Your Corner Man

If you coach long enough and at a high enough level eventually you will get outcoached. Sometimes, other coaches have better ideas than you did or prepared their team (business or fighter) better than you did for that particular event.  It happens, its stinks, and it hurts!  When it happens you have to respond and you need to take responsibility for your failure...but how you respond will have a huge impact on you, your ability to lead, and how your team (organization) moves forward. In this episode, I discuss this reality all coaches will face at some point and offer some simple ideas and suggestions for dealing with this most uncomfortable and humbling of situations.  WARNING: Failing to recognize this reality will limit your potential as a coach/leader.           

 We ALL have a conversation running in our head 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  We are constantly talking to ourselves about our goals, our challenges, and our expectations yet most of us are not truly aware of what we are saying to ourselves or the power of this inner dialogue.  When we take the time to finally listen to how we speak to ourselves we are often shocked to learn that this internal dialogue is far different than what we might expect. Often times we are constantly running ourselves down, speaking negatively, and forecasting the things we fear most and DONT want to achieve rather than those things we do.  Often times our inner dialogue is one of the major roadblocks to achieving our biggest goals and aspirations.  In this episode, I discuss the importance of this inner conversation and I offer some simple steps to help you change the tapes in your head and, in doing so, help you get out of your own way in achieving the outcomes you desire.      

Taking care of yourself, staying in decent shape, eating well, and showing yourself and your body respect has an impact on both your ability to sustain the energy needed for the long hour's leadership requires and the way your athletes and staff view you.  It's a fact and taking the time to take care of yourself sends the right message to your troops.Secondly, you can't expect to be lead others if you can't lead yourself.   You cant ask others to do what you will not.  Your athletes/employees watch everything you say and do and if you are not taking care of yourself they will see it.  Take care of yourself and you will garner more respect... it's true!  Send the right message. Put yourself in the best position to lead and sustain. Take care of yourself first and you'll have a distinct advantage over those who don't.           

We all have doubts at one time or another.  Doubts, like water, can find their way into even the smallest cracks.  Suddenly the voice in your head begins to question yourself and the once small crack in your confidence threatens to blow wide open.  In my gym we call this voice of doubt  "the first voice" and we spend a great deal of time talking about how to ignore the first voice in your head and change that internal dialogue with "the second voice."  In this week's episode, we discuss how important it is to be aware of the inner dialogue and how to deal with the doubt that will inevitably show up in competition.      

If you want to be a better coach/leader then it is vital you understand your own strengths and weaknesses and that you challenge your strongest and most deeply held beliefs sometimes. Having the confidence to look at and evaluate yourself as a coach can be hard. For many of us, we coach the way we were coached and we loved and revere the men and women who were our teachers.  We try and emulate them and often our ideas and concepts go unchallenged. Recognizing our own shortcomings and admitting our mentors may not have had it right all the time can be difficult and rattle us to the core. Having the courage to turn your power eye inward is an essential element to becoming the best coach and leader you can be.    In this episode, I  discuss this process, my own feelings on the matter, and share some of my own weaknesses ...and encourage you to do the same! 

What happens when they have done everything you asked, paid the price, and yet still come up short.   If you coach long enough or at a high level this will happen many times in your career. Knowing how to handle your athletes (and employees) after a loss like this is an important part of the job. These moments, although painful offer some of the most powerful teaching moments and shouldn't be squandered.    In today's short show I talk about a short four-step formula for helping your athletes or team to overcome a big loss and get back on the road to success. 

s or employees they lead.Far too many athletes (employees) are waiting to be motivated in their jobs yet stand by in amazement with they are beaten or replaced by someone with the motivation they seek and lack.    There is game time motivation and that's great, but the motivation that creates the GRIT, and perseverance required for elite-level success must come from the player or employees themselves.  Pre-game speeches matter, daily motivational moments matter but they are only part of the motivation the athletes need to struggle thru the work and sacrifice needed to achieve big things.  "A coach can only fan the flame that burns in you...if you're waiting for your coach to motivate you then you've already lost"  

Everyone feels and experiences fear, the trick is turning fear into fire.  Learning to help your athletes manage the fear they will inevitably experience at some point prior to competition is one of the most challenging and important aspects of coaching.  In this episode, I discuss the subject and offer some easy ways you can use to help your athletes overcome this inevitable situation.   

Join me and best selling author Jim Afremow as we talk about his book The Champions Mind. Learn to think, train and thrive. There is a mindset that produces success. In my podcast today I discuss this mindset and how you can adopt this same mindset in your own lives and with your own team or organization. 

Fate seldom calls at a time of our choosing! We all wish success occurred on a schedule or on a predictable timeline but it most often does not.  Often time our greatest opportunities come when we least expect them and our ultimate success will boil down to our ability to seize upon these rare moments when they occur. Many great and talented athletes have never made it to the top or fulfilled their potential in their chosen sport or endeavor simply because they could only perform to a schedule. This is not to say schedules are not important but life and opportunity  DO NOT care about your schedule.  As a result, you must be mentally tough enough to stay ready and wait. Waiting, unfortunately,  is part of the process many times.  It can be frustrating and maddening at times but waiting for your opportunity is often required. The MOST important thing you must do is be ready when the moment arrives.It is also true that the more you work and the more you give to any worthwhile endeavor the greater the chances opportunity will find you.  There is an old saying: "the harder I work luckier I get." This is true and opportunity finds those who make themselves available for it. Always be ready and opportunity will find you! 

There’s no denying losing a relationship stings. When it’s one that you put your heart and effort into professionally and personally, it hurts even more. Sometimes the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but as a coach or a leader, you must be willing to let people make the decisions they feel are best for them, even if it is to leave you. On this week’s episode, I discuss what it means to have loyalty tested and ultimately severed. I truly believe that as a leader, the only way to approach your work is to give your absolute best with love in your heart. But there have been times where, ultimately, someone has decided to move on from me, and that’s okay.You’ll hear my thoughts on how to deal with the sting of feeling betrayed, why there’s no point in holding grudges, what the one thing I see when I’m evaluating an athlete, and how you can prepare yourself to accept the blow of having loyalty tested. It’s not a fun or glamorous part of being a coach or leader, but it is an inevitable one. In the long run, everyone goes through this kind of conversation from one side or the other. This week’s show will get you ready for when that conversation happens for you and why the gut punch feeling may never go away but can make you a better leader.

Since I was a kid, there have been many changes in the culture around sports. Something that I have noticed is that kids aren’t as generally as tough as they used to be. In this week’s episode, I discuss my thoughts on the feminization of male sports. What I mean by that is I believe that some kids need to be pushed harder or coached more aggressively and that has sometimes caused issue with the parents, specifically mothers, of my athletes.This topic may be seen as controversial, but it is one I felt needed to be addressed. Coaching a woman is different from coaching a man and you can treat them equally, but you need to coach them differently. You’ll hear my experiences and my philosophies with dealing with mothers of athletes who may be overly protective and who have created an environment that may not be best for their son or daughter, how I am willing to sit down with any parent of my athletes and discuss with them how I best see their training, why I’m not interested in a parent’s evaluation of their son or daughter’s ability, and why coaching in an aggressive way can ultimately help teach excellence. I believe when it comes to sports, parents need to trust the coaches and too often, the dynamic between parent and coach is not conducive for the results we seek. Whether you agree with me or not, you’re going to want to listen.

