Betting On Yourself

Jim Tressel, President of Youngstown State University and formerly head football coach of the Youngstown State Penguins and the Ohio State Buckeyes, joins Michael on the podcast today.

“It’s important to study others, but to become yourself.” - Jim Tressel

They discussed Jim’s life growing up poor, the incredible examples of his mother and father, his entrance into a lifelong and legendary career in teaching, sports, and leadership, and his deep, deep faith in Jesus Christ.

Jim is the very definition of a leader. He’s a man who has been through many trials and many successes, and I’m so glad he’s here to teach us what he knows.

In this episode Michael and Jim talked about:

• What betting on yourself means to him
• The importance of his mother and father’s example
• Studying the great players of his generation
• What he learned from the great John Wooden
• Why you have to be the best you can be
• The two biggest moments in his life
• Winning the game of life
• How he approached “the future”
• His transition from player to coach
• His long-term planning approach to coaching
• How he approaches pressure in life
• The mindset of forward progression
• The advice he’d give his sixteen-year-old self

If you're a fan of the show don’t forget to follow to hear new episodes and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Jim Tressel on Twitter
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Maverick Carter, founder of SpringHill Company, where he creates some of the most culturally-inspired brands, entertainment, and products, joins Michael on the podcast today.

“It’s not about being able to do whatever we want to do, it’s about intention. If you have good intentions, the right intentions, rational intentions with the feeling of “the sky’s the limit” … then you absolutely have a shot at achieving everything you’ve ever dreamed of.” - Maverick Carter

They discussed Mav’s life growing up in Akron, OH, his internship at Nike, building his business, and playing high school basketball with LeBron James.

Maverick is a very smart, creative, and connected man. He’s built an incredible business and continues to create an entrepreneurial vision for the future, no matter what it brings.

In this episode Michael and Maverick talked about:

• What betting on yourself means to him
• The influence of his grandmother
• What he learned from playing cards
• His lifelong friendship with LeBron James
• His internship at Nike
• Building and growing SpringHill Company
• Why everyone needs a platform
• The pressure of delivering for your friends
• The moment he realized he could make it all happen
• The advice he’d give his sixteen-year-old self

If you're a fan of the show don’t forget to follow to hear new episodes and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Maverick Carter on Instagram
• Michael Redd on Instagram

David Lee joins Michael on the podcast today. David is Executive Vice President at Samsung Electronics, Head of Samsung Next, an accomplished startup investor, and formerly a corporate attorney at Google.

“Growing up, my dad was an entrepreneur and he is an inspiration in many of my career and life choices. He invented the first fully automated fortune cookie machine. I decided to take a different path, and that’s when I realized what betting on yourself means.” - David Lee

David is a hyper-intelligent, experienced, talented, and accessible man. His pragmatic and hard-won wisdom is on full display in this episode. It’s extraordinary to hear him tell his story, as well as the story of the world we’re all living in.

If you’re in the middle of making a big life decision and wondering what you’re going to do, or if you need some very practical advice about starting a new venture in your life, this episode will resonate with you deeply.

In this episode Michael and David talked about:

• What betting on yourself means to him
• How he feels about Tom Brady leaving New England
• Using sports metaphors in business and branding
• The incredible technology his father invented
• Similarities between athletics and startups
• The “gym rat” mentality for founders
• Facing business with your back against the wall
• The type of individuals who succeed in startups
• His transition from university to the real world
• The speech that deeply resonated with him
• Going to law school without the intention of practicing law
• Learning what it takes to be great at what you do
• His basic investing thesis
• His story of surviving stage 4 cancer
• The advice he’d give his sixteen-year-old self

If you're a fan of the show don’t forget to follow to hear new episodes and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• David Lee on LinkedIn
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Alex Bente, former competitive tennis player, co-founder of leAD Sports (the world’s leading sports tech investment platform), and Principle of ADvantage Sports Tech Fund joins Michael on the podcast today.

“My great-grandfather was the founder of adidas. He was mostly just super-focused on innovation in sports and that looked very much different 100 years ago than it does today.” - Alex Bente

They discussed Alex’s life growing up in Switzerland, life and business lessons from the game of tennis, his legendary great-grandfather who founded adidas, and his hugely impressive career in business and investing.

Alex is a hilarious, serious, and successful man. His down-to-earth and extremely hard-working attitude shines through in everything he does, which is impressive for someone who came from such a successful family. He has never taken that privilege for granted, and he’s built an incredible legacy in his own right.

