Mar 23, 2022
Don Yaeger is an award-winning
Keynote Speaker, Business Leadership Coach, eleven-time New York
Times best-selling author, and longtime Associate Editor for Sports
Illustrated. He is one of America’s most provocative thought
leaders. From first-hand experiences, Don shares lessons on
achieving greatness based on working with some of the greatest
sports legends in the world. Listen in for some fascinating stories
from many of your heroes on how they are intentional,
curious, and hate to lose!
Key Takeaways
[3:55] With all the great
stories that Don has experienced and written about, he shares a
backstory from when he graduated university as a starting point for
today’s discussion.
[5:15] Don shares the one
question he asks everyone he interviews.
[6:35] His book,
Greatness: The 16
Characteristics of True Champions, is a compilation of the top sixteen answers
that came up frequently from his interview question.
[7:55] If you choose to lose and
blame someone, then you will never achieve that next
level.
[9:15] The mind of a champion is
wired intentionally. They know the potential weakness of blaming
someone else so they keep themselves from doing it.
[10:25] Don shares the one
lesson that resonated with him that he learned from coach John
Wooden.
[12:30] Don is very selective
about his inner circle and explains his process on how he chooses
them carefully.
[15:25] When your people know
you care and want what’s best for them, their level of commitment
will be off the charts.
[18:20] You can become
invaluable without being the most valuable. Don shares a story
about the year the Cubs won the world series to bring this point
home.
[22:40] Don learned to be more
attentive to the people he doesn’t see often within his
organization.
[24:45] Getting to the matters
of the heart doesn’t happen quickly; it’s about listening well,
finding connection, and taking time to find out what drives the
other person.
[25:50] Trust takes time. Don
constantly builds upon the last conversation he has with a person
to earn their trust.
[28:00] Coaches shared with Don
that their relationship with their players changed when their
conversations and questions were better structured.
[29:50] Don talks about why some
teams are capable of being consistently high-performing while
others are not.
[33:30] Don’s interview with Ed
Bastian, the CEO of Delta, was one that really stood out to him. He
explains why.
[35:30] Jan really enjoyed his
conversation and interview with Joel Peterson, the Chairman of
JetBlue. He shared what his impact was to him and Jim.
[38:35] Everybody is gifted but
it’s those who feel comfortable expressing their gifts and have the
willingness to be vulnerable with others that makes the team
successful.
[40:20] Don talks about the days
he spent together with Walter Payton when he was writing his
autobiography.
[41:45] Don asked Walter to pick
one day in his future to give up everything else for. Don didn’t
write his answer in his book.
[44:30] Intentionality is one of
Don’s favorite words.
[46:20] A great question can be
a gift to someone. Don tells an emotional story with Warrick Dunn
as an example.
[51:15] Listener challenge:
Great leaders are curious, ask great questions, listen intently,
and they care.
Quotable Quotes
- “If you’re willing to be curious and willing to
ask others about what they believe gave them an edge, it’s amazing
what you’ll learn.” — Don Yaeger [6:00]
- “Losses are just learning opportunities and if
you don’t treat them as that, then you’re not gonna be your
greatest version of yourself.” — Don Yaeger [8:10]
- “When people know that you care for them, you
speak truth to them and you want what’s best for them, whether it's
good for you or not, when they know that, the discretionary energy
they will pour into what you’re asking them to do is off the
charts.” — Don Yaeger [15:45]
- “We have invaluable people who we don’t ever
give a parking space to; they’re never employee of the month but
boy, do they make a difference. And if we can learn to celebrate
them, boy, what a game-changer it is.” — Don Yaeger
[22:05]
- “They may act like they are welcoming of me but
truth is, they have defenses up and I have to not be bothered by
that. I have to recognize it and earn the right for them to let
those defenses down.” — Don Yaeger [26:50]
Resources Mentioned