So, in other words, plan to work hard and aim high when you compare yourselves against whoever is where you want to be in your personal and professional lives. For Bemetra, this kind of honest self-assessment was sharpened through her participation in sports, especially basketball, a sport she played well enough to earn a scholarship to Christian Brothers University.
“I’m an athlete at heart so I’m always trying to get better and to be the best,” Simmons noted in the podcast. “And the true competitors aren’t actually trying to beat someone else. They’re trying to be the best that they can be, and the byproduct is that they beat other people because they’re assessing themselves against where they want to be.”
As a business leader, Simmons has assessed herself against good enough competition to become an executive at United Way Suncoast and enjoy a lucrative career as a banking executive at Wells Fargo and BB&T before landing at Tampa Bay Partnership, where she serves as president and CEO of the business leadership network.
In the podcast, Simmons offers tips and insights designed nurture that coachable spirit, including:
“As I like to tell people, there are days that I played in the game and I stole the ball from someone at half court, and we won,” said Simmons, who served on the advisory committee for the 2019 NCAA Women’s Final Four. “And then there were other games in which the ball got stolen from me at half court, and we lost. And either way, I learned to tune out the external noise and stay confident.”
"Don is one of the best storytellers I’ve ever met. I’ve known him for a long time and every time we talk I walk away wiser and more inspired. He is the best in the business at teaching you a skill – storytelling – that will last you a lifetime.”
“The ability for athletes to get hired is carried on through you because you are putting out the message that lessons learned from sports are important in life. It is embedded in this podcast, what you’re doing is significant.”
We speak the same language. I am inspired by the stories you tell, the people you have met, and the things you’ve done. Those of us that are competitors like to follow others that have been down that journey, so it is always fun talking to you!”
“Many of the leaders I have worked with were excellent athletes, and I think there is a direct correlation. You’re one of the few people that really has pursued this study, Don. Keep up the great work. What you are doing really makes a difference.”
“Don, you have mastered the skill of interviewing and asking great questions. That is a great skill all leaders need in order to understand their team members’ thought processes.”
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