Becoming Your Best | The Principles of Highly Successful Leaders

How do you feel about your personal and professional life? Many people feel like they or their teams are stuck in a mediocrity trap. The question is how do you take where you are today and make it better and overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to your success? Not only that, but how can you inspire your children or employees to do the same and become their best? In the Becoming Your Best podcast, Steve and Rob Shallenberger will help you uncover the principles of highly successful leaders. This podcast will give you the tools and processes to help you become the person, parent, partner, or leader that you’ve dreamed of becoming. This podcast also gives leaders and their teams the tools and know-how to break down performance barriers, achieve huge results, and be the disruptive company in their industry. When collectively applied, our signature 12 principles will have a profound impact on the revenue, culture, innovation and productivity of any organization in any industry. You will discover how to make communication easier and clearer, live in greater peace and balance, manage your time effectively, more persuasively lead others with an inspiring vision, and how to embrace change—not fear it. As the global authority on leadership training, Becoming Your Best teaches people how to follow their own path to success using the 12 Principles discovered by founder Steven Shallenberger in his 40+ years of research as a business leader. Countless key executives, organizations, athletes, teachers, and individuals worldwide have come to rely on these principles and processes. Becoming Your Best is packed with advice, tools, and examples for turning your thoughts into action, motivating yourself and those around you, inspiring teams to solve problems creatively, and building the life you’ve always dreamed of. Click subscribe to get a new podcast episode every Thursday.

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Steve Shallenberger: Successful Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker, and Bestselling Author | Rob Shallenberger: Former Fighter Pilot, Author, Executive Coach, and Corporate Trainer Business 1 évad 272 rész Learn what it takes to transform your personal life, relationships, and leadership ability. Discover what it means to truly become your best!

Episode 273 - Science and the Leader-Follower Relationship

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While leaders have to be held accountable for their relationship with the people underneath them, both leaders and followers are responsible for the quality of the relationship they develop. Leaders' goal should be to build a solid relationship with the staff members, where there is space to offer feedback without fear of being reprimanded. As long as the employee is not the destructive kind, if they are treated fairly, well remunerated, and not verbally abused by the manager, they'll respond in the best of ways. Productivity and happiness will increase, stress and bad experiences will go down, and the work environment will be healthier.

Joining us today is the brilliant Sherri Malouf, Chair and Principal at Situation Management Systems Inc, Ph.D. in Human Development, and author. She also has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and Law from the University of Plymouth and a Master's in Philosophy from the University of Bath. At SMS Inc, they teach to successfully handle lateral, upward, and downward influence situations without getting positional power involved. Their focus is on helping people be authentic and successful when working with others.

Sherri kindly shares her knowledge and expertise on building stronger and healthier relationships between leaders and followers. She explains how good relationships between managers and employees translate into engagement, productivity, and satisfaction growth. We also talk about her theory on how idealized images of leaders and followers in our minds will lead us to make automatic, unconscious decisions about who's worthy of our time and who’s not. 

If you want to better understand the leader-follower dynamics and how to enhance your experiences at the workplace, tune in to Episode 273 of Becoming Your Best and listen to Sherri's beautiful insights. 

Some Questions Asked:

You have a new book coming out about the science behind the leader-follower relationship. Can you tell us a little about the book? (5:19)
How do you help somebody that is misusing their power in an organization? (9:52)
 What actions should the followers take to strengthen their relationship with their boss? (15:02)
How do you help people get in this frame of mind? To create a positive plan, get things on track, and rather than blame to take control of the things they can control? (17:56)
What is the science behind the leader-follower relationships? (22:57)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Some of the turning points that led to Sherri's realization: there are always ways to grow and evolve (2:54)
People don't leave their jobs; they leave managers (6:59)
Leaders have to be held accountable for the relationship with people underneath them (10:08)
The secret to a strong, healthy leader-follower relationship (13:56)
Who's responsible for having an excellent manager-employee relationship (16:22)
Every person requires something different from their leaders (22:29)

Resources:

Situation Management Systems Inc website
Situation Management Systems Inc Twitter
Book: Sherri Malouf, Wally Bock - Science and the Leader-Follower Relationship: The Implicit Social Elements

Connect with Sherri:

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Episode 272 - Do What Matters Most. Three Life-Changing Habits

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What we want, what we need to do to achieve it, and the way we organize our schedule to meet our expectations are intimately connected. Without a clear direction, planning and reaching isolated goals is hard to do. But with the right vision and prioritizing our time correctly, we can achieve much more in our lives.

In this episode, we will talk about the book we’re preparing to launch on May 18th, Do What Matters Most, and its life-changing content. This book is mandatory reading for those struggling to prioritize their time, and for those who are usually overwhelmed solving the urgent and never having time for the important. We will give you a preview of the book, and we will explain briefly the three life-changing habits the book dances around.

In this book, you will learn the importance of having a written personal vision, personal and professional roles and goals, and regular and consistent planning of your weeks. This will lead you into a more intentional existence, making reaching your life goals not a dream but a measurable, achievable purpose. 

If you want to know more about Do What Matters Most, tune in to Episode 272 of Becoming Your Best and learn how to change your life by adding three habits into your daily routine. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us; we need to have a meaningful life starting today (2:02)
We all have the desire to make a difference. The good news is we have the tools to do it (5:20)
Discipline: doing the right thing at the right time, regardless of how we feel about it (10:12)
The Do What Matters Most Matrix (11:02)
What is a written personal vision, and why it is so essential (14:44)
Why should we have clear roles and goals (19:08)
Scheduling priorities instead of prioritizing our schedule (23:30)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 271 - The Parable of the Stick - When You Pick Up One End of the Stick, You Pick Up the Other

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Sometimes we attack an urgent problem without putting too much thinking into our action plan, and even when we solve the issue, we end up having a negative outcome in the long term. This could be the result of forgetting one of the seven universal laws, the cause and effect law; every action is bound to a reaction. 

In this episode, we talk about the parable of the stick. Some time ago, a friend gifted me this unique stick with some inscriptions on it, designed to remind us that we embrace our acts' consequences when we decide to do something. 

When we consider our next steps, having this idea in mind will allow us to see the big picture, having a smaller error margin. It will also show us the path to the place we want to be. We must consider the result of our actions, who those results would affect, and how. We should also consider other ways to solve our problems, contemplating the alternatives and their outcomes. 

If you want to know more about the parable of the stick and what it can teach us, tune in to Episode 271 of Becoming Your Best and learn to be mindful today of the results you will get tomorrow.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A very unique stick (00:56)
The kid in the shopping cart situation (3:28)
Three different styles of people and what they can achieve (6:57)
Taking the time to know people's stories, to understand their point B of the stick (10:32)
A funny example of how our point B might look like, based on what we do in point A (17:33)
The dreamers of the day are dangerous (23:17)

Resources:

Book: Ron Chernow - Alexander Hamilton

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 270 - Fit2Fat2Forty with Drew Manning

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The perception most of us have about being fit is to look in a certain way, which turns our journey’s starting point into not liking what we see in the mirror. Eating healthy food and exercising will feel like punishment, like something we must do to repair our “damaged” bodies. 

This reasoning's main flaw is thinking that happiness will touch us when we get the "perfect" body, and it's not true. Happiness is found in the journey to be fit; knowing that eating healthy is not a punishment but a demonstration of love, exercising is taking care of ourselves. The transformational trip into fitness must be made from loving ourselves. 

Joining me today is Drew Manning, a health and fitness expert, author of the NY Times Best Selling book, Fit2Fat2Fit, and the creator of the A&E Show Fit to Fat to Fit. He is also the host of The Fit2Fat2Fit Experience podcast. In 2011, Drew decided to do the risky experiment of gaining weight to experience first-hand overweight people's experience on their journey to being fit; he gained over 70 pounds. Ten years later, now in his forties, Drew is at it again; this time, he gained 62 pounds that he will try to lose in his new experience, Fit to Fat to Forty.

In this episode, we talked about Drew's unique perspective on fitness and being healthy. He explained how his experiments helped him approach fitness coaching from a more empathetic viewpoint, making him more comprehensive about people's struggles. We also talked about our emotions' central role in losing weight and the difference loving ourselves can make when being fit is our goal.

If you want to know more about the secrets of being happy and fit at the same time, tune in to Episode 270 of Becoming Your Best and let Drew change your approach to a healthy life.

Some Questions I Ask:

Can you give our listeners a little bit of background, who you are, how this journey started, and where you're at right now today? (1:42)
What was the most challenging part of this journey so far, especially this time in your forties? (7:49)
You've talked about empathy and other things; what are some of the lessons learned that you've got along this line? (12:27)
What are two or three specific starting points? Or things that people can do that would have a significant impact on their health? (16:45)
What is Keto? What are its advantages, benefits, things that people need to be thinking about if they're serious about starting Keto? (23:07)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

The reasons behind the Fit2Fat2Fit experiment and its teachings (1:54)
Drew's getting humbled during part II of his experiment (6:58)
Where people get stuck when they are trying to lose weight (9:40)
The pursue of happiness vs. the perfect body (13:02)
Working on small habits to make a huge difference (17:16)
Keto in a nutshell (23:18)

Resources:

Fit2Fat2Fit website
The Fit to Fat to Fit Experience Podcast
Book: Drew Manning - Fit2Fat2Fit: The Unexpected Lessons From Gaining and Losing 75 lbs on Purpose
Book: Drew Manning - Complete Keto: A Guide To Transform Your Body and Your Mind for Life
Book: Claire Weekes - Hope and Help for Your Nerves

Connect with Drew:

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Episode 269 - Lessons Learned from Mark Holland CEO and Chairman of Ascend Staffing

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Being true to character is one of the most rewarding principles of highly successful leaders. While honesty and integrity might lead to sometimes recognizing a mistake and eventually losing a client, at the end of the day, the other side of the coin brings you the fulfilling feeling of having done the right thing. There’s nothing like looking your spouse in the eye and letting them know you are doing your best at being honest and ethical, regardless of the consequences.

Today's guest is Mark Holland, CEO and Chairman of Ascend Staffing, one of the largest light industrial and non-clinical hospital staffing companies in the US, and among the world's largest. He founded Ascend HR Solutions in 1995, and five years later, the company was listed #17 in Inc. Magazine's 500 list, and has been included in the Utah 100 nine out of ten years in a row. Mark served as Vice-Chair of the Utah State University Board of Trustees; he also received the highest award given from the Huntsman School of Business in 2018, the Distinguished Executive Alumnus award. He served as a Board Member for the Children's Center, Single Moms’ Foundation, and he is an active member of his community and the church where he resides. 

In this episode, we talked about the power of networking and how easy it is to take a step in the wrong direction when we are not surrounded by like-minded people. He shared some of the key lessons he learned throughout his extensive career and what it means to have integrity and be true to ourselves in our professional lives. 

If you want to know more about taking educated risks and being willing to fail, tune in to Episode 269 of Becoming Your Best and listen to Mark's masterclass on leadership, honesty, and integrity. 

Some Questions Asked:

What are the things that bring you the greatest happiness in life? (3:35)
What are some of the critical lessons learned that you've had that have helped you and your business be successful? (4:26)
How can you be true to your own character, and how can you stand up for what you believe? (8:55)
How can our listeners create a forum of friends that are sounding boards? And what's the value of that from your point of view? (13:03)
I know that your clients are really loyal to you, and you have a close relationship. What makes that work? (17:49)
What are two or three of your biggest lessons learned in life? And what experiences taught you those lessons? (21:58)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

The power of networking and associating with the right people (4:50)
Taking educated risks and being willing to fail (7:14)
Doing the right thing and letting the consequences follow (10:12)
The value of standing up for what we believe (11:03)
The perks of having a family-oriented company (16:10)
The importance of ensuring everyone has a voice that it is heard (20:10)

Resources for Ascend Staffing

Connect with Mark:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 268 - Jody Richards 2020 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

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Leadership is a journey, and the obstacle we find more often in our path is no other than ourselves. As leaders, we need to be mindful of our attitude, steady in our judgment, and make tough decisions thinking of the greater good. Leadership offers many challenges that can be quickly sorted out with proper planning and choosing a culture by design over one by default. 

Joining us today is Jody Richards, President at Process Technology, winner of the 2020 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Award, certified Supply Chain Professional, Production and Inventory Management, and mom. We had an inspiring conversation about how it is for her to juggle parenthood and running a massive company, the importance of having a culture by design in a company, and having employees aligned with its values. We also talked about what the Entrepreneur Of The Year award represented to her and its impact on her team. 

 If you want to know more about this inspiring woman and get some tips for refocusing your mind and changing your usual thinking patterns, tune in to Episode 268 of Becoming Your Best and hear what Jody has to say about leadership, decisions, and goals.

Some Questions I Ask:

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself? (2:28)
How was the experience of winning the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year award? (4:25)
What are some things that made Process Technology successful? (8:44)
If you look back at maybe one or two coolest experiences through your life, what would they be? (16:40)
How do you juggle between running a company and having a family life with two babies? (22:06)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

The decision-making process when people don’t align with the company's values (8:25)
The importance of following a direction while making decisions (13:05)
Jody's most remarkable experiences along the way (16:52)
Some of Jody's pro tips for 2021 (24:38)

Resources:

Process Technology website

Connect with Jody:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 267 - How to Change Your Thoughts and Dream Big

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Research shows that more than 90% of the 40 to 60,000 thoughts a human brain produces per day are repetitive. Also, it was proved that 70 to 80% of those repetitive thoughts tend to be negative. If we add to this that the human being is a creature of habit, we can see how easy it is for our minds to get stuck into a vicious loop of negative thoughts.

In this episode, we want to give you three easy tips to disrupt our thinking patterns and avoid falling into a negative thinking loop. The main objective of these three simple activities is to exercise the brain and prevent its atrophy. The brain needs to be tested and continuously stimulated to keep its good shape and perfect functioning, just like any other muscle. 

If you want to experiment the possibilities of a fertile mind capable of conceiving ideas ignoring the constraints that limit our thoughts daily, tune in to Episode 267 of Becoming Your Best and take note of these three useful tips. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

What the science can teach us about our brain (4:01)
The kind of thoughts we have during the day (5:20)
Three ways of disrupting our thoughts (7:20)
How has this thought served you? (10:59)
Avoiding brain atrophy (12:40)
Innovating new ways of living our life by design (17:38)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 266 - Life Lessons with John Fitzpatrick CEO of Force Marketing

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The human mind has infinite fuel to create millions of thoughts, yet it can concentrate only on one at a time. When we find a challenge in our way, we can either focus all our energy on that particular problem or step back and see the easiest way to solve it and keep thinking about our primary goal. 

Joining me today is John Fitzpatrick, President, and CEO of Force Marketing, a company dedicated to transforming the brand-to-consumer buying experience in the automotive business. We talked about his personal and professional life, why he gets involved in philanthropic activities, and how he handles the onboarding process to newcomers in his company. We also talked about keeping the trust meter healthy in business and how the pandemic affected the industry. 

If you want to know the benefits of living a grateful and intentional life and the importance of being aware of our roles and goals all the time, tune in to Episode 266 of Becoming Your Best and hear what John has to say about all these topics. 

Some Questions I Ask:

What are some of the things you've seen that have helped you and others succeed? (03:15)
What impact have you seen gratitude had in your life? (06:12)
What would you give as one or two pieces of advice to a person starting out with your company? (10:19)
What's one or two lessons learned through life that you would like to pass on to your kids? (13:24)
What's one of the biggest challenges that you've ever experienced in your life? (17:32)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

John's simple philosophy that guides his life (3:55)
Stepping back and being grateful (7:03)
The importance of understanding our role and how can we help others (10:30)
Getting to the destination, and then going further (15:39)
When obstacles block the goal (22:55)
Being intentional with our gratitude (25:26)

Resources:

Force Marketing 
Book:  Don Miguel Ruiz - The Four Agreements

Connect with John:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 265 - Life Lessons with Joe Ojile

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Sleep is one of the most important tools for living a healthy life – and leveraging its benefits by following some simple, yet crucial, principles should be a priority for everyone.

In today's episode, Joe Ojile, founder, CEO, and Medical Director of the Clayton Sleep Institute talks about the importance of a healthy relationship with our sleeping time and how it affects our daily performance. He also explains why sleep is a health promotion tool, and he gives away some easy-to-detect cues to know if we have a sleeping problem. Joe also shares unique insights about life, forgiveness, and happiness. 

If you want to know how a good night’s sleep can help you excel in your daily routine, what is social jetlag, and why Joe thinks that happiness is the most underrated daily activity, tune into Episode 265 of Becoming Your Best and listen to Joe's masterclass about the health of mind and body. 

Some Questions I Ask:

Could you tell our audience a little bit about yourself? (2:00)
When it comes to sleep, what are some things that everyone should know and may not be aware of? (5:45)
How do travels to other timezones back and forth affect our circadian rhythm? (9:30)
Are you supposed to drink water or not drink water? And melatonin, is it right to take it before sleeping? (14:24)
What are some cues that people should be looking for to get professional help regarding their sleep? (17:34)
If you could share two or three life lessons, what would those be? (23:18)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Why we sleep, and how it helps us during the day (6:50)
What is the circadian rhythm and how it works (10:38)
How we create social jetlag. (13:12)
How melatonin is helpful when traveling in a timezone that’s ahead of yours. (16:28)
The sky is the limit when you surround yourself with high character people. (25:06)
The importance of forgiveness (26:30)
Three things to do every day. (33:05)

Connect with Joe:

Resources:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

Becoming Your Best Website
Becoming Your Best University Website
Becoming Your Best Library
Email: support@becomingyourbest.com 
Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders
Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance
Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety

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Episode 264 - Life Lessons with Mike Choutka, CEO of Hensel Phelps

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Leaders are responsible for dealing with difficult times, but that doesn't mean every leader will find the best answers. Last year, a hard-times making machine put every leader's abilities to deal with adversity to the test.

Today's guest, Mike Choutka, President and CEO of Hensel Phelps, based his strategy to cope with tough times on momentum, the perpetual motion. He went to the fundamentals and succeeded with two simple principles. First, maintain the company's momentum. Fortify what's already working. And second, create new momentum, new ideas to trigger that impulse. He also shares his thoughts on what attributes a good leader should have and valuable advice from his more than 25 years of experience in the building industry. 

If you want to know what is expected from a good leader, the relevance of having a well-balanced life and being well rounded, and much more, tune into Episode 264 of Becoming Your Best and listen to the story of this flawless leader. 

Some questions I ask:

What does it take to move up in an organization like this? (5:45)
What would you say to someone who's looking for something positive to take into 2021? (9:24)
If you had to share some advice with our listeners, one of your biggest lessons learned through life, what would you share? (19:17)
If you had your kids in a room, and you could share with them one piece of advice, what would that be for them? (23:20)

In this episode, you will learn:

The role of good fortune, opportunity, availability, and ability in Mike's career (6:08)
Learning the lessons from hard times (11:15)
Momentum will be key in 2021 (17:51)
Empathetic leaders are the solution (19:17)
How a balanced life affects people's productivity at work (26:00)

Connect with Mike:

Resources:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

Becoming Your Best Website
Becoming Your Best University Website
Becoming Your Best Library
Email: support@becomingyourbest.com 
Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders
Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance
Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety

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Episode 263 - How to Have Successful Virtual Meetings

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Last year we were forced to pivot from in-person meetings to more virtual gatherings, whether in our personal or our professional lives. People who weren’t familiar with video conferencing platforms had to adapt quickly and to learn the insides of this communication medium – which for many, it wasn’t an easy thing to do.

Our guest today – Kim Foley – quickly noticed a growing need for people to learn the proper etiquette for virtual meetings so that they can show up with more credibility in front of their listeners. She documented all the pain points people had when it came to being in front of a camera and she gathered them in her book, “Virtual Meetings with Power and Presence”. She shares her expertise gained in more than 25 years as an award-winning producer, media trainer, television stylist, as well as practices and practical guidelines for putting forth your personal best.

If you want to know how to deal with technical challenges such as poor internet connection or audio quality, how to frame and light yourself for an attractive presentation in less-than-ideal circumstances, and a lot more, then tune into Episode 263 of Becoming Your Best and find out all the tips and tricks that will make you a virtual meeting superstar!

Some questions I ask:

Can you, please, tell us your story and what led you to where you are today? (05:37)
What are some things we need to be aware of when we think of virtual meeting etiquette? (10:33)
What kind of equipment people should have for a really high-quality exchange in a virtual meeting? (15:28)
If people don’t like how they look on camera, how can they fix that? (17:08)
What are your thoughts on multitasking while you’re in a virtual meeting? (21:58)
Do you have any final tips for our listeners? (24:15)

In this episode, you will learn:

The most important role a television stylist has. (06:39)
The reason Kim wrote her book, “Virtual Meetings with Power and Presence”. (08:21)
When you should turn your camera off in virtual meetings. (11:20)
What your body language should be in virtual meetings. (12:56)
How to look fantastic on camera by paying attention to lighting. (16:08)
The colors you should wear when showing up on video. (19:14)
How to interact with the camera when you’re talking in a virtual meeting. (22:50)

Connect with Kim:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 262 - Life Lessons with Max Hall

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It is not uncommon for people, after they’ve suffered an accident or a traumatic injury, to end up addicted to painkillers. They can become your best friend because, as the name says, they numb your pain and make it go away. But at the same time, they can be your worst enemy, leading you to a downward spiral that can affect your entire life and relationships.

In today’s episode, Max shares his story of becoming addicted to opiates and he vividly details his rollercoaster journey, going from a successful quarterback career to the lowest point in his life and to where he is now, sober and happy.

Max Hall is a former American football quarterback. After playing college football for BYU, he was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played in a total of six games as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Arizona Cardinals. Max also spent the 2012 year as an assistant coach for BYU. After suffering some injuries on the playing field, his life took a hard turn when he became addicted to painkillers and opiates.

His story is full of ups and downs, and he’s overcome the addiction challenge after six years of fighting with it. Max is now sharing his experiences, in the hope that other people suffering from addiction will be inspired by his journey. So, tune in and listen to Episode 262 of Becoming Your Best, to find out some great lessons Max has learned throughout his life, that may inspire you to overcome the challenges in your journey.

Some Questions I ask:

What was it like being the quarterback at BYU? (02:05)
What are some of your favorite memories of your time at BYU? (05:11)
What was your experience like, going to Arizona Cardinals? (08:04)
What led you back out of that addiction into where you are today? (17:23)
What would be the biggest one or two life lessons or tips that you would share with someone? (32:46)

In this episode, you will learn:

The game that changed Max’s life trajectory. (10:46)
How Max got addicted to painkillers and opiates. (13:34)
The lowest point in Max’s life. (19:27)
Max’s experience of getting sober in a rehab center. (23:40)
The most important lesson people with an addiction need to learn. (27:29)
How giving second chances can help turn someone’s life around. (28:37)

Connect with Max:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 261 - 3 Habits to Make this Your Best Year Ever

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This year has been a roller coaster full of unexpected turns. But 2020 is just about to end, and what we need to ask ourselves is, “How will I go into 2021 focused, ready, and aligned with my inner self so that it can be a great year, regardless of what comes?”

Focusing on what matters most empowers you because now your attention goes to the things that are within your control, your sphere of influence, instead of being taken aback by the unexpected events that are not in your power to change.

In this episode, the final one of 2020, we’re going to share with you the three habits that will make 2021 your best year. These habits are ever-green and they have proven time and again to be powerful for the people that constantly apply them. And you can see the results for yourself with a little discipline needed to follow our advice today.

So, listen to Episode 261 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how developing a vision, writing clear goals, and doing pre-week planning can help you stay laser-focused on doing what matters most. We guarantee you that they will improve your relationships, your professional life, as well as have a positive impact on your personal self.

In this episode, you will learn:

Why 85% of New Year’s resolutions are broken by January 15th. (01:36)
The Five Predictors of Longevity. (05:25)
How to develop a personal vision that focuses on what matters most to you. (06:09)
The power of written goals. (10:48)
How to word clear goals so that they last past January 15th. (11:54)
The importance of pre-week planning. (16:36)
The four steps of pre-week planning to correctly shift out of reactivity and into proactivity. (18:20)
Our definition of ‘discipline’. (21:41)
A couple of examples of people who’ve done the pre-week planning and how that impacted their life. (22:26)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 260 - A Christmas Message

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Christmas is a really special holiday and a wonderful time of year. It is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus of Bethlehem. What an extraordinary night! A gift unlike any other has been given to us - one that filled the earth with greater love, forgiveness, and eternal hope.

Throughout history, there have been many wonderful stories that have helped us understand the lasting impact Christmas has on each and every one of us, stories that teach us to be grateful for the acts of love and consideration that we receive, and in turn, to do small, quiet acts of kindness for others.

In this episode, we wanted to share with you two of these stories that happened in 1938 and 1914 – how Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was born, and the World War One Christmas Truce. Both of them show the true great meaning of Christmas and can serve as encouragement for us to do good this holiday season, in any way that we can.

Listen to Episode 260 of Becoming Your Best, to get your dose of happiness for the day. We wish you all a Merry Christmas!

In this episode, you will learn:

How stories of hope and encouragement make the world a better place. (01:50)
The story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the lessons we can learn from it. (03:40)
The World War One Christmas Truce. (08:03)
Steve’s message for everyone that’s listening. (14:38)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 259 - How to Remain Positive, Hopeful, Trusting, Loving, and Calm

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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world.” – Margaret Mead

Imagine what would happen if everyone did these four things: control what they can control, build and maintain trust, become better listeners and communicators, and last but not least, innovate through their imagination. How much more effective would they be? What impact would that have on our society?

Building these principles and practices into your life melts away frustration, distrust, anger, and hatred, and they replace those with vision, peace, hope, calmness, and love. In today’s episode, we are going to suggest four things that you can do to create greater trust, stronger relationships, and hope that produces permanent positive change.

Listen to Episode 259 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how you can start to apply these principles today and see an immediate effect on those around you. And remember! You CAN make a difference by focusing on what you can control and living a principled life.

In this episode, you will learn:

The insights from David Brooks’ article, “America is Having a Moral Convulsion”. (02:03)
The importance of focusing on what you can control. (13:08)
How to build and maintain trust. (15:23)
The two parts of being an effective listener and communicator. (18:20)
The power to innovate through imagination. (21:37)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 258 - How to Minimize Stress During the Holidays

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As we go into the holiday season, especially this year with COVID-19 preventing us from getting together with our families, most people find that they’re experiencing higher stress levels than ever before.

That’s why, in today’s episode, we thought it would be great to have our dear friend, Jon Skidmore, with us to talk about some of the challenges that are associated with this time of year and how we can make a great experience out of this year’s Christmas time. We dive into what traditions mean to us in general and why the increased level of expectations can create additional stress in our lives, as well as why we need to set certain boundaries around some of the traditions that bring more anxiety than fulfillment. Jon stresses the importance of relationships and why we should prioritize them, and he describes how we can change our narrative by playing the ‘Yes, and’ game.

Jon Skidmore is a licensed psychologist, professor at Brigham Young University, therapist, and he’s had the chance to work with thousands of people over the years. Jon co-wrote a book with us, called ‘Conquer Anxiety’, and he has some amazing insight around this topic, especially now, when the holidays are knocking on our doors.

You are in for a treat today, so listen to Episode 258 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how you can better cope with the stress and anxiety caused by COVID-19 and 2020’s holiday season.

Some questions I ask:

What are you seeing in the landscape right now, as far as stress and anxiety with the holidays coming up? (03:12)
What are some of the things that people can specifically do to minimize anxiety and stress this month? (08:42)
Any other thoughts on traditions? (17:04)
Any final thoughts or tips that you have, as we go into the next three or four weeks of December here? (22:04)

In this episode, you will learn:

The importance of prioritizing the relationships in our lives and staying connected with the people we care about. (05:43)
How to rewrite the stories you tell yourself. (10:17)
Why you should set boundaries around the traditions that are stressful to you. (11:58)
The rule of thumb for this holiday season and the ones that follow. (15:27)
The ‘Yes, and’ rule. (19:22)
What the book “Conquer Anxiety” can teach you in terms of reducing the stress around this particular time. (22:56)

Connect with Jon:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 257 - Felix Cao - The Art of Neuromarketing and Neuroscience

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Have you ever thought about what part of your consumers’ brain you’re targeting through your marketing campaigns?

One thing that might be useful to you is knowing that most of the time, people buy based on their instincts and not their logic. To be more exact, up to 95% of the time, your consumers’ choice to buy is influenced by factors that they are not aware of. So, getting to the bottom of why they are buying and what drives their decisions, is what you really need to focus on, in order to get more people purchasing what you offer.

In today’s episode, we are joined by Felix Cao, the founder of Happy Buying Brain – a neuromarketing company. He is a neuromarketing and a business growth strategist and at his organization, he is combining his 15 years of business experience with his educational background in biological science and psychology to help businesses truly understand what makes their customers’ brains tick when it comes to better achieving customer brand loyalty over their competitors, through the power of implementing neuromarketing into their own marketing campaigns.

So, listen to Episode 257 of Becoming Your Best, to learn what neuromarketing is and what advantages it has over traditional marketing, as well as how you can understand and leverage how our consumers’ minds work.

Some questions I ask:

What is your background? What are some turning points that have had a significant impact on you? (03:30)
What is neuromarketing? (07:47)
Can you give us a case study of an organization, a product, or a service that may be approached by a traditional marketing approach, and how would you transform it, making it neuromarketing? (09:27)
How can neuromarketing – or at least having a strong understanding of neuroscience – help people become the best version of themselves? (11:47)
Why should high performers learn about neuromarketing or neuroscience and the importance of understanding this primal brain and reaching new heights of success? (15:37)
What are some distinct advantages that neuromarketing and neuroscience offer to help people adapt and evolve in this new environment that we’re in? (20:01)
Any final tips you’d like to leave with our listeners today, Felix? (23:31)

In this episode, you will learn:

How Happy Buying Brain was born. (06:10)
The difference between traditional marketing and neuromarketing. (08:45)
How neuromarketing addresses our primal brain. (10:12)
How the fear of getting rejected prevents us from becoming the best versions of ourselves. (13:38)
The resources you can use to learn about the different dimensions of the primal brain. (17:58)
The role NLP plays in neuromarketing. (18:57)
How to increase the effectiveness of brand messaging. (22:01)

Connect with Felix:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 256 - The Power of Reflection

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The fast pace of life tends to make us feel we need to rush through every moment so that we can keep up with it. If we let ourselves get caught up in this whirlwind, we might find out, near the end of our lives that we missed so many beautiful opportunities that could have helped us become our best.

One thing highly successful people and leaders do, is allowing themselves to take the time to pause, take a step back, and reflect upon their lives, their careers, their relationships, and their actions. Research shows that taking 15 minutes to reflect each day, improves your productivity by 22.8%.

So, instead of hustling day after day, wouldn’t it be easier to handle life with ease and grace? We sure like the second option, and that’s why, in today’s episode, we thought of sharing with you four steps that you can take, in order to have a quality reflection time. You will learn what is the impact reflection can have on your life, when should you best sit down and reflect, and some useful tools that can help you in this process.

So, listen to Episode 256 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how to leverage the power of reflection!

In this episode, you will learn:

How taking the time to reflect upon your life helps you in the process of becoming your best. (01:50)
Some use cases that prove the power reflection has in our lives. (03:48)
How the 52-Week Success Rhythm program offers great perspective and time to reflect. (05:50)
Some suggestions on when to take the time to reflect upon the past, present, and future. (07:11)
The importance of maintaining a positive upbeat outlook when you’re reflecting. (11:30)
How writing down your thoughts gives you great insights into your life. (12:23)
How to begin to take action after you’ve paused and reflected. (13:48)
The impact of regularly taking time to reflect. (15:01)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 255 - A Firefighter’s Story: You lift Me, I Lift You, And We Ascend Together!

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The firefighter departments in our country have been dealing with inclusivity and diversion issues for such a long time! Throughout decades, the average number of black people or women joining the forces has been on the low side of the scale, but things are starting to change!

Our guest today, Russell Grant Hayden - the Founder and President of the Firefighter’s ABC’s- although his initial life trajectory didn’t point to being a firefighter, has been given the chance to join this world in the late ‘60s, and became the first Black hired by the Los Altos Fire Department. Since then, he’s helped countless young people of all backgrounds join the endless fight against fires.

His motto is “Reach out and touch someone else” and he encourages everyone to help others in need because the ripple effect of every small act of kindness toward one person can make a difference on thousands of other individuals!

Listen to Episode 255 of Becoming Your Best to find out his background story – which is one full of hope for many individuals that find themselves in rough places – as well as to learn what Firefighter’s ABC’s is all about and how you can join their cause of bringing more diversity into this amazing and noble field.

Some questions I ask:

Grant, tell us about your background – what led you to where you are today? (04:15)
What are some of the experiences you’ve had, that have been inspirational for you, where you’ve seen real progress? (05:46)
What are some tips you could give us, to be more successful and to make a difference? (13:47)

In this episode, you will learn:

The diversity & inclusion issues within the firefighter departments throughout the country. (05:46)
How one person changed Grant’s life by introducing him to the Student Firefighter Program. (06:31)
The ripple effect of small acts of kindness. (08:37)
The struggles Grant had to go through, as the only black man in his firefighter department & His motto in life. (10:38)
How Firefighter’s ABC’s is preparing the youth to become more well-rounded and able to deal with life. (11:48)
How you can join the Firefighter’s ABC’s. (16:13)

Connect with Grant:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 254 - Maximize Your Success Using the IDEOS Mantra

28 perc 1. évad 254. rész

It’s amazing what a business can do for its clients when it has a clear vision, a purpose, and a why! But keeping tabs on everything that’s going on in a company is pretty difficult! That’s why it’s crucial to learn easy but yet quite significant tactics that help you stay focused on your end goal.

Today, we have a delightful guest with us - Jennifer Goldman. With over 30 years of experience in transforming small and mid-sized businesses, she coaches leaders on business management techniques and consults on operations infrastructure improvements that boost people, productivity, profitability, and growth. She is going to share with us some of her tips that she uses both in her life, and with her clients also, that have proven to be successful for any individual or company.

Jennifer has been published in Inc. Magazine, Tech Tools for Today, Liberated CEO, and several other magazines, and has taught workshops and spoken at several national conferences. Her love is helping businesses thrive and embrace operational changes so that they can help more consumers. As a volunteer, she advocates for public schools, and in her personal life, she is a loving wife, and mother of two teenagers.

Listen to Episode 254 of Becoming Your Best, to learn more about ways to prioritize your improvements, protect your time, and boost your growth in your personal and professional life.

Some questions I ask:

What is your story? And what are some turning points in your life that have had a significant impact on what you’re doing today? (03:30)
How do you help prioritize all possible business improvements to create the biggest impact? (06:12)
How have you found the best way to say no? (12:43)
Do you have any advice on how to be the best leader for your team during the pandemic? (15:58)
What role does modern technology play for a leader? (17:22)
How do you help businesses to boost their growth? (21:04)

In this episode, you will learn:

How Jennifer switched from being a financial planner to business owners to becoming a business owner and consulting other people. (05:09)
How to determine what your priorities are. (07:23)
The importance of having a plan written down. (09:41)
The art of saying no and protecting your time. (11:36)
The IDEOS mantra that helps you reduce your workload and free up your time. (14:08)
Why you should have a scheduling system & the tools that can help you. (19:35)
The importance of focusing on your niche and finding your audience. (22:25)

Connect with Jennifer:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 253 - Go Forward with Faith

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When we’re faced with difficult situations, we have a choice: to let fear dictate our emotions and our decision-making or to have faith that everything we’re experiencing is part of a bigger plan, the blueprint that is set for each and every one of us.

We may not know all the answers - actually, we never know all the unknowns in a life equation – but trusting and believing that God takes care of us is the differentiator that can help us overcome any challenges. So, go forward with faith!

In this episode, we share with you some personal experiences that we’ve gone through over the past few years, and the lessons we’ve learned – and continue to learn – from them. Listen to Episode 253 of Becoming Your Best to find out why it’s important to focus on what we can control and have faith for the things that are out of our ability to understand.

In this episode, you will learn:

The two forces in the world, that cannot coexist. (03:00)
An example that shows the importance of going forward with faith, even if you don’t have all the answers. (05:00)
How to focus on the things you can control when you’re faced with difficult moments in your life. (08:28)
How to view every challenge through the lens of, “There is a God, and there is a plan”, instead of making fear-based decisions. (11:19)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 252 - Grow Your Business and Relationships through Video

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How many emails and text messages do you write in a day? And how good are you at communicating exactly what you want, including your emotions and your tone?

We’ve all gotten used to this digital environment that for the past few decades allowed us to easily communicate and connect with people all over the world. LinkedIn messages, emails, text messages, Slack messages, you name it! All of these are convenient and have dramatically improved our productivity.

Although all these communication channels prove to be helpful in our day-to-day life, they have a major downside as well. With all this digital anonymity - where we’re hiding behind some written words - and especially in the last couple of decades with the rise in powerful and inexpensive automation tools, we’ve begun to lose the human touch.

Luckily, our guest today and BombBomb, the company he works for, are coming up with a solution to rehumanize our businesses and our online relationships. What they’ve been proposing for a decade now in their growing community, is to replace some of our plain, typed-out text with simple, personal video messages. It’s more satisfying and more effective for us, and people feel as if they know us before they even meet us.

Ethan Beute is Chief Evangelist at BombBomb, co-author of the book ‘Rehumanize Your Business’, and host of the Customer Experience Podcast. Prior to joining BombBomb, he spent a dozen years leading marketing teams inside local television stations in Chicago, Grand Rapids, and Colorado Springs.

Listen to Episode 252 of Becoming Your Best, to learn all about the relationship through video approach and how it can help you boost your sales, make lifelong connections with your clients, as well as the invaluable support videos can offer in your relationships with your employees or friends.

Some questions I ask:

What’s your story? And how did you get to where you are today? (04:01)
What’s the best way to get started with this relationship through video approach? (12:12)
When might people use this style of video? (18:03)
How many video clips do you do in a day, or a week, or a month, or during a year? (22:50)
What’s the average length of one of your video clips? (24:49)
Any final tips you’d like to leave our listeners with, today? (27:40)

In this episode, you will learn:

Ethan’s experience of working as a bus driver in the late ‘90s. (06:30)
What BombBomb is and does for its clients. (08:52)
Why videos are important for your business. (10:27)
How videos allow us to restore the personal, human touch in a digital world. (15:41)
The best times to use video to communicate a message. (18:03)
The role videos play in non-verbal communication, as opposed to typed-out messages. (25:51)

Connect with Ethan:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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The Culture Spark: 5 Steps to Ignite and Sustain Team Growth

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If you’ve listened to our podcast long enough, you know that we often talk about people, culture, and strategy. The reason we put so much emphasis on these three words is because they are crucial to a company’s success.

The culture you create right from the get-go in an organization is the fuel that helps all the other things run smoothly. According to our guest today, it’s the DNA of any organization, and treating it with the utmost importance and creating a strategy for it just like you would do in your financial department, can surely take you far.

In today’s episode, our guest is Jason Richmond – the CEO and founder of Ideal Outcomes Inc., and the author of the book, “Culture Spark: 5 Steps to Ignite and Sustain Organizational Growth”. He is a business executive with more than 25 years of experience, and an in-demand keynote speaker who has worked closely with Fortune 500 leadership teams all around the country.

We dive deep into what it means an organizational culture, what you should focus on in terms of corporate culture, what are some myths around this topic, and what are the 5 steps toward sustained organizational growth. Listen to Episode 251 of Becoming Your Best, to learn the fundamentals that help your team become their best and thrive.

Questions I ask:

What’s your story? How did you get to where you are today? (04:55)
How do you define organizational culture? (07:54)
Why having the right kind of corporate culture is so important? (09:35)
What are some common myths about corporate culture and the impact they have on business? (12:14)
What impact did COVID-19 have on culture? (20:16)
Any final tips you’d like to leave our listeners with? (24:31)

In this episode, you will learn:

The one thing that’s consistent in every high-performance culture. (03:28)
One turning point in Jason’s career. (05:52)
The six fundamentals that are defining an organizational culture. (08:15)
The role ‘culture influencers’ have in a company. (11:05)
The first step to creating a strong organizational culture. (14:33)
How to diagnose your company’s culture. (16:50)
How to measure your culture. (18:49)

Connect with Jason:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Say NO with Consideration, Courage, and Conviction

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When was the last time you said ‘no’ when something big was at stake? We bet it wasn’t easy, but it was liberating at the same time!

For the majority of people saying ‘no’ can be quite challenging. Whether you’re dating someone and you just don’t feel it’s right, or you are in a toxic relationship and want to get out of it, or you are in a work environment that just does not suit you – how do you say ‘no’ in a way that you are true to your feelings, yet you are considerate of the other person?

In today’s episode, we offer you a few ideas and steps to follow when you’re put in the sensitive position of saying ‘no’ to a task, a partnership, a relationship, etc. What we’re suggesting here is the foundation that will help you every single time!

So, listen to Episode 250 of Becoming Your Best to learn how being principles-centered and trusting your feelings can help you say ‘no’ with consideration, courage, and conviction!

In this episode, you will learn:

A story that inspired this episode. (01:41)
Some examples of situations where you might have to say ‘no’, but you don’t know where to begin. (03:25)
Why being principles-centered is the foundation that will help you say ‘no’. (05:22)
How applying the ‘6 Steps to Effectively Plan, Create Solutions, and Take Action’ will make it easier for you to say ‘no’. (10:05)
The importance of trusting your feelings when you decide what’s best for you. (12:09)
A practical way to say ‘no’ with consideration, courage, and conviction. (13:03)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 249 - Lessons Learned with Jeff Burningham

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When you’re first starting a business, it’s not only about the idea you have or the plan you’ve made to make your company successful. Most importantly, it’s about the people you begin your journey with and the individuals that you decide to accept in your inner professional circle – because business is a team sport, and you can only win if you learn how to select your players.

Today’s episode is full of nuggets from our guest, Jeff Burningham. His vast experience not only in the entrepreneurial world but also in the political arena comes with lots of lessons learned along the way - and he was kind enough to share some of them with us. We discussed how to choose the right partner for your business and what to focus on when interviewing a potential employee, how the best leaders show up for their people, as well as Jeff insights on running for governor and the reasons he decided to start a podcast after he’s spoken with thousands of people in his campaign.

Jeff Burningham has built and sold multiple businesses and he’s invested in several others through Peak Capital Partners, a company he founded to helps organizations get their feet off the ground. More recently, he ran for governor in the state of Utah. He is one of the people that just have an incredible amount of background experience and a wealth of ideas that would definitely benefit you and so many other people.

Listen to Episode 249 of Becoming Your Best, to learn from Jeff’s journey through life and business and choose at least one lesson learned by him that you can apply today to become your best on the path you’ve taken.

Some questions I ask:

Jeff, can you give us a little background on who you are? (02:30)
What are some of the most important things that you’ve seen, that will help make a business, an entrepreneur, or a team successful? (05:58)
What are you looking for in the people you hire? (12:08)
What were some of your lessons learned from the experience of running for governor? (17:26)
What are one or two of the most impactful lessons learned in your personal life? (24:22)

In this episode, you will learn:

The number one job entrepreneurs, founders, or CEOs have. (06:18)
What it means to be an urgent leader and why it’s important for early-stage businesses. (07:35)
The reason why Jeff doesn’t like to invest in solo founders. (09:11)
The attributes of an ideal partnership. (10:20)
Jeff’s favorite question when he’s interviewing people for a job. (14:04)
What Jeff’s podcast is all about. (19:37)
Why politics offer ‘fake leadership’. (22:32)
The importance of having compassion over comparison. (27:59)

Connect with Jeff:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 248 - Creativity: The Key to a Remarkable Life

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When we were children, we used to dance, sing, paint, and express ourselves through any means, without being afraid that someone would judge us. But as we grew up, we started to lower our creativity levels due to the fear of being criticized by our peers, our families, or our friends.

But think about it for a moment. All the successful companies that currently thrive each year have been founded by creative thinkers that applied their imagination and their intuition to bring into the world different things that may have been considered fiction a while ago. Or even think about COVID-19 and how it forced us to step out of our comfort zone to find new ways to go on with our lives.

We all have that creative thinking inside of us, and it’s a skill that we really need to exercise more if we want to become the best version of ourselves.

Our international guest today, Firdaus Kharas is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and he was named one of the world’s 50 most talented social innovators and has received more than 112 awards - including the prestigious Peabody Award. He founded the Chocolate Moose Media in 1995, a human-centered mass communications to influence hundreds of millions of lives across the world.

Firdaus is the author of the book, ‘Creativity: The Key to a Remarkable Life’ in which he dives deep into what creativity is and is not, how creative thinking applies to all of our lives, and how we can hone into this skill and really design the life that we want.

So, listen to Episode 248 of Becoming Your Best, where Firdaus gives us a true lesson of how we can become our best by consciously using creative thinking both in our personal and our professional lives.

Some questions I ask:

Tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that have really led you to where you are today. (02:13)
What led you to going from mass communication on issues throughout the world, to writing a book on creativity? (07:22)
What are some of the barriers to creativity? (10:07)
What are some things that from your experience, really help people stoke up their creativity and use it? (21:01)
Any final tips you’d like to leave with our listeners? (27:05)

In this episode, you will learn:

Firdaus’ definition of creativity. (05:57)
The purpose of Firdaus’ book. (09:08)
The role creative thinking plays in innovation. (13:10)
Case study: Motorola vs Apple & the importance of maintaining creative thinking throughout a company’s lifetime. (14:29)
Why creativity is the most required skill an employee should have. (17:17)
How COVID-19 enhanced our creative thinking, on a global scale. (18:14)
The part of our brain that uses creative thinking. (24:15)
An example of how you can use creative thinking to regular activities. (25:47)

Connect with Firdaus:

Chocolate Moose Media Website
LinkedIn
Book: Firdaus Kharas – Creativity: The Key to a Remarkable Life

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 247 - Gratitude and Hope

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If there’s one thing the year 2020 has shown us is that it’s very easy for things to go sideways. The COVID pandemic, the racial injustices, and all the bad things that started to happen all around the globe are strongly influencing people’s moral and their feeling of hope.

That’s why in this episode, we want to focus on gratitude and hope because these two are the motor that can keep us going, can help lower the anxiety levels we’re experiencing, and can always, no matter the circumstances, do good for ourselves and our families.

So, listen to Episode 247 of Becoming Your Best to find out how you can practice gratitude every day, some example of things you can be grateful for, and how hope has a ripple effect and one person can truly make a difference not only for those around them, but for people all over the world.

In this episode, you will learn:

One of the main enemies of gratitude: comparison with others. (02:19)
The importance of spending at least a few minutes a day on practicing gratitude. (03:47)
Why we recommend spending less time on social media. (06:22)
What you can do to keep the feeling of hope in a world where it seems people are starting to lose it. (07:31)
A beautiful example that shows there’s still hope for all of us. (09:57)
The two possible meanings of the acronym G.I.G.O. (11:31)

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Episode 246 - The Rise of Podcasts During This Pandemic

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Every person has a different skill set that they bring into the world - and combining two powerhouses, two strengths in a partnership can lead to something that’s far greater than ever imagined.

Today, we have two amazing guests that put together their strengths, kept a clear delineation of their lanes, and brought into the world The Podcast Accelerator course. This is the only done-for-you program on the planet, where they take you from “I’m not sure what the concept of my show would be”, all the way through to having a published, finished podcast by the end of their eight-week course.

If you’re wondering who these amazing women are, here’s some background on them! Ginni Saraswati is the CEO and Founder of Ginni Media – a podcast production company that helps individuals and organizations each step of the way into creating, marketing, and distributing their podcasts and making their voices heard – and we are grateful to be one of her many clients. Her wonderful business partner is Michelle Sorro, the founder of Live Video Academy and the amazing host of the “Fire and Soul” podcast, a top 10 in self-development.

Together, they’ve guided 53 people to launch their podcasts through two editions of The Podcast Accelerator Program, and they’ve poured their heart and soul into delivering the most value into the world. This amazing program started from the idea that it can be isolating and a little lonely trying to go solo when your friends and family might not be in the same space of understanding what it’s like to start a podcast, run a podcast, and most importantly, persevere in the podcast industry – so, joining a community that can offer support throughout the whole process can help you stay the course and get to the finish line.

If you want to start your podcast, and you’re not sure how or you need a little bit of hand-holding throughout the process, listen to Episode 246 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how you can be part of the third – and last this year – edition of The Podcast Accelerator. They have an Open House soon, so feel free to join there also, and learn what you can expect from these two amazing powerhouses that impact the world every day through their work!

Some questions I ask:

Ginni and Michelle, tell us about your background – how did you get to where you are today? (04:53)
Ginni, what is currently happening in the world of podcasts? Can you give us some stats? (10:53)
Michelle, if someone's interested in hosting a podcast show, how do they get it done? (17:49)
Ginni, what are some things that podcasters can do to have as wide a reach as possible for their target listeners? (21:06)
How can you make a podcast show relevant? (25:48)
How can people find out about the Podcast Accelerator? (33:07)

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How Podcast Accelerator was born & A valuable lesson for those who want to jump in a partnership. (07:53)
How to overcome impostor’s syndrome when you’re considering starting a podcast. (17:08)
The long-term benefits that Michelle gained by hosting a podcast. (19:49)
Why it’s better to start a podcast alongside people that want to do the same. (20:13)
The relationship between money and podcasting. (22:55)
How vulnerability makes you timeless. (27:56)
How to start to carpe diem your dreams. (30:50)
Taking the time to pause and self-reflect can lead to better decisions. (31:53)

Check out The Podcast Accelerator which removes ALL the guesswork of how to get started.

This is the only program on the planet that produces your podcast FOR YOU.

We've produced 53 podcasts during the pandemic!

This full-service program gives you all the tools, tech resources, and support you need to become the successful podcaster you’re meant to be.

Yep, you're guaranteed a LIVE professionally edited podcast on all your favorite podcast apps by the end of the program.

If you’re ready to share your amazing, one-of-a-kind message with the world, we’re here to make that happen.

Come by our last Open House of the year, Wednesday, September 9 at 5pm PST / 8pm EST to learn more.

SPACE IS LIMITED AND THIS PROGRAM ALWAYS SELLS OUT.

Connect with Michelle:

Connect with Ginni:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 245 - Come What May And Love It!

24 perc 1. évad 245. rész

“Come what may and love it!” is not just a saying. It’s an attitude about life!

Every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don't sing and the bells don't ring. Yet, despite discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result.

There may be some who think that their leaders or others rarely experience pain, suffering, and distress. If only that were true! Well, almost every person, man or woman, has experienced an abundant measure of joy. Each, also, has drunk deeply from the cup of disappointment, sorrow, and loss. None are really shielded from grief or sadness. This is part of life and part of humanity.

Today’s episode is inspired by a talk given by Joseph B. Wirthlin, who is an American businessman and a renowned religious leader, who lived to be 91 years old. We’re going to give you a piece of great advice – the same Joseph received from his mother, almost 100 years ago, when he experienced a sad moment - on how to handle the setbacks, the tough times, and to take responsibility and move forward to make the best of life that could ever be possible!

So, listen to Episode 245 of Becoming Your Best to learn what you can do to weather the storms, keep your feet under you, gain experience, and have greater happiness and success as you encounter the bumps, challenges, and disappointments along the way of life.

In this episode, you will learn:

The origin story of the advice, “Come What May And Love It!” (01:24)
How our way of reacting to adversity is a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life. (04:32)
The antidote to hard times: learning to laugh about it & three examples that prove its effectiveness. (05:15)
The value of the refiners’ fire – going through trials and becoming better because of them. (11:17)
The importance of exercising faith and hope in the face of all the challenges in life. (17:27)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 244 - S.O. What! Rising above the challenges of life with Summer Owens

28 perc 1. évad 244. rész

Life is hard sometimes. We get to face challenges we’ve never imagined we would, during our time on this earth – and it’s up to us how we react to those obstacles in our way to a happy and successful existence. What would you do? Give up, or push through?

Your ability to be successful in spite of challenges is directly related to how fast you're able to say "so what!"

My guest today is a true example of that statement. Summer Owens is an award-winning Resilience and Leadership speaker, 11-times published author, and certified life coach. She's the founder and CEO of S.O. What! and the S.O What! Foundation. In addition to being an author and a speaker, life coach, excuse eliminator, and entrepreneur, she is an adjunct professor at the University of Memphis where she teaches marketing and the life skills course she created.

Summer became a mother at 15 as a result of a forced sexual encounter, but she didn't let that stop her from achieving her dreams! She graduated from high school, college, and business school with honors and was named "Most Likely To Succeed" and "Miss University" - with her son by her side through it all. And she indeed earned her prize!

Listen to Episode 244 of Becoming Your Best, to find out her story, how she overcame the obstacles in her life, what drove her, and how she’s inspiring countless people through her work.

Some questions I ask:

Tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that’s had a significant impact on you and on what you’re doing. (02:42)
How did you get to be a speaker? Where did that idea come from? (07:35)
What’s it like being a woman minority in corporate America? (10:40)
What is it like to tell such a personal story, like you’ve been talking about? (13:39)
Tell us about S.O What! Give us the background on it, describe it, help us understand it. (17:09)
Any final tips you’d like to leave our listeners with? (24:50)

In this episode, you will learn:

The reason Summer decided to write her memoir – her first book. (04:37)
How having set goals motivated Summer to push through the challenges she was faced with and defy the statistics. (05:15)
Three of the Becoming Your Best Principles that helped Summer become successful: having a vision, managing with a plan, and prioritizing your time. (08:47)
The importance of looking for the lesson in every challenge you go through. (21:33)
How to be accountable for your life. (22:15)
The power of never giving up whenever life gets hard. (23:05)

Connect with Summer:

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Episode 243 - Capturing Your Personal History

24 perc 1. évad 243. rész

One enormous benefit of writing your personal history and that of others dear to you is that it provides you with a perspective of life, and a sense of gratitude for all the blessings that you've been able to enjoy.

Today, the subject of this episode is an entirely different dimension of Becoming Your Best. It very much relates because, of course, we want to become our best across the various roles in life - and family is a big role. This one is about writing or recording your personal life history while capturing and preserving the stories of your life and perhaps others dear to you, for your posterity, friends and family, for the vast majority, including future generations you may not now know but one day will!

These are family legends that are told from one generation to the next - and they live on in so many ways, and weave into our lives a tapestry of depth, color, strength, humor, inspiration, meaning, connection, and vibrancy. And unless these stories are written down with time, they will be lost.

Listen to Episode 243 of Becoming Your Best, to find out how you can begin to write your personal story, as well as the ones of your relatives so that the future generations can learn and be inspired by your life’s legacy.

In this episode, you will learn:

An example of how easy it is to gather information and write someone’s history, even if they’re no longer with us. (01:28)
How the ‘Family Search’ app works and why it’s one of the most comprehensive family history services. (04:48)
How capturing your personal history takes you on your journey of becoming your best. (06:48)
Some tips on how you can produce your life history. (12:29)
Where you can get an outline on how to put together your story. (16:04)
The way your personal history impacts your vision for the future. (16:35)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 242 - Leadership and Management is the defining difference! A special Pandemic Message

34 perc 1. évad 242. rész

“Leadership is doing the right things, and management is doing things right.”

In times of crisis, leadership and management are the most valuable skills that you can have. Leadership provides direction, peace, focus, and clarity, while management provides execution on what matters most.

These two powerful skills have an enormous impact on your success, and in today’s episode, we’re going to show you how YOU can exercise magnificent, inspired courageous leadership, in all aspects of your life, and manage your teams to achieve the worthy results and objectives that you set. The episode is filled with real-life examples that prove, over and over again, that great leaders produce great results!

Tune in, and listen to Episode 242 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how the majestic skill of leadership and the indispensable skill of management will help you win the day!

In this episode, you will learn:

The definitions of leadership and management. (02:12)
How several people, throughout history, successfully exercised the skill of leadership and management. (06:09)
How YOU can exercise magnificent, inspired, courageous leadership, in all aspects of your life, with the help of the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders. (09:23)
Three examples of how you can be good by doing what matters most, every day. (13:08)
The importance of managing to solid business basics. (18:18)
How to stay ahead of the tsunamis that come your way. (22:54)
A history lesson that shows how a true leader exercises his capabilities. (24:32)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 241 - Mid Year Check-In

19 perc 1. évad 241. rész

It’s time for your mid-year check-in!

In today’s short episode, Rob Shalleneberger provides a guide for checking in with yourself and your goals. No matter how this year has gone for you, this is not a space to beat yourself up or feel down about how you’ve progressed on your goals this year. Instead, this is a chance to make a slight course correction to ensure that you stick with and achieve your goals!

Listen in to Episode 241 of Becoming Your Best to learn the 5 things to refocus, pivot, or make necessary adjustments to your finances, health, relationships, and work.

In This Episode You Will Learn:

How you start the morning affects the rest of your day. (4:44)
How to revamp your Pre-Week Planning to make time for the things that matter in your life. (7:10)
How to review your roles & goals for 2020. (10:15)
The effects of consuming uplifting content. (11:35)
Why being of service to others will be the number one thing that lifts you up. (14:33)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 240 - Dr. Eric Cole: Protecting Yourself From Cybersecurity Attacks

29 perc 1. évad 240. rész

Since the Internet has become an important part of our lives, the cyberattacks have grown in number, significance, and the damage they can do to us. Unfortunately, most people still don’t take cybersecurity seriously because they believe only the important institutions are targeted.

But, as our guest today stressed many times in this episode, everybody is a target, regardless of their financial status, and it’s our job to protect ourselves. Luckily, as cyberattacks intensify, so does cybersecurity, and there are people like Dr. Cole that have made it their mission to make cyberspace a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.

Dr. Eric Cole is a distinguished cybersecurity expert and keynote speaker, with more than 30 years of experience, who helps organizations curtail the risk of cyber threats. He has worked with a variety of clients, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to top International organizations, banks, CIA, and he’s been the featured speaker at many security events and has been interviewed by several chief media outlets, such as CNN, CBS News, Fox News, 60 Minutes.

Eric focuses on creating, enhancing, and solving complex problems. He is the founder of Secure Anchor Consulting – a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions and services. As you can tell by this description already, he’s the go-to guy for all the cybersecurity concerns you might have, whether in your personal or your professional life.

If you want to find out more about the first steps you can take right now, to protect your online life, then tune into Episode 240 of Becoming Your Best, and learn cybersecurity 101 from an industry expert!

Some questions I ask:

What’s your background, and how did you end up in cybersecurity? (02:22)
How did you keep your feet under you with all those noes, and keep moving forward and looking for the ‘Yes’? (07:30)
How do you help people in the cybersecurity space? (12:14)
What are some of your favorite stories from being a hacker for the CIA? (13:42)
What are some of the dangers of cyberspace? (15:11)
How do we recognize these cybersecurity threats and protect ourselves from them? (17:46)

In this episode, you will learn:

The importance of always asking questions even if no one else is. (03:39)
Persistence is the key to finding the “Yes” you need. (04:44)
Getting laser-focused on one thing only can help you create the life that you want. (08:53)
The two-year rule that Eric applies to his goals and ideas. (10:08)
Eric’s mission for his business. (11:26)
What steps you should take to protect yourself if you do online banking. (18:49)
Why you should not ignore any anomaly in your accounts - however small - and what action you can take. (20:58)
What ransomware means and how you can protect your data from such attacks. (22:35)
What Windows users can do to protect themselves from malware. (24:05)

Connect with Dr. Cole:

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Episode 239 - Lessons Learned from Matt Sweetwood CEO of LUXnow

26 perc 1. évad 239. rész

One of the reasons we like to talk so much about leadership is because we know that everyone is the leader of their own life. Regardless of the situation, you are responsible for the actions that you take, so we offer you the tools that can help you become your best, and lead your life by design, not by default.

In today’s episode, we invited Matt to talk about his lifelong experience of being a leader. The lessons he’s learned through trial and error are evergreen and apply to every individual, whether it’s in business or in personal life. And especially now, when COVID is changing what, up until recently, we knew was normal, we need all the advice that we can get. We guarantee you that Matt’s golden nuggets will prove to be beneficial to you, your family, and your co-workers and teams.

Matt Sweetwood is the current CEO of LUXnow – a luxury travel platform. Before his current role, he spent 29 years as the CEO of Unique Photo, where he’s made significant revenue improvements through his ability and courage to take action and through his amazing vision. He’s also the author of “Leader of the Pack” – the number one bestseller in the self-help category. The book tells the story of how he suddenly became a single father to five children, which ultimately made him a better person, leader, entrepreneur, and father.

Listen to Episode 239 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how to successfully pivot in business, and how important it is to always think of ways in which you could reinvent your organization - tomorrow, even, if a crisis occurs.

Questions I ask:

What are some of the big things that you touch on the book? (04:54)
What are the big changes you see happening in the marketplace, now, with everything moving online? (14:07)
What are one or two of your biggest lessons learned throughout your life? (21:30)

In this episode, you will learn:

What Matt’s book, “Leader of the Pack” is all about. (02:45)
The number one condition to be able to lead other people. (03:46)
The ultimate driving force in leadership. (06:03)
The successful pivots Matt took while being the CEO of Unique Photo. (08:20)
The two types of pivots companies can make & How COVID has changed education, probably for good. (11:22)
The biggest mistake people can do in business. (17:35)
The actions Matt took at LUXnow when he realized that COVID might affect the normal way of doing business. (17:50)
Matt’s advice when it comes to the relationships you have in your life. (22:40)

Connect with Matt:

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Episode 238 - Rewrite Your Story

18 perc 1. évad 238. rész

When we’re faced with a certain situation, oftentimes we create multiple what-if scenarios in our minds with endless possibilities of how something could go wrong. This wiring of ours can only bring us stress, panic, and feelings of anxiousness because, most likely, none of those scenarios will turn into a reality.

In today’s episode, you will learn how to spot those made-up stories that your brain tends to focus on, the questions you need to ask yourself or others in order to do a reality check every time you feel you go sideways, and how to turn all those negative stories that we imagine, into positives ones, so that you can live a happier, stress-free life.

Tune in to Episode 238 of Becoming Your Best, and learn how to develop the ability to rewrite your stories and see what impact it has in your life.

In this episode, you will learn:

The reasons why Principle #7 of Highly Successful Leaders is one of the hardest ones to apply in our lives. (02:04)
The two lessons that I’ve learned in just two days. (02:41)
An example that proves the impact of communicating in a way that motivates others. (03:55)
How we create stories out of thin air that do not reflect the reality we’re in. (08:14)
How to turn the negative stories into positives ones. (12:00)
What you can do right after listening to this episode. (14:24)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 237 - Lessons Learned from the CEO of Fancy.com

27 perc 1. évad 237. rész

High-performing leaders and organizations constantly look for ways to improve their strategies, their workplace, and their people. They never stop moving forward and always figure out ways to grow. Sometimes, this means bringing someone from the outside world into your company and letting them share their experience.

Our guest today, Greg, is an expert at helping others find the blind spots in their companies and take action on changing and improving their culture. He shares with us golden nuggets, throughout the entire episode, that apply not only in the professional life but also in everyone’s personal life.

Greg Spillane is a growth-focused technology leader with an 18+ year track record of success in large-scale business development, architecting, and implementing innovative go-to-market strategies, building high-performing teams with a strong culture and taking technology products from concept to commercial viability by leading the strategy, design, development, and marketing.

Greg applies all the lessons he has learned throughout his athletic career as a Division I offensive lineman as well as those he learned while developing high-performing teams and organizations, to further improve his skills and help other businesses thrive.

Listen to Episode 237 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how to better lead your teams, how to build the culture that you want and why it’s important to trust the people that you chose to be part of your organization and let them do what they do best, without micromanaging them.

Questions I ask:

How has athletics, how has that experience as a Division I athlete helped you become a better leader? (03:09)
How do you approach winning hearts and minds when you go into a company? (08:07)
From your perspective, how important is culture within an organization? (11:04)
How can you change a culture that’s already established? (13:45)
What do you mean by ‘never stop moving forward’? (18:43)

In this episode, you will learn:

Success comes only through dedication, commitment, and hard work. (04:16)
One powerful definition of ‘discipline’ that applies to everything that we do in any walk of life. (06:00)
The three pillars of building the culture you want for your company. (11:46)
The importance of having a team aligned with your company’s vision, purpose, and goals. (14:35)
How to get closer to your goals when they seem too big and far away. (17:27)
The reasons why you should truly stop trying to micromanage your teams. (19:36)
Doing everything out of passion is ultimately the most important thing in life. (24:58)

Connect with Greg:

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Episode 236 - Five Stages To Conquer Anxiety

39 perc 1. évad 236. rész

A couple of weeks ago, we did an episode where we discussed Chapters #1 and #2 of our recently released book, “Conquer Anxiety”. We talked about, what is the mind all about? Why do we, as humans, experience anxiety? What’s happening in the brain, that’s causing that? We also stressed the importance of taking the assessment in Chapter #2 because that will help us understand the root cause of what’s causing the anxiety and where that fear is coming from.

After you understand where your anxiety is stemming from - the nervousness, the anxiousness - now, what do you do about it? How do you conquer that anxiety, overcome it, and learn to move beyond it, so that you can have boldness, confidence, freedom and peace, and be liberated from those emotions that are so gripping to so many of us?

In today’s episode, our dear friend and co-author, Jon Skidmore, comes back once again as our guest, to answer these questions. He shares with us what the five stages of conquering anxiety are all about and how they can serve us as a tool for easing our way into becoming high-performance individuals.

Listen to Episode 236 of Becoming Your Best, to learn what performance anxiety is, how to prepare for our ‘performance’, and what we should do once the event passes.

Questions I ask:

Jon, can you talk about stage one of conquering anxiety, which is, “Identify the vision”? (06:30)
Can you explain to people what Monkey Chatter is? (17:25)
Talk about stage five – the Post-Performance Debrief. (29:23)

In this episode, you will learn:

A brief overview on the five stages of conquering anxiety & some examples where the performance anxiety can kick in. (03:11)
The mental and physical preparation to conquer anxiety. (10:17)
The six different exercises in the book that will help you calm your body down when your anxiety gets activated. (12:36)
The reason why we did the online course that accompanies this book. (16:50)
How to react in stage three – the Pre-Performance Experience. (20:23)
The chair flying exercise. (21:57)
What a peak performance is. (26:43)
The three parts of stage four – The Performance. (27:40)
How the avoidance starts to show up when we’re not dealing with our anxieties. (35:09)

Connect with Jon:

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Episode 235 - The First Person You Must Lead is You!

