Be The Torch

What words would you use to describe a former record setting NCAA and NFL running back? The experts would most likely address his balance and power. Maybe even acknowledge his confidence and fearlessness.  However, I am willing to bet inner peace and mindfulness were not words included in his NFL draft profile.  We don't often associate big, strong, accomplished warriors, such as NFL athletes, with inner peace and mindfulness.  However, we are learning more and more about the power of the  mind and how developing a mindfulness practice can unlock the inner keys to performance and success.  Thus wouldn't all high performers want to tap into our this oasis? In episode 37 I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to welcome former Georgia Tech University and Baltimore Ravens running back, Prince Daniels Jr., to the Recovering Athlete Podcast.  After having his professional football career cut short due to injury, Prince found himself stuck, struggling with identity and having his life after sports completely falling about.  In fact, his story almost never came to be.  After finding himself alone, struggling and losing hope, he contemplated and then began to execute plans to end his own life.  However, one powerful phone call prior to ending it all, forever changed the trajectory of his life.  Today, Prince is the author of multiple books including his newest one called: Mindfulness for the Ultimate Athlete: Mastering the Balance Between Power and Peace. Using meditation as the tool for recovery from his depression and loss of identity, Prince found his calling of helping professional athletes find their vision and purpose in the game beyond the game. From an athlete who realized his dreams of playing in the NFL and going on to live a thriving and purpose-driven life, Daniels’s message is nothing short of inspirational. For more on Prince Daniels Jr: Book: Mindfulness for the Ultimate Athlete: Mastering the Balance Between Power and Peace. Website Instagram Facebook YouTube **If you are having suicide ideations or contemplating suicide, please reach out for help immediately. You are not alone and help is waiting for you.  National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255 The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.      

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Discover what one single dad, who owns a successful business, did to dedicate 2 hours each day to improve his mind, body and relationship with his kids, without missing one second of work.

Before you can master you life, you have to begin by learning how to master your morning.
 
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1. The registration for the next Be The Torch Academy opens soon...so jump on the priority list to be the first notified when the doors open. JOIN NOW!  https://www.bethetorch.com/academywaitlist

2. For more tips and training, subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecletuscoffey

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It's March, and in the US sporting world that means one thing....Madness.  Yes, March Madness is here and while the college basketball season is coming down to it's final 64 teams and the marquee event of the season, for many former athletes the madness often extends far beyond the the final four and the buzzer beaters, and into life after sports. As a former NCAA college basketball player, Pierce Brooks knows march madness all too well. However, not the upset, buzz beater, net cutting, or trophy lifting way you may be thinking of.  Growing up, Pierce was the future of basketball in his community. Destined for greatness. Coaches knew it. Scouts knew it. The community knew it.  Like many former athletes Pierce was told over and over his future was in basketball. Yet, like so many former his sport was not his destiny.  He has since found fulfillment in life after sports and basketball as he transitioned from athlete to motivational speaker and coach.  Listen to his story of the madness behind reaching his potential early, not living up to others expectations and how he rebounded to tell his story of finding meaning in madness on the TEDX stage.  For more on Pierce Brooks visit his website at: https://piercejbrooks.com/ This episode was brought to you by: Playoff: The Dating App for Athletes Ready to learn how to dominate life after sports? Be sure to download our how to guide, the Ultimate Playbook for Dominating Life After Sports    

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Looking for more training to unlock greater purpose, passion, profits and play in your life?

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If you are looking for more tips and support to have success in all areas of life, these resources are for you:

Discover what one single dad, who owns a successful business, did to dedicate 2 hours each day to improve his mind, body and relationship with his kids, without missing one second of work.

Before you can master you life, you have to begin by learning how to master your morning.
 
Download the Master Your Morning Cheat Sheet Now!

