time working on or even speaking about the roles of accountability. Taking the leap to do professional team development or team building is often overlooked, however, the ...
Nov 10, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 28
20 minutes a week is all it takes. Time is our most valuable commodity at work, home and everywhere in between. Even though the prospect of carving time out of your workplace’s busy schedule for team building may be uncomfortable, the results for the teams that we work with in BOTH business and sports is clear – more revenue, better retention, better teamwork, better morale, and more winning Business teams are no different than pro sports teams. The ability to get maximum performance out of your...
Nov 09, 2023•1 min
When was the last time someone thanked you for working hard today? Sometimes the smallest gestures of gratitude can lift up someones day, even if they don’t show it. Now here’s the trick, do it without any need or expectation that you will get acknowledgment back (always bonus if you do!) Think about what they tell us at the holidays about giving gifts being better than receiving gifts (although thats true too). Be an ambassador of gratitude - you usually get back what you put out! I believe in ...
Nov 08, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Do you have an ego? (We all do 😬) Ego is not always what you think it is. Sometimes it can be the typical, “I think I’m better than everyone else.”, but sometimes it can be more subtle. If you’ve every thought, “that must be nice.” sarcastically at someones success or had super road rage - that’s your ego coming out. Ego is any thought that deals with your self-esteem or self-importance. It’s not always a bad thing to have one - it can get you through some tough situations (especially in sports...
Nov 07, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Burn the boats! At all major junctures in life, whether it be in sports, work or family, there is a moment you have to take massive risk in order to succeed. Putting yourself in the best position to take that risk is important! I challenge you to take a look at the mental safety nets that’s you may have created for yourself, and then review if they are holding you back. If they are, burn them down. Think about it - when you are passionate or in love with something or someone, you don’t look back...
Nov 06, 2023•1 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Searching for that creative spark? You're not alone. It's all about finding what fuels your fire, just like a good cup of coffee ignited Tom Petty's musical genius. It's not about age or the "right" time; it's about finding your rhythm. A shower, a run, or that aromatic cup might just be your key to unlock a world of ideas. I find my creativity peaks in the morning, while others may find their stride at night. The secret? Know when you thrive and set your schedule to match that energy. And if yo...
Nov 05, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Be around young people and you’ll stay young. This isn’t about trying to “fit in” or impress people younger than you. It’s about being able to meet people where they’re at, listen, and exist in the same environment (which goes both ways). Age is not a prerequisite to be mentored or inspired. I have learned from people older and younger than me! While bodies may grow older, your mind doesn’t have to! I believe in you, you should too! Share this episode with someone who you think should hear it, a...
Nov 04, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 22
I was really inspired by the women at this years World Cup. They demonstrated what is best about sport AFTER the game had concluded. They also demonstrated something we should all aspire to (if you have the courage). There is a higher level you can ascend to with opponents where we appreciate them over having only animosity against them. Opponents, regardless of outcome, will always teach us something about ourselves and about how we play the game and operate as a team. If you can find gratitude...
Nov 03, 2023•2 min•Season 1Ep. 21
