Long before building one of the fastest-growing organizations in the financial services industry, GFI founder and CEO Eric Olson faced a defining moment that tested his resilience: having to give up his football career. As captain of the San Jose State football team, he had big dreams on the field, but injuries forced him to make a tough call.
“It’s always great to have a dream and go 100% on it, like I did in football,” Olson shares on the Corporate Competitor Podcast. “But, God forbid, it doesn’t work out. I got hurt. I blew out my shoulder a couple of times against Ohio State and the Florida Gators. I was like, ‘You know what? Let me pivot.’”
Instead of dwelling on disappointment, Olson chose to view his past experiences as preparation for the next chapter. He leaned into the discipline, teamwork and mental toughness he had built on the field and applied them to his career in business.
“What if your entire life, everything you’ve done, prepared you for this next moment?” Olson asked. “That’s what I convinced myself. All my sports background, as an athlete and coach, all the discipline, the focus, and the teamwork have prepared me now for this business.
In this episode, you will learn about:
• The power of self-reflection: Olson dedicates time each day to thinking through challenges, asking tough questions, and seeking the best solutions.
• The value of hard work: His journey from athlete to self-made millionaire underscores the importance of discipline, resilience and being coachable.
• Building a cohesive team: Olson fosters a culture of camaraderie at GFI, treating team meetings like locker room huddles—energized, open and collaborative.
Looking back, Olson credits his ability to pivot as a key driver of his success. “I was a little bit physically tough back in the day, but I’m more mentally tough now than physically tough,” he says. “A lot of that mental toughness came from those double days and those 5 a.m. lifting sessions. All of that prepared me for the next moment and the next venture in my business.”
His leadership philosophy is simple but powerful: “We don’t panic, we pivot.”
For leaders, this is a valuable lesson—embracing change and adjusting your approach when necessary can turn obstacles into opportunities for growth and success.
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.