Former MLB and Stanford pitcher and number two pick in the 2006 draft, Greg Reynolds, joins Nick on the podcast today. Having pitched for the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds, Greg left baseball after suffering a career ending injury, only to start a new career in public service as a firefighter in Marin County, California. In his conversation with Nick, he details this transition from professional sports to the fire service and so much more.

Together, they discuss the high pressure of the Major Leagues, and Greg describes his shift from a star athlete to a rookie firefighter. He also shares stories about playing in Japan and the injury that ended his baseball career. The two go on to compare the camaraderie of a sports locker room with life in a fire station, concluding that humility and hard work define success more than past achievements.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Greg Reynolds and His Major League Background

01:42 – Discovering Talent and Staying Grounded Through Family

03:48 – Stanford Development and Growing Through High Standards

05:46 – Being Humbled Early and Adapting to Higher Competition

09:40 – Transition to Professional Baseball and Business Realities

12:48 – Setbacks, Injuries, and Building Mental Resilience

17:48 – Reaching the Majors and Handling Pressure and Expectations

21:49 – Playing in Japan and Expanding Life Perspective

25:47 – Career-Altering Home Invasion and Forced Transition

32:47 – Family, Parenting, and Redefining Life Purpose

36:14 – Becoming a Firefighter and Rediscovering Camaraderie

40:58 – Leadership, Learning, and Passing Knowledge Forward

42:37 – Family Motivation and Pursuing Purpose in Midlife

Key Takeaways:

"Helping others is a duty. Whether as a firefighter or a person, impart wisdom and lessons learned."

"In professional sports, belief in yourself is key. Success comes when you truly feel you belong."

"College sports taught me time management and adaptability. Both are crucial for growth."

"In the minors, it's not about winning but developing skills. Repetition is the key to success."

"In professional sports, it's a business. Everyone's fighting for their job, and you must produce."

"Injuries taught me resilience. No time to feel sorry, just focus on recovery and moving forward."

"Family is my ultimate motivation. Being a good role model and providing for them is paramount."

"In firefighting, it's about camaraderie and helping others. It's like being on a team again."

"Financial literacy is crucial. Trustworthy mentors can guide you in managing wealth wisely."

"Humility and vulnerability go hand in hand. Learn from mistakes and keep pushing forward."

Links:

Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/

Greg Reynolds: https://www.mlb.com/player/greg-reynolds-453353

Welcome back to a new "Nick Notes" edition of Together at the Top. Building on the previous installment, Nick again sits down with producer Riley Byrne to distill key lessons from his ongoing work with leaders. This episode moves beyond raw experience to emphasize an important principle: we don't learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on our experience. Nick shares fresh themes and powerful anecdotes, offering a detailed look into the art of sustainable leadership.

In this conversation, Nick explores the transition from individual talent to robust business systems, captured in the phrase, "You rise to your talent, but you settle to your systems." He underscores why "team chemistry" has proven to be a significant differentiator for successful organizations and breaks down the impacts of modeling good leadership behavior—from the value of timeliness to the importance of procedural justice. The discussion also ventures into personal evolution, examining how to adapt your executive presence as you climb the corporate ladder and how to re-engineer the social contracts in both your professional and personal life to support your growth.

Episode Highlights:

• Moving from talent to sustainability by building systems ("Rise to your talent, settle to your systems").
• Why team chemistry, free of drama and drag, is fundamental to success.
• The importance of modeling good leadership behavior through timeliness and procedural justice.
• The concept of "cruising altitude" and how to strategically use that time to professionalize your brand.
• Using "hustle" not just to work hard, but to intelligently bridge your experience gap.
• The necessity of re-evaluating and refreshing the "social contract" with your boss and at home.
• How to consciously evolve your executive presence—from how you dress to the company you keep—as you advance in your career.
• Understanding the difference between a "mistake of the mind" and a "mistake of the heart."
• The effect of your professional vibe and how it attracts your tribe.

Key Takeaways:

• "We don't learn from our experience. We learn from reflecting on our experience."
• "I'm not impressed by your hard work... It's about smart work, it's about efficient work. It's about saying no to the right things so you can say yes to the right things."
• "You rise to your talent and you settle to your systems."
• "If you make a mistake of the mind, I'll have your back. If you make a mistake of the heart, I will have your ass."
• "Your vibe attracts your tribe."
• "Anyone who says they don't have 30 minutes [for themselves] is full of shit."
• "Advance the professionalization of your brand by creating systems that support the business without you. Because with you, it's only a practice. If we can spread it out over other people and create systems, then it's a real business."

Links:

• Nick Warner Consulting: https://www.nickwarnerconsulting.com/
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034/
• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins: https://www.jimcollins.com/books.html
• Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams...

In today’s episode of Together at the Top, Nick welcomes the newly appointed Sheriff of Solano County, Brad DeWall, for an insightful conversation about contemporary leadership. Sheriff DeWall shares his unique journey, having risen through the ranks from an extra-help correctional officer to the highest position in the agency. Together, they delve into the excitement and nervousness that accompanies such a significant promotion, exploring the weight of expectation from both the team and the community. This discussion covers the core tenets of effective leadership in a large public safety organization, from establishing a clear vision to the practical steps required to make that vision a reality.

The conversation goes beyond theory, as Sheriff DeWall details his people-first approach to management and organizational change. He explains why turning a vision into tangible results - or "traction" - is impossible without first building a foundation of solid relationships at every level, from internal teams to the County Administrator's office and labor unions. He and Nick also tackle the critical topics of stress management and mental wellness in law enforcement, the importance of breaking down internal silos to create a unified team, and how to cultivate a healthy, supportive culture. An enlightening study in modern leadership, this episode is filled with practical advice for any professional looking to make a meaningful impact.

Episode Highlights:

• How to navigate the transition into a top executive leadership role.
• The importance of turning vision into action - getting "traction."
• Why strong relationships are the most critical tool for implementing change and achieving goals.
• Sheriff DeWall’s three pillars of a successful leader: credibility, relationships, and vision.
• Strategies for building effective partnerships with county government, labor unions, and the community.
• The importance of addressing stress and trauma to create a healthier work environment in high-stakes professions.
• How to break down internal silos and foster a unified, "one team" culture within an organization.
• The unique value of an empowered executive assistant who can provide "real talk" and unfiltered feedback.

Chapter Markers:

[00:14] Meet the New Sheriff

[02:25] Why the New Sheriff is "Super Nervous"

[03:44] "Vision Without Traction is Hallucination"

[06:10] From Entry-Level to The Top Job: A First in History

[12:00] The First Things He Wants to Change

[15:05] The 3 Traits Every Leader MUST Have

[20:12] Building Trust, Even When You Disagree

[23:20] The Tricky Politics of Police Budgets

[29:17] The Trauma Cops Don't Talk About

[34:01] Why Is It So Hard to Hire Cops Today?

[35:52] The "Us vs. Them" Divide Inside the Agency

[39:38] His Secret Weapon: The Executive Assistant

[42:53] Rapid Fire: Bad Leaders, Best Advice & Biggest Fears

[46:21] His Vision for the Future

Key Takeaways:

"Vision without traction is just a hallucination."

"I am the first sheriff to ever have started as an extra help correctional officer."

"If you can find what you love, it just changes the game."

"If you don't have the relationships, you will never be a leader. No one will follow you."

"We may not agree, but I want you to understand where I'm at."

"Don't ever let a good crisis go to waste."

"I feel like I am good at connecting with people. But most of all through that, I'm good at listening and hearing people... I just care. I really care."

"I'm most excited about being able to move forward programs that I've been wanting to do for years."

Links:

Nick Warner Consulting: