Winners Find a Way

Are you building a champion — or just chasing a trophy?

In this episode of Winners Find A Way, Coach Trent M. Clark sits down with John O'Sullivan, author, speaker, and founder of Changing the Game Project — one of the most influential voices in youth sports development today.

John is a former Division I soccer player at Fordham University, a master's-level researcher, and the author of five books on youth sports, coaching, and athlete leadership. His work has been recognized by the US Olympic Committee and major sport governing bodies around the world. He co-hosts the Way of Champions podcast with Jerry Lynch — nearly 500 episodes with guests like Phil Jackson and Steve Kerr — and his latest book, Captain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader, is now available everywhere.

This conversation covers the full landscape of what it actually takes to develop athletes — and what so many coaches and parents get wrong. John and Trent dig into the difference between information and knowledge, why curiosity is the number one trait of elite coaches, and how the "me culture" of college sports is trickling down to youth programs. They talk about parents, pressure, social media, NIL, and the moment a coach stops talking to an athlete — and what that silence really means.

This episode is a reminder that winners are not people who never face setbacks. Winners are the ones who learn, adjust, lead, and find a way.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Why the best coaches in the world share one common trait — curiosity
• What John's new book Captain teaches athletes about leading from any position
• How the "me culture" in college sports trickles down and why kids struggle to transition to team-first environments
• What scouts actually ask about when they watch your kid play
• The real role of parents in youth sports — and how to be the fan your child needs
• Why coachability is a decision, not a personality trait
• The inner voice: how to train the coach inside your head
• Individual sports vs. team sports — and why every athlete should experience both

Key Takeaways

✨ Curiosity is the common denominator of elite coaches

John has interviewed Hall of Famers, Olympians, and championship coaches for nine years. Every single one is still curious. The ones who plateau decided they already know everything.

✨ Great teammates are always in demand

Scouts don't just watch the stats. They ask: How does this kid treat the worst player on the team? Character traits like humility, coachability, and selflessness are skills — and they carry into every team you'll ever be part of.

✨ When a coach stops talking to you, the end is near

Coaches invest their energy where it counts. Three "yeah buts" and they redirect to athletes who are coachable and worth the oxygen.

✨ Train the voice in your head

The late Jim Lehr said it best: the most influential coach in your life is the voice inside your head. If that voice was a person, would you be friends with them?

✨ Begin with the end in mind

Before signing your kid up for a travel team, ask: What do I actually want sports to give them? Then find a coach and program that builds those things.

Resources Mentioned:

• Captain: The Athlete's Guide to Being an Exceptional Team Leader by John O'Sullivan & Jerry Lynch
• Way of Champions Podcast
• Changing the Game Project — https://changingthegameproject.com
• The Matheny Manifesto — referenced in conversation
• The Talent Code by Dan Coyle — referenced in conversation

Connect with John O'Sullivan:

• Website: https://changingthegameproject.com
• Podcast: Way of Champions
• Book: Captain — available on Amazon

Connect with Trent M. Clark:

• Website: https://www.trentmclark.com/
• Leadershipity: https://www.leadershipity.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leadershipity
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trentmclark/
• Book: Leading Winning Teams — https://leadingwinningteams.trent-clark.com/bookrecording79

What if the disruption you have been trying to avoid is actually the thing that could transform your life?

In this episode of Winners Find A Way, Coach Trent M. Clark sits down with Suzie Hall, global entrepreneur, award-winning interior designer, Founder and CEO of The Cornerstone Collective, speaker, and author of Blessed Disruption: Transforming Trauma Into Triumph.

Suzie grew up surrounded by elite athletics as the daughter of a major college football coach. From bowl games to college athletics to entrepreneurship, she learned early what performance, pressure, competition, and resilience look like. But behind the success and achievement, Suzie also experienced personal trauma, disconnection, and seasons of painful disruption that eventually led her to a powerful life reset.

In this conversation, Trent and Suzie talk about athletics, entrepreneurship, faith, vulnerability, leadership, personal transformation, and what it means to become the head coach of your own life.