1. The registration for the next Be The Torch Academy opens soon...so jump on the priority list to be the first notified when the doors open. JOIN NOW!  https://www.bethetorch.com/academywaitlist

2. For more tips and training, subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecletuscoffey

3. Follow Cletus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cletuscoffey

In our current pandemic state where we all are social distancing so much of our world has come to a halt, including the sports world. There are no fields to play on. No balls. No teammates to train with. No gyms, and for many of us, no parks to practice in.  Now two months into a stay at home order, coaches, teams and parents running out of content and ideas to keep athletes motivated. If you are an athlete, coach, parent, or former athlete this episode is a MUST listen.  Right now is the most important time in the history of sports.  It's a big statement, I understand.  However we may never get an opportunity like we have right now ever again. Yes...I said opportunity.  If you want to be elite in sport and in life, there is one aspect of sports that almost every single team, coach, leader and parent overlook.  One major asset that is the answer to digging yourself and team our of mediocrity.  Those that are elite, get it. However there are very few elite teams, coaches, businesses and leaders in our world.  Everyone else is busy doing the same thing as they try to keep up with each other...and stay mediocre.  Why? Because being mediocre is easy. It does not take extra effort.  If you have a desire to lead in a way that is contrary to what the masses are doing (and staying mediocre) then tapping into this asset is a must.  Right now. In this time of social distancing, there will be leaders who will develop themselves, and their teams, in a way that will propel them into a level of elite performance beyond what they ever could have imagined.  Are you one of them? If so, grab a note pad and a pen and dive into episode 35.  Afterwards, drop me a note and let me know what your plans are going forward.  If you are former athlete and you are ready to find fulfillment in life after sports, then download my FREE cheatsheet to help you put into action a plan for getting out of struggle and mediocrity and start dominating life after sports.  GET ACCESS HERE Enjoy!    

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Looking for more training to unlock greater purpose, passion, profits and play in your life?

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If you are looking for more tips and support to have success in all areas of life, these resources are for you:

Discover what one single dad, who owns a successful business, did to dedicate 2 hours each day to improve his mind, body and relationship with his kids, without missing one second of work.

Before you can master you life, you have to begin by learning how to master your morning.
 
Download the Master Your Morning Cheat Sheet Now!

1. The registration for the next Be The Torch Academy opens soon...so jump on the priority list to be the first notified when the doors open. JOIN NOW!  https://www.bethetorch.com/academywaitlist

2. For more tips and training, subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecletuscoffey

3. Follow Cletus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cletuscoffey

What are the chances this would happen.... An author commits over a year to write a book titled "We're All in This Together," and his publisher decides months ago to launch it in April of 2020. ⁣ Right during the heart of a global pandemic.  ⁣ For over 12 months author and speaker Mike Robbins has did exactly this. Having committed over a year to writing his new book titled “We’re All In This Together,” the saying ironically has become the rallying cry our society has following during the Coronavirus, COVID-19 Pandemic. ⁣ ⁣ Did he have some previous knowledge of what was to come? Nope. Just an understanding what it takes to develop a team of high performance in any situation. ⁣ Knowing this, I really wanted to bring Mike⁣ back on the podcast (he joined my on Episode 11) to help provide us insight into improving our individual and team performance during this remote #quarantine time. ⁣ ⁣ As a reminder Mike Robbins is the author of five books, including his brand new title, WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER: Creating a Team Culture of High Performance, Trust, and Belonging, which comes out April 14th.  For the past 20 years, he’s been a sought-after speaker and consultant who delivers keynotes and seminars for some of the top organizations in the world. ⁣ ⁣ His clients include Google, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Genentech, eBay, Harvard University, Gap, LinkedIn, the Oakland A’s, and many others.⁣ ⁣ He and his work have been featured in the New York Times and the Harvard Business Review, as well as on NPR and ABC News.  He’s a regular contributor to Forbes, hosts a weekly podcast, and his books have been translated into 15 different languages.⁣ ⁣ Mike drops serious knowledge on how we can take lessons from this unique time to develop a culture that people want to be part of. ⁣ We address several topics such as: Building culture in a remote working environment.  What we can do to improve performance now.  The recovering from the loss of a loved one (Mike and I have both lost sisters). The Houston Astros culture and what may have lead them to cheat in baseball.   ⁣ In you run a team or want to learn what a people centered team looks like you HAVE to listen to Episode #34 and check out Mike’ new book WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.⁣   Purchase Mike Robbins new book here: WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER   Mike Robbins on social media: LinkedIn:             https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrobbins/ Twitter:               https://twitter.com/mikedrobbins Instagram:          https://www.instagram.com/mikedrobbins/ Facebook:           https://www.facebook.com/mikerobbinspage/

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Looking for more training to unlock greater purpose, passion, profits and play in your life?

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If you are looking for more tips and support to have success in all areas of life, these resources are for you:

Discover what one single dad, who owns a successful business, did to dedicate 2 hours each day to improve his mind, body and relationship with his kids, without missing one second of work.

