Ep. 241: UC Irvine Volleyball shaped this longtime Pure Barre exec’s belief in staying ready. She shares how being called off the bench during a game-winning point shaped her mindset as a Chief Marketing Officer.

Don’t miss:

-Her two-question nightly ritual that sharpens focus and fuels growth

-How to replace "cannot" with a growth mindset

-How to lead with warmth without lowering expectations

Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.

Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we’re making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/

Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.

Special thanks to Alissa Pupich and Karson Hills for making this episode possible.

Ep. 240: University of Toledo Baseball shaped his belief in showing up with pride—even when the scoreboard says otherwise. He shares how a blunt rejection from a scout and a cold-call to a bank exec changed his career path.

“You are going to be great at something,” a baseball scout informed him. “Just not baseball.” OUCH!

Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.

Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we’re making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/

Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.

Special thanks to Alissa Pupich and Joey Morris for making this episode possible.

Ep. 239: At 59, Mike became the oldest contributing member of a college football team in NCAA history—returning to his alma mater nearly four decades after being kicked off the team. He returned to finish what he started.

But this isn’t just a comeback story—it’s about redemption, resilience, and the courage to face regret head-on.

🎁ENTER TO WIN SIGNED COPY: Subscribe to our Corporate Competitor Podcast YouTube channel to be entered to win a signed copy of The Senior and leave a comment on the YouTube episode with Mike Flynt to confirm you entered! We will pick three lucky winners on the day the movie hits theaters on September 19th and send you a message.

📋 Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.

Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we’re making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/

Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.

Special thanks to Abbie Brandt and Andrew Levin for making this episode possible.

Ep. 238 Field hockey taught Linda to pause and ask "Why do you love the game?" That question has helped her transform both sports teams and billion-dollar organizations.

Linda’s team manages $111 billion in assets and are part of the 1.4 trillion dollar investment arm of Prudential Financial.

She began her career as a lawyer, but her love for math and problem-solving helped her rise to the top in the finance world.

Don’t miss:

• Why EQ is leadership’s real X-Factor in the age of AI
• How eye rolls and emails reveal your culture
• The "color-dot" system Linda uses for decoding personalities

Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.

Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we’re making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/

Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.

Special thanks to Joey Morris and Lilly Mae Stewart for making this episode possible.

Ep. 237: From the sidelines of Miami Football’s National Championship game to leading one of the world’s most iconic brands, the first female CEO of Bose shares stories of how weekly discomfort built her confidence!

Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.

Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we’re making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/

Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.

Special thanks to Karson Hills and Alissa Pupich for making this episode possible.

Ep. 236: Tennis & racing cars shaped Lance’s belief that decisiveness is a leader’s most powerful tool. As a nationally ranked tennis player, he learned to make high-stakes decisions alone.

That same mindset now fuels his success as a CEO and professional race car driver—where speed, risk, and preparation define every outcome.

Don't miss:
• His “eyes up” strategy for forecasting in business
• A behind-the-wheel story that saved a race (and inspired a deal)
• Our BONUS RESOURCE with quotes and reflection questions to apply today’s insights

📚Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we’re making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/

🎤Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.

Special thanks to Anthony Dickinson and Andrew Levin ​for making this episode possible.

Ep. 235: Softball shaped Kelli's belief that great leadership is about setting others up to win. In this heartfelt episode, she shares how her time as a scrappy leadoff hitter inspired a team-first mindset—and how embracing her adoption story became the key to building trust and loyalty as a leader.

Don't miss:

• Her simple 1–10 check-in that helps leaders truly understand how their team is doing
• How Kelli scouts the competition by building authentic relationships with fellow CEOs
• Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode with my favorite quotes and reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.

Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we’re making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/

Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.

Special thanks to Alissa Pupich and Lilly Mae for making this episode possible.

Ep. 234: Notre Dame Football and having “Rudy” as a coach shaped the way Mike views “grit” and “grind” today! In this episode, you will learn how to turn personal wins into shared victories.

“If you have a great day, make it a point to share that feeling with your entire organization,” he shares. “That way everyone can enjoy it and feel proud.”

Our BONUS RESOURCE for this episode includes Don’s favorite quotes from today’s episode and a reflection question so you can apply today’s insights.

Do you want to write a book? In my new role as Publisher at Forbes Books and with the incredible resources and expertise of their team, we’re making it easier than ever to help YOU to tell your story. Send us a message here to get started: https://books.forbes.com/don/

Looking for a speaker for your next event? From more than 30 years of interviewing and studying the greatest winners of all time Don offers these live and virtual presentations built to inspire your team towards personal and professional greatness.

Special thanks to Anthony Dickinson and Karson Hills for making this episode possible.