Recently I had the privilege of being interviewed by Rob Elwood.  Rob hosts a really neat web site called “Who are you…The Life Lessons of Sport”.  Rob has interviewed all kinds or really, really famous people….and now me.

I have done plenty of interviews and generally enjoy just about all of them. But I found Rob’s style to be just a bit different in a very good way.  Rob has a format and style that I found to be very comforting and welcoming.  He does a great job making his guests feel at home.  It was a full interview lasting about an hour, so as you can imagine, we touch on a lot of things.

Click on the link below to be taken to my interview with Rob and please also check out his great site!  As you will see, he has quite a production and has sat down to talk with some interesting people from the world of sports.

 www.whoareyousports.com/podcasts/kentmaggard/

I truly enjoy going places to speak.  I meet so many interesting people and I really enjoy the interactions I have with people on site.  But I also get a great deal of satisfaction when days or weeks after an event I get an email from someone telling me the time we spent together made difference in their world.  Hard to put a value on that type of reward for me.

Here are just of few of the comments in emails that have shown up recently….

“I sure enjoyed your talk last Thursday.  I am sorry I did not introduce myself but I was the older gentleman at your table for lunch.  Your speech had a very good meaning and many things I want to take away for myself as a leader.”  

” I had the pleasure of hearing Kent Maggard speak at the International Convention in Cincinnati last week.  He is one of the best speakers that I have ever heard discussing leadership.  Kent’s talk was full of great information, useful take-away’s, and inspirational…I would recommend that every leader and emerging leader attend one of his presentations when they get a chance.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed Kent Maggard’s insights on leadership.  The way he shares his experiences in baseball and the business world allow him to tell and interesting story that engages and entertains.  I did not want the hour to end…”

Thanks to everyone!

Almost 30 years ago while I was a student at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, I had the opportunity to sit in many classes where leaders and executives from all facets of the working world would come into our classroom and share some of the knowledge they had.  I can remember soaking  in all of what was being said and thinking to myself that someday I would return to Purdue and be the one at the head of the class sharing what I had learned. 

That day occurred recently.  I had the opportunity to return to Purdue as part of the Krannert School of Managements Executive Forum.  The program brings in speakers to share “real life” experiences and to answer questions for the class.  It was a fantastic day!  The students were great.  My day started at breakfast with a group and ended with a lunch with a different group.  In between I met with other groups as well and did a 50 minute presentation to the class as a whole.   

While I hope what I shared with the members of the class left them better off, I can assure you my time with them left me better off.  I was very, very impressed with the focus, the drive and intelligence of the young people I spent the day with.  To say they are bright, enthusiastic and driven is an understatement.  I left feeling very good about “my school” and the young students they are preparing for the world.

Thanks to all of those at Purdue and the Krannert School of Management for allowing me to return and make good on the promise I made to myself almost 30 years ago.

Normally I don’t single out any particular group that I get the opportunity to speak for, but I am going to make an exception.  Last week I had the fortune of speaking before the Kanas Bankers Association.  They were a great group and I really enjoyed my time with them and in Kansas City.  The event was even more special since we were at the Federal Reserve Building for the day.  It was my first time to visit a Federal Reserve location….so for a guy with a lot of years in banking, the opportunity stand up on stage to speak at a Federal Reserve site is pretty neat.  I get to go to many great places, but the event at the KC Reserve was a real treat.

Thanks to all the Sara, Eric and all the good folks at the KBA for including me!

If you have spent some time reading the “about kent” page of this web site, you already know about my baseball career and the difficulties I had throwing a baseball.  While I know it was my personal make up that never allowed me to give up or to quit, you need encouragement along the way to get thru things when it gets really tough.

For me, one of the people who never gave up on me was my coach at Purdue, Dave Alexander.  Alex stuck with me, even we he did not have to, and for that I will be forever grateful.

This past weekend, Purdue dedicated a brand new state of the art baseball field in West Lafayette, IN.  The name of the new facility…Alexander Field.  Coach dedicated it in the name and spirit of his parents who were tremendous Purdue supporters.  But for all of us who played for Alex, we know he deserves to have his name on the stadium for all he has done for his players and the University.

Thanks coach….and remember, the older we get, the better we were!