Your edge is not how hard you push. It is how fast you recover, reset, and get back on track.

In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill break down the difference between discipline and rigidity, burnout and misallocated energy, and rest and weakness. From missed workouts and cheat meals to draining team members and recovery as a competitive advantage, this AMMA is a blunt reminder that high performance is not about being perfect. It is about knowing what costs you energy, what restores it, and what you refuse to tolerate.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why getting off track only matters if you cannot get back on track
• How to identify the work, people, and habits that drain your energy
• What it takes to make recovery a competitive advantage instead of a guilty pleasure

You do not need to be perfect to stay disciplined. You just need the discipline to come back stronger the next day.

(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:01:42) Discipline vs. Enjoying Life
(00:05:05) Why One Bad Day Changes Nothing
(00:05:32) Getting Back on Track Matters
(00:10:05) Q1: Burnout Without Overwork
(00:16:18) Q2: Is Recovery an Advantage?
(00:22:02) Q3: High Performers Who Drain You

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Links & Resources:

• Atlas Restaurant
• The Garden Room
• Michelin Guide

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Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com.

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Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more.

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If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:

• 461. Mastering Biological Fundamentals for Elite Performance with Dr. Kristen Holmes
• 430. AMMA - What Separates The Pros From The Rest
• 420. The Sleep Science That Separates Elite Performers with Dr. Michael Breus

The only way to build the next big thing is to stop trying to copy the last one.

In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with David Vonderhaar, studio lead at BulletFarm and former studio design director for the Call of Duty franchise, to unpack what it really takes to innovate in a world obsessed with replication. From navigating harsh feedback from passionate audiences to building a studio from the ground up after two decades inside a billion-dollar franchise, David shares the mindset, courage, and conviction required to do things on your own terms. This is a conversation about originality, resilience, and the cost of choosing the harder path.

Here's what you'll learn:

• Why true breakthroughs come from being original, not from copying what's already working
• How to keep teams engaged under pressure without burning them out
• What it takes to bet on yourself when walking away from a sure thing

If you want to build something that lasts, you have to be willing to build it before anyone else believes in it.

(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:28) Two Decades at Treyarch
(00:03:56) Why He Didn't Retire
(00:05:49) Origins in the Arcade
(00:10:16) Joining the Call of Duty Machine
(00:12:07) The Yearly Release Pressure
(00:18:43) Navigating a Toxic Community
(00:21:12) The End of the Public-Facing Dev
(00:26:57) What Made Call of Duty Iconic
(00:28:54) When a Game Loses Its Soul
(00:30:27) The Business Broke the Industry
(00:36:59) Redefining What AAA Means
(00:38:45) What Success Looks Like Now
(00:41:59) Building the Right Team

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Links & Resources:

• BulletFarm
• NetEase Games
• Activision
• Treyarch
• Infinity Ward
• Sledgehammer Games
• Raven Software
• Call of Duty
• X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse
• Dungeons & Dragons

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Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com.

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Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more.

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If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:

• 332. Cliff Bleszinski - What the Legal Industry Can Learn From the Gaming Industry
• 113. Kevin O’Leary - The Entrepreneurial Journey: Inside the Mind of Mr. Wonderful
• 48. Eric Siu - Leveling Up: How to Master the Game of Life

At what point does believing in someone's potential stop being leadership and start being a liability?

In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill answer three listener questions about one of the hardest tensions in leadership: the gap between what you see in your people and what they actually deliver. They walk through how to handle a high-talent, low-output team member, how to recognize when a long-tenured leader has plateaued, and whether the popular idea of "unlimited potential" actually holds up. Believing in your team is valuable, but does it replace standards and results?

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why potential without performance becomes a liability, and how to set objective criteria before emotion drives the decision
• How to know when a team member has hit their ceiling and what to do about it without losing empathy
• Why "unlimited potential" is a myth, and what a leader can actually be responsible for

You can want it for them all day long. If they don't want it for themselves, nothing you do will matter.

