Win More, Live Better

This episode marks the beginning of a new chapter for the show. In this episode, Zach introduces Win More, Live Better and unpacks the philosophy behind the rebrand. He explains why this show will continue to commit to helping coaches and high performers pursue excellence without sacrificing their well-being, joy, relationships, and fulfillment in the process.This episode is an invitation to rethink what success looks like, how it’s sustained, and how coaches can win more, while living better along the way.If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Today, we're joined by Joe Bohringer, a longtime Major League Baseball executive and executive leadership coach, whose career spans more than three decades inside professional sport.Joe has spent over 30 years working in high-stakes environments at the highest levels of baseball, including senior leadership roles with organizations such as the Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners. Throughout his career, he has worked across scouting, player development, and the front office which has provided him with a rare, holistic view of what sustained excellence actually requires. Today, Joe brings those lessons into the corporate world and other professional sport arenas working with executives and leadership teams to help them build high-performing, values-driven organizations. Joe is also the author of Winning, Inc.: A Championship Handbook for High-Performing Leaders, where he distills decades of real-world experience into nine practical principles for leaders who want to win consistently without losing themselves or their culture in the process.In this conversation, we explore what truly separates elite performers and organizations over time. Joe shares why high performers are wired for continuous growth. Drawing from his book Winning, Inc., he unpacks several of the nine core principles that guide high-performing teams, including the idea that winning isn’t normal and people drive process.Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:[5:36] — High Performers Are Wired to Grow[8:56] — Finding the Right Environment and Support[12:38] — Influence of Business Background[17:20] — Winning Is Not Normal[24:28] — Upholding Standards By Managing Discomfort[32:09] — Helping Teams Get Unstuck[37:50] — The "4 Hats" Leaders Wear [42:50] — People Drive Process[47:28] — Selecting the Right People[52:40] — Information Connectors[58:06] — Taking Ownership of Culture and Defining Right[1:03:10] — Achieving Hard Things Requires Commitment[1:07:47] — Leaving MLB On Your Own TermsLearn More About Joe:To learn more about Joe's work and coaching, check out his website here: https://jbexecutivecoach.com/You can also stay up-to-date on Joe's work and thought leadership by connecting with him here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-bohringer/ Learn More About Zach:If you’re a collegiate or professional coach striving to win more and live better, it's not too late to sign-up for a free coaching call this month where I can share helpful resources and explore how to best support your coaching journey. You can sign up for a call here: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Explore the intricate relationship between fear and high performance. Fear is redefined not as an enemy, but as a signal for growth. Learn how elite performers like Mikaela Shiffrin use fear to sharpen focus and prepare mentally. Nik Wallenda shares how facing fear transforms it into respect, fostering presence in challenges. Discover practical insights on reframing fear and managing it for success. The conversation highlights how embracing fear leads to resilience and excellence in high-stakes situations.

Not every voice deserves influence and not every opinion should shape your decisions. In this episode, we discuss why great leaders have the courage to turn their back on the crowd to stay anchored to the mission and committed to their people. This conversation challenges leaders to stop reacting to outside noise and start investing fully in their people. If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

One of the most important reminders we can share with athletes is to not judge your performance or season too early. Like a Polaroid picture, performance takes time to develop. This episode is all about evaluating your growth with patience and perspective and not becoming trapped by assumptions you create from past experiences.If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Explore the power of self-image and its impact on behavior, as William James' insights highlight how we become what we believe about ourselves. Discover the clash between public personas and private beliefs that can hinder elite performers. Learn how unconscious rules shape our potential and why talented individuals may underperform due to limiting beliefs. Gain practical steps to reshape your identity by changing self-talk and actions, ultimately challenging yourself to redefine who you can become.

Discover how embracing limitations can actually boost your value as a leader or performer. Zach discusses the power of exclusivity, using the Mona Lisa as a metaphor for uniqueness. He emphasizes the importance of being the only one in your field, rather than just the best, and shares strategies to identify and fill overlooked gaps in your environment. The talk highlights how doing tasks others avoid can significantly advance your career, making you indispensable.

Tommy Sheppard's career spans over 30 years in the NBA, which includes most recently serving as the General Manager and President of Basketball Operations for the Washington Wizards. Known for his humility, generosity, and world-class ability to connect with people, Tommy now works as an executive leadership coach helping leaders align performance with purpose. Between his time with the Wizards, Denver Nuggets, and USA Basketball, he's made significant contributions to the sport of basketball in multiple ways. He's also served as an Adjunct Professor for Georgetown University's Sport Industry Management program since 2009. In this conversation, we discuss the human side of leadership including his non-negotiables (e.g. character, self-awareness, integrity). Tommy shares stories from his decades in the NBA, how he navigated the uncertainty of COVID, why curiosity matters more as you advance, and what leaders often get wrong about developing people. This whole conversation offers a grounded and wide-ranging look at what it means to lead well, especially when the stakes are highest.Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:[6:23] — Love People, Not Things[8:34] — A Non-Traditional Path to the NBA[12:50] — Beginner's Mind for Leaders[17:23] — 3 Pillars Every Team Needs[23:43] — How NBA Teams Evaluate Character[29:19] — Leadership Can't Have a Bad Day[36:56] — Building a Healthy GM-Head Coach Relationship[41:12] — Why Leaders Need to Check Their "Dashboard"[45:18] — Preparing for Tough Stretches Before They Happen[52:11] — Hardest Stretch of His NBA Career [55:36] — Check In On Your People[59:05] — Being Present at Home[1:04:52] — Treat 12 Like 1 and 1 Like 12[1:09:41] — 3 Questions to Help Foster a Great Relationship[1:12:42] — What 30 Years in the NBA Changed My Mind About[1:16:21] — The Legacy That Matters MostLearn More About Tommy:To learn more about Tommy's work and coaching, check out his website here: https://tommysheppard.com/ Learn More About Zach:If you’re a collegiate or professional coach striving to win more and live better, I'm offering free discovery calls in December to share resources and offer support for your journey. You can sign up for a call here: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Former UFC fighter, Frank Shamrock, once shared a simple framework for how to grow more effectively with the right people in your circle. This episode explores his Plus–Minus–Equal process and how mentors, peers, and rising performers each play a critical role for you in raising standards and sustaining excellence. If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

We all know the phrase, “Put your own oxygen mask on first.” Yet many leaders, coaches, and parents struggle to do it. Using two recent conversations (one with an Olympic-level coach and the other an NFL agent), this episode asks a deeper question, "Who in your life puts the oxygen mask on for you when you won’t?"If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/