The Champion’s Code: Building Relationships Through Life Lessons of Integrity and Accountability from the Sports World to the Business World

Ross’ signature keynote, “The Champion’s Code: Building Relationships Through Life Lessons of Integrity and Accountability from the Sports World to the Business World,” is about the DNA of champions in sports and how that relates to business. It’s based on more than six years of research that resulted in two critically acclaimed series of sports-business books. The first examines how and why specific teams win world championships, while the other chronicles the unwritten and unspoken rules in the world of sports, or “codes” as they are known, which explores the fine line between cheating and gamesmanship — and the ethical consequences involved when that line is crossed. Ross interviewed more than 1,000 professional athletes and coaches for the six books. Along the way, he saw some fascinating trends, patterns, metrics, and analytics develop among confident peak performers with unique DNA. For these particular individuals, or “champions,” it wasn’t always about winning; it was about following their moral compass to play the game correctly — with respect — to achieve success. In his research, he concluded that the same metrics and characteristics common among sports champions were also standard among peak performers in business. There are reasons certain teams win consistently, whereas others don’t... and Ross explains why. It’s mainly based on the “Good to Great” concept of how the best companies can separate themselves from the rest of the pack through servant leadership by creating a culture of excellence, developing deeper relationships, and giving extraordinary customer service.

Weaving inspirational stories and poignant life lessons from the world of sports, along with success stories and best-practice ideas on ways to overcome disruption from businesses and executives who he has worked with — Ross challenges his audiences to think about the differentiators they possess, which would ultimately lead customers to choose to do business with them or be influenced and guided by them. At the core of his message is that we like to do business with people we trust, who we want, and who “get it” — CHAMPIONS. Ross’ message reinforces that individuals win games, but TEAMS win championships. Momentum, roles, buy-in, motivation, consistency, sacrifice, trust, failure, chemistry, culture, work ethic, innovation, karma, and being humble — they’re all a part of what it takes to become the best of the best — a champion both on and off the field.

In an engaging, provocative, and visually entertaining style, Ross will use inspirational stories and poignant life lessons from the world of sports to show attendees how to:

• Create a “culture of excellence” by giving extraordinary customer service...
• Generate momentum by utilizing the “currency of karma”...
• Follow their moral compasses to win “the right way” with respect, ethics, and integrity...
• Be better leaders and create more “buy-in” by embracing change and failure...
• Evolve from “order takers” to “trusted partners” by enhancing the quality of their relationships...

Breakout Program: Wearing the C: Leadership Lessons from the Greatest Captains and Coaches in Sports

This program is based on a critically acclaimed book he wrote in which he was able to interview more than 500 captains and coaches to answer one question: What makes the great ones great? In this keynote session, Ross will focus on dozens of outstanding leaders from the world of sports and explain how they created “buy-in” through some unorthodox methods. Business success today is all about trust, communication, and building deeper relationships — and it’s no different in sports. Coaches have to motivate their players not only to win but to keep their jobs — so they have a lot of various tools in their toolboxes. Ross learned that there is no right way to lead, so he will share many different philosophies that sales professionals and business leaders can use to develop better relationships in the workplace. At the core of his message is that we like to do business with people we trust, who we want, and who “get it.” In an engaging, provocative, and visually entertaining style, Ross will use inspirational stories and poignant life lessons from the world of sports — as well as from some of the biggest brands in corporate America — to show attendees how to:

• Lead with integrity to achieve success
• Create buy-in to connect with millennials, boomers, and challenging co-workers
• Generate momentum through leading by example and mentorship of others
• Create a winner’s mindset to stay self-motivated through good times and bad

Raising Stanley: How Becoming the Best of the Best in Hockey Translates to Success in Business and in Life

To raise the Stanley Cup means that you have reached the pinnacle of professional hockey success; it means you are a champion — the best of the best. Each player’s epic journey to get to that sacred place has a unique and meaningful story behind it, however, and those stories are at the very core of Ross’ program. For more than two years Ross researched, met and interviewed upwards of 200 players and coaches who all share one common denominator — they had the distinct privilege of hoisting Lord Stanley’s holy grail. You see, to raise it means you have won it. Hockey players are extremely respectful as well as superstitious when it comes to the Cup. In fact, no player will ever even touch it unless he has won it. So, when he actually gets to raise it above his head for the first time, it is undoubtedly one of the proudest and most profound moments of his life. Some stories will make you laugh out loud; like the one about Shjon Podein, who was so excited about winning the Cup in 2001 with the Colorado Avalanche that he refused to take off his equipment for the next 24 hours. That’s right. Wanting the moment to last forever, he kept his entire uniform on — skates and all — and partied like a rock star all night long throughout the streets of Denver. Some will make you cringe; like the one about Mike Modano, who, despite suffering from incredible pain, insisted upon getting his broken wrist shot up with Novocain between each period of every playoff game because he didn’t want to let his teammates down during Dallas’ 1999 Stanley Cup run. Some will bring tears to your eyes; like the one about Phil Esposito, who talked about how tough it was for him to slip his 1970 Boston Bruins championship ring off his dad’s finger at his funeral just before they had to close his casket. And some will inspire you; like the one about Brendan Shanahan, who took the Cup to his father’s grave site the morning after leading his Detroit Red Wings to the title in 1997 so he could personally thank him for all the sacrifices he had made for him over the years — from 5AM practices to getting a second job — just so he could live out his childhood dream. The raw emotion and personal stories of determination, courage and perseverance will resonate with your audience as Ross weaves the life lessons and wisdom that he gathered over his two year odyssey into practical business takeaways that can be taken back to the office and put to use immediately. In his program, Ross talks about the “metaphorical Stanley” in all of our lives, that goal or light at the end of the tunnel that we are all pursuing as we climb the corporate ladder, and about how we can all achieve success through hard work, passion and dedication. Audience members will learn about teamwork, toughness, roles and role players, and leadership in ways they simply never imagined. If you’ve got any sports fans in your group, then this uplifting, PowerPoint-photo-packed, 60-minute program will be the perfect way to open or close your next conference or event.

Do You Believe in Miracles? Lessons in Team-Building, Leadership & Motivation

Well, believe it or not, legendary coach Herb Brooks didn’t. Sure, he was a dreamer, but there were no short-cuts or divine interventions in his vocabulary — for him it was all about hard work, commitment and passion — and through those ideals he truly changed the world. Ross Bernstein is proud to share the inspirational story of the man behind the fabled 1980 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Miracle on Ice hockey team — which pulled off the greatest upset in modern sports history. Ross, who had actually been working with Brooks on writing a series of motivational/self-help books at the time of his tragic passing in 2003, decided to honor the legacy of his friend and mentor by turning their project into a living memorial. The result was Remembering Herbie and America’s Coach, a pair of nationally critically acclaimed motivational-biographies which chronicle the secrets of Brooks’ success through hundreds of interviews from former players, teammates, coaches, friends and family. Proceeds from the sale of the books proudly benefit the Herb Brooks Foundation, of which Ross currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors. In his program, Ross speaks about the influence Brooks had on the world of sports; his unorthodox leadership style; his philosophies on roles and role players; his thoughts on mentorship and community service; how he was able to adapt and change in different work environments; how he fostered team chemistry; and about his unparalleled motivational tactics. Brooks was a winner in every sense of the word and the culture he created with his teams consistently delivered winning results — that was the bottom line. An innovator who wasn’t afraid to try things that were completely revolutionary and even controversial, Brooks demanded excellence from everybody around him and earned their respect through leading by example. He was the ultimate team player who lived by the adage that “the name on the front of the jersey was always more important than the name on the back” — a message any company or organization, big or small, can be proud of. Putting many of the life-lessons and ideologies he learned from the fiery coach into a practical business application, Ross’ interactive, entertaining and thought-provoking presentation aims to inspire others to follow their dreams and maybe, just maybe, even create their own miracles. If you’ve got any sports fans in your group, or if you got goose bumps watching the Disney movie Miracle, which starred Kurt Russell as Brooks, then this uplifting 60-minute keynote will be the perfect way to open or close your next conference.