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Tim Tebow: Gatorade for the Soul

Coaching, Leadership

I recently watched the Netflix Docuseries Untold: Swamp Kings, which centers around the rise of the Florida Gators Football Program under Head Coach Urban Meyer. I had several takeaways, but two specific moments stood out:

  • Urban Meyer’s sense of urgency to sign Tim Tebow.
  • Tim Tebow led his team into late-night weight room sessions wearing war paint and bandanna.

Urban’s Urgency

When you coach football, every coach knows that the team’s heartbeat is the quarterback. At the time, Tebow was the number one QB recruit in the country out of high school. Meyer had a specific offense that he knew fit Tebow’s skill set. The amount of pressure Meyer felt to sign Tebow was immense, and he subconsciously knew that this single player could make or break his career with the Florida Gators.

The quarterback is in a leverage position. They hold the most influence to propel or descend the playing/coaching careers of those around them. They showcase the talents of teammates and potentially mask their flaws as well. Leadership positions in the world often have the same influence. That is why CEOs or Principals are frequently referred to as the “Quarterback” of the organization.

When Urban Meyer landed Tebow on signing day, he knew his career was on the right trajectory. He had the personality and leader he sought to run his team and become the heartbeat. These exceptional individuals are hard to come by. Tebow put Meyer on the national map. He was Gatorade for Meyer’s soul.

War Paint & Bandanna

Swamp Kings captured grueling late-night team workouts, where they would do training sessions that few other programs were willing to do, which set them apart. Led by Tebow, he would roll in with black face paint and a camo bandanna. It was a warrior-like persona that was contagious. His genuine passion for those moments trickled through the organization. In the documentary, when reflecting on those moments, Tebow said, “It was awesome!” A testament to his belief that “We can control a few things: our attitude, our effort, our focus, and how we go about treating our teammates.” Tim was the Gatorade for his team’s soul.

Jameis Winston: The Dark Knight

Leadership

Watching Jameis Winston on Monday Night Football is prime-time entertainment. I don’t care much for the game’s outcome, considering my Bengals are officially out of playoff contention. I am, however, mesmerized by Jameis and his antics.

Several weeks ago, I watched Jameis play his former team, the New Orleans Saints. After the game, the entire Saints team lined up to see their former leader and give their respect. You could see and feel the genuine joy they had for the man. After witnessing this moment, I wondered why Jameis had not been given complete confidence from his head coaches. It could have been the 30 interceptions his last year in Tampa Bay.

Jameis once said, “Sometimes you gotta be Bruce Wayne.” This was his attempt to explain his previous desire to make every play like Batman. It is a reminder to all of us that timing is everything. After much adversity, he has re-established his identity in Cleveland, which is leadership through discipline.

It is clear his teammates love his infectious personality. His energy is contagious and even lights the fire of his followers with viral sound bite reels. Currently, Cleveland has their guy and should commit to his leadership even if he throws the occasional pick. Batman wasn’t perfect, either.

Dan Campbell: The Lion King

Coaching, Leadership

Dan Campbell has done what no Detroit Lions coach has done. He’s established a winning identity for his team and fan base. They now know they’re winners and expect to win each outing. Campbell is a master communicator who has the presence of Mufasa: The Lion King

Coach Campbell once said, “This last bit of losing has to get outta here.”

He felt his team was on the cusp of becoming a powerhouse. To fully ingrain this belief, he vocalized the truth that resonated with his players. It was the tipping point moment that needed a hard shove to reality.

Great coaches feel these critical moments and will their teams to win on and off the field. They create belief and polarizing cultures that players, coaches, and support staff want to be part of. They ooze positivity that the fan base responds to.

Coach Dan Campbell is the Lion King!

Mark Pope’s Leadership

Coaching, Leadership

Mark Pope at the University of Kentucky has put on a leadership clinic in November. His poise was on full display in the Duke game, where his team was down most of the game. They kept it within striking distance the length of the game and were able to outpace the Blue Devils in the final minutes. The veteran leadership proved to be too much for the young Duke team. Pope’s halftime speech, which was captured on film, spoke about how everyone envied where his players were, but no one wanted to work for where they were. He strategically reinforced his team’s work ethic and passion to them. He continually refers to his players as shooters. He is constantly pouring into and fortifying their winning identity. He put on a master class in coaching in one night. He also built a roster with no returning players from the previous team. 🫡Salute

Integrated Approach to Leadership

Leadership

The Youniversalife Leadership and Performance platform incorporates an Integrated Approach to Leadership. I integrate physical, emotional, and social wellness into my programs and services. I recently published a blog article titled “Lessons From Cameron Hanes: Taking Action for Success.” I touch on how to align your passion with your professional and personal life. The next phase to consider is your leadership strategy and how to incorporate the very same principles. Identify 3 components:

  • A physical activity that brings you joy and fulfillment.
  • An activity that stabilizes your emotional well-being.
  • Moments that create social opportunities that you crave.

Physical Wellness

We respect physically fit people who consistently exercise daily because it is hard. Exercising daily requires discipline. When considering leaders in a room, those with a physical and healthy presence immediately catch the eye. They have proven that within their personal lives, they can sustain effort in a particular area. They are not easily defeated and have a high base threshold for discomfort.

American culture loves high-performing athletes. We know they have worked hard for success and understand the requirements to ascend to certain levels athletically in American sports. We are naturally drawn to these people and follow their stories. We view them as leaders of communities. When creating our own leadership strategy, we should, in turn, consider the importance of becoming physically fit, knowing our culture places great value on it, especially when we choose those who lead others. Physical fitness in leadership is a prerequisite in the military, strength and conditioning coaches, first responders, and many others. These individuals must live the mission.

Military leadership is competitive. Those who choose to lead are also the most physically fit. They must prove to those below them that they are capable and worthy of their rank. Their leadership suffers if the leader can’t climb the mountain, swim, or finish in top times for running distance. If they’re in the top tier, their men and women respect them, are inspired, and will push forward.

Watch the Detroit Lions on any given Sunday in the fall. Their current head coach, Dan Campbell, is a monster of a man. He belongs behind a Spartan helmet and shield, fighting the Persians in the Battle of Thermopylae, sword in hand. The Lions have historically been irrelevant for 3 decades. Dan led his team to the playoffs in 2023, two years after being named the Head Coach.

Not all leaders are built like Spartan warriors, but identify an area of fitness that you enjoy doing that builds strength, endurance, and mental stability.

Emotional Wellness

The number 1 place I turn to for emotional wellness is my faith in Jesus. A daily ritual of prayer in solitude is what I need to stabilize my emotions for the day. I bring my thoughts, worries, and needs to God. He helps me categorize and visualize how to overcome the hardships of living. Prayer sorts through and weeds out unnecessary temptations, worries, regrets, and wrongdoings. When I start my day this way, I am far more likely to experience joy and fulfillment. Every day is not perfect, but when I neglect prayer and do not spend time with God, my odds of experiencing setbacks and hardship increase greatly.

Making conscious decisions to be proactive with our emotional wellness is vital. We all have “emotional energy capital.” This is the amount of emotional energy we have to spend each day. We must choose to use the energy on prioritized moments. What hill are you willing to die on? Not every hill is a life-or-death situation, but knowing when to charge the hill is important. Some are not meant to be summited. We must become clear on where we place importance in our lives and use emotional control to navigate the tempting causes that do not bear fruit and expel great energy capital.

If costly emotional events occur, counterbalance them with a stabilizing activity that’s good for your well-being. Any form of exercise is a tier 1 go-to. A cup of your favorite coffee may be a tier 2 go-to. A quick phone call with a trusted friend is a tier 3 go-to.

Tier Examples (Your tier structure may look different. Move the pieces around to fit yourself):

Tier 1 Go-To

  • Exercise in any form
  • Sleep / Nap
  • Prayer

Tier 2 Go-To

  • Coffee
  • Nutritious food/snack
  • Read something of value

Tier 3 Go-To

  • Phone call with a trusted friend
  • Time-conscious video game experience
  • Time-conscious movie/show/YouTube or clips

Social Wellness

Leadership is the ability to influence. To lead, you must socially interact and build relationships with people. Professional relationships are key, but casual, tight bonds with outside friends are equally important. You must purposely have 1-3 close friends that you frequently speak with. Work conversations into the weekly calendar where, at certain times, you make time for them. These individuals are soundboards that listen and bring advice when needed. They also bring comical relief. Talks that aren’t business-related but allow for relaxation.

Friends who ease the tension can also see your blind spots. Close friends without professional agendas are likelier to share useful advice and highlight your weaknesses than those who may be tempted to become “Yes” people. This critical advice propels our leadership ability. These gold nuggets are usually embedded in deep conversations of exploration.

Surface-level conversations become tiring and suck the energy from us. The small-talk vampire sinks its teeth and draws out the lifeblood. We quickly begin to check our watch and subconsciously think about the weighty events that await us later. Small talk is the entry point to deeper conversations, but it can also hamstring productivity and your ability to lead. Leaders delicately dance in and out of quick conversations, being always thoughtful and not rushing off for fear of being disrespectful.

We crave the conversations that require us to think and creatively bring our opinions forward. Deep social experiences allow this to occur and breathe life into you. Once you move past the small talk and enter deeper waters, you can recognize the enjoyment of investing time with others. It’s an intoxicating experience and leaves us craving more. Good, healthy, and deep relationships are spiritual gifts from God.

Bonus: Sleep Wellness

The most restorative practice for mental fatigue is sleep. Leadership requires cognitive and physical stamina. Prioritize sleep in the evening to be fully rested and restored for leadership moments the next day. Inconsistent sleep patterns create mental fog and mood swings. To counterbalance the lack of sleep, we quickly run for caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants to boost our energy levels.

Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) is a great way to boost your energy and mood levels if you are fatigued. NSDR is a protocol where you sit or lay down with your eyes closed and experience various breathing techniques or guided visualizations but do not fall asleep. Extended prayer is also an example of NSDR, which incorporates a relaxed, secluded environment where you close your eyes and go through a spiritual narration with God. Prayer is a visual experience, often entering into a realm of deep relaxation and seeing your thoughts and experiences with God.

(Check out Dr. Andrew Huberman’s Explanation)

Wrap Up

You are strong in one area or another. God has given you a gift. Embrace the gift and continually share it with the world. Sharing and teaching others how to operate in the world is a version of leadership. It will require restorative practices so you can continually show up for others.

If you enjoyed this post and want to experience more, head to the Youniversalife Archive for more leadership education. Take care, and Keep Moving Forward!

Also:

Dr. Andrew Huberman has an extensive library of helpful information regarding the human condition. Many of his topics and much of his research translate well to the leadership spectrum. Be sure to check out his work.

Photo by Victor Freitas on Unsplash

Lessons from Cameron Hanes: Taking Action for Success

Inspiration, Leadership

Cameron Hanes is a legendary bow hunter and ultra-marathon endurance athlete. I recently finished his latest book “Endure: How to Work Hard, Outlast, and Keep Hammering.” For decades, Cameron has been perfecting the art of bow hunting. Day in and day out, he continues hammering his craft, ultimately allowing him to execute clutch shots on mature majestic bull elk in the wild. He also runs 20 miles daily to keep himself in top physical shape so his body is prepared for the moment. His preparation is relentless, taking no days off. He is taking action for success.

Pursuit of Passion

Although I am not a hunter and do not run ultra-marathons, I take many lessons from Cam Hanes’ examples. I believe we are a product of the extracted actions of others. I am always examining the behaviors to see what I can apply in my own life. In the case of Cameron Hanes, I admire his persistent pursuit of passion. He never wavers from his soulful desire to hunt. He knows he must train to increase his probability of success in the wild. The wild is unforgiving, and Cam must always stay razor-sharp.

For decades, no one knew who Cameron Hanes was. His countless reps have improved him in all areas of life and helped him ascend to the top and gain respect among the elite, not only in the hunting community but also among countless others who draw inspiration from his work. You don’t hang with Joe Rogan or David Goggins, run stride for stride with Lance Armstrong, or work out with UFC Champion Colby Covington if you are a toe dipper. This man has kept hammering for decades and has earned the honor and reputation as the world’s best in his niche.

Where in life can you apply the vigorous pursuit of greatness?
What is your passion?
What can you do daily that supports that passion and increases the probability of extreme success in that field?

My career pursuits have always been about my passions. My love for sports and competition drove me to become a Physical Education teacher. I get to have fun every day and incorporate play into the lives of my students. I have coached football for almost 15 years. Most people only watch it on Saturdays and Sundays. I lived the game for half my life, teaching players how to compete and confidently contribute to their community. This helped me strategically build a leadership and performance platform, my true passion today.

I’ve recently built my first official small business, Youniversalife Lawn Care. I’ve always enjoyed working outdoors in my yard. There is always a gratifying sense of accomplishment after completing my yard work. I wanted to extend this a step further by investing in an industrial-grade SCAG mower and acquiring my first mowing clients. I mow over 20 properties that bring monthly income for my family. It’s a few extra hours of work a week. Although it is defined as work, it is also a joyous business. I like learning the ins and outs of an effective business. I love sweating in the heat while riding a 37-horsepower mower, zipping across landscapes. Instead of spending hours in the gym every week, I carry a weed eater and leaf blower. I wear noise-canceling headphones and play podcasts that teach me anything I want. I’ll listen to new music when I grow tired of informative conversation.

Most of what I’ve learned about business has come from working on a mower. I have effectively married personal development with work, doing them simultaneously and earning a side income. Teaching Physical Education allows me to incorporate movement, exercise, and play into my daily routine. I double-dip my professional life with physical, emotional, and social health. My Youniversalife Leadership & Performance is also an extension of this. Teaching PE gives me the freedom to stretch my curriculum. I uniquely get to create content for my students that helps them achieve success through leadership and performance development. These concepts fall under the overall wellness umbrella. I have strategically aligned my passions with my work to create a giving and expanding lifestyle.

Work-Life-Youniverse

Some people wish to keep their professional life separate from their personal life. I would argue that one should support the other. They should work together, compoundly build, and create a better version of you. I do not want to work a job where I obsessively wait for the weekend escape. It’s my goal to continually work and strategize how to align the two better daily. I call this my “Work-Life-Youniverse.”

Physical Education Teacher
Youniversalife Leadership & Performance Platform
Youniversalife Lawn Care
Husband and Father
Faith

In theory, this life strategy is like repurposing content across social media platforms. When you create content in written form, you can repurpose it by creating a short video that supports that thought. I repurpose my leadership content, reshape it to fit the classroom and a large group context, and deliver it, hopefully resonating with my students. If my principal asked me for a curriculum on leadership, I would point to Youniversalife.com and show him a library of content I’ve crafted through years of work. I could confidently speak about leadership and performance for extended periods because I’ve accumulated content and archived it by various subtopics.

When I expand my Youniversalife Lawn Care business, I will draw from the leadership and performance knowledge I have acquired. I understand the nuances of relationship building and how to motivate individuals to perform at a high level. When they don’t perform, I know how to help them become productive employees for the company. I am well-versed in conflict resolution and how to navigate crises quickly. I have been developing these characteristics by no accident.

How can you implement the Work-Life-Youniverse strategy?

Step 1

Identify your passion that brings you great joy and fulfillment that can potentially be monetized with good strategy:

  • Physical Fitness
  • Nutrition
  • Budgeting
  • Writing
  • Investment Strategy
  • Landscaping
  • Welding
  • Carpentry
  • Coaching
  • Music

The possibilities are endless with enough creativity and willingness to work consistently.

Step 2

Pursue a career that brings value across several fronts

  • Income
  • Professional Development
  • Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Acquired Equity in Your Company / Workplace
  • Childcare
  • Health Insurance
  • Corporate Gym Membership / Wellness Incentive Program
  • Paid Creation Time / Incentives for Creating Solutions and Products
  • Helping Others
Step 3

Create a business plan that binds your passion and primary career together. The time margin that exists in your career provides room for your passion. A business plan is a roadmap for its operation. The final destination may not be known, but the initial steps can be strategized. Identify the initial components that must exist to get it off the ground. When these steps are completed, additional steps begin to come into focus. Taking action is the most important piece of the journey.

Today’s business climate is ripe with opportunity. The e-commerce industry alone has opened avenues for opportunity that didn’t exist 10 years ago. Shopify is an e-commerce sales platform that allows anyone to create a shop, create products, drop-ship, or even sell print-on-demand items. Once your business plan is established and you build your brand identity, you are immediately ready to create and sell online. Create your brand digital designs with Canva or Photoshop and transfer them to products in your online store. Market your brand and designs on your personal social media, and BOOM, you’re now operating your first business. You may sell 2 products in year 1, but that’s passive income that didn’t exist before and requires little attention after establishing the store and brand.

Expanding Your Brand Across Multiple Industries of Passion

When you create a business plan and name for your business/platform, do it to expand the brand across multiple industries of passion. Do not box your brand in with a niche specific name. Research names that are available for use online. Find out if there is already a domain name or website online. When creating a website, effective keyword research is vital. You must determine what others search for through Google and other search engines. Do not neglect this step because it can expedite your growth.

Forward-thinking is a key strategy for success. You must always think 5 steps ahead and forecast what will come. There may be blindspots along the way, but you shouldn’t be naive to opportunity. Successful businessman Patrick Bet-David discusses the next 5 moves in his book Your Next Five Moves. I love his take on how alignment is the key to fulfillment. He suggests that we keep these four points in mind:

  • Your vision must align with the ideal future self.
  • Your choices must align with your vision.
  • Your effort level must match the magnitude of your vision.
  • Your values and principles must be the support pillars of your behaviors.

This framework allows you to plan for the future and identify markets where you can win the game. Or take it from another successful entrepreneur Alex Hormozi, who takes a deep dive into how to make your passion a business reality in an Interview with Chris Williamson. He emphasizes identifying the things you don’t want to do or be and relentlessly moving in the opposite direction. This identified course of action leads you to potential business ideas.

Wrap Up

Not all passions and interests should be monetized. An argument could be made that life requires time for leisure, and we shouldn’t mix it with monetization. Codie Sanchez discusses this debate with guest Ali Abdaal on her BigDeal Podcast . They both have mixed feelings on the subject but agree that if the concept fits your lifestyle and you find joy, pursue it. When the pursuit becomes a grind, we should distance ourselves from monetizing our feel-good passions.

Find what fits you and be curious. If you’ve found this post interesting, continue reading the Youniversalife Archive and listening to the Youniversalife Podcast. Thank you for your support, and remember to Keep Moving Forward.