Win More, Live Better

This is the fourth and final (for now) installment of “From the Other Side of the Mic” series where I’m cross-sharing conversations from the guest seat before the new Win More, Live Better guest interviews begin in 2026. First new guest interview is coming on Sunday, January 25th.In this episode, I join Luke Gromer on the Better Coaching podcast to unpack the inner game of coaching and leadership starting with sideways vs. backwards comparison. We also break down the four C’s of high-achieving leaders and the four cornerstones of a winning, sustainable environment.To ensure you don't miss any of our upcoming episodes, feel free to hit follow/subscribe so you don’t miss anything. If you know a coach or leader who might benefit from this conversation with Luke, please continue to share these episodes. Learn More About Luke and the Better Coaching Podcast:You can listen to other episodes of the Better Coaching podacst with Luke Gromer here.You can learn more about Luke Gromer and his work here. Learn More About Zach:If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Today's message is highlighted by a powerful parable that highlights why every rep builds something and why effort is never neutral. This episode focuses on how careers are shaped in ordinary moments, how regret often comes from withheld commitment, and why your body of work ultimately defines you. If you’re building toward something meaningful, this episode is a reminder to build it well. Learn More About Zach:If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Most leaders say they want honesty, but many are not always as deliberate as they need to be in surrounding themselves with truth-tellers. In this episode, we'll discuss the book, Team of Rivals, which discusses why and how Abraham Lincoln built his presidential cabinet with rivals who would be willing to criticize and challenge him when necessary. This conversation breaks down how coaches can invite honest disagreement in meetings, while still demanding full commitment once decisions are made. Learn More About Zach:If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

What if the problem with most New Year’s goals and resolutions isn’t effort, but the order we approach change? In this episode, we explore why starting with your desired future ending gives meaning to the struggle you encounter in the present. Instead of stacking goals forward, you’ll learn how to define the story you want to be telling one year from now and how that clarity helps you endure discomfort.  Learn More About Zach:If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

This episode is the third installment of the From the Other Side of the Mic series, where I cross-share conversations from podcasts I’ve had the opportunity to be a guest on.In this episode, I’m featured on The WellSport Podcast, hosted by mental performance coach Sean Fee. Our conversation explores my background in sport psychology, my time working in professional baseball, and how my work today is centered on helping coaches win more and live better without sacrificing themselves in the process.Throughout the conversation, we dig into topics like active listening and asking better questions, why coaches are often best positioned to serve the person they once were, how defining a personal scoreboard creates clarity, and why high performance is just as much about subtraction as it is about addition. We also discuss keystone habits, sculpting versus grinding, and the leadership systems that support both performance and well-being over the long term.If you’re not already subscribed to the podcast, be sure to do so to stay current with upcoming short-form and long-form episodes in 2026. New guest conversations are arriving soon! Learn More About The WellSport Podcast:You can listen to Sean and I's conversation (or other episodes) on his podcast here.You can learn more about Sean Fee and his work here. Learn More About Zach:If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Today is National Quitters Day, which is the point in the year when most New Year’s goals and resolutions begin to fall apart. In this episode, we explore why New Year’s resolutions often unravel, why and how to shift your focus from outcomes to inputs, and a simple daily question that can keep you aligned with the person you want to become. We’ll also challenge the idea that quitting is always failure and offer a more intentional way to think about when to persist and when to stop.If you’re a coach committed to leveling up in 2026, I'm offering free coaching calls to help you get clarity on your goals, identify what's getting in the way, and outline practical steps we can create for you to become the leader you aspire to be. You can book this free call using this link: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Most people don’t fall short of excellence because they lack ability, but rather because the work becomes mundane, repetitive, and unrewarding long before the payoff ever arrives. In this episode, we unpack how excellence functions like a filter, gradually removing people, along the journey. If you’re a coach committed to leveling up in 2026, I'm offering free coaching calls to help you get clarity on your goals, identify what's getting in the way, and outline practical steps we can create for you to become the leader you aspire to be. You can book this free call using this link: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Drift is inevitable in the pursuit of any meaningful goal. Our focus will inevitably fade as initial enthusiasm wears off. Our standards will soften as we start cutting corners or making small compromises along the way. And most of the time, this all happens slowly and subtly. In this episode, I explore why I believe coaching is about helping people manage drift andhow we can function like rumble strips to keep our people from veering off-course.If you’re a coach committed to leveling up in 2026, I'm offering free coaching calls to help you get clarity on your goals, identify what's getting in the way, and outline practical steps we can create for you to become the leader you aspire to be. You can book this free call using this link: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

This is the second episode of the From the Other Side of the Mic series where I'm cross-sharing a conversation from a different podcast I've been on. Today's episode is a recording of a discussion I was part of for the Coach Your Brains Out podcast, where I joined Billy Allen, Ceci Clark, and Bernie Holliday for a deep dive into what it truly takes to create a high-performance environment.In this conversation, you’ll hear three different perspectives from practitioners who have led mental performance departments in Major League Baseball. Together, we unpack how environments are intentionally designed, how standards and behaviors are shaped, and why culture is one of the most powerful performance drivers available to leaders.Finally, be sure to subscribe to the show to stay current with upcoming short-form and long-form episodes throughout 2026. New guest interview epidoes will be released in a few weeks. Learn More About the Coach Your Brains Out Podcast:You can listen to other episodes on the Coach Your Brains Out podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coach-your-brains-out/id1060183650You can also watch a previous discussion from this panel where we discussed our perspectives on "positive thinking": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB2JPz0XpEcYou can learn more about Billy Allen here:You can learn more about Ceci Craft here:You can learn more about Bernie Holliday here:  Learn More About Zach:If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Two teachers witnessed the same moment with the same child and told two completely different stories. In this episode, we explore how the event didn’t change, but the interpretation did. For athletes, our explanations play a significant role in shaping our confidence and momentum (especially after mistakes). For leaders and coaches, our explanations will impact decisions, conversations, and the culture for those we lead. Thus, today's episode is a reminder that outcomes are often driven less by what happens and more by the meaning we assign to it. If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/