Building Unshakeable Confidence and Momentum with Paul Epstein

In this high-energy episode, we welcomed Paul Epstein to discuss transformational leadership. Paul, a keynote speaker, author of the new book Better Decisions Faster, and consultant has shifted from his successful career as a sports executive in the NBA and NFL to his true calling of impactful leadership. His approach combines authenticity and intentionality with actionable steps for building unshakable confidence and creating momentum in life and leadership.

The Journey to Impactful Leadership

Finding Purpose Through Adversity

Epstein’s journey began with a life-changing retreat that helped him discover his core values and redefine success. He recounts the profound impact of this retreat, mainly through an exercise called the “Lifeline Exercise.” This exercise allowed Paul to map out his life’s highs and lows and connect with the foundational moments that shaped his values.

One pivotal moment he shared was losing his hero, his father, while he was a freshman at USC. This tragedy pushed Paul from boyhood to manhood overnight and imbued his life with a new purpose—leading to his central value of “impact.”

“And it’s a day that I wouldn’t wish on anybody, but I’m not speaking this way and I’m not who I am if it wasn’t for that worst day of my life. And as I was unpacking my dad’s story as a part of that retreat and crying relentlessly…that’s what leadership really is. That’s what impact really is.”

Taking the Leap from Career to Calling

Paul’s transformation continued with his enrollment in an executive MBA program at the University of Michigan. There, he met Sue Ann, a coach who played a crucial role in helping him realize his dissatisfaction with his career as a sports executive. By asking him questions about his passions and what aspects of his job he loved, hated, and tolerated, Sue Ann guided Paul to discover that his true calling lay outside the confines of his current work.

“Sue Ann asked me, ‘What do you love about your job? What do you hate about it? What do you tolerate?’ And when she asked, ‘So what are you after?’ it genuinely woke me up. I stopped asking myself that question almost instantly as soon as I got into sports.”

Ultimately, Paul’s newfound clarity and conviction led him to leave a 15-year career in sports to pursue more significant impact through speaking, writing, and consulting.

Building and Sustaining Unshakable Confidence

The Confidence Formula

Paul emphasizes that confidence is crucial for momentum in life and leadership. His formula—Confidence = Values x Action—serves as a practical guide for building and sustaining unshakable confidence. According to Paul, this requires aligning actions with deeply held values.

He proposes a simple journal exercise for anyone looking to boost their confidence:

• Write the following sentence: “For the week ahead, I will live my value of _ by _.”
• Choose a core value that resonates with you.
• Identify a specific action to live out that value during the week.

“This one sentence is how you put it on paper. You’re writing down a value; you’re committing to one action.”

Leaders can develop a solid internal compass that remains steady amidst external challenges by consistently aligning values with action.

Creating a Daily Scorecard

Another concept introduced by Paul is the daily scorecard, which helps individuals measure success from within rather than relying solely on external achievements. His principle of EIR—Experience, Information, Relationships—provides a simple framework:

“Experience, information, relationships. At the end of every day, if you’re listening and watching right now, ask yourself, what experience did I gain today? What information did I learn today? What relationships did I build or enhance today?”

Leaders can create daily wins and build sustainable momentum by focusing on these controllable elements.

Paul’s Impactful Leadership at the Clippers

Paul shared an inspiring story from his time with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he implemented a “constitution” built on three pillars: work ethic, positivity, and coachability. Despite the team’s poor performance on the court, these values helped turn their revenue ranking from 28th out of 30 NBA teams to 2nd within just one year.

“We went from 28 out of 30 to number two out of 30 because we control the controllables. That can sound like a bumper sticker to you. I don’t care. It worked—work ethic, positivity, coachability.”

This experience solidified Paul’s belief in controlling the controllables and focusing on internal metrics to drive external success.

Your Values

Paul Epstein’s journey from sports executive to leadership coach underscores the power of discovering one’s inner values and aligning them with purposeful actions. His insights provide practical tools for building confidence, creating momentum, and fostering impactful leadership.

Action Items

• Reflect on your core values and how they align with your daily actions.
• Try the journaling exercise: For the week ahead, finish the sentence “I will live my value of _ by _.”
• Implement the EIR principle: At the end of each day, reflect on the new experiences, information, and relationships you’ve gained.
• Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who support your growth journey.

For more insights and to stay motivated, subscribe to Paul’s “Win Monday” newsletter at winmonday.win.

Remember, the ROI of any podcast or leadership talk lies in the actions you take afterward. What will you do next Monday to create momentum in your life and leadership?

Question?

We would love to hear about the changes in your life – connect with me at nathan@leadershipvisionconsulting.com.