Author: Don Yaeger

NFL Draft Lessons: Finding the Right Fit is Important

Written on April 28, 2016.

Football fans across the nation are getting ready for the NFL draft that starts tonight, waiting as their favorite teams bring in fresh talent. While most of the attention will be on the teams and their new players, the NFL draft offers lessons for organizations of all stripes. Great teams in the NFL, like the Green Bay Packers, the New England Patriots, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, are in the playoff hunt almost every...

NCAA Championship Day: John Wooden’s Greatest Legacy Wasn’t On The Basketball Court

Written on April 4, 2016.

Basketball fans across the nation will watch the men’s NCAA championship game on Monday but, even while I take in the conclusion of “March Madness,” my mind will be on one of the greatest coaches ever and his many lessons on leadership and mentoring. Coach John Wooden led the UCLA Bruins to 10 national titles during his celebrated career. But Coach Wooden’s greatest legacy went far beyond the basketball court as he...

The Great Ones Use Their Rolodex

Written on March 28, 2016.

What makes a great team? Over the past few years, I’ve traveled the country in pursuit of the answers to this question. In that journey, I’ve asked the best sports coaches and some incredible corporate leaders for their input. Some of the greatest insight came from G.J. Hart, CEO of California Pizza Kitchens, as I asked why his dynamic organization continues to win in the marketplace—and in the hearts of its customers. Among...

Lessons From A March Madness Cinderella Moment

Written on March 23, 2016.

What an amazing first weekend of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. If anyone in America picked Middle Tennessee over Michigan State, Arkansas-Little Rock over Purdue and Yale over Baylor, I want you picking my lottery numbers. But the weekend’s most incredible game was among its last, finishing late Sunday night. Tiny Northern Iowa, fresh off a last-second win over Mighty Texas, was up by 12 with just 33 seconds...

See Your Past Challenges Optimistically: The Key To Growing Forward

Written on March 15, 2016.

Adversity shapes all of us. How it does so is completely connected to how positively we look back on the adverse moments of our past. I was reminded of that at a recent speech I had the chance to deliver for California Pizza Kitchen. One of the best parts of traveling the country as a speaker is being able to hear other great speakers share their stories. It’s a key part of my own personal growth and one of best...

The Great Ones Leave In Spring: An Open Letter To Peyton Manning

Written on March 7, 2016.

Dear Peyton Manning, Thank you. You’re truly one of a kind, and I hate to see you go. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind for you, from a Super Bowl title to some tough news coverage, to the daily question of when (or if) you would retire. Now you’ve chosen to do so. I have been consistently fascinated by your leadership—which has earned you league MVP five times and two Super Bowl wins—but you are leaving us...

Why Your All-Star Employee Could Make a Lousy Manager

Written on February 23, 2016.

Recent shakeups within the NBA saw the dismissal of several high profile coaches. One change, though, really stood out to me. Derek Fischer—league-beloved point guard known for his championship-level play with the Los Angeles Lakers—was recently fired as coach of the New York Knicks and the dismissal reminded me of a truism most don’t openly discuss: All-star employees often make lousy managers. Though the decorated...

In Order To Finish First, First You Must Finish: Jimmie Johnson’s Advice On Greatness

Written on February 17, 2016.

This Sunday, the Daytona 500 will serve as the opening for another NASCAR season. And much as he has for most of the last 15 years, Jimmie Johnson will be among the favorites to be the champion at season’s end. Six times in the last 10 years, Johnson has held the Sprint Cup trophy aloft. But while Johnson’s name is the one etched in history, he couldn’t win all those races without a GREAT TEAM. In my long-running effort...

Just Give Me A Chance: Great Leaders Say Yes

Written on February 11, 2016.

Next week marks the 10th anniversary of one of the most exciting (and inspiring) moments in sports. That’s a big statement, I know, but I hope you’ll join me on this trip down memory lane. On February 15, 2006, Jason “J-Mac” McElwain—an autistic Greece Athena High School senior and varsity basketball team manager—was put into the last four minutes of the final game of the season by his coach COH +2.68%, Jim Johnson....