Author: Andrew Teitelbaum

In a practice with a new client today, he told me of his father’s cancer diagnosis. I asked him to do some writing on how he was feeling about what was happening with his dad.  As he connected me to his writing, he mentioned that he imagined what he was going to say standing up … Continue reading I am my father’s son…

About ten years ago, while auditing a team building program led by a Navy Seal, I came across a handy definition for leadership.  Leadership is accomplishing a task to a standard with consequences.  As a coach I employed this ditty quite often, particularly when developing athletes into team leaders.  “Managers accomplish tasks,” I would tell … Continue reading Day 124: 20-40-60…

Here’s a confession.  I am a BTL builder who has neglected his core work; not my BTL Core, but my physical core.  I ride the Peloton like I am training for a road race, but until recently, when it was time to get on the mat, I was a no-show. My first step on the … Continue reading Day 116: What the hell…

As a leader in the sports world, I’ve seen a lot of attempts to establish a group mantra.  “We Work,” “Burn the Boats,” and “Believe” are just a few that quickly come to mind. Truth be told, I’ve never been much a fan of team mantras, unless, that is, they connect the team to two … Continue reading Day 114: En Brera…

If you are a rowing coach at an American university right now, you are “in it.”  You are halfway through your racing season, with a bunch of feedback and not a lot of time before the League and Conference Championships arrive.  You are looking at your results and the results around the country, your line … Continue reading Day 112: Specific, concrete, and actionable…

From 2013-2016 I led a team who achieved an unprecedented period of success in NCAA Rowing history. A few years after that series of championships, my wife asked what I thought had separated those teams from the ones I had led before and since.  Without hesitation I responded, Catherine Shields. You might think that one … Continue reading Day 100: One warrior…

No one wants a leader who plays not to lose.  No team is inspired, energized, or convinced by a leader who in a moment of truth defers, delays, or defaults.  People want a leader with nerve. What separates a leader with nerve from one who lacks it?  One word: belief. Do you deeply believe in … Continue reading Day 79: Nerve…

Avodah translates as “work, worship, and service” in Hebrew.  It makes sense to me that these three concepts should nest together in one word.  As I see it, the lynchpin here is worship (to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion), for what you worship will greatly impact your work and how it … Continue reading Day 66 Avodah…