Author: Don Yaeger

How Culture, Mentoring, And Trust Lead To Greatness

Written on June 13, 2016.

Even though he won three World Series with the Baltimore Orioles and was enshrined in the Hall of Fame, some of the defining moments in Jim Palmer’s pursuit of greatness took place at the low levels of the minor leagues, learning from a great instructor in Cal Ripken, Sr. In his new book “Nine Innings to Success: A Hall of Famer’s Approach to Achieving Excellence,” Palmer, a Hall of Fame pitcher who spent his entire...

The Secret Recipe to Starbucks’ Success

Written on June 1, 2016.

Longtime Starbucks International President Howard Behar is no longer with the company, but that doesn’t stop him from cleaning up the condiment stand when he drops in for his cup of coffee. “I’m very proud,” Behar said of the company he helped build. “I’m just as protective as I’ve always been and I’m just as critical as I’ve always been. I still clean up when I go into stores and pick up papers. That’s never going...

One of America’s Leading Businesswomen Offers Tips on Success

Written on May 13, 2016.

Most of us know having a mentor will lead to more opportunities for success. But one of the most successful businesswomen in America says instead of looking for mentors, we need to embrace “mentoring moments,” everyday occurrences for teaching and learning. Kat Cole, who rose from being a Hooters waitress to her current post as the group president of Atlanta-based FOCUS Brands, which operates more than 3,300 Auntie...

Overcoming Mistakes When Everyone Is Watching

Written on May 6, 2016.

The ball was traveling high and to left-field at more than 90 miles per hour. Waiting there was Detroit Tigers center fielder Tyler Collins, ready to make a routine catch, something he’d done for years in Texas for his high school and college teams before being drafted and quickly rising through the minor leagues to play in the Majors. But then Collins lost sight of the ball in the bright lights of Comerica Park. As...

NFL Draft Lessons: Finding the Right Fit is Important

Written on April 28, 2016.

Football fans across the nation are getting ready for the NFL draft that starts tonight, waiting as their favorite teams bring in fresh talent. While most of the attention will be on the teams and their new players, the NFL draft offers lessons for organizations of all stripes. Great teams in the NFL, like the Green Bay Packers, the New England Patriots, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, are in the playoff hunt almost every...

NCAA Championship Day: John Wooden’s Greatest Legacy Wasn’t On The Basketball Court

Written on April 4, 2016.

Basketball fans across the nation will watch the men’s NCAA championship game on Monday but, even while I take in the conclusion of “March Madness,” my mind will be on one of the greatest coaches ever and his many lessons on leadership and mentoring. Coach John Wooden led the UCLA Bruins to 10 national titles during his celebrated career. But Coach Wooden’s greatest legacy went far beyond the basketball court as he...

The Great Ones Use Their Rolodex

Written on March 28, 2016.

What makes a great team? Over the past few years, I’ve traveled the country in pursuit of the answers to this question. In that journey, I’ve asked the best sports coaches and some incredible corporate leaders for their input. Some of the greatest insight came from G.J. Hart, CEO of California Pizza Kitchens, as I asked why his dynamic organization continues to win in the marketplace—and in the hearts of its customers. Among...

Lessons From A March Madness Cinderella Moment

Written on March 23, 2016.

What an amazing first weekend of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. If anyone in America picked Middle Tennessee over Michigan State, Arkansas-Little Rock over Purdue and Yale over Baylor, I want you picking my lottery numbers. But the weekend’s most incredible game was among its last, finishing late Sunday night. Tiny Northern Iowa, fresh off a last-second win over Mighty Texas, was up by 12 with just 33 seconds...

See Your Past Challenges Optimistically: The Key To Growing Forward

Written on March 15, 2016.

Adversity shapes all of us. How it does so is completely connected to how positively we look back on the adverse moments of our past. I was reminded of that at a recent speech I had the chance to deliver for California Pizza Kitchen. One of the best parts of traveling the country as a speaker is being able to hear other great speakers share their stories. It’s a key part of my own personal growth and one of best...