Ep. 442 | The One Leadership Skill That Will Make or Break Your Career with Donnie Maib

Apr 12

Are you ready to take the leap from team member to leader?

In this episode, Donnie Maib, a seasoned director with over 13 years of experience at the University of Texas, shares his insights on preparing for leadership roles and thriving in the future of work.

Donnie reveals the one leadership skill that will make or break your career. If you don’t do this now, trust me, you will struggle!

He also shares his top five book recommendations for aspiring leaders and emphasizes the power of listening and genuine human connection.

Whether you're an aspiring leader or looking to enhance your current leadership skills, Donnie's wisdom will provide you with a roadmap for success. Tune in now to elevate your leadership game!

ABOUT donnie maib

Growing up, I was taught to work hard for everything you get in life, that nothing would be handed to you without you earning it first. Living outside of Nashville, Tennessee and being raised between two homes when my parents divorced at an early age, sports became a way of life but more importantly it became a vehicle for me to focus my energies, find purpose, and connect with a community of individuals.

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Early on, I learned the importance of having a coach speak into my life and push me beyond my limits. What began as a way to fill my free time, transformed into a passion in the weight room. I quickly learned that when I went the extra mile, it would translate into the results I was hoping for. I worked hard in the off-season and consequently fell in love with the weight room. It gave me strength, confidence, and the edge I needed on the football field as well as life.

In football, I experienced the thrills of victory and the agonies of defeat. I was held accountable for my actions and how my life choices would impact not just my teammates but my family too.

After years of hard work and success in high school, I was fortunate enough to earn a scholarship to play Division I College Football at the University of Georgia. Hard work, dedication and persistence paid off, but little did I know the next chapter would also be one marked with frustration, adversity, great joys, successes, and some of my biggest failures and defeats. Ultimately it proved to be a testing ground, helping me to discover who I was and what really mattered to me. Coaching.

It was from the seeds of disappointment I would find my true calling in life: to coach. When your life has been impacted and transformed dramatically from great coaches and mentors, it becomes not something you do but who you are. From Georgia, I would go on to coach at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Again, it would be a time of testing, learning and maturation teaching me that it’s not about me, but rather it’s about the impact one can make on others. I have learned that true greatness is to master the art of being a servant leader. The greater you serve, the bigger you will become.

After 4 years at the University of Colorado, my next coaching stop would be at the University of Texas in Austin, as the Head Athletic Performance Coach over Olympic Sports. Coming to Texas would prove to be one of the best career decisions of my life. Working with world class athletes and elite sport coaches and having phenomenal resources at one's disposal all coupled with a supportive administration has created an optimal environment to breed success in others as well as personal enjoyment in my work. My greatest passion and purpose, to help inspire others to greatness and become all they were meant to be, has been realized many times over here during my tenure at Texas.

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I am happily married to my beautiful wife Karen of 24 years and we have 4 beautiful, smart, sassy, and energetic young ladies: Isabel, Anna, Evelyn, and Olivia. We also have 3 Cavaliers: Harvey, Franklin, and Theodore. While not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading deeply from good books, traveling abroad, and eating out at great restaurants.

ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT PODCAST

The Blueprint Podcast is for busy professionals and Household CEOs who care deeply about their families, career, and health. Host Dr. Erik Korem distills cutting edge-science, leadership, and life skills into simple tactics optimized for your busy lifestyle and goals. Dr. Korem interviews scientists, coaches, elite athletes, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and exceptional people to discuss science and practical skills you can implement to become the most healthy, resilient, and impactful version of yourself.

On a mission to equip people to pursue audacious goals, thrive in uncertainty, and live a healthy and fulfilled life, Dr. Erik Korem is a High-Performance pioneer. He introduced sports science and athlete-tracking technologies to collegiate and professional (NFL) football over a decade ago. He has worked with the National Football League, Power-5 NCAA programs, gold-medal Olympians, Nike, and the United States Department of Defense.

Erik is an expert in sleep and stress resilience. He is the Founder and CEO of AIM7, a health and fitness app that unlocks the power of wearables by providing you with daily personalized recommendations to enhance your mind, body, and recovery.