Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
On The Standard podcast, host Raymond Hall interviews former WNBA and European basketball star Kym Hampton about leadership, mindset, and sustaining excellence. Hampton describes her core identity as living consciously and truthfully, grounded in kindness and how she treats people. She discusses overcoming limiting beliefs rooted in childhood stage fear, building confidence through rapid athletic success in high school, and realizing professional opportunities through USA teams in college. She highlights the political nature of women’s basketball, the sacrifices required (time, relationships, holidays, and playing overseas), and the importance of consistency, professionalism, and integrity. The conversation explores leadership under pressure as choosing unity over division, mental health through boundaries and managing thoughts, identity after abrupt retirement, and saying yes to evolving opportunities in singing, modeling, and acting. Hampton closes with advice to her younger self on grace, effort, and self-worth, defining “the standard” as personal honesty, discipline, and accountability.
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:33 Living Your Truth
03:11 Kindness as Core
03:42 Breaking Limiting Beliefs
06:36 Believing You Can Win
08:07 Mentors Who Shape You
11:53 Politics of the Game
13:35 Sacrifices Behind Success
16:52 Consistency Through Struggle
19:49 Habits and Discipline
23:29 Leadership Under Pressure
26:09 Born or Made Leaders
27:50 Choosing Role Models Wisely
30:45 Workplace Mental Health
34:54 Gratitude And Boundaries
37:37 Morning Mindset Rituals
38:45 Identity After Transition
42:16 Building New Careers
45:11 Betting On Yourself
47:06 Truth Tellers And Mentors
50:00 Executive Presence Signals
53:20 Letter To Younger Self
57:38 Defining The Standard
59:29 Closing Thanks And Takeaways
Creators and Guests
Host
What is The Standard?
Where leadership, wellness, and high performance come together.
What does it actually take to become the standard of excellence in leadership and life?
The Standard is a leadership and personal development program from Aurelius Global LLC, created for executives, athletes, veterans, students, and emerging leaders who want practical guidance they can apply immediately. Hosted by a decorated military veteran and global CHRO, Raymond Hall, the show blends real-world leadership experience with conversations about wellness, resilience, and high performance.
Each episode delivers actionable insight drawn from real people with operational leadership and executive experience, sharing their personal stories and lessons learned from leading high-performing teams around the world.
Whether you’re stepping into leadership, navigating career transitions, or working to grow without sacrificing your health, The Standard is designed to be the voice you return to when it matters most.
Because excellence isn’t theoretical, it’s practiced.
[00:00:00] Speaker: Leadership is in theory, it's practice. Welcome to the standard, the podcast where leadership, wellness, and excellence come together to help you grow into the leader you're meant to be.
[00:00:18] Raymond Hall: I'm your host, Raymond Hall, and welcome back to the standard where we don't just talk about success, we talk about what it actually costs to become the person who can sustain it. If this is your first time here, this isn't surface level conversation. We get into the mindset, the discipline, and the decisions that shape who people really are long before anyone's watching and long before the spotlight phase.
And today we've got someone who lives that. Today's guest is a champion, a professional athlete, a performer, a leader, but titles don't tell the story. What matters is the standard behind them because people don't reach that level by accident, and they don't stay there without becoming someone different along the way.
So today isn't about the resume, it's about the mindset, the discipline, the decisions that built it. So Kim, let's start there. When you strip everything else away, who is Kim Hampton and not the version people See, the version you have to answer to when you look in the mirror.
[00:01:22] Kym Hampton: Hmm. I would have to say that. Um. I'm someone who is definitely more committed to like just being more conscious, um, committed to living my truth. Um, and I would have to say, um, someone who's willing to challenge my old beliefs and, um, and just to, I don't know, just someone who's, um, I'm just committed to being real and just being real for me, like what that means for me at this point in my life.
Um, you know, like a lot of times I think when you're younger, you have a tendency to settle for what we think is expected or what we think looks like success or what we think we want in life. But, um, I'm just more committed now to really finding what it is that I truly like, what I'm passionate about, um, and what and the things that I want to do.
So.
[00:02:23] Raymond Hall: No. Awesome. You know, I was thinking about the same thing someone asked me the other day about your core in terms of, of who you are. And as we go through our careers and we, we, we go through leadership training, we have different experiences. You know, there's a lot of things that we tend to take on that tend to build us out, you know, as leaders and as people.
Um, but we still have the core. So when you think about it and your identity, um, what hasn't changed about you no matter how much success you've had? I,
[00:02:59] Kym Hampton: definitely the way I treat people, the way I make people feel. Um, that hasn't changed. Um, I'm just gonna always be the same. I don't care how much money or power, um, fame that you have. I think just treating people kindly is just one of the best things that you could ever do for a person. So that'll never change.
[00:03:20] Raymond Hall: okay. Now, did you have anything that as you were along your journey, that you realized was probably holding you back that had to go?
[00:03:31] Kym Hampton: Oh, definitely. Um, I would have to say old limiting thoughts and beliefs. Um, I guess real time, just to tell a real story, um, before I even became an athlete, when I was, I'm talking about five or six, I really love to sing and, you know, the adults in my life would, you know, say, have you heard Kim sing? Like Kim can really sing?
And, and um, I remember I did some kind of play, it was a school play or something and um, I got stuck out stage. Um, the curtain was supposed to close behind us after we curt seeded, you know, and things. And I got stuck out front on stage and I was by myself. And so I was like, when I realized I was by myself, I was kinda like, ah. You know, and I was like, oh my God. And then when the parents and everyone saw my face, they were like, you know, they kind of started chuckling, you know, but chuckling, kind of like, Aw, it's so cute. You know, she's, she got, you know, but I turned around immediately and started trying to find the entrance to the curtain.
But, you know, that day it just, it, it, it just kind of created a moment of belief in my life that being in the spotlight, being on stage wasn't a safe place. Um, so, you know, just having to, as I've moved on in life, you know, I became a star athlete and, you know, that spotlight belief, that fear definitely even spilled over into that.
So I would definitely say just learning to, um, limit old beliefs and just unpack them and, and find any truth or dismantle the dis the non-truth in it, so.
[00:05:05] Raymond Hall: Yeah, thanks for providing an example, um, that that's what this show is all about. You know, these real time examples where people can really understand.
[00:05:13] Kym Hampton: Mm-hmm.
[00:05:14] Raymond Hall: Particularly what people see is the outcome. They just, they don't see the journey. They don't understand some of the experiences. They just see the finished product.
And I certainly can relate to you. One of the things that I have struggled with, you know, as an executive, you know, at some of the world's largest firms, is sometimes, to be quite honest, you, I'm the only one in the room who look like me. Mm-hmm. And so there's a lot that goes, you know, into that. And so you do have these moments where you start to question, you start to seek different pathways to show that you belong and you know, and all of those things.
But it was something that a mentor of mine, and I do believe in mentorship and we'll talk about that, um, here in just a bit. But it's one of those things that helped me get past that because it wasn't the environment holding me back. It wasn't people holding me back. It was some of those beliefs that I've had even about myself that I had to get past that was holding me back.
So thanks for sharing that.
[00:06:11] Kym Hampton: hmm. And thank you for sharing that. Yeah,
[00:06:14] Raymond Hall: So Kim, at what point, when you start looking at that journey to being a professional athlete did you really believe that, you know, okay, this is real. I really can become that. So it wasn't hope, it wasn't, I think you were certain in your mind that, yeah, I can do this.
[00:06:35] Kym Hampton: it's, it would be my freshman year of high school. That's when I became an athlete. That's when I started participating in sports. And, um, I was, I started out playing JV as a freshman, but at the end, by the end of the year I was being double and triple team because I was a fast learner. And then at the end of, um.
Um, basketball season, the track coach asked if I would throw the shot put, and I threw the shot put, and I won the state championship as a freshman. So it was then my freshman year, but I would have to say that I solidified it my sophomore year because during the summer I became, um, a lifeguard. And so I played in the park all summer long with the boys.
So when I came back, I only dressed jv, I mean dressed varsity my freshman year. But when I came back from, for my sophomore year I was starting varsity averaging 16 and 10, and I knew I was gonna go to college. So yeah. And that's when I just really started to believe in myself and just, and things started to make sense and click, because as a freshman, I mean, I was like six feet tall, have a seven foot wingspan, you know, and everything.
It just wasn't making sense, you know? So,
[00:07:45] Raymond Hall: So, so I wanna step back to something you mentioned the coach. Um, and when you start thinking about people who have invested or leaned to us, leaned into us early, you know, in these journeys, was there anybody specific that poured into you early, long before the world saw what was coming?
[00:08:07] Kym Hampton: Yeah, I would have to say it was, of course my family always believed in us all. But it was one particular, um, one teacher in particular, she was my fifth grade teacher. Her name was Ms. Thicken, and I know she was about six feet tall. Um, and she would always say to me, stand up straight. Stand up. You beautiful.
Stand up straight. You know? And she is one of those teachers um, and she always just. You know, said things to me every day. You're beautiful. Act like it. It's being tall is a privilege. Um, you know, God didn't make mistake. I make a mistake. When he made you, he made you tall for a reason. Look me and you the only two tall people in this room, you know, act like it.
And so she was the one that was really, um forceful with, um, having me to reevaluate how I, I saw myself because being tall as a kid, you know, kids are mean. You know, I got all the tall jokes, of course, jolly Green Giant, and you know, just all the tall stuff. But you know, and it used to kind of, and she saw that it used to kind of make me feel really timid and make me feel bad and, you know, and everything.
So she would get all the students a lot. So she was really my ally then. Yeah.
[00:09:16] Raymond Hall: No, that, that's good. You know, my grandfather, um, was mine often tell this story especially growing up farming community, Eastern North Carolina, um, and, you know, you're in, in sports. We're competing against some of these larger, larger cities and doubt starts to creep in. And he used to just tell me, he's like, look, there are only two important days in a person's life, the day they were born and the day they realized they were born.
Um, and that's something that has always stuck with me when I get in those moments where doubt starts to creep in and, you know, start to get a little uncertain about the path I'm going on and, and those sort of things because that, that certainty isn't there. It always anchors me back to my purpose, and that's always made me feel a little bit better in terms of where I'm going next.
So thanks for sharing that.
you talked about when you became certain in terms of it wasn't just a dream, it wasn't, I think I can get there. Um, and when it started to feel real, you know, to you, um, was there a specific moment or was there anything, any special event that happened that you saw? Yeah, this is in reach now.
[00:10:31] Kym Hampton: I would probably say when I was in college, um, I got an opportunity to to play on some, you know, like USA teams like, um. And I would say then I, I remember we went to Taipei, Taiwan, and I found out that there was professional basketball abroad for women. And so I then kind of set my goals on that and not kind of, I set my goals on that.
I knew that I wanted to go abroad and continue to play but it was, it was college when I realized I can definitely do this.
[00:11:09] Raymond Hall: Okay. So that's interesting. And I really wanna notice, because I can only imagine the the esteem that comes from that. There probably is a little bit of excitement in terms of being able to do something that many of your peers weren't invited to do when you start talking about USA basketball and all that kind of stuff.
Um. But did it raise the pressure on you? Do you feel the need to, to do more? Um, how did it feel in that moment?
[00:11:40] Kym Hampton: I wouldn't say that it raised the pressure. It just, well, what I did find out, I'll say this, is I found out how political the game is, especially on the women's side. It's super political. Um, I learned very early on in college that I chose the wrong school.
I mean, I could have gone to UCLA or Tennessee. I could have, but when I went to, when I graduated from high school, miss basketball wasn't big. So I didn't know what school to go to. I didn't understand who, I didn't know who Pat Head Summit was. I was getting letters every single day. You know, they even had one of our football players talking to me 'cause he was going there to play football, you know, on our, from my high school.
You know, you should go, we could go there and, you know, tear it up, you know, and stuff. But I just, I wanted to get away and I didn't know. And I found that you really need to go to certain schools to really be seen. Um, if you notice and you look at the Olympic team, okay, now we have some pros in there, but.
