Jamy Bechler

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

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Jul 25 2026

11 Off-Season Team Building Ideas

There’s more to a good team than just talent, strategy, and philosophy. The best teams have a high level of trust, respect, and a sense of purpose. This doesn’t happen by accident. Building a strong and healthy team is intentional.

There’s an old adage that says, “One day the winter will come calling and it will ask what you did all summer long.” You reap what you sow, and this is no different for your athletes, your team, or even yourself. The off season is a great time to prepare for the upcoming season. It’s a great time to build strong habits.

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Bad Coaching, Cheerleaders, Christmas break, coaching mistakes, Communication, Competition, Creativity, Culture, dead right, Donuts, Encouragement, Jeff Janssen, John Maxwell, Jon Gordon, Kate Leavell, Learn, New Coach, New Job, Notes, Practice, Program Building, Relationships, Skills, standards, Tailgating, Team Rules, Uncoachable, zoom

Jan 10 2023

Championship Mindset with Chad Busick

In today’s episode of “The Success is a Choice” podcast, Chad Busick joined host Jamy Bechler to talk about having a championship mindset.

Chad is the author of The Rock Tumbler and is a highly-respected mental toughness coach. Chad is also a Power of Positive Leadership Trainer for the Jon Gordon Companies. You can follow him on Twitter @Champ_Mindset or visit him at ChampionshipMindset.net. Chad also hosts the “Championship Mindset” podcast.

The “Success is a Choice” podcast provides positive insights, interesting interviews, and timely inspiration so that you can make an impact on the world around you. The podcast offers a variety of guests and different types of daily episodes. See the entire menu of episodes and guests at SuccessIsAChoicePodcast.com

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Personal Growth, Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: author, chad busick, Championship mindset, Confidence, Jon Gordon, Leadership Book, leadership fable, mental toughness, Mindset, Positive leadership, positivity, The Rock Tumblr

Mar 08 2022

Episode 181: Stick Together with Kate Leavell

Kate Leavell is VP of Leadership Development for the Jon Gordon Companies and author of the best-selling book Stick Together. Kate is also a former NCAA lacrosse coach. She has written four books including the very popular Confessions of an Imperfect Coach.

Click here to see Kate’s complete bio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Making sports fun – even at the higher levels
  • Caring more than our athletes
  • Meeting Jon Gordon
  • What positive leadership is and isn’t
  • … and much more!!!

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Personal Growth, Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: author, Bradenton, Chip Baker, Coaching, College coach, Cornell, Culture Matters, Culture Wins, Florida, Jon Gordon, Kate Leavell, Lacrosse, NCAA, Sarasota, Stick Together, team building, Team Captains, Team Leadership, The Energy Bus

Feb 22 2022

Episode 180: Chip Baker, The Success Chronicles

Chip Baker is an author, and host of YouTube channel “Chip Baker – The Success Chronicles”, where he has interviewed hundreds of people to share their message with the world. Chip has also worked over 20 years as an educator and football coach. His newest book is The Impact of Influence.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • How we can have an impact 
  • Formulas for life
  • Being a 4th generation educator
  • The six books he’s written
  • … and much more!!!

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Personal Growth, Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Betsy Butterick, Chip Baker, Coaching, Dr. Richard Johnson, Football Coach, Jon Gordon, Martin Luther King, MLK, Positive leadership, Power of Positive Leadership, Richard A. Johnson, Tami Matheny, texas, The Bus Trip, The Success Chronicles

Feb 07 2022

Motivational Minute: Losing Your Legs

“Positive people plus positive energy create positive results.” (Jon Gordon)

Retired Army staff sergeant Joey Jones lost both of his legs when an IED exploded in Afghanistan.

Click here to listen to the 1-minute audio version of this article.
He has said that sometimes people will ask him how he stays so positive about life even though he doesn’t have his legs.
Sometimes he’ll just shake his head and wonder how they can be so negative about life even though they have both of their legs.

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Personal Growth · Tagged: Afghanistan, Charles Swindoll, Fail Forward, Joey Jones, Jon Gordon, Losing Your Legs, Military, Motivation, Motivational Minute, Overcoming Adversity, Positive leadership, positivity

Jan 27 2022

Motivational Minute: Spark Plugs

“Positive energy and positive people create positive results.” (Jon Gordon)

My dream car is an H2 – a Hummer.

Click here to listen to the 1-minute audio version of this article.

My wife’s dream car is a Jaguar.

You might want a Lamborgini, a BMW, or some kind of vintage car.

