Overview

On this episode of the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, John Jantsch interviews Don Yaeger, New York Times bestselling author, leadership expert, and speaker. Don’s new book, “The New Science of Momentum,” challenges the myth that momentum is just luck or a sports cliché. Instead, Don shares a research-backed, practical framework for leaders who want to engineer and sustain momentum—in teams, organizations, and personal growth. Drawing from hundreds of interviews with elite athletes, coaches, military leaders, and business executives, Don reveals what separates those who wait for sparks from those who build their own winning streaks.

About the Guest

Don Yaeger is a leadership expert, award-winning keynote speaker, and author of more than 30 books, including several New York Times bestsellers. He’s known for deep-dive interviews with world-class performers, distilling their habits and strategies into actionable playbooks for business and life.

Actionable Insights

• Momentum isn’t just a sports cliché—it’s a science that can be engineered with the right culture, recruiting, and preparation.
• Elite leaders don’t just wait for a “spark”—they build frameworks, teams, and habits that make capturing and sustaining momentum possible.
• Culture matters: Avoid pitting teammates against each other, and recruit people who cheer for others’ success, not just their own.
• Preparation is critical: Teams that mentally rehearse “what if” scenarios and study moments in advance are better at recognizing and seizing opportunities.
• Momentum killers: Negativity, selfishness, failing to recognize small wins, and not celebrating team achievements all sap energy and belief.
• Measuring momentum is less about external scoreboards and more about internal belief—a shared sense among the team that success is possible and building.
• Leaders must “speak truth” every week: Honest, clear communication builds trust and belief (the foundation of momentum).
• Building momentum sometimes means making hard choices—like restructuring or changing direction—so you’re ready when opportunity strikes.
• The most successful teams and companies use rituals (like celebrating wins and preparing for “what ifs”) to foster momentum as a habit, not an accident.

Great Moments (with Timestamps)

• 01:06 – The Super Bowl Spark: How One Moment Inspired the Book
  Don explains the origin story—watching the Patriots’ epic comeback and asking how moments become momentum.
• 02:54 – The Framework: Culture, Recruiting, Preparation
  Why momentum starts before the spark, and what leaders can engineer.
• 04:23 – Recognizing and Seizing Moments
  The Buzz Williams “laptop drill” for building awareness in teams.
• 07:29 – Momentum Killers
  How negativity, selfishness, and failing to recognize sparks can drain belief and performance.
• 10:51 – When Momentum Means Making Hard Calls
  Why adapting to change—even when it’s uncomfortable—is essential for future opportunities.
• 12:03 – How Do You Measure Momentum?
  Why the real scoreboard is a shared sense of belief and engagement.
• 14:52 – The Scotty Pippen Story: Why Team Players Matter
  What happens when ego trumps the team in critical moments.
• 18:26 – Rituals and Habits for Leaders
  The weekly habit that builds trust, belief, and lasting momentum.

Insights

“Momentum is a belief system—a shared sense among your team that something big is possible and building.”

“Elite leaders don’t wait for a spark; they build the culture, team, and preparation to seize it when it comes.”

“Celebrate others’ wins as your own—teams with true momentum multiply each other’s energy.”

“Speak truth every week. Trust and belief are the foundation for any lasting success.”