29 perc 1. évad 235. rész

Leadership is a journey and such a driving force in life! It is both tangible and intangible, and where it really makes a difference is in crisis. It makes a difference between a good and a great family, a good and a great community, or a good and a great company, because it takes a great deal of self-discipline to be a leader, to be on time, and to choose the harder right over the easier wrong.

The perfect place to learn these values is in the army, and oftentimes, the people that have served in the US Military, in high positions, have become excellent leadership examples to follow.

In today’s episode, Becky and I discuss the qualities and the values a highly successful leader must have, the reasons why everything starts with yourself, and the importance of knowing when to step up and admitting when it’s time to step down. We also dive deep into her experience in the Military and how it was for her, not only to be a woman in a men’s world, but also thrive in there and lead thousands of soldiers in combat.

Becky Halstead is a retired Brigadier General who founded her own consultancy company - STEADFAST Leadership - after 27 years of service in the United States Army, and one year as the Executive Director for Leader Development with Praevius Group.

She has been honored to be selected to attend West Point in 1977 - entering with the second class of women and being the first kid from her hometown to graduate from West Point. She's blessed to be the first female graduate of West Point to be promoted to General Officer and she served and commanded in combat, as the first female Commanding General at the strategic level of leadership in Iraq - leading 20,000 soldiers, 5,000 civilians from 2005 to 2006 - a first for our Army and our Nation.

Becky has also written the leadership book, “The First Person You Must Lead Is You”, so listen to Episode 235 of Becoming Your Best, to learn some strategies she used in the military and how can those translate in the civilian world so that we can all become our best at leading teams.

Questions I ask:

Could you, please, tell us about your background, including any turning points that have had a significant impact on you? (03:00)
What was it like to be the first woman graduate who became a general? (10:59)
How did you deal with the setbacks you encountered in your journey? (12:45)
How did your book come to be? (17:20)
What is the value of both practical and tactical leadership, in being able to get results? (21:26)

In this episode, you will learn:

How Becky’s high school coach influenced her decision to go to West Point. (05:19)
The importance of not quitting when it gets tough. (07:35)
How the death of Becky’s coach has helped her later in life, during her military career. (09:11)
What the acronym STEADFAST stands for and the reason Becky decided to make it her leadership model. (19:26)
One of the most important qualities a leader should possess. (22:36)
The difference between practical and tactical leadership. (23:45)

Connect with Becky:

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Episode 234 - Dallas Jenkins - Producer and Director of The Chosen

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Over the last few decades, in our culture, it’s almost been this move-away from being able to have open conversations. There is this fear that people get offended so easily and it seems like there’s a lot of things that we can’t talk about. And that’s unfortunate because there’s so many conversations that we could be having with others if we were willing to have an open mind and an open dialogue, without necessarily worrying about offending others.

One of these types of discussions that have become taboo-like in our culture, are around God and religion. That’s why today, we invited someone that is literally influencing the world through the short films, movies, and TV series that he produces and are faith-based.

Dallas Jenkins is the Producer and Director of “The Chosen” – the first-ever multi-seasoned show about the life of Christ. This series was born out of Dallas’s biggest career disappointment, and it encompasses the Gospels in the Bible and shares a beautiful message of hope. The first season had just reached 32 million views and Dallas and his team plan to do seven more seasons and touch on a billion people’s souls.

Listen to Episode 234 of Becoming Your Best to find out the events that led to the birth of this masterpiece, how it’s impacting people so far, and what the future holds for “The Chosen”.

Questions I ask:

Can you, please, tell us a little bit about you? (03:13)
What is your vision for “The Chosen”? (22:38)
Up to this point, what were one or two of the biggest highlights from the whole experience of putting together season one? (25:59)

In this episode, you will learn:

How “The Chosen” was born. (04:22)
Dallas’s biggest career failure. (07:05)
The story of The Feeding of the 5000 and its meaning. (08:44)
An example of what “Impossible math” means – How Dallas managed to break the records of crowdfunding. (13:38)
How the Pay It Forward program works and how you can help fund this project. (16:09)
The top reasons why people have been so passionate about this show. (19:06)

Connect with Dallas:

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Episode 233 - Conquer Anxiety

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Anxiety is something that reaches more people than we realize. It's something that touches us in so many different ways, and it’s crucial to learn where it comes from, to understand how it influences us, and how can we begin to take control over our past experiences that trigger it.

We wanted to make it easier for you to get all the information you need related to overcoming this feeling, so we worked on a book called, “Conquer Anxiety”, that’s designed to do just that. Co-authoring with us is Jon Skidmore, a licensed psychologist and a professor at Brigham Young University, who has an amazing background in helping people through anxiety and all kinds of performance anxiety-related issues.

Today, we invited him to share some powerful insights into understanding the basics of how our brain functions, and why we’re sometimes driven by fears that create powerful anxieties that get in our way throughout the journey of becoming our best.

Jon is committed to getting the psychological skills of peak performance and mental toughness into the hands of performers of all ages and stages. Listen to Episode 233 of Becoming Your Best to learn how the book he wrote alongside with us can help you get a clearer view on the triggers that activate the flight response that stops you from achieving greatness.

Questions I ask:

Why do we experience anxiety in the first place, as human beings? (02:41)
There is an assessment in Chapter 2 of our book “Conquer Anxiety”. Why is it so important for people to take it before they jump to learning the other different techniques? (08:41)
As you see and meet with people on a daily basis, what are some of the most common recurring things that you see? (16:39)

In this episode, you will learn:

The importance of knowing that you activate your anxiety faster than you can deactivate it. (04:25)
The way our adult fears and anxiety triggers are deeply rooted in our childhood experiences. (05:35)
How our brain tends to first see the negative in a situation. (10:55)
The benefits of doing the assessment in chapter 2 of the book “Conquer Anxiety”. (14:36)
The five stages of peak performance that will help you conquer your anxieties. (15:36)
The distinction between positive and negative visualization & How they both impact our lives. (18:54)
The importance of designing a mindset when we create our visions. (20:46)
Facing the anxieties and the fears that you have expands your world and your possibilities. (24:52)

Connect with Jon:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 232 - How to Be a Successful Entrepreneur and Build a Thriving Business

24 perc 1. évad 232. rész

Taking an idea and starting a business can be difficult and daunting for some people, especially because sometimes they don’t know where to start and what end to grab.

Did you know that 75% of the new businesses fail? That’s a pretty scary number, but there are specific ways to avoid the pitfalls within the Formula for Failure, and they all come down to having a clear process in place, and well-defined strategies and goals.

Today, we are going to share with you the keys to becoming a successful entrepreneur and building the thriving business that you’ve dreamed of. The course that contains all of these actions you’re going to hear about in this episode, has proven to be helpful over and over again for people that decided to onboard on the journey to leadership, and we are positive that it will help you steer the wheel in the right direction, too.

So, listen to Episode 232 of Becoming Your Best, to learn what a business needs from its founder, to thrive, grow, and pivot toward the desired goals.

In this episode, you will learn:

The first key to being a successful entrepreneur – taking care of yourself. (07:37)
The things you should focus on during the idea phase of your business. (08:46)
The steps to follow in the next chapter of your business: the Go – No-go phase. (11:13)
How to develop your USP – Unique Selling Proposition. (14:52)
How to develop a strategic plan with clear goals and specific strategies to grow your company. (16:53)
The importance of having an exit strategy right from the beginning. (19:05)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 231 - AmyK - GET IT! Having Winning Conversations

28 perc 1. évad 231. rész

“We were born with a voice box, but it didn’t come with instructions on how best to use it.” – AmyK Hutchens

Communication is hard, and every single day, really smart people are either attempting or avoiding a tough conversation. But, the fact of the matter is that almost everything we want – whether it’s a salary increase, a better life, better relationships – is on the other side of a difficult conversation, and the more skilled we are to be able to prepare for these critical moments in our lives, the more we get what we desire.

In today’s episode, my guest, AmyK, focuses on teaching us how to discover what we want and what other people want so that we can create better connections and profitable outcomes. We dive deep into some magical phrases that can ease our conversations and she shares the steps we have to follow to improve the way we communicate.

AmyK Hutchens is an international award-winning speaker, Amazon best-selling author, and has over 19 years of experience in training and consulting. She has clients such as The Home Depot, Starbucks Canada, Expedia, Lockheed Martin, Walmart, and just a host of others. She travels the globe sharing with executives, influencers, and go-getters how to navigate their toughest conversations, and has been a featured guest on numerous TV and radio networks, including Bloomberg, NBC, Fox, and ABC.

She comes from a family of teachers and educators and literally, when she was five years old she was playing school with her imaginary students. You can imagine how skilled she is at teaching people, so listen to Episode 231 of Becoming Your Best to learn how to honor your voice, one conversation at a time, to get what you want and create a profitable life.

Questions I ask:

Tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that have had a significant impact on you, and how did you get to where you're at today? (02:12)
What’s your recommendation for people to know what they really want? (07:44)
How important is it that people know what the other person wants? (09:57)
What are some of the magical phrases that effectively break down walls and create new possibilities? (11:09)
How do you prepare for your most important conversations, to ensure really great outcomes? (18:44)
How can people honor the worth of their own voice? (20:19)

In this episode, you will learn:

What inspired AmyK to write the book “Get it!” & what the book is about. (03:56)
Improving your emotional literacy allows you to better connect with other people and with yourself. (08:43)
How the phrase “A Part of Me” gives you a space for dialogue versus getting defensive and armoring up. (11:59)
How the phrase “How Might We” leads to more engagement and more inclusivity. (13:13)
Using the magical phrase, “I have this story in my head” can lead to a better conversation. (14:42)
The phrase “Help me understand what’s the thought behind” is a great way to practice empathy. (16:20)
AmyK’s most important advice when it comes to dealing with tough conversations. (23:05)

Connect with AmyK:

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Episode 230 - Carson Tate - Work Simply Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style

28 perc 1. évad 230. rész

Being productive and efficient - both in our professional and personal lives - is a difficult task sometimes. There are countless apps and programs that come in handy sometimes, but many of them are not mindful of the fact that we don’t all think and process information the same way - thus, our strategies to increase productivity should be adapted to what works best for us.

Carson knows all about designing personalized methods for better managing our time to accomplish more in a shorter period of time, and in today’s episode, she is going to share with us powerful insights into the styles of productivity that fit our needs. We also discuss how to work smarter from home and how to eliminate or reduce as much as possible the distractions that keep us from being efficient.

Carson Tate is the founder and managing partner of Working Simply - a productivity and training firm that served a fast-growing list of clients including Delta Airline, FedEx, Wells Fargo, or Chick-fil-A. She is known for igniting personal transformation through her simple, powerful, and actionable strategies and tools.

Carson wants people to work smarter, not harder, and she is on a mission to debunk the time management myths that keep us trapped or overwhelmed, and to help us personalize our productivity, so we can work simply and live fully. Prior to starting Working Simply, she worked in human resources and sales functions with Fortune 200 firms. She holds a bachelor's in psychology, a Master's in organizational development, and she has advanced coaching certificates.

Listen to Episode 230 of Becoming Your Best, to find out which productivity style suits you, where can you find the strategies that apply best to your personality, and how you can simplify your work.

Questions I ask:

Carson, tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that have had a significant impact on you, and maybe that's even led you to do what you're doing today. (02:07)
The subtitle of your book is “Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style” – what does that mean? (09:31)
How can we conquer the overwhelm of working and living in this ever-changing and complex Coronavirus world? (14:21)
What are some of the best tips that you have of working together virtually - things that really work, that are productive? (18:40)
Any other final tips that you would like to give our listeners today that you think would help them in personal or professional productivity? (24:50)

In this episode, you will learn:

How her book, “Work Simply” can help you increase your productivity. (05:01)
The four productivity styles and their characteristics. (06:15)
Some productivity strategies for each one of the four styles. (10:26)
The importance of knowing the productivity styles of your manager and coworkers. (13:02)
The four-part framework to work simply and live fully in the Coronavirus world. (15:24)
How to manage the distractions that surround us when we are working from home, by using “The Stoplight System”. (20:12)
The role music plays in our productivity. (22:00)

Connect with Carson:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 229 - 8 Strategies Every Caregiver Should Know

29 perc 1. évad 229. rész

"There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need a caregiver." - Rosalyn Carter

Having to take care of a loved one that is going through some tough situation, health wise, can be overwhelming most of the time, especially if we are the only person that is carrying this burden.

In today’s episode, Erin points out that we are not alone in this, and she teaches us how to create the support group we so desperately need, to avoid the caregiver fatigue. She also shares some of the strategies she has applied when her sister needed an advocate and how she managed to keep everyone informed and looped in, every step of the way.

Erin Galyean is an energetic and passionate certified Becoming Your Best trainer within her organization, whose main goal is to inspire others to have an open mindset, develop new skills, and have fun while learning. Based on her experiences with losing both her father and sister to life-threatening diseases, Erin has recently written a book, “Badass Advocate: Becoming the Champion Your Seriously Ill Loved One Deserves”, with the sole purpose of helping other caregivers who are faced with similar situations to handle everything with ease and grace.

So, listen to Episode 229 of Becoming Your Best, and learn how to plan for something that hopefully you won’t have to deal with, but you most likely will, at some point.

Questions I ask:

Why did you write the book and who is it for? (04:47)
What are a couple of the strategies that you've outlined in your book that people could learn from you? (10:27)
You wrote the book, you published it – how do you think this will help caregivers going forward? What’s next? (20:21)

In this episode, you will learn:

The improvements we made to the BYB Personal Productivity Assessment. (00:54)
Erin’s background that shaped her into the woman she is today. (01:54)
How to create, as a caregiver, a support team that will help you feel less overwhelmed. (11:21)
Recording the conversations you have with your doctors – with their permission – has proven to be very helpful. (15:30)
The type of resources you can find if you go to Erin’s website. (23:59)

Connect with Erin:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 228 - Innovation and the Pivot to Excellence

22 perc 1. évad 228. rész

An educated population, given the right tools, can solve any problem. That’s why, now more than ever, with the constant evolution of technology and the amount of information we have access to, it’s important to bring education front and center on the list of things that we are supporting.

University leaders have the responsibility to be responsive to their students’ needs and find new ways to adapt faster and better organize their internal structure so that they can take advantage of every opportunity available.

In today’s episode, Dr. Saunders and I are talking about the future of education, and what every university should do to quickly respond to change and pivot so that they can align with the constant demands of innovation.

Martha Saunders is the sixth president of the University of West Florida, and in her 30-plus years in higher education, she has served as a professor of communication, honors director, dean of arts and sciences and as provost, chancellor, or president at universities in Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Mississippi. Her area of academic expertise is in public relations and crisis communication for which she has won numerous awards, including two Public Relations Society of America’s coveted Silver Anvils. She is also the 2011 National Winner of the Stevie Award for Women in Business.

Her vision for the University of West Florida is for it to grow beyond its beginnings as a regional comprehensive university, and be seen as a leader in innovation and cutting-edge academic programs. Listen to Episode 228 of Becoming Your Best, to find out what is needed in terms of leadership, to bring such an institution – or any other type of organization, as a matter of fact – to a higher level.

Questions I ask:

Tell us about your background and some of the experiences that you've had and what are the things that have led you to where you're at today? (02:51)
Tell us about the University of West Florida - we’d love to hear more about that. (09:22)
How is West Florida becoming Florida’s Innovation University? (12:11)
Any final tips you’d like to leave our listeners with, today? Any encouragement or any thoughts? (19:37)

In this episode, you will learn:

The importance of being able to accept change and to pivot quickly when needed. (06:03)
How learning to lean on your team, trust them, and listen to their ideas is essential for great leadership. (08:00)
What the future of education looks like. (16:52)
How UWF’s Sea3D Lab is currently helping healthcare workers. (14:59)

Connect with Dr. Martha Saunders:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 227 - Dolores Hirschmann Clarity About Life, Destiny and Purpose

21 perc 1. évad 227. rész

Nothing is more rewarding than leaning into a challenge and mastering yourself in it. The problem is that sometimes, the obstacles prevent us from seeing the benefits of our thoughts, and we miss out on opportunities because we’re not capable of realizing the full potential and the impact our ideas can have.

Today, we have a really fun and interesting guest, and together we will discuss how can people realize everything that they’re capable of doing and what are some of the secrets that can help us be better and do better.

Dolores Hirschmann is the Chief Clarity Officer at Masters In Clarity and is an internationally recognized strategist and coach that works with clients to clarify their idea worth sharing, design their communication strategies, and implement business growth systems. She is a writer, a TEDx organizer, and a CTI certified and ICF accredited coach. Originally from Buenos Aires, Dolores moved to the U.S. when she was 25 years old, and she speaks fluent Spanish, English, and French.

So, listen to Episode 227 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how to find clarity through the darkness and confusion of difficult situations and how to sort out the parts of your life where you feel stuck.

Questions I ask:

Dolores, why don’t you tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that have had a significant impact on you? (02:39)
How can people realize their greatest potential? (09:19)
How do people start zeroing in on their strengths, in order to serve other people and leave a legacy? (10:45)
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of business advice, what would that be? (16:35)

In this episode, you will learn:

What a CTI certified and ICF accredited coach means. (07:04)
What Dolores does for her clients and her team in the role of Chief Clarity Officer. (08:24)
How to align your outside growth with your inside growth. (12:37)
What someone does as a TEDx organizer. (14:47)

Connect with Dolores:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 226 - Brad Borkan: When Your Life Depends On It - Extreme Decision Making Lessons

34 perc 1. évad 226. rész

Everything that we do, every action we take, every effort we make, is literally leaving to others a legacy that we may not even be aware of.

In today’s episode, Brad shares some incredible and amazing stories of the early explorers in Antarctica that through their actions made a difference that is visible even today, after 50-100 years later. And like he says, these people – we might call them leaders of their time – followed the same 12 Principles that we’re using, proving that these principles, over and over again, stand the test of time.

Brad Borkan is the author of the book, "When Your Life Depends On It: Extreme Decision Making Lessons from the Antarctic". He has a graduate degree in Decision Sciences from the University of Pennsylvania and has a fascination in how people and businesses can make better decisions. He appeared on cable TV in the US and on radio programs, and spoke to conferences about leadership, teamwork and winning against the odds. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and a member of the Society of Authors.

In his book, Brad focuses on the real life-and-death decisions made by early Antarctic explorers, and reveals amazing lessons of sheer grit and determination that can help all of us make better decisions in our lives.

So, listen to Episode 226 of Becoming Your Best, to learn about brave men that even though they didn’t achieve any of their primary goals, they adapted and moved forward with what they accomplished, leaving us with a legacy that helps and inspires many.

Questions I ask:

Tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that have had a significant impact on you. (02:35)
From your experience, what are the three biggest leadership lessons you've learned from doing the research for your book? (15:41)
How can we apply the lessons learned from the Antarctic explorers to our lives today? (21:14)
What's one of your favorite stories? (23:55)
Any final tips you’d like to leave our listeners with, today? (25:36)

In this episode, you will learn:

How Brad’s book shares lessons that are valuable for modern-day people. (05:20)
How to turn a failure into a success story. (07:05)
There’s always a third option when you’re dealing with a situation. (09:35)
A story about the mindset of looking for ways to move forward instead of looking to blame situations. (13:09)
How the early Antarctic expeditions still lead to scientific discoveries. (30:08)

Connect with Brad:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 225 - Margie Warrell: You've got this!

29 perc 1. évad 225. rész

Most of us are capable of a lot more than we think, but we often sell ourselves short.

One of the biggest reasons for our lack of confidence is the self-doubt that usually comes disguised as the imposter syndrome. Before we even begin to plan our next steps, a little voice screams in our head, “What would people think?” or “How long will it take for people to figure out that I’m not as good as they think?”

And we freeze. We take ten steps back and lock our dreams in a box.

Fortunately, we don’t have to be the best before we put ourselves out there and we don’t have to know all the answers right from the get-go. All it takes is to learn as we move forward.

In today’s episode, my guest takes us on an extraordinary journey on how to doubt the doubt and dare to get out of our comfort zone. We discuss how allowing ourselves to be vulnerable is actually imperative in our life, how truly connecting with people can help us deal with the challenges we’re faced with, and the ways to build confidence in ourselves.

Margie Warrell learned to build resilience, challenge the norms and embrace change through personal adversities. As an international speaker and facilitator, her focus is on helping individuals, teams and organizations build greater resilience, courage, and capacity to thrive in today’s uncertain world. Her client organizations include NASA, Salesforce, Google, Visa, Deloitte, Microsoft, and Facebook.

Margie’s work is based on the latest research in positive and behavioral psychology, leadership development, and organizational change, so listen to Episode 225 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how to give yourself permission to do what you feel called to do, even though you feel uncomfortable, anxious or uncertain of the outcome.

Questions I ask:

Margie, tell us about your background, including any turning points in your life that have had a significant impact on you. (02:12)
What's some of the most impressive research that you've done, that stood out for you that you've used in your book? (07:54)
What have been some of the top lessons that you've learned in the middle of all the challenges and disruptions you’ve described? (11:06)
In your experience, Margie, why are people hesitant to be vulnerable? (17:29)
What can people do to build confidence in their ability to cope with the challenges that they're facing? (21:01)
Any final tips that you'd like to leave our listeners with? (26:19)

In this episode, you will learn:

How her husband contracting COVID-19 has forced Margie to walk her own talk. (03:53)
The reason why Margie wrote her fifth book, “You’ve Got This”. (06:11)
How to overcome the self-doubt. (08:50)
About a UCLA study around naming and labeling our emotions. (12:20)
The importance of allowing yourself to be vulnerable. (14:42)
How to choose the path of faith over fear. (24:41)

Connect with Margie:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 224 - How to Stay Focused and Productive

17 perc 1. évad 224. rész

There is a lot of pain right now in the world, and this is one of those situations we cannot control. But there are, still, some things in our power, and it’s up to us to build the right mindset and acquire the skill set to turn any challenge into a blessing or an opportunity.

If you look at Uber and Airbnb, these were born out of the last recession, in 2008. They were born because people were forced to pivot; there were new opportunities and a handful of people seized them, while others gave up and folded their cards.

In today’s episode, we are going to focus on what you can do to survive and thrive from your home and we encourage you to try out every suggestion that we share, and see for yourself, the impact they can have both on your overall life and on your day-to-day state of mind.

So, listen to Episode 224 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how to take this challenge that we’re in, right now, and turn it into an opportunity to come out stronger on the backside of the crisis we’re facing.

In this episode, you will learn:

The place where you can assess your productivity. (03:22)
How to stay focused on what matters most, especially during these times. (04:06)
The importance of having a vision board, and a few simple steps to create one. (09:21)
How creating a bucket list can help you get clarity into your life. (11:27)
How to focus on learning a new skill in the next 30 days. (13:18)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 223 - The Art of Pure Listening

26 perc 1. évad 223. rész

"The wise old owl lived in an oak

The more he saw, the less he spoke

The less he spoke, the more he heard

Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?" - Edward H. Richards

The purpose of listening is not just hearing words, but understanding because as you listen carefully, you are like an observant detective, noticing clues and indicators. You don't even have to ask questions - you can just notice things, words, expressions, feelings, intent, and content.

Principle #7 of the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders - being an effective communicator - impacts every single role that you have in life, and today that’s exactly what we focus on: teaching you how to master the art of pure listening so that you lead a happier and peaceful life with those around you.

So, start to practice it right now, by listening to Episode 223 of Becoming your Best, where we discuss one of the most challenging or difficult principles to learn and put in practice – how to be an effective communicator. As you repeatedly work on building this skill set, you will get better and better and it will be one of the most valuable skill sets that you own.

In this episode, you will learn:

A vulnerable story of how I failed at being a good listener when it was needed the most. (05:45)
The two sides of being an effective communicator. (10:13)
The mindset attributed to each one of the sides. (11:13)
The five steps to master the art of pure listening. (15:01)
The words you can use to confirm what the other person has said. (17:17)
What you can do, right now, to start building the habit of listening. (20:40)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 222- How to Survive and Thrive During Hard Times

29 perc 1. évad 222. rész

How to Survive and Thrive During Hard Times

In the midst of this crisis, I am grateful to have spring coming because it has so much symbolism! There will be a time of rebirth coming out of the Coronavirus.

Just like there are things that you can do to prepare for springtime as you come out of the cold of the winter, so are some steps that you can take in order to come out of this crisis stronger and better at everything that you do.

So, what are the things that you can do, during this devastating crisis, to make the best of this experience, to be determined to maintain your happiness, health, and vitality, while at the same time preparing for when we come out of this virus crisis, or when we are in a hard time in life?

In today’s episode, I would like to suggest five things that you can do to survive and thrive during difficult moments in your life. These five principles will see you through the hard times now and in the future! They will guide you through personal crises and challenges and see you through over and over.

So, listen to Episode 222 of Becoming Your Best to learn the physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual impact of these five things I am suggesting you to do.

There is no doubt that whatever comes, whatever may be, we can find a way forward that'll work.

In this episode you will learn:

Focusing on your personal Vision, Annual Goals, and Pre-Week Planning creates a deep pathway of doing what matters most. (05:13)
How to program your mind for success by maintaining upbeat, uplifting influences in your life. (09:20)
Having faith - in our most difficult times - brings peace that things will work out. (13:27)
How to serve others, in these hard times. (19:19)
What you can do to be better, as a result of this experience. (24:09)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

Becoming Your Best Website
Becoming Your Best University Website
Pre-order the book, “Conquer Anxiety”
Becoming Your Best Library
Email: support@becomingyourbest.com to get your dated 2020 Becoming Your Best Planner for 50% off
Book: Steve Shallenberger - Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Book: Norman Vincent Peale - The Power of Positive Thinking: A Practical Guide to Mastering the Problems of Everyday Living

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Episode 221 - Start With The Vision - Especially In A Crisis

29 perc 1. évad 221. rész

“These are the times that try men's souls” and true leadership will make the difference of how we come through it. It's our opportunity to really have an impact. These events are upsetting and extremely disruptive, so how can we navigate all of this that is currently happening throughout the world?

The purpose of today’s episode is to introduce - and review for those that may be familiar with it - the 6 Steps to effectively plan, create solutions and take action in the face of stiff challenges, particularly in this case now, in the face of the Coronavirus.

Using the 6 Steps will provide you with hope, peace, and laser-like focus to move forward with confidence, commitment, and purpose toward realizing your dreams. This is your opportunity to shine, to make a positive difference, to exercise leadership that puts you in the best light, so that when you look back someday you’ll say, "We did good."

So, listen to Episode 221 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how to apply the 6 Steps to the thorniest issues that may confront you, and how to not only survive, but thrive and prosper through difficult situations, while at the same time, having a world-class process to realize your dreams.

In this episode, you will learn:

How the 6 Steps to effectively plan, create solutions and take action, came to be. (04:36)
The power of shifting from the problem to the vision. (11:34)
The current reality of the Coronavirus in terms of the impact it has on your organization. (12:39)
The importance of identifying the real issues of the current reality. (14:25)
Brainstorming the options you have to help you realize the vision. (16:35)
How to implement your best options - Who will do what, when? (18:44)
The significance of evaluating and debriefing your process periodically. (20:19)
An example of how you can use the 6 Steps Process in your personal life. (22:37)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 220 - How Kindness Can Change Your World

17 perc 1. évad 220. rész

It’s a pretty tough world in which we live right now, and we could all use more kindness in our lives. By genuinely helping people, we not only improve their lives, but ours too, in the process, and we can live a much happier, more fulfilled and deeply satisfying life.

In today’s episode, I share with you a couple of stories that prove how kindness can change your world, and although it’s a short podcast, I hope you’ll find just one quick thing that can help you improve just slightly more than you are currently today in your life.

So, listen to Episode 220 of Becoming Your Best, to learn the ripple effect that kindness can create in the world.

In this episode, you will learn:

Famous Dave’s secret of success – invest in yourself. (01:00)
How a keynote on the power of kindness inspired me to help a homeless person. (03:03)
A story on how kindness can improve the relationships with those around you. (05:41)
Listening to the other person and seeking to understand their problems is one of the greatest acts of kindness. (08:57)
The power of Principle #5 – Live the Golden Rule. (12:59)
The pursuit of perfection helps us find excellence. (14:28)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 219 - Riding Social Videos and Media to the Future

29 perc 1. évad 219. rész

Companies now are spending millions of dollars a month on marketing. Last year, digital spending overtook TV, radio, and print. In this fast-paced world, people prefer watching a video than reading an article or an instruction manual, so in order to keep up with your competition, you have to get creative.

Video really makes it more interesting and attracts more attention. The good news is, you don’t need to have high-end production equipment – you can make really good video ads on your iPhone – but instead, it’s more important to invest in great copywriters to catch people’s eyes.

In today’s episode, I talk with Travis about the future of ad-making and where it is best to put your marketing money in, for a profitable ROI.

Travis Chambers is the founder of Chamber Media, a 30 person growth and video agency that tripled the revenue of four multi-million dollar D2C companies in the last 2 years, using quantitative creative, producing and testing modular video content and using it to scale revenue through social ad spends. He’s a Forbes 30 Under 30 lister, has been featured in Inc., Entrepreneur, and AdWeek, and has been a keynote speaker at Google Growth Summit, VidCon, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

So, listen to Episode 219 of Becoming Your Best, to learn the tricks you can use to figure out what kind of ads you can create for your company, regardless of your inventory runway.

Questions I ask:

How are companies using social video ads to grow? (06:17)
What’s a good budget to sustain? (12:13)
Where can you find talented writers? (16:36)
Tell us, just for a moment, what does your firm provide? (17:44)
What does the future hold for social video ads? Where do you see this going? (19:22)
How do you approach the creative process and figure out what ads to make? (20:42)
What are the social media platforms that companies should focus their attention on? (25:08)

In this episode, you will learn:

Travis’ background and some of the turning points that got him to where he is today. (01:46)
Two examples of companies that significantly increased their revenues through video ads. (07:46)
How smaller companies should approach the video ads field. (08:44)
The reason why it’s more important to invest in a good writer than into production equipment. (14:40)
The seven foundational ads that every account should have. (21:29)
How you can combine these seven foundational ads. (23:47)

Connect with Travis:

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Episode 218 - Lance Allred - The First Legally Deaf NBA Player

32 perc 1. évad 218. rész

People have forgotten how to ask questions and one of the reasons is the online culture that has been spoiling us to have things set and catered to our exact preference. Everything needs to look the way we want it to look, and therefore, if people don’t fit in that perfect cookie-cutter model that we have designed – our comfort zone – then they’re a threat.

That is not true! Even if there is a universal truth out there, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t different ways of perceiving it.

In today’s episode, my guest is the first legally deaf NBA player – Lance Allred. Since he retired from basketball, he became a speaker, trying to inspire people and encouraging them to achieve their goals, by following the principles of perseverance.

Lance Allred is an expert on Leadership, Perseverance, and Grit. Legally deaf, at 80% hearing loss from RH complications at birth, he was born and raised in a polygamist commune until the age of 13. He is the author of four books - with the fifth, “The New Alpha Male” coming on soon – and the TEDx Star of “What is Your Polygamy?”

So, listen to Episode 218 of Becoming Your Best, to learn about Lance’s background and how he ended up teaching people how to communicate – the one thing that everyone takes for granted, even though he spent 15 years in speech therapy. We also discuss the principles of perseverance and how you can apply them in your life.

Questions I ask:

Lance, please share a little bit of your background and how you got to where you are today, so that we can get a little more personal feel for who you are. (02:36)
Let’s talk about your new book, “The New Alpha Male” and tell us what that’s about and what the intended objective of that is. (13:40)
Do you have a website or a place that they can go to get that book, Lance? (30:00)

In this episode, you will learn:

What is cult mentality and religion, according to Lance. (03:52)
The backbone of Lance’s message as a speaker. (06:36)
A suggestive analogy between culture and the different types of computer software. (09:31)
The question you should ask yourself, to figure out if you have integrity. (16:10)
One of the mistakes most entrepreneurs do, regarding their employees. (17:20)
How to let go of the victim archetype and embrace the teacher archetype. (22:01)
Compassion is one of the hardest strengths. (26:56)

Connect with Lance:

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 217 - Be a Light; Leave a Legacy

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A lighthouse symbolizes a steady and grounded structure that guides people to safety and represents strength and hope. And if you think about it, the wonderful lighthouse doesn’t just sit there – it comes in a time of storm as well.

So how can you become the light that guides people to overcome the obstacles in their lives?

In today’s episode, I am sharing with you a strategy that you can follow step by step to build yourself up, be more productive, learn and be the light that guides your family, your employees, your friends and anyone around you, to become their best and influence others in turn.

Listen to Episode 217 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how you can master the power of the rock-solid Principles of Highly Successful Leaders and People.

In this episode, you will learn:

The reasons why the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders help you become a guiding light for others (02:33)
Seven things you can do, that will help you master the Principles of Becoming Your Best (06:57)
Ways in which you can directly lift, inspire and build other’s lives (11:16)
How you can become one of our certified trainers (16:07)
About the Becoming Your Best Return on Investment Calculator – a useful tool that increases performance and productivity (16:37)
The apple analogy we use in seminars, to teach people the impact they can have on everyone around them (20:53)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 216 - One of the Grand Secrets to a Happy Life!

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Across the world, our collective culture is designed to make it easy for us to focus on ourselves, on our own game, and on what we can do to fill our personal buckets. While it’s extremely important to take care of ourselves, there is one thing that can help us find the true happiness that we’re all searching for.

Listen to Episode 216 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how you can be truly present and aware of the opportunities that are all around you. This is a life-changing episode and we suggest that you listen to it with an open mind.

In this episode, you will learn:

How a book called, “The Message”, inspired me to rethink the way I look at happiness. (03:51)
The spoon analogy that’s indicative of the idea of service. (07:27)
A couple of stories from the book, “The Message”, that shows what one of the grand secrets to a happy life is. (08:23)
How one of my friends motivated me to take action inside my local community. (13:50)
The starfish approach and how you can apply Principle #5 of the 12 Principles of Highly Successful People and Leaders - Live the Golden Rule. (17:55)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Book - Lance Richardson: The Message

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Episode 215 - Throw Away The Script

18 perc 1. évad 215. rész

Setting expectations is great!

However, more often than not, we tend to tie our happiness to the way we imagine things SHOULD go, and feel disappointed and frustrated when they aren’t how we envisioned.

It’s time to throw away our scripts and realize that our peace and balance should not depend on the movie-type expectations we plan for ourselves and others. So, listen to Episode 215 of Becoming your Best, to learn what we mean by that and why this could lead to a more fulfilled and delightful life.

In today’s episode, you will learn:

About our new book, “Conquer Anxiety” and how you can pre-order it. (02:10)
The difference between setting expectations and having a script. (03:56)
A story on how scripts can ruin a beautiful experience. (05:42)
The liberating power of throwing away the script. (09:08)
Some questions for you, to figure out whether you’re tying your happiness on what someone else should be doing, from your perspective. (14:54)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 214 - The Language of Those Who Win

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Adopting and incorporating the language of those who win is essential for becoming our best and changing the results we get in our life, both personal and professional.

Those who consistently win have a certain dialect of conviction, of confidence that whatever they set out to do is going to result in victory. They figured out the power of self-mastery and they’re champions of mental toughness.

In today’s episode, Thomas Blackwell, one of our Master Trainers & International Speakers, and an expert in the language of those who win, talks about identifying and celebrating the good moments in every situation. He has some great motivational examples that are meant to prove that anyone can gain victory after victory, regardless of the outcome or the industry we’re in.

Listen to Episode 214 of Becoming Your Best to learn that you should never give up on your goals and if you always apply the power of knowledge, you can live a life by design, enjoying your wins every day.

In this episode, you will learn:

The quality that separates amateurs from professionals, in any industry. (03:38)
How to identify and celebrate victories, regardless of the score. (06:54)
The story of Daniel Ruettiger – the star of Rudy, the #1 sports motivational movie in the world. (07:55)
A real-life example of doing more doing than thinking. (13:43)
Dan Gable’s winning philosophy. (16:49)
What you can do to implement the language of those who win. (23:57)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 213 - How to Make This Your Best Year Ever

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How do you stay focused rather than setting a New Year’s resolution that just trickles away after a few weeks?

There are three keys to being productive and highly successful in your personal and professional life: writing down a vision, setting your roles and goals, and committing to constant pre-week planning.

In today’s episode, we discuss each and every one of them, and we will take you, step by step, through the process of making this year the best one you’ve had so far.

So, listen to Episode 213 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how you can use your time in a productive manner and what to focus on when setting your goals.

In this episode, you will learn:

The importance of writing your vision – your why to get up in the morning. (04:12)
The three questions you should answer, before developing your vision. (07:18)
The number of goals you should have for each role you play in your life. (11:19)
How to write your goals and why the wording is decisive for the success/failure of accomplishing them. (13:03)
Some examples of my goals for 2020. (14:50)
How pre-week planning can make a real difference in your life. (16:58)
How to do your pre-week planning. (18:32)
Transactional versus transformational mindsets. (21:25)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 212 - GRATITUDE a key to motivation and abundance!

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Gratitude can be a game-changer on our motivation, our feelings, and our happiness, as we move forward to becoming our best and to make a difference both in our personal and our professional life.

Making a habit out of being grateful every day for all the things that we have can help us live in peace and balance – a trait that every highly successful person has.

We’ve dedicated an entire episode on the powerful practice of gratitude, so listen to Episode 212 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how you can easily improve your performance, productivity, and life altogether, by taking the time to be grateful.

In this episode, you will learn:

Gratitude helps you follow principle #11 of The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders and People – Live in Peace and Balance. (03:07)
A great experiment to see what impact a gratitude practice can have on you. (04:20)
A list of the things I am grateful for, that’s meant to be an example of how easy, yet powerful this activity is. (06:02)

BYB Resources

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Episode 211 - Tim Campos: Personal Productivity Intelligence Tools

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How long does it take for you to schedule meetings or daily activities?

We are what we choose to spend our time on, and learning how to be more productive can give us the freedom to do what we enjoy most.

On today’s episode, Tim shares with us the story of Woven - an intelligent calendar that helps busy professionals maximize the most valuable asset they have, which is time.

Tim Campos is the former Chief Information Officer at Facebook. In his 6 years there, he managed to make it the most productive company in the world. Now, he is the CEO of Woven – a company working to reimage how people use their calendars, so they can spend time on what matters most to them.

So, listen to Episode 211 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how you can easily be more productive, by letting an app do the work for you.

Questions I ask:

Tim, tell us about your background, especially including any points in your life that were transformational, that have had a big impact and maybe led to what you're doing today. (01:57)
How did you end up with Facebook? (05:03)
Tell us about Woven. (09:47)
How do we become more productive? (14:04)
I went online and looked at some of the resources that you have, and it looks like you also have some type of group scheduling tool. Did I read that right? (16:55)
Let's just wrap up with any final tips of the best productivity advice that you may have, Tim. (21:38)

In this episode, you will learn:

The two things that are incredible about Facebook, as a company. (07:38)
The reason why Tim decided to leave Facebook to start his own company. (08:39)
Why a calendar alone might not be the best time-organizing tool for you. (11:05)
How Woven works and how much time it can save you. (11:57)
About an interesting feature of Woven that saves even more time scheduling your meetings. (14:24)
How Woven can help you with repetitive events. (18:52)

Connect with Tim:

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Episode - 210 - A Fresh Start! New Beginnings. Vision, Goals and Doing What Matters Most

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Every beginning of a fresh year brings new challenges and opportunities. 2020 will never repeat itself, so how can you make it the best year you’ve had so far?

The answer is pretty simple, and you can accomplish whatever you set your mind on, by being determined to constantly use three powerful tools: having a personal vision, setting annual goals, and doing pre-week planning.

Episode 210 of Becoming Your Best is filled with amazing quotes, poems, and songs that will definitely boost your eagerness to be your best in the year that is right around the corner.

Our team wishes you a grand New Year for you and yours!

In this episode, you will learn:

How you can get back up after falling. (03:21)
The winner’s mindset of making things happen. (05:00)
The skillset to create a new beginning and a fresh start. (05:48)
The lyrics of a song that can put 2020 in perspective for you. (08:46)
The power of the Principles of Becoming Your Best – they never age but can help you become your very best at any age. (11:00)
How to create a deep mental path to happiness and success. (12:36)
An inspiring poem by Edgar Albert Guest about the spirit of making things happen. (17:43)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 209 - The 12 Principles of a Highly Successful Marriage or Relationship

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Would you like to have greater happiness, joy, closeness, and deep love in your marriage or partnership?

In our study of 40 years, we documented the things that help people become successful leaders, and we discovered 12 Principles that are universal and produce a predictable result. The good news is that these principles work perfectly well in your personal relationships too, and in today’s episode, we are going to show how every single one of them can help you have a wonderful marriage/relationship.

So, listen to Episode 209 of Becoming Your Best, to learn that you’re never too old or too young to create a happy and warm environment with your spouse/partner, by applying the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Marriages or Relationships.

In this episode, you will learn:

How the 12 Principles of Highly Successful People and Leaders came to life. (04:49)
How to be true to character in your relationship. (06:55)
The steps to create a couple’s vision. (08:23)
How to build and maintain trust in your relationship. (16:38)
The 5 steps of being an effective communicator with your spouse. (17:27)
How you can apply the power of knowledge, with your significant other. (22:41)
The things you can do to strengthen your marriage and relationship. (26:28)
An example of how the 12 Principles can help save a marriage. (27:24)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 208 - The Missing Ingredient to Effective Communication

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Are you truly listening to what other people say when you’re having a conversation?

Whether we don’t understand a subject because we’re not paying attention, or we misunderstand a situation because we already think we have the answer, it all comes down to one thing. In order to be efficient communicators, we first have to master the ability to listen.

A lot of people think listening is about the listener making sense of what the speaker is saying, and although that’s useful, the true conversation happens when you are helping the speaker make sense of what they mean and helping them understand what they say.

In today’s episode, Oscar and I discuss the key ingredient of being an effective communicator. He shares with us powerful techniques that we can use in our relationship with literally everyone, from our co-workers, clients, and friends, to our family, spouse or children.

Oscar Trimboli has coached, mentored and advised people in a wide range of roles, from founders, CEO, CFO, COO, CMO, CTO and a variety of other leadership roles in financial services, technology, professional services, education, and not for profits. He has been asked to speak to leadership teams and their organizations about the importance of clarity to create change, how to embrace the digital economy and the role values play in the achievement of your purpose.

So, listen to Episode 208 of Becoming Your Best, to gain a different perspective on mastering the power of being silent and deep listening.

Questions I ask:

What is deep listening? (03:41)
What's the difference between a good listener and a great listener? (11:00)
Explain what the four villains of listening are, and what's that other side of the coin? (18:58)
For someone listening to this right now, whether they're at home, whether they're in the workforce, wherever they're at, what's one thing that across the board you say, "Do this today, and it will have a big impact in your life." (26:54)
For those who would like to find out more about you, Oscar, how could they find you? (29:05)

In this episode, you will learn:

The difference between active listening and deep listening. (04:25)
Two simple but essential phrases you could ask people, in order to hear their full thoughts. (05:04)
Three tips to help you remove distractions while you’re listening. (12:13)
The story of one of Oscar’s clients, that proves how learning to listen can change your life. (15:54)
The difference between how men and women listen. (18:00)
Why it’s easier to practice deep listening with strangers than with the closest people. (24:44)

Connect with Oscar:

Website

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Episode 207 - The Good, Better, Best RESET RULE

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One of the most amazing gifts that we’ve been given, is the power of choice. No matter the situation, we have the ability to choose how to respond and we can either take it personally and let it affect us in a negative way, or we can look at it with a positive upbeat mindset.

Think of the alternative to happiness, peace, and productivity. The alternative is misery, frustration, and lack of productivity. So what’s the answer? How do we develop the habit of shifting to only good thoughts?

Today, in Episode 207 of Becoming Your Best, we answer these questions, by teaching you the Becoming Your Best REFRESH/RESET rule and how it can impact your life for the better.

In this episode, you will learn:

Some insights from the movie City Slickers, that teach us what’s the one thing that can make a difference in our lives. (01:44)
How we choose to look at a situation influences our happiness, health, and productivity in life. (03:38)
An example of how choosing to answer positively to negative situations can totally change the atmosphere in the room. (05:32)
How to give your brain permission to go back and do a reset. (08:29)
How to exercise the Highly Successful Principles of Leadership, in order to be healthier, happier and more productive, leaving things better than when you found them. (14:30)

Becoming Your Best Resources: 

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Episode 206 - Charlene Li - The Disruption Mindset

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Since the birth of the Internet, a lot of things have changed in the way we handle business, and to keep our organizations on top, we have to rapidly adapt and see a few steps ahead.

Disruption isn’t something you turn on and off at your convenience, and it’s very uneven, so you never know when it’s going to hit. That’s why you have to always be on the lookout for it because when it comes, there are great growth opportunities that follow.

In today’s episode, Charlene shares the characteristics of disruptive organizations, the strategies they employ in order to stay ahead, and the mistakes some companies do in their journey through disruption.

Charlene Li is the founder and CEO of the Altimeter Group. She has over 20 years of experience in tech and business and has been a respected advisor to Fortune 500 companies, especially on digital transformation and leadership. Charlene is the New York Times bestseller author of six books, including “Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies” and her latest book, “The Disruption Mindset: Why Some Organizations Transform, While Others Fail”.

Charlene was named one of the Top 50 Leadership Innovators by Inc. and one of the most creative people in business, by Fast Company.

For the past two decades, Charlene has been helping people see the future, so listen to Episode 206 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how to become a disruptive organization in this complex business world that we live in, today.

Questions I ask:

How do you create a strategy that's inspired by future customers? (08:42)
Tell us what a big gulp decision is. (12:21)
What are some of the characteristics that you've seen that allow a flux culture to thrive? (18:41)
How do you hardwire a flux culture into your organization? (21:02)
How can leaders master a new way of developing digital and social relationships for their businesses through customers and clients? (22:01)
Any final tips that you would like to leave with our listeners, today, about disruption or about being successful in business or how to really have breakthrough growth? (27:27)

In this episode, you will learn:

One turning point in Charlene’s background that has impacted her life and got her to where she is today. (02:57)
The real reason why some companies are keeping themselves from growing. (07:27)

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Episode 205 - Gratitude, Peace and Balance - Happy Thanksgiving!

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“A funny thing about life – once you begin to take note of the things you’re grateful for, you begin to lose sight of things that you lack.” – Germany Kent

Gratitude can change your life by shifting your focus on what is wrong with yourself - and the world around - to what is right, and being grateful every day for every little thing makes a huge difference in how you let the chaos of life affect you.

Listen to Episode 205 of Becoming Your Best, to learn all the ways gratitude can impact your life for the better.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, your family and all those around you – may you all live in Gratitude, Peace, and Balance!

In this episode, you will learn:

How to say Thank You in multiple languages. (01:56)
About Principle Number 11 of Becoming your Best – How to Live in Peace and Balance. (02:44)
Gratitude is a mindset, a skill set and a habit that can easily be learned. (04:20)
How keeping a gratitude journal could be life-changing. (05:49)
About the results of a study on gratitude. (07:18)
The benefits of gratitude. (08:20)
An exercise you can practice with your family or your employees. (09:09)
A message from the Becoming Your Best Team. (10:50)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 204 - Homeless and Broken! Lessons and Hope from The Other Side Academy

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“The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places.” - Ernest Hemingway

Making mistakes is human and we all deserve second chances if we are willing to right the wrong, but sometimes people are not given the opportunity to do so. As a parent of two children who got involved with drugs and were in and out of jail, Joseph saw firsthand how incredibly broken our judicial system is, so he and his wife decided to do something about it.

On today’s episode, we talk exactly about that - about giving second chances to people that want to go on a different and better path in their lives.

Joseph Grenny is a four-time New York Times bestselling author and a world-renowned speaker. His work, created over the past 30 years, has been translated into 28 languages and is available in 36 different countries. He’s a dynamic keynote speaker and a leading social scientist for business performance.

Joseph is the founder of The Other Side Academy – a community that helps create profound human change, that is primarily designed for people with the most broken lives - longtime criminals, drug addicts, or homeless individuals.

So, listen to Episode 204 of Becoming your Best to learn that if you dress up, show up, and work hard, you’ll find ways to improve your life, regardless of your background.

Questions I ask:

If you could tell what The Other Side Academy is, and just tell us about that group - what your vision and purpose is, the impact, and how does it work? (06:51)
How does somebody get into The Other Side Academy? (08:22)
From your experience, Joseph, what lessons can a parent learn to help their children and family? (14:48)
Were there challenges and setbacks as you got it going? (18:32)
Any final tips that you'd like to leave with our listeners today? (22:15)
When you have feedback to give, how can you successfully approach another person? (23:44)

In this episode, you will learn:

A pivotal moment in Joseph’s life. (04:25)
The key element that keeps the students in the house. (09:33)
Why some people are scared to take the leap and try to completely change their life. (11:09)
About The Other Side Movers – one of the activities that sustain The Other Side Academy. (11:57)
How The Other Side Academy started. (17:00)
Joseph’s advice on what we can do to make our dreams and ideas become a reality. (19:54)

Connect with Joseph:

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Episode 203 - A Mother's Journey Halfway Around the Globe in Search of the BEST Education for Her Children

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If you want to look at a country’s future, look at what is going on in the classrooms, and you’ll get a great snapshot.

The education system in America is still far away from being perfect - children often don’t feel safe in schools, there’s a great gap between students coming from different environments, parents have to put a lot of effort to make sure their child receives a proper education, and the list can go on and on.

In today’s episode, Teru shares her experience with the Asian education system, highlights some of the difficulties that everyone enrolled in the American system faces with, and gives us advice on what should be done to expand our educational bubble in order to align with the rest of the world.

Teru Clavel is a Comparative Education expert, and the author of the book, "World Class: One Mother's Journey Halfway Around the Globe in Search of the Best Education for Her Children." She has written columns on education for the Japan Times and the Financial Times, she's made appearances on Fareed Zakaria’s GPS, The TODAY Show, CBS's This Morning, CNBC's Squawk Box and Channel News Asia. She has also been interviewed on countless radio shows and podcasts. She spent a decade raising her family in Asia, which includes Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo. She has a BA in Asian Studies and an MS in comparative international education. After two years in Palo Alto, California, Teru has returned to live in New York City with her family.

So, listen to Episode 203 of Becoming Your Best, to learn the impact that education can have on children and the importance of rethinking our American schooling system.

Questions I ask:

Tell us about your background, especially including any turning points in your life that have had a significant impact on you. What has helped you come to where you are today? (03:04)
What led to writing the book in the first place? (05:20)
What are some of the personal challenges you faced and overcame having raised your three children in so many countries and having moved so often? (08:20)
Do you talk in your book about the role of parents? (17:19)
What is, from your perspective, Teru, the single most important thing parents and teachers can take away from your book, "World Class"? (25:00)
Any final tips you'd like to leave our listeners with, today? (26:23)

In this episode, you will learn:

Teru’s life in Hong Kong and the education her children received there. (08:51)
Teru’s experience of living in an ex-communist tenement in Shanghai. (10:14)
The impact that the international education has had on her children’s view of the world. (15:33)
The reasons why Teru calls the US - “The Great American Swiss Cheese”. (18:56)
The importance of teaching our current and next generations about globalization and global competence. (21:00)

Connect with Teru:

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Episode 202 - Transforming Your Data And Story Into an Inspiring Message

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To really drive change as a leader, you have to think through it strategically.

Learning how to communicate data is a critical skill that you need to add to your tool belt because you wind up moving from an individual contributor to a trusted advisor, and becoming a trusted advisor is like the gateway drug to becoming a leader.

In today’s episode, Nancy shares with us some great insight into what great leaders and successful brand companies use to communicate their data to a broad audience. We discuss how you can create a three-act-story structure, what a STAR moment is, and the meaning of what she calls, “The New Bliss.”

Nancy Duarte is the founder of Duarte Inc. - the largest creative firm in Silicon Valley, and one of the top women-owned businesses in the area. Duarte Inc. is a global leader behind some of the most influential visual messages in business and culture, and they work with 200 of the Fortune 500 companies.

Nancy is a communication expert, who has been featured in Forbes, Wired, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and CNN. She has also been a contributor to the Harvard Business Review. As a persuasion expert, she cracked the code for effectively incorporating story patterns into business communication. She's written five best-selling books and she's won a number of awards for that. On the list of the Top 250 Women in Leadership, Nancy ranked 67th, and on the World's Top 30 Communication Professionals for 2017, she was ranked number one!

So, listen to Episode 202 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how you can create your own story, in order to become a high-performing leader.

Questions I ask:

Tell us about your background, Nancy, especially including any turning points in your life that have had a significant impact on you, and maybe even ultimately led to where you're at today. (03:32)
What are the services that you provide to your customers? (07:20)
How do you define a story in relation to communicating data? (09:48)
What are some really great storytelling techniques that help people create this crescendo and just blow people away? (16:58)
What are some ways that award-winning brands communicate data? (19:13)
What final tips could you leave with our listeners, that you think would be most important for them? (23:05)

In this episode, you will learn:

The meaning of the hedgehog concept. (04:40)
The three-act-story structure (10:43)
Nancy’s advice on how to tell your story right and describe your product correctly. (14:23)
How to create a STAR moment – Something They’ll Always Remember. (17:27)

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Episode 201 - How to be in the top 1% and live life to the fullest with Jimmy Rex

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Hard work has always been rewarding for those who keep going and don’t quit if success seems far away. All the powerful and influential people have gone through years of grinding and working 70-80 hours a week, in order to follow their dreams and get to where they are now.

Jimmy knows the value of sacrifice and hard work, and he has managed to form great relationships, to get incredible mentors, and to invest in himself and in his network of people. Now he enjoys life knowing that the Universe is working in his favor.

In today’s episode, I talk with Jimmy about how to rise on the top of your game and how to be in the top 1% that live their life to the fullest.

Jimmy Rex is most known for his career in real estate, where he has sold over 2000 properties and has solidified himself as one of the top real estate agents in the country. Because of his success, Jimmy went on to build his real estate coaching company, which currently coaches hundreds of real estate agents from all across the country.

Outside of real estate, Jimmy created one of the top business podcasts, “The Jimmy Rex Show” and he released his first book this year. He loves to travel and his favorite types of trips are when he gets to go undercover as part of a select group, helping to find and rescue children all over the world.

So, listen to Episode 201 of Becoming Your Best, to get some incredible golden nuggets that are so predictable of success in any one of our lives.

Questions I ask:

What's done it for you, and what's made such a difference in your life? (03:13)
Can you mention what the title of your book is and what the real intent of it is? (19:30)
What's the current state of the real estate market from your perspective? (21:15)
How do you live an extraordinary life? (24:46)

In this episode you will learn:

The pitfalls of social media. (07:23)
The evolution of Jimmy’s mindset. (10:57)
Jimmy’s mission statement. (26:11)
How the Universe is conspiring in your favor. (27:43)

Connect with Jimmy:

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Episode 200 - A HUGE announcement from Becoming Your Best!

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For four years, we’ve been doing this podcast, with the intent to bring value and add value to your life, whether it’s your relationships, your finances or your business.

Now, as we’ve reached the 200th episode, we want to give you exciting news – what we think is one of the most significant movements we’ve done with Becoming Your Best – and, at the same time, we want to ask you to do something that will benefit the youth all over the world!

So, listen to Episode 200 of Becoming Your Best, to find out what we’ve been working on, particularly, in the last six months, and why we are confident that it will help change the world to a better place!

In this episode, you will learn:

Our big announcement that will change possibly millions of lives. (02:31)
What we’ve managed to accomplish through the Lead With Light Foundation. (03:16)
How you can help us in our mission. (04:54)

Resources

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Episode 199 - The Ultimate Source of Influence

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Setting an example for those around you is really the power of influence.

By having your life built on the foundation of correct timeless principles that produce high-performance outcomes, happiness, joy and strong relationships, you set a powerful example that radiates out, and the immediate people that it hits are those around you.

Through your example, you create a culture that defines your strategic direction, your vision, your core values, and your goals and when you’re aligned from top to bottom, you are like a laser in terms of being the best at what you do and making a positive difference in the community and the world we live in.

So, listen to Episode 199 of Becoming Your Best, to find out what you can do, to be an example of living solid principles that influence the people, culture, strategy and ultimately the marketplace in the world.

In this episode, you will learn:

How you can become a source of influence. (01:04)
The real purpose of becoming an influential person. (02:32)
How using the 12 Principles of Highly Successful People and Leaders can help you set an example for others to become their best version. (03:08)
An example of the outcome and impact of living upon high-performance principles and habits. (09:01)

Becoming Your Best Resources:

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Episode 198 - How to Leave a Legacy of Greatness

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Are you happy with where you are right now financially?

Are you happy with your relationships?

Are you happy with your health?

Are you happy with the direction in your life?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, then what needs to change?

On today’s episode, we are talking about the legacy that each one of us leaves behind, and how we can turn it into something great and memorable, starting today!

It’s important to self - evaluate constantly, guiding yourself by the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders because they have proved, time and again, to be powerful and eternal. Once we have a clear vision, we're resolute in our character, and we come back to that over and over again, we have a plan, we prioritize our time, we treat people right, and we start working towards these things, it's amazing what will materialize in our relationships, in our finances, in our health, in the way we feel about our direction – it all will improve across the board.

So, listen to Episode 198 of Becoming Your Best, where you will hear examples of principles and their impact on people’s lives.

In this episode, you will learn:

Why it’s helpful to read the book, Becoming Your Best – The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders, once a year. (03:31)
How to evaluate yourself according to the “Be True to Character” Principle. (06:20)
A different way to look at the “Lead with a Vision” Principle. (07:06)
Why listening is one area that most of us need to improve, according to the “Be an Effective Communicator” Principle. (09:24)
The strong correlation to reading and success. (12:49)

Resources:

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Episode 197 - Four Keys to Prevent and Cure Type 2 Diabetes

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Diabetes Mellitus is a disease that has been around for ages. There has always been a traditional way to keep Diabetes under control, by taking pills and injecting insulin into our bodies for our entire lives, but to this day, nobody talked about curing it.

On today’s episode, our guest, Dr. Steven Cherrington talks about looking at Type 2 Diabetes from a dietary perspective. He shares with us a revolutionary approach to treatment, one that can not only prevent Diabetes, but can also cure it. He tells us the four steps anyone with this condition should take, under medical supervision, in order to come off their meds and live a healthy life.

Dr. Steven Cherrington is a leading provider of family medicine for patients in the Utah County area. He specializes in treating addiction to opioids, runs a very successful weight loss program and recently has started teaching patients to treat their Type 2 diabetes without the use of medications and ultimately reverse or cure their Type 2 diabetes altogether.

So, whether you’re affected by Diabetes, or you have a family member or a friend that suffers from it, listen to Episode 197 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how to prevent and cure it.

Questions I ask:

What is Diabetes? (07:45)
What leads people up to getting Type 2 Diabetes? (11:15)
What is the new approach? (16:50)
What kind of success have you seen with your actual patients? (24:54)
How did you come across all of this information? (29:00)

In this episode, you will learn:

The origins of the name - Diabetes Mellitus. (05:13)
The definition of Type 2 Diabetes. (09:36)
How Type 2 Diabetes was originally treated. (14:47)
The four steps people need to do to stop their medications. (18:26)
The effects that sugar and white flour have on the pancreas. (21:55)

Connect with Steve:

LinkedIn
Premier Family Medical
Gentle Revive
teachable.pfmweightloss.com

Resources mentioned:

Diabetes Class

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Episode 196 - The Power of Vision and Positive Thinking

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"Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character and sow a character and you reap a destiny." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The power of Positive Thinking and having a Vision, is beyond imagination, and it can take you to achievements that can only happen if you have positive and winning thoughts.

If you don’t have a personal vision, it’s far easier than you might think, to create one. And if you have one already, it is worth going back and being sure that it reflects all that you want and hope to be and do.

On today’s episode, of Becoming Your Best, we are going to talk about the Principle, “Lead with a Vision” and we are going to share with you some examples of what having a written and clearly understood vision can lead to.

In this episode, you will learn:

Some examples of personal visions, quoted from Becoming Your Best – The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders; (02:37)
How you can create your personal vision in three steps; (06:21)
About the vision for the event called, “The Hope of America”; (10:50)
How the vision of Rob and Steven Shallenberger- to fly the F16s over the Stadium of Fire - changed their way of looking at life; ( 15:57)
How the vision of never giving up has helped David Shallenberger overcome a traumatic event in his life; (17:42)
Steve’s vision for the next 3-5 years; (23:39)
Four leadership actions that you can take today, to start changing your life; (28:00)
The difference between goals and vision. (29:18)

Resources:

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Episode 195 - Our American Dream; Cultivating a Life of Success, Joy, and Purpose

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Are you one of the people from all around the world, wishing to live the American Dream?

When you don't have much, there's a level of desire and persistence that evolves. As an immigrant born in India, Andrew came to the United States, with one purpose: to help and positively influence the people around him, and he’s done that for over 30 years now.

He encourages entrepreneurs to take calculated, bold steps in the direction of a pure and humble purpose because focusing just on making money, won’t bring the fulfillment we’re all looking for.

Andrew Samuel is the Chairman and CEO of LINKBANKCORP, Inc. and also LINKBANK, and has a long track record of industry success. He has helped take banks from insignificant to really being listed on the Nasdaq Global Market and has been involved in the Mergers and Acquisitions of more than 10 companies, with an aggregate deal value surpassing $1.5 billion. Andrew has shaped workplaces that are listed as the best to work at in their region, and created cultures centered around servant leadership. Andrew lives in the Central Pennsylvania area, with his wife of 36 years. They are blessed with five daughters, four sons-in-law and 12 grandchildren.

He says that our nation allows us to be whoever we want to be, as long as we put hard work into it.

So, don’t miss Episode 195 of Becoming Your Best, to listen to the successful story of a skinny poor little kid from India that came to America and was able to do whatever he set his mind on.

Questions I ask:

Andrew, tell us about your background, including turning points in your life that have had a significant impact on you, on what you're doing today, and on your experiences. (02:07)
What are some of the favorite principles or ideas, for you, from this book? (14:28)
What have you found is the best way to eliminate distractions? (16:40)
How do we learn to serve others when we live in a world where everyone wants to be served? (19:34)
Do you mind just talking about boldness and how does that play out in our success? Why is it important? (24:23)

In this episode, you will learn:

How Andrew and his family made profit out of cow dung. (03:42)
How Andrew decided to write his book, “Our American Dream” and what is the idea behind it. (09:52)
One valuable principle from the book. (14:33)
Andrew’s favorite chapter of his book. (15:28)
What are the two parts that “Our American Dream” is consisted of. (19:03)

Connect with Andrew:

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Episode 194 - Why red light therapy is the best therapy you've never heard of

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A lot of times, when we think about improving our health and wellness it's easy to focus on the things that we put into our bodies - the liquids we drink, the food that we eat - but people often ignore the light that they are subjecting their bodies to.

Companies are realizing that the blue light coming from the screens that we use every day, is dangerous to one’s body, and now they’re trying to limit our exposure to it.

On the other hand, the red light spectrum is beneficial for our health, and Justin and his team, have dedicated their lives to bringing awareness of the advantages of using light therapy for improving your body altogether.

Justin Strahan is the co-founder of Joovv, a global company that delivers the science of light therapy at your door, providing life-changing red and infrared light therapy devices. Before inventing and developing the Joovv, he spent his career as an engineer managing design and development teams.

So, listen to Episode 194 of Becoming Your Best, to find out about this light therapy that has been around for years, but still, few people know about it.

Questions I ask:

Tell us a little bit about your entrepreneurial journey, or at least about how Joovv came about and what the company is and how this started. (02:07)
What are one or two of your key lessons learned as you've built this company? (08:19)
What exactly is light therapy? (10:11)
Can you just briefly describe what blue light is, versus, say, red and near infrared? (12:40)
What is the future of this? (25:55)
What's a good place for people to go so that they can learn more about this? (29:34)

In this episode, you will learn:

How Rob found out about Joovv and light therapy. (07:08)
How blue light can negatively affect our health. (13:22)
Some of the health benefits that people see when doing light therapy. (14:43)
The mechanisms behind light therapy. (19:17)
The advantages of LEDs over lasers. (22:06)
The difference between red wavelengths and near infrared wavelengths. (22:43)

Connect with Justin

Resources mentioned

Website

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Episode 193 - The Triad of a Relationship, Build Trust and Have Fun

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Each one of you has a significant influence on those around you, on your team and organization, your families, but how can you really build strong professional and personal relationships that thrive, and bring out the very best in the people that you work with?

The answer is something that we call, “The Triad of a Relationship.” In this episode, we are going to talk about this basic, simple, but yet fundamental agreement, that you should have in place with every employee, from the moment you hire them.

So, listen to Episode 193 of Becoming Your Best to learn these three essential things that should be embedded in your company’s culture.

In this episode, you will learn:

About the three elements of the Triad of the Relationship. (02:27)
Case study – committing to being trustworthy. (07:28)
About the four parts of the Relationship Agreement. (08:45)
Case study – committing to being the best at what you do. (10:52)
Case study – committing to being fun to work with. (13:18)
About the Harvard Business School’s study that demonstrated that criticism doesn’t help solve problems. (18:10)

Resources:

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Episode 192 - Change Your Language Change Your Life!

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How is your language impacting the outcomes in your life?

There are so many things that we get into the habit of saying in “the negative.” Small, unconscious things such as shifting your language to, “I can’t do this,” to “I CAN do this,” can make a world of a difference. If you change your language, you will change the outcomes that you experience on a daily basis.

In today’s episode, I chat with Thomas Blackwell, author of The liberty of Our Language Revealed. Throughout the episode, we discuss various parts of his transformational book and the fundamental idea that changing your language to reflect positivity will change your results and outcomes for the better. This will impact all parts of your life: your personal and family life, work-life, and even your health.

So listen to Episode 192 of Becoming Your Best to learn how to change your language and change the world, one word at a time.

Some Questions I Ask:

Why should someone buy The Liberty of Our Language Revealed? (4:35)
What proof do you have that reading the book will transform you? (11:33)
Who specifically would benefit from reading this book? (19:27)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

What inspired Thomas to write The Liberty of Our Language Revealed. (2:55)
About the “captain and crew” analogy, and how it applies to all aspects of our lives. (5:16)
How people’s lives have been transformed by changing their language. (11:42)
Where to order the book. (27:06)

Resources:

The Liberty of our Language Revealed

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Episode 191 - The Extraordinary Impact of Leadership How to Become A BYB Certified Trainer

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What steps are you taking to impact the world?

All through time, humankind has made groundbreaking discoveries, accomplishments, and inventions that transform life. Each of these accomplishments is a result of individuals and groups of individuals that all share similar traits and practices that produce high performance and overall excellence.

In today’s episode, I discuss how you, no matter who you are, can employ these principles and transform your own life, your team’s productivity, and the world for the better.

So listen to Episode 190 of Becoming Your Best to learn how to become a leader that transforms the world.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

About the strategies behind every single achievement, discovery, and accomplishment by mankind. (1:08)
What the single factor that makes sustainable high performers more productive than everyone else. (4:16)
Why accountability is essential to being an effective and productive leader. (7:18)
What you can do as a leader to unlock enormous potential in your team. (9:43)
How to become a Becoming Your Best Certified Organization. (13:52)

Resources:

“The X Factor in Productivity”

Becoming Your Best

Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders

support@becomingyourbest.com

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Episode 190 - Our 45th Wedding Anniversary - 6 Essential Things That have worked

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Done correctly, marriage is so much better than being alone.

Is there a risk that things won’t work out?

Can you do a do-over, if they don't?

Well, of course!

But it is worth the risk.

On today’s episode, I want to celebrate my 45th Wedding Anniversary with you, by sharing 6 essential things that I strongly believe have worked in my relationship and that will help you improve your happiness.

Marriage is definitely a ride. It is amazing and fulfilling! What a journey! With time it becomes like the greatest jewel, the greatest treasure on earth, and it is so nice that you can travel with someone you care for.

So, listen to Episode 190 of Becoming Your Best to learn that a marriage is all about WE and one of the keys to living a long, lasting life together with your loved one, is communication.

In this episode, you will learn:

•Examples of annual goals and visions, set together. (04:15)

•The sides of the communication coin. (06:41)

•Examples of traditions that you can have as a family. (08:36)

•How being supportive of your spouse builds confidence. (11:05)

•Great advice on how to be faithful. (12:16)

•Advice for younger generations. (16:32)

•A song and a poem that describe Roxanne and my relationship with her, perfectly. (19:20)

Resources:

Becoming Your Best Website

Becoming Your Best University

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Episode 189 - Vision: From Imagination to Reality

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The foundation to building sustainable high-performance teams is setting a vision and a challenge,

And giving people the autonomy and the space within that challenge to do their best work.

You're not walking into the room with all the answers.

What you want to do, is you want to build an amazing creative team that understands the vision,

Then gets very excited about it and brings ideas to the table that you could've never suggested to them.

On today’s episode, we have a great guest, Christopher O’Donnell. He and I talk about imagination, vision and creativity, about the culture of an organization and about the key elements that build a high-performing team and environment.

Christopher has built dozens of web and mobile products ranging from language learning for the US military to the most popular free CRM product in the world, recorded dozens of albums across a variety of musical genres, and spoken to audiences of 10,000+. His role as SVP of Product at HubSpot, a public tech company, makes him a staple in the product management community and frequent lecturer at MIT Sloan and major corporations. Outside of his day job, Christopher spends his time as a songwriter and guitarist for the band The Providers, who release music on a regular basis.

He says that the minute you think you have everything figured out, as a leader, give it 24 hours and the answers are going to change.

So listen to Episode 189 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how to create a workplace environment where daydreaming and asking questions is cool.

Questions I ask:

•Do you actually go out and do gigs with your band? (04:30)

•How did you become involved with HubSpot? (06:00)

•What are the similarities between creating a Rock & Roll album and developing a successful tech product? (09:40)

•Any final tips that you might be able to leave with our listeners that you think would be helpful in their success? (27:45)

•How can people find out about what you're doing? (28:45)

In this episode, you will learn:

•How Christopher was drawn to technology and music from an early age. (02:30)

•How HubSpot managed to grow from a startup company to a publicly-traded company. (06:09)

•The mindset behind the modern leadership. (12:05)

•The key elements to building sustainable high-performing creative teams. (15:25)

•How his child made Christopher realize the importance of creativity in a team. (22:55)

Connect with Christopher:

•LinkedIn

•Skype: christopherod_2

•E-mail: codonnell@hubspot.com

•Phone Number: 617-800-3446

Other resources:

•HubSpot website

•The Providers website

•The Providers Twitter

•The Providers Facebook

•The Providers Instagram

•The Providers Youtube Channel

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Episode 188 - How to Find Peace and Happiness

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There are a few things that it seems like almost all people are searching for

And those are happiness, a sense of peace, and satisfaction in their life.

What's interesting is people in their 40s, 50s, 60s seem to spend their entire working days and lives looking for it,

But they never really find it.

Often times, people are always looking over the fence and say, "Man, the grass sure seems greener over there.”

On today’s episode, I'm going to share with you what I would consider being two very powerful directions to help us find peace, satisfaction, true happiness, that's sustainable and lasts, rather than being this moving target, this allusive thing that's out there, that we never seem to find.

Deference to a higher power yields so many benefits to us - prayer, hope, gratitude - these are things that will help us find happiness, they're at the core of it, and it’s just a matter of living and thinking about them.

So listen to Episode 188 of Becoming Your Best, and learn how hope, gratitude, and focusing outward rather than inward, will lead to happiness, peace, and satisfaction.

In this episode, you will learn:

•The difference between confidence and cockiness. (04:25)

•How ego can be one of the greatest detriments to our success. (05:00)

•The best leaders are the ones who know their team members. (09:30)

•The difference between a servant leader and a dictator leader. (10:00)

•What is “Service Monday”. (13:50)

•How you can get trainer certification. (16:55)

Resources:

Becoming Your Best Website

Becoming Your Best University

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Episode 187 - The Power of the Extra Mile

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What does it take to go the EXTRA MILE?

In the business world, we are talking about engagement.

Research indicates that about 34% of employees are engaged in their work.

This is always a shocking number!

Part of our job as Leaders is to know how to move that percentage up to 50-60-70% to deeply impact a culture of engagement.

Anticipate, be aware of the circumstances, and do something about it!

That is the Power of the Extra Mile!

On today’s episode, I’m advising you to choose Best over Good and Better. It’s not easy, it doesn’t happen overnight, but going the extra mile in order to become your best will make you happier, more fulfilled and prosper.

One of the guidelines in our organization is that we don't talk negatively about anyone in their absence. As a matter of fact, when we have an issue, we take it to the person, and deal with it in a professional way. The no-no is that we don't do the opposite of that because it could be grounds for no longer working together. So we want to be clear on these things. That's the Extra Mile! We think about how to positively lift everybody that we associate with.

The secret is working with the people first. This, then, impacts the culture of the office and you will see how it shifts your entire organization.

So listen to Episode 187 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how you can consistently exercise the Power of going the Extra Mile, both in your personal and professional life.

In this episode, you will learn:

Examples of what it means to go the Extra Mile. (07:30)
The 6-Step Process of solving problems. (10:00)
The meaning and purpose of the Relationship Agreement. (15:50)
The four steps of the Relationship Agreement. (16:32)
Practicing the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders can help you go the Extra Mile in your life. (21:40)
What is Steve’s cheat sheet and how can you get it. (24:48)

Resources

Becoming Your Best website

Becoming Your Best University

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Episode 186 - Be Brave and Do Amazing Things!

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In order to get the results you want in your business, you've got to have people bringing 100% of their greatness.

It's not rocket science, yet, we still really struggle to figure out how to do that.

Human beings are infinitely more complex than any machine out there, and we require special care to activate our greatness.

So, what is it that people really need to thrive?

On today’s episode, I have an amazing talk with Moe Carrick, about the human needs in the workplace and how the old Industrial Revolution model of management has lost its efficiency.

Moe Carrick helps brave people do the hard things that make organizations great and benefit people, their partners, the environment and the community. She is a best-selling author, with two books released, „Fit Matters” and „Bravespace Workplace”, and she is the founder of Moementum.

Moe believes that people make organizations great, and she always seeks to help people build their companies and thrive.

So, whether you’re a leader or an employee, listen to Episode 186 of Becoming Your Best, to find out ways to improve your workplace, so that everyone is more efficient and happier.

Questions I ask:

Why did you decide to write Bravespace Workplace? (06:25)
What do we need to do to unleash the genie? (08:55)
What is at stake for leaders, in terms of the people part of their business? (12:10)
What are you being brave about, right now? (19:36)
How can people find out about what you're doing? (22:57)

In this episode, you will learn:

All the turning points that have led Moe down to the path she is on today. (01:50)
The reasons why she wrote her first book, “Fit Matters”. (07:00)
Where she found the inspiration for the subtitle, “Making your company fit for human life”. (09:53)
Examples from Moe’s book, that will help leaders attract and retain the people they hire. (14:35)
The results of Google’s Aristotle Project and what does that mean. (18:14)

Connect with Moe:

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Episode 185 - Smart Brand Marketing with Tom Libelt

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In business, not everything is what it seems.

Are you a big fish in a small market?

Or are you an average fish in a big market?

If you're a big fish in a small pond, everyone knows you,

So if you can't pull off what you're going to promise, it's going to end badly, very quickly.

You can't cheat people into buying what you’re selling,

Because they will come back to get refunds.

On today’s episode, I have an interesting guest, Tom Libelt, and we talk about his rich background and how he became a big fish in a small niche.

Tom Libelt had learned from a young age how to sell and negotiate business by getting haggled by Russian vendors. His family moved from Poland to the United States to escape communism and now, Tom spends most of his time in Thailand. He runs Smart Brand Marketing and We Market Online Courses. He has published around 5000 Kindle books and he built a successful SEO in online course marketing business.

He shares with us tips on what you can do to make your online business successful.

So listen to Episode 185 of Becoming Your Best, and take precious notes from this experienced entrepreneur.

Questions I ask

•How did you end up in Thailand? (04:15)

•How do you assess which business idea is good and which isn't? (09:55)

•What are the essential SEO things that every website needs? (17:30)

•Can you describe what a backlink is? (19:15)

•Why is ongoing SEO a waste of money for most businesses? (19:55)

In this episode, you will learn:

•What Tom does for his clients. (05:10)

•What Muay Thai is. (09:00)

•Three things that separate successful online courses from courses that fail. (13:50)

•What pull marketing is. (18:05)

•The mindset behind earning a higher income (22:00)

Connect with Tom:

•Smart Brand Marketing

•We Market Online Courses

•LinkedIn

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Episode 184 - Humor and How To Use It!

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The average person works 90,000 hours in a lifetime

So you might as well choose to enjoy as many as you can.

When we talk about humor in the workplace, we're not talking about making the workplace funny, but making it a little bit more fun.

Humor isn't necessarily what you do, but more of how you do it.

There's over 30 business benefits of using humor in the workplace, backed by research, case studies, real-world examples.

The #1 reason why people don't use humor at work is that they don't think that their boss or co-workers would approve.

The reality is that 98% of CEOs prefer job candidates with a sense of humor

And 81% of employees say a fun workplace would make them more productive.

On today’s episode, I’m having a good laugh with Andrew Tarvin and we’re talking about humor in the workplace, improv and business, happiness and productivity, and how all those combined will help us become our best at our jobs.

Combining his background as a Project Manager at Procter&Gamble with his experience as a stand-up comedian, Andrew Tarvin reverse-engineers the skill of humor, in a way that is practical, actionable, and gets results in the workplace. And through his company, Humor That Works, Drew has worked with more than 35,000 people, at over 250 organizations, including Microsoft, the FBI, and the International Association of Canine Professionals. He is a best-selling author, he's been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and FastCompany. In his TEDx talk, he's been viewed by more than 4 million individuals. He loves the color orange, he's obsessed with chocolate and can solve a Rubik’s Cube, but it does take like seven minutes.

Andrew is using humor and laughter as a way to deal with any challenges in life because, "there’s less cleaning up to do afterward.”

So listen to Episode 184 of Becoming Your Best, to learn how to effectively incorporate humor in the workplace, and what are some useful strategies that leaders could learn from comedians.

Questions I ask:

•What's your story? (02:35)

•What can leaders learn from a stand-up comedian? (12:25)

•Why don't people use more humor? (18:40)

•How can a leader make it okay to use humor? (20:25)

•Do you have a favorite joke? (23:45)

In this episode, you will learn:

•Humor is a skill that can be learned by everyone. (07:45)

•The four styles of humor. (10:10)

•Great jokes for the workplace. (15:05)

•The benefits of using humor, both for the individuals and for the organization. (16:55)

•Tips on how to use humor to defuse office conflict. (21:45)

Connect with Andrew:

•Website

•LinkedIn

•Facebook

•Instagram

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Episode 183 - Live to Work vs Work to Live

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Do you work to live?

Or live to work?

We get one shot at this life, yet 68% of people feel like their #1 challenge is how to prioritize spending their time. While work is critical—and necessary for people to survive and thrive in life—it’s not everything. There must be a balance between working, taking care of yourself, spending time with family, and everything else.

On today’s episode, I talk about the importance of understanding how to make time for what matters most. Some strategies I discuss include pre-week planning, reviewing your vision and roles and goals, optimizing your morning and evening routines, and staying focused on the mission at hand.

As a friend of mine said, “The mission will survive without you.” In other words, when you’re at work, give it your all. Be there and be focused. But, when you go home, give your all to your family. Be present with them.

Get ready to learn how to transform your life to focus on working to live, in episode 183 of Becoming Your Best.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

•How to prioritize your time. (2:09)

•What it looks like to live to work, rather than working to live. (5:46)

•How to make the time for what matters most. (11:03)

•How to put our subconscious minds to work for us. (12:40)

Resources:

Becoming Your Best University

Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders by Steven Shallenberger

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Episode 182 - Taking Time To Care

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Have you ever had an experience that changed your life forever?

Sometimes that can take place in just one moment.

Ask yourself every day, who is in need today?

Think of some of the greatest leaders in history and how they treated other people.

Not only these individuals changed our world for good, but they are known for treating other people right, for taking time to care.

Research shows that recognizing and building others is far more productive than criticism or, worst, doing nothing.

On today’s episode, I talk about the importance of caring for other people and how you can change your behavior so that you can have greater happiness, peace, tranquility, and success.

There is currently far too much hate and meanness, ignorance, incivility, animosity, jealousy, and impatience in the world today. When there is a greater influence of love, kindness, caring, patience, and recognition of good, the world is changed for the better.

Get ready to learn how you can find time to care, every day, in Episode 182 of Becoming Your Best

In this episode you will learn:

How my wife gave me a lesson I’ll never forget. (01:35)

What leadership is, in terms of caring. (05:20)

The meaning of Principle #5, „Live the Golden Rule in Business and Life” (07:15)

50 Random Acts of Kindness. (09:00)

Methods to become a person who takes time to care. (11:40)

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Episode 181 - The Power of Initiative!

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Most people don’t have an idea and a team to start off with.

There’s 10 steps in the process.

Each step takes you from something rudimentary to something that kind of works, and from something that works to something that works very well.

It starts with writing a personal essay, just to give you direction.

Write down problems and solutions and then talk to people and get them to give you advice and votes on which one to work on.

You can become someone who can start from nothing.

There’s many different ways that you can take initiative.

On today’s episode of Becoming Your Best, Josh and I are going to dive in his new book called, “Initiative” and how he has developed a method that can help you become someone who knows how to create projects, anytime.

Joshua is a TEDx speaker, professor at NYU, host of the award-winning „Leadership and the Environment Podcast”, a columnist for Inc. Magazine, and author of the number one best selling book, "Leadership Step by Step”. He holds five Ivy League degrees, including a Ph.D. in astrophysics. He also has an MBA from Columbia, where he studied under a Nobel Laureate and helped build an X-Ray observational satellite, with the European Space Agency and NASA.

Josh says that his method called, „The way of taking initiative” is designed for people who don’t yet have an identity.

So, get ready to learn how to find your identity and take initiative, on Episode 181!

Some questions I ask

•What's the difference between your method, „Initiative” and what you call, "Dog show entrepreneurship"? (03:00)

•What would be the first exercise? What’s one of the first things you recommend? (11:25)

•Can you share a couple of examples, stories, of people who did the exercises, and the results? (14:00)

•Why did you choose the word “Initiative” for the title of your book? (19:10)

•How long does it take for one person to do all the exercises? (25:55)

In this episode you will learn

•Why Joshua compares entrepreneurship to a dog show. (03:20)

•The difference between entrepreneurial training and initiative training. (16:25)

•How the stories in the book will help you find inspiration. (14:15)

•What is the initiative – action – passion cycle. (21:15)

•Where the excitement comes from. (23:40)

Connect with Joshua Spodek

Website

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Episode 180 - How To Focus on What Matters Most

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The purpose of this short podcast is to share a couple of things that can be life-changing. Don't you think it would be safe to assume that that person is going through a challenge that we know nothing about? Everyone can relate to this because we all have something. Call it your challenge, your Goliath, whatever you want to call it, we all have something. Today is the day to take those challenges, those areas of improvement and make them our strengths, to address them head-on because tomorrow isn't guaranteed for any one of us.

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Episode 179 - New Age Time Management; How To Do What Matters Most!

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New technology is found in virtually every part of your life. Fresh ideas are disrupting how things have been done in the past and putting companies, literally, organizations and in some cases, entire industries out of business, and it seems like everyone is clamoring for your attention. You are beset by a non-stop barrage of noise, email, voice mail, Twitter, Instagram, Messenger, and with much more coming, of options, and the constant flow of is everywhere. Old time management really is of calendaring and checklists, just simply are not adequate to stay ahead of the game. You are losing ground in what seems like a sometimes-hopeless battle of time and project management, regardless of whether you use a paper-based or electronic planner or calendar. So that's why this podcast today is on the New Age of Time Management, doing what matters most.

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Episode 178 - How to "Fly Your Jet" and Lead a Life by Design

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Rob had the honor last weekend of going to Marymount University in Los Angeles and doing their commencement address. On this podcast, he shares what he shared with the students during the commencement address because the thought is, it can have a real impact on our lives, if we will do these things.

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Episode 177 - Mastering Meditation

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Today Steve talks about one of the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders, it is Principle 11 - Live in Peace and Balance. This is such a huge one because it impacts the assets that are the most valuable things we have on the face of the Earth, and that's our bodies, our mind, our heart, and our spirit. So the question is, how do we maximize that? How do we have the most energy possible? How do we live at peace? How do we extend our productivity over a long extended period of time, to maximize our success, and be among the high performers walking upon this planet here and do it in a way that blesses the world, and leaves a trail of good? There is one very specific aspect of living in peace and balance that can be a tremendous tool that you can use every single day! This tool can bring peace and focus and confidence and clarity in your life. It will bring greater health for sure. It will help calm the mind and increase your vision. What is that? Well, that happens to be MEDITATION.

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Episode 176 - The Becoming Your Best Checklist! Living the 12 Principles! PLUS: A Special Tribute to Mothers

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Today, Steve begins the show with a special tribute to Mothers! This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day in the United States and it is a great time to recognize, remember, and applaud Mothers, wherever you might be. The subject of today’s podcast is the Becoming Your Best Checklist. It is a podcast of reflection, assessment, and resolve to live the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders, just a bit better.

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Episode 175 - Surround Yourself With Greatness with Chad Lewis

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In this episode, Rob is joined by Chad Lewis. Chad is certainly a person of character. He spent nine years in the NFL, with the Eagles, with the Rams, and was a three-time pro-bowler. He wrote a book, which is an incredible book, "Surround Yourself With Greatness", and he shares some of his experiences and the importance of surrounding oneself with greatness.

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Episode 174 - Harry Clark: Mistake Millionaires Make

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Joining Steve today is Harry Clark, founder, and CEO of two Inc. 500 Companies and was awarded Entrepreneur Of The Year! Harry is a highly awarded serial entrepreneur, business advisor, board member, keynote speaker on entrepreneurship, and he was formerly the CEO and co-founder of a modular design-build and development company. He shares his experiences in a number of different aspects of business.

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Episode 173 - Do this to transform your people-culture strategy

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This podcast is going to be a little different direction of most of our podcasts. We've been asked a lot over the last two to three years, "What is Becoming your Best all about?" Over the last couple of weeks, we've really refined our messaging and focused on just three words. And this is what it's all about. You'll see a shift on our website, and I want to get this podcast on what this means to you, and how significant of an impact this can have in your life, your team and with your organization. And so, it really comes down to three words. It's People, Culture, Strategy. Becoming your Best is all about developing a high-performing group of people to create a high-performance culture that is aligned strategically from top to bottom. That's it, People, Culture, and Strategy. And they all mold within one of those three words.

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Episode 172 - The Extraordinary Value of Compound Impact (VCI)

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Today, Steve shares a story about how one word can make a difference. As we know, compound interest refers to the compounding power of investments that, with time, as you consistently and regularly put in what may appear to be a modest amount of money, ultimately grows at an exponential rate to become disproportionately large. Well, a cousin to compound interest is compound impact! And just like there is a huge value in compound interest, there is a huge value in compound impact.

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Episode 171 - Five Things you can do to run a successful business and thrive personally

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Today, Steve talks about one of the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders; Principle Number 10: Apply the Power of Knowledge, and this, specifically, in five key factors in running a successful business and thriving personally. Imagine the confidence that comes from having a clear pathway on things that you can do to run a successful business. It's not easy in the world's economy, but I'm gonna talk about five things today, that you can do, in running a successful business.

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Episode 170 - The Power of the Principles - How to improve your life today!

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How do you measure your personal progress and performance? Some things are fairly easy to measure. Others, not so easy, and a little bit more difficult. The foundation of this is to have your vision, your roles and goals, and combine that with pre-week planning. We need to know where we're going, what the targets are, and what matters most this week.

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Episode 169 - How You Can Stay Ahead of Digital Disruption

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Steve is joined by an amazing guest today. He's brilliant, he's the founder and CEO of Tasktop and he drives the strategic direction of the company and promotes a culture of customer-centric innovation. Before Tasktop, Dr. Kersten launched a series of open source projects that changed how software developers collaborate and as a research scientist at Xerox PARC, he created the first aspect-oriented development environment.

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Episode 168 - This is YOUR opportunity. Make the BEST of it.

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The message of this podcast today is that life is good! Bad things happen as we travel the journey of life, but life is still good and good is cumulative. There is never a good that is wasted. Dwelling on the bad never helps you. Sifting out the lessons learned, how we can get better, and moving on, is the good. This is part of your opportunity. Claim the good, and leave the bad behind. This is at the very heart of becoming your best.

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Episode 167 – Thriving in a New World with Dr. Connie Reimers-Hild

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Today Steve is joined by Dr. Connie Reimers-Hild. Dr. Connie serves as the interim Executive Director in Chief Futurist at the Rural Futures Institute and consults with organizations from both the private and public sectors. Her research is both the hard and human sciences, which allows her to see how our exponentially high-tech world must purposefully intersect with human needs and values for sustainability and exponential potential. She helps leaders and organizations reach their desired futures through strengths-based innovation and strategic foresight.

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Episode 166 - Living on Purpose with Brandon Steiner

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Today Rob is joined by Brandon Steiner out of New York. Very cool guy who makes a lot of money selling dirt and doing some other very cool things. He's a CEO of Steiner Sports which is the country's leading sports and collectible and athlete marketing business and he has done a lot with the Yankees. So that's going to get some of you excited and some not so excited. He also just finished a book called Living on Purpose and talks about that as well.

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Episode 165 - The Formula For Business Success with Ginni Saraswati

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Today's guest happens to be in Australia! She is a lot of fun and we love working with her. She is a very talented and award-winning journalist. Known to stun many a personality with her quick-witted introductions and on-air antics. She left Paula Abdul in a laughing fit and Havana Brown choking. She's interviewed so many from Katie Lang, Jennifer Beals, Ruby Rose to many many more. So welcome, Ginni Saraswati.

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Episode 164 - The Miracle of Change, Forgiveness, and Love

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Today's subject for this show is the miracle of change, forgiveness, and love. It is really inspired by an experience Steve and his wife had about seven months ago in the country of Rwanda in East Africa. In April of nineteen ninety-four almost twenty-five years ago they suffered a terrible national tragedy as one of the political parties or tribes plotted and set a plan to exterminate another tribe a very large population in their country who saw things differently. Today, many years later it's now the second fastest growing economy in all of Africa. It's the fifth safest country in all of the world. You can go anywhere 24/7 and not worry about your safety. It's an extraordinary place. They still certainly have a long ways to go. But my goodness, they made enormous progress.

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Episode 163 - The One Habit to Transform Your Life

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Many people are going through a challenge or a trial that we know nothing about. It could be related to money, finances, or a relationship issue with a spouse or a son or daughter or maybe it's just generally how they're feeling in life. We all have our Goliaths and can relate to this and in this episode, we're going to zero in on something that we've never really talked about before.

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Episode 162 - 8 Things That You Can Do When You Feel Discouraged or Down

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Today Steve has an important subject that he's going to be discussing that affects every single one of us either directly or indirectly. The subject is 8 things that you can do when you feel discouraged or down. Now, this is an important subject primarily because in terms of productivity, happiness, joy, fulfillment, and getting great results discouragement or feeling down is a real threat to you. It affects your business, it affects your relationships, and it is the opposite of feeling highly motivated. So certainly, being highly motivated is the goal and that's the state of mind that we want to be in most of the time. When you do have this malady, this discouragement, or are feeling down what can you do? Well, that's what Steve talks about today!

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Episode 161 - Building a Brand with Lila Stewart Owner of Hari Mari

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Lyla Stewart is one of the founders of Hari Mari a company that brings clever, color and superlative comfort together in a singular flip flop creating looks as unique as the people who wear them. Hari Mari is dedicated to providing a great pair of flip flops but more importantly, they also are helping a lot of people around the world and incredibly brave children. They donate 1 percent of all of their sales to support kids battling pediatric cancer.

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Episode 160 - Leveraged Learning with Danny Iny

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In today's episode, Steve is joined by Danny Iny, a lifelong entrepreneur, bestselling author, and CEO of the online business education company, Morrissey. He is a high school dropout and an MBA graduate of Canada's elite Queen's School of Business and is known for his high-value driven approach to business. Danny's here to discuss his newest book, Leveraged Learning: How the Disruption of Education Helps Lifelong Learners and Experts with Something to Teach.

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Episode 159 - Creating a 100x Future with Matt Ward

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Steve has a very talented guest today. Matt Ward brings a whole new perspective to things and this will be a terrific benefit to push and stimulate and pull at our thinking about the future. He is an angel investor, startup advisor, and serial entrepreneur. He's really focused on building a better future through innovation and entrepreneurship. Matt has scaled an eight-thousand-dollar investment into a seven-figure exit in 12 months. He's the author of Gods of the Valley: How Today's Tech Giants Monopolize the Future.

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Episode 158 - How to have GREAT meetings with Elise Keith

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In this episode, Steve visits with Elise Keith. She is one of the founders of Lucid Meetings where she leads research, publication, and product management efforts. And she is constantly seeking the best way for people to have highly productive and successful meetings. Elise shares her meeting expertise and presentations that audiences say are inspiring, full of practical methods that you can apply, and fill in all the gaps that you didn't even know you had.

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Episode 157 - The Richest Man in Babylon

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In today's episode, Steve shares an experience that he had many years ago that had a lasting impact on his life. At 16 years old his grandfather introduced him to one of his friends, Mr. Dave Conger. Dave was a successful real estate broker in the San Francisco Bay Area and took Steve under his wing. He recommended and gave him a number of books. One was a book by the name of The Richest Man in Babylon. The Richest Man in Babylon outlines principles regarding managing money and had a profound impact on his life.

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Episode 156 - Seasoned Advice From a Seasoned Businessman

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On today's episode, Steve is joined by a terrific guest. Lukas Krause rose from an entry-level position to an executive role for the Real Property Management franchise system and he was named the real estate industry rising star by Housing Wire and achieved a lifelong dream of playing professional baseball with the New York Mets.

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Episode 153 - Success Tips for Life From the #1 Performer at Mary Kay

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On this episode, Rob Shallenberger is joined by a very special, amazing guest, Gloria Mayfield Banks. You may be wondering, why listen to this podcast? Well, you're going to quickly hear her story and understand how much she has to offer. She's built an incredible team, she's an amazing leader and she's had quite the journey of her own.

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Episode 152: Have A Becoming Your Best Morning

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On today's show Steve Shallenberger talks about how to have a becoming your best morning. This process is a foundation to help you become your best each and every day. We're really talking about setting a routine, not just something mundane for you to do. You can find an order that works best for you and let it contribute to your health and success on a daily basis.There are seven parts to having a becoming your best morning.

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Episode 151: How to Overcome Fear

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On today's show Rob Shallenberger talks about the one thing we all deal with--fear. We all have it, it's there, it's real, and we need to acknowledge it. What's interesting about fear is, on one hand, it's a protection mechanism to keep us safe. If you think about some of the things that you fear in your life or what would cause your palms to sweat, for everybody it's something different. This emotion of fear doesn't just disappear. Rob shares how not just to "conquer it", but how to overcome in the face of it.

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Episode 150: How to Create a High Performance Culture with Illens Dort

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On today's show Rob Shallenberger talks to Illens Dort. He was born in Haiti and has had a fascinating life in coaching. He's coached in the professional sports side as well as on a higher level side with executives and teams around the world. He recently completed the Becoming Your Best trainer certification program and has been using that to really accelerate his results. During the episode, Illens shares his thoughts on his journey so far.

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Episode 149: How To Find True Success & Happiness with Alan Taylor (Host of Entrepreneur Weekly)

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On today's show Rob Shallenberger talks to Alan Taylor. He is currently the host of Entrepreneur Weekly. It's a weekly show for Entrepreneur Magazine. He also has his own show called The Drive with Alan Taylor, which is featured on more than 100 different radio stations around the country, it's on Saturday morning. He's reaching thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of people on a weekly and monthly basis. During the episode, Alan shares how people can make an impact in business and lives.

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Episode 148: How To Rapidly Grow Business With Webinars

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On today's show Rob Shallenberger talks to Jason Fladien. He's the number one person in the world when it comes to webinars. He developed and built the company, Rapid Crush. Rob says they are truly the best in the world when it comes to webinars and how to run, market, and develop. That kind of success just doesn't happen by chance. During the episode Jason goes into some of the things he's learned and advice he has on what goes into a making a webinar.

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Episode 147: Rotary International: Changing The World For Good

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On today's show Steve Shallenberger talks to Barry Rassin. Barry was born in London and at three weeks old move to the Bahamas with his family. He went to the U.S. for school. After working earning his MBA in healthcare and working in the U.S Barry realized he wanted to help make a difference elsewhere. His dad was a surgeon and his mother was a nurse. They had a clinic in Nassau. So he went to the clinic with $5,000 in pocket and said, "We're going to change healthcare in this country somehow."

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Episode 145: Habits, Happiness and Ego

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On today's episode Rob reflects on an experience he had in Maui with his daughter. He took his 13 year old daughter scuba diving for the first time. They were in a group of about five people with a private guide. The instructor went through things that each person should know to make sure they're safe. Part of this is how to breathe. The instructor works with his daughter for a minute or two. And after one or two tries, she's got it and she's done. This is not the case for other members of the excursion.

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Episode 144: Beyond the Sizzle with Mona Amodeo

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On today’s episode Steve talks to Mona Amodeo. She is an innovator, and a catalyst for transforming organizations into brands that matter. She's an award winning management strategist and a recognized expert in organizational development and change on a mission to move business to be the best it can be. Her work spans the boundaries of scholarship and practice in the disciplines of branding, communication, and organizational culture. She shares her tips on how to make authentic and meaningful impacts in the industry.

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Episode 143: Be Chief. It's A Choice, Not a Title!

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On today’s episode, Steve talks to Rick Miller. As a kid, Rick was really close to his dad. His dad was a personnel guy in the only non-union manufacturer in central Massachusetts. So Rick was accustomed to sitting around the kitchen table and listening to stories about compensation, communication, and benefits and grievances. The apple does not fall from from the tree. Rick is an unconventional turnaround specialist, a servant leader, and go-to chief. All things that require skills he learned form his dad.

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Episode 142: The Secret Sauce to Success

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On today's episode Rob Shallenberger reflects on a past leadership conference. Feedback he has heard time and time again after these conferences is a request for a personal assessment. This assessment would allow others to get an idea of where they are on their journey success. it would give people any idea of where they are, where they want to go, and what they can do to get there. With this in mind,Rob goes on to discuss the secret sauce to success and key lessons he learned from the conference.

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Episode 141:The Long Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership

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Steve Shallenberger talks to Kevin Eikenberry. Kevin is the contributing author to The Handbook of Experiential Learning and Remarkable Leadership. His writing has been published in newspapers, magazines, trade journals, and websites from all around the world. He's worked with Fortune 500 companies, small firms, universities, government agencies, hospitals and more. He's the real deal. On today's episode we talk to Kevin about leadership and his thoughts on how people can unlock their potential to achieve success.

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Episode 140: Unstoppable Digital and E-Commerce Marketing with Will Deane

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Steve Shallenberger talks to Will Deane. Will is an east coast guy with a heart for business. As a kid, he always had some kind of operation in the works. In high school, he made fake IDs and mowed lawns. Now as an adult, he works as a digital marketing and e-commerce expert. With the same heart for business from his youth, he has built and scaled several multimillion-dollar businesses. His experience in the field doesn't stop there, he also has a company of his own called Unstoppable.co.

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Episode 139: The Power of One

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On today’s episode, Steve is inspired by his recent trip to Rwanda. The trip reminded him that the influence of a good or bad person can have powerful effects on a person's life, group, community, nation, or world. You might think influence is restricted to a community, or an organizational leader, but that is not the case. Regardless of your position in life, through influence and leadership, anyone can be a force for good in the lives of others.

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Episode 138: The Four Commitments of a Winning Team with Mark Eaton

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On today’s episode Rob talks to former NBA player, Mark Eaton. You might have heard Mark’s name throughout the years. He spent 12 seasons with the Utah Jazz team and holds two NBA records for the most blocks in a single season. However Mark's success did not end with the NBA. His post-NBA career continued to be just as successful. His released a book called The Four Commitments of a Winning Team, where he talks about his life experiences and how it lead him to other successful opportunities outside of sports.

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Episode 137: Genocide, Leadership and Reconciliation

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On today's episode, Steve talks about his recent trip to Rwanda. In April 1994, a terrible tragedy took place in the country. The events resulted from colonial powers dividing the nation into groups. Two of them were the Hutus and the Tutsis. These two groups not only became factions, but vied for power. Whenever either group was in power it defamed the other. When the Hutus took power they described the Tutsis as a bad group for the country. At the time there were individuals that were enemies of the state and bad for the country. These individuals were not the Tutsis. This was the kind of the lying that took place. As the narrative grew, it started classifying among the majority and launched a publicity campaign.

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Episode 136: 7 Keys to UNLIMITING Your Beliefs

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On today's episode Rob talks to Karen. She is what he calls an ultra-athlete. Karen had a lifelong dream to compete in the Ironman World Championships. During a 28 year period, while climbing the corporate ladder, she held herself back through something called limiting beliefs. Limiting beliefs live in the unconscious mind. They occur when we say, "Well, I don't have enough money, time, talent, support," whatever, "to achieve that." Once Karen came to understand that limiting beliefs are a scientific thing and there's a scientific key to conquer and transform them, she went all in on pursuing the Ironman World Championships at age 44.

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Episode 135 - Longevity and Health Part II : What You Can Do

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On today's episode, Steve talks about principle number 11 which is to live in peace and balance. Now what this really means is to live a life in such a way that you're at peace so that you can maximize your happiness and joy and life and have a high level of energy and maximize your health and longevity for a long period of time. Some years ago while living in Spain, Steve met one of the founders of the Lladró Ceramics company who makes these beautiful figurines. He was visiting with Jose Lladró and his wife. Jose was about 84 years old at the time. The question came up of what is more important. Jose said he and his wife had had an ongoing "argument" over the years, 30 years, of what was more important in life. She said it was health, he said it was happiness. And they looked at our dignitary visitor who was the leader of an International Church, Gordon Hinckley, and he looked right back at them, he said, "You're both right."

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Ep. 134 - Leading To Freedom

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Steve Shallenberger hosts this episode and as it happens to be around the particular time of the 4th of July holidays in the United States of America and actually in some other places in the world, it's a significant day for their respective countries. It celebrates the independence of the United States. It celebrates freedom and liberty and all that it stands for these last few days. The execution of this plan to freedom took leadership and the principles of highly successful people.

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Ep. 133 - If You Can't Measure It, You Can't Manage it.

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Leadership is something that is pivotal and transformational in our lives regardless of whether it's applied at an individual level, in our relationships or with our profession and organizations. So this is about everybody. This episode is centered on a quote from Peter Drucker who was considered by many to be the founder of modern management. Here is the quote, "If you can't measure it, you can't manage it." That is just so powerful and it's interesting that this one is vital to our success whatever phase of life that you're talking about but particularly organizationally.

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Ep. 132 - From Selling Homes To Saving Children with Jimmy Rex

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In this episode of the Becoming Your Best Podcast, Rob interviews special guest Jimmy Rex. An amazing person, a great friend and one of the best realtors in the world and truly incredible at what he does. Jimmy has been involved with the program called Operation Underground Railroad that rescues child sex slaves. He is just an absolutely remarkable person you'll get a sense for that on this podcast.

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Ep. 131 - Roya Mattis: Bringing Joy and Unity Back Into Our Lives

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On today's Becoming Your Best Podcast, Rob speaks to Roya Mattis, whom he met only about three weeks ago. Roya has been very successful with the company, Mary Kay and in order to be successful in that particular world, you need to be an amazing person and one that people love to be around. Roya has an incredible energy which is what prompted Rob to invite her to this podcast. She has this idea about a movement which would be an extremely powerful movement to pave the way to Becoming You Best.

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Ep. 130: Grandfathers and Grandmothering Making A Difference with Richard and Linda Eyre

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Steve Shallenberger is joined by Richard and Linda Eyre who are both New York Times Best Selling Authors and have appeared on virtually all major national talk shows including Oprah, Today and have seen their books translated into a dozen languages. They write a syndicated weekly newspaper column and currently spend most of their time traveling and speaking to audiences throughout the world on families, parenting, and life balance. And trying to keep up with 31 and counting grandchildren with 9 children.

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Ep. 129 - How To Lead A Great Life with Randy Garn

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Rob: All right well, welcome to our Becoming Your Best podcast listeners wherever you are in the world today. I have a person that we're gonna talk with today who I consider to be one of the most amazing people I've ever met and you'll quickly realize that and as you start to listen to some of his stories and hear some of the background and a little bit about Randy. But let me introduce Randy because, I don't say that lightly when I say he's one of the the most respected people I know and not just by me but might many many other people who I know, that says a lot about Randy. He started out as a student body president at Ricks and while he was there I said, “You know Randy, is there anything you haven't done?” Because he's done all these things and he looked at his phone and he showed me this picture of him riding a bull while he was in college. Not only was he study body president, he did some bull riding while he was there, which immediately my respect level went through the roof for him when I saw that. He went on to the Harvard OPM Program. He starred and sold several businesses very successfully. He has six children, a beautiful wife who's amazing in her own right. One of the things that stands out to me most about Randy, amongst all his success’ and all the people he knows, he's probably the most connected person I've ever met. The thing that really stands out the most about Randy is his impeccable character and honestly, he genuinely cares about other people and helping them succeed and that's one of the reasons I believe Randy has been so successful himself is because he wants to see other succeed and he comes across very genuine people realize that he's very sincere in what he does. So without further ado, one the most successful people I know and down to earth, just loving, kind people; Randy Garn!

Randy: Well, thank you Rob! I really really appreciate you saying those kind words and I feel the same about you and what you and your dad have built with BYB and the whole leadership thing is so critical in everybody in all facets of our lives and so I'm learning to be a great student of yours.

Rob: Yeah, well that goes both ways! It’s always hard too, when someone introduces you and says all these amazing things, it’s like what do you say after that? But Randy really is amazing! Do you think, Randy, if you wouldn't mind just giving them a brief background on you that I didn't cover? You know, where you're from, a little bit about you, anything that you think would be valuable for someone to know?

Randy: Yeah, I think it is important to know where we've come from and you know, I grew up in a really small town called Sugar City, Idaho. You know, when I left I think there's 1150 people there after I left. And I mean it was just an amazing place and I'll get back to that. Why I think our roots and the way we are raised, and the way we're raising our children are so critical for the people that we become, and especially with character and integrity and in leadership. And so I grew up and and my dad was a high school football coach for 29 years. He's going into medicine and then you know he had these four boys and he's like, “Man I'm gonna buy a ranch and I'm gonna be a football coach. I'm gonna teach my kids how to work.” So I mean he sacrificed on what he could have done but he wouldn't give it up to the world and so you know, I grew up in a really fun environment. It's so funny when I meet a lot of leaders, they’re like, “You know my parents abused me,” or you know, “I was in some serious trauma,” or other things happen and that makes people great. You know when they can overcome those things, but I was actually fortunate enough to be led by a really, really good man that told me that I could do anything I wanted in life and actually mentored me and stuck with me the whole time. And so, somebody that I love and admire and he's still alive today and I respect him and he still gives me a quote every night and how he help build me up every night and so that was some of my roots was growing up in that type of environment.

Rob: Did I hear you right to say that you either rode a tractor or a truck or something and he would always be playing these tapes of some these greats?

Randy: Yeah. In fact, we had about, you know it was about a twenty minute ride out to our ranch where we you know we raise cattle and horses. And so, we had about 300 head of cattle and we had 50 horses at one time so I mean it wasn't a huge ranch but it was a ton of fun and we would listen to Denis Waitley and Jim Rohn and Zig Ziglar and The Strangest Secret from Nightingale and that’s some of the things that I’d listen to and then he'd mentor me. We're out there fixing fences and all that and he’d talk about it. You know, we grew up in kind of a family to where we are God fearing and we literally would say family prayers at night and then put it in and everybody in, ready? Break! Go Garns! And so it was just fun. It was a good time, so yeah we listened to a lot of the classics and you and I did a call with Denis a couple of days ago and he's a great man, but that's some of the things I grew up on.

Rob: Yeah, and the irony is all these very people who you grew up listening to now, you become very close friends to them. In many cases ,helping mentor them as it goes both directions and ironic how you know that fate aligned that way. Speaking of this, interestingly, we were just with the group today and was talking about estate planning and one of the things was mentioned was often times we think about estate planning as it's just financial. You know, here's what happens to your finances. This particular person leading the discussion was saying, you know what? It's so much more that! It's a legacy that you're leaving. It's a legacy of character. It's a legacy of what you're teaching your children and in so many ways it sounds like you're such a product of what your parents created for you in the environment.

Randy: Yeah, I would totally agree with that in a lot of ways. And so I mean now I've got a family of my own, married probably one of the most awesome women on earth and I've got an amazing life. In a lot of times I do I talk a lot about kind of the home court advantage. You know I had a CEO reach out to me the other day and he's like, “Man I've got two kids and you know things are rough at home. How do you balance everything? How do you grow a business and keep things right personally and stay fit and do all these things? I can't keep it up!” And he's like, “Randy, you're probably single and being able to do all these things!” I was like, actually I'm not! I have an amazing wife. I've got six kids. I’ve got two sets of twins. I run multiple companies and we’re growing things like crazy! He about lost it! He's like, “How in the world do you balance all that?” You know, I said, well first off you got to have make sure you get everything right both personally and professionally because for me, there's no distinction. And I know a lot of people try to put things in silo but for me, Rob, there's no distinction between who you are at business and who you are home and who you are church or who you are personally and professionally. It's you’re one person and so the way that you show up in one place is the way that you really show up everywhere.

Rob: Ooh, we could stop the podcast right now. If we all just live that, what a huge impact it would have on the world. Randy, actually segways into a thought I had and that was you know one of the things that is amazing about you, is the relationships you have with so many people. And so you had a chance in your life in these different associations to meet some of the most incredible people and influencers on earth. So, from all these people you've met and you just describe some of it right there, if you had a narrow down to a few things what sets apart those who you most admire and respect and why?

Randy: I thought about this a lot you know and I thought about this over a great deal. I actually wrote a book called, “Prosper.” We hit The New York Times in 2011 and I wrote the book with the with a close friend of mine. We started another company that we sold in 2014. But for me, it's those people that are balancing money and happiness and sustainability. And to be able to do that, that's where prosperity really comes in for me. But to be able to do that, you have to have some real deep character and there's a few people in my life that I really truly respect. You know, I just was on the phone with Brandon Steiner from Steiner sports and Harvey McKay - I'm on his advisory board. He's written 13 books, “Swim with the Sharks,” and you know, “How to use your head to get your foot in the door,” and many others. But for me, it's people that have really lived the law of reciprocity and that you know, Brandon always says, “Do as much as you can for as many people as you can for as often as you can without asking for anything in return. And watch what life does to you and for you.” And so, I watch them and I watch how successful they are but also successful is more than just monetarily. It's like it’s rich in relationships and rich in being able to do business development and rich in being able to call anybody at any time and have access instead of you know trying to pay your way into things. You have access to the things you'd never have access into because you're such a giver. That’s one characteristic that I know the people that I really admire and love.

Rob: Yeah it's interesting you say that because, really, we live in a world where it's almost counter to our culture. At least from my perspective, there's so much in the world of what's in it for me and how do we grow and I and we and us and what you described is so powerful and I just think, you know, our listeners don't know this but you have this ranch up in Wyoming, this beautiful ranch in a valley called Star Valley and you bring people there often go fishing and take some time in the outdoors and you had a couple of people who from the outside would be considered very successful recently and I remember you show me the pictures of the dad catching a fish with his son and taking that time and so many things come from that. Not only was that a relationship that you had with him, where just purely giving of your time not only giving but creating a rich experience. It’s not even just a lunch or dinner, you're out there fishing side by side and secondarily there's this dad fishing with his son for what looked like one of the first times in his life and the rich experience that they were having together and his son will never forget that and so I think you're one of the epitomes of what you just described.

Randy: Well, I mean that we were doing that for them and they become even deeper friends right? There's another principle that I live, one is the law of reciprocity but the other big one, Rob, that's really been effective for me is called the experience economy. Joesph Pine wrote a book called “The Experience Economy” and that's why we have you know the Trout Ranch. We've got other properties and then I do, I take a lot of people up too. Got some great friends up at Sundance and Chad Lindebaugh and the guys that run Rocky Mountain Outfitters or we go horseback riding or fly fishing or zip lining and you go have an experience with somebody and a lot of times you'll spend the whole day together and maybe talk business about twenty minutes. When they kind of come out for the whole day and we have a deal done. And so a lot of times people get so stuck in to, you know, “We will meet you at the hotel,” or wherever. I love to get out and do stuff with these guys that never experienced the things that we can offer. So I'm really big on the book by Joseph Pine called “The Experience Economy,” to generate deep meaningful, relationships but also drive tremendous value and move business forward in a big way naturally.

Rob: Yeah that's awesome. I mean there's another terminology: transactional versus transformational. I mean, lunches are great, dinners are great but what you're talking about is the spirit of good, better, best. Taking something that's good and making it way way better because it's so rich, it's so deep and so real. I mean you're out in the outdoors and so much amazing things that can happen from that. So building on that what you just described there, and maybe now zeroing in on you not so much on others, but from your own life experiences ,what are two or three of your biggest lessons learned through life? I mean you've seen so much now. What are one, two or three of those lessons learned that you feel could we have a real impact in the lives of our listeners and what tips would you share from your own experience?

Randy: From my own ,experience, I think some of the biggest things are ,you know you don't need to please everyone. And I think early on in my career, you know the most valuable asset that any of us have is time - is our time. And so I have a formula for whether I’ll do business with others or not and it's a formula that I actually learned from it another gentleman that does partner with this up at the top of the trout ranch. It's called you're the P. over your E. squared. Take look at fractional equations get your P. over your E. squared that means that your principles are higher than your ego or economic interests, always. I always look at somebody and I say, at the end of the day is as their principles other principals higher than their ego or their economic interest in something and will they stick to that more so because I have done business and I've done things with individuals where, man, it looks on paper like it's going to be a fantastic, amazing, awesome opportunity and we’re going to crush it and we're all gonna be billionaires and you know being able to give back and do all the stuff but the end of the day you know that something's just not right and I've actually got some pretty good Spidey senses for that, where you just know that there's just something that's just not right and I went forward with that is like I haven't quite figured that out you know when I was younger but now I have. If it just doesn't chemistry, doesn't fit right or like something just doesn't feel like, “Oh heck yeah. We’re gonna crush this, we're gonna do this!” if you leave a meeting and you feel like I just I don't know if I am in. It doesn't mean that they're always unintegrous or whatever it may be, but it's always been where their ego or their economic interest don't align with mine, it has not ended up being a good thing.

Rob: That right there just to pause, I know you have one or two more to say, but that is a huge, huge deal. You know it's interesting as we put together the book you know as you well know Become Your Best and ironically used the word principles - The 12 principles of highly successful leaders. And in doing so interviewing hundreds of people and you try to look for these patterns of success and what sets apart great leaders and high performing teams from everyone else. And so you see that there's this pattern that emerges there's where the 12 principles come from. At the same time it was really interesting because another pattern emerged and it was at the very same principle but when they were violated. And one of the things you see over and over in CEOs and leaders that at least was from my experience and perspective was their downfall was their ego.

Randy: Totally.

Rob: And when ego became so big that it got in the way the progress of the company or got in the way of the finances so they couldn’t wrong or they couldn't take input - the ego, was in many cases, their downfall. And we have several coaching clients right now and part of the reason I know this is, “Hey I've got a nice present or so and so and their egos got so big, how do I handle this?” Because it’s kind of killing our business. So just to reinforce it, what a great thought that is so P over E squared, is that right?

Randy: P over E squared - so your ego and economic gain, but you're right, I mean there's been, in fact we just met with another amazing, amazing man and he said the best CEOs in the world are those that have humility. Isn't that interesting? They have humility and they follow their principles. Because you can do anything, I mean you can have success for a short period of time but if your ego and your economic interest and you get too greedy, it's gonna get in the way and it's going to stop you from growing and the best CEOs both have humility and also give credit where credit's due. I mean, there's different forms of ways you can pay people. One of the best ways that I know how to pay people is to give them credit.

Rob: Yeah, make them the hero. Yeah, that's really good. Any other thoughts on that lessons learned from your past experiences? I mean that's a fabulous one right there.

Randy: Yeah, I think the other big one for me is something that again my dad, he is just an amazing man and I can't wait for you to meet him but one of the things; I was leaving for college and he told me one thing and I wrote it down. I’ll never forget in this state is like my first day going up from college. I just got back from living in the Philippines for two years and literally had like four days until I start college and he said, “Randy, I want you to know one thing is that if you don't have your own goals then someone else will use you for theirs.”

Rob: Wow. Yeah that's powerful.

Randy: So, you think about that whether you're a CEO or you know working for somebody or whatever that is but again you know if you don't have your own goals then someone else will use you for theirs. So I work closely with a lot of very high powered people in on some advisory boards and we work on strategy. If you do not have your own personal strategic plan and if you don't write down those principles like you guys talk about like leadership, like when I went to your live event, it was awesome! Because you were really pushing people to write down and to really manifest what they wanted to accomplish and so that was like one of the biggest key advices that had ever been given to me is, you know, “Randy if you don't have your own goals someone else will use you for theirs.” And I know you guys do a lot of that with what you do and even this year, BYB Daily Journal that I'm using and everything else it's so critical, to set those goals and know exactly what you're doing -every single day, every single week, every single month and execute well.

Rob: Yeah, because the whole point is to lead a life by design rather than live a life by default.

Randy: Exactly.

Rob: And you know the research, backing up what you just said, is that a person is 90% more likely to accomplish something when they have a clearly written goal. Yet on the other side of the scale, on average only 10% of people have clearly written goals and so getting very intentional and focused. But I love that quote, I wrote it down. I'm gonna use that again in the future because it’s so spot on. “If you don't have your own goals someone else will use you for theirs.”

Randy: Exactly right.

Rob: That's a good one. I like that. You know, we're sitting here talking Randy and so many people listen to this podcast because their businesses in a leadership position or you know they want to be a better employee, yet many people also have these families at home, they’re in a relationship with someone else and a lot of what you're saying now goes right back into the home, doesn't it?

Randy: Well, it does. I mean that's why I said it. It really does. You think about your family, to think about your most valuable asset. To me, it’s my children. I actually literally plan time to spend time with them or planning out you know our whole entire year; when we're doing vacations and all that. When I was younger, we didn’t plan our vacations and then somebody else put something on there like, “I'm sorry honey, we really can't go to San Diego,” or “We can’t go to Hawaii this month of August, because I actually have an event I'm speaking at or doing.” But now, we do have to plan those things out or you will miss baseball games, you will miss opportunities for your your family and family things and so, why do we work so hard? Literally, for me, it’s because so I can actually give my family that things that they need so I don't want to miss that time especially the prime of their life. And so, I don't want to be one of those guys you know like Cat Stevens, “A cat's in the cradle,” where I didn't spend time with my most valuable assets so I think it does spill over to home and again that's part of my whole thing on home court advantage. You got to plan those things out or else other people use your time for other things.

Rob: I’m so in agreement on that, absolutely! And, everything you're talking about, not only planning and being intentional with our children and with our spouse. I just met someone at a conference, Randy, last week and the two people walked up and, it's not a credit to me or you. It's the principle. That's what you're talking about. And they just said this short hour just changed my life and they say, “Well, you know I haven't been on a date with my spouse in over a year.” It is just because life - it's so easy for life to come in and take over if we're not being intentional planning and doing the things you're talking about. Because, in our society, unlike in some others around the world, wow it's so fast paced here and so we’re not intentional we run the risk of something else taking over our lives and suddenly we look back and say, “Wait a second, where’d time go and our kids around the house and our relationships? You know, what happened?” So I love that! If you want, Randy, since we’re about twenty minutes or so. I can't believe it goes by that fast and I got to tell our listeners, something cool about Randy, that we don't know, we're in the very early stages but I just had this thought, it'd be fun to go to the Everest base camp store talking about experiential and this experience economy, and so we got on the phone and I asked for Randy, “Hey Randy, how would you like to go? And would this be some you might be interested in?” And we want to keep this to a small group and Randy was like, “Man I had this is as a dream of mine forever!” You know, I was thinking maybe it might be fun to take my will be, at the time my 18 old son with us now and we talk about these experiences and we're in the early stages of planning and just before the podcast we’re thinking, you know, maybe 2019/2020, the thought is if we don't plan it now, what's the odds it's something like that's ever going to happen?

Randy: It's so true, Rob and just think about that both! It will help us to get in shape to do that – that’s some serious, serious hiking but just think of the experience that we have that the group that will go will do something that we’ll never forget, right? And so you're exactly right but we're planning that after two 2019 or 2020 and you have to do that because time flies! Time flies so fast that if you're not staying on top of stuff you will you'll miss out on living the intentional life is what I call it.

Rob: Hopefully my mother in law is not listening in this podcast because she doesn't know that yet. So as we get ready wrap up, maybe one more thing if you don't mind Randy. I haven’t really asked you this yet. What's an experience in your life that really ,if you look back say maybe that experience or one of the experiences that was one of the most influential experiences on you, help shape you and who you’ve become today? Would you mind sharing that?

Randy: Yeah, I mean, one that just comes to my mind that I'll share with you. As you know, back in our company we started company back in 1999 and you know, it just exploded and back after two and a half years of being business and really profitable and growing and we had some people that came in and said, “Hey, we'll give you all this money and you know we'll take you IPO and we'll do a reverse merger and you know we ended up doing the deal and it took us 3.5 or over 3 years to unwind it and it'll cost millions of dollars to be able to do so and so that was one of my most valuable experiences because we said you know what these guys are really super smart you know they're in their forties, they're amazing, they've done business stuff but come to find out that it was really not what it was all out to be. I remember my business partner looking at me and he said, “You know what, if we're waiting for all the smart people to show up, we're actually here.” And we’re literally just looking at each other and so I think one of the biggest things is that I've learned in my life is to have confidence in myself, in that, if somebody else can do it, I can do it. So you can't fear those things and it's just like what's the difference between a $4,000,000 company a $40,000,000 company and a $400,000,000 dollar company - that really is really good people and strategy but it's a really good leader. Leadership is everything and so I stopped looking at other people to be my leaders and I started looking inward and started to build my own leadership qualities and traits and that's been a big focus of mine I’d really say for the last 18 years or so. But it all stemmed from that experience.

Rob: How was that when you're going through it at the time?

Randy: Oh bro, it was the worst ever. It was dark days, you know. It was it was really, really hard because we had all our employees that were also rooting and fighting for an understanding but it was a lot of prayers and in a lot of good things but we ended up you know really, really exploding after that as well, so I mean it's those things that build character and put hair on your chest when you go through tough experiences so it was good.

Rob: It is. You know it's interesting that's what you shared and I think a lot of our listeners know that my dad went through a similar experiences and it took him seven years. I remember him going down to the office with him. You know, speaking of being intentional, bringing everything back together. I remember running around the building - it's a dark building but I'm down there in his office with him until like 9pm. He’d work these 15 hour days - trying to get out of a similar dark period and from that experience, that was kind of a refiners fire for him to really shape him to who he became later on in life and they're certain principles as a result of that and standards that we live by now as a company, for example, we will not operate with debt. I know that's not the case in every industry and companies there’s, you know, different thoughts on that but that's one of our things that we will do. He will never get in that position again. It's one of my personal mottos - the same principle. So it's amazing what can come from those refiner prior experiences. Boy, they're tough when you're in the middle of them aren't they?

Randy: Yeah, and I learned too, you can't go sometimes in life you can't go around things or over things. Sometimes you just have to go right through them, you know?

Rob: That's why you got the nickname. What they call you as a full back in high school? The little ball of hate?

Randy: Yeah, the little ball of hate. Back in the day. It’s a ton of fun!

Rob: Randy, thank you so much for being on this podcast. I mean you're such an incredible friend, mentor, example and I think all of our listeners - I'm extremely confident they felt not only sincerity, but who you are and why you’ve had the influence on people that you've had and who you've become. So if you wouldn't mind, if there's any way they can either contact you or any details that you share about how they can learn more about you? If someone wanted to reach out in some form or fashion – is that something you could share with them?

Randy: Yeah you know what, this is gonna be awesome because one of the software technology companies that we have is a marketing communications technology and it allows you to get really good at personal relationships and following up. It’s a company called Skipio and so the best way to get a hold of me as I'm really on my V. I. P. line and if you will just text me the words S K I P I O at 801 332 9909 and I'll be able to be able to follow up with you and you'll get a reply from me on some of the cool things that we're working with on the how to be a really, really amazing communicator and how to be really good on follow up. So again it's Skipio, just text key words Skipio to 801 332 9909 and you'll get a text right back from me with all my contact info.

Rob: Awesome, so text Skipio – S-K-I-P-I-O to 801 332 9909 is that right?

Randy: That's correct.

Rob: And Randy will respond to you and we use Skipio. This is a great service if you're in any type of business where the customer experience is important which should be just about all businesses. You can also go to skipio.com and see what they do is a business a little bit more. Very, very cool what they do and Randy will respond so that's very generous of you to offer that out there for them Randy. Any parting thoughts?

Randy: You know the last parting thought that I have is that I hope that all the listeners are you know utilizing Becoming Your Best tools. Honestly Rob, you came in and you spoke our company about what was it three months ago?

Rob: Yeah that in there. Somewhere in there.

Randy: And it has been it's been amazing, both for myself but other people keep referencing it in our office so all of the listeners I'd say you know the most important thing to do is to continue to work on yourself and continue to become the best individual, the best human, the best person that you can, and that way you can really reach out to others in a big way. And so I'm just that’s the one thing but I'm trying to do a lot better is to be the best you know leader that I can be and change as many lives but I possibly can before I go to the other side. And, so the other thing is one last thing - relating back to that story, is that a lot of people think you know in today's society it's like you know well I should deserve that or I should you know that's something that I deserve. I should deserve to be the CEO or I should deserve to have lots of money. I will tell you, that you really don't get what you deserve in life. You get what you work hard for and what you negotiate. So those are the two things – the two principles I live by: you don't get what you deserve in life you get what you fight, scratch, beg and plead for and negotiate. That's what you end up getting in life so that's part of my last leadership tip for everyone.

Rob: Well, that is so true and I certainly echo and feel the exact same as you do so. Randy you're amazing! Thanks so much for being on the podcast. I know this is a huge deal for our listeners. It impacts me and it will certainly impact them so thank you for being here and everyone remember that one person can make a difference and it's just like Randy said it's you and I asking what can we do to make a difference so wishing you a great day and wonderful week where you're at in the world.

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Ep. 128 - The Power and Influence of Words

31 perc 1. évad 128. rész

Welcome to our podcast listeners, wherever you might be in the world today. This is Steve Shallenberger, your host with Becoming Your Best, Global Leadership.

Think of one of the most amazing books you have ever read! What sets it apart from all of the others? Well, it’s the words!

And, imagine an incredible speaker or comedian. Aside from their unique presentation, it is the words that gives them passion to make a difference. They’re put together in the right way that make us laugh or reflect upon a play or movie that you have been to or seen, it is the words that also really penetrated your soul in a way you can never forget.

I mean, just think about Mary Poppins:

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Even though the sound of it Is something quite atrocious If you say it loud enough You'll always sound precocious Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Who could ever forget that one or “A spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down?”

Or how about John F Kennedy? “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country!”

Or Martin Luther King, “I have a dream,”

Yoda: Do or do not! There is no try!

So, think of words that have influenced your life: I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I know I can, I know I can, I know I can…., I knew I could, I knew I could, I knew I could. This little phrase fro The Little Train that Could has lasted with me for all these years.

Today’s podcast is about the use of words, which is a wonderfully exciting and a mind-blowing part of Principle #7 of The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders, and this particular one is: How to be an effective communicator.

Words happen to be a huge part of communication. So, what’s really the vision for using words? Well, they allow us to both communicate and understand in a way that inspires and impacts both your behavior and the behaviour of others.

So, words really do provide you with the capacity to articulate even your own personal vision, just think about that. Which in turn can affect your thoughts, actions, habits, character and ultimately your destiny.

So, if there was ever a reason to work on your Good, Better and best in an area, your use of words is it! So, whether you are 20, 40, 60, or 80 years old, our words, and in turn, our actions really define who we are.

As a matter of fact, talk about being self-conscious of something, my capacity to do this podcast is limited or enhanced by my use of words. Yikes—what a responsibility.

And as we reflect on The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders, these principles are ever vibrant, fresh and NEVER get stale or old. Each one is an inspiration that lifts us to new heights. However, when they work together, all 12 together, magic happens. A chemistry of excellence is released.

So, Principle #7 is of course to be an effective communicator. Our capacity then, to use these words, really effects our capacity to communicate well. And so to improve in this area is an exciting, wonderful, breath-taking journey.

Today, actually, it would be so fun to be together, to discuss and brainstorm these in person. To share our thoughts on ways to use words better. And so, I will imagine that your thoughts and contributions in our discussion are a vibrant part of this podcast today. In the absence of being together, let’s just share some of the things we might have discussed in the form of a word checklist of things that you (we) can do to enjoy this expansive journey that has such a big impact on our lives.

We could talk about language and words: So let’s start out by listening to this one. Diane Setterfield from The Thirteenth Tale.

“There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner. Wind themselves around your limbs like spider silk, and when you are so enthralled you cannot move, they pierce your skin, enter your blood, numb your thoughts. Inside you they work their magic.” ― Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale

Wow! Words are so cool and so inspiring. Whether you are communicating with a large group, small group or one-on-one, the words that you use make all the difference in the world.

To stimulate our discussion, I have identified 6 different dimensions of the “word checklist” that helps you in Becoming Your Best in this area.

Let’s dive right in this! Here is the first one of the checklist that helps us Becoming Our Best through the use of words:

Increase Your Vocabulary: Increasingly your vocabularly is a huge predictor of success. You can practice new words that you don’t use - really, everyday. Some years ago, as a father who wanted to help his children, I became aware of an institute called The Johnson O Connor Institute, Test. It’s located in different areas of the United States and this is something – it’s about a 5 hour test and it accesses your capability, among other things, your vocabulary as well. And so, we have sent different of our children to this in San Francisco. I actually accompanied them. And after the 5 hour test, an assessment result is given to you which is probably about 20 pages. It’s terrific! But then it focuses in on vocabulary! And so, Johnson O’Connor’s done a huge amount of research in this area. And particularly the studies have focused on the impact of vocabulary on people’s lives and has drawn many amazing conclusions from a vast amount of testing and experiments performed in more than 20 years of research. A significant part of Johnson O’Connor’s research observed successful people in many walks of life and really trying to correlate their success with factors such as gender, age, scholarship levels and many others including vocabulary levels. He tested people on the most versed endeavors like the students about to take their SATs or Executives in large corporations, coaches, teachers etc.

He always found the same results, no matter which area he looked at, and no matter how he analyzed the data: a person’s vocabulary level is the best single predictor of occupational success.

He actually did a study with managers in 39 large manufacturing companies. Below are the average results of an extensive vocabulary test, averaged and grouped by hierarchical level:

*Chart described in podcast for visualization purposes.

O’Connor really took extreme care to statistically isolate variables that could distort the results. So scholarship level and age, for example, were considered to make sure it was indeed vocabulary, and not something related, that correlated with success. His studies also show that vocabulary usually comes before achievement, and not because of it. Even if we’re not able to ultimately prove the correlation, it’s hard to ignore O’Connor’s findings.