Trying to get through to someone can be extremely frustrating. You may want to instill them with words of wisdom, but they just might not be landing. As a coach or a business leader, you’re not going to be able to reach every athlete or employee. So, how can you adapt your ways to help drive home your points and philosophies to those who should hear them?In this week’s episode, I discuss a technique that I’ve found extremely helpful to me in these situations. Bringing in a different coach with a different point of view to try and send the same message to an athlete can pay dividends for everyone. Finding someone who shares the philosophies that you do and utilizing their experiences to drive home points can be a powerful tool. This is a common practice in coaching, done by the likes of Alabama football coach Nick Saban, that could be crucial to you in your professional life. Tune in to hear why and how I’ve used this in my career and how it could help you break through to those you can’t seem to reach. 

There are plenty of people who quit when the going gets tough and life knocks you down. Jerry Forrest isn’t one of them, as he actually got knocked down not once, not twice, but three times and kept getting up. This wasn’t surprising to those who know Jerry, as I am lucky enough to. On this week’s episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with a fighter who I’ve worked with and whose resiliency I’ve witnessed firsthand: Jerry “The Slugger” Forrest. I was in Jerry’s corner for his recent heavyweight bout with Zhilei Zhang and watched as he battled back from three separate knockdowns to earn a draw. We relive the fight and what was going through his mind during it, break down his career leading up to it and how he’s learned that mental preparation is just as important as physical training, how doing a lot of smack talk before a fight doesn’t mean anything if you don’t back it up, and the changes he made when he didn’t feel invested in. You’ll learn about Jerry’s start in boxing from neighborhood fights to the unique gym he started fighting in, turning pro rather than trying out for the Olympic team, and why he listens to Denzel Washington to get ready for a fight. Our discussion is sure to shed light on principles that anyone can use in their daily lives to help them prepare to tackle their goals. This is an absolute don’t-miss tale of mental fortitude, physical stamina, and why faith in yourself should be borne from sacrifice. 

We’ve all heard the term “Cool, calm, and collected” before. The demeanor that you associate with that phrase is what the best coaches hope for themselves and their athletes. Being even-keeled and levelheaded as you’re talking to your athletes or, as a leader in business, your employees will lead to greater success on the field and in the boardroom. Overcoaching and over-leading can be easily corrected. But realizing you’re doing it can be difficult.In this week’s episode, we look at what it means to overcoach and how you can change that behavior. Sharing too much information or having too many people share information is a sure sign of overcoaching. Being frantic or looking overwhelmed during an important moment is also overcoaching. You want to be able to deliver what your athletes or employees need to know and do so in a manner that reaches them and allows them to process it and put it to use.You’ll learn more about why the corner during a boxing match can be an effective place to pick up coaching traits, why self-awareness can be hard to come by but is vital to your improvement as a leader, and why it’s okay to be critical of yourself. This episode has important tips for anyone who has had trouble getting through to those they work with and offers ways to improve your communication skills. They can go a long way wherever you apply them, and you’ll remember to keep your info close to the vest. 

Resiliency is not something that’s easy to find. Michael Bentt’s career has shown a lot of it and it’s not lost on him how the ups and downs of his life have helped him find his true calling. On this week’s episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with a man of many talents and former heavyweight champion of the world as he talks about just how hard it is to get up when life knocks you down. His incredible story of overcoming adversity and finding your passions is a part of our open and honest discussion. Michael and I discuss how his relationship with his father and the death of a friend made him pursue a career in boxing, what went into his celebrated amateur career, how his first professional fight shaped one part of his life, and what it’s like to be labeled a “bum.” You’ll find out more about what it’s like to rebound after an extremely tough loss, why you shouldn’t look past an opponent, especially when it’s for a title fight, how his first career ended with him in a coma, and how a book sparked his second career as an actor. This is an engaging discussion that shines a light on a man who came back from the brink of death to achieve even more great success. Sit down with us and you’ll hear how a boy from the United Kingdom who felt he needed to change his accent to fit in ended up working with director Michael Mann five different times. This is one you don’t want to miss.

Many of us have watched the Olympics and marveled at the amazing skills shown by the world-class athletes. But Ruben Gonzalez watched the 1984 Winter Olympics and thought, “That could be me.” Through pure will and mental toughness, not only did Ruben make his way to the Olympics, but he made it there four separate times. This week’s episode is a truly special one as I sit down with the first ever Olympian to compete in the Winter Olympics in four different decades, luger Ruben Gonzalez. His story is awe-inspiring because his attitude, belief in himself and dedication to hard work helped him achieve his ultimate dreams.Over the course of our conversation, we discuss how a trip to the library and a letter he wrote to Sports Illustrated propelled him into luge, what traits he possessed that made it possible for him to be an Olympian (hint: many weren’t physical), what it was like walking into the opening ceremonies for the first time, and how he trained in Lake Placid, NY but ultimately competed for Argentina. Ruben’s impressive life story has allowed him to become an author and keynote speaker of renown, spreading his message of perseverance and hard work to many. Our talk will resonate with many and may help you feel motivated for more in your personal and professional life. Enjoy this conversation about luge and life and you may even find yourself heading to the library afterwards.

Taking advice from those closest to him was something that Shawn Porter had to learn at an early age. His dad had him in the gym at the age of 4 working out and training to become a boxer. But he credits his dad for also knowing when he needed to be pushed and when somebody else would be more effective to train him. For this week’s conversation, I got to sit down with the two-time welterweight champion boxer and have a unique conversation. We didn’t delve into his boxing career and accomplishments too much. What we spoke about had more to do with what it’s like being coached as a boxer and what traits he’s taken from those that have coached him.There’s plenty to enjoy in this week’s show for anybody who has had trouble getting through to someone and has needed to take a step back and regroup while adjusting their teaching or mentoring style. Shawn talks about what it’s like to have a father as a trainer, why the dynamic of father/trainer works well in the sport of boxing, why learning what makes your athletes tick is an effective coaching tactic, and how he works analyzing boxers as a commentator. He also dives into why Bruce Arians of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is an effective and winning coach, what the on/off switch means for a boxer, and what he saw in the Lomachenko / Lopez fight from last October. Come for the great discussion on having different coaches in a career and stay for why Shawn pays attention to his opponent’s prefight interviews. This is an interview you won’t want to miss.

Mental and physical toughness are characteristics Eric Kapitulik has strived to achieve his entire life. But it’s not his toughness that he wants to talk about; it’s yours. This week’s episode brings a discussion with the former United States Marine and founder and CEO of The Program LLC for a fascinating look at what it means to be a better teammate and team leader. Eric created The Program, a team building and leadership development company, in 2008, and its mission is “to develop better leaders and create more cohesive teams.” But how he got to that point is just as interesting as what he does each day.We discuss how his life as a three-sport athlete led to him attending the United States Naval Academy and ultimately becoming a Marine, how a coach he never even played for was one of his biggest influences for life philosophies, why being happy with yourself helps you help others, and the values he tries to and hopes to instill in his children. He also breaks down what The Program provides to those who enroll, the way his team makes a plan for a client, and how not everybody will have the same type of training. You’ll learn about mountaineering, climbing summits, participating in triathlons, but why it isn’t sports that teach great life lessons. Tune in this week for tutoring in toughness with a man who teaches it.

Like many people, Charlie Brenneman found himself unfulfilled with his everyday job. While most would look to move to a different company to get a better job, he did something completely different. That’s because Charlie Brenneman isn’t like the rest of us. We begin the fourth season of Your Corner Man with “The Spaniard”, as I sit down with the man who left his Spanish teaching job for the Octagon. The former MMA fighter tells me how he decided to step out of the classroom to dive headfirst into a sport he knew nothing about and “get his butt kicked” by the likes of UFC stars Frankie Edgar and Eddie Alvarez. Brenneman is a fascinating study in getting the most out of your life and taking advantage of a work ethic that won’t quit. We dive in to how his wrestling background gave him perspective on how to deal with a loss, how it ultimately helped him make the leap to combat sports, the commitment it took to train the way he needed to, and what he sees for his future. He discusses how his unique background in teaching and in sports helps him as a speaker for students, his aspirations for his own life and how he wants to live it, what led up to him writing two books so far, and what he wants for his own kids. Charlie is a well-grounded man whose life can provide motivation for those in the boardroom, the classroom, or the ring. This talk certainly is full of plenty of lessons of perseverance and will power. It’s hard not to be inspired by his goals in life and what he’s already accomplished.LESSONS FOR LEADERS· Being able to overcome self-doubt is hard and can take a lot out of you but doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. · How you respond to something negative that happens to you will tell a lot to those around you.· Remember someone who helped you at your lowest and try to be there for people who may be experiencing similar instances in their lives.· Being happy for those succeeding around you speaks volumes about your development.· You can develop the trait of feeling joy for others. Being a sore loser can be worked passed.· Life changes can be scary and making big decisions in the workplace can have consequences. But if you believe in your gut that it’s the right move, you can follow that path more confidently.· People that you recognize as the best at what they do are extremely valuable to learn from.· It’s very noticeable to others when you’re accountable and you work hard. It can only help you going forward.· Wanting something and being willing to pay the price are two completely different things. · Take what you’ve learned from teachers and coaches and put those lessons back into the world.· Surround yourself with the right people to help you succeed. You will, in turn, help them succeed as well.

SEASON 3, EPISODE 10Vinny Paz wants you to know that life is harder than anything you’ll face in a boxing ring. The five-time world title holder is a decorated boxer, but his inspiring comeback story is what he is most proud of because of how he persevered. On this week’s episode, I sit down with the colorful fighter with the larger-than-life persona and hear about that storied life. We discuss what it’s like to be loved and hated at the same time, how watching a certain boxer gave him all the inspiration he needed to get into the ring, how hard it is behind the scenes in the boxing world, and why his world changed after he won his first title and then lost it. We dive deep into what it’s like to be a celebrity in Rhode Island, why fame and fortune was fun until it became a distraction, how his father brought him back from the brink of death after his fateful car accident, and what it was like to see his life story on the big screen. Vinny is an honest guest who doesn’t pull punches about what a life in boxing is like. But he is a deeply religious man who believes he is extremely lucky to be where he is today. This discussion brings together many facets of life, including successes, defeats, highs, lows, and, for Vinny, the “women.” Come and enjoy our sit-down, as it’s hard not to get caught up in the whirlwind that is “The Pazmanian Devil.”

The four types (styles) of fighters are: the BULL, the MATADOR, the FOX and the FENCER. Each of these types (styles) can win in any fight, however, to achieve victory the style you select must be "authentic" to you (or your team) and all of the assets inherent to that style must be brought to bare in competition. This is true in the ring, on the playing field /court and in business.Choosing the right fight style maximizes your intellect, temperament, capabilities (resources) and aptitudes. The problem is that far too many athletes, coaches and leaders don't spend the time necessary truly understanding themselves enough to make the right choice . As a result instead of choosing the right fight style many have no style whatsoever while others choose the style that appeals most to their ego. This is a failure in leadership and one that most often leads to defeat. In this show we discuss these four types of fighters, how to know and select the style that is best for you or your team and the consequences when you do not.

Some people try to run away from their family legacy and forge their own path. Nik Wallenda has been able to make his own path while continuing in his family’s footsteps. While he is seventh-generation member of The Flying Wallendas aerial entertainers, he has used his determination and focus to defy the odds and take acrobatic stunts further than anyone else ever has. On this week’s episode, I sit down with the 11-time world record holder to discuss his storied career and life performing on the wire. Nik is an inspiring example of how preparation and following your heart can lead you to great achievements. During our conversation, we discuss his family’s history and, while he was raised by entertainers, he had to fight to be one himself. We also break down what it’s like to live life on the actual edge, how shake-ups at major television networks nearly cost him the chance to perform a stunt he had prepared two years for, how fear is a constant in his life but also something that motivates him, and what he’s saying to himself when he’s hundreds of feet in the air. You’ll find out how he goes about assembling his team for stunts, the advice he has for rebounding after a tough defeat, and why love is the ultimate teaching tool for him. Nik’s new book, Facing Fear: Step Out in Faith and Rise Above What’s Holding You Back, dives into how he’s used fear to overcome some of the toughest situations he’s faced. This episode shares what it means to set goals for yourself, prepare as much as possible for any scenario, and why you must be careful with the kind of noise you let into your mind. This is an inspirational talk and you’ll even hear what Nik still hopes to walk over across the globe.

Nick Saban once said... "If you want to make everyone happy, don't be a leader; sell ice cream." Thats damn right! There are far too many coaches who don't understand the role of a coach/leader or its responsibilities. Far too many coaches feel that making their players happy and being liked by their athletes are as important as what you teach and produce. Too many coaches feel "trying hard" is enough and being liked is the goal...and they are wrong. Real coaching is the process of teaching people how to be successful. Its not always fun and often times it means your athletes (employees) wont always "like" you during the process. A coaches job means teaching his/her athletes how to be successful....successful on the score board, successful as high character human beings and successful in understanding how to build programs that produce winning and repeatable results. Thats what coaching is about. If you're a coach who feels your job is to be friends with your athletes then you don't understand the role. If your system, program and process cant produce successful results then you are not a good coach. When you are a coach you have to trust that, in time, your athletes will come to love you for what you taught them, for the person you were and what you sacrificed for them Q: Are you a real coach or not! Are you in it for the right reason?

