Winning with Class

By: Bill Macbeth
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  • Summary

  • Exploring how we can all win with class in all we do through inspiring guests from sports, business, non-profit, military, politics and more.
    2023
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Personal Success Sports & Outdoors
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Episodes
  • Brittany Ratcliffe – Beyond the Bow

    Brittany Ratcliffe – Beyond the Bow
    Nov 21 2024
    Far more than a professional soccer player with the Washington Spirit, Brittany Ratcliffe is a great package of personality and talent who has her priorities firmly in order. This package has led to a long and successful soccer career and has put her on a path to ensuring that she wins with class at anything she does in life – in and beyond sports. Born and raised in South Jersey, Brittany grew up and remains a huge Philadelphia sports fan. While growing up, she dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player as she attended Philadelphia Charge (of the former Women’s United Soccer Association) games. Brittany attended the University of Virginia (2012-15) where she earned both Third Team All-ACC and ACC Academic Honor Roll recognition in both her junior and senior seasons – and played for previous Winning with Class guest, Coach Steve Swanson. #FearTheBow, #The BowIsBack - It was during this time at Virginia where a small gesture from Brittany for the benefit of her parents went viral. Hearing that her parents had a hard time distinguishing her from her teammates – as their hair often covered their jersey numbers – Brittany decided to wear a bright orange bow in her hair during games. The Bow was born….becoming one of the most well-known images of women’s soccer and even working its way up to the hashtags above…. Brittany was drafted in 2016 when she was selected 17th overall by the Boston Breakers in the NWSL draft. Other stops in the league include FC Kansas City and the North Carolina Courage before joining the Spirit in January of 2024. As you’ll hear, Brittany’s longevity in the league – she just celebrated her 100th game! - is due in large part to her commitment to consistency. A fierce competitor and loyal teammate, Brittany has scored 12 goals so far in her career, three of which have been game winning. In 2023, the forward scored in three consecutive Challenge Cup group stage matches, tallying game-winning goals against Washington and Orlando. Ratcliffe later helped her team win the Challenge Cup Championship trophy. Much more than any stat or Bow hashtag, I know you will enjoy getting to know Brittany through this episode. Her appreciation for family and team, combined with her overall engaging and fun personality make her a great example of the winning with class personalities we’re so proud to feature on this show! Takeaways: Some of the specific takeaways from our conversation: Brittany’s very clear appreciation for her parents as part of her foundation is one to be modeled. From giving credit to them for instilling certain principles all the way to creating “The Bow” for them…She is clearly thankful for all her parents have done to get her where she is…as should we all be.Related to this point – as Brittany gives her parents credit – she makes the point of how important it was for her to learn that if you’re going to do ANYTHING – you need to work your absolute hardest at it and that this principle applies to EVERYTHING - whether it’s sports, school, friends….anything – bring your absolute best to it. This is directly in line with what this show stands for in terms of doing all we can to bring winning and class into ALL areas of our lives. Brittany clearly gets this and credits her parents for teaching it to her at an early age. Culture is a big word these days. Brittany clearly appreciates how important it is on any team. She credits the players and coaches at the University of Virginia for creating a great one there. She touched on the critical element of culture being the “ALL IN” mentality all must have as a team of players owning their roles. From the stars of the team to those who only got 10 minutes of time – whatever it is – be ALL IN and own your role and the team and its culture will be successful. The benefits of this are not only immediate in the form of wins, but more importantly, they’re also long term in terms of lifelong relationships, as Brittany mentioned. What drives Brittany? Her love of being part of a TEAM. Is she competitive? For sure. Does she get upset when she loses? Definitely. But at the end of the day, she loves going out after practice and getting coffee together. Brittany makes a great point when she talked about how she knows she had a good day – is she happy with herself when she goes to bed? She is if she competed, brought her best, and then had a great “team” day as well. It’s hard to describe winning with class any better than that!The standard that drives Brittany – a great one – Consistency. I love how she describes this. She mentions not only showing up and working hard as a good teammate but also consistently striving for and chasing growth. She asked – can you get better at something every day? What a great question for us to ask of ourselves in all areas of our lives.This notion of consistency flowed ...
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    46 mins
  • Jeff Boyd, Founder of MTE - Pursuing Complete Health

    Jeff Boyd, Founder of MTE - Pursuing Complete Health
    Nov 7 2024

    Jeff Boyd is the founder of MTE (More Than Energy), research-based wellness supplement that seeks to help you thrive by boosting your focus, productivity, and overall well-being. Jeff shares how health has always been a focus and passion for him, starting back when he grew up as an athlete. He then shares his entrepreneurial path and what it takes to go out and build something on your own. Throughout, you’ll learn that Jeff is sincere in his quest to bring people health and wellness through is product and that he values living by a high standard that starts at home with his family and extends to his friends and beyond.

    Takeaways:

    Some of the specific takeaways from our conversation:

    1. The story about Damon West. Damon’s story is amazing, and he will be a guest on this show, but this point is not about him. It’s about how his friend, Jeff, stuck with him through thick and thin – including when Damon went completely off the rails in a very bad way. We always talk about bringing winning and class with you into every area of your lives – this is a great example of doing this with your friends. It would’ve been very easy for Jeff to write Damon off, and he didn’t.
    2. After Jeff sold his first business, he talks about the freedom he had in terms of his next move. This is what financial success gives you and what should be focused on – and look what he chose to do. The conversation wasn’t about THINGS – it was about Jeff finding a passion and using it to build something that will help bring health and wellness to others. Is it a business? Yes. Is he out to win in business? Yes, but he cares deeply about making sure that his product truly serves his customers. Pretty good winning with class plan for a business…
    3. A related point – Jeff maintains high standards for his product as he made clear when he stated its first customer is HIM and his family. So, as he said, no corners will be cut. This is what it means to be genuine and accountable and how we should approach all of our pursuits.
    4. Great story about how Jeff’s entrepreneurial spirit started – during his job at Arby’s. This is a great way to look at every job you have – own all of the aspects of YOUR JOB as its own small business and then make sure it’s then done to the absolute best of your ability. Instead of seeing some of your jobs while growing up as just meaningless parts of a big business, treat them like YOUR own little small business and manage it like no other. This seems to have served Jeff well.
    5. One of Jeff’s main points about blazing his own trail in business is that there is no room for excuses. It’s a results driven game and if something happens, it’s on the person in the mirror - YOU. Again..pretty good way to remain accountable.
    6. Jeff makes a great point about how high school football helped teach him to live by this “no excuses” mentality. As Jeff tells the story, none of his coaches cared about the Jeff’s teammate’s excuse of being held when the other team scored….Bottom line is the other team scored. This is a great way to live – forget coming up with excuses and focus on the results.
    7. Jeff makes a great and timely point about our society in general – how we’re all WAY more alike than we’ve been programmed to believe recently. It’s time to get back to focusing on what we have in common as opposed to how we are different.

    Please follow Jeff and MTE:

    Website: www.getmte.com

    Instagram: @get_mte
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Rhett Lashlee - Living Leading and Competing with High Standards

    Rhett Lashlee - Living Leading and Competing with High Standards
    Aug 28 2024
    Coach Rhett Lashlee 2023 Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year Award Finalist 2023 Dave Campbell's Texas Football Co-Coach of the Year 2023 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award Finalist 2023 Maxwell Football Club National Coach of The Year Award Semi-Finalist Head Coach Rhett Lashlee enters his third season as Head Coach for SMU in 2024. Coach Lashlee has been the driving force in leading the Mustangs’ return to prominence in his first two years as the leader of the program, highlighted by a championship season in his second year, going 11-3 and undefeated in AAC play (8-0). Lashlee made history on Dec. 2, 2023, with a 26-14 victory over No. 22 Tulane in the AAC Championship game, giving the Mustangs their first conference championship since 1984 and 12th overall as a program. It was the first outright conference title won by the school since 1982. The historic campaign led to a fifth straight year of being bowl eligible, the longest stretch in program history. Lashlee, who served as offensive coordinator for the Mustangs for two seasons (2018-19), also served as the offensive coordinator at Miami in 2020 and 2021. A one-time finalist (2013) and two-time semifinalist (2019, 2020) for the Broyles Award (top assistant college coach), Lashlee has the distinction of being the only coach ever nominated for the Broyles Award four different times at four different schools (Arkansas State, Auburn, SMU, Miami). He is married to the former Lauren Lee. They have twin sons, Thomas and Hudson, and twin daughters, Rowyn, and Scarlet. Some of the specific takeaways from our conversation: Takeaways: Being content. Coach Lashlee talked about this as one of the main lessons he learned as he made his way through the process of being an assistant coach, hoping to get to the head coaching level at some point. He talked about acknowledging that you’re never in complete control of everything anyway. So, it’s just best to let the process take care of itself. As he said, if you’re not good where you are, the next big thing isn’t gonna happen anyway. So, focus on being good where you are now. Once he made that mindset change, it all worked out…and he was able to enjoy the 10 years of being an assistant which included interviewing for several jobs that he didn’t get. We all need to remember this in terms of how we chase our goals.Being genuine. I love how coach said he desired to reach a level where other people might look at him and want what he had inside him. For this to happen and to truly make such an impact with people you have to really walk the walk. It’s gotta be genuine and real. Otherwise, they’ll all see through you and your credibility will be shot - and nobody will be impacted by you, and nobody will want to follow you. Being intentional and accountable in terms of living your priorities. If you notice, this is a pattern we’re seeing in successful leaders. In today’s fast paced world filled with so many distractions, we simply must take control and be intentional. Or we’ll soon start finding ourselves off track most of the time. Coach mentioned how he tries to make sure he focuses on getting what he needs priority wise - like quiet or prayer time. He does this so he can fill himself up - so he can be of better service and IMPACT on those around him. Be accountable and have people around you to hold you to who you are. Coach mentioned that he likes to have strong assistants around him in football to do so. More importantly, he talked about a powerful and annual discussion he has with his wife every year where he asks her - is my family suffering because of my job? He then says if so, you say word and I’m out. What a great example of LIVING your priorities and being willing to be accountable. We should all strive for the courage to maintain our priorities in this way.Coach’s keys to his program. Family. No better vision for a program.Competitive excellence. Coach mentioned the key difference between competing WITH each other - like brothers and the notion of iron sharpening iron - and competing AGAINST the opponent on Saturdays.Hard work. Coach holds high standards for effort.Be FINISHERS. Coach mentioned how this applies to sports and life - being a finisher in terms of how you do EVERYTHING. It’s so easy to start things…but nothing matters unless we FINISH them. Great word for all of us. Winning with Class as a sign of strength and security. Coach mentioned how it's the OPPOSITE of soft. Please follow The Mustangs and Coach Lashlee: Links: Website: www.smumustangs.com Instagram: @rhett_lashlee; @sjmufb X: @rhettlashlee; @SMUFB
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    43 mins

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