Born to Be Great

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  • 5.0 (1)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

Born to Be Great is for people who know they’re meant for more — more success, growth, and purpose. Hosted by Justin Block, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, and Nick Ralston, a former Dallas Cowboy turned entrepreneur and investor. This show explores what it takes to win - in business, life, and most importantly within yourself. They bring on top guests, from elite athletes to world-class entrepreneurs - people who are the best at what they do. If you're chasing greatness, this is where it starts.

  1. 2d ago

    He Sold 6 Companies. Here's What Most Founders Get Wrong. W/ Mac Lackey

    Most entrepreneurs spend years building a business but almost no time preparing to sell it. In this episode of Born to Be Great, Justin and Nick sit down with Mac Lackey, a six-time founder who has successfully exited multiple companies and now helps entrepreneurs maximize the value of their businesses before a sale. Mac shares lessons from decades of entrepreneurship, discusses the realities of acquisitions and exits, and explains why strategic value often matters more than financial performance. The conversation also explores sports ownership, media opportunities, leadership, and the mindset required to build lasting value. Key Takeaways 🟦 Build strategic value, not just revenue 🟦 Founder dependence lowers business value 🟦 Great exits require long-term planning 🟦 Systems create freedom and scalability 🟦 Opportunity often comes from pursuing genuine passions (01:04) Welcome and Intro (01:50) Mac's Soccer Roots (03:48) First Internet Startup (05:52) Spending and Starting Again (07:08) Soccer Media Rocketship (08:16) Youth Sports Tech Consolidation (09:55) Kick Sale to Sports Engine (16:01) Buying a Spanish Club (19:51) Stadium Experience and Fan Zones (23:34) Cowboys Blueprint for 365 Revenue (26:54) Global Soccer Scale Explained (28:36) World Cup and Fan Devotion (29:56) Meeting Pele and Legends (31:13) What Makes Greats Great (33:21) 'Selling a Business' Realities (36:16) Strategic Value Over EBITDA (38:07) Irresistible Exit Story (40:54) Founder Dependence Trap (43:17) Plan Your Exit Early (46:28) Founder vs Banker on Valuation (48:54) Where to Find Mac 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes of Born to Be Great—real conversations on discipline, leadership, and becoming who you’re capable of being. Born To Be Great: 🔵 Justin’s Instagram 🔵 Nick’s Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great YouTube

    50 min

  2. Jun 1

    How to Build a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From with Kevin Dahlstrom

    What if the life you’re chasing isn’t actually the life you want? In this episode of Born to Be Great, Justin sits down with Kevin Dahlstrom to discuss success, fulfillment, identity, and designing a meaningful life.} Kevin shares lessons from decades of entrepreneurship, rebooting his life at the height of his career, and learning that money and achievement alone don’t create happiness. This conversation covers self-sabotage, courage, time, reinvention, minimalism, and why building a multidimensional life matters more than simply chasing status. Key Takeaways 🟦 Time matters more than money 🟦 Self-awareness creates better decisions 🟦 Most people are closer to their dream life than they think 🟦 Courage creates opportunity 🟦 Reinvention is necessary for growth (00:00) Intro (01:04) Welcome and Guest Intro (01:35) Kevin's Career Reboot Story (05:21) Choose Role Models Wisely (10:14) Defining Your Ideal End State (12:37) Minimalism and Life Maxing (15:56) Identity Beyond Work (20:24) The Viral 55 Lessons Thread (22:34) Encouragement as a Daily Habit (24:15) Choosing Optimism (25:05) Forgiveness Frees You (27:12) Stop Self-Sabotage (29:46) Quitting Alcohol Effects (31:38) Regret and Taking Shots (34:50) Retirement Without Escape (36:50) Designing Your Ideal Week (41:04) Time Billionaire Mindset (42:56) Reinvent Every Decade (45:56) Final Wrap and Where to Follow 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes of Born to Be Great — real conversations on discipline, leadership, and becoming who you’re capable of being. Born To Be Great: 🔵 Justin’s Instagram 🔵 Nick’s Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great YouTube

    47 min

  3. May 25

    Cut 13 Times. He Still Built a Multi-Million Dollar Brand with John Malecki

    What happens when the dream you've chased your entire life suddenly ends? In this episode of Born to Be Great, Justin sits down with John Malecki to discuss the journey from getting cut 13 times in the NFL to building a thriving business and content brand online. John shares lessons on resilience, identity, entrepreneurship, content creation, and why documenting your journey can create opportunities you never expected. This conversation dives into reinvention, authenticity, and building a life that aligns with who you really are. Key Takeaways 🟦 Resilience matters more than circumstances 🟦 Reinvention often starts unexpectedly 🟦 Authenticity beats perfection 🟦 Community creates long-term value 🟦 Greatness is built daily (00:00) Intro (01:05) Meet John Malecki (01:57) Pittsburgh Roots and NFL Dream (03:30) Undrafted and Cut 13 Times (06:08) No Quitting (10:48) Finding Control After Football (13:10) Starting YouTube For Real (15:30) Just Start Creating (16:42) YouTube as a Business (21:02) Document the Journey Strategy (24:41) Documenting a B2B Journey (31:38) Consistency and Founder Community (33:13) Authenticity Beats AI (35:26) Why People Follow People (37:07) Every Business Needs Content (40:05) Community as the Moat (41:57) Defining Greatness (44:33) Where to Find John 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes of Born to Be Great — real conversations on discipline, leadership, and becoming who you’re capable of being. Born To Be Great: 🔵 Justin’s Instagram 🔵 Nick’s Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great YouTube

    45 min

  4. May 11

    Self-Improvement Truth: Enter the Right Room, Build a Champion's Mindset

    What separates good leaders from elite ones? In this episode of Born to Be Great, Justin and Nick break down leadership lessons from some of the greatest figures in sports, including Tom Brady, Mike Krzyzewski, Kirby Smart, and more. They explore how championship-level leaders build trust, motivate teams, and create cultures that drive performance both on and off the field. This conversation dives into leadership, accountability, networking, and how to create real value in today’s fast-changing world. Key Takeaways 🟦 Leadership is built on trust and accountability 🟦 Motivation must be tailored to individuals 🟦 Ownership drives performance and commitment 🟦 Networking creates long-term opportunities 🟦 Adaptability is critical in a changing world (00:00) Intro (00:44) The Grind and The Startup Life (01:01) Lessons from the GOATs (03:54) Understanding Motivation and Emotional Intelligence (08:02) Building Culture Through Team Ownership (12:23) The Challenge of High Turnover (22:21) Beating AI with Human Value (23:43) Tactical Networking and Value Creation 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes of Born to Be Great — real conversations on discipline, leadership, and becoming who you’re capable of being. Born To Be Great: 🔵 Justin’s Instagram 🔵 Nick’s Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great YouTube

    30 min

  5. Apr 22

    He Was 5th String… Now He’s a Super Bowl Champion | Ian Book

    What does it really mean to stay ready? In this episode of Born to Be Great, Justin and Nick sit down with the winningest quarterback in Notre Dame history and a Super Bowl champion to break down the mindset behind preparation, leadership, and winning at the highest level. Ian shares his journey from being a fifth-string quarterback to becoming a record-breaking starter, along with lessons learned from competing in the NFL and playing alongside elite athletes. This conversation explores discipline, patience, team culture, and how the habits built in sports can translate into success in business and life. Key Takeaways 🟦 Preparation creates opportunity 🟦 Culture drives winning teams 🟦 Patience is a competitive advantage 🟦 Leadership is built on trust and consistency 🟦 Discipline compounds into long-term success (01:08) Notre Dame Legend Intro (1:42) Recruiting Journey (5:45) Winning Culture (7:52) College Bonds vs NFL (10:40) Notre Dame Network (13:35) College vs NFL Grind (15:00) NFL Stops and Super Bowl (17:04) Coaches and Team Culture (21:09) Mahomes Leadership Lessons (22:40) Dak and QB Room Dynamics (23:43) QB Room Brotherhood (24:48) Cowboys Brand Machine (25:42) Stadium Monetization Playbook (27:42) Culture Lessons From Walton (28:18) From QB To Real Estate (30:05) Golden Legacy Growth Stats (33:46) Sports Real Estate Future (36:48) Jacksonville Stadium District (38:42) Winning Drives Communities (43:00) Stay Ready Mindset (46:26) Pressure Into Purpose (48:59) Closing Thanks And Where To Find Ian 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes of Born to Be Great — real conversations on discipline, leadership, and becoming who you’re capable of being. Born To Be Great: 🔵 Justin’s Instagram 🔵 Nick’s Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great YouTube

    50 min

  6. Apr 13

    CEO Reveals How to Build a Business Worth Selling w/ Brendan Keegan

    What separates average operators from elite leaders? In this episode of Born to Be Great, Justin and Nick sit down with Brendan Keegan — CEO, investor, and multi-exit entrepreneur — to break down what it takes to build and scale successful businesses. Brendan shares lessons from leading turnarounds, raising billions in capital, and developing leadership teams that drive long-term growth. This conversation explores leadership, culture, mentorship, decision-making, and why most people struggle not because of talent — but lack of clarity. Key Takeaways 🟦 Leadership starts with people and culture 🟦 Clarity drives better decisions 🟦 Failure is part of growth 🟦 Mentorship accelerates success 🟦 Discipline and systems create results (01:04) Meet Brendan Keegan (02:11) Building Leaders for Exits (05:36) Dare To Disrupt Pillars (11:13) Hiring Leaders Over Experts (14:33) Raising Capital With Humility (18:38) Becoming a CEO Generalist (22:16) Frontline Ideas That Win (27:47) bFearless Ventures (32:18) Most People Lack Clarity (35:43) Planning Your Career Like Travel (38:59) Intentional Pivots (41:52) Owning a Racing Team (43:29) Greatness Means Balance (45:42) Where to Find Brendan 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes of Born to Be Great — real conversations on discipline, leadership, and becoming who you’re capable of being. Born To Be Great: Justin’s Instagram: 🔵 Justin’s Instagram 🔵 Nick’s Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great YouTube

    47 min

  7. Apr 6

    Your Limits Aren't Real: James Lawrence Did 100 Ironmans in 100 Days & This Is What He Found

    What are you actually capable of if you remove your limits? In this episode of Born to Be Great, Justin and Nick sit down with James Lawrence, known as the Iron Cowboy, to explore what it takes to push beyond physical and mental boundaries. James shares lessons from completing 100 Ironmans in 100 days, along with insights on discipline, suffering, endurance, and why most people settle far below their true potential. This conversation dives into mindset, systems, environment, and how doing hard things reshapes who you are—in business, fitness, and life. Key Takeaways 🟦 Most limits are self-imposed 🟦 Hard experiences build resilience 🟦 Systems create discipline 🟦 Environment shapes identity 🟦 Growth requires discomfort (0:00) Intro (01:27) Early Morning Run (02:27) Why Everyone Should Ultra (03:47) From Fun Run to Ironmans (05:03) Raising Standards (06:30) Origins of Grit (07:35) Do Hard Things (11:27) Your Circle Matters (13:18) NFL Culture and Standards (15:43) Find Your Wolf Pack (19:32) Greatness Recognizes Greatness (22:35) Monthly Challenges at 50 (25:00) Training Threshold Explained (26:29) Commit365 Challenge (27:27) Mental vs Physical Limits (28:28) 21-Day Water Fast Reset (30:45) Entrepreneurship Mindset (33:09) Discipline is Just a Byproduct (37:25) Business Ventures Portfolio (39:27) Why Not Burn Ships (43:20) "Being Great" Legacy (44:47) Where to Find James 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes of Born to Be Great — real conversations on discipline, leadership, and becoming who you’re capable of being. Born To Be Great: Justin’s Instagram: 🔵 Justin’s Instagram 🔵 Nick’s Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great YouTube

    45 min

  8. Apr 1

    Why Will Grier Says Winning Has Nothing to Do With Greatness

    Talent will get you noticed. Adversity will define you. In this episode of Born to Be Great, Justin and Nick sit down with NFL quarterback Will Grier to explore the reality behind success, setbacks, and staying mentally strong under pressure. Will shares his journey from being a starting quarterback at Florida, navigating public controversy, transferring schools, and rebuilding his career at West Virginia to playing in the NFL and winning a Super Bowl. This conversation dives into mindset, leadership, personal branding, faith, and what it takes to perform when everything is on the line. Key Takeaways 🟦 Confidence starts before success 🟦 Adversity builds identity 🟦 Mindset separates elite performers 🟦 Leadership requires emotional control 🟦 Team culture drives success. (00:00) Intro (00:57) Welcome and Gator Talk (01:24) Growing Up With Vine Stars (04:27) Fame Pressure (06:42) Social Media Branding (09:12) Florida Season and NCAA Suspension (13:22) Transfer Rules and West Virginia Choice (15:11) Starting a Family and New Mindset (17:49) Mental Coach and Mindfulness Routine (20:07) Visualization and High Performance (23:37) Bounced Around the League (27:08) Leading Team Emotions (28:54) Super Bowl Culture Formula (32:24) NFL Lessons for Business (34:17) Systems and Endurance (41:08) Defining Greatness (42:58) Where to Find Will 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes of Born to Be Great — real conversations on discipline, leadership, and becoming who you’re capable of being. Born To Be Great: Justin’s Instagram: 🔵 Justin’s Instagram 🔵 Nick’s Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great Instagram ⚪ Born To Be Great YouTube

    44 min
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About

Born to Be Great is for people who know they’re meant for more — more success, growth, and purpose. Hosted by Justin Block, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist, and Nick Ralston, a former Dallas Cowboy turned entrepreneur and investor. This show explores what it takes to win - in business, life, and most importantly within yourself. They bring on top guests, from elite athletes to world-class entrepreneurs - people who are the best at what they do. If you're chasing greatness, this is where it starts.

Information

  • Creator
    Unknown
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit