The Cobra Effect with DJ Hillier

Coach Tom Ryan is the head wrestling coach at The Ohio State University, where he led the Buckeyes to their first-ever NCAA team championship in 2015 and has consistently kept the program among the nation's elite. A two-time NCAA Coach of the Year and National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee, Ryan has coached dozens of All-Americans and Olympians while building a culture rooted in toughness, character, and purpose. He’s also the author of Chosen Suffering, a powerful book that explores faith, leadership, and finding meaning through adversity. His leadership and resilience—shaped in part by personal tragedy—have made him one of the most respected voices in collegiate athletics for the past 30 years.Journaling Reflection Questions1. How do you currently choose to suffer in your own life, and what message does this send to those you lead?2. When you experience setbacks or losses, what stories do you tell yourself, and how do these narratives either empower or limit your leadership?3. What does your current ratio of positive to corrective feedback look like, and how might adjusting this balance strengthen your relationships with those you coach?4. How do you help the people you lead separate their identity from their performance, especially during challenging times?5. In what ways do you invest in relationships that extend beyond the immediate goals or outcomes of your program?Download my FREE Coaching Beyond the Scoreboard E-book www.djhillier.com/coach Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclassDownload my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40booksSubscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantagePurchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9UdFollow me on Instagram: @deejayhillierConnect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

Download my FREE Coaching Beyond the Scoreboard E-book www.djhillier.com/coach Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclassDownload my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40booksSubscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantagePurchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9UdFollow me on Instagram: @deejayhillierConnect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

Bill McGowan is the founder and CEO of Clarity Media Group, a two time Emmy Award winner and the best selling author of Pitch Perfect. He is the top global communications advisor to the leading names in business, tech, and entertainment, AI, sports, fashion, cyber security, beauty, media, and finance. He has coached the founders of Amazon, Meta, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Spotify, Snapchat, and Airbnb, as well as Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy winners and World Series, Super Bowl, and Olympic champions.Bill previous appearance on The Mindset Advantage Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mindset-advantage/id1420211275?i=1000578493992Download my FREE Coaching Beyond the Scoreboard E-book www.djhillier.com/coach Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclassDownload my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40booksSubscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantagePurchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9UdFollow me on Instagram: @deejayhillierConnect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

Download my FREE Coaching Beyond the Scoreboard E-book www.djhillier.com/coach Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclassDownload my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40booksSubscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantagePurchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9UdFollow me on Instagram: @deejayhillierConnect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

Dr. Rob Gilbert is a legendary sports psychologist, professor, and performance coach who has been inspiring athletes, coaches, and leaders for over four decades. He is best known as the voice behind the iconic Success Hotline, where he has delivered a motivational message every single day—without missing a beat—for over 12,500 consecutive days. A professor at Montclair State University and a highly sought-after speaker, Dr. Gilbert has helped shape the mindset of champions around the world. His storytelling, humor, and heart have made him one of the most impactful voices in the world of mental performance.Reflection questions1. Energy and Self-Awareness:Dr. Gilbert emphasizes that 'energy is your edge' and talks about being aware of your energy levels throughout the day. Reflect on your typical day - when do you feel most energized and alive, and what specific activities, people, or environments contribute to those peak energy moments? How might you intentionally design more of these energy-giving experiences into your daily routine?"2. The Strategy vs. Talent Paradigm:Dr. Gilbert believes 'life is not a talent game, it's a strategy game.' Think about an area of your life where you've been relying on natural ability or hoping things will just work out. What specific strategies could you develop or implement to take more intentional control of that situation? How might shifting from a talent mindset to a strategy mindset change your approach?3. Untapped Potential - Your Personal 'Acres of Diamonds'The 'Acres of Diamonds' story suggests we often overlook the treasures right in front of us. What skills, opportunities, relationships, or resources do you currently have access to that you might be taking for granted or not fully utilizing? How could you begin to 'mine' these existing assets more effectively?4. Daily Consistency and Compound Impact:Dr. Gilbert has delivered over 12,500 daily motivational messages since 1992, demonstrating the power of small, consistent actions. What is one small but meaningful action you could commit to doing daily that would compound over time to create significant positive change in your life? What has prevented you from maintaining this type of consistency in the past, and how might you overcome those obstacles?5. Reframing Challenges as Opportunities:Throughout the conversation, Dr. Gilbert emphasizes finding the positive in difficult situations. Think about a current challenge or setback you're facing. How might this situation actually be preparing you for something greater, teaching you a valuable lesson, or opening doors you hadn't previously considered? What would it look like to approach this challenge with curiosity rather than resistance?Download my FREE Coaching Beyond the Scoreboard E-book www.djhillier.com/coach Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclassDownload my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40booksSubscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantagePurchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9UdFollow me on Instagram: @deejayhillierConnect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclassDownload my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40booksSubscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantagePurchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9UdFollow me on Instagram: @deejayhillierConnect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

