From the NFL to Mindset Mastery: A Conversation with Jon McGraw

In this episode, I sit down with Jon McGraw (see his bio below)—former NFL safety, co-founder of Vision Pursue, and performance mindset expert. From walking on at Kansas State to playing 10 seasons in the NFL, Jon shares his incredible journey, the leadership lessons he learned from legendary coaches (including the legendary Kansas State University coach Bill Snyder), and the physical, emotional, and mental toll of professional football. We delve into Jon’s transition from the NFL to entrepreneurship and how his passion for personal growth led to co-founding Vision Pursue, a company that trains corporate and sports teams in performance psychology. Jon opens up about the importance of mindset, navigating change, and how he turned his experiences with injury and uncertainty into a mission to help others thrive. We also discuss how most NFL players are not happy, the challenge of being present in an occupation where your job can end at any time (and how the NFL stands for "Not For Long"), his transitions from high school football to Division I college to the NFL, how the NFL is not a team sport, and importance of mindset to improve your life experiences. He also answers the all-important question: Can he still bench press 225 pounds 13 times? :-)

Whether you’re a corporate leader, athlete, sports fan, or someone striving for personal growth, Jon’s insights will leave you inspired to elevate your performance and embrace a healthier, more balanced mindset.

 

Today's episode is brought to you by ExecHQ (Website), a C-suite fractional firm providing elite executives for your business. If you’re having challenges taking your business to the next level, want to augment your leadership team, or prepare your company for increased growth, profitability, and an eventual successful exit, ExecHQ has seasoned executives from every C-suite position, ensuring a perfect fit for your needs and industry dynamics. To learn more about ExecHQ, email Jeff Pelaccio at jeff.pelaccio@exechq.com.   

Jon's bio: Jon ​McGraw (LinkedIn) co-founded Vision Pursue (Website) after its principles radically shifted his mindset, performance, and overall life experience. He’s since guided and assisted in the successful application of these principles inside hundreds of corporate teams and sports franchises. He’s a sought-after keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and Performance Mindset trainer. Before Vision Pursue, Jon
played 10 years in the NFL plus completed business management and entrepreneurship programs at Harvard Business School and Wharton Business School.