Before you can master you life, you have to begin by learning how to master your morning.
 
Download the Master Your Morning Cheat Sheet Now!

1. The registration for the next Be The Torch Academy opens soon...so jump on the priority list to be the first notified when the doors open. JOIN NOW!  https://www.bethetorch.com/academywaitlist

2. For more tips and training, subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecletuscoffey

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In Spring of 2007 I made a choice that would alter my world in ways I could have never expected. 

While playing football in college and professionally, I had to work my butt off to keep my weight on. Having weighed around 193 to 195 pounds. 

Keeping my size required endless food consumption. My 193 pounds and very little body was a picture of a very healthy and fit human being. On the outside I was. 

Inside I was in pain. 

However this all changed in 2007 when I had enough of feeling off internally. 

I tried something that not many were talking about at the time. I made a shift in my eating habits to a plant-based diet. Or as it is often called, Vegan.

Not yet mainstream at this time, I had not heard of vegan or plant based eating. However, I was willing to give it a try if it meant the headaches, hives, lack of energy and stomach issues I had would be cured. 

Have you been curious about eating plant-based or a vegan diet? Or have your tried? 

My results were crazy. Crazy good and crazy bad. 

In this episode I share my story and what inspired me to try eating plant based, my results and the three things I wish I had known before making this change in my eating habits. 

Little did I know that simply taking out two food items (dairy and milk) from my daily consumption would cause such a backlash and impact the lives of almost everyone in my life. 

Changing my diet was supposed to be my personal journey to feel better and set myself up for longevity the way I wanted to live. 

Instead it became a personal growth challenge to navigate the negativity, judgement and vicious attacks from others who did not agree with my choices. 

This is my story. Everything you hear in this episode was my experience and worked for me. It may not be your experience or work for you. And that's ok. Do you. 

I am not a health professional, nor do I claim to be. The only diet and exercise I endorse or support are the those that you like, enjoy and work specifically for you and your goals.

This is your life. Your body. Your temple. Do what you think is best for you. 

Enjoy episode 33 of The Recovering Athlete Podcast. 

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Looking for more training to unlock greater purpose, passion, profits and play in your life?

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If you are looking for more tips and support to have success in all areas of life, these resources are for you:

Discover what one single dad, who owns a successful business, did to dedicate 2 hours each day to improve his mind, body and relationship with his kids, without missing one second of work.

Before you can master you life, you have to begin by learning how to master your morning.
 
Download the Master Your Morning Cheat Sheet Now!

1. The registration for the next Be The Torch Academy opens soon...so jump on the priority list to be the first notified when the doors open. JOIN NOW!  https://www.bethetorch.com/academywaitlist

2. For more tips and training, subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecletuscoffey

3. Follow Cletus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cletuscoffey

The current state of the world has us facing a lot of uncertainty about what the future will look like. As it stands, this unique place in time has many people weighing what is most important in life.  If you have followed this podcast for long, or have consumed any of my content you know that in business, sports and in life, the level of your production, performance, profits, or points, comes down to the level you in which you investing in and developing human beings first.  On this episode of the The Recovering Athlete, I have former NCAA Quarterback from Central Washington University, Casey Jacox on the mic with me to share with you his story of failure to wild success.  Casey is the author of Win the Relationship, Not the Deal, a book he wrote about his secret for developing a wildly successful corporate sales career. Now a consultant and coach for sales teams and organizations, Casey boils down this process in our conversation.  Wait until you hear Casey's answer when I ask him why he left his high paying corporate gig where he consistently ranked #1 in sales.  This is an excellent episode for anyone, not just sale professionals, who are seeking to achieve long term, sustainable success in their career, business or life.  Join me on Episode 32  and learn how to shift your paradigm for success from closing the deal, to winning the relationship.  Connect with Casey Jacox here: Website: https://caseyjacox.com/ Book: Win the Relationship, Not the Deal Twitter: @caseyjacox Instagram: @caseyjacox9

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Looking for more training to unlock greater purpose, passion, profits and play in your life?

START HERE:

Book a Call with Cletus

If you are looking for more tips and support to have success in all areas of life, these resources are for you:

Discover what one single dad, who owns a successful business, did to dedicate 2 hours each day to improve his mind, body and relationship with his kids, without missing one second of work.

Before you can master you life, you have to begin by learning how to master your morning.
 
