He’s never blown a whistle in practice or made a substitution on the field, but Josh Isner, President of the public safety company Axon, is part of Bill Belichick’s coaching tree.
For Josh, who believes companies should operate like pro sports teams, Belichick wasn’t just an admired figure from afar. He was a mentor Josh sought out deliberately, sat down with personally, and learned from directly. What Belichick told him about mental toughness, blocking out noise, and doing your job when it’s loudest became the operating system behind one of the fastest-growing companies in American tech.
If you’ve ever seen body camera footage used to increase transparency between law enforcement and the public, or technology that helps first responders do their jobs more safely, you’ve seen Axon’s impact firsthand. Axon is the $45 billion public safety company protecting law enforcement and first responders across the country. Every team goes through streaks and slumps. What separates the great ones is knowing how to hold focus through both.
In this episode, you will learn:
RESOURCES
As a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, longtime Associate Editor for Sports Illustrated, and 14-time New York Times Best-Selling author, Don Yaeger is one of America’s most provocative thought leaders. From walking into Afghanistan with the Mujahadeen to living with football legend Walter Payton, Don has spent three decades embedded with the world’s greatest "Greats." Now a sought-after executive coach and host of the Corporate Competitor Podcast, he translates the lessons of sports and business legends into actionable strategies for building a culture of greatness.
"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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