And so ultimately, here is the deal. He discovered professional success depends entirely on thinking and communication skills which are directly related to vocabulary. That was the bottom line. I love this quote from Henry Hazlitt, Thinking as a Science.

“A man with a scant vocabulary will almost certainly be a weak thinker. The richer and more copious one's vocabulary and the greater one's awareness of fine distinctions and subtle nuances of meaning, the more fertile and precise is likely to be one's thinking. Knowledge of things and knowledge of the words for them grow together. If you do not know the words, you can hardly know the thing.” ― Henry Hazlitt, Thinking as a Science

So this is a huge part of a checklist in strengthening our capacity to use words is to build a strong vocabulary.

Here’s number two:

Make your words come alive. Words that breathe - Color, imagery, smell, texture, feel, energy andemotion. For example, Zig Ziglar, who’s spoken a number of times at our company seminars and he would say: People refer to money as Cold hard cash. “It is never cold nor hard. It is soft and warm. “

We can use similies and metaphors. Here’s one for example: Her tears were like a rushing river. Well, what a great simile! Because t compares someone’s tears with a rushing river. A person’s tears can’t literally be like a rushing river, but by saying that the tears are like a rushing river, you’re conjuring up an image in the individual’s mind, that’s listening to you or reading what you’ve shared, of how much someone is crying.

Or Her heart broke like glass! See what an image that creates?

Or The young man trying to remember his father’s advice on a blind date and paying his date a compliment. He could have said, “Your face could make a clock stop”. Or, he could say, “Your face makes time stand still!”

Well, these are tremendous images that help use see things. How about this Primary Song that I learned this when I was 8 years old.

I looked out the window, and what did I see?

Popcorn popping on the apricot tree!

Spring had brought me such a nice surprise,

Blossoms popping right before my eyes.

I could take an armful and make a treat,

A popcorn ball that would smell so sweet.

It wasn’t so, but it seemed to be

Popcorn popping on the apricot tree.

Isn’t that great? Well that’s an example of making words come alive! Of course there’s no popcorn on an apricot tree, but you can see it in your mind! You can see the beautiful white blossoms on an apricot tree – you can almost smell them and it connects you to Spring and the surprise and you want to go out and take an armful and what smells so sweet. This is an idea of using words in a way that they bring things to life.

Here’s number 3 on our word checklist of things that we can do to use words better:

Use words that are kind, uplifting and encouraging. Never mean, degrading and discouraging. Find something good to say about others. Especially in their absence. Think how much better the world would be if we were all kind to one another. That doesn’t mean we can’t disagree and have differences, different points of view, but just imagine what kind of world we would have if EVERYONE were uplifting in their comments about others. They found the good. The change in a world starts with you and it starts with me. We can do this and it spreads. Here’s a great quote by Vashti Quiroz-Vega.

“Words! What power they hold. Once they have rooted in your psyche, it is difficult to escape them. Words can shape the future of a child and destroy the existence of an adult. Words are powerful. Be careful how you use them because once you have pronounced them, you cannot remove the scar (or blessing) they leave behind.” ― Vashti Quiroz-Vega

Well how true. Here’s another one from Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute The Sun. This is an amazing one:

“We cannot control the way people interpret our ideas or thoughts, but we can control the words and tones we choose to convey them. Peace is built on understanding, and wars are built on misunderstandings. Never underestimate the power of a single word, and never recklessly throw around words. One wrong word, or misinterpreted word, can change the meaning of an entire sentence - and even start a war. And one right word, or one kind word, can grant you the heavens and open doors.” ― Suzy Kassem, Rise Up and Salute the Sun: The Writings of Suzy Kassem

So there’s three that we’ve talk about on our checklist. To recap so far: 1. Build your vocabulary 2. To Make your words come alive 3. Use words that are kind and encouraging. What can we do next to build our capacity to use language?

Use your Spellcheck and good Grammar. There are a few things that distract more from a well meaning letter that communicate that words that are spelled incorrectly and in the right order. Read over your document several times to assure accuracy and have others read your important letters or correspondence. Have others read over your documents to ensure there is a check and a balance. So that’s number 4.
Use words that are positive and upbeat! Watch the impact words have on your thoughts and feelings! I’m going to use an example from a book that was a huge inspiration to me, especialy in my youth and early 20’s. I read the book The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz numerous times. On page 68 in that book, he uses this example of phrases which create small negative mind changes versus Phrases which create big, positive mind images. Here are the examples he uses in his book.

Phrases which create small negative mind images

Phrases which create big, positive mind images.

1. It’s no use, we’re whipped.

1. We’re not whipped yet. Let’s keep trying. Here’s a new angle.

2. Five years is a long time to spend before I’ll get into the top ranks in your company. Count me out!

2. Five years is not really a long time. Just think, that leaves me 30 years to serve at a high level.

3. It won’t work. Dark, gloom, disappointment, grief, and failure.

3. It will work, let me prove it. The image: Bright, hope, success, fun and victory.

4. I’m too young (old) for the job.

4. Being young (old) is a distinct advantage.

5. The market is saturated. Imagine, 75 per cent of the potential has already been sold. Better get out.

5. Imagine! 25 per cent of the market is still not sold. Count me in. This looks big!

It’s really important for us to discipline ourselves so we are using the big positive words.

As we think about this thought of using words that are positive and upbeat - Think good words. Use good words. Use good language versus bad language.

I will never forget when I heard the tapes of one of our President’s of the United States. I could not believe the foul language that was totally unnecessary. What a disappointment that was.

My friend, Stephen Covey, who had had one of his trademark wass a shaved head would often say, why waste hormones on growing hair when you can use them on good looks.

Ep. 127 - Dr Denis Waitley - The Psychology Of Winning
36 perc 1. évad 127. rész

Steve: Welcome to all of our Becoming Your Best podcast listeners, where ever you might be in the world today. This is your host Steve Shallenberger and we have a very special guest and friend on our show today and I am as excited as I've ever been to have somebody here. He's wonderful. He’s a one of a kind individual with a life of inspiring others, including me, and helping people all over the world to reach their fullest potential and dreams. Welcome Denis Waitley.

Denis: Hey Stephen! Great to be with you. It's a real honor and a privilege to be on your podcast and I hope we can shed some more light to your audience which you do so well on Becoming Your Best.

Steve: Well thank you so much. Well yes we'll just go ahead and get right into it and before we get going I'd like to just give a little background of some of the things that Denis has done and generally his nature which is amazing. He is inspired, informed, challenged and entertained audiences for over thirty five years. I know that because in 1983 and 1984 in one of my first companies where we had 700 sales reps that were going all over the world - Denis was one of the individuals that we invited to speak to and train all of these young sales reps. There were going all over, and they were energetic of full of energy but Denis and along with the number of his friends Zig Ziglar, Earl Nightingale, Ira Hayes - I mean these are some really cool people who changed our lives and Denis was one of those. And so we're just part of that but he has done that all over the entire world. He's spent many years in China , hopefully will have the chance to have them tell us a little about that experience, in India, United States. Recently he was voted business speaker the year by the Sales and Marketing Executives Association and the by Toastmasters international and inducted into the international speakers hall of fame. He's had over ten million audio programs sold in fourteen different languages. This is just great! I actually pulled Denis a number of your books off my bookshelf again this morning. I've read that many times - The Psychology of Winning, The Seeds Of Greatness and it goes on. His audio album The Psychology of Winning is the all time best selling program on self mastery. He's a graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis and a former navy pilot. He holds a doctoral degree in human behaviour. Denis we’re so excited to have you with us!

Denis: Well thank you Steve. It's really great to be with you. You know it's been a wonderful journey. I'm still out there. You know people say, Well, you’re long past retirement age and I said well retire - by its very definition means to go to bed or tired for the last time. If you're retired it seems tired again. So I'm re inspired and retried instead of retired and I think that's one of the secrets that we all learn from people like Billy Graham and people like you know George Burns. You can name them and they seem to live longer because they're engaged in learning and they have the curiosity of a child that doesn't end when you finally stop earning. So I think you're yearning should and learning should continue regardless of your no longer earning.

Steve: Well that is a great way to put it. All of a sudden, that great voice a Denis Waitley is coming back and we just kinda lean forward to listen to all those great quotes that you have. That's an inspiration for me , like I'm already past retirement ,but I am no where compared - I think Denis is like a 184 at least.

Denis: It seems like it. You know, Steve, I've been doing eulogies for all of my contemporaries and that’s not, of course something that you look forward to. So, I did the eulogy for my friend, Jim Rone, Eulogy for my friends Zig Ziglar, for Wayne Dyer, Eulogy for my friend Steven Covey and even for Robert Schuller and Billy Graham was a friend of mine. I don't like to drop names like that but as I look at it them, I say to myself, “Wow, I'm so fortunate to still be out here.” But I have a cousin in England, Jack Reynolds ,who's 106 and he holds the Guinness Book of Records for the highest, longest, zip line journey for the oldest person. And it shows him at 106, shouting and yelling as he's going down this is a blind over the mountain in England and I asked him how do you live so long and he said,” I look forward to being a 107.”

Steve: Well that's great you know just recently Denis I've had the opportunity in just the last few months to be with the number of longevity in health doctors just on a retreat or different circumstances - one in Singapore there. Dr Oz was one of them. Another, Dr Mao is his name and then the third Dr Foruhy - they're amazing but they talk about, and there among the world's leaders on health and longevity. They all reflected a number of things in common that we can do to extend healthy living: stay fit, get adequate sleep. One of the ones I like the Dr Oz said was your heart needs to have a reason to keep beating.

Denis: Well that's good, that's a very good. That's when I have learned that too because I studied Prisoners Of War for my doctoral dissertation and I found that no American prisoner escaped during the Korean War from a minimum security camp but many of them escape from maximum security camp and that's because leaders always want to get home, or get to where they're going and people who feel that they're victimized and have no way out or no way forward, then don't live as long and that's what happens to many service people and coaches when they retire . If they retire and do nothing and have nothing really going on, you know we all say why don't we just play golf and fish. Well I like to eat what I catch and I don't like to kill fish necessarily but I do like taste of a fresh fish and I don't play golf anymore because why would I run my self esteem on a want like that.

Steve: That’s great. Well there's so much we can talk about that I think today let's start talking and I hope you don't mind and for the benefit of our audience, I'd like to start off talking about The Psychology Of Winning. This is a wonderful book and I am going to read just a small portion out of it. It’s an introduction and then perhaps Denis can tell us about what inspired him, what led to him write The Psychology Of Winning, and how was it been impactful in your life and others? So let me read this clip first. This is where he talks about true winning. True winning however is no more than one's own personal pursuit of individual excellence. You don't have to get lucky to win at life nor do you have to knock out other people down or gain at the expense of others. Winning is taking the talent or potential you were born with and have since developed and using it fully towards a goal or purpose it makes you happy. Winning is becoming the dream of yourself that would fulfill you as a person with high esteem. And winning is giving and getting in an atmosphere of love, cooperation, social concern and responsibility and that is why I've been so inspired about Denis because not only does he set it out there but then he's he says now here are some things that we need to do the will help us realize those dreams. So how did it all happen? What led to The Psychology Of Winning.

Denis: Well, that you know, of course a long journey, but as things always start in childhood - so as a little boy, I grew up during World War II - a dysfunctional family. My father left home when I think I was 9 years old when he left but he went to war and then he and my mother broke up and my mother became very bitter because they weren't spending his checks home and so she became disillusioned with life and was fairly negative it and as a way of combating that disillusionment I rode my bike about ten miles over to my grandmother's house every Saturday because she was an inspiration. So she and I planted a victory garden and she taught me about the seeds of greatness. She said whatever you put in the soil and nurture will come up and be fruitful and I said, “But how come weeds don't need water?” And she said, “Well weeds are like negative thoughts. They blow in on the wind and they don't need any water and they just need people to repeat them.” So we did this victory garden and she inspired me when I was little and in a dysfunctional family where your father maybe is an alcoholic and your mother's a negative for perhaps all of the right reasons, I found that by reading biographies of people who'd overcome enormous obstacles to become successful - I found that these people had problems that I never even dreamed about and yet they seem to be fulfilled and happy. So I read a lot and then I began to try to be a leader in my school to overcome feelings of inadequacy and feelings of abandonment perhaps by my father and to make a long story short, going to the Naval Academy during the Korean War, I learned a lot about discipline and target seeking and I became a navy pilot which meant that I had to visualize, internalize, I had to fantasize but I had to be goal oriented and I think as a surfer in southern California who finally became disciplined enough to be a carrier pilot, these things went together but I never wanted to destroy people in war- I want to defend my country but I had a calling that I wanted to develop the potential within people because I was struggling myself and to make a really long story short ,during the worst time in my life, when I had custody of my 4 little children, I was divorced and had no income I wrote The Psychology of Winning at the worst of times. Now people, you know Tony Robbins and some of my friends would say, “Well usually, you write a book about your success!” And I said “Well I wrote the book for myself, so that I could learn from what I was not doing to do the things I know I should be doing. And so at the worst of my time, I wrote my best work so to speak, and so I think writing it for myself, giving myself the encouragement to do things that were a little more difficult but took a little more habit, a little more discipline, a little more effort; I put together these principles and I use POW because I had been a rehab facilitator for the returning Vietnam prisoners of war and I use that as a metaphor- POW means either Prince Of Wales, putting on weight, power of women or psychology of winning and it's a perception through the eye of the beholder. So my premise is it's not so much what happens to you that counts, it's how you take it and what you make of it so what's your response to the daily life ; your anticipation of the future and the way you treat failure as fertilizer. Failure is the fertilizer of success. My grandmother used to say as we were fertilizing our plants, she said “We just take all the stuff and mulch and up and it grows green plants,” and I said “So that's what you do with failure huh? She said you don't lay in it wallow in it. You use it as a learning experience. So I would say that my grandmother who immigrated from England and going through World War 2 and the Korean War - I thought we'd always be at war because that's all I knew growing up, and so I was so gratified to realize that the war is finally ended but POW, does really mean for me psychology of winning rather than a prisoner of war.

Steve: Wonderful! Boy, what we're great comments and thanks for the background. Talk about seeds! There are so many nuggets of what you just shared of and your grandma must've been some lady!

Denis: Well I think about every day I have a mahogany butterfly that she always wanted that I finally made enough money with my paper out to buy it for is the only gift that I wanted from her life but it's in my kitchen and I look at it every day and we have a little silent conversation but she was definitely the role model and inspiration in my life and that I'll always be grateful for having her. She would say “You mow the bass line I've ever seen.” and I would ride my bike 10 miles just to get that kind of recognition from her and that good feeling of you're a good boy and you can do good things and the seeds of greatness and I always ask her “Will the Japanese win?” And she said “No ,you always get out what you put in.” So you get the harvest of the seeds that you sell sow - she said they will not win because their premise for doing what they did was not good and honest. I said “Wow.” She said, “So model yourself after people who've given service but not necessary are celebrities,” and I've always felt that the most successful people will never be known in the media because they're not celebrities, they are so busy living life and doing good they don't get covered by the media.

Steve: Great insights! if you wouldn't mind, you said something that caught my attention. You said in the middle of all this you had to you know this wonderful influence and contrast of experiences as a young man but the influence of your grandma on talking about planting the right seeds and in in the middle of all this where you're feeling “a bit like a failure,” because of some of the things that had happened , you said just mention that you felt a calling to help others develop their potential and you included yourself in that group. Would you mind talking about that feeling you had? This calling you felt that you needed to address and respond to and how big of a deal was that for you?

Denis: What was really a big deal see because at the Naval Academy is Episcopalian and growing up the only religious training I had was my grandma reading some really great proverbs and things out of the good book. So I went to Sunday school because the Presbyterians have better uniforms on the softball team and so I went through all these religious experiences and finally and later Billy Graham said to me, “So you've got all these experiences what denomination are you? and I said, “Sir I was hoping you might give me a suggestion.” And he said, “You know you're on your journey .” So the truth of the matter is when I would hear Handel's messiah at Christmas time , there was this inner tingling and this feeling that there was something internal and I think I was becoming acquainted with my soul and yet not having any formal religious training, it was definitely an inner inspiration so I felt that perhaps I had made a lot of mistakes in my apprenticeship in life so that I might be able to learn to do the right things. And much of what I've written about are certainly repetitions of the scriptures and the Old and the New Testament and all the great books that have been written so there's no question that I'm not an original. I'm someone who's leaned from reading and experiencing and traveling about these things and I think that it was at that bad time of not having income, having my four children wanting to come back home to San Diego or to California and I was in Pittsburgh in their worst winter and I had just sold the Jonas Salk Foundation to the Mellon Foundation back in Pittsburgh and I found myself divorced with custody of four children who didn't want to be with me in Pittsburgh in the winter. They wanted to come home. It's almost like saying “Come on we've always been a team!” And they said ‘We want to go home, dad.” I said,” I know but you're with your dad.’ They said “Yeah I know but we want to go home,” and I think that was the turning point where you put your head out the window and say, I'm fed up with myself. I'm not going to take it anymore but which meant I'm not going to do this to myself. So I went into this program of self analysis, self awareness and found that I was not doing the very things that I had read about and I was only superficially scratching the surface. I was only skin deep and so I got into it very deeply and that became that book for The Psychology Of Winning which became an audio program first and then a book, was really a diary of what I needed to learn myself and the only regret I have Steve, is that at the time that I wrote it, OJ Simpson was running through airports for Hertz Rent-A- Car and had suffered rickets as a child and had bold legs and he became this NFL superstar and I included him in my book and I've been trying to remove him from the book ever since. But you can't pick winners in all of the so called role models. He certainly isn’t a role model but so in other words by I learned these principles for me so that I would do them and I began to do them and I went from being somebody who was always late, which is perfect for my name, “Waitley,” - wait for me and so I should have changed my name to swiftly or rushly but I became Waitley but I became first to the gate Waitley. I became someone who was always on time and I did that because I am an absolute believer in the creation of habit and I've learned so much about good and bad habits and healthy and unhealthy and about ninety percent of our daily activities are habitual we do them autonomically without even thinking and so I've spent most of my life trying to help people not break habits - but you don't break a habit. You re write it ,you overcome it, you change it but you don't break it. You know habits are like submarines there silent and deep. They're like comfortable beds easy to get into but difficult to get out of and habits are just this knit pattern of thought that becomes automatic after a while and so I think working with the Olympics, I was really lucky as you know, Bill Simon was president of the Olympics and he appointed be as the first chairman of Psychology for United States Olympics in 1980 and through that experience, I watch these amazing young people get into the habit of winning. And they became they did within what they were doing without and they simulated and they rehearse and they practiced, on and off the field and finally watching the skiers go through the visualization at the top of the run before they hit the first gate and watching swimmers go through the meat ,watching figure skaters backstage going to their routines and not falling during the Triple Axel. I saw all of this and I said you know in addition to being emotionally inspired there definitely is a way to do this if you can control your thinking and if you can fill your thoughts which I call “Psycho Linguistics,” because thoughts are traffic and the brain is either a cul de sac construction zone or freeway. And you can create a freeway in your brain by controlling the traffic that flows through your brain and it actually makes a new highway toward your goal is like a GPS system but instead of a goal positioning satellite or a positioning satellite, it’s a goal positioning system in your brain that you can train to have a target so specific and so emotional that your brain will allow very little distraction to get you there so fortunately through the years neuroscience has proven that positive thinking is more than just the placebo effect. It actually are creators internal pharmacy that really helps optimism become the biology of hope as well as the psychology of hope.

Steve: These are some really extraordinarily inspirational ideas and I'm just thinking I know that so many of our listeners including me and I'd expect all of them have this feeling of something special that they can do in life and then it takes going through thinking about their own unique talents in this introspection that you describe saying how do I address that and how do I concretely move forward and so, these things that you're sharing are so important , so inspirational. I know that they're covered in your books. As you think about this the book Psychology Of Winning, you've been talking about on some of the key parts that are really important for us to realize our goals.

Denis: Well that's a very good question. I think the first one is realizing that your intrinsic worth. I think that worth internalized is better than worth externalized and I think you have to feel deserving of success before you'll really experience it, which really means that if love is not inside of you ,then how can you give away something you don't possess? So love must be there in the first place and I'm not talking about narcissistic self love. It’s the kind of thing that say given my parents and my background given who I am, how I look ,what age I am my ethnicity my religious beliefs ,I'm kind of glad I am me! And in fact I'd rather be me than anyone else in the world live in at any other time, in fact that's who I am. I'm as good as the best but not necessarily better than the rest so I don't compare myself favorably or unfavorably with other people although the Olympics do that with the standard of excellence but that's just to be an Olympian and to compete with world class standards -doesn't mean you're necessarily trying to knock and beat the other person. You're just trying to be your best against world class standards. So I think the most important thing is to believe in your potential because only then will you invest in yourself. if you don't feel worth investing and then you won't invest in it you'll live your life as a spectator - happy to be in the stands and I am happy to be in the stands as well watching tremendous performances but it's much more fun to be in the arena however small and participating. So I think intrinsic self worth, believing in your dream when that's all you have to hang on to is the single most important quality. And then the second one is to always give more in value than you expect to receive in payment, because it seems to be that you really do have an unfailing boomerang. People always called the law of attraction or the law of cause and effect but I found when I am truly interested in helping other people genuinely not to get something for me ,but if I get out of me and into them and transmit whatever value I have in the way of service or advice, that in that way I don't expect a return on the investment but I usually get it ten fold. So I've always believed that if you give more in value than you receive in payment you'll be truly rich in every sense and then of course there is the idea of expectation, optimism, the world revolves around optimism and people who believe in solutions rather than are just complaining about the problems and we have so many critics and so many tweets and so much Twitter as so many instagrams and so much Facebook and so many selfies. You know I'd like to be unselfish in a selfie world and I'd like to instead of being skin deep, I'd like to be soul deep and I'd like to measure diversity not based on how you look on the outside but the experiences you've had as you've been growing up . In other words we all bring a diversity of experience, why do our eyes have to tell us what we should believe or why the war years and our eyes have to be the ones that are the megaphone and also that the block? So I believe that in expecting the best ,that optimism, Harvard does have a new school of placebo and they have found that even people who have after stopping the surgery if you have the sham surgery which you agree to and they just do a little incision and sew it up, the chances of your recovery and feeling good are almost as well as if you have the real surgery which shows that God has given us this incredible ability to believe in something that we really want and is valuable and gives us the pharmacological influence to do it in other words: the endorphins and the harbingers of peace and happiness. So I believe also that happiness is the decision that you make and I train the Olympians above all I've decided to be happy and I think happiness is a decision, not a results and if you wait for a result to make you happy, you'll probably be for ever hung in that suspense of wondering when it's going to happen.

Steve: Well I'll just tell you, Denis, for all of us who are working on becoming our best, which literally creates a fulfilment of light, a happiness within us that goes out and radiates and touches everybody. These things that you're teaching us and sharing with us today are the very things that create that light and I've been taking good notes today. I thank you for that and I'm always shocked at how fast time goes like we're done.

Denis: I know we are! I spent a lot of my time talking to uber drivers and I said you know you have this incredible mechanism and they say, “You being my little GPS that I have up here on my dashboard so I can take,” I said yes first you must know where you are and then you crank in where you want to go and if you know where you are and where you want to go it's much easier to get there because that's called focus and specificity. And they go, wow, thanks for the info doc! Do I get to I get a tip? Anyway Steve it's been a real thrill, a real honor for me to be with you. I just keep wanting to plant apple seeds like Johnny Appleseed and I don't know how many of them will get in the soil and take but doesn't matter if you just keep throwing them out - one or two and all I want to do is make a difference in one or two lives and that's enough for me. Plant shade trees under which I myself will never sit.

Steve: Thank you. I can tell you for sure of one person and I know it's countless people where that seed that has fallen and grown and continues to do so. So I personally thank you!

Denis: Well thanks, Steve. I hope we connect again we will. When you're this way and I'm that way let's really do have a reunion. That’s important - friends who haven't seen each other but are still friends for a long time.

Stev: You bet, you can count on that. Now we can't end this podcast without this question and the question is, if you're giving in a parting shot to your family or your friends and brothers or sisters across the world ,what would it be it would be?

Denis: It would be that time is the only equal opportunity employer and please don't rush to your life trying to get wealthy only to find yourself too old to do the things that you save the money to do and remember the one most important thing; the values you leave in your children are much more priceless than the valuables you leave them in your estate. My children have never thanked me for all the money that I've spent on them but we always talk and laugh and cry over the time we spent together. So make sure you spend time with those you love, not just tweets and that just instagrams and not just text .

Steve: Thats great advice. Denis how can people find out more about what you're doing? How can they have access to your book , your materials or whatever?

Denis: I think you know just going to DenisWaitley.com and I have that funny one n in my nameand I what I'm trying to do is create a library and most of it free. So I'm not trying to get people to go to my website so I'll make money off them. I'm trying to go so that they'll be able to get NFL locker room style pep talks for free which would mean that the music the lyrics, if you will the quotes and the best of what I've done. I'd rather give it to them free then try to sell them something on a subscription so hopefully they'll get more free than trying to surf around the store.

Steve: Wonderful, thank you Denis for being part of the show today. It’s been amazing!

We wish our friends that are listening today all the best as well as you continue making a huge difference in the world I'm Steve Shallenberger with becoming your best global leadership wishing you a great day.

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Ep. 126 - How to Stay Motivated: The 6 key actions to stay highly motivated
28 perc 1. évad 127. rész

Steve: Welcome To The Becoming Your Best Podcast. This is Steve Shallenberger your host. I’m excited to talk about the subject today. It’s how to stay motivated and 6 Key Actions that you can take to stay highly motivated. As we think about Becoming Your Best and the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders, I’ve been thinking about never giving up, that’s principle #12. Each one of the Principles alone is important but alone really, insufficient by themselves. It’s how they work together that creates a chemistry of excellence. Never give up is a decision to keep going, it is a pattern of employing the other 11 principles and in the process of working on our vision and goals, of Becoming Your Best, while experiencing success, failure, making pivots, failing again, succeeding, succeeding, failing, learning and moving forward to a great place. Never Giving Up is at the heart of success for all humanity. It is a principle, a force of human will, will power of overcoming setbacks, learning, never giving up and making progress. Sometimes spectacular progress.

The subject today is part of Never Giving Up and a vital component, even a full cousin and it is Staying Motivated to Reach Our Vision and Goals!

Whether you’re a Sales Person, CEO, Division Leader, Parent, Coach, Teacher, Professional (Doc, Dentist, Lawyer, Accountant, etc.) Student, technician, truck driver and so forth the STAKES ARE HIGH! Our level of motivation can literally determine our success! Our level of motivation is like a light burning without that radiates everywhere without.

One of our five sons is working as a Sales Rep in Chicago and it’s very interesting because he has some very clear goals, a great skill set and deciding to make a difference is a mental state and it literally drives us to a high level of achievement but it is the motivation that is the drive line that is helping Tommy be successful every single day. One of the things that Tommy has done to help reinforce this motivation is he’s chosen my wife (and I get to be the bystander to reporting each day). She is his accountability partner. He calls her every single day and reports how it’s going. This is one of the ways Tommy is able to sustain a high level of motivation and it’s paying off. He’s one of the very top in this business. Towards the end of his wonderful and amazing life, Stephen Covey and I went to lunch one day and we were talking about what were the most important things that he taught. And out of all the things that he taught, the 7 Habits and the other things, he said, these are the two: P/PC balance – Probability now and Profit Capability. The PC is the ability to produce profits over a long period of time. Our ability to balance these in a successful way are what determines our long term success. So if you focus too much on profitability this year, you can burn yourself out at the expense of your PC. If you focus too much on the PC then your P suffers this year. It’s this balance. The second of the concepts that he felt were the greatest that he taught, was that the private victory precedes the public victory. I love this concept and it is as true today as it was over his illustrious career where he touched millions throughout the world. This is what I’d like us to think about is that the private victory has a huge impact on our public victory in terms of sustaining high motivation.

So in preparation for this podcast, here at BYB, we have been doing research throughout the world on this very subject: How Do You Stay Motivated or What Discourages You or What keeps you from staying highly motivated . The findings from this research have had a huge impact for me on better understanding what people do to stay motivated or what discourages them. I appreciate the feedback from our many listeners around the world. This has been so helpful. Staying motivated is both a science and an art. I have culled from the feedback from the research on this study and developed this into 6 key actions you can take to stay motivated.

The opposite of being motivated is to be discouraged. This can vastly impact your happiness, joy and productivity, not to mention your quality of life. This is especially true is you are suffering from fiery adversity. The fact is: The STAKES ARE HIGH in our lives.

What can you do (what can I do?) to stay highly motivated? So here are the 6 things that I have called from this research and I’ll try to really touch on some of the various thoughts that have been given – I’ll weave them into the 6 thoughts as well.

Follow your vision, goals and pre-week planning. This is huge in terms of staying highly motivated. Dr Oz recently said, “Your heart needs a reason to keep beating.” That is what we put into our vision. What is the reason that we have for living? So making it passionate, exciting and meaningful. This is the head point, the starting point, the head gates, the direction we want to move in life including love, relationships and doing great things with your talents. This REASON is articulated it in a vision and cascading now through smart annual goals and being executed pre-week planning. This is a process that inspires leadership and action. And literally as you embrace these experiences, you recognize the daily victories that you have! It’s interesting as through this study, I’ve realized that ,money as a goal is important, but it was far from the biggest factor in keeping people highly motivated. So this is an important part of our vision and goals and pre week planning to be financially reliant and ahead of the game but it’s not the most important think that keep us highly motivated. One fellow said, “Money isn’t important, but it does rank right up there with oxygen.” Well, what’s so important about pre-week planning is it helps you to put it all together. It helps you to visualize your success, the things that count most to stay highly motivated. The components of that that do help us maintain this high motivation is Exercise, meditation, doing good things, working on balance; so it’s this whole package of key things that allows us to stay at the top of our game. Some people said in the survey and in our research to make a game for achievement. So, daily execution in sales is a good example if that happens to be your business. I recall, when I was going through college, during the Summers, I was a door-to-door book salesman for the South Western Company also for Eagle Systems International. Here was the game that I made: this was Door-to-Door sales, everyone was a potential customer – we just didn’t know it until we opened the door. So everything was pretty fast hitting. The game was to give 20 demos in morning, afternoon and evening. People in the area that I worked in called me “The Running Book Salesman.” I literally run from door to door so I could achieve that goal. I did that - the result was that it would help me be the Top Sale Reps in the company. And so, these are things you can do: vision, so you really follow your vision, annual goals that are set by roles – so what are going to do in the personal aspect, family and friends, professionally and civically? This very clear focus of smart goals meaning very specific achievable, measurable, relevant to your vision and timely – they help us stay focused. And then it’s down to the implementation, pre week planning which is simply this: taking a few minutes during the weekend, 20-30 minutes to think through the lens of your roles, the key roles that you have in your life and what are the actions that matter most. And then you mesh that in to when you’re do them with your existing goals and so you set up your week so you can win and succeed. This focus really helps you control the things that you can control. It’s interesting because when you follow a focus on these things, you’re literally working on what you can control and not wasting your time or your focus to things you cannot control. This focus has a huge impact on being able to stay highly motivated. Just one quck footnote before we go on the number 2 , from the study, these are actually the things that discourage people: Not living up to my potential, not getting things done/procrastination, having negative thoughts or when things don’t pan out that’s what leads to discourage. This next one is really interesting - no recognition, direction, or deadline. This one of no recognition from others is important. Biases, and lack of finances. So what I found is our annual goals and Pre-week planning really help with every one of those. They really help you control the things you can control and work on those type of things so you end up on the other side of the ledger.

Now, we actually listed in a graphic pie chart each of the top of these 6 things. Here is number 2.

Belief in a higher power. This was ranked way up there in helping people remain highly motivated. And expressing gratitude and recognition of this belief in a higher power. What this does is that when people believe in a higher power, they recognize the potential they have. My friend Zig Ziglar used to say, “God don’t make no junk!” How true that is! You are special and have God-given capabilities and capacity. There is a higher purpose in life. This belief can provide enormous motivation. This belief will help you LOVE yourself and realize how good you really are. At least that’s my take on it. That’s why so many people I think rank this as such a high force or influence in their life to stay highly motivated.

Prayer and meditation. These are major influences on staying highly motivated. This reminded me of both George Washington and Abe Lincoln. Two of the very most significant historical influences to impact on our world particularly on the United States and being key figures on setting up and establishing a government a constitution, a way of living that has influenced all of us in our modern world and billions of people. George Washington in the very depths of despair in trying to stay motivated – he needed, as the leader of this force – this continental army who were fighting for their very lives, needed to stay upbeat and motivated. Our home and others, that I’ve seen that we have this great painting by Arnold Freeberg of George Washington kneeling in prayer. There’s many accounts of this of this is where he gained his strength to stay focused and motivated. Abe Lincoln, during the battle of Geddessburg, he went to his study and knelt in prayer and asked for divine help, that they were able to be successful in the battlefield. He relates that this gave him a great sense of peace and confidence and people were marveling while many were leaving Washington during that battle of Geddesburg and the event that the confederate army would have been victorious, Abe Lincoln said, “I’m staying.” During this time, he was very motivated. This is the account that he gave. Meditation and reflecting on the things that count most are very helpful to us.

Associate with other upbeat motivated people. Have fun. Recognize others for the good that they do. Failure to recognize others and their contribution does leads to discouragement. On both sides of this – we are going to determined to control what we can control but we can control recognizing others. So let’s associate with other people that are like minded. In this regard, I am so fortunate. I’m fortunate to have an upbeat family. My work associates are amazing, high achievers and they focus in all aspects on their lives in being upbeat and having fun. A good example is at a conference last week, a number of us executives went to. Just before the evening or the afternoon session of the conference, we went out to a Go Kart place which was not too far away. And we had a great time. We survived the Go Kart experience together. My back got slightly rearranged but we work hard and we play hard. We have upbeat language and actions and consideration and respect for each other’s. All of these things literally create a culture of high motivation. It doesn’t we don’t have challenges. It doesn’t mean we don’t have set backs and problems. How we approach it really is a big deal. So have an accountability partner on positive goals. If possible, stay away from chronically negative people.

Let’s go over these first four:

Follow your vision, goals and pre week playing.

Belief in a higher power – everybody isn’t going to do that in the way you do it, but that is one of the results of this survey from across the board for what people can do. If it’s helpful, it’s something you can think about.

Prayer and Meditation and the strength, peace and depth it can give you.

Associate with other motivated, upbeat people.

Fill your mind with upbeat, inspiring thoughts. This is something that you can control. I like what William James wrote, “The greatest discovery of our generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering the attitudes of their minds as you think, so shall you be. These are things you can control for example like: Read great stuff, listen (podcasts, TED talks, motivation materials, upbeat soundtracks), Learn – literally as you learn, you increase size of hippocampus. The size of your hippocampus, it directly impacts the health of your brain, body and your life. Memorize upbeat poems. I love doing this. This does the very same thing as in filling your brain with the right kind of stuff. Share learnings and experiences with others. One of the people that I met last week in a seminar came up to me afterwards said ‘I loved being here today. I love the thought of BYB. I’ve been thinking about motivating thoughts. And I’ve created a journal where I’m writing these down. And in the morning, when I wake up, I look at the journal and it helps me continue this process. When I say fill your mind with upbeat and inspiring thoughts, I mention soundtracks, movies, whatever. I like things like “Amazing Grace,” with William Wilbur Force, Apollo 13, Rudy, Remember The Titans, The Sound Of Music, The Legend Of Bagger Vance, Rocky and so forth. These are all little things that we just keep doing little by little.

Positive Self Talk and affirmations (include this type of language in your vision). I like what Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Sow a thought and you reap an act. Sow an action and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny. And that’s what we’re talking about here. Positive self talk and affirmations. This the type of language that you include in your vision. So a good example of this one is “Today is going to be a great day.” That is an affirmation. “I do great work.” These are the type of things we can put in our vision and fill our minds. Positive Talk. The body is very obedient. The body will conform to what we ask it to do. One of the great examples of this. One of my first companies – ESI we have over 700 hundred sales reps and they would go out and of course be positive with every single client or customer. We would hold a training with all of them before the launched out to all of their assigned areas in the United States and as we worked on positive self talk and one of the things we would work on is, we would say together, three times, but they may need to say it 10 or 20 times or as many times as they were going to their areas:

“I Feel Healthy, I feel happy. I feel terrific. “ At first they may not have felt healthy, happy and terrific. They may have felt lousy and discouraged and down in the dumps. But as they said, “I Feel Healthy, I feel happy. I feel terrific,” over and over , pretty soon they found themselves feeling that way. It literally impacts the body on releasing endorphins and changing how you feel.

So those are 6 things that you can do that came from this research. I’m just going to review it one more time.

Follow your vision, goals and pre week planning. This sets up a process that deals with so many things that take away from motivation and add to motivation and helps you do it better.

Belief in a higher power: Each person will have to decide how you do that and what it means to you

Prayer and meditation

Associate with other update and motivated people: That is so fun. I’m grateful to have friends work associates and family who do that. And it’s helpful to me! I reflect upon them and feel the gratitude and appreciation I think that adds to my motivation.

Fil your mind with upbeat, inspiring thoughts

Positive Self-Talk: Be careful of the language going on in your own mind.

Here’s an invitation – something that may be helpful. Many people help us if we have a sample of what a vision or goals may look like. If you would like a PDF of some samples, email us at support@becomingyourbest.com and we will just send you the Free PDFs of samples of vision and goals. Another thing that you might consider is investing in a BYB book and BYB planner. You can go to our website becomingyourbest.com and indicate that you would like to have a book and a planner and I would be happy to sign the book for you. These will help you do these 6 things we just talked about and stay focused on What Matters Most.

One other thing that you might consider is to give a gift of a BYB book and/or BYB planner to a family member or work associate. These are transformational forces that have inspired the #1 Leadership forces in your life. As you work on these 6 KEY ACTIONS which is to: 1. Follow your vision, goals and pre week planning

Belief in a higher power

Prayer and Meditation

Associate with other upbeat and motivated people

Fill your mind with upbeat and positive thoughts

Positive Self Talk.

These things will help you Stay Motivated: You WILL STAY HIGHLY MOTIVATED and it will affect your happiness, joy and productivity and that of everyone around you.

We are wishing you all the best as you make a difference in the world for good every day.

This is Steve Shallenberger, with BYBGL, wishing you a great, safe day.

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Episode 155 - 50 Ironmans. 50 States. 50 Days. How did he do it?
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The Power of Hope
16 perc 97. rész

The Power of Hope https://www.becomingyourbest.com/the-power-of-hope/ Welcome back to the Becoming Your Best podcast! This is Rob Shallenberger. I'm excited to be with you today to talk about something that is a huge deal in our lives, especially in the w
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Less Stuff More Life with Courtney Carver
31 perc 96. rész

Less Stuff More Life with Courtney Carver https://www.becomingyourbest.com/less-stuff-life-courtney-carver/ Steve: Welcome to all our, Becoming Your Best Podcast listeners, wherever you might be in the world today! This is your host, Steve Shallenberger.
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The Glory of the Start
23 perc 95. rész

The Glory of the Start
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How Can I Be Less Cynical
22 perc 94. rész

How Can I Be Less Cynical? Hello, this is Steve Shallenberger, your host today with the, Becoming Your Best Global Leadership podcast. And this is an ongoing set of podcast on leadership principles that contribute to highly successful results. And today,
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Can Having Fun Improve Your Productivity? - with Dave Crenshaw
31 perc 93. rész

Welcome to all of our "Becoming Your Best" podcast listeners, wherever you might be in the world today. This is your host, Steve Shallenberger, and we have a terrific guest with us today. I'm so excited to be able to visit with him, especially about the s
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What Being A BYB Leader Means To You
16 perc 92. rész

What Being A BYB Leader Means To You
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The Heart, Head, And Hands Of Change With Barbara Trautlein
33 perc 91. rész

The Heart, Head, And Hands Of Change With Barbara Trautlein Steve: Welcome to all of our Becoming Your Best Podcast listeners wherever you might be in the world today. This is your host, Steve Shallenberger and we have a very talented guest with us today.
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Growing Weeders into Leaders with Jeff McManus
32 perc 90. rész

Growing Weeders into Leaders with Jeff McManus

https://www.becomingyourbest.com/growing-weeders-leaders-jeff-mcmanus/

Steve: Super. Welcome to all of our Becoming Your Best podcast listeners wherever you might be today. This is your host, Steve Shallenberger, and I am so much looking forward to our guest today. He's unlike any other that I've had on this show. Our guest has an earthy background that has had a big impact taking principles from nature and helping recognize those in a leadership application. So, welcome, Jeff McManus.

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How To Create a Positive, Vibrant and Engaged Culture
10 perc 89. rész

How To Create a Positive, Vibrant and Engaged Culture https://www.becomingyourbest.com/create-positive-vibrant-engaged-culture/ This is Steve Shallenberger welcoming you to this becoming your best podcast today. We're so grateful to have you listen in in
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What Is A BYB Leader?
16 perc 88. rész

What Is A BYB Leader?

https://www.becomingyourbest.com/what-is-a-byb-leader/

All right welcome to All of our Becoming your Best podcast listeners, wherever you are in the world today.This is gonna be a short yet, but what I hope will be a powerful podcast for you, and it really is something that is a result of you. And what I mean by that is there have been organizations and people out there that start to talk to their managers and leaders and start to say to them, you know, "Thank you for being a BYB leader." And this came back to us and has filtered through and around, and we've heard this and we thought you know, let's define a little bit what that is. I mean what's different about a leader versus a BYB leader, a becoming your best leader? And so our team went to work on developing a manifest, or a creed over the last couple of weeks of what that means and what that looks like, and what this means to you as you lead your family, your personal life, your team, your community in whatever capacity you're leading in.

And so this is a part of a movement, a becoming your best movement. And one of the things that means is that BYB leaders are a new breed of leaders who no longer satisfied with mediocrity. BYB leaders strive daily to be their very best in each area of their life and to treat each other right. BYB leaders are committed to excellence, they find a way to do the impossible. BYB leaders are confident, optimistic, and determined to make a positive difference in their homes, schools, organizations, and certainly the world. Negativity, pessimism, and complaining have no part in their lives. BYB leaders know that they don't have to compromise their personal life, or family to be successful contrary to what many other entrepreneurs believe.

And lastly, this is part of a family of true leaders. And so what is a BYB leader? It's someone who encompasses the 12 principles and is no longer satisfied with mediocrity and wants to strive for excellence. Is no longer satisfied with the status quo. So BYB leader is true to character, they lead with a vision, manage with a plan, prioritize their time, live the golden rule in business and in life. They build and maintain trust with their key peers, and associates, and family members. They're effective communicators and listeners, they aren't quick to anger or wrath, and they're quick to listen, slow to anger or wrath is a better way to say that. They innovate, they're cannibal, constantly seeking new knowledge. Living in peace and balance, and they have an attitude of never give up. And that's a BYB leader, it's not just a leader. That's why we're no longer satisfied with the status quo and you are part of a, becoming your best movement that is gonna encompass the world.

It already is spreading to some many different parts, and you're the movement. I mean were hearing stories from people and we don't even know how they came to find becoming your best, except that they heard it from a friend a family member. And that it's really starting to transform their life as they start to think like a BYB leader, rather than just an average, or normal, or regular leader if you will. So welcome to the movement, this is something we're all in together. We're no longer satisfied with mediocrity its something that we're striving to do personally in our homes and certainly in our businesses.

Now, as we think about what it is to be a BYB leader, I wanted to share with you a couple of personal stories from the last two weeks. One of those is when I had a chance to go down to Mexico, about 15, 14 days ago and join my son who's down there on a piano tour with a small group of about eight people. And they did some performances in Mexico City, then down in Medethane which is in the Yucatan area, and then lastly they went to Costa Rica and played in several different locations there in Costa Rica. It was an incredible experience for them, they were gone for two weeks and I just joined them for those three days down in Medethane, the Yucatan. And one of the things we did while we were together is we went swimming in these Mayan pools, they call them cenotes down there. And one of these was the coolest experience. I mean each one was this very unique and different cenote.

Well, the last one we went to we walked down this set of stairs into this dark cave and our guide had a little flashlight. And we went out and stood on this pier and here's the water, and its more than 40 or 50 feet deep so you can't touch the bottom and it's this dark cave so you can just visual and imagine this. She shines her flashlight out past the pier, so it extends out maybe 10 feet and she just asks everyone to jump in and wait for her. And yeah, I'm on a little life jacket there, so it's not like you're at risk sinking there. So we all jump in, you have the teenagers in there with us, it's just cool. We're in this totally dark cave you can't see anything that's behind you and the only thing you can see is her light there on the pier shining in. Well, after everyone had trickled in, it's completely black, she jumps in there with us and she told us she's gonna take us on a little tour and to follow her, to follow the light.

And so sure enough, she starts to slowly wading around the outside of this area. And so we're all just following her, and the only thing we have to rely on is her light. And it was the most incredible sensation, I thought what we were doing was going around what felt like a lazy river. So if you've ever been to a waterpark in the summer and been on the lazy river you know what that's like it's just this little, call it a river maybe 10-15 feet wide. And it felt to me like we were going in a circle, we're going left, left, then gradually starting to curve right, totally disorientated as to where we were. I thought the entrance was way back behind us somewhere. So after doing this for maybe 10-12 minutes and going into what I thought was a big old circle, she stops and she's showing us all these stalactites coming out of the ceiling and floor at the sides, it just an amazing cave and place. And then, she paused and the lights flipped on in the place, she turned the lights on in the whole place. And what it was, was this circular cave that was probably 150 feet by 150 feet, totally different than where I thought we were. I thought that there was this big old rock in the center and that we were going on this lazy river type experience around this rock and that we were eventually gonna circle our way back to where we started. That wasn't the case at all, we had stayed in this single cave the entire time and when the lights flipped on my perspective of where we were, totally changed. I had no idea that we were in the same open cave the entire time, and that we could have just swam back and forth across in the dark. And all of us are just like, "What, are you kidding me? We've been in the same place the whole time." It was just astounding to me that, that is what had happened.

And I thought, you know, this is a real applicable life lesson. Are we just cruising through life focused on a very narrow area of life and not seeing all the possibilities that are around us? And this is part of what a BYB leader does is, they don't have tunnel vision of what's in front of them. We see much more of the picture around us, rather than this little narrow focus, and a BYB leader lives a life by design, rather than a life by default. And there's a big difference between those two, one is very intentional and focused about leading their life by design and being intentional about their day and their time. Focusing on those principles that will help make them a great leader as they lead their own life, their family, and their teams. And so just like with the cenote here, how many times in life do we think we're in one place figuratively speaking, and the reality is we're in a totally different place if we could simply turn on the lights and see what's around us?

And the thought from this is that, you know, when one door opens, most people would say, another closes. What I've learned is that when one door opens, another opens, and then another opens, and then another, and another. And the more that we grow our knowledge, and you start to apply the principles in your life, just like I've tried to do in my life, these doors start to open, our perceptive changes, our paradigm shifts. And we start to see an entirely new world around us that we didn't see before. And I've seen this happen all over the world, in different companies and organizations. Lives and it doesn't really matter who the person is, when they apply the 12 principles, they start to become a BYB leader, and their expanse and their paradigm opens up.

And I'll just give you one more example of this. I've had people ask, you know, "How do you give someone desire?" And it's a great question, and I don't have all the answers to that one yet. There are two things that I've been able to see have an impact on people's desire in my life. Number one, is when they start to read. Reading is a powerful habit, 43% of college graduates will never read another book the rest of their life. It's certainly one of the habits of the most successful leaders. Great leaders are readers. And so reading books can open up a world of possibilities in our life. It can give us desire that we may not felt like was there, or it can boost our motivation. I mean, how many times have you ever felt down or like you're a little on motivation or desire? I just don't want to do that. Man, that's when you need to start reading, it activates parts of our brains that otherwise will stay dormant, so that's one.

The other that I get asked, and this all ties back into being a BYB leader, because we're talking about your children, your employees and even you, and I. The other thing that I would suggest makes a huge difference is to put ourselves in situations where the spark and fire can ignite. And so part of that is investing back into ourselves we do this religiously. We'll find one or two seminars were we can go out and be a part of their seminar to keep our skills sharp. And so, for example, last week I went and spoke to the FBLA Annual Convention. It was their 75th Anniversary, the Future Business Leaders of America. So here are 14,000 people in this amazing convention center in Anaheim, California. Incredible youth, I mean when we say the future business leaders of America, I'm confident that in that room you have a future President of the United States. You have people who are gonna discover the cure for cancer, how to colonize Mars, and discover how to travel at speeds that take us outside our solar system. So truly, that was a room of the future leaders of the world. It was very inspiring to be their keynote speaker, I mean it was just incredible to watch them.

In that process, I took Bella with me, my 12-year-old daughter. Why? I mean she's already an amazing young lady, I wanted to give her a chance to have another spark, to see something that sparks an idea in her. So that when she sees that a doors open, she walks through the door, and sees that there are three more doors that open up as a result of it. And sure enough, we hadn't been back from that convention more than two days when I noticed that she was outside watching the sunset. Okay, what's she doing? She came back in and I asked her, "Bella what are you doing out there?" She said, "I was watching the sunset, and dad I got an idea for a new book." I started laughing and I told her, "Well, you better go write it down." And so I went into her room, maybe 20 minutes later, and she had a page and a half of notes of this new idea of her book. And if you're one of our podcast listeners that frequently listen, you know that her and I together published a book called, "A to Z, The Best in You and Me" and it's an awesome book designed for kids between 5 and 12 years old, so their parents can sit down and read it with them. And just as a side note, her website is, thebestinyouandme.com. thebestinyouandme.com that's where you can get her book, just a side note. So here she's done a book and after this conference that sparked some sort of new idea in her. She went out watched a sunset and boom, there's the flood of ideas. She now has like 2 or 3 books lined up in her cue to write, and she's 12 years old, turning 13 in September.

And so what are you doing right now in your life to spark an idea of possibility? Are we just leading our life by default? Are you leading like a BYB leader and living your life in an intentional way to where you can open a door and there's another three that are sitting open right through that door? And so this is a short podcast, I simply wanted to share with you this movement that you are now a part of with us. That jointly together we're going out there to transform the world as BYB leaders, and not just your normal leaders.That we're no longer satisfied with mediocrity, that you and I strive daily and commit to do our very best and that's a commitment to excellence. We find a way to do the impossible when many other people would say, "You know, that's impossible, you can't do it." We go out and do it and that's part of what being a BYB leader is.

So I hope just this few minutes that we've had together today have been helpful for you. Quick 12 minutes together, the thought is now what does this mean to you? Is it a one-time thing, or is it something you really wanna take the journey on for a lifetime?

I had a....we're gonna wrap up with this. I had a person who recently emailed and I'll say three months ago about. And they said, "Oh, Rob, three-week planning has totally changed my life in almost every way." Now, this particular person said, you know, he was spending more quality time with his kids, he started killing it as a CEO, he was so much more productive than he had ever been. And he also said, "You know, I have a total sense of peace and fulfillment." Those are powerful words to be able to say that coming from where he was. Now, what's interesting is you fast forward a few months later, and I saw him and he said, "You know, I really hadn't been doing my pre-week planning I bet I just missed it." So I just asked him, well, why not? He said, "There's no reason, you know what, I have no idea it had totally transformed my life. It was such a powerful part of my life." He couldn't figure out why he stopped doing it.

Now, he recommitted to jump back on that horse because it had been so impactful and the irony is I asked him how are you feeling now and you know, what do you think his response was? "Yeah, I'm stressed, I feel I'm losing control of my life again." Well, hello were all in the same boat. Let's do the things that work and commit to do those things. And if we drop the ball once or twice, let's get back on the horse and not allow that to deter us from this movement of becoming your best. So this is what it is, it's a commitment to excellence. Go out and memorize a couple of inspirational quotes each week. Figure out ways that you can be transformational in whatever sphere and part of the world you're in because a BYB leader goes the extra mile.

They do things that most other leaders don't think about doing. And thus this new movement that is starting to sweep the world. The hope is to reach a billion people and everyone of us plays a key part in this. It starts with you and your life, and leading your family and showing them what a great leader looks like whether you're a mother, or a father, showing them what it looks like to be a transformational personal leader. So start in your home, and then it goes to the business, your organizations, and what does that look like and not being satisfied with the status quo?

So we hope you have a wonderful day, we'd love to hear from you and your stories, support@becomingyourbest.com. Next week stay tuned for an incredible podcast and interview and if you haven't already, go look at the Breakthrough Leadership Conference in October, as well as the Breakthrough Entrepreneurs Conference designed for entrepreneurs this coming September. And if you're listening to this down the road, then check the website becomingyourbest.com for the current dates.

Hey, we're wishing you a great day, go out there and make a difference in whatever sphere and arena you're in, and let us know how it's going for you. Let's go have a great week.

https://www.becomingyourbest.com/what-is-a-byb-leader/

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The Secret To Staying Motivated
23 perc 87. rész

We welcome you to this Becoming Your Best Podcast today wherever you might be in the world today. This is Steve Shallenberger, your host, and today we are going to talk about how to stay motivated, and you might ask for what or who is this for. Well, it's in sales, it's for life, it's for marriage, a student, work, a CEO, coach, a teacher, a lawyer, doctor, caregiver. Really, we're all included and have a need to stay motivated. This is really inspired from an email from one of our listeners, and this person indicated that, "I have a good life, a good spouse, good income, a nice home, wonderful children, but something is missing. Sometimes I just don't feel happy. Our marriage doesn't have the same magic that it used to have. So what can I do to get back on track?" Well first of all, congratulations to this person for wanting to get back on track, to be fully happy. And so, this really ties back into maintaining the motivation throughout our lives that gives us the capacity to stay happy, to find solutions to our challenges, to stay productive, to stay on top, and especially when we're knocked down, and especially when things get tough, when we may not even want to try.

I like to share an experience I have recently while I was out exercising and I was listening to a talk on concentration. I love to go out and exercise and listen to TED Talks, the podcast inspirational talks. This particular speaker asked his audience and it was a large audience, "How many were formally taught concentration in school?" And he said, "Really formally taught how to concentrate?" Two hands went up in the entire group audience. And then, he said, "Okay. How many of you were told to concentrate by a parent or a teacher?" And all of the hands went up. And then, another question, "How many tell your children or employees today, 'Well, concentrate.'" Well, again, all the hands went up.

This person went on to talk about how we really are distracted all day long and it just racks our capacity to really concentrate. And what happens is we're frequently told to concentrate but not really taught how to concentrate. And then he went on to give some suggested ways of how to concentrate and focus. Well, today we will not just talk about motivation and focus we will talk about the things that you and I can do to stay motivated, and motivation is not just a flash in the plan or pan accomplishment, don't get me wrong. We will all take those high water mark accomplishments that we can in life. Those high water marks can bring great satisfaction in life, but we're talking about sustaining a high level of motivation that produces what we call an ever inclining program, always improving, always progressing, steady, solid, upward throughout life. And that type of sustaining accomplishment that far exceeds our high water marks by the end of our lives.

And so sustaining a high level of motivation is at the very heart of what we do, it's the very heart of becoming your best. And that is why the spirit of becoming your best is a movement for people everywhere. We've actually been thinking about becoming your best manifesto, and I'd like to share how we see that. A manifesto to becoming your best manifesto is about a certain type of leader of becoming your best leader. It's a new breed of leader who is no longer satisfied with mediocrity. And becoming your best leader strive daily to be their very best in each area of their life and treat others right.

Becoming your best leaders are committed to excellence in finding a way to do the impossible. Becoming your best leaders are confident optimistic and determined to make a positive difference in their home, schools, organizations and the world, and negativity passes and complaining have no part in their lives. Becoming your best leaders know they don't have to really compromise their personal life or family life to be successful. And becoming your best leaders know that life matters and what you do matters and your organization matters. And so we are part of a becoming your best family, and we are leaders that make a difference. So there are certain things that becoming your best leaders do to help you and I stay motivated. So let's talk about a few of them right now.

I'm going to talk about five things that you can do to stay motivated. The first one is to control the things that you can control. Take responsibility for the outcome. Refuse to spend time on things that you cannot control. So for example, you can't control the weather, what others think, what people say about you or about your organization. You can't control the competition out there, people being mean or nice, or if you have an accident or you forget something or something bad happens, natural disasters. None of these things can you control, but you can control serving others, being kind, what you think about, forgiving others, filling your mind with good, your speech with good. You will find great power in writing down what you can control and then being determined, discipline to focus only on those things which you can control and watch the immediate power for good that comes into your life.

Here is a second thing that you and I can do to stay motivated, and it is to focus on your vision, goals and pre-week planning. This combination of tools really and resources helps to focus your mind on positive action now. They will help you get unstuck. They help to provide direction and meaning. And as you consider and reflect on your vision, the direction, your goals, they're far different. Goals are things that help us get to our vision, and pre-week planning they will help you stay focused on the things that matter most. And it's helpful to think of these three things in terms of the roles of your life. So for example, wherever we go as we talk about roles, we'll ask people to shout them out. Well, they include yourself, your personal life and this encompasses the physical aspect, mental, spiritual, emotional, and financial. And so this is one of the roles we have in life. Another key role might be a spouse or a partner. Another key role would be family, a family member, or a son or daughter, or a parent, or a brother and sister. Another key role is work, our professional aspect, the things we do professionally, or being a student, or community or church.

So, these basic roles that we have do not frequently change or something that we have in life so as we think about our vision, our goals and our pre-week planning in terms of our roles, it gives a whole different meaning and set of the dimensions of how we spend our time. And those are the things that matter most in life. By thinking of roles it gives balance. And so one tool that will help you is becoming your best planner. Now just trust me on this, really. Whether you use a paper-based tool or an electronic planner, becoming your best planner helps you to stay focused on the right things, and it is one of the most important investments that you and I can make to help us stay focused on the things that matter most, and it's inexpensive but it's worth its weight in gold.

So, to get more information about the becoming your best planner just go to becomingyourbest.com, go to the store and you'll be able to see that. There's a medium-size and a large-size, it's very portable, but it makes such a difference. And we want to just remember, of course, the vision is the direction, the purpose and the cause and it usually just takes up one sheet. And in the planner, there's a place to write it down from The Becoming Your Best book. The 12 principles of highly successful leaders. There's a whole chapter dedicated just how to develop your own personal vision.

Then the course next are your annual goals. We're really saying what will I accomplish that keeps me motivated and excited to get up each morning? And these annual goals are broken down by roles and what you'll do. They are amazing. And you wanna stay with them until they really do create this excitement within you. And they are inspirational, and they are different than just a transactional gold. They're transformational for you and you can fill 'em in your heart that they make a difference. And of course, pre-week planning is taking a few minutes during the weekend 20 or 30 minutes to prepare for your week. What will I do this week? And ultimately, it gets down to each day that makes a difference, and these are the things that are really power up the motivation.

They help your mind stay focused and not wander around on things that are less important, on things that you can't control. And these are things that I do that are fun, that they're uplifting, that they do make a difference. And so, these things by the way really are so helpful to us, and one of the parts that we wanna keep in mind with our vision, goals and pre-week planning is taking care of ourselves. And so getting adequate sleep, a healthy diet and regular exercise, these things will help keep you strong and give you the energy to maintain a consistent high level of motivation. So they become a very central part as we describe our vision. I am fit and I am healthy.

And then in my annual goals it is to exercise five times a week, to get the sleep that I need. I need seven or eight hours a night of good sleep, and to have a healthy diet. And then when I do my pre-week planning I actually sketch out when I will do it. So I conquer this battle mentally before it ever comes up physically, because all of us have so many things that are going on in life. We wanna slay this Dragon before it ever comes up, and then if something really more important comes up, it's already really programmed into our mind, we will do it and we'll find a way ultimately to make it happen. Okay that's number two. First one is control the things you can control. The second, focus on your vision goals and pre-week planning. Oh my goodness. What a big impact that has on our levels of motivation.

And number three is share your dreams and goals with others, and don't be fearful of asking for advice. I'd like to just share an experience I had with one of our daughters-in-laws. She came up, we have five boys are all married, we have a daughter, she's married. And one of these daughter-in-laws wrote me an email a week and a half ago indicating that she wanted to get some advice. And so we had the chance to be together a few days later, and we sat down and talk. I hope it was helpful to her. It was good for me because it really became the motivation for this podcast today. It caused me to thinking how do we stay motivated even when we have the normal challenges that come to us in life.

Sometimes we get stuck and simply sharing, talking helps to get us moving in the right direction again. So I'd like to thank that daughter-in-law for taking the time to contact me. She's a wonderful person and we all benefit by this. I reflect on my life and I've taken challenges, difficult challenges to my mentors, people that I care about and I've shared then with them and what a wonderful transforming experience this is to do that. Number four. In other words number three is, don't be afraid to ask others and in the short and long-term it's very helpful, to consult with others, to coach with others.

Number four is to fill your mind with positive stuff. And you all have heard this comment, this acronym which is GIGO, it stands for what? Garbage In and Garbage Out. Well, how true, we'd like to change that around a bit and say Greatness In, Produces Greatness out. And one of the ways to do that that I have really enjoyed doing and I believe every one of us can do this is to memorize good stuff. Memorize things that we can, when the things get hard, that we can hearken back to and it inspires us ourselves, and you can start small which is very simple things to memorize. And then, as you strengthen this part of the memory you can expand the type of things. For example, I actually have in some of my past organizer that had all the sheets. I called them "Steve's prize literature and quotes," things that I love, things that inspired me and pumped me up, but they're genuine and powerful. They're quotes by great people.

Here is one that when I was 23 years old I was out selling books during the summer as my summer job. And I went to church in this small community in a remote area and the speaker share this quote. It's entitled "Just Keep On." I memorized it and I used it day in and day out but many others I'll share some of these, "Just keep on livin' and keep on a givin' and keep on tryin' to smile, just keep on singin' and trustin' and clingin' to the promise of an after while, for the sun comes up and the sun goes down and the morning follows night. There's a place to rest like a mother's breast and a time when things come right. Just keep on believin' and hidin' all your grievin' and keep on tryin' to cheer. Just keep on prayin' and lovin' and sayin' the things we love to hear, for the tide comes in and the tide goes out, and the dark will all turn bright. There's a rest from the load and an end to the road, and a place where things come right."

Oh my goodness. I love that and said it many times over the years, so many others that I've enjoyed by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, "And one ship sails east and one ship sails west. By the selfsame wind that blows. Tis the set of the sail. And not the Gail. That determines the way it goes. And like the ships of the sea or the ways of fate, as we journey along through life. Tis the set of the soul that determines the goal, and not the calm or the strife." And they just go on and on. You find things that will just really touch your heart and inspire you.

So, listen to podcast and TED Talks and good stuff, only good stuff, positive, upbeat. One of your annual goals can be to read at least 12 good books during the year, one per month. Okay. That's number four of things we can do to stay motivated. Number one, control the things that you can control. Number two, is to focus on your vision, goals and pre-week planning. Number three, share your dreams and goals with others, ask for advice. Number four, fill your mind with positive stuff. And number five, is work, work, work, and never give up. Get busy carrying out your goals, trust in the future, have faith that things will work out because they will.

If there is any one lesson from history, it is as you focus on the good, doing the things that highly successful leaders have done for years, for centuries, for millenniums, you will ultimately be successful and victorious. You will find success in unexpected moments. And as you balance around what matters most, what is most important in life, your roles, doing the things we have this discussed, you will ultimately succeed. So we invite each one of our listeners to be determined, to be part of this movement of making a difference. We're all leaders, but let us be this new breed of leaders who are no longer satisfied with mediocrity, leaders who strive daily to be your very best in each area of life and treat others right, be wide, be leaders who are committed to excellence, and defined in a way to doing the impossible.

They're confident, optimistic and determined to make a positive difference in their homes, and their schools and organizations and the world, and negativity and complaining have no part in our lives. And we know we don't have to compromise our personal lives or family to be successful. And we're like everybody else, we get knocked down, we'll have setbacks but a BYB leader keeps getting back up and will stay motivated because of what is going on inside of our head and our heart, and we know that life matters. What you do matters, your organization matters.

So this is Steve Shallenberger in this podcast today reminding each one of us that you make a difference. We wish you all the best. Thank you.

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Leading with Love - Interview with Tim Sanders
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Welcome to all of our Becoming Your Best podcast listeners wherever you might be in the world today. This is your host Steve Shallenberger. And we have a tremendously interesting guest today. Our guest is a successful business leader and has influenced many many people for good. Welcome to our show today, Tim Sanders.

Tim: Hey great to be with you Steve.

Steve: I've been looking forward to this.

Tim: Me too.

Steve: Well, good. All right. Now, before we get started, I'd like to tell you a little about Tim's background. He spent his early career on the cutting edge of innovation and change. He was an early stage member of Mark Cuban's Broadcast.com, which had the largest opening day IPO in history. After Yahoo acquired the company, Tim was tapped to lead their Value Lab, and by 2001 he rose to a Chief Solutions Officer. And today he's one of the top-rated speakers on the lecture circuit.

Tim is also the author of four books including The New York Times best seller "Love is the Killer App," which is an awesome book, "How to Win Business and Influence Friends," I really enjoyed reading that. Tim's book has been featured in Fast Company, USA Today, The New York Times, Boston Globe, and so on. He is a master storyteller who offers his listeners actionable takeaways that produce results right away. So I have been looking forward to having Tim here in our interview today. And to get going, Tim, can you tell our listeners maybe a little about your background, your story? What was it like growing up? And maybe some experiences that helped you see that you could be successful?

Tim: Thank you. I grew up in Clovis, New Mexico. It's a farming community just east of the West Texas border. I'm sorry, just west of the...West Texas border. And I was raised by my grandmother. I was a special education student from second to fifth grade, which really, you know, taught me a lot of things. It taught me how to bounce back. That's for sure. Taught me how to fit in when people didn't understand who I was. But most importantly, my childhood taught me that anything is possible if I'm willing to put the preparation work in and seize the opportunity.

In my adult life I had a period of time, say 15 years or so, where I was gainfully employed and successful to some degree but just not laser-focused on what mattered. You might say I was in a mediocrity trap. In 1997, I went to work for Mark Cuban about a year after I had gotten out of that trap and had a real paradigm shift about what it was gonna take for me to be successful for my family. When I worked for Mark Cuban you can imagine 1997, the dawn of the internet explosion. It was such a breathtaking opportunity Steve. But I remember those times mostly as being a student of the game. Something I learned from him. And I was a voracious book reader. I was a mentor to anybody I did business with. And by 2001 after he'd sold the company to Yahoo, I became Yahoo's Chief Solutions Officer right after the dot-com crash of 2000. So my team and I went out to rebuild hundreds of millions of dollars of lost business because all of those companies, like eToys, our big advertisers, had gone caput. And through those experiences, I built up a perspective that if we commit ourselves to lifelong learning, and we lead with love in our hearts for other people and expect nothing in return other than that they improve and pay it forward, you can accomplish anything in this world we live in.

Steve: Wow, what a rich background and then to be able to take that background and, like, Clovis, New Mexico? You mean you can be successful if you were born in Clovis, New Mexico?

Tim: I'll tell you something. Let me tell you something about Clovis, New Mexico. Little town, 30,000 people. I was on the debate team in high school, Steve. And we wanted to be nationally ranked. Now, it was a real kind of a pork chop circuit, right. There was the Las Cruces tournament, the El Paso tournament, the Odessa tournament. We had to get in our cars and drive over two hours to Lubbock, Texas, to go to a decent library to research for our debate. And we had to compete with, you know, Houston's Bellaire and Dallas' St. Marks and all these great folks in New Mexico, and all the big schools from Albuquerque and Santa Fe. But I'll tell you something, my senior year, we won state championship, and we went to the national tournament, and we didn't have nearly the resources of anybody we competed with. But man, I gotta tell you, and I thank my coach for this, we had heart.

Steve: Wow! Well, I'll tell you I can attest that people from the salt of the earth communities like this can have a big difference in the world.

Tim: Yeah. And I think too Steve, is that there's something in our values raised in that environment that makes us really good connectors. And I also think it makes us hungrier to find some way to get back that edge. And to look for those invisible resources that are out there, like knowledge that can really give us a leg up. And it makes us wanna give back too when we become successful, you know, there's a natural, very deep set generosity. And I gotta tell you, I come from it very honestly. I mean, the patriarch of our family is my great-grandfather the late great Tommy King. And he was one of the founders of Clovis when it organized into a city back around it, you know, after the Great Depression. And he was a successful farmer. And one of the things he did before the Dust Bowl era, right before it, was he engaged with some agricultural technologist and became the first farmer in that part of the country to use a circular farming techniques, which when the Dust Bowl hit, helped his farms survive if not thrive while others withered away.

And in our family, one of the most poignant stories about Tommy was how much he gave back to other farmers who were in crisis. The ones that bullheaded, they wouldn't try circular farming knowing that the science said there was something coming in a drought. He was happy to give them microloans. He never collected on them. He would just tell people, "When this happens in the future, you pay it forward." And I believe that his philosophy really represented, you know, small town America.

Steve: Oh, that's a great story. And then to actually go from being a special ed student to being successful, that's got to give hope to special ed students anywhere because, you know, they're behind a gun. And so, is there hope? I mean, like, can we make it?

Tim: It's tough. I mean, you know, more background here. So my grandmother raised me because my mother abandoned me when I was in four. And it manifest into tremendous depression when I was a little kid. And it exhibited itself in discipline issues. And during those days, Steve, they really didn't have much to do with a kid, you know, when you're seven. So, all they really can do is put you in special education. And that experience was really challenging because it's not just that you're taken out of school, that you're ostracized. And when you go to church you're treated differently because, you know, you go to the other school. And I picked up the nickname Shortbus, and I really didn't shake that nickname till junior high. But I think the thing that I got out of the whole situation is when they put me back into the general population in the sixth grade. I had to deal with bullies for the first time. You know, when you're different you're gonna deal with bullies. For parents, this is a great challenge when a child is singled out into a program like special ed or frankly like gifted for that matter. And I'll tell you, I think my point of view about how I dealt with that traumatic sixth and seventh-grade year had to do with how I felt about love. I'll give you a classic story. So, in the seventh grade, the day that you wear your nice clothes and your nice white shirt for the picture, you know, for the yearbook?

Steve: Yup.

Tim: I went in and this bully who went to church with us demanded my lunch money and I hesitated. So he punched me right in the nose and I bled all over my shirt. Not gory but I bled on my shirt. It ruined me for the picture that day. When Billy, my grandmother, came to pick me up, I thought she was gonna just, you know, have it out with that boy's mom, or at least give him a good talking to. So when Billy and I are sitting in the vice principal's office and we're alone for a second, she turns to me and she looks at me and she says, "You know the problem here is that you don't love those boys enough." I remember looking at her and I point at my shirt and I said, "What do you mean? He's mean. He's a mean boy." And she said, "In our family, you don't love people because of who they are. You love people because of who we are." And she goes, "That's gonna go a long way with you fitting in at the school." And so she said I should invite him over after church. Because she believed that people were inherently good and when they were mean, or when they were bad, there was something about the story that you don't know. And so he came over after church and stole some of my stuff and still kind of picked on me but he didn't punch me in the nose. And then I guess he felt the duty to invite me over to his house a few weeks later on the other side of the tracks where he lived. And when I visited his home that Sunday afternoon, I realized why he was a bully. His father, a drunk, swore at him coming in through the front door. His older brother whipped him with what, like a horse bridle, in front of me.

Later, and I realized that this guy had been going through a lot more than I was. And that he was manifesting it. He was a big guy. He was manifesting it by picking on the only thing that he could get away with picking on, that's a little guy called Shortbus. And once I had that breakthrough, Steve, it really changed the way I thought about people. I truly began to understand that if we give someone our love and we care about them, whether it's on a personal level like this or on a professional level like say someone that I manage, you'd be surprised how many of their problems go away. And how you can convert a bully into a blocker. And I gotta say, that guy and I became good friends. And a little bit more than four years later, he put up posters for me when I successfully ran for senior class president and won. And I realized that for the rest of my life, I'm gonna go out into the market and love people because of who I am, and it's very easy to find things about them that are incredibly easy to love. And that I'm assuming when people don't give back, when they don't do the right thing, when they're mean spirited. I'm assuming that there's something about their story or struggle that I have no knowledge of. And it's made me a much deeper listener and a much more curious person in a good way.

Steve: Well, that's a fantastic experience and thank you for sharing it. How grateful are we for the people in our backgrounds that help us grow and develop and overcome maybe some of the deficiencies that we might have that we may or even may not be aware of, that help us start becoming what we're capable of becoming. So that's really an inspirational story. And then love is so powerful and we may talk about it more after our interview but after...well, I was going through my college career I sold books back East. And one of the great books that I read was "The Greatest Salesman in the World", "About the Scrolls," and "I Will Greet This Day With Love In My Heart," and "How Will I Greet Those That Treat Me Poorly Love." And, oh, my goodness, you just fill this tremendous power that comes from it. So I'm so glad you shared that.

Tim: Well, thank you. And I will tell you, there's real science or at least there is real psychological research behind this. And if you think about it, this is a manifestation of Maslow's hierarchy, right? Abraham Maslow studied something he called B-love, that is being love. That is a detached form of caring about another person, like I care about another person whether or not you care about me. I care about that person solely because I wanna help that person grow. I don't care about that person because I need a new friend.

D-love, Maslow brought about this, a deficiency based love, says, "I need to be loved." So everything I do from being friendly to making, you know, advances, whatever you do to try to go out and help people, you're doing it to solve one of your problems. So, next we'll talk about the idea that when we feel fulfilled in terms of how much we think we're cared about, and that the way we think about love and other people, again, whether it's personal or professional, when we do that, we are making the leap to becoming like self-actualized, if you will. And that it's the most powerful way to think about loving other people because there's no anxiety in those relationships because you're not expecting anything in return. And that's what makes them so beautiful. And I found in my business life, that as a leader, as a manager, as a colleague, this works even more. Because, you know, we need people to encourage us at work. We need people to care about us as customers. And I believe too many people are just traders, transactionalists, and don't bring that Maslovian, you know, B-love to work every day.

Steve: Okay. All right. Well, that's a powerful point of view and force in our work lives. Now talking about how to be successful in what we do in business, in our work, and in life generally, it does take work and effort and doing certain things that make a difference. So you shared earlier, that as we visited, that you had made a discovery in your mid-30s that led to ten promotions and helped you achieve a strong financial position and financial security. Can you talk a little about that? What was that?

Tim: So this is like 1996, 1997. I had been coming back into my studentship, and I had gone from just need to know in terms of learning to being a voracious reader of books. And not just on stuff that mattered to my current job but anything that was adjacent to it. Anything that I thought was interesting to know in the future. I was at a point Steve, where I would read a book a week. I would burn through these books. I'm not talking novels either I'm talking about complex books in some situations. And what happened was I began to talk about different things with clients. So when I go to work for Cuban, I had this mentality kind of fed by Leo Buscaglia as love on one hand and Steven Covey on the other. I had this mentality that I'm gonna go out and I'm gonna promote other people's success during a time of great change. Because you know the internet was disrupting everything. So I worked a lot with the retailers.

So I would go out and work with Neiman Marcus or Victoria's Secret or whomever. And I took it upon myself to learn everything I could about their business future and their business challenges, and then share that with them. And that's where I had the big aha. That if my business practice was to aggregate my intangibles, my knowledge, my network of relationships, my ability to care about people. If I build those up so I can give them away, and systematically help other people make the leap without expecting anything in return, that faith would repay me with endless referrals, a powerful brand, and a magnetic value proposition inside my company. Because I make decisions with Mark, I start to adopt the style. I was a sales person of service out in the community. We accomplished a lot of great things. He sells the company two years later to Yahoo if you remember back in those days. When I transfer out to the West Coast at Yahoo, I've really refined the system of building relationships by sharing my knowledge, and my network, and my compassion in every interaction. And it was like the doors swung wide open. Because now it's 2000, now it's right after the dot-com crash. This idea about helping people finds success during times of great change and expecting nothing in return. Boy, it worked crazy good in Silicon Valley and that's when I begin to train the young Yahoos on this philosophy and this set of values. And that's where I begin to write down the steps I was taking to really document you know how I read books and how I chose books, and why I read books instead of articles, and what I talked about when I was networking. And that's where "Love is The Killer App" came from a few years later. And since then, you know 15 years, I've been traveling around the world meeting people, comparing notes and really building upon that philosophy.

Steve: Oh, that's great. And as we've talked about with our listeners the twelve principles of highly successful leaders, these are the things that are present across the board for high achievers. Also they were able to sustain, really, success over a long period of time, both personally and professionally. And one of those was applying the power of knowledge. In other words, gaining knowledge in the first place, and one of the primary ways is being a reader. And so this is a great reminder to every one of us listening here today of the power of reading good books on a regular basis because they're just totally stimulating, aren't they? They just fire...

Tim: They are.

Steve: ...your mind.

Tim: And what I like about books is that books require you to take a deep dive into usually a narrow subject. And you don't just learn a couple of data points and one story, you learn a construct. It's got a thesis, and it's got supporting anecdotes, and it usually has research and it's really meaty. And you can deeply understand the topic so you can give it away, right? So the twist here Steve, is read good books but have a mix. And what I say about this is every third book you read, read for someone else's benefit. I call it prescriptive reading. Think about what...

Steve: What's an example of that?

Tim: Yeah. Think about information challenges that the people have and go study on their behalf because talk about expanding your resume.

Steve: Right. It gives you a whole different perspective to maybe a different discipline.

Tim: Absolutely. That's made a big difference for me. And that was another part of my turnaround in the late 1990s that really shifted me away from the idea that, you know, I read books to help myself. No, I read books to help the world, and sometimes it helped me too. And that philosophy will keep you from being too laser-focused on what's in front of you and not focused enough on what's coming in the future.

Steve: Okay, great. That's a powerful influence on our success. And you told this wonderful experience that you had personally, this story about the bully and your grandmother saying, "Listen, we need to love him."

Tim: That's right.

Steve: See things from a different perspective. So you must have learned, Tim, somewhere along the line that love can be applied across the board, in business and as an entrepreneur. What have you found? Have you been able to make the jump of using that in your personal life to a professional life, and what's the experience?

Tim: Yeah. I've made it my professional strategy, you know, for the last 20 years or so. I mean, when I say love in a professional sense, Steve, I mean, that I have a set of emotions about you. I care and I am now committed to promote your success by sharing my intangibles with you, my knowledge, my network, my compassion. I want you to think about, for those of you listening, I want you to think about the mentor in your life who's made the most difference to you. There's maybe one. There's maybe two. Maybe some of you might have three, but there's maybe one, right? And I want you to really think about how that person felt about you. And I want you to think about how open that person was to loving someone like you, not as a family but just as a person maybe at work or just a person maybe they did business with. I'm talking about unleashing the capacity to do this every day. I developed strong emotional aspect for almost every single person I do business with, and I don't make them earn it, Steve. It happens quick. Maybe I start out by liking him and I look for things that other people don't look for. I wanna hear their story so I can admire their values and understand their point of view. I find things that are familiar about them. I experience their passion so I can really understand what makes them a unique person. I think our capacity to care about people that work quickly and then maintain that over time. I think that is oxygen for leadership.

Steve: Absolutely. That's so powerful. I mentioned the research that we've done for 40 years and these principles that are present, you're doing them?

Tim: Well, you know, we're thinking alike buddy.

Steve: We are thinking alike. I mean, one of those was living the golden rule, really exceptional leaders. I mean, you can have leaders that are good in different contexts but when you put these together, and exceptional leaders also one that really cares about people. And this is manifest in how they treat others, how they learn about others so that they can bring the best out within others. And this is what starts creating excellence, so great going on this.

Tim: Thank you. Thank you so much, man.

Steve: And by the way, Tim's book "Love is The Killer App." He talks about these three things, knowledge, networking, and compassion. Would you mind touching on the compassion part a little bit? And I'd like to go back to the networking because you said one thing that is important, and that is how a mentor maybe ought to perceive others with this love, learning what their story is? How do you bring out the best? And you'll find mentors that have done this the same way for you. So, how can you be a good mentor? That's one question. And then we'll hit this other one before we're done.

Tim: Absolutely. So, the best way to be a mentor is to remember that the mentor is usually a benefactor, a teacher of sorts. And their job is to give the hero a gift that will enable the hero to make it to the next stage of her journey. When you think about Homer's Odyssey, with the character mentor, when you think about the archetype of mentorship stories in very modern culture, like, say, Star Wars, with, you know, Yoda, or with Karate Kid in Miyagi, that's what it's all about. It's about finding that person that has heroic qualities. That's going somewhere a little too fast. You've got a gift for them, maybe it's your personal experience. You've been where they've been. You have knowledge that they need and you give it to them. You expect nothing in return but that they apply that knowledge and learn and improve. All the mentors, they gain enthusiasm from the student learning. And when they need to, they go beyond just sharing information and perhaps make vital connections to create alliances, to help that hero deal with upcoming adversity. As a mentor I just want you to think a little bit like Yoda. And I want you to not really think so much like a person who's like a fire hose of information, a person who's gonna "Take somebody under their wing." I think you need to think about your role very transitionally. But most importantly, you need to expect nothing in return other than that they hero seizes the opportunity, right? I think that is what changes the game.

And by the way, you know, I know you talk a lot about how to be successful over a long period of time. My philosophy that we give without expectation, this is not lip service, Steve. I literally expect them to pay it forward but I don't expect them to pay it back. And I'm telling you that is liberating, because when I meet leaders who were generous for years and years and years and then they "Burned out." This is why they got burned out. Because just enough people didn't pay them back or give them credit or whatever their reciprocity was supposed to be and they were disappointed. And I call it ego economics. And it sets in on a lot of people in their career. Super generous in their 30s, a little bit jaded in their 40s, super protected in their 50s. I'm 55 years old, I've never been more generous because I'm not disappointed in people. And I think that's what comes with being detached about what you get back.

Steve: Oh, great. You know that's great. I think even the savior of mankind, Jesus Christ, if you...regardless of what you believe, as it was described when he healed the lepers, and he had one return and thanked him. Nine did not. And if your expectation is that people are gonna thank you, you're probably gonna be somewhat disappointed.

Tim: Absolutely. You will.

Steve: If that's your expectation.

Tim: And it's interesting. So, you know, I love that story and I appreciate that example. I think that, for us, the secret to a long-term career is a very flexible perspective. And I think that if we're willing to go against the grain that there's a quid pro quo. I think we really open up our opportunities in life. You just continue to be great until the day we die.

Steve: Wonderful. What a refreshing wonderful perspective. I had a friend, Tim, that I had lunch with last week. He is a facilitator for a very successful training company. He has been, really most of his career 30 years, he's gone all over the world. And one of the things he talked about was precisely this, is that his observation is one of the keys for companies to get ahead today to be able to be a best in class, be the best in their industry, is to have active healthy coaching program within the company where people are able to coach each other. And I think it's really these type of qualities you're talking that would help that be successful.

Tim: Absolutely. And for leaders, whether it's a small business or an enterprise, you can create a culture of coaching. So even if there's not a funded program per se, it can be the habit inside that organization. So Tom Ward was brought into Barton protective in Atlanta to turn that company around several years ago and he created that culture. He had something called Vision Quest. These values cards everybody carried with them. It was a huge part of the cadence that he had in that company. And the third value was love. "Do you care about me as a person?" He hired based on it. He rewarded based on it. He promoted or did not promote based on it. It made a big deal to how people behaved, because culture at work, culture at work is a conversation that's led by leaders about how we do things here. And that's like software that runs a company, right?

So, when you as a leader go to work and say, "We coach other people because of who we are as a company," then the habit sets in. And it's very attractive, Steve, to today's millennial, to have a reputation for a company where we bring each other up as opposed to where we internally compete. So I just want everybody listening to know this is within your power. And you don't need a big checkbook, but you do need to have consistent cadence because you need to manage that conversation about how we do things here successfully.

Steve: Yeah, absolutely. Well, I am, like, speechless that we are out of time. I can't believe it.

Tim: It goes that quick, man. It goes that quick.

Steve: It has been fast today. Now, any...what's one last bit of advice, or any tips you would like to give our listeners before we wrap it up today. It's been fun Tim.

Tim: Hey, it's been fun buddy. So I'll tell you a place where you can get some stuff about me, but before that, I'll just give you one of my...it's kind of my new little piece of advice I like to give people. And I can't say that I came up with it but I can tell you I'm championing this idea. If you want to be a happier person in, life in traffic and in work, the next time somebody irritates you, does something that is seemingly rude to you, I want you to assume that that person is operating under the best intentions. I want you to assume that you don't know the whole story. Because more often than not, Steve, people are operating under the best intentions. It's just that their needs clash with our needs. And we spend a lot of our time judging those people instead of inquiring about the rest of the story. So like I said, next time somebody cuts you off in traffic, you might wanna consider that she's trying to get somebody to the hospital before you honk your horn and shake your fist. And this goes double for you as business owners and leaders.

Steve: Oh, that's great advice. I hope I can get this right. This comes from an article I read yesterday and it really left a deep impression on me. It was given by the leader of a worldwide organization, a humanitarian service organization. And the fellow talked about 50 years ago, he had a mentor. And the mentor said, "Every time you meet somebody, if you'll say to yourself this person is dealing with a serious challenge," he said, "You're gonna be right 50% of the time."

Tim: And guess what? Before, when you just reacted and judged that person, you were wrong 50% of the time.

Steve: Exactly. Well, he said, "Man I thought my teacher, my professor was a pessimist," he said, "But I have come to learn what wise advice that was." Because indeed as we look around what's going on in the world, it is often true. And I love your comment that half the time we're wrong. So let's give everybody a lot of slack here, right?

Tim: On that, you know, again, yeah, let's put our self in another person's shoes. And let's find out more. You can learn and grow so much more. You can expand your thrive so much more. And, again, you can just avoid those regrettable mistakes we all make.

Steve: Yup. Well, these are some great things that we can do to make a difference, to lift others, to build others. Tim has done a great job in sharing these. What a tremendous background. And, Tim, if you'll share how our listeners can learn more about what you're doing, and which is tremendous? We'd love to hear about it.

Tim: Absolutely. We've set up a special page for your listeners, Steve. It is timsanders.com/byb. That's timsanders.com/byb. I'll have a huge download excerpt of Love is The Killer App for you to read. I'll also have a way you can connect with me on LinkedIn, and find other resources like videos and other such content on my site.

Steve: Well, that's terrific. Thank you Tim Sanders for being part of this show today. This has been enlightening. It's been wonderful.

Tim: Oh, absolutely. It's been a pleasure Steve. I really enjoyed it.

Steve: Well, you bet. We wish you all the best as you're making a difference in the world as well Tim.

Tim: Thank you.

Steve: And to all of our listeners, never forget, you are creating a ripple that can never be counted for good as we do the right things, good things. And they do make a difference. They lift our own lives and they lift others. And they help us be more successful, happier and have fuller lives. I'm Steve Shellenberger with Becoming Your Best Global Leadership wishing you a great day.

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Maximize Your Health To Live In Peace and Balance with Ron Williams
23 perc 85. rész

Maximize Your Health To Live In Peace and Balance with Ron Williams

Welcome to our podcast listeners wherever you may be in the world today. This is Steve Shallenberger, your host. And we are excited to have a wonderful friend and guest with us today, Ron Williams. Welcome, Ron!

Ron: Steve, thank you so much, man. I'm glad to be with you.

Steve: Now, Ron is a repeat visitor on this podcast series. I met Ron, for the first time, about a year ago and we had Ron talk about fitness. He told us about his background which is an amazing background and to what he's doing today which is helping people all over the world to improve their fitness, their health, and of course, that leads into their happiness.

So as we think about The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders, each one of those has a big impact on our life. But they come together to help us be highly successful leaders as we touch not only our own lives have an influence in our relationships but also help contribute to best of class, world class organizations. So one of those principles is to Live In Peace and Balance. Part of that is how do we maximize our own health: our fitness, our mental health, emotional health?

Well, it just so happens that that is exactly what Ron does. And when we had the chance to visit a year ago, I mentioned to Ron on the air that I have been trying to lose 10 or 15 pounds for maybe 10 years. I mean, I'm not like really overweight but it's always there. Do you know what I'm talking about? Can anybody that's listening relate to this? And it just kind of rubbed me wrong. I felt like I could do better but it was just really hard to knock it off. And so I asked Ron what his thoughts were, and we talked about a few ideas. At the end of our session, we turned off the equipment and I told him, I said, "Ron, really, I'm serious about this. I'd like to lose 10 or 15 pounds." And Ron said, "Well, I'll tell you what, I'll think about this and I'll call you tomorrow." And so on the phone the next day, he said, "Well, I've been thinking about this and you don't need to lose 10 or 15 pounds." And I threw my hands up and I said, "Yes." And he said, "You need to lose 20 to 25 pounds." And I gulped and I said, "Okay, but I'm going to need your help."

Over the next few months, I did indeed lose 25 pounds. It was an amazing process, and the fact is it wasn't a torture for me. It was a positive upbeat process. And one of the things that I found as I went to my periodic checkup with the doctor, he was amazed, first of all, but second, we noticed that my blood pressure had decreased. It wasn't really particularly high before, it was in good shape, but it had gone down. My cholesterol levels had gone down, and this is tracking a 16-year baseline that I had with this particular doctor. And so we had all of this data, and you can push a button right there and it automatically graphs everything. And so you see this graph, and it kind of goes up over the years and all of a sudden, a big drop. Found that my weight had a big drop, and that this was a correlation throughout across the board and that I was much healthier. And so, first of all, I credit Ron. There's a number of things we did, and we're going to have the chance to talk about some of those today.

First of all, Ron, I'm just going to invite you to share anything that you would like to about what's been happening in your life over the last year. I have also recommended Ron to a couple of friends and they've had similar experiences. So why don't you bring us up to speed on anything that you would like to talk about, experiences that you're having, what you're seeing? But what would you like to just introduce yourself with?

Ron: Awesome. First of all, I want to say thank you, Steve, for all that you have done for my business. One of the things that I found with working with Steve was this is that here I am coaching this guy, thinking,"You know what, I'm doing him a great service," and you know, we lost the 25 pounds, but the little nuggets that I got from him let me know that I needed a coach. And he became my coach. So Steve is my coach today, and I want to appreciate him in what he does. But some of the things that have happened over the year is that I'd been able to put together programs for corporations that have drastically changed the face of you know, the companies, and we've really been enjoying that. And we realized that the principles of what we teach cross boundaries, meaning that we work in several areas: faith, family, fitness, and finances. And with that being said, regardless of what direction you're moving in, there are universal principles that actually cross those boundaries and we call them "Champion Principles," and if you apply it as far as your fitness is concerned, those same principles apply in your business, in your relationships, and across the board, Steve.

Steve: Well good. Well, all right. So since we're having this discussion, Ron...and Ron has been a great coach for me, and I'm glad that we've been able to be of help to him. It's been fun to see some of the things that have happened. Ron, together with his wife Tanya, have created a 9-week fitness program that they have shared with a few special clients. Would you mind telling us about that and how it's designed, and what some of the end results that you're having? And the purpose of doing this is that I'd like to have our listeners today have some hope, have some encouragement that if they do certain things, they can get to a better place that makes them feel better, frankly.

Ron: Absolutely. This 9-week program is really just a basis and a starting place because our complete desire is to develop lifestyle. And that's what I can see in Steve, is he's developed a lifestyle. You know, he lost the weight, but if you look at him today, he looks better now than he did at the completion of the program. You know why? Because he's continuing in that same lifestyle. And that's what we want to do is to develop these principles so that it becomes a lifestyle to you. But one of the main principles is never to allow yourself to be hungry. It's very important because you send your body a signal of starvation. When many times, what people think is that it's willpower, "If I can starve myself and just have the will to keep going." But that sends a signal to the body of starvation. So eating and making sure you're never hungry is very important. Another principle would be to eat in combinations. Combinations are so important. If your desire is to decrease body fat, you never ever want to eat a carbohydrate by itself. The reason why, I'm going to explain this as short as I can, when you eat a carbohydrate by itself, it spikes the blood glucose level which causes the pancreas to secrete the insulin where the insulin is the culprit of the excess body fat. Your blood sugar level comes down when the insulin is secreted, but it converts those calories into triglycerides which is blood fat, and it pumps it directly into the fat cell. So we want to move away from that. If you don't eat enough calories, then your metabolism slows down, and when you do eat, those calories convert to body fat as well. There are 75 reasons why people are overweight and obese, so we have to find out individually what are yours and which ones belong to you. Reverse that, we can get rid of the body fat.

Steve: Okay, all right. Well, that's good advice. Now, the first time we got going on this, Ron explained this to me, the example that he used for me was that if you eat an apple...And you correct any of this if you don't mind, Ron. But if you eat an apple by itself, it's the carbohydrate. It will be digested by the body within 20 minutes. Is that about right?

Ron: Absolutely.

Steve: But if you'll take that same apple and it goes right to fat, as Ron just explained...On the other hand, if you eat that apple together with the protein together with an essential fatty acid, it takes four hours for the body to digest this and it goes directly to energy.

Ron: Wow, that's awesome that you remember that principle. Yes, and this is for those that are trying to decrease body fat. If you're an athlete and you have a high metabolism, this would not apply for you because sometimes you would take in pure sugar to propel you forward in whatever activity you're competing in. But if your desire is to decrease body fat, Steve is 100% spot on.

Steve: Okay, and so that was really helpful. So that's a good tip for today is whenever you eat any type of foods, be sure you have at least three things on your plate: a carbohydrate, a protein, and the essential fatty acids. Right?

Ron: Absolutely. Beautiful.

Steve: Okay, that's if you're trying to, you know, lose body fat. And that's what I was doing, and I still do that by the way. I'm trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle of an ongoing diet that I know I can sustain. People often ask "Well, what are essential fatty acids?" That's raw almonds, avocados. What are some other sources of that, Ron?

Ron: Wheat germ oil would be another one. You know, you said avocado. There's a new oil called avocado oil. I love the avocado oil because I can put it in any of my drinks and it's hard to even taste.

Steve: Oh, okay. All right, good. So, Ron, what are some problems that you see are common in our society concerning excess body fat? Have we already talked about it? Have we covered that or...?

Ron: Well, one problem I see is that we in America are getting fatter. You know, years ago, it was hard to find a person that was more than 300 pounds. Now we're 600, 700, 800, 900, even a thousand pounds. I mean, that was unheard of. The body is so resilient and I don't know how the body can handle that. But we're becoming more overweight and obese because of being sedentary and the other thing is poor eating and some of the things that we're putting in our bodies, and we have to reverse that. That's a real passion of mine.

Steve: Okay good, all right. Well, so in terms of the eating do you... I'd like to just get back to that. Are there some things that our listeners can do to have a healthy set of eating habits? Like I know that you sent to me, originally, the Champions' Nutritional Guideline as I recall.

Ron: Yes, sir.

Steve: I don't know if that addresses it but maybe you could take a minute to just talk about, well, what are types of healthy eating.

Ron: Okay, types of healthy eating depending on where you are, if you need to lose 15 pounds, if you need to lose 30 pounds, if you need to lose 70 pounds, or if you're in a class that we considered a hard-loser. A lot of people go on diet, after diet, after diet and what you end up doing is retarding your metabolism. When you retard your metabolism, it doesn't function properly the way it should. And then we have those people out there that are insulin resistant. And all of these create a huge problem. So what you have to do is find out, first of all, which category you're in, and then, you want to start off by detoxifying the body. Because we have what you call "fat-loss resistant chemicals" along with estrogen mimickers, and what estrogen mimickers do is they create excess body fat. And we want to get those toxins out of the body so that the body will function the way it should properly. There's certain things that 200 years ago, we weren't privileged to put in our body, you know, and we want to go back to nature as much as we possibly can. The way God originally created food is the way we should ingest it. God didn't create the Oreo cookie. I know some of you think he did but he really didn't create the Oreo cookie. And what I do is I study out different ingredients, where they came from, how we came about it. And when you look at an Oreo cookie, the center of that Oreo cookie that you take...you open the Oreo cookie and you scrape that white stuff on your teeth. Do you know what that is? It would be equivalent to Crisco oil or that Crisco-thick saturated fat that you're scraping on your teeth that has some sugar and has a little vanilla flavoring. But you're putting that directly into your body and it clogs the arteries and creates excess body fat. Well, if we go back to nature, we'll find out those things that we originally ate were to bring health, life, and longevity. So I would say, first of all, let's learn a little bit about good nutritional value. Eat those things that are very nutritious. Eat organic as you possibly can. Fresh is better than frozen. Frozen is better than canned. And try to get back to nature as much as you possibly can.

Steve: Okay. Well, those are some good guidelines. And as I started adopting this, I didn't know what to expect but what I found is that eating, for example, the steamed vegetables were amazing. I don't know how I had missed these before. So yellow squash and steamed broccoli and the cauliflower, and there are so many amazing things that are so good. And I've loved the celery, the carrots. All of these things are so good, and I think they're part of what you're talking about.

Ron: Yes. sir. Absolutely.

Steve: kay, good. All right, well, let's just wrap up with a couple of thoughts here. What are a few things that we could implement today that would aid in decreasing body fat? Maybe we've already talked about it, but...And then, I'd like to talk about...the final thing is the role of exercise versus diet.

Ron: Awesome, awesome. Well, one thing, it's very, very simple but it's huge, and that's change the type of water you drink because water, you know, it's the number one nutritional thing that we can put in our bodies. At one time, you could get water for free, but good quality water you have to pay for. It is very, very important because we're made up of 70% water. In water, just because it's clear does not mean that it's clean. We have different things in our body: fat-loss resistant chemicals along with estrogen mimickers, medication. Some people are taking hormone therapy. All of that gets into the water, and you think it gets cleaned out but it really doesn't. The other things...we have chlorine. Now, an estrogen mimicker, you've probably wondered where do they come from: pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, chlorine, perchlorate, which is jet fuel. All of those have estrogen mimickers. Heart medication, they'll tell you with some heart medication that it creates tenderness of your breast or your chest which become breast, and that's because there's an estrogen mimicker in there. When little girls go through puberty they get that tenderness, and that starting to happen in men along with other excess body fat throughout their bodies. So a good source of water is distilled water that's fortified with the minerals, that's pure water. So that's really important. You can implement that starting today.

Steve: Now, let's just hold on a second. Where did they get that?

Ron: Distilled water, you can either distill it yourself by having a distiller or you can just go on the Internet and google distilled water in your area or you can find it on the grocery store shelf, distilled water. But fortify it with the minerals. Even on our website, if you're looking for the minerals, they should cost you somewhere between $17 to $19. If it cost you more than that for a 90 day supply, way too expensive. We have some on our website for just $14.95.

Steve: Okay, all right. Well, let's take this last question. It's been a good interview and good ideas today and hopefully, some encouragement for people and keeping it simple on a way forward. How big of a role does exercise play? How big of a role does the diet play?

Ron: Well, as a competitor, exercise is a very, very small percentage, something like 20%. And the nutritional part of it is somewhere around 75% to 80%. I mean, the nutritional part of it is huge, but the combination together, utterly, utterly important. You can go on a diet by itself and you'll receive some results or you can do exercise by itself and depending on the type of metabolism you have, you may get no results. But the combination together, scientifically, is the best thing you could possibly do.

Steve: Okay, and then one last question, Ron. What have you found is the best way to get this distilled water? Do you just buy it from a store around or can you get it in a larger container? What's the easiest way? What have you found the best way to get it?

Ron: The best way to get it is have it brought to your house. It's really inexpensive. If you have a store that's fairly close, and as I said just google it, they will actually bring five-gallon containers to your house for less than 60 cents a gallon. If you go to the store, it may cost you $1.25 or maybe even higher. And another thing is distilled water... you can only drink that for two weeks. It'll help detoxify the body but after two weeks, start putting the minerals in.

Steve: Okay, yeah. That's a critical part, right? Because it can actually hurt your health if you continue with the distilled water without the minerals.

Ron: That's right because water, by itself, it has open bonds, and as we receive rain, it goes through the atmosphere but it collects the asset that's in the atmosphere then it hits the ground. But when that water is completely distilled, it has open bonds. And when it goes to your body, it does the same thing. it collects the dirt and the filth but it also absorbs those minerals and will pull the minerals out of your system. So get the water distilled, two weeks, it'll help you detoxify. But after the two weeks, apply the minerals.

Steve: Okay, good stuff. Well, this is been a great interview. Hopefully, you have received a few good ideas. And if this is an area of interest, then certainly, the diet that we've talked about, the way you eat, the number of meals, and then try to have a consistent exercise program to supplement what you're doing. The distilled water...

Ron: Absolutely.

Steve: With the minerals. Okay, good start. Now, Ron, how can they find out about what you're doing or learn more?

Ron: Well, one is we have a YouTube channel which is just, Ron Williams YouTube Channel. The next thing, you could go to our website which is ironchestmaster.com or rwfitness.com. You can find me on the Internet just google Ron Williams.

Steve: Okay, good to know. Well, thank you. It's been a great interview. And Ron, I can't wait to see what happens in the next year.

Ron: Absolutely.

Steve: All right. Well, we're signing off and remember that every one of you is making a difference in your own life. And I'd like to give you hope and encouragement that if you've had 10 or 15 pounds or whatever that you've been trying to lose, you can do it, and it's just a steady effort and you can have fun doing it. It's an adventure. Well, we wish you all the best.

This is Steve Shallenberger signing off with Becoming Your Best.

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5 Simple Innovative Ways to be a GREAT Time Manager
24 perc 84. rész

https://www.becomingyourbest.com/5-simple-innovative-ways-great-time-manager/
Welcome to our podcast listeners, wherever you may be in the world today! This is Steve Shallenberger. Your host for the Becoming Your Best podcast series. Today, we have an exciting subject. It is Five Simple, Innovative Ways to Great Time Management. And to preface this a little bit, I'd like to share an experience that I had not long ago. We were visiting our son and his wife, west of Phoenix, Arizona near the White Tank Mountains. It is beautiful but it's rugged mountain terrain. One morning we hiked up three miles up a ravine and we arrived at a waterfall. We enjoyed the captivating area where the American Indians made their home and we decided to jog down the trail. Now, this was an interesting experience. As we navigated the trail at about four miles per hour, I was utterly amazed at how my mind and body worked together. Knowing exactly how to adjust to an ever-changing terrain. A boulder here and a dip there, a rattlesnake slithering along the side of the trail, literally, a spiny cactus. As we gradually went up and down, descending safely back to where the cars were parked. This experience caused me to reflect on how our body system works together, as we navigate through the daily challenges of life. Just as our body adjusted to the terrain as we jogged, over a trail in the mountains. Or your mind or heart adjusts to the terrain of relationships, your work, and everything you face from moment to moment. This is amazing, this great tool that we are blessed to have. It's literally, this principle of prioritizing time allows us to merge our heart, and mind, and memory consistently. So that we can achieve a sustainable best and doing the things that really count most in our life. Repetition is crucial to the development of both muscle memory and heart and mind memory. One moment of creativity or being quick to listen really helps as we solve issues. Day to day they make us more effective in time management. This is really powerful as we're going to talk about these five simple, innovative ways to be great time managers. So, here we go. The first one is one we've talked about in the past. But it is absolutely a fundamental game changer. And it is to spend a few minutes each weekend doing pre-week planning. We use the example of you happen to be a pilot, let's say a commercial pilot or a fighter pilot or even a private pilot. If you had a complex flight coming up, going from one coast to the next. Or navigating through some desolate areas, how many of you would just go jump in the plane and take off? Well, no. It'd be crazy to do that. Suicide is what it would be. Well, how many of us do the very same thing as we start each week? We just go in from week in, week out with no thought. We jump in the cockpit and we show up to work. We do whatever we're doing. Well, we get the same type of results frequently. This little process of pre-flight planning in the pilot world assures the highest probability of a successful flight. Unless something just unusual goes wrong. Well, this is the very same way with our week. Pre-week planning allows us to assure, with some probability, some things could happen, that we're going to have a great week. That's just the way it turns out. Listen to the full episode...https://www.becomingyourbest.com/5-simple-innovative-ways-great-time-manager
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The Secret to Peace, Confidence, Success and Trust
25 perc 83. rész

The Secret to Peace, Confidence, Success and Trust

Welcome to our listeners wherever you might be today. This is Steve Shallenberger, your host of the Becoming Your Best Global Leadership podcast.

Now, what thing can you do to bring you greater peace, confidence, internal, strength, greater trust with others? Open many doors to opportunities and just generally provide for a happier fuller more abundant life? More success professionally with other people? Well that leads us to today's subject, which is being True to Character.

It's interesting as we think about character there's really a couple of different components to it. One is being honest. Notice the word “being”. This is really an internal quality. It's who we are. Being honest, doing the right things.

There's a different component and that is integrity. It's interesting to look at the root words of integrity. It has to do with “being whole” or “complete”. So we might think of the example of a ship hull having integrity or the frame of an aircraft having integrity. It's being whole, this is what people see.

Our integrity is really defined by those that are around us. They see that we are whole and especially in the terms of leadership. When we have integrity we create a wholeness. A predictability that people can count on within an organization. It's these two traits, if you will, these two factors: 1) being honest and 2) having an integrity. That literally create a character, something that people can count on, that is both internal and external. So being true to character is really based on being true to those things that consistently make a difference. Or what we frequently call correct or timeless principles.

These then define an outcome we have. So being true to character means your actions reflect your beliefs. Your beliefs are based on these guiding correct principles and it's at the very bedrock of character. It's this integrity, honesty, respect for others in alignment with these principles. When you're true to character the feeling is good, solid and confident. The impact is remarkable! Added confidence, increased opportunity, stronger relationships, expanded influence, and certainly an enviable reputation. Now each of us is endowed with a conscience. In other words, you know right from wrong…

To listen to the podcast to get the complete episode and Steve’s continued discussion of Being True to Character: https://www.becomingyourbest.com/secret-peace-confidence-success-trust/

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What’s Your Innovation Quotient? - Interview with Tamara Kleinberg
27 perc 82. rész

What’s Your Innovation Quotient? - Interview with Tamara Kleinberg

Steve: Welcome to all of our "Becoming Your Best" podcast listeners, wherever you might be in the world today. This is your host, Steve Shallenberger. And we have a very interesting guest with us today. Our guest has helped and inspired many people on how to improve their lives and be more effective. Welcome, Tamara Kleinberg.

Tamara: Thank you so much for having me.

Steve: Oh, we're excited to have you. And before we get started today, I'd like to tell you a little about Tamara's background. First of all, this is fun. She's part of an elite group of TED speakers for completing three Tough Muddlers. Tell us what a Tough Muddler is, Tamara.

Tamara: Oh, they are these...I don't know if you've done one yet...but they are these extreme sport events. It's usually 12 to 16 miles, 20 obstacle courses, and things like getting dumped in water so cold you can't breathe and electric shock wires. It just...it tests your limits, both physical and mental, every time you do it.

Steve: Lovely. Well, we know what the Spartan event is. We've had a number of our family members that have participated in that. I think quite similar.

Tamara: I love Spartan events.

Steve: Yeah, they're great. And Tamara's life is about breaking through the status quo for game-changing results. And I'll just tell you a little bit more about her. She is the founder of LaunchStreet, an online innovation program, and the creator of a proprietary Innovation Quotient Edge, which we'll talk a little bit about later in the program. It's the only assessment able to help you discover your unique innovator archetype, and we'll talk about that, so that you can innovate on demand. She is a sought-after keynote speaker, CrossFit addict, and a knee-high sock lover. She lives in the Colorado area, has two young children, a husband, and they are rocking and rolling.

Tamara: Don't forget my dog. My dog would be very upset if you didn't mention her. Her name is Zoe, and she's a 90-pound mastiff. So she's part of the family.

Steve: Well, that's perfect. Okay, well, Tamara, what was life like growing up for you? And what experiences helped you to see that you could be successful?

Tamara: Yeah, that's such a great question to open with, you know? So I was telling you a little bit offline that we moved every four years of my life. And the reason for that was my dad was an entrepreneur. So we basically bounced from business to business, and that required moving as well. And while that sounds horrible to a lot of people, what I will tell you is it taught me how to talk to everybody, because I had to start over every four years. I became the queen of reinvention I think before I was 18 years old because I always had to.

And, you know, I kinda looked back on my life, and, you know, I realized that that entrepreneurial spirit was inside of me very early on. My very first business was when I was 14 years old. I turned my teenage girl's dream closet into a business of renting clothing, and keep in mind, just to date myself, it was the 80s. So the clothing was bad, and it was before the Internet and [inaudible 00:03:19] could rent everything. But, you know, I was always looking for opportunities to just do things a little bit differently. I think a lot of us have that inside of us, that little spark, and it ignites every now and again. And sometimes we shut it down. And sometimes we let it grow. But in that case, I let it grow. And that summer, I had a ton of money. It was great.

But, you know, you would...one of the things that you would ask in a previous thing was, you know, kinda what are some of those defining moments in your childhood. And I would tell you a quick story, because I think this really kinda set up how I viewed life and how I ultimately was able to achieve success. When I was in third grade, I got the most awesome homework, which was, you know, come back on Monday morning and tell the class what you wanna be when you grow up. And I was so excited. And that's the best homework you can give a third grader ever because the possibilities at that point in your life are endless.

So, you know, I spent all weekend. I really...I took it very seriously. And I got back to school, and I stood up there, and I was the first to raise my hand. So I got up, you know, in front of that dirty chalkboard. And to see if my...you know, kids in front of me in those low tables, and I said, you know, "I'm Tamara. And when I grow up, I wanna be president of the United States."

Steve: Woo-hoo!

Tamara: And, you know, then I waited... Yeah. Well, that's what I was hoping for. Thank you. You know, I put my head down waiting for the like obvious standing ovation that was coming. But instead, I got laughter. And it wasn't actually the other kids. It was the teacher.

Yeah. She looked to me, and she said, "Tamara, don't be silly. You can't be president of the United States. You weren't born here. You need to come up with a new dream." So I wasn't born here. I was born in Israel. But I...I was born on dual citizenship. And it doesn't matter. In third grade, that's not the point, right?

Steve: Right, right.

Tamara: You know, I went home in tears, and I went into my dad's office because he's working from home at the time. And I said, you know, "I was told that those are the rules. So I can't be president." I was so upset and ready to be very dramatic. And my dad is very brass tacks about everything. And he looked up at me, and he just said, "Well, Tamara, then go change the rules." I was like "Oh my God." Like that opened my eyes to everything in life.

So I can't change the rules to be president. Frankly, at this point, I'm really glad I never pursued that path because it looks like a really hard job. But what it did teach me in life and what I've always applied is how can you go around those brick walls and those rules? How do you go under them, over them, through them? There's always a different way to accomplish what you wanna accomplish. And when I was in third grade, what I was really saying was I wanna make an impact on the world. That's really what I wanted. So when I thought about that in a different way, I was able to do different things and get to that goal.

Steve: Oh, I love it. Oh, thanks for that background. And this is a great reminder too. We who have the opportunity to work with others, to give them encouragement, to give them hope, to... I love the assignment. You know, to stoke that curiosity and creativity and... Well, great going! That's terrific.

Now, how about...you've been moving along. That was a great setback right there, a little challenge. But what's been some of the biggest challenges in your life or a challenge, just pick one, whether personal life or professional, and how did you handle it, and what was the impact?

Tamara: Yeah. So, you know, I think we all have a lot of challenges. And sometimes there are tiny little ones that seem to add up over time. And other times there are, you know, big ones that are slapping us around and leaving a little bit of a sting on our face. And I know...I think when I look back, the biggest challenges have been these tiny little things that constantly added up. And, you know, it really led to...it was me always trying to push the limits and always trying to do something different and getting pushed back.

And, you know, when I was...and so when I left university...I graduated from UC Berkeley and went out to New York City because I wanted to be in advertising and on Madison Avenue, which in the '90s was a big deal, you know, different now, but it was then. And I remember getting my first job there. And I was an administrative assistant. And that's not what I wanted to be. I wanted to be in account management. But because I didn't have an in, a connection, a referral...I was new to New York. I moved there not knowing anybody. I mean it was me and my apartment for the first six months of my time in New York City. And I had to take the job that I was provided because that's all I could get. I couldn't get the one in accounts because, you know, I didn't know anyone. However, once I got in, I was able to make my imprint and get to where I wanted to be.

So, you know, it seemed like a really big challenge, and I had to look at it and go, "Well, how do I do it differently so that I get to my goal, but do it in a different way, because that path I thought I would get is just not open to me?" The beauty of it, though, the thing I learned, not just that, is I learned how hard it is to be an administrative assistant and how that is they are the gatekeepers to everything. So not only did I learn, you know, what I needed to do to get to where I was trying to be, but I also learned what it really meant to take on that role, which was not easy.

But that's really all the challenges...every moment that I remember another time I was working at this, you know, prestigious brand strategy and innovation firm. And I used to get in trouble for going home at four because I would be done with my work, and I would do it well, but I was done because I figured out a different way to prioritize my workflow and not do it like everybody else and get even more accomplished in a shorter period of time. But I got in trouble for it. So, you know, I kind of kept having to push boundaries and I kept... What I learned along the way is I had to keep pushing back. I had to keep pushing back. It was my job to keep that flame going, nobody else's, because they were not gonna do it for me.

Steve: Okay. Well, now, I just love it. I love the fact that Tamara is out there pushing the horizons, thinking about possibilities. This is one of the things that we need to do to reach our fullest potential. We just gotta reach down inside and say, "Wow, what is it out there that...where can I make my contribution? Where is my area of interest?" and go for it. Don't let things hold us back. And that might be in the different roles that we have in life. And so great going, Tamara.

Tamara: Well, thank you so much. You know, I think this is kinda how life works, isn't it? Like it's...I saw this great quote on Facebook from Sylvester Stallone in what...a movie he's I think recently in. I didn't get to see the whole thing, because, you know, you're on Facebook, you scroll through. But, basically, it's like "Look, life is gonna slap you around harder than anybody else. And it's our job to get back up." And I think that's really how I've tried to lead through life. And when you tap your innovative mind, which we all have the power of doing... I know we don't always feel that way. But it's true. We can talk a little bit about the research that led to that and kinda, you know, the assessment that goes along with it. But when we approach things in a more innovative way, we're able to make a greater impact and go around some of those big barriers that we face.

Steve: Okay, good. Well, let's talk about innovation. This is one of your specialties. And it plays such a huge role in our success in life. And I was just reading through my personal vision this morning, which I've had for 25 years. It's been inspiring for me. And on the personal level, one of the aspects was when I have setbacks and challenges, I think of options, options, and options. And then I move again.

Tamara: I love that.

Steve: Well, this is kind of it, innovation. So what's the greatest barrier to innovation? Let's really help our listeners out today of how we can get to a better place.

Tamara: Yeah. So there's a couple of barriers that I wanna talk about here. And let me just back up by sharing my definition of innovation so we're all on the same page because I think oftentimes we think of it as a new product, new technology, or, you know, relegated to a certain point in time, exercise, the brainstorm with scented markers, you know, and [inaudible 00:11:08]. But that's really not it. What innovation is and the definition that I'd like, you know, us to move forward with is people each thinking differently about what's right in front of them to create differentiated value. And that really ultimately comes back to us in how we view things and shifting our own perspective and trying out new things.

I think that one of the greatest barriers to innovation is thinking that we're not capable of it and that, you know, Greg down the hall with his blue streak in his hair and his funky glasses and, you know, going the cafes to work. He is the innovative guy. But it's really not me, whether that's because of my, you know, how I've been trained over life or my job description or just how I view myself. And that couldn't be more wrong.

I think what we've discovered in our 20-plus years of work and research over here at LaunchStreet is that being innovative is actually universal. We all do it. But how we innovate is unique to each of us. But we gotta own that we're innovative people. You now, we all go to the movies, and we suspend belief, and we watch these crazy sci-fi movies, and we think nothing of it. Yet, we come home, and when we ask ourselves to work and we ask ourselves how to think differently about something, and we shut down. We got to bring that back up.

Steve: Okay. Well, that's great, yeah. And I love your definition, thinking differently to get better results to how do we be... As you know, one of the things we talk about a lot is helping people become their best. And this is the thinking is we can do it. We can come up with ideas, and we are capable of it. So as we get into this process, Tamara, why do most ideas die before they even have a chance to get going, before someone leaves the conference room?

Tamara: Yeah. There's a couple of reasons for it, and it's so sad, isn't it? I mean even asking the question sounds sad, like "Oh, ideas die." It's so sad, but they do, and they do for a couple of reasons. One is we confuse collaboration and consensus. So if we're working in a team, you know, we would have an idea that we wanna either bring forward or we have a problem we're trying to solve and we get together to form a solution for that, what we do by accident, in an effort to create collaboration, is we pull everybody together at the table. Now we've got everybody's opinion. And frankly, it's too many. And we need to replace consensus with collaboration, real collaboration, which I would define as the right people sitting at the table at the right time discussing the right things. That's not everybody. That's the appropriate people together.

So that's number one is, you know, we end up doing this consensus decision-making, and that just waters everything down to nothing. Nobody is excited about it, and we leave with this blah, wet clay-looking idea. That's number one.

The second thing is...and this was a really painful lesson that I learned along the way from someone who I called Mr. Mustache, because I don't remember his name, but he had a really big mustache. It moved before he spoke. And he shut down every one of my ideas in this meeting where I was presenting ideas. It was actually to Johnson & Johnson baby care. He worked for them at the time.

And what I learned that day was that most ideas die because we don't have the language to champion them and get other people along for the journey with us. We assume that the idea is gonna stand on its own, like "Oh my god, this water bottle is so amazing. How could they say no to this?" But they do say no because they weren't along for the journey of the creation of it. And now we're throwing this one-way tennis ball, you know, across the court expecting them to pick it up. And they don't.

What I have discovered, and we have a lot of these tools on our LaunchStreet on demand...I think it's part of the reasons why our clients come back year after year for more and more tools. We have this whole language of innovation method because what we discovered is that when you change your language, you change your outcome. But it is just really unfortunate to think the number of ideas that never see the light of day because we just don't know how to champion them.

Steve: Okay. Oh, those are good thoughts. I'd be interested in your thoughts about this. What role...I'm just thinking that sometimes people don't have confidence in their ability to innovate, to be a creative force, and so they're a little shy about it. Would that also be a reason that an idea dies that they don't have enough confidence?

Tamara: Yeah, you know, it's so interesting, and it's great that you really kinda brought that up to the surface. We don't give ourselves permission to innovate. So oftentimes...we hear this all the time, don't we? Like "Oh, they don't get it. They don't understand. They're not innovative enough." But what we forget is that we don't even give ourselves permission to innovate. So we...before we ever even say an idea out loud, we put layers of judgment on it. We say, "Well, that's not good enough. I mean who am I to share this? I don't have the experience. They'll never go for it. It'll never work. I'll sound stupid. I'll sound like I don't know what I'm talking about. Obviously, if it was a good idea, somebody else would have said it."

So we talk ourselves out of bringing those ideas forward. And in doing that, we're shutting down all of that innovative thinking and keeping it inside. Yet, the question we have to ask ourselves is how do we expect to get to those breakthrough ideas or results in our work and life if we're not even giving ourselves permission to innovate? And, you know, when I keynote, I talk a lot about...we do this exercise when we're together in keynote that really brings this to life about how... It's really incredible. We self-sabotage before we even get it to the world.

Steve: Right. Now, that's a great insight. If you don't mind let's talk a little about your innovator profile. I've noticed that in your information you have a unique IQE. Tell us what that is. And how can a person use it to get good results, to get innovative results that are helpful?

Tamara: So the Innovation Quotient Edge or the IQE, as we call it for short, is the only proprietary tool that helps you understand how you innovate so that you can innovate on demand, so basically so you can tap your greatest asset, which is your innovative mind, as we talked about, that we all have. And part of the reason we decided to create this tool over at LaunchStreet was because we were tired of seeing people say, "I'm not innovative." It's so and so down the hall. Or "I just don't have it in me," or "I want to. It's in me, but I don't know how."

And what we realized is if we can help people understand how they innovate, they're more likely to do more of it. I mean we do more of what works for us and less of what doesn't. We wanna tap our strength. And that's what this allows us to do. So we discovered there's nine triggers of innovation, and it's the combination of the top two that make your unique innovator archetype. And here is kind of the cool thing, and I'll use myself as an example. I am a risk-taker and an experiential. Those are my two things to come together for an archetype.

And what that means is that the experiential side of me is I have to learn in motion. I have to innovate by doing. So if you ask me to think in theory and hypothesize and leave things on PowerPoint presentation, I shut down. And the funny part is that's how I used to work because that's how you're expected to work. That's how we're trained in our nine to five jobs to get stuff done. But I was actually working against myself, and it was showing up in my work. It wasn't innovative. I wasn't getting recognized for the value I was bringing to the table. I didn't have a strong enough voice because I wasn't playing to my strength.

And then I flipped it around. Now when I build an idea out, I build it out with duct tape and scented markers because I need to see it in real life to be able to innovate. And I can now take things to the finish line. So when you understand how you innovate...it's plain and simple...you work smarter, not harder. And the cool part is if you stay in that...you know that zone we always talk about, that flow, you get to stay there longer because you're bringing that innovation to life.

Steve: Well, very good. Now I'm gonna put you on the spot here, Tamara.

Tamara: Uh-oh.

Steve: Yeah. So what's an example? Share an example of someone that used this and the result that they got.

Tamara: Yeah. Ooh, oh, this is like the Oprah question. I'm sitting on a couch, okay. So I'll give you actually an example of a company and some of the people inside their company, because there's two great examples out of this. So the company is called Footers Catering. It's one of the largest catering companies in Colorado. So they do very well. The founder, the president, Anthony, had his team take it. And two really interesting things came out of it.

First, I'm gonna talk about Kara. So Kara is...one of her archetype is inquisitive. So that means she innovates by asking questions. For her innovations and the questions is not the answer. And you know her archetype because they're the one... You know them. It's 11:30. You got a quick meeting, and you're dying to get to lunch, and they're over there with their hand up like "I just have 10 more questions, just 10, I swear." But that's because they go deep. They pull back the layers of the onion and challenge assumptions. That's how they innovate.

So when Kara recognized this, her team understood this about her, because they talked about their result. And now she's able to leverage that. Where before people saw it as kind of an annoyance, like "She's got 10 more questions," now she understands that's how she innovates. So she's empowered to ask the hard question, and her team understands it and actually...and expecting her to ask questions and is okay with it. So it really opened up her ability to add value to the team in a way that she wasn't able to do before.

The second one is named Stephanie. And she's a futuristic. That's one of her two power triggers, which means that she's always 10 steps ahead. She's envisioning what it could be, what the possibilities are. She's solving today's challenges by creating tomorrow's opportunities. So she was in a role that was purely administrative. And she was dying on the vine. It was so hard for her. When she realized this, she and the president, Anthony, got together, and they created a new role for her where she's creating themes for their clients when they bring food to their events, whatever it is. So now she's been put in a role that's all about creating the future versus managing the past. And she is doing incredibly well.

And the last I'll share with you is an entrepreneur who is outside of that realm who is a collaborative, which is all about pulling disparate people and ideas and experiences together to create innovation. And so they're all about the conversation, the team dynamic. They're very magnetic in that way, but it's because that's how they pull the data pieces together to create innovation. She had this business. She had a product. It was online. It's doing incredibly well. And she was so frustrated because she felt like this wasn't her vision, her dream. She was stuck in a silo in her house with no one to talk to.

So when she realized that she was missing the thing that was feeding her soul, this collaborative innovator, she actually created an entire feedback loop with her customers. When they buy the product, they now have this opportunity to engage with her on a regular basis. Because of that, she's able to bring more and more innovation to the table because she created a business that matched how she innovates. She created a collaborative business instead of a solo business, which is what she was doing in the past.

Steve: Okay. So that's excellent. So it helps both the individual and it helps the team of how to work better together.

Tamara: That's exactly right. That interplay is really interesting. And what we see is when you understand how you innovate, you bring more of that to the table. And we you understand how other people innovate, you respect and seek out their opinion because now you've got a 360-degree view, different ways to tackle a challenge. The results are 10 times better.

Steve: Okay. So, Tamara, what's one thing that our listeners can do right now to up their innovation quotient?

Tamara: Well, the first thing I do is say go take the assessment and find out what you are. Like I said, there's nine triggers. That means there's 35 different unique combinations that could be you. If you go to gotolaunchstreet.com, that's the way to do it. But let me give your listeners, if it's okay with you, just a little something they can do right away in their everyday life that's one of my favorite innovative exercises. Can I have a minute to do that?

Steve: Yes, yes.

Tamara: Okay, excellent. So it's what I call geek out. So you mentioned in the very beginning that I'm a CrossFit addict, which is totally true and a knee-high sock lover. I'm wearing knee-high socks right now. I'm very proud to say. So one of the things, the challenges we have with being innovative is we look in our center, you know, in that same box with the same information with the same people over and over again, and then we don't get any result, and we get frustrated.

A great way to bring innovation to your world is to go wide, go far out, and then bring that information back. The easiest way to do that is to think about how the innovative brands and products you love...how they do things and how they might solve your challenges.

So for example, for me, I always think about...because I love CrossFit...how would they solve the challenge I'm having with the usability of my website. How would Southwest engage with customers in this challenge? How would Trader Joe's bring this idea [inaudible 00:24:26]. Suddenly, it becomes so easy to think differently when you put yourself in the shoes of the brands and the businesses that you love for being innovative. I mean do you have a few that you absolutely love that you could talk my ear off about?

Steve: Yeah, sure.

Tamara: Yeah, we all have them, right? So when you do that, it becomes super easy to be innovative because you just put yourself in their shoes.

Steve: Okay. Well, that's great. I'm always amazed at how fast time goes. Our time is up. And so how can our listeners learn more about what you're doing, and how can they find out about your information?

Tamara: Yeah. So the best way is to go to our website, gotolaunchstreet.com. So it's gotolaunchstreet.com. Or you can find us on social media. We're on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and it's all @LaunchStreet.

Steve: Okay, that's terrific. Well, this is a great resource for people. Thank you, Tamara, for being part of our show today. Really excellent ideas. And you're just touching a lot of people. So we congratulate you on that and on making a difference in the world today.

Tamara: Well, thank you for providing a platform to share with your listeners. It's a wonderful show. So I appreciate being on.

Steve: Yeah, you bet. And to all of our listeners, never forget, you too make a difference every single day, your leadership, the light that you have as you work on these grows brighter and brighter, and it influences everyone around. So we congratulate you as you're in this journey as well. And I'm Steve Shallenberger with Becoming Your Best Global Leadership wishing you a great day.

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Radical Abundance - It's a Way of Thinking
34 perc 81. rész

Radical Abundance - It's a Way of Thinking

Steve: Welcome to all of our Becoming Your Best Podcast listeners wherever you might be in the world today. This is your host, Steve Shallenberger, and we have a fascinating guest today. I'm really looking forward to our conversation. She has helped and inspired many people on how to improve their lives. So welcome Dr. Sharon Spano.

Dr Spano: Thank you so much, Steve. I'm very excited to have this time with you today and to share what I have to offer to your listeners, and to learn more about you as well. So, looking forward to this opportunity.

Steve: Well, thank you. Well, now, before we get started, I'd like to tell you a little about Sharon's background. Sharon has a P.h.D. in Human and Organizational Systems. She's an author, a corporate business strategist, a workforce expert, professional speaker, former radio host of Work Smart Live. She and her husband actually run three businesses. And so she understands what it's like to have business challenges, and success, and setbacks, and overcoming those. She empowers business leaders and entrepreneurs to maximize performance. Also works on employee engagement and how to increase bottom-line results. She is a certified professional coach, she loves helping other people, and especially, stepping into radical abundance. And we're gonna talk about that shortly. Her research focuses on wisdom, adult development and leadership, and her work and her new book, The Pursuit of Time and Money: Step into Radical Abundance and Discover the Secret to a Meaningful Prosperous Life. So there you go. This is somebody we wanna have some fun and listen to.

Dr Spano: Well, I appreciate it, Steve. I appreciate it. What a great introduction, thanks so much.

Steve: Well, you bet. All right, well, let's jump right into things. So, tell us about where you grew up, what it was like growing up, and what experiences, Sharon, helped you to see that you could be successful?

Dr Spano: Well, I think that's a great question, Steve, because we all have our story, right? And so, my early childhood story. My parents were divorced and I was literally dropped off at my paternal grandmother's home at probably around the age of five, my sister and I, in the inner city of Los Angeles. And so, we were kind of thrust into this different lifestyle as children, and it was a pretty intense environment back in the day. I can remember growing up and there were gangs and a lot of things like that. But my grandmother in her wisdom, put us in catholic school, which was not an easy thing, even at $15 a month. I mean, we were very poor, so it was difficult for her to make that happen. But that was the saving grace, I think, because she was worried about us being in the public school system with all the gangs and the things that were going on at that time. And I got a very, very good education with the nuns.

And so a lot of my success, I attribute to those early years, because the emphasis was on literary work, and reading and writing, and I learned early. I'm a lifelong learner and I'm an avid reader. And so I would say, most of my success, if I could attribute it to any one thing, which of course there never is just one thing, is there? But it has to do with my willingness to learn, but also the ability to communicate, both in the written and spoken word. That has been really, just a big plus for me throughout my entire career.

Steve: Well, that is quite a background, not only cultural, from Los Angeles, and that kind of experience in the inner city, but also that type of a tremendous education. Your grandmother must have been some woman.

Dr Spano: Yeah, she was. She had nine children, she buried two husbands, lost her younger son in the war, which I've just recently learned his story because I grew up kind of under this cloud, if you will, of an uncle that she always expected to come home. She believed that he was captured by the Japanese. And I only just literally a month ago found out that he actually went down with the USS Houston. So, it was interesting in many ways, in that, I now have come to see how she prepared me spiritually, but she also prepared me for loss of a son, because I lost my own son in 2008. And so, her strength, her spirituality, her wisdom, you know, sometimes when you're growing up, you don't realize how all that's impacting you, but it's really had a tremendous impact on how I've carried myself through the adversity in my own life. You know, and particularly learning Roy's [SP] story now, in my later years and realizing how she handled, you know, that grief and that uncertainty, you know, never knowing for sure what had happened to him, was quite an amazing thing to grow up, you know, under and have within the household. And I didn't realize how much it prepared me, you know, for the loss of a child. Watching her, you know, witnessing her strength all those years.

Steve: Having great role models like that have a far greater impact sometimes than we realize, and how fortunate. And I'm grateful for the wonderful women who have had such a big impact on my life, as well as the great role model men. So, good going on that. So, Sharon, what's been the biggest challenge or maybe one of the biggest challenges in your life, whether personal or in your business life, and how did you handle that?

Dr Spano: Well, I think it's really to what I alluded to a moment ago. My husband and I, you know, met, I was pretty young when we met. We've had a very strong and long lasting marriage for over 43 years. We've been very blessed in that.

Steve: Way to go.

Dr Spano: But our son Michael was born in 1981 with a very rare metabolic disorder. So that was sort of the first adversity that hit us. As a very young couple, that certainly wasn't what we had expected to have happen. And he was at that time diagnosed, he was supposed to live till the age two. So those first years were very, very challenging for us. But we transitioned from Los Angeles, moved to Florida for my husband's business in the early 80s. And Michael wound up living till the age of 27. So we had a very full and rich life with this young man, who was wheelchair bound throughout his life. But there were a lot of adversities and ups and downs, as you can imagine, through that process. And we're both entrepreneurs, running our businesses, you know, trying to stay ahead of the game with him. And his death was certainly, probably without a doubt the biggest challenge of my life. Because he was critical for four years, in and out of hospitals.

And of course, my business was booming at that time, and, you know, you're at the height of all of that, and of course, if you knew that you're near the end of, you know, this journey with him, I probably would have quit everything, but you don't know that. You're just kinda living day to day thinking tomorrow is gonna be a better day. And as it turned out, it was a very great opportunity for me to exercise resilience, because managing the business and managing his illness, you know, my husband and I just, again, that was the value of being entrepreneurs. We would just pitch ship for each other, and, you know, be what we needed to be for him first, but still kept the businesses going somehow. And then when he passed, in '08, that in and of itself was such a dramatic event, but one that really made us appreciate the sacredness, I guess, of that kind of life transition. We both buried parents, grandparents, but obviously, it's a very different thing when you burry a child because it's unnatural, right? That our child would pass before us.

So, you know, really helped me grow spiritually, helped me appreciate the work that I have and how God has blessed me to serve people in the corporate environment. And I love the work that I'm about. I feel very purposeful in it, and I just have a very, very passionate perspective on the value of life and the legacy that I wanna create moving forward. And I feel like God's timing was perfect, in that, if we had to lose Michael, we lost him at a time where we'd had a wonderful experience with him. Really, as a family, you know, we did so much together. And then, yet at the time of his passing, we're both young enough to still, you know, carry forth our businesses and contribute. I mean, that's really what I want, you know, the fourth quarter, as they say, to be about. How do I contribute to making people's lives better and offer what I can in terms of my wisdom and knowledge to those in business and in corporate America.

Steve: Yeah. Well, that...I appreciate you being willing to share about that experience. I'm certain that our listeners, every one of them have challenges. Some are more severe than others at different times in life, and just like the type that you've described anyhow, it's probably different for everybody in a sense. But nonetheless, in many ways, it feels the same way, which is, we wanna do what's important and balance things, and... So, if you were to give some advice to our listeners in the midst of their adversity, the challenge, these heavy weights, and yet still try to balance life. Any thoughts on that? What would you suggest?

Dr Spano: Well, I think for me it goes back to purpose, you know. I mean, whatever role or whatever business you're in, you know, how do I be the best in that every given day?

Steve: I like the sound of that.

Dr Spano: Well, and just fulfill that purpose, you know. And I know that sounds very cliché for some people, and if you're in a job or a position where you hate what you're doing, you know, that's certainly a bigger challenge. But part of the work that I'm about Steve, and I know that you're about is, how do we help people really dive deep enough to figure out how to be their best version of who they are. You know, for me, that's a very spiritual matter because I've been blessed in growing that spiritual line of development and knowing who God is and what he's called me to do. You know, for someone who may not have a traditional belief system to lean on, you know, there is so much out there right now to help people, and that's what I love about the integral coaching work that I do, is we really...we're less about goals in our interaction. When I finish with you today I'm going to meet a CEO who is very clear on his purpose, but he's struggling with some of the changes in the economy and the systems and whatnot.

So it's, how do we take all of his strengths and match them to another level of purpose such that we maybe shift his consciousness so he can step up into this new role, in a bigger and better way. So, for me, it goes back to purpose and then staying focused. And then how do I continue to develop my own consciousness so that I'm growing, and moving forward, and adapting. Because as you know, today's leaders have to adapt constantly. I mean, every day, things are moving and shifting so quickly. And we're a global diverse society now. And so, that requires a different type of leadership than we've seen certainly, in generations before. And I think it's exciting, you know, it's an exciting opportunity for each of us to dig deeper and ask ourselves that question. You know, what can I do each and every day to make the world a better place?

And for me, when I get up with that perspective, there is usually something miraculous that happens in the course of my workday. And that's kind of what I try to get my clients to see is, what is...even in the most adverse moments, what am I being called to learn? What am I being called to lean into, in terms of my own growing edge? And how can I step up and into that growing edge, such that I become a bigger better person, and realize my potential on the other end of it. You know, certainly through the years of my son's adversity and suffering, I had to dig really deep to be what I needed to be for him, for my husband, and for my clients. And I know I'm bigger and better and stronger on the other side of it for having risen, you know, to that adversity. That's part of my research around wisdom, by the way is, we know that leaders who exhibit wisdom handle adversity a bit differently, and they do a lot of what I've just talked about. When they're in the midst of it, they're looking for what is the lesson here and how can I be my best self in the midst of this.

Steve: Okay. Well, let's talk about leadership a little bit more. Every one of us, each one of us is a leader of course, and the mental construct that we have on how to be successful is such an important influence in our personal lives as we deal with others, as you've mentioned, relationships, and professionally. So, let's discuss for a second some different aspects of achieving success, and especially from the point of view that, from your background, your experience. So let's start with radical abundance. It's part of your book, what is it, and why is it important?

Dr Spano: Well, I think it's vital and it's a lot of things, in that, it's more about a mind shift, less about what you actually have. And of course the focus of the book is on the experience of time and money, and I'm looking at it through a developmental lens. And by that, I mean, what we know through the research is there are 12 of what we call stages of human development. Obviously, beginning from, you know, birth on up. The average American, we know that 60% of those Americans fall within what we call the expert and achiever levels. And so, part of what I'm exploring in this work is, based on your level of development, what are your paradigms or belief systems around time and money? And I came into that quite by accident, if you will, because I saw so much human suffering in corporate America around these two very important resources that impact us daily, and in every decision and choice that we make, but often at subconscious levels that we're not even aware of.

So when we talk about radical abundance, I'm talking about developing, again, those growing edges, the awareness of consciousness, such that you can have a meaningful life of joy and prosperity, no matter what your life circumstances are. No matter how much time or money you actually have. It's a place to come from more than it is a place to get to. And so, I'm really trying to open the conversation, getting people to examine their worldview, their paradigms, and often in the contest of those early childhood stories, because that's where it all begins. What were the things you were taught or heard about time and money, you know, and how is it impacting you in terms of your daily choices today. And what we're finding is, when we can open the discussion, and of course, we have instruments where we can actually measure where people are developmentally. That helps a lot, for them to see where they are and to see that you don't have to be stuck there, you can grow in these developmental, what we call developmental lines.

There actually 26 lines of development that we enjoy as human beings, that we're aware of today. And I focus in my integral coaching work and in my strategic work with leaders on six of them. And so we can literally see where people are and where there might be some short falls or some faulty premises, as I like to say. Ideas or ways of being, ways of action that are inhibiting you from realizing and maximizing your potential. And then when we can do that, we can coach or help people shift those paradigms, such that they step into more radical abundance.

Steve: Okay. So you're saying radical abundance is something that's within us? It's a way of thinking?

Dr Spano: Yes. I'm saying that it's a way of thinking, it's a consciousness, if you will. And if you think of the stages, kind of the easiest way that I explain it, even though they're not a hierarchy per se. If you imagine a mountain top, Steve, and you're climbing that mountain. Stage one might be at base camp, okay? And then as you mature, and grow up and into higher states of consciousness and stages of consciousness, imagine yourself at the top of the summit. So, one is not necessarily better than another, but it is a broader perspective. So, for someone who grew up in the inner city like I did, your story, the story that's given to you as a child is, you can never get out of here. You're not smart enough for an education, and you'll never get a really good job. And so, you know, that's why people get stuck in ghettos, right?

For some reason, that never resonated with me, and I don't know why, because I always knew I will become educated, and I will get out, and I will have a different life. But for many, they don't even know there is another life outside of that environment. And that's part of the opening that I'm trying to create. Because as you mentioned moment ago, we're all leaders. And I've taught that for years and years, because I don't believe that leadership is a title. I believe that it's...also, it's a mindset, it's a place to come from. You know, you can step into leadership and whatever role you play within an organization. And so, that's part of the exciting work that I've been blessed and able to do, is to help people see, when we change your paradigms and the actions flow from that. And more importantly, when we can shift your consciousness and your whole way of seeing the world, anything is possible. I mean, it really is. And so, you know, that's the work that I wanna be about, and that's the conversation I wanna open up within people whenever I can.

Steve: Okay. Well, that's very exciting. So you're really working on transformation with people. And so, it sounds like what you're saying is the experiences we have in our childhood has a big impact on how we see time and money?

Dr Spano: That is what we've been researching and we're seeing more and more evidence of that as a reality. And so, one of the examples that I like to give for instance is, as a child, I grew up, again, living with my grandmother and my dad who was supposedly to be the provider, really never was around very much, right? My dad, you know, did his best as most of our parents did, but he wasn't a guy that was really invested in his children. And so, I grew up hearing stories of, "Your dad isn't around. Your dad isn't paying for you. You're a charity case. You know, you're lucky to be here." That was from my aunts, not from my grandmother, of course. And so, the message that I received was, my parents don't value me and I'm not really worth their time and money.

Now, as a child, you don't know that. You know, I didn't internalize it to that degree. But later in life, it played out, in that, I didn't think I was worth, you know, the salary, or the raise, or the promotion. You know, and it took me many years to unravel that. Well, then fast forward years later, I'm seeing this in CEOs, I'm seeing it in clients, you know, left and right. And when you get down to, you know, what is the scarcity mentality that's running you? Whether it be corporate wide or just in terms of your own personal life. Almost always they'll go back to a story that says, "Well, that's what I was taught." And the interesting thing, Steve, that I'm finding, that I'm so excited about is, it's fairly simple when we look on the spectrum because we have an assessment that we've developed called, "the time lining instrument." And it's an inventory that will help the individual see where they fall on the spectrum between scarcity and abundance.

Scarcity is fairly clean and obvious as is abundance. Where it gets really challenging is when you're in the moderate range. Because for instance, someone who's in moderate scarcity might look like and believe themselves to be highly responsible. And so, they're doing all these theoretically right things that might look like they're coming from abundance, but often, those very same things are fear driven. And so, for instance, it's the father who, and this is a real example that I often share. Who saves, and saves, and saves, you know, from the time he's a young man for retirement, but he saves to the point where, you know, they can't even go to dinner or his kids have never been to a theme park because we don't have money for that because we're saving...we're doing the responsible thing and saving. So the lifestyle is affected. And what the children learn is how to be fearful and worry about both time and money, because that's what dad does.

Steve: Okay.

Dr Spano: Does that make sense?

Steve: Yeah. And there is a big difference between the scarcity mentality and an abundance mentality, and how we treat everybody, and our experiences. So that's a very interesting level of research that's going on. How do we help somebody that may not have had the type of childhood that positions them for the type of success they could have. How do you give them hope? How do you help them with that transformation? Where do you focus?

Dr Spano: Well, I think, you know, for me, I always say that with the first moment of awareness comes opportunity for change. And so, what I find is, a lot of the things that I'm talking about here, particularly get into the scarcity, they're very much at a subconscious level. So I might know for instance, that I'm worried all the time, that I'm fearful all the time, or that I feel like I'm being chased by the clock, but I don't know what to do about it. And so, part of the work that I do with groups or even with individuals is, we bring those thought processes to a level of awareness. And then we start to talk about what would a new way of being look like. You know, I'm this way now, but what if I were this way. What would that look like?

Because the other thing that we know about development is that people, particularly in the earlier stages, don't always have the capacity to see things moving forward. Like, they can't see things a year out or two years out. Or they don't often understand consequences of certain actions. And so, when you start to connect the two, when you think this way and behave this way, this is the outcome, you start to... I mean, it's literally like you put a mirror in front of them and they're seeing themselves for the very first time. And it takes a while, but once they have that awareness and then you start to, together, paint a picture of how things might be differently. And then of course, obviously, when I'm working in companies, we're looking at infrastructures and systems and processes and all of those kinds of things. Because a leader, whether it be corporate or entrepreneurial who's coming from scarcity, it's gonna impact obviously not only how he leads, but how he builds or fails to build the infrastructure for the organization. And so, you know, we get into a lot of that.

And it can be sometimes a very quick process. It can lean on just how open the individual is to change. And sometimes it takes months and months and months, maybe even years. And a lot of times I work with a leader who goes off, and then I hear from them two years later because now they're at another...what we call another growing edge. They're moving into another stage of consciousness, and so now we have to kinda revisit things again. But that's what's cool is, you know, the progress is being made and it's a process.

Steve: So, these things that cause success and you talk a lot about, Sharon, time and money and how it correlates to what we value most in life, right?

Dr Spano: Right.

Steve: So, there is hope for people then, that they can develop these skills?

Dr Spano: Well, the skills are the outcome of the shift in consciousness. So, one of the things that I talked about is the cycle of freedom, which I believe begins with understanding the essence of stewardship. And that's a big word that means a lot of things. You know, some talk about it in terms of sustainability, but I'm talking about it in the context of, where your treasure is, there is also your heart. So, I'm gonna put my time and money, I'm gonna utilize these two most important constructs or resources based on what I value and treasure the most, right? So, stewardship is a part of how I make those choices and decisions. And then from that, I believe grows greater compassion, generosity, a greater sense of gratitude, and then eventually, even a greater love for myself and others, because self is a part of it. You know, if I don't value myself, I'm not gonna take the time for instance to nurture my mind, body, my spirit, you know, those things. And then that translates to how I love and care for others, and even my love and care for greater humanity.

So, it's letting go of the fear and then stepping into this radical abundance of, there's enough for me and for others, and for me to be generous and to give, and to focus my attention. So like, one of the examples that I like to talk about is, there's this young child that comes from an environment where nobody wanted to invest in me. And then I meet this amazing man who lives in abundance, who believes in the flow of money, and that there is always enough. And when there isn't, he just creates. But he's always invested time and money in me. So, he's kind of the opposite of what I knew as a child. You know, he's the nurturing, loving, caring, generous husband, who, you know, is the president of my fan club, who is always willing to invest in whatever it is that I'm about. And that's a pretty big deal for someone like me because I could have just as easily married an abusive guy, coming from the environment that I came in.

Steve: Got it. That's a good example.

Dr Spano: I mean, it's truly a blessing, right? That I kind of stumbled into the right guy. I don't know what that says about me, but...

Steve: No, I had a friend one time who is the CEO of a major utility company in the United States. And I was the young man and he said, "Now, let me just share with you the three biggest things that will have the greatest impact on your happiness." I said, "Okay, great. I've got my pen ready." He said, "Number one is the person that you choose to spend your life with, to marry." He says, "That's one of the three biggest decisions that will impact your happiness." And it's fortunate that you've found that somebody that helps you see what can be possible. In our language, that helps you see that, you know, you can work on becoming your best. And it's different for really everybody, but to have people like us that can help like that is helpful.

Number two, he said is the career that you choose. So you wanna choose a career that you can love, that you can make a difference in. And then number three was interesting, is the first major company that you work with. He said, it will have a huge impact on, you know, on your future, your career. So this kinda deals with what you've just been talking about of creating an abundance mindset, and how it affects everything else. Your time, your money. Well, tell us as we wrap up. I'm always amazed how fast time goes, what was the impetus behind you writing your most recent book?

Dr Spano: Well, a lot of what I've discussed and I think anyone can...who's been in business can relate to the idea or the experience, I guess I should say, of hiring someone who wasn't the right fit. And years ago, I had a guy that I hired that I thought had great potential, and he was quite brilliant, and I just was never able to get this guy to make money. I mean, he couldn't get any clients, he couldn't make any money, and I just couldn't figure it out because I had invested quite a bit of time, money, and energy into him. And one day I just asked the question, "You know, what do you believe about people who have money?" And he said, "I think they're oppressive, greedy, and egocentric." And in that moment, Steve, I went, "Well, wow. No wonder I can't get you to make any money. Why would you wanna be like those guys?"

And he was one of those guys who came also from the inner city of New York, and he'd had a rough life. And even though he was brilliant, he just could not step into the type of radical abundance, you know, that I'm talking about. So he sabotaged his entire career and even his home life. And it kind of opened my eyes and it began, kind of it was like the first stages of curiosity for me to begin to study this further. And then of course, once I got into the developmental work, I started to see the correlations between where people were developmentally. And I just got very excited about, you know, wanting to be an interruption to some of that in a more concrete way.

So that was really the impetus behind the book and some of that earlier research. I mean, my whole body of work is not only on time and money, but time and money to me are just the symptom of the other things that are going on within this. Because again, there are two very important resources that can define, you know, our life if we let them. And what I'm really saying is, have awareness of how you utilize them. Have awareness of how they're impacting your relationship so that you can make better choices, and live a life of radical abundance.

Steve: Okay. Well, that's great. Yeah, I had a friend one time say, "You know, money is not the most important thing in life." But it is right up there on the list with oxygen.

Dr Spano: Yes, it is. Unfortunately, it is, and we have to learn to be good stewards of it.

Steve: Exactly. Okay, well, Sharon, tell us how our listeners can learn more about what you're doing, tell us about your book. I think it's coming out, right? Or is it here already?

Dr Spano: Yes. Well, the pub date is August 1st, and they can go to the www.timemoneybook.com/becomebest/, and we have some resources there. One is a manifesto that I've written on radical abundance. The other is, they can have access to our research based time, money, inventory. It's all confidential, but it'll help them see where they fall on the spectrum between scarcity and abundance. So that's the timemoneybook.com. And certainly, they can visit my website, which would also get them there, at sharonspano.com, to learn more about my overall work and the work that I do, you know, as a consultant and integral coach.

Steve: Well, congratulations Dr. Sharon Spano. What a great job you're doing.

Dr Spano: Well, thank you, Steve. And I would say the same to you. And I appreciate so much the opportunity to be on your show, and to hopefully, have an impact on some of your listeners on some of the thing that they're thinking about, as they too, begin to embrace what it means to maximize performance and step into radical abundance.

Steve: Well, great. Well, I'm sure that that will be the case and we appreciate you being part of the show today, you've done a great job. We certainly wish you all the best because you're certainly making a difference in the world.

Dr Spano: Thank you, Steve.

Steve: And to all of our listeners, never forget, you too can make a difference every single day of your life. I'm Steve Shallenberger, with Becoming Your Best Global Leadership, wishing you, a great day.

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I’m Possible vs Impossible!
30 perc 80. rész

I’m Possible vs Impossible!

https://www.becomingyourbest.com/im-possible-vs-impossible/ ‎

Have you ever had a dream? Everything was working in your favor and your dream with was within your grasp. Suddenly a random accident cut his dreams short?

That’s the story of Jeff Griffin.

Jeff recounts, “I always dreamed of playing sports on the ‘big stage’! As a kid I envisioned playing college football as a receiver. I was one step closer to fulfilling this dream until the following summer when a construction accident left me broken and paralyzed from the waist down. The 'experts' told me the bad news that I would never walk or run again...EVER!”

After Jeff’s construction accident he picked up the pieces of his shattered dreams. He realized he had a decision to make. He could either stay down and quit or get back up and succeed. He chose the latter!

Jeff has turned the impossible to the possible!

Jeff’s experience helped him find a formula for success! It's helped motivate himself as well as others to find a definite purpose in life.

Jeff’s purpose is to inspire millions to Desire, Dream, and Do one step at a time. “I’ve turned this tragedy into a triumph! I have since fulfilled my lifelong dream of performing on the ‘big stage.’”, says Jeff.

In today’s Becoming Your Best Podcast, Rob Shallenberger interviews Jeff Griffin. Jeff is a wheelchair athlete who earned his Master’s degree in Education and knows how to win. He played in the 2004 Athens Olympics, holds a Guinness Book of World Records, and is a four time NWBA All-Star MVP. He enjoys mentoring youth, distributing wheelchairs, and providing Peer Training Materials through his humanitarian efforts with LDS Charities, which he currently sits on the board.

“These successes, all though impressive, do not define who I am. What really defines me is my ability to overcome life’s great challenges one step at a time! And inspire others to do the same.” - Jeff Griffin

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Dogged Perseverance - The Power to Never Give Up
17 perc 79. rész

Dogged Perseverance - The Power to Never Give Up

Today, we are going to talk about a principle that gets down to our very core, and is what allows us to see everything else through. It is perhaps one of the most noble, necessary, and powerful forces in our life. It's the principle of never giving up.

Welcome to the "Becoming Your Best" podcast series. This is Steve Shallenberger, your host today. We welcome you here from wherever you may be in the world.

I'd like to share an experience I had many years ago when I was a college student. I had been in South America for a couple of years and returned to my university studies to get an accounting degree. A friend of mine had sold educational books in the South and throughout the country the summer before. He made enough money to pay for his expenses for school. And so, he wanted to know if I'd like to go out and sell with him, this is door-to-door sales, but I said, "Yeah. Hey, let's go do it!" He was a good person and a big influence in my life. And so we headed off at the spring break, at the end of the springs semester, to Nashville, Tennessee with the Southwestern Company. This is going to be a place where we would be working 80 hours a week. The idea was to work as hard as you could during the summer. Make as much money as possible, so that you could pay your expenses for the whole school year and focus really on your studies.

Well, anyhow, we had a week-long training, that's called "sales school," it was a great experience. And then we headed off to our assigned area. My assigned area happened to be just north of Aberdeen, Maryland. Communities such as, Bel Air, and Havre De Grace, and Churchville. Wow, what an experience that was. I'll never forget what took place as I had my first Saturday on the job. This is the very first day. I started at 8 a.m., and as I had been taught in that sales school, I went out on time, a little bit early. I was scared to death. And my first house was on a country road and it didn't seem like very friendly country, you know all the mind games that people can play. My first knock brought the reply, "What in the heck do you want?" Only it wasn't heck. I said, "Nothing," I shouted before hustling down the road. The next house I approached with some trepidation. I could tell that it was occupied by ferocious, big dogs. Those dogs were barking and they had deep voices, and I didn't dare to go on to the front door. So I stood outside, outside of the gate and just clapped my hands, which is what people do in South America in place of knocking on the door. And I felt like an idiot. There I was out there clapping away, early Saturday morning. I probably looked like one too, but eventually, a woman came out and after I explained what we were selling, she actually let me into the house. Before I went in I said, "Let's see, have your dogs eaten this morning?" Well, she assured me they were more barkers and not biters. And the woman was very kind and receptive to what we had to offer. She bought the full set of books.

I had only visited two houses. I had been on that street just one hour, my career was launched. I got out my calculator and figured out that if I kept on at this pace I'd earn $16,000 in commissions by the end of the summer, so that's not bad for the early '70s. But it didn't quite work out that way. I'd peaked a little too soon. I sold nothing for the next two days. I mean, I knocked and I knocked, I knocked, I knocked, and I knocked, and I was rejected, and rejected, and no, no, no, no. Well, my future earnings calculator dropped to $334 for the entire summer as I figured it out, but I kept at it. And my hard work, slogging from door-to-door, eventually paid off. I hit my stride, and I hit my goal, making enough money to pay for my tuition expenses for the following year in college.

Well, what I learned was that if just kept working, putting one foot in front of the other, I would eventually get enough yeses. As a matter of fact, I learned that the more no's I got the more yeses I also got. And so, I discovered the harder I worked the better I did. This is one of the greatest lessons that I've ever learned. That may have been one of the hardest jobs I've ever done, and I figured that if I could make it there, I could make it at anything. I actually made it a game to see how many no's I could get, trying to figure out how to have fun being a failure. I also learned a great deal from failure. It causes a great deal of introspection, and how can you improve? But by the very fact that I kept at it, I was able to build upon those things, and by the end of the summer I was getting a lot of yeses.

The next summer I built upon those principles. I became a manager and I made four times the money the summer after that one, and the next summer, five times as much. As a matter of fact, I think about some of those experiences out there. I remember particularly one very difficult street, I wondered what I was doing out there. It was no, after no, after no. I got to the end of the street and I sat down on my sales case, on this busy freeway. I remember thinking, "What am I doing out here?" And as I paused about that I thought, "Well, I'm out there because I felt right about it." It was the right thing for me to do. I took a little look up to heaven and gained new strength. I ran across that highway safely, and I sold in the next three houses in a row. I mean, this is just how it goes in life, and we have these challenges, we have these setbacks. And so this powerful principle is what keeps us going.

You know, it is one of those principles. If you master all the other principles, but give up at some point during your journey, you may fail to reach your destination. If, on the other hand, you choose to never give up, in other words, keep putting one foot in front of the other, keep working, we have a much better chance to succeed. And we certainly may have to make corrections along the course, but as long as we refuse to give up, your goals will be much more within reach. So what can we do to be successful as we move forward? It's so interesting to hear some of the statistics about rejection and about being successful. So, for example, did you know the average person has been told no, or that his targeted goals are unattainable about 148,000 times by the age of 18. Well, heavens, is it any wonderful that successful people put aside a "no" and continue to go? It's not easy. We need to work through that and develop a mindset that we're going to move forward.

Did you know? In the sales world, for example, 90% of salespeople, on average, give up after four unsuccessful contacts. Yet, 80% of sales are made after five contacts? So what's the difference between the highly successful salesperson and those who gave up? Well, it's the will to be politely persistent despite the challenges and rejection. And if you're in a sales organization imagine the difference of just one more contact, and the impact that would have. Many salespeople give up way too soon. I love what Henry David Thoreau said, "All endeavors calls for the ability to tramp the last mile, to shape the last plan, to endure the last hour's toil. The fight to the finish spirit is the one, the characteristic we must possess if we are to face the future as finishers."

So what are some things that you and I can do to never give up? Every single one of us is going to have: setbacks, challenges, disappointments, we'll all be beaten down at some point. So how can we get back up? How can we keep going? I would like to suggest four things that you can do, that I can do to keep moving forward, to keep putting one step in front of the other even though we are pushed back. Here are the four, very quickly. See failure as a stepping stone to success. Number two, when you're beaten down keep your inspiring vision in front of you, remind yourself of the direction that you're going. And number three is to have faith that things will work out. And number four is work, work, work, and keep taking one step forward. And when we get pushed back, then we take two more steps but we keep pushing forward. Now, this is the way it goes in virtually every profession and every walk of life. We have family members or friends that may disappoint us, or we may disappoint them, but we can't give up. We can never give up.

I'll never forget, I'm going to share a personal story here that has had a profound impact on my life. When I was 16 I'd had the opportunity to work for Milton Dunlap for two or three years. I did lawns and Mr. Dunlap had lost his wife of many, many years, and he turned to alcohol. He was a wonderful reporter for the Associated Press, known throughout the country. And so, at any rate, he asked me also if I'd clean his house and just help generally, which I did. He had one daughter way back on the east coast, but they weren't able to see each other a lot. So I loved Milt Dunlap. He was a good man. He encouraged me, but I was so disappointed to see that he would fall into this trap of turning to alcohol and a lot of it. He would buy a fifth of whiskey a day, and so, we had a game out of it. I would hide it. I'ld encourage him not to drink. But finally after one point, I wrote a note to him. I said, "Mr. Dunlap, this is gonna kill you," and I said, "I just can't be here anymore and work for you anymore around this type of a situation." And to his extraordinary credit, he quit drinking cold turkey. I mean, it was amazing. He was able to go back to work and just make such a difference. About nine months passed and he's fighting this battle, essentially, alone, and he turned back to the alcohol. And after about two or three weeks, he lived about ten houses from our home, I went in and he was in a stupor, and finally I said, "Mr. Dunlap," I said, "I give up." I said, "Here's all the alcohol you have. Just drink as much as you want." And I left the house. About three or four days later I returned and found him in a coma. I called 911, and the ambulance came, and unfortunately he died that afternoon. I honestly felt like much of that was my fault. The reason being, is because he heard the last words he heard from my mouth, of this young boy, 16, was, "I give up." I vowed that I would never give up again in my entire life on anyone, on anything. And so this is the type of resolve that each one of us needs.

We are going to have challenges, these are learning opportunities. We can see these failures as stepping stones. When we're beaten down. Renew your vision. Keep getting back up. Remind yourself of the direction that you're going, have faith, have faith that it will work out. And then work, work, work, and trust in the end outcome, that things will get better. So this wonderfully power, powerful principle, "Never give up," is every part of our fiber to make a difference. This is one of the grand one that makes a difference. As you look back over the history of all the world. Recent history, in the last 100 years. In the last 2,000 years, we see the example of people that have made a difference doing these things. The fact is that you and I can do them as well. It's ordinary people that become extraordinary, as we do these things, and have faith that all will turn bright. This is Steve Shallenberger, your host, from "Becoming Your Best Global Leadership." And, remember, every single day you are making a difference. You're lifting, and building, and leaving the world a better place. Wishing you a great day.

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Lift and Sustain by Applying the Power of Knowledge
18 perc 78. rész

Lift and Sustain by Applying the Power of Knowledge - Steve Shallenberger

Hi, this is Steve Shallenberger, your host for this podcast, the "Becoming Your Best Global Leadership." And today we're going to talk about an exciting principle, which is...and hold onto your seats, folks, because this has a huge impact on us all over the world, and it is apply the power of knowledge.

Well, a number of years ago, two of our sons were cadets at the United States Air Force Academy, and during the Parents Weekend we were provided with a tour of the beautiful campus nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. And on the main quad I stood in front of a large statue depicting a falcon and her chick. And the inscription at the base of the statue reads, "Man's flight through life is sustained by the power of his knowledge."

Well, the inscription uses words like "flight" which is wonderful, "sustained" which is so important for our success in life, and "power" in relation to knowledge. And indeed, one can be lifted and flight can be sustained by the power of knowledge and the wings of knowledge and enlightenment can help you soar to great heights in your personal life, in your relationships, and at work. And the lack of knowledge leaves you on the ground and at times renders you totally defenseless against the forces of the external environment. So, this knowledge and this metaphor is wonderful as we move through life in thinking about, "Well, how can I be my best?" Because that's really the vision of life, is to be the very best that you and I can be, and in our professional life, to be among the best at what you do.

And so, I mean there's such an explosion of knowledge going on today. I was just reading a professional...excuse me...journal, and it talked about the number of abstracts had been increasing exponentially. So, for example, it talked about the number of abstracts published by the 12 leading publishers of secondary science had gone from 550,000 articles published in 1957 to in 1997, just a few years later, 3.7 million articles. Think about that. But that's just one discipline of knowledge. I love getting the Astronomy Magazine. I'm captivated by the universe. And the last article, the front cover said, "Well, astronomers have now said their original estimates were off a little bit by the number of galaxies they thought there were in the universe," and then there was a pause, a hyphen, that said, "by one trillion universes."

So here we go. In my life alone, I was just thinking in about 1984. I'm a young businessman and I'm commuting to California to supervise one of our companies, and so I took my portable computer, which was the size of a small suitcase. You could actually unhook the keyboard and it was a three by five green screen and you put in floppy disks. And now we have all of this many, many times over in our devices in our pocket. And so, I think about computers. Internet has come on, the devices, and now digitization, which is going to trump most everything that we've seen in the past, may have as three to five times an impact on us that the internet has had. But this affects us in the economy, world affairs, politics, health, relationships. So the stakes are high. So what do we do about this?

I would like to suggest there's two aspects, if you will, to managing this knowledge. And we all have the same challenges. Where do we start? How do we get ahead? I read an article not long ago and talked about the different...the faces of learning, if you will, and how it has also morphed from the nomadic learner to the ageless educator to the lifelong learner. And that's really what it's become, hasn't it? If we're going to get ahead, if we're going to become our best, we have to be a lifelong learner. I saw an article that said, "Well, there's no more three Rs, reading, writing, arithmetic, but it's the four Es and the three Cs." So, what are those?

Well, this is an interesting way to think about it, then we'll get back to our two aspects of knowledge and how do we manage. But they're the four Es, which is: exposing knowledge, employing information, expressing ideas compellingly, and ethics. Okay, the four Es. And the three Cs that go right along with it: creativity, communication, and collaboration. Well, these all have to do with this principle, 1 of the 12 principles that I've identified with highly successful leaders, high achievers, and that is, apply the power of knowledge. That's the principle. That's what I've observed that has always taken place with those that have been able to make a difference.

And so, here are the two aspects. The first aspect is to gain the knowledge in the first place. You can't apply something that you don't have. And so, how do we gain knowledge on a consistent basis? I love the rule of five. This is five hours. Investing five hours a week into yourself. This is really the minimum of being able to stay ahead of the game, and these five hours we utilize in fitness, physical exercise, but also gaining knowledge.

So what are the ways to do that? I'm always thinking about acronyms. Here's a good one. Think of this one, arrl, A-R-R-L. Oh, you're saying, "Well, that's Steve." Well, here's what it stands for. And it is a great way for us to gain knowledge, and that is to ask. Ask for other people's opinions. Ask for their insights.

I was...yesterday I had the opportunity to be in Seattle and I was with one of the best financial planners, the most successful planners in the United States, and I asked him, I said, "If a young man or an individual, a young lady, would like to become among the best as financial wealth advisers, what would you recommend?" He thought for a second and he said, "I would recommend that they connect, that they go in business together with someone that is like 65 or 70 years old and that is interested in retiring but they've got it down, they're among the best, and go work with them and learn. And then after 5 or 10 years then they're in a position to succeed the efforts of that person." And there's the opportunity to have a buyout, but this is a very successful profession. Well, this is essentially asking.

It's a little bit more of a long-term ask but you can do it on a short term. You may have an issue. Ask people that you trust. You can ask a group of people, "I've been thinking about this and what are your thoughts?" That's the first one, is ask.

The second, we have two Rs now. And the first R is to read. There is no doubt that readers are leaders, and this is one of the real signs of how we can get ahead. But we want to read the right materials. So, it comes back to this vision. What's our vision? Well, it's to become our best and to be among the best at what you do, whatever profession that is, a teacher, a professor, a coach, a CEO, a salesperson, a scientist, an engineer, a lawyer, a doctor, whatever it might be, this is clearly something we keep doing. We read about how do we become our best. We stay ahead of the game. And so, every single day we make the habit to be reading. We like to say read a book a month at least and this is a good target. Twelve books a year of things that will lift and inspire you.

The second R is ongoing research. Oh, by the way, when we read we're reading books and magazines and news information, so newspapers. And also the same thing with research, that's the second R, if you will, we're researching articles that help us get to a better place, to have a better understanding.

And then the fourth one, the ARRL, can't forget that L is to listen. And so, we turn our cars into a university, and if you spend any time at all in your car, you can listen to books, you can listen to podcasts, you can listen to TED Talks also while you're exercising. This is another perfect time to listen to these uplifting things that helps us gain knowledge. I've got to tell you some of the absolute most inspiring times is when I've gone out to exercise, and I put on the earphones and I listen to something that is helpful to me in the field that I'm trying to work on. That's it. Gain knowledge every single day. Just take a few minutes to do this. This will help us stay ahead of the game.

Now, of course, the next part of this principle is to apply the power of knowledge. We had a friend do a seminar for our group, Jason Hanson. Jason's a former CIA officer and he has now dedicated himself to helping people stay safe, and if they happen to get into a really bad situation, how to escape. He's wonderful. And what he taught us was what happens if you ever...the first thing you do if someone comes up or threatens you, what do you do? Well, you run. Statistics show that gives you the very best opportunity to preserve yourself to stay out of the situation. So run and don't be bashful about it.

But let's say that you do, you're caught, you're abducted. The preferred way to subdue a victim is through duct tape. And so, what Jason teaches us how to do is to get out of duct tape in two seconds. How many of our listeners would like to have that knowledge, that skill set? Well, so he would actually demonstrate it. We would put our arms up and he would tie the duct tape around our wrists and, through a process, he would show us how of putting your hands above your head and you quickly come down with a full thrust at your waist, pulling your hands apart, and just like that it's gone.

So you have options. This is what it teaches us. We have options of things that we can do. Even if you're in the trunk, heaven forbid, you can saw it off and then try to escape. But there are these options. You keep trying to get away. Okay, so that's with this knowledge. Now you have the chance to save your life.

And this is the whole deal. Once you have the knowledge, then you can apply it. Well, this applies in every area of your life. I'd like to recommend every person that's listening, if you don't have one now, that you acquire a notebook. This becomes your thoughts book. And as you're gaining information just on a freestyle, starting at the very front page, you can write down your thoughts, your inspiration, your ideas, and this helps you look for ways to apply those thoughts. And as we think about curiosity and communication and collaboration we look for these three ways and ways to apply these to our situation.

So whether it's fitness, our own health, whether it's improving a relationship or a professional application, we're always thinking about these areas of how can we do better. And this idea of good, better, best, never let it rest, til the good is better and the better is best is both the mindset and the skill set. And so, this clearly is mindset, how can I do better in these areas, but it takes the skill set to gain the knowledge and then apply the knowledge.

And so, essentially what we do is we get the knowledge. We say, "Okay, I'm gonna take my good to better and my better to best. Let me try it. Let me apply it now." And so, essentially you practice it, you talk with others, you create the strategy, you apply the transformation challenge, the six steps to planning an execution, and you go to work.

One of the things we like to say is that you, first of all, practice, practice, practice, and you nail it then you scale it. And this is the idea. This is how we apply the knowledge. One of my favorite approaches as we're working on doing this is to share your idea with others. I've been thinking about this, and if we're to apply this, I think this is what could happen. What are your thoughts about this? And this is how we do it. This is the two-prong approach. Gain the knowledge and apply the knowledge, ARRL. So, what do we do, is we ask, read, research, and we're listening. Turn those surroundings into a university, an ongoing university.

Well, I invite each one listening to think about how they gain and apply knowledge and work on doing this on a consistent basis in a way that helps you to become your best, to improve your happiness, your joy, health, and prosperity, to strengthen your relationships and teams, and to teach your teams how to do this. Make this application of this principle cultural and deep so that we're creating cultures by design that are effervescent, that are energized and helping one another. And then this leads to not only prosperity individually but professionally. This helps our companies and organizations to consistently be the best of class.

This principle, apply the power and knowledge, in conjunction with the other principles of highly successful leaders, puts you at the very top of your profession and allows you to consistently make a difference for good. Well, this is Steve Shallenberger. It's been a thrill to be able to spend a few minutes with you today, an honor, and a delight, and I wish each one of you the very best as you make a difference.

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What Do Walt Disney, Florence Nightingale, Thomas Edison and Nelson Mandela Have In Common?
18 perc 77. rész

What Do Walt Disney, Florence Nightingale, Thomas Edison and Nelson Mandela Have In Common?

https://www.becomingyourbest.com/innovate-like-waltdisney-and-thomasedison/

Hi, this is Steve Shallenberger with "Becoming Your Best Global Leadership". I'm your host today for this podcast and today we have an exciting principle that we're talking about: Innovate Through Imagination. So what do the following people have in common? Walt Disney, Florence Nightingale, Thomas Edison, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Mr. Ford, J.K. Rowling, Marie Curie, and many more. What do you think?

If you guessed that they all had an active imagination and each one has had an enormous impact on our world, you would be exactly right. Now what's interesting about these people, much like we are, is that they learned to flip on and engage their imagination to innovate and improve with the roles, responsibilities, or vocation that they had. In other words, they took their strengths, their abilities, and built upon them by using their imagination. And get this, there was no instruction book for them.

So what did they do? How did they do it? It's interesting to think. How would you explain the 21st century to a time traveler from the Medieval times? It's difficult knowing where to begin. Think about how far we've come and now think about the possibilities that lie ahead of us. Digitization of all things, mind-controlled robotic limbs, 3D printers, space tourism, autonomous vehicles, electric cars, smartphones, and much more. We've already seen that but we haven't even seen the beginning of it.

Of course, the many medical miracles that will continue, wearable computers that are part of our body. So all of these things come about from this very same thing which is imagination or innovating through imagination. And from research into what makes individuals, companies, and organizations successful, we've identified common success factors in the long-term highest achievers. And one of them was this ability to tap the powers of imagination to innovate and remain relevant over many years and decades.

And it's about creating opportunities and possibilities in both your personal and professional lives. The human imagination is capable of producing endless opportunities and possibilities. And with them come hope and the belief that there are solutions to problems, even the most difficult ones. There are ideas waiting to be acted upon. There are many options available. This is the spirit of innovation driven by imagination. And imagine the effect it might have on your company or your family if each employee felt empowered to constantly find innovative ways to serve your customers and clients better and to make your product or service better.

World-class companies have risen to the top of global business by tapping the imaginations of the best and brightest of their resources. And what about your business? What about your family? How might it benefit from inspired and imaginative employees or family members who are constantly striving to do things better, faster, and smarter? This indeed is the spirit of becoming your best. Ideas must be conceived in our minds before they can become a reality. And once an idea is developed, it starts growing and it takes shape. However, you must first dare to use your imagination to get the ball rolling.

And as we think about it, every invention sprang from someone's imagination. Elon Musk imagined an electric car that was not a compromise but an advanced in technology and he's created Tesla. The innovative minds at Google imagined wearing a computer and they produced the Google Glass. J.K. Rowling, a struggling single mother, imagined the Harry Potter novels which delighted and engaged millions of fans and transformed her own life as well. Now, these breakthroughs arose from the imagination of regular, ordinary men and women who were working to stay ahead of an ever-changing world.

And can you recall a time when you imagined an outcome and then it happened? Well, of course. And this is the ability to keep turning on this switch that we have. I wake up every day and I say, "Is my imagination switch on?" So as we think about imagination, this is the very same for you and I. You are the navigator to plot the course of your life and professional development. This course comes from your intellect and impressions and feelings that you have, research and analysis and thinking. And perhaps the most important is using the foundation of your imagination.

So the real question for you and for me is how can you flip and how can I flip this switch to on? And how do you spark your imagination? How do you avoid getting stuck in the mud and stale? Well, I'm going to suggest just a few things that may be helpful to you that I have seen across the United States and the world, where people have been able to turn on that imagination.

So number one...I'm gonna suggest three things that we can do. Number one is think of the issue, the problem, or opportunity that you would like to improve. I recommend that you write it down. And can you more clearly describe what it is? Be as precise as possible. And is it the real issue or the real problem, the real opportunity? This is one of the ones that's most important. So we have a piece of paper, we have a device of some type. Let's get it down, let's look at it, it's front and center.

Now once we have this idea in front of us, here are four things that we can do to develop that idea. What have or what are others doing right now? The internet is a tremendous resource, so go right in and just research what's happening regarding that issue that you have identified. Another thing that you can do is ask others for their advice. So identify somebody that's already traveled this way or somebody that you respect and just throw out the idea. Say, "Listen, I'm working on this idea. I'd love to get your thoughts about it." And get two or three or four people. This might be people that work right within your own organization. This might be family members. But you would be amazed at how this gets you unstuck. This gets you going.

Another powerful tool that you can use is the skill set of brainstorming. Brainstorming is wonderful. What you're really working on is the quantity, getting down as many ideas in a shorter period as possible, and then going to back and adding the quality dimension, which are the best ideas? This can be done by yourself or you ca invite in a small group of people. Put a time, leave it on there 5, 10, 15 minutes, and give the instructions. No criticism. What you're doing is just trying to spark one idea after another, get the best ideas. And then from there take it and watch what happens. And these are all things that we can repeat time and time again. We don't see it as a one-time setting or a checklist. Imagination is wonderful because it's a process of starting got get it out on the table and we actually move in levels.

History and research clearly shows this. Not long ago, my wife and I, Roxanne, had the opportunity to visit Egypt. And it was interesting to see where the idea of pyramids actually came from in the first place. There was kind of a crude type of what we currently see as a pyramid. There was a series of platforms on top of one another that a king devised to honor his service and burial so that people could see it. Well all of a sudden, this idea started developing. Hey, we can improve upon it.

So this is how it goes. And then the last thing that you might consider doing as you're working on that particular issue or problem or opportunity is mind mapping. This is a vibrant, energetic, current day, virtual technique experience. I might say also another skill set that you develop simply by doing what we just talked about. You put idea in the middle of the page, put a circle around it, and start drawing arms off of that. Let's say that for example, my circle in the middle is fitness. I want to be more healthy and fit. So one arm might come off and it might have exercise. And another arm might come off and it might have diet. And another arm would come off and it would be cardio. And so you just keep going, your mind gets going, and under fitness you have two or three more arms come off of possibilities.

Well, these are all things that you can do to flip the switch on immediately . Never sell yourself short. I mean, you have this capability. Everyone single one of us as human beings are endowed with an imagination. It's part of what we have. Now once we have all of these ideas that we start generating, the next thing we do, the second thing of the three is you pick the best ideas that you have come up with. And once you've exercised this creative process, you say, "What are the best things that I can do?" Maybe rank them one, two, and three. And the third thing is to move into action. Do something, try it out, see how it goes, experiment, test. And once you get some experience with this, you can start scaling the idea.

So that's it, three things. One is identify the issue and then use your curiosity. These things that I just talked about all are a curiosity asking questions that you might have. And the more questions you have, it sparks this imagination. Number two then is pick the best ideas once you're done with the process. And then three, move into action. Do something. Who's gonna do what, when? So these three things will help us and then we evaluate how it went. We can go back and do it again and again and again. These are things that will spark your imagination.

And practice it to reflex and you're on your way to a fuller and more abundant life. And you will be among those that help to innovate to success, regularly solving problems, developing valuable opportunities, and changing the world in the process. Just one last reflection here as we step back now and think about this, I'd like to give a couple of examples.

Thomas Edison was born in 1847 and he was an inventor, a scientist, and a businessman. Edison had patented...had over 1300 different inventions. They were all patented, that's a lot. And those inventions included the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting practical, electric light bulb. He greatly influenced life around the world and the list of his inventions staggers the minds. And their impact is so vast that's impossible to measure. Not long ago I recent attended a speech by a modern day creative genius who is following the Edison footsteps, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, and I came away convinced that the imagination is even a more powerful force when it's paired with modern technologies.

And it's interesting because Dr. Soon was born in 1952, 100 years after Edison. And Dr. Soon is surgeon, a medical researcher, CEO, a philanthropist, and professor at the University of California at Los Angeles. And he is one of the preeminent scientists and medical minds of world today. I just love it hearing the things that he did. Dr. Soon has a great creative vision. He's pioneered treatments for diabetes and cancer publishing more than 100 scientific papers, and finally more than 95 U.S. patents. He performed the world's first encapsulated human isolate transplant, which involves transplanting an isolated mass of tissue from a donor's pancreas into another person to stimulate the production of insulin as a treatment for type 1 diabetes.

This remarkable man has also performed the first pig to man isolate cell transplant in diabetic patients. And in addition, he pioneered the use of a process for the treatment of breast cancer. And this a groundbreaking drug and it's now in trials for treating lung, gastric, and pancreatic cancer and melanoma. Dr. Soon is an entrepreneur as well. He's developed and solved two multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical companies.

So as I think about Dr. Soon, how can anyone accomplish so many things? Well, highly successful people fire up their imagination with an insatiable desire to understand how things work. Their curiosity is boundless and their lives and accomplishments are built upon creativity and drive as well as powerful intellects. I love what Walt Disney said. This is something we can all do. Remember--and I feel this way--a very ordinary person trying to do these things it helps us do extraordinary things. Here's Walt Disney's quote: "Around here, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things. Because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

Isn't that great way to think? Well, this is the idea, folks. Hopefully, you've gained a couple of ideas. Let's just keep this in mind that as you and I continue to flip that switch on, we will continue to have new ideas, finding ways to solve problems and developing these opportunities in an ever-changing world. And in the process every single day you will be making a difference. This is Steve Shallenberger with "Becoming Your Best Global Leadership", wishing you a great day.

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What Everyone Ought to Know About Trust
20 perc 76. rész

What Everybody Ought to Know About Trust

Hi, this is Steve Shallenberger, your host for the "Becoming Your Best" podcast series today. And today we're going to have the opportunity to talk about one of the very powerful principles of highly successful leaders. Yes, those that make a difference, that create a culture by design and not a culture by default. And this particular principle we're talking about today is building and maintaining trust. Trust is like a...it's like a reservoir. It takes a long time to build and once the reservoir is full, it brings life and beauty to all around. It can withstand droughts and earthquakes and setbacks and continue to provide this type of life and sustaining to the environment around. And if it's well-maintained and managed, it will provide an ultimate benefit to everything within its reach. And just like a reservoir, if there is a break in the dam, all of that good that took years to build, can be depleted in just a few short hours. And it takes a significant repair and replenishing of the water before that trust is high enough that people can count on it again.

Well, think about trust just for a moment. When trust is high, it's much easier to solve even the most complex problems together with other people. But when trust is low, it's difficult to solve even the easiest of problems and including the fact you may not even want to be in the same room with the other person where there's this low trust.

I'd like to invite you to think of someone with whom you have low trust. And just think for a moment, why is there a low level of trust with that person? What have they done that may have bankrupt the trust bank if you will, and so the trust meter is at empty? So just think about that for a few second. What are the events, what are the actions, that broke that trust? And I hope that you have somebody in mind specifically.

And there may have been one time or it may have been a repeated set of actions and we're going to talk about something called the trust meter in a moment and you'll see how those actions either drive that trust meter down or push it up to full. Now on the converse, I want you to think of somebody with whom you have a high level of trust. Why is there such a high level of trust with that person? What does that person do that deserves such a high level of trust? And what are the things that you do?

Well, as you keep those two different examples in mind, building and maintaining trust is a choice. And it is one of the principles of highly successful leaders. It's something that we do unilaterally really, it's better when you have two people or a team or a whole organization. In other words, when it becomes a total culture. And I've seen that in many instances and this is where you have very successful organizations on a sustained basis. However, let me ask another question. How many people does it take to build and maintain trust?

Well, really it takes one person, doesn't it? So regardless of where trust is today, one person can make a difference by the choices and actions that they make to improve trust. It's really this unilateral choice that I was just talking about. Now I'd like to have in your mind's eye, have you think about a gas gauge. And imagine yourself driving through the desert, late at night, on a very cold kind of wintery night. And you look down and the gas gauge is at full. How do you feel? Well, yeah. You feel confident, you feel happy, you're not worrying about if you're gonna make it to the other end of the desert. Okay. You can enjoy the trip. It's far more pleasant if there's other people in the car, you can enjoy a nice conversation and you can focus on the things that really matter most.

Now on the other hand, let's say that you look down to the gas gauge and it is showing empty. Now how do you feel? Well, now of course, there's apprehension, you're upset, you're wondering what's gonna happen, you certainly can't enjoy the trip, you're thinking of all the options, "What happens if I ran out of gas in the next 10 minutes? Here I am in this cold environment." Well, you get the feeling. Well, trust is just like that and we call this taking a...having a trust meter. And it's very much just like a gas gauge. And so, when that trust meter is on full, then that means that your relationships are strong, they feel good, they're solid.

On the other hand, if that meter, the trust meter is what we call it, if it's at a quarter tank or going down or even at empty, think how that relationship feels. It's far different, isn't it?

Well, this a powerful metaphor that you and I can use to measure levels of trust with family members, friends, fellow workers, a boss, direct reports, customers and clients and even competitors. And it is uncannily accurate. All you have to do is in your mind's eye is hold up this trust meter in front of you with the gauge that's free moving and it can move to full or empty. And now just hold it up to each relationship that you have. It might be a son or daughter. How does it look? It might be a spouse or a partner. Or any of these individuals that I just mentioned and pay close attention to where the needle's going.

And then once you seen where that needle is, then the real question is what can you do to improve, build and maintain a high level of trust? What can you do to move that needle up to full? And I think this is really the set of questions of things that we can do. Here, for example, are a few example...and by the way, one of the great exercises that we have in our seminars is for people to...on the left-hand column is to list specific relationships that you may have in mind, similar to the ones that I just mentioned. So for example, it might be a spouse or a partner, specifically by name. A son or daughter, specifically by name. And a customer, perhaps someone that you work with, a brother or sister.

And then, out to the right by each of those names, what are some specific actions that you can take to move that needle up, to get that trust needle up to full on every single relationship? That's really the objective. And this is what you can do unilaterally. And my experience has been, that as you do this to other people, they have a desire to want to do the same thing to you and what happens then you have this culture that starts building between people and teams and organizations and customers and clients. And it leads directly to excellence. It leads directly to moving the level of performance to a high level of performance. It is what creates the environment of going from good to better to best.

And so, what are some things, examples of things that you could do? I'm just gonna list a few of those. Here are some specific, unilateral actions that you can take, that you can do to be the difference. Here's one. Be determined to be a world-class communicator. And so, you're working with other people especially if you're the leader. Paint the picture, paint the vision and confirm that they understand what you're trying to accomplish. Everyone appreciates this on projects or on where we're going as an organization. So that's one thing you can do.

How about this one? I love this when we do this frequently. My partner and I, Dave Clark, as we're working with some of our key associates or key managers, we'll just be walking through the office and we'll stop and we'll say, "Well, how are things for," whoever it is. Let's say, Matt. "How are things for you, Matt?" Matt has the chance to just visit and...but then we're gonna go a little bit further. So what are Matt's goals for the next one to three years? In other words, "What do you want to accomplish, Matt? What's important to you?" And we just listen. And this is so engaging because as a leader, now that I know what Matt's thinking about, I'm in a position to help him reach his goals but I can also be better informed on how we can work together to create excellence.

So imagine the impact that this would have. What does it do for trust, how does Matt feel, especially if we're really sincerely listening? Well, we're all better off. Here's another one of things that you could unilaterally do. This was one that came through on an email today from somebody that was working on their pre-week planning. I love it. They listed about 10 or 15 things on their pre-week planning that they could do that essentially equated to building and maintaining trust. That was the result.

Here was one of them. Take a walk with my wife. Great. I think that's way cool. Think of all the things that can happen. And then just listen. Ask how are things going. Here's another thing you can do that unilaterally allows you to build and maintain trust. Take a client to lunch or call someone on their birthday or write a thank-you note. I thought you might appreciate this experience that I read about in the Washington Post. And by the way, I've been at this for a while and...but even though I've been working on leadership for a long time, I found that these principles apply at all levels. Whether you're millennials, next generation, these powerful principles are what allow us to be...to develop the skills of being great leaders ultimately.

All right, well, here you go. Here's the experience. The "Washington Post" reported that just a couple of years ago, the Facebook founder and Chief Executive, Mark Zuckerberg challenged himself to write one thank you note each day. The young entrepreneur, who was just 19 when he established Facebook in 2004, had grown sensitive about his reputation for being critical of people and especially his employees. So he decided to make an effort to build and maintain trust by being more appreciative of those around him. And this started changing Mark's thinking and interchanging, interfacing with the people within his organization and started creating a higher level of trust. You know, Zuckerberg is not alone in seeing the value of this.

There is a former CEO of Campbell's Soup Company, Douglas Conant. He told "Post" reporters that during his 10-year tenure with that major food brand, he's written at least 30,000 thank you notes to connect with employees. And Conant said that he takes at least an hour a day to write thank you notes to employees who have done well. And he recommends the practice to other top executives who tend to over-develop their critical muscles. And so, this is a way to bring balance. And this is exactly like the reservoir that we're talking about, building up the strong reserve so that people can have a healthy relationship and work in the crucible of challenges, day-in and day-out and freely give and take and...but there's ultimately a foundation there.

Well, these are things that you and I can do. Pre-week planning, by the way, is a great tool to help you consistently build and maintain trust. I will never forget an experience that I had three or four years ago as I've been invited by someone to Washington D.C.'s National Prayer Breakfast. This is where the president, the majority of senators, congressmen, the legislative body, members of the Supreme Court are all invited to join leaders from around the nation to pray, to ask regardless of your party, for help to work on unity. This is a powerful experience and in conjunction with this, they also have workshops.

And I will never forget as I noticed one of the workshops that was being conducted by an executive by Chick-fil-A. And it was on building relationships. Well, I thought this is interested because at the time, Chick-fil-A was having some challenges because they'd taken a stand on a number of social issues. And this has become a tense and awkward public battle. Many people were picketing various Chick-fil-A locations. So this executive, as I attended this workshop, arranged to sit down with some of the protesters. But he didn't have high hopes for a positive resolution. As a matter of fact, he had a lot of trepidation about what might take place.

And as they sat down, the Chick-fil-A executive...all of a sudden it occurred to him rather than just getting into it, to ask one of the principles from the picketing group about his background. He said, "I'd love to hear how you became an advocate for this cause." And so, the fellow said...you know, the executive appeared sincere and so he did, he started responding. And the picketer said that he lost his father 16 years earlier when a drunk driver had killed him in an accident. And then he gave a brief history of his involvement in this cause.

Well then, the Chick-fil-A executive said that he was grateful for the man taken a few minutes to share his story. And then the executive said that he too had lost his father to a drunk driver 30 years earlier. And sharing their backgrounds, the two potential adversaries had established a common ground which is where trust begins. And they made a significant progress regarding the issues at hand and agreed to work toward shared goals. This is what I am talking about in creating a culture that allows people to work together because the trust is a higher level of trust.

So one of the things that you and I can do is ask people, "What is your story? What's your story?" And then, just listen. We do this frequently in our seminars. We'll have people be put into pairs and working groups and we'll say, "All right, share what a dream is that you have? Or something that really inspires you or something that you would like to accomplish. In other words, what's your story?" And inevitably, at the end of that short exercise, there's such a high energy in the room. Such a connect between people that they maintain the connection after the seminar.

So mastering this principle of building and maintaining trust, will bring you greater peace and happiness personally. Especially as you unilaterally take the high ground when the difficult situations come into your life and you just say to yourself, "I will only do things that move the needle up." That takes discipline and willpower. But 100% of the time, every time, you will end up in a better place. It will build greater and stronger relationships. It will build your business and be responsible for millions of dollars of business in the things that you do.

So may you find the internal power and peace that comes from unilaterally doing things that push the trust meter gauge towards full. And as you hold that trust meter up and assess your relationships, just fill it inside, you'll know where it's at, then you will make the right decisions to do the right things. And you will make a difference every single day to lift things to good, to make them better and best.

This is Steve Shallenberger, your host today with "Becoming Your Best", Global Leadership.

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Live the Golden Rule - People Will Remember How You Made Them Feel
23 perc 75. rész

All right, welcome back to all our Becoming Your Best Podcast listeners. Excited to be with you today, wherever you are. Driving in a car, at work, at home, what an honor that you would take the time to listen. And I really wanna make this worth the few minutes that we have together, and this is gonna a quick hitter. I was just talking with someone, a good friend of mine named Dean, and he said, "You know what I love about these podcasts, is they're short and sweet. I can listen to it on the way to work during a 20-minute drive." And he just...he really commented that, you know, "I love the power of it in a short amount of time," and he's exactly right. And that's the intent, is that you can listen to this and have some quick hitting ideas that can really impact your life in a short amount of time.

Now this focus is on principle number five, Live the Golden Rule in Business and in Life. Now normally, this would be an outward focused principle, treating others right. I mean, I love what Maya Angelou said. She said, "People won't remember what you said or what you did, what they'll remember is how you made them feel." And typically, isn't that the truth? This principle also has to do within the business setting of creating a world class customer experience, both for the internal and external customer. Well, today is gonna be a little different, because I've really over the last month been focused on people, and watching people and observing, and trying to learn from them. You know what, what makes the difference in their life?

And someone asked me the question that sparked this curiosity about a month ago, and the question was, "How do you give someone desire?" Oh, now that's a doozy of a question, isn't it? Like the trillion-dollar question if you could really answer that. And actually, I've been trying to answer that for three years. That was a book I wanted to write, desire, and I still wanna write that book. And so I've really been fascinated by that. How do you help someone have desire? And how does that question pertain to this principle? Well, let's turn this principle inward for this particular podcast, because what I found is, it's really difficult to be transformational and help lift someone to a better place, if we don't see ourselves in a positive light. And so a lot of this is a reflection of ourselves and how do we view ourselves. And as soon as we turn those tables and flip that switch, where you start to view yourself in a positive light and we start to see ourselves differently, it becomes much easier to then turn around and help others and help them get to a better place. And that really starts with desire.

I mean, let me just give you an example here. I'll only use first names. I just finished an event in St. Louis, met some incredible people, and there's always a handful, one or two or three that just really stand out. I mean, like a light...like a lighthouse, and one of those was Jim. And within maybe 20 to 30 seconds of him talking with me, I knew that he was an incredible person. And since then, he's shared a couple of emails, I mean, this all in last couple of weeks here. He's just on fire. And his comment during the event was, "Man, I just feel like the rust is falling off here. I'm just feeling this fire starting to come within me that I used to feel, but I had lost along the way." And I'm so excited to watch what's gonna happen with Jim here over the upcoming months and year.

And then there's another person who, Jamie, who's our VP of Business Development just talked with, and I'm just gonna make up a random name and her name is Jill. And she's with a company, she heads their HR department, and she was interested in bringing Becoming Your Best in to do some training for their company at some point the future, and she has the book. And the way she responded to Jamie on this call, he just had a few minutes go with her was, "Yeah, I really wanted to get around to this Jamie, but I've just been so busy. I haven't been able to even look at anything." And here is the irony, Jamie just asked her, "Have you read the book?" And she said, "No, no, no, no, I haven't, but I'll get to it eventually." And he just commented, "Hey, you may wanna consider chapter four on prioritize your time. There are some great ideas there that really can help you with time management." And her response was just awesome. She said, "I'm the queen of time management. I don't need it. I've got everything figured out. When it comes to time management, I'm the best." And she had just got done telling him how chaotic her life was and how busy she was.

And let me contrast that with an email that Jim just sent regarding pre-week planning and the impact that it's having in his life. He said, and this is a quote from his email. "I'm amazed at the results of my first day using pre-week planning. I got so many meaningful things done today and it truly seems like I did nothing. So productive, but not busy. Ah, that's transformational. Such high leverage activities, I'm gonna have to come up with more activities." He said, "I couldn't believe all the things I got done, but I truly never felt busy in the process." And this is coming from someone who prides himself on being busy. "I now seek to be productive." In other words, there's a total difference in mindset between Jim and this lady who we'll just call Jill on the phone.

And so I would ask each of us to look inward at ourselves, and are we more like Jim, where we just have this hunger and thirst to better ourselves or are we more like Jill, where we shut out potential learning and growth for ourselves, because we say, "I've got it all figured out, I don't need that." And we miss some enormous opportunities that could potentially be right in front of us. And so that's the beginning of this podcast is, each person listening, first turning that mirror on to themselves and each of us looking in the mirror and asking, "Where are we at in our receptivity? Are we willing to learn? Do we have a humility about us?" And I'm gonna assume that if you're listening to the podcast, then the answer is absolutely yes.

Now let's go back to what we talked about here and turning the mirror inwards and helping someone to include ourselves, get that desire. There are two focuses on this podcast that would really have an impact on each one of us. And the first of those, if you have a pen and paper, I'd even ask you to write this down. So if you're in a place where you can write, go ahead and grab a pen and paper. Write down these words. Have, do, be. Have, do, be. And this is what unfortunately a lot of the world thinks, is, first they need to have something, then they can do it, and then they will become that. I mean, I've heard some people say, "Yeah, once I get money, then I'll be able to do all these great things and become this really generous person. I'm gonna give a lot of those resources away once I have it." And they're seeing life exactly backwards. Have, do, be.

And I wonder internally, how many times I've thought that in different capacities. How many times have you thought this? Where first, once you have it, then you can do it, and that will allow you to become that. And it's really, in my experience, exactly opposite. It's be, do, have. And this applies both personally and professionally. You wanna be a great manager, you wanna be a great mother, father, it doesn't matter. Across the board, it's first, we become that, then once we are that person, that allows us to do, and then we have. And that's why so many people wonder, well, why don't I have? Because we're looking at the equation backwards. It should be, be first, that allows us to do, and then the rewards come. The results start to show up and that's in the form of the have.

Well, how do you be first? And this starts to go back to desire. And here's a few thoughts for you. There's one called the five-hour rule, and this is a powerful Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, they live by this. And this is investing one hour a day back into yourself. In other words,... Maybe it's called your power hour. Whatever you wanna call it. There's different terminologies for it. It's your power hour, it's for you, it's one hour invested back into you. It could be exercise, it could be meditating. This morning I got up and read for 45 minutes from three different books, and just had an incredible amount of ideas about what I could do in my life, and it was just awesome. That was 45 minutes of reading, and then I went over and took about 10 minutes to work on some charts for the stock market, sharpening that skill. So there was an hour invested in myself this morning.

What can you do every day to invest an hour back into yourself? That's part of being. It's not having first, it's being so that you can do and then ultimately reap the results and have. If you wanna lose weight, well, be first mentally there, take the time, invest so that you can do, and then you are gonna have the result you want to have, as an example.

Well, here's another one. Once you incorporate the five-hour rule, set aside at least 5% of your income to invest back into yourself. So if you're making $100,000, that's at least $5,000. Some of the most successful people we know will take 10% to 15%, because think about what your most valuable resource is, it's your mind. And it's those tools and skills that we put in our minds. So Jill, that hypothetical person, she had all these skill sets in front of her, but not the mindset to actually use them. "I'm the queen of time management, I don't need any help in this arena."

For me I would never say those words. That would be a huge internal red flag for me that I've stopped learning. As soon as I've stopped learning, it's time to hang up the hat. It's time to be done. So now this really gets into the question that I asked at the beginning the podcast, which is, how do we get desire, help someone else have desire so that they can be first, do, and then have. And this is a reflection of ourselves first, right? So here are two things that I found that will help give someone a desire, and it helps in the be, so that we can then do and have, and that is to read often. And if you're not actively reading, I invite you to try this. Choose a few books, either around leadership, motivation, whatever it might be, and take 15 minutes a day, and start your day reading. Just see what that does to your mind, it's gonna be like a fire that starts growing within you, when you have this as a habit.

The second way to get desire and to really begin this process of be, do, have, is to put yourselves in an environment where a seed can grow. And that's what I've done in becoming your... We have several coaching clients and others who say, "You know, this has totally transformed my life, the 12 principles. Becoming Your Best, I just...and this fire, it's been an incredible year, but my spouse doesn't want anything to do with developing a vision or talking about goals. She just doesn't wanna do... You know, she doesn't want anything to do with this," or vice versa. "He doesn't want anything to do with this." Well how do you help them have desire? Helping give someone an opportunity to put that seed in the ground and allowing it to grow is one of those things. And so, attend seminars where you can. Make it a fun way. We have the Breakthrough Leadership Conference as an example. It's actually gonna start for us in two days, the next will be in October. People come out as a couple, sometimes they bring their team, and it's an incredible experience because now they're talking about the same things. They have a similar beginning point.

And so that's number one, is, instead of have, do, be, shift the equation to be, do, have. And being is first of all, us looking at ourselves asking, "What can we do to see ourselves in a more positive light, to invest in ourselves." The five-hour rule, one hour a day for you. 5% of your income back into your own development. Getting a personal coach. Attending a seminar that will allow you to see things differently and think differently, sharpening your saw. That's number one. And number two in this equation, to help us see things differently and help you see yourself in a positive light, is to really watch your words. This has become an increasingly big deal in my life as I watch this. And it requires more and more self-restraint on my part not to say something when I see another person really tearing their own selves down. Sometimes we are our own hardest critic.

Now think about this, if someone was to record your thoughts and write them down after an entire day, what would that conversation look like? In other words, how do you talk to yourself? What kind of words go through your mind? What kind of conversation are you having? Is it an upbeat conversation of all the things you can do and what you can accomplish? Or, like 70% of people, are your thoughts trending towards the negative side of all the things you can't do and why you're not good enough? And it's very easy to slip into that mindset of, "Oh, Johnny can do this. Well, they can do this, but, man, I can't do this."

Let me give you some examples here. And as I give you these examples, think about what would happen if all the words that you said and physically uttered out of your mouth became a reality. How careful would you be about your words if everything you said became a reality? Let me give you an example. I know you've heard people say these kind of things, and maybe we've said them ourselves. Have you ever heard someone say, "Oh, I could never do that?" Well, what have they just done with their words? The person has just sealed their own fate in that area. I could never do that. Well, now I never gave a chance for that particular seed to grow. How about this one, I've heard people say this, and this is one that requires self-restraint. I get sick every year this time of year. Well, that almost becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, because the word becomes a reality.

And what I wish we as human beings understood more, and I'm just beginning to understand this, is how powerful our words are. That when you say something, there is a creative force to your words. And oftentimes, those tend to become a reality. In fact, our biochemistry oftentimes will change with our thoughts and words. And that's why it's so important to be careful with your words. I was on my way to a football game last year with my son, he said, "Dad, there's no way we can beat this team." Well, where was he already defeated? Right there in the mind. And so we talked about that, and he shifted his words, and shifted his thinking on that. Because you gotta give a chance for the seed to at least grow, right? Think about this, if your mind was this fertile field, what's gonna happen when you plant the seed? Well, it's gonna take life, it's gonna grow.

And there's a great book out, there's actually two that I would recommend. One is called, The Four Agreements, and the other is called, The Tongue, a Creative Force. Both great books, referencing these ideas about your words and your thoughts becoming a reality. So think of your mind like a field. And from that book, The Tongue, a Creative Force and The Four Agreements, what happens is, we tend to make these internal agreements. And I'll even bring Star Wars into the analogy. Who did the force work well on? When someone was trying to use the force on someone else, who did it work well on? It was usually those of a weak mind. Who did the force not work on? It was someone that had a strong mind and wouldn't allow someone else to act upon them. So either we will act or be acted upon.

And in the book The Four Agreements, they take this from a different light and so, let's just look at this from this particular light. I like the way they do this as an analogy, as a sample. Treat yourself like a wizard. And I don't care if your net worth is worth $200 million and you're the CEO of a large publicly traded company. I don't care if you stay at home and have a few children, and that is your world. Think of it the same way because it's the same concept. You're a wizard here. When you say something, you're casting a spell on someone else, when you say something to them. And for the fun, we can call this black magic or white magic. Either you're sending poison at them in the form of black magic with your words or you're sending white magic. Words of encouragement, uplifting words, seeds that will help them grow and develop or poison that will destroy the seeds in their fertile soil of their mind. And more importantly then what we say to others is what we say to ourselves. And that's why I come back to this whole concept of watching your words.

Sometimes, without even knowing it, we're planting the seeds that are filled with poison in our own minds, and we don't even allow ourselves to be in the first place. Be, do, have. That's why that five-hour rule, 5% of your income to read and attend seminars is so critical. That's what allows us to plant those seeds in our own mind and then have that growth. And I was just sitting around the dinner table earlier in the week talking about this with our children, and I didn't know if they got it or not. And then ironically, this morning we came back to this idea of how important our words are. And so I used an example of what happens if someone calls you stupid. And then my nine-year-old daughter Lana, she goes, she jumps right out and she's like, "Dad, that's someone throwing their black magic at you and you have to wave it off and replace it with happy thoughts." And how powerful of a response is that from a nine-year-old actually. And that's exactly what happens. People are gonna say things to you where they're gonna cast their black magic or their spell at you.

Now you have a choice, do you plant that seed that they gave you in your mind or do you wave it off because your self-worth and the way you see yourself is already so solidified that you don't need someone to tell you you're great? You don't need someone to tell you that you're bad. You have your own self-worth regardless of what other people say to you. So number one, what kind of words are you uttering to other people. And even more importantly, for this podcast, what are the words that you say to yourself on a daily basis, and how do you shift those?

Here's one last example of this, of black magic, white magic, casting a spell, whatever you want to call it. Programming someone else's mind. There's a story of a mother who came home from work, she'd had a long day and so she has a headache, and, you know, it's just been one of those kind of days. Well, her daughter, and I think, we'll just say around six, seven years old, her daughter was singing. And she was all excited, and she was playing this instrument that she had made, and she was going to town. Well, because of the long day that her mom had, this just amplified her headache. And so in a moment of, we'll just call it weakness, she lashed out at her daughter and told her, "Will you quit singing, you have a terrible voice. You can't sing anyway."

Now, in that moment of weakness, she casted a spell, she throughout these words that were poisonous words. And in a young fertile mind, it planted a seed. Now, how did her daughter respond to this, in this hypothetical scenario? Well, now she started to believe her mom. She didn't have a good voice so she quit singing. In school, she used to talk to people, she used to be alive and voracious, but now, because of these self-conscious thoughts of being, you know, a terrible singer, maybe she's bad at performing in front of people, she started to look inward anymore. She didn't talk to her friends anymore, and this just continued through her years of middle school and high school until as an adult, she considered herself a strong introvert, which there's nothing wrong with being an introvert. That she didn't have any musical talents or gifts at all, and so on and so on.

Well where did this all start? It was that seed, it was that, we'll just call it "a spell" from her mother, where she cast out those poisonous words, indeed her daughter planted the seed, and it grew to be can become a reality. And so I would just ask you to think about this, what are the words that you say to yourself on a daily basis? Are they uplifting to you or are they filled with poison? And we've got to eliminate the poisonous words from our vocabulary. Second, how do you talk to other people? Are you casting out white magic, words and seeds that would lift people or are they black magic, something that would tear other people down and hurt them in the process?

So this is all tied back to the principle of, Live the Golden Rule in Business and in Life, which normally as I mentioned at the beginning of the podcast, is outward focused. Well in this podcast, we turned that back on to ourselves and really hopefully had a chance to look in the mirror. What kind of conversations are you having? Are you open to learning and development? Well, if you're on the podcast, my guess is the answer to that is yes. We're more like Jim and not necessarily the hypothetical Jill. And so, when we have that desire, how do we shift that conversation? And you remember number one was, making the shift from having first, do and be, to becoming, be, do, have. And the only way to do that is to develop our own mind, so that there's a strong self-worth in each one of us. And that puts us in a position where we can really lift others, and with our words, make a big difference. Not only in our own growth and development, but in helping others.

It's been my experience though that rarely does someone cast out their seeds of white magic, we'll just call it that for today, if they're not in a place to do so, and if they're not in a place where they see themselves in that positive light to be able to do that in the first place.

So I hope this podcast has given you some ideas. What I'd hope that you take away from this is that you teach maybe some open coworkers about it, maybe not. If you're not in a work environment like that, then teach your children, bring it up with your spouse, and then really be cognizant of your words as you go throughout today. And if you find yourself uttering a word that you would not want to become a reality, then replace it with something positive, shift that word. And watch what happens to your own self-worth as you start to only use light filled words, rather than these poisonous words that can tear yourself down or tear others down.

Well, hey, it's been a pleasure being with you, that's the invitation. Let us know how it goes, email us at support@becomingyourbest.com. We would love to hear your story. And then just something to put on your radar, every April and October is the Breakthrough Leadership Conference, where you have two days of content focused exclusively on you and helping you achieve and accomplish your dreams. So take a look at the website, becomingyourbest.com, and pencil out those dates. Invest in yourself and make that time so that we really can have that fertile soil. We try to walk just as much as we talk the talk because we're all the same. We all need that development so that we can be, do, have.

All right, we're wishing you a great day, and remember that one person can make a difference. We'll see you next week, have a wonderful day.

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Lead With A Vision
17 perc 74. rész

All right welcome back to the Becoming Your Best podcast. This is your host Rob Shallenberger and hope you're having a wonderful day wherever you are in the world today. Well today's podcast is focused on principle number two of highly successful leaders and that is leading with a vision. So let me ask you a couple of questions and just think about what comes to mind. When you wake up in the morning are you excited to get up and get out of bed? In other words, how do you feel in the morning when it's time to wake up? Are you excited and anxious to face the day because it's going to be another great opportunity or is it one of those where you just feel like you're kind of dragging yourself out of bed? Well here's another question. Do you have a clear vision or direction for your life? So if I was to ask you what's your vision, you know, where do you want to be in five in ten years? What does that look like? Would you be able to describe that?

And this is one of those characteristics over and over and over that we saw in the most successful leaders is they had a clear vision of where they wanted to go. So, for example, look at you know great leaders through history such as George Washington, having a vision of a free liberated country. Or Bill Gates having a desktop computer in every home. Mahatma Gandhi to liberate a nice nation peacefully. You know, it's these simple visions that created a powerful direction for a lot of people. And that's what a vision can do in your life as it gives you a very specific direction. Amongst a team, if you're running or leading an organization, it creates that alignment with your team members. And that's the idea that everybody listening to this podcast is a leader in some form or fashion. At a minimum you're leading your own life. You may have a family and in that case you're leading your family. Or you may have a team and you're leading a team. In every one of those circumstances a vision is a critical piece of that puzzle. In other words, when you're speaking of your team, what's the direction your team is going? Well if you're talking about a family or you as a couple, what direction are you going as a family, as a couple? And then especially personally which way are you going personally? What direction are you going? And so the focus of this podcast is really those three areas and that is how to develop a vision for a team or a company. How to develop a vision for your family. And then, what I consider to be most important, how do you develop a personal vision?

So let's start with the company vision. And, as you're thinking about the why, the why is always important to understand. Now think of this from a leader's perspective. You will have a culture by design or a culture by default. And that's one of the things the great leaders do is they establish a culture by design. In other words, it's not gonna happen on accident. If you're not focused on developing the right culture then it's going to evolve into whatever it evolves into. And that's what a vision can do, is it aligns and starts to create that culture a direction for the entire team an organization.

So imagine in your mind a bunch of arrows and if those arrows are all pointing different directions and you start to move them, you know, there's no energy. Everybody's going a different direction. However, now imagine in your mind a bunch of arrows that are all aligned pointing the same direction and that's what a vision does. It aligns those arrows, it aligns employees and resources so that they're all moving the same direction. I mean, think about this. Almost everyone listening to this podcast has been a part of an organization or at least walked into a company where you could quickly tell that nobody was aligned. And you could feel that energy in that type of team. At the same time you've probably been with an organization at some point along the way where you felt like they were firing on all cylinders, all going the same direction they knew what the direction of the team and organization was. And there was this power behind that. And that's exactly what a vision can do for your team.

So, for example, Southwest Airlines. Their vision is this, "We operate with a warrior spirit, a servant's heart and a fun loving attitude." And this really dictates the culture that exists at Southwest. You know, when you see a captain outside loading bags for an on time departure. And they're all about the fun and they're all about creating that environment, where it is a warrior spirit, a servant's heart and a fun loving attitude. They don't cater to the first class group, they don't have that premium of level service. It's about, "Hey get people on, give them a fun experience, get 'em there on time." And that's their vision and they do a great job of living and supporting that vision.

So, on that note, the question then is how do you do this within your team? So here's the best place to start. There are four questions that I'm going to give you and what I would suggest is that you ask your team members these four questions and have them actually write down the answer. And when I say your team, you know, this really depends on the size of your organization. So if you are a manager and you have five sub managers, then maybe we're talking about those five sub managers. If you have sixty employees that you lead you don't need to do this with all sixty. So with a handful of people, your key team, ask these four questions.

Number one, what are the top three most important areas of focus for our team or company? Number two, what are the operating principles and values that will help our organization be the very best? Number three is what do you care most about? And number four is have them write a sample of what they think the vision for the team or organization should be. And then you're going to take those as a leader, you're going to compile those and come up with a draft vision. So taking all of their input you come up now with a draft. What does that do? It creates buy-in, they've been a part of developing the vision. So you take their input, you develop a draft vision and then go around and ask a few employees, what does this vision mean to you? And if you're getting a similar response or answer, you've got a vision that's creating alignment. There's a focus there. If you're getting different answers from all different employees and they're saying, "Yeah it means this." And someone else answers this, then it's not there. That's not the vision. It's got to create that alignment and that focus and it's got to get people somewhat excited to be there and feel like they're a part of something. So if it's all around money, well that may or may not be it, you know? So you really want to ask employees and test it and see what they feel and how they respond.

Once you get their response take that vision and really make it a part of the organization team. Put up posters. You don't want to become a wall ornament, you want the vision to burn deeply in the organization. So put up the posters, develop rewards around the vision. So a quarterly reward around customer service if that's the focus of your vision. So if I was Southwest I'd create a warrior spirit award, a servant's heart award and a fun loving attitude award. And then give those out quarterly and recognize people. And that way you're reinforcing that vision. And that's how you really develop a team vision and get started on that.

Now how about the family vision? And it's interesting in a group of about one hundred people, just to use easy math, during a seminar I'll often ask the question, well how many people in the room have either a written family vision or a personal vision? And on average one out of one hundred hands will go up. And so this is a huge deal for a lot of people and it's been amazing to hear the feedback from couples who say, "You know we just started doing this for the first time ever in our marriage and it's made an incredible difference." Or to say, "We sat down with our children we started asking them what's most important? Where you think we should go as a family?" And now you're getting the kids involved. And so this can be a really fun, cool experience if you have a family or if you have children. Even if you have a partner, sit down with your partner and come up with that vision.

So here's an example of our Shallenberger vision and we have four kids ages 6 to 15. And can this be changed? Of course it can. So this is one that we actually recently modified about a year ago. And it says this, "Shallenbergers are kind." And the letters K-I-N-D are big and highlighted. And each of those letters is separated out. So K in the word kind says. "Keep the commandments. I, imaginative. N, we're nice to others. D, do our best." And this is why we go back to the vision as family. If a son or daughter comes up and says hey how do I solve this or what do I do about this? Well it's our vision. Imaginative. Okay So let's imagine some ideas, what do you think? And it's teaching them to lift up their eyes and go after that vision rather than, you know, head down and focusing on the problem. So it's a real shift. So if you don't have a family vision already, one of the invitations from this podcast is within the next week craft a draft of your vision for your family and see what that looks like.

And now, most importantly... So that's number one, the corporate vision. Number two is the family vision. And number three, most importantly, at least in my opinion, is the personal vision. And I was out on a walk about six months or so ago and just walking along thinking about, you know, what is the real impact of a vision? And this thought came to mind that our personal visions, your personal vision, is the seed of your legacy. Now think about that, what happens when you plant a seed in fertile soil? Well it can grow into a massive tree, can't it? However if you never plant the seed, the tree can never really grow, it never has a chance. And so this is what you're doing by articulating your personal vision and writing it down, is you're planting the seed. Then you can develop a plan to make that vision a reality.

And some of you have heard this analogy of the dash. Think about this. When you go to a cemetery and you look at a headstone, What do you often see there? You'll see a birth date, a dash and then that death date. And we really don't know a whole lot about that person, but imagine all the things that are in that dash. And what you're really doing there with your personal vision is articulating what your dash looks like. In other words, when people look back at you how are they going to describe and think of you? What is that going to look like? What impact are you going to leave within your family and your neighborhood in the world. And that's what you're doing with a personal vision.

Now there's some questions that can help you get started on your personal vision. So let me give you these three questions. If you're in a place where you can write them down, write them down and maybe take two to three minutes and just answer them as you feel best or whatever comes to mind. They're pretty simple questions. This will help you as you start to get ready to craft your personal vision.

So number one, where would you like to be and what would you like to have accomplished in 10 or 20 years from now? So, in other words, shifting out to the future aways, what are some things that you would like to accomplish? Just brainstorm with yourself and write some of those answers down. You're not going to capture everything, and some of the things you put down here may not make it into your vision and that's okay.

Question number two, think of a mentor or a person who's had a significant influence for good in your life. What are some of their traits or characteristics that you admire? This is a great one. You think about the sphere of influence, the people who have made the biggest difference in your life. What was it about them that really stood out to you? What is it that you admired about them?

And then the last question is this, in fifty years from today, where many of us might be gone after fifty years, how do you hope others will describe and think of you? What would you like them to say about you? "He or she was kind, they were caring, they gave often, they were charitable, they made a difference, they took time to listen?" What is it that you would like people to say about you?

Now once you've taken a few minutes to answer each of those, come up with a draft of your vision. And there's a way that I would suggest doing this, or at least invite you to try, that many people haven't thought about. And that is your vision by roles. So let's focus on women here. If you happen to be married, one of your roles might be a wife, a spouse. You might be a mother, that might be one of your roles. You might be a manager. You might be a son or daughter if your parents are still alive. So you think about those different roles and then craft a one to three sentence vision in each of those roles. And the most important role that you need to be thinking about here is your personal role. In other words, self. Mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually what is your vision look like for you? And then think about what your vision looks like in those other roles. And that really describes you and your personal vision.

Now how does this apply to you? Well, as an example, in the role of husband a small part of it is to help Tanya my wife feel like 10. So that really dictates the behavior. If i'm driving around and I'm a little upset with her I can go home and we can get into an argument and we all know how that works out. Or, as an alternative, if the vision is to help her feel like a 10, well I can go home and what are some of the things that I could do to help her feel that way? So if you're married and you had a spouse and your vision was help your spouse feel like a 10, what are some things that you would do today to help achieve that vision?

And so what does this mean to you to have a team vision for your company, a family vision or personal vision? It's what gives you that clarity in that direction. And here's the real litmus test. And that is when you wake up in the morning and you look at your personal vision, does it get you excited? And if you can look at your vision and say, "You know what, this gets me pretty fired up. This isn't where I'm at today. This is where I want to be." That's a pretty good start to a vision. Remember, it's the seed of your legacy. So you're planting that seed in your heart and your mind. Unless it's written down though, it's all just a good intention. And so what you're taking is these good intentions and you're being very purposeful now about your life, your family and your team and you articulating that on paper.

And once you've got a vision whether it's a team vision for your company, for your organization. Whether it's a vision for your family or whether it's your own vision, make sure you write it down and put it in a place where you can see it often. And especially for your personal vision. I would highly encourage you to memorize that. It becomes a part of your DNA that drives your decision making. So hopefully this is then helpful. One of the invitations today is to look at each of those areas of your life, where you're at and if you haven't done any one of those to start that process within the next week. The sooner the better. Too many people that we've worked with in seminar suffer from paralysis by analysis. In other words, they just never actually get to doing something because they're always analyzing. And so you know that it's a tough person to be around sometimes and they're always analyzing and never doing because they just get caught in this vicious cycle. So let's not get stuck in the paralysis by analysis and just get started. It does not have to be perfect. Having something is far better than having nothing.

Now there are some additional resources for you that can help you. If you'll go to becomingyourbest.com you're going to see a place where you put in your name and e-mail in there. Go ahead and put in your name and email. You're going to get some additional resources that can help you with this along the way. If you haven't read the book already go to Amazon and invest in the book. And you're going to find there, in chapter number two, under principle two, "Lead With a Vision" with additional specific ideas that can help you develop both your team, family, and personal vision.

The other incredible opportunity...now some of our listeners have already attended the Breakthrough Leadership Conference and had a great experience there. If you haven't been this is a great opportunity to get away for two days, come out to Utah, into the mountains, in either the spring or the fall and really focus on you, your family and your business. So it's a two day Breakthrough Leadership Conference and you can find the dates on the website becomingyourbest.com. See if those work. And if you're married we highly encourage you to bring your spouse if that's doable. If she can't come or if he can't come that's fine. You coming is still better than not. If you come with a partner or someone from your team, that's great as well. And you're gonna get very focused on each of these twelve principles and how they apply to you in these different arenas, just like the vision.

So hopeful this has been helpful. Just to set you up for next week, next week's podcast is designed for entrepreneurs. In other words, how many people listening today have ever had an idea and you think to yourself, "Well, how do you take this idea and build it into something, you know, a thriving reality where it's generating cash flow? It's really making a difference in people's lives. You're having impact in the world." Whether it's a small or big idea doesn't matter. How do you take that idea and make it into a reality?

So the invitation for today, work on your personal vision, your team vision and your family vision at some point the next week. Get those started. Put the pencil to paper and get going on it. If you haven't looked at the Breakthrough Leadership Conference or invested in the book, go look at those today, becomeyourbest.com and that will really accelerate you and put you on the path to get there. So just remember that one person can make a difference. You're that one person and we'll look forward to talking with you next week.

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TruWood Interview - Two 23 Year Old Entrepreneurs With Social Conscience
34 perc 73. rész

Bish and Ibs are two 23 year old Canadian entrepreneur who started a company called TruWood in their last semester of University. TruWood sells affordable and unique fashion accessories and also gives back by planting 10 trees for every order. So far, the
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Prioritize Your Time
21 perc 72. rész

All right, welcome to our "Becoming Your Best" podcast listeners. My name is Rob Shallenberger and welcome wherever you are. I'm looking out the window right now in Utah at some beautiful snow-capped mountains on a crisp beautiful spring day with a nice blue sky. It's just amazing. Well hey, this is gonna be a short podcast yet, I hope very impactful in your life. I've been thinking about some people recently who have reached out to becoming your best and have been calling us and the common theme amongst their lives and their stories are that they feel like they've been on fire. In other words, their lives have just totally transformed in the last few months and it's been interesting. I'm gonna have one of those people, a friend on the West Coast who has just had some amazing experiences. I'm gonna share her story in a couple of months and maybe potentially have her on the podcast.

The common theme amongst these people as they start to apply the 12 principles and catch on fire, is that they feel this shift from being transactional in nature to being and living and thinking transformationally, and there's a huge shift in that. And one of those ladies who's become a good friend, she said that she wrote down in a seminar that at some point along the seminar I told her and the group, "If you apply the 12 principles and start to focus on them and master them, your entire life will start to change. You're going to start to think transformationally, and a fire will start to grow within you and it's going to impact every area of your life professionally, personally, your home life, across the board." And indeed that's exactly what happens when someone starts to pattern their lives around the 12 principles of highly successful leaders.

Great leaders get great results because they do the same things that other great leaders have done, and those are the 12 principles. Let me share with you a story that some of you might have heard on a video that I did recently of what that transformation looks like and the impact that it can have. So we flew into San Diego a few months ago for a ball game, a football game. We landed, we walked out to the rental car shuttle, we got on the bus and people were just packing into the bus, so it's full of people. If you can imagine yourself being on the bus, what do most people do on a rental car shuttle bus? Most people immediately go heads down and start looking at their phones. Right?

Well, this was different. We all got on the bus and the driver said, "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to San Diego. For the next 10 minutes I'm gonna be your personal tour guide." And then he asked us to look off our right shoulders out the right side of the bus and there in 1874 Don Pedro, and he went on telling this fun story and I was fully raptured. He had my complete attention and I started looking around at the people and their responses and sure enough they started putting away their cell phones. They started listening. They started laughing. They started engaging.

Now here's someone that could be arguably doing an ordinary job in an extraordinary way. Now why do I say arguably? What would most other drivers do in his situation? You could say that, "You know what, a lot of them may complain about their job." They're driving 10 minutes back and forth the same route every single day and they're making whatever they're making an hour $12 to $15 an hour and you could say that could be a very mundane routine potentially boring job. Yet here is someone who's not complaining, rather he's thinking and living transformationally. And what's the impact? Well, I'll show you the impact.

So now he's got my full attention here. I can see that he's transformational, he's different than 99% of other rental car shuttle drivers. And so he has everyone's attention, it turns into a great ride, people are laughing. And when he pulls up to the rental car facility, people file off the bus and whereas before they were in a hurry, I watched a line form to say thank you to him. So people would shake his hand, they'd pat him on the shoulder. They'd just thank him for making their day, and then suddenly people are handing him these $5 and $10 tips. Along with us we did the same thing and I just suddenly was in the background watching. He probably made around $100 on that 10-minute drive.

So imagine the impact of that throughout the day. How much more money do you think he's making than all the rest of the drivers out there? Do you think he enjoys his job? My guess is that he loves coming to work every day, that it's not just a boring, mundane, routine job. He's taken something ordinary and he's doing it in an extraordinary way, and that is the perfect example of what it means to be transformational rather than transactional. And think about how that impacts every area of his life. He's making way more than the other drivers, no doubt about it. In addition though he's happier. He has more joy in his life. He comes to work and he feels great about his job. He's gonna be there potentially for years doing that and he sees it as an opportunity to impact people's lives.

Well, that's the difference and I wanna use that as the base, the foundation for this podcast is how do you start to think more transformationally about your life in any role, in any capacity? So certainly, whatever your professional job is, how can you be transformational and take whatever is ordinary there and do it in an extraordinary way? That's the shift that starts to happen. Now, it's difficult to do that. It's difficult to be transformational if a person is always in reaction mode, running from fire to fire to fire. And the same thing can happen at home. If you're a stay-at-home parent, how do you be transformational with your children, with your spouse if you're always running from fire to fire to fire? And I'll ask people during a seminar, "How often do you feel more like a firefighter? In other words, you're just running from fire to fire to fire putting out these fires," and almost everyone's hands go up when I ask that question.

So let's see if in this podcast we can identify something that can really make a difference in your life in that shift from transactional to transformational. It's not uncommon for people to ask me, "Hey Rob, what's the biggest piece of advice you could give? What...what's something you could share that would really have an impact?" And as anybody knows who's been to a "Becoming Your Best" seminar who are listening to these podcasts, there's not a single silver bullet of leadership or success. It's a combination of things that create excellence. However, there is one thing that always stands out amongst these others that is a huge deal, and that is pre-week planning. In other words, it's prioritizing your time to focus on what matters most.

So if I only have two or three minutes with someone and they ask that question, that's what I share almost every time. Now how much more impactful and how much more powerful is it in your life if you tie pre-week planning into having a clear vision for yourself? You have specific goals and milestones that you're achieving this year that you're working on. You're on this journey and pre-week planning becomes extra powerful when it's tied into these other principles. So let's just look at this maybe through a different lens. I know some of you have heard this term, you've practiced it, yet it's probably 80% to 90% mindset and only 10% to 20% skill set. A lot of people who started this incredible habit say, "Yeah, it changed their life." They had this amazing experience using it, yet somewhere along the way they lost the habit. And so what are some things that can help you and why is it important? Sometimes that's the value of a podcast. It's just a quick little refresher. It's a quick little get-me-up and that motivator that sometimes you need to just reengage in a habit that you knew had a big impact.

So, I just wanna address it from that angle. Now, we've talked about pre-week planning in the past being one of the single greatest habits you can use to transform your life. Why? Let's look at this from both lenses. In your personal or home life, you may have heard this before, how do kids spell love? T-I-M-E. It's the time. It's the time that you give to them, and there's two aspects to that. It's quality time and it's quantity time. Both are important. I mean, if you're seeing your kids once every three months and it's high quality, I can't imagine the scenario where that's gonna be transformational. So it's about having quantity and quality time with your kids. That's how you show your love, is being present with them. Well that's part of being transformational in the home and not transactional is figuring out how and when you're going to be present.

What are you going to do as a parent, as a spouse? You wanna bring excitement back into your marriage? We can't just leave a marriage on cruise control and hope that things are gonna work out. It's just like a business. You've got to put time and energy and effort into it. Love is a verb in that case. You gotta take action in your marriage to make it great. It's not a unilateral...it's not a one-person thing. It takes two people both focusing on that. Now let's look at this through the professional lens, from the business side of things. Being transformational requires a focus from you on what matters most. Transformational actions. Those type of things don't happen on accident in the workplace and this is how you create loyal customers. This is how you create employees who want to serve you, who want to work with you and side by side with you so that you're firing on all cylinders of the team.

Now, what's the most common excuse for this? And I'm just gonna give you a simple invitation. Count how many times in a day you hear someone say the word, busy. How many times do you hear people say, "I'm just so busy," or "I'm too busy to do that." Many times what we're doing when we say those words is we're excusing our behavior, we're excusing not focusing on the priorities, the things that matter most because we're so busy. Now, is it okay to be busy if we're focused on the things that matter most? Of course it is. It's a matter of staying focused on those priorities though rather than getting to the transactional things, the day-to-day fires both at home and at work.

So, let me put this in a different way. This is interesting. I was talking with my dad maybe a week or two ago, and in Greek and Latin and in that area there's a different terminology for this, chronos and Kairos. They look at time and how they schedule things through those two lenses. Chronos is the time aspect. What are you gonna do at eight o'clock in the morning, at two o'clock in the afternoon? Kairos, is a different way to look at your schedule on your day and that is the leadership aspect of your life. Kairos are your priorities. So what are you gonna do in your priorities today? And that's what great leaders do and those who really have the balance of success stories across all areas of their lives is they both think on the chronos side of it and the kairos side and how to combine the two, leading your own life and then figuring out when you're gonna do that.

So here's some brief steps that you can use as a refresher for those who have been to our seminar, for those who have used pre-week planning and have a "Becoming Your Best" planner. Let's just walk through the simple steps that you can use to think both chronos and kairos and schedule your priorities rather than prioritizing your schedule. So typically this is done pre-week planning on Saturday or Sunday. For most people if you wait until Monday morning, you're in the thick of the fire at that point. And for most people that wait, it tends not to get done if you wait until Monday morning. So my suggestion, recommendation based on doing this with a lot of people is that Saturday or Sunday tends to be the most effective time. And you probably wanna allocate 20 to 45 minutes to really have a solid pre-week planning.

So what do you do in that 20 to 45 minutes? Well number one, sit down and review your personal vision. What's your why? What's your purpose? If you're looking at that every week, man you're so different than everyone else out there in the world. You have that figured out and you're constantly keeping it in front of you. Second, review your yearly or annual goals and ask yourself, "What can you do this week to move towards a goal?" If you have a goal of running a half marathon by September 1st which happens to be exactly one of my goals, what can I do this week? Well, I better start setting some running milestones this week. When, kairos-chronos and why is it important? I know it's attached to the goals, so I've got the kairos part of it. That's my physical health. So that's the priority, and then I need figure out when this week I'm gonna do it.

And so you look at your goals, when are you gonna do some of those things, this week will help you move towards your goals. You're setting some weekly milestones if you will. Second is, now we're gonna focus purely on the kairos, the priority side of your life. This is where you want to identify your roles that matter most to you. So maybe it's a mother or a father, maybe it's a manager, maybe it's a sales rep, a friend, a caretaker. Never forget personal. Personal is yourself. That's an important role. Steven Covey would call that sharpening the saw, and so you wanna take care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

So you have these different roles. And then last, if you ask yourself, what actions can you do in each of those roles this week that would be transformational? Think kairos. What matters most in that role? So let me just share maybe a couple of examples and you'll have some ideas as I'm sharing these examples of things that apply to your life. So maybe in the role of father, I have four children from 15 years down to six years old. Maybe this week it's as simple as reading with each daughter, play basketball with my son, write a special note to each of my kids. That's the kairos part of it, and then I need to attach the chronos part. So once I have some actions that really matter most in each role, when will I do those?

So now you start to think about that. What are some actions that would really be transformational or matter most to you in some of your different roles? That's the kairos side of it. Then move over to, "When will you do them," and attach a time to it. Move it down into your calendar so that you have a specific time when you'll do it. So maybe CEO. Here's some things I could put in my role as CEO. Take an employee to lunch. Maybe send five texts to key clients just wishing them a great week. Do an external environment analysis for our company because otherwise we just tend to get what? Too busy, and I can't lose track as the CEO, of the threats and the opportunities that are happening around us, yet if I don't plan time for it, it's probably not going to get done. If you're a manager or a leader, when was last time you looked at the threats or the opportunities that exist around you in whatever capacity you're in?

This is one of the things that goes back to scheduling your priorities rather than prioritizing your schedule, is that you're looking at the things that matter most that most other leaders wouldn't think about because they're in reaction mode day to day to day, and this is fire to fire, and you just cannot be transformational if that's how a person is living their life. So here's one last example. If you have the role of friend, maybe it could be this simple. Call John and Chris, set up a lunch with Aaron, send a group email to start the planning for a reunion. Those would be specific actions this week -- kairos, and then I would ask, "Well, when will I do them? -- Chronos, and putting a time to the priorities.

Can you get a sense and a feel for how powerful that would be in your life as you're trying to lead your own life and then lead a family and then potentially leading a team or other groups of people? That's why when you both bring kairos in chronos together it can have a huge impact on your life and the end objective is to help you accomplish your vision. To be transformational rather than so many in the world who are stuck in this transactional world of day-to-day excusing their lack of focus on priorities because they're so busy. We cannot do that. You think about this in your life. Your time is precious. One of the things I love to do and it may sound a little strange to some, I love to go through a cemetery. And one of the reasons why is because I'll look at different headstones and it's interesting. You're looking at someone's life there. And every headstone is a little bit different, but there are some commonalities.

You'll see a birth date, the date they passed away and then what do you see in the middle? Usually you see a dash, right? And it always intrigues me. What was that person's dash? What did they do? I mean, here's this little line, this little dash, yet that was their life within that dash. And each week you are writing your dash, and at some point each one of us is gonna run out of time. Our legacy is gonna be cemented in our dash and the ripple effects from your life, the things that you've done, the actions that you've lived and done, whatever that may look like, begin to spread, and for good or for bad you can't stop that spread. That's the ripple effect and that's the power of pre-week planning is you're sending the ripple. You're writing your dash on a week-to-week basis. Focus on both kairos and chronos to help you be transformational.

And just like I started this podcast, when you do that coupled with the other principles, there's a fire that starts to grow within you. It's a different way of thinking. Your life changes. You come alive and become sometimes hard to watch when you don't see that fire in others. But you're experiencing it, you end up having an incredible transformation happen within you. And really one of the linchpin, the keys, the foundations that hold that all together is pre-week planning and staying focused on your priorities every week.

Well hopefully this was a quick little boost, pick-me-up and reminder of the importance to do pre-week planning. So what I would ask you to do and invite you to do is commit to do this for four weeks. So whether you started at one point and it slipped out your habits, whether you've been consistent in it, whether you've never done this before, and I won't say the word try, I almost said try. The invitation is to do this for four weeks. Not try but to do and see what impact it has on you through that month. And consistently, people who say, "Yeah you know what, I've been doing it for two months, it's been awesome and men, then I missed a month and that, or excuse me a week, and that week was stressful, it was chaotic" and that's exactly what happens once people make this a habit.

So we're gonna wrap up this podcast and just two final thoughts. For those that do not have a "Becoming Your Best" planner yet, I used to think that the tool was not that important, it was just a process because you can really do this on a blank piece of paper. Whether you use electronic calendar such as Google, Yahoo Outlook, it doesn't matter, I thought, "You know, you don't really need the tool." My thinking on that has changed. What I've found and our experience has been that the people who have the planner, the tool are the ones that are far more likely to be able to adopt this as a habit in their lives and continue to do it and think transformationally in the long term -- short term and long term. So if you don't already have a "Becoming Your Best" planner, I invite you to go to the store at becomingyourbest.com. You can use the discount code, if I can say that word, VIP discount and that should give you 30% off the planner.

That's our special gift to you for being a loyal podcast listener and see what impact it has on you. Maybe you can get some planners for your team. Get some for your family, for your children. Help them learn the process. And for those that would like to really get the two day in-depth version... I mean this has just been one principle on this podcast. For those that would really like to come have a two-day transformational experience, the Breakthrough Leadership Conference is an unforgettable event. You can bring your spouse, you can bring partners, employees, you can even bring a teenage son or daughter. So those are usually done in the spring and the fall. If you go to the website, becomingyourbest.com you can see when the next event is and register for that event. We would love to see you there. You're gonna network with some incredible people and really get deep into some of these principles that can light that fire within you. So hey, wishing you a great week. Hopefully this was a good pick-me-up and let's go out there and not only try pre-week planning but think about what you can do to be transformational this week.

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The Transformation Challenge: The Six Steps of Planning and Execution
32 perc 71. rész

The Transformation Challenge: The Six Steps of Planning and Execution

Welcome to our podcast listeners wherever you might be in the world today, this is Steve Shallenberger your host. And have you ever had a big problem in your life, a challenge or a tremendous potential opportunity and not really sure how to tackle it? How to start? How do you develop it? How do I solve this problem? And sometimes the problems are highly emotional or discouraging. You're just not sure what direction to turn. Have you ever been immobilized by a problem so big that you just couldn't get going on it? Well, today we're going to talk about a tremendous process, it's an invitation really to each one of us of how to take our bad where it exists and make it better. And how to take your good and make it better. And how do we take our better and make our best and there is a process, it's a challenge really to each one of us. We call it the Transformation Challenge, and it is an invitation to each one of us to take these types of situations and transform them into something that is good, better and best.

And how do we get the best results?

This is the Transformation Challenge. When they come down the pike at us, whether it's a threat, or an opportunity, or a problem that we say we will take it on we because of our leadership, because of our commitment to get things to a better place, we will transform this. And so, let's go, game on. This is the idea, it's almost a response. So, we'll talk about a skill that you can use over and over and over again, that you can be courageous that you can have confidence, and be excited to tackle things. Wouldn't that be wonderful? And not only that, you can teach the transformation challenge to every member of your team.

I'd like to give the background to the transformation challenge, The Six Steps of Planning and Execution. That's really the subtitle. About 30 years ago, I was working with an outstanding organization that has had a company named Buffalo Rock, one of the top Pepsi distributors in the world. They've been in business like for over 125 years and really great at what they do.

I'll never forget as we're having the chance to work together that Jim, one of the very... he was the Executive VP of the company was sharing with me about a book that he read and he said, "This is the best book that I've ever read on planning and execution." And something happened to me that day that I said, "Hold it, this is a big part of what highly successful leaders do, the best of the best." And so, what is it? This is a learned skill and that if we can learn this skill, it helps us to get to a better place.

So, I started researching and studying every bit of literature that I could find. Books, magazines, Harvard Business Review, the Stanford work that they had done and really from the best business schools in the world on planning and execution. How do we solve problems? And after all that time, I started developing some ideas. It had to be simple, it had to be something that anybody could really learn to apply from a child to a seasoned executive of a billion-dollar company. Could we really do that? Could that exist? Well, in the meantime, as many of you know, we've had a couple of sons who have been F16 pilots among other things. Another one has been an engineer and a lawyer, another got his master's in accountancy and so on. So, these you know, it's really been fun to watch them be thinkers about these kinds of things. Well Rob, as he is getting ready to get out of the United States Air Force, and we have decided to work together in a leadership training firm, he brought to bear as we talked about these Six Steps of Plan and Execution, this transformation challenge. He brought with him all of his experience in the Air Force world who are experts in planning and execution.

Their ultimate success depends on being really the best in planning and execution and carrying out a mission. And so, what we did as we pulled these two worlds together, this experience that I had had and also planned it myself as a business executive and a leader, but also then bringing in Rob's experience and this is how we came up with the transformation challenge, The Six Steps of Plan and Execution. So, what are they? How can they be used? Well, you can use it virtually in any imaginable situation. How to increase sales, how to improve a relationship, how to save a relationship, how to save a marriage, how to improve operating margins, how to grow your revenues, how to take advantage of an opportunity if you're an entrepreneur, how do I really get this idea going and make it a success and how do I overcome depression? Well, let me first teach the six steps, and I invite you and challenge you to see if you can memorize these six steps by the time I've done. See if you can get them down cold and then they'll serve as a reflex, a guide any time you have an issue to move right into the transformation challenge you say, I've got this. And this is a lot different than a transaction challenge, a transaction could just be so routine and we don't think of all of the capacity to leave things better than when we found them. That's the heart and soul of the transformation challenge, to leave things better, leave a better world. To leave a better company, to have a better relationship. So, these are the ideas, here they are. Here are The Six.

The first is, what is the vision? Typically, when we have a problem, we start with the problem when we try to solve it. We say, I've got this problem, but that is just exactly the wrong place to start. As leaders, what we wanna do is shift the playing field and take it to what is the vision? And you'll notice this elevates all of your thinking, it helps to see the problem in the perspective of a bigger picture. And so, many times a problem is weighed down with emotion or conflict or other people are involved, and it can get you're really off on the wrong pathway. So, when you shift it to saying, what is the vision, it helps get us to a better place and it puts the problem in a perspective and a way to deal with it. That is order number one, what is the vision?

Step number two, what is the current reality? So, determine whether what you're currently doing aligns with the vision and will help accomplish your goals, and so this may seem simple, but it actually can be quite challenging. So, for example, how many banks since that there was a problem in 2007 when just a year later, there was a total collapse of our financial system creating this huge recession and even in many people's lives a depression. Or in a marriage, one partner might feel like, and you may know somebody where this has happened. Like everything is fine while the other partner's ready for a divorce. I mean, how many partners have been surprised that they came home and there's the paper sitting on the table seeking the divorce where they had no idea it was coming? So, be thoughtful and considerate yet brutally honest when looking at the current reality. And so, what you're doing is you're like a fly on the wall, you're saying, here's the vision, but what is the current reality? And if there is a gap between these two, that is the signal that you'll go through all six steps and apply the six steps to get to a better place. On the other hand, if there's no gap as you do this gap analysis, and your current reality is equal to what your vision is, then you just keep doing it. This is what you wanna do.

But if there is a gap and you need to go through the six steps, then step three is, what is the real issue here? What's the cause of this gap? It's important to identify the real problem that's causing this gap between the current reality and the vision or your goals. And if you're not focused on the real issues and causes, it's easy to get distracted by secondary factors. So, the real issue is often allusive and you want to identify the root cause, the real problem, question or opportunity. And so, what you're gonna do is, be sure you keep an open mind, don't jump to conclusions, suspend your judgment and just analyze the facts. One of my favorite quotes has always been, "Get the facts or leave it alone or the conclusions you come to may be your own." Well, so analyzing this fact is a critical step and you're asking, What? How? and continue to ask why until you have the real cause. And rarely, are the initial ideas about causes correct. And when you continue asking why, and usually at least five times, the real cause is uncovered or determined. And I found that determining the real cause may take 10 minutes, it may take 10 days, it may take longer if it's a complicated issue. So, we're sure that we identify the real issue so we can solve the right problem.

Step four, now let's just repeat the first three because you're gonna get these memorized so they can become reflex. Number one is, you shift everything to what is the vision. Number two, what's the current reality and as you compare those two if there's a gap you go through the six steps and move right to number three which is, what is the real cause? And once we identify the real cause, then we can go to Step four, what are the best options? And this is a fun part of the six steps because once the real problem, issue or opportunity is identified, we can work to find the best options. And this is brainstorming all the way I mean, you're listing all the options and solutions and you can ask whether each is feasible or ethical at the end, but what you do is, you come up with this bigger list as you can and you'll notice that encouragement and hope, and energy starts coming into this process and you may have started with a very heavy problem, but as soon as you start getting into this part, light starts coming into your life. And then once you have your list, you can weigh the possible options using a balance sheet. Positives on the left and negatives on the right and which alternative might be among the best and you can rank them one, two and three. And from this, now you're starting to develop a course of action with the best options first. So, this is Step four. What are the options and which ones would be the best courses to go.

And this leads us right into step five. And Step five is that, we implement the best options, we implement a plan. So, all of the steps up to this point will help prevent the development of a plan that wastes time and resources by not accomplishing the vision or by maybe focusing erroneously on the wrong cause. Now, we're headed in the right direction. By this time, the real issues or the problems should have been identified and at least one viable solution or idea has been generated. Now, we'll walk through the specific steps in developing the plan and every step of this plan is important and critical to the overall success of the plan. And so, here are some of the components that we're gonna want to ask as we implement the plan. That's Step five, implement the plan. So, we list the key stakeholders or any additional inputs from them. We want to share with them the process we've gone through, some of the conclusions we've come to and get their thoughts and ideas. This will help improve then the implementation.

What are the factors or threats that could affect this plan? So, we briefly pause and examine the external environment. We consider any of the threats from the external environment that could impact this plan and once they've been identified, we can put the proper steps to address these threats into the actual plan and what we're going to do. These are examples and I'll give a few examples in a moment of the application of the transformation challenge, the six steps to plan and execution. And then list the factors that could affect the plan whatever they might be, and as we do that then we start actually coming up with who will do what, when? What are the systems and structures and resources that are required to leverage put this plan into action. By the way a little sidestep here, and the Pentagon when the war plans are developed, they have something called "The Red Team". So, people that have not been involved in the planning process are invited in, these are very capable people and they actually look for flaws in the plan that's been put together and offer recommendations. And then once they've done that, they leave and the group that's been making this plan can contemplate the outside observations. The plan is then put into practice who's gonna do what, when and that is step five and it's kind of fun I think for all involved, for whoever's developing this plan to put together an executive summary of the six steps that you've gone through.

Here's the vision, here's the current reality, here's the real issue, the process we went through to thinking about this, here is the brainstorming that took place on the options and weighing the pros and the cons and why we came up with the best options and now, here are the steps that we put together to implement the plan. This can be done on one page actually, an executive summary to give to your key stakeholders and before you really implement it, then you can invite final suggestions and then of course, it is the introduction of the plan, the rollout of the plan that's all part of the implementation.

And last of all is, we evaluate step six, the results. So, we have put together a plan, we've said here's the problem, here's the opportunity. So, in that regard, here's the vision. Here's the current reality, here are the real causes, here are the options that we have. Now, here are the best options and how we're gonna implement this plan and how did we do? Did it solve it? Is the new result in line with our vision? If so, we keep doing it. However, if we're off the mark, then we can go back through the six steps.

Let me just now illustrate a few case studies that helps illustrate how we can take this transformation challenge and get things to a better place by effective planning and execution using these six steps. One is the Challenger disaster that took place and as of course, the vision is what? The vision is to send our astronauts in the space with the shuttle on the shuttle program and bring them back safely having accomplished the mission objectives. Well, in the case of the Challenger, the current reality is, there was a disaster. The Challenger exploded and all perished and that was the current reality and so, there is a definite gap between the two. Now, what we need to do is what is the cause? And as the engineers and the leaders started going down the list of the real causes, it was cold, okay? Well, all right. What else happened because it was cold? Well, the O-rings were frozen, they didn't work. That's what caused the explosion, okay?

So, why did we launch with the O-rings... now, just think what would have happened if the engineers those in charge would have stopped with that problem thinking that was the cause. Well, then they're gonna solve this problem, apply the rest of the things to the O-rings, but that wasn't the real problem. So, they kept going deeper and the problem was to go no go process in place, that there wasn't a way for people to speak up and stop the launch if they saw a problem. And so, indeed that was the problem and they were able to come up with a process, a way to create a failsafe go, no go process. And this prevented any future disasters from their launches. Of course, there've been other problems on the reentry, again, we go through the same process. This is how it is applied and we evaluate the results, we got a good result and let me just give a few other examples.

A good friend of mine Crystal Maggelet is an outstanding person. I mean, she's one of the best people I know. Her father Jay Call, also a tremendous entrepreneur, he developed a set of truck stops called Flying J. Very successful throughout our country, Jay loved flying and his name was Jay so he called it The Flying J. They built this company to be one of the most successful in the country as Crystal was growing up, and came to the point where she could... she graduated from college, she could go to a graduate school, she chose the Harvard Business School, and was able to get in and had a great experience. That's where she met her husband Chuck. And some years ago, it's now probably been about 14 to 15 years ago, and Jay was flying to one of their executives with his wife, and one of them, he had been recovering from cancer I believe it was, and for some R and R. And during this trip, while he was flying their jet there was a problem that developed and an accident that took place and they all perished in the accident. It was a terrible tragedy for all of us who new Jay.

Crystal sat on the board of Flying J, and within a short period of time, the CEO came to the board and said we have a problem. We are going to have a requirement for $400 million in cash within the coming month and we don't have it. We've tapped out all of our lines of credit, we simply don't have the resources and they looked in disbelief they said, "How could this ever happen?" And he had been running the company for some time and maybe hadn't been all the best that communicate in some of the decisions. The short of it was that after a crucial meeting they realized that the directions they were going were different and he resigned and Crystal became the president. She was an excellent business person in her own right, she had started a set of Hotels called The Crystal Lands and had been successful. But here Crystal was right in the middle of the biggest crisis they had ever had that threatened their future existence. The pundits said and the professional said they needed to... they were gonna go out of business. They were gonna go out of business, the employees are gonna lose their jobs, they're gonna have to close the doors. They simply didn't have options to come up with this money, they were gonna have to liquidate.

There was doom and gloom all over the company and I think intuitively and instinctively, Crystal applied these six steps of planning and execution. And as she described it, she was so discouraged she just didn't know what to do. She was overwhelmed, but one day she woke up and realized that the vision needed to be save the company. And remember, everybody's focus is, how do we come up with the cash? But, the vision was shifted, there it was, save the company. And as soon as they did this, they sprang into action they said, "Okay, what's the current reality," and they got their key executives together. Crystal said, "We're gonna get in this room here today and we're not leaving until we come up with a plan and the vision is save the company." And so, they realized the current reality is that they were threatened with bankruptcy. They needed $400 million immediately and they didn't have it that was current reality.

So, they then went to the step three, what are the causes for this gap that we have? And as they talked about it and did this analysis and went through the facts and asked why, why, why? They realized that two predominate factors had taken place. One is, they had invested in an oil refinery, it was going to cost, it was an older one, but they felt like it would be helpful to them. The spent several hundred million dollars and invested in this older plant, they're gonna have to renew it, and rebuild it, remodel it, bring it up to speed and that this had taken a lot of their valuable cash. The other is that they'd gotten into the pipeline business of shipping oil out from the Gulf, they had hundreds of millions of dollars of oil in the pipeline and the price of oil was dropping. So, these were the factors their primary business was very successful and they were being profitable there, but these two are what cost them the money.

So now, they could go to Step four which is, what are the options? And the options they brainstorm, they came up with 15 different things they could do to save the company. They took the best ones and they came up with a plan of who would do what, when and where. When they left that meeting, Crystal described that they were excited, they were focused, there was fresh energy and it took about a year for them to fully execute this plan and involved a chapter eleven bankruptcy where they could have some protection and room to operate. They implemented some other measures including divest in themselves of the processing plant and also divest in themselves of the pipeline. They got the business back in order on their core business, they made some other key steps. The ultimate result a year later is that they came out of the Chapter eleven bankruptcy, they had satisfied every one of their obligations a 100% and the resulting company was a more successful company than they had had before by far.

Now, this is a clear example of these six steps it gives you a starting point, but we have other examples. For example, you can do this informally. I was out jogging one morning with my daughter about seven or eight years ago, she was a junior in high school and loved soccer. We lived in Spain for three years, it got in her blood and so, she played a lot of club soccer, she played in high school and so she was contemplating playing soccer in college. And she said, I'm just trying to think about this dad and what we ought to do. So, here we are out just jogging along and so I decided without doing this formally, just take her through the process, six steps. So, I said, "What's your vision? And look how this focused discussion, how it's different. It wasn't, what college should I go to or you know, who do I pick. It was, I wanna go to an outstanding college, I wanna have a good environment, I wanna gain a good education, I wanna be where there are really good guys, dad. And where I can be happy. I'd like to be away from home, but not too far and so that was her vision.

And we said, what's the current reality? And the current reality is, well, I'm a junior in high school and just getting going and I don't know a lot about the possibilities. Okay, what's the cause? And sometimes when you're planning in the future, it's not so much a cause, but it's what are the key factors? The things that might affect this decision and she said, "Well, I'm gonna need to visit, I'm gonna need to do some research, I'm gonna need to have a really good junior and senior years as a soccer player and then set up a list of criteria." Great, all right. So, what are the options? She says, "Well, I can set up a plan, I think I'll list 12 colleges I'd like to go to. I can look at each of the things, factors that are important and I can set up a rating system." And I said, okay. These are really good ideas, so the plan then was actually went into implementation.

And so, as we talked about this, she said I need to write it down, get my colleges clear and then I'll weigh each one out. And so, that's exactly what she did. She set up the plan, started contacting colleges, set up a little informational sheet for herself, a bio if you will with her picture, with her accomplishments and she went to work. She had a number of full ride offers and she ended up actually choosing a college that I was a little surprised about. It was the archrival to the university town that we live in. It was the University of Utah and Pac 12 and we live about three minutes from Brigham Young University, and so, this was her choice and now that her college career is over, she had a great experience, she met great friends, she'll never forget that experience, it helped pay for her college, she met a wonderful young man who was a football player, he was the kicker for the Utah team and she graduated with a bachelor's degree in entrepreneurship and so here we are. There we go. See, I just can't imagine what would have happened if we didn't apply something like this transformation challenge, the six steps that made it so simple.

Well, that's it today folks. So, let's just think about these six steps, here they are. Let's see if you've got them. Number one is, you shifted to what? To the vision. What's the vision? Any problem you have, any opportunity. Number two, what's the current reality and you do a gap analysis. Number three, right, what's the real cause for the problem? And we ask what, why, why, why, why, why, why and we really drill down, we pull back the layers. And your number four, what are the options? What are the possible options? We brainstorm and this is exciting. And number five, we implement the best options. And we talked about the things there. And number six, we evaluated, how did we do? What's the result?

Well, this has been great folks, I hope that you've got a few ideas I challenge each one of you to start practicing this. Teach it to others you can use it formally or informally. One of our key managers for our team came to me, he started... he learned this like four years ago, and practiced it, and I guarantee you this key manager transformed an industry by taking a problem and taking that problem as a $25,000 administrative problem, and turned it into a $30 million contract. I'm not kidding, it was this that caused that to happen with his intellect, he took it and it helped him get to a better place. That took about six years to do by the way. And just three or four months ago, we were talking about this and he said, "Steve," he said I want you to know this is Matt and Doug, they were telling me this. He said, I walked into a meeting with some of our managers and they were using the six-step process to solve a problem that they had and they were gonna bring the solution to me. Now, isn't that what every manager wants? You want others doing this, thinking about how to solve the problems before they come up rather than bringing it to you and say, "What do you think we ought to do?" Well, that's the idea. Finally, then we evaluate and we see how we did.

Well, remember as we do this, you will make a difference and this is Steve Shallenberger wishing you a great day.

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The Strategic Rhythm
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Welcome to our "Becoming Your Best" listeners, wherever you may be in the world today. This is your host, Steve Shallenberger and I'd like to start out with a few questions. Today, how many of you and I would like to have peace, happiness, and joy in our lives? Well, that's kind of a stack question, isn't it? Well, of course, we want to have peace, happiness, and joy. And how many of us would like to have employees or children that are focused, engaged, aligned with the things that matter most, and excited about what they're doing, and they solve problems rather than you having to solve the problems? Well, yeah, wouldn't that be great?

Well, today, I'd like to help us accomplish these things, talk about a process that's called the "Strategic Rhythm." And this is in contrast to a strategic routine, which is much different. A rhythm is a positive force that we get into within our own life. In this process, I'm going to talk about the strategic rhythm. It's something we can apply in our life to produce that rhythm, or in a family, or certainly, in our teams and our organization. And it is built upon the principles of Becoming Your Best and the 12 principles of highly successful leaders. So as we master those, this strategic rhythm is really what leaders do to get the result but they use these, the 12 principles of being true to character and leading with a vision, and managing with a plan, knowing how to prioritize our time. And these things create a transformational leadership.

They're the very same principles that allow us to use this strategic rhythm process to get this kind of results that I just talked about. Or the 12 principles in regards to creating transformational relationships and cultures such as living the Golden Rule and conscientiously building and maintaining trust. And one of the things we can do to help us do that is to be an effective listener and really capture. "Oh, thank you. Thanks for sharing that or bringing that up and so let me be sure that I have it," right? And then the fourth principle in that transformational team and relationship is innovative or innovation through imagination. This is the culture, then, that just creates this energy of excellence and adapts.

And then, of course, the last 4 of the 12 would be transformational living. And it is to be accountable where we take responsibility, we apply the power of knowledge, we live in peace and balance, and we never give up. So these 12 principles come together to create a magic and is producing phenomenal results. It's how they come together that unleash a culture to excellence.

Okay. Now, back to the strategic rhythm and what we can do as leaders. In your mind's eye, if you can imagine a pyramid, a one-dimensional pyramid that you're looking at and it has seven levels. And I'd like to just describe each one because we put these pieces into place as a leader and what they do is that they unleash a huge focus and potential. So the first rung up on the very top of the pyramid, the first level, is leaders create the vision. So that's why I said it's built upon the 12 principles. So is there an inspiring vision that establishes the purpose and cause of the organization, or the team, or even in our own life? And remember that the vision, as a reminder, points to the direction that we want to go.

In the next level, if you will, right under the vision is what are our core values and standards? And essentially, this establishes our character and the guide that, really, we operate by. On an individual basis, it's very much a character. Within an organization, it's the culture and character that come together. These two are extremely powerful because now we have a direction we're going and we have our mores that, in other words, this powerful guide, a basic fundamental values to guide us that direct us.

So the next level and in fact, the levels three, four, and five, as you go down the pyramid, they all have to do with the principle of manage with a plan. So we established the vision, the first level. We're sure that we have strong core values. So for example, we don't lie, cheat, or steal, nor do we tolerate anyone that does. Or another core value is safety is not a program. It's a way of life. And of course, the 12 principles would be among those type of core values that give us direction, or a team or an organization direction.

Now, the third level is something we call a TIG, totally inspirational goals. Well, what this level does is set up a target. And it's a shorter range. The vision, that's where we're going over a long term. The TIG, totally inspirational goal, is what are we gonna accomplish? What do we hope to accomplish in the next two to five years? And it should cause us to wake up and just be totally inspired.

One of our really wonderful clients and a very successful company headed by Jean Henri Lhuillier in Manila in the Philippines. So for example, the vision for their company is to be the best. And then, they have these core values, the type that we just talked about. Their TIG, is currently, out of the 100 million Filipinos in the world, they serve 1 out 15. Well, as they got together and they were talking about this total inspirational goal, they decided that it would be to serve 1 out 3 by 2020. I mean, this just takes your breath away. It's so exciting. And what it does is it points all of their key executive leaders, their regional managers, and their thousands of employees in that direction. It just unleashes potential. So this is an example.

Another one of our clients works within the energy services industry and they're in several marketplaces. Well, what they have done and said, "We are going to be in four market segments in each one of the locations that we serve in, and we are going to work to be one of the dominant...to be the dominant player in each of these four segments." I mean, this also is a huge TIG for this organization. It shifted their thinking. Well, that's an example. We can have one for our family. Someone may want to learn how to play the piano within the next two to five years on a personal level. So whatever it might be.

The next rung, the next level, level number four as you move down, it's almost in the middle of that pyramid, would be the practice of setting annual goals. So this would be on a yearly basis and it decides what you will be doing. And for those who are familiar with the Becoming Your Best principles and processes is when we talk about annual goals or SMART goals versus generalized goals or something...so, for example, "to read more books," that's kind of a general goal. It's a good goal. However, watch how this SMART goal, which is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant to your vision, and time-specific, changes behavior. "Read 12 self-improvement books by December." See, that is much different and it changes behavior and so we, as leaders, need to teach that to our associates because we're 90% more likely to achieve something when we have a clearly written goal. And yet, only 10% of us have clearly written goals. And understanding that is a powerful message for parents and for us as leaders.

Now, in an organizational sense, then we set these goals in place. And on an annual basis, whether we have a step away for an annual retreat, whether it's close to where your office is, or it's in a different location, you review how it went last year and then what are our goals for this coming year? If it's on a personal basis, remember that a huge way to increase your chance to accomplish those goals is to share them with other people. And the statistics is that you're 34% more likely to achieve something when you share your goals because it creates an accountability and involvement with other people.

Okay. So now, we're setting the course, as you can see. Vision, core values, totally inspirational goals, two to five-year period. And what are we gonna do this year to hit it? So now, we're coming up upon a new year and all of us should be thinking, "Okay, what are our annual goals?" And a powerful practice is to set your goals by rolls. So think of your key...five or six key roles in life. The self, personal, for example. Fitness, security, financial, mental, spiritual. Another one might be family and friends, a spouse or a partner, or children or nieces, nephews, and then friends. These are all examples. What are the most important things you can do? And then, professionally, within your roles there. And then, maybe civically. So by thinking about your roles that inspire you to think in terms of "What can I do this year that matters most that has the greatest impact, especially in alignment then with the vision and the totally inspirational goals?"

The next rung down, as we move down the pyramid, this would be number five, quarterly goals. Especially in an organization where we get together and every quarter, we go over, "How did we do last quarter and what are our goals for this coming quarter especially as they align with the upper part of the pyramid?" Well, what this does as you and I as leaders go through this process, it literally creates an engagement with all employees. It's really hard for anyone to sit on the sideline when we set up this process and then we're able to help bring out the best within individuals and teams, and it creates an accountability. And then, of course, from these quarterly goals that we have, we manage on a monthly, weekly, and daily basis to be sure we're hitting our key performance indicators.

Okay, now, down to the last two levels. Level number six is one that brings the whole process together to now, each week of our lives, and that is doing in a weekly alignment meeting with your team and pre-week planning. Now, this establishes each week what matters most. And it's done on a weekly basis. Now, we've talked a little bit about pre-week planning in the past and drawing the analogy of a pilot that wouldn't dream of going into the air without having a mission where are they headed and a plan, a checklist they've gone through where they've checked the weather, they've checked the coordinates of the trip. They've checked their equipment. No pilot would dream of just jumping in the airplane, going up and flying to their destinations. Too risky. There's too many things that would happen.

Well, the same thing applies for us in our weeks. It's just too risky to not do a pre-week planning. When is it done? It's done sometime during the weekend, whether it's Friday afternoon, at the end of your day, before you leave work. Or sometime on Saturday or Sunday but definitely before Monday morning at 8:00 a.m. because it's too late. The crisis already starts. And so, once again, if you haven't seen the Becoming Your Best planner or organizer, you can go on to the becomingyourbest.com website and check out our Best of Class planners. And they're already set up to help you do this pre-week planning. And it's a weekly layout. And across the top, what we invite you to do, once again, is think of each role. What is your role and what matters most this week? Set goals by that role. And then when will you do it? You put it down in the calendar. And literally, what you're doing is you're scheduling your priorities first in each key area of your life. And then, we prioritize our schedule, the meetings and things that we have to do.

Well, what happens as you reflect and ponder and think about your week of how to have a great week before you ever start it? You've really gone through what is gonna make a great week and it's balanced and you feel at peace and you stay at it. This is totally a leadership component and it turns, really, all the other time management processes on their ear in terms of effectiveness, so this is a huge deal. And when you start the week, think of how different you feel when you've done this. It literally helps you...give you confidence and focus and be at peace, you're gonna be doing the right things, you'll feel greater happiness, less stressed. So I invite all of our listeners to really work to do pre-week planning especially as we've outlined it. First, think of your roles, what matters most, and set goals by those various roles and then sketch it out. See how it feels.

The last level of this strategic rhythm that we set up is daily focus and execution. This is done, of course, on a daily basis. And I'd like to recommend just four things that we can do. Number one is that you think, when you start your day, look at it in the context of the weekly plan that you've already done which is totally aligned, by the way, with the other five levels of this pyramid above it. That's why it gives you such a tremendous alignment and strength and focus.

Okay, the second thing you can do for a powerful daily focus and execution is the rule of three. And that is, each day, look at your things that you need to do and say, "These are the three things I definitely am going to get done today, come heck or high water." And so that's the rule of three. And every day when you start your day, say, "These three things, I will get done."

And number three is chair fly your day. Chair flying is a pilot term and it's something that pilots do before they go in the air, and they actually just get in the cockpit or sit in a chair and actually fly their whole mission with their eyes closed without ever starting the jet or the plane. And they see themselves, they smell the smells in the cockpit, the smell of the fuel and they touch the equipment. They look around. And now, in their mind's eye, they actually see themselves starting the aircraft, taking it out to the runway, doing their final checklist. And particularly in the fighter world, looking at their wingman and they line up to take off and it's full throttle. And they see themselves lifting off, look back at the wingman and everything is proceeding as it should. They think of any with their eyes closed, any possible emergencies, what you might do. Up in the refueler, they do the refueling. Go up and see the mission, the target. They see their target, they roll out, pickle. And then, return to the base. They see themselves landing and having a successful mission. Well, this is the same thing we can do on a day-to-day basis. We anticipate things that can come up. And now when we start the day, we're ready.

And last of all, as each day by doing these things, these little things of meditation and reading and prayer, exercise, these things and chair flying and getting ready for the week, they create, really, a private victory that gives us added personal strength and focus. And allows us to be more successful as we interact publicly with others.

So that's it. That's the strategic rhythm. It is a powerhouse. If any of you would like to receive the graphics of this, just write to me on the email at Becoming Your Best. It would be steve@becomingyourbest.com and I'd be happy to send out the graphics that shows you this.

Well, that's the message for today. We wish each one of you the best in all that you're doing. One person can make a difference. And it only takes one person to do this. Thank you and we're signing off for today. We wish you a great day.

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What you need to be a Successful Entrepreneur
30 perc 69. rész

Do you have a great business idea? Or currently running a business but don’t know how to take it to the next level? Do you want to make it unstoppable?

Or do you feel overwhelmed and confused?

Don’t worry it’s not your fault. We understand, we’ve been there before too.

That’s why Becoming Your Best Global Leadership puts on a LIVE 2 Day event called the Entrepreneur Success Bootcamp. The purpose is to help entrepreneurs take their idea and turn it into a thriving reality.

Every entrepreneur is at a different place in the entrepreneurial process. Some people are stuck in the idea generation phase. Others are well down the path and looking to grow and scale their business.

Today’s special guest is an experienced entrepreneur and successful CEO, Rob Nelson. Rob is the Founder / CEO of Grow.com.

Rob is a true entrepreneur at heart. He loves the creative and building process in developing value for others. He discovered when leaders understand and unite their teams around the right metrics, the culture improves to accelerate growth. Rob is inspired by brilliant design, strong culture, competition, and the emotional connection products can give.

