Magic in the Middle

Today I sit down with Berekk Blackwell - franchise executive and collegiate national champ. The restaurant industry, arguably, has been forced to deal with the most Covid 19 disruption, but this experienced executive is cool as a scoop of ice cream. Drawing from his time, growing cold stone ice cream in japan and scoring a golden goal in one of his two collegiate soccer championships Berrekk Blackwell has a lot to share about the current economy and his journey as President of growing restaurant chain - The Daily Jam. We discuss the use of training as a differentiator and a competitive advantage. We also discuss how it feels to win a sports championship and what you can do to create that same feeling in your company.

Today I run through the playbook of Brian Baxter, a Sports Psychologist and founder of Amilyfy Sport Psychology. Brian also founded a multi-sport summer training program in Portland Oregon. What I love about this conversation is the simplicity of Brian's expertise. Anyone can take his philosophy and leverage it for growth. Sports or business, you can control the controllable.

Nat is a CEO that has been through the wringer, acquisitions, rapid growth, lawsuits and mergers. Listen and learn how his mental practice and personal philosophy made him not only stay afloat but thrive in such an ever-changing role.

I want to give everyone a win. So when an employee first starts working for us, I will actively seek out an opportunity for them to have a win. And I feel like that gives them ownership inside of the company and creates a team atmosphere a lot faster for them and helps them feel like they bring something to the table.

Whole Life Meditation was inspired by a rough moment in my life.I am a filmmaker so when I heard this metaphor it really made sense. Films are made 24 frames per second. When strung together each individual frame creates an amazing story. But if you tried to watch a movie one frame at a time, you would go mad. Life is similar, each day, each month is like the creation of one frame. When life is hard it forces you to watch things unfold one frame at a time.What we need to do is step back, grab a bowl of popcorn and watch the whole movie. Whole Life Meditation is designed to do just that!

“It's people. You win with, people you develop your people. And if you have the right guy kind of people, thei organization will flourish. And if not, you'll sink.” - Barry Davis Barry Davis is a lifelong student of America's Past Time. Barry has been coaching baseball at the collegiate level for thirty-one years, the last sixteen of which have been with Rider University at the Division I level. Armed with a PHD in Sports Leadership, with an emphasis on transformation and culture change, Barry gives his uniquely educated perspective on the importance of a growth mindset, different coaching philosophies, and how to develop leaders. He has over 900 wins with Rider University, could his tips help you create a winning team?

This is the first episode of Magic in the Middle. I have interviewed CEOs and professional sports coaches to identify the magic in the middle between sport and business leadership. I also incorporate my own story as co-founder and CEO of Brandlive, which quickly rose to one of America's fastest-growing companies.My goal is to unlock the potential for a sustained growth strategy by exploring the sport to business analogy. Through my interviews and research, I've identified ten major topics that strike a chord with both coaches and business leaders. With each interview, I uncover lessons from substantial people, and show you how to use their wisdom to your benefit. From performance techniques to management styles, there is plenty to be learned from Magic in the Middle.