Making a Difference: Life Skills You Can Learn from Sports, Academics, Work (& Failure)

In this episode, Rory speaks with Cecil Nazareth, CPA, professor, coach, and author of Making a Difference: Life Skills You Can Learn from Sports, Academics, Work (& Failure), about what it really takes to succeed in business and in life. Cecil shares his journey from professional field hockey player in India to international tax expert and accounting professor in the U.S., offering practical advice on discipline, resilience, and the lessons we learn from failure. He explains why education should focus on real-world, transferable skills, and how repetition, visualization, and storytelling can help professionals stay sharp under pressure. Cecil also shares his philosophy on lifelong learning, the value of self-assessment, and his idea of the “24/7 earning cycle” — earning during the day and putting your money to work at night. Are you ready to rethink how we teach and grow the next generation of professionals? Want to know how sports, setbacks, and stories can lead to a more focused and fulfilled life? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this inspirational conversation with Cecil Nazareth CPA.