Episodes

4d ago

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My Guest: Angie Hicks, co-founder of Angie's List (now called Angi) . She started the company at just 23, going door-to-door as a self-described introvert and non-salesperson, and turned it into a national platform trusted by millions. During our conversation, we discuss what it takes to lead with authenticity and build lasting impact. Key Learnings Lead by listening and showing up. Whether it's knocking on doors as a 23-year-old or meeting employees during office hours as CEO, Angie reminds us that being present, paying attention, and seeking feedback is the heart of leadership. Focus on people and learning. Angie's career filter is simple: Do I like the people I'm working with? Am I learning new things? If yes, keep going. If not, it's time to reconsider. Excellence isn't just about results. It's about the environment and growth around you. Take your work seriously, but not yourself. Confidence, humility, and authenticity go hand in hand. Angie shows us that you can be ambitious and driven without losing sight of the human side of leadership. From Angie... My co-founder, Bill Osterle, came to me when I was a senior in college and said, "Hey, I've got a crazy idea. Your parents are gonna hate it. But why don't we start a business?" I talked to my parents, talked to my friends, and then I ended up talking to my grandfather who was incredibly conservative. He grew up in the Depression, very fiscally responsible. "What do you have to lose? You're 22, your parents aren't going to let you starve, and you're not trying to support a family, so why don't you try it?" I was so taken aback by his response that that comment was probably what pushed me over the edge. I think young people can do this a lot, as we tend to overthink decisions. Sometimes people see things in you that you don't see in yourself, and you've gotta have a little faith. What better time to have a little faith than when you're young and carefree? Work hard, and things will come your way. We started in 1995. It was an offline world. We started as a call-in service and a monthly newsletter. The first name of the company was Columbus Neighbors. We left it like that for a year, and people just didn't get it. They thought the newsletter was the list. We decided to do a rebranding nine months in. We had two options: The List or Jackie's List (Jackie was the mother of one of our investors who knew everybody). At the last minute, Bill said maybe it should be Angie's List. "She does answer the phone." Going door to door was hard. There was a lot of crying, I will be honest. I was selling something that wasn't concrete. "Hey, so when you need a plumber, you're gonna call me and I'm gonna help you find a plumber. And then when you hire someone, you're gonna tell me about it." I viewed it as a numbers game. I need to knock on so many doors every day, and that's just what I'm going to do. Hopefully, if I stay on my pitch and I knock on enough doors, I will sell the right number of memberships. If I was selling one or two memberships a day, that's great. No business was gonna be built on me selling one or two memberships a day, but that's where we were. Sometimes you have to do the hard stuff. Sometimes you have to do the stuff you're not good at, and you have to figure out ways to work around it. Because no matter what you do in your career, there's gonna be stuff you don't love. I broke it down by like, I'm gonna do it for these two hours. I'm a believer in the you can do anything for a year philosophy. I could do anything for an hour a day. So you have to kind of disconnect and treat it that way, as this is like taking my medicine. But you do win every once in a while. And it is fun when you win. It is fun when you sell something. The day Patty gave me her church directory was the best day ever. You gotta celebrate the little wins as well in life. Starting a business is a long journey. It is more of a marathon than a sprint. There's usually not this burst of momentum where everything rolls your way. It's building blocks along the way. If you don't celebrate those little wins and you only focus on, oh, I'm not gonna be happy until we're at 10,000 members, that could be years. You need things to keep you going every day. Patty lived near Bill, so she kinda liked him too, but I think there was a little bit of entrepreneur in Patty. Patty needed nothing from us. She had lived in Columbus her entire life. She had renovated a 1920s house. All she was able to do was give. She knew everybody. But I think she just loved the spirit. You don't know whether that's door seven, door one, door 57, you don't know. But there is typically a breakthrough. Staying true and persistent, you know, there probably weren't a lot of women starting businesses going door to door in 1995, and Patty was like, look, she's got some gumption. She's tackling a business that in many ways is a man's world. Construction is a man's world. Whether that's starting a business or finding the right boss, or finding the right position, that same lesson is the same. I talk to young people, I say, Hey, you can do marketing anywhere. There's any company you can do marketing. When it comes to me... Go where you're gonna be with somebody who believes in you. That's gonna invest in you, because that's actually what's gonna change your trajectory. It's not the name on the company that's gonna change your trajectory. It's actually who's got your back, who's coaching you, that's going to make the biggest difference. The next inflection point for me was when we opened in Cleveland the year after that. It was the first market we had opened from scratch. I remember I went one morning and picked up the newspaper, picked up the Plain Dealer at the bagel shop across the street from my office. And there it was, our little two-by-three ad that said, "Tired of lousy service" with some clip art. I was so excited. I was like, This is amazing. We're in Cleveland. This is gonna be so great. And then I remember telling Bill, "We're gonna get so many calls." And he's like, "We're gonna get so many calls." And I don't think we got any calls that day. The transition from individual contributor to leading others was a horrible transition. It's actually really hard. I tell people that all the time because if you think about who do we promote in companies, we promote really strong individual performers. The skills that make us really good individual performers do not necessarily make us good leaders, managers, et cetera, because it's actually a whole different skillset. I was that overachiever kind of controller, let me just do it type person. You have to actually train yourself to not do those things because no one's ever going to be successful and learn if you're just over there stepping in. The early days when I was young and trying to manage people, not good. Not good at all. I ended up leaving for a year and a half to go to business school. I was pretty burnt out on the business, and I probably would've left the business had I not gone. It gave me a chance to reflect on where I've been and step back. Now I understand, I'm not in the pressure cooker. I can see where I've mistepped. I left when I was 25, three years in. The business had gotten big enoug,h and we decided to bring in a CEO because the 22- 23-year-old was kinda like, maybe we need some leadership here. My co-founder joined full-time at that point and came in as CEO. I joke around, I'm like, take a break. I was still keeping the books. The TV commercial was a hundred thousand dollars, which I had to convince our board on. I was like, look, either we try this or we just close Cleveland because there is no scenario here that we're gonna build a business with door-to-door sales at the rate we're moving. We basically took everything on Cleveland, which was $100,000. I would've been devastated had it failed. People started calling. I was so excited. Then all of a sudden it just kinda went bananas. You realize there's a lot of people with this problem. Doors slammed in my face at that point, not as much of an issue. And then we ended up being in Boston and Washington, and a bunch of other cities. Every time we'd go to a city, I'd fly in, and I would open the paper, and I would get all happy. The TV commercials themselves were funny because I can't do anything for fun anymore without seeing myself in the commercial. I did the first one, and they're like, listen, we're just gonna, we're not gonna tell anybody. It's just gonna go on, you know, we're just gonna do it really quietly. I was like, great. Okay, fine. And then it kind of took off. I had young kids at the time. I wouldn't let us advertise on kids' shows. There was never us on Disney Channel or Nickelodeon because I didn't want that. But the kids would see me on TV. You know, they would see me doing interviews. It happened for them at such a young age that they just kind of thought that's what parents did. I remember one of my kids coming home in middle school and being like, I can't believe you didn't tell me you were famous because it was finally, the friends had grown up enough that they were like, you know who her mom is, right? I became a little more closed off in my personal life as I became more public. Kids deserve to grow up in a world where they get to be kids and not have to deal with that stuff. In our little town, people were like, Oh yeah, she just lives here. And it became not a thing. It became more relevant to me when I was traveling. I started doing office hours. I did it on Fridays leading into the lunchtime, which, let's be honest, was probably one of the squishiest times of productive work. I was with a group of CEOs the other day, and I actually suggested, just try a little. It doesn't have to be a big thing. Just try a little and see where it takes you. The meetings were anything. It was career advice. What should I do? They might have ideas for the business. Hey, we should go into this line. I remember talking one day to our head of legal, and I was like, you know, I don't get open-door media requests anymore. And she kind of chuckled, and she said, That's because you have them all the time. You allow problems to come to you before they're big problems, so they become less of a thing. I'd rather people bring their concerns internally first and listen to 'em and address 'em when you can. They always come internally first, whether it's from an employee, whether it's from a customer. It's just how we handle those things as to whether they blow up into something bigger. I always tried to give them something in return. They come to talk to me and I'd introduce 'em to someone who would help. I'd open a door for them. To this day, I still love talking to customers. I think we live in a very digital age, and I feel like we don't talk to one another very much. People like people. They need to feel heard and have things resolved. I took that office hours idea, and now I do it with customers, so any pro can sign up and talk to me. Gives me a chance to understand, get a pulse on what's going on. The people on the front line are the ones who are making your brand. The marketing team might make some great social posts and some great TV ads. But many times, the people who are manning the phones or your chats are the ones that are leaving a more lasting impression on your brand than anything else. How do you bring the voice of the customer into the organization? Not everybody in our company is a homeowner. How do you make sure they can understand the customer? What's life like as a small business owner, as a pro? What's it like for a homeowner when something goes awry on their worst day? How do I bring those stories to life? I had to convince myself that it was a good use of time. Busy people who have lots of responsibility are active doers, overachievers, to sit back and talk and listen feels like, Okay, am I moving the needle? It feels a bit too squishy. That's why I would treat it just like some of the other things. I will give it an hour a week. Let's see what happens there. I could see the payoff. I can't go spend 30% of my time doing this, but there is a portion of time that I do dedicate. Feedback is a gift and something you should seek out. But yeah, it doesn't always feel great. One of the hardest pieces of advice I got came at a time when we were actually trying to do a transaction. They said, "You have an executive presence issue." And I was like, what? They said, "You're too nice to everybody. It doesn't help the company." I can't tell you how much that comment just killed me. But then I went out and got an executive coach, and I reflected on it. In many ways, it made me a better CEO. I learned that I could be me and I could still be nice and I could be kind, but there are moments I have to be clear. When I'm looking to promote someone or hire someone, knowing your stuff is super important. You don't want this person, who says, I'm the one who always knows the answer. You want someone who can learn from their team. I spent most of my career running marketing, and marketing moves fast. Some of the youngest members of the team are teaching me more things over the years than even some of the more seasoned marketing people. How are you constantly having a view about learning and staying smart in the trade? The ability to just be a good partner or work with people is important. Your job's not to come in and knock down walls. It's actually to build relationships because you can't do everything yourself. How are you at building cross-department relationships? My advice to recent grads: One of my favorites, take your work very seriously. Be good at what you do. Don't always be looking for that next thing that you gotta go tackle. Do what's in front of you first. Don't take yourself too seriously. You come out, you're like, Oh, I have all of these credentials. I should therefore be able to do these things. Sometimes the envelopes need stuffed and we might all do that together. So don't take yourself too seriously. We're gonna do this together. Be open to feedback and to helping others. Don't be afraid when people suggest things that seem totally counter. I think sometimes we get too rigid in our plans. I use Angie's List as an example. I was supposed to be a consultant. I was supposed to go be a business consultant, but then Bill comes in and says, hey, what about this? I could have easily been a business consultant and had a nice life. But I chose that door. A lot of times, people get a little too narrow in their focus and miss opportunities. So stay open to that. For me, it's all about the people you work with. Working with people that you're learning from, that believe in you, that's all that matters. I overindex there. People ask me, how are you still doing this after 30 years? I ask myself two questions, and if I can answer yes to those two questions, I'm in. If I answer no, I'm out. The two things are: Do I like the people I'm working with, and am I learning new things? When you're as long in your career as I am, you have to dedicate time and effort to learning new things so that you don't become that person that is like, we do this because we've always done it this way. Which I think is just like the worst line ever. Reflection Questions Angie's grandfather asked, "What do you have to lose?" when she was 22 and hesitating about starting a business. What decision are you currently overthinking that you might need to just take a leap on while you're young (or young enough) and the risk is manageable? S She says the skills that make us really good individual performers don't necessarily make us good leaders. If you've recently been promoted or are leading others, what specific "doer" habits do you need to let go of so your team can learn and succeed? Angie stayed at Angi for 30 years by asking herself two questions: "Do I like the people I'm working with?" and "Am I learning new things?" How would you honestly answer those two questions about your current role? If the answer to either is no, what does that tell you?

Dec 8

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My Guest: Patrick Lencioni is the founder of The Table Group and a bestselling author of 14 books, including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The 6 Types of Working Genius . Behind his achievements (valedictorian, straight A's, business success) were childhood wounds that drove him to prove himself. Key Learnings "I think I'm really good at anticipating people's objections." I think about what they might be thinking and what I need to put out there. Whether talking interpersonally, giving a speech, writing a book, or on a podcast, I like to think about what the other person might be objecting to. Lean into empathy. I always felt like I needed to prove myself in order to be successful and to feel safe. That's not healthy. "When people tell you they got straight A's and were the valedictorian, the student body president, and got accepted to all the schools they wanted to get into, there's a wound there ." Based on my personality type, I shouldn't have done all those things, but it was out of the need to prove myself. Which wasn't healthy for me. My parents had a hard time being affirming because of their own lives. It wasn't until I was 55 years old that a friend who's a psychologist said, "You, my friend, have childhood wounds you've never dealt with." I got good Christian counseling and realized that the way I grew up, I wasn't supposed to grow up that way. It's common in athletes & CEOs to feel like they haven't done enough. They need to do more. "You're a noun, not a verb. You are enough, and you're not defined by what you do." Great achievements come out of fear, but "true greatness is best when it's only in the things that you're meant to be great at, and that you're doing it out of freedom and passion and love, not out of fear of failure." I remember seeing Tiger Woods on the Tonight Show when he was four years old. He was being groomed to be a golfer when he was four. It's best in life when we discover who God means us to be, then we do the things we're supposed to do and we're okay with not being good at the things we're not supposed to. Are we too affirming now as parents? People who are pretty darn good at everything it's usually because they're doing something out of fear. When I was a kid, my parents came from World War II and the Depression. It was like, hey, you got a roof over your head. There was a lot of suffering, and they weren't really attuned to that. Now we are hyper worried of our own kids suffering. No, suffering is actually good. They need to know they're loved and safe, but they're not gonna be protected from what is necessary for their development. The mistake I made was, oh no, I don't want them to feel like I did. Thankfully at my age, I'm now interacting with my mostly adult children and explaining to them what I did wrong. The Teammate Trifecta - How should we use it?: When I wrote The Five Dysfunctions of a Team right after 9/11, I thought, "That's the book on teamwork." Then we realized you need The Ideal Team Player (humble, hungry, and smart) to hire people that fit on teams. Years later, we came up with Working Genius: Are they in the right seat? 3 steps to building a team: Don't let people on the bus if they're not humble, hungry, and smart. Make sure you have them in the right chair based on their gifts. Then teach them the Five Dysfunctions. Pat's Two Working Geniuses: Invention and Discernment "Invention means I love to come up with ideas out of nothing. Discernment means I love evaluating things, curating things. God wired me to do that kind of thing." When people say, "Pat, we have five minutes, and we need a new idea," I just take a deep breath and smile. One man's trash is another man's treasure. Every new idea I've come up with has been in the field, working with people. I asked Jim Collins, "Jim, you do all this research with data. I go into a room with leaders and just think, What's going on here?" He said, "Pat, that's just as valid as what I do. That's called field research and face validity." What is Pat terrible at? Finishing things. People say, "Well you finished 14 books." And that's because I had the help of others to make me finish those. I got a 4.0 in high school. That wasn't my personality. I went to every class in college, never blew off classes. My personality is the kind that should blow off classes that don't matter. But I was so afraid of failing and disappointing my parents and teachers that I did anything they asked. That was not natural; that was fear-based. Can we use fear as useful fuel? "You can use it in the short term, but if you're doing it in your life, no." "We should celebrate what other people are better than we are at things. We should literally celebrate what we suck at." If we have two kids and one's creative and the other's disciplined, we tell the creative one to be more disciplined and the disciplined one to be more creative. No. We have to say, understanding that you're not creative is good for you. That's not who you're meant to be. The hardest thing about being a parent is constantly asking yourself, "Am I pushing them too hard or not enough?" The hardest question you ask yourself as a parent is, "Am I pushing my kids too hard or not hard enough?" This question also applies to yourself. In Working Genius, should I work on my working frustrations? The short answer is no. Working Genius is all about knowing what you love to do. Enablement and Tenacity are my working frustrations, and so many of those things fall into parenting. I'd say to my wife, "Hey, Laura, let's outsource some of these things." Out of fear and guilt, she said no because she felt like she'd be a bad mother. Outsource the work you don't enjoy, and when you have to do it, try your best and don't feel guilty with the result. The electrical company turned off our power for not paying the bill. We need to accept our deficiencies and need to be able to laugh at the things we're not good at. Ryan's Learning Leader Team: When your whole team has Tenacity as their working genius, your team loves to finish things. You will never be flaky. You might stick to something that needs to be changed way before it needs to be. In my company, we're always up for a change in plans, but not great at following through. If your team doesn't have Wonder and Invention, force yourself to borrow from others outside the organization to get new ideas. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Vulnerability-based trust changes everything in teams. Eric Spoelstra uses Five Dysfunctions with the Miami Heat. He started when they acquired LeBron James. He said, "I don't know what offense we're gonna run this year, but I know we're gonna use the Five Dysfunctions." I love it in basketball, especially because you see them on the court. When people can be so vulnerable that they can say it was my fault, or I need help, or I'm sorry I was kind of a jerk yesterday at practice, it changes everything. But when you have a player who doesn't admit when they made a mistake or who blames everybody else, the ceiling of that team being great is so low. Humble, Hungry, Smart has been a great tool for athletic teams. I define it: no ego, it's about the team (humble). Hungry means I go above and beyond. Smart means I have emotional intelligence. I have the team members say, "Which of those three is your lowest?" It is crazy how people will call out. The goalie said, "I'm not smart. I yell at guys on the field, and I demean them. I gotta get better." Another kid said, "I need to be hungrier. I don't do the workouts at home." Pat phrases it this way when meeting with athletic teams. "Okay, everybody, look around at your teammates and think about the thing they want to get better at. If you want to be a good teammate, when you see your teammate doing the thing he just admitted he wants to get better at, you need to call him out on it." Once people start to have that language, it's amazing how they're coaching each other. And if as a coach yourself, I think you should tell people, "When I was a player, this was mine." They're gonna go, hey, if the coach admits that, I'll do it too. For leaders with Enablement & Tenacity as top geniuses, how do they avoid burnout? You have to be willing to start with "I am prone to burnout if you guys aren't aware of what's going on." The people with enablement and tenacity will say, "I'll just do it," and then they do. We had 12 employees and only one had Tenacity. We said we are going to kill her because every time we have to get something done, we're gonna say, "Jackie will finish." When people have enablement and tenacity, they and everybody else need to say, let's not abuse them. How do we assess a company in a short amount of time without focusing on their financials? When I go into a company, I find out what their meetings are like. If there's no disagreement and they're not exhausted at the end of a meeting, that's a red flag. If good people are leaving an organization, that's a massive red flag. I like going around and checking interactions. Is there an intensity with people together? Or are they alone and quiet? Also, keep an eye on customer reviews. What are the customers saying? There are two extremes of humility problems: arrogance on one end, and lack of confidence on the other. I first identified humility as a problem when I saw a CEO who didn't care about his company's results, but if he went on TV and answered questions about why they didn't meet their numbers, he would make jokes and make others laugh. If he was happy from that versus getting the results they needed, that's an issue. What specific traits do leaders need to have to get hired? A leader has to simultaneously believe they are no more important than the people they lead. They also have to accept the fact that their behaviors and words ARE more important than others in the company. "The one thing the leader has to do is break the tie." This past Friday, I was in a meeting trying to deal with a strategic issue between two great people. I dropped a curse word and said, "Listen, I'm pulling the CEO card right now. I don't do it all that often, but since I am the CEO, this is where we're going." Because I don't pull it every time, people are glad to have a CEO that will do that. If you're doing it every time, you lose credibility. Advice for young professionals: I wrote a book called The Motive , and what I say to leaders when they're young is: make sure your motive for being a leader is about sacrificing and suffering for others. "I want to help this organization, or I want to be the kind of person that takes on more than others for their good." Leadership is a lonely and selfless thing. It's wonderful, but the personal economics of leadership are not good. If you don't sign up for that, don't be a leader. Too many people say, I want to be a leader. And if you really scratch below the surface, they'll say, I think it would make me feel important, I'd get attention, maybe I'd make money, I'd have power. When that's your motive for being a leader, you're not gonna be a great leader. Reflection Questions Pat says people who were perfect students (straight A's, valedictorian, student body president) often have childhood wounds driving them. What in your past might be driving your current achievements? Are you operating from freedom and passion, or from fear and the need to prove yourself? He teaches his kids' sports teams to identify which of Humble, Hungry, or Smart is their lowest, then hold each other accountable when they see teammates struggling with that area. What would you identify as your lowest, and who in your life could you invite to call you out when you're not living up to it? Pat says the motive for leadership should be "sacrificing and suffering for others," not feeling important or controlling what you work on. If you're honest about why you want to lead (or why you currently lead), what's really driving you? Would people who report to you say you're other-motivated or personally motivated?

Dec 1

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My guest: David Adelman is the CEO of Campus Apartments, founder of Darco Capital, and co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers. During our conversation, we discussed how losing a basketball bet at age 11 changed his life, investing his bar mitzvah money in real estate, becoming CEO at 25, his grandfather's Holocaust survival story, and why it gives him perspective on struggle, embracing failure, the trade-offs of building something excellent, and what he looks for when hiring leaders. Key Learnings "Why not me? Why not now?" David's mantra cuts through all the overthinking and excuses we make. When he saw other people building national real estate portfolios, he didn't wonder if it was possible—he asked why he couldn't do it. Stop waiting for permission. Stop waiting for the perfect moment. Ask yourself: why not me? Why not now? Make mistakes, just not the same one twice. David doesn't expect perfection from himself or his team. He expects learning. Fail fast, fail forward, but don't repeat the same failure. That's not growth—that's negligence. Embrace the suck, but evolve through it. David's grandfather survived the Holocaust after his wife and children were murdered. He escaped, joined the resistance, and rebuilt his life from nothing. When David thinks about that, he says: "No matter what, I don't know struggle." That's perspective. Most of what we call struggle is just discomfort. Understanding that doesn't make your challenges disappear... It makes them manageable. If your grandfather could survive the unthinkable, you can handle the hard day in front of you. At age 11, David challenged family friend Alan Horwitz to a basketball game and made a wager. Horwitz didn't let the kid win, and David lost his basketball, football, and baseball glove. To get them back, he had to go to Campus Apartments every Saturday to sweep sawdust and stack lumber. This losing bet became his entry into a billion-dollar career. At 13, David gambled his $2,000 bar mitzvah money by investing it with Horwitz in a building at 45th and Pine Streets in Philadelphia - a property his company still owns today. By age 17, he bought his first solely owned investment property. David was accepted into Temple University Beasley School of Law but chose to become a Property Manager at Campus Apartments instead. At age 25 in 1997, he became CEO of Campus Apartments. His grandfather, Sam Wasserman, was captured by the Nazis in 1942 and taken to the Sobibor concentration camp, where his wife and two children were immediately executed. Wasserman escaped during an organized revolt, joined the resistance, was wounded in battle, and was cared for by a woman named Sophie, who became his second wife. David said, " I feel a deep connection to him and what he went through. It's more like a sense of duty to honor him." David says, "I bet on jockeys, not horses. I ask, 'If the thing fails, would we support them again?' To be clear, a lot of our [investments] are going to fail.' He learned the hard way: "Friends would say, 'Here's a deal, put in X amount,' so you know, it's $250,000 or $500,000 or $1 million. I realized very quickly that it's probably a money-losing prospect to just invest in a friend of a friend's idea or because someone at your country club is investing in it." "It's called working off your debt." I literally lost everything to my "Uncle" Alan in 30 minutes when I was 11. My baseball glove, football, basketball, even my bank book. Every Saturday, I had to stack lumber and sweep sawdust to get one item back. Two years later, at my Bar Mitzvah, my parents asked if I wanted to give my gift money to my grandfather, who was good at picking stocks. I said no, I want to give it to Uncle Alan and buy real estate. At 13, I drove around with him, picked the biggest building he owned, handed him $2,000, and became a partner. My grandfather was in Poland with a wife and two kids when the Nazis rounded him up. There were two lines. One for men, one for women, and children. He never saw his wife and kids again. He escaped from the Sobibor prison camp, became a freedom fighter, got shot, and was in a hospital recovering when a woman checking on her brother saw this lonely soldier and went over to check on him. That was my grandmother. My mother was born in a displaced persons camp after the war. "No matter what, when I'm getting the crap kicked out of me in business or anything else, I don't know struggle." I think about my grandfather and what he went through. "That guy knew pressure and made it through the other side. So I have to stop being a little bitch about it and lean in." Uncle Alan always said, "Whatever you do in life, it shouldn't feel like work." I have never said I'm going to work. I say I'm going to the office. Now, am I tired sometimes? A hundred percent. Did I miss a lot of stuff with my kids? Absolutely, and I have deep regret over that. With success and money comes a price, too. Becoming a CEO at 25. "Why not me and why not now?" I live my life by this mantra. In the 1990s, no one was doing student housing at large scale nationally. I saw this white space, and I'm like, fuck it, let's do it. "I'm not afraid to fail. And I think if you're not afraid to fail, it's a freedom." "Embrace the suck." Not everything's gonna be fun. Some things are hard. But sometimes when you push through them, you get to another side. Sometimes you don't, and pulling the plug is okay if it's not working. I've gotten good at understanding that a business might be a great opportunity, a great idea, at the wrong time. When building something…If you aren't willing to make sacrifices earlier in your career and build that foundation for the future, being an entrepreneur might not be for you. I made choices to miss things with my wife and kids. Were all those things I missed worth it? Probably not. My daughters are 21 and 23 now, and I missed a lot of their early growing up. Four years ago, I apologized to my older one, and she said, "You know what, we remember this dad more than that dad." "It's never too late to make a change." After you've done okay financially, it has to be about something else. The guys and women I roll with—"it's not about money. You either are wired to get up and work hard every day and do it, and it has to be about something else." It could be about providing opportunities for the people who work with you, or solving complex problems, or creating a business you're excited about. "I don't think I'm the smartest guy in the room." You have to be open to learning. I continue to want to learn about other people's businesses. If I meet somebody, I'm like, tell me about that business. If you have that inquisitive mind, some guy tells me he's in the widget business, and I'll think of ten things they should try to do. "I am never too embarrassed to say I don't know something." When we were selecting architects and contractors for the arena, I spoke to owners of the newest stadiums. Just lessons learned about the process. When I mentor kids, I tell them most people are afraid to say "I don't know" or "I don't understand." "If you're embarrassed for looking stupid, isn't it worse if you don't know what you're doing down the road because you didn't ask?" "People don't know how to listen anymore. People wait to talk." They don't listen. When I have dinner with my youngest daughter, I hand her my phone so I won't be on it. I want to be there, I want to be attentive. Why are you wasting time meeting with people if you're not gonna listen to them? "Make lots of mistakes. Just don't make the same one twice." Try hard. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. The worst thing that happens is someone says no. I met my wife in a bar, literally in line for pizza. Turns out she was the school teacher two different women had told me I needed to call. The funny part is my buddy was talking to her best friend. He married her, I married Hailey, and our kids are best friends. When it comes to sales. "Don't bullshit people. That's my number one goal." People can tell. Even at an early age, I had the humility to say I don't know everything. Here's my business plan, here's why I think I can scale Campus Apartments across the country when that wasn't being done. When I'm hiring or promoting leaders, I look for three things. One is trust—I need to trust them. Two is creating an open line of communication. Three, "I don't think you're a successful leader or CEO if you're not willing to listen." There are a lot of dictator type CEOs. That's not me. Some of them work. "I don't manage from fear, I manage from bringing in opinions." For me, it's about having people who, in their individual swim lanes, are better at those jobs than you are. The DeSean Jackson situation taught me about leading with curiosity. He made some anti-Semitic comments, and people came to me saying we need to cancel him. "Before I get there, I actually just want to find out what his intent was." The things he said were based on him being uninformed about the hurtfulness of those words. Not only was he willing to understand that, but he said, "Can you take me to your Holocaust memorial and actually educate me?" He came with his mom, no press. "It would be nice to take a moment before you're ready to convict somebody and actually have a conversation." When I'm looking at investments, I really have to understand the product. I joke, "Do my kids at least understand it?" Number two: Who's the founder? People matter. I ask myself, if this thing goes bad, and as long as the guy's not a crook, would I invest with them again? "I have to be more than just money in the deal." I like knowing when my influence and input can help make a difference. I think it's strategic thinking, introductions, and being a sounding board. The hardest part about being a founder is that they're afraid to tell investors bad news. "Bad news doesn't get better with time." Advice to young professionals. "Try to get noticed for the right reasons." Show up and go to work. Go get coffee when you see your boss's boss there. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself. Ask lots of questions. Be the person who says, "Could you explain that to me?" Folks in my position really respect that. "Don't be afraid to put out a bad idea." I hate working from home because I think people are screwed by the opportunity to interact with people and better their career and learn things. You're robbed of chance encounters, of overhearing conversations, of learning by proximity. We're building this arena in downtown Philly, not taking any city capital, and doing good things for the city. We came together with Comcast who owns the Flyers. "It's gonna be the best live entertainment venue in the world, located in Philadelphia." We're opening in 2030 with a WNBA team. For those counting Philly out, you're wrong—we're doing great shit here. Reflection Questions David's grandfather survived the Holocaust, which gives David a profound perspective on what real pressure and struggle actually look like. What experiences in your own life or family history could you draw on to reframe the "struggles" you face in your work or personal life? He lives by the mantra "Why not me? Why not now?" and says that not being afraid to fail is a freedom. What opportunity are you currently overthinking or waiting on "permission" for? What would change if you asked yourself those two questions right now? David regrets missing parts of his daughters' childhoods while building his businesses, but his daughter told him, "We remember this dad more than that dad." Meaning it's never too late to make a change. What relationship in your life needs you to show up differently, and what's one concrete thing you could change this week? More Learning From The Learning Leader Show #126: Jayson Gaignard - Mastermind Talks #273: Chip Conley – How To Be Wise Beyond Your Years #476: Kat Cole - Reflection Questions, Humble Confidence, Building Trust Time Stamps: 01:51 David Edelman's Early Lessons in Business 03:58 Investing at a Young Age 06:12 Family History and Holocaust Survival 09:53 Balancing Ambition and Family 18:17 Sustaining Excellence and Learning from Others 25:38 The Art of Listening and Being Present 26:16 Lessons from Childhood and Parenting 26:47 The Story of Meeting My Wife 28:23 The Importance of Taking Risks 29:52 Sales and Leadership Philosophy 30:54 Building a Nationwide Business 32:07 Hiring and Promoting Leaders 35:34 Handling Controversy with Compassion 38:15 Investment Strategies and Favorite Ventures 41:36 The Future of Philadelphia's Arena Project 44:05 Advice for Young Professionals 46:45 EOPC

Nov 24

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes Join tens of thousands of leaders pursuing excellence: https://ryanhawk.kit.com/profile This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My guest: Priya Parker is a master facilitator, conflict resolution expert, and author of the bestselling book The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters . Priya has spent decades facilitating difficult conversations in boardrooms, communities, and conflict zones. In this conversation, she reveals the mechanics of meaningful gathering and why most of us are doing it wrong. Key Learnings A facilitator is interested in the life of a group. I think of facilitation as working with people who are interested in the infrastructure of three or more people who need to come together and are ideally changed for the better by what transpires between them. A facilitator thinks deeply about how to set up the conditions to increase the likelihood that transformation happens. Great facilitators are obsessed with language. There's listening to make someone feel heard, but the difference between green facilitators and seasoned ones is an obsession and ability to hear, recall, and play with language. You have to understand what people are actually saying and be able to reflect it back in ways that unlock new meaning. Understanding power is essential to facilitation. You need to know how decisions are being made, who is talking more than others, when to allow for that, and what your own relationship is to holding the group. When do you shut up? When do you pull people out? When do you push back? All of this is fundamentally about understanding power dynamics. I'm a third-generation ostrich. On both sides of my family, when conflict arises, we stick our heads in the sand. Nothing to see here, folks. But I've cultivated the ability to hold heat. Even now, when facilitating a reckoning and the heat rises, my palms still get sweaty, I can feel my heart racing, blood rushing to my cheeks. But I've learned how to stay present with that discomfort. Counterintuitively, having deep empathy for people who want to flee makes me more effective. "90% of the success of what happens in the room, and as a facilitator, happens before anybody arrives." This is what my mentor Randa Slim taught me, and it's absolutely true. The construction of the house happens before anyone gets there. Dr. Hal Saunders changed everything for me. He was an American diplomat who served five presidential administrations and was part of the Camp David Accords. After leaving government, he realized that while governments can create peace treaties, people's perceptions of each other on the ground haven't necessarily changed. He trained me as a teenager in sustained dialogue, and I learned facilitation the way it should be learned—through apprenticeship. Even in his seventies and eighties, he always believed he had something to learn. The first questions people ask you signify what they value. When I arrived at the University of Virginia, people kept asking, "What are you?" I learned quickly that they meant racially. My mother, an anthropologist, had taught me that the first questions a community asks reveal what matters most to them. Race was clearly very important there. I made myself a conflict resolution facilitator. Growing up between two vastly different households—toggling every two weeks between a vegetarian, Buddhist home where the word "God" was never mentioned and an evangelical Christian home where we never ate before saying Grace. I became deeply interested in when and why and how people come together, what they think of as normal, how they create and change cultures, and how they come apart. Your highest real estate is when people are together in the same place at the same time. Wasting time in the room figuring out what to say or do is actually wasting everyone's time. A huge part of preparing for any gathering is figuring out what the right conversation is for this group to have, and how to equip them to have it well. Think of military pre-mission briefs. They're really good at setting mission objectives. This is the goal, this is what we're striving for. Then they debrief afterward to learn and do better next time. That same discipline applies to any gathering, whether it's a leadership retreat or hosting dinner at your house. Every gathering is a social contract. You're creating a temporary constitution. At a dinner party, there's an implicit rule: bring a bottle of wine. People find out they've broken the constitution when someone says, "Wow, they didn't even bring a housewarming gift." We have all these implicit norms, and in diverse groups... Which is every group, not just racially, but people with different assumptions about how things work—you need to make the contract explicit. Elizabeth Stewart ran a startup networking organization and wanted it to be a true community, not just a shark tank for pitches. She created a pop-up rule: you can't talk about what you're selling. No pitches. Super counterintuitive for a networking night, but it created exactly what she wanted... Trust and long-lasting relationships rather than transactional encounters. The rule signified what she was trying to create. Using your power as a host means protecting your guests. You're temporarily equalizing people so they can coordinate group life. Gathering is fundamentally a coordination problem: helping people understand what the rules are, protecting them, and connecting them. There are moments when you should surprise people. If a team is stuck in a 50-year-old institution that's always done things the same way, and they'll die institutionally if they don't change, maybe the purpose is to build their skills for discomfort and navigating uncertainty. In that case, maybe you don't tell them the full roadmap because the practice itself is learning to navigate the unknown. Making things explicit and transparent equalizes the room. Showing the roadmap is deeply beneficial, particularly to people with less power and knowledge. For newer people who don't know how things work, for people with other obligations like tending to an elderly parent or being a student athlete with fixed schedules, transparency helps level the playing field. But it may not always be your purpose. Before you default to a dinner party, ask what you actually need. If the goal is to laugh hysterically and create memories with friends you don't see enough, a dinner party might not be the best form. Maybe you should play kickball in the park, stage a made-up pickleball championship, go to a morning rave, or take a party bus to a concert. We're so boxed into thinking about how adults must hang out. When hosting dinner parties, keep the menu relatively simple. Increase the meaning dial and it decreases the pressure on food quality. Think about food that tells a story. The invitation matters deeply. I could send an invitation: "Come enjoy my best attempts at Ruth's BLTs." My grandmother's recipe that takes me back to childhood. I tell the story in the email, narrow the expectations, and create a social contract. This is for BLTs. If you're a vegetarian, you can take out the bacon. And please don't bring your mushroom penne, not in this context. Then I ask: bring a story of a dish that takes you back to childhood. The whole night plays itself. Magical questions are questions everyone in the group is interested in answering, and everyone would be interested in hearing each other's answers. It's a magical equation. It's subjective and relative to each group. My seven-year-old daughter once asked at dinner: "What's the naughtiest thing you've ever done that was worth it?" We laughed and shared for two hours. My son asked my elderly father: "What's the meanest thing you ever did to anybody before the age of 15?" That caveat, before age 15, temporarily equalized everyone at the table. Testing and practicing are how you develop the muscle. I test questions on my team, I think through social arithmetic: what do these specific people have in common, what don't they have in common, what's the right level of vulnerability? I ask my community on Instagram and Substack to share their magical questions. Someone from Brazil sent me: "Would you rather spend 10 minutes on the moon or one year traveling through Europe?" It inspires heated debates in his friend group. My favorite question for virtual groups: "What was the first concert you ever went to, and who took you?" People pause, then you see a waterfall of answers—Bonnie Raitt, Madonna, New Kids on the Block. Everyone's interested in seeing everyone else's answers. You realize who's here, you see there's someone behind everyone (my sister, my mother, my college girlfriend), and you increase the likelihood that people realize these are real humans. Creating psychological togetherness on Zoom is my single most important skill. During the pandemic, I lost all my physical facilitation tools. I couldn't chase someone into the bathroom to convince them to come back, couldn't use my body to signal it's time to quiet down. I was just a little green square. Magical questions became my most powerful tool for creating psychological togetherness when people aren't in the same room. Ryan's champagne question works because it's visceral and emotional. "We're meeting exactly one year from today and popping bottles, what are we celebrating?" That's not "what's your goal for the year." That's boring. You pop champagne for something that matters emotionally. It's a somatic, physical question that forces people to think big because you're not popping champagne about something boring. The responsibility of gathering is about both connection and power. Particularly in work contexts, you can ask questions that are too vulnerable or that aren't appropriate. You need to protect your guests by ensuring questions relate to the purpose of the convening. Asking "what's a core experience from your early life that connects to why you do the work you do today?" helps people understand motivations without crossing lines. Questions can open up the world. They're a sequence of words that, if you ask them in a specific way, can fundamentally change what's possible. Being genuinely curious and fascinated about people and their stories and life experiences will change your life. Full stop. Writing The Art of Gathering let me articulate what deeply frustrated me about gatherings and try to convince other people it should frustrate them too. What's been beautiful is that people are starting to get fed up with mediocre gatherings and expect better of how we spend our time together. They're realizing we can change it with some thought, some temerity, some bumping around. The pandemic made the book even more relevant. The paperback came out in April 2020, when gathering was banned, which was super awkward. But by taking gathering from us, we began to see it. We began to see that this thing we took for granted shapes our lives—how we wed, fight battles in court, host funerals, host galas. People started asking first-order questions: when and where and why should we meet, and who decides? That's a powerful question to be asking. Anyone can gather. Many of the hundred gatherers I interviewed for the book identified as introverts, loners, people on the outside of things, people with social anxiety. As one person said, "I create the gatherings I wish existed in the world. And other people seem to like it." Reflection Questions What gathering in your life, whether a team meeting, family dinner, or community event, would be transformed if you paused to clearly define its purpose before diving into logistics and form? Think about a group you're part of where people come from different backgrounds and assumptions. What explicit "social contract" or ground rules could you create to help everyone understand how to show up and what's expected? What's a magical question you could ask in your next gathering that everyone would be interested in answering and everyone would want to hear each other's responses to? More Learning From The Learning Leader Show #126: Jayson Gaignard - Mastermind Talks #273: Chip Conley – How To Be Wise Beyond Your Years #476: Kat Cole - Reflection Questions, Humble Confidence, Building Trust

Nov 17

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My guest: Nicholas Thompson is the CEO of The Atlantic and former editor-in-chief of WIRED. He's the author of the best-selling book (and one of my favorites of the year), The Running Ground. Nick shares why great leaders must balance being decisive with staying open to being wrong, how to build teams that challenge your thinking without creating chaos, and why the most important skill for the next decade is knowing what questions only humans can answer. Key Learnings Consistency Over Intensity Creates Results - If you go out there every day, six or seven days a week, and a couple days you push yourself really hard, you get faster. There's no two ways about it. If you don't do that, you don't get faster. It's a very good reminder that you can get a lot done if you just go and allot time to pushing yourself. Recommendation letter written by the Stanford faculty about Nick's dad to be a Rhodes Scholar: "Scotty Thompson is the kind of young man that comes along only once in approximately ten years. I cannot recall ever having known a student who possessed the same combination of intelligence, creativity, energy, drive, and dedication. He has attempted more, achieved more, than anyone we have studied– including some who now hold high office. He is generally conceded among those who have observed the student body since World War II to be the outstanding leader of the era. I think it likely that in the entire history of Stanford campus life, he has had no near rival since Herbert Hoover as an undergraduate." Also about Nick's Dad: Tracy Bennett, one of his graduate students, said, "He was flamboyant, gently endearing, annoyingly arrogant, piercingly intelligent, entertaining, and more. I'd never met a man, nor had a professor, who was clearly so brilliant and at the same time so precariously insecure." His grandfather, Frank Thompson, placed second in the Southern California extemporaneous speaking contest held at Whittier College. First place was Richard Nixon. Parenting — "Nothing makes me more worried about failure than parenting." "Parenting is suffused with regrets, confusion, and mistakes. But when I run by, I know my children are rooting for me to succeed with infinite love and enthusiasm." Running hard... Pushing yourself. Why do it? "Discipline builds discipline. Discipline is cumulative." Sometimes You Have to Trick Yourself - I ran 10:48 because the track was bigger than I thought, and I didn't realize how fast I was going. If I had known I was running at a 5:23 pace, I would've shut down. My body would've started to hurt. Sometimes you can't let yourself know what you're actually doing, or you'll get scared. Hiring at The Atlantic - The people he hires at The Atlantic share four must-have attributes: A spirit of generosity. A force of ideas. They're relentlessly hard workers. And they have an edge: an anxiety about getting great work done. That last one stuck with me. The best people aren't just talented... They're driven by a productive anxiety to do work that matters. Becoming CEO of The Atlantic: The Search & Selection: The Atlantic conducted a yearlong search after President Bob Cohn left in fall 2019. When owners Laurene Powell Jobs and David Bradley announced Thompsont in December 2020, they said "Nick is singular; we've seen no one like him" and that he brought "a surround-sound coverage of relevant experience." Move at an Uncomfortable Pace - You don't get anything you want by being comfortable. If you're working in a way that feels easy and setting deadlines where everything seems smooth, you're not growing, you're not learning, you're not getting there. That's a lesson from running, and it's a good lesson for work. Set Audacious Goals - We're setting two extremely big goals at The Atlantic. Our projections don't suggest we're going to hit them. But the same was true last time when I said we're gonna get profitable and a million subscribers in three years. We got there. Sometimes having a really big goal motivates you and forces all the tough choices. Continuous Forward Motion Matters Most - When I realized yesterday's marathon was going badly, I kept telling myself: continuous forward motion. Sometimes the goal becomes just finishing. It's better to make a full drop in pace and hold that than to slowly slide backwards every mile once you know you won't hit your goal. Every Extra Word Is an Opportunity to Lose People - Every extra word, every extra thought, every extra detail that doesn't propel the story needs to be removed. This book is 75,000 words, but there's 60,000 words I cut. Is this sentence absolutely essential? No? It's gone. That's storytelling, and that's leadership communication. The Cocktail Party Test for Storytelling - If you describe what you're writing at a cocktail party, do people come towards you or walk away? I can talk about my 2005 cancer diagnosis and 2007 marathon, and people lock in. I talk about my 2009 marathon, and no one cares. Test what has emotional resonance with your friends. Write and Speak To Help People SEE a Movie - When somebody's reading, they're visualizing it in their mind's eye. Can you see it? Can you feel it? If you can't run a movie in your head about what I'm writing, it shouldn't be on the page. Help them visualize it—the little white house in Concord, walking around Walden Pond. Hiring: Spirit of Generosity and Force of Ideas - Spirit of generosity means can they work with people? Will they be territorial or figure out what's best for the org? Force of ideas means are you smart and sharp? I also want edge—a little bit of productive paranoia. Not complacent, but kind to everybody. Discipline Can Show Up in Different Ways - My editor-in-chief hasn't run a mile in 25 years. Is he disciplined? Hell yeah. Works all the time, focused on every sentence. You can have mental discipline without physical discipline. I try to get the most out of different kinds of people with different strengths. Keep Going - This is the hardest time to graduate because of AI and uncertainty. Find things you're passionate about and really focus on them. My twenties weren't great professionally. I found journalism, but I wasn't good at it yet. Keep pushing, and eventually things turn out for the best. Reflection Questions What would happen if you moved at an uncomfortable pace in your most important work? Where are you setting deadlines that feel too easy and smooth? Are you ruthlessly cutting everything that doesn't propel your story forward? What sentence, meeting, or project exists simply because it always has, not because it's essential? Former Episodes Referenced #603 - Michael Easter - The Comfort Crisis #611 - Codie Sanchez - Main Street Millionaire #654 - Jake Tapper - Be So Good They Can't Ignore You Time Stamps: 02:05 Nick's NYC Marathon Experience 03:35 Nick's Father's Legacy 11:43 Running and Leadership 17:08 Overcoming Cancer and Running Again 19:24 The Importance of Setting "Stretch" Goals 21:30 Marathon Challenges and Lessons 27:09 The Warrior Athlete and Early Lessons 28:54 Nick's Role as CEO of The Atlantic 29:30 Unique Talents for a CEO Role 30:42 Balancing Multiple Interests 32:30 Writing 'The Running Ground' 37:37 Crafting a Compelling Story 41:24 Storytelling Tips for Leaders 44:15 Hiring the Right People 51:55 Running and Parenting 54:06 Advice for New Graduates 56:07 EOPC

Nov 10

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My Guest: Suzy Welch is known for co-founding the Jack Welch Management Institute and writing bestsellers like 10-10-10: A Life Transforming Idea . Her career includes roles as an editor-in-chief for Harvard Business Review , a crime reporter, and a professor. She teaches at NYU and is the best-selling author of Becoming You . Key Learnings Purpose Requires Realism, Not Just Passion - Everyone wants to be the drummer in Disturbed, but that guy's good at drumming. My whole methodology is about realism. You have to know what your values are, what your interests are, but you better be good at it or forget it. Otherwise, it's a hobby. Values Are Choices, Not Virtues - Most people confuse values and virtues. Virtues are things like integrity, courage, and thankfulness... Behaviors we all should have more of. Values are choices about how you want to live, work, and relate. It's a value if it would drive who you married, what job you took, and where you went on vacation. There are 16 Measurable Values - Values exist on a continuum like a DNA profile. Scope reflects how exciting a life you want. Radius is how much you want to change the world systemically. Belovedness is how important an intimate relationship is to you. Work centrism is whether you love work for work's sake or if it's just a means to an end. Men Over 32 Value Romantic Relationships Most - We just got data showing that for men over the age of 32, belovedness is their number one value. It's much lower for women. Only 50% of people have family centrism in their top five values—we assume everyone shares our values, but they don't. Your Authenticity Gap Reveals Your Pain - You could hold the value of scope as number one, but not be able to live it right now because of your job or family situation. That gap between what you value and what you're living—we call that your authenticity gap. If you've got a big one, you know it because it hurts. Gen Z's Top Value Is Self-Care - 75% of Gen Z have self-care, wellbeing, pleasure, and leisure as their top value. Their top three are self-care, authentic self-expression, and helping others. Meanwhile, hiring managers want achievement, scope, and work centrism. The overlap is 2%. Aptitudes Are Your Brain's Dominant Hand - We have nine cognitive aptitudes preset by age 15. Are you a generalist or a specialist? A future focuser or a present focuser? A brainstormer or someone who comes up with one fully baked idea per year? It's painful to be a generalist in a specialist job. Your Personality Is How The World Experiences You - Your personality is not the list of adjectives you write about yourself. It's how the world experiences you. When I did my 360 feedback, people said I was the hurricane, not the calm at the center. I had to learn to communicate better the thoughts I had, and learn to be less chaotic. Everyone Writes Themselves As The Hero - A police lieutenant once told me: everyone writes the story of their life with themselves at the center as the hero. No matter what story we tell ourselves, we always cast ourselves as the hero. That's why self-awareness is so hard and why we need testing, not just self-reflection. The Aperture Problem: Kids Only Know Five Jobs - When kids come out of high school, they only know about five jobs, two of which are their parents. By college it goes up to seven. By grad school, MBAs are thinking about two or three options—banking, consulting, or tech. There are 135 industries and thousands of types of work nobody tells them about. Great Leaders Don't Do It For The Money - I've been blessed to know many of the greatest leaders. They're doing it for love of people, excitement, work, or impact. I've never met a great leader who was doing it for the money. Jensen Huang and Jeff Bezos are examples—clarity, vision, excellence in everything, no shortcuts. Better To Be The Author Than The Editor - When you're ambitious, you end up surrounded by voices and can become the editor of your life. You have to become the author. Paint a self-portrait of yourself standing still so that when you start running, you know where you're going and why. Reflection Questions What would the 5 people closest to you say about how you show up? Would their description match how you see yourself, or do you have a self-awareness gap you haven't addressed? If you mapped your actual daily behaviors against your stated top values, would they align? Or are you living someone else's version of success while calling it your own? Are you the author of your life or the editor? Whose voices are loudest in your head when making big decisions, and have you given yourself permission to write your own story? Former Episodes Referenced #127: Adam Grant - How Originals Impact the World #441: Liz Wiseman - How to Build Credibility, Solve Problems, & Multiply Your Impact #350 - Tom Rath - Answering Life's Great Question

Nov 3

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My guest: James Clear is the author of one of the most influential books of our generation, Atomic Habits . He's sold over 25 million copies worldwide and has helped millions of people transform their lives through the power of small changes. We brought the podcast to the campus of Ohio University, where we recorded live in front of 250 of the most impressive college students I've ever met. Notes: I loved the Morgan Housel moment - It was cool to see James' reaction to it (you can watch it on YouTube.com/RyanHawk ). Morgan said, "I have absolutely not a single cell of envy for him. Because he is the nicest guy you will ever meet. You will not meet a nicer human than James Clear. You will not meet someone as successful as he is and as humble as he is. He is a saint in my life. And because of that, I adore every bit of this guy, so I cannot envy him. I am just inspired by his success, full stop." We should all strive to be that for the people in our lives. Your WHO - "Every opportunity in life comes through a person. Relationships are usually the most important thing. If you want to achieve more, there is a relationship that can unlock better results. If you want to make a meaningful contribution, helping others is a great way to do it. If you sim Willpower – 'People with tremendous self-control aren't that different from those who struggle. They're simply better at structuring their lives in a way that doesn't require heroic willpower.' It's not about determination, it's about design. That's liberating. Fall in Love with the Process - "When you fall in love with the process rather than the product, you don't have to wait to give yourself permission to be happy. You can be satisfied anytime your system is running. And a system can be successful in many different forms, not just the one you first envision." Make It Obvious, Easy, Attractive, Satisfying - The four laws of behavior change: make good habits obvious and bad habits invisible, make good habits easy and bad habits difficult, make good habits attractive and bad habits unattractive, make good habits satisfying and bad habits unsatisfying. Use the Two-Minute Rule - Scale any habit down to something that takes two minutes or less. Want to read more? Read one page. Want to run a marathon? Put on your running shoes. The goal is to master showing up and make the entry point as easy as possible. Standardize Before You Optimize - You can't improve a habit that doesn't exist. Master the art of showing up before worrying about optimization. Build consistency first, then work on increasing the dose or improving performance. Track Your Habits Visually - I use a paper clip strategy: start each day with 120 paper clips in one jar, move one to another jar each time I complete a writing session. Visual tracking provides clear evidence of progress and makes the habit satisfying. Habits Need to Match Your Personality - There's no one-size-fits-all approach. Morning people and night owls need different strategies. Work with your natural tendencies, not against them. Choose habits and contexts that align with who you already are. Create Commitment Devices - Make bad habits difficult through commitment devices. I had my assistant change my social media passwords every Monday and only give them back on Fridays. This eliminated mindless scrolling during my productive work hours. Focus on Systems, Not Goals - Winners and losers have the same goals. The difference is their systems. Goals are about the results you want to achieve; systems are about the processes that lead to those results. Fall in love with the process, not the outcome. Build Habits That Align With Your Desired Identity - I wanted to be a writer, so I wrote every Monday and Thursday for years. Eventually, I had proof. I couldn't deny I was a writer because of the body of work I'd created. Your habits are how you embody your identity. The Plateau of Latent Potential - We expect progress to be linear, but it's not. Habits often appear to make no difference until you cross a critical threshold. You need to persist long enough to get through the plateau and break through to the other side. Reduce Friction for Good Habits - I want to work out more, so I lay out my workout clothes the night before. When I wake up, they're the first thing I see. The easier you make the habit, the more likely you are to do it. Increase Friction for Bad Habits - Want to watch less TV? Unplug it after each use and put the remote in another room. The added friction makes the bad habit less appealing and gives you a moment to make a better choice. Automate Good Decisions - Technology can lock in good behavior. I set up automatic transfers to my investment account. Once the system is in place, the good behavior happens without requiring willpower or decision-making energy. Student Questions On Building Habits in College - The mess of college is actually useful because you're forced to figure out who you are. Use this time to experiment with different habits and see what sticks. You have more flexibility now than you will later in life. On Breaking Bad Habits - Trying to eliminate a bad habit without replacing it with something else is really hard. The more sustainable approach is habit substitution. If you want to stop scrolling social media, replace it with reading for five minutes instead. On Staying Consistent - Never miss twice. Missing once is an accident; missing twice is the start of a new habit. Elite performers aren't consistent because they're more disciplined—they have better strategies for getting back on track quickly when life happens. On Finding Your Purpose - I think the idea of finding your purpose is misleading. You don't find your purpose; you build it through the habits you practice daily. Your life is essentially a collection of your habits, so if you want a different life, build different habits. On Overcoming Setbacks - After my accident, I had to redefine what success looked like. Sometimes progress means recovering what you lost rather than reaching new heights. Focus on what you can control today rather than what you wish you could control. On Reading and Learning - I read across many disciplines because insights often come from connecting ideas from different fields. Read widely, take notes, and revisit those notes regularly. The goal isn't to finish books—it's to find ideas that change how you think. On Building a Writing Practice - I published twice per week for years before anything took off. Most people overestimate what they can accomplish in one year and underestimate what they can accomplish in ten years. Show up consistently and let time do the heavy lifting. Reflection Questions Are you focused on achieving goals or building systems? What's one process you could improve this week that would make your desired outcomes more likely? What's one habit you want to build? Can you make it so easy that you can't say no—something that takes two minutes or less? How can you design your environment to make this habit obvious and attractive? Which of your current habits align with the identity you want to build? What small votes can you cast today through your actions to prove to yourself who you want to become? Former Episodes Referenced #529 - James Clear - Becoming an Optimist, Creating Your System, & Setting Up Your Future Self #655 - Morgan Housel - The Simple Formula For Happiness, Betting on Others, & Gaining Independence & Purpose #594 - Charles Duhigg - Becoming a Super Communicator #470 - Daniel Coyle - Building Your Culture, Solving Hard Problems, & Winning The Learning Contest #428 - James Clear - Asking Better Questions, Taking Action, & Doing A+ Work Episode Timestamps: 02:20 High Praise from Morgan Housel 04:08 Winning the St. Gallen Symposium & James' College Experience 07:00 The Strategy Behind Writing Atomic Habits 13:58 Designing Your Environment for Success 31:05 The Art of Building Genuine Relationships 39:00 Clarifying Your Thoughts Through Writing 40:11 Applying Atomic Habits to Leadership 41:04 Mental Performance Techniques from a Navy SEAL 43:31 Balancing Success and Personal Life 47:56 The Importance of Reflection and Review 51:10 Adapting Habits in Different Environments 55:19 Habits for Short-Term Goals vs Long-Term Goals 01:04:27 Using Feedback for Habit Building 01:07:55 Internal Dialogue While Building Habits 01:13:28 The Influence of Others on Forming Your Habits 01:17:01 EOPC

Oct 26

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My Guest: Derek Sivers is the founder of CD Baby and author of "Hell Yeah or No" and "Useful Not True." He shared how he graduated from Cal Berkeley in two years instead of four because the "standard pace for chumps" - a lesson that shaped his entire career of institutional skepticism and unconventional thinking. From creating viral shipping emails to understanding why explorers make bad leaders, Derek shares why being busy means being out of control, how your first thought is an obstacle to your best work, and why you can't predict what the world will want from you until you try everything and listen closely to what it's telling you. Notes: No Speed Limit – Most things are paced so the slowest person can keep up. If you're driven and motivated, you can go so much faster than the standard pace. I graduated from Berkeley in two years by learning four semesters of harmony in one hour. "The standard pace is for chumps. You can do so much better than that." Question the Standard Process – When someone says you must go through usual channels or something will take a certain time, assume there's probably a hack. Develop institutional skepticism - there's usually a better way than how most people do it. Create Opportunities, Don't Wait for Them – You don't have to wait until a company is hiring. If you can see how to benefit them, walk in and show them what you can do for free first. Alan Tepper made Warner Brothers more money than anyone that year by just showing up with a plan. Make Everything Valuable to Others – The starving artist spends all their time on work valuable to them but not to others. Use money as a neutral measure - if you can make money with your art, it ensures what you're doing is valuable to other people. "It's almost impossible to predict what the world will want from you... Keep yourself out there and listen closely to what the world is telling you it wants from you." Stand Out by Being Different – Don't imitate what everyone else is doing. I wrote a silly shipping email in 10 minutes that became one of the most viral emails ever mentioned in business books. Ask yourself constantly: What has nobody done before? The First Follower Creates the Movement – We focus on the shirtless dancing guy, but the first follower is what made everything happen. Until then, people kept their distance from the freak. If you find someone doing something great, follow them and show others how to follow. Every Sentence Must Matter – My books are 90-100 pages, but start as 1,000-page rough drafts. I spend 1-2 years full-time chopping every sentence that doesn't absolutely need to be there. "I'm not gonna put a single sentence out into the world that doesn't need to be there." Make every word count - eliminate everything that doesn't add value. Hell Yeah or No is Context-Dependent – This tool is for when you're overwhelmed with options and need to raise the bar. Straight out of college, say yes to everything because opportunities are like lottery tickets. Once something rewards you, then say no to other things and double down. Busy Means Out of Control – "Busy to me implies out of control. You're busy if you've let other people shove shit into your schedule." Leave space instead of filling it - that time to think is what creates valuable insights others don't have time to develop. Your First Thought is an Obstacle – Don't honor the thought that came first. In brainstorming, acknowledge the first idea, then keep going - don't stop at two or three. Even silly ideas can seed great ones you'd never reach without that stepping stone. All Beliefs Are a Myth – People worshiped Zeus for centuries; now we call it mythology. But we say our own beliefs are true while others' are superstitions. I expected China to be awful from American news, but found it wonderful - question what you've been told. Use Prejudice as Your Compass – If you notice you're prejudiced against something, that's exactly what you should explore. Burning Man sounds awful to me; therefore, I should probably go. Steer into your biases to overcome them and gain new perspectives. Explorers Make Terrible Leaders – Explorers try everything and change direction constantly, which frustrates teams. Leaders go in a straight line to a clear destination, unwavering in mission even if the path changes. I loved changing my mind, which made me a bad leader until I learned the difference. Set projects with clear missions, even if you're personally exploring other things. Try Everything Until the World Says Yes – I had a booking agency, a record label, a recording studio, and my own music - all failures. Then, a side project to help friends (CD Baby) took off. You can't predict what the world wants from you, so try many things and listen closely to what it's telling you . Reflection What "standard pace" are you accepting in your business or career that you could actually accelerate if you questioned it? Where have you assumed something has to take a certain amount of time just because that's how it's always been done? Are you spending time on work that's valuable to you but not to others? How could you test whether what you're creating actually solves problems people are willing to pay for? Are you acting more like an explorer or a leader right now? If you're constantly changing direction, how could you set clearer missions for your projects while keeping your personal explorations separate? Resources & References Derek's Content: Derek's website and blog " Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy " (First Follower) TED Talk - Derek Sivers " No Speed Limit " essay Former Episodes Referenced #647 - Tim Ferriss - Chasing Your Curiosity #562 - Nikki Glaser - The Creative Process of a Comedian #644 - Blaine Anderson - Confidence, Curiosity, Connection Episode Timestamps 02:20 Early Life Lessons from Kimo Williams 05:21 Corporate Lessons and Unconventional Paths 09:10 The Power of Adding Value 13:57 Viral TED Talk: Leadership Lessons from the Dancing Guy 22:03 The 'Hell Yeah or No' Philosophy 27:29 The CD Baby Experience 28:02 Starting an Online Record Store 29:10 Creating a Unique Shipping Notice 30:01 The Viral Impact of Creativity 32:53 The Importance of Regular Writing 35:17 Questioning Assumptions and Beliefs 36:23 Exploring New Perspectives 40:41 The Explorer vs. The Leader 48:21 Advice for Aspiring Leaders Resources: Read: The Score That Matters Read: The Pursuit of Excellence Read: Welcome to Management To Follow me on X: @RyanHawk12

Oct 19

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader My guest: Dave Berke is a retired US Marine Corps Officer, TOPGUN Instructor, and now a leadership instructor and speaker with Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Development Officer. As a F/A-18 pilot, he deployed twice from the USS John C Stennis in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent three years as an Instructor Pilot at TOPGUN where he served as the Training Officer, the senior staff pilot responsible for the conduct of the TOPGUN course. Notes: July 2001: Plans Don't Survive Contact - Dave's Top Gun graduation exercise as flight lead. Wingman yells, "Showtime one-one break right!" - an F-5 snuck into formation. Dave was staring at the radar instead of looking out, had to fall out of formation, and ended up at the back instead of leading from the front. Mission successful, but nothing like he planned. Dave: "The outcome was still really good... except it was nothing like I thought it was going to be." Lesson: You're planning for the success of the outcome, not how you're going to do it. The most important attribute in a leader is humility. To be effective, you must be able to listen, learn, be flexible, and admit you're wrong sometimes. One of the biggest issues they deal with when working with leaders is ego and/or the inability to be humble. As leaders, we need to be self-aware enough to realize when our ego is getting the best of us. And surrounding ourselves with people who will help us know when that is happening as well. Be Fluid with Plans, Deliberate with Outcomes - Be really fluid and loose with plans, but deliberate about aligning the team on outcomes. Dave grew up as a control freak, OCD planner. Dave: "In life, it's just not how life works... If you can align on the mission and outcome, and you are very open-minded that there are a lot of different ways to get there, you're far more likely to be successful." The military saying, "The enemy gets a vote." Ryan's quarterback coach after an interception: "He's on scholarship too, you know?" Process: How You Create It Matters Most - Process is important, but how you create it matters most. If you agree on the outcome, the conversation should be less about agreement, more about "When you talk about step one, what are you thinking? How does this lead to step two?" The process has to be organic. When you create it, you're more likely to maneuver around challenges. Book Dedication: Chris and Kat - Book dedicated to Corporal Chris Leon and his mother, Kat. Chris was a radio operator on Dave's 13-man Anglo team. June 20, 2006, Chris was killed by an enemy sniper in Iraq - first Anglican Marine killed there. Dave's son is Matthew Leon Burke - took Chris's last name. Chris's mom Kat is Aunt Kat to Dave's family. Dave: "I always say I really deep down wish I didn't know Kat, because that would've meant Chris came home and life just went on. But that's not what happened." Chris taught bravery. Kat taught strength. Top Gun Reality: It's About the Team - 1986 Top Gun most impactful movie on Dave's life at 14. But the movie depicts a lone wolf. Marine Corps teaches: Your contribution to the team matters most. A really good pilot who's self-centered will do more damage than a slightly less capable pilot who's a real team player. Dave: "If there's ever a team sport, it's going into combat... It's not about you. It's about the team." Trust: Action, Not Description - Echelon codifies relationships: Trust, respect, listening, influence. Trust is the cornerstone. Dave: "If you don't trust me, I could be good at so many things. If there is a trust gap, there's going to be a problem in the relationship and team." Trust is action you take. Ego: The Universal Challenge - When Echelon works with companies, challenges are almost always connected to ego. Dave: "Our egos tend to wreak havoc at each level of organization." From birth, the ego drives us down the wrong path. When debating plans, ego says, "You're right, he's wrong." Building good leadership is managing egos. Dave: "Humility is the most important attribute in a leader. All the attributes, humility is number one, and we don't waffle on that." Humility Enables Everything Else - Dave worked with the biggest, toughest SEALs. Attribute most critical to success: humility. Ability to listen, learn, be flexible, change, admit you're wrong, and go with someone else's plan. It even affects fitness. Humility touches everything. Doesn't diminish other attributes, but allows you to strengthen them. Teaching Humility: Subordinate Your Ego - You can't tell someone with a big ego to be humble. Dave: "The biggest challenge with someone else's ego is not their ego. It's your ego's response to it." Most counterintuitive thing: If you clash with Ryan, Dave has to subordinate his ego to Ryan's. Lower your ego: "Hey Ryan, I've been pushing back hard, I realize I'm not listening." Natural reaction: Ryan's ego starts to drop. Over time, collaborate more. You connect success to the ability to control the ego. Dave: "Humility is the measurement of how much control you have over your ego." What you give is usually what you get. It's reciprocal. Care About Team More Than Yourself - When your people see you working hard to clear paths or block an egomaniac boss, they'll run through walls for you. Outcome of a good relationship: You care about the team, the team cares about you. That selfless act shows you care about them more than yourself. Dave: "That's how you show that you care about them more than yourself, and that's what a leader's job is, to care about the team more than you care about yourself. That's parenting, that's marriage." Extreme Ownership - Book Extreme Ownership changed Dave's understanding. When you take ownership, take ownership of everything. Caveat: Not things you literally don't control. But you have ownership over everything, even just how you react. After Chris was killed, Dave said, "That's war, nothing we can do." Problem: When he embraced it wasn't his responsibility, it meant he didn't have as much to change. Should have asked: "What is everything we can do to make sure this doesn't happen again?" The tendency is to undershoot ownership. Try to take it to the extreme. If you can take ownership of everything you can control, you get more influence over the outcome. Detachment: A Superpower - Dave: "Detachment is a superpower" - (1) almost nobody can do it, and (2) if you can, it's massively influential. Detachment is being in control of emotions. When overwhelmed with priorities and pressures, you tend to get emotional. When you react emotionally, you make bad decisions. Learn the skill of detaching - not to be devoid of emotion (we're human), but don't let emotions dictate. Get Away from Problems to See What's Causing It - When a problem occurs at work, you tend to focus on it, go into it. It seems good but is often wrong. You should get away from it, detach. Getting away lets you look around and see what's really causing it. Military example: The enemy is shooting at you; the tendency is to focus on that. Usually bad because they're hoping you do - then they send a flanking maneuver. If you detach, step back, you'll see the flanking maneuver coming. Be able to see the future - that's the superpower. Know Your Red Flags - Intervene Early - You have to understand where you are escalating your emotions. Know your personal red flags. Most people don't go zero to 100. Long day, flight delayed, bad meeting - little things tick up, so zero is actually 4 or 5, which means dirty dishes put you to 7. When Dave gets frustrated, traps tighten up. Some people's nose turns red. If you're at level 8 and someone says, "calm down," it makes it worse. But if at level 1 or 2 and you intervene, you're in control. What an adult does: "I'm an emotional guy, but I have awareness of where I am. If I'm a 4, I gotta intervene then." If at level 10, detaching is not gonna happen. That's the difference between kids and adults. Dave: "You are much more likely to have a hard time controlling your emotions, ironically, with people you care about the most." Quotes: "You're planning for the success of the outcome, not how you're going to go about doing that, because things get in the way." "Humility is the most important attribute in a leader. All the attributes. Humility is number one, and we don't waffle on that." "The biggest challenge with someone else's ego is not their ego. It's your ego's response to it." "Detachment is a superpower." "You are much more likely to have a hard time controlling your emotions, ironically, with people you care about the most." 01:16 Introducing Dave Burke 02:21 Dave Burke's Top Gun Experience 05:23 Lessons Learned from Military to Everyday Life 07:56 The Importance of Flexibility in Leadership 13:07 The Need to Lead: Dedication and Personal Stories 16:58 The Realities of Teamwork in Combat and Business 21:03 Building Trust and Relationships in Teams 26:04 The Role of Humility in Effective Leadership 31:03 Understanding Ego and Humility 31:50 Subordinating Your Ego 33:38 Challenges of Teaching Humility 34:07 Personal Experiences with Ego 39:20 The Power of Ownership 42:57 Detachment as a Superpower 52:58 Advice for Young Leaders 57:26 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Oct 12

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My Guest: Helen Lewis is a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of The Genius Myth: Great Ideas Don't Come from Lone Geniuses . Notes: Shakespeare: Talent + Luck + Timing - William Shakespeare died in 1616 at age 52, celebrated but not yet immortal. His icon status required massive luck: friends published the First Folio (saving King Lear), then 50 years later, Charles II reopened England's theaters after Puritan closures and needed content. Companies turned to Shakespeare's IP, adapting his work (including changing tragedies to happy endings). Helen: "If anyone deserves to be called a genius, it's him. But he died as a successful man of his age. Scenius Over Genius - Brian Eno coined "scenius" - places that are unusually productive and creative. Shakespeare moved from Warwickshire to London for the theaters and playwrights. Helen: "You don't just have to be Leonardo, you also need Florence... Where do you find the coolest, most interesting bleeding edge of your field?" Modern example: Joe Rogan's Comedy Mothership in Austin created an alternative to LA/NYC for comedians like Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchcliffe. Ryan: "Put yourself in rooms where you feel like the dumbest person... force you to rise up, think differently, work harder." Tim Berners-Lee vs. Elon Musk - Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web. Has knighthood, lives an ordinary life, kids named Alice and Ben. Most people have never heard of him. Elon Musk has a lot of children, talks about his genes needing to live on, and lives a very public life. Helen: "We overrate the self-promoters, the narcissists. We demand oddness and specialness... We don't call modest people geniuses because they're too normal." Elizabeth Holmes (Theranos) and Sam Bankman-Fried (FTX) exploited this - looked like a genius (Steve Jobs cosplay, messy math prodigy) but stood on houses of cards. Trauma and the "I'll Show You" Engine - Matthew Parris wrote Fracture after noticing how many "great lives" had traumatic childhoods - loss of parents, being unloved, bullied. Helen: "I don't think that's necessarily genius in objective achievement. It's more like a hunger for recognition or fame... a kind of 'I'll show all of you' engine." Stephen Hawking on IQ - Stephen Hawking: "I have no idea. People who boast about their IQ are losers." The Flynn Effect shows average IQ rose over the 20th century through better nutrition, schooling, and living conditions. Higher IQ correlates with better outcomes. But at the top end, every IQ point ≠ is one success point. Christopher Langan (the highest IQ guy) thinks he has a theory to overturn Einstein, and that Bush did 9/11 to cover it up. No history of achievement. Helen: "Smart people don't always prosper. You need the gears that connect the engine to the wheels on the road." Conspiracy Theories: Narcissism as Driver - Narcissism is the most correlated personality trait with conspiracy thinking. Helen: "The sheeple, the NPCs think this, but I alone have seen the truth. It positions you as the protagonist of reality." The Internet is a "confirmation bias engine." But conspiracies are sometimes true (Epstein's corrupt plea deal), which is why conspiracy thinking persists. Researcher Karen Stenner's solution: Get back to depoliticized conspiracies like Bigfoot, crop circles, Area 51 - harmless things that got people outside instead of "shoot up a pizza restaurant." The Beatles: Finiteness Creates Legend - Psychologist Han Isaac said geniuses should either die before 30 or live past 80. Middle is "eh." The Beatles had both: a short career that ended definitively, then John Lennon was shot at 40, frozen in time. Paul McCartney lives on, performs at Glastonbury with John's vocals. Craig Brown: "The Rolling Stones just go on and on, but there's never as much of the Beatles as you want." Quality Over Quantity - Helen: "Incentive now is producing constantly for algorithms... That's neither fun nor produces the best work." Early career: say YES. Later career: "The most important thing you can say is no." Her metric: "Can I say honestly, that was the best I could do? I didn't cut corners. That's the metric." Podcast: advised to do 2-3 episodes weekly for rankings, has been doing weekly for 10.5 years. Shows that went daily? He stopped listening. "I'm gonna increase the quality bar, not the quantity." Robert Greene: "Do not speak unless you can improve upon the silence." Improving the Silence - "My dad's not the loudest at family gatherings, doesn't have the most words, but when he speaks, we all stop and listen. That's who you want to be." Applies to meetings: people vomit garbage to show how smart they are instead of waiting for something valuable. When you speak, people should want to listen. Thomas Edison: Execution Over Ideas - The Light bulb wasn't Edison's conceptual innovation - the idea dated to Humphrey Davy. What was incredible: Edison made it work (vacuum seal, filament) and created the New York power grid. Helen: "Lots of people can have the idea that a man should be an ant. Not everybody can write the Ant-Man screenplay and have it produced." His Menlo Park lab lasted because he worked with brilliant people on problems they cared about. Logbook shows assistants' names on breakthroughs - collaborative. We underrate logistics and execution. Most "light bulb moments" are actually slow, incremental, contested creations. Why Helen Chooses Teams Over Independence - Could go independent on Substack for more money. Works at The Atlantic for: resources, legal support, editorial integrity, and colleagues she doesn't want to let down. Helen: "You must have people in your life, you think, I wanna do work that they like. Finding those people who make you your best version of yourself." Ryan connects to athletics: "Being surrounded by people better than me forces me to raise my game. That's why we want to be part of a great team." Sample First, Specialize Later - High achievers have "hot streak" later, but sample early - trying different things, learning transferable skills. Helen: "Take the first job at a publication you could learn from. Even if not wildly interested, if it's good and they'll hold you to high standards, do it. Your second job is infinitely easier to get than your first." Work Around People Who Care - Helen: "If you work somewhere where no one cares, it's very hard. You can't care on your own. You'll become infected by the apathy around you." Nothing is more boring than a job you don't care about. Don't Wait to Live - Some devote long hours to something for money, promising they'll retire at 30 and then live. Helen: "What if you spent all that time chasing something and then you get hit by a truck? Don't wait for it. Just try and enjoy what you're doing right now." Quotes: "You don't just have to be Leonardo, you also need Florence." "We overrate the self-promoters and underrate the humble achievers." "Smart people don't always prosper. You need the gears that connect the engine to the wheels." "The most important thing you can say is no." "Do not speak unless you can improve upon the silence." - Robert Greene "You can't care on your own. You'll become infected by the apathy around you." It's funny that we have come to use the phrase 'lightbulb moment' to describe a momentary flash of inspiration, because the birth of the lightbulb was slow, incremental, and highly contested.

Oct 5

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Guest: Dakota Meyer, a United States Marine Corps veteran and Medal of Honor recipient. At just 21 years old, Dakota's actions during the Battle of Ganjgal in Afghanistan saved many lives when he repeatedly went against his orders and drove into a Taliban ambush zone to rescue trapped soldiers. He became the first living Marine in more than 40 years to receive the Medal of Honor. Today, he's a firefighter, entrepreneur, and New York Times bestselling author. Dakota is dedicated to developing leaders who can handle crisis and complexity. In our conversation, you'll hear why Dakota believes his most heroic day was actually his greatest failure, what he was feeling the day he received the Medal of Honor from President Obama, and his practical blueprint for bringing our divided country together. Notes: The Three-Phase Life Cycle - Dakota's framework for wisdom: "You have an obstacle you face. You have to get through that obstacle and become better from it. And then the third piece is you have to share how you got through that obstacle." Leadership vs. Responsibility - "Leaders are just people too. You can lead from anywhere in an organization... Leadership comes in many forms." True leadership means choosing where your loyalty lies - with the people you're responsible for or with protecting your own position. September 8th, 2009: Leadership Failure - Dakota frames his Medal of Honor actions as "an absolute story of leadership failure at its best" - multiple levels of leaders avoiding responsibility while he went against orders to save his teammates. The Loyalty Question - "Where does their loyalty lie? Is it in the people that trust them to lead them and to protect them? Or is it in the organization in order for themselves to keep getting promoted?" This fundamental choice defines every leader. Risk vs. Results - "Organizations and leaders today are so risk-averse that risk comes before results... You can't be successful, do hard things, and stay comfortable and be safe. In no world does that exist." Mental Health Reality Check - Dakota challenges current mental health approaches: "We're giving people no hope because we're trying to accommodate their emotions and not bring them back to reality and logic." He distinguishes between trauma that needs addressing and self-induced mental health issues through poor choices. Love as Choice, Not Emotion - "Love is not an emotion. Love is a choice... If you love me, you're going to always help me be the best version of me. That doesn't always feel good." Accountability and Fatherhood - As a father of two daughters: "I can't be anything that I wouldn't let anybody else be to them... You set the bar for what they're gonna accept and what they're not gonna accept." The Civil War Warning - "America doesn't need a Civil War. What we need is to vote, to lead, to speak up in schools, to teach our kids history, truth, kindness with strength, and how to disagree without violence." The Ambush - When his team walked into an ambush, promised support assets (air support, mortars, quick reaction force) weren't available due to rules of engagement restrictions. When Lieutenant Johnson called for artillery support, saying, "If you don't give me these rounds right now, we're going to die," the response was "Try your best." The Decision to Act - Dakota requested permission to help multiple times and was denied each time. He finally went against orders with his driver, Staff Sergeant Rodriguez Chavez, making four or five trips into the valley over six hours to evacuate wounded and recover bodies. The Human Cost - Dakota describes the helplessness of watching Afghan soldiers get "mowed down" while running toward his vehicle for rescue. He performed basic life-saving measures, loaded wounded in trucks with the dead on the bottom and living on top for triage priority, and ultimately recovered some of his fallen teammates. The Immediate Aftermath - Dakota put his teammates in body bags, flew them home, then immediately returned to cleaning his truck and helping Afghan soldiers with their dead. He went back to his base alone - the only survivor of his four-man team. Mental Health Crisis - Dakota developed a destructive cycle: daily drinking (depressant), massive caffeine intake to compensate, creating anxiety and amplifying trauma. He was surrounded by people who only wanted to discuss trauma and war stories, preventing healing. Suicide Attempt - Dakota reached a breaking point where he held a gun to his head, but it wasn't loaded. This became his turning point - he made a commitment to either "rack it back and go ahead and do it, or go out and find a way to get through this and start living a life worthy of their sacrifices." The Path Forward - Recovery came through accountability rather than accommodation. Dakota emphasizes that while trauma needed addressing, he was "amplifying and feeding the problem, not the solution" through his choices. Real vs. Perceived Heroism - Dakota challenges the hero narrative: "I am an example of the potential that's in every human being... If they believe in a cause that's bigger than themselves, and they love people so much that they're willing to do whatever it takes to stop the suffering." Daily Character Building - "You don't just wake up and do the hard thing. It starts every day. Do you get up when you say you're gonna get up? Do you do what you say?" The Medal of Honor action was simply "upholding my end of the deal to my teammates and to my country." Being a Great Dad - Dakota sets an extremely high bar as a dad: "I believe that if your daughters start dating shitty and weak men, it's because you are a shitty and weak man." He sees fatherhood as the ultimate accountability. Unity through Truth - His current focus: "I just want to bring people together... I wanna put hope back in the world through truth." He believes in finding common ground with anyone through genuine connection and curiosity. Education vs. Knowledge - Dakota distinguishes between theoretical education and practical knowledge: "There's a difference between education and knowledge... those who can't do, they teach. We need more that have done teaching." The Power of Love - His core philosophy centers on love as action, not emotion: "Love is limitless... there's no expiration date" compared to hate and negativity, which "there's an expiration date on." Practical Application Leadership Loyalty Test - Before making decisions, ask where your primary loyalty lies: with those you lead or with your own advancement Risk-Taking Framework - Understand that meaningful results require accepting risk and discomfort Mental Health Approach - Address trauma while taking responsibility for choices that amplify problems Daily Character Development - Build integrity through small daily commitments before facing major challenges Connection Over Division - Seek common ground through curiosity and questions rather than attacking opposing viewpoints

Sep 28

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Morgan Housel is the New York Times Bestselling author of The Psychology of Money, Same As Ever, and The Art of Spending Money . His books have sold over 10million copies and have been translated into more than 60 languages. This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Notes: Morgan dedicated The Art of Spending Money to "Kellie the Unicorn" (his sister Kellie) after she was diagnosed with colon cancer and asked him to fulfill her long-running joke request. Sometimes book dedications "mean nothing to the reader, but they can mean everything to the author." People Who Bet on You - Brian Richards (Motley Fool boss) bet on Morgan when he didn't have to, providing unconditional support for a mediocre college writer. Craig Shapiro (Collaborative Fund) pursued Morgan for months to join his tiny VC firm as a full-time blogger when it wasn't a business necessity. What money can't buy - Morgan once heard a story from a priest that he'll never forget… It's from a priest who delivers the last rites in hospitals. He described the difference between what kids say to their parents when they're about to die. The priest tells them to tell their parents what they're most grateful for… In families with lots of problems, the kids usually talk about something that costs money. In the best families, the ones with solid relationships, the kids say the same thing every time. "Thank you for believing in me." Making vs. Spending Money - "There are literally tens of thousands of books written on how to make money... There are virtually no books written about how to spend money." Most people assume spending needs no guidance, but wealthy people often demonstrate this isn't true. The Internal vs. External Scoreboard - Donald Crowhurst (fake sailor who killed himself seeking external validation) vs. Bernard Moitessier (expert sailor who quit before winning to avoid attention and live authentically). Modern society pushes us toward Crowhurst's external validation while we actually want Moitessier's internal satisfaction. The simplest formula for a pretty nice life: independence plus purpose. The independence to do what you want, and the wisdom to want to do meaningful things. Chuck Feeney's Wealth Example - The duty-free store billionaire first lived the stereotypical rich lifestyle, realized he didn't like it, then chose to live modestly and give away $10 billion. "I was happy when I was giving money away, and I was not happy when I wasn't giving money away." Every Dollar of Debt - "Every dollar of debt that you have is a piece of your future that someone else owns." Debt narrows the range of outcomes you can endure in an unknowable future. Money and Happiness Research - Recent studies show that earning more money only helps if you're already happy, joyful, and content. For depressed, anxious people, more money doesn't improve well-being. "It leverages whoever you are in either direction." What Money Can't Buy - The book is "40% about how to spend money to make yourself happier and 60% about realizing what money cannot do for you." Relationships, health, and personal fulfillment must come first. "Comedians are the best thought leaders because they understand how the world works, but they want to make you laugh rather than making themselves feel smart." "Nobody gives a shit about anything other than how you make them feel." Vacation - Morgan realized while building sandcastles with his kids on the beach in Maui (10/10 experience) that building Legos at home with them was almost as good (9/10). The real value was "uninterrupted time with my family," which required travel to avoid daily distractions but pointed to what actually mattered. Ambition - Morgan's career drive crystallized while kayaking past $25 million mansions on Lake Washington in 2010: "I need to work harder. I want one of those one day." This wasn't envy but ambition - though he notes the line between inspiration and envy is thin, especially once you know the person. A high savings rate is not "saving" but is "purchasing independence." Each saved dollar buys freedom to handle life's unknowable future without someone else's schedule dictating his choices. Why Spending Is Complicated People try to fill emotional holes with material purchases Society tells us what we should like, which may not align with our actual preferences We chase peer comparison rather than personal satisfaction We overestimate the social rewards of nice possessions The Independence Framework Save money not for retirement but for freedom to handle uncertainty Debt narrows your options when life throws curveballs Independence means being able to do what you want, with whom you want, for as long as you want The Internal Scorecard "No one's watching. No one's thinking about you." When people notice your possessions, they're either imagining themselves having them or envying you for them Neither response gives you the social validation you're seeking Use money to buy independence rather than others' admiration Relationship Investments Focus on what creates "uninterrupted time with people you love" Consider how purchases enable deeper connections (bigger kitchen for family dinners) vs. impressing others Remember that belief and support matter more than material provision Purpose Morgan's purpose became clear the moment he became a father: "There. That's it... I don't matter anymore. That's the only thing that matters right there." Purpose can be parenthood, work, religion, or community, but it needs to be bigger than yourself. "Comedians are the best thought leaders because they understand how the world works, but they want to make you laugh rather than making themselves feel smart." They deliver profound psychological and social insights while focusing on how they make you feel, not their own status. Regret -- Gerontologist Carl Pillemer interviewed 1,000 Americans aged 90-100. Not a single one said, "I wish I earned more money" or "I wish I worked harder." Nearly all said "I wish I spent more time with my kids" and "I wish I were nicer to my spouse." Inspiration vs. Envy -- Morgan credits James Clear as inspiration for "The Psychology of Money" and describes him as incredibly successful yet humble and kind. This creates pure inspiration without envy, unlike other successful writers whose personalities trigger competitive feelings.

Sep 21

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Guest: Jake Tapper is an award-winning broadcaster and chief Washington correspondent, currently anchoring The Lead with Jake Tapper every day on CNN. He's also the #1 New York Times best-selling author of 7 books, including The Outpost (which was later made into a movie), Original Sin, and most recently Race Against Terror. Notes: Be So Good They Can't Ignore You . Jake: I'm in control of how hard I work. It is our responsibility to work so hard that we become the obvious choice for the job or the promotion. Be So Good They Can't Ignore You. "I had to be so good that even though maybe on a broadcasting level I wouldn't be the number one pick... they had to give it to me." The one leadership skill that is massively important to develop… Don't insulate yourself with "yes" people. You have to have truth tellers in your life. Who are your foxhole friends? Who are the people who are willing and able to tell you the truth? Who are the ones who love you and care about you enough to let you know when you've messed up? Those people are gold. We all need them. Rejection: Dr. Seuss was rejected by 47 publishers. Rejection is part of life. You have to stay in the game for a chance to win it. Keep going. And nobody will give you a job to be nice. What value do you bring to a company? How will you make your boss's life better? You get hired to solve a problem, not because someone wants to be nice. Pinned tweet since 2017 – "To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant struggle." -- George Orwell. A reminder to see obvious truths being obscured by spin or wishful thinking. "You Can Always Tell Them No" - Ted Koppel's crucial advice to young Jake about maintaining journalistic integrity and not compromising values for opportunities. This became a career-defining principle that Jake still follows 20 years later. The Jar Jar Binks Theory of Leadership - Successful leaders often remove critics from their inner circle, creating dangerous echo chambers. "Great people often achieve as much as they can to the point that they are able to remove from their inner circle anyone who tells them they're being an asshole or making a wrong decision." Constructive vs. Destructive Criticism - Jake learned to distinguish between useful feedback and personal attacks: "Very few of my critics are people that I actually care what they think... folks who understand I'm just trying to be a good faith operative here." Curiosity as Career Driver - Deep curiosity drove Jake from reading microfiche about MASH as a kid to investigating complex stories as an adult: "I find something interesting and I wanna find out everything I can about it." Rejection as Constant Reality - Even at his career peak, Jake faces daily rejection: "I get rejected every day... it doesn't matter that I've had New York Times bestsellers before... it's part of life." Humility Enables Learning - Accepting expertise gaps allows growth: "Having the humility to accept that I am not an expert on any particular thing... I'm a journalist, which means I try to be an expert on whatever I'm covering at that moment." Leadership Lessons From Powerful People The Inner Circle Problem: Leaders systematically remove critics until surrounded only by yes-people, creating dangerous blind spots. Jake witnessed this pattern with Joe Biden (surrounded by aides and family who weren't honest about his declining acuity) and across industries. The Solution: Intentionally maintain truth-tellers in your inner circle who care about you personally but will challenge you professionally. Creating Truth-Telling Environments: Jake encourages healthy disagreement with executive producers, acknowledges power imbalances that make criticism harder for junior staff, and creates indirect channels for feedback ("some people on the staff think..."). The Criticism Paradox: Public leaders face constant harsh criticism, making them naturally defensive. Understanding this context helps leaders distinguish between constructive feedback that improves performance versus personal attacks that serve no purpose. Following Curiosity Despite Opposition Jake's major works were all advised against by professionals: The Outpost (no military expertise) The Atlantic story of freeing a wrongly imprisoned man Biden book (started the day after the election, despite uncertainty) Key Insight: "Every single one of them, people were telling me not to do it... It's been following my curiosities even when people told me I'm not interested in that." The Hard Work Advantage: Jake couldn't compete on appearance or natural broadcasting ability, so he outworked everyone: broke stories constantly, used blogs when he couldn't get on air, and made himself impossible to ignore through sheer output. Dealing with Rejection Expect constant rejection even at a career peak Don't take rejection personally unless there's constructive feedback Use rejection as data, not judgment of worth Keep creating regardless of immediate acceptance The Wave Metaphor: Like Tom Hanks in Cast Away, timing the waves - "every code can be cracked" if you persist and find the right timing. Key Elements for Writers: Strong structure: "Act one, chase your hero up a tree. Act two: throw rocks at your hero. Act three, get your hero out of the tree." Good editor who pushes back - be willing to "kill your darlings" Life Philosophy The Acceleration Mindset: At 56, Jake is speeding up output: "I don't know how much longer I have this window where people are paying attention... relevance is ephemeral... when it leaves, it looks fucking brutal." For Young People: "So much of life is rejection... You cannot stop it... don't take it personally." Focus on developing skills and delivering value: "Nobody will give you a job to be nice... They'll do it because you have something they want." Time Sacrifice Awareness: Success requires acknowledging costs: "What I cried about is the stuff I missed that I wasn't there for because I was chasing a story or on assignment." Time Stamps: 02:46 Jake's Dedication to Influential Figures 05:05 Hot Mic Moment in Alaska 06:59 Preparing for Big Interviews & When to Follow Up 09:01 Dealing with Criticism 12:07 The Story Behind Jake's Pinned Tweet 13:48 Race Against Terror: The New Book 18:29 Balancing Multiple Roles 20:47 Chasing Your Own Curiosity 23:58 Sacrifices for Career Success 29:00 The Importance of Humility in Leadership 31:08 Surrounding Yourself with Truth Tellers 34:18 Healthy Tension in Team Dynamics 37:15 Understanding the Pressure on Public Figures 40:09 Empathy in Leadership 45:17 Balancing Career and Family 49:00 Advice for Aspiring Journalists and Writers 52:01 The Reality of Rejection and Hard Work 57:26 The Importance of Structure and Editing in Writing 01:01:16 End of the Podcast Club

Sep 14

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Sukhinder Singh Cassidy is the CEO of Xero. Xero is a cloud-based accounting software designed for small businesses. They did $2.1 billion in revenue last year. Over the past 25 years, Sukhinder has had leadership roles at Google, Amazon, and StubHub. Notes: Key Learnings Strategic CEO Job Search Criteria – Sukhinder had four non-negotiables: macro tailwinds/good market, customer she could be passionate about, strong business model, and a role where she could "learn for miles" for 5-8 years. Only two companies met her criteria in 18 months of searching. "Sell, Interview, Sell" Hiring Process – First meeting is 50% selling the opportunity to attract top talent. Only after candidates lean in do you shift to intensive interviewing with leadership team exposure. The Virtuous Cycle Framework – Customer at the top, supported by "high purpose, high performance, high people" culture. "It's an 'and,' not an 'or'" - you don't get to choose just one element. Back-Channeling is Critical – Reference checking happens throughout the entire interview process, not just at the end. "The most important thing is not just front channel... it's all the back channel." Values Alignment Over Pure Qualifications – "Go where my values fit and my strengths are valued." Cultural fit becomes the deciding factor in close hiring calls, not competence. The Layoff Leadership Test – Six weeks after joining, Sukhinder laid off 900 people based on McKinsey benchmarking. Showed consistency between the outside-in analysis presented to the board and transparent communication to employees. Portfolio of Bets Strategy – Balance growth, profitability, and customer happiness through diversified initiatives ranging from "safe moves" to "flyers," with clear probability assessments. Consistency as Culture Foundation – "Culture means consistency of message and what's important." Authenticity through change, not resistance to change. The 10-Slide CEO Interview Deck Framework: Vision statement (destination in 2-3 years) Outside-in market analysis Competitive landscape SWOT analysis of current position Five key strategic moves Implementation approach ("the how") Estimated outcomes with probability ranges Practical Application: Job Search Strategy – Define 4-5 non-negotiable criteria upfront. Be willing to wait for roles that truly meet your standards rather than taking "the job before the job." Interview Preparation – Always build a comprehensive thesis deck even if not requested. Use it to clarify your own thinking and demonstrate strategic capability. Hiring Excellence – Spend equal time selling the opportunity and evaluating candidates. Use diverse interview panels and back-channel extensively throughout the process. Cultural Leadership – Be consistent in messaging across all stakeholders (board, investors, employees). Authenticity enables trust during periods of change. Strategic Planning – Frame initiatives as a portfolio of bets with clear probability assessments. Balance growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction rather than optimizing for one. Leadership Hiring Process: The CEO interviews top 2-3 levels even without hiring authority Diverse interviewer panels with "bar raisers" Business problem-solving presentations in the final rounds Multiple leadership team interactions before the final decision Life Lessons: Patience in Career Progression – Sometimes the right opportunity requires waiting. Sukhinder was frustrated during 18 months of searching but found the perfect fit. Preparation Separates Candidates – The depth of strategic thinking demonstrated in final presentations often determines CEO selections. Culture Survives Through Consistency – Not avoiding change, but maintaining consistent values and communication approach through inevitable changes. Leadership Requires Tough Decisions – Laying off 900 people six weeks into the role, but doing it transparently and based on clear data/analysis. Value Creation Through Alignment – Finding roles where your strengths are valued and values align creates exponentially better outcomes than pure skill matching. Systems Thinking Builds Trust – Sharing appropriate "behind the scenes" context helps teams understand difficult decisions and builds long-term credibility. Early Career Focus – "Do great work for great people." Find talented leaders to apprentice under and work exceptionally hard to maximize learning. Authenticity Enables Performance – Being genuine about challenges and changes builds stronger relationships than trying to maintain artificial stability. Strategic Communication – Frame personal asks in terms of organizational benefits. Make it about solving their problems, not your desires. The Xero Transformation: Financial Performance: $2.1B revenue, 21% YoY growth while maintaining profitability Cultural Approach: "High purpose, high performance, high people" - no choosing between them Strategic Moves: Pricing/packaging optimization, sales motion transformation, customer experience reimagining (new dashboard with 3000+ customer inputs) Leadership Philosophy: Provide a "systems view" to employees, share investor-level insights appropriately, and maintain authenticity during difficult decisions

Sep 7

Apply to be in my next Learning Leader Circle - https://learningleader.com/leadership-circles/ This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Notes: Key Learnings The Mad Scientist Emotional Profile – High achievers typically have both high positive and high negative affect. "Hustlers, hard workers, strivers, entrepreneurs, ambitious people, they're in that quadrant of high positive, high negative affect." This creates intensity but requires management of negative emotions. Dangerous Negative Affect Management – People try to manage high negative affect through alcohol, excessive internet use/pornography, and workaholism. "The isms, the addictions, they're almost all negative affect management techniques." Two Best Ways to Manage Negative Affect: Faith, Spirituality, Philosophy - "Every day, go deep" into transcendent practices Physical Exercise - "Go pick up heavy things" - resistance training moderates negative emotions Arthur's 4:30 AM Protocol – Wakes at 4:30, works out 4:45-5:45, attends mass 6:30-7:00, then has high-protein breakfast with dark coffee at 7:45 for 4 hours of peak creative focus. "I get four hours of creative concentration with maximum dopamine." Exercise Reduces Unhappiness, Doesn't Create Happiness – "Working out hard... moderates negative affect. It makes you less unhappy" rather than directly increasing positive emotions. The Failure Journal Method – Write down failures/disappointments, return after 3 weeks to note learnings, return after 2 more months to identify good things that resulted. This installs learning in the prefrontal cortex rather than letting it "float around limbically." Early Success Can Be Dangerous – Scholars rejected for early research grants outperformed those with early success. "Much better is when you do the work and build yourself up... be a wholesaler before you become a retailer." Management Doesn't Provide Flow – "There's one kind of job where you don't get flow, and that's management... you're getting jerked from thing to thing to thing." Being CEO was "satisfying, but not enjoyable." Intelligence Must Serve Others – "Intelligence is just another gift... whether or not it makes you happier depends on whether or not you're using it to make other people happier." Denigrating others for lower intelligence indicates misusing your gift. The Arrival Fallacy – Olympic gold medalists often experience depression after winning because positive emotion comes from progress toward goals, not achieving them. "Your positive emotion doesn't exist to give you a permanent good day." Two Midlife Crisis Solutions: Focus on what age gives you rather than takes away Choose subtraction over addition - appreciate what you no longer have to do Making Changes Stick Requires Three Elements: Understand the science - Know why something works Change your habits - Actually implement different behaviors Teach it - Explain it to others to cement learning in the prefrontal cortex The Happiness Formula – "Use things, love people, worship the divine" instead of the natural impulses to "love things, use people, and worship yourself." Multi-generational Living Benefits – Arthur lives with adult children and grandchildren: "The research is clear that the closer you are to your grandchildren... the better it is for everybody." Quotes: "I get four hours of creative concentration with maximum dopamine in my prefrontal cortex... ordinarily I would get an hour and a half, two hours of real clarity." "The isms, the addictions, they're almost all negative affect management techniques." "Working out hard... makes you less unhappy. The research is very clear." "Being the boss isn't that fun. It just isn't." "I have carefully accounted for all of my days of happiness. They add up to 14." (Emir of Cordoba) "What's first prize in a pie eating contest? The answer is pie. So I hope you like pie." "Beware the corner office boys. Beware the corner office." "Use things, love people, worship the divine." "Watch one, do one, teach one." (Harvard Medical School) "Don't trust your impulses. Your impulses are to love things, use people, and worship yourself." Life Lessons Develop Daily Discipline Early - A Consistent morning routine with exercise and spiritual practice creates optimal brain chemistry for peak performance throughout the day. Manage High Achievement Personality - If you're a driven person, recognize you likely have high negative affect that needs healthy management through exercise and transcendent practices. Reframe Career Setbacks - Early failures often build stronger foundations than early successes. Use disappointments as learning opportunities through systematic reflection. Question Management Ambitions - Consider whether you enjoy management or just want the status/money. Management roles inherently provide less flow and enjoyment. Use Intelligence to Serve Others - Your cognitive gifts should lift others up, not put them down. Intelligence without service leads to unhappiness. Focus on Progress, Not Arrival - Derive satisfaction from forward momentum in meaningful work rather than achieving specific goals that won't provide lasting happiness. Embrace What Age Gives - In life transitions, focus on new capabilities and freedoms rather than what you're losing or leaving behind. Teach What You Learn - The most effective way to cement new habits and insights is to explain them to others. Teaching accelerates your own learning. Choose Subtraction - Happiness often comes from eliminating negative elements (bad meetings, toxic relationships) rather than adding more positive ones. Build Multi-Generational Relationships - Prioritize time with family across generations. The research strongly supports benefits for all parties. Exercise for Mental Health - View physical training as medication for negative emotions rather than just physical fitness. Cultivate Transcendent Practices - Whether religious, philosophical, or spiritual, daily engagement with something larger than yourself moderates negative emotions and provides meaning. Time Stamps: 00:10 Arthur's Fitness and Health Routine 02:01 Link Between Fitness and Happiness 04:03 Managing Negative Emotions 06:23 Morning Routines 13:24 The Importance of Failure 22:26 The Reality of Promotions and Leadership 27:56 The Power of Intelligence: A Double-Edged Sword 28:28 Using Gifts to Spread Happiness 29:20 The Impact of Helping Others 33:28 Avoiding the Arrival Fallacy 36:36 Redefining Retirement and Midlife 47:39 The Importance of Teaching and Learning 51:28 Life Advice 53:01 EOPC (End of the Podcast Club)

Aug 31

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Shaka Sengor spent 19 years in prison for killing a man. He's transformed his life through not making excuses and taking full ownership of his decisions. Now, he's a New York Times best-selling author who has been called a "soul igniter" by Oprah. His latest book is called How to Be Free. Notes: The Permanence of Split-Second Decisions – At 17, shot three times on a Detroit corner. At 19, he killed a man in a conflict after creating a narrative that he would "shoot first." Sentenced to 17-40 years for second-degree murder. "I try to teach young people about understanding the permanence of a 30-second decision." Books as Portals to Freedom – Read over 1,500 books during 19-year incarceration, starting with street literature (Pimp, Black Gangster) as a gateway to philosophy (Plato, Marcus Aurelius). "Books allowed me to escape in the most literal sense... a portal into other worlds." Prison Mentors Changed Everything – Lifers became his guides: "These are men serving life sentences who came equipped with wisdom about what's on the other side... they guided me to books that shattered old narratives and opened possibilities." Reading Creates Writing Excellence – Speed-reading skill from age 8 (learned during punishments with encyclopedias) combined with voracious prison reading, led to becoming a NY Times bestselling author. "You have to be a practitioner of the craft every day." Journaling as Transformation Tool – "It was the most healing experience I've ever had to speak to my truth, speak to the pain points." Uses 20 different journals, writes everywhere - planes, shower thoughts on phone, margins of books. Hidden Prisons We All Carry – "The most powerful prisons aren't the ones made of concrete and steel. They're the ones we carry with us, built from grief, anger, shame, trauma." Everyone has internal prisons that can be opened. Vulnerability as Strength, Not Manipulation – Authentic vulnerability vs. weaponized oversharing. "Human beings have this innate ability to suss out the truth. Authenticity and vulnerability is the super unlock... being true to your center." Community Through Shared Truth – Prison taught extreme friendship criteria: "Are they willing to serve a life sentence for you or die for you?" Now applies accountability standards: showing up consistently, being loyal to family first. Violence Born from Fear – "Reactionary violence is typically born out of fear, being afraid." Prison taught him to see "the child in people" who are acting out, leading to empathy instead of escalation. Voluntary Hardship Builds Resilience – Monthly 3-day fasts in solitary confinement prepared him for food deprivation punishment. "None of us get through life without suffering... that extra hour a week can change your life's outcomes." Composure Through Self-Awareness – Developed through journaling about times he wasn't composed. "Once you've written it down, you own it. When you own it, you can control it. When you can control it, it's easy to become composed." Remove All Excuses – Florence Nightingale quote: "I never gave or took any excuse." Despite a felony record, a violent crime conviction, and 20 years in prison, he chose to "lead a great life" by removing every excuse. The Ben Horowitz Friendship – Unlikely brotherhood with VC billionaire, starting from Oprah's introduction, bonding over music and culture until 3 AM conversations. Shows authentic relationships transcend backgrounds. Quotes: "I try to teach young people about understanding the permanence of a 30-second decision." "I was in prison before I stepped foot in a cell, and I was free before they ever let me out." "The most powerful prisons aren't the ones made of concrete and steel. They're the ones we carry with us." "Books allowed me to escape... a portal into other worlds." "Once you've written it down, you own it. When you own it, you can control it." "I never gave or took any excuse." (Florence Nightingale) "Master your thinking, master your destiny." "Violence is typically born out of fear, being afraid." "If you can see the child in the person that's acting out... it equips you to have more empathy." "None of us gets through life without suffering. At some point, we're all gonna go through adversity." "I chose to lead a great life... I removed every excuse." Life Lessons: Face Your Internal Prisons – Identify the shame, anger, grief, and trauma that create mental prisons. Recognize that these have doors that can be opened through conscious work Use Reading as Escape and Growth – Books provide mental freedom regardless of physical circumstances. Start with what interests you, then expand to broader learning. Practice Voluntary Hardship – Choose difficult challenges (fasting, extra work, taking stairs) to build resilience for inevitable adversity you don't choose. Journal for Self-Awareness – Write down thoughts, patterns, and reactions to own and control them. Use various methods - handwritten, voice memos, and margins of books. Build Authentic Community – Surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable and tell you the truth. Apply the highest standards to friendship selection. Transform Fear into Empathy – When facing conflict, look for the "child" in the other person. Understanding their fear reduces your reactionary responses. Develop Composure Through Practice – Review past moments of losing control to build awareness. Use this knowledge to respond rather than react in future situations. Remove All Excuses – Whatever your circumstances, choose to pursue greatness rather than accepting limitations. The past doesn't define the future unless you let it. Share Your Truth Vulnerably – Authentic storytelling about pain and growth helps others escape their own prisons. Vulnerability is strength when used to serve others. Create Evidence of Resilience – Completing self-imposed challenges builds confidence for handling external adversities. Each victory creates proof you can handle hard things. Choose Your Narrative – You can change the story handed down to you. Reject limiting beliefs about what's possible based on background or circumstances. Apply to be part of my Learning Leader Circle

Aug 24

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. My guest: Michelle "Mace" Curran is a combat veteran, former fighter pilot, and only the second woman in history to fly as the Lead Solo for the Thunderbirds, the U.S. Air Force's elite demonstration squadron. Now on a new mission, she's using her story to inspire others. She is the best-selling author of The Flipside: How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear Into Your Superpower . How to run "debrief" so that giving and getting feedback becomes embedded in your culture. The biggest mistake Michelle made when she became a new fighter pilot, and what you can learn from it. Early Exposure to Male-Dominated Environments – Michelle's dad took her hunting with guys starting at age 7, teaching her she "belonged in any room" she wanted to pursue. This early experience prepared her for being 1 of only 2% female fighter pilots. Parents Who Believed in Wild Dreams – Parents worked multiple jobs to afford camps (criminal justice, archaeology) whenever Michelle showed interest in something new. Taught her that opportunities weren't just possibilities - "I could go after it." The Lone Wolf Trap – When struggling in her first squadron, Michelle was afraid to ask questions because she thought it would show she didn't belong. "I wouldn't even ask questions because I felt like asking a question was just so uncomfortable." Three Years of Struggling in Silence – Despite performing well in the air, Michelle spent three years "belly crawling, pulling myself by my fingernails" because she felt pressure to represent all women perfectly. The Fresh Start Power – Moving from Japan to Texas gave her a reset: "No one here knows about my divorce. No one here knows all these struggles I've been going through." Sometimes you need a clean slate to rebuild. Curiosity + Vulnerability = Community – The breakthrough came when fellow pilots asked pointed questions beyond platitudes: "How are you actually doing?" Real curiosity that goes deeper than "let me know if you need anything." The Near Head-On Collision Story – Flying inverted at 500 mph, passing within 80 feet of another jet using only eyeballs for distance measurement. When her student pilot aimed straight at her, she had 2.5 seconds to decide whether to move or hold position. Learning from Mistakes, Not Punishing Them – After the near-collision, Michelle chose teaching over berating: "What is the most productive way we can respond to get the most learning from that?" The student learned faster because he found the boundary. The Debrief Culture Framework – Start with objectives, go through segments systematically, ask "why" five times to find root causes, create specific lesson learned, and share with the entire organization so others don't repeat mistakes. Rank Comes Off in Debriefs – Even generals sit in debriefs led by mid-level captains who are the real tactical experts. "Status comes off" - expertise matters more than hierarchy when analyzing performance. The Teaching-Learning Loop – Moving from student (year 1) to instructor (year 2) creates exponential learning: "Your students will teach you more than you probably learned when you were a student." Time Distortion Under Extreme Stress – During the near-collision, Michelle experienced "the craziest temporal distortion" where "time slows down" but "you can't do anything faster than you normally can." Build Competence First, Then Serve Others – Advice for young people: Spend 6-8 years building skills and confidence, then "reach a hand back" to mentor others. Both phases are essential for maximum impact. Quotes: "They endlessly believed in every wild dream I set my sights on." "I learned my vocabulary of profanity expanded greatly... but I also learned I could hang in that environment." "I went into it naively thinking that it didn't matter at all... and it's a little bit different as you get into the military." "There's no fear when you're present. Fear is a future thing." "Curiosity plus vulnerability equals community." "What is the most productive way we can respond at this point to get the most learning from that?" "More learning happens in the debrief than actually does during the flight itself." "The egos that people see in Hollywood around fighter pilots... what they don't show is the humility that has to happen behind the scenes." "It's not self-centered to spend that first six to eight years focused on learning and honing skills." "You get to reach a hand back... and it becomes one of the most fulfilling things for you as well." Life Lessons: Expose Children to Challenging Environments Early – Like Michelle's hunting trips, give kids experience in situations where they're the minority or outsider to build confidence. Support Wild Dreams with Action – Don't just say you believe in someone's goals - invest time and money in giving them exposure to those fields. Ask for Help Before You're Drowning – The biggest mistake is thinking asking questions shows weakness. Everyone expects beginners to have questions. Create Psychological Safety for Mistakes – Focus on learning from errors rather than punishing them. The response to mistakes determines future trust and performance. Build Debrief Culture in Your Organization – Set clear objectives, analyze systematically, find root causes, create specific action items, and share lessons broadly. Use Fresh Starts Strategically – Sometimes changing environments gives you the reset needed to implement new behaviors and shed old baggage. Go Beyond Surface-Level Check-ins – Real community comes from curiosity that goes deeper than "how are you?" Be willing to ask uncomfortable follow-up questions. Practice Temporal Awareness Under Stress – In high-stakes situations, your brain may speed up while time seems to slow down. Prepare for this distortion through practice. Separate Expertise from Hierarchy – The most knowledgeable person should lead analysis sessions, regardless of their position in the org chart. Balance Self-Development with Service – Early career should focus on building competence; mid-career should emphasize mentoring others. Accept That High Performance Requires High Standards – Like the Thunderbirds' 70-foot separation at 500 mph, excellence often means operating with minimal margin for error. Apply to be part of my Learning Leader Circle

Aug 17

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader My guest: Sam Lessin is a Partner at Slow Ventures, with prior experience as Vice President of Product Management at Facebook and CEO of Drop.io. His career highlights include serving as a key executive at Facebook, leading product management efforts, and successfully co-founding Fin. His current role at Slow Ventures involves investing in innovative startups across various sectors, showcasing his expertise in entrepreneurship and venture capital. Notes: Key Learnings The 4:30 AM Advantage – Sam's father would be at his desk by 4:30 AM every day, saying, "It's easy to look smart if you have a several-hour head start on everyone else." Early work creates compounding advantages over time. Either Be Early or Be Late, Don't Be On Time – Father's wisdom about timing and seasons. Start your career super early to get ahead, or strategically wait and come in later. Timing matters more than perfect preparation. Joy as the Ultimate Competitive Advantage – "I just don't think that in the long run, angry people win." Look for joyful people in hiring and partnerships because joy is sustainable while anger burns out. Type Two Fun Builds Resilience – Type 1 fun is enjoyable while doing it (rollercoaster). Type 2 fun "completely sucks while you're doing it, but there's joy on the other side" (climbing mountains, marathons). Entrepreneurs need Type 2 fun experiences. Practice Voluntary Hardship – Sam ran a sub-3-hour marathon and got a pilot's license not for love of activities, but for "practice moments" of perseverance. Creates evidence that you can handle business adversity. Right Person, Right Opportunity, Right Time – Don't ask "is this a great person?" Ask, "Is it the right person at the right moment?" Success requires all three elements to align, not just talent. Write Publicly for Intellectual Receipts – "If you can't write the check, write me the thesis and timestamp it." Writing creates accountability, proves thinking ability, and builds reputation over time. Nobody Knows What They're Doing – Working at Bain taught Sam that even prestigious companies "have no idea what you're doing." This is liberating—you can figure it out too. Big Things Take Time (Slow Ventures Philosophy) – Most success isn't quick wins. Venmo took "so many turns of the crank." Be patient finding the right wind, then sail fast when you catch it. Embrace Being Wrong Most of the Time – Seed investing means "you're mostly wrong, you mostly lose money." Success comes from being very right occasionally, not being right consistently. The Solana 2000x Return Story – Put in $400K, returned 2000x to LPs. Success came from the intersection of thesis (looking for "Ethereum killer") and relationships (following Raj Gokal through multiple startups). Use Humor and Authenticity as Filters – Slow Ventures website looks like a law firm in tuxedos "on purpose." If you don't think it's funny, "you're not who we want to invest in." Writing Pushes Away Wrong People – "I really like to be not liked by the people I don't want to work with." Authentic writing attracts the right people and repels the wrong ones. Manufacturing Hardship for Privileged Kids – "Tiger Dad" sports culture might be a misguided attempt to create necessary adversity for wealthy children who lack natural hardships. I loved the throughline of this whole conversation being about his dad, working exceptionally hard, and having joy and excitement for the journey. Maybe it was the near-death experiences that his dad had that led to that mindset. Regardless, it's something we can all learn from. We want to be around optimistic people who have joy and love for what they're doing… Nobody knows what they're doing . We're all figuring it out as we go. You'll never learn unless you go out and do the thing. Figure it out as you go. Just get started. And iterate. Learn. Try again. And keep going. Advice from Sam – Write publicly. You don't know what you think until you get your thoughts out of your head onto the page. And if you publish them, you have a record of the journey. Also, you might attract someone to work with. That is how Jack Raines (guest on episode #539) caught Sam's attention, and now they work together. Useful Quotes: "It's easy to look smart if you have a several-hour head start on everyone else." "I just don't think that in the long run, angry people win." "Either be early or be late, don't be on time." "The right question is, is it the right person at the right moment?" "Writing is thinking. If you can't write, you can't think." "I feel like a tenured professor of capitalism—responsible to make a lot of money over the long term by being very right every once in a while with permission to be wrong all the time." "One of the most insulting things you can call someone is a market participant." "The beauty of the internet is so big. The right people find you." "Big things take time." "Life's short. Is this really what you're spending your time on?" Apply to be part of my next Learning Leader Circle . Time Stamps: 00:11 Sam's Dad's Unique Career Path 00:39 Life Lessons from My Dad 04:35 The Trade-offs of Hard Work 06:57 Betting on the Right People 07:23 The Importance of Joy in Success 10:39 Overcoming Hardships and Building Resilience 20:40 My Journey: From Harvard to Bain 26:06 Joining Facebook and Learning from Mark Zuckerberg 29:36 Balancing Joy and Competitive Spirit 30:15 The Story of Rippling and Parker 31:48 The Solana Investment Journey 34:33 The Importance of Writing and Public Thought 41:07 The Philosophy Behind Slow Ventures 52:54 Advice for Aspiring Venture Capitalists 55:46 Future Plans

Aug 10

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader My Guest: Ed Latimore is a professional heavyweight boxer, best-selling author, and veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard. He earned a degree in Physics from Duquesne University. Ed has gained recognition for overcoming personal struggles with addiction and poverty. We recorded this at our 2025 Learning Leader Growth Summit in Scottsdale, Arizona. He's the author of Hard Lessons From The Hurt Business . Notes: Key Learnings The Heaviest Weight at the Gym is the Front Door – Starting is often the hardest part. "Zero to one is the hardest part" in any endeavor. Once you begin, momentum builds, but that first step requires the most effort. How You Feel is Irrelevant – "How you feel about doing something is irrelevant. If it is vital to your success, you've gotta bump to the wall a bunch of times." Discipline isn't about motivation—it's about doing what's necessary regardless of feelings. Sobriety: The Hardest Fight – 13+ years sober, describing it as "the hardest fight I've ever had." The turning point came during basic training when he built an identity completely free of alcohol for the first time in his adult life. From Being Liked to Being Respected – "When people like you, they want to party with you... When people respect you, you start getting invited back to family events." Shifted focus from seeking approval through partying to earning respect through character. The Baby Shower Revelation – Breakthrough moment when friends showed up with gifts for his unborn child, "all because he is my human." Realized people genuinely cared about him, which became the foundation for believing he mattered. Taking Ownership vs. Playing Victim – "A judge and a jury do not care about my terrible upbringing if I commit a crime." Despite growing up next to a crack house with family addiction issues, I chose accountability over excuses. Net Positive Impact Philosophy – Goal with raising children: "Make sure they are a net positive, they make things better. At the very least, let's make sure they don't mess anything up." Everyone has an impact on the world for better or worse. Practice Until You Can't Forget – Boxing taught the overlearning principle: going beyond basic competency to automatic response. "We practice until we can't forget... Either you get it or you'll make a mistake, and you probably won't make the mistake more than twice." Tolerance for Boredom Builds Excellence – "If you can be bored, you can go really far because a lot of it is just repetition of really basic things." Elite performers master fundamentals through unglamorous repetition. Body Language Shapes Internal State – "You smile, you feel happy... puff up your chest and the testosterone flows." Physical presentation affects how you feel internally and influences others around you. Fear vs. Responsibility Evolution – Early motivation came from fear of embarrassment; current motivation comes from a sense of responsibility to others. Shift from avoiding personal failure to ensuring others are taken care of. Redefining "At Your Best" – Past definition: having enough money, time, and no worries. Current definition: "Everyone in the house is taken care of." Evolution from internal satisfaction to external impact. Strategic Hardship Introduction – For teaching children without trauma: "Introduce hardships strategically and with awareness." Like weight training—incremental challenges build strength; too much too soon causes injury. Useful Quotes: "How you feel about doing something is irrelevant. If it is vital to your success, you've gotta bump to the wall a bunch of times." "The heaviest weight at the gym is the front door." "When people like you, they want to party with you... When people respect you, you start getting invited back to family events." "You have an impact on the world, for better or worse, that makes a huge difference in allowing a person to not destroy themselves." "We practice until we can't forget." "If you can be bored, you can go really far." "I've had my ego dragged through the mud a lot." "What do you want your obituary to say? I didn't just dabble." "When you're completely selfless, then you're fearless. It's the 'what's gonna happen to me' that creates the fear." "Everyone's always either walking in love or fear." "I hope my kid remembers that I was a present happy dude." Life Lessons: Discipline Over Mood – Make decisions based on necessity, not feelings. Success comes from identifying what must be done and executing consistently. Identity Building Without Vices – Spend time in environments completely free from your struggles to build new neural pathways and self-concept. Overlearning for Mastery – Practice skills beyond basic competency until they become automatic responses under pressure. Authentic Accountability – Find mentors who "live what they're yelling at you about." Real influence comes from demonstrated behavior, not just words. Incremental Challenge Builds Resilience – Introduce difficulties gradually to build strength rather than overwhelming with too much too soon. Present Moment Parenting – Model calm behavior during stressful situations because children mirror your emotional energy. External Focus Creates Fulfillment – Shift from personal satisfaction to ensuring others are taken care of for a deeper sense of purpose. Childhood Dreams Reveal True Interests – "What did you want to do when you were 10-12?" Often reveals authentic passions before social conditioning. Breaking Generational Cycles – Consciously choose different patterns than your upbringing to create better outcomes for the next generation. Humility Through Struggle – Getting "ego dragged through the mud" builds character and perspective that success alone cannot provide. Luck Recognition Builds Gratitude – "The only difference between you and me is that I was lucky." Understanding the role of circumstances builds empathy. Apply to be part of my next Learning Leader Circle .

Aug 3

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader My Guest: Tim Ferriss is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers (including The 4-Hour Work Week , Tools of Titans , and Tribe of Mentors ). His podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, has been listened to more than a billion times. Tim was an early investor in Uber, Shopify, Twitter, Alibaba, and many others. He's the creator of a new card game called COYOTE. Decision making - How can I win even if I lose? He viewed angel investing like his personal MBA. Instead of paying for business school, he invested in companies and learned about business by working with actual businesses. He didn't expect to make money on those investments. That was just a bonus. Think, "How can I win even if I lose?" Tim won with those investments, regardless of whether he made money or not on them. Key Takeaways and Learnings: Parents Who Foster Curiosity – Tim's mother created a "books are always in budget" policy despite tight finances. Used remainder tables at bookstores to expose him to random, off-menu knowledge that sparked lifelong curiosity about unconventional topics. Curiosity-Driven Exploration – When Tim showed interest in marine biology, his mom found Frank Mundus (inspiration for Jaws character), arranged a meeting, and created low-cost adventures like crab fishing with chicken bones to fuel his interests. The Mask You Wear Becomes You – "Be very careful what you pretend to be" - spent years presenting as overly serious to be taken seriously, which created a recursive feedback loop. Now embraces more play and laughter to avoid burnout. Fiction and Poetry as Life Teachers – Shifted from non-fiction purist to reading more fiction/poetry. Recommends "Ozymandias" as a monthly reminder that all achievements fade: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings. Look on my works, ye mighty and despair. Nothing beside remains." Internal vs External Scorecards – Money and fame amplify whatever's underneath, like alcohol or power. "If you have certain insecurities or paranoia, all of those are going to be amplified. If you're generous, that's also gonna be the case." Effectiveness Over Efficiency – "Effectiveness is doing the right things, efficiency is doing things well, but doing something well does not make it important." Focus on choosing the right targets rather than optimizing everything. Strategic Slack in Systems – Moved away from filling every 10 minutes. Takes 10 minutes each morning with coffee to read fiction/poetry/meditate to prove "you do not have to front flip out of bed and land in a full sprint." How to Win Even If You Fail – Project selection framework: "How can I win even if I fail?" Focus on relationships built and skills acquired that transfer beyond the project if external metrics don't pan out. The COYOTE Game Philosophy – Created a card game to address the social isolation epidemic. "People don't have a shortage of productivity advice... It's taking some steam out of the system and actually enjoying what you have worked so hard for." Social Bonds as Foundation – "It's the relationships, stupid." Countries rated happiest fundamentally come down to social ties. In-person social interactions are down 70% in certain age groups over the last 10 years. Podcasting as Relationship Building – "My goal is not to have 100% of my audience like any episode... but I do want 10% of my audience to love each episode." The personal is the most universal. Fame's Hidden Costs – With the audience size of major cities comes proportional number of unstable people. "If you have a small village, you're gonna have one village idiot... "How many crazy people are there in New York City?" "Be suspicious of what you want." Tim read me the poem by Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley "If more information were the answer, we'd all be billionaires with six-pack abs." Be a talent scout - You don't need a huge network. A+ players in one area know A+ players in others. Seek out people who are great at what they do, regardless of what they do. Study what makes them great at that thing. Then you'll probably meet other A+ players. Also, it's on us to strive to be an A+ player at what we do. Be so good at whatever your thing is that other A+ players want to meet you. Tim has been very good at that. Quotes: "Be very careful what you pretend to be... the mask you wear often becomes the person you are." "Be suspicious of what you want." (Rumi) "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings. Look on my works, ye mighty and despair. Nothing beside remains." "Effectiveness is doing the right things, efficiency is doing things well, but doing something well does not make it important." "How can I win even if I fail?" "The personal is the most universal." "It's the relationships, stupid." "If more information were the answer, then we'd all be billionaires with six-pack abs." "Follow your curiosity and obsessions with great rigor. Do that and I like your chances." "The superheroes you have in your mind are nearly all walking flaws who've maximized one or two strengths." "You don't need a huge network... the super A+ players tend to know other A+ players." Life Lessons: Cultivate Childhood Curiosity – Create "always yes" policies for learning and exploration. Use constraints (like remainder tables) to discover unexpected interests. Embrace Strategic Experimentation – View life as a series of 6-12-month projects with 2-4 week experiments. Design studies to get feedback, not just chase outcomes. Balance Seriousness with Play – Taking yourself too seriously leads to burnout. Build in recovery phases and "deloading" periods across all life areas. Choose Projects for Learning – Select opportunities based on relationships you'll build and skills you'll acquire, not just potential external rewards. Start With Personal Pain Points – Best opportunities often come from solving problems you personally understand deeply, then expanding adjacent. Build Safety Nets First – Like Arnold's real estate, before acting, create financial/emotional cushions that allow you to say no and wait for right opportunities. Quality Over Quantity in Relationships – Better to have deep connections with fewer people than surface-level networks with many. Morning Rituals Create Calm – Prove to your nervous system you don't have to be frantic by taking 10 minutes each morning for something peaceful. Scratch Your Own Itch – Whether in podcasting, investing, or any pursuit, follow genuine personal interest for sustainable energy and authentic results. Prepare for Success Taxes – Fame and wealth amplify existing traits. Address insecurities and develop strong boundaries before scaling. Value Present Experience – Focus on daily energy in/out rather than constantly deferring happiness to future achievements. Apply to be part of my next Learning Leader Circle . Time Stamps 00:38 Tim's Childhood and Parental Influence 01:15 Curiosity and Lifelong Learning 02:56 Marine Biology and Childhood Adventures 07:06 Influence of Mentors and Teaching Aspirations 08:45 Thoughts on Parenthood and Relationships 12:11 Balancing Seriousness and Humor 25:15 Effectiveness vs. Efficiency 30:50 Creating Slack and Self-Care 34:41 The Importance of Social Bonds and Play 41:07 Meeting a Game-Changing Partner 42:13 The Importance of Analog Social Interaction 42:55 Podcasting: A Platform for Deep Connections 43:30 The Evolution and Challenges of Podcasting 43:47 The Art of Interviewing 49:18 Navigating Fame and Public Exposure 01:04:26 The Philosophy of Risk and Experimentation 01:10:27 Spotting Talent and Following Curiosity 01:20:37 Closing Thoughts and Future Endeavors

Jul 27

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Guest: Nick Maggiulli is the Chief Operating Officer and Data Scientist at Ritholtz Wealth Management. He is the best-selling author of Just Keep Buying: Proven Ways to Save Money and Build Your Wealth, and his latest book is called The Wealth Ladder. Nick is also the author of OfDollarsAndData.com, a blog focused on the intersection of data and personal finance. Notes: Money works as an enhancer, not a solution: Like salt enhances food flavors, money amplifies existing life experiences but has little value by itself without relationships, health, and purpose. "Money by itself is useless... without friends, family, without your health, it doesn't add much... it enhances all the other parts of life." Nick beat his dad's friends at chess when he was 5 years old because he practiced more than they did. He got more reps. He did the work. It's not that he was a chess prodigy. He just worked harder than his opponents did. And he still does that today. Practice creates expertise beyond intelligence: At five years old, Maggiulli could beat adults at chess not because he was smarter, but because he had more practice. Consistent effort over time can outcompete raw talent. "I could beat them, not because I was smarter than them, only because I had practiced something... In this very specific realm, I could beat them." Consistent writing builds compound advantages: Writing 10 hours every weekend for nine years created opportunities including book deals and career advancement. The discipline of regular practice compounds over time. "I've been writing for nine years... I spend 10 hours a week every single week for almost a decade now, and that helps over time." The most expensive thing people own is their ego. How do you add value when you're in a job that doesn't have a clear scoreboard (like sales)? Think... What gets accomplished that otherwise wouldn't have without you? Add value through time savings and efficiency: In roles where impact isn't immediately measurable, focus on how much time and effort you save others. Create systems that make your colleagues more efficient. "How do I save our operations team time? How do I save our compliance team time... I'm designing better oars that'll give us 10% more efficiency." Money amplifies existing happiness: Research shows that if you're already happy, more money will make you happier. But if you're unhappy and not poor, more money won't solve your problems. "If you're happy already, more money will make you happier... but if you aren't poor and you aren't happy, more money's not gonna do a thing." Ego is the most expensive thing people own: Trying to appear wealthier than you are prevents actual wealth building. Focus on substance over status symbols. "People in level three that wanna look like people in level four end up spending so much money to keep up with the Joneses." Follow your interests for long-term success: Passion sustains you through inevitable obstacles and rejection. Maggiulli wrote for three years without earning money because he genuinely enjoyed it. "Follow your interest because when you follow your interest, you're more likely to keep going when you face obstacles." The "Die with Zero" philosophy, advocated by Bill Perkins, encourages people to prioritize experiences and fulfillment over accumulating maximum wealth, suggesting spending money strategically to maximize lifetime enjoyment. Nick defines six levels of wealth based on net worth, ranging from $0 to over $100 million. These levels are: Level 1: $0-$10,000 (paycheck-to-paycheck), Level 2: $10,000-$100,000 (grocery freedom), Level 3: $100,000-$1 million (restaurant freedom), Level 4: $1 million-$10 million (travel freedom), Level 5: $10 million-$100 million (house freedom), and Level 6: $100 million+ (philanthropic freedom). Nick also notes a shift in asset allocation as one progresses through the levels. In the lower levels, a larger portion of wealth is tied up in non-income-producing assets like cars, while higher levels see a greater emphasis on income-producing assets like stocks and real estate. Wealth strategies must evolve by level: The approach that gets you to level four ($1M-$10M) won't get you to level five ($10M-$100M). Higher wealth levels typically require entrepreneurship or equity ownership. "The strategy that you use to get into level four is not going to be the strategy that gets you out." Know when "enough" is enough: Level four wealth ($1M-$10M) may be sufficient for most people. The sacrifices required to reach higher levels often aren't worth the marginal benefits. "The rational response for an American household once they get into level four is... maybe I take my foot off the gas and just enjoy life more." As a data scientist, Nick leverages data to provide business intelligence insights at Ritholtz Wealth Management, where he also serves as Chief Operating Officer. His work involves analyzing data to answer business questions, identify trends, and build predictive models. For example, he might analyze lead conversion rates, client attrition, or investment patterns to inform business decisions. Financial independence requires separate identities: Maintain individual financial accounts within marriage for independence and easier asset division. Pool resources for shared expenses while preserving autonomy. "Everyone needs to have their own accounts. They need to have their own money... especially important for women." Nick and his wife have a joint + separate bank account(s). Here's how it works: All of your income and your partner's income flows into this joint account. That income is used to pay for all shared expenses. Any excess left in the account (above a certain threshold) can either be left in the account or distributed equally between you and your partner (to your separate accounts). Apply to be part of my Learning Leader Circle

Jul 20

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Ryan Petersen is the founder and CEO of Flexport, a technology-driven global logistics company. He's a leading voice in supply chain innovation and has been at the forefront of solving major trade and shipping challenges worldwide. Notes: "Arrogance is its own form of stupidity." The Tweetstorm That Saved Christmas: Ryan shares the now-legendary story of how he rented a boat, brought tacos, and took another high-powered CEO with him to tour the Port of Long Beach during the supply chain crisis. His viral Twitter thread sparked immediate action, California Governor Gavin Newsom called within hours, and the policy changed shortly after. A masterclass in "doing the thing." Frontline Obsession & Gemba Walks: Why Ryan frequently travels the world (visiting 19 countries last year) to meet employees and customers. He explains the power of Gemba walks, being physically present on the frontlines, and how it shapes his leadership. How He Runs Flexport: Ryan's leadership playbook includes: Managing through writing. Every one of his 26 teams writes a six-page memo monthly, followed by deep conversations. Daily conversations with 30-40 employees to stay connected. Living Flexport's values: Empower Clients, Play the Long Game, Act Like an Entrepreneur, Commit to the Vision, Ask Why 5 Times. Leadership & Decision-Making: He shares his "must-haves" for hiring leaders: Relentless Work Ethic Intellectual Curiosity Humility ("Even wise people are wrong 30% of the time.") Reliability Charisma Lessons from Mentors: Ryan talks about advice from Paul Graham (Y Combinator) and Brian Chesky (Airbnb), including how gathering your top leaders in person sparks innovation and alignment. Hard Decisions & Mistakes: He candidly discusses Flexport's CEO transition gone wrong, hiring Dave Clark from Amazon, and what he learned from that difficult chapter. Personal Growth & Life Philosophy: Ryan shares his approach to lifelong learning, inspired by Charlie Munger and René Girard. He emphasizes reading widely, asking questions, and choosing role models wisely. "We're all imitative people. Choose your role models wisely." "We're making global trade as simple and reliable as flipping a light switch." "Even wise people are wrong 30% of the time. You must stay humble."

Jul 13

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Go to www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Guest: Blaine Anderson is a dating coach and matchmaker. She's helped more than 3,000 happy clients attract and build long-term relationships. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and she earned a deal with Mark Cuban on Shark Tank. Notes: Someone asked Charlie Munger… How do I get a great wife? Deserve one. The best way to find a good spouse is to deserve one, he often said. In business, this translates to working hard and behaving with integrity consistently over time. "To get what you want, you have to deserve what you want." What is the #1 reason you don't get a second date? You talk about yourself too much. When you go out to eat with someone, what percentage of the time are you talking? Aim to talk 30% and listen 70%. The reason we don't get the second date or the follow-up meeting with the prospect is because we are talking too much. Pull conversational threads: Avoid rapid-fire questioning by following up on answers with related questions. Share brief personal connections to create dialogue rather than interrogation. "You want to pull the conversational thread... ask a follow-up question about that same thing. That's where you can start having a conversation." Marketing your trajectory matters: People want to know you're going places. Share your goals, dreams, and aspirations authentically to demonstrate upward momentum. "You want to find the balance of sharing things about yourself that indicate you are on an upward trajectory... from a place of getting to know one another." Nice guys need boundaries: Being overly accommodating to people you barely know signals weakness. Hold boundaries and don't put others before yourself too quickly. "The general problem with the nice guy is he's putting other people before himself, including people he doesn't know very well." Confidence must be genuine: Authentic confidence comes from actually becoming confident through mastery, not just faking body language. Get genuinely good at something. "You have to become that... get really good at something... picking something in your life and getting really good at it is gonna help you build confidence." Don't rush to the close: Whether in dating or sales, focus on building connection and trust before asking for commitment. The close is the period at the end of a long sentence. "If you approach a woman or you approach a deal and you're just trying to get to the final step... you're going to rush through a lot of the important and essential steps." High-value people are in demand: Present yourself as someone others want to be around. People are naturally drawn to those who appear sought-after by others. "We want the thing that's in demand. We want the thing that other humans recognize as high value." Genuine curiosity creates connection: Being authentically interested in others' experiences is a powerful form of respect and love. Ask questions that take conversations deeper. "Your underlying emotion is important... becoming a genuinely curious person who is interested in meeting another human." Physical fitness affects confidence: Looking and feeling good about yourself impacts how you show up in every interaction. Invest in your physical health. "You gotta feel good about how you look... who wants to partner up with a slug? Nobody." "You should always be dating your partner, whether it's your first date, your 40th date, or you've been married for 40 years."' "The close is the period at the end of a very long sentence." "Deserve one." - Charlie Munger's advice on getting a great spouse Women want 3 things - social status, to be desired, flirty/fun… They want an optimist. If things aren't going well, look in the mirror. Take accountability. Her Twitter profile picture. Show the whites of your eyes. Smile. She has two tattoos. Omega is her middle name. Cactus for Tucson, AZ. How to build genuine confidence? Get good at something. Become an expert. Work really really hard. Be in great physical shape. It's hard to be confident if you don't like how you look. Sounds harsh, but it's true. Confidence comes from evidence. Create some evidence for youself by consistently working hard and getting great at something. That confidence will ooze out of you wherever you go. Shark Tank. Scary, anxious, nervous. Did a deal with Mark Cuban. Advice - If you're building a business, listen to what your customers want. What does your ideal client want? Build that.

Jul 6

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for all show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Go to www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Anthony Scaramucci served as the White House Director of Communications for President Donald Trump from July 21 to July 31, 2017. He was at Harvard Law School with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. He's the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge Capital. And he's the founder and Chairman of the SALT conference. Leadership through service: True leadership isn't about personal glory but about making others better and helping them succeed in their roles. Derek Jeter exemplified this by never caring about personal statistics, only team success. "If you're on the team, it's not about me, right? It's about you. How am I gonna make you better? Or how am I gonna make you feel good about your role? How am I gonna get you to think that I'm here to help you?" Flexibility and decision-making under pressure: Football taught Scaramucci the importance of reading situations quickly and making audibles at the line of scrimmage - skills that translate directly to business and life leadership. "You can't just say, okay, here's the game plan, right? Because that's what Mike Tyson says, right? You have the plan until you get punched in the face, or all battle plans go by the wayside with contact with the enemy." Resilience through adversity: Getting "your ass kicked" early in life builds the resilience needed for future challenges in business and politics. Early defeats teach you how to bounce back from failure. "That's called resilience, right? You gotta get over that... That's how you gotta get your ass kicked. Here I was... and I just remember feeling so puny... So how you gotta get over that." The confidence battle starts within: The first fight in life is with yourself - believing you're good enough and worthy to compete. Henry Ford's principle applies: "If you think you can or you can't, you are right." "The first fight is with yourself. Am I good enough? Am I worthy? Can I get to the game? Can I believe in myself enough so that I'm standing next to someone else who believes in themselves that I compete?" Accountability in relationships: When Scaramucci's marriage was in crisis, taking full accountability for his mistakes rather than deflecting blame was crucial to rebuilding the relationship. "I owe my wife Deirdre, a debt of gratitude for actually really loving me because I was off the rails on a few things... she's like, Hey, I'm not having this, so if you love me, get your shit together." Life coaching vs. therapy approach: Life coaching focuses on progression and future action ("What are we doing today to be better?") rather than regression into past issues. "I feel that therapy is a regression. Life coaching is a progression... forget about the past. What the hell are you gonna do? What are we doing today to make yourself a better person?" Forgiveness as liberation: Choosing to forgive both others and yourself removes the "millstone of regret" that weighs you down and prevents forward progress. "I can take that millstone of regret and leave it behind me, take it off of my neck and leave it behind me... human frailty and not judging it is not just you judging others, but also yourself." The comfortable outsider advantage: Being comfortable with your outsider status while still being able to operate in elite circles provides authentic confidence and relatability across all social levels. "I am a comfortable outsider. I'm not an insider... but I'm comfortable with it. You know, like guys like Trump or Rudy, they're uncomfortable. Outsiders... But I'm a comfortable outsider. I don't need to do that." Intellectual curiosity + neuroplasticity: Combining genuine curiosity about others with the ability to adapt and change allows you to move successfully between different social and professional circles. "Find your superpower... I think your superpower is very similar to my superpower... intellectual curiosity. And so if you can blend intellectual curiosity with neuroplasticity, meaning you can adopt and change... then you can move in various circles." Pivot for survival: Successful businesses and careers require constant reinvention. SkyBridge's conference business and pivot to Bitcoin were survival strategies that became major successes. "We were going outta business... This was an accidental survivor strategy. This was a pivot that we were making in order to stay in business. This was not some mastermind plan."

Jun 29

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Go to www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Jim Murphy is a mental performance coach for some of the most accomplished professional athletes in the world. Formerly a professional baseball player, he now focuses on helping others. You may have heard of him if you were watching the Philadelphia Eagles' playoff run last season, and star wide receiver AJ Brown was reading Jim's book Inner Excellence on the sideline between offensive series. Notes: The first 11 days of 2025, Inner Excellence (originally published 16 years ago) sold about 25 copies… What happened on January 12? AJ Brown was shown on TV reading it in between offensive series. It then sold 200,000 copies in 20 days. Fear is a concern about the future. Give the best of what you have today. Be present. Heart, will, spirit = the deepest part of you When we're at our best, there's no thought of self. 5 greatest needs That we have value Love and acceptance Integrity Purpose beyond self Growth Dick Vermiel's coaching style - Coach the person first. Then the sport (or the thing you're doing). The same is true for any leadership role. People won't care what you think unless they know you actually care about them. 4 Daily Goals Give the best of what you have today Be present. Fear is a future thing. Be grateful Focus on what you can control Anxiety is a mind with too many thoughts and concerns. Need to face our fears. 3 Key Areas: Belief - expand what you think is possible. Freedom - play like a kid (let it rip). Focus - Be fully present Status vs amazing experiences. Love is the most powerful force in the universe. Joy comes from love. Love can come from weaknesses. Ego - Always comparing, creates a fear of screwing up Rory McIlroy – Didn't care if he made the cut at the US Open. Played free and made a few birdies at the end of the second round and made the cut. Jim's Dedication: "My father, Donald C. Murphy. The one who greatly influenced me to think deeply about what to love and what to let go of. I love you. See you soon." His dad worked on the Apollo 11 mission. The first lunar landing. Grade yourself on presence. 4 daily goals. Rate them 1-10. Anxiety is a sign that someone isn't present. Jim has always struggled with being self-centered. Be non-judgmental. Share unconditional love. Ricky Scruggs - Former teammate and roommate in pro baseball. He invited me to the desert in 2003. Led me to take the risk to leave the safety of family and friends to pursue a meaningful life. What about for those people who say your stuff is "woo-woo?" "I get paid to help people perform better. And that's what happens when you work with me." "My whole life, I obsessed about being a superstar, being rich and famous. What I now realize is what I've always wanted was to feel fully alive. I've realized since that what I always really wanted was to feel fully alive. That's what Inner Excellence is about. Pursuing a full life and letting everything else be added. We're created for relationships." Among Jim's strengths is that he listens and doesn't judge. That's what many people want. "I have this one client, a pro athlete. He said, 'Jim, I smoke, I gamble, I drink. I do all these things, but I don't think you do all those things. Do you think we can work together?' I said, 'If you don't judge me for not doing those things, I won't judge you for doing those things.' We became great friends." Resonance Key #3 - Love Your Opponent. " The opponent is not the enemy– they're our partner in the dance." – Phil Jackson

Jun 22

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Larry Connor is an entrepreneur, non-profit activist investor, and adventurist. In business, he is best known for founding The Connor Group, a real estate investment firm, and growing it from $0 to $5 billion in assets. Outside of work, Larry lives an adventurous life. Within a 12 month period Larry did something that had never been done before. He completed 3 dives to the deepest part of the ocean (the Mariana Trench) AND traveled to the International Space Station as an astronaut. In addition to that, Larry is a private pilot and was part of a Le Mans racing team that has won championships. "At The Connor Group, we don't have, and never will have, a mission statement. We have culture. When you have the latter, the former is not necessary." The culture is built on 5 core values, on which we don't compromise: Do the right thing People count Live the Circle of Success Think long-term, not short-term Relentless pursuit of excellence "We exist, quite simply, to be the best." "We don't hire for experience. We don't hire for knowledge. We don't care where you went to school. We hire for personality traits. Especially in leadership roles. You have to have the big 6. You have to have all 6. They are: 1. Be able to motivate and inspire others. 2. Self-accountability and ability to hold others accountable in an honest, direct manner. 3. Organizational multi-tasking. The speed of the game is fast. 4. Cultural fit. 5. Grit. Doing the thing that others say are impossible. 6. Work orientation. If you want to come in at 8:30, take a 90-minute lunch, and leave at 4:30, The Connor Group is not for you. "People never outperform their own self-image. So aim high!" "Mediocre people don't like high achievers and high achievers don't like mediocre people." "By definition, if you want to be exceptional, you have to be different. If you're like everybody else, you're going to end up like everybody else." In 2008, Larry said, "We simply decided we weren't going to participate in the global recession." 3 P's - People, Plan, Process People's performances are measured through daily, weekly, and monthly IAMs (Individual Accountability Meetings). Clear expectations and clear management. When I asked him about becoming a billionaire, Larry immediately jumped to the impact he's having on others. "There are far more important standards than money. How well have you treated your associates? Have you made them better people? How much have you done to help other people? Have you made a difference?" All of that is available to all of us regardless of us being a billionaire or not. The company headquarters are next door to a hangar that houses a working model of the "Wright B Flyer" - The Wright Brothers' first production airplane.

Jun 15

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk ​The Arena​ gives you direct access to some of the most respected coaching minds in the world. Led by HOFer Sherri Coale, Brook Cupps, Geron Stokes, and Eli Leiker. Leaders who have built winning programs, led at the highest levels, and shaped the next generation of elite performers. The Arena is a Learning Leader Circle for Coaches only. We are opening applications now for our first cohort. If you'd like to be part of it, ​CLICK HERE to apply​ . Once the cohort is full, we will be pausing applications. This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader In Patient Pursuit of Greatness – In the spring of 2012, General McChrystal was teaching a leadership class at Yale. That's when he met Tony Reno. He said about the meeting, "Not many things materially affect my trajectory. But this time was different. What was different? Coach Reno." The goal of the program: "Leave the jersey better than you found it." The team creed, a pledge written by players on Team 142 (the 2014 squad), as they do at the start of every practice: "I vow to believe in the process, I am mentally and physically tough, I compete with passion and overcome any challenges. I stand tall alongside my family at all times, I challenge my brother, believe in him, hold him accountable. As I create my own path I always put team before myself, I strive for excellence on and off the field, I hold myself to a higher standard. I am a Yale football player." Standards - Every player must recite the creed. The younger players are coached by the older players. The brick tradition - At each practice, one player presents his brick, then adds it to the others in the tunnel-- a visual reminder of the team's solidarity. Reno instituted the tradition to build camaraderie through candid reflection. Hero, Hometown, Hardship, Highlight. Someone who has impacted you. One word for the season. His players went to bat for him. On December 28, Casey Gerald '09, a cornerback, and 63 other former players sent a letter endorsing Coach Reno's candidacy to athletic director Tom Beckett, and later to president Richard Levin and provost Peter Salovey. 12 days later, he earned the job. Gettysburg Retreat: Yale's football team takes an annual retreat to Gettysburg with McChrystal to focus on leadership, bonding, and team culture. Presidential Leadership - Lead people, but don't do it for them. When his players host recruits, they will tell Coach Reno if their character aligns with being a Yale football player. Coach Reno names a player of the day for each practice. The one who lives out their values and the Yale football player creed. Life/Career advice - Help you become the best version of yourself in all you do. Make you an elite leader. Maximize you as a football player. Help you find your passion.

Jun 8

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Katie Gatti Tassin is the author of the "Money with Katie" newsletter and podcast, both acquired by Morning Brew in 2022. Katie provides fresh personal finance advice with a unique outlook, coupled with deep, self-taught knowledge. Before founding Money with Katie in 2020, she worked professionally in marketing and user experience design for Southwest Airlines, Dell Technologies, and Meta. She's the author of Rich Girl Nation: Taking Charge of Our Financial Futures. Notes: If you're not curious about it, you're not going to give it your all. But if you are, you can become relentless. Chase your curiosity and obsessions with great rigor. That passion and love for whatever the thing is can lead to big opportunities in your life. Do you want 100% of a grape or 25% of a watermelon? Advice Katie got when she was considering accepting the offer to be acquired by Morning Brew. The importance of having a coach. Katie talked about the life-changing impact her coach, Elizabeth, has had on her. Ambitious, motivated people who have high standards need help, too. In fact, maybe as much as anyone. It's worth it to invest in yourself and find a person to talk with 1 on 1. Parents - High expectations, straight A's or bust. Driven, hard to turn it off. The Morning Brew acquisition - Money with Katie. Worked at Meta and did Money with Katie at the same time. Left for the acquisition. Austin Rief (CEO) DM'd her on Twitter and made an offer during their first 30-minute conversation. Big lesson - Your IP is everything. Book Dedication - "To the anonymous guy who 'works in finance' that used to relentlessly comment on my nascent website in 2018, urging me to quit writing about money and 'keep it to myself. I hope you're well." Acknowledgments - "Mom, for all those quiet days spent sitting on the floor of the Lents branch library or wandering the stacks at Barnes & Noble. Dad, for spending your time after work at the kitchen table with me every time my homework involved numbers, and for being my number one fan." How much money do you need to be financially free? Katie breaks down the 4% rule, why it works, and how it can be personalized and optimized for each person's retirement needs. High Standards Can Be a Double-Edged Sword – "I am an incredibly driven person because of the people who raised me... But I also have a really hard time with turning it off. I can become very narrow-minded and obsessive about the things that I'm doing." Turn Critics Into Fuel – Katie dedicated her book to an anonymous finance professional who told her to "quit writing about money" and "keep it to herself." Sometimes the best fuel comes from those who doubt you. Money Transparency in Families Creates Advantages – Katie's parents openly discussed finances, including sharing their income. "I never really thought of it as something that was taboo... made it a lot easier for me now as an adult." The Power of Life Coaching for Entrepreneurs – After initial skepticism, Katie found a life coach who told her, "You are way too in your head. You are way too concerned with the minutia. You don't even know where you wanna go yet." Intellectual Property is Everything in Negotiations – "Your intellectual property is the most valuable thing that you are negotiating over... The primary value of the thing that I'm spending 60 hours a week working on needs to be accruing to me." The 25x Rule for Financial Freedom – Based on the 4% withdrawal rule: "Once you have accumulated 25 times your annual spending... You should theoretically be able to use 4% of that amount every year, withdraw it, and live on it." Marriage Changes Everything Financially – "Marriage is the most legally significant thing you will do in your life other than die, and you don't get so much as a leaflet about how your rights have just changed." Prenups Aren't About Distrust – They're about legal protection, especially for anyone who might leave the workforce. "If you spend decades out of the workforce... You need to ensure that if your partnership ends someday... You will have a certain amount of income." Desire Drives Excellence – "If you're not curious about it, you are not going to give it your all... There is such a difference in outcomes. If I am really into something that I'm working on, it's gonna be second to none."

Jun 1

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Kirk Herbstreit is the voice of college football. A former Centerville High School and Ohio State University Quarterback, Kirk has been the lead Analyst for ESPN's College Gameday since 1996. He calls the biggest games in college football on Saturday nights, and he broadcasts the college National Championship. Beyond college football, Kirk is also the lead analyst for Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video. Kirk has been nominated for 19 Sports Emmy Awards and has won 5 times. This conversation was recorded in front of about 300 people in Centerville, Ohio. Kirk's dog Peter was with us on stage when he wasn't wandering around in the audience. Kirk's emotional moment after Ohio State's national championship was about his authentic connection to Coach Day, his son (who was on the team), and all the players. "I try so hard to be impartial. I try so hard to be just objective and fair. It's almost like the culmination of just a release." Showing authentic emotion and humanity makes leaders more relatable and trustworthy, not weaker. Bob Gregg and Ron Ullery's impact: "They didn't tear your knees out, but they just made sure as a 16, 17, 18-year-old that you knew this ain't about you. It's about us." This foundation created a work ethic that translates across all of life. The most prepared broadcaster in the world - "When I started in 1996 on college game day, unless you were a Big 10 fan, you had no idea who I was. So my idea of trying to build my brand was they're gonna know me from my work ethic." "They're gonna know me from my work ethic. They're gonna know me like, damn, I don't know who that dude is, but he seems to know what he's talking about." "I prepare a hundred percent, and I use 20% for all three shows." Over-preparation creates confidence and the ability to handle any direction conversations might go. When you're not the most naturally gifted, becoming the most prepared person in the room creates a competitive advantage. High School Football Builds Life Skills – "I'm such an advocate for high school football because of my own experience... It's about what these guys are doing... simple old school values, like hard work and perseverance and facing adversity." "I could choose to be embarrassed of who I was on national TV, or choose to have a bit of a chip on my shoulder. And I was kind of a chip on my shoulder guy my whole life." Feeling underestimated can fuel extraordinary preparation and performance when channeled constructively. Deal with Imposter Syndrome when he started broadcasting NFL games for Amazon on Thursday nights: "I didn't even go to an NFL camp, and here I am calling NFL Games as the expert game analyst. And so, and I'm working with freaking Al Michaels." "I don't deserve your respect in my brain until I earn it." College Football's Current Crisis – "The players went from our era. You had no say to now they have all to say... It's like the world is upside down right now when it comes to that aspect of it." "Who fixes it? The NCAA doesn't fix it... No one's worried about the global view of the sport. They're worried about their region... who's in charge? No one's the boss." "They're great players, but they're a dime a dozen. Like you're on a conveyor belt as a player. There's other players coming right behind you." Kirk supports true name, image, likeness marketing but opposes pay-for-play: "I am a fan of, if Jeremiah Smith becomes Jeremiah Smith after he gets there... if he can make money in marketing... But not, a guy is over at Bowling Green... and LSU needs a left guard and they're just like, Hey, how much does it take?" "These coaches are a little bit hesitant on how hard they're gonna be on these guys because they don't wanna believe. Imagine being a coach and you're worried about, is this guy gonna leave if I really do what I want to do with him?" Mental Health Through Faith – "For me, it's my faith... daily devotional prayer and really trying to connect helps me... having very honest conversation with family and friends and opening up." The Value of Chosen Hardship – My perspective: "I think you gotta keep doing that stuff... choose to do really hard things every day to prove to myself that I can keep doing hard things so that when adversity strikes, I'm prepared." Generational Empathy – "This generation, I can't imagine going through what they go through, whether it's Snapchat and middle school... just everybody being in your business and everything online." The Lee Corso Legacy – "He was hot takes before we knew what Hot Takes were... our relationship really changed was off air... he was a really good listener... like Yoda or like Don Corleone." The best mentoring relationships evolve from one-directional learning to mutual care and support. The Lunatic Fringe - "There's 90% of Ohio State fans that whether they win or they lose, they're proud of 'em... every fan base has that 10% that we're all embarrassed of."

May 25

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Tom Ryan is the head wrestling coach at Ohio State University. In college, he wrestled for perhaps the greatest wrestling coach of all time, Dan Gable, at Iowa, where he was a two-time Big Ten champion and a two-time NCAA All-American. As a coach at Ohio State, he's won numerous national coach of the year honors, has coached more than 75 All-Americans, and led the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2015. We filmed this in his office in Columbus, OH, after spending the morning watching some of his championship wrestlers practice. It was one of the coolest days I've had in a long time. Notes: "My first workout after driving from Syracuse to Iowa was a soul-cleanser. I collapsed in my car outside the arena. I couldn't stop crying." "It was a line in the sand moment for me. Where are you going or staying? Because I could have turned around, I could have went right back. But it was this sense of knowing that you were in the right place." It's amazing that Tom decided to leave Syracuse with no guarantee of even making the team at Iowa, let alone a scholarship. He shows up on day 1, and Coach Gable didn't even know who he was! Crazy. And then he goes on to earn his spot and become an All-American. Competitive Spirit from Early Age: " There's certainly an element of competitive spirit... even in second grade, we were on the playground... if you lose, you're fighting somebody. You just wanna win, you wanna win everything you do." Why go to Iowa? The Will to Be Great – "I wanted to be elite at something. And by trial and error, it was almost trial and error... I wasn't gonna end my career with not knowing how high I could climb." Key Learnings from Dan Gable: Emotional Control – "He wasn't a yeller. He wasn't a screamer... The reason why he didn't need to yell was his competence." Focus on Situation, Not Person – "It was never personal... He would focus on the situation and not you as a person. You never felt attacked. It was just bluntly, your single leg needs improvement." Balance of Freedom and Accountability – "Too much freedom. Not good... You can drive someone crazy with discipline and rituals and rules... It's just this happy medium." One of the most emotional moments in my 10+ years of recording this podcast, Tom shared the story of the day his 5-year-old son, Teague, had a heart attack and tragically passed away. The room went silent. And Tom went deep into the impact that it has had on him and his family. This is something I cannot imagine happening. I am grateful that Tom was willing to share and be so vulnerable. I love Tom Ryan, and I am lucky to have been in Columbus with him. The interview with Ohio State: "I wasn't their first choice... But ultimately, I was a leader that had learned. I learned under the best." He prepared extensively, attacked his weaknesses proactively, and wasn't afraid to discuss his faith. Chosen vs. Unchosen Suffering – The concept of "chosen suffering" came after experiencing unchosen suffering (losing Teague). "Wrestling has never brought me to my knees... I never got there in wrestling... but when I lost Teague in 2004, that I referred to as unchosen suffering." Chosen Suffering = Deep Love – "Chosen suffering is a fancy word for love because you will suffer the most for the things you love the most." The willingness to endure difficulty stems from profound love for what you're pursuing. Traits of Elite Performers: Ungodly Effort – "In all studies ever performed on elite behavior... one is an ungodly effort. And I think effort stems from... effort over time is a byproduct of deep love." High Capacity to Learn – Elite athletes have exceptional skill development abilities Living in Truth – " The capacity to live in truth. To really be honest with yourself and be okay with it... really strong self-assessment." Daily Discipline – "The discipline to do it daily... to work on your shortcomings and really be good enough to look in the mirror and say, I love you, but you got some problems." Being Coachable – "Most people wanna be coached until they're getting coached." Great performers actively seek feedback, while good ones want to be left alone. Three-Pronged Leadership Philosophy: Example – Walk the walk and display the behaviors you want to see Truth in Love – "Too much truth can demoralize someone... too much love, you're patronizing me. Stop it. Gimme the truth." Embracing Pain and Suffering – "We're gonna make decisions that weren't right... and we're gonna accept them and we're gonna grow from them." The 3 Success Pillars: Your Mind - Internal you. Where your thoughts originate. Your Relationships - Who you allow to influence your decisions. Your Environment - The setting that will build you or break you. The world doesn't care what we're after, nor does it care about our principles. It doesn't care about you or me, nor will it change for us. It doesn't owe us anything. The world is heading in a direction, spinning on its axis, and there's little we can do to change that. What we can change, however, is what we do. We can control our direction. We must continuously develop our core and worldview to help us navigate the temptations of the world. What happened on the morning of April 23, 2024? Coach Ryan had been on his way to OSU for an early morning workout with colleagues when his SUV, traveling at about 65 miles per hour, struck the semitrailer. Physical Trauma vs. Emotional Trauma – "When we lost Teague, I was healthy, I was physically healthy, I was mentally healthy... when I hit this tractor trailer at full speed... the physical trauma that occurred was surreal. And I wasn't ready." "I went into a terrible depression... I was sad when I lost my son, but I wasn't depressed... But in this, I was suicidal for a little bit." Coach Ryan openly shared his mental health struggles with family and got help. The #1 indicator of sustained success is emotional control. Two-word mantra — keep working. Physical Suffering as Mental Training – "Every single time I bike, there comes a moment in the bike ride where I realize I'm a sissy... there's a humbling, there's humility piece that you get from suffering." Choose the Hard Thing - "I can always come up with an excuse why I'm not gonna do squats... And then I have to pause and say, dude. Get under the bar... getting under the bar... builds confidence for everything else in life." (that was from me) Discipline as a Superpower – "Discipline is a superpower. It's available to everybody." The transferable skill of choosing difficulty when you don't want to.

May 18

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Go to www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader William von Hippel grew up in Alaska, got his B.A. at Yale and his PhD at the University of Michigan, and taught for a dozen years at Ohio State University before finding his way to Australia, where he is a professor of psychology at the University of Queensland. He's the author of multiple books. A few months ago, he published The Social Paradox: Autonomy, Connection, and Why We Need Both to Find Happiness. Notes Why do people who have comfortable lives filled with freedom and abundance still feel unhappy? Need two things… Connection and autonomy. Are leaders born or made? Yes. Like most things, it's not a black and white answer. The key is to use your unique strengths to effectively inspire others to do the work that must be done to achieve the goals of the team or company. How happy is Bill? He scores high on the genetics polygene(?) score. Some people are more genetically wired to be happy than others. You can fight against your genes and win. It's just harder for you than others with better genetics. What's my path of genetic least resistance? If you have low willpower, get the potato chips out of the house. Know yourself. Be yourself plus 20%. Overconfidence can be a good thing. Especially earlier in your career. Fake it til you make it. It can be good a lot of the time. He was overconfident as a new assistant professor, and it helped him. How you receive feedback is critical. Be honest, be kind His dad moved the family to Alaska because he didn't love being told what to do. He was a heart surgeon. Bill moved to Australia. A hard place to make friends because they don't move around much. He made connections with others who had moved there from out of the country. Life/Career advice: Too many choices can be bad. What are the elements of a job that I enjoy? What are my strengths? Leaders - It's lonely at the top. You need a group you can trust and enjoy their company. Google study - They do everything in teams. What's needed? Psychological safety. You need to be able to disagree with each other. Give feedback. It's on the leader to create healthy disagreement. And receive feedback in a way that encourages more of it. I was surprised by how much of our happiness, health, and strength were based purely on our genetics. Some people are just born happier, healthier, and stronger than you. It doesn't mean you can't be happy, healthy, or strong. It just means that you need to work harder to make it happen. That's life!

May 14

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Go to www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Rich Gotham is the President of the Boston Celtics. He is responsible for all aspects of the Celtics' business operations. In addition, he works closely with Celtics ownership, basketball operations staff, and the NBA on basketball-related matters, as well as team and league initiatives. He succeeds "Red" Auerbach as Celtics team President and serves on the NBA Board of Governors. Since joining the Celtics in 2003, he's helped grow team revenues by over 300%, and they've won two NBA championships. Notes: Must-haves when making hiring decisions for a leadership role: Work ethic, self-awareness, a catalyst for positive energy, purpose-driven, and care ("give a shit"). At the time, the Celtics were run like a mom-and-pop shop. Rich was brought in to help them run like a professional business. Rich was recruited to the Celtics by new owner (at the time), Wyc Grousbeck. 3 different people told Wyc that he should talk to Rich. – Add value. Leave people better than you found them. They will refer you to others for big jobs without you even knowing it. Celtic pride - grew up there, made you proud to be from Boston. "Different here." 18-time champs. Pressure from fans to win: It beats indifference. Making bets on potential - Hiring Brad Stevens. Danny Ainge did a great job selling it to Brad. Watching Payton Pritchard warm up. He cares. Working with the Bruins and Red Sox leaders – Lower the ego, put yourself in their shoes. Seek first to understand. And find a way to get it done. Rich went outside of the office to meet regularly with a leader of the Boston Bruins to get their lease squared away. That had been an issue for decades, and he helped get it figured out so both sides could win. Advice - You have to have self-belief, believe in your ability. Don't let that get chipped away. Why should they pick you? Be vulnerable. Leave others better than you found them.

May 11

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes. This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Go to www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Notes "Average players want to be left alone. Good players want some coaching. Great players want the truth." It is not a company's job to give work-life balance to someone. And he is not balanced. He's on 24/7. It was refreshing to hear the real story from someone who is running a company. As Dr. Julie Gurner said on episode #538, "People will tell you in books that you have to live a 'balanced life,' but if we are completely honest, almost all great things are born from periods of imbalance." Make the most of your 2% moments. 98% of the time, life is just happening… But every once in a while, you'll have the 2% opportunities. Like when he met his wife, or interviewed with Kendra Scott. It's on us as leaders to be ready to make the most of those 2% moments. Tom's relationship with Kendra: "We've been through so many hard things together." Those hard times can forge a strong relationship, or they can break you. Remember that the next time you're going through something tough with someone else. It's an opportunity to fortify a relationship. Hiring - Play your position well. Know what you're good at. Don't have to like teammates, but do need to love them. Learn from mistakes. Work is like family. But you don't fire your family... Discipline comes from a place of love. Read: The Way of the Shepherd Goal maniac - After failing at his first job interview, he asked for another shot and showed up the next day with pages of goals. Tom's Strengths - immediate urgency, insatiable need to win, good problem solver, better when things are hard. How do you navigate slow walkers? It's hard. Need patience and thoughtfulness too. What are the must-haves to be hired as a leader with Tom? Good human. Win + Kindness + Compassion. Tom claims that he is not a good interviewer. Gets help from the team. It is a rigorous process. He wants people who have gone through hard things. "Living through struggle makes people better." Grit.

May 4

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Go to www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Stanley McChrystal is a retired four-star general. Stan is the former commander of the nation's premier military counter-terrorism force, Joint Special Operations Command (also known as JSOC). His command included more than 150,000 troops from 45 allied countries. Since he retired from the Army, Stan has written multiple best-selling books including, Team of Teams , and most recently, On Character . The most crucial discipline is to think for yourself. To a sad degree, we're lazy. People comment on things they haven't watched or read, but have seen comments by others who align with their political party. They aren't thinking for themselves (this is why it's almost impossible to align completely with one political party for me). If you find yourself saying "I just do" or "that's what I heard," that's not thinking. Being Obsessed – "I am convinced that few truly great achievements are reached by individuals with an impressive work-life balance, and the price of greatness, in a word, is great. In the end, I'm an advocate for obsession." The Ranger Effect – The value of unwavering standards.Created near the end of Vietnam when the Army had lowered its standards. They created 2 units of Rangers to raise the standard. It permeated the entire Army. How does a leader do this in Corporate America? Clearly establish expectations. You cannot have a "say-do" gap. The leader must demonstrate the values on a constant basis. BE what you want. Discipline to hold people accountable. "My major takeaway at almost 70 years old is conclusive. I wish I'd thought more, been more contemplative about my convictions, and been more deliberate about the person I sought to be." Stan's mom — she died on New Year's Day 1971 at age 45. Stan was 16. Had 6 kids. Mary Bright McChrystal. Writes about her in the civil rights chapter. "I accept no belief or claim to truth automatically or unconditionally." White Water Rafting – When the subject of America's involvement in Afghanistan arises, Stan is frequently asked, what he might do differently if given the chance to do it all over again. Answer: "Go white water rafting." In Patient Pursuit of Greatness – In the spring of 2012, Stan was teaching a leadership class at Yale. That's when he met their football coach, Tony Reno: "Not many things materially affect my trajectory. But this time was different. What was different? Coach Reno." Choosing to Lead – Leadership is not a title or position. It's a choice. "Embrace the suck" – "Why suck a little, when you can suck a lot?" Eat one meal a day. It's built on being undisciplined with food. If you only eat dinner, you can eat a lot for that one meal. Self-Discipline - Most important attribute for a leader. Wife Annie - Dependent on her. Kind, thoughtful, caring. Life/Career Advice: Have the discipline to decide want you want to be. Be intentional. LISTEN: Don't just talk. Be respectful. Don't be afraid to fail. Try it, get back up. Try again.

Apr 27

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Go to www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Episode #632: Nick Huber is an entrepreneur who owns stakes in 11 companies, including a real estate private equity firm and several agencies. His portfolio of companies employs over 325 people living all over the world. Nick lives with his wife and 3 children in Athens, Georgia. He's the author of the book, The Sweaty Startup: How to get rich doing boring things . Notes: Sales is the foundation of Every Business. From Nick's mentor, Dan Cohen: "If you don't like sales, I suggest you give up now and go get a regular job. You're wasting your time." "Life as an entrepreneur is sales." To succeed in this world, you must have the cooperation of other people. The attributes of winners: Abundance mindset A sense of urgency Not afraid to stand up and call you out. The story of his VP of Finance, Kevin. He called Nick out on deals he tried to make while Kevin was on vacation. Make good decisions Aren't afraid to get their hands dirty and do the work The Four Fundamental Truths of Life 1. You can't do it alone. 2. You can't make people do anything. 3. Everyone in this world is selfish. 4. It isn't about you. So how do we use these four fundamental truths of life to get what we want? Sales . We sell ourselves and our ideas. We convince other people that their lives will be better if they trust us, work for us, buy from us, and more. Networking. Don't go to events telling others to help you. Become someone worth knowing. Do something of value that makes others want to come to you… The story about the guy wrangling carts on a cold night at the Walmart in Ithaca, New York Nick credits a lot of his success to his parents, Tim and Susan, for raising him around a dinner table of positivity and curiosity. They made him feel as if he could accomplish anything and taught him to see the world through a lens of opportunity. Change your mind: Nick has a note taped to his mirror in the bathroom that says, "Change your mind on something today." The most valuable trait of an entrepreneur: A sense of urgency. Most people walk slow, think slow, move slow, and make decisions slow. They lollygag around life. No energy. No excitement. Do uncomfortable things. Make the calls. Start a lawn care business if you're a kid. Decision making - You have to practice it. It's a muscle Decathlon at Cornell - Brutally hard. 10 events. You never do your best in all of them. You take L's. Have to respond and go to the next event. Struggle with grace. Ego - Need to balance belief with humility. There are two types of people in the world. Those who are humble. And those that are about to be humbled. "You're interviewing for your next job every single day." Hiring is like hunting. Always looking. Life/Career Advice: "Don't be a doctor or a lawyer. What game are you playing? What does winning look like? Most people aren't thoughtful enough about that."

Apr 20

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Bert Bean is the CEO of Insight Global. Insight Global is a 4.3-billion-dollar, industry-leading talent and technical services firm based in Atlanta, GA. Bert started with Insight Global in 2005 as a Recruiter and has since worked his way up within the company, exemplifying Insight Global's "promote from within" culture. Sam Kaufman is the Chief Revenue Officer of Insight Global. Sam began his career as an entry-level recruiter in 2004, and he has earned many promotions throughout his career. I initially started working with Sam as his executive coach in March 2020, and then mid-2021, we formalized a bigger partnership with Insight Global, becoming the presenting sponsor of The Learning Leader Show, and we broadened my role working with leaders throughout the company. It's been so much fun. Notes Insight Global is a $4.3B business. Insight Global grew 9.2% last year, while the industry declined 9%. How is Insight Global winning while all other staffing firms are losing? A lot of companies will succumb to the idea that it's just gonna be a bad year, but our people are like, no, we'll just figure it out. We'll pivot. We'll move industries. We'll change accounts, we'll change our focus. We'll sell different services. And that's really what we've done. "Many in our industry are losing hope. That's not us. This is where we thrive." "Our people's ability to show up, keep going, um, do new things, evolve, is really, I think it's second to none. And that's been a huge part of our story." The whole world is soft. We love leaders like Laura Downey. She's so driven, so hardcore. A beast. She's in Canada. She just reaches right out to me like we're old friends. If I could get a bunch of Laura Downey's, it's game over. Obsession: A through-point for the entire conversation was obsession. Being obsessed with caring for people. Being obsessed with doing hard things like running 20 miles to work. Being obsessed with how prepared you are for a big meeting. Being obsessed with your standards. Holding yourself accountable to them and others. The leaders who sustain excellence over time are obsessed with their craft. Potential over experience - "If you want to build a culture of commitment and care, you have to choose potential over experience." Things to look for when promoting a leader: Hard decision making Strategic bets Simplifying complex problems "The most important skill as a CEO is getting to the truth. It's really hard because it's really scary. Normal humans find every excuse not to deal with harsh truths." ­ -- Ben Horowitz The baseball on Bert's desk from the Atlanta Braves is an example of what not to do. The overall brand of Sam Kaufman = CARE Hiring in India - One of our folks that's doing the interviews asks this individual if, if they want a bottle of water, gives 'em a bottle of water, and this person says, wow, of all the places I've been to interview, nobody's offered me a single drink of water or treated me like a human being. Bert: I grew up in a small town in Alabama and was a very average kind of kid. But my mom was always like, you can do anything you want. Don't ever let somebody tell you you can't. You can be you, you can be the fastest runner in the world if you want. Sam: I get in here at 5:30 every day because I have a couple thousand people that started where I started, and I am obsessed with the idea that they should have the best career ever. Bert: I think a lot of people don't ever get a chance to suffer on their own terms. Yeah. You know, like to, to enter the pain cave on their own terms. And that's a really cool thing to, to step into that and to figure out, all right, do you have the stuff or do you not? You know? And I think all of us deep down are afraid to answer that question. I just gotta know if I can do it. I have to know that. I like that challenge. I put in the work, I put in the training. And then when you do it, you're like, I knew I had that in me, and it just is so reassuring to me. Bert: I love a sense of accomplishment. I love a sense of accomplishment. Uh, I love that I can do something hard. I've always, you know, I lived in Yellowstone National Park for a summer in college, so I fell in love with the American West and I loved seeing mountains and being like, why can't I just stand on that? Sam: The last couple years, I've spent a few hours kind of every morning working what I need to be talking about and what does my voice sound like? And through the course of a couple years of working on it now, I gotta run a call with a couple thousand people this afternoon, and it's like, oh, I'll just go do that next because I'm, I'm ready for that. Sam: I'm a person they can count on when they need them. And that's what sales really is. And that's what sales will teach you. And so for, you know, for my organization, if I want my people to see that, I want them to learn that. Bert's Tattoo – Be The Light

Apr 13

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Bio: As an owner of IMPACT, Marcus Sheridan has established one of the country's most successful digital sales and marketing agencies. He is the author of the international best-seller They Ask, You Answer … His new book is called Endless Customers: A Proven System to Build Trust, Drive Sales, and Become the Market Leader. Notes: The 4 Pillars of a Known and Trusted Brand: Say what others won't say Show what others won't show Sell how others won't sell Be More Human than others are willing to be 75% of all buyers prefer a seller-free sales experience. Create great self-service tools to help your buyers make buying decisions. The buyer's journey - They want to know what it will cost. So, tell them. Have a client story for every objection. Collect them. Tell those stories. The story of Steve Sheinkopf and Yale Appliance… ($37m to over $100m). "That means obsessing over their questions, fears, worries, and concerns. Answer every single question honestly and transparently, right there on your website, for everyone to see." "Tackle topics your competitors are afraid to touch. Break the unwritten rules of your industry. When you focus solely on empowering your buyers with the information and experience they crave, something incredible will happen: You'll earn their trust. And when you earn their trust, you earn their business. Do this consistently, and you'll capture the market's attention, transform your company, and see numbers you never imagined." The 5 Components of Endless Customers: The Right Content The Right Website The Right Sales Activity The Rich Technology The Right Culture of Performance Path Finders - Help others come up with solutions. Your favorite mentor didn't tell you the answers, they helped you figure it out on your own (by asking you questions). The #1 thing that will dictate your income is your ability to communicate. As Morgan Housel would say, "Best story wins." It is worth it to work on this skill. The excuse that you don't have enough time is lame and not true. Focus on becoming a better writer and speaker. It's too important not to. Piece of feedback most often given - Say that, but in half the words. Be concise. Be willing to say what others won't. And the idea of going direct. Go Direct – Viral essay written by LuLu Cheng Meservey. Going direct means crafting and telling your own story, without being dependent on intermediaries. Marcus called me by my name (both Hawk and Ryan) a lot during our conversation. It felt natural and flowed well. It worked. This is taught in sales training and can feel manipulative if not done well. Listen to how Marcus used my name enough to make me feel special, but not too much that it felt like a sales tactic to get me to like him. Book title = "I want. I wish." I want Atomic Habits . I wish I had "Endless Customers."

Apr 6

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk. Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes. This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Go to www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader At 27, Anne-Laure had her dream job at Google. She quit. "Are you sure?" "No." She was focusing on a narrow vision of success. Anne-Laure was most curious about the brain, neuroscience, and why we think the way we do. She went back to school to learn more. Writing - First, to clarify thinking. Works as a forcing function for that. You need to create your own version of it. You do that by writing. The generation effect. You remember it better that way. Next, it created a magnet of people to her. The meaning behind the name "Ness" is "The state of being." Goal setting - What are the traps of linear goals? We think we know what we want. We assume we'll always want the same thing. The arrival fallacy. Think we'll be so happy when we get it, but usually we aren't. Instead focus on the process, the daily behaviors. And run continual experiments. Through those experiments, you'll probably figure out what you want to accomplish. Or you might even stumble into it. Practical goals - Was it useful? Focus on the process. There is nuance. How do you hold others accountable? It's more than just the number. Do the work to understand the nuance, the details behind the number. Too many managers are lazy. Collaborate with uncertainty. Understand why you're scared of it. Comes from a long time ago. That's no longer a thing. You don't just want your team to survive. You want them to thrive. Don't cling to the first obvious conclusion. Do more work. What about vision for a CEO? Instead of focusing on being #1 in the marketplace, focus on your approach. Your values, your mission. Focus on your company's daily behaviors more than beating someone else. Be curious and ambitious. Escape the tyranny of purpose. People are obsessed with finding theirs. People have more than one purpose. It changes over time. You can reinvent yourself. It can make people miserable if they haven't found it. I suggested that hers is what she has on Ness Labs website: "To help people become the scientist of their own lives." She said that it is for her work. Procrastination - Instead of getting rid of it, reframe it. Say hello, you're here again; what are you telling me? A tool for it: Triple check - Head, Heart, Hand. Her grandmother Oma was the final person she thanked in her acknowledgement. Moved from Algeria to France. Didn't speak the language. Her parents always encouraged her that she could do anything. Show up. Do it. Try. How do you keep going after the honeymoon of a new project or idea? Keep iterating and trying new things. Have others help you. Sergey Brin got tired of the ad business at Google, so he had someone else run it and he created a lab inside of Google for new ideas. Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It's your place in the world; it's your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live. —Mae Jemison, American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut

Mar 30

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Episode #625: Anthony Consigli - Digging Graves, Playing Football at Harvard, Learning From Failure, Taking Big Chances, & Growing a Business From $3 Million to $4 Billion Anthony's great-grandfather came from Italy and he was a stone mason. He had 6 sons. He gave each a trade. His grandfather had a business mind. Then WWII came. 4 brothers went and fought. His grandfather and blind uncle stayed back to run the business. He brought his son into it (Anthony's dad) he was a heavy equipment operator. And did business leadership work after it. Hard Work: Born in 1967, 2nd oldest of 5 kids. Grew up in the 1970's remembering his dad always working 2 jobs including Saturdays as a heavy equipment operator in construction with side jobs at night, his mom as a night nurse with his grandmother watching them during the day. Hard work and work ethic were drilled into them by their dad, grandfather, and uncles who all were in construction. All had stoic personalities. Anthony started working full-time in the Summer, Saturdays, and school vacations in the 7th grade when he was 12. Cleaning the mortar off bricks from demolished buildings so that they could be reused, then digging and covering graves by hand at a bunch of local cemeteries. Chopping wood and burning the rubber off electrical wire from demolished buildings so we could bring the copper to the scrap yard for cash. It was not your typical childhood but I can see now it gave me incredible life lessons at an early age that allowed me to flourish in business and be a strong leader. Anthony was a gravedigger -I was a big part of the business because it was a consistent revenue stream. Regardless of a recession, people were going to die. For that reason, his dad and grandfather never wanted to give it up. Anthony dug them by hand, year-round. When I was in high school I was in charge of laying out the graves to be dug for the recently deceased. As the Catholic Church was not known for great record keeping the coordinates were often confused. I would cut the sod, save it and then start digging; 7.5' long, 4 foot wide, about 5.5'deep. I had to take 22 wheelbarrows of dirt and wheel them up a plank onto a truck as that was the displacement from the coffin and concrete box. One night the phone rang at the house. My dad yelled at me to tell me I had buried the body in the wrong place. He may have had a few expletives in there. The next morning, I spent the day digging a new hole, moving the box to the new grave, and then filling in both graves while the family watched. I tried blaming the priest but this was a losing battle. Lessons like this taught us accountability. Own it. Do what you say you are going to do and clean up your own messes. Dump Truck Story - When I was 14 I was helping to demolish the interiors of an old convent and we were throwing all the old cinder blocks into a dump truck. My grandfather didn't have anyone available to go dump the truck so he showed me the different lever and buttons; the clutch, the PTO, and gears, and told me where to go dump the truck. I knew a little about how to drive standard but had never driven a dump truck so he told me to leave it in first gear. I drove down the Main Street of the town with a long line of traffic behind me as I was going about 5 miles per hour. I got to the dump site, got the truck in position, enacted the PTO let my foot off the clutch, and got the dump body to start raising. I remember being so proud of myself. Like I had made it as a man. All of a sudden the truck jerked up violently and before I knew what happened the truck cab was in the air and the truck was upright vertically. I had forgotten to open the tailgate so the load had shifted and flipped the truck. There were no cell phones so I walked about a mile back to the site very embarrassed to call my grandfather. Construction has no shortage of occasions to be humbled as there are so many changing dynamics at hand all the time. But at the same time, being thrown into situations like this gave me this incredible tolerance for risk. It was embarrassing but you could overcome that embarrassment. 1997 - Anthony became the CEO. $3m business at that time. Anthony pushed for bigger work. 25 people at the company then. 2024 - $3.4B 2,400 employees. What happened? One big thing is a concept/book called Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard. Construction at the time was low bid, hard knuckles, people flipping the table, throw staplers. It wasn't friendly. It started to get more professional over time. "Raving fans makes sense to me. Apply how you treat people in hospitality to construction. We work hard on client service skills. Being really professional. There is so much repeat business. That was harder than I expected it to be. Clients were rewarding us work over and over again. We were nice people to deal with. Raving fans stayed with us. We've done a lot of jobs at Harvard or hospital systems. We've earned that reputation. I came into the business during a bad recession. That bruised me. I had to tell people I couldn't pay them. I worried about where money would come from." The significance of their logo? The arch… The Arch is our logo and helps support these values. The arch is from the oldest surviving picture of our great grandfather who was a simple, hardworking, stone mason building this big stone arch. The arch denotes teamwork as you can't do it alone. It symbolizes forward progress, quality, and craft. All stuff we want to be associated with. Take Big Chances – We got through the first recession knowing we needed to be larger to be able to withstand the ups and downs of the economic cycle. We started taking some chances on some larger jobs with more demanding clients which was extremely stressful as we had no idea what we were doing. It was new territory. This is where all the humbling experiences as a kid like digging graves helped as it gave me the courage to take some risks. Failure isn't final and you can push through mistakes. Football at Harvard - Learned more on the football field than in any classroom. Discipline to a process. All the players at Harvard are there for the love of the game. I was admitted to Harvard with OK grades, but I could snap a football and block. I was surprised at the time Harvard accepted me. Looking back on it now, I should have been shocked as I was a meathead. At the same time, I think my blue-collar work history in a small family business, my being an Eagle Scout, and generally smart kid all helped. Harvard changed me in good ways despite my best efforts not to let Harvard change me in bad ways. I had this perception of blue-blood kids walking around with ascots and monocles or hippies protesting every earthly transgression on the planet. But that is not what I found. I made the best friends of my life; incredible diversity with kids from every socio-economic strata you could think of. Our team had a kid who was in an LA street gang and a kid who worked summers second shift in a limestone mill outside of Pittsburgh yet at the same time had a kid who was fifth generation Harvard who was just a nice guy. Really smart but normal kids. As much as I didn't want to change, I needed to change; be more open-minded, more curious, have better dressing and grooming habits, and manners. It meant being able to engage in meaningful conversation on heady topics; not Hulk Hogan and the WWF or how tough Chuck Norris was. I would always say that I didn't learn much in the classroom at Harvard but that's not fair. Liberal arts education is a bit under fire right now but it has served me well. I learned more through exposure to different people, other students smarter than me who were in random conversations and late-night debates. I learned more on the football field as I learned more about resilience, how to lose, and how to prepare. The liberal arts education gave me an appreciation for continued curiosity, learning, and study which may be a more important skill than any in a fast-changing world. It was the well-roundedness I needed. Leadership in Construction - Leadership means different things to different people. It can be easy in some settings. In football, all the players wanted to play. For a job site in South Boston, you walk onto a job site, you have 300-400 that don't want to be there, some don't speak English, then we get a union group, or an architect has other ideas, then traffic, weather, and things you can't control. It's hard for a leader to keep everybody working in the same direction. That's a huge leadership task. I was thinking about that. A construction superintendent at 6 am is thinking about all of this stuff. What makes someone good at that job? Sense of urgency, align and motivate hundreds of people, great planners, organized. Had a former Marine Vietnam Seargent who was great. A gym teacher who's awesome, he's in NYC with a job several city blocks. High sense of urgency, detail-oriented, motivates and aligns people. We do personality testing, and we've got a lot of people who are lower A and just as successful as higher A personalities. Such team players. Can put a team together. We like people who have played sports. Hiking – About 12 years ago, Anthony, his brother, son, and a few guys went out to hike a 10,000-footer in Colorado. They met their guide who was this little, old dude who looked like he smoked pot fairly regularly. As they looked to get started, Anthony asked him for the trail map and he said he didn't have one. "How do you know how to get to the top?" He pointed to the top of the mountain and said "It's right up there, we just need to keep going up." But when they were at the top, Anthony realized it was just an analogy for their business. We just needed to keep taking one more step up. ESOP - Consigli implemented an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) to make the company entirely employee-owned, fostering a culture of accountability, shared responsibility, and pride among their teammates, where employees directly benefit from the company's success and feel a stronger sense of ownership in decision-making; essentially, it aimed to create a more engaged and motivated employee base by giving them a stake in the company's performance.

Mar 23

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes Notes: Serendipity isn't found. It's made. Make your own luck. The best leaders create serendipity for their teams. A success mindset precedes success. From Jenny - In 2011, I was single and living in New York City. I spotted an attractive guy across the train from me. I wanted to talk to him, but I was too nervous. Then he got off the train. She met her future husband by chasing after him off a train in NYC. "I was letting life pass me by." She used some wild courage to approach him. What sits between you and the thing you want is fear. Who are your dynamic dozen? The 12 people you need to meet. Monday mini-festo. In 15 minutes, write the 2 things you did last week that you're proud of. Write 2 things you're excited about for this upcoming week. Focus on doing the work that helps the company be better. Solve problems. Read the VP email. Know your stuff. Get to know your boss's boss. Do it the right way by talking with your boss. Jenny's career at Google - First 11 years in sales, Go To Market, Operations. Own your Career project. She got 2,000 people to come to her first training. Used all resources within the company to do it. Use "for example." Don't speak in generalities. Role, Objective, Impact - ROI At work, say no to the small. Don't reply all to the Happy Birthday emails. Don't do the NAP work. NAP stands for "Not Actually Promotable" Work. Sign up for the projects that help make your company better. Carlye Kosiak is one of their best hires at Google. She had the courage to stand out. She was specific. Her resume indicated interest in "recipe tasting in pursuit of the perfect oatmeal raisin cookie." Personality popped off the page. She was weird, reckless, nosy, obsessed, brutal. Must be yourself. Don't just be weird to play a role. Goal Setting framework - Rock, Chalk, Talk, Walk. Jenny's goal is to sell 15,000 books by the end of week 1 and hit the NY Times best seller list. If you sell 12,000 copies in week 1, how will you feel? "You ask such great questions." Don't play it cool. Play it hot. Don't decide to fit in. Stand out. Watermark your work. Put your name and picture on the deck. Let people know you made it. Lady Gaga – A group of students at NYU created a Facebook group called "Stefani Germanotta, you will never be famous." Have the courage to stand behind your work. Lady Gaga wanted to be a big star. Life and Career Advice - Performance reviews - Focus 75% of your time on your strengths. Say yes to 75% of the things asked of you. Start sentences with "YOU" instead of "I" - Focus on them. Build influence thru empathy.

Mar 16

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes. The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Go to www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Rob Kimbel is an owner of Kimbel Mechanical Systems, located in Fayetteville, AR. He joined KMS in 1993, and in 2001, at the age of 26, he became the CEO and grew what was then 3 local plumbers making a couple hundred thousand dollars a year into a national company with more than 750 employees and earning hundreds of millions in revenue per year. Rob is also a partner in multiple start-ups, real estate projects, and real estate funds that specialize in affordable housing across the United States. Rob is also a mentor and advisor to several local businesses and entrepreneurs in NW Arkansas. He has also served on the boards of Generations Bank, NWA Home Builders Association, and Beyond the Game, a non-profit organization serving the impoverished of the Dominican Republic. Notes: Betty Joe Drive… Lived in the hood. $200/month. Rob regularly takes his children to see where they lived. "I want to remind the kids where we came from." They started as a 3-person plumbing company. Rob was working for his dad, making $12-$14 an hour. Now, they do $260m in revenue and have 750 full-time employees. When Rob was 25 years old, his dad asked him to be the CEO. He initially said no. Strategic risk-taking as a cornerstone of growth: Rob navigates the industry challenge of balancing new work with workforce capacity by making bold hiring decisions—demonstrating a greater risk appetite than his father. "We are always hiring" reflects their proactive approach to scaling. Kimbel is good at growing people. They fail, and stick with them to grow. "Profits are the applause for growing our people." How to be good? Show up, work hard, and finish the job . The bar is so low. The No Child Left Behind Act wasn't great for the trades industry. They made it seem that every person needed to go to college. When every person shouldn't do that. Some should go into the trades. There are high school grads who make $100K/year by their mid-20s at Kimbel. The Kimbel Purpose: Create opportunities to improve lives. Values - TEAM, Humility, Hunger, Grit, Integrity. TEAM- We willingly sacrifice for the good of the team. Row together. Humility - We never consider ourselves above anyone or anything. Take the back seat. Hunger - We choose to continually raise the bar. Never complacent. Integrity - We do the right thing, in all places, at all times. The how matters. Grit - We persevere, no matter the situation. Remember the why . Thank you notes – Each executive member writes at least one thank you note per week. This works as a forcing function for them to look for people doing great work and living by their values. Touch points - Senior leaders (30 people) reach out to 2 people per week to check on them. That's 3,000 touches per year. Free from all, servant to all. Tattoos on Rob's forearms. I have made myself a servant. Free from work, I don't care what society thinks. But I have a responsibility to be a steward. To be a servant to all. Rob works out like a psycho. Super hard. Why? Start with the end in mind. I want to hold Cheri on my shoulders when I'm 65. I want to ski with my kids when I'm 80. I like to compete. I want to win Spartan races. I like doing hard things. It also creates clarity in my mind throughout the day. Karomy messages me that she knows I'm running the stairs when she gets emails from me with lots of ideas. Marriage insights: "It must be intentional. We have fun together. We are genuine friends. We still have to work through stuff." Parenting philosophy shaped by observing other wealthy families: "It's critical that kids do hard work. They shouldn't start in an office. They should be out with the chickens. Be in the mess. Start at the bottom. Start in the ditch." Family-business boundary maintenance: "We get together every other weekend for family game night. We try not to have much business talk." Sold 70% of the business last July. What was the feeling the moment the money was wired? It was surreal. Want to honor Dad with 25 years of GRIT. Excellence defined: "It's continual learning. Wanting to get better. Think, what can I do better?" Creating a truth-telling culture: "Have to be willing to hear it and create a space where the truth is spoken." Life and career wisdom: "A career is not linear just like a marriage isn't. Have patience and live in the suck. Don't quit. There will be seasons of suck. Keep going."

Mar 9

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Notes: "I sensed something was terribly wrong when I dialed into the conference line at 8:00 a.m. and heard an unfamiliar voice. "Hi, Mel ody, I'm Janine. I'm with an external HR firm. Unfortunately, this call is to let you know that your employment has been terminated, effective immediately." Managing up is not kissing up. Managing up is strategically navigating relationships with those who have more positional power than you, namely your boss. It's a critical skill set for maneuvering through the complex web of power dynamics, conversations, and unspoken expectations that shape our daily work lives. The triple win – What is something you can do that is good for you, good for your boss, and good for the company? Focus on those issues and solving those problems, and good things will happen for you as you grow your career. Like Carly Fiorina. Run towards the fire. Solving those tough problems will help you, your boss, and your company Meeting with a CEO. Connect what you did with what matters. Adapt your communication to that. Have upward empathy. Put yourself in their shoes. What matters to them? Prior to the meeting, meet with their Chief of Staff. Anticipate objections and answer them before they are asked. Create a one-pager for your boss when they are doing your performance review. Highlight your wins. Remind them. Make it easy on them. Do what Lee Rivas told me to do. Every week, send an email with bullet points for all the things you did to help your boss and the company. For the one pagers - be proactive, start with wins, results and outcomes. it's not self-promoting; it's informing. Identify 1-3 key areas where you need their support. Help them become a trusted advisor or partner. Design your 1:1. Send them the topics to talk about so you can drive those discussions. Make their life easier. They have enough other things to worry about. Feedback can only happen after alignment, styles, ownership, boundaries... They go in order. Define your A B Cs Assumptions, Behaviors, Change you want to see The advancement conversation - Be open, and share what you want to do and how you can get there. My Dustyn Kim example and how I messed it up. The Money conversation - You don't get a raise just because time has passed. It has to be tied to results. Don't talk about the past and what you've done. Talk about what you can do to earn the company more. Don't do the "I deserve this" thing. Bosses hate that. Managing up is not kissing up. Managing up is strategically navigating relationships with those who have more positional power than you, namely your boss. It's a critical skill set for maneuvering through the complex web of power dynamics, conversations, and unspoken expectations that shape our daily work lives. Everything changes when you understand the art and science of influencing others while keeping your own emotions and insecurities in check. "Managing up isn't really about making your boss's life easier. It's about taking control of your own work experience." 10 Key Conversations: The Alignment Conversation How can I get in my boss's head to understand their needs, motivations, and goals? The Styles Conversation Will I earn more respect from my manager if I get to the point quickly, or should I try swapping stories and building rapport? The Ownership Conversation How can I solve the problems that make my job frustrating? How can I seize opportunities without stepping on toes? The Boundaries Conversation How do I say no and push back with tact when my manager saddles me with yet another task? The Feedback Conversation How can I respectfully and effectively give my manager feedback in order to improve processes and communication? The Networking Conversation How can I build other allies in the workplace? How can I turn day-to-day interactions into opportunities that open doors? The Visibility Conversation How can I effectively advocate for myself and show off my strengths? The Advancement Conversation What do I need to do to get to the next level? The Money Conversation When is the right time to negotiate salary? How can I make sure I am getting the compensation I deserve?

Mar 3

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Chris Beresford-Hill is the Worldwide Chief Creative Officer at BBDO. Previously he spent 2 years as North America President and CCO of Ogilvy, where he helped bring the agency and its clients a new level of relevance. He brought Workday to the Super Bowl, led the team that brought in the Verizon account, and one of the biggest Super Bowl campaigns ever, "Can't B Broken," featuring Beyonce, and created the most celebrated Super Bowl campaign of 2024, the social & influencer lead "Michael CeraVe," for CeraVe. Chris and his teams have won every award for creativity and effectiveness many times over. He has been included in ADWEEK Best Creatives, the ADWEEK 100, and Business Insider's Most Creative People in Advertising. Notes: Cold Emails: Be specific in your praise and specific in your ask. The lame "Can I pick your brain" type emails get deleted and ignored because they aren't specific. You never need permission to take responsibility. Chris learned this from Ed Catmull's book Creativity Inc .… And he's embodied this his entire career. The people who build huge careers take ownership of their own and regularly solve problems and improve their clients' and colleagues' lives. Chris has done this since his early days as an intern. At any level taking on responsibility yourself, unasked, makes you stand out. Competence combined with insane follow-through. For some clients, it takes 50 ideas to get to the one that will work. Creating a culture where the team can share all of their bad ideas safely to get to the one great one. The creative process: Brain dump everything. Purge your brain of everything it has. When you think you're done, you're not. There's more. You have to get it all out. "A lot of creative people aren't fully aware of the process or the structure, they just feel it (Rick Rubin). "When you can see it lift off the page, you feel a sense of mastery over it." Chris's first Super Bowl commercial -- Emerald Nuts. He won it because he was both funny and added the fact that the product provided energy. Most people only covered one part, Chris did both. Push your edges - Chris is like Lionel Messi. He's always walking around in the office, asking questions, looking for ideas, being curious. Then he sees an opportunity and goes for it 100%. Chris has a standing reservation every week at the same restaurant where he meets with a mentor, mentee, or peer to deepen the important relationships in his life. That would be a good idea for us all to do. Chris was pen-pals with Dave Matthews for 8 years. Chris saw that they recorded at Bearsville studios and wrote a letter to Dave there. He also said, "Show up with gifts." He gave Dave a Beatles Bootlegged album. A leader takes what comes and then turns it into an opportunity. The formula is Competence + Insane Follow-Through. How to build relationships: Meet with people in person. Get drunk with them. Do hard work with them. Go through something bad with them. Laugh with them. I got hired from my internship by cold calling Mark Cuban to get him to approve of using his name in an ad. The best ideas are often bad in their first moments, or massively wrong, and then someone flips it or unlocks it. You have to stay on things and play around. I made my first ad by going through a garbage can to learn how to write a script and sending a bunch of Budweiser scripts to my boss. The art of finding an idea on the edge of possible, and the value of going over your skis when on the cusp of greatness - having a stomach for it. I've told a lie to keep things moving on every great campaign I was part of. I learned the best lesson in leadership when we lost our biggest account (Accenture). I put Danny Meyer's mentality into practice, and we took that moment to put the business and clients second and play for each other. Culture carried us. Culture is built by the stories we tell and the behaviors we highlight.

Feb 24

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Stu McLaren helps leaders and all types of business owners transform their knowledge, expertise, and influence into recurring revenue by launching, growing, and scaling membership businesses. He's the author of PREDICTABLE PROFITS - Transform Your Business from One-Off Sales to Recurring Revenue with Memberships and Subscriptions. Notes: People come for the content, they stay for the community. People want to feel a sense of belonging. This has been hard-wired in us from many years ago. We want to be part of a group. In the old days, this was the only way to survive. We have not outgrown that need and the feeling of being a part of something bigger than ourselves. Life advice: Listen to your gut instinct and embrace the unknown. You are not ever going to know how it's going to pan out. You have to keep taking that next step. And I loved the story of the lengthy process of adopting his son Sam. The raw emotion in Stu's eyes as he told that story was awesome. Watch this on YouTube and you can see. Take the next step. Keep going. You're not going to know how it will go. Embrace that. And keep going. Cody Burch Story – In October, Cody's dad was diagnosed with leukemia. Cody had been sitting with the idea of a membership. He saw the fear in his dad's eyes that he was nervous about the financial part of it. "I wanted to take that financial fear away from him. Within a few weeks of launching my membership, I had a few hundred members, and I was making thousands of dollars per month." "The more we make, the more we can give. The more we make, the more we can help." Stu says that all the time Create "super surprises" for your friends. Create an amazing experience for them. Online communities must be one of the three: Can I solve an ongoing problem? Weight loss, dog training Can you teach a skill? Can you make someone's life easier? Provide teachers with lesson plans You don't need a big platform to get started. Have founding members. Float the idea that you're thinking of it. Momentum starts with movement. Get going. Pay close attention to onboarding. The first few days are EVERYTHING . His daughter's new school was "the best school ever" because she met one friend on the first day. Help them build one meaningful relationship within the first few days. Connect them. Proactively do this. Sales is the most noble profession in the world. Everything must be sold. Stu learned from John Childers, but couldn't do it like him. So he just told stories about transformation. People don't care about the "stuff." They care about the outcome. They care about the transformation. The objection matrix - Match every objection with a story of someone who had the same objection and overcame it. Use stories. The importance of building a membership around transformation, not just content. While many focus on delivering endless content. By focusing on helping people achieve meaningful outcomes, rather than overwhelming them with information, leaders can build stronger communities, improve retention, and deliver real value that keeps members coming back.

Feb 17

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes. The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Be optimistic in the face of uncertainty. We discover who we are by doing it. We learn who we are in practice, not in theory. The only way to fully know if you can do it, is to do the thing. Take action. Fail sometimes. Then keep going. The explore-exploit dilemma. Do we keep on the same path and stick to what we know works or do we go out into the unknown? Do we invest in R&D with no guarantee that it will pay off? This reminds me of Scott Galloway on episode #578, In order to do anything of significance in your life, you must take an uncomfortable risk." The Hard is what makes it good. From Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) in A League of Their Own . The HARD stuff adds texture to time. The effort needed is a source of meaning. Similar to the Ikea paradox. There is more meaning in the piece of furniture if you assemble it. We shouldn't run away from the hard things (like Dottie Hinson was doing in A League of Their Own)> We should run towards them. The effort is where find a source of meaning. Opened with gratitude for him helping me with my first book, Welcome to Management . The beginnings of chapters/stories. What's most important and what's interesting? Use the best story you have. The beginning is super important. Time with Friction - "I don't want it to be easier." Challenge and complexity make it more meaningful. It's less meaningful if it's not challenging. Effort is a source of meaning. The Ikea Effect. A piece of furniture is worth more to you if you put it together. Why do you keep pushing your limits? What am I getting out of this? Is there some intrinsic pleasure? We are wired to explore, push our limits We are also wired to be lazy, to rest in between hunts. Dichotomy there. Some are nomadic and some settle. It's useful to have both. Alex and his wife take their daughters with them on adventures. They earn a feeling like, "I can do anything." Adding voluntary hardship to a child's life can be helpful. If it's a foregone conclusion, it's not interesting. This is why people love live sports. We don't know how it's going to end. Uncertainty makes it interesting. The same is true for life. Uncertainty - We're willing to pay a lot to not know the ending. The arc is important. "Bold beginning of uncertain outcomes." Alex was shy and didn't introduce himself to girls. "I would have had a better time if I wasn't scared to ask someone out." My first job getting rejected 60 times a day. Useful. His job as a newspaper intern having to go to people's houses after their family member died in a car accident and talk with them. Made everything else seem easier. Quote to open the book: "To say that we should not change wines is heresy; the tongue becomes saturated, and after the third glass even the best bottle yields but an obtuse sensation." – Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin Waffles – They are great. But if you have them every day, you lose the magic. A metaphor for life. Life/Career Advice: Be optimistic in the face of uncertainty. Have both the exploring and exploiting mindset. Explore widely. We discover who we are by doing it. Have to do the thing.

Feb 10

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes. This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader Rachel Botsman has become an expert on trust in the modern world. She's written three books: What's Mine is Yours, Who Can You Trust, and How to Trust and Be Trusted. Her TED talks have amassed over 5 million views. And she teaches at Oxford University's Business School where she created pioneering courses on trust in the digital age has become an expert on trust in the modern world. She's written three books: What's Mine is Yours, Who Can You Trust, and How to Trust and Be Trusted. Her TED talks have amassed over 5 million views. Notes: Trust is being comfortable with uncertainty . Capability and Character - Assholes are capable people with low character. Demonstrate the ability to take risks. Confidence in the unknown. Healthy challenge and push mentality. Trust willing – Lead with Trust. Make the trust wager. What's the best way to earn someone's trust? LEAD with trust. Trust them first. This also creates a highly attractive company or team. Don't you want to attract highly trusting, capable people? The best way to do that is to lead with trust. Be more trust willing. Lead with Trust. Jim Collins story. Make the trust wager. You don't have to earn it, you got it. Willingness to be a beginner. Be curious. Look stupid at first. Those are good qualities in a leader. For keynote speaking: Share your expertise, but don't seek approval Share your stories, but don't look for validation Share your passion, but don't perform for the applause Don't sell from the stage. Don't show your book. Don't give your resume. Honor the present. If you're running a meeting, start it on time. Honor the people who showed up on time. Leaders who are overscheduled… It's usually their fault and it comes from ego. If you've hired a capable team, then you don't have to be in every meeting. Also, if you're always late, you aren't reliable. And that becomes part of your reputation. That's not something we want to be known for. How can people trust you if you're always late? They won't. You aren't reliable if you're always late. Reliability is a big part of your reputation. It can become the thing you're known for. That's bad. The power of consistency: Intensity makes a good story. Consistency makes progress. Consistency builds trust. Leaders who are overscheduled have a problem they've created for themselves. It's usually from ego. Interviewing leaders for jobs. High character is a must. We can teach capabilities later. Paul Simon's audiobook with Pushkin is awesome. Rachel's five principles for trust: Competence: Having the skills, knowledge, time, and resources to do what you say you'll do Reliability: Being dependable and consistent in your actions Integrity: Being honest about your intentions and motives, and ensuring your words and actions align Empathy: Caring about others' interests and how your actions affect them Consistent action: Earning trust through how you show up, set expectations, and deliver acts of caring Life/Career Advice: Don't get boxed in too early and grow a career based on being able to tell people at parties that you work at a prestigious company. Look for great teams and great bosses. The industry doesn't matter as much as the people. Culture is everything. People are everything. And then when you're younger it's helpful to be a generalist. Know a little about a lot of things. But as you get older, it's useful to become a specialist at something. Become an expert. Go deep on a topic. This is similar to what Mike Maples Jr said on episode #619.

Feb 3

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes. The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Episode #620 with Steve Magness, author of Win The Inside Game Notes: Clearly define your purpose and what you want to do. For Steve, it's: "Explore interesting ideas that will help people." "Those things will help me too. I'm curious about them." Defining that one sentence frees you up to say no to those things outside of your purpose and to focus on actions within that align with your purpose. Steve's Framework for Sustainable Excellence: Be - Clarity on who you are Do - Clairty in your pursuits Belong - Clarity on where and how you fit in Steve stood up as a whistleblower after earning his dream job at Nike, showing courage and sticking to his values and ethics. Why don't we speak up? We have a built in preservation system. We justify, rationalize, and avoid it because it minimizes the negative feeling in the short term. Don't play prevent defense. Give yourself the permission and freedom to fail. Diversify sense of self. Don't intertwine a sense of self with success or fear of failure. Diversify your sense of self—don't intertwine your identity solely with success or the fear of failure. It's not an all-or-nothing game. Outcomes matter, but they aren't everything. Focus on process goals and let outcomes be a byproduct of good effort. Set your environment up to define what success means for you. Big achievements, like becoming a best-selling author, rarely feel as fulfilling as imagined. Success can be multi-dimensional and definitionally nuanced. The Power of Belonging When facing a challenge (like climbing a hill), it feels easier when you're with others versus alone. We need each other. We share the load. Surround yourself with compounders. "We are built to belong." It is a mistake to make success or failure a virtue. It's not "I'm a failure." It's, "I failed at that thing." It's temporary. It's not who you are. In moments of stress (e.g., choking in sports like Simone Biles), your brain defaults to survival mode and shuts down higher-level functions. Strategies to overcome it: Narrow your focus: Break tasks into smaller, actionable steps. Create a personal definition of success to shift focus from fear. Try doing something unexpected or crazy to reset your perspective. To have a meaningful life we need to feel Coherent - Life adds up. You have a cohesive story. Significant - You matter and can make a difference. Directed - There's a purpose to your life and pursuits. Belonging - Part of something bigger than you. "This book is for those who stood up, found courage, and stuck to their values and ethics."

Jan 27

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes. The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. My Guest: Mike Maples Jr is a co-founding Partner at Floodgate. He has been on the Forbes Midas List eight times in the last decade and was recently profiled by Harvard Business School for his lifetime contributions to entrepreneurship. Some of his early investments include: Twitter, DemandForce, Twitch, and Applied Intuition. Mike is also the bestselling author of Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-Ups Change the Future. Notes Chance favors the prepared mind. We are all visited by luck, but most of us don't answer the door. We need to become a professional noticer. That is Mike's favorite verb. Noticing. Most people don't have prepared minds. Be intentional about noticing the world around you and being prepared for when luck visits you. Mike's dad died 7 days before we recorded. "He was a mentor, a friend, and one of the greatest inspirations of my life." His advice: Do your best. There's only one of you. Decide what to do with your gift of time, be intentional. Have gratitude for your time. Make the most of it. Don't waste it trying to be someone else. Focus - Fishing competition when Mike was 5 or 6. Let's find a good spot and stay there the entire time. While everyone else moved constantly, Mike and his dad stayed in their spot, caught a big carp, and won. Bill Gates begged Mike's dad to "be the adult in the room" at Microsoft. Mike Sr would say to the people he led at Microsoft, "I want to know that you're thinking about what you're doing." He used a Socratic method. He was not prescriptive. Be proactive. Have an intentional strategy. Be intentional. Jonathan Livingston Seagull - The biggest limits in the world are the limits of your mind, your imagination, and your actions– not the limits of the world itself. Have to get over that voice in your head that says, "You're not good enough." We get told to be realistic or stay within the lines. Everybody is figuring it out as they go. Everyone is "winging it." Only by being radically different can you make a radical difference. Great founders are like Patrick Mahomes and Steph Curry. You don't know how they're going to score, but you know they will. Practice Reckless Optimism – The world is built by Optimists. You need to be FOR something. Bet ON something, not against it. Mike sees himself as a co-conspirator more than an investor. There can't be a recipe for a breakthrough because by definition breakthroughs haven't happened yet. "Chance favors the prepared mind." We are all visited by luck but most don't answer the door. Chris Rock - Forming unexpected connections. Sam Beskind (Stanford basketball player where he played for Rob Ehsan) - Time management strategy. Stanford coaches had a one-pager with 3 keys to winning. Not 20. 3. If you have 20 keys, you have none. Nobody can remember all that. Life/Career Advice: Internalize what it means to do your best. Gratitude for your time. Avoid the trap of mimetic desire. The "T" of knowledge. Charlie Munger. Try to know what the best ideas that have ever existed in a wide range of fields. Then choose one field to know about more than anyone else in the world. Have one area where you are fanatically obsessed. For Mike, that's startups.

Jan 20

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes of The Learning Leader Show Sign up for "Mindful Monday" (it's free) - https://ryanhawk.kit.com/profile My guest for episode #618 is Chase Jarvis. Chase is a photographer, director, artist, and entrepreneur. He was the CEO of an online education platform called Creative Live from 2014 to 2022. He's earned countless awards for his photography and creative work including a Pulitzer Prize for a New York Times story he contributed to called "Snow Fall." He's also the author of multiple books including Creative Calling and Never Play It Safe. Notes: Opening Joke: "What has 52 teeth and holds back a monster?" We are all wildly creative. It is trained out of us as we grow older. Creativity is foundational to all human beings. It's on us to tap into our creativity and get it out of us to help solve problems, to create optionality, and to be innovative. Regardless of your job, becoming more creative will make you better at it. Play infinite games with transformational people. It seems like when we give to others, genuinely try to help them, and have a service orientation, good things happen to all. There are transactional people and transformational leaders. Let's strive to be transformative and play the long game with high-character people. Transactional leaders are infuriating. Transformational leaders are inspiring. "A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because its trust is not on the branch, but on its own wings." Believe in yourself and your ability to bounce back if the thing doesn't go your way. Set up a series of experiments. Not all of them will work. You'll be better for having tried, and tried again, and then again. We learn from both our successes and our failures. Initially, Chase planned to attend medical school after graduating from undergrad. A few weeks before his graduation, his grandfather died and left all his photography equipment to his grandson. "Security is mostly superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." - Helen Keller "Safety is an illusion. It does not exist in nature, so why then do we seek it? "Playing it safe is about fear. And fear is only optimized for survival--not creativity, happiness, joy, connection, harmony, fulfillment, or any of the gifts you have to give or receive in this life." Intuition is everything. What if we started paying attention to that? "I don't know why they call us founders. I didn't find anything. I built that shit. We are builders." There are 7 basic levers for life: Attention Time – NYU Professor James Carse. Finite and infinite games. Treat life like an infinite game. What's the difference between systems and schedules? (why are systems better?) Intuition – The benefits of compounding trust. Chase's wife Kate. First met on a beach just after high school. Sparks were present, but no fire. " She had a special quality I couldn't quite place." Went to college 1,500 miles apart. All along it was your intuition that kept you on notice. How do you know when it's your intuition speaking? Why is playing it safe the riskiest thing we can do Constraints - What can we learn about constraints from Stefan Sagmeister? Play - What can we learn about play from Novak Djokovic? Failure - Melissa Arnot Reid – Replaces the word "fail" with the word "live" – Instead of saying "I'm afraid to fail. She says I'm afraid to live." Practice - Purposeful practice. Anders Ericsson Keynote speaking - Don't be a robot. Have fun. Let it rip. Results are better in a better state of mind. Do tiny experiments when the stakes are low.

Jan 13

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes for episode #617 with Adam Galinsky Notes: 10 Words - "We are not going down. We are going to Philly." The composure of pilot Tammy Jo Shults after the side of her airplane exploded. Leadership is needed most when things go bad. How do you respond when adversity strikes? Those are the moments when we must be prepared to share the vision and help our team stay the course. EMTs asked, "How did you get through security? You have nerves of steel. You don't even have an elevated heart rate." The 1992 cockpit study of pilots. Did more errors happen at the beginning or the end of a 19-hour flight? You'd assume the end because of exhaustion. However, more errors happen at the beginning of the flight because the crews don't know each other yet. How does this translate to your team? It's imperative to genuinely care and get to know the people on your team. Host barbeque parties, ask questions, and genuinely LEARN about the people you're leading. Those aren't soft skills, those are essential skills. What did Adam learn from his parents? The idea of Kaizen, is a Japanese business philosophy that promotes continuous improvement through small, incremental changes. Kaizen means "good change," "change for the better," or "improvement." Transactional leaders are infuriating. Transformational leaders are inspiring. Great leader exercise: "Tell me about a leader that inspired you..." What qualities do they possess? "Courage, Optimism, Generous." Inspire - the universal path for leading yourself and others Build habits - floss teeth before brushing. Write thank you notes. Moments of Greatness -- Elks basketball Team thank you notes - Rob Kimbel Columbia football coach -- "Who can I yell at?" Need to know who can handle it. Ron Ullery -- Share the vision early. 1:1 conversation, bring your leaders in. Adam did not get tenure when most thought he deserved it. They messed up by not sharing the vision until after, but then they made it better by sharing and showing him love. He then turned down Harvard to stay at Northwestern because of it. Vision - Big picture. Put context for behavior. Why is consistency important? The Great Gatsby and his dad. Greenlights. When you're thinking about trying to persuade others, you persuade yourself. Parenting -- When you flip out, they do too. We set the tone.

Jan 6

Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Mindful Monday is the best way to start your week. Sign up for free here: https://ryanhawk.kit.com/profile Bob Stoops was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2021. He was the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1999 to 2016. He led the Sooners to a 191-48 record over his career. His 2000/2001 team won the national championship. He earned the National Coach of the Year award the same season. Since 2020, Stoops has been a head coach in the XFL, winning an XFL Championship in 2023 with the Arlington Renegades. He played college football at the University of Iowa, earning team MVP his senior year as a defensive back. Notes: Coaches Bob has worked for: Hayden Fry at Iowa, Bill Snyder at Kansas State, and Steve Spurrier at Florida. He's w orked for some amazing coaches. Relationships are everything. You must connect with people. You must be authentic. Learn from other coaches, but you have to be yourself Sherri Coale: "One of my favorite things about him is he's the busiest man on the planet but never appeared that way. That's a skill and an art. That fascinates me." What makes a great head coach? They relate to people. They care about them. They can motivate and influence by clearly sharing the vision of the program and inspiring others to get on board. They are decisive people. Most importantly, they know how to connect with people. All leadership is a people business. If you can't connect with others, you'll probably struggle. Creating a "coaches forest" (beyond a tree) - Mike Stoops, Mark Mangino, Mike Leach, Bo Pelini, Kevin Sumlin, Kevin Wilson, Lincoln Riley, and more. How has Bob prepared so many guys to be successful head coaches? Hiring – "I always tried to hire people smarter than me." A lot of people say this, but not all do this. Coach Stoops looked for people who had a track record of performance… And then he used his gut instincts after he spent time with him. He paid attention to how they treated his secretary, how they treated the waiter at lunch… Some call those the little things, but they were very important to Coach Stoops The overarching theme of the entire conversation was the simplicity of how Coach Stoops built his program. He didn't try to overcomplicate anything. He knew he wanted coaches who were accomplished, high-character people. And he wanted tough players who loved football. Their offenses may have looked exotic but they didn't have a ton of plays installed. They focused on what they did and then practiced it relentlessly so that they would execute better than their opponents. I think there's something beautiful in the simplicity with how he's built his program and the results speak for themselves. Great players want to be coached - Jeremiah Smith, Adrian Peterson. What he looked for in players: They have to LOVE football. Need to be tough and physical. Someone like Dan Cody. From Oklahoma, was skinny, and nobody on the staff wanted to give him a scholarship, but Coach Stoops did, and he turned out to be a great player. Liked to keep local guys home. Off-season workouts create the culture of the team. "We won because we outworked everyone." The attitude of the national championship team - "They were tired of being kicked around." And "I shared with them the history of Oklahoma and let them know the way it should be. When we started, they were a losing team." Josh Heupel - The most valuable recruit ever for Coach Stoops. Mike Leach was a 1 of 1. An original. He seemed relaxed and casual, but he was also very demanding that they do it right. He was also focused on just a few plays instead of trying to do everything. FOCUS. Do what we do Wife Carol - Impressive leader at Mary Kay. Won a pink Cadillac 16 years in a row. National Sales Director. Life/Career Advice - Go hard, be tough, be true to yourself, enjoy the struggle, and look forward to the fight. Nothing great happens without going through struggles first.

Dec 30, 2024

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes and all episodes of The Learning Leader Show Notes: Brad Thor best selling author of 22 thrillers... Excellence as a leader… What has Brad seen from the military leaders he's studied: Empathy - Understand what it's like from their perspective. LISTEN - Care for your people. Actually LISTEN to them and be there. Creativity. Innovate, and think of new creative ways to solve problems. Effective storytelling - Don't start with the weather. Leave out the parts people skip. Don't be boring. This same advice is useful for leaders when communicating with your team. Put yourself in their shoes. How can you most effectively share your message without being boring. The more entertaining it is, the more likely they'll remember it. Effective storytellers - Plotters (outlines, Dan Brown), Pantsers (write by the seat of your pants). Brad is a pantser. Take the first 4 ideas and throw them out. You need the element of surprise. Create surprise. Be comfortable breaking the rules. Loves Ray Donavon and Billions for the element of surprise "No joy in the writer, no joy in the reader." "No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader." Brad has served as a member of the Department of Homeland Security's Analytic Red Cell Unit. Excellence as a leader (McChrystal) - Empathy, Listen, Creativity. PBL - Problem-Based Learning. John Bettis (country singer). How do you recharge your battery? International travel. Immerse yourself in another culture. Loves politics. Ran for President. Advice for writers – "Gotta Keep Writing" Mary Higgins Clark did it for 2 hours each morning before her family woke up. Whatever it is we want to be great at, we have to get the reps. Consistency beats intensity. 00:53 The Art of Storytelling 04:13 Elements of Effective Storytelling 08:26 The Importance of Surprise in Storytelling 11:33 Writing Process and Challenges 20:43 Research and Realism in Writing 27:04 Leadership Lessons from Writing 30:59 The Importance of Open-Mindedness 32:01 Pre-Publishing Feedback Process 35:09 Homeland Security and the Red Cell Unit 39:05 Maintaining Creative Energy 42:38 Political Ambitions and Leadership 50:57 Advice for Aspiring Writers 54:36 The Benefits of Reading Fiction for Leaders 56:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Dec 23, 2024

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes. The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global . If you need to hire 1 person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world have the hustle and grit to deliver. Notes: The Pete and Leona story - What will people say about you at your funeral? "They changed my life and the lives of my entire family." Tough love out of 100% care for you. Be tough AND supportive. Don't lower your standards. High standards. High support. 10 to 25 - Find the right trigger for motivation. Find out what they care about. They need meaning and significance. They want status and earned respect. Are children less afraid of their parents now than they used to be? Dan Gilbert calls this the "illusion of moral decline." It's been happening for 75 years. The Parental Nagging Study - A common tactic adults use to get teens to "pay attention." Research shows that nagging triggers the emotional part of a teen's brain, shutting down their ability to think logically. They're not ignoring you on purpose—they're simply wired to tune out. A better way? Speak calmly and neutrally to engage the part of their brain that handles planning and decision-making. This opens the door to real conversation. Satya Nadella's Model, Coach, Care philosophy at Microsoft. This is the opposite of Jack Welch's rank and yank style at GE. Remember, the stack ranking methodology limited innovation and stopped people from taking any type of risk. We want to model the right behavior, coach others, and ensure they know we care for them so they feel the support they need to take risks, sometimes fail, get back up, and work to innovate. Theory X = Rank and yank. It stifled innovation for fear of failure and getting fired. Theory Y = No stack rankings. Built on connecting leaders with their people. Still high standards and demanding. Followed the "Model, Coach, Care" methodology. This is what's happening today at Microsoft. Be a place where people want to work. The Mentor's Dilemma - Stef Okamoto - honest, direct, and supportive. The "mentor's dilemma" refers to the challenge of balancing honest, critical feedback to young people while still maintaining their motivation and self-esteem, as this age group can be particularly sensitive to perceived criticism and may easily feel discouraged or disrespected if not approached carefully; essentially, it's the struggle between pushing someone to improve and potentially damaging their confidence by being too harsh. The mentor mindset: A mentor mindset can be adopted by using practices such as validating young people's perspectives, asking them questions, and holding them to high standards. Questioning – Kate, a mom of two who lives in Chicago, whose oldest son was a sophomore came home one night from a party drunk and high. Kate responded with a combination of yelling and prosecuting… She instigated an interrogation and not a two-way conversation. Instead of interrogating, get curious. They had a reason for what they did. Figure out why. What's your plan? Ask questions to get them to own their thinking and share it with you. Advice - Don't accept some perceived path. Be reliable, show up, do the work, and ask for more work. Add surplus value. Whatever you're being paid, focus on delivering 10x more value. Find a way to do that and your employer will beg to give you a raise and promote you.

Dec 16, 2024

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Notes: Mo Bunnell is the author of Give to Grow , The Snowball System , and the founder of Bunnell Idea Group (BIG), who has trained tens of thousands of seller experts at over 400 clients all over the world. I wake up every morning looking to help my friends succeed, and some just happen to be clients . — Proactively thinking of ways to add value to others is a great way to build a meaningful life. Our brains think literally. Relationships grow exponentially. Give consistently to grow relationships. Celebrate incremental progress. Mo writes in a journal the growth of himself, his business, and his customers. We all should be better at celebrating incremental progress. Teresa Amabile's research shows that this leads to a more enjoyable life. August 4, 1984, was a meaningful day for his family. (Dad's alcoholism. That was the day of his last drink) The difference between doing the work versus winning the work Example: You win the work by asking lots of questions. You do the work giving answers. Every successful career hinges on two things: Doing The Work and Winning The Work. Both delivering value on the current work and developing the relationships that create future opportunities are vital for long-term success. Whether you're in a new role or want new outcomes, the most powerful results come from prioritizing both Doing The Work and Winning The Work. Ask questions – Mo shares 50+ questions to ask. Ask self-disclosure questions. Those are questions that only that person can answer. Fall in love with the problem. Pronoia – The world is out to help you succeed. People can live in 1 of 3 ways. Drift - Stay busy. Answer emails. Driven - Hyper emphasis on one thing at the detriment of others (triathlon guy) By Design - Write down where you want to be and make a plan to do it. On purpose. Delayed gratification: Weekly planning process Offer 3 proactive change agent ideas Mo is in 5 masterminds Shawn Blanc in Breckenridge. Net givers. MASHUP - His house. Help others. Ask for help. Elite Adventure athletes GivetoGrow.Info MASHUP! Mastermind of Awesome Super Human Unreal People

Dec 9, 2024

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes and to listen to all episodes of The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Lawrence Yeo is a storytelling teacher and the founder and writer at MoreToThat.com. He writes stories about the nuances of the human condition. He's become one of my favorite writers over the past few years and regularly makes me rethink what I believe. Notes Envy: Envy is inversely correlated with self-examination. The less you know yourself, the more you look to others to get an idea of your worth. But the more you delve into who you are, the less you seek from others, and the dissolution of envy begins. Curiosity is gratitude for the unknown – "The key to cultivating curiosity is to have a healthy relationship with uncertainty." Lawrence is called the L.S.E. by his wife. The Life Story Extractor. Ask More Questions to Those You Love - It's quite shocking how few questions you ask when you're with people you're comfortable with. If you're no longer curious to know about the person in front of you (friend, wife, parent), then that relationship is devoid of life. Your Values: Your values are as unique as your genes because no one shares the exact set of experiences and insights that were required to form them. They are the fingerprints of your being, and they are the invisible forces that guide everything you touch. Integrity is the ability to navigate the outer world without discounting your inner values. There is an anchor of authenticity that you're unwilling to budge, no matter how fervently people want you to." Confidence is a commitment to trusting your inner compass, despite how strong the outer winds are. If you do the work to know yourself, then you'll realize that no external voice can convey the inner complexities you embody. And through that awareness, you'll reliably choose your intuition above all else. The Problem with Following Your Passion - Ultimately, you can't live off your love for something. It doesn't matter how powerful your inner engine of expression is; without the fuel of money, you will stall out and be left on the side of the road. And like it or not, the only way for this fuel to be provided to you is to create something valuable enough to warrant that exchange. Ambition - Ambition is critical to the development of a healthy mind. Not only does it allow you to know who you truly are, but it also acts as a gateway to humility. Since ambition is about putting the bar ahead of you, you'll understand your shortcomings in a visceral way." Ambition breeds humility. Always setting the bar ahead of where you are. "I'm not quite there yet." "This email brought me to tears." - "Hi Lawrence, I just came across your site and love what I am reading. Great insights and reflects a lot of my thoughts lately, like the last 20 years. I'm 72, stage four cancer, and the happiest I've ever been because I have the luxury of being able to examine my life. Best self-help ever. I'm looking forward to reading more of your writing." Writing: 2 types of writing: Writing to think. Writing to present. Journal vs. Diary. Journal is asking why you feel the way you do. A diary is a catalog of what happened. Have a job that acts as a patron for your creative work. Moretothat.com -- There's always something deeper. Advice - Learn storytelling. Consistency is the driving force of your curiosity.

Dec 2, 2024

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Codie Sanchez is an entrepreneur and investor known for founding Contrarian Thinking, a media and business education company. She has a diverse background, including entrepreneurship, finance, and journalism. Through her book "Main Street Millionaire," she advocates for wealth-building by acquiring small businesses and shares her insights on financial independence and business success. Codie emphasizes practical, contrarian approaches to wealth and leadership. Notes: Her dad always said to her: 'You're not going to be a princess, you're going to be the president' – It's a great reminder of the power we have as leaders to believe in someone and raise their level of expectations because you see something special in them. Codie was glowing while talking about her dad. How Codie earned a job at Vanguard. She went to conferences. She met people. She got IN THE ROOM and took action. And then when she got her opportunity, she led with her curiosity, asked questions from the woman she met with, learned, read the books she told her to read, and followed up. Showing up, doing extra, and following up are a great way to earn a job that you might not be qualified for. How you start and end your meetings. What type of energy do you bring to the space? Remember, you no longer get to be energy-neutral as a leader. You're either lifting the room up or taking it away. We want to add energy additives to the rooms we enter. One of Codie's favorite books – Letters to a Young Contrarian by Cristopher Hitchins. "What I like about Christopher Hitchens, he pushed back against the common narrative in a time where to be an activist was really frowned upon" "He was what the people these days that say they're activists actually are. He really had no loyalty to any type of thought; he was simply trying to find the truth. He was the inspiration for contrarian thinking" Career Path – "I don't believe that humans have linear paths ever. Anyone who has had an interesting career in my opinion has had a completely divergent set of experiences. High Performers: They hate small talk. Are not okay with wasting your time. Do what they say they're going to do. Do it with urgency. Are obsessed, not just interested. Goal Setting: "If you want to be a person who hits your goals: Skip setting goals and set sacrifices. What are you willing to give up to get what you want? That is the missing piece to winning. Every one of your goals has a price." Codie's Anti-Goals: Being an employee/work for others, Selling other people's products, Speaking for free, Coffee meetings. The richest self-made woman in the US is… Diane Hendricks (co-founded the largest wholesale roofing, siding, and window distribution company). There are billions in the boring. Writing = Clarifying Your Thinking Writing helps Codie think clearly and organize her thoughts. The process of writing demands coherence and structure, unlike verbal communication. 4 Parts to buy a business - Cover debt, Cash to have an operator, Money to make a salary, Operating cash. 3, 9, 12 method - Learn the 10 steps in the first 3 months. Get in on a deal. Stabilize. Boring Businesses - Laundromats, car washes, and port-a-potty services can be very profitable. They are less glamorous but have a higher success rate compared to sexier industries. Advice - Meet with a small business owner. Ask to shadow them. Get curious. 42% of the population works for or in a small business.

Nov 25, 2024

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes. Books: The Score That Matters, The Pursuit of Excellence, Welcome to Management Notes: The Commitment Continuum Resistant Reluctant Existent - Stealing scholarships (sandwich eaters) Compliant - Box checkers Committed - Heart is into it. They do extra. They are bought in. Compelled (Obsessed) - On a mission. Do an audit first of yourself. Where am I on that continuum? And then each member of your team. The goal is to get each member closer to becoming committed and compelled. Team audit - Where is everyone? People can drift down if their needs aren't met. For existent and compliant - Shift mindset to "I get to be here!" For committed and compelled - Keep them challenged. Put them in leadership roles. The art of leadership - Make it easier to move up on the commitment continuum. Walt Disney - The little things are the big things. Jeff experienced this firsthand when he went on a Disney cruise and saw the workers polishing the railings on the cruise ship early in the morning. The same is true for the janitor mopping the floor at NASA. There's a story about President John F Kennedy in 1962. He was at NASA and he asked the janitor what he was doing. The janitor replied, "I'm helping put a man on the moon." The leader should be praising everyone involved in the mission and celebrate their role and its importance. Holding your teammates accountable - "We're not calling you out, we're calling you up." The encourager and the enforcer help raise the standards and encourage others to aim higher. That's the role of the leaders on great teams. "We're not calling you out, we're calling you up." What's our vision? Am I embodying the standards myself? Have we clearly set the standards and got buy-in? "These are the expectations and standards of our program." Performance and behavior metrics Praise people when they meet the standard The best teams practice so much that they can't get it wrong. Team Captain's Leadership Manual. Mike Fox. Can you lead yourself first? Commitment. Composure. When it hits the fan, can you stay poised? Character: Can I trust you? How do we get people excited to be part of the leadership development program? Make it a privilege. They have to apply and get accepted into the program. They "get" to do it. Make it relevant to their lives. Give real-world strategies. The encourager - Calls out great work The enforcer - "We need more from you." The servant - It's not about you or your stats. It's about serving others. The Seven Secrets of Successful Coaches Character-based people. They do the right thing. People trust them. Extremely committed to the mission and the team. Competent Care Confidence Builder Communicator (great listener) Consistent

Nov 18, 2024

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for the full show notes of The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk. Eric Jorgenson is the CEO of Scribe Media, the largest Professional Publisher. He's also the author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness and The Anthology of Balaji. His books have sold over 1 million copies and have been translated into 40 languages. Notes: The obsessive genius. Eric likes to invest in founders who have been obsessively trying to solve a problem for years. They are myopically focused on that one thing. They have a depth of expertise in the area where they focus. Eric has developed the skill to get good at recognizing that genius in others and that's helped him make good investing decisions. He is an investor in dozens of ( borderline crazy ) deep-tech startups through Rolling Fun . They fund obsessive geniuses building utopian technologies. Eric's first 90+ days as the CEO of Scribe: He spent as much time as possible learning from the current members of the team. Leading with curiosity, asking questions, listening, and leading with trust. Being both trustworthy and willing. You don't have to earn my trust, you have it. "Flawless on the Fundamentals" - The one phrase Scribe is focused on. Your content diet: It's more important than a healthy/wellness/food diet. "If you're taking in bad information, you're becoming a moron." You want high-signal sources of information. An audience of 1 - "I wrote that book for myself." Bezos - Great compression of ideas and communicating them to the team. Focused on one thing. Why write a book with Scribe instead of a traditional publisher... You want 100% ownership of your IP We talked in depth about Naval Ravikant and his viral Twitter thread titled, " How to get rich without getting lucky " – Here are some of the tweets from that thread: Seek wealth, not money or status. Wealth is having assets that earn while you sleep. Money is how we transfer time and wealth. Status is your place in the social hierarchy. Understand that ethical wealth creation is possible. If you secretly despise wealth, it will elude you. Ignore people playing status games. They gain status by attacking people playing wealth-creation games. Pick an industry where you can play long-term games with long-term people. Pick business partners with high intelligence, energy, and, above all, integrity. Don't partner with cynics and pessimists. Their beliefs are self-fulfilling. Learn to sell. Learn to build. If you can do both, you will be unstoppable. Specific knowledge is found by pursuing your genuine curiosity and passion rather than whatever is hot right now. Insane and Pragmatic – Great founders are insane and pragmatic. Yes, both. Leverage – How do you build a mountain of levers? (Levers are force multipliers. This is how some people can accomplish 10x, 100x, or 1,000,000x what others can. Leverage can multiply outcomes from your effort, your skill, and your judgment.) "You can make it big without accountability. You can make it big without specific knowledge. But if you don't have leverage, you're never going to make real wealth. Leverage is the most important component of the principles I've discussed." - Naval Transformation Through Writing: Writing a book can be a transformative process that deeply embeds certain mental models and knowledge. Interview Process: Engaging with a skilled interviewer can help clarify ideas, which is particularly valuable for busy executives who wish to author books but lack the time to write them themselves. Impact of Books: Books can play unique roles in positioning leaders and sharing knowledge, which is an invaluable tool for personal branding and legacy. Learning from Experts: Eric believes that his talent lies in recognizing and synthesizing the genius of others, which he shares through his books and investments. Professional Growth: Through interacting with talented individuals and absorbing high-quality content, Eric has developed a nuanced understanding of what drives excellence.

Nov 11, 2024

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3Yrxfj8 Notes Luck is not real – "Luck is something we conjure in our minds to grapple with the consequences of whatever life may throw our way. Luck is a physiological concept. It's determined by how we view a situation. Academic studies show that you can become luckier simply by telling yourself that you are lucky." Pessimists sound smart, but optimists change the world. Believe in yourself. Have agency. Strive to make something happen. "Luck is the flip side of risk. They are mirrored cousins, driven by the same thing: You are one person in a 7 billion player game, and the accidental impact of other people's actions can be more consequential than your own." - Morgan Housel Surround yourself with compounders and fire your boring friends– Being around other ambitious people who are willing to push you will make you better. Strike the balance between being loyal to longtime friends, and doing anything for them, but spending the bulk of your time around people who will push your edges and make you think bigger. Fire your Boring Friends - "If you are optimizing for living an extraordinary" life, you have to fire all the boring friends and find people living extraordinary lives." You don't get what you don't ask for. I love the story of Anthony meeting his future wife, Polina, for coffee and asking for the next date for that same night. The answer is NO if you don't ask. It's worth the potential rejection because the upside is so great. In this case, they got married and have two children. The people who sustain excellence are not afraid to make the ask. Get on the plane -- When in doubt, go see them in person. "Experience is a liability when it comes to setting expectations." Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. Not knowing that something is supposed to be hard can be useful. Respect other people's time - "When I was playing football in college one of our coaches used to say, "5 minutes early is on time and on time is late." By respecting other people's time they will realize you are a serious person. Childhood is not a crutch — Don't have a victim mindset to use childhood as a crutch for poor behavior. "It's easy to use your childhood as a crutch instead of seeing it as a chisel." - Cameron Hanes Simplicity signals mastery — Tim Urban is the master at this. As a writer and/or teacher, your writing should make the reader feel smarter, not dumber. Using big complicated words and sentences shows that you don't know what you're talking about. The world seems to separate itself into two groups - the people who never stop learning and everyone else. Document Good Ideas – Ideas run the world. "I created a system that works well for me. I broke everything down into four areas where I could find a good idea. Books, social media, conversations, and audio/video content. Advice: "Seek risk. What is the riskiest thing you can do? The greatest returns are on the other side of risk. Run towards the risk."

Nov 4, 2024

Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/48nSff1 Dr. Meg Meeker has spent more than thirty years practicing pediatric and adolescent medicine and counseling teens and parents. Dr. Meeker is a popular speaker and bestselling author of several books, including the national bestseller, STRONG FATHERS, STRONG DAUGHTERS; THE 10 HABITS OF HAPPY MOTHERS; and BOYS SHOULD BE BOYS. Notes: One of the best things fathers can do is raise their daughters' expectations of life . That will directly affect how your daughter talks, how she dresses, how well she does in school, and even what sports or musical instruments she chooses to play. You can help her set goals, help her define a higher purpose for her life, and as a result, her self-esteem will skyrocket. And it will bring you closer, because she'll recognize you as a leader and an ally, helping her to chart a better course. Don't post anything about your kids on social media. It makes them think they are your trophy to show off. And be mindful of how you talk about them to others. Do you only focus on their accomplishments? They are listening to what you say about them… Be the man you want her to marry – See it, do it, teach it. What are the 5 strongest character qualities you want your children to have? How are you showing that to them every day? You are setting the standard. They are watching carefully. You will create what is quote, "normal," in their life. Are you living with integrity, working hard, not speaking poorly behind others backs? You are showing them how they should behave. If you were watching yourself from outside your body, would you like what you see? We have to live it every day. Your daughter sees you (her dad) as her hero. The smartest, strongest, best person in the world. Kids want their dad's approval. "I want attention just for being me, not for performing a sport." "You don't just love them. You love their company." Always do good work, but don't boast about it. "He believed in me." -- The power of the belief that Meg's dad had in her. Teach her Humility - Genuine humility is the starting point for every other virtue. But teaching it is tricky. Your daughter needs to feel unique and important in your eyes. Humility doesn't make sense unless it's modeled. To fulfill her potential, your daughter needs to understand who she is, where she comes from, and where she's going. Humility is seeing ourselves honestly… Self-centeredness is a problem if we base our entire lives around our kids wants and desires. Clarify your morals (without apology) – If you want her to live by a code or set of values, you must first live by them. If you don't want her to lie, then you should never lie. If you don't want her to use cuss/swear words, then you should not use them. If you don't want to her to drink, then don't normalize it in your house. She wants to see conviction and leadership in her father. Teach your kids to serve in a soup kitchen. Be in service of others. Gain perspective by seeing how others who are less fortunate than you live. Embrace them when they fail. The dad plants the default in the minds of their children. What do you want that default behavior to be? How to approach your daughter's boyfriends? Shake their hands Be curious, ask questions Invite them over for dinner

Oct 27, 2024

Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3NszPAg Jack Carr is a former Navy SEAL who for 20 years led special operations teams as a Team Leader, Platoon Commander, Troop Commander, and Task Unit Commander. Jack is also the #1 New York Times Best Selling author of 8 books and his debut novel, The Terminal List, was adapted into the #1 Amazon Prime Video series starring Chris Pratt. Notes When Jack was little, he hoped to grow up and do two things. Be a Navy SEAL and become an author. Jack's grandfather died at war. "It's in my blood." "You have to prove that you can add value to your tribe." "Great warriors run to the sound of the guns to be with their fellow service members." Commonality of the best SEAL Leaders: Trust, up and down the chain of command High character Good decision-maker: The decisions you've made in the past are your currency. Do things you don't have to do. Run with the squad, put rounds down range. You don't have to be the best at it, but you should be very good at all of the things the people you're leading are doing. Reading novels: "When I was young, I was reading for the magic in those pages." PUT IN THE WORK… Jack has been putting in the work since he was little. He read books for the magic in those pages. All of that reading has helped inform him of what great storytelling looks like. And then he PUT IN THE WORK. If you want to be a published author, you need to WRITE. It's that simple. Do the work, and get the manuscript done. And then take the next step. A lot of people want to be published authors. Not everyone wants to write. Like Ronnie Coleman said, "A lot of people want to be a bodybuilder, but nobody wants to lift these heavy weights every day." Mentor, Brad Thor: "Brad told me that the only difference between a published and unpublished author is that the published author doesn't quit." Writers Block – One thing I'll share from Steven Pressfield is that he said "Hey, you never hear of a trucker getting trucker's block". Writer's block does not exist - you just have to go do it. Books to recommend: ONCE AN EAGLE by Anton Myrer. It is advice that a wise Sam Damon shares: "You can't help what you were born and you may not have much to say about where you die, but you can and you should try to pass the days in between as a good man." In the end that really says it all. Advice: Never miss an opportunity to make someone's day… Make that your default setting. Work to add value to others' lives. Make their day. Help them. Make introductions, LISTEN to them, offer ideas to help solve their issues

Oct 20, 2024

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com My books: Welcome to Management - https://amzn.to/3XWyZAH The Pursuit of Excellence - https://amzn.to/4eX9vtP The Score That Matters - https://amzn.to/3zPub7Z Seth Godin is the author of 21 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about work and art. They have been translated into 38 languages. His breakthrough books include Pu rple Cow, Tribes, The Dip, Linchpin, and his latest book is called This is Strategy. He writes one of the most popular daily blogs in the world and has given 5 TED talks. He is the founder of the altMBA, and the former VP of Direct Marketing at Yahoo! Notes: "If you want word of mouth, you have to create something remarkable, and that means it's worthy of remark." The elegant path is the most useful way forward. "My neighbor is a barefoot runner. He glides without apparent effort." Elegance is simplicity, efficiency, and effectiveness. Dorothy and Her Crew. How did Dorothy persuade the Lion, Tin Man, and Scarecrow to join her on the trip to see the Wizard? Did she make a case about how much she missed home? No. She created the conditions where the others could get what they wanted by joining her. Seeing Strategy Clearly. Strategy is a flexible plan that guides us as we seek to create a change. It helps us make decisions over time while working within a system. Low-Hanging Fruit Isn't. It's all been picked. The easy, direct, obvious paths are unlikely to get you the results you're working so hard to obtain. In fact, these paths are probably a trap. Seth, at one point, got 800 rejection letters. Have to keep going... "I wouldn't call Steve Ballmer a good leader." An example of Seth making a difference... He went to Kenya and talked with 60 people who started a book club based on his book Linchpin . "They decided to be leaders." Make decisions in the moment: Examine the issue Get feedback Look for patterns "Taste is knowing what the market wants before it knows it." Rick Rubin Reality distortion field Johnny Cash "What do you think?" "Objections are your friends." What are the commonalities among leaders with whom Seth has worked and who have sustained excellence? They are all different, but the one thing they have in common is they all have chosen to be leaders. And that means that they are here to make a change happen. Management doesn't just exist. It was invented. When you race to the bottom, You see people as resources, not as people. Questions That Lead To Strategies. 84 questions. They'll force you to think through your strategy. By answering them, you'll be better prepared to make a difference… And make a ruckus. Some of them: Who is this project for? What is my timeline? What systems would need to change for my project to succeed? Where will I cause tension? What resistance should I anticipate? Where is the empathy? What asset would transform my project? What can I learn from comparable projects? Is the change I'm making contagious? Can I make it easier for others to decide? How can I design for network effects? What are common objections I expect to encounter?

Oct 13, 2024

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com My books: Welcome to Management - https://amzn.to/3XWyZAH The Pursuit of Excellence - https://amzn.to/4eX9vtP The Score That Matters - https://amzn.to/3zPub7Z My guest: After years of serving as a high school government and law teacher, Sharon McMahon took her passion for education to Instagram, where more than a million people rely on her for nonpartisan, fact-based information as "America's Government Teacher." In a time where flashy headlines and false information often take the spotlight, Sharon is a reliable source for truth and logic. Sharon is the author of: The Small and The Mighty – Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, From the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement . Notes: What did Teddy Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, and FDR have in common? The ability to articulate a vision that others wanted to follow. They were great communicators. If you want to lead people, it helps to become a fantastic storyteller. It helps to be able to stand up in front of a group of people and share the vision in an entertaining and informative way. And then execute on that vision. Be a doer. "The best Americans are not the critics, they are the doers. They are the people who went for broke when everyone else yelled to turn back. They are those who know that one becomes great because of who they lift up, not who they put down." I've never observed anyone, regardless of field, achieve lasting prominence while voicing rancor or focusing much on the failings of others. Create and share, support others, and enjoy. Givers and creators always prevail. - Andrew Huberman Door-to-door sales helps you deal with rejection. It's good for you. When you see a new person at the gym, celebrate them. Help them get acclimated. The Hello Girls -- AT&T -- Pioneer of telephones. They were doing their jobs wearing gasmasks with bombs exploding around them. Echo Chambers – As a leader, what you don't know, can hurt you. Do not surround yourself with "yes men" or "yes women." You need a diversity of viewpoints. You should feel uncomfortable on a regular basis. You should told you're wrong from the people you surround yourself with. If you're not, then you're living in an echo chamber. Also, pay attention to a broad spectrum of media. If you only watch one news channel or read one newspaper, you will probably end up in an echo chamber. Then develop friendships with people who think differently than you. They're not wrong because they think the way they do. Instead of judging them, why not be curious and learn more about their viewpoint. Gouverneur Morris – One of Alexander Hamilton's best friends and one of our founding fathers. He contributed as much or more to the early republic than Ben Franklin or John Adams. He conceived America's great statement of purpose, the one still recited by schoolchildren. He's the author of the Preamble of the new United States Constitution. "The best Americans are not the critics, they are the doers. They are the people who went for broke when everyone else yelled to turn back. They are those who know that one becomes great because of who they lift up, not who they put down." I have learned that no one reaches their final moments of mortal existence and whispers to their loved ones, "I wish I had gotten in some more sick burns in the comments section on Facebook." Advice: "Be the "can-do" person. Have the best attitude in the room. Be amazing at whatever you choose to do. Be the person that others love to work with."

Oct 6, 2024

Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3XxHi7p Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Michael Easter's investigations have taken him to meet with monks in ancient monasteries in Bhutan, lost tribes in the jungles of Bolivia, US Special Forces soldiers in undisclosed locations, gene scientists in Iceland, CEOs in Fortune-500 boardrooms, and more. He's a professor at UNLV and he's the best-selling author of The Comfort Crisis and Scarcity Brain . "The modern world is designed for short-term survival and pleasure. It is not set up to help us thrive in the long term." "Have fun, don't die, read books, and do strange things." Be a 2 percenter. 98% of people do the easy thing. We are programmed to do the easy thing. The world was uncomfortable a while ago... It makes sense to do the easy thing. You get the short-term reward for it. Handle adversity, adapt, do the slightly harder thing Some ideas: do walking meetings, work in silence, embrace hunger, don't cut corners, pick up the trash, call people on the phone. Ruck the airport. Don't sit down, walk. Read while exercising. Workout outside. Sprint. Lift weights. The ability to move a limb quickly is what helps old people not fall. Need to be powerful and springy to move quickly (and not fall). Diet - One ingredient foods. Tribe in Bolivia with the healthiest hearts in the world. Be outside, eat one ingredient foods. Scarcity brain - We all suck at moderation. We overconsume... Casinos, slot machines. Quick, repeatable, predictable. The speed makes it powerful. Silicon Valley learned this from casinos and it's how they build their apps. The smartphone withdrawal effect. Worse in short term. Better in the long term. Break bad habits - Slow down. Respond, don't react. Wait 72 hours to buy the thing in your online cart. Junk food is super easy to eat fast. It was designed that way. Your body doesn't know it's full because of the speed. What did Michael learn from a tribe in a Bolivian jungle? They seemed very happy. What did they do? They ate single-ingredient food. They spent a lot of time outside. And they spent a lot of time together. What can we learn from that? Eat healthy, go outside, and spend time with people you love. "A lot of problems are not our fault, but they are our problems to solve." Remember, we are wired to choose the escalator, fast food or to cut the corner. We need to be intentional in taking the stairs, slowing down, and responding instead of reacting. How the scarcity loop works: It has three parts: opportunity, unpredictable rewards, and quick repeatability. Becoming aware of it can help you fall into it less often. Michael has been sober for 9 years. His drinking addiction stemmed from having a boring life (job he didn't like). Needed to explore the edges. Booze did that for him. Iraq - Sandstorm. We don't read books here. We don't have that luxury. We have too many problems to deal with . In America, we live in a country where we can read books.

Sep 29, 2024

Read more about our team at: https://learningleader.com/team/ Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of Mindful Monday Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com "Have I ever mentioned how much I f'n love these Phase 2 calls?!? Free cocaine. Straight outta the Dope Factory." – Geron Stokes "Another thing that I found is an intense interest of the subject is indispensable if you are really going to excel. I could force myself to be fairly good in a lot of things, but I couldn't be really good in anything where I didn't have an intense interest." – Charlie Munger Our Team Values & Behaviors: Curious: practice invested listening Honest: give direct feedback Intentional: provide purposeful action What is our edge as a TEAM? Our purpose, our values, and our behaviors. We are ACTIVELY doing it. Raw and Simple: We cut through the noise and address the fundamental issues leaders face. Our straightforward approach helps teams confront what they're not doing and empowers them to take actionable steps toward improvement. In The Arena: We don't just talk about leadership principles—we live them. Every member of our team actively practices the strategies we coach, ensuring real-world insights and practical solutions. Take Risks: We're unafraid to push boundaries and challenge conventional thinking. We help leaders take bold actions, even if it means stepping out of their comfort zones or facing tough consequences. Love being on a team that "makes the water rise." We all are better for being together on the same team. Gratitude – You can't roll up your sleeves and clench your fists at the same time. Living with gratitude is about recognizing and appreciating what you have. This will change the lens in which you view the world. Geron (overheard from Coach Mike Gundy): "I can't believe they pay us to do this." It is so much fun working with this team and the reward is that we get to keep doing it. So grateful. The makeup of a great team… They are tough, they have fun together, they care about each other, and they have that gritty humility about them. "Humble enough to listen, gritty enough to apply." Our prep calls – The calls before the calls. We learn so much from our preparation together. It's an open forum to share ideas, disagree, talk through stories, and figure out how to make people better. Some of my favorite times. How to work with the employee who just won't fully buy-in. Be curious, not judgemental. Ask questions. LISTEN. Care. As Sherri said, "Nobody wants to sleepwalk through life." We need to figure out what makes them come alive and help them bring that to the team.

Sep 22, 2024

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of The Learning Leader Community This is Episode #601 with the CEO of Automattic, Matt Mullenweg Notes: What is your creed? I will never stop learning. I won't just work on things that are assigned to me. I know there's no such thing as a status quo. I will build our business sustainably through passionate and loyal customers. I will never pass up an opportunity to help out a colleague, and I'll remember the days before I knew everything. I am more motivated by impact than money, and I know that Open Source is one of the most powerful ideas of our generation. I will communicate as much as possible because it's the oxygen of a distributed company. I am in a marathon, not a sprint, and no matter how far away the goal is, the only way to get there is by putting one foot in front of another every day. Given time, there is no problem that's insurmountable. "People need something to believe in." -- That's what draws talent to the company. What do you look for when hiring a leader? " The four qualities that you can't train..." Work ethic Taste Integrity Curiosity Coaching -- Expose your leaders to coaches. Mirror Ask questions Reflect Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: Optimism in dark times Player coaches -- They can do the work AND lead others Hire well -- They spot talent, hire, train, develop, and retain them Commencement speech -- Encourage others to think bigger. Raise their ambition. From Tyler Cowen -- The high-return activity of raising others' aspirations - (PhD instead of Masters) At critical moments in time, you can raise the aspirations of other people significantly, simply by suggesting they do something better or more ambitious than what they might have in mind. It costs you relatively little to do this, but the benefit to them, and to the broader world, may be enormous. Matt's Twitter Bio -- I can think. I can wait. I can fast – This comes from Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha. Siddartha said "if you can think, wait, and fast, you can do just about anything." Don't constrain your mentors by their availability, engage with their work! Jim Simons was a mentor for Matt. Be guided by beauty. Will Durant - Health lies in action, and so it graces youth. To be busy is the secret of grace and half the secret of content. Let us ask the gods not for possessions, but for things to do; happiness is in making things rather than in consuming them." Matt's goals -- My goals in life are to democratize publishing, commerce, and messaging. I travel a lot. In 2023 I visited 63 cities, and 18 countries, and my average velocity was 41.9 miles per hour. I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I write code, poetry, prose, and music, often in support of those three goals, but sometimes just to make the world a more beautiful place. I love taking photos and have posted over 30,000 to this site, hence my common username photomatt.

Sep 15, 2024

Read our book, The Score That Matters - https://amzn.to/4ggpYdW Full shownotes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk We are celebrating episode #600 with Keith Hawk and AJ Hawk Tell a story about an awesome leader you worked with... Ron Ullery – I'm a firm believer that people either live up to or down to your expectations. And most people set their expectations for themselves too low. So it's on you as a leader to raise those expectations for them. Demand more because you know they can do more. Tyler Cowen – The high return activity of raising others' aspirations. Encouraged someone who was going for an MBA to get a Phd. At critical moments in time, you can raise the aspirations of other people significantly, especially when they are relatively young, simply by suggesting they do something better or more ambitious than what they might have in mind. It costs you relatively little to do this, but the benefit to them, and to the broader world, may be enormous. What helps you give a great speech? How do you prepare? Ask, "What do I want my audience to do after seeing my speech?" Interview members of their team. Learn their terminology, challenges, what's going well, what's not, what are their goals, etc... Practice, practice, practice. Say it out loud. Rehearse so that once you're on stage, you can let it rip. What did the best teams you've been on do differently than the average teams? The best players on the best teams always practiced the hardest. They set the tone for the work ethic of the team. They chose extra work. They set high standards and they demanded others raise their level of performance. The best teams hung out together outside of work. AJ was a Captain of the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl-winning team in 2010-2011... That team regularly hung out together outside of working hours, shared lots of meals, and knew each other extremely well. They trusted each other. Tell a story about how you've shown resilience… Failed and what did you do next? The Miami/Ben Roethlisberger story - The world doesn't care what you think you deserve. The primary goal is focused on adding value to others' lives. AJ shared a story from his sophomore year at Ohio State. His defensive coordinator, Coach Mark Dantonio sat with him 1 on 1 watching each play of the Michigan game. A day he'll never forget for how hard it was, how upset he was, and how determined he was to respond. AJ never lost to Michigan again in his career after that. Pistol shared a story about the time when the new CEO wanted to bring in his own head of sales (which was Pistol's job). Instead of complaining and leaving the company, he got creative and offered a new idea and a great way to leverage all the skills and knowledge he developed from being at the company for so long. It is amazingly rare for the head of sales to stay at a company after he's been replaced. But he thrived in the role and made the company better. Front line obsession – Pistol's story of the legendary Mert McGill going to the Supreme Court to demo LexisNexis and earning the most important sale in the company's history. I love stories about leaders proactively taking action and not being afraid to do the work. Update since Episode #500: Built the Learning Leader Team -- Officially working full-time with Sherri Coale, Brook Cupps, Geron Stokes, and Eli Leiker. We are working with leaders from a wide variety of companies throughout the U.S. The magic of the Pat McAfee Show -- They are unafraid. They say what others are thinking but are too afraid to say. They are authentic and fully themselves. They have great role clarity. Everyone knows and embraces their roles and excels at them. The End of the Podcast Draft – You're stranded on a deserted island. You have one iPad. On that iPad has 5 TV shows (and nothing else). Which shows do you choose? This is a competition with a clear winner and losers. The object is to win the draft.

Sep 8, 2024

Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3XxHi7p Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Sustaining Excellence Good get at getting stuff done Make a change from an expert to a learning machine Apply to be in my Learning Leader Circle Leadership is: Teaching – sharing with others what they need to know, how to do something Mentoring - Help them see the world from our eyes Coaching - Help them see the world through their eyes. To do that, we must be good listeners, ask questions, and challenge them Follow what's interesting to you… To figure out your passion, you have to do stuff. That's the only way to fully learn what you're good at and what you want to do. Have to be willing to try, fail, keep going, and figure out where you excel and what you're curious about. That's how you find your passion and do it for a living. They set up leadership dyads and triads at the Mayo Clinic. Group up a doctor, a nurse, and an administrator to help make decisions. This way you gain the perspective from different angles, people, and experiences. You have to context-shift radically, from an ER to a boardroom to a coaching session. Not everybody can wear all those hats, and yet Rick does it really well (with grace and humility). What's the difference between a coach and a mentor? When you mentor: You share your experience & subject-matter expertise. You help a colleague see the world & its potential—through your eyes. When you coach: You help your colleague make sense of their world—from their perspective. Effective leaders: seek diverse perspectives recognize the bias of individual opinion make decisions methodically Ineffective leaders: make reflexive decisions amplify the thoughts of a few see alternate perspectives as obstacles Hiring -- What are the must-haves for a leadership role? Knowledge Fit with the team Collaborate Align with the values How to run 1:1s Consent to an agenda Ask useful questions LISTEN Career and Life Advice: Ask Who, How, What, Why Seek multiple perspectives Atul Gawande's Checklist Manifesto is useful.

Sep 1, 2024

Full Show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Read our book: The Score That Matters - https://amzn.to/3AAPyds The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Ep # 598: Sam Parr Notes Sam's mantra (which he has tattooed on his thigh): "Bold. Fast. Fun." It's really hard to beat someone who moves fast, takes risks, and has fun doing it. Think big, but you have to get started. We see Hustle Con and the 2,500 people and think that's just how it always was. It started as a small book club, then a small event that made a little money... And YEARS later it's HustleCon which helped launch The Hustle, which then eventually sold for 10's of millions. We have to get started and keep going. The most important skill set (according to Sam) is the ability to convince people of something. Persuading others. You have to believe in it yourself, be a clear thinker, and know how to communicate that to others to make them believe in it too. This skill will help you accomplish a lot. Writing – Write like you talk. Writing clarifies your thinking… Think in headlines – Thinking in headlines will make you a clearer thinker. It will help you see how an idea should be framed, identify different ways to tell your story, and show you the soul of your topic. Back against the wall - "I firmly believe in putting my back against the wall." Deadlines, pressure, and harsh goals will pull out the best from you. Copy by Hand – Sam copied the best sales letters of all time by hand. Let the writing you admire pass through your fingers. This method is called copywork. What Sam learned backstage at his events with rich people/CEOs - "They weren't smarter than me." We're all just figuring it out as we go.: " Cold emails -- Work that muscle. AirBnB cold email story: "I cold emailed this guy named Brian. And he had a company called Air Bed and Breakfast. I said, 'Hey, this sounds like a cool thing. I want to interview. I think I can help make it better by doing a few things.' And they said, 'Are you in the Bay Area?' 'Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm there.' And he said, 'Alright, great. Come to the office on Monday.' So I booked the flight and I flew out and got an interview there. That's how I got introduced to startups. And then I eventually moved to San Francisco." Sports - Love them because they are objective. The time doesn't lie. Same with business. The numbers don't lie. You know you're going to feel pain (before running a 400m), but you do it anyway and push through it. That's what makes them great. How to raise tough kids? "I'm scared. I think about this all the time. Will need to remove the things that make my life easy like all the service providers have now." Hiring - Freaks, weirdos. The others. Want people passionate about something. Anything. Bottom 4th of the resume. Be skilled at something, not a generalist. Writing/communication - No typos. Clear writing = clear thinking. We want clear thinkers. Especially for leadership roles. Fame - "I don't want that anymore, but I still want to be taken seriously by the big boys. I'm still insecure about building something other than a media company." Advice: " Be a fucking animal ." Don't let anything stop you. Excellence - "Like your shit. Enjoy it. Must have endurance. Be like a cockroach and stay alive. Survive. Don't quit. Don't be vanilla. Do dope shit."

Aug 25, 2024

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/4dNLqoH The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #597 -- Daniel Pink How to give a great townhall speech: Begin with the end in mind. What do you want the people in the audience to do? Prepare, don't wing it. Be ready. Practice Sound like you. Don't try to sound like Steve Jobs or someone else. When you're on stage or presenting at work, sound like you. Be genuine. Ideas for persuading others: Make it easy for others to say yes Social proof - Show that others are doing it (this is why companies put the logos of their customers on their website) Know when to appeal to the head or the heart. Typically, it's the heart and emotion when speaking to those who work for you. And it's your head when speaking to your boss. This is nuanced though and not black and white. Remember, there are two types of people: Those who make their boss's life easier or harder. Be the former. Pitching... Miles Teller in the TV show The Offer . Instead of trying to convince the mob boss to allow him to make the movie, he offered to show him the script and collaborate with him. The best pitches invite others to be co-creators. The motivation framework: Autonomy: The desire to direct our own lives. Giving people more control over their work or tasks can enhance motivation and performance. Mastery: The urge to get better at something that matters. People are more motivated when they see progress and can develop their skills. Purpose: The feeling that what we do is important and has meaning. Connecting tasks or jobs to a larger cause can be a powerful motivator. "If you're not confident, don't be self-deprecating." To Sell is Human - "We're all in sales... Convincing, cajoling, persuading." Make it easy for people to say yes... That's what the best salespeople do. Social Cues -- From Robert Cialdini - People look around for cues. That's why companies put logos of their customers on their websites. So others look and say, "Oh, they are with them, I guess we can be too." Know when to appeal to the head or heart. "When managing up, it's usually their head. When managing down, it's usually their heart." Processing fluency - Make it sticky. Memorable. Rhyme. Repetition. Repetition. Repetition.

Aug 18, 2024

Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3XxHi7p Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Notes: Arthur grew up with one goal - To be the world's greatest French horn player. He learned that striving for something was fungible across all fields of life. It was a great laboratory for learning. Intrinsic vs Extrinsic motivation - Intrinsic motivation comes from an internal desire to accomplish a goal, while extrinsic motivation comes from external rewards and praise. "Misery comes from excessive auto-focus." Misery comes from thinking about yourself too much and not enough about helping others. The curse of the strive... All happiness comes from progress. The arrival is not the goal. How to be happy while striving: Be grateful - Write it down. Do it daily. Always look to help others. "All research is 'me-search.'" The Four Idols: Money, Power, Pleasure, and Prestige/Fame. We talked through ours… What are yours? The Four Focus areas to help with happiness Faith Family Friendship Serving Others Define your purpose. Write it down. Understand why you're here. Mine = "To inspire others to value and pursue excellence." Too many people are ok with mediocrity. We should strive for more. Oprah Winfrey is the same person everywhere she goes. She is genuine and authentic to all. Arthur's column helped Oprah stay positive and happy through the pandemic. So much so that she called him and asked to meet. And eventually, write a book together. That book became a #1 best-seller. #1 Life Hack: "Don't lie ever." Arthur is jacked (in great shape). Taking care of your body helps with unhappiness. Wake up 1.5 hours before dawn. Work out hard. Lift weights. Do challenging cardio. Life/Career Advice: Don't worry too much about the first job out of college. Don't sacrifice relationships. Bring love to every relationship and be great at what you do. Be excellent. Emanate love and show excellence.

Aug 11, 2024

Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3XxHi7p Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com This episode is supported by Insight Global . Insight Global is a staffing company dedicated to empowering people. Please CLICK HERE for premier staffing and talent. "I looked at these guys (homeless) and demanded nothing but pure excellence from them. And it was almost as if they were waiting for someone to do that." Set high expectations for people. Believe in them. Care for them. Support them. Love them. And watch what happens. This is leadership. Nobody runs by themselves. What a great life motto. We all need people. Anne believes in the importance of community and doing hard things together. Her mindset was fostered, in sometimes complicated ways, by her childhood home life, she says. At age 16, her parents divorced after her father gambled away their family savings. To cope, Mahlum started running and became hyper-focused on the idea of controlling her own life. When others are playing defense, go on offense. When others are scared, get aggressive (easier said than done). Anne did it. "Running is the vehicle we're using to create community and positive reinforcement." "If you want to make change, you have to help others see that they can do it. You can't force it on them." How to build a great non-profit: Identity - Each group had team names Need team leaders, people to map out logistics, and volunteer coordinators Need to make day 1 incredible. Launch BIG. Target the right people - In Anne's case, it was executives who were runners... Decision makers who appreciated running. Goals - Work backwards. Set a date and then do whatever it takes to hit that launch date. solidcore -- Anne thought big from the beginning. She was opening her second location almost the same time her first location went live. She always wanted to scale it and thought about it from Day 1. Important to hire great coaches. They needed a great personality and had to make every member feel welcome. Learn everyone's name. Say their name. Anne learned from How to Win Friends and Influence People Risk-Taker - Step into uncertainty. That's how you build confidence. "I always bet on myself." Action builds confidence. Push past the uncertainty . Create evidence for yourself. Make the things that were previously uncomfortable for you more comfortable now by taking action. When others are playing defense, go on offense. That creates your edge… Anne's plan was always to sell Solidcore... Her strength is in bringing concepts to life and building communities, rather than sustaining them over time. The same month she exited the company, she opened her next venture, a New York-based fitness studio chain called Ambition.

Aug 4, 2024

Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3XxHi7p Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com This episode is supported by Insight Global . Insight Global is a staffing company dedicated to empowering people. Please CLICK HERE for premier staffing and talent. Ask deep questions – A deep question asks about someone's values, beliefs, judgments, or experiences, rather than just facts. A deep question asks people to talk about how they feel. Asking a deep question should feel like sharing. NASA listened to how people laughed and if they possessed a genuine matching quality. Not performative or inauthentic, but people who connect with others by matching their energy. The 4 Rules of a learning conversation: Pay attention to what type of conversation is occurring Share your goals, ask what others are seeking Ask about others' feelings and share your own Explore if identities are important to this discussion The How Do We Feel conversation: What can we learn about listening from Nicholas Epley? (Psychology Professor). (Everyone knows how to listen deeply. If a podcast or something is interesting, nobody struggles to listen). Epley didn't teach them how to listen. He urged them to have more interesting and meaningful conversations. To talk about feelings. When we talk about feelings, something magical happens. Other people can't help but listen to us. Practical actions to take: Ask Deep Questions: Instead of sticking to surface-level topics, ask questions that invite people to share their values, beliefs, or significant experiences. For instance, if someone mentions they are a doctor, ask them what inspired them to pursue medicine. Prove You're Listening: Demonstrate that you are actively listening by asking follow-up questions or repeating back what the other person has said to ensure understanding. Match Emotional Tone: Pay attention to the other person's emotional state and match it appropriately. If someone is sharing something emotional, respond with empathy rather than attempting to offer solutions immediately. Understand the Social Identity: Be mindful of the social identities that might be important in a conversation. This awareness can enhance understanding and connection by showing respect for the experiences and viewpoints shaped by those identities. Charles shared that understanding whether a conversation is emotional, social, or practical is crucial, especially in leadership and educational settings. Teachers, for instance, are taught to ask students if they want to be helped, heard, or hugged—a reminder that recognizing the intent behind communications is key to providing appropriate support and connection. Time Stamps 01:06 Educational Choices and Parental Guidance 02:03 Reporting from Iraq: A Journalist's Perspective 03:41 The Bike Messenger Experience 05:47 The Harvard Study and Its Impact 09:23 Felix Sagala: The Art of Deep Communication 13:30 Mastering the Skills of Super Communication 20:25 Connecting with Strangers: Nicholas Epley's Experiment 21:20 Emotional Intelligence in Space: NASA's Challenge 24:51 The Matching Principle: Authentic vs. Fake 32:27 Insights from The Big Bang Theory Writers 35:36 The Art of Learning Conversations

Jul 28, 2024

Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3XxHi7p Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com This episode is supported by Insight Global . Insight Global is a staffing company dedicated to empowering people. Please CLICK HERE for premier staffing and talent. Episode #593: Kim Campbell - Contingency Planning, Responding to Adversity, Earning Trust & Respect, Flying in the Face of Fear, and How To Run a Debrief Aviate, Navigate, Communicate - "Aviate, navigate, communicate" is a fundamental principle in aviation that pilots learn early in flight training. It's a priority order that helps pilots stay focused and in control, even when they're under pressure or distracted: Aviate: Keep the plane flying Navigate: Figure out where you are and where you're going Communicate: Talk to air traffic control (ATC) or someone else as needed On March 20, 2003, Kim wrote letters to her loved ones in case she died in battle. Prepare, practice, and plan for contingencies. My college football coach, the late great, Terry Hoeppner used to always say, have a plan, work the plan, plan for the unexpected . As leaders, it's on us to prepare, practice, and plan for contingencies. You don't have to get ready if you stay ready. I love the way Kim's dad helped support her dream to be a fighter pilot. If you want to do this, you have to put in the work. Run hills, and do pull-ups every time you go to the bathroom. He didn't just tell her you can do whatever you want… He created opportunities for Kim to do the necessary work to achieve what she wanted. Kim's telling of the story of how she was hit and how she responded. An amazing example of responding in the face of fear, dealing with adversity in a calm, poised manner, and making a tough decision. Kim's training and her attitude is what set her apart and saved her life. Response to Rejection: Initially Kim was rejected by the Air Force Academy because of a low SAT score. In response, instead of quitting and moving on, she wrote a letter to them every week stating why they should accept her… Which they eventually did. Dealing with fear: What's most important is what we do in the face of fear. We can't freeze. We must take action. The Debrief: Check your rank and ego at the door. Write all the objectives down. Next to each one, grade it a plus or a minus. Find the root causes of each mistake. What lessons can we learn from our mistakes? What will we change for our next mission based on what we learned? Share lessons learned beyond that room. Johnny Bravo - Be humble, approachable, and credible. That's how you earn trust and respect and inspire others to follow.

Jul 21, 2024

Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3XxHi7p Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com This episode is supported by Insight Global . Insight Global is a staffing company dedicated to empowering people. Please CLICK HERE for premier staffing and talent. Notes: Commonalities of excellent coaches: Not defensive Respond well to feedback Ability to learn "Leadership can't be taught but it can be learned." Coaching is not therapy, but it can be therapy-adjacent. It's not telling people what to do and it's not just asking questions. It's a combination of all of them. There is ample research on the benefits of writing. It clarifies your thinking. The questions to ask someone who might need an executive coach: Why do you want a coach? Why now? What do you hope to get out of it? What do great leaders do? First, do no harm. Walk the talk. Be an embodiment of the culture. Have high standards Take risks Coach people up Train people "Coaching is accomplishment through others." "Feedback is not a gift." Feedback is data. Signal and noise. Signal - Important and good. Noise - Byproduct of someone's distorted lens. "Praise, Criticism, Praise (PCP) is terrible." Don't give the compliment sandwich. It's disingenuous. How leaders best overcome adversity – The most critical skill is "adaptive capacity..." It's composed of two primary qualities: the ability to grasp context, and hardiness. Coaching - Asking evocative questions, ensuring the other person feels heard, and actively conveying empathy remain the foundations of coaching. Connect: Establish and renew the interpersonal connection, followed by an open-ended question. Reflect: Having elicited a response, reflect back the essence of the other person's comments. Direct: Focus their attention on a particular aspect of their response that invites further exploration. Support and Challenge - A client once said, "It feels like you're always in my corner, but you never hesitate to challenge me." Master the Playbook, Throw it Away - Coaching involves a continuous and cyclical process of learning, unlearning, and relearning. Power Dynamics - The longer I coach, the more I appreciate and value the work of Jeff Pfeffer, a leading scholar on power. philosopher Ernest Becker: "If you are wrong about power, you don't get a chance to be right about anything else." "Meaningful coaching is always an emotionally intimate experience, no matter what's being discussed. In part this is a function of the context: two people talking directly to each other with no distractions... Intimacy in a coaching relationship also results from a willingness to 'make the private public'--to share with another person the thoughts and feelings that we usually keep to ourselves... And yet an essential factor that makes such intimacy possible is a clear set of boundaries defining the relationship, which creates an inevitable and necessary sense of distance..."

Jul 14, 2024

Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3XxHi7p Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com This episode is supported by Insight Global . Insight Global is a staffing company dedicated to empowering people. Please CLICK HERE for premier staffing and talent. Ryan Holiday is one of the world's bestselling living philosophers. His books like The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, The Daily Stoic, and the #1 New York Times bestseller Stillness Is the Key appear in more than 40 languages and have sold more than 5 million copies. His latest book (a #1 NY Times Best-Seller) is called Right Thing, Right Now . This conversation was recorded in person at Ryan's bookstore, The Painted Porch, which sits on historic Main St in Bastrop, Texas. Notes: June 16, 2024 – Birthday and Father's Day. How does stoicism impact you as a dad? "What's at stake today is how they remember you 20 years from now." Choose a North Star -- Choosing a North Star can function as a compass professionally, personally, and morally. Most people don't do the work to figure out what their North Star is… Most people default to what others do, and then they end up comparing themselves to others. Ryan Holiday's North Star? Writing... Pay the taxes of life gladly: Not just from the government. Annoying people are a tax on being outside your house. Delays are a tax on travel. Haters are a tax on having a YouTube channel. There's a tax on everything in life. You can whine. Or you can pay them gladly. Oscar Wilde wrote in The Portrait of Dorian Grey "The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly. That is what each of us is here for." —- What are you here for? Stoicism - "A stoic doesn't control what happens but they focus on how to respond to what happened. The virtues of stoicism are courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom." Build a coaching tree -- Popovich reference - and his coaching tree - how do we get better at making a goal to build a forest of leaders? What's interesting about Pop's coaching tree is there is a huge diversity of what he's created. What's interesting is the coaches who have learned from him are all different - they're not replicas of Coach Popovich. RC Buford (GM of the San Antonio Spurs) said, "We have a good coaching tree. That's what we do here. In all roles." A shocking number of players have decided to stay in San Antonio, so much so that they have an alumni locker room in their practice facility because they choose to stick around afterward. "I love the idea of "hey we're an organization, and we want to win, but our ultimate job is to bring good people in, and bring them better, and learn from them along the way." "We don't talk enough about the bad coaching trees… ultimately you measure greatness about how replicable their system is and others can take it and use it as well. Don't just judge people on their wins, but on their coaching tree… or lack thereof. When you're hiring someone, can you both be on the same page - and there's clarity. When I get invited to something, who am I bringing? Or when it's a specific project, who on my team will crush it with me or on their own? Understanding that this will be a tour of duty. Robert Greene - "Robert knew I wanted to be a writer and he knew what I wanted to do, and it allowed me to realize that he was letting me do this to understand how the whole writing process works. If somebody wants to work with someone else, what's the best way to reach out to that person, to try and get your foot in the door." Mentors: (Advice to mentees) "Don't say 'I'll do whatever, or I'll do anything,' I don't need anything done, I have very specific things that need to be done. Don't present them with the problem of you…. Present them with the problem they have and several ideas that you have to potentially help. Be specific and present a solution to a potential problem that maybe they haven't thought about yet." Keep your hands clean - the difference between Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy. Be kind — JM Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan said in 1902, "Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight? Always try to be a little kinder than is necessary." Discipline is a "me" virtue. Justice is a "we" virtue. Make "Good" Trouble - "If you got into this to gain a lot of fans, you'll never do anything to lose fans….. you don't have the fans, the fans have you… it's the other way around. There's a balance, I don't want to speak up on every divisive issue, but at the same time if you're not speaking up on things that you think are important, and you keep silent, then you're creating a form of death, and you're hurting other people that could potentially learn from your words and thoughts… You have to think about how you want to use your platform and the authority you have. It's easy to say politicians live this way, but when's the last time you spoke up on something you didn't agree on?" President Truman - "An incredible example of an ordinary person doing extraordinary things… the last president to not have a college degree. He educated himself and had core values and a sense that he was obligated by the constitution, human decency, and trying to do what was right. He had a strong moral code that guided him in difficult stances, and he had confidence and security. When we think of Presidents and Generals who have outward accomplishments, what I love about Truman is that he watched everyone else steal millions of dollars and he continued to pay off his bankruptcy debts. It doesn't matter that everyone else is doing it… I'm not going to do it." Goal Setting - " I don't set any goals…" I just do the work every day, our goals are usually outcome specific and they're rooted in what are other people going to think about the outcome of this. If I have a goal, they're not geared towards a win or an outcome… the goal is to wake up and do… and I do it daily." The desk where we recorded: Was owned by Joan Didion... "Objects of history get me excited. My vice is I collect historically significant things, at some point, I'm going to re-sell the table… now other people have sat at it, and so I'll probably re-sell it and donate the money… "significant objects".. a guy buys a random piece of junk on eBay, and then he'd have a writer write a story about the item and then they'd resell it and people would pay more money for it." Why is his publisher having him re-do the entire audio for the 10th anniversary of The Obstacle is The Way (instead of Ryan just reading the updated parts): " My voice is ten years older. A lot has happened in those ten years."

Jul 7, 2024

Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3XxHi7p Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com This episode is supported by Insight Global . Insight Global is a staffing company dedicated to empowering people. Please CLICK HERE for premier staffing and talent. Notes: Nat Eliason studied philosophy at Carnegie Mellon University. Since he started publishing his writing in 2013, his work has been read by millions of people and spun out multiple businesses ranging from a marketing agency to a cafe. He's the author of Crytpo Confidential: Winning and Losing Millions in the New Frontier of Finance . How to make our days more memorable? Throw parties with 3-4 different phases. When taking your loved one out on a date, have 3 different parts. Implement homework for life. Write down the stories of each day. This helps you remember them more. Do Hard Things – Our self-image is composed of historical evidence of our abilities. The more hard things you push yourself to do, the more competent you will see yourself to be. "Build up your identity of being a capable person." "Money corrupts quickly." It's never the right time. Any time you catch yourself saying "Oh it'll be a better time later," you're probably just scared. Or unclear on what to do. There is never a right time for the big things in life. Moonwalking with Einstein -- Memory competitions. Die with Zero -- Create memory dividends (Bill Perkins). Be in the moment. Homework for Life (Matthew Dicks). Nat's birthday this year was the first time he ever felt sad (on a birthday)... Why? "It feels like it's going by quicker than it ever has." Create time with texture? "Mine workers have time with texture. I'm not sure that's memorable or desirable." Crypto Confidential is the roller coaster story of getting rich, going broke, scamming, and getting scammed. It's a narrative of Nat's personal journey through the world of crypto, but it's also a revealing look at exactly how the crypto sausage gets made—and how we can all be more educated participants during the next inevitable bull run. Money can buy happiness. So long as you spend it on upgrading and expanding the things that make you happy, instead of using it to play status games or on fleeting experiences.

Jun 30, 2024

Read The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3zbDGhi Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Notes: How to create a learning organization - Set the tone at the top. The senior leader needs to model this behavior. Create peer groups at your place of work. Team learning is important. Give people the responsibility to lead training sessions. Support your teammates. Pay for them to go to conferences, hire coaches, and learn. Commonalities among leaders who sustain excellence: They are curious. They have no confirmation bias. They have high standards. They respect all members of their team. They have a vision and goals and they share them with their team. GPS - Goals, Perspectives, Strategy. Process -- Full transparency, one meeting per week. Start with a story about a member at each meeting. "If you know what to do, what would you do?" Help high-integrity leaders make good decisions for their company, family, and community. Hiring "must-haves" They believe in the mission They don't think they're better than others They listen They collaborate well Advice: Give back what you can to help others. Be generous. Learn. Get away from bad bosses. Be balanced. The power of being part of a peer accountability group – I've learned firsthand the impact this has on leaders through my Learning Leader Circles. The differences between leading, managing, and coaching, and why you must do all three... Leader - Set direction, make sense of the outside world Manager - Know the details Coach - Help you activate what you already know

Jun 23, 2024

Order our new book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3VJoYFZ Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com This episode is supported by Insight Global . Insight Global is a staffing company dedicated to empowering people. Please CLICK HERE for premier staffing and talent. Rejection is a learned skill. Tara has gone through rejection therapy. Go out and ask for something crazy big. Get comfortable with being rejected. Hearing the word no. Go big. Confidence is about keeping promises to yourself . Create evidence for yourself. Create magical moments for the people you're leading. Show them how much you care for them. The small touches are a big deal. The magic is in the small details. How to have fun at your company: Fun (and culture) cannot be outsourced. You cannot delegate "culture carriers." You (the leader) are the ultimate culture carrier. It has to come from you. "Ask for money, get advice. Ask for advice, get money." "If it's too easy, you get soft." It's important to set high expectations for the people you're leading. "The boss I respected the most was a hard ass and very demanding." The difference between nice and kind: Nice = Soft, easy. Kind = Set high expectations. Hold you accountable to them. You're better long-term being kind. Tara's "must-haves" when hiring a leader: Raw intelligence - How quickly can you learn? Must be a clear and critical thinker. Fantastic communicator Intensity, drive, hunger Sense of humor - Need to be able to laugh and have fun. Values: Business owner Kid at heart Design thinking - Craft for the end-user Peak performance Be human Keys to a great off-site retreat Craft for the people High energy Sense of connection - get to know each other Peak performance workbook - set goals Small touches - personalized gifts for the team (like picture frames with personalized pictures in them) Create magical moments to connect Focus on the arrival - make it special Eliminate loneliness - Assigned seats, name tags, conversation prompts (especially helps introverts) Tara worked at LuluLemon while in grad school at Stanford. It was a useful learning experience for her. She worked for a world-class manager. What Tara learned from her parents: Leadership is about modeling the right behaviors. Advice - "If you want to be extraordinary, you can't fit in." " Give way more than everybody else." "Follow great people and be around greatness." Tara created a 50-slide PowerPoint while going for a role as a part-time content writer. Going above and beyond for that leader left an impression and that woman who Tara impressed remains a mentor, investor, and friend to this day more than a decade later. You never know what will happen if you consistently over-deliver for people.

Jun 16, 2024

Read our new book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3VlZHCA Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com This episode is supported by Insight Global . Insight Global is a staffing company dedicated to empowering people. Please CLICK HERE for premier staffing and talent. Notes: Daniel Negreanu has earned over 52 million dollars at the poker table, which ranks him as the highest-earning player in live tournament poker history. He's won 6 world series of poker bracelets, two world poker tour titles, and Daniel was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2014. He's often referred to as "Kid Poker" and is known for his charismatic personality at the table. Commonalities among the greatest poker players in the world: Self-Awareness Humility In order to avoid criticism, "say nothing, do nothing, be nothing." Daniel is obsessed with the Rocky movies and the lessons learned from each one. Rocky 3 - Don't get complacent. Rocky 4 - It's heart versus machine. Rocky Balboa - But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! The luck factor... Dealing with things outside of our control. A victim versus an owner mentality . Victims will complain, give up, sulk, be passive-aggressive, or procrastinate. Owners will seek solutions, take action, or ask for help. Victims will focus on things they cannot control, while owners will focus on things they can control. "A big mistake is a beautiful opportunity." It's easier to be a victim and not take responsibility. "Failure builds muscle." "I don't care what others think anymore. I do not have that fear." Rounders (the movie) is the greatest poker movie of all time. Why Daniel is inspired by Sylvester Stallone... He's not complacent In Rocky IV it was heart versus machine. Rocky (Sly) was all heart. Outspoken and direct – "If you have a problem with me, text me. And if you don't have my number then you don't know me well enough to have a problem with me." – Christian Bale Phil Ivey said about Daniel: "I can't think of too many people who have done more for the game of poker than Daniel." When was Daniel happiest? "I would say in very high-stress situations. During the World Series of Poker main event [in 2015], when I actually was eliminated in 11th place and felt a gut punch." Early life – Be Rich – At an early age, Daniel was ambitious: "From the age of four, I thought I'd be rich. I told my mom I'd build a house out of Popsicle sticks and move to California." Sharing both the wins and the losses with his fans: "This is what holding yourself accountable looks like. I could lie, right…or B. I could just not share this with you but then that wouldn't be authentic and real, right? I'm not just going to share my winning years, I'm going to share my losing years." Daniel is willing to go outside of his comfort zone... Head's up matches with Doug Polk (a head's up specialist): On July 29, 2020, after a years-long feud, Daniel publicly accepted a challenge to a high-stakes grudge match with Doug Polk. They played 25,000 hands of No-Limit Texas Hold'em at $200/$400 stakes. The duel ended on February 4, 2021, with Polk winning approximately $1,200,000 over 25,000 hands. Then in 2023, Daniel got a rematch with Doug and beat him for $200K and a championship belt.

Jun 9, 2024

Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3VrogOC Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com This episode is supported by Insight Global . Insight Global is a staffing company dedicated to empowering people. Please CLICK HERE for premier staffing and talent. Notes: What Erika learned from her dad: "He loved his work and was so full from it. Three weeks before he died he was doing Zoom calls with students from the ER even though it was beyond unnecessary and impractical to do so. If you love what you do it can add so much dimension to your life and the lives of others. He liked people and to learn from them. There's something to learn from everybody. And the best control was no control - let things happen and learn from them & adapt. Career advice: Know what your company is paying you to do. And the better you make your boss look, the better it will be for you. Find problems and clear the path for your boss. Make their life easier. Make them look good. That's the role when you have a boss. Must-Haves When she's making a hiring decision: Be able to share stories of how you've gone for something that failed, and learned Be curious, ask thoughtful questions Do research on the company. CARE. Test the product. Be able to demonstrate that you know what it does. Bring a point of view. Articulate what you could bring to the role and how you could make the company better. Joanne— I wanted to be you until I realized I couldn't, so I decided to be me. I studied you for twelve years. You are the architect of all my work dreams, and you are the scaffolding I built myself on. You put force into my nature, and for that I am so grateful. Getting the Barstool CEO role: She earned the job over 74 male candidates. "I wanted this job because they were considered too rogue, too untouchable, too badly behaved, too unproven. Dave Portnoy (the founder) was powerful, seemingly unmanageable, and volatile." In 2012, when Chernin bought a majority stake in Barstool, the company was worth $12 million. You sold it to Penn Entertainment seven years later for $550 million. Make Your Own Luck – When Erika was nearly graduating college, she applied for an internship at Converse no less than 45 times. She never got an interview. Why? " I didn't do anything unique enough, passionate enough, or memorable enough to deserve a chance at the job." "It was a heart attack every day for nine years," Erika said of being Barstool's CEO. As the first-ever CEO of media magnate Barstool Sports, Ayers Badan led the company through explosive growth (+5000% in revenue and significantly more in audience), expanding the company from a regional blog to a national powerhouse brand and media company. During her 9 years steering the company, Barstool became a top ten podcasting publisher in the US, with the world's #1 sports, hockey, golf, and music podcasts, and a top 6 brand globally on TikTok.

Jun 2, 2024

Read our USA TODAY Best-Selling Book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/4bNbVcO Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Notes: John Quincy Adams once said, "Gratitude… when it takes possession of the bosom, fills the soul to overflowing and scarce leaves room for any other sentiment or thought." Ask yourself the question, "What good shall I do today?" When you're upset that your social media post didn't get as many likes as you thought it would stop and think, 'What good shall I do today?" It can reframe how you approach others and be more servant-based (which is a mark of a great leader) The fox mindset versus the hedgehog mindset. A hedgehog has a single lens. It's more rigid thinking. A fox sees the world through many different lenses. It's more flexible and adaptive. That is a theme of this conversation. Be open, be less judgemental, and be more curious about the way others view the world. "The older I get, the less certain I get of my opinions." "It's easier to act your way into a new way of thinking than think your way into a new way of acting." AJ shared that when he was dedicated to the thank you project even on a bad day when he was focused on saying thank you, his mind eventually caught up to his body. Change Your Mind – the founding fathers did this a lot. Daniel Kahneman said, "No one enjoys being wrong, but I do enjoy having been wrong because it means I am now less wrong than I was before." Be Humble In Your Opinions – Ben Franklin told a short parable. He said, there was a "French lady, who, in a dispute with her sister said, I don't know how it happens, sister, but I meet nobody but myself that is always in the right. The point is that we are all that French lady. We all believe we have a monopoly on the truth. (Remind yourself that you're wrong sometimes) Flexibility of mind: Many of the Founding Fathers were open to the idea that they might be wrong, and more willing to change their minds than leaders are today. At the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin summed up this open-mindedness: "The older I grow the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment." Think Slow – There are parts of modern life that would benefit from an enforced speed limit. We need fewer hot takes and more cold takes. We need more slow thinking. Writing in depth letters by hand forced ideas to be more nuanced. Thumb-texting acronyms have the opposite effect. Slow down consumption. Forced self to read the news just once a day. The value of slow thinking: For the year, AJ wrote a letter with a quill instead of using social media or texts. It was a revelation. It led to a less impulsive, slower style of thinking – a waiting period for his thoughts. Embrace Virtue – In the founding era, virtue was a cherished ideal (now it's often used in the phrase virtue signaling which is not a compliment). "A virtuous person puts the interests of others before their one. They focus on those two key words in the Constitution's Preamble, "General Welfare." We Control the Sun – The sun carved on the back of George Washington's wooden chair at the Constitutional Convention. The sun was cut in half by the horizon. Was it rising or setting? At the end of the convention, Ben Franklin said he was convinced it was rising. America had a bright future (the world is built by optimists) Whether the sun sets or rises on democracy, that's up to us, we the people. In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin , Benjamin Franklin tells a story about his father criticizing his writing. "About this time I met with an odd volume of the Spectator," Franklin wrote, "I thought the writing excellent, and wished, if possible, to imitate it." AJ's goal was to try to understand the Constitution by adopting the mindset and lifestyle of the Founders for a full year. He committed to living as the original originalist as a new way of searching for answers to one of the most pressing questions of our time: How should we interpret America's foundational document today?

May 26, 2024

Our new book, The Score That Matters , is a USA Today Best-Seller! Buy it here: https://amzn.to/44HucGf Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Craig Robinson is the host of Ways to Win. He's the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). From 2017-2020, he served as the VP of Player Development for the New York Knicks. Previously, he was a Division I head men's basketball coach at Oregon State and Brown. He also is the brother of former First Lady Michelle Obama. Notes: What Craig learned from Coach Pete Carill about recruiting: There is a sales element to it. And one of the most important skills to develop is to become a great LISTENER. Ask questions, listen, and ask more questions. Curiosity is the ultimate form of respect. Coach Carill won over Craig's dad because he was curious. That's a good lesson for all of us. President Obama (Craig's brother-in-law) said Craig's discipline and diligence enhanced his presidential campaign. "Craig doesn't profess to know the specifics of politics the way he knows the X's and O's of basketball, but I think what he does understand is the need to wake up every morning doing your best and having a positive attitude. And him communicating that to me was always very helpful." When (future President) Barack Obama was dating Craig's sister (Michelle), he told their family at Thanksgiving dinner that he had aspirations and a plan to be the President of the United States. It seemed crazy at the time, but he made it happen. What are the "must-have" qualities to be a coach on Craig's staff? Connect with people Lifelong learning Curiosity Fill in gaps (be strong where Craig is not) Must be a good listener What Craig looked for in a player when recruiting: Baseline talent (table stakes) 2-3 "bucket-getters" High IQ Flexible After graduating from Princeton, where he played for Pete Carril and was twice named the Ivy League player of the year, Criag wanted to coach. Instead, he went to graduate school and succeeded in the financial world, including spending seven years as a vice president at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. Then, he pivoted away and took an assistant job on Bill Carmody's staff at Northwestern. That job eventually led Robinson to Brown, where in two seasons he overhauled the program with his work ethic, tough love, and relentless demands on his players. He put a dictionary in the locker room for players to look up the words he used, a tradition that has continued at Oregon State. What made him not immediately go into coaching? Pete Craill telling him to get a real job. It's amazing the influence the people we look up to can have on us. Craig's fondest memory? January 20, 2009. He went to President Obama's inauguration in Washington D.C. He then flew to a game on the west coast (as the head coach of Oregon State). And received a standing ovation from the visiting team's crowd as he walked out!

May 19, 2024

Our new book, The Score That Matters , is a USA Today National Best-Seller. Buy it here: https://amzn.to/3Qw9Mu0 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Making decisions – Decisions aren't hard — it's the moments after that are. Whenever I make decisions, I don't think about now, I think about eventually. How will this feel then, maybe a year from now. When it's real, not raw. When the complications around the concern have cleared, and distance has done its job. Goal setting - 37 Signals does not set long-term goals. Jason (as the CEO) helps set the direction and they work in six-week sprints. Think, "What am I optimizing for?" 37 Signals does not have a board of directors or advisors. Is it more helpful to have a chip on your shoulder to prove someone wrong or to be motivated to prove your supporters right? Both can be useful. Keys to a great partnership? Jason works with his co-founder, David Heinemeier Hansson (a previous guest on The Learning Leader Show). Mutual admiration Have complementary skills (Jason is design, DHH is engineering) A company is essentially two things: a group of people and a collection of decisions. How those people make these decisions is the art of running a business. Maxims: Decide what you're going to do this week, not this year. Whenever you can, swap "Let's think about it" for "Let's decide on it." Momentum fuels motivation. Just ship it. You'll figure out what needs to be fixed as you go. Mark Zuckerberg is coming into his own... There are lots of reasons for it. One of them (maybe)? He's working out, in great shape, fighting MMA style, and surrounding himself around others who are doing the same. All leaders should have a writing practice. Hopefully, you don't feel the need to send it to a lawyer or a comms team before publishing it or sharing it with the people you're leading. Write like you talk. Write what's in your head. Think about what you want to say, and say it. You never know who is watching: Jeff Bezos sat in the front row for one of Jason's keynotes and was so impressed that he asked to invest in his company. When you have the guts to put your thoughts and beliefs out into the world, it can work as a magnetic effect to attract people to you. It's refreshing to hear Jason talk about one of the core qualities he loves most about Jeff: he is overwhelmingly optimistic. The world is built by optimists. You don't create culture. It happens. A company's culture is a 50-day moving average. It's what you've been collectively doing as a company over the last 50 days. How do you treat people? Who have you hired (or fired) and why? Company off-site events: They do two per year (one in the United States, and one abroad). Members of Jason's team meticulously design them. One day of business followed by time for the team to hang out, do activities together, eat together, and bond. Does Jason have plans to sell 37 Signals? "No, that would be the demise of the company."

May 12, 2024

Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/44qxsph The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Notes on this conversation with Cal Newport (Obsess over quality). Jewel obsessed over the quality of her work so much that she turned down a 1m dollar offer (even while living out of her car) because she needed time to make her work excellent. Obsess over the quality of what you produce, even if this means missing opportunities in the short term. Leverage the value of these results to gain more and more freedom in your efforts over the long term. Benjamin Franklin – He hired David Hall to create time freedom. He needed time to think, time to experiment. He gave up money in the short term to gain time freedom to create something for the future. There's no guarantee that it would pay off, but we all should think about how we can make investments that our future self would thank us for. Have fewer concurrent active projects. Instead of focusing on 10 things, focus on 2 or 3. Make it public. Share with your team. Be known as a leader who focuses on a few important objectives instead of 10 of them. Match your space to your work – Be in nature, Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote Hamilton in the Morris-Jumel Mansion, the oldest surviving house in Manhattan (served as headquarters for George Washington during the Battle of Harlem Heights, and home of Aaron Burr when he was Vice President), Neil Gaiman built a spartan, 8 sided writing shed that sits on low stilts and offers views on all sides of endless trees. Do Fewer Things: Limit Daily Goals – Cal learned this from his doctoral adviser at MIT. She was incredulous about Cal's attempts to switch back and forth between multiple academic papers. She preferred to get lost in a single project at a time. Cal was convinced that the slowness of working on just one important thing per day would hold him back. Work at a Natural Pace Don't rush your most important work. Allow it instead to unfold along a sustainable timeline, with variations in intensity over different timescales, and, when possible, executed in settings conducive to brilliance. Slow productivity emphatically rejects the performative rewards of unwavering urgency. Grand achievement is built on the steady accumulation of modest results over time, and you should give your efforts the breathing room and respect required to make them part of a life well lived, not an obstacle to it. Obsess over Quality By focusing intensely on the small number of activities that matter most to our jobs, you can find both the motivation and justification for slowness. Improve your taste. It's in the uneasy distance between our taste and our ability that improvement happens – aka in our drive to meet our own high standards. To combat the potential paralysis of perfectionism, think about giving yourself enough time to produce something great, but not unlimited time–focus on creating something good enough to catch the attention of people whose taste you care about but relieve yourself of the need to forge a masterpiece. Gather with people who share similar professional ambitions. When you combine the opinions of multiple practitioners, more possibilities and nuance emerge, and there's a focusing effect that comes from performing for a crowd. It's easy to mistake "do fewer things" for "accomplish fewer things" – but this understanding is backward. We work roughly the same number of hours each week regardless of the size of our task lists. Having more commitments simply increases the hours lost to overhead tax – the coordinating activities, such as meetings and email, needed to manage what's on your plate. The pandemic "zoom apocalypse," in which many knowledge workers found themselves in Zoom meeting all day long, was caused in part by reaching a state in which overhead tax crowded out almost any time to actually complete tasks. Doing fewer things, in other words, makes us better at our jobs–not only psychologically but also economically and creatively. The Overhead Tax – A key property of overhead tax is that it tends to expand to fill as much time as it's provided. So long as a project is something that you've committed to, and it's not yet complete, it will tend to generate a continual tax in the form of check-in meetings, impromptu email conversations, and plain old mental space. Knowledge workers have no agreed-upon definition of what "productivity" actually means–incredibly unusual compared to other areas of our economy. Lacking a precise definition they defaulted to a crude approximation: pseudo-productivity – using visible activity as a proxy for useful professional accomplishment. Cal argues that the current burnout crisis is due, in part, to the combination of pseudo-productivity with more recent advances in mobile computing and digital communication that made unlimited work available at all times in all places. The result was an impossible internal tug of war, where there was always more to do, and never any hope of catching up. Busy exhaustion itself became your primary signal of usefulness. Slow productivity doesn't ask that you extinguish ambition. Humans derive great satisfaction from being good at what they do and producing useful things. Cal revisits the popular narrative of Jane Austen's writing career; a closer look at her life reveals a powerful case study for a slower approach. Busy Jane Austen was neither happy nor producing memorable work, while unburdened Jane Austen, writing contently at a quiet cottage, after her family decided to withdraw from a busy social calendar, transformed English literature. The goal of Slow Productivity is to propose an entirely new way for you, your small business, or your large employer to think about what it means to get things done; to rescue knowledge work from its increasingly untenable freneticism, and rebuild it to enable you to create things you're proud of without grinding yourself down along the way; and to offer a more humane and sustainable way to integrate professional efforts into a life well lived.

May 5, 2024

Buy our new book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/44kKLHK Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Never Miss a Day – In the summer, going into Paul's freshman year of high school, he was at a lacrosse camp at Loyola University… At the end of the morning session, an all-time coaching legend, Tony Seaman spoke to the group. He told them he could guarantee that they could earn a college scholarship. All they had to do? "Take 100 shots per day. Here's the catch. You can never miss a day. No excuses." What are your 100 shots a day? Goal Setting – Most people don't set goals because the act alone is both a major and personal step in the direction of commitment, and it invites hope, fear, and the possibility of regret . Focus on what you can control – John Wooden was 5'10. Below average for a basketball player. He was really good at "understanding the things at which he had no control and things over which I had some control." Let Go of Outcomes – Archery master Awa Kenzo told his students to pay no attention to the target. Success and failure come from the same place, so that's where the archer should point all of their attention: not on the outcome, but the effort. Therapy– Dr. Lindsey Hoskins once said that when we hurt someone we love, it's because we fear disconnection from that someone. We hope that by lashing out, they'll show us love, and as a result, we'll feel safer in the relationship." The Difference Between Self-Promotion and Passion - "I'm not going to convince you to like what I do. I'm going to show you how much I love what I do." You won't achieve ambitious goals if you don't set ambitious goals. The legendary Michael Ovitz shotgun pitch to Coca-Cola. He and his team outworked the competition, flew in a day early, practiced in the actual room the pitch would take place, bought new suits, and over-delivered during the pitch meeting. Their competitors took the meeting for granted, flew in the morning of, and didn't perform. Michael and his team won the $300m contract and earned the business for years to come. A true champion is intensely focused on the things they can control. Being coachable is rare—it's being curious, eager, self-aware, and ambitious. Discover and harness your unique learning style. What might appear as an inability or perceived disadvantage could be your greatest asset in mastering your chosen field. For example, Paul grew up with a learning difference called Auditory Processing Disorder. The only way to learn from failures is to feel it, study them, make adjustments, a new commitment, and put it behind you. The Voice No One Else Hears – Performance psychologist Jim Loehr has worked with some of the top athletes in the world. He has them wear a microphone during a competition, and he asks them to honestly articulate what the voice in their head says and thinks. Whatever the circumstances, Loehr said he asks, "Is this how I would speak to someone I deeply care about? Or, if I were speaking to someone I deeply cared about, what would I say?" "I've been here before." "I've taken 35,000 shots." Rebound... Bounce back. Paul loves the "up and down" statistic in golf. It refers to a golfer recovering from a bad shot and still making a par on the hole. In life, it's all about how you choose to respond. Paul's Brother, Mike - "One of my favorite chapters in this book is about planting "little acorns." (p.174) Had it not been for the biggest acorn in the family, who left his job to build the PLL with me... well, I'd just be a retired athlete, continuing the pursuit of my next professional life. Thank you for everything, Mike."

Apr 28, 2024

Read our new book, The Score That Matters - https://amzn.to/3w5K0FW Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The 5 Journal Prompts - What am I grateful for? Where am I winning? What will I let go of today? What does my ideal day look like? What needs to be said at the end? Avoid the old person flaw – Sometimes you meet an old person and they spend hours in conversation living in the past . Don't ever believe that your best days are behind you. Have a "never peak" mindset with an upward trajectory… Always. Go see people in person - In Italy they say, "We are not friends until we've eaten together." Release the energy vampires – "We feel guilt when we no longer want to associate with old friends and colleagues who haven't changed. The price, and marker, of growth." - Naval Ravikant Stop salting your food before you taste it. Happiness is an inside job. See Solitude as the new status symbol. A sweaty workout is never a silly idea. Ask Yourself the 10,000 Dinner Question: That's how many dinners you can expect to share with your chosen mate. Does that thought thrill you, or give you the shivers? If the latter, you may not have found the one. Be a Perfect Moment Maker: Focus on making magical memories with those we care about so we feel rich when we're old. Never be a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future. You will never be the same. "Your "I CAN" is more important than your IQ." "Everything is created twice, first in the mind and then in reality." "You can't make someone feel good about themselves until you feel good about yourself." "Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make. it will not only improve your life, it will improve the lives of all those around you." Start a mastermind alliance… For years, every Friday at 6am, Robin met with his mastermind partner at a coffee shop where they'd chat for 2 hours. "Success occurs in the privacy of the soul." - Rick Rubin – Success is about YOUR definition, not whatever society says it should be. It's about understanding your purpose, your values, and the critical behaviors to match those values. The cool part about it, is you get to define it. That isn't easy work, but it's worth it. Ski instructors aren't rich, "but we have a rich life."

Apr 21, 2024

Read our new book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3VFVYAm Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #579: David Perell - Setting The Standard, Cultivating Your Taste, Pursuing Excellence, Becoming a Sloganeer, Always Working/Never Working, & Lessons From a Mysterious Billionaire Notes: Set the standard – "It's your job to have the highest quality standards of anybody you work with. Every day, you'll face pressure to lower them. Don't do it. If you can set a high standard and simply maintain it, you'll do very well for yourself." Have a high-quality bar. Do three things: Define it: Clearly state the standards. (read The 11 Laws of Showrunning ) Maintain it: This is hard to do. Raise it: Keep pushing. You need to define what quality looks like. Set the true north. David worked with a coach to establish his core values. And he was going to narrow it down to five and the coach said, "Nope, it's just one. It's the one that everything in your life orbits around... It's The Pursuit of Excellence . The biggest piece of low-hanging fruit for leaders is getting funnier: Nobody trains themselves to get funnier though. It's strangely taboo. That's why it's such an opportunity. "Laughter is the sound of comprehension." Say something memorable. Humor is memorable. A good way to think... Deconstruct something funny. David spends a lot of time understanding why Theo Von is so funny. The key to excellent storytelling: a moment of change. Conflict and suspense carry stories. Robert Caro writing the LBJ books... "What would I see if I was there." He moved to where LBJ lived to see what it was like to be there. How to cultivate taste: Make a list of things you love/hate. Look for things you love (but aren't supposed to), and things you hate (but are supposed to love). Make things. Don't be a passive consumer. Be a connoisseur. Be discerning about what you consume. Amor Tolles - History is bad for knowing what's good now. Consume old things. Museums - Pay attention to what elicits a reaction. Why is it a 10? Why is it a 1? What do you love? What do you hate? Why? Archegos is David's favorite Greek word, and it gets to the heart of good leadership. Four meanings: Author, founder, pioneer, leader America's founding fathers are the canonical example Lessons from a mysterious billionaire mentor: David asks very specific questions, listens, and takes lots of notes. When meeting with a mentor, show up with energy and specific questions. They are tired of hearing the boring generic questions. Be specific. The mentor talks 98% of the time and David just types what he says. He now has 18,000 words worth of notes. Some lessons: CEOs are Sloganeers: CEOs shouldn't write strategy memos. They should drive slogans. Three lines. Three words each. (Bezos: Focus on the Customer) CEOs should tell the same stories over and over again, refining their pitch like a comedian. Gauging reactions Asking questions Listening to push-back Seeing what makes people's eyes light up Your message is only landing once people start making fun of you. Good goal in life: Always working, never working Story from Patrick O'Shaughnessy. He was asked how much time he spent preparing. Initially, he said, "not much." Then he thought for a while, and said, "I'm preparing all the time. My whole life is preparing to ask these questions."

Apr 14, 2024

Order our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3xbhAdD Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Create surplus value - What can we do to give more than we take? "The key is to figure out what you can do that others can't or are unwilling to do. Hard work is a talent. Curiosity is a talent. Patience and empathy are talents." "Helping others makes me feel strong." Scott's recent experience with Ketamine Therapy - " It clarified my thinking. It's helped me stop keeping score. It also made me grateful for my wife. Did you ever get a gift when you were a kid that you weren't expecting and you couldn't afford it? Something you never imagined having." I got a $45 Banh skateboard from my mom's boyfriend Terry. It was a moment of sheer surprise and joy. My wife kept popping in my head and I kept thinking, god I get to hang out with this person, get to have kids with them, get to build a life with her. It was this overwhelming feeling of wonderful joy and surprise. It was very clarifying and rewarding for me." "You Gotta Ask" - Scott met his wife at the Raleigh Hotel pool in Miami. He saw her from a distance and promised himself that he wouldn't leave the pool without introducing himself to her first. In order to do anything of significance in your life, you must take an uncomfortable risk." Scott is married to Beata Galloway, a real estate developer born in Germany. Together, they have two sons. One of them has the middle name, Raleigh. Why Crying is Important - "It informs what's important to you." Why Scott uses crude humor - It's used to connect with people. And people are either afraid or not able to do it. When Scott was 13… One of his mom's boyfriends handed him two crisp 100-dollar bills after he asked him about stocks. Terry (his mom's boyfriend) told him "Go buy some stock at one of those fancy brokers in the village." Once there, Scott met a mentor named Cy Gordner who helped him learn about the markets. Show up when it matters — Michael Bloomberg's policy. "If a friend gets a promotion, there is no need to call. You'll get dinner with them at some point. But if a friend gets fired, I have dinner with them that night in a public place where everybody can see me. Because I remember when I got fired from Solomon Brothers — I can tell you every person that called me. That meant something. When I was made partner? I have no recollection of that whatsoever." Last year Scott had 340 inbound speaking requests. He accepted 30 of them. His average rate is $112,000 per speech. "The stimulus that attracted my attention with the most urgency was money, not as a means of establishing economic security, but to feed my addiction: affirmation from others." The role of Luck - Being born in America in the 1960s and two (most importantly) Scott's mom. Though she was raised in a household with little affection, she couldn't control herself with her son. "For me, affection was the difference between hoping someone thought I was wonderful or worthy and knowing it." (Emotional) Scott is a dynamic communicator: A turn of phrase is a way of expressing something, in writing or speech, that stands out in some particular way. One of the key indicators of long-term success is the "willingness to endure rejection." Whether this is walking up to a stranger at the Raleigh hotel, a cold-calling sales job, or asking people to be on your podcast. How to build wealth? Focus (mastery, find your talent), Stoicism (this is about saving more than you spend), Time ( 21 years with your money in low-cost index funds, you will earn 8 times your money), Diversification (Your kevlar). Once you earn some money, assume you are not Steve Ballmer or Mark Zuckerberg. Use a variety of investment vehicles. Going all on one company or asset class is not the optimal choice for most of us.

Apr 7, 2024

Our book, The Score That Matters , is now available! https://amzn.to/3ToYckL Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk The ASK approach - Choose curiosity, make it a safe space to tell the truth, pose quality questions (that's a question that helps you learn something), LISTEN (check if you heard them right, rephrase), then reflect and connect - FOLLOW UP. Make sure the other person feels that you've listened to and heard them. 1) Choose Curiosity to awaken your interest in new discoveries. What can I learn from this person? 2) Make it Safe for people to tell you hard things Find the right context. Be vulnerable. Radiate Resilience. 3) Pose Quality Questions so you can uncover what's most important Questions that help you learn something. What do you really think? 4) Listen to Learn, to hear what someone is really trying to tell you. Request reactions... What holes are in my perspective? 5) Reflect and Reconnect, so you take the right action based on what you've heard. Update my thinking. Sifting through what we heard. What can I take away of value? What are the best questions to ask in an interview for a job: As the interviewee, ask them what concerns they have about you? They're going to talk about these when you're not in the room. You might as well talk about them together when you're in there… As the interviewer: Fast forward 1 year. There are two scenarios. 1, you crushed it. 2, You didn't. Tell the story of what happened in each of those scenarios… What did Jeff learn from his work as a magician? Magic trains you to hold your cards close to your chest, that's what makes the illusion work…He dreamed (still does) of someone asking him, so what do you think Jeff? He's held back so much because he wanted people to ask him what he thought… It's like he needed permission. When pollsters asked Americans, "If you could have any superpower you wanted, what would you pick?" Two answers tied for the number 1 spot. Reading other people's minds and time travel . Asking helps you read people's minds. Key learning from Chris Argyris: How smart people fail to learn... They don't ask. A child asks 25-50 questions per hour. An adult. A tiny fraction of that. Curiosity goes away as we age if we're not intentional about it. "We're all stuck inside our own certainty loops." Leadership hiring must-haves... Alignment with the mission Core values Track record A learner Learning design – How to make your next leadership retreat as impactful as possible? ASK the participants to help you co-create the event. We often miss out on goals, opportunities, and relationships because we don't know how to ask the right question, in the right way. Yet this critical strength can be learned, and transform your career, organization, and relationships. Career and Life advice: You don't have to have it all figured out. WHO matters more than WHAT.

Mar 31, 2024

Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Buy our new book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3ToYckL My guest: Scott Belsky co-founded Behance in 2006 and served as its CEO for six years. Behance was acquired by Adobe in 2012. Since then he has had a variety of roles with the company and is currently Adobe's Chief Strategy Officer, and EVP of Design & Emerging Products. He's also the author of two best-selling books, The Messy Middle and Making Ideas Happen . Scott holds a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Hiking > Beach - You're only able to recollect experiences with enough friction to add texture to time as it passes . time spent doing the unexpected and/or being challenged is time with texture. Ultimately, in our dying breath, the more experiences in our lives with texture, the more of our lives we will actually remember and the longer we will feel we have lived. What adds texture to time? A challenge . Feeling unrushed - Feeling unrushed (so simple, yet so hard) is indeed such a luxury; one I still fail to achieve. Persona-Led Growth - People are more likely to share what people say than what companies say. Modern "PR strategy" should amplify the voice of actual builders, embrace personality rather than dull it out, and aspire for more real-time updates vs. major moments. How to raise kids to become great adults? "model hard work" Say, "This is the hard work." Manufacture hardship. Regulate emotions. Big feelings, little bodies. Why Scott enjoys working at Adobe... He's a mission-driven entrepreneur. Progress begets progress. Prototype = Show, not tell. A prototype is worth a hundred meetings, and almost all meetings that aren't grounded with a prototype are a waste of time (or worse). A prototype immediately surfaces gaps in logic or business concerns. It is the fastest way to drive alignment. "A prototype prompts decisiveness" "It's a hot knife through the butter of bureaucracy." Why Scott writes a Substack newsletter: "I want to be part of the creator platform." Writing clarifies thinking It's important to stay close to the action. Writing works as a forcing function to do that. Scott has benefited greatly from running every day. It's important to push yourself mentally and physically. "There's no option to stop." What's the most important element of leadership? "Empathy. It's a shortcut for overcoming challenges." "You're either part of the living or part of the dying." Scott's aunt Arlis Aron. Fought stage 4 cancer for 15 years. She always focused on living, her garden, breakfast, and traveling. "Decide if you want to live less or live more." "Every day is a standalone canvas."

Mar 26, 2024

Our new book, The Score That Matters, is out TODAY (March 26, 2024). Here's the link: https://amzn.to/4citmTL Thank you for your support! Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Ryan Hawk is the creator and host of The Learning Leader Show, a top-rated business podcast that focuses on learning from the most effective leaders in the world. He speaks regularly to Fortune 500 companies; works with teams and players in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NCAA; and facilitates Leadership Circles to offer structured guidance and collaborative feedback to new and experienced leaders. Ryan has also built an online leadership school called The Learning Leader Academy. He is the author of Welcome to Management and The Pursuit of Excellence , lauded by Forbes magazine as "the best leadership book of 2020" and "the most dynamic leadership book of 2022," respectively. Brook Cupps has been a high school basketball coach for more than 20 years, earning several Coach of the Year awards. His teams have won numerous conference, district, and regional championships, as well as Centerville High School's first-ever basketball state championship in 2021. In addition, he has spent the last eight years coaching grassroots basketball on the AAU circuits and helped guide the North Coast (Ohio) Blue Chips to national championships in 2014 and 2019. He publishes weekly essays on leadership and coaching on his site, Blue Collar Grit, and is the author of Surrender the Outcome. People love to keep score. Managers keep score of a range of business metrics: market share, revenue, profit margin, and growth rate. In our personal lives, social media has us keeping score by likes and followers. These external scores are outcome-driven and serve as proof of our success—money, fame, material possessions, wins—but this constant chase for more validation often leaves us feeling exhausted and empty. Offering both descriptive and prescriptive advice and anecdotes, The Score That Matters will help you unlock true fulfillment and happiness by discovering your purpose, identifying your values, creating critical behaviors, and living them faithfully every day in all aspects of your life. Warren Buffett once said, "The big question about how people behave is whether they've got an Inner Scorecard or an Outer Scorecard. It helps if you can be satisfied with an Inner Scorecard." And that's what The Score That Matters Is All About… The inner scoreboard is about eliminating comparison with others and living in alignment with what's most important to you: your values and the behaviors to match those values. If you want to stop comparing yourself to others, establish YOUR core values, and live in alignment with them (and I believe you should), then I think our book, The Score That Matters, will be useful for you. In addition to that, our book, The Score That Matters, will help you Build trust with the important people in your lives (your family and the team you're leading at work) It will help you focus on your eulogy virtues instead of your resume virtues And we write about how you can build transformational relationships that will ultimately change your life for the better. When I interviewed economics professor and best-selling author Tyler Cowen, I asked him why he chose to write his most recent book with someone else (after he previously had written his books by himself). He said, "If you have an opportunity to work with someone who is awesome and brilliant and who will cooperate with you, you should always do that. Drop everything and do that." Before this, I never thought I would write with someone else. It's too personal. However, I took Tyler Cowen's advice and I am so glad I did. Working on a book with one of your mentors is the ultimate tool for learning. I got to have long-form conversations (both in writing and in person) from someone who has figured out some of life's most challenging issues. When you meet Brook Cupps, you'll notice that he's incredibly comfortable in his own skin. He has ZERO need to get approval from anyone outside of his closest friends. He has his values, lives his values, and that's it. I think we would all be better off if we did that. In this book, you'll get the unique perspective of a teacher and a student. Brook plays the role of the teacher, and me the student. We wrote almost all of the book together and mixed in some parts labeled BC and RH when it was from each of our unique perspectives. After a lifetime of figuring these things out and 3 years working together to get the ideas out of our heads onto the page, our book, The Score That Matters is now available for you to read. If you've gotten any value from The Learning Leader Show over the past 9 years, I hope you decide to buy this book. I think it could change your life. Go to Amazon now and buy it. If you've already bought yourself a copy, go back to Amazon and buy another one or two for the people in your life you care about most. Start a book club, tell your friends, read this with your colleagues at work. Not only do I think it could change your life, but all of your friends too. Thank you for your support!

Mar 24, 2024

Read our new book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3vjDSt6 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk 574: Guy Kawasaki - Leadership Lessons From Steve Jobs, Learning How To Sell, Becoming a Chief Evangelist, and The 'Think Different' Philosophy "Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." – William Arthur Ward In 1977, Guy enrolled in the UCLA Anderson School of Management, where he earned an MBA. While there, Guy also worked at a jewelry company, Nova Stylings. He said, "The jewelry business is a very, very tough business, tougher than the computer business... I learned a very valuable lesson: how to sell." It's helpful to know that we are all in sales every day. Whether you think you're in sales or not… You are. You're selling yourself, your ideas, projects, products. It's useful to learn how to sell. Melanie Perkins, CEO of Canva (which is an amazing product and company)... "She's Steve Jobs with heart and soul. They are on a relentless pursuit of perfection." Guy's counting dots story… It started in 6th grade. A teacher pushed him to go to a private school. That led to him getting into Stanford. This is where he met Mike Boich, who ended up hiring him at Apple. Then getting asked to go on the TEDx stage with Jane Goodall… Guy has made the most of the good fortune in his life… Steve Jobs/Change Your Mind: Guy launched his tech career at Apple as the company's "chief evangelist," marketing the original Macintosh computer. When Jobs first introduced the iPhone in 2007, it was a closed system — no one outside of Apple could create an app for it. Software developers had to use a Safari plugin to make their app work on the phone, as they weren't able to access the iPhone's system directly in order to ensure the phone's security. Just one year later, however, Jobs made a complete "180-degree reversal," The founder opened the iPhone system to the public after realizing how much more the device could offer customers with apps written by anyone with a good idea. "I learned the very valuable lesson that when you're doing something wrong when you're doing something sub-optimally, it's a sign of intelligence to change your mind." Throughout our conversation, Guy talks about being an evangelist, and the definition of that is to "bring the good news." Default to yes. Make yourself indispensable. Learn to say, "I'm sorry," and "I don't know." Guy shares a story about a disagreement he had with Steve Jobs and how that cost him millions of dollars… But he learned an important lesson from Steve that has impacted him ever since.

Mar 17, 2024

Read our book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3uWB1pQ Full Show Notes at www.LearningLeader.com Notes: "If it can't be grown, it must be mined. It's a truth of human progress." The story of Burro Schmidt… He spent 38 years hand-digging a tunnel through a ½ mile of solid granite even though 19 years in, they built a road that made his tunnel obsolete. But he found his purpose and wanted to finish the job. Some may think that's crazy, but I admire people like that. Be Your Own Light - "I don't look for hope. I look for evidence." Seek Awe - Understand your smallness in the world and how it's all interconnected. Read the "Thank You Project" by AJ Jacobs. "We love to see people who have found their purpose." There are long-term consequences of short-term thinking. Robert Greene's advice to Brent - Combine your unique and different skill sets to find your purpose. Brent dedicated his book to his parents, Liz and Bill, and sister Laura. I appreciate Brent's outlook on life and permitting yourself to live a life of adventure and to think BIG. You can still wisely do this. Brent still works a day job with the Daily Stoic but is also taking a big swing at the same time. This is an option that is available for most of us. It's on us to take action and do it. I've known Brent for about a decade. In his previous role with Brass Check (that's Ryan Holiday's marketing company), one of his jobs was to get authors on podcasts. And I love how precise Brent was in his outreach. He never sent me an author unless he had done the work ahead of time to ensure they were a good fit for my show. I appreciate the care he puts into his work and has for a long time. "When I think back 4 years, before Cerro Gordo, life was pretty stable. I had a good job, a solid apartment, and friends. It felt like a life that I could have floated through forever. I just kept feeling like I was missing out on...something. Something to grab my attention and not let go. To avoid, as Thoreau said, a life of "quiet desperation." ⁣A lot has changed since then. Life certainly isn't comfortable. There were 3 feet of snow to shovel before I could get to the outhouse this morning. There have been fires, floods, and earthquakes. I've lost too much weight, friends, partners, money. A lot more. I wouldn't change a thing. I feel fulfilled in a way I never knew was possible. Building something real that I care about. Connected to my work, the world, the past. Meeting so many passionate people who care deeply about the same things. ⁣" Get To Work – JP Morgan said every man has two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason… The siren song of Cerro Gordo, a desolate ghost town perched high above Death Valley, has seduced thousands since the 1800s, but few fell harder for it than Brent Underwood, who moved there in March of 2020, only to be immediately snowed in and trapped for weeks. It had once been the largest silver mine in California. Over $500 million worth of ore was pulled from the miles of tunnels below the town. Butch Cassidy, Mark Twain, and other infamous characters of the American West were rumored to have stayed there. Newspapers reported a murder a week. But that was over 150 years ago. Brent Underwood bet his life savings—and his life—on this majestic, hardscrabble town that had broken its fair share of ambitious men and women. What followed were fires, floods, earthquakes, and perhaps strangest, fame. Ghost Town Living tells the story of a man against the elements, a forgotten historic place against the modern world, and a dream against all odds—one that has captured millions of followers around the world. After graduating from Columbia University, Brent worked briefly for an investment bank in New York City. After one month, he quit and backpacked across Central and South America. Upon returning to New York, he founded a hostel in Brooklyn. In December 2014 Brent founded HK Austin, a hostel in Austin, Texas after staying in 150 hostels across 30 countries. For 2015, HK Austin was the highest-rated hostel in the United States. "I'm not going to call it a ghost town anymore. I'm going to call it home."

Mar 10, 2024

Buy our NEW BOOK, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3TmmbkT Full show notes www.LearningLeader.com Think BIG... But choose what to be ambitious about. Get clear on that first. Simple Modern is a $225m bootstrapped business... Mike owns the majority of the company. Mission: "We exist to give generously." Simple Modern is an employee-owned Oklahoma based company whose mission statement is we exist to give generously. Our desire is to make 5-star products offering remarkable value so we can give to worthy organizations making the world a better place. Use the "75-year-old self principle:" - What would your 75-year-old self regret if you didn't do? (credit: Jeff Bezos) Leadership stages: Player Player/Coach Coach General Manager "I love the name of your podcast. You have to keep learning." What are the best and worst parts of being a CEO? Best: Building culture, being part of a community, having lunch every day with your team. It creates huge leverage to do great work. Worst: Stress, isolation. Understanding your identity? Is it too tied up in an unhealthy place? Mike's purpose: Teaching Giving Leading and creating value Parenting Positively alter the lives of others (as many as possible) "Great leaders create more leaders. We measure it wrong. It should be about creating more leaders." The professor, Rufus Fears, started the lecture. The first thing out of his mouth was, "If you are here trying to get a pink slip, I can tell you that the class is full, and there will be no pink slips given." Mike did not let that stop him. He stayed after class, talked with Professor Fears, went to his office, and talked with him. And earned entry to his class (and a few others of his later). It's a great lesson that we need to be proactive and take initiative. We need to go after what we want. Is your identity coming from a healthy place? Is it coming from accomplishments, titles, or materialistic things? Money? Or have you found your identity in something bigger than yourself? A well-defined purpose almost always stems from helping other people. Why you should write: There are multiple levels of understanding. They are: You know nothing, then you have an intuitive understanding of something but you can't explain it to someone else, then you actually behave in a deliberate way and can explain it. That goes to a point where you can understand a situation in real-time. And finally, you get to the point where you can teach it to someone else. A writing practice can help clarify your thinking and help you better understand something so well that you can teach it to others. Let's develop a writing practice. Writing scales. Hosting a podcast scales. They also increase your surface area for luck and serendipity. Why Mike has no desire to sell Simple Modern: The whole point of having money is that we can trade it for things that are better than money. "You can't convert money to friendships. You can't buy things that give you meaning & purpose. Life is in pursuit of priceless things." Mike's favorite marketing pitch ever (Jon Hamm in Mad Men): Kodak asks for a branding campaign around a new product. It is a circular device that allows you to flip through pictures. Kodak hopes to highlight the technology and call the product "the wheel." Then, they get a master class on branding from Jon Hamm in Mad Men… Before we can lead others well, we have to be internally healthy. Leadership is an inside-out exercise. What do you value? It is easy to determine what someone truly cares about: What do they do with their free time? Where do they spend their extra money? "I frequently spend time comparing what I say I value to what my behavior shows because the worst lies are the lies we tell ourselves."

Mar 4, 2024

Do you want to live in alignment with your purpose and values? Read our new book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3Igx1Ue Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Notes on my conversation with former CEO of 7-Eleven and Blockbuster, Jim Keyes: From adversity to the stars. Per ardua ad astra is a Latin phrase meaning "through adversity to the stars." Adversity is your advantage. The tough moments you're going through will help you be stronger long term. This is a useful mindset shift. "Adversity is an advantage." How did Jim get hired the first time and continually get promoted? He told the truth. He was unafraid to tell it like it really was. No fluffy language. He got right to it and let them know how he could help them. He focused on THEM, not him. They don't care about why you think you deserve the job. They care about their company and if you'll be able to help solve their problems. Focus on them, their issues, and how you can help them. That's what Jim has done his entire career. The C-Suite Learnings What – Change, Confidence, Clarity How - Critical thinking (ask why), curiosity, and creativity (have fun) Why - Collaboration, Culture literacy (learn from others experiences), and character Jim became one of the youngest managers in this history of McDonald's. "The only one that likes change is a wet baby. Change is reality. Change equals opportunity." CEO = "Change Equals Opportunity." Confidence is all about preparation. The more you prepare, the more confident you'll be. Clarity and Simplicity. "The hardest thing in the world is to keep things simple." "True elegance is in simplicity." "I can't lead if you can't understand. So, it's up to me to keep things simple and clear." Nelson Mandela once said, "I never lose…I win, or I learn." "There are three prerequisites to a successful business transformation in the face of change: cash management, confidence, and collaboration. Managing cash flow is, by far, the most important but maintaining sufficient cash requires confidence and collaboration."

Feb 26, 2024

Read our new book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/49LJuuD Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Notes: Just two years into Amy's work as a therapist, her mother passed away unexpectedly. Exactly three years to the day later, her 26-year-old husband, Lincoln, died of a heart attack. So she set out on a personal journey to learn as much as she could about grief, mental health, and mental strength. Amy decided that she would live life to the fullest. She rode mules into the Grand Canyon, went skydiving, took flying trapeze lessons, spent the night in 49 states, got 6-pack abs in 28 days, and started driving a motorcycle Amy's daily challenge: She pushes herself to run a mile as fast as she can. It forces her outside of her comfort zone and ensures mental and physical growth. Pleasant activity scheduling. Put them on the calendar. Block out time for pleasant experiences together with your partner, your family, and your friends. You then look forward to those moments, get to experience those moments, and then create memory dividends that you'll have for life. Schedule pleasant activities. Don't take your partner for granted. I think this goes for any relationship, but especially for those of us who are in committed long-term relationships with a spouse. Think of the Tony Robbins story: For the past twenty years, each day when he gets home from work, he has a "Honey I'm home" routine where they share a big embrace and a kiss and they both bring positive energy to the interaction. This sets the tone so that their relationship doesn't get boring. What Mentally Strong Couples Do: They don't ignore their problems. - Whether they face a sudden financial hiccup or experience issues related to intimacy, mentally strong couples address their problems head-on. They engage in difficult conversations and confront their issues, regardless of the discomfort it might bring. By working together to find solutions early on, they prevent their problems from escalating. They don't keep secrets. - Mentally strong couples respect each other's privacy, like allowing one another to have private conversations with friends. However, they draw the line at keeping secrets. They're honest about everything, whether it's how much they really spent on an item or the fact that a co-worker has been flirting with them. They prioritize open discussion over potential discomfort because they understand that trust is the foundation of their relationship. They don't hesitate to set boundaries - Mentally strong couples know the importance of setting boundaries with each other. For instance, one partner may need to refrain from responding to text messages during the workday as it interferes with their job. But they also set boundaries to shield their relationship from external influences, like an overbearing mother-in-law or a relative who asks to borrow money. Together, they establish financial, physical, emotional, social, and temporal boundaries that enable them to function at their best. They don't become martyrs - Mentally strong couples understand that while sacrifices are part of a relationship, it doesn't mean giving up everything to the point of self-destruction. They steer clear of bitterness and resentment for the things they've done for the family. Instead, they set boundaries, voice their needs, and take care of their well-being. They don't use their emotions as weapons - It's healthy to experience and express a wide variety of emotions. But mentally strong couples don't weaponize their emotions. For instance, a strong individual won't cry to avoid a tough conversation, and they won't raise their voice to get their way. Their focus is on managing their emotions, not controlling their partner's actions. They don't try to "fix" each other - While they work toward bringing out the best in each other, mentally strong individuals don't try to "fix" their partners. They strive to be a positive influence but respect their partner's autonomy to make personal choices—even when they don't agree with those choices. They support their partner's attempts at self-improvement but understand that they can't do the work on their partner's behalf. They don't communicate with disrespect - While most couples understand that name-calling or belittling each other can harm their relationship, mentally strong couples also pay attention to the subtle aspects of communication that can make a significant difference (like looking up from their devices to hold a conversation). They prioritize active listening, understanding each other's perspectives, and expressing their feelings in a healthy manner. They don't blame each other for their issues - A mentally strong individual doesn't pass the buck by saying things like, "I'd be happier if my partner changed." Instead, they take ownership of their happiness. They refrain from blaming their partner for their struggles, acknowledging that everyone has the power to bring about change. They never lose sight of why they fell in love - Mentally strong couples ensure their love endures even as circumstances evolve. Career advancements, parenthood, and shifting responsibilities may make their lives look different from when they first met, but they never forget why they chose each other. Remembering why they fell in love helps them stay committed to resolving issues and working things out. They don't expect their relationship to meet all their needs - These couples don't subscribe to the notion that their partner will "complete" them. They understand that they each have to fulfill some of their own needs. Whether it's spending time with friends for recreational companionship or pursuing personal hobbies, they realize they have the agency and flexibility to meet their needs in various ways. They don't neglect their partnership - Mentally resilient couples understand that while there will be multiple demands on their attention—children, extended family, work—they can't neglect their relationship. They discuss their priorities and collaborate to maintain their connection, even during phases of life when they're being pulled in different directions. They don't take each other for granted - The strongest couples don't overlook the kindness, love, and affection their partner provides. They express gratitude and appreciation for each other regularly. Frequent conversations about what they value, tokens of appreciation, and genuine gratitude are integral to their partnership. They don't stop growing and changing - Mentally strong couples strive for personal growth but also ensure they don't grow apart. They aren't intimidated by their partner's individual progress. As they secure new jobs, take on fresh responsibilities, and change their viewpoints, they make sure their relationship evolves accordingly. It's inspirational when both partners are invested in strengthening their relationship. However, often one partner may be more focused on building mental strength and strengthening the relationship than the other. The good news is that one person can significantly impact the overall health of the relationship. You can start improving your relationship by giving up any unhealthy habits that could weaken your relationship. When you make the decision to change your habits, you can grow stronger as an individual while also strengthening your relationship, even if your partner isn't invested in building their own mental strength right away.

Feb 19, 2024

Order our new book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/3HSQzhf Rob Henderson has a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Cambridge, where he studied as a Gates Cambridge Scholar. He obtained a B.S. in psychology from Yale University and is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He's the author of Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class Self-discipline beats motivation. Often, people say they need to feel "motivated" to perform a task. Motivation, though, is just a feeling. Self-discipline is "I'm going to do this, regardless of how I feel." Air Force Training – "My favorite part of training was the camaraderie. I especially enjoyed drill and marching. The synchronized movement with others, moving as a single element, instilled a feeling of belonging." – The military provided a structured environment. Rob said that whenever he felt like an outsider, he sought refuge in helping others . Because of that, he volunteered at New Haven Reads near Yale. While there, he met a kid named Guillermo. There, he learned how to relate with others by sharing his story. Writing: Rob was accepted into the War Horse Writing Seminar at Columbia University. The program was designed to help veterans write about their experiences. External Achievement: "Upon obtaining a few totems of achievement, I came to realize that they are flawed measures of success. External accomplishments are trivial compared with a warm and loving family. Going to school is far less important than having a parent who cares enough to make sure you get to class every day." Two of Rob's mom's friends came to him for advice. They were talking about their 6-year-old son and they were concerned with how "smart" he was. They asked, "Should we be reading to him more?" And Rob responded, "Yeah, but not because it will expand his vocabulary. Read to him because it will remind him that you love him." The best and worst things about Yale: Best Students work ethic Focused Unique pursuits Worst Self-censorship One of his instructors at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas asked the class one Friday afternoon if they had any questions. Rob asked, "If you could do it all over again, would you still have enlisted?" – "Understand that the Air Force is going to ask a lot from you. Just remember that you can get a lot in return from it, as well." Luxury beliefs - Rob coined the term to describe beliefs that mark the believer as holding the approved opinion while harming those less privileged. Lessons Learned The Hard Way: You are what you do. Not what you say or what you believe. People use words to strategically justify their actions and blind you to who they really are. Don't be fooled by cheap talk. Pay close attention to how people actually spend their time and effort. Good conversations are made up of questions. Avoid speaking for longer than three minutes without asking one. When seeking advice, ask people in a different life station than you—ahead or behind, older or younger. People in the same position are often biased by envy , and this can color the advice they give. One of the most common life regrets people report is "I wish I had let myself be happier." You'll never be happy if you continue thinking that you'll be happy one day. "The study of happiness often sounds like a sermon for traditional values. The numbers show it is not the rich, privileged, robust, or good-looking who are happy; it is those who have spouses, friends, religion, and challenging, meaningful work" - Steven Pinker (How The Mind Works) 35% of people in America graduate with a bachelor's degree, 11% of people from poor families graduate from college. And just 3% of foster kids graduate from college. When you think about Rob's story, it's hard not to be inspired. He's beaten almost impossible odds to not only graduate from college, but he served our country, then went to Yale, graduated, and got his PhD from Cambridge. It's awesome to see what he's done and he's still so young and at the beginning of his career. I love it when good things happen to good people. Life/career advice - "Be a fish out of water. Do something hard. Be uncomfortable." That was advice for a recent grad, but I think it's useful for all of us.

Feb 16, 2024

Order our new book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/48jAoUM Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com For the past 40+ years, Tony Robbins has been known worldwide as one of the most impactful business and life coaches in the world. He's hosted millions of people at his events, written 6 international best-selling books, he's involved in more than 100 businesses that have done more than 7 billion dollars in revenue, and as part of his work with Feeding America, Tony has provided more than 850 million meals to those in need. He's personally coached President Bill Clinton, Serena Williams, Connor McGregor, Marc Benioff, Usher, the Golden State Warriors, and many others. Notes: The advice Tony received from Jim Rohn. "Your job is to become more valuable. We are all equal as souls, but not equal in the marketplace." "If you want things to get better, you've got to get better." Commonalities among leaders who sustain excellence: They find something they care about more than themselves, they have a hunger for it, and they work amazingly hard at it. "You're rewarded in public for what you practice in private." Steph Curry has taken far more practice shots than game ones. He's rewarded in public for what he does in private. How to build confidence: Preparation creates certainty. "Whatever you hold in your mind on a consistent basis is exactly what you will experience in your life." The essence of building confidence is this: If you go into a situation knowing that you can handle it – whatever it is – then that's exactly what you'll do. "A belief is a poor substitute for an experience." You might believe it's something you're going to love, but you don't fully know until you do it. Get in the arena and do it. See what it's like. That's when you'll learn. Tony learned NLP from John Grinder (founder of NLP). Neuro-Linguistic Programming. is an approach to communication, personal development, and psychotherapy, that first appeared in Richard Bandler and John Grinder's 1975 book The Structure of Magic I . NLP asserts that there is a connection between neurological processes, language, and acquired behavioral patterns, and that these can be changed to achieve specific goals in life. "The path to success is to take massive, determined action." "Any time you sincerely want to make a change, the first thing you must do is to raise your standards." "The power of positive thinking is the ability to generate a feeling of certainty in yourself when nothing in the environment supports you." "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."― George Bernard Shaw Tony interviewed a dozen of the world's most successful investors in private equity, private credit, private real estate, and venture capital. He wanted to learn everything he could about the private markets and investing. Ray Dalio - Apply diversification across 8-12 uncorrelated investments.

Feb 12, 2024

Order our new book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/48ePbAa Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com William Ury is the co-author of Getting to Yes , the world's all-time bestselling book on negotiation with more than 15 million copies sold, and co-founder of Harvard's Program on Negotiation. Bill has devoted his life to helping people, organizations, and nations transform conflicts around the world, having served as a negotiator in many of the toughest disputes of our times, taught negotiation to tens of thousands, and consulted for dozens of Fortune 500 companies, the White House, the State Department, and the Pentagon. Based in the mountains of Colorado where he loves to hike, Bill is an internationally sought-after speaker and has two popular TEDx talks with millions of viewers. Notes: Your life's work: "If you had to boil your life's work down to just one sentence you could leave behind, what would it say?" This is a great question for us to ask ourselves to gain clarity on our purpose and what we were put here to do. What is your life's work? On one of Bill's hikes with Jim Collins in Boulder, Colorado, he asked, "When did you first discover your interest in and instinct for what became your life's work?" Be trustworthy AND trust willing. Become known as a person who trusts others first without making people earn it. Yes, you'll get burned every once in a while, but I've found it's worth it. Leading with trust seems to attract the type of people you want to be around. On a freezing night in January 1977, the phone rang at 10:00 pm. Bill was living in a little rented room in the attic of an old wooden house in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was 23, writing term papers, and studying hard for graduate school exams in social anthropology. Bill picked up the phone… "I was particularly struck by Bill's rare ability to bring calm and optimism to seemingly intractable conflicts and by his blend of intellectual clarity and practical wisdom." - Jim Collins Go to hardest places: Instead of sharpening his intellect and insights by doing research sitting in a plush faculty office at some Ivy League institute, Bill decided to "go to the hardest places first," throwing himself into political negotiations in the Middle East. "𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒆𝒈𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒔, 𝑰 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆, 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒐 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒚, 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒈𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒐𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕, 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑩𝑩𝟑." "The only book to write is the one you cannot not write." What are the 3 victories on the path to possible? The story of the wise old woman and the camels... The story of Vasili Arkhipov and Sub B-59 (the pause, calm, reactive to proactive). Bring your spirit of play. That's one of the things about Bill that I couldn't help but notice from the second we connected. He was smiling, laughing, and enjoying himself the entire time. He was having fun. What's the point of doing all of this if we don't have some fun along the way?

Feb 5, 2024

Order and Read our new book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/4btcb1o Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 What do leaders who sustain excellence do? They have the ability to be present for an extended period of time. They are here now. They live a life that creates a sustainable presence. They are fully present. Be here now. Fully here. This makes you available for this creative moment. Play the long game. Excellent leaders play the long game. "Live a life that creates sustainable presence." Space and Place: It's important to know your soul's home: For Jim: Northern Michigan. Quiet, still, simple, in nature... "It's recharging for me." Lead and live intentionally to get to your flow state. Ask: What is it that creates the most " alive-ness " in you? Do an energy audit. Look at your calendar for the last week. What events make your energy go up, stay neutral, or go down? Maximize for people and events that make your energy go up. "Populate your life with what you love." Are you willing to be fully alive? What are you willing to risk to make that happen? Get rid of energy downers . You can do that in 3 ways. Dump it, Delegate it Do it differently Responsibility – By me: I commit to taking full responsibility for the circumstances of my life, and my physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. I commit to support others to take full responsibility for their lives. I have to = Victim mindset I choose to = Ownership mindset To me = At the effect of other things. Outside my locus of control. By me = Inside. I am the cause of the experience. Radical responsibility. How am I causing the experience? Josh Waitzkin - Make weather what it is. Play in the rain. Curiosity is everything as a leader. The opposite of curiosity is always needing/wanting to be right. Deconstruct all the places where you want to be right. Most of it stems from fear. There are three fears: Approval Control Security Curiosity - I commit to growing in self-awareness. I commit to regarding every interaction as an opportunity to learn. I commit to curiosity as a path to rapid learning. Candor - I commit to saying what is true for me. I commit to being a person to whom others can express themselves with candor. Accountability and Responsibility: Responsibility is not something that can be assigned, it is something that has to be taken. Responsibility lives in the world of integrity and impeccable agreements. Speak truth in love. "We often describe unconscious leaders as reactive. They react from a "story" about the past or an imagined future, and their personality, ego, or mind takes over."

Jan 29, 2024

Order our new book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/47K2g4f Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com "Rejection is a test if you really want something. The upside of asking is unlimited." "People are afraid of asking. The people who make it happen are willing to ask, be rejected, and keep going." One of the biggest lessons learned from working with Mark Zuckerberg? Pick one goal. Then focus relentlessly on reaching it. His was 1 billion users on Facebook. This is how Noah has grown App Sumo to $80m in revenue. Focus on one big goal and the system implemented to make it happen. Noah's parental influence: Fearlessness - Ask for everything. Set rejection goals. You learn that selling copiers door to door. His mom is very disciplined. Always working out in the gym. She follows through. She's persistent. She grinds. His mom also hated her job. "I don't want to live a 'what-if' life" "Are we getting what we get or are we getting what we want?" The law of 100 -- Do the thing 100 times before you quit. Get going, get started. It's about now, not how. Create an exciting vision: "What are we looking forward to?" Million Dollar Weekend: Start it Build it Grow it Noah's philosophy on interviewing: 1) Talk with people you're genuinely interested in 2) Tell them how they've positively impacted your life. People love genuine compliments. And they loved to hear that they've helped others. 3) Tell them what's in it for them. Create questions that make your guests excited to answer (set them up to tell interesting stories) Entrepreneurship is not risky. Risky is spending your life at a job you hate, with people you don't like, working on problems you don't care about. Freedom is about gaining control of your schedule. Money is the tool, not the goal. This trip was one of my highlights of the fall. Nothing like biking across America. So much good time to think and reflect. Reminds me that whenever you're in a funk, just get moving. (Helps to be surrounded by beautiful landscapes) The future of big business is small teams. One person. No employees. Everything automated. Solopreneurs are the future. Acknowledgements: Adam Gilbert for our bike ride ten-plus years ago where I shared a dream to put my knowledge into a book for other people. And for always always being my guardian angel. Tahl Raz - I dreamed for years of the chance to work with you on a book. Thank you for taking a chance on me. Somehow you were magically able to take all my adventures/theories/ideas/antics and put them together in a helpful narrative better than I could have ever dreamed. Thank you! Also for being a mutual lover of schvitzing.

Jan 22, 2024

Order our new book, The Score That Matters . https://amzn.to/3OsEEdV Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com X/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Ariel wants to be the "Howard Cosell of MMA". "I got the interview skills from my mom, who my friends would always call for advice, and the work ethic from my dad, who never gave an excuse or took a sick day." " So one of the things that early on, before I became a dad was I want to be omnipresent. I believe in this quote from Woody Allen "80% of success is just showing up." I want to be at every single event. I want to be the guy that people when they think of big fights, they think of me. Howard Cosell, of MMA, all that stuff and more ." Ariel's Parents: " My mom still watches my show every week, and it's a long show about a topic she doesn't know a hell of a lot about. But she does it because she loves and supports me." "She's the mom that a lot of my brother's girlfriends and stuff would stay in touch with, even after they broke up. Because she just had that connection with people. She asks questions, she listens, she has a good mind and eye for things ." " My dad is a workaholic, and he'd be the first to tell you that. He's the kind of guy who, every day, I'd see him Monday through Friday, wake up, go to work at around seven, come home at around seven. He would have this massive box of papers, he would sit at the dinner table, and he would work on all the papers. He would take his shower at like 9:30, go to bed, and start over again, and he couldn't have been happier ." Syracuse: In 9th grade, he was reading Sports Illustrated and learned that the U.S.'s top sportscasting degree is earned at Syracuse. Bob Costas went there. Marv Albert went there. So he went to Syracuse. Being homesick and full of anxiety in college: " I wouldn't want to go to the dining hall to eat, so I just stocked up on Blue Diamond almonds. Which I have a hard time eating till this day because it reminds me of those days. Chef Boyardee, Alphagetti, that's what I was eating. I was watching sports in my room, by myself, I had a single room, and I was just crippled with this anxiety. And every time I would leave home to come back to school, like Thanksgiving break was over, and whatnot, Christmas break, I was sad. I was down ." When he knew he wanted to cover MMA – back home in the fall of 2006 when he found himself in Champs Sports Bar, on Saint Laurent Boulevard, where the TVs were tuned to a UFC pay-per-view special. When the Quebec-born fighter Georges St-Pierre beat up Matt Hughes and scored a TKO to win the welterweight championship, "the place explodes like the Canadiens just won the Stanley Cup. And I'm like: 'I want to be a part of this sport.'" Being the Heel – He learned from Howard Cosell, who was known as a heel , the pro wrestling term for the bad guy who people tune in to see fall. "Heelwani" What does it take to be a great interviewer? Be prepared. Ask thoughtful questions. Don't script the conversation. LISTEN. Ask better follow ups. Make it feel more like a conversation. Feuds with Dana White: " I'm the type of person who doesn't back down, in large part because of my parents and my family, and they never back down, so how could I? And why should I? Especially if I'm not doing anything wrong. So I would say I never sought it, I always try to diffuse it, privately. I don't try to get into Twitter wars and things like that, with other people. Where it seems like they spend their life over there trying to go back and forth. That being said, to your point, which is a great point, having an understanding of pro wrestling, and storylines, and feuds. And I come out of my ESPN chapter as Helwani, and punching back, and it's "High road Helwani, no more" and all that. Yes, sure, there's a little bit of pro wrestling in there, and I love pro wrestling. And I believe that there are a lot of elements in pro wrestling in a lot of different walks of life, including politics and whatnot. Good guy/bad guy, heel/face, all that stuff ." How conduct a great interview? " You have to listen, you have to be ready to open your mind, open your heart, and not feel, again, like you're just coming out guns blazing, and hitting someone with haymakers. Listen to them, be soft, be gentle, be welcoming. But, again, Howard Stern, no one did it better, he breaks you down to the point where you think that you're just two guys sitting around, or a girl and a guy sitting around, and there are not even cameras or microphones. They forget that they're on a show, if you're empathetic, if you're warm, if you're welcoming, that's the best result ." Make the ASK - Ariel knocked on the door of a senior executive at ESPN. The guy didn't even know who he was. And he asked to be a sideline reporter at basketball games. The senior exec said nobody had ever done that in 20 years. If you want something, ASK for it. Steve Jobs said the difference between the people who dream about stuff and the people who make it happen is the willingness to ask. You gotta ask. "I walked into his office, and there's a lesson, I think, here, for a lot of people. And I was like, "Hey, I have no credibility in the world of basketball, very few people know who I am. I don't have many sources. But if you ever need someone, in the 11th hour someone gets sick, someone gets hurt, I'll be your guy. I'll be your sideline reporter. I know to do that. And he said, "I'll be honest; I've never heard of you. I've never seen MMA. I've never seen your work. But I've been here 20 plus years, and no one has ever done what you just did, so I'll keep you in mind." Which was an amazing thing to hear, and mind-blowing that no one does that. All the offices are right there, just knock on the door ."

Jan 15, 2024

Pre-order our new book, "The Score That Matters." https://amzn.to/3HaJjgh Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes. This is episode #563 of The Learning Leader Show. My guest is Dr. Mike Massimino. The 3 Trusts - Trust your gear, trust your training, trust your team… And the 4th: trust yourself. Mike persisted through 3 rejections over 7 years on his way to becoming an astronaut, including overcoming a medical disqualification by training his eyes and brain to see better. Mike participated in a mission that significantly increased Hubble's discovery potential and led to the award of a Nobel Prize in physics for the discovery of dark energy during a spacewalk. Why Mike was chosen to be an astronaut: Mike has a great combination of competence (he knows his stuff) and high character. He's the type of guy that can get along and work with anyone. He's honest, humble, and authentic. The power of having a deep passion for what you're doing. Mike watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon when he was six years old and then did whatever he could over the rest of his life to become an astronaut. His desire to become an astronaut led him to go to prestigious universities, earn his Ph.D., become a pilot, become scuba certified, develop great communication skills, and so much more. All of that work led to him accomplishing what he set out to do when he was just 6 years old. "I knew right then that I wanted to be a part of something that meaningful. I wanted to have something I was so passionate about that I'd be willing to risk everything for it. I wanted to know that if I ever got killed, I got killed doing something worthwhile. The kid who looked up at the moon and wasn't afraid to dream - I decided that part of me deserved a chance. I sat there in that reception area, watching the crash footage play over and over again on the television, and that was when it hit home for me: you only have one life. You have to spend it doing something that matters." What Mike learned from Alan Bean: The most important lesson is to care for and admire everyone on your team. "My favorite lecturer was Alan Bean, who flew on Apollo 12 and is one of the twelve guys who walked on the moon. After retiring from NASA, he became a painter. Alan's lecture was called "The Art of Space Exploration." He talked about the mistakes he'd made and how he learned to fix them. One lesson that took him a while to learn was that at a place like NASA you can only have an effect on certain things. You can't control who likes you. You can't control who gets assigned to flights or what NASA's budget is going to be next year. If you get caught up worrying about things you can't control, you'll drive yourself nuts. It's better to focus on the things right in front of you. Identify the places where you can have a positive impact. Concentrate there and let the rest take care of itself. The last thing Alan said to us was 'What most people want in life is to do something great. That doesn't happen often. Don't take it for granted. Don't be blasé about it. And don't blow it. A lot of times, believe it or not, people blow it. "Kennedy's address announcing the Apollo program was one of the great presidential speeches of all time. He challenged us. He excited us. We reach for impossible things, he said, "not because they are easy, but because they are hard." Competence + Character = Trust. The Right Stuff - The Original 7 Astronauts. If you have a bad boss, what should you do: Stay the course Lead by example "Life is funny. I'd applied to the wrong graduate program, but that eventually led me to the right grad program. I'd taken what I thought was the wrong undergraduate major, and that was the thing that set me apart and allowed me to find my niche. I don't know if there are any lessons to take from that except to realize that the things you think are mistakes may turn out not to be mistakes. I realized wherever you are, if you make the most of what you've got, you can find a way to keep moving forward." "If you can learn to live with indignities in life, you can go far." "That's how a team works. You help the people around you, and everybody's better off for it. The crazy thing is that most of those guys wanted to be astronauts, too, but they never saw it as a competition. We were on the same team, where you want everyone around you to be as successful as possible, because in some way or another their success will become your success. It's good karma - what goes around comes around." "Right after we launched, I realized that all the training we'd on what to do if something went wrong during launch-how to bail out , how to operate the parachutes, how to make an emergency landing-I realized that all those years of training were completely pointless. It was just filler to make us feel okay about climbing into this thing. Because if it's going down, it's going down. It's either going to be a good day or it's going to be a bad day, and there is no in-between." "The camaraderie that firefighters have, that brotherhood that forms among them - my father was a part of that, and it came from having a shared sense of purpose. He told me that whatever you do in life, it can't just be about making money. It's important that you work to make the world a better place, that you help improve the lives of the people around you." Perspective: Mike shares how looking down on Earth from space changed his perspective and filled him with deep gratitude.

Jan 8, 2024

Order our new book, The Score That Matters . https://amzn.to/3RTU399 Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com X/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Nikki Glaser is one of the funniest female voices in comedy today. For nearly two decades at clubs across the country, stand-up comedian, actress, podcaster, and TV host. In July of 2022, she headlined her first HBO comedy special, GOOD CLEAN FILTH, which has been nominated for a Critics Choice Award for Best Comedy Special. Nikki was a standout at the Comedy Central Roasts of Alec Baldwin, Bruce Willis, and Rob Lowe, which led to her guest-hosting JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE! Nikki is currently on her nationwide and international comedy tour, THE GOOD GIRL TOUR, which kicked off in January 2023. Before coming on The Learning Leader Show, Nikki has done in-depth interviews with Howard Stern, Marc Maron, Conan O'Brien, and Joe Rogan. Notes: When Nikki is bombing on stage, she has a great method to reset. "Just say what's true." "Everyone is putting on a mask. Everyone is trying to present in a different way. If you just say what's true, it's the funniest." Nikki is a professional "noticer of things." This is why I think great stand-ups are modern-day philosophers. They notice things and then have a way to share them in a unique and funny way with all of us. We laugh because they've said what's true, but have done it in a way that we haven't thought of before. As leaders, we should be more aware and notice things more often. The writing process: "You need to pay attention constantly to everything to see what could potentially be a joke. Sometimes, in the middle of a conversation with a friend, I'll tell them to hold on because I need to take out my phone and type something funny that I just saw. If you don't write it down, you won't remember it." Just get started. What advice for someone who wants to do something? You have to do it. The way to get good is to get going. Nikki has become one of the premier comedians in the world because she's pushed past her fear and signed up for the things that she's not sure she can do. Last comic standing at age 20, celebrity roasts, hosting TV shows. She wasn't necessarily ready for any of the work she agreed to do, but she did it anyway and then figured it out. We all can learn from that. Nikki is the voice of Dave Matthews Band radio on Sirius/XM Radio. She had terrible stage fright when she was younger. Nikki would have insomnia for weeks before a classroom presentation and shake the entire time. Her first TV appearance was on Last Comic Standing when she was 20. Nikki waited in line at open auditions in Chicago in the snow. "I always wanted to be a singer. But I think that I'm also someone who's not very comfortable with sincerity and emotions." (She placed third on her season of The Masked Singer) Nikki is starting her own Taylor Swift cover band. Meeting Jerry Seinfeld – "We're walking through the bowels of the casino, and I get over to his greenroom and he greets me," Glaser said. "And he was like, 'I'm such a fan, I've watched everything you do. I pull up your YouTube clips all the time whenever I want a laugh. And you've got it, girl, you have the voice...' Jerry Seinfeld identifies "taste and discernment" as the ultimate skill of great artists. In every creative field, Seinfeld says, the dividing line between those who succeed and those who fail is the ability to discern good and bad: "It's one thing to create, " Seinfeld says. "The other is you have to choose. What are we going to do, and what are we not going to do?' This is a gigantic aspect of artistic survival. It's kind of unseen, what's picked and what is discarded, but mastering that is how you stay alive."

Jan 1, 2024

Order our new book, The Score That Matters , now! https://amzn.to/41zFYku Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: Curiosity (ask lots of questions) Willingness to try something new Compassion - Assume you don't know others' struggles Bob worked with Ed Catmull (Pixar) He was one of the best at combining curiosity, willingness to try new things, and having compassion for people Good Boss vs. Bad Boss Good bosses ask lots of questions and then make the call (John Hennessey, Stanford President) The Jumbo Grocery Stores in Holland created "slow lanes" for those who wanted to talk… They didn't want efficiency or speed, they wanted a conversation. It's a good reminder that sometimes we should slow down and enjoy our surroundings and the people we're with… Curiosity and Compassion are skills we can build. Take the experiment where they counted the number of questions versus statements and your talking time. Surround yourself with people who will give you direct feedback about your level of curiosity and compassion… When conversing with someone else, how often are you asking questions versus talking about yourself? Think about that… It's not always right to be efficient… Bob shared the Jerry Seinfeld story… The network was considering bringing in McKinsey to help Jerry become more efficient when making his show. He asked, "Are they funny?" They said, no that's not what they do. And he said, "Then I don't need them." It's not always supposed to be efficient. Sometimes, the hard way is the right way… To get the best result, it usually is. Some things Bob believes (we should all post an essay about what we believe): Indifference is as important as passion. The best leaders know what it feels like to work for them. They overcome the urge to focus attention on powerful superiors rather than their followers The best leaders think and act as trustees of their employees' and customers' time. They are "friction fixers" who hold themselves and others responsible for making the right things easier and the wrong things harder. That might mean, for example, reducing friction by eliminating and revamping meetings. "Am I a success or a failure?" is not useful. It is better to ask "What am I learning." Noam Bardin (from Waze) Laszlo Bock - For hiring, "If you need to interview someone more than 4 times, then you must get written approval." This helped speed up the process. One of the roles of the leader is to be the editor-in-chief. Great leaders are great communicators. You must become a good writer and speaker if you want to lead. Life/Career advice: Seek variation each day A chief of staff job could lead to big things (if you work for the right person) Be kind

Dec 25, 2023

Pre-order our new book, The Score That Matters https://amzn.to/47bhRto Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Dr. Barry Posner, author of The Leadership Challenge and The Truth About Leadership The 4 characteristics of leaders whom we would most choose to follow : Honest (trustworthy, they do what they say they're going to do) Competent (Smart, and constantly learning) Inspiring - Energetic, enthusiastic. Inspire means to breathe life in to... Forward-looking - They have a sense of the future. They share a compelling vision People all have values, but not everyone knows what they are. To know what our values are, we must be thoughtful and intentional about them and do the reflective work to understand what we value most. What is Kouzes and Posner's leadership theory? Their research, which they conducted over almost 20 years, suggested that leadership is not a position, but a collection of practices and behaviors. These practices serve as guidance for leaders to accomplish their achievements or "to get extraordinary things done. The Leadership Challenge – Leaders drive results and achieve goals. To face the obstacles of today and tomorrow, we need leaders at a high level. The Leadership Challenge gives everyone the tools and practices to Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, and Encourage the Hearts of those around them. "In the middle of responding to an audience question one of us was saying, "I don't know what you call something that's been the same for twenty-five years, but…," and Ken Blanchard interrupted, exclaiming, 'I'd call it the truth.'" The Truth About Leadership The first truth is that You Make a Difference. The second truth is that Credibility Is the Foundation of Leadership. If people don't believe in you, they won't willingly follow you. The third truth is that Values Drive Commitment. People want to know what you stand for and believe in. The fourth truth is that Focusing on the Future Sets Leaders Apart. The capacity to imagine and articulate exciting future possibilities is a defining competence of leaders. You have to take the long-term perspective. You Can't Do It Alone is the fifth truth. Leadership is a team sport…What strengthens and sustains the relationship between leader and constituent is that leaders are obsessed with what is best for others, not what is best for themselves. Trust Rules is the sixth truth. Trust is the social glue that holds individuals and groups together. And the level of trust others have in you will determine the amount of influence you have. You have to earn your constituents' trust before they'll be willing to trust you. That means you have to give trust before you can get trust. The seventh truth is that Challenge Is the Crucible for Greatness. Great achievements don't happen when you keep things the same. Change invariably involves a challenge, and challenge tests you. Truth number eight reminds you that You Either Lead by Example or You Don't Lead at All. Leaders have to keep their promises and become role models for the values and actions they espouse. Truth number nine is that The Best Leaders Are the Best Learners. Leaders are constant improvement fanatics, and learning is the master skill of leadership. The tenth truth is that Leadership Is an Affair of the Heart. It could also be the first truth. Leaders are in love with their constituents, their customers and clients, and the mission that they are serving. Leaders make others feel important and are gracious in showing their appreciation. Love is the motivation that energizes leaders to give so much for others. You just won't work hard enough to become great if you aren't doing what you love. Credo = Beliefs (credibility) Leadership is a team sport. You can't do it alone. We are all community-made. The best leaders are the best learners. Challenge is the crucible for greatness. Life/Career advice: Remain curious Ask questions Volunteer

Dec 18, 2023

Order The Score That Matters NOW. CLICK HERE . In The Score That Matter s, Ryan Hawk and Brook Cupps show that the internal score is what matters most—it reveals whether we are living in alignment with our purpose and values. Offering both descriptive and prescriptive advice and anecdotes, The Score That Matters will help you unlock true fulfillment and happiness by discovering your purpose, identifying your values, creating critical behaviors, and living them faithfully every day in all aspects of your life. Notes from my conversation with Marshall Goldsmith: Attributes of the best leaders he's worked with: They are courageous, they have humility, and they are disciplined. Do we all need a coach? "I don't know, but if we're honest with ourselves, we all need help. And a coach can be someone to help…" Happiness and achievement are independent variables. I felt we kept going around in circles because I'm a prescriptive thinker and like actionable takeaways. And I feel like Marshall was helping me understand it's more of a mindset. With a PhD from UCLA, Marshall is a pioneer of 360-degree feedback as a leadership development tool. His early efforts in providing feedback and then following-up with executives to measure changes in behavior were precursors to what eventually evolved as the field of executive coaching. "Fate is the hand of cards we've been dealt. The choice is how we play the hand." "Getting mad at people for being who they are makes as much sense as getting mad at a chair for being a chair." "Successful people become great leaders when they learn to shift the focus from themselves to others." "People who believe they can succeed see opportunities where others see threats." "If we do not create and control our environment, our environment creates and controls us." "A leader who cannot shoulder the blame is not someone we will follow blindly into battle. We instinctively question that individual's character, dependability, and loyalty to us. And so we hold back on our loyalty to him or her." "Peter Drucker, who said, "Our mission in life should be to make a positive difference, not to prove how smart or right we are." "People will do something—including changing their behavior—only if it can be demonstrated that doing so is in their own best interests as defined by their own values."

Dec 14, 2023

Order The Score That Matters NOW. CLICK HERE . In The Score That Matter s, Ryan Hawk and Brook Cupps show that the internal score is what matters most—it reveals whether we are living in alignment with our purpose and values. Offering both descriptive and prescriptive advice and anecdotes, The Score That Matters will help you unlock true fulfillment and happiness by discovering your purpose, identifying your values, creating critical behaviors, and living them faithfully every day in all aspects of your life. "The big question about how people behave is whether they've got an Inner Scorecard or an Outer Scorecard. It helps if you can be satisfied with an Inner Scorecard." - Warren Buffet – The inner scorecard is about eliminating comparison with others and living in alignment with what's most important to you. Your values and the behaviors to match those values. The inner scorecard eliminates the comparison of things. How to build trust? Laugh together, cry together, suffer together (do hard things). Resume virtues versus Eulogy virtues. We'll get caught up in living for our resume (promotions, money, objects) if we're not intentional. We think it's better to live for your eulogy virtues (the impact you had on people, fulfilling your purpose, living in alignment with your true values) Why a strong purpose beats a good plan: we explain how a strong purpose erases obstacles, is never about you, and is highlighted by considering death. Why being the greatest is a mirage: While greatness is a process that is attainable for all, we share why becoming the greatest is a destination that no one can reach. How to navigate the tricky art of building trust: Throughout 25 years of teaching and coaching Brook has refined the trust-building process to 3 simple actions every leader can use. How to fight the poison of comparison: Our focus on a consistent process over the societal pursuit of results seems contradictory to excellence but just may lay the foundation for its attainment. Why self-awareness is not a solo flight: The feedback we seek from special people in our life, our foxhole, reminds us that we are tougher together. Why team captains are overrated: Brook connects how the shared ownership of a team is best when all members assume the responsibility of upholding the standards. How plain and simple can bore you right to excellence: We like to complicate success, but we point back to a consistent return to the fundamentals. Brook originally learned about creating and living his core values from Coach Dick Bennett's "Pillars of Success." Brook's values are: Tough, Passionate, Unified, and Thankful. My values are: Thoughtful, Thankful, Curious, and Consistent. Foxhole friends are disagreeable givers. They are kind enough to give you honest feedback. And you do the same for them. Thankful Thursdays Send a text message, email, or handwritten note to three people you're thankful for every Thursday. Push the pace... Full-court pressing and always running a fast break on offense is living up to Brook's value of speaking and acting with urgency (unified). How Brook coaches his team to play: "Our anchor defensively is no comfort, no vision. We want you to never be comfortable. And we want the same thing offensively. We say simple and together, but we think of pressing you offensively too. We don't want you to be comfortable. We want you to be on your heels."

Dec 11, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com X/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 The SAVERS acronym – Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing. If you implement that consistently, you'll probably do better. 72% of people said they were not a morning person before implementing SAVERS. The makeup of a great sales professional: They are coachable... They bring energy and enthusiasm to the job... They are consistent. They can handle rejection and keep going. They focus on the process... Affirmations: First, affirm what you're committed to. Next, why is it a must for you, and finally, affirm the specific actions you will take and when. That's how you bring affirmations to life… Hal died for 6 minutes, broke 11 bones, suffered permanent brain damage, and was told by doctors that he would never walk again. Then, at age 37, he nearly died again when his heart, lungs, and kidneys were on the verge of failing, and he was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer. "Any time you find yourself "wishing" you were further along than you are, or comparing where you are with where someone else is, keep in mind that when you finally get to point you've been working towards for so long, you never wish it would have happened any sooner. Instead, you see that the journey and the timing are perfect. So be at peace with where you are while maintaining a healthy sense of urgency to make the consistent progress each day that will ensure you get to wherever it is that you want to go. " "Those who only do what they feel like, don't do much. To be successful at anything you must take action even when you don't feel like it, knowing it is the action itself that will produce the motivation you need to follow through." "It's temporary. Tolerate it, accept it, embrace it, or enjoy it. Whatever it is, just know that it is temporary." "The moment you accept 100% responsibility for EVERY aspect of your life is the moment that you claim the power to change ANY aspect of your life. I think where people get caught up with this is when someone else is to blame for a situation. But understand that accepting responsibility is NOT the same as accepting blame. While blame determines who is at fault for something, responsibility determines who is committed to improving a situation. It really doesn't matter who was at fault; all that matters is that YOU are committed to improving and creating the circumstances you want for your life, regardless of who is at fault. That's what taking responsibility is all about."

Dec 4, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 "Your personal experiences make up maybe 0.00000001% of what's happened in the world but maybe 80% of how you think the world works." "All behaviors make sense with enough information." The best story wins: Good stories have an extraordinary ability to inspire and evoke positive emotions, bringing insight and attention to topics that people tend to ignore when they've previously been presented with nothing but facts. Stories are more powerful than statistics. And most statistics are incomplete props to justify a story. Stories are easier to remember, easier to relate to, and emotionally persuasive. Progress requires optimism and pessimism to coexist: A rational optimist. - Save like a pessimist and invest like an optimist. - Plan like a pessimist and dream like an optimist. "It's supposed to be hard." – Everything worth pursuing comes with a little pain. The trick is not minding it hurts. It's impossible to plan for what you can't imagine. - Invest in preparedness, not in prediction. - Realize that if you're only preparing for the risks you can envision, you'll be unprepared for the risks you can't see every single time. Fostering envy vs. admiration. Are you creating envy by what you post on social media? "People admire you when you are pursuing something, not when you have it." Reasonable Optimists: Once people believe in a better future – for themselves and others – they become willing to take risks, work hard, sacrifice near-term comfort, delay gratification, and cooperate with others, all of which are the raw ingredients of economic and social progress. A realistic optimist is someone who knows that what happens in any given day, month, or year will be surprising, disappointing, difficult, and mostly out of your control. But they know with equal confidence that what happens in any given decade or generation is likely to be pretty good, bending heavily toward progress. The reasonable optimist expects the world to break all the time. But they know – as a matter of faith – that if they can survive the day-to-day fractures they'll capture the up-and-to-the-right arc over time. Writing: I think "know your audience" can be dangerous advice for writers. Write stuff you yourself find interesting and entertaining. Writing for yourself is fun, and it shows. Writing for others is work, and it shows. If you're efficient, you're doing it the wrong way (Jerry Seinfeld micro-managed everything about his show). Counterintuitive. Highlights the dangers of shortcuts. Be careful what you wish for: A carefree and stress-free life sounds wonderful only until you recognize the motivation and progress it prevents. Hardship is the most potent fuel of problem-solving. And what makes life mean something is purpose. A goal. Read less news and more books. If you read good books, you'll have an easier time figuring out what you should pay attention to. (News isn't timeless. Good books are) Writing: People don't remember books, blogs, or articles. They remember sentences. That should be your goal: a collection of memorable sentences. One good line is infinitely more powerful than a few clumsy paragraphs. Mr Beast tells aspiring YouTubers to make 100 videos and he'll give them feedback and advice. 2 things happen. 98% never get close and give up. The 2% who do, no longer need his help. People use success as an indication of what to keep doing. But most success plants the seeds of its own demise, so what people think works and try to copy is always changing. Keep running - There is never a time when an investor can discover an investing strategy and be confident it will continue working indefinitely. The world changes, and competitors create their own little twist that exploits and snuffs out your niche. Same with careers, job skills, relationships, and countries. It's hard to accept that you have to put in a ton of work just to stay in one place, but that's how it works. Keep running. Acceptable Flaws -- Short-term thinking is the root of most of our problems in business, investing, and politics. But I get why it happens. It has to happen. Short-term thinking can be the only way you'll survive long enough to experience long-term results. It's an acceptable flaw. Useful Biases -- Reasonable ignorance – intentionally limiting your diligence in order to avoid decision paralysis in a world where everything, if you dig deep enough, is more complicated than it seems. (the paradox of choice). Progress happens too slowly for people to notice; setbacks happen too fast for people to ignore. "Stop telling kids they can be whatever they want to be. You can be whatever you're good at, as long as they're hiring. And even then it helps to know someone." -- Chris Rock A good test when reading the news is to constantly ask, "Will I still care about this story in a year? Two years? Five years?" "Money buys happiness in the same way drugs bring pleasure: incredible if done right, dangerous if used to mask a weakness, and disastrous when no amount is enough." "I'm not interested in anything that's not sustainable. Friendships, investing, careers, podcasts, reading habits, exercise habits... If I can't keep it going, I'm not interested in it." "I know people who have a lot of money, and they get hospital wings named after them. But the truth is nobody in the world loves them. If you get to my age and nobody thinks well of you, I don't care how big your bank account is, your life is a disaster."

Nov 27, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 The power of believing in someone. Mr. Duncan, Shane's high school English teacher was the first person to tell him that he believed in him. He changed the trajectory of Shane's life. We, as leaders, can do that for others. Let's proactively look for opportunities to tell the people we're leading that we believe in them. The difference between Nice and Kind feedback. Too often, the people we ask for feedback are nice but not kind. Kind people will tell you things a nice person will not. A kind person will tell you that you have spinach on your teeth. A nice person won't because it's uncomfortable. A kind person will tell us what holds us back, even when it's uncomfortable. A nice person avoids giving us critical feedback because they're worried about hurting our feelings. Champions: "Champions don't create the standards of excellence. The standards of excellence create champions." "Expecting high performance is a prerequisite to its achievement among those who work with you. Your high standards and optimistic anticipations will not guarantee a favorable outcome, but their absence will assuredly create the opposite." The USS Benfold — was one of the worst-performing warships in the US Navy in 1996. The destiny of the USS Benfold changed the day Michael Abrashoff was named commander. Shane was 13 years old. Shane was standing with a group of his friends after school and they were teasing one of his classmates and he was watching. Teachers intervened and it ended quickly. He didn't realize that your dad was parked nearby and was watching. You have to stand up for people who don't have a voice. Warren Buffett: "The big question about how people behave is whether they've got an Inner Scorecard or an Outer Scorecard. It helps if you can be satisfied with an Inner Scorecard." Brent Beshore: "My favorite part of the book was the section on habits, rules, and safeguards (page 101). A principle that Shane and I discussed in January changed my life and was expounded on in the book. Shane said, "It's impossible to work out very often if you have to decide every day whether or not you'll do it. That's why I just do something active every day, no matter what." Solutions/Ego: "Solutions appear when you stop bargaining and start accepting the reality of the situation. That's because focusing on the next move, rather than how you got here in the first place, opens you up to a lot of possibilities. When you put outcome over ego, you get better results." "Small plans don't inspire, but consistently small actions create incredible results." Knowing Your Defaults: The emotion default - We tend to respond to feelings rather than reasons and facts The ego default - We tend to react to anything that threatens our sense of self-worth or our position in a group hierarchy The social default - We tend to conform to the norms of our larger social group. The Inertia default - We're habit-forming and comfort-seeking. We tend to resist change, and to prefer ideas, processes, and environments that are familiar. Ancient Greek word — Phronesis— the wisdom of knowing how to order your life to achieve the best results. Life/Career advice: "I'd give the same advice to someone who's trying to find someone to marry. Go on lots of dates. Experiment. Do stuff. Get out in the world. You can only connect the dots looking backward." If you want to develop good judgment, start by asking two questions: What do I want in life? And is what I want actually worth wanting?

Nov 20, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 How can I become a high-rung thinker? High-rung thinking is independent thinking, leaving you free to revise your ideas or even discard them altogether. On the low rungs, it means you're working to dutifully serve your ideas, not the other way around. How can I be the boss of the ideas in my own head? When you're the boss of the ideas in your head, you're always willing to revise them. When there's no amount of evidence that will change your mind about something, it means that idea is your boss. Humility is the awareness that no idea is worthy of being your boss. Best advice Tim has ever received: "I met Chris Anderson, the head of TED, in 2015. He had read a few WBW posts and offered me the opportunity to give a TED Talk at the 2016 conference (which was six months away). Immediately full of both gratitude/excitement and dread/anxiety, I asked him if it might be better to wait a couple years until I had some more speaking experience. He paused thoughtfully for a few seconds before saying, " There's no time like the present ." I took his advice. Since then, his voice saying those words has popped into my head again and again during hard decisions, and I'm yet to regret following them." Great advice is sometimes great because it's totally original or framed in an original way. But, as in my story, a well-known platitude, at the perfect moment , can also make a huge impact. What makes Chris's advice so valuable to me wasn't that it was something new—it was that the lesson I learned from taking the advice in that particular moment turned a cliché into a mantra. No one "builds a house." They lay one brick again and again and again and the end result is a house. A remarkable, glorious achievement is just what a long series of unremarkable, unglorious tasks looks like from far away. "If I aired a highlight reel of your most selfish life moments and most shameful thoughts, you'd seem like an awful person. If I aired a reel of your best, kindest moments, you'd seem like a saint. But people aren't highlight reels, and the unedited cut is always a messy mix!" Kids Asking WHY? When kids repeatedly ask "why?" they're trying to see the underlying reasoning behind what they're told by authorities. "Because I said so" rejects that instinct and says "stop reasoning and obey." We then become adults who only know how to trust authorities other than ourselves. High Rung Thinking: Rung 1 - Thinking like a Scientist. When you're thinking like a scientist, you start at point A and follow evidence wherever it takes you. Rung 2 - Thinking like a sports fan. They want the game played fairly, but they really want the process to yield a certain outcome. Rung 3 - Thinking like an attorney. When you think like an attorney, you start from point B. The client is not guilty. Now let's figure out why. They cherry-pick evidence and piece it together to make an argument that leads where you want it to. Rung 4 - Thinking like a zealot. Their ideas aren't rugged experiments to be kicked around, they're fragile, precious babies to be adored and protected. The zealot doesn't have to go from A to B to know their viewpoints are correct– they just know they are. With 100% conviction. Life/Career advice: "I'd give the same advice to someone who's trying to find someone to marry. Go on lots of dates. Experiment. Do stuff. Get out in the world. You can only connect the dots looking backward."

Nov 13, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 "Amateurs focus on outcome. Professionals focus on process." And if you want to change the process, focus on just one change at a time. He used the fly fishing analogy. You don't change all three at once. Try one change and re-evaluate. I love the idea of creating a personal checklist for yourself much like pilots fill out every time before they fly a plane. We should all create our checklist and fill it out consistently. This is a great tool to become more self-aware. Top performers have a thirst for feedback in victory and defeat. The leaders who sustain excellence over time are intentional about surrounding themselves with a kitchen cabinet who is there to regularly provide feedback so that they can iterate and improve. That's one of the biggest differences between those who sustain excellence over time and those who don't. Goal Setting 34%-42% chance of hitting a goal if you ideate it 62% chance of hitting a goal if you write it down 75% chance of hitting a goal if you verbally share it with others Eric developed a psychological "resilience" test that when combined with data on the candidate's physical characteristics became a very good predictor of who would fail BUD/S (97%). While working with the Navy SEALs in San Diego, Eric frequently had guests come to observe the SEALs and how they worked. A lot of them were professional athletes like Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong, Michael Phelps, and many more… While there, Eric asked to interview them. Over time he was able to build an extensive knowledge base of the mental approaches of the world's top performers. "If your brain is firing, it's wiring." Learned from downhill skiers... Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: They accelerate what they value. They move from reputation to identity. They worry less about what others think. One of the biggest regrets of people on their deathbed is that they regret what they didn't do . Capitlize now to have no regrets later. Create a credo (your identity) Mindset They have a growth mindset (instead of a fixed mindset) They are thirsty for feedback (they want feedback in victory and defeat) Eric is agnostic about motivations - Clean fuel vs Dirty fuel They have different mindsets for the roles they play Think of yourself as a dimmer switch -- Sometimes you're white hot, sometimes you need to dim down Efficient and Consistent They manage their time well They sleep 8 hours They don't let life dictate what's important to them. Time = Currency. Block time for what's most important. Color code your calendar. Adversity Tolerance They control their human stress response They have a pre and post-performance routine They set goals They use visualization tools They compartmentalize well They use positive self-talk (they believe) They are good contingency planners They have high levels of self-awareness Like a pilot, they have checklists for themselves Balance and Recovery The more balanced, the more productive Feed all of your pillars Work Health Relationships Hobbies Spirituality Legacy Leadership role "Must-Haves" Emotional Intelligence - "Feel for a room" Empathy - Put our own perspective aside to understand others Curiosity - A desire to learn, to know more

Nov 6, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Charisma: Presence, Power, and Warmth - Show up, be fully there. In that moment with the person in front of you. Flip the switch. Understand your power. And deeply care for others. Be warm, not cold. And it's important that each of these is expressed with authenticity. That's how to develop more charisma. How to develop our protocol - A simple exercise. Get a sheet of paper. On one side write "DO." On the other side, write "DON'T." Think of yourself at your best, what do you do? That's your protocol. And remember that the worse you feel, the more committed you need to be to your protocol It's always day one. Brian thinks of his time spent with the Navy SEALs. They work to earn their trident every single day. Today is the day. It's always the right day to earn it. It's always day 1. Arete – An ancient Greek word. We translate it into English as 'virtue' or 'excellence,' but it has a deeper meaning. Something closer to 'expressing the best version of yourself moment to moment to moment.' Inter-leaving - The basic idea is simple: If you want to learn something, you're better off varying your practice rather than grooving one identical rep after another. Epictetus - One of his students took great lecture notes and captured his wisdom in a manual called the Enchiridion . The Greek word for Enchiridion is translated as "handbook," and it's important to note that the word literally means "within" + "hand." Intrinsic versus Extrinsic motivation – Which motivation leads to greater levels of happiness and flourishing? Why? It's why people who get to the peak of what David Brooks calls the "First Mountain" look around and wonder why they don't feel fulfilled. They got all the stuff they were told would make them happy and… they're not. Phil Stutz wrote the Foreword – Practice comprised of unusual people. "They refuse to be defined by any single accomplishment. Their Identity is based on a process of endless possibility. They don't stop creating." Two primary obstacles getting in our way are fear and laziness . This comes from Phil Stutz... AM and PM Bookends – "Get these right and you're 80% there." Targeted thinking - What do I want? What's needed to get that done? Consistency - "Who you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say." Unshakeable confidence -- Anti-fragile confidence. You have intense trust that you have what it takes to respond. Anti-Fragility - The more life kicks you around, the better you get. Emotional stamina - The worse you feel, the more committed you are to your protocol. Protocol - Think of yourself at your best... What are you doing? Hero - An ancient Greek word for protector Get clear on your identity Sleep, meditate, work out, work, love Pilots have checklists before they fly a plane... We should use one too each day. Create your "Do" and "Don't" list Intrinsic vs Extrinsic motivation -- Deepend relationships, help in your community, focus on your eulogy virtues today... Hire a coach... We all need a coach A great coach has believable hope, they see your potential

Oct 29, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Greg Harden is best known for working with 7-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. He also worked with Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard, and 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. Brady, Howard, and other athletes credit Harden with inspiring them to overcome obstacles and achieve success in their professional and personal lives. He's the author of Stay Sane in an Insane World: How to Control the Controllables and Thrive . The book debuted at #1 on all of Amazon and is a New York Times bestseller. WATCH this conversation on YouTube. And SUBSCRIBE! Read my book, The Pursuit Of Excellence -- See why Patrick Lencioni said " This book is an absolute must-read if you care to live an excellent life ." FORBES called WELCOME TO MANAGEMENT , " the best leadership book of 2020 ." Be part of "Mindful Monday" -- Text Hawk to 66866 Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "You need to become the world's greatest expert on one subject. Yourself." We need to do the work to better understand who we are, what we're scared of, why we say the things to ourselves that we do, and how to improve. It's hard, but very necessary work. And the fun part about it is it never ends… Courage is not about being fearless. Courage is about facing your fears. It's about turning that fear into fire and passion. For people to say that they are fearless… That isn't realistic. We all have fears. It's about how we handle them and the courage we show in the face of fear. Commonalities of people who sustain excellence: commitment to continuous improvement, humble, hungry, coachable, and they continue to push. They are driven and it never stops. "My real obsession is to convince an individual that they have to determine for themselves what sort of man, what sort of woman they want to be. The goal is to make people experts on themselves." Control the controllables... "Tom Brady turned his haters into a source of motivation." "Surrender the ego." Do a SWOT analysis on yourself: Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Identify 2-3 people in your life that you trust to also do a SWOT analysis on you... Miles Miller had a boss who fired him and an ex-girlfriend do a SWOT analysis on him and it was one of the most useful that Greg had ever seen... Create an accountability partner for yourself Identify self-defeating attitudes, behaviors, and language you use. They can sabotage you. Self-Talk: We all talk to ourselves. We need to change the internal dialogue from negative to positive. "The greatest competition is between your ears." Mastery: Capture your negative self-talk on paper. You'll be surprised how much you do it and how it impacts you. Instead of beating yourself up about it, be amused by it. Be critically conscious of it though... Separate the behavior from the person... It's not, "You're a bad person." It's, "You made a poor choice." Public speaking: Understand your audience and what they need to hear Memorize your first 2 minutes cold There is a thin line between anxious and excitement... "Turn your feat into fire and passion." "Courage is not about not having fear. Courage is about facing your fears." "Practice, train, repeat. Practice, train, repeat." Hiring leaders: "See how they deal with uncertainty. Bring extra people into the room. Create an environment that isn't what they expected. See how they respond." Life/Career advice: "If you had to work and not get paid, what would you do? The pursuit of purpose is half of the fun." Apply to be part of my Leadership Circle Resources: Read: The Pursuit Of Excellence Read: WELCOME TO MANAGEMENT Be part of "Mindful Monday" -- Text HAWK to 66866 Read: Stay Sane in an Insane World: How to Control the Controllables and Thrive Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 Time Stamps

Oct 22, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 What makes a great interview? They tell stories It feels like your eavesdropping on their conversation (he takes you inside) He disarms them with humor Ask shorter questions… Take care of your people… Dan has had the Dannettes with him for many years. He listens to his teammates, Makes them part of his show, and truly cares for him. In return, they are there for him every day. It seems obvious, but it's not. Dan is evidence that this approach works… Dan has been influenced by Howard Stern's interviewing style of always being curious... And he makes his staff part of the show. "I love being a voice in your head. You're in your car, driving, and I love being that voice in your head." Interviewing... Manage the tension. "Shorter questions get better answers." Dan met Adam Sandler at Madison Square Garden and agreed that he would be cast in his next movie... He has since been cast in many more. Dan shares the story of meeting Dave Matthews, spilling his beer on him, and then later singing karaoke with him. Dan is the author of The Occasionally Accurate Annals of Football: The NFL's Greatest Players, Plays, Scandals, and Screw-Ups (Plus Stuff We Totally Made Up) Leaving ESPN – Dan admitted he was hurt when good friend, Sports Illustrated writer Rick Reilly (who would move to ESPN) wrote, "Patrick was making one of the top 5 biggest career mistakes in entertainment history," ranking right under Shelley Long's leaving Cheers and Katie Couric's leaving NBC's Today show for the CBS Evening News . Life/Career advice: Be humble, be hungry, have humility, and be ready to go when your opportunity presents itself. The old adage rings true, "You don't have to get ready if you stay ready." Always be ready for your opportunity. Retirement Tour – Dan Patrick announces he plans to continue the Dan Patrick Show for the next four-and-a-half years with the intention of retiring at the end of 2027.

Oct 15, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Change happens when we feel empowered. It's on us to take responsibility for our lives and help others take responsibility for theirs. As leaders, change is more likely to happen for the people we are serving if we help them feel empowered. Listening is not a passive activity. Take it seriously. It starts with genuinely caring for the person you're in conversation with. "Being disliked is a rite of passage." Being disliked is normal. Being uncomfortable about being disliked is also normal. Reminding your Self that how you feel about your Self matters more than how others feel about you is key. Sense of self – "Sense of self is not something that is found… We create our sense of self…" "My interest in psychology stems from my personal experience living through wars, navigating complex relationships, and continually learning what it means to be human." This book is about facing ourselves –whatever version that might be, regardless of whether or not we like the person we see reflected back to us. It's about what's possible once we realize that we are responsible for who we become and how we live our lives (a daunting, but profoundly liberating idea). IT'S ON US to figure out the two most essential questions: "Who am I" and "Why am I here?" and then live accordingly. "I am thankful for my struggle because, without it, I wouldn't have stumbled across my strength." Repeat out loud: "I will stop giving second chances to people who don't want it, won't use it, or don't deserve it." "The deepest form of loneliness comes from being estranged from ourselves, not from others." "Comparison doesn't just steal our joy, it also screws with our perspective." "Mistakes don't have to define you. But what you choose to do after a mistake often does." "Just a gentle reminder: The worst-case scenario that you're playing out in your head is probably not going to happen." "Don't confuse the snippets you get to see of someone's life (through media or a casual conversation) as their whole story. Give each other the courtesy of curiosity. Allow people to be undefined in your mind. Actively seek to see them, and allow them to show you who they are." "If you don't have all the information, stop filling in the blanks with your imagination, fears or projections. It's better to learn to sit with an unclear picture than to carry around an inaccurate one." "Instant gratification can be a form of self-harm." "If you're doing the work, you deserve to be with someone who is also doing the work. It's simple." "Relationship tip: When someone tells you what they want (or don't want) through words or actions — listen. Stop assuming you know better than they do. It's not your job to read their mind, anticipate their needs, or save them."

Oct 8, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 What's the Matthew Effect? The Matthew effect explains how two people can start in nearly the same place and end up worlds apart. In these kinds of systems, initial conditions matter. And as time goes on, they matter more and more. Instead of saving a fixed percentage of your income, save more when you earn more and less when you make less. The best way to save more is to earn more, not cut expenses to the point of being miserable. The real question money forces us to answer is what's important to us in life. You should save what you can, when you can. Relying on a fixed, prescribed savings rate is nonsense. The Dolly Varden trout, an Alaskan fish species, puzzled biologists for decades. Despite only having a brief window of plentiful food each year — when salmon laid eggs in their waters — the fish continued to thrive year-round. How did they do it? Eventually, scientists discovered that the fish shrink and grow their digestive organs depending on food availability. When the salmon show up, they speed up their metabolism so they can take in more calories. Then, when the other fish leave, they slow down digestion. This way, they get by with much less food throughout the remainder of the year. Great Things Take Time – Focusing on the long term is more important than ever. The story of the "Dashrath Manjhi Breakthrough" – He carved a path through a mountain. He moved a little bit of rock each day for 20 years. Nick committed to writing one blog per week in 2017. And it changed his life. He learned that storytelling is what captures a reader's attention. And the way to develop good stories is to read a lot, from a wide variety of sources. We all can do this. One decision can change everything. NASA decided that Voyager 2 would slingshot around planets has made it the farthest man-made object from Earth. And it's still producing information for us. The Constant Reminder – How the Right Decisions and Compounding Can Lead to Huge Results. How have the decisions made by NASA 40 years ago had a profound effect on the Voyager missions and success to this day? Once a successful process is implemented, the results can be surprising. The point is to show you that making the right choices and letting things run their course can lead to incredible results. This is what makes consistent actions and the power of compounding so amazing. "When I think about creating a new habit in my life, I like to imagine all of the future benefits from that habit discounted back to the moment when the habit is formed."

Oct 1, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 The pursuit of mastery is part of a process. It's an orientation towards experience. It's about being fully absorbed in the moment. Our fear of other people's opinions (FOPO) has become irrational and unproductive, and its negative effects reach far beyond performance. If you start paying less and less attention to what makes you you— your talents, beliefs, and values—and start conforming to what others may or may not think, you'll harm your potential. Acknowledgments: "To Lisa, the love of my life. "It's because of you that I no longer pray for calm waters, but to rather test the strength of our sails." Basing self-worth on performance – when the core motivation of pursuing excellence is proving our self-worth, mistakes, failures, opinions, and criticism are experienced as threats rather than learning opportunities. A Learner's Mindset - A student came to a renowned monk and asked to learn about Zen Buddhism. Shortly after the monk launched into his discourse, the student interrupted him and said, "Oh, I already know that" in an attempt to impress the monk. The monk suggested they discuss the matter over tea. When the tea was ready, the monk poured the tea into a teacup, filled it to the brim—and then continued to pour—spilling tea over the sides of the cup and onto the table. The student watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself, "Stop! You can't pour tea into a full cup." The monk set the teapot down and replied, "Exactly. Return to me when your cup is empty." "Anchoring our sense of self in discovery is not a cop-out to avoid committing to who we are; rather, it's simply an acknowledgment that we change with time." Harvard psychology professor Dan Gilbert points out, "Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they're finished." Purpose over Approval – From a young age, we are conditioned to seek approval. Over time, we develop a built-in mechanism to check outside ourselves to see if everything is okay. But… we have another choice. That is our purpose… "Purpose is the belief that you are alive to do something. It is an internally derived, generalized intention that's both meaningful to you and consequential to the world beyond you." Optimism isn't soft. in fact, it sits at the center of mental toughness. Have you conditioned your mind for optimism? Dr. Mike has worked with Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, and his leadership team to develop psychological principles and practices for high-performing teams and cultures. As a sport psychology consultant, he was a member of the Seattle Seahawks team for 9 seasons, including two back-to-back Super Bowl appearances (winning in 2014). His primary objective was to assist Head Coach, Pete Carroll, to build a mindset-based culture. For Red Bull Stratos, Dr. Mike helped Felix Baumgartner manage his mind and body under pressure for his record-setting skydive from 128,000 feet. We need to make a fundamental commitment to practice at the edge of our capacity. One of the prompts I use in my life is, "What did I do today to push my edges?" What did I do that was uncomfortable… And making the commitment to stack day after day of pushing my edges makes that comfort zone bigger and bigger. Ask yourself, "What did I do today to push my edges?" FOPO shows up almost everywhere in our lives—and the consequences are great. When we let FOPO take control, we play it safe and small because we're afraid of what will happen on the other side of critique. When challenged, we surrender our viewpoint. We trade in authenticity for approval. We please rather than provoke. We chase the dreams of others rather than our own.

Sep 24, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Gratitude – For Tim's last speech as a congressman, he said "It's an honor to be a citizen of the United States. I think we get out of this mess we're in, the polarization, the hate, the anger, the fear… The first step out of that is with gratitude." Tim opens by sharing the impact his high school football coaches had on him and why playing quarterback at John F. Kennedy High School prepared him for life as a leader... In 2002, Tim ran for the United States House of Representatives for the 17th District. Tim was initially seen as an underdog in a 6-way primary. He was elected at age 29. "There is an exhausted majority in the country, and they feel like they don't have any political home at all," Ryan said, describing his target audience as those who have been "checking out." "That's maddening because that gives a bigger voice to those forces of division and hate and anger, so we want to build an organization that welcomes these people to participate." AOC endorsed Tim for his Senate run in 2022. And he said, "It's not helpful here. Nor did I seek it." David Axelrod said about Tim's 2022 Senate Run that " he's running the best campaign in the country. And the best campaign in the country may not be enough ." "Dave Matthews has inspired me to live a better life, to do what's right, that it's okay to care about each other." "There may be some things where we don't agree, but I think we need to have decent people that care about us in government, and I think Tim is a decent man." -- Dave Matthews "I'm honored to have Dave Matthews, one of my absolute favorite musicians, in the Buckeye State to fire up our team and bring this thing home." Being in the moment – The campaign trail is grueling. Every day is a new town with new people. And you need to get up and give your stump speech, listen to people, and tell compelling stories. His mantra of "I am only in control of this stump speech," and Tim's ability to stay in the moment was critical and is a key reason why he's done so well over the years. Tim's grandfather… And the impact he had on his life. "He was there." Regardless of the weather or whatever he had going on, Tim felt his grandfather's presence as a servant leader. This is an excellent reminder for us as leaders that our first job is to show up consistently for those we are leading.

Sep 17, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 " Intention means every decision, from the most obviously significant to the seemingly mundane, matters." "My dad says " The best way to learn is to teach." He taught me to study for tests as if I were going in to deliver a presentation. At EMP, I made teaching part of our culture." "Public speaking is a leadership skill." Excellence is about small details — A couple of examples of that were lighting and music. "Maybe people don't notice every single individual detail, but in aggregate, they're powerful. In any great business, most of the details you closely attend to are ones that only a tiny, tiny percentage of people will notice." "Some of the best advice I ever got about starting in a new organization is; Don't cannonball. Ease into the pool." Magic: "Too many people approach creative brainstorming by taking what's practical into consideration way too early in the process. Start with what you want to achieve, instead of limiting yourself to what's realistic or sustainable." "Sometimes magic is just someone spending more time on something than anyone else might reasonably expect." – Penn and Teller "Often, the perfect moment to give someone more responsibility is before they're ready." The daily 30-minute meeting: "A daily 30-minute meeting is where a collection of individuals becomes a team." Find hidden treasures: Will's dad had his own platoon in Vietnam. It wasn't a great platoon. On it was a guy nicknamed Kentucky, Kentucky was lazy and wasn't in great shape. He wasn't that smart, but he was skilled directionally and had a great feel for being in the woods. "A leader's responsibility is to identify the strengths of the people on their team, no matter how buried those strengths might be." "Business like life is all about how you make people feel. It's that simple and that hard." - Danny Meyer "In restaurants, our reason for being is to make people feel, seen, it's to make them feel welcome, it's to give them a sense of belonging. The food, the service, the design, they are simply ingredients in the recipe of human connection" "The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. I still give The One Minute Manager to every person I promote. It's an amazing resource, in particular on how to give feedback. My biggest takeaways were: Criticize the behavior, not the person. Praise in public; criticize in private. Praise with emotion, criticize without emotion." "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" "What criticism offers you, then, is an invitation to have your perspective challenged—or at least to grow by truly considering it. You might stick with a choice you've been criticized for or end up somewhere completely different. The endgame isn't the point as much as the process: you grow when you engage with another perspective and decide to decide again." "The aggregation of marginal gains," or a small improvement in a lot of areas. In his words: "The whole principle came from the idea that if you broke down everything you could think of that goes into riding a bike, and then improve it by 1 percent, you will get a significant increase when you put them all together."

Sep 10, 2023

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Receive a carefully curated email each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote the foreword. "I've known Adam for more than 10 years. In addition to being one of the smartest people in nutrition I've met, he's the perfect person to blaze a better path that provides a more direct, realistic, and effective way to improve your health and mindset and achieve your goals." Take the attitude of an intern . Adam shares how he impressed Arnold Schwarzenegger. Be kind. Show up. Be consistent. Do great work. Don't be greedy. Be generous. And keep going. That great work led to the introduction to LeBron James. Adam has done a great job of making the most of the luck he's received. Self-perception: how changing your thoughts and releasing mental baggage make adopting new behaviors, such as eating healthy, easier. This is a thorough examination of why most diet plans fail, including research and case studies that demonstrate the inefficacy of restriction. Book Dedication: "Dad, You were given a death sentence and turned it into a life sentence. That's the power of a different mindset. Thanks for showing me the way. I love you." Adam's dad was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and he's been very optimistic in the face of it. "Most people fail physically because they are broken mentally." Inversion: Start at the end. Anticipate that you didn't achieve your goal, and ask why? And then ask, how do I prevent that from happening? The three tactical things you can do: Self-perception - Believe you can do it Find things you love and don't remove them Add 1 or 2 new behaviors that are easy to win How to manage your diet: Slow down your eating Create a meal boundary (have open and closed kitchen times) Low fat vs Low carbs - Protein and fiber are needed Have no 0% weeks. Make progress.

Sep 3, 2023

Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Mindful Monday is a carefully curated email you'll receive each Monday morning. Eric Musselman is the head men's basketball coach at the University of Arkansas. Prior to his time at Arkansas, he was a head coach in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings. He's also spent time as the national coach for the Dominican Republic National Team and The Venezuela National Team. Learn from others. Muss shared many examples of times he's gone to other practices to watch and learn. He prefers to watch how and NFL runs practice and he's modeled his practices after NFL teams. And sends his coaches to do the same. This is something we should do in corporate America. Connect with leaders at other companies and visit them. Watch their meetings, their 1 on 1s, and embed yourself in their culture for a few days. When Muss got fired as the coach of the Golden State Warriors, he was offered office space (from Mike Lombardi) at the Oakland Raiders facility. While there, he learned the ins and outs of running a professional program and has modeled a lot of his system from that experience. Leadership "Must-Haves" to be on his staff: Loyalty Will to win Specialty area of expertise Meetings: PREPARE a lot. Grab their attention. Keep them on their toes with surprises. All of these things can be done in business meetings… BUT it takes time and effort to do it well. Muss's life philosophy is to be a constant learner AND a great communicator. He takes pages of notes with him to the gym every morning and reads, takes notes, and highlights the entire time. Then he synthesizes what he's learned and shares it with his team. We all can do this. Again, it takes intentional effort, but it's worth it. At the beginning of each practice, he does a "classroom" session with his team. He teaches a life lesson or a lesson on basketball. Family Coaching Legacy – Musselman's father Bill was also an NBA head coach and they were the first father-son combination to become head coaches in the NBA. His sons work with him at Arkansas. "Muss is a magician with how he communicates with referees." He works to build a genuine relationship with them. His coaching staff has metrics they produce that help him engineer how playing time and combinations of players on the floor can produce a win. His practices are legendary. Like a well-oiled machine. Everyone has a role. And they are open to the public. If a player isn't in a drill, he better be on the sideline dribbling or practicing his game in some way. Always improving, always working. Muss has a reputation for being the college coach who can get you to the NBA. He is extremely well-connected in the NBA. If a kid wants to enter the draft, Muss will do his homework to see where he thinks he'll get drafted, and then sit down with the kid and his parents to give him feedback. He revolutionized the use of the transfer portal and is extremely organized when a new prospect pops up. On his blog, Musselman wrote about the importance of matching an offense to the "team's makeup." Depending on the roster, a half-court offense might make more sense. In other cases, a team may be better suited for an "open offense." According to Musselman, the idea is to allow players to "play to their strengths."

Aug 27, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 How to respond instead of react… The 4 P's: Pause Process Plan Proceed — Using the 4 Ps will increase your chances of responding better than reacting quickly Non-Dual thinking. It's not this OR that. It's this AND that. It's not self-discipline or self-compassion. It can be both. As we learn more, we become more reasonable. The world is not black and white. We can live in the gray and embrace it. Brad's core values: Life is the doing of his life (activities, health, workouts, showing up) Love is the being of his life (family, being there for the most important people) A new model for navigating change and disorder – A neuroscientist and a biologist coined the phrase allostasis . Allostasis comes from the Greek allo , which means "variable," and stasis, which means "standing." Allostasis is defined as "Stability through change." When Brad went to the University of Michigan, he couldn't go to football games. "It felt pointless to be in the stands instead of on the field, too close to something the loss of which I was still grieving." Science shows that when you fight change, your body releases the stress hormone cortisol. Hard Times are always hard – But with practice, they get easier… In a multi-year study of more than 2,000 adults aged 18 to 101 published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, University of Buffalo psychologist, Mark Seery and colleagues found that people who had experienced medium levels of adversity were both higher-functioning and more satisfied with their lives than those who had experienced extremely high levels of adversity as well as those who had experienced hardly any adversity at all… Five Questions for Embracing Change: Where in your life are you pursuing fixity where it might be beneficial to open yourself to the possibility, or in some cases, the inevitability of change? In what parts of your life are you holding on to unrealistic expectations? Are there elements of your identity to which you cling too tightly? How might you use your core values– the rugged and flexible boundaries of your identity– to help you navigate the challenges of your life? In what circumstances do you tend to react when you would benefit from responding, and what conditions predispose you to that? 10 Tools for Developing Rugged Flexibility: Embrace non-dual thinking Adopt a being orientation Frequently update your expectations to match reality Practice tragic optimism, commit to wise hop, and take wise action Actively differentiate and integrate your sense of self View the world with independent and interdependent lenses Respond to change with the 4 Ps Lean on routines (and rituals) to provide stabiliy during periods of disorder Use behavioral activation Don't force meaning and growth; let them come on their own time True confidence comes from evidence, and it allows you to OWN YOUR SEAT. Owning your seat does not mean certainty, nor does it mean a complete lack of doubts. It means taking your doubts with you and stepping into the arena no less—because you've done the work. Easy: showing up when you are at your best and everything is clicking. Hard: showing up when you are in a hole and the current is going against you. Most everyone can do the former. But it's the latter that has a huge impact on lasting progress, fulfillment, and success. Progress is nonlinear. Keep pounding the stone. Some days nothing happens. Some days it cracks a little bit more. Occasionally, it splits wide open. The implication of this truth is both simple and significant: If you're addicted to visible progress, then sooner or later, you'll burn out of whatever you're pursuing. This is a big reason so many people quit after the honeymoon phase of trying something new. Brad's 3 non-negotiable daily practices for physical and mental well-being: 1. Forty-five to ninety minutes of physical activity. 2. At least one deep-focus block of sixty to ninety minutes on good, meaningful work. 3. Do not fight evening sleepiness, which usually means bed by 10PM. Don't define yourself by what you have. Define yourself by who you are. On developing a BEING over HAVING orientation, and the strength and freedom that comes with it.

Aug 20, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Matt Higgins was an executive for the New York Jets and then the Miami Dolphins. He Co-Founded RSE Ventures with Miami Dolphins owner, Stephen Ross. Matt was a guest shark on ABC's Shark Tank (seasons 10-11), He is an executive fellow at Harvard Business School, and he recently published a book called, Burn The Boats, Toss Plan B Overboard and Unleash Your Full Potential. .. Matt's Mom: "My mother, Linda, died with $100 in her bank account, but I inherited the most valuable gift a parent can give a child: limitless faith in my ability to figure anything out." Matt gave the 2019 commencement speech at Queens College – According to Vanity Fair Contributing Editor Paul Goldberger, "This is a magnificent and truly inspiring speech that everyone should read. If you think commencement speeches are made of cliches, this one will change your mind." The most important ingredient to professional success: " Make yourself indispensable at whatever task you're doing and you'll always have a job ." Research proves that the mere contemplation of Plan B statistically reduces the probability Plan A will ever materialize. The advice Matt got from Daymond John on how to handle imposter syndrome on his first day of filming Shark Tank: "You belong here because you are here." How to raise your kids to not be spoiled when you can provide anything they'd ever want? There is nobility in work. Ensure they do hard things and do real work. Matt's "must-have" qualities when hiring a leader: Confidence + Humility Empathy They just "figure it out" They are a servant leader -- They can "plug holes" Matt's four-step process: What's the worst that could happen? If it doesn't work out, what will I do? What's the probability the bad stuff will happen? What pain am I willing to endure to make it happen ? "Burn the boats for goals, not tactics."

Aug 13, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Alex Hormozi is an entrepreneur, investor, and author of 3 bestselling books $100M Offers, Leads, and Money Models. He's founded and exited 3 companies, the largest for $46.2M in 2021. He and his wife Leila are the managing partners of Acquisition.com - a portfolio of companies that generate in aggregate $200M per year. He also makes mistakes and candidly shares his painful lessons with other entrepreneurs. Today he publicly documents his lessons on his path from $100M net worth to $1B. Confidence: " You don't become confident by shouting affirmations in the mirror, but by having a stack of undeniable proof that you are who you say you are. Outwork your self-doubt." Work: " The work works on you more than you work on it." For anyone debating whether to marry a partner. These 2 lenses were useful: How have my stats changed since they entered my life? (wealth, health, time) Would I go to war with them? They flow from what Alex wants: Growth Hard goals Document your life more. Otherwise, you'll forget the details. And the details are what make it worth remembering. ( homework for life ) Alex shared a vulnerable story about not wanting to live anymore when he was 21. He had graduated from Vanderbilt in 3 years (manga cum laude), had a great consulting job, and was on his way up the corporate ladder. And he hated it. He was living his dad's dream, not his own. So he quit. And didn't call his dad until he was well on his way to California to start over. "A leading indicator that someone is not an independent thinker is that they agree (or disagree) with every single point of a political party. Also applies to seeing no fault (or 100% fault) in particular leaders." " Volume negates luck " What makes a great sales professional: Clear communication Conviction Be honest... And have a desire to help your customer Life Lessons Alex wishes he had learned earlier: Talk less, listen more… (He messed this up earlier in his career by talking too much) The hardest respect to earn is one's own If you want to control what people think, control what they say – " Equip people with simple language so that they can communicate what you do ." "You get more out of reading 1 book that's great 5 times, than out of reading 5 mediocre books." – "If your behavior doesn't change as a result of reading the book, then it means you've learned nothing." You are going to die – 2 weeks after you die, most people will have forgotten about you. Extraordinary accomplishments come from doing ordinary things for extraordinary periods of time. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well Be willing to negotiate everything except for your values Humility - Sacrifice for the group. Give more to the company. Give to the group. Hormozi Law: The longer you delay the ask, the bigger the ask you can make. The longer the runway, the bigger the plane that can take off. "At your funeral, friends and family will argue over who gets what. People will want food to eat. The topic will shift from your life to their lives. They'll drive away thinking about their looming to-do list. Some people won't be able to make it because "something came up." A reminder of the heavy weight we place on things that matter little." "There's no greater waste of time than justifying your actions to people who have a life you don't want." " The easiest way to change behavior is to change your environment." Alex's great-great-grandfather had 400 children. " Never skip dessert." "My life has never gotten worse by removing mediocre people."

Aug 6, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Jack Raines is a student at Columbia Business School and the writer of YoungMoney.co – Young Money is a finance blog that covers a wide variety of life topics like why we should travel more, timeless advice, the use of humor, the 6 types of wealth, and infinite games. Jack is one of my favorite writers on the internet… Infinite Games – "The focus on outcome over everything leads to us discounting 99% of our lives for the sake of a few, small, fleeting moments that might provide some sense of satisfaction before the cycle begins anew." It's not about getting to the top of the mountain, it's about the person you become along the way. Why We Should Travel More – Rolf Potts, Vagabonding. " The explorer has no goal other than exploration itself." The Opportunity Cost of Everything – The Journey IS the Destination . Life isn't a Pixar film. It's not a television series. Our life isn't some chain of events and decisions that leads to a climax. A final moment of victory. Life is the chain of events itself. "Someday isn't a day." The purpose of Jack's finance blog: "I write a finance blog that is really, like, idk? Maybe 40% finance? The rest is existential musings, satire, the occasional exclamation that Americans seriously need to travel more, and whatever random stuff comes through my brain." Jack's LinkedIn satirical posts: "I take nothing seriously, but I do take the serious things pretty seriously. Linkedin isn't one of the serious things." How Jack built a large following online: "I have published approximately 450,000 words of content in an 18-month period." Whatever it is that we want to do, in order to get good, we have to get going. We have to get the reps… The Case for Living Life Backwards – "You should write your obituary, and then try to figure out how to live up to it."

Jul 30, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Dr. Julie Gurner is a doctor of psychology and is a nationally recognized executive performance coach for individual and corporate clients primarily in finance and technology. Trusted by top percentile talent and their teams to help them achieve world-class performance in fast-paced, high-pressure, extremely competitive environments. She's been compared to Wendy Rhoades of "Billions" in The Wall Street Journal (2019), and named a "Game Changer" by IBM. Notes: High Standards: Holding a high bar is uncomfortable because it is "exclusionary," and most people want to make everyone around them happy & comfortable. If you hold a standard, it can't include everything... Figuring out your line & holding to it, will mean some tough conversations. "I think that there are two ways of looking at things that have happened to you. You can be a victim or you can be a survivor. Those are two very different cognitive positions." Balance: "People will tell you in books that you have to live a "balanced life," but if we are completely honest, almost all great things are born from periods of imbalance." Staying Small: A concept I believe, is that most people stay small, or don't go for what they truly want...because they believe that "imaginary rules" are true Be a Learner: The worst professionals, are the ones that stop learning the moment they graduate from school. And they are the majority. Being autodidactic - a self-learner - who also takes initiative, will have you in the top 10% of anything you take on. Goals: If your goals are "realistic," you are operating in a box. Check yourself. "If you want to be a game changer, you can't blend in." Know Yourself: When people are unable to commit to anything, it's because they don't know who they are. Shiny objects professionally (or personally) reflect a lack of certainty. When you get a genuine shot in the arm from what you do...of course, it's going to be hard to stop doing it. You're on fire. So many people are living their lives with the volume turned down. They don't get it. You don't have to live that way. Crank that energy up. "The people who rise aren't always the most talented or capable, but they are fueled by self-belief. Once you understand that, much of the business world makes sense." The difference between persistence and tenacious… persistent people stick to the plan to get to the goal. Tenacious people may change their plans altogether. A trait in the people who go on to do great things? Paul Graham defines it as being "relentlessly resourceful." I see it all the time. Here's a practical zero-to-one process to be relentlessly resourceful, if you want to set yourself up for some big swings. Julie goes on a daily walk around her farm. She uses that walk to reflect, think, and be outside. It helps her synthesize information. What makes a great executive coach? A sweet spot between talking and listening... A great executive coach gives their clients space to talk. They listen. They ask great follow-up questions. They help unlock people. They help them become multipliers. How to deal with imposter syndrome? "You probably have the ability, but you're not understanding your own story." It's important to keep taking chances. To keep meeting the moment . Julie helps her clients tap in to and write their own stories.

Jul 23, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Aron Ralston is a mountaineer, mechanical engineer, and best-selling author known for surviving a canyoneering accident by cutting off part of his own right arm. On April 26, 2003, during a solo descent of Bluejohn Canyon in southeastern Utah, he dislodged a boulder, pinning his right wrist to the side of the canyon wall. After five days, he had to break his forearm, amputate it with a dull pocket knife to break free, make his way through the rest of the canyon, rappel down a 65-foot drop, and hike 7 miles to safety. The incident is documented in Aron's autobiography Between a Rock and a Hard Place and is the subject of the 2010 film 127 Hours in which he is portrayed by James Franco . After the accident, Aron continued mountaineering and became the first person to ascend all of Colorado's fourteeners solo in winter. "Turn boulders into blessings." During this conversation, Aron takes us through the 127 hours from when his right arm was pinned under a boulder until he was resting safely in a hospital bed. Along the way, he shares key learnings that all of us can take from his experience. In April 2003, Aron was canyoneering alone through Bluejohn Canyon, in Utah, just south of the Horseshoe Canyon unit of Canyonlands National Park. While he was descending the lower stretches of the slot canyon, a suspended boulder dislodged while he was climbing down from it. The boulder first smashed his left hand and then crushed his right hand against the canyon wall. Aron had not informed anyone of his hiking plans, nor did he have any way to call for help. Assuming that he would die without intervention, he spent five days slowly sipping his small amount of remaining water, approximately 350 ml (12 imp fl oz), and slowly eating his small amount of food, two burritos, while repeatedly trying to extricate his arm. His efforts were futile as he was unable to free his arm from the 800 lb (360 kg) chockstone. After three days of trying to lift and break the boulder, the dehydrated and delirious Ralston prepared to amputate his trapped arm at a point on the mid-forearm in order to escape. After having experimented with tourniquets and having made exploratory superficial cuts to his forearm, he realized, on the fourth day, that in order to free his arm he would have to cut through the bones in it, but the tools available were insufficient to do so. After running out of food and water on the fifth day, Aron decided to drink his own urine. He carved his name, date of birth, and presumed date of death into the sandstone canyon wall, and videotaped his last goodbyes to his family. He did not expect to survive the night, but as he attempted to stay warm he began hallucinating and had a vision of himself playing with a future child while missing part of his right arm. Aron credited this as giving him the belief that he would live. After waking at dawn the following day he discovered that his arm had begun to decompose due to the lack of circulation, and became desperate to tear it off. Aron then had an epiphany that he could break his radius and ulna bones using torque against his trapped arm. He did so, then amputated his forearm with his multi-tool, using the dull 2-inch knife and pliers for the tougher tendons. The painful process took an hour, during which time he used tubing from a CamelBak as a tourniquet, taking care to leave major arteries until last. The manufacturer of the multi-tool was never named, but Aron said "It was not a Leatherman but what you'd get if you bought a $15 flashlight and got a free multi-use tool." After freeing himself, Ralston climbed out of the slot canyon in which he had been trapped, rappelled down a 65-foot sheer wall, then hiked out of the canyon. He was 8 miles from his car and had no phone. However, after 6 miles of hiking, he encountered a family on vacation from the Netherlands; Eric and Monique Meijer and their son Andy, who gave him food and water and hurried to alert the authorities. Aron had feared he would bleed to death; he had lost 40 pounds, including 25% of his blood volume. Rescuers searching for Ralston, alerted by his family that he was missing, had narrowed the search down to Canyonlands and he was picked up by a helicopter in a wide area of the canyon. He was rescued approximately four hours after amputating his arm. The STOP acronym: Stop (pause), Think (brainstorm), Observation, Plan Stop Think Observe Plan " Commitment is the first step ." At one point when Aron's arm was stuck under the giant rock, he filmed his "goodbyes" to each family member. "Who would you say your goodbyes to and what would you say?" Aron realized that life is all about loving relationships. "You can't hold despair and gratitude at the same time." 127 Hours - There is no force so powerful as the will to live. Aron's version: "There's no force so powerful as the will to love ." "Welcome adversity. It helps you grow." "Find gratitude for the worst thing that's ever happened to you." "Passion. That which I suffer, allow, endure, is done to me."

Jul 16, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Be on time. It's not okay to be late. As the leader, we have to set the right example. There is a narrow path to Top Gun, but Dave made it... Dave served as an ANGLICO Forward Air Controller supporting the Army's 1st Armored Division during extensive urban combat operations on the ground in Ramadi, Iraq in 2006. He led his supporting arms liaison team on scores of combat missions into the most dangerous neighborhoods and accompanied SEAL Task Unit Bruiser on virtually every major operation in the Battle of Ramadi. He was the only Marine selected to fly the F-22 Raptor having served as an exchange officer at the Air Force's 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron as the Division Commander. He became the first operational pilot ever to fly and be qualified in the F-35B, serving as the Commanding Officer of the Marine Corps' first F-35 squadron from 2012-2014. Balancing courage and confidence with humility - It's a must to surround yourself with others who continue to push you and keep your ego in check. The attributes of a Top Gun instructor: Willing to learn and Able to teach. Great leaders seem to have those same qualities. Dave's choice to volunteer to fight on the ground is what led him to meet Jocko Willink and thus change his life. Stepping up and doing a job that others don't want to do, and taking that responsibility can lead to amazing opportunities. A Top Gun pilot must balance courage and confidence with humility. You need a great support group around you to keep in check. Your ego, however, can be helpful at times. "It allows you to do things that others say can't be done." How to deal with negative self-talk? "We all deal with it. Relax. Take a step back. Breathe. Detach from the situation."

Jul 9, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Own it, live it, create it, see it, say it, change it, honor it, punish it, repeat it, evaluate it all. – The core components to building a world-class culture. Who are your foxhole people? They are the ones who are there when it's hard and they're there to celebrate when it's great. They are honest, caring, and they love you. The best way to build a great foxhole group? Be a loving, caring, and honest friend to others. How to build a great foundation which sets you up to build a great culture? Be trustworthy and trust-WILLING person. Be vulnerable, open, and honest, and create opportunities for shared suffering. It takes time and intentional effort, but it's worth it. Geron was always leading the younger quarterbacks when he was in high school. "The quarterbacks stay. You need to know what's going on, for now, and in the future" Coach Dave Carroll had a huge impact on how Geron coaches... Tough, demanding, high expectations. He wasn't for everyone. From Brook Cupps: "From my perspective, it's been really cool to watch his progression from a self-serving arrogant kid to an ultra-impactful leader and father." Geron's purpose is to maximize people. Here is how he lives that out... Own It – Come to grips with my #1 Job - Get the most out of people. More than they can ever imagine. It HAS to be a love thing! Can I get them to work, care, execute, serve, give, and love more than they ever have in their life? My job. Not their's. Wake up every day knowing my responsibility. "I've gotta get the best out of these guys today." Live It – I set the example for everything. I AM THE STANDARD! Have to be. Am I trying to maximize myself? Every. Day! How do I show up? Do I represent the values I'm trying to pull out of the people? They aren't going to do it by themselves. They can't. Stop expecting them to! I need to show them to engage them. Am I pouring my heart and soul into everything that I can?!? "The best thing you can ever give someone is a strong example," "Preach the gospel every day, and sometimes use words." Create It - Environment matters. Cultivate relationships every single day. Do they walk in knowing we're getting better today? Energy. Enthusiasm. Struggle. Hard, Tough. Work. Demanding. Constant. Growth. Whatever level you're at. Just. Get. Better. EVERY. DAY! My relationships, time, & effort with my people is the soil! Maniacal about who, what, and how. Everybody! All the time. Daily requirement: get the environment ready for growth! See It - See it as it is. See it better than it is. If I can't see it better, how do I make it better? Reality to vision. The best see it at a different level. Extremely high standards! Competence matters. What is an acceptable standard? Can it be done better? Say It – Any and all feedback. Do I care enough to tell them? Usually with questions! Intent matters. Relationships matter. Make it personal! It doesn't have to be said exactly the right way. IT NEEDS TO BE SAID. They have to HEAR it & internalize it. "Good job" doesn't exist in our world. Change It – It must improve. Whatever it takes. Fix/correct/punish/measure until it actually changes. Spend extra time. Refuse to accept excuses. I love you so we have to make this better. Continue saying it! Honor/Punish It – Celebrate. Loudly. Be specific. Recognize it. Measure it. Reward it. Make it a big deal. Every important detail. Ingrain it into the culture of the group. "That's not how we do things here." Repeat It – Do it over and over and over and over again. The hardest part isn't doing it. The hardest part is doing it every single moment, every single day, over and over and over. Evaluate It All – What is working? What isn't? How do we keep getting better? What needs to be changed? CONSTANT. 24/7365. ARE WE GETTING THEIR BEST? Fanatical about improvement. Daily Questions To Ask Yourself: Am I at my best? Are my intentions right? How can I get the most out of everybody today? I need to be on fire. Energy/Attitude is right. Seeking ways to make an impact. Is it about me or about them? Act your way into feelings. What do they need? Pushed? Pulled? Energized? Inspired? Demanded?

Jul 2, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 You can't heal a body you hate. We only get one body. It's all we have. If it stops working or is working poorly, that affects all other elements of our lives. It's worth it to make this our top priority. We're looking for optimal, not average. If you're listening to this podcast, you probably do not want to be average. And when it comes to the most important thing in your life (your body), I would hope that you don't want that to be average. To be an effective leader for others, our body needs to be in optimal shape. Cut these 5 foods: Gluten-containing grains Industrial seed oils Added sugar, Conventional dairy Alcohol After over a decade as a functional medicine expert, Dr. Cole discerned that shame can cause gut inflammation and sabotage wellness through what he's named "Shameflammation." When you send signals to your brain that you are overwhelmed, overworked, or overtired, your body reacts. Shameflammation can be the cause of chronic health conditions such as autoimmune disorders, depression, and more. Chronic stress is the ultimate junk food." Too much sugar has consequences beyond the waistline. Functional medicine is informed consent. 75% of your immune system is in your gut. Get back on track. Days are long, years are short. Testosterone Replacement Therapy? Work with a doctor, get labs, and choose to use based on what your doctor and your labs say. "Use meals as a medicine and a meditation." "Ask yourself... Does this food love me back?"

Jun 25, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Consistency creates your future. Show up each day and do the work. Sounds simple, but it's much harder in practice. Consistency is not sexy, but it builds trust and it creates your future. T.U.N.E. - T = Trust and truth U = Unite with love N = Neutralize the negativity. "I do not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet." - Gandhi E = Elevate your thinking. With gratitude, optimism, and belief How to handle imposter syndrome - One sheet of paper. On one side write your negative thoughts. On the other side write words of encouragement. Again, this sounds basic, but it's been proven to work. Navigate the Roller Coaster of our Mind: Take on our challenges in life with confidence and power instead of fear and insecurity. Recognize & Overcome the Five Ds of Negative Thought: Doubt, Distortion, Discouragement, Distraction, and Division. The root of the Greek word for anxious means "to separate and divide" When we are anxious, we feel divided. The key is to move towards "oneness". Tune into More Positive Thoughts: Jon explains a revolutionary idea that the brain is an antenna, and we can elevate our minds with proven strategies. For example, we can't be stressed and thankful at the same time. When we appreciate, we elevate. Override Fear with Love: Let love (the ultimate driver of grit) be the driving force behind our work and vocation, unlocking new levels of determination, devotion and success. Improve Mental Health & Relationships: Move from disconnection, loneliness and isolation to connection, healing, and wholeness. Whether you're a recent graduate, executive, artist, parent, engineer, teacher, spouse, athlete or coach, once you know The One Truth, you'll see how it impacts leadership, teamwork, mindset, performance, relationships, addictions, social media, anxiety, mental health and your overall quality of life. Bad teams = nobody leads. Average teams = coaches lead. Elite teams = players lead Change management -- People follow the leader first and the vision second. People won't care about your vision if you don't care about them. "Thoughts are magnetic. What we think about we attract." Goals: "It's not your goals that will lead to your success but your commitment to the process." "The best teams don't focus on winning championships. They focus on being champions. This leads to championships." "When leaders become focused on the fruit instead of the root and worry about the outcome instead of the process of developing team members, they may survive in the short run, but they will not thrive in the long run." "As a leader, it is so important that your words equal your actions. It is imperative that you make sure that you go through a self-evaluation process on an almost daily basis to make sure that your actions are in line with your words. You must do what you say and say what you do." "There's a difference between culture and having a theme for the year. A theme does not equal culture. Too many schools/org move from theme to theme instead of building a culture. Utilize a theme as a tool to help you build a great culture." "They asked a bunch of ninety-five-year-olds if they could do it all over again and live their life again what would they do differently. The three things that almost all of them said were: (1) They would reflect more. Enjoy more moments. More sunrises and sunsets. More moments of joy. (2) They would take more risks and chances. Life is too short not to go for it. (3) They would have left a legacy. Something that would live on after they die." 00:35 - Lessons from Athletics 05:29 - Struggling With Adversity As a Child 07:47 - Building a Life-Changing Team from The Energy Bus 15:08 - Fear That Comes With Imposter Syndrome 20:54 - Transition from Self-Talk to Action 31:05 - How to React to Skeptics 36:14 - View Life as a Movie 40:25 - Leadership Qualities That Are Repetitive 44:18 - Advice for the Younger Generation 47:48 - Early is On Time

Jun 22, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Notes: Michelle "Mace" Curran has led an impressive career as a Fighter Pilot during her 13 years in the United States Air Force. From 2019-2021, she flew as the only female pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds and performed for millions across the country and internationally. Before joining the Thunderbirds, Michelle was a combat-proven fighter pilot completing missions across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. What inspired Michelle to join the Air Force? "I had a grandpa who was a lieutenant in the Navy. I went through his World War II trunk and tried on uniforms and looked at postcards. He got to travel all over the world. I grew up in a small town and I wanted to travel. I've always been drawn to flying. I hadn't done a lot of flying aside from commercially, but I loved it, so the Air Force seemed like a natural fit. I was also honestly looking for a scholarship for college, so the three things kind of came together." "C3" Comm – That's clear, concise, and correct communication. How that plays a role as a pilot and how we can use that as leaders outside of the airplane. For the solo opposing passes, each pilot is traveling at 500mph, that's 1000mph of closure toward each other. The timing that makes sure the aircraft safely pass each other at the center point directly in front of the crowd is all done through radio calls. Every call must communicate clearly, concisely, and correctly. There are a lot of benefits to having a beginner's mindset. What does Michelle say to young girls? "You have to exceed people's expectations. People are going to set expectations for you based on where you grew up, the family you came from, your gender — there are all different factors that go into that. Constantly do your best, strive for perfection, exceed those expectations, and really don't shortchange yourself. Don't set boundaries that don't really exist, that you just place there for yourself. You'll be surprised at all of the things you can do if you just keep pushing." "We wield a lot of power with our words." Let's plant a seed of inspiration. As leaders, our words carry a lot of weight. Let's use that to help other people strive for more and potentially accomplish more than they ever thought they were capable of. What an awesome use of our power. The Debrief - It's the sacred environment of flying. Your rank doesn't matter. It's all about focusing on what happened and how we can get better. I think our companies would be better if we had consistent debriefs after a big moment to ensure we are learning from our mistakes and getting better… The person you are today is likely much different than the one you were ten years ago. The person you will be ten years from now will probably be just as different compared to who you are now. Michelle initially didn't feel capable as a fighter pilot. But she kept showing up. It's important that we have the courage to keep going even when we don't feel ready. Being a female fighter pilot, Mace was in a male-dominated career... She was often the only woman in my unit and roughly 3% of fighter pilots in the Air Force are female even thirty years after combat airframes were opened to women, Leaders and followers – A young flight lead could be in command of a general whose role is to be the wingman… Mace has written a children's book that just came out called Upside Down Dreams . It is a story written for girls with big dreams looking for a real-world heroine.

Jun 18, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Dr. Angus Fletcher has dual degrees in neuroscience (BS, University of Michigan) and literature (Ph.D., Yale). His research employs a mix of laboratory experiment, literary history, and rhetorical theory to explore the psychological effects—cognitive, behavioral, therapeutic—of different narrative technologies. He's the best-selling author of multiple books including Wonderworks: The 25 Most Powerful Inventions in the History of Literature, and Storythinking: The New Science of Narrative Intelligence. "The story you tell yourself needs to be the true story of yourself." How Angus tells his story: Build trust Listen Demonstrate courage - Angus told a group of special forces operators one of the most embarrassing stories of his life. After that, he said, "I'm not scared of anything." You must be genuinely humble to learn from your mistakes. "Real leaders activate the leader within you." Being a leader is all about contemplating fear. Stepping up when adversity strikes is why we exist as leaders. It's easy to lead when everything is going well. We want to be known as the leader who is there when it's hard. Dr. Fletcher's ultimate goal of using the power of story to bring us closer to self-actualization. Seems like that's a good first step to being a great leader. Confidence is earned by creating evidence for yourself that you can do hard things. Angus did this when he shared his story of not making it through Marine Corps boot camp. Angus's vulnerability earned trust with the military leaders. "For the longer we suspend our judgments, the more accurate our subsequent verdicts become. This valuable fact has been uncovered by researchers who've spent decades probing the mechanics of better decision-making, only to discover that the key is simply more time and more information. Which is to say: reserving our judgment until the last possible moment." Unlike a computer, the brain wasn't particularly data-driven. Or particularly logical. Instead, it was emotional. And creative. And powered by story. "There are a number of judgments that we can suspend permanently, including most of our judgments about other people. Our brain is constantly making such judgments. It looks at strangers on the street—and judges them. It looks at celebrities in magazines—and judges them. It looks at family members and colleagues and friends in homes and offices and restaurants—and judges them. These judgments feel instantly good to our neurons; they deliver pleasant microdoses of emotional superiority. But in the long run, they make us anxious, incurious, and less happy, so we can improve our long-term mental well-being if we suspend them." Apply to be part of my Leadership Circle 02:12 - Highlights of Leadership Training04:24 - How to Prevent Failure09:14 - What is a Story Scientist? 12:57 - Is Story Science Therapy? 14:22 - Tell Your Story 18:56 - Vulnerability is the Most Powerful Thing You Can Do 22:00 - Can You Go Too Far With Being Vulnerable? 25:19 - How to Be Vulnerable 32:42 - Real Leaders Activate the Leader In You 36:10 - Where Does Your Sense of Confidence Come From? 40:50 - Punch Through Your Own Fear 43:00 - Be Open About What Could Go Wrong 44:47 - Questions to Ask During the Interview Process 48:33 - Responding to Adversity IS Leadership 51:45 - How to Be Excellent at Speaking 56:27 - Advice For Younger Leaders

Jun 11, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Katty Kay is a US correspondent for the BBC and a regular contributor on MSNBC. Katty grew up in the Middle East, where her father was a British diplomat. She studied French and Italian at Oxford University and worked as a foreign correspondent in Africa and Japan before moving to The US in 1996. Katty is the best-selling author of many books. Her latest is called "The Power Code." Notes: The definition of power – The ability to exercise one's will, influence others, and effect change. The ability to exercise our will—More Joy. Influencing (not controlling) others—Less Ego. Effecting change—Maximum Impact. Redefining Power - In the past, it seems to be about dominance. About something you hold over something (people, or resources). Instead, we want it to be used to effect positive change. Let's use power for good. Promoting on promise versus promoting on performance. The research states that more men are promoted on promise than women. And women are mostly promoted based on performance. As leaders, let's think about promise versus performance. As Frank Slootman said in a previous conversation, let's hire people "Ahead of their curve. Most women today don't want power. The path to getting it, as it exists today, involves too many sacrifices, and power itself is unappealing, full of egos and competition. Women have all the skills, but we'd rather opt out. Women and men don't define power in the same way. Men think of power as a finite commodity, part of a hierarchical, zero-sum game that involves having power over people. Women aren't competitive about power, and we focus more on the end result, the change we can affect with power. It's the difference between power over and power to. Does power corrupt? Not in the hands of women. Researchers have found that women are the exception to the rule that powerful people are less empathetic–women tend to maintain their connection to others, to a ground-level reality, as we rise through the ranks–a huge leadership advantage. Power fuels action. Neuroscientists are discovering the remarkable things power does to our brains. It can liberate its possessors, across their lives, and even create an ability to act more authentically. That offers big rewards for women and needs to become a selling point. Women will never get power outside the home until our marriages look less like the 1950s. Our marriages aren't keeping up with society or our careers. A woman with a job does more housework than a man who doesn't work. In couples where the wife earns more than the husband, they lie about it on the US census form. Men are stuck in a box they don't want to be in. They are pushed to play the outdated role of primary breadwinner, which is why the number of stay-at-home dads has barely grown in a quarter of a century. But increasingly men realize the zero-sum power formula isn't working for them either. A more collaborative, more humane approach to power would benefit everyone. 00:38 - How Do You Define Power? 03:18 - Challenges with Research on Gender 05:46 - Using Power for Good 08:41 - Power reveals your Character 10:22 - Why Wouldn't Someone Want Power? 13:37 - Is Power Shifting for Good? 15:31 - How Does Power Need to Change? 19:21 - Suggestions for Relationships at Home 20:42 - The Options to be a "Stay At Home" 30:58 - Characteristics of Katty's Career 33:46 - Can Fame Impact a Marriage? 35:13 - Society's Expectations for Mom & Dads 39:05 - Confidence & Imposter Syndrome 42:45 - The Common Characteristic of Every Leader 44:46 - The Impact of Female College Graduates 46:59 - Can Having Children Impact Your Career as a Mother? 49:30 - Advice for a Male CEO 52:26 - Life Advice for All

Jun 4, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com James Clear is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits , which has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. His newsletter, 3-2-1 is shipped to more than 2 million people every Thursday. Notes: "The key, if you want to build habits that last, is to join a group where the desired behavior is the normal behavior." We should champion good ideas. You need to bet on something. Bet on a business. Bet on a relationship. Bet on something. You may have less risk being a pessimist or not going all in on something, but you also limit your upside. It's worth being a champion of good ideas. A Chilean saying: "Criticizing a musician is easy, but it is more difficult when you have a guitar in your hand." -- Don't criticize someone else unless you're willing to do the work. Quantity and Quality – The parable of the pottery class – The University of Florida film photography professor, Jerry Uelsmann, divided his class into two groups. What happened with that experiment? We have to get going to get good. Quantity leads to quality. Be consistent. Show up, and do the work. Priorities – We all should ask ourselves this question: If someone could only see my actions and not hear my words, what would they say my priorities are? Steven Pressfield says the difference between an amateur and a professional is in their habits. An amateur has amateur habits. A professional has professional habits. 3 things that help luck: Deconstructing your craft, so you know what good opportunities look like. Remaining vigilant, so you notice when lucky breaks come your way. Acting quickly, so you are more likely to seize luck when it arrives. "You do not rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems." "Habits are like the atoms of our lives, each one is a fundamental unit that contributes to your overall improvement." "Outcomes are about what you get. Processes are about what you do. Identity is about what you believe." "The goal is not to read a book, the goal is to become a reader." "Your identity emerges out of your habits." Why We Should Write – "Many people assume they are bad at writing because it is hard. This is like assuming you are bad at weightlifting because the weight is heavy." Writing is useful because it is hard. It's the effort that goes into writing a clear sentence that leads to better thinking. Get Going to Get Good – Many situations in life are similar to going on a hike: the view changes once you start walking. You don't need all the answers right now. New paths will reveal themselves if you have the courage to get started. "The most practical way to change who you are is to change what you do." "Building habits in the present allows you to do more of what you want in the future."

May 28, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Seth Godin is the author of 20 international bestsellers that have changed the way people think about marketing, leadership, and work. His blog (which you can find by typing "seth" into Google) is the most viewed marketing blog in the world. Some of my favorite books of his are… Tribes, Linchpin, Purple Cow, and most recently The Song of Significance. Notes: Hiring Leaders — when deciding who to hire for a leadership role: look at the careers of the people who have worked for them. And look at the careers of the people they've led. Leaders aren't managers with fancy titles. Leaders are planting the seeds for generations of impact to come. Let's get real or let's not play. Tension is what we seek. It's important to show up early. Frederick Taylor met Henry Ford and management was created. Study bees - They leave their home and have 72 hours to find their next one. Matt Mullenweg (Automatic CEO) - "Create the conditions for forward motion." To create the environment for the people they're leading to flourish. How are you intentionally creating the environment for the people you're leading to do their best work? Management doesn't just exist. It was invented. When you race to the bottom, You see people as resources, not as people. (I don't like the term human capital management) When Paul Orfalea was building kinkos (which he later sold to fed ex for $2B), he said his best technique for growing the business was simple. He would walk into their stores and ask someone there to tell him about an innovation they've recently made. And then he'd tell all the other stores about it… "Real value is no longer created by traditional measures of productivity. It's created by personal interactions, innovation, creative solutions, resilience, and the power of speed."

May 21, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Notes: Tony Dungy's quiet strength - He never criticized without an adequate solution. As leaders, it's on us to be thoughtful about how we help our people get better. Just yelling that someone messed up is not helpful. We need to provide an adequate solution. Dianna Nyad – She swam for 53 hours from Cuba to Florida. It looked like a solo mission. It was anything but. She needed a full team to make it happen. We need other people to help us accomplish big missions. A lot of people are afraid to win. They are afraid to put it all on the line and risk not being enough. Too many of us want to look cool and play it safe in case we lose. The people who sustain excellence over time commit 100% to what they're doing even though they might lose. It's worth it. It is "kind of a sin" to waste potential and the real champions never committed it. - Dan Jenkins Advice from her dad (legendary sports writer, Dan Jenkins): "Never let a thing go until it's as good as you can make it." "Interest yourself first before you'll interest anyone else." Key learning from Brian Daboll - Winning organizations are made up of people who've been doubted in the past. The "greats are a result of construction." We must be intentional. Go all in. Preparation. Practice. There must be a dept of preparation. "Never leave the field wishing you'd prepared more." "Pressure is what you feel when don't know what the hell to do." Michael Phelps was not born with an innate sense to swim fast. His body was well suited to swim but not much more than any other Olympian. "The work is what made him great." Day-to-day consistency leads to excellence. Derek Jeter built his schedule around being consistent every single day. Laird Hamilton built his resilience through doing hard things like cold plunges, saunas, and surfing tough waves. Activate your body to stress: Stress has two sides. We're meant to experience stress. Stress + Rest = Growth. We need stress to grow. Life is born without it. Pat Riley - What happens when people don't believe in their leader? They gear down their effort. Life/Career Advice: Shoe leather hard work. You can't substitute hard work. Find the thing you'd do for fun and see if you can build a career from it. Sally Jenkins has been a columnist and feature writer for The Washington Post for more than twenty years. She was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2020 and in 2021 was named the winner of the Associated Press Red Smith Award for Outstanding Contributions to Sports Journalism. She is the author of twelve books of nonfiction including The Real All Americans, the story of the Carlisle Indian School, and its use of football as a form of resistance following the close of the Indian Wars. Her work for The Washington Post has included coverage of ten Olympic Games. In 2005 she was the first woman to be inducted into the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame. Her most recent book is called The Right Call: What Sports Teach Us about Leadership, Excellence, and Decision Making .

May 14, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Mark Miller started his Chick-fil-A career working as an hourly team member in 1977. Mark's cell phone number is 678-612-8441. He asked that you text him your thoughts on this episode. In 1978, he joined the corporate staff working in the warehouse and mailroom. Since that time, he has provided leadership for Corporate Communications, Field Operations, Quality and Customer Satisfaction, Training and Development, and Leadership Development. During his tenure with Chick-fil-A, the company has grown from 75 restaurants to over 2,300 locations with annual sales approaching $10 billion. Mark began writing almost twenty years ago when he teamed up with Ken Blanchard, co-author of The One Minute Manager, to write The Secret: What Great Leaders Know and Do. He's now written 11 books that have sold over 1 million copies. His latest is called Culture Rules . Notes: "Your capacity to grow determines your capacity to lead." You must make the choice to be a learner... Let's start with a story told by the late philosopher, David Foster Wallace. He said, "There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way who nods at them and says, "Morning boys. How's the water?" And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, "What the hell is water?" Mark Miller conducted research with more than 6,000 individuals from ten countries that revealed that 71% of U.S. leaders believe culture is their most powerful tool to drive performance. However, the study revealed that enhancing workplace culture ranked eleventh on the leader's priority list. "If your heart is not right, no one cares about your skills." Your character, integrity, and care for others must be there to earn any type of followership. If your heart is not right, no one cares about your skills. The 3 culture rules are aspire, amplify, and adapt: Aspire - Share your hopes and dreams for the culture (Andrew Cathy, new CEO, said "Rooted in purpose, known for our care.") Amplify - Always be looking for ways to reinforce and amplify the aspiration for your culture. Adapt - Always look for ways to enhance your culture and be innovative. The Magic Circle: It dates back to 1938 when Dutch Historian Johan Huizinga wrote about the impact of play on culture… The "Must-Have" leadership qualities Character Competence Chemistry Mark has spent a lot of time with Navy SEALs to learn about culture... Key takeaways: Shoot Move Communicate Is focusing on culture a soft skill? The data suggests it is the #1 driver of performance. Storytelling - People remember the stories more than the stats. Don't just tell... Take people there .

May 7, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Frank Slootman is the CEO at Snowflake. Frank has over 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur and executive in the enterprise software industry. Frank served as CEO of ServiceNow from 2011 to 2017, taking the organization from $100M in revenue, through an IPO, to $1.4B. Prior to that, Frank served as President at EMC following an acquisition of Data Domain Corporation, where he served as the CEO, leading the company through an IPO to its acquisition by EMC for $2.4B. He's also the best-selling author of Amp It Up . Notes: Frank's work ethic was developed as a child in the Netherlands. In his teens, he had summer jobs harvesting tulip bulbs and walking behind a tractor ten hours a day. He also cleaned factory toilets one summer in the plant where his dad worked. "The Man In The Arena" Theodore Roosevelt – Frank put this at the beginning of Amp It Up . After retiring from ServiceNow in 2017, Frank had no intention of taking another CEO role, but people like him "have a hard time leaving the arena." It's exciting to be back in a CEO role with Snowflake. Hiring -- "Hire people ahead of their own curve." Hire more for aptitude than experience and give people the career opportunity of a lifetime. NO MBO -- "Another source of misalignment is management by objective (MBO). Which I have eliminated at every company I've joined in the last 20 years." Push the pace -- Leaders set the pace. "Instead of getting back to me in a week, I asked, "Why not tomorrow?" Change the cadence. Push the pace. The leadership "must-have" qualities: A need to prove something Unbalanced They want to show the world something... They have passion High trust Need some ego, but it has to be in check Legacy? "I don't think about legacy much. When you're dead, you're dead." Frank's leadership team: We are not balanced, we are available to each other 24/7. Drivers vs. Passengers -- "Passengers are people who don't mind simply being carried along by the company's momentum …They are often pleasant, get along with everyone, attend meetings promptly, and generally do not stand out as troublemakers … While passengers can often diagnose and articulate a problem quite well, they have no investment in solving it." Frank wants front-seat drivers who'll take ownership, make trouble, and help navigate. Raise Your Standards -- Push for insanely great. A leader must always push the standard higher. Focus -- "Founders don't have a mindset around operating companies. Focus is one of our number one things. You need to learn to have extreme, machine focus, and most people don't even know the beginning of what that means. They think they do, and they don't." "I'm more of a Patton than an Eisenhower," he says, known for constantly driving the troops forward. Sequoia's Carl Eschenbach remembers, "When we brought Frank into Snowflake, at our first board meeting he said, 'Let me tell you how I'm running the board meetings and how you're going to participate. We're going to keep this very simple. I'm not even gonna tell you anything about the good stuff that's happening because you already know that—I'm going to dive into the shit that's broken and how we're going to fix it.'" Very Brief Retirement -- In 2017, Frank spent time regatta sailing, winning the iconic ocean race, Transpac. Race from Los Angeles to Oahu. (To win, "We focused on recruiting talent"). Put The Success of The Company Ahead of Your Own – If you want to build a Snowflake-sized company, you can't be about the celeb-CEO lifestyle. "That's not real life. Real life is you're terrorized and uncomfortable every day of the week. People always ask me, 'Is this normal?' I'm like, yep." Snowflake - Hit the ground running on April 26, 2019. Good news: They were on already on a tear. The bad news: "The company was quite impressed with itself." Growth in all areas (revenue, retention rate, total customers, $1m Customers, Forbes Global 2000 Customers, Customer Satisfaction). The first 90 days as a new leader. It's a combat zone. You must quickly assess what's working, and what's not. Who should stay on the bus, and who should get off?

Apr 30, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Oscar Munoz served as CEO and chairman of United Airlines, previously holding several executive leadership positions at CSX, AT&T, US West, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola. Listen, Learn, AND THEN Lead… The purpose of the listening tour was to hear from people at the ground level, listen, learn, and then make decisions. I love the simplicity in the question to his team, "Hey, what are the 10 dumbest rules we've put in place?" And then changing them… This is something we all should think about periodically. The father-daughter bond Oscar has with his daughter, Jessica . The traits he sees in her that are also in him are "tenacity and refusal to give in no matter what." Before Oscar became CEO, the culture was based on a "cost-cutting, rule-obsessed, disciplinary-heavy culture." Listening Tour - In 2015, After becoming CEO of United Airlines, Munoz embarked on a "listening tour" of the company, meeting with disgruntled employees around the United States and discussing their concerns. While this phase was intended to last for the first 90 days of the job, Oscar was hospitalized after having a heart attack in October 2015, 38 days into the job. In 2015, Oscar was one of two Hispanic CEOs in the top 100 of the Fortune 500 list. Munoz has been named among the "100 Most Influential Hispanics" by Hispanic Business magazine. In March 2017, Oscar was named "Communicator of the Year for 2017" by PRWeek . How to be both a great dad and a great CEO? "Model the right behavior for your kids." Advice: Swing easy. Be yourself.

Apr 23, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Derek Thompson is a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the books Hit Makers and On Work: Money, Meaning, Identity, and the host of the podcast Plain English. Notes: Before graduating from high school, Derek appeared in several theatrical productions at the Folger Shakespeare Theater and the Shakespeare Theater. Why do Americans care so much about work? workism is "the belief that work is not only necessary to economic production but also the centerpiece of one's identity and life's purpose." Jobs, Careers, or Callings: One theory of work holds that people tend to see themselves in jobs, careers, or callings… The Bow and Arrow metaphor… We need stress, but we need to let it go. You pull back on the bow and arrow… Then you let it go. Stress + Rest = Growth "Happiness means being balanced between busyness and leisure." The mark of a good leader? Don't be afraid to ask the ignorant question… Have the confidence to ask it. Derek had breakfast with the prominent CEO… The CEO was deeply curious about Derek. Asked him a lot of questions, listened intently, and asked great follow-ups. Great leaders make their conversations about the other person. Follow your curiosity with great rigor. That same leader also had the emotional intelligence to not bother Derek Jeter while he was having breakfast. He knew there would be a better time to meet. The book, an anthology of Thompson's articles for The Atlantic , includes a new adaptation of his essay on workism , a term that he defines as "the belief that work is not only necessary to economic production but also the centerpiece of one's identity and life's purpose." "The decline of traditional faith in America has coincided with an explosion of new atheisms," Thompson writes. "Some people worship beauty, some worship political identities, and others worship their children. But everybody worships something. And workism is among the most potent of the new religions competing for congregants." How Derek earned a job writing for The Atlantic out of college? After being rejected 30 times, he applied for a fellowship with The Atlantic and got it. He then earned a job writing about economics for them even though he had no background or interest in economics. "It's like the New York Yankees offered me to play second base even though I played catcher my whole life." How Derek earned a role as a podcast host working for Bill Simmons? "Bill had me on his podcast to talk about Covid after he read some things I'd written for The Atlantic. That was sort of an audition. After he had me on, he asked if I wanted to have my own podcast on his network. We eventually came up with the name Plain English ." The name of the show is very important. You want people to be able to easily say, "Hey, I listen to Plain English." How to predict the next great quarterback? It's contingent upon their surroundings (their coaching staff, receivers, linemen, etc...) Life/Career Advice: Skin thickness -- It can't be so thin that you can't accept criticism, but it can't be so thick that you stop listening. You have be somewhere in the middle. Working hours — no large country globally averages more hours of work per year than the United States. Americans work longer hours, have shorter vacations, get less unemployment, and retire later.

Apr 16, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Kevin Kelly is Senior Maverick at Wired magazine. He is also the editor and publisher of the Cool Tools website, which gets half a million unique visitors per month. He co-founded Wired in 1993 and served as its Executive Editor from its inception until 1999. During Kevin's tenure, Wired won the National Magazine Award for General Excellence (the industry's equivalent of two Oscars). He is the best-selling author of many books including New Rules for the New Economy, The Inevitable, and his latest is called Excellent Advice For Living - Wisdom I wish I'd Known Earlier. You lead by letting others know what you expect of them, which may exceed what they themselves expect. Provide them a reputation to live up to. Habit is far more dependable than inspiration. Don't focus on getting into shape. Focus on becoming the kind of person who never misses a workout. "Every great and difficult thing has required a strong sense of optimism," Prototype your life. Try stuff instead of making grand plans. The best way to learn anything is to try to teach what you know. Don't create things to make money; make money so you can create things. The reward for good work is more work. The more you are interested in others, the more interesting they'll find you. To be interesting, be interested. Promptness is a sign of respect. The consistency of your endeavors (exercise, companionship, work) is more important than the quantity. Nothing beats small things done every day, which is way more important than what you do occasionally.

Apr 9, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 The Learning Leader Show was first published on April 9, 2015. TODAY marks the show's 8th birthday! To celebrate, I kick off the episode by sharing some key learnings I've gathered over the past 8 years... And then I answer YOUR questions and did a full AMA (Ask Me Anything). If you'd like me to do more AMAs, send me an email: Ryan (at) LearningLeader dot com Here are some key things I've learned after publishing The Learning Leader Show for 8 years... Consistency > Intensity . Showing up to do the work (prep) each day is key. Become part of your routine as a listener. Consistency builds trust. You know you're going to have a new show for your Monday morning walk or commute. Following your genuine curiosity is attractive . This parasocial relationship is built because as the listener you know I'm following what I'm actually curious about. I own guest selection 100%. They are all my call and my call alone. I only choose guests that I'm deeply curious about. The curiosity-judgemental spectrum . Talking with more people with a wide range of life experiences has helped me view the world from their eyes and be less judgemental. All the way back to episode 3 with Maurice Clarett. Approach people with curiosity, not judgment. The prep works as a forcing function to learn . Same with mindful Monday. I have systems in place to ensure I'm getting a little bit wiser each day. And that learning compounds over time. Create forcing functions on your life to intentionally get better. Don't just wander from meeting to meeting each week. What are you doing to ensure your learning is compounding? The Charlie Munger quote; go to bed a little wiser than when you woke up. I try to live by that. Relationships with your heroes: General McChrystal. Pat Lencioni. So many others. Being pleasant to work with. Showing up prepared. Being grateful. Following up. All of that has helped me build real relationships with people I admire. The McChrystal trip to Gettysburg. Forewords to books. McChrystal and Lencioni. Dan Pink. The Kat Cole ATL show. Adam Grant. Ryan Holiday. Relationships with listeners . Some amazing friendships have been formed and fostered because of this podcast. So many of my Learning Leader Circle members. Technically they are clients of mine, but lots of them have become genuine friends for life. Communication skill - LISTENING . Thinking. Speaking, Writing. All have improved. Earned the opportunity to speak on hundreds of stages all over the world. Publish books. Meet fascinating people. Listener AMA: Learn 2 Cope (Instagram) – What was the biggest struggle you had transitioning to life after sports? Kevin Janiec (Instagram) – How do you and Miranda balance and align your competing priorities? Samantha Phillips (LinkedIn), Sales Manager at Insight Global – 1. What is 1 of your champagne toasts? ( Victory Shot toast ) 2. Who is 1 person you have not yet had on your show that you'd like to? Aaron Arnston (LinkedIn) - Congratulations, Ryan! Truly blazing a trail, we'll done! You have interviewed hundreds of guests and I have liked every show, can't recall one, not one, show I didn't like...have you ever interviewed guests that didn't make the cut or do you have a filtering process prior to the show that helps with this? Noah Vasilj (Mindful Monday email response): My question is a "3 parter": What is your favorite part of your job? Do you generally enjoy/love what you do? What keeps you interested and going on the days when you are not at 100%? Brian Causer (Twitter) — Congrats! Love the show, Ryan. One of my top podcasts and I listen weekly. Maybe have two questions... How do you choose your guests? Referral? Follow your curiosity? Also, what is one question you wish someone would ask you that nobody has asked you before? The Greek In The Kitchen (Instagram) — Who is the guest you think about most or has had the most influence on you? Denise Kollias (LinkedIn) Hi! Congratulation! I have been listening to your podcast since 2017 and it has been a Godsend. It has taught me so much and I appreciate all your hard work to continually bring insightful conversations on leadership. My question is what episodes were your favorite to record or the top 5 that you recommend with the greatest impact to help people grow or push through? JP Botero (Instagram) - After 8 years of experience, what would you recommend to the Ryan thinking of creating The Learning Leader Show? Aaron Campbell – After 8 years of exploration along a central theme, how would you finish this sentence: "A great leader is…."

Apr 2, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Dan Lyons is the New York Times bestselling author of "Disrupted," "Lab Rats," and "STFU: The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in an Endlessly Noisy World." Dan was a writer for HBO's hit comedy, "Silicon Valley," and before that was a journalist at Newsweek, Forbes, and Fortune. The best sales reps spend 54 percent of the call listening and 46 percent talking. The worst reps talked 72 percent of the time. They made calls feel like conversations. A company called Gong uses machine learning software that analyzes sales calls to find out what works and what doesn't. Its software vacuums up millions of hours of audio data and then analyzes it to figure out how the best sales reps operate. Gong's customers use this information to train new sales reps and help underperformers improve. In 2017 Gong analyzed more than five hundred thousand calls and found that sales calls with the best close rates were ones in which reps knew how to be quiet and ask questions instead of making a sales pitch. To be precise, the most successful reps asked eleven to fourteen questions. Fewer than that, and you're not digging deep enough. More than that, the call starts to feel like an interrogation. Eavesdropping on happiness: The research showed that people who spent more time having substantive conversations were happier than those who spent more time having small talk, and weather conversations. Always Say Less Than Necessary – "When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish." -- Robert Greene Researcher, Mehl joined a team that made a third big discovery: that people who suffer from anxiety and depression use the first-person singular pronouns I, me, and my more than other people. Go OUTSIDE – Harvard biologist Edward O. Wilson, who hypothesized that our affinity for the outdoors and love of living things have been hardwired into our DNA by evolution and exist as innate parts of our psychological and physiological makeup. Wilson calls this "biophilia," a name derived from the ancient Greek words for "life" and "love." It's the reason people watch birds, melt at the sight of baby bunnies, travel to Yellowstone National Park to marvel at the bison, and rush to the window when a deer wanders into their yard. It's why walking through Muir Woods among giant thousand-year-old redwood trees takes your breath away. The Talkaholic Scale Test – Prior to writing the book, Dan scored a 50 (the highest possible score)… Meaning he is a talkaholic. AFTER writing the book, he scored a 40, and Dan's wife scored him at 38. Life/Career Advice: Earn attention by doing great work, not by being loud and outlandish. It's more lasting and will help you build better relationships and a great career.

Mar 26, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Dr. Mat Duerden is a Professor of Experience Design and Management at Brigham Young University. His teaching focuses on experience design and design thinking. He is the best-selling author of Designing Experiences. His research focuses on experience design in both work and non-work contexts. Mat's publications have appeared in a variety of journals including Leisure Sciences, Journal of Environmental Psychology, Journal of Adolescent Research, and Journal of Leisure Research. Mat Duerden received a Ph.D. in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences from Texas A&M University and an M.S. in Youth and Family Recreation from Brigham Young University. Transformational Learning – "The future intrinsic use of the content." Going from theory to putting it into practice. It's the implementation of the learning that codifies it. What to do at your next leadership retreat? Ask yourself the question, "What do you want them to say when they walk away from the experience?" And design the event based on your answer to that question. One of the must-have qualities needed to be hired as a team leader is humility and curiosity. Curiosity is the fuel for creativity and innovation. Having a broad range of interests is a good sign of curiosity. What do Apple, Costco, and Walt Disney have in common? A high NPS Score... What is NPS? Your Net Promoter Score is the percentage of customers who are promoters (those who scored 9 or 10) minus the percentage who are detractors (those who scored 0 to 6). They have a uniform type of experience Harmonizing Ques... There should be a narrative structure: Build rising action... -- Anticipation, Participation, Reflection, Climax. It's important to solve problems tied to the needs of your customer or your team. The Wonder Switch from Harris III The curiosity is becoming comfortable not knowing The Buc-eee's gas station restroom experience takes the ordinary and turns it into an extraordinary experience. For businesses: Need to develop a brand experience guide for the type of experience you want to provide. Write a brand theme statement that aligns with who we are. HEB Grocery Store: Here Everything's Better Hire the type of people who are curious and want to interact with customers. Curiosity is the fuel for creativity and innovation. A broad range of interests is important.

