Season 3 Post-Match Show – How Ted Lasso Explains Leadership, Part 3

Phil: [00:00:00] Welcome back to How Soccer Explains Leadership. Well, folks, we have another amazing season in the books. Season 3. We have now have this post-match show with my good friend and brother in arms, Paul Jobson, Coach Jobson. How are you doing, man?

Paul: [00:00:21] I'm doing great, man. I appreciate that. How are you doing coach? Coach Phil and all the other titles that go in front of your name, podcast, hosts, author, father, husband.

I mean, we could go on and on with your, uh, with your titles, man, but things are, things are good here in Waco, Texas, a lot of rain, but, uh, how's how's Cali life,

Phil: [00:00:40] man. Well, we just talked about it right before recording, talking about the rain in Texas. I am a bit jealous. I saw some mud, mud soccer, mud, whatever it was in the backyard.

I mean, mud, anything really is fantastic. You know,

Paul: [00:00:51] In my house, Marcy sees mud in the backyard and her first instinct says, Hey guys, this is a great day to train diving headers. So [00:01:00] she took the boys out in the back. There's some great video, somewhere out there on the socials that, uh, has two of our boys doing diving headers, uh, in our mud puddle in the backyard.

So my former players will remember, we used to do that on our, on our field, but awful. Um, Our field had some bad spots back in the day. And we would do diving headers on rainy days here at Baylor. So former players that have enjoyed actually, uh, seeing that as well.

Phil: [00:01:24] Yeah, it was, it was fun to watch. It was fun.

It brought back a lot of memories of a lot of mud and a lot of fun with whether it was mud football or mud, uh, soccer or mud, anything really? Cause we used to play on this thing called natural grass back in the day in California, which we don't find very often anymore, but we played in the winter. It was a winter sport in high school.

And so there's one thing people don't necessarily realize about Southern California, but when it rains, it pours. And we had some, I remember some great games cause the football team came in, took all the grass away from the field. So in the winter, none grew and we had a mud pit. It, when it rained and we had a dirt [00:02:00] pit that had all kinds of, that's why our touch was, was not necessarily as good as it could be nowadays, you know, because that's what I blame it on.

Anyway, is those chunks in the, on the field, right? It might've been not juggling as much and not really working on it. No,

Paul: [00:02:13] it wasn't that it was, it was the mud come on up.

Phil: [00:02:15] What w with Chris Berman say a good craftsman, never blames his tools, but you can't blame the field because the field often is a, I don't know if that's what he said, but I'm saying it so that you've heard it here.

First folks it's

Paul: [00:02:25] out there.

Phil: [00:02:27] So, um, but yeah. Hey man, I am doing well right now, getting ready for the summer. The kids are finishing up school. Um, but, uh, you know, summer is always fun, but a lot of work, but I I'm, I'm better right now because we're talking, we're hanging out. We get to have this great conversation today.

Not only a little bit about season three, which, you know, I say it every season, but this was one of my favorites. It's one of my top three, for sure. You know, I don't know about you, but, uh, no, we had some amazing interviews, especially the second half of, [00:03:00] of the season. Uh, getting to talk about Ted lasso episodes five and six.

And I really just, I just. Cheer up every time I get to hang out with you a little bit. So folks, I appreciate that. Yeah, no, you gotta, you gotta just somehow make a trip to Texas, reach out, show up in his backyard when it rains and you can do diving headers and it'll be fantastic. You know, I have no doubt you would enjoy the experience.

So, you know, Paul generally speaking the second half, you know, and I know, you know, you, you haven't necessarily been able to ruminate on all of them in all their glory, but, uh, you know, what, what do you think generally about season three?

Paul: [00:03:36] Again, like you said another quality season. I mean, it's been, uh, awesome for me.

I think I say it every, every time, but I learned so much just, just listening to the podcast and what these amazing people have to say and just their experiences. And I think that the top one for me right now has to be Cori Close. And of course it's not even a, a soccer interview, but as you learn early on it, she definitely is a soccer [00:04:00] person and, and, uh, started off.

Pretty heavy in soccer. So while you thought it wasn't going to be soccer, it definitely had a soccer tie in it. And she made it very clear that that was a great experience for her, but that was just an amazing, amazing interview with an amazing woman, a coach that I think we all as coaches can learn from.

And she's learned from the, from the greats and I think is one of the greats now. Um, and just a lot of wisdom. And if you can't get excited, listening to somebody like her, you gotta check your heartbeat. You know, she's just one of those kinda like, I think like my wife, uh, when, when they speak, you kind of get, you're ready to get out on the court, you ready to get on the field?

You want to go take diving headers in the mud, whatever it is. Uh, but I really enjoy that. Like Cori interviewed a lot of great wisdom, that one that I will go back again and listen to. Cause I know that I missed some things. Um, cause there's just, there's a lot in there.

Phil: [00:04:49] Absolutely. And, you know, I just thought of another thing that basketball doesn't have that soccer does and that's diving headers in the mud.

So, or really anything in the mud for basketball, you [00:05:00] know that, well, maybe unless you're playing different, different parts of the world, but here in the states, we don't get to experience that. So it's just another reason to play soccer. I there's, there's, there's a long, long list. I hadn't even thought about that one.

Uh, at least not recently bring her

Paul: [00:05:13] back on and let's talk to her about that. I think

Phil: [00:05:15] we should. I think we should. I know she'd be up for it, you know, but, uh, uh, she's over in Hungary right now. I think it's hungry. I'm pretty sure it's Hungary or Bulgaria. I think it's pretty sure it's Hungary where she's coaching US Basketball over there.

So she's gonna have a pretty awesome summer with that, but, uh, yeah. You know, I absolutely love that interview as well. She's she is an amazing woman. I was, I did laugh at the beginning because I didn't know, you know, some people think I fake my surprise in these interviews, but I don't focus this, these things aren't scripted.

These things are just. Pure natural Phil Darke when I'm interviewing these folks. Paul knows that. Cause I got to interview him before he became my cohost. So it was fun though. Cause she asked as she talked about her soccer prowess as a kid and the [00:06:00] fact that she never even played a club basketball, you know, growing up, but she was club soccer player.

I just thought that was funny. Got it. That's, that's quite an athlete. When you can get a scholarship to play basketball when you never even played club basketball and you were a soccer player. Um, I was very impressed with that, that little fact that some people may have missed in that interview.

Paul: [00:06:22] Yeah. I thought that was great.

And I think even the, the little discussion at the beginning about specialization, even, I think she's a great example. And I think that we, we miss that sometimes and the, just the correlation I've always, always loved my players that have played basketball. I think there is a great correlation between the two sports she even talked about when she teaches, you know, the spacing and the passing and the angles.

Those are things that I've always, uh, valued about the overlap of the two sports. Um, and she, she mentioned that a bit, talk a little bit about specialization and her opinions on that. And, um, I thought those were some very valuable, valuable lessons that I think his coaches, um, [00:07:00] That are coaching at a, at a high level in club.

You know, I think there is a push for specialist specialization in sport too early, uh, which she mentioned that talked a little bit about on the interview. Um, the other piece I love, she's not, not ashamed of her faith. I know that's something that we, we dive in and out of here just because the way you and I are wired here, but to hear her jumped boldly into that, not even I think, pulled from you, I don't think.

Um, but just to have that faith piece driven so hard into, into what she does and who she is and what she's about was, uh, really cool for me to hear also.

Phil: [00:07:35] Absolutely. That was something that really stuck out to me and was actually in the, in the response to the question of what is her, why. And that's what she talked about.

And, and I loved how she, you know, also was able to talk about the fact that she respects other worldviews, respects other things in her coaching. It's not something she pushes on people and she just is who she is. And that's, you know what, I really believe that we, we can do, we can model it. We can say, this is why we do what we do.

This is why we believe [00:08:00] what we believe. And if you don't and that, you know, that's how it is with this show to folks. I mean, if you don't believe, it's not like we're going to say you're a bad person or you're wrong, or you're this, or you're that, or the other thing, you know, we believe what we believe.

And we have a, a, a worldview that, that is one that is, that is open, um, to anybody. And that's something that she was, she was talking about. And. And I loved it. Absolutely loved that conversation with her. The fun part too, that didn't really come out in that interview is her parents met at a camp in British Columbia.

That my daughter actually, as we record, is probably on her way to that camp to work for the summer. So it's just total small world, but that's where her parents met. And, and, uh, so it was just fun, little small world and stories that we get we get to have. And

Paul: [00:08:45] he's just got a lot of great little small connections, small stories like that.

And then your interaction with, um, uh, Wooden with coach. Uh, I just went blank, Coach Wooden. Yeah, Coach Wooden. Yeah. How do you forget? Like the greatest, greatest of all times, [00:09:00] it's the rain man. It's the rain. Okay. But yeah, that, that interacts with coach wouldn't that actually, your daughter had probably a greater interaction than you did, but you're just interwoven into everybody's life, man.

Even, even mine. I mean, it's crazy.

Phil: [00:09:11] It is weird. It is weird. It's fun. I mean, but honestly, it's funny because it's, you know, God has prepared me to be a podcast host. I think, you know, I didn't know that I didn't know that, but you know, but to be able to, you know, touch base and, but I think that lesson in and of itself though, is that you never know why you're meeting someone.

Right. So when I meet people, I enjoy meeting people. I enjoy getting to know them actually truly getting to know them, not because of what they can give me, not because of what I can get from them. Usually it's what I can help them with. That's what I, that, you know, my why is to help people to flourish and help people to, to really maximize their God-given abilities.

And so, you know, that's just what it, what part of how I'm wired. And I have been able to use that in really fun, cool ways and, and the great part about it [00:10:00] now because of this great technology we have is others are able to, um, benefit from that, which excites me more than anything is I can have these great conversations with people.

I mean, Cori Close was. From Amanda Cromwell, who, you know, lived with our family for a few months when she was playing with the beat with Marci. So it all comes back to Marci. I mean, basically. Um, and, uh, and your influence on her probably while she was there in Atlanta. I mean, that's, that's probably all it comes down to.

So it comes back to you, Paul is what we're basically saying,

Paul: [00:10:31] which we've got, we've got to get her on the podcast. So the, her open invitation I know is, is there. She's got to find that find a minute. Once, uh, the four boys settled down, they get on the, you know, on

Phil: [00:10:40] the pod. That's okay. You know, and, and going back to the, the, the podcast and the last, this, this second half of the season, and then we're going to get to Ted Lasso.

So I promise folks, I know that we have that promise to you and we will fill it. Trust me, we, we love talking about Ted Lasso, but, uh, I just wanted to remind you, Greg Rubendall was the second interview of this [00:11:00] second half great conversation with the coach, with the educator of coaches, um, with a man who was a director of coaching at a Livermore fusion soccer club out here in Northern California, really fun interview.

Interesting. He brought up some really cool stuff. One of the things that actually is on, the, uh, Facebook page and other social media is this little clip on deep practice and the importance of fundamentals in the game that that's worth the price of admission right there. I mean, that, that, uh, of course it's free price of admission, but, but it's also worth it if we did charge for price of admission.

and then John Yeager. The Coaching Zone is the book that he wrote next level leadership in sports. You know, another one, one of my favorite interviews. And I don't just say that I don't throw that around, but I really, really appreciate it. It's funny because Cori was one of my favorite interviews, basketball.

John is actually the lacrosse guy, some of the stories he has in there, his leadership experience, he's just the Sage wisdom of, of these people who have, who have been living it have been doing it have been not just [00:12:00] saying words, but living it out. And he's one of those guys. And then the second part of my interview with my old coach and friend Clyde Best, uh, also, if you haven't listened to these four interviews, this half alone is one of my favorite halfs of this podcast, in all of our seasons.

So just go back and listen to them, check them out. As Paul said, listen to them again. If you, you know, the first time you're going to chances are you listen the first time while you're on a treadmill or walking or running or going and running errands or whatever, sit down with these things. And I mean, if you're listening to this podcast because you want to learn, that's something that, and I that's the thing too, is John Yeager and Cori Close the list on the show notes of the books that they reference.

And the podcast, they reference their learning. And as we talk about leaders are learners. Proof is in the pudding folks when they come on and they're sharing these, these amazing stories, these amazing leadership tips, it's not coming from whole cloth. It's not coming from, you know, just making stuff up because they did [00:13:00] something.

I mean, sometimes that happens, but that's the rare epiphany that rarely, rarely happens. Most of the stuff that we're getting that makes sense is, is. From someone else. I think it was Michelle Lenard. We talked about the book, Steal Like an Artist, and that's a fantastic book. And it's a great concept that we can steal from these people who want us to steal from them, these ideas because great leaders want to make great leaders.

And that's something that, uh, I firmly believe. And it's why we're doing what we're doing here. Paul, do you have anything to add on that? I do

Paul: [00:13:30] agree with that. Yeah. Before we kind of kind of slot slide through that, I don't want to slide over, you know, Clyde Best. And I, I think when you talk about, uh, stealing things from great people, I mean, you had such an amazing opportunity as a, as a kid to learn from, from him.

And I think we miss an opportunity. If, if I don't ask the question, you know, when you were playing for him, did you realize at the time what you had in front of you? Like at what point did you realize like, okay, this guy is a living legend, uh, you know what I can glean from him or [00:14:00] was it later, later in life and you look back and go, man, I had no idea what was, what was right in front of me.

Phil: [00:14:05] Here's the thing about great leaders is they usually don't talk about the fact that they're a great leader. Yeah. They usually have that humility that he demanded excellence from us. He demanded the best from us. He demanded what he knew it would take for us to be the best we could be. We had no idea who he was.

No idea. I didn't even know he played for West Ham until I went as an 18 year old after I played with him, I went over to England and, and I think I had an inkling that he played in the Premier League. And I think I asked my dad, Hey, who'd Clyde play for? Oh, he played for West Ham. Oh, wonder if he could get me tickets.

Right. Cause that's what an 18 year old thinks about. And so he got me tickets for that game and uh, hung out with his that's where I got started getting a little bit of understanding. Cause I went to the pub and there, oh, bestie, bestie, bestie, you know, they're all talking about these little things, but that was just a glimmer, but I didn't think much, [00:15:00] honestly.

The full truth is that I didn't really fully grasp the, the level of his, uh, you know, just, I don't know, legend status, so to speak until I read his autobiography and seeing the people he played with and seeing, you know, just reading about these experiences that he had, he never talked about the racist issues that, you know, have a bananas thrown at him having monkey chants, almost every game, the acid threat of, you know, people throwing acid on him, like what never talked about it, you know, I know understandably, so that's not something you just love to just walk around and talking about things.

And we did live in Southern California where it wasn't much of an issue, you know, south orange county when we were growing up. Um, at least not that we're one that was in front of us. And so he to read [00:16:00] that. No idea to talk with them about it. Even the interviews, he, he doesn't like to talk about himself.

Yeah. He's a guy who loves to show it, as he said, when people did all that stuff. What did I do? I put the ball in the back of the net. I actually got to use that the other day in my coaching with one of my players. She had a girl pull her hair, hit her in the back push her. And what's your instinct on that as you get mad and you want to go back and do it.

So I got to use retaliator gets the red, first of all. And then I got to use, uh, Hey, what's the best thing you can do. It helps that she's, uh, you know, a attacking minded player, but I said, calm down. Get your head. Cause we know he pulled her out right away. Cause she got it. She ended up getting yellow card, not for retaliating against a girl, but going and yelling at the ref because he didn't see it.

And he didn't do anything with the girl. It was behind the play and she yells at me. He goes, he goes, I just stop it. And she didn't. And so he gave her a yellow, so she comes off it, put my arm around her. [00:17:00] Um, and I just said, Hey, relax, calm down. What's the best thing you can do right now to really show her, you know, get back at her.

She's like, uh, I go put the ball in the back of the net. Fortunately it worked out that game that she did put the ball in the back of the night. Oh, it was really nice. And uh, and that their coach actually moved the girl to the other side of the field. Cause it happened right in front of our bench. So that might not have been as fun for that girl that she wanted the rest of that game from the, from our bench, as much as we would've allowed it, there would have been little things, um, stated.

So all that to say those were some of the phenomenal things, but yeah. To answer your question very, you know, in a word and not one word, but a few words. I had no idea and we had no idea. And that was on purpose on his part. He's just a man who does what he does. He leads by example, he leads by few words, but those words are meaningful.

Um, and I think you saw that through the interviews.

Paul: [00:17:59] Uh, I thought those [00:18:00] interviews were fantastic and I think, you know, us as listeners, you know, cause I'm a listener in those, those things just gleaning so much wisdom from somebody who has seen the game at, at, at levels and had experiences that I'll never have.

And I think some of be some of becoming a great coach or a leader is learning things from other people that have experiences that you don't have. And I think that that interview and those interviews are crucial for. Young coaches, old coaches, leaders, whatever to glean. Yeah. How does he handle things like that?

I mean, just some really amazing wisdom, um, life, not, not even just coaching and leadership, but some great life lessons that come through. You can just hear the humility in his voice. So, um, cool experience for all of us awesome experience for you to be able to interview, uh, a mentor former coach. And I just really encourage folks to go back and listen to those because those are, those are really incredible, um, opportunities there.

Phil: [00:18:56] And the other thing about Clyde, he doesn't give a lot of interviews. [00:19:00] Um, I think he likes, you know, his life in Bermuda, his quiet life in Bermuda. And so it was an honor. I mean, it really was an honor and a privilege that I do not take lightly, that I was able to do that. And that's really what part of what I saw it as really is, is, is just kind of memorializing this man's life and, and his legacy that he won't, you know, he wrote it, he read the autobiography.

I have no doubt that autobiography was something that people were pulling. You know, what, what word am I looking for? It wasn't something he did. Cause he, he sought out the publisher. I, I had no doubt about that, right? It was, Hey, you have a story to tell. And it's important to tell it, uh, particularly in the context of a lot of the, the race issues going on.

But as he said, he was a pioneer in that, that, that was a beautiful thing. More than anything he kept saying over and over throughout the interview is I'm doing this for the people who come after me. It's never been about him. [00:20:00] Yeah. And that is something that if that alone, I mean, if nothing else you take from it, I mean, there's a lot more to take from it.

Don't get me wrong. But if nothing else, it's not about you, it's not about me. It's about the team, the bigger picture, the bigger purpose. If you don't know what that bigger reason that bigger, why is you need to, you need to figure that out and you need to find that out and you need to believe that and you need to go for that because otherwise it's empty.

And, uh, I didn't, I didn't know we were going to go to that deeper philosophical before Ted Lasso conversation, but it's absolutely 100% true. And that's something that kept coming out. And I kept thinking about that as I was preparing for the interview, as I read his autobiography. And as I interviewed him, and that's the thing, folks, it's a real deal.

If you read his book, it's 100% consistent with everything that he said in there and that's consistency is critical.

Paul: [00:20:54] Yeah, well, good thing. He lived in an era where there was no internet because now no coach is safe [00:21:00] from the knowledge about them, to their players. So thank you, Google. Thank you to the internet.

Every player now gets a new coach. The first thing they do is they go on the internet, go, okay, what has this guy or girl done in their life? Good or bad, they're going to find it. So,

Phil: [00:21:15] yes. And, and, and you make a great point there. I am so glad. I didn't know. Yeah, because it would have changed it and it would have changed his ability to do what he wanted to do as well and, and good, bad, ugly the internet.

You're right. The internet. And I joked with Cori that she made Wikipedia that made her, that made meant she was big time now. Right? It's a double-edged sword. Everything has a shadow. As, as we've talked about on the show before, too, so yeah. Speaking of shadows, it's really not, but I wanted a segway to Ted Lasso.

So that's what we're going to do like that. I'm sure there was a shadow at some point in that show. So, um, that's what, that's what we're going with. But, uh, today we get to talk about episodes five and six. You know, we're not gonna talk about them as long as we have [00:22:00] in the past, just because, you know, we, we, we talked about for good reason, the season three I'm a little bit more today, and I'm glad we did.

And again, if you haven't listened to those episodes, go back and do it. I don't say that because I want to get more downloads. I say that because I know it will help you. And I know it has helped me a ton. I've actually listened to these two or three times already, um, beyond my editing of the, of the episodes.

But, any just general thoughts, you know, we we've, it's been a few episodes since we've got to talk about our friend, Ted and coach beard and, and all our other buddies, Nate, the great and Roy and. You know, Jamie, I'm not gonna name all the people. Don't worry folks, but all of our buddies from this show and they're like becoming friends.

Um, besides the fact that I have no doubt that you, as a, I can, can really relate with Higgins and just lots of kids and you with the boys, four boys, he's got five boys, and I just, I couldn't help. But think of you at the beginning of episode five, when he's got the four boys in the back and his wife is she's just like frazzled a little bit.

The [00:23:00] only difference was the steering wheel was on the other side of the car. I've imagined that was very similar to what a life is like, or the Jobson house is that, is that pretty, pretty accurate?

Paul: [00:23:09] Uh, pretty, pretty dang close. And I think that one of the things that we love about, um, entertainment is when we can relate to people that are in shows and just another level of Ted Lasso where the Jobson family definitely relates to the Ted Lasso show in different, different areas and just a character that, yeah.

Um, yeah, a lot, a lot of kids, a lot of craziness. Um, yeah, so we definitely related to that, the cramped car, the cramped house, and some different episodes where you see them all altogether, but that is like our house to where, you know, our house is not very big, but we say we don't need a bigger house because our kids would just follow us to the room that we're in any way.

So a nice problem to have, but I know probably like you, I'm starting to get excited about the next season of Ted lasso, seeing, the trailers and whatnot, starting to get excited about that. So pumped to kind of talk through, uh, episodes five and six [00:24:00] today and just, you know, how, Ted handles tart.

You know, with his, you know, him being the egomaniac that he is. And, uh, just kind of maybe talking through that a little bit, because I think it's something that as coaches we deal with and we've talked a lot about on this show is how do you deal with those, those players that are extremes on one way or the other?

And this is obviously a character we're going to talk through with Ted lasso, uh, through this season. Uh, but Jamie tart and just how it is all about him, all about him, all about him, all about him and how Ted, you know, does something pretty bold, uh, and, and sits as best player. And I don't know, as a coach, um, you know, I'd like to think that I could do that, especially somebody that's that extreme, but would I be able to do that in the moment?

Um, and we've talked about too with Ted, he is a long-term. type person, he's making decisions for the long-term not for the right now. and I think that perspective just guides them through decisions that he makes that I think for us as coaches, because we do think so short term. So right now I've got to get the win.

We've got to win [00:25:00] the season. I think it'd be tough to do. I mean, I don't know what your thoughts are as you're coaching or leading an organization in any of these things. Hey, this person has a producer, but there's a problem. And am I willing to make this hard decision now to that's going to positive possibly positively affect my program or a corporation or organization in the future.

Can you make that decision in the moment? That's a question I come to when I see kind of that interaction with, with Ted, Ted and tart, so to speak,

Phil: [00:25:28] it's hard. I mean, especially if you're a people person, which you and I are, right. It's, it's difficult. It's really difficult because as long-term, thinkers.

You see what you need to do, but there's also, what are people gonna think? What's my boss going to think. What are the donors going to think in the context of a nonprofit? What are the. Uh, you know, teammate's going to think, am I going to lose my team by sitting this person? Because even though they don't necessarily [00:26:00] like him as a human, they like what he does on the field.

At the point of that game, when he benched him, it was two to two. And Jamie tart had scored the two goals with a beautiful, direct kick goal was the second one. And they're basically, there's no way we're going to do this now, because you just took out our only hope from the standpoint of that's what they're thinking in their head.

Not right now on the other side, they're going. Yes, because if you remember when he scored those goals, he was pointing to the back of his Jersey and, and Ted could not hear what he was saying. He says, what is he saying? And they said, he's saying me. He was not only pointing to his name, but he was saying me.

And then Ted said, of course, because it was funny. He said, I thought he was saying meat. And that makes more sense that he was saying me. but you know, that is something that it was so obviously hyperbole, but we've all seen the player point in the back of the Jersey. Now I'm glad a lot of the kids don't know what that means.

Um, now they're probably learning if they ask or if they find out, cause I'm seeing some kids doing it now, I don't know if they're fake or if they're just [00:27:00] copying or if they're actually doing it because they know what it means. I hope the former, um, on one hand, I hope they never not doing it, but if they're doing it, I hope they don't know what, what they're doing, because it's something that we have to cut that out.

Now. It doesn't that it goes back to the other conversations we've had about viruses. It doesn't mean you cut them. You could tell. And in episode six, when, when, uh, Rebecca does put him, you know, send him back to man city, it, it made, uh, Ted mad right now that on one hand took something away from him, but he was working on him.

He was working to help him understand that selfishness is not only not good for the team. It's not good for Jamie. It's not something like that's what Alex Ferguson with Ronaldo early in his career was able to help him be more of a team player, because he was about himself a bit more. Now there's different players that are in these different players on Ted lasso, right.

That you [00:28:00] can think of. And that are, I don't know if they use them. Like you look at Roy Keane, kind of the Roy Kent character. I don't know if they purposefully did that, but, um, it's not, not lost on, on

Paul: [00:28:10] me. Right. Uh, but I do think that's a great point with, with Ted. I'm going to keep saying Ted and tart. I just like how it sounds, but with Ted and Tartt, that he is trying to get to tart, it's not just about the team.

It is about tart. And I think one of the few times you see Ted lasso actually get angry in the show, especially at Rebecca is when she sends them away. I mean, he's, he is actually angry and I remember just kind of feeling whoa, Ted's mad, you know, that's, you know, I, I, I felt that through the, through the television set, which we don't have television sets anymore, but you get the reference.

Um, he was mad because while he took him off the field and wasn't going to put him back on until, until tart learned his lesson, he knew what he needed to [00:29:00] do, so to speak. He wasn't trying to get rid of him. Yeah. You know? So he, he felt like, you know, Rebecca took away an opportunity for him to get what he needed out of him.

And, uh, I think that was a pretty pivotal point. Uh, and, and really just nailing in, you know, what Ted was all about for the individual

Phil: [00:29:20] players. Absolutely. And actually between pulling him, then the next episode, Trent crim says, are you really going to bench your player?

And Ted said, exactly what you just said. He said, that's really up to him. He knows what he needs to do. And that's something that was really powerful. And then introduction of one of my other favorite characters, all of them are my favorite characters because the character development in the show is so phenomenal.

Danny Rojas football is life comes on his life, his life. So he comes on and, and the thing about that is, yeah, they're saying, is he any good? I don't know, but you [00:30:00] know, I hope he is because he'll it push, he knows it'll push tart, right? So that's the thing about great players is great players, push great players and those great players either.

They're going, they put basically when you have someone, who's your position, who's really good. Who comes on that field? You're going to go through the crucible, right. And either you're going to come out the other side better and pro I'm usually much better or you're going to crumble. And it tells a lot about the character.

It tells a lot about who you are and whether you start or not. Well at that, person's way better than you as a teammate, should be excited about that because making the team better. And if you're good enough, they'll find another position for you, whatever the case may be or not. And you'll come in and just look at these great teams.

They have two or three deep at each position where they could be starting at other places. Man City is a good example, Manchester United at certain positions. I wish it all positions like, um, some teams, but when you look at City and they have Aguero go down and they still win league by a bunch, [00:31:00] they changed the formation a little bit, whatever the case may be, but they got two or three other guys that can go in boom.

And those other guys would be starting at any other place that they were at. But what do they want to play there? Because not only are they going to win, but it's just a great experience where they know they're getting better as players now, hopefully as human beings as well. But that's, you know, that's something that I don't know.

Um, but you watch Danny Rojas come in. And they said, is he good? And then immediately he goes in, does some crossovers, juke and people, then he takes a shot, puts it in, finishes it amazing shot. And it was like, well, I guess he is. And that was the practice. If you remember that Jamie sat out, says I can't practice I'm hurt.

And then Ted said, go set up the cones. And that whole thing, that was a great interact interchange as well. But Rojas came in and did that. And then they do the whole crossbar challenge where, you know, Rojas. Oh, that was lucky. I was lucky. I didn't even mean to do. I bet. I can't believe it. I got lucky, you know, whatever, but he's just money.

Right. And, uh, yeah. Anyway, what do you think about that general idea? I have a story to tell [00:32:00] after that, but, uh, about pushing and players, pushing players. That, that blew my mind when I was little. I mean, when I was little, when I was, when my daughter was little, but, uh, what do you think just around that idea, have you seen that in your teams?

Have you seen that in your life when you've had different people push you? Um, what does that look like and how do you, how do you harness that to, as a coach? Right. And how do you harness

Paul: [00:32:21] that? Yeah. Yeah. Well, I think the first thing that stands out to me in that relationship between tart and Rojas is that as a, as a coach, you're looking at two, let's say they're your two best players.

Okay. And so you've got, let's say the Jamie tart is, is better. Let's say you rank them as far as ability. You've got Jamie tar and then you've got Rojas. So you've got two great players, you know, for me, the joy and the energy that Rojas brings to the field. If I had to choose one, and let's say that Tartt was better than Rojas, even if it was a little bit or a great grain amount, I'm going to choose Rojas for my team because he [00:33:00] brings some things to the table that even though he may not be as good as tart the team as a whole is going to be better because he's on the field.

Whereas, you know, tart is, is pulling the team apart as he's having success. It's crazy, right. Tartan is having. Individual success, which is success for the team at the end of the day. But while he's doing that, he's pulling the team apart, right? He's dividing the team, he's breaking up the locker room. It's all about, you know, me, but when Rojas steps on the field, it's about football, football, football is life.

You know, the joy that that guy brings just run it. He's running around the field like a maniac, like, is this, is this guy good? He's just crazy. I mean, I've had some players that had like super high energy that we need it. We need more of that. I need you to be a little bit crazy out there. I need you to be loud.

I need you to be energetic. Um, and that's something that team really needed. And you saw them rally around him. They all were just like, this is like a breath of fresh air. It's like fresh water, you know, it's it, it was fantastic. [00:34:00] Um, but I think throughout your life and your career, as a, as a coach, you're going to have players like that, when that happens, It really shines a brighter light on the ones that, that aren't bringing life and energy to the team.

I think it, it shine a brighter light on the negativity of tart that, Hey, it doesn't, it doesn't have to be like that. Okay. You know, in some ways Roy is very similar, you know, he's was a great player. He's supposed to be a great leader, but until he can realize how he can bring positivity to the team, he's kind of a negative energy too.

And I think that bringing somebody like Rojas in has done a lot for this team. I'm talking about like, it's a real team, right? Hey, she's done so much for this team. So like making them so much better. Um, but the writers have done a great job. Like, Hey, this is, this is what this team needs. It can't just be Ted's energy all the time.

They need somebody in the locker room that kinda can replicate in a different way that energy to drive this team to bring some joy, to the field. So that's how that kind of related. To me at least, or [00:35:00] there's just the difference of those great players and their personalities and how one may not be as good, but it's going to drive the team to greatness better than, than the other.

Phil: [00:35:10] Yeah, absolutely. I think that that's something that they do and the story I was gonna, uh, and that I'm going to tell, is it my daughter, Malia, who's now, uh, 20. She just decided the other day, she's not gonna play anymore, which is, you know, it's her choice. And I'm glad that it's actually, she's joyful and it's good.

And it's right. And it's time. Right. But when she was probably 10, maybe 11, she, they had a deal on their team where they had to run the mile. And it was when there was nine V nine and they had 18 players on their team. And the coach said the fastest nine will play on the team and the next nine will be on the B team for this tournament because he had to make a decision somehow.

Right. And so that's what he did. We've all had the Cooper test or some other thing. And, and, uh, when you get there to try outs or whatever, so it's there. [00:36:00] Well, she had never run a mile faster than 7:14. I remember it because it was amazing what the next one was a little foreshadowing. So, uh, so I went on a trip.

I had a work trip. I went and I knew that it was that night. So I got back and my wife called says or text, and she says, you gotta call Malia. And I was so I was like, all right, she's probably bummed she's probably needs to be consoled by dad, whatever. So optimistic. Well, because I knew there were nine girls on that team who were cross country runners and they all had broken seven and regularly on the mile.

So I'm like, okay, fair enough. Yeah. So that it wasn't like, I'd have no conscience, Vincent, my daughter. Um, I know she's a gamer, but whatever. Right. So, get on the phone with her and she goes, dad, I made the, um, I made the top nine. I get to play on the team, this, this, this weekend.

And I said, well, I wish I would have said awesome money. I said, how in the world did that happen?

[00:37:00] Paul: [00:36:59] Another great confidence boosting comment from dad.

Phil: [00:37:02] You know, I, I here in all my vulnerability. Okay. I sometimes do well. And other times I don't, but, uh, but it was a fair question. And because I had talked with her before, I was kind of preparing before I left.

I'm like, you know, you're going to have to work really hard and I hope you can pull it out. And, but you know, you're going to have to run faster than you've ever run, blah, blah, blah. Well, she goes, dad, I finished third. And he said, what, what was your time? She said 6:25. Oh yeah. I said, how the heck? You know, she said, she said, I just followed Grace

I stayed with Grace. And I was like, if there isn't a better example. I mean, if there's a better example, I don't know what it is. As far as you can get pushed beyond what you think you can do by those players who are better than you. And you want to surround yourself with people who are better than you in every area of life.

[00:38:00] They say, you're the average of the people you spend, the five people you spend the most time with. Okay. That's pretty darn true that I've found in life now. It's not universally true. There are people who overcome, but that's something that we are going to be better when we surround ourself with better people.

So that's soccer, that's leadership in business, that's community. That's your family, that's everything. Right? So let's surround our kids with better people.

Paul: [00:38:31] Yeah. A hundred hundred percent agree. And I love that, that story with Malia there, that's such a, like, I see that in my teams, when I'm talking to players that are struggling with a fitness test or struggling with things, I'm like, well, who, who are you running with?

Who are you training with? You know, you're a lot of them that are in that position are training with people that aren't really challenging them. They're making them comfortable. Right. Well, I'm better than that person. Well, that person can't hit the average either. So, you know, why would you run with them?

Why would you [00:39:00] not? Why would you spend time with them? But if you're trying to, to make, to reach a goal, get with people that are better, where we're girls are going into summer training right now. I'm like, where are you going to be training? Are you going to train in an environment where you're the best, best player?

You know, you're not going to come back better. No go, go put yourself in an environment where you're going to struggle a little bit, you know, and that you're going to be challenged. You're gonna be pushed. Uh, but people that are in an environment where you're being encouraged to come along and you're, you know, I'm sure, you know, I don't know who grace is, but you know, I'm going to assume because of her name, she's probably fantastic.

And that, you know, she's probably like seeing what Malia is doing and maybe even encouraging her. I don't, I don't know. But, um, I think those are, those are valid and very important points. Um, for, for young people, even for coaches, you know, who and leaders, who are you putting your yourself around? Um, you know, I'm blessed, I've got a great leader and coach mentor in my own house that I don't really have to go very far to get better in those areas.

But, um, in other areas, maybe you've got to [00:40:00] find other, other places that are going to sharpen you and making you make you better for those that are around you. I think the other part of like surround yourself with people that make you better. What are you doing to make others better? Also, they'll just sit in that comfort level of like, okay, for the example, you're the average of the five people you're around.

There are five people in this room, you know, I'm number three, but I'm just comfortable sitting at three. And what am I doing to make the others around me better also, I think is an important, important attribute of that concept too.

Phil: [00:40:34] Yeah. That actually reminds me of something Higgins said about marriage, as you said that about Marci and just, you know, and Higgins said, when you're with the right person, even the hard times are easy.

Right. And you know, I mean, that was, yeah. Whatever, you know, kind of sticky a little bit. Right. But it's true. Right because you know, you're loved and you know that you love them, right? So when you are with the right person, I think go beyond that and there, [00:41:00] and you, and you love each other and not just, oh, I love you, but like, you truly love each other.

We can get there with teams too, Where we love each other. And you know, you've had teams where those players love each other. They genuinely love each other and they care about each other, not in a, in a, in a marriage, agape love, but in a, in a, that phileo that love that friendship, that we're bonded.

We're, you know, band of brothers, we're going to, you know, whatever. Right. I had that in the team that I coach with Brett Armstrong, you know, the first state championship at Christ Pres in Nashville. That team loved each other. And they were an unseeded team go into the final four, similar to Marshall who just won the NCAA men's national championship, right.

Unseeded coming in, but they loved each other and they ended up beating the three, top three teams in the state, or top two teams or two of the top three, whatever. Cause there's semis and finals, but that's something that I tell my teams over and over and over again, you will [00:42:00] overcome a lot if you love each other.

That's why Ted said about Jamie. It's completely up to him. Whether he gets back into this lineup, he knows what we need from him. Right. He didn't need him to be a better player. He needed him to be a better teammate. He needed him to be a better person. He needed him to be someone who the team would love and that he would love them.

Paul: [00:42:21] Yeah. So you had the soccer part down. He didn't need to be a better soccer player. He had that part down. It was you're right. It's the other pieces that he needed to tap into and, and it's crazy. I think as a, as a, is it episode six where they're doing the they're burning the stuff and all that, and he has a sentimental moment.

Doesn't he doesn't he kind of comes in and brings his, uh, was it his shoes? What did he bring?

Phil: [00:42:44] I forget, I forget. I didn't, I didn't

Paul: [00:42:46] remember that he had kind of a sentimental moment where when he comes in, I'm thinking, okay, this is going to be the biggest sarcastic thing he's setting all of us up for.

I'm not, I'm not falling into this trap basically is what I was feeling as I'm watching that part of [00:43:00] the episode. And he was being, you know, he had a sign and he talked about his dad and his father relationship. And, um, so he had it in him. And I think Ted realized, you know, his anger at, um, Rebecca was because man, I think he thought he was that close to, to getting him where he needed to be.

Phil: [00:43:19] Yeah. No. Absolutely. Absolutely. I was trying to do some, I, I need a producer so he can do the research while we're talking. But, uh, I, I was trying to find out what he burned on the internet and it's not, uh, not helping me out, but that's okay.

Paul: [00:43:36] No, when they're correcting us in the moment right now,

Phil: [00:43:40] you see that, I don't know if you heard that yet, but, uh, I got it.

I got it. Email, uh, from a listener and it was the coolest thing because what she did was she, um, emailed me. And said, Hey, I got the, the quote [00:44:00] from Shakespeare. You remember what I said? If you know this quote to thine own self, be true. And she got in and I'm, I'm going to shout out Lillian, Lillian Ross right now.

She's out, out in Houston, I believe playing for the Dash Academy. So Lily, and if you're listening, uh, that's for you there, but, uh, you know, senior or going into upcoming, senior in high school. So she came out with Polonius from her Hamlet. I was like right on. It was super cool. And then went on to say some things that impacted her.

And I say that, you know, yeah, it's cool. Shout out to, to Lillian, but also because I really, what it made my day. Because I don't know about you, Paul, but it makes my day when I know that what we're talking about here is actually impacting lives and especially younger lives who are like future leaders, right?

These are kids who are going to be leading teams and who are leading teams, obviously at the youth levels, but are going to be leading teams in soccer and other areas of life, you know? And it's something that I take very seriously [00:45:00] what we're doing here. Yeah. It's fun. But somebody asked me the other day, what's your why?

And I asked Cori Close that question. I've asked some other people that question. And I said, it's to help others to flourish and to make good things better. And I've thought a lot about that, but everything I do, it's through that filter and it's to say, does this podcast do that to talk to my daughter about that?

She's like, do you get paid for this dad? I'm like, no, but hopefully someday you'll get that. I actually love helping people. Right. And so that's something though that needs to actually be it. It's not something you make up. It's not something you just say, it's not something like, Ooh, I want people to like me.

So I'm going to say this stuff. No, it doesn't work. If that's what your motive is, it's gotta be that you truly want it in a team. You got to actually love your teammates. You gotta not have it be about you. You got to have it be about this greater thing that can't be by yourself. It can't happen. You can't have a great team with a bunch of individuals who want to be great players.

[00:46:00] Individually. A great team comes from a bunch of individual players who, uh, what word am I looking for? Um, not subvert, but they basically put themselves lower for the sake of the team that their self future, whatever is lesser than the importance of that team as one. And that's something that.

Comes from coaching. It comes from the top. That's the stuff that the coaches bring that culture it's really, it doesn't happen. I haven't, at least I haven't seen it. Maybe it could happen where a team could overcome a coach who doesn't have that, but I haven't seen it yet. I don't know about you.

Paul: [00:46:40] I think, I think if there's a team that does, you know, I've talked about this in the past with different people, is that, you know, the team, the team has, has some, some kind of common bond that they rely on each other for and love each other in those instances.

And if that's there, they're absolute disgust of the coach and that's their bond that bonds them together. Maybe [00:47:00] that's how it can happen. That's not ideal, obviously that that would be their bonding moment is they all, don't like the coach and they overcome all that. But I had a mentor who told me when I first got into, into college coaching and, uh, you know, he said, Hey, you, you've got to learn to love your players.

And I didn't really, I knew, I thought I knew what he meant. Um, just because I do love people. I'm like, I can, I can do that. Like, but the reason that he said that was exactly what you just said, it wasn't about me as much loving my players as much as I was showing my players how to love each other, you know, and, and showing that respect and that they weren't just cogs in a wheel or players on our field, or, you know, how I get a paycheck or support my family is that I've really was engaged and we're going to do this together.

And, uh, it wasn't just about me loving them, but showing them what that meant to love each other. And you're talking about teams that have had success beyond their probably ability, our 2012, big 12 championship team, was that team. [00:48:00] Um, I had players on the, that were starting for me that may not be on the bench for most big 12 teams.

but we did something that. Nobody thought we could do. And that year went to the Sweet 16 and, with a bunch of, you know, we, we basically ended up, losing well tying North Carolina, in chapel hill and going down on penalty kicks, uh, and they won the championship that year. Uh, a team of a bunch of what we just consider a bunch of ragtag girls that just loved each other and would run through walls for each other.

Um, do diving headers and mud puddles, uh, for each other, you know, whatever it took, they were going to do it. And, and I've been blessed to have other teams like that, but we've, we've been way more talented since then. but that's a team that definitely knew what it meant, to, to really, love each other and fight for each other.

In moments when it was, when it was difficult. so it's definitely, uh, if this, this episode recap episode has been about anything, it's probably, uh, about that, you know, tart being the opposite end of the spectrum on that and Rojas coming in and bringing life [00:49:00] to football, uh, and to that team.

Phil: [00:49:03] Yeah. And you, you, you know, as you were talking about that, the coach that, you know, they hate, and that's what unifies them.

I thought of Miracle, right? Miracle on ice, where the movie kind of emphasizes that, that team, uh, kind of hatred for what, I don't know, hatred strong, but they really didn't like what Herb Brooks was doing. That being said, Herb Brooks knew that. Yeah. Right. Like that was, he knew that they needed to unify, but what he did was he made them be their individual was lesser than so I, as you said, who do you play for?

Right. I'm that famous scene? Uh, Minnesota, you know, again, right. Who do you play for Boston? You, you know yeah, whatever right again. Right. And they, you have to keep doing those sprints over and over until finally, one of them says, USA, spoiler alert, sorry. Actually the spoiler after the spoiler. But if you haven't seen it, you know, you need to see it.

And it's still going to be powerful. I did that with my [00:50:00] girls this year. They didn't like it as much when I kept saying again to sprints, I was joking, but they, they didn't think it was funny. Um, so I did two sprints with them. So that was good. I didn't follow grace though. So I, I was, I was lagging out, which was, which was a good thing.

So, yeah, I mean, I think that as we talk about this, as we kind of wrap up this episode and as we wrap up this discussion of episodes five and six and, and work, and I've kinda like we have two more episodes about this Ted Lasso, and then hopefully we'll have the next season talk about as we wrap up these ones.

So that, that will be, that will be cool there. I want to take this opportunity to, before we wrap it up and give you kind of last a chance to talk about a, a few things, you know, have one thing I do want to talk about still, Roy and, the fun conversation he had with Sam when he went down with the injury, or a fake injury anyway, uh, which was a fun little scene that I think said a lot though.

but I do want to say folks that I've talked about the, Facebook, group. That we have, and that's something that I want to really start. There's [00:51:00] two things I want you to start doing. If you haven't done it already, one is sign up for the newsletter on the how soccer explains leadership website. You can go to howsoccerexplainsleadership.com and sign up for that newsletter. We haven't sent any out yet, but I'm going to start sending them out because we're going to be offering some pretty cool opportunities in the next and next little bit, I'm developing a coaches, coach coaching courses, coach, a coaching coaches course.

And, um, that's a, that's a tongue twister. If I say

Paul: [00:51:28] that fast, the ability to say it will get you in the door.

Phil: [00:51:32] It'll get you the first lesson free that's that's absolutely right. Um, But it's just going to be a conversation. We're going to have a mastermind there for you to be able to learn from other coaches, for me to be able to learn from everybody as well.

also going to give you may be able to give you information about some, some other opportunities. So if you're interested in that, go sign up for that newsletter and we'll be able to get getting some emails. It won't be spam in your inbox. It'll just be once every week or two, we'll be sending you out some opportunities that we have there on that [00:52:00] Facebook group.

Also going to be putting some videos with some, you know, creating some,  content there for you to go a little bit deeper on some of these principles that we've talked about, on DISC, on, Paul and the warrior way stuff that they have and the principles that they're teaching there, you know, we we'll be able to give, you know, a lot of great nuggets for you there to be able to learn and just hopefully go deeper in your coaching.

And your leadership, uh, on the field in life, in your marriages, whatever you have want you to be able to, you know, again, want to help you to flourish. That's what Paul and I are here doing this for is to help you. And we're learning a ton from you from guests, you know, who are giving us amazing knowledge from folks like Lillian, who are writing in just encouragement for you to write in as well on email or on Facebook, engage the conversation.

Hopefully as we're doing these videos, you're going to engage the conversation there as well. So I wanted to just talk about that a little bit, uh, while I was thinking about it. Cause I wanted to make sure not to forget to [00:53:00] do that. Usually I forget to say that then afterward I get all bummed, but, again, do that, I look forward to starting those conversations offline with some of you who maybe we haven't been able to do that.

I've been able to do that with a lot of the listeners. I would love to do it with all of you. So I, and I mean that in a lot of times, podcasting is very passive where we do this and we don't get a lot of feedback, but I'm a high I personality if you know the DISC, I like the feedback. So I'd like to know that you're listening.

I like to know that it's making an impact. And so if you can just share that, I would love to hear that and go ahead and sign up on those other things. So as we, uh, say that, you know, Paul, we got, uh, Roy, if you remember the scene, do you remember the scene? Sam goes down and he comes up and he says, Stay down for a little bit, wait for the crowd to, you know, you know, get, get a little worried and then pop up and limp off a little bit.

