PART TWO – COACH WOODEN AND THE ART OF MENTORING
(Episode 2 of 4)
Previously in The Mentor: Believing in People Before They Believe in Themselves…
We began our journey at a kitchen table in New Jersey, where a father’s simple, powerful advice shaped a lifetime of leadership: “Be the best you can be… say yes and thank you for the opportunity.” We explored how belief given at the right moment becomes the spark that carries a leader through doubt, challenge, and growth. And we discovered that mentoring begins long before titles, roles, or careers. It begins with the people who show us what belief looks like in action.
Coach Wooden and the Art of Mentoring
Long before leadership became my profession, coaching was in my blood. I went to college to become a high school history teacher and a baseball coach. I always believed that great leaders were great teachers and great teachers were great coaches. So, when I had the opportunity to meet Coach John Wooden, it felt like stepping into a moment I had been preparing for my entire life.
Coach Wooden welcomed me into his home with the same humility and grace that defined his career. There was no ego. No pretense. No need to impress. Just warmth, wisdom, and presence. Sitting with him, talking with him, listening to him it was one of the greatest honors of my career. And it brought every one of his books, lessons, and philosophies to life.
He spoke about his Pyramid of Success and the two cornerstones that held everything together:
Industriousness: not just showing up, but working hard, improving, preparing, and giving your best effort every day.
Enthusiasm: the heart behind the hard work. The energy. The joy. The passion. The spark that lifts others.
And over time, I added my own insight:
Hard work without enthusiasm is just that — hard work. And hard work without enthusiasm gets old.
Enthusiasm is what makes effort meaningful. It is what inspires others. It is what makes people want to follow you.
As we talked, I realized something that changed my leadership forever:
Coach Wooden wasn’t teaching basketball — he was teaching people. He wasn’t coaching players — he was mentoring human beings. He wasn’t building teams — he was building character.
And in that moment, I understood:
This is what a mentor is. This is what a leader must be. This is what belief looks like in action.
Wooden shaped my leadership philosophy. My father shaped my leadership identity. Together, they formed the foundation of how I lead and how I mentor.
Closing Reflection
As you think about your own leadership journey, consider this:
What does belief look like in action when you’re responsible for lifting others?
Because belief isn’t passive. It isn’t quiet. It isn’t something leaders feel — it’s something leaders do. It shows up in the standards you set, the encouragement you give, the patience you offer, and the example you live. It shows up in the moments when someone needs your confidence more than your expertise.
Coach Wooden taught me that mentoring is not about shaping performance — it’s about shaping people. And when you commit to shaping people, you accept a responsibility far greater than any job description: the responsibility to see potential before it’s visible, and to nurture it until it becomes real.
In Part Three, we’ll explore the place where that responsibility became part of my everyday leadership a culture built on belief, growth, and the promise that people could rise as far as their effort and enthusiasm would take them.
Visit us for more on this topic—and to explore our Leadership and Sales Workshops, Keynote Speaking Topics, and Podcast—visit TightenTheLugNuts.com. It all starts with the Amazon Best Seller, Tighten The Lug Nuts—the foundation of our message and mission.
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I believe that none of us can achieve success without some help along the way. For each of us, there is a person, a mentor, who we are grateful towards and who can help us get to where we aspire to be. Sharing stories and experiences as a speaker is a way of recognizing the value of these experiences and giving back to the next generation of leaders. It also is a way of demonstrating in words and deed the value I am placing in mentorship. As for me, I have been fortunate to have worked with and mentored by some incredibly special people, and none more incredible than Coach John Wooden.
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I have broad experiences to share that can help others as they grow and take on new challenges. During my time as president of UPS Supply Chain Solutions, I integrated over 20 acquisitions that became UPS Supply Chain Solutions. I steered UPS’s entry into the health care industry and created the mantra, “It’s a patient, not a package. ®” With the ability to see a clear vision of the changing business landscape, the passion to develop strategies, tactics, and metrics to drive desired results, and the passion to develop the Best, The Brightest, Most Informed, and Best People in the industries they serve.
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THE LEADERSHIP LIBRARY PODCAST SEASON 9
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We launched Season 9 of the Leadership Library Podcast on October 7th, 2025. The primary focus of Season 9 will center on building a World Class Team and HighPerformance Selling. We will a have a subject matter expert joining us on each episode with real life experiences. We are on our way to 2000 subscribers.
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TIGHTEN THE LUG NUTS: THE PRINCIPLES OF
BALANCED LEADERSHIP
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