Keith Ferrazzi | The #1 Mistake Elite Leaders Make (And How to Fix It)
Release Date: 05/14/2025
Coming Up Clutch with J.R. Helping Pro and Executive Athletes maximize their success and significance
Ever catch yourself thinking… “Why does this keep happening to me?” “I’ve done everything right…so why do things keep going wrong?” You’re not alone. But here’s the raw truth: That’s not just your frustration talking… That’s not just a bad attitude… That’s the victim mentality — and it’s robbing you of your greatness. We’ve ALL been there. But if you don’t recognize it fast, it’ll strip you of your momentum, your clarity, and your edge. Playing the victim isn’t an attitude problem. It’s an IDENTITY problem. You’re not stuck. You’re just...
info_outlineComing Up Clutch with J.R. Helping Pro and Executive Athletes maximize their success and significance
Think leadership is reserved for the guy with the title, the office, and the polished resume? You’re not alone. For years, I believed the same thing. Until I realized… Leadership isn’t a title — it’s a responsibility. And the truth is: you’re already a leader… whether you admit it or not. Every decision you make… Every conversation you have… Every time your kids, spouse, team, or community looks to you… You’re leading. The question is — how well? That’s why I brought Baker Donelson CEO and Everybody Leads author, Tim Lupinacci, on the Coming Up Clutch with J.R.™...
info_outlineComing Up Clutch with J.R. Helping Pro and Executive Athletes maximize their success and significance
You ever feel like you’ve done everything right... You prepped. You trained. You put in the time. ...but you’re still second-guessing yourself? That nagging voice creeps in… “You’re not built for this” “You don’t have what it takes” “You can’t come through” Let me hit you with this… When you doubt yourself, you’re not just doubting your abilities — you’re doubting the God who gave them to you. That’s not a humility problem. It’s a faith problem. And that’s exactly what I’m going after in this week’s 5-Minute Drill on the Coming...
info_outlineComing Up Clutch with J.R. Helping Pro and Executive Athletes maximize their success and significance
“I hope this works out…” You ever caught yourself saying that? Let’s be real — most high-achievers work hard and prepare well. But deep down, they’re still carrying doubt. And doubt under pressure? It’ll bury you. That’s why I had to get MLB All-Star, Shane Greene, on the Coming Up Clutch with J.R.™ show. This dude didn’t just pitch in the Big Leagues — he closed games on the biggest stages, for the game’s most storied franchises. And he lived the mental fight: from underdog to All-Star from overthinking to locked in. From hoping to BELIEVING. This episode...
info_outlineComing Up Clutch with J.R. Helping Pro and Executive Athletes maximize their success and significance
You ever catch yourself saying things like… “You suck.” “You’re never gonna get this right.” “Why even try?” Now let me ask you this… Would you ever say that to your wife? To your kids? To someone you lead? No shot. So why are you saying it to yourself? Let’s call it what it is… That voice in your head? It’s not keeping it real. It’s you being hostile with yourself. And it’s killing your momentum. The worst part? You’ve gotten so used to that self-sabotage, that you don’t even recognize it anymore. But your confidence does....
info_outlineComing Up Clutch with J.R. Helping Pro and Executive Athletes maximize their success and significance
What’s your mindset when the battle chooses YOU? Do you shrink back and start counting your losses? Or do you stand up, lock in, and fight like hell to WIN — no matter how unfair it feels? Let’s be real… Most guys crumble when in battles they didn’t sign up for — cancer, career setbacks, family struggles, you name it. They start seeing defeat as inevitable instead of optional. That’s why I had to get retired Marine Corps Officer, C-Suite Executive, and battle-tested cancer warrior, Mike Ettore, on the Coming Up Clutch with J.R.™ show. Hands down, Mike’s story is a...
info_outlineComing Up Clutch with J.R. Helping Pro and Executive Athletes maximize their success and significance
You ever find yourself thinking, “Is this it? Is this all there is?” Your career's in full swing. You're providing. You’ve checked the boxes. But now…something feels off. The pressure isn’t letting up. The fog won’t lift. And deep down, you’re wondering if you’re in the middle of a midlife crisis. I’ve been there. In my 30s — successful on paper, struggling in my soul. Dad in and out of hospitals. Business stuck. Mental fog everywhere. I started asking, “What’s wrong with me?” But then a better question changed everything…and it turns out I wasn’t in...