This episode is a reminder that winners are not people who never face pain, failure, or setbacks. Winners are the ones who choose to heal, grow, adapt, and find a way forward.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Suzie's background growing up in a major college football family
• How athletics helped shape her confidence, risk tolerance, and leadership
• Why losing is part of life, business, and personal growth
• The meaning behind Suzie's book Blessed Disruption
• How trauma can create disconnection when it is left unprocessed
• Why halftime can become a powerful reset point in life
• The difference between accidental disruption and intentional disruption
• How to stop playing victim and become the head coach of your life
• Why vulnerability can lead to freedom and healing
• The importance of discipline, morning routines, faith, and personal growth
• How parents and leaders teach more through how they show up than what they say
• Why people need to give themselves permission to play a bigger game

Key Takeaways

✨ Disruption can become a blessing when you choose to grow through it.

Suzie reminds us that painful seasons can become turning points when we use them to heal, reset, and transform.

✨ You win or you learn.

Trent and Suzie talk about how sports teaches us that losing is not final. It is feedback. The lesson is what matters.

✨ Halftime is a chance to reset.

When life feels like it has exploded, that may be the moment to pause, reflect, and choose how you want to show up moving forward.

✨ You are responsible for your own scoreboard.

Suzie shares how she learned to stop standing on the sidelines and become the head coach of her own life.

✨ Healing starts with awareness.

Before we can change our story, mindset, or patterns, we need to become honest about what is holding us back.

✨ Vulnerability creates freedom.

Sharing our stories can feel scary, but it can also release the pain that has been holding us hostage.

✨ Small first downs matter.

Instead of always going for the Hail Mary, growth often comes from daily discipline, small wins, and consistent action.

About Suzie Hall

Suzie Hall is a global entrepreneur, award-winning interior designer, Founder and CEO, speaker, and author. She published her memoir, Blessed Disruption: Transforming Trauma Into Triumph, in 2025. Growing up as the daughter of a major college football coach exposed her to elite athletics, competition, high stakes, and the mindset of leaving it all on the field. After transforming herself and her life after what she calls her "Halftime explosion," Suzie now leads and inspires others through her story, faith, and lived experience.

Resources Mentioned

• Blessed Disruption: Transforming Trauma Into Triumph by Suzie Hall
• Leading Winning Teams by Coach Trent M. Clark
• Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
• Be Your Future Self Now by Dr. Benjamin Hardy
• 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dr. Benjamin Hardy and Dan Sullivan
• The Dash
• Entrepreneurs' Organization
• James 1:2
• 2 Timothy 1:7

Connect with Suzie Hall

Website: www.suziehall.com

Buy the Book: https://suziehall.com/blessed-disruption

Book Suzie to Speak: https://suziehall.com/meet-suzie-hall

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzie-hall-9a0b0a8/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suziehall22/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suziehall22

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@suziehall9818

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@suz2design

Listen & Subscribe

Listen to Winners Find A Way every week for powerful conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, and high performers who know what it takes to overcome adversity and keep moving forward.

Subscribe on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

In this episode, Rob Velazquez and Trent Clark discuss the importance of personal growth, resilience, and mental preparation for success. They also share their experiences in overcoming adversity and scaling businesses, highlighting the need for a strong culture and process in place. They also discuss the psychological aspects of success, including visualization and mental preparation, and share their personal experiences in entrepreneurship and personal growth. Rob Velazquez is a serial entrepreneur and CEO based in Florida. Originally from Dearborn, Michigan, he grew up in a household of immigrant parents from Puerto Rico and Malta. At age 12, Rob was diagnosed with cancer in his leg but overcame it through visualization and positive thinking. Rob built a successful sales career starting in network marketing and door-to-door telecom sales. He rose to Director of Sales for a major logistics company in his early 20s. Rob has since founded his own SAS company and sales training firm. He leverages over 16 years of sales and business ownership experience to help companies scale through strategic growth. This interview is guaranteed to give you new strategies for winning in business and life - you won't want to miss it!

JOIN US!

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In this episode of Winners Find A Way, Trent Clark sits down with former combat fighter pilot, airline captain, keynote speaker, and author Jeff "Bones" Bonner to unpack one of the most powerful habits behind elite performance — the art of the debrief.

