This week on the Here’s What We Know Podcast, our guest George Maxe shares his 30-year career path filled with unexpected twists and turns that led him to his current role as the president and CEO of The First Tee of Silicon Valley, where he’s been making a significant impact for the past 15 years.
Listen in to hear more about George’s inspiring journey. He recalls memorable moments playing golf and how golf transcends being just a sport into a powerful tool for character development and social inclusivity. He also emphasizes making golf accessible to children from all backgrounds and creating balanced environments where they can learn from each other’s experiences.
This episode is sponsored by:
In This Episode:
The Unexpected Journey
A Swing to Remember
From Berkeley to San Jose
Numbers Game
Golf: A Social Catalyst
Making Golf Accessible
Balancing Act
The Power Within
Unforgettable Encounters
Women and Golf
The Art of Mentorship
Volunteering
Building Rapport Through Humor
Golf Course Conversations
Quotations:
“There’s something magical that happens when two people click.” ~ George Maxe
“When you love competition, it’s gotta be so hard to let go of it when you think you have a chance to win again.” ~ George Maxe
“One of the great things about golf is that we’re using it as a vehicle for character development.” ~ George Maxe
Guest’s Bio:
George Maxe is a dedicated and visionary leader who has made a significant impact on youth development through his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of The First Tee of Silicon Valley. His journey with the organization began in 2008, when he assumed the position of Executive Director at The First Tee of San Jose. Over the years, his leadership and unwavering commitment have transformed the organization, leaving an indelible mark on the community, which revolves around nurturing young talent and enabling them to reach their fullest potential, allowing him to leverage his education, experience, expertise, and background to make a positive impact on young lives. Under his guidance, The First Tee of San Jose experienced remarkable growth and expansion. By early 2012, he had successfully extended the program’s reach to include not only San Jose but also Gilroy and East Palo Alto, effectively renaming it The First Tee of Silicon Valley. This strategic move broadened the organization’s service area, ensuring more young people had access to its valuable programs. He aims to serve 10,000 youth by 2020 and elevate that number to 18,000 by 2025.
This week, Gary chatted with the legendary Olympic beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh Jennings. We dive deep into her journey of rehabilitation post-injury, exploring themes like expectation management, maintaining an active lifestyle for personal well-being, and setting examples for children. Listen as she shares valuable insights on handling adversity in high-stakes situations, teamwork dynamics, and overcoming fear – all while juggling career aspirations and family responsibilities. Tune in to hear more about how she continues to inspire others through her story of resilience!
This episode is sponsored by:
In This Episode:
Reading Bible verses and using the Bible Recap app
Teenagers’ desire to spend more time with their parents
The importance of staying active and vibrant as one ages
Pouring into and creating a legacy for one’s family
Taking time for oneself in a relationship and focusing on personal growth
Overcoming fear and maintaining a positive focus
The bronze medal game and the challenges faced
The power of love and support from trusted individuals
The importance of self-awareness and managing one’s energy
The role of fear in clouding judgment and perception
Quotations:
“So for your kids, for my kids, to see us wanting to be vibrant, to make it a priority to keep moving, and to pray and to do all these things that fill us up so we can be vibrant in life for them, for ourselves; it’s just such a powerful gift.” ~Kerri Walsh Jennings
“As parents can, to a certain extent, we can control so much of our children’s lives based on the environment that we create in our homes and how we respond to their stresses and their growth, and all these things. And we set the tone largely, and that is such a huge responsibility.” ~Kerri Walsh Jennings
Guest’s Bio:
Kerri Lee Walsh Jennings is an American professional beach volleyball player, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, and a one-time Olympic bronze medalist. She is the beach volleyball leader in career victories as of 2016, having won 135 international and domestic tournaments.
Growing up in a segregated Alabama, Ralph Stokes never imagined he would play for the University of Alabama. But when his all-black high school closed down, he found himself in a predominantly white school, facing challenges of integration. Through perseverance, teamwork, and respect, Ralph became a trailblazing athlete, carving out a path for future generations. This episode explores the lessons learned from Ralph’s journey and how his experiences prepared him for life beyond football. Join us as we delve into the unexpected twists and turns of Ralph’s story and discover how he transformed adversity into opportunity.
This episode is sponsored by:
In this episode you’ll be able to:
Discover valuable lessons from a pioneering football player’s journey
Understand the crucial role of respect in fostering successful team dynamics
Learn how to rise above discrimination and setbacks through respectful dialogue
Uncover how to apply football-derived strategies to excel in business and entrepreneurship
Gain insight into effective goal setting and teamwork inspired by collegiate athletics
Key Moments:
00:03:12 – Ralph Stokes’ Career, Ralph Stokes talks about his current role as Vice President of Diversity Partnerships and Community Relations at the PGA Tour Tour Superstore, and his upcoming role as President of the Georgia State Golf Association.
00:06:16 – Ralph Stokes’ Experience with Integration, Ralph Stokes shares his experience with integration, starting from when he had to move to a different high school after his all-black high school was shut down, to playing football at a predominantly white school and leading integration his way.
00:11:15 – Football at Robert E. Lee High School, Ralph Stokes talks about his first day at Robert E. Lee High School, where he and other black players were outnumbered by white players and faced a giant Confederate flag in the gym. He shares how they were able to bring the team together and succeed in football.
00:15:28 – The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion, Ralph Stokes emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusion, and how it benefits everyone, whether it’s in sports, business, or society. He shares his hope for a better future where people are judged by their character, not their skin color.
00:16:50 – Learning Respect for Each Other, Ralph Stokes shares a story about how he learned respect for his white teammates during his high school football career. He explains how this respect helped them build a strong team and emphasizes the importance of respect in any organization.
00:19:07 – Ralph’s College Recruitment, Ralph talks about his college recruitment process and the numerous scholarship offers he received from various schools, including Notre Dame, Southern Cal, and Alabama. He explains how he never wanted to play for Alabama due to their lack of black players and how his mother influenced his decision-making process.
00:25:13 – Meeting Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, Ralph’s mother initially refused to let him play for Alabama due to Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s racist remarks. However, Coach Bryant went to Montgomery to meet Ralph’s family and apologize for his statements. Ralph’s mother asked tough questions, but ultimately allowed Ralph to play for Alabama.
00:32:27 – Coach Bryant’s Promise, Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant promised Ralph and his family that he would treat Ralph fairly and be like a father to him while he was away at college. Ralph emphasizes the importance of having someone to look up to and how Coach Bryant fulfilled his promise to him.
00:34:39 – Priorities Beyond Football, Ralph Stokes shares how his mother’s priority wasn’t just about football, but about her son’s future. She asked legitimate questions and allowed Coach Paul Bear Bryant to answer. They found common ground with respect and had a conversation.
00:36:51 – Coach Bryant’s Response, Coach Bryant responded positively to every issue that addressed the four questions Ralph Stokes had. He was an outstanding coach, but an even greater man.
00:39:46 – Business School, Ralph Stokes wanted to go to business school but was denied. He insisted he wanted to go, and they told him he had to talk to Coach Bryant. Coach Bryant allowed him to go to business school after listening to his reasons. Stokes graduated in four years and later served on the board of directors and was honored as one of the outstanding alums.
00:44:23 – Blessed with a Brain, Ralph Stokes felt blessed to have a brain and wanted to challenge himself to use it to do the best he could. His mother instilled the importance of education, and he and his siblings were driven by a set of parents that valued education.
00:48:16 – Responsibility of Results, Ralph Stokes talks about the importance of taking responsibility for the results of your actions. He uses golf and the stock market as examples of places where results are based on actions and not discrimination. His mom instilled the value of education, which she believed was the road to their future.
00:50:49 – Background and Decision Making, Ralph Stokes talks about his decision not to accept the scholarship offered to him by legendary coach Paul Bear Bryant and his reasons for taking a break from school. He also talks about his friends’ decisions to go to law school and play football.
00:52:49 – Paul Bear Bryant’s Legacy, Ralph shares his memories of the day of Paul Bear Bryant’s passing, the huge impact the coach had on the state of Alabama and the outpouring of support from former players and fans. He also talks about attending Bryant’s funeral.
00:54:11 – The Procession, Ralph describes the procession from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham for Paul Bear Bryant’s burial. He talks about the incredible turnout of people and how it felt like the passing of a president.
00:55:30 – Future Episodes, Gary asks Ralph to come back for future episodes to talk about his business life and college football. Ralph agrees and teases stories about his experiences in insurance sales and presenting to the Klu Klux Klan.
00:56:38 – Closing Remarks, Gary and Ralph thank each other for the conversation and Ralph expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to share his story. They look forward to future episodes together.
Bio:
Ralph Stokes, a former University of Alabama running back who made history as part of the first black recruiting class. His incredible personal journey serves as a testament to the power of determination, integrity, and the unwavering drive to succeed against all odds. From his early days playing football at Booker T. Washington High School in Montgomery, Alabama, to joining the historically white Robert E. Lee High School, Ralph’s story showcases the lessons learned on and off the field that continue to inspire countless others. As a respected executive in the golf industry, Ralph demonstrates that with resilience and dedication, anything is possible.
Check out Ralph Stokes’ book One of the First and consider sharing it with others. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralph-stokes-01b73526/ https://www.amazon.com/One-First-Overcoming-Challenges-Integration-ebook/dp/B098LP8QJY
If you’re feeling frustrated and unfulfilled because you’ve been tirelessly pursuing your dreams with purpose, but nothing seems to be working out, and you’re constantly facing setbacks and roadblocks, then you are not alone!
This week’s guest is Gold Medalist Jason Richardson. After a catastrophic injury, he defied the odds and returned to his passion of racing. But what led him to become a psychologist and expert in sports performance? Join us as Jason shares his journey of soul searching, overcoming obstacles, and discovering the keys to success. But just when it seems like he’s found the answer, a shocking twist leaves him facing a difficult choice. Don’t miss this gripping story of resilience and determination.
In this episode:
Tackling hurdles head-on and paving a path toward true accomplishment
Igniting your inner fire and taking calculated leaps toward your dreams
Fostering an optimistic lifestyle and implementing restorative wellness strategies
Examining your core beliefs and determining your authentic ambitions
Embracing minimalist techniques to reach your objectives and prevent standing still
Meet Jason Richardson, a gold medalist in BMX racing at the Pan Am Games, who has transformed his life after a life-changing injury. With an MBA under his belt and a thriving career in sports psychology, Jason is passionate about helping others find their true desires and cultivate personal growth. As an author of “More, Better, Happier,” he shares his insights on overcoming challenges and embracing life’s opportunities. As a guest on the Gary Scott Thomas Show, Jason’s energy and enthusiasm is infectious, making him a friend you’d want to have by your side in your journey of self-discovery.
The resources mentioned in this episode are:
Check out Dr. Jason Richardson’s book It’s All BS! We’re All Wrong, And You’re All Right! for tips on improving mental health.
Consider seeking out a sports psychologist, like Dr. Richardson, for help with improving performance and mental health.
Practice avoiding the four things that rob you of energy: comparing, complaining, complicating, and worrying.
Focus on feeling your emotions and finding ways to be productive and helpful to yourself and others.
Seek help for clinical issues from professionals in the field.
Quotations:
“Having the intention of racing actually sped up and gave me great not just motivation, but a great intention to heal and get better and push myself.” ~Jason Richardson
“Gratitude is one of the biggest things that can help you not only get over a hump but actually take stock of where you are.” ~Jason Richardson
“If you are truly not happy with where you are or even who you are, what is the opposite of that?” ~Jason Richardson
“Comparing, complaining, complicating, and worrying, those are the four things that just suck energy out of us.” ~Jason Richardson
