It’s Not A Straight Line

On this episode of It’s Not A Straight Line, I was joined by Michael Downey, a leader who left his mark on Tennis in Canada. His career journey started far from the courts and it is anything but a straight line. He is the former CEO of Tennis Canada and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) in Britain, and currently serves as Chair of the Advisory Committee for the greater (a strategy consulting firm) and as a volunteer board director for Canada’s most successful community tennis hub. Michael started his career in Consumer Packaged Goods Marketing and worked for Labatt, MLSE, Skydome, and Molson before a career pivot into tennis that would change the trajectory of the sport in Canada. During his tenure at Tennis Canada, tennis pros like Milos Raonic, Bianca Andreescu, Denis Shapovalov, and Genie Bouchard broke through on the world stage, and there was a significant emphasis from Michael to fostering the grassroots development of the sport, add training facilities across the country, and secure key long-term partnershipsDuring the episode, Michael reflects on the lessons he learned early in his career, the challenges, and the moment when he joined the Toronto Raptors during their inaugural year. We also discuss his cancer diagnosis, when Michael heard the words “you have cancer” twice in one day.You'll hear behind-the-scenes stories from the LTA, including attending Wimbledon management meetings, sitting in the Royal Box, and seeing first-hand the tournament's focus on perfection.This episode is filled with inspiring insights: from navigating career transitions and building resiliency, to Michael’s advice for anyone facing a job loss. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jjwharding.substack.com

On Episode 46 of the It’s Not A Straight Line podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Hugh Lawson, a business development expert, Vanier Cup football champion, and leadership advisor. As the Principal at Lawson Leadership Advisory, Hugh is a purpose-driven, people-centric leader who embodies the principles of Ikigai—finding the intersection of what the world needs, what you love, what you're good at, and what you can get paid to do.During our conversation, Hugh shares his journey towards living a life of purpose, emphasizing the importance of making a positive impact while also earning a living. We delve into his experience as a University football player at Laurier, where he won the Vanier Cup, and how his successes have always been achieved through teamwork. We also explore his involvement in socially impactful companies like the grocery buying platform, Tre’dish, and how African proverbs have shaped his leadership philosophy. With over 25 years of experience in business development, enterprise sales, and leadership, Hugh’s insights on resilience, relationship-building, and teamwork are invaluable. Join us as we discuss his pursuit of Ikigai, the wisdom he’s gained from his career, and his commitment to creating positive change in the world. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jjwharding.substack.com

We're thrilled to welcome Wayne Hannah, the mastermind behind "Mindful'Ish" on YouTube and "@goodmorningassholes" on TikTok. Wayne is a humorist, content creator, firefighter, and veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. After serving 20 years as an artillery soldier, Wayne's journey took him from counteracting Somali pirates to injecting humour into the "dry morning announcements" on a Naval Vessel during one of the longest at-sea deployments since World War II. Wayne's passion for bringing laughter to others has earned him a massive online community of over 230,000 followers on TikTok. As a dedicated mental health advocate, Wayne's iconic "Good Morning A******s" greeting is a reminder that we often treat ourselves more harshly than anyone else. He created this content during the pandemic, realizing the importance of self-compassion as he was his own biggest critic and he was saying hi to himself, referring to himself as an a*****e. Wayne Hannah, CD, holds the Canadian Forces' Decoration, awarded to members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have completed twelve years of service under specific conditions. While Wayne values his military experiences and the leaders he encountered, he also candidly discusses the deep-rooted belief of not being good enough that led to ongoing mental health struggles.Join us as we dive into Wayne's incredible and diverse journey, exploring the challenges and rewards that have shaped his life. Don't miss this inspiring conversation filled with humour, resilience, and valuable insights.Tune in now to It's Not A Straight Line!YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Wayne.HannahInstagram - @goodmorningassholesTikTok - @goodmorningassholes This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jjwharding.substack.com

On this episode, I sat down with Chris Reynolds - the Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Investment Planning Counsel (IPC). When Chris co-founded IPC in 1996, he set out on a mission to help entrepreneurial financial advisors build better businesses. Since then, he has remained committed to this mission, which continues to be the focus at IPC, which was acquired by Canada Life in 2023. Chris has spent over 25 years in the Finance and Investment industry, and he believes at the heart of any great business is a remarkable client experience. Chris is a life-long learner who is always learning from the best of the best, from within his industry, as well as outside/new perspectives. Chris Reynolds is the Host of the "Turning The Page" Podcast, a big fan of live music and rock n' roll, and his former radio show on a popular Toronto radio station was syndicated across ten other stations. When asked what gets him "out of bed in the morning", he stated "it is the people that get me most excited!"You'll hear why Chris is a huge advocate for entrepreneurship and why to him, there is no safer way to go.Enjoy the episode! Turning The Page Podcast - Spotify Link Investment Planning Counsel - Website This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jjwharding.substack.com

On this episode, I had a captivating conversation with Igor Lukač, an inspiring entrepreneur who navigated life's challenges with resilience and determination. Igor shares his journey from fleeing the former Yugoslavia with his family during the tumultuous Yugoslav Wars to building a successful career in Canada.After earning degrees in Engineering and Business from the prestigious Ivey Business School at Western University, Igor embarked on a path of entrepreneurship. From selling printers door-to-door in Niagara, Ontario, to owning a Marble Slab Creamery and founding Kingswood Engineers, Igor's entrepreneurial spirit has always burned bright.What sets Igor apart is his unwavering composure and his embrace of failure as a stepping stone to success. His story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of a positive mindset.If you're in Burlington, Oakville, or Hamilton and need structural engineering expertise for your renovation project, visit https://www.kingswoodengineers.com/ and follow Kingswood Engineers on Instagram @kingswoodengineers for more insights and updates. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jjwharding.substack.com

This episode is an exploration of grief and resilience with Dina Bell-Laroche, a Partner at Sport Law and the Founder of Grief Unleashed. Dina shares her journey through grief, triggered by the untimely passing of her younger sister Tracy (when Dina was 31 years of age).You'll hear how Dina initially navigated her sister's death by trying to be stoic, brave and courageous, but found hope, meaning and a way forward through a deeper understanding of grief and death (and her studies in Thanatology). Dina helps unpack the non-linear nature of grieving, and her insights offer a refreshing perspective on living a meaningful and rewarding life. As the driving force behind Grief Unleashed, Dina guides individuals in re-imagining their relationship with loss. Dina shares valuable advice and thoughts on coping with loss, especially during the challenging holiday season, drawing upon her experiences and expertise.Beyond her work in grief support, Dina dives into her extensive career in high-performance sports. With a remarkable background as a media attache and press chief at numerous national and international events, including five Olympic Games, Dina brings a unique perspective on what it takes to perform at the highest levels. A published author of "Grief Unleashed" and a parent of three, Dina's multifaceted life unfolds in this episode. Proceeds from Dina's book sales contribute to bringing a Wind Phone to Ottawa through the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. To learn more about the Wind Phone Project and contribute, visit this link.Connect with Dina on Instagram (@grief.unleashed) and explore the transformative work of Grief Unleashed on their website. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jjwharding.substack.com

On this episode of "It's Not A Straight Line," we are joined by Lauren Ammon, a former athlete turned mental performance coach. Lauren's journey in sports began at the young age of five when she was "thrown" into the pool with her older sisters and swam her first race. She went on to achieve remarkable successes, including winning a U.S. High School Championship, a top three finish in the Mid-American Conference, and swimming at the Division 1 NCAA Level while also serving as the Captain of the Swim Team at Eastern Michigan from 2003-2004.As Lauren touched the wall for the final time in her last race in the NCAA, she realized that her 17-year athletic career had come to an abrupt end. She went on to complete a Master's degree at the University of Cincinnati and worked for over a decade in Human Resources, but she felt that something was missing. In 2019, Lauren received her professional coaching certification and founded her own practice called Performance Reimagined.In this episode, Lauren shares with us how her coaching focus changed after a pivotal moment during the 2020 Olympics (which took place in 2021). She recalls watching as Simone Biles pulled out of competition, noticing the expression on Katie Ledecky's face during her gold medal win, and listening to Michael Phelps, the world's greatest swimmer of all time, speak about mental health and the need for athletes to have someone to listen to them. It was at that moment that Lauren knew she was being called to help athletes master the mental part of the game and perform at the highest level in all aspects of life's competition.Join us as Lauren Ammon shares her inspiring story and insights on mental performance coaching for athletes of all ages and levels.Learn more about Lauren Ammon and her coaching practice, Performance Reimagined, at https://www.performancereimagined.com/Follow Lauren on Instagram: @mrslaurenammon and @performance_reimagined_Lauren's LinkedIn profile This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jjwharding.substack.com

What amazed me about Andrew Case's story was how his entrepreneurial journey unfolded. After two years in Sales at Xerox, Andrew and his colleague from Xerox took the sales skills and training they learned and launched a sales consulting company. They focused on going to small and medium-sized businesses and would offer sales training based on their Xerox sales training. Andrew and his partner would ask for a reasonable rate of pay (less than many of their competitors) and a percentage of the sales lift. When they would visit their clients six months later, they would find out that some of the businesses did not experience the increase in revenue that they initially expected. They realized to be successful, they needed a way to assess the people on the sales team to make sure the right people were in the right roles. Even with excellent sales training, some people were not meant to be in those types of roles. This led Andrew to meet Dr. Herb Greenberg, learning about the Caliper profile and a long and successful career in talent assessment. Andrew Case is the Country Manager of Talogy Canada, previously Caliper. The business has a Caliper Profile, which delivers critical insights to leaders and managers to put the right people in the right place at the right time. It is about assessing employees, leaders, athletes and personalities to find out how their strengths will fit into a new role, venture, spot on a professional sports team, etc. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jjwharding.substack.com

Andrea Shaw is the owner and founder of TTG Canada, one of Canada's leading sponsorship and marketing agencies. She started TTG (formerly TwentyTen Group) around her kitchen table after working as the Senior Vice-President Sponsorship, Sales, and Marketing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games. What strikes me about Andrea is her passion for partnerships, sports marketing and her ability to stay true to her heart's desire. Andrea was diagnosed with colon cancer shortly after launching her second business, and she had to decide whether to wind down the operations or keep going. She chose to push forward, and since day 1 of her career, Andrea has decided to challenge herself and face adversity head-on.Our discussion ranges from her early career to the Olympic Games, a tragedy in the early days of the Games, uniting a Country, and bringing her learnings from the Olympics to the Canadian sponsorship industry.Andrea Shaw LinkedIn ProfileTTGCanada.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jjwharding.substack.com

After close to ten years working at marketing agencies, John Sime decided he wanted something new. Him and one of Canada's leading ad agencies "broke up" only a month before the global pandemic, he was in for a lengthy job search during a time that challenged all of us.John wanted to break into another industry and he stayed true to that desire, ignoring the external "noise." Many people asked him - why don't you just go back to being an Account Director at an agency. You're good at it they said. John admitted that at one point, you start thinking you might be wrong thinking you can break into a new industry. It's kind of like you saying the "sky is green" and everyone saying "no John, it's blue."He is now at Shopify Capital, a division of Shopify - one of Canada's most valuable businesses. We discuss why three years later, John wanted a mulligan on the podcast. Why he felt "guarded" when answering my questions the first time around? He commented - "what scares me the most is talking about myself... the last two years have been pretty humbling and turbulent. John on LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jjwharding.substack.com

Have you ever jumped in “ice-cold” water…“I am a big believer in jumping in the cold water and letting it warm up around you… but I won’t lie, there were sleepless nights" - Jason on jumping into entrepreneurship from the corporate world.Jason is a President, Leadership Coach and Professional Speaker that works with companies on their talent strategy. He believes in strategy to results through people.With all the “apparent” talent management and hiring issues out there, this is a must-listen as Jason’s business, Predictive Success Corporation has a two-question survey that can help you better understand who you are and make more insight-driven hiring decisions.I was a bit skeptical at first as I’ve done many of these surveys, and it was ONLY two questions, but it “nailed me” and was accurate.Jason has three boys, uses meditation to ground himself and makes decisive, quick decisions (he admits sometimes that has been positive and sometimes not so much). Jason on LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jjwharding.substack.com

After his college football career and University undergraduate degree, Andy Vasily and his wife moved to Hiroshima, Japan. What they thought would be a six-month adventure turned into ten years in Japan and over 25 years working globally.Andy is a cognitive coach, educator, workshop facilitator and the host of the Run Your Life Podcast (200+ episodes). What amazed me about Andy is his understanding of "surrendering to his own path." He isn't religious, but he believes in the power of the universe. I was also struck by Andy's comment - "the attempt to escape pain is what creates more of it."In this episode, we speak about Andy's life and how his experiences have revealed to him the beauty of the human spirit. We also dig into Andy's family challenges with mental health and addiction, as well as an accident that nearly took his life while at a kid's soccer tournament in Cambodia.Andy Vasily on LinkedIn runyourlifepodcast.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jjwharding.substack.com