Mar 19, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Colin Coggins and Garrett Brown are adjunct professors of entrepreneurship at USC's Marshall School of Business where they teach the popular class they created, "Sales Mindset for Entrepreneurs. " They are also authors, speakers, longtime sales professionals, and best friends who met while working at enterprise software startup Bitium, which they helped lead to an acquisition by Google. This odd couple first connected over their shared obsession with the importance of selling, and have made it their mission to uncover the unexpected and inspiring mindset of the highest-achieving sellers on the planet. The most impactful sales professionals are learners . They consume information and ask lots of questions that they are deeply curious to know the answers to. They don't go down the list of sales discovery questions. It's from a place of curiosity. "Noone has ever changed the world without moving people." That's sales. An abundance mindset — Collin was meeting with a new sales rep named Matt that worked for you at Bitium. Matt sat down on the couch and loved it. He asked who made it and Collin didn't know. So he flipped over the cushion, saw who made it, realized they were a potential customer and made a note in his phone to connect with them on LinkedIn and call them. Matt has an abundance mindset. "Great sellers see opportunity where others don't." World-Class sales professionals love the process. When making promotional hires/decisions, "create a culture that's not pulled up. It's pushed up." When promoting someone to be a manager, look at those who are known to help others. They are pushed to management by the members of the team because they are so helpful. Being a "pathological optimist" — Colin told a story about taking the first flight with his whole family (wife Margot and two young boys) and despite the chaos of crying and trying to take care of young children, Colin loved it and told Margot "it would be a great story one day." She called him a pathological optimist (not meant as a compliment, but he took it as one). Act like a teammate, not a coach: Will Smith's manager, JL, told him to turn down a $10m offer for a movie called 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag because it didn't help them pursue Will's goal of being a big movie star. (Even though both of them didn't have any money at the time) The Partnership: "Colin, thank you for seeing something in a slightly insecure, overly analytical introvert and deciding to throw in with me." The class they teach is called "Sales Mindset for Entrepreneurs" Colin & Garrett don't teach a typical sales class focused how to "build rapport," "handle objections," or "ask for the close." Instead, they help students understand why the most successful people on the planet aren't successful because of what they do , they're successful because of what they think . We all sell, every day. Sometimes it's ourselves, sometimes it's ideas, and sometimes it's products. We truly believe that the world would benefit if EVERYONE learned how to sell authentically, whether you're a "salesperson" or not. Great salespeople are not remembered for the statements they make, they're remembered for the questions they ask. Ask better questions, get better results. As mindset guys, we get a little bit obsessed with one-on-ones when we lead teams, so we geek out when experts like Jeanne shed light on new questions to ask that can help bring out the best in other people. At some point a long time ago, someone studying great salespeople noticed they were mirroring the people they were talking to. So they started training salespeople to mirror the body language of their customers. One MAJOR problem... These great sellers weren't connecting with people because they were mirroring, they were UNCONSCIOUSLY mirroring people 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. If you're sitting there thinking about crossing your leg when your customer crosses theirs, you can't possibly be having a good conversation. Science shows that mirroring is a natural inclination when we're AUTHENTICALLY engaged in a conversation with someone and are relating to them. So instead of ACTING like you're in a deep conversation by copying someone's body language, work on caring enough to get into that deep conversation in the first place.

Mar 12, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 David Lieberman, Ph.D., is a renowned psychotherapist and the author of eleven books, including the New York Times bestsellers Get Anyone to Do Anything and Never Be Lied to Again. He has trained personnel in the U.S. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: "People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character." A person looks at the world as a reflection of themselves. If they see the world as corrupt, they feel on some level that they are corrupt. If they see honest working people, that is frequently how they see themselves. "How someone treats you is a reflection of their own emotional health and says everything about them and nothing about you." Speaking negatively behind someone's back orients you to look for the negative in others. Wouldn't we rather spend time with people who seek the greatness in others? "The less emotionally healthy a person is, the more they denigrate the world to accommodate their own insecurities." Knowledge is not power. Knowledge is a tool. How it is wielded makes all of the difference. Real power is the responsible application of knowledge. Word usage: Let's take the example of giving a compliment. A woman who believes what she's saying is more likely to use a personal pronoun. For instance, "I really liked your presentation." However, a person offering insincere flattery might say, "Nice presentation," or "Looks like you did a lot of research." In the second case, she has removed herself from the equation. The Art of reading the bluff - When a person is bluffing, they are managing others' impressions to convey the "right" effect and serve a personal agenda. Conversely, the authentic person is not interested in how they come across because they are unconcerned with their image. "People who bluff habitually overcompensate, so you can uncover a bluff instantly by noticing how someone tries to appear." Relationships: Whenever David speaks to couples, he's always on the lookout when the word we is conspicuously absent from the conversation. We are attracted to positivity. It reflects humility. "Humility connects you to the ownership of mistakes." Humility can recognize a weakness in self. The difference between a sociopath and a psychopath: A sociopath has no conscious. They are very dangerous. A psychopath's wiring is off. They were born that way. Life and career advice: Find a passion that contributes to the world. Don't get too caught up in image or ego. "You can be anything. you're good at. as long as they're hiring." -- Chris Rock

Mar 10, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Matt Mochary is an operator and an investor. Matt is known as the coach of Silicon Valley's best CEOs. He works with leaders at many companies, including Coinbase, Opendoor, Bolt, and Clearbit. After selling his startup in 1999 for millions, he surfed, made movies, and then developed the Mochary Method to help leaders excel. Matt's life mantra: "Make Money, Have Fun, Do Good" Matt has coached the leaders of Angelist, Brex, Coinbase, Sequoia, Grammarly, Attentive Mobile, Flexport, Plaid, and Reddit. I was not expecting so much emotion from him when talking about coaching. It's evident that Matt finds great joy in what he does. I find that inspiring. The components to a coaching conversation... Hold each other accountable. Declare the highest priority actions. Unpack the problems. Ask them how they are complicit in creating those problems? Help provide solutions & action items for each. Then share feedback. Instead of looking for a specific class, find the best teachers and go to them. That's where the learning happens. In college and out in the real world. "Matt's coaching has brought me clarity, focus, organization, less stress, and higher performance (me and the team). I have always been skeptical of coaches but I think he can 10x the output of a lot of people and I hope he does!" -- Sam Altman (CEO, OpenAI) "It's often easy to make a decision, but it can be much harder to get your team to invest emotionally in that decision." "You create buy-in when you make people feel that they are part of the decision and that their input contributes to the final outcome." "Most companies spend extraordinary resources of time, money, and equity to bring on a new team member, and then almost entirely drop the ball on quickly getting that team member onboarded and up to speed on how the company works so that they can begin making a full contribution. Don't make this mistake." "You create buy-in when you make people feel that they are part of the decision and that their input contributes to the final outcome." "Making a Sale To make a sale effectively, you need to do the following three things: Build trust Identify the customer's specific pain Sell results, not features" "Why did you leave that job?" Was the candidate promoted, recruited, or fired? Get very curious about why." "And when receiving appreciation, there is only one correct response: "Thank you." Do not feign humility by downplaying the act with statements like "It was nothing, anyone could have done it." No. The person is trying to make you feel appreciated. Anything other than "thank you" will rob them of their goal." Meetings – ALWAYS start on time. Don't ever say, "Well let's wait for everyone to join zoom."

Mar 6, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Kim "KC" Campbell (KC = "Killer Chick") is a retired Air Force Colonel who served in the Air Force for over 24 years. She has flown 1,800 hours in the A-10 Warthog, including more than 100 combat missions protecting troops on the ground in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2003, Kim was even awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for Heroism after successfully recovering her battle-damaged airplane after an intense close air support mission in Baghdad. Kim is the author of Flying in the Face of Fear: A Fighter Pilot's Lessons on Leading with Courage. Notes: On January 28, 1986, the challenger rocket exploded (killing all astronauts on board). On that day, Kim learned what it meant to serve something bigger than yourself. She decided she wanted to be an astronaut and serve something bigger than herself. A big influence in Kim's life was a high school teacher named Mrs. Kennett. She helped Kim on the speech and debate team. One of her arguments was about women being allowed to be combat pilots. Mrs. Kennett worked to create "power women." Response to Rejection: Initially Kim got rejected by the Air Force Academy because of a low SAT score. In response, instead of quitting and moving on, she wrote a letter to them every week stating why they should accept her... Which they eventually did. "The tough moments make you better." The initial rejection was a blessing in disguise. How to crush the interview process? Prepare... Walk through potential questions and rehearse your stories. Role play with a mentor. Be you. Be real. Be authentic Create a connection with all in the room. Look them in the eye. Be genuine. Like father, Like daughter — just before Kim's final year at the academy, she earned the position of Cadet Wing Commander. This is a position her dad held 25 years earlier. They were the first father-daughter wing commander duo in academy history. A woman in a man's world: When Kim started pilot training in 1999, there were 33 female fighter pilots in the Air Force. About 1% of fighter pilots. Kim's choice of airplane was the A10 WartHog. The airplane was designed first with the 30 mm Gatling gun on it in mind: capable of shooting 3,900 rounds per minute. The leader sets the culture. They decide what to create and what to allow. Kim was on a combat support mission in Baghdad when her airplane was hit. She had to make a split-second decision about whether to exit the aircraft behind enemy lines or try to fly it back to a safer area... Commanders intent - Your why is the way forward. You allow your team to take action and make decisions. "Explain the why. Explain the context. Let the lower level leaders make decisions and run with it." Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" speech resonates with Kim. "We feel fear and freeze. We can't let fear paralyze us. We need to take action in the face of fear. Remain calm. Acknowledge the fear and move forward."

Feb 27, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of your fellow learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Jason Feifer is the editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine. He is also the author of a great new book called, Build for Tomorrow: An Action Plan for Embracing Change, Adapting Fast, and Future-Proofing Your Career . Notes: Define yourself… What is your one sentence? Jason's is "I tell stories in my own voice." That's what he does as the editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine. That's what he does when he writes books. Records podcasts… Everything. What is your one sentence? What do you do? How to lead through change – Remember... You've had time to think about it prior to the meeting, they haven't. Show some grace. Communicate why the change is happening and how it impacts them. And… "People hate new things, but they love better versions of old things." People hate loss. Remind them of what's staying the same, but getting better. In 1348, The Bubonic Plague happened... What occurred as a result? 60% of Europeans died. It led to an opportunity for employment. Prior to that, there were the rich and the poor. The rich had the poor work for them, but did not pay them money. "If a city isn't growing, it's dying. The same is true for people." In your career, "Don't ask for the opportunity... BE the opportunity." The Four Distinct Phases: Panic Adaptation New Normal Wouldn't Go Back The first thing a person should do when navigating change is to identify the thing about themself that is not going to change. This is tough because we naturally identify with the output of our work. If somebody at a party asks you what you do, you're either going to tell them your job title, your role, the way in which you do your work, or the thing that you create. And that's natural—it's a good way to understand ourselves. "We are programmed for loss aversion." "Build a bridge of familiarity from them to you." "That's something Ryan Reynolds told me. Ryan is an actor who also started an extremely successful advertising agency called Maximum Effort. He also owns Aviation Gin and Mint Mobile. Ryan told me that the thing that distinguishes people is not whether they're good at something at the beginning (because nobody will be good at something at the beginning), but rather whether someone can tolerate the natural state of being bad at the beginning. When trying something new, there cannot be an expectation of mastery from the start. "Can you tolerate being bad long enough to be good?" In front of you are two sets of opportunities. Opportunity Set A is everything that is asked of you, for instance showing up at your job, things your boss needs done, etc. It is necessary to do a good job at Opportunity Set A. Opportunity set B is everything that is available for you to do that nobody is asking you to do. This could also be at your job, but it could also be something outside of work like taking a class to learn a new skill. With every single thing you do, ask What is it for? This forces you to make sure that the things that you do have a valuable outcome. It's okay if that outcome looks strange, or if that outcome will come after some time working towards it. We want to know which things we should devote our time and energy to, and we want to understand how to maximize opportunities. Answering What is it for? clarifies that. So, What is it for? Content now is for relationships. People will trust you and like you because of your content. You build a relationship with people when you put something out into the world. Life/Career advice: Try, quit, and learn Life is a series of experiments

Feb 20, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of Learning Leaders from all over the world to receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday to help you start your week off right. Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Mark Fogel is a former US Air Force fighter pilot and current squadron commander in the Ohio Air National Guard. He's A graduate of the US Air Force Academy and the Harvard Kennedy School, he is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Dayton, and his TEDx Talk called The Culture of a Fighter Squadron is one of the best I've seen. Notes: American Fighter Sqaudrons are the most effective teams on the planet. Cockiness is unacceptable. Humility is a critical quality and skill to be part of the team. The subculture is you check your rank at the door. When you lead a mission, you're in charge of the debrief. I love building a culture where feedback is regularly given both ways. And the trust created amongst the team to be able to do this with psychological safety. The real training and learning take place in the debrief…Spending hours pouring over video, computer graphic reenactments, radio calls, everything… To diagnose exactly what went right and what didn't and why. The debriefs can last multiple days to describe 10 minutes of action. The person who leads the debrief is the flight leader. That person is not necessarily the most experienced member of the team. Fighter squadrons share the leadership and followership duties constantly. You might have a situation where it's a 24-year-old lieutenant telling a 2-star General in front of the entire room, "You screwed up and this is why we failed the mission because of it." This creates a mixture of perfectionism and humility. Building a culture takes time. Trust is built from character and competence. How do you reward and incentivize behavior? You're modeling what you want others to do.

Feb 13, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of Mindful Monday. Join 10's of thousands of other Learning Leaders from all over the world to receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Dan Martell is an entrepreneur, investor and best-selling author of the book Buy Back Your Time . He founded, scaled, and exited three technology companies within a ten-year period. In 2012 he was named Canada's top angel investor, having invested in more than 50 start-ups, such as Intercom, Udemy, and Unbounce. In 2016, Martell founded the SaaS Academy and grew it to become one of the largest coaching companies in the world. He's also an Ironman athlete, philanthropist, husband, and father of two boys. The 3 keys to a world-class leadership retreat: Do something physically hard together (hike up a mountain, Wim Hof ice bath) Do the strengths and weaknesses exercise. Be honest, vulnerable, and open. It builds trust. Be very intentional about the seating chart (in meetings, at meals, and rooming assignments) Send cold emails: Dan sent hundreds of cold emails when he moved to San Francisco Paul Graham responded and said, "Do marketing. Every startup needs help with that." It changed how Dan introduced himself to founders moving forward. Read Tim Sanders' book, Love Is The Killer App Acquire knowledge for your customer Your network is your net worth. Build relationships. Love cat -- Nice guys finish first. Be a kind person. When Dan went to jail, he met a guard named Brian. Brian pulled Dan aside and said, "What are you doing? You don't belong here." As a leader, use your power for good. Help people believe they can do more. Dan has hired a family coach and had her live with his family to help them have deeper relationships. "I want to have an epic marriage." Intentional Family Actions Dan takes: A quarterly retreat with his wife, Renee Ask: "How have I shown up as a husband for you?" Wednesday family lunch meetings Write your family core values together Have family board meetings Dan is intentional about telling his boys what he sees in them Buy Back Your Time Dan shares the secret to engineering your perfect week – and then, your perfect year – to ensure you're fully focused on what matters most. And... When to employ time hacks, such as the "Definition of Done" and the "$50 Magic Pill," to help your team work more efficiently, prevent bottlenecks, and guard your energy. Dan teaches you how to calculate your Buyback Rate so you can start buying back time immediately. And... Why playbooks need to be the foundation of your business, and how to create them. Life/Career advice: Whatever you want out of life, help others get that. The world rewards those who help others.

Feb 6, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join tens of thousands of other Learning Leaders to receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/Instagram: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Brian Kight is the founder of Daily Discipline. He writes essays on how to pursue your most meaningful objectives with intention, purpose, and skill. His work is read by millions of people all over the world. Brian (known as BK) personally works with leaders in business and in sports on how to align teams and accelerate results. Notes: What mistakes do leaders make when trying to change the culture? They are too fuzzy with their language. It's plain. They separate culture from execution. In reality, execution is the strongest indicator of culture. "The testing of my beliefs is the discipline of my actions." Learning Happens through Depth: People now place too much emphasis on learning fast and not enough on learning deeply. The consequence is a false equivalence of consumption with learning and a false confidence that what gets consumed is understood. Learning occurs through immersion, not cheat codes. No one cares how many books you've read or podcasts you've heard. These are not marks of success, achievement, or wisdom. Success is applying the lessons of one book in a manner so disciplined that it transforms your life or at least impacts it in a meaningful fashion. To learn, transform, or build something of lasting capability, merit, and value, immerse yourself in the learning experience. If you want a change, fully engage. Shed volume for depth. Swap variety for rigor. Don't minimize your effort through hacks or cheapen your experience with cheat codes. Are you trying to feel good for a while or improve yourself forever? Leaders create the culture that drives the behavior that produces results… E + R = O Event + (Your) Response = Outcome The confidence - Doubt spectrum The 5 things confidence comes from: I know what to do I know how to do it Do I feel capable of doing it? I expect good results I'll be ok if the results are not what I expect Leaders instill confidence in people Reps are a tool for belief Goal Setting: "I'm not into goal setting, I'm a system setter." "My commitment is to execute the system." "Outcomes are not my goals." Light can be pushed through a prism or a magnifying glass. A prism creates a rainbow. Nice, looks good. A magnifying glass creates focus and fire. Ask, "Am I a prism or a magnifying glass?" Businesses are not rational environments, they are emotional environments. They don't run by rational rules, they run by emotional ones. Everything is an exchange. You give attention, time, and energy (ATE) to things with the expectation of a return on that investment. How do we align our inner and outer Pursuits? – Getting secure and aligned on the inside leads to excellence on the outside. The best way to position yourself for external excellence is to prioritize internal fulfillment. Life & Career advice: Be a creator of the energy you need. Your energy comes from your purpose. "Don't follow your passion, just always bring it with you." "Your response needs to always be better than your circumstances."

Jan 30, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of other Learning Leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Ramit Sethi is the New York Times best-selling author of I Will Teach You To Be Rich. Millions of people read his work every month which focuses on personal finances, money in relationships, and he shares how you can define your rich life. His team has created online programs on making more money, finding your Dream Job, starting an online business, and mastering your inner psychology. Notes: If you have a partner, "create your journey together." Money is not something to be delegated to one or the other. Both should be involved. Ramit's book-buying rule: If you've even considered buying a book for one second, then BUY THE BOOK. If you learn just one new thing, it is worth it. The return on your investment is through the roof. When in doubt, buy the book. And Read the book. Ramit describes every detail of the conversation he had with his wife about signing a pre-nuptial agreement before they got married. "You should focus on $30,000 questions, not $3 questions." Top 5 Lessons from one year of interviewing couples about money Ramit shares how to get started with your money: automation, investing, and the other Big Wins of money. How to manage your money Fixed costs: 50%-60% Savings: 5%-10% Investments: 5%-10% Guilt-free spending: 20%-30% How to invest your money Target date fund - Vanguard Index funds Ramit advises that you do not pay a financial advisor based on AUM (Assets Under Management). Pay an hourly rate or a fixed cost. This will save you hundreds of thousands (or millions) of dollars over the course of 30-50 years. Decide what you want to spend your money on... What is your rich life? Create your money rules: For example, Ramit has unlimited spending on his health. And he has money set aside for philanthropic endeavors

Jan 23, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... They are called "Mindful Monday." A perfect opportunity for you to be more thoughtful as you start your week. Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Dr. Marc Schulz is the Associate Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development and an award-winning professor at Bryn Mawr College, where he directs the Data Science Program and is the Sue Kardas Ph.D. 1971 Chair in Psychology. He completed his BA at Amherst College and his Ph.D. at the University of California at Berkeley. He is the author of The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness. Notes: "Relationships are at the core of human flourishing." Friendships - Map out your social universe. Are the connections uplifting or depleting? Ask, "what do I value about the person?" Be intentional about your relationships and how you invest in them. The quality of the relationship you have with your partner will determine how long you will live. As we get older, we tend to get happier. We accumulate emotional wisdom. We should focus more on relationships that give us emotional sustenance . This work is built on a bedrock of scientific research. At its heart, the Harvard Study of Adult Development. An extraordinary scientific endeavor that began in 1938, is still going Bob is the 4th director of the study, and Marc is its associate director. "Generativity" – In psychology, expanding our concerns and efforts beyond our own lives is called generativity and it's a key to unlocking the vibrancy and excitement of midlife. When asked at the end of their lives, "What do you wish you'd done less of? And more of?" The study participants often referenced their middle years and regretted having spent so much time worrying and so little time acting in a way that made them feel alive. The story of John Marsden and Leo DeMarco… Leo lived a rich life because of the relationships he fostered with his wife, daughters, and close friends. John put all of his effort into becoming a lawyer, becoming well-known, and didn't focus on his relationships. They ended up on opposite ends of the spectrum when it came to happiness. Research has shown that people who have a close colleague at work are more engaged and productive than those who don't. Close to half of your waking moments are spent thinking about something other than what you are doing. Loneliness increases your risk of death as much as smoking or obesity . Evolutionary theories: Survival depends on us coming together as groups. We are social creatures. How to handle remote/hybrid working environments? There is a cost to not being together. There is a cost to working alone. Friendships need repeated exposure. Doing tasks together builds friendships. You can't do those well remotely. Strangers on a Train: What do you want to do while on a train? Listen to music or talk with the stranger sitting next to you? Most will say that they would rather put their headphones on, listen to music, or read a book. However, the research suggests that you'll be happier if you spoke with a stranger on the train. Life/Career advice: Think about the nitty gritty of a job. Talk to people doing the job. Spend extended time with them while they are doing the job. See what it's like.

Jan 16, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of other Learning Leaders to receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right! Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Richard V. Reeves is a senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution. He is the author of Dream Hoarders (2017), and a regular contributor to the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and The Atlantic. His latest book has made waves worldwide … It's called OF BOYS AND MEN: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It. Notes: How to be a great mom and/or dad? Model the right behavior. Children believe their eyes more than their ears. It's our responsibility to be that positive role model for children. "The secret to life is to take your work seriously, but not yourself." Create a conversation with your team where all ideas are valued equally. "Communication just moves stuff around. Conversations make something new happen. "Boys are behind girls in education all over. College is now 60-40 women." "In the education system and in terms of many aspects of mental health, boys are really struggling. That isn't to say that girls aren't also struggling but in different ways. In terms of the education system, girls and young women have blown right past boys and men. There's actually a bigger gender gap in education today than there was 50 years ago." "Boys develop later than girls. They should go to school one year later than girls." "The pre-frontal cortex is the CEO of the brain. This develops later in boys than in girls. It's on us to recognize the facts and act accordingly. In this case, Richard is an advocate for starting boys in school one year later than girls." Richard's goal: "To create men who are acceptable at a dance and available in a shipwreck." What are the differences between men and women? "Women tend to have a higher level of agreeableness." "We now live in a world where 40% of women earn more than the typical man, where 40% of breadwinners in the U.S. are women. This is a gigantic social change that is entirely positive, looked at through one lens, and we should certainly celebrate it. But... It does raise this question, which is, well, what about men? What does it mean to be a guy in a world where the role of provider can no longer be presumed? What it means is that we urgently, desperately need to update our models of fatherhood, especially, and of masculinity, to fit with this new world." "The problem with men is typically framed as a problem of men. It is men who must be fixed, one man or boy at a time. This individualist approach is wrong." Life/Career advice: It takes time to understand how your talents will be best used. Be patient. It's not a race. Be the type of person that people want to work with… It sounds obvious, but it's not. Be pleasant, be on time, be a great teammate, be thankful, and do great work.

Jan 9, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of Learning Leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Jesse Cole is the founder of Fans First Entertainment and the owner of the Savannah Bananas. He's fanatic about fandom and launched the Savannah Bananas with one mission: to spark a fan-focused movement. The Bananas have sold out every game since their first season and have a waitlist for tickets in the thousands. They have entertained millions of fans in Savannah and at ballparks all over their country on their Banana Ball Tour. Notes: " So many business owners are focused on short-term profits. We are focused on long-term fans. " "If you're not getting criticized, then you're playing it too safe." - When is the last time you were criticized for pushing it too far? Ideas are about quantity. Jesse writes down ten new ideas in his "idea journal" every morning. Most of them aren't that good. You have to get through the quantity to get to the quality. It's a numbers game. Send handwritten thank you notes to people. Tell them about the impact they've made on you. Jesse has done this for me multiple times and it always makes me feel good. Customers are transactional... Create fans for life. "Do for one what you wish you could do for many." Create special moments for people. One at a time. Do an energy audit: What activities give you energy? How can you do more of those? We learn who we are in practice, not in theory. We learn best through actual trial. Move from idea to execution quickly. If it doesn't work, move on. "I'm not afraid to be embarrassed. My biggest fear is being irrelevant." Jesse focuses a ton of effort on understanding his teammates (both players and everyone else who works for him) The love language assessment... He learned that the majority of his employees have "words of affirmation" as their top love language. "Recognition drives behavior." The job title for Jesse's executive assistant is "Executive Rockstar." What Jesse learned from Walt Disney and PT Barnum: Master storytellers They create attention "Without promotion, something terrible happens... Nothing." Watch "The Imagineering Story" on Disney Plus "They built Disney Land in less than a year!" "Money doesn't excite me. Ideas excite me." Advice: "Give without asking for anything in return. Give, give, give." 9 Rules To Banana Ball: Every Inning Counts - Create walk-off moments 2 Hour Time Limit 1 on 1 Showdown (if there is a tie). No extra innings. Walks are now springs (if you walk, it's a sprint) No Bunting (bunting sucks) No Mound Visits (they are boring The batter can steal first base (if a pitcher throws a passed ball) If a fan catches a foul ball, it's an out No stepping out of the box

Jan 2, 2023

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of other Learning Leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right. Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 My Guest: Buzz Williams is the head Men's Basketball Coach at Texas A&M University. He's coached his teams to eight NCAA Tournament appearances in 13 years as a head coach. In 2020, Buzz was named the SEC "Coach of the Year." His teams have won 20 or more games in five of the last seven seasons. Buzz's teams have four Sweet Sixteen appearances. Buzz is known as a coach who helps his players on and off the court. He teaches regular life development sessions to his players called "Get Better 101." Notes: Buzz has nine daily disciplines. "Your decisions reveal your priority." Train body at 5:30, get steps at 7:30, write 2 thank you notes per day, write children a note on their favorite color note card every day, read a book a week, weekly date night with his wife, and on non-gamedays is 7 meaningful texts. "You can be whatever you earn the right to be." Team Bus 1 - The core group of people that make up the team. Those that sit on the bench and play in the games. In order to climb the ladder, you must go one step at a time. You can't skip steps. There are no hacks, no shortcuts. Being able to delay gratification is a superpower and creates the opportunity to make a big impact. It's the ability to show up each day and take one step at a time. "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great." "History rarely remembers the critics. It remembers the contributors. So contribute!" "Energized leaders can evoke energy from within others. But when the leader lets up a little, followers tend to let up a lot." "The reward for passing the test is earning the next test." "Being a boss is a job. Being a leader is something you earn." "Goliath is not there to kill you, he is there to introduce you." "Pressure is a privilege." (Billie Jean King book title) "Basketball is not the source, it is the vehicle." "While we are leading, our rate of learning must be at least as fast as the rate of change." "Your patience when you have nothing, and your attitude when you have everything are two things that will always define you." "You grow up thinking winning is the scoreboard at the end. But you learn there is so much that goes into the business of winning. Winning is the details-the discipline. The business of winning happens every second, and this business doesn't turn the lights off." "There's a ceiling to talent. There's no ceiling to someone's hunger & to someone's drive to be the best. How hard a team works, how hard they play, how together they are- there's no ceiling to that." Many times in life what's invisible is what's important. "True love does not have an agenda." Team Rules: Always tell the truth, no matter what Always be on time... 6 = early Be a great teammate... It compounds Never do anything to embarrass you/your family/your team/your school If anything is potentially a problem, please call Buzz What Buzz looks for when recruiting a player: Character IQ & EQ Work ethic - Do they want to work? Consumed with process Insatiable drive to get better A great teammate Life/Career advice: Never be without pen and paper. Take notes. Read more than you think you need to. Write down everything, about anything, all the time. Build trustful relationships. Seek to give to others and add value to their lives. Never turn down an opportunity to learn or work.

Dec 26, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Join 10's of thousands of other Learning Leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week of right! Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Diego Perez is a New York Times bestselling author who is widely known on Instagram and various social media networks through his pen name Yung Pueblo. Online he has an audience of over 2.7 million people. His writing focuses on the power of self-healing, creating healthy relationships, and the wisdom that comes when we truly work on knowing ourselves. His two books, Inward and Clarity & Connection were both instant bestsellers. Diego's third book, Lighter , debuted as a #1 New York Times best seller. Notes: Using a pseudonym - Yung Pueblo means "Young People." The pseudonym reflects a social commentary that points to humanity's coming growth and maturation. The name signals a time when we will collectively transition from being ruled by shortsightedness and self-centeredness to having an elevated appreciation of our interconnectedness, which normalizes treating each other with a new and considerate gentleness. Immigrants – Diego to the United States when he was 4 from Ecuador. His parents' bravery, how much they had to sacrifice, and how hard they worked to give him, his brother, and his little sister a better life in the United States. His mom cleaned houses and his dad worked at a supermarket. "For the first decade and a half, we felt the intense pressure of poverty." "I am less interested in debating and more interested in considering a topic collectively. Let's peacefully share what we know with each other. When we arrive at diverging points of view, let's focus on questions. How did you arrive to this point? Help me understand what you mean." "Saying less is incredibly helpful. Every thought is not valuable. Every feeling does not need to be voiced. What is often best is slowing down to spend time developing a clearer and more informed perspective. Ego rushes and reacts, but peace moves intentionally and gently." "You know you have matured deeply when you encounter someone's rough emotions and instead of letting their volatility consume you, you mentally affirm within yourself "I am not going to join them in their turbulence." "Find a partner who increases your power instead of diminishing it. Complimenting each other's qualities in a way where you make each other shine brighter is an immense gift. You not only lend your strengths to each other, you also keep the spark alive that inspires evolution." Great friends appreciate you and are not afraid of your growth. It's easy to be around them. You root hard for each other to do well and show support when it's not. Create a reflection process for yourself. Write down what you're grateful for… And reflect on the fact that everything is always changing. Reserve judgment. Don't be so quick to make up your mind about something. Instead of judging something or someone, approach them with curiosity and a sense of wonder.

Dec 19, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of Mindful Monday. Join 10's of thousands of other learning leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Jeff Shesol is a multi-hyphenate leader. He's a Rhodes Scholar, a historian, a presidential speech writer, and a 3-time best-selling author. He also had a comic strip called thatch that was nationally syndicated from 1994–1998 when it appeared daily in more than 150 newspapers. Notes: If you're going to set moonshot goals for your team, you must relentlessly communicate them to all involved. The what, why, how, and when… Relentlessly communicate with vivid clarity. Focus, Purpose, Urgency… This was what was lacking before President Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson helped take fragmented groups and bring them all together. Focus, Purpose, and Urgency. How can you do this for your organization? John Glenn – A leader of action. He didn't let fate determine the outcome of his life. He went after what he wanted. He had a bias for action. In a world of drivers and passengers, John Glenn was a driver and that's what led to him leaving his mark in the world. John Glenn – " Friendship 7—designed to fly itself—had begun drifting to the right, like a car with its front wheels out of alignment. Glenn took the control stick—not without satisfaction. He was a pilot, by training and temperament, and pilots take control ." Press conference to introduce astronauts… John Glenn said, "I was brought up believing that you are placed on earth… with sort of a fifty-fifty proposition. We are placed here with certain talents and capabilities. It is up to each one of us to use those talents and capabilities as best as we can. A higher power will certainly see that I am taken care of if I do my part of the bargain." The space program may be the profession that requires the highest risk tolerance aside from the military. It is no surprise the original 7 astronauts were all test pilots. The Flight Director of the Apollo missions, Chris Kraft, is quoted as saying: "if we thought about odds, we wouldn't do it (launch man into space)." Bob Gilruth, head of NASA, also said: "we don't have enough chimpanzees" responding to criticism that not enough test launches were done. JFK, despite his outward speeches, was initially reluctant to go to the moon and was skeptical if it was a waste of time and money. Publishing your work can change your life... In 1997, President Bill Clinton read Mutual Contempt and invited Shesol to become one of his speechwriters. During his three years at the White House, Shesol became the deputy chief speechwriter and a member of the senior staff. Sustaining Excellence: Need to evolve, and be open to change. Musicians take risks with new albums. Be willing to take those risks as a leader. Continue to challenge yourself. Keynote speeches: Do not ever let them get stale... But have one fundamental core message. Dr. Martin Luther King had a core theme of every speech. Life and Career advice: "In your 20's, figure out where you can make your great contribution." Trial and error is good. What energizes you the most?

Dec 12, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Receive a carefully curated email each Monday morning to help you start your week off right. Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 The Hard Makes It Good - A league of their own — Tom Hanks — when Geena Davis (Dottie Henson quit saying it just got too hard). " "Of course it's hard. If it wasn't everybody would do it. It's the hard that makes it great." Writing - A writing life may seem to lie somewhere on the other side of the moon from a life in athletics, but the two are scary similar in the things that they require. They're both ridiculously hard, even if they sometimes look easy. And the reward for either isn't what you get at the end, it's what you go through to get there. The process in both is the prize. Great teachers — "Great teachers crack open a door and cue the siren's song that lures you in. Once inside, they give you hard . And then they let you decide what to do about it. I live indebted to them for the view." The art of asking — Dr. Darryl Tippens — a Shakspere class... "I admired all he knew, but I admired what he did with it even more." "His questioning and blatant unwillingness to give us the answers made us work for our conclusions. The process and the product stayed with us. We learned that what we strain for, sticks." The job — "if a leader's primary job is to be a dealer of hope, Whitney Hand was a leader of rare air." It's not about the trophy - After winning the state championship, on the bus ride home with the team, Sherri noticed that she had left the trophy behind accidentally. And she said,"it so had never been about what you get in the end." Confidence is self-governed. Nobody can give it to you and nobody can take it away. I've found that regularly doing hard things helps me earn more confidence. The makeup of a great point guard: An outward perspective. They care more about setting their teammates up than themselves. A capacity for understanding what each person needs. Athletic eyes - They have a broad spectrum. They see things before they happen. Sturdy, innate confidence. Sherri's Grandma: She was very observant. She spoke with purpose. No wasted words. "She taught me how to be observant and listen." "Coaches are great tellers. They aren't always great listeners. Questions are so much better than statements." Great mentors don't give you the answer. They teach you how to think. They teach you how to figure it out on your own. What makes up a great player (beyond the skill to score a basketball)? The intangibles: They build relationships They're observant They pay attention They are intentional about how they "do life" What do you value most? "Curiosity." "You can't wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time." Advice: What makes your heart sing? Work to figure that out. What is that thing in you?

Dec 5, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 VItaliy Katsenelson was born in Murmansk, USSR, and immigrated to the United States with his family in 1991. After joining Denver-based value investment firm IMA in 1997, Vitaliy became Chief Investment Officer in 2007, and CEO in 2012. Vitaliy has written two books on investing and is an award-winning writer. Known for his uncommon common sense, Forbes Magazine called him "The New Benjamin Graham." "I guess I was born in Russia but made for America." The two ways to look at life. Like an airport… Where you rush to get through it. Or an art museum. Where you take time to enjoy your surroundings. I think we should treat more days like they're an art museum. "When you love what you do, your work stops being work and becomes a craft. And no matter what it is, you do it with pride, love, and care." "In our relationships, we should set a goal, not for someone to love us, but to behave according to our values (to be worth loving) and to be a good, caring partner. We cannot control whether people will love us, but we can control our actions and our behavior." "I'm perpetually in beta. This in beta attitude is liberating, as it gives you the chance to constantly improve yourself; to learn and grow. This doesn't mean you need to be buried in self-help books. You just need to have this in beta attitude." "The best way to guard ourselves against our ego is by thinking of ourselves as evergreen students." Albert Einstein said, "As our circle of knowledge expands, so does the circumference of darkness surrounding it." We should welcome the circumference of darkness wholeheartedly. How Zeno, the founder of Stoicism approached his students: "He did not claim to be a physician-- he saw himself as a patient describing the progress of his treatment to fellow patients in the hospital beds beside him." When Vitaliy's mother died (he was young), it made him appreciate his dad much more. I think we'd all be better off if we made the most of the time we have with the people we love and never take them for granted. What Vitaliy learned from Warren Buffett? He was not a present dad. It's important to be in your kids lives. It's a gift to get to drive your kids to school. Sit side by side with your children and talk (car rides, sit at the bar at restaurants, go on walks) Vitaliy plays chess and he loses a lot... "Losing is part of tuition." Seneca said, "Time discovers truth." Attention is the currency of time. "Writing is the most important thing that happened to me." Spend two hours a day organizing your thoughts. Writing helps you do that... "Create a connection between the unconscious and conscious mind."

Nov 28, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of Mindful Monday. Join 10''s of thousands of other Learning Leaders and receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Paul Smith is one of the world's leading experts on organizational storytelling. He's the author of multiple best-selling books including Lead with a Story (which is now in its 11th printing, and published in 7 languages around the world), Sell with a Story, and The 10 Stories Great Leaders Tell. Notes: "Decide what values you want your organization to have. Then find and capture stories that illustrate them. Remember, if you don't have strong company value stories, you probably don't have strong company values." Fill your story with surprises to pique your audience's interest and memory. Often the best way to spread a company's values and culture are through stories. Use stories to forge strong relationships between diverse team members. Stories can be used to inspire employees, even when times are tough. – You could spout nonsensical motivational phrases about "giving it 110 percent" – or you could tell an inspiring story. A successful story is comprised of only three ingredients — you need context , action, and the result (CAR). As NYU social psychologist Jonathan Haidt observes, " The human mind is a story processor, not a logic processor ." Your job is to help the other person make a decision. To do that, they need to rely on both logic AND emotion. " Your first objective in a sales call should be to get buyers to tell you their stories, not the other way around ." The James Watt story – Keep 1 or 2 small vital pieces of the story and save them for the end. The aha moment. The surprise makes it more memorable for your audience. Asking better questions… Instead of saying, "What keeps you up at night?" Ask… "Tell me about a moment…" You can also use this when walking home from the bus stop with your children. Instead of saying, "How was school today?" Ask, "Tell me about your day at school…" "We generally don't tell our personal stories at work because we work with strangers. They remain strangers because we don't tell our personal stories. You have to break the cycle." "Sometimes getting your employees to be more creative isn't the problem. The problem is getting their less-than-imaginative boss to give them the space to invent. Innovation isn't a linear process. Inventors need the freedom to play with ideas to see what fruit they will bear. A well-meaning boss might think he's doing his job by keeping his team focused on the most productive areas to explore. But when you insist on knowing what the fruit will be before allowing the play, many of the most revolutionary discoveries might stay undiscovered." "Many of life's failures are people who didn't realize how close they were to success when they gave up." The most effective stories play on people's emotions. – We can take an example from Texas, which in the 1980s was ridden with so-called "litterbugs." The government tried its best to combat littering by appealing to emotions, and publishing advertisements that showcased a person weeping at the sight of environmental destruction due to litter. While touching, these ads had no effect. The worst litterers were people with little concern for the environment. So, the government changed directions, What did they do? (Don't mess with Texas) Literally. The slogan was developed by the Texas Department of Transportation for an anti-littering campaign. "It's not just a prideful remark, trying to pick a fight," says Jeff Austin III, commissioner of the Texas Transportation Commission. "It's don't litter in Texas, don't mess up Texas." There are three types of learners: 40 percent of us are visual learners, 40 percent are auditory learners and the remaining 20 percent are kinetic learners. Stories attract all three – a story's imagery influences visual learners, the vocabulary appeals to auditory learners, and the emotions and feelings connect with kinetic learners.

Nov 21, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of Mindful Monday. Join 10's of thousands of other Learning Leaders to receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Notes: AJ Hawk is the all-time leading tackler in Green Bay Packers history. He won a National Champion at Ohio State University and was voted captain of the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl-winning team (2010-20110 He was inducted into the Ohio State University Hall of Fame in 2019. Currently, he is a co-host on The Pat McAfee Show which airs weekdays on YouTube. (AJ is my younger brother) Keith Hawk spent 30+ years as a sales leader. At one point, more than 1,000 people were in his charge. Keith now regularly speaks around the world on such topics as Leadership, Principled Negotiation, Consultative Selling, and Building Thriving Corporate Cultures. He is the co-author of two popular business books, Get-Real Selling , and Terrific – Five Star Customer Service . (Keith AKA "Pistol" is my dad) Pat McAfee is a future billionaire and the founder/CEO of Pat McAfee Industries. He's the host of "The Pat McAfee Show" which airs weekdays on YouTube from 12:00-3:00. Pat recently agreed to a deal with FanDuel which has them spending more than $140 million to be the title sponsor of his YouTube progrum. Prior to launching his media career, Pat was named the "punter of the decade" from his time booming balls for the Indianapolis Colts. Pat is also a WWE color commentator, professional wrestler (he once wrestled Stone Cold Steve Austin), and analyst on ESPN's College GameDay . In WWE, fans and critics often deem Pat as one of the greatest color commentators of all time for his humorous comments, his energy, and his charisma. "When you grow up you tend to get told that the world is the way it is and your life is just to live your life inside the world. Try not to bash into the walls too much. Try to have a nice family life, have fun, save a little money. That's a very limited life. Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it… Once you learn that, you'll never be the same again." - Steve Jobs quote that Pat has hanging up in his studio. "I view life as a movie." - Pat McAfee Keys to a great marriage: Pistol - "On our wedding bands, we had "C, C, C" engraved. They stand for: Communication Consideration Cuddling Questions from fans of The Learning Leader Show : Haley Erickson – CPA: What an achievement! I glean so much from your work and am thankful you share this material with the world. My question: Who is one of the most impactful people in your life and how have they impacted you? Rob Stevens, Leadership Consultant: This is very personal to me. I'm curious what your dad would say about adding value as more and more people get beyond 60. I see a lot of older people, with a lot of wisdom and experience, either retiring or getting pushed to the side. I'd be interested if he has any ideas on how those of us that are over 60 can continue to make significant contributions. It's kind of the question that you like to ask about advice for kids just out of college wanting to make a difference only the other end of the spectrum. David Salvador - VP at Gogo Aviation: Congratulations Ryan! "What is the most impactful investment you can make in yourself for your career?" The draft: It's your birthday dinner. None of your family or close friends can make it. You can invite any person in the world and they will be there. Who are your 5? Pistol: Steve Martin, Pete Rose, Paul McCartney, Al Michaels, James Taylor Ryan: The Rock, Dave Chappelle, Dave Matthews, Peyton Manning, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Taylor Swift AJ: Tom Cruise, Amelia Earhart, Sean Casey, Tiger Woods, Tim Dillon

Nov 14, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Receive a carefully curated email from me... Each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Cody Keenan has written with President Barack Obama since 2007, working his way up to chief speechwriter. He's been named the "Springsteen" of the Obama White House, even though he can't play an instrument, and Obama calls him "Hemingway." His first book, Grace, became an instant New York Times Bestseller. Notes: The use of productive paranoia. Cody said, "I was so afraid to fail that I would do anything to succeed." – We can use fear as fuel… Storytelling – As a speaker, it is our job to help the people in the audience see themselves in the place of the hero in the story. When you're preparing for your next team meeting or town hall address, think about that and how you tell the stories that you do. Singing at the Eulogy in Charleston - If you want an A+ performance, you have to choose to go for it. You can get a B by playing it safe, but you won't perform with excellence unless you have the courage to go for it. In less than 10 years, Cody went from mailroom intern in Congress to chief speechwriter in the White House. My goal is to "write a speech that sings." 'In less than 10 years, I went from mailroom intern in Congress to chief speechwriter in the White House,' President Obama said he relied "on Cody not just to share my vision, but to help tell America's story." "He's a brilliant writer. He's relentless." The first speech Cody wrote was for Senator Ted Kennedy. Right after President Obama's 2004 Democratic convention speech that put him on the map. You write: "To see someone else speak words I'd written sent electricity right up my spine and out my hair."

Nov 7, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Receive a carefully curated email each Monday morning to help you start your week off right. Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Ted Rath the VP of Player Performance for the Philadelphia Eagles. Prior to coming to Philadelphia, Ted spent three seasons (2017-19) with the Los Angeles Rams as the head strength and conditioning coach. In 2017, Ted was named the Strength Coach of the Year by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, an award voted on by the league's strength and conditioning coaches. Los Angeles finished as the healthiest team in the NFL based on adjusted games lost due to injury. *At the time of this recording, the Philadelphia Eagles are currently the only undefeated team in the NFL. Notes: Do your habits today align with your goals of tomorrow? What is your daily process? If you set big goals, what actions are you taking to get closer to achieving them each day? The greatest players LOVED being coached. They demand it and are seeking it. Do you? Are you seeking out a coach? Are you asking for it? What processes do you have in place to get feedback, learn, and get better? How to Lead Others: Most of us want 3 things To feel APPRECIATED in their environment. To feel PROTECTED by those in charge of them. To feel that they are a part of something BIGGER than themselves. Do this through connecting. To connect, you must have trust. To build trust, you must be vulnerable. Once you allow yourself to be vulnerable, you can earn trust. Be an active listener. Listen to connect instead of listening to reply. The greatness of quarterback, Jalen Hurts: Sets high standards for himself: The standard is the standard Loves being coached Constantly works on his craft Stoic: He's calm, consistent, and poised. Ted was part of the decision-making team when deciding the next head coach for The Eagles: Nick Sirianni's five core values: connecting, competition, accountability, intelligence, and fundamentals – connecting is always first. Getting Fired: "It was my 7th year with the team. We had gone to the playoffs the prior year 2014 in Jim Caldwell's first year. In 2015 we started out rough at 1-7 through the first half of the season. We played in London that year, and before leaving for the airport we fired our OC, OL, and asst OL coach. Through the staff shuffle, I ended up helping coach Special Teams during the second half of the season. Our Equipment Manager told me during practice on the first day in London as they were setting up my headset. We ended up finishing strong and going 7-1 in the second half of the season (our only loss was the Thursday night hail mary that Aaron Rodgers completed to Richard Rodgers). After we came back home from London we fired our team President and GM. At the end of the year, the new GM told me he had to let me go to make it look like they were making significant changes in the media." "The climb is about one step at a time." The obstacle is the way: Discipline and perception let you clearly see the advantage and the proper course of action in every situation, without the pestilence of panic or fear. Control your emotions and keep an even keel. How you react to every situation is YOUR CHOICE. Find the opportunity in the obstacle. Self-Discipline must be combined with logic while working through obstacles. Be honest with your self-assessment. Failure is part of all successful team and individual journeys: You don't need to fear it, you just have to refuse to let it beat you We either WIN or LEARN Fail Forward Trials in life will not define you... How you respond to them will. Persistence helps you get what you want, but CONSISTENCY helps you keep what you have earned. Consistency creates trust.

Oct 30, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of Mindful Monday. Receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Julian Treasure is a sound and communication expert. His TED Talk, "How to speak so that people want to listen" is in the top 10 TED talks of all time and collectively, his 5 TED talks have been listened to more than 100 million times! He is also the best-selling author of How to be Heard and Sound Business. Notes: "I was taught this exercise many years ago by a wise old friend named Charlie. I was bemoaning someone being in my way and Charlie put his hand on my arm. "You know, resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die," he said. When we're unconsciously in the habit of judging and blaming others, it can have a huge impact on our well-being." You can't judge and love at the same time. Being judgemental is the opposite of being curious. " Being judgemental comes from ego and from darkness in the soul." Julian's values: Write them down. Be clear. They help you make decisions... Faith - A decision that all will be well Love - Wish people well Acceptance - Go with the flow Gratitude - Be focused on the half-full bit of the glass There are 4 foundations that we can stand on if we want our speech to be powerful and make change in the world HAIL - To greet or acclaim enthusiastically H - Honesty - Be clear and straight A - Authenticity - Be yourself I - Integrity - Do what you say. Be your word. L - Love - Wish them well. "If you're really wishing someone well, it's hard to judge them at the same time." 7 deadly sins of speaking Gossip Judging Negativity Complaining Excuses Exaggeration Dogmatism Listening is a skill. Hearing is a capability . Listening is making meaning from sound. You can practice it and master it. As leaders, we need to continue working on this skill to ensure the people we're leading know they are heard and seen. We all can picture that bad boss that looked at their phone while we talked to them. Let's not be that person. Listening is making meaning from sound...

Oct 23, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday" -- Join 10's of thousands of other Learning Leaders who start their week with a curiosity-inducing email. Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Donald Miller is the Founder/CEO of Storybrand, a marketing company. He is also the Founder/CEO of Business Made Simple, an online platform that teaches business professionals everything they need to know to grow a business and enhance their personal value on the open market. He is the author of several books including the bestseller "Building a StoryBrand." We recorded this podcast in front of a live audience at my 2022 Growth Summit in Nashville, TN. "I don't think any of us should trust fate to write the story of our lives. Fate is a terrible writer." – It's on us to take ownership of our lives and write our own stories. The 4 Roles We Play In Life: The Victim - The character who feels they have no way out The Villian - The character who makes others small The Hero - They accept their own agency. They know what they want. They face their challenges and transform. The Guide - The character who helps the hero How do most value-driven people see themselves? They see themselves as an Economic Product on the Open Market -- (be a good investment to attract further investment) "They are obsessed with getting people a strong return on the investment made in them. People who are obsessed with being a good investment attract further investment and get to enjoy more personal economic value. When you offer greater economic value within the economic ecosystem, you are paid more, given more responsibility and promotions, and are sought after by customers looking for value. In business, your boss may really like you, but in large part, they see you as an economic investment. There is nothing wrong with that. So how do we become ridiculously successful? By making other people absurdly successful." They are relentlessly optimistic - Staying optimistic, you dramatically increase the chances that at some point you will succeed. The more optimistic you are, the more willing you will be willing to try. Successful people fail all the time. The difference is their willingness to keep trying. They know the right way to engage in conflict - Conflict-avoidant people are rarely chosen to lead. All human progress happens by passing through conflict. They have a bias towards action - "There is one thing every successful person has in common: They have a bias towards action." They don't let ideas die on the vine. They take action to make those ideas happen. " Fear is a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life."

Oct 16, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Julia Boorstin is CNBC's Senior Media & Tech Correspondent. She covers media with a special focus on the intersection of media and technology. In 2013, Julia created and launched the CNBC Disruptor 50, an annual list she oversees, highlighting the private companies transforming the economy and challenging companies in established industries. She's the author of a new book called, "When Women Lead - What they achieve, why they succeed, how we can learn from them." Julia's parents inspired her to pursue hard things and instilled in her a love of asking questions. As parents, we should do the same. Asking questions is a sign of respect and that you care. We should ask more questions than we answer both at work and at home. Approach people with curiosity. It's how we show that we care. Julia found a unique way to add value to her employer: Creating the Disruptor 50 list. It's important for us to find unique ways to add value to our company and do work that inspires us at the same time. It's evident that Julia loves it and because of that, both CNBC and Julia win. She has taken an entrepreneurial approach to her career at CNBC and has come up with and championed many ideas that have been impactful and built her career. She shares how you can do that too… Julia shares her preparation process for interviewing a powerful leader like Sheryl Sandberg or Bob Iger. "I didn't have a background in business. I had to over-prepare." How to become a talent magnet and attract effective leaders to want to work for you... She shares the biggest takeaway that you learned from interviewing thousands of CEOs and executives including Katrina Lake, Gwyneth Paltrow, Whitney Wolfe Herd, Jennifer Hyman, and more. Advice Julia got from her dad: "The road is always better than the inn." Enjoy the process. "The best way out is always through." Don't look for shortcuts. "I can't go on, I can't go on, I'll go on." Be persistent. How to build confidence? Get the reps... Do it a lot. Confidence is built through action. Commonalities of excellent leader: Humility Focus High adaptability quotient Communal leadership Empathy "Make your own characteristics a superpower." Life/Career advice: Be willing to fail It's a volume game Be prepared for brainstorming meetings. Have a portfolio of ideas. Julia's book writing process: She interviewed 120 leaders What can men do to be supportive? "Men need to understand the statistics. Diversity = more value." Be a talent magnet. Be honest about what you don't know.

Oct 9, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Mayor Eric Adams has served the people of New York City as an NYPD officer, State Senator, Brooklyn Borough President, and now as the 110th Mayor of the City of New York. Notes: When Eric was 15, he was beaten by a police officer. "Instead of saying woe is me, I said why not me?" He became a police officer... Mentor, Reverend, and Civil Rights Leader, Herbert Daughtry, encouraged him to change the system from within. If you have a problem with a system, try to change it from within. Instead of complaining about it, do something about it. Take action. A mindset shift: " There is something I'm supposed to learn from this ." – Shifting our minds from blaming and complaining to asking ourselves, " What can I learn from this? " Mayor Adams became President of a Black officers association before founding his own group, 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care. The New York Times has called Mayor Adams, "The mayor who never sleeps." - He's known to be up early working and go out late at night… Including going to clubs like Zero Bond (a private club) and not being afraid to take pictures with fellow New Yorkers while holding a vodka/soda in hand… Being perfectly imperfect. Authenticity, being genuine. Mayor Adams goes out to clubs and drinks with his fellow New Yorkers. He doesn't hide it. So many politicians put up a facade. An image that isn't real. Part of his appeal is that he's real, he's human… We all want that. Cleaning up his diet – After 9/11, he relied on comfort food (quarter pounder or a bucket of KFC). One day in 2016, he woke up blind in his left eye and suffered nerve damage in his feed, which could have led to amputation. His diabetes was killing him. He switched to a plant-based diet and lost 35 pounds. (and wrote a book about it) "I would rather be a person that is authentic and make mistakes than robotic and be a fake," Adams says, sitting on the couch in his office. "Folks are tired of just these terrible fake leaders. They're always trying to live up to someone. Always." What does Mayor Adams think about those who use the phrase, "Defund the Police?" "They don't get it." "After protests, you must do something to protect. You cannot simply protest, you have to protect." "All I can say, have your haters become your waiters when you sit down at the table of success."

Oct 2, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of Mindful Monday. Join 10's of thousands of learning leaders from all over the world better understand how you can become a more effective leader. Text Hawk to 66866 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 My guest: Patrick Lencioni has written 14 books on business management, particularly in relation to team management. He is best known as the author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, a popular business fable that explores work team dynamics and offers solutions to help teams perform better. He's also written The Ideal Team Player, The Advantage, The Motive, and his latest book is called The Six Types of Working Genius. Notes: Pat loves The Pat McAfee Show because of their candor, humor, and authenticity. "Humility is a virtue. You can practice it." "Seek first to understand prior to trying to be understood." Be curious. "If we don't understand them, we judge them." The opposite of judgment is curiosity. When you're humble, there is no sense of entitlement. Good teammates? "They take ownership of their mistakes and work to correct them." Must take ownership of it to improve. The Ideal Team Player -- Humble, Hungry, Smart. The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team: Absence of trust - unwilling to be vulnerable within the group Fear of conflict - seeking artificial harmony over constructive passionate debate Lack of commitment - feigning buy-in for group decisions creates ambiguity throughout the organization Avoidance of accountability - ducking the responsibility to call peers on counterproductive behavior which sets low standards Inattention to results - focusing on personal success, status, and ego before team success The Six Types of Working Genius: Wonder – People with this genius can't help but question whether things could be better in the world around them. They are troubled whenever they see unmet potential, and they are constantly curious and on the lookout for the need to change something. Invention – This type of genius is all about creativity. People who have it, love, to generate new ideas and solutions to problems and are even comfortable coming up with something out of nothing. Discernment – People with this type of genius have a natural ability when it comes to evaluating or assessing a given idea or situation and providing guidance. They have good instincts, gut feel, and judgment about the subtleties of making decisions that integrate logic, common sense and human needs. Galvanizing – This type of genius is about bringing energy and movement to an idea or decision. People who have it like to initiate activity by rallying people to act and inspiring them to get involved. Enablement – People with this type of genius are quick to respond to the needs of others by offering their cooperation and assistance with a project, program, or effort. They naturally provide the human assistance that is required in any endeavor, and not on their own terms. Tenacity – This type is about ensuring that a given project, program, or effort is taken to completion and achieves the desired result. People who have this genius push for required standards of excellence and live to see the impact of their work. Pat's areas of working genius: "I am naturally good at and drawn to what we call Invention and Discernment, I like to come up with new, original ideas, even when it's not what's called for. And I love to use my intuition to evaluate and assess ideas and plans to see what would be best. My areas of frustration are Tenacity and Enablement, meaning I struggle to push projects through to completion after the initial excitement wears off, and I have a hard time providing assistance to others on their terms. That doesn't mean I can't do those things, because all of us have to do things we don't like or aren't good at sometimes. But if I'm in a situation where people are relying on me as their primary source of enablement and tenacity, that's not good for me or for them in the long run." Pat is a " discriminating ideator ." My areas of working genius: Discernment and Tenacity. The assessment says: "You are good at and enjoy using your intuition and instincts to evaluate and assess ideas or plans, and pushing projects and tasks through to completion to ensure that the desired results are achieved." "You are what we call a judicious accomplisher ."

Sep 25, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of Mindful Monday. Receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Scott Galloway is a professor at New York University's Stern School of Business, where he teaches brand strategy and digital marketing to second-year MBA students. A serial entrepreneur, he has founded nine firms, including L2, Red Envelope, Prophet, and Section4. In 2012, he was named one of the "World's 50 Best Business School Professors" by Poets & Quants. He's the author of multiple best-selling books including The Algebra of Happiness, The Four, and Adrift. Notes: Leaders who sustain excellence: Demonstrate excellence in what they do. "People want to follow people who are excellent at their job." They hold people accountable "Excellent leaders are generally kind to others and establish goodwill with many people." "Your job is to find something you're good at, and after ten thousand hours of practice, get great at it. The emotional and economic rewards that accompany being great at something will make you passionate about whatever "it" is." "I tell my students that nothing wonderful, I'm talking really fantastic, will happen without taking a risk and subjecting yourself to rejection. Serendipity is a function of courage." "If you don't get criticism it means you aren't saying anything." What does it mean to be a man? "Being a responsible head of household that provides for your family and is a real partner with someone and raising kids and checking that instinctive box — being a good father, being a good husband … raising responsible, civic-minded kids. It's also realizing that if your partner is better at being the head of household and being the provider you get out of the way and support them to do it." "The most dangerous person in the world is a broke and alone male, and we are producing too many of them." Greatness is in the agency of others… When I asked Scott about how he's built his career, his first thought was about the others who he's surrounded himself with. Greatness is in the agency of others. Your ability to attract and retain talented people will be the difference between a good career and a great one… We should spread kindness. Have security in yourself and give people compliments they deserve. "The most interesting 5 minutes I've had in a long time" - Anderson Cooper describing Scott Galloway "This guy is a walking applause break" - Bill Maher describing Scott Galloway Scott has sat on the boards of Gateway Computer, Urban Outfitters, Eddie Bauer, The New York Times Company, University of California Berkeley, Panera Bread, and Ledger, a crypto wallet. He hosted the CNN+ host of a business and technology show, No Mercy No Malice.

Sep 18, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Notes: Matthew Dixon's first book, The Challenger Sale: Taking Control of the Customer Conversation , was a #1 Amazon as well as Wall Street Journal best seller. He is also the co-author of the customer experience bestseller The Effortless Experience: Conquering the New Battleground for Customer Loyalty and the sequel to the Challenger Sale, The Challenger Customer: Selling to the Hidden Influencer Who Can Multiply Your Results. His new book is called The Jolt Effect . The paradox of choice is real – People don't want more options. They want someone who can confidently advise them on what to do. A challenger ultimately teaches someone something new and adds value to their life. A challenger is not afraid to take control of the conversation and has the confidence to show how what they're offering will make someone else's life better. Think outside the box whenever possible. Be a bit skeptical. Ask why. Question things… That's how we grow and learn and potentially find a better way. The Challenger: As a Challenger, you offer a new perspective to your prospect and don't shy away from conversations about money. You understand what brings them value and leverage that information to deliver an irresistible pitch — and to tactfully pressure them. Remember the three T's: You teach them something valuable, tailor the sales pitch, and take control over the conversation. The Hard Worker: The Hard Worker strives to get better in their role but doesn't necessarily focus on the customer's value drivers. The Lone Wolf: The Lone Wolf is a high performer but not necessarily a team player. Confident in their selling skills, they exceed quotas but are difficult to deal with interpersonal. The Relationship Builder: When you think of a salesperson, you're thinking of the Relationship Builder. These sales reps get in contact with a gatekeeper at their target company and slowly try to create an internal advocate. The Problem Solver: The Problem Solver is adept at finding solutions for issues in both the team and the prospect's business. They drive results by eagerly solving problems and keeping all stakeholders in the loop. The JOLT EFFECT Judging the level of customer indecision. Indecision is driven by a specific human, psychological factors that pop up in specific ways within purchases. The best sellers use these drivers as a way to qualify and forecast based on the buyer's ability to decide. Offering a personal recommendation. Indecisive buyers—feeling overwhelmed by choices—struggle to make tradeoffs as decisions progress. The best sellers use specific techniques to guide buyers toward the best options. Limiting purchase exploration. Indecisive buyers easily fall prey to analysis paralysis. High performers who limit the exploration effectively close off "rat holes" customers' heads down which can eat up time and introduce delays in the purchase process. Taking risk off the table. Hesitant buyers are gripped by uncertainty about promises made during the sales process. JOLT sellers employ creative methods for reducing perceived risk, and building momentum toward decisions. Advice: Challenge yourself - push your comfort zone Think outside the box wherever possible Question things Have empathy Teach others

Sep 15, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of Mindful Monday. Receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Dandapani is a Hindu priest and a former monk of 10 years. He originally got a degree in Electrical Engineering, then left it all behind and spent a decade studying under the guidance of one of Hinduism's foremost spiritual leaders. He gave a TEDx talk that has been viewed over 5.6 million times and his GoalCast videos have been watched more than 75 million times. He's also written a book called, The Power of Unwavering Focus Notes: We need a core purpose in life. Your purpose defines your priorities. It's worth it to do the work to understand this. Self-reflection needs to become part of your routine. Excellence = Clarity of purpose, a burning desire, and understanding WHO is aligned with your purpose and developing those relationships fully. Remember, life is finite. It will end. Let's make the most of it. You'll often hear parents say to their kids, "we just want you to be happy." Happiness should never be pursued. Rather, one should pursue a lifestyle where the byproduct of living that lifestyle is happiness. We generally think of concentration as a skill we're born with, rather than a skill we need to be taught and then cultivate by practicing over time. Would you expect to be an expert piano player naturally? Of course not - you would seek instruction, and then practice for years in order to grow your skill. Concentration, in short, is the ability to keep awareness on one thing until you consciously choose to move it to something else. Distraction, on the other hand, is awareness being controlled by your environment (the people and things around you) without conscious choice. We are what we practice . The reality is that most people are not conscious of the fact that they are practicing distraction all day every day and hence why they are masters at distraction. The idea is to build concentration, willpower, and mastery of awareness into your days little by little, growing your skill over weeks, months, and years. Dandapani's guru has the biggest influence on his life. The role of a mentor is to empower people with tools and help them gain perspective. Book: Think and Grow Rich. Once you experience something, you can't un-experience it. A guru takes deep responsibility for someone's life. "You can only say no if you know what to say yes to." Learn to focus: Dedicate time in the morning. Find a quiet space. With self-reflection, there can be no mask. Excellence = Clarity of purpose Who are you aligned with?

Sep 11, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of Mindful Monday. Receive a carefully curated email to help you become a more effective leader. Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Todd Henry is an international speaker and best-selling author of 6 books including, The Accidental Creative, Herding Tigers, Die Empty, and his latest book is called The Daily Creative. Notes: The mantra Todd tells himself before going on stage is, "Be Present. Be Yourself." This is a reminder to be in the room, and pay attention to the nuance... And don't try to be someone you're not. Don't apologize for your existence. Authenticity shows that you have skin in the game. I am putting my actions where my mouth is. We crave real experiences: We do business with human beings. The most valuable thing we can do is make genuine connections with people. Make people feel seen and known. Creativity is problem-solving. If you solve problems every day, you're creative. Have a BIG VISION. Walt Disney started as a cartoonist. Todd has Disney's business plan from 1967 hanging up on his wall. All arrows point to the creative output of the film team. Do the "What would blow your mind?" Exercise. Write a list of things that would blow your mind if you accomplished them in the next 10-15 years. What did you do? Who did you do it with? What impact did it have on others? Our greatest work will be accomplished in the community of others. Todd intends to influence 28 million people. That is roughly 17% of working Americans in his field. That ambition points his mind in a direction. Where do good ideas come from? Adjacent possibilities. " I'm not trying to build a business. I'm trying to grow a life." It's important for your kids to see you doing work. You must grow comfortable with Asking Uncomfortable Questions – Brilliant, effective creative professionals are willing to ask inconvenient and uncomfortable questions. Difficult Conversations – Douglas Stone wrote, "Difficult conversations are almost never about getting the facts right. They are about conflicting perceptions, interpretations, and values." Clean and dirty fuels — proving doubters wrong or proving supporters right? Detractors can be helpful if they care about you. Reward leading behaviors rather than trailing outcomes. Reward the behavior -- "That was a brave choice." Advice: Get a job and add as much value as you can. Be resourceful. Figure out how to get things done. Understand where you can uniquely add value and pay attention to what's needed. Stick around long enough to connect the dots. Don't follow your passion. What works better? Put in the hard work to master something rare and valuable, then deploy this leverage to steer your working life in directions that resonate. Todd had bumper stickers made that said: "Safety is not an option." Coming up with safe answers over and over will make us irrelevant. "If you are not inspired, you will not inspire other people." Focus on your inputs. You must take time to read, meet with mentors, and learn from a variety of sources. Pause. Reflect. As leaders, we must make this a priority. Buffalo, Not Cow – "Son, I need you to be the buffalo, not the cow." In Colorado, when storms come, they almost always brew from the West. And then what happens is they roll out towards the East. Cows can sense that a storm is coming from this direction. So, a cow will try to run East to get away from the storm. Without knowing any better, the cows continue to try to outrun the storm. But instead of outrunning the storm, they run with the storm, maximizing the amount of pain, time, and frustration they experience from that storm. Buffaloes run at the storm and by running at the storm, they run straight through it, minimizing the amount of pain, time, and frustration they experience from that storm. Prune Relationships – Sometimes we need to cut ties with people who drain us.

Sep 4, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of Mindful Monday. Receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right! Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Cassie Holmes is a Professor at UCLA's Anderson School of Management. Cassie is an expert on time and happiness. Cassie is the author of the book, Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most, which is based on her wildly popular MBA course, "Applying the Science of Happiness to Life Design." Notes: What do the happiest people do? They have strong, supportive relationships They feel a sense of belonging They feel safe and healthy "We have control over what we do and how we spend our time." Turn routines into rituals - Cassie does this for her Thursday morning coffee dates with her daughter. I do the same going to the pool with my daughter. Time poverty is prevalent for 50% of Americans. How to handle back to back to back meetings? It's unsustainable. Your team needs you to be full. Over time, you will not perform at an optimal level if you don't give yourself time to think, reflect, analyze the situation, and make a decision. Do a time tracking exercise and analyze what is the best use of your time. Block time on your calendar each day for yourself. And hold to it. Learning from admired elders – Ask, 'what is your greatest source of pride?' 'what is your greatest regret?' - Invest the time to learn from someone who is older than you that you admire. How to be happier? Unhappy activities can be made less painful by reframing them (bundling them with something fun or remembering its purpose– why you're doing it) Reflect back on your last two weeks. When did you feel the most joy? A weekly coffee date with your daughter? Swimming together? Whatever it is… How can you intentionally create more moments of joy for yourself? If you have less than two hours of free time (leading to feelings of stress) or more than five hours of free time (undermining your sense of purpose), you'll likely feel unsatisfied in your life. In between is the sweet spot— and most of us can achieve this with a few simple exercises provided in this podcast. Why we tend to put off current enjoyment for the sake of tasks we "should" do and why we should do this less . Dr. Holmes says we need to identify and commit to activities that make us happy so we don't later feel regret from missing out on life's good stuff. Focusing on time increases happiness because it motivates you to spend your time more deliberately. Recognizing that your remaining time is limited and thus precious helps you savor life's everyday moments of joy. Tracking Time Exercise: based on how you're currently spending and actually experiencing your hours, identify which times are truly the most and least happy. Connecting socially, spending time outside, and being mindful during the hours you spend have the greatest impact on the happiness experienced in your day. The Five Whys Exercise: uncover your purpose. Eulogy Exercise: learn what really matters to you by how you hope to be remembered. Gallup Poll: Do you have a best friend at work? Counting times left exercise: How many times have you done it in the past month? How many more do you have left? How many meals will you share with your parents? Realize that it's probably not that many. That realization will help you cherish the time.

Aug 28, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 My guest: Charlie Baker is Governor of Massachusetts. He has also served as CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, a top-performing healthcare insurance provider. According to a Morning Consult poll, he has a 74% approval rating which makes him the most popular Governor in America. He is the author of the new book, Results: Getting Beyond Politics to Get Important Work Done. Notes: Your receiver is more important than your transmitter." "You have two ears and one mouth." Charlie learned at a young age the importance of being a good listener. What he learned when he lost his first race: "Charlie, you spend too much time with your customers and not enough time with your prospects." We all would benefit from talking with people who disagree with us… In the fall of 2014, Charlie was struggling to find a secretary of transportation… This is a huge job within an administration. Charlie said he was looking for a 50% player – someone who thought you had real issues and wasn't interested in making things just 5% better, but dramatically better. A friend recommended "Stephanie Pollack." She was a well-known, well-respected liberal Democrat… Charlie's work embraces openness and accountability. In the words, again, of John F. Kennedy, "Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future." He grew up the son of a moderate Republican father (who worked in the Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan administrations) and a liberal Democrat mother (a fierce advocate for education and services to support the most vulnerable in your community). His parents expected him and his brothers to participate in dinner table conversations about the issues of the day… The model his parents set led Charlie to never approach this work thinking that one side or the other was evil– or harbors bad intent. "Wedge issues may be great for making headlines, but they do not move us forward. Success is measured by what we accomplish together. Our obligation to the people we serve is too important to place politics and partisanship before progress and results." People Are Policy – "Steve and I start here because you need to get this right or all else founders. This so-called soft stuff is in fact the hard stuff of governing," the authors write. In many organizations, and especially in the public sector, more work is just piled upon existing staff and managers. Instead, building the team is synonymous with building the necessary people capacity, which may mean adding specific expertise in short bursts. Follow The Facts - Facts define the problem and provide points of navigation for a response. In addition to gathering data evidence, interviewing people and identifying points of pain brings the abstract down to the personal. Stories demonstrate real-world impact and establish concrete information that data alone cannot reveal. Focus On How – "How" is the bridge between the problems that emerge from the data evidence and the points of pain and meaningful impact. This two-part step—what to do and how to do it—ensures that proposed actions align with targeted results. Push For Results - Results are not an endpoint; they encompass objective evaluation. Once underway, the repetition of a particular cycle (measure, evaluate, adjust, repeat) leads to steady, sustainable results that can drive further progress. Charlie is not only about getting things done but about renewing people's faith in public service.

Aug 21, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." You, along with 10,000+ learners will receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right. Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Brent Beshore is the Founder and CEO of Permanent Equity, a Midwestern-based private equity firm. They take a long-term approach to private equity, investing "permanent equity" in small to midsize privately held companies throughout North America. He's also the best-selling author of The Messy Marketplace. Notes: Growth without goals – Listed as one of Brent's foundations. "We believe the best path to sturdy growth is not a plan, but a posture." It's a belief in continuous improvement, optimism shining through some thick scars, and a healthy dose of humility. Growth comes from what you know you don't know. (which feels terrible). The harm comes from what you think you know or what you don't know you don't know. (which feels great or oblivious) Progress isn't made by sweeping proclamation or grand strategy. It's built by unglamorous daily activities that are often overlooked and under-appreciated. In March 2016, Brent wrote a medium post about how to sell… "Every sale has five basic obstacles: no need, no money, no hurry, no desire, no trust." — Zig Ziglar You have 30 minutes one-on-one with someone you know nothing about other than they are wildly successful personally and professionally. What questions do you ask to understand their life, tease out their life philosophy, and get advice? Great questions are the key that unlocks everything. Stop talking about yourself and be a student of others. No matter how important you think relationships are, they're more important. Reliability is a superpower. Do what you say you would when you said you'd do it, for the price you said you'd do it for. Every single time. If you're ever more focused on other people's shortcomings than your own, you're the problem. Important Qualities: High intellectual honesty Humility Optimism Life as a dad: "You will never be happier than your least happy child." "Culture is nothing more than what you reward and punish." Buffett and Munger" - "Both are thoughtful, kind, and generous." Enjoy life: "I didn't enjoy it in my 20's... Try to have an inner temperature of joy." It's important to sit down with sages... Older people: Ask, "How do you mark your days?" "We all have time for things we prioritize." Sales is a dirty word for a lot... It doesn't need to be. The best salespeople Brent knows aren't selling. They share what they know and how it could potentially help others. "Invite people into your world. Share a vision. Help them understand the cause. Give them an invitation to go along with you." Capital Camp - Shock people with hospitality. Help create meaningful relationships. Surround them with care and excellence. Writing - Use humor. Write like you talk. Brent chooses to be light-hearted because that's how he is in real life. Keys to being a great Dad: Love them unconditionally because of who they are We have confused what love is Show them love by what you don't tolerate

Aug 14, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of Mindful Monday. Receive a carefully curated email each Monday morning to help you start your week off right. Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG -- @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Ryan Holiday is the best selling author of 11 books including The Obstacle Is the Way, The Daily Stoic, Ego Is the Enemy, and Stillness is the Key which has sold millions of copies and been translated into thirty languages. His latest book is called Discipline is Destiny - The Power of Self Control. Notes: We must be in command of ourselves. We have to conquer ourselves before others. Self Discipline - Freedom is the opportunity for self-discipline. The trivial - The people who sustain excellence fall in love with the process. They don't cheat it. Choose to see obstacles as opportunities. Dr. Drew recommended to Ryan that he should read books about stoicism when he was 19. This was a pivotal moment. Carry The Load For Others – General Jim Mattis. " The privilege of command is command. You don't get a bigger tent. "Being the boss is a job. Being a leader is something you earn ." Seek Discomfort – Seneca was a rich man. He inherited estates from his father. He invested well. Yet every so often, for a few days, he would eat only the scantest fare and wear his coarest clothing. He would actively seek out discomfort, mimicking abject poverty and harsher life conditions. Having a full calendar - "That doesn't seem like a rich life." Just show up — Consistency. Thomas Edison said "I've got no imagination. Thank never dream. I've created nothing." The genius hangs around his laboratory day and night." Your Why must be intrinsic. Just work - in Ancient Greece, there was a word to describe a ceaseless work ethic — philoponia (about the author Joyce Carol Oates). She published a ton over the course of decades. Work out -- "Obviously the philosopher's life should be well prepared for physical activity." — the Stoic Gaius Musonius Rufus explained, "because often the virtues make use of this as a necessary instrument for the affairs of low." The strenuous life is the best life — exercise. You must take care of your body. And eat well. Endure - Shackelton's family motto — "Fortitude Vincimus" — "By endurance we conquer." George Washington — When he was 26, he watched a play about the Stoics and started repeating the phrase " in the calm light of mild philosophy." Focus Focus Focus — In Yogic tradition they call this Ekagrata — intense focus on a singular point. Do the hard thing first — Mark Twain - "the idea is that if we eat the frog at the beginning of the day, it will be next to impossible for the day to get any worse." Can you get back up? "Losing is not always up to us, but being a loser is. Being a quitter is." Silence is Strength — The Spartans' "laconic" style. Never use 2 words when 1 will do. Archimedes once explained at a Spartan dinner, "An expert on speaking also knows when not to do so." When Ryan speaks to NFL teams: "I try to give them one or two practical things to implement." Be Your Best - "Conquering the world is rather easy after we have fully conquered ourselves. Certainly fewer people have done the latter than the former." Taking a stand - How successful are you really if you can't be yourself?" Lou Gehrig - "When you love the work, you don't cheat it or the demands it makes of you. You respect even the most trivial aspects of the pursuit."

Aug 7, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right! Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Bill George is a senior fellow at Harvard Business School, where he has taught leadership since 2004. He is the author of Discover Your True North , Authentic Leadership, and 7 Lessons for Leading in Crisis. Bill is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Medtronic. He joined Medtronic in 1989 as president and chief operating officer, was the CEO from 1991-2001, and board chair from 1996-2002. Earlier in his career, he was a senior executive with Honeywell and Litton Industries and served in the U.S. Department of Defense. Sustained excellence = Authentic, real, and vulnerable They know how to bring people together and inspire them They challenge, help, and coach people People do not want the Jack Welch style today. How did Bill earn the CEO role at Medtronic? Team building - "I continued to develop leaders." "Do your current job exceptionally well, develop others, and don't think about your promotion." Give people an opportunity and a sense of purpose Your True North Make the shift from what you are to who you are Process your life story and the significant events The difficult times make you who you are What do you want them to say at your funeral? The "Coach" Acronym Care Organize Align Challenge Help "You must be a constant learner if you want to be a leader." Leadership Crucibles: Leadership is about relationships What Bill has learned teaching at Harvard It's a mistake to chase external expectations You need to be fulfilled by your work Keys to a great marriage: Communicate all the time You need to grow together Keys to being a great dad: Be there, be present Listen Bill shares what it's like leading through today's challenges, creating inclusive cultures, and how to lead through crises. Bill shares the dangers of leading without True North, including case studies of Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, WeWork's Adam Neumann, Uber's Travis Kalanick, and Theranos's Elizabeth Holmes "Pursuing purpose with passion Practicing solid values Leading with heart Establishing enduring relationships Demonstrating self-discipline" "You need to be who you are, not try to emulate somebody else." "The hardest person you will ever have to lead is yourself." "The reality is that no one can be authentic by trying to be like someone else. There is no doubt you can learn from their experiences, but there is no way you can be successful trying to be like them. People trust you when you are genuine and authentic, not an imitation." "The role of leaders is not to get other people to follow them but to empower others to lead."

Jul 31, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of Mindful Monday. Receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Colin O'Brady 10-time World Record Holder. New York Times bestselling author of The Impossible First. Colin's highly publicized expeditions have been followed by millions and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Tonight Show, the BBC, The Joe Rogan Experience, and NBC's Today. His feats include the world's first solo, unsupported, and fully human-powered crossing of Antarctica; speed records for the Explorers Grand Slam and the Seven Summits; and the world's first human-powered ocean row across the Drake Passage. His new book is called The 12 Hour Walk. Notes: What's your Everest - The question he asked all the rich bankers that night that none had an answer to? What's your answer? What are you doing to turn that into a reality? Limiting beliefs - " We are the stories we tell ourselves ." What story are you telling yourself about… Yourself? Life is on a scale of 1 to 10. Most people live most days around a 5 or 6. They don't have any 1s and they don't have any 10s. What can you do to change that? How can you live a life that has some 1s and 10s? Mantra: "Colin! You are strong. You are capable." The most important muscle is the brain. The possible mindset: See the optimism in all opportunities. Colin's mom told him he could achieve anything that he set his mind to. Colin had an accident and caught on fire while jumping a flaming jump rope... His doctor told him that he would probably never walk again. At that moment, Colin set the goal to complete a triathlon. A year later, he WON the Chicago triathlon. With Colin as your guide, The 12-Hour Walk asks you to invest one day in yourself. The goal? Conquering your mind and becoming your best self. By walking alone, unplugging, listening to the voice within, and rewriting the limiting beliefs etched into your psyche, you can break free of the patterns holding you back and learn how to cultivate a "Possible Mindset"—an empowered way of thinking that unlocks a life of limitless possibilities. The reward: being the hero of your own destiny. Question to ask yourself: What is your Everest? What does fulfillment look like? You must take care of yourself first... Excellence: A deep connection with your why . PASSION. Genuine curiosity Love If no one was watching, would you still do it?

Jul 24, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." You, along with 10's of thousands of other Learning Leaders will receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Neal Foard has spent more than 20 years creating award-winning ad campaigns for clients on four continents. From the experience of thousands of presentations to clients all over the world, Neal has created The Passionate Logic Project™ to help business leaders sell their agendas more persuasively. He has been a featured speaker at TED and is recently known for his TikTok videos which have been viewed millions of times over the past few months. "There's nothing wrong with us that can't be fixed by what's right with us." The EQ of the gym bro – When someone is new on your team, ask them to help you out. Find a way to include them. Get them an early win. Make them feel part of the team as soon as possible. The element of mystery – Have an aha moment. Don't spoil the punchline. Save the reveal for the end… Remember the Whitney Houston story? Your first words of a presentation or a meeting are the most valuable real estate you have. Don't waste them. Be thoughtful. Practice. Don't tell them "I'm so excited to be here…" Launch with intrigue, with movement, with a story… How To Use Power – "The thing that gave him more joy than anything was using power to make life more amazing for his team, make you feel like you mattered to him." – "All business is personal. The best business is very personal." - Rick Lenz Data is a tool - Our first use of it should be to make people smile. – Your family trip to Disney World… What happened? The Physics of a Bright Smile – The most important decision you can make is to be in a good mood. - Voltaire What Motivates people: Lillian Moore shares a quick story that reveals what really motivates people: "A few months after my husband and I moved to a small Massachusetts town I grumbled to a resident about the poor service at the library, hoping she would repeat my complaints to the librarian. The next time I went to the library, the librarian had set aside two bestsellers for me and a new biography for my husband. What's more, she appeared to be genuinely glad to see me. Later I reported the miraculous change to my friend. "I suppose you told her how poor we thought the service was?" I asked. "No," she confessed. "In fact—I hope you don't mind—I told her your husband was amazed at the way she had built up this small-town library, and that you thought she showed unusually good taste in the new books she ordered." Source: Reader's Digest (Similar to Neal's coffee story. "Puuuurfect") Begin each story with a vague suggestion that there's a lesson to be learned by the end... Steve Martin - Do NOT begin a talk with, "Hey, how's everybody doing?" A leader's job is to facilitate their people's best work. Presentations: Do not read bullet points. If you do that, you're just passing along information. You need to attach emotion to it. How to be more persuasive? Be willing to listen and open to changing your mind. Send the signal to them that we can do it. We're not there to win. The power of listening is underrated. Learn what does and doesn't matter to them. "People don't change their minds unless they want to."

Jul 17, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Eric Barker is the author of The Wall Street Journal bestseller "Barking Up the Wrong Tree," which has sold over half a million copies and been translated into 19 languages. It was even the subject of a question on "Jeopardy!" Over 500,000 people have subscribed to his weekly newsletter. His work has been covered by The New York Times , The Atlantic, The Financial Times , and others. Eric is also a sought-after speaker, having given talks at MIT, Yale, Google, the United States Military Central Command (CENTCOM), and the Olympic Training Center. His latest book is called "Plays Well with Others." Love – Casanova said, "love is three-quarters curiosity." That curiosity creates deep knowledge… And that helps you build what researcher John Gottman calls, a "love map." "Everyone asks how you got together; nobody asks how you stayed together. And it's the latter that is often the real achievement to be proud of." Your WHO: Take your health, for example. The Framingham study showed that drinking, smoking, and obesity are all quite contagious. If someone you consider a friend becomes obese, your likelihood of obesity increases by 53%. And if the friendship is mutual, the number rises to 171%. "Friends are only there because you want them to be." "Friends make us happier than any other relationship." How to build deeper relationships with friends? Time Be vulnerable -- "Relationships move at the speed of vulnerability." How to make your relationship with your partner better? Do exciting things together - Be proactive Leverage emotional contagion - Associate feelings with events Bill Perkins - "Create memory dividends." You need to learn and grow together John Gottman asks couples to tell their stories... The ones that stick together celebrate the difficulties Profiling - "Humans are prone to seeing meaning when there is none." There's a fundamental reason that astrologers outnumber astronomers. Emotionally we want a feeling of control over the world around us. We desperately need the world to at least seem to make sense. And for that, we need a story, even if it isn't true. Confirmation bias: what is it? And what are the 3 ways to resist it? Feel accountable Distance before decision Consider the opposite Lying — how can you spot a liar? The average college student lies in about a third of conversations. For adults, it's 1 in 5. In online dating, 81% of profiles deviate from the truth. And we are terrible at detecting lies, averaging a 54% success rate. So how do we become better at understanding if someone is lying? This system takes patience (so it isn't useful for little lies but can be powerful for bigger issues). "The science overwhelming recommended a nuanced and sophisticated method humans have never tried in the past 5,000 years when attempting to detect lies: being nice. Never be a bad cop, be a friendly journalist. You have to get them to like you. To open up. To talk a lot. And to make a mistake that reveals deception. Don't accuse. Be curious. Optimism – Shawn Achor's Ted Talk (so funny and fast). MET Life saw such great results among happy salespeople that they tried an experiment: they started hiring people based on optimism. It turns out that the optimistic group outsold their more pessimistic counterparts by 19% in year one and 57% in year two. "Writing a book is like telling a joke and having to wait two years to know whether or not it was funny." —ALAIN DE BOTTON Eric writes to start his new book... Henry Thomas Buckle once said: "Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." I'm here to discuss people. Leveraging the best evidence available—free of platitudes or magical thinking—Eric analyzes multiple sides of an issue before rendering his verdict. What he's uncovered is surprising, counterintuitive, and timely—and will change the way you interact in the world and with those around you just when you need it most. Life/Career advice: Set your personal definition of success "You need to be able to say this is enough."

Jul 10, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." You, along with 10's of thousand of other learning leaders, will receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week of right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Leaders have nothing in common. They don't share gender or income level or geography. There's no gene, no schooling, no parentage, no profession. In other words, leaders aren't born with it. Actually, they do have one thing in common. " Every tribe leader I've ever met shares one thing: the decision to lead. Leadership is a choice." Great Stories – Great stories are rarely aimed at everyone. Average people are good at ignoring you. Average people have too many different points of view about life and average people are by and large satisfied. If you need to water down your story to appeal to everyone, it will appeal to no one. The most effective stories match the world view of a tiny audience—and then that tiny audience spreads the story. Really Bad PowerPoint - Powerpoint could be the most powerful tool on your computer. But it's not. Countless innovations fail because their champions use PowerPoint the way Microsoft wants them to, instead of the right way. Communication is the transfer of emotion. make slides that reinforce your words, not repeat them. Create slides that demonstrate, with emotional proof, that what you're saying is true not just accurate. Talking about pollution in Houston? Instead of giving me four bullet points of EPA data, why not read me the stats but show me a photo of a bunch of dead birds, some smog, and even a diseased lung? This is cheating! It's unfair! It works. Define Brand – Seth's definition: A brand is the set of expectations, memories, stories, and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer's decision to choose one product or service over another. Linchpin — the combination of passion and art is what makes someone a linchpin. Gifts — there are 2 reasons to give gifts. One is reciprocity. You give so that someone feels like they owe you something. That is manipulative and no way to build a career. The second reason is fascinating. Gifts allow you to make art. Gifts are given with no reciprocity hoped for or even possible. The paintings of Chuck Close - the gift he gives with no possibility of reciprocity gives him room to be in charge. Room to find joy. Because when he's painting he's not punching a time clock or trying to please someone who bought his time. He's creating a gift. My fundamental argument is simple. In everything you do, it's possible to be an artist, at least a little bit. "How To Be Remarkable" Remarkable doesn't mean remarkable to you. It means remarkable to me. Am I going to make a remark about it? If not, then you're average, and average is for losers. It's not really as frightening as it seems. They keep the masses in line by threatening them (us) with all manner of horrible outcomes if we dare to step out of line. But who loses their jobs at the mass layoffs? Who has trouble finding a new gig? Not the remarkable minority, that's for sure. Lost in all the noise around us is the proven truth that creativity is the result of desire. A Desire to solve an old problem, a desire to serve someone else. It's not a bolt of lightning from somewhere else... The difference between talent and skill: Talent is something we're born with: it's in our DNA, a magical alignment of gifts. Skill is earned. It's learned and practiced and hard-won. It's insulting to call a professional talented. In the words of Steve Martin, "I had no talent. None." If you want to change your story, change your actions first. We become what we do . Practical Empathy -- "We have to be able to say, 'it's not for you' and mean it. The work exists to serve someone, to change someone, to make something better.

Jul 3, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." You, along with 10's of thousand of other learning leaders, will receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week of right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Guest: David M. Rubenstein is Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world's largest and most successful private investment firms. Established in 1987, Carlyle now manages $325 billion from 26 offices around the world. David is the host of The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations on Bloomberg TV and PBS and Bloomberg Wealth with David Rubenstein on Bloomberg TV; and the author of The American Story: Conversations with Master Historians, a book published by Simon & Schuster in 2019, How to Lead: Wisdom from the World's Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game Changers, a book published in 2020, and The American Experiment: Dialogues on a Dream, a book published in 2021. Notes: How David defines success - "Other people tell you that what you've done is useful. They admire you. And you help people." David's goals: Don't do anything to get in public trouble Give away the bulk of his money 4 Key Decisions David made that helped him: Going to law school Working in the Carter White House Starting the Carlyle Group Becoming a philanthropist Why The Carlyle Group? "I fell in love with building something from scratch." "Great ideas don't come from people who are busy." Why does David enjoy interviewing leaders? It gives him an opportunity to follow his intellectual curiosity How does he prepare for his interviews? Reads their books Gets help from a research assistant Digests all the material Writes questions Looks for humor opportunities Humor breaks the tension and produces a common bond "John Kennedy had a great sense of humor." David has lent his home in Nantucket to President Biden. Benjamin Franklin said, "it's a republic if you can keep it." Republics are not easy to keep. David had the opportunity to invest in Facebook when Mark Zuckerberg was in college... But he said no. The keys to the Wright Brother's Success -- Tons of books in their house growing up Their inquisitive nature Their passion to prove a point Commonalities of excellent leaders: Vision Determination - must walk the walk Influence others Communication skill Humility Highly ethical Doesn't need all the credit Higher goals than just money "Persist – don't take no for an answer. If you're happy to sit at your desk and not take any risk, you'll be sitting at your desk for the next 20 years." "What do most people say on their deathbed? They don't say, 'I wish I'd made more money.' What they say is, 'I wish I'd spent more time with my family and done more for society or my community." "Moneymaking was never anything to me. I was happy never making money; I just was happy doing things I liked. But I fell into the money thing. I now don't feel guilty about it, but I am determined to give away the bulk of it and enjoy doing it." "Anybody who gives away money is mostly looking at things where they think they can make a difference. I'm trying to help people who helped me, educational institutions that helped me with scholarships, or organizations that were very useful to me in growing up." "It's clear to me that when you do private equity well, you're making companies more efficient and helping them grow and become more profitable. That success means our investors - such as public pension funds - benefit, which contributes to the economic wealth of society." "I regard food as fuel. I am not a brunch person." Life and Career advice: Find something you enjoy Experiment Read Keep an open mind

Jun 26, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." You along with 10's of thousands of other learning leaders will receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right! Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Susan Cain is the #1 bestselling author of Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking , which spent eight years on The New York Times best-seller list, and has been translated into 40 languages. Susan's TED talks have been viewed over 40 million times. LinkedIn named her the Top 6th Influencer in the World, just behind Richard Branson and Melinda French Gates. Susan partners with Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, and Dan Pink to curate the Next Big Idea Book Club. Notes: "Compassion means to suffer together." How to use sadness? "Make the pain your creative offering." To suffer with other beings brings people together. When people are grieving the loss of a loved one, they often want to talk about that person. Aristotle wondered why the great poets, philosophers, artists, and politicians often have melancholic personalities… his question was based on the ancient belief that the human body contains 4 humors: each corresponding to a different temperament - melancholic (sad), sanguine (happy), choleric (aggressive), and phlegmatic (calm). Joseph Campbell said, " We should strive to participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world ." Connecting with what matters and taking committed action—moves us from bitter to sweet, from loss to love." Everyone experiences loss. It is part of the human condition. How have you moved "from bitter to sweet, from loss to love"? Are there coping strategies you recommend? The bittersweet quiz — 1-10. If you scored between 5.8 and 10, you're a true connoisseur of bittersweetness: the place where light and dark meet. Questions: Do you tear up easily at touching TV commercials? Are you especially moved by old photographs? Do you react intensely to music, art, or nature? Have others described you as an old soul? Do you find comfort or inspiration on a rainy day? Are you moved to goosebumps several times a day? Do you feel elevated by sad music? Do you tend to see the happiness and sadness in things, all at once? Do you seek out beauty in your everyday life?" (I scored a 7.1) "The secret to life is to put yourself in the right lighting. For some, it's a Broadway spotlight; for others, a lamplit desk. Use your natural powers -- of persistence, concentration, and insight -- to do work you love and work that matters. Solve problems. make art, think deeply." "The secret to life is to put yourself in the right lighting. For some, it's a Broadway spotlight; for others, a lamplit desk. Use your natural powers -- of persistence, concentration, and insight -- to do work you love and work that matters. Solve problems. make art, think deeply." "There's zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas." "If we could honor sadness a little more, maybe we could see it—rather than enforced smiles and righteous outrage—as the bridge we need to connect with each other. We could remember that no matter how distasteful we might find someone's opinions, no matter how radiant, or fierce, someone may appear, they have suffered, or they will." "The secret that our poets and philosophers have been trying to tell us for centuries, is that our longing is the great gateway to belonging." "The tragedy of life is linked inescapably with its splendor; you could tear civilization down and rebuild it from scratch, and the same dualities would rise again. Yet to fully inhabit these dualities—the dark as well as the light—is, paradoxically, the only way to transcend them. And transcending them is the ultimate point. The bittersweet is about the desire for communion, the wish to go home." "Introverts, in contrast, may have strong social skills and enjoy parties and business meetings, but after a while wish they were home in their pajamas. They prefer to devote their social energies to close friends, colleagues, and family. They listen more than they talk, think before they speak, and often feel as if they express themselves better in writing than in conversation. They tend to dislike conflict. Many have a horror of small talk, but enjoy deep discussions." Life and Career advice: You have to find a way to do it. Life can sweep you up quickly. Establish a backup plan. It frees you up to be more creative. Develop rituals for writing... Purely with pleasure.

Jun 19, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." You, along with tens of thousands of other learning leaders will receive a carefully curated email from me, each Monday morning, to help you start your week off right! Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Steve Holmes founded Springfree Trampoline in 2003 and has overseen its growth to almost 400 employees globally. He is responsible for strategic business development and leads growth initiatives worldwide. Springfree® Trampoline, the World's Safest Trampoline™, was introduced in 2003, and available in Australia in 2004. Dr. Keith Alexander re-designed the trampoline from the ground up to invent Springfree Trampoline, over fifteen years of research and development. Notes: "I hope that customers describe Springfree as a company which has integrity, honesty, great character, and deals with its customers in a way that values their experience with the brand and the product, and delivers on the promises they make. Living in the tension of competing priorities. This is the job of the leader. It's happening at all times both at work and at home. We must be aware of and understand how to live in that tension. Your working genius - Jim has learned that his sense of wonder and invention is what brings him the most joy. We have to know what lights us up in order to sustain excellence over time. Responding to losing the Costco account. Steve called the Jim Sinegal and worked out how the relationship would end and then immediately planned for the future to keep his company in business. "The greatest piece of marketing is our customers." How to find your purpose: Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means your 'reason for being. ' 'Iki' in Japanese means 'life,' and 'gai' describes value or worth. Your ikigai is your life purpose or your bliss. It's what brings you joy and inspires you to get out of bed every day. Life is about giving so that others will benefit. The C's of business Clarity Competency Confidence Choice "The pace of change is faster than the pace of learning." Sustained excellence: Humble Hungry Smart As the leader, you must create an environment where people want to learn

Jun 12, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday," and join tens of thousands of Learning Leaders who receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week of right... Full show notes at www. LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Kat Cole is the President, COO, and board member at Athletic Greens. She was previously President and COO at Focus Brands, the parent company of Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, Moe's, Schlotzsky's, McAllister's, Carvel, Seattle's Best Coffee International, and Jamba. She oversaw all businesses, their 6,000 operations globally, and the multi-brand licensing and CPG business with 90,000+ points of retail distribution. She has more than 20 years of operational, brand, and executive leadership experience and has an MBA from Georgia State University and an honorary Doctorate from Johnson and Wales University. This episode was recorded at the Insight Global Headquarters in Atlanta, GA as part of the Women's Leadership Council "Raise Your Hand, Raise Your Voice" event. Notes: A pragmatic optimist: When Kat was 9 years old, Kat's mom decided to leave her dad. Her dad was an alcoholic. Kat has two younger sisters. Kat was in multiple car accidents with her dad while he was driving drunk. At the age of 9, Kat looked at her mom and said, "What took you so long?" She learned that "the people who are closest to the action know what to do long before the senior leaders do. But they lack the language to articulate the problem and the solution. And they lack the authority to do something about it." "I learned to stay incredibly close to the people who are close to the action from that moment." "With all that he did, my mother never spoke ill of my father. I remember in all of those years, we were super poor. Taking meat scraps from the butcher. I remember one holiday season we were driving around looking at holiday lights. We went through the fancy neighborhoods and she said, 'isn't that beautiful, they must work so hard.' There are these things I absorbed that I started expecting from leaders. I learned to be grounded in the practical (the pragmatic part), but still optimistic because a whole lot is possible with very little, especially if the leader stays close to the action." " I am a learning leader. Learning is my currency ." Oh! I get to do something new and I can help people, and I can make money doing it. And money is freedom because it's independence." "When we left my dad, my mom only had one goal, all she wanted was to raise three independent girls. Our willingness to be independent was her north star." Kat got a job at Hooters and quickly set the record for "close-opens." The shifts where you close the restaurant and open it the next day. She did it 22 straight days. She was then asked to travel to Sydney, Australia and open a new restaurant. She had never left the country and didn't have a passport. She said yes anyway. She went on to open restaurants on four continents before she was twenty. How to build trust: It's important to lead through action, not just words. Something as simple as when we get together in person, take time to buy the donuts and coffee or some AG1. Just that effort to find a way to do something that shows you care about their experience. I don't need to say 'I thought of you.' It is obvious." "In my role, my success is your success. Your success comes from me removing friction for you." Vulnerability - Lead with vulnerability first. Share your story. Holding people accountable - A players do not like seeing B players, C players, people who don't give their best being given equal opportunity. Someone needs to be in control, expectations are communiated and managed, and the leader is keeping us on the tracks. You have to hold people accountable. Conflict resolution - On Friday night a regular patron would go to Hooters with his friends and order 50 wings... "After finishing the wings, he would call me over and say, 'there was only 40 wings.' He did this 4 weeks in a row. "The 4th Friday, he comes, orders 50 wings, and while they were finishing, before he finished, and I on my own waitress discount ordered 10 wings, and brought them to him. And winked. And his buddies busted out in laugher, and he said, 'good one' and tipped me 100 bucks." "Don't confuse my kindness for weakness or stupidity. I'm generous. I'm thoughtful. I'm caring. I assume positive intent first, but I'm not going to be taken advantage of." "Confidence is not an old school overly masculine swagger, I know what I'm doing, I've got this. It's a humble confidence. It's not I know what I'm doing, it's I know I can figure this out. My confidence is deeply humble. I have screwed up so many times. I spent 10 years doing humanitarian work on the border of Ethiopia. I know what bad actually looks like. Which keeps western world business bad equally in perspective. That helps me chill. And that translates as ease. And ease translates as calm. And calm translates as both maturity and confidence. But it's actually from perspective." "Confidence is built doing many new things where you are repeatedly uncomfortable." Humble confidence is like from The Mandolorian, "This is the way." "Traditional confidence, that swagger, can be successful. And can drive outcomes, but the teams don't last very long. But the humble confidence is a learning leader. Any leader who suggests they know the way will be wrong at some points. Teams won't last as long if they don't have humble confidence." Productive achievers: The behaviors of the most successful humans have these four qualities: Courage & Confidence + Curiosity & Humility -- They must be equally balanced. Speaking up - "If you are speaking up with the expectation of a specific outcome, you will always be disapointed. Period. That may be part of the problem. But if speaking up is about contributing and pushing the conversation forward, you're sort of lowering the expecation of the outcome. So I have very low expectation on the impact I make, but I don't expect one hand raise or one memo to change the world. But I do believe in participation." As a first time vice president at Hooters, Kat was 26 years old. She's at the table and every one of her peers was in their 50's. They had been in business longer than she had been alive. Kat's "Hot Shot Rule." The Hotshot Rule is the act of thinking of someone Kat admires, then pausing, reflecting, and asking what they would do in her situation/shoes/role, then answering what that one thing is and acting on it. The answer tends to appear quickly because it seems to be clear when you think about it through someone else's lens. That alone doesn't create change - the trick is taking action on it right away and then telling someone - the person it benefits, the person you envisioned who inspired you, or just someone you know will appreciate the change you've made. "Every time I tell my team, husband, or friend about the one thing I've done differently after the exercise, they say, 'What took you so long?' Or 'Finally!'" Kat's Monthly Reflection Questions: What has been the best part of the last 30 days? What has been the worst part of the last 30 days? Tell me one thing that I can do differently to be a better partner/teammate? What has worried you the most in the last 30 days? What is one thing you are most proud of in the last 30 days? What have you been most grateful for?

Jun 5, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." You along with 10's of thousands of other Learning Leaders will receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Chandler Bolt is an investor, advisor, the CEO of Self-Publishing School & SelfPublishing.com, and the author of 6 bestselling books including his most recent book titled "Published.". Self Publishing School is an INC 5000 company the last 3 years in a row as one of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the US. He's currently spending his time scaling Self Publishing School, a company he's built from 0 to $20M+ in 5.5 years. Notes: Thinking of your topic – What are the broken record conversations you continue to have? What questions do others ask you on a regular basis? The market will help you understand where you add value… Hiring others-- An hour is an hour. A simple metric… Your take-home pay is divided by 2,080. That is your hourly rate. Hire others to do work if it's cheaper than your hourly rate. This is hard to do but appears to be a wise investment long term The 4 P's of writing – Person, pain, promise, price. Write to one person… just like you're responding to an email. "A book is a $15 mentor" Writing process: Mind map Outline Rough draft "People who pay, pay attention." "Go from I want to, to I am doing it." The root word of authority is author Revenue = Vanity Profit = Sanity Cash = King Designing the life you want first... Michael Hyatt has helped him schedule his time off first. "Valuing freedom above all else; entrepreneurs work harder to create future freedom, which directly takes away from their freedom in the present." "The truth is, you'll never "find the time" to write a book. You have to make it." "Don't be the person who misses out on opportunities in life because you take too long to accomplish your work tasks. Be the kind of person other people marvel at. Be the kind of person other people see and say, "I don't know how they do it." Be the kind of person who takes action and does so immediately." Get a free copy of his new book, go to www.PublishedBook.com/Hawk

May 29, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of "Mindful Monday." Receive a carefully curated email each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Jeffrey Pfeffer is the Thomas D. Dee II Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University where he has taught since 1979. He is the author or co-author of 15 books including Leadership B.S.: Fixing Workplaces and Careers One Truth at a Time; Power: Why Some People Have It—and Others Don't; The Human Equation: Building Profits by Putting People First ; Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths, and Total Nonsense: Profiting from Evidence-Based Management. Notes: "The two fundamental dimensions that distinguish people who rise to great heights and accomplish amazing things are will, the drive to take on big challenges, and skill, the capabilities required to turn ambition into accomplishment. The three personal qualities embodied are ambition, energy, and focus. The four skills useful in acquiring power are self-knowledge and a reflective mindset, confidence and the ability to project self-assurance, the ability to read others and empathize with their point of view, and a capacity to tolerate conflict." "Being memorable equals getting picked." "Measuring the wrong thing is often worse than measuring nothing because you do get what you measure." "People are seduced by and attracted to narcissists and despots and wind up voting for or working for them, frequently with bad outcomes." Break the rules — in one test, the rule breaker dropped cigarette ashes on the floor and spoke rudely to the waiter. That person was perceived to be 29% more powerful than the person who was more polite. "I completely reject the idea that working adults need to be treated like infants or worse and not told the realities, harsh or not, about the world of work." Build a powerful brand — in late 2020, Laura Chau was promoted to partner at Canaan Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm. She started a podcast. It gave her the opportunity to ask women who were very senior in their careers to talk for an hour… she expanded her network. Her own status was enhanced through her association with high-status people. Then she started writing and publishing her work. This attracted people to her. A brand needs coherence. Have a narrative and tell it repeatedly. Love: "Kathleen, whom I met at a party in the Green Room of the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco on January 19, 1985, and married on July 23, 1986. As she would say, no algorithm would have matched us." "To the amazing Kathleen, the love of my life, whose death left a hole in my heart and soul." The 7 rules of Power are: 1) Get out of your own way. 2) Break the rules. 3) Show up in a powerful fashion. 4) Create a powerful brand. 5) Network relentlessly. 6) Use your power. 7) Understand that once you have acquired power, what you did to get it will be forgiven, forgotten, or both.

May 22, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to become part of Mindful Monday . You, along with 10's of thousands of learning leaders from all over the world will receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday Morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Ed Mylett is a globally recognized entrepreneur, coach, and speaker. He started in the financial services industry, eventually earning a spot on the Forbes 50 Wealthiest Under 50 List. Since then, he has spearheaded a range of ventures, spanning technology, real estate, health, nutrition, and more. Ed is the best-selling author of #MaxOut Your Life , and the new book The Power of One More . He has grown his online audience to more than 3 million followers in just four years. Ed also regularly inspires audiences ranging from small gatherings to mega-venues of 50,000+ attendees, and online audiences in the hundreds of thousands. Notes: Self-confidence is about keeping promises to yourself. And surrounding yourself with people who live at a higher temperature. You become what they are. You think differently, act differently, and will achieve different results based on your inner circle. "Link your confidence to your intention." Excellence = high standards. People who sustain excellence expect more from themselves. They're prepared for big moments. Their habits, routines, and rituals enable them to perform at a high level each day. And they keep raising their standards. Isn't that the type of person we want to be? Definition of leadership – "As I define it, you are a One More leader if you help people do things they would not otherwise accomplish without your presence." - Ed Mylett The six basic needs that drive people: Certainty, Uncertainty and Variety, Significance, Love & Connection, Growth, and Contribution. Many people think they've got to make several huge changes to improve their lives and achieve their goals. This common misconception works as a barrier instead of a motivator. And as a result, people never start making changes, or quickly give up, never fulfilling their potential. The One More philosophy is built on two main premises. First, you don't need to make dozens of big changes to achieve significant growth or change. Often, important changes take place as the result of doing one more thing. Second, the One More philosophy is about combining thinking and doing. We often do one or the other and assume that's enough. But it's not until you combine those two that you'll start to see profound changes in your life. "My dad was an alcoholic when I was young. It wasn't until my mom gave him a One More ultimatum that he got sober. For the last 35 years of his life, he devoted himself to helping others with alcohol addiction, almost until the day he died, making the most of the One More chance he'd been given. He passed away a little over a year ago, and his death was also a reminder to reach out and spend as much time as you can with the people you love because if you don't, you'll regret not having one last One More with that person when they're gone." The questions you ask yourself directly reflect what you think about. When you don't think about the right things, you'll ask yourself questions that don't advance the quality of your life. Better questions lead to better answers, and better answers lead to a better life. Asking tough questions can be uncomfortable but doing so eventually leads you to the best answers although they may be difficult for you to address. Facing these answers empowers you to remove roadblocks that have been holding you back from your best One More life. Goals & Standards - Many people often confuse goals and standards, thinking they're the same thing. They are not! Although goals are important, standards determine whether you'll reach your goals or not. The proper standards create a framework that feeds into your efforts, mindset, and what you're willing to tolerate. You can control these parts of your life while goals are often at the mercy of external forces. The role Ed plays: Identify your own gifts and the gifts others possess. Link the work that needs to be done to those gifts. Henry Ford - People need to feel loved, and cared for, and that you believe in them. They can grow into roles. How to help powerful people? They want clarity, specificity, and laser focus. Become evangelical about your mission. The mission is what you stand for and against. What is going through Ed's mind the few minutes before he gives a keynote speech? He prays. He focuses on the audience and their needs. It's about them. They need to feel his intent. Energy - "The highest energy person wins." Sustained excellence: High standards Preparation Habits and rituals Why do all of this? Ed is motivated to have high standards to "catch the guy I was capable of being."

May 15, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 for Mindful Monday... A carefully curated email sent to you every Monday to help you start your week right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Jimmy Soni is an award-winning author. His book, A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age, won the 2017 Neumann Prize, awarded by the British Society for the History of Mathematics for the best book on the history of mathematics for a general audience, and the Middleton Prize by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. His book, Jane's Carousel, completed with the late Jane Walentas, captured one woman's remarkable twenty-five-year journey to restore a beloved carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Jimmy's most recent book is called, The Founders - The Story of PayPal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley. Notes : " Your life will be shaped by the things you create, and the people you make them with. We tend to sweat the former. We don't worry enough about the latter." The founders and earliest employees of PayPal pushed and prodded and demanded better of one another. Instead of "Acknowledgements" to end his book, Jimmy titled the section "Debts" "A debt is deeper than an Acknowledgement." Envy the optimist, not the genius. There's real power in optimism. The world is built by optimists. Look for the silver things. Have belief. Be the type of person that believes in themselves and others… Optimism builds confidence in yourself and others. Be an optimist. Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan – The fact that Phil told the best player in the world… "We aren't going to win a championship if you keep playing that way. You have to buy into the triangle offense." It shows the value of a friend (or a coach) telling you the truth in order to help you (and the team) get better. "Walter Isaacson made me believe in its (the book) importance and potential. At the very end, he provided the kind of advice that can only come from someone who has spent years laboring in the same fields. Peter Thiel refined Max Levchin's thinking... He made him better. Ask, "Have you thought about it this way?" Watch Jiro Dreams of Sushi Kobe Bryant was an incredible learning machine. His insatiable curiosity made him better. You can become curious about anything. Mr. Beast spent hours every day on Skype with his friends talking about how to grow a YouTube channel. We live in a moment were you can connect with others who are passionate about the same topics you are. With the internet, you can connect with anyone. Qualities of the leaders who created PayPal: It was so hard. They all experienced failure and bounced back. Highly intelligent. Hard-working. They worked 7 days a week. There was no work-life balance. They weren't just resilient, they were fast-moving. Life Advice: What looks like expertise on the outside is generally messiness on the inside. Leadership in Solitude. There are benefits to spending some time by yourself. Ask – The people who make things happen are willing to ASK. Steve Jobs to Bill Hewlitt. Elon Musk to Dr. Peter Nicholson. Those "asks" changed the trajectory of their lives. Who knows, maybe your next ASK will change yours… Claude Shannon, Bell Laboratories, renowned as an incredible hub of innovation… whose work in the 1930s and '40s earned him the title of "father of the information age." Geniuses have a unique way of engaging with the world, and if you spend enough time examining their habits, you discover the behaviors behind their brilliance.

May 8, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to receive a carefully curated email from me each Monday morning to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Steve Magness is a world-renowned expert on performance, co-author of Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success and The Passion Paradox: A Guide to Going All In, Finding Success, and Discovering the Benefits of an Unbalanced Life , and the author of The Science of Running: How to Find Your Limit and Train to Maximize Your Performance. His new book is called Do Hard Things . Notes: " The best aren't concerned with being the best. They're concerned with being the best at getting better ." Confidence: Confidence needs evidence. Acting with bravado we haven't earned only works on easy things. It backfires on anything truly challenging. Doing difficult things, even if you don't quite succeed at them, is how you develop real confidence. How do you find a good mentor? Do interesting things. Be open to learning and guidance. Be motivated, driven, and curious about something. Put your ego aside. Do good, quality work. The difference between real and fake toughness . Fake toughness is easy to identify. It's Bobby Knight losing control and throwing tantrums in the name of "discipline." It's the appearance of power without substance behind it. Researchers out of Eastern Washington set out to explore the relationship between leadership style and the development of toughness. After conducting research on nearly two hundred basketball players and their coaches, they concluded, " The results of this study seem to suggest that the 'keys' to promoting mental toughness do not lie in this autocratic, authoritarian, or oppressive style. It appears to lie, paradoxically, with the coach's ability to produce an environment, which emphasizes trust and inclusion, humility, and service . Sustained Excellence: Observation: the people who sustain success over the long haul are rarely shooting for success. They are focused on the path. Their goal is mastery, which knows no end. What characteristics do the best performers have? Don't get tired of the boring stuff Masters of compartmentalization Can flip the switch Know how to lose well Cultivate perspective Delayed gratification Drive from within Creating an enemy: Whenever an organization, group, or individual works hard to create an enemy to pit their idea/group against, it's a sign you probably shouldn't listen. Us vs. Them is the easiest way to exploit human nature, to get people on your side. It often means there's no substance there. The best way to get the most out of someone is to make them feel secure enough that they can take risks and fail. Most of us don't reach our potential because we default to protective mode. Threatening & demanding makes us protect further. Security and belonging frees us up. "Growth comes at the point of resistance. Skills come from struggle." "The fact is that often coaches figure out what works in training and then the scientists come in later and explain why it works." What can we learn about success and performance from Eliud Kipchoge? He is not fanatical about trying to be great all the time. He is consistent & patient. His coach says that the secret is that he makes progress "slowly by slowly." Motivation + Discipline = Consistency He told The NY Times, "He estimates that he seldom pushes himself past 80 percent — 90 percent, tops — of his maximum effort when he circles the track." "I have a mindset whereby I am a human being. I am walking around as a human being. I learn to perform well at the same time being grounded. And I trust that being humble and being on the ground is the only way to concentrate" "You cannot train alone and expect to run a fast time. There is a formula: 100% of me is nothing compared to 1% of the whole team. And that's teamwork. That's what I value." "To be precise, I am just going to try to run my personal best. If it comes as a world record, I would appreciate it. But I would treat it as a personal best."

May 1, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday." It's a carefully curated email to help you start your work off on a high note. Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Daniel Coyle is the New York Times bestselling author of The Culture Code , which was named Best Business Book of the Year by Bloomberg, BookPal, and Business Insider. Coyle has served as an advisor to many high-performing organizations, including the Navy SEALs, Microsoft, Google, and the Cleveland Guardians. His other books include The Talent Code, The Secret Race, The Little Book of Talent, and Hardball: A Season in the Projects, which was made into a movie starring Keanu Reeves. Coyle was raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and now lives in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, during the school year and in Homer, Alaska, during the summer with his wife Jenny, and their four children. Notes: Purpose isn't about tapping into some mystical internal drive but rather about creating simple beacons that focus attention and engagement on the shared goal. Successful cultures do this by relentlessly seeking ways to tell and retell their story. To do this, they build what you call "high-purpose environments." High-purpose environments are filled with small, vivid signals designed to create a link between the present moment and a future ideal. They provide 2 simple locators that every navigation process requires: Here is where we are and Here is where we want to go. "The world we live in is a learning contest." Deep fun = Solving hard problems with people you admire. Schedule regular team "tune-ups" to place an explicit spotlight on the team's inner workings and create conversations that surface and improve team dynamics Foster strong culture in remote working scenarios. It doesn't take much physical togetherness to build strong teams. Encourage remote teams meet up in person twice a year Create belonging: every group knows diversity, equity, and inclusion matter, but what separates strong cultures is they aim to create belonging across racial lines. Ex: normalize uncomfortable conversations; read, watch, reflect together; gather data and share it • Build Trust. Ask the magic-wand question to each member of your team: if you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about the way we work, what would it be? Connect. Hold an anxiety party to serve as a pressure-relief valve, as well as a platform for people to connect and solve problems together. Change perspective. Have a once-a-week catch-up session with someone outside of your group. Make it safe to talk about mistakes: Strong cultures seek to highlight and remember their mistakes and learn from them • Listen. Listening to others' problems is one of the most powerful culture-building skills on the planet. It's also difficult. Restrain yourself from jumping in, listen, then say: Tell me more. Embrace the After-Action Review (or as the military calls it, the AAR): Talking together about the strengths and weaknesses of your performance will make your group better. The Billion Dollar Day When Nothing Happened – "These Ads Suck." That was the note that Larry Page wrote and hung up about Google Ad Words. What did Jeff Dean, a quiet, skinny engineer from Minnesota, do to make the ads not suck? He had no immediate need to fix the problem. He worked in Search (a different area of the company. And how did Jeff Dean respond when he was asked about it years later (he said he didn't even really remember it. It was just normal to do stuff like that)... There is a misconception that great cultures are places that are always happy. Doing great work is hard. The way we build great cultures is by doing hard things together focused on connection and safety. Life/Career advice: Think of your life in experiments and the learning loop. It is Experience + Reflection. Experience + Reflection. WRITE DOWN WHAT you've learned from your experiences. Writing creates clarity of thought. Amy Edmondson researched Chelsea and Mountain Medical – What made them a success? The answer lay in patterns of real-time signals through which the team members were connected. There were 5 things: Framing - They conceptualized MICS as a learning experience that would benefit patients and the hospital. Unsuccessful teams viewed it as an add-on to existing practices. Roles - Role clarity. Being told explicitly by the team leader why their individual and collective skills were important for the team's success Rehearsal - Practice a lot Explicit encouragement to speak up Active reflection - Between surgeries, successful teams went over their performance

Apr 24, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday." A carefully curated email sent each Monday morning to help you start your week off right! Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Jim Weber joined Brooks Running Company as CEO in 2001 and is credited for the Seattle-based running company's aggressive turnaround story. The business and brand success caught the attention of Warren Buffett, who declared Brooks a standalone subsidiary company of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in 2012. He's the author of a new book called, " Running With Purpose, How Brooks Outpaced Goliath Competitors to lead the pack ." Notes: A purpose is a forever cause that can permeate everything from the business to the brand to the culture. It is a choice, not an outcome. The secret to success is "constancy of purpose" - Instead of a mission statement, Jim decided that a purpose was preferable to a mission. A purpose is a forever cause that can permeate everything from the business to the brand to the culture. The riskiest path is to look like your competitors. You can't just chase trends. They have distinct points of view: Focus Excellence in execution Trust: Charlie Munger has often spoken about the "seamless web of deserved trust" as a life pursuit. The Berkshire culture is built on trust Brooks is completely empowered Brooks is completely accountable There are no required meetings People choose to self-select into it "You're an outcome of your journey." What Jim looks for when hiring a leader: Competitive Culture driven - "Cultures are behaviors in action." Likes being part of a team Functional excellence Values: Word is bond Be active Authenticity The process Jim has in place to continue learning: He was involved in YPO in the early years His wife Mary Ellen A board of advisors - It's 6 former CEOs The one-page strategy that you relentlessly message to your team – Jim made the decision to walk away from non-premium running to concentrate on performance-running, eliminating 50% of his product line and 40% of his retail partnerships. He didn't try to be all things to all people. Expectations and Messaging: After becoming CEO, Jim lowered revenue and profit projections so that he could establish some credibility by hitting his numbers. He brought in a new CFO, David Bohan… He shared a one-page strategy and told everyone they would get sick of you repeating it.

Apr 17, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday." A carefully curated email you'll receive each Monday to help you start your week off right. Full shownotes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Vanessa Van Edwards is the Lead Investigator at Science of People. She is the bestselling author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People , translated into 16 languages. More than 50 million people watch her engaging YouTube tutorials and TEDx Talk. Vanessa works with entrepreneurs, growing businesses, and trillion-dollar companies; and has been featured on CNN, BBC, CBS Mornings, Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, USA Today, Entrepreneur Magazine, The Today Show, and many more. Her latest book is called Cues: Master The Secret Language of Charismatic Communication . Notes: Cues - It's about warmth and competence. Can I trust you? Can I rely on you? – How are you showing others warmth and competence? Dr. Kofi Essel - His non-verbal protocol for warmth: Fronting - He angles his toes, torso, and head towards the person. Be in alignment with the patient. Non-Verbal bridges - Slowly warm someone up. Lean in. In your 1 on 1 meetings, remove all barriers between you and the person. Show them 100% focus. If you see someone gazing over your head, look where they're looking. It will help make them aware of what they're doing. Question Inflection - From the Ring founder when he pitched on Shark Tank. This is something that a lot of us mess up. When stating a fact, SAY IT, don't ask it. The 4 modes of communication: Nonverbal Verbal - Syntax Vocal Imagery Touch – A group of researchers at UC Berkeley watched the first 3 games of the NBA finals in the 2008-2009 season and counted every single time players were seen touching on camera. They found the team that touched the most, won the most games. Touches = higher trust Speed dating research – Followed 144-speed dates and found that postural expansiveness was the most romantically appealing trait. Participants who took up more space were 76% more likely to be chosen for future dates. Want to show someone they matter? That you're listening? Turning toward is tuning in. Zoom Calls – How do we best approach them? - Look into the camera so the other person feels you are looking them in the eye. Disney teaches all of their employees (from janitors to princesses) specific nonverbal cues to use with guests. And they all embody the pinnacle of warmth… "Being a highlighter is about constantly searching for the good in people. When you tell people they are good, they become better. When you search for what's good, you feel great." "When you try to be the same as everyone else, it's boring. When you try to fit into a mold, you become forgettable. When you try to be "normal," you become dull. Just be yourself, because no one is like you. If you're a little weird, own it. The right people will like you for it." "Vulnerability is sexy—it shows we are relatable, honest, and real. That is attractive. And the science proves it: "A blunder tends to humanize him and, consequently, increases his attractiveness." "Humans are purpose-driven creatures. We want to believe there are reasons behind everything we do. Before leaders can inspire action, they have to get emotional buy-in. When we explain the motivations behind a goal, it allows listeners to feel partial ownership of that goal."

Apr 10, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 to join tens of thousands of others who subscribe to "Mindful Monday" -- A carefully curated email to help you start your week off right... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Marcus Buckingham is best selling author of 10 books, including his international hit, "First, Break All The Rules," He's been the subject of in-depth profiles in The New York Times, The Today Show, and by Oprah. Marcus spent two decades studying excellence at the Gallup Organization and co-creating the StrengthsFinder tool. His latest book is called Love + Work. Notes: "When you see someone do something with excellence, there is always love in it– loveless excellence is an oxymoron." Fear versus Love – "The evolutionary purpose of fear is to narrow your focus to a few clear choices, fight or flight, the point of love is to create in you such feelings of safety and connection that you broaden your outlook and build your strengths." If you're feeling fear, there's something you're passionate about Excellence = They take their love seriously They are confident that their love is worth paying attention to They are vivid in what they're drawn to Consistent They value mastery "We aren't short on time, but on energy." How Marcus would design a school: Teach self-awareness and self-mastery curriculum Get rid of the SAT, ACT, and GPA Your fullest life is one where your loves and your work flow in an infinite loop. The energy of the one fuels the energy of the other. Thus, the only way you'll make a lasting contribution in life is to deeply understand what it is that you love. Goals: "Goals are tricky. They are one of the most common characteristics of your working world, and yet they're also one of the least loving. They don't have to be loveless." The Red Thread questionnaire. It's full of "When was the last time…" questions: "You lost track of time…" "You surprised yourself by how well you did…" "you found yourself actively looking forward to work…" Never brag – Don't say, "I'm the best." Instead say, "I"m at my best when…" And "You can rely on me for…" Marcus shared how he responded to his ex-wife being involved in the college admission scandal where she offered large sums of cash for their kids to get into USC

Apr 3, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday" - A carefully curated email with the most useful leadership ideas of the week Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Liz Fosslien is the co-author and illustrator of the book Big Feelings and the Wall Street Journal best-seller No Hard Feelings. Liz is an expert on how to make work better. She regularly leads interactive, scientifically-backed workshops about how to build resilience, help remote workers avoid burnout, and effectively harness emotion as a leader. Her work has been featured by TED, Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, The Economist, and NPR. Ask yourself… When you look back at your career and think of your best boss and your worst boss… What behaviors did each of them have? How can we embody more of the best boss behavior? Set up a regular cadence of not-urgent, developmental meetings with the people you're leading. Show them and prove to them how much you care about them and their career. What have you enjoyed most? What have you not enjoyed? What have you learned? What do you want for your next job? Use envy to reveal what you value . But remember, ask yourself if you'd want that person's entire life. Not just the cool part you see on Instagram. The Gretchen Rubin story of feeling envy over seeing someone else publish a book. She used that as fuel. Anger is a signal that something occurred that you didn't like. Acknowledge what you're feeling. She met her co-author, Molly West Duffy, on a blind friend date! How to deal with uncertainty? Over-communicate - Be transparent Switch from "I need to have this all figured out" to "I'm a person learning to become a manager" Pixar recruited animators that were frustrated at their current place of work... Liz's research process: Read a lot Talk with academics Learn from practitioners who are applying it Work-life balance? It's well-intentioned... but a very individual thing Some people are segmenters Some people are integrators... They like to mix work with friends Both are okay... Goal setting: There are long term and short term goals Liz chooses to abandon long term goals to live the life she wants to live She enjoys creative time on the weekends Short-term goals... What's going to make an impact? Top 5 priorities - "You have to run into the spike" Career/Life advice: DO something. Do the work. Take action See everything as a learning experience... Think, "What can I learn from this?" Liz once worked at a Starbucks and learned a lot about hospitality from it Create an emotional experience

Mar 27, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday" - A highly curated email to help you start your week off with intellectual curiosity, rigor, and thoughtfulness Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 "We are wired for laziness. It takes conscious thought to do the harder thing." What Micheal learned from The Pope... If you have a question, go directly to the source. The science-backed ways to slow down time? Learn and do new things. Get off "auto-pilot" mode. Benefits of thinking about death? Michael learned in Bhutan why we should think about death... In the United States, we rarely think about death—especially our own death. And when we do, it tends to make us sad and uncomfortable. But there are powerful benefits to regularly contemplating the fact that our time in this world will eventually come to an end. The shift in perspective can be profound and lead to a kind of deeply felt and enduring appreciation for life. Michael's love for his mom: "My mom got sober when my dad was in rehab. That's how my favorite story I've ever written starts. It's about my mom, a single parent who taught me everything I need to know about being a man. As I was writing that story five years ago, my mom was battling cancer. She'd just finished chemotherapy and was undergoing radiation. Doctors officially deemed my mom "cured" from cancer. In the story I wrote, "Have you ever played tug-of-war with a pit bull? It'll pull until you quit or it dies. That's Lynda Easter." How Michael dealt with alcohol - "I saw a choice. Option 1, do nothing. Cling to complacency and the numbing lifestyle that would ultimately end badly but allow me to keep drinking. Or option 2. Get uncomfortable. Ditch my liquid comfort blanket. I hadn't a clue where this second option would take me or if I could even pull it off. And I was terrified." Take The Stairs: A mantra I try to live by when traveling – "Take the stairs." When there is an escalator and stairs, always take the stairs. If you're fortunate enough to have legs that work, then take the stairs. Be a 2 percenter… 98% of people take the escalator at the airport. Take the stairs. Exercise: Exercise grows the hippocampus in the brain. This is something that is shrunken in people who suffer from depression. We exercise 14 times less than our ancestors. "We've engineered movement out of our lives." Michael traveled 30,000 miles around the world, met with experts ranging from Harvard researchers and Icelandic geneticists to Buddhist Lamas and Special Forces soldiers, and also spent more than a month in the remote Alaskan backcountry. "Discover the evolutionary mind and body benefits of living at the edges of your comfort zone and reconnecting with the wild." "If you want to improve your life, you have to go through discomfort." The benefits of boredom - Michael spent time in the Arctic on a hunt. It's very boring to sit on the hills for hours. But, boredom created ideas. It's evolutionary discomfort. In those boring times, Michael thought about ideas and wrote chapters of his book. "Your life is a culmination of that which you are aware of." - William James Go out in nature. Take walks.

Mar 20, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 for Mindful Monday Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Polina Pompliano is studying the world's most interesting people & companies. She is the Founder & Author of The Profile. Polina is a former writer at Fortune. Some of the people she's written a profile on are: Martha Stewart, Keanu Reeves, and The Rock. I am a paid subscriber and love her work. Notes: Sustained excellence comes from being obsessively curious about what you do… And knowing that failure is part of the process. It's how you choose to respond that matters. Examples: Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, Martha Stewart. The advice she received from David Perell (also a previous podcast guest). He said, "Everything you put into the world is a vehicle for serendipity." Polina wrote a profile on The Rock. She had no idea he would share it four times on all platforms. Create your own personal board of advisors. Listen to criticism, but only from people who want you to win. Only from people who care about you doing well. Not from trolls online. "Consistency is the best way to earn trust. – Name a relationship in your life where you trust someone who is inconsistent. You can't. That's because we don't trust people — whether it's in work, business, or relationships — who constantly break their promises. Since I started The Profile three years ago, I have never missed a single week." Criticism: "I once heard Kat Cole say that one of the biggest lessons she has learned after years of business experience is to put your ego aside and improve from criticism. She said, "Anytime you're criticized, assume first that it's correct." The act of simply considering that a fraction of the criticism may be accurate will keep you learning, unlearning, fixing, and ultimately, gaining respect." How to Find Ideas: "It's about being obsessed with the details. A great idea typically masquerades as a question in a friend's text message, a quote in a documentary, a line in a book, or an observation on a walk." Creativity: "I can't get new ideas staring at a blank page. Creativity, for me, requires motion. When you go on a walk, you can turn your world into an idea-generating sensorium, and ideas will spring up from the most unlikely sources. There is one thing that's absolutely certain about creativity: It's an active process, not a passive one. The best ideas come when you become curious, aware, interested." Daniel Ek – Makers schedule versus a Managers schedule. This is from Paul Graham. I wrote it about it in my first book, Welcome to Management . Marriage: "In 2013, I asked my great-grandmother what she had learned from 53 years of marriage. She said, "When you're young and beautiful like we were, falling in love is easy. But you have to fall in love with someone's soul — because you will get old, but the soul will never change."" "I don't like to gamble, but if there is one thing I'm willing to bet on, it's myself." - Beyonce How to attract more luck into your life? – Written by George Mack (published by Polina) Avoid Boring People Have a luck razor Have a Poker mindset Polina desires to help you "improve your content diet." Instead of binging TV shows and scrolling through random social media, read The Profile. How to be more creative: Take a walk Allow room for serendipity Look at the footnotes of books What Polina learned from James Clear: When he doesn't read enough, he doesn't have the ideas to write about. Reading helps generate ideas. Have a stack of books everywhere in your house and office. Why leaders should write? It creates clarity of thought. "I can tell that you're thinking is sloppy if your writing is sloppy." Every single word of a post matters. It's about being precise. Precision is so important when it comes to writing. You have to clearly think it through to create precision with thought and writing. Storytelling - Get rid of the generic, fluffy writing. People enjoy profiles because it takes you inside the mind of a person. Life/Career advice: Don't tie your identity to something that can be taken away from you.

Mar 13, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday" Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Brady Quinn set 36 records at The University of Notre Dame. He graduated from Notre Dame as one of their greatest football players ever. Along with the likes of Joe Montana, Tony Rice, and Rocket Ismail… He was drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Browns in the 2007 NFL Draft. He currently serves as one of the main analysts on Saturday's "Big Noon Kickoff" on FS1. He's one of the only people broadcasting both collegiate and NFL games. Now, he's on the radio every morning: "2 Pros and a Cup of Joe" show he hosts with LaVar Arrington and Jonas Knox. AJ Hawk is the all-time leading tackler in Green Bay Packers history. He won a National Championship at Ohio State University and was voted captain of the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl-winning team in the 2010-2011 season. He was inducted into the Ohio State University Hall of Fame in 2019. Currently, he is a co-host on The Pat McAfee Show which airs weekdays on YouTube. Notes: Playing quarterback: "You can find the intangibles of being a quarterback in almost every profession in the world. There's nothing like it." – Brady Quinn You must be efficient and effective as a communicator. You have to prepare for all of the "what if" scenarios - "Have a plan, work the plan, plan for the unexpected." You have to be a great listener You need to be curious to ask the right questions "The quarterback runs the show. They need to be the person that you can go to when there are problems." - AJ Why has AJ resonated with viewers on The Pat McAfee Show: "You're relatable. People liked you for being a Super Bowl-winning linebacker, but they didn't know you then. They get to know you now on your show and they see that you're like them. They can relate to you." - Brady Dad Life - "Discipline is love. Do the hard thing. Don't take the easy way out." - Brady The Fiesta Bowl - AJ (the All-American linebacker from Ohio State) vs. Brady (the All-American Quarterback from Notre Dame) High-pressure situations: Must be prepared so you can let your instincts take over Need to learn from past failures to improve the next time Must work on the little things every day so they become ingrained habits The Draft - Your ultimate golf group. You can choose any person Brady: Chopper Quinn (Brady's dad) Elon Musk Chris Farley Tiger Woods Will Ferrell Ryan: George Washington Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Eddie Vedder Kobe Bryant Steve Carell AJ: Samuel L. Jackson Sean Casey Charles Barkley Tom Cruise Pierro Manzoni

Mar 7, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday" Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Max Lugavere is the author of the New York Times best-seller Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life. He appears regularly on the Dr. Oz Show, the Rachael Ray Show, and The Doctors. His latest book is called Genius Kitchen - Over 100 Easy & Delicious Recipes to make your brain sharp, body strong, and taste buds happy. "A healthy person has 100 wishes. A sick person has 1." This subject became personal for Max when his mother, Kathy, was given a diagnosis of dementia, and he devoted himself to her care. She died in 2018. "Now that Mom is gone, I am even more obsessed with the topic." Shop in the perimeter of the supermarket. Reach for nutrient-dense foods. Lifestyle changes that will 10x the quality of your life: Getting 8-9 hours of sleep instead of 4-6 Eating more animal protein (especially beef and eggs) Less cardio, more strength training Regular heat (sauna) and cold (ice bath/cold shower) stress Daily sunlight Intermittent fasting – instead of eating 16 hours a day, eat 8. Drinking caffeine is "taking a loan out on energy from later in the day?" – Cortisol peaks in the AM. Wait 45 minutes after you wake up to drink caffeine. Stop drinking caffeine from time to time so that your body can reset. Willpower is a finite resource. Create your environment to make good decisions. Whole Foods - 3 Things to think about: Protein - #1 satiating piece. Greek yogurt, beef jerky, eggs Fiber - It stretches out your stomach. Helps fill you up. Greens, broccoli, whole fruit. Water - Get hydrated. Supplements - Protein shakes. Whey isolate. He uses muscle feast. Most bread is not useful. It's ultra-processed food. Alcohol - Most wine has a lot of sugar. Most alcohol does. Max drinks tequila. Wake up, hydrate... "I'm up somewhere between 7 and 8. I don't use an alarm clock. I go straight into the kitchen and drink a tall glass of room-temperature water. I may sprinkle a bit of mineral salt in it which replenishes electrolytes." Light... Air... "Whether it's winter or summer, I go out onto my terrace and do a few minutes of deep breathing, stretching, and meditation. I'm a big believer in getting in natural light in the morning because it aligns my circadian rhythm for the day.

Feb 28, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday" Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Inner Circle, The Book of Fate, and ten other bestselling thrillers. He also writes non-fiction books like The First Conspiracy , about a secret plot to kill George Washington – and the Ordinary People Change the World kids book series. His newest thriller, The Escape Artist, debuted at #1 on the bestseller list. Brad is also responsible for helping find the missing 9/11 flag that the firefighters raised at Ground Zero, making national news on the 15th anniversary of 9/11. Former President George H.W. Bush also gave Brad, for the very first time, the secret letter he left for President Bill Clinton in the Oval Office desk. If you need a good cry, read this story about Brad reading to President Bush before he died. The Hollywood Reporter put him on their list of the 25 Most Powerful Authors, and he's been asked to serve as a member of the America250 Council, to celebrate the upcoming 250th birthday of the country. Notes: "Stories aren't the beauty of what did happen. They're the beauty of what could happen." "For me, Superman's greatest contribution has never been the superhero part: it's the Clark Kent part - the idea that any of us, in all our ordinariness, can change the world." The 3 things he tells his kids each night when he tucks them into bed: Dream Big - Young people have the biggest and best dreams. Work Hard - Your first book got 24 rejection letters. And in your TED Talk, you share the story of your Dad and how hard he worked (maybe open with this?). When you were writing your 9th book, your book of heroes for your soon. A story about The Wright Brothers… Every time The Wright Brothers would go out to fly their plane, they would bring enough extra materials for multiple crashes. Every time they went out, they knew they would fail. And they would crash and rebuild, and crash and rebuild. And that's why they took off. Stay Humble - Noone likes a jerk. When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, he never took credit for it. It was announced when he died and it was in his obituary. All history ever is, is a bunch of stories. How to change history, all you have to do is write your story. History is a selection process. It chooses every single one of us, every single day. You will change history. "Brad's meticulous research and interviews with top-level government sources — including U.S. Presidents — fill each page with authenticity and make his characters come alive." His belief is that ordinary people change the world. It is that core belief that runs through every one of his projects. How to respond from rejection? Brad's first book was rejected 24 times… And then later that book went on to become a bestseller. As a culture, we're starving for heroes "We are all ordinary. We are all boring. We are all spectacular. We are all shy. We are all bold. We are all heroes. We are all helpless. It just depends on the day." "There's nothing more intimate in life than simply being understood. And understanding someone else." "In this world, there was nothing scarier than trusting someone. But there was also nothing more rewarding." "No matter how far we come, our parents are always in us." "The worst lies in life are the ones we tell ourselves." From Brad's book to his daughter: "As your father, my instinct is to protect you ... Other people will want to protect you too. But remember that you are not a damsel in distress, waiting for some prince to rescue you. Forget the prince. With your brain and your resourcefulness, you can rescue yourself." "You need to understand something... In this world, we're not humans having a divine experience. We're divine beings having a human experience."

Feb 21, 2022

Text HAWK to 66866 for "Mindful Monday" Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Jane McGonigal, PhD is a world-renowned designer of alternate reality games — or, games that are designed to improve real lives and solve real problems. She believes game designers are on a humanitarian mission — and her #1 goal in life is to see a game developer win a Nobel Peace Prize. She is a two-time New York Times bestselling author: Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World and SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully. Her TED talks on how games can make a better world and the game that can give you 10 extra years of life, are among the all-time most popular TED talks, and have more than 15 million views. Jane dedicates this book to her sister Kelly ... "who lives six minutes in the future." They are twins. "It's so helpful having her. If she can achieve something (TED Talks, Books), I could do it too." Being able to predict the future is not enough. You have to be bale to pre-feel it. Write down your long term plans. "Talk about a world you want to wake up in." "Any useful idea about the future should sound rediculous initially." "The best way to predict the future is to invent it." How to think like a futurist? In the corporate world... Carve out a role for yourself to fight short-terminism. Fight short term thinking. Play the long game. Create future planning habits in your organization. Dare to daydream. Take ownership - Create moments of joy... Be of service to others. A 30 second practical activity: Imagine 10 years from now... Where are you? What woke you up? Who are you with? The 3 questions to give you a baseline sense of your "future mindset" When you think about the next 10 years, do you think things will mostly stay the same and go on as normal? Or do you expect that most of us will dramatically rethink and reinvent how we do things? When you think about how the world and your life will change over the next 10 years, are you mostly worried or mostly optimistic? How much control or influence do you feel you personally have in determining how the world and your life change over the next 10 years? How to predict the future? Unstick your mind Think The Unthinkable Imagine the Unimaginable Imaginable - How to see the future coming and feel ready for anything– even things that seem impossible today One of the issues that cause depression is it doesn't allow you to imagine a future. For us as leaders, we need to be able to imagine a positive future for ourselves and our team. Be a spotlight for other people's good ideas. Bring attention to it. Be known as someone who spreads positive gossip Living in the present. Giannis – "When you focus on the past, that's your ego... And when I focus on the future it's my pride... And I kind of like to focus in the moment, in the present. And that's humility. That's being humble."

Feb 14, 2022

Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday" Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Josh Peck is an actor, comedian, author, entrepreneur, and YouTuber. He began his career as a child actor in the late 1990s and early 2000s and had an early role on The Amanda Show from 2000 to 2002. Josh rose to prominence for his role as Josh Nichols alongside Drake Bell's character in the Nickelodeon sitcom Drake & Josh. Josh Peck provided the voice of Eddie in the Ice Age franchise since Ice Age: The Meltdown and voiced Casey Jones in the Nickelodeon animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles . He also starred with John Stamos in the Fox comedy series Grandfathered . In 2017, Josh started a comedic lifestyle YouTube channel, Shua Vlogs, featuring his wife Paige O'Brien, David Dobrik, and many of the vlogsquad members. His new book is called Happy People Are Annoying . Notes: "Do good things and don't get caught doing them." Be of service to others. It seems when we focus on doing good things, good things seem to happen. When Josh was 8 years old, he felt powerless, insecure, and uncomfortable. He was having a family dinner during the holidays... He decided to commit fully to telling a joke. And he earned his first real laugh from his family. At that moment he said, "I decided what I wanted to do with my life." He became a stand-up comedian and eventually an actor. "Laughing is uncontrollable. It's so honest." How to add humor to your business meetings? "The only thing more compelling than a joke is honest vulnerability. Being willing to call yourself. Be human." That vulnerability will bring people closer to you. The power of listening: It helps you constantly make adjustments. Be open, free in the moment. Humor, acting, or leadership... All of those are acquired skills. You have to have the willingness to be bad at it first to get good at it later. Using a chip on your shoulder as motivation? It can work in the short term but doesn't typically work in the long term. "It was the wrong fuel for my engine." "You gotta ask:" When he was 12 years old, he found himself on set telling jokes to an older man. He was cracking the guy up. He didn't realize that person was the President of Nickelodeon. Josh then asked him to be on one of the hit Nickelodeon shows. He eventually got a call that changed his life. After that call, Josh and his mom moved to Los Angeles where he's worked as an actor ever since. You have to be willing to ask. You have to be willing to face rejection or embarrassment. Aaron Sorkin said you can make the hall of fame in baseball striking out 2 out of 3 times. The same is true in life. One of the first people Josh called when he was launching his podcast was Bob Saget. Bob was one of the more famous people he knew. And he immediately responded and said he would record the following week. There are hundreds of stories like this about him. We all should be more like him. Ryan Holiday advice - Get really honest and tell your story. Your journey can help other people. As a dad, Josh wants to correct the trauma of the past... He never met his dad. "Do good things and don't get caught doing them." Be in service of others.

Feb 7, 2022

Read my new book: The Pursuit Of Excellence https://bit.ly/excellencebulk Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday" Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Gary Burnison is the CEO of Korn Ferry. Under his leadership, Korn Ferry has been transformed into a global organizational consulting firm with nearly 9,000 colleagues. Burnison is the author of seven leadership and career development books, including a New York Times bestseller. Notes: In his early days as a CEO, a member of Gary's board who was mentoring him, looked him in the eye and said, "I don't just want you to be successful—I am going to ensure that you are successful." Gary was moved by words. Looking back now, he sees that moment as a gift of grace. How he built a career from an entry-level worker to the CEO of a 9,000 person company: Humility and hustle drive careers forward To learn, you must be humble and self-aware. Hiring decisions: "I higher for hunger over pedigree." The Five Graces of Leadership: Gratitude―the attitude that elevates our spirits, boosts morale, and lifts our hearts Resilience―the quality that allows us to achieve beyond our wildest dreams Aspiration―the knowledge that we can make tomorrow better than today Courage―the ability to understand and move beyond our fears Empathy―the understanding needed to connect with others from their perspectives The most impactful leaders have four key skills: Adaptability: Being comfortable with unanticipated changes and diverse situations; being able to adjust to constraints and rebound from adversity. Curiosity: Approaching problems in novel ways; seeing patterns and understanding how to synthesize complex information; having the desire to achieve a deep understanding of things. Detail-oriented: Having the ability to systematically carry out tasks as assigned, with an understanding of the procedures and the importance of exactitude. Tolerance of ambiguity: Being comfortable with uncertainty and willing to make decisions and plans in the face of incomplete information "In today's world, leadership is all about establishing community and connectivity so everyone can be part of something bigger than themselves." "To have the grace to create this kind of leadership, we need greater self-awareness and genuine connection to others – particularly in this hybrid work environment where connections are increasingly more challenging to come by." The #1 predictor of a candidate being effective? Learning agility "Humility is key for lifelong learning." Gary wrote a book called, "Lose The Resume, Land The Job." - Target the opportunity you want. Work to earn a warm introduction. A day in the life as the CEO of Korn Ferry: "You suddenly stop being a person and you start being a function." "Leadership is about inspiring others to believe." How he earned the role of CEO: Continuity helped (he was already working at the company) Vision, purpose, "the why," and the 4 or 5 parts of the strategy laid out moving forward When you're going for a VP role: Make sure it is a fit for you You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you Have purpose and passion for the role Why Gary writes so much: "It's therapeutic for me." He likes to write with others to learn from them and gain clarity. "I like to get their point of view and listen to them." How he's built confidence: It comes from life experiences. When Gary was 11 years old, he lived in the middle of Kansas. The moving vans showed up and took their furniture away. His family went bankrupt. In times of crisis, it's critical for the leader to step up.

Jan 31, 2022

Read my new book, The Pursuit Of Excellence https://bit.ly/excellencehawk Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday" Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Dr. Ken Blanchard is one of the most influential leadership experts in the world and is respected for his years of groundbreaking work in the fields of leadership and management. He's written 60+ published books... Most notably, The One Minute Manager has sold over 15 million copies. Notes: T he One Minute Manager: 1 Minute goals – All struggles go back to one simple thing: communication. Set 3 goals for each employee. Write each of them down in 350 words or less. 1 Minute praisings ("catch people doing the right things") – Do this immediately following good work. Don't wait (you might forget). Be specific in your praise. 1 Minute reprimands (later changed to 1 Minute re-directs) - Address this immediately after it happens. Be very specific . "Teach people the power of love instead of the love of power." "Life is what happens to you when you're planning on doing something else." What made The One Minute Manager catch on? It was a parable. Those were rare at that time. It was a short book. A quick read. He started his company in 1979. Charles Schwab told him to name the company after himself... Thus, "The Ken Blanchard Companies" was started. It helped that YPO adopted them quickly. "All good performance starts with clear goals." Create magical moments – For his wife, Margie's 80th birthday party, They rented a big house in Hawaii for a week surrounded by the people they love. How can you create magical moments? Ken has written 65 books... Only 2 of them by himself. He likes to write with others. Profit is the applause you get for creating a great environment for your people. Expectations: You get what you expect. Humility - Be there to serve others. Humility does not mean you think less of yourself. It means you think of yourself less. Connect the dots between individual roles and the goals of the organization. When people see that connection, they get a lot of energy out of work. They feel the importance, dignity, and meaning in their job. Leadership is not something you do to people. It's something you do with people. Vision is knowing who you are, where you're going, and what will guide your journey. "Many people measure their success by wealth, recognition, power, and status. There's nothing wrong with those, but if that's all you're focused on, you're missing the boat...if you focus on significance -using your time and talent to serve others -that's when truly meaningful success can come your way.: If becoming a high-performing organization is the destination, leadership is the engine. Sustained excellence: They realize it's not all about them They have a sense of humor They listen more than they speak Feedback is the breakfast of champions Get to D4 -- The highest level of development: Competent and Committed. Life/Career Advice: Be a lifetime learner Look for good leaders... Ask them to lunch

Jan 24, 2022

Read my new book, The Pursuit of Excellence https://bit.ly/excellencehawk Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday" Daniel H. Pink is the author of seven books, including the forthcoming The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward (Riverhead, 2022). His other books include the New York Times bestsellers When and A Whole New Mind — as well as the #1 New York Times bestsellers Drive and To Sell is Human. Dan's books have won multiple awards, have been translated into 42 languages, and have sold millions of copies around the world. Notes: The truth: We regret inactions much more than actions.The lesson: Be bold. Take that chance. In a world full of talkers, be a doer. Have a bias for action. The 3 keys to a productive achiever: empathy/compassion, curiosity, doggedness (consistency). We overvalue intensity and undervalue consistency and doggedness. Continue to show up and do the work. The four core regrets: Foundation regrets - People want stability. (save money, plan for the future) Boldness regrets - "If only I'd taken that chance." People regret not taking the chance. Moral regrets Connection regrets The truth: We deeply regret not asserting ourselves. The lesson: Speak up. Optimizing Regret: Our goal should not be to always minimize regret. Our goal should be to optimize it. By combining the science of anticipated regret with the new deep structure of regret, we can refine our mental model. "Regret makes me human. Regret makes me better. Regret gives me hope." This is a great exercise. Instead of a New Year's resolution, choose a single word to guide your 2022. After 2 years of upheaval, it can help you focus on the goals & changes most important to you. Dan's choice? Restore. The Dan Pink family acronym: HAHU - Hustle. Anticipate. Heads up. Big life decisions: Maximizers and satisficers Know when to maximize and when to satisfy. For low stakes decisions (the color of your car), you don't have to maximize Regret is part of the human condition. We all have regrets. Disclose it. Lift the burden. Someone that says they have "No Regrets" is either lying or they are a sociopath. Disclose lessons from your regrets. Ask yourself, "What did I learn from it?" Does everything happen for a reason? The lesson to be learned from it is understanding what we have control over and what we don't. Regret depends on storytelling. And that raises a question: In these stories, are we the creator or the character, the playwright or the performer? The answer is... YES. We are both. We are both the authors and the actors. We can shape the plot but not fully. We can toss aside the script but not always. We live at the intersection of free will and circumstance. "Our everyday lives consist of hundreds of decisions—some of them crucial to our well-being, many of them inconsequential. Understanding the difference can make all the difference. If we know what we truly regret, we know what we truly value. Regret— that maddening, perplexing, and undeniably real emotion—points the way to a life well-lived." Career/Life advice: Doggedness is important. Be a person of action. Be willing to try stuff. "We learn who we are in practice, not in theory." Doing something helps you figure it out.

