Eighty Seconds of Development

There have been times in my life where facing fears has been difficult. I am mortified to admit this, but I was afraid of my shadow as a kid. I would walk by a light pole at night, see my shadow, and immediately think I was followed. I would sprint or walk in a different direction, but often, I could not shake my shadow. My siblings criticized me and had the time of their lives, making jokes about...

When student-athletes decide to attend college, they leave the nest to start their journey as adults. They connect with peers and professors to help them grow as people and scholars. The institutional culture that they attend is also critical in this process. But, throughout my professional journey, I learned that parents can be the caveat to hindering this growth.  Listen, I admit that I did not...

What makes you get up and go to that 5 AM workout? Is it health? What about staying up late to finish that work assignment? Is it perfectionism? Nevertheless, a "Why" is usually attached to a connection to something deeper. Some philosophers think that asking or saying why instead of what forces the other person to create a barrier or insert a defense mechanism, but I believe that answer...

Leaders, how often have you dealt with staff and employees who did not agree with your decision? Many leaders need help with this conundrum, trying to please too many people. In these moments, it is critical to embrace the decision you made as a leader, and though many may not agree with it, their job is to support you. So, no matter what choices come your way, as the leader, be firm and confident...

What happens at work when you are challenged? When someone asks you questions about your work, do you feel slighted? Do you become angry and annoyed? Or do you explain the situation in depth? I am guilty of asking for expansion on situations, but it is not due to a lack of trust or competency questioning. I am looking for an expert to explain the outcome.  I do not have a background in sports medi...

The one thing that no one can defer or avoid is confrontation, whether this is as a player with a coach or a leader with an employee. At some point, there will be a difficult situation where one becomes irritated and leads to a confrontation. So, how do you handle these situations? Do you cool off and approach the situation later? Do you allow the berating that you are used to and just accept it?...

Have you ever found it challenging to delegate tasks? As a former wide receiver, I can relate. It’s like trying to catch, run, and block for yourself in a football game- seemingly impossible. Coaches, however, trust other players and delegate roles. I’ll be honest, I struggle with delegating due to my perfectionist nature. But, I’m actively working to improve in this area. So, I asked myself, ‘How...

As a leader, are you aware of the intercultural competence in your organization? Some people in your organization may need help understanding how to engage with or interact with others who do not look like them. Or are you creating homogenous environments to avoid these situations? What type of training are you doing to allow your privileged workers to understand how to engage with and interact wi...

Many of my teammates and I discussed retirement each year during training camp. The stress and agony were defeating us. This mental fatigue is similar to workplace burnout. While we navigated training camp with the thought process of “one more year,” some employees approach their workplace with the “one more day” thought process due to burnout.  Support the show

✨ Eighty Seconds of Development: Career Ascension✨ In society, we hear the term self-made, but I often find that at some point, someone was willing to provide an opportunity for an individual career to ascend. It may not have been a huge assistance, such as teaching or showing you the way, but like Murphy and Rock, they provide an opportunity for you to showcase your talents. Leaders who want to...

As a kid living in poverty, I defined success with wealth. The lavish lifestyles shown on TV were critical to my definition of success. I was a big fan of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." The wealthy uncle lived in a mansion with his kids, and eventually, his nephew from poverty came to be a part of the family. I have an uncle who played professional baseball. I dreamed he would come and b...

Leaders, coaches, and athletes can become far more effective if they begin to appreciate who they are as people and not measure themselves to others. Because the reality is that their uniqueness and intersections are critical to growth. Just think of the swimming photo as Michale Phelps edges Chad le Clos. As Phelps gains the lead, le Clos takes a peep to see how far ahead Phelps is. In hindsight,...

Reflecting on my NFL career, meditation was foreign to me. I rarely paused to focus on my breath, let alone comprehend the depth of equanimity. However, as I delved into an article, I realized that casual meditation and mindfulness are mere stepping stones to equanimity. This state of calm and balance requires a longer, more dedicated journey than sporadic mindfulness practices. Mindfulness is a s...

Mentorship can provide grooming that leads to professional development and the gaining of critical knowledge. During my research on mentorship, a participant stated, "My mentor saw something in me and gave me opportunities to continue to grow." The participant would find success and become hired as one of the first Black women in college athletics.  As a leader, examine your own organiza...

Episode 8 discusses the importance of culture. For this eighty-second podcast, culture is defined as an underlying system of shared values, beliefs, and assumptions about how things are done in organizations. We know that culture is not singular. A person is not a culture. Instead, culture is affected and shaped by the people who participate in it. Leaders should intentionally develop and grow peo...

Episode 6 examines allowing failure to launch you into creativity. As leaders, when an employee fails, working alongside them can help them generate creativity and become more productive in the future. Support the show

Episode 6 examines leaders providing empathy to employees for doing the work to know themselves better. Employees work daily to navigate life while still trying to perform as employees, sons, daughters, football players, or students. In the midst of them trying to Know Thyself, leaders must provide empathy and compassion to help mitigate any further uneasiness. When leaders show compassion, follow...

Eminem's "Lose Yourself" song is a great example of how self-reflection and criticism can catalyze growth. We must learn to embrace our failures, lose ourselves, and step right into the next opportunity. Do not dwell in the past. Instead, prepare yourself to step into what is next unwaveringly and intentionally. Because the next opportunity may be all that you have.  Support the sho...

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As humans, we tend to be afraid of our stories. We cannot acknowledge the power that they have and how they are motivating factors that usually induce success. We avoid our stories in the workplace, school, or social events because they may not be as glamorous as others. Embrace your stories and allow them to help you prepare for a better future.  Support the show

Episode two of Eighty Seconds of Development emphasizes the importance of embracing your authenticity.  Support the show

Introduction of the Podcast  Combined with life, work experience, and educational studies, the “Eighty Seconds of Development” message aims to impact and advance the lives of others. Join us each week to develop as a leader professionally and personally.  Learn to lead authentically, utilize the power of transparency through stories, and set the vision and mission of your organization by building...