Leadership Lessons From John Wooden Laced Up With New Life

I’ve gotten some meaningful gifts in my life, but few have captivated me quite like this one. Last year I heard a story about a company in its infancy, Fabled, that found a way to lace storytelling into the very fabric of a pair of shoes. A couple of weeks ago my wife surprised me with a pair of those special shoes for as an early Christmas gift. The shoes honored a man I considered my mentor, legendary UCLA Coach John Wooden! The gift prompted me to want to know the story of Fabled more deeply. So, I did what any journalist would do. I dove in!

I called the company’s founder, Thor Roner, and was fascinated by his own story. As an entrepreneur, he said he desired to generate commerce by developing unique products that allowed him to tell unique stories.