Personal Growth - Nathan Whitaker

New Year, New Process?

by Nathan Whitaker | Jan 15, 2024 | Leadership, Personal Growth, Relationships, Team Culture

When I was in school at Harvard, I took a class from the late, brilliant Stephen Jay Gould, a paleontologist and big baseball fan (the latter is what helped me understand any of his examples). He spoke and wrote often of our preoccupation with otherwise meaningless...

Mentoring, the US Army, and Me

by Nathan Whitaker | Jan 4, 2024 | Leadership, Personal Growth, Relationships, Team Culture

In 2023 I was invited to Joint Base Langley-Eustis to speak on mentor leadership to the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and U.S. Army Forces Command.

But for as different as the setting was, the principles were the same. The Army is focused on building community, making people better, and helping them grow as leaders.

Fired Into the Great Wide Open

by Nathan Whitaker | Jan 17, 2023 | Personal Growth, Relationships

This week in 2004, I was fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bruce Allen had just replaced Rich McKay as General Manager, and I was a “McKay Guy,” weary from two years of internal battles between head coach Jon Gruden and Rich (as well as the rest of us in...

Backdating Goals

by Nathan Whitaker | Dec 26, 2022 | Leadership, Personal Growth, Relationships

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,...

Gratitude Builds Resilience

by Nathan Whitaker | Nov 23, 2022 | Personal Growth, Relationships

Want more energy? Want to feel more upbeat? Want to experience a release from the challenges of the day? Find things to be grateful for. Robert Emmons, professor at the University of California at Davis, has found that practicing gratitude not only affects our...

You Can’t Aim It

by Nathan Whitaker | Apr 5, 2022 | Personal Growth

A friend often reminds me of that truism, one that was taught to me when I was still playing baseball myself. When I pitched, I was taught to “throw it, don’t aim it,” which sounds a little strange on its face. The concept is simple and makes sense:...