Daniel Hooven on LinkedIn: Swapped the treadmill for the pavement at the DICK'S Sporting Goods… (2024)

In the world of athletics, Usain Bolt stands as a towering figure, not just for his record-breaking speed, but also for the exemplary way he conducts himself both on and off the track. As we marvel at his achievements, there's a profound lesson to be learned about leadership and character.They say you can tell a lot about a person from the way they treat others. Bolt exemplifies this notion in every stride he takes. His interactions with fellow athletes, fans, and the public reveal a man of tremendous grace, humility, and respect.Beyond his unparalleled athletic prowess, Bolt's legacy is defined by his ability to inspire and uplift those around him. Whether he's breaking world records or engaging with fans, his infectious positivity leaves an indelible mark on all who encounter him.In the fast-paced world of business, where competition can be fierce and stakes are high, Bolt's example serves as a guiding light. His unwavering sportsmanship, coupled with his relentless pursuit of excellence, underscores the importance of integrity and professionalism in leadership.As we strive to achieve our own goals and lead others to success, let us remember the lessons embodied by Usain Bolt. Let us lead with humility, inspire with our actions, and always treat others with kindness and respect. In doing so, we can leave a lasting legacy that extends far beyond the finish line.On the other hand, we at Monks Agency say: There is no finish line!#Leadership #Character #Inspiration #UsainBolt #Success #Humility #Respect #Professionalism #teamwork

6

Leadership thought for the daySWEEP THE SHEDS. Never be too big to do the small things that need to be done.- JAMES KERR (Legacy)With the Rugby World Cup in full swing, it reminded me of this quote above from James Kerr's book on the All-Blacks: Legacy. The book focuses on the culture which underlies their ongoing prominence as one of the greatest teams in the world.Kerr describes the All-Blacks celebrating a victory over Wales in their dressing room (In New Zealand: 'The Sheds'). The floor is littered with mud, drinks bottles and wrappings. The coach, Graham Henry, says a few words and the players start trooping out of the dressing room. Kerr then describes a strange thing happening. Two of the most senior players on the team pick up long-handled brooms and begin to sweep the sheds. They sweep the muck and the discards into neat piles and brush it into bins. As Kerr says, "While the whole country is still watching replays and kids are dreaming of becoming an All-Black, the All-Blacks themselves are tidying up after themselves."Andrew Mehrtens, a former All-Black himself, describes it as an example of personal discipline. "It's not expecting somebody else to do your job for you."I love this story because it speaks not just to humility and respect but also to role-modelling. Any new All-Black is going to see these senior players sweeping the sheds and demonstrating the culture of pride in performance combined with the humility to take the brush and tidy up after the team.The next time you get up to leave the conference room and look around at the empty drinks bottles, scattered coffee cups and half-eaten sandwiches; think about the All-Blacks sweeping the sheds. Ask your team to tidy up and show the respect for the person who is coming to clean up after you.This is how you build sustaining culture through small but powerful pieces of personal discipline.#AllBlacks #Leadership #Respect #Humility #Jameskerr #Rugby #Culture #RWC

19

7 Comments

Endurance and Excellence: The (Knicks &) Toth Event Staffing Spirit 🌟At Toth Event Staffing, our core values are more than just words—they are the very essence of our daily operations and achievements. Tonight, as we celebrate the wins of the Knicks and Villanova squad, I'm reminded of these foundational qualities that parallel the virtues seen on the court.1. Resourceful Service: Just as our staff tackles challenges head-on, solving problems before they reach our clients, our favorite teams displayed unmatched resourcefulness, turning potential setbacks into strategic advantages.2. Professionalism: Our team’s professionalism mirrors that of the Knicks and Villanova players who, well-prepared and poised, compete with integrity and respect.3. Calming Influence: Amid the high stakes of professional sports, like in our events, maintaining a calming presence is crucial. Both our staff and these athletes exemplify how staying composed can steer the course to victory.4.Gracious Leadership: Leadership on and off the court is about lifting others up. Our leaders, some who have been with us since our inception in 2011, share the same spirit of mentorship and guidance that coaches instill in their teams.5. Experience: Experience counts—whether it's hosting a seamless event or navigating a tight game. Our seasoned professionals and these veteran players both show the confidence that comes from years of practice and dedication.6. Quality/Longevity/Endurance: We make decisions for the long haul, much like how a sports team builds for future seasons. Tonight's victories are just one example of enduring success achieved through commitment to quality.Celebrating not just the victories, but the enduring spirit and shared values that make them possible. Let’s go Knicks! Let’s go Villanova Squad! Cheers to Hartenstein, Mitchell Robinson, OG Anunoby, McBride, Precious, Hart, Divencenzo, and Jalen Brunson for their incredible performances and embodiment of these principles.#TothEventStaffing #TeamValues #Sportsmanship

7

It was a small gesture monetarily in the grand scheme of things......maybe $300 each for maybe 50 people at max but it was priceless......in reinforcing how Coach Mufet McGraw created a team culture. Everyone had a role and everyone needed to do their role to the best of their abilities for us to achieve our team goals.In 2001, I was on the staff of the Notre Dame Women's Basketball team that won the national championship. My newly created role was responsible for increasing attendance and fan engagement for women's basketball. It was an amazing opportunity that I took personally. We built a movement for women's basketball at the University of Notre Dame. Attendance reached Top 6 in the nation and the fans continue to strongly support the team today with top ranking attendance. Growing the Notre Dame fan base is something I'm incredibly proud of still. So much so, that we're season ticket holders travelling from the Chicago area to attend!I didn't score a point for the IRISH. Neither did all the other team support such as coaches, athletic trainers, male practice players, student managers, sports information directors, etc. but we all received a National Championship ring. (see pics in carousel below)It takes a collective effort to win a National Championship. The power of a true team will always beat a couple strong individuals. I have never felt this more than with this 2001 team.As we move throughout our careers, let us never forget the power of teams.𝐖𝐄 > 𝐌𝐄. It's easy to forget all the work, little and big decisions along the way, and all the contributors over the years that lead to big wins.I'm thankful for my years at Notre Dame learning from some of the best. It was 5 years but will have a lifetime impact. ☘Guess what, we all have impacts on our teams and colleagues in the business world too! What gestures show appreciation in your world?---Would love your FOLLOW (Dr. Heather Maxwell) and a 🔔 ring above if you're interested in posts about #insights, #brandbuilding, and leading a #wellplayedlife #sports #sportsbiz #sportsmarketing #leadership

11

8 Comments

How do you develop this level of confidence?Michael Jordan, often referred to as the greatest athlete, demonstrates what true confidence and excellence look like. His 15-year NBA career, 6 championships, and numerous awards are impressive, but it’s his work ethic that sets him apart.While many attribute his success to natural talent, Jordan’s practice routine reveals a different story. The average NBA player practiced 200 shots a day, 5 days a week, during the offseason, totaling 76,000 to 96,000 shots over a 4.5 to 6-year career.Jordan, on the other hand, practiced 500 shots daily, year-round, for 15 years, amounting to an astonishing 2,737,500 shots! With 12,192 shots made in games, he hit just 0.45% of his practice shots.This level of dedication exemplifies that true greatness lies beyond talent; it’s the commitment to consistently outdo oneself, practice by practice, shot by shot. Jordan’s journey reminds us that to achieve extraordinary success, we must embrace extraordinary effort. It’s not just about doing what’s required; it’s about going above and beyond, relentlessly honing our skills to turn the impossible into reality.#MichaelJordan #SuccessMindset #HardWorkPaysOff

5

1 Comment

Last regular season home game today and we have to stand on business. No fumbling and we have to work as the greatest team in history. This is where true leadership and inspiration collides to leave it all on the field. Team sports are about bringing so many people from different experiences and walks of life together for a common vision and goal. Failing forward no longer becomes an option in these big time showdowns. Execution becomes key. This is where practicing like you play becomes the most important preparation. Lots of life lessons in my experience have come from team sports. Competitiveness is part of the 🧬. This is where we have to believe in the magic sauce. LETS GO DOLPHINS! BEAT these Bills. #teambuilding #sportscience #competition #gameplan #health

54

7 Comments

Passing the baton!!In our school and college, many of us participated in a relay race during the annual sports event. The deciding factors between the teams and excellent athletes for winning or losing the race were -:1. The smooth exchange of batons between the two runners.2. The recipient started running and accelerating even before getting hold of the baton.3. The focus was always on the baton and not on the runners. 4. Understanding the strength of each member of the team and ensuring that the quickest in the team was the last runner who went all out for the finish.5. Finally any one person was not a winner and it was the team which won or lost.In our work space and business, relay race teaches us some very important lessons in team building and the coming together of different individuals to achieve organisational goals.There are instances, where after a change of leadership at the top or even in department, the new leader is busy looking backward, finding faults and lacunae’s of his predecessor instead of focussing on the way ahead. In the new environment, there are so many things to do, sometimes with imperfect information and never enough time. While several of the challenges appears familiar for the new incumbent coming from outside, leading to overconfidence and complacency, however, ultimately nothing in a leader’s background, even running a large business successfully in the past, fully guarantee him to be a winner in the new set up with a different team, culture and business process/flow.In an organisation, the quality of exchange of batons ie, handover between the ex and current leader, a positive mindset, gaining knowledge of the industry, understanding and gaining trust of the new team so that they concentrate on the ‘baton’, which in work space is the business flow normally determines the success or failure.

118

20 Comments

Ever heard of a drive-through for sports bets?Only at the soon-to-close Tropicana Las Vegas! ♠ As the Trop turns off its lights one last time tomorrow, I’m thrown back to my UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hospitality days, where the drive-through sports book often offered lessons richer than my college courses.Who knew placing bets in your car could teach you about leadership lessons?♣ Adaptability:The Trop showed us how to innovate, reminding us that sometimes, the best opportunities come when you least expect it (like winning a bet in your PJs). ♦ Risk Management: Early lessons in not putting all your eggs in one betting basket taught me the importance of calculated risks, a principle I carry into my professional life. ♥ Embrace Change:The closing of this iconic venue marks an end but also signals new beginnings. It’s a reminder to welcome change, even when it’s bittersweet. The Trop wasn’t just a casino, it was a classroom teaching us to adapt, manage risks, and always be ready for life’s next roll of the dice. #TropicanaLasVegas #LeadershipLessons #UNLV #Adaptability #Change #Raiders. Tagging some great leaders who've held critical roles at Trop: Michael Downs, Gavin Mealiffe, greg marlier, Donna Marcou, Kenneth Ratigan, Hector Mon, Mary Ross, Kathy Dyke, CPCE, Valerie Moon

80

11 Comments

What a privilege to have met Dan Carter, one of the all-time Great’s of the ALLBLACKS last week in Hong Kong! But even more than that, Dan came on stage and shared some of the lessons he learnt in his time as a rugby professional... simply inspiring! Three that resonated most for me: 1) “Pressure is a privilege” and something that all successful people have to learn to deal with. You need strong self awareness and a clear strategy how to deal with it to ensure you make the right decisions and execute your skills effectively even in the most difficult of circ*mstances. And 2) “What is best for the team?” a clear emphasis of mindset and that a winning team needs players with both great talent AND right character. For the ALLBLACKS, no individual is bigger than the team! 3) You need "resilience"! Strive to get that little bit better every day, especially in the face of adversity. Don't let set-backs retire you early, but instead focus on what you can control and throw all your energy into that. Love it and couldn’t agree more!!!These and more are also outlined in his book “The Art of Winning”. #leadership, #allblacks, #dancarter, #winningmindset

148

7 Comments

For Stuart Dallas, his recent retirement from football at the age of 32 due to injury serves as a poignant reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports careers.The reality is that injuries can strike at any age, disrupting even the most promising careers. In Stuart's case, the road to recovery spanned two arduous years, during which he fought to get back to full-fitness. While the transition from athlete to post-sports career can be daunting, it also presents new opportunities for personal and professional growth. However, for athletes at that time, they may not see it that way- their career and potentially the only career they've ever known has been taken away from them. One crucial aspect of athlete career transition is the support system in place to help athletes navigate this challenging period. From career advisors to mental health professionals, having access to resources and guidance can make all the difference in easing the transition and preparing athletes for life beyond sports.It again highlights the importance of finding that passion for something else outside of playing sport, that could be a career when an athlete's playing days come to an end.Good luck to Stuart in his next chapter.....#Leedsunited #Football #Athletecareer #Sport #Careers #Sportsinjuries

3