From Locker Room to Boardroom:
The Growth Disciplines That Scale
I’ll never forget one of the lunches that changed my perspective on leadership.
Over an incredible Thai meal, a professional NFL player (whose name I’ll keep private) shared his three-part success system—not with ego, but with the quiet confidence of someone who had turned discipline into excellence.
His approach wasn’t about raw talent. It was about intentional growth. And as he walked me through his routine, I realized: This is exactly what separates good leaders from transformative ones.
1. He Was All-In on Personal Growth
He opened his iPad and showed me his personal development library—books on mindset, psychology, and peak performance. “You don’t rise to the occasion,” he said. “You fall to the level of your preparation.”
For Leaders: Growth starts with curiosity.
What are you reading, listening to, or learning this week to expand your leadership capacity?
His mantra? “First in.”
- First in the facility.
- First in film study.
- First in recovery.
He didn’t wait for motivation. He built unshakable routines.
For Leaders: Excellence isn’t an accident.
What’s one small, consistent habit you can adopt to out-prepare the competition?
He didn’t just hope for great performances—he programmed them in advance. Play by play, move by move, he rehearsed success in his mind long before game day.
And here’s what stunned me: “Steve, it’s incredible how often my pre-programmed thoughts show up exactly as I imagined on the field.”
For Leaders: Are you leading reactively—or proactively designing the outcomes you want?
Becoming a growth-oriented leader isn’t about being the smartest or most talented person in the room.
It’s about showing up differently—with discipline, hunger, and a willingness to prepare in ways others won’t.
My athlete friend didn’t just play the game. He mastered the process behind it.
And that’s exactly what the best leaders do.
Question for You:
Which of these three areas (growth, habits, or visualization) could most elevate your leadership right now?
(Hint: Start there.)
Here’s to your growth!
—Steve
As a master storyteller, Steve has unparalleled ability to communicate dynamic business and leadership truths through stories, anecdotes and humor. Harness the power of the “number one” predictor of professional success, impact, leadership, high performance and sustainable relationships in business and life. Steve’s highest rated keynote presentation.
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“The purpose of Leadership Quest is to help professionals develop their personal leadership, vision and emotional intelligence. Everyday I strive to help leaders and teams achieve their desired goals in sales productivity, leadership, time maximization, and life-balance. ”
About the Author
Steve Gutzler is the President of Leadership Quest, a premier leadership development company based in Scottsdale. As a dynamic and highly sought-after speaker, Steve has delivered over 2,500 impactful presentations to renowned organizations such as Microsoft, Starbucks, the Seattle Seahawks, Spotify, Boeing, Cisco, Starwood Hotels, Ritz-Carlton, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
A published author and thought leader on leadership and emotional intelligence, Steve lives near Scottsdale with his wife, Julie. Together, they cherish time spent with their three adult children and six grandchildren.
