Play Offense: Transform Your Life One Decision at a Time

Paul Epstein

In this episode of the Driving Change Podcast, Jeff Bloomfield sits down with Paul Epstein, bestselling author of The Power of Playing Offense and Better Decisions Faster. A former executive with the Clippers, Hornets, Kings, and 49ers, Paul shares his journey from his humble roots and personal loss to building a career in professional sports and beyond. Along the way, Paul developed a leadership philosophy rooted in purpose, resilience, and authenticity.

The conversation highlights Paul’s transformative “Win Monday” movement, the power of values-based decision-making, and lessons learned from navigating high-stakes environments. Paul’s stories, from creating championship cultures to finding personal alignment, are both relatable and inspiring.

Why You Should Listen

This episode is a roadmap for anyone seeking clarity, purpose, and actionable insights. You’ll learn:

• How to make better decisions faster using Paul’s “Head + Heart = Hands” framework.
• Why starting small—like winning one Monday at a time—can lead to unstoppable momentum.
• Leadership lessons from professional sports that can transform your career and relationships.
• How aligning with your core values can lead to a more fulfilled, impactful life.

If you’re ready to overcome indecision, grow as a leader, or simply take the next step toward your best self, this episode is packed with tools and inspiration to help you get there.

Takeaways

• Win Monday Philosophy: Start your week with one intentional action to build unstoppable momentum.
• Purpose-Driven Living: Success stems from aligning actions with core values like impact, authenticity, and courage.
• Decision-Making Framework: Use the “Head + Heart = Hands” model to make better decisions faster.
• Resilience Through Adversity: Adversity doesn’t build character—it reveals it. Growth comes from thriving in storms.
• Empowering Leadership: Effective leaders inspire by making others feel valued, supported, and seen.
• Culture Matters: High-performing cultures stem from leaders who role-model excellence and empathy.
• Small Actions, Big Wins: Incremental, intentional habits compound into lasting success.

Chapter Markers

00:00:00 – Introduction

00:02:20 – Paul Epstein’s Origin Story

00:05:30 – From Sports Fan to Sports Executive

00:09:00 – Thriving as the Underdog

00:13:30 – The Impact of a Hero

00:18:00 – Leadership Lessons from the 49ers

00:24:00 – Discovering His Why

00:27:30 – Becoming the “Why Coach”

00:30:40 – Writing the Playbook He Needed

00:35:20 – The “Win Monday” Movement

00:39:00 – Simple Habits for Big Impact

00:42:00 – Closing Inspiration

Find out more about Paul Epstein: https://www.paulepsteinspeaks.com/