Going for Gold (ft. Joe Delagrave, Paralympic Athlete, Team USA)

Going for Gold (ft. Joe Delagrave)How an athlete turned a horrible tragedy into his greatest achievements.OPENING QUOTE:“In that split second, life changed. I go from the boat to the rescue boat, to the ambulance, to the local hospital. They med flight me up to a bigger hospital. And that’s when I learned that I had a spinal cord injury, that I had broken my neck, and that I’d probably never walk again.” —Joe DelagraveGUEST BIO:Joe Delagrave is a Paralympic athlete for Team USA, a journey that introduced him to the sport of wheelchair rugby. After a casual boating accident that would have derailed most people’s lives and shattered their dreams, Joe’s story becomes one of purpose, passion, courage, comeback, grit, resilience, and transformation.Learn more about Joe Delagrave:Team USA BioInstagramTwitterLinkedInWebsiteCORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[07:34] - Where Victory is MadeIt’s not just on the field, track, or courtJoe recognizes that if he and his teammates land gold at the Paralympic Games, it won’t just be the result of their work in Tokyo. It will be the 13 years of preparation, the sacrifices from players and their families and more. Many different paths must be taken to reach that destination.[10:37] - The Event that Changed EverythingAnd what came next...In 2004, Joe Delagrave was in a boat that struck the bottom of the river and sent him flying backwards in the boat, breaking his neck at vertebrae C6 and C7. His initial response was feelings of frustration and depression, but he then realized that he was wired to push through anything. So, he did.[24:28] - From ‘How Do I Get Out’ to ‘How Do I Excel Where I Am’A shift of mindset transformed Joe’s lifeAt first, Joe Delagrave wanted only one thing— to get out of his wheelchair. He felt that was the only way his life could begin again. Then, he pivoted, realizing— there are avenues for success while living with disability. That’s when a true transformation took place, and he began to reach for his ultimate potential.[28:14] - The Power of ChoiceWhen it feels like your agency is taken away, you always have a choiceJoe could have turned to blame, to bitterness, and to a feeling of helplessness. Instead, he inspires himself and others every day to remember that you always have a choice in how you respond to tragedy or roadblocks. If you can break free from blame, you can find incredible success on the other side.[34:54] - The Danger of Identifying Yourself with Your SuccessHow Joe almost let his competitive spirit get the better of himWhen Joe began chasing gold medals in the Paralympic games, he began to think that obtaining that dream would validate him as a husband, father, leader, and community member. But he soon realized that it wouldn’t do any of those things. Just as he would have to earn his victories in wheelchair rugby, he would also have to earn his victories in other areas of his life.[42:39] - You vs. Them: A Whole New MeaningWhose opinion matters to you?Joe likes to ask everyone he meets, “Are you more worried about what other people think of you, or are you more worried about actually living out your purpose?’ The people who choose the latter are the ones who ultimately end up achieving even their wildest dreams.RESOURCES:[0:34] The Power of Playing Offense[1:56] About the Paralympics[21:10] MurderballFOLLOW:We'd love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode. Feel free to DM Paul on social or shoot him an email at [email protected] to keep making the right plays? Subscribe to Playmakers now.Check out more episodes and content on the Playmaker’s website.Learn more about Joe Delagrave:Team USA BioInstagramTwitterLinkedInWebsiteFollow Paul Epstein:Playmakers PodcastThe Power of Playing OffenseLinkedInFacebookTwitterInstagramYoutubeSHOW SPONSOR:Audible: Interested in leveling up and lifelong learning? Then what’s better than a free audio book and 30-day free trial when you visit audible.playmakerspod.com? With over 200,000 titles to choose from, there’s no limit to what you can explore and learn on Audible. TRY AUDIBLE TODAYABOUT PLAYMAKERS: IMPACT UNLEASHED:Playmakers: Impact Unleashed is an all-access pass to the game-changers of today and the history makers of tomorrow. The show looks past the trophy cabinet and features a no-BS, inside look into the world of comeback, transformation, and impact unearthing practical tools and mindsets that we can all leverage to make a play in our own lives and careers.Take a seat at the table with leadership expert, sports industry veteran, bestselling author, personal transformation coach, purpose igniter, and your host Paul Epstein in this inspiring, yet immediately actionable podcast. From stories of total defeat to the thrills of unimaginable achievement to the practices of mastering the inside game, each show will share a high-energy, prescriptive blueprint to unleash impact and drive success, significance, and purpose no matter your starting point.Meet Paul at the 50 and make a play together!Learn more at: PlaymakersPod.comABOUT DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits. Here’s to making (podcast) history together.Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.comABOUT THE HOST:Paul Epstein may not be a hard charging running back on the actual football field, but his list of high-profile wins in the world of sports will have you thinking that he could be.Paul has spent nearly 15 years as a pro sports executive for multiple NFL and NBA teams, a global sports agency, and the NFL league office. He’s transformed numerous NBA teams from the absolute bottom in league revenue to top-two in financial performance. He’s broken every premium revenue metric in Super Bowl history as the NFL’s sales leader. He’s opened a billion-dollar stadium, helped save the New Orleans NBA franchise, and founded the San Francisco 49ers Talent Academy.He's since installed his leadership and high-performance playbook with Fortune 500 leaders, Founders and CEOs, MBAs, and professional athletes.Now, as Founder of Purpose Labs, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and host of the Playmakers: Impact Unleashed podcast, Paul explores how living and working with a focus on leadership, culture, and purpose can transform organizations and individuals anywhere to unleash their full potential.Learn more about Paul at PaulEpsteinSpeaks.comOrder Paul’s new book The Power of Playing OffenseCREDITS:Paul Epstein: Host | [email protected] Trombley: Executive Producer | [email protected]