#120: [Inside the Mind] Casey Jacox: Strength in Humility, Staying Curious, and the Endless ROI on Prioritizing Relationships

What if your ego is quietly costing you the very things you say you want—better numbers, deeper relationships, more freedom, and more fun on the golf course?

In this conversation, former all-time leading salesperson turned coach, author, and podcast host Casey Jacox joins me to unpack how humility, curiosity, and relationship-driven leadership can help you win in business, golf, and fatherhood—without burning yourself (or everyone around you) out.

We dig into the invisible pressure high performers feel to always do more, how easily we tie our worth to our results, and why so many men confuse anger and intensity with "high performance." 

Casey shares powerful stories from his football career, corporate life, and his journey as a dad and scratch-level golfer to show you a more sustainable way to compete and win.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to chase big goals without tying your self-worth to your numbers or handicap
• Why humility and relationships are your real competitive advantage in sales, business, and golf
• The difference between fear-driven and curiosity-driven behavior—and how to shift into curiosity
• Simple questions you can ask clients, teams, and yourself to uncover blind spots and ego traps
• How to "bench your ego" for 30 days and the measurable changes that will show up in your life and game
• The hidden pressure many dads carry—and how to protect presence with your kids without tanking your career
• Practical ways to use gratitude, curiosity, and "even though…" reframes to bounce back faster after setbacks on and off the course

Get your pencils ready and start listening. 

P.P.S. Curious to learn more about the results my clients are experiencing and what they say about working with me? Read more here.

More About Casey

Casey Jacox is an author, keynote speaker, executive coach, sales advisor, former collegiate quarterback, and the host of The Quarterback DadCast. After a 20-year career in corporate leadership—where he became the all-time leading salesperson at his company—Casey shifted his focus to helping leaders communicate more effectively, build stronger relationships, and lead with humility in business and at home.

He is the author of WIN the RELATIONSHIP, Not the DEAL, and is widely known for his work with elite athletes, high-performing executives, and entrepreneurial founders. Whether he's coaching CEOs, interviewing world-class performers, or sharing real stories of fatherhood, Casey blends honesty, vulnerability, resilience, and leadership in a way that challenges people to grow from the inside out.

Connect with Casey.

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High-Performance Hypnotherapy and Mindset Coaching

Paul Salter - known as The Golf Hypnotherapist - is a High-Performance Hypnotherapist and Mindset Coach who leverages hypnosis and powerful subconscious reprogramming techniques to help golfers of all ages and skill levels overcome the mental hazards of their minds so they can shoot lower scores and play to their potential.

He has over 16 years of coaching experience working with high performers in various industries, helping them get unstuck, out of their own way, and unlock their full potential.

Click here to learn more about how high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching can help you get out of your own way and play to your potential on (and off) the course. 

Instagram: @thegolfhypnotherapist 

Key Takeaways:

• Humility isn't weakness; it's how you stay grounded when success, money, and recognition start stacking up.
• Relationships are not transactions—treat them like a bank account and make consistent deposits before you ever ask for a withdrawal.
• Fear-driven behavior protects the ego; curiosity-driven behavior unlocks growth and deeper connection.
• The right questions at the right time are more powerful than the perfect pitch, speech, or pep talk.
• Benching your ego leads to better leadership, less stress, stronger teams, and more enjoyment on the golf course.
• Being a present dad often requires brave decisions about boundaries, time, and saying "no" to good opportunities.
• Golf is a mirror: how you respond to bad shots, slumps, and frustration reveals how you handle pressure everywhere else.

Key Quotes:

• "When you're great, other people will tell you. If you have to tell everyone how good you are, you're probably not that good."
• "People who treat relationships like transactions miss the bigger picture—you get back what you consistently deposit."
• "Fear-driven people are afraid to ask for help. Curiosity-driven people say, 'I don't know' and then do something about it."
• "It's not what you say that closes the deal or builds trust. It's what you ask."
• "The mind is the best tool in your golf bag—and only you have access to it."
• "Do you want to be right, or do you want to get what you want?"
• "I'm never going to regret choosing time with my kids over another business opportunity."

Time Stamps:

• 00:00: The Journey of Humility in Success
• 03:27: The Value of Relationships Over Transactions
• 05:25: Breaking Down Barriers to Vulnerability
• 09:00: Dismantling Ego and Embracing Help
• 12:18: The Power of Questions in Personal Growth
• 15:25: Letting Go of Ego for Measurable Improvements
• 18:50: Golf as a Mirror for Personal Development
• 24:40: Curiosity as a Catalyst for Growth
• 27:37: The Power of Mindset in Golf and Life
• 31:56: Navigating Fatherhood: The Invisible Pressures
• 36:31: Prioritizing Family Over Career
• 40:16: Messages for Life: Wisdom on a Billboard