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September 8, 2025 15 mins

About the Host

Toby Brooks is an academic professional specializing in athletic training and sports medicine. Currently serving as the Director of the Academy for Teaching & Learning and a Clinical Professor at Baylor University, Toby has a rich background in athletic training, having previously worked as the head football athletic trainer at Liberty University. With a proven track record in educational settings and significant experience in content creation as a former director for RPM Magazine, Toby brings a wealth of knowledge in sports medicine and strategic planning.

Episode Summary

Join Dr. Toby Brooks in this thought-provoking episode of the Professor's Playbook, also streamed as part of his popular podcast, Becoming UnDone. Toby delves into the challenging balance of strategic planning and liberality in the realms of athletic training and sports medicine. With personal anecdotes from his blue-collar upbringing and insights into strategic planning, listeners gain a valuable understanding of the importance of balancing work ethics with smart resource management.

In this episode, Toby explores the concept of liberality or generosity — not to be confused with political connotations — in the context of Aristotelian virtues. The discussion centers around strategic thinking and wise stewardship in high-performance environments, emphasizing the significance of aligning actions with values for long-lasting impact. By integrating SEO keywords such as "strategic planning," "liberality," "athletic training," and "sports performance," listeners get an enticing glimpse into Toby's insights about living responsibly while pursuing high goals.

Key Takeaways

  • Strategic thinking is vital in athletic training and sports medicine, where aligning everyday actions with long-term goals defines success.
  • Liberality, as an Aristotelian virtue, involves wise stewardship of resources, not limited to just financial wealth.
  • Building and optimizing high-performance units rely heavily on effective people, process, and place synergy.
  • Systems trump goals: Successful outcomes are achieved through well-established habits and processes rather than ambition alone.
  • Regularly auditing and improving systems ensures sustainable and strategic resource use in professional and personal capacities.

Notable Quotes

  • "You don't rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems."
  • "Strategic thinkers don't just do more, they do better."
  • "Liberality isn’t just about money; it's the moral orientation toward wise stewardship of all resources."
  • "What separates good professionals from the great ones is the ability to think strategically over time."
  • "Everybody loves to set goals, but goals are outcomes."

Resources

  • Toby Brooks' Linktree - Connect with Toby Brooks for more insights and updates.
  • "Becoming Undone" Podcast - Explore more episodes where Toby discusses personal and professional growth strategies.
  • RPM Magazine - An automotive publication once directed by Toby Brooks, highlighting his expertise in feature writing and mag

Reach out to Becoming UnDone! Text Toby here!

Support the show

Becoming Undone is a NiTROHype Creative production. Written and produced by me, Toby Brooks. If you or someone you know has a story of resilience and victory to share for Becoming Undone, contact me at undonepodcast.com. Follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn at becomingundonepod and follow me at TobyJBrooks. Listen, subscribe, and leave us a review Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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