Business MVP

Jake Wood went from playing college football to serving as a Marine sniper, then built a disaster response organization that raised nearly $250 million. After 11 years, he walked away from the very organization he'd created. What makes a founder leave at the height of their success? In this episode, Jake joins Sammy to share how a spontaneous trip to earthquake-stricken Haiti became Team Rubicon, one of America's largest veteran-led nonprofits. He opens up about the fundraising struggles that nearly bankrupted the organization, the role of ego in leadership, and his decision to start over with Groundswell, a venture-backed company that faced its own unexpected challenges. In this episode, Sammy and Jake discuss:  (04:07) The Accidental Birth of Team Rubicon (10:16) The Long Road to $250 Million (15:34) When Founders Become Their Own Biggest Obstacle (18:16) The Leadership Lessons He Hadn't Learned Yet (20:06) A $15 Million Bet That Nearly Backfired (25:37) Why Investors Were Willing to Bet Millions (28:42) Losing His NFL Dream to a Future Hall of Famer (32:33) The Pat Tillman Story That Changed His Life (36:19) The Danger of Waiting Until You're Ready (40:46) The Business Case for Doing Good (44:15) The Responsibility Every Great Leader Has Jake Wood is a former Wisconsin Badgers football player, Marine Corps veteran, and co-founder of Team Rubicon, a disaster response nonprofit that has mobilized hundreds of thousands of volunteers. After serving as CEO for 11 years, he stepped down to launch Groundswell, a venture-backed corporate philanthropy platform. Jake is also the author of Take Command and Once a Warrior, and a recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for Service. Connect with Jake:  LinkedIn Facebook  X Connect with Sammy:  Instagram  LinkedIn YouTube Become a Business MVP: Ready to level up the way you lead, build, and grow? The Entrepreneur’s Boardroom is where ambitious business owners come together to sharpen their next move, unlock bigger opportunities, and become the MVP of their business. Join Sammy Peterson today at www.theentrepreneursboardroom.com/

No team in Major League Baseball plays in a smaller market than the Milwaukee Brewers. So how did they build a franchise that draws 3 million fans a year and just won the World Series?  In this episode, Wendy Selig-Prieb, former president of the Milwaukee Brewers, talks about the risks she took that set the Brew Crew on the path to becoming the best team in baseball. She also breaks down how she used her platform as the only female MLB president in the 1990s to expose gaps in diversity and inclusion in other industries. Plus: the value of media training and why she pivoted from sports leadership to fashion.  In this episode, Sammy and Wendy discuss:  (00:00) Introduction (03:46) When Your Career Outgrows Your Plan (09:15) The Reality of Being the Only Woman in the Room (18:19) The Promotion She Never Saw Coming (22:54) What High-Stakes Negotiations Teach You (31:08) Turning a 10-Year Battle Into a Legacy (37:29) Why Walking Away Was Her Hardest Decision (41:35) The Challenges of Being Your Own Boss (50:41) How to Earn a Seat on a Board (59:30) The Truth About Having It All Connect with Wendy:  LinkedIn Facebook X Connect With Sammy:  Instagram⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠YouTube Become a Business MVP: Ready to level up the way you lead, build, and grow? The Entrepreneur’s Boardroom is where ambitious business owners come together to sharpen their next move, unlock bigger opportunities, and become the MVP of their business. Join Sammy Peterson today at www.theentrepreneursboardroom.com/

The world's best athletes train their minds to perform under pressure. So why do so many business leaders overlook theirs? Today's guest has turned the psychology of championship-winning teams into a business helping some of the world's biggest organizations perform better. In this episode, high-performance psychologist and Finding Mastery founder Dr. Michael Gervais joins Sammy to share how his work with NFL coach Pete Carroll evolved into a business serving companies like Microsoft. He reveals the challenges of scaling his expertise, the financial lessons behind his podcast, and how he learned to price his work. Michael also explains what leaders get wrong about company culture, how fear of judgment holds entrepreneurs back, and the 90-second routine for better performance. In this episode, Sammy and Dr. Michael discuss:  (00:00) Introduction (03:58) Scaling High Performance From NFL to Microsoft (09:42) The Missing Piece of High-Performance Leadership (22:04) The Real Cost of Building a Successful Podcast (28:03) How to Price Your Expertise at the Highest Level (36:00) How Fear of People's Opinions Holds You Back (41:41) The Hidden Cost of High Performance (45:42) The Future of Finding Mastery and AI Coaching (54:25) The 90-Second Morning Routine for Better Performance Dr. Michael Gervais is a high-performance psychologist, USA Today bestselling author, and founder of Finding Mastery. He has spent his career working with some of the world's top performers, including professional athletes, championship-winning sports teams, and Fortune 100 executives. His work with the Seattle Seahawks and coach Pete Carroll helped lay the foundation for Finding Mastery, which brings psychological skills training to organizations and leaders. Dr. Gervais is also the host of the Finding Mastery podcast and author of The First Rule of Mastery. Resources Mentioned:  Dr. Gervais’ Book, The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying about What People Think of You: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0BTJDS2XQ  Connect with Dr. Michael:  LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Finding Mastery Connect With Sammy:  Instagram⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠YouTube Become a Business MVP: Ready to level up the way you lead, build, and grow? The Entrepreneur’s Boardroom is where ambitious business owners come together to sharpen their next move, unlock bigger opportunities, and become the MVP of their business. Join Sammy Peterson today at www.theentrepreneursboardroom.com/

