Winning with Class

On March 22, 2025, Molly Miller agreed to join Arizona State University as its next head coach of the women's basketball program. ASU hired a proven winner in Miller who guided Grand Canyon University to a 32-3 record last season which included a 30-game winning streak and GCU's first berth in the NCAA Women's Tournament.

Miller went 117-38 (.760) at GCU and overall is 297-55 (.845) at the collegiate level that also included 180 wins in six seasons at her alma mater (Drury), where she served as an assistant coach and was a four-year letterwinner.

Miller was the most sought after mid-major coach in America with numerous SEC Universities and others seeking her services.

Molly and her husband, Derek have two children, Crosby and Cy.

Takeaways:

1. Positive Energy. For this, you simply need to take a look at Coach Miller's Instagram from the moment she took the job at Arizona State. She was simply everywhere – all the time. On campus. In the community. With current players. Former players and coaches. And more. I'm no expert on coming in to build a program, but I think it looks pretty much like this. And, as we discussed, she talked about how much fun she was having doing it all – it's hard not to follow a leader like this.
2. Culture – This is talked about a lot these days, but that doesn't lessen its importance. I like how Coach Miller referenced culture as being a brand of habits the entire team lives out every single day that should carry over every year. She also mentioned that it was something she could work on quickly upon taking the job. The wins she promised would come, but she could start working on culture immediately – and she clearly did just that. When you do it the way she describes - in genuine way…like a family…the need to recruit your own players lessens. As we discussed, you end up with happy players – who will stay.
3. CHARGE – What a great mantra and acronym that Coach Miller referenced as a foundation of her program. It's also fitting as she mentioned she loved the defensive side of the ball and taking charges is one of the toughest parts of that side. This one covers it all – Communication, Humility, Accountability, Respect, Gratitude, and the Energy, that Coach Miller takes to the next level. Again, this is a rock-solid foundation for Coach Miller's culture – and it sure seems to result in a lot of winning as well.
4. Leadership – Coach Miller's style – a firm hand with a gentle heart as she described it. This seems to be a great way to describe the way she empowers the team by giving them the chance to embrace the opportunity they have to make their own mark on the program so long as they "take CHARGE" as we just described. Do this and she'll have their backs the entire way. She'll listen and do all she can to make their ride as good as it can be for them as individuals and as a team.
5. Four pillars of the program – As a compliment to her CHARGE foundational theme, Coach Miller's 4 pillars further strengthen her program. The notions of teammate, manners, commitment, and communication – four non-negotiables that are essential for lasting success. I especially like the "manners matter" element. Manners really do matter – the seemingly little things of treating people all around you with good solid manners as we discussed – this is the "class" icing on the cake that will make all the winning truly last.
6. Culture check – I love how this is a part of Coach Miller's program. Teams can do all they want in terms of building a great culture, but if they don't keep everybody accountable to it on a consistent basis, it will fade and cracks in its foundation will develop. Coach Miller does a great job of not only pointing out when the team is getting sideways in terms of culture but also explaining why and how it's happening. And her question of "does your audio match your video" is a great one for all of us – are our words matching our actions? And are they both in alignment with our culture? This one is a good one not only for team culture but also for the individual standards we set for ourselves – are we living those standards we set for ourselves? What a great way to stay on track. Finally, on this point – Coach Miller mentioning another fantastic question – are you a drain or a faucet in terms of the team's culture. Great reminder to always be the faucet – be the one who ADDs to the culture. Never be the one who takes away, lessens or drains it.
7. 0-0 Mentality. Coach Miller has clearly had a ton of success in her career so far. One of the main reasons is the way of she's able to maintain a sharp focus for her teams – even when the wins are stacking up - by challenging them to focus as if their record is 0-0. And I love how she mentioned that she is sure to coach them through this process – she makes sure she explains the way behind the method – which makes it much easier to follow. This is another great way to think BOTH in terms of a team as well as individually. On either level, you may be on a great streak – but there are always ways to improve. Celebrate wins? Yes. Then get right back to work as though your record is 0-0.

Links:

Website: https://sundevils.com/sports/womens/basketball

Instagram: @coach_mollymiller, @sundevilwbb

X: @MollyMiller33

Ken Coleman has been called America's Career Coach, he's a 3x Best-selling author (Get Clear Career Assessment: Find the Work You're Wired To Do, From Paycheck to Purpose, and The Proximity Principle), and Ramsey Solutions personality known for his podcast/show, Front Row Seat, with Ken Coleman.

Since the age of 16, Ken had planned a political future that would have him running for office, but that dream slowly died—leaving him confused and lacking confidence about his professional direction. After some deep soul searching and life mapping, Ken decided to get on the path to broadcasting. He didn't have a degree or any experience. His head told him it was too late and too risky to start over and completely change direction at this point, but his heart kept pulling toward the vision he couldn't stop thinking about.

Thankfully, Ken's wife, Stacy, was all in, and they decided they were going to do whatever it took so he could pursue broadcasting. The clarity he had about the direction he was going gave him the confidence to move forward. Ken knew he was going to need to grow personally so he could advance professionally in uncharted waters.

