Don Yaeger on Michael Jordan’s Drive & the 1% Playbook (Ep 343)

2025-09-30

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What do elite athletes, top CEOs, and unforgettable teams really have in common? On this week’s Why Not Now? with Amy Jo Martin, 12-time New York Times bestselling author and award-winning keynote speaker Don Yaeger pulls back the curtain on how world-class performers think, lead, and compound small wins into big outcomes. Don shares the spark behind his Corporate Competitor Podcast and the research that started it all: a striking link between women in the C-suite and sports participation. He then unpacks a powerful interviewing framework built on three moves: know your audience, find real common ground, and ask th...

Don shares the spark behind his Corporate Competitor Podcast and the research that started it all: a striking link between women in the C-suite and sports participation. He then unpacks a powerful interviewing framework built on three moves: know your audience, find real common ground, and ask the question only preparation earns. That approach led to one of the most human stories you will ever hear about Michael Jordan and the fuel behind his relentless drive.

Inside the episode:

A simple annual exercise to upgrade your “inner circle” and protect your energy.
How Coach K rebuilt USA Basketball’s purpose before a gold-medal run, and how to create “feel it” moments that bond any team.
The Savannah Bananas blueprint for reinventing a stale customer experience by solving the ten things fans hate most.
A practical take on AI for writers and leaders: use it as a high-level editor and coach to tighten thinking, not as a crutch.

If you want a playbook for getting 1% better every day, building teams that care, and leading with courage and curiosity, this episode will light a fire.

Learn more about Don: https://donyaeger.com/

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