Episode 78: Interview with Alex Fichera, Author of The Business Athlete

What can professional sports teach us about leadership, performance, and handling pressure at work? In this episode of the Smart Publishing Impact Series, Jonathan and Renee Lautermilch welcome Alex Fichera, former professional soccer player, leadership coach, and founder of Intuito Group. Alex shares how his experiences in sports, business, and anthropology shaped his work helping leaders perform with greater confidence and consistency.

Alex explains why leadership often comes down to applying what we already know when the pressure is on. Many professionals understand communication, delegation, and decision-making, yet struggle to access those skills in demanding moments. Drawing from athletic training, he introduces the principle of “doing your drills”: building everyday habits through practice, repetition, and reflection so the right responses become easier to reach when they matter.

The conversation explores Alex’s companion workbook, designed to help readers put The Business Athlete into action. He describes it as a practical operating system for leadership, guiding users through assessment, practice, application, review, and adjustment. By focusing on energy management and reducing distractions, the workbook helps leaders develop a repeatable process they can continue using and adapt over time.

Jonathan, Renee, and Alex also discuss how leadership may evolve as AI becomes more integrated into the workplace. Alex believes people remain central to how technology is used—and that communication, self-awareness, and human connection will become even more important. Whether you lead a team, run a business, or want to strengthen your own performance, this episode reminds us that lasting growth comes from consistent practice and the willingness to keep developing.

What You'll Hear

• How Alex’s professional soccer career shaped his approach to leadership and coaching

• Why people can know leadership skills but struggle to use them under pressure

• The “do your drills” principle and how small daily practices build confidence

• Why leaders benefit from a repeatable system for assessing, practicing, and reviewing performance

• How Alex’s workbook turns The Business Athlete into practical exercises

• The connection between energy management, distractions, and performance

• Alex’s perspective on leadership, human connection, and AI in the workplace

• How stronger communication skills can help people use AI more effectively

Quote to Remember
“It's the little things that matter.”

Guest Featured in This Episode

Alex Fichera is a former professional soccer player, business leader, and coach whose work brings together sports, organizational development, and human behavior. As founder of Intuito Group, he helps leaders and teams strengthen performance, communication, and their ability to navigate pressure.

Alex is the author of The Business Athlete and its companion workbook, a practical leadership training system built around consistent habits, reflection, and real-world application.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Book:The Business Athlete

• Companion workbook: A practical leadership operating system

• Company: Intuito Group

• Workbook waitlist: book.intuitogroup.com

• Digital workbook release: December 8, 2026, on Amazon

• Launch offer: 99-cent digital edition on release day; Alex also plans to provide a fillable PDF to qualifying launch-day purchasers

Join the waitlist today for exclusive launch updates and the opportunity to purchase The Business Athlete for less than $1 on launch day. This special pricing is available for one day only.

👉https://book.intuitogroup.com/waitlist

Key Takeaway

Leadership growth requires practice. Build small, repeatable habits that help you access your skills under pressure, review how you're doing, and make adjustments. Over time, those daily “drills” can become the foundation for stronger performance and confidence.