Most of the people on the Olympic team are from like four or five schools, you know? And so, um, you know, I didn't understand that. And, and I think that was it. It wasn't pressure. I think it was more of kind of like a Oh wow, like, that's not fair. It kinda hurt a little bit, um, just to know that, eh, you're probably not going to, um, just because you know, other coaches, other people, you know, have more of a say.
So. I would say it was more of that.
[00:13:13] Raymond Hall: Okay. Okay, so earlier we talked about the finished product and when people look at it, um, I know there are a lot of women, you know, and men, boys and girls who look up to you in terms of what you've been able to achieve on the court. And they see that finished product, but I don't think they really understand the cost sometimes that, you know, people pay to get there.
And if they did, they probably wouldn't sign up if they truly understood it.
[00:13:42] Kym Hampton: Mm-hmm.
[00:13:43] Raymond Hall: So I guess my question for you is, you know, what were some of those things that you may have sacrificed, um, even personal along the way? Um.
[00:13:56] Kym Hampton: Um, it was, it's probably things like just having to be committed, um, to it. Um, having to sacrifice, hanging out with friends, having to sacrifice holidays and, um, having to just. Sacrifice time knowing, um, you know, you couldn't hang out because you had to get up and run because you were getting ready to, you know, the season was coming.
You had to be in shape, you had to do certain things. You, you know, you had to watch what you ate. Um, you know, it just, you had to make all kinds of sacrifices. And then when it came to the professional game, again, we had to play overseas. There was no professional basketball in America yet. And so it was just the sacrifice of family of time, the sacrifice of being in the United States of America, having to go abroad for 7, 8, 9 months out of the year just to, to play and do what it is that you love to do.
But, um, yeah, it was, it was those sacrifices, you know, I sacrificed relationships, you know, trying to have a long distance relationship and you're away for like eight or nine months. Yeah. You know, that's, that's kind of tough. Um, you know, so it was just, it was a lot.
[00:15:02] Raymond Hall: Was there ever a moment when you thought, you know, the cost of of getting there might outweigh what you were trying to achieve?
[00:15:11] Kym Hampton: no, No, there was never a moment. I mean, I looked at what it, you know, the things that I may have wanted to do, and I was like, that stuff is gonna always be there. Um, you know, me being able to live my dream to go to college on a scholarship and to get a free education to play basketball abroad and to travel the world, um, yeah, none, none of that stuff outweighed, no, it wasn't even close.
[00:15:35] Raymond Hall: Yeah. You know, I remember the sacrifices are real. Um, you know, I started in the military and you, you touched on something that kind of took me back to, you know, some of those early sacrifices, whether it be parent birthdays, children birthdays, different holidays, anniversaries, and things like that, that a little bit hard for you to be there with your family when you halfway around the world.
Um, but I think having the support of my mom, I, I'll tell you, one of the things that she would always say when there was an opportunity. It was more like, do you, like, you've worked hard you deserve it. You need to go ahead and be the very best that you can be. And that gave me a little bit more relief that it's okay because you did feel some sort of guilt.
Not, you know, not being there and not being around. But I think having that support system, you know, in our lives is invaluable when it comes to us achieving what we want to achieve. So transition a little bit, Kim. Um, and I think no path is, is without its challenges. So when you think about some of the early struggles as you were on this journey, um, what are some early struggles, you know, people don't talk about.
[00:16:47] Kym Hampton: I would say maybe just the, as far as struggles, I think probably just consistently showing up every day, especially when you're not reaping the rewards or when you're not, when things aren't going smooth and you're not seeing the effort and the work that you're putting in and you're not seeing the commitment.
Um, I would, I would say those, those are some of the things because you struggle with, shall I keep going? You know, should I throw the towel in? Should I quit? Um, you know, but just the consistency to show up every day, um, until you get to the other side. Is is probably, you know, one of the struggles that, that people don't talk about, but it's real.
[00:17:32] Raymond Hall: Yeah, I, I agree. And, and then that comes down to a lot of things because it can be, you know, physical, it can be mental sometimes as you just mentioned, it can be emotional and sometimes it can be all three.
[00:17:44] Kym Hampton: Mm-hmm.
[00:17:45] Raymond Hall: And my, my old CEO used to say all the time, and I thought it may sound cliche, but you know, it's lonely at the, the top two.
Mm-hmm.
So Kim, can you take me to a specific day that, you know what, I don't wanna show up today. You know, it is hard. I'm tired. I may be a little bit frustrated, but you showed up anyway. Was there ever a moment where, where that happened to just kind of let us know what you were doing?
[00:18:16] Kym Hampton: You know, for me it wasn't that I wouldn't ever show up. I mean, I wouldn't ever miss a workout. I mean, even when I was home for the summer, because we got the summer months off playing abroad. Um, I always did what I had to do as far as working out. Um, you know, but, but for me, I think it became especially as I became a pro, um, it became more about could I push myself to where I need to be or to where I wanna be.
Um. So, um, I would ha I, I hired a trainer, um, just to really push me, um, so that I could be where I would want, you know, where I wanted to be. 'cause it, it always mattered to me to show up my best. Um, yeah. But I never had that issue of like, oh, I don't feel like going to run today. You know, I don't care if I went out last night 'cause I'm home for the summer and, you know, it's the down season.
I won't say the off season, but the down season, but every morning I'll be getting up, running, you know, and stuff because I just didn't wanna, I just didn't wanna be, you know, you know what that's like trying to go back and, and all of a sudden now you're in training camp and you're having two a days and it's like, oh no.
[00:19:28] Raymond Hall: So, so that brings me to my next question, because I would imagine for you to reach the very top of your professional your profession as a basketball player, there were things that you did and you just talked about that discipline, um, that commitment, you know, to train even when you may not feel like getting up outta the bed, doing it.
You know, what do you do that others simply weren't willing to do? Because I would imagine that. You know, over time in your career, whether it was here in the WNBA or whether it was abroad in another country, in another league, that you saw people who were just as talented, but they weren't getting the same results.
So what were you doing others simply weren't willing to do?
