Ep. 137: Ryan Hawk The Price of Becoming
Ryan Hawk is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and host of The Learning Leader Show, where he has interviewed more than 700 influential leaders, including CEOs, bestselling authors, elite athletes, military leaders, and entrepreneurs. His podcast is consistently one of the world's top business shows, earning millions of downloads annually. Ryan is the author of three leadership books, including the USA Today bestseller The Score That Matters. A former Divi...
Ryan Hawk is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and host of The Learning Leader Show, where he has interviewed more than 700 influential leaders, including CEOs, bestselling authors, elite athletes, military leaders, and entrepreneurs.
His podcast is consistently one of the world's top business shows, earning millions of downloads annually.
Ryan is the author of three leadership books, including the USA Today bestseller The Score That Matters.
A former Division I quarterback and corporate sales executive, he now helps organizations develop leadership, excellence, teamwork, and high performance through speaking, coaching, and teaching around the world. His fourth book The Price of Becoming link to order is in the show notes.
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Quick Episode Summary:
Ryan Hawk discusses leadership, compounding growth, and embracing life’s transitions.
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Podcast Chapters:
00:00 Introduction about Ryan Hawk
06:23 Transitioning from athlete to former athlete
08:00 Struggling with big game emotions
10:02 At college orientation with my child
14:04 Working with high-performing clients
16:42 Initial business consultations
22:32 Importance of self-truth and compounding
23:09 Daily habits for success
28:44 Starting a guest quote tradition
30:31 Being prepared for the unexpected
35:09 Building confidence through evidence
38:28 Writing and research process
39:14 Motivation and taking action
44:17 Reflecting on personal growth
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🔥 Torch Takeaways Include:
◼ Why the highest performers are the most coachable
◼ How to find and appreciate meaning in everyday moments
◼Practical habits and questions to help you become the best version of yourself
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People and Names mentioned in the episode:
Charlie Munger
Warren Buffett
Brian Koppelman
Austin Kleon
Terry Hoeppner
Matt Muncie
Sherri Coale (LEGEND)
Brook Cupps
Geron Stokes
Uncle Rico
Brady Quinn
Kurt Warner
Jim Collins
Tom Ryan
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Quotes to open episodes:
"The first rule of compounding is to never interrupt it unnecessarily."
-Charlie Munger
“Keep following your curiosity and obsessions with great rigor.”
- Brian Koppelman
“Life is only understood backwards, but we have to live it forwards.”
– Austin Kleon
My favorite quote from Ryan during the episode:
"Your actions speak so loudly, I can't hear what you're saying."
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Ryan's Resources:
◼ Website: https://learningleader.com/
◼ Order his latest book The Price Of Becoming: https://learningleader.com/becoming/
◼LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanhawk12/
◼ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanhawk12/
Highlights from the Episode
🌱 The Good Old Days Are Now
Ryan shares a moving story about choosing family over work, reminding us that the moments we’ll cherish most are often the everyday ones—like an impromptu pool trip or sharing ice cream with your kids. The real “good old days” may be happening all around us if we pay attention 02:58.
⚡ Identity Shifts & Letting Go
We talk about what happens when a major chapter closes, like moving from being a “current” athlete or service member to a “former” one. Ryan opens up about his own struggles transitioning from college athlete to life after sports, and why it’s so hard—but so necessary—to grow beyond who you were yesterday 06:23.
💡 Compounding Beyond Finance
While Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger may have popularized the concept of compounding in wealth, Ryan explains how habits, character, and relationships also compound. Intentionally doing the right things, every single day, pays massive dividends—not just in business, but in who you become 22:32.
👊 Why Elite Performers Seek Coaching
An insight from the show: the people already crushing it—the “eights and nines” out of ten—are the ones most hungry for feedback and coaching. True greatness, Ryan says, means always being willing to get better, to seek out truth, and to act on it 14:04.
📝 Favorite Takeaway:
"Your actions speak so loudly I can't hear what you're saying."
Ryan’s advice: be a doer, not just a talker. The world is full of talkers—be the person who shows up, again and again, making small choices that add up to big impact 36:56.
Connect with Passing The Torch: Facebook and IG: @torchmartin
More Amazing Stories:
Episode 41: Lee Ellis – Freeing You From Bond That Make You Insecure
Episode 81: Kurt Warner – Perseverance, Humility, and Lighting the Way
Episode 90: Michelle 'MACE' Curran – How to Turn Fear into Fuel
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00:00 - Intro about Ryan
06:23 - Transitioning from athlete to former athlete
08:00 - Struggling with big game emotions
10:02 - At college orientation with my child
14:04 - Working with high-performing clients
16:42 - Initial business consultations
22:32 - Importance of self-truth and compounding
23:09 - Daily habits for success
28:44 - Starting a guest quote tradition
30:31 - Being prepared for the unexpected
35:09 - Building confidence through evidence
38:28 - Writing and research process
39:14 - Motivation and taking action
44:17 - Reflecting on personal growth
Podcast Summary: Passing The Torch – Ryan Hawk
In this episode of Passing The Torch, bestselling author, keynote speaker, and host of the Learning Leader Show, Ryan Hawk, shares insights from his journey as a leader, former division one quarterback, and author of four books, including his latest, The Price of Becoming.
The conversation explores themes of growth, identity, and sustaining excellence. Ryan Hawk reflects on the emotional transition from being a current athlete to a former one, noting how leaving behind a long-standing identity can be a profound challenge, especially when much of one's self-worth has been tied to performance and achievement 06:23.
Family and presence play a major role throughout the discussion. Ryan Hawk emphasizes savoring the "good old days" with his children—swimming, sharing meals, and simply being present for small, meaningful moments 02:58. He speaks about the importance of modeling behavior as a parent, highlighting how children learn more from observing actions than from words 27:33.
The episode also delves into what it takes to move from being an "eight or nine" to a "ten"—that is, from doing well to achieving excellence. Ryan Hawk explains that his coaching and content are especially for high performers who remain coachable and open to feedback, pointing out that the best performers are often those who want to be coached and challenged the most 14:04.
A central theme is compounding—not just financially, as Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger discuss, but in character, relationships, and reputation. Ryan Hawk shares how small, consistent actions—telling the truth to yourself, following through on commitments, and helping others—compound into significant outcomes over time 22:32; 23:09.
Practical takeaways include the importance of planning, working the plan, but also preparing for the unexpected—a lesson from Coach Terry Hoeppner that Ryan Hawk continues to apply in life and leadership 29:48. He suggests building confidence by creating evidence for yourself through doing hard things and approaching life bird by bird, step by step 35:09.
The episode closes on lessons about action over words. Ryan Hawk shares his favorite reminder: "Your actions speak so loudly, I can't hear what you're saying" 36:56, urging listeners to focus on being doers, not just talkers. The conversation is both inspiring and practical, encouraging listeners to focus on compounding good habits, strengthening relationships, and seeking continual growth.