#524 How Doug Conant Turned a Failing Company into the Fortune 500's Most Engaged Workforce



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“You can’t talk your way out of something you behaved your way into.” That line changed a Fortune 500 company, and it should change how you lead your team.



When a Fortune 500 company is literally ringed in razor wire, you don’t pep-talk your way out— you do the hard, specific work of rebuilding trust.



In this “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man” episode, I sit down with Doug Conant, the CEO who walked into Campbell Soup with plunging sales, a disengaged workforce, and a headquarters in one of America’s most dangerous cities, and left it with the highest employee engagement score in the Fortune 500. 



Doug’s a student-athlete-turned-CEO who learned early that discipline matters. He played tennis at Northwestern, coached there, survived the LBO chaos at Nabisco, and then dug in at Campbell. 



He tells the story straight, how Gallup called Campbell the worst engagement case they’d seen, how Doug’s first day included firing the CFO, and how he and his team rebuilt an organization by showing up with consistency, respect, and tough-minded compassion. 



We unpack practical moves: measurable engagement targets, replacing leaders who can’t buy in, the “living, loving, learning, leaving a legacy” playbook Doug used, and the daily habits: the morning reflection, the commute rituals, the weekly appreciation, that let him be present for both the company and his family. 



If you run a business or a team and want concrete, repeatable methods for turning disengaged people into relentless team members, this episode is your field guide. Don’t miss it!



After you listen, if you’re thinking, “How do I use this in my day-to-day?”, Doug just launched STEPS (Success Through Empowering Professional Support) [https://conantleadership.com/steps-program-for-executive-assistants/], a leadership course built specifically for administrative professionals, taught by Doug himself. Use my code Harshaw10 for a discount.



If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action [http://www.jimharshawjr.com/Action].  

How Doug Conant Turned a Failing Company into the Fortune 500's Most Engaged Workforce

#523 Performance Under Pressure: 10 Tactics for Getting Into Flow and Overcoming Nerves

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Your business or career isn't being held back by a lack of skill or effort. It's being sabotaged by the mental operating system you're running in high-pressure moments.



Michael Chandler, one of the best UFC fighters in the world, told me he was "a small kid from a small town, taught to think small.” Your default wiring is sabotaging you the same way, even if you don't realize it.



You work hard. You show up. You prepare. But when it matters most— the big presentation, the crucial client meeting, the career-defining conversation— you're not showing up as your best self. 



I spent years learning this the hard way: performance under pressure isn't about how hard you work, it's about what's running through your head when the stakes are high.



In this “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man” episode, I'm giving you 10 mental performance tactics that helped me overcome years of self-doubt and now help high-achieving professionals dominate when pressure's on.



We're covering breath work that drops your stress response in under a minute, visualization techniques that flip the switch into flow state, and the mindset shift that turns anxiety into your advantage. 



Whether you're leading a team meeting, closing a deal, or navigating a difficult conversation, you're about to discover what separates people who perform from people who just prepare. 



Tune in now because your next big moment deserves better than nerves and self-doubt.



If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action [http://www.jimharshawjr.com/Action].  





Performance Under Pressure: 10 Tactics for Getting Into Flow and Overcoming Nerves

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High Performance Isn’t a Solo Sport: Why Your Network Isn’t Enough Without a Core Team (with Keith Ferrazzi)

#521 Consistency Is a Skill: How to Build It in a Noisy World

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If you want consistency, stop seeking motivation and build an environment that demands follow through.



You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. But if you keep living on autopilot, you’re going to wake up 2, 5, or 10 years from now thinking, “I thought I’d be further ahead in life by now…”



In this solo episode of “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man,” I’m calling out the biggest trap high-achieving men fall into: confusing motion with progress.



You can crush your to-do list and still be drifting because you’re not measuring what actually moves the needle.



I’ll break down the Hawthorne Effect, the simple (and brutal) truth that performance improves when it’s observed. (Translation: awareness beats willpower every time.) 



Then I’ll show you how to use the Productive Pause™ to step out of the chaos, get the general’s view of your life, and set the right leading indicators in your fitness, marriage, and business.



After this episode, you’ll walk away knowing exactly what to track, how to build real accountability, and the one weekly check in that makes consistency automatic instead of “hoping you feel motivated.” Tune in now!



If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action [http://www.jimharshawjr.com/Action].  



Consistency Is a Skill: How to Build It in a Noisy World

#520 How to Ask for Help Like a Confident Man (Not a Needy One) with Former Pro Baseball Player Mike Robbins



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One pitch ended Mike Robbins’ baseball dream, and forced the question most men avoid: “Now what?”