[00:20:14] Kym Hampton: I mean, I don't. I really think I was doing anything too far out of the norm. I just tried to be consistent with the things that I needed to do. I know that I needed my conditioning, I needed to be at a certain level. Um, but other than that, and then I, I understood what it was, the commitment to be away or the commitment to sacrifice, and I think I just made peace with that.
So mentally, I think I was just in a, a good place that that just came, that comes with the territory. If you're gonna be a standout athlete and you're gonna do all of these things, it just comes with the territory. So it could be that, maybe just the mental space of, of learning how to navigate that and those waters and being good with it.
But I don't know. Everyone's situation is different.
[00:21:06] Raymond Hall: Mm-hmm. So when you think about the habits that you've created over time to help you along the way, um, were there any that you just said, you know what, I'm going to do these things every day and I'm going to protect them at all costs, regardless of what else is going on.
[00:21:26] Kym Hampton: Yeah, I think for me it was my, my professionalism and my integrity. It was like a couple of things. Um, I always showed up at practice and I did what I needed to do. Um, I was, you know, a good teammate. I was positive and then my integrity, I wasn't gonna be out, you know, doing things or if we were out of the country doing something, I'm not gonna do anything crazy.
And, um, just. You know, disrupt what was going on. So for me it was, it was a couple of habits that, you know, those were habits that I was gonna always have integrity and and I was always gonna be professional, um, to show up in a respectful manner, shall I say.
[00:22:07] Raymond Hall: Okay. I may ask you the question a little bit differently. Were there any habits you had to break?
[00:22:12] Kym Hampton: I knew I had to reel my, let's just say, reel myself back in, you know, and stuff like that. Breaking, you know maybe in the off season, hanging out too much going out, you know, and stuff. Definitely, you know, having a good time. Um, you know, you work hard, you play hard. Um, but it was just knowing when, okay, you have to cut things, you gotta shut that down.
Um, okay, no, no more going out and, you know, you shut down the drinking and, you know, and things like that. And it wasn't like, you know, it was always just like social drinks, social drinking. It wasn't like any heavy drinking, but anything that you're doing, um, you know, during the time that you're trying to get in shape, you know, and things like that.
It could, it could just be an annoyance, um, to you. So it was just, just knowing when, when it was time to shut everything down start eating better, eating right, not eating late at night and things like that. So I would just say, just reeling things in.
[00:23:07] Raymond Hall: Okay. Okay, Kim, I wanna talk to you a little bit about leadership. You know, under pressure you know how to pressure bus a pipe, right? Um. And we all experience as leaders when you're accountable for, you know, leading the team, regardless of, or irrespective of what environment you in, whether it's on the court or whether it's in the boardroom.
Um, what did pressure expose about your leadership? Was there ever a moment where, you know, people were looking at you for answers and you didn't have one? And what did you do? How did you handle it?
[00:23:39] Kym Hampton: the pressure made me realize that I had a, I had a couple of choices. Um, I could lead with Unity or division. Um. I could lead with self or, or put the team or the team's goals up front. So it just let me know that I had choices, and those choices that I made would greatly affect the team. And thank goodness I was always one of the people that, you know, I, I really believe in team and I feel like together we can accomplish more.
So I always led with thinking of others and, and making other people feel comfortable, making other people feel good. Um, and so, yeah, that pressure taught me that because. You know, I've seen other people lead in, in the other way, you know, where it was just more negative, pointing the finger at people and blaming people and never ever taking the blame.
So I just realized you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, you know? So you know, and then it just makes me feel good, um, to treat people well, and, and I think about how I would wanna be treated in that situation. Um, or I wouldn't want, I, I wanna be, I wanna treat people the way I'd like to be treated as well, so.
[00:24:55] Raymond Hall: Mm-hmm. No, this is good. You know, I'll give you some of my experience, you know, as executive, and I had to learn this over time. You know, I was initially started out, you know, I'm the leader and I have to have all the answers. Mm-hmm. Um, being there moments, especially when you're transitioning from industry to industry, nobody knows everything.
And what I found is what you just said, the power in teams and what people really want is to be valued, respected, and have an opportunity to contribute. And so involving people in the formation of the solution, you know, of the idea, has really helped me create an even more engaged team, a more high performing team, you know, as a result of it.
So that's some really good insight.
[00:25:39] Kym Hampton: Yeah, I definitely agree. People definitely wanna be seen, heard people wanna contribute, they wanna know that their contribution is valued. So
[00:25:47] Raymond Hall: Mm-hmm. So this whole, where are leaders born or are leaders made? What's your perspective on that? I mean, were you always a leader, you know, even as a little girl in Louisville, Kentucky, do you, was it something you grew into?
[00:26:06] Kym Hampton: I would say that I was always a leader, um, always a leader, but I feel that, um. You definitely get better at leadership and you learn a lot more about people as you get older and, and the more you opportunity you have to lead. But I, but my personality, like I'm one of those people where my friends and family, like I should have gone to the psychology and been a therapist.
Like for real, for real because, 'cause everyone comes to me with all of this. But I just try to take a a step back perspective and just be fair. Like, it might even be my sister, I'm just using this as an example, but if it was something that she did wrong, I'm not gonna say, I'm not gonna pump her up and make her feel right because you know, I'm gonna help her to see what's right and what's truth.
And that's just. Kind of how I've always been, like I've had friends who were bullies and they would, you know, go and, and now I'm talking in high school, make girls, bring them their lunch money, give it to 'em every single day, and, you know, and just stuff like that. And I was like, snatching the money back and giving it to 'em.
I said, don't ever do that again. You know, and I was just, just always that super hero type of person. Um, Yeah. It's just who I was and who I am. Yeah.
[00:27:29] Raymond Hall: Is there one particular leader that you have come across, um, in any of your. your. spaces, whether it be on the court, whether it's a singer or some of your other endeavors that really stuck you, as stuck to you as you know, that's a great leader. That's who I want to emulate.
[00:27:50] Kym Hampton: I think it's a lot of people I see. But I, and I see bits and pieces because number one, I think when we think of people, when we look at people, unless you actually live with them, you don't get a chance to see how they are like 24 7. You know? It's only the people, the close people that you can actually say, that's who I wanna emulate.
You know, because that means you getting the chance to see the good, the bad, the ugly and all of it. So, you know, that person, you could look at them in the boardroom and say, God, I wanna leave like that person. But they could go home and beat their wife every single day and, you know, be into child pornography and all kinds of stuff.
So you don't know. So, um, I think for me it was just taking bits and pieces, the things that I like. And you know, it's kind of like when they always say, you know, this, this is just food for thought. I'm just throwing it out. Take what you want, leave the rest. Um, I, you know, I think it was just certain things that.
I appreciate it from people. I took stuff from my grandmother. Um, I took stuff from some of my coaches, I took, you know, it's just different people throughout my life that I realized, um, wow. You know, that's, that's pretty prolific. I like that. Um, those are some of the things. Yeah.
[00:29:03] Raymond Hall: And I think that's what most, you know, our listeners. I hope that's one of the things that they, they take away from it is, is what you just described. My granddaddy used to say, you know, stop trying to be somebody else. You know, they're already taken. Be yourself. It doesn't mean that there aren't, you know, things that you can't take away from in terms of what people do.
You know really well. I used to be a little boy practice to Michael Jordan moves in my driveway. Obviously I ain't Michael Jordan neither. But I'm just saying there are things that we can take from others as we start to build out who we want to be, you know, as leaders, um, there are positives that we can take and there are also things that probably show us who we don't want to be, just like who we want to be, and just being conscious of that.
[00:29:50] Kym Hampton: Amen, brother.
[00:30:24] Raymond Hall: So one of the things that, you know, I want to touch on during our, our time together this morning, you know, we are hearing a lot about the importance of, of mental mental health.
[00:30:36] Kym Hampton: Mm-hmm.
[00:30:37] Raymond Hall: Particularly, I would say, when organizations start really paying attention to this, it was COVID, the COVID pandemic really started to help organizations understand, you know, how important it is to take care of the whole employee.
Not just, you know, coming to work, doing a job, getting paid for it, but the protection of that mental space or the emotional health is just as critical as doing some of the other things that are ancillary, like providing benefits and the things that we would do, you know, anyway. Mm-hmm. Um, so when you think about in your world and the work that you do, whether it is, you know, in the past on teams or whether it is, you know, in some of your business ventures, you know, today, um, what is your, your view on that?
Has it changed over time where you're seeing more of. More of a focus on this, or is it something that's probably not getting enough attention as it should?
[00:31:40] Kym Hampton: No, I definitely feel like it's a, it's an over, it's one of the hot topics. Yeah, definitely. That everyone is, and I think, and it, and it's in every industry, and I think too. Because of, um, you know, like the Me Too movements and a lot of the, the different movements that went on. It's a lot of whistle blowing and, and people aren't allowing themselves to be taken advantage of to be talked to any kinda way or to be pushed beyond what's reasonable.
Um, so I, I think it's, it's a true thing and I think it's something that just definitely needed to happen.
[00:32:25] Raymond Hall: I know there were moments in my career where, again, you, on one side you have this responsibility, you leading this, this global team.
Then you have these other storms that are happening on your personal life that people have no idea, nor do they really care either.
What they expect is that you show up every day, that you do your job, that you lead people, and you do it in a way where it's high performing. And I remember, you know, times where whether it was a loss of a parent or, you know, other things or events that were happening that really tested you. And it really brought on a lot of, a lot of pressure.
Um, and so one of the things that I found, you know, very useful is 'cause that pressure can, can start to feel really heavy. And when you're coming in every day, you know, you love your job, you love your role, but it can start to feel kind of heavy when you're trying to balance, you know, everything else. And you can't be everything to everybody either.
[00:33:26] Kym Hampton: Mm-hmm.
[00:33:27] Raymond Hall: So it was really important when you start talking about, you know, those relationships and, and really getting to know your leader, you know, versus saying, Hey, I want to emulate this person. You know, sometimes that person can be a good sounding board just for you to, um, talk about some stuff. And so, I think you're right.
I think organizations have started to put a little bit more focus on the mental health, just like they do the financial health and some of the other components of the employee. But I think this is one that as we start to see more programs in place. More apps, you know, more access to tools that people can use whenever they need them.
Um, we'll then start to have a, a richer workforce, one that's more capable, one that's highly engaged, um, because they do have those resources where maybe five, 10 years ago they were just non-existent, or maybe not non-existent, but they certainly weren't, um, as abundantly available as they are today.
[00:34:30] Kym Hampton: Yeah, I definitely, definitely agree. Um, and it is so needed. Um, you know, it is just so crazy. I think we've just evolved so much, um, like technology and I feel like one of man's biggest issues is not just setting boundaries and taking time to step back. Um. You know, just like how you start your day, the first thing people do is grab their phone in the morning, you know, as soon as they wake up, not take a few deep breaths and, you know, and just say some gratitude, you know, thank you for this new day.
You know, thank you that I have a job to go to. Thank you for this house that I live in or this space that I live in. Thank you. You know, for my children. Thank you for my spouse. Thank you. You know, just go into a barrage of, of, of gratitudes just to start your day, not just jumping up and immediately thinking about the things that you have to do.
Um, you know, and just jumping into the day and then you immediately start the autopilot thoughts again. You know, I hate going into my job, you know, and my boss is coming in today and you know, this, this, that, and I have to do this. And so I think that's just one of the biggest issues. We just don't know how to start our day and, you know, and then we don't know how to.
Stop the negative thoughts. You know, it's like, and when you think about a negative thought, like let's just take, for example, you could be driving down the street and somebody cut you off, you know, and you in your car blowing 'em off, you know, flipping birds and talking to 'em. You know, you saw me, I was coming out and you're talking, you know, and you saw me, you know, and then you happen to go in your sister's house, you know, and then you're like, man, this man came out in front of me.