“I believe in continuous growth and improvement, both personally and in helping others.” - Rob Nelson

Grow helps companies accelerate their growth by helping to track and measure the right metrics. Consequently, companies can operate faster, make better and quicker decisions.

Rob is a great example of living the 12 principles of Highly Successful Leaders, particularly of CREATING A VISION and MANAGING WITH A PLAN.

In this episode, Rob Nelson explains his 5 keys ingredients a new company needs to succeed…

Sticking with what you know

The importance of recurring revenue

Having passion for what you are doing

Scalability

Solve a problem you are personally acquainted with

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My Battlefield, Your Office | An Interview with Justin Constantine
30 perc 68. rész

Every year, millions of managers and supervisors get promoted into management positions without learning how to successfully lead a team.

As a result, many of them find themselves at the top of the corporate ladder while lacking the training to lead.

Justin Constantine wants to change that.

As a Marine officer, Justin volunteered for deployment to Iraq in 2006, and served as a Civil Affairs Team Leader while attached to an infantry battalion. While on a routine combat patrol, Justin was shot in the head by a sniper.

Although the original prognosis was that he had been killed in action, Justin survived. Through teamwork and a positive mental attitude, he has had quite a successful recovery.

Justin is a great example of living the 12 principles of Highly Successful Leaders, particularly of doing WHAT MATTERS MOST and LIVING THE GOLDEN RULE and the vital role they play in being successful as a leader.

He applies his incredible story of overcoming adversity to every level of an organization, and all audiences to move beyond the challenges they are facing in their own lives.

In this episode, you will…

Discover the importance of getting other people involved in your life

Learn that you need to regularly set aside space to identify how you want to spend your time

Learn your number one priority as a leader

Realize the power of leading from the front

[Tweet ""When you are leading from the front in your personal life it means you are being proactive." Justin Constantine"]
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How to Deal with Difficult Situations and People
27 perc 67. rész

Working with people can be challenging.

Sometimes conflict can happen.

Or sometimes people are simply falling short on their potential.

This episode is designed to help you navigate those situations as a leader with a focus on helping people truly become their best.

This episode is about leadership.

Leadership is a game changer. It's what makes a difference in the world.

The five things we will go over in this episode are powerful things that help leader lead relationships to a better place. To lift, inspire, and build others.

And... to deal with any situation, whether simple, complex, emotional, or high risk.

In this episode, you will…

Discover the 5 things leaders can do to MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR GOOD when working with others

Learn how three simple words can transform the way you get feedback from people

Learn the two sides of the communication coin

Realize the importance of your strategic rhythm

[Tweet ""A leader helps people get to a better place." Steve Shallenberger"]
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The Importance of Leading With A Vision
18 perc 66. rész

Do you want to create a team culture by design or by default?

A culture by design only happens when you have a clear, compelling vision in place.

A clear vision is what drives leadership and action in an intentional direction.

But have you taken the time to create a vision for your team?

...your family?

....yourself?

In this episode we will walk you through the process for creating a compelling vision in all three areas of team, family, and personal.

Leading with a vision is Principle #2 of the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders and it's one of the most important because without a clear vision your efforts can quickly lead you off track or be diluted from focusing in too many directions.

In this episode, you will…

Discover why a clear vision is a critical piece of the puzzle for creating team alignment

Learn why creating visions for your team, family, and yourself is essential

Learn the four question process for creating a vision that creates buy-in from your team

Realize that a personal vision is the seed of your legacy

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The Passion of Leadership | An Interview with Joshua Spodek
33 perc 65. rész

If you are going to become a good pianist it takes practice.

If you want to be a good athlete it takes practice.

The same goes for becoming a good leader.

Joshua Spodek earned such praise as “Best and Brightest” (Esquire Magazine’s Genius Issue), “Astrophysicist turned new media whiz” (NBC), and “Rocket Scientist” (Forbes Magazine and ABC News) with success in such diverse fields as science, invention, entrepreneurship, art, leadership, coaching, and education.

Joshua started his first venture over twenty years ago and has led, coached, taught, and developed courses since. Before then he helped build an x-ray observational satellite into space. You will find no one more passionate or effective at finding, expanding, and developing your leadership potential. Every major media source has covered him.

In this episode of the podcast, we talk to him about the important leadership principles covered in his new book Leadership Step-by-Step.

In this episode, you will…

Hear how Joshua handled being a "science guy" in business school including the embarrassment of not know what "gross" and "net" meant

Learn how make meaningful connections with those around you

Understand that great leaders aren’t born with a ‘leadership gene’; great leaders develop the necessary skills and gain confidence through practice and hard work

Realize that most of leadership is supporting people on the team so they aren’t distracted from the work they need to be doing

[Tweet ""When teaching someone how to play piano you don’t tell them musical theory, you teach them to play the scales." - Joshua Spodek"]
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Be True to Character
23 perc 64. rész

There is no silver bullet for becoming a highly successful leader.

In order to be a highly successful leader you need to embody several principles, the foundational one Being True to Character.

In this episode of the podcast, we will look at what it means to be true to character and explore how you can start developing character within yourself and those around you.

The foundation on personal and organization character must be strong in order for you and your organization to thrive. Join us in this episode as we look at the first of the 12 principles of highly successful leaders.

In this episode, you will…

Realize the importance of choosing the correct principles

Learn how to develop your character and lead others to do the same

Understand that the concequences that come from practicing the correct principles are predictable

Realize the power of consistently creating positive consequences

Understand the importance of the little things

[Tweet ""If you fail or faulter with character it’s virtually impossible to develop the trust needed to be successful." Steve Shallenberger"]
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How To Have Your Best Year
27 perc 63. rész

Are you ready to make 2017 your best year yet?

Now is the time to set your plan to create a “Becoming Your Best” and “Best of Class” year.

It's through this type of planning that you will achieve YOUR personal and professional best. You are starting out with a fresh slate and will never have this year again. On this episode of the podcast, I'll share five tools that I use each and every year.

In this episode, you will...

Learn how to make this year your best and achieve your dreams

Hear about 5 powerful tools that will allow you to make this your best year of your life

Understand how the 5 Hour You Rule will turbo charge your engine

Realize the power of mantras for increasing your motivation

Discover the importance of scheduling your priorities...

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How to Prevent Child Abuse | A Conversation with Kit Summer
33 perc 62. rész

Child Sexual Abuse is happening at an alarming rate in our country.

In this episode of the podcast, Kit Summer an extremely successful businessman joins us to talk about his experience with sexual abuse as a child.

Kit is now on a mission to help prevent child abuse from happening. Kit shares some the the latest statistics and gives parents key strategies for communicating with their children.

Abuse can leave long lasting trauma, it's important that every caring adult be vigilant in stopping and preventing the abuse of children.

In this episode, you will…

Realize that the best way to help a younger child prevent abuse is to have them listen to their "uh-oh" feelings

Learn the importance of talking to your child about abuse at an early age.

Discover the ways to communicate with your children to help prevent abuse

Realize that if you are an abuser you can get help

Learn the importance of getting treatment if you've been abused

[Tweet ""If you are sexually abused you cannot run from the effects. You need to get treatment." - Kit Summer"]
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HOPE | Leadership Lessons from the Life of Jesus
34 perc 61. rész

Christmas is an undeniably special time of year.

Christmas is naturally a time that invites the spirit of becoming your best. The spirit of hope, encouragement, love, and kindness that brings greater happiness, peace, and prosperity to all.

Noticing the needs of others and reaching out to them is exactly what makes this time of year so special.

One of the greatest gift of this season is the leadership example of Jesus. We are reminded that great leaders produce great results, and in this episode of the podcast I'll share some examples of the leadership that Jesus displayed.

In this episode, you will…

Realize that leadership is not defined by position, power, or wealth

Learn 10 principles from Jesus that will help you to make a difference every day as a great leader in life

Discover the importance of staying consistent

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Organizing Your Keys
9 perc 60. rész

Have you ever lost your keys?

A simple misplaced key, wallet, or phone can send you scrambling through the house causing frustration, stress, and potentially even make you late for that important meeting.

Why not eliminate that strain with a few simple steps?

Steve shares a personal experience that has helped free up time and mental energy for more productive uses.

In this episode, you will…

Learn why it’s important to eliminate the little stressors

Learn to better manage your time by thinking ahead

Discover the four steps to organizing your keys

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Save Your Business Rescue Your Life | A Conversation with Stacy Tuschl
30 perc 59. rész

Is your business worth saving?

That’s the question Stacy Tuschl will help you find the answer to in this episode of the podcast.

Stacy is an Entrepreneur and Business Performance Strategist. She started her first business in her parents’ backyard at the age of 18 and turned that company into a 7-figure business.

Now, she is here to help entrepreneur pull themselves out of ruts with her Business Rescue Roadmap. On this episode we talk with her about the challenges of turning your passion into a business.

In this episode, you will…

Learn how you can build upon your passion

Realize how you can be an internal entrepreneur while being employed

Discover why you need to evaluate the responsibilities you want to take on before you take the leap to running your own business

Hear how Stacy got her start teaching dance in her parent’s backyard

Understand the importance of being consistent and authentic in order to repel the wrong people

[Tweet "“You need to be uncomfortable. That’s where growth happens” – Stacy Tuschl"]
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Slack

Edgar

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Step into the World of Data with Dr. John H.Johnson
30 perc 58. rész

An expert with all things having to do with data, our guest for today’s episode is the President, CEO, and Co-Founder of Edgeworth Economics, professional economist and an internationally renowned speaker, consultant and author who helps consumers and some of the world’s largest companies understand how to interpret data, Dr. John H. Johnson.

Dr. Johnson is here to discuss about how data is used for businesses and entrepreneurs. Getting the right data can lead you where you need to be.

In this episode, you will…

Discover how John started his career

Find out about the people who can be your influencer

Get to know the importance being open to learning

Step into the world of data with Everydata

Hear tips and advises from John on how to use properly data for entrepreneurs

“I make sure I’m not acting out on my anecdotal information, I back it up with data.” – Dr….
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How to Handle Personal Loss | Jill Thomas's Inspiring Story
30 perc 57. rész

Today’s episode will be a little different. We’ll talk about Jill’s story, an inspiring story we’d like to share. Jill Thomas is an amazing photographer, a mom and a person from an incredible family.

Jill lost her 21-month old daughter, Penny. This tragic experience taught Jill many lessons in life. Losing someone will definitely change a person but Jill believes that you always have a choice. After experiencing tragic events in your life, you have an option to either stay in the state of suffering, to go back to your old life or move on to a new place where you can create new experiences.

Jill’s story will remind us about the importance of making memories.

In this episode, you will…

Hear Jill’s inspiring story

Find out how to overcome life’s difficult situation

Learn how making choices impacts your overall life

Discover how Jill moved on from losing her daughter

Be reminded that all parts of our life are meant to be experienced

“All parts of our life are meant to be experienced.” – Jill Thomas
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The Strategic Rhythm: The Positive Force That Leads You to the Top!
20 perc 56. rész

How many of us would like to have peace, happiness, and joy in our lives? My guess is that all of us want these things, but the concept of achieving them can be elusive.

I’d like to help us accomplish peace, happiness, and joy with a process called strategic rhythm. A rhythm is a positive force that we get into in our own lives. It’s built upon the principles of becoming your best.

We’ll discuss:

How the 12 principles come together to unleash excellence

The multiple levels of strategic rhythm

Defining your core values and standards

The TIG: Totally Inspirational Goal

General Goals VS Smart Goals

For the graphics that go with this podcast, visit the shownotes at BecomingYourBest.com/056.
“These 12 Principles come together to create a magic.” – Steve Shallenberger
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The Freedom and Power of Being Accountable!
29 perc 55. rész

Have you ever talked to a customer service representative who refused to take responsibility over a mistake? How did that make you feel about the company? Accountability has a huge influence on trust and who we decide to do work with.

Is there a culture of responsibility and accountability in your company? So often we get stuck in a cycle of finger pointing. The principle of being accountable is such an important element of becoming your best.

We discuss:

What accountability REALLY means

How accountability affects you in business and at home

Three things we can do to build more accountability

A 21-day challenge that can change the way you think

“When there’s accountability, there’s a higher trust.” – Steve Shallenberger
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Student of the World: The Knowledge that Separates the Best from the Rest
19 perc 54. rész

How can having the right knowledge help you accomplish your dreams faster? Maybe you want to be a better parent or spouse. Maybe you want to start your own business or maybe you want to grow the business you already have.

It all starts with a mindset. Do you really want it? Are you willing to put in the effort that it takes?

We’ll discuss:

Habits that set apart the most successful from the rest

Why successful leaders are readers

As parents, what you can do with your own children to get them to read

Why you should invest 3% of your income in yourself

How to vet your coach

“Great leaders and high achievers are readers.”- Rob Shallenberger
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The ONE Rule that brings Happiness and Success!
17 perc 53. rész

After visiting numerous different organizations in the past few weeks, I’ve once again seen the impact that the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders can have on both the personal and professional life!

Vision, planning, and prioritizing your time, are key to your business success, however, they’re only one piece of the success puzzle. If you don’t create a world-class customer experience or treat people right, your plan will fall short of what it could have been.

What is the common denominator of the “best in class” companies? They know how to focus on creating a world-class customer experience and they treat other people like gold.

In this podcast, you’ll discover:

How to be “a Duck”

How to discover personal happiness by adopting an outward mindset.

Prioritizing the customer experience

Loyal verses satisfied customers.

Owning an issue

Go out there this week and have a great and fabulous week!
“The more that we serve others, the more we tend to find ourselves.” – Rob Shallenberger
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Top Sales Tips from the Master: Glenn Mattson
30 perc 52. rész

What separates high achievers from the rest? They never give up. “Failure is not a failure. Failure is nothing more than an outcome that you didn’t want to happen during your planning process,” says Glenn Mattson, president of Sandler Training in Long Island.

Glenn is a world class professional in sales and sales management. He is a seasoned veteran of the selling profession, and his office consistently ranks in the top 1% of trainers worldwide. He shares with us his wisdom on sales, sales management, and business.

Listen to learn:

How he deals with setbacks

His recommendations to help salespeople be more successful

Your Black Wolf vs. Your White Wolf

The top three challenges sales managers face and how to conquer them

The top three challenges holding sales people from achieving their best

You can contact Sandler Training directly at: 631-726-3537 or learn more atMattson.Sandler.com.
“Failure is a lesson. It teaches you what to do and what not to do.” – Glenn Mattson
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The Differentiating Power of Sales
34 perc 51. rész

Are you looking to grow your sales knowledge and take your business to the next level? It isn’t enough to know the basics. You have to stay curious. At the end of the day, the real differentiation starts with, you, the salesperson. Author and sales guru, Andy Paul, shares with us the critical elements of being successful at sales.

Andy Paul is a best-selling author, podcast host, and international sales guru. His books Zero Time Selling and Amp up Your Sales are read by salespeople, marketing managers, and CEO’s alike.

We’ll Discuss:

Providing value in every step of the sales process

Disqualifying prospects

MILT – what’s it mean and why it is so important

Dealing with career setbacks

Finding a company with the “right fit” for you

You can learn more from Andy on his podcast, Accelerate! Sales. Profits. Growth.
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How to Use Your Creativity to Bless Others and Succeed! [A Free Gift For You and Your Family Included!]
34 perc 50. rész

We all have dreams, and we can work to develop our talents and make magical things. When you believe in the goodness of people and have appreciation for God, anything is possible. No one exemplifies this more than my long-time friend, Kevin Peay.

Kevin is a talented artist, singer, composer, and businessman whom I’ve known for 35 years. He shares with us his inspiration, his advice to others with a dream, and some of his best teaching experiences over the past 35 years.

We’ll dig into:

The source of his inspiration

Finding and harnessing your gifts

The story behind Power Tunes and

How people are still using Power Tunes today

We have a special gift for all of our listeners. For a limited time, visit:http://store.becomingyourbest.com/ and use the code: powertunes (all lowercase) to download a free mp3 of Power Tunes.
“We can work to develop our talents and make magical things” – Rob Shallenberger
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Growing Your Business and Your Dreams!
34 perc 49. rész

Do you put your business’s marketing campaigns on the backburner because more important things come up? What if we told you how much money you were leaving on the table by not putting marketing at the top of your list?

Ajax Union founder and CEO, Joe Apfelbaum, joins us today to talk about just that – the power of marketing and how integral it is to growing your business.

Tune in to get Joe’s three basic steps for building a social media campaign, hear about his upcoming book, From Average Joe to CEO, and get insights on how to build a successful business based on things you’re already doing to provide others with value.

In this episode, you will…

Learn how to build your brand using digital marketing

Discover how important a cohesive marketing strategy is for building your brand

Get insights on leveraging the competition to grow your business

Understand how you, too, can transform your business from transactional to relationship-based

Realize that marketing is all about testing

“Become the best at what you’re doing.” – Joe Apfelbaum
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Becoming Your Best Website

Becoming Your Best Podcast

Becoming Your Best Blog

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Joe Apfelbaum LinkedIn

Joe Apfelbaum Website

Joe Apfelbaum Twitter @JoeApfelbaum

Joe Apfelbaum Instagram

Joe Apfelbaum Facebook

Ajax Union Digital Marketing Agency

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What Made Me Who I Am! | A Heart-to-Heart with Bernie Swain
31 perc 48. rész

Do you find yourself at a turning point? A fork in the roads where your only choices are to either stay on your current trajectory or pursue a passion you can’t yet back with experience or expertise?

Lucky for you, passion wins out over talent every day of the week, because having a natural talent is almost inconsequential if you’re not passionate about using it to achieve and make a difference.

Bernie Swain joins us today to talk about his leap from steady career to entrepreneurship, how it almost failed, and what he did to turn his failing project into the thriving business we know today as The Washington Speakers Bureau.

Tune in!

In this episode, you will…

Learn why passion is more valuable than talent

Realize how important it is to discover your passion, and then incorporate it into your career

Be reminded that relationships are integral to development, because success and accomplishment don’t happen in a vacuum

Understand that people aren’t born great, but great qualities and traits can be developed

Discover that a willingness to learn from others makes you stronger, wiser, and positions you for success

“Our influences and defining moments add up to who we are.” – Bernie Swain
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Becoming Your Best Website

Becoming Your Best Podcast

Becoming Your Best Blog

Becoming Your Best iTunes

The Washington Speakers Bureau

What Made Me Who I Am by Bernie Swan

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Creating a Vibrant Work Culture with Tore Steen
34 perc 47. rész

Are you asking yourself questions like, “What should I be doing with my life and time?” If you take stock, discover your passion, focus your future efforts, and work hard, you’re sure to find a niche you’ll succeed in.

Most people succeed best at the thing they have a passion for, but it takes more than passion and a vision to grow a successful company. There’s no substitute for hard work, especially in the beginning of a new venture, but if you do your homework and really prepare, you’ll be ahead of the game.

As an entrepreneur, it can be difficult to step back once you’ve developed the habit of working long days to develop your business, and it’s all too easy to continue trying to do everything ourselves. If you can learn how to rely on the talents of others to help your company grow, it will help you both achieve success and a healthy work-life balance more quickly.

Tune in for insights on work-life balance, putting in the hours, and pursuing your passions, with Tore Steen!

In this episode, you will…

Discover how to allow others to help you lead

Learn how to prepare yourself for success while taking risks

Understand that there’s no substitute for hard work

Realize that open communication can help you and your company grow

Be reminded that your passion will always shine through

“The most effective leaders have a way to bring out the best in people.” – Steve Shallenberger
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Becoming Your Best Website

Becoming Your Best Podcast

Becoming Your Best Blog

Becoming Your Best iTunes

1033 Foundation of Utah

Excellence by Thomas J. Peters and Robert H. Waterman, Jr.

tsteen@gmail.com

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How the 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Apply to You
36 perc 46. rész

Did you know that you’re 90% more likely to reach a goal if you’ve written it down? There are tons of tips, tricks, and habits for success, but no matter what they are, they all require actionable steps.

So, what are the steps? If you’ve been hearing about the 12 principles of highly successful leaders and wanting to learn more, today’s episode delivers them in detail, packed with actionable steps that you can master, a little bit at a time.

Take these steps in manageable bites, and you’ll end up where you’re going in no time. Tune in to get the principles, today!

Learn how to achieve the impossible

Hear about the Success Rhythm and how it will help you master the 12 Principles

Get the 12 Principles of Success

Discover how to achieve success by mastering one action item a week

Realize that a desire to get better trumps skillset and experience every time
“There’s no silver bullet to great leadership.” – Rob Shallenberger
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Becoming Your Best Website

Becoming Your Best Podcast

Becoming Your Best Blog

Becoming Your Best iTunes

Breakthrough Leadership Conference

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Becoming a Transformational Leader with Bob Burg
29 perc 45. rész

Can a subtle shift in focus really make that much of a difference when it comes to succeeding in business and increasing your income? What do you think?

Bob Burg, author of The Go Giver, shares how shifting your focus from getting to giving will make a huge impact on your level of success.

On today’s episode, Bob shares tips and insights for reframing your mindset so you can cultivate an other-focused perspective. We talk about achieving happiness through serving others, and we even talk about how to shift from a transactional to a transformational leadership mindset.

Tune in for tips and philosophies you won’t want to miss!

In this episode, you will…

Understand why building and maintaining trust are important parts of leadership

Realize that value is in the eyes of the beholder

Learn how to spend more time focused on giving than getting

Uncover how to transition from me-focused to other-focused

Discover how to become a transformational leader

Shift your focus, today!
“Shift your focus from giving to getting.” @BobBurg SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

EPISODE RESOURCES
Becoming Your Best

Becoming Your Best Podcast

Becoming Your Best Blog

Becoming Your Best iTunes

The Go Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea by Bob Burg

Bob Burg Website

Bob Burg Twitter

Bob Burg Facebook

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The Voice of Your Dreams!
30 perc 44. rész

Do you have a big goal you’d like to accomplish? Maybe you want to push your business to the next level, mark something off your bucket list, or try something totally new! Whatever the object of your desire, if you’re waiting for inspiration to get started, you should know that inspiration is most often found on the other side of getting started.

Today, Aaron Anastasi joins us to talk about all the ways you can start working toward your goals by overcoming the voices of limitation.

What are the voices of limitation? Tune in to find out!

In this episode, you will…

Understand how changing your why might be the key to your success

Hear why being successful is all about staying on your path

Uncover what’s holding you back in your life, and get rid of it

Discover what the voices of limitation are, and how to overcome them

Learn how to identify the voice of your dreams
“Being successful is all about staying on the path.” – Aaron Anastasi
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Becoming Your Best Website

Becoming Your Best Podcast

Becoming Your Best Blog

Becoming Your Best iTunes

The Voice of Your Dreams by Aaron Anastasi

Aaron Anastasi’s Twitter

Aaron Anastasi’s Facebook

Aaron Anastasi’s Instagram

Superior Singing Method

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Hard Work, Vision, and Guidance | A Conversation with David Marcum on Overcoming Obstacles
32 perc 43. rész

Are you a leader? Whether you’re already leading a team, or you’re working your way toward that role, it’s important to understand the difference between teaching your team the skills they need to have, and empowering them to put those skills to use.

David Marcum of Zag Learning shares some of the pitfalls leaders face, insights on why ego can be so corrosive, and thoughts on how leaders can really inspire team members to grow.

You know you’re doing a great job as a leader when your team really starts to impress you and show agency in their roles, but they can only get to that place with your help, so tune in for tips and insights you won’t want to miss!

In this episode, you will…

Understand the purpose of a team leader

Get David’s 4 things leaders can do to add to the success of those around them

Hear how ego gets in the way of success, and what you can to to keep it in check!

Learn how to overcome obstacles and be a person of integrity on, and off, the stage

Realize why impulse control is an important part of gaining and maintaining success

Transform yourself and become a better leader today!
“Inspire your team in a meaningful way.” – David Marcum
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Becoming Your Best

Becoming Your Best Podcast

Becoming Your Best Blog

Becoming Your Best iTunes

Egonomics by David Marcum

Zag Learning

David Marcum’s LinkedIn

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The Sacred Gift of Life!
20 perc 42. rész

On today’s episode, you’re going to hear an amazing story of triumph, hope, survival, and vision from humanitarian, entrepreneur, and family-man, Ken Sharpe.

Ken joins us to share his heartbreakingly hope-filled journey of narrowly escaping death and how being given a second chance gave him more strength than ever to pursue his dreams of helping elevate others and providing opportunities for life-changing transformational development.

Tune in for valuable insights from an entrepreneur and developer who keeps the heart of humanity in mind, with everything he does.

In this episode, you will…

Understand that the greatest glory is in rising above failure

Hear how to use your success for good by crafting entrepreneurial pursuits around helping others

Get Ken’s Five “P’s” of Life

Discover that, if your vision is true, you’re bound to succeed

Realize that being born into privilege doesn’t make you superior to others

“Most who achieve success don’t know that failure is inevitable.” – Coco Chanel
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Becoming Your Best

Becoming Your Best iTunes

Ken Sharpe’s Website

ken@westfoods.net

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Leading With Your Strengths | A Conversation with Sharon Livingston
32 perc 41. rész

Have you ever thought to yourself that you could break through your obstacles and make it to your next goal if only you had a little educated urging in the right direction? We’ve all been there, but maybe you also have some amazing insights and experiences from conquering obstacles of your own, and you’ve been wondering how you can help others by sharing it…

If either of these thoughts have ever occurred to you, you won’t want to miss my conversation with Sharon Livingston today. She’s a hypnotherapist, author, the president of the International Coach Certification Alliance and she’s known as “The Coach’s Coach.” With a rap sheet like that, you’re not going to want to miss all the insights she has to share on finding a coach, being a coach, and how to decide whether or not coaching is the path for you. Tune in!

In this episode, you will…

Learn why coaching is valuable and how it can help you break through obstacles!

Discover whether or not coaching is right for you and start sharing your best, today!

Hear how you can coach, and lead, with your strengths

Understand why being a good leader is synonymous with being a good listener

Get tips on how to find the perfect coach to fit your needs

This episode on coaching, leadership, and listening, is for everybody—so tune in!
“The best leaders are the best listeners.” – Sharon Livingston
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Becoming Your Best Podcast

Becoming Your Best Blog

Get Lost, Girlfriend!: How I Found Myself When My Best Friend Dumped Me by Sharon Livingston

The Coaching Test

Try The Program

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Winning with Millienials, GenX's, and Boomers | An Interview with Lee Caraher
32 perc 40. rész

Did you know? It’s the first time in history that four different generations of people have found themselves working together in the same workplace?

Learning how to jive with a team is already a balancing act, but what do you do when the members of your team are made up of people who were raised in what seems like totally different worlds? Half of the team feels held back and the other half feels rushed. Some people grew up with iPads in their classrooms, and others grew up with typewriters.

The truth is, diversity of experience, age, and perspective is what makes the world, and the workplace, go round. Tune in for Lee Caraher’s take on how to leverage diverse employee age for success. You’re not going to want to miss what this CEO and communication strategist has to say!

In this episode, you will…

Understand how to create a business culture built on trust and understanding

Learn how to thrive with Millennials in the workplace

Find out the core qualities that make a great leader

Discover why Millennials are so different than the ‘boomer’ wait-your-turn generation

Get Lee’s three reasons why Millennials are key to the future of your business

“Leadership is at a greater demand than ever before in history.” – Steve Shallenberger
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Becoming Your Best

Becoming Your Best iTunes

Lee Caraher Website

Lee Caraher Twitter

Millennials & Management: The Essential Guide to Making It Work at Work by Lee Caraher

KQED Public Media

San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral

Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders by Steve Shallenberger

Emily Post’s The Etiquette Advantage in Business: Personal Skills for Professional Success by Peggy Post

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How to Make More Money AND Keep it in Your Pocket with Rob Shallenberger
26 perc 39. rész

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “I could get out of debt if only I made more money,” or, “I’ll save for retirement later,” then this episode is for you! Spending too much, saving too little, and not planning for the future are all habits, and those habits don’t go away just because you start making more money. That’s often why there’s nothing left over with which to work toward getting out of debt and getting ahead, even though your salary has increased.

Getting rid of debt and saving for the future are intimidating topics, but listening to this episode will give you a plan. Move forward, regain control over your finances, and take back your life! Tune in to learn how!

In this episode, you will…

Understand how you can set a goal and develop a plan that is sure to make you rich!

Get my 8 steps to taking control of your money and getting out of debt

Hear how you can increase income without increasing expenditures

Learn how to become debt-free by ‘snowballing’ your payments

Discover how to become, rather than only to seem, rich

“You’re 90% more likely to reach your goals when you have a written plan.” – Steve…
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The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy by Thomas J. Stanley

Becoming Your Best Podcast

Gary Williams

Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason

The Instant Millionaire: A Tale of Wisdom and Wealth by Mark Fisher

The One Minute Millionaire

Dave Ramsey

Entrepreneur Success Bootcamp

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The Profit of Kindness | An Interview with Jill Lublin
29 perc 38. rész

Are you trying to get noticed and build success? If so, you’ll want to focus on your message and ask yourself the question, “What is the problem that my service/product solves?” Once you have the answer, you’ve got the ammo to accomplish anything.

We can’t do anything alone, so no matter what the event or occasion, show up with an attitude of giving rather than taking and you will be sure to achieve success.

Tune in for more tips on Becoming Your Best from Jill Lublin!

In this episode, you will…

Get insights on following your dreams, even if they don’t make sense at first

Hear how you can discover your strengths by exploring a variety of paths

Understand that the entrepreneurial journey is an ongoing journey

Realize that it takes villages to create great people

Discover that sometimes it’s through doing the wrong thing that you discover the right thing

“It takes villages to create great people.” – Jill Lublin
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Becoming Your Best

Becoming Your Best iTunes

Get Noticed… Get Referrals: Build Your Client Base and Your Business by Making a Name for Yourselfby Jill Lublin

Guerrilla Publicity… by Jay Levinson, Rick Frishman, and Jill Lublin

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow

Networking Magic by Jill Lublin

The Profit of Kindness by Jill Lublin

PublicityCrashCourse.com/freegift

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Transitioning Into the Work You Love | An Interview with Jodi Womack
28 perc 37. rész

On today’s episode, Jodi Womack, CEO of Get Momentum Leadership Academy and founder of No More Nylons, joins us to talk about leaving the corporate world to create a consulting firm and pursue passion projects with her husband and business partner, Jason.

Jodi and Jason have partnered on so many projects and ventures since they took the leap together into an entrepreneurial career of coaching and writing, and they haven’t looked back since. Like those two, many of us spend too much time trying to find happiness in day jobs that are never going to make us happy instead of pursuing our true passions. If you’re one of those people, you won’t want to miss today’s episode!

Tune in for amazing insights on how to get out of the work you have to do, and into the work you love!

In this episode, you will…

Understand how investing time in your future helps create the momentum you need today

Learn how to get out of the work you have to do and into the work you love

Learn how to separate people from their work

Hear how Jodi and Jason Womack began living on purpose

Get the Womacks’ 30/30 rule and find out how it can change your life and reduce anxiety!

“Get out of the work you have to do and into the work you love.” – Jodi Womack
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Get Momentum: How to Start When You’re Stuck by Jason and Jodi Womack

Where is Womack?

GetMomentum.com

Get Momentum… free download

No More Nylons

Becoming Your Best Podcast

Becoming Your Best iTunes

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The Positive Power of Patience
15 perc 36. rész

In today’s episode, you will be inspired by the positive power of patience. Patience, as exercised by taking positive action in the face of set-back, frustration, anger, and compulsion leads to peace, calm and greater effectiveness! Like any state we’re trying to achieve in our life, a state of patience, calm, and perspective requires deliberate practice and…patience, exercised through positive action, gives you just that kind of peace and calm to be a highly successful leader!

Yoga practitioners say that just as much work happens in the resting place as in the active poses, and the same goes for patience. If you commit to really beginning a ‘practice’ of patience accompanied by positive action, you will find that, over time, frustration will be replaced with positive results and allow you to achieve your dreams, goals, and aspirations.

Tune in for more insights on the positive power of patience!

In this episode, you will…

Learn to replace frustration with positive action when the unexpected happens

Understand the power of patience and how slowing down will change your life!

Realize that patience is developed as a state of mind over time

Hear how you can become better at patience the more you work at it

Get insights on how patience allows us to achieve our dreams, goals, and aspirations

“Patience is a force for good that brings calm to your soul….” – Steve Shallenberger
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Becoming Your Best

Becoming Your Best Podcast

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Helping Others Succeed | An Interview with Dr. Joanie Connell
30 perc 35. rész

What’s the best way to help others succeed?

It’s an important question for all of us, and it’s one that my accomplished guest today, Joanie Connell, PhD, has made a central part of her career. Joanie is a Harvard-educated organizational consultant and leadership coach who helps people achieve their highest potential. Her clients include Fortune 100 companies, government agencies, as well as non-profits. She also teaches business and psychology at the university level.

Joanie’s book, Flying without a Helicopter, explores what it takes to achieve success in the workplace and includes insights on parenting, educating, and managing young people in a way that encourages resilience and self-reliance.

Listen in for fascinating—and practicable—advice on leadership that you can use at home, at work, or both!

In this BYB episode, you will . . .

Hear insight on getting the most from young people

Understand how to lead by allowing others to endure challenges

See how parents can inadvertently hinder their children’s success

Get essential tips for better leadership

“Leaders are nowhere without followers.” – Dr. Joanie Connell
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EPISODE RESOURCES
FlexibleWorkSolutions.com

Flying without a Helicopter: How to Prepare Young People for Work and Life by Joanie Connell, PhD

Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders by Steven R. Shallenberger

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Creating A Culture of Highly Performing Employees | An Interview with Jean Henri Lhuillier
26 perc 34. rész

Hearing the insights from amazingly successful people who care deeply about helping others reach their own success—that’s one of the best parts about what I do. And today is a great example. My guest, Jean Henri Lhuillier, is an exceptional business leader, education advocate, and ardent supporter of athletics in his home country, the Philippines. Cebuana Lhuillier's serves customers throughout the world.

As President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier, Jean Henri has created an impressive culture of high-performing, dedicated employees. Listen in to hear his personal story, along with his wisdom for getting the most out of yourself and the people in your organization!

In this BYB episode, you will . . .

• Learn how Jean Henri’s company sets high standards for its employees • Hear why it’s so important for a leader to establish the vision for an organization • Understand why continuing education is so integral to Jean Henri’s company • Hear why any effort to improve an organization needs to start with yourself • Be inspired by Jean’s commitment to helping his company—and his country
“You really have to make sure you walk the talk.” – Jean Henri Lhuillier
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Cebuana Lhuillier | Website

Cebuana Lhuillier | Facebook

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Believe in Yourself | An Interview with Paula Gosney
30 perc 33. rész

“Believe in yourself”—we’re all familiar with that advice.
And although the intentions may be good, when you stop and thinkabout it, just telling people to believe in themselves is probablynot enough. What’s actually more important is showing people how tobelieve in themselves.
Doing that is at the core of my guest’s mission. Native NewZealander Paula Gosney is a writer, entrepreneur, mother, andfierce advocate for the power of believing in yourself. She’s alsothe founder of Belief School, a program that carefully guidespeople through exercises to help them believe in themselves—andbegin living the lives they really want.
Paula’s own belief in herself comes hard-won. She knows pain andsuffering firsthand and spent much of her twenties making reckless,drug-fueled choices. Fortunately, Paula managed to transcend aself-destructive mindset and found a way to believe in herself. Intoday’s episode, she shares her story and her inspirationalinsights—insights that no doubt can help you on the path toBecoming Your Best.
In this BYB episode, you will . . .
• Hear how believing in yourself is the single most importantfactor for growth and change• Learn core values that Paula helps her clients find withinthemselves• See if you’re setting yourself up for failure—and instead learnhow to progress from small successes to larger ones• Learn Paula’s “ARC principle” and hear how accountability,recognition, and community can help you reach your goals• Discover why “You are enough” is such a powerful idea toaccept
“Every moment I have a choice of how I’m going toshow up.” – Paula Gosney
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EPISODE RESOURCES
BeliefSchool
Belief School | Facebook
Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of HighlySuccessful Leaders

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Discover the Ultimate Beauty Secret | An Interview with Julie Marie Carrier
33 perc 32. rész

Your visions and dreams, Napoleon Hill once wrote, “are the children of your soul.” So I want to ask you this: What are your visions and dreams? Because I believe within them lies your life’s purpose. The challenge is to have the strength and confidence to let that purpose emerge.
My guest today, Julie Marie Carrier, knows what I’m talking about. She went from struggling to find her purpose in life to now helping others find theirs. As a leadership expert, Julie has channeled her abilities into empowering girls and young women to proudly be their authentic selves. She is one of the country’s leading youth leadership speakers and is the author of Beyoutiful!, a self-improvement guide written especially for girls and young women.
Julie’s own moving story and her powerful insights are helpful not just for parents with daughters but for anyone struggling to live a truly authentic life!
In this BYB episode, you will . . .
• Get inspired by Julie’s story of overcoming the challenges in her life• Understand how outside influences can prevent us from being authentic• Hear why having a personal vision is the first step to a purpose-driven life• Learn the question Julie asked herself that brought about a life-changing epiphany—a question you can ask yourself• Discover the ultimate “beauty secret” that Julie shares with her audiences
“Life will give you clear messages if you’re listening.” – Julie Marie Carrier
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Julie Speaks

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Leadership Lessons from Around the World
24 perc 31. rész

Who’s a leader out there?
Everyone should be saying, “I am!” You may or may not be a leader in an official way, but in reality, we are all leaders! At the very least, we’re leaders of our own lives. Why is that important to realize? Because it helps us see the power in our decisions. Great leaders make good decisions. And good decisions lead to good results—no matter what aspect of your life we’re talking about.
On my recent travels to various parts of the world, I made an effort to note when I saw outstanding leadership demonstrated. From Central America to Napa Valley, from Dubai to the Philippines, I had the privilege of interacting with amazing leaders, people who are not only transforming lives now but are also paving the way for future generations.
More specifically, I noted 4 key elements to the leadership I saw. Today, I want to share those with you because I have no doubt they can help you in Becoming Your Best!
In this BYB episode, you will . . .
• Discover how you’re a leader in more ways than you think• Hear why you should formulate a personal vision for your life• Learn why making a plan with measurable goals is so important• Get good advice on getting ready for the upcoming week• Think about leadership in relation to how you treat people daily
“Leaders are readers.” – Steve Shallenberger
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders

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Be a Mentor
10 perc 30. rész

This episode is short but important. It’s both an invitation and a challenge: In the next week, find someone to mentor. That’s right—wherever, whoever he or she is, reach out. It can start with an email, a phone call, a simple chat. Just make that first step.
Why is this our topic today? Well, on a recent trip abroad, my father and I were walking through a neighborhood of extreme poverty, and it got us thinking: How do people break negative cycles, transcend barriers, and create real change in their lives?
In the days that followed, I considered the examples I knew of people who overcame tremendous challenges in the midst of adversity. And do you know the common thread I realized in them? They all had a mentor of some kind—a person that gave them a spark of hope and a sense of possibility. Now it’s our turn to be a spark for someone.
In this BYB episode, you will . . .
Understand just how crucial the mentor spark can be
Learn how people take hope and turn it into a vision
See how having a plan lays the foundation for transformation
Get motivated to mentor someone today
Be reminded that the path of Becoming Your Best involves lifting up others along the way
“We didn’t call it Become Your Best—because it’s a journey of Becoming.” – Rob…
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SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

EPISODE RESOURCES
Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders

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Mastering Your Thoughts | An Interview with Kim Ades
30 perc 29. rész

So you’ve got a goal in mind and you’re about to go for it? Great. But first, stop!
At least that’s what my guest Kim Ades says. According to her, before you take action, you need to do this: figure out where you are right now. (And she’s not talking about geography.) Kim is a successful author, entrepreneur, and founder of Frame of Mind Coaching. She’s considered one of the foremost experts on improving performance through thought mastery.
Today she describes how she helps people reach their goals by first helping them understand their thinking. Kim believes that our thought patterns can explain why many of us, especially the goal-oriented among us, lose our focus—and our priorities in life. But we can change that tendency by controlling the way we think. Listen in and get Kim’s unique insights for Becoming Your Best.
In this episode, you will . . .
Hear how Kim addressed her own frame of mind as she went through the most challenging time in her life
Learn why so many highly driven people end up getting stuck and frustrated
Discover how to take your negative thoughts and feelings and “milk them” for the valuable information they contain
Get powerful examples of how seemingly bad situations can be turned into positive ones
Come to a deeper understanding of why journaling can really be a transformative exercise
“Before we can control our thinking, we have to become aware of it.” – Kim Ades
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Frame of Mind Coaching
Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders

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From a Convicted Felon To An Inspiration | An Interview with Weldon Long
33 perc 28. rész

Ready for some jaw-dropping inspiration?
To say that Weldon Long turned his life around doesn’t come close to conveying his amazing story of transformation. Sure, today Weldon’s a highly respected entrepreneur, sales expert, and New York Times bestselling author. But would you believe that 20 years ago this same man was a three-time convicted felon who’d been living, in his words, a life of “poverty, desperation, and struggle”?
Today you’ll hear how over a seven-year period—from the confines of his prison cell—Weldon profoundly and irrevocably changed himself by changing the way he thought about his life. Within just a few years of leaving prison (for the last time), he went on to build an Inc. 5000 company with $20 million in sales. And that’s just the beginning.
In this BYB episode, you will . . .
Hear the details of Weldon’s success story and get powerful insights that can help you in Becoming Your Best
Discover why creating a specific vision for the future was so crucial for Weldon
Learn what it means to live with a prosperity mindset
Understand how the things you fear most can find their way into your own life—and how you can change that
Learn how to handle life when you’re in the depths of despair
See why blaming others only hurts you in the end
“Better decisions guarantee a better outcome.” – Weldon Long
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Weldon Long
HVAC Sales Academy
The Upside of Fear
The Power of Consistency
The Invincible Sales Professional (forthcoming from Weldon Long)
Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

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Leading through a Turnaround | Vision, Plan, Respect and Implement!
36 perc 27. rész

If you’re a leader (at any level), you’ll want to tune in to today’s episode with Wally Thiim. Wally has a B.A. in Business & Communications from Brigham Young University, was a top-level athlete, and Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army’s Armored Calvary! Since retiring from the Army (after 26 years of service!), he spends his time aiding developing universities and supporting health initiatives in Hawaii, where he was born and raised. Listen in to hear Wally’s remarkable story and invaluable insights.
In this episode, you will…
Hear about what it’s like growing up on a remote island in Hawaii
Discover how Wally built self-reliance at a young age
Be inspired by how he struggled and survived the challenges he faced when he joined the army
Hear how Lt. Col. Thiim turned one of the worst units in the Army into the best just in time to make a huge difference in winning the Gulf war with no casualties. An amazing story.
“Being flexible and compassionate, you can have a strong influence.” – Wally Thiim
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The Power of Chair Flying
23 perc 26. rész

This is another solo episode, another awesome opportunity for a one-on-one conversation with you, our listeners! We will talk about a powerful technique I’d like to share with you called “Chair Flying.” This will help you almost everywhere, in your personal or business life! You can start implementing this technique right away.
In this episode, you will…
Learn about the background of Chair Flying
Discover the 4 techniques of Chair Flying
Find out what sets apart the best from the rest
Hear Rob’s story of his days as a pilot
Find out how Chair Flying can aid you to succeed
“Perfect practice makes perfect.” – Rob Shallenberger
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Never Give Up
31 perc 25. rész

Today’s topic is something that touches every single one of us and is critical to our success and happiness in life. What can we do when we are faced with tough times? We will talk about pushing through challenges, adversities, and setbacks!
In this episode, you will…
Hear two great stories of perseverance
Find out Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s 39 words of encouragement – the shortest speech on record.
Discover how J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, turned failure into a big success
Find out the four things that can help lift you up in moments of despair, discouragement, or challenge
Learn from successful people’s struggle – discover how they turned adversity into a story of success
Be inspired by the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley
“The ultimate enemy can be within ourselves, where we battle the urge to give up.” – Steve…
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EPISODE RESOURCES
The Greatest Salesman in the World

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Winners Never Cheat and Cheaters Never Win!
29 perc 24. rész

In the corporate world, and even in your personal life, the temptation to stray from your true self and character is strong. Yet, our research has found that the most successful individuals and companies stay true to their character through all sorts of tests, trials, and tribulations.
In this episode, you’ll hear some stories of leaders who persevered; as well as stories of leaders who got a second chance to rebuild their character. You’ll also hear three things you can do today with your family or your business to keep your pack on the straight and narrow, including:
Lead from the top and set the example.
Create a climate of openness.
Create a channel for oversight and honest feedback.
“The collapse of character begins with compromise.”
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Winners Never Cheat: Even in Difficult Times, New and Expanded Edition
Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders

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Jim Palmer | Tackling the Obstacles and Challenges Holding You Back
30 perc 23. rész

Today’s guest started working at the ripe, young age of 15 and never looked back. With his work ethic and experience, Jim Palmer has become a master of smart marketing, an expert business builder, an entrepreneur, the host of his very own podcast, and an author of six different books.
In this episode, you will…
Hear how Jim got his start and how he developed a work ethic that boosted his success
Discover how you can tackle the obstacles and challenges that are holding you back
Find the mindset you need to adapt and succeed in this ever-changing economy
Learn to listen to your gut. It usually works!
“We are all born for greatness.”
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Jim Palmer
Dream Business Academy

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Ron Williams | Living the Champion Lifestyle
31 perc 22. rész

What kind of drive and discipline does it take to win over 250 awards in body building? Today’s guest, Ron Williams, is here to share with us how he does it all. Not only is he one of the most decorated natural body builder in the world, but he is also an author, a trainer, a coach, a speaker, and an educator.
In this episode, you will…
Hear how Ron’s faith and resilience helped him to rise from the traumatic events of his childhood
Learn how Ron transfers the principles he learned in competition to all parts of his life
Discover why divorcing your beliefs can be necessary to help you see how you can improve
Find out how you can see past the wall and into your successful future
“A championship is an event; a champion is a lifestyle.”
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Iron Chest Master
Ultimate Fat Loss system
Faith and Fat Loss

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Jason Hanson | Protect YOURSELF and YOUR FAMILY from the unexpected!
30 perc 21. rész

You might recognize today’s guest from Shark Tank or The Today Show. My guest today is not only a cool guy but a very close personal friend, Jason Hanson. As a former CIA agent, Jason followed his entrepreneurial tendencies to create his own company Spy Escape and Evasion. Today he helps everyday people prepare for the both the extraordinary and the all too common tragedies that pose a threat to our personal safety.
In this episode, you will…
Learn about Jason’s background in law enforcement and how it influenced his entrepreneurial journey
Discover 5 impactful tips to keep you and your family safe
Find out how criminals often choose their victims
Hear the +3-8 rule of aviation and how it can keep you safer in flight
“Most crimes are crimes of opportunity.”
Click To Tweet
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Spy Escape and Evasion
Spy Secrets That Can Save Your Life

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Tiffany Peterson | Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone & Thrive
33 perc 20. rész

Whether you’re a coach, a teacher, a manager, or a stay-at-home parent, you are a leader and you need persuasive and effective sales skills to not only get by, but to thrive. Today’s guest has travelled all across the world giving advice and sales secrets to individuals and companies and today she is sharing some of her secrets to success with us, Tiffany Peterson.
In this episode, you will…
Ask yourself if you are willing to be uncomfortable to get the results you so badly want
Discover the story you are telling yourself about what your role is
Learn her peak performance strategies and find out the big role that self-care plays in success
Be reassured that it’s OK to start small to establish the habits you’ll use as a foundation to push you closer towards becoming a better you
“Doing isn’t difficult. Deciding is.”
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EPISODE RESOURCES
Part 1: Self Care = Your Success!
Discover the Secrets of Sustainable Excellence
Tiffany Speaks

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Be An Effective Communicator
21 perc 19. rész

Good, better, best
Never let it rest.
Until your good is better,
And your better is best.
Do you ever stop and wonder what you’re capable of accomplishing? With the Becoming Your Best twelve principles of highly successful people, there a lot of different ways to attack this question, but today we’re going to focus on how you can become a better, more effective communicator.
In this episode, you’ll learn skills that will allow you to bring up anything in a conversation and achieve winning communication and results. With the skills you’ll glean from today’s episode, you’ll reinforce mindsets that will bring you prosperity, fulfillment, and happiness in the upcoming year and through the rest of your life.
Today, you will…
Learn two distinct skill sets that will help you to communicate efficiently and effectively
Discover some exercises to help facilitate better communication in your personal and professional lives
Find out the five step process to becoming a better communicator
Hear three examples of these skills in action and be inspired by how they can work in your day-to-day life
EPISODE RESOURCES
Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders

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Wendy Darling | The Miracle That Is Your Life
34 perc 18. rész

Many of her clients have called her their personal fairy godmother, but we mostly know her as a bestselling author, the founder of the Miraculous Loving Institute, a transformation expert, a talk radio personality, a management consultant, and a keynote speaker: the accomplished Wendy Darling.
After persevering through her own obstacles, Wendy has come out on the other side with a helping hand for everyone from singles, to couples, to high-level executives. Her focus is on helping singles to find the love of their lives, to enrich romantic partnerships, and to improve rapport between employers and their employees.
In this episode, you will…
Discover how Wendy rebounded after a serious accident radically altered her life
Find out how she learned from her setbacks and made them the source of her strength
Learn how you can make your dreams a reality when you nourish and nurture yourself
Hear Wendy’s advice for singles and couples on how you can fill your life with the love you’ve always dreamed of
EPISODE RESOURCES
The Miracle that is Your Life- Wendy Darling
www.wendydarling.com
wendy@wendydarling.com
760.231.8234

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Moving to Transformational Leadership
14 perc 17. rész

In our modern day and age, it's all too easy to go through life interacting with people only in transactions. Whether it's in your personal or professional life, it is so incredibly important as leaders that we focus on leaving a legacy of greatness through transformational interactions.
As we enter a fabulous new year, it's always nice to set your foundational intentions and goals for the year ahead. Since you’re already tuning in to this podcast, you’re probably already working towards making this year your best yet. But to help you along your journey, we decided to share two quick stories about two different men who had experiences that altered the course of their lives with transformational interactions.

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No More New Years Resolutions
30 perc 16. rész

Starting on January 1st, 2016, everyone has a clean slate and a fresh start to make this the year where you become your best self. But what exactly does your best self look like and what can you do this year to better yourself, your relationships, your business, your community, and even the world?
Lead with a vision and manage a plan that will make a difference in your life with our strategy inspired by Rob’s years as an elite fighter pilot. You can turn the impossible into the possible with this four step process.
To make the very best of the year to come, you’ll need to…
Begin by reviewing your vision
Identify the different roles you play in your life
Make sure that your goals are SMART (Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time Specific)
Send your goals to a group of people you admire or trust to hold yourself accountable to achieve all that you’ve set out to do.
This is the time of year that most people set New Year’s Resolutions. This is the year that you stop making resolutions and write down specific, measureable goals to become your best.

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Anson Dorrance | The Secret To Winning 22 National Championships!
33 perc 15. rész

Today I have the honor of speaking with the single most successful coach in intercollegiate sports and athletics. He set the standard for women’s soccer with 22 NCAA championships and in his 37th year of coaching he has nearly 800 wins under his belt with no signs of stopping any time soon.
My guest today is a leader in elite athletics and in character development, the head soccer coach at the University of North Carolina, Anson Dorrance.
In this episode, you will…
Discover how Anson’s international background provided him with the world view he has today and has helped him to celebrate differences among people as an individual and as a leader
Hear about Anson’s evolution from a young coach to a top performer in his field
Learn how being an introvert didn’t hold him back, but propelled him to where he is today
Find out how you can bring the best out of your players with the help of the 12 core values of the UNC women’s soccer team
"Much of success comes to those that really practice and work hard at it." -Anson Dorrance

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Episode Resources
Training Soccer Champions- Anson Dorance
The Vision of Champions- Anson Dorance
http://mrs.sog.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/carolinawomenssoccervalues.doc
What Drives Winning-Brett Ledbetter
http://whatdriveswinningconference.org/speakers/anson-dorrance/

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How to Communicate During Crucial Conversations
30 perc 14. rész

Today's guest is a total and absolute inspiration, New York Times bestselling author, keynote speaker, and leading social scientist for business performance, Joseph Grenny. Ever since we met, Joseph has always been quick to endorse and encourage my work and I am thankful to call him a friend.
Joseph is an expert on understanding how to influence groups of people to create profound, rapid, and sustainable change, whether it's at a familial, business, or political level. As influencing others is arguably the main job of any leader, it's needless to say that Joseph has a lot of wisdom to share from his research and his book, Crucial Conversations.
In this episode, you will…
Be inspired by how Joseph continues to learn from his work and influencing change in others and yourself
Discover how you can take responsibility for your emotions and unpack the fabrications that can lead you astray
Learn the questions you need to be asking yourself in every crucial conversation
Hear why you need to be looking for behavior over outcomes when seeking an exceptional leader
Find out the difference story telling can make when trying to solve a problem

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Dave Petersen | Creating a Culture of Trust
28 perc 13. rész

Not many CEOs can claim that they have worked in every department at their company, but our guest today is the exception. After nearly 33 years with O.C. Tanner, Dave Petersen is now the CEO and president of the company and he has truly proven himself to be a dedicated and inspirational leader who looks not only to reach his own potential but to help his employees to reach theirs.
In this episode, you will…
Learn why O.C. Tanner found itself on Fortune’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2015 and what Dave is doing to keep it there
Be inspired by how Dave worked his way up through the ranks to arrive where he is today
Hear strategies used by Dave and O.C. Tanner to keep their employees engaged and minimize employee turnover
Find out what the three core competencies of O.C. Tanner are and how they maintain their culture of trust
Hear why it pays to care for others with a quick anecdote about Dave’s encounter with a police officer
"Nothing gets done in any company without people." @octanner

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Episode Resources
O. C. Tanner
http://fortune.com/best-companies/o-c-tanner-40/

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Dorothy Russell | Leading & Serving at 91 Years Old
33 perc 12. rész

Today’s guest reminds us that being a true leader is not always about position, title, or power it is about influence. Along with her late husband, Gardner Russell, she has served as a civic, political, business, and social leader across the Americas throughout her illustrious life.
Even today at ninety-one years young, Dorothy manages numerous properties, supports charities, and holds an honorary position on a board of directors.
In this episode, you will…
Hear how Dorothy realized her potential in high school through debate team
Be inspired by how she contributed to the war effort in a male-dominated field during WWII
Learn how she met and fell in love with her lifelong partner, her husband Gardner
Find out how Dorothy has learned to handle setbacks and tragedies in life and business
Discover how she continues to contribute in big ways to her community and to the world
"Leadership isn't about position, title, or power. It's about influence." -Dorothy Russell

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Kevin Clayson | Flipping the Gratitude Switch
29 perc 11. rész

Gratitude is a word that is too often reserved for this time of year when we start to reflect on our progress but today’s guest is working hard to make gratitude a part of our daily lives. Kevin Clayson is not only a close friend but he is also a proud husband and father, an author, a real estate investor, a personal development coach, and chief officer of awesome (really!).
With his brand new book, Flipping the Gratitude Switch, he has started a “gratifuel” movement that is quickly spreading across the nation.
In this episode, you will…
Hear how Kevin has learned to shift his mindset from an employee to an entrepreneur and how he continues to struggle in his journey
Be inspired by Kevin’s perspective on success and service
Hear what the “flipping the switch” philosophy is all about
Learn how you can transform your daily frustrations into gratitude
Find out how gratitude can take you from good to better to best and how it has changed Kevin’s life
"Gratitude isn't a noun, it's a verb. It's what we do. It's what we activate." @kevinclayson

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Episode Resources
Flipping the Gratitude Switch- Kevin Clayson
The Compound Effect- Darren Hardy
The Entrepreneur Rollercoaster- Darren Hardy

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Lead With A Vision
29 perc 10. rész

The difference between a clear and defining vision and not having a vision at all can be a game changer for a business. But how many people have personal visions that extend beyond their business or professional life into their personal lives? In our experience, not a whole lot.
Before you even consider developing goals or plans, have you defined who you are, what you stand for, and what you are working towards? If not, this podcast is for you.
In this episode, you will…
Discover why a simple, easy to understand vision is so important to the success of a business
Be inspired by examples from Southwest Airlines, Coco-Cola, President Paul Kagame, and Wal-Mart
Learn how you can find out if your company has a vision
Hear three key questions to ask yourself to find your own personal vision
Find out the the importance of a clear vision and how it can empower all aspects of your life
Create you vision for success SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST

Episode Resources
www.lifeorganizerapp.com

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Danny Brassell | Why Leaders Are Readers
32 perc 9. rész

Today’s guest has helped people from all walks of life, from kindergarteners to to rocket scientists, to achieve more, overcome adversity, and give back through his dynamic and engaging speeches. As the son of a librarian, Danny hated reading, but today he is called America’s leading reading ambassador.
Dr. Danny Brassell comes from a background that encouraged him to reach for the stars and he has dedicated most of his life to motivating others to reach for their potential as well.
In this episode, you will…
Hear the four critical turning points that led Danny to the success he has today
Discover how a steady diet of positive influences has helped him to fulfill his full potential and continue to grow
Find out how Danny handles setbacks and how he reacts to challenges
Be inspired by the story of Conrad Hilton
Learn why reading every day is such an important habit for leaders

"I've met plenty of readers who aren't necessarily leaders, but I have never met a successful leaders who was not an avid reader." -Danny Brassell

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Episode Resources
Think and Grow Rich- Napoleon Hill
Be My Guest- Conrad Hilton
The Tale of Peter Rabbit-Beatrix Potter
How to Win Friends and Influence People- Dale Carnegie
The Greatest Salesman in the World- Og Mandino
Psychocybernetics-Maxwell Maltz
The Power of Positive Thinking-Norman Vincent Peale
Swim with the Sharks without being Eaten Alive-Harvey Mackay
Becoming Your Best- Steve Shallenberger
www.lazyreaders.com
www.dannybrassell.com

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James Malinchak | Millionaire Success Secrets
33 perc 8. rész

Today’s guest is the master marketer, motivational speaker, and millionaire, James Malinchak. At his first job as a financial consultant in LA, rather than keep his head down, James approached the most successful people in his firm and invited them out to lunch. This strategy has led him to become the leader that he is today.
In this episode, you will…
Learn how James went from the small town life to a successful, influential leader
Discover how he approached his employers differently and how that changed the course of his life
Find out how ABC’s The Secret Millionaire affected James and altered his worldview
Hear how his sister’s death put his life in perspective
Learn how and why you need to change your mindset and your skill set to really set your plans into action
Be inspired by the story of Mohammad Ali and how it applies to all aspiring leaders

"You always achieve more through movement than through meditation." -James Malinchak

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Episode Resources
www.malinchak.com
www.millionairesuccesssecrets.com

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Gary Barnes | Overcoming Adversity to Reach Your Full Potential
30 perc 7. rész

Today’s guest is a good friend of mine, a high-performance business sales coach and founder of multiple successful businesses, Gary Barnes. Over his career, Gary has developed principles and strategies that he follows which have increased his production by 1800%. Through overcoming a rough beginning and facing down a life-threatening illness, he has never ceased reaching for his full potential.
In this episode, you will…
Hear Gary’s story and how he triumphed over his childhood and multiple sclerosis with the help of visualization (and how a beaver saved his life!)
Discover what inspires Gary to continue on the path that brought him to where he is today
Find out how external validation can kill business
Learn how you can gain more confidence in your life and your business through establishing a vision and utilizing positive affirmations
Be inspired to take action and find success in movement
Discover three great tips from Gary on how to achieve glowing success
Learn how important it is to engage and contribute
[Tweet "“Facts are stories before they become beliefs.” -Gary Barnes"]

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Episode Resources
www.garybarnesinternational.com
gary@garybarnesinternational.com

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Can You Afford A Bad Day?
30 perc 6. rész

How many times a week do you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or maxed out? Do you often find yourself feelings frustrated or upset over something? If you’re anything like our team, you can’t afford to have a bad day. Today, Steve and Rob Shallenberger share the eleventh principle of highly successful leaders: living in peace and balance.
In this episode, you will…
Find out how you can radically change your mindset with a few simple tools
Tune in to hear Steve’s strategies for taking charge and setting the tone in your business and familial relationships
Discover how just three words can take your attitude from where you are to where you want to be
Learn how you can break free from mediocrity
Hear how you can change your reality with affirmations and positive self-talk
“I feel healthy. I feel happy. I feel wealthy.”
CLICK TO TWEET

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Dallin Larsen | A Billion Dollar Success
35 perc 5. rész

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with an incredible guest who will transform your business and your life. A serial entrepreneur, Dallin Larsen is an inspiration in my life, as well as a dear friend of mine. Throughout his illustrious career, he has created literally billions of dollars in revenue and started countless global enterprises.
In his senior year of high school in a rural town in Idaho, as he watched his classmates walk across the stage accepting scholarships and various other awards, Dallin arrived at the realization that he was meant for great things, but his time had yet to come. He found his calling as an entrepreneur and through that rocky road full of triumphs and tribulations he has learned many life lessons along the way.
In this episode, you will…
Hear from Dallin how his upbringing led him to where he is today
Learn how important it is to surround yourself with people who inspire you
Discover Dallin’s tips for developing authentic priorities as a leader
Find out how you can motivate your team to reach their potential
Learn the value of authenticity as a leader in your personal and professional life
Hear an uplifting poem Dallin shares from a challenging time in his journey
Find the full show notes at http://BecomingYourBest.com/blog/005

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Dr. Will Moreland | Finding and Living Your Genius Potential
25 perc 4. rész

We asked you to let us know what topics you would like us to cover to help you enrich your life personally and professionally. We heard you out and decided to invite best-selling author, international speaker, and leadership trainer, Dr. Will Moreland, to answer some of your questions.
Growing up in Compton,Will’s environment did not necessarily encourage him to realize his own potential. In fact, he faced a lot of challenges early on in life. But after joining the Army and discovering his true calling, Will has worked hard to inspire leaders around the world to “live genius”.
In this episode, Will and I will discuss…
What set him on a pathway to realize his own potential
Will’s turning point
How you can influence and transform the lives of others
His strategies for staying motivated
How to find the positive in a negative situation
The advantage of setting big B.A.G.S (Bold Audacious Goals)
How crucial accountability can be when you’re trying to stay motivated
Why it’s so important to not be afraid of failure
“Always remember who you want to impress at the end of your life and structure your life to…
CLICK TO TWEET

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RESOURCES
Twitter – @DrWillSpeaks RealTeamGenius.com WillMoreland.com
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Richard Eyre | Maximizing your Longevity and your Legacy
33 perc 3. rész

As you go through the different seasons of your life, things change. One person who has always been there to offer guidance along the way is my guest, Richard Eyre. As a Harvard MBA grad, CEO, and author, Rick has achieved a great deal over the years, but its his role as a father to nine children (and a grandfather to 27 grandkids-and counting!) that really inspires him to make this life count.

With a new book on the market, I invited Rick here to share the lessons he has learned throughout his life that have helped make him a strong and successful leader in his personal and professional lives.

In this episode, you will learn…

Why you can't control everything (and why it's better that you don't)
The significance of serendipity
The pivot points that led Rick to a life of self-determination and leadership
Planning versus balance
How to find strength in the autumn of your life
Ownership versus stewardship

Rick’s newest book that he co-authored with his wife, Linda, is out now. Life In Full: Maximizing your Longevity and your Legacy is about taking care of your health, wealth, and your posterity. Whether you're 20, 40, or beyond, this book will help you to establish the legacy that you want to live your life to the fullest.
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Take Control of Your Busy Life: Discover the Secret to Prioritizing Your Time!
29 perc 2. rész

Before we began this podcast, we asked our audience what they wanted to hear most from us. While the responses ranged from “how do I stay positive in a slump?” to “how do I handle difficult people”, one of the most frequent questions deals with managing your time and balancing your priorities all while staying sane.
Whether you’re the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, a stay-at-home parent, or a student, we all struggle with making sure that our schedule reflects what’s most important in our lives. This is why we’ve decided to share our Pre Week Planning process with you today. This process will help you to transform your good intentions into a reality that will yield the results you want in your personal and professional lives.
In this episode, you will learn:
The secret to successfully tackling your weekly to-do list
How to go from prioritizing your schedule to scheduling your priorities
The 3 steps to creating your Pre Week Planner
Extra tips for anyone in a relationship
The main difference between a to-do list and our Pre Week Planning
We challenge you to try Pre Week Planning for the next four weeks to see the radical difference it can make in your life. Choose an accountability partner to keep you honest and download our Life Organizer app or go on our website to www.becomingyourbest.com to find a layout that works for you.
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RESOURCES
Life Organizer App
Becoming Your Best store
Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders- Steven Shallenberger

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Making Your Dreams a Reality! Meet Steve and Rob Shallenberger
30 perc 1. rész

As some of the most in demand keynote speakers and bestselling authors, Steve and Rob Shallenberger have been adding value to executives and top leaders around the world. Every week, they will be answering your questions by sharing the same tools and strategies from their seminars, granting you free access to the same world class materials typically reserved for Fortune 500 companies.
Steve Shallenberger has 40 years of experience under his belt as a successful author, CEO, speaker, and trainer of leaders throughout the world. But most importantly, he has been happily married to the same woman for 41 years and has six kids.
In this episode, Steve will share:
How he rose from humble beginnings in Valeo, California
The power of dreaming
The first of twelve principles of highly successful leaders
Ways to find an inspirational vision for your life
Rob Shallenberger is a Harvard MBA, former fighter pilot, author, speaker, and trainer of corporate leaders with his father, Steve. He is also a husband and father to four beautiful children.
Later in the episode, Rob will share:
His turning point where he took charge of his life and his future
The true opposite of failure and the cure to it
The goal of this podcast is to share this incredible, life-changing content with as many people as possible. If you like what you hear, please go rate us on iTunes and share this podcast with your friends, family, and team.
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RESOURCES
www.becomingyourbest.com
Zig Ziglar
Steven Covey
Earl Nightingale
Norman Vincent Peale
Denis Waitley
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t- Jim Collins
Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders- Steven Shallenberger

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