info_outlineComing Up Clutch with J.R. Helping Pro and Executive Athletes maximize their success and significance
Ever have that feeling after a win that you’re still losing somewhere? Crush your numbers at work, but you’re disconnected to your family Train hard and eat clean, but you missed out on the social time with friends. Say yes to one thing, and it feels like you’re saying no to something that matters more. That tension? That constant low-key guilt and pressure? It’s not a scheduling issue. It’s not a discipline problem. It’s a mindset issue. That’s why I brought Dr. Nick Holton back on the Coming Up Clutch with J.R.™ show. Nick’s one of the leading experts on...
info_outlineComing Up Clutch with J.R. Helping Pro and Executive Athletes maximize their success and significance
Ever feel like life just flipped the script on you? One day you’re clear, confident, moving with purpose. The next? You’re doubting everything… stuck in your own head. Welcome to uncertainty — for many, the great momentum killer. That big decision you can’t get clarity on? That opportunity you thought was secure…suddenly isn’t. That season of waiting that feels like it’s never going to end? Yeah. I’ve been there. My clients are there. Chances are, you’re there now. But here’s the gut check: You don’t need the whole playbook to move forward. Because...
info_outlineComing Up Clutch with J.R. Helping Pro and Executive Athletes maximize their success and significance
Ever feel like you’re doing everything right…but something still feels off? Like no matter how hard you work, how much you win, how much you provide—it’s never quite enough. You’re crushing it professionally…but at home, you’re irritable, disconnected, or just numb. If that hits home, you’re not crazy. You’re not broken. You just might be glitching. 👀 This week on the Coming Up Clutch with J.R.™ show, I’m sit down with Dr. Don Wood—mindset and trauma expert, author, and the creator of the TIPP Method. He’s helped pro athletes and CEOs reboot their minds...
info_outlineWhat do you do when your team is full of talent…but you're still carrying all the weight?
You know what I’m talking about — that moment you realize you’re the one pushing every conversation forward…
...holding everyone accountable…
...keeping the mission alive.
It’s exhausting.
Let’s be real — you’re not leading a team. You’re dragging one.That’s why I’m excited to share the conversation I had with leadership expert and #1 NYT Best-selling author, Keith Ferrazzi — a man who’s worked with some of the most elite executive teams in the world — think General Motors, the country of Bhutan (yes, the country), and some of the fastest-growing startups in tech. Keith just released a new book called Never Lead Alone and it’s a straight-up manual for how the best leaders are shifting from command and control to building teams that actually LEAD WITH THEM.
In this episode, you will hear:
- The most important leadership shift elite teams are making right now
- How to eliminate conflict avoidance and create real accountability (without killing trust)
- Why feeling lonely at the top is a choice—and how to change that, fast
Key Quotes
- "High-performing teams cross the finish line together." - Keith Ferrazzi
- "Most teams avoid difficult conversations, but true high-performers challenge each other in real time. The result? More trust, faster growth, and stronger teams." - Keith Ferrazzi
- "The struggles of your life can be solved with the people around you — it’s a more enriching way to do it." - Keith Ferrazzi
- “Leaders must shift from focusing on leadership to teamship, where you expect the team to level up and meet you in leadership." - Keith Ferrazzi
- "You don’t think your way to a new way of acting. You act your way to a new way of thinking." - Keith Ferrazzi
- "If you feel lonely at the top, that’s on you. You are choosing to isolate yourself from people who are ready to love and support you." - Keith Ferrazzi
Connect with Keith
- Connected Success (Course): https://www.connectedsuccess.com/
- Never Lead Alone (Book): https://amzn.to/4bLusra
- Never Eat Alone (Book): https://amzn.to/4hIACdb
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithferrazzi/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithferrazzi/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keithferrazzi
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keithferrazzi/
- X: https://x.com/ferrazzi
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@keithferrazzi
Connect with J.R.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesJRreid
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesjrreid/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesjrreid/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamesJRreid
- Website: jamesreid.com
- Check out The Clutch Club™️: jamesreid.com/club (For Men Only)
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Episode Credits
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