As entrepreneurs and business leaders, we often feel like we must have all the answers and keep making progress at all costs. Today’s guest insists that the best lessons are learned in periods of confusion, misdirection, and feeling stuck.  In this episode, athletic retirement coach Ed Lubowicki joins Sammy to discuss how entrepreneurs can make the most out of failure, transitional stages, and feeling stuck in your routine or career. He also reveals what entrepreneurs need to cure burnout in their lives and business, how to find coaching clients with organic outreach strategies, and how to rise to the top of the businesses and organizations you admire most.  In this episode, Sammy and Ed discuss: (02:05) The Transition from High School Sports to Division I (07:00) Failure in Business is Easy Compared to Sports (13:04) The Identity Breakdown and Revolution After Sports (18:58) How to Get Coaching Clients (22:49) Become a Leader in Your Favorite Organizations (28:18) Navigating Transitional Phases of Identity (31:20) What Burnt Out Entrepreneurs are Lacking (38:02) The Different Ways to Be a Business MVP Ed Lubowicki is a former Division I lacrosse player at Notre Dame and ex-Deloitte consultant. He serves as Executive Director of Athletes Soul and works formally with 42U, bringing both missions together under one commitment: helping athletes thrive beyond sport. He has held 400+ conversations with athletes navigating transition and coaches clients across current athletes, retirees, and executives shaped by sport. Connect with Ed:  LinkedIn Athletes’ Soul Lubowicki Performance Advisory Connect With Sammy:  Instagram⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠YouTube Become a Business MVP: Ready to level up the way you lead, build, and grow? The Entrepreneur’s Boardroom is where ambitious business owners come together to sharpen their next move, unlock bigger opportunities, and become the MVP of their business. Join Sammy Peterson today at www.theentrepreneursboardroom.com/

Why did the owner of The Cave insist on buying a $40,000 fridge for his gym? Easy—he believes that your business will fall to the lowest standard you allow. If you constantly set a high standard for your business, from the quality of your sales pitch to the quality of the water in your fridge, your business cannot fall to mediocrity. In this episode, celebrity trainer and gym designer John Damon describes how to commit to your vision for your business, from your product itself to the parking lot outside your building. He also reveals the danger of pursuing success without boundaries and the shared traits of his celebrity clientele that fueled their success.  In this episode, Sammy and John discuss: (01:44) Leaving a Corporate Career to Pursue Entrepreneurship (09:50) Why I Fired 50% of My Staff (12:30) Why My Gym Needed a $40,000 Fridge (23:10) Co-Founding IRON and Creating a Sustainable Fitness Business (25:17) The Strategic Choice to Scale Back (27:30) Balancing Business Success with Family (35:21) Significance versus Love, Connection, and Fulfillment (38:50) What Every A-List Actor, CEO, and Professional Athlete Does (45:00) The Importance of Physical Space on Customer Experience (53:12) Preparing for Worst-Case Scenarios as a Business Owner John Damon is a celebrity trainer, high-performance coach, and gym designer with over 30 years of experience helping people maximize their potential. A former Boston College football player, John has earned the trust of elite athletes, Fortune 500 executives, coaches, and Hollywood talent. He launched Sports Club LA’s training program, led the buildout of the first Equinox in California, founded Active Fitness in Los Angeles, and co-founded IRON. Today, John runs The Cave, a private training and recovery sanctuary in Charlotte, North Carolina. Resources Mentioned:  John’s Gym, The Cave Connect with John:  Instagram LinkedIn Website Connect With Sammy:  Instagram⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠YouTube Become a Business MVP: Ready to level up the way you lead, build, and grow? The Entrepreneur’s Boardroom is where ambitious business owners come together to sharpen their next move, unlock bigger opportunities, and become the MVP of their business. Join Sammy Peterson today at www.theentrepreneursboardroom.com