86: The Walk-On Method: How to Turn Hard Work into Career Success | Jim Roddy

Release Date: Nov 1

‍Are You Missing Out on Great Talent?  

What if the key to unlocking career and business success is hidden in the mindset of walk-on athletes—people who aren’t chosen, but choose to show up? In this episode of “The Learn-It-All Leader Podcast,” Learnit CEO Damon Lembi interviews Jim Roddy, author of The Walk-On Method to Career and Business Success.  

Business leaders, this conversation isn’t just about sports; it’s a game plan for developing resilience, maximizing strengths, and building high-performing teams. If you’ve ever struggled to get your team to push through challenges or wondered how to develop that ‘extra gear,’ this episode is for you. Learn how to develop resilience, maximize your strengths, and never quit with Jim Roddy’s insights.

Damon and Jim explore the mindset and strategies that helped 31 athletes, who began as walk-ons, find remarkable success in their careers. Jim shares how the ‘Walk-On Method’ can transform not just individuals, but entire organizations. By taking big risks, focusing on resilience, and leveraging unique strengths, leaders can drive both personal and organizational growth. This episode will challenge you to rethink the way you build and lead your teams—moving from just showing up to exceeding expectations.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to develop a resilient, never-quit mindset in business.
• Why controlling emotions and focusing on strengths can accelerate leadership growth.
• Real-life examples of business leaders who applied the Walk-On Method to scale success.
• The importance of running toward obstacles, not away from them.
• How to give and receive feedback effectively to unlock potential in your team.
• Actionable strategies to overcome fear of failure and take career-defining risks.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Introduction to Jim Roddy – Damon introduces Jim Roddy, CEO, business coach, and author, and they dive into Jim’s background as a walk-on athlete and how it shaped his career.
• (02:00) What It Means to Be a Walk-On – Jim explains the concept of a walk-on, sharing his own journey and how the lessons he learned apply to the business world.
• (05:30) The Walk-On Method – Jim outlines his five-step Walk-On Method for success and explains how each step builds resilience and character.
• (09:00) Taking Feedback with Humility – Jim shares tips for leaders on accepting feedback, being open to criticism, and how it fuels growth.
• (12:33) Building a Culture of Accountability – Jim discusses the importance of accountability in teams and how leaders can inspire ownership and commitment.
• (17:00) Facing and Overcoming Obstacles – Jim recounts tough moments in his career and how the walk-on mindset helped him navigate challenges.
• (21:30) Developing Resilience – Jim emphasizes the importance of resilience, sharing practical advice on how to persevere in the face of setbacks.
• (33:18) Jim’s Advice for Aspiring Leaders – Jim offers final thoughts on building a successful career through hard work, dedication, and intentionality.

About Our Guest:

Jim Roddy, President and CEO of the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA), is an accomplished business coach, author, and keynote speaker with over 25 years of leadership experience in retail IT and business management. He helps growth-focused leaders and entrepreneurs build high-performing teams by applying the resilience and strategies drawn from his book, The Walk-On Method to Career & Business Success, and his experience as a walk-on collegiate athlete. A cancer survivor, Jim's first book Hire Like You Just Beat Cancer focused on best practices in hiring through the lens of personal resilience.‍

Resources Referenced:

• Book: The Walk-On Method To Career & Business Success—31 Underdogs Who Became Extraordinary (And So Can You!) by Jim Roddy
• Book: Hire Like You Just Beat Cancer—Hiring lessons, interview best practices, and recruiting strategies for managers from a cancer-surviving executive by Jim Roddy
• Book: The Obstacle Is the Way—The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph by Ryan Holiday
• Book: The Score Takes Care of Itself--My Philosophy of Leadership by Bill Walsh
• Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux
• Jim Roddy on LinkedIn
• Jim’s Website
• RSPA Website

Want to Learn More?:  

• For more episodes on personal growth and success stories, subscribe to “The Learn-It-All Podcast.”‍
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• Visit learnit.com for additional resources and learning opportunities.

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