Jamy Bechler

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

20 Books to Read in 2020

I once read 30 books in an entire summer, including 10 John Grisham novels. Reading is something that I enjoy doing. I am a paperback kind of guy as I will dog-ear pages, highlight passages, and make notes in the margins. My wife, on the other hand, only reads Kindle books or listens to audio books. 

Whatever your preference, it is important that you read. Readers are leaders. As Dr. Seuss said, “The more that you read, the more things that you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

What follows is my recommended list of books in various categories that were published during the last two years. I have previously made recommended book lists of “19 Books to Read in 2019”, “18 Books to Read in 2018”, “15 Best Books for Coaches”, “15 Best Books for Leaders”, and “7 Underrated Books for Leaders”.

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9 Ways to Become the Most Valuable Parent on Your Kid’s Team

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Thank you for being a parent and thank you for letting your child play sports, as it can build and develop so many characteristics that can help them be successful later in life. Frederick Douglass once said, “It is easier to build up strong children than it is to repair broken men.” Parenting is hard – unless being perfect is natural for you.  Parenting an athlete can be even harder at times because it is so public.  It might not seem easy to build up strong children and raise them the right way – especially, when it comes to their athletic careers – but it is so worth it. All we must do is turn on the TV, scroll through social media, or interact with people on a daily basis and we see the need for more positive values such as respect, responsibility, and gratitude. When we positively develop our children, we are helping to influence and shape the future. Our children are the future leaders. How will they be taught to lead? Sports is a microcosm of life and a great means by which to teach our children lessons that they might not experience as much or as quickly otherwise. Just like we want our children to be better members of the community, we also want them to be the most valuable teammate that they can be for their team. In the same way, as parents we can also play a big part in making the team better. Here are 9 ways that you can be the most valuable parent on your child’s team …

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Episode 121: Kevin Eastman, Former NBA Coach & Executive

Kevin Eastman is a corporate speaker and an internationally-known basketball clinician who brings his knowledge and experience in sports to the business world. He speaks on various topics, including championship culture, teamwork, leadership, motivation and individual success.

Over his 40 years in the game, Kevin has coached basketball at all levels, including 13 years in the NBA. He was a top assistant to Doc Rivers with the 2008 NBA World Championship Boston Celtics, and most recently served as an assistant coach and Vice President of Basketball Operations with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Kevin was raised in Haddonfield, New Jersey, and attended the University of Richmond, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He was a scholarship student-athlete at Richmond and in recognition of his unique qualities as a basketball player, the University created the Kevin Eastman Award. The award, which has been awarded just five times in program history, is given to a player who exemplifies the qualities of team leadership, dedication, and outstanding play. He was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at both Haddonfield Memorial High School and the University of Richmond.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • What makes the best the best
  • The absolute most important word needed for success
  • How to be truthful and “keep it real” with team members
  • Being the best assistant or #2 possible
  • … and so much more!!!

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Episode 120: Dan Hughes, WNBA Championship Coach

Dan Hughes is the head coach of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. In just his first year with the Storm, he helped lead them to the 2018 WNBA Championship. Nobody has coached more games in the WNBA than Hughes. He has been the head coach of the Charlotte Sting (1999), Cleveland Rockers (2000-2003), San Antonio Stars (2005-2009, 2011-2016), and the Seattle Storm (2018-current). He has also coached both men and women at various college levels. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Coming out of retirement to coach the Storm to a championship.
  • What makes Gregg Popovich so good as a coach.
  • How to be a great assistant.
  • Creating a championship culture quickly.
  • His non-traditional coaching journey and how it helped him be a better coach.
  • The male and the female player he would have liked to coach.
  • … and so much more!!!

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Episode 118: Don Yaeger, New York Times Best-Selling Author

Don Yaeger is a keynote speaker, corporate business leadership coach, 11-time New York Times Best-selling author and long-time associate editor for Sports Illustrated. As a speaker, he has worked with audiences as diverse as Fortune 500 companies, associations and leadership forums on the subject “What Makes the Great Ones Great.”

He has written 25+ books with, among others, Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, UCLA basketball Coach John Wooden, baseball legend John Smoltz, and football star Warrick Dunn.

Throughout his writing career, Don has developed a reputation as a world-class storyteller and has been invited as a guest to almost every major talk show – from The Oprah Winfrey Show to Nightline, from CNN to Good Morning America.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Living with Walter Payton in the months leading up to his death
  • Being mentored by John Wooden
  • The one book that he’d still like to write
  • What makes the best the best
  • … and so much more!!!

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Episode 106: Greg Tonagel, Indiana Wesleyan University Basketball Coach

Greg Tonagel is the head men’s basketball coach at Indiana Wesleyan University. Tonagel and the Wildcats have won three NAIA Division II National Championships in a five year spans with titles in 2014, 2016, and 2018. Since Tonagel took over the program in 2005, he has become the winningest coach in program history both in total wins and winning percentage. Prior to coming to IWU, Tonagel served as Director of Basketball Operations at Valparaiso University, where he also played for legendary Homer Drew and appeared in four NCAA Tournaments as the starting point guard. He also led his LaPorte High School team to the last single class state finals in 1997. Much of the unprecedented success of the Wildcats can be attributed to the culture Tonagel built at IWU.  The IWU culture is built around two Biblically transforming principles; I am Third and Fearless. This has helped the influence of IWU basketball to extend far beyond the court. Tonagel and his staff have been committed to using basketball as a platform for discipleship.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • What any coach can do to create a better culture
  • Why IWU is so good year in and year out
  • How he convinces great players (including DI transfers from IU and Kansas) to come to IWU
  • … and so much more!!!

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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!!!

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Episode 100: Jon Gordon, New York Times Best-Selling Author

Jon Gordon is a best-selling author, motivational coach and motivational speaker.  His books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous Fortune 500 companies, professional and college sports teams, school districts, hospitals, and non-profits. He is the author of 16 books including six best-sellers: “The Energy Bus,” “The Carpenter,” “Training Camp,” “You Win in the Locker Room First,” “The Power of Positive Leadership,” and “The Power of a Positive Team.” Jon and his tips have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, The Golf Channel, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include The Los Angeles Dodgers, The Atlanta Falcons, Campbell Soup, Dell, Publix, Southwest Airlines, LA Rams, Miami Heat, Pittsburgh Pirates, BB&T Bank, Clemson Football, Northwestern Mutual, Bayer, West Point Academy, and more.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Getting rejected by more than 30 publishers
  • Writing a book in 3 weeks
  • Being positive in the world today
  • Working with high-level sports teams
  • … and so much more!!!

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Episode 089: Former Yankees Strength Training Coach Dana Cavalea

Dana Cavalea spent 12 years with the New York Yankees Organization, many of those years  as the Director of Strength and Conditioning & Performance Enhancement winning a World Series in 2009. 

In addition, he was the recipient of the 2009 MLB Nolan Ryan Award. This award is given to MLB’s top Strength Coach as voted by his peers. During his career, Dana has had the opportunity to train greats such as Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Justin Verlander, and more.

Currently he is a high performance speaker and consultant to Pro Athletes, Entrepreneurs, Business Executives, Workforces and Universities on lifestyle strategies to reduce stress, improve work/life balance, and most importantly improve daily performance/outcomes. All of this is known as Performance Enhancement.

Dana has formulated plans and strategies to improve sleep, reduce pain, lower stress, improve body composition, speed-strength-power, as well as mindset training for maximal performance. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • His journey in Major League Baseball
  • Why the Yankees were so successful
  • Advice for coaches and parents of athletes

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Contagious Enthusiasm

“In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. That means we have 1,440 daily opportunities to make a positive impact.”  (Les Brown)

In his book WINNING EVERY DAY, the former Notre Dame football coach, Lou Holtz, tells the story of the Trappist monk who was allowed to say only two words every three years.

After the first three years, he met with Brother Superior and said, “Bad bed!”

Three years later, he came back to say, “Bad food!”

After three more years of silence, the monk said, “No TV!”

Another three years passed. This time, when the monk met with Brother Superior, he handed him his robes and sandals and announced, “I quit!”

Brother Superior said, “Well don’t expect me to try to dissuade you. You’ve done nothing but complain since you got here!”

It was pretty obvious that the monk didn’t add value to his fellow monks or to the atmosphere.

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