Ken signed up for a six-week broadcast school with people 10 years younger than him, and he covered high school football games on a country station at 11 p.m. on Friday nights. He worked for free several hours a week at a sports-talk station in Atlanta. He fought through imposter syndrome and humbling moments to gain as much experience as possible. He took on public speaking gigs, introduced mimes and balloon artists at a community event, worked on podcasts . . . And when Ken says podcasts, he means back when podcasts weren't cool—and he was doing it from a closet-sized sound booth with no air conditioning in the Georgia heat. Glamorous, right?

Through strategic connections he had made along the way, Ken got an emcee role for a national leadership conference that gave him the opportunity to interview well-known athletes, leaders, authors and celebrities. One of the notable guests he interviewed was Dave Ramsey, which eventually led to their friendship and Ken joining the team at Ramsey Solutions. After three years of serving in multiple hosting roles, Ken got the chance to use all the career strategies he'd learned along the way to write three bestsellers and host a nationally syndicated radio show. And he still regularly co-hosts The Ramsey Show, the second-largest syndicated talk radio show in America. This has allowed Ken to fulfill the dream of broadcasting to encourage and equip people to be who they were born to be.

At this point in his journey, Ken has had the opportunity to interview three presidents, heads of state, some of the top names in sports and entertainment, and a host of other leaders. Between interviewing leaders and coaching over 10,000 people who are working to level up their careers, he's gained a unique perspective on how you can get better, move up, and lead well. Ken wants you to bring the best version of you to work. So pull up your chair and take a front row seat to conversations meant to change the trajectory of your life.

Takeaways:

1. Finding YOUR Path. Ken points out that we all need to find the work – and life – we are meant to live by looking at our TALENTS, our PASSION, and our sense of MISSION. As Ken says, this leads to intrinsic motivation and ultimately to the FLOW he talked about. This should be the goal for all of us. Like hitting that golf ball or baseball as Ken and I discussed – when you barely even feel it – we should aim to get our careers and lives on THAT path…and the resulting potential is truly limitless.
2. Self-awareness as a superpower. We can't reach this FLOW state unless we take a good long look at ourselves. Ken emphasizes figuring out how we're wired first, then building a career and life around that. Clarity is critical. Like Ken says – clarity creates confidence which is essential for us to fully pursue our own unique paths.
3. Building YOUR career plan. For young people – or anybody looking to start a new career path – Ken provides a great way to establish the path and eliminate the fear that holds a lot of us back. We need to go with the four questions Ken gave us – what do I need to learn? What do I need to do to get there? What will it cost? And, finally, how long will it take? You might like the answers, and you might hate them. But, at least, as Ken points out – the fear that causes so many to be frozen or stuck, because they're overwhelmed by the unknown – will be gone.
4. The Proximity Principle. Great summary from Ken for anybody looking to pursue a career path. As Ken said, in order for me to do what I want to do, I need to be around people who are doing it, and the places where it is happening. Basically, get in the game you are chasing by getting to know the people playing it and get on or at least close to the field where it is being played. No time to stay in the stands – get in the game. Great lesson for all of us.
5. General rules for when you get in the game. So, when we do make the jump and get into the game, Ken makes it simple for us in terms of what our focus should be. We need to focus on WHO we need and want to become (not what). As Ken said, we do this by being likeable, coachable, reliable, adaptable, and honorable. As Ken points out, none of these 5 things has anything to do with talent. If we do these, the wins that need to come for us to advance will take care of themselves.
6. Contribution – the ultimate goal. As Ken said, we, as humans, are wired with the desire to contribute. This comes when we've followed the steps Ken provided for us – we've gotten clarity on who we are and how we're wired. We've figured out the best path for us based on that clarity and have shown the confidence to pursue it. Because it's aligned with who we are, we've had success and achievement. Now we GET to contribute to those around us by sharing what we've gained…with our families, our communities, and beyond. The PEACE that comes from this is simply priceless and aligns with all we've ever talked about on this show – this is part of the "why" when it comes to winning with class…

Links:

Website: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ken-coleman

Books: Get Clear Career Assessment: Find the Work You're Wired to Do; From Paycheck to Purpose, The Proximity Principle

Instagram, X, Tik Tok, FB: @kencoleman, Ken Coleman

Lexi Johnson has experienced firsthand the necessity of prioritizing your health, as well as what happens when you neglect to make your health a priority. Lexi witnessed her father suffering 4 heart attacks as she was growing up, with the last one happening while she was a freshman in college. Unable to watch the effects on both her father and her family any longer, Lexi wrote her father a heartfelt letter, pleading with him to lead a healthier lifestyle. Inspired and touched by this, Lexi's father changed his ways and lost 120 pounds. With that, Lexi's mother got a better husband, Lexi got a better father, and her entire family was changed for the better. Inspired by this positive impact from healthy living, Lexi was soon on a mission to promote long-term, sustainable changes in health and fitness.

Today, Lexi is the founder of Lexi J Wellness, an online fitness and lifestyle community founded on bringing lifestyle changes, consistency and real confidence to everyday people. She started the business in 2020 while working full-time as a dental hygienist by sharing what was working for her on social media and hoping it could help someone else too. Now as a 1st Phorm Elite Athlete, she leads by example and encourages thousands to take ownership of their health physically and mentally through sustainable practices.

Lexi J Wellness was born in an unfinished basement in 2020 during a time when the world felt uncertain and disconnected. With a set of Facebook Marketplace dumbbells and a dream to make movement feel personal again, Lexi hit "record" — not in a flashy studio, but in her raw, unfinished concrete basement; with the goal of making the person on the other side of the screen feel like they were simply getting in a great workout with a friend.