Now you continue to tell the story. You keep it alive and keep it going. You know? That's the stress. And people don't, and we don't realize that every thought we have releases a chemical that supports that thought. So if it's negative, negative, negative, you know, we, we talk about why cancer and Alzheimer and all of these diseases are so rampant.
It's because, you know, we are like living in like gutter water, you know, from our thoughts, you know? And so it's just, I think we're not talking enough about. Helping people to think, right, and, and to stop the negative thoughts. Stop living in the past, stop projecting the future. You don't even know how it's gonna turn out, but you're already projecting bad thoughts on, you know, why your business isn't gonna work or why you're not gonna get the promotion or, and things like that.
So I think it's, that's where we probably need to focus more on
[00:37:10] Raymond Hall: I, I completely agree.
It takes. Yeah, I, I agree with you. And it's all about, you know, what we were talking about earlier too, and what this podcast is all about, the mindset, right? Um, 'cause I believe that when you wake up in the morning, um, your first actions will determine the rest of your day. You know, some people will do what you said, they will grab that iPhone or Android or whatever device they have immediately start scrolling through the emails.
So regardless of what the e you know, depending on what the email was, it might be a good day for you. Or it could already start you down a path where you're just firefighting all day. You know, versus this, what I do and what works for me may not work for everybody else. The very first thing I do is I pray, and that kind of sets my, my day,
[00:37:59] Kym Hampton: Mm-hmm.
[00:38:00] Raymond Hall: you know, and, you know, texting to people that you love, hope you have a nice day.
And then I get into the other aspects, um, more from a, a professional, you know, basis. But it, it, what I've learned over time is. That kind of sets the tone, you know, for my day in more of a positive way versus getting spin out over an email that somebody might have sent you at one o'clock in the morning when they know you were sleeping.
[00:38:22] Kym Hampton: Yeah. That is so, so true.
[00:38:24] Raymond Hall: So, Kim, when you think about, um, beyond the game, and, and I see this a lot, whether you're talking about, um, you know, military personnel that are, um, entering retirement, you know, for the last 20 years they were used to this certain tempo, you know, every day just coming in and doing what they do, and now the game slows down.
And a lot of athletes, a lot of soldiers, a lot of corporate executives, they struggle with identity. You know, when that happens. So can you talk to the audience about how do you evolve without losing who you are?
[00:39:07] Kym Hampton: Wow. How do you evolve? I think first and foremost what we have to really say to ourselves while we're in the moment, in the moment, whether you're an executive in the moment, whether you're an athlete or a, a celebrity or a star, whether you're working at a particular company, you have to remind yourself that we are not our titles.
That, you know, we have to separate that identity, that identifier, um, that this is all we are. Because if you think, you know, you know, you work at a, at a big company for X amount of years and you have a big title and then all of a sudden they reorg and let you go, then you know, that can, that can be a heavy hit to some people's egos to.
And so I think that's where I would start just understanding that we were people before we got anywhere, before we got any credentials, we were people. Um. But it was hard. I mean, even with me when I had, and I had to retire abruptly, um, you know, it wasn't, it was like one day I went to practice and my knee sw up and, you know, and, and then I had to have an exploratory surgery and then found out that the cartilage was severely worn behind my kneecap.
And although I was able to go back five weeks later, um, it happened again, you know, like three days later. And so the doctor was kind of like, I mean, what do you wanna keep doing this over and over again? You know, it's just not enough time. And so it was just really hard for me. To all of a sudden have so much time on my hands, like, oh my gosh, what am I gonna do?
Um, you know, the times that I would be at practice, the times that I would be getting treatment, the times that we would be on the road, and just the comradery of the team and just us going out to dinner together. I mean, we could still do that, but it, it, it is really, really tough because it's routine.
It's like what you've been doing all of that time, and then all of a sudden, and we're talking about me, I had played for like 24 years, and so it's like now all of a sudden no basketball. It's like, what? Yeah, it's tough.
[00:41:14] Raymond Hall: Yeah, it, it is. Um, and what you described, it wasn't necessarily planned transition. Sometimes transition are event based and they're, they're unplanned. Um, and you're right, a number of, of people or executives rather, they're not ready for that transition and never thought about it. Then there's this major event where maybe the company, you know, the profitability is down.
Or maybe they've lost clients or customers and they need to make those decisions. And it isn't personal, you know, it's just what they have to do, um, you know, to keep the company going. And unfortunately people are impacted, but are they ready for that transition? Mm-hmm. So as you start thinking about when you stepped into music and you stepped into acting, were these things that you were proactively doing because you knew one day your career on the court would end, and so you wanted to make sure that there were things that you could transition to move into pretty seamlessly?
Or did those things happen once you stopped playing?
[00:42:18] Kym Hampton: Um, I was kind of laying the groundwork, um, before, because again, I played in the WNBA when it first started, so we were like treated like rock stars and you know, like Spike Lee reached out to me person, Hey, hey Kim, I want you to come and audition for this movie, or, and, you know, Roys reached out to me, you know, and wanted me to sing on, you know, one of his songs, you know, so a lot of stuff was happening.
CBS did like this feature of me singing, you know, and they aired it during halftime of one of our games. and so. Everything kind of started to happen, but in the ha you know, and that's when I signed with, with Willamina click Models and then Willamina you know, like the big modeling agency in New York.
So I didn't plan those things, although those were the things that I secretly wanted to do. They just kind of evolved and kind of happened, and I just said yes and stepped into it. Yeah. You know, the craziest thing is before I even stepped foot on the court at Madison Square Garden to play the, the Knicks, the organization asked me if I was singing the anthem for a New York Knicks in new, you know, Miami Heat Game.
And you know, here I am thinking, okay, yeah, I'll do it. I'll do it. Lord have mercy. What did I get myself into when I see them? First of all, the mic was so hot. I mean, I had it down and I was walking to half court where they have you stand. And I saw 20,000 people standing up looking at me, and I was just like, oh my God, what did I, and I heard myself over the, over the spear.
I was like, oh shit. You know? So, but, you know, and I definitely, I did it and I got through, but it was just so nerve wracking, but nerve wracking. But it was, it was something that I wanted to do. And, and so I, I pushed myself it was just like, woo. I was just ready for the moment and ready to explore it.
And if it worked, it worked. If it didn't, you know. Okay.
[00:44:50] Raymond Hall: So, so let me ask you something, because that's another piece. If I'm a young professional or even a, an executive and what you're describing, there has to be either a supreme level of confidence that you have to do something new or, or, or, you know, you very, you have a high risk tolerance, right? Because 'cause people tend to play it.
Safe, and I think that's what keep people sometimes from learning and growing because they don't bet on themselves or they just comfortable, you know, where they are. So how do you develop, again, going back to that mindset and being a little bit, you know, more courageous, what drove you to say, you know what, screw it, I'm gonna try it anyway.
Or I'm just going to do it. If it works, it works. If it don't, it don't, but I'm going to try. Like what was kind of the motivation behind that?
[00:45:42] Kym Hampton: Well, you have to understand it was something that I loved. Um, it was something that I felt somewhat comfortable doing and I had dreams of being a singer from, from like six years old, five and six years old. I was singing everything with my little brush in my hand. I was like. And everything, you know? And so, um, it was, and modeling was always something that I wanted to do, um, as a, even as a kid.
And, and so when those opportunities happened, it wasn't so foreign to me. Did I know those industries? No. Um, but I felt that I had talent and I felt like, um, they, they approached me and so I felt like something was there and the opportunity could be there. 'cause there's a difference when I'm seeking it out, I'm going to agencies and, you know, and, and, and dropping off my, my cards and, and just trying to, you know, get signed by an agency.
So it's, it's a little bit different. It's like getting drafted or going to a tryout, basically.
[00:46:45] Raymond Hall: Well, I, I also think the importance of having what I call truth tellers in your circle is important too. I love singing, but my sister be the first one to say, nah, bro, that ain't your lane. Right. So some, sometimes it might hurt. It might feel a little tough, but I think that's where the whole definition of tough love come from.
It's love just the same. It may not feel good in the moment, but you need people, um, that will tell you when you got something stuck in your teeth, rather than just let you go down a path knowing that that's probably not the path you should go down.
[00:47:21] Kym Hampton: Or something stuck in your nose.
I'll tell us, I, I was literally getting gas the other day and I was like, Hey, when you get a chance, you know, wipe your nose that nostril. He was like, oh. Where? He was like, really? You know? So I was like, yeah, because I don't want somebody to tell me. So I got that. You know, that is true.
And I am that truth teller for a whole lot of people. People are just like, what Kim? What? And I'm just like, okay, you know, I'm, this is coming from love. I'm, I'm the troop slayer.
[00:47:45] Raymond Hall: That's right. You know, and I feel, you know, I mentor and coach a lot of young people. Um, and when I'm approached and they'll say, Hey Raymond, do you mind being my mentor? Um, that first conversation is probably the most important conversation. Mm-hmm. Because what I'm seeking to understand is how do you accept feedback? Because everyone that can't accept feedback, you don't have to agree with what I say, but you're coming to me because there's something that I have that you want to tap into to make you a better leader or something that can help you to develop. So a big part of it is feedback. And so being able to accept feedback and then use it, um, to where it's beneficial to you and your growth, I think it's important.
And you have to have a mentor or be comfortable that people are going to tell you the truth versus just kind of play the game. And, and so it's not always an exact science when you start talking about the matching.
[00:48:47] Kym Hampton: Mm-hmm.
[00:48:48] Raymond Hall: That's why I would encourage people to, if you're seeking that, to just take your time and make sure that it's something that.
really gonna work for you,
[00:48:56] Kym Hampton: Yeah, that's true. And especially if you're the mentor as well, it's, it's like you wanna make sure you're not wasting your time. Um, you know, and, and, and I don't mean that in a negative way, but I mean, some people aren't ready to be mentored. Some people, um, think that they are, or they're just looking for like a quick fix, a bandaid.
They're not looking for something that is going to set them up for the long haul and give them, you know, some or they're not ready to put the work in. Um, and so I think, um, you know, you just kind of want to screen that out as well and just. Awesome.
[00:49:38] Raymond Hall: Kim. One of the things that, you know, we often talk about too, is we start talking about, um, executive presence rather. Um, you know, when you first walk into a room, what that can convey.
[00:49:53] Kym Hampton: Mm-hmm.
[00:49:55] Raymond Hall: To either an interviewer where if you're seeking a job or you looking at a different opportunity, or in your case trying to get a modeling contract.
Um, when you start thinking about presence, what does your presence communicate before you even say a word?
[00:50:13] Kym Hampton: Um, I would say confidence. I would say strength and kindness. I would those three things.
[00:50:32] Raymond Hall: That was awesome and it was profound too because it actually, my next question was can your presence open doors and can they close 'em?
[00:50:42] Kym Hampton: They can do both.
They can definitely, definitely do both. Um, because every time you meet a person, um, that you would like and a door open to be you, it's their perception of you and how you approach the situation and how you come into a situation. I mean, we've all experienced meeting people and just being completely turned off by what that person was saying, how they were doing, how they just approached the whole situation, how, and, and then we've met those people where it's like, oh, wow.
That's, that's nice. Okay, let's, let's have another conversation. Let's, um, let's take this on. So I think, yeah, definitely both.
[00:51:26] Raymond Hall: You know, I, I interview a lot of people. Um, and I will tell you that my approach probably has shifted in the last five, 10 years. A lot of it is because the workforce dynamics has changed. Um, I remember early on in my career. Companies hire doers. We hire you, you do this job. And now we hire thinkers.
And managing thinkers is a little bit more delicate than managing, you know, doers. And so one of the things that I look for, people talk a lot about cultural fit, and I, I would, you know, even dumb it down to team fit, but some are surprised in terms of what I'm looking for. It's not necessarily the technical expertise.
I already know just by looking at your resume that you can do the job from a technical perspective. I'm looking at other things that you talked about, kindness. So when I ask questions, how is that showing up? Can you lead with empathy? You know, all of those things when you start talking about a engaged workforce, that actually matters more today than the other things that may have mattered five years ago.
Um, so you, you're a hundred percent. The, your presence encompasses a lot of things and a lot of people just talk about your appearance. I really don't care what your hair look like. I don't care how many tattoos you got. Doesn't matter. What I care most about is how you treat people because that's what's going to help ultimately help a company be successful.
[00:52:56] Kym Hampton: Amen, brother.
[00:52:59] Raymond Hall: So Kim, we usually try to wrap up this show asking one question
[00:53:05] Kym Hampton: Mm-hmm.
[00:53:06] Raymond Hall: and I'm probably gonna ask you a couple more 'cause I'm enjoying this so much, but so bear with me. So if you had to write a letter to your younger self, what would you say? And would you listen? Because if I, as I thought about this question, I don't know if I was at a stage when I was younger than to listen.
I mean, now I would, knowing what I know. But if you had to write a letter to yourself, what would it look like?
[00:53:35] Kym Hampton: can you give me a ballpark of age? What age you, you know, like what, what era are you talking about?
[00:53:40] Raymond Hall: Let's say you probably started to step into your superpowers around 15, 16.
[00:53:47] Kym Hampton: Okay. would tell her, I would just say, Kim, um, don't believe everything you think, um, you know, because thoughts just run in our heads and, you know, we are thinking stuff and thinking that that person might be thinking something, that person's not even thinking about us or we're thinking we have to do this and be this, and all of that.
So I would say embrace who you are because it's gonna all make sense later. It's not making sense now, you know, you haven't gotten there, but, but honestly, um, it's gonna make sense. I would say, you know, always give yourself grace. Be kind to yourself. You're kind to everyone else. Be kind to yourself.
Um, I would say to not judge and compare yourself to others, um, because, you know, each one of us has our own different DNA and we weren't meant to be like anyone else. We were created and all of us were blessed with our own unique gifts and talents. I mean, if you stop and think about it, we have things that we are good at.
Um, and I think those things were meant for us to capitalize and to, to, you know, and to be good at. And, but I would also tell myself to, um, um. Give your best in everything that you do. Um, definitely like show up and make sure you work hard in everything that you do, because it definitely separates you from everyone else.
I mean, I don't know if you know it, I have a 21-year-old and I just, I'm like, whew. Common sense is not so common. And you know, and it's like, you know, you just, things that you have to tell them and it's just like, you, you wanna say duh, you know, and stuff. And so, you know, because they'll tell us in a heartbeat when we acting if we acting old, like, ah, come on.
You know, and stuff. But you know, so yeah, I would definitely say give your best because that's gonna separate you from, from everyone in your generation pretty much almost because people just do enough to get by. Um, I would say that. Also just know that life is full of ups and downs. Things are definitely gonna happen, but those things pass.
And then also the perception that you put on things. When things happen, when negative things happen, bad things happen. If you put like terrible perception on it, like if someone's gonna die, yes, that is hard. I mean, we've all dealt with death. It's extremely hard. But instead, mourn that and more. But, but you can't live in it.
Oh my God, how am I gonna, or if something, if your husband leaves you or your wife leaves you, you know, like you have to make a decision that I want to survive and I want to thrive. So, um, and then I would say, um. You know, Wayne Dyer always says when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
And a lot of times we always look at things as being grim. Like, oh my gosh, I have to do this. I have to go to this job. You know, and stuff like that. But when you change that thought pattern, the way you look at things, they, they, it gets better. I would tell me, I love you and you are enough, and you belong.
You are special. You know, so I would, those are some of the things that I would write to myself and say,
[00:57:09] Raymond Hall: I thought you was talking to me.
[00:57:12] Kym Hampton: ah, I love you too, Raymond.
[00:57:16] Raymond Hall: So Kim, this is where we end the conversation, but we try to do it in the same way. So my next question for you is, because success looks different for everyone. Mm-hmm.
[00:57:29] Kym Hampton: Mm-hmm.
[00:57:30] Raymond Hall: The standards don't lie. That's something that, you know, you've really cemented here during this conversation. So, so I guess when it's all said and done, what does the standard mean to you?
[00:57:44] Kym Hampton: Hmm. I would say, um, it's the standard. I would say it's may, maybe it's the level of honesty and discipline, the level of effort that I hold myself accountable to. Um,
yeah. That I hold myself accountable to regardless to who's around, who's looking, whether I'm by myself, it's, it is, it's for me. So I would just say it is just that level. That I hold myself to. It's my, it's, it's my honesty. It's, it's, it's being honest with myself. We're not gonna always feel like showing up, but just knowing that, but I have to do this. This is, this is, and it's for me. Um, I would say that that's, that's the standard. Um, yeah.
Did I answer that one?
[00:58:52] Raymond Hall: You answered it very well. Thank you very much.
[00:58:55] Kym Hampton: I'm just like, because you know your mind, you, you, you just wanna Yeah. Answer it one way, but then something else pops in your mind and it's kind of a different direction. So I'm just kind of like, oh, okay.
[00:59:08] Raymond Hall: Kim. We could continue this conversation all day. It just feels really good to kind of tap into your insights. I think your, your journey has been. Not only an amazing one, but an inspiring one. And I'm sure the audience will, you know, take away, you know, some of the things that you talked about, um, in terms of how you got to, to where you, you ended up.
And, and I know that you still got a long, long way to go, and I look forward to seeing, um, where that pathway takes you. I'm sure it'll be amazing, just like the first part of your, your career has been. So I wanna say thank you for, for joining us today.
[00:59:46] Kym Hampton: Thank you so, so very much. I thought the questions were so good. Um, just having me think because a lot of times you. We don't, we have so many questions that need to be answered so that we can move forward in a manner that, that allows us to shine and, and to even solve some of the problems that we have.
So the questions were kind of like, Hmm, let me think about that one. Like, yeah. So it was great. I appreciate it.
[01:00:17] Raymond Hall: No, thank you.
[01:00:18] Speaker 3: Thanks for listening to the Standard. If today's episode gave you something you can apply immediately share it with someone who's stepping into leadership or working to grow without burning out.
And remember, excellence isn't something you wait for. It's something you practice every day.