Conversations with Brian Wood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Wood.

Hi Brian, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I played college basketball back east (shout out to William Paterson University). The experience was powerful, and the opportunities to play on several traveling teams nationwide and internationally after graduation was the best. But even as a player without realistic NBA aspirations, it was difficult when the music stopped. The music stops at the end of those playing days and the transition into the “now what” phase of life. I found the corporate world an excellent place to continue operating in a competitive environment; that domain served me well for decades. Discovering professional coaching was a blessing (and a much longer story), and it has enabled me to support athletes/former athletes, high-potential executives, organizations, and teams pursuing the next level of greatness. At the same time, I never forgot how that transition away from the game made me feel. I also always remembered how my parents stressed the importance of serving, fighting for those that need help, and making the world a better place. I’m thankful I’m doing what I was designed to do and humbled to support some exceptional teammates. Coaching has put me back in the locker room and enabled me to help my teammates. Being a ride-or-die teammate has always been a big deal. I consider each client my teammate, and I won’t let them down.

It wasn’t obstacle-free, but the journey was fairly smooth.
The road appears much smoother when you expect bumps and embrace the bruises before embarking on the journey. The perception of the road is smoother when you recognize that when “stuff” happens, we grow, learn, evolve and improve. The view of a bumpy road looks way better when focusing on the destination, the where – the vision. But once again, the journey is about taking chances, developing excellent habits, and realizing that if you’ve selected a road that is always smooth, you probably need to aim higher anything worthwhile must be attacked with enthusiasm and the understanding that it won’t always be easy; Reminder: the pain of a bumpy road pales compared to the pain of neglecting to chase your dreams; go big and bet on yourself. Having said all that, has it always been a smooth road? Nope!

Reflecting on my struggles along the way often comes down to patience or a lack thereof. It’s easy to want to win it all this very moment. It’s okay to have this competitive edge. But a more sustainable approach involves constantly building trust and relationships (and that requires patience). We must consistently demonstrate results instead of telling others what we can do. Demonstrating our ability to produce can be challenging and requires resiliency and creativity. How can you get on the right stage to describe your methodology and passion for driving better results than anyone else can? One approach to overcoming obstacles that was helpful for me involved investing and believing in myself. There are tools, assessments, and strategies that I’ve accumulated which effectively support athletes, former athletes, and high-potential executives.  Although it could be viewed as not understanding your value, there is power in giving a sample of your work while talking about the things that excite you. You don’t have to give everything away, but showing up with confidence and having faith that you can change the world – and not always charging for your services – can build bridges and put you in a position to drive more impact.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a certified professional coach. I’m a certified professional facilitator. I’ve operated in several circles for a long time, including the corporate space, the world of professional sports, the nonprofit sector, and various humanitarian teams. I’m a former athlete (the older I get, the better I tell people I was)! I’ve been successful and also made a ton of mistakes. I’ve relocated across all corners of the United States and traveled to all seven continents. I’m describing my journey to emphasize that I show up with a high level of relatability and a genuine desire to help people and organizations thrive through coaching, speaking, and leadership development training. I also show up with clarity – laser-focused on driving the highest ROI behaviors, habits, and assessments without judgment and without being a “fan” interested in a self-serving agenda. I’d much rather get kicked out of certain circles for speaking the truth and generating sustainable success than misleading leaders and athletes. I’m interested in making plays and winning together.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
A smart person once said, “You don’t have to shovel sunshine!” even when the weather seems unbearably hot in Phoenix, the alternative is much worse. The weather is extra amazing considering the winters I grew up with back in NJ, and it’s easy to navigate from Phoenix to cooler areas in Arizona during the summer months. I also like the options available for a self-proclaimed foodie and the city’s energy, including the people. I gravitate toward people and organizations that think big, want to serve, show up with gratitude, and are passionate about changing the world. Many people and organizations fall into this category in Phoenix, and I’m incredibly thankful for that! And even though we’ve lived in Mesa for about 16 years, the scenery when driving to Saguaro Lake never gets old, remains inspiring, and generates creativity!

Public transportation could be better, and despite some exceptional and innovative universities, we have some work to do in education. And there is a short list of dislikes for me. The other dislikes that most people have are connected to the mindset we show up with. The people who typically show up with a long list of dislikes neglect to take action, accept mediocrity, and surround themselves with the wrong thoughts, habits, people, and emotions. I don’t suggest that you be blindly optimistic. Still, you will find what you seek; tolerating negativity, worrying about petty things, and practicing bad habits can create resentment, manifesting the wrong results regardless of your address.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://manfrommarscoaching.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodmarscoach/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarsCoaching
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianwoodmba/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/woodmarscoach