SEASON: 6 EPISODE: 2

Episode Overview:

Welcome back to Becoming Preferred, the podcast dedicated to uncovering the strategies that make entrepreneurs and professionals the emotional favorite in the markets they serve.

Today, we’re shifting our focus from the boardroom to the hockey rink, but the lessons remain intensely relevant. Our guest today is Allan Kreda, a seasoned journalist with nearly two decades covering finance and the NHL for giants like the Associated Press, the New York Times and Bloomberg News. Allan has mastered the art of extracting the core truth, whether from a quarterly earnings report or a locker room.

He’s here to talk about his latest project: the book, Ken Morrow: Miracle Gold, Four Stanley Cups, and a Lifetime of Islanders Hockey. Morrow is one of the most uniquely accomplished athletes in history, winning the Olympic 'Miracle on Ice' gold, and the Stanley Cup in the same year.

We aren't here just for hockey stories, though. Allan's journey from investigative journalist to co-author provides a blueprint for every professional. Join me for my conversation with Allan Kreda.

Guest Bio:

Allan is a storyteller, author, and speaker who deeply values empathy and connection. Specializing in biographical storytelling, he seeks to ask the right questions and attentively listen to his subjects in order to craft accurate and heartfelt stories that honor their experiences.

Growing up in Brooklyn in the 70s, Allan developed a strong passion for hockey. He fondly recalls attending New York Rangers games with his father and brother, witnessing legendary players like Jean Ratelle, Vic Hadfield, and Rod Gilbert taking the ice. This formative experience instilled in him a lifelong love for the sport and a commitment to sharing the stories of those who have dedicated their lives to the game.

Resource Links:

• Website: https://www.allankreda.com/
• Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Ken-Morrow-Miracle-Lifetime-Islanders/dp/1637276435

03:27 The professor at the time said, well, you've got to do something in the real world

04:51 I've always been about the long game, like long process, practice and process and incremental progress

07:58  What was the core compelling narrative gap that you identified that made this book a necessary project?

10:50  All he did is work at it, and quietly excel

11:22 That was 1980 with the Miracle on Ice

13:55  Memories vary

16:45  You can get involved with that story and then the lessons are learned

18:39  They might not always like it, but they can trust it

21:03 There's no limit to research

22:42 You started by listening, not interviewing

26:50  You kind of know when you have it, and you know when you don't quite have it

29:32 She was going through it with a different eye

31:30  If you're working with someone at a publishing house that's working with you, you're 80% there

32:06  It's like the endless term paper that never ends

34:44  Playing through pain, uncomplaining, and for the team

36:07  Always turning the page, always looking to the next game, thinking long term, not fearing losing

40:24  The perseverance sort of creates moments of happenstance

40:38  True success is really defined by compound persistence and consistency

41:17 The book is called Ken Morrow: Miracle Gold, Four Stanley Cups and a Lifetime of Islander Hockey

Connect Socially:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allan-kreda-6a73942/

X: https://x.com/akreda

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajkreda

Email: [email protected]

Sponsors:

Rainmaker LeadGen Platform Demo: https://bookme.michaelvickers.com/lite/rainmaker-leadgen-platform-demo

Rainmaker Digital Solutions: https://www.rainmakerdigitalsolutions.com/