Major lessons in leadership with minor league baseball managing partner John Martin

June 20, 2024

This week, we speak with managing partner of the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, John Martin. John’s humble beginnings started on a farm in Illinois. He grew up in a town of 1,000 with no stop light, but it did have a baseball field. He fell in love with baseball while listening to the Chicago Cubs on the radio. John went on to have a successful career in agriculture, working for several seed companies, and is still part of his family farm.

In 2022, John became the managing partner of the Mighty Mussels. John takes leadership lessons from the farm and board room to Fort Myers. Here he uses his skills to create a family-friendly environment in the baseball stadium. Together, we discuss the future of the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, the leadership lessons he learned on the farm and in the corporate world, and how sometimes timing is everything.

3 Takeaways

(03:20) It is hard to get the ecstasy of victory to equal the agony of defeat
(10:10) When your employees talk, listen
(11:00) Don't tell them how to do the dirtiest job, show them

Timestamps

(00:00) Introducing John Martin, Managing Partner of the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
(03:40) John’s farm history and transitioning to Florida
(06:15) What does a Managing Partner do?
(07:50) What is the landscape of Minor League baseball?
(09:45) What stands out as good leadership characteristics?
(12:20) John’s mentors
(13:50) Learning what NOT to do
(15:45) Lessons learned and taking risks
(18:20) What can we expect from the Mighty Mussels?
(21:20) Rapid fire questions

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