Episode 538: Playing To Win
Fri Feb 06 2026
Bradley Hamner breaks down a powerful lesson from Michael Jordan's "The Last Dance" documentary about the fundamental difference between playing to win versus playing not to lose—and how this mindset shift can transform your business leadership.
Register Now! Lead Yourself First: February 24th - an Above The Business Workshop
FREE workshop for business owners who planned well but are running on fumes.
You set the goals in January. You aligned the team. You built the plan.
But six weeks in, you're exhausted.
Your best hours are going to fires. Decision fatigue is real. And your team senses it.
Here's the truth: Your business won't grow beyond you until you lead yourself first.
Join Bradley for a FREE 2-hour workshop on February 24th at 10 AM CST.
You'll build your Personal Operating System, Decision Framework, Energy Protection Plan, Role Clarity Matrix, and 90-Day Accountability Structure.
Space is limited. https://blueprintos.com/assets
Thanks to our sponsors...
Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch.
Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions. More money & more freedom: that’s what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast.
Direct Clicks is built is by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that deliver real results. From paid search campaigns to SEO and social media management, they provide the comprehensive digital marketing your business needs to grow. Here’s an exclusive offer for Above The Business listeners: Visit directclicksinc.com/abovethebusiness for a FREE marketing campaign audit. They’ll assess your website, social media, SEO, content, and paid advertising, then provide actionable recommendations. Plus, when you choose to partner with them, they’ll waive all setup fees.
About Above The Business:
Above The Business is hosted by Bradley Hamner, founder of BlueprintOS, and focuses on helping small business owners transition from Rainmaker to Architect. Each week, Bradley shares frameworks, interviews successful entrepreneurs, and provides actionable insights for building businesses that run without you. Whether you're doing $300K or $3M in revenue, this show will help you get above your business and design the systems you need to scale.
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Bradley Hamner breaks down a powerful lesson from Michael Jordan's "The Last Dance" documentary about the fundamental difference between playing to win versus playing not to lose—and how this mindset shift can transform your business leadership. Register Now! Lead Yourself First: February 24th - an Above The Business Workshop FREE workshop for business owners who planned well but are running on fumes. You set the goals in January. You aligned the team. You built the plan. But six weeks in, you're exhausted. Your best hours are going to fires. Decision fatigue is real. And your team senses it. Here's the truth: Your business won't grow beyond you until you lead yourself first. Join Bradley for a FREE 2-hour workshop on February 24th at 10 AM CST. You'll build your Personal Operating System, Decision Framework, Energy Protection Plan, Role Clarity Matrix, and 90-Day Accountability Structure. Space is limited. https://blueprintos.com/assets Thanks to our sponsors... Coach P found great success as an insurance agent and agency owner. He leads a large, stable team of professionals who are at the top of their game year after year. Now he shares the systems, processes, delegation, and specialization he developed along the way. Gain access to weekly training calls and mentoring at www.coachpconsulting.com. Be sure to mention the Above The Business Podcast when you get in touch. Autopilot Recruiting helps small business owners solve their staffing challenges by taking the stress out of hiring. Their dedicated recruiters work on your behalf every single business day - optimizing your applicant tracking system, posting job listings, and sourcing candidates through social media and local communities. With their continuous, hands-off recruiting approach, you can save time, reduce hiring costs, and receive pre-screened candidates, all without paying any hiring fees or commissions. More money & more freedom: that’s what Autopilot Recruiting help business owners achieve. Visit https://www.autopilotrecruiting.com/ and don't forget to mention you heard about us on the Above The Business podcast. Direct Clicks is built is by business owners, for business owners. They specialize in custom marketing solutions that deliver real results. From paid search campaigns to SEO and social media management, they provide the comprehensive digital marketing your business needs to grow. Here’s an exclusive offer for Above The Business listeners: Visit directclicksinc.com/abovethebusiness for a FREE marketing campaign audit. They’ll assess your website, social media, SEO, content, and paid advertising, then provide actionable recommendations. Plus, when you choose to partner with them, they’ll waive all setup fees. About Above The Business: Above The Business is hosted by Bradley Hamner, founder of BlueprintOS, and focuses on helping small business owners transition from Rainmaker to Architect. Each week, Bradley shares frameworks, interviews successful entrepreneurs, and provides actionable insights for building businesses that run without you. Whether you're doing $300K or $3M in revenue, this show will help you get above your business and design the systems you need to scale.