Game Changers with Molly Fletcher

Where do music's biggest stars turn when they need a vocal tune up? Mama Jan. Jan Smith is a Grammy-nominated producer and vocal coach to the stars—working with chart-topping artists like Usher, Justin Beiber, The Band Perry, Rob Thomas, Drake, Sugarland, Ciara, and Collective Soul. In all, over 4,000 vocalists, musicians and producers have turned to Mama Jan and Jan Smith Studios for her tough love training and musical expertise. On this episode, Mama Jan shares her insight on talent development, the value of coaching, and how to deliver tough feedback.

Donald Miller, founder and CEO of StoryBrand and author of Building a StoryBrand, shares insights on the power of storytelling in brand messaging. He highlights the importance of clarity in communication, emphasizing that brands must address customers' internal frustrations. Don breaks down his seven-part StoryBrand framework, revealing how to define customer desires, position the brand as a guide, and create effective calls to action. He also shares practical tips on testing messages and optimizing websites to capture attention.

What if there was an easy, fast way make tough decisions? Navigating the daily dilemmas of work and life, business journalist and best-selling author Suzy Welch developed the 10-10-10 rule, a life-changing strategy for making tough decisions. The former Editor-in-Chief at the Harvard Business Review, Suzy is a frequent contributor on The Today Show and hosts her own digital show on CNBC.com. On this episode, Suzy shares how to filter your decisions through the 10-10-10 rule, explains how to align your decision-making with your values, and discusses how Millennials' ideas about career management are changing the workplace.

In this engaging discussion, Andy Stanley, a renowned communicator and founder of North Point Ministries, reveals the five essential characteristics of effective leaders. He dives into common mistakes leaders make and debunks the myth of the well-rounded leader. Listeners learn about the importance of humility, collaboration, and empowering teams, along with the role of mentorship in fostering growth. With personal anecdotes, Andy emphasizes setting goals and maintaining values as key to navigating leadership challenges.

The first female coach in NFL history, Dr. Jen Welter reminds us all that barriers are meant to be broken. Welter coached the Arizona Cardinals' linebackers during 2015 training camp under head coach Bruce Arians and was the first female to play running back for a men's professional football team as a player for the Texas Revolution. Named one of the 25 most influential women in sport by espnW, Welter's inspiring story has been shared in the New York Times, Vogue, The Huffington Post and Fortune. On today's episode, Welter talks about the importance of authentic leadership, the value of diverse teams, and how she got comfortable taking career risks. Her new book, Play Big: Lessons in Being Limitless from the First Woman to Coach in the NFL, is available for pre-order now. Show Notes Why breaking barriers matters (5:00) "No risk it, no biscuit." What Jen learned from Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians (7:14) Overcoming the fear of rejection (9:10) Own your strengths and your weaknesses (11:18) Getting "punted" into coaching (14:55) How she built connection and trust with pro players (18:10) The value of diverse leadership teams (22:00) What it takes to compete at the highest level (28:32) Her new book Play Big: Lessons in Being Limitless from the First Woman to Coach in the NFL (32:27) Defining authentic leadership (34:40)

Geno Auriemma, the legendary UConn women's basketball coach, has a storied career with 11 national titles and a knack for building winning cultures. He shares his definition of success, emphasizing preparation and trust in recruiting. Discover how he fosters team-first attitudes among star players and adapts roles for maximum synergy. Geno also reveals his innovative strategies to keep his coaching approach fresh and effective, while valuing candid conversations and essential traits when evaluating talent.

Dr. Henry Cloud, a renowned leadership expert and clinical psychologist, discusses powerful insights on connection and boundaries. He introduces the four corners of connection, highlighting how real relationships foster growth. Cloud emphasizes the importance of aligning energy with priorities and the role of supportive environments in overcoming toxic fear. With practical tips for setting boundaries, he illustrates how they clarify responsibility and enhance personal and professional relationships. Tune in for valuable guidance on navigating connections!

Once the poster girl for doing it all, Tiffany Dufu is now sharing a powerful message to women: Drop The Ball. As Chief Leadership Officer of Levo and part of Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In launch team, Tiffany's life work is to advance women and girls. If we can learn to let go of perfectionism, Tiffany says, we can achieve more by doing less and achieve better work-life integration. On this episode, Tiffany shares the power in shrinking your to-do list, how to delegate with joy, and what happens when we focus on our most meaningful work. Her new book, Drop The Ball, is out now.

Jon Gordon, an accomplished author and speaker known for inspiring positive leadership and team culture, delves deep into the art of cultivating a thriving workplace. He shares his personal journey from crisis to positivity and the impact of negative thoughts. Jon emphasizes the importance of finding purpose over mere goals, using athlete stories to illustrate resilience under doubt. He discusses effective team connection exercises, the danger of energy vampires, and the power of love paired with accountability in leadership.

PGA Tour golfer Billy Horschel is one of golf's brightest young stars. On this episode, Billy talks about recovering from adversity, developing mental toughness, how to handle pressure, and the piece of advice he received from Tiger Woods that changed his mental approach.