Lexi's background is rooted in her passion for helping others live well — not through quick fixes or trendy fads, but by building real habits for real life. She created LJW to bring connection, consistency, and confidence to women in every season of life.

Degrees and certifications:

NASM Certified Personal Trainer

NASM Certified Nutrition Coach

NASM Certified Behavior Change Specialist

NASM Certified Women's Fitness Specialist

NASM Certified Virtual Coaching Specialist

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

Takeaways:

1. Whatever it takes for Family. Lexi tried repeatedly to tell her Dad he needed to change his ways. Having the maturity to realize that talking to him wasn't working, she poured her heart out in that letter to him – telling him where the next heart attack would likely lead him – along with their entire family. And kudos to her Dad for taking the letter to heart and doing the really tough thing and making changes. Both Lexi and her father showed that when it comes to family and loved ones – the simple rule is whatever it takes.
2. Health's Ripple Effect. When her father changed his ways and lost those critical 120 pounds by taking on a healthier lifestyle, it wasn't just him that benefitted. Like Lexi said, she got a better Dad, her Mom got a better husband, her Dad got a promotion, and so on. Our health is not just ours – it affects everybody around us. We owe it not only to ourselves, but to them as well. We need to choose to live the healthiest lives we possibly can – physically, mentally, emotionally, and beyond. We need to optimize the best health for us as individuals – not what society says the scale should tell us, as we learned from Lexi – but we should seek that best possible healthy version of ourselves for us – so that we can give our best to those around us.
3. Swing Big. As she said, Lexi grew up in a small town and graduated from high school with 20 people. Yet, she described her pursuits as "shoot for the moon" which is clear from all she's done. This is how we should all think – regardless of our backgrounds. We all have time and talents – and it's up to all of us to maximize them. No better way to do this than to "shoot for the moon" as Lexi has done – and the impact when we do this is truly limitless.
4. A Rising Tide Lifts All Ships. Lexi's answer to what winning with class means to her could be one of my favorites. It's creative, spot on and goes perfectly with her story – both about her Dad and the "ships" he raised when he got healthier as well as all of the boats Lexi has raised and continues to raise with her movement. Feeding off what we said about swinging big above – when we maximize our time, talents, and passions to chase greatness – that's winning. Seeking to bring others with us – that's winning with class. And Lexi is as good an example of this as there is.

Links:

Website: https://lexijwellness.com

Social: @lexijwellness

Dr. John Delony, the host of The Dr. John Delony Show and co-host of The Ramsey Show, earned his Bachelor of Arts in humanities and psychology at Lubbock Christian University and his Masters of Education in higher education administration from Texas Tech University. He went on to earn two PhDs from Texas Tech University—one in counselor education and supervision, and the other in higher education administration.

Other qualifications and certifications he's earned over the years include:

• Education Management, Harvard University
• Civil Rights, Title IX Investigator (L1), NCHERM/ATIXA
• Certified Behavioral Intervention Team Best Practice (Not Current), National Association of Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment (NABITA)
• Group Crisis Intervention, Individual Crisis Assistance, Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)

After spending over twenty years in crisis response and leading students in higher education (and finding real solutions and freedom in his own wellness journey), John knew he wanted to help as many people as possible heal from their past trauma and live whole, connected lives. He now writes, speaks and teaches on relationships, mental health, anxiety and wellness. He also hosts The Dr. John Delony Show where he answers callers' questions about all of the above, and serves as co-host of The Ramsey Show where he helps unpack the psychology behind finances.

When John isn't working, you can find him hanging out with his wife and two kids on their farm in Tennessee, headbanging at some obscure concert, or obsessing over his new lifting routine.

AWARDS

• Three-Time National Bestselling Author for Redefining Anxiety, Own Your Past, Change Your Future and Building a Non-Anxious Life
• Outstanding Professional in Graduate and Professional Student Services, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)
• Emerging Leader, West Texas Counseling Association
• Life Changer Award, Student Bar Association
• Award of Excellence, Black Law Students Association
• President's Leadership Institute, Texas Tech University
• Distinguished Staff Member, Texas Tech University
• Staff Member of the Year, Chi Alpha Delta Tech Law School

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• State Board of Directors, Disability Rights Texas
• Planning and Network Advisory Committee, Lubbock StarCare
• Victim's Services/Crisis Response Team, Lubbock Police Department
• Board of Directors, Texas Boys Ranch
• Professional Wellness Committee, Texas Counseling Association

Takeaways:

