Walter Bond, Best-Selling Author, Award-Winning Motivational Speaker & Pro Athlete, Headlines Zeigler University Guest Speaker Series

Award-winning motivational speaker, bestselling author, and former professional basketball player Walter Bond delivered an impactful presentation on peak performance this past Thursday, March 20, 2025, as part of the highly-successful Zeigler University Guest Speaker Series.

KALAMAZOO, MICH (March 24, 2025) - Walter Bond, award-winning motivational speaker, best-selling author, and former professional basketball player, is the latest celebrity guest to join Zeigler's highly successful Zeigler University Guest Speaker Series. Bond delivered a powerful presentation on performance and accountability this past Thursday, March 20, 2025 at the Zeigler Honda Lockerroom. 

Bond's business consulting and coaching company, which shares his name, has earned him multiple accolades over the past 23 years, taking him all over the world in the process. He has delivered keynotes and seminars for companies like AT&T, Microsoft, UPS, Chase, Hilton, Jersey Mike's Subs and more.

"Walter Bond is a top tier speaker!  His message of peak performance is practical and powerful.  He is a relatable and passionate speaker that everyone can learn from.  

We are fortunate to have had time to invest with Walter when he joined us in Kalamazoo, MI as part of Team Zeigler.  The feedback I received across the organization was overwhelming!" 

Mike Van Ryn, VP of Talent Development

During the presentation Bond shared details about the most difficult but transformative time of his life-a time that ultimately led to his current career as a top business coach and speaker. 

After his basketball career ended, Bond and his wife found themselves without income. This propelled them to work on building this new business from the ground up based around the principles Bond learned about peak performance as a pro basketball player. The result? In just three years, the new company was able to double his NBA income. 

Bond grew up to parents who were teachers. He recounts a time when he had to show his family his report card and was ashamed of his grades. Throughout his childhood he was constantly told he was the best athlete in the family, however, at that moment, he knew that wasn't the case. He had been in that position before. The position of blaming another team member for being the weaklink. At that moment, however, the tables were turned.  Although he had family members with incredible accolades, these were routinely glossed over in his favor. Yet, when that moment came, he understood that there was no way he was actually the best athlete in the family with a D in gym on his report card. Regardless, his family reacted in a way that he did not expect. Instead of punishing him, he remembers his father saying "I don't need more out of my son, my son needs more of me."

"I don't need more out of them, they need more out of me"

Favorite quote from Brent Warner, GM, Zeigler Ford of Plainwell

Shortly after, his father started "coaching him" on the way to school to help build his confidence. During this time his father also became his high school principal. Every day on the way to school he would consistently hear his father tell him "you are just as smart as your brother and sister." In the beginning it felt like a lie and just something Bond thought his father had to say. However, overtime Bond began to believe him. By working with him everyday to build his confidence, his father was able to transform Bond's core values to the point where he became an elite performer. 

"GIVE HIM TO ME". As a single parent, I have always considered myself my kids' biggest fan and have done my best to teach/discipline/coach them to BELIEVE in themselves as I have always believed in them and for them to know that nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it. Walter's speech however has taught me that I must practice what I preach and write MY goals and believe in myself and follow through with my dreams and to be accountable for my success and/or failures. No matter how old you are or how successful you may be, there's always MORE to learn, more to accomplish."

Nina Gewargis, Mercedes-Benz of Hoffman Estates

"I loved the energy that Walter brought to his session.  There were a couple of poignant moments that really made me take stock.  How much more can I pour into my children and make sure that they have the confidence they need?  I had a great plan to get to where I am, but do I have a good plan to stay (and even grow)?  Walter Bond was incredibly impactful and I'm excited to share the video with my family"

Dick Barker, Brand Performance Manager, Mercedes Benz of Hoffman Estates

 

Regardless of the performance level of a specific person, it's important to think of them in a coachability scenario. Potential is a huge driving force but only in the hands of the right coach. In order to shape for high performance, the first thing a great coach does is build rapport. After that it's all about building confidence. Also being in an environment that values coachability culture is a huge asset. In short, smart companies are training and development organizations at their core.

"If you want to get promoted, dominate where you are right now."

Favorite quote from Gabriel Jimenez, Sales Manager, Zeigler Honda of Racine.

Being able to recruit, develop and retain top talent is a highly valuable strategy. One example of this was McDonald's launching Hamburger University in 1961. Another is Tom Brady's story. Arguably the best quarterback in recent history, Brady was recruited as a sixth round pick by Bill Belichick, who had the dream of coaching a championship athlete. 

Bond further elaborated on what he has come to learn: there is a formula for coaching. Besides building rapport and confidence, it's also important to be honest and only then set a new standard for performance. If a team member is only hearing from their superior when there's an issue, then they won't feel as supported and as a result not as motivated. In order to coach at the highest level, it's essential to become involved with the people you supervise and are collaborating with. 

One thing Bond emphasized is offering mentorship regardless of the mentee's background. He talked about a client of his, who is a multi-million dollar call center led by someone who was restarting her life after being in prison for murder. In short, the message was: untapped potential can be transformed into elite performance with the right coaching. In this case it was a $350 million dollar transformation for this call center because a seemingly underperformer on paper was given the right opportunity. 

In terms of his own basketball career, he talks about his performance at the University of Minnesota where he found himself on the bench for the first year. After losing interest in class and spending his time partying, he got a call from his father who set him straight. Through this call it was apparent that he was clearly not getting off the bench because he was not displaying winning qualities to make a coach want to put him in. His dad inspired him to find the goal sheet he had set up with him on those rides to school a few years earlier. Among his goals were: graduating from high school in four years and playing in the NBA. After the call he taped it somewhere he was able to see it every day. Even though he hadn't been to class in a month, he still believed in the goal of graduating in four years; and even though he hadn't been off the bench the entire year, he believed in playing in the NBA.

After that Bond went on to become the best improved basketball player off the bench, and even ended up going to a few training sessions for the Chicago Bulls. What he learned during those sessions was that the top performer sets the standard. When Michael Jordan was around everyone performed better because there was an underlying understanding that there was a standard to be met. 

"If you are already in a winning culture, stay put and stay grounded…

Develop your skill set to a level of being a major player on your team. 

One that is weight bearing and holds the team together."

Favorite quote from Michael Hines, New Car Manager, Zeigler Subaru of Fort Wayne

He then went on to underline the differences between average performers and top performers. One quality that stood out is having a growth mentality and not making excuses. Others included making team success a priority, following through, and committing to their success. 

After the presentation, Bond sat down with Sam D'Arc, Zeigler COO and host of the Driving Vision Podcast to further discuss his take on elite performance and accountability.  

About Zeigler Automotive Group

Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 84 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all of the domestic and the majority of the imported manufacturers.

Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company.

The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns and operates Zeigler Pre-Owned of Chicago, three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.

Founded in 1975, the organization employs over 2,500 people, ranking among the top 1% of automotive dealers in the nation with estimated annual sales of $2.2 billion for 2023.

The family-owned and operated company is well known for its commitment to both customer service and employee satisfaction. Zeigler is regularly recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation, also earning similar accolades in Wisconsin, Chicago, and Michigan. Besides these prestigious accolades, Zeigler is also one of Glassdoor's 100 Best Places to Work in the U.S. for 2024, and among Glassdoor's top 10 U.S. companies for work-life balance.

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