(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:04:12) Earning the Right to Live a Little
(00:05:37) Q1: Talent vs. Output
(00:08:32) Potential Is Secondary to Performance
(00:09:47) The Outside-In Perspective Test
(00:10:50) Q2: Has He Hit His Ceiling?
(00:11:35) What Got You Here Won't Get You There
(00:14:24) Ceilings Aren't Failures
(00:15:23) Q3: Does Everyone Have Unlimited Potential?
(00:17:03) A Leader Removes Barriers
(00:20:48) Closing

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Links & Resources:

• No Rules Rules by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer
• DreamHack Atlanta
• LeBron James
• Michael Jordan
• Kobe Bryant
• Gordon Ramsay

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Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com.

----

Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

----

Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more.

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If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:

• 359. The Ultimate Guide to Retaining Top Talent
• 313. A-Player Attractors - Winning With Who: Cultivating a Winning Team
• 207. Patty McCord - How to Build a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility

The fastest way to destroy a great firm is to let standards slip while you scale.

In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Sam Pond, founder and managing partner of Pond Lehocky Giordano, to break down what it really takes to build a high-performing law firm without losing what made it great in the first place. From leadership under pressure to culture enforcement, delegation, data, and the real ROI of team retreats, this conversation is a masterclass in scaling without becoming bureaucratic.

Here's what you'll learn:

• Why “take care of the client and everything else will take care of itself” is the only scalable North Star
• How to build a culture that holds under pressure (and what to do the moment you see slippage)
• What it takes to run a real executive structure, delegate at scale, and still deliver exceptional service

The firms that win next are the ones that scale without surrendering what made them great.

(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:10) Welcome and origin story
(00:04:33) Early hustle and entrepreneurship
(00:05:59) From adversaries to partners
(00:09:18) Mission first, money second
(00:11:34) Scaling quality with teams
(00:16:13) Retreats, culture, and ROI
(00:20:15) Growth metrics and reinvestment
(00:24:04) C-suite structure and ops scale
(00:28:07) Marketing channels that convert
(00:33:20) Adversity, COVID, leadership
(00:41:45) Worry, mindset, and perspective
(00:44:58) Marriage and shared values
(00:46:41) What Sam is most proud of
(00:49:42) Closing

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Links & Resources:

• Pond Lehocky Giordano
• John Morgan
• Jamie Dimon
• Eagles Autism Foundation
• Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

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Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com.

----

Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

----

Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O’Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more.

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If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:

• 247. John Morgan - Fortune Favors the Bold: How to Build a Legal Empire
• 204. Alexander Shunnarah - The Thin Line Between Success and Failure
• 182. Randi McGinn - Authenticity is the Advantage

Your firm does not change when you learn more. It changes when you actually execute.

In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill call out the pattern behind "staying motivated" while making zero real change, then lay out how to turn insights into traction. From a simple hourly discipline habit to a blunt breakdown of filtering advice and finding the right seat, this episode reinforces a core truth about performance: standards are built through action, not consumption. If you have been collecting frameworks while avoiding implementation, this will reset your focus.

Here's what you'll learn:

• Why collecting information can feel productive while actually keeping you stuck, and how to break the pattern.
• How to filter contradictory advice so you stop second-guessing and start making clean decisions.
• What it takes to choose the right seat in business so you stop forcing a role that creates constant friction.

Want the results? Then start moving like the person who earns them.

(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:01:56) A habit that builds discipline
(00:05:27) The hidden cost of sitting
(00:09:00) Q1: When learning is avoidance
(00:09:42) Motivation can be procrastination
(00:10:27) Knowledge needs execution
(00:13:54) Q2: When smart advice conflicts
(00:16:49) Choose mentors by outcomes
(00:20:32) Q3: The truth about entrepreneurship
(00:23:44) The power of the #2 seat
(00:28:10) The right seat should feel obvious
(00:28:48) Wrap Up

Links & Resources:

• Bryan Johnson
• Mark Manson
• Nike "Just Do It"

Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com.

Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:

• 251. Alex Hormozi - The Power of Humility in Achieving Entrepreneurial Success
• 203. AMMA - How to Know If You Are NOT Cut Out for Entrepreneurship
• 10. Gino Wickman - Entrepreneurship. Is it in your DNA?

Elite performance is not a personality trait. It is biology, managed intentionally.

In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Dr. Kristen Holmes, Global Head of Human Performance at WHOOP, to talk about what health tracking should actually do for you. They break down how to use wearable data without getting trapped in day-to-day noise, why sleep consistency beats chasing perfect sleep duration, and how recovery drives the capacity you need for clear thinking, stable energy, and better decisions. If you want the upside of high output without the crash that usually follows, this conversation gives you the framework.

Here's what you'll learn:

• How to read your data in a way that supports better decisions, not more second-guessing
• What a strong baseline looks like across HRV, resting heart rate, respiratory rate, and VO2 max
• A simple starting point to stabilize sleep and recovery before you chase optimization

If you want to perform like an outlier, start living like your biology matters.

(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:22) Wearables, Data, and Anxiety
(00:05:47) HRV, CV, and Adaptation
(00:09:55) VO2 Max and "Hard to Die"
(00:14:50) LeBron Rules Apply to Everyone
(00:16:56) Sleep Consistency Beats Duration
(00:20:32) Sleep Debt and "Social Jet Lag"
(00:23:01) Why Deep Sleep and REM Matter
(00:25:26) Light Diet and Circadian Alignment
(00:28:55) Why "Recovery" Isn't the Couch
(00:29:39) Capacity, Stress, and Survival
(00:32:37) Train Heart and Build Muscle
(00:34:49) Heart Rate and Decision Quality
(00:41:36) Wearables vs Drinking
(00:43:22) The 80/20 Life and Your "Why"
(00:47:24) Purpose, Autonomy, Connection
(00:51:41) Building Team Capacity at Work
(01:02:18) "Aligned": What the Book Covers
(01:06:00) Closing

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Links & Resources:

• WHOOP
• Heart rate variability (HRV)
• Respiratory rate
• VO2 max
• Peter Drucker
• Dr. Russell Foster's TED Talk
• Rory McIlroy
• Scott Galloway
• "Aligned" by Kristen Holmes

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Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com.

----

Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

----

Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more.

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If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:

• 323. James Lawrence - The Power of One More: A Journey of Grit and Determination
• 170. Mat Fraser - The Fittest Man on Earth
• 21. Will Ahmed - Unlocking Human Performance

If your top performers are walking out the door and you never saw it coming, the problem isn't them.

In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill answer three listener questions that all point back to the same problem: what you are not seeing is shaping your outcomes. They talk through why high performers often leave without giving real feedback, how to approach self-awareness without getting lost in endless "work on yourself" loops, and what promotions look like in a results-driven environment.

Here's what you'll learn:

• Why employees often avoid direct feedback on leadership issues, and how to reduce regrettable turnover
• How to spot patterns in your behavior through journaling, weekly reviews, and trusted outside feedback
• Why promotions follow measurable output, not visibility and long hours, and how to become undeniable

If you want better outcomes, take a hard look at the habits and assumptions you treat as normal.

(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:00) "Back of the Pack" Mindset
(00:08:29) You Can't Judge a Book by Cover
(00:11:59) Q1: They Left, But Won't Say Why
(00:14:17) High Standards vs Being Abrasive
(00:18:00) Q2: Finding What You Can't See
(00:18:50) Weekly Reviews Expose Patterns
(00:22:16) Q3: Passed Over, Now What?
(00:24:45) Hours Don't Matter, Output Does
(00:26:30) Become Undeniable

Links & Resources:

• Kyle Pease Foundation
• Kristian Blummenfelt
• Mat Fraser
• Shohei Ohtani

Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com.

Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:

• 446. AMMA - How to Know If Hard Work Is Worth It
• 325. AMMA - Pressure, Priorities, and Progress: Mastering the Price of Success
• 63. Mat Fraser - The Fittest Man on Earth

If you keep waiting to "feel motivated," you will keep losing to friction, bad habits, and the identity you keep reinforcing.

In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Craig Ballantyne, widely known for being "the world's most disciplined man." He didn't get there through sheer intensity or some superhuman routine, but instead by turning discipline into a repeatable system. Together, they break down why "discipline" means something different for everyone, why subtracting friction beats adding effort, and how identity and self-talk determine your consistency. This conversation is a practical blueprint for building standards that hold up even when life gets busy.

Here's what you'll learn:

• Why discipline starts with a clear definition of success, not generic "work harder" goals
• How to subtract obstacles (environments, people, distance, temptations) so consistency becomes the default
• What it takes to shift your identity and self-talk so your habits become almost automatic

Stop trying to win with willpower. Actually achieve your goals with systems.

(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:36) Being the "World's Most Disciplined Man"
(00:03:56) Define discipline for yourself
(00:05:39) Subtract friction to win
(00:08:02) Identity and self-talk
(00:11:50) Public accountability hack
(00:13:51) Anxiety and turning it around
(00:19:18) The Perfect Day Formula
(00:23:53) Dark side of Discipline
(00:28:27) Get back on track fast
(00:32:40) Why Craig coaches others
(00:36:40) Who changes vs who doesn't
(00:39:01) Win in business, lose in life
(00:44:06) Values-first planning filter
(00:49:01) What being a "game changer" means
(00:50:03) Closing

Links & Resources:

• Craig Ballantyne
• The Perfect Day Formula by Craig Ballantyne
• The Dark Side of Discipline by Craig Ballantyne
• David Goggins
• Charlie Munger
• Falling Down (1993)
• Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
• The Da Vinci Code (2006)
• What Got You Here Won't Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith

Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com.

Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:

• 427. Your 2026 Reset: The One Change That Will Transform Your Firm with Jay Papasan
• 418. Why Discipline Without Toxicity Wins Every Time with Dominique Dawes
• 229. David Goggins - Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within

What happens when the drive that built your firm starts costing you the life you wanted it to support?

In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill answer three questions from firm owners who built real success but then realized the business was taking a toll on their health, marriage, and personal lives. Michael Mogill shares how he thinks about separating who you are from what you run, how to stay demanding without becoming unapproachable, and how to stay motivated when the old underdog story stops working.

Here's what you'll learn:

• How to rethink "starting over" when the business is consuming your time and attention
• How to keep high standards while creating a culture where your team is not afraid to challenge you
• How to find a new source of drive when you have already achieved what used to motivate you

If you want a business that supports your life, you have to build it so it does not require you for everything.

(00:00:00) Introduction (00:02:21) Where to Find the Psychos at 6 AM (00:04:40) When Did You Last Jump Or Sprint? (00:05:24) Van Damme Volvo Commercial (00:07:13) Why Hard Things Build Confidence (00:08:54) Q1: Who Am I Without My Firm? (00:12:42) What Do You Actually Want Now? (00:14:12) Q2: Intense… Or Intimidating? (00:18:06) Why Vulnerability Builds Trust (00:19:19) Q3: Losing Underdog Status (00:21:29) The “Infinite Game” Mindset (00:23:25) Rapid-Fire Wrap

Links & Resources:

• Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
• "The Epic Split"
• Rocky III

Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com.

Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:

• 434. AMMA - Unconditional Love and Other Business Disasters
• 423. AMMA - How to Actually Scale Your Standards
• 383. AMMA - Why Comfort Will Quietly Destroy Your Law Firm

What separates the firms that scale cleanly from the ones that stay stuck in chaos, even with a great reputation?

In this special mashup episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael Mogill sits down with Kayla Grayson and Michael Beckman of Viles & Beckman, Jami Oliver of Oliver Law Office, Craig Greening of The Greening Law Group, and Stevin Groth of Groth & Associates to explore the real difference between stalling and scaling. Most firms don't fail because they lack talent; they're struggling because the business behind the cases cannot keep up. This episode is a look at the discipline, standards, and leadership decisions that make growth possible from firm owners who have been there themselves.

