the Learn-It-All™ podcast 247: 22 Championships in a Row | The Character Over Talent Formula | Rusty Komori
Success isn’t just about the trophies—it’s about mastering mindset, building character, and leading with empathy. On this episode of the Learn-It-All™ podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with legendary tennis coach Rusty Komori, architect of 22 consecutive state championships and bestselling author, to unpack what it means to lead with true greatness. Rusty Komori shares the playbook he used to transform athletes into champions of character—and reveals why adversity, choice, and trust are at the heart of sustained success.
From embracing challenge to building “superior achievers,” Rusty Komori delivers proven strategies for any leader seeking to uplevel their team’s culture, mental fitness, and performance. This episode is loaded with practical insights, powerful stories, and takeaways for coaches, executives, and anyone striving to move from good to truly great.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why character and empathy are the foundation of championship teams—and championship companies
- How leaders can proactively prepare teams for adversity, and why poise under pressure matters
- The difference between a victim mindset and a victor mindset (and how to help your team make the right choice)
- Rusty Komori’s Six Keys for Peak Performance—and how to rate yourself (or your team) for lasting momentum
- The Three “C’s” of leadership: Choice, Communication, and Culture
- How to reframe “mental health” as “mental fitness”—and why vulnerability is essential, especially for top leaders
- A powerful story of how mindset can save lives, featuring Sergeant Chris Kim and the impact of Beyond the Lines
Timestamps:
00:00 – Shaping mindset and welcoming adversity
01:58 – Character over talent: building true champions
04:48 – Rusty Komori’s journey from law school to tennis legend
06:25 – How to avoid favoritism and build team trust
07:11 – Coaching: adapt to your people, press the right buttons
08:26 – Focusing on strengths, from first to twelfth player
13:57 – Managing pressure and adversity: leader’s role
17:00 – Authentic leadership: balancing strength with vulnerability
18:02 – Victim vs. Victor mindset: you always have a choice
20:17 – How to help teams shift out of a victim mindset
23:23 – The power of choice: why greatness starts with a decision
25:50 – Overcoming fear, taking risks, avoiding regret
27:02 – Great leader vs. great person—and asking for help
29:20 – How to build a “superior” culture beyond excellence
31:13 – Three things every leader must control: thoughts, words, actions
33:41 – Achieving mastery: don’t practice until you get it right—practice until you can’t get it wrong
35:30 – Sustaining peak performance: the Six Keys explained
39:29 – Rusty Komori’s leadership assessment and quarterly growth
45:15 – Reframing mental health as mental fitness: why stories save lives
46:27 – Sergeant Chris Kim’s life-changing story of resilience
53:17 – Vulnerability in leadership: showing your challenges can help others
57:16 – Where to connect with Rusty Komori
About Rusty Komori
Rusty Komori is a legendary tennis coach, author, speaker, and leadership consultant based in Hawaii. As coach of Punahou School’s boys varsity tennis team from 1994 to 2015, he led his squads to an unprecedented 22 straight state championships—the longest streak in U.S. high school sports history. A former Creighton University Hall of Fame athlete, Rusty Komori now helps leaders in sports, business, and education master their mindset, cultivate empathy, and build cultures of excellence.
Resources & Mentions:
- Rusty Komori’s website: rustykomori.com
- Rusty Komori on LinkedIn
- Beyond the Lines (book by Rusty Komori)
- Superior (book by Rusty Komori)
- “The Score Will Take Care of Itself” by Bill Walsh (book link)
- “Collective Edge” by Colin Fisher (book link)
- Rusty Komori on Instagram: @rustykomori
Podcast Contact Information:
Website: www.learnit.com
Email: podcast@learnit.com
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