The Power of Playing Offense - Paul Epstein

Welcome to another enlightening episode of "Behind the Numbers," hosted by Dave Bookbinder. In this episode, we delve into the crucial topics of leadership, transformation, and culture with the dynamic Paul Epstein, founder of Win Monday and author of "Better Decisions Faster" and "The Power of Playing Offense." Paul shares his extensive experience from 15 years in the NFL and NBA, where he held various roles, including Chief Revenue Officer for the San Francisco 49ers. Paul also recounts his journey from the challenging beginnings with the LA Clippers, dubbed the "worst franchise in sports history," to breaking Super Bowl revenue records and opening Levi's Stadium. His experiences shaped his belief in the "playing offense" mindset in a defensive world, emphasizing the importance of making the next day your responsibility regardless of external adversities. One of the episode's highlights is Paul's insightful discussion on the difference between a team of leaders and a leadership team. He shares a powerful story from his time with the 49ers, where a shift from a "no-because" to a "yes-if" mentality transformed the team's approach to challenges, fostering collaboration and innovation. Paul also addresses the misconception that culture is solely top-down. He introduces the concept that "all culture is local," emphasizing that each individual can influence their immediate environment. By choosing warmth and positivity, employees at all levels can create a thriving culture, which Paul believes is a true competitive advantage. In addition, Paul touches on the return on investment (ROI) of leadership, highlighting the significant impact of employee engagement on organizational performance. He shares compelling data and personal anecdotes to illustrate how effective leadership and a positive culture can drive business success. The episode also explores Paul's role as the "WHY Coach" for the 49ers, where he helped individuals discover their purpose and values. He provides a practical framework for understanding and applying one's inner compass, which includes identifying one's why, values, beliefs, decisions, and actions. For those interested in further engaging with Paul Epstein, visit paulepsteinspeaks.com for speaking engagements and books. Additionally, you can join his 52-week momentum journey at winmonday.win to start winning your Mondays and, subsequently, your weeks. Don't miss this episode packed with actionable insights and inspiration for leaders at all levels. Tune in to "Behind the Numbers" and start transforming your leadership and organizational culture today. About our guest: PAUL EPSTEIN is a former high-level executive for multiple NFL and NBA teams and the bestselling author of “The Power of Playing Offense” and “Better Decisions Faster”. In 2022, he was named one of SUCCESS magazine’s top thought leaders who get results - alongside Tony Robbins, Brené Brown, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Mel Robbins, and his work has been featured on ESPN, NBC, Fox Business, and in USA Today. In nearly 15 years as a leader in the world of pro sports, Paul helped take NBA teams from the bottom of the league in revenue to the top two, broke every premium sales revenue metric in Super Bowl history while in the NFL’s league office, opened a billion-dollar stadium, and founded the San Francisco 49ers Talent Academy, where he was known as the “Why Coach”. As an award-winning keynote speaker, Paul’s impact continues off stage providing leadership development and culture transformation programs for companies and teams including Amazon, Disney, Johnson & Johnson, NASA, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Cowboys. He’s also the founder of the Win Monday community (an elite personal and professional development network) and host of the Win Monday podcast, where he interviews high-profile guests who reveal their secrets of confidence and work-life mastery.  About the Host: Dave Bookbinder is the person that clients reach out to when they nee