Drawing from years in Marine Corps fighter aviation, combat missions, leadership training, and high-performance team culture, Jeff shares how structured reflection helps individuals and teams improve faster, adapt under pressure, and consistently perform at a high level.

This conversation dives deep into continuous improvement, leadership, mindset, gratitude, elite team culture, and why experience alone does not create growth. Whether you're a business owner, athlete, leader, entrepreneur, coach, or someone simply trying to become better every day — this episode delivers practical lessons you can apply immediately.

Episode Highlights

• Why fighter pilots debrief every mission — even successful ones
• The hidden danger of "experience without reflection"
• How elite teams create a culture of continuous improvement
• Why gratitude is the foundation of high performance
• The difference between reviewing failures vs reviewing wins
• How daily habits shape long-term success
• Why adversity creates stronger leaders and performers
• The connection between perspective and performance
• Applying the debrief method to leadership, parenting, marriage, health, and business
• The power of 1% daily improvement

Powerful Quotes From The Episode

"Experience alone doesn't lead to improvement." — Jeff Bonner

"Perspective precedes performance." — Jeff Bonner

"We're not assigning blame. We're just trying to be better tomorrow." — Jeff Bonner

"Championship teams are hard. You have to continuously improve to stay there." — Trent Clark

"If we can improve just 1% every day, we'll be in a completely different place 365 days from now." — Jeff Bonner

About Jeff "Bones" Bonner

Jeff "Bones" Bonner is a keynote speaker, former combat fighter pilot and squadron commander, current airline captain, and Harvard-trained performance strategist. He is the creator of The Debrief Advantage™ System and author of The Daily Debrief™, a practical framework designed to help individuals and teams turn experience into continuous improvement.

Jeff helps leaders, organizations, athletes, and teams build high-performance cultures through structured reflection, accountability, and elite-level habits developed from aviation and military leadership.

Get Jeff's Free Daily Debrief Framework

Jeff is offering listeners access to his free 5-step Daily Debrief framework and 30-Day Challenge.

👉 https://debriefadvantage.com/habit

Connect with Jeff "Bones" Bonner

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbonesbonner/
• Website: https://debriefadvantage.com

Connect with Trent Clark & Leadershipity

🌐 Website: https://leadershipity.com/

🎙 Winners Find A Way Podcast:

https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast

📺 YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity

🔗 LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/trentmclark

📘 Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/trent.m.clark1

📸 Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/leadershipity/

🐦 Twitter/X:

https://twitter.com/TrentMClark

Subscribe & Review

If you enjoyed this episode of Winners Find A Way, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who wants to improve personally and professionally.

Because Winners Find A Way. 🚀

In this episode of Winners Find A Way, Trent Clark sits down with Mickie Kennedy, founder and president of eReleases, to break down why 97% of press releases fail — and what successful businesses do differently.

Mickie shares how storytelling, earned media, and strategic PR can help small and mid-sized businesses stand out in today's noisy digital world. From building compelling headlines to using AI the right way, this conversation is packed with practical insights for entrepreneurs, authors, and business owners looking to build credibility and visibility through media.

The episode also dives into Mickie's personal journey from poet and creative writer to building a nationally recognized PR company serving thousands of businesses.

In This Episode

• Why most press releases never get picked up
• The difference between syndication vs earned media
• How journalists actually choose stories
• Why storytelling matters more than company announcements
• How to use AI effectively for press releases
• The power of surveys and industry data in PR
• Why great quotes can make or break media coverage
• How small businesses can compete for national attention
• Mickie's journey from poetry to entrepreneurship

Key Takeaways Storytelling Wins

The best PR campaigns focus on human stories, transformation, and emotion — not just product features.

Earned Media Matters

Real credibility comes from journalists writing about your business, not just publishing your release on random websites.

AI Is a Tool — Not the Strategy

AI can help structure and improve writing, but businesses still need strategic angles and compelling narratives.

Industry Surveys Create Authority

Creating and publishing original survey data is one of the fastest ways to become a thought leader in your industry.

Great Quotes Increase Pickups

Strong, memorable quotes help journalists build better stories and increase the likelihood your company gets featured.

