Business Innovators Radio - Interview with Coach Billy Barnard

Episode Date: June 18, 2025

Billy Barnard – Coach | Creator | ConnectorBilly Barnard is a multi-passionate creator and coach with a love for sports, storytelling, and helping others grow. A lifelong athlete and recent graduate of the University of Southern Maine, Billy brings the discipline of competitive baseball and the creativity of digital media together in his work.Billy is currently exploring the world of video marketing, with a focus on producing promotional content and speaker introductions for events. His goal is to expand into athlete-focused media, including recruitment videos that showcase both skill and character.In addition to media work, Billy serves as the Junior Varsity Baseball Coach at Portland High School—his alma mater—where he helps develop young athletes both on and off the field. After playing baseball into his senior year of college, Billy’s journey continues through coaching, mentoring, and creating content that makes a difference.Whether he’s behind the camera or in the dugout, Billy leads with purpose, positivity, and a deep respect for the process of growth.If his story resonated—or if people are looking for someone to help bring their next creative, athletic, or promotional project to life—He’d love to connect. Whether it’s building powerful videos, coaching the next generation of athletes, or just having a real conversation about growth, purpose, and perseverance, Billy is here for it.Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saundershttps://businessinnovatorsradio.com/influential-entrepreneurs-with-mike-saunders/Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-coach-billy-barnard

Welcome to influential entrepreneurs, bringing you interviews with elite business leaders and experts, sharing tips and strategies for elevating your business to the next level. Here's your host, Mike Saunders. Hello and welcome to this episode of Influential Entrepreneurs. This is Mike Saunders, the authority positioning coach. Today we have with us, Coach Billy Barnard, and we'll be talking about his drive to success. Billy, welcome to the program. Hi, Mike. Thank you very much for having me. Hey, you're welcome.

So I know that any time we talk about a destination, you know, success, I'm confident that you do not think you have arrived. But, you know, at this moment of time, we're going to talk about a drive to success and some of the failures and obstacles you've overcome. But then, you know, as with anyone, we're looking at what's next and what's next to pass to that. So I'm excited to learn from your entrepreneurial journey. but get us started with kind of your story and what your journey has been like thus far in your entrepreneurial career yeah absolutely so my name's actually William Barnard I grew up in Portland Maine I still live there today I'm the youngest of four I have two brothers and a sister the middle ages are twins my brother and sister grew up with two parents who are teachers

very loving, very caring. They raised this right, and I know that because I can spend time with my siblings and not want to kill them. Yeah, they're awesome. But I grew up loving sports. Baseball was one of my favorites. I played baseball, basketball, soccer growing up. And then in high school, I decided to kind of go a different path. I also ran cross-country in middle school a little bit, but soccer was more of my thing.

the runner in me though was kind of from my mom's side because she was a huge runner she went to usm she set records there for track and she was always a running star um but anyway we get to high school and i decided to change up the winter sport and do the bath while i wanted to play hockey because i always grew up playing pawn hockey and um that was always a blast and i was like yeah i want to try the real thing. So I played two years of that and man, I don't regret it at all. In fact, I wish I played when I was younger. And so after my freshman and sophomore year in high school, I decided to just focus on baseball because I really wanted to play in college. So I played some travel ball in the summer. I worked, I worked my butt off and I tried to get to a skill level where college would

accept me and to play. One of my best buddies on my high school team was going to be kind of a crew to look at to play at USM, which was a local university here in Maine. And I went with them one day to one of their practices and the coach asked me on. He was like, oh, yeah, I knew you. I was like, yeah, I was about to come here and try out. He goes, oh, I could try out. So I went to try it out. I played for three or so years.

I didn't play much. I kind of sat the bench a lot. And then my senior year, I ended up getting cut because, he recruited a big class, a lot of skill, and I was one of the guys to let go. And that was a little, you know, down. And I was a part of my life where I kind of hit a little hiccup because that's, you know, it was a big part of my identity was baseball. And then after losing baseball, that very summer after that year, summer of 2022, my mom actually,

right before that fall that I got cut. My mom ended up getting diagnosed with cancer in June and ended up passing away in July. Wow. Hitting that pickup kind of took me a little bit. I was just finishing up school. I lost her going into my last year's school, and then I'd go to the fall baseball, I tried my best, you know, survived my last year there and end up getting cut. So those were like four or five months that two big things.

It's just, you think, you know, it's just two things. But it was two very big things to who I was. And that was, it was hard to kind of go through that, you know. Yeah, you know, you've mentioned a couple times here just in your intro about identity. You know, your baseball was your identity and you got cut. And then your family, mom, identity, it changes. You know, and it seems like the only thing constant in life is change. Well, when your identity is shaken, not destroyed, but shaken, that causes some, you know, hiccups in the way you view things.

