Assignment, Alignment, and Adjustment: Leadership Lessons from the NFL with Alex Molden
In this powerful episode of The Inspiration Podcast, host Stan Gibson sits down with Alex Molden — former first-round NFL draft pick, speaker, author, and leadership coach — to talk about life beyond the field, discovering identity after success, and how to lead with influence and integrity.
Alex’s story is one of grit, humility, and transformation. From being the #11 overall draft pick in the 1996 NFL Draft to facing career-ending injuries, he learned firsthand that even at the top, your job is never truly secure. Through the highs of playing for the Saints and Chargers to the humbling moments of rebuilding life after football, Alex discovered that true leadership is not about fame or titles — it’s about influence, self-awareness, and consistency.
He shares how one mentor taught him the three principles that changed everything:
➡️ Assignment — Know your role and the roles of those around you.
➡️ Alignment — Position yourself precisely for success — in life, relationships, and work.
➡️ Adjustment — Be ready to adapt when things don’t go as planned.
These lessons not only helped him excel on the field but also shaped his approach to leadership, parenting, and coaching others. Alex opens up about a painful post-NFL job interview that brought him to tears — a moment that forced him to ask, “Who am I without football?” That awakening led to years of personal growth and the creation of his book, “Breaking on the Ball of Life.”
Whether you’re leading a business, a team, or a family, this episode will inspire you to build your own framework for success — one grounded in awareness, purpose, and character.
“When you have something of value, you don’t need to dress it up. You already shine.” — Alex Molden
Links:
FREE GIFTS FOR LEADERS: https://leadwithstan.com
MORE INFO: https://www.stangibsonspeaks.com
Guest Links:
Episode Minute By Minute:
00:00 — Welcome and introduction to Alex Molden
02:00 — Being recruited by Oregon and the early college years
05:00 — Getting drafted and the transition to the NFL
07:00 — What free agency taught him about business and humility
09:00 — The hard truth: your job is never safe in professional sports
12:00 — Facing injury, doubt, and the business side of the NFL
14:00 — The “Assignment, Alignment, Adjustment” framework that changed his life
18:00 — Applying those lessons to leadership and coaching
22:00 — Writing Breaking on the Ball of Life and redefining success
26:00 — The humbling story that forced him to rediscover his identity
31:00 — Rebuilding faith, priorities, and alignment after football
33:00 — How he teaches leaders to stay grounded in values and purpose
37:00 — Coaching others through honesty, culture, and influence
41:00 — The Junior Seau “Rolex” story — a lesson in humility and value
46:00 — What present-day Alex would tell his younger self
48:00 — Understanding leadership as influence
49:00 — How to connect with Alex Molden and learn more about his work