Memorable Quotes

"Most press releases fail because they read like ads." — Mickie Kennedy

"Stories sell. Data supports the story." — Trent Clark

"AI should help you write better — not decide what's newsworthy." — Mickie Kennedy

"A great quote is your Trojan horse into the article." — Mickie Kennedy

About Mickie Kennedy

Mickie Kennedy is the founder and president of eReleases, a PR distribution service helping small businesses, startups, and authors gain real media exposure through PR Newswire distribution and strategic press release campaigns.

He is also the author of PR Strategy Manifesto and A Beginner's Guide to Press Release Writing.

Outside of business, Mickie is a creative writer and poet whose newest poetry collection, Worth Burning, reflects on life growing up in the South.

Resources & Links Connect with Mickie Kennedy

🌐 https://www.ereleases.com/

Free PR Masterclass: https://www.ereleases.com/plan-2/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/publicity/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ereleases.press.release.distribution

Connect with Trent Clark & Leadershipity

https://leadershipity.com/

Winners Find A Way Podcast: https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trentmclark

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipity/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trent.m.clark1

Leadershipity LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadershipity

Subscribe & Review

If you enjoyed this episode of Winners Find A Way, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with an entrepreneur or business owner who wants to grow their visibility and credibility through smarter PR.

Winners Find A Way with Trent Clark features conversations with elite performers, entrepreneurs, and leaders sharing the lessons, adversity, and mindset that helped them reach the top 1% in their field.

In this episode of Winners Find A Way, Trent sits down with entrepreneur Andres Lagsdin, founder of Baking Steel, to break down what it really takes to build something meaningful.

This isn't just about pizza.

It's about:

• Walking away from comfort
• Listening to what's not working
• And having the patience to build something that does

About the Guest

Andres Lagsten

Founder of Baking Steel

• Built a multi-million dollar brand from a simple idea
• Blended culinary passion with manufacturing expertise
• Known for transforming home cooking into restaurant-level experience
• Built a loyal community around food, family, and craftsmanship

Resources Mentioned

• Baking Steel Products: https://bakingsteel.com
• 72-Hour Dough Method
• Live Pizza Classes (via email list)

Powerful Quotes

• "I couldn't tell my son what I did—and be proud."
• "Break the pattern before you find the path."
• "Winners don't start from scratch—they connect the dots."
• "Trust your gut—but earn it through experience."

If this episode hit you, don't just listen—apply it.

👉 Watch + Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity

👉 More Episodes: https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast

Coach Trent shares what it really takes to win—through discipline, daily choices, and mental toughness.

Key Takeaways

• You choose daily: discipline or regret
• Discipline is short-term. Regret lasts longer
• Winners execute—no excuses
• Interested people talk. Committed people act
• What you repeat daily = who you become

Coach Trent's Core Message

Winning isn't about talent.

It's about the choices you make every day.

If you want better results, you need better discipline—and consistency.

Action Steps

• Choose one daily discipline
• Make it non-negotiable
• Remove one thing holding you back: → Stop it → Adapt it → Delegate it

Quote of the Episode

"Winners, when shown data that they are losing… find a way to win."

Resources & Links

• TEDx: The Pain Exchange
• Book: Leading Winning Teams
• Book a call: https://calendly.com/trentclark/15min
• Email: [email protected]

Listen & Watch

• LinkedIn Live (Thursdays)
• YouTube (Leadershipity Channel)
• Spotify & Apple Podcasts

About the Show

Winners Find A Way helps leaders, athletes, and entrepreneurs win—through discipline, mindset, and action.

Most people wait to feel ready.

Winners dive in—even if it's a belly flop.

In this episode, I sit down with Deborah Gardner, a competitive performance expert who doesn't just teach winning—she's lived it at the highest level.

At 66 years old, Deborah became the oldest woman to swim the 21-mile Catalina Channel, earning a Guinness World Record and proving something most people miss:

👉 Mindset beats circumstance. Every time.

We talk about what it really takes to compete—whether you're on a stage, leading a team, or fighting through uncertainty.

This is about:

• Turning "belly flops" into breakthroughs
• Owning your lane instead of comparing your path
• Why engagement—not likability—is the real standard of leadership
• How to build an unsinkable mindset in pressure moments

About the Guest

Deborah Gardner is a competitive performance expert, global keynote speaker, and six-time bestselling author who challenges leaders to take action—not just take notes.

At 66, she became the oldest woman to conquer the Catalina Channel, earning a Guinness World Record and redefining what's possible at any stage of life.

Her philosophy is simple and powerful:

YOBO — You Only Breathe Once.

She's known for her no-fluff, high-energy delivery and has been called a "pit bull in a skirt" for her relentless focus on driving results.

Deborah is also the author of the upcoming book "Own Your Lane" (2027), where she challenges individuals to stop comparing—and start competing where they are strongest.

Resources & Connect with Deborah

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/deborahgardner1
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/DeborahGardner01
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/deborahgardner
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/deborahgardner

If you're serious about winning—personally or professionally—don't just listen. Execute.

👉 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity

👉 More episodes: https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast

👉 Work directly with Coach Trent: https://www.bloomgrowthcoach.com/coaches/trent-clark/

Most people wait to feel ready.

Winners dive in—even if it's a belly flop.

In this episode, I sit down with Deborah Gardner, a competitive performance expert who doesn't just teach winning—she's lived it at the highest level.

At 66 years old, Deborah became the oldest woman to swim the 21-mile Catalina Channel, earning a Guinness World Record and proving something most people miss:

👉 Mindset beats circumstance. Every time.

We talk about what it really takes to compete—whether you're on a stage, leading a team, or fighting through uncertainty.

This is about:

• Turning "belly flops" into breakthroughs
• Owning your lane instead of comparing your path
• Why engagement—not likability—is the real standard of leadership
• How to build an unsinkable mindset in pressure moments

About the Guest

Deborah Gardner is a competitive performance expert, global keynote speaker, and six-time bestselling author who challenges leaders to take action—not just take notes.

At 66, she became the oldest woman to conquer the Catalina Channel, earning a Guinness World Record and redefining what's possible at any stage of life.

Her philosophy is simple and powerful:

YOBO — You Only Breathe Once.

She's known for her no-fluff, high-energy delivery and has been called a "pit bull in a skirt" for her relentless focus on driving results.

Deborah is also the author of the upcoming book "Own Your Lane" (2027), where she challenges individuals to stop comparing—and start competing where they are strongest.

Resources & Connect with Deborah

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/deborahgardner1
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/DeborahGardner01
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/deborahgardner
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/deborahgardner

If you're serious about winning—personally or professionally—don't just listen. Execute.

👉 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity

👉 More episodes: https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast

👉 Work directly with Coach Trent: https://www.bloomgrowthcoach.com/coaches/trent-clark/

Winners don't guess their way to success—they execute with intention.

In Part 2 of Winning Ways: How to Win, Coach Trent brings it back to fundamentals:

• Win the day
• Stack the days into weeks
• Stack the weeks into months
• And build a life—and business—that wins consistently

Execution isn't occasional. It's daily.

🧠 The Daily Discipline That Separates Winners

Most people stay busy. Winners stay focused.

👉 The standard:

• Write down your Top 5 priorities daily
• Execute the Top 3 that move the needle
• Schedule them into your calendar intentionally

Multiply that across a team—and now you're operating at a completely different level.

Consistency compounds into elite performance.

🧩 Clarity Creates Execution 🏗️ The Pyramid of Leadershipity

Elite teams are built on a strong foundation:

Foundation

• Integrity
• Humility

Core Strength

• Stability
• Spiritual alignment (values-driven leadership)
• Quality standards

Team DNA (ACES)

• Coachability
• Adaptability
• Responsibility
• Dependability

Leadership Execution

• Accountability
• Communication
• Visibility
• Authenticity

Get this right, and you don't just build a team—you build a winning culture.

👥 Great Teams Don't Need the Best Players—They Need the Right Ones Effort Multiplies Everything The Five Behaviors of Winning Teams Alignment Over Agreement Simplification is the Real Superpower

If you're stuck, overwhelmed, or your team isn't executing at the level you need—

👉 Book a 15-minute call with Coach Trent

👉 Get clarity. Build alignment. Start winning again.

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity

🎧 Podcast: https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast