#105: Dave Gerber on defining yourself through adversity

David Gerber is a new Uncle, a Starbucks loyalist, golf enthusiast, and someone who is incredibly driven by his ‘why.’ At 14, Dave and his family suffered the tragic loss of his father to cancer just 6 short months after his diagnosis. He went on to play baseball at a D1 school, Creighton University, where despite not being a top recruit he ended up setting records as their Closer. After school he was drafted to the Seattle Mariners and recognized as one of the top player leaders in the organizations but after injury and release in 2019, Dave had to redefine his dreams. He took his lessons learned into Sales and Territory Management where he has built successful businesses in Connecticut, Nebraska, and Iowa. Dave has learned to defy the odds through the ability to bet on himself and lead others around him to do the same. Dave is no stranger to meeting adversity and overcoming it. We talked all about his journey, from losing his father at age 14, to getting unexpectedly drafted to the MLB after college, to how he got his career lined up after baseball and everything in between. If you liked this podcast, go check out Episode #7 with Tommy Edman or Episode #13 with Kelsey Plum Timestamps: 6:52 - why Dave says that his life really started at age 14 after his dad passed away 13:46 - how true adversity gives us the opportunity to define ourselves 15:34 - what role his dad still plays in his life today 17:42 - how Dave went from barely making his college team to setting school records 25:35 - Dave's "why" and how it helped him succeed as a pitcher in baseball 34:10 - how Dave was watching the MLB draft on TV and unexpectedly got drafted 40:17 - how Dave responded when he was told that his baseball career was over 46:23 - how Dave fought for a job after being told no, and ended up accepting the role with $58 in his bank account 50:57 - when to go up to bat for yourself and how you can fight for your opportunities 55:44 - finding balance between work and play