Like, like you were hurt. Cause Sam said I'm not really hurt, but the crowd was so, you know, there was yelling so loud. I just thought I'd stay down until it [00:54:00] calmed down. but I loved leadership in that situation to come up, be able to, you got mad at Jamie first for not checking on his teammate. And then he came in and helped along this younger player that you saw that leadership that was coming out that.

Ted had encouraged him in. So what, w what, what, just your reaction to that real quick, and then any other little, little last parting final thoughts of these episodes before we wrap up another fun show?

Paul: [00:54:31] Well, I think as Ted, as the head coach in the, in episodes where he is struggling to feel like he's getting through to one of his players, Jamie tart, he's starting to see a glimmer of light shine through the man.

He is putting the program on his shoulder, so to speak he's this guy has got to figure it out too. He's starting to see a glimmer of hope of this guy actually understanding what it means to be a veteran leader, a coach [00:55:00] on the field, um, to embrace his experience. His soccer ability is starting to lag while Jamie tarts is going through the roof.

Roy's is starting to lag what are areas that he can put into the team. And this is an innocence where you see Roy starts to get it. He starts to get it. And as a coach, you know, you want that positive feedback, right? You do. I do. We all do. I think somebody has got to get to Ted and go, Hey, I know you're frustrated about Jamie tart over here.

Keep, keep fighting for his, for Jamie tarts heart. There's a good song in there somewhere, but man, you're getting it with Roy. You're getting it. It's it's happening, what you're doing works. Um, and I loved, I loved how you know, and Sam is just a sponge that that guy will take any, any, anything. He is desperate for Roy's leadership.

He's desperate for Jamie's leadership. Sam is going to be a fantastic, awesome player on that team, but he needs, he he's the insecure guy that needs people to pour into him. Uh, and I just thought that was an awesome moment as a [00:56:00] coach to see a leader who you're like this, guy's got so much to give him, actually start to give something straight out of experience.

Right. Nobody knows how to do that unless they've had the experience of it. Um, So I thought that was really, really, uh, I thought a pivotal moment in the development of that character as a leader in that team, as it kind of goes on, we see a lot more, but, um, a really cool moment. And I would just say, just to speak to what you were saying a minute ago, I mean, I'm getting a ton out of this, uh, these, these episodes and out of our, you know, of our podcasts and the people you're interviewing and, you know, the mastermind stuff and the things that you're starting to develop.

I just, I would highly encourage people to reach out, as well and getting engaged. I mean, that's how we're all going to continue. You've said it a million times on here, but this is how we're all going to continue to get better. It's not about me and you pontificating about Ted lasso or, even about Cori or, you know, Clyde or any of the other people that, that you've had the opportunity to interview that we've had the opportunity to talk about, but really engaging with you guys that are listening.

Um, if it's [00:57:00] just a short comment, you know, Hey, I enjoyed this or I got this out of that. It doesn't have to be, uh, you know, An entire podcast on its own to have an impact on what, what what's going on here, but feel truly do, uh, value what you're doing at the time you're putting in this. Like you said, you're not getting paid to do this.

Um, but as a, as a coach, I feel blessed to be able to be part of this. But even if I wasn't, I'd be listening, I'd be engaged. Um, and I think that's why I'm on here is cause you're like, well, you're listening to anyway, you might as well be on here. I'm like, okay. Um, but do value that and would love to get, you know, more engaged, excited about it.

I know some of the guests you've got that are there in the queue, so to speak, and this is only getting better, man. So kudos for all the,

Phil: [00:57:42] yeah, it's a pleasure. I mean, it is funny. You say that cause I, you were a, you were a guest. Yes. But. We just were talking about the episodes and, and it came time where you needed to get a new co-host and I thought, what better way to do it?

I mean, you, you have incredible experience. You have, you're a great [00:58:00] coach. Um, and you have life experiences that help out too, but it goes to the fact that be engaged, go deeper. Don't be a passive listener because this the way that you're going to use, uh, really learn this and have it impact your life and impact your players and impact your employees.

If you're out in the, you know, life outside of soccer or outside of sports is by actually applying these things. Look at Cori Close. She didn't just listen to John Wooden and go on her Merry way. She listened to John Wooden and applied it in her trainings. She listened to Joshua Medcalf and applied it in her trainings.

She listened to John Gordon and applied it in her trainings, in her coaching, in her relationships and in everything she was doing. That's why it works. That's why she can then rattle off this stuff. Because it's in her now it's muscle memory, right? It's not just some thing that she listened to last week and, oh, it's a cool new flavor of the month that I'm going to try.

No, these things [00:59:00] become who we are. Michael Hyatt said a great thing. We read all these books. You're not going to remember everything in all those books, but you're going to see these common themes that will then become part of who you are. That's the stuff that we can get from these interviews. I mean, I'm going back and listen to all again, as I'm preparing for this course that we're, we're creating and I just listened to yours again, Paul, and there's so much goodness, in that interview, listen to Amanda's interview in Eric Pfeiffer and Paul or Pete Kipley and I've just finished those, those four.

And I'm like taking notes again. Right? These are interviews. I did. Edited listen to listen to them again and getting new stuff and putting all this cool stuff down because that's how we're going to be able to learn. And the best way we'll do that is to teach it to others. So if you're taking what you're hearing here, and then you teach it to your kids, teach it to the men and women who are in your college programs, in your pro programs or in your businesses.

those are things that [01:00:00] I just think that can be so incredibly transformational, not only in your life, but in the lives that you're leading. And that's what I get excited about is this multiplication that can come from these episodes that can come from the people that are learning that we get to learn from.

So, any last thoughts on that? And then we're going to wrap it up.

Paul: [01:00:23] I mean, that's solid, just appreciate, uh, being able to do this and excited about the episodes to come and, Ted lasso releasing, you know, season two, also a lot of excitement here coming in this summer. So excited for all of

Phil: [01:00:34] that, man. July 23rd season two drops.

I don't know if it's the whole season or if you're gonna do it like last time with a one at a time. I'm guessing that to keep people on apple TV, but, uh, again, folks, thanks for download. Thanks for being part of the show. Thanks for, just hopefully continually learning so that you can be better leaders.

You can be better in your marriage as you can be better in your parenting. You can be better in really every area of your [01:01:00] life. And so that is our hope. That is what we hope you will do hear rate and review the show. If you haven't done that already, go ahead and subscribe if you haven't done that. but right now we are going to wrap this show with the thing that I say every time it's cause I mean, it, I hope that you're taking everything you're learning from this show and you're using it to help you to be a better leader.

You're using it to help you be better in every area of your life and you are using it to help you understand that soccer really does explain life and leadership. Thanks a lot. Have a great week.