What happens when you’re on track for success and your suddenly blindsided by an unexpected obstacle? For John Register, unexpected change came in the form of a literal hurdle as he was training for the US Olympic Trials in track and field. As his body flew over the final hurdle during a training session, his [...]
Imagine barrelling down a track at high speed, tethered to a visually impaired runner. That person is 100% reliant on you to tell them where to turn, when to speed up, and when to slow down. But you can only do that if you are in-sync with your teammate about their needs. When you don’t [...]
Communication and teamwork are critical to success in the workplace. No team knows that better than Lex Gillette, a blind Paralympic long jumper, and his guide, Wesley Williams. For the past 11 years, Williams and Gillette have trained together at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, CA. And their partnership has led Gillette [...]
The United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs is teeming with leaders -- coaches, sports psychologists and highly driven athletes. But there’s one person at the complex who's particular style of leadership greatly enhances the culture. She is guiding and leading with her listening, nurturing, and empathetic demeanor. Meet Sherry Von Riesen. Known as [...]
At the age of 8, Lex Gillette learned that one day soon, he’d be permanently blind and his life would be altered forever. Months earlier, after getting out of his bath one night, Gillette noticed his vision was blurry. His mom rinsed his eyes with water and sent him to bed hoping he could see [...]
Alev Kelter thought her Olympic career was over before it began when she received the phone call that inspired her comeback. It was from Ric Suggitt, the head coach of the U.S. Women’s Rugby team. Even though Kelter had never touched a rugby ball before, he asked her to try out for the team based [...]
Although several "Big Games" have come and gone since press time, this article brings timeless leadership lessons from the field to the corporate world. The world of football and business are vastly different. At first look, business plans and football playbooks aren’t comparable. It’s also likely that your employees aren’t well over six-feet tall and [...]
The highly acclaimed film, Moneyball, wasn’t your typical sports movie. Sure, it was about an underdog that found a way to succeed against tall odds, but if you watch closely, you’ll come away with more than just fuzzy feelings for the Oakland Athletics. Brad Pitt’s portrayal of Athletics GM Billy Beane was a brilliant display of leadership [...]
P.S. – I’m just as bad at it as you are. Let me illustrate… I sit down to write this post. Scroll through my email to find the reminder email I sent myself with research on the topic. Catch an email from my co-worker. Start working on a response to her, open up files [...]
Olympics season has come and gone, a time we celebrate with champions, cringe with the close calls, and weep with the hopefuls. But lately, the world is (again) aghast at two divers from the Philippines who seem to not understand that Olympic diving requires landing in the water with otherworldly precision. Behold the following [...]