So talk a little bit about how you moved through those identity pieces during this part of your journey. Yeah, absolutely. Well, I did not move through it at first. At first, it hit me like a wall and it kind of crushed me a little bit. And I made some more hiccups and more poor decisions. You know, there was one night where I just went out with some friends on a weekend and ended up going to my friends out later that night. And I decided to get on it like just a little kid like school. and, you know, I went and I fell off of it and absolutely demolished my face. I knocked out my front tooth. Absolutely scarred up my underneath my eye. I had super concussed. I walked, wandered down the road with absolutely no idea I was doing this and stumbled onto a guy's porch.

And then I got woken up my cops. And that's what I was doing there. And I had absolutely no clue what I had done. And I just had this moment of panic. And I was at the cops and saying, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. What have I done? And that feeling of not knowing something is terrifying.

And that was the ultimate love for me. I talked to the top. I talked to the man who owned the house and he usually apologized. Luckily, he was a very understanding man. He decided not to press charges. I was given just a court summons for criminal trespassing for going on his property.

And I had to go to court. I had to pay a fine and pay him some money to fix the paint that could I stop blood on his porch and knowing that that was now on me for the rest of my life, because that was now on my record, technically. Yeah, that was, I never, ever in my life would say that I would have any sort of record on me at all. And to know that I had done that after she had passed, when I got back home, I, I was just a shame.

I looked in the mirror and I was just asking myself over like he would be so disappointed. Like why did you do that? And having that talk with yourself can actually be extremely powerful because looking in that mirror at like my battered face and what I had done holding the court coming to my hand, I was just like, this will never happen again. I was like this like, like, you know, I was. will this will never ever happen again. And that thought didn't come obviously until later after just kind of beating myself up for it in my head as I was starting to heal. And so that mistake ended up leading into something even worse, which was me trying to get my first, you know, I just graduated. And it was me trying to get my first, you know, real job.

And my brother worked at an evaluation company. You know, he talks about his work all the time. And I find it super interesting. He gets a travel around the world. He's been to like Alaska and a bunch of cool places. And I was like, oh, that sounds amazing. But, yeah, there's some opportunities opening up. So I applied and interviewed and everything went great.

And they basically offered me a job. And then they had to do a background check in that incident, that one night. where I made the worst decision of my life to get on a scooter and not tell anyone that ended up, you know, they found that on the record, they asked me about it. I was honest with them about what happened, but they ended up with sending their offer. And it was tough getting that email, you know, like I had a chance of work for my brother else doing something that I was actually, you know, it sounded really cool and interested in it. And they literally gave me the author, but then took it away.

And, you know, it is what it is. I get it. I have nothing on them. I know I have to live with my mistake. But it was tough. So through some of those even preliminary, you know, hiccups, hurdles, poor decisions, what were some of the ways that you found yourself having resolved or faith to put one foot in front of the other? and just keep plowing ahead.

Yeah. I think it has a lot to do with my parents, honestly. Yeah. My dad's a huge. He's a mindset coach, and, you know, he was always talking about having a positive mindset and looking at those bright side of things

and, you know, a bunch of other things, of course, that through multiple talks with him, you could get him going for a while. But I think I was slowly able, over time, to just, you know, use some of those exercises and some of those things I learned from him, like falling my breath down and trying to think about the good memories with her instead of, you know, crying and beating myself up over the times that I might have yelled at her because I was upset.

And instead of beating myself up about those, I try to think about the good ones. And that was the first step is kind of going into my own head and sorting out what I really should be thinking about and what I should just start to like, you know, just let go and stop carrying the weight. And I remember the first time that I felt that too was during Christmas time. My mom loves Christmas. Like we're a huge Christmas family and we set up Christmas lights and we love the movies, the music, everything. And this was after she passed and after my phases started to heal, still no tooth. I actually just got my implanted tooth in about a month ago, and I went basically a year with no tooth. So the past year has just been, you know, that constant reminder, too, has been just like a struggle of dealing with my tongue and realizing like what I did. But it was Christmas time. Anyway, sorry, branched off there, but I was downstairs cleaning up my basement, listening to Christmas music on my Christmas playlist. And, um, I was finally able to, I was just thinking to myself about what happened in that night again.

And a song came on that I usually just skipped, but I just decided to listen to it. And it was the song that went like, all I want because this is my two front teeth. Oh, wow. Yeah. That meant something new to you at that point. And yeah, exactly. It meant something completely different. But I was finally able to, like, I listened to the song and I chuckled a little bit. And I was finally able to just like laugh it off. And when I, you know, the quote, laughter is the best medicine. And that I was always like, yes, laughter is amazing.

