Strategic Minds

About Strategic Minds

Are you tactical or strategic? Research shows that it’s the difference between bankruptcy and a Kevlar competitive advantage. In a world where bad strategy is the leading cause of business failure, and only one out of every four leaders are truly strategic, strategic fitness is the meta-skill of elite executives. On Strategic Minds, you’ll journey with New York Times & Wall Street Journal bestselling author Rich Horwath into conversations with extraordinary leaders and world-class experts to learn new ways to think, plan, and act strategically. You’ll discover game-changing insights, tips, and techniques to turbocharge your performance and position you as a true difference-maker in your arena.

Publisher

Rich Horwath

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 May 2024

Latest episode

10 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

5 of 33 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   10 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Mastering Your Energy for Peak Performance

   Dr. Jim Loehr discusses energy management and mental toughness with Rich Horwath, explaining how to perform under pressure by understanding the science of resilience, recovery, and purpose in this interview.

2. 

   27 Jan 2026

   Methods of Highly Effective Managers

   Highly effective managers don’t rely on titles, tactics, or endless to-do lists. They lead with intention. Today, Rich Horwath is joined by Ashley Herd, former Chief People Officer, founder and author of The Manager Method, to unpack what truly drives managerial effectiveness in today’s complex workplace. Ashley introduces the idea of a “career quilt,” encouraging leaders to see diverse experiences as strategic assets rather than detours. She shares how stepping back from linear career thinking enables managers to make clearer decisions, build stronger relationships, and align daily work with long-term goals. The discussion centers on Ashley’s Pause–Consider–Act framework, a practical tool for navigating difficult conversations, prioritizing effectively, and leading more humanely. The result is a repeatable approach that helps managers drive results, strengthen engagement, and avoid burnout. 🔑 Key Quotes: “ One of the ways to move away from being tactical is to think big picture — what are our eventual goals?” “When you're in HR, I actually think it's incredibly important to be strategic no matter what your role is.” “I focus on what I want my life to be like and what kind of value I think I can bring to others?” “The number one driver of employee engagement is whether someone's direct manager explains to them why their role matters, why their work matters, and if they're successful in that role, how that impacts the overall organization, customers.” 🏆 Winsights: Today’s Winsight comes from Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay, who reminds us that strategy is as much about exclusion as it is about inclusion. In a world defined by endless to-do lists and constant demands, the real constraint leaders face isn’t ambition…it’s time. Strategic advantage comes from deciding what not to do. Which products won’t be offered? Which customers won’t be targeted? Which internal initiatives will be deprioritized so resources can be focused where they matter most? Great strategy isn’t about doing more. It’s about making deliberate trade-offs that concentrate effort, energy, and investment on the few priorities that drive disproportionate value. Be intentional not only about what you pursue but equally clear about what you choose to leave behind. 🔗 Guest Links: Connect with Ashley Herd: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyherd/ Website: https://managermethod.com The Manager Method by Ashley Herd: https://www.managermethod.com/book 🚀 Resources from Rich Horwath, Host of Strategic Minds: 🌐 Strategic Thinking Institute Website👤 Rich Horwath on LinkedIn🎥 Rich Horwath on YouTube🐦 Rich Horwath on X📸 Rich Horwath on Instagram📘 STRATEGIC Book🧠 Strategic Fitness System📬 Free Strategic Thinker Newsletter🧪 Strategic Quotient (SQ) Assessment 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify

3. 

   13 Jan 2026

   Train Your Brain to Play Offense

   Train Your Brain to Play Offense Elite performance doesn’t come from motivation: it comes from training. Rich Horwath sits down with Dr. Jason Selk, one of the world’s leading performance coaches, to explore how mental toughness is built, practiced, and sustained under pressure. Drawing from Selk’s work with championship teams and senior executives, the conversation reframes performance as a discipline rooted in high standards, preparation, and self-image. From his Midwest upbringing to his early test with the St. Louis Cardinals, Selk shares how readiness, not reassurance, separates top performers. The discussion delivers practical tools leaders can apply immediately, including identity statements, process goals, visualization, and the power of starting each day on offense. The takeaway is clear: when the mind is trained intentionally, strategy and execution follow. 🔑 Key Quotes: “They say phase one of performance is you must have high standards.” “I’ll tell you what mental toughness is not. It’s not a pep talk.” “And I would tell you on a daily basis or at least three or four days a week, a person needs to be doing something called mental workouts and success logs.” “A person will not outperform nor will they underperform their self image for long.” “If I get my most important activity done early, my brain knows it’s on offense.” “The process mentality is the single most effective way for people to control results.” “If you’re not using visualization on a regular basis, in the business world or in the sports world, there’s no possible way you can be operating at your potential.” “Overloading channel capacity is the biggest mistake being made in business and in sport. And the magic numbers are 3 and 1. 3 and 1.” 🏆 Winsights: Sun Tzu the Chinese general and philosopher who had the writings which became the book The Art of War said being unconquerable lies within yourself. As you think about your business, your work, your occupation, are you allowing things to conquer you throughout the day: the small things, the little challenges and issues that pop up, or are you using mental toughness to overcome them? I’d encourage all of us to think about, at least for a few minutes each day, are we being the best versions of ourselves? Meaning, are we using mental toughness to overcome the negative, to overcome the challenges, to overcome the problems, and really focus on the solutions, the progress, and what’s going to take us to our goals? 🔗 Guest Links: Connect with Dr. Jason Selk: Website: https://www.jasonselk.com/ Instagram: @drjasonselk Jason Selk on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jason-selk/ Books by Jason Selk: https://www.jasonselk.com/books 🚀 Resources from Rich Horwath, Host of Strategic Minds: 🌐 Strategic Thinking Institute Website👤 Rich Horwath on LinkedIn🎥 Rich Horwath on YouTube🐦 Rich Horwath on X📸 Rich Horwath on Instagram📘 STRATEGIC Book🧠 Strategic Fitness System📬 Free Strategic Thinker Newsletter🧪 Strategic Quotient (SQ) Assessment 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Listen on Spotify

Inside a recent episode

Mastering Your Energy for Peak Performance

Published 10 Feb 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] And now it's like, I can't think outside that envelope. It's the best explanatory tool I can, we had to separate, you know, all energy comes in the human body from the mitochondria. The cells produce energy every cell, except where blood cells have their own energy production plants. […]

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