Don Yaeger

As the author of 14 books, four of which became instant New York Times best-sellers, Don Yaeger has developed a reputation as one of America’s most provacative journalists. His award-winning writing career, including 10 years as Associate Editor of Sports Illustrated, has led to guest appearances on every major talk show in America - from Oprah to Nightline; from CNN to Good Morning America.

Few can lay claim to as exciting and colorful career as Don. In his 20-plus years as a journalist, he has conducted interviews with some of the greatest athletes of our time – Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, Emmitt Smith, Serena Williams, Jimmy Connors and countless others. He has lived with Walter Payton, writing the NFL legend’s autobiography as Payton courageously battled cancer, and even interviewed the President of the United States in the Oval Office.

Using lessons learned from a lifetime in sports, Don shares the formula that he has seen in the great winners he’s worked with – and explains how that formula can work for others.

John Wooden, Legendary UCLA Coach and winner of 10 National championships says, “My time with Don Yaeger is always both a treat and intellectually stimulating!”

Don customizes each speech to meet the needs of his audience, but the topics he is most asked to discuss include:

What Makes the Great Ones Great

As a New York Times best-selling author and Sports Illustrated Associate Editor, Don has had the opportunity to spend time with some of the greatest winners in the world of sports. Using these rich, personal accounts gathered from more than 20 years of interviews with legends like Walter Payton, Jimmy Connors, Dot Richardson, Shaquille O’Neal, Michael Jordan, John Wooden, Pat Riley, and Dale Brown, Don has distilled Sixteen Consistent Characteristics of Greatness.

Don shares these lessons with audiences in an easy, engaging style, which helps participants realize that they, too, can achieve a higher level of personal success. In his most popular speech, Don illustrates how the great ones achieved their own greatness by detailing common characteristics in

1. How they think;
2. How the prepare;
3. How they work; and
4. How they live.

Turning Adversity into Advantage

Don, a cancer survivor, relates stories and lessons taken from those who have encountered great challenges and become better, not despite them, but because of them. In this speech, he reminds his audience that adversity is one of the most potent forces in life – it can build you up or tear you down. Your reaction to adversity – big or small – shapes your character, clarifies your priorities and defines your path. And, as described in this speech, it can fuel your greatness.

He has discussed this subject with athletes and entertainers like Tim McGraw, who watched his father lose a battle with brain cancer. McGraw's experience preceded the release of Don’s monster hit, "Live Like You Were Dying."

Five Habits of Horrific Leaders

Many have chronicled the habits of great leaders; however, their opposite is often overlooked in conversations about integrity, bravery and strength. In a twist on the classic discussion, Don reveals that much can be learned by studying the mistakes made by terrible leaders.

Don gives his audience an inside look at some of the stories he has written about tyrants, such as Uday Hussein, the son of Saddam, who led Iraq's Olympic Committee for 20 years and tortured athletes who didn't win. Along the way, Don points out where they went wrong in order to help his audience really grasp some of the most important lessons in leadership.

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Little League

Sportsmanship. Leadership. Teamwork. Honesty. Humility. Through emotional, personal stories, Don shows how these and other life lessons are learned in little league. 

Don tells how legendary Alabama Coach Bear Bryant used football to break down racial stereotypes and how Bryant's decision impacted many in the South. He also details how the US government uses sports to help rebuild the fabric of fledgling democracies. From his experiences in Iraq, Don reveals that one of the first moves made after Saddam Hussein was captured was the successful restoration Iraq’s sports community, providing Iraqi youth with opportunities to compete in soccer, basketball and track. Why? Sports give communities, families and friends something positive to rally around.

What Will Your Legacy Be, And What Are You Doing to Ensure It?

In today's live-for-the-moment world, few of us have given thought to the legacy we will leave behind. While working with two exceptional athletes - Walter Payton and Tug McGraw - as they were battling for their lives, Don spent hours discussing the subject of legacy with them. Both men provided lessons that changed Don's life - lessons too important not to share.