Chasing Greatness Blog

Standing By Your Teammates: What The Oklahoma City Thunder Can Teach Us About Building A Strong Culture

Don Yaeger May 13, 2025

As the NBA playoffs heat up, one of the league’s youngest teams is making waves—and not just for what they’re doing on the court.

Want The Ball When It Counts? What Jalen Brunson Can Teach Business Leaders About Being Clutch

Don Yaeger May 3, 2025

With the game on the line, New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson didn’t flinch. He didn’t shy away or look for someone else to shoulder the moment. He wanted the…

How Shedeur Sanders’ Response To Adversity, Not Draft Day, Will Define Him

Don Yaeger April 28, 2025

The NFL Draft didn’t unfold the way Shedeur Sanders had envisioned it. But if history teaches us anything, it’s that great leaders and champions aren’t forged in easy victories —…

Focus On What You Can Control: A Leadership Lesson From The San Diego Padres’ Surprise Start

Don Yaeger April 22, 2025

Every so often, a team reminds us why we play the games—and why we lead with purpose.

Rory McIlroy’s Masters Triumph Shows The Power Of Staying In Your ‘Bubble’

Don Yaeger April 14, 2025

After years of near-misses and heartbreak at Augusta, Rory McIlroy finally completed one of the rarest feats in professional golf: the career Grand Slam. With his Masters victory, he joins…

Records Fall, Legacies Endure: Alex Ovechkin, Wayne Gretzky, And The Power Of Leadership

Don Yaeger April 8, 2025

Alex Ovechkin, after two decades leading the Washington Capitals, etched his name into the annals of sports history when he scored his 895th career goal against the New York Islanders…

To Win It All, The University Of Houston —And Your Business—Must ‘Choose Hard’

Don Yaeger April 1, 2025

The University of Houston has punched its ticket to the Final Four, setting up a marquee showdown against the Duke Blue Devils—a team widely regarded as one of the best…

March Madness And The Business Of Winning: Lessons From The NCAA Tournament Floor

Don Yaeger March 25, 2025

Every spring, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament delivers unforgettable moments—buzzer-beaters, Cinderella stories, and powerhouse performances. But for those paying close attention, March Madness is more than just basketball; it’s a…

Cooper Flagg Shows Being Great In The Regular Season Will Help You Excel During March Madness

Don Yaeger March 18, 2025

March Madness is here, and one of college basketball’s biggest stars is doing what elite performers do best—finding a way to deliver when it matters most.

The Power Of Identity: Nucor’s Tabitha Stine Offers A Lesson From Volleyball For The Boardroom

Don Yaeger March 12, 2025

Great leaders don’t just show up, they bring with them a playbook—a set of experiences, lessons, and philosophies – that shape how they lead. Tabitha Stine, a prominent leader at…

Joe Mazzulla’s Leadership Playbook: How The Celtics’ Coach Builds A Championship Culture

Don Yaeger March 10, 2025

As the Boston Celtics gear up for another deep playoff run and the opportunity to defend their NBA title, Head Coach Joe Mazzulla continues to prove that great leaders don’t…

The Greatness Of Steph Curry—A Leadership Lesson Worth Watching

Don Yaeger March 4, 2025

Some aspects of sports deserve to be savored, not just as fans but as students of excellence. Steph Curry’s greatness even toward the end of his career is one of…

There Is No Offseason—In The NFL Or In Business

Don Yaeger February 26, 2025

Super Bowl LIX may have wrapped up the NFL season earlier this month, but make no mistake—there is no offseason in football. Just like in business, the game never stops.

PGA Golfer Ludvig Åberg’s Mindset Masterclass: What Business Leaders Can Learn From His Breakthrough Win

Don Yaeger February 18, 2025

As a big win on the PGA shows, how you handle pressure separates champions from everyone else.

How Jalen Hurts Used A Super Bowl Loss To Win It All

Don Yaeger February 10, 2025

Great leaders don’t just endure failure—they use it as fuel. Jalen Hurts took Super Bowl Sunday to show how it’s done.

Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis Trade Shows Great Leaders Sacrifice Talent For Balance, Long-Term Success

Don Yaeger February 4, 2025

Every leader faces a moment when they must choose between what’s easy and what’s necessary. And, as the leadership of the Dallas Mavericks proved this weekend, choosing what’s necessary can…

Haters Gonna Hate, Hate, Hate, Hate, Hate, But The Kansas City Chiefs Are Chasing Greatness

Don Yaeger January 28, 2025

The great UCLA Coach John Wooden loved to remind others that “winning once is difficult, but win repeatedly takes elements very seldom seen.” It’s why champions repeat so seldom. While…

Homegrown Talent: Ohio State Offers The Secret To Championship Glory For Any Business

Don Yaeger January 21, 2025

The Ohio State University Buckeyes clinched the college football national title with a performance that underscored the power of a top-tier defense, meticulously constructed from the ground up.

David Novak Teaches The Secret Weapon Of Every Leader

Don Yaeger January 15, 2025

Long before he helped found and served as the CEO of Yum! Brands, David Novak learned about the power of recognition while playing Little League in Kimball, Nebraska.

Olympic Gold Medalist Cyclist, Business Leader Kristen Faulkner: Focus On What You Can Control For Success

Don Yaeger January 6, 2025

Champion cyclist

Make 2025 The Year Of Momentum—How Great Teams Spark And Sustain Their Success

Don Yaeger December 30, 2024

The dawn of a new year brings with it a unique opportunity: the chance to start moving towards big things, to harness momentum. In 2025, momentum isn’t just a concept…

When Lights Align: A United Christmas And Hanukkah

Don Yaeger December 24, 2024

In a world often defined by its divisions, the convergence of Christmas and Hanukkah on December 25 this year, offers a rare and poignant reminder of our shared humanity and…

49ers Send Strong Message In Suspending De’Vondre Campbell: There’s No I In TEAM

Don Yaeger December 17, 2024

The San Francisco 49ers recently showed how to handle the challenges that arise when personal interests clash with team dynamics. The team’s decision to suspend linebacker De’Vondre Campbell following his…

Control Your Destiny: Lessons We Can Learn From ‘Bama, Miami Missing The College Football Playoffs

Don Yaeger December 10, 2024

The greatest lesson from the Stoics—control what you can control— hit home for many college football fans in recent days as two of the most decorated programs in the sport…

Chasing Greatness Blog

Weekly leadership lessons learned from the world of sports.

Standing By Your Teammates: What The Oklahoma City Thunder Can Teach Us About Building A Strong Culture

Want The Ball When It Counts? What Jalen Brunson Can Teach Business Leaders About Being Clutch

How Shedeur Sanders’ Response To Adversity, Not Draft Day, Will Define Him

Focus On What You Can Control: A Leadership Lesson From The San Diego Padres’ Surprise Start

Rory McIlroy’s Masters Triumph Shows The Power Of Staying In Your ‘Bubble’

Records Fall, Legacies Endure: Alex Ovechkin, Wayne Gretzky, And The Power Of Leadership

To Win It All, The University Of Houston —And Your Business—Must ‘Choose Hard’

March Madness And The Business Of Winning: Lessons From The NCAA Tournament Floor

Cooper Flagg Shows Being Great In The Regular Season Will Help You Excel During March Madness

The Power Of Identity: Nucor’s Tabitha Stine Offers A Lesson From Volleyball For The Boardroom

Joe Mazzulla’s Leadership Playbook: How The Celtics’ Coach Builds A Championship Culture

The Greatness Of Steph Curry—A Leadership Lesson Worth Watching

There Is No Offseason—In The NFL Or In Business

PGA Golfer Ludvig Åberg’s Mindset Masterclass: What Business Leaders Can Learn From His Breakthrough Win

How Jalen Hurts Used A Super Bowl Loss To Win It All

Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis Trade Shows Great Leaders Sacrifice Talent For Balance, Long-Term Success

Haters Gonna Hate, Hate, Hate, Hate, Hate, But The Kansas City Chiefs Are Chasing Greatness

Homegrown Talent: Ohio State Offers The Secret To Championship Glory For Any Business

David Novak Teaches The Secret Weapon Of Every Leader

Olympic Gold Medalist Cyclist, Business Leader Kristen Faulkner: Focus On What You Can Control For Success

Make 2025 The Year Of Momentum—How Great Teams Spark And Sustain Their Success

When Lights Align: A United Christmas And Hanukkah

49ers Send Strong Message In Suspending De’Vondre Campbell: There’s No I In TEAM

Control Your Destiny: Lessons We Can Learn From ‘Bama, Miami Missing The College Football Playoffs

Contact Don Yaeger