Here's what you'll learn:

• How to improve client communication and experience to create real value (and prevent case leakage)
• How to use AI to accelerate case resolution while maintaining the human touch that clients expect
• What it means to move from trial lawyer to true business owner and leader

Exceptional client experience doesn't happen by accident. This episode reveals the systems, standards, and strategic decisions that deliver excellence every single time.

(00:00:00) Introduction (00:03:04) Groth: immigrant kid to founder (00:07:05) Early days: taking every call himself (00:18:38) From peacekeeper to leader (00:27:46) Normal is unacceptable (00:29:36) Beckman and Grayson on "the five-star brand" (00:33:03) Culture after losing a partner (00:42:17) Competing with Amazon-level service (00:49:16) Break the mold, build your vision (00:51:34) AI removes busywork (00:57:08) Greening: brand without gimmicks (00:58:23) The stop at 16 that led him to law (01:01:11) Engineering edge in court (01:16:18) Hire to win, not to be right (01:23:34) Jami: COVID decision to scale (01:26:53) Six-month hiring funnel (01:34:57) Community impact that sticks (01:42:35) Success: more time with her daughters

Links & Resources:

• Groth & Associates
• The Toledo Mud Hens
• Scopes Monkey Trial
• Viles & Beckman
• Oliver Law Office
• The Greening Law Group

Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:

• 451. Growth Secrets From the Best of the Best
• 410. The Firm of the Future Won't Wait for You to Catch Up
• 376. Best of AMMA - Brand-Building Secrets Your Competitors Will Hate You For

What if the reason problems keep reaching you at DEFCON 1 is not your team's competence, but your rules of engagement?

In this episode of The Game Changing Attorney Podcast, Michael and Jessica Mogill respond to three questions that hit a nerve with many firm owners: why problems keep getting escalated late, why team performance can feel inconsistent from week to week, and why meetings sometimes turn into silence instead of collaboration.

This conversation is about the leadership signals you may be sending without realizing it, and how small adjustments can change the way your team communicates, performs, and contributes.

Here's what you'll learn:

• How to define escalation criteria so you hear about the right issues earlier, without becoming the bottleneck
• Why emotional consistency from leadership affects performance more than motivation does
• A simple way to structure meetings so every person contributes, not just the most outspoken

If you want a team that operates with urgency and ownership (without waiting for a crisis), this is your playbook.

(00:00:00) Introduction
(00:02:46) Respect for the Work Behind Success
(00:04:34) One Year to Become Competent, Decades to Become Elite
(00:08:41) Q1: Why You Hear About Problems Too Late
(00:10:32) Define Escalation Criteria (Rules of Engagement)
(00:11:38) Q2: Inconsistent Team Performance and Emotional Leadership
(00:12:40) "Monday Mogill" and Leadership Whiplash
(00:12:50) Composure, Judgment, and Not Carrying Stress Forward
(00:17:48) Breathwork and Not Making Decisions While Reactive
(00:19:08) Q3: Why Meetings Get Blank Stares
(00:22:12) Invite Pushback
(00:22:25) Wrap Up

Links & Resources:

• 'Smile, or You're Doing It Wrong' Andy Glaze
• Jocko Willink

Learn what sustainable growth can look like for your firm at crispcoach.com.

Do you love this podcast and want to see more game changing content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Past guests on The Game Changing Attorney Podcast include David Goggins, John Morgan, Alex Hormozi, Randi McGinn, Kim Scott, Chris Voss, Kevin O'Leary, Laura Wasser, John Maxwell, Mark Lanier, Robert Greene, and many more.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:

• 455. From Addict to UltraRunner: The Ultimate Redemption Arc with Andy Glaze
• 375. AMMA - Stop Being The Bottleneck: Lead Your Firm Without Being Needed
• 284. AMMA - Elevate Your Leadership with Emotional Intelligence