Author: Don Yaeger

Warrick Dunn

Written on August 6, 2010.

Former NFL player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Working with Don he asked me a question – “What would you say if you ever met the man who killed my mother?” – that changed my life. We went together to meet that man on death row and after forgiving him I am free of things that were dragging me before. Working on the book was a great experience in many ways.

John Wooden

Written on August 6, 2010.

Legendary head basketball coach for UCLA I had written several books before, but Don presented me with a unique idea and it was one I enjoyed working on together. Plus, he was someone whose company I enjoyed. To work that long on a book, you have to enjoy being together.

What Greatness is NOT: Maryland at Mid-field

Written on November 7, 2014.

Over the last five years, I have written over one-hundred and fifty blogs and newsletters about Greatness—the imperceptible things that make the best athletes and leaders dramatically different from their peers. This past weekend, I saw what it wasn’t. One of the most “sacred” events in collegiate and professional football is the exchange of handshakes of team captains after the coin toss. It is tradition to show a...

“What-if Moments” and “Bite-Sized Goals” – Kevin Eastman’s Keys to Success

Written on October 30, 2014.

The NBA regular season begins this week, and we are in for an incredible season of exciting play from spectacular teams. But behind every on-court team…is a talented team of staff, and there are few individuals in the league as progressive as Kevin Eastman, former assistant coach and current Vice-President for Basketball Operations of the Los Angeles Clippers. Over dinner recently, Eastman taught me several valuable...

Leadership is a Contact Sport

Written on October 9, 2014.

In the fast-paced worlds of sports and business, the daily demands of leaders are always increasing, which leaves little time for anything outside of our schedules. But to be successful, we must make leadership a contact sport. By really putting in the effort to get to know your team better, you lay the foundation for Greater success within your organization.

Learn How Great Teams Win the Fourth Quarter

Written on October 1, 2014.

The Major League Baseball playoffs have begun. The Chicago Cubs are sitting at home…AGAIN. The St. Louis Cardinals are aiming at another world championship…AGAIN. The question is, why can some teams consistently play at a championship level and others struggle to find success in those same critical conditions? I have spent the last two years interviewing, studying, and researching the habits of Great teams and what...

Derek Jeter: A Legacy of Greatness

Written on September 25, 2014.

As New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter completes his last home game this week, the void that he’ll leave behind will be impossible to fill. Jeter has embodied Greatness in his poise, leadership and hard work throughout twenty seasons in Major League Baseball, and after his final game, professional sports will have lost an icon. Jeter’s sendoff is bittersweet. With the sporting world currently saturated with one...

“Mission Moments” – The Secret Ingredient to a Successful Company

Written on September 17, 2014.

Have you ever experienced a moment so powerful, that it motivated you to work harder, live better, or to be Greater? Phil Lussier, board chairman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, describes these as “mission moments.” Lussier began his experience with the company as a Make-A-Wish parent. After his seriously ill child had been granted a wish, Lussier was emotionally empowered to become involved in the foundation. Since...

How to Breathe Life into Your Team—My Story Used from the Wall Street Journal

Written on September 12, 2014.

Editor’s Note: I thought I’d share with you a story that ran in today’s Wall Street Journal that I had a chance to experience. How do you get some of the world’s wealthiest athletes to perform—in peak form—during their summer vacation? This is USA Basketball’s eternal quandary. It is a challenge that only got tougher last month, when Paul George gruesomely broke his right leg during a Team USA scrimmage.