Yogi Roth is a college football analyst, bestselling author, performance coach, and Emmy-nominated filmmaker who’s spent over 20 years studying what makes great athletes and leaders thrive. A former wide receiver at Pitt and assistant coach under Pete Carroll at USC, Yogi has worked with elite quarterbacks, champion teams, and high performers across industries. He’s the host of The It Factory podcast and co-author of Win Forever, and his passion lies in helping people chase what matters with purpose, curiosity, and joy.Reflection questions Proving Yourself Right vs. Proving Others Wrong: How might your approach to challenges change if you focused on proving yourself right rather than proving others wrong? What impact would this shift have on your coaching style or parenting approach? Creating Value vs. Climbing Ladders: In what specific ways are you creating value for those you lead or parent? How might you shift your focus from "climbing the ladder" to making a meaningful impact in your current role? The Seeker Mentality: How are you modeling curiosity and a "seeker mentality" for your athletes/children? What questions could you ask more often to foster this mindset in those you lead? Transformational Impact: What would it look like if your athletes/children wanted to stay connected with you 5-10 years from now? What small changes could you make today to become more transformational and less transactional in your approach? Process Over Outcome: Where in your coaching or parenting are you overly focused on outcomes rather than process? What is one area where you could shift your attention to be "maniacal about the process" instead of the result?Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclassDownload my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40booksSubscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantagePurchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9UdFollow me on Instagram: @deejayhillierConnect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclassDownload my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40booksSubscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantagePurchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9UdFollow me on Instagram: @deejayhillierConnect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

Don Yaeger is an 11-time New York Times bestselling author, award-winning speaker, and longtime associate editor for Sports Illustrated. Over the past 30 years, he’s interviewed and profiled the greatest athletes, coaches, and leaders in the world — from Michael Jordan and John Wooden to Nick Saban and Pat Summitt. Today, Don is one of the most trusted voices on high performance, championship culture, and leadership, working with Fortune 500 companies and elite sports programs alike. He’s also the host of the popular Corporate Competitor podcast, where he explores the intersection of sports and leadership with world-class performers.Reflection questionsDon shared the powerful story of Warrick Dunn's journey to forgiveness. Reflect on a time when you struggled to forgive someone who wronged you. What steps could you take to move toward forgiveness, and how might this transformation impact your leadership and personal growth?  In our conversation, Don emphasized that great athletes "hate to lose more than they love to win" while taking complete ownership of their results. How do you currently respond to failure or setbacks? What specific changes could you make to embrace radical ownership while maintaining a healthy competitive drive? We discussed how the best leaders and athletes understand their success depends on who they surround themselves with. Evaluate your current "inner circle" - both professionally and personally. Who elevates you, and where might you need to make changes to better support your goals and values? Don highlighted the importance of celebrating "great teammate behaviors" rather than just individual achievements. What specific actions could you implement in your team or organization to recognize and reward those who make others better? The concept of "coaching beyond the scoreboard" was central to our discussion. What does this mean to you personally? Identify three ways you could focus more on process over outcome in your leadership approach this week.Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclassDownload my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40booksSubscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantagePurchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9UdFollow me on Instagram: @deejayhillierConnect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com

Download my FREE 60 minute Mindset Masterclass at www.djhillier.com/masterclassDownload my FREE top 40 book list written by Mindset Advantage guests: www.djhillier.com/40booksSubscribe to our NEW YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MindsetAdvantagePurchase a copy of my book: https://a.co/d/bGok9UdFollow me on Instagram: @deejayhillierConnect with me on my website: www.djhillier.com