The Art Of Coaching

In today’s episode we talk all about artificial intelligence and more specifically, Chat GPT (Generative Pre-Trained Transformer). But before you judge the topic and skip to the next episode, let me set you straight - this isn’t a review of some futuristic, out of reach, or unrecognizable technology. Chat GPT is (currently) a completely free website that answers questions in a human-like way.  To...

If you’re like me, you often reflect on the things your parents, grandparents, or mentors have taught you.   But have you ever asked them what they’ve learned from you?  The answer may surprise you. The life of Marsha Bartholomew has been no cakewalk.  From the challenges she faced growing up with a no-nonsense family, to a young female professional in a male dominated work-force, to motherhood, a...

Whether you’re thinking about starting a podcast, you already have one or you’re just interested in knowing what it takes to create one, this is the episode for you. But before getting to the bells, whistles, tools and tricks you need to be successful, know this: If you’re not willing to commit to doing it consistently, don’t do it. As with everything else in life, consistency is the most essentia...

“Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.” I’ll credit Tom Hanks and The Polar Express with this quote.  And although it’s a children’s Christmas movie, it couldn’t hold more true in the real world today. In today’s episode, Dr. John Kiely explains how our beliefs impact our physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and gives us several ta...

Did you know there is NO POSITIVE CORRELATION between time spent trying to become self-aware and actually becoming more self-aware? (Eurich, 2017)   In short, additional self-reflection doesn't necessarily make you more self-aware.    This surprising finding has since fueled the career and research of Tasha Eurich, and inspired her to teach others how to enhance the quality of their introspection....

Comparison is the thief of joy, and FOMO is the enemy of you really valuing your own time, your own experience and your own perspective. It can be so easy to get caught up in what we think we SHOULD be feeling during the holiday season - especially with the way it is promoted in all the cheesy movies, TV shows and social media. So if you’re someone who struggles with this, or you know someone who...

How does one keep up with research, learning and reading while balancing a job, family and other life constraints? Better yet, how do we learn more effectively and efficiently when there's an endless stream of information coming at us at all times? My answer might surprise you. In this episode, I go deep on the tools, strategies and framework I use to stay up to date, read broadly and apply consta...

“You need to be able to communicate your ideas to other people, because whoever is the most effective [at] doing that wins the game.” (47:00) When it comes to setting yourself apart in any field- whether that be art or finance, education or entrepreneurship- the skills of thinking critically, communicating effectively and learning continuously rise to the top. And yet, these skills are seldom taug...

You’ve heard it said that experience isn't something you get until just after you needed it. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't share our experiences in hopes they can help others not make the same mistakes we have. In today’s episode, we're going to share some of the most valuable lessons WE learned this year. Lessons learned from leading 23 live events (3 of which were brand new), partnering wit...

It may go against our natural tendencies, but failing is a crucial and necessary piece of the puzzle. When it comes to the process of coaching development, we must reembrace fear and failure.  We will go nowhere if we prioritize acceptance and validation above growth. Kirsten Ahrendt, a Head Coach and Director of Coach Development at Crossfit Invictus, emphasizes that it is the responsibility of t...

They’re that person who ALWAYS has the answers. They’re full of all the facts and stats, and can’t help but spew them out as if they got punched in the “random facts jejunum” (Jackie Moon reference anyone?) If you know someone like this, or even if this person is YOU, today’s quick hitter episode explains the different reasons why people may act this way, and how we can better manage our conversat...

It’s a timeless question: What makes a leader great?   Some will say it's empathy and compassion, others believe it's trust and accountability or the ability to inspire.   I'd argue it's none of the above but rather the skill of social agility-  knowing what to be in the moment, in accordance with the context, combined with compassion- that allows a leader to truly stand out.   It's for this very...

From the outside looking in, there doesn’t seem to be a lot in common between negotiating with a criminal to release hostages and coaxing your child to turn in their homework on time.  And yet, in both of these difficult situations there are some common strategies that are overwhelmingly effective; Both require tactical listening, curiosity and patience.  Today’s guest, former hostage negotiator D...

Sometimes the best way to move forward is to remind ourselves of the past. Why? Because adaptation is a purposeful process. It requires reflection, inspection, and progression. Today’s episode is all about answering the question “What advice would I give my younger self?”  Some points are obvious, but there's also some questions that will challenge your assumptions, and give you the kick in the pa...

“How do I deal with a difficult colleague or co-worker, get on the same page as my spouse or partner, or confront someone who’s trying to undermine me at work?” “How do I deal with CONFLICT?!” If you find yourself seeking answers to these questions, this episode is for you. Today’s podcast walks you through several real life examples of conflict using our L.I.S.T.E.N. framework, a tool we created...

Today’s guest, Annie Duke, is an author, speaker, and decision-strategist.  As a former professional poker player, she has won more than $4 million in tournament poker. During her career, Annie won a World Series of Poker bracelet and is the only woman to have won the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions and the NBC National Poker Heads-Up Championship. She retired from the game in 2012....

S.Y.S.T.E.M Save YourSelf Time, Energy, & Money. I think it’s fair to say that this is something we all want. In the words of Karl Goodman, great systems “proceed redundancies.”  They get the processes or ideas out of your head and make them something that can be replicated by others.   They allow you to delegate. This is just one of the handful of “how-to’s” we hit on in today’s episode with Lach...

“How do I navigate this conversation?” Have you ever found yourself asking this question? When you consider everything that goes into hard conversations - the people involved, the message to be delivered, the timing, the power dynamics at hand, etc., communication can seem complex. But it doesn’t have to be so confusing. Today’s episode will give you tools and strategies to identify, organize, and...

No one hopes for massive turmoil or an upheaval of life as we know it.  But through chaos comes clarity and changes like these offer us an opportunity to reevaluate who we really are and want to be.  Last year, Dave Hollis's life was turned upside down and in today's episode he welcomes us into the messy realities of his new one - everything from career transitions, protecting his sanity when his...

“I just felt like I had more to offer” If you’ve ever had that thought about yourself as a professional, you’re not alone.  We’ve all been in that situation - we create something that we care deeply about and we know it would add value to people’s lives - but we aren’t in an environment where it’s supported, we hit some roadblocks that prevent us from following through, and we end up feeling ineff...

Video games - Good? Bad? It Depends? No matter your current opinion of video games, I’m going to ask you to open your mind and consider that there is something of value to be learned from the research-backed way they are created.  In the same way that coaches creatively craft an experience to build buy-in with their athletes, UX (user experience) is an art and a mindset.  It is a mindset that requ...

At 14 years old, Kat Salazar walked into her very first classroom at a local community college. She was about to start college when most her age were just beginning high school.  For some this might have been an awkward or overwhelming experience, but having been homeschooled for her entire life, Kat was completely UNDER-WHELMED instead. She thought, “How is this learning? You haven’t asked me to...

"I'd love to, but I just can't swing it financially."  If you've ever wanted to take a vacation, fix something in your house, take a certain course or certification, get a virtual assistant, or even start a side business but couldn't because you didn't have the extra time or money... you're not alone.  Today's episode is all about how to leverage what you already know and do well to help you earn...

Less than 31.5% of the US working population report being “engaged” in their work. 51% report being “not engaged”. And 17.5% report being “actively disengaged”. (Gallup, 2014) With numbers like that, it should come as no surprise that many of us feel like we’re dealing with lazy or unmotivated staff members.  But why? Is it a lack of ambition? Of skills and abilities? Of work ethic? Of character?...

In many circles, the National Football League (NFL) has become (just as) well known for its alternate meaning, "Not For Long".  But every once in a while, a player comes along who's able to defy those odds.  In today's episode, Richie Incognito, taken by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2005 draft, four time pro-bowler, and 15 year veteran, reveals in his VERY FIRST post-retirement pod...