In every industry and on every playing field, one thing is clear: the top performers never go it alone.
The greatest sports heroes, be they the ones who defied the odds or the ones collecting rings, medals, and movies of their life, tend to have great coaches in their corners. These coaches are also so much more than just someone standing on the sidelines, holding a clipboard; they are strategists, motivators, and, when necessary, the person willing to deliver hard truths.
Like sports legends, the top entrepreneurs, executives, and business leaders don’t just grind their way to the top. They, too, invest in coaches who help them think bigger, lead better, and execute sharper. In effect, these coaches help to unlock potential that is already there, waiting to be unleashed.
To further break this down, take a look at some of the most iconic athletic partnerships of all time, and how those same principles apply to growth, excellence, and success in business.
Tom Brady & Bill Belichick: Vision + Execution = Dynasty
Tom Brady didn’t become the most decorated quarterback in NFL history all on his own. Rather, his greatness was fostered by legendary Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Belichick designed the strategy, instilled the culture, and built the foundation, while Tom Brady brought discipline, focus, an intense work ethic, and raw talent. Together, they built a dynasty.
Great leaders often have the talent and the drive, but they need a system to harness it. That’s where a coach steps in, creating and implementing strategies as well as holding business owners accountable as they work toward their long-term goals.
Business takeaway: Talent needs direction. Business coaches have the skills and foresight it takes to turn potential and passion into top-tier performance and results.
Michael Jordan & Phil Jackson: Coaching The Leader, Not Just The Game
Before Phil Jackson became the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan was already a superstar. Yet, it took Jackson’s Zen-like leadership, high-performance strategy, and eagle-eyednintelligence to transform the team into a six-time championship force. In part, that was due to Jackson’s ability to coach not only the game, but also the players as individuals.
Leaders and business owners often excel when it comes to their craft, but there are always going to be areas for growth, ranging from people management to big-picture thinking and everything in between. Business coaches can address these gaps by providing guidance through internal blocks, sage business acumen, and experience.
Business takeaway: Neither coaching nor success is just about skills; both also demand constant improvement and personal transformation.
Mike Eruzione & Herb Brooks: Turning Underdogs Into Legends
The 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team wasn’t projected to earn any medals, let alone defeat the Soviets, yet Herb Brooks had a vision and, so much more importantly, the guts to demand more from his team than anyone thought possible. Through a multi-pronged approach that focused on mental and physical conditioning, Brooks helped the team become something bigger than themselves, and they shocked the world.
Small business owners may find themselves feeling like a smaller player in a crowded market or being underestimated by others in the industry. Whether your business is thriving or you’re bouncing back from a tough year, business coaches see possibilities and potential where others see limits and setbacks.
Business takeaway: Top-level performance requires confidence, and great coaches know how to inspire belief and instill confidence no matter the current obstacles a business faces.
Rocky Balboa & Mickey Goldmill: Tough Love Builds Champions
Though fictional, the mentorship between Mickey Goldmill and Rocky Balboa in the Rocky franchise remains iconic for a reason. Mickey recognized the potential in a rough, unpolished fighter, and he refused to let him settle. He delivered truth, discipline, and accountability when Rocky needed it most.
Entrepreneurs frequently start with raw determination and hustle. But to scale effectively, they need more than just grit. A business coach can offer the clarity and accountability needed to transform effort into lasting results.
Business takeaway: The best coaches don’t simply encourage; they challenge. They hold those they are coaching to a higher standard and care enough to be honest, which is what will make a true difference on the path to success.
So, Who Is Your Phil Jackson?
Now that we’ve explored what great coaching looks like in sports, let’s talk about what it looks like in business today, and more specifically, what it looks like in one coach who brings all these legendary qualities together.
Doug Howard isn’t your average “accountability partner.” He’s your strategist, mindset whisperer, and challenger-in-chief. Think Belichick precision, Jackson calm, Brooks grit and Mickey-level belief in your ability to go the distance.
Here’s what sets Doug Howard and Growth Team Strategies apart:
- Systems that scale: Like Belichick, Doug and Growth Team can help build a system that works for you.
- Mindset mastery: Like Jackson, this team can coach you through the inner game of leadership, including the struggles of doubt, stress, and uncertainty.
- Relentless belief: Like Brooks, Growth Team Strategies will see in you the things you have yet to recognize in yourself, and they’ll push you until you see and can benefit from it too.
- Real guidance: Like Mickey, Doug won’t coddle. He’ll coach. With Growth Team Strategies, you get honest feedback, tough truths, and high expectations, because they care deeply about you reaching the next level.
Working with Growth Team Strategies is like hiring your own personal championship team. But don’t just take our word for it. Here are some recent comments from business owners who have experienced the effect of working with Growth Team Strategies.
“Doug, right from the beginning, has basically been such an asset to our company, mainly in the fact that he knows it, he’s seen it, and he has a touch on companies throughout the country who have done exactly what I’ve done, they’ve been exactly where I’ve been… What Doug does, is he really just explains the processes that he’s seen work in other remodeling firms, so there’s no guesswork. You just get with Doug, he tells you how to do it, and you do it. It really is that simple.”
– Chris Ham, Owner/Operator, Stonegate Remodeling
“[Doug] asked the right questions at the right time to really help me, not really telling me what to think or how to think… just asking questions to get me better understanding my own perspective on the business.”
– Peder Madsen, Owner/Vice President, CCR Build + Remodel
Winners Work With Coaches
If the greatest athletes in the world rely on coaches to sharpen their edge, why should business leaders be any different?
- Coaches see what you can’t.
- They say what others won’t.
- They push you further than you thought you could go.
At the highest levels, coaching isn’t a sign of weakness, but a power move. It’s what separates leaders who plateau from leaders who dominate. So, if you’re ready to think bigger and grow faster, who’s coaching you?
