Podcast Summary: Earn the Right to Live Your Dreams

Episode 08: Interview: Scott Grant on Adding CRAZY Value to People

Host: Dr. Coyte Cooper
Guest: Scott Grant, university professor, academic success coach, award-winning educator
Date: December 8, 2015

Episode Overview

In this energizing episode, Dr. Coyte Cooper sits down with Scott Grant—Assistant Professor in Sport Business at the University of Findlay, academic success coach, and recipient of the university's prestigious Old Main Award. The conversation explores Scott's educational philosophy, his approach to adding "crazy" value to those around him, and the habits and perspectives that fuel his passion and energy. Listeners get a deeply personal look at how Scott's background, mindset, and intentional actions drive him to empower others and live his own dream of positively impacting students and peers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Fulfillment of Impact and Giving Back

• Scott’s most valued accomplishment: It's the students who return to mentor and connect with current students that bring him the most pride (01:44).
  • Quote: “...the ones that have gone out and they've gone through the process and now they're willing to come back and share their story and be mentors and support systems—that by far has been the absolute best thing about my job.” — Scott (01:44)
• The honor of receiving the Old Main Award and what it means to Scott, including the emotional experience of being recognized by peers and mentors (02:54).

2. The Roots of a Service-First Mindset

• Influence from family: Both parents were educators, creating a home life centered on helping others (04:54).
• Key moment: A memorable 8th-grade teacher, Mr. Todd Graham, inspired Scott’s love for teaching with creative energy—even jumping on desks to teach (05:59).
  • Memorable moment: “He jumped on top of his desk and pulled a bow and arrow back ... and I was like, I want to do that. That's awesome.” — Scott (06:01)

3. Educational Philosophy: Caring, Engagement & Ownership

• Core belief: Students engage most when they genuinely feel cared for (06:56).
  • Quote: “People never...they don't usually listen to what you tell them unless they truly feel as if they care about you.” — Scott (06:56)
• Student-centered classroom: Grants ownership to students, encourages engagement, and aims for a classroom atmosphere students want to attend (07:53).

4. Building a Lasting Legacy

• Brand & legacy: Wants every student to remember him as an advocate, someone who will always help them seek opportunities, even if it means breaking the mold (08:12).
• Passing it forward: “You're gonna remember this, and you're going to use this to add value to other people when you walk out that door. That is the number one most important thing to me...” — Scott (08:34)

5. Sustaining High Energy and Positivity

• Natural energy plus intention: While naturally upbeat, Scott deliberately “chooses” to be an “energy giver” rather than an “energy sucker” (09:34).
  • Notable quote: “I read an article ... about your personal force field and whether you were an energy giver or an energy sucker. And I’ve always consciously tried to be a person that…people...walk away from me ... better than when they first showed up.” — Scott (09:34)
• Emphasizes gratitude, even through challenges like sleep deprivation with newborn twins: “There are nights where I get 45 minutes of sleep, but I am beyond blessed...” (10:29).
• His mother’s advice shapes his daily perspective: “Scott, you get one December 4, 2015, in your life. This is the one shot you get at this day. When it’s over, it’s done...” — (11:29)

6. Networking and Adding Value in Relationships

• Proactive networking: Scott shares stories of reaching out to admired professionals, even during personal vacations (12:53).
• Teaching networking: Encourages students to step out of their comfort zones; only a small fraction actually follow up after being given opportunities (14:59).
  • Story: On an external class trip, a professional gave out his card to over 1,000 students; only three followed up (15:36).
  • Insight: “People are willing to help if you approach it in the right manner and you’re willing to do the legwork.” — Scott (15:56)
  • Memorable moment: Forcing a student to start a conversation cold at a networking event—“You can do this!” (16:36)

7. The Most Important Lesson for Students

• Message: Every student is capable of making a significant contribution if they push past doubt and find support (17:24).
  • Quote: “At the end of the day, they're all sincerely, sincerely capable of making an unbelievable contribution to whatever environment they want to be in.” — Scott (17:29)
• Encourages students to “get after it” and believe “no is not an answer anymore...” (18:05)

8. Dreams and the Future of Education

• Personal dream: To help build a more individualized, student-focused educational system for when his own children reach college (19:07).
  • Quote: “I want to be able to create an environment within the educational system where it's 100% student focused, where it's, you know, kids come in, they explore their passions and they go after it.” — Scott (19:24)

9. Advice for Living an Amazing Life

• Fundamental principle: Find and lose yourself in the service of others; adding value is the pathway to discovering your purpose (21:09).
  • Quote: “The most important thing we can ever teach our kids and anyone around us is to find ourselves getting lost in the service of others.” — Scott (21:17)
  • This is a guiding mantra, hanging above Scott’s computer as a daily reminder (21:17).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• “That by far has been the absolute best thing about my job.” — Scott Grant, on students returning as mentors (01:44)
• “He jumped on top of his desk and pulled a bow and arrow back ... and I was like, I want to do that. That's awesome.” — Scott (06:01)
• “People never...they don't usually listen to what you tell them unless they truly feel as if they care about you.” — Scott (06:56)
• “You're gonna remember this, and you're going to use this to add value to other people when you walk out that door." — Scott (08:34)
• “I've always consciously tried to be a person that...they walk away from me...better than when they first showed up.” — Scott (09:36)
• “Scott, you get one December 4, 2015, in your life... You can make it the absolute best with the positive attitude, or you can kind of float through it.” — Scott quoting his mom (11:29)
• Networking lesson: “Three out of all of those people... only three contacted me.” — Corporate partnership tour host via Scott (15:36)
• “At the end of the day, they're all sincerely, sincerely capable of making an unbelievable contribution...” — Scott (17:29)
• “The most important thing we can ever teach...is to find ourselves getting lost in the service of others.” — Scott (21:17)

Important Timestamps

• [01:44] - Most valued accomplishment: former students giving back
• [02:54] - Scott on winning the Old Main Award
• [04:54] - Influence of parents and mentors
• [06:56] - Educational philosophy: engagement and student ownership
• [08:12] - On legacy and personal brand
• [09:34] - Being an “energy giver” and positive force
• [11:29] - Choosing daily positivity and gratefulness
• [12:53] - Networking mindset and strategies
• [15:36] - The importance (and rarity) of following up
• [17:24] - The one lesson he wants students to take
• [19:07] - Scott’s personal and professional dream
• [21:09] - Final advice: serve others to find fulfillment

Tone & Style

The episode is marked by a passionate, uplifting, and candid tone set by both Dr. Cooper and Scott Grant. Scott’s energy, authentic care for others, and practical wisdom come through continually, as does his humor and relatability—especially in stories about standing on desks, fostering student ownership, and teaching by example.

Bottom Line: Takeaways for Listeners

• Impact is the best reward: The relationships you build and the ability to give back outpace any other accolade.
• Energy and attitude are choices: Bring intentional positivity and you’ll shape your environment.
• Don't be afraid to reach out: The “worst case” is often nothing to lose; most people are willing to help if you offer value and initiative.
• Students (and everyone) need encouragement: Push beyond comfort zones and know your contribution can be extraordinary.
• Find yourself in service: Living for others leads to discovering your own “why”—and living your dreams.

This episode will leave you inspired to approach your work, relationships, and dreams with more intention, positivity, and service to others.