The Art Of Coaching

Think about the last time you dealt with someone you were trying really hard to be professional with. Despite multiple miscommunications on their part — and what was clearly laziness, apathy, and them mailing it in — you kept trying to be the adult. You kept overcompensating for their lack of effort. You kept telling yourself, “Hold yourself to a higher standard.”   But it’s still getting you nowhere.   You want to lose it. You want to let them have it. But you hesitate — because everything in leadership and communication says “keep your cool.”   So the question becomes: At what point does that restraint stop helping and start hurting? At what point are you completely justified in going old-school — 1950s dad style — and giving someone a full-on ass-chewing?   What You’ll Learn:   •How to recognize when it’s time to stop playing nice and start holding the line •A real-world filter to help you decide when to confront someone directly •Why giving someone the business doesn’t mean losing your professionalism •Ho

“Is there anything I can do to help?” It’s interesting and unique how we’ve all been asked this question by a spouse, friend, co-worker, or boss—but it never feels like that question leads to you getting actual help. It often feels like answering that question will cause you even more issues.  But, people are asking it with good intentions, so how can we actually seize this moment and get some relief from the overload? We’re always told as leaders that we need to delegate, delegate, delegate—so how can we respond to this request without adding to our overwhelm? In today’s episode, Brett is going to give us all the answers—and much more—to this age-old question we all somewhat cringe when we hear. Lean in as he covers: The psychology and first principles behind why we often decline help—even when we need it Cognitive overwhelm—how to reduce it, cut through the fog, and get the help you need Practical strategies to truly show up for someone and show you care Default requests you can use to get quick results ba

This isn’t personal, but it’s been a long time coming. This episode is aimed directly at the legacy industries of Art of Coaching, Strength and Conditioning, and let’s throw overall fitness in there too. If you work in high performance, physical therapy included, you’re included.  We know everyone deals with some version of this, but we’re speaking to the world we know best. The message? Most of you say you want to be the best. Most of you say you’re “in it for the right reasons.” But you’re not. You’re full of shit. You’ve built a self-serving feedback loop—one that props up your ego and avoids any real discomfort. You’ll do anything but face your actual weaknesses. You whistle past the graveyard, pretending it’s all about the best exercises, protocols, or the next certification.  You could have the greatest program in the history of the world, but if you can’t work with the humans executing, it means nothing.  Today’s episode will hit each listener differently. Some will take it as a wake-up call. Others wi

Ever feel like you're coaching on repeat?  You've handed a client every tool they need, yet they keep circling back with the same issue.  Or maybe you're working with an athlete who hears everything you say, but nothing seems to land. It’s as if they’re outsourcing ownership of the entire process. It can start to feel like a rehearsed dance. You say your part, they nod along, and both of you move forward on autopilot. But this doesn’t have to be just frustrating—it can be an inflection point for us.  In today’s episode, Brett breaks down how to navigate this all-too-common dynamic and use it as a way to better understand what we bring to the table. Because when we hone in on and embrace our unique intangibles—those strong qualities that might even turn some people off—we create opportunities to lead more effectively, grow our business, and stand out in a noisy, boring world where everyone just wants to fit in. In this episode, we cover: No matter what they say, clients come back for more than just results Qu

Coaching youth sports can be one of the most rewarding things you can do, whether you're a parent, a former athlete, or someone who just wants to make a difference. It’s an incredible opportunity to connect with people in a way that can genuinely shape who they become. Youth sports span the full range—from high-priced, high-stakes travel leagues to your local rec department. From paid coaches with professional experience, to the dad who just answered the 7,000th email asking for help. You won’t find a show that cares more about coaches than this one, so this isn’t one of those episodes that’s here to bash the people who’ve stepped up when no one else would. What this episode will be is a look from multiple angles, through the lens of someone who’s coached at a high level and is now a parent on the sidelines.  What does real coaching actually look like? What should a good practice feel like? And how do we make sure we’re giving kids our best—not just for them, but for the people who care the most and invest th

