Episode 056: Blake Anderson – Trick Plays, Playing Fast, And Having Fun: America’s Most Entrepreneurial Football Coach

Blake Anderson is an incredibly interesting learning leader. I’m very fortunate to now call him a friend. He truly understands the value of creativity mixed with hard work and empowering of his players. We are extremely fortunate to have Coach Anderson share his knowledge with US, the loyal listeners of The Learning Leader Show.

From John Brubaker on entrepreneur.com: Blake Anderson is one of the few in his profession who is keenly aware that the game has changed. College sports, like business, has entered an era where getting great results isn’t who you know or what you know. It’s about who knows you. To get “known” you’ve got to be different or you’ll be invisible.

At a program such as Arkansas State, located in a small town and without the benefit of being the state’s flagship university or being a member of a major conference, great results are contingent on the ability to market better, faster and with less resources. How do you beat the big dogs at their own game with a smaller brand, in a smaller market and/or with a smaller budget? By changing the game.

Call it disruptive or guerilla marketing, but creativity has been at the foundation of the team's strategy. Anderson asks his staff the same question each day: What is no one else doing right now that we can pull off?

Episode 056: Blake Anderson – Trick Plays, Playing Fast, Having Fun: America’s Most Entrepreneurial Football Coach

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The Learning Leader Show

“You don’t ever want to be afraid of failure.” – Blake Anderson

Some Questions I Ask:

• What one common characteristic do all successful leaders share?
• What is your process for creating trick plays?
• How have you built such a great culture?
• How do you handle failure? When trick plays don’t work…?
• How do you specifically coach millennials?
• What is the “10^th man” theory?
• Why would (or wouldn’t) an athlete make a great entrepreneur?
• Why doesn’t the tough lover style work today?
• Do you prefer players who blindly follow what you say or do you like players who question everything?

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• The importance of the environment created with his players
• The need to “be known”
• How he responded to the “fainting goat” play going viral
• The importance of empowering each member of the team to lead
• Entrepreneurs and athletes
• How watching movies can help develop leadership ideas and create a better culture
• How using Ebay auctions can be a great marketing tool
• The importance of listening deeply

“Be a listener… Don’t have an ego. Seek good counsel.” – Blake Anderson

Continue Learning:

· Go To: AStateRedWolves.com

· Read about Blake in Entrepreneur Magazine: Entrepreneur

· Follow Blake on Twitter: @CHbanderson

You may also like these episodes:

Episode 001: How To Become A Master Connector With Jayson Gaignard From MasterMind Talks

Episode 011: Brady Quinn – Why Certain People Are Great Leaders And Why Others Are Not

Episode 004: How Todd Wagner (and Mark Cuban) Sold Broadcast.com To Yahoo! For $5.7 Billion

Episode 010: Shane Snow – How To Accelerate Success Using Smart Cuts

Did you enjoy the podcast?

This was a jam packed episode full of great content. Blake Anderson is leader who is constantly learning in order to help us all live a better life. Who do you know that needs to hear this? Send them to The Learning Leader Show!

Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell

Notes On Blake from John Brubaker on entrepreneur.com

From John Brubaker on entrepreneur.com: Blake is one of the few in his profession who is keenly aware that the game has changed. College sports, like business, has entered an era where getting great results isn’t who you know or what you know. It’s about who knows you. To get “known” you’ve got to be different or you’ll be invisible.

At a program such as Arkansas State, located in a small town and without the benefit of being the state’s flagship university or being a member of a major conference, great results are contingent on the ability to market better, faster and with less resources. How do you beat the big dogs at their own game with a smaller brand, in a smaller market and/or with a smaller budget? By changing the game.

Call it disruptive or guerilla marketing, but creativity has been at the foundation of the team's strategy. Anderson asks his staff the same question each day: What is no one else doing right now that we can pull off?