Download the Master Your Morning Cheat Sheet Now!

1. The registration for the next Be The Torch Academy opens soon...so jump on the priority list to be the first notified when the doors open. JOIN NOW!  https://www.bethetorch.com/academywaitlist

2. For more tips and training, subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecletuscoffey

3. Follow Cletus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cletuscoffey

As a former athlete, I have had my share of highs and lows. Struggles and success. As athletes we are not given the playbook for finding fulfillment in life after sports. 

We have a fire, a drive and a passion for our sport, but when we are done we often do not know where to put this Athlete Mindset. Thus for many the stress, anxiety and depression turns to abuse of substances, people we love and ourselves. 

I struggled for over a decade with this problem. I had a fire burning so hot inside of me and it was killing me that I did not know where to put this drive and energy into. 

Until I found it. The thing that gave me the same feeling as being an athlete. However I even though I found my HIGH, fulfilling it was another story. One that would take me to the highs and lows of life in the pursuit of finding what would ultimately fulfill me. 

Listen into Episode 31 a Quick Huddle on my story. How I found my HIGH and made it my mission to get out of my struggle and find fulfillment in my life. 

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Looking for more training to unlock greater purpose, passion, profits and play in your life?

START HERE:

Book a Call with Cletus

If you are looking for more tips and support to have success in all areas of life, these resources are for you:

Discover what one single dad, who owns a successful business, did to dedicate 2 hours each day to improve his mind, body and relationship with his kids, without missing one second of work.

Before you can master you life, you have to begin by learning how to master your morning.
 
Download the Master Your Morning Cheat Sheet Now!

1. The registration for the next Be The Torch Academy opens soon...so jump on the priority list to be the first notified when the doors open. JOIN NOW!  https://www.bethetorch.com/academywaitlist

2. For more tips and training, subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecletuscoffey

3. Follow Cletus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cletuscoffey

In our current society where so many are seeking results and success immediately, there are constant reminders that patience will always win out.

Combine patience with consistent action, doing the right thing and being of service for others and good ol' fashions belief....well know you have a recipe for success. 

That recipe is one used by former high school basketball coach and my guest this week, coach Jim Johnson. 

As the former head coach for Greece Athena High School in Rochester, New York, Coach Johnson in his early years was known more for his near misses, than championships. 

His teams were consistently in the state playoffs, yet had never made it to the finals to compete for a championship. 

That all changed on February 15th, 2006 when in the last 4 minutes of "senior night" for his players, Coach Johnson made a decision that would change the trajectory of his basketball program, his coaching career and life of one young man named Jason McElwain. 

We all love a good sports story and there so many that offer inspiration, motivation and touch us in heart warming ways that only sports can. 

This story is all of this feelings and emotions combined. 

To get the maximum benefit from this podcast, I encourage you to watch the story unfold on video first. Then dive into my interview with Coach Johnson and hear how this moment unfolded and the why the outcome of his decision that had he and Jason McElwain, also known as J-Mac) on every major television outlet imaginable.

Watch Here

From ESPN, The Today Show, Oprah Winfrey Show, to Larry King, Good Morning America and many others. 

You will learn how the decision to focus on human beings first not only inspired others such as President George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton, Peyton Manning, Oprah Winfrey and countless others to meet with Coach Johnson and J-Mac, but also earned J-Mac the prized ESPY Award given out by ESPN beating out Kobe Bryant's 81 point game. 

Coach Johnson now share his message on leadership and team building with corporate teams through his book A Coach and a Miracle and with his keynote talks. 

Enjoy Episode 30 of The Recovering Athlete Podcast with Coach Jim Johnson. 

Connect with Coach Jim Johnson:

Website

Twitter

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Looking for more training to unlock greater purpose, passion, profits and play in your life?

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Book a Call with Cletus

If you are looking for more tips and support to have success in all areas of life, these resources are for you:

Discover what one single dad, who owns a successful business, did to dedicate 2 hours each day to improve his mind, body and relationship with his kids, without missing one second of work.

Before you can master you life, you have to begin by learning how to master your morning.
 
Download the Master Your Morning Cheat Sheet Now!

1. The registration for the next Be The Torch Academy opens soon...so jump on the priority list to be the first notified when the doors open. JOIN NOW!  https://www.bethetorch.com/academywaitlist

2. For more tips and training, subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecletuscoffey

3. Follow Cletus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cletuscoffey

Marques Ogden was a successful student-athlete at Howard University who followed in the footsteps of his Father and his NFL Hall of Fame Brother and played football in the NFL for six years. 

He always new the football game would end sooner than later which is why he saved all his earnings while playing. 

Listen in to episode 29 as Marques shares his story of how he went from playing in the NFL to owning an 8 figure construction company all before the age of 30, only to lose it all in the span of 90 days. 

This is a story of the rise and fall of a former athlete who found a way out of the ashes to follow his purpose and passion using the lesson he learn through failure. 

Now an accomplished author and speaker, you can learn more about his story and tools in his new book, The Success Cycle.

Want to spend 15 minutes with Marques on the phone? He is offering up a coaching call for all the Recovering Athlete Podcast listeners.

Simply screenshot this podcast and add it your social media feed or stories and tag @cletuscoffey and @marquesogden and I will drop you a DM with a link to schedule time with Marques. 

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Looking for more training to unlock greater purpose, passion, profits and play in your life?

START HERE:

Book a Call with Cletus

If you are looking for more tips and support to have success in all areas of life, these resources are for you:

Discover what one single dad, who owns a successful business, did to dedicate 2 hours each day to improve his mind, body and relationship with his kids, without missing one second of work.

Before you can master you life, you have to begin by learning how to master your morning.
 
Download the Master Your Morning Cheat Sheet Now!

1. The registration for the next Be The Torch Academy opens soon...so jump on the priority list to be the first notified when the doors open. JOIN NOW!  https://www.bethetorch.com/academywaitlist

2. For more tips and training, subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecletuscoffey

3. Follow Cletus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cletuscoffey

"What's wrong with me?" 

A question I have asked myself more times than I can count since retiring as a competitive athlete. 

I was stuck. Lost. Unsure of my identity and who I really was. 

Can you relate?

After believing I had it all figure out, I crashed and burned emotionally, financially, in my health and my relationships. I painfully learned that I indeed did not have it all figured out. 

But I wanted to. I had a light in me. Actually it was a fire that was smoldering, waiting for a spark and some fuel to bring it to life. 

See, the fire was raging while I played sports. No question I knew where to place that fire, that drive for fulfillment. It was into my athleticism. 

Yet, when sports ended, I had this fire raging with nowhere to direct it. So it slowly became extinguished along with my smile, my passion, and my high for life. 

After years of floundering in my own "victim" mindset, I began the hard and excruciatingly painful process of understand WHO I really was rather than identifying with WHAT I did. 

During this journey, I recognized something profound. I recognized I had been so embarrassed by my failures and my lack of success on the scoreboard of life, I had began to make excuses. 

When I dove deeper into myself, I realized I had been making excuses for my entire life to explain away my failures. 

I did it as an athlete, and I was doing it in my everyday life after sports. 

I was creating alibi's for my perceived failures. They look like this:

If I had started playing football earlier I would have had a chance to play at an NCAA Division I university. 

If I did not get hurt, I would have made it to the NFL.

If people could just understand my business, it would succeed. 

If my boss cared about me, I would have been able to be promoted. 

If I only had money...

If the market didn't crash in 2008...

And on...and on. 

I realized going through this, I was not alone. Once I found it in myself, I traced it back into my past and realized how much I was exposed to this mentality in sports. Not knowing any better, I ultimately made it my own bad habit. 

We are athlete's who have become experts in explaining away their failures through alibi's, to avoid looking like a failure, a loser, weak or unsuccessful. 

This episode is a quick snap shot into the habits that have become our society's favorite pastime, the Athlete Alibi, and how to break free of these habits to begin to find success in all areas of your life. 

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Looking for more training to unlock greater purpose, passion, profits and play in your life?

START HERE:

Book a Call with Cletus

If you are looking for more tips and support to have success in all areas of life, these resources are for you:

Discover what one single dad, who owns a successful business, did to dedicate 2 hours each day to improve his mind, body and relationship with his kids, without missing one second of work.

Before you can master you life, you have to begin by learning how to master your morning.
 
Download the Master Your Morning Cheat Sheet Now!

1. The registration for the next Be The Torch Academy opens soon...so jump on the priority list to be the first notified when the doors open. JOIN NOW!  https://www.bethetorch.com/academywaitlist

2. For more tips and training, subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecletuscoffey

3. Follow Cletus on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cletuscoffey