Ray Mancini is a self-proclaimed “product of his environment.” Growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, he took the blue-collar work ethic that is engrained in that town and brought it to the ring. This week’s episode gave me the delight of sitting down with Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, a former WBA Lightweight title holder, and talking about many different ideals of sports and life. In our conversation, we discuss how his father’s service in World War II led Ray’s drive to win a title for him, how growing up “on the streets” taught him what he needed to know about life, what it means to prepare for a fight mentally, and how intestinal fortitude can’t be taught.We dive into how dishonesty ultimately ends up hurting you the most, how living with his trainer helped Ray land into the mindset of a fighter, how the support from his parents paved the way for his own parenting style, and how visualizing your goals can ultimately lead you to them. This is an inspirational talk with plenty of life lessons to take away. Ray is a great storyteller and speaker who takes the lessons he learned as a boxer and applies them to his everyday life. Tune into this special episode and find out how to get a “Doctorate in life” from Ray.

What if I told you there were 10 things you could know about every person before you ever met them? What if I told you that knowing what these 10 things are could help you connect with your players/employees at a deeper more profound level and also help you to build an unbeatable team culture. Well it's true and I discovered The 10 Truths over the past twenty-plus years coaching some of the best athletes in the world and before that as a top business executive. The "Ten Truths" represents the 10 primary emotional and core motivators every person brings with them to every team or organization they become part of. Each one of the ten is important, however, each person values each one of the ten things differently. The key is knowing what they are and how to use them. The Ten Truths is not a skill set, a trick or sick game strategy...it is insight and a roadmap that can help you build an unbeatable team!

What Gerry Cooney knows now about boxing is so much more than he knew when he was fighting. It’s why he’s passionate about giving back to the sport and he’s hoping he can help some people find themselves along the way. What made him a great boxer can be taught but what makes him a great person has to be found within.We’re back with Season 3 of Your Corner Man with what’s sure to be a highlight of this season. Former heavyweight boxer and title contender “Gentleman” Gerry Cooney stops by the podcast to talk about his path to currently being a trainer and how he started boxing in the first place. Over the next hour, you’ll hear about how Gerry’s family, and his father in particular, led him to the gym, how fear played a part in him missing out on Olympic dreams, how his career was impacted by not being promoted by Don King, the fateful heavyweight title fight against Larry Holmes, and what it meant to him to train.

There is a fine line but a big distinction between pain and injury. As a coach and/or leader its your job to be aware of and know how to treat and respond to both. Go too hard in either direction and you can do more harm than good. Don't go hard enough and the team and the business will suffer. Knowing the difference and how to handle it is a skill and one of the artful elements of great leadership. This episode explores the difference between pain and injury, offers some advice on dealing with them and will give you confidence in the decisions you make.

Young people who can't be coached or who don't learn how to be coached as children often grow up to lack the leadership skills needed for longterm life, career and business success. Parents who don't allow their kids be coached (often coached hard) sometimes cheat their children out of one of the main befits participating is sports has to offer. Businesses everywhere struggle with young employees who have never learned to be coached and therefore struggle with authority. In other cases young brilliant business minds fail as leaders because they were never learned how to be good followers and therefore can't lead effectively when they are called upon to do so. This is an introduction to the topic and it will be highlighted in more detail in future episodes.

In 1972 Stanford Univ. conducted a study to try and better understand and asses the impact "delayed gratification" plays in our lives. The study followed the subjects for twenty+ years and the results were stunning... and a powerful message to us all. This episode is about that study, what leaders and coaches need to know and what it tells us about ourselves and how to attain longterm happiness in life and repeatable success in sports and business.

Top Takeaways from Season 2: Part 2Picking up where I left off last week, it’s time to revisit the backend of this season’s podcast episodes from THE COACHES. There were coaches from college and pro football, Hall of Fame boxing trainers, Olympic coaches, and speed gurus on the final five episodes, so there’s plenty to learn from this week’s episode. The vital lessons that I look back on from these fascinating conversations range from how to manage a crisis, how to choose your staff to best align with your message, how to pick yourself and those around you up after a loss, and why being able to adapt as a leader is so important in the long run. You’ll hear from Shepard University head football coach Ernie McCook, Strength and Conditioning coach for USA Weightlifting, Tim Swords, Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, legendary boxer and boxing trainer Buddy McGirt, and the founder and CEO of The Sport and Speed Institute, Justin Kavanaugh, as they discuss what it means to them to be a coach. Take a listen and I hope you’ve enjoyed Season 2: THE COACHES and are looking forward to the next season of Your Corner Man.Ernie McCook -July 29, 2020Takeaways4:48 – A shared experience that is devoted to solving a problem together as a team is valuable. 8:27 – Communication is the key. You don’t want to micromanage, so you need to be clear and precise with your expectations. Have compassion and empathy but get your point across.13:48 – You cannot separate yourself from your organization and the people within it. Tim Swords - August 4, 2020 Takeaways15:52 – It’s so important to find your passion, the thing that speaks to you. Your life won’t be fulfilled without i20:15 – Take the time to shake the hand of everyone in your organization. Show them the respect that they deserve. 21:43 – Always remember that your words can be extremely powerful, no matter the conversation.Dan Quinn-August 12, 2020 Takeaways24:15 – Be your true authentic self and, if you don’t act that way, people can tell. If you want to be a leader, you have to live your life a certain way. 27:16 – Your staff has to be loyal, as everyone needs to believe in the same message. You have to hire people who are dedicated to excellence and who will live up to your standards.Buddy McGirt - August 19, 2020Takeaways31:29 – When things go wrong and you take a loss, do you have what it takes to rebound? Is the talent and courage still there to dig yourself out of a hole? The elements of success must remain for you to make a comeback. 37:02 – You have to be able to change as a leader. You’re going to develop a deeper sense of empathy. You won’t be the same leader you were even a few years ago. 40:44 – Not every person is the same and you need to find them where they are at. You have to be adaptive as a coach.Justin Kavanaugh - August 26, 2020 Takeaways42:24 – Sometimes, business is organized chaos. You have to be flexible, as things won’t always go according to script.

The second season of the podcast was THE COACHES and I had coaches from almost every level of competition come on. From wrestling to boxing to powerlifting to football, there were speakers from all areas of the sporting landscape this season. Each one provided their backgrounds and stories and gave lessons they’ve used to reach their goals. The conversations this season were all powerful and enriching and, for this week’s episode, I’ve highlighted some of my favorite takeaways from each of the first five episodes. You’ll hear from longtime boxing trainer Tom Yankello, former collegiate football coach Rick Neuheisel, one of the most respected strength and conditioning coaches in the world, John Philbin, University of Maryland head wrestling coach Alex Clemsen, and the greatest powerlifter of all time, Ed Coan, about their mentalities, philosophies and how you can use them to improve in your daily life. Let’s revisit some of THE COACHES.Tom Yankello - Takeaways:5:07 - Talent plus a devotion to fundamentals will help get you where you want to go. 6:52 - Stay humble, dedicated to the craft, and recognize what you don’t know well.9:40 – Reach your goals by staying on your path and your plan.June 24, 2020: Still Grinding for Greatness https://www.yourcornerman.com/post/still-grinding-for-greatness-coach-tom-yankelloRick Neuheisel - Takeaways:15:15 – Fun mixed in at the right time is an integral part in teaching people to take their performance to the next level. 22:29 – Make everyone feel like an important part of your program. July 1, 2020: The Jimmies and Joes https://www.yourcornerman.com/post/the-jimmies-and-joes-rick-neuheisel-speaksJohn Philbin - Takeaways:27:16 – Don’t lead on science and stats alone. Use intuition and life experience to your advantage to create a plan.30:13 – Leadership is more than knowledge. Who you are is who people are going to buy into.July 8, 2020: Building toughness, confidence and faith is my job https://www.yourcornerman.com/post/building-toughness-confidence-and-faith-is-my-job-coach-john-philbinAlex Clemsen - Takeaways:34:48 – Surround yourself with complete people that are focused on the task at hand.38:27 – You have to take a total approach to beat the competition. You have to out live them and be a complete person.July 15, 2020: If you can’t train them, then you out live them! https://www.yourcornerman.com/post/if-you-cant-out-train-them-then-out-live-them-coach-alex-clemsen-u-of-md-head-wrestling-coach Ed Coan - Takeaways:43:45 – You need to have a mapped out and simple plan. Complexity can make it difficult. Simplicity is kingJuly 22, 2020: Don’t complicate success https://www.yourcornerman.com/post/don-t-complicate-success-meet-the-great-ed-coanCONNECT WITH COACH BRUCE / “YOUR CORNER MAN”https://www.yourcornerman.com/ https://www.yourcornerman.com/podcast https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebabashan/ https://www.facebook.com/Your-Corner-Man-170573467015694/ https://twitter.com/brucebabashan?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/yourcornerman/

Justin Kavanaugh is a best selling author of the book Man Up. Coach Kav has trained over 50,000 athletes and helped prepare hundreds of College and future NFL players for their combine and pro days. He is regarded as one of the top speed experts in the country. Coach Kav has worked with Olympic Gold Medalist, elite professional boxers and UFC Heavyweight Champions. Coach Kavanaugh knows he’s not a pastor or a preacher. He’s a coach through and through. He believed he would coach someday but never thought he would get into it as young as he did. Once he became a coach full time, he pulled from the lessons he learned from his mentors to shape his own coaching philosophies.In this week’s episode, I sit down with the founder and CEO of The Sport and Speed Institute to discuss what being a coach means to both of us. We discuss how a devastating injury ended Justin’s football playing career and shifted his focus to the coaching side. You’ll hear about Justin’s plan for building a culture in a program, what traits coaches look for in athletes, what it’s like to get players ready for the NFL combine, and how he uses his regrets as a coach to make him better.This discussion gets passionate and personal as we dive deep into the mindset of one of the world’s top speed gurus. Justin even turns the tables and poses me some questions at the tail end of our talk. Authenticity and creating an environment to learn from are two of the big pillars of Justin’s ideals and you’re sure to come away from this talk with better ideas for yourself on how to lead. Hear Justin open up about striving to help athletes keep their drive and flame going, why the messages from movies like A Bronx Tale and Dead Poets Society hold up, how you must believe in what you’re teaching, and why you need to be comfortable with your internal story rather than the one you have to brag about. This episode is a must-listen for people from all walks of life, as it gets down to the root of life’s success: getting the best out of yourself.LESSONS FOR LEADERS1) Coaching is telling somebody something that is unknown and unnatural and getting them to do it. 2) You must fight through pain, especially the pain that makes it harder to think. 3) Communication skills are a vital attribute for any great leader. 4) If you oversee people older than you in age, finding what works to relate to them is a key to the relationship. 5) Take in lessons from the people around you. You never know where a valuable insight might come from. 6) You have to live what you preach to be authentic. You can’t preach what you don’t believe in. 7) Bring the things that could potentially beat you into your building to make you better. 8) Some people will take the directions you give them and go with it, while others need to be pushed to stay motivated. 9) Be accountable for your actions and for the people you work with. 10) Throw your heart and soul into your passion, even though sometimes it’s not going to work. You want to be proud of your effort. 11) Everyone falls back on their training. Make sure yours is worth falling back on. 12) It is necessary to live with your regrets so you can learn from them. 13) Finding what fuels you to be a leader is a must.

In Season 1, we had James “Buddy” McGirt on to discuss his legendary boxing career and how he got started in the sport. To go along with our theme of Season 2, we had Buddy back on to discuss how he became a Hall of Fame boxing trainer. There are a lot of trainers that were boxers themselves and that’s with good reason. They are able to see what makes a good fighter and they are keen to insights during a fight that boxing fans and announcers aren’t. In this week’s sit down, Buddy and I discuss how he started training other boxers while he was still fighting, when he started training fighters for Don King, just what it takes to help a fighter rebound after taking a tough loss, and what goes into the decision to call a fight. Buddy touches on his hard decision to call a fight for his fighter, Maxim Dadashev, who ended up dying shortly after the fight and how his decision was applauded by those in the boxing community but it sticks with him to this day. We break down how you know when your fighter is ready for the next step, his evolution during his coaching career, how his regrets have made him the man he is now, and what his plans are for the next 5-10 years (hint: he doesn’t expect to stop training any time soon.) As with any coaches, there is so much advice to be gathered from Buddy, who has a unique ability to garner trust from his athletes. He talks about why getting an education is so important, how adapting as a communicator makes getting through to people easier, and that not everybody can be taught the same way.Listen to me go a few rounds of conversation with Buddy and learn why you never want him to give you a cigar. LESSONS FOR LEADERS1) Get an education. You always need lessons to fall back on. Educate yourself on money. 2) After suffering a setback, you have to be able to get back up and put it behind you. 3) Thinking too much can be a bad thing. You have to trust yourself and your instincts. 4) Sometimes you have to be the person to tell someone to move on. You don’t want to be a part of the destruction of a person, so you want to be a part of the next step in their life. 5) Self-awareness is important as a leader. It is difficult to develop that, but those who have it can lead. 6) If you see a noticeable change in someone, you should reward with a shot or challenge. You have to give people a chance to prove they are ready for more. 7) There are different ways to get the best out of people. It’s up to you as a leader to be able to read them and figure out what motivational tools work. 8) You aren’t going to be able to get through to everyone right away. Don’t get discouraged. Go home and come back with a solution.

Growing up as an athlete, Dan Quinn realized early on that he wanted to pay back the coaches from his playing days by becoming a coach himself and passing on the lessons they instilled in him. Coach Quinn made the choices he had to in his life to become successful and reach his ultimate dream of coaching in the NFL. But he didn’t get there alone, and he had a lot of influences along the way. In this week’s interview, the Atlanta Falcons head coach and I sit down and discuss how his dream of teaching elementary school children and coaching high school football evolved into what would eventually become success as a head coach in the NFL. We talk about how working for coaching legends like Jimmye Laycock, Bill Walsh, Nick Saban, and Pete Carroll have shaped him and his philosophies of how to act as the head of a team and organization.Having mental toughness and an immense work ethic are two of the key qualities Quinn believes has led to him achieving the success that he has enjoyed. He has a passion for passing down core values to his coaching staff and players and is eager to share. We talk about how he has evolved as a leader, how everyone in an organization plays their own important role, where he finds his joy amid the everyday grind of NFL, what are characteristics he looks for in assistant coaches, and what advice he’d like young coaches to know. He even gives us his current outlook of whether or not an NFL season is going to happen this fall.The interview with Coach Quinn speaks to the many motivational ideals that people can use on the football field or in the board room. This week’s conversation should not be missed. LESSONS FOR LEADERS1) There are people who have a singular mindset versus a team-focused mindset and that is a good thing. You can still think as a part of a team but keep yourself to a higher standard if you feel you didn’t do your part. 2) Set goals and don’t be afraid to make sacrifices for them. If you can go for it, you should. 3) Be authentic. People can tell when other people aren’t being real. 4) Be consistent with everyone in the organization. 5) As the top leader, you need to coach those around you so that the message gets passed down to the rest of the staff. 7) However high the standard you set, you better live up to it. 8) Once you know what you have when it pertains to your employees or group, you need to figure out how to motivate each of them. There isn’t one way that works for everyone. 9) Every person in the organization wants to know where they stand. It’s up to you to communicate that to them. 10) You have to be willing to adjust as the landscape in business is ever changing. 11) Learn from your losses. You’re not going to win them all.

Some people are born to be coaches. Tim Swords, a Strength and Conditioning coach for USA Weightlifting and the founder of Team Houston has been coach for over 30 years officially, but his early days of coaching can be traced back to his small workout area in his parents’ basement in West Virginia. It was there that he found a passion for strength and weight training and, since then, he has never stopped learning and evolving. In this week’s interview, Coach Swords and I sit down and discuss how picking up a magazine at age 12 led to his interest in weightlifting and how his brothers and father played a large role in his athletic childhood. We talk about how two College Football Hall of Fame coaches (Bear Bryant and Pat Dye) shaped his youth as a football player but also as a man. He has trained Olympic medalists and has coached and helped over 200 weightlifters reach national championships, while guiding 58 to a title. But he still believes it all boils down to a dedication of being “a teacher” as a coach and helping his athletes find their passion. We’ll discuss how a trip to see Navy Seals train helped him find his coaching style, what the downfalls of over-coaching are, what kind of culture he has in his gym, and how there’s a romantic side of coaching. He tells some great stories, including how to avoid a Chechnyan jail. This week’s conversation is a must-listen for anybody, as we discuss how discovering your passion is a key to life.

Some coaches build football teams while others build football families. Coach Ernie McCook, the Head Football Coach at Shepard University in West Virginia, is winning and doing it the right way. He has found peace in his life and built a football family and in the process turned the D-II program into a national football powerhouse along the way. In this weeks interview Coach McCook and I sit down and talk coaching, life, leadership and the secrets to success both on and off the filed. We discuss his early childhood influences and the men and women that helped him establish his approach and philosophies as a coach and a man. We discuss how Coach McCook found peace in his life and how he feels finding his place in the world has been the true blessing in his life. A self described "player coach" learn how Coach McCook goes about the process of family building in his program, the importance to building good character and how he went about build an organizational culture that is hard to beat. We'll discuss Coach McCook’s philosophies on discipline, mentoring and how you recruit in today’s hyper-competitive environment. This is a powerful talk about for every coach and business leader about finding success in both your career and in your life. .

There are so many “systems” to attaining success out there is hard to filter thru them all. Yet, every once in a while you meet someone who reminds us of what’s really important and how to achieve at the highest levels. So is the case with this weeks guest Ed Coan.Ed Coan is considered by most as the greatest power-lifter of all time. During his career he set 71 world records and won the world champions countless times. Ed is respected and revered by his peers and a high sought after coach. Looking back over his career you might assume Ed has some unique training system or approach to his success…but you’d be wrong. In fact when you talk to Ed you quickly discover an unsettling simplicity to his approach. You quickly discover there is no secret system, no mad scientist methods, to gurus… just the basics/fundamentals, repeated over and over in an orderly, predictable detailed plan. In fact Ed’s philosophy is so simple that, at first, it will leave you a little empty and wanting…until you take a moment to truly appreciate and understand the genius and power of his message. DON’T COMPLICATE SUCCESS! The other thing you find when you talk with Ed is that his approach matches the man. When you talk or meet Ed you instantly see he’s highly intelligent, dedicated, focused, detailed oriented and just a really nice, simple, honest guy. What’s interesting is that Ed’s philosophy and approach to success match his entire “affect” as a person. In fact his approach matches his personality perfectly and this is another important lesson for us all. BE WHO YOU ARE.

oach Alex Clemsen is a realist and an honest man and he is also the new Head Coach for the University of Maryland 's wrestling program. Its a big job and if you are a wrestling coach it's a dream job as well! In this episode, Coach Bruce sits down with Coach Clemsen to discuss his plans for the program, his philosophies, challenges and expectations . In the discussion Coach Clemsen discusses his philosophy of teaching the "whole athlete" and how "out living your opponent" and doing the hard work the right way is the only way to success in todays hyper competitive world. Coach Clemsen discusses his desire to build not only great athletes but also good men ad his hopes that his athletes will impact their community long after leaving his program. In addition to this Coach Clemsen also discusses his ideas about program building and the type of athlete he is looking to bring to the program as well. Known in the sport as an "elite recruiter "Coach Clemsen discusses his belief that the best way to build a program is to recruit both highly talented athletes with high character and values as well. Coach Clemsen discusses the fact that he spends as much time learning about each athletes talents as he does learning about their character, their focus on academics, how they treat other people and their commitment to excellence both in and out of the gym.In addition to this Coach Clemsen also shares how he went about building his staff and how he was looking for assistants willing to commit to the level excellence he requires and in turn how he allows "his guys" to flex their strengths by giving them a sense of ownership in the program as well.This is a talk for every coach or leader building a program and looking for ideas they can immediately put to work on their own team on in their own business!

"To me, beside the obvious, one of the most important roles a great strength & conditioning coach plays is building a culture of toughness and the internal faith and confidence athletes must have to achieve at the highest level."John Philbin is a former member of the USA Olympic Team and is one of the most respected Strength & Conditioning Coaches in the world. With over 35 years of hands-on-experience John has worked with elite athletes from a wide variety of sports giving John a treasure trove of insight and knowledge to share in our conversation. During his career Coach Philbin has worked with the University of Maryland, the New York Yankees, Washington Redskins and as the Director of Conditioning & Performance for the USA Olympic Training Center. The list of individual athletes who turned to John for help also reads like a who’s who in sports and includes such names as: Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Stephen Strasburg, Ryan Zimmerman, Max Scherzer, and Jordan Zimmermann to name but a small few.Philbin's experience in such a wide rage of competitive environments, working with a wide array of athletes with different personalities and needs have given John insights on coaching effectiveness, success and leadership that few other coaches in his role can claim.Friends for over 20+ years stay tuned as Coach Bruce and John talk about the art of coaching, the art of motivation and what Coach Philbin has learned over all these years working at the very top of his industry.

Rick Neuheisel served as the Head Football Coach at the University of Colorado, the University of Washington and his alma mater, the storied UCLA. During his career Coach Neuheisel became a highly respected coach among his peers and compiled a career record of 87–59 taking his teams to multiple major bowl appearances. In addition to the college game Rick also served as the QB Coach with the Baltimore Ravens for two seasons and offensive coordinator for one. Most recently Coach Neuheisel served as the Head Coach for the Arizona Hotshots of the recently defunct Alliance of American Football (AAF). Today Coach Neuheisel is a commentator on CBS's College Game Day and can be also heard on his XM/SIRUS radio show "FULL RIDE" which aires each afternoon from 2-3PM.Coach Neuheisel sums up his philosophy on coaching in one simple phrase: "Coaching is not just about the Xs and Os but it's also about the Jimmies and Joes." A successful, highly respected, winning coach who believes that the way to success is by caring for your athletes first and winning and losing second. Stay tuned to learn Coach Neuheisel's thought son coaching success, leadership and the role and responsibility of coaches in todays every changing and stressful environment. More detailed notes below...

You'd think coach Tom Yankello would be satisfied. He's been a coach for nearly thirty years and trained world champions such as the great Roy Jones and Paul Spadafora along the way... and yet, despite all this, Tom is still grinding for greatness everyday with his next crop of would-be champions. In this episode Tom shares his story of success, some of his failures and the many lessons he's learned as a coach over all these years. A great coach and good guy still on the grind for greatness!

The Top Ten Takeaways (Part-2) from Season-1: If you are a business leader, a coach or anyone just wanting to do and be more than this is an episode you don’t want to miss. My gusts included: Sugar Ray Leonard, Dominique Dawes, Lee Kemp, Raul Marquez, Buddy McGirt, Jennifer Salinas and William Joppy. Below are the accumulated accomplishments of our guests. THIS WEEKS TAKEAWAY (6-10) 6. We all have regrets..the key is learning to make peace with them (4:15) 7. Stop waiting for things or the time to be perfect (7:05) 8. Were are all seeking someones approval (11:14) 9. There is no substitute for hard work (16:58) 10. Our problems are all quite similar (22:28)THE 10 TAKEAWAYS (1-5) Last weeks episodeTurn your fear into fire (9:00)Surround yourself with good people (13:40)Fear of losing is as powerful as the desire to win (19:38)Be that "one person" to change another's life (23:25)Be that "one person" to change another's life (23:25)

SEASON 1: THE CHAMPIONS (TOP-10 takeaways) I named the first season of my show "THE CHAMPIONS" and boy did we hit the nail right on the head. The list of guests was fantastic and included such ICONS as Sugar Ray Leonard, the great Lee Kemp and Olympic Gold Medalist Dominique Dawes to name but a few. ICONs all and it was great to reconnect to some old friends and make some new ones along the way. Yet despite all this the most rewarding aspect to this first season was the willingness of each of my guests to share not only their stories of success but also their failures, challenges and also how they overcame the odds to reach tier goals. If you are a business leader, a coach or anyone just wanting to do and be more than this is an episode you cant afford to miss. What our guests accomplished (cumulative):3-Olympians 2-Olympic Gold Medals18- National Championships9-World Championships12- Professional World Titles THE 10 TAKEAWAYS (1-5 )Embrace the struggleTurn your fear into fireSurround yourself with good peopleFear of losing is as powerful as the desire to winBe that "one person" to change another's life

Sometime there is a price to pay if you want to be the best...at anything. Often times the price will be extreme and it’s only with time and distance that we get perspective enough to truly evaluate our experience and assess its impact, good and bad, on our lives.In this powerful conversation Dominique and I discuss her life experience in gymnastics as she climbed to the very top of her sport. We discuss her personal drive for perfection, the relentless focus on fundamentals, the extreme rigors of training and the suffering and sacrifices that were made along the way. In addition to this Dominique and I also discuss the “win at all cost” culture that exists in many sports (especially in competitive gymnastics) and the role coaches play in this process. We go back and forth discussing the balance that must be struck between the importance of winning and the importance of the positive experience coaches should be providing for their athletes well. Dominique is on a mission to transform the culture of gymnastics with the goal of not only producing champions but more importantly healthy happy athletes as well.

2 x World Champ William Joppy shares his story in this honest chat about what it takes to be the best, overcoming difficulties and the need to surround yourself with the right people. William started boxing at the age of 20, VERY late by most standards, and in just 18 months was competing for a spot on the US Olympic Team. William was born to fight and after turning pro he eventually became a 2 X world Middleweight Champ beating greats like Roberto Duran and Julio Cesar Green along the way. William retired with a career recorded of 40 wins, 7 losses with 2 draws and is now a coach in Rockville Maryland. William also has his own non-profit called Breakfast with Boxers where he provides AND serves breakfast to local homeless residents in his home town (Montgomery Co. Maryland). It should also be noted that William is my good friend. We see each other every day in the gym and it 's an honor to call him friend.

Raul Marquez is a former US Olympian, IBF World Champion and current SHOWTIME BOXING analyst. However, Raul’s success, both in and out fo the ring, is really the story of his father’s dream of coming to America in order to make a life for himself and his family. This is the story of a fathers suffering and sacrifice for his family and what can be achieved when you have big dreams and the heart and patience to work for them. LEADERS: If you want to teach success then model the behaviors needed to achieve it. This is love!

Becoming a champion isn’t easy. It requires sacrifice, passion, and above all, commitment. It also sometimes takes just a few kind words from a trusted teacher or coach to make you believe that anythings possible. In this episode, I had the honor of talking to my friend world champion and boxing HOF trainer Buddy McGirt, about his journey to becoming a pro boxer, the major influences in his life and how he was able to stay committed to his hopes and dreams. NOTE TO LEADERS: Be a Ms. Seniors to the people in your life! When people think of becoming a champion, they only look at the glamorous side of things. With pro boxing in particular, people think that becoming pro is like what they see on tv: the championship fights and the heavyweight titles. But that’s only 1% of the journey. It can take years and years of perseverance before you even become a champion. Someone who demonstrates incredible commitment is Buddy McGirt, a two-weight world champion who fought some of the best fighters in his generation. He is also a boxing trainer and was named Trainer of the Year in 2002. Ever since Buddy set out to become a boxer, many people could identify the deep passion he had inside of him to succeed. But it didn’t happen overnight. It took him years and a few twists along the journey before he could get there, but he finally became the champion that we know and respect today. In this episode, I talk to Buddy about the moment he knew he wanted to become a boxer, his ability to commit no matter what life threw at him, and his desire to serve and be a top trainer.Leaders: This conversation is a demonstration in commitment and a desire to never quit. If you want something bad enough, you’ll do anything to get there. Rate and Review If you enjoyed this episode of Your Corner Man, I would be incredibly grateful if you left a rating and review. I welcome all feedback and it also helps other people discover the podcast and benefit from the key takeaways. [Review Button] - link to Apple Podcasts Key Takeaways:How Buddy discovered boxing [2:55]The day he discovered he wanted to be a trainer [5:27]The moment he knew he was special [8:24]The influential coaches he had [20:44] What Buddy learnt about himself on the way to the top[35:50]How Buddy dealt with his fear [52:05]Notable Quotes: “I’m going to give my mamma something to brag about.”“The day after I joined boxing, I wanted to be a trainer.”“If it’s important to you, you’d do anything to get there.”“Most people think that they watch ESPN and Showtime and they think that’s pro boxing. That’s 1% of boxing.”“In boxing, I tell people, it’s the loneliest sport in the world.”“You can have 200 people in your entourage, and you get back to the hotel room and you’re all alone.”

When it comes to professional boxing, there’s no one more iconic than 5 X World Champion the great Sugar Ray Leonard. On this episode, I had the opportunity of having a powerful conversation with Ray himself about the evolution of his boxing journey, how fear drives him to be the best, and what it truly takes to become a champion - both inside and out of the ring. Sugar Ray Leonard is deeply honest and forthcoming about the trials it takes to become a champion and I can’t wait for you to hear it. This is one powerful conversation that’s not to be missed!LEADERS: A simple lesson on the insight, thinking and behaviors of what it takes to be great. All of us have a desire to be successful. Whether it’s through creating impactful businesses or becoming well-respected leaders, we all want to achieve greatness and stand out for something. But we forget that the journey to becoming special is paved with great sacrifices. Often, those who are called to lead the pack have to walk very lonely roads. No one knows this more than former pro boxer, Sugar Ray Leonard. The moment he put on a pair of boxing gloves, he knew he was destined to be a fighter. But not just any fighter -- one that was going to be special. In this episode, my co-host, Rick Schaeffer and I had the pleasure of talking to Sugar Ray Leonard about the evolution of his boxing journey from a young boy with a dream to a champion who desires to give back to others. Along the way, we gain insight into the high-performance mindset he adopts before each challenge, how fear can help us become better leaders, and how he strives to make an impact both in and out of the ring. Key Takeaways / Timestamps:● How Sugar Ray Leonard started his boxing journey [1:55]● The moment he knew he wanted to be special [6:57]● Sugar Ray Leonard’s main motivations [8:51]● How he prepared before every fight [13:48]● How Sugar Ray Leonard views on fear [18:25] ● Sugar Ray Leonard’s decision to keep returning to the ring [23:30]● The loneliness of success [31:40] Connect with Sugar Ray Leonard · https://www.sugarrayleonard.com/· Ray Leonard on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugarrayleonard/· The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation: http://www.sugarrayleonard.com/foundation/Connect to Your Corner man!· https://www.yourcornerman.com/· https://www.yourcornerman.com/podcast· https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebabashan/· https://www.facebook.com/Your-Corner-Man-170573467015694/· https://twitter.com/brucebabashan?lang=en· https://www.instagram.com/yourcornerman/ ● Get your copy of my ‘6 Ways to Win a Fight infographic’: Rate and Review: If you enjoyed this episode of Your Corner Man, I would be incredibly grateful if you left a rating and review. I welcome all feedback and it also helps other people discover the podcast and benefit from the key takeaways.

Lee Kemp, a 7 time US National Champion and winner of 9 gold medals at the World Championships, World Cup, and Pan American games -- is one of the greatest wrestlers in United States history. In this interview I have a candid conversation with Lee about his journey to greatness, his tumble to rock bottom and his rise back to the top in life. This is a truly unbelievable story of excellence, achievement and finding your place in the world after misfortune and hardship set you back. Key Moments: · 3:32 – How Lee got into wrestling· 10:44 – When Lee wrestled Dan Gable· 21:38 – How Lee processed not being able to participate in the 1980 Olympic Games· 27:40 – Doing more than your opponent and earning your right to win· 38:51 – Dealing with fear· 46:06 – Lee’s transition to being a coach· 59:16 – What Lee is doing now Connect with Lee Kemp:· http://www.leekemp.com/· https://www.facebook.com/lee.kemp.7/· https://www.instagram.com/lee_kemp_/· https://twitter.com/Lee_Kemp_· http://www.youtube.com/mister74kilo· http://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkemp· MOVIE: Wrestled AWAY: The Lee Kemp Story (HIGHLY recommend) http://www.leekemp.com/2019/03/lee-kemp-documentary-wrestled-away-the-lee-kemp-story/

Listen in on a long awaited and heartfelt reunion with one of my favorite former fighters Ms. Jen Salinas. Jen is a two-time World Champion, television show host, and reality TV star. We discuss the inside story of her rise to fame, the incredible circumstances we shared while preparing for her first world title fight, and the moments that changed Jen’s life forever. It is an honest, heartfelt story of a overcoming adversity and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. Key Moments:(3:30) - “Fight, fail, learn, win, teach.”(7:40) - “Its not about gender, it’s really about your passion.”[4:07) - “You get these opportunities to serve other people by helping them see their own personal greatness.”(19:15) - “Life will deliver you into opportunities.”(25:30) - “Its a lot of sacrifice.”[9:15) - “Oz never gave anything to the tin-man.” Connect to Your Corner man!● Get your copy of my ‘6 Ways to Win a Fight infographic’: · https://www.yourcornerman.com/· https://www.yourcornerman.com/podcast· https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucebabashan/· https://www.facebook.com/Your-Corner-Man-170573467015694/· https://twitter.com/brucebabashan?lang=en· https://www.instagram.com/yourcornerman/ Rate and Review If you enjoyed this episode of Your Corner Man, I would be incredibly grateful if you left a rating and review. I welcome all feedback and it also helps other people discover the podcast and benefit from the key takeaways.