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Personal Growth · Tagged: cars, engine, enthusiasm, Jon Gordon, Motivation, Motivational, Motivational Minute, Motivational Mondays, Positive energy, positivity, spark plug, spark plugs, Success is a Choice, Success is a choice podcast

Jan 19 2022

Episode 177: Rebound Forward with Randy Brown

Randy Brown is a basketball lifer and ambassador. His 20-year college men’s coaching career is as diverse and successful as any. At the age of 21 he set three goals; become a Div. I assistant, become a Div. I head coach, and coach in the NCAA Final Four. A nail-biting loss in the 2000 Elite Eight to Michigan State kept him from achieving his final goal. 12 NBA players have resulted from Randy’s college coaching, including Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors.

In his book, Rebound Forward, he details tragedy and adversity he and his family have faced. This adversity tangled with personal, emotional, mental, and professional hurdles have made him truly who he is today. In Rebound Forward he unashamedly writes in detail about his struggles, tears, successes and pursuit of purpose, holding back no punches.

Click here to read Coach Brown’s complete bio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Being around Steve Kerr as a player
  • What makes a good coach
  • Advice for young coaches
  • Overcoming adversity
  • … and much more!!!

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Personal Growth, Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Adversity, author, Basketball Clinic, basketball coach, Basketball Coaching, Brian Stanchak, Challenges, Fail Forward, John C. Maxwell, Jon Gordon, NCAA Division I, Overcoming Adversity, Randy Brown, Rebound, Steve Kerr

Dec 01 2021

The Carpenter

An elderly carpenter told his employer of his plans to leave the business and start a life of leisure with his wife and extended family.

Click here to listen to the 2-minute audio clip of this email

He would miss the money, but the time was right and he was ready to hang up his hammer. His boss was disappointed as the carpenter had been a loyal and diligent worker for many years, so he was sad to see him go.

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Personal Growth · Tagged: Attitude of Gratitude, Choices, Doing Our Best, Excellence, family, Gracious, Gratitude, Habits, Happy Thanksgiving, Jon Gordon, Legacy, Perspective, Retirement, Success is a Choice, The Carpenter

Aug 06 2021

The Coachable Coach: Jackie Carson

Today’s guest on “The Coachable Coach” series is Jackie Carson, head women’s basketball coach at Furman University.

“The Coachable Coach” series on the Success is a Choice Podcast Network goes beyond the X’s and O’s as Jamy Bechler talks with some of the best sports coaches.

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Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Leadership, Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: captains, Coachable Coach, College Basketball, Culture Wins, Furman Paladins, Furman University, Jackie Carson, Jon Gordon, leaders growing leaders, Missy Bilderback, NCAA, SoCon, team building, Team Captains, teammates, The Leadership Playbook, Women's Basketball

Jul 06 2020

Episode 148: Dr. Bhrett McCabe, Sports Pyschologist

Dr. Bhrett McCabe is one of the leading experts in the area of sports pyschology. The best of the best turn to him when they need help with performance and mindset. He is the founder of The MindSide and is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with Clinical Psychology PhD from Louisiana State University (LSU). He is also a practicing Sports Psychologist and he works with a number of PGA TOUR professionals, including Jon Rahm and Billy Horschel. Dr. McCabe has also worked extensively with the University of Alabama athletic department. His podcast “The Secrets to Winning” comes highly recommended and is one of our favorites.

Click here for Dr. McCabe’s complete bio

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • What makes Nick Saban so good
  • Mental toughness
  • Getting the most out of athletes
  • Building a championship culture
  • … and so much more!!!

[Read more…]

Written by Jamy Bechler · Categorized: Podcast Episodes, Sports, Teams & Organizations · Tagged: Alabama, baseball, Bhrett McCabe, Bill Curry, Billy Horschel, Coaching, Crimson Tide, Culture, golf, Jon Gordon, Leadership, LSU, Mark Immelman, mental toughness, Mindset, Nick Saban, PGA, Sports Psychology

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Featured Blog Posts

  • 11 Interview Tips to Give you an Edge
  • Red Flags in Coaching Interviews: What Athletic Directors Should Not Ignore
  • 11 Off-Season Team Building Ideas
  • How to Tell if a Coach is a Real Leader or Just a Good Talker
  • 8 In-Season Team Building Ideas
  • The Case for Structured Interviews in Coach Searches
  • 8 Ways to Choose Team Captains
  • How to Evaluate Whether a Coach Will Work Well in Your Department
  • 7 Things I Changed My Mind About as a Coach
  • Four Ways to Better Prepare for Your Coaching Interviews

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