Did five books really change my life?  If you would have told me twenty years ago that I would write a blog about books that changed my life, I probably would have laughed. I was not a reader. In fact, for a long time, reading was one of the hardest things for me to do. Focusing on the words, keeping my mind from wandering, and actually understanding what I was reading? That felt impossible.

Something changed about ten to fifteen years ago. I could not tell you exactly what it was, but one day, books just started clicking for me. Now? I read about thirty books a year. I know that is not a huge number for some folks, but for me, it feels monumental. And along the way, certain books have done more than entertain or educate. They have truly changed how I think and how I live.

Of course, there have been plenty of great reads over the years: Mindset by Carol Dweck, Grit by Angela Duckworth, classics like The Lord of the Rings and the George R.R. Martin series. But today, I want to share five books that genuinely changed my life. OK, six… because I had to sneak in an honorable mention.

Let’s get to it.

The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

This is not your typical creativity or productivity book. The Creative Act is part philosophy, part meditation, and part life guide, written by legendary music producer Rick Rubin. Instead of focusing on how to make things, it explores how to be a creative person and live with intention.

I stumbled on this one during a trip with my wife. I had some alone time, so I wandered into this boutique-style bookstore in downtown Pittsburgh. There it was, sitting on the end cap. I have always been a fan of Rick Rubin’s work in the music world, but I was not prepared for this book.

I read the first few pages right there in the store and thought, holy #$%!, this is written for me. I immediately went to a bar, ordered lunch, and kept reading.

What stuck with me? The idea that a true artist creates for themselves. It does not matter if anyone else likes it. I am the audience. Since reading it, I constantly ask myself: Am I creating this because it brings me joy, or because I think it will sell? That is why some days, I struggle to hit record on a podcast or sit down to write a blog. I want it to mean something, not just fill space.

Purchase on Amazon

The Way of the Wizard: Twenty Spiritual Lessons for Creating the Life You Want by Deepak Chopra

Blending timeless wisdom with storytelling, The Way of the Wizard presents spiritual lessons through the lens of Merlin and Arthurian legend. Chopra uses the relationship between young Arthur and his teacher Merlin to illustrate how we can awaken to deeper truths in our everyday lives.

I wish I could tell you exactly why I picked up this book. Maybe it was my love of Arthurian legends. Maybe it was because I was just starting to enjoy reading. Honestly, it felt like this book picked me.

What grabbed me right away was how Chopra weaves folklore and actionable life lessons together. The story of young King Arthur digging the ditch still sticks with me. It taught me that lessons are everywhere if we are willing to see them. We just build walls that block our view.

This book taught me to step back, look at life with new eyes, and think about the end game while still being present. I have learned to ask: Am I on the right path? And if not, how can I adjust?

Purchase on Amazon

Zen in the Martial Arts by Joe Hyams

A small but mighty book, Zen in the Martial Arts is a collection of short stories and reflections from journalist Joe Hyams, who trained in martial arts under several great masters. The book distills Zen principles into practical wisdom not just for martial artists, but for anyone seeking mindfulness, patience, and purpose.

This one came to me in a bookstore in the most unexpected way. A stranger and I were browsing the same section, and he handed me this book and said, This one. This is the one you want. Kind of weird when I think about it, but he was right.

Even though it is written from a martial arts perspective, the lessons translate beautifully to life, coaching, and teaching. Every August, before my season starts, I re-read it. It is practically memorized at this point.

My favorite lesson? Even the Masters Have Masters. We are always learning from each other, no matter how good we think we are. Because of this book, I approach everything with more thought and purpose. I never do something “just to do it.”

Purchase on Amazon

Notes to Myself: My Struggle to Become a Person by Hugh Prather

Originally written as the author’s personal journal, Notes to Myself is a candid collection of thoughts, confessions, and realizations about life, relationships, and self-discovery. Its raw honesty resonates with anyone on a personal growth journey.

This one found me at a time when I felt lost. Life was fine, on the surface, but I was wandering. I honestly do not remember how I came across it. But it came into my life when I needed it most.

One passage changed me:
“I am convinced that this anxiety running through my life is the tension between what I ‘should be’ and what I am. My anxiety does not come from thinking about the future but from wanting to control it.”

At that moment, that was exactly how I felt. It taught me that we all face these moments. We cannot run or hide from life. We need to approach it head-on.

