Miles Schnaer’s signed basketballs and other Kansas University collectibles rest in his office at Crown Chevrolet Toyota Scion, but the lessons learned from years of athletics connections play quality minutes each and every day out on his sales floor.

Sports and business, he says, are inseparable.

“I’ve always compared athletics to sales, because you’ve got to work hard to be successful,” said Schnaer, owner of the Lawrence dealerships and a longtime booster of KU athletics. “You have to be motivated. You’ve got to get up every morning expecting to do something to help be successful in whatever you’re doing — because if you don’t, then people are running right on by you. And that’s what I tell my guys everyday: You’ve got to be prepared to do business today, whether it’s raining or snowing or its 100 degrees out there. We have to come to work everyday prepared.

“You shave, you shine your shoes, you comb your hair, you brush your teeth and you come in that day expecting to do something — and while you’re here, you might as well do it right.”

OK, if Schnaer sounds a bit like a coach giving a pregame pep talk, it shouldn’t be a surprise. He’s a lead sponsor of a new program operated by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce to bring coaching lessons into the business world.

The program, “Breakfast of Champions,” begins this Friday with visits from KU softball coach Tracy Bunge and KU baseball coach Ritch Price. Chamber members can sign up to attend the breakfast meetings at Hereford House.

Later this year, the program will include talks by soccer, volleyball and other coaches. Football coach Mark Mangino is scheduled for June 12, and men’s basketball coach Bill Self’s program hasn’t been set yet — but organizers say it likely will be moved to a larger venue to accommodate the expected spike in attendance.

Later this month, two other coaches who’ve made names for themselves on a national scale — Duke basketball’s Mike Krzyzewski and Florida State football’s Bobby Bowden — will take part in a national simulcast event, “The Influential Leader — Unleashing Power in People.” The event will be shown live, from Atlanta, April 29 at First Southern Baptist Church in Lawrence.

Bonnie Henrickson, KU’s head women’s basketball coach, said she was honored to be given the opportunity to address chamber members as part of the “breakfast” series. Her event is scheduled for Oct. 12.

Henrickson said that she and her fellow coaches relied on business leaders to support their programs, through financial contributions, ongoing services and encouragement and attendance. But business lessons also spill over onto the court.

“We talk to our kids about, ‘How does this affect you in the workplace 10 or 15 years from now — the decisions you’re making today, and the habits you’re forming today? Are they going to be good work skills?’ ” she said. “We turn that around and use that when we work with our kids. …

“We’re all in the people business.”

For Henrickson, motivation doesn’t mean giving “rah-rah” speeches.

She said building a successful program starts with being fair, firm and respectful to all her staffers and players, and working to challenge the team to reach new heights.

“It’s a lot of common sense,” she said of her style. “It’s about being a good communicator, being very honest, being straightforward, and not allowing people to settle.”

She’s confident that the insights shared by herself and her fellow KU coaches would pay off for attendees.

“I’m sure there will be similarities, because we’re fortunate over here to have a great staff of coaches and people that lead by example and are demanding — but demand more from themselves than they do from their kids,” she said. “I think there will be similarities, but I’m sure you’ll be able to walk away with something a little bit different from each one of us.

“We’re all different people.”