This episode is for a very specific type of person.  Those of you who are hard on yourself, and if you're being honest, it's to an unhealthy degree. The perfectionist who struggles to recognize their own accomplishments, who tears themselves apart over minor slip-ups, and maybe even finds it hard to fully celebrate the wins of others. Not because of jealousy, but because the voice in your head has been trained to fixate on what’s missing instead of what’s been earned. Maybe you’re not wired this way all the time, but after a big achievement, you felt... nothing. Maybe even a little depressed that it didn’t feel like more. We know many of you in our audience fall into one of these camps—and this episode is for you. Here’s a little premeditated tough love: at some point, it has to be good enough.  So how do we move past this all-or-nothing mentality we’ll never win? How can we celebrate our accomplishments without dulling our edge? In this episode, Brett breaks down: The 70% Rule—it’s immeasurable value and ho

Why can't someone else step up and do this? How come I'm always the one who has to do everything? What more do I have to do before someone finally takes some initiative? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions—or just quietly felt them—you’re not alone. That heavy sense of responsibility, the emotional and cultural weight of having to carry your team day after day, will wear you down. And if you don’t have a plan to offload that burden and bring others into ownership, it’s only a matter of time before burnout sets in. But what do you do when some team members aren’t exactly charismatic—or worse, seem like they’re only halfway committed? This episode hits close to home, pulled straight from a challenge one of our mentoring clients has been facing for years. It’s also something Brett knows firsthand. In this episode, we’ll cover: The main shortcoming of servant-based leadership, and how to overcome it How to diagnose energy leaks in your ecosystem before they push you into burnout The 3 types of energy b

Everything is okay at work, but… yeah, work is fine—I just don’t know what I’m going to do. We’ve all felt like that at some point in our careers. Maybe you’re in that place right now. Call it a rut, stagnation, or just a funk. You’re motivated. You’re grateful. But you also want more. More fulfillment, more autonomy, maybe even a title change and a bigger office. You want to feel like your strengths are being seen and put to use. When that doesn't happen, dissatisfaction can start to seep into everything else—negatively impacting your mental health and personal life. So what do you do with that?  In this short episode, Brett breaks down how to get (and stay) unstuck, move forward with intention, and take ownership without letting that ugly feeling of bitterness creep in. What You’ll Learn: Why the premortem matters and how it keeps you from crashing Getting out of the entitlement trap around promotions How to discuss feelings of stagnation with leadership while still holding yourself accountable Establishin

We’ve all felt it. That awkward disconnect when the vibe is off and you're wondering how you ended up across the table from someone who just isn’t where you are. Maybe you’re in different stages of life, chasing different things, or just not clear on what the other actually wants. Whatever the reason, the moment hits: this isn’t it. It’s not easy to find someone emotionally mature enough to show up. Someone who isn’t hiding behind the damage of past relationships or stuck reliving the pain of a breakup they never really moved on from. And even harder? Finding someone willing to do the work, to build something real, instead of ghosting or bailing the minute things get remotely tough or inconvenient. But this isn't just an episode for people looking for love. It's about communication, emotional availability, and knowing what you bring to the table—because relationships, romantic or not, reveal a lot about who we are and how we lead. In this episode, Brett gets personal and delivers the truth about: Confronting

We’ve all been hit by it. It seemingly comes out of nowhere—a misunderstanding or argument we never saw coming. One moment you’re having a discussion, the next you're blindsided by resistance, vitriol, or passive-aggressive blowback. Where did it come from? Why did something small suddenly feel so personal? Here’s the truth: it’s rarely about the thing—it’s about what the thing represents. Control. Trust. Identity. Relevance. Fear. A loss of autonomy. There’s always something else simmering under the surface. And if you want to be effective in high-stakes conversations or high-pressure environments, you have to be able to read those underlying signals, not just bulldoze with logic. In this episode Brett unpacks exactly how to do that and covers: How to diagnose the real reason behind someone’s resistance Why linking your message to their character is more effective than chasing compliance How to foster autonomy by making it feel like their idea Why perception, not logic, is the real engine of influence and l

Why is talking about money so hard?  An even better question might be: why do so many job postings treat compensation like a state secret—vague, unclear, or completely absent?  The truth is, people want to know they’ll be respected and valued. If you leave them guessing, they’ll start looking elsewhere. In Part 1 of this hiring series, we covered how to attract the right candidates. In Part 2, we dug into asking the right questions during interviews. In Part 3, we’re focusing entirely on compensation, because how you talk about pay tells a story about how you value people. In this episode, Brett breaks down: The 3 most common ways companies list compensation—and how to determine which is right for you How to shift people away from obsessing over base salary and toward the bigger picture of total value Creative ways to incentivize your team without blowing up your budget How to foster loyalty and stop roles from becoming revolving doors If you need further assistance with this topic or anything else involvin

Most interviews miss the mark. Predictable questions. Rehearsed answers. And when it’s over, you still haven’t figured out who the person really is. In Part 1 of this series, we covered what matters most when it comes to attracting the right candidates. Today is about what happens next. How do you actually assess whether someone can solve the real problems you are hiring them to tackle or if they’re the right fit? The truth is, most people can talk a good game and tell you what you’d like to hear. But when the lights come on and things get messy, can they think on their feet? Can they take initiative? Can they adapt when the environment or expectations change? In this episode, Brett walks you through how to run interviews that actually reveal who someone is, not just who they pretend to be, and breaks down: A smarter way to structure interviews using the DEEP framework How a simple role clarity doc keeps you from hiring the wrong person Questions that expose if someone can solve real problems or just talk we

Hiring the right people doesn’t start with the interview — it starts with the job posting. In this first episode of our hiring series, we tackle a question we hear all the time from mentoring clients: How do I find better candidates?  Whether you’re a business owner, a team leader involved in hiring, or even someone applying for jobs, this one’s for you. We break down a simple but effective framework to help you diagnose and improve your hiring process from the ground up. This isn’t theory or a fluffy LinkedIn post, just real talk and practical tools you can apply right away. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: A breakdown of the HITS framework and how it can instantly level up your job postings Why generic, vague titles are quietly killing your candidate pool What a structured, efficient hiring process looks like, and why speed and clarity matter Why expressing your team’s true culture upfront helps attract the right fit (and repel the wrong ones) Bonus: Talking salary in your job posting — the only 3 ways t

You feel it, right? That tension thick enough to slice, the elephant in the room no one dares mention. But sooner or later, it has to be dealt with. Most people think resolving conflict demands complex processes. In reality, the solution usually boils down to simply hashing it out. Yet, when friction arises, we often overcomplicate things or avoid them altogether, escalating drama. It's time to step up and initiate tough conversations. Brace yourself. Some people will resist. Some simply lack the emotional tools to process these interactions. Others you’ll never fully reconcile with, but we can NEVER afford to be escapists, personally or professionally. Even when doing the right thing doesn’t guarantee success, clear communication and accountability are essential. Today's episode hits like the perfect song for the moment. Right on time, and rhythm on point. This is the sit-down talk, crucial and overdue, that we, and our society as a whole, needs to hear. Tune in as Brett dives into these key insights, breaki

You hear about it all the time. A team goes from the bottom of the league to championship contenders. A failing company suddenly becomes the industry gold standard.  The media calls it a “culture shift,” but let’s be real, culture doesn’t change overnight. It erodes over time when bad habits go unchecked, just like it improves through intentional action. The problem? Most people don’t have the stomach for what it really takes to make that shift happen. Changing culture isn’t about slogans, feel-good retreats, or corporate trust falls. It’s about confronting hard truths, cutting through excuses, and being willing to fight the battles no one else will. If you think you can just throw a motivational speech at the problem and watch everything transform, you’re in for a rude awakening.  In today’s episode, we break down exactly what it takes to rewrite the DNA of an organization—without the fluff, the gimmicks, or the hand-holding. In today’s episode, Brett dives into: What culture actually is and how to clarify