1. Anxiety is NOT an identity. John does a great job of describing what anxiety is and what it is not. He describes anxiety as a snapshot and a smoke alarm. He lets us know that it is NOT an identity that is to be taken as a permanent label or something that we "have" all the time. One of the main problems with labeling ourselves this way is that it creates a false governor, as John puts it, on our potential and limits who we can be. If you get a professional diagnosis of anxiety, treat it like the snapshot that it is and move forward to face those issues causing it as John shows us.
2. Listen to your body and act. That tightness in your chest. The restlessness at night invading our sleep. The mind racing. Like John says, our bodies will tell us when things are not well. As he points out, unfortunately, our culture is one that pushes us not to be intentional and resolve issues, but to instead numb ourselves to these signs from the body. Netflix, drinking, over-working, and others as John mentioned, are used to make us forget about the warning signals…all as our body whispers, then talks, and eventually screams at us for action. The good thing is, we can do the opposite of all the numbing and take action. And John's book, as some of our discussion highlighted, does a great job of telling us how to do this.
3. Choose the hard path that brings you to peace. I like how John says we need to choose our hard – or choose our misery. Taking action is hard but will lead to a good place. Doing nothing will end up with hard results. Which one will you pick? As John says, we need to choose the one that brings us to a place that brings peace and a feeling of being whole.
4. 6 daily habits – As we discussed, John's book brings out 6 daily habits that will help us live our lives as opposed to just letting it happen to us…while the alarms start to sound. John lists these not just as habits but as habits we CHOOSE – as he said, intentionality is the key. A few of the habits we touched on in our conversation were:
   1. Reality – I love how John describes this as choosing our starting line – going to each main area of our lives and actually facing where we really are in each. How are your relationships? Your health? Your finances? John likens it to hearing that smoke alarm in the house – anxiety calling us – and then going from room to room in the house and seeing where we are with each and what we need to do to get to a place where we're at peace and at least know that the smoke alarm is real.
   2. Connection – This is a great one given how we've all become so addicted to our devices. They've replaced our real connection - and that is not how we're wired as humans. We need people and real connection – in person connection as John described, with some of his friends – not fake connection we get from social media and texting. As John noted, our body knows it when we have nobody with whom we can connect. And it wants to set off an alarm for you. We can satisfy or avoid these alarms by seeking REAL connection with people. So, we need to put down the phone or iPad and go out to lunch with a friend. We'll feel better and those alarms will stay quiet.
   3. Freedom – As the body knows when you are out of touch with people due to a lack of connection, it also knows whether or not you have autonomy. As John mentioned, if you are in debt, you gotta go to work. It doesn't matter if you have bad boss, you gotta go. But you can choose freedom by living below your means to get out of debt so you can choose where and for whom you will work. This goes for financial freedom, freedom with our calendars as John and I discussed, and more. Like Johns said, we need to look at our lives and ask who is making the decisions in our lives? How would we rate our autonomy? Do the check…then start getting after the pursuit of that freedom that will bring you peace…and you guessed it…less of those alarms.
5. The Cornerstones of Psychologically healthy human. – I love how John listed these - Faith (believing in something bigger than us and how that brings the peace that comes from knowing you don't have to worry about all the problems in the universe – somebody else's got it), fitness, fun, and family – as the cornerstones of psychologically well human. And he followed it up by saying he just doesn't compromise on these things. What a great way to look at the building blocks of our own foundations – and it's hard to top John's as a model. Establish them. Then commit to never compromising on them. Then the peace – and at least LESS anxiety – is sure to follow.

Links:

Website: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/john-delony

Instagram: @johndelony

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnDelony

TikTok: @johndelony

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

X: @johndelony

Trey Gowdy, Fox News Channel host of Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy and author of the book The Color of Death, was born in Greenville, South Carolina and grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He is the son of Hal and Novalene Gowdy and has three sisters: Laura, Caroline, and Elizabeth.

From 1994-2000, as a federal prosecutor, Trey prosecuted the full range of federal crimes including narcotics trafficking, bank robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, child pornography cases, and the murder of a federal witness. He was awarded the Postal Inspector's Award for the successful prosecution of J. Mark Allen, one of "America's Most Wanted" suspects. He also received the highest performance rating a federal prosecutor can receive – two years in a row.

In 2000, he left the U.S. Attorney's office to run for 7th Circuit Solicitor (District Attorney) in Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties. As 7th Circuit Solicitor, Trey led an office of 25 attorneys and 65 total employees. He started a Violence Against Women Task Force, a Worthless Check Program, enhanced and expanded Drug Court, and implemented a Drug Mother Protocol designed to assist expectant mothers break the cycle of addiction.

He has been recognized statewide for his commitment to victim's rights and drunken driving enforcement and nationally for excellence in death penalty prosecutions.

In 2010, he ran for congress to represent the 4th Congressional District (Greenville and Spartanburg Counties). While in congress he served on the Judiciary Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Intelligence Committee, Education and the Workforce Committee and Ethics Committee. He was also chosen to chair a Select Committee on the events occurring in Libya on September 11-12, 2012.

While in congress he actively participated in numerous congressional investigations, sponsored bills signed into law and had deep and meaningful relationships with scores of colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

After four terms in congress, he announced he would not seek re-election in 2018 and would leave public service for good; thus, ending his career with a flawless record in the courtroom and undefeated in political races. In January of 2019, he returned to his beloved South Carolina to practice law, teach classes with his close friend Senator Tim Scott, and speak on legal issues he considers important to our country. Trey is a best-selling author, host of a television show, and podcast.

Trey is married to Terri Dillard Gowdy, a former first grade school teacher in Spartanburg, South Carolina. They have two children, Watson and Abigail.

Takeaways:

1. Significance over success. As you heard, Trey described winning with class as living a life of significance as defined by us and being able to say that you lived a life that mattered. As Trey emphasized, it's NOT about success, money, or fame – all of which are totally overrated. So, we need to all first determine what significance is to us – then go out and live THAT life. Trey also mentioned the IMPACT he wants to make – making people around him better - as he's living his life of significance. Overall, I think Trey gave us a great model of significance over success by saying he wants to be remembered as a great husband, a great father, a good friend and, ultimately, in terms of his profession, he wants to be remembered as a fair prosecutor.
2. Both sides of the aisle. As you know, this is not a political show, but if you listen to Trey, both in this episode and elsewhere, you will often hear of him refer to his friends on both sides of the aisle. This is one of the things I like most about him – he serves as a good example of where we need to be in terms of treating all people with respect, calling out truth and lies equally, no matter which letter comes behind a person's name. I heard one leader say recently how we all need to put country over party – we simply need to strive to get back to that place. As Trey mentioned, fairness – a beautiful virtue – is absent in politics as it's become too much about chopping down the opponent, popularity and getting clicks. The path back from this, as Trey mentions, is to get to a place where our value for fairness and justice supersedes all.
3. Passion for Justice and Fairness. It was great to hear about why Trey ultimately chose the path of being a prosecutor. First, his Mother, who had a background as a victim's advocate inspired Trey by noting that it often seemed like the defendants got better attorneys than those who were seeking justice for the victims. Then, secondly, Trey was inspired to jump in and do something as he was driving home from the funeral of a family friend who was murdered for not giving up his grandfather's watch. I'm not sure there are better motivating factors than that. And, as Trey indicated, to handle all that comes with that job of a prosecutor – you need to have a passion for it and truly love it. I gained even more respect for Trey, all prosecutors and law enforcement through our conversation. Trey does a great job of portraying the soul crushing nature of the entire pursuit of justice process in The Color of Death.
4. Success Principles. As you heard, Trey's record as a prosecutor is impressive. I loved the notions to which he credits his success – preparation, communication, authenticity, credibility, and integrity - priding himself on the judges and, everybody involved for that matter, being able to rely on what he said. These principles pretty much work with any avenue you choose to pursue and are principles we should carry with us everywhere we go.
5. Peace. We've spoken previously about how the ultimate goal of all we are talking about on this show is the peace that comes from a well-anchored pursuit. I loved it when Trey said – "What other people think about me is none of my business." What a great reminder of a great place to be in a world full of comparisons and negativity. We get there by achieving peace through our anchored pursuit. Trey is on this path – living his life of significance - and we can all get there too.

Links:

Websites: https://www.treygowdy.com

Instagram: @tgowdysc and @gowdyamerica

X: @tgowdysc

Facebook: Trey Gowdy

Other Books by Trey: Unified, How Our Unlikely Friendship Gives Us Hope for a Divided Country (New York Times Best Seller with Tim Scott) Doesn't Hurt to Ask, Using the Power of Questions to Communicate, Connect, and Persuade (New York Times Best Seller), Start, Stay, or Leave, The Art of Decision Making (New York Times Best Seller)

Marty Grunder started Grunder Landscaping Co (GLC) in 1984 so that he and his brother could buy more baseball cards. He didn't have any idea then what it would become. He still serves as the company's Founder and CEO, working to connect with those in the community who could use a great partner in their landscaping. Marty also runs his own business consultancy, The Grow Group, which teaches landscape professionals from across the country how to implement the business practices that work so well for GLC. Their annual event, The Grow Annual Conference, brought 1,000 + landscape pros to Columbus, OH in 2025.

Marty has been recognized as the Ohio Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Midwest by the Small Business Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. He was also named the Dayton/Miami Valley Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001 by Ernst & Young, and in 2021 was inducted into the Dayton Business Hall of Fame. He's been recognized by the Dayton Business Journal's (DBJ) 40 under 40 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2020. He was recognized as a Leader in Diversity by the DBJ in 2023 and is an award-winning regular columnist for Landscape Management Magazine.

A lifelong Daytonian, Marty enjoys rooting for the Reds, Bengals, and Dayton Flyers. When he's not working, he loves spending time with his wife, Lisa, visiting their four children, and being "Mulch" and "Pop" to his two granddaughters.

Takeaways:

1. Pursuing your WHY. As he mentioned, from the start of his business journey, Marty had a love for landscaping. This passion was soon combined with a drive, at that time, to get out of college with no debit. This early WHY transformed and expanded into that of building a great team, business, and culture, all while maintaining family as his top priority. What a great example of the notion that when you have a great WHY and pour your heart and soul into chasing it, success is soon to follow.
2. Leadership. Marty has gained so many great leadership lessons on his journey and he continually shares them with his team and consulting group – the Grow Group – they're all lucky to have him. As Marty shared with us, leadership is an ongoing, evolving journey that he's still pursuing. Just to highlight a few of his lessons.. Marty made a great point about how, no matter how hard it is, you need to find a way to delegate. To really grow, you can't do it alone, so, you need to find a way to trust others, build a team of great people around you, and then let them handle responsibilities that are in line with their talents. He also mentions how he battled ego in the beginning. I think this is fairly normal - handling success at young age is NOT easy. It takes a true focus to stop at that line of the confidence that comes from success and making sure it doesn't cross over into cockiness and ego driven behavior that is poisonous to teams and businesses. Marty did this and, now like the great leader he is – he helps other young business owners do the same through the Grow Group.
3. Emotional Intelligence. Related to the leadership points above, Marty mentions the importance of emotional intelligence and how it is a skill you can develop. He points out that it's all about pondering, thinking, slowing down, learning when to talk and when to listen when you're frustrated, etc. Marty's "TNT"– standing for Temperature – cooling down, realizing there is No reason to react, and then finding the T - the opportunity to Teach. This is all a part of building and maintaining solid emotional intelligence – something that is absolutely essential to both leadership and the building of solid and lasting relationships.
4. Culture. Marty makes great culture points here. I love his mantra about how external customer services will never exceed internal customer service, meaning that he needs to treat his team as well as he aims to treat customers. This leads to low turnover and an engaged and inspired team which will in turn, treat the customers well on the front lines. Marty emphasized that NOTHING is more important than culture. He brought this home by describing how he likes to create an atmosphere that is as if the front door is open and back door is closed. They come in the front door and it's so great, they don't want to leave. Marty's built a great model of this and his company's low turnover rate in a high turnover industry is proof that it has been a success.
5. Integrity. I love how simply and bluntly Marty mentioned integrity. It's so essential that he doesn't need a sign for it. It should be automatic. Marty and his team lead by example with a focus on doing the right thing always – no signs are needed for this one.

