Jamy Bechler

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

4 Ways to Change How Your Athletes Serve Each Other

Great teams have great teammates. No disagreements there, but it isn’t easy to find great teammates. Not everybody that makes your team will come in as a great teammate — and that is where your presence and team culture kicks in.

The clearest signal that you have an athlete that is a great teammate is their desire to serve others. When athletes have the mindset of serving other team members, the entire program benefits. Legendary basketball coach John Wooden put it well when he said, “It’s amazing what you can achieve when you don’t care who gets the credit.”

Serving others is at the very core of sports — and it’s paramount to your team’s success.

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Brother’s Keeper

“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
Click here to listen to the 2-minute version of this article on the “Success is a Choice” podcast network.

Basketball was everything to me. It was my favorite sport. When I was in 7th grade, I was riding the bus home after school. My brother, who was three years younger than me was acting up quite a bit on the bus that particular day.

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6 Things Coaches Do On High Performance Teams

As a coach, you’re constantly trying to lead your team as far as you can each season. This is true regardless of your resources or talent.

However, some coaches are blessed to be a part of programs that have high-performing individuals. High-performing teams usually have individuals that are more talented than most, but as coach, your role is to get the most out of them.

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Mr. Frank

The Dos Equis guy might be called “the most interesting man in the world” but to me, Frank Bechler held that title. 

Please click here to listen to the 5-minute audio version of this email.

This weekend is special for me.

December 10, 1943 was my dad’s birthday.

Even though he is no longer here physically, not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. His impact on me has been what you’d hope a dad’s impact would be. 

Many of you have read “The Bus Trip” or “The Captain”. Mr. Frank, the bus driver, is a recurring character who pops up periodically providing wisdom and a story at just the right time.

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No Limbs. No Limits.

“What if today, we were just grateful for everything.” (Charlie Brown)

🔊 Click here to listen to a 1-minute audio version of this email.

Nick Vujicic has lived a remarkable life.

He’s met 25 Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Vice Presidents. He’s traveled to 78 countries and spoken on 3500 stages to crowds as large as 800,000.

He’s an international bestselling author, entrepreneur, investor, producer, and actor.

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Hall of Fame Reliability

“The greatest ability is your dependability.” (Bobby Jones)

🔊 Click here to listen to a 2-minute audio version of this email.

You’ve no doubt heard of NFL players like Barry Sanders and Tom Brady. They are all-time greats.

But have you heard of Joe Thomas? He is also an all-time great. In 2023, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In football, the guys who score touchdowns are recognized and rewarded. However, it’s important to remember the guys who make those touchdowns possible. Those big guys up front in the trenches protecting the quarterback and creating holes for the running backs are vital to the success of a team.

Joe Thomas was one of those guys.

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2003 British Open Champion Ben Curtis

Ben Curtis won the 2003 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s as a rookie in only his 16th start on the PGA Tour. He became the first golfer in 90 years to win a major championship in his first try. He would go on to win a total of four PGA events. Curtis also was the runnerup at the 2012 PLAYERS Championship and a member of the 2008 Ryder Cup Championship Team. Prior to his professional career, he was formerly the world’s number one ranked amateur after winning three Ohio Amateur titles, earning NCAA All-American honors three times at Kent State University, and reaching the semifinals of the 1999 of the prestigious U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach. He retired from professional golf in 2017.  He now leads the Ben Curtis Golf Academy, as well as the Ben Curtis Family Foundation which seeks to alleviate childhood hunger in Northeast Ohio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Winning The Open Championship as a rookie
  • Getting married and playing a PGA event on the same day
  • The mental approach to golf
  • Starting a foundation to help alleviate child hunger
  • … and so much more!!!

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The Story of KC Chief Joe Delaney

Long before Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce excited the fans at Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas City Chiefs had another rising star.

Click here to listen to the 2-minute audio of this article

In 1981, running back Joe Delaney would earn AFC Rookie of the Year honors rushing for more than 1100 yards despite only starting 10 games.

Unfortunately, he would go on to play only two seasons in the NFL.

But Joe didn’t have a contract dispute. He didn’t get arrested for domestic assault. He didn’t have a sideline blowup with teammates or coaches. He didn’t get lazy and lose his explosiveness.

You may never have heard of the former second-round draft pick out of Northwestern State University in Louisiana since he only played two seasons … but it wasn’t because he was a bust.

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Adrian Griffin’s Preparation Pays Off

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” (Thomas Edison)

Adrian Griffin was hired as the head basketball coach of the Milwaukee Bucks just two years after the Greek Freek (Giannis Antetokounmpo) led the team to an NBA World Championship.

His path to becoming the head coach was less conventional than we’ve come to expect, but there are some lessons from Adrian’s story that we can learn from.

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Bechler Inspires Rotary Leaders at District Conference

Kennewick, WA (June 1, 2023) – Leaders and members of Rotary District 5080 and District 5100 joined forces to host a remarkable Joint District Conference, centered around the theme “Friends and Neighbors: the Magic of Rotary.”

This event was held May 18-21, 2023 in Kennewick, WA, and consisted of Rotarians from the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Canada). Among the many highlights of the event was the captivating keynote address delivered by renowned leadership expert and former college basketball coach, Jamy Bechler.

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