Tag: Not Just About The Benjamins

“Why not you?”—The Immeasurable Heart of Russell Wilson

Written on January 27, 2015.

“Why not you?” These simple words were spoken to Russell Wilson by his father, Harrison, and they would change his life. Years before his Super Bowl championship with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson was a high-school senior and multi-sport athlete, torn between a baseball career and football dreams. The Baltimore Orioles had drafted him straight out of high school with a guarantee of a million dollar contract. Deep down,...

Wounded Warrior Project: Repaying the Sacrifice

Written on November 11, 2014.

Editor’s Note: In a salute to Veterans Day, I wanted to share with you a story that ran in SUCCESS Magazine this month about an organization that’s taking a bold, businesslike approach to its important mission. By Don Yaeger Steven Nardizzi thought he was prepared. But really, how could he have been? A lifelong passion for serving veterans had led Nardizzi and a number of colleagues to start a small support organization...

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.

The Grass Is Not Always Greener

Written on September 4, 2014.

With college football now officially underway, the current season will be full of rivalries, upsets, and incredible plays by successful teams. But behind every Great team is a talented coach, and there are few coaches who have had the success of Chris Petersen of the University of Washington Huskies—who taught me a valuable lesson about career advancement.

Celebrating the Everyday Heroes

Written on July 1, 2014.

Editor’s Note: In honor of July 4th, I wanted to share this story written by Brian Kilmeade of Fox News, my co-author on George Washington’s Secret Six, about some ideas we discussed together on celebrating the everyday heroes who contribute to our country’s greatness in both big and small ways. When I set out to research the story of the Culper Spy Ring, I had no idea where it would take me. What resulted was a dynamic...

Your Daily Dose of Greatness

Written on March 13, 2014.

“Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Your Daily Dose of Greatness

Written on March 12, 2014.

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman