The Drive to Get Better

Cathie Leimbach • November 8, 2022

Molly Fletcher has drive. She has passion and the desire to become her best self. This motivates her to set high goals for herself and to push through obstacles to achieve her next personal best.

Who is Molly Fletcher? A former college tennis player. A young woman who didn’t look for jobs during her senior year. A daughter with little money who drove out of her family’s driveway in Michigan and headed to Atlanta to make her living in the sports world.  A wife and mother. A female sports agent who has represented top professional athletes.

Molly tells of sleeping on the couch at a friend’s apartment while figuring out how to quickly start earning some money. During her first days in Atlanta, she took some very strategic actions. She offered to be a tennis pro at apartment buildings with tennis courts. She learned which apartment buildings already had tennis pros. She reached out to a well-connected tennis industry professional she knew. He shared that he knew an apartment building tennis pro who was changing jobs soon but hadn’t given his notice. After negotiating for ongoing free promotional pizzas with the pizzeria across the road from the soon-to-be vacant tennis pro job, Molly returned to that apartment building to let the superintendent know that IF their tennis pro resigned, she would provide pizza at her weekly tennis clinics. Molly also provided an example of the tennis tips she could contribute to the monthly tenant newsletter. A few minutes later, Molly was the tennis pro at that building. The superintendent couldn’t believe her luck in finding a tennis pro just a few hours after their long-time pro had submitted his resignation. And Molly had just negotiated a free apartment in return for giving tennis lessons one evening a week. And Molly’s story goes on because she has drive.

Molly defines drive as the determination to get even better. Many athletes get to the pros because of there talent. Many achieve great thing but once they reach their goal they stagnate. Those who stay at the top of their game have a desire to continually get even better. 

Those with drive are internally driven. They compete against themselves, not against others. It is continual growth, not their ranking among their peers, that motivates them. They love the pursuit of continual improvement. 

Molly has interviewed many high performing athletes to discover what makes them be so successful and found that the best of the best have internal drive, want to get better, don’t pay much attention to the competition, and help the up and comers.  

How many of these attributes do you have? Which ones would you like to develop further? What will you do this week to strengthen your drive to be the best you that you can be? You might be inspired by Molly’s Ted Talk, Secrets of a Champion Mindset. 

The Need for True Human Connection

By Cathie Leimbach • August 21, 2025
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in schedules, screens, and endless to-do lists. But what people really crave is something deeper—true human connection. Dr. Paul White, who studies workplace relationships, reminds us that appreciation and connection are not just “nice to have”—they are essential for our well-being. And researcher Brené Brown shows that real connection comes from vulnerability, where people feel safe, seen and valued. Without this kind of connection, many struggle with loneliness, anxiety, or even depression. On the other hand, when we feel truly connected, we’re happier, more engaged, more resilient, and more productive. So how can we build better connections? Start small. Proactively reach out for a live conversation instead of only sending a quick text or email. Take time to connect with peers at work or in your community. Ask others to share something personal about themselves, and share something personal about your life. These simple actions can create moments of trust and belonging. And in a world that can sometimes feel disconnected, these moments are not just valuable—they are vital. Join Us! We invite you to explore this topic further at our upcoming virtual event: Managing Performance in Today’s Workforce. Learn practical strategies to strengthen workplace connection and performance.  View event details here.

Why Your Company's Success Depends on This One Thing (Hint: It's Not What You Think)

By Cathie Leimbach • August 19, 2025
What separates thriving companies from struggling ones? 🤔 Professor Lynda Gratton from London Business School spent decades studying this exact question. Her findings will change how you think about leadership. Here's what she discovered:  Organizations that invest in developing collaborative leaders consistently outperform their competitors. Not by a little—by a lot. Through her groundbreaking study of 21 global companies and 200+ executives, Gratton identified the three game-changing elements: ✅ Cooperative culture - Moving from "me vs. you" to "we together" ✅ Rich networks - Breaking down silos so ideas flow freely ✅ Shared purpose - Giving work meaning beyond the paycheck The results speak for themselves: → Better innovation → Higher employee engagement → Stronger financial performance Companies that train managers to be collaborative leaders (not just bosses) create environments where teams actually want to work together. My takeaway? Leadership development isn't a "nice to have"—it's your competitive advantage. When leaders learn to cooperate and inspire others, entire organizations transform. What's your experience with collaborative leadership? Have you seen this play out in your organization? Want to dive deeper? View Three Pillars of Success which breaks down how to produce measurable results in innovation, efficiency, and engagement.