In this episode Michael and Alex talked about:

• What betting on yourself means to him
• His childhood growing up in Switzerland
• The legacy of his famous great-grandfather
• Business and life lessons from tennis
• Developing character through sports
• Why business is about being good and fair to others 
• Overcoming the expectations placed on him
• The downsides of coming from a famous family
• The impact of COVID on sports tech investing
• The future of sports technology and investing
• The danger of overanalyzing opportunities in life
• The advice he’d give his sixteen-year-old self
• And a lot more!

If you're a fan of the show don’t forget to follow to hear new episodes and rate or review us wherever you tune in!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Alex Bente on LinkedIn
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Today, Michael welcomes Dionte’ Johnson on the podcast. He’s a former fullback for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and The Ohio State University Buckeyes, entrepreneur, founder of the Columbus, OH sneaker boutique Sole Classics and the brand development agency Canvaas.

“What I had to do was go back to the drawing board.” - Dionte’ Johnson

In this episode, they talk about Dionte’s childhood years, his college and professional football career, his love of Columbus, and his remarkably creative entrepreneurial career.

Dionte’ is what you’d call a real man, in the fullest, best sense of that word.  He’s faced many challenges and changes with courage, grace, and an unrelenting, old-school work ethic.

In this episode Michael and Dionte’ talked about:

• What betting on yourself means to him
• His biggest inspiration growing up
• What he learned from his incredible mother
• Growing up the son of an NFL legend
• The road to professional football
• The setback that changed his life
• How he forged a brand new mindset
• His journey toward entrepreneurship
• His secret recipe for business success
• The importance of entrepreneurial vision
• Going back to the drawing board
• The joy of being a sneakerhead
• Staying tapped into the culture
• The advice he’d give his sixteen-year-old self

If you’re experiencing massive and uncomfortable change in your life, wondering what you’ll do next and how you’ll get it done ... this is your episode.

Don’t forget to follow to hear new episodes and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Dionte’ Johnson on Instagram
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Coss Marte, fitness trainer, author, and founder of ConBody, the prison style fitness bootcamp joins Michael on the podcast today.

“Betting on myself ... I feel like what I’ve done is born out of desperation. I think maybe my DNA is built a certain way, my mom is a hustler too. I saw her coming up from nothing and coming to America and giving us an opportunity here, you know, my brothers and my sister, to explore a better life. And we really took advantage of that, seeing that great role model in her.” - Coss Marte

They discussed Coss’ tough life growing up, his early entrepreneurial efforts and the money it brought him, his time in prison, the moment that changed his life, and his work to help those currently and recently incarcerated.

Coss is one of the most inspiring people Michael has ever met. He made bad choices in his youth, paid the price for those choices, and came out the other side as a disciplined, powerful man of faith that has dedicated his life to helping others.

In this episode Michael and Coss talked about:

• What betting on yourself means to him
• His entry into the world of drug dealing
• Making $2,000,000/yr. At 19 years old
• His delusions about what he was doing
• The six years spent in prison
• The untapped talent pool coming out of prison
• The moment in solitary confinement that changed his life
• The chapter from Holy Scripture that got him through
• How he realized his calling in life
• The struggle to find work after prison
• The birth of the ConBody brand
• The difficulties of doing business in the pandemic
• His advice for those who have lost hope
• The advice he’d give his sixteen year old self

If you're a fan of the show don’t forget to follow to hear new episodes and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Coss Marte on Instagram
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Erik Hersman, co-founder and CEO of BRCK (a 'backup generator for the internet'), technologist, investor, writer, Marine, and advocate of technological and entrepreneurial innovation in Africa, joins Michael on the podcast today.

 “I like solving big problems, and there’s big problems to solve.” - Erik Hersman

They discussed Erik’s amazing life growing up in South Sudan and Kenya, the surprisingly difficult cultural transition he faced when moving back to the United States for college, and his spectacular entrepreneurial career.

Erik is an incredibly humble man, particularly for someone who has accomplished so much in his life. He displays a quiet kind of grit, one that’s infectious in a different way than we usually see from the flashy and charismatic leaders of Instagram. But make no mistake, Erik is an absolute world-class leader.

In this episode Michael and Erik talked about:

• What Betting on Yourself means to him
• The culture shock of moving from Africa to America
• His drive to build his own company
• What it takes to build something meaningful
• Facing failure, then going at it again
• How COVID affected his business
• What drew him to entrepreneurship
• How he looks for opportunities
• The immense talent that’s waiting for the world in Africa
• The future of technology in Africa
• The absolute necessity of entrepreneurship

If you're a fan of the show don’t forget to follow to hear new episodes and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Erik Hersman on Twitter
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Ryan Day, Head Coach of The Ohio State University Football program, joins Michael on the podcast today. 

They discussed Coach Day’s incredible career as a coach in the NFL and at The Ohio State University, a former college football player, his incredible spirit, and how to operate in a high-stakes world.

Coach Day is an inspiring, tough, and loving guy. Around him, you get the feeling that “everything’s going to be OK.” And that’s part of the reason why he’s been such a legendary and successful coach.

Coach Day is the type of man who runs toward the gunfire. He said, “If the game is on the line, I want to be in control.” As you’ll soon see, you’d want him to be in control in a tough situation. But he’s much more than just a tough guy, he’s a loving guy, he’s a brilliant guy, and he respects and cares for everyone around him.

In this episode Michael and Coach Day talked about:

• His definition of betting on yourself
• Taking on massive responsibility
• His college days playing football
• His early days as a college coach 
• Coaching in the NFL
• Leading during the pandemic
• Mental toughness and grit
• Doing things the right way
• Dispensing tough love, for the right reasons
• Playing football without fans in the stands
• How Ohio has embraced him and his family
• His advice for his 16-year-old self 
• And much more!

If you're a fan of the show don’t forget to follow to hear new episodes, and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Coach Ryan Day on Twitter
• The Ohio State University Buckeyes
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Peter Feigin, President of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and formerly Vice President of Marketing for the New York Knicks and Director of Marketing at Six Flags, joins Michael on the podcast today.

They discussed his incredible career accomplishments at major brands, his rise from recruiter to President, handing out parking tickets in the Bucks lot, working for social justice in the epicenter of the global movement, and his unique leadership style.

When asked about what betting on yourself means to him, Peter said, “I played soccer and basketball, not overly blessed with athleticism. But you would say I kind of got to play through high school college with just grit and will and really like persistence and relentlessness. And I think the only thing anybody can control is their own effort and kind of their own dreams and where they want to go.”

Peter is a serious businessman and a hilarious friend. His is a story of grit, will, and great humor. If you need a shot of good inspiration (and a good laugh), listen to this episode! I guarantee you’ll find motivation and guidance from this remarkable man.

And if you're a fan of the show don’t forget to follow to hear new episodes, and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

In this episode Michael and Peter talked about:

• What betting on yourself means to him
• His path to the Milwaukee Bucks
• His “get it done” attitude
• Why no is never the final answer
• The embrace of the city of Milwaukee
• His unending love of gear
• His mentor relationship with Bucks players
• Operating in the Pandemic year
• His part in the social justice movement
• The importance of simple will and grit
• The advice he’d give his 16-year-old self
• And much more!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Peter Feigin
• The Milwaukee Bucks
• Michael Redd on Instagram

Former Israeli Defense Forces Soldier, political analyst, and current Director of Value Creation and Venture Capital Lead at Empower Africa, Caleb Zipperstein, joined host Michael Redd to talk about the power of small improvements, the unexpected twists and turns in his life, and what Betting on Yourself means to him.

“What does it mean to bet on yourself. I feel that a lot of the success I may have had in life is really a by-product of the people I’ve been fortunate to surround myself with, where it makes it so much easier to do things when you know that there’s an entire community surrounding you, that has your back.” – Caleb Zipperstein

Caleb is an investor, philanthropist, and world traveler with a total commitment to the people in his life (both near and far), as well as his unstoppable passion for truth.

He sees a clear vision of the future of entrepreneurship in Africa and is dedicated to placing his resources there and in Israel.

Michael says, “He’s a sage of sorts, and his vision of the world is absolutely infectious. He embodies the Betting on Yourself spirit and I can’t wait for you to meet him.”

And if you're a fan of the show don’t forget to Follow to hear new episodes, and Rate or Review us wherever you tune in!

In this episode Michael and Caleb talked about:

• The future of African Entrepreneurship
• His advice to his 16-year-old self
• The power of small decisions
• The critical importance of consistency
• A secret of selling (this is good)
• Focusing on the micro, not the macro
• And a lot more!

To ask a question, read the transcript, or learn more, visit MichaelRedd.com.

Resources:

• Caleb Zipperstein
• Michael Redd on Instagram