Moms have an amazing gift of teaching us lessons that stay with us for our entire lives. One of those lessons is understanding what it means to be human. Ancient cultures have sought to answer this question, without consensus, until one Mom finally did it – in a powerful, transformative way. In this Black Belt Leadership installment, we examine The Rules for Being Human and how they apply to self-leadership and the leadership of others.

In this installment of Black Belt Leadership, Dr. John takes us where no man has gone before as he kicks things off with a nostalgic nod to Star Trek before exploring “The Blink.” Not only do our eyes blink, but so does our brain. We all experience brief mental pauses when our minds literally “blink,” causing us to miss important details, leading to gaps in memory and perspective. This is where having others around us can be invaluable to gain a clear, more reliableperspective. How they do that is the subject of this week’s teaching.

If you’ve ever found yourself making excuses or feeling trapped by self-imposed roadblocks, this Black Belt Leadership episode is for you. Dr. John unpacks the "BUT Effect"—those mental limitations we often set for ourselves—and provides actionable strategies to spot, shrink, and swap those limiting thoughts for empowering ones. Through step-by-step exercises, you'll learn how to break free from the habits that hold you back and start striving for Black Belt excellence in every area of your life.

What can Grover, the loveable, furry monster from Sesame Street, teach us about life? Turns out, a lot. In this installmentof Black Belt Leadership, Dr. John takes us on an unexpected journey from the world of Sesame Street’s Grover to classic films like Groundhog Day and The Shining. Every day is a fresh page in the book of our lives—will we keep rewriting the same old story, or are we ready to turn the page and see what’s next?

In this installment of Black Belt Leadership, Dr. John takes us beyond the banner, examining iconic sports dynasties like the Chicago Bulls and Green Bay Packers, exploring what truly sets champions apart—not just the trophies and banners, but the mindset and relentless pursuit of excellence that comes after the win, as well as how to bounce back after a losing season. Discover three powerful life lessons that can help you look beyond your own self-imposed “banners” and prepare for “What’s next?”

The iceberg that doomed the Titanic weighed more than 1.5 million tons. Yet, only a small portion of this massive chunk of ice was visible above the surface. What lies beneath our own lives may be more substantial, more influential, and more impactful than what others can see above the surface. Real growth, self-awareness, and leadership are cultivated below the surface. Get ready to discover the eight elements lurking beneath your own “waterline,” and learn how to embrace the lessons of the iceberg in your own life.

Welcome to another episode of the Black Belt Leadership Podcast where Dr. John takes us a fascinating journey from the ancient art of winemaking and applies it to the modern challenges of personal growth and leadership. Just as you can’t put new wine in an old wineskin, you can’t add new thoughts and ideas to a mind that’s closed, or can you? This is one of the questions Dr. John will answer in this week’s insightful lesson.

Where you plant yourself matters. That’s the topic of this week’s Black Belt Leadership podcast as Dr. John takes us on a nostalgic journey to the fables and parables we heard aschildren, and the powerful life lessons they teach us. One lesson, the Parable of the Sower, teaches a powerful lesson: growth depends on your environment. Whether you’re sowing seeds of personal development or nurturing your own leadership journey, this episode challenges you to examine where you’re planting yourself, who you let into your inner circle, and what might be holding you back.