Corporate Competitor Podcast Episode 239
Mike Flynt was 59 years old, lining up beside players a third his age, strapping on shoulder pads for one last shot at college football.
It sounds like a Hollywood story—because it is. Mike’s extraordinary journey inspired us to write The Senior, and now that story is coming to life on the big screen in more than 2,000 theaters on September 19.
But long before the lights and cameras, this comeback began with a question most leaders eventually face: What if I could go back and finish what I started? After decades of burying regret, Mike stopped running from it. He made the team he’d once been kicked off—and in doing so, rewrote his story.
This episode is about more than a comeback. It’s about redemption, resilience, and the courage it takes to face regret head-on.
In this episode, you will learn:
How to change the meaning of your regret—even when you can’t change the past
Why second chances require action, not perfection
What it looks like to lead with hard-earned wisdom across generations
As a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, longtime Associate Editor for Sports Illustrated, and 14-time New York Times Best-Selling author, Don Yaeger is one of America’s most provocative thought leaders. From walking into Afghanistan with the Mujahadeen to living with football legend Walter Payton, Don has spent three decades embedded with the world’s greatest "Greats." Now a sought-after executive coach and host of the Corporate Competitor Podcast, he translates the lessons of sports and business legends into actionable strategies for building a culture of greatness.
"Don is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for a long time and every time we talk I walk away wiser and more inspired. He is the best in the business at teaching you a skill – storytelling – that will last you a lifetime.”
“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”
We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”
“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”
“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”
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