How Gratitude and Grace Build Resilient Leaders with Chris Visami
Release Date: 10/22/2025
The John Eades Podcast
Gratitude changes how you feel without changing your circumstances. In this episode, John explains why gratitude is a leadership advantage, not a soft skill. You will learn how the Gratitude Five Challenge reframes stress, connects you with the people who matter most, and increases engagement on your team. John shares real examples from his own life, research on recognition and appreciation, the handwritten note habit of Frank Blake from Home Depot, and three areas where leaders often withhold gratitude even though it fuels growth. If you want to become a leader people remember for the right...
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Warren Buffett’s final annual letter ended with a message about character, growth, and kindness. It was a reminder that success is measured by how you live and how you treat people. In this episode, I break down the four lessons from his closing words and why they matter for your leadership and your life. 🟩 Quote of the Day: “Kindness is costless but also priceless.” In this episode: Why failure is feedback How to pick the right heroes and copy their strengths Why writing your obituary creates clarity Why kindness builds trust in every room Subscribe to the daily newsletter: Learn...
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In this powerful episode, former professional baseball player and performance coach joins John Eades to explore how gratitude, grace, and daily discipline shape resilient leaders. After facing a life-changing cancer diagnosis, Chris shares how he repurposed his athletic mindset to focus on what truly matters — and what we can all learn from it. In this conversation, we cover: How to control what matters most and release what doesn’t Why “micro moments” shape your character and leadership impact The 4 G’s that guide Chris’s life: Grind, Grace, Gratitude, and Great How to...
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There’s a world of difference between being interested in something and being committed to it. John shares a personal story, Inky Johnson’s powerful definition of concrete commitment, and why commitment is what carries you long after feelings fade. Quote of the Day: “Commitment carries you when feelings can’t.” 🔗 Subscribe to the daily newsletter: 📘 Get the Daily Optimism Blueprint ($17):
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Negativity has a way of showing up in your path. Instead of avoiding it or matching it, you can redirect it. In this episode, John shares three simple responses that help others shift their perspective—from problems to possibilities. Quote of the Day: “Redirect the words, and you redirect the mind.” 🔗 Subscribe to the daily newsletter: 📘 Get the Daily Optimism Blueprint ($17):
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"It's the challenge that changes you." On the latest episode of the John Eades podcast, he covers how life’s challenges rarely show up when it’s convenient, but they are always the moments that shape us. In this episode, John shares Matthew McConaughey’s unforgettable story from Mali, Africa — and the powerful lesson that it’s not about winning or losing, it’s about having the courage to accept the challenge in front of you. Quote of the Day: “You become the big man when you accept the challenge.” 🔗 Subscribe to the daily newsletter: 📘 Get the Daily Optimism Blueprint...
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In this episode of The John Eades Podcast, I sit down with my friend Scott Cornwell, author of The Present Executive and President of the Center for Intentional Leadership. Scott shares powerful insights on identity, presence, leadership, and sustaining meaningful behavior change. We discuss: Why presence matters more than the title of “executive” The role of identity and how “I am” statements shape your behaviors and results The power of codes, core values, and mantras in leadership Balancing short-term execution with long-term purpose How to create lasting behavior change...
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Forty-one years ago, Bob Bowler walked into a Special Olympics event during his lunch break. He had no plan, no role, and no agenda—only a desire to serve. That small step turned into a lifetime of impact: raising funds, starting sports programs, and founding a camp for children with special needs that now serves over 335 campers and draws more than 500 volunteers each year. In this episode, I share Bob’s story and the three leadership lessons I learned from him: Find joy in other people’s dreams coming true Serve expecting nothing in return Choose positivity over negativity ...
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In this episode, John shares a preview of his new keynote and workshop, The Teamwork Advantage: Turning Groups into High-Performing Teams. Learn the formula and behaviors that separate elite teams from average ones, and walk away with practical strategies to build alignment, strengthen communication, and inspire action. John also brings you the latest Optimistic Outlook story: English golfer Tommy Fleetwood’s long journey to his first PGA Tour win and the reminder he gave us all after — “Be a good person first.” For more details on The Teamwork Advantage keynote and workshop, visit or...
info_outlineIn this powerful episode, former professional baseball player and performance coach Chris Visami joins John Eades to explore how gratitude, grace, and daily discipline shape resilient leaders. After facing a life-changing cancer diagnosis, Chris shares how he repurposed his athletic mindset to focus on what truly matters — and what we can all learn from it.
In this conversation, we cover:
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How to control what matters most and release what doesn’t
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Why “micro moments” shape your character and leadership impact
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The 4 G’s that guide Chris’s life: Grind, Grace, Gratitude, and Great
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How to reframe struggle as a classroom for growth
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The simple morning habit that sets the tone for your entire day
Key Quote:
“Start every day with gratitude and end it with grace.”
If you’ve ever faced adversity or simply want to lead yourself and others more intentionally, this episode will inspire you to focus on the things that truly count.
You can see if the Teamwork Advantage is right for you or your team here.