No Brown M&M's: How Tiny Details Reveal Standards and the Health of Your Culture

No Brown M&M's: How Tiny Details Reveal Standards and the Health of Your Culture

In the 1980s, Van Halen became famous for an unusual backstage request: No brown M&M’s in the dressing room. This request was actually a hidden test designed to reveal whether venues had carefully followed the band’s detailed production and safety requirements. In this episode, we explore what that story teaches us about standards and why tiny details are important to protect as a leader. Learn More About Zach: * Explore 1:1 coaching with Zach -- Schedule a free call here [https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall?back=1] * Subscribe to my free newsletter here [https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/]

The Power of Five Minutes: How Tiny Commitments Create Lasting Momentum

A lot of people struggle to build momentum because they make the starting line feel overwhelming. In this episode, I share the story of my wife’s “five-minute rule” that helped her run every single day for an entire year and why momentum is something we create. We discuss the psychology behind consistency, Greg McKeown’s concept of “Minimal Viable Progress,” and how stacking small wins helps us produce massive breakthroughs. Learn More About Zach: * Explore 1:1 coaching with Zach -- Schedule a free call here [https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall?back=1] * Subscribe to my free newsletter here [https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/]

John Wooden's 9 Promises for a Successful Life

Today we're exploring John Wooden’s famous “Nine Promises” and why they still matter today. We explore themes like emotional steadiness, relationships, self-talk, personal growth, leadership, comparison, peace of mind, and sustainable success. More than achievement, this conversation is about the internal commitments that shape the quality of our lives and help us win more without losing ourselves in the process. Learn More About Zach: * Explore 1:1 coaching with Zach -- Schedule a free call here [https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall?back=1] * Subscribe to my free newsletter here [https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/]

After the Whistle: Never Waste a Failure

How do great performers respond to failure without becoming defined by it? In this After the Whistle segment, Zach expands on a powerful lesson shared by Louisville volleyball head coach Dan Meske: “You have to take more from failure than it takes from you.” With references to Nick Saban and another former guest on the podcast, Amy Morin, this episode is designed to help you learn from and respond more effectively to failure. Learn More About Zach: * Explore 1:1 coaching with Zach -- Schedule a free call here [https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall?back=1] * Subscribe to my free newsletter here [https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/]

Dan Meske | Head Volleyball Coach, University of Louisville | "Take more from failure than it took from you."

In this episode, I’m joined by Dan Meske, the head women’s volleyball coach at the University of Louisville and one of the most respected coaches in the entire sport. Before becoming Louisville’s head coach in 2025, Dan spent eight seasons as the program’s associate head coach, helping transform Louisville into a national powerhouse. During that stretch, the Cardinals reached multiple Final Fours, appeared in two NCAA National Championship matches, won four ACC championships, and consistently finished among the top teams in the country. In 2022, Dan was named AVCA Assistant Coach of the Year. In his first season as Louisville’s head coach, the Cardinals finished 26–7 while advancing to the NCAA Regional Semifinals. Prior to Louisville, Dan served as head coach at Augustana University, where he compiled a 45–17 record across two seasons and led the Vikings to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008. Before that, Dan spent eight seasons at University of Nebraska, where the Huskers compiled a 216–44 record, won multiple conference championships, made eight NCAA Tournament appearances, and helped establish Nebraska’s sand volleyball program into a top-10 national program.  Dan is also a former standout player at Ohio State University, where he helped lead the Buckeyes to a national semifinal appearance and earned All-MIVA honors during his collegiate career. Here's some notable highlights from our conversation: [4:10] — Lessons Learned from Year One as a Head Coach [7:35] — Reflection as a Coach [10:13] — Catching People Being Good [16:23] — Taking Over a Winning Program [20:54] — Growing Beyond Your Strengths as a Leader [25:33] — Joy and Flow State in Competition [30:02] — Core Values [33:03] — Courage and Leadership [43:21] — Turning Failures and Losses Into Lessons [49:01] — Searching for Competitive Advantages [53:49] — Never Stop Learning [58:30] — Family and Fatherhood Follow Dan's Coaching Journey: * Follow Dan on Instagram here [https://www.instagram.com/dan.meske/].  Learn More About Zach: * Explore 1:1 coaching with Zach -- Schedule a free call here [https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall?back=1] * Subscribe to my free newsletter here [https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/] * You can watch the video recordings of the podcast on YouTube here [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJWkWj_UkuZy9wNPU9vd1Hf2hsFHOCE2y].