I was born deaf in my left ear. I am not sure exactly how it happened, but my entire life I have had to adjust where I sit, walk, and how I approach people with my left ear in mind. Early in my life, I adjusted instinctively, but as I grew older I remember making intentional decisions to put myself in positions to minimize the impact the deafness would have on my conversations with people.
Read MoreI am a devoted follower of the Finding Mastery podcast by Michael Gervais. His work served as the catalyst for launching my own podcast seven years ago. He frequently presents the following question to his podcast guests, a query that consistently occupies my thoughts.
“Where does pressure come from?”
Read MoreFive years ago, I had a conversation with a head coach of a professional sports team. I asked him if he would rather be a team with a target on their back because they were a top dog or the team who was David and was trying to slay the goliath.
Read MoreI posed this question to myself recently. If I could only pick one of these, which one would I want on my tombstone?
World-Class Writer
World-Class Coach
World-Class Speaker
World-Class Podcaster
World-Class Dad
Read MoreWhen someone says, “It’s not about the money,” I think what they often mean is “It’s not just about the money.” One word can change how we communicate and the clarity of our communication. One word can breed authenticity and the lack of a word can breed phoniness.
A lack of boundaries often leads to bitterness and resentment. I have frequently put a desire to be well-liked over a desire to set boundaries, and surprisingly it leads to being less well-liked. Let me explain further. Boundaries need to be front-loaded. They create expectations. When we set our intentions up-front, we create clarity; when we don’t, we create clutter. Many of us create stories and assumptions when boundaries aren’t in place. It’s in those stories that drama thrives. Boundaries are about truth over hearsay.
Read MoreIt seems as if every financial model/expert point to us heading to recession. I often think about the phrase.... "Don't wait until it rains to build a roof." We all need to be roof-building right now, and who knows, maybe it even needs to be a retractable one.
Read MoreRelationships are huge for sales/revenue. Systems are huge for growth; they allow us to unlock our potential and make performing easier, especially in a group context. Systems lead to better implementation. They are about “best practice.” Think of them as a philosophy; the way we want to play, sell, operate, etc. Great systems create efficiencies that reduce friction. Find a consistently performing organization and you will most likely find great systems. Systems are about unlocking potential.
Read MoreAsking a question we know the answer to is condescending. Stop doing it. Don’t do it. You are wasting your time and that of the people you serve. We are often trained to do so, and I believe it’s a mistake. If you know the answer to something you are far better off asking for permission to share your answer than asking a question you already have an answer to.
Read MoreThis time of year is great for reflection.
I often think of Thomas Edison.
Love it or hate it, email is an essential form of communication for most of us. A few years ago, I was drowning in my inbox. I was slipping. Not replying to people and letting things fall through the cracks. I decided to invest money into fixing the problem when I found a company called Superhuman.
Read MoreWhat is wealth? We often attach it to money. Nice things. Capacity. Yet, I love this definition of wealth: plentiful supplies of a particular resource. Can it be money? Sure. But it can also be family, friends, health and more. We need to change our perception of wealth.
Read MoreWe are constantly making meaning of the world. Our meaning drives our story. Our story drives our perception. Yet, our capacity to make meaning can often lead us astray; it can lie to us. We are awful at remembering what truly happened in the past. Our brains like to create neat and tidy stories so that we cleanly understand what happened, but much of life isn’t neat or tidy.
Read MoreSports evolve. Think about the last 30 years and how they have changed; NBA teams take far more 3 pointers, NFL teams throw more, NHL teams have swapped out fighters for speedsters, MLB teams swing away, hunting for homers, instead of just making contact. Evolution is everywhere in sports. Yet, how are you evolving? What about your organization?
Read MoreMuch of my success thus far in life has been because of tremendous relationships. I am grateful for them. Yet, we often don’t have a clear understanding of what creates a great relationship.
Read MoreOne size fits all rarely works. It may be quicker and easier, but a one size fits all approach often stifles the nuance needed for greatness. Think about the roles below that are often seen as similar, but actually show up in very different ways.
Read MoreThree words: I am enough. Powerful. Often helpful. Feeling as though we are enough allows for us to have peace of mind. Yet, growth mindset, which is one of my favorite concepts, has been embedded into our school, businesses, and many other organizations. So how do we leverage growth mindset while also understanding that we are enough?
Read MoreWho you are is not based on what you do, but what you do does have an impact on who you are. Let me explain further.
Read MoreGreat teams are often built from elite talent and process. Both can be invested in. Focused on. When we combine talent with great process we get the best potential outcome. Here’s a further breakdown of how talent and process impact outcomes.
Read MorePerhaps you are a leader. Maybe you are a parent. Regardless of where you are, we all have to figure out when to share and when to shield. Kids don’t need transparency on everything, and neither do employees.
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