Jan 17, 2022

Read my new book, The Pursuit Of Excellence https://bit.ly/excellencehawk Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday" Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Oliver Burkeman is the author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management For Mortals. It's a book that has become an international best-seller. The final person Oliver thanked in his book? His grandmother: "My dear grandmother Erica Burkeman, whose childhood departure from Nazi Germany I describe in chapter 7, died in 2019 at the age of 96. I don't know whether she would have read this book, but she would definitely have told everyone she met that I had written it." The average human lifespan is absurdly, insultingly brief. If you live to be 80, you'll have had about 4,000 weeks. But that's no reason for despair. Confronting our radical finitude – and how little control we really have – is the key to a fulfilling and meaningfully productive life. When someone close to you dies, Oliver writes, "Such experiences, however wholly unwelcome, often appear to leave those who undergo them in a new and more honest relationship with time. The question is whether we might attain at least a little of that same outlook in the absence of the experience of the agonizing loss." When stumped by a life choice, choose "enlargement" over happiness. Don't ask: Will this make me happy?", but "Will this choice enlarge me or diminish me?" The future will never provide the reassurance you seek from it. (This is why it's wrong to say we live in especially uncertain times. The future is always uncertain; it's just that we're currently very aware of it.) Embrace radical incrementalism - People who work a little bit every day tend to cultivate the patience it takes to get good. Oliver tells the old parable about a vacationing New York businessman who meets a Mexican fisherman… The capacity to tolerate minor discomfort is a superpower. The solution to imposter syndrome is to see that you are one - Everyone is totally "winging it." The lesson to be drawn isn't that we're doomed to chaos. It's that you – unconfident, self-conscious, all-too-aware-of-your-flaws – potentially have as much to contribute to your field, or the world, as anyone else. The original Latin word for "decide" was decidere which means "to cut off" as in slicing away alternatives. The sooner you welcome uncertainty and not knowing as normal ways of being, the better off you'll be. People who work a little bit every day tend to cultivate the patience it takes to get good. These people also quit their day's work when it's finished: they identify what their chunk of time or task is per day, they do that and only that, and save more for tomorrow. "More often than not, originality lies on the far side of unoriginality." To illustrate this point, Burkeman uses The Helsinki Bus Station Theory. As the photographer Arno Minkkinen explained, Helsinki bus lines start out traveling the same path but then diverge at different points in the route, spreading out to far and wide locales. When you find your work resembles someone else's, or you're on someone else's bus, traveling someone else's path, don't try to go back to the bus station at the very beginning and completely reinvent yourself and start from scratch, keep working and "stay on the bus!" At a certain point, your path will split off into something new. The central challenge of time management isn't becoming more efficient, but deciding what to neglect. In an accelerating world, patience – letting things take the time they take – is a superpower. In conditions of limitless choice, burning your bridges beats keeping your options open. The need to control events is unhelpful. There is too much uncertainty for that. Is "follow your passion" good advice? Find something you're good at instead. Do things "daily-ish" Harness the power of patience as a force for daily life. Relish the value of consistency. Goal setting: "We are incapable of living goalless lives." With that said, "a plan is just a thought." Excellence: A willingness to accept the truth of their present situation and not wear blinders. They are clear-eyed. Generosity to other people. They have a basic assumption of a non-zero-sum world. Four Thousand Weeks is an entertaining and philosophical but ultimately deeply practical guide to the alternative path of embracing your limits: dropping back down into reality, defying cultural pressures to attempt the impossible, and getting started on what's gloriously possible instead. It's about actually getting meaningful things done, here and now, in our work and our lives together – in the clear-eyed understanding that there won't be time for everything, and that we'll never eliminate life's uncertainties.

Jan 10, 2022

Read my new book, The Pursuit Of Excellence https://bit.ly/excellencehawk Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday" Jim Levine has been a literary agent for more than 30 years. Some of his agency's clients include Ray Dalio, Scott Galloway, Jay Shetty, Gillian Flynn (author of Gone Girl), Satya Nadella (CEO of Microsoft), Tom Brady, & Giselle Bundchen among others… He also is my book agent and he brokered the deals for my book deals for both Welcome To Management AND The Pursuit of Excellence with McGraw-Hill. Notes: Early in my podcasting career, I asked all authors I recorded who the best book agent was... And many of them said, Jim Levine. "Being an agent is a continuing liberal arts education, it's an opportunity to engage with experts and thought leaders in a wide variety of fields and help shape their work to reach the broadest possible audience." Jim has written and published 7 books and over 100 articles for professional magazines… He's won awards for his work as a writer. He's the founding director of The Fatherhood Project – A 20-year long foundation-supported initiative to increase men's involvement in childrearing in all segments of society. Jim takes us inside the process from book proposal, selling to a publisher, and ultimately getting the book published. "Being an agent is so much more than just selling the book. The relationship is so much more intimate. You have to care." Building a company and a culture of growth... The best book proposals he's read: The Master Algorithm -- Pedro Domingos Welcome To Management Smartcuts by Shane Snow Jim has spent most of his career putting together ideas, people, and money; identifying, nurturing, and marketing talent; and creating projects that make a difference. Jim graduated Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude from Amherst College, winning Woodrow Wilson, Fulbright, and Ford Foundation Fellowships. He holds two advanced degrees in English Literature from UC Berkeley, where he specialized in Shakespeare and modern literary criticism, and a doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he specialized in child development and social policy. Advice: Don't think about a job, think about skills you have and challenges you could take on… The WHO is really important - Who you work for... Be a perpetual learner Follow your curiosity Have a wide range of interests What Jim looks for when hiring – Pat Lencioni's humble, hungry, and smart – It's about helping people solve problems.

Jan 3, 2022

Read my new book, The Pursuit Of Excellence https://bit.ly/thepursuitofexcellence Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Text Hawk to 66866 for "Mindful Monday" This episode starts with a short review of 2021 and I share my goals for 2022. Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Gary Chapman, PhD, is the author of the bestselling The 5 Love Languages® series, which has sold more than 20 million worldwide and has been translated into 50 languages. Dr. Chapman travels the world presenting seminars on marriage, family, and relationships, and his radio programs air on more than 400 stations. Notes: The Five Love Languages: Words of Affirmation - Words of affirmation is about expressing affection through spoken words, praise, or appreciation. When this is someone's primary love language, they enjoy kind words and encouragement.\ Quality Time - For those who identify with quality time as their love language, love and affection are expressed through undivided attention. This means putting down the cell phone, turning off the tablet, making eye contact, and actively listening. Physical Touch - A person with this love language feels loved through physical affection. Acts of Service - For acts of service, a person feels loved and appreciated when someone does nice things for them, such as helping with the dishes, running errands, vacuuming, or putting gas in the car. Receiving Gifts - Gift-giving is symbolic of love and affection for someone with this love language. They treasure not only the gift itself but also the time and effort the gift-giver put into it. My personal Love Language assessment results: Quality Time: 37% Words of Affirmation: 33% Acts of Service: 20% Physical Touch: 10% Receiving Gifts: 0% We all express and receive love differently. Consequently, understanding those differences can make a serious impact on your relationship. According to Dr. Chapman, this exercise is one of the simplest ways to improve your relationships. Here are some ways that understanding love languages can improve your relationship : Promotes selflessness - When you are committed to learning someone else's love language, you are focused on their needs rather than your own. Creates empathy - As someone learns more about how their partner experiences love, they learn to empathize with them. Maintains intimacy - If couples regularly talk about what keeps their love tanks full, this creates more understanding in their relationship. Aids personal growth - When someone is focused on something or someone outside of themselves, it can lead to personal growth. Shares love in meaningful ways - When couples start speaking one another's love language, the things they do for their partners not only become more intentional but also become more meaningful. It's not a feeling. The "in love" feeling wears off after about 2 years. It's an attitude to love someone . "I want to do anything I can to enrich your life." There is a thought process and intention behind it. Keys to being a better listener: Start with the intention to understand THEIR perspective Do not interrupt the other person Wait until they are completely done speaking How to earn back trust? Forgiveness is not a feeling, it's a choice . You have to make the choice to forgive someone. Thank you to Verywellmind.com for help preparing for this conversation

Dec 27, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more details... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Debbie Millman has been named "one of the most creative people in business" by Fast Company, and "one of the most influential designers working today" by Graphic Design USA, Debbie Millman is also an author, educator, curator, and host of the podcast Design Matters. Notes: Visual Storytelling is the art of using language and images to convey a narrative account of real or imagined events. How to make an effective presentation? You must know it thoroughly. Practice, rehearse. Get to the point where you can let it flow when you're in it. Don't just read what's on the slide. Use at most one sentence. Use images to help reinforce your message "Life is so difficult when you don't know what you're talking about." Ideas are easy... Strategies are hard. You need to understand that a presentation is a performance. Teaching forces you to learn your topic. If you want to learn about something, sign up to teach others about it. "I once read that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I fundamentally disagree with this idea. I think that doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of hope." "A brand is simply a set of beliefs. And if you don't create a set of beliefs around your products or services, well, you stand for nothing - you have no values and no vision." "Actually - and ironically - people aren't really interested in a new brand form or flavor as much as they are interested in how a brand can change, impact, or improve their lives. They want brands around them that make them feel special and provide some social cache or confidence." Interviewing is like a game of billiards. Each question should leave you in a position to hit the next shot/ask the next question. Be overprepared so that you can flow in the moment. "You have to listen and really focus on the person." Research everything Courage and confidence - The reps lead to confidence. Confidence leads to courage. Branding --"Branding is a deliberate differentiation." Brands aspire for consistency. "You can't metabolize regret." -- Go for it. At age 50, Debbie came out... And felt so much freedom from it "Don't edit your hopes and dreams before you can ever attempt them."

Dec 20, 2021

Read my new book, The Pursuit Of Excellence : https://bit.ly/excellencehawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Rob Fitzpatrick is an entrepreneur of 14 years and has written three books about his learnings along the way, including the best-selling handbook for doing better Customer Development, The Mom Test: How to talk to customers and figure out if your business is a good idea when everyone is lying to you. In 2007, he dropped out of grad school to go through YCombinator with his first startup, and has been building products and businesses ever since. Beyond software, he has also kickstarted a physical card game, built an education agency, and more. Notes: The 3 simple rules of the Mom Test: Talk about their life instead of your idea Ask about specifics in the past instead of generics or opinions about the future Talk less and listen more How to run better meetings: Focus on who will be in your meeting and how to maximize the value they receive while there Think about learning outcomes - How will you (as the leader) help them be wiser by going to your meetings

Dec 13, 2021

Order my new book, The Pursuit Of Excellence https://bit.ly/thepursuitofexcellence Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Stan Johnson was hired as Loyola Marymount University's men's basketball head coach on March 20, 2020. The 2020-21 season saw meteoric growths across the board for LMU men's basketball. In his first season as head coach, Stan Johnson guided his team through the COVID-19 pandemic and posted a winning record in the WCC for the first time since 2011-12. Notes: "I escaped a war at 10. I come from really the gutter in this business. I don't come from a tree," "I was at gunpoint at 10 years old with 15-year-olds holding M16s. We got evacuated on a war jet on a mining strip. We came to this country with three bags. That stuff, I think, has helped shape me for this task that I have." "That gives you empathy and understanding. It makes you relatable to all people." " Being lazy is disrespectful to the people that believe in you." Focus on proving your supporters right. The people who love you and root for you. Prove them right... The purpose behind "Coffee With The Coach" during COVID... I wanted to "Win The Wait." Don't just wait it out... Win the wait. Culture is a set of behaviors... How do we want to behave? It's a life thing. It's not just a basketball thing. Stan has weekly "Culture Meetings." Their structure: Academic highlights Habit share Success hotline -- a pre-recorded hotline with a quote/saying Thought of the day What's happening in the world? Culture emphasis of the day Their core values: Selfless - LM Over You. When you're truly selfless, you care about the greater good... It comes back to you Connected - You need great relationships. Relationships over championships. Relentless - Attack everything we do. It's not just basketball. What do you want to be remembered for? Do your daily behaviors align with what you want to be remembered for? Consistency is what transforms average people, companies, and teams into GREATNESS. Anyone can do it now and then. GREATNESS is found in your ability to bring your best every single day. Keep Going. Don't mistake silence for weakness. Smart people don't plan big moves out loud. Holding people accountable - Truth helps. It doesn't hurt. The greatest form of love is discipline. Stan is known as one of the best recruiters in the country... What does he focus on? Relatability - "I can relate to people from all different backgrounds." Sincere - "I say how I feel." Relationships with family - Stan recruits all the members of the family. The must-have qualities to be a coach on his staff: Must be really good people (most important) "They gotta be smarter than me. I want them to stretch me, and hold me accountable. They must be smart." Passionate - They need to love it. Questions he asks when interviewing someone to be on his staff: What do you want to be remembered for? What are your expectations? (Mine are high") How do you evaluate yourself? What are your relationships like with people you've worked at before? Do you become friends with them? How he develops his assistant coaches: Give them big tasks to be responsible for... Their mission: "Take people to places they can't take themselves." Your competition isn't other people. Your competition is your procrastination. Your attitude.Your ego. Your blaming. Your complaining. Your ability to stay in the past. Your bad habits. Your jealousy. Your comparison mindset. Your inability to dream bigger. Compete against that. "Anytime your gonna grow, you're gonna lose something. You're losing what you're hanging onto to keep safe. You're losing habits that you're comfortable with, you're losing familiarity." Keep Going. You attract what you are, not what you want. If you want great things to happen, then be great with your habits and your daily process of becoming. Keep Going. Rejected to Redirected… Keep putting your butt on the line. Don't get boxed in. Who knows what you could be? Put yourself out there…

Dec 6, 2021

Order My Book, The Pursuit Of Excellence https://bit.ly/excellencehawk Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 John Amaechi is an organizational psychologist, best-selling author, and CEO of APS Intelligence Ltd. In 2019, John was recognized as one of HR's most influential thinkers by HR Magazine. John is the first Briton to have a career in the NBA. John is a Chartered Scientist, a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health. He is a Research Fellow at the University of East London and his research interests are effective, inclusive leadership, building high-performing teams and organisational design that maximises productivity and human thriving in readiness for the future world of work. Notes: "Excellence is in the mundane." The hours and hours of work when no one is watching. Effective feedback - If it's not developing them, it's not feedback. And feedback is never cruel. Ask, what can we learn from this? The evidence-based traits he shared about effective leadership "Promises have an enormous impact when kept by giants. And a devastating impact when broken. To keep these promises, unconditionally and persistently, is the duty and honor of being a giant." "You can't be a part-time man of principle." There is a difference between elite teams and a group of elite individuals. We want to build elite teams. Look at how you reward people -- What gets measured, gets managed. Reward people for being great teammates. People must earn and maintain their job titles. Coaching leaders: Start at the end - What does great look like? Introspection - How well do you know yourself? Pragmatic - Measure real progress Introspective work - view yourself critically, but not cruelly "You need people around you to be truly candid and caring." John and his team take an analytical approach - "I have a geek squad and we analyze data." They use expertise to provide commentary on the data Feedback - It must be timely and effective. Do regular micro-appraisals. What made you think of that? What can we learn from this? If it's not developing them, it's not feedback Feedback is never cruel Mantra: "I promise to reject excuses and embrace discomfort." You can't skip to comfort... The Promises of Giants is the product of a lifetime spent observing and studying effective leadership - from accompanying his mother's visits to her dying patients to competing at the highest levels of professional sport, through two decades of management consulting with multinational corporations. These experiences have shown that everyone has the ability to act decisively to influence the world in a positive way. Everyone is a giant to someone...

Nov 29, 2021

Order my new book: The Pursuit Of Excellence https://bit.ly/excellencehawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Benjamin Hardy is an organizational psychologist and the author of Willpower Doesn't Work and Personality Isn't Permanent. He also co-authored Who Not How with Dan Sullivan, which sold over 120,000 copies in the first 4 months of publication. Their most recent book is called, The Gap and The Gain. His blogs have been read by over 100 million people and are featured on Harvard Business Review, the New York Times, Forbes, Fortune, CNBC, and many others. For several years, he was the #1 most-read writer on Medium.com. Notes: The broaden and build theory — Dr. Barbara Fredeickson — shows that positive emotions are the starting point of learning, growth, and high performance "Competing against someone else puts you in the gap. Your happiness as a person is dependent on what you measure yourself against." More specifically you measure your own gains, rather than worrying about other people. When we measure ourselves against that ideal, we're in "the GAP." However, when we measure ourselves against our previous selves, we're in "the GAIN." "This one simple concept is a masterclass on positive psychology, healthy relationships, mental well-being, and high-performance. Everything that psychologists know about how to create a high-functioning and successful person can be achieved using The GAP and the GAIN." Who Not How -- Life is about surrounding yourself with the right WHO's. Who are the WHO's in your life to help you achieve what you want? "Surround yourself with people who remind you more of your future than your past. —Dan Sullivan" Commitment creates freedom -- Once the decision is made, then you can focus on the work. I like thinking of it that way and in a way it frees your mind when the decision, the commitment has been made. "Your behavior doesn't come from your personality. Rather, your personality is shaped by your behavior. When you act a certain way, you then judge yourself based on your actions. Hence, you can quickly alter your identity simply by altering your behavior." "The belief that you cannot change leads to a victim mentality. If you are determined by nature to be what you are, then there is nothing you can do about your lot in life. Conversely, the belief that you can change leads you to take responsibility for your life. You may have been born with certain constraints, but you can change those constraints, allowing yourself to improve and grow." "Don't join an easy crowd; you won't grow. Go where the expectations and the demands to perform are high. —Jim Rohn" "You are never pre-qualified to live your dreams. You qualify yourself by doing the work. By committing—even overcommitting—to what you believe you should do." "You shape the garden of your mind by planting specific things from your environment, such as the books you read, experiences you have, and people you surround yourself with." "True learning is a permanent change in cognition and/or behavior. In other words, learning involves a permanent change in how you see and act in the world. The accumulation of information isn't learning. Lots of people have heads full of information they don't know what to do with. If you want to learn something quickly, you need to immerse yourself in that thing and immediately implement what you're learning." "You need to deepen the quality and intimacy of your relationships with other people. Our culture is being shaped to isolate us more and more from each other. Addiction is becoming an epidemic. When you have deep and meaningful relationships, your chances of unhealthy addiction are far less. The following are four principles for overcoming harmful defaults in your environment."

Nov 22, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 John McWhorter teaches linguistics, philosophy, and music history at Columbia University, and writes for various publications on language issues and race issues such as Time, the Wall Street Journal, the Daily Beast, CNN, and the Atlantic. He's also the author of many books including his most recent New York Times bestseller, Woke Racism - How A New Religion Has Betrayed Black America. Notes: How to change someone's mind? "I try to understand where other people are coming from. I am not surprised by anyone. I think you need to listen to it from their point of view and not assume that anyone is crazy or evil." John recommends pragmatic action against racism involving only three programs: an end to the war on drugs, teaching reading by phonics to children lacking literate households and, promoting the idea that not everyone needs a college education to succeed. "I don't think of myself as brave. What I really am is a failed lawyer. My issue is if things don't make sense to me, I just want to try to make sense of it and I want people to understand what I mean." John believes that affirmative action should be based on class, not on race. What to do if your leadership team is not well represented by people of another race? From John: "Don't hire a token black person. Don't hire someone just because they are black. They need to be qualified for the role." Expansion from Dr. King's statement about judging someone for the content of their character rather than the color of their skin... "I agree with that, but I think you also have to look at class, and if they come from a poor upbringing." John criticized the 2018 book White Fragility following its resurgence in sales during the George Floyd protests beginning in May 2020, arguing that it "openly infantilized Black people" and "simply dehumanized us," and "does not see fit to address why all of this agonizing soul-searching (for residual racism by white people) is necessary to forging change in society." He said, "it's a true horror of a book. The worst book I've read since I was 16." Qualities John looks for in a friend: A wry sense of humor You have to "see beyond level 1" and be smart to have this "They don't have to have the MSNBC take on race" "I want coherence." From Woke Racism: "The people wielding this ideology and watching its influence spread ever more are under the genuine impression that they are forging progress, that reason and morality are in flower. However, society is changing not because of a burgeoning degree of consensus in moral sophistication. What is happening is much cruder. Society is changing not out of consensus, but out of fear." Life advice: Don't get a degree in law unless you want to practice law To the extent you can, follow your passion "Follow your own gut. Go with your own mind. You'll have a much richer adulthood doing this." Linguistics: the scientific study of language and its structure, including the study of morphology, syntax, phonetics, and semantics.

Nov 15, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 to read my new book, The Pursuit of Excellence , early. Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 red Reichheld is the creator of the Net Promoter Score system of management. Also known as "NPS." NPS is used in two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies. Fred has worked at Bain and Company since 1977. He is also the best-selling author of five books, including his most recent, "Winning On Purpose." Fred graduated with Honors both from Harvard College (B.A., 1974) and Harvard Business School (M.B.A., 1978). Notes: The ultimate question: "How likely are you to recommend this brand to a friend or colleague?" Fred views "Net Promoter Score" as "Net Lives Enriched." "At Bain, we came to realize through our own experience that the frontline team leader sets the tone, models the values, sets the priorities, and balances individual needs with team needs. Given this critical importance, we select leaders with great care and invest heavily in their training and coaching." The difference between good profits and bad profits. Play the long game. It's not helpful to earn a profit from someone who had a bad experience. Negotiation - Try to give the other person as much as possible. The story of the Costco CEO sharing the extra profits with others... Think about how you can do this in your negotiations with family, friends, and work colleagues. The Costco leaders always think of how they can put they can love on their customers How can you turn someone from a detractor to a promoter? Pleasantly surprise your customer The Certa Pro Painters example - They train their teams to seek out opportunities for acts of kindness. For example, when they are on a ladder up high painting a wall and notice a light bulb is out, they will put in a new light bulb (for free). They go out of their way to surprise and delight their customers. Richard is a big believer in the golden rule: Treat others as a loved one should be treated. When customers feel loved, they come back, and they tell all of their friends. "You want a workforce that is inspired to treat others as loved ones." "The leader's job is to love their team." Front line leaders -- Make sure you're constantly getting feedback. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - "Everyone can be great because everyone can serve." Earned growth rate - Warby Parker - 90% of their business through referrals Joe Girard - The top-selling car sales professional of all time - "I hope you get a lemon." "What! Why would you want me to get a bad car?" "Because then I get a chance to show off. I will give you the best customer service experience of your life. And after I do that, you'll buy cars from me for the rest of your life. And you'll tell all of your friends and family to do the same." Good profits - Earn from promoters Bad profits - Profits from detractors "You don't deserve profits unless the customer is happy." "Where there is individual accountability, things get done. Measure is another magic word: what gets measured creates accountability. With no standard, reliable metric for customer relationships, employees can't be held accountable for them and so overlook their importance." "These companies manage to balance the need for profits with the overarching vision of providing great results for customers and an inspiring mission for employees." How to sustain excellence? Think of NPS as your moral compass Great leaders create a community by living the golden rule Enrich the lives you're responsible for Life advice: Your WHO - The people you spend your life with are everything Only invest in places where you can bring something of value

Nov 8, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Gino Wickman is the author of the award-winning, best-selling book Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business , which has sold over 1 million copies, as well as five other books in the Traction Library that have sold almost 2 million copies. Notes: Keys To Sustaining Excellence: Fanatical about excellence Stamina Endurance to stay with something Drive - a desire to succeed, to win Gino believes that entrepreneurship is nature, not nurture (you are born with it) What's usually missing in someone who thinks they're an entrepreneur, but they're not? The ability to take a big risk. Gino's dad was an entrepreneur. His two brothers are not. Gino set a goal to be a millionaire by the time he was 30. He achieved that goal... And then went broke two years later. It took more than five years to create Traction . He worked with more than 50 companies testing the ideas. He eventually found patterns and trends. Delegation -- Gino obsesses over delegating at least one task for the last 30 years. This has helped him scale his business. The difference between a visionary and an integrator: Visionary - Wild and crazy entrepreneur Integrator - Run the day-to-day operations. Sometimes called the Chief Operating Officer. How to run better meetings? Use the Gino Wickman Level 10 Meeting format: Segue – Spend 5 minutes sharing one personal best and one professional best from the previous week. No discussion; just an announcement. This helps move your team from working "in the business" to working "on the business". Review your company scorecard. This is a 5-minute high-level review to make sure your most important five to 15 numbers are on track. The person responsible for the number says whether it is "on track" or "off-track". If the number is "off", move that measurement to the Issues List portion of the agenda. Rock review. Take 5 minutes to review your company and individual Rocks to determine if they are "on track" or "off track." Again, if the rock is "off", move it to the Issues List portion of the agenda. Customer/Employee headlines. This is a 5-minute opportunity to announce any news, positive or negative, about a customer or employee. If the announcement is an issue, add it to the Issues List portion of the agenda. To-Do List. Review the seven-day action items from the previous meeting, and report whether each task is "done" or "not done." This should take no more than 5 minutes Issues List. Your leadership team now has 60 minutes to identify, discuss and solve your company's biggest issues in order of priority. Solving an issue usually requires someone to take action, which becomes a task for the to-do list for review at your next meeting. Conclude. Use your final 5 minutes to bring the meeting to a close, recap the to-do list, and discuss any messages that need to be communicated to the rest of the organization. And rate the meeting on a scale of 1 – 10; this helps your team self-correct. Establish the practice that anyone who rates the meeting below an "8" must explain why, and "because I never give high marks" is not an acceptable reason. Leadership teams should get together in person every 90 days What is EOS? EOS™ is a holistic management system with simple tools that help you do three things we call vision, traction, healthy. Vision from the standpoint of first getting your leaders 100% on the same page with where your organization is going. Traction from the standpoint of helping your leaders to become more disciplined and accountable, executing really well to achieve every part of your vision. Healthy meaning helping your leaders to become a healthy, functional, cohesive leadership team. The six key components to your business that Gino's work helps you improve: Vision. Build your V/TO™ within Traction Tools and keep it easily accessible to everyone in your company. V/TO content is integrated throughout the software so that you always have the right information at the right time. People. Our People Tools™ add-on (currently in Beta) bundles everything you need to manage the key People component of your business—including the Accountability Chart, People Analyzer™, LMA™, and Quarterly Conversation™ tools Data. The Traction Tools Scorecard makes it easy to record and measure your company, departmental and employee numbers. Everything is located in one place, and many metrics can be automatically updated. Personalize the Scorecard according to your viewing preferences. Issues. Manage and IDS™ all of your company and departmental issues in the Issues List. Flexible features make it easy to add and solve your Issues or move them to other meetings. Process. It's quick and easy to attach your company's core processes to notes within Issues, To-Dos, or Level 10 Agendas Traction®. With Traction Tools Rocks, you'll take your company's vision to street level, and make it real. The Level 10 Meeting™ Agenda will help you keep your Meeting Pulse™ EOS-pure. Life/Career advice: "Let your freak flag fly." -- Be yourself. "It took me until I was 45 years old to learn this. Do it now." "Know thyself. Be thyself." Spend time understanding your strengths and weaknesses.

Nov 3, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Kirk Herbstreit played quarterback at Centerville High School. He was a PARADE All-American and the Ohio Player-of-the-Year as a senior (1986) … threw for 1,298 yards and 10 TDs as a senior … also rushed for 576 yards and 16 TDs his final year … career totals of 55 TDs and 4,258 yards in total offense in two years as a starter … led Centerville to a 10-0 record as a junior … all-league in baseball. Currently, Kirk is the lead analyst for ESPN's College GameDay , a TV program covering college football and he is the #1 color analyst on college football games on ESPN and ABC. For his TV work, Kirk has won five Sports Emmy Awards. He is known as one of the best sports broadcasters of all time. Notes: "Coach Gregg was a legend on the field but so much more. He was TOUGH-DEMANDING-at times intimidating. But he taught us about TEAM-HARD WORK-PERSEVERANCE & SACRIFICE. Blessed to have him in my life." "Part of what makes football great is what you learn playing it. Being selfless, learning how to go through adversity as a group, learning about perseverance." When first meeting Coach Gregg, "I was like half scared and half man I want to play for this guy." The Centerville Elks were about execution, work ethic, pride, and excellence. "I thought... Mannnn, how lucky am I to be part of this program." The summer workouts: "The Monday's and Friday's were bad... The Wednesday with the circuits were DREADFUL. I was scared to death." Coach Gregg had established the "decade of dominance" before Kirk was there. "You had an appreciation and you were in awe of him and the program." "We thought, 'Am I going to be good enough to be part of this program?'" "Those workouts broke me down... And then they built us back up." "As a group, we went through torture, but we did it together. It created this unbelievable bond." "Bob Gregg taught me so much about humility, sacrifice, hard work, team team team... The team is so much more important than you. All the fundamental principles that you use in life are what you learned from him." "The person you are today is because of that." "What I learned from him... We beat teams with superior talent with execution and preparation and our work ethic collectively. And our team. It was from all that work we put in June and July." "You can get a leg up on your competition in anything you do in life by just outworking them." "When you feel like you don't matter, the best thing you can you, how you create confidence, is by outworking everyone in the room. Do little things. Do more. Do more." "I thought work ethic was HERE, before I met Bob Gregg, and then they taught me the hard way, that I was capable of working a lot harder." "Coach Gregg reminds me a lot of Nick Saban." They have incredibly high standards and keep their players humble. "You and I are grinders. All of us that played for him are wired the same way. I don't think that's a coincidence. It's because of Coach Gregg." "His personality... I wish more people got to know him. He had a personality that to outsiders seemed gruff. Some thought he was a tyrant. But if you really got to know him, he was not that way. He had a soft heart." "I think we need more than ever, right now, MORE people like Bob Gregg." "He's going to ruffle some feathers, but he's going to do it the right way."

Oct 31, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for earyl access to my upcoming book... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 In 2005, Rebecca Minkoff designed her first handbag, which she dubbed the "Morning After Bag. This iconic bag ignited Rebecca's career as a handbag designer and inspired the brands' expansion into a lifestyle brand in the years to come. Actress Jenna Elfman wore her "I Heart New York" shirt on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Today, Rebecca Minkoff is a global brand with a wide range of apparel, handbags, footwear, jewelry, timepieces, eyewear, and fragrance. When Rebecca was 8 years old, she wanted her mom to buy her a dress. Her mom said, "no, but I'll teach you to sew." From that point, Rebecca was fascinated with the idea of buying things for herself. Rebecca doesn't love the word "mentor." She was forced to learn by doing . She moved at age 18. Became an intern and then a designer. Eventually, she started her own business. When Jenna Elfman wore her I heart NYC shirt on Jay Leno's show, it got her foot in the door. "When Jenna asked if I could make her a handbag, I lied and said I could do it." "I think everyone should get cozy with failure." Self Care: "Work can be self-care, too." She's particularly resistant to the notion that self-care can solve burnout — the feeling of acute exhaustion that has gained more attention recently. "There is no scented candle in the world that will make that feeling go away." Self-reflection cures burnout, she argues, not self-care. "You don't need to ask for permission. Don't seek permission. Just go for it." Rebecca learned from her mom to be genuinely herself. "I learned to be tough, resilient, and fight back from my mom." "Don't get scared to lead with strength." "Trying hard is not good enough. You must get results." Advice for future generations? "There are no shortcuts." "Failure is like a muscle. Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn." "Success is the ability to keep going." "The definition of happiness is overcoming barriers towards your goal."

Oct 24, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Dr. Randall Stutman is a leadership scientist dedicated to exploring the behaviors and routines of extraordinary leaders. Labeled by Goldman Sachs as the most experienced advisor and executive coach on Wall Street, he has served as a Principal Advisor to more than 2,000 Senior Executives, including 400 CEOs. His work as an advisor and speaker has taken him to the White House, West Point, the Olympics, and the Harvard Business School. Randall is the founder and co-head of the Leadership Practice at CRA. and the Admired Leadership Institute. Notes: The three types of leaders: Result Leaders: People who achieve the company's goals Followers Leaders: People who are loved by their subordinates Admired Leaders: People who both achieve results and are loved by subordinates Admired leaders aren't just admired in the workplace, they're admired by friends, family, neighbors, and basically everyone they interact with... "It applies to everything. Leadership is leadership and it applies to every aspect of your life." A great way to spread positively is through third-party praise. Say something nice about someone to another person and eventually, the positive comment will make its way to the individual mentioned. Excellence: Optimistic Persistent Focused Sound judgment Objective Learning machines Best coaching relationships: Created peer-like quality... You learn from each other The best leaders? It's not about them. It's others focused Leaders put other people up front. They lead from the back. Leadership is making people and solutions better. Anyone can lead anytime they choose. How does a 1:1 Leadership Coaching call go? Catch up personally and professionally Discuss critical episodes in the business Walkthrough situations Set agenda Register - Keep notes, send follow-ups Frequency of conversations with clients: Every three weeks Must be: A sounding board A deep listener Offer feedback Highly prescriptive - Need to make you better Admired leaders are: Someone that produces extraordinary results over time. Followership: People feel differently when engaged with them. They will do anything for them. Admired leaders are rare... Excellence in leadership: Show up in a crisis Admit mistakes Walk the talk Who coaches Randall? Feedback from clients Coaching clinics -- Gets together with other coaches 3rd party praise: Don't be "praise stingy" When you see excellence, tell a third party "There's no 'but' in it." What's something Randall has changed his mind about over time? "I initially thought leaders should be objective and fair. Then I studied Admired Leaders . They play favorites based on performance. They reward high performers.: Life/Career advice: Control what you can control Work hard at getting better "The best people bring passion to what they do."

Oct 17, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Liz Wiseman is the New York Times bestseller author of Multipliers, Rookie Smarts, and most recently Impact Players. She is the CEO of the Wiseman Group, a leadership research and development firm. Some of her recent clients include Apple, Disney, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Nike, Tesla, and Twitter. Liz has been listed on the Thinkers50 ranking and named one of the top 10 leadership thinkers in the world. Notes: Habits of high impact players: Learn the game Play where they are needed Play with passion Impact players have a good internal locus of control. They believe they have agency in their life. They believe they are in charge of their life. Liz said, "You have a lot more power than you might think you have." Neil deGrasse Tyson said, "what you know is not as important as what you think." If you aspire to have greater influence, start thinking like an impact player…don't just use the playbook. Adopt the impact player mentality as your ethos. Many leaders commented how much they learned thru the process of answering questions. Teaching others can be one of the greatest tools for learning in the world... Seeking feedback and guidance versus seeking validation. Impact players don't need validation. They crave feedback and guidance so they can continually improve. Say less: Play your chips wisely - Before an important meeting, give yourself a budget of poker chips where each chip represents a comment or contribution to the meeting. Be relevant, be evidence-based, be unique and additive, be succinct. Building credibility with leaders and stakeholders: Some credibility killers? Waiting for managers to tell you what to do, ignoring the bigger picture, tell your manager it's not your job. Some credibility builders? Doing things without being asked, anticipating problems, and having a plan. Instead of following your passion… Be useful . Make a name for yourself by running towards the problems and solving them. Make your boss's life easier. Be useful. Work on what's important for the people you work for… "The Diminisher is a Micromanager who jumps in and out. The Multiplier is an Investor who gives others ownership and full accountability." "Multipliers invoke each person's unique intelligence and create an atmosphere of genius—innovation, productive effort, and collective intelligence." "It isn't how much you know that matters. What matters is how much access you have to what other people know. It isn't just how intelligent your team members are; it is how much of that intelligence you can draw out and put to use." "Multipliers aren't "feel-good" managers. They look into people and find capability, and they want to access all of it. They utilize people to their fullest. They see a lot, so they expect a lot." "The highest quality of thinking cannot emerge without learning. Learning can't happen without mistakes." What do Impact Players do? While others do their job, Impact Players figure out the real job to be done. While others wait for direction, Impact Players step up and lead. While others escalate problems, Impact Players move things across the finish line. While others attempt to minimize change, Impact Players are learning and adapting to change. While others add to the load, the Impact Players make heavy demands feel lighter. Some think you become great on the big stage under the bright lights. But the light only reveals the work you did in the dark. —Jeff Bajenaru An overarching idea: I can be of service and solve problems. The slogan from Kaiser Sand & Gravel; "Find a need and fill it."

Oct 10, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Robert Greene has written 7 international best-selling books focused on strategy, power, and seduction, including The 48 Laws of Power, Mastery, The Laws of Human Nature, and most recently, The Daily Laws. Notes: What matters is not education or money, but your persistence and the intensity of your desire to learn; that failures, mistakes, and conflicts are often the best education of all; and how true creativity and mastery emerge from all this. Adapt your inclinations. Avoid having rigid goals and dreams. Change is the law. Find inspiration from your heroes. Are there people whose work affects you in a powerful way? Analyze this and use them as models. Trust the process. Time is the essential ingredient of mastery. Use it to your advantage. What The mentor needs - Find a master to apprentice under, but instead of thinking about how much they can give you, think about how you can help them with their work. Learn by Doing -- The brain is designed to learn through constant repetition and active, hands-on involvement. Through such practice and persistence, any skill can be mastered. Master your emotional responses - displaying anger and emotion are signs of weakness; you cannot control yourself, so how can you control anything? Always Say Less Than Necessary. When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Avoid the false alliance -- Cultivate real allies. No one can get far in life without allies. The trick is to recognize the difference between false allies and real ones. A false alliance is created out of an immediate emotional need. A real alliance is formed out of mutual self-interest, each side supplying what the other cannot get alone. Despise the Free lunch - Learn to pay and to pay well. -- I find that the best clients don't haggle on price, they pay immediately and they are easy to work with. The clients who want to fight about every last dollar always end up being the most difficult to work with. "There is no cutting corners with excellence. It is often wise to pay full price." Judge people on their behavior, not on their words - What you want is a picture of a person's character over time. Restrain from the natural tendency to judge right away, and let the passage of time reveal more about who people are. Don't mistake extra conviction for truth - When people try to explain their ideas with so much exaggerated energy, or defend themselves with an intent level of denial, that is precisely when you should raise your antennae. Determine the strength of people's character - In gauging strength or weakness, look at how people handle stressful moments and responsibility. Look at their patterns: what have they actually completed or accomplished? Be a source of pleasure - No one wants to hear about your problems and troubles. An energetic presence is more charming than lethargy. Being lighthearted and fun is always more charming than being serious and critical. Leave people with a feeling - Keep your eyes on the aftermath of any encounter. Think more of the feeling you leave people with -- a feeling that might translate into a desire to see more of you. Transform yourself into a deep listener - It will provide you the most invaluable lessons about human psychology. The secret to this: finding other people endlessly fascinating. Do Not let success intoxicate you - after any kind of success, analyze the components. See the element of luck that is inevitably there, as well as the role that other people, including mentors, played in your good fortune. Increase your reaction time - the longer you can resist reacting, the more mental space you have for actual reflection, and the stronger your mind will become. Alive time or dead time - Never waste a minute. Make today your own -- whether you're stuck in traffic, sick in bed, or working long hours. You are renting just about everything in your life. The only thing you own is your time. Make the most of it.

Oct 3, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 General Stanley McChrystal retired in July 2010 as a four-star general in the U.S. Army. His last assignment was as the commander of the International Security Assistance Force and as the commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan. He had previously served as the director of the Joint Staff and as the commander of the Joint Special Operations Command. The author of My Share of the Task, Team of Teams, and Leaders, he is currently a senior fellow at Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs and the co-founder of the McChrystal Group, a leadership consulting firm. Notes: Stan's mentor for his military career and still to this day: an Army officer with a thick southern accent, Major John Vines. His advice: " I f there are 3 people responsible for feeding the dog, the dog is going to starve ." Stan graduated from West Point 31 years after his father did. Major General George Smith Patton (General George Patton's son) handed him his diploma. Stan wondered at that moment, what kind of leader you wanted to be. And he came up with, "a good one." Now the more fundamental question is " What do good leaders do ?" Instead of just being a good leader, Stan desires to be an effective leader. Effective leaders: Tactically competent Are morally good Respected They create an environment where others want to follow They shape how people think and behave People that others want to follow Have high standards Risk: in reality, risk is neither mathematical nor finite. Its impact depends to a great extent on how we perceive, process, and respond. A healthy risk immune system successfully executes 4 imperatives: Detect, Assess, Respond, and Learn "Risk comes at you from out of the blue, from every angle, when least convenient. There is a cost in becoming overly focused on risk and another at ignoring them. And the sweet spot between the two extremes moves with the circumstances around you." "I chose a soldier's life for many reasons, one of which was the desire to perceive myself as a courageous risk taker. I liked the idea of taking risks that others would not." Threat x Vulnerability = Risk Risk is an eternal challenge. But trying to anticipate or predict every possible risk is a fool's errand. The key is to understand how we need to think about risk, and to then respond appropriately. Rather than living in dread of things we often can't anticipate, duck, or dodge – we must remember these five key insights. Look Inward: The greatest risk to us is us. It's Up to Us: We have a risk immune system Be holistic: It's the system. Make it work Balance: The muscles you exercise will be strong: those you ignore will be vulnerabilities Risk is always with us, and it's our responsibility to make our teams ready for it When taking command of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, Stan, along with the leaders of the unit, established The foundational skills - They called them the big 4: Physical conditioning Marksmanship Medical Skills Small Unit Drills But even before mastering basic skills, grounding both individuals and organizations with answers to the most basic questions that relate to the narrative is essential: What are our values? What exactly do we do? And why do we do it? What is expected of each of us? What went wrong with our response to COVID-19? 50 states operated separately instead of a united response "We weren't unified" "Our leaders did not communicate effectively." "You have to act before the population sees the requirement for it." Have a front-line obsession - Stan was known for going on the front lines with his soldiers. As leaders, we should do the same with our teams. Be on the front lines to: See how it's done with your own eyes, not just reports They need to see you go. They'll appreciate it It helps create your self-identity The new hybrid model of in-office and at-home working... Be intentional Use technology Understand what you're not doing Don't get lazy How to deal with imposter syndrome? Ask, "What do I know?" "What's my responsibility?" "You have to fight that crisis of confidence." Excellence = Be less flexible on your basic values Be flexible with how a problem gets solved

Sep 26, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Jay Williams is known as one of the greatest college basketball players of all time. At Duke, Jay won the Naismith College Player of the Year award, won the 2001 National Championship, and had his #22 retired. He was the second overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the 2002 NBA draft. Now Jay works as a basketball analyst for ESPN, hosts a radio show, and is actively involved as an investor in the business world. Notes: Jay starts by describing the terrifying night when he wrecked his motorcycle which led to the end of his playing career… Coach K flew a private plane to be with Jay in the hospital right after his motorcycle accident. He gave him a rosary and said, "you're going to give that back to me when you play again." Jay learned a valuable leadership lesson in that moment. Great leaders create hope. They give people something to strive for. "He gave me a reference point to look forward to." Communication: As a leader, you need to initiate a conversation with each person you're leading. You can't just lead one generic way. You need to get to know each person for who they are. Ask questions about them. Get to know them. Jay's mom said, "Life isn't interpreted by headlines." There is context to things. Jay learned from his mom to have a drive for knowledge and education. Legacy: "Impact is what I want my life to be." Coach K: "I was coached by one of the great minds at coaching life. He's a life leader." "I chose Duke because I wanted to be a king among kings." When Jay got drafted by the Chicago Bulls, he asked to have Michael Jordan's locker. It had not been used by anyone until that moment. "Heavy is the head that wears the crown." Preparation process - It never turns off. Always working on preparing for his work. Jay Bilas called all the prep the parachute. You don't want to need it, but you know it's there in case you get stuck. While at Duke, Jay decorated his body with tattoos, quotations, and symbols that meant far more later on. On his right leg, he inked the Chinese symbol for sacrifice; on his right arm, two hands clasped together, praying, next to the words "To err is human. To forgive is divine." He also added this, from Gandhi: "Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." Jay graduated in 3 years: He majored in sociology, graduated early, and turned professional after his junior season. For his final thesis paper, he studied athletes who left college early, their backgrounds, why they failed or succeeded. Kobe - "A relentless pursuit to be the best." "Don't F with me, I'm in killer mode." "He crystalized those fruits that translate to things off the court too." Career advice: Appreciate your position while planning your promotion. Be excellent at your current role while also thinking about what could be next

Sep 19, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Ryan Holiday is the best-selling author of more than 10 books including The Obstacle Is The Way, Ego Is The Enemy, and most recently, Courage Is Calling. He's sold millions of copies and his work impacts leaders all over the world. Notes: A philosophy of offense. General James Mattis was once asked by a tv reporter, "what keeps you up at night?" And he said, "I keep people up at night." Captured his philosophy of offense (a bias for action… People who make it happen) Preparation makes you brave. —- the Army life handbook that was handed out to millions of soldiers in the Second World War. All about preparation. As Epictetus says the goal when we experience adversity is to be able to say, "this is what I've trained for, for this is my discipline." Never question another man's courage. "It's very easy to judge. It's very hard to know ." Waste not a second questioning another man's courage. Put that scrutiny solely on your own. Be strong and of good courage. We hear in the book of Joshua. William Faulkner said "be scared. You can't help that. But don't be afraid." You can't spend all day in deliberation — the story of a Spartan king who was marching across Greece. As he entered each new country, he sent envoys to ask whether he should be prepared to treat them as friends or enemies. Most of the nations decided quickly and chose friendship. But one king wanted to think about his options. So he thought and thought and thought until it was chosen for him. "Let him consider it then," the frustrated Spartan General said as he fixed his jaw. "Which we March on." Even if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. You are voting to let them decide. The power of poise — in the year 175, Marcus Aurelius was betrayed by his general Avidius Cassius in an attempted coup. He could have been scared. He could have been furious. He could have exploded. But this would not happen. He said, "the nearer a man is to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength." Ernest Shackleton — Arctic expedition got stuck in the ice. His motto — fortitudine vincimus — By endurance we conquer The courage to care — General Mattis said "cynicism is cowardice, it takes courage to care." Only the brave believe, especially when everyone else is full of doubt. the story of Theodore Roosevelt the biographer Herman Hagedorn wrote "is the story of a small boy who read about great men and decided he wanted to be like them." Ryan shared a personal story about his experience working for American Apparel and his relationship with founder/CEO, Dov Charney. He was asked to do something immoral and he declined... But, he didn't stop Dov from doing it. "It doesn't age well to just be scared in the moment. All that's left is what you didn't do." When you earn some power or develop a platform, how will you use it? When Lyndon Johnson became President, he said, "What the hell is the presidency for if not to do big things?" Consistency -- How does Ryan produce so much work (publishing lots of books) on a consistent basis? You have to show up every day. Tackle the smallest component part of the project for that day. Do what's in front of you. Why does Ryan work out every day? "I like to think, 'who's in charge?' I'm in charge." Excellence = All leaders are readers Curiosity is a must Desire for knowledge Self-discipline An element of service - it's not just about you How does Ryan define success? Autonomy. "The power of my own life, who I spend time with, and what I'm doing. I don't want to be a slave to the system."

Sep 12, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 John Bacon has written twelve books on sports, business, health, and history, the last seven all National Bestsellers. His latest book is "LET THEM LEAD: Unexpected Lessons in Leadership from America's Worst High School Hockey Team." Notes: Be Patient with Results, Not Behavior - Accept where you are to get where you want to go. Be present so you can own your attention and energy. Be patient and you'll get there faster. Embrace vulnerability to develop genuine strength and confidence. Build deep community over efficiency and optimization. Move your body to ground your mind Reduce Your Rules, but Make Them Stick - Make your rules few, clear, and connected to your larger mission. They have to be within everyone's control to follow every day. When your people start enforcing the rules themselves, the culture has changed. To make it special to be on your team, make it hard to be on your team. The people who apply to the Navy SEALS and the Peace Corps are attracted to the difficulty. They know not everyone can make it, and that's what makes it special You can't motivate people you don't know - Leadership doesn't require rousing speeches; it requires that you get to know your people. The more power you give, the more you get -Select leaders for their ability to lead, not their ability to do the job they used to have. Leaders must know their jobs, know how to do their jobs, know everyone else's jobs, and help them all do their jobs better! This is how you create "layers of leadership," which benefits everyone, and keeps you from burning out. All credit goes to your people - If you give away the credit and accept the blame, you'll be rewarded with loyalty. If your team succeeds, you will always get more credit than you need. "The reward of a job well done is to have done it." John's two initial goals when he took over the worst team in the state: Be the hardest working team in the state Win a state title On day 1, he set high standards -- Previously, they were 0-22-3 " Make no small plans, they lack the power to stir people's souls ." John Bacon's two rules: Work hard Support your teammates "Behaviors you can always control, performance and outcomes you can't." Life advice: Focus on yourself first Work hard and support your teammates

Sep 5, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., SHRM-SCP, is President and Chief Executive Officer of SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management. With over 300,000 members in 165 countries, SHRM is the largest HR professional association in the world, impacting the lives of 115 million workers every day. Notes: "Crisis come and go, but our chance to demonstrate leadership skills is constant. In times such as these, Johnny abides by three key principles: Culture comes first Data is your greatest friends Be "extra" Mistakes made by Chief Human Resource Officers: RULES: CHROs who fail emphasize rules over solutions. ROLES: CHROs who fail develop an instinctual approach to solidifying their role, necessitating constant validation RELATIONSHIPS: CHROs who fail prioritize relationships (when hiring) above results or data. RIGHTEOUSNESS: CHROs who fail need to be right at all times without accounting for other perspectives "Culture is the cure amid chaos" -- At SHRM, they've defined themselves by their guiding principles: Bold Purpose Excellence & Accountability Flexibility & Agility Smart & Curious Collaborative Openness How Johnny earned the CEO role? He's had a wide range of jobs: Lawyer, a business leader in 'for-profit,' business leader in non-profit, understands being responsible for his own Profit and Loss of a business Since Johnny was seven years old, he knew he wanted to be a lawyer Why leaders need to become excellent writers and speakers: Inspiring employees has become table stakes to be an excellent leader How to work on this? READ. Johnny regularly reads with his 11-year-old daughter to help her work on this. "Grammar matters. Typos matter. We judge people on those things." Hiring: What does Johnny look for in a candidate to hire: Technical competencies - They have to know how to do the job Cultural alignment - We do not hire brilliant jerks Curiosity is key: "Tell me something you've been thinking about that would surprise me..." Self-awareness: Tell me about situations where you've been wrong or failed... Their motivation: "Why do you work? What has changed most over the years? "Culture is everything now. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are getting better." How can leaders create a healthy culture that acknowledges and prevents racism, sexism, and bias? "We have to talk about it." Acknowledge it Commonalities of people who sustained excellence: Curiosity - receptive to change Fiercely competitive - They want to win Exist for a bigger purpose The RESET - The opinion and perspective of Human Resources is changing... "They can't be the department of NO anymore." "The job of the HR professional is to help their leaders get a good return on their hiring investment." Life/Career Advice: Become really good at something. Become an expert Build relationships Build empathy - "When I was a young 'hot-shot' attorney, I would run through people." You need to build empathy for others."

Aug 29, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Brad Stulberg is the author of Peak Performance , The Passion Paradox , and The Practice of Groundedness. He coaches executives, entrepreneurs, physicians, and athletes. He is also co-creator of The Growth Equation, an online platform dedicated to defining and attaining a more fulfilling and sustainable kind of success. Notes: Build deep community over efficiency and optimization. It takes more time. It has a physical connection and a sense of belonging. Don't move so fast that you don't see people. Keys to great leadership -- Look at the boundaries and create space for work to unfold. Don't be the helicopter parent or the micromanager. Don't neglect them, but ensure they have the space to grow and blossom. Move your body to ground your mind - It's so important to have a physical practice. Make it part of your work. It needs to be in order to support your mental health. The Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA championship. Their MVP leader, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 50 points and helped his team win. But he may have earned even more fans when he was asked during a press conference how he keeps his mind right. His three-part answer, in his own words: " Focusing on the past is ego. Focusing on the future is pride. Focusing on the present is humility ." The six principles of groundedness: Accept where you are to get where you want to go Be present so you can own your attention and energy Be patient and you'll get there faster Embrace vulnerability to develop genuine strength and confidence Build deep community over efficiency and optimization Move your body to ground your mind Trying to be "balanced" does not work. When you care deeply about something it draws you in. That's the point. You don't need to force some kind of proportionate allocation of your life. Aim for the self-awareness to PRIORITIZE and CHOOSE how you spend your time and energy. Wherever you are, the goal post is always 10 yards down the field. If you develop a mindset, "If I just do this, or just accomplish that, THEN I'll arrive," you're in for trouble. There is no arriving. The human brain didn't evolve for it. Enjoy the process. Be where you are. Everyone wants to be SUCCESSFUL. But few people take the time and energy to define the success they want. As a result, they spend most, if not all, of their lives chasing what society superimposes on them as success. Define your values. Craft a life around them. THAT is success. Stress + Rest = Growth. Too much of the former not enough of the latter you get injury, illness, burnout. Too much of the latter, not enough of the former you get complacency, stagnation. This equation is universal. It holds true for individual and organizational growth. "Wouldn't this be rad?" The process of striving for ambitious goals is what brings fulfillment. The process is how you live your life. "Your addiction to growth might be making you miserable." The human condition is oriented towards more. Advice on building a business: Think less about building the business and more about building the life you want to live. Brad limits himself to 15 clients and they only meet on Monday and Friday. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday are days for creativity, reading, research. Brad optimizes for autonomy and freedom. For the over-worked, over-scheduled VP: Find 2 hours a week for deep work. That's a start. Challenge the culture, test assumptions. Think of your schedule as a moral document Sustain excellence: Wise patience... Step back sometimes When making a big decision, adopt the lens of a wise observer, what would your wiser self tell you to do? Stimulus + your response = outcome When you feel restless to do something, use that as an alarm. Force yourself to take three deep breaths. What will you regret less? No raising voices... Your language shapes how you think and act... The Good Enough Mother: Not helicopter Not each and every need Doesn't neglect Gives a safe space to grow and blossom For the insecure leader... Approach them with curiosity Musicians have intense periods of focused practice. People have breakthroughs when they have been on a sabbatical... Embrace vulnerability to develop genuine strength and confidence with others... "The way to build trust is by being vulnerable." Don't be performative. It must be real. Build deep community over efficiency and optimization It takes more time to meet in person. Brad's tattoo sleeve: Mountains sit through it all. Trees = grounded, the roots support it. We need to tend to our own roots.

Aug 22, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Sahil Bloom is a writer who attempts to demystify the world. He's an investor, advisor, and creator. As a pitcher at the University of Stanford, he once gave up a grand slam on ESPN in 2012 and he's still waiting for it to land. Sahil is an angel investor in 25+ startups across the technology landscape. In this capacity, he works directly with entrepreneurs and founders to identify and execute against core value creation initiatives to build scalable, sustainable value for all stakeholders. Notes: Writing makes you better at everything you do. Writing is the best way to expose gaps in your thinking. When you write, you think better. The makeup of a great coach - Never too big to do the small things. They push you beyond what you think you're capable of. Everyone should take a moment and say thank you to someone who has done this for them. Learning Circles -- Develop a circle of people to collectively learn with. Push your thinking. I do this with my Learning Leader Circles and it's some of the most rewarding work I do. Why the cheeky Twitter bio? ("Once gave up a home run on ESPN that hasn't landed yet"). "People take themselves too seriously." The difference between big public failures and private ones: "I think private failures can shape you more." Freshman year at Stanford was a grind... "I thought I was hot shit." "Are you willing to spring when the distance is unknown?" It's all about how you bounce back from failures. "You need to be able to take constructive feedback. You can't crumble." Sahil asks, "What do I want to instill in my child?" Let them fail... It's the greatest experience. Angel Investing - An individual who provides money to start-ups. The "must-have" qualities in a person for Sahil to invest in them: Resilience and Grit. "You're going to get knocked around. They are willing to die before they'll fail." "I'm driven by relationships over data points. I like to ask: Tell me about a time you got your ass kicked..." Sahil invests because he learns so much through the process of it. The intellectual returns make it worth it. "Writing is the best way to expose gaps in your thinking. It makes you better at everything you do." Be a teacher: "I'm learning alongside you." Great storytelling... "It is a built skill." Disney, Pixar... It's a foundational skill. They infuse personality in writing. The three biggest keys to storytelling: Elicit an emotional response Novelty - That "Oh wow!" moment Punchy & Concise - "I didn't have time to write a short letter so I wrote a long one instead." Viral tweet threads - It started in May 2020 for Sahil. He went from a few followers to hundreds of thousands... Be "Positive Sum." The world is positive sum. A rising tide lifts all boats. You should genuinely root for others to succeed. The makeup of a great coach: In the trenches with the team - never too big to do the small things Willing to challenge you and call you out. They help you get better They push your thinking Coach John Beverly (Sahil's high school baseball coach) He was first to suggest that Stanford could be a reality for Sahil ("He was nuts") He had very high expectations He believed in Sahil more than Sahil believed in himself He changed the trajectory of people Cognitive bias - High expectations lead to higher performance You need to vocalize your appreciation for those who have pushed your thinking and expected a lot from you The power of learning circles: There is push & pull with others Helps you develop circles of friends to collectively learn with and push your thinking

Aug 15, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www. LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Sukhinder Singh Cassidy is a leading digital CEO and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of leadership experience founding, scaling, and advising companies including Google, Amazon, StubHub, Yodlee, and more. Most recently, Sukhinder served as the leader of StubHub, the premier global consumer ticketing marketplace for live entertainment, which she and her team sold for $4 billion in February 2020. Earlier in her career, Sukhinder built Google's business throughout Asia Pacific and Latin America. Notes: "Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome." - Samuel Johnson "We think when we do nothing there is no cost." That's not true. There's a cost to standing still. Proximity to opportunity benefits us even more than planning. Sukhinder moved to Silicon Valley in 1997. She rode the tailwind of the Internet and being at the epicenter of it all. Prioritize the WHO before the WHAT. As a leader, watch what you validate with your words and actions. Reward the behavior that you want. If you want to promote taking risks, then reward the people who do that. "You get what you create and what you allow." At one point, Sukhinder went to her boss at Google (who worked with Eric Schmidt) and said, "I'm pregnant, I want to keep running international at Google. I need for you to pay for me and my nanny to travel the world business-class. And they said yes." BIG ASK. She did the calculus and realized it was a reasonable ask. And they said yes. Career path - "My career is not linear, it's cyclical. It has ups and downs. I've made 13 different meaningful choices along the way." The myth that there is a linear relationship between risk and reward. Not all choices have an equal amount of upside and downside... Sukhinder sas been on the board of Urban Outfitters with Scott Galloway: Should you move to a big city? Should you move to your company's headquarters? Being at the center of the action matters... It helps if you can understand the pulse of HQ How to become a smart risk taker? What are our goals, passions, and values? What are we great at? Look for headwinds and tailwinds - (Join a growing company that has momentum) With that said, Sukhinder went to StubHub and there were significant challenges Over-prioritize the WHO over the WHAT Why did Sukhinder take the StubHub leadership role? It was a calculated risk She missed running a company of scale They needed entrepreneurial and executive energy How do you create an environment for people to take risks? You want people who are "truth-tellers, truth seekers, and authors" Make it safe to take risks -- Reward that behavior. Watch what you validate by your words and actions. Understand the magnitude and the weight of your words. People are always watching how the leader responds, who they commend, what they say... How to go for a job that you aren't qualified for? "The next level of learning is going for something you don't know..." To be a CEO, you need depth AND breadth. You need to expand your skillset. This is the path to accelerated learning. How do you know when you should leave a job? "I like 3-5 year sprints. Are you having fun? Are you making an impact? If you aren't having fun or making an impact, you'll want to leave." Think about: "Who am I doing this with? Are our values aligned?" Why did Sukhinder want to be a CEO? "A little bit of ego" "I was built to lead" "I enjoy being on the hook" People who sustain excellence: They surround themselves with other great people. They don't let their ego get in the way. They don't feel threatened by great people. Career/Life Advice: "We tend to assume that everything is zero-sum. It's not. Choice is a multiplier of opportunity and we get to control it. Make a choice and get in motion."

Aug 8, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Melissa Urban is the co-founder and CEO of Whole30, and a six-time New York Times bestselling author. She is is a prominent keynote speaker on social media and branding, health trends, and entrepreneurship. Notes: "I'll Go First" -- As Leaders, it's on us to do the hard thing first. Be vulnerable first. Trust first. That mindset will serve us well "I decided to look for evidence that I was already a healthy person with healthy habits." and that helped form her identity. Whole30 -- The Whole30 is not a diet, a weight-loss plan or quick fix – it's designed to "change your life," the founders say, by eliminating cravings, rebalancing hormones, curing digestive issues, improving medical conditions, and boosting energy and immune function. "You can think of the Whole30 like pushing the reset button with your health, habits, and relationship with food." "For 30 days, you'll eliminate the foods that scientific literature and our clinical experience have shown to be commonly problematic in one of four areas — cravings and habits, blood sugar regulation and hormones, digestion, and immune system, and inflammation "The food you eat either makes you more healthy or less healthy. Those are your options." "You cannot "out-exercise" poor food choices and the resulting hormonal disruption." The diet culture has been beaten into our heads and can make us feel disempowered This helps you take back the power. It's not a diet. Not a quick fix. It helps you figure out what works for you. Melissa always buys herself flowers... Take care of yourself first. Must-Have leadership qualities in someone Melissa hires: "I hire for talent, not skill." Entrepreneurial spirit -- "I want them to take ownership." Ambitious - "They need to want to grow and learn." Sharing pictures on social media that are not airbrushed or edited: "It is me existing in my body. It's not courageous to exist in your body. I shouldn't be seen as brave for posting those pictures." Grey Rock - This is how you respond to a narcissist or complainer... Don't react to them pushing buttons. They are trying to get you to react. Don't give them that gift. Boundaries are essential life skills - We learn about these in times of crisis. "Clear is kind." Example: "When my parents attempt to parent my child, I have to sometimes tell them that that's my job and they need to stop. That's setting a boundary." How to be a great CEO? "I have figured a lot out as I go. It helps to have mentors. I've hired a lot of talented people." It's about surrounding yourself with excellent talent and trusting them to do the job. How to have high self-awareness A lot of therapy Self-experimentation Committed to working on empathy Life/Career Advice: It's easy to tell someone to follow their passion, but that's not always good advice "Whatever job you do, overdeliver. Do it well." Be known as someone who goes the extra mile. Be kind. Go first. Be vulnerable. Get it done.

Aug 1, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Matthew Dicks is a Bestselling author, a professional storyteller, and a teacher. He is a 52-time Moth StorySLAM winner & a 7-time GrandSLAM champion. He's recognized as one of the greatest storytellers in the world. Notes: Every great story is about a five-second moment of our life. The purpose of every great story is to bring a singular moment of transformation and realization to the greatest clarity possible. "Let me tell you about my vacation to Europe" is not the beginning of a story, despite what many seem to believe. This is merely an attempt to review the itinerary of your previous vacation But if someone said, "While I was in Europe, I met a taxi driver who changed the way I think about my parents forever," that is potentially a great story. "People are not attracted to people who do easy things. They are attracted to people who do hard things. It's hard to be vulnerable. That takes courage. And that's why we are drawn to it." Being vulnerable opens people up. The beginning and end of a story: Beginning - Promise that what I'm going to say is worth your time End - The fulfillment of that process How to put a great story together? Start at the end... The five-second moment. "What are you aiming at?" You have to know that to craft the beginning. Use a thesis statement -- "I used to be... and I realized..." Jurassic Park is not a movie about dinosaurs. It's about love. How to open a story: Try to start your story with forward movement whenever possible. DON'T start by setting expectations ("This is hilarious, "you need to hear this," "you're not going to believe this.") Requirements of a personal story: Change - your story must reflect change over time. It can't simply be a series of remarkable events. Stories that fail to reflect change over time are known as anecdotes. Your story only - not that of others The dinner table test - Be human Homework for life — 5 minutes at the end of each day. "If I had to tell a story from today — a 5-minute story onstage about something that took place over the course of this day. What would it be? Homework for life slows time down... Humor -- It keeps your audience's attention. "The goal is not to tell a funny story. The goal is to tell a story that moves an audience emotionally." "A written story is like a lake. Readers can step in and out of the water at their leisure, and the water always remains the same. An oral story is like a river. It is a constantly flowing torrent of words." -- "To keep your listener from stepping out of your river of words to make meaning, simplification is essential. Starting as close to the end as possible helps to make this happen." During a talk at a school in Brazil, Matt was asked why he shares so much of himself? (Writing novels, stories, teaching, blog posts, podcasts). And he thought for a while and then said, "I think I'm trying to get the attention of a mother who never paid me any attention and is now dead and a father who left me as a boy and never came home." Your first job as a speaker (at home, on stage, or at work) is to be entertaining... Advice: When you graduate college, it's the end of your assessed learning. What do you want to study next? It will be on you to track. It won't be assessed by others... What do you want to learn next?

Jul 25, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Tim Grover is the CEO of ATTACK Athletics, Inc., founded in 1989. World-renowned for his legendary work with elite champions including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and hundreds of other NFL, MLB, NBA, and Olympic athletes. He is the preeminent authority on the science and art of mental and physical dominance and achieving excellence. He's also the bestselling author of W1NNING & RELENTLESS. Notes: Cleaners have the ability to achieve the end result over and over. Cleaners know who they are, they know the difference between criticism and feedback, they take control of their story. They know that there is always more to do. The Language of Winning & Motivation - 'In the language of winning, there is no talk of motivation. "Motivation is entry-level, the temporary rush you get from eating too much frosting. Motivation is for those who haven't decided whether to commit to their goals, or how much time, effort, and life they're willing to invest to achieve them." The Dark Side turns your anger into controlled rage. High performers know how to control and use their dark side to be in control. It's not evit. It's what's unique to you. The vocabulary test Tim gives his -- "Describe winning in one word." Some of the answers he receives: Glorious, Euphoric, Success, Domination, Achievement. Not bad. The answers he receives from champions: Uncivilized. Hard. Nasty. Unpolished. Dirty. Rough. From Kobe? Everything . "WINNING isn't heartless, but you'll use your heart less." Your mind must be stronger than your feelings. "Your feelings keep you in bed." "You can't buy a map to the top. If you could, everyone would be up there. They're not. The steps to Winning are infinite, and constantly shifting." "Winning requires you to learn, question what you learned, and then learn more." How to push through when you feel bad? "You have to capture little wins. The joy of the wins cannot be attained if you only work when you feel like it." "You have to crave the end result so bad that the work is irrelevant." Do Hard Things - Doing hard things creates trust in oneself. Doing the hard work others aren't willing to do builds confidence. The phrase "fake it til you make it" - "I hate that phrase. It's so easy to do this on social media and you end up not even knowing who you are. Those people are too worried about how others perceive them." His favorite Kobe story - "He's so coachable." He was always asking questions and listening to learn more. "And he always held himself accountable." "Confidence is the ultimate drug. And winning is the dealer." "The greats always bet on themselves." High performers always seem to be the ones reaching out for a coach... Always trying to get better. The average performers don't think they need a coach. Winning makes you different. And different scares people. Michael Jordan started lifting weights on game days and people thought he was nuts. Knowing what to think versus knowing how to think -- You need to be able to have confidence, challenge other people's thoughts and preconceptions. Don't copy others. Learn and create your own point of view. Your own ideas based on what you've learned. "You can have sight (copy others), but no vision. You need to have a vision." Winning is a test with no correct answers. "Winning is not a marathon. It's a sprint with no finish line." You don't have the luxury of time. Most people manage time. Don't manage time, manage focus. Career/Life advice: Do everything to figure out what you want to do. No job is beneath you. There is no shortcut.

Jul 18, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 James Clear is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Atomic Habits, which has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide. His writing is focused on how we can create better habits, make better decisions, and live better lives. Notes: "My primary hope is that people find what I write to be useful. As long as someone is able to implement the ideas I share to get the results they want, then I feel like I've done my part to make the world a slightly better place." "Working on a problem reduces the fear of it. It's hard to fear a problem when you are making progress on it—even if progress is imperfect and slow." Action relieves anxiety. We often avoid taking action because we think "I need to learn more," but the best way to learn is often by taking action. Lack of confidence kills more dreams than lack of ability. Talent matters—especially at elite levels—but people talk themselves out of giving their best effort long before talent becomes the limiting factor. You're capable of more than you know. Don't be your own bottleneck. What looks like talent is often careful preparation. What looks like skill is often persistent revision. You need volume before intensity. The bad days are more important than the good days. You need to maintain consistency. Preparation for a lawyer: Most cases are won long before you enter a courtroom. You must be willing to prepare. Question James asks to those who are pitching him a TV show or movie for Atomic Habits : What causes a similar show to succeed? ("I don't think people are serious enough about succeeding.") "Having a plan almost always serves you even if it doesn't go according to plan." A+ work - Good enough is ok for most things. For creators, doing A+ work is crucial. Be "selectively ignorant." Ignore topics that drain your attention. Unfollow people that drain your energy. Abandon projects that drain your time. Do not keep up with it all. The more selectively ignorant you become, the more broadly knowledgeable you can be. At multiple points this year, the top 3 read books on Amazon were: 1) A Promised Land by President Barack Obama 2) Atomic Habits by James Clear, and 3) Becoming by Former first lady, Michelle Obama... I asked James, what is it like to see your work amongst the world's most powerful people? "It's been a wild few years!" The best marketing strategy? Excellent work Read Scott Young's article, Do The Real Thing There are 3 primary drivers of results in life: Your luck (randomness). Your strategy (choices). Your actions (habits). Only 2 of the 3 are under your control. But if you master those 2, you can improve the odds that luck will work for you rather than against you. A Chilean saying: "Criticizing a musician is easy, but it is more difficult when you have a guitar in your hand." -- Don't criticize someone else unless you're willing to do the work. Be known as a champion for great ideas versus someone who is against something. "The more comfortable I am with myself, the less I feel a need to win arguments with other people." Peer pressure applies when you don't know who you are. Fame - "I have no interest in being famous. I want to be known by brand, not by face." What he learned from a cab driver in Singapore about fame: "They have the name and not the life. We have the life and not the name." The Cardinal Rule of Behavior Change: What gets rewarded, gets repeated. What gets punished, gets avoided. Don't reward behavior you don't want to see repeated. The easy way is often the hard way. Shortcuts, one-sided deals, and selfish behavior create debts. You only look like a winner until the bill comes due. Short-term actions become long-term frustrations. In hindsight, the hard way only seems slow in the moment. "The target audience is always the same: myself. I like Morgan Housel's line, "Writing for yourself is fun, and it shows. Writing for others is work, and it shows." Life/Career Advice: Questions are better than advice... Ask these questions: What am I optimizing for? Can my current habits carry me to my desired future? What am I really trying to achieve? What do I really want? Go fast - "Don't rush, but don't wait."

Jul 11, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Jay Clouse leads Community Experience for Smart Passive Income. He joined Smart Passive Income in December 2020 after SPI acquired his private community and virtual accelerator, Unreal Collective. You will notice it sounds different from all of my other episodes. Notes: Commitment: "You don't need to be uniquely talented or creative to make a living as a creator. But you need to be committed ." "A creator makes an asset for the purpose of being consumed and creating value for both the consumer and the creator." -- Leaders need to be creators -- They create/build culture. They need to be effective communicators, writers, they need to create a vision and inspire people… The WHY : "I created Creative Elements to bridge the gap between art and business by talking to high-profile creators about the nitty-gritty of building their creative career." Community - "A group of people with commonality – shared interests, values, or beliefs." -- Community traces back to the late 14th century, with both French and Latin roots. "Community" was used to describe "a number of people associated together by the fact of residence in the same locality" as well as "the common people." Sales -- "Sales is a scorecard for storytelling." Culture - "Culture is the sum of behaviors you tolerate and reward over time." Patience & Commitment - "The effort of earning an independent income, regardless of path, takes a lot of patience and commitment. Those words aren't sexy and they aren't fast. But they are reliable." In 2019, Jay produced a feature-length documentary called Test City, USA about the growing startup ecosystem in Columbus, Ohio. A+ work - A Power law. The #2 result gets half as much as the #1 result. When creating something, shoot for A+ quality work. The test: When someone sees it, they can't help but comment on it, share it, and tell their friends. You want to start a podcast? Why are you doing this? What's the format? How can you market it? Audio needs to sound great The Juice = feedback from listeners that your show has helped them. Authenticity - You need to feel aligned and comfortable with your voice on air. Wabi-sabi is the view or thought of finding beauty in every aspect of imperfection in nature. It is about the aesthetic of things in existence, that are "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" Life/Career advice: It takes time to forge your own path Get in touch with what you want Trial and error - view it as a series of experiments Get your WHO right

Jul 4, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 McKeel Hagerty is the CEO of Hagerty. Hagerty is an American automotive lifestyle and membership company and the world's largest provider of specialty insurance for classic vehicles. He is the former Chair of Young President's Organization (YPO). YPO is a global leadership community of extraordinary chief executives — more than 30,000 members from 142 countries. McKeel is also a Co-Founder and General Partner at Grand Rapids, Michigan-based venture capital firm Grand Ventures. Notes: Arete is a concept in ancient Greek thought that, in its most basic sense, refers to "excellence" of any kind. This meaning was related to the idea of the fulfillment of purpose or function, the act of living up to one's full potential. In his early twenties, Mckeel planned to be a Russian Orthodox priest. He earned his master's degree in theology from Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary in Yonkers, New York. Why McKeel tracks everything: "I noticed that people who accomplished a lot kept track of their life." He tracks: sleep, exercise, diet, goals, and more Think, "What am I trying to do?" "We are in the golden age of habit formation." "The best leaders are constantly looking for better ways to do things." "Intrinsic motivation is imperative for happiness." "I'm inspired by what I see in others." -- The spirit of the craftsman In 1999, Hagerty had 35 employees... They now have 1,600. The lightning bolt moment - McKeel went to a YPO branding conference at Nike. And learned about how Nike viewed branding. "Nike is the spirit of the sport." -- Think more like a club than a company. McKeel created a membership organization and media brand as part of his business. Leadership "Must-Haves" Growth mindset - you are not a finished product "I don't believe in work-life balance. You get life ." Curiosity in the interview process They need to understand what they will need to learn along the way The power of YPO: 30,000 members It's operational leaders doing work with people It's a wholistic view of life The Learning Leader Show is tightly in line with YPO In 2016, McKeel was elected Chairman Keys to a great YPO group: Holistic leaders (business, personal, family) Egos checked at the door Vulnerability and generosity are the keys to breakthrough leaders McKeel has interviewed some of the world's most notable leaders (Hillary Clinton, Sheikh Mohamed of Dubai, Paul Kagame, Prime Minister Lee of Singapore) His writing practice: General Eisenhower would sit alone and write out his thoughts... Ask yourself, "What's the narrative here?" Write summaries of what you learn from books, podcasts, videos, articles...

Jun 27, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Jon Gordon is the author of 23 books including 10 best sellers. His books include the timeless classic The Energy Bus which has sold over 2 million copies, The Carpenter which was a top 5 business book of the year, Training Camp, The Power of Positive Leadership, The Power of a Positive Team, The Coffee Bean, Stay Positive, and The Garden . How to be a great teammate: Put the team first "We not me" Superstars make the people around them better Get tactical (be a great teammate): Look for opportunities for the betterment of the team Work hard, build a foundation of trust, communicate well, connect with each team member, CARE about them Encourage means to "put courage into them." "Leadership is a transfer of belief." Use 'positive discontent." "Love tough instead of tough love." "Trust is the currency of leadership." Change Management (learned from Dabo Sweeney) Know what the culture stands for Know what you value Set standards (non-negotiables) Create your vision and purpose -- WHY are you doing it? Get buy-in Optimism and belief are vital Must develop relationships "People follow the leader first and the vision second." Ask: "Are they connected and committed?" A great leader wants their team members to get promoted Culture is not static. It's dynamic. It must be built every day. "It's not one thing. It's everything." Jon wrote The Energy Bus in three weeks. And it changed the trajectory of his life. Don't be carrots or eggs... Be coffee beans. Be able to "transform the environment." 10 Life Rules of Row The Boat: #2: Trained behavior creates boring habits, boring habits create elite instincts. #3 You win with people, not just players--- people who make their life about others. #5 The hardest part about being the standard is that you are the standard all the time.

Jun 20, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Notes: Bert Bean is the CEO of Insight Global. Insight Global is a 3.3 Billion Dollar staffing company that focuses on living its shared values and empowering people. started with Insight Global in 2005 as a Recruiter and has since worked his way up within the company, exemplifying Insight Global's "promote from within" culture. Bert was announced as Insight Global's CEO on January 13, 2018. According to Comparably, Insight Global and its executive team (led by Bert and Sam) have been rated as an A+ by their employees. Sam Kaufman is the Chief Revenue Officer of Insight Global. Sam began his career at Insight Global as an Entry Level Recruiter in 2004, and he has earned many promotions throughout his career. Sam's mission day in and day out is to improve and grow as a leader in sales so that he can help his people develop personally and professionally. Notes: Don't Bury The Lede -- The purpose of this episode is to announce that we (Insight Global + The Learning Leader) are formally working together. Insight Global will be the presenting sponsor of all episodes moving forward and I will work with the leaders at Insight Global. Changing the culture -- In 2017, employee turnover was 40%. Bert took over as CEO in January 2018. The current turnover is 14%. Fortune Magazine ranked Insight Global as one of the best workplaces for both millennials and women. 70% of leadership promotions in 2019 were for women The impact of episode #242 with Daniel Coyle "A leader at a Private Equity conference told me to listen to your episode with Dan Coyle. I did and it changed the trajectory of our company." Why Bert is a great CEO (according to Sam): "Bert gives everything to his people. He wakes up at 4:00 am every day to handwrite notes to people. He cares so much about developing people." Why Sam is a great leader (according to Bert): "Sam is super driven. Extremely hard worker... And cares about his people. He's also willing to take a risk and bet on himself." Insight Global has a "promote from within" culture. "We are the ultimate growth mindset business." "We must invest in training and developing our people." I will be helping with Insight Global University, Leadership Academy, and providing feedback for leaders within the business. Bert -- "I love aligning with grinders." The "Bert voicemail" -- "When I see something I want, I love being a bad negotiator and just telling them." "I believe in first WHO, then what. That's why I want to work with you." "We want you to remain independent and out in the market giving speeches and learning from leaders outside of Insight Global. We value you having fresh eyes to help us." The Utah Offsite retreat: Rented a big house with 28 leaders and rebuilt the value system and the culture "We all got in a big circle and shared our lowest moment and highest moment. There were a lot of tears... And we came together in the moment." Legendary leader -- "Kirby was dying from cancer. He couldn't walk. The cancer was eating his bones and he flew out there to be with us. He means everything to us. He is the ultimate example of grit." Kirby died a few months after that off-site meeting. Leadership "must-haves" Sam - Three things. You have to care - You won't follow someone who doesn't care about you. High character - Must earn the respect of your peers. Do the right thing all of the time. You're there to serve - "Don't think of leadership as power. Think of it as a burden. A massive responsibility." Bert - "You can't be a bullshit leader. Must be authentic. Not a phony. People see through that. You must take care of and develop people in your charge." The Insight Global shared values: Everyone matters We Take Care of Each Other Leadership is Here to Serve High Character and Hard Work Always Know Where You Stand Purpose - "Our purpose is to develop our people personally, professionally, and financially; so they can be the light to the world around them." - Bert Bean

Jun 13, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Julia Galef is co-founder of the Center for Applied Rationality. She is the author of The Scout Mindset: Why Some People See Things Clearly and Others Don't. Notes: What is the scout mindset? "The motivation to see things as they are, not as you wish them to be." The Scout Mindset allows you to recognize when you were wrong, to seek out your blind spots, to test your assumptions and change course. It's what prompts you to honestly ask yourself questions like "Was I at fault in that argument?" or "Is this risk really worth it?" As the physicist Richard Feynman said: "The first rule is that you must not fool yourself – and you are the easiest person to fool." The three prongs: Realize that trust isn't in conflict with your other goals Learn tools that make it easier to see clearly Appreciate the emotional rewards of scout mindset She closes her TED talk with this quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupery: "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." "The biggest bottleneck is not knowledge. It's motivation. You need to cultivate the motivation to see things clearly." "Julia Galef is an intellectual leader of the rationalist community, and in The Scout Mindset you will find an engaging, clearly written distillation of her very important accumulated wisdom on these topics." -- Tyler Cowen We should assume that we are wrong. We need to build the skill to change our mind. "Our goal should be to be less wrong over time." How do you work on this? The key principle is the way you think about being wrong. "Don't accept the premise that being wrong means you screwed up." Jeff Bezos left his job on Wall Street to start Amazon and acknowledged the uncertainty. He estimated that his idea had about a 30% chance to work. The Scout versus Soldier mindset: A lot of times, humans are in a soldier mindset - "Belief was strong, unshakeable, opposed argument. A soldier is having to defend." Scout mindset - survey and see what's true. Form an accurate map. Practical application: Be cognizant how you seek out and respond to criticism. Don't ask leading questions. Recognize the tendency to describe the conflict accurately. Also... Not all arguments are worth having. Show signals of good faith. Distinguish between two kinds of confidence: Social - Poised, charismatic, relaxed body language, be worth listening to Epistemic - How much certainty that you have in your views Persuade while still expressing uncertainty: "I think there's a 70% chance this won't work." Lyndon Johnson - Need to understand why someone wouldn't agree with you... We are all the sum of our experiences... Approach people, places, and things with curiosity Life/Career advice: You're creating a brand - Be conscious of the type of people you're attracting. Work to attract those that make you a better version of yourself. Make the choice to attract people who like intellectual honesty like Vitalik Buterin (founder of Ethereum)

Jun 6, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Dr. Ron Friedman is an award-winning psychologist who has served on the faculty of the University of Rochester and has consulted for political leaders, nonprofits, and many of the world's most recognized brands. His first book, The Best Place to Work, was selected as an Inc. Magazine Best Business Book of the Year. His most recent book is called, Decoding Greatness: How the Best in the World Reverse Engineer Succes. Notes: When Michael Dell was 16 years old, his parents bought him an Apple Computer. And they were horrified by what he did next... He took it apart to learn how to build it. He was curious. Excellent performers don't passively observe. They take action. When you encounter an awesome memo or speech, try to identify why it was remarkable... And then see how you can implement what you've learned to do the same. Nature vs. Nurture? "It's both." The stories we've been told are wrong: That it takes talent + practice. That's only part of the story. It's thinking in formulas and becoming a collector. "Identify what works and turn it into a template for yourself." A presidential speechwriter like Jon Favreau (President Obama's speechwriter) would study the greatest presidential speeches in history as he wrote... Reverse outlining - Take a finished product and reduce it to small paragraphs. Read the transcript and identify the emotion. There are six main narratives for main characters... The analysis comes after collection. Identify what's extraordinary... And then create a template. Create metrics and rate your work. "Measurement begets improvement." This requires a mindset of curiosity (like Michael Dell) Think in "blueprints." How does this work? How do I recreate it? President Obama initially was not a good politician... He observed pastors at churches. He started using repetition and pausing for effect to improve his ability to give compelling speeches. How are Chipotle and Starbucks similar? "They think in blueprints." The creators of Chipotle knew that people love burritos, but there wasn't a fast way to get great ones. They created a blueprint. The leaders at Starbucks modeled their buildings after Italian coffee bars. It's "pattern-thinking." Tom Petty didn't watch Bruce Springsteen because he felt they were too similar. He didn't want to outright copy him. Ron reads fiction to help him become a better storyteller and use cliffhangers in his non-fiction writing. Visualization - Why does it not work? "It can give you temporary satisfaction and lead to you not working as hard for the goal. You feel as if you already achieved it." "Visualize the process instead of the outcome." The UCLA Study: Visualize the process Practice in the past - Be reflective, use a journal, look back at previous entries Deliberate practice - It needs to be hard and you need feedback from an expert. Practice in different locations. Novelty is important. This allows you to be more present in the moment... Sign up for improv classes Find a hobby that has an overlap with what you do (if you're a manager, join toastmasters to become a better public speaker) Tinder algorithms - They predict who you'll find attractive. It looks for commonalities... The takeaway? Start a collection intake engine. Curate what that contains and what you exclude. Ritz Carlton obsesses over metrics. They understand that what gets measured gets managed. They optimize for their net promoter score (NPS). The links that are drivers to outcomes... For Ron, he needs to do cardio to get into creative mode. To do great cardio, he needs great sleep. To get great sleep, he needs regular massages. It's a chain of events to get the optimal outcome. Figure out what that is for you. How to give a great Ted Talk? Ron reverse engineered the most watched talk... Here is what he found: Ken Robinson used one fact He had lots of anecdotes There were LOTS of jokes (and they were funny) The storytelling drives the whole talk Taking risks -- Ron learned this from his grandmother and dedicates his work to her. He was born in Israel and moved to New York when he was 7. His grandmother would go door to door selling the services of her husband (he was a dentist). "The more risks we take, the more likely we are to succeed." Life/Career advice: Take more risks Optimize for your relationships... And your spouse is the most important relationship Apply to be part of my Leadership Circle

May 30, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Sebastian Junger is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of THE PERFECT STORM, FIRE, A DEATH IN BELMONT, WAR, TRIBE, and FREEDOM. As an award-winning journalist, a contributing editor to Vanity Fair, and a special correspondent at ABC News, he has covered major international news stories around the world and has received both a National Magazine Award and a Peabody Award. Junger is also a documentary filmmaker whose debut film "Restrepo", a feature-length documentary (co-directed with Tim Hetherington), was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. Notes: Human beings need three basic things in order to be content: they need to feel competent at what they do; they need to feel authentic in their lives, and they need to feel connected to others. Definition of Freedom: "We walked 400 miles, and most nights we were the only people who knew where we were. There are many definitions of freedom, but surely that's one of them." Running a company versus LEADING a company -- "You can run a company or lead a company. If you want to lead a company, you have to make sure that when things take a downturn, as the leader you'll be the first to experience the downside. Before jobs get cut, you'll take a pay cut, you will suffer with the people you lead." One great example of this is Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya. All employees are part owners of the company. He comes from a family of Nomadic Sheep farmers from the Turkish mountains. He learned a collective approach to life and work where he grew up. "When people are actively engaged in a cause their lives have more purpose... with a resulting improvement in mental health." How becoming a dad (at age 55) changed his life: "they are the point of life." Sebastian's dad was a refugee from two wars... War has had a significant impact on his life. As Sebastian grew up, he decided he wanted to be a journalist and cover wars. He went to the Civil war in Bosnia. Guts - "Most scary things are more frightening before you go. I have a formidable capacity for denial." People want to feel like they have agency. They're more scared when they feel that they don't have it. Front line vs backline soldiers - The backline soldiers are scared because they feel like they don't have as much agency as the front line (even though the front line is more dangerous). Uncertainty is scary. To help with fear, go in front of your mirror and make the "fear grimace" face... When Sebastian was competing in track events for the 1500m race, he would yawn in the faces of his opponents to intimidate them Freedom - We aren't subject to the whims of the largest male in a group anymore... You remain free by being mobile He organized his new book, Freedom , in three parts: Run -- Fight -- Think Sebastian went on a walking trip and called it, "The Last Patrol." - They walked on a railroad from Washington DC to Philadelphia and then Pittsburgh "Met America from inside-out" What did he think about at night when he went to sleep outside during "The Last Patrol?" "Always thought safety first." "The most meaningful experiences happen when I'm physically dirty and security wasn't guaranteed." How to help your children push their edges? "We traveled to Liberia with our daughter." "The core value children value is closeness. We sleep on a mattress on the floor with our daughters. They want to be close." Collaboration/Working together -- Football and the military. The football locker room is a beautiful place. It's democratic. People join from diverse backgrounds. And create a common goal. A theme of collaboration. A "we can't win games without each other." And when it comes together it's a magical feeling. There must be a core commitment to the group. "Being ego-driven is an emotional burden." Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: Principle driven - In politics, democracy should be #1 Sacrifice own interest for the group Life/Career Advice -- FAIL. If you're only doing things you know you can do then you're never near your limits. In order to grow, you have to push those limits. And sometimes that means you'll fail. That's ok.

May 23, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Sean Covey is President of FranklinCovey Education. He is a New York Times best-selling author and has written several books, including The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make, The 7 Habits of Happy Kids, and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, which has been translated into 20 languages and sold over 4 million copies worldwide. Sean's dad is Stephen R. Covey, the author of one of the most sold books of all time (more than 30 million copies), The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People . Notes: Sean played Quarterback at BYU -- Led the team to two bowl games and twice selected as ESPN's Most Valuable Player of the Game. What he learned from his time as a QB: How to prepare How to "do hard things" - "Your zone of comfort expands because the hard things aren't as hard anymore." Importance of a system - Rigorous practice, filming of the practice, reviewing of the work. Daily. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People came out in 1989... It had a tepid release and then exploded. It changed the lives of the Covey family. Sean said his dad Stephen (the author of The 7 Habits ) was "very genuine... A better husband and dad than a writer. H was very congruent. He had the power of principles. There was no hypocrisy." How do you handle yourself when talking to a person who has a powerful position? "Treat the garbage collector and the CEO with an equal amount of respect." 4 Disciplines of Execution: Focusing On The Wildly Important Goals (WIG) - Exceptional execution starts with narrowing the focus— clearly identifying what must be done, or nothing else you achieve really matters much. -- Example: JFK has one of the best examples ever: "Send a man to the moon and return him home safely by the end of the decade." It was one goal. There was a starting line and a finish line. Act on Lead Measures – Golden rule of execution: Identify lead measures. Twenty percent of activities produce eighty percent of results. The highest predictors of goal achievement are the 80/20 activities that are identified and codified into individual actions and tracked fanatically. Lag Measures are the end goal. Keep A Compelling Scoreboard -People and teams play differently when they are keeping score, and the right kind of scoreboards motivate the players to win. Create A Cadence of Accountability -Each team engages in a simple weekly process that highlights successes, analyzes failures, and course-corrects as necessary, creating the ultimate performance-management system. Goal setting - There are two kinds of strategies: Deliberate strategies Emergent strategies - "Be ready for waves that might hit you... And knock you in a better position." With goal setting, remember the phrase "No Involvement, No Commitment." Involve your team to set their own goals. Don't set the goals for them. Advice to parents with teenagers: Have a purpose as a family Set values Write a mission statement Have 1:1 time with kids Career/Life advice: Have a plan... But be flexible Live according to your principles, values, and mission statement Create a credo of your own

May 16, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 The 3 things Scott told his daughter Kiraat a YPO event... Family, Family, Family It will always be ok. Things will go bad. It will be ok. Anything, anytime - "you can always call, text, FaceTime, no matter what. I am here for you." Scott's 4-part process to become more present: Find perspective Seek authentic feedback Cultivate reflective strength Love your leadership constitution Public failure: Scott started a business with Seth Berger, founder of AND1, basketball shoes. HoopsTV. Raised $14 million from investors… Eventually failed, had to lay off 50 people, including his own brother(!) The good old days are today (scene from the office (Ed Helms) Andy Bernard: "I wish there was a way to know you're in "the good old days" before you've actually left them." Scott got fired from his role as President of Madison Square Garden. He says it was because he was "too busy being right instead of being effective." Scott is a change agent and values performance more than experience Watch the Battle at Kruger video (Scott shared this with the team) "To do great things, you have to be confident" Need to focus on "WMI." What's Most Important "Work-life balance does not exist. Beware of the mediocre middle." "Life is about tradeoffs" The most effective leaders seek authentic feedback and are able to hear it. Ask yourself, "Who have you connected to in the last month?" Behaviors of Excellence: Be your authentic self - "Be you. People follow authenticity." Work unreasonably hard. Intellectually curious - "The world is changing so fast." Passionate - "Fall in love with it." All executives at the Philadelphia 76ers are challenged to declare who they are at their core in the form of a leadership constitution. Anyone can—and should—create one by answering the following two questions: 1. I declare that I am... and 2. You can count on me to... Scott's leadership constitution: I declare that I am a passionate and authentic leader of leaders who feels a gravitational pull towards talent and character. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I love people and being part of a team. I get energy from helping others and would give the shirt off my back to a stranger and anything, anytime to a friend. I am family first, high integrity, and surprisingly sensitive change agent who is confident, caring, and intellectually curious. This fuels a competitive drive that at times feels like a chip on my shoulder. You can count on me to bring positive energy into my space. Exude urgency and push you, challenge you, nudge you and raise the bar beyond your expectations, and sometimes what you think reasonable. Laugh with you, cry with you, love you even when you won't laugh, haven't cried, and don't feel loved. Root for you today, every day, and always. Share the most personal of thoughts, emotions, stories, highs, and lows because I am okay with it and who I am. Enjoy the rollercoaster of life , whether we are going forward, backwards and upside down. Drive hard to reach the summit and then quickly start on another mountain. Share wins and take hits for losses

May 9, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Mark Scharenbroich is an Emmy award winner, best-selling author, and hall of fame keynote speaker. He is known for his authentic delivery, his talent for delivering unique stories, and his comedic timing. He's the author of Nice Bike: Making Meaningful Connections on The Road of Life. Notes: Nice Bike. It's not a technique, it's a genuine interest in others and the willingness to acknowledge the talents and accomplishments of everyone. The three parts to story-telling: Stories need to be unpredictable, they need to have a hook, and they have to have a cast of characters. While in college at St Cloud State, Mark toured high schools and colleges with a comedy troupe called Mom's Apple Pie which helped him develop his comedic timing and ability to improv. While on a trip to Washington DC with his dad, Mark witnessed his dad walking up to a couple of Vietnam veterans and saying, "Thank ya fellas. Welcome home." The moment was unforgettable to Mark as he witnessed what it meant to be grateful for others and to connect with them. The "dark chocolate" that Mark's daughter gave to a struggling stranger at the airport. "We don't have to fix all the problems, but acknowledge others, see them, and try to connect with them." The CEO of Cargill said it's not a secret what leaders need to do: State where we're going State how we're going to get there Show that you have your team's back Show that you care about your team as people Leaders must always be in the trenches and learning... And work to create memorable experiences for the people they are leading How to give a great toast at a wedding or eulogy at a funeral? Remember it's not about you, it's about the bride and groom Be story-driven The power of three - "She's about faith, family, and friends" and then tell a short story about each of the three What Mark learned from a "meat raffle" You have to buy a ticket for a shot to win You must be present to win The same is true for leadership. You have to be engaged and take the chance to do it. You must be present with your team. Be a "day-maker." Instead of just being a barber or a stylist, work to make your client's day by giving them an amazing haircut. BWCA - Leave the area better than you found it... A great rule for life. Core values - "When your core values are clear, decisions are easier." Comparison - Compare yourself to your previous self. Be grateful for what you have. Someone else will always have more crayons. Focus on your crayons. Advice to those who think they aren't creative. You are... You have to find the stories. Focus on four columns People you've had experiences with Experiences you've had Lessons learned Application to the lives of others Roberta Jordan: "It's more important to be interested than interesting." Life advice -- "Leave a tip for the staff who cleans your hotel room."

May 2, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Hubert Joly is a senior lecturer at the Harvard Business School and the former Chairman and CEO of Best Buy.He is the author of the upcoming book "The Heart of Business – Leadership Principles for the Next Era of Capitalism." Notes: In May 2012. Jim Citrin, the leader of the CEO practice at Spencer Stuart, the global executive search company, asked Hubert, "Would you be interested in being the next CEO of Best Buy? Issues at Best Buy were all self-inflicted. Hubert realized there was an opportunity to fix it... Hubert's "5 Be's" of leadership are purpose, values, clarity, authenticity, and service. "My purpose in life is to make a positive difference on people around me." - Hubert Joly "If you cannot go outside, go inside. Leadership starts from within." Work to be the best version of yourself Ask your people, "What is your dream?" -- "My job as a leader is to help you achieve your dreams." "We're the captains of our lives." "Profit should be an outcome, not a goal." The 3 imperatives in sequential order: Great people Great customers Make money Remember that 98% of questions that are either/or should be AND's... Key Philosophy: Pursue a noble purpose Put people at the center Embrace all stakeholders Leaders must create the environment to unleash the magic What Hubert learned at McKinsey: The emphasis in the early years was on solving problems. In 2012, when Hubert joined Best Buy, he hired an executive coach. Why? "100% of the top 100 tennis players have a coach." We all need a coach. "It sends a powerful message when the CEO has a coach." It shows that he understands he needs help. We all do. Must-Have leadership qualities: Knowing people... Who are they? What drives them? How do they want to be remembered? "Tell me about your soul" -- Accept imperfections of self and others How to turn around a business by putting people first and reducing headcount as a last resort. How to unleash "human magic" for outcomes that defy logic. This includes an actionable commitment to diversity and inclusion, such as the "reverse" mentor program that pairs Best Buy executives with employees who help broaden their understanding of differences and issues they face. How to become a purposeful leader focused on creating an environment in which others can flourish and perform at their best, and who inspires by showing vulnerability and embracing their and your humanity. How to place a noble purpose as the cornerstone of a company's strategy and concretely embrace and align all stakeholders around that purpose. For Best Buy, that purpose is enriching people's lives through technology. And it allowed them to form genuine partnerships with the world's foremost companies, including unlikely allies like Amazon, to the benefit of all. Jeff Bezos, founder, and CEO of Amazon: "Best Buy's turnaround under Hubert Joly's leadership was remarkable—a case study that should and will be taught in business schools around the world. Bold and thoughtful—he has a lot to teach.

Apr 25, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Greg McKeown wrote the New York Times best-seller, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. As well as frequently being the #1 Time Management book on Amazon, this book challenges core assumptions about achievement to get to the essence of what really drives success. His latest book is titled, Effortless: Make It Easier To Do What Matters Most. Notes: Essentialism was about doing the right things; Effortless is about doing them in the right way... The best free throw shooter ever is not Michael Jordan or Steph Curry… It's Elena Delle Donne. 93.4%. "If you keep it simple, less can go wrong." The word NOW comes from the Latin phrase, novus homo, which means "a new man" or "man newly ennobled." The spirit of this is clear: each new moment is a chance to start over. A chance to make a new choice." "Whatever has happened to you in life. Whatever hardship. Whatever pain. They pale in comparison to the power you have to choose what to do now." The question to ask yourself: "What's something essential that you're under investing in?" The second question is: How can you make that effortless? Life changes the day you discover residual results How to make it effortless? Create a routine so you don't have to think about it. The competition to the South Pole -- The difference between Amundsen versus Scott Amundsen -- 15 miles per day, no matter what. The "15 mile march." Scott -- Push to exhaustion every day. Amundsen and four others arrived at the pole on December 14, 1911. Five weeks ahead of a British party led by Robert Falcon Scott as part of the Terra Nova Expedition. Scott and his four companions died on the return journey. Amundsen made it to the South Pole and back to base camp without suffering a death in the party. Consistency day in and day out help Amundsen "achieve the goal without particular effort." Effortless is about simplification. Ask, "what if it could be easy?" Ask: "Is there an effortless way to do this? Highland High School Rugby - Won 19 national championships: Systems were put in place Consistent systems are the key How to deal with the guilt when we don't work as hard? Give your best to what you're doing, but have an open mind to finding a better way to do something This book for Greg grew out of agony... His daughter was living an ideal life... And then had health issues that completely changed their family. They had two possible paths to help her: The harder, heavier path of 24/7 always on work... OR Easier path of being grateful. Sharing optimism, and live in the state to help re-wire the brain. "Be grateful for every thing possible." They chose the latter and Eve got better... How they chose to respond was everything...

Apr 18, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Suneel Gupta is on faculty at Harvard University. He's the author of Backable - The Surprising Truth Behind What Makes People Take A Chance On You Notes: Let's start with the obvious -- when lots of people are applying for the same spot, you have to find a way to stand out. You can't just check a box, you have to leave an impression. (But backable people "go beyond Google" and dig for insights that other people interviewing for the job may not find. They talk to customers, they attend shareholder meetings, they test-drive the product. (But backable people "go beyond Google" and dig for insights that other people interviewing for the job may not find. They talk to customers, they attend shareholder meetings, they test-drive the product. ) Suneel comes from a family of highly backable people—including his mother, Damyanti Hingorani, the first woman engineer for Ford Motor Company, and his brother Sanjay Gupta, chief medical correspondent for CNN. Reid Hoffman recruited Suneel to Mozilla... Name someone early in your life who backed you. Call them and say 'thank you.' Hire "high ceiling" leaders: Suneel was a speechwriter in 2004. He was backstage at the Democratic National Convention. There was a State Senator from Illinois. Suneel watched him speak from behind the curtain. "He created an electric wave of energy when he spoke." It was President Barack Obama. After that, Suneel became obsessed with following the work of the State Senator. He studied President Obama's history and learned that he went from a dry speaker to inspiring through preparation and practice. He worked on his skill to communicate and got better. The "It" quality -- People get a job because others want to take a chance on them. They're backable. Specifics to make this happen: Play exhibition matches -- Prepare, practice, rehearse They develop a level of mastery so that they don't have to think when it's time to perform. Their preparation allows them to flow Ella Fitzgerald performed in Berlin... She forgot the lyrics and improvised the words for the next half of the song. She rehearsed a lot. That allowed her to perform even when she forgot the words. Confidence comes from believing something will go wrong and that you've practiced enough to be able to handle it. "Build your recovery muscle." Surround yourself with great people - Early adopters need to feel part of the build. Steer Into Objections. Anticipate three key objections to your idea. When pitching, don't avoid those objections; steer into them. Don't Pitch Prematurely. Instead of sharing an idea before it's ready, nurture it until you're ready. It's not charisma that convinces people, it's conviction. Don't Overshare. Share what it could be, not how it has to be. Share just enough to get the essence of your idea across, then open up the conversation. Build Your Backable Circle. Don't rely on just one person to help you with your pitch. Surround yourself with a trusted group of people who bring different perspectives. Humans are not risk takers - We do whatever we can to avoid a loss. You need to neutralize that fear. "Don't just talk about why it's new, but why it's inevitable." "Backable people convince themselves first. It's not charisma that convinces people, it's conviction." "Most new ideas are killed inside hallways. We share too early. Before they're ready. Nurture your ideas behind the scenes. They need an incubation time. Write it out. Draw..." Quiet time is so important to hone ideas. It's critical to the creative process "Ken Robinson was not that charismatic, but you believed everything he was saying." He believed it first. He had conviction. Storytelling - "You need to cast a central character." "Re-write the book for on person as the reader... 'I'm writing this book for my daughter to read.'" "Don't talk about the market, talk about one person." Life advice: "Figure out what makes you come alive. I left Groupon and created a list of ideas."

Apr 11, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 to learn more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Erin Meyer is a professor at INSEAD, one of the leading international business schools. Erin conducted an in-depth study with Reed Hastings, Co-Founder and CEO of Netflix, investigating the underlying principles necessary for building a corporate culture that is inventive, fast, and flexible. The results of that research were published in their book No Rules Rules . In 2019, Erin was listed by the Thinkers50, for the second time, as one of the fifty most impactful business writers in the world and in 2018 she was selected by HR magazine as one of the top 30 most influential HR thinkers of the year. Notes: "Corporate culture can be a mushy marshland of vague language and incomplete, ambiguous definitions. What's worse, company values — as articulated — rarely match the way people behave in reality." The Netflix culture deck. 127 slides originally intended for internal use but one that Reed Hastings (CEO) shared online in 2009. Sheryl Sandberg called it "the most important document ever to come out of Silicon Valley." Erin said "I loved the deck for its honesty. And loathed it for its content." "If you want your culture to come alive, you need to avoid speaking in absolutes." Instead, use either or… Security or High Performance? Candor or Comfort? Why did the Netflix culture deck go viral? "This is a company that tells the truth. It said what it believed. That is rare." On May 31, 2015 you got a cold email from Reed Hastings (CEO of Netflix)… Reed told her that he read her book, The Culture Map , loved it, and was having his leadership team at Netflix read it. Erin's biggest surprise during her time researching Netflix and writing with Reed? "That management paradigms are hangovers from the industrial era. Previously, the #1 goal was error elimination. That isn't the #1 goal at Netflix. It's innovation." Reed Hastings had a company before Netflix called Pure Software. He put in a lot of rules and processes. He realized that "if you dummy proof the system only dummies want to work there." Too many processes can kill flexibility and innovation. This is "applicable to any environment where innovation is more important than error prevention." "Most rules are put in place to deal with low performers." "Instead, create an environment with 'talent density.' Only high performers..." Performance is Contagious: Professor Will Felps, of the University of New South Wales in Australia, conducted a study demonstrating contagious behavior in the work environment. He created several teams of 4 college students and asked each to complete a management task in 45 minutes. The teams who did the best work would receive a financial reward of $100. ( Bezos: "People are pretty good at learning high standards simply through exposure," writes Bezos. "High standards are contagious. Bring a new person onto a high standards team, and they'll quickly adapt. The opposite is also true) The two different types of jobs: Operational - Ice cream scoopers Creative - Rely on your brain Pay Top of Market for talent - Matt Thunell (Manager of Original Content) said about Netflix, "We live in a walled-garden of excellence, where everyone is a high performer. You go into these meetings and it's like the talent and brain power in the room could generate the office electricity. People are challenging one another, building up arguments. That's why we get so much done at such incredible speed here. It's because of the crazy high talent density." With that said, Netflix doesn't believe in "Pay-Per-Performance" bonuses. When you first began to collaborate with Reed to write this book, Erin asked him how he would find the time to collaborate. He said, "Oh, I can give this pretty much whatever time you think it will need." That surprised Erin... In Reed's mind, the leaders should create a system so that they don't have to be busy, packed with back to back to back meetings... Candor -- Giving and receiving feedback Top performers regularly help other top performers get better by giving feedback At Netflix, they do live 360 feedback dinners -- Go around the table giving feedback for each person. The 4 A method of feedback: Aim to assist Actionable - It must be clear what could be done Receive the feedback with gratitude Accept it or decline it... It's not always right. Be grateful for it regardless Sustain Excellence: Humility Curiosity to Learn - Never stop learning, never feel like you've mastered it Life/Career Advice: Get the talent right Create Candor Eat the cake -- Remove rules and processes If you create an open vacation policy (meaning that vacation days are not tracked), it is imperative that the senior leaders lead from the front and go on a lot of vacations. The rest of the team will follow... If you never go on vacation, then your team will feel like they have to do the same.

Apr 4, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Brook Cupps is a leadership teacher and the coach of the Centerville High School basketball team. In 2021, he led his team to the first state championship in school history. He is best known as a leader who truly lives his core values. They are: Tough, Passionate, Unified, & Thankful. Notes: Brook's personal mantras: Wolf - Wolves travel in packs. They are not good by themselves. They need the pack. BC needs people around him. Loves teams. "Wolves are more badass than lions or tigers. You don't see a wolf in a circus." Chop Wood - "I've never viewed myself as talented, but I'm willing to work. We say chop chop. When things are going well, get to work. When things are bad, get to work. The connection is always back to work." The Man In The Arena - "I had to develop this over time. The critics used to bother me and I would listen to them. It affected my confidence. I learned that the most important opinions are the people in the arena with me." Brene Brown - "A lot of cheap seats in the arena are filled with people who never venture onto the floor. They just hurl mean-spirited criticisms and put-downs from a safe distance. The problem is, when we stop caring what people think and stop feeling hurt by cruelty, we lose our ability to connect. But when we're defined by what people think, we lose the courage to be vulnerable. Therefore, we need to be selective about the feedback we let into our lives. For me, if you're not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I'm not interested in your feedback." Purpose - "My purpose is to inspire others to strive for excellence over success." Self awareness leads to self confidence - Know who you are. Be comfortable with who you are. "You can't be tough alone. You need others." Foxhole Friends - It takes time to build foxhole friend relationships. "With my foxhole friends, I can be completely open. They tell me the truth. They have the freedom to criticize me." Coach Z -- Dave Zeller. "He never won a District. He's the best coach I've ever been around. A state championship isn't success. It's the impact you have on the kids because nobody's going to tell me that those guys that won state championships are better coaches than Z was." Core Values: Values become real when you define the behaviors that exemplify the value... Tough - Positive body language leads you to be fight ready Passionate - Choosing extra wor k leads you to steal inches Unified - Speaking and acting with urgency leads you to not flinching in big moments Thankful - Showing love for one another through touches (help someone off the floor, give them a five after they make a mistake) Unified -- You must speak and act with urgency. "If you choose to remain silent when someone has done something wrong, then that is selfish." Choosing the easier path of not saying anything is selfish. The selfless act is having the guts to speak up when it's needed. Patch Adams - "Indifference is the greatest disease of all." You need to stand for something or you stand for nothing... "Your behaviors are the crux to your values." Do your behaviors match the values you claim to be yours? Gabe Cupps (Brook's son) entered the conversation for a few minutes... Gabe sent a text to each player on the team before tournament games that simply said, "We're gonna win." Where does that confidence come from? "It's the work put in leading up to the big moments." Gabe originally tried out for the North Coast Blue Chips AAU team... The same team that Bronny James (LeBron James Jr) played on... During a break in the action, he asked Bronny to play 1 on 1... "I didn't know how good I was. I wanted to see." Gabe earned their respect and made the team... Later LeBron noticed Brook's coaching ability when he was helping out at practice and determined he was the best coach to lead the team moving forward. LeBron's superpower as a leader is "gassing up his guys." He has the ability to create more belief in others through his belief in them. A critical leadership action where LeBron excels... What did Brook and Gabe say to each other during their long embrace after winning the state championship? "I just told him how much I loved him." Goal setting process -- Brook does not set results oriented goals. He sets process oriented goals. They had no goals to win their conference, or regionals, or the state championship (they won all of those this year). Their goal for this season was: Attack every opportunity with purpose Process based versus Results based? In the world of coaching basketball, there is a clear scoreboard. You have a record. If you lose too many games, you get fired. How does Brook manage that? "If I have a group of guys that are tough, passionate, unified, and thankful... And they attack every opportunity with purpose, we'll probably be pretty good and win a lot. The results usually take care of themselves." Honoring those who have come before you: "Drink the water, but remember who dug the well." Will you take a charge? This is what he looks for in a teammate. Someone who looks for opportunities to sacrifice for the team. There is a physical sacrifice. "It's gonna hurt. It's an unselfish act to take a charge." "To be all in, you need to take charges." High Standards - There was a moment in a game earlier in the season when Centerville was winning 60-24 in the third quarter. Brook's team started playing a little sloppy. Turned the ball over a few times. It was uncharacteristic of their usual play. Brook called a time out and yelled at his team. It was obvious they were going to win (by a lot), but that moment showed me that Brook holds his team to higher standards and won't allow them to lower even when the opponent isn't posing a challenge... "You get what you accept. That's my standard. If I ignore that, then I'm not living to my values, and that's not ok with me." Creating your values -- "I think as the leader, they need to be your values." "If you go to work for someone else, you need to be bought into their values. If you're not, then you probably shouldn't work there." When interviewing for a job to work for a leader, ask them: "What are your values and how do you live them? I noticed after big wins that Brook doesn't join in the pictures with his players... Why? "That's their moment. It's about them. I love watching them enjoy those moments." Common traits of foxhole friends: "They may not communicate them the same way I do, but we have a shared appreciation for our values." " It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly ." -- Teddy Roosevelt

Mar 28, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Kevin Sharer has a distinguished career as a successful CEO and Board Member. He is currently a senior lecturer at Harvard University Business School and continues to mentor a select number of senior executives. Either as a Chairman, independent director, or mentor, Sharer has been a part of more than 20 successful CEO-successor transitions. Kevin led Amgen for 20 years, first as President and then as CEO for 12 years. Under Sharer's leadership, the company achieved annual revenue of $16 billion with operations in 55 countries. Notes: "What Operational Excellence Looks Like" Must know the details Must have a listening system to know where problems brew The leaders have a clear agreement with the team on what success is A cadence of clear communication The leader must embody the behavior... They are the model Must have real empathy for people and care about them The leader needs to assess when things go wrong so that they don't make the same mistake twice... Kevin spent 110 days underwater in a submarine... When he left the Navy, he knew he wanted to be a manager. He joined a program at AT&T to become one... He had an ambition to rise high in an organization Kevin's dad - A military aviator. His hero and role model. his dad cared a lot about leadership... How did Kevin earn the CEO role at Amgen? Spent 8 years as the President of the company. And "made it pretty obvious" to hire him for the CEO role He consistently delivered results and formed a strong partnership with the CEO How to sustain what's special about a company as it grows? The book Built to Last by Jim Collins was very helpful.... How to create and live your values? They are not defined by what's written down, it's the behavior of the people. And that starts at the top... Understand what your real values are. If you don't believe in the values, you shouldn't work there... You "have to have social data to know that the values are real." Ask others in the organization: "Are the values you experience consistent with the values stated by the company?" How he got hired as the President at Amgen? "I first decided that I wanted to be a General Manager and not a functional specialists." Kevin pursued that through General Electric and got great experience...They hired him in part because of his broad range of experience. It was a multi-step interview process. Kevin interviewed with 20 people at the company before getting the offer... Listening ability: Kevin went from bad to great... "On the way up in my career, I had the view that I was so fast, so smart... It was working. I thought I was being helpful by telling others what I thought, but I was cutting off the full picture." Kevin had an eye opening moment when he asked the CEO of IBM to talk about leadership with his team... "I learned to listen for comprehension. Listen to understand first." "You need to listen to the entire eco-system." Big idea: Pick 10 CEOs who didn't make it: "Seven of them weren't situationally aware." What are some "must-have" hiring qualities? A record of good knowledge Great communication skill Comfort in their own skin Curious - they must ask questions Answer the question, "what are your goals?" Answer the question, "what have you learned from failure?" "If five people were asked about you, what would they say?" Their accomplishments speak for themselves. They don't have to overly sell themselves They need to "clearly want the job." A good sense of humor Hiring trap: "There is a bias for us to hire people like us. It's overwhelming. We're wired to think, "other is dangerous." We must be aware of that."

Mar 21, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Ryan Petersen is the CEO and Founder of Flexport. Prior to starting Flexport to fix the user experience in global trade, Ryan was co-founder and CEO of ImportGenius.com, a data-as-a-service business for global shipping. Flexport hit a $3.2 Billion valuation after $1 billion investment led by SoftBank. Notes: Excellence = Curiosity - "It's a more fun way to live." Learners Appreciative Have fun "It doesn't have to be boring." The importance of writing as a leader: "I write a lot of essays. Some are published. Some aren't." Communication: "It's a huge part of the job of a leader." For investor updates... "It's good practice." Try to use humor, learn something new, don't be boring, get people "pumped up" Raising money from investors: "It's like your love life. You have to earn it. There are no shortcuts. You need to have a business that doesn't need them." "We built a track record over the 15 years prior to raising money." Masayoshi Son is the CEO of Softbank. He is a Japanese billionaire technology entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. Ryan met with him and earned a $1 Billion investment... Making Flexport worth $3.2 Billion. Flexport became the fastest growing company in Silicon Valley. Ryan wrote an essay about raising a lot of money so that they could ride out a "100 year storm." How was he able to raise so much? "Don't do an auction. I said, 'I'm only talking to you.' Create a win-win. See the world through their eyes." Masa had written a 300 year vision. Ryan said, "The audacity to have a 300 year vision, it just resonated with me." "One of our core values is to play the long game." Flexport enables all parties to move large product around the world. It was born out of Ryan discovering the pain of shipping. There is a lack of technology with freight forwarders. There was no culture of customer satisfaction. There was high friction - "We counted 984 steps to get a product shipped." Paul Graham, one of the greatest investors of all time and founder of Y-Combinator said this about Ryan Petersen: Ryan is what I call an armor-piercing shell: a founder who keeps going through obstacles that would make other people give up. But he's not just determined. He sees things other people don't see. The freight business is both huge and very backward, and yet who of all the thousands of people starting startups noticed? Ryan Petersen." By 2016, Flexport was serving 700 clients across 64 countries. Tech Crunch described it as the unsexiest trillion-dollar startup. Flexport has grown to 1,800 employees across 14 offices and 6 warehouses, and 10,000 clients. His goal: "Drive velocity: You need speed in the right direction. Velocity is the key to success. That's culture ultimately." The two forms of bureaucracy: Too many rules, order No rules, no process, chaos Need to find the balance between the two "Transparency helps get people aligned." Doing an open Slack Q&A with all employees -- Helps with transparency. What Ryan looks for when hiring a leader? And why Ryan admires Parker Conrad from Zenefits: He's "hungry, curious, has a chip on his shoulder, determined, ambitious, and solves complex problems." The profession of sales: It's "one of the most misunderstood professions. It's part of all jobs. You have to persuade, create value." "Sales is about creating value for others. Create win-wins. So much is repeat games. Almost nothing is a one time transaction." Obsession with company culture: "When I reach out to top execs, they always take the call if I'm asking about culture." The secret to the tech industry: Everyone is willing to share tools, mindset, and lessons learned with one another. It's "normal to pick up the phone and ask." How did becoming a dad change him? "It's exhausting. Babies are fragile." Generalists vs. Specialists? The world needs more generalists. "Generalists are under-valued. Leaders need to be well-rounded and cross over into multiple disciplines." Has has Ryan learned to speak 6 languages? Read books, make flash cards, read the newspaper, hire a tutor... "You have to experience pain to learn. You have to like the pain." Life/Career Advice: Get out of student debt Read books. Your life will be different in 5 years based on the books you read. "Most people don't read books." Success compounds - Add up a lot of little wins

Mar 14, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Dustyn Kim is the Chief Revenue Officer at Artsy. Artsy is used by art lovers and collectors to discover, learn about, and buy art. Prior to working at Artsy, Dustyn was a senior executive at LexisNexis. While at LexisNexis, she was my boss! She is a rare combination of highly respected, extremely well-liked, and typically the smartest person of every room she walks in. I loved working for her. Notes: Excellence = Authenticity and team building. "A leader should be focused on building great teams." What Dustyn learned from one of her favorite bosses, Kumsal Bayazit (the CEO of Elsevier) "She was inspiring and very human. Work and life go hand in hand." "When I got a senior leadership role, I didn't want a command and control organization." What she learned from Sebastian at Artsy: "He said to me, 'I advise, you decide.' That empowered me and gave me ownership of my decisions." It's critical to empower others What are must-have qualities in a leader? Empathy - EQ + IQ Communication skill - Set the vision and communicate that effectively to you team Collaboration - Lead through influence. Cross team collaboration is key to getting things done. How to collaborate better? "Map out the key people you need to know and understand their goals." Starting early: "When I was 15, my dad woke me up and told me he was taking me to Wall Street for my first internship." How to lead as a parent for you children? "I try to introduce them to as much as possible." "My job is to help you figure out what you love doing, but you have to show up and do the work." Advice for women leaders? "I don't love the advice from Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In." It's really hard to have a full time job and travel a lot if you want to build a family. It's okay to slow down at times for your family. "Kumsal wanted me to go for a big promotion when I had just given birth to Mason. I didn't want to travel the world and be gone all the time. It's okay to not go for the big job all the time." Advice for new managers: Avoid the desire to micro manage Know that there are lots of different paths to success Don't expect to know everything A lot of new managers are too nice You need to give feedback How to be both respected and liked? Focus on the challenge at hand - "What's the plan? What's the goal?" "Then build the narrative and ask the team, what do you think?" "It didn't work for me to try and act like a guy. I had to be myself." Confidence is very important. That comes from being prepared and knowing your stuff. A tangible takeaway for how to find your voice in a meeting: "In meetings, when I was younger, I would turn bright red when speaking. A trick I had to implement was, 'say something very early in the meeting.' Just so that too much time passes without me saying anything." Career/Life Advice: Stand out -- Be excellent at your current role. Make sure others know they can count on you to do great work. Speak up -- Don't expect others to read your mind. TELL THEM what you want in your career. Make sure people know what you want to do. Give them the opportunity to help you get there... Have a goal, but be flexible on your path to achieving it

Mar 8, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Adam Bryant interviewed more than 500 CEOs for "Corner Office," a series on leadership that he created in 2009. Adam is the author of three books based on the themes that have emerged from his interviews and consulting work. His new book is THE CEO Test: Master the Challenges that Make or Break All Leaders. Notes: Interview style - Instead of asking them about strategies and industry trends, Adam focuses on timeless questions (how they were influenced by parents, lessons from early years in their careers, what they look for when making bets on people to invest in) about the important leadership lessons that CEOs had learned… Some questions he likes to ask: How do you hire? What questions do you ask? Describe yourself in one word... Work to get around the polished façade What animal would you be and why? Tony Hsieh would ask, "On a scale of 1-10, how weird are you?" Some additional interviewing tactics: The CEO has the interviewee drive his or her car. Monitors how they react in a different vehicle, in a new city Sharing meals "Put the mosaic of what a person is like as a human being" -- not just interviewing for a job The Dinner Party game: "If you could only ask a job candidate one question, what would you ask?" Learn about failure - Id you desire humility, learn about their failures, learnings, and lessons of life Ownership - The 3 most beautiful words: "I'm on it." Every employee needs to write a playbook to how they'd do the job... They need to take ownership. If you were an animal, what would you be? Adam: "A Hawk. Hover at high altitude, when they figure out what they want, they go get it." Question: What qualities of your parents do you like the most and the least? Ask that if you really want to go deep -- This forces the candidate to get real. "We're fooling ourselves if we think we can escape our parents." Process to ask questions: Think, "I want to cut a record with you." -- Have the desire to make something new with the person. His premise at the New York Times: "What if I sat down with CEOs and never asked them about their companies?" Questions: What were you like as a kid? What were your parents like? How have your parents impacted your leadership style? What drives you? "I like to see them in the moment of learning about themselves." "Eye contact is the 5 G of communication." Two tracking - Know where to go next AND listen intently Sustaining Excellence: Feedback look must be strong - They must be open to it Recognize patterns Take action Learn new things Be self-aware Be humble Need to ask, "What does this moment need?" "What is the gooey center of that candy?" A leader needs to know that about their business. Life advice: "Play in traffic." You have to get out there and meet people and do things. Build relationships. Those help with the pivot points of your career and life. Always be prepared to learn the most important lesson of your life...

Mar 1, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Jeff Immelt served as CEO of GE for 16 years. He has been named one of the "World's Best CEOs" three times by Barron's. During his tenure as CEO, GE was named "America's Most Admired Company" by Fortune magazine and one of "The World's Most Respected Companies" in polls by Barron's and the Financial Times. Notes: Raised in Cincinnati, OH by his father Joe and mother Donna. Both of his parents grew up in the depression. Growing up Jeff said, "I remember when my dad had a great boss, he was motivated, and when he had a lousy boss, he was neither challenged nor happy. The worst kind of boss he always used to say, was one who criticized all day long but never offered solutions." GE was founded on April 15, 1892, by one of the greatest inventors in history, Thomas Edison. For most of the 20th century, GE had more patents than any other corporation. Jack Welch, deemphasized technology and innovation, and instead focused on management techniques like six sigma. Six Sigma is a data-driven methodology invented by a Motorola engineer named Bill Smith in 1980. It trains managers to be experts (called Black Belts) in improving business processes to reduce product defects. Jeff's first day as CEO of GE was September 10, 2001. On his first day, he introduced himself, via simulcast, to GE's 300,000 employees. His second day as CEO was 9/11/2001. "Good leaders absorb fear. They give people a plan. You have to hold two thoughts at the same time." By the end of his first week as CEO, GE's shares had dropped 20%, decreasing the company's market capitalization by $80 billion. Leaders learn everyday — "I've always believed an important determinant of success could be found in how one answered 3 questions: How fast can you learn? How much can you take? What will you give to those around to you?" The trifecta: "In your career, you meet only a handful of leaders who have the trifecta of being able to innovate, execute, and develop talent. Omar Ishrak had that." Jeff was the ultimate grinder, a true believer of GE, he got the "meatball" (the GE logo) tattooed on the left hip. The GE story is extremely personal for Jeff. Why the "Success Theater" story about Jeff is wrong. "For seven years, 10 times per year, I had a leader from GE flown to my house with their spouse. We'd serve them dinner and then I'd spend 6+ hours with the leader asking them questions, learning about them, and saying, 'Tell me something I don't know.'" What Jeff learned from playing football in college at Dartmouth: "When the best player is not caring about the team, nobody will get in line." The story of Harry Wilson (Russell Wilson's father, Jeff's teammate in college) and Reggie Williams. "Football teams are self policing. It's a series of peer relationships. Failure is not definitive. You have to always think about the next play." "The best people get 100% of the work done in 80% of the time. That leaves them more time to push boundaries." How did Jeff get picked to be Jack Welch's successor? "I was a good peer. Your peers are who promote you. Those relationships have to be earned." What was a Jack Welch Quarterly Business Review like? "Jack was a screamer. He was spontaneous. He would like at page 7 and then jump to page 17 and ask questions." Front line obsession - "You have to have a passion for understanding how people work." Front line managers - "I told them they are more important than me. That have direct access to the customer." The profession of sales: why it's noble Amazing sense of urgency - Never waste a minute or let it pass See the company through the customers eyes - "The salesforce sets the culture... I was persistent, dogged..." Good leaders are systems thinkers: Keep your head up and stay engaged at the same time Read books, ask question... "You must be curious." Sustain excellence: Must be a learner. "Fred Smith (CEO of FedEX) is my leadership hero." Heart broken over GE: "You can still progress as a human being even when you have a broken heart. You have to keep trying. Even when the efforts don't seem to be working for you." "There's value in a human being in just keep moving. Don't hide. Don't disappear." When you are on top, it is easy to be long on friends . When you hit bottom, there are a select few who reach out . For me, those standouts included American Express's Ken Chenault, Delta Airlines' Richard Anderson, and especially Cisco's John Chambers . Apply to be part of my Leadership Circle

Feb 22, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 https://twitter.com/RyanHawk12 Ryan Serhant is a real estate broker, CEO, and founder of SERHANT. He's a bestselling author, producer, and star of Bravo's Million Dollar Listing New York and Sell It Like Serhant. He led the #1 ranked (in sales volume) real estate team in New York City in 2019 with just under $1.45 Billion in sales. Notes: His mantra is: "Expansion. Always in all ways." It's about growth. Work to find your own brand and mantra -- It must be honest and genuine for you. A learning exercise for you to do: A "self-audit." Ask your friends and colleagues, "When I'm not around and you're describing me to others, what do you say?" Find friends who are willing to be honest with you to better understand what you're known for... If you don't like it, work to change it. Ryan Serhant was known as the guy who kept his hands in his pockets and couldn't look you in the eye. He needed to change that. "Your perception to others is your reputation and your brand." "Fake it til you make it" is not useful... Instead, Ryan sold the TV producers at Bravo the person and the real estate broker he would become... "When Tom Brady got drafted in the 6th round, he told the owner, 'That's the best decision you've ever made.' Tom Brady truly believed that. I believed I would become the best real estate agent in the world." "I didn't show them who I was in the moment, I showed them who I could become." Pivotal moment - Ryan went to the top selling agent in his office and said, "Man, how are you doing this, can you teach me?" And the agent said to Ryan, "Na man, I ain't telling you shit." Ryan thought, "Wow. I'm going to have to figure this out on my own. This guy is threatened by me." The New York City market - "It's cut throat. I went there for theater school, and stayed because, 'I would rather regret the things I did, than what I thought about doing and didn't do." Ryan depends on a routine to be productive. It is: "I wake up at 4:00am. In the gym by 5:00. 6:00 shower. Baby time at 7:00. First meeting at 7:30. I figure I wake up three hours earlier than most people. If you multiple that 3 hours times 365 days, I get on average 30 more days per year than others. I like my odds with 30 extra days." Discipline is critical - "Of course I'm tired in the morning, but I get up and do it anyway. People need to do more things that could better their lives. Do the things within your control." It's harder, but worth it. How has becoming a dad changed Ryan? "My wife says it's being a male nester. I worked harder and worked more while she was pregnant. I want to be the provider for my family. My daughter has made everything bigger." What about balance? "I have no balance. I'm lucky I found a partner who understands my drive and work ethic." What to say to those who don't like him because of the self-promotion? "I'm a real estate broker. I'm a salesman. The difference with me is I don't hide it. Our job is to promote our success so that we can get the next listing." Building confidence: "People who spend millions on real estate don't lack confidence. They want a broker who is confident too." Big Money Energy: "It's a unique set of qualities that every successful, confident person has..." Code #1: "When you can't change your circumstance, there's one thing you can change. Your energy. I sell a transfer of energy. Of excitement." Energy "Develop magnetism so others want to be around you. How? Ask questions, be interested in them, listen to their responses, create friendships instead of clients." "Shift your mindset -- What is your why? What's the wall you're fighting against? -- "I had no money and no connections in NYC. I rode the Subway crying that I couldn't even get a rental listing... That's my why." Commonality among excellence real estate brokers: Must be very organized Follow up is critical Disciplined Relentless work ethic Empathetic - The ability to be excited or sad with a client. There are 3 types of sales people: Car sales - pushes, thinks short term Tour guide - Just points to stuff, never closes deals Push & Pull - They work to get the deal done

Feb 15, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 John Chambers served as Cisco's CEO from 1995-2015 and Executive Chairman from 2015-2017. Cisco went from $70 million to $40 billion in annual revenue during his time. Notes: When John was six years old, he went fishing with his Dad in Elk River, WV. He was told, "Don't get too close to the water, the current is strong and could pull you under." John's curiosity got the best of him. He went too close and slipped, falling into the water. His dad ran towards the current as it was pulling John and yelled, "Just hold on to the fishing pole." Fortunately, John survived and was eventually pulled out of the water by his dad. His dad said, "Do you know why I told you to hold on to the fishing pole? "Don't let panic set in. Focus on what you can control. Work your way to calmer waters." It's a great metaphor for life. When dealing with stress, hold on to the fishing pole. How to deal with fear and uncertainty? "I had two parents that were doctors. They helped me a lot." "They taught me not to waste cycles on things you cannot change. Focus on the future, deal with the world as it is, not as you wish it was. " This is why John deliberately puts the leaders he leads in stressful situations. "Under stress you learn who people are." "With that said, I only coach leaders that want to be coached." -- If you don't want to be coached, you probably won't work with John Chambers. How did he earn the job as CEO of Cisco? "My parents taught me that education is the equalizer in life. I was a professional student. I got three degrees. And was trained very well at IBM, even as an entry level employee." "I decided to leave my job at Wang for the same reason that most people leave their jobs. My manager." "I left prior to even discussing another job with someone else. I didn't feel it was right to be laying people off while looking for another job." "I thought the job offers would roll in. They didn't. I initially had no job offers... And then I reached out to my friends and network and asked for help... I had 22 offers in 90 days. 21 of them from friends of mine. I learned that the golden rule is true. Treat others how you'd like to be treated and it will come back to you when you need it." "How you treat people determines your brand." Relationships -- "I'm usually the best prepared for every meeting I'm in. That way, I can move with speed." "The emotional part of relationships comes from my mom. She taught me how to connect with people." "I love building extended family teams. My team at Cisco was my family. We had only 5% turnover while the market rate was 15%. How is John different from Jack Welch? "I learned a lot of lessons from Jack. He sent his team from GE to benchmark us at Cisco. They took 22 ideas from us." "Jack was great at quarterly business reviews, but he was very tough on his people." "I tried not to embarrass the people on my team in front of one another. I like to praise in public and criticize in private. That was different from Jack." How did they successfully acquire 180 companies? They developed great playbooks and implemented them. What John looks for in a company: Do they have an excellent CEO who wants to be coached? Can the company be #1 or #2 in their market? Talk with customers and get a feel for the company from that vantage point What is their culture? What John looks for in a leader: A track record of overachieving "I look at their leadership team. Can they build a great team? That speaks volumes about them." Cultural match - "Our values need to match." They understand the industry they're in Culture must be owned at the top: "The CEO must own the culture. In every meeting, the CEO should point out an example of how someone is living their values." Why are off site leadership retreats so important? "It allows you to develop relationships outside of the office environment. You can build in depth relationships, built on trust." "The off sites helped us learn much more about one another." Gustavo (a leader John works with) saw a grizzly bear. Later he said, "I've never been more scared or more alive." "In the evenings, I ask for each person to give a toast and share a key learning." "I look for teaching moments." Sales - A noble profession: "We are all in sales. It's about connecting with people. I was with the King of Jordan and his wife (the Queen) was pregnant, I asked, "So King will you be in the room while your wife gives birth?" This was not something that was typically asked of the King. John did it as a way to connect and offer advice. "You need to be in that room. It's the most amazing moment." This is how John connects with others. Sales is part of everything we do. You get rejected, have to bounce back, and keep going. "I once asked Steph Curry, 'do you think you're going to make every shot? Even if you've missed your last five?' 'Yes, he said.' Sales is like that, you have to believe in yourself to make the next one." Advice: Never compromise your values How you handle your setbacks with determine your life Treat people like you want to be treated. Be kind. Focus, but also relax. Don't be so uptight.

Feb 8, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 Ryan Deiss is a best selling author, founder of multiple companies collectively employing hundreds around the globe. He is the founder and CEO of DigitalMarketer.com and Founder and Managing Partner of RivalBrands.com and plattr.com. Ryan is the creator of the "Customer Value Optimization" methodology and have introduced and popularized many of the digital selling strategies. He is also the founder and host of the Traffic & Conversion Summit, the largest digital marketing conversion conference in North America. Notes: Commonalities of excellence: They understand why they've made mistakes - they learn why they've failed. They are purposeful about their decision making Appetite for risk: "I have a very low appetite for risk." "I value security." Must have qualities in a leader to hire on his team? "I want them to not be like me." Need to have skills that compliment his... Early on he hired people just like him. It was a mistake. Consistency - Must show up. A big heart - People who care about others and their work. Why writing is so important as a leader: Like academics being peer reviewed. "It forces you to crystalize your own ideas." "You need to say something new that hasn't been said before. And be willing to be criticized." Eugene Schwartz Breakthrough Advertising = one of the best books ever written on marketing The Awareness Levels: Completely Unaware - They don't know they have a problem worth solving Problem Aware - They sense they have a problem, but don't know there's a solution Solution Aware - Know the results they want, but don't know your product provides it Product Aware - Know what you sell, but aren't sure it's right for them Most Aware - Repeat buyers and loyal customers who refer you to their friends How to make your leadership training better? Acknowledge their problem is real. Make them feel heard... Sell the soft. Speak into someone's reality. Acknowledge the pain, offer a solution... "Outsourced Leadership Development" "Your service is a vehicle to a more desired result." Be the "transportation to transformation." Scaling beyond a personality driven business: Get off the field, get in the owner's box. Productize yourself. Build an asset. Create ideas that travel - Have your version of 10 commandments on one single piece of paper Ryan has his "customer value journey" - The Customer Value Journey is about turning strangers into super-fans. Redirect it into the artifact Say "We" instead of "I" Give it a name - The genius is in the artifact The Goal is a book on manufacturing about assembly lines. They identified weakest link and fixed it. The value of creating of having a big event like Traffic & Conversion Summit: Create the place for others to go - It helps with branding, earning media, and the gathering spot for great people. It draws others to it. You become the connector. The host of the party. Story is the leverage of persuasion: Don't talk about yourself Help others change the story they tell about themselves Marketing shouldn't stop at the order - Marketing should own the entirety of the customer journey. Career wise - Get as close to the revenue as possible. Advice: Study old, rich, happy people.

Feb 1, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 Wendy Kopp is CEO and Co-founder of Teach For All, a global network of independent organizations that are developing collective leadership to ensure all children have the opportunity to fulfill their potential. Today, more than 6,000 Teach For America corps members—outstanding recent college graduates and professionals of all academic disciplines—are in the midst of two-year teaching commitments in over 50 urban and rural regions. Notes: Jim Collins called Wendy "my entrepreneur for this decade." He continued, "Her organization is truly an entrepreneurial creation that is out to utterly transform education. It's taking an entrepreneurial, let's-do-something approach to tackling a massive social problem." Goal setting: It's all about setting a goal that's at the right intersection of ambitious and feasible. The #1 responsibility of a leader is to catalyze a clear and shared vision for the company and secure commitment to and vigorous pursuit of that vision. The differentiator is the "first WHO" principle. It's what she's learned. What is it that drives system change in education? "Jim thinks it's the answer in corporate America, I think it is the difference in social change." Wendy grew up in a bubble in Texas. She didn't realize the inequity and disadvantages to children born in different situations. At the end of her college years at Princeton, she wrote a 100+ page thesis. She narrowed down to 30 pages... And created a four page plan. She mailed her thesis to 30 executives in an effort to spread awareness and raise money Everywhere she went, people said, "This is a great idea but college kids won't do this." Wendy was steadfast in her belief that they would... After the first year, Wendy found herself on stage speaking to 500 "Teach For America" teachers... The benefit of naivete: "The world needs you before you become jaded by your experience." "We need leaders to channel their energy in marginalized communities." What was the key to the first year growth? "It helped writing a plan. I sent 100 letters to potential donors and got rejected or ignored by 98 of them." You have to persevere and have conviction for the idea. Leadership - An idea that magnetizes people. People were drawn to Wendy's mission and purpose. Strategic Framework - What is your core purpose? The core values are what brings people together. Create a sense of mission - "You need to enable a diverse group of people. Articulate it and make it possible for others to engage." Recruit people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Diversity is very important. Why did Wendy do this instead of take a job that would pay well? "I knew myself well. I knew that whatever I did, I would throw myself at it 24/7. I wanted to have a bigger impact on the world." "What keeps me at it? I started gaining the sense of responsibility for so many others." How Teach For America helped Washington D.C. "I met with so many civic leaders who said, 'We've tried everything and it won't work.' DC was 2 years behind Harlem from an educational perspective with their public schools." Washington DC was completely transformed by Teach For America and now has one of the better public school districts in America. How is she so humble? "I realize we're going to get so much wrong." Must learn from what goes wrong and improve moving forward What are some "must-have" leadership qualities? Look at what people have accomplished How have you managed through challenges? People who are passionate about the purpose People who live into the values Optimism Commitment to diversity and inclusiveness What's currently exciting? Seeing the leadership effects in others from Pakistan to Peru The power of locally rooted leadership Commonalities of leader who sustain excellence: Put impact first... Ahead of career ambitions Solve problems Perseverance Optimism Humility - Constantly learning Act on conviction What does Wendy do for fun? Runs and listens to books while running. Which books? Human Kind by Rutger Bregman Reinventing Organizations by Frederic Laloux Life advice: "Solve as early as possible." "Do not put off your passion until after you've had a job for a few years." "Don't think you have to start something new." Look for others who are doing it and join them...

Jan 25, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 Rich Diviney Rich Diviney draws upon 20+ years of experience as a Navy SEAL Officer – with 11 deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He was the Commanding Officer of a Navy SEAL Command. Rich is is the author of T he Attributes - 25 Hidden Drivers of Optimal Performance . Notes: The process to select Navy SEALs: Rich created a program to effectively articulate why someone made it through SEAL training. "It's not about training to be a Navy SEAL, it's about proving if you can be one." "Skills are not inherent to our nature. They are learned." Attributes are wired into our internal circuitry, always running in the background, dictating how we behave and react and perform. Attributes should not be confused with personality traits. A personality is built from patterns of behavior that emerge over an extended period of time. It's an outward expression of all the things that make you you - your skills, habits, emotions, perspectives, and attributes all blended together. What is optimal performance? "It's not a peak. It's doing the best you can, with what you have, in the moment." What are some of the surprising attributes that helped or didn't? Drive - Some of the most driven people weren't necessarily cut out to be a SEAL The difference between Self-Discipline and Discipline: Self-discipline is about controlling those things that the outside world has no say in. Discipline is the ability to move through the challenges of the world. Narcissism - Some of the benefits of it? From Rich: "Why did I want to be a Navy SEAL? I wanted to see if I could be a badass. I desired to standout and be admired. That's a little narcissism." "However, extreme narcissism is awful. Excessive narcissists are rarely loyal-- loyalty requires trust and a sense of safety-- so their tribes are inherently unstable: Healthy members tend not to stay long, and new ones are let in only when they show the requisite deference. Those who do leave usually suffer a disproportionate amount of wrath from the person to whom they once deferred-- because defectors are considered enemies. The energy and effort of the highly narcissistic person will be used to prop up their fragile egos rather than to achieve shared objectives or serve a common purpose." Did he ever think about quitting during Hell week? "The training trains you to compartmentalize. You can't ever entertain that thought. You have to chunk things down to the moment. You're running around and saying, 'this sucks!' But you have to focus on just getting to the next berm. And then the next one. Think, 'what can I control right now?' And focus on your three foot world ." The highest performing people ask better questions: Think: "What's the better question to ask right now?" "What can I control right now?" Introspection is vital. Why aren't we better at being introspective? "Because we escape too much." We have devices to ensure we're never bored. Never lost in thought. On long car rides, children never have to look out the window anymore to pass the time. They have a device or a screen to watch. You need to allow your brain space... Need to spend more time in our heads. "Knowledge is not power. Applied knowledge is power." Be decisive. Take action. "Decisions are final, but not permanent." Be adaptable like a frog. Frogs have survived five extinction level events. "If you don't adapt you will become a dinosaur." Rich has narrowed it down to 5 segments of attributes. They are: Grit, Mental Acuity, Drive, Leadership, and Teamability. Grit - Beware of the fearless leader (Courage), Fall 7 times get up 8 (Perseverance), Be Like the frog (Adaptability), The Benefits of Little Tragedies (Resilience) Mental Acuity -- The art of Vigilance (Situational Awareness), Wired for Efficiency (Compartmentalization), The Multitasking Myth (Task Switching), Forged in Plastic (Learnability) Drive -- Mastering the Pivot (Self-Efficacy), The Self-Disciplined Loser (Discipline), A Fish Is the Last to Discover Water (Open-Mindedness), The Princess and the Dragon (Cunning), It's All about Me (Narcissism) Leadership -- No One Cares How You Feel (Empathy), If it Doesn't Hurt, You're Doing it Wrong (Selflessness), You Can't Hide You (Authenticity), Many A False Step Is Made by Standing Still (Decisiveness), Don't Be A Mediator (Accountability) Teamability -- The Subjectivity of Right and Wrong (Integrity), There's Always Something to Do (Conscientiousness), Play Black, Not Red (Humility), Honor The Class Clown (Humor)

Jan 18, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 to join thousands of leaders of leaders from all over the world and read "Mindful Monday." A carefully curated email of the most useful leadership articles/books/video. Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 #402: Donald Miller - CEO of Business Made Simple Notes: The Characteristics of a Value Driven Professional: "Value driven successful people see themselves as an economic product on the open market. They are obsessed with getting people a strong return on the investment made in them. People who are obsessed with being a good investment attract further investment and get to enjoy more personal economic value. When you offer greater economic value within the economic ecosystem, you are paid more, given more responsibility and promotions, and are sought after by customers looking for value. In business, your boss may really like you, but in large part, they see you as an economic investment. There is nothing wrong with that. So how do we become ridiculously successful? By making other people absurdly successful." "If you know how to make people money, you will make a lot of money." They have a bias towards action - "There is one thing every successful person has in common: They have a bias towards action." They don't let ideas die on the vine. They take action to make those ideas happen. While others may have terrific ideas or be able to see an important issue from many angles, action-oriented people are good at getting things done." They see themselves as a hero, not a victim. Ask, "How often do you position yourself as a victim?" How often do you talk about yourself as though you are not in control of your life? Do you believe other people are responsible for your failures? Don was born in Texas and grew up poor. His dad left and never came back. His mom had to work long hours just to keep him and his sister alive. He told me, "The biggest transformation in my life happened when I stopped thinking of myself as a victim and started thinking of myself as the hero. I lost 150 pounds and became more in control of my life. If you're always the victim, you'll find that people get tired of carrying your load." They know feedback is a gift. They create an established routine in which they get feedback from their peers. They are relentlessly optimistic - Staying optimistic, you dramatically increase the chances that at some point you will succeed. The more optimistic you are, the more willing you will be willing to try. Successful people fail all the time. The difference is their willingness to keep trying. A story has four characters: Victim - The victim is rescued by the hero. The victim makes the hero look good. It's a bit part. Villian - A backstory of pain. The villian seeks vengeance. Hero - Faces challenges, is focused, overcomes obstacles. Guide - Older, sage, wise. Helps others win "I remember when my biggest transformation happened. I realized that girls wanted to be with the hero, not the victim. I lost 150 pounds." Taking action: "The magic is not in the thinking, it's in the doing." Be a "delusional optimist." It's scientifically proven that people who believe they can do something accomplish more than those who don't. What is a story? "A character that overcomes conflict to try to accomplish something." "Invite people to overcome an obstacle and solve a problem." One piece of advice: "Be known for solving a problem." One problem. We are all in sales. What is sales? "Clear articulation of how you can solve someone's problem." How To Create a Mission Statement and Guiding Principles: "The #1 job of a leader is to wake up every morning, point to the horizon, and let everybody on the team know where the organization is going." "The #2 job of a leader is to explain, in clear and simple terms, why the story of going to and arriving at that specific destination matters." "The #3 job of a leader is to analyze the skills and abilities of each team member and find them an important role to play in that story." In Don's personal guiding principles, his repeatable critical actions are: " get up early, you write, and you say, "after you." -- Those 3 critical actions establish a way of life that if repeated day in and day out ensures success. Know how to attract people to your mission by telling your story. How do we do this? What's the biggest mistake made? (Biggest mistake is telling their history , complete with bullet points and boring asides). Your history is not your story. Here is a formula for a good, short mission statement: "We will accomplish ____________ by ___________ because of _________. How To Be Productive -- Make Wise Daily Decisions - Every morning you ask yourself a simple question: "If this were the second time I were living this day, what would I do differently?" Bill Gates is never late to a meeting. How does he ensure he's always on time? He blocks his time The StoryBrand methodology: A character that wants something The character encounters a problem The character meets the guide The guide gives the hero a plan The guide calls the hero to action When clarifying your marketing message, never position yourself as the hero. Always position yourself as the guide. The Core Competencies that will immediately make or save the company money: They are a clear and compelling leader - Align & inspire a team. Create a mission statement & guiding principles They are personally productive - Mastered a specific system They know how to clarify a message They can sell - introduce products to qualified leads They are great communicators - Give a speech that informs & inspires a team They know how to run an execution system

Jan 11, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... For full show notes go to www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 David M. Rubenstein is a Co-Founder and Co-Executive Chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world's largest and most successful private investment firms. Mr. Rubenstein co-founded the firm in 1987. Since then, Carlyle has grown into a firm managing $217 billion from 32 offices around the world. Notes: David is most interested in continuing to learn... He reads six newspapers per day and 100 books per year. Your commencement is the beginning, not the end. "Keep your brain active, it's a muscle. It will atrophy without use." David would give all of his money away to be one year younger... Keys to happiness: Thomas Jefferson said we all have the right to be in pursuit of happiness "It's the most elusive thing in life." Happiness is all about building meaningful relationships The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis -- "JFK showed tremendous leadership to avert disaster. He strategically ignored Khrushchev's second letter and responded to the first one when making a deal to avoid nuclear war. David was in 9th grade at the time and that moment of leadership impacted him in a big way. He worked in the White House for Jimmy Carter. "When I worked in the White House, everyone thought I was the smartest person in the world. When we lost and I didn't have a job anymore, nobody called, and nobody offered me a job." Why leave his job as part of a big law firm? "If you don't love what you do you can't be great at it." Launching The Carlyle Group: Raised $5m Hired incredibly competent people New idea: "I wanted to create a private equity one stop shop." How did he hire well? "I went after the best people I knew and sold them on why they should join me." What was said? Convince them they will have responsibility They will learn a lot They will make more money It will be enjoyable What does David ask in interviews with candidates to hire? "I want to learn mostly about what motivates them." Must have qualities to work at The Carlyle Group: Intelligent Hard working Get along well with others Share credit Effective communicator (both written and the spoken word) Help others Honest/High Integrity Why start The Carlyle Group? "I wanted to prove that my idea could work." What created the success of the company? "It was the luck of meeting great people... Like Bill Conway." "Prior preparation prevents poor performance." What are the keys to being a great interviewer? Good listener Enjoy it Sublimate your ego - It's about the guest, not the interviewer proving how smart they are Why does David like to interview so many people? "My mother said it's because I'm a 'yenta.' I want to know everything." Why own so many of our countries historical documents? (Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence) "I want to remind people of our history." He's one of the first 40 members of the giving pledge and plans to give ALL of his money away to charity. Advice to a young college graduate: Experiment, find things you enjoy Share credit Read a lot... Learn to speak in public Become a skilled writer Retain humility What do most people say on their deathbed? They don't say, 'I wish I'd made more money.' What they say is, 'I wish I'd spent more time with my family and done more for society or my community.' "Anybody who gives away money is mostly looking at things where they think they can make a difference. I'm trying to help people who helped me, educational institutions that helped me with scholarships, or organizations that were very useful to me in growing up."

Jan 4, 2021

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #400 with Keith Hawk & AJ Hawk Notes: I sourced questions from members of my Leadership Circle, friends, listeners, and colleagues for this episode... How does Keith continue to feel impactful after retirement? KH: "It's like I have a paper route. I work a little bit in the mornings, get my work done, and then I can go have fun with my friends. I work on a few boards, do voice over work, and know how to hit the post." What has AJ learned from working with Pat McAfee? "I learned to trust my instincts and not try to be somebody I'm not." What's the best way to make introductions? AJ: "Text (message) intros are so much better. They are more personal." From Leadership Circle member, Amanda Wilson : "What habit do you admire the most in each other/best attribute?" Pistol about AJ: "He's an unbelievable teammate. He has earned the respect of all his peers. I respect his intensity to prepare." Pistol about Ryan: "A huge preparation guy. His focus on other people. He has more of an outer focus now. And a huge intensity around growth." "Gotta change, Gotta grow." AJ about Pistol: Consistency. He wakes up early. I never saw him asleep. He never made us do anything. I want to live up to that standard. I don't want my kids to see me asleep. And universally, everyone loves him." AJ about Ryan: "You're a mini-version of Pistol with your consistency. So detail oriented. Such a leader and not afraid to hold people accountable. People have confidence that you'll take them where they want to go." Ryan about Pistol: Absolute selflessness. Reminds me of my wife, Miranda . A willingness to always help others succeed and will do anything for them. Ryan about AJ: A relentless work ethic. A drive to be there for the people who depend on him. Whenever I talk with teammates of AJ, they all say the same thing, "That's my guy. I know he'll be where he's supposed to be when he's supposed to be there. I can depend on him." He shows up to work everyday and gets it done. Being selfless: Pistol - "My success is better and richer if it follows other people's success." From Jeff Leung (Sr. Engineer at Facebook): "As the father of two young boys, I would love to hear how you and your brother AJ grew up in a way that you cheer for each other more than compete?" A mutual love and respect for each others work. An appreciation for what the other does. From Doug Meyer , Co-Founder/CEO of Brixey & Meyer: "What was your reaction when you heard Ryan was leaving a high paying job at a large company to take a substantial pay cut to start a Leadership Advisory practice at Brixey & Meyer?" Pistol: "Joy, fun, fulfillment. I was so excited for him." AJ: "Of course. He's gonna kill it." Give an example how you handled when one of your kids wanted to do something but you thought it was a mistake? "When Ryan was at Miami, I probably pushed him too hard to transfer so that he would get another shot to be a starting QB after losing the job to Ben Roethlisberger. I sometimes have thoughts that he could have moved positions and become Julian Edelman." From Nate DeMars (Founder/Owner of Pursuit) - "You guys have all moved onto what I guess you could consider second careers recently… How do you approach starting over as a novice in a new field?" "There is no excuse to not learn everything about what you want to do. There is so much out there to read and watch and people to talk to. If you don't learn it, it's your fault." Find something you care about, that you're passionate about, and pursue that. "Deal with imposter syndrome when you're new. There's never been a better time to learn something new." Life experiences that have shaped you. Pistol, what experiences shaped AJ/Ryan? Playing for the legendary Bob Gregg and Ron Ullery. They molded you and helped you: Faced the requirement to prepare a lot Learned how to be a great teammate Learned to compete hard Learned to take tough, critical feedback, became coachable Learned how to be a leader How to deal with great teammates, but bad coaches? AJ: "It doesn't help to complain and be negative. Be quiet. Do your job." And strive to learn from those who aren't good at their job so that you don't repeat what they do. The Rex Caswell exercise: When you're new, write in a journal in two columns. One is for the great actions of your boss and the other is for the not helpful behaviors. Keep it with you and review it as you continue to get promoted. Pistol: "Wrap yourself in the mission. Don't wrap yourself in negativity." "It's the duty of the leader to be in a good mood." We conducted our first draft. The topic: Our favorite sports movies (listen to hear who we picked).

