The Growth Project

When we experience difficult times in life, it's not always helpful to simply think positive thoughts and be blindly optimistic. Drs. Milt Lowder and Katie Nichols acknowledge the power of positive thinking, but they also discuss why facing the brutal truth allows us to be realistically optimistic, which gives us the freedom to experience pain, find meaning during hardship, and, ultimately, experience positive growth.

Which four athletes would make up your Mount Rushmore? More importantly, why did they make the list? Following up on their Mount Rushmore of Coaches conversation, Drs. Cory Shaffer and Katie Nichols share their all-time athlete lists and the criteria for how they made the cut. This is a great exercise that you can do with your group or team to learn more about each other and engage in some healthy debate over who is most deserving to be carved in stone.

When setting out to reach a new goal, the beginning is typically easier because results are more tangible and endurance has yet to be tested, but the journey often becomes more difficult as time goes on because sustaining growth challenges personal resolve and mental fortitude, particularly when diminishing returns are inevitable. Drs Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer discuss the three phases of the growth process and share tips on how to combat the hurdles you're sure to experience along the way.

Midway through the year is an ideal time to take a step back and measure progress in achieving annual goals. Are you taking the necessary steps to reach your goals and become the person you aspire to be? In addition to goal setting and reflection, Drs. Milt Lowder and Cory Shaffer emphasize the importance of building habits and creating change at the identity level, which results in long-lasting, internalized growth, opposed to superficially checking the box of a desired goal.

Few can say they were the first person ever to do something that's never been done. For Milwaukee Buck's play-by-play announcer, Lisa Byington, it has become a norm in her professional journey as she has opened doors for women in college basketball, football, and professional sport organizations. Lisa joins Dr. Katie Nichols to discuss the type of mindset and approach she's embraced that has helped her become successful at the highest level. She shares her experiences as a professional broadcaster and provides insights on how to perfrom well and stay in the moment in the face of criticism and the unexpected.

Colin Powell was an American army officer and politician who served as the first African-American Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. His book, Colin Powell's 13 Rules of Leadership, serves as the backbone for this conversation between Dr. Drew Brannon and Dr. Katie Nichols who breakdown five of his thirteen principles, including share credit, perpetual optimism is a force multiplier, and remain calm and be kind.

Brand new research from Hoffman et al., (2022) has provided valuable insight into the relationship between organized sports and the mental health of children and adolescents. Dr. Milt Lowder and Dr. Cory Shaffer use this research as the framework to discuss how being part of a team often positively impacts mental health and leads to lifelong well-being, and how participating solely in individual sports can come with the stress and pressure that can negatively impact mental well-being in children.

Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, which means longer days, relaxing vacations, and, hopefully, more time to recharge and simply enjoy life. Drs. Drew Brannon and Cory Shaffer discuss how summer is a natural mid-year point to reflect on annual goals and how, if approached deliberately, the summertime can be very beneficial to our overall well-being.

There is merit in both leading from the front, or taking an active and visible role in running a team, and leading from the back, which is best summarized by Nelson Mandela: "He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind." Dra. Milt Lowder and Cory Shaffer examine both styles, share examples of leaders who embody these leadership styles, and provide action steps to apply these principles with your own teams.

This was a noteworthy year for the Kentucky Derby because Rich Strike, this year's winner, was officially added into the race only a day before the big day and was racing at 80-1 odds. Dr. Drew Brannon and Dr. Katie Nichols discuss key lessons learned from Rich Strike's historic win, including the importance of running your own race, strong performance doesn't happen on paper, and the significance of seeing your goals all the way through.