When Watson joined the football team at Cornell, he expected to play quarterback. “When I went to Cornell, I walked over to the quarterback huddle with six or eight quarterbacks,” Watson shared. “I was just as tall as everybody. I thought I had just as good an arm as everybody.”
But the coaching staff had other plans for him. “The coach grabbed me by the shoulder pad and said, ‘Hey, Charles, we don’t have a punter. Congratulations! You’re the starting punter.’ You could have hit me over the head with a sledgehammer. That was not what I wanted to hear”
For the next two years, Watson struggled with his new role, feeling frustrated that he only played a few times each game. “My ego had been hurt. I was relegated to a specialist position that didn’t get the glory of other positions,” he shared in this episode.
That all changed in a game against Princeton. With only one minute left, Cornell was clinging to a narrow lead, and Watson had to punt from his own endzone. He punted the ball 70 yards, flipping the field and sealing the win for his team. “That’s when I first understood,” Watson said. “Finally, somebody said, ‘Great job, you won the game.’ That’s what I needed, the highest level of achievement.”
That moment helped Watson realize the value of being a specialist—it may not be about contributing on every play but about stepping up when it matters most.
Since taking the helm at Tropical Smoothie Café in 2018, Watson has applied this lesson to his leadership. Under his guidance, the company has expanded from 265 to more than 1,400 locations across 44 states.
Watson often shares his football story with his employees, reminding them that their contributions are crucial even if they don’t always feel like they’re in the spotlight. “You’re going to be put on stage at some point. It’s going to be your turn at some point. You don’t know when it’s going to come. Give it your best. Give it your all.”
"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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