#36 Leadership, Perseverance, and the Miracle of J-Mac with Coach Jim Johnson

Leadership, Perseverance, and the Miracle of J-Mac with Coach Jim JohnsonIn this inspiring episode of The Learning to Lead Show, Mark Cundiff sits down with Coach Jim Johnson to explore powerful leadership lessons forged through adversity, trust, teamwork, and perseverance. Coach Johnson shares his journey as a high school basketball coach, the challenges of leading through a divided season, and the pivotal moment when vulnerability helped unite his team.The conversation also highlights the unforgettable story of Jason “J-Mac” McElwain—an autistic team manager whose four miraculous minutes on senior night became one of the most inspiring moments in sports history. Along the way, Coach Johnson unpacks practical lessons on passion, mission, goal setting, servant leadership, team culture, trust, and personal growth.This episode is a moving reminder that great leadership is not just about winning games—it is about believing in people, bringing teams together, and leaving every place better than you found it.If this episode encouraged you, be sure to share it and leave a rating so more leaders can discover The Learning to Lead Show.Connect with Coach Jim Johnson:LinkedInWebsiteBook: A Coach and a MiracleEmail: [email protected] VideoCoach Johnson mentioned several authors and thinkers who influenced his leadership journey:The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — Stephen Covey: A foundational book on leadership, personal responsibility, and purpose.Start With Why — Simon Sinek: Understanding purpose and how great leaders inspire action.The Five Dysfunctions of a Team — Patrick Lencioni: A powerful framework for building trust and team health.Developing the Leader Within You — John C. Maxwell: A practical guide to leadership growth.Mindset — Carol Dweck: A deep look at the power of a growth mindset.Free Learning To Lead ResourcesFree Book: The Trust GapThe Learning To Lead NewsletterLeaderNotes🔎 About LeaderNotesLeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.Contact Mark at: [email protected]