In this episode of Winners Find A Way, Trent Clark sits down with former combat fighter pilot, airline captain, keynote speaker, and author Jeff "Bones" Bonner to unpack one of the most powerful habits behind elite performance — the art of the debrief.

Drawing from years in Marine Corps fighter aviation, combat missions, leadership training, and high-performance team culture, Jeff shares how structured reflection helps individuals and teams improve faster, adapt under pressure, and consistently perform at a high level.

This conversation dives deep into continuous improvement, leadership, mindset, gratitude, elite team culture, and why experience alone does not create growth. Whether you're a business owner, athlete, leader, entrepreneur, coach, or someone simply trying to become better every day — this episode delivers practical lessons you can apply immediately.

• Why fighter pilots debrief every mission — even successful ones
• The hidden danger of "experience without reflection"
• How elite teams create a culture of continuous improvement
• Why gratitude is the foundation of high performance
• The difference between reviewing failures vs reviewing wins
• How daily habits shape long-term success
• Why adversity creates stronger leaders and performers
• The connection between perspective and performance
• Applying the debrief method to leadership, parenting, marriage, health, and business
• The power of 1% daily improvement

"Experience alone doesn't lead to improvement." — Jeff Bonner

"Perspective precedes performance." — Jeff Bonner

"We're not assigning blame. We're just trying to be better tomorrow." — Jeff Bonner

"Championship teams are hard. You have to continuously improve to stay there." — Trent Clark

"If we can improve just 1% every day, we'll be in a completely different place 365 days from now." — Jeff Bonner

Jeff "Bones" Bonner is a keynote speaker, former combat fighter pilot and squadron commander, current airline captain, and Harvard-trained performance strategist. He is the creator of The Debrief Advantage™ System and author of The Daily Debrief™, a practical framework designed to help individuals and teams turn experience into continuous improvement.

Jeff helps leaders, organizations, athletes, and teams build high-performance cultures through structured reflection, accountability, and elite-level habits developed from aviation and military leadership.

Jeff is offering listeners access to his free 5-step Daily Debrief framework and 30-Day Challenge.

👉 https://debriefadvantage.com/habit

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbonesbonner/
• Website: https://debriefadvantage.com

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If you enjoyed this episode of Winners Find A Way, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who wants to improve personally and professionally.

Because Winners Find A Way. 🚀

In this episode of Winners Find A Way, Trent sits down with entrepreneur Andres Lagsdin, founder of Baking Steel, to break down what it really takes to build something meaningful.

This isn't just about pizza.

It's about:

• Walking away from comfort
• Listening to what's not working
• And having the patience to build something that does

Andres Lagsten

Founder of Baking Steel

• Built a multi-million dollar brand from a simple idea
• Blended culinary passion with manufacturing expertise
• Known for transforming home cooking into restaurant-level experience
• Built a loyal community around food, family, and craftsmanship

• Baking Steel Products: https://bakingsteel.com
• 72-Hour Dough Method
• Live Pizza Classes (via email list)

• "I couldn't tell my son what I did—and be proud."
• "Break the pattern before you find the path."
• "Winners don't start from scratch—they connect the dots."
• "Trust your gut—but earn it through experience."

If this episode hit you, don't just listen—apply it.

👉 Watch + Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity

👉 More Episodes: https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast

Coach Trent shares what it really takes to win—through discipline, daily choices, and mental toughness.

• You choose daily: discipline or regret
• Discipline is short-term. Regret lasts longer
• Winners execute—no excuses
• Interested people talk. Committed people act
• What you repeat daily = who you become

Winning isn't about talent.

It's about the choices you make every day.

If you want better results, you need better discipline—and consistency.

• Choose one daily discipline
• Make it non-negotiable
• Remove one thing holding you back: → Stop it → Adapt it → Delegate it

"Winners, when shown data that they are losing… find a way to win."

• TEDx: The Pain Exchange
• Book: Leading Winning Teams
• Book a call: https://calendly.com/trentclark/15min
• Email: trent@leadershipity.com

• LinkedIn Live (Thursdays)
• YouTube (Leadershipity Channel)
• Spotify & Apple Podcasts

Winners Find A Way helps leaders, athletes, and entrepreneurs win—through discipline, mindset, and action.

Most people wait to feel ready.

Winners dive in—even if it's a belly flop.

In this episode, I sit down with Deborah Gardner, a competitive performance expert who doesn't just teach winning—she's lived it at the highest level.

At 66 years old, Deborah became the oldest woman to swim the 21-mile Catalina Channel, earning a Guinness World Record and proving something most people miss:

👉 Mindset beats circumstance. Every time.

We talk about what it really takes to compete—whether you're on a stage, leading a team, or fighting through uncertainty.

This is about:

• Turning "belly flops" into breakthroughs
• Owning your lane instead of comparing your path
• Why engagement—not likability—is the real standard of leadership
• How to build an unsinkable mindset in pressure moments

Deborah Gardner is a competitive performance expert, global keynote speaker, and six-time bestselling author who challenges leaders to take action—not just take notes.

At 66, she became the oldest woman to conquer the Catalina Channel, earning a Guinness World Record and redefining what's possible at any stage of life.

