"Most people want the result. Few are willing to fall in love with the process."
In Episode 96 of Coursen’s Corner, I sit down with Jeremy Hills, founder of The Kollective, to break down what coaching really means and why elite performance starts long before the outcome.
A former University of Texas running back under Mack Brown, Jeremy shares what it felt like to lose the one title he had built his entire life around, and how that loss forced him to answer a harder question: Who am I without the game?
What followed was not a straight line. From selling cars at CarMax to working in medical device sales, Jeremy rebuilt himself from the ground up. He bet on an idea rooted in performance, longevity, and culture. That bet became The Kollective, a private social performance club that now stands on the edge of national expansion.
But this conversation goes deeper than business.
Jeremy talks about retiring his mother and why that matters more than any athletic accolade. He opens up about the vivid dreams that followed his injury, the internal battle of walking away from a lifelong identity, and the quiet discipline it takes to build something over 12 summers without a guarantee.
You will hear his philosophy on grit, competition, and the price of victory. You will hear why he hires for culture, character, and competence, even if it slows growth. And you will hear the principles he repeats to his son every night before bed: respect, compete, love. We do not bully. We will not be bullied.
This episode is about more than entrepreneurship. It is about refinement. It is about choosing courage over comfort. It is about building a life you are proud of when no one is clapping.
🎧 In this episode:
01:08 Redefining Your Life's Biggest Accomplishment
11:22 Knowing When To Expand Your Business Reach
15:43 What It Takes To Compete At The Highest Levels
19:40 Plan Your Life or Have Your Life Planned For You
21:01 What Betting On Yourself Really Means
28:40 Am I Being The Man That I Am Raising My Son To Be?
36:55 Maintaining Quality And Control As You Grow
39:58 Unforeseen Challenges of Being A Business Leader
47:41 Dealing With CopyCats and Idea Thieves
01:03:30 Best Book Recommendations For Business Leaders
If you are navigating life after sports, building a business, leading a family, or simply trying to become a better man, this conversation will challenge you, inspire you, and leave you striving for more.
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Connect with Jeremy:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhills5/
Kollective: https://www.thekollective.com/
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🔗 Connect with Spencer Coursen
🌐 Website: https://www.SpencerCoursen.com
📸 Follow Spencer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.coursen/?
🎙️Podcast Guest Submission Form: https://www.spencercoursen.com/guest-submission-form-podcast
📰 My Newsletter for Life-Saving Tips: https://spencer-coursen.beehiiv.com/
📖 Purchase "The Safety Trap" by Spencer Coursen: https://a.co/d/3KXG4y2
👨⚖️ Hire Spencer Coursen as your next keynote speaker: https://www.spencercoursen.com/public-speaking
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Special Thanks To:
⌨️ Podcast Recorded Studio: Record ATX: https://www.recordatx.com/
🎶 Theme Song: "Underground Moments" by Cushy: https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/bd4f94e1-a84b-4859-8eaf-09bab32426f0/
🎬 Ronin6 Media: https://www.Ronin6.com