Links:

Websites: https://grunderlandscaping.com/

Instagram: @grunderlandscaping, @growgroup, @martygrunder

Facebook: Grunder Landscaping Company, Marty Grunder, The Grow Group

DAVE BERKE is a Retired U.S. Marine Corps Officer, Fighter Pilot, and the Chief Officer of Development and Curriculum and Leadership Instructor at Echelon Front.

Dave Berke is a retired Marine Corps officer, fighter pilot, and ground-combat leader. A seasoned F/A-18 Hornet pilot, Dave was deployed twice aboard aircraft carriers in support of combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent three years as an Instructor Pilot at TOPGUN and became qualified in the F-16 Fighting Falcon, then served as the Training Officer, the senior staff pilot responsible for the conduct of the TOPGUN course. He was the only Marine ever to fly the F-22 Raptor and became the first operational pilot to fly and be qualified in the F-35B, commanding the world's first F-35B squadron.

Dave went on to serve as an ANGLICO forward air controller in the Battle of Ramadi, leading an arms liaison team in combat missions through the most dangerous neighborhoods and accompanying Task Unit Bruiser on virtually every major operation.

Dave holds both a Master's in International Public Policy and an MBA from The John Hopkins University. Upon his retirement from the Marine Corps, Dave joined Jocko Willink and Leif Babin to apply his leadership expertise as the Chief Development Officer at Echelon Front, where he advises, speaks, and instructs civilian teams and companies. He is the author of the forthcoming book, "The Need to Lead", which distills his lessons from TOPGUN to the battlefield into actionable leadership skills.

Takeaways:

1. Leadership exists in every capacity. This is a great point that Dave's book brings home..literally. As Dave points out, it starts with ourselves – actually taking the time to lead ourselves, then also looking to lead in all of our roles – at home, at work, in our communities, and beyond.
2. Detachment. This is a great point that comes out in the book as well as our conversation. It's a word we don't think about often, but I think it perfectly describes what have to do when we lead our teams. Truly effective leadership doesn't happen unless we genuinely listen to our team and take in their perspectives and ideas. For us to do this, we need to have the ability to detach from ourselves – our ego, our emotions, our own viewpoints, etc. If we can do this, we'll develop the ability to consistently lead the team and build a strong culture as well.
3. It's ALWAYS about the team. What an amazing story Dave tells about landing on that carrier in the dark and the snow…being surprised at the SOUND of him landing. Dave tells how he never would have been able to land if it wasn't for the team on the carrier that guided him in – the team on the flight deck, the cat seat controllers who control you at night, air traffic control team, etc. Dave was the pilot, and it would've been easy for him to allow his ego to take over and accept the pats on the back for landing the plane. Instead, he took the lesson its impact on him to teach him the importance of realizing that no matter what you do, it's ALWAYS about the TEAM.

Links:

Website: https://echelonfront.com/leadership-books/the-need-to-lead/

IG: @davidrberke

FB: https://www.facebook.com/DaveRBerke

X: @davidrberke

Masey McLain is an actress, screenwriter, and producer best known for her leading roles in I'm Not Ashamed and the hit Amazon Prime series, The Baxters, where her performances have been praised for their emotional depth. Masey also plays a lead role in Soul On Fire, the recently released movie based on the inspirational life of John O'Leary.

Masey is also one half of a powerhouse creative team alongside her writing and producing partner, Taylor Kalupa. Together, their projects include the award-winning film A Christmas Less Traveled, starring Candace Cameron Bure, as well as their work on the action-packed TV series Blue Ridge. They are currently developing a television series with Jon Erwin's The Wonder Project (I Can Only Imagine, House of David). They're also set to adapt and produce a #1 New York Times bestselling novel alongside producer Roma Downey.

Off-screen, Masey is a sought-after speaker known for inspiring women to step boldly into their purpose. Whether on set, in a writers' room, or on stage, she's committed to telling stories that matter and make an impact that lasts far beyond the screen.

