EP. 9 Mike Morreale- Encourage Failure or Risk Being Average

Mike Morreale

Starting something from the ground up is one of the hardest things to do.

Whether it’s a new business, career change, a fitness routine, starting something from ground zero is tough, especially when you don’t have a map to the destination.

Furthermore, it’s even harder when the odds are stacked against you and you’re an underdog, and winning becomes near impossible when you get caught between a global pandemic.

I’ve always been curious about the principles that allow some leaders to win despite having their backs against the wall. If you’re curious to learn about the underlying fundamentals that you can add to your toolbox to come out of situations when everything is going wrong, then this episode is for you.

“I never missed a game my whole career. I was always scared somebody was going to take my job.”- Mike Morreale

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  • In this episode, I chat with Mike Morreale, the CEO and Commissioner of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), Canada’s professional basketball league.
  • Mike was an all-star football player at McMaster University and went on to have a monstrous 12-year career in the CFL.
  • This included:
  • – 2 Time Grey Cup Champion – 1996,1999
  • – CFL Most Outstanding Canadian Player – 2008
  • – Grey Cup Canadian MVP – 1999
  • Post CFL, Mike held the role of President at CFL Players Association. Subsequently, he held the position of Director at AirPrint.
  • In 2018, Mike led the launch of CEBL’s first inaugural season and in May 2019 launched the first season across Canada. Inaugural teams are located in Saskatoon, Edmonton, Fraser Valley, Hamilton, Guelph, and Niagara. In 2020 the CEBL welcomed its 7th team the Ottawa BlackJacks. The CEBL provides sports fans, partners, and sponsors with a premium entertainment option while growing the sport of basketball at the highest level in Canada. The CEBL is the Official Men’s Division 1 Professional Partner of Canada Basketball
  • The 2020 season dubbed the “CEBL Summer Series” saw the CEBL become the first pro league to return to play in Canada during the COVID pandemic and subsequently finish with 26 games and a new Champion the Edmonton Stingers.
  • You can follow Mike on LinkedIn here, and visit the CEBL website here 

Some Things We Discuss

  • The key rules that allowed Mike to have a 12 year CFL career + 2 Grey Cups
  • How the Canadian Elite Basketball League was formed
  • Why Mike never missed a game in his 12-year career
  • How Mike and the team weathered COVID and made history
  • Why you need to encourage a culture where failure is OK, otherwise you’ll never rise above the norm
  • Why Mike looks for hunger over technical skills or degrees when hiring
  • Why leaders have a much higher impact on their teams’ behavior than they realize

Listen Here

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