Her philosophy is simple and powerful:

YOBO — You Only Breathe Once.

She's known for her no-fluff, high-energy delivery and has been called a "pit bull in a skirt" for her relentless focus on driving results.

Deborah is also the author of the upcoming book "Own Your Lane" (2027), where she challenges individuals to stop comparing—and start competing where they are strongest.

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/deborahgardner1
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/DeborahGardner01
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/deborahgardner
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/deborahgardner
  
  

If you're serious about winning—personally or professionally—don't just listen. Execute.

👉 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity

👉 More episodes: https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast

👉 Work directly with Coach Trent: https://www.bloomgrowthcoach.com/coaches/trent-clark/

Winners don't guess their way to success—they execute with intention.

In Part 2 of Winning Ways: How to Win, Coach Trent brings it back to fundamentals:

• Win the day
• Stack the days into weeks
• Stack the weeks into months
• And build a life—and business—that wins consistently

Execution isn't occasional. It's daily.

Most people stay busy. Winners stay focused.

👉 The standard:

• Write down your Top 5 priorities daily
• Execute the Top 3 that move the needle
• Schedule them into your calendar intentionally

Multiply that across a team—and now you're operating at a completely different level.

Consistency compounds into elite performance.

Elite teams are built on a strong foundation:

• Integrity
• Humility

• Stability
• Spiritual alignment (values-driven leadership)
• Quality standards

• Coachability
• Adaptability
• Responsibility
• Dependability

• Accountability
• Communication
• Visibility
• Authenticity

Get this right, and you don't just build a team—you build a winning culture.

If you're stuck, overwhelmed, or your team isn't executing at the level you need—

👉 Book a 15-minute call with Coach Trent

👉 Get clarity. Build alignment. Start winning again.

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity

🎧 Podcast: https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast

In this Winning Ways solo episode, host Trent M. Clark breaks down the habits, mindset, and daily disciplines that separate high performers from everyone else.

Drawing from decades in professional sports, entrepreneurship, and leadership coaching, Trent shares lessons learned from championship environments—lessons that apply directly to business, leadership, and life.

From the power of hyper-learning to the reality of the Pain Exchange, this episode challenges listeners to take ownership of their habits, their discipline, and their results.

Because winners don't stumble into success.

They train for it daily.

Ask yourself one simple question:

What is one habit you need to stop doing immediately?

It might be:

• Sleeping in

• Procrastinating

• Poor preparation

• Lack of communication

Remove that one behavior this week.

Small habit changes create massive long-term results.

Trent also highlights the journey of USA Skeleton athlete Andy Whittier, who is pursuing his Olympic dream while serving in the U.S. Army.

Support Andy and learn more about his upcoming book "Life Head First."

• Leading Winning Teams – Trent M. Clark

• Bloom Growth Coaching System

• Andy Whittier Olympic Support Mission

Podcast:
https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7GAwyvYA7OY1L2JOjegX7D

Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/winners-find-a-way/id1578413577

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity

Website:
https://Leadershipity.com

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/trentmclark/

🎁 FREE RESOURCE – Download Trent's Pyramid of Leadershipity here:
https://pyramidofleadershipity.trent-clark.com/pyramid-of-leadershipity

In baseball, you can feel when a team cares.

You walk into the clubhouse…
You watch how players treat the equipment manager…
You see the energy in batting practice.

You know immediately.

The same thing happens in business.

Customers can feel when a company actually gives a damn.

And when they do…
they become your biggest promoters.

In this episode of WINNERS FIND A WAY, Trent Clark sits down with Justin Ricklefs, founder of Guild Collective and author of Give a Damn, to talk about the real competitive advantage in business today: human connection.

Justin shares how brands win when they stop shouting about their products… and start telling stories that connect with people.

This conversation covers:

• Why your brand story matters more than your marketing budget
• The biggest mistake companies make when communicating with customers
• Why Chick-fil-A, Nike, and Apple dominate through emotional connection
• How great leaders build companies that people actually care about
• The power of customer delight in a noisy marketplace

As Justin says:

"Your brand is the story people tell about you when you're not in the room."

Winners Find a Way_ Guest-Justi…

The question every leader should ask is simple:

What story are people telling about your company?

Justin Ricklefs is the Founder and CEO of Guild Collective, a Human-First brand agency helping organizations grow through clarity, connection, and creativity.

Before launching Guild Collective, Justin spent years working in sports organizations including the Kansas City Chiefs, helping build partnerships and revenue through strategic storytelling.

Justin is also the author of Give a Damn: The Catalyst for Caring Companies, a book that challenges businesses to rediscover the power of caring about customers, employees, and community.

He lives in Kansas City with his wife Brooke and their five children.

Justin Ricklefs
Website: https://guildcollective.com
Book: Give a Damn

Connect with Justin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinricklefs/

📺 YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity

🎧 Podcast Page
https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast

Our friend Andy Whittier is chasing his Olympic dream in Skeleton for the 2026 Winter Olympics — a sport where athletes race head-first down an ice track at nearly 80–90 mph.

Olympic athletes often fund much of this journey themselves.

If you'd like to support Andy and the mission, you can contribute here:

👉 Support the Olympic Journey
https://trent-clark.com/olympic--2026