The Mindset of a Champion: Wrestling, Leadership, and Storytelling with Ben Hatta
Description
Ben Hatta, former wrestler and Emmy-nominated producer, explores the intense rivalry between St. Edward and Walsh Jesuit in his documentary Clash of Dynasties. Growing up in a wrestling family, Ben's journey shaped his storytelling, revealing lessons about leadership and mentorship. A pivotal moment in the rivalry, when St. Edward's coach handed his playbook to rival coach Bill Barger, exemplifies true leadership and respect for opponents. Ben highlights how wrestling’s core principles, like resilience and determination, transfer to life’s challenges, emphasizing the importance of getting back up after setbacks. His mantra, "Energy is equal to desire and purpose," fuels his work and inspires others to connect with meaningful purpose.
Highlights from this episode:
- Wrestling teaches profound life lessons about resilience and self-reliance that transfer to all aspects of life
- The remarkable story of St. Edward's coach Howard Ferguson giving his "playbook" to rival coach Bill Barger
- How documentaries like Team Foxcatcher, Kurt Angle, and Clash of Dynasties preserve wrestling's important stories
- The moving moment when bitter rivals joined hands around the mat after a referee collapsed during competition
- Bill Barger's journey from making a promise to God in Vietnam to transforming lives through wrestling
- Creating a dynasty requires building a culture, developing a system, and passing knowledge to the next generation
- Ben's guiding principle: "Energy is equal to desire and purpose" fuels his documentary work
https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/episode-37-wrestling-leadership-storytelling-with-ben-hatta/
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