Jamy Bechler

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

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Jan 03 2020

Episode 133: Jim Johnson, A Coach and a Miracle

Jim Johnson won more than 400 games as a high high school basketball coach. He only had one losing record in his 30 years of being a head coach. However, he is probably best known for what he did in 2006.  His kindhearted gesture of giving an autistic student (now known affectionately as “J-Mac”) on his team the chance to make his dream come true has captivated the hearts of millions of Americans. How could it not? With the help of his teammates, J-Mac scored twenty points (including six three-point baskets) in just over four minutes, becoming an instant national celebrity.

Coach Johnson has been featured in major news outlets around the country, making a number of radio and television appearances, including the Oprah Winfrey and Jim Rome shows. He has met President George W. Bush, Governor George Pataki, and Senator Hillary Clinton, to name just a few luminaries. His team was paid a visit at school by NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and J-Mac’s magical moment won the ESPY for “Best Sports Moment” at the ESPN awards show later that year.

You can find out more about Coach Jim Johnson and his book “A Coach and a Miracle” by visiting www.CoachJimJohnson.com

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • The inspirational story of J-Mac
  • Getting fired after his first year of coaching
  • Building a culture & turning programs around
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Autism, Autistic, basketball coach, Coach and a Miracle, ESPN, ESPY, ESPY's, High School, inspirational, J-Mac, Jason Mcelwain, Jim Johnson, Kindness, Leadership, Manager, Motivational Speaker, Opportunity

Dec 12 2019

Episode 132: Compete Every Day with Jake Thompson

Jake Thompson is the Founder & Chief Encouragement Officer at the global lifestyle brand Compete Every Day.  He is a speaker, writer, & active participant in life. Prior to launching CED, Jake spent years in both the sports representation industry & later, as a creative & strategic marketing consultant. Now, he is focused on utilizing his passion for changing lives to remind all that their life is worth competing for. For Jake everyday is a competition against pride, comfort zone, fear, complacency, snooze alarms, bad habits and bad relations. Jake teaches people through speaking podcast and popular apparel brand to compete everyday.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • How to win each day
  • Dealing with comparisons
  • Handling the haters
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Compete Every Day, Exercise, Grant Baldwin, Health, inspirational, Jake Thompson, Life Balance, Monday Motivation, Motivational Mondays, Motivational Speaker, Win the Day, Work-Life Balance

Nov 27 2018

Episode 103: “Evidence That Demands a Verdict” with Josh McDowell

Josh McDowell has spoken to approximately 35 million people, in 140 countries. Josh has written or co-authored more than 150 books in over 100 languages including More Than a Carpenter with over 27 million copies distributed and Evidence That Demands a Verdict, named one of the twentieth century’s top 40 books and one of the thirteen most influential books of the last 50 years on Christian thought by World Magazine. Evidence That Demands a Verdict also just won the 2018 Evangelical Christian Publishers Association award in the Bible reference book category.

In 1991, Josh founded Operation Carelift to meet the physical and spiritual needs he discovered in orphanages, hospitals, schools, and prisons in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Josh has received two significant honors from the Russian people because of these efforts. He is the only non-Russian to receive an honorary doctor of pediatrics degree from the Russian Academy of Medicine — in recognition of his work among the children of Russia. Also, Josh is the only foreigner to become a member of the prestigious Russian Club of Scientists. Operation Carelift, which has grown into in one of the largest humanitarian aid organizations based in the United States, is now a part of Global Aid Network (GAiN USA). In addition to many other awards, Josh has been nominated 36 times for the Gold Medallion Award and has received that award on four occasions.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Trying to prove that Christians were wrong when he was a college student
  • How Christians should approach politics
  • What it was like to have a movie made about his life
  • Advice when talking to teenagers
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Athletes in Action, Campus Crusade for Christ, Children, Christianity, Cru Ministry, Evangelism, inspirational, Jesus Christ, Jon Gordon, Josh McDowell, Ken Coleman, Michael Catt, Motivation, pornography, Russia, Shoshanna Gabriel, Speaking, teenagers, Todd Gongwer, Youth

Jul 13 2017

Episode 023: Award-Winning Washington D.C. Reporter Jay Korff

Jay Korff is a general assignment reporter with ABC7/WJLA-TV & News Channel 8 in Washington D.C. He is also the director of the full-length documentary “Endure”. Jay has received 41 Regional Emmy awards, 19 Regional Edward R. Murrow awards, 3 National Headliner Awards and 3 National Murrows. He’s also been honored by the Chesapeake Associated Press Broadcasters Association for his investigative work relating to dysfunction, waste and mismanagement within D.C. government. Jay is a native of the Philadelphia area. He graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Telecommunications, while minoring in Political Science. He came to Washington D.C. in 2003, after working at WKRN-TV in Nashville, Tennessee. Before that, he reported for stations in Fort Wayne, Indiana; LaCrosse, Wisconsin; and Helena, Montana.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • His upcoming full-length documentary movie
  • Washington D.C. politics
  • Negative vs. Positive news stories

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes · Tagged: Cancer, cancer awareness, documentary, endure, feel good stories, inspirational, Itunes, Leadership, media, news media, Podcasting, politics, positional leadership, positivity, reporter, washington D.C.

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