Jamy Bechler

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

Conference Champions

“The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.” (John C. Maxwell)
(editor’s note: Article originally written in March of 2022)

I had the pleasure of speaking with the boys basketball team at my old high school.

Please click here to listen to the 2-minute audio version of this article from the Success is a Choice podcast network.

I’m very proud of them and their coach Jeff Turner (he was my JV coach). In fact, they won the conference title this year. 

As I was talking to the guys, it hit me out of the blue that this was 2022 and my team won the championship in 1992.

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Second Half Comeback

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” (Albert Einstein, really smart guy)

28-3…

Many football fans remember that as the score of Super Bowl LI when the Atlanta Falcons led the New England Patriots midway through the third quarter. The Patriots would end up coming back to win that Super Bowl in dramatic fashion.

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Episode 082: Travel Expert Dayvee Sutton

Dayvee Sutton is an award-winning journalist covering a range of beats: travel, sports, entertainment, movies, and a number of lifestyle topics for television and digital media. You can watch Dayvee on-air as a national lifestyle and travel correspondent on HLN, and the talk shows “Sister Circle Live“, “The Jet Set TV“, “Coffee with America“, and in airports across the country as a travel tips expert for CNN Airport Network. She also hosts the adventure travel show “Beyond the Usual”

Dayvee started her broadcast career in radio working weekends as a producer for the number one station in Atlanta, then quickly moved to TV as a features reporter and producer for Falconsvision and Comcast Sports. Over the years she has built credentials doing work for ESPN, CNN Atlanta and CNN London, Turner Sports (TNT, TBS and NBA TV/NBA.com), where she earned two National Sports Emmys. She’s co-hosted a daily talk show for four years at NBC Charlotte and was the only female sports anchor and reporter in Atlanta, while at the CBS affiliate. 

On the digital side, Dayvee has been a national contributor to sites like U.S. News and World Report, AOL, Yahoo, ESPN, The Root, NBA.com, Black Enterprise, NBC News and USA TODAY Network. She also has worked with brands like Firestone, Lifeproof, Nikon, Coke and Staples. 

Dayvee is a part of the new wave of entrepreneurial journalists. Through her production company Dream Network Media she produces original content for TV networks, news outlets, online platforms and mobile applications. She’s created popular websites like (the now defunct) NBA fan site NBA FrontPage and the lifestyle guide, The Daily Affair. She also produced the emotional documentary “What We Told Our Sons: Four Families React to the Trayvon Martin Verdict”. 

As if that wasn’t enough, Dayvee still finds time to play. In 2013, Dayvee was the #1 USTA tennis player in her division for the state of North Carolina and #7 in the Southern Division (9 states). She’s an avid traveler, and a self proclaimed karaoke queen. Dayvee Sutton is a southern California native and graduated from UCLA. She currently resides in Atlanta, GA.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • How she measures success and how risk plays a part in it
  • Her career path in journalism and TV
  • The place that has had the most impact on her
  • Getting upgraded on flights or hotels

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Episode 074: JJ Birden, Former NFL Wide Receiver

JJ Birden played 9 years in the NFL as a Wide Receiver after a stand out career as a star track athlete at the University of Oregon, which is known as “Tracktown, USA”.  A 5’10”, 157-pound wide receiver, JJ was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 1988 NFL Draft and played nine seasons (Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and Atlanta Falcons). To play nine years in a profession where the average players career last an average of 3.2 years is something special. Two of those nine years was with Hall of Fame Quarterback Joe Montana. He certainly was not the biggest, strongest, or fastest guy on the field, but he knew how to seize his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and maximize his success through dedication and hard work.

He is now a motivational speaker and representative for the health and nutrition company Isagenix. He is an engaging communicator and a leading expert at helping individuals seize their opportunities in life. In his presentations, JJ shares lessons from his experience as a small man in a big man’s game. JJ’s time in the NFL helped shape the message that he now delivers to audiences around the world. After seeing the successes and failures of others at the highest level, he developed a set of principles that others could follow to achieve greatness, no matter how they defined it or what they’re pursuing.

JJ has also written a book entitled, “When Opportunity Knocks: 8 Surefire Ways to Take Advantage.” He and his wife Raina have 8 kids, including 5 that are adopted.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • Catching footballs from Joe Montana
  • Playing 9 years in the NFL
  • Adopting 5 children
  • Staying positive in any situation
  • Whether this world-class sprinter ever got caught from behind

[Read more…]

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