But it's never really like connected with me. And that quote and that way that's never really connected with me like so well before until that moment. And I was able to just laugh and just be like, dude, like you messed up, man. Like, what are you going to do? Like you're going to dwell on it for the rest of your life and just feel sorry. Like, no, you know, and being able to, and that's kind of what the last symbolized for me. It was just like, too, just right I go. Yeah.

So now move into what you're doing now serving clients or in your coaching practice. What does that look like? Yeah. So now, you know, I started working a little bit with my dad, you know, running a social media account. working with Ray, kind of learning how to build certain websites and certain platforms and how to schedule events and set up events. So all that, all the marketing that I've learned from him has been, oh, my God, like, absolutely insane, like absolutely outstanding.

And now I attended an event recently with my dad in Utah, which was like the speak, like a pro was sale in sales mastery event i'm pretty sure was in the name of it and it was it was amazing dan clark was there him and ray were the ones that ran it and oh it was it was amazing it was a great experience listening to dan speak is just insane he is the man like he his memory is crazy and so just being able to meet these guys and get to hear their stories i just feel so lucky and and to think that if I didn't make those mistakes and I you know if I got that job with my brother I might not I never would have met Dan or Ray and I never would have worked with my dad who needs my help and like you know like it's it's crazy and it that's another thing that just makes me chuckle sometimes because it's like wow like like that's like it all happens for a reason and I truly believe that so yeah 100 percent You know, are you thinking about how you work with people and teach them some of the lessons you've learned in your life? What are the types of problems you're solving for the people you're working with coaching and mentoring?

Yeah, you know, I deal with, you know, high schoolers. I coached J.B. Baseball. So I'm dealing with a lot of high school students. And, you know, they're just dealing with growing up and being a kid. and I'm 24 and I feel like I can still really connect with these guys and understand kind of what they're going through. And that's another reason why I am joining to speak like a pro community and, you know, having more meetings with Dan and Ray and get better at communicating and talking. Because if you can do that and share your personal life, which is a lesson that I've learned is if you can open up and accept your own mistakes and be able to share them with someone, that's super powerful. Like you'll be able to see that affect them, like literally physically, emotionally.

And so that's what I want to be able to do with my players so then they can open up to me. Because I think one of the keys to being a great coach is understanding the person before you understand the player. And I think that's what I can't remember who said that quote, but definitely wasn't me. But it's powerful, you know. And I think getting to know them by allowing them to understand the real you is the first key. And that's like a major lesson key thing that I've learned just recently. I wish I learned it soon. You know, I think it reminds me when you said that.

It reminds me of the old saying, you know, tell the truth because then you always know which direction to go. You're not having to cover your tracks because of that lie and that lie. Same with know who you are and be authentic and be transparent. If you try to be someone, you're not, then you're trying to act this way in front of one group and that way in front of another group. But I think that's such powerful advice to, number one, understand. And you mentioned that a lot of your successes attribute back to your parents, which is spectacular. But I will say this, you had to have made the decision to take that training and apply it to your life. So there was a double need there.

They gave you that foundation, but you had to make the decision to take it to heart and move forward. So I think being authentic, being transparent, very, very huge. What are some of those key attributes that you feel like people need to understand in addition to authenticity, transparency, so that they can move through struggles that they will face in their life? Yeah, absolutely. I think honesty is one of my big ones is, you know, a lot of times when people are going through things and, you know, mentally they're struggling, whatever it may be, they don't want to be honest with themselves about how they're truly feeling. And they don't want to be honest to others about how they're truly feeling. And so I think honesty is a big one because if you can be honest with yourself and then have that confidence to be honest with yourself 100% in front of other people,

Like, that's unrecognizable. Like, they will absolutely be able to just, like, be that because they're not used to it. And I totally believe that 100%. I think also passion, too, is a big attribute to have and show because it's just a trap, I think. Passion is just if you are passionate about something, especially as a coach, whatever you're coaching, you better sure as a heck be passionate. about it because your players and the people that you're trying to make better will be able to tell that if you're not passionate about it, then why should I know as a player? Yeah.

Like clearly this sport or this whatever, this instrument, whatever it may be, isn't like that cool or that awesome if you yourself was telling me how to play, it doesn't even look like you like it, you know what I mean? So I think passion and honesty are two major attributes to that on that. You know, and I agree with you 100%, and I think that those attributes are in such little supply in the world today that when someone does exhibit passion and honesty and enthusiasm and all of that, you stand out. And I think that then people are able to take a look at what you're passionate and enthusiastic about. And so it's just really interesting these days that society is. is seeming like it's just kind of on autopilot on coast.

So when we, whether, whatever your age, 15, 24, 34, 94, 94, when we do things that are different than the rest, we stand out in a good way. So I think those are great points. So think back, Billy, to some of these things you've mentioned in the past that have made you what you are today, some of those struggles. Would you do anything differently if you were given the chance? That's a great question.

because, I mean, looking back on that one night, you'd think, like, absolutely, if you could take that back. Like, why the heck wouldn't you? And I don't know. I think I would. I think I, I don't think I would. I don't think I'd change because I also just feel like, you know, that'd be like changing who I actually am. Because you don't get do-overs in life. So it's calling a do-over, and that's basically questioning your own self.

And, like, I decided to do that. I did it and like I had to learn from it and the lessons I learned from it and the things and people I've been able to meet and things like that that have happened to me since, you know, I think happened for a reason and have been far greater than that one fallback was, you know, it did, you know, it was the worst end of my life. But it led me to where I am today and that's somewhere that I like to do. I love it. I think that that's very wise.

mature because if you had not had that experience, you wouldn't have learned the lessons you learned now. And Ben is resolved and enthusiastic about those today. So now looking back at some of those lessons you've learned and persevered through, it's probably solidified your purpose. What I would ask is, what's the why behind your purpose? So the why behind my purpose is, I think right now, especially where I'm living, this is, you know, coaching wise.

And it's a, right now I haven't even mentioned that, but I forgot to mention that when I talked about the work I've done with my dad. But one of my favorite things I've been doing for him is editing videos.

And I've already edited some videos for some of the people that, you know, he's done a podcast episode with, they're done an event with. It's like an introduction video. And I, you know, already had some of them as clients

where I would make a video introducing them to events and things. And I really like that aspect of it. So that is, you know, I love this coaching and I love baseball, like more than anything. And this is also something that I think I could love doing as well. It's something that I would hope in the future to connect my video editing back to baseball in a way, but not just baseball, but just sports because, you know, I love sports. It's something that I will always love.

So, like, if that means, you know, eventually building my status there and making recruitment videos for athletes, or, you know, videos to go on YouTube that are like a video intro to the season for football game, I'm saying, something like that. I think that would be a blast. So when you say my purpose or is the drive beyond the purpose or the why behind the purpose, it's a little different for both, but for my, for coaching, the why is because it relates back to me. and how the experiences that I've gone through,

I really think, can change them. So I think as coaching the big why, why it's like I knew my own potential and I decided to slack off and not do the sort of things as an athlete that wants to compete should have done. And knowing that and knowing how much I love the sport and wanted to play it competitively

for as long as I possibly could, And, you know, there's tons of that, tons of athletes. Think about how many people actually go pro. Like tons of athletes that feel this way. And that's a big why for me because feeling that way sucks. Like I said, we talked about it. It's an identity for a lot of these, like, players. And my why is being I want to coach them and make them the best they can

and to help them push themselves because that's one thing that I felt like I didn't do is push myself. And I want to be able to be able to. put kids in the best position to do, you know, make their dreams come true. And also instill the skill that you need to have to deal with it when you don't or if you don't. Yeah. Because you need to be scared for that as well. So that's a huge why for me for the coaching. And videoing is a big why is because I enjoy it.

And I think in my videos that I would make, I think you'll be able to see that. Like, wow. All right, the guy that behind that camera and doing this work clearly loves. what he is doing knows how to do it well, loves his sport, and is a guy that I can count on. That's a big why for me is I want them to be, I want them to know me, know the guy behind the camera, know the guy that's doing the work for them so they can have full trust for me to do my job. And like I said, it's just fun. You know what I mean?

Like I think filming and editing videos of athletic teams eventually and recruitment videos maybe for players, which is a very rare thing right now, and I think it could be very big as making more in-depth, but cooler and engaging recruitment videos, I think would be really helpful for some of these kids that want to do the same thing as the kids that I coach, which is, you know, go somewhere and do something big

and achieve what their dreams are. You know, your conclusion there is so strong because it's all about giving and serving and building all. off of the lessons you've learned in the struggles you face. So it's so great to hear your drive to success, Billy. Thank you so much for coming on. It's been a real pleasure talking with you today.

Thank you very much for having me. It's been a pleasure talking with you too, Mike. Thank you. You've been listening to Influential Entrepreneurs with Mike Saunders. To learn more about the resources mentioned on today's show or listen to past episodes, visit www. EntrepreneursRadio.com.