Takeaways:

1. Living a YES life. We joked about Masey's habit of just trying everything. From running, to theater, to film, to singing in front of Jonas brothers. She's a living, breathing example of what it means for us to seize every opportunity that comes our way.
2. Boldly living her purpose. There's no doubt that Masey's purpose is rooted in her faith. This is great in and of itself. But the way Masey truly LIVES her purpose so proudly and boldly is a great model for all of us. We talk a lot about it, and we've had some great guests discuss the importance of self-awareness and doing the work to discovery who we are, how we're wired and what makes us truly LIVE. It's all worth it to get to a place like Masey is where she is living so freely and truly with her soul on fire, knowing she's living on purpose for her purpose. So, we need to do the work to look within ourselves and find what truly drives us – something that builds our foundation and fulfillment – and then go live it, boldly like Masey.
3. Ability to pivot. Masey's performance in playing Rachel Joy Scott in the movie, I Am Not Ashamed is one you need to see. As we discussed, Masey does an incredible job of portraying a person who draws people in as Rachel did before she passed and even did afterward as well. I think this comes naturally for Masey as we discussed. But, then Masey had to be ready to pivot from her career expectations afterward – since she was told her career would take off – and it just didn't. All Masey did was show the strength, the courage, and the faith to take on the new path that developed – that of speaking all across the country. And, again, not only did she benefit from discovering a new talent, but many others benefited as well from her talks. We have to be ready for the pivots of life and then pour ourselves into them…good things will come for us..and for those around us.
4. Soul on Fire Movie. I love Masey's wish for people to have in terms of walking out from this movie – the notion that no matter what - you have a choice with regard to the trajectory/path of your life. But two things. First, YOU have to CHOOSE to LIVE. And second, at times, you will have to FIGHT to LIVE. John clearly did it his whole life after his Mom challenged him to fight. Masey has also done it in her life – choosing to live her purpose and then fight for her pursuit of putting out the best and most positive and impactful content possible.
5. Being Spiritually Selfish. I love this advice from Masey that we discussed. It's so in line with all we've talked about regarding doing the work on yourself so that you can not only pursue your complete, but so you can also maximize the positive impact that comes from maximizing your foundation and talents.

Links:

Website: https://soulonfiremovie.com/

Instagram: @SoulOnFireMovie

Facebook: @SoulOnFireMovie

TikTok: @SoulOnFireMovie

Twitter: @SoulOnFireMovie

YouTube: @SoulOnFireMovie

Masey's Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maseymclain/?hl=en

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

Website: https://www.maseymclainofficial.com/

In 1987, John O'Leary was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, John created a massive explosion in his home and was burned on 100% of his body. He was given less than a 1% chance to live.

This epic story of survival was first showcased in Overwhelming Odds, the book his parents wrote in 2006. It was this book that first invited John to embrace his miraculous recovery and share it with the world.

Today, John inspires tens of thousands of people at more than 100 live and virtual events each year. He partners with companies and organizations across fields, such as sales, healthcare, safety, marketing, finance, faith, education and insurance.

Consistently described as "the best speaker we've ever had," John's tireless schedule is a testament to the power of his message. His emotional storytelling, unexpected humor and authenticity make each presentation unforgettable.

John is a two-time bestselling author of On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life and In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning and Joy.

John's award-winning Live Inspired Podcast has more than seven million downloads and enjoys world-class guests such as Brené Brown, Mitch Albom, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Bob Costas.

Amazingly, John's story is taking on a new form: a full-length feature film starring Joel Courtney, John Corbett, and William H. Macy. SOUL ON FIRE will be released in theaters nationwide on October 10, 2025.

Regardless of his professional accomplishments, John considers his greatest success to be his marriage to his wife Beth, their four children and his relationships with friends and family.

Takeaways:

1. Life before the accident. John mentions that life for his family was REALLY good but "we didn't know it." Isn't this how we all are? It's so easy for us to move through life without stopping to take a look around and appreciate all that we have. John's story is just another reminder here. Especially in today's fast-paced world – we need to MAKE time to stop and appreciate our family, friends, and all of those people and things for which we should be grateful.
2. The instant responses to the fire of John's siblings. Like the Navy Seals say, you don't rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training. Here's it's not so much about training as it is about the seeds of foundation that were planted by John's family. As John said in our conversation, the instantaneous, instinctive, and heroic responses of his siblings at the sight of their brother on fire were all the result of two parents who, as John put it figuratively "sat at the head of the table and insisted that the siblings loved each other."
3. True, Genuine, Unconditional and sometimes tough love from John's parents. From his Dad running after him to tell him he loves him, to, in the movie saying repeatedly "I love you and there's nothing you can do about it" to his Mom and her tough love, forcing John to find a way to eat on his own from the very beginning, despite the challenges. This is a great example of the REAL love we should all strive for…and, I would say John turned out pretty good, so it worked.
4. Fighting to LIVE. John's Mom didn't give him just any answer when he asked if he was going to die. She gave him a real one that came with a challenge. And John more than answered that challenge. This became one of the main themes of John's journey – choosing and fighting to not just survive, but to THRIVE.
5. John's job after college – as a real estate developer. As John said, "It's one thing to overcome the fire. It's another to LIVE after it." It's hard to find a better example of the aggressive application of this phrase than this. Scars over his entire body. No fingers. And he chose to go fix up and flip houses. All he did here, was make a career out of it for 10 years. Simply amazing.
6. Mission statement for life – why do you choose to thrive? We talk about companies having mission statements all the time. But, not as much for individuals. John's is a pretty strong one – God demands it. My family deserves it. The world is starving for it. Let's roll. No excuses – is there any doubt John has lived his mission statement? What's yours? Create one that works for you. Then go live it.
7. Jack Buck. The amazing way Jack, a hall of fame baseball announcer for John's favorite team, showed up for John – not only to help him through his situation, but to coach him up along the way, as he did helping John learn to write. We can all help somebody – and we should strive to pour ourselves out for others like Jack did more often.
8. Living In Awe. As we discussed, John's book, In Awe, is a great reminder to live like we did as kids before "adulting" got in the way. Not avoiding or ignoring responsibilities, but rather just living on OFFENSE, instead of defense. Like John's son, Jack, told him "Dad, I'm playing to win and you're playing not to lose." There's a difference. It's not always easy, but let's follow Jack's way.

Links:

Soul on Fire Movie:

Website: https://soulonfiremovie.com/

Instagram: @SoulOnFireMovie

Facebook: @SoulOnFireMovie

TikTok: @SoulOnFireMovie

Twitter: @SoulOnFireMovie

YouTube: @SoulOnFireMovie

John's Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnoleary.inspires/?hl=en

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

Website: https://johnolearyinspires.com/johns-story/

Dr. Allison Rogers is a part of the Mississippi State University Counseling and Sport Psychology department. She specializes in applied approaches to obtaining peak performance with strategies based in self-awareness, efficacy and autonomy, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and understanding the interconnectedness of thoughts, feelings and behavior. Additionally, Dr. Rogers believes in a holistic approach to well-being and places a significant emphasis on relationships and communication. Dr. Rogers has a master's degree in counseling from West Alabama and a doctorate degree in sport and performance psychology from Western States. She holds a National Certified Counselor credential from the National Board of Certified Counselors and Certified Mental Performance Consulting credential from the Association of Applied Sport Psychology. Before coming to Mississippi State, she ran a private practice in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for youth to professional athletes in the area of sport performance psychology (reaching peak performance through mental skills training). Since the start of her career, Dr. Rogers has worked in several mental health capacities across both the private and public sectors with a plethora of experience serving special education and neglected and delinquent populations of individuals. As a Mississippi native, Dr. Rogers strives to increase accessibility of mental health services in her home state while also hoping to continue educating teams and athletes on the benefits of proactive mental performance training.

Takeaways:

1. Self-awareness. I really liked how Allison explained self-awareness as the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Now, more than ever, with all the distractions out there and how fast paced life is – we really need to be extra intentional about this process. We need to study ourselves – doing the work, using any and all resources available to us – to take charge of our thoughts, so that our feelings and behaviors are as we want them to be – leading to positive results for ourselves and our teams.
2. Confidence issues. I hope you were able to note that one of the things Allison deals with the most is that of confidence. Yes, EVEN for D 1 Athletes. As you heard, one of the methods Allison uses to battle confidence issues is the establishing of a journaling habit. This allows her athletes to start with and keep track of small accomplishments and build from there. Once this is done the size of the accomplishments and level of confidences rises. Allison also emphasized the power of positive self-talk, which we've hit on before. And I love how Allison mentioned that we need to be careful not to let our weaknesses define our self-worth. Again, I think the key here is checking in consistently on ourselves – looking in the mirror – and seeing how we're doing - what is and isn't working in terms of how we feel about ourselves and then taking the time and doing the work to make any changes that may be needed.
3. Self-efficacy and autonomy. Allison touched on a great point here. Self-efficacy being the individual's belief in their own ability to succeed. And autonomy – being the capacity to act independently and free from control. As our conversation showed, creating efficacy and autonomy is a team game. Leaders need to create environments that allow for both, and the team's individuals need to work on themselves to best set them up for success both as individuals and as a team. When this comes together success usually follows.
4. Emotional regulation. Bad emotions lead to bad behavior – if we don't know how to regulate them. Again, whether it's breathing techniques as Allison mentioned or otherwise – there are things you can find to do to get better at regulating your emotions. So, we need to be intentional about this as the bad behavior that comes from bad emotions can hurt relationships and teams…in sports and in life..if we let them.
5. Mindfulness. This one is about making sure we stay in the present moment. Another tough challenge for all of us given the speed at which we live. And, again, it's going to take every bit of the best intentional efforts we can give to make it happen. But if we want to be at our best – we have to be where are feet are. Put the phone down and have the conversation. Forget the past slump as Allison mentioned and just play TODAY's game. I like how Allison mentioned getting back to center…using the grounding technique of engaging our senses and soaking all of that in as opposed to engaging bad emotions and distracting negative thoughts about the past, etc.
6. Internal foundation. Allison does a great job of explaining how the building of our internal foundation depends on who we are. So, in line with what we talked about in terms of self-awareness – here's another reason why it's so important. We need to know how we're wired first, so we can figure out the best way to build our internal foundation – one that will be there for us when the ups and downs of life call for it.
7. Relationships. Allison put it pretty simply here, which was great - nothing can happen without genuine relationships. We do the work on self-awareness, we build ourselves into the best versions of ourselves as we've discussed..which leads to emotional control, which leads to better interactions with the team, which makes it easier to work with each other, which forms trusting relationships. Once we get there, the sky is the limit for us and our teams.

Links: