The Leadership Lessons from the Batter's Box | Brandon Eaton cover art

The Leadership Lessons from the Batter's Box | Brandon Eaton

The Leadership Lessons from the Batter's Box | Brandon Eaton

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 What if our deepest-held beliefs about "failure" are all wrong? And what if the flaw we see in ourselves isn't a weakness, but the very engine of our success? My guest today is Brandon Eaton, the CEO and co-founder of the 10-year sporting goods brand, Stinger Sports. But this conversation isn't about business, it's about the "why" behind it. Brandon's entire company was built from a painful childhood observation: watching talented kids get "priced out" of the game they loved . He built his life's work on a promise to fight for them. This is one of the most honest conversations I've ever had about the true meaning of leadership and the stories we tell ourselves. Brandon shares the powerful moment he finally redefined "failure" not as the act of striking out, but as the refusal to grow from it . He also makes a raw admission about a personal flaw he calls "helpnesia": the high-performer's inability to ask for help . This led us to a deep exploration of the difference between "reacting" and "responding" , the power of leading by a "standard, not by your feelings" , and the simple test to find out if your internal monologue is destroying your potential . This episode is a blueprint for anyone who has ever felt like a victim but is determined to take their power back. It left me asking one question: What could you achieve if you truly believed that you only fail when you quit? 🔑 Key Takeaways Redefine Your Relationship with Failure: The episode's central theme is reframing failure. Brandon defines true failure not as striking out, but as "when you don't take something positive from it... you're not growing" . Coach Kav adds that "you don't fail unless you quit". Lead by a Standard, Not Your Feelings: As a leader, you don't have the luxury of leading by your emotions. Coach Kav provides a powerful framework: "You have to lead by how do you set a standard? ...So you have to lead by the standard, not by your feelings". Victimhood is a Surrender of Power: When discussing losing, Brandon offers a profound insight: "As soon as you're a victim, you take all your power away because it's external. It's not internal... If you take ownership of it... That's your power" . A "Real Team" Shares in the Success: Brandon shares his company's high-level compensation philosophy. He has built a pay structure where "on a team you benefit from the success of your teammates," arguing that "You can't say we're a team and then you do something well and I don't benefit from it" . Audit Your Self-Talk: Your internal monologue dictates your performance. Brandon provides a simple test: "How are you talking to yourself? Would you talk to somebody else that you're trying to uplift in that way? And if the answer is no, it's probably not productive" . Leadership is What You Do When No One is Watching: Brandon shares a story of picking up a piece of trash. He doesn't know or care if his employees saw him. The lesson is that leadership is about "setting that tone" and solving minor problems as part of your DNA, not as a performance. Identify and Name Your Flaws: In a moment of vulnerability, Brandon admits his biggest flaw is being a "doer" to the point that he forgets to delegate. He gives it a name: "Helpnesia"—"I forget to ask for help" . Timestamp: (00:00) Introduction: The "Girl Dad" & 10 Years of Stinger Sports (02:49) The "Why": Why Stinger Was Born to Fight the "Country Club Sport" (06:05) The "Junker Car" Parable: A Grandfather's Entrepreneurial Spirit (07:35) "Baseball is Life": Learning to Compete and Overcome Adversity (09:12) The Litmus Test for Your Self-Talk (10:39) Coaches: Stop Using the "S-Word" (Slump) (12:45) Brandon's New Definition of Failure: "You're Not Growing" (14:32) Coach Kav's Framework: The Difference Between "Reacting" and "Responding" (15:58) The "Useful Mentality" Test (17:01) Why Pro-Grade Gear Matters for Young Athletes (20:30) The "Look Good, Play Good" Philosophy (25:31) The "Game on the Line" Mindset: Do You Want the Ball? (27:18) How to Show Up: Don't Take a "Rough At Bat" to the Field (27:57) Coach Kav's Framework: Lead by Standard, Not by Feelings (30:35) The "Picking Up the Trash" Parable of Leadership (33:23) The CEO as Engineer: "I Love the Act of Trying to Break It" (35:58) Finding Your "Therapy": The Flow State of Hitting a Baseball (39:31) How to Build a Real Team: "If It Isn't Measured, It Can't Be Improved" (42:33) Our Pay Structure: "On a Team You Benefit From Your Teammates' Success" (44:03) Coach Kav's Parable of the "Monkey Trap" (49:28) Why "Losing is Contagious" and Creates Victims (50:24) "As Soon As You're a Victim, You Take All Your Power Away" (53:27) The Stinger Sports "Superhero" Mission: VALUE (54:48) The Villain We Fight: Declining Quality and Rising Prices (57:42) The Leader's Flaw: My "Helpnesia"
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