Most people focus on the big moments when preparing for a speech, but true professionals know it’s the small, overlooked details that make all the difference.  In this episode, Brett answers one of the most common questions he gets:  “What’s your process for preparing to give a keynote or in-service?” Pulling from hard-earned experience over the past decade, he walks through the non-negotiables and need-to-knows before stepping onto any stage - whether it's a small local event, a professional sports team in-service, or a Fortune 500 leadership summit. Whether you’re a veteran of the stage or preparing for your first time on the mic, this episode serves as a checklist for the extra steps that place you in the upper echelon. In this episode, Brett lays out exactly what you need to craft an impactful presentation and leave a lasting impression. You’ll learn: How to research the stakeholders and uncover the one key question you must answer The critical logistical details—room setup, tech capabilities, and flow—t

In a world where AI is becoming part of everything we do, the big question isn’t if you should use it—it’s how you should use it. Are you using AI to sharpen your thinking and free up mental bandwidth? Or is it slowly making you more dependent, less strategic, and mentally lazy without you realizing it? In this episode, I break down: ✅ How high performers and busy people use AI to enhance their thinking—not replace it ✅ Ways AI can help you improve clarity, strategy, and execution—if used correctly ✅ The red flags that AI is making you weaker, not sharper ✅ How to offload mental overwhelm without losing cognitive strength ✅ Real-life examples of how I use AI in my business, content creation, and decision-making The goal isn’t to resist AI—it’s to make sure you’re using it as a tool that enhances your skills instead of slowly eroding them. Tune in to learn how to stay sharp, adaptable, and in control while leveraging AI the right way. SPEAKER SCHOOL- The best speakers don’t just talk—they adapt. Speaker School

We all wear different hats throughout the day. One minute, you’re locked in at work, making quick decisions under pressure. Next, you’re at home, where that same intensity doesn’t fly. Maybe you’re presenting to a boardroom in the morning and coaching your kid’s team in the evening. Each situation demands a different approach. If you don’t adjust, you misfire. The ability to shift gears seamlessly, whether in leadership, relationships, or daily interactions isn't just communication, it’s a survival skill. Code switching is what allows you to maintain credibility, control perception, and navigate high-stakes situations effectively. Yet many struggle with it, staying locked into one mode, bringing the wrong energy into conversations, or feeling like adapting means being “fake.” So how do you get better at code-switching without losing authenticity? How do you manage the cognitive load of shifting roles, control your tone and presence, and ensure that every interaction hits the mark? That’s exactly what we’re br

You can’t make this stuff up.  Every time you finally sit down to tackle the project you know needs to get done, something gets in the way. You get sick. A family member needs help. You lose your job or suffer a major professional setback. And let’s be honest, sometimes the biggest obstacle…is you. The crazier or more unpredictable the distraction, the more likely it seems to happen. So how do we stop getting knocked off course? How do we sidestep the constant barrage of setbacks, gather ourselves, and take that crucial first step forward? How do we keep chipping away at what we know we need to do—despite the world, other people, and the version of ourselves that would rather avoid the struggle? In today’s episode, Brett shares his journey and the lessons we can all take from it. Whether you're writing a book, tackling a big professional project, or mending a broken relationship, there’s something here for everyone. Tune in for insight into: Winning the battle against chronic overthinking and perfectionism T

DONE. You’ve finally finished the big project you’ve been agonizing over. But as you prepare to hit send, print, submit - whatever - all you feel is doubt.  Despite the preparation and time you’ve put in, you can’t help but think about all the ways this “finished product” isn’t good enough. This is just one example of how perfectionism can manifest in our day-to-day lives; how it can hold us back, make us feel anxious - even depressed - and how it can keep us from making the type of progress we so desperately seek within our personal and professional lives. Today we’re going to explore the topic of perfectionism in depth. Tune in as we dive into: The various definitions and “symptoms” (8:40) It’s origins, including the 5 Factor Model of Personality (23:15) The difference between perfectionism and healthy striving (29:30) Non-traditional strategies for overcoming it (44:00)