I think the best way to explain how this book changed me is with another quote from it:
“As I look back on my life, one of the most constant and powerful things I have experienced within myself is the desire to be more than I am at the moment… It is seeking out more of me; or better, it is, thank God, flushing out more of me.”

That has stuck with me ever since.

Purchase on Amazon

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

The Last Lecture is based on a talk given by computer science professor Randy Pausch after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The book is an expansion of that talk, filled with humor, wisdom, and reflections on living fully even in the face of death.

This was an impulse buy. The book was on sale at the register, and I thought, Well, this could be interesting. I was not prepared.

I have never read a more soul-crushing book. Pausch tells you up front why he is writing it. You know how the story ends, but you are still not ready for it.

One of his lessons that will always stay with me: Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. That line alone changed how I view setbacks and life in general.

This book made me think more about legacy. What does legacy really mean? For me, it is not about fame or fortune. It is about purpose and creating memories.

Purchase on Amazon

Honorable Mention: The Reagan Diaries by Ronald Reagan and Douglas Brinkley

The Reagan Diaries compiles entries from President Reagan’s personal journals written during his presidency. Rather than a polished biography, it gives a raw and human glimpse into the daily thoughts of a world leader.

Reagan was the first president I really remember. I am not a very political person, but I wanted to know: what was it really like to be president? Not in a biography kind of way, but in his own words.

Most of the entries are short, but very honest. What struck me most was how little things made him happy: a movie on TV, a simple moment.

It also changed how I think about journaling. Some days he only wrote four words. It reminded me that showing up matters. You do not need to write a novel or have a life-changing revelation every day. You just need to do something, anything.

Purchase on Amazon

So there you have it: the five books (plus one honorable mention) that have genuinely changed my life. They shaped how I see the world, how I coach, how I create, and how I live. If any of these books call to you, give them a try. You never know which one might pick you.

Until next time, happy reading.

The post Five Books That Changed My Life appeared first on Dan Mickle.

Change. It’s inevitable, right? Whether it’s a sudden shift in team dynamics, an unexpected injury, or a season’s worth of unpredictability, change is the one thing you can always count on. In sports, as in life, the ability to lead through change can determine whether you’re left feeling overwhelmed and powerless—or whether you emerge stronger, more resilient, and better equipped for the challenges ahead.

But let’s be real: when change comes at you fast, it’s easy to panic. The unknown stirs up anxiety, and the fear of what could go wrong often dominates our thinking. It’s like driving in fog—no matter how fast you’re going, you just can’t see what’s ahead. The key to navigating those moments isn’t in avoiding the fog but in learning how to drive through it with confidence. And as a leader, your role is crucial. You have the power to steer your team from panic to power. How? By embracing a few key leadership traits that will turn uncertainty into an opportunity for growth.

Key Leadership Traits for Leading Through Change

1. Adaptability: The Key to Navigating the Unknown

Adaptability isn’t just about rolling with the punches—it’s about being able to pivot, adjust, and keep your cool when things don’t go as planned. Whether it’s an unexpected shift in team roles, a change in coaching staff, or the need to adjust strategy mid-season, adaptable leaders don’t flinch. Instead, they roll up their sleeves, reassess the situation, and steer the ship forward.

Take, for example, the story of a college basketball coach who lost his star player mid-season. The initial panic was palpable—after all, the team had been built around this athlete’s unique skills. But rather than crumble under the weight of the change, the coach gathered his team and reframed the situation: “Now we get to see who we really are as a team,” he said. “This is our chance to step up and show what we’re made of.” By focusing on adaptability, he helped his players embrace the change, developing new strengths and strategies along the way. That team ended up not just surviving the season—they thrived.

2. Clear Communication: The Anchor in a Storm

When change is happening, communication becomes your most powerful tool. It’s easy to assume that everyone understands what’s going on in your head, but when you’re dealing with uncertainty, it’s essential to over-communicate. Leaders who communicate clearly and consistently during times of change give their teams a sense of security. They let everyone know what’s going on, why it matters, and how they can contribute to the solution.

Take a moment to think about your own experience as a coach: Have you ever faced a situation where your athletes or staff were confused about the direction you were going in, simply because you didn’t provide enough clarity? It happens, especially when we’re feeling overwhelmed by all the changes happening around us. But in these moments, clarity is the antidote to anxiety.

As a leader, you need to openly discuss the challenges you’re facing and outline the plan for moving forward. Don’t assume everyone is on the same page. In fact, you may need to repeat key points or adjust your messaging depending on who you’re talking to—athletes, parents, assistant coaches—each group may need a slightly different approach. But above all, be transparent. When you communicate clearly, your team will feel supported and know exactly where they stand.

3. Maintaining Calm Under Pressure: Your Superpower

In times of change, it’s easy to get swept up in the chaos. The key to being an effective leader isn’t about being the loudest in the room—it’s about being the calmest. When things go sideways, your athletes are looking to you for guidance. If you remain composed, you’re signaling to them that they don’t need to panic either.

There’s a saying I like to remind myself of when the going gets tough: Calm is contagious. I remember one particular game where we were down by 10 points in the final quarter. The tension in the air was palpable, and I could see the anxiety creeping into my players’ eyes. I gathered them together for a quick huddle and, with a calm smile, said, “This game is far from over. We just need to execute our game plan and trust each other.” I could feel the collective breath of the team calm down, and from that moment on, they played with a renewed sense of focus and composure. We didn’t win that game, but we didn’t lose our cool either.

Staying calm in the face of change is a powerful leadership tool. It not only sets the tone for your team but also builds trust. Your athletes will look to you in moments of uncertainty, and if you can stay calm, they’ll feel more equipped to stay calm themselves.

4. Fostering a Growth Mindset: Turning Setbacks into Opportunities

Change is uncomfortable, no doubt. But discomfort often brings the most significant opportunities for growth. This is where a growth mindset becomes essential. Rather than seeing challenges as roadblocks, those with a growth mindset view them as stepping stones to improvement.

As a coach, you have a unique opportunity to model this mindset for your athletes. When a key player gets injured, don’t just focus on the setback—focus on the opportunity for others to step up. When a game doesn’t go as planned, don’t dwell on the loss. Instead, ask, “What can we learn from this?” Encourage your athletes to embrace challenges as chances to grow and improve, not as failures to avoid.

One of the best ways to encourage this mindset is by offering praise for effort and improvement, not just results. After all, growth comes from trying, failing, and trying again. If your athletes learn to view change as a growth opportunity, they will thrive under any circumstances.

How Coaches Can Help Their Teams Navigate Change

• Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome: It’s tempting to obsess over the results when things are uncertain, but the truth is, you have much more control over the process than the outcome. Focus on the actions that lead to success, and encourage your team to do the same.

• Create a Safe Space for Emotional Expression: When change is in the air, emotions can run high. Provide a space where your athletes can express their feelings without judgment. Let them know that it’s okay to feel uncertain, but that doesn’t mean they’re weak—it means they’re human.

• Provide Structure in Chaos: When everything feels up in the air, provide a sense of structure. A clear routine, a simple focus, or a small win can bring a sense of stability to your team, helping them regain their footing and refocus.

Leading through change is no easy task, but it’s one of the most impactful things you can do for your team. As a leader, your job is not just to manage change but to help your athletes embrace it. By fostering adaptability, clear communication, calmness under pressure, and a growth mindset, you will turn moments of panic into powerful opportunities for growth.

So, the next time change knocks on your door, don’t shy away from it. Instead, step up, lead with confidence, and turn the unknown into your team’s greatest opportunity for growth. After all, the only constant in life—and in sports—is change. It’s how we respond to it that defines us.

The post From Panic to Power: How to Lead Through Change appeared first on Dan Mickle.

Wow, I just realized how long it has been since I actually posted a blog.  So many things have changed since June 3, 2016.  By now you realized how bad I am at having a blog.  It is not for lack of content, but lack of writing desire.  By the time I have a chance to sit down and write, I am exhausted and opt to go to bed (most times).  I don’t want to waste any time catching up on my life since June of 2016.  The only part I will mention, since it may change how (and what) I write about, is that I have taken over the head coaching position at the Division III college I was an assistant at for the past 4 years.  I feel that may be relative moving forward with the blog.

Writing this post, I want to put my “Athletic Coach” mind in to drive.  I want to talk a little bit about captains.  I have a unique situation this year on the team that has caused some turbulence, but nothing major (yet).  Moving from assistant to head coach has a lot of challenges, but most are easily overcome.  I have a great group of ladies that work hard, respect the team and college, and really buy into the systems I am putting into place.  The issue is that I have no seniors on the team.  That may not seem like a bad thing, considering that 7 of the 9 key returners were either Sophomores or Freshmen.  The would be seniors (4 of them) quit the team after the season and before the spring season.  While I hate seeing players leave the program, this was a decision they felt was best for the path of life.  While there are obvious voids left by them on the court, where it is hitting our program the most is leadership.  Our program traditionally has not had a large dependence of the captains.  The previous captains have all served great and did bring benefits to the program.  We just did not require much of them, other than to gauge the team and help organize some of the off court events.  I was now faced with how we wanted to appoint new captains moving forward.  The issue that concerned me was that no matter who would be in this role, they would be a new captain.  There was not the typical 1 year of grooming that has happened in the past.  We (as coaches) decided we would let the team vote for captains.  We would take the top 2 vote leaders plus one player picked by the coaches.  It really excited me to see it turn out the way I expected.  The coaches pick was the third vote getter, so there would not be any real conflicts there.

So why this blog post then, right?  It turns out that all three ladies had been captains of their high school teams.  Again, I thought “BONUS!”.  Maybe not having that mentorship year wouldn’t be an issue.  Plus, this captain group was now comprised of two juniors and a sophomore.  Since I will have this team for two years, that means I have a captain who as a senior will already have 2 years under her belt.  What I soon found out, however, was that being a captain before really meant little moving forward.  The girls were just captains by name.  They had no real power as high school captains.  I understand that to a degree.  There may be concerns with appointing a high school girl with power.  As a high school coach, I used to control everything in the program.  I would pick fundraisers, social causes, off court activities, ect.  Yet, when things started going south I would turn to the captains to help me correct the ship.  I have given them no power, but now I want (read: need) them to pull a team together that has never seen them in a position of strength or leadership.

This (in a very long winded way) brings me to the point of this post.  How do you train and empower your captains.  I am not talking about how you select them.  I am talking about the “What now?” aspect of captains.

This was the question I asked myself.  How am I going to empower my captains to be leaders?  The answer for me came down to three areas.  Education, Ability, and Empowerment.  I could (and probably will) write a post on each of those three areas, but I will give a brief explanation of my vision today.

Education – I meet with my captains weekly for about 30 minutes.  They were given three books: Zen and the Martial Arts (by Joe Hyams),  The Way of the Wizard
(by Deepak Chopra), and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (by Patrick Lencioni).  We work a chapter or two per week in those books during the season.  These are three of my favorite books for almost any aspect of life.  I find they all have a common element.  They are not only educating, but show ways to use their methods in daily life.

Ability – During our meetings we also talk about how to speak and act with authority.  I find this is where most captains fail.  They have good ideas and good instincts but are never taught how to use them.  How they can guide a team to the best decision. Often times, captain leadership is seen as a complete dictatorship and causes conflict.  When I went back and talked to a few of my previous captains, this was the part they said bothered them the most.  They felt they never learned how to get the team onboard with them on issues or ideas.  Training for this skill varies by personality for me.  We look at a lot of Zig Ziegler, Tony Robbins, and other speakers who can capture a crowd.  We actually do some “salesperson” training.  When you boil it down to the basics, that is all being a captain is.  Selling the team on your idea or plan.

Empowerment – This is really the easiest one to train.  You, as the coach, just need to give your captains power.  One example for me is that I let the captains decide if we practice on Labor Day.  Some years they ask the team.  Some years they ask the coaches.  Some years they ask both.  This past year, they did it on their own.  A captain will never grow if we don’t give them a chance to make decisions that guide the entire program/team.  Deciding what jerseys to wear does not cut it.  Let them have some buy-in to the program, and they work harder at it.  I often have “Captain Practices”.  I tell them what skills/systems, we as a team need to work on, and I let them come up with the actual practice plan for the day.  The coaches step in to offer coaching corrections or fixes, but the captains control the pace and almost all aspects of the practice.

What training are you giving your captains to succeed in the leadership of the team?  How does being a captain help them in life (other than saying “I was captain of my team”)?  I would truly love to see some of you comment how you use your captains and how you train them.

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