Dec 28, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com IG/Twitter: @RyanHawk12 Notes: Sustaining Excellence = Learn constantly Experiment constantly Obsessive about learning the details, not a cookie cutter approach Rapid Skill Acquisition: Must be specific Break it down: don't try to do it all at once Do research Practice Deconstruct the skill to its smallest parts Make a pre-commitment - "I'm going to practice this skill for 20 hours no matter what." Create fast feedback loops for yourself: Keep a daily log of what you do... Meetings, interactions, what was discussed, how you feel, etc. This helps reinforce the importance of paying attention to the small details of what you're trying to learn If something happens, you can review your notes later Josh has always had "a desire to understand the world around me" Teaching is one of the greatest tools in the world for learning "Management is the act of coordinating a group of people to achieve a goal. Management is not business. Management is not leadership. Management is a supporting function, not a decision making function." "Leadership = define the goal, account for change." "Good management = Recruiting - must get good people Communicating well between teams and decision making parts of the business Must create environment of psychological safety Create a productive working environment Planning - Estimating time lines and schedules Measurement Commander's Intent - "When you are a leader, decision making authority, the least effective thing is for you to make all the ground level decisions." Push decision making power to the people closest to the action. More quotes from Josh's work: "You can't make positive discoveries that make your life better if you never try anything new." "Every successful business (1) creates or provides something of value that (2) other people want or need (3) at a price they're willing to pay, in a way that (4) satisfies the purchaser's needs and expectations and (5) provides the business sufficient revenue to make it worthwhile for the owners to continue operation. "If you rely on finding time to do something, it will never be done. If you want to find time, you must make time." "The best thing that can happen to a human being is to find a problem, to fall in love with that problem, and to live trying to solve that problem, unless another problem even more lovable appears." "Every time your customers purchase from you, they're deciding that they value what you have to offer more than they value anything else their money could buy at that moment." "The trouble comes when we confuse learning with skill acquisition. If you want to acquire a new skill, you must practice it in context. Learning enhances practice, but it doesn't replace it. If performance matters, learning alone is never enough." "Be positive, force yourself to smile." "Improve by 1% a day, and in just 70 days, you're twice as good." "Ideas are cheap—what counts is the ability to translate an idea into reality, which is much more difficult than recognizing a good idea." "Fear of the unknown will always be with you, no matter what you do. That's comforting in a way: if there's nothing you can do to change it, there's no reason to let it stop you."

Dec 23, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more details... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Jim Collins books include Good to Great , the #1 bestseller, which examines why some companies make the leap and others don't; the enduring classic Built to Last , which discovers why some companies remain visionary for generations; How the Mighty Fall , which delves into how once-great companies can self-destruct; and Great by Choice , which uncovers the leadership behaviors for thriving in chaos and uncertainty. Jim has also published two monographs that extend the ideas in his primary books: Good to Great and the Social Sectors and Turning the Flywheel . His most recent publication is BE 2.0 ( Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0 ), an ambitious upgrade of his very first book; it returns Jim to his original focus on small, entrepreneurial companies and honors his coauthor and mentor Bill Lazier. Notes: What Exactly is Leadership?" "True leadership only exists if people follow when they would otherwise have the freedom to not follow." Many business leaders think they are leading when in fact they're simply exercising power, and they might discover to their horror that no one would follow them if they had no power. General Colin Powell said, "In my 35 years of service, I don't ever recall telling anyone, 'That's an order." " Leadership is the art of getting people to want to do what must be done." When Steve Jobs returned to Apple, one of the first people he called was Jim Collins. Jim asked Steve,"what did you first build upon to emerge from the darkness? What gave you hope?" Steve was talking with perhaps the greatest product visionary of our time.. so he expected him to talk about operating systems or the Macintosh computer or other product ideas. But he didn't. What did he talk about? People. "It was all about the WHO." History is the "study of surprises." There will be no "new normal," there will only be a continuous series of "not normal" episodes, defying predictions and unforeseen by most of us until they happen. This is why we double down on the "first who" principle. Track the number 1 metric: some say sales or profitability or cash flow or something about products. But there's one metric that towers above them all that's rarely spoken about in meetings. And that is: The percentage of key seats on the bus filled with the right people for those seats. How to know when to shift from "develop" to "replace?" Jim has distilled years of reflection down to 7 questions that he offers to stimulate your thinking when you face the "develop or replace" conundrum. Are you beginning to lose other people by keeping this person in the seat? Do you have a values problem, a will problem, or a skills problem? What's the person's relationship to the window and the mirror ? Does the person see the work as a job or a responsibility? Has your confidence in the person gone up or down in the last year? Do you have a bus problem or a seat problem? How would you feel if the person quit? Jim spent time at West Point as the Chair for the Study of Leadership… One of they key things he learned from that time was the importance of focusing on your unit and taking care of your people, not your career… "The key to a leader's impact is sincerity. Before he can inspire with emotion he must be swayed by it himself. Before he can move their tears his own must flow. To convince them he must himself believe." - Winston Churchill Kroger made the leap because they became fanatical about getting the right people in the right seats A key position at your company does the following: Has hiring responsibility A failure by them could expose the company to disaster Their performance has an outsized impact on the business as a whole The Personal Hedgehog Concept You love to do the work You're doing something you're wired for The market will pay you for it Great success in life is when you have people in key seats that fit their hedgehog When analyzing if a person should remain on the team, ask, "What is the person's relationship with the window or the mirror?" We want people who have a tremendous capacity to grow. Be a growth machine. An example of a world-class leader? Wendy Kopp, CEO and Co-Founder of Teach For All, a global network of independent nonprofit organizations working to expand educational opportunity in their own countries and the Founder of Teach For America. "Wendy had no power and not much charisma, and yet she got hundreds of thousands of people to sign up and do work that is not fun." That's leadership. " Leadership is the art of getting people to want to do what must be done ." The #1 responsibility of a leader is to catalyze a clear and shared vision for the company and secure commitment to and vigorous pursuit of that vision. From Jim, "I'm more of a teacher than a leader. What's my leadership artistry? Trust." Ann Mulcahy saved Xerox. She kept getting promoted... When asked how she earned those promotions, Anne said, " I tried to make my mini-bus a sparkling pocket of greatness ." They came to her and said, "We want you to drive the whole bus."

Dec 21, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Jim Collins is a student and teacher of what makes great companies tick, and a Socratic advisor to leaders in the business and social sectors. He has written a series of books that have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. They include Good to Great , the #1 bestseller, which examines why some companies make the leap and others don't; the enduring classic Built to Last , which discovers why some companies remain visionary for generations; How the Mighty Fall , which delves into how once-great companies can self-destruct; and Great by Choice , which uncovers the leadership behaviors for thriving in chaos and uncertainty. Notes: Shortly before Jim's 25th birthday, during his second year at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, he got hit with a lightning bolt of WHO luck. The type of luck that comes as a chance meeting with a person who changes your life. That person was Bill Lazier... Bill Lazier was the closest thing to a father Jim ever had. Jim's dad died when he was 23. Creating a Generosity Flywheel -- "One day, two large wooden crates appeared on your front porch, the address labels indicating they'd be shipped by Bill. He sent you a few dozen bottles of spectacularly good wine. You called and asked him what prompted him to send to you and he said, "Dorothy and I had an inventory problem in our wine cellar, and we needed to make room for some new bottles. We thought you could help us out by taking some of it off our hands." Bill mastered the art of getting people to accept his generosity, somehow framing it as if you were doing him a favor. Jim's question to me: How is quarterbacking a football team similar to quarterbacking a conversation for a podcast? Make the Trust Wager - "I choose to assume the best in people and accept that they sometimes disappoint." (Lead With Trust) Build a Meaningful Life by Building Relationships — Life can be a series of transactions or you can build relationships. Transactions can give you success, but inky relationships make for a great life." —- How do you know if you have a great relationship? "If you were to ask each person in the relationship who benefits more from it, both would answer "I do." Both feel like they're getting the better end of the deal. Start with Values, Always Values — values aren't the "soft stuff." Living to core values is the hard stuff. "Prep prep prep so that you don't have to be rote." -- "For me the opening plays are questions. And I know the opening two or three questions to get the session started." "Then the game starts. I have this set up things, but then something really surprising happens. What I found interesting about it, is that you'd think high levels of prep, it's actually being so well prepared that you can adapt. That's the critical thing. It's only because you're super prepared that you can do something surprising." The opening question to a company he works with is always the same: "It starts at exactly 8:00am. I have an atomic clock and it's set to the exact atomic time. At 8:00, I open the doors. I walk in and say, "Good morning, I feel a tremendous responsibility to make the most of our time. Everybody take out a blank sheet of paper. I want you to write down the top 5 most brutal facts that face the company today. Go!" -- "We're 12 seconds into the meeting. There are no pleasantries, they're not going to talk about how the flight was, or dinner last night. We are here to make the most of our time. I'm trying to set the tone that we don't have time to waste. I can't waste your time. You're here to have your brain challenged." And then Jim has them allocate 100 points for the 5 most brutal facts. You need to start with an honest account of the brutal facts. This gets the group talking immediately. "The entire thing opens up." "Preparation is respect." "That previous podcast we did ( episode #216 ) was masterfully done by Ryan. There's some wonderful things he pulled out." How has your style evolved? I'm less robotic, less formulaic, more agile, and able to go with the conversation. Bill Lazier -- "Bill went to the Dean at Stanford and put himself on the line for me. He believed in me. He bet big on me. Nothing I've accomplished happens without Bill Lazier." Here is WHY joining a Learning Leader Circle is a good idea...

Dec 14, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 Episode #396 - Scott Galloway: Professor at NYU Stern, best-selling author, entrepreneur (started 9 firms) Notes: Scott and I have the same book agent, Jim Levine. It's the first person Scott thanks in the Acknowledgement section of his latest book... "Jim is someone I can go to for help with any aspect of life. He's much more than just a book agent. You need people in your kitchen cabinet that you can go to." Sharing admiration for others? Why did Scott struggle with this when he was younger? "We should do this. It doesn't make you less impressive because you shared your admiration for someone else." "The greatest untapped resource = good intentions, good thoughts. Express them. Verbalize them. Don't let that resource go to waste." Leaders should be constantly giving praise to the people on their team. Send the quick email, give the shout out. "People need watering. Give them recognition. Notice others, let them know when they do good work. That's how you recruit and retain great people. That's how you build loyalty." Action step: Call the parents of the young people on your team. Tell them their daughter or son is doing excellent work and are a joy to work with... "Be the man your kids think you are." It's motivating to try to live up to those standards. Life is about those moments with your kids. The key to excellence? "Success is not my fault. I grew up as a heterosexual white male, born in 1964. We have this problem of conflating luck with talent." Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence? Competence - Must be highly competent in one area. "You must demonstrate excellence. Be outstanding at it." Grit - "As the leader, I wanted to show my team I was willing to pull all nighters when needed. I would never ask my team to do something I wasn't willing to do." Empathy - "You have to want others to win. You have to leverage all your talents to help others be successful. That creates loyalty." "People's loyalties are misplaced. Don't be loyal to companies, be loyal to people." Why make predictions? "It's not about being right. It's about catalyzing a conversation. I want ideas to have sex." "Plans are useless but planning is invaluable." "Once a prediction happens, it seems obvious." When I go to keynote speaking engagements, I'm often asked about Scott Galloway. He's become the person so many men follow? Why? "Most business news is PG13. I'm the rated R version and I speak my mind. There aren't enough people doing that." "Most guys have trouble talking openly about their feelings. We have trouble expressing our emotions. Men want to do it, but don't. That's what I do." "Write as if your kids will read it in 30 years." In Chinese the word for crisis… the first character means danger, and the second is translated as a critical juncture A Scottish MP George Galloway said "nothing can happen for decades and then decades can happen in weeks"

Dec 7, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more... Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 Ep #395: Dr. Marisa Porges Notes: Keys to a good coffee meeting with someone: Be early Find a quiet spot Know your order before you get there. Don't make it too complex Have a goal for the meeting. Know what you want to get out of it "You don't have to be a feminist to care about these lessons, nor do you need a daughter or a sister. You just have to know a girl or young woman and care about her future." The differences for a woman vs. a man in business: Women have fewer mentors and sponsors "You need to seek mentors on a regular basis" "Men need to mentor women" -- "Make room for women mentees" What should the man who is nervous to mentor a woman do? Meet in a public place Talk about business Key to excellence: The ability to adapt Marisa joined the Navy after High School. She was inspired by the movie Top Gun She got in a bad car accident and had to be rescued by the jaws of life She had to shave her head in the Navy "Our reality forces us to adapt. We change jobs 4x more than our parents did." How to be adaptable? Be open to pushing yourself to new environments Test yourself in a new environment. Don't always set up for the perfect environment Do something differently -- Test your boundaries How to be authentically empathetic ? The platinum rule -- Treat others as they want to be treated (not how you want to be treated) Be vulnerable, open, and real While interviewing terrorists in Yemen, Marisa got them to open up by authentically opening up first "Be conscious about when and how you're vulnerable. It can't be too often. Monitor your emotions." Look for go for it moments... Learn to rebound from failure and understand the key takeaways from them. Be able to deal with uncertainty. Marisa shares a story about a parent of one of her students. Marc. His daughter was going through an issue at school. Marc said, "I went into Dad mode and said should I call the school? Talk to a teacher? —- This is a terrible way to respond as the dad of a daughter. A dad needs to "coach from the sideline." Help your daughter practice self advocacy. Ask them questions, be curious. Help your daughter find her voice and speak up. One easy example to practice -- "When you go out to eat, always have your daughter order her food. When you call to order a pizza, have your daughter do it." Marisa worked in the White House and needed to become an excellent communicator to prepare for her conversations with The President. How did she do this? "Practice, practice practice." Excellence: How we learn from failure and bounce back... What happens next? It's always about the others in your life. Who are you surrounding yourself with? Small things make a big difference

Nov 30, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more details about The Learning Leader Circle Full notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter: @RyanHawk12 #394: Todd Henry - The Hidden Forces That Drive Your Best Work Show notes: What is the most valuable land in the world? "The graveyard... All of the stuff we carry with us for our life and never put out into the world... All of that valued is buried in the ground." The two words that Todd wrote down after coming to this realization? "Die Empty." "The rough edges they decry you for now… Are the very rough edges they will celebrate you for later." What drives us to unleash our best work? Drawing on interviews with over 100,000 working professionals, the answer is no one size fits all. Todd Henry shows, in fact, that there are six unique "motivational archetypes"... They are: The Visionary strives to make her mark on the world by building an ideal future, even when others may not see as far ahead. The Achiever relishes a finished product and must conquer whatever obstacle comes his way, no matter how difficult or time-consuming. The Team Player values being part of a group and will go to great lengths to achieve unity and enhance collaboration. The Learner is obsessed with mastering new skills and showing off what she knows--which is often a lot. The Optimizer thrives when systems are running smoothly and finds great satisfaction when things are done the "right way." The Key Contributor shines at the center of the action, especially when others can recognize the value of his work. Todd's work teaches us to decode our motivational type so we can structure projects, have conversations, make decisions, and even choose career paths to amp up engagement and achieve fulfillment. Once we know how to activate our inner drivers, we can transform the work we do into the work we love. Why should you write? "If you can learn to write, you'll be invited into rooms." "Turn the ineffable into something." Read, comprehend, synthesize, write... "People won't follow you because of your position or title. You have to persuade them. You have to cut through the noise, hone your skills. It's a craft you must work on." Have empathy, uniqueness, precisions. Have empathy for the end user. Have an intended audience: one person in mind. Ramp up your empathy for the end user... "We wait for tasks to motivate us and that's exactly backwards. We need to bring our motivation to what we do. We have to train ourselves to bring our motivation to our work instead of waiting for our tasks to motivate us." Because of the motivation code, "I have a language now that I never had a language for previously" A new framework for understanding people. It's created "aha" moments "Self-awareness is the first step to maturity." "It helps use discern areas where we're insecure." What was Todd thinking five minutes prior to going on stage at the Global Leadership Summit? 10,000 in the audience and hundreds of thousands watching worldwide... "I reminded myself how grateful I was to be there..." It was calming.

Nov 23, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for leadership development resources Full show-notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 393: Chris Holtmann - Head Basketball Coach of Ohio State University Buckeyes Notes: Chris played his college basketball at a small Christian school called Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. For a coach named Paul Patterson. Chris said, "I think the core of who I am as a coach comes from him." Don't Be Afraid To Pursue Growth - "As I debated, I realized that I couldn't blame myself for craving stability – it was only human nature after all . We are drawn by the soft voice of consistency, the allure of a warm blanket of security in our jobs and lives. And while many of us willingly happily give in to living within the status quo, the reality is that the world around us rarely remains motionless. The sun rises and sets, the seasons pass and the world keeps moving and changing. It is only as we grow older and look back at life that we realize all that we have missed, all that we could have accomplished, had we simply pushed ourselves to break free of our fears ." "As I found myself deliberating once again, I began to think back to the work of Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck on motivation and failure. Dweck drew a distinction between performance orientation and learning orientation. Children that believe that their intelligence is fixed almost always give up on problems quickly, whereas those that believe their intelligence is malleable, conversely, stick with problems longer. Adults are no different. Those who are performance oriented are dissuaded by failure - they favor stability. Whereas those of who are learning oriented embrace opportunity and eschew the status quo ." Head Coaches To Lead Their Teams To 5 Straight 1st Round Tourney Wins: Chris Holtmann, Mike Krzyzewski, Jay Wright, Mark Few, Bill Self, Roy Williams, John Calipari Article: David Brooks - Thick versus Think organizations -- " How To Leave A Mark On People " Focus on the process... "Do today well." "Don't compare yourself to others." Why is Brad Stevens one of the most effective coaches in the world? "He's an extremely curious learner. He has tremendous EQ and understands how to connect with people." Chris got promoted to be the interim head coach at Butler shortly after accepting the job to be an assistant... His boss (athletic director) told him, "You'll be evaluated daily." He came to every practice to watch Chris coach. "It was hard to hear, but it was the reality. I couldn't listen to critiques. I had to coach to my convictions." Living your values: You must make a commitment to your values and live them daily. The values of the Ohio State basketball team: Truth Humility Respect Toughness - "Grit is imperative in successful people. Your response to challenging moments says everything to success." Coach Tony Bennett is tremendously tough. "Calm is contagious." Your response to difficult circumstances is what toughness is all about. Accountability Thankful "He who would be calm must first put on the appearance of being calm." How does one develop composure? "You need people around you to give you honest feedback. We don't realize how reactionary we can be." "Any time you feel upset with a player, wait to talk about it until you can process it. Think it through..." Excellence = Consistency Discipline "Your habits need to match your dreams." Be convicted in what you believe What Chris looks for in a player: Toughness -- "What's the most challenging thing you've been through? How did you respond?" Selfless "What's your body language on the bench when you aren't playing?" "What's your response to a teammates success?" Honesty Advice to leaders: You can't skip steps in the process of being a leader Value the beginning stages Eliminate comparison to others as much as possible Be committed to growing professionally and personally. It's about your daily habits. Your character is put on display. "We write our stories one decision at a time."

Nov 16, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 Notes: Sustaining Excellence = Passion for what they do Persistence - "Life is lumpy." People fall and have to dust themselves off. Character - Must be trustworthy, caring, and sensitive to others Values driven - "When things go wrong, take the pain" Bill Gates is an example of sustained excellence - "His persistence, his relationship with his wife Melinda. He's a great example of sustained excellence." Bob describes the time early in his career when he made big mistakes and the board fired him. He said, "I needed to learn strategy. You can't blame your followers. You must take 100% ownership." Read the book, The Best and The Brightest by David Halberstam "You need humility, you need to learn, you need emotional intelligence." How he felt when he got fired? "Unbelievably sad. It hung heavy on my shoulders." There are two ways to respond: Be a victim Be introspective "I remember the moment vividly. I was reading The Best and The Brightest . Hubris was the problem. They weren't going to the front lines to understand what was happening. I thought, Oh my God, Halberstam could be talking about me." "Our job is to LISTEN, get feedback, and fix it." As a leader, you must have the willingness and ability to define reality, not what you want it to be. Read Max Dupree - The Art of Leadership Understand The Stockdale Paradox - "You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose —with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be." ~ James Stockdale Building trust in a crisis: The 4 elements to be trustworthy: Sincerity - "Your public and private conversations should be the same" Competence - It's not the same as never making a mistake. Reliability - "Make promises. Deliver on those promises" Care - "Treat people well. Care for their well being. It's not transactional. Treat them with dignity and respect." How Bob stays so sharp at age 82: Lots of exercise - He trains 5 days a week Time with grandchildren Planning - "I still have a lot of gas left in the tank" Have a dream -- "Happiness is a mood. You can design a mood." Satisfaction Peace Fulfillment The four primary functions of a leader: Strategy - The CEO must shepherd the strategy People - Get the right people in the right jobs Communication - Align all constituencies behind the business. People must understand the mission Evolve - The world changes. Find a small team of experts to identify the issue, and leave the rest of the team alone to do their work "You need thrill customers continuously." "People will always be evaluating you as a leader. They look at your body language, and see how you respond." Hiring qualities Bob looks for in a leader: Crisp thorough about the job assignment. Complementarity - The use Gallup's strengths. Focus on strengths and them filling a gap on the current team. Fit the culture. Need to be able to work with a team and collaborate.

Nov 9, 2020

Text LEARNERS TO 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 Episode #391: Jake Wood - CEO of Team Rubicon Notes: Sustaining Excellence = Integrity - "I've been honored to serve with leaders who have high integrity." Initiative - Be proactive, take action Tenacity - The ability to overcome Enthusiasm - Bring energy to your environment What Jake learned from his Dad: "I feel lucky. He worked his way up with an untraditional resume. He worked his ass off." "He had this industrious nature and worked so hard." Giving the commencement speech at the University of Wisconsin "Our words (as leaders) matter." "None of life experiences went according to plan. And that's okay..." Being the point man -- It means, "When you walked a patrol, you walked first. If there was a landmine or booby trap in the road, you would be the first man to step on it. Initially, you walked in perpetual fear… There were intersections you had to cross where you would close your eyes and clench your teeth, but you never stopped pressing on." "Leadership is about love. You need to have a deep understanding of WHO your team is as people. Always think, 'how can I help them?' When they know they're loved by you, they'll feel safe. When they feel safe, that leads to courage." Clay Hunt -- "We went to sniper school together... He was a good Marine. When I got paired up with him, I was told, 'you are nothing without this partner.'" He didn't kill himself because of what happened to him in Iraq and Afghanistan. He killed himself because of what he lost when he came home: Purpose, Self-Worth, and Community. Since 2012, more service members have died by suicide than in combat. " Purpose is a universal human need ." The Acceptance of Risk: In Blackjack, there is a correct move for every interaction. When you have 16 and the dealer has a face card, you should hit. There is a 32% chance you win if you hit. There is a 26% chance you win if you stay. And yet, people stay. They haven't come to grips with the risk. They'd rather sit back and try not to lose instead of taking the correct step. As a leader, you have to accept the risk, understand it, and press on. The WHO -- "Surround yourself with realists who offer you candid feedback." What does Jake look for when hiring a leader? They must demonstrate they can overcome hardship Ability to persevere Industrious "I'll take passion over talent any day." The Haiti Earthquake in 2010. 100,000 people instantly died. 100,000 more died within the next 25 days. Jake felt compelled to go there to help. Thus the beginning of Team Rubicon Winning the Pat Tillman award. "It was a huge honor. Pat was why I joined the Marine Corps." His process to deliver the speech... "The producers wanted to take out the part of the speech that resonated most with people... The ending: Know your neighbor, love your neighbor, help you neighbor." Speechwriting/Communication skill: "A company is nothing more than a story." Treat your people like characters in the story. READ a lot of books. General Jim Mattis said, "There is a moral responsibility for leaders to read. If you have not read 100's of books, you're functionally illiterate." Vision - You need to convince your team you can take them to places they didn't know they could go. Book: ONCE A WARRIOR It's the 10 year anniversary for Team Rubicon... It's time to memorialize it. "America needs to find inspiration. The book finishes with hope. It's life's most essential virtue."

Nov 2, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 Notes: Sustaining Excellence = The pursuit of WOW... "It's not just meeting spec." Leading is voluntary "Playing covers of yourself is not leadership." Leadership vs. Management? Management is about power and a title Leadership is about stepping up. NASCAR... Starbucks closed for a day to train everyone. Why does Seth teach people how to juggle? "It's about the throw, not the catch." If you want to change your story, change your actions first. We become what we do . Lost in all the noise around us is the proven truth that creativity is the result of desire. A Desire to solve an old problem, a desire to serve someone else. It's not a bolt of lightning from somewhere else... The difference between talent and skill: Talent is something we're born with: it's in our DNA, a magical alignment of gifts. Skill is earned. It's learned and practiced and hard-won. It's insulting to call a professional talented. She's skill, first and foremost. In the words of Steve Martin, "I had no talent. None." Sculptor Elizabeth King said it beautifully, "process saves us from the poverty of our intentions." Surprising truths that have been hidden by our desire for those perfect outcomes: Hubris is the opposite of trust Professionals produce with intent Creativity is an act of leadership We become creative when we ship the work Passion is a choice Practical Empathy -- "We have to be able to say, 'it's not for you' and mean it. The work exists to serve someone, to change someone, to make something better. We live in an outcome focused culture. The plumber doesn't get credit for effort, he gets credit if the faucet stops leaking. Lost in this obsession with outcome is the truth that outcomes are the results of process. Focusing solely on outcomes forces us to make choices that are banal, short term or selfish. It takes our focus away from the journey and encourages us to give up too early. The story of Drew Dernavich — he shared a picture of his "no" pile and of his "yes" pile. He's a cartoonist. "Drew's not a genius, he just has more paper than we do." Embrace your own temporary discomfort: Art doesn't seek to create comfort. It creates change. And change requires tension. The same is true for learning. True learning (as opposed to education) is a voluntary experience that requires tension and discomfort (the persistent feeling of incompetence as we get better at a skill). Generosity is the most direct way to find the practice. It subverts resistance by focusing the work on someone else. Generosity means that we don't have to seek reassurance for the self, but can instead concentrate on serving others. Selling is Difficult - Amateurs often feel like they're taking something from the prospect - their time, their attention, ultimately their money. But what if you recast your profession as a chance to actually solve someone's problem? " Selling is simply a dance with possibility and empathy. It requires you to see the audience you've chosen to serve, then to bring them what they need ." Sales is about intentionally creating tension: the tension of "maybe," the tension of "this might not work," the tension of "what will I tell my boss…" That's precisely the tension that we dance with as creators. The story of General Magic - Megan Smith, Andy Hertzfeld, Marc Porat inventing virtually every element of the modern smartphone. And their first model sold 3,000 units. There were 10 years ahead of their time. The business failed, but the project didn't. Seth's initial denial to be on my show… "Keep going and write back to me after you've recorded 75 episodes and have a big show." Episode #75 came out November 26, 2015, I emailed you that day and said, "I'm at #75, are you ready to go?" And he was a man of your word. He was episode #86 . His speaking style is built through visuals. He finds the visuals first and then creates the story and application second. Why does Seth fly fish without a hook? "To disconnect with the outcome." The story of Thornton May -- He had no sales quota. He went city to city and invited everyone from a specific industry to a meal. Competitors would join and Thornton would be the person to bring everyone together. He became the person they called.

Oct 25, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 Notes: Episode #389: Ed Latimore The four life lessons: "Never underestimate the power of being likeable and controlling your emotions." "Nothing is neutral. People are trying to help you or move ahead of you. In basic training, he was a terrible shot. He failed the shooting test three times (which was the limit), and yet got a fourth chance because he was likable. And then passed. "They saw me working hard, so they helped me." How to be more likable? -- "Don't curry favor. Be you... Have high standards. Treat everyone with respect. Have impeccable manners. Be comfortable with the fact that you're not for everyone." "No one cares what happened to you or what you've been through. No one is coming to save you." "Society is not going to take pity on you if your problems create problems for others." You need to work to through your own issues and ow your actions. Don't take your trauma out on others." How has Ed built the perspective to not be a victim? "It's about delivering value to others. And not subtracting it. That's destructive. Forgiveness is a powerful idea. Holding a grudge is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die ." "The most powerful belief you can have is that given enough time, you can learn anything. Rome wasn't built in a day, but Hiroshima was wiped out in seconds." Keep plotting along... Ed did this as a boxer and math and with every aspect of his life. Keep going. "Fall in love with the process." "Make a movement with intention and in pursuit." "A limitation is only as powerful as the energy you give to it. Your dreams also follow this same law." "You'll only be as successful as your worst habit." "You must recognize the problem and/or the limitation." High achievers tend to be a paradox. They have self-confidence combined with insecurity. It creates a fusion reaction. It drives them to continually prove themselves. How is money made? "Give people something they want." Ed desires to be the most interesting version of himself Compartmentalization: You can't approach others with a sense that you're better than them You must be adaptable to a variety of circumstances Understand the dichotomy of being confident and humble at the same time

Oct 18, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #388: Patrick Lencioni - The 6 Types of Working Genius Notes: What is a "Working Genius?" – There are six different types, and we all have two of them that are natural to us. We are good at doing them, and we get energy and joy and satisfaction from them. What about the other four areas? – Two of them are areas that we really struggle with. They exhaust us and drain us of our energy and passion, and in many cases, we're not very good at them. We call these our areas of Working Frustration. We should doing those things as much as we possibly can, and we certainly shouldn't do work that calls for us to do them frequently. That is a recipe for frustration, failure, depression. And then there are two other areas that are in between our geniuses and our frustrations, we call these Working Competencies, areas that we can do pretty well, maybe even really well, but that don't necessarily give us energy or joy. It's fine to have these things be part of your job, and even the primary part of your job sometimes, but it's not as good as living and working in your areas of genius. What is different about The Six Types of Working Genius and other personal assessments out there? -- This one is quicker to understand, easier to apply, and focused on the work of getting things done. What are the six types of working genius? Wonder - People with this genius can't help but question whether things could be better in the world around them. They are troubled whenever they see unmet potential, and they are constantly curious and on the lookout for the need to change something. Invention - This type of genius is all about creativity. People who have it love to generate new ideas and solutions to problems and are even comfortable coming up with something out of nothing. Discernment - People with this type of genius have a natural ability when it comes to evaluating or assessing a given idea or situation and providing guidance. They have good instincts, gut feel and judgment about the subtleties of making decisions that integrate logic, common sense and human needs. Galvanizing - This type of genius is about bringing energy and movement to an idea or decision. People who have it like to initiate activity by rallying people to act and inspiring them to get involved. Enablement - People with this type of genius are quick to respond to the needs of others by offering their cooperation and assistance with a project, program or effort. They naturally provide the human assistance that is required in any endeavor, and not on their own terms. Tenacity - This type is about ensuring that a given project, program or effort is taken to completion and achieves the desired result. People who have this genius push for required standards of excellence and live to see the impact of their work. What are Pat's areas of working genius? "I am naturally good at and drawn to what we call Invention and Discernment, I like to come up with new, original ideas, even when it's not what's called for. And I love to use my intuition to evaluate and assess ideas and plans to see what would be best. My areas of frustration are Tenacity and Enablement, meaning I struggle to push projects through to completion after the initial excitement wears off, and I have a hard time providing assistance to others on their terms. That doesn't mean I can't do those things, because all of us have to do things we don't like or aren't good at sometimes. But if I'm in a situation where people are relying on me as their primary source of enablement and tenacity, that's not good for me or for them in the long run." What are my areas of working genius? Discernment and Tenacity. The assessment says: "You are good at and enjoy using your intuition and instincts to evaluate and assess ideas or plans, and pushing projects and tasks through to completion to ensure that the desired results are achieved." Your likely areas of Working Competency are: Invention and Galvanizing . "You are capable of and don't mind creating original and novel ideas and solutions, and rallying people and inspiring them to take action around a project, task or idea."

Oct 11, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Twitter/IG: @RyanHawk12 Episode #387: Arthur Blank - Owner of The Atlanta Falcons Notes: His Dad died when he was 44 years young, leaving his business to Arthur's mother. Arthur's mom took over and built a successful company. He learned to be principled and values driven from his mom. His mom always told him, "Principle matters." Arthur got fired from his job at Handy Dan in 1978. He didn't take it personally and founded The Home Depot with Bernie Marcus. At the original Home Depot headquarters, he and Bernie Marcus shared a bathroom between their offices. In the hallway outside the bathroom, they hang up press clippings. Not the accolades, or the awards won, but the negative stories and criticism. Why? You cannot have complacency or believe you are beyond reproach. Must always keep striving to get better. How did they duplicate the original Home Depot culture when they expanded beyond their first four stores? "You must always promote people based on them living the values of the company. Ahead of everything else." "The culture is critical." Ask, "Can they lead using our values?" --> Read the book, The War For Talent How did they maintained the culture as they acquired nine additional stores? Originally, it was an issue. "It was like changing the tires on a car as it was driving 30 miles per hour." "We had to self impose slowing down the growth." Must train the team on the culture "We didn't have money for training, but we did it anyway." To build a long term, sustainable business, you must focus on training. "You have to have a caring mentality. It takes time. I'm only interested in relationships. It's all about building long term relationships." Arthur tells the story of when he came to an agreement to buy the Falcons from Taylor Smith -- He booked a nice hotel suite, had dinner/wine, etc… He wrote on a napkin, "For Atlanta and the Falcons, $545 million. To the heritage and the tradition, in the past and the future." ---> Taylor asked what you were doing and Arthur said "This is a bond between the two of us." And further, "Important deals don't get done on paper napkins, it had to be a cloth one." → That napkin is displayed at the training facility of the Falcons and the team is now worth 5 times what he paid. "It was a win-win negotiation." In the lobby of your Atlanta offices, stands a custom bronze statue of a Sioux warrior in full battle regalia. He cannot move from his position on the battlefield -- he will stand his ground until victory or death. His chin proudly lifted and eyes scanning the horizon, he raises his bow, an arrow poised on the string. It's entitled, Point of No Return . It depicts a time-honored tradition of Sioux Leadership. "You have to lead from the front." Arthur names all of your conference rooms after personal heroes (Kurt Hahn is one of them, he is the founder of Outward Bound) -- " To strive, to serve, and not to yield ." When he was the new owner of the Falcons, he walked to the back of the plane where the players were sitting and said, "Don't worry, I'm not going to try to coach you, but I need to know, what can I do for you? What do you need?" ("The Best Think Tank Any Company Could Ask For) -- "That one hour flight was worth a dozen strategy meetings with the team's executives or coaching staff." (You need to have a front line obsession, Chris Zook -- Get to the people who really know. The ones closest to the action) Innovate Continuously -- Need non stop reinvention. Leaders need to ensure that the road is cleared of unnecessary speed bumps and overly stringent traffic rules. Too much bureaucracy will kill innovation before it has even begun. Top down management structure will always constrain people's entrepreneurial spirit. --- The "Invisible Fence" style of management. "Hire people who are overqualified." -- Arthur had lunch with Charles Lazarus one day, the founder of Toys R Us, and he said, "the hardest moments are when you have to look at a person who helped you get to $1 Billion and realize that person can't help you get to $10 Billion." "Treat every team member as a free agent" -- Never take people for granted. "They should be committed because of the culture, not the contract."

Oct 4, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com IG/Twitter: @RyanHawk12 Notes: The Learning Leader Show "Life is on the wire. The rest is just waiting." -- Karl Wallenda (Nik's grandfather) "Fear of Feathers" -- One of the greatest fears of our current age: uncertainty. On March 4, 2020, Nik completed his greatest accomplishment to date, walking over the lava lake of the active Masaya Volcano. On June 4, 2011, Nik Wallenda successfully completed the high wire walk in San Juan that took his grandfather's life -- a 135-foot-long high-wire crossing between the two towers of the ten-story Condado Plaza Hotel. John Maxwell saw Nik speak at an event and encouraged him to write a book. Nik shares how his worst fear came true when five family members fell while doing a stunt. He thought, should I get back up on the wire? He learned from his family that they always fulfill their contracts. "I get goosebumps telling this story... My dad said, 'I'll always be there for you.'" "It's my job as the leader to figure out who's shaky and be there for them." Work to counter negativity with positivity and preparation. Nik's mother walked the wire when she was six months pregnant with him. "This is the way I came into the world. This is the way I want to go out." "One day you eat the chicken. The next day, you eat the feathers." "What you would call fear, I would call respect." "The worst thing you can do for a wild animal is show it fear. Show respect instead." "I never wear a harness unless my network partner makes me." The preparation process for a big event is meticulous and intense. He wears an oxygen deprivation mask to feel what it's like to not have a lot of oxygen. "It's all about building mental confidence." Make training much harder than the event "You cannot ever train enough." "If you think you should practice 5 times, do it 50 times." Excellence = A passion about being good at what you do Too many people are miserable at what they do. It's fear. "Even if you hate your job, do it with excellence." "You have to show up at work every single day." "Be positive, force yourself to smile." What is Nik thinking while walking over an active volcano? "I'm free, I'm excited, I have every emotion you can imagine." Alex Honold and David Blaine have become great friends and are very helpful.

Sep 27, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full notes at www.LearningLeader.com IG/Twitter: @RyanHawk12 Notes: Community — In Rome, Panaetius met a fellow student of Diogenes named Gaius Laelius, and later in a naval contingent, met and served with Scipio Aemilianus, one of Rome's great Generals. These three men formed a kind of philosophical club — known to historians today as the Scipionic Club (like Ben Franklin's Junto's) — they would meet you discuss and debate the stoic philosophy they all pursued. Plutarch wrote in Moralia: Precepts of Stagecraft "it is a fine thing also, when we gain advantage from the friendship of great men, to turn welfare of our community, as Polybius and Panaetius, thru Scipio's goodwill towards them, conferred great benefits upon their native states" Ryan participates in off site adventures with other top authors in the world like James Clear and Mark Manson. They go there to share ideas and help one another. He experienced another example of this as he was asked to speak to a group of the top athletic directors in collegiate sports. All of them are very competitive with each other, yet they still meet regularly to share ideas and help one another. Zeno had little patience for idlers or big egos on his porch -- "Stoa is the Greek word for porch." Zeno said " better to trip with the feet than with the tongue " He was the first to express the four virtues of stoicism Courage Temperance/Moderation Justice Wisdom Consistency -- "His work was not defined by some single epiphany or discovery but instead by hard work. He inched his way there, through years of study and training as we all must." Zeno said " well being is realized by small steps, but is truly no small thing ." Cleanthes — he not only continued his labors but actively turned down large financial gifts to help him retire to his studies — to him labor and philosophy were not rivals. They were pursuits that furthered and enabled each other. The ancients used to describe his industriousness: philoponia - a love of work. Chrysippus, the third Leader is the stoic school. He was introduced to running and it changed his life. The same is true for Ryan... "A marathon doesn't care that you're tired at mile 20. You have to get to 26.2 to be done. Your mind wants to quit much earlier than your body has to." "When you think you're done, you're at 40%." - David Goggins The stoic idea of Oikeiosis - that we share something and our interests are naturally connected to those of our fellow humans — is as pressing in the ancient world as it is today. "Being poor is not having too little, it is wanting more." Seneca Stay a Student -- The Maxim For Every Successful Person; 'Always Stay A Student' -- "Every man I meet is my master in some point, and in that I learn of him." — Ralph Waldo Emerson. Genghis Khan one of the greatest military minds who ever lived, he was a perpetual student. How to find stillness? Stop watching the news Journal - Anne Frank wrote when she struggled: "Paper," she said, "has more patience than people." Go for a walk or run Seek solitude -- Bill Gates "think weeks" How to balance temperance and justice? Start by being better ourselves As a citizen, where do you draw the line? Particularly when it's not in your interest to do so... What are you willing to sacrifice to insist on your standard? Epictetus' instructions: Separate things into what you control and what you don't Choose not to be complicit in getting offended Prep for adversity in advance Realize every situation has 2 handles—grab the right one Memento Mori—let death put everything in perspective "Writer's block is a phony, made up BS excuse for not doing your work." Jerry Seinfeld Life advice -- "Don't send me an email asking if you can ask me a question. Just ask the question." -- Ryan Holiday Be worthy of a great mentor... Do work that impresses them. Gets their attention. "Writing forces you to clarify your thinking..."

Sep 20, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #384: Les Brown - You've Got To Be Hungry Notes: "If you want to be successful in life, do these three things..." Change your mindset - "You don't get in life what you want, you get in life what you are." Practice OQP - "Only Quality People" Develop your communication skills - "Once you open your mouth, you tell the world who you are. Sidney Poitier wrote a book called The Measure of a Man and she said, "When you go for a walk with someone, something happens without being spoken. He said, "either you adjust to their pace or they adjust to your pace." Think "Whose pace have you adjusted to? Les needed to disrupt the vision he had of himself in order to change... Distract Dispute Inspire Expand the vision of what's possible for life Mike Williams -- "The Road To Your Best Stuff" Keys to growth: Hire a coach Use your story to create an experience for your audience "Be transformed by the renewing of their minds." "You can't fit a big dream into a small mind." "We are here to live a life that will out live us." "The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why." - Mark Twain Les has battled cancer for 27 years... The beginning: When Les's mom worked for a white family, they would make her clap her hands regularly when she was alone in a different room to ensure she wasn't stealing anything. When Les learned why his mom always had to clap her hands together, he made it his mission to ensure that he would buy her a house one day... And eventually that's exactly what he did. Negative thoughts are like weeds. They'll keep coming back. You have to keep at it and have a positive mind. Every morning, Les takes the following action: Has a verbal (positive) affirmation Writes seven things he wants to do that day Reads 20-30 pages "There is power in pursuit... Set goals beyond your comfort zone." Have a perpetual plan of action "You're never too old to learn" "You're never too young to teach" "Don't ever stop raising the bar on yourself." There are three kinds of people: Millionaires, Billionaires, and Witnesses "You gotta be hungry." Thoreau - "Go where there's no path and leave a trail." What does Les think immediately before going on stage with 80,000 people in the crowd? "More of THE, less of ME." "When you wax a floor, you need to strip it first. The same is true with coaching." "Cancer Conquerors" -- "I don't have time to die, I've got too much work to do." Excellence: Durable, sustainable advantage. "I will not fail." All accomplishments happen in the mind first... And then in practice.

Sep 13, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #383: Guy Raz - How I Built This Excellence = Ambition Desire to produce for the sake of personal fulfillment -- "It's oxygen" Bill Gates is constantly challenging himself... Having a growth mindset. "To survive means to grow." How has Guy become one of the greatest interviewers in the world? "I've been shooting free throws for 25 years. I've gotten a lot of reps." To be great, you have to be bad at the beginning... And keep going. How to connect with others? "I interpret the non-verbal feedback." Purposeful Practice: It's a team effort -- "I've worked with my team for twenty years. There is a strong bond and connection. They are very honest with their feedback. Constructive criticism is essential. We need outsiders to assess us." Guy thanks his mom and dad in the acknowledgement section of his book: They came to America in the 1970's. "Being courageous requires resilience." Guy has covered four wars, but he still doesn't feel he's as courageous as his parents. "Without taking a risk there is no reward." When Guy is afraid to take a risk, he thinks of his parents. How his fellowship year at Harvard impacted him: They teach through case studies and stories. It helped him understand business and storytelling. Guy is inspired by Joseph Campbell's hero's journey... His 'Must-Have' qualities to get hired to work on his team: Kindness - "We filter for kindness" They have to "want to improve" How Guy prepares to interview someone for one of his shows: Contact them well ahead of the interview date Do a deep dive on them and people around them (read, watch videos, listen to podcasts) Do a background check "All of us are imperfect... That's what make someone relatable. We all have flaws. You need to hear the failures." "The interviewee must be generous with their emotions. "The idea that I can learn from someone excites me." "I love transmitting the story." The idea for How I Built This came to him in 2008 when he took a class at Harvard Business School during a sabbatical year as a Nieman journalism fellow after nearly eight years as a foreign correspondent. Guy demands that those who sit for an interview with him are completely open. "I ask them, 'Are you willing to come to this interview and surrender?'" Guy stared as an NPR intern and didn't get the initial jobs he wanted... I asked... "How much of your success can be attributed to luck and how much skill/hard work?" Life advice: Get a job in sales -- All jobs have a selling component. Learn this crucial skill. Be methodical about your experiences. Keep your eyes open for problems all around you... Look for problems to solve. All businesses are built on solving a problem.

Sep 6, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more details Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #382: Morgan Housel - Timeless Lessons On Wealth, Greed, & Happiness Notes: "Writing helps crystallize vague thoughts in your mind." It helps clarify your thoughts. Writing is an art. When you publish your own work, you own the success or failure. Public speaking is a great tool to learn how to communicate succinctly. It's a skill worth building. The Psychology of Money is a study in understanding why people do what they do... "Use money to control your time. That's the highest dividend money can do for you." Why work with Collaboration Fund: You need more than just a check: values, philosophies, get your thoughts out into the world. Stories are more powerful than statistics. And most statistics are incomplete props to justify a story. Stories are easier to remember, easier to relate to, and emotionally persuasive. "Stop telling kids they can be whatever they want to be. You can be whatever you're good at, as long as they're hiring. And even then it helps to know someone." -- Chris Rock Excellence = Patience - Stick with it. Continue to go during down periods. That's how compounding works. Success Laws -- "Strong beliefs, weakly held." Storytelling: "The prize goes to the person who can explain something well... Stories move the needle. You convince someone something is true through stories." How to become a better storyteller? READ a lot. And practice. "If you're going to try to predict the future — whether it's where the market is heading, or what the economy is going to do, or whether you'll be promoted — think in terms of probabilities, not certainties. Death and taxes, as they say, are the only exceptions to this rule." Some quotes (thanks to RightAttitudes.com) "Two things make an economy grow: population growth and productivity growth. Everything else is a function of one of those two drivers." "Changing your mind is one of the most difficult things we do. It is far easier to fool yourself into believing a falsehood than admit a mistake." "Study successful investors, and you'll notice a common denominator: they are masters of psychology. They can't control the market, but they have complete control over the gray matter between their ears." "There's a strong correlation between knowledge and humility. People who spend 10 minutes on Google studying monetary policy think they have it all figured out, while people with PhD's and decades of experience throw up their hands in frustration. The more you study economics, the more you realize how little we know about it." "When you think you have a great idea, go out of your way to talk with someone who disagrees with it. At worst, you continue to disagree with them. More often, you'll gain valuable perspective. Fight confirmation bias like the plague." "Short-term thinking is at the root of most of our problems, whether it's in business, politics, investing, or work."

Aug 30, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 IG/Twitter: @RyanHawk12 Full notes at www.LearningLeader.com #381: John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Notes: Excellence: Energy - Vitality -- "You cannot be lazy" "You need a strong desire to be excellent" Excellent leaders strive for excellence in everything they choose to do Good physical and mental health Honor - "Hold yourself to high standards" John and Rene Lawson raised $45,000 from family and friends and borrowed $10,000 in 1978 to open a small natural foods store called SaferWay in Austin, Texas. When the couple were evicted from their apartment for storing food products in it, they decided to live at the store. Because it was zoned for commercial use, there was no shower stall, so they bathed using a water hose attached to their dishwasher. Two years later they brought on partners who owned another grocery store and formed Whole Foods Markets. Having high expectations: As a younger person in his early 20's, John was curious about learning... He loved organic, natural food before it was popular. Revolutions: The running revolution happened in the 1970's - He got into that. The long runs made him feel fantastic. He became a vegetarian. It helped him feel better, be more alive. He is now a vegan. In 1981, they had to deal with a 100 year flood in Austin. "Renee had to swim out of the store that day." "Whole Foods should have died that day. That was when I learned about stakeholders." --> Many people helped them stay in business. "A banker co-signed on the loan without approval because he trusted me. I didn't find out until later." He moved to Boulder in 1999 to run WholePeople.com -- Then the internet bubble popped and it failed. When he moved back to Austin, TX, a coup was afoot... One of his trusted senior leaders was trying to get John fired. John walked through the nearest Whole Foods while preparing to tell the board why he should keep his job... "I get a super high touring that store." Touring the stores helps you feel the pulse of the company. John thought, "Oh my God, this is the love of my life. This is my purpose." That's what he told the board and senior execs and convinced them to let him keep his job. He learned to cultivate and build relationships with his board through that... A "Conscious Leader" = Vision & Virtue – Put purpose first, lead with love Mindset & Strategy – Find win-win solutions. Innovate and create value People & Culture – Constantly evolve the team. Regularly revitalize, continually learn and grow John has elected to take a $1 yearly salary and to forgo any bonus or stock grants since 2007. Hiring: "You're no better than your team." "Excellence is continued growth." "When you stop growing you begin to die." You need to constantly revitalize yourself: Sleep well Eat healthy food Exercise People are addicted to bad food... But you can change this habit if you're willing to go through some pain for a month or two. You can teach yourself to enjoy healthy foods. It needs to become a habit. Hiring: Do group interviews - Don't rely on just one person Looks for: Intelligence ('that's the ante to get in') Emotional Intelligence -- "Steve Jobs would not have gotten hired at Whole Foods" Need to work well with others Take responsibility High integrity Chemistry with others and high character Ask, "Who have you helped get promoted?" "Who have you developed?" "How?" The sale to Amazon "We took a plane up to Seattle and met in Jeff's (Bezos) house. It was very secretive. There was a lot of security around." "The conversation was like falling in love. They were just regular guys who were very smart." "Jeff (Bezos) is unpretentious, has a great sense of humor, and is a genius. He's brilliant." "It's like marriage, I love them 98% of the time." Advice: "Life is an adventure. Go for it."

Aug 23, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #380: Jay Hennessey - How To Build A Learning Organization Shared Adversity - "That's what creates the foundation for teams. It's the glue that builds trust." MOFO - Mandatory Optional Fitness Opportunity SEAL training - The shared adversity among trainees creates camaraderie. Evolutions are team based. "Lock arms laying the surf" "Great teams aren't created by happenstance" -- You must be intentional and deliberate. What is the culture you want to create? - "You must be deliberate about that up front." "The language you use is so important." Dan Coyle is the ultimate connector "When people are asking you questions, it's super energizing" -- Approach each conversation with a curious mind Foster "Organization Humility" The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge: The discipline of team learning starts with 'dialogue', the capacity of members of a team to suspend assumptions and enter into a genuine 'thinking together'. To the Greeks dia-logos meant a free-flowing of meaning through a group, allowing the group to discover insights not attainable individually…. [It] also involves learning how to recognize the patterns of interaction in teams that undermine learning. Dialog vs. Discussion Dialog = Strong convictions loosely held. Starting with, "I may be wrong..." Discussion = Trying to convince others you're right The Learning Organization Get reps - Read with someone else and share Engage the learner: Just in time Just for you Just in case Building a learning organization creates a competitive advantage: Great teams are always learning, evolving, and changing. What you know now will be extinct in five years. Must keep learning. "Nobody that we hire wants to be stagnant." There is no mandatory compliance. Book: Practice Perfect - - "Whoever is doing the talking is doing the learning." When building a learning organization, stress that it's about active participation. Not passively watching lectures, but actively participating in them. Being a "Yes, And..." leader -- Build off the ideas of others. Lift them up. A "Yes, And..." leader doesn't need the credit. They bring energy to the group. "Leadership is about making something better than it was when you found it and doing so by developing people along the way. Leaders cannot be energy neutral. They are either adding energy or taking energy." - Tom Ogburn Don't be a "Mr. Poopy Pants" -- "Oh, well that will never work." Nobody wants to work with Mr. Poopy Pants. How to develop awareness: Started as the second youngest guy on the seam when he went to SEAL team 5. He was 2nd in charge of his platoon. "Show up with humility and think, 'where can I add value?' Ask for help from mentors -- Hitch yourself to a strong chief. "Have a strong burden to add value" A stay ready mindset -- Have a 'never peak' attitude. Always ready to go. No excuses. "In every aspect of your life, no one cares what you used to be able to do, they care what you can do today." What type of leader do you want to be? -- Write it down. Leaders need to think deeply. Writing forces that to happen. Write your command philosophy Be deliberate Be a connector: What is the difference between Connecting and Networking – Networking is looking for people who you can help; networking is looking for people who can help you. Be a connector. How to build comfort in your own skin? Do hard things -- Progress turns into confidence It's a self-efficacy model -- It's okay to fail. Overcome it and keep going. Be part of something bigger than you. Excellence -- "Humility is the enabler for curiosity." Here is WHY joining a Learning Leader Circle is a good idea... Jay's "Leadership Philosophy" Mission: To execute at my fullest potential and to serve as a resource to help my Family and Teammates continuously improve at every stage of their personal and professional development. Vision: to lead a healthy and happy family where we all strive to become the best version of ourselves. Professionally, my vision is to be a contributing member of a learning organization with a culture that encourages learning and development at every level. Core Attributes: Humility, curiosity, empathy, trust, followership, generosity, competition, health & fitness, gratitude Guiding Leadership Principles: Exude positivity, communicate effectively, learn and adapt in all areas of personal and professional life, be creative, iterate & execute quickly, be aggressive, have fun, show initiative toward opportunities and problems, challenge self, solitude/mindfulness, be deliberate (set goals, reflect) Leadership Statement: Make the most of everything I do – be positive, have fun, learn, adapt, and push / pull / drag or chase my teammates toward our goals.

Aug 16, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 to learn more Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com #379: Jack Butcher - Founder of Visualize Value Notes: Excellence: Humility - "People who don't think they're very good." The willingness to "put yourself in situations where you don't have a clue." No Plateau - Need to put yourself in scenarios where you are inexperienced... To learn and build resilience. Why Jack shoots "one take" videos and doesn't edit --There is a focus on "getting things out there." Ship it. Publish. Take action. "The ability to publish is prioritized." You can build a bond with a teacher through their authenticity. Create and share what you're building in real time... People want to go on that journey with you (when it's real) How Jack has built such a high level of confidence in himself -- Had a great mentor who was a polymath. It was six months into being a designer... Jack was preparing to show some of his work. He framed it as "I'm not sure if this is any good..." His mentor told him, "Never discount what you're doing prior to showing it to them." Frame it right. KNOW YOUR WORK. Own the full interaction of your story. Explain how you got the answer. DO the necessary work to understand it at its fundamental level. Think as if you are going to defend your work as you present it -- "What would the worst critic say about this work?" How would I respond to that? Do your research and be prepared. That's how confidence is built. Be consciously competent about your work. Visualize Value -- Jack is a designer by trade. He has built his skills based on his previous decade working with some of the world's largest brands. He most enjoyed the strategic component of the process -- The articulation of the strategy through the use of compelling visual images. Think: How can I make this argument more visual? He helps businesses understand their value proposition He takes the same principle to consumers now with Visualize Value Leadership Development - Understand the individual components to transformation Curriculum - Organize it to a sequence of principles that build on one another. Share myths - What's incorrect Don't skip the foundation Share the problem - Don't just focus on the symptom Prescriptions can mask the symptom Help with transformation -- "Debug the code" "Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better." - Pat Riley As a leader, it's important to constantly set a new baseline. Consistency - "We're bad at understanding the compounding function." Resistance - Progress is a force you're pushing against. Your ability to continually push forward against the resistance is critical in your long term success. Sales - There's no scenario where sales isn't important. Sales is always a component to what you're doing whether you like it or not.

Aug 9, 2020

Text LEARNERS to 44222 IG/Twitter: @RyanHawk12 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com #378: Brad Feld Notes: Excellence: Honesty - Clear view of what's going on with self and others Transparency/Authenticity is overused Confirmed process of learning - Hypothesis, clarity of though around experimentation Advice to a new manager: Ask a lot of questions REALLY LISTEN - Engage in conversations... Don't just try to get the right answer We have endless biases "People defend their biases instead of questioning their biases." --> Have a curious mind. Curiosity: His parents gave him positive feedback for being inquisitive... An exploration of new ideas. Brad loves to read and takes a digital sabbath every Saturday. Approach new ideas with a Buddhist philosophy --> Let go of assumptions. Approach each topic with a beginner's mind. A founder who is an explorer -- "Don't get stuck as an investor by constantly asking questions. You need to want to deeply understand someone. It goes both ways. Literal answers aren't enough." The role of the founder is "to collect people." → Mentor side, peer side, employee side, customer side. Engage with people. Create a 'bi-directional' connection. This has shifted over time for Brad. Think #GiveFirst Life partner - Amy... They are equals. It's important to acknowledge that. They almost split up after 10 years because Brad's words were not matching his actions. "YOUR WORDS MUST MATCH YOUR ACTIONS.' Prioritize what's important and then follow through. If it's important to you to spend time with your spouse, then do it. Brad and Amy had to learn how to fight... When their 13 year old dog died, it was devastating. Amy and Brad deal with tragedy differently. It's important to understand that it's OK for your spouse to deal with grief differently than you do. Key Parts to building community: The people in charge must be leaders Must have a long term commitment --> 20 years+ Inclusive of anyone who wants to engage Have events that engage people Complex systems to how communities evolve --Complicated systems has more steps. Goal setting - They tend to be too rigid. The time component can be a problem. Brad prefers raid iteration. Better to have a hypothesis. If the hypothesis fails, learn it. Eric Ries - Lean Startup Rapid experimentation - Rapid learning is better Vast majority of goals you set are not right in the future Writing - "When I write, I learn." Force yourself to write it down. Put it in public. Have an open mind to feedback. "People get stuck in dogma when they don't write things down. They don't know why they believe in it." You can't do this quickly. People don't feel like they have time to think. That's a problem. The role of selling: Selling is crucial. You are selling all the time. Sales is a noble profession. Acknowledge it. Develop the skills to do it well. Everyone works in sales.

Aug 2, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #377: Casper Ter Kuile - How To Turn Everyday Activities Into Soulful Practices Notes: Excellence: Always learning Commitment - Willingness to go deep Generosity Patience Casper spent his 30th birthday with nuns. He's not very religious but realized he had a lot in common with them. They care about the same things. They're very honest. What he learned from his mother and father: Father - Do well when you follow the rules. Be detail oriented. Honest. Trustworthy. Mother - She has a more "cheeky side." She breaks the rules. Deep connection isn't just about relationships with other people. It's about feeling the fullness of being alive. It's about being enveloped in multiple layers of belonging within, between, and around us. Four Levels of connection: Connecting with yourself Connecting with the people around you Connecting with the natural world Connecting with the transcendent Tradition -- "We mistake tradition for convention. Tradition is the beating heart, convention is the outer expression." A college football team can change their uniforms and not lose tradition. The uniforms are a form of outer expression. You change symbols as you grow. Preaching at its best is a conversation with the congregation. Ancient texts are so valuable. The Bible is a description of how life is... Casper shares what it was like growing up in England and not fitting in... His home life was great. His school life was awful. Connection: Willing to change Forged in flames Honesty & commitment to each other Science is stable - we value being in tribes. There's less of a connection to places and family. There is a decline in religious communities. Why has there been a decrease? Productivity has become so important. To be productive, relationships are sacrificed. Priorities have shifted. We are missing opportunities to go deep with people At work: Younger people show up at a job for the meaning of the company... The military: Soldiers care about the people they are shoulder to shoulder with... They honor their culture. As a manager: Replicate water cooler moments (virtually). 30 minutes snippets on zoom. Invite people to go deeper. Use question prompts - create safe spaces. It's an interesting time for relationship design. He's created "The Confession Group" The leader needs to model vulnerability but hold the boundaries. Have a place where people can go to admit they screwed up -- 10 minutes to share, 10 minutes to ask questions Discipline: Take a tech sabbath -- Each Friday, Casper hides his phone and computer. It's rest time. Sabbath - "The apex of life." What we practice is what we become "We all worship something. We just don't know what we're worshiping." The paradigm of how we see ourselves in the world.

Jul 26, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 @RyanHawk12 Full notes at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #376: David Perell - Why You Should Write Notes: The importance of writing -- Why everyone should write … "Having a website with articles you've published is like having a personal agent who finds career opportunities for you 24/7." "Writing crystallizes ideas in ways thinking on its own will never accomplish." — Morgan Housel "The person who writes sets the strategy. If you want to lead, write." "Writing is a 'proof of work' mechanism" It shows the world that you've thought deeply about a topic Networking - The old way vs the new way Old -- Go to conferences, happy hours, networking events New -- Publish your work online. You attract the type of people you want... Bill James analytical approach. His book only sold 550 copies, but one of them was to Billy Beane (General Manager of the Oakland A's). And the "Moneyball" revolution was created... The Venn Diagram of Specificity Learn how to create this for your business How to built a career? Do things that are unique, in demand, but the world doesn't have yet Your first draft is what is top of mind -- "Rewriting is rethinking." It's the process to make our ideas better. Writing and re-writing will make you a more thoughtful person and will create clarity. Writing is an element of teaching. Expertise is like a ladder -- Be like an investigative reporter about a topic that fascinates you The benefits of learning in public: "It is the best way to build a network." It's a forcing function. It forces your brain to always be on. "Want a great spouse? Deserve one." - Charlie Munger Publishing your work online (podcast, essays, book) is the greatest networking tool in the world. I've met amazing people because they've benefitted from my work (head coach Atlanta Falcons, Brooklyn Nets, Ohio State basketball coach, SVP of Fortune 50 companies). Community and connection —- community becomes the byproduct when you're going through something challenging together (ie: Navy SEALs). "The strength of a community is hard to quantify, which makes it hard to advertise. But like good music, you measure it by how it moves your spirits and how you feel in its presence." Competition is for Losers: Avoid competition. Stop copying what everybody else is doing. If you work at a for-profit company, work on problems that would not otherwise be solved. If you're at a non-profit, fix unpopular problems. Life is easier when you don't compete. (Hint: don't start another bottled water company). Personal Monopoly: Corporations reward conformity, but the Internet rewards people who are unique. If you work in a creative field, strive to be the only person who does what you do. Find your own style, then run with it. Create intellectual real estate for yourself. (Jerry Garcia -- Be the only person who does what you do) The Map Is Not the Territory: Reality will never match the elegance of theory. All models have inconsistencies, but some are still useful. Some maps are useful because they're inaccurate. If you want to find an edge, look for what the map leaves out. There are two kinds of companies: 1) Product-First Audiences: Build a product, then an audience. Attract customers with paid advertisements. 2) Audience-First Products: Build an audience, then a product. Attract customers with differentiated content. Take Action -- "Taking action will teach you more about yourself in a month than years of contemplation ever will." Making something easier expands the market... But making it harder gets you the clients you really want. Twitter is the town-square of the internet. It can be the best learning tool in the world if you use it right: Mute politics Unfollow people who make you angry Understand your opponent's opinion better than they do Production: Make tweets useful. It forces you to focus on ideas that are timeless. It forces you to have constant epiphanies. Have "spiky" ideas -- They pierce society. Have a point of view Sustained excellence = Obsession - Doing great work is hard. You need to love it. "I can't live without creating." Vision - Set a goal that scares you and march toward it. Have ambition A keen understanding of what one is good at - Self-awareness.

Jul 19, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more details Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #375: Miranda Hawk - How To Cultivate A Loving Relationship. Miranda Hawk is an award winning sales professional, builder of teams, and sits on the board for multiple non-profit organization. Miranda is my wife, and together we are striving to raise our daughters to be kind, strong, hard-working, resilient leaders. Miranda is the former owner of the Dayton Mom Collective, a business that provides a positive voice for motherhood by connecting moms to resources and parenting perspectives unique to their communities. She has worked in the profession of selling since she was 14 and understands the determination and work ethic it takes to sustain excellence. **We recorded this conversation on our Anniversary.** Notes: The symbolism of a wedding anniversary - The amount of time is not impressive. It's what you do during that time . The type of people you become. Not just that you've made it a certain number of years, but making those years count. The relationship has grown. The love for one another has grown. You've accomplished things together and on your own. And both people in the relationship and the world around are better because of the relationship. What was the initial attraction and how that has grown and/or changed over time? (Confidence (shoulders back), beauty, work ethic, your demonstration of excellence at your craft, toughness) --> the blending of a family. Challenges and the joy of it.... What is beauty ? Is beauty a pretty face, a nice smile, flowing hair, nice skin? Not to me, it's not. To me beauty is living life to higher standards, stronger morals and ethics and believing in them, whether people tell you you're right or wrong. Beauty is not wasting a day. Beauty is noticing life's little intricacies and taking time out of your busy day to really enjoy those little intricacies. Beauty is being real, being genuine, being pure with no facade—what you see is what you get. Beauty is expanding your mind, always seeking knowledge, not being content, always going after something and challenging yourself." -- Jake Plummer (describing Pat Tillman) The pursuit - the importance of being in pursuit of one another -- Love is a verb. It's a constant action . It's a behavior towards one another. Why " happy wife, happy life " is stupid -- In what other world is the focus on only making one person in the relationship happy? You wouldn't do that in a friendship. You wouldn't do that at work. Why would you do that in your marriage? Gratitude -- Saying the words . The power behind words. Being intentional about saying thank you. The importance of specificity. Learning Leader Circle question (Chris G) I'm always fascinated by how things start. As you have started the podcast, what did that look like for your family in starting the venture? Also the dynamic that you have as far as how much you are involved with each other's careers? i.e. involved and talk about it daily, or primarily keep your conversations centered on the family and personal life. The importance of leading yourself first... It gives you the energy and drive to love others. Conflict resolution - It's critical to have open dialog about the mistakes made and how we rectify them... We strive to have a relationship where we can discuss disagreements, come to a resolution, and move forward. Health and wellness -- Why taking care of ourselves is so important. You're passionate about this and have made our family better because of it. "If you take care of your body, it will take care of you." "I'm striving to be the best version of myself." I'm attracted to discipline... And the ability to do what's hard Our WHO -- Becoming more intentional about dinner dates/friends/how we spend our time Advice for younger women - Be proactive - Your job responsibilities are the minimum, do more than that Develop a strong work ethic Be positive -- Bring positive energy Learning Leader Circle question from Nick -- What are your key family anchors" for the week or month? Example: Sunday dinners, etc.- We invested in a nice area to gather outside on our back porch. Our family dinners together are what we love most... The exercise we do: Each person says something they love about every other person at the table. Get specific! "Your mate will either inspire you to grow into your greatness or they will confine you to complacency. They'll either be your other half, or they'll make you half of yourself." - Nuri Muhammad "Business like life is all about how you make people feel. It's that simple and it's that hard. —— Consciously think about how I make you feel." - Danny Meyer "Ultimately the bond of all companionship, whether in marriage or in friendship, is conversation." - Oscar Wilde Habits/Routines -- Differences and similarities The importance of long walks together...

Jul 12, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more details Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #374: Alexandra Carter - How To Ask For More. Alexandra Carter is a Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Mediation Clinic at Columbia Law School. She has spent the last eleven years helping thousands of people negotiate better, build relationships and reach their goals. In 2019, Alex was awarded the Columbia University Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching, Columbia University's highest teaching honor. She is a world-renowned negotiation trainer for groups and individuals from all over the world Notes: Excellent leaders have a beginner's mindset What does a mediator do? They are a third person that helps people negotiate. The good ones don't act like the smartest person in the room. They are learners and great listeners. What is negotiation? It is NOT a transaction over money. Negotiation is any conversation where you are steering a relationship Every conversation is like being in a kayak. Approach every conversation differently... With intention. "We make our world significant by the courage of our questions and by the depth of our answers." - Carl Sagan The ultimate open ended question -- "Tell Me…" Questions - an open question is like fishing with a net. A closed question is fishing with a pole. A great open question doesn't have a question mark. "Tell me about your trip to India!" Change your WHY questions to WHAT questions...Rather than ask "Why haven't I been able to… Turn that around to "What has made this challenging for me?" Move from a place of blame to curiosity. How to handle a PDP (performance development plan) meeting? How to ask for a raise? Recruit your manager to be on your side. Share your goals with them, bring them along with you... Connect with your manager. Talk about the future and how you can work together. Ask open ended questions to learn more about the needs of the business. Tie your money request to your production. Use "I + We" statements - Share how your work benefits the company. Your asks should be: Optimistic Specific Justifiable Research suggests that women hold themselves to perfectionist standards As a boss: Invest in top performers, mentor people, empower them, unleash them What do you need? 2 buckets Tangibles - touch, see, count Intangibles - Values, freedom, acknowledgement Questions to ask yourself: What would progress look like? What do I feel? Grapple with your feelings so that they don't control you How have I handled this successfully in the past? Ask yourself about prior success. Write down your answer. It's a "power prime." Questions to ask: The first 5 questions are for your side- The Mirror: What's the problem I want to solve? What do I need?, What do I feel?, How have I handled this successfully in the past?, What's the first step? Then, the second 5 questions are for your opposite number: The Window: Tell me?, What do you need?, What are your concerns?, How have you handled this successfully in the past? What's the first step? The five, best open-ended questions to ask in each part seek to identify and define the following: (1) the problem/goal; (2) needs; (3) feelings/concerns; (4) previous success; and (5) the first step. And that the answers to these important questions can help steer conversations, relationships, and negotiations that will increase the likelihood of a desired negotiation destination. "The Mirror," in that knowing oneself by spending the time it takes to honestly ponder, reflect, and journal one's personal thoughts, feelings, expectations, and dreams to answer those five questions, in an attempt to not only improve one's skills in formal negotiations, but to also navigate the relationships in life's journey.

Jul 5, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com #373: Bill Perkins is a hedge fund manager, film producer, and high stakes poker player. He is the author of Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life. Notes: Your life is the sum of your experiences… " The business of life is the acquisition of memories. In the end, that's all there is ." - The butler from Downtown Abbey... Excellence: Integrity with your word and yourself -- Don't lie to yourself and others. You can't be flippant with yourself. Don't say it unless you mean it (to yourself and others) How to maximize your lifetime memorable moments with "memory dividends" How to get the most experiences in the optimal time with "experience bucketing" In each season, experiences will forever go away. Map out the experiences you want and what you are saving for. There are some experiences that you can only do when you're young and healthy. There is a deterioration of health. You won't always be able to climb a mountain or wake board. Do those now. Follow your "net worth curve" - "Consume money and convert it into experiences." How to navigate whether to invest in or delay a meaningful adventure based on your "personal interest rate" -- "Should I take one trip today or two trips in 10 years?" Bill shares the life changing conversation he had with his boss, Joe Farrell, a partner at the company where he worked -- Bill was making $18,000/year and had saved $1,000. Joe questioned him... "Go spend that money! Why deprive yourself? You don't think you're going to make more money as you get older?!" Jason Ruffo -- Backpacked Europe when he was young and able even though he didn't have any more. He did it while he could instead of waiting to have enough money. He now has an experience dividend for life that Bill doesn't. What are we saving for? Survival Experiences we want - The memory dividend - "This is the stuff of life." It's a compounding dividend "Who am I? The summation of my experiences." "Money is a tool to have the experience." Die With Zero is about choices - What do you choose to do now? What later? Bill and I have the same literary agent, Jim Levine - Bil liked Jim because he told him that his proposal wasn't good enough to share with publishers when it was first written... Bill appreciated that honest feedback and desire to make it better. "It's hypocritical and stupid to leave inheritance to your kids." (Give them money when they're young and can use it for cool experiences). Behaviors for hiring: Integrity Intrinsic motivation Problem solvers "Aiming to die with zero is the most thoughtful thing you can do."

Jun 28, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com #372: Will Guidara Notes: Sustaining excellence = Everyone has the capacity for excellence Hard work Giving a lot of yourself to something -- A" passion for the thing you're excellent at doing." The nobility of service It requires getting up on a day when you're tired and not feeling it "You need to be on even when you feel off" The "pre-shift" meeting -- "As a leader, you have a responsibility to share what inspires you." "Everyone craves affirmation." Lessons from his Mom: She became a quadriplegic when Will was nine You can talk things into existence - Will's mom said she wanted to stay alive until he graduated college. And she did it by one day. Doctors said she should have died when Will was 12. "What would you attempt to do if you could not fail?" The power of non-verbal communication. Integrity in the face of adversity - Life is not always awesome. There's always ups and downs. Perspective is key. Eleven Madison Park - Setting the goal to be the #1 rated restaurant in the world. In 2010, they were #50. Seven years later, they were #1. "You need to love what you're doing to be great at it." There is power in having extraordinary intention Strategic planning -- Be specific and actionable Have endless reinvention Be willing to take risks "Unreasonable Hospitality" You need to decide what you want to embody "Business like life is all about how you make people feel. It's that simple and that hard." - Danny Meyer Hiring: "We hired dream weavers from art schools, designers..." Experiential design separated them from the rest Be present Listen to what is being said and what's not being said. Engage with people. Serve them. Meet them where they are. "Hospitality is one size meets one" - Have to meet them one at a time What's the secret to a happy marriage? "Never stop pursuing each other" Ruth's Chris - The special calamari strips -- Not on the menu, but available to make an experience exceptional The nobility of service... The four words: Hospitality Excellence Education - "A day you aren't learning isn't a day worth living" Passion - "Our work matters. What we do matters." Meeting at The White House: Restaurants during the pandemic His dad's advice -- "Adversity is a terrible thing to waste" "It's not what happened to you, it's how you respond." "Through crisis comes community" The Welcome Conference "Hospitality is just as much a craft as cooking." Will's dad is his hero "Next level intense responsibility" He never complained "Name what you want to accomplish and do it" "The secret to happiness is always something to look forward to." Here is WHY joining a Learning Leader Circle is a good idea...

Jun 21, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes are at www.LearningLeader.com #371: Maria Konnikova - Maria Konnikova is the author of two New York Times bestsellers, The Confidence Game , winner of the 2016 Robert P. Balles Prize in Critical Thinking, and Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes , an Anthony and Agatha Award finalist. Her new book, The Biggest Bluff , will be out from Penguin Press on June 23, 2020. She is a regularly contributing writer for The New Yorker whose writing has won numerous awards, including the 2019 Excellence in Science Journalism Award from the Society of Personality and Social Psychology. While researching The Biggest Bluff, Maria became an international poker champion and the winner of over $300,000 in tournament earnings—and inadvertently turned into a professional poker player. Maria's writing has been featured in Best American Science and Nature Writing and has been translated into over twenty languages. Notes: Sustaining excellence = Genuine interest in what they do for a living They follow their curiosity - "It's not about wanting to make a shit load of money." Passionate "They work their asses off" - They work a lot. It doesn't just happen. "Follow your curiosity and obsessions with great rigor." - Brian Koppelman Why write a book about poker when you've never played before? "I wanted to write about chance and the role luck plays in our life." Game theory stemmed from poker Poker is about strategic decision making Why poker? " Poker is a powerful tool to metabolize the luck that surrounds us, and a way to become comfortable with something that is not only all too applicable to our current situation, but extremely difficult for the human mind to process: uncertainty ." Erik Seidel became Maria's personal coach/mentor "There's no one like him." He's stood the test of time. He's been successful at poker for decades... He's evolved with the changes of the game, made adjustments and has won. He's kind and humble. Tips on asking for someone to mentor you: Do your homework - Read everything there is to know about the person before contacting them Be specific with your ask Make sure you know why this person should be your mentor Figure out what's in it for them Find someone who can help amplify your strengths Don't write a novel in the first email or DM - Get to the point quickly If you can get an in person meeting, do it NEVER say: "Can I pick your brain?" Why playing poker is comparable to writing: Both are deceptively simple on the surface. Anyone can do either, but to do either well in the long term, a certain mastery is needed. Both are subject to the Dunning-Kruger effect, which means that the more someone knows, the more they realize how much they don't know on a topic, while someone with little knowledge tends to be falsely confident about their understanding of a topic Meta-cognitive process - "I great more aware of my thinking." You must reflect before reacting. Poker helps you to practice this valuable skill. Make decisions after going through a process of reflection List the things you need to be attentive to What are the relevant factors? What should I be paying attention to? Write it down In order to make better decisions, you must be able to identify your process The ultimate goal of poker and life is to make the optimal decision in that moment The best poker players work incredibly hard: They study hands, they talk hands over with other bros, they watch video, they dissect hands. They build up their self control and their emotional regulation What Maria learned from playing a lot of tournament poker? "It is an extreme sport. You can't take breaks. You're put in a pressure cooker for hours and must make the right decision." "I had internalized gender stereotypes. I was letting myself be bullied. I'd take less active lines because I was scared. I had to overcome that and still need to work on it." Advice: "Work hard. Life gives you nothing. Everything is earned. Life isn't fair. You must work for it. Saying life isn't fair isn't good for you. Think: 'What can I do about it? What can I control?'" Follow your curiosity Read, Read, Read. Read poetry and read fiction

Jun 14, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 For full show notes, go to www.LearningLeader.com #370: Steve Herz: Don't Take Yes For An Answer Notes: Sustaining excellence = Curiosity - Genuine interest A desire to learn and grow Finding uncommon commonalities: His parents went to Ohio University (which is where I graduated) Do your homework prior to meeting someone (as Steve did on me) Be actionable and intentional Meet someone on their turf. ACKNOWLEDGE them. Turner Smith: "Don't Take Yes For An Answer" -- Beware of the counter-fit yes. They are not helpful. "Don't live in an echo chamber of Yes." Seek feedback - Turner Smith not only didn't give Steve an offer... He gave him specific feedback as to why. Changed his life. Tough love with kindness Read the book: Seabiscuit. Knowing when to use carrots vs. sticks. Taking his shot with Alfred Geller - "I met him in a elevator and only had a few seconds. I asked to work with him... He said, 'meet me in my office at 8:00am tomorrow.'" "I downloaded his brain." "You need to perfect your A. W. E." Authority Warmth Energy John Kasich didn't use his voice properly. " Change your voice, change your life ." Mid-level manager advice: "Act like you've been there before (like Barry Sanders)." Internalize it. "When you're walking your dog, who is walking who?" Providing feedback to his clients: "Joe Tessitore couldn't figure out how to modulate his voice." Don't get into the "vortex of mediocrity:" The most painful thing in the world is unfulfilled potential. Find the people who are able to give you critical feedback and listen. When he started his company, he called it IF after Rudyard Kipling's poem by the same name which says, "If you can dream-- and not make dreams your master… yours is the Earth and everything that's in it." We are ALL in sales: Steven Shapiro, member of the board of overseers of University of Pennsylvania Law School, "We have a saying at the firm: You can buy a pound of brains at the butcher. I walk through the halls of the university, and there are many brilliant future lawyers. But they can't look you in the eye in the hallway. In 15 years, this person may be writing law on the tax code, but they're probably not going to have a lot of clients." You know where lawyers, or salespeople, or consultants go when they don't bring in business? Neither do I. Because you rarely hear about them ever again."

Jun 7, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com #369: Nancy Koehn & Adi Ignatius Nancy Koehn is a historian at the Harvard Business School. She's the author of multiple books, her most recent: Forged in Crisis: The Power of Courageous Leadership in Turbulent Times. Adi Ignatius is the Editor in Chief of the Harvard Business Review. Previously, he was deputy managing editor for Time, where he was responsible for many of its special editions, including the Person of the Year and Time 100 franchises. Notes: Sustaining excellence = Leaders are made, not born "Crisis are great greenhouses to make great leaders" Resilience - It's a muscle built over time A unique combination - The ability to commit, married to that, but flexibility to the means to make it happen Empathy & Emotional awareness - How a leader shows up in service to the mission Convey conviction and confidence A real sense of how much impact a leader has. Humble and own the sense that they have great influence. They use it to help people overcome their own limitations Adi - Understand the long term. Need the ability to shift. Transparency - Direct reports should know where they stand at all times. Emotional discipline: Don't send email when you're mad. Think about the long term impact of what you do. JFK - White House discovered missiles in Cuba. Read: Guns Of August - How WWI Started Slow pace down Imagine what Khrushchev would do - Give him room, hold off... Use "calculated empathy" Standing up to others like Winston Churchill - He stood up to the opposition. Dunkirk - Leadership when everything changes Ernest Shackleton - He took 27 men to Antarctica How did he avoid mutiny in the midst of huge adversity? He had the trust of his men. They believed he cared about them. Emotional awareness - He addressed their fears - "What can I do to address their fears?" Extraordinary ability to toggle seamlessly between little things like the weather and the big picture. Zoom in and zoom out. Pay attention to the mundane - The daily work schedule. Stick to the routine. And also have a plan to solve the problem. How to lead a remote team: It's reassuring to have your leaders step up and speak the truth. "Here's what we're going to do..." False optimism doesn't help. Honesty is critical. Brutal honesty + credible hope... Share the team's capabilities, the history. "Nothing to fear but fear itself." Great leaders 'feed their team.' Leaders in crisis: Shackleton gave duties to each man. They regularly changed duties to stay fresh. Isolation feeds fear. It feeds the 'worst case scenario' in the minds of people. Shackleton combated that by forcing them to socialize. They told stories, had skits, made up games. He empowered his team. It's important to have rituals that bring you back to a good place. For Nancy: 1) Deep breaths 2) Classical music 3) Walks Adi: Meditates daily, 10 minutes of breath work. Connect, Connect, Connect with others. Say thank you. Shift places depending on the type of work. President Lincoln had no plans for winning the way. "I navigated from point to point." "Great careers are build on passion and the dedication to do the work." Gather years in every career. You do not always need to check off boxes. "Life is long. Don't burn bridges." The benefits of teaching: "It keeps you honest. You have to think like a chess player. You must stoke the fires of curiosity."

Jun 3, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full notes at www.LearningLeader.com 358: Jim McKelvey - How To Build An Unbeatable Business (One Crazy Idea At A Time) Jim McKelvey is the co-founder of Square, was chairman of its board until 2010, and still serves on the Board of Directors. In 2011, his iconic card reader design was inducted into the Museum of Modern Art. Jim also founded Invisibly, a project to rewire the economics of online content; LaunchCode, a non-profit that trains people to work in technology; and Third Degree Glass Factory, a publicly accessible glass art studio & education center in St. Louis. In 2017, he was appointed as an Independent Director of the St. Louis Federal Reserve. Sustaining excellence = The people you lead will eventually kick you out... This signifies your ability to hire, train, and develop excellent leaders. "I'm not a good leader. I don't run the business. I build the company and then get out of the way." "I have a weird skill set... I'm comfortable doing things that have never been done before." What it's like working with Jack Dorsey (Jim started Square with Jack): "He has the ability to administer and incrementally improve... That's something I value in a person. Jack is incredibly competent, very quiet, and very capable. He knows the difference between good and excellent." Jim sees himself as a normal guy without any gifts... "Don't disqualify yourself because you think other people are special (or gifted) and you're not." What if the activity had never been done before? The Wright Brothers were no more qualified to build the first ever flying machine than someone else. They made the choice to do it, and put in the work to make it happen. "To be excellent, you need to reach out to others who are." Interview process: "People who lie are not consistent. Ask similar questions in different ways multiple times." Tell people very honestly all the reasons they shouldn't work at your company. Be very honest. Then say, "I can't tell if you're lying to me, I won't be able to catch you now, however I will find out eventually and I will fire you." Jim describes what it's like to be a billionaire... Think of the companies that have done something that had never been done before: Bank of America Ikea Southwest Airlines Square "Commitment can be a great substitute for being qualified." "Admitting you don't know something frees your mind from constraints. To actually do something new requires the humility to admit that your solution may not work, followed by the audacity to try anyway." How to get people to perform at higher levels? "Go hang out with smarter people and raise their level of performance... Ask questions." Never interrupt Leave pauses in a sentence, give them a chance to keep going... An Innovation Stack = Series of inventions that create a new product. Doing something new. What it was like to prepare for a demo with Steve Jobs: "He can be nasty if he doesn't like you. You had to make it beautiful." Advice: "Consistently do something that makes you slightly uncomfortable." Jim flies planes and gives speeches (both make him uncomfortable) --> This will slowly expand the things that you like. It will create more friends, and you'll develop more respect for people who have differing views. "You'll learn it's possible to function even when you're uncomfortable." Continually do little things to strengthen yourself... It helps you continue to go when others quit. "Customers who trust you are more valuable than customers who love you. There's only one shot at trust, and Square was trustworthy because of its values and mission, and built its Innovation Stack around them." Here is WHY joining a Learning Leader Circle is a good idea...

May 31, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes found at www.LearningLeader.com #367: Ozan Varol - How To Think Like A Rocket Scientist Sustaining excellence = The ability to learn from failure - "Failure sucks and shouldn't be celebrated. We must learn from it." "Learn fast, don't fail fast. We need to get better with each iteration. Breakthroughs should be evolutionary, not revolutionary How success can lead to failure The Challenger Explosion - A string of successes discounted the role that luck played in the process "Just because you're on a hot streak doesn't mean you'll beat the house." Post mortem - A Latin phrase for "after death." Instead of a post mortem, do an "after action review." Review after all actions whether they succeeded or failed. The "Kill The Company" exercise Ask the people within your company what they would do to compete and beat your company... And then do that. Mark Zuckerberg does this with acquisitions (WhatsApp, Instagram). One of his greatest fears is becoming the next MySpace. As a mid-level manager: Put yourself in the position of your customer. Why are customers justified in buying from our competitions? "They see something we're not seeing." Growing up in Istanbul, Turkey. It was a culture of conformity. Ozan did not fit in. In fact, he was assigned a number in school and that was used to call on him instead of his name. His parents let him choose which school he went to and he remembers feeling so empowered by them for having a choice. He wanted more of that. So he decided to come to the United States for college and attended Cornell. Ozan blindly applied for a job that didn't exist by emailing Steve Squyres (he was in charge of a NASA funded project to send a river to Mars). And he acted on his dad's advice, " you can't win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket ." "Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge." - Carl Sagan In the modern world we look for certainty in uncertain places. We search for order in chaos. The right answer in ambiguity. And conviction in the complexity. We should be fueled not by a desire for a quick catharsis but by intrigue. Where certainty ends, progress begins. "The great obstacle to discovering was not ignorance but the illusion of knowledge. - historian Daniel J Boorstin It takes courage... Often times there is a failure of courage. Have the courage to take action when the rest of the world is standing still. Ask yourself two questions: What's the worst that can happen? What's the best that can happen? Adopt an experimental mindset - Frame your actions as experiments. Don't be afraid to try new things... "The way you figure out what's right is to try to prove it wrong." The goal? "Find what's right, not to be right." Ask people who disagree with you... Why? Have a mindset to learn from them. "Tell me what's wrong with this..." Be a work in progress. "All progress happens in uncertain times." "It's bizarre. People prefer certainty of bad news instead of the fear of the unknown." "Be curious about tomorrow." Think: "What problems can I solve right now?" It is not helpful to try and solve something that you cannot control. Diversify your identity and services -- This allows you to be flexible and not depended on one stream of revenue. "All of our differences are minimized when we zoom out." The Apollo 8 mission gave us an opportunity to look at the Earth from afar (mission to go near the moon). Jim Lovell could cover up the earth with his thumb. It put things in perspective. Rocket science teaches us about our limited role in the cosmos and reminds us to be gentler and kinder to one another.

May 24, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #366: Laurie Santos - Laurie Santos is a cognitive scientist and Professor of Psychology at Yale University. She has been a featured TED speaker and has been listed in Popular Science as one of their "Brilliant Ten" young scientists in 2007 as well as in Time magazine as a "Leading Campus Celebrity" in 2013. In January 2018, her course titled Psychology and the Good Life became the most popular course in Yale's history, with approximately one-fourth of Yale's undergraduates enrolled. Notes: Sustaining excellence: Good habits: Form consistent routines Healthy: Exercise regularly Socialize with others They "offload dumb decisions" Create a morning routine - Limit the wardrobe (limit mental energy spent on trivial things). Harness the power of habits - "Set you exercise clothes out the night before." Do it at a consistent time each day no matter what. This decreases anxiety. For writing: Stop in the middle of a sentence. This will help you get started the next day (and avoid seeing the blank screen) Laurie is the head of a college at Yale. She lives and eats with the students in the dining hall. She built her class based upon hearing the complaints of students daily (they were unhappy) Important behaviors: Gratitude Social connection Random acts of kindness Students didn't realize their misconceptions about happiness It's not about your job, house, or money. Happy people are: Socially connected - They spend a lot of time with others. They prioritize connecting with others. They don't focus on themselves - "Others oriented." They do more for others. Grateful - They look for the good. They have a mindset of gratitude. They write down 3-5 things they are grateful for everyday. They are mindful. The GI Fallacy - It's more than just knowing... "You must DO IT." Be deliberate about connecting with others. Hang out with people you care about. Set up Skype calls with others. Do NOT complain - It's awful. Laurie's class has become the most popular class in the history of Yale... Her lectures have been filmed for the Today Show Created The Happiness Lab It's given more meaning to life Advice for mid-level managers: Doctors find happier workers use less than 15 sick days a year Work with your employees to do what they're best at Find out what they're getting out of the job "Your emotions can be contagious. If you embody calm, they will be calm." Affective spirals - The leader can turn emotions positive How to run excellent meetings: Infuse it with gratitude - Say what you're grateful for. Grateful team members are more productive. Regulate your emotion. Don't transmit negative energy to your team. At home: Regulate emotion. Take time to pay attention to your emotion. What are you bringing home? Be present. Express gratitude to your family. Shift from complaining to being grateful. Say what you love about each other at your family dinner table The best way to learn is to teach it.

May 17, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk For more details text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com #365: James Altucher - How To Become An Idea Machine "Vulnerability equals freedom." "You need to say something interesting. You need to step outside of your comfort zone." James started writing in 1990 after a girl he liked chose to date a writer instead of him. He wrote 3,000 words a day and yet didn't publish anything for 12 years. Why write about your flaws? Watch the movie 8 mile... "Eminem shares all of the negative aspects of himself. He left his competition with nothing to say about him. He beat him to the punch." "I don't hit publish unless I'm worried. Am I afraid? If yes, then publish." "All good writing has to have a story." Commonalities of people who sustain excellence: Physically healthy - They are in shape Emotionally healthy - They have good relationships They are extremely curious - "Ken Langone came in my comedy club and asked tons of questions. He's so curious." They are very creative They have a "ready, fire, aim" approach - Sara Blakely started Spanx and got a $300K order and hadn't figured out how to manufacture her product yet. Creativity/Idea generation is a muscle - If you don't work it, it atrophies. Write 10 ideas a day. Quantity is more important than quality. "He who has the most ideas wins." You'll have a lot of bad ideas. You have to get through those to get to the good ones. Quantity is important. "Writing 10 ideas a day changed my life. I wasn't depressed anymore." Write ideas for companies and share with them... They might call you. Being an "intrapreneur" within your company - Think of ideas that can help your company and share with the CEO. "Success is always on the other side of can't." Great entrepreneurs focus on reducing risk How to speak to powerful people? Realize they are just people Humor is key. "Laughter is the way to level the playing field." Developing a skill - Deliberate practice The "10,000 Experiment" rule The key to getting good is to experiment Be in the top 1% of doing experiments Work your idea muscle every single day - The neurons will be re-wired Share your ideas to help other companies Over-promise AND over-deliver. Do both. Everyone else under-promise with the hope to over-deliver. Don't do that. Overpromise upfront and over-deliver.

May 10, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com #364: Derek Sivers: Derek Sivers is a writer, musician, programmer, and entrepreneur best known for being the founder and former president of CD Baby, an online CD store for independent musicians. A professional musician since 1987, Sivers started CD Baby by accident in 1997 when he was selling his own CD on his website, and friends asked if he could sell theirs, too. CD Baby went on to become the largest seller of independent music on the web, with over $100M in sales for over 150,000 musician clients. Notes: The similarities between becoming a Dad and starting a business: The transition from being "me" focused to becoming focused on others first. "That happened when I started a business... Long before I became a dad." "As a dad, I learned to be fully present with him. To shut everything else down and focus on him." "Adults are always looking for amazing superlatives. Kids are happy with tiny details." "Stop wasting hours... Learn to have a blast where you are." Making big decisions: There is a difference between theory and in practice "Don't consider anything decided until you've tried it." Why you should keep your goals to yourself: An identity goal makes you a different person. If you announce it to others and they give you social satisfaction, that feedback you receive gives you internal satisfaction. That could lead to you already feeling satisfaction and thus less likely to achieve the goal... Receiving the satisfaction from others before you've done it is not helpful. (NOTE - There is additional information to read about this nuanced topic. THIS is helpful. ) Sustaining excellence: They hold themselves to high standards. They set high stakes. They have amazing self-control "Excellence is setting high standards and living up to them." Excellent leadership is being selfless... Doing what's in the best long-term interest of the people you're leading. Selling CDBaby for $22m and giving the proceeds away to charity. The power of writing: "I journal my ass off." Documenting your daily thoughts is a very useful exercise -- It's fascinating to look back on how you felt at that specific time. Create "Per Topic" Journals Journals that focus on a specific topic (Singapore, Interviews, Language Learning) Values = Learning... Remaining flexible and creative. Answering the questions, "What did I really want from that?" Derek's values evolve and change over time Being a monomaniac - Obsessed with one thing at a time Currently: Writing a book called How To Live The stress of replying to 7,000 emails vs making a genuine connection with each person... Being a longterm thinker Here is WHY joining a Learning Leader Circle is a good idea...

May 3, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com #363: Admiral William McRaven - 363: Admiral William McRaven - The Bin Laden Raid, Saving Captain Phillips, & Leadership Lessons For Life Notes: Sustaining excellence: Great listeners - They value the opinions of others and listen Decisive - The leader must take responsibility and make the call Measured - Calm. Staying cool under pressure is vital Importance of coaching in Admiral McRaven's life… and being pushed by them. He pushed himself to his physical limits to set the school record for the mile with the help of a phone call from a coach. (Jerry Turnbow). Write letters to the parents/spouse/kids of the people you want to recognize. "Love on the people who love them." Failure can make you stronger —- Being assigned to "The Circus" in SEAL training helped him build resilience and a "never quit" attitude. Writing ­– He was a journalism major at Texas. Admiral McRaven has consistently worked to become a great writer. It is critical for leaders to be exceptional communicators... Both of the written AND spoken word. In July 1983, he was fired as a SEAL squadron leader for trying to change the way his squadron was organized, trained, and conducted missions. His response was the difference between a long, successful career, and quitting. Georgeann (his wife) offered him encouragement and said, 'you've never quit at anything in your life and don't start now'. Admiral McRaven has always had great respect for the British Special Air Service: the famed SAS. The SAS motto was "Who Dares Wins." He said that even moments before the Bin Laden raid, his command sergeant major Chris Faris, quoted it to the SEALs preparing for the mission. To him that motto was more than just how special forces operated. It's about how each of us should approach our lives… Life is a struggle and the potential for failure is ever present… Admiral McRaven walked us through the strategy development and the decision making process for the bin Laden raid: It was a team effort - Leon Panetta could have done it only as a CIA mission, but he reached out to Admiral McRaven because the mission was what was most important, not getting credit. Great leaders recognize that it's never about them. If you think it's about you you're probably not a good leader. It was still an extraordinarily difficult decision to green light the mission. Admiral McRaven described that conversations he had with President Obama. "If we got there and the guy on the third floor was just a tall Pakistani man, then President Obama would have been a 1 term president." The SEALs on the mission rehearsed and practiced A LOT. No matter how much experience you have, you ALWAYS need to practice. The night of the bin Laden raid, Admiral McRaven was in charge of 10 other missions! He didn't have time to celebrate, he was focused on identifying the body, telling the President, and then paying close attention to the other missions he had going on that night. Courage — "without courage, men will be ruled by tyrants and despots. Without courage, no great society can flourish. Without courage, the bullies of the world rise up." Over the course of a month he visited Saddam Hussein in the jail where they were holding him, he would rise to meet Admiral McRaven. McRaven would motion for him to go back to his cot. The message was clear, "you are no longer important." Rise to the occasion. Be your very best in the darkest moments – Think about the moment we are in right now. Great leaders rise to the occasion in the midst of a pandemic Books Admiral McRaven recommends- The Speed of Trust- Stephen M.R. Covey , It's Your Ship - Michael Abrashoff No plan survives first contact with the enemy- things will go wrong and you need to plan accordingly. Be prepared, think through worst case. "Have a plan, work the plan, plan for the unexpected." Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward. Don't ever say "that's not fair." The story of Moki Martin - bike accident that left him paralyzed

Apr 26, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #362: Chris McChesney - How to Achieve Your Wildly Important Goals Chris McChesney is a Wall Street Journal #1 Best-Selling Author – The 4 Disciplines of Execution . In his current role of Global Practice Leader of Execution for FranklinCovey, Chris is one of the primary developers of The 4 Disciplines of Execution. For more than a decade, he has led FranklinCovey's design and development of these principles, as well as the consulting organization that has become the fastest growing area of the company. Notes: Sustaining excellence = They execute on the strategy that's been launched... They have amazing drive High expectations - They expect a lot of everyone and do it in a positive way They "radiate love." Warmth... Strategy to execution -- It's an art and a science "Execution doesn't like complexity..." Great leaders develop pattern recognition over time. An experienced quarterback has more repetitions and the game "slows down" which creates a situation he recognizes Three components to any strategy to execution process: Lower the blood pressure -- "Stroke of the pen." Take life support measurements Break through What is a 'stroke of the pen' action as a mid level manager? Modify the portfolio, work within the limited budget, figure out incentives, hiring decisions, combining territories "Sometimes in life our challenges are really hidden opportunities." Chris did an unpaid internship. He warned that with Stephen Covey by continuing to show up and add value to the lives of the people at the company. Advice: "Work outside of your job description but within your influence." "Don't fall in love with a solution, fall in love with a problem." "I have never gotten a job from a standard interview process... I've gotten seduced by a problem... And then worked to solve it." This is how Chris created a company within a company. He identified that execution was a problem, and worked to solve it. Useful feedback Chris received earlier in his career from a mentor: "Chris, when you come to headquarters, people like you, but you aren't fun to work with." The power of honest, specific, feedback. Paul Walker (President) - "It's never about him. He's always interested in understanding what's going on around him and with others." Pat Lencioni - Not everyone should be a leader... "I don't like the term 'servant leadership.' It makes it sound like there's any other way." The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Focus on the Wildly Important -- Exceptional execution starts with narrowing the focus— clearly identifying what must be done, or nothing else you achieve really matters much. Act on the Lead Measures -- Twenty percent of activities produce eighty percent of results. The highest predictors of goal achievement are the 80/20 activities that are identified and codified into individual actions and tracked fanatically. Keep a Compelling Scoreboard -- People and teams play differently when they are keeping score, and the right kind of scoreboards motivate the players to win. Create a Cadence of Accountability -- Great performers thrive in a culture of accountability that is frequent, positive, and self-directed. Each team engages in a simple weekly process that highlights successes, analyzes failures, and course-corrects as necessary, creating the ultimate performance-management system. "As legendary Harvard marketing professor Theodore Levitt put it, "People don't want to buy a quarter-inch drill. They want a quarter-inch hole." "People who try to push many goals at once usually wind up doing a mediocre job on all of them. You can ignore the principle of focus, but it won't ignore you." "If you ignore the urgent, it can kill you today. It's also true, however, that if you ignore the important, it can kill you tomorrow" "Managing a company by looking at financial data (lag measures) is the equivalent of "driving a car by looking in the rearview mirror." Optimization - Consistency is wildly important. Lock down elements of the process. Anchor the process at two points. Rule - "If we can meet the lead measure for 14 weeks, we're calling it a habit."

Apr 19, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #361: John C. Maxwell - The Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace Notes: Adaptability: "Good leaders adapt. They shift. They don't remain static because they know the world around them does not remain static." 3 questions to ask yourself every day: How will this crisis make me better? How will I use this crisis to help others? What action will I take to improve my situation? Leaders get paid to deal with uncertainty. They must relish it because it comes with the territory. Betty Bender, former president of the Library Administration and Management Association, explains, "Anything I've ever done that ultimately was worthwhile initially scared me to death ." "Success in life comes not from holding a good hand, but from playing a bad hand well." - Warren Lester Leaders become invigorated with problems. "Doing the right thing daily, compounds over time." Ask what you can do to add value to others during this time. "Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece." It's okay to be uncertain but it's not okay for a leader to be unclear. If you prepare today you don't have to repair tomorrow. The opposite of distraction is traction. Crisis moves us You help people gain traction by helping them gain perspective. Fear is a negative emotion, feeding fear is like putting fertilizer on weeds. The question is what is going to dominate between fear an faith and the dominant emotion will win the day. What gains your attention and focus only grows whether that's fear or faith. "A difficult time can be more readily endured if we retain the conviction that our existence holds a purpose, a cause to pursue, a person to love, a goal to achieve." Great coaches make adjustments during a game. Action is where all transformation takes place. The most overrated English phrase is good intentions. "Change is inevitable. Growth is optional." A crisis doesn't make a person, a crisis reveals a person. "The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure." "Decision making is easy when you know what your values are." Right now the people come first, the company second, yourself last. Respect is learned and earned on difficult ground. "No one ever coasted their way to greatness." People don't want perfect leaders, they want authentic leaders. Experience is not the best teacher. Evaluated learning from experience is the best teacher. The first step to great communication is to get over yourself. It's not about you. Focus on others and adding value.

Apr 12, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes found at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #360: Kirk Herbstreit - How To Prepare Like The Best Broadcaster In The Business Notes: "Because of what you have to do to be part of that program... You do things you didn't think you would ever fathom you could get through. It develops you as a person." -- Kirk on what it's like to play football at Centerville High School. "Nothing has impacted me more than the time and what I learned from Bob Gregg and Ron Ullery . It's with me every single day. That's why we take so much pride in it. Because of the impact it has on our entire life." Learning resilience and how to persevere, and how to prepare for big moments. Kirk's preparation process: There's nobody more prepared than Kirk each week. "It's the only thing I know. It's not an option for me to not be prepared." "Nobody knew who I was back in 1996 when I first started. Instead of hiding from that, I said 'I'm going to be the hardest working analyst in sports. That became my calling card. I had to earn people's respect. The only way I knew how to do that was through my work ethic and preparation. It's the only way I know how." The importance of relationships - "I've never in 25 years burned a coach. I never will. They are a lifeline for me. It's one thing to read an article. For you to really get information, you have to go directly to the sources... The coaches." "I feel I'm the most prepared person covering the sport every week when I do Gameday and when I go into the booth Saturday night." "If I'm awake I'm either with my kids or I'm preparing for the games." Building relationships with powerful people... How? "Trust. That's the most important thing. In my job, you sometimes have to be critical. What I've always said to myself is, if this person was sitting next to me, he might disagree, but he's not going to be offended." "I'll call them the next week to make sure they understood what I said. I go out of my way to promote people." Sustaining Excellence -- "I look at it like... I don't do this for money, I don't do this for fame, I do this for love, for passion. There's nothing that makes me more happy than watching football. I love it. It never gets old, I'm constantly trying to improve, to get better. I feel like here I am 25 years into this business and I'm just scratching the surface..." "You gotta keep working, you gotta keep learning." "It's such a fun challenge to broadcast games now with how much has changed..." Working with a partner (for him it is Chris Fowler)... The keys to working well with a partner: Developing a relationship with that person - Make sure you go to dinners, do things away from work. Get to know that person. Become friends. Then earn your stripe through your preparation and your work. Working with a broadcasting team - It takes amazing, constant, communication. Keys to great quarterback play and how that translate to being a great leader in the business world: The ability to process a lot of information and make sense of it quickly (Joe Burrow is the best he's seen) Accuracy - Throw the ball where you want it to go Make great decisions Mental toughness Being the type of person that others want to follow... How to do that? Play-making ability is a must - people are drawn to you because they believe in you You can do it differently, but "it's very hard to think of successful quarterbacks that aren't well liked by all members of the team." People are drawn to them. -- Cannot be selfish. The quarterback gets a lot of attention. Need to deflect that and talk about the linemen, the defense, your teammates. Would Kirk take the Monday Night Football broadcasting job? "I've talked with my agent about it. That's in play. It's being talked about. It would have to be in addition. I'll never leave college." "I love watching the NFL... Watching guys that I've covered. The college game is leaking more and more into the NFL. The prep would be pretty extreme, but I could do it." Life advice: "I was raised to be an unselfish person. I've never felt like I was more important than anyone else. I'll never put myself above anybody in any regard." -- Be the hardest working person, have an awareness about you to help others, never think you're more important than others."

Apr 5, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #359: Pat Lencioni This was recorded with hundreds of fans/friends on Zoom on April 2, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notes: Three actions for leaders in a perilous time: be exceedingly human . By that, I mean that you should demonstrate your concern for the very real fears and anxieties that your people are experiencing, not only professionally and economically, but socially and personally. Even though you don't have definitive answers to all of their questions, don't let that keep you from listening to them and empathizing with their fears. And, contrary to conventional wisdom, you should not be hesitant to share your own concerns with your people. They want to know that they can relate to you and that they are not alone in their concerns. be persistent . This is not a time to hold back. Send people updates and regular communication, even if there is not a lot of new information and the message is largely personal. No one will look back at this time and say, "my manager was so annoying with all the encouraging emails checking in on me." When people are isolated, over-communication is more important than ever. be creative . Try new things. Call semi-regular video-conference meetings that allow employees to not only talk about work, but to share their experiences dealing with this situation. Have them share movies and games and other tools that they are finding to be helpful with their families and invite them to tell stories about what is going on in their worlds. Crises provide an opportunity for people to come to know one another and establish bonds that will endure long after the crisis is over. This is not a time to be efficient. It's a time to be present with people. Once they get that new sense of trust, then you can move on. Every company/family needs to be intentional about their thematic goal/rallying cry. Cohesiveness and innovation are the themes for The Table Group What we do during this time is going to be what people remember. This is the window of opportunity. People would rather be criticized than ignored. The opposite of love is not hate. It's indifference. Pat is looking for that sense of "peace" that no matter what happens, we will be okay. (He tells a story about an NYC priest the night before he died "I"m not afraid.") When you help others, your fears go down. Idle time and worry is what makes fear rise. Advice for parenting teenagers right now -- "It's a time for grace, not discipline." How to establish a safe environment? Empower people to take risks. When they stumble, it's okay. Failure = learning moment 2 biggest red flags of a bad teammate - what are the symptoms/ hardest things to overcome? Insecurity and selfishness Good teammates? "They take ownership of their mistakes and work to correct them." Must take ownership of it to improve. The Ideal Team Player -- Humble, Hungry, Smart. Download for free: "The three questions to ask your family" on Pat's website The Table Group Does Love have a place in leadership? You need to love your players even if you don't like them. You have to do what is in their best interest. Pat's next book? "The Heroic Manager" The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team: Absence of trust - unwilling to be vulnerable within the group Fear of conflict - seeking artificial harmony over constructive passionate debate Lack of commitment - feigning buy-in for group decisions creates ambiguity throughout the organization Avoidance of accountability - ducking the responsibility to call peers on counterproductive behavior which sets low standards Inattention to results - focusing on personal success, status and ego before team success

Mar 29, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #358: Stephen Covey - The One Thing That Changes Everything (Trust) Notes: Sustaining excellence = They get results in a way that inspires trust. If you cut costs for profits, you won't earn trust long term. You won't win long term. "You must think... There always is a next time." Build a culture of character and competence. Those are the components of trust. Taking shortcuts, cutting corners will get your short term results, but you will not sustain it. "Beware of the shortcuts." Make expectations clear. Hitting the number is a commitment. For the mid-level manager: The middle is the key leverage point. You always need to be building trust and delivering results. Leaders go first. "Be trustworthy. Be trusting." Give trust to others, lead with trust. If you have a bad boss? "Create an island of excellence in a sea of mediocrity." "If we think the problem is everyone else, we disempower ourselves." --> Look in the mirror: 'Here's what I can do..." Self trust. It starts inside of you. Neuroscience on trust - When there is low trust on a tea, it saps the energy and joy. It's not fun. High trust = energizing. How can I be that type of leader? For the person that doesn't trust anyone else, they are really saying, "I don't trust myself." They know they lie. How to build trust with yourself? Learn to make and keep commitments with yourself and others. "Make, keep, repeat. Make, keep, repeat." "Trust is doing what you say you're going to do." "Saying it builds hope. Doing it builds trust." Trust = Character + Competence. Admiral McRaven - "If you wan to change the world, start with making your bed." "Private victories precede public victories." Warren Buffett does deals based on trust. Trust impacts speed and cost. "Trust decrease transaction costs." --> When you don't have trust, there is a tax on that. When trust goes time, costs go up. When trust goes up, costs go down. Focus on your credibility. Your character and your competence. Build your reputation. Start with your behavior. Behave in a way to garner trust. Distrusts is exhausting. It's not sustainable in relationships. How to handle a non-trusting boss? "You can't change the conditions or change them. If you must stay, focus on YOUR credibility. The starting place is on increasing your credibility, it will create more clout, courage, and permission in your organization. Always start with yourself." The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People #1 - Be proactive. You're responsible. "You're not a program. You're a programmer." Between the stimulus and response, there is a space. I choose my response and take responsibility." What's it like having Covey as his last name - "The power is in the principles." #5 - Seek first to understand, then to be understood. A doctor diagnoses before they prescribe. It builds trust when the other person feels understood. #7 - Sharpen the saw - Getting better. "The Learning Leader has never arrived..." His Dad's ethos: To Live To Love To Learn To Leave a Legacy Here is WHY joining a Learning Leader Circle is a good idea...

Mar 22, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 For full notes go to www.LearningLeader.com Episode #357: General Stanley McChrystal - Leadership In Uncertain Times "As we lead through this time of crisis, leaders are more important than ever: 1) Communicate relentlessly 2) Match your internal operating pace with that of your external environment 3) Continue to reiterate what 'winning' looks like to your organization." Foreword from his book Team of Teams, legendary author Walter Isaacson wrote: "Whether in business or in war, the ability to react quickly and adapt is critical, and it's becoming even more so as technology and disruptive forces increase the pace of change. That requires new ways to communicate and work together. In today's world, creativity is a collaborative endeavor. Innovation is a team effort." Stockdale Paradox - (named for Admiral James Stockdale - the highest ranking POW of the Vietnam War who described how leaders survive terrible ordeals) "You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end — which you can never afford to lose — with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be." From page 104 in my book, Welcome To Management -- General McChrystal extended a gracious invitation for me to tour the hallowed grounds at the Battle of Gettysburg alongside the students he teaches in his leadership class at Yale. We learned a lot about the history of the battle over the course of two days with General McChrystal and some of his friends as tour guides. However, one teaching point that I specifically remembered was this, "The real lesson is . . . it's not tactics, not strategy; it's always about the people." Uncertainty -- What's most scary for people. While you can't predict the future, you can be that sense of calm, cool, composed (QB in the huddle in tense moments). General at war. The quarterback at Yale (where Stan teaches) said, "When you throw an interception, don't say 'My bad.' The guys know it's your bad. Say, 'here's what we're going to do next.'" Recent events: "These observations remind us of our early months fighting Al Qaeda in Iraq: We struggled to keep up with the pace of events, needed to unlearn conventional management rules and had to learn to lead in a totally new way." From James Clear - "The most useful form of patience is persistence. Patience implies waiting for things to improve on their own. Persistence implies keeping your head down and continuing to work when things take longer than you expect." "You have to navigate from where you are, not where you wish you were." From Stan -- The German Army had a say, "feel the cloth." They were referencing when the men were walking so close to one another they could literally feel the cloth on the person next to them. Right now, we don't have that luxury with our co-workers, and it's a challenge. But what we do have and what we need to utilize are communication platforms to stay connected to our teammates. This is our new normal and it's our time to be a leader and help our team get the job done. Communicate -- Losing these in person interactions in a remote-work environment means leaders need to start communicating with more regularity and breadth to their organization. Set Realistic Goals - This is not business as usual, but you can still succeed. Your role as a leader is to be brutally honest about what is achievable in the coming weeks and months as this disruption continues to ripple across the economy. Be Patient - Many of your employees, especially the younger ones, have not experienced turmoil like this in their careers. Be patient, but start communicating now. It is your responsibility as a leader to be a source of calm and steady for them. (from CNN) Questions from members of my Leadership Circle : Nicci Bosco --What values can we hold in our mind/should we be thinking about/allowing to guide our own actions with when speaking to a group/leading a group/etc in uncertain times? What can we do to re-fill our own reservoir when we notice we're depleted? If we don't know the answer to something, but still want to provide guidance and a response, what are some options? Tom Carvelli -- If you had to sum up your leadership principles into a single unified concept, what would that be? What does your your daily fitness routine look like in times like these when resources and activities are curtailed? Matt Spitz -- In a world that is incredibly uncertain is there anything in his life that never changes? Matt Mullins -- In times of adversity and uncertainty how do leaders ensure that their people are prepared and confident to thrive and maintain character through those moments? How does one develop the ability to maintain composure in stressful situations? How? Stan's daily routine - It always starts with a workout in the early morning hours. "Always start the day lifting. Do a lot of Abs. Work on your core." That discipline creates consistency and that creates confidence. Stan weighs exactly the same today as he did when he was 17! He's only eaten one meal per day for 40 years. If you have to fire someone (or lay them off) -- "Explain it, be honest, do it with grace." Roosevelt during Pearl Harbor - "We are going to do whatever it takes to prevail. It's an unthinkable time, but we will get through it." "You exist for the team... To give them what they need." People are watching what you (the leader) is doing at every moment. How do you respond to good news? Bad news? What is you facial expression on that video conference call? The "Say-Do" gap. As a leader there should not be a gap between what you say and what you do. You must LIVE your values. Building a committed team -- Top CIA agent said to Stan when they were overseas... "I don't know what the Ranger way is, but I will commit to YOU as a person." A two-thousand-year-old Stoic phrase (from Ryan Holiday's Daily Stoic): What is up to us, what is not up to us? And what is up to us? Our emotions. Our judgments. Our creativity. Our attitude. Our perspective. Our desires. Our decisions. Our determination. Here is WHY joining a Learning Leader Circle is a good idea...

Mar 15, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 for details Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com 356: Stewart Friedman - How To Parent With Purpose & Fuel Your Career Notes: Sustaining excellence = "they take seriously the idea that it's not just about work. It's about life." --> Know what you care about... "It takes courage to look inside yourself." Ask yourself, "What am I here to do?" For Stew, "I'm here to help people grow as leaders and make an impact on the world." What Stew learned from his time as a cab driver: Patience... Everyone is unique. You see how people treat others. "It created a love of geography." There is a lot of perspective to be gained from working in the service industry. Stew was hired to run the leadership development program at Ford It was important to connect with everyone around him "Be respectful of all people you interact." Humbled -- "I realized I knew nothing when I went to Ford." "I get up there and devise what the next 10 years will look like... And talked about myself the whole time. A key leader pulled me aside and said, 'What the F are you doing?'" Be WHOLE - It's about you as a whole person both at work and at home. "Firms that fully embrace the needs and interests of the whole person will win today's competition for the best talent." "Leading is about mobilizing people toward valued goals." Learn how to talk with others and show them that you truly value you... LISTEN "Ryan, you're one of the most important people to me in my life..." What does the team need from the leader? values, vision, an understanding of the stakeholders The leadership leap: You must care about people Understand the specific priorities Ask, "What am I missing?" Total Leadership: Projection - "If you had control, what would you be doing?" "What's distinctive about you?" Get clarity on what you care about right now Identify the most important people in your life Be innovative -- Constantly experimenting Create 4 way wins: Business Family Community Personal Take initiative - "What's a win for your company? Your boss?" "At the individual level, you need to examine what you truly value, share this with key stakeholders in various life domains both to get feedback and support, and then to experiment with new ways of doing things so that - over the arc of a life - you can achieve harmony and have more of what it is that you uniquely want out of life." Work life integration is a more useful term than work life balance. "Balance is the wrong metaphor." The four elements, where do you devote your attention? Do an assessment - Take 100 points... Divy up how important each of the following are based on your actions: Work Home Community Self Do you find yourself saying, "I'm not paying enough attention to the things that matter to me." "It's like a jazz quartet. Four people paying attention to each other, improvise, respond, make something beautiful over time." "The only failure is the failure to learn from conscious and deliberate efforts to make things better, even if those attempts fall short of the mark." Writing Parents Who Lead - Crafting a collective vision. "What does our life look like?" The question to ask: "How do you be you?" "The courageous ones are able to bring that question forward..."

Mar 8, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Academy: http://bit.ly/thelearningleaderacademy Episode #355: Ramit Sethi - How To Live A Rich Life Notes: Ramit's book buying rule - If you are even thinking about buying the book, don't deliberate, just buy it . You could invest $17 and it could change your life. Even one idea makes it worth it. Excellence - "Consistently do the work." Put it on the calendar Seek out people who are successful and then ask them for advice In motion - Refuse to be stuck or paralyzed -- Take action "Show me your spending and your calendar and I'll show you your priorities." What are the 3-4 most important things in your life? Does your spending and your calendar reflect that? Ramit starting learning how money worked while he was in college at Stanford... "The basic, boring truth. Consistency..." Starting your blog can be your experimental laboratory What is the future of online courses ? Online learning will continue to grow -- "Great leaders are always learning." You should join The Learning Leader Academy The trajectory of hiring as you're growing a business: Part time assistant --> Researcher --> Full time What do you look for when choosing who to add to your team? Excellent at the task of doing the work Curious - They ask great questions Likable - They are someone you want to spend time with Start your business on the side: It's practical... Going from zero to 1 is very hard: Start this part while you have a job and don't need the money from your new endeavor The psychology of pricing: There is a profound difference in customers who get it for free vs. those who pay for it You need to create "skin in the game." People value it more if they have a financial stake in it. "In business, you're not looking for the most people, you're looking for the right people." "If you're a cheapskate, you'll attract cheapskates." The power of mentors: They can be massively helpful, but you need to do the work to be a valuable mentee. Show up to your meetings prepared and with a purpose. Don't wander through life. Atul Gawande - A coach in the operating room -- EVERYONE needs a coach . Automate your finances - It's the crown jewel. Set up your system so you don't need to think about it after it's created. Create auto saving behaviors "People are so busy asking $3 questions instead of $30K questions." "How do I use my money to live a rich life?" "What does rich mean to you?"

Mar 2, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 For full show notes, go to www.LearningLeader.com Episode #354: WELCOME TO MANAGEMENT Book Launch Party With Doug Meyer This is the recording from the conversation I had with Co-Founder/President of Brixey & Meyer, Doug Meyer, in front of many of our friends, clients, and colleagues at the Dayton office of Brixey & Meyer. In WELCOME TO MANAGEMENT , I provide practical, actionable advice to help new managers build and lead committed teams in the face of daunting, unanticipated challenges. He presents a three-part framework outlining best practices distilled from interviews with more than 350 of the most forward-thinking leaders in the world, as well as his own professional experience transitioning from individual producer to new leader. Through compelling stories and data-backed case studies, the book helps high performers make the leap from individual contributor to manager with greater ease, grace, courage, and effectiveness. Notes: The book writing process: How long did it take to write? What was the proposal writing process like? What led you to sell the book rights to McGraw-Hill? Curiosity? Always natural or a learned skill? -- For me, this was something I learned to do... As I learned more, I realized there was so much more to learn. The Cycle of Learning -- Operating Framework Consume/Learn - The intake engine (read, listen to podcasts, speak with mentors) Test - Experiment with what's been learned (You can't just be a learner, you have to be a doer) - "We learn who we are in practice, not in theory." Reflect - Analyze results, make adjustments Teach - Reinforce learning through sharing with others Mentors vs. coaches. Interesting comparison and need throughout life. We discussed the difference and importance of each... "Build the skills to do the job, not to get the job." -- The act of putting your high potential employees in position to actually do the job, not just prepare for an interview. Developing self-awareness -- It's important to regularly hold a mirror up to ourselves and surround self with people who will be brutally honest and caring of you and your development. WELCOME TO MANAGEMENT will teach you Where the real work of leadership begins The greatest medicine for fear and how to put it into practice Why you need an "Operating Framework" and how to create one The 3 key elements to creating a performance culture The opportunity that many managers miss after they achieve success The seven keys to earning respect The quickest way to build trust is through vulnerability Managing a team you inherit -- The instant you sign for the job, those are YOUR players. Don't use terms like 'they' or 'them.' It is US and WE. The difference between leadership, management, coaching Leadership: The act of leading is about providing purpose, direction, aligning expectations, and inspiring the team. Management: Figuring out how to work within the current constraints of the system you are in... It is the administration and stewardship of resources. Coaching: The two types of coaching: Coaching for performance - The 'right now' actions... Behaviors. Coaching for development - Longer term Dustyn Kim is a fantastic model for humility, vulnerability, and intelligence -- That's what she's the type of leader that I committed to doing everything I could to help her be successful. Nobody is 'self-made.' We are are built from communities of people who care about us, help us, and show love and support.

Feb 24, 2020

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 For full show notes go to www.LearningLeader.com Episode #353: Jeni Britton Bauer - How To Create A 'Craveable' Reason To Return Jeni Britton Bauer is an American ice cream maker and entrepreneur. Jeni opened her first ice cream shop, Scream, in 1996, then founded Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams in 2002. Her first cookbook, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home , is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller and won a coveted James Beard Award in 2012. Jeni is a 2017 Henry Crown Fellow and has been recognized by Fast Company as "one of the most creative companies in the world." Notes: Leaders who sustain excellence = "The main thing is you show up every day. You show up and lead by example. You have to be IN IT daily." That develops trusts. Trusts leads to it the rest... Jeni is a subject matter expert on the topics that matter to her: ice cream, leadership, curiosity, creativity... "It's not a genius idea then lots of funding, then success. It's really more subtle than that. Blazing a slow path through a tangled jungle, learning as you go over many years. It takes time." "I find my discipline when I find my passion. And that passion starts with curiosity. And finding the place of what I want to do is needed in the world." How to know what your passion is? "There's a cross road of what you want to explore and what other people want." -- "That's entrepreneurial thinking. It's about community and creativity." "We don't know what's possible... You've got to be out exploring and be open to new ideas." Create time for yourself and your team to follow your curiosity... Entrepreneurship is about a 2 way communication with customers. One pint of ice cream tested positive for listeria but there was never an outbreak. -- They recalled 6 months worth of ice cream, destroying 535,000 pounds (or 265 tons) of ice cream, costing the company more than $2.5 million! It almost put them out of business. "You want to say you've got talent, hustle, and guts. You want to tell that to the world, but you don't really know until you prove it." "If we create a community, everything falls into place. Put your values front and center and merge with the community. When the community sees your business as vital, they will help you when times are tough." "There's nothing more important whether in the financial industry or ice cream, than trust." "Create a craveable reason to return" - Why would a customer come back to you? Why would someone follow you? What are you doing as a leader that makes someone want to follow you?

Feb 17, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #352: Patrick Lencioni - The Five Key Actions Of Excellent Leaders Notes: Leaders who sustain excellence = Humility - They don't feel they are more important than others, but they realize that their words and actions carry more weight. "Leadership is a privilege... It's about serving others. A lot of leaders lead because they think it looks cool." "Leadership has to be about what you can give, not what you can get." Exploring the two leadership motives: Reward-centered leadership: the belief that being a leader is the reward for hard work, and therefore, that the experience of being a leader should be pleasant and enjoyable, avoiding anything mundane, unpleasant or uncomfortable. Responsibility-centered leadership: the belief that being a leader is a responsibility, and therefore that the experience of leading should be difficult and challenging (though certainly not without elements of personal gratification). One of the questions to ask yourself: "How do you see your job in terms of verbs?" — what do you do to really help the business? The leader must be a constant, incessant reminder of the company's purpose, strategy, values, & priorities. You're not only the CEO, you're the CRO." Chief Reminding Officer The actions of great leaders: Running great meetings Managing the executive team Managing the executives as individuals Having difficult conversations with people Constantly communicating and repeating key messages to employees "The CEO should have the most painful job in the company." For the mid-level manager -- "Am I waking up with the right rationale to do this job?" Love is a verb: Time Affection Discipline "Leadership is not a noun, it's a verb." Running great meetings: "Meetings are the central activity of leadership. Bad leaders have other people run their meetings." Good meetings have debate and conflict. People are able to be passionate without consequence. The leader prioritizes what will be talked about. CEO's are responsible to build teams. Your job is to build teams based on trust When receiving a message from a cynical leader who says "You don't understand." Our response? "No, we're not going to be that way. The ones who do the hard work change the world." Micro-managing vs. Accountability: "There is an abdication of management. You should know what your team is doing." Parenting: "The great news about being a parent is it's humbling." The leader must be the chief reminding officer: "Constant, incessant, reminder of the company's purpose, strategy, values, and priorities. You must over-communicate." Marriage advice: "Be completely humble, vulnerable, especially in front of the kids. Engage in healthy conflict. When people can't argue, that's a problem."

Feb 10, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #351: John Maxwell - The Laws Of Leadership (Follow Them & People Will Follow You) John C. Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, coach, and author who has sold over 20 million books. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell has written three books which have each sold more than one million copies: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You , and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader . Notes: "Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better." - Pat Riley The difference between 'best' and 'better' "Whatever is best for now... Tomorrow has got to get better. I always look at 'best' for a moment." "If you're not growing today, I have to talk about yesterday. I don't want to talk about yesterday." The great leaders: Listen Learn Lead The importance of listening and asking questions: "I began to ask questions, invite people to sit down and talk." Shared learning and growing together... What John learned from Angela Ahrendts: "I aim to always give 60 and take 40. Always give more than you take." "Add more value to people than you take." Working with your team: "I put an idea in front of my team and say, 'make it better,' and they always do." Proactive: "If you're not proactive, you're reactive. I've never met a great leader who wasn't proactive." "Be unforgettable. Always be the first person to help." Action Attraction "The moment I move, I attract all resources because I'm moving." "I never draw people to me when I sit still." "Action shows intention" Keynote speaking preparation: "When I'm in the green room preparing, I'm thinking about the people in the audience. I begin to envision the people leaning in, taking notes, engaged. It helps me." The content you have will alone will not cut it -- "Connecting the content to the people carries the day. I want them to say, 'oh my gosh, he's talking to me.'" "The response of the people charges me up." Layered learning: Is your fence facing out or facing in? Are you growing? Or shrinking? Building a company? "I wasn't trying to build a company. It started in a garage. Each company was created just to help solve problems for people. --> Find a need, start a company, find a need, start a company." There are now over 30,000 John Maxwell coaches "I've always had the ability to take a problem and develop a resource for it." "I can smell an opportunity... And I can see it in people. I've always been quick to spot this." How to develop this skill? --> "You must seize the opportunities. Act quickly." Adaptability - "A person that lacks flexibility will mist a lot of opportunities." Peter Drucker did not make long range plans. He focused on seizing the moment. John's long range plan: "What I want for people is for them to do well and I want to help them do that." Life advice: Value people Continually grow Live very intentionally

Feb 3, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk For details, Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #350: Tom Rath - Answering Life's Great Question Tom Rath is an author and researcher who has spent the past two decades studying how work can improve human health and well-being. His 10 books have sold more than 10 million copies and made hundreds of appearances on global bestseller lists. Tom's first book, How Full Is Your Bucket? , was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller and led to a series of books that are used in classrooms around the world. His book StrengthsFinder 2.0 is Amazon's top selling non-fiction book of all time. Tom's other bestsellers include Strengths Based Leadership , Eat Move Sleep , and Are You Fully Charged? Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: "They are the single best people at asking good questions." "They are amazing listeners. They make you feel like you are the only person in the room." Ask insightful questions that help others identify something they had not previously thought of How does one develop that skill? Spend time alone learning... Have a genuine intellectual curiosity... Write caring, handwritten notes Make sure your teammates know you care about them and show your gratitude I shared the story of Doug Meyer calling me simply to say "thank you" and how much it meant to me. Be a thoughtful leader who leads with gratitude. Use specifics when describing why you appreciate someone Why did StrengtsFinder catch on? "We should not fall back to a resume. We don't have a good language to describe what we do and our talents." Strengths Finder does that for people As leaders, we should always be on the lookout for the unique talent in others Tom's Top 5 Strengths: Futuristic Analytical Relater Significane Activator My Top 5 Strengths: Learner - People who are especially talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them. Input - People who are especially talented in the Input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information. Intellection - People who are especially talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions. Individualization - People who are especially talented in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person. They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively. Achiever - People who are especially talented in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive. Individualize -- Send articles to specific people each day -- Write: "Hey, I was reading this and thought you might find it helpful." What you can contribute is more important that your passions. "There's an enormous mismatch in what the world needs and what's out there." Three big influences on Tom: Dr. Martin Luther King - "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?" Ben Horowitz's commencement speech His grandfather, Don Clifton -- "Our greatest contribution can be to teach others." There is a higher correlation in helpfulness when you can literally see the people you're helping (Tom shares the research to back this up). This gives you motivation to see your impact. We need a productive purpose. When feeling unfulfilled or unhappy at work? Instead of looking to leave the company, look for new ways to get to your intended outcome. How could you re-write your job? Can you make the job you have today meaningful? The Peter Principle - The principle that members of a hierarchy are promoted until they reach the level at which they are no longer competent. Qualities Tom looks for in a leader: Desire to develop other people Vision Life's great question is: "What are you doing for others?" We need to align basic expectations: "How do each of us want to contribute?" Create - Have a challenger as part of your team. Someone to push back and ask questions Relate - An energizer. How do you get and stay charged up? What reminds you of the vision? Of the mission? How to have fun? Operate - Scaling... Reaching more people. Advice: Map what the world around you needs. Who are you? What are your talents? Interests? Motivators? --> Draw the connections. Look where they intersect.

Jan 27, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 For full show notes go to: www.LearningLeader.com #349 - An Inside Look At The Book Writing Process With Jay Acunzo Why this topic? We've both written books. And my book is out this week! Context on our books: Welcome To Management . I wrote the book I wish I had when I first got promoted. Jay's book is called Break The Wheel. "Write a book because you think it has to exist. Not to be a best-seller. The Process: Research, outlining, fan interaction, drafting, publishing -- Why an outline is a vital piece of the process. "The outline is the bones." "Doing research in public created a system to vet ideas and best practices." --> Using client interactions as real time research to help test ideas Podcasts - It was extremely helpful for me to be recording while I was writing the book: I was consistently doing research while writing the book. Interviews, asking questions about writing/books, ideas, etc. I was working full time while I wrote this book and I think that made it better. It forced me to be disciplined with blocking time to write daily. Traditional vs. Self-Publish vs. Hybrid -- Jay chose a hybrid approach to publishing his book. I chose to publish traditionally with McGraw-Hill. I did a lot of research on the different paths for publishing and chose the traditional route because: I wanted to create options and leverage for myself. And after I spoke with Casey Ebro from McGraw-Hill I was completely sold on accepting their offer. Superlatives: Platitude about writing/writing books/creativity that you found MOST true during this process? LEAST true? Most true = Writers write (listen to the James & Kristy Clear story from dinner). Least true = I've read from a few well known authors that you have to dedicate your life to nothing but writing the book. I found that continuously working and building a business at the same time as writing was helpful. When I do q & a's on stage after a keynote or on my podcast, I get ideas and prompts to write about... Most useful habit/routine: I learn through talking. I had regular sessions where I would sit in a room with my Dad and/or my friend Lance (who was a prosecutor for 10 years). They would give me prompts, ask questions, and we would talk out the book. I would type notes during our sessions, then I would go by myself and write. In my very first session with my Dad, he said, "Remember, it's a lot harder when you care." He meant this in the form of leading people… And he's right. But the same is true for writing a book. It's hard when you care so deeply about the topic of helping people lead others more effectively… Because I understand the ripple effect. The wake left behind you as a leader. Most surprising lesson: You don't fully know what you think or how little you know until you put pen to paper. Writing REALLY forces you to be clear on what you believe. I outline sections and then would ramble on for pages. The editing process was helpful. I hired an editor/writing coach to help. Best story from the book: I sent an early copy to Ryan Holiday to read and offer feedback. He called me said, "Dude, why is your best story in the middle of the book? You should open the book with that story." And so I did... What was your editor's favorite part? Casey Ebro (from McGraw-Hill) said to me, "I read non-fiction business books for a living. I've read hundreds of them. And your section titled "You Have To Do All Three" in chapter six is the most unique and helpful view that I've read about leading, managing, and coaching." -- That was a great moment. Additional Benefits: Publishing your work online is becoming the greatest networking tool in the world -- When done well, you attract the people you want to be around. (David Perell, James Clear have written a lot about this) Writing is the ultimate exercise to help you find clarity. Sometimes you don't realize how much you don't know about something until you try to write about it. -- This can help everyone (especially useful for leaders).

Jan 20, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #348: Simon Sinek - Why Consistency Beats Intensity (Playing The Infinite Game) Notes: Leaders who sustain excellence: Humility - They don't believe their own hype. Their power is accumulated through helping others. "I'm fully aware I'm the same idiot I was back then." "Vision is like an iceberg. The great leaders can see what's beneath the surface." "I never look at what I've done, I look at what I can do." "I tend to be very future focused." "People called me the 'why' guy... For my tastes, it's about new ideas, building on ideas." "We all need to find a vision." People should practice telling stories about real people, learn how to use metaphors Simon described the difference between the messaging at Apple vs. Microsoft Microsoft (during the Steve Ballmer days) were focused on their competition Apple was focused on helping teachers and designing beautiful products Stop thinking of others as competitors... Instead find worthy rivals In the late 1970's Milton Friedman said business should maximize profits for shareholders. For some reason, this idea was adopted and it became the norm. it was embraced. It's terrible. Prior to this, the idea of mass layoffs didn't exist as an option for a business. "We all have to become the leader we want to become." "Leadership is not rank, it's seeing those around you rise." "Business is one of the most personal things in the world." You should never said, "it's not personal, it's just business." It's ALWAYS personal. Great leaders are the ones who think beyond short term vs long term. They are the ones who know it's not about the next quarter or the next election but about the next generation. The greatness of George Eastman - he was not just how great for Kodak, but amazing for the game of business as a whole… He created a lot of employee incentives in 1912 that had not been happening up to that point. Stock options, sick days, college tuition reimbursement, etc. "Consistency becomes more important than intensity." "Where a finite-minded player makes products they think they can sell to people, the infinite-minded player makes products that people want to buy. The former is primarily focused on how the sale of those products benefits the company; the latter is primarily focused on how the products benefit those who buy them." "Being the best simply cannot be a Just Cause, because even if we are the best (based on the metrics and time frames of our own choosing), the position is only temporary. The game doesn't end once we get there; it keeps going. And because the game keeps going, we often find ourselves playing defense to maintain our cherished ranking. Though saying "we are the best" may be great fodder for a rah-rah speech to rally a team, it makes for a weak foundation upon which to build an entire company. Infinite-minded leaders understand that "best" is not a permanent state. Instead, they strive to be "better." "There is an entire section at the book store called "self-help," there should be a section called "help others." Why lead? --> "Because you want to see others grow. Your job may be 9 to 5, but leadership is 24-7." "If you like the idea of taking care of others, you may be suitable to lead."

Jan 13, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #347: Steven Strogatz - How Calculus Reveals The Secrets Of The Universe Leaders who sustain excellence: Have a willingness to be a beginner "When you're naive, you ask new questions" "They have the courage to be someone who's just starting" How do you fight the urge to live up to a prior reputation of being an expert at something? Be known as an adventurer. Cannot have an ego. Six degrees of separation is a math problem The strength in weak ties It's important to connect with people outside of your typical orbit Action: Go to a strange party, play a new sport, go to a new gym, meet oddballs Collect "casual acquaintances" The value of being a helper: Be the assist person, help others, do little acts of kindness, promote someone else's work How Steven and I got to know each other: David Epstein's wife made an intro for David and Steven... And then from David to me. "Be the kind of person who remembers others names" Why should a normal person learn calculus? "The world has been turned upside down by calculus" "Calculus is the mathematical study of change" "It's a great intellectual adventure story" "Calculus is the language that God talks" --> The laws of nature are built in calculus How to be more creative? Be broadly interested in many different topics. Take something from one area and apply it somewhere else. Advice Steven would give to a mid-level manager: "Getting high grades is jumping through hoops someone else sets" "As a PhD, you have to make your own hoops" "People need to be more adventurous, and then figure it out" Why you should study Improv as a leader: Use "Yes and..." This helps with brainstorming and coming up with new ideas. Put out a lot of wacky ideas to get to the good stuff. "I want people to be gripped irrationally by the imagination" The power of mentors: "Learn from both the great coaches and the bad ones" The value of friendships: The story of Mr. Joffray -- Physically impressive and wonderfully intelligent. He took pleasure in Steven passing him. The value of teaching: It helps create empathy... It forces you to put yourself in the mind of someone else. "Bad teachers don't have empathy." How does Steven prepare for big moments? "I try to be myself. And talk myself out of being intimidated." ---> The audience wants you to do well. Life advice: "Do what you care about most, what drives you the most, do the hard work to become skillful." Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Jan 6, 2020

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com #346: Cameron Mitchell is the founder & CEO of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants. In 2018, they celebrated their 25th anniversary. He employees more than 5,000 people and his restaurants do $300m/year in sales. He is the author of Yes Is The Answer, What Is The Question? He has been recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young, as a Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration and as one of 50 New Taste Makers by Nation's Restaurant News. Notes: "Leaders who sustain excellence believe in people. They put trust in people." Must have strong culture and values Writing your core values -- The benefit of putting pen to paper and the courage to act on them (including firing a superstar if he doesn't live up to the values set) His goals: Go to the Culinary Institute of America Become GM at age 24 Regional at age 26 VP of Operations at age 30 Be president of a restaurant company by age 35 Go to the Culinary Institute of America He woke his mom up at a 1:00am and told her his goals "When you share your goals, people want to hold you accountable to them..." He went to Culinary Institute of America. Same place as Anthony Bourdain. The CIA was the Harvard of culinary schools. He got turned down initially because of his low high school grades -- "I had the can do, but didn't have the want to initially" He once worked 100 days in a row without a day off (that included a 1 hour and 45 minute commute each way) "I equate it to the doll that you punch and it comes right back up." -- Must be resilient "You cannot build a life like this or be successful without a commitment to hard work" Years ago Cameron was a young man with a dream, a yellow note pad, and a pen. He wrote down 5 questions and answers that articulated who he would be, why he would exist, and what he believed and did as a restaurant company. The 5 Questions: Who are we? What do we want to be? Why are we in business? What is your role? What is our goal? After those questions were answered, Cameron created their eight core values to live by... Fundraising (for people to invest in his new restaurant business) was a grueling process. He got rejected 9 out of 10 pitches when trying to raise money for his first restaurant. Cameron shares everything he learned from so much rejection and failure... Initially Cameron was a bad boss and people threatened to quit because of him… He got help from Jim Collins and other mentors. Why the answer is always yes... --> Cameron shares the symbolism of a milkshake. To grow his business, he needed to hire great leaders to help him scale and run other restaurants... He shares the key qualities he looked for when making hiring decisions. The first leader he hired 20+ years ago is still with him today. "I'm constantly pushing on where could we be? Constantly thinking about how we can be better?" The Customer Comes Second -- Book by Hal Rosenbluth that impacted Cameron. Cameron gave 5% of the purchase price ($4.6m) to his associates (employees) when they sold a portion of their business to Ruth's Chris and gave a unique gift/experience to his senior leaders (paid for their kids college tuition, sent them on a European trip with their spouse) Associates must come first Cameron described with emotion the power of having children had on him... Before Cameron had even met his wife, he would tell people, "I'm working for a wife and kids I don't even know yet." The moment of clarity when you have that walk with your wife... When she's in the wheelchair holding your new baby. "You can't be successful at home if you're not successful at work. You can't be successful at work if you're not successful at home." "Everyone sees the outward success. But the family is the inward success." Their associates get 8 weeks paid vacation. The culture and values must hold up especially when times are tough Cameron tells the story of a time when his best chef used bad language towards another associate. Cameron fired him within five minutes. "If we don't live those values every single day, then they become no good." General life advice: "Integrity takes years to build and minutes to ruin. You must lead with integrity." "Cutting corners in life will get you nowhere." Don't think of the easier way to do things. "If it were easy everybody would do it. I don't want the easy way, I want the right way." "Positive mental attitude. It's what you do with your day that defines you. Be constantly aware of that." Be unwavering with your work ethic. "We're pushing forward every day."

Dec 30, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Tex LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes found at www.LearningLeader.com #345: Kamal Ravikant - Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It Notes: Commonalities of leaders who have sustained excellence: A belief in the power of commitment to self: WHO am I going to be that day? Don't just float through life "Excellence means continuing through imperfect days." --> Moving forward: It's a mindset How to learn how to keep pushing forward? "Don't wait until you're qualified to do it. Jump in, learn to swim." Kamal's process for selling: "You have to believe it." Writing process -- Forced Kamal to deal with rejection... It was part of the process to get better. Studied the greats: Hemingway - Clear, simple, prose. "Writing is more rewarding than anything. It's just you and the blank page." "Love yourself like your life depends on it." It's story about responding to failure. How does this work with someone who already feels great about themselves? "Fundamentally, this is about how to be better. Learn from the maps of humanity." It's all about what's intside. "The internal impacts the external." Kamal had to come to terms with his tough childhood. He appreciates the strength developed from sleeping in a car (temporarily homeless) What was learned from boot camp (in the Army)? "I can handle anything thrown at me." It teaches the value of mission and responsibility. Leading a team in business: "Hire people for what they're best at." And then support them to do that work. "The best leaders are those that have actually done stuff." They understand the nuance of the industry and the work. Must be hungry. Why walk across Spain? Having the mentality of, "No matter what, I'll figure it out... Take chances in life. Go beyond comfort zones." How has a life altering event (a surgery that went bad) impacted perspective on life? "I feel blessed and lucky." "You can become a mess or become awesome." What Kamal learned from spending time with monks? "The construct of self disappears." "Love and compassion." Advice: "Excellence requires persistence."

Dec 23, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Text LEARNERS to 44222 #344: Jesse Cole Jesse Cole is the founder of Fans First Entertainment and owner of the Savannah Bananas. His teams have welcomed more than 1 million fans to their ballparks and have been featured on MSNBC, CNN and ESPN. Cole's teams have been awarded Organization of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Business of the Year and have won three CPL Championships. The Savannah Bananas currently have sold out every game for three straight seasons and have a waiting list in the thousands for tickets. In 2018, Fans First Entertainment made the INC 5000 list as one of the fastest growing companies in America. Jesse wrote Find Your Yellow Tux – How to Be Successful by Standing Out . The book launched #1 in three categories on Amazon and has been sold in 18 countries. Staying true to his mantra, " Whatever's Normal, Do the Exact Opposite," Jesse launched the book with a World Book Tour….at Epcot. Notes: How do we define excellence? Hunger like PT Barnum and Walt Disney Curiosity Sustain energy -- Always "bring the energy." --> "When I'm at work, it's show time." Understand what brings you energy -- Write it down "It was right in front of me. We sold our house... We needed to create attention. We couldn't do marketing like everyone else." The daily practice of writing Thank You notes: The "thank you experiment." One per day, every day. Look for people you're grateful for... Tell them. Love: "Love is something not talked about enough." Jesse learns the love languages of all of his employees. Long term values -- They call all people who buy tickets to his games. Be intentional about EVERYTHING. "We don't invest in marketing, we invest in experiences." Relate to the normal person: With the hold music Your email signature Business cards Name tags Make everything remarkable Write a letter to the parents of young people who work for you. How are you recognizing people? "Be patient in what you want for yourself, but be impatient in how much you give to others." Core beliefs: Always be caring Be different Write your future resume (what do you want to experience) "Red flags never go down." If you find a red flag in the interview process, it's time to move on. "We want people who 'do and learn.'" "You don't fail, you discover things." Build your idea muscle -- Write 10 ideas a day, every morning. "I believe in learning by doing." Wrote 159 blogs before publishing any of them... "Stop standing still, start standing out." "It's a lot easier to fit in than stand out." Create "You wouldn't believe" moments Write the normal list and then do the opposite -- Do the remarkable (like going on a world book tour at Epcot) Magic Castle -- "Listen carefully, respond creatively." Advice: What makes you different? What makes you stand out? Be okay with standing for something. Don't just try to be a little better than someone else. Experiment -- Throw darts until you hit the bulls-eye

Dec 16, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #343: Kelly McGonigal Kelly McGonigal is a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University who specializes in understanding the mind-body connection. As a pioneer in the field of "science-help," her mission is to translate insights from psychology and neuroscience into practical strategies that support personal well-being and strengthen communities. She is the best-selling author of The Willpower Instinct and The Upside of Stress. You might know her from her TED talk, "How to Make Stress Your Friend," which is one of the most viewed TED talks of all time, with over 20 million views. Her new book, The Joy of Movement, explores why physical exercise is a powerful antidote to the modern epidemics of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Her identical twin sister is the well-known game designer and futurist Jane McGonigal. Notes: How do we define excellence? What's the metric? It's about contributing to the world consistent and personal values. A sense of who Let your strengths and talents be what guides you Trust in self, intuition, take risks Kelly has a strong sense of direction. She's had that for a long time. When to say yes or no? She discovered she loved teaching. The story/science approach -- "I want to connect you with a stranger." Help people connect with others. "The science reveals something about human nature." Willpower -- "The ability to make choices to do what you want even when part of you doesn't want to do it." Immediate gratification combined with an investment if your future. Both are important. "This is a skill that can be developed." Be clear about your values and goals. Know what you want. "Every morning, do a 30 second commitment to what's important to you." Remember who you are. "Create an environment that reminds me of my goals and makes it easier to accomplish them." Disciplined people do what they say they will do. "They are clear about what they want to do. Create an environment that supports them. Have a sense of purpose." "Anyone can develop discipline if they are clear on what they want." "Stress is what happens when we care/have a lot at stake." "Stress is what gives you energy. It reminds you that it matters." Think, "How is stress trying to direct me?" "What is my body and brain trying to nudge me towards?" "Figure out your healthy stress responses." Real life example: How to prepare for your first meeting with your new team (that you are leading): Get rid of the idea that you shouldn't be stressful. It is part of the process. It's a signal that you care. Bigger than self-perspective. Go beyond the ego. Think it's allowing the team to have a moment. Support the mission. Think bigger than just making a good impression. It helps you connect with clear intentions. It's a mindset shift. Always assume others have something as valuable as you. They have wisdom. Let it be co-created with others. "Being a leader is bringing what's best in the room. People will rise to the expectations of them." Thoughts Kelly had in her mind prior to her TED Talk (that has since gone viral): The woman that went before her had a panic attack. Kelly noticed that the crowd had incredible goodwill towards the speaker. They wanted the speaker to do well. "Breathe in anxiety, breath out encouragement." "I'm going to put the audience at ease. I got you." The joy of movement: When you go from sedentary to active, when you move your body, there is increased optimism, hope, connection. The story about my mom working as an aerobics instructor when I was a kid -- Moving your body to the beat of the music is powerful and helpful. Walking in nature: "When you're in nature, the brain shifts to the present moment." Take more walks. The "Runner's High"-- Persistence is high, put the body in motion and just keep going. Your brain releases chemicals to provide pleasure, reduce pain. It creates energy and optimisim "We learn from movement. We endure. We learn what we're capable of." General advice: Take care of your self -- invest in your well being. It will help you deal with challenges Tell me about someone who's made a positive influence on your life Don't wait for permission. Start it. Do it. You need feedback.

Dec 9, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #342: Shane Snow - The #1 Skill Of An Effective Leader (Intellectual Humility) Text LEARNERS to 44222 For full show notes go to www.LearningLeader.com Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: Pattern recognition - The ability to connect ideas and people Systems thinking - Connect dots, zoom out The ability to continue to question yourself, a hunger to improve, a "voracious learner" ( Liv Boeree ) Must relearn how to humble yourself The #1 skill is intellectual humility -- The ability to sit between gullibility and stubbornness Why are people so unwilling to change their mind? "So much of our ideas are attached to our identities." "You must separate your ego from intellect." What is a solution (as a leader)? If you're the one in power, invite people with a different perspective to the table. Don't invoke identity. Just ask for perspective. Leave space to change your mind... "I could be wrong but..." Strength and flexibility should not be in conflict Ben Franklin idea: Use idea, leave space for change, set opinion, but use phrases less defensive, only change your mind based on evidence. Say things like: "I could be wrong but..." "The research suggests..." "The evidence suggests..." Elon Musk -- His pattern to persuade people... It's purpose based leadership ("to make life multi-planetary") The strength is in his vision and his purpose. He's seen as strong by being willing to change his mind. Compliance versus Committed = Cult vs Culture Difference between a cult and culture: Cult - Must act and think in a certain way Culture - Asked to contribute your ideas in your way Key part of leadership: "Understand what matters to your people." Intellectual humility: Respect for others' viewpoints Lack of intellectual overconfidence Separating your ego from your intellect Being open to revising your viewpoints Openness to new experiences Separate feelings/thoughts from facts Trying something new creates new opportunities Advice: Learn about intellectual humility - take Shane's assessment Frame changing your mind as a strength -- reward others for doing this Habits: Instead of saying "I feel" say "I think." Words matter. Separate facts from stories Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Order my book: WELCOME TO MANAGEMENT

Dec 2, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #341: Behind The Scenes Of The Learning Leader Show With Jay Acunzo Full Shownotes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Text LEARNERS to 44222 Notes: SECTION ONE: Superlatives Hardest interview: -- Jim Collins . Most-downloaded all-time:Show has steadily grown since it was created, so the most downloaded is a recent episode. From this year: #310 David Epstein . He wrote Range and The Sports Gene , Some popular ones from the past are: #300 with my dad and brother AJ , #216 Jim Collins episode is a popular one. Most referenced: the one you cite the most in conversation or your work - #78 with Kat Cole (Courage/Confidence + Curiosity/Humility) = Productive Achievers. Biggest delta between what you thought they'd be like...and what they were actually like? General Stanley McChrystal . War hero. 4 star General. Expected him to be super intimidating, but he was so kind, thoughtful, curious, and caring. Followed up to ask him to write the Foreword to my book and he said yes. Hardest part of running this show? It's never ending. Must always be working on it - Reaching out to guests, cold emails, preparing for each conversation, reading their books, watching everything they have online, etc. It never stops. Where have you most improved? Better conversationalist. Understand how to ask better questions, be more thoughtful, intentional with my actions/behavior. Biggest benefits to your life... 1) The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know… I've become more curious. Most active listeners: who do you see popping up a lot? - My Leadership Circle SECTION TWO: Stagnation Is The Enemy We undervalue the power of consistency: Consistency + Quality is the key to long term success. Most people quit. Must keep going. Why start it? - I wanted to create my own Leadership PhD. One where I get to choose the professors. Share with others, be a multiplier… Had dinner with Founder of Broadcast.com, Todd Wagner. Publishing work is the best form of networking. Create a reason for people to WANT to contact you. The preparation process - Read their books, watch their talks, read articles written by them and about them. Talk to friends we have in common. Read the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT section of their books to ask questions about meaningful in their lives (this gets them to open up and feel free to speak more emotionally… Which can be great audio and REAL) Given repeat ability and longevity, how do YOU stay engaged? Mental heuristics, intrinsic things that you just do/try, proactive remixes and reinventions? -- Have to be genuinely curious in the guest. Have to enjoy the pain of preparation. What are you willing to struggle for? Because that seems to be a greater determinant of how our lives turn out ( Neil Pasricha ). I love the preparation process, reading/thinking of angles to take a conversation with a specific guest that I'm curious about. Given that stagnation isn't just caused by US but also by the market saturating, how do you operate today compared to before? Early mover advantage wanes...and so many more podcasts about your topic specifically now exist. -- Willing to try new things (like this). Study and understand my listeners. You'll often hear me speak to the exact avatar of my listener. I'm not trying to have the biggest show ever. I'm trying to be the right show for the people who email me (mid-level manager in corporate America. Building teams, hiring/firing, qualities to look for when building a team). It helps directly with those people, but have also found niche audiences in other spaces like NCAA basketball coaches, NBA players, etc. SECTION THREE: What's next? What are you excited to do next? Try new projects like this episode… Continue to do live shows with an audience, travel more for in person recordings ( Koppelman , Roberge ), and keep going. My book . Where does this show go? What other projects surround it now, vs what you want to try? - Live shows, travel for in person. Bring on guests for my Leadership Circles (paid Mastermind groups. My groups ask for a guest, I bring them on). Creates group teaching and a ton of value for my Leadership Circles. My book. What's pissing you off about leadership in the corporate world that you'd like to explore and help solve? - Bad bosses. I've worked for a few (as have we all). I wrote about that goes through the process of being a bad boss to being a better one. I lived it and I've learned so much from others. That's what WELCOME TO MANAGEMENT is all about.

Nov 25, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Text LEARNERS to 44222 to receive the first chapter of my new book, WELCOME TO MANAGEMENT for free. Episode #340: Liz Bohannon - co-founder and co-CEO of Sseko Designs and the author of Beginner's Pluck: Build your life of purpose, passion and impact now. Liz and the Sseko story has been featured in dozens of publications including: Vogue Magazine, Redbook Magazine, O Magazine, Inc, Fortune and others. Sseko has appeared on national broadcasts including ABC's Shark Tank and Good Morning America. Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: They do work that taps into their intrinsic motivation and they know WHY they do what they do. You must drill down far to know this Vulnerable -- Look at Brene Brown. A "truth teller." Shoshin - An openness with eagerness. Have to have both. Why is the "Beginner's Pluck" message resonating with so many people? "I believe it, but not sure if I really do..." People (women especially) tend to doubt themselves too much. "You don't need to be extraordinary to build a life making a difference." "Passion is something you build... I learned it through telling an untrue story." Be driven by interest, and curiosity... "I'm the CEO of a for-profit fashion company." "My ego wasn't super involved. It gave me the freedom to just do it." "I got so obsessed with the problem and finding a solution to it." "The work of an artist is to know what's inside of you. Be solutions agnostic." "The artist creates without thinking of the audience." "The entrepreneur has to think of the audience." --> What's the actual problem this fixes? Sit in the complexity of what it means to be a world changer. "We live in a world that is so quick to critique... Show up, do the work." How did Liz learn to run a business? She took a six week crash course on basic accounting and followed her curiosity to learn each skill as she went. Don't be caught in analysis paralysis "The thing I had connected to me was my WHY." "You don't get to know Step 7 when you're in stage 1. That's not how it works." Must take it a step at a time. "What do I absolutely need to figure out? The MVP - Minimum Viable Product -- Know that it's only Version 1. Can iterate as you go. The 4 stages of Learning: Unconscious incompetent Conscious incompetent Conscious competent Unconscious competent How often am I feeling out of my league? -- You should feel this often in order to grow.

Nov 18, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Ep: #339: Robert Greifeld - Lessons Learned From A Decade Of Change As CEO Of NASDAQ Robert Greifeld served as the CEO of Nasdaq from 2003 to 2016. During his tenure, Bob led Nasdaq through a series of complex, innovative acquisitions that extended the company's footprint from a single U.S. equity exchange to a global exchange and technology solutions provider, nearly quadrupling revenue, growing annual operating profits by more than 24 times and achieving a market value of over $11 billion. He is the author of a new book called: Market Mover: Lessons from a Decade of Change at Nasdaq. Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: "Once you achieve competency, they're on a daily battle with complacency." Always looking forward - never resting on laurels A mindset that: "Success in the past is no guarantee that success will happen in the future." Self reflection is important for self awareness: "Being focused on the present doesn't preclude self reflection." Has being rich made you happy? "Wealth makes you more secure?" How to balance family time and work time? "Balance is a dangerous word. I prefer having an integrated life instead." "I made a rule that I did no business dinners unless I was doing the selling." Make multiple short trips instead of longer ones... Only miss seeing your family for a day or two at a time Bob describes the story of how he was recruited to NASDAQ and why he took the job... During the interview process, he shared the five things he would do within the first 100 days: Get right people on board Reduce bureaucracy Embrace fiscal discipline Overhaul technology Stop being satisfied with number 2 Have to have the right people on the bus Bob met with many people prior to starting as the CEO of NASDAQ: "I fired a lot of people before 8:00am on the first day I started. I did a lot of work prior to starting to learn who was going to buy in." "Good morale in a bad organization is not a good thing." With promotions, live by the 80/20 rule: "We tried to promote 80% from within our organization." "When interviewing people from the outside, the odds of being wrong are higher." Qualities to look for in people to promote: Positive attitude/energy -- "Happy campers" Pure skills How well do they play with others? Won't tolerate prima donnas How to be a great leader? Must be in front of your customers Stand in the shoes of your people Do a lot of individual contributor work "Don't be a conference room pilot" -- Don't spend all your time in meetings Learned knowledge vs. Lived knowledge Learned: "Don't know what's coming, you just learned it." Lived: "You've sat in the seat, you can see around corners." Acquisitions: Geography - If location is near us, that helps Industry - If it's the same industry, just smaller, that helps Overall advice: Never had a career path or end goal Wanted to do something that energized me "I'll do that job well." "Don't focus on climbing the mythical career ladder." "Don't take a job to just get another job." Why leave NASDAQ? "I like controlling my schedule." The benefits of growing up with blue collar parents. His dad worked for the Post Office, he was always upbeat and believe that life can be better.

Nov 11, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #338: Jason Fried Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Text LEARNERS to 44222 to learn more Jason Fried is the founder & CEO at Basecamp. He's the co-author of Getting Real, Remote, REWOR K, and It Doesn't Have To Be Crazy At Work . Basecamp is a privately-held Chicago-based company committed to building the best web-based tools possible with the least number of features necessary. Their blog, Signal vs. Noise, is read by over 100,000 people every day. Jason believes there's real value and beauty in the basics. Elegance, respect for people's desire to simply get stuff done, and honest ease of use are the hallmarks of Basecamp products. Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: Willingness/ability to know what's the work worth doing The skill to discern what's important How to develop that skill? Must become a good auditor of your time. Practice. Look back on what you've done. Analyze what you do? Discern what's worth it. Remote work: Basecamp has 56 employees in 30 cities around the world... Why remote? "You don't want the best people, you want the right people." The odds of all the right people living near your headquarters is small. The business started in Chicago with three people. They hired DHH to be their first programmer. He lived in Denmark. Then they hired someone in Utah. "It just worked. We didn't worry about where, just wanted to find the right people." Jason never writes a business plan -- No 1, 3, or 5 year plan. They work in six week project increments. Why? "Planning is simply guessing. Setting your course over a guess doesn't seem like a good idea. We have an idea of where we're headed, but we work in six week chunks." What Jason learned from Jeff Bezos: "People who were right often changed their minds." --> Be willing to change your mind when better evidence presents itself. The "anti-goal" mindset: "(Financial) Goals are made up. There's nothing about them that's true. They are guesses... Made up numbers." "Asking if I hit the goal is the wrong question. Asking if I enjoyed the run is the better question." "One of the problems with setting goals is you are a different person when you set them than when they need to be met." You grow, evolve, and change. "Too many companies focus on numbers instead of their customers." --> That is because they have number based goals to hit. It can ruin the customer experience (Jason had a terrible experience trying to cancel his satellite radio service) Qualities Jason looks for when making hiring decisions: Communicate clearly - "You must be a great writer." Much of their communication is done in writing. "We look at the cover letter first. That must be good. If that's not well written, then we do not look at the resume." Quality of character - "You must be a good person. We hire people that we want to be with. No ego. We like to hire people that use "we" and "us" instead of "I" Must be able to give and take feedback - Need to be coachable. "For designers, we give them a project to do in the interview process and then we provide them feedback. If they can't handle it, we will not hire them." Transition from individual contributor to leader... How to do it well? "It is REALLY hard. Very few people are born being good managers." "Come to terms that you can no longer do everything." Advice Jason got from Tobi (CEO of Shopify) - "As the CEO, you are working on longer term strategic initiatives. You don't get to feel the day-to-day progress that people lower in the organization feel." Need to get comfortable with that. Some of the benefits at Basecamp: Fully paid vacation every year for all employees ($5K), 3 day weekends all summer, $1K/year in continuing education outside of your job, $100/month for a massage, $100/month gym membership, $2K/year charity match, paid in the top 10% of your salary range as if you lived in San Francisco (even though no employees live in San Francisco) Why do it? "It's the right thing to do. I wanted to start a business that I wanted to work at. We're a company that cares about service." "People are not the place to save money. They are the place to spend money." "Give people their time. A contiguous block of time every day to do their work." Don't muddle it up with meetings in the middle of that time. "I'll work hard now so I can relax later" is not the optimal way to live. Create the habits now to enjoy it as you go. "Later" is where intentions go to die. "When calm starts early, calm becomes the habit."

Nov 4, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 For full show notes, go to www.LearningLeader.com Episode #337: Scott H. Young - How To Become An Ultra Learner Scott Young is a writer who undertakes interesting self-education projects, such as attempting to learn MIT's four-year computer science curriculum in twelve months and learning four languages in one year. Scott incorporates the latest research about the most effective learning methods and the stories of other ultralearners like himself—among them Ben Franklin, Judit Polgár, and Richard Feynman, as well as a host of others, such as little-known modern polymaths like Nigel Richards who won the World Championship of French Scrabble—without knowing French. He is the author of the best-selling book, UltraLearning . Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: Understand how excellence works Learning, constantly thinking about the process of improving Being interested in learning new things... Scott finds the mind fascinating Encountering things that people have done that are jaw dropping Projects: Why he failed to learn French as an exchange student "Simple decisions you make early on can have big consequences." Because he didn't go all in and immerse himself in the language, he always reverted back to his native tongue Go for inversion from the beginning. This is why he did the "year without English." "Doing the hard thing makes it easier in the long run, it accelerates skills more quickly" UltraLearning - A strategy for acquiring skills and knowledge that is both self-directed and intense As a manager, recognize that there are many different skills you can possess to be successful... Know what you need to be good at. Break it down to the component skills... Have a process Get better at each important skill Think: "What would it be like to be amazing at this?" Tristan de Montebello: He wanted to learn a new skill that was completely outside of his current skill set (he's a musician) Instead of learning another instrument, he chose to become a world class public speaker He started as an amateur and ended as a finalist for a public speaking championship. How? He got on stage twice a day, took improv class, and compressed the process. "He made the conscious decision to become excellent." And then executed... Process for a person who has a full time job/family/mortgage: This doesn't need to be a full time endeavor "How are you using every minute of every day?" Take on intensive bursts Follow your curiosity and obsessions Ramit Sethi -- "See the game being played around you" Principles: Spend time figuring out the best way to learn what you want to learn. What tools and resources are available? Drill, attack your weakest point. Sometimes you shouldn't learn a skill (ex: fixing your car... Hire a mechanic instead) Every complicated skill has components Test to learn Repeated review - read over and over Free recall - read the text once, then close the book. Try to recall what you learned. In an experiment, free recall learners retained more. PRACTICE remembering something. It impacts how you process information. Anders Ericsson - Deliberate practice: In 40% of the cases, feedback hurt. Task oriented feedback works best. How we process feedback is most important "If you're doggedly trying to be an ultra learner and sustain excellence, emotional consequences are important..." Born with it vs. Ability to learn: Anyone has the ability to learn anything Everyone has their own abilities, their own pace. Recognize your capacity to improve but don't compare to others Life advice: Read more books - It expands your mind Meet more interesting people - Subtlety informs choices, expands group you meet Go do ambitious things - bold projects Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Oct 27, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #336: Neil Pasricha: How To Build Resilience & Live An Intentional Life Full Show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com How To Build Resilience & Live An Intentional Life NEIL PASRICHA is the the author of six books including: The Book of Awesome , a spinning rolodex of simple pleasures based on his 100-million-hit, award-winning blog 1000 Awesome Things , The Happiness Equation , originally written as a 300-page love letter to his unborn son on how to live a happy life, Awesome Is Everywhere , an interactive introduction to guided meditation for children, and How To Get Back Up , a memoir of failure and resilience released as an Audible Original. His latest book is called You Are Awesome . His books are New York Times and #1 international bestsellers and have sold millions of copies across dozens of languages. His first TED talk "The 3 A's of Awesome" is ranked one of the 10 Most Inspiring of all time. Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: They read a lot They unplug regularly - "the genesis for all my best ideas." "Create untouchable time" for yourself The CEO of Wal-Mart -- How did he create this time? He's the CEO BECAUSE he always made this part of his way of operating. Neil worked in a senior level corporate role for Wal-Mart for 10 years His side hustle was writing and speaking He didn't quit his job until he had successfully built his side hustle for eight years! Ask yourself two questions: Which of these two decisions will I regret not doing more on your death bed? What will you do if it fails? The farmer with one horse fable: A farmer had only one horse. One day, his horse ran away. His neighbors said,"I'm so sorry. This is such bad news. You must be so upset." The man just said,"We'll see." A few days later, his horse came back with twenty wild horses following. The man and his son corralled all twenty-one horses. His neighbors said, "Congratulations! This is such good news.You must be so happy!" The man just said,"We'll see." One of the wild horses kicked the man's only son, breaking both his legs. His neighbors said,"I'm so sorry.This is such bad news. You must be so upset." The man just said,"We'll see." The country went to war, and every able-bodied young man was drafted to fight. The war was terrible and killed every young man, but the farmer's son was spared since his broken legs prevented him from being drafted. His neighbors said, "Congratulations! This is such good news.You must be so happy!" The man just said, "We'll see . . ." What is up with this crazy farmer, right? Well, what's up with this crazy farmer is that he has truly developed resilience. He has built up his resilience. He is resilient! He's steady, he's ready, and whatever the future brings, we all know he's going to stare it straight in the face with eyes that scream,"Bring it on." The farmer has come to understand that every skyrocketing pleasure or stomach-churning defeat defines not who he is but simply where he is . What do most commencement speeches get wrong? Do what you love only if you're willing to accept the pain to continue doing it... The grind. A lot of small losses add up. Can you handle the pain that you will need to endure to do what you love? Is it better to be a big fish in a small pond? Yes. Academic research shows it benefits you even up to 10 years after you leave the pond... Don't but the $5m condo in NYC. Continue to find places where you can purposefully win. Rig the game to win. "Different is better than better." Add a dot-dot-dot... Neil's mom: "I always just added the word yet to everything..." It's not a NO, it's a "not yet." You have to just "keep going." The two minute morning routine that takes the worry out of waking up: In your journal write three things: I will let go of... I am grateful for... I will focus on... Neil's goal setting: Set the lowest possible goals. Set goals that you will hit. "Extrinsic goals don't work." Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Oct 23, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Episode #335: Deconstructing The Art & Science Of Public Speaking With Jay Acunzo This is another bonus episode with my friend, Jay Acunzo. We deconstruct the art and science of public speaking in this bonus episode. "I'm trying to help you see something different that fundamentally changes your work for the better." Notes: The goal: Help your audience see something different that fundamentally changes their work for the better. Everything I'm doing (when speaking) is helping you get from where you're at to where you want to be. How to put a talk together: Prompt driven -- Anticipate the questions that will be asked and answer them. The coaching of Andrew Davis for Jay... "He's been really instrumental in helping me build a speaking business "The Dialog Outline" -- You break up a talk you're giving into it's component pieces making it a modular talk. "You're sharing the things others need to hear at the right moment they need to hear it... So they're anticipating what comes next..." Put yourself in situations to "talk out your thoughts" to generate ideas... "Learn through speaking." Process to prepare: The value of rehearsal -- Is it needed? How much? Memorization vs. knowing your content cold → How to not sound like a robot, but still remember what to say? Visual aids (PowerPoint, Keynote) -- "If I need the slides, I'm not ready." - Jay. Slides should be use to reinforce the message. You should never need to look at them. They are there to be additive to your message for your audience. The 30 seconds before going on stage? The optimal self talk... Interesting to hear the dramatic difference between Jay's approach and mine... Get emotionally cross-faded. "Wow, I get to do this. This is so cool." (The words Jay says to himself the instant before he goes on stage." And then... "Watch this." Assuring people that "I'm going to have some serious fun." "Get ready... I'm about to put on a show." -- Use your excitement and confidence to serve the audience. How to start a speech: What to do and what NOT to do: The first part of the speech is the shared goal - "What does everyone in the room want?" "The Vanguard." - The front line you send out to begin the attack... Do NOT start by saying, "I'm so excited to be here." Of course you're excited. Don't waste that time. It's too important to wander into the speech. Speaking Framework: (Mine: story → science → practical application) Story -- People remember stories Science -- Empirical evidence/data to support the story Application -- This is what it means for YOU Storytelling -- How to become a better storyteller? Great storytellers can rule the world... Give a "feature story" -- And then reveal your hidden truth. And then break it down into a methodology. Engaging the audience - some speakers walk in the crowd, some ask questions regularly… The optimal ways to engage the audience The element of surprise -- How to create 'moments' for the audience (surprise, 'aha' etc)? How to ensure you are enlightening them and not just regurgitating stuff they already know... The keys to Q & A and why it should never be the last thing you do on stage... Film the audience to see their reaction to your message... Study that to see what hits. How to add humor appropriately Coaching/feedback -- The intentional actions taken to ensure improvement. Why you should have a coach. Who is your kitchen cabinet ? For corporate world mid-level managers who have to do QBR's (quarterly business reviews) -- How can they make those more exciting? (Most are dreadfully boring full of random stats, charts, bar graphs, etc) Study the 'intentionality' of stand up comedians. Everything you say is for a specific reason. Be thoughtful and intentional with your actions. Persuasive presentations have logos, ethos, and pathos (from Talk Like TED ) Logos - Backing up your argument with data Ethos - Credibility of the speaker Pathos - Establish an emotional connection

Oct 20, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #334 Yancey Strickler Text Learners to 44222 Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Yancey Strickler is a writer and entrepreneur. He is the cofounder and former CEO of Kickstarter and author of This Could Be Our Future: A Manifesto for a More Generous World. Yancey has been recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and one of Fast Company 's Most Creative People. He's spoken at the Museum of Modern Art, Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals, Web Summit, and events around the globe. Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: Selflessness - "You have to get over yourself first" Have strength to know what's important Flexible It requires more time living into the minds of other people - "Not necessarily compassion, but 'what's going on with them?'" Curiosity - A desire to know more Amazon thinks 'customer maximization' - thinking in the best interest of the customer How to get hired for the next management role? Spend 1 hour a day with your current team -- Learn from them. What's really going on? Be the "go to" person for important objectives What was Day 1 as the CEO of KickStarter like? "I remember the new fancy office... I needed to set proper expectations." "People need to know how to make decisions" "The weight I felt as a new CEO was very high" The "on-me-ness was so high" - A huge responsibility that was felt The skill of "sandwiching ideas" -- Using metaphors to put together different ideas Japanese cuisine "Hara Hachi Bu: s top eating when you're 80% full so that you're still hungry for tomorrow." We shouldn't overfull ourselves because there is always something to learn tomorrow "My brain is really good at storing and making connections." "As a CEO/Leader, you need to be able to speak in metaphors to bring more oxygen to the situation..." How can we all do this? Read --> Write it down --> Take notes of something interesting "Metaphors are powerful." The power of story --> science --> application During his time at KickStarter, they grew from 70 employees to 155 in just a few years... What did Yancey look for in candidates? Selflessness, servant mindset "When they shared accomplishments, did they use 'we' or 'I'? We like the people who use 'we'" Mission driven Honest Not afraid to share bad news "Whenever I found myself having to talk myself into something and overlook a red flag, I often found that was a mistake." Why did he leave KickStarter? "I got tired, it took the energy out of me. It was my identity for a decade..." Had a rough 360 review (full review of people above, beside, and below him in the organization) "One morning, I got to the door to leave my house, and I could not do it. I broke down crying to my wife and said, 'I don't want to be a CEO today.'" Why writing is so beneficial: Forces clarity of thought "It forces you to accept rejection and just roll." Why write a manifesto(the book)? "I gave a talk, had it transcribed, put it online, and it went viral." When deciding to work for himself: "I need to treat myself as if I'm a company." -- How to properly plan and strategize as a solo entrepreneur "I wrote down five options... One of them was writing a book. I chose that option." A publisher said to Yancey, "You don't need to hide. Your book is good enough without all the fancy artwork." Going against the grain: "I'm challenging the dominant ethos of our time." Bentoism - A balanced view of what's in our rational self-interest as inspired by the layout of a Japanese lunchbox. Now me, future me, now us, future us. The four quadrants... Do you want do this in a small group with Yancey? Email me How Adele did this? She used an algorithm to measure how loyal a fan was. She used that information to help them get tickets at a decent price instead of the extraordinary prices on the secondary market. This is both emotional and rational. It's possible to be done for all of us. Life advice: Yancey originally felt like a failure because he didn't identify with what the magazine covers were telling him: He didn't feel the urge to want to crush his competitors. It's hard to be aware of the water you swim in... Have awareness... Be curious, read a lot. Have a plan... An idea of where to go. Understand new values. Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Oct 13, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #333: Chris Savage - How To Bet On Yourself & Scale Through Creativity Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Chris Savage is the co-founder and CEO of Wistia, a web-based video hosting solution built for businesses. He founded the company in 2006 with the goal of helping businesses effectively market their products or services in a smarter way through video. Under Savage's leadership and vision, Wistia has experienced 100 percent growth over the past three years, expanding the company's client portfolio to more than 110,000 users in more than 50 countries, including companies such as HubSpot, MailChimp and Starbucks. Text LEARNERS to 44222 Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: Voracious learners - "they celebrate learning more" Crave feedback - a strong desire to improve - "They are wired to want that" Patrick Campbell - "He's trying hard to learn as fast as possible" Chris's process for continual improvement: Placing people in his life to push him "I go to them to push my thinking" Block time to think - "Being busy is not a sign of success" Spend time with customers and employees Enjoying the process: "It was stimulating and exciting. It took us a year to get our first paying customer." The business was funded by savings. They kept their expenses very low Key to a successful partnership: Ensure values are aligned - "These are intrinsic" Know that everything takes longer than you think Have a decision making framework - Demystify the process to make big decisions The product strategies/options: Operational efficiency - The cheapest (No, this is not optimal) Product leadership - Be different Customer intimacy - This will solve customer problems Their values: Long term company thinking Creativity Presentation - An elevated experience. Aesthetics matter. Simplicity Hiring - "Hiring is everything." Qualities he looks for: "How are people intrinsically motivated?" "Are they excited about the craft, the challenge?" Give them a real-life problem to solve -- And see how they handle it/resolve it Inside their process to hire a VP of People: Clearly define what success is in the role Do a project after the first round of interviews - "Do the job, get critiqued." Build out strategy - Not a perfect plan, but have a process Meet with management team, present the plan. Building your network: "Take the weight of your friends. You're the average of them." Be proactive who you want to be --> Look for people who challenge you. Reflect on that... Tactically: Make connections with people who you admire. People like honest, sincere compliments. Tell them WHY they inspire you Financials: Raised angle round of $650K. Then $800K. All individual angels. No venture. They have $10m in revenue. Crisis: "We were losing this money, we weren't having fun anymore... People tried to buy us." They raised debt to do a buy back... "I felt amazing." Wistia: Creative risk taking Have to scare self - made a feature length documentary Host of the Brandwagon show "Take risks that scare you" Growth and profitability aren't mutually exclusive - "Focus on building products and experiences that people love... Growth follows." Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Oct 6, 2019

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Ep # 332: David Brixey & Doug Meyer LIVE! - How To Build A Business From The Ground Up Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com This episode was recorded in front of 150 of our closest friends, family, and clients in Dayton, Ohio. Doug Meyer formed Brixey & Meyer alongside Dave Brixey with a dream to give clients a different way of working with their tax professionals. In his role as Managing Director, Doug serves as a trusted business advisor to Business Owners, CEOs, CFOs and Boards of Advisors, driving value and accountability in the following strategic areas: succession & ownership planning, strategic planning, owners agreement structures, compensation planning, family business advisory & issue mediation, professional management practices, mergers & acquisition strategy, and family charter implementation. David Brixey formed Brixey & Meyer with Doug Meyer in 2002 utilizing his insatiable entrepreneurial spirit and his financial skills gained at Ernst & Young. He is also the co-founder and Managing Director of Brixey Meyer Capital, a lower middle market private investment firm. Since 2008, Dave has been personally involved in investing in small business to lower middle market as well as venture capital. Brixey & Meyer is recognized as a leading provider of accounting and business advisory services in the Midwest.

Sep 29, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Text LEARNERS to 44222 Episode #331: Ryan Holiday - Stillness Is The Key RYAN HOLIDAY is one of the world's foremost thinkers and writers on ancient philosophy and its place in everyday life. He is a sought-after speaker, strategist, and the author of many bestselling books including The Obstacle Is the Way; Ego Is the Enemy; and The Daily Stoic. His books have been translated into over 30 languages and sold over two million copies worldwide. He lives outside Austin, Texas, with his family. His latest book is called Stillness Is The Key. Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence = They look at the whole picture They have the ability to zoom out They have balance Driven, skilled at what they do, but they do not run unchecked. This creates happiness. Highly disciplined Temperance - Integrated into life The word enough : Balance - "We're definitely going to be forgotten." It's important to have the quiet time to do the work. And you have to love doing it. Michael Jordan's hall of fame speech: "It's so misguided. The problem with proving people wrong is eventually you do it. And it's never enough. Rather, you should choose to prove your own potential right. Did I leave it all on the page? Did I fulfill my own standards?" I choose to prove my supporters right instead of allowing detractors to take up space in my head The higher power was the logos - the path of the universe... The stoics acknowledged fate and fortune and the power these forces had over them. Marcus Lattimore (RB from South Carolina and the NFL) - He said, "The career ending injury I had was the best thing that ever happened to me." Decide how you will choose to respond. Make the choice to make a positive difference in people's lives. The impact of father hood has had on Ryan: "You realize how powerless you are as a parent. It's humbling and eye opening." The WHO - the power of relationships It's a team. It requires balance. Both players must flourish independently: "Accomplishments are not part of the identity of the relationship I have with Sam (his wife). She doesn't give a shit how many books I sell." "I have an inner scoreboard and hold myself to those standards." The value of a daily journal - The process, the ritual, the routine is helpful. The act of the devotion. Quiet time everyday, provides energy in the morning. "A routine becomes a ritual over time." Journaling one line a day for five years: It's the process of warming up, talking to self, verbalizing fears Thoughtfulness - "Interrogate yourself at the end of each day." -- This is what Churchill did Hitler said, "I recognized the correctness of my views." That's not wisdom, it's insanity. Don't do that. Privately, Abraham Lincoln with racked with doubt. The epidemic of ego easily mistakes for confidence and strength Stillness - What we're working towards. We need it to think clearly. We need to rest. Must be fully in the moment Momento Mori - "Get in the moment" Speaking routine - Wear the same clothes, workout before, listen to the same music, manage energy, funnel focus, and know that the material helps people Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Sep 25, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #330: Deconstructing The Art & Science Of Interviewing With Jay Acunzo Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com This is a special bonus episode focusing on deconstructing the art and science of interviewing. You will hear learning happening in real time. Jay Acunzo and I go a meta-level to better understand how to better improve our conversation ability, how to be better in an interview. "Interviewing is a skill that enhances your life in a pleasant and unexpected way." This is focused on how you can ask better questions, be more interesting and more interested, and become a better conversationalist. Notes: The meta level of deconstructing the process of making the work is rare... "I experience the most flow when it's quiet, nitty-gritty work. Those minute are profoundly rewarding for me." What makes a great interview? An open loop -- Start telling the story, but wait to close the loop until later to build intrigue... The difference between a narrative style show and an interview getting to know someone: A story is three parts - The intent of the story: The "Joseph Campbell Heroes Journey" 1) Status Quo 2) Conflict 3) Resolution Bucket of questions: "Tell me about X..." "How did it make you feel?" The analysis and the reflection Change your mindset: "You're not an interviewer, you're a dance partner." "The only thing that matters is that you lead. Everything else is little subtle moves to get people to go to where you want to go." "It's not a constant march forward. Instead, think of it like a dance. There are some steps back, steps forward, steps to the side — all packaged together in one coherent experience, with lots of zig-zagging and subtle steps inside those boundaries." Open ended questions: "Tell me about X" gets you story details, while "how did it feel when" gets you key moments of reflection and analysis. Both are crucial. Clip #1 -- JJ Redick He says "great question" — what would make someone interviewed as often as a pro athlete say that? How to prep for an interview for someone who is interviewed all the time? Built a basic rapport leading up to the interview -- Discussed sports, restaurants, podcasting, interviewing. Developed a "friend" level of communication Create an environment where the guest wants it to be a great show Good follow up questions: Ask for an example... Asking, "How did that make you feel?" "What's your process?" --> Then be a deep, thoughtful listener to ask a follow up. Stay on the same level with your dance partner - Don't be a guest "worshiper" When following up, there are a few things you can do: 1) Distill 2) Disagree 3) Ask the next question... During an interview, the best question you can ask: "How did that make you feel?" It enables them to get in an emotional lane (away from canned responses) Testing the levels on the microphone -- Don't waste that opportunity. Engineer the guest, the human -- You need them to feel like we're hanging out and excited about the interview. Make it fun. What to ask instead: "I'm going to check your levels, do you have any pets at home?" "What would be your last meal on earth?" -- It helps people break out of their corporate drone mode. The question is about the person, on a human plane. Create a safe space for them to share their truth. "I'm not a journalist, I'm a conversationalist." Clip #2 -- Adam Savage How did he get on the show? Working with a PR firm to book a guest -- A great PR person like Brent Underwood only recommends guests that are a good fit for the show. Ask questions that you are genuinely curious about -- I am curious about someone's process and it's always led me to a useful follow up... The issue is sometimes a "process" oriented question is the guest can answer with a generality... How to wiggle out of that? Look at the acknowledgement section of their book to get ideas for important people/events in their life to ask about... Mental Heuristics: Tell me about, 30,000 feet, go to a specific example... The third question is "Putting them in a box:" -- " From Jay : Heuristics to tell great AUDIO stories: Tell me about... How did you feel when (or, how did that feel?) Can you give me an example? (Superlatives) Best, worst, funniest, scariest, hardest, least certain, favorite, etc... (Dig for emotional moments) Clip #3 -- Brian Koppelman How to handle nerves -- Work to get settled in. Get through the initial conversation point... Give people a genuine compliment for why you like their work -- Tell people why their work helps you Hidden Gems: Interplay between your intent for the work and your framework for it: "My goal is to engineer an outcome, but I have an intent I don't want to become The Bachelor in Paradise." Have self and situational awareness. We carry with us good intent to serve the audience. Don't let the framework or engineering supersede the original intent. The two types of interviews: 1) The person, their story... 2) Their content The best conversations are able to weave both together and smoothly bounce back and forth Learn about the person AND learn about the topic that he has mastered -- Master that dance between both -- I need to give you something that is going to make you better. Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Sep 22, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Ep #329: Kindra Hall Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Kindra Hall is President and Chief Storytelling Officer at Steller Collective, a consulting firm focused on the strategic application of storytelling to today's communication challenges. Kindra is one of the most sought after keynote speakers trusted by global brands to deliver presentations that inspire teams and individuals to better communicate the value of their company, their products and their individuality through strategic storytelling. Kindra is a former Director of Marketing and VP of Sales. Her much anticipated book, Stories That Stick, will be published on September 24, 2019. Notes: Why is storytelling so important? It's how we learn, how we connect Your team needs to know you, and like you (stories do that when you tell them well) You can learn breadth/depth of a person through a story A story is NOT: A bullet point resume A list of information Stating the mission statement The objective A story = The small moments when mission is in a specific place and time... When something happens. The four components of a story: Place and time: "a moment" Identifiable characters - must see people Authentic emotion - Relatable to audience Specific details - Draw audience in to the co-creative process Opening story of her book: In Slovenia at Thanksgiving: The power of the sales clerk's ability to tell a story compelled Kindra and her husband to buy Why did the story work? It drew you in with powerful moments and emotion It had suspense - "I want to know what's going to happen..." People will give you their attention when you're telling a compelling story It brought them to places through vivid descriptions How to better start a meet at work: First, realize it's a skill you can develop Take a step back, think of the higher level message -- "What's the overall theme?" "When have I seen this in action?" Why was it compelling? Make a list of nouns: People in life you've had to communicate with (bosses, friends, colleagues) Find moments and stories from those people... Understand the characters of the story Think: "What do I want my audience to think, feel, know, and do at the end of this story?" Use the "bystander story" - Stories of others that you make yours Remember the goal is to create connection This becomes your story... Through your eyes How to handle price conversations? Move from dollars and cents to value -- "They need to feel the pain of if they didn't have this thing I'm selling." Our decisions are not always based on logic, they are based on ideas Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Sep 15, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Text LEARNERS to 44222 #328: Joel Peterson -- Joel Peterson is the Chairman of the Board at JetBlue Airways. He has served on more than three dozen boards over the past 45 years. Joel is also the Founding Partner and Chairman of Peterson Partners, a Salt Lake City-based investment management firm with $1 billion under management. Peterson Partners has invested in over 200 companies through 13 funds in four primary asset classes: growth-oriented private equity, venture capital, real estate, and search funds. Since 1992, Joel Peterson has taught courses in real estate, entrepreneurship, and leadership at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Sustaining excellence = They are trusted, credible, and dependable -- They "build a high trust organization" It doesn't happen naturally. You must be intentional about it Why is it so hard to build a trusting organization? "People are weary. Trust is critical. You must do what you say you are going to do." "Trust is not being gullible. Trust is a hard edged concept." It's three parts: Character Competence Authority How to build a culture of trust? Listen -- Capture what your team is saying through 1 on 1 conversations. Understand common values, goals, strategies Reframe the dashboard -- What does winning look like? Make sure it is clearly defined. What's the current level of trust in the organization? How to run an effective meeting: Have a purpose, the right people in the room, and follow up assignments. Have pre-work. It must be done. Go through each individual member. "Build trust by the process." How to run a town-hall: Listen carefully, repeat it. FOLLOW UP and take action. How to handle broken trust? Fix breaches immediately. "Bad news doesn't get better with age." -- "Don't let grass grown under your feet." "Trust decreases transaction costs." -- Everything is faster when there is trust. "You can't do good business with bad people." Interview process: Understand the decision points Determine roles/responsibilities as a team Check references The most important decisions you will make is who you hire and who you fire There must be a vividly clear picture of what success is: Break down the details: Who is the champion? Time frame? Budget? -- Measure all of them to ensure all involved know what success is. Do a post-mortem: What went well? What didn't? Why? Keep your team informed: "Err on the side of over-communication." "Write a partner letter every two weeks. Keep everyone updated." For JetBlue, there is a weekly meeting update -- a "State of the Union" for the 24,000 employees Create a learning organization -- Foster an environment where there is a love for learning. Strive for win-win negotiations Each is part of a series -- Think long term You must be fair in order to do many deals Art of the compromise -- Don't be zero sum. You'll build a reputation and nobody will want to work with you. Embrace respectful conflict -- Create an environment where people can open disagree. This helps people refine their ideas and make them better. Advice for husbands/dads: Be there as a cheerleader, not a policeman Be a listener, make sure you understand "Love is the most powerful force in the world." Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Sep 8, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #327: Marc Roberge Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Marc Roberge is lead singer and rhythm guitar player for O.A.R. (Of A Revolution). He also is their primary songwriter and has been described by his band-mates as, "Our Leader." He formed the band with his best friend (and drummer) Chris Culos for an 8th grade talent show 23 years ago in Rockville, Maryland. I first saw him play at a college bar called "First Run" on the Miami University campus in Oxford, OH my freshman year (2000). Since then, O.A.R. has gone on to sell out Madison Square Garden. We recorded this episode in Austin, Texas next to the stage at Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater. Notes: The importance of persistence and why Our 20-year history – Watch them playing at First Run in Oxford, OH – The journey from small college bars to selling out Madison Square Garden Chose Ohio State because they have the most bars in a small area – Earned the Buckeye National Scholarship "Money was not part of the equation at the beginning. We just needed enough to keep the van gassed up." The primary reason why you're so happy it goes well is so you get to keep doing it. Two initial goals: Finish college and build the band. – The band started in 8th grade for a talent show. "We wanted to get on the road, scrape our knee, and build to sustain. It was never about money; it was about gaining ground. Moving forward, progressing." The first word to describe Marc from other members of the band: "Leader." – What it means to be a leader of creative people… The stages of Marc's leadership: 1st Stage: Driven completely by the vision of wanting to make music out wandering the world. "I wanted to make these songs because they made me feel good. I wanted to be out with my friends and empower each other." 2nd Stage: "It becomes our vision." – "You may no longer provide the best leadership, so you need to empower people in your camp to lead. In order to be in the drier seat, you have to know what other people's superpowers are so each one can flourish. 3rd Stage: Chris (the drummer) – He nudged the group forward to a rebirth. Became motivated to get back in the driver seat and now he had amazing co-pilots who had their own creative genius. "Realize the powers of those around you and harness that. That was the afterburners for us. It's built out of mutual respect and admiration for each other." "Being a leader has to show that things aren't always going to go great. You must maintain, be composed, don't flail your arms around. Move forward." Respectful disagreement: How to decide which song to open with at Madison Square Garden… How to make decisions through disagreement? "I know when I'm wrong, I know when I'm right too. Good ideas… It's a self-filtering system. You have to listen, be open to others. In that moment, it was perfect." "A part of leadership is knowing when you're wrong and when the other idea is better and move on." "When one of your heroes is standing next to you and says, "I really like this," that impacts you. "I was wrong and wasn't thinking of the big picture. It was selfish." How to handle people who don't like your work? Story: Opening for Dave Matthews Band at The Gorge – The entire front row turned their back in protest of the opening act. "I get angry. My new goal was to get them to turn around. It's a lesson: You can either get hurt or say, "I get to play my songs at the Gorge. Eventually they will respect us." Giving a TED Talk: Authenticity – Being real, true to yourself. "Everything I've created has stemmed from a few nostalgic pin-pointed childhood memories. I've tried to build my whole life to tell those stories of what we can do when we're together." Fans for Life: "We were living a life we've dreamt of." The resistance of chasing approval of others – "That theme is rooted in unabashedly telling a story about where you come from. Sticking to the same morals we were instilled with since growing up." "I'm not seeking approval because we aren't adjusting music to fit in, we play what makes us feel good." Chasing your curiosity and obsessions with great rigor – How to create a life to do that? "My dream is we've built something that allows us something time to create. Keep working on live shows to continue to play them. We love them. If you don't play 5 nights a week, it won't be there for you. You have to get the reps. Sustained excellence: Commonalities: 1) Drive 2) Social – Able to work a room, communicate well with others. 3) Willingness to fail – "If you aren't willing to jump off that edge, you don't deserve to get it." Song writing process: "Each song has a different method for me." "There are moments when I'm walking down the street in NYC and it comes to me. I'll run to the studio and quickly record it. There are so many different styles, but it all has to come from being inspired." The creative process: Working with Greg Wattenberg to be a sounding board and offer honest feedback. "We've never changed what we're doing. We've only built upon it and have always focused on our story." "People get so confused, they want everything, they want a boat, a house, so much. We just want to keep going." Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the band. "We want to celebrate the fact of a few buddies being together for that time." "Tell your story. Don't be afraid to tell your story." How to not get complacent and conservative after success? For fear of failure? "We take risks every year. We book a year in advance and we book some locations that we know might not work. We maintain pressure at all times." "You have to take calculated risks and create things that may make you a little uncomfortable at first... To move the art form forward." Gratitude – The importance of John Lampley being added to the band. "John Lampley is magic. He brought joy in the room. His life gratitude, how he looks at opportunity of everything: meals, being alive, we just exercised in the truck and he keeps talking about how good he feels." It's about being grateful for what you have and what you get to do on a daily basis. Practicing all day long – Love the craft. Loving the process of working on it. "This is what we do, this is how we operate." The mindset of daily improvement. "We feel very lucky to be doing this. You better earn it and keep it." Don't pay attention to what others are doing, Focus on improving your craft. "What they really like about your group is how it makes them feel? General life advice: 46:45 – 47:27 (HERO) "Find something that you truly feel connected to… there's energy in this world that will tell you when you're in the right spot. And then work. A lot of people want to be famous, how you going to get there. And then grind." Bring joy to yourself and others is life. "Be willing to play anywhere. Just keep going." – It's all about getting the reps. "What you love, go love it. You might be broke for a while, but you'll be fulfilled. It will fill you up." "Everyone carries around a bucket. You can fill it up or empty it." "Find what you love and chase it down." Preshow ritual: "What is going through your mind the 90 seconds before you go on stage?" – "We have a group huddle." – "Remember when we were in the basement and we said, one day we're going to do this. Remember how happy we were. We're here. Go be a Rockstar." The feedback received from fans/listeners – That's the juice that fuels you. Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Sep 1, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #326: Jason Zook TEXT: LEARNERS to 44222 For full shownotes, go to www.LearningLeader.com Jason Zook is an unconventional entrepreneur. Tired of living a life that felt prescribed to him by society, Jason used his out-of-the-box thinking and ingenuity to create multiple profitable Internet-based businesses. His most-notable business was IWearYourShirt, a company that generated over $1,000,000 by wearing sponsored t-shirts to promote over 1,600 businesses on social media from 2008-2013 before "influencer" was a mainstream term. If that wasn't weird enough, from 2012 and 2013, Jason auctioned off his last name to the highest bidders and made nearly $100,000 doing it. Jason's second book is titled " Own Your Weird." Jason has been featured by The Today Show, CBS Evening News, USA Today, and The New York Times. Notes: The importance of reviewing previous work... And why it should embarrass you. That is growth. "Don't compare your starting line to someone else's finish line." We all started somewhere. It is a progression. It's important to understand context. Leaders who sustain excellence = They test all of their assumptions on a regular basis They don't accept things as they are... Always trying something new They are extremely curious Have an experimenters mindset They are validated internally -- They don't seek the validation externally. They are fulfilled from the inside. How to create a mindset to not worry about hitting a best-seller list? Set a low goal (getting the book published) and a high goal (selling 10K copies). Understand that there is so much out of your control and celebrate hitting the goals that are within your control (writing and publishing the book). You can't control how many people choose to buy it. The emails received from fans/listeners are the fuel that keeps you going. The feedback from people you're positively impacting. Properly define success for yourself: You spend a third of your life working. Make it count. Figure out a way to be see as excellent, out of the box thinker Have a mindset of, "How can I make this better?" Present your plan to your boss/leaders in the company: "Here's my plan, here is how we will do it..." Be proactive. Make your boss's life easier. Help them succeed. Rejection: "When someone says no to you, it doesn't mean you're a bad person. It's not a reflection of who you are as a person." Understand that "No" means "not yet" most of the time. "Choose Adventure" Not wanting to live the same life that others have lived Example: Moving to a sweet house in Southern California with another couple Challenge assumptions: You don't have to do it the way it's always been done Experiment -- Test --> Reflect, analyze. Understand what worked, what didn't, and why? Working to live, not living to work How do you schedule your days? Start with living Define what really fills you up --> Prioritize that first. Put it on your calendar first. Every six months, sit down and prioritize what's important to you. Constraints can be a powerful force. Parkinson's Law. Set your "enough goals." --> "Getting to this number will be enough." "There's always more. What about enough?" "We don't need to grow our business for growth's sake." "$33,000/month is our enough goal." -- "It's clearly defined. It's right for us." The process of writing a book live -- Jason learned a lot about himself writing while others were watching. The end of the podcast club: Email us (Ryan@LearningLeader.com) -- When was the last time you truly showed up as yourself?

Aug 25, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #325: Ron Ullery Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com Be part of "Mindful Monday" - Text LEARNERS to 44222 Coach Ron Ullery began his football coaching career at Centerville High School in 1977. He was the Offensive Coordinator (and play-caller) for my four years as the quarterback for Centerville (1996,1997,1998,1999). He was promoted to Head Coach in 2000. In his 14 years as head coach, he compiled a 107-45 record. Eight of his teams advanced to the Division 1 (big school) postseason. He is currently the Offensive Line coach at Springboro High School. This episode was recorded in front of the Springboro football team, coaches, and administrative staff. He's coached high school football for 43 years. Notes: Leaders who sustain excellence = Understanding how hard it is to be excellent Knowing there are multiple ways to lead (militaristic, fear driven, soft spoken, calm) Must be organized -- Have to set a plan to direct people. How are we going to get where we want to go? Must have a tremendous work ethic -- Ask the people you're leading to work extremely hard and you must be willing to work even harder Have extremely high expectations, unwilling to ever waiver -- They don't lower expectations to feel good Must have humility -- Can't be all about you A great coach can make a player feel invincible: A great coach sees another level in you. A level above where you think you can go. And they push you to go there... Doing things you never dreamed you could possibly do makes you think it's possible. "We are in a era where mediocrity and average is okay." "If you want to, you can lay in bed all day, have your iPad here, your TV with 250 stations, your phone, you can doordash leave your door unlocked... you never have to do anything." We need to strive to be elite and excellent Being grateful for the hard work -- What it leads to... X & O's are not the most important part of football: "Young people will live up to your expectations or down to your expectations almost all the time." "It's our job to place the level of those expectations." The elite performers hit the level of expectations set and then keep going. The confidence a coach gives his/her players by exhibiting an incredible work ethic: "It has everything to do with making sure I'm prepared. I want to control what I can control. I don't want to be the weak link." "To prepare, I need to be in a quiet place. I became a morning guy in college. I was majoring in Math. It was tough." Delayed gratification -- Voluntary hardship: The ability to delay gratification is a super power "Instant gratification is what everyone wants now." -- Foresight: People have less foresight now than they used to. They have instant access to everything they want at all times "If you are unsuccessful, look in the mirror. The competition is not real stiff. If you have some foresight and a strong work ethic, you can do whatever you want. Most people don't have that foresight." The difference between winning teams and losing teams Winning teams: The players were empowered, had ownership. and they (the players) held each other accountable. "You can coach them as hard as you want and they will respond as long as they know you care about them." "It's a lot harder when you care." Why stay as a high school coach? "I love the high school atmosphere. I love the age, I love everything about high school. I love the challenge. You take whatever comes in the doors. There's no recruiting. You do the best you can with what you're given. I love everything about these guys." "In my 43 years of coaching, I've never felt like I've had a job." Why offensive line? "It was the biggest learning off-season of my career." "Offensive linemen is by far the hardest position to succeed at. It's also the most impactful of winning games." "They are the least athletic players on the field by far. They do the most important job, yet they are the least athletic." "It's a tremendous challenge. And I love challenges. I love seeing them succeed." How to earn respect: Must exhibit leadership, mental toughness, and discipline -- "You can't ask anything of anyone else if you're not willing and already doing it yourself." You have to care and it has to show how much you care about people. You have to do more than other people. Advice to his son Brent Ullery (head coach of Centerville High School): "You have to formulate things you believe in. You have to have strong beliefs. Formulate your beliefs not based on what you did when you played, but base them on what you've learned from all of your experiences. Don't let the outside noise influence you." Framework for continuous improvement and ability adapt: "Listen and learn. I'm a better learner today than any year of my life. When I started out coaching I thought I knew everything. Then I realized I knew nothing." Learning talks with Coach Gregg every morning -- "I would meet him every morning and we would talk about everything. Some about football, but more about people. He was a master about human nature and motivating young people." The main idea with continual learning is "you've never arrived." " You've never arrived, you're always becoming ." How to effectively lead peers/friends: As a leader, it becomes your responsibility to lift others up and expect more of them -- Sometimes when you have to make difficult choices to prioritize leadership over friendship The moment that Kirk Herbstreit became a leader (he was a quarterback at Centerville High School) It's much easier to follow. But far less fulfilling. You have to make the choice to lead daily. The sacrifices made to be accountable to teammates -- Doing everything within your power to maximize your ability Laying the foundation for future generations Having the willingness to go get what you want -- Don't let anything get in your way Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Aug 18, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full Show Notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com #324: Charles Fishman Charles Fishman is the acclaimed author of One Giant Leap , A Curious Mind (with Brian Grazer), The Wal-Mart Effect , and The Big Thirst . He is a three-time winner of the Gerald Loeb Award, the most prestigious prize in business journalism. Notes: Leaders who sustain excellence = They insist on excellence. "The work needs to be as good as it can be." Getting to the moon was the largest project in the history of civilization Clarity of the mission - Everyone must know the goal Must keep people motivated Standards must be clear - And the reasoning behind each action (intentional) President Kennedy was frustrated with how the U.S. was doing versus the Russians in space. He needed to make a bold statement. When it was made, the administration felt there was a 50/50 shot that it could happen. It was important to announce broad goal and the reason behind it "Take the stairs" - Think of it as a blessing. "I get to do this." Not because it is easy, but because it is hard. "A master stroke of leadership because it was a stretch goal, but it wasn't insanity." It must be balanced. There are tapes of JFK talking scientific discovery where it was obvious he had little understanding of it. --> It's important to have people you have confidence in leading areas where you're lacking knowledge. "If JFK wasn't assassinated, we may not have gone to the moon. He was starting to get cold feet about the cost." The space program created a culture of learning from failure: "Every single failure had to be investigated, understood, and resolved." "No Random Failures" was the motto. "Every failure is a gift." -- There were 14,000 recorded failures in testing. Collaboration -- How to keep so many people aligned? There were 400,000 people from 20,000 companies working on the Apollo missions! NASA's management style: Clearly defined roles - What are your solutions to the problems? Gave assignments and qualities that needed to be met NASA had a culture where they brought everyone together for in person meetings. "Every minute of a mission would be walked through." There was transparency and decisions got made. Get people together in person and do something important. This built camaraderie among the dispirit teams. Bill Tindall -- A mission planning genius on space navigation. He was also gracious, self-effacing, and had a great sense of humor. Bill respected what others had done, had respect for the mission. He had the confidence to be calm. A different person who used a different manner would have been a disaster working with the leaders at MIT. People have to be persuaded to follow you. Both Gene Kranz and Bill Tindall were unafraid to hear input. They were confident enough to find the right answer (wherever it came from). We are entering the most exciting time in space travel (Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos)

Aug 11, 2019

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Text LEARNERS to 44222 #322: Ian Leslie Ian Leslie is a London-based journalist and author of critically acclaimed books about human behavior. He is currently writing a new book on "productive disagreement", which will be published in 2020. Ian also created, wrote and performed in the BBC radio comedy Before They Were Famous. Notes: Leaders who sustain excellence = Have the ability to think about their own thinking -- Step outside and reflect Know that you'll say "I don't know" frequently Breadth -- A range of interests Interested in building knowledge and an awareness that it might not pay off (and being ok with that) Ian built his life around curiosity -- He was a strategist for ad agencies. He needed to deeply understand his clients. That is a job built on curiosity. "I am a curiosity driven writer." Children are born curious... "People are born with habits/knowledge to survive." And then they stop. There's no evolutionary impulse to keep going. It becomes a conscious choice to cognitive resources and time The two types of curiosity Diversive: Hunger for new information. It comes from an information gap. Agatha Christie understands how to create an information gap to keep you turning the page Epistemic: Desire to acquire knowledge/build/assimilate into networks in your brain. It requires discipline. It's engendered. It's diversive curiosity grown up. "There is a rising premium on people with a high need for cognition." NFC (need for cognition) is a scientific measure of intellectual curiosity "Taking action. Doing... is a form of learning. They are intertwined." Reflecting on own habits -- use self as a lab experiment... Then talk with others. Empathically curious -- Being curious about what's inside of other person's head. How they think and feel. "You're going to be come a better communicator being a better listener." Atul Gawande -- Ask the unscripted question. Make a human connection. Have 10% of your brain switched on to "Am I talking too much?" How to have productive disagreements: Don't avoid it Have disagreements we both can live with "You'll have more productive disagreement if you're curious about the other person." People who have a higher level of scientific curiosity... They don't rush to judgement. Think, "Oh, I wonder why I think that?" "Nobody has trained us in how to disagree with each other." "You have this choice in judgement and curiosity." Life/Career advice: "Be interested in everything. Go deep in one area." Have core people in your life and foster the weak ties. Everyone is born curious. But only some retain the habits of exploring, learning and discovering as they grow older. Which side of the "curiosity divide" are you on?

Aug 4, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #322 with Julie Zhuo Julie Zhuo is the VP of Product Design for Facebook. She was the first-ever intern for the company. She leads the team responsible for the Facebook App. Julie is known as one of Silicon Valley's top product design executives, she leads the teams behind some of the most popular web and mobile services used by billions of people around the world. Julie writes about technology, great user experiences, and leadership on her popular blog "The Year of the Looking Glass" as well as publications like the New York Times and Fast Company. She is the best-selling author of, The Making Of A Manager.

Jul 28, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com #321: Jay Acunzo Jay Acunzo is the founder of the media company Marketing Showrunners, author of the book Break the Wheel, and the host and producer of more than a dozen docuseries about creativity at work. He's a former digital media strategist at Google, head of content at HubSpot, and Vice President of Content and Community at the VC firm NextView.Jay's work has been cited in courses at Harvard Business School and by writers at the New York Times, the Washington Post, FastCompany, Fortune, Entrepreneur, and more. Salesforce called him "a creativity savant," while the American City Business Journals named him as one of Boston's "50 On Fire." Show notes: Leaders who sustain excellence = Curiosity gets you the ability to constantly reinvent yourself Ex: A basketball player who works on a new part of his/her game every summer (constantly adding to the game) Intrinsic motivation Telic type -- Get to level 1, 2, and going... "When you're curious you're constantly turning it over and over..." Be a sensitive skeptic -- Keeping dispirit ideas at the same time "You have to be open and at the same time question everything." Anthony Bourdain -- An inspiration -- Why does that inspire me? What do I bring to the table? Be open to all, but skeptical Bourdain -- He's able to sit with anybody and pull out emotional moments from what seemed a normal day. Parts Unknown is not about geography, but with people and their emotions. "We experience his work with lots of emotion." Best interviewers: 2 types: Conversationalists: Bourdain, Bill Simmons, Conan -- They aren't about the clever question, it's about the environment they create, the trust they build. Questioners: Terry Gross, Kara Swisher - They are genius in the simple questions, and the follow ups... How do you feel leading up to a big moment? A specific anticipatory feeling. Before getting on stage, think, "Wow, I get to do this." Not, I have to do this. Process to prepare for a speech: Wind down before the gig Rehearse in the office days before, film it, use it as game tape. Practice, practice, practice. Create muscle memory -- "Don't memorize it, memorialize it." "When I make something, I want to feel something. I have to put in the reps." Thoughts on "best practices?" "The image in my head is, 'that's the way we've always done things.'" Must rather find the best approach How to do this? Don't run a faulty equation for your work Don't build on lagging indicators Don't miss variables... You must know the current context "Stop acting like an expert, start acting like an investigator." The 3 Psychological Barriers: Why we aren't making great decisions: The Pike Syndrome: A feeling of powerlessness after repeated failure (named for the experiment of conditioning a pike to not eat minnows by hiding those minnows behind glass). Solution: "first-principle"insights about customers The Foraging choice: The decision between exploiting your current position or exploring other possibilities (named for the idea that human decisions under high-stress condition often mirror foraging behavior in animals. Solution: "Aspirational anchors" for you and/or your team Cultural Fluency: Your behavior when the world unfolds according to the expected norm (a concept honed by a man who ran experiments on his friends and family at a picnic). Solution: "trigger questions" to add cultural dis fluency How to help people develop intuition? Intuition is not an instant clarity generator -- "The ability to consider the environment." --> Ask great questions about context. Break into knowable parts You -- People doing work Customers -- Stakeholder -- who the work is for Resources -- to make it happen Ask useful questions: "Set aside the desire to be right for the desire to get it right." Common mistakes new managers make: They "have all the answers." Ask questions, Remove ego. Emotion based decisions -- Surround self with the right people to help with deficiencies Qualities Jay looks for when making hiring decisions: Can you do the work? Can I understand who you are? Skip right to the good stuff -- "What's the best story you've ever written?" Want people with an intrinsic desire to create -- Love side projects like his sports blog Advice: Career path is BS -- It's laughable. Your 20's are about exploration... "Try a lot of stuff." Do side projects Bad advice: "The idea that being the best is a real thing. It's ridiculous." Focus on your own body of work, not others.

Jul 21, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #320: Rick Smith Full Show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Rick Smith is the founder and CEO of Axon. Axon currently employs over 1,300 people. A pioneer of technology with the vision of making the bullet obsolete, Rick founded the original company, TASER, in 1993. As the TASER device became ubiquitous in law enforcement, Rick pushed the company beyond weapons technology and towards a broader purpose of matching technology to public safety needs in order to make the world a safer place. Under his leadership, the company has grown from a garage in Tucson to a NASDAQ-listed global market leader. Notes: Leaders who sustain excellence = Initiative -- "They see what needs to be done and they do it." Rick started the company out of his garage in Arizona in 1993 More on taking initiative: "Don't wait for people to tell you what to do. Highlight it and fix it." Luke Larson was an individual contributor when the company had 250 employees. He challenged Rick on an issue and offered a solution. He is now the President of a 1,300 person company Mindset -- Build a culture that rewards challenging the status quo "Tell the ugly truth" "Anyone can challenge any idea" Qualities Rick looks for in hiring: Need to want to be with them Initiative - they need to step up and do work Intellectual curiosity - someone who seeks better answers No time for hierarchical people -- they cannot be threatened by 'up and comers' "You want to hire people that are literally better than you. You have to learn to embrace that." "It's so liberating to know that I don't have to be right." Why try to eliminate the bullet? "In 1993, two friends were shot and killed. I thought, 'why are bullets still a thing?'" "Don't wait until you have the perfect business plan. Have a simple concept you believe in and get to work." "Focus on solving a big problem" The first seven years did not go well. Rick was fortunate to have his dad fund it... However, it led to a difficult relationship when the business wasn't going well. He had immense pressure for it to succeed. They fixed their core product and it began catching on with law enforcement agencies They own 100% of the taser market "I'm a libertarian guy. I don't want to take anything away from anyone." "But people romanticize guns. The real world is messy. We make mistakes." "Why use lethal force instead of a taser?" What about the phrase: "Don't take a knife (or taser) to a gun fight?" "How about, 'Don't get into a gun fight.'" The book (End Of Killing): "Our goal is to replace the gun long term. The book is me sharing what I believe that nobody else believes." Have to respect ideas "It's a good sign if people initially think you're crazy" Keys to building a team at work that sees a higher mission? "You must have an authentic mission." "Don't say you're changing the world unless you actually are." "My goal is to inspire the right team and then get out of their way." "I'm now the chief storyteller of the business." Career advice: "Find a job where you get to feel the impact of what you want to create. What are the big picture things you want to accomplish." "The people who are most effective see what needs to be done and they go and do it." Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Jul 14, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #319: Jim Clifton Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Personal Excellence 2.0 workshop: www.RyanHawk.me Jim Clifton has served as CEO of Gallup, a global leader in consulting and public opinion research and analytics, since 1988. Under his leadership, Gallup has expanded from a predominantly U.S.-based company to a worldwide organization with 30 offices in 20 countries and regions. Leaders who sustain excellence = They don't set out to get rich, they have a purpose that drives them The mission overpowers everything else They build advantages for themselves through compound learning -- Stack your learning Teach the "story of the day" Be part of really hard projects -- the front line war battles Advice to someone earlier in their career? Focus and double down on your strengths CEO of Gallup -- The beginning... Won a big account (Cargill) -- It was huge to create momentum for his new business Don Clifton (Jim's dad) built the StrengthsFinder -- And then bought Gallup in 1988 The StrengthsFinder was built from 34 themes Don was a scientist. He went on bombing raids and was a war hero as a lead bomber. A navigator. It's The Manager is the biggest discovery they've made When studying the truly great companies, the commonality is the management How to create a high development culture? People want to be developed -- And then find the role that fits their unique strengths to maximize their potential What Jim looks for when making hiring decisions: Drive They love to practice... They like to work Where have your most talented people come from? "Stars were recruited by the managers themselves." Great managers know great people. "Presentations matter. A manager must get good at it." Managers must be great coaches: "Coaching is sitting down and sharing purpose..." Shock and Awe visitors that meet at your office: "The entrance to your building show wow them." Small details are very important. Landscaping matters. Pay attention to the feeling you get when you drive up to the building. It helps with your internal employees as well. "People join because of the company and leave because of their boss." Currently, only 34% of works are engaged (according to Gallup poll) India/China are at 6% The issue with promoting the top performer at a role (Example: The #1 sales rep becomes the manager) The top individual contributor doesn't always make the best coach. In fact, often times, they don't. Give superstar individual contributors bigger titles and more money as a way to promote them. Don't force them to management when they don't show the desire or ability to lead others. "There must be two paths." "Leaders need to see the future well, and excite others. The good ones have an unusual relationship with risk." The Gender Gap Statistically, women run more engaged teams than men How to manage and nurture creativity? Need ideas from teams close to the action (have a front line obsession ) You want intrapreneurship and foster an environment for that to pull out the great ideas The difference in two teams: The best negotiators are the ones who do their homework Present in a neutral way, calm, collected, ask questions, try to learn, better understand the other person's position When you work for a bad boss, you get cognitive contraction: You lose levels of intelligence When you work for a great boss, you get cognitive expansion: You become smarter, innovate more, and do better work A boss has incredible power. And that power needs to be used for good.

Jul 7, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full shownotes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com #318: Clark Kellogg - How To Take Control Of Your Personal Development *This episode was recorded live in front of a 200 person audience in Dayton, Ohio at the Sonny Unger Memorial Banquet. Clark Kellogg serves as one of the the premier voices in college basketball. He works for CBS Sports. In 1997, Kellogg joined CBS Sports full-time as a studio/game analyst for college basketball coverage and was one of three in-studio hosts for March Madness . In March 2010, Kellogg played a game of H.O.R.S.E. against U.S. President Barack Obama. The game, called "P.O.T.U.S." for the occasion, was won by Obama. Prior to that, Clark was an All-American at Ohio State University. In 1982, Kellogg declared for the NBA draft after his junior year of college and was a 1st round draft pick (8th overall) of the Indiana Pacers. In his first season, he was selected as a member of the NBA All-Rookie Team. Converse signed him to an endorsement deal, to release his own Converse "Special K" sneaker. Notes: Take control of your own development - This is YOUR responsibility. That's your property. Be intentional about growing and getting better and improving. It's not just the big things. It's the small things. Who are you associating with? How are you impacting them? Who do you want to be? There are a lot of distractions, there will be bumps, headwinds... Own your development." Control the controllables: your attitude, your effort, your faith. The most effective leaders are "others centered." This is a distinct and intentional process to help elevate others. Mindset: The battlefield for a lot of our challenges is in our own mind. Attitude impacts how we move forward. "Never major in minor things." Most of life's disappointments are not major in the context of the bigger picture. Don't make mountains out of molehills. Focusing on just one sport versus playing multiple sports. Growing up with a dad who was a policeman in Cleveland, OH. Advice to parents -- Expose your children to a variety of opportunities and support their passions Needs to be an interest and a desire on your kids part Having athletically talented kids (son played college basketball and professionally. A daughter who plays college volleyball). Focus on fun and fundamentals: If you have an aptitude to go to the higher levels as you get older, then focus Discussed why he went to Ohio State -- Clark was a top three player in America at the time. The intensity of the rivalry with Indiana and playing against Bobby Knight What it was like getting a show named after him from Converse The makeup of a great coach: A passion for the role of leading people A willingness to adapt and adjust to the changes in the game and personalities on the team An effective communicator -- What you desire and what needs to be done Set the tone of humility of accountability Genuine -- They are themselves -- "Players can pick up on phonies quickly" This establishes trust "Are they getting better because you've been their coach?" -- That's the question a coach should always ask themselves A coach should always be developing their players What to look for in a teammate? Consistency of attitude and effort "Don't want the volatile person who is up and down. I want consistency." Being able to accept criticism and coaching Able to constructively criticize others in a positive way "Who you are should not fluctuate based on where you are. There should be a consistency in who you are. That's something that should be worked on and you should be intentional about it. Authenticity is powerful and impactful." The moment of having his career cut short (only 26 years old) because of a knee injury: "It was brutal initially, but came to peace with it after having multiple surgeries and realized I couldn't play anymore." Starting the next career -- TV broadcasting Humbling self and starting at Cleveland State as an analyst. Back to the basics, starting from the bottom "I didn't become good at basketball right away. If I'm going to do this well, I need to start where I need to start. I got the reps. Radio was great training. You have to be fairly quick." The importance of having mentors and being a mentor for others "How do I become excellent at this thing I'm interested in?" "You need to be unique, but you need to be you." You must be authentic. "Everyone can relate to food." Use food analogies in basketball. Using your personality as part of your craft to be relatable. Working with Charles Barkley: "It's exactly as it appears. Charles is a personality, successful businessman, and very smart." Playing basketball at the White House with President Obama -- Losing to him in P.O.T.U.S How Larry Bird was the best trash-talker Clark played against How Clark prepares for a broadcast: "I'm consistent in the process to be ready in the moments as they unfold." Visit team's practices, review notes from prior year, watch a lot of games on TV, chart each game watched -- "You remember things better when you write it down. I'm always taking notes when I watch games." Who are you associating with? Who do you want to be? What are you doing to be that? Live a life of gratitude. Salt water and fresh water can't come from the same spring. You cannot be thankful and hateful at the same time. Be grateful for what you have while striving to improve. Excellent leaders = Be "others" centered. "Others" focused. They want to help elevate others. Be available and giving of yourself to others. Help mentor people earlier in their career. Good habits are hard to break. Build good habits.

Jun 30, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #317: Susan Cain - The Power of Introverts In A World That Can't Stop Talking Join us for our annual workshop - Personal Excellence 2.0 -- Click HERE for dates and availability Full Shownotes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Susan Cain is the author of the world-wide bestseller Quiet: The Power of Introverts in A World That Can't Stop Talking , which has been translated into 40 languages, is in its seventh year on the New York Times best seller list, and was named the #1 best book of the year by Fast Company magazine, which also named Cain one of its Most Creative People in Business. LinkedIn named her the 6th Top Influencer in the world. Leaders who sustain excellence = Understand that soft is hard and hard is soft. Soft skills = essential skills. They are hard, but essential to develop. Leaders in corporate America surprise Susan She expected a lot of resistance from others, but her ideas have been embraced. The responsibility Susan feels for making "introverting so hard" a cool thing to say... It wasn't before her book. People would hide the fact they were an introvert prior to Quiet being published and/or lie on personality tests The point is not to say that you should want to be an introvert or an extrovert -- We need both. Charisma = magic "The wind howls but the mountain remains still." We moved from being --> To being a culture of personality. Susan's roots: A Harvard educated lawyer Building a Negotiation Consulting business after leaving the corporate world How can an introvert be a good negotiator? The best negotiators are the ones who do their homework Present in a neutral way, calm, collected, ask questions, try to learn, better understand the other person's position Romantic relationships - An extrovert and introvert getting married -- "you must really understand the other person's preferences are legitimate." When should you act more extroverted than you are? We should all step outside of our comfort zones, but be intentional about it. An introvert who is a public speaker (like Susan) must do this to share the message with groups of people. What are your core projects? When in service of others, do it. Restorative niches --> After a keynote (for an introvert), go to your hotel room and relax alone (to restore energy expended speaking) Why is cool overrated? In the Enron scandal, Vince Kaminski was the "uncool introverted nerd." He was the unsung hero in the scandal. He figured out what was happening in advance. They told him, "You're like the police and we don't like that." The process to sell the proposal for Quiet : Started writing it in 2005. Agent shopped it an received 12 offers --> A bidding frenzy The importance of writing the "first crappy draft." Take the feedback as a gift Most successful authors have had a lot of help

Jun 23, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #316: Cal Newport - How To Choose A Focused Life In A Noisy World Cal Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University who studies the theory of distributed systems. In addition to his academic work, he writes about the intersection of technology and culture.Cal is the author of six books, including, most recently, the New York Times bestseller, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World. Join us for our annual Personal Excellence workshop. Go to www.RyanHawk.me for details Full shownotes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com "Be unambiguously good at something important. Head's down with an apprenticeship mindset." Show Notes: Leaders who sustain excellence = They know what matters and get after it They are not easily distracted... They have the ability to be intensely focused on the task at hand at a tactical level Train to be so good they can't ignore you Concentrate intently -- Introverts are happier doing this. But it's also a trainable skill. Cal's background: theoretical computer science computation group - Focus and master on a small number of things How to be "so good they can't ignore you?" They want a secret formula. That's not how it works. It's not about a life hack. "The reality is simpler... 'Be relentlessly good at something valuable.' Deep Work = Focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. This skill is more valuable. It's how you learn complicated things and produce at a high level. Culture-wise - We are getting worse at deep work We need to be able to be locked in to produce something valuable for work... Deep work can also be personal development. There is overlap. Digital Minimalism Unexpected consequences of technology = Our attention is captured by glowing screens Phones = Completely banish solitude. We are never alone with our own thoughts anymore. Do one or two things a day without your phone. Force solitude. Why do we have a compulsive need to look at our phone? Social media has been engineered to do this... Junk food is built the same way. Cal has never had a social media account. A 30 day digital declutter: Be away from optional technology for 30 days. Detox -- Give yourself time and space to see what you value outside of work. Then ask, "What technology do I want in my life?" What's the best way to use technology? For someone who loves Twitter (like me) for the gathering of interesting people? Create a curated reading list from Twitter. Click all the useful links to articles, then block out time to just read those. The power of going on walks: "I walk a lot. That's how I think." Walking with no phone -- It creates reflection, insight, thinking. Do walking meetings. Get sun - get outside. It's a form of 'productive meditation.' Focus on a single problem for that walk Thoughts on Kliff Kingsbury building in time every 30 minutes for his players to check their phones? "This is not good. Concentration matters. Especially in football." Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Jun 16, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #315: Gabriel Weinberg - Using Mental Models To Make Better Decisions Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Gabriel Weinberg is the CEO & Founder of DuckDuckGo, the Internet privacy company that empowers you to seamlessly take control of your personal information online, without any tradeoffs.He co-authored Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth and co-wrote, Super Thinking. Gabriel holds a B.S. with honors from MIT in Physics and an M.S. from the MIT Technology and Policy Program. He has been profiled in The Washington Post and Fast Company, and is routinely quoted in leading print publications such as The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Weinberg is also a frequent TV commentator, appearing on CNN, CNBC, and CBS This Morning, among others. Notes: Commonalities of leaders who have sustained excellence: A desire and openness to grow as a person People want to follow them -- They set up systems for others to succeed They make sure the team is headed in the right direction The North Star -- Must always orient yourself towards whatever that is for you Your personal mission statement Maximize impact on the world -- Where do you want to go? Define what that is for you DuckDuckGo is an internet privacy company -- Started in 2008 for private search (a competitor to Google). Gabriel discussed how he was ahead of his time -- The secret is something you know about the world that others don't yet. Search is the most personal thing on the internet. Gabriel wanted to create an alternate (private) to Google. Mental Model -- A concept for general decision making. A few hundred concepts that are useful for better decision making Become a 'chef' with your thinking -- 1st principles thinking. Your intuition can be wrong. Best practices can also be wrong. You need to focus on being wrong less. 1st Principles = Most intentional way of thinking: Question assumptions. Every project has a scoping template: What is the objective of the project? What is success criteria? What are you trying to solve? Does everyone agree? Discussion with team -- Operationalize 1st principles Why the pro/con list is not as helpful as the cost/benefit list: Write down cost over time -- Rate everything vs that Example: Where should we go on vacation? Rate on a scale 1-10. Combine cost and benefits. Do a post mortem after every project -- It forces critical thinking and analysis What went well? What didn't? Given those things, how can we operationalize to do better? Why is it rare to do a "success autopsy?" By default, an after action review will not happen. It must be built into the process. Our default setting is to move on to the next project. What was it like writing a book with his wife? Lauren McCann is Gabriel's wife and co-author on Super Thinking "We would walk together every morning and talk about the book." It became the primary topic of conversation for a long time Charlie Munger multi-disciplinary approach: At DuckDuckGo, this is their goal --> Grow people internally. They work hard to help their team make better decisions Structure of DuckDuckGo: 70 team members -- fully distributed all over the world Immense delegation happens daily What does Gabriel look when hiring someone to the team? Self starters -- The team is fully distributed. They have a lot of autonomy and ownership. People are empowered and must be willing to work without a boss watching them. Question assumptions Great communicator -- There is a lot of written communication when the team is all over the world. Must be able to write well. Experimental mindset Validate direction -- Run experiments if you have a hunch and then analyze your findings Build trust -- Very key. There is heavy transparency at DuckDuckGo. Must be trustworthy. How to find candidates who possess these qualities? Do paid projects as part of the hiring process... Get a feel for them actually doing the job before you hire them full time. Culture: "We have a 'thank you' culture" "Most respectful interpretation" of every interaction. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Thoughtful and intentional Gabriel's upbringing: His dad was a doctor. His mom was an artist. How to flex your market power? Combine two particular sets of skills, go deep learning them (eg. be a great finance person and public speaker. Look for gaps in the market or within your company, and use your unique skills (like Liam Neeson in Taken) and attack the problem. Most people just do what they're told. Don't settle for that. Why shouldn't we trust our gut? Availability bias - May not remember all the options Confirmation bias - the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories. Use it as a hypothesis generator, then question it. Don't fully commit until the necessary work is done. "Thinking gray." --> Delay decisions until they absolutely must be made. Jeff Bezos opens a door, but may come back through it. "We'll do this now, but we may walk it back." How to build trust? Vulnerability speeds up the process of building a trusting environment. "Relationships move at the speed of vulnerability." Anders Ericsson -- Deliberate practice. Work at the edge of your comfort zone. Receive coaching in real time. Hire an executive coach Create a board of advisors Day to day -- check your thinking and explain it (write, give speeches) Writing is the best form of thinking critically --> "It's the best way to clarify my thinking" Overall life advice: What is your north star? What areas do you want to pursue? What are you current skills? Find your highest leverage point, study those areas More Resources: Read: Super Thinking Follow Gabriel on Twitter: @yegg Be part of "Mindful Monday" -- Text LEARNERS to 44222 Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Jun 9, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk 314: John Calipari & Michael Lombardi - Building & Sustaining A Culture Of Excellence Full show notes found at www.LearningLeader.com John Calipari has been the head coach of the University of Kentucky basketball team since 2009, with whom he won the NCAA Championship in 2012. He has been named Naismith College Coach of the Year three times (in 1996, 2008 and 2015), and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. Calipari has coached Kentucky to four Final Fours, in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. Michael Lombardi was an assistant to the coaching staff of the New England Patriots (until 2016) and is a former analyst for the NFL Network and sportswriter at NFL.com. Lombardi also previously served as an NFL executive with the San Francisco 49ers working withBill Walsh, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, and Oakland Raiders working with Al Davis. This was recorded in front of an audience at an event called the NCAA Final Four Coaching Consortium. The people in the audience were college basketball coaches and athletic directors. Notes: The "Players First" credo: "When I worked for Larry Brown he told me, if you care about the kids and you really care, you'll always have a job." "Larry was a coaches coach, but a players coach, who wasn't afraid to coach. Right now, we're moving in a direction where we're afraid to coach. Correcting in real time is so important." "Everyone said the 1 and done rule would ruin college basketball, they wanted to replace me." "If you're about your kids, whatever happens good for them, will not be a negative for you. It's about them first. It's about us second. If you want them to be servant leaders, they have to see it in you." "If they don't see you getting involved in the community, they won't get involved in the community." Players first is not just them playing basketball, it's everything. "We all should be reading. The more curious you are, the more curious your players will be. Read books, give your players books to read." Lombardi -- Coach Walsh was all about the players, he was the first to go on fishing tournaments with players. He bought Bubba Smith a big tv, he made Michael sit and eat all meals with him. Bill Walsh had a book club in San Francisco Bill Belichick is all about the history of the game and the history of our country. When you go in the cafeteria and you see the great players on the wall, he expects you to know the history and the culture of your team. You should ask all coaches, "who assigns the jersey numbers?" The coach should assign those numbers, not the equipment manager. Your player needs to know the history of that number. Calipari -- Process on getting guys to want to play as a team: It all starts in recruiting. "If you promise every kid 25 shots, good luck. Because at some point, someone will be upset. If the relationship starts with a lie, you'll never recover." "Whatever you do here is earned. If you're good enough you'll start, but you'll decide that." "If you want them to be great teammates it starts immediately when you meet them. They have to earn it." You can't oversell and under deliver. People will not buy in to that. "Pat Riley gave me one of the best compliments ever, he said, 'Your players are some of the best teammates in the NBA.'" Marcus Camby -- "I said, what position do you want to play?" he said, "Shooting guard." I said, "Okay, but we do post up our shooting guards a lot." Lombardi -- Putting together a great roster -- Roster construction: The law of 3's Whenever you take over a team you have three groups of people One -- They'll do anything you want them to do Two -- They're unsure Three -- They are never happy Focus on the people in group one and you'll win the whole team. The Four areas of leadership Command of self -- Must be discipline Command of plan Command of meaning/message Command of trust -- You cannot lie. If you lie, you'll lose the player forever Calipari -- Took over UMass -- Terrible team at the time When he left, he got advice from a business man (Pat Nardelli) "You can a have bad deal with good people. Stuff happens. But you can never have a good deal with bad people." "The reason I've had success, I've had the best staffs. Top to bottom. When you get your job, you surround yourself with great people." "Assistant coaches must be able to work together. They are each other's PR machine. Each guy needs to promote the other guy." Was on football field with Bill Parcells -- Could coach all 22 guys on a football field. He had incredible vision. The importance of mentors in your career-- Calipari "Who's your kitchen cabinet? Who do you go to when things aren't going well?" Who can you listen to? Ken Blanchard - The One Minute Manager Decision making -- you need to run it by someone. Don't make big time decisions when you're still emotional. "I'll take the job the grass is greener.... Well you have to cut the grass on both sides." You need people to say, "Stop. Tell me what you're thinking..." Lombardi -- Meeting with George Raveling "This man reads more than any human being alive." Take an hour a day to read Calipari -- Look at adversity as a challenge and failure as a learning opportunity "How does someone look when things aren't going well? That's what I need to know." "The best moments are when things aren't going well. Give me four games in a row when you lose... Now, I want to see what kind of person are you?" You're on the stage by yourself, you're looking for friends." "You have issues? People have their own issues. They aren't worried about you." It's about "How do I get restarted? What's my next step? Ask an AD, how can I be better?" "When you get fired, make amends with the people who fired you. The next job you want? They're going to call those people who fired you." Be a 'pay it forward' person. The opportunities we have to change lives... And the ripples it causes from it. Lombardi -- The Obstacle Is The Way How to bounce back when you're wrong? When you get a new job, figure out why you got the job and why the person before you got fired. Take the time to understand the mistakes made. "The only way you'll correct them is to learn them." There's two kind of jobs: Jobs you can grow from and jobs you can make a difference in. Al Davis would ask Mike -- "Do you know why we won today?" He wanted to know why the team won and lost and put it on paper. Bill Belichick does an autopsy after every game (win or lose). You need to understand why the outcome happened (good or bad). Take stock of your career every single day. Every obstacle needs to be used to your advantage. Calipari -- "I will not coach if I'm cheating these kids." He signed a lifetime contact with Kentucky "My leverage has always been the job I've done." Why talk to other teams? "I want to help someone I know. A player or another coach. The whole thing we do is about relationships." If LeBron James calls you and asks you to coach his team, what will you say? "I'm not doing it. Pat Riley said Coach Cal coaches and corrects in real time during a game. He takes a guy out, corrects, puts him back in. You can't do that in the NBA." Lombardi -- At college pro days Belichick observed Coach Cal during a game... Watching him coach "It was so impressive, Belichick was admiring how much Cal was coaching." What skills should we develop? The commonalities among the most successful coaches: Curious minds -- not a single playbook. The sport moves. Adapt. They are about other people -- Servant leaders Wired and driven to work - they love practice more than the games Smart -- Lombardi -- Divergent in thought. Figure out what's needed with that team. Passion. "The greatest reward for winning is the opportunity to do it more."

Jun 2, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #313 - Listener Supported (Q & A) Episode -- Build Confidence Like Beyonce, How To Ask The Right Questions, & When To Make A Job Change Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Notes: Leaders who sustain excellence = Have a mindset of growth They assume they have so much to learn Question from Ed Arnston -- Lt. Col in The United States Army -- "All of your guests are excellent and offer a lot of wisdom, but as you've done more than 300, what are the top 5 in power rankings of guests on your show? Kat Cole - Courage & Confidence + Curiosity & Humility George Raveling - The curiosity of a 5 year old, he is a learning machine Brian Koppelman - Follow your curiosity and obsessions with great rigor Jim Collins - Who is YOUR WHO? General Stan McChrystal - "Your character is something you can control. You can decide what your character is. Nobody can take it from you." Questions from CaSaundra Garber -- Technical Project Manager, Portland, Oregon -- Who have you always wanted to have on your podcast that you haven't made happen yet? Reading The Alliance, what are your thoughts on it? Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Oprah, a panel with Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady "You are the sum of your experiences." A lot of the learnings of my life have come from the great coaches I've played for in my life. One of the biggest parts of The Alliance is the idea of doing "a tour of duty." Changing jobs and learning new skills and the benefits of it. Tour of duty = What do you want to learn and gain in this specific area of business? Don't get a job just to have a job, take a job that will give you a tour where you come out of it in a planed time frame and you've learned something new. --> David Epstein writes about this in Range and on THIS episode. People that earn roles in the C-suite have a variety of roles on their way to that position. Open your mind more to take on a role that is currently completely outside of what you do. This also helps you walk a mile in the shoes of others and creates compassion/empathy. Question from Daniel Jellings -- Manager Local Government, Adelaide, Australia -- Career has been linear, regular promotions along the way, became a manager about five years ago. What are your thoughts on proactively exploring other roles that are outside of my current skill set (that could be a side step) in order to eventually become a General Manager? Learn as much as possible about the people you may go work with... Try as best you can to simulate what it will be like to work with those people. "You have to mow the grass in both places." There are a lot of advantages to seeking opportunities that force you to stretch and learn. They are initially uncomfortable. "If you want something extraordinary to happen to you, you're going to have to take a an uncomfortable risk in every dimension of your life." -- Scott Galloway Question from Ryan Ogle -- Championship Director for PGA of America, Bend Harbor, Michigan -- What is your current morning and evening routine? What is your process for utilizing a daily journal? Wake up at 4:45 -- Drink water, stretch, read, journal, workout, breakfast with family, drive daughters to school, work. When finishing manuscript, I wrote a lot during the early hours of the day. At night, I like to read out of books (Kindle in the morning and at the gym). Discussed my preparation process for a podcast. A daily journal is helpful to remind yourself of your mindset at that particular time of your life. It helps you remember what it was really like at that time. And why I use technology (instead of paper and pencil) to write in my journal. Why I'm fascinated by The Wright Brothers... -- "If you're trying to do something of significance, you will have people who question you, who may think you're nuts." Question from Andrew (Opie) Brodbeck -- Former professional baseball player, Clearwater, Florida -- What skills from playing football helped you in your business life off the field? Took a personality test and didn't pass it based on the company feedback? How to deal with that and develop confidence in yourself in something off the field? How to lead a dysfunctional team that lacks trust (Chelsea)? It's important to properly set your expectations and realize you'll never get the rush of playing in front of 105,000 people again. Some of the skills that translated: How to prepare, how to deal with adversity, how to be resilient, how to develop the willingness to work... I was able to share what I learned from the best coaches. Showing that you're coachable. you must be coachable to learn something new. Being comfortable with a daily scoreboard (which we had in a sales environment). On the first day of employment, I asked the VP, "who's the best?" And then shadowed that person. Confidence -- How to build it like Beyonce? "Confidence is built through a series of successful events in your life." Those successful events were built through preparation. Run a success autopsy -- Why did we win? Why did it go well? Create momentum in your life. Create success in multiple life categories -- Those people take their framework wherever they go to create success. No only means "not yet." Read Pat Lencioni's work on the dysfunction of a team Question from Lizzie Merritt-- Manager/Leader, Jacksonville, Florida. (and member of my Leadership Circle ) --The quality of your leadership depends on the quality of your questions. I imagine there are plenty of examples of massive failures that can be traced back to a leader not asking the right questions.While this concept is simple on the surface, it gets tougher in practice. As a leader, how do you respond with questions instead of answers? How do you know the right questions to ask? Leading with questions -- As a new manager, you may have the need to "always have the answers." As you develop more wisdom and confidence, you'll stop doing this. The greatest mentors in our lives are the ones who don't give the answers, they are the ones who help me figure out the answers. They ask the poignant questions to help me figure it out. The first questions are good, but the best questions are the follow ups. Listen, distill, synthesize, ask more, then go deeper.... Don't script questions, but prepare with notes on that person and what they're doing, be an active listener (think like a trampoline)... Write down the qualities of leaders you admire, like, look up to, and write down the qualities of the leaders you feel the opposite about. Review it regularly... Dealing in uncomfortable conversations -- Crucial Conversations (book). It should never be a surprised when giving someone bad news about their performance. The feedback should be happening on a regular basis. "It is in our best interest for you to improve." Kim Scott's book Radical Candor "It's a lot harder when you care" -- "Because I care about you, I need to tell you something difficult." Question from Eric Liddic-- Print broker, Dayton, Ohio -- What advice would you give to someone who hasn't sold in the past, but needs to sell now? Great sales people: are fantastic listeners, they care, and they try to help. Read Dan Pink's book To Sell Is Human Analyze why you've won each deal in the past. Understand how you can replicate that. Create a reason for people to call you (put useful material out in the world: podcast, blog, do a project for free) Why Joe Girard was the greatest car sales professional of all time -- "If you get a lemon, it gives me the opportunity to show off." Question from Marietta Sanders -- Lt. Colonel, Squadron Commander, US Air Force, stationed in United Arab Emirates -- What are the common areas you see the best leaders focus on within their businesses? The WHO -- Who will you surround yourself with? The WHO is the biggest determining factor in your long term success. Consistently surround yourself by people who are smarter than you. Great leaders have an ability to help "see around the corners." They share their vision to make their followers feel better about where they're going. They have vision. Great communication skill -- You have regular moments where you need to share the vision with vivid clarity. How to attract and retain top talent -- When someone is looking outside of your organization for another job is because those people don't have clarity of their future within your organization. The leader's job is to provide clarity for the people that they lead. Great leaders are always on the look out for compelling stories... Then taking the story, distilling it to it's essence (the core themes), and then relating it to my specific role (the "what's in it for me?" OR "why should I care?")

May 26, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com #312: Zvi Band Zvi Band is the co-founder & CEO of Contactually, the top CRM which empowers professionals in real estate, consulting, and other professional industries to build authentic relationships. Having founded Contactually in 2011, Zvi has led Contactually to $12M in venture backing, 75 employees, and tens of thousands of customers, including 8 of the top 20 real estate brokerages in the country. An engineer, a seasoned entrepreneur, developer, strategist and startup advisor, with unique both technical and non-technical operations. Thrice named a Washingtonian Tech Titan, featured in the New York Times, The Washington Post, and Washington City Paper, Zvi was also a finalist for Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year. Zvi is a passionate speaker and author whose writing has appeared in Forbes, Inc, Inman News, and many other outlets. He's the author of the newly released book, Success Is In Your Sphere. Published by McGraw-Hill (Zvi and I share the same agent, publisher, and editor). Notes: Leaders who sustain excellence = They have a level of introspection This creates self-awareness and mindfulness Take a step back... Analyze, pick apart. Understand why something happened based on the decisions you made They are tactical 5x7 notepad -- Take blank sheet and write the exact things you need to do each day Weekly wrap up -- Capture what happened Use a daily journal to understand how you felt at that moment "It's way too easy to be reactionary." It's not productive. Be thoughtful and intentional Zvi at 25 years old: Quit his job His dad's cancer came back and he died The same day was officially declared a recession in 2008 How to respond? Zvi was interested in a startup "I emailed my network, and the CTO of an enterprise software company helped me out" "Relationships are our most important asset" Zvi realized he wasn't good at managing his relationships. He was using Evernote. He wanted a proactive CRM (customer relationship management) tool to proactively work for the relationship driven professional That was how Contactually was created "It's not about staying in touch. It's about being of value." How to make the right hiring decisions: It's values based: Be user first - solve problems for others Ownership - entrepreneur types Learn & innovate - embrace failure and learn Demonstrate the ability to learn Be excellent with each other -- "If a company has a named 'No Asshole' rules then that usually means they have a lot of assholes there." It's a red flag. Keep it simple Be real -- Transparent How does someone demonstrate the ability to learn? Run a mock call, give feedback. They must be coachable. How do they respond to the coaching? Ask, 'what are you learning? We want readers We want people who are intellectually curious We want people who have a "general dissatisfaction with their current skill set." Mentor advice: Leverage your experience to know the right questions to ask. Teach them how to navigate the issues, don't just give them the answers. "Relay experience. Don't give advice." Don't give a prescription. Mentee advice: Establish a feedback loop Establish what to do -- follow up "Must show that you took their insights to heart and acted on them." The 'icky' feeling of relationship marketing: Avoid this. Don't just exchange business cards. "Relationships are our most important asset." Collect intelligence on those people important to you. Listen for the little details they share. Pay attention. Take notes after you talk with them so you can ask about them later. Consistency - Play the long game: Create habits: what are your relationship goals? "We're wired to think short term." Zag when others zig. Think long term. Build genuine, real relationships: When we look back at success, we realize it's because of relationships Invest in them long term Contactually got acquired by Compass Zvi and his investors have been rewarded for their work

May 19, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #311: Adam Savage Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Adam Savage was the co-host and Executive Producer of the hit show, MythBusters on the Discovery Channel. Fourteen years, 1,015 myths, 2,950 experiments, eight Emmy nominations and 83 miles of duct tape later, the series ended in March 2016. He is the author of Every Tool's a Hammer - Life Is What You Make It. Be part of "Mindful Monday" -- Text LEARNERS to 44222 Notes Leaders who sustain excellence = "Obsession is the gravity of making" Obsession towards the project -- A "desire to see the thing they made to your satisfaction." Adam on failure: "I don't trust people who haven't failed." What it means to be a great boss? Give great opportunities... "The time, the facilities, reason, and logic." "Hey, you're doing great." Let employees have the space they need. "There's nothing better than when someone leading a team project can just run with it." "Give total autonomy with narrow bandwidth. Give ownership." Being a generalist -- "The specialist wasn't always helpful because answers are within the context of a wider story." It's very damaging to ask a nine year old what they want to be when they grow up: "Excellence --> The things we cannot stop thinking about." That's what we should strive to be when we grow up. Someone who pursues their curiosity and obsessions with great rigor . The WHO "I think about my relationships all the time." The people you consciously choose to have in your life are everything "Am I serving those relationships? Am I being present and non-judgmental with them? Am I with them in the room?" Stop getting mad at customer service -- It's not their fault. And you'll feel better about yourself. Adam on his preparation process for a big speech: It depends on the engagement, but it's extensive. There are 2 specifics: Record yourself and listen to it -- "It illuminates where you're not hitting your mark. It's the transitions typically. How you link them together as a narrative whole." Memorize conceptually -- Practice, practice practice. Get the reps. Communication as a leader -- "Story is completely vital to leadership in every way." "Language was invented to tell stories." Pay attention to how they people who move you tell stories How playing quarterback is similar to a work of art There is always something changing -- You must adjust on the fly How to become more self-aware? Write everything down -- Keep a journal of your thoughts. Reflect. Be introspective Have someone on your team who will tell you the truth. "It's all about the team." How Adam lowered stress level: Stopped drinking alcohol Slept more Started meditating Increase your loose tolerance Learn by doing -- Take action -- "Creation is iteration." Being wrong isn't failing You don't have to have everything in place to start Be easier on yourself during the iterations Share everything: We love the myth of the lone genius, yet none of us make stuff in a vacuum. Share credit, ideas, everything. Increase generosity through sharing Use more cooling fluid: It takes more time on the front end, and forces time to clean up on the back end, but it gives more value to the final product -- "It's a reminder to slow down and reduce the friction in your work and relationships." Sweep up every day: "A clean workbench gives energy. It helps the future me." Leave a place better than you found it The cultural malaise currently is based on the scarcity model. Wrong. There is enough food, be a giver. Be generous. Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

May 12, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #310: David Epstein Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com David Epstein is the author of the forthcoming Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World , and of the top 10 New York Times bestseller The Sports Gene. David has master's degrees in environmental science and journalism, and is reasonably sure he's the only person to have co-authored a paper in the journal of Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research while a writer at Sports Illustrated. David has given talks about performance science and the uses (and misuses) of data on five continents; his TED Talk has been viewed 7 million times, and was shared by Bill Gates. Notes: Leaders who sustain excellence = Voracious learners Voracious readers They attack obstacles Extremely interested in people and about themselves The Sports Gene Having great reflexes is a trained skill -- Pro baseball players cannot hit a pro softball pitcher because they have not trained their reflexes to understand the arm angle (Albert Puhols could not hit Jenny Finch even though she throws slower than the average MLB pitcher) "Chunking" is what world class athletes or chess-masters do. They pick up on cues from the person's body (or the board) and that helps them make quicker decisions -- Ex: A baseball player understands/learns the cues of a pitcher and what pitch is coming and at what velocity Sports is a "kind learning environment." It is more black and white than the business world. In order to translate this to the business world, try to create a kinder learning environment. Need as much information available as possible. Create an environment where feedback is happening on a regular basis The business world is not as kind of a learning environment The "annual review" is a horrible way to run a business. Feedback should be happening on a regular basis... Daily. Bill Campbell would go to the meetings of the leaders he coached and gave immediate feedback. Create a feedback loop for yourself from mentors/people you trust "Everyone needs a coach" -- David regularly takes writing courses to stay sharp and learn David's writing process: The first year = Read 10 scientific papers per day. He reads a TON Advantage David has created = An expansive search function Have a "master thought list" -- Storyboard, shift scenes around He did film editing as a form of cross training for writing a book and becoming a great storyteller 29 of 32 NFL first round draft picks in the 2017 draft played multiple sports. Cross training is critical for long term success David debated Malcolm Gladwell on stage in front of a huge audience and changed Malcolm's mind. Watch here. Athletes that delay specialization excel more than those that specializes (golf is the only exception to the rule) The most effective leaders are constantly updating their mental models It should be celebrated when someone changes their mind because better evidence has surfaced Darwin changed his mind Lincoln changed his mind A 'deliberate amateur' = Someone who loves an activity. "I don't do research, I do search." It's a constant experimentation to learn In a LinkedIn study, the results of a review of all profiles of people who made it to the C-Suite = Went to a Top 5 Business School "The single most important factor is they worked in different functions within a company." They were generalists. The people who make the most impact with number of patents filed work across classes. They are wide ranging generalists. Sales is a great entry point for any business -- Learning marketing and sales will benefit you in every job you will ever have "Take your skills and apply them to a problem where those skills aren't being used." People underestimate how much the world will change -- Must be able to adapt and learn "We learn who we are in practice, not in theory." -- Take action. Do the work. Work to accumulate experiences Try something, go all in on the thing you are doing in that moment. 100% focus. Invest everything you have in it. Then reflect on it -- "We learn in moments of reflection." "When you're 23, don't worry about getting ahead, get information about yourself. Focus on learning." Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

May 5, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #309: Verne Harnish - Verne Harnish is the founder of the world-renowned Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), with over 14,000 members worldwide, and chaired for fifteen years EO's premiere CEO program, the "Birthing of Giants" held at MIT, a program in which he still teaches today. Founder and CEO of Gazelles, a global executive education and coaching company with over 200 partners on six continents, Verne has spent the past three decades helping companies scale up. He along with the editors of Fortune, authored The Greatest Business Decisions of All Times for which Jim Collins wrote the foreword. His book Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0) has won eight major international book awards including the prestigious International Book Award for Best General Business book. Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Notes: Leaders who sustain excellence = Ability to persevere Willingness to hire a coach and listen -- All of the greats had coaches to help them (Rockefeller, Steve Jobs) Be part of a "mastermind group" -- Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill Cannot be afraid to make the cold-call. You must be willing to ask Verne cold-called Steve Jobs leadership coach Ask yourself: Who are the top 25 influencers in the space where I want to play? Write their names down... Then call them, email, writer letters. Find a way to get in contact with them Earn the support of influencers and it will put you in warp speed -- "I was the first person to get President Ronald Reagan to say 'entrepreneur' in the White House" Two rules: Give before you ask for anything -- Sometimes you can only give your time and attention. Go to their speeches in person, sit in the front row, nod your head, take notes, then follow up with them afterwards and ask questions. Understand your pitch, what you do, why you do it, and be able to share it concisely "What a great mentor wants is a great student" Verne realized there was not a curriculum for gazelles -- mid range companies that wanted to scale-up Titan -- Rockefeller was so successful because of his discipline Disciplined people, disciplined thought, disciplined action Build a functional accountability chart... 4 criteria: Will - Have to hire will to learn, succeed, persevere Values -- Mars mission values Results -- Track record of success Skill - Fungible Strategy One idea must be different, don't be just like your competition Michael Porter advice -- Article in HBR, " What Is Strategy " Strategy is rooted in... "What word or two do you own in the market-place?" Execution -- Must act or it's just hot air. Failure happens at this phase as you add people Communication rhythm - "If you want to move faster, you need to pulse faster." -- Have a daily huddle, agile meetings There should be equal talk time of each person in the meeting. Don't have one drone on for the entire meeting "Want heated debate, conversation" Run forums so each person speaks Generalities versus Specifics -- It MUST be specific Average 1 minute per person 3 agenda items, to to each person What's up the next 24 hours? #1 priority -- Get the headlines Updated daily metrics that drive the business -- Stat of attracting and keeping talent. What's the data say? Where are you stuck? What's in your way? Get them verbalized The 3 Barriers to scaling up Leadership Awareness-- "What got you here won't get you there" -- Must learn to say no. Have to let early clients go. You can't have all the answers Constraint between your ears -- Bill Gates does "think weeks" Marcus Buckingham -- Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Strengths give you energy, weaknesses take your energy. "Focus on doing what you like, that gives you energy." If you love working to solve client issues, then become the head of customer support and hire a manager to be the CEO Scalable Infrastructure Bloomberg office space -- Everything goes through the six floor so that people collide... To talk, learn, interact Human brain -- Nobody wants a manager. Set it up so all can be a leader and have autonomy. Team of Teams. November 2018 HBR Issue - The end of bureaucracy Marketing Hi tech fast growth companies scale rapidly... Must have great marketing Marketing is the single most important function -- Attract talent, investors, attention, customers It takes a village of gurus -- Curate people Advice: "Make a list of who you need to hang out with... Write it down. You are who you hang out with. Move in with a mentor if you have to." Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea "Strengths give you energy. Weaknesses takes your energy." Social Media: Read: Scaling Up Follow Verne on Twitter: @agilescaleup Be part of "Mindful Monday" -- Text LEARNERS to 44222 Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Apr 28, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #308: Alex Hutchinson TEXT LEARNERS to 44222 Full shownotes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Leaders who sustain excellence = They show up... Willing to take a shot when they might not be successful People over-estimate short term and under-estimate long term. Be ambitious about long term Consistency - Secret to success: "When an editor gives me an assignment, they will receive it back on time with the right words." You have to always get it done and be known as someone who does this. To rise above a certain level, you must do more than what is expected. "Dream big while not neglecting daily responsibility." Eliud Kipchoge - spiritual leader of self-disciplined people around the world. "Only the disciplined in life are free." Getting there earlier than his coach... "As hard as I was willing to work, he was willing to support me." -- Alex describing his great basketball coach "Discipline is a muscle. You get better as you use it more." Model of achievement -- Work hard, support others "Sweat more than you watch other people sweat." -- Every leader should get some sort of activity. It's indefensible to have a healthy body and mind. "We are cognitively better when we are fit." "Pushing yourself physically reveals what you're made of mentally." How to raise your threshold of pain: It's expectation based Pain perception is the same for all... It's all about how you respond Learn to tolerate it it by going through it regularly. Develop psychological coping system. Pain is just a signal -- Understand it's how you choose to respond Navy SEALs, Olympians did an experiment with brain scanners where oxygen was restricted: They have a 'higher level of self-monitoring' Elite athletes get better when stress hits. Normal people get worse Take a mindfulness based course: Cultivate "non-judgmental self-awareness" When you make a pancake for your 5 year old and they don't like it, "try not to respond with frustration in the moment. Think about how you'll feel in 30 minutes." Change in training? "Training will be the same, but my mind will be different." The importance of self-talk -- Inner monologue -- "I've trained for this, I can do it." "When you've reached a point that you think you've hit a wall, in fact in almost every case, those limits are perceptions of effort." Handle fear with preparation -- You must show yourself you have reason to believe you can do it. Delayed gratification -- Sports is the clearest venues to see benefit of delayed gratification "Champions in November are made in July." Alain de Botton quote -- "Of many books, one feels, it could have been truly good, if the author's appetite for suffering had been greater." Advice: Read a lot of books... On topics that have nothing to do with your topic Give self space to think Give self time to be bored

Apr 21, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text: LEARNERS to 44222 to be part of 'Mindful Monday' Episode #397: Carly Fiorina Leaders who sustain excellence = Unlock the potential in others Courageous High character -- "How" matters more than what Collaborate well Humble/Empathetic They see possibilities in other people... They don't judge them Optimism combined with realism -- "Seeing people do more than they thought they can is fuel for me." "You need an equal measure of optimism with realism. You must see the current state as it is. It's important to believe things will get better (optimism), but also be clear eyed and realistic. Be honest. See truth, and act on it." From secretary to CEO -- "People wouldn't look at em and say that's a leader." "Work hard and do excellent work in your current role." "What I saw were problems and we fixed problems. I learned that solving problems is what leadership is all about." "Run towards the problems, work to solve them. Don't fixate on getting promoted, focus your attention on doing great at your current job." And then doors will open... Choose a path over a plan How you get things done matters more than what you get done... The manner in which you do it. Think long term. Focus on where you can make a difference A manager versus a leader: Manager -- Works within current constraints of the role. They do the best they can with what they have. Leader -- Changes things. They create new ways of doing things. Leaders are made, not born. Focus on building character and working to be excellent Carly was recruited to be the CEO of HP. She was the first outside hire to be CEO ever. And the first female CEO of a Fortune 50 company. She was named the Fortune magazine most powerful woman in American business for 6 years in a row "When your team is diverse, the team is stronger." Competitive nature: "I've always been focused on excellence. But, I've never been a win at all cost person." "It's easy to make a quarter (in the business world, hit your mark for that particular quarter), but you need to get there the right way." Criticism as CEO of HP "When you try to change things, you will get criticized." "Criticism is the price of leadership." How to handle a board? "A good board considers themselves a team, not a collection of individuals." The HP board was a set of individuals and two of them leaked sensitive information to the press. "Eventually, after I was gone, they got fired." Debating with President Trump on stage at the Republican debates... How to be prepared? "Every woman in the world heard what he said." "You need to be prepared, but also be present. Be able to use experience and instinct in the moment." "I didn't prepare for the comment about my appearance, but being present in the room, and having good instincts helped me respond properly." "Right now, we are confused what leadership is. We see leaders who promote conflict, criticize, castigate others. That is wrong." "We need to be reminded who leaders are and what they do. Leaders lift others up, they have courage. Everyone can choose to be a leader." The idea of privilege: "We cannot judge someone by they circumstances. Whether they come from privilege or they are poor. We should judge them based on their character and their contribution." "If we want to achieve more, if we want to be excellent, it requires people who are different to work together towards a common goal." Shane Show's Dream Teams model for building teams. Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Apr 14, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #306: Brian Koppelman - Follow Your Curiosity And Obsessions With Rigor Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Sustaining excellence: Ability to focus on the work Preparedness Ability to collaborate "Being responsible enough to show up on time is surprisingly effective and important" "People that follow their curiosity, obsessions, and passions" -- They truly love what they're doing and work with incredible rigor. If you love what you're doing, it doesn't feel like a job. It's work that's enriching you at the same time. "What we're really trying to do as leaders is get people to perform at their highest level and to do it together, because what we do is highly collaborative." "I was the kind of person that would read a book and if I liked it, I would stay up all night reading it. And I would learn the words from that book. I would look them up. I loved the way words sounded and I loved the idea of communicating with great efficiency and humor." "Where this passion really landed for me, it made sense to do this work. Working with great rigor is a lot easier when you're borderline obsessed with something and when you're curious." "Curiosity keeps you diving deeper." "I was a frustrated and blocked writer and I was starting to feel that I had made mistakes. But those two hours every morning... Writing. Made me feel alive." "And he (my boss) said to me, 'Look, you know you're a writer and that's what you want to do.'" "Dude. You do have a half hour a day." You have to make time to do the work. "We finished the screenplay. We sent it out and it got rejected by every single agency in Hollywood. I'm not exaggerating." "I wrote down what every person said... And then it sold the next week, and every agency called us back trying to sign us. Nothing was different on the page. I read them all back what they had said and they would all lie back to me. I had them written down on a big yellow legal pad. I read them out loud on a speaker phone. These guys all lied back to us. Nobody just said, 'well I guess I was wrong,' but then they all wanted to sign us. It taught me a great lesson about gatekeepers in the world. They don't always know." "It means don't blindly accept negative feedback from gatekeepers." Feedback -- "We have friends/peers in place to give feedback to each other." John Hamburg (Meet The Fockers; I Love You, Man; Along Came Polly). "You want feedback, you need feedback. But you don't want feedback from that jealous old friend who you know secretly doesn't want you to be successful." "I don't have people in my life who don't want the best for me. We root for each other... Hard." Comfort in your own skin: "It's a lifetime pursuit. It's so hard." "The battle is to accept who you are while not giving up on improving yourself. To continue to try to become the perfected version of you which you can never be. And to accept your own frailties and faults." "One simple place this comes from is to avoid lying. My wife and I don't lie to each other. We've never lied to each other. When you have that to start, it helps with the rest because you're not fronting." "I do morning pages every day, I meditate, I take long walks and think." "When you do all of those things and you live with intention, you start to become more comfortable with who you are." "But each time you stretch and grow and you're rewarded, it encourages you to stretch and grow." "Never Fake The Funk" -- "It's about pretending. It's about lying to yourself. Don't pretend, don't lie to yourself. It's really easy to get swept along by other peoples conception of who you are. And by other people's ideas of what success is. Defining success for yourself is crucial." "Any interaction I have, I view as an opportunity for growth. For me and the other person." Feedback is fuel... Hearing that you've helped someone is the fuel that drives this machine Having successful parents and the expectations that come from that... "My dad was very good at showing me what it took to be successful." "For some reason, my dad would always point out, 'there's nothing worse than the son of a rich kid.'" "I never wanted to be looked at as just the son of somebody and just skate. I wanted my parents and sisters to be proud of me. I wanted my kids to be proud of me." "I learned at a young age how to talk to powerful people. To find a way to make them laugh, to not be intimidated by them. Because I grew up around those people, I knew exactly what they're like. That's a gigantic advantage that I had because my father took me to meetings. I watched people sell to him, and I watched him sell to others, so I learned what worked." "My dad was a workaholic, but he really cared about us. He never missed a ballgame. He would go to New York City, work a full day, come home to Long Island, watch me play a decent third base, and then drive back to the city for a meeting. I never wondered 'Is my Dad going to show up for the game, my dad always showed up for the game." "I would never eat dinner until my dad got home. If he was going to be home at 9:00, I would wait up, my dad would come home and we would talk about his day and about business. And just hearing the stories enabled me now to be able to understand aspects of business." "Whenever my son asked me to play catch, I would say yes." "I always walked my daughter to school. Those little things, kids knowing that, it gives you a kind of closeness. It's having the connection..." "You don't have to start over, you're in the flow. You always have this time." Tell your kids, "You did well because you worked hard." Don't say, "You did well because you're smart." Compliment the work ethic. Writing Billions on spec... You write it for free, you don't have a deal in place. "We wrote it for us." Showrunner = Responsible for everything you see on the television show. Writing it, overseeing shooting of it, the editing, the design, all of it. Leading 150 people on the show. How to make hiring decisions? "No assholes" "We really check references" The work has to be excellent "We hire keys to run departments and trust the keys to hire their departments. Hiring the keys is a lot of time and effort, a lot of meetings." "I want to know that they're really going to kill for it. I want to know that they're a good person. That they'll get along with everyone. We're all there lifting everyone else up. So you need to know that everyone is there for the same reason. 'I love this show and I want it to be great.'" How they hired Damian Lewis -- "We had three long meetings. We each checked with people who had worked with each other. We knew people loved working with him. We knew he showed up prepared." How to be creative and innovative... A collaborative process: Recognize people when they do great "The truth is 'hire people that are smarter than you. You never pay a bad price when you hire people that are better than you.'" "Part of not fronting, of not faking the funk, is admitting when you don't know the answer." "Let's get the best idea. Let's source the best idea that we can." Career advice: "Do the work." "Think about the story you want to tell and start telling it." At thanksgiving, why should you not talk about your new creative endeavor: "It's a lot easier to say I don't have the time than to say I'm scared to do it." "Say what your dream is too soon and someone will shoot it down. Train yourself not to do that." Create a whole family (extended family) group chat Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Apr 7, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #305: Marcus Buckingham & Ashley Goodall - A Leader's Guide To The Real World (Break All The Rules) Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Marcus Buckingham holds a master's degree in social and political science from Cambridge University and is a member of the Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Leadership and Management. He's the author of the international best-seller, First, Break All The Rules . Ashley Goodall is the co-author, with Marcus Buckingham, of Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader's Guide to the Real World. He is an executive, leadership expert, and author, and has spent his career exploring large organizations from the inside. Notes from this talk: Sustaining excellence: Optimism -- An innate predisposition that things will get better Individualization -- Ability to attract great talent. Knowing that each person has something unique to bring "You follow somebody if they give you confidence in the future." "The world will be better if I hitch my wagon to you." Great managers/leaders = They know how to surround themselves with the right people -- "If you want a great party, invite great people." They focus on people first They help them. They coach them. They find a path and set expectations. They grow. They make the next step and help others do the same. "Talent is more important than experience." Talent = a recurring pattern of thought. Enduring patterns in a person. Hire for those, then train for skills. How to find talented people? Ask open ended questions, stay quiet, believe what they say. Ask appetite questions: "What did you love most about that?" Talents are far more about natural appetite Feedback: "People need feedback to grow and excel. It grows best not with feedback, but with help." People grown when attention is given to them. "Pay attention to me. My talents." People need attention to what really works in them Leaders must look at the real world Idiosyncratic -- The best are... There is a difference between theory world and the real world "Learning is an emergent experience." It's inside out... How you do your version... How do you measure things that are hard to measure? "Must make a distinction between traits and states." Example of a trait = extroversion Example of a state = mood, skills (can change) Competencies are a combination of both Being labeled a "Hi-Po" (high potential) in an organization: "It's made up, not a thing. Toxic because it presumes that some human brains can't/won't grow." "There is no point in having the 'hi-po' conversation. In talent reviews, ask for each person... How will they grow best? Don't use a 9 box grid." "Replace potential for momentum." "Work life balance is a very weird aspiration. It's very hard to do it perfectly." "Balance is a way of being stationary. It's not a good way to move through life." "We shouldn't tell people to do this. Health is motion, finding love, finding red threads." "It draws you in. You should move through life. Draw strength from the movement." "If a leader has no followers, they're not a leader." -- "Follow-ship is the thing." "We all have fears for the future. Find a leader that can see around the corner, we're drawn to that." "Be a free thinking leader." Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Social Media: Read: Nine Lies: A Freethinking Leader's Guide To The Real World Follow Marcus on Twitter: @mwbuckingham Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Mar 31, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #304: Laura Gassner Otting - How To Carve Your Own Path Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show "It starts young. We have a world where we are given an identity. We need to think, 'is that really what I want?" Show Notes: Sustaining excellence: Live on the edge of your incompetence -- "The more you talk, the less you listen." Need to be asking questions and listening. Tenacity, grit Put yourself in uncomfortable situations Be in a position to learn something new from your failures... "That is delightful." "Looking into someone and seeing their greatness." Running coach -- "Calm, confident, reflect back to the dream Compete. Issues with execution... Why? "We get stuck chasing someone else's dream." How do we know? "It starts young. We have a world where we are given an identity. We need to think, 'is that really what I want?" The four parts of consonace: Calling -- It's bigger than you Connection - The work actually matters Contribution - It contributes to the life you actually want Control - How much do I have? "My mother told me I needed to be a lawyer." -- "I wanted to run for office." How did Laura end up in the Clinton Whitehouse? "I learned how to show up for others... And be dedicated to excellence" "I was a great leader, but a terrible manager." You need to be self-aware Advice to new managers: "People want feedback. Ask them if that project reflected their understanding of the assignment or their ability?" Laura's TEDx Talk: Stop asking, 'how can I help?' Think, 'what needs to happen?' Her fight with Ann Coulter Must be willing to change your mind as a leader -- "Our stories are our connections." Becoming an athlete -- Laura ran the first mile of her life nine years ago. Now, she's a competitive rower. And she ran in the Boston marathon. Confidence is built through doing. Continue to push the boundaries of our own competence. Tel Aviv: Hunger Weight Tenacity Speed Grit/Heart Don't get in the comparison trap with other people's highlight reels on social media Advice she received that's been helpful -- "You're just not that important" Study -- Team of Rivals -- About Lincoln Use the " Get To Know You Document " Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea

Mar 24, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #303 - General Stanley McChrystal Full Show Notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com A retired four-star general, Stan is the former commander of US and International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) Afghanistan and the former commander of the nation's premier military counter-terrorism force, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). In June 2009, the President of the United States and the Secretary General of NATO appointed him to be the Commander of US Forces Afghanistan and NATO ISAF. His command included more than 150,000 troops from 45 allied countries. Notes: There is a formulaic myth: Leadership is not what we think it is... "I thought it was just behaviors, but that's too simplistic." "Leadership is intensely contextual." A great leader must adapt themselves to the situation. "There's not a style that's perfect for every situation." Vince Lombardi coached differently based on the team he was coaching. Coach K (from Duke) is known to be incredibly adaptable and that's why he's succeeded year after year. Important leadership qualities: Great listener -- Pay attention. Marinate in what's happening. Have humility -- Think of the people you serve Why General McChrystal went to West Point: Dad, brothers, grandpa were all soldiers. It's in the family. He wanted to be an Army Officer Stan struggled his senior year in high school. He lived by himself, his mom had died. His Freshman year at West Point, he didn't take the school part seriously and got in trouble. He was almost kicked out of West Point. However, he got extremely high peer review ratings: His new tactical officer told him, "You're going to be a great officer" -- This was said based on how his peers had so much respect for him as a person. That mentor reached him and made a significant impact on him. "We all need someone like that." The power of a mentor/leader who believes in you: It's huge to have someone who mentally maps it out for you and believes in you. Someone that takes time to get in your mind... To care about you. It must be genuine, and when it is, it's powerful. Team of Teams : It's hard to scale a lot of small team. It must be organically connected. The front line leader -- It's impactful to have a "front line obsession." Be with your team. Show them you care through your actions. In order to fully understand the situation, you need to get out and see it for yourself. We often don't have the answers. "You can't fake it. The role of the leader has changed. It used to be command and control. A leader is more like a gardener now. You must orchestrate the pieces of a team, and ensure they are well connected." You want a well connected, curious organization. "If when you get on the ground the order we gave you is wrong, execute the order we should have given you." The leader must educate the team to make wise decisions from the front line if the leader is somewhere else. The leader must trust the team to make the right decisions in that moment. "The leader still owns the outcome. The reality is the team will do better if properly trained." Create an organization of trust and speed.

Mar 17, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk 302: Nick Kokonas - How To See The Genius In People Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Commonalities of sustaining excellence: Intellectual curiosity - A desire to learn. Not for the outcome, but for the curiosity to learn more Healthy degree of paranoia - What Jim Collins would call "productive paranoia" In the pursuit of excellence "No one is giving it away for free. It takes effort." Balance -- "I get manic at times. I'm not always well balanced." The skill is in being able to turn it on and off... Which can happen over time "I've always been curious about how things worked..." Why it was helpful to go to Colgate University A Liberal Arts school forced Nick to study areas outside of just his major. Made him more well-rounded He "learned how to learn" -- Forced him to wrestle with existential questions Rhetoric -- Can you understand all sides of an issue? Where does ambiguity exist? Need to learn to think critically -- How you do it is more important that you do it General advice: "Learn to communicate well. Concisely. Learn to write and speak well. From a psychology perspective, analyze, "what are they really saying?" Why he became a derivatives trader: "I got into law school, but didn't want to go." He tested well, but desired his independence "Prestige as part of pay doesn't matter to me." To be great at anything, you must be disciplined to show up everyday -- "My money has always been at risk everyday. Some think that's crazy. But I've always worked to have an edge." How to figure out outcomes as soon as possible The decision to leave the world of derivatives trading to open a restaurant... Why? "I took some money off the table... Then my dad died... and I thought, what am I doing? I had no idea what I was going to do next..." Meeting Grant Achatz and the impact that had on Nick's life... "He reminded me a lot of myself. He was thoughtful, driven, shy (this was the opposite), and he wasn't afraid of hard work." "I think I have a skill to see the genius in some people." "Grant's work is of artistic genius" Doing what you love and are passionate about: "For me the test is... When I wake up in the morning is it nagging at me to do it?"

Mar 10, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #301 with James Kerr Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Commonalities of sustaining excellence: Humility - An ego-less approach. "Serve to lead" mentality Curiosity - Following passion Value Excellence - Focus on doing the small things right These are transferable principles to any organziation The "All Blacks" rugby team "are our Gods in New Zealand." They've won just under 80% of their games in history Scored twice as many points as their competitors The most successful sports team of all time Sustained high performance Mana = The God within. The spirit... The ethos that creates excellence decade after decade Surprises? "The softness in this hard game. A love, a brotherhood, connection, meaning, caring for one another." How have they sustained excellence? Tradition Starts at the top with the leaders Breaking down old orthodox Like the British SAS - "Rank but no class" Leadership group -- It's not just one coach. Everyone's ideas are valued. It's a player led team - "Positive power of peer pressure." That feeling of not wanting to let one of your teammates down "You fight more for the person in the foxhole next to you." The Spartan sword and shield. You can lose you sword, but you can never lose your shield. That helps protect your brother. Accountability - There is leadership at every level It empowers the individual in a project bigger than themselves How does this work in business? Helps them step up, take ownership, be responsible "A leader is responsible for the result. Good or bad."

Mar 4, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #300: Keith & AJ Hawk - How To Instill Work Ethic & Curiosity In Your Kids Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Keith Hawk is a 32-year veteran sales professional and sales leader. For over ten years he led one of America's greatest sales organizations, at LexisNexis. He continues in a customer focused role to this day at that global organization, speaking to customer groups around the world on the topic of solving business problems with the solutions offered by his firm. In addition, he continues to speak regularly on topics such as consultative selling, selling to executives, and how to effectively lead people. He also happens to be my dad. AJ Hawk played 11 seasons in the NFL. He was a two-time All American at Ohio State and he also won The Lombardi Award (as a senior at Ohio State) as the countries best defensive player. He was the fifth overall draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in the 2006 NFL draft. He was voted team captain on their Super Bowl winning team in 2010. He finished his career as the all time leading tackler in Green Bay Packer history. AJ is my younger brother. Staying sharp after official retirement? "My mind is as clear as it's been in many years. I read more, write more, listen to more podcasts, I learn more now than I ever have." "I never liked getting the question, 'did you get all of your work done?' As a senior leader at a big company, the work was never done. In my role now, I can go give a speech and get the work done." Advice to others - "Stay patient a little bit, you have to find a way to grab hold of your day and take control of it. Don't let others do that to you." AJ's progress to improve as a broadcaster: There is no end game Must keep grinding and getting as many reps as possible "You have to jump in and do the work." You can't worry about judgement from others. You have to get the reps. Get on the stage and do it. How to handle the follow up to a competitive life in the NFL? Must have realistic expectations... That amount of competition will never happen again. That's okay as long as you're prepared for it Broadcasting is a never ending battle with myself to get better. To improve. "I'm competitive with myself to get better." Learning the intricacies from the greats. "I've learned to be quiet, to let a moment breathe." Why are walk-thurs so important in the NFL? Why does a world class athlete need to walk-thru a step for over an hour a day? "The tiny details consistently worked on everyday so they become instincts. In the moment you don't have to think and just rely on the instincts you created. That's why we did so many walk-thrus in the NFL." Why my Dad went to Green Bay for his birthday week every summer? The famous Tom Hanks quote, "I could watch my son brush his teeth all day." And he loved watching world-class athletes work on perfecting their craft. Listener question: From Tony Milenberger (member of one of my leadership circles ) - With all the different directions you guys are going, how do you still manage to like each other? What rhythms keep you connected in the busy seasons? How does it help your success? We each have different roles and we've worked hard to do a great job at our role. We all have creative outlets and have remained each others biggest fans. We push each other to be better. And when one of the family members reaches a level of fame and fortune (AJ), their ability to remain humble and down to earth is huge. AJ has done that and created a ton of phenomenal family experiences because of it. The process of earning my book deal with McGraw-Hill... How it all came about. There was an instant huge belief from Casey Ebro, senior editor from McGraw-Hill. I describe that conversation and why we chose to work together. Listener question from Mike Flynn: What is your Dad's greatest hopes for his children and grandchildren? Maslow's hierarchy Economics taken care because of their hard work Fulfilled life with a great spouse Work stimulates us, gets us excited Put our children in a place to be successful Self-actualize -- Live up to what you want to do How to handle a situation when you hit a rut? When this happened with my Dad, he always wanted to get directly to the front lines. "When times got tough, I scheduled days in the field to meet with our customers and our front line people. I wanted to be reminded why they did business with us. I wanted to break it down to the bare essentials. How could I do this in a different way? Meeting with them helped." Reminded of the quote, "if it's not broke, fix it." Be proactive. Billy Joel had this happen to him and he rediscovered his love when he went to a new fan base in Russia. With AJ - "When I was struggling or kept getting caught in the garbage of the linemen in front of me, my coach, Winston Moss, would say, 'why don't you take a step back and see what the view is like from there?' A simple step back to gain a new perspective helped.

Feb 25, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #299: Kyle Maynard Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Kyle Maynard is a motivational speaker, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and ESPY award-winning mixed martial arts athlete, known for becoming the first quadruple amputee to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Aconcagua without the aid of prosthetics. Oprah Winfrey called Kyle "one of the most inspiring young men you will ever hear about." Arnold Schwarzenegger described him as "the real deal," "a champion human," and "one of the most inspiring people" he's ever met. Even the great Wayne Gretzky has spoken of Kyle's "greatness." Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: Consistent action... Plotting Life is a marathon "I've struggled with this." "We live in a society that we think we have to reach the summit" "Climb as hard as you can but relinquish the fact that you've ever arrived." It will never be enough to fulfill you. "You've never arrived, you're always becoming." "I question what we're driven towards." Losing the first 35 matches... His dad told him that no wrestlers win in their first year and convinced him to go back for his second year "What you're looking for, you're going to find." A self-efficacy belief. It's in your deeper nervous system... It becomes automatic. His dad planted the seed. "We have this illusion in our head, but it doesn't happen overnight." "The world will not be tailored for your every need." "We are softening the edges, we need to learn how to mentally deal with things." "We need to choose conscious suffering." "Voluntary hardship" The power of meeting veterans in an airport on a way to giving motivational speeches "It shifted, it wasn't about me." The message helped veterans not commit suicide. "It's B.S. to think anyone is self-made. We all need help." The ripple effect. Why climb? "I want to experience the world. Just did scuba dive at the Great Barrier reef." Crawling 19,340 feet in just ten days... Climbing Mount Kilmanjaro "Focus on that next three feet in front of you..." Just the next step. Before you know it, you put your head up and you're at your destination Reminds me of Alison Levine -- "Just put one foot in front of the other and take that next step. Just keep going." "I don't know if I have enough in the tank, but I'm going to keep going." "The 3 feet in front of you is the only thing that matters" "Anything is possible is a lie... Tell the truth, know how to test your limits" "What gets measured gets done" How long can you enjoy accomplishments? "It's a weird dance." "What I'm learning to do now is plotting the essence of it..." Favorite book: Empire Of The Summer Moon Fasting: "When you fast (don't eat), your body picks the weakest cells and eats them." There is a lot of science to support fasting Advice to others: Value money but not too much Have a small number of possessions Namaste = "Light inside of me. Recognize light inside of you." Take calculated risk, go on adventures "Follow your bliss"

Feb 18, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #298 with Michael Useem - How To Become A Learning Machine Full shownotes can be seen at www.LearningLeader.com Commonalities of sustaining excellence: Thinking strategically Communicating persuasively Decisive decision making The power of using real life examples to demonstrate leadership Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain He was a learning machine "We know not the future, and cannot plan for it much. But we can determine and know what manner of men we will be whenever and wherever the hour strikes." He was a self directed lifelong learner - "I have always been interested in military matters, and what I do not know in that line, I know how to learn. I study I tell you every military work I can find." He had a mentor/coach - Adelbert Ames was his tent mate and he learned all he could from him He had a disciplined focus on learning from him. "I asked him every night to tell me what he knew so I could learn" He routinely got outside of his comfort zone - "I will watch myself and do an after action review to analyze." Get tangible experience The purpose behind taking students and family members to Gettysburg every semester - To "stand where Chamberlain stood." And to "get you in their moment on that ground." Recreate the moment as if you're there. Gene Kranz and Apollo 13 "Expecting high performance is a prerequisite to its achievement among those who work with you. Your high standards and optimistic anticipations will not guarantee a favorable outcome, but their absence will assuredly create the opposite." Being a decisive decision maker and preparing for those challenging moments with an attitude that "failure is not an option." "I knew my teams even more than they knew themselves." Had a great mentor in Chris Craft to help him Teams that are well developed go through experiences together can outperform individuals under stress The motivation behind risk takers: "A calculating adventurer, deriving a thrill from taking a risk and watching it pay off." This is how visions are created. How to become savvy about calculated risk Risk tolerance is a learned skill Persuasive communication is an art form It's a learned skill You can't hide, you must be persuasive as a leader There needs to be a solid narrative (story), a purpose behind it Every person must know how important their specific contribution is -- "Why are we doing this and what is my role?"

Feb 11, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #297: Tero Isokauppila - CEO Of Four Sigmatic: Principled Based Leadership Full show notes can be found at www.LearningLeader.com Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: "They love what they do" -- Love the process. The work Humility/Excitement to learn -- they know things will change and they must adjust Listen more than you talk. Curiosity -- The Dalai Lama exemplifies this very well. Able to adjust -- Madonna is a prime example of being able to adjust and reinvent herself How being a 13th generation farmer from Finland helped set the course for Tero's life -- "I have domain knowledge." Finnish people consume more coffee per capita than anyone in the world The idea of putting mushrooms in coffee came because of this Super foods help with: Hormonal response Gut health Immune system Four Sigmatic is a company built with super foods The beginning -- "It all comes down to value generation. If you want to generate value, you have to see what others don't yet see." Culture -- "You need to rally around people who believe in the mission." Find believers and sponsors as your first employees -- his founding team were former teammates Get to know you team deeply -- how they think, feel, act, what motivates them Currently they have a fully distributed team of 37 people The hiring process and qualities they look for. Four lenses: Can they do they job? -- Skills How will they fit in our culture? -- Fundamentals What do they cost? -- Financially and emotionally What is their growth potential? They must be "extra good" at communication - written and verbal. How do they write emails? Must be extra organized. "Culture exists whether you want or not. It is what it is." Their principles: S - Stay healthy, eat well, exercise W - We are us, not them A - Always carry product R - Results with freedom -- KPI M - Make it grow, let it go Examples of innovation

Feb 4, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #296: Emily Fletcher - The Secret Superpower Of Top Performers (Meditation) For full show notes, go to www.LearningLeader.com Commonalities of sustaining excellence: They have a magnetic quality. Others are drawn to them. People look to them. They have the ability to shift their state of being. Not just being calm. They are able to be variable and can adapt to situations Meditation increases adaptability Meditation helps you take care of yourself Rest, nurture your brain and body The failure of most when they attempt to meditate: Emily is on a mission to rid the world of "ex-meditators" -- people who have tried and failed and given up on it There have been 58 million downloads of meditation apps Free apps are gentle by design and not as useful Advice -- There is a difference between mindfulness and meditation. "Meditation is a tool that helps you get rid of stress from your past." Mindfulness is "the art of bringing your awareness into the present moment" Meditation gives your brain and body tools. "Kind of a nap sitting up. Mind alert, body getting rest." -- Relieve stress from now and past It is not a toy. It's a very powerful tool. You need proper training It's ridiculously simple, yet powerful Biggest misconception -- "People think they have to clear their head. They think thoughts are the enemy. That's not true." "People think they are too busy to meditate... You know we're talking about your brain right?" Emily was on Broadway for 10 years... Living in constant state of anxiety... Sick, insomnia, was miserable. She noticed another performer had none of those issues. She asked what she did and found out meditation was the key... Emily took a class, and liked it so much she went to India to be trained professionally. She created Ziva... An online meditation tool. It's about manifesting "consciously creating the life you love" "Don't water the weeds" -- Don't focus on the wrong things

Jan 28, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #295: Todd Herman - Using Alter Egos To Transform Your Life To read the full show notes, go to www.LearningLeader.com Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: "Negative capability" (John Keats term) The ability to pursue your dream despite the fact that circumstance tells you it won't happen. Not losing faith despite the long odds Mental toughness - "The ability to be flexible & adaptable despite what the world is throwing at you." The OPP framework for goal setting: Outcome Performance - Resources Process - Who, what, when, where What Todd does? He's on a mission to give people smart thinking models. He helps ambitious people. Revenue generation: He's built programs and systems and licensed it to sports teams He does sport science and peak performance coaching Grew up doing speaking competitions. Did 68 speeches in 90 days. All for free. Have to "get the reps" "This is how I know I've made it... I loved doing a free speech for four people. I loved it!" "You must show up. Continue to show up no matter what. Even if nobody is there, show up anyway." "The answers are never waiting for you to sit still. The answers are out there doing it. It's action that matters." How Todd developed strong mental toughness? Rough upbringing -- He was sexually abused at a church camp when he was 12 He retreated and developed mental toughness to deal with it Skills developed as an athlete that translated to life outside of sports: Preparation Routines Visualization/Imagery Why are alter-egos so powerful? They help you get into flow state and not get out of your head The Bo Jackson story -- "Bo Jackson never played a down of football. It was Jason from Friday The 13th. I was crazy out there."

Jan 21, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #294: Warren Berger - How To Ask More Beautiful Questions Commonalities of sustaining excellence: Intelligent... Smart Hard-working Ambitious Humble -- This is a really important quality. No ego or arrogance. They admit when they are wrong. Willing to acknowledge when they're wrong. They are open to listening to others and their ideas. Curiosity - They are not trapped by their own expertise. They are open minded, curious, looking around. Able to adapt Communication skill -- The willingness and ability to ask great questions The genesis of becoming a questionoligist -- Warrens calls himself a questionoligist. The art and science of asking questions. He originally was a journalist and developed a skill for asking questions doing that job. "Questioning was a tool of the trade" Warren was writing about design and the idea of questioning kept coming up with leaders in business. "The ability to ask good questions would lead them thru the innovation cycle." The holy trinity of questioning: Why? Trying to understand What if? Ideation, brainstorming How? Get practical. "How can we take the first step?" Big open ended questions -- They are the stems Each one does something completely different Questioning as a manager: Find time to have the conversations and ask questions of your team members Must be thoughtful and prepared We've gotten out of the habit of being questioners, and now it's always about doing. "Slow down, ask questions. Why are we pursuing this strategy? Understand why?" Go To www.LearningLeader.com Text LEARNERS to 44222

Jan 14, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #293: Brent Beshore - How To Get Rich Slow & Live An Optimal Life Commonalities of sustaining excellence: The usual things like: integrity and hard work But the best... "know how messy they are, they challenge themselves, they have high level of self-awareness, they need people around them to help. They acknowledge their imperfections, and they give others grace for their imperfections." How to develop self awareness? Surround yourself with people who will tell you the truth -- "We are all highly imperfect." Give people a true open invitation to criticize, but they also must be constructive, loving, kind, thoughtful people. "They need to be rooting for you."\ What do you look for in someone to work with? Curiosity - an inherent desire to know more, learn, reconstruct reality Self awareness - genuine intellectual honesty Integrity - function of consistency over time. Have to reconstruct it

Jan 7, 2019

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #292 - Beth Comstock: You Don't Need Permission (Former GE Vice Chair) Beth Comstock spent nearly three decades at GE. As Chief Marketing Officer and then Vice Chair of Innovation, she led efforts to accelerate new growth, develop digital and clean-energy futures, seed new businesses and enhance brand value. As President of Integrated Media at NBC Universal, she oversaw TV ad revenue and digital media efforts, including the early development of Hulu. Prior to this, she held roles at NBC, CBS and CNN/Turner Broadcasting. Her first book, Imagine it Forward , was published in September 2018. She is a director at Nike, and trustee of The National Geographic Society. The Learning Leader Show "You must grab agency. You don't always need permission." Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: "They don't stop. They keep coming back. There is an inherent belief that tomorrow is another day. They have great stamina." Examples: Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Mary Barra (GM) What was it like being hired by Jack Welch (including the story of Jack offering her the big promotion) "You know you can't say no to Jack Welch and GE. It fascinated me." Jeff Immelt -- "He lives to deliver for the customer" Take us back to 1985... Beth is in her mid-20's, she's hiding behind the door as her husband tells her mom that they are getting a divorce. "It was a defining moment. I was willfully choosing an unfamiliar path. It felt like a failure." "In times of change, you have a choice to figure it out." JR, the bad boss... We've all had bad bosses. How to deal with it? "He was a gatekeeper, just said no. So, I wrote a report, shared it with others, gave it to him. He rejected all of it. So I left to go to Ted Turner's CNN." "You must grab agency. You don't always need permission." "No means 'not yet'" The difference between gatekeepers and goalkeepers: Goalkeepers clear the way, they help you. Gatekeepers do the opposite." Common mistakes the new manager makes and how to avoid them: Understand the responsibility Find a way to be secure in yourself. A lot of mistakes are made out of insecurity. "I was not good at giving feedback. Good or bad. I didn't communicate well initially." "You need to get to know your team very well. Know them as individuals. Connect with them. People don't want to be managed or controlled, they want to be led. There is a difference." Mentors: "I was a 30 year old first time manager and I didn't have good mentors. I was afraid to reach out to people for help. Find a series of people to be your board of advisors. You will need it." The "Steve Jobs recruited me" story -- "This was right before the iPhone came out. He said, 'We're going to do some really big things here and I want you to be part of it.' It wasn't right for my family to move out there at that time though. I made the pro and con list and the move was too powerful. So I said no. There are days where I regret it." The difference between Jack Welch and Jeff Immelt: "Both were good leaders. Jeff championed people and fully supported me." "They led in different times. It's a shame that they get compared when they led in two completely different eras." "Tell me something I don't want to hear." -- Why this is a powerful exercise all leaders need to do with their teams on a regular basis. "Success theater" was an initiative. It's meant to crack bureaucracy. "Jeff Immelt was actually trying to make it better through doing this. You need that feedback loop." Hiring: What does Beth look for in a candidate? Curiosity - Open and eager to learn A quest for excellence - Do they actively strive to be better? Others provide references on their behalf Trial run - "Try, then buy." Simulate the role Hire someone who knows what you don't - Hire for your weaknesses How to handle an environment as a woman leader surrounded by men? "I'm a creative woman. I came to appreciate my differences. I became this small, quiet, rebel. Forge a different path. Learn how to get comfortable doing this." Advice to men? "I'm so glad you're asking this. Be open. Listen. Talk with females at work. Have open dialog. Ask questions how you can do better." "Assume nobel intent." How to "imagine it forward?" "Data is squeezing imagination from us." -- "Open yourself to new people and ideas." "Pattern recognition" "Scenario planning" Think "What if I were the customer? What if I were the competitor? What would I do?" Leading as an introvert. Most great introvert leaders have these useful qualities: Introspective Good listener Understand how to manage their energy Find time to recharge Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " "I'm a creative woman. I came to appreciate my differences. I became this small, quiet, rebel. Forge a different path. Learn how to get comfortable doing this." Social Media: Follow Beth on Twitter: @bethcomstock Read: Imagine It Forward Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Dec 31, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #291: Andy Rachleff (CEO Wealthfront) - What Do You Uniquely Offer That People Desperately Want? Andy Rachleff is a co-founder and Executive Chairman of Wealthfront. Rachleff co-founded Benchmark Capital in 1995 and was a general partner until 2004. Some notes... (More found on www.LearningLeader.com ) Commonalities of sustaining excellence: Intellectual curiosity -- Pass this along to kids at the dinner table Ask questions "Bright people think other smart people ask questions." The leader creates the culture "People model the behavior of the leader." "To be a great teacher, you have to synthesize something into small statements. This helps you be a better leader." Magic 8 Ball statements "A's hire A's. B's hire C's."

Dec 24, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #290: Scott Harrison - Redemption, Compassion, & The Transformative Power Within Us All Scott Harrison is the founder and CEO of charity: water, a non-profit that has mobilized over one million donors around the world to fund over 28,000 water projects in 26 countries that will serve more than 8.2 million people. Harrison has been recognized on Fortune's 40 under 40 list, Forbes' Impact 30 list, and was ranked #10 in Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business. He is currently a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. Scott's first book, Thirst, was released in October (2018) and immediately hit the New York Times best-seller list.

Dec 17, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #289: Philip McKernan - Relationships Move At The Speed Of Vulnerability Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: Moments where they feel like a fraud, question themselves. They are more comfortable within those moments This allows them to bounce back quicker They seek and attract things that are outside of their normal comfort zone The Picasso example -- The courage to face the failure and own up to it "Vulnerability is the only way to truly deepen relationships" "When you say, "I don't know," it helps others feel empowered to help" Philip felt worthless at age 14. He felt isolated and alone, a burden to try and fit in. "That pain had a purpose." How to go from an isolated and alone 14 year old to a keynote speaker who moves people to tears? How to deal with skeptics? "That's okay. But, I would address it now. Couples typically wait five years too long to get counseling. Do it now." What do you do? "I create environments for people to go deep. I meet them where they're at." The story of starting this business on the side in an Irish pub. "The hardest time of my life was at the beginning, but I didn't allow lack of money to impact what I did." "What are you willing to give up to do what you want?" "I stopped making the journey about me... It was about them." Why Philip will not send his kids to college... "Spend time learning. You need to understand who you are. A classroom is not built on how to get to know who you are." The "Planes, Trains, & Automobiles" test: Kevin Bacon started his career with no lines... But kept working. "Be willing to put in the work. Run for the cab." Is "follow your passion good advice?" "Yes and no. There is a big difference between excitement and passion. I believe we all have gifts and so many people use their talents." "For you, sales was a talent, but your gift is connecting with people. To lift them, to help them, to build confidence." "We are all leaders but a lot of people lead from an inauthentic space. It's not what we do, it's how we do it." What is One Last Talk? "If you had 15 minutes left to live to share your message, what would you say? You need to share with the world to free yourself." The process creates freedom. People want to connect. This is "team deepening." Why write a book? "Everyone has the capacity to make an impact. I believe all of us carry some demons." "It's like five years of therapy in one book." "The book is by me, but it's not for me. I will never sign it." "One of the greatest burdens a child can bare is the unlived life of their parents."

Dec 13, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #288: Robert Greene - The Laws Of Human Nature (Part 2) "I knew at eight years old I wanted to be a writer. It took me 30 years to find the right ideas. Everybody has a primal inclination." - Robert Greene "If you're not excited about the field you work in, you'll learn half as much." -- Robert Greene www.LearningLeader.com

Dec 10, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #287: Robert Greene - 5 Strategies For Becoming A Master Persuader (Part 1) Robert Greene teaches the most important subject of all – understanding people's drives and motivations, even when they are unconscious of them themselves. Drawing from the ideas and examples of Pericles, Queen Elizabeth I, Martin Luther King Jr, and many others, Greene teaches us how to detach ourselves from our own emotions and master self-control. www.LearningLeader.com

Dec 3, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk 286: Phil Jones - How To Build Your Squad (The WHO In Your Life) Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: Ability to see things through the eyes of others -- empathy Create and articulate a shared vision Create momentum for others Build your squad -- The WHO in your life His mom said, "Be careful, go get a job and be safe." She is the right person in the wrong place. We all need: Cheerleaders - they put fuel in our tank Role modes - someone's model to follow Mentors - someone to share experiences with Coaches - they ask us questions Trainers - they teach us skills Advisors - overall strategy Aspirational peers - Peers you look up to and want to spend time with "Success leaves clues."

Nov 26, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #285: Scott Gerber - Stop Networking And Start Building Relationships That Matter Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: Those who surround themselves with people smarter than them Empathetic Self-aware -- And an ability to understand others "We are losing connection for connectivity." How to become a super-connector? "Curiosity leads to everything." -- Always be questioning... "Learning is the defining quality of all of it." How to get to the core of person to better understand where they come from and their motivations... "The Road Less Traveled" -- Constantly revise our maps of reality "The Big Short" - "It's what you think you know that's not true that gets you in trouble." How to answer the "What do you do?" question -- Scott - "Try to live life purposefully" His nickname -- "The Pandora of Gen-Y networking" "Social Capital is the most important currency that we have. I'm a curator of people." "There is so much power to bringing amazing people together." Why it's bad to ask, "How can I help you?" "Marketers fundamentally f'd up this conversation." -- "It's become too formulaic as the next step. Instead, you should know how you can help and help. It's a bad question because it shows your thoughtless and it's part of a script. Don't do that." Be exceptional at making introductions -- Does it provide mutual value? When you become proficient at it, take it a step further... Film a short video to make the intro. Get creative. The gray zones -- Always ask "why?" "Real relationships take real time" How to create remarkable experiences: Get great people in the room -- carefully curate the guest list Build trust Exceptional atmosphere/environment Be very thoughtful about every tiny detail The YEC summit in Eden, Utah Create something remarkable to ensure people and things you bring together click. Humanize people that run the community -- Ex: The execs serve dinner to the guests, find common touch points "Get the intros right! Lift your guests up, brag about them in front of their peers." Being a connector vs being connected -- The tools How to build consistent referrals? Create events where people want to bring a guest who is not a current client but could be. The event must be exceptional. Invest heavily in this. Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document "

Nov 19, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #284: Michael Lombardi - A Masterclass In Building Teams And Winning Championships Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: A set foundation A standard of excellence in everything they do. Not rooted in sports, but in everything Understand how to build a culture Why mission statements were useless to Mike and his colleagues The focus on getting 1% better every day... If you do so, the score takes care of itself Demonstrate how to lead... The leader must model that behavior "Managers do things right, leaders do the right thing." Operating framework Have a plan Explain to self Build trust Command of self "Culture is a plant. You must nurture it everyday." Personal accountability is the ultimate sign of strength. "All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong." - Sophocles Bill Walsh - The value of being his personal driver and learning from him directly during all of those car rides. That's where Mike learned about leadership... And about Tom Peters Coach Walsh was always reading something that made him think and passed that along to Mike... "If you don't like change, you'll like irrelevancy less." Hiring process: Want people who are coach-able and able to learn the Bill Walsh system "Training is hard. Most managers don't do it." A "5 tool leader" Strategy Tactics Preparation Execution Situational instincts to know which among the first 4 is required and when The myth of coaches working long hours and sleeping in the office Sustainable values vs situational values -- command of the process When Al Davis interviewed people, he would do a deep dive on their background prior to the interview and use their high school mascot as his personal nickname for the candidate. This was Al's subtle way of letting the candidate know that he "knew everything about them so they better be honest." Creative vs divergent -- Take an existing idea and make it better The 7 QB qualifiers and how this relates to a leader in business: A winning way A thick skin Work ethic Football smarts Innate ability Carriage Leadership You must be able to process things at a high rate Learning from mistakes -- The Doug Pederson mistake Mike made... "How often is it the structure, the landscape, vs the player? Jackson Browne - "Never forget the ones you mess up." Life advice -- Jack Nicholson - "Read everything. It's the elixir of life. Understand something from all sides and all points of view. Read it all from the opposition side to get complete understanding on the topic." The most effective leaders have a willingness to receive feedback and implement it.

Nov 12, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #283: Tyler Cowen - The Path To Prosperity In A Disordered World Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: "I admire people who are constantly reading and learning things." Those who have a quiet excellence about them The most effective leaders have a willingness to receive feedback and implement it. Tyler was a world class chess player at age 15 and won the world championship. He always played against older players, people who were better than him. (Reminds me of James Clear and the Goldilocks Effect ) Doing vs. Learning: Tyler admires those who spend more time learning than doing (he takes a counter intuitive approach to this... like most things he thinks!) "I admire people who spend a lot of time thinking, those who read a lot of books, searching..." Tyler describes his book reading process Books - "Start with what you love..." Start with fiction: Shakespeare, others like that. Tyler is not a fan of most management books. Books he likes: The 5th Discipline, Michael Porter, Maslow, Flow, Daniel Kahneman "Read biographies" What was Tyler like as a kid? "Intense, curious, even tempered, quite happy... Much the same as I am now." There is always new information to learn from travel -- The perspective gained from traveling the world is extremely valuable. Tyler has traveled to 100's of countries worldwide Have dialog with local people in each place you go. We discussed my trip to Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia . Learn the personal history of the places you go. Some great recent trips? Singapore, China, Mexico (learn to speak Spanish) Tyler's day to day actions: Write, blog, lunch with college students, teaches for 3 hours per day. He's 56 years old What is scarce? -- We all should focused on being great at what is scarce Quality land and natural resources Intellectual property, or good ideas about what should be produced Quality labor with unique skills Talent that can execute. Great leadership How to become great at what is scarce? Tyler interviewed the tennis great, Martina Navratilova... Her thoughts: "You need to make a deliberative decision to train. A complete dedication to the craft." You also need someone who will tell you the truth and help you improve. Who are your mentors, am I respecting others? A massive need to train and practice. Why shouldn't we pay kids to do chores? "Don't transact with kids. It should be part of their normal day. They shouldn't be paid for it." The shifting gender balance of power - Be conscientious. "Women are simply better at almost everything." How Stripe publishing is doing things differently... Latest book: Stubborn Attachments - "It's been 20 years in the making. My most philosophical book." "It's about the eternal principles how we should think about things..." The meta explanation for why it seems like our political world is wacky... "Most of history is wacky." Tyler makes a 2020 prediction for the presidential election "Stories are deliberate over-simplifications. Complexity has been drained away from most." How to prepare for a keynote speech? "For the Martina Navratilova interview, I read 40 books about her and tennis and learned everything I could to be prepared." Reading: Read books in clusters based on topics Go to the library and do a physical search Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " "It's about conscientiousness. Women are simply better than men at almost everything." Social Media: Follow Tyler on Twitter: @tylercowen Read: Stubborn Attachments Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Nov 5, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #282: Seth Godin - You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn To See "In a crowded marketplace, fitting in is a failure. In a busy marketplace, not standing out is the same as being invisible." Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: It changes over time Must be willing to fail - "Okay... Will I do things that might not work?" Some of Seth's failures: many teaching mistakes, tried to build philanthropy platform that failed, blog has failed at times How to handle a slump? - "There's no such thing as a long slump." Stephen J. Gould - "The real problem is how you respond to the failure. You can't tell yourself a story that's not true." Have honest self talk -- "This isn't a slump." Stanford MBA - Friends with Chip Conley . "Everyone there feels like a fraud or an arrogant jerk. I felt like I was drowning. The sessions with Chip changed my life." Chips "Random Acts of Initiative" were life changing. Chip taking initiative and not fearing rejection. Remarkable. Empathy - A mentor wants to see you do things that are bold, leap forward because of them. Be a mentor - "Make the world shinier. Bring life to more causes." Economy of words - "I made the decision to write like I talk." "Talking isn't better because you're afraid." The book publishing world and why Seth chose to traditionally publish This Is Marketing What percentage of Seth's success is luck? "98.2%" The final 1.8% is "relentless persistence." "The 98.2% is the parent lottery." How to deal with rejection after rejection... "Culture IS strategy. How we treat people. It's hard to do the things we're proud of." "Great ones have better clients." Side hustle advice -- Start it on the side so that you don't have to make money at it right away. You can choose your clients and never just "do it for the money." "Exactly. Great advice." Keys to storytelling - "We have too much stuff." Better understand the story you're telling yourself. Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " "Luck for me is 98.2% of it. The other 1.8% is relentless persistence." Social Media: Follow Seth's writing on Twitter: @ThisIsSethsBlog Read: This Is Marketing Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Oct 28, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #281: George Raveling - Eight Decades Of Wisdom: From Dr. Martin Luther King To Michael Jordan Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: Growth mindset Immense curiosity High level of self awareness -- "It starts within" Great vision Most important = "they execute" Relationship lessons learned over eight decades - "Be a giver, not a taker. Try to genuinely help people." Develop trust, respect, and care for others -- "It's all about love. Don't keep score. Do the right thing, be kind, but don't keep score or trade favors. That's not how it works." Standing next to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr for the "I Have A Dream" speech Asking Dr. King for the speech after he finished (and getting it... still has it!) Why he won't sell of try to profit from the speech despite it being worth millions The power of "showing up early" and "asking for what you want" Why Coach reads so much -- "The slave owners used to hide money in books because they knew slaves would never look in the books because they couldn't read." -- "If someone can control my mind, they can control my body. I will not let that happen. Books are my mistress." Information = knowledge = wisdom = opportunity = growth = success The importance of his upbringing - His dad died when he was 9, his mom was institutionalized when he was 13. He was raised by his grandmother and nuns. "My grandmother taught me to be curious. She taught me to ask. She taught me good manners. She taught me humility. She taught me to help people. She was the #metoo movement before the #metoo movement" How basketball was the "greatest vehicle for transformation in my life." Earned scholarship to Villanova -- When George was first offered a scholarship, he didn't know what that meant. Going from player to coach and why he was suited to be a great coach Becoming the first African American head coach of the Pac 8 (Pac 12) The mindset of thinking of yourself as an educator/teacher George is a voracious reader and marks up each and every page of the books he likes (I saw first hand and it's amazing) The importance for older people to have 4-5 younger mentors in their life. Ryan Holiday plays this role for Coach. The importance of self leadership - "You must take care of yourself before trying to lead others" Working at Nike for Phil Knight -- Helping sign Michael Jordan away from Adidas Focus on being a great decision maker and seeking out growth opportunities Why you don't need a title to be an effective leader In order to be promoted, focus on being incredibly great at what you're doing right now " Be so good they can't ignore you ." The 10 realities of life Coach Raveling values most at age 81 Pushing Coach to write a book about living a great life -- Tweet him to do this! Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document "

Oct 21, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #280: Danny Iny - Why You Shouldn't Go To College "The future is here. It's just not evenly distributed." Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: An attitude of curiosity - interested. "I wonder why that happens?" Sense of things being "figureoutable." They will get it done. Fortitude. Danny and I discuss a partnership -- Working together on building a course Being " catalytically curious " Why start Mirasee? Built after previous failure. "On an emotional level, a startup falling apart is like a really rough breakup." "Mirasee was the rebound business." It has a value driven ethos. "At the end of an interaction with you, people should like you more regardless of what happens." "Mira" = To see, wonder Why build online courses? The convenience and practicality. It's "Just In Time" Learning Should graduating high schoolers go to college? "Probably not. There is an expectation that smart kids should go to college. That it's the ticket to the good life. This used to be true, but it's not anymore. The facts don't back that up." "The future is here. It's just not evenly distributed." "Those non-specific degrees are functionally worthless." "It's not about where we are, it's about where will we be?" What should a smart high school graduate do instead? Find people you respect and trust in the working world. Offer to work for them for free. Shadow them. Learn from them. Figure out if you want to do that full time. This requires people to take initiative and ownership Why I started the podcast? -- "To create my own leadership PhD." "Pace of education is changing." "At the pace of change currently the curriculum being taught will be completely different in 5-10 years." You must have: Literacy Fluency You need a deep understanding of your topic How to know which online courses to take? Think: What am I trying to accomplish? Does the course offer this? What do I need to learn? To know? Does the teacher have a track record of success? A course must have a support mechanism... The teacher must stand behind promises made The "pilot" program Survey audience - data analysis Map out curriculum Adapt on the fly - take insight to create something great Peer to peer feedback system in place We learn more from giving feedback to others Accountability measures Read Leveraged Learning Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " "It's not about where we are. It's about where we will be." Social Media: Follow Danny on Twitter: @DannyIny Read: Leveraged Learning Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Oct 14, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk. Episode #279: James Clear - How Tiny Changes Can Changes Can Equal Remarkable Results (Atomic Habits) Show Notes: "It's important to know how everything works together." Ojai, CA - Circle talking about book writing Atomic = Atom, small, tiny. Habits should be small "Habits are the atoms of our lives" "It's about the collection of habits" "They are small... but put them together... they compound and are powerful." The system is in four stages. They stages are: The cue - gets attention The craving - in the brain The response - the habit, behavior The result - what happens Feedback loops - The cookie example "My readers and I are peers. An essential part of the process is to write about it. Try things out. Everything I've published has been revised many times." The four laws: Make it obvious Make it attractive Make it easy Make it satisfying The Goldilocks rule - Steve Martin People burn out or get bored. How to stay motivated... Be stretched just beyond your capacity but not too far. "Always stay just on the edge..." Steve Martin kept expanding his sets by just a few minutes each time until he had a 60 minute set. He started small with just a few minutes of material. Make sure you "stretch yourself... just a bit... everyday." Be the person who gets the additional task done How to do this all as a parent? -- "Life is in seasons..." "If you want to double your productivity, get 8 hours of sleep." The plateau of latent potential -- A melting ice cube. A 1 degree change "Habits don't add up, they compound. It looks like a hockey stick." "Outcome based habits vs identity based habits." Focus on identity based habits. Be the type of person who wakes up early and works out. The importance of being able to delay gratification Weightlifting - Reinterpret signals. "Being sore feels good." Re frame how you think about something like soreness "Happiness is simply the absence of desire." When you observe a cue, but do not desire to change your state, you are content with the current situation "Being curious is better than being smart." Need to be eager to learn and accomplish things "Your actions reveal how badly you want something" "We can only be rational and logical after we have been emotional." System 1 = feelings System 2 = Rational, math problem System 1 always leads the way The Learning Leader Circle -- Apply Use the " Get To Know You Document " "Being curious is better than being smart" Social Media: Follow James on Twitter: @JamesClear Read: Atomic Habits Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Oct 7, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #278: Mitch Albom - Tuesdays With Morrie & The Five People You Meet In Heaven Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: Humility They contribute to the world - "Morrie did the bravest thing I've ever seen." Howard Schultz - The last person in line to get a book signed. After all of his employees "Some of the greatest performers I've ever met are painfully shy: jazz musicians, Barry Sanders, Joe Dumars." Tuesdays With Morrie - "He was my college professor. I had not talked to him in 16 years. I saw him on TV talking about having ALS." Morrie - "I'm a teacher. That's what I do." Why was it so popular and shared so much? "Death ends a life but not a relationship" "You can live within the hearts of people you help/touched." "You have to make time for those relationships while you're here." "I write about living. Death informs everything about how we live." "I try to write about reflecting on life." Why this theme? "I liked listening to stories from my uncle growing up. His World War 2 stories." "I spent so much of my youth myopically focused on career success. For many years I thought how far can I get?" "I wanted to explore what makes a better life?" Supporting 47 children in Haiti -- Taking two to college now. "Giving makes me feel like I'm living." "Taking makes me feel like I'm dying." Being part of Sports Reporters on ESPN Writers are critical thinkers and can be good on TV when thinking deeply Core pieces of advice: Be humble Be curious - Ask questions Don't lose self in the field you choose. Life can be brief. "Find out who you are and what you value, and do that." Advice from a security guard: Read the best books Listen to the best music Observe the best art Surround self with the best people - Osmosis Immerse yourself with what you value The Learning Leader Circle -- Apply Use the " Get To Know You Document " "I wanted to explore what makes a better life?" Social Media: Follow Mitch on Twitter: @MitchAlbom Read: Tuesdays With Morrie Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Sep 30, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #277: Tom Goodwin - Life Advice From The #1 Influencer On LinkedIn Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: Confidence + Conviction Ability to make quick decisions with limited amounts of information Faith in their judgement "There is a feeling in the room when a quality leader walks in. A charisma, an energy, a presence." How does one develop charisma? "Introversion is more interesting to me. Great presenters are introverts. They are empathetic and think of the audience first." There is "cultural permission" when you're on stage. The audience is rooting for you to succeed. Use that energy and positive vibes The importance of a proper introduction Head of Innovation at Zenith. What does that entail? "An observer. Reading a lot. Gain perspective through a lot of global travel. You learn more from countries outside of the U.S. where we have everything that we could want or need." How he became the #1 Influencer on LinkedIn? First, look for the differences in commonality vs causation. There is a difference "I orchestrate a conversation on LinkedIn. I facilitate it through my articles. I don't claim to know everything." "I got quite irritated. I got fired at my job for being outspoken. I started sharing my beliefs and it caught on." "Because I wasn't filtered, it hit a nerve with people. I am not careful with my words." How to gain support for your passion/side hustle while working at a big company "Encouraging this attracts great candidates and helps retain top talent." "Senior management needs to support and encourage it. If they have envy or are insecure, then it won't work." "Large companies need to understand why they got big. Those reasons may not be what gets them to the next level. We need to rethink rigidity." "Life is about creating good problems." "We need to create a culture of progressive criticism." The Apple commercial: "It took 1,000 No's to get to a Yes" "We shouldn't worship busyness. We should worship output." The reason for writing Digital Darwinism Life/Career Advice: "Don't worry. Too many people spend their youth thinking their career would take a tidy path. It's not. My career has been quite messy, but it's worked out fine. Be humble, thoughtful, and empathetic." Develop curiosity - "The UK education fuels curiosity, fuels interest. That doesn't seem to happen in the States. We need a breadth of the world. Like James Dyson or Elon Musk." Build a network - "Job postings. That's not how the world works and it won't in the future. I want sparkly talent that has five other jobs. Don't be afraid to nurture multiple talents." Have a sense of humor. It helps ease the mood/tension and makes you more enjoyable to be around. Issue: "We're obsessed with being correct rather than being helpful. That's not good." Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " Social Media: Follow Tom on Twitter: @tomfgoodwin Read: Digital Darwinism Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Sep 23, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #276: Scott Belsky - How To Find Your Way Through The Hardest Part Of Any Venture "Management is about people. You have to be at a personal level when you're a manager. It doesn't scale. It's not supposed to." Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: The ability to sustain curiosity - "you need to keep paying attention with a tuned up curiosity." "They say no more often" "Get into the motion of trying things instead of perfecting things." How to compartmentalize? "I build windows of time in my day to not pay attention to anything but the deep work. No email, no social media, no check book sales." On flights, dedicate time to deep work No wifi, this is alone time to do work Odd reward mechanisms: "I only allow myself to listen to certain music when it's time to write. When I've accomplished deep work for hours, I reward myself with treats. But only after the work is done." Answering the "what do you do" question: "I am obsessed with products." Adobe purchased his company, Behance Seed investor Best selling author "I help creatives create" How to pursue a side hustle when you work at a big company? "Every person needs to be their authentic self" "You have to feed it. The thing that distracts you. The thing you stay up late to keep working on because you love it. That's where you should continue to give energy." "A labor of love is always worth it." The Messy Middle -- 820 Evernote notes whittled down to the most effective 120 pieces. Making the leap from individual contributor to manager: "Don't depersonalize it when you become a manager. A team is like a carefully crafted immune system." "Management is about people. You have to be at a personal level when you're the manager. It doesn't scale. It's not supposed to." "Don't do reviews, do regular check ins... How's it going?" "The stories are the culture of your team. You're the amplifier of the stories." Qualities to look for in a person to hire: "Every conversation with that person should be more interesting than the last one. They should become continually more interesting." "There is value on analysis & strategy... But equally important is empathy & intuition." Intuition = truthfulness with self. High level of self awareness. Be willing to seek feedback. Be truthful with yourself. "A successful creative entity must be comfortable alternating between the two creative phases: Ideation and Execution." Walt Disney mastered this. "Stimulate people to think differently. Help people suspend disbelief in themselves. What if we did this 100X better?" - Larry Page The importance of "staying in the early innings" -- "We're just getting started." This encourages people to keep trying new things. "Hire people for initiative rather than experience." "Anything extraordinary ever achieved comes from ordinary means." Advice for young professionals -- Find these three overlaps: Figure out what you're genuinely interested in. What do you stay up doing for fun? What skills do you have or could possess through learning? What is the opportunity? "Take the steps to get into that overlap" Don't make short term money decisions. Find the overlap over the extra $10K in salary Why we all should have a common place journal Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " "Get into the motion of trying things instead of perfecting things." Social Media: Follow Scott on Twitter: @scottbelsky Read: The Messy Middle Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Sep 16, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #275: Joe Navarro - The World's #1 Body Language Expert (FBI Special Agent) Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: They are exceptional observers They understand the needs, wants, desires, fears, and opportunities of themselves and others Strong attention to detail High levels of self and situational awareness "I don't go where the puck is. I go where it's going to be." - Wayne Gretzky Some leaders can get mired in the mindless day to day actions. The great ones focus on what's most important. Understanding non-verbals can lead to deep relationships. "One of the reasons we study non-verbals is so we can be empathetic." Moving to The U.S. as an 8 year old refugee from Cuba -- Joe could not speak the language, so it forced him to pay close attention to the non-verbal communication from his teachers and peers. The amazing focus of The Wright Brothers and how that led to their success Why the FBI called Joe when he was graduating from BYU "In the FBI, I was a paid observer. I detected when something was wrong with the person right in front of me." How do we become what we are capable of? "It starts today. What are my limitations right now? Am I observing the things I should be observing?" "People are what's most important. We have to be better observers." "Education is a continuous process. I still see myself as a student." "Curious people are usually exceptional." "Communication is both reflexive and fluid." Do not be cynical or expect people to lie. Treat everyone with a blank slate. Ask questions. Listen. Ask follow up questions... "I never assume to have all the facts. I want to hear what you have to say before I make a conclusion." "Our job as leaders is to ask questions, not presume we know all the answers." JFK vs Nixon debate: Why did the TV viewers think JFK won while the radio listeners thought Nixon won? JFK was tan, good looking, put makeup on, wore a tailored suit. Nixon had a cold, suit didn't fit as well, didn't wear makeup, he didn't look as good as JFK. How we dress is important: "Everything is communicating something about us." Winston Churchill -- "He always rehearsed what he planned to say in a meeting." Also think, "How can I say this in the fewest number of words?" Abraham Lincoln spoke for 2 minutes and 26 seconds for the Gettysburg Address. The speaker before him spoke for 2 hours. We remember people who can effectively be concise. "Choose each word carefully." How an introvert can succeed at a networking event? "It's a performance. Lead with curiosity. Ask questions. Get to know one person at a time." Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " "When you ask someone for help, you're giving them the opportunity to feel amazing." Social Media: Follow Joe on Twitter: @navarrotells Read: What Every BODY Is Saying Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 200: Keith Hawk & AJ Hawk -- Showing Up, Doing The Work, Earning Trust, Helping Others, Winning The Super Bowl, Celebrating #200 Episode 234 : Jocko Willink -- Why Discipline Equals Freedom

Sep 9, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #274: Heidi Grant - How To Get People To Help You (Reinforcements) The Learning Leader Show "It's not about being good. It's about being better. Be in a constant state of continuous improvement." Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: "All management is change management" "What's made you successful in the past may not be the case in the future." "How can I learn to be a better leader?' "A constant state of continuous improvement" "You've never arrived." "It' not about being good. It's about being better." "Focus on getting better, rather than being good." Growth mindset helps you find enjoyment in what you do "Focus on what you will do, not what you won't" Willpower -- Need to be specific. Get to a level of specificiaty Make steady progress "Have realistic optimism. I will succeed, but it will be hard." How to define success? Intrinsic vs extrinsic goals: A connected-ness to other people Autonomy - Do what feels authentic Being effective - Inherently get satisfaction by "I'm making things by making things happen in the world" "Human beings are wired to to want to feel effective" -- It creates lasting happiness Balance - Fundamental things stand in our way. "We all have issues with not being great at everything." Why don't we ask others for help when we need it? The Milgrim subway experiement What does a helper need from you? Must ask and help the helper be successful Why we need to eliminate the phrase "Can I pick your brain?" Just say what you want. Be direct. Send questions in advance. Create opportunities for helpers to be effective "When you ask someone for help, you're giving them the opportunity to feel amazing" Reinforcements - Extra personnel sent to increase the strength of an army or similar force --> Something that makes a behavior more likely Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " "When you ask someone for help, you're giving them the opportunity to feel amazing." Social Media: See why over 91,000 people follow Scott on Twitter: @profgalloway Read: The Four Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 200: Keith Hawk & AJ Hawk -- Showing Up, Doing The Work, Earning Trust, Helping Others, Winning The Super Bowl, Celebrating #200 Episode 234 : Jocko Willink -- Why Discipline Equals Freedom

Sep 2, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #273: Chip Conley - How To Be Wise Beyond Your Years The Learning Leader Show "When you're the leader, you're the emotional thermostat for the people you lead." Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: "An operating system unique to them. It defines how they operate no matter what the context is." Understand Maslow's hierarchy of needs A way of thinking about people The importance of being both a practitioner and an author Having a finely tuned sense of your greatest strengths... And hire for the gaps "The capacity for holistic or systems thinking that allows one to get the gist of something by synthesizing a wide variety of information quickly." -- Pattern recognition How to develop self awareness: Having an internal and external antennae External -- "read a room" Internal -- "understand your intuition" --> How to tap into your "gut brain" The ability to be vulnerable is critical Action: Journal, meditate, speak with a coach. Converse in a vulnerable way Why being part of The Learning Leader Circle is so valuable Stanford Business School classmate of Seth Godin " Random Acts of Initiative " "When you're the leader, you're the emotional thermostat for the people you lead." "People get very attached to their identity." Learn to "listen to hunches and take chances." The story about the time Brian Chesky (founder of AirBnB) called him "Instead of trying to prove himself, he was trying to improve himself." We had an "EQ" for "DQ" relationship - Emotional intelligence for Digital intelligence A mentern = Mentor + Intern at the same time. The importance of having a beginners mindset -- "Ask questions. Be catalytically curious." The "modern elder" is as much a student as they are a sage Chip's inquisitiveness became contagious at AirBnB It's important to "intern publicly," and "mentor privately" There is progress to go from hubris to humble Wisdom: "Move out of trying to prove yourself, and instead work on improving yourself." As the leader, always ask: "How can I support you to do the best work here?" Know you boss has your back -- Support Put direct report in a role to create conditions to grow Set learning and development programs The biggest gap at AirBnB was "understanding humans. There were 28 year olds leading 24 year olds." How to build an alliance with someone who disagrees with you? Find some sort of alignment. Even the smallest amount is progress. Find the intent... "We're all like plants/flowers. Look at the soil. If you're a sunflower in the arctic, you have to get out of there." "Make sure you have a boss that has the capacity to get you there." Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " "Move out of trying to prove yourself, and instead work on improving yourself." Social Media: Follow Chipon Twitter: @ChipConley Read: Wisdom @ Work Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 200: Keith Hawk & AJ Hawk -- Showing Up, Doing The Work, Earning Trust, Helping Others, Winning The Super Bowl, Celebrating #200 Episode 234 : Jocko Willink -- Why Discipline Equals Freedom

Aug 26, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #272: Scott Galloway - The Algebra of Happiness The Learning Leader Show "Steve Jobs is the most famous deadbeat dad. We should worship character and kindness." -- Scott Galloway Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: They are demonstrably great at multiple specialty areas They have grit -- a willingness to roll up their sleeves. And work a lot. They hold people accountable -- "If they don't perform, show them the door. Strategic firing." They have empathy - They understand other people and what they want to achieve Scott explains why he's a builder and a teacher He's an NYU professor. He also has started and ran three successful businesses at the same time. This allows him to give practical, real life, advice to his students The best method for learning is teaching -- "It forces you to really know what you believe." "You have to prepare, have themes, support them with research. You have to bring it." His viral videos -- "I try to behave as if nobody is watching... I need to be real and myself." Why he said, "Mark Zuckerberg is Putin's bitch." "Steve Jobs is the most famous deadbeat Dad. We should worship character and kindness." The power of saying "exactly what you think." "You're smart to be afraid when you're younger." Scott Galloway's Career Advice: 1) Get certified. Get your degree. College grades make 2X that of those who don't graduate. 2) Be remarkable ("So good they can't ignore you"). What two attributes can you bring together that make you unique (the artist who knows how to use excel). 3) Invest in variance - find the 6-8 things that are most important to your firm. Become in expert in a couple of them (Be a great public speaker, great writer) 4) Get to a city ( Allen Gannett agrees ) 5) Boring is sexy 6) Delay gratification - Power of compound interest. Invest in something that will pay off 7) Demonstrate strength and grit. Exercise everyday. Be stronger 8) Don't follow your passion - be passionate about being great at something. 9) Ignore the myth of balance. He has balance now because he worked like crazy for 20 years. 10) Build credibility. Advice I received from my Dad when I first became a manager -- "You can't just be an inspiration guy. You need to understand the numbers, the business side, too." The best managers "move their chair next to the person their leading and have a real conversation with them." The myth of balance: "If you want to be a top 1% earner, then you won't have balance. I don't know anyone who's able to do that who doesn't work their ass off." Did the money bring happiness? "Yes, but also a divorce. Money is a means to an end." The Harvard happiness study: "Happiness is love full stop." -- "Love who you are, who you're with... Love WHAT you do and who you do it with." Sweating vs watching: "You should spend more time sweating than watching other people sweat. High performers are physically fit. Work out." "The only youth serum is exercise." "When it gets real, I want to be able to run fast or kill them all. Working out gives me the confidence to do that." Things vs Experiences: "We overestimate the happiness things will bring us. We underestimate the happiness experiences bring us." The Four: The hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google. Google = God. Knows more about you than anything else Facebook = Love Amazon = Consumption Apple = Signals your worth. Sex. Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " Social Media: See why over 91,000 people follow Scott on Twitter: @profgalloway Read: The Four Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Aug 19, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #271: Phil Hellmuth - From Poker Brat To #Positivity. 15 Time World Champion The Learning Leader Show "Therapy is very helpful. I want to know what I am doing wrong." Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: They believe they can do great things. That have energy, buzz, and confidence They have drive, intelligence, and the will to get it done Elon Musk, Bill Lee are examples Phil is known for having a legendary ego... He shares why that's not true Why didn't he have friends for many years? His midwest roots and being ridiculed for having an ego Why does he verbally berate people at the poker table? "That is 1% of what happens, but it always gets shown on TV." Most great poker players never tell the bad players they are bad, they just take their money. Why does Phil tell them how bad they are and how good he is? "It's because of my own insecurity." I asked if he goes to therapy... "Yes, if I can get 2 1/2 hours a week, that is great. Therapy is very helpful. I want to know what I'm doing wrong." How Phil felt that he could never live up to his Dad's lofty expectations (get good grades, be good at sports... Phil didn't do either) and how that impacted him "I'm like Draymond Green and John McEnroe... I lose it sometimes" "The poker brat made me famous" His friendship with Daniel Negreanu... And how it's grown over the years How to tell if someone is lying? "It's instinctual. Everyone has physical tells." "Look for thumbs and pinkies together as a power move" "There's always a full story. I put it all together and rely on my instincts from that story." Your instincts can be developed with a lot of repetition "The art of reading people is lost on the new generation." "Look into their eyes!" #Positivity -- New book focused on being in the right place at the right time Write your goals and tape them on your mirror Write your blessings and tape them on your mirror Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " "The art of reading people is lost on the new generation." Social Media: See why over 270,000 people follow Phil on Twitter: @phil_hellmuth Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Aug 12, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #270 - Sam Jones: A Comfortable Life Is Overrated Sam Jones is an acclaimed photographer and director whose seminal portraits of President Obama, Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Bob Dylan, Kristin Stewart, Robert Downey Jr, Amy Adams, Jack Nicholson, and many others have appeared on the covers of Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Esquire, GQ, Time, Entertainment Weekly and Men's Journal. In 2013 he launched Off Camera with Sam Jones on Directv's Audience Network. Off Camera is an hour long show created out of his passion for long form conversational interviews. Show Notes: Commonalities of sustaining excellence: "They did not have a back up plan. They had a desire to do what they loved even if it wasn't the obvious choice." "A comfortable life is overrated." -- "I've always followed the things that excited me most." "It almost feels like a lie when I'm doing something that doesn't excite me." "I connect with this idea of listening to your gut feeling." For artists, the goal is to make art "No one knows you like you know you. There is no set path for how things get done." A life well lived = "Did I live up to my full potential?" "I've always been curious about the questions to ask that open people up." Sam started doing an interview show on camera when he was 14 years old "I think my own theories through voicing my thoughts." "Conversations are how I learn things... I've always been very curious." Rose Byrne - "It's good to look back and see where you've come from." The Jeff Daniels interview (one of my personal favorites) As an interviewer, the importance of seeing their body language, how they react, "the look in their eye." The interview preparation process Identify possible themes of the conversation As a communicator and conversationalist -- Think about how to do something better. A form of scrutiny. This leads to growth. Two things a guest needs to have Be willing Be able Is the guest open, honest, and self aware? They need to be... The guest needs to be able to tell a good narrative "If you're going to find something true and authentic, you have to go down a path." Goal = Make best environment for the human being to come out." "I really want to know who this person is." How to define success? "They keep letting us make more." Interviewers Sam looks up to: David Letterman -- He didn't adhere to strict rules. You shouldn't have to... Terry Gross -- NPR Howard Stern -- Consistently done it well over time Sam's upbringing: "I didn't fit in at school." "I always questioned social norms" -- "Why does this have to be this way?" How to decide where to start an interview? "That's the hardest part." -- "The best conversations are when your open to let it go anywhere." Dream guests? -- Paul McCartney, Cameron Crowe How to create an environment for people to articulate insecurity... Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " "I've always questioned social norms. Why does it have to be this way?" Social Media: Follow Sam on Twitter: @samjones Watch Off Camera With Sam Jones Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 200: Keith Hawk & AJ Hawk -- Showing Up, Doing The Work, Earning Trust, Helping Others, Winning The Super Bowl, Celebrating #200 Episode 234 : Jocko Willink -- Why Discipline Equals Freedom

Aug 5, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #269: Charlie Spaniard (UFC Fighter) Interviews Ryan Hawk - My Leadership Framework Show Notes: The WHO - "The most important question is WHO. Who will be your mentor? Who will be your friends? Who will you help? Who will you spend time with? You don't need to answer what until well after you've answered WHO." -- Jim Collins The importance of cognitive diversity Growth oriented people -- Why I like to be surrounded by those types of people The importance of time and maturity and " life reps " to develop my curiosity. "As you learn more, you realize there is so much more to learn" "Great leaders are willing to push." -- The impact Ron Ullery and Bob Gregg had on my life How preparation builds confidence -- "The greatest medicine for fear is preparation" Learning how to prepare for big moments How to use productive paranoia as fuel Building leadership skill over time "Finding your voice as a leader. It's time to speak up. " There is a part of leading that is the "directing" part Earning respect through your actions before saying a word Playing quarterback is the "most cerebral position in all of sports" The incredible mind recall and brain capacity of Aaron Rodgers Why the Arena Football League helps you anticipate The importance of consistency - "Showing up" everyday Why loving the work is so important when embarking on a difficult challenge Who you marry will play a big role in your future success -- "Marry well" Reading The Five Love Languages Say "thank you" multiple times per day to your spouse Write "thank you" notes every week "How you do anything is how you do everything" The impact of my family upbringing -- Episode to listen to: Keith Hawk & AJ Hawk The responsibility to sustain excellence because of being lucky to have great parents and siblings The importance of "showing up" as a parent The decision to go to Miami University and compete against Ben Roethlisberger to be the starting QB at Miami Why I moved to Oxford the day after I graduated high school "Taking the next step" -- What I learned from Alison Levine Why I started The Learning Leader Show instead of pursuing A PhD at a University Framework: Learn, Experiment/Do, Reflect, Teach. The practice of writing one "thank you" note per day from John Kralik and how it could change your life Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " Social Media: Follow Charlie on Twitter: @charliespaniard Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Jul 29, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #268: Allen Gannett - How To Create "Aha" Moments And Spark Creativity Allen is the founder and CEO of TrackMaven, a marketing analytics platform that enables creativity. Marketers use TrackMaven to measure and improve performance across every channel Some clients are: The NBA, Microsoft, Saks Fifth Avenue, and many more modern marketers. His book, The Creative Curve, was published in June 2018 from Currency, an imprint of Penguin Random House. It is all about how anyone can learn to have moments of creative genius. We are hosting a workshop on developing YOUR personal excellence as a leader. For details and availability, go to RyanHawk.me "Learn how to learn. View the world as being a less fixed place. Anyone is capable of making it happen." Show Notes: Sustaining excellence: Surround self with others who are great at what they do. A very social phenomenon Collaborate with those who support their weaknesses Be aligned with an executive sponsor Live at the creative center -- Move to corporate headquarters if you work for a big company Need to build relationships outside of 9:00-5:00 The importance of building generational friends (friends from all age groups) What makes a hit? -- "Familiar but also novel." "As humans we're fearful of unfamiliar. It's the brains' elegant way of risk and reward." A balance of the novel and the new The truth about Mozart He didn't create his first music until he was 17 He had a helicopter Dad. He practiced music for three hours a day from a very early age He became great because of deliberate practice JK Rowling spent five years writing the first Harry Potter She was extremely deliberate in her process. It wasn't just a light bulb moment on a train. Paul McCartney spent years to write the song, Yesterday How to create "Aha" moments for self? -- Go for a run, drive, take a shower, lay down. Need to calm the brain. Writing a "descriptive" and "prescriptive" book: Consume a lot about your topic of choice Need to build prior knowledge Not just "what," but "how much" Ben Franklin -- He outlined previously written articles Andrew Ross Sorkin consumed mass amount of literature and worked to "copy" the style in which other greats wrote Confidence building - "Learn how to learn." View the world as being a less fixed place. Anyone is capable of making it happen. Creativity is something you can learn. How to get cast of "Wheel Of Fortune" TrackMaven is a marketing analytics platform Making the shift from individual contributor to manager -- A "communicator and coach" to others Mistakes new managers make: Need open lines of communication. "I was conflict averse initially and that's not good." Remember when hiring. It's hard to fire people. "It's brutal." Not everyone has all the answers. Get advice from people with different perspectives and incentives "You need to hire slow AND fire slow. Give people a chance." Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " "A great manager must be a great communicator and coach for others."

Jul 22, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk We are hosting a workshop on developing YOUR personal excellence as a leader. For details and availability, go to RyanHawk.me #267: Louie Anderson - How To Crush It on Stage From One Of The Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time Show Notes: Louie's approach to stand up comedy -- It appears as if he is just "riffing off the cuff," however it is highly structured and prepared The pain of growing up with an alcoholic dad and how that fueled him as a professional This helps him pull from any of it at anytimeCreating a catalog of material It takes years to develop "I'm in complete control." That gives Louie the ability to handle a heckler in the crowd or go with a comment and tell an additional joke Going on Johnny Carson or Conan "They don't step on your lines, but they are prepared for where the conversation is going to go." "Just like you, I've worked hard to create freedom with my work." Sustaining excellence: "Be who you are" Ask yourself, "Does this mean something to you? If it doesn't mean something to you, why would it mean anything to someone else?" Confidence Nervous before a performance? "It depends on the event and how much importance I put on it." -- Saturday Night Live was a nerve racking experience Advice to keynote speakers? Be prepared Know your message Surprise the audience Piggy back on a great introduction -- Listen to the room prior to your time on stage "I'm always tilling the ground for comedy bits." Storytelling: "Tell them something they don't know. Humanize the story. Give a piece of yourself. Don't lecture." How did he get his start as a comedian? "A dare. I was a social worker and went up on stage for an open mic night and it went great." "I volunteered to be the emcee for experience." "Don't be afraid of trying new things" The importance of "getting the reps:" "I did seven nights a week, four shows per night. I was creating who I was." "We don't see all the work that goes into being great on stage. It takes years and years of work." "You need good friends who will tell you the truth." His mom's best advice: "Be nice to people. You never know what they're going through." Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Use the " Get To Know You Document " Social Media: Follow Louie on Twitter: @LouieAnderson Read: Hey Mom Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Jul 15, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #266: Ryan Caldbeck - CircleUp CEO: How To Build The Frameworks Of Your Life & Career We are hosting a workshop on developing YOUR personal excellence as a leader. For details and availability, go to RyanHawk.me The Learning Leader Show "What we look for in a person: Horsepower, Integrity, Work Ethic, Teamwork, Pride." Show Notes: Sustaining excellence: Persistence - regardless of skill, willing to run through unlimited doors with no light at the end of the tunnel. It can be soul crushing Identified focus passion - an understanding of the passion that is identifiable. Drive - A motor. Really good at email and/or communication. Can't take too long. "Have a motor." Always moving Values - "I don't say that lightly." You can't sustain excellence without values. "A framework to understand you." Isn't it hard to know what your passion is? "Yes. I got scared about the treadmill that I saw others get on." However, people don't think they can leave the corporate job that pays well. But you can. Begin by thinking about the framework to make it happen. "Silicon Valley is a hard town to talk about challenges." What it's like to lead 60 employees What mistakes were made in the hiring process? "We took too long to make frameworks." "Frameworks show others what to do." What traits/values do you look for in hiring? "The airport test doesn't make sense to me. I don't have to want to spend a day around them in the airport." "We have crystallized what we look for in a person." Horsepower - intelligence over experience Integrity - don't talk negatively about others Work ethic - must be willing to work hard Teamwork - need to work well with others Pride - Care How to gauge work ethic in a job interview? "It starts with everyone knowing we are looking for that." Advice for the individual contributor making the leap to manager... "Figure out framework for your specific role. Get clarity on what each person's role is." "Learn how to develop empathy for what your team goes through. Sit with them without micromanaging them." "Make sure you have a resource (person) to talk to about being a manager. Hire a coach. Get a peer group outside of your company." Why joining The Learning Leader Circle is a good idea Ryan has a coach and a group of 12 CEO's that he meets with regularly Building culture: Focus on your mission "To help entrepreneurs thrive by giving them the capital and resources they need." Their Values: Do it right Be brave Be a solution Constantly reinforce the vision Most useful advice: Winston Churchill - "Never give up." "Do what you're passionate about" How to have balance at home? Two kids and his wife is a senior leader at her company Mediation after the kids go to bed Online working from 8:30-10:00 Spend time with spouse only Use the " Get To Know You Document " "If you don't keep growing, you will become irrelevant." Social Media: Read Ryan's tweet storms: @ryan_caldbeck Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 234 : Jocko Willink -- Why Discipline Equals Freedom

Jul 8, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #265: Clay Mathile - Self Made Billionaire Shares His Keys To Success Former CEO and owner of The Iams Company, Clay is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Aileron. He believes strongly in free enterprise and has a high respect for business owners who risk their capital to employ others. Clay attributes professional management as one of the key reasons he was able to grow Iams to a $1 billion organization. In 1999, the Mathile family sold Iams to international conglomerate Procter & Gamble for the sum of $2.3 billion. The Learning Leader Show "I bought the business with borrowed money. I was scared to death. I didn't know how to run a business. I had to learn." -- Clay Mathile describes his feelings after buying Iams Show Notes: Sustaining excellence: Vision of what they want to do and where they want to go A good idea of how to get there Committed to their vision and idea Clay's 4 things he wanted Own his own business Have that business be something that was excellent and stood for something To help entrepreneurs grow To use technology learned to help develop food for indigenous people Was hired at Iams in 1970 as the 7th employee It took five years to figure out the problems and five more years to fix it Convinced Paul Iams to sell Iams to him in 1975 (half) and the rest in 1981 Borrowed money to buy it Why Clay? "Paul had seen me work and seen me make an impact on the business. I spent a lot of time on the sales and marketing strategy." Focused on the breeders and vets. The people who influence the actual user. Clay was ahead of his time. Went to President's Course in 1982 at American Management Association "I'm scared to death, I don't know how to run a business. I needed to learn." The key was hiring a President and super charging their growth What went in the decision to sell the company? Sat down with his family to decide what each child wanted to do - "They all wanted to chase their own dreams, their own passions. They didn't want to own Iams." The CEO of Procter & Gamble called... Clay takes us inside the room to negotiate the deal: "We told them what our number was... And they exceeded it. It ended up with $2.3 billion." Starting the family office in anticipation of the sale of his business -- To build a new organization for the future. Aileron started as the center for entrepreneur organizations in 1994 Aileron - "We give lift and guidance to the business owner." "How can I possibly repay you?" -- Clay said to his mentors. They said, "Don't pay me... Just pass it on to others." "People are looking for immediate help for a problem they are having right now. And we've designed this place to help them solve those problems." Been married for 55 years, have raised a successful family... How? "When I was home, I was home. I was present. I wasn't playing golf or out with the boys." Keys: "Trust... You have to like the person too. Like hanging out with them." Why everyone should have a board? "They see things that you don't see. A strategic overview. It's something you can't do yourself." "After you've been in business for 10 years, 75% of all problems are because of you." Having a "Personal Board of Advisors" "I recommend all senior executives have mentors. All you have to do is ask. I've never had anyone turn me down when I've asked them." "Build trust and mutual respect." Culture "I built it so I could work in it." "I had strange things in my management style. I was promoting empowerment before it was popular." "Most people do the right things for the right reasons if you put them in the right environment." "The value of the individual is so important. Treat them with respect. They feel important and special. I saw every single employee at least once per year all over the world." "People are inherently good." Bad leaders = "Big egos, not trusting of others, insecure people." "When you push people outside of their comfort zone, you can't beat on them when they fail. You have to let them make mistakes." Individual contributor to manager jump... Advice: "You have to accept the fact that management is a profession as anything else is a profession." "Just because you're the best sales person doesn't mean you'll be the best sales person." "As a manager, you're job is to develop others." "You need to manage spontaneity, responsiveness. Don't react, be proactive." A good example of a proactive leader is a fire chief: They analyze the situation prior to making decisions. Manage in crisis "In 1984, we built Iams University to help people learn..." Most passionate about? "Teaching people, focus on the dreams of the people. Read the book Dream Manager . That's what we're all about." Example of a typical day: "I do about anything I want to do." One dream for Aileron -- "It will survive forever." Learning Leader = You have to be a continuous learner How much of his success is luck? "60% luck. Be in the right place at the right time." "Your listeners need to think about passing it on. To help others." Use the " Get To Know You Document " "We give lift and guidance to the business owner." Social Media: Read: Run Your Business, Don't Let It Run You Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 234 : Jocko Willink -- Why Discipline Equals Freedom

Jul 1, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #264: Liv Boeree - The Three Life Lessons From The Poker Table Liv Boeree is a poker player, television presenter and speaker. She is a World Series of Poker and 2010 European Poker Tour champion, and is the only female player in history to hold both titles. Born in Kent, Boeree studied at Ashford School before going on to earn a First Class Honours degree in Physics with Astrophysics at the University of Manchester. Livis a three time winner of the Global Poker Index European Female Player of the year and currently sits at #5 on the female all-time live poker winnings list. We are hosting a workshop on developing YOUR personal excellence as a leader. For details and availability, go to RyanHawk.me The Learning Leader Show "Our instincts are built off our life experiences." Show Notes: Sustaining excellence: Humility to continue question themselves Growth mindset Confidence Curiosity to try new things "My hyper competitive mindset propelled me to do well in school... Even though I wasn't as naturally smart as others. I had to work at it." There are two people that exist in the world: Those who are humble and those who are about to be humbled. Why poker? "I wanted to be a musician and a rock star, but I wasn't good enough. Poker was even better. I'm able to play a great game and travel the world." The mental framework of Poker: The foundation: Rational decision making Communication skill Read LessWrong.com How does poker thinking apply to life? "Our instincts are built off our life experiences" -- The Jesse Itzler model for decision making (trust your gut) vs the analytical approach... They are more similar than you think How can you tell when someone is bluffing? (lying) "It's rare that people have physical tells " Most of the time it's based on the math and your knowledge of how that person has played in the past (you see what they have played) How poker relates to the interview process... How can you spot when someone isn't telling the truth in a job interview? "Ask them to re-tell their career story... But this time do it backwards" --- It's hard to do this unless you are telling the truth Look for baseline behaviors when you meet someone and they don't feel like they are in the "interview process" yet Walking in from their car, checking in, going to happy hour, dinner Thoughtfulness -- Are they willing to admit a mistake Three life lessons from the poker table: Quantifying - Increase granularity in thinking. Willingness to work in uncertainty. What action will achieve the best response? Intuition can be great with lots of data, but it's not magic Don't let a run of good luck make you think you're good But how can you know the difference? -- Find a great set of peers who will tell you the truth Advice to an amateur player in the World Series main event of poker Recognize the other players at the table. Who is great? Who isn't? Watch closely when you are not in the hands to see the showdown value and gain information. Balance your play based on who is in the hand with you Read WaitButWhy.com from Tim Urban "There is no other leader than The Learning Leader ." Use the " Get To Know You Document " "If you don't keep growing, you will become irrelevant." Social Media: See why over 130,00 people follow Liv on Twitter: @Liv_Boeree Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Jun 24, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #263: Charlie McMahan - How To Build A Tribe From 50 To 5,000 Charlie McMahan has been the Lead Pastor of SouthBrook Church since 1992. He is driven by a deep concern for those who may feel like they don't belong in a church and a sincere hope that anyone who struggles with faith can end up with a life that looks like the life of Jesus. He is focused on developing future leaders and spends many hours a week mentoring others (including me!). Charlie has led SouthBrook from a small church that originally met in an elementary school to now hosting more than 5,000 members per weekend. He has a deep understanding for how to build a loyal tribe of people. The Learning Leader Show "The Process: Teaser, Tension, Truth, Take Home, Together." Show Notes: Sustaining excellence: Integrated people - They aren't chasing a bunch of different things Consolidated on the self mission Focused - Not distracted Family Charlie's dad was gone 25 days a month (he later found out he was in the CIA) The reason he turns down big opportunities is because he doesn't want to travel and wants to be with his family Levels of communication with kids Don't spend money on stuff, spend money on experiences -- Their place is Hilton Head Process for Charlie's performances (his speeches/sermons) The word entertainment means "To hold people's attention" The Process: Teaser - Something that grabs you Tension - The inductive part of speaking that you have to do today. So the listeners know "this is important." If you don't do this, people will leave Truth Take Home - The practical "do" Together - "Isn't this the kind of person we want to be?" Most preachers were trained to be deductive... You can't do that now. You need to help them draw their own conclusions. Finding a way to weave stories and science together The Medici Effect - The renaissance happened because seemingly disconnected entities were connected. "I'm always figuring out how disconnected entities connect" "The upside of stress" "Emotions are like waves. You can't choose which ones come, but you can choose which to ride." Choose to embrace stress, it can have a positive impact on you Create a habit of how you look at life: How long did it take you to put this message together? "30 hours and a lifetime." The intersection of the reality of the struggles with Charlie's kids and applying it to the lives of the people you serve What is it like to be the children of someone as successful as Charlie? "Our kids had so much pressure on them. We didn't appreciate how much it was." "The Famous Father Syndrome" - Kids choose to differentiate from their parents because they can't win that game Advice give to parents: "When you walk in the room, the temperature will go up for them. Kids need stress to grow." "The stress free life is the dying life" "When we walked in the room, the temperature went way up for my kids. The same heat that drove me, burned them." --> "Most parenting things you learn 5 minutes too late" PLAY - Personality type, Learning style, Ability level, Yes factor -- "You don't have to cave under the pressure. It doesn't have to destroy you" Growing a church from 50 people to 5,000 per weekend. How? Has to be a commitment to excellence that is YOU -- Has to be in ALL areas of your life. "Excellence is a habit." "Excellence is expressing my worth... Ennobling others because I care. Perfectionism is trying to earn my worth by being perfect... And that is dangerous." Be careful to not think, "I have to be perfect or I"m not worth anything." "Maturity is way underrated" "Excellence comes out of peace. In excellence the process is as much of importance as the product." "I don't have grammatical errors on the manuscript that nobody else ever sees." "Excellence is the right people doing the right things for the right reasons." "The right motivations are not so compulsive." "The constant burden of leadership is the constant interception of entropy." "There is constant gravitational pull to become like everyone else." "Our church is for someone who doesn't like church." Why? "Because I didn't like church." How do you handle the immense value of YOU as the leader? And the success moving forward without you? "We're constantly in process of finding the next leader." "When you've been some place a long time, you become in the way." Level 5 leader helps a place be better after they are gone How to build a tribe? Max DuPree - What are your unique tribal speaks? The 5 S's of SouthBrook: Solitude, Scripture, Service, Support, Significant Events " A Tribe is where story and strategy meet ." What is it like the minute before you go on stage? "I used to panic. It took me 10 years to get over the "what am I doing!?" "Leading is so presumptuous." "I've never stepped behind a microphone where I didn't believe that I could save people's lives. I truly believe every word I'm saying." "I can't wait to share this." "I didn't think about public speaking until I had to give a three minute speech my junior year in college. Something happened at that speech. People leaned in." "Hitting the 10,000 hour mark has helped me. It's easier to prepare. I'm a huge believer in putting in the time." Charlie writes 3,500 words per week. Then put on the iPad and have it while on stage... "I memorize that by Friday." "I'm a master at self condemnation." Why be so critical of yourself? "It can be a safety mechanism. If we self criticize, we won't get as much criticism. And it does connect with people." Developing future leaders "The test of leadership is the ability to reproduce yourself in others... The good parts of yourself that should be reproduced." "The path from direction to delegation" "If I don't succeed in succession, then I will have failed." "You can't be a farmer, you have to be a rancher who raises up other farmers." Ron Howard and Sam Jones -- Why Wall Street leaders hire former athletes? "We like to hire athletes because they lose so much. They are forced to respond to failure." "I lose every day. I'm not good at having an accurate understanding of myself. I need people around me." "I was a world class (basketball) shooter. I shot 96% from the free throw line." Charlie was national player of the year. "Grit is the only talent. Those tough moments are the character builders." Charlie's biggest challenge today? -- "Figuring out a way to build a succession plan and not leave too soon. I live in that tension everyday." "When I watch myself speak, I don't think it's very good." The importance of hobbies How does it take a toll on your when you can't please everybody? "Leadership is the art of disappointing people at a rate they can handle. You cannot sustain trying to please everyone. " The importance of continued growth and having an apprentice PB&J Have to have people ahead of you, stretch you, challenge you Need people alongside you, your peers, in it together, consolidate over shared stories We grow most when we have people to teach. To pour in to... "Writing makes a person exact. If it's hazy in the podium, it will be foggy in the chair." "If you can't listen, you can't lead." "There is no other leader than The Learning Leader ." Use the " Get To Know You Document " "If you don't keep growing, you will become irrelevant." Social Media: Follow Charlie on Twitter: @CharlieBMcMahan Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 234 : Jocko Willink -- Why Discipline Equals Freedom

Jun 17, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #262: Keith Yamashita - The Keys To Great Execution (Oprah, Starbucks, Steve Jobs) Keith Yamashita has led SYPartners for the past two decades, a practice that collaborates with CEOs and their leadership teams to build great companies and organizations. He's worked with leaders at Apple, eBay, IBM, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Facebook, Nike, Starbucks, and Target Corporation, among others. SYPartners has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and Fortune for its unique, human-centered approach, applied to both business and social challenges. Earlier in Keith's career, he was the chief writer for Steve Jobs. The Learning Leader Show Action Step - "Build a daily contemplative practice to create mind-fitness." Show Notes: Sustaining excellence: The ability to envision a future that doesn't currently exist -- Make it a reality Optimistic Creative A diverse background Authentic communicator Daring and bold People Keith has worked with who have sustained excellence: Oprah Winfrey - magnetic personality, she can envision the future we want. She constantly re imagines herself. She has a strong creative core. She has a sense of deep creativity. Howard Schultz - He's always restless, reinvents regularly. He's earned 9,000% return on investors money How do you respond when Oprah calls you for help? "We are always on the outer edge of incompetence. We take on projects that we don't know the answer to. And then figure it out. We respond to those calls with deep humility." Why choose Keith and SYPartners? "If a leader wants to try something new... We help them experiment." Starbucks: Closed 8,000 stores for racial bias training. Keith and team helped them build new habits SYPartners origin story: "Our goal has never been to be famous, our goal is to be impactful" 25 years ago with "three partners and $912 in my checking account" Started as a communications firm --> Strategy --> Innovation --> Culture --> Transformation There are 200 employees now "We fight for greatness. We help leaders choose a more daring path" "Everything is set with intentions" --> "Set your intentions and be very open to the universe" How do you respond to skeptics? "When I started I had $912 in my checking account. I had to borrow money for rent." Only you know what's inside of you. "Your skepticism needs to be inward, not outward." "If greatness is your choice, it's not made in big leaps, it's made in daily focus." "Micro actions add up" How to make the leap from individual contributor to manager? Leadfully.com has been helpful What was it like working for Steve Jobs? "I showed up with writing samples. He said they were awful. He was testing me to see if I believed in my work. It was the worst interview of my life... However, I got the job." "He's the toughest boss I ever had. But I learned more from him than anyone I've worked for." Steve was gifted in seeing what people were capable of and he was willing to push. He knew how to motivate you to your capacity The danger in mimicking Steve's behavior? "People try to mimic the behavior, but they don't have his intentions." Mimicking the behavior without the intentions is a recipe for disaster. Execution and implementation: Mind-fitness - Creativity in moments that matter. Be connected to others in a calm way. Ideas are just ideas. "You can train your mind to be present in this moment." Don't judge others. "Build a daily contemplative process." Build a daily creative practice - Read, write, take notes, be awake, alive, aware. Get a folder, cut out articles, pictures. Create inspiration. Recall past events. Understand what moment you're in - What's happening? Develop keen awareness to the moments Why books are the greatest investment ever (my thoughts) Use the " Get To Know You Document "

Jun 10, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #261: Darryl Strawberry - MLB Superstar: World Series, Home Runs, & Substance Abuse Darryl Strawberry helped lead the New York Mets to a World Series championship and the New York Yankees to three World Series championships. He was also suspended three times by Major League Baseball for substance abuse. He was a nine time all star and he hit 335 home runs during his illustrious career. He is an ordained minister, speaker, and author. He is taking his message to the masses with his new book, Don't Give Up On Me -- Shedding Light on Addiction . The Learning Leader Show "My Dad beat the crap out of me. He told me I would never amount to anything. I believed him." -- Darryl Strawberry Show Notes: Sustaining excellence: A calming presence... Confidence in what you know Time spent learning to lead Davey Johnson and Joe Torre -- A measured, confident approach to understanding each individual and how they needed to be managed Best teammates? Gary Carter Keith Hernandez Lead by example type people... Those who are consistently doing the work every single day They understand how to prepare and do not get distracted from the work Darryl struggled to be consistent because of his wondering focus How to bounce out of a slump? "When you're 2 for 30, how do you get yourself out of a jam? Go to the batting cage and do the work." What was the key to winning the World Series in 1986? "A complete team effort. We were a WHOLE team. Complete. Every guy did their part." Why did Darryl use drugs? "An emptiness. I've never been well on the inside. Pain led me to greatness, but was also the cause for drug use." "My dad beat the crap out of me. He told me I would never be anything and I believed him." Why are so many world class athletes insecure? "They are yearning for love and do not always get it. I never had a good Dad. I had to learn lessons on my own. Nobody taught me." Advice to young people who do not have a Dad? "Listen to your mom. I wish I would have. Take her direction. Allow mentors to help you. Allow people to power into your life. It was hard for me to trust people." Being a dad to successful athletes -- (His sons are professional basketball players and his daughters are scholarship volleyball players) "I did not coach them, but I encourage them continually work to get better. I didn't push them to play baseball." The Doc and Darryl 30 For 30 "I love Doc. We are still good friends. We've been through a lot." Why write Don't Give Up On Me ? "There are so many problems in the world. Addiction is everywhere. I want to help people. I was great, but broken at the same time." A defining moment? His wife said, "If you're ever going to get well, you have to take that uniform off." Had to stop identifying as a baseball player "You must take responsibility for your actions" "You need people in your inner circle who will be honest with you and tell you no." Day to day work: Pastor, travel, bring hope to those who are struggling" Would you ever work in baseball again? "No... Unless Derek Jeter called and asked me to help his team." Toughest pitcher ever faced? Nolan Ryan Why were you a great hitter? Preparation... On deck circle. Always getting ready "Focus on hitting line drives to the opposite field. That's how you know you're on it" -- Keith Hernandez was very helpful "It's about people. I should have been dead, had cancer twice, chased women, drug issues. I have urgency everyday." Use the " Get To Know You Document " "It's about people. I should have been dead. I had cancer twice, chased women, had drug issues. I have urgency everyday." Social Media: Read: Don't Give Up On Me Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 234 : Jocko Willink -- Why Discipline Equals Freedom

Jun 3, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #260: Mark Divine - How To Create An Unbeatable Mind At twenty-six Mark Divine graduated as Honor Man (#1-ranked trainee) of SEAL BUD/S class number 170. Mark served for nine years total on active duty and eleven as a Reserve SEAL, retiring as Commander in 2011. His leadership of teams was so effective the government tasked him with creating a nationwide mentoring program for SEAL trainees. He earned his MBA at NYU. In 2007 he launched the SEALFIT program to provide transformational personal and team training experiences. The training utilizes an integrated warrior development model he developed, called Unbeatable Mind, which draws from his 20 years as a SEAL and business leader, 25 years as a martial artist and 15 years as yoga practitioner. Mark has written has written four books, including The Way of The SEAL , and Unbeatable Mind . The Learning Leader Show "Do today what others aren't willing to do. You're 20X more capable than what you think." Show Notes: Sustaining excellence: People who have practices that value excellence and practice it regularly Optimized training, sleep, and balance Mental health: Meditation, nature, learning, reducing potential to be stuck in biases Emotional health: Not afraid of going to therapy, spritual Why is therapy helpful? Mark married a therapist They can be an emotional coach "It's preventative maintenance" --> Must be proactive A "check up from the neck up" You should always be investing in improving your "self" Be mindful - yoga, zen. It's an evolutionary skill to help you connect at a deeper level Why become a Navy SEAL? Got MBA and a CPA -- Got a job on Wall Street and hated it after three months Started Zen meditation... It changed his brain It created a structured program to look within himself and reflect Mark did not like what was happening in the outer world (with his job) He was meant to be a warrior and a leader Did he ever have doubts? No... Because he had prepared for the difficult moments through visualization and fully understanding his WHY "I created total certainty in my mind. 100% that I was going to become a SEAL. I won in my mind." This outlook helped him finish #1 overall in his BUD/S class How can we apply this to our world? Outside of the military? You must deeply care about what you're doing... And then visualize your success. A "personal practice of excellence" "It must be something in your vision that you are really passionate about" "Visualize it as a completion. Visualize doing it to completion." "You're the type of person who is worthy of completing that challenging task... Of achieving THAT" How do you respond to skeptics? The science backs it up... Do your research Give it a try... Why wouldn't you? VUCA = Volatility, Uncertainty, Complex, Ambiguous -- How to handle these situations Creating a decentralized organization -- Why this works in the military and in business (trust and certainty) Why you must "learn to embrace risk" -- Cannot be afraid of failure... And the plan must be flexible "Do today what others won't" -- 20X more capable than what you think "Society has weakened us... Everything is easy now. You need to force yourself to do hard things." "Challenge leads to growth." "Your body will adapt to the new reality." "Push it past where you think it can currently go" "You must challenge yourself every single day" Exercise - Write your own obituary. Think "What would people say about me?" Do the deep self awareness work to "know thyself" "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for everything" "Derive your passion around purpose. Create your set of principles." Originally, there was a scathing obituary written for Alfred Nobel... It was meant for his twin brother, but there was a mistake and someone wrote it about him. It changed his life. He was not aware of how badly he was thought of... And he became known for peace moving forward. So much so... That they named a prize after him. How Brad Stevens and Bill Belichick have mastered the art of coaching Why the "hacking movement" is not good according to Mark There must be deep learning over many years to get to mastery level of anything Simplify = Be narrow on what you want, get rid of everything else. And focus Use the " Get To Know You Document " Social Media: Read: Unbeatable Mind Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkDivine Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

May 27, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #259: Shane Snow - How To Build A Dream Team Shane Snow serves as Founder at Large at Contently, which works with Fortune 500 brands and has helped over 100,000 freelance journalists, artists, and photographers put food on the table. His writing has appeared in Wired Magazine, The New Yorker, GQ, Fast Company, Advertising Age, The Washington Post, and others. He's author of Smartcuts , and is now releasing his most important book yet: Dream Teams , a journey through history, neuroscience, psychology, and business to reveal what separates groups that simply manage to get by from those that get better together--and how we might make our companies and communities better by understanding the difference. Shane has been named one of Details Magazine's "Digital Mavericks," called a "Wunderkind" in the New York Times , and honored as a fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts. Originally from Idaho, he studied journalism at Columbia University and lives in New York City. The Learning Leader Show "Two heads are only better than one if they think differently." Show Notes: Sustaining excellence: 2 X @ Matrix chart Skepticism and credulity Optimism and pessimism They believe the world can be better, but they don't always take things at face value Be skeptical AND optimistic as a leader The leader should provide complete emotional AND intellectual support Be willing to push. Be okay with conflict. Be a "disagreeable giver" and create psychological safety How to improve? Get help? "I have a lot of faith in my self. A healthy ego. But I'm paranoid about my blind spots. I want to learn so much. I collect inputs that are critical from my business partner." Why write Dream Teams ? The desire to study the best teams. The best cultures. "I wanted to learn this for my own business." "When human beings come together, we can do incredible things." The impact his Dad on Shane - A nuclear engineer The importance of cognitive diversity "Two heads are better than one only if they think differently." The power of ragtag teams Buddy cops Street smart By the book Man/woman teams solve crimes better How to implement and execute? WHO is on the team? How you deal with problems/issues? "We need to re-frame how we think about this. Set up a pool to make it as cognitively diverse as possible Perspective - How you view the world, who you are Heuristic - The way you approach solving problems. (eg: different university, different piano teacher) Think about solving problems how a movie director acts? Do they use the exact same actors for every movie they direct? No, it doesn't make sense. They cast the best actors for each movie. "If you're solving different problems, why would you cast the same people every time?" Shane explains why "culture fit" is not a good characteristic in hiring The disaster that was the Daimler-Chrysler merger Miscalculation on how much companies complimented each other Culture kills most - "It's the fact that they didn't speak to each other." Mergers that don't go well... People need to talk. It's okay to fight and disagree. It's ruined when people stop talking (just like a marriage) "Silence is the enemy of innovation" The Wright Brothers - They would argue one side of a point. Then have lunch... And switch sides of the argument. It forced expansion of the way they thought about problems Wu Tang Clan - "Competition breeds excellence" Magic Johnson & Larry Bird DJ's in the Bronx Competing against Ben Roethlisberger Why is it okay to argue and compete? "An overriding cause that's worth it. A purpose. A passion... To win." Build an empire with people - Intense, full emotional support. Learn each others stories, their motivations Blackrock - Form a new team, have everyone tell their personal stories, develop a sense of connectedness If you dislike a colleague (like Shane did): "I went to her house and met her family and friends. I learned about her life growing up and the people who support her. It changed my perspective of her." Use the " Get To Know You Document " "Silence is the enemy of innovation." Social Media: Read: Dream Teams Follow Shane on Twitter: @shanesnow Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

May 20, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk 258: Jesse Itzler - Creating Your LIFE Resume (Living With The Monks) Jesse Itzler is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Living with a Seal, cofounded Marquis Jet, the world's largest private jet card company which he and his partner sold to Berkshire Hathaway/NetJets. Jesse then partnered with Zico coconut water, which he and his partner sold to The Coca-Cola Company. His latest book is titled, Living With The Monks. He's a former rapper on MTV and wrote and performed the NBA's Emmy Award-winning "I Love This Game" music campaign and the popular New York Knicks anthem "Go NY Go." When he's not running ultra-marathons, eating vegan food or being a dad to his four kids, Jesse can be found at the NBA's Atlanta Hawks games, where he's an owner of the team. He is married to Spanx founder Sara Blakely. The Learning Leader Show "I invest in people... You must look into their eyes before making a decision." Show Notes: Sustaining excellence: Spending time around the 4,000 people who used Marquis Jet, "I always asked them about their habits." You have to create the system that works best for YOU: Attack fear, take risks Get up early in the morning Create daily wins, momentum Be a great connector, build relationships Run -- Create great exercise habits Winning habits, routines, mindset. A system for self For 27 years, Jesse has only eaten fruit before noon Relying on gut instinct... How to build this, make better? Must spend time alone, to think. Running is where this happens for Jesse (in the car for Sara) Why? Awareness with time... Understand your own mortality A constant drive to build a "life resume" You only get 1 shot to do this thing Hiking Mount Washington -- Helps you feel "super alive... It's addicting." Have you always been this way? "I get bored easily. This has nothing to do with money." Always being urgent to accomplish something Always carving out time for yourself. Carve at least 1 hour per day. Put parameters around your time YOU are the business plan. "I invest in people... Have you ever looked into his eyes?" "At the end of the day, people drive companies." Why live with the monks? "I did the physical part while living with a SEAL. I needed to focus on the spiritual part." Lived in a monastery with 8 monks... 4 had been there for 50 years How living with the monks helped him handle "decision fatigue" How it free'd up so much energy "The power of cumulative work" "Always do something hard" It sets the tone for yourself Don't back away from challenges -- Build the grit muscle Do small things every day (clean, make the bed, finish tasks, do the dishes now) "I'm turning 50. I only have 28 summers left if I'm lucky." The perfect day = Family time Wellness time (running) Business time "Get your heart rate up!" Social Media: Read: Living With The Monks Follow Jesse on Twitter: @the100MileMan Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

May 13, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #257: David Marquet - Intent Based Leadership (Turn The Ship Around!) Captain Dave Marquet is a 1981 U.S. Naval Academy graduate. He served in the U.S. submarine force for 28 years. After being assigned to command the nuclear powered submarine USS Santa Fe, then ranked last in retention and operational standing, he realized the traditional leadership approach of "take control, give orders," wouldn't work. He "turned his ship around" by treating the crew as leaders, not followers, and giving control, not taking control. This approach took the Santa Fe from "worst to first," achieving the highest retention and operational standings in the navy. Stephen R. Covey said it was the most empowering organization he'd ever seen and wrote about Captain Marquet's leadership practices in his book, The 8th Habit . Captain Marquet is the author of Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers Into Leaders. Fortune magazine called the book the "best how-to manual anywhere for managers on delegating, training, and driving flawless execution." "Leadership is not for the select few at the top. In highly effective organizations, there are leaders at every level. When we give our people more authority, we actually create more effective leaders." Show Notes: Sustaining excellence: "The ability to decouple from their personal feelings their personality. It can't all depend on one person. In a consistent organization, the leader is part of it, but not all of it." How parenting helps you become a better leader: "That's really interesting. As a parent, you're trying to create an independent decision maker." The United States Naval Academy definition of leadership = Leadership can be defined as directing the thoughts, plans, and actions of others... So as to obtain their command and obedience, their confidence, their respect, and their loyal cooperation." --> Why this is wrong and not effective. "I intend to..." -- Intent based leadership How to create the environment for the team to make decisions Intent based environment: People don't need to be told what to do. Lean back, team leans forward. Don't make yourself (as the leader) a bottleneck. Risks = Tune level of control to competence or confidence of the team... Expose my thought process (as the leader) to you to see how I put it together. Ask "what" and "how" questions... If you get hired as a new manager and did not get to choose anyone on your team? "Focus on what you can control. Do we welcome each other? Do we care? Do we connect?" Making the jump from individual contributor to manager: "Talk less, don't have all the answers... Listen." "Push information to authority. Be knowing, not telling." The job of the leader is to determine how the team works Minimize cognitive burden -- "The leader defines the structure." "We act our way to new thinking, not think our way to new acting." Social Media: Read: Turn The Ship Around! Follow Captain Marquet on Twitter: @ldavidmarquet Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

May 6, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #256: Elena Botelho - How To Become A CEO Elena Botelho has been a Partner at ghSMART since 2007. Elena initiated and co-leads The CEO Genome Project® featured in a cover article of Harvard Business Review. Her recent book, The CEO Next Door , is a New York Times Bestseller. The CEO Genome Project® is an extensive research and client practice supporting CEO's and executives on the path to CEO. The research explores paths and behaviors that lead to the top, typical setbacks CEO's encounter and ways to prevent them. Elena is a member of McKinsey M&A Integration Council – an invitation-only forum of senior executives from major corporations to share M&A best practices. Elena is a sought after speaker at leading industry events on leadership and M&A. The Learning Leader Show "Charisma is a myth when it comes to success as a CEO. The research suggests introverts are equally or more successful than charismatic extroverts" Show Notes: How do we define excellence? "Delivering results is how we define it" The keys to excellence (delivering results) Decisiveness - Conviction and speed Adapting proactively Relentless reliability - Delivering consistently -- This is the most powerful and important behavior Engage for impact Self assessments The lowest rated among 11,000 people Elena surveyed was: Reliability Why do people struggle with consistency? Consistency is hard across all domains of our lives Reliability - 3 keys Mindset - basic habits. How do we develop the correct mindset? -> Recognize that others need to be able to count on you. This translates to consistent habits Get an honest look in the mirror The WHO - Who are your surrounding yourself with? Process and culture you build The CEO Myths: Need to go to an Ivy League school (not true) CEO's were destined for greatness (nope) 70% of CEO's never set a goal to be a CEO Charisma - It helps you get the job, however when you look at results, it's not the way the ensure results Introverts are not less likely for success Advice to a current individual contributor: Having powerful mentors didn't seem to help them more than those who didn't Becoming a mentor to others does show it helps It forces you to be clear and become a teacher. Helps you get in the head of others and lead What are some mistakes first time managers make? "It can be messy" Be clear on what success looks like Is this the right team? Do personnel changes need to be made? What are the career catapults? 25% went to a top business school 97% of them did one of these three sprinters: 60% "went small to go big" -> Took a smaller role at an organization that led to something big They took on a big mess and fixed it The big leap - Take a role well before you're ready --> Take a risk Adapting proactively Being able to let go of a profitable business in order for long term success (give up short term for the long term) Key learning = the ability let go of the past "Becoming a mentor to others forces you to be clear and become a teacher." Social Media: Read: The CEO Next Door Go to: ghsmart.com Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Apr 29, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #255: David Burkus - The Hidden Networks That Can Transform Your Life (Friend Of A Friend) David Burkus is a best-selling author, a sought after speaker, and business school professor. In 2017, he was named as one of the world's top business thought leaders by Thinkers50. The Learning Leader Show "The fundamental element that defines the quality of our lives are the people we surround ourselves with and the conversations we have with them." Show Notes: What defines a happy life? "The fundamental element that defines the quality of our lives are the people we surround ourselves with and the conversations we have with them. That's how you live a happy life." Adam Rifkin - The "strength of weak ties" The research suggests you have better odds of getting a job through a loose acquaintance than a close friend "Dormant ties" are very valuable to have in your life. Make a deliberate effort to reach back out to those people. Use a system to keep track of those relationships This is the "what" and the "how" to get it done From "science" to "practice" -- The key to success is to be prescriptive. Give actionable advice The story of Michelle McKenna Doyle -- How she created her dream job in the NFL. 1 dormant tie - 1 degree of separation. "Most of us are only 1 or 2 introductions away from what we want..." Clusters - People tend to cluster around like minds. There is amazing power of small communities "Build your own stage, your own community" Super connector - Dunbar's # -- Brian Grazer Having regular curiosity conversations -- That is how he met Ron Howard Never ask the question, "How can I help you?" Figure out how you can help someone else, then help them. Don't put the onus on them. Always think, "who does this person need to meet?" And make connections In a networking situation, don't just ask - "What do you do?" -- Try to learn more about them as a person, not just their job "What excites you right now? Who's your favorite super hero?" Where did you grow up?" Be interested in order to be interesting "We feel guilt when we no longer want to associate with old friends and colleagues who haven't changed. The price, and marker, of growth." - Naval Ravikant How David and his wife measured their friendships and peer group -- They made lists How to give a TED Talk? -- Practiced it hundreds of times, hired a coach Go to www.DavidBurkus.com/Ryan Social Media: Follow David on Twitter: @davidburkus Read: Friend of A Friend Go to: DavidBurkus.com/Ryan Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Apr 22, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode 254: Robert Kurson - How To Be A Master Storyteller: Rocket Men, The Most Daring Mission In NASA History Robert Kurson is an American author, best known for his 2004 bestselling book, Shadow Divers , the true story of two Americans who discovered a World War II German U-boat sunk 60 miles off the coast of New Jersey. Kurson began his career as an attorney, graduating from Harvard Law School, and practicing real estate law. Kurson's professional writing career began at the Chicago Sun-Times , where he started as a data entry clerk and soon gained a full-time features writing job. In 2000, Esquire published "My Favorite Teacher," his first magazine story, which became a finalist for a National Magazine Award. He moved from the Sun-Times to Chicago Magazine , then to Esquire , where he won a National Magazine Award and was a contributing editor for years. His stories have appeared in Rolling Stone , The New York Times Magazine , and other publications. His latest book is titled, Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon. Show Notes: How Rob quickly realized going to Harvard Law School was a mistake "The people who liked being at Harvard Law School are the people I liked the least." Following that, he got a job at a large law firm in Chicago -- "Made a lot of money, bought a BMW, a stereo, a bicycle... And I was miserable" The big corporations/large law firms "punished creative thinking" Writing... "It all started with a basic curiosity that would grow into love." --> "You can't hate what you do and be happy" The theme of writing stories -- "Freedom... Being unbound. When I was writing stories, the time would go so fast." "Whatever it cost me, I was going to get out of practicing law, and be a writer." "I begged for any job. I'm incredibly persistent. I came in on the weekends and took high school football scores as my first job working for a newspaper as a writer" How can others follow their love/passion? "Never give up, do it at night, weekends, refuse to take no for an answer." "I was unwilling to see my life go that way. I would never stop trying, no matter what. There was no choice, that's what I was going to do." Key ingredients to being a great story teller? Understand the structure, the arc, the format: inciting incident, challenge, the heroes journey, the battles --> The beginning, middle, and end How the long car rides with his dad gave him a prime example for story telling -- "My dad was a travelling salesman and he would often take me with him. He's the greatest story teller I've ever known" Why write about the Apollo 8 mission? -- "They are the first 3 men to leave earth and go to the moon. The people at NASA say Apollo 8 was the most daring mission of all time. They orbited the moon 10 times. It was the most rushed mission in history." They needed to beat the Soviets and rushed it because of that and President JFK George Lowe - The NASA manager had the idea to go without the lunar module The 3 astronauts refused to give up. No matter what happens, they wont' give up. Most of the astronauts were fighter pilots in the war. They developed a psychology that "it won't happen to me." They were fearless. They had self-delusion and irrational confidence. That fueled them. They were not afraid to fail and had already failed many times in their lives Neil Armstrong crashed on a test flight... Just an hour later, he was seen in his office doing paperwork as if nothing happened. The best astronauts were not phased What Rob enjoyed most -- Meeting each of the 3 astronauts. All 3 are alive and still married (rare in the astronaut program). They are down to earth, humble leaders Rob describes what it was like flying with Frank Borman What it was like watching Apollo 13 with Jim Lovell (who was also on Apollo 8) The power of constraints -- "Deadlines can help us do incredible things. Construct them for yourself." Rob's routine -- At desk by 6:00 am and work until 2:00. "After that, my work isn't very good." Structure it first, organize, and storyboard it Take a lot of walks with a digital recorder and speak the story out Rocket Men has been optioned by Netflix "Deadlines can help us do incredible things. Construct them for yourself." Social Media: Follow Robert on Twitter: @robertkurson Read: Rocket Men Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Apr 15, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode 253: Aubrey Marcus - Total Human Optimization (Own The Day, Own Your Life) Aubrey Marcus is the founder and CEO of Onnit, a lifestyle brand based on a holistic health philosophy he calls Total Human Optimization. Onnit is an Inc. 500 company and an industry leader with products optimizing millions of lives, including many top professional athletes around the world. Aubrey regularly provides commentary to outlets like Entrepreneur, Forbes, The Doctors and The Joe Rogan Experience. He has been featured on the cover of Men's Health, is the author of the life-coaching course Go For Your Win, and his first book is Own The Day, Own Your Life from HarperCollins. The Learning Leader Show "If you have 5 employees, don't focus on growing to 180 employees. Focus on #6, and the #7. Just the next one. You must surrender to the process." Show Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: Mental Override They are willing to do the thing you don't want to do (ex. turn the knob to COLD in the shower) Focus on the little things... The little things become the big things Instead of thinking of your life as a whole, focus on making this one day great... OWN the day, own your life Identify the process and structure you need for your ideal day... Do it one day at a time The ability to create you environment and "own your current space" regardless of the environment The difference between 2012 (with 5 employees) and today (180 employees) "Then I did everything, I had to. Now, I have an incredible team to help." "If you have 5 employees and you want to grow, don't focus on 180 employees. Focus on #6, and then #7. Focus on your team and your customers." "Surrender to the process." Aubrey is a questioner... Why? "I'm constantly reminded how much I don't know" "I'm always open to continued learning. I have a curiosity mindset." "I was down to my last $110K which was loaned to me. If AlphaBrain failed, we were done... Fortunately, it sold out quickly." The importance of Joe Rogan "I was completely all in." "Instead of focusing how to be friends with Joe, I focused on who I was as a person... And becoming a person that people would want to have around." Focus on yourself "The 30 minute coffee with Joe turned in to a 4 hour dinner" "People will detect and know if you're not genuine" -- You must be yourself "Rules are for dogs. Human beings should be driven by morality. By what's right and wrong." How about rules at Onnit? -- There are some that are necessary (talking about sex, or safety. Both are important and there are strict rules) Having an open relationship with his fiance, Whitney "I questioned the nature of love. What is true genuine love? How does that look? It's wild... And challenging." "This isn't a fairytale. It can feel like you got struck by lightening in the solar plexus." "Having an open relationship is not for everyone and I don't advocate it. I'm an advocate for understanding relationships." The importance of writing Own The Day, Own Your Life "All of our work needed to be documented. There are over 300 clinical references in the book." Process? "You must show up and write... Even when you don't feel like it. You have to have the mental override." "I know nothing. But every day I ask questions and take a seat at the table where Truth likes to have snacks." - Aubrey Marcus Social Media: Follow Aubrey on Twitter: @AubreyMarcus Read: Own The Day, Own Your Life Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 252: Tom Peters - In Search Of Excellence

Apr 8, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode #252: Tom Peters - In Search Of Excellence Tom Peters is co-author of In Search of Excellence —the book that changed the way the world does business, and often tagged as the best business book ever. Sixteen books and almost thirty years later, he's still at the forefront of the "management guru industry" he single-handedly invented. What's new? A lot. As CNN said, "While most business gurus milk the same mantra for all its worth, the one-man brand called Tom Peters is still reinventing himself." Tom's bedrock belief: "Execution is strategy—it's all about the people and the doing, not the talking and the theory." (Keep up with Tom at tompeters.com, ranked #9 among "The Top 150 Management and Leadership Blogs.") His most recent effort, released in April, 2018 is titled, The Excellence Dividend. "Excellence is the next 5 minutes... Or not." Show Notes: Commonalities of those who sustain excellence: They are "thoroughly decent human beings" They help other people grow They really care about the people they work with and help them get better everyday Quotes from Tom Peters: "Arguably the eight most important words a leader can utter: "THANK YOU." "I'M SORRY." "WHAT DO YOU THINK?" "Priority #1, #2, #3: Culture. Culture. Culture. "It IS the game," Lou Gerstner on IBM turnaround. "My 20-year-old "agile": WTTMSASTMSUTFW/Whoever Tries The Most Stuff And Screws The Most Stuff Up The Fastest Wins. "Every meeting that does not stir the imagination and curiosity of its attendees is what I like to call a PLO: a Permanently Lost Opportunity. I am all in favor of eliminating unnecessary meetings!" The big corporations/large law firms "punished creative thinking" "You must create space for people to be better than they ever have." "Excellence is the next 5 minutes... Or not." The key to being a great manager? "MBWA" -- "The minute those words came out of his mouth, my life changed (Managing By Wandering Around) The importance of being intentional and thoughtful My Dad is a huge fan of Tom's work and told me to read his work "Your culture is managed every minute of every day" The process to prepare for your week as the leader (Sunday night work) Start your meetings with "Good morning" "Find a smile, find the energy" --> Your team will follow your attitude and behavior. "It's your duty to be in a good mood." How to run a world class meeting? A meeting can and should be excellent" --> It sets the stage for the next 5 days. Think about it and prepare. Will it be an upper or a downer? Should have civility and thoughtfulness --> "No smartassery" The definition of a great teacher is "someone who is desperate to help their students succeed." How to choose better people to promote? "First line leadership is of supreme importance" "We always hire for character." --> Theo Epstein: Look at the analytics and combine them with culture and character to decide Training -- "Practice should be harder than the games" Neighbors with Bill Walsh -- "The Score Takes Care of Itself" He spent the first 18 months as the coach of the 49ers developing a new culture John Wooden -- Similar story about culture building Jerry Seinfeld spends six months at very "out of the way" clubs in order to add a new 2 minutes to his stand up routine -- Be that deliberate Tom's training and preparation for a speech (even after doing 3,000+ of them!) Read on the company and the industry in depth Read what's going on in the world - stay up to date Read about the specific city where the speech is being delivered, read the local paper, pick up little vignettes Awake at 2:00 am rearranging the PowerPoint slides -- "I make about 700 changes" How do you feel 30 seconds before you go on stage? "Pure fear, there is enormous pressure for me to deliver for them" Why you should always write thank you notes Campbell's Soup CEO wrote 30,000 thank you notes Home Depot CEO wrote them every Sunday Social Media: Follow Robert on Twitter: @tom_peters Read: The Excellence Dividend Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Apr 1, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode 251: Joey Coleman - How To Never Lose A Customer Again Joey Coleman is the Chief Experience Composer at Design Symphony - a customer experience branding firm that specializes in creating unique, attention-grabbing customer experiences. His clients include individual entrepreneurs, start-ups, small businesses, non-profits, government entities, and Fortune 500 companies. For over a decade he's worked with clients that include NASA, Network for Good, Hyatt Hotels, Zappos, the Save Darfur Coalition, and the World Bank. Joey is a recognized expert in customer experience design, an award-winning speaker at national and international conferences, and has taught business and creativity courses at both the college and graduate school level. Past appearances include presentations at the M.I.T. Sloan School of Management, Google, the Georgetown University School of Business, Stanford University, Zappos, YouTube. Joey's first book is titled Never Lose A Customer Again: Turn Any Sale Into Lifelong Loyalty In 100 Days. Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "The best way to say thank you to someone is to show love to the people they love." Show Notes: The 3 things a great keynote speaker does: Change how you think Change how you feel Change how you act The 60 second SPEED pitch from Joey (this is something Joey has never done before and it was incredible!) He speed talks what happens following a purchase you make and how you can secure a customer for life The stages: Assess, Admit, Affirm, Activate, Acclimate, Accomplish, Adopt, Advocate The importance of your messaging within the first 100 days Research and science back -- From Harvard, Bain, Stanford "People who get promoted most and fastest are those who positively impact the business." "People we like get promoted" Why write this book? -- Needed to work out all the kinks, document the 46 case studies and the people/companies who have implemented "the first 100 days" strategy Why do companies lose customers? Selling to human beings - people are skeptical and get buyers remorse Fear, uncertainty, and doubt The new business sales people are not aligned with the account managers More energy spent on getting new clients instead of taking care of the current ones "For a marriage, it requires a lot of work, continually building, communicating, growing." A client should be treated in the same manner Why are the first 100 days so important? Must be on-boarded properly If your customer gets to day 101, they will be with you for at least 5 years The Garrett Gunderson experience "When I showed up, he had a 6 pack of root beer for me and said, 'I wanted you to feel like you are home." -- A preview of what it would be like to be a customer of theirs The $35,000 golf ball -- Pebble Beach Pay attention Record small details that could help you later "When you talk, I listen" Strategic appreciation -- How to say thank you. The use of gifts, presents, and pictures The best way to say thank you to Joey -- "Do amazing things for my wife and kids." -- Delta did this for Joey and he is a customer for life As John Ruhlin would say, " The best way to say thank you to someone is to show love to the people they love ." Don't send gifts for the holidays when everyone else does. It's about timing "If you're going to host someone, welcome them at the door... Offer them a glass of water." "A great speaker can: change how you think, change how you feel, and change how you act." Social Media: Follow Joey on Twitter: @thejoeycoleman Read: Never Lose A Customer Again Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Mar 25, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode 250: Shep Gordon - The Super Mensch: How To Add Value To The Lives Of Others Shep Gordon is known in the entertainment industry as having an eye for talent and an innate understanding of what people find entertaining. After graduating from SUNY Buffalo, Shep moved to LA and in 1969 co-founded Alive Enterprises. Over the years, Gordon has been responsible for managing the careers of Alice Cooper, Groucho Marx, Raquel Welch, Luther Vandross, Kenny Loggins, and countless others. He's also credited as creating the celebrity chef, which revolutionized the food industry and turned the culinary arts into the multi-billion dollar industry it is today. His clients that include culinary legends, Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Nobu, Daniel Boulud and many more. In addition to the impact he's had on the music, film and food industries, he's also highly regarded for his philanthropic endeavors. Shep was named one of the 100 most influential people in Rolling Stone magazine. He was the subject of Mike Myers 2013 documentary - Supermensch The Legend of Shep Gordon . He's also written a best-selling book called They Call Me Supermensch A Backstage Pass To The Amazing World Of Film, Food, and Rock 'N' Roll . Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show On meeting with His Holiness, The Dalai Lama -- "When he walked in the room, it felt like I had taken the greatest shower of my life." -- Shep Gordon Show Notes: The value that Jayson Gaignard added to his life "He came to Hawaii and helped me launch my book and it was a best-seller" "You should always bring value first" A 1968 graduate of college -- great divide in our country at the time - Vietnam War, "I was raised a liberal Jew" "I was a long haired acid dealer" The Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix story -- How it got him his start as a manager in Hollywood Fame -- Media is a manipulation - "It consumes people and can be very damaging" "My job was to push the artist. Fame was fools gold." People who wanted fame needed attention... When they stopped getting it, bad things happened Shep had a visionary eye for what would be successful in the future, the ultimate talent scout. He also understand how to earn PR for his artists to help make them famous "Create things that parents hated... Which led to kids loving it." --> Alice Cooper played a show naked Going from Alice Cooper to Ann Murray... Shep did great work for them and it kept leading to his next client --> Groucho Marx, Raquel Welch Commonality among great entertainers? "They have that moment right before they go on stage... They are scared, neurotic, full of fear. This fuels them to be great." Commonality of those who sustain excellence? "They never did it on their own. All the best were surrounded by great teams." Meeting with The Dalai Lama? "When he walked in the room, it felt like I'd taken the best shower of my life." How to throw a world class dinner party? Great food, customized for your guests Eat at a round table and always leave an extra seat (for the host to sit at and move from table to table) The food needs to be buffet style Send quality invitations -- "It's all about the WHO" --> You must get that part right, it's most important Don't talk business Think -- "What could I do to really make their night great?" Life lessons -- "The failures are more important than the successes" "To me, failure is not trying" "If your team can't fail, you can't win" Success to Shep = "A life of service to others" Serving others will make you happy Use you wealth to help other people (ex: "If you own a private plane, find people who will never fly on a private plane and offer them a ride.") "Use your resources in service to other people." Always think about how you can add value to the lives of others. "Success for Shep = "A life of service to others" --> Helping other people will make you happy Social Media: Follow Shep on Twitter: @SupermenschShep Read: They Call Me SUPERMENSCH Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

Mar 18, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk. Episode 248: Colin Nanka Colin Nanka is the Senior Director, Enablement for North American Sales and Leadership Development at the world's leading Customer Relationship Management Company, Salesforce.com. He is a proven sales leader with over 20 years of sales experience including time at Salesforce and Xerox Corporation. In his spare time, he competes in multi-day, self sustained, adventure races in the world's most treacherous terrains, including the Sahara Desert, Gobi Desert, Iceland, Grand Canyon, Atacama Desert and, most recently, in Antarctica. The Learning Leader Show "Success starts with a choice. Find someone above you, below you, and at your level. That's mentor-ship." Show Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence? Understanding of their strengths - self awareness "Do what you say you will do" "DWYSYWDO" - integrity The combination of vision --> execution How have you sustained excellence? Know how to prioritize Tiered accounts Invested 4-6 hours on Saturday and Sunday while others were not working "Going in on the weekend" - The sheer amount of hard work AND extra work differentiated from the rest Going door to door in Canada - "It takes 20 knocks to get 1 opportunity" "Good pipeline solves all ills" "Flood the market with good will" Marc Benioff's management process, V2MOM, an acronym that stands for vision, values, methods, obstacles, and measures Why do crazy races all over the world? "I hit a crisis. I was very successful and then had a couple bad years. It hurt my confidence." "I realize there is more to life than just working. The elements of nature... A give back -- be of service to others." The 2011 Sahara Desert race - Trained for a full year. 6 days a week, 160 miles/week. "Success starts with a choice. Find who's the best, learn from them." Mentor-ship = "Above you, below you, and at your level." Have all three. The practice of "playing up." Play against someone who is better than you in order to stretch and grow. Constantly put yourself in positions to be stretched Using Gallup to find your strengths -- "A very wise investment" Colin's #1 strength - Learning. Curiosity The compound effect of learning, growing, approaching each conversation with a curious mind What have you learned from the adventure races? Dealing with failure. How to learn from others. "We all get better from sharing ideas." Biggest mistake new managers make? "They are constantly surprised about the "people" side" How to have tough conversations They try to do it all -- You need to be a multiplier -- Trust, Coach, Empower "If you don't lengthen the leash, you aren't allowing them to grow" First 30 days - "Focus on winning hearts and minds" Do a full day off site meeting with no focus on the business. Get to know them. Utilize my " Get To Know You " document Understand your team value system: Vision Values Methods - Critical success factors Obstacles Measure -- The Marc Benioff model The #1 value is TRUST -- Ensure this is established early on. Empower the team to make decisions. As the leader, be a facilitator Roger Federer -- Finding joy in what you do. Loving the practice, the process. Do things daily that bring you joy in life "Before I do anything for the company, I do something for myself. To bring me joy." Hiring a coach? Why? Colin has had a coach for 10 years "Just put 1 foot in front of the other" -- 19 hour race in Iceland Be: 1) Strong 2) Relaxed 3) Grateful ("It's hard to be angry when you're grateful") "Learn the rules like a pro, so that you can break them like an artist." - Pablo Picasso Social Media: Follow Colin on Twitter: @ColinNanka1 Read: Colin's story Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Mar 11, 2018

The Learning Leader Show LIVE! With Ryan Hawk & James Clear Episode 248: James Clear LIVE! - How Can We Live Better? This was recorded in front of a LIVE audience in Columbus, Ohio. My teammates at Brixey & Meyer had the original idea for a live event and collectively we put together an amazing evening with more than 100 invited guests. It was incredible! The room was full on engaged leaders. I loved the energy! I'm already looking forward to the next one. James Clear studies successful people across a wide range of disciplines — entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, and more — to uncover the habits and routines that make these people the best at what they do. Then, I share what I learn in my popular email newsletter. His work has been covered by dozens of major media outlets including The New York Times , CBS, Entrepreneur Magazine , Forbes , TIME Magazine , and more. The Learning Leader Show "A constant dose of uncertainty will help you grow your comfort zone." Show Notes: The aggregation of marginal gains - "The 1 percent margin for improvement in everything you do." If you improve every area related to your life by just 1 percent, then those small gains will add up to remarkable improvement. When you google "goal setting," JamesClear.com comes up within the top 3 answers. James goal setting process. The difference between systems and goals . Goals are useful for setting the direction. Systems are great for actually making progress. If we are serious about achieving our goals, however, we should start with a much different question. Rather than considering what kind of success we want, we should ask, " What kind of pain do I wan t? First Principles: Elon Musk on the Power of Thinking for Yourself. First principles thinking is the act of boiling a process down to the fundamental parts that you know are true and building up from there. Mindset shifts --> Reframing Love of Travel -- Why do it? Perspective? Voluntary hardship. "You don't know what you're capable of if your body has never been forced to do it." (David Goggins) "You don't know your capabilities until you're forced to do it." Put yourself in situations that forces you to do "hard things." --? Travel to Vietnam where few people speak English... Getting lost and being forced to ask for help "A constant dose of uncertainty will help you grow your comfort zone." Voluntary Hardship = until you are tested, you can't develop the ability to be mentally tough or develop new skills. Put yourself in these situations regularly to grow Successful People Start Before They Are Ready - Richard Branson story… "Start before you're quite ready , and trust yourself to figure it out as you go." "Motivation is overvalued, environment is undervalued. Willpower doesn't work, think about choice architecture." "Trust the ability that you have what it takes to figure it out" The "Goldilocks" rule - "Human beings love challenges, but only if they are within the optimal zone of difficulty." Why you should stretch and "level up," but not too much. "It's not helpful to seriously play tennis against Roger Federer." You will be demoralized. How to stop procrastination using the 2 minute rule -- "There is that 2 minutes around 5:30 every day where my wife and I decide... Will we go to the gym or will we sit on the couch and watch The Office all night?" -- The 2–Minute Rule works for big goals as well as small goals because of the inertia of life. Once you start doing something, it's easier to continue doing it. I love the 2–Minute Rule because it embraces the idea that all sorts of good things happen once you get started . "Decrease the number of steps between you and the good behaviors and increase the steps between you and the bad behaviors" The James Clear "garden hose" analogy Why it might be a good idea to put your TV in the closet... Smaller habits require smaller activation energies and that makes them more sustainable. The bigger the activation energy is for your habit, the more difficult it will be to remain consistent over the long-run. "Resistance is proportionate to the size and speed of the change, not to whether the change is a favorable or unfavorable one." By contrast, when you accumulate small wins and focus on one percent improvements , you nudge equilibrium forward. It is like building muscle. If the weight is too light, your muscles will atrophy. If the weight is too heavy, you'll end up injured. But if the weight is just a touch beyond your normal, then your muscles will adapt to the new stimulus and equilibrium will take a small step forward . "Decrease the number of steps between you and the good behaviors and increase the steps between you and the bad behaviors." Social Media: Follow James on Twitter: @james_clear Read Lance Salyers Forbes story about the event: 3 Surprising Insights From An Evening With Ryan Hawk And James Clear Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Mar 5, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk: Since 2015, Benjamin Hardy has been the #1 writer on Medium.com. He is pursuing his PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Clemson University. Ben's writing focuses on self-improvement, motivation, and entrepreneurship. His writing is fueled by his personal experiences, self-directed education, and formal education. Ben's work is read by millions of people every month. Show Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence? They continually put themselves in situations that demand a lot of them. They put themselves in high stakes situations They invest in themself They create conditions for success to happen Pianist John Burke (Grammy nominated) He puts external pressure on himself ("I will release an album a year"). It forces him to get to work to fulfill those expectations he puts on himself Being socially invested is a forcing function Signing up for the race like Parker Mays -- A date on the calendar to prepare for. "If I don't prepare, I will fail miserably" Why you should invest 10% of your income in your self The best self improvement book Ben has ever read? Letting Go "Willpower doesn't work." You must create the environment to be successful -- Upgrade your mindset Self signaling - How you view yourself is not permanent. Start to alter your behavior, you start seeing yourself differently You can shape your personality How to upgrade yourself? -- "When you invest money, you are committed" Why all high performers invest in a coach Peak moments -- how to change your life for the better Cal Newport - "Be So Good They Can't Ignore You" Investing in relationships (Jeff Goins and Ryan Holiday) How to build a platform Learn marketing Learn how to write viral headlines (Use numbers, matching, focused on outcomes) Want To Become A Multi-Millionaire? Do These 15 Things Immediately Understand structure - subheadings, short/snappy sentences and paragraphs Have a call to action at the end Create a landing page for email capture What is great writing? Be a good teacher: Communicate effectively. Convey & connect. Weave stories in and out: Story --> Science --> Story --> Science --> Story --> Science Head knowledge: Know your space. Have heart: Emotional rigor, intense stories How to become a master of your craft Your decisions determine your destiny Visualize the process, not just the outcome Create environments for optimal implementation Pre plan for adversity to strike and how you will respond Morning routine: Write in journal --> "Write it down, make it happen" --> Read --> Work out. Create momentum for yourself. "Willpower doesn't work. You must create the environment for success to be achieved." Social Media: Follow Ben on Twitter: @BenjaminPHardy Read: WILLPOWER DOESN'T WORK Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Feb 26, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Pat is the founder of The Table Group and the author of 11 books (including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team )which have sold over 5 million copies and been translated into more than 30 languages. The Wall Street Journal called him "one of the most in demand speakers in America." He has addressed millions of people at conferences and events around the world over the past 15 years. Pat has written for or been featured in numerous publications including Harvard Business Review, Inc., Fortune, Fast Company, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek . This is the second time Pat has been a guest on The Learning Leader Show. To listen to the first conversation we had, CLICK HERE . Prior to founding The Table Group, Pat worked at Bain & Company, Oracle Corporation and Sybase. Show Notes: The email he received from Miami Heat coach, Erik Spolestra, after his first appearance on The Learning Leader Show How he helps professional sports teams Why NFL teams focus on the wrong things when deciding who to draft Teddy Bridgewater vs Johnny Manziel The characteristics of a great teammate: Humility Hunger Emotional Intelligence The success of Nick Foles in The Super Bowl The camaraderie built by coach Doug Pederson of The Philadelphia Eagles "I'm meant to work with people..." The origin story - How Pat started his own business... and why? Potential to work with Steve Jobs and Eric Schmidt The biggest moment in the growth of his business? Speaking at Willowcreek Church(50,000 people watched) Doing a "talk" instead of thinking of it as a "keynote speech" -- "I'm just talking with the audience." Why turn leadership issues into fables? "We don't read books, but we read yours." They are so interesting. "I keep reading your books because I want to see what happens next." Leaders must: Have difficult conversations -- must do the hard things What are the biggest mistakes a new manager makes? "You cannot avoid the discomfort" "Being a leader is uncomfortable" The best leaders are "pushers" The Steve Jobs and Jony Ive story -- "You're so vain" Keys to a great culture: Leaders must be intentional about behaviors they want Must be brutally intolerant if people don't do it well How Pat helped Southwest Airlines Codify their culture -- It had never been done before Working with Chic-fil-a Their CEO wasn't too big to do dishes and clear the plates "They gave snacks for my trip home" "You don't come up with culture, you look at what's there" The importance of stories Pat's business: There are 45 consultants all over the world. They are: Humble Hungry Smart "Being a leader is uncomfortable. You cannot avoid the discomfort." Social Media: Follow Pat on Twitter: @patricklencioni Read: The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Feb 19, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk: Episode 245: Maria Taylor - ESPN Gameday, Embracing The Grind, The Value Of Versatility Maria Taylor is in her sixth season as a host analyst & reporter. In the fall of 2017 Taylor will enter a new role as co-host on ESPN's College Gameday and sideline reporter for ABC's Saturday Night Football. Show Notes: How to quickly build rapport with the people you interview? Be prepared with a purpose, truly try to learn about them as a person (quickly), it's not just about their sport or their job. Care about them as a person Being viewed as an athlete -- "It's helpful working in the sports world that they know I played sports" "As an athlete I was always a perfectionist, I always over prepare." -- Maria sending her producers a copious amount of notes -- thoughts on situations/games/ideas How to earn promotions quickly? "I never said no to anything. I was never too big for any game." Maria did high school football games, ACC digital. She's traveled everywhere, stayed in bad hotels, etc. "You have to be comfortable in the grind, you can't get discouraged." "If I'm not doing something (work wise), I feel wrong." Why Kirk Herbstreit is the best in the business -- "He's the most invested person I've ever seen. He's always the most prepared person." Adnan Virk "Always show up." -- "They remember how you made them feel." Be conscious of that Balance? It will never be perfectly balanced. Think of it as a stew - vegetable and beef... Certain bites are vegetables and other times it's beef. That's work-life balance. There are moments where it is all work, all day, every day. There are other times where you can relax at home. It's never a perfect 50 50 balance. The story of Maria making the decision to be a sports broadcaster as a junior in college at Georgia... And then also earning her MBA as a backup plan! She grew up loving sports. Her dad played college sports. Maria was recruited to play both volleyball and basketball at Georgia. Our mutual feeling about the structure of being "in season" and how the routine helped us get better grades. The first 90 minutes of Maria's day: Start the day with gospel music (worship/faith) New York Times daily podcast Joyce Meyer podcast Why do multiple jobs? (Gameday, sideline reporter, women's basketball studio host) To diversify -- "I don't want to just be one thing. It's an opportunity to flex different muscles." "I try to investigate to find the best answer" "I like challenges" Person most enjoy interviewing? Nick Saban. "I try to steer him off the line he's trying to stay on." Receiving coaching as a broadcaster... Who provides it? SEC network producers Feedback is just as important to what you put into your body. It needs to be healthy and helpful -- "What are we filling our minds with?" How to handle "Twitter haters?" "Sometimes I'll put them on blast..." What is an ESPN Gameday production meeting like? A cast of characters - (listen around the 43:00 minute mark to hear the inside scoop) Winning Edge Leadership Academy Helping young women and minorities in broadcasting Focused on student athletes Doing a retreat in Miami The sense of responsibility Maria feels as an African American woman "Being black.... Half time spent assimilating and half time spent helping your people." The Jemele Hill story at ESPN... Maria's reactions Social Media: Follow Maria on Twitter: @MariaTaylor7 Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

Feb 12, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk: Bill Curry is a two-time Super Bowl Champion. As an NCAA coach, Bill was named National Coach of the Year at Alabama and later became the first head football coach ever at Georgia State. As an ESPN commentator, he regularly shared his thoughts with a worldwide audience of millions. When Bill talks of discipline and success, his life experience is proof-positive of the effectiveness of his methods. Bill played for some of the greatest coaches of all time, including Vince Lombardi, Don Shula, and Bobby Dodd. His teammates included legendary players like Willie Davis, Bart Starr, and Johnny Unitas. Bill has studied the lives and methods of his personal heroes from past generations, ranging from Helen Keller and Rudyard Kipling to Theodore Roosevelt and Goethe. When Bill talks of leadership and success, his is a personal message molded by his extraordinary mentors and role models. He is also the best-selling author of TEN MEN YOU MEET IN THE HUDDLE: LESSONS FROM A FOOTBALL LIFE. "Everyone has the will to win, but not everyone has the will to prepare." Show Notes: The 6 common characteristics of champions = Show up - on time, be early, every time, be punctual, read to be your best Singleness of purpose - Vince Lombardi, "his focus was powerful" Unselfish - Bart Starr - "he literally gave the shirt off his back for others" Tough - Don't make excuses, be great in the 4th quarter, never blame anyone else Smart - Prepared, always last person off the field. Johnny Unitas and Raymond Berry did this Never quit - Never give up FEAR? Prepare out of fear? - "There is some truth to that." "Everyone has the will to win, but not everyone has the will to prepare." Personality, GRIT, Heart, Soul -- "Keeping prepping when others aren't" The difference between good and great coaches? Bobby Dodd (Georgia Tech) was a great coach. A great coach can change your life. They study the game so intently. They intimidate other coaches with their brain. Vince Lombardi would not tolerate prejudice or racism. He had more African-American players than anyone else. He was so precise in his methodology. Don Shula had the ability to build relationships with each player How can this be translated to the business world? Reach inside the souls of the leaders -- the gift we have is "Magna Nimitas" -- Greatness of spirit. Each person has a unique spirit - it's beautiful. WE have brilliance within us. Directly challenging the leaders to understand their people Narcissism destroys leaders Bill sat down with his players and went over their goals We all need to have our own board of personal advisors, mentors Bill's 4th year at Georgia Tech -- John Robert Bell said "I know you can play/" --> The impact that had on Bill was immense Bill as a mentor -- He loves doing it. He hears from at least one play every single day Being humble -- "I know two types of people. People who are humble and those who are about to be humbled." -- "Ray Nitschke humbled me pretty good" The huddle - We need every teammate on every play to survive. The huddle is a metaphor for our culture. Why does the huddle matter? "You can't be racist, sexist, everyone is part of that huddle." Unique exercises Bill does at companies -- Understand each individual unique finger print, joining hands across aisles The importance of intellectual curiosity and asking questions -- "People ought to be skeptical... Ask questions" "There is a fellowship of the miserable. I love them, but I avoid them." Success? His wife has helped him understand what success is... It used to be winning games. He was miserable when he lost. She taught him that's not a rational way to live. Now success is "Am I making a contribution to the well being of others?" Important marriage advice -- Do what you're told and what you say you're going to do. Learn to listen. Learning Leader - "I love that title!" "Success = "Am I making a contribution to the well being of others?" Social Media: Read: Ten Men You Meet Huddle Follow Bill on Twitter: @coachbillcurry Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Feb 5, 2018

The Learning Leader Show - Annie Duke is a woman who has leveraged her expertise in the science of smart decision making to excel at pursuits as varied as championship poker to public speaking. For two decades, Annie was one of the top poker players in the world. In 2004, she bested a field of 234 players to win her first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet. The same year, she triumphed in the $2 million winner-take-all, invitation-only WSOP Tournament of Champions. In 2010, she won the prestigious NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. Prior to becoming a professional poker player, Annie was awarded the National Science Foundation Fellowship. Because of this fellowship, she studied Cognitive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Show Notes: Sustained Excellence = Open-minded to people who disagree with them They ask "Why am I wrong?" Using "I don't know" or "I'm not sure" shows immense security in oneself. Great leaders do this. The "half life of facts" should never be 100% certain -- "It does you a disservice in becoming more knowledgeable if you are certain you are right" Hidden information -- Invite others to share information with you... To collaborate "Here's what I think, but I don't know..." --> We're trained from an early age that those are dirty words, but they shouldn't be. We're supposed to always know, but having that mentality limits what you can learn Put systems in place to allow exploration of alternative strategies Do a deeper dive, consider all reactions. This will help you prepare in case something goes wrong. You can put plans in place by acting in this manner Why write Thinking In Bets ? Annie has a unique background: cognitive psychology, professional poker, decision making under pressure. In poker: decision making is fast and furious (a hand of poker is 2 minutes) "Learning occurs when you make a decision and have feedback" The art of boosting academic research with stories and popular culture -- Seinfeld, The Super Bowl Listen to the disagreement Annie and I have in regards to Pete Carroll's decision to throw a pass on the goal line at the end of The Super Bowl (around the 24:00 mark) Most people are "resulting." They are not measuring the decision making process with all the facts, they just view the result. That is wrong. Resulting - "Using the outcome as the sole determination if the decision was good or bad" While Annie and I disagree, we both had an open mind to what each other had to say and considered the other person's point of view A good approach in your business = Analyze the decision making process prior to knowing the result Example: If a number of people are interviewing the same candidate (separately), the boss should wait to offer her opinion until the end. Her thoughts will skew the feedback she needs from her teamCommonalities of great CEO poker players = They don't think they're good at poker. They recognize they aren't as good as the pros and they work to put themselves in higher odd situations to "get lucky." (Listen around 45:00 to get the full context) How to be a good head's up poker player? Recognize your strengths and weaknesses vs that particular opponent. If you deem they are better than you, then look for "coin flip" situations (example: Ace King vs a pair of 7's). If you are better than your opponent then avoid coin flips and extend the match. The longer the match, the better the odds for the better player to winThe importance of accountability: How often does someone spout off without thinking? If you follow that up with, "You wanna bet?" How do they respond? They probably rethink what they've said. We should always "think in bets." Think of our decisions as being "bet worthy." If someone says, "You wanna bet?" We should be in the position to say yes. If we're not, then we need to rethink what comes out of our mouths and the decisions we are making. "A bet is just a decision based on a belief that you think is how something will turn out." If we think in bets, it forces us to seek out as much information as possible prior to making a decision. That is a good thing and will help us make better decisions "A bet is a decision based on a belief that you think is how something will turn out." Social Media: Read: Thinking In Bets Follow Annie on Twitter: @AnnieDuke Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

Jan 29, 2018

Sustained Excellence = "They're over themselves" - They do not have an ego. They figure out the big truths, get over feelings, have clarity, vision. Great communicators - Like an athlete, they can be obsessed. Keenly aware, active listeners, intentional with actions. Why write The Culture Code ? Spending time around great teams and businesses, "I love the vibe, it's different." Had a desire to understand how that happens. How to create trust"Typically we think of culture as in your DNA or not, but it's not. "Great culture is something you can learn"The competition with Dan's two brothers growing up led to this fascination and curiosity with building great team culture"We routinely deeply underestimate our environments and the effect they have on us." "As leaders, we need to create the conditions for excellence"The 3 Skills -- 1) Build Safety 2) Share Vulnerability 3) Establish Purpose Build Safety - Why do a group of kindergartners do better than a group of CEOs? The kindergartners have now agenda or care about credit. They focus on doing the best work. CEOs (in the study) were worried about who got credit and tearing each other down. Safety is the single most important piece of foundation needed for great culture Greg Popovich overdoes the "thank yous" - He regularly says thank you to the members of his team. A painstaking hiring process - The single most important decision is "who's in and who's out." You should script the entire first few days of a new employees time at a company -- Pixar example (20 minute mark) -- "At Pixar, we hired you because we need you to help us make our movies better." John Wooden would routinely walk the locker room and pick up trash Share Vulnerability - Functional notion that's so important "Sharing a weakness is the best way to be strong" -- Navy SEALs example: The AAR (After Action Review) The most important 4 words a leader can say, "Anybody have any ideas?" Also, "I screwed up" Over-communicate expectations "We shoot, move, and communicate "The only easy day was yesterday" How to be a great listener "Your goal as a listener should be to add energy." Ask questions, don't just sit there and nod. Listen and absorb. Help them leave higher than when you arrived. Follow up to go deeper. Being a great listener is a heroic skill. Have "empathy and energy" as a listener -- dig in to assumptions (unearth) Aim for candor, but avoid brutal honesty - good groups care about relationships, not brutality. Candor is a better word "Culture: From the Latin word cultus, which means care." Great teams are made up of players who don't want to let their teammates down. Greg Popovich and other great coaches disappear on purpose to let their team figure out it through tough moments. Smart leaders create opportunities for teams to struggle and figure it out. --> "The leaders job is to make the team great without him/her." Build a wall between performance review and professional development -- When you combine the two, you get neither. Toggle, create safety so you can be more open and honest. Establish Purpose What's important now? You must define that Value statements aren't super useful -- "fill the windshield with a story." Clear narratives guide attention Name and rank your priorities

Jan 22, 2018

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Episode 241: Austin Kleon - How To Steal Like An Artist Austin Kleon is the New York Times bestselling author of three illustrated books: Steal Like An Artist , Newspaper Blackout , and Show Your Work! His latest release is The Steal Like An Artist Journal: A Notebook For Creative Kleptomaniacs . His work has been translated into over twenty languages and featured on NPR's Morning Edition , PBS Newshour , and in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal . New York Magazine called his work "brilliant," The Atlantic called him "positively one of the most interesting people on the Internet," and The New Yorker said his poems "resurrect the newspaper when everybody else is declaring it dead." He speaks about creativity in the digital age for organizations such as Pixar, Google, SXSW, TEDx, and The Economist . He grew up in Ohio, but now he lives in Austin, Texas. "Reading is so essential to writing... I don't even think about it. I just always do it." Show Notes: Sustained Excellence = "I wrestle with jealously about others who do better work than me... Until I realize it's very rare to see someone who doesn't deserve it based on how hard they work." The people who sustain excellence are typically the hardest workers over the long term "If you want to do better, work harder." Austin's ritual Write a page a day like Stephen King Little bits of work add up over time When you do something you love, you're always working... It's an endless stream "I try to be a good boss to myself" -- But there is no punching the clock in and out... It's always in Steal Like An Artist Wrote an article titled "10 things I wish I had known when starting out" -- That became the best-selling book The blog post and speech that went with it went viral The Creative Process Daily writing... Eventually show the audience to test if it's useful for them "It's like a factory" Collect Make time to write Gather to longer piece to essay Put it out to the world Collect feedback (live audience sometimes) A daily blog helps the book writing process Collect, synthesize, make, share -- "Stealing & Sharing" Reading is a massive part of the writing process... Must read a lot "Reading is so essential to writing. I don't even think about it, I just do it." "My job as an author is to point people to things people haven't seen" "Being a leader... You have to be curious... You have to find great stories and examples." -- You must read a lot to do this What advice do you give to others? "You need hobbies... People used to have hobbies, not they have Netflix." Try to restore something, do work, have a hobby -- It will build creativity The two desks Analog desk -- pens, markers, paper, scissors... Make stuff Digital desk -- computer "Walking is an insanely creative activity" Enjoying captivity -- Be useful on train rides, flights... No wifi The open office plan is a nightmare for an introvert like Austin "You want hearts, not eyeballs." -- Focus on engagement of your audience, not just the size of it. "The number of people doesn't matter as much as the quality of the people who follow you." "Becoming a friend of someone you look up to is one of the best things that could ever happen" Creating great work gives you the opportunity to do this "You want hearts, not eyeballs." -- Focus on engagement of your audience, not just the size of it. Social Media: Read: Steal Like An Artist Follow Austin on Twitter: @austinkleon Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

Jan 15, 2018

The Learning Leader Show Todd Henry is the founder of Accidental Creative, a company that helps creative people and teams be prolific, brilliant and healthy. He regularly speaks and consults with companies about how to develop practices that lead to everyday brilliance. He is the author of four books ( The Accidental Creative, Louder Than Words, Die Empty, Herding Tigers ), speaks internationally on productivity, creativity, leadership and passion for work, and build tools for creative people and teams. In short, he's an arms dealer for the creative revolution. His latest book is called Herding Tigers: Leading talented, creative people requires a different skill set than the one many management books offer. As a consultant to creative companies, Todd Henry knows firsthand what prevents creative leaders from guiding their teams to success, and in Herding Tigers he provides a bold new blueprint to help you be the leader your team needs. Learn to lead by influence instead of control. Discover how to create a stable culture that empowers your team to take bold creative risks. And learn how to fight to protect the time, energy, and resources they need to do their best work. "Great leaders have great rituals. Great leaders are connected. Great leaders have set questions they ask when they meet someone for the first time." Show Notes: Sustained Excellence = Great leaders have great rituals Disciplined time to study/reflect Well read Go on walks Great leaders are connected to their network Great leaders have set questions they ask someone when they meet for the first time Todd's rituals Same breakfast everyday, same coffee mug everyday 1 hour of study/read/time to think Writes morning pages (3 full pages long hand) Creating space for yourself Predictable space, a buffer - "I have a ritual of taking a long walk in the middle of my day" -- "It helps me get lost in thought" Set questions to ask when you meet someone "What's the most important thing I should know about you?" What's inspiring you right now?" Cover bands don't change the world Go out and present YOUR ideas to the market place "If you want to have a voice in the market place, you have to have a voice" -- You can't just regurgitate what others say: Take what you learn, synthesize it with your own thoughts and have a voice, a point of view "Your synthesis is what is valuable" Writing The Accidental Creative was hard and lonely Leading Creatives - We assume they get it... No, you must be clear that they do. Walk them through your thought process, what you expect, why you expect it Jocko's principle -- "You own all of it" Brian Koppelman (Creator of Billions ) - Leading with influence vs being a micro-manager. The director must own the show... They must have a compelling vision, point of view. Koppelman must create the space to give the director of each episode that ownership (he owns it all) Creative people need two things Stability - Protect them, give them the space they need, be clear Challenge - Cannot allow boredom These two exist is constant tension, push/pull. You have to know how/when/why to turn the dial on each "Your entire career, up until you're a manager, you have complete control -- As a manager you must shift from control to influence (it's hard) or the team cannot scale beyond you Your team must understand the WHY behind what you do -- If not they just inherit tactics but don't know why they do it. It can't scale without knowing the WHY Need to make certain creative people feel ownership of the work Influence is about principle Why is implementation and execution so hard? Leaders struggle with insecurity "Your area of greatest insecurity can inflict the most damage to your organization... It's about ego more than confidence" Why write Herding Tigers ? "I wrote the book I wish I had... A lot of people don't have the model of what great leadership is" Here's what it feels like right now: Action Pause Reflection Redirection Action "Cover bands don't change the world. Find your own voice." Social Media: Read: Herding Tigers Follow Todd on Twitter: @toddhenry Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

Jan 8, 2018

Episode 239: Dan Pink - The Scientific Secrets Of Perfect Timing ( When ) Daniel Pink is the author of six provocative books — including his newest, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing , to be published in January 2018. His other books include the long-running New York Times bestseller A Whole New Mind and the #1 New York Times bestsellers Drive and To Sell is Human . His books have won multiple awards and have been translated into 37 languages. If you'd like to listen to the first time Dan joined me on The Learning Leader Show, CLICK HERE . Dan's TED Talk on the science of motivation is one of the 10 most-watched TED Talks of all time, with more than 19 million views. His RSA Animate video about the ideas in his book, Drive , has collected more than 14 million views.(from DanPink.com) (Photo Credit - HOW Design) The Learning Leader Show "It's like brick laying. I show up every day and I hit my word (count) goal. Day after day after day. Every day." Show Notes: Dan's book writing process: "It's like 1930's football... One short play at a time." Brick laying, very laborious... Get in office by 8:30 and hit the writing (word count) goal every single day... Day after day after day after day... Write 700 words a day, every da "I show up and hit my number, every single day" Combining research with interesting stories -- work in chunks, have research in a Word doc, and the book in a separate doc. Review, go back and forth Go through the (printed out) research, highlight, underline, review a lot If you do this every day, it adds up Why write about this topic? The topic of When As a writer, you must pick a topic you are VERY interested in... You spend years on the project (research, writing, speeches) "I wrote this book because I wanted to read it" How to know if an idea is worth exploring? "You don't... But when you share it with others, does it create curiosity in them? Do they ask follow up questions? If they do, you may be on to something" The 3 stages of our days Peak - Analytical work, smart Trough - The afternoon "Bermuda Triangle" -- A bad time to make decisions Recovery - A creative time Why lunch is the most important meal of the day -- This is a time where you need to leave what you're doing, go outside, go with a friend, disconnect from work, don't look at your phone, need to recharge Breaks are enormously important - Social breaks (with friends) are better than solo breaks Napping for 20 minutes in the afternoon is very helpful Drink a cup of coffee, set you iPhone for an alarm to go off in 23 minutes, lay down with an eye mask. If you fall asleep in 5 minutes, you get an 18 minute nap, and you wake up and the caffeine starts to kick in Why NBA players who get more "touches" have more success than others... Scientific evidence supports this The importance of endings... How we end things: Energize - More 29, 39, 49 year olds run marathons than any other age. People want to end on a high note Encode - Evaluate and record experiences - How something ends is very important. Look at Yelp reviews -- People remember the experience for how a meal ended more than anything else Elevate - People prefer rising sequences. Dan's favorite tip: When sharing good news and bad news, always START with the bad news, and end with the good news We are very intentional about who, what, why... why aren't we intentional about WHEN? We should be... "We are very intentional about who, what, and why. We aren't intentional about WHEN. We should be." Social Media: Read: When - The Scientific Secrets Of Perfect Timing See why over 396,000 people follow Dan on Twitter: @DanielPink Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Jan 1, 2018

The Learning Leader Show Episode 238: Neil Pasricha - Why Action Creates Motivation: 1,000 Awesome Things Neil Pasricha is the New York Times-bestselling author of The Happiness Equation and The Book of Awesome series, which has been published in ten countries, spent over five years on bestseller lists, and sold over a million copies. Neil is a Harvard MBA, one of the most popular TED speakers of all time, and after ten years heading Leadership Development at Walmart he now serves as Director of The Institute for Global Happiness. He has dedicated the past fifteen years of his life to developing leaders, creating global programs inside the world's largest companies and speaking to hundreds of thousands of people around the globe. "Most think motivation leads to action... No, motivation doesn't cause action... Action creates motivation." Show Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: C -- Clarity - Clear, succinct, memorable O -- Optimism -- "Find the good in everything" P -- Patience -- Delaying decision making until the last possible moment The quality can improve if "we let the tension live" Empower others - "Parkinson's Law" - Work rises to the time needed to complete it. "I don't want to fight the customer." -- Thinking about everything from their perspective. Wal-Mart Being a Harvard Business School graduate "Chase the companies that don't come to Harvard to recruit. You'll learn more." -- Why Neil went to Wal-Mart Neil's 30 second pitch to why someone should hire him for a leadership role when he was very young "I had to be artificially confident" His pitch -- 3 quick questions Do you value internal promotions? What's the #1 program you've seen? Would you be interested in topics of developing leaders at Harvard? Get their email address and follow up None of the companies were hiring when he was leaving school... Neil had to "create a job" within companies to get hired Brene Brown - "If you go through life trying to find confirmation you don't belong, you'll find it." 2008 - The world was falling apart, his marriage ended, his best friend committed suicide.. He started the blog, 1,000 Awesome Things Won a webby award for best blog in the world Wrote The Book Of Awesome He moved to NYC... Didn't know anyone, lived alone He was going through pain while starting the awesome things blog. Focused on three things: Make the blog public - hold him accountable Use a countdown - From 1,000 to 1 -- Helped him know it was going to end at some point Finite - There is light at the end of the tunnel "Most think motivation leads to action. Not true. Action creates motivation." The importance of consistency - Neil's idea was not unique, but doing it everyday made him different from most "Try to be receptive of other people's ideas" -- Helps you "notice things" "Your questions are fantastic. I'm not surprised." Working on deadlines -- Neil wrote for a newspaper for four years. Helped with this skill "I believe in consistency" Actionable advice: You have three, 56 hour buckets of your week. They are: 56 Hours - Sleep 56 Hours - Work/Job 56 Hours - What are you spending this time on? You can do whatever you want... The happiness equation - Work/Life balance fulcrum -- Flywheel Taking his side hustle and making it his full time job -- "I should have done it sooner." "If you go through life trying to find confirmation that you don't belong, you'll find it." -- Brene Brown Social Media: Read: The Happiness Equation - Want Nothing + Do Everything = Have Anything Follow Neil on Twitter: @NeilPasricha Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Dec 25, 2017

The Learning Leader Show Episode 237: AJ Jacobs - The Power of Irrational Confidence (Life As An Experiment) A.J. Jacobs is an author, journalist, lecturer and human guinea pig. He has written four New York Times bestsellers that combine memoir, science, humor and a dash of self-help. He is also editor at large at Esquire magazine, a commentator on NPR and a columnist for Mental Floss magazine. He is currently helping to build a family tree of the entire world and holding the biggest family reunion ever in 2015. In addition to his books, Jacobs written for The New York Times , Entertainment Weekly , and New York magazine. He has appeared on Oprah , The Today Show , Good Morning America, CNN, The Dr. Oz Show, Conan and The Colbert Report . He has given several TED talks, including ones about living biblically, creating a one-world family, and living healthily. "It's easier to act your way into a new way of thinking, than think your way into a new way of acting." Show Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: Self delusion -- Optimism helps you do incredible things. Acting "as if" "It's easier to act your way into a new way of thinking, than think your way into a new way of acting." Great curiosity -- "I'm curious about everything... Even things that don't interest me." Why he read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica Why the "good ole days" actually sucked -- Studying this made him very grateful for being alive today The practice of radical honesty and how it got him in trouble -- He was forced to tell the full truth at all times Can be good or bad Gratitude -- Common among the greatest achievers -- be thankful for everything. "When you're grateful for something as small as the elevator door opening, you're much happier." It's All Relative -- Building a world family true. How we are related. How he is related to President Barack Obama... It helps with perspective and tolerance... We're more tolerant of people we are related to The Global Family Reunion event Why his experiments drive his wife crazy -- The year of living biblically -- Why it was so hard to follow the exact words of the Bible Harvard studies -- If we share DNA, people are more open to help one another Why we need to get out of the echo chamber Typical day -- stretch, treadmill desk, write and walk at the same time, walking keeps him alert Importance of "walks with wife" -- raises serotonin Batching activities -- Phone calls It's lonely as a writer... AJ needs to speak with other creatives often: "I need to bounce ideas of of others in between the alone time" Doing "Skype" lunches. He eats lunch with friends over Skype Best advice he's heard: From George Clooney -- "When I get up to bat, I don't think Am I going to hit a home run? I think, where will I hit this home run?" -- The importance of irrational confidence. Delusional optimism is helpful. Stage presence (when speaking) -- Why you "owe it to the audience" to think "you're the baddest dude on the planet" and will deliver for THEM "When I got up to bat, I didn't think, "Am I going to hit a home run?" I thought, "Where will this home run go?" -- George Clooney on the importance of self confidence Social Media: Read: It's All Relative Follow AJ on Twitter: @ajjacobs Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Dec 18, 2017

Episode 236: Brian Scudamore - CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK: How To Scale A Business Brian started his business in Vancouver, Canada at the age of 18, and later went on to franchise 1-800-GOT-JUNK? as a way to expand operations. Today, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has 1000 trucks on the road throughout some 180 locations in Canada, the United States, and Australia. Brian has received wide recognition in the media and business community. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has celebrated appearances on the highly-acclaimed Undercover Boss Canada, Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, CNN, ABC Nightline, the Today Show, The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos, and the View. His story has been told in Fortune Magazine, Business Week, New York Times, Huffington Post, and Wall Street Journal, to name a few. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? is currently the starring junk removal attraction on the hit A&E reality show, Hoarders. Brian has brought his entrepreneurial success story to many conference stages, including the Fortune Small Business Magazine's national conference. A strong believer in personal and professional development, Brian graduated from MIT's four-year Birthing of Giants program, and has subsequently completed several years of MIT's BOG's alumni program, Gathering of Titans. He is also a participant in a nine-year executive education program at Harvard University through YPO Presidents' University. (from 1800gotjunk.com) The Learning Leader Show "I don't know if you can live the full potential if it's a side hustle. You need to give maximum effort." Show Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: Focus - All in, not a side hustle Faith - Belief in self, clear vision Effort - Discipline Why we all need an "MBA" -- A "Mentor Board of Advisors" Fred DeLuca -- Subway founder - He never took his eye off the prize. He struggled and kept going. 32 stores in 12 years. Are entrepreneurs born or made? Brian started a carwash as a kid. He sold candy in his dorm room Creativity as a Dad -- Always build things with your kids and watch them grow together (ie. a garden) Why did he start 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Needed money for college... Initially called it "The Rubbish Boys" Brian learned more about running a business from actually doing it than he did in school The amazing story of Brian's dad "falling out of his chair" when he told me he was leaving school to run the business full time "It couldn't be a side hustle." The need for maximum effort to be successful How Brian views opportunities And where he thinks of new ideas to create more businesses The importance of going on walks Meeting outdoors in Vancouver -- "Get your muscles moving" Morning routine -- Get up at 5:55 Power hour Focus on self Exercise Study French, Italian (other languages) Spend moments learning before the kids wake up Side hustle -- "I don't know if you can live the full potential if it's a side hustle. You need to give it full effort. Imagine the possibility if they quit their job" Philosophy on sales? Mentor Jack Daly -- "Ask questions and listen" How he got his first 100 customers "I have the best job in the world for me" Brian's hiring process Why he fired his entire team of 11 at one point -- They didn't have the right attitude "Everyone must pass the beer and bbq test" -- "You have to want to have a beer and eat bbq with them" "I want friendly, ambitious, passionate, optimistic people." "Hire for attitude, train for skill" Brian is the "culture" interviewer Cameron Herold -- Best man in his wedding, previous business partner. Brian shares why he had to fire him. "You cannot have 2 "fire, ready, aim" type of people." The process of making mistakes on his path to hiring the right team The need for Erik Church as the COO -- He is an executor. They are a great yin and yang Take a sheet of paper and write down what you enjoy doing and what you're good at. Also write what you don't like doing and you're bad it. Find the person to fill those gaps. Erik does that for Brian How to handle disagreements? Birthing of giants - MIT -- Annual learning, monthly call The importance of being a lifelong learner, be curious, ask questions Book to read, The E-Myth by Michael Gerber "I hire friendly, ambitious, passionate, optimistic people. Hire for attitude, train for skill." Social Media: Brian's website: o2ebrands.com Follow Brian on Twitter: @BrianScudamore Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Dec 11, 2017

Episode 235: Dr. Gay Hendricks - How To Make The Big Leap Gay Hendricks, Ph.D., has been a leader in the fields of relationship transformation and bodymind therapies for more than 45 years. After earning his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Stanford, Gay served as professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Colorado for 21 years. He has written more than 40 books, including bestsellers such as Five Wishes, The Big Leap and Conscious Loving (co-authored with his co-author and mate for more than 35 years, Dr. Kathlyn Hendricks), both used as a primary text in universities around the world. In 2003, Gay co-founded The Spiritual Cinema Circle,which distributes inspirational movies and conscious entertainment to subscribers in 70+ countries. Gay has offered seminars worldwide and appeared on more than 500 radio and television shows, including OPRAH, CNN, CNBC, 48 HOURS and others. In addition to his work with The Hendricks Institute, Gay is currently continuing his new mystery series that began with The First Rule Of Ten Episode 235: Dr. Gay Hendricks - How To Make The Big Leap Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "The money became an effortless byproduct of doing what I love" Show Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: Openness to learning Great listener They do not waste time being defensive The makeup of insecure people who won't learn = Fear. A bug --> You poke it, it curls towards the center. They are scared. We have the same nervous system from many years ago Must acknowledge the fears -- "Don't try to out argue them or "out-facts" them" "Speak to your shared fears" when scared The 4 things we do when scared: Fight Runaway Freeze Space out Fear tries to take us out of the moment His story of going on the Oprah show -- "Being on Oprah was like having 10 shots of espresso" What is the upper limit problem? A point in success/happiness -- if you go past the point of it, you do something to knock yourself down. Fears keep people locked in certain zones The 4 Operating Zones Zone of incompetence Zone of competence Zone of excellence Zone of Genius Most love to do? "Living full time in the zone of genius" Why you should start with "10 minutes of what you most love to do" -- Then continually bump that time up Making the leap -- Freedom, pressure. Stand up, walk your talk. So rewarding, but can you make money? "The money became an effortless byproduct of doing what I love" Walk quietly and with passion... Auspicious things happen Life rewards expression of true genius Early 90's, Gay spent 30% of time in his genius zone, then 50%, then 70%, now 90% of time is spent in his zone of genius His zone of genius? "Be a model of creativity. Explain complicated things in a simple way." Oprah called it "Learning to love yourself" Creativity - Conscious loving ever after -- How to access more creativity? Every day after 50 is a choice between creativity and stagnation. Move, play, create new ideas. At age 65, Gay started lifting weights. Must keep moving your body He wrote his first mystery novel at age 65 (Wow!) He just sold the mystery series to Netflix to turn it into a television series It's never too late to start accessing new paths of creativity Put your mind on how to create more Learning Leader = "Commitment to learn from the moment" "Life rewards expression of true genius." Social Media: Read: The Big Leap Follow Gay on Twitter: @GayHendricks Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Dec 4, 2017

The Learning Leader Show "As the leader, you are responsible for EVERYTHING that happens in your organization." Show Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: Humility Constantly looking to improve Learning Willing and able to take criticism Incredible story of a mutiny within the ranks because of a platoon commander's ego Way Of The Warrior Kid - The message for children Be humble Don't give up Work hard Ramadi -- The epicenter, insurgency in Iraq The confusion/fog of war A firefight... Between friendly forces: Who's at fault? Jocko took ownership - "As the leader, I'm responsible for everything that happens on that field. It wasn't your fault, it's mine." "If you make a mistake, you must own it." Owning the mistakes created confidence and trust with Jocko's boss How do you handle a bad boss? Make them look good Ask for feedback, advice, ask for their approval, build them up Isn't that manipulation? "Yes..." "It's not just what you preach, it's what you tolerate." Decentralized command -- Empowering junior leaders to make important decisions. Front line leaders must be empowered. Why? Speed Being empowered as a quarterback to call an audible -- Why this was an optimal way for us to attack a defense and ultimately win games. The coaches needed to trust and empower me to do this Are leaders born or made? Characteristics of great leaders? They take complex things and simplify them They are articulate They are loud (seems strange, but it's true for military leaders and a quarterback) How much can you learn? You must detach emotion, and be decisive. Why wake up at 4:30 am? "It is time for me to own, it's before everyone else is awake" Favorite part of work? - Podcasting and working with companies How has Jocko created this lifestyle? -- Many years of consistent, sustained work "Discipline Equals Freedom." His discipline for many years has helped him create a lifestyle that he loves "It's not just what you preach. It's what you tolerate." Social Media: Read: Extreme Ownership See why over 150,000 people follow Jocko on Twitter: @jockowillink Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Nov 27, 2017

Episode 233: Gretchen Rubin - How To Be Happy Gretchen Rubin is the author of several books, including the blockbuster New York Times bestsellers, Better Than Before , The Happiness Project and Happier at Home. She has an enormous readership, both in print and online, and her books have sold almost three million copies worldwide, in more than thirty languages. Fast Company named Gretchen Rubin to its list of Most Creative People in Business, and she's a member of Oprah's SuperSoul 100. She's been interviewed by Oprah, eaten dinner with Daniel Kahneman, and walked arm-in-arm with the Dalai Lama. Gretchen Rubin started her career in law and was clerking for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor when she realized she wanted to be a writer. She lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters. The Learning Leader Show "What do I want from my life? I want to be happy. How can I be happier?" Show Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: They are self aware They are happy and healthy and figured themselves out Better Than Before -- How to create great habits "I can't have a little. I either have none or a lot." -- Needed to abstain from things like that (sugar) Think -- "What do I want from my life?" "I want to be happy..." She then went to the library to study. Did a deep dive on happiness What are the keys to happiness? Every month (for a year), she created a theme for the month: 3-5 concrete resolutions she could measure to make herself happier Aim higher -- "Enjoying the fun of failure" -- Starting a blog. Initially worrying that nobody would read it. "It's okay to fail." How can you buy happiness? How to be grateful for what you have... Both experiences and possessions Bill Gates takes "think weeks" -- Why we all should do this Warren Buffett can buy anything he wants... But he cannot buy time Gretchen describes her typical day The Four Tendencies (Personality Profiles) -- How you respond to expectations Upholders - Respond readily to both outer expectations and inner expecations Questioners - Question all expectations; they meet an expectation only if they believe it's justified, so in effect they respond only to inner expectations Obligers - Respond readily to outer expectations but struggle to meet inner expectations Rebels - Resist all expectations, outer and inner alike A live role play between Gretchen and me describing which tendency we inhibit and why we are different Questioner vs Upholder - An upholder wants to always follow the rules (Gretchen)... A questioner (me) thinks differently Gretchen's advice - Get clarity on who you are, your personality profile, and how you respond to expectations Questioner - Why are you doing this? Know who, what when, why? Obliger - Go beyond. Let's both commit. Find outer accountability. Take action Rebel - Freedom, choice. "I want my voice heard."Influence change Social Media: Read: The Four Tendencies See why over 135,000 people follow Gretchen on Twitter: @gretchenrubin Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

Nov 20, 2017

Episode 232: It's Time To Go ALL IN (With Doug Meyer & Greg Meredith) "Here's the issue:If you're going to pursue a low odds game, the reality is that at some point the odds will go to zero if you don't commit fully. You're never going to get across that chasm if you're going to keep yourself tethered to one side but that doesn't mean taking an unfounded leap into the wild beyond." Jim Collins gave me that advice on Episode #216 here On The Learning Leader Show . I've fired a lot of bullets over the past three years building this show and this platform while working a full time job at a big international corporation. The purpose of this episode is to announce that I have left my full time job to pursue my passion... My love: This show, this platform, this work, on a full time basis. It's time for me to go All In. The featured leaders tonight are two of my business partners (and friends), Doug Meyer and Greg Meredith. Doug Meyer is one of the founding partners of Brixey & Meyer. In his role as Managing Director, Doug serves as a trusted business advisor to Business Owners, CEOs, CFOs and Boards of Advisors, driving value and accountability. Greg Meredith runs Brixey & Meyer's Business Advisory Services team, which helps clients with strategic planning, project management, sales strategy, business process and system optimization and more. I am bringing The Learning Leader brand to Brixey & Meyer full time to run the Leadership Advisory Services team . In addition to the podcast, I'll be focused on helping clients be more effective leaders, managers, and coaches. This is done through: consulting projects, 1 on 1 coaching, leadership circles (Mastermind groups), creating written content (book and articles online), and much more. I could not be more excited to get started! "Following your genuine intellectual curiosity is a better foundation for a career than following whatever is making money right now." - Naval Ravikant Show Notes: 3:06 - My career, what I've done, why I haven't named the companies I've worked for, who has supported this, who hasn't. 5:05 - Why I'm making this move to do it full time, the first lunch I had with Doug, the impact that lunch had on me, how long this has been in the works, advice that was given to me... The phone call I made to my wife Miranda after that meeting informing her of what I wanted to do... 6:40 - The exercise that Doug and I did -- "Write down everything you love to do... And write down the things people have paid for. Let's build the business based on that information." -- The dream job scenario 8:03 Doug sharing why Brixey & Meyer is different from other firms and why... - The values: Having fun, providing value, passionate, driver of change, accountability, responsibility to the people of the firm 10:01 Doug sharing how The Learning Leader Show has positively impacted his life 11:48 - Greg describing The Business Advisory Practice he leads at Brixey & Meyer 12:07 - How Brixey & Meyer evolves and adapts -- Taking it to another level 13:02 - Why I decided to leave my job as VP of Sales at a large international company 14:09 - Finding a way to love what you do everyday 14:44 - "Following your genuine intellectual curiosity is a better foundation for a career than following whatever is making money right now." - Naval Ravikant 16:24 - The scary part about making this change -- Side hustle to full time job creates a lot of pressure 16:56 - The incredible support from all of the people at Brixey & Meyer 17:47 - Why I'm motivated by people who believe in me... And my desire to prove them right 18:52 - "You're work is going to fill a large part of your life... And the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs 19:34 - The biggest challenge for Doug (managing my expectations) 20:25 - Doug describing that this was an opportunistic hire... Not something they were looking for, but why it was a no brainer when the opportunity arose 21:52 - The day to day actions - Helping leaders be more effective. Keynote speeches, leadership circles (Mastermind groups), Consulting projects, producing podcasts, creating content (books, online courses/articles), and much more 25:18 - Doug and Greg describing their current leadership circles and why they've been so effective (and will continue to be) 27:53 - The power in the peer to peer learning model that is created from Leadership Circles 29:22 - Rapid fire questions (for Ryan): Dream guest? Elon Musk Favorite thing to do with my daughters? Coach their sports teams Learn more from success or failure? I remember my failures more, but I try to learn from both success and failure Most impactful book in the last 12 months? The Wright Brothers by David McCullough Favorite episode? #078 With Kat Cole 33:13 - Rapid fire questions (for Doug): Favorite episode of The Learning Leader Show? #200 With Keith Hawk & AJ Hawk Smartest person in the Meyer family? daughter, Jocelyn Meyer Are you a Visionary or Integrator? Tough question. People think of him more as an integrator Best Advice: From Bill Matthews - "I was frustrated with team members." And Bill said, "Doug, it's not them, it's you." 36:37 - How will you define success? "Success is fun. I want this to be fun. We are going to add value and be agile." 38:38 - The phone call I made to Doug when he thought I was turning him down... 39:06 Why 99 out of 100 people would not have left the corporate job to do this? Doug's thoughts... And why I did. 40:35 - Defining your personal hedgehog 41:46 - The unique qualities I will bring to this role -- What's different from books or articles 45:54 - How I define the makeup of a great leader... The qualities they possess 48:43 - "The path to fulfillment in life, to emotional satisfaction, is to find what really excites you and channel your all into it." - Rich Roll 49:01 - Doug describing his beliefs: Energy, Passion, Fun 49:26 - Why Doug wanted me to be part of his business -- Natural curiosity, thought provoking questions, attitude, helping others 51:06 - What's most important -- To find your WHO 51:47 - The story Doug shared that created an emotional and powerful moment... And convinced me to say, "Yes, I am doing this, I want to work with a guy with this much integrity, honesty, and love." 55:28 - Doug's excitement to unleash the potential for what we can do 56:45 - Acknowledging how instrumental Greg has been in the growth of The Learning Leader brand over the last three years. His honest feedback and mentor-ship has been monumental 58:28 - One of my favorite artists, Tom Petty said "It's time to move on, it's time to get going. What lies ahead I have no way of knowing... But under my feet, baby, grass is growing, it's time to move on, it's time to get going." "You're work is going to fill a large part of your life... And the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs Social Media: Send Email: Ryan@LearningLeader.com Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

Nov 13, 2017

Episode 231: Michael Bungay Stanier - Say Less, Ask More, & Change The Way You Lead Forever Michael is the Senior Partner at Box of Crayons, a company that helps organizations do less good work and more great work. He's the author of several books, including The Coaching Habit and Do More Great Work . Michael has written for or been featured in numerous publications including Business Insider , Fast Company , Forbes , The Globe & Mail and The Huffington Post . Michael left Australia 25 years ago to be a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. He was the first Canadian Coach of the Year. At Box of Crayons, Michael and his team of facilitators teach 10-minute coaching so busy managers build stronger teams and get better results. Clients come from all sectors and include Box, the United Nations, Gartner, the University Health Network and USAA. A sought-after speaker, Michael regularly speaks to businesses and organizations and has delivered keynotes at Leadership, HR and Learning & Development, conferences around the world. The Learning Leader Show "If you can't coach in 10 minutes or less then you don't have the time to coach at all" Show Notes: Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: "They probably haven't sustained it. It's really hard." Role Models -- They succeed AND they fail. "You can't hit it out of the park every time" Some times you do it all right and you still fail Resilience and persistence are commonalities among people who have success Michael's list of failures "is long" The incredible story of how Michael was initially rejected as a Rhodes Scholar... And then how he persevered to earn it (the story about how he differentiated himself from the others is fantastic) "Purple suit, long hair" -- "Everyone else had a blue suit, white shirt, red tie" Where did he develop so much courage? From his parents -- They gave him unconditional support to be different and unique He's a bit of a rebel who also follows the rules sometimes Ask yourself "Do I want to be playing this game?" Box of Crayons -- A training company on how to coach in 10 minutes The mistake of saying "yes" to everyone who asked for his help when he started the company Jim Collins -- "Fire bullets and then cannonballs" -- Low risk experiments The 3 ways coaching shows up in corporations Executive coaching -- People at the top of the Org Chart Training internal people to be the corporate training team Train all managers/leaders to be more coach like -- This is what Michael and his team does "If you can't coach in 10 minutes or less then you don't have the time to coach at all" Transforming to be more "coach like" The 7 important questions to ask: What's on your mind? And what else? What's the real challenge here for you? What do you want? How can I help? If you're saying yes to this, what are you saying no to? What was most useful to you? Why most 1 on 1's are terrible The first and last questions are vital (must bookend the meeting well) -- "Start fast and end strong" The Learning moments -- Help them learn. They learn when there is a moment to reflect on what just happened Be careful when "the advice monster" kicks in... "Can you stay curious a little longer?" -- As the coach, you need to. You must solve the correct problem and focus on the person you are coaching If you just give advice, very little brain activity happens. If you ask questions, it grows the brain activity... Coaching for performance vs. Coaching for development -- There is a big difference The best question in the world is... "And what else?" -- It helps them go a level deeper. Keep asking it, keep going deeper "Be lazy, be curious, be often" -- Michael's motto towards coaching. Listen, ask questions, help them learn "Be more coach like" "Help them learn rather than teaching them" -- We do this by asking great questions Learning Leader = "A great coach is a great teacher. A learning leader is the essence of what it means to be a great leader." You help people learn by constantly learning more yourself "Less Advice. More Curiosity." Social Media: Read: The Coaching Habit Follow Michael on Twitter: @boxofcrayons Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

Nov 6, 2017

Episode 230: Dorie Clark - How To Monetize Your Expertise & Create Multiple Income Streams Commonalities of leaders who sustain excellence: They do what they say they're going to do -- Have integrity They have a great ability to focus. They don't get distracted. They have patience Principles: Create multiple streams of income -- However, don't try to create them all at once. Patience. 1 or 2 at a time. A steady progression. Add 1 or 2 per year. Dorie has 8 income streams. "If you're relying on one paycheck, from one employer, you may be courting disaster." Dorie was laid off on September 10, 2001 -- She received a 4 day severance package... A highly stressful time. "Never be reliant on just one employer" "Side hustles make you a better employee, it liberates you." -- "You can speak truth to power" Dorie's 8 Streams of Revenue: Consulting Executive Coaching Writing Books Teaching at Duke Keynote Speeches Online Courses Affiliate Marketing Mastermind Groups Dorie's online course "Become A Recognized Expert" Create the content Social Proof -- Credibility Strong network -- To be recognize, need to be an expert and have others share the message We discussed the goals Dorie set from her first time on the show (2 years ago): Double email list Have a best selling book Get a girlfriend The importance of joint ventures Why Dorie wants to become an Italian citizen "The thing that gives you courage is the market rate" -- "No one is a competitor" "When someone asks you your fee, find the number that makes you scared and then add 10%" Doing TEDx Switzerland How to build online courses: Surveyed audience -- 1,200 responses Pilot course at discounted rate ($500) Final course ($2,000) -- Premium content, premium price Total cost -- $1,200 (had 150 students paid in full) Video module type courses are lower cost and not as much engagement The $2,000 course has regular follow up and conversations with Dorie in addition to the video work. Interaction with others in a Facebook group chat as well. -- It has 40+ hours of content created for it... And webinars Dorie Clark is a marketing strategy consultant, professional speaker, and frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review . Recognized as a "branding expert" by the Associated Press, Fortune , and Inc. magazine, she is the author of Entrepreneurial You (Harvard Business Review Press,), Reinventing You, and Stand Out, which was named the #1 Leadership Book of 2015 by Inc. magazine and one of the Top 10 Business Books of the Year by Forbes. It was also a Washington Post bestseller. Clark, whom the New York Times described as an "expert at self-reinvention and helping others make changes in their lives," consults and speaks for a diverse range of clients, including Google, the World Bank, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, the Ford Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Yale University. At age 14, Clark entered Mary Baldwin College's Program for the Exceptionally Gifted. At 18, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College, and two years later received a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School.

Oct 29, 2017

Episode 229: Henry Cloud - "Be So Good They Can't Ignore You" Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "If you're a leader, you will get what you create or what you allow." Show Notes: Henry constantly striving to do more... Why? "I'm a practitioner, need to continue doing the work" Advice to "normal" people who have a 9-5 job. Henry was willing to start with very little money, but grew into his passion slowly and kept at it. Inflection points -- My football career. Henry's gradual growth. Critical mass moments -- Henry did leadership coaching and consulting from day 1. "You have to love what you do." "You have to get moving." "My first book Integrity was written based on my teaching for 15 years." Boundaries -- A simple, yet profound concept - A property line: This is you "In relationships, people put pressure on us" Leaders are "ridiculously in charge" -- "If you're leading it, you're in charge" "If you're a leader, you will get what you create or what you allow" 3 Keys to Executive Success (Executive Functions Of The Brain): Attend to most important/what's relevant -- Need to name the priority -- Boundary of Attention No multi-tasking. Your brain CANNOT do this -- Inhibit everything else Working memory - Must be a flow to it Advice for listeners who have a bad boss? Don't fret, we've all been there Create your own culture, do lunch and learns, build what you want within the situation Vision Statement -- Get so good they will say, "What are they doing?" How do we grow? How can we do that?" Perform, develop leaders in your own corner of the world/buisness "Be So Good They Can't Ignore You" "They work their butt off"

Oct 22, 2017

Episode 228: Renee Mauborgne - How To Make Competition Irrelevant (Blue Ocean Strategy) Renee Mauborgne is the co-author of the global bestseller Blue Ocean Strategy and the just released, indispensable follow-up, BLUE OCEAN SHIFT: Beyond Competing – Proven Steps to Inspire Confidence and Seize New Growth . BLUE OCEAN SHIFT is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller , and an International Bestseller . Her book Blue Ocean Strategy has sold over 3.6 million copies and is recognized as one of the most iconic and impactful strategy books ever written. It is being published in a record-breaking 44 languages and is a bestseller across five continents. She served on President Barack Obama's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for the President's two terms. She is also a Fellow of the World Economic Forum. Renee is ranked in the top 3 management gurus in the world in the Thinkers50 listing of the World's Top Management Gurus. She is the highest placed woman ever on Thinkers50. "If you're going to look at other people, you're going to look like other people." Show Notes: Common Themes of Leaders who Sustain Excellence: Not focused on competing with others They create their own space, independent point of view Always interested in learning. Focused on pieces of information Insatiable curiosity, high level learner, a note taker Enormous propensity for hard work Smart people don't look for short cuts Willing to reinvent self if needed How to not compare yourself to others? "Focus on delivering a leap in value -- they will come to you." "I don't look at social media. I look at how creative people are." "We are all far more creative than we think we are" "If you're going to look at other people, you're going to look like other people" Blue Ocean Strategy - What is it? Most companies focus on existing conditions, red oceans, bloody, with sharks Blue ocean companies/people "don't focus on competing, they focus on creating" How can this help someone with a side hustle? Or someone who wants to create a side hustle? Don't go into red oceans - don't do what everyone else does - Create your own distinctive space "It's not about market competing, it's about market creating" When people talk about startups, they think "disrupt" -- Renee prefers "non disruptive creation" Tony Robbins didn't disrupt anything. He created a new market (life coaching). He helped create a $2B market The idea of David killing Goliath is romantic but it doesn't typically work that way New industry recently created -- Viagra, Sesame Street, Coaching to get into MBA school, YouTube stylist, Bumble Growth model Solve a new problem (ie. Cyber Security) Redefine the problem the industry focuses on -- Cirque du Soleil -- "Circus and theatre" AirBnB Expand the opportunity scope "Are there patterns that allow them to be linked" "Creation is not a black box" Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos look to deliver overwhelming value, they do not compete "It's not about market competing. It's about market creating." Social Media: Read: Blue Ocean Strategy Read: Blue Ocean Shift Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Oct 15, 2017

Episode 227: Jeff Goins - How To Be A Thriving Artist (Real Artists Don't Starve) Jeff Goins is a writer, keynote speaker, and award-winning blogger with a reputation for challenging the status quo. He is the best-selling author of five books, including Real Artists Don't Starve , and The Art of Work , which landed on the best­ seller lists of USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, and the Washington Post. His website Goinswriter.com is visited by millions of people every year. Jeff was previously on The Learning Leader Show Episode #028 The Learning Leader Show What does it take to stand out? "Show UP, Do the Work, and most importantly: FOLLOW UP. Nobody does this." Show Notes: Sustained Excellence. Common Themes of Leaders who Sustain Excellence: Passion - A fire to pursue their "why" Discipline - Daily habits, routines, rituals to be best every day Coach K -- Sit down and analyze after every single game to improve Great Learners - Hungry learner. How to do it better? Real Artists don't starve Starving artist vs. Thriving artist The myth of the starving artist Why Michelangelo was a thriving (rich) artist "Do you really have to starve to be an artist?" -- No You aren't born an artist (or a Leader) -- It's a result of the choices you make. The human brain is malleable. A person can learn and master a craft. "Leaders are made. Artists are made." The story of John Grisham -- A lawyer who wrote novels on the side. He wrote one page a day for years... And then he had a novel You can gradually re-create yourself Wake up a little earlier every day and do the work. Make it a habit Change happens slowly The way we talk about it is not actually the way we do it. We do not need to take a giant risk. When we look at the facts, we can take measured risks 2 Resources at The University of Wisconsin -- A study of 5,000 entrepreneurs The Two Types Burn The Boats -- 33% more likely to fail Side Hustlers -- People who didn't initially go "All In" statistically were more likely to succeed It took Jeff two years to quit his job. He built one year of runway The rule of apprenticeship -- Ryan Holiday - Be an Anteambulo. Clear the path for others A "master piece" came from the time of Michaelangelo What it takes to stand out -- Show up, do the work, FOLLOW UP (nobody does this), show what you've learned, help others Jeff has lunch every Wednesday with a mentee -- Rarely do they follow up. Do this. "The best thing you can do is take notes, and follow up. Put it into action." Jeff was/is mentored by Michael Hyatt -- He followed up constantly How do you do X? "It's easy to talk about stuff, it's hard to do it." "If you're teachable, it puts you in a class of people that sits apart." Do not work for free -- The rule of value Charging brings dignity to the work "Working for free is often not the opportunity we think it is" "Leaders are made. Artists are made." -- "You aren't born an artists." Social Media: Read: R eal Artists Don't Starve Follow Jeff on Twitter: @JeffGoins Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Oct 8, 2017

Episode 226: Steve Wojciechowski - How To Win Every Day Steve Wojciechowski is the head basketball coach at Marquette University. He has has enjoyed a wealth of success in collegiate basketball as both a player and a coach. Wojo has established his "Win Every Day" philosophy as the foundation for the Marquette program. Wojciechowski also served as court coach and scout for the USA Basketball Men's National Team. He helped lead on-court duties as well as game preparation from 2006-12, including the program's gold-medal performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics. The Olympic teams included NBA greats such as Marquette alumnus Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. As a player, Wojciechowski ("Wojo") was named the top defensive player in the country his senior year, a two-time All-ACC choice and honorable mention Associated Press All-America. He appeared in 128 career games for the Blue Devils and earned 88 starting assignments. The Learning Leader Show "My greatest edge was that I didn't think I had an edge." Show Notes: Sustained Excellence. Common Themes of Leaders who Sustain Excellence: Passion - A fire to pursue their "why" Discipline - Daily habits, routines, rituals to be best every day Coach K -- Sit down and analyze after every single game to improve Great Learners - Hungry learner. How to do it better? WIN Everyday - daily process to pursue excellence in every way. Basketball is a vehicle for that (for Steve) Develop trust - "Not always done quickly, but definitely done intentionally. Must be consistent, you must do what you say you will do" Wojo's Dad's hard hat -- It's hanging up at his house as a reminder of what hard work looks like "The first great team I was on was the Wojciechowski team. My dad was a longshoreman. Did hard work and hard labor." Going to Jesse Itzler and Sara Blakely's retreat. A 90 yard hill, 40% grade... An endurance race Growth - Getting outside of your comfort zone "As a long time listener of your show, I marvel at your guests" "My greatest edge was that I didn't think I had an edge" Why it was important to be teamed with Russians and other international players who didn't speak English at a high school all star camp Coach Krzyzewski (Coach K)'s reason for excellence: Ability to build relationships with players as people Incredible communication skills Intentionally taking time to build relationships Preparation - Disciplined preparation Habits, routines "His preparation on a daily basis is championship level" How has Coach K showed Level 5 leadership to help his assistant coaches be great when they earn their own head coaching job? "He allows coaches to take ownership - He pushed them and allowed them to have a voice. On the job learning" Culture Start with your value system: What do you believe in? How do you build it? Wojo's Stated Values: Pursuing excellence - WIN every day Being Selfless Being Accountable - "Do what you say you're going to do" Being Relentlessly competitive Discipline - Do what need to do at the time it needs to be done How is it coaching millennials? There is a lot of noise. Continuous feedback loop. Need to be constantly engaged. But kids still want the same things... They want to grow, want discipline, be part of something special... Something bigger than them How to communicate with young people? Social media: Must use it, need to be there Spend most time face to face with them Typical day? Be intentional about how allocate time Plan ahead -- Must cover what's most important. Must prioritize Control own energy - Track sleep and work out daily Set weekly goals (write them down) for face to face interactions, time to learn