EP 230 - Learn to Win with What You Got: Ted Nolan’s Unwritten Playbook for Life and Leadership
- Govindh Jayaraman
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 2
Learn to Win with What You Got: Ted Nolan’s Unwritten Playbook for Life and Leadership
In episode #230 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, we sit down with Ted Nolan—former NHL head coach, Jack Adams Award winner, and proud member of the Ojibwe Nation. Known not just for his coaching success but for the powerful presence he brings to every room, Ted shares the napkin that has guided him through every chapter of his life:
📝 "Learn to Win with What You Got."
Those seven words might be the most honest—and empowering—game plan you’ll ever hear.
Born and raised on the Garden River First Nation in Northern Ontario, Ted didn’t have access to elite hockey training, fancy equipment, or professional connections. What he had was heart, hustle, and unshakable cultural pride. And that, it turns out, was more than enough.
“I didn't come up through the coaching system the way most people did. I didn’t go to clinics or seminars,” Ted shared. “I got thrown into coaching, and I figured it out with what I had.”
This mindset—one of resourceful optimism—isn’t just about hockey. It’s about life. When Ted faced racism in professional sports, when he was overlooked despite success, when others questioned his methods—he went back to the napkin. Not because it told him what to do, but because it reminded him who he was.
“Winning doesn’t always mean the scoreboard. It’s about developing people. It’s about finding pride in who you are.”
One of the most powerful stories in the episode is about a time Ted was trying to teach systems as a rookie coach. A veteran player sketched a rink on a paper napkin and said: “In their end, we get the puck in the house. In our end, we keep it out. In the middle, we push it wide.” Simple. Effective. No need for buzzwords or whiteboards.
That lesson stuck. It wasn’t about what you don’t have—it was about how well you use what you do have.
Now, through the Ted Nolan Foundation, Ted helps Indigenous youth across Canada access education, opportunities, and the belief that they can do the same: win with what they’ve got.
5 Key Takeaways from Ted Nolan on Paper Napkin Wisdom
1. Play the Hand You're Dealt—Like a Champion
“I learned how to win with what I had. That’s all you can ever do.” You don’t need more to start. You need to start with what you’ve got.
💡 Take Action: Make a list of the strengths you already have. Double down on them this week instead of chasing what you don’t.
2. Don’t Just Coach for the Win—Coach for the Human
“I wasn’t coaching hockey players. I was coaching people.” Ted saw his players as whole people, not just athletes. His wins came from building trust, not tactics.
💡 Take Action: Pick one team member to connect with beyond the task. Ask what motivates them—and listen.
3. Cultural Roots Are a Source of Power, Not Limitation
“Being from Garden River wasn’t a disadvantage. It was my strength.” Ted’s Indigenous identity isn’t a side note—it’s central to his leadership style and story.
💡 Take Action: Reconnect with one cultural or family value that shaped you. How can you bring that into your leadership?
4. Simplicity Creates Clarity—and Results
“A napkin sketch taught me how to teach the game.” Forget the jargon. When you make things simple, people remember and act.
💡 Take Action: Identify one overly complex system in your business or life. Simplify it to its essential goal.
5. Legacy Is What You Lift in Others
“I want every Indigenous kid to know they’re enough. That they can win, too.” From scholarships to mentoring, Ted’s life now is about passing the napkin forward.
💡 Take Action: Share a lesson from your life with someone who needs it. Don’t wait to be perfect—just be real.
Ted Nolan’s wisdom reminds us that success doesn’t require perfection—it requires presence. It’s not about what’s missing, it’s about seeing clearly what’s already in your hands and making it matter.
📝 What do you already have that you’ve been overlooking? Write your answer on a napkin and post it with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom.
Learn more about Ted Nolan’s work:
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