The Growth Project

What does effective leadership look like over many decades? Dr. Katie Nichols and Sarah Reesman, current Director of Public Interest and JD Advantage Careers at the University of Missouri Law School and previous senior executive staff member with Mizzou Athletics for over 28 years, discuss effective leadership strategies to build and manage a successful organization. Additionally, they discuss the...

Typically people seek out change and pursue growth when facing a challenge, but you don't have to be sick or facing hardship to get better. Drs. Cory Shaffer and Drew Brannon make the case for change and share actionable steps to establish and sustain a mindset that pursues growth independent of external triggers.

The Law of Value, a concept coined in The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John D. Mann, states that your true value is determined by how much you give back to others and it has been a guiding force for Carl Sobocinski, visionary founder of Table 301 Restauarant Group in Greenville, SC. Dr. Milt Lowder and Carl talk about his path to becoming a successful entrepreneur and discuss putting the Law of Value...

Dropping off your children for their first year of college often fills parents with a bittersweet combination of pride, excitement, and sadness. This week, Dr. Milt Lowder will experience this rite of passage as his son, Jay Lowder, leaves the nest to start his freshman year at Clemson University. As part of a tradition Milt has done for each of his children, Milt picked "Something to Be Proud Of"...

Culture is the life force of an organization, so clearly defining, communicating, and cultivating a strong culture is critical in developing a successful company and team. Dr. Cory Shaffer talks with Brett Putter, Founder of CultureGene and CEO of Hybryd, about the lightbulb moment when Putter fully realized the importance of culture, how leaders can embed cultures within their teams, and the impo...

Regardless of whether or not you run your own business, adapting an entrepreneurial mindset is advantageous for your professional and personal growth; among its many benefits, thinking like an entrepreneur opens up opportunities by strengthening your ability to overcome obstacles and enhancing your capacity to grow from failure. Dr. Drew Brannon talks with Ryan Johnston and Ryan Heafy, entrepreneu...

Annual goals are typically set with gusto and good intentions at the beginning of the year, but they are often forgotten or pushed to the side as life's inevitable curveballs pop up. It's easy to get off course, so to help bring your goals back on track, it's useful to have regular checkpoints to take inventory of your progress. Drs. Milt Lowder, Drew Brannon, Cory Shaffer, and Katie Nichols share...

When we experience difficult times in life, it's not always helpful to simply think positive thoughts and be blindly optimistic. Drs. Milt Lowder and Katie Nichols acknowledge the power of positive thinking, but they also discuss why facing the brutal truth allows us to be realistically optimistic, which gives us the freedom to experience pain, find meaning during hardship, and, ultimately, experi...

Which four athletes would make up your Mount Rushmore? More importantly, why did they make the list? Following up on their Mount Rushmore of Coaches conversation, Drs. Cory Shaffer and Katie Nichols share their all-time athlete lists and the criteria for how they made the cut. This is a great exercise that you can do with your group or team to learn more about each other and engage in some healthy...

When setting out to reach a new goal, the beginning is typically easier because results are more tangible and endurance has yet to be tested, but the journey often becomes more difficult as time goes on because sustaining growth challenges personal resolve and mental fortitude, particularly when diminishing returns are inevitable. Drs Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer discuss the three phases of the g...

Midway through the year is an ideal time to take a step back and measure progress in achieving annual goals. Are you taking the necessary steps to reach your goals and become the person you aspire to be? In addition to goal setting and reflection, Drs. Milt Lowder and Cory Shaffer emphasize the importance of building habits and creating change at the identity level, which results in long-lasting,...

Few can say they were the first person ever to do something that's never been done. For Milwaukee Buck's play-by-play announcer, Lisa Byington, it has become a norm in her professional journey as she has opened doors for women in college basketball, football, and professional sport organizations. Lisa joins Dr. Katie Nichols to discuss the type of mindset and approach she's embraced that has helpe...

Colin Powell was an American army officer and politician who served as the first African-American Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. His book, Colin Powell's 13 Rules of Leadership , serves as the backbone for this conversation between Dr. Drew Brannon and Dr. Katie Nichols who breakdown five of his thirteen principles, including share credit, perpetual optimism is a force multiplier, and remai...

Brand new research from Hoffman et al., (2022) has provided valuable insight into the relationship between organized sports and the mental health of children and adolescents. Dr. Milt Lowder and Dr. Cory Shaffer use this research as the framework to discuss how being part of a team often positively impacts mental health and leads to lifelong well-being, and how participating solely in individual s...

Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, which means longer days, relaxing vacations, and, hopefully, more time to recharge and simply enjoy life. Drs. Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer discuss how summer is a natural mid-year point to reflect on annual goals and how, if approached deliberately, the summertime can be very beneficial to our overall well-being.

There is merit in both leading from the front, or taking an active and visible role in running a team, and leading from the back, which is best summarized by Nelson Mandela: "He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind." Dra. Milt Lowder and Cory Shaffer examine both styles, share exa...

This was a noteworthy year for the Kentucky Derby because Rich Strike, this year's winner, was officially added into the race only a day before the big day and was racing at 80-1 odds. Dr. Drew Brannon and Dr. Katie Nichols discuss key lessons learned from Rich Strike's historic win, including the importance of running your own race, strong performance doesn't happen on paper, and the significance...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so Dr. Milt Lowder and Dr. Drew Brannon, both licensed psychologists, explore and highlight the ways we can better understand the impact of mental health on personal well-being. They discuss how we view mental health as a society, the impact it can have on performance outcomes, and why there's a stigma that still exists surrounding mental health.

Who would you pick to be on a Mount Rushmore of coaches? Dr. Cory Shaffer and Dr. Katie Nichols explore this question and each select four legendary coaches who they feel are worthy of being immortalized as the four all-time greats. Their discussion not only reveals characteristics and leadership styles they personally value, but also highlights many common, overlapping qualities found among stron...

Life is filled with obstacles, but those who find a way to leverage life's inevitable setbacks often ultimately find themselves at the top of their respective fields. Spencer Strider, a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, exemplifies the importance of growing and building from difficulties to reach success at the highest level. Dr. Cory Shaffer and Spencer walk through Spencer's fascinating journey to...

Jeremiah Dew, better known publicly as JDew, is an emcee, entertainer, and entrepreneur who has entertained millions over the years at live events, including collegiate and professional sporting games, various civic and corporate fundraisers, and on-stage for his theatrical one-man show: "One Voice: A Black History Narrative." Dr. Milt Lowder and JDew explore Jeremiah's childhood experiences, his...

Do you know your "why"? Dr. Drew Brannon explores the importance of following your true purpose in life, or your "why," with Coach Matt Luke, one of the most respected coaches in college football, whose stops in his career included Duke, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and, most recently, UGA where he served as Associate Head Coach and Offensive Line Coach. They walk through Matt's experience in college foot...

Educator, entrepreneur, and owner of CrossFit Clemson, Cameron White is passionate about helping others through health and wellness while building the community. Dr. Katie Nichols and Cameron talk about what it means to have an entrepreneurial spirit, how strong purpose can serve as a guide through uncertainty, and the importance of developing boundaries and a strong support system.

It's no secret that a nutritious, well-balanced diet greatly boosts our physical and mental acuity. Given its importance to our overall health, Dr. Cory Shaffer and Steve Benjamin, Sports Dietician for the Atlanta Falcons, discuss the connection between peak performance and proper nutrition. In addition to providing some practical tips on developing good food habits, they also talk about the impor...

How do you unlock your authentic self? Dr. Milt Lowder explores this idea with Joe Cummings, a former lacrosse legend and current lacrosse coach at Christ Church Episcopal School. Joe shares the key lessons that helped him discover his true life's purpose and passion, including separating who he is from what he does, developing a growth mindset, and being intentional and thoughtful with the langua...