72: Why Resilience Beats Talent w/ Ryan Lavarnway

Talent might get you noticed.
 But resilience is what keeps you in the game.

In this episode of No Limits Leadership, I sit down with Ryan Lavarnway—MLB veteran, Olympian, and leadership speaker—to unpack what it really takes to lead, grow, and thrive over the long haul.

Ryan shares stories of being cut 26 times in his pro baseball career, choosing purpose over prestige, and how to lead people based on who they are, not just what they do.

🎯 In this episode, we cover:

• Why resilience is the real X-factor in performance
• How to lead role players and top performers differently
• What great managers do when delivering hard news
• The power of mission, identity, and playing the long game
• Leadership insights from fatherhood and Olympic baseball

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🔗 Connect with Ryan Lavarnway:
Website: https://www.ryanlavarnway.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanlavarnway

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Resilience and Leadership
01:51 Mindset: Embracing Failure as a Starting Point
04:08 Identifying Success and the Power of Belief
06:16 Balancing Goals with Present Reality
10:13 The Importance of Process Over Outcome
12:44 Leadership Lessons from High-Performance Environments
21:32 The Need for a Mission
23:31 Understanding Individual Motivations
26:53 The Importance of Team Roles
27:41 Peer Leadership and Authenticity
30:24 Experiences in the Olympics
34:41 Leadership Lessons from Fatherhood
36:01 Choosing Your Tribe
38:37 Defining Success Beyond Sports

No Limit Leadership is the go-to podcast for growth-minded executives, middle managers, and team leaders who want more than surface-level leadership advice. Hosted by executive coach and former Special Forces commander Sean Patton, this show dives deep into modern leadership, self-leadership, and the real-world strategies that build high-performing teams. Whether you're focused on leadership development, building a coaching culture, improving leadership communication, or strengthening team accountability, each episode equips you with actionable insights to unlock leadership potential across your organization. From designing onboarding systems that retain talent to asking better questions that drive clarity and impact, No Limit Leadership helps you lead yourself first so you can lead others better. If you're ready to create a culture of ownership, resilience, and results, this leadership podcast is for you.