leadership - Nathan Whitaker

Backdating Goals

by Nathan Whitaker | Dec 26, 2022 | leadership, relationships, Resilience

I’m sure Tony Robbins might not approve, but I’ve been known to backdate my goals. Yes, backdate. (Yes, having actual, forward-looking goals or a “One Word” is good, but stick with me – this is different.) At the end of December,...

Twists and Turns of the UNCommon Variety

by Nathan Whitaker | Aug 20, 2022 | Blog, football, leadership, relationships, teamwork

I’m sure my Duke Football teammates will think I’m nuts. (I probably am, but I’d argue for other reasons.) A week ago, I found myself on the practice field at the University of North Carolina, where my daughter is starting graduate school. We visited...

I Thought It Was Only Ice Cream

by Nathan Whitaker | Apr 12, 2022 | Blog, leadership, teambuilding, teamwork

I thought we were just getting ice cream. I certainly didn’t think I’d be getting a reminder in mission, vision and values. Our youngest daughter had rowed in the state sculling competition earlier that day, so here we were, figuring we’d chase...

Spring Cleaning Our Alignment

by Nathan Whitaker | Feb 28, 2022 | Blog, leadership, teambuilding, teamwork, Uncategorized

There’s a beautiful oak tree in the median in front of our house. It’s an old live oak with branches that meander and cause us to sweat a bit during hurricane season. So far, the only issues we’ve had with it have been out front cleaning up its leaves. Early each year...

Death By Inches

by Nathan Whitaker | Feb 16, 2022 | Blog, football, leadership, Resilience, teambuilding, teamwork

Under a clear, blue sky, a man sprints to catch a speeding train. He has fired a machine gun and thrown grenades at his pursuers – Nazis – setting other traps and charges for them as well. Now, he has almost caught up with the German transport train that...

No Credit?

by Nathan Whitaker | Jan 19, 2022 | Blog, leadership, teambuilding, teamwork

I looked around the locker room at the major college basketball team. They’d just come off the court after another grueling practice. Their effort had been great, their coach had assured me. It was a good group on the court, in the weight room, in the classroom....