In this episode of Champion Reads, Coach Willie Blake, Jon Kovach Jr., and Ian Stermer continue their deep dive into The Art of War by Sun Tzu, focusing on one of the most strategic and misunderstood principles: the balance of offense and defense—and the power of perception.They unpack the famous idea of appearing weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak, and how this applies far beyond warfare. From business strategy to leadership, branding, and personal growth, the discussion centers on how positioning, timing, and restraint can be more powerful than constant aggression.Coach Willie highlights how many entrepreneurs feel pressured to always “look successful” or always be on offense, when in reality, strategic patience and quiet preparation often create the biggest breakthroughs. Jon expands on how strong leaders don’t reveal every move—they observe, prepare, and act when the timing is right. Ian reinforces that defense is not weakness; it’s protection of energy, resources, and long-term vision.The episode also explores how emotional reactions can sabotage strategy. When you react impulsively, you give away your position. But when you stay composed and intentional, you maintain control of the situation.💡 Key Ideas Covered:Appear Weak When Strong – Strategic humility and quiet preparation can give you a competitive edge.Appear Strong When Weak – Confidence and presence can stabilize situations even during uncertainty.Defense Is Not Passive – Protecting your time, energy, and focus is a strategic move, not avoidance.Timing Over Aggression – Constant offense leads to burnout; smart timing leads to victory.Perception Shapes Reality – How you position yourself influences how others respond to you.This conversation reframes strength entirely. True power isn’t loud, reactive, or constantly aggressive. It’s calculated, aware, and disciplined. Just like Sun Tzu teaches, the greatest victories often come from strategy, not force.Whether you’re leading a business, building a brand, or navigating life decisions, this episode will challenge how you think about strength, patience, and strategic positioning.🎧 Subscribe to Champion Reads for honest, high-level conversations that turn powerful books into action-ready wisdom.🌐 Learn more and join the Champion Circle at: https://www.mychampioncircle.com#ArtOfWar #SunTzu #ChampionReads #StrategicThinking #LeadershipStrategy #OffenseAndDefense #MindsetMatters #EntrepreneurStrategy #PersonalGrowth #BeTheChampion

In this episode of Champion Reads, Coach Willie Blake, Jon Kovach Jr., and Ian Stermer dive into the timeless classic The Art of War by Sun Tzu and unpack why this ancient book still hits hard in modern life, business, and personal growth.Rather than viewing it as just a military strategy book, the conversation shifts into something deeper: decisive action. The hosts explore how one of the biggest advantages in life isn’t perfect planning—it’s movement. Because while others are waiting, overthinking, and strategizing forever, the person who takes action gains momentum, clarity, and real-world feedback.Coach Willie connects this directly to entrepreneurship and personal development, emphasizing that waiting for the “perfect moment” is often just fear in disguise. Jon and Ian expand on how strategy is powerful, but only when paired with execution. Sun Tzu’s wisdom isn’t about sitting still and thinking forever—it’s about observing, adapting, and then acting with intention.They also discuss how hesitation can quietly cost more than failure. In war, delay creates vulnerability. In life and business, it creates stagnation. The lesson becomes clear: calculated action beats endless preparation.💡 Key Ideas Covered:Strategic Action Over Passive Planning – Thinking is useful, but action creates results and real intelligence.Momentum Creates Advantage – The one who moves first learns faster and adapts quicker.Preparation + Execution = Power – Strategy without action is just theory.Waiting Is a Hidden Risk – Delaying decisions can be more dangerous than making imperfect moves.Adaptability Wins Battles – Just like in war, success comes from observing, adjusting, and advancing.Throughout the episode, the hosts highlight how The Art of War applies far beyond battlefields. Whether you’re building a business, growing a brand, or improving your life, the principle is the same: take strategic action instead of waiting for certainty.If you’ve ever felt stuck in overthinking, perfectionism, or “one more tweak” mode, this episode is a powerful reminder that progress belongs to the one who moves.🎧 Subscribe to Champion Reads for honest, high-level conversations that turn powerful books into action-ready wisdom.🌐 Learn more and join the Champion Circle at: https://www.mychampioncircle.com#ArtOfWar #SunTzu #ChampionReads #StrategicAction #MomentumMatters #PersonalGrowth #EntrepreneurMindset #ExecutionOverPerfection #BeTheChampion #LeadershipMindset

🎉 In this special end-of-year celebration episode of Champion Reads, Coach Willie Blake, Jon Kovach Jr., and Ian Stermer wrap the season with one final Rotten Tomatoes–style review of three books that left a unique mark—but never got their own full episodes… until now.Each host brings a personal favorite to the table:📕 "UnF*ck Yourself" by Gary John Bishop (Coach Willie’s Pick)📘 "Tools of Titans" by Tim Ferriss (Jon’s Pick)📙 "The Third Wave" by Alvin Toffler (Ian’s Pick)This episode is raw, unfiltered, and full of laughs, insights, and sharp takes as the crew dives into:💬 Why these books made the cut🔥 What pissed them off, what inspired them, and what stuck🏆 Whether they’d recommend it to a friend—or toss it in the donate pile📊 End-of-year power rankings and the Champion Reads Book of the YearThey reflect on a year of lessons, growth, and stacks of pages—and remind listeners that every book read is a step forward in your own story.💡 Books & Themes Reviewed:UnF*ck Yourself – A blunt, empowering slap-in-the-face reminder that you are not your thoughts. Willie shares how this book helped him break cycles of self-sabotage and lean into ownership with his 2% Rule.Tools of Titans – Jon raves about the buffet-style wisdom from the world’s most elite performers. From habits to hacks, this book gave him high-leverage tools for daily momentum.The Third Wave – Ian dives into how Alvin Toffler predicted modern society decades ago, and why understanding these big shifts helps you ride change like a wave instead of getting crushed by it.📚 This episode is part reflection, part debate, part celebration. Whether you’re an underdog, a startup founder, or someone chasing better—this one’s for you.🎧 Subscribe to Champion Reads for real convos that turn books into breakthroughs.🌐 Learn more and join the Champion Circle at: https://www.mychampioncircle.com#ChampionReads #RottenTomatoesBooks #EndOfYearBooks #UnFckYourself #ToolsofTitans #TheThirdWave #WillieBlake #JonKovachJr #IanStermer #BookReviewPodcast #GrowthMindset #YearInReview #ReadToLead

In this thought-provoking episode of Champion Reads, Jon Kovach Jr. and Ian Stermer explore one of the most chilling lines from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley:“Most men and women will grow up to love their servitude—and will never dream of revolution.”They unpack what it means to be comfortable in captivity—and how modern culture has subtly conditioned people to accept control in exchange for convenience. From constant entertainment to societal rewards for compliance, they explore the dangerous comfort of modern-day servitude and why very few people ever question the system they're in.💡 Key Ideas Covered:🔒 Loving the CageThe episode dives into how people come to love their restrictions—when control is dressed up as safety, freedom is traded away for ease, and questions are replaced with distractions.📺 Modern-Day SomaJon and Ian draw parallels between Huxley’s fictional drug soma and today’s entertainment, dopamine loops, and consumerism. These things don’t just numb us—they make us grateful to be numbed.📉 Revolution FatiguePeople don’t rise up because they’re too tired, too distracted, or too disconnected from reality. Revolution requires discomfort, critical thinking, and courage—all of which are systematically dulled.⚠️ The Cost of ComfortThey reflect on how easy it is to choose “a good life” over “a meaningful life.” But the longer we stay in comfort, the harder it becomes to break free—mentally, emotionally, and socially.🧠 From Sleepwalking to SovereigntyThis episode calls listeners to wake up—to question inherited systems, opt out of passive living, and reject the illusion of freedom when it’s just polished control.🎧 If you’ve ever felt like something about “normal life” doesn’t sit right, this episode will confirm your gut—and challenge you to trade comfort for courage.🌐 Learn more and join the Champion Circle at: https://www.mychampioncircle.com#BraveNewWorld #HuxleyTruths #MentalFreedom #WakeUpCall #DystopiaOrReality #ChampionReads #IanStermer #JonKovachJr #ServitudeOrSovereignty #ComfortIsControl #SilentRevolution #UnplugToWakeUp

Pre-Programmed? Do You Believe You Are?

In this episode of Champion Reads, hosts and executive producers Jon Kovach Jr. and Ian Stermer dive into Aldous Huxley’s classic, Brave New World, and explore a powerful question: Are we really thinking for ourselves—or have we been pre-programmed by society to think the way we do?

Jon and Ian unpack themes of conditioning, control, comfort, and conformity, drawing parallels between Huxley’s dystopian world and our modern reality. From media influence to cultural expectations and social norms, they challenge you to examine where your beliefs come from—and what it truly means to choose your own thoughts.

Tune in, reflect deeply, and ask yourself: How much of “you” is really you?

In this episode of Champion Reads, hosts and executive producers Jon Kovach Jr. and Ian Stermer dive into Spencer Johnson, M.D.’s timeless classic, Who Moved My Cheese?—but with a twist. They explore the deeper question behind the story: Was it worth it? Was the chase, the struggle, the fear, and the change actually worth what we were pursuing all along?

Jon and Ian unpack the “maze of illusion” we often find ourselves in—careers, relationships, goals, and identities that may have been built on comfort, fear, or other people’s expectations. Through honest reflection and practical insights, they challenge you to examine: Are you clinging to old cheese? Avoiding necessary change? Or courageously stepping into the unknown?

Tune in to reflect on your own journey and ask yourself: What cheese am I chasing—and is it really worth it?

In this episode of Champion Reads, Coach Willie Blake and Jon Kovach Jr. dive into Habit 1 from Stephen R. Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Be Proactive.This principle flips the script on how most people live. Instead of reacting to circumstances, emotions, or other people, proactive individuals take full ownership of their choices, their attitude, and their results.💡 Key Ideas Covered:🔥 Responsibility = Response-AbilityBeing proactive means recognizing you always have the ability to choose your response. You may not control everything that happens—but you control what you do with it.🚫 Reactive vs. Proactive LanguageReactive people say: “I can’t,” “They make me so mad,” “There’s nothing I can do.”Proactive people say: “I choose,” “I will,” “I’m responsible.”🌱 The Circle of InfluenceInstead of worrying about everything outside your control, focus on your circle of influence—the areas where your choices can make a difference. As you act within that circle, it expands.👊 Owning Your ActionsWillie and Jon share personal stories where they had to step up, take ownership, and stop blaming external factors. Proactivity is the starting point of leadership.💬 Proactivity Is FreedomWhen you own your life, no one else holds the steering wheel. Proactive choices build confidence, discipline, and momentum.🎤 Why It Hits Different:This isn’t just self-help talk—it’s a daily challenge. Being proactive is about refusing to let excuses or outside forces dictate your life. It’s about becoming the author of your own story.🏁 Final Takeaway:Champions don’t wait for perfect conditions. They take ownership, take action, and create the conditions for success. Be proactive. Own your choices. Live your life on purpose.🎧 Subscribe to Champion Reads for honest, high-level conversations that turn powerful books into action-ready wisdom.🌐 Learn more and join the Champion Circle at: https://www.mychampioncircle.com#ChampionReads #7Habits #StephenRCovey #BeProactive #Responsibility #Leadership

In this episode of the Champion Reads Podcast, we take a deeper dive into one of the most relatable characters in Who Moved My Cheese? — Haw. At first, Haw resists change just like many of us do: he fears the unknown, hopes things will return to “the way they used to be,” and hesitates to leave his comfort zone. But eventually, he discovers one of the most powerful principles in the entire story:

✅ Nothing changes unless you do.

We explore Haw’s journey from fear to courage, how he finds new opportunities by taking small steps forward, and why the simple act of writing things down can accelerate learning, clarity, and personal growth. Just like Haw’s “Handwriting on the Wall,” our notes, goals, and reflections become reminders of who we want to become and how far we’ve come.

Listeners will hear practical takeaways for entrepreneurs, professionals, and everyday decision-makers who know a change is needed but haven’t taken that first step. By the end of this episode, you may find yourself asking:

“Aren’t we all just a little Haw?”

Tune in to learn how facing your maze with curiosity, taking action even when afraid, and capturing your lessons in writing can help you find your own “new cheese.”

Learn more here: www.MyChampionCircle.com