If your identity is built on performance, one setback can turn your whole life into a free fall.



Mike Robbins lived that… literally. 



He was a Stanford pitcher chasing the big leagues when one pitch blew out his arm, and eventually forced the gut-level conversation with his family: “I gotta hang it up.” 



No jersey retirement. No victory lap. Just the sudden death of the plan he’d been living for since he was seven, and the question most high-achieving men avoid because it’s terrifying: Who am I when the thing I’m best at gets taken away?



In this episode of “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man,” Mike and I go straight into the uncomfortable truth: discipline is a weapon, but it’s a terrible identity.



When you’re wired to “win at all costs,” you can look unstoppable on paper while quietly bleeding out in real life— stress up, connection down, and that constant pressure to act like you’ve got it handled. In this conversation, you’ll see exactly where that mindset helps and where it starts costing you your peace, your relationships, and your ability to actually enjoy the life you’re building.



You’ll also walk away with tools you can use immediately: a simple way to name what’s really going on in your life, a new lens on imposter syndrome that turns it into fuel instead of shame, and one practical 24-hour action step Mike gives to get unstuck. 



If you’ve been trying to “discipline” your way out of a problem that requires support, this episode will give you the reset— and the next move.



If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action [http://www.jimharshawjr.com/Action].  



How to Ask for Help Like a Confident Man (Not a Needy One) with Former Pro Baseball Player Mike Robbins

#519 8 Tactical Mindset Upgrades for Men Who Are Tired of Being Stuck

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You’ve been told to “believe in yourself” your whole life, but no one showed you how. 



The version of you that gets the results you want thinks differently than you do right now.



If positive thinking actually worked, you wouldn’t still be stuck… and that uncomfortable truth is exactly where this episode begins. 



I’m breaking down why mindset for success isn’t about hype, surface-level motivation, or repeating clichés you’ve heard since high school sports. It’s about the deep, subconscious beliefs that quietly drive your behavior, your confidence, and ultimately your results.



I’ve watched high-achieving men grind themselves into exhaustion—great work ethic, strong discipline, yet still battling self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and that invisible ceiling that never seems to move. In this episode, I show you why belief drives behavior, why identity beats willpower, and how elite performers build a high-performance mindset before the wins show up.



You’ll hear real examples— from broken confidence to inspired action— and I’ll walk you through 8 tactical mindset habits you can actually use: from a success log and daily mantras to state-shifting techniques that reset you in minutes.

This isn’t theory. This is the missing link between effort and outcomes. And once you see it, you won’t unsee it.



If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action [http://www.jimharshawjr.com/Action].  

8 Tactical Mindset Upgrades for Men Who Are Tired of Being Stuck

#518 Bigger Than Winning: How to Raise the Level of Excellence in Your Life and Everyone Around You (with Jim Murphy)

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If your identity is tied to your results, you’re one bad day away from collapse— and Jim Murphy is here to prove it.



The moment you stop trying to prove yourself is the moment you actually start performing.





What if your obsession with winning is the very thing keeping you from performing like a champion?



In this “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man” episode, I sit down with Jim Murphy, the mind behind Inner Excellence and the book “The Best Possible Life,” whose work quietly shows up in some wild places— like on the NFL sidelines in the hands of All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown. 



We talk about mental toughness under pressure, not as a cliché, but as a spiritual, heart-level skill set for real life: sales pitches, hard conversations, big presentations, and yes, Game 7 moments.



Jim shares how losing his dream as a professional baseball player, moving to the desert, and giving away over half his possessions led him to a radical idea— if your heart is chasing possessions, achievements, looks, money, and status, you will never feel free, no matter how “successful” you get.



If you’ve ever been results-obsessed, anxious, or secretly afraid of losing love and approval when you fail, this conversation will punch you in the gut, and then hand you a way out. Tune in now!



If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action [http://www.jimharshawjr.com/Action].  



Bigger Than Winning: How to Raise the Level of Excellence in Your Life and Everyone Around You (with Jim Murphy)

#517 Master Your Mind, Master Your Life: Tom Brady’s Secret to Super Bowl Comebacks (REPUBLISHED)

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Ever notice how “less qualified” people pass you? 



Most men are imprisoned by beliefs they never chose. This episode hands you the key.



You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your beliefs, and most men never check theirs.



Some high-achieving men are stuck not because of skill gaps, but belief gaps. 

You can have the résumé, the discipline, the work ethic… and still hit the same ceiling year after year.



That’s why grinding harder won’t save you. More productivity hacks, more hustle, more late nights— they just help you stay stuck faster. What you really need is a Cognitive Conversion: a mindset shift that finally aligns what you believe with what you’re capable of.



In this “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man” episode, I give you the exact process I use to break the beliefs that quietly sabotage your career, health, and relationships.



You’ll walk away with a MAPS method checklist to engineer an environment of excellence, a ruthless journaling for clarity script to expose the lies you tell yourself, and a simple cognitive restructuring framework to turn self-doubt into execution.



Warning: some of this will challenge what you’ve accepted as “truth.” The scarcity mindset keeping you cautious, the toxic self-talk you let slide, the people you allow to drain your identity— it all ends here.

Most men will stay stuck because changing beliefs feels uncomfortable. But discomfort is where champions are built.

If you’re tired of working harder than average and still feeling average, hit play. This is where identity shifts, consistency sticks, and real momentum begins.

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action [http://www.jimharshawjr.com/Action]. 

Master Your Mind, Master Your Life: Tom Brady’s Secret to Super Bowl Comebacks (REPUBLISHED)

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What if the life that looks “successful” on paper is the one keeping you stuck?



Most men think success means stability: a good job, solid income, steady life. But what if that comfort is the very thing keeping you stuck?

In this episode of “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man”  podcast, I sit down with Brian Michel, an executive coach, ultra-endurance athlete, entrepreneur, and our newest Pathfinder Coach, who left corporate comfort to chase something bigger. 

We talk about how he went from a “good job” to a great life, the mindset that carried him through 100-mile races, and how faith and active surrender helped him find peace in uncertainty.

Brian also shares the two-year plan that made his leap possible, the lessons he learned balancing family, business, and faith, and how intentional living helped him finally align his work with his purpose.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in success— comfortable but restless— this conversation will challenge how you define winning and show you how to build a life that’s bold, balanced, and deeply fulfilling. Tune in now!

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action [http://www.jimharshawjr.com/Action]. 



The Fatal Comfort Trap: Why High Performers Stay Stuck—And How to Break Out (with Brian Michel)

#515 4 Biblical Principles for Building Bulletproof Confidence



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What if the missing piece to your success isn’t another strategy, but learning to let go?



Confidence isn’t built in the gym or the boardroom, it’s built in how you think when no one’s watching.



You don’t need another “how-to” to feel confident. 



You already know what to do— eat better, train harder, be more consistent. But confidence isn’t about information. It’s about what you believe when things get hard.



In this “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man” episode, I unpack how faith (yes, even if yours looks different than mine) can be the missing link between striving and peace. 



I’ll walk you through the four enemies of confidence every high-performing man faces, and how faith flips each one on its head.



You’ll hear stories of Kyle Guy stepping up to the free-throw line with everything on the line, A.J. Brown finding peace in pressure, and lessons I learned firsthand after quitting my job right before COVID hit.



But this isn’t a sermon, it’s a conversation about what it really means to perform with calm, clarity, and conviction. 



Whether you’re a man of faith or just someone searching for something steadier to stand on, this one will challenge how you think about confidence forever.



If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action [http://www.jimharshawjr.com/Action].  





4 Biblical Principles for Building Bulletproof Confidence

Clarity. Focus. Consistency. Hallmarks of championship athletes. And hallmarks of the most successful men in business and life. 

How can you claim those traits in your life now? You want to make lots of money, have a great marriage, and be a dedicated father while crushing fitness goals along the way but maybe you feel like you're always shortchanging at least one area. 

Or maybe you feel like you want to be more consistent. More focuses. 

Maybe you just need a clear vision for what your future looks like— a clear goal to pursue. 

Jim Harshaw, Jr. is an NCAA Division I All-American wrestler and former Division I head coach. And he's an executive performance coach who will help you create the plan to unlock your potential. 

He coaches motivated men to gain clarity, focus, and consistency in business and life using a unique framework inspired by world-class performers so that they can lead meaningful lives of purpose and impact. 

"Success for the Athletic-Minded Man" is a podcast dedicated to the driven, professional, athletic-minded man in the pursuit of excellence. Each episode dives into success habits for men who balance the rigors of professional development with the challenges of excelling in their personal lives. Our conversations explore how men can apply the principles of peak performance in sports to everyday life.

Listen as he discusses strategies for mastering goal setting, consistency, work-life balance, and health. We dissect high-performance habits of athletes as they relate to helping men achieve clarity, focus, and consistency. 

Through interviews with elite athletes and coaches as well as thought leaders, we unpack athletic life lessons tailored to you, the athletic-minded man. "Success for the Athletic-Minded Man" is not just a podcast—it’s a resource for any man eager to thrive in business and life.

Jim Harshaw

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