Black Belt Leadership

Welcome to this installment of Black Belt Leadership. Just as nature prepares for the next season, so too must we. How we prepare today determines how high and how far we can go tomorrow. There are five key areas to focus on as you’re preparing for seasonal change, and we’ll cover those in this lesson.

Welcome to this special Thanksgiving installment of Black Belt Leadership! Today, we’re diving into a topic close to my heart - the transformative power of gratitude. We explore the science of gratitude, as well as its benefits. So, join me as we celebrate the incredible power of thankfulness and make every day Thanksgiving Day!

In this installment of Black Belt Leadership, I pose an essential organizational question when it comes to leadership succession, “Who’s waiting in the wings?”  There are six important steps great teams implement to get to the top and stay there, and we highlight these as we take a walk down NFL memory lane. 

In this week’s installment of Black Belt Leadership, we delve into the often overlooked yet crucial role of leaders who may not be in the spotlight but still make a significant contribution.  Five compelling stories of men who led from the middle yet still left their mark, and how you can do this as well.  It’s not where you lead, but how, that matters.

Welcome to a special installment of Black Belt Leadership. What happens when a chance encounter at a restaurant transforms into a mentorship moment?  These unplanned but impactful interactions can inspire and propel others toward their full potential, but only if we do this… 

Welcome to this week’s installment of Black Belt Leadership In today's episode.  It’s World Series time, and with that an important question we all have to answer, “How Are You Playing the Game?” How you choose to participate in the game of life determines the demands placed upon you and the outcomes and success you will experience.

Welcome to this week’s installment of Black Belt Leadership. Life isn’t always fair. Adversity can and will come our way.  We can allow it to define us, or we can choose to define ourselves. It’s easy to get comfortable with the crutches, and settle for less. Here’s how you choose instead to overcome.

Welcome to this week’s installment of Black Belt Leadership as we take a look at "Naysayers." We live in a world of negative influencers who seem to be everywhere, always ready to amplify doubt and pessimism. In this lesson, Dr. John shares how you can turn these negative voices into fuel for your success. Tune in now and transform how you tackle life's challenges!

Welcome to this week’s installment of Black Belt Leadership where we take a deep dive into 8 essential life lessons shared from an unlikely source, Popular Mechanics.  For over 100 years, this publication has fascinated tech and science enthusiasts with its wide-ranging topics, but also the practical wisdom it shares with readers.  What can we learn about life from Popular Mechanics?  Let’s find o...

In this week’s installment of Black Belt Leadership, I pose the question, “What happens when life throws you a curve?” Life happens, and sometimes it takes us on an unplanned detour. Our response either leaves us powerless or empowers us to keep moving forward. You can transform your setbacks into comebacks and learn how to become resilient and move forward with purpose, no matter what life throws...

Welcome to another installment of Black Belt Leadership. Today, we're diving deep into a fundamental question we all grapple with—"Who Am I?" It is a question we must answer, and revisit again and again. But for a Black Belt Leader, the question goes beyond self-discovery – and that’s where it gets interesting.  Join me for an insightful look at how we answer this fundamental questio...

Welcome to another insightful installment of Black Belt Leadership. Today, we'll explore how initial impressions often mislead us and fail to uncover the hidden values in people and situations. It is important to look beyond outward appearances to discover other’s true potential and worth. So, join us as we explore how to harness the power of deeper insight to become better leaders.  

What does it mean to “Live the Break”?  Scottie Scheffler knows, and this leadership secret helped him win seven PGA tournaments in 2024, including the FedEx Tour Championship. Join me as we translate golf strategies into actionable leadership lessons. Whether you're a golf fan or a budding leader, this episode promises to enrich your path to success. Tune in and discover how you too can score...

In this week’s installment of Black Belt Leadership, I share a personal story about getting stuck on a ride at Hershey Park, and the lessons learned from this. It’s a powerful leadership lesson about problem-solving, acceptance, and self-control. So buckle up and get ready for a thrilling ride as we talk roller coasters and personal growth! 

Welcome to another episode of Black Belt Leadership. In this installment, we delve into the power of perception and belief with a thought-provoking question, "What Do You See?" More importantly, what are we NOT seeing that we should be seeing to experience more success in our lives? Join us as we explore the critical connection between our thoughts and our reality and discover how to har...

In this installment of Black Belt Leadership, we tackle the challenge of bias and how it shapes how we view and engage with the world, often without us realizing it. We explore the origins and impacts of biases, tracing them back to early influencers in our lives, as well as historical figures who overcame cultural bias to change things for the better. If you're ready to confront and challenge...

Welcome to another enlightening installment of the Black Belt Leadership Today, we're diving into "The Lego Lesson," where we draw fascinating parallels between the creative world of Lego building and the fundamentals of effective team building. Each team member, like a Lego block, plays an integral role. If you want to build high-performance, non-leader-dependent teams, you need to...

In this week’s installment of Black Belt Leadership, we explore the DIY Dilemma.  We all face challenges we can’t solve on our own, yet for some reason, we are reluctant to seek the guidance and help of other people. We keep trying and failing on our own when others are ready, willing, and able to help us. Why is that?  We explore the answer to that question and look at some examples of history to...

Welcome to the Black Belt Leadership Podcast.  In this week’s installment, we explore why so many people hesitate when Opportunity presents itself.  Doors of Opportunity beckon us to step through the threshold, but we all too often hold back.  Why?  Join us as we explore this question, delve into neuroscience for an answer, and learn how to get comfortable being uncomfortable, as this is where Suc...

Welcome to the Black Belt Leadership Podcast. In this week’s episode, "Beware the Three R's," Dr. John delves into the powerful influence of negative thinking and introduces us to three destructive characters—Regret, Resentment, and Revenge—that can wreak havoc in our lives and sabotage our success. Let’s journey together to become better versions of ourselves by recognizing and evic...

In this week’s installment of the Black Belt Leadership Podcast, Dr. John dives deep into the world of Mission Impossible to explore the concept of being "marked. We’re all marked for something, the question is what?  Dr. John identifies seven distinct qualities that should mark your life if you are striving to lead with excellence and experience more success in life. Prepare to be inspired a...

In our latest episode of Black Belt Leadership, we dive deep into the concept of releasing our potential as we revisit a six-hundred-year-old event that has real-life applications even today. What can we learn from a 26-year-old sculptor in the Renaissance that can help us achieve our goals, dreams, and ambitions for the future?  It turns out, quite a lot.  So join us for this installment of Black...

Welcome to Black Belt Leadership, where we equip you with invaluable tips, tools, and insights to discover, develop, and deploy your own Black Belt Leader Within. In this episode, we delve into the temptation to emulate so-called gurus and the critical importance of staying true to your unique self. Learn the four essential steps to finding your own voice, honing it, and presenting your authentic...

Welcome to another episode of the Black Belt Leadership. In this installment, Dr. John takes on the subject of “Back-Talk”, with a surprising twist on a familiar concept. While “back talk” typically conjures images of children rudely responding to authority figures, Dr. John shifts the conversation to how we can strategically use "back talk" to combat our own negative self-talk. Get read...

Welcome to another installment of the Black Belt Leadership Podcast. In this episode, we delve into the "Six P's of Effective Leadership," a dynamic framework designed to elevate both leaders and their teams. By addressing six essential leadership questions, Dr. John offers invaluable insights into discovering your purpose, formulating a strategic plan, and leading with empathy and i...