Winning is great, but it’s the relentless act of competing that makes it possible. In this episode, John Eades shares what his two alpha dogs, Penny and Charlie, taught him about refusing to quit — and why life rewards those who keep showing up.

Quote of the Day:
"Relentlessness beats talent when talent gets tired."

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"Team Building isn't an activity, it's a habit."

In the lastest, episode, David Burkus joins John to talk all things teamwork and team building to help you more effectively lead your team.

You can get David's book, Best Team Ever here.

The book outlines five key strategies that top-performing teams share:

1. Clarity – Everyone knows the team’s mission, how success is measured, and what’s expected of them.

2. Connection – Team members feel personally connected to each other, not just the work.

3. Contribution – People know how their role makes a difference.

4. Psychological Safety – It’s safe to speak up, disagree, and take risks.

5. Purpose – There’s a shared sense of meaning that goes beyond the task list.

If you are interested in joining the How to Lead a Winning Team Workshop, do so here.

Most people confuse success with excellence. But they’re not the same.

In this episode, John Eades shares the story of how British Cycling transformed from mediocre to dominant, unpacks why Joe Burrow’s post-game comments reveal the mindset of a high performer, and breaks down The Excellence Loop—a four-step framework to help you lead, work, and live with a higher standard.

Quote of the Day:
“Success is what you get. Excellence is what you become.”

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https://eyl.thinkific.com/order?ct=647d7fbe-5f39-4714-b9c4-70db6b55a877

A group of porcupines huddling together in winter provides an unlikely but powerful metaphor for leadership. In this episode, John Eades dives into the critical importance of direct dialogue and the necessity of difficult conversations for team performance, accountability, and growth.

You’ll learn:

• Why avoiding conflict is more harmful than facing it

• The 3-part formula for effective direct dialogue: Standards, Evidence, and Courage

• How to act on the truth behind Alex Hormozi’s quote: “Confronting someone in the short term always beats resenting them in the long term for things left unsaid.”

Whether you're leading a team, managing a project, or striving for healthier relationships, this episode will equip you to speak up, lean into conflict, and lead with clarity.

Check out LearnLoft Here

"Great leadership inspires followership. It get people to follow the strategy. Followership doesn’t happen by just telling people what to do."

Adam Weber joins the show in this week's episode. He is the former Chief People Officer at 15Five, co-founder of Emplify, and author of Lead Like a Human.

You can learn more about Adam here

Interested in booking a free workshop for your organization, go here.

Talent gets the headlines, but character wins championships.

In this episode, John Eades shares a story from NBA All-Star Draymond Green about his rookie teammate Trace Jackson-Davis — and the quiet, selfless act that every team leader should notice.

Then, John introduces the Talent Cross Model, a practical tool for evaluating the people on your team through two powerful lenses: ability and selflessness.

If you want to build a team that performs at a high level and elevates one another, this episode is a must.

🔑 In this episode:

• Why selfless teammates are more valuable than you think

• The 4 types of talent on any team

• How to use the Talent Cross Model to guide hiring, development, and accountability

You can watch the video on youtube here.

Proficiency in leadership doesn't always follow tenure. While tenure provides experience, without a growth mindset and a desire to learn, skill doesn't automatically improve.

Take golfers as an example; plenty of golfers have played for decades, and rarely do they improve. The same is true in leadership. Tenure doesn't always equal leadership. However, in leadership, there are a few basic principles that, if you know them, can help you shorten your timeline to proficiency and deliver better results. Before we get there, let's level set on what a principle is and where these came from.

A principle, by definition, is a concisely worded statement of truth that transcends circumstances. They are cornerstones to rely on and lean on to help with comprehension and application. Most of these principles are drawn from our research studying world-class leadership and my book Building the Best. Hopefully, they help you focus your efforts and solve some of your people problems.

So let’s dig in.

Everyone is too busy focusing on themselves.

"To get in the spotlight, you have to have a bias for action when no one is watching."

In the latest episode, John Eades covers the Spotlight Effect, whereby we overestimate the degree to which other people are noticing or observing our appearance, actions, behaviors, or results.

You can subscribe to the Optimistic Outlook for Free Here

You can check out Amy Eades '"They Told Me to Share Newsletter Here"