What can a suspense novelist teach us about sports and leadership? In this episode, we highlight a pair of lessons from John Grisham’s approach to writing thrillers. The first will examine how every great story features a hero that is burdened with adversity and challenges. The second is how a vision of the ending for each story can shape every detail along the way. This episode is all about crafting your own ideal ending and reverse-engineering the steps to bring it to life. 

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This episode is a reminder to not obsess over where you are and start focusing on where you're headed. We examine the difference between your position and your trajectory and why the latter might be a better indication of your growth. You can’t always control your position, but you can always shape your trajectory.

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Joanne “Coach P” McCallie stands as one of the most accomplished coaches in women’s college basketball history. 

Over 28 seasons as a Division I head coach at Maine, Michigan State, and Duke, she became the only coach ever to win Coach of the Year honors in four different conferences (five times in total). She ammassed 646 career wins as a head coach which ranks her in the top 100 all-time for women's basketball coaches. She led teams to three national championship game appearances (one as a head coach and two as an assistant). Along the way, she built a reputation as one of the most decorated and resilient leaders in the sport.

In this conversation, Coach P discusses the importance of self-leadership in coaching, the need for leaders to model healthy habits, and the courage to seek therapy in high-pressure environments. She reflects on her evolution from a dogmatic to a transformational coaching style, shaped by mentors like Coach K and Tom Izzo, and talks candidly about balancing personal and professional life without “selling your soul.”

We also discuss her work beyond the sidelines, from advocating for brain health and breaking the stigma around mental illness, to writing her bestselling book Secret Warrior and her debut novel Stellar Rising.

Whether you’re a coach, a leader, or someone striving to “win without losing yourself,” this episode offers insight and inspiration you won’t want to miss.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:

[4:15] — Actions Speak Louder Than Words

[7:47] — Normalizing Brain Health

[18:14] — Don't Delegate Relationships

[25:43] — Lessons from Tom Izzo and Coach K

[37:12] — Winning Without Losing Your Soul

[47:13] — Developing as a Leader & Mentorship

More Resources from Zach:

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When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon, the world watched in awe. But there was a third astronaut, Michael Collins, whose name you may not know. While the others explored the lunar surface, Collins remained in orbit, cut off from all human contact, ensuring their safe return. In this episode, we explore what Collins’ story teaches about personal scoreboards, the power of embracing your role, and why the success of any mission depends on every seat being filled with excellence. 

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After his third world title, professional bull rider Tuff Hedeman didn’t go on a victory tour. He didn’t take a break. He loaded his gear, headed to Denver, and started over in preparation for the next event. Why? Because he said "the bull doesn’t care." In this episode, we unpack the “bull don’t care” mentality and how it can help keep you grounded and ready for whatever’s next, no matter your past successes or failures.

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Olympic champion marathoner Eliud Kipchoge describes long runs as “quiet rehearsals for greatness.” In this episode, we unpack the science behind mental stamina and draw from Alex Hutchinson’s book, Endure, on how you can train your mind to push past perceived limits. 

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Two people can say the exact same thing, yet only one sticks. Why? Because we’re tuned to certain frequencies. In this episode, we explore The Law of the Frequency and how tone, timing, stories, and trust shape the messages we actually hear. You’ll hear strategies for reinforcing shared language, flexing your delivery to reach different personalities, and learning from voices outside your usual frequency. 

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• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/

As human beings, we can be busy all day and still make no progress. This episode will show you why and how to fix it. Using the antelope vs. field mice metaphor (inspired from a quote by Newt Gingrich), I’ll share why so many leaders, coaches, and athletes spend their best energy on the wrong things. We'll also discuss the 80/20 rule and share how former NFL star, JJ Watt, used a mental framework for spending more time on what matters most. By the end, you’ll have a simple test to know whether you’re chasing mice or hunting antelope each day.

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When was the last time you thanked someone who helped you rise? In this episode, we explore the quiet strength and impact of Sherpas. Sherpas are those essential "behind-the-scenes" contributors who make high performance and achieving your dreams possible, without asking for credit or recognition in return. You’ll hear insights from the 14 Peaks documentary, reflections from a real-life World Series run, and a challenge to thank those who have guided you on your own journey.

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You can’t make someone want something, but you can build an environment or create conditions where they choose to chase it themselves. This week’s episode features a parenting story from legendary basketball coach, Pat Summitt, that is relevant for parents and coaches. If you’ve ever found yourself pushing harder than the people you lead, this one’s for you.

• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/