71: Turning Fitness into Leadership | Tim Whitmire
Ever wonder how leadership teams can truly get in sync to drive their business forward?
If you’ve ever felt your team is out of alignment or pulling in different directions, you're not alone. In today’s episode, Tim Whitmire explains how he uses the power of community, lessons from his rowing days, and his experience founding F3 Nation—to help leaders achieve “swing” ( a term borrowed from rowing crew in which everyone is in sync and moving the boat with power) in their organizations, even in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
In this episode, Tim Whitmire, co-founder of F3 Nation and founder of CXN Advisory, joins hosts Darren Bridgett and Damon Lembi to explore how leaders can build more cohesive teams through shared values and mission clarity. Drawing from personal experiences in business, fitness, and overcoming personal adversity, Tim shares actionable insights on creating alignment within leadership teams and how community-driven initiatives like F3 Nation can empower people both personally and professionally.
What You’ll Learn:
The importance of clarity in leadership mission statements for organizational success.
How Tim founded F3 Nation and the principles that have driven its growth across 49 states and 15 countries.
The power of consistency over perfection—why aiming for 91% is better than chasing unattainable perfection.
The “tent pole leadership” analogy and how to establish a central mission to support diverse team goals.
The critical role of community and relationships in overcoming personal challenges, including Tim’s recovery from a stroke.
Insights on the growing loneliness problem among men and how F3’s model addresses it through fitness, fellowship, and faith.
How fitness can serve as the foundation for personal and professional growth
In This Episode:
(00:00) Introduction to Tim Whitmire – Hosts Damon and Darren introduce Tim Whitmire, co-founder of F3 Nation, and dive into the origins of the fitness group that has become a nationwide movement.
(02:00) The Story Behind F3 – Tim shares how F3 was born from a simple Saturday morning workout with friends and how it has grown into a network of free, peer-led workouts for men across the United States.
(05:30) Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith – Tim explains the three core principles of F3—fitness, fellowship, and faith—and how they serve as the foundation for personal growth and leadership.
(09:00) The Power of Shared Struggle – Tim talks about how sweating together fosters deep connections and trust, and why men, in particular, benefit from this form of community-building.
(12:33) Leadership Lessons from F3 – Tim reflects on how his experience building F3 has influenced his approach to leadership and team alignment at CXN Advisory.
(17:00) The Concept of “Swing” – Tim shares the metaphor of “swing” from his rowing days and how it applies to business leadership and achieving high-performance teamwork.
(21:30) Building High-Performing Teams – Tim explains how to get leadership teams in sync and working toward the same goals, drawing parallels between rowing teams and corporate leadership.
(33:18) Resilience in the Face of Adversity – Tim opens up about his personal health crisis and how the community he built in F3 supported him through his recovery.
About Our Guest:
Tim Whitmire is the co-founder of F3 Nation, a free men's workout group with the mission to plant, grow, and serve small workout groups for the invigoration of male community leadership. Co-author of Freed to Lead: F3 and the Unshackling of the Modern-day Warrior, Tim works with leadership teams to synchronize efforts and drive execution through his firm, CXN Advisory, and has successfully rebooted goal-setting frameworks at numerous companies.
Resources:
Tim Whitmire’s LinkedIn: Tim Whitmire
--> Be sure to take Tim up on his offer and book a free consultation at CXN Advisory if you’re looking to get your leadership team aligned!
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