Mark Gottfried, a thought leader, speaker, coach, and podcast host is a prominent voice in the world of high-achieving individuals.
HI, I’M MARK.
In an era where leaders must reshape their teams’ mindsets to succeed, I am empowering clients and audiences worldwide to prioritize their goals. By fostering this focus, I create an environment that enables your team to make impactful decisions that can transform the trajectory of your organization.
Growing up in north-central Ohio, I discovered basketball early on. I can still picture myself at eight years old, lying in bed, listening to my LP record player spin an album called “Havlicek Stole the Ball.” It featured Johnny Most, the play-by-play announcer for the Boston Celtics, narrating their World Championship victory. My father was a high school basketball coach who later moved on to coaching at a small college, while my mother worked in education. They instilled in me the importance of fierce competition, perseverance, and always finding a way to succeed.
From a young age, I took on various jobs, from mowing lawns to delivering newspapers. These early experiences imparted valuable life lessons that have stayed with me throughout my adult life. As a student-athlete at the University of Alabama, I played basketball at the highest collegiate level and was later drafted by the Detroit Pistons. Over my 30-year coaching career, I consistently applied the principles of grit, integrity, and desire that I learned in my youth.
As a head coach at the collegiate level, I needed to lead by example, make quick decisions under pressure, and maintain my composure in challenging situations. It was my responsibility to embody the “get it done” (GID) mindset, especially when the clock was ticking, millions of fans were watching, and young players were looking to me for guidance.
And get it done, I did. Winning championships, developing young players into NBA stars, and defeating powerhouse teams like Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, and Louisville on their home courts were exhilarating accomplishments. Bringing the GID mindset into the NCAA tournament and overcoming multiple #1 ranked teams only reinforced my belief in the three pillars of grit, integrity, and desire.
While I’ve been fortunate to experience the highs of coaching, I’ve also faced my share of lows, including being fired and navigating the heartache of divorce in my personal life. Each time I picked myself up off the mat has been one of my most rewarding experiences. I’ve gained invaluable lessons through the lens of athletics, and I genuinely enjoy sharing these lessons with teams, organizations, and individuals.
I’ve earned a reputation as the “turnaround” coach, known for transforming struggling teams into successful programs. Over my 30 years of coaching at the highest level, I’ve developed a philosophy on what it takes to achieve success. When I speak to organizations and teams, I share these insights in an authentic and relatable manner, emphasizing the importance of a “get it done” mentality, overcoming obstacles, cultivating daily habits, uniting around a shared vision, and setting clear goals.
Throughout my career, I’ve dedicated myself to helping individuals and teams unlock their full potential and reach peak performance. I have a powerful story to share and am passionate about encouraging, inspiring, and empowering your organization to reach new heights. As I often say, “I’m just one beggar trying to show another beggar where to find some bread.”
LET’S CONNECT TO EXPLORE HOW I CAN HELP YOUR ORGANIZATION ACHIEVE ITS HIGHEST LEVEL OF SUCCESS!
