Rachel Cruze – Helping Us Win Money with Class
Winning with Class
Rachel Cruze is a wife, a mother, a certified financial coach, a #1 New York Times bestselling author and seasoned communicator. Rachel helps Americans learn the proper ways to handle money and stay out of debt. She’s authored multiple bestselling books, including Know Yourself, Know Your Money, Love Your Life, Not Theirs, Contentment Journal, Smart Money Smart Kids, and a children’s book, I’m Glad for What I Have. The daughter of Dave Ramsey, she uses the knowledge and experiences from growing up in the Ramsey household to educate others. She’s the host of The Rachel...
info_outline
Dr. Caroline Leaf – Help In A Hurry!
Winning with Class
DR. CAROLINE LEAF is a globally acclaimed communication pathologist and clinical and research neuroscientist, celebrated for her groundbreaking work in harnessing the power of the mind to transform the brain and unlock sustainable happiness and health. A passionate advocate for mental and emotional well-being, she is the bestselling author of 19 transformative books which have been translated into over 24 languages. Her best-selling books include Switch On Your Brain, Think and Eat Yourself Smart, The Perfect You, Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess, and How to Help Your Child Clean Up Their...
info_outline
Coach Nick Mingione – Culture: Build it. Lead it. LIVE it.
Winning with Class
Nick Mingione was named Kentucky’s head coach on June 13, 2016 and quickly became a respected piece of the UK Baseball program and local community, while guiding the Wildcats to their only Super Regional and first-ever College World Series appearance in school history. In his rookie season as a head coach, Mingione proved a quick study as the 2017 Wildcats etched their name all over the school’s record books. The program made a trip to the NCAA Tournament Super Regionals for the first time and finished ranked in the Top 10 of every major college baseball poll. In year seven, Mingione...
info_outline
Neal McDonough – The Pursuit of High Standards
Winning with Class
Multi-talented and award-winning actor Neal McDonough has been blessed to have an incredible career in the film industry. He is now producing films alongside his wife Ruvé for the McDonough company. Films such as THE WARRANT, BREAKERS LAW, REDSTONE, BOON, BLACK SPARTANS ,and most recently the hit film THE SHIFT for Angel Studios. Soon, they will be going into production on their next western that he has written called THE WICKED AND THE RIGHTEOUS . McDonough is well known for performances in productions, such as BAND OF BROTHERS, MINORITY REPORT, WALKING TALL and STAR-TREK FIRST CONTACT. He...
info_outline
Cori Close – Coaching from the Heart!
Winning with Class
Cori Close was named The Michael Price Family UCLA Women’s Head Basketball Coach on April 21, 2011, and is currently 287-140 (.672) overall. This year, Coach Close led the Bruins to a 30-win season, at one point winning 23 in a row, 22 by double digit margins. The regular season ended with a Big Ten Conference Tournament Championship and a number one overall seed in the 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament. For all of this, Close was named the Women’s Coach of the Year by the US Basketball Writers Association. This strong season was preceded by UCLA’s second-consecutive...
info_outline
Brittany Ratcliffe – Beyond the Bow
Winning with Class
Far more than a professional soccer player with the Washington Spirit, Brittany Ratcliffe is a great package of personality and talent who has her priorities firmly in order. This package has led to a long and successful soccer career and has put her on a path to ensuring that she wins with class at anything she does in life – in and beyond sports. Born and raised in South Jersey, Brittany grew up and remains a huge Philadelphia sports fan. While growing up, she dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player as she attended Philadelphia Charge (of the former Women’s...
info_outline
Jeff Boyd, Founder of MTE - Pursuing Complete Health
Winning with Class
Jeff Boyd is the founder of MTE (More Than Energy), research-based wellness supplement that seeks to help you thrive by boosting your focus, productivity, and overall well-being. Jeff shares how health has always been a focus and passion for him, starting back when he grew up as an athlete. He then shares his entrepreneurial path and what it takes to go out and build something on your own. Throughout, you’ll learn that Jeff is sincere in his quest to bring people health and wellness through is product and that he values living by a high standard that starts at home with his...
info_outline
Rhett Lashlee - Living Leading and Competing with High Standards
Winning with Class
Coach Rhett Lashlee 2023 Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year Award Finalist 2023 Dave Campbell's Texas Football Co-Coach of the Year 2023 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award Finalist 2023 Maxwell Football Club National Coach of The Year Award Semi-Finalist Head Coach Rhett Lashlee enters his third season as Head Coach for SMU in 2024. Coach Lashlee has been the driving force in leading the Mustangs’ return to prominence in his first two years as the leader of the program, highlighted by a championship season in his second year, going 11-3 and...
info_outline
Hilinski’s Hope: Fighting for the Mental Health of Student-athletes
Winning with Class
The Foundation Hilinski’s Hope Foundation is a non-profit organization formed to promote awareness and education of mental health and wellness for student athletes. The Foundation’s mission is to educate, advocate, and eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness, while funding programs that provide student-athletes with the tools and resources that support their mental health and wellness. The Hilinski’s Hope Foundation (H3H) was founded in 2018 by Mark and Kym Hilinski to honor the life of their son Tyler. H3H helps colleges and universities save lives, eliminate stigma,...
info_outline
Cara Brookins: How a House Built a Family
Winning with Class
Cara Brookins is an internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, #1 best-selling author of nine books, and renowned thought leader in the science of motivation. Her actionable strategies empower audiences worldwide to overcome odds that seem insurmountable and thrive in any situation. Brookins is best known as the mom who built her own house with her kids using YouTube Tutorials. With her eager construction crew consisting of her four young children, Brookins laid the block, framed the walls, and even ran the plumbing and gas lines for her 3,500 square foot house. She shared her story in her...
info_outline Coach Lew is the Director of Strength and Conditioning for UNC Charlotte Football. Caralla spent the previous four years as the Head Football Strength and Conditioning Coach at Georgia Tech and served as the head strength and conditioning coach for three different NCAA Division I FBS programs before making his way to Atlanta.
Caralla was the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Buffalo in 2018 following stints as Director of Strength and Conditioning at Louisiana-Lafayette (2016-17) and North Texas (2015). He was named Football Scoop's 2018 Strength Coach of the Year during his time at Buffalo.
He served as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Michigan for three years (2012-14), at Mississippi State for one (2011) and at Georgia Tech.
His career began with an internship at South Florida in 2007. He was an intern at Virginia in 2008 and became a graduate assistant at Mississippi State in 2009-10.
Coach Lew is the author of Fire Lighters, 365 – Daily Motivational Messages for Athletes, Coaches, and Leaders.
Originally from Tarpon Springs, Fla., Caralla graduated with a bachelor's degree in wellness and corporate fitness from Defiance (Ohio) in 2008. He was a two-time all-conference running back and earned academic all-conference accolades twice. He received a master's degree in kinesiology from Mississippi State in 2010. Caralla and his wife, Lori, have three children: Marshall, Ali, and Ava.
Takeaways:
- Coach Lew is a great example of the benefit of starting from ground zero and just grinding your way up…The adversity in being let go multiple times, working crazy hours for very little pay, moving the family with little notice and more…All of this led Coach Lew to where he is and gives him instant credibility for all the great lessons he teaches. There are no shortcuts.
- Coach Lew had a great answer to the question he gets frequently – why are these workouts so hard? - Coach Lew is coaching LIFE. And Life is NOT fair all the time. So, his answer is - are these workouts fair all the time? No. But you’re gonna get through it, you’ll do it with teammates, so that in the end, you will be better and so will our team. Great way to look at challenges – even when they seem unfair.
- Consistency is critical and much more intimidating than any flexing for great play. It’s the people who never change no matter what happens. Their effort and process are the same. You can count on them – always. As Coach Lew said, as a competitor, that’s a dangerous person…
- The difference between satisfied, hungry, or starving??? To get to really great places, we need to be STARVING. Do you have life habits that show you are starving? Are you doing extra? As Coach Lew says, separation is available – are you taking advantage of it? In sports…in life?
- 1 day contract: Coach Lew asks - If you were going to be hired or fired by your effort TODAY, what would it be? As coach says, I bet your urgency would go up! So, let’s all commit to a one-day contract with ourselves – every day.
- Can you admit your own potential? As Coach Lew says – this is a tough one. Looking in the mirror and comparing yourself to your potential is daunting. Can you do it? More importantly, do you accept the challenge to close the gap between that person in the mirror and his or her potential?
- Coke v. water bottle. This one is great because it really encompasses a lot of all we talked about, if not all. If you live your life, pursue your goals, and chase that best version of yourself with discipline and in line with solid core values, and do so in a humble manner – winning with class in all that we do – then being that bottle of water as opposed to the bottle of coke will never be a problem for you.
Please follow Coach Lew:
Links:
Fire Lighters 365: Daily Motivational Messages For Coaches, Athletes and Leaders by Lew Caralla