Champion Reads

🎯In this episode of Champion Reads, Coach Willie Blake and Jon Kovach Jr. kick off their series on The Lean Startup by Eric Ries with one core truth: execution is everything.They share the good, the bad, and the downright ridiculous from their own entrepreneurial journeys—like Jon’s “Pee With Friends” app idea (yes, really) and chaotic early days running multiple startups. The big lesson? No matter how genius an idea feels, it’s w...

🎯In this episode of Champion Reads, Coach Willie Blake and Jon Kovach Jr. break down a powerful principle from Daniel Priestley’s Oversubscribed: instead of chasing customers, create so much value and scarcity that customers compete to work with you.From Texas Roadhouse waitlists to sold-out concerts, and from Harry Potter midnight releases to Kizzix’s legendary shoe sale, they explore how exclusivity and anticipation drive demand...

🎯In this episode of Champion Reads, Coach Willie Blake and Jon Kovach Jr. unpack a game-changing principle from Daniel Priestley’s Oversubscribed: stop chasing everyone and focus on your true audience.They share how to create your own market by finding people who already care, why trying to appeal to everyone waters down your value, and how becoming “famous to a few” leads to deeper impact and stronger loyalty. From Willie’s shift...

🎯In this episode of Champion Reads, Coach Willie Blake and Jon Kovach Jr. dive into one of the most freeing principles from Daniel Priestley’s Oversubscribed: the only people that matter are your people.They break down why chasing everyone dilutes your impact, how to create your own market, and why depth of connection beats surface-level reach every time. From combining passions into a powerful niche to becoming “famous to a few,”...

🎯 In this episode of Champion Reads, Coach Willie Blake and Ian Stermer dive deeper into The Underdog Advantage by Dean Graziosi—spotlighting one of the most freeing truths: Underdogs have nothing to lose.When you start from the bottom, you don’t carry the weight of expectation. You’re not tied down by perfection or pressure. And that gives you a kind of freedom that most “successful” people forget they once had.💥 Key Topics Cove...

🎯 In this episode of Champion Reads, Coach Willie Blake and Ian Sturmer dive into The Underdog Advantage by Dean Graziosi and explore how being underestimated can actually be your greatest strength. Instead of seeing underdog status as a weakness, this episode shows you how to flip it into fuel—turning every “no,” doubt, or disadvantage into undeniable motivation.💥 Key Topics Covered:Underdog Identity = Built-In DriveLearn why un...

We made it to 100 episodes of Champion Reads! To celebrate this massive milestone, Coach Willie Blake, Ian Sturmer, and John Kovacs Jr. decided to flip the format and have a little fun.Instead of breaking down principles, we picked 10 random books from our first 100 episodes and gave them our very own version of a Rotten Tomatoes–style rating—scoring each one from 1 to 10, no holding back!📚 Which ones got standing ovations?📉 Whic...

In this special Champion Reads episode, Coach Willie Blake, Ian Sturmer, and John Kovacs Jr. each bring a powerful book that transformed their thinking—and possibly their lives. These books may not be what you'd expect in a business or leadership discussion, but the insights inside are unforgettable.From children’s rhymes to leadership blueprints to the psychology of success—this episode is proof that sometimes the most unexpec...

⏳ In this heartfelt finale to the Profit First series, Coach Willie Blake and Ian Sturmer go beyond the bank account and into the heart. Inspired by the principle of prioritizing profit first in business, they explore how to apply the same mindset to our time, relationships, and priorities.👉 “Men spell love R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Women spell love L-O-V-E. Children spell love T-I-M-E.”💡 Key Topics Covered:Time Is the Real CurrencyJust lik...

🎯In this high-impact episode of Champion Reads, Coach Willie Blake, Ian Sturmer, and John Kovacs Jr. break down one of the most important financial mindset shifts every entrepreneur needs—why putting PROFIT FIRST leads to long-term freedom, not scarcity.💡 Key Principles from Profit First by Mike Michalowicz:Constraints Create Clarity and FreedomLike choosing a smaller plate at a buffet, reducing what you “see” available to spend ...

🎯 In this episode of Champion Reads, Coach Willie Blake and Ian Sturmer kick off a powerful new book: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. The duo tackles one of the biggest mindset shifts entrepreneurs must make to create sustainable success:👉 Profit isn’t what’s left over—it’s what comes first.Most business owners live by the outdated formula:Sales – Expenses = ProfitBut this often leads to overspending and no money left in the ba...

🎯 In this second episode on Profit First by Mike Michalowicz, Coach Willie Blake and Ian Sturmer go beyond the basics and unpack the real magic behind the method:👉 Profit isn’t math—it’s mindset.If you’ve ever found yourself making money but feeling broke, this episode is for you. Learn how reversing the traditional formula and implementing small, intentional financial habits can completely shift how you run your business (and yo...

🚀 In this closing episode of our How I Built This series, Coach Willie Blake and Ian Sturmer explore one of the book’s most soul-searching questions:"If I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life, do I want to do it tomorrow?"This question isn’t just for entrepreneurs—it’s for anyone stuck between what’s practical and what’s purposeful. Through personal stories, tough realizations, and grounded wisdom, the hosts rev...

🚀 In this episode of Champion Reads, Coach Willie Blake and Ian Stermer unpack a powerful truth from How I Built This by Guy Raz: the best businesses often begin with frustration—not funding. Forget the myth that successful entrepreneurs always start with big visions and deep pockets. Most begin with something much smaller—a problem they deeply understand and can’t stop thinking about.💡 Key Topics Covered:Where Great Business Ide...

🚀 In this real and reflective episode of Champion Reads, Coach Willie Blake and Jon Kovach Jr. dive deep into the realities of entrepreneurship, inspired by the book How I Built This by Guy Raz. If you've ever thought about starting your own business—or if you're already on the path—this episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build something meaningful.💡 Key Topics Covered:Entrepreneurs Are Risk Calcula...

🚀 In this episode of Champion Reads, we kick off our discussion of How I Built This by Guy Raz by diving into the powerful question: Is it really dangerous, or is it just scary?Most people never take the leap—not because it's unsafe, but because it's unknown. From launching a business to changing your career path or chasing your dreams, the first step is often the hardest. But as we explore in this episode, fear is an inte...

🚀 In this final episode covering High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard, we explore the last two essential habits that set elite performers apart: Influence and Courage. It’s not enough to be productive and focused—you must have the courage to speak up, take bold action, and the influence to inspire and lead others.These two habits are the bridge between private excellence and public impact—the traits that help you leave a le...

🚀 In this episode of Champion Reads, we dive into the fourth habit from Brendon Burchard’s High Performance Habits—Productivity. True high performers don’t just check off to-do lists—they focus on what actually moves the needle. Learn how to stop being busy and start being intentionally productive, so you can make meaningful progress without burning out.💡 Key Topics Covered:What Productivity Really MeansProductivity isn't abo...

🚀 In this episode of Champion Reads, we uncover the third essential habit from Brendon Burchard’s High Performance Habits—Raising Necessity. High performers don’t leave success to chance—they operate from a mindset of "I must" instead of "I hope." Learn how to tap into a deeper sense of purpose, urgency, and accountability to show up and perform at your absolute best.💡 Key Topics Covered:What Is the Habit of N...