Jamy Bechler

Providing Insights on Leadership and Success. Coach Bechler is a John Maxwell Leadership Team Member.

Episode 172: Leadership that Rocks with Jim Knight

Jim Knight is a keynote speaker, author, podcaster, and entrepreneur, Jim Knight teaches organizations of all sizes how to attain their own “rock star” status.

Although his illustrious career started at Gatorland Zoo (he has the scars to prove it), Jim cut his teeth in the hospitality industry and eventually led Global Training for Hard Rock International for two decades. His customized programs show how to amp up organizational culture, deliver world-class differentiated service, and build rock star teams and leaders.

Known for his edu-taining programs (in person, virtually and in print), Jim is the best-selling author of Culture That Rocks: How to Revolutionize Your Company’s Culture and was featured in Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the “5 Books That Will Help You Transform How Your Do Business”.

Jim’s newest book, Leadership That Rocks  (May 2021), is the first in the 3-part “Culture That Rocks” series.

A portion of Jim’s book sales, podcast revenue, speaking fees and training program proceeds goes to No Kid Hungry and Cannonball Kids’ cancer.

Click here to read Jim’s bio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • The best and most underrated bands of all-time
  • A musician that is overlooked for his talent
  • Building strong teams
  • Creating cultures that rock
  • … and much more!!!

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Profile in Leadership: Pat Summitt

Five years ago (June 28, 2016) we lost one of the greatest leaders I have known when Pat Summitt died. She was more than just a legendary basketball coach. She probably could have run for governor in the state of Tennessee.  You never heard a negative word uttered about her.

I’ve previously published two articles about Pat Summitt that you might be interested in reading. One is from the day she retired from coaching entitled “Why Pat Summitt is the Best” and the other was from the day she died entitled “Will You Reach for the Summitt with your Legacy?”. 

Additionally, here is a piece I wrote for a newsletter back in 2011 called “Profile in Leadership: Pat Summitt”. I thought the quotes and thoughts about her might elicit good memories about her or inspire you today to make a difference in the lives of those around you.

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Speech to Scholarship Winners

This is the transcript of a speech Jamy Bechler gave to the 2021 Barberton, Ohio Kiwanis International scholarship winners. 

Some of us see a 6. Some of us see a 9.

Sometimes whether we see a 6 or a 9 is based on our perspective. Our point of view.

We sometimes see things differently than others. It doesn’t mean that they are right and we are wrong, but it also doesn’t mean that we are right and they are wrong. Sometimes people just see things differently.

Sometimes it’s not just people but situations or things that we see differently. We might see a 6, but the reality is that the situation is a 9.

Our point of view or perspective may not always be right, but it also may not always be wrong. Sometimes we just see the world differently.

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Episode 170: Jake Kelfer, Professional Basketball Combine

Jake Kelfer is the 2x bestselling author of Elevate Beyond and Elevate Your Network, as well as a motivational speaker and the founder of Professional Basketball Combine. His first book Elevate Beyond, released in 2016, originally began as a series of blog posts for his friends and is a real-world guide to standing out in the job market and discovering your passion. Elevate Your Network, his follow-up book which was released in 2018, is all about how to build extraordinary relationships in life and business. His company, Professional Basketball Combine, provides NBA draft prospects an opportunity to raise their draft stock and achieve their dream of playing pro basketball through private workouts, combine testing and team interviews.

Click here to read more about Jake Kelfer.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • The greatest Laker of all-time
  • Who was the player he pretended to be for last-second shots
  • Being more important than Jerry West for 14 seconds.
  • Retiring on the same day as Kobe Bryant
  • What it takes to be an NBA player
  • … and much more!!!

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The Courage to Address Problems

This is a guest post from Dr. Keith Starcher, a long-time college professor and business consultant. Most importantly, he is the father of my wife, which makes him a big-deal.

Not all conflict is bad.

In fact, conflict may at times be good for an organization. Conflict gets our attention. Normal and healthy conflict can help a group clarify its goals. It can also be the catalyst for making necessary changes. 

Remember also that sometimes what appears on the surface to be the source of conflict is not the true source at all; it is only a symptom of the real problem.

The source is almost always below the surface. 

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Episode 169: Laura DiBenedetto, America’s Happiness Coach

Laura DiBenedetto is a TEDx Speaker, #1 best-selling author of The Six Habits: Practical Tools for Bringing Your Dreams to Life, and a life mastery coach. Laura teaches others how to create the life of our dreams without sacrificing what we love. As founder and CEO of Vision Advertising, a company that she built aged 19, she has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs build and grow profitable enterprises entirely on their terms.

Click here to read more about Laura DiBenedetto.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • The secret of happiness
  • Why money doesn’t necessarily buy happiness
  • Developing good habits
  • … and much more!!!

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Memorial Day Quotes

Memorial Day in the United States is a time to remember and honor those who have fought and died for our freedoms. As U.S. citizens, we should never forget the prices paid and the sacrifices made so that we can live in a free nation.

To see a complete history of Memorial Day, check out this link from The History Channel.

Here are 30 quotes that sum up Memorial Day and provide us with reminders of the importance of this day . . .

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Episode 168: Jennifer Rothman, National Alliance on Mental Illness

Jennifer Rothman is the Senior Manager for Youth and Young Adult Information, Support, and Education for NAMI. The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. 

Click here for Jennifer’s bio page on the NAMI website

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • What are some of the misconceptions of mental illness
  • Signs and symptoms of mental illness
  • How we can best help our students
  • Resources available for those experiencing mental illness
  • … and Much More!

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Episode 167: Hugh Freeze, Liberty Football Coach

Hugh Freeze is the head football coach at Liberty University. He has won an astounding 18 games in his first two years at Liberty. Prior to his time at Liberty University, he was the head coach at Ole Miss in the SEC. During his time at Ole Miss, they were the only team to beat Alabama in the regular season in both 2014 and 2015. His teams finished with a winning record in four of his five years. He is one of the only college coaches in history to win at least 10 games at four different colleges (Lambuth, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, and Liberty).

Click here for Coach’s complete bio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • How to build a winning culture regardless of the school
  • Beating Nick Saban in back-to-back years
  • His role in the story of Michael Oher and “The Blindside”
  • Ways that he has improved as a coach

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3 Ways to be a Verbal Leader

They may take our lives . . . BUT THEY’LL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEDOM!!!

Most of the time when we think of verbal leadership, we think of Hollywood speeches with the hero inspiring countless individuals to follow him into battle like the movies Braveheart, Gladiator, or 300.

We also might think of Tim Tebow giving the “Promise” speech and then backing it up on the way to a national championship.

We may not be Michael Jordan, Tim Tebow, Kobe Bryant, or William Wallace in Braveheart, but we all can be verbal leaders.

In fact, as long as we have a tongue, we should be verbal leaders.

Let me say that again for the people in the back…

Not only can we all be verbal leaders but we all should be verbal leaders.

[Read more…]

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