“Everyone’s terrified underneath everything, even when you think somebody has thick skin, everyone’s terrified they’re going to fail,” she shared. “That’s just a human emotion. But if you are confident in your preparation, confident in following what you’ve always done in life to be ready, you will overcome your fear and succeed.”
Angela overcame the fears and disappointment she felt and turned her joy in playing hockey into the longest career of any man or woman in a USA Hockey jersey and, when she finally hung up her skates to attend Harvard Business School, laid claim to being only the fourth woman inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Angela studied the business of sports and became fascinated by the application of data analytics to business problems—and especially to the shifting demographics of sports entertainment in the digital age. This led her to co-found the Sports Innovation Lab, a data-driven market research firm that allowed the industry to unlock insights on their fans and how technology was changing fan behavior.
In this episode, she offers several experience-tested ways for “controlling the controllables” to ensure you and your team never leave the “field of play” without having given 100 percent.
5:00 How to treat your business like an athlete treats their body.
13:00 How to turn discomfort into growth.
22:00 Angela’s leadership ingredients.
24:00 How to be vulnerable in a corporate environment.
30:00 The key to confidence in the workplace.
Learn more about Sports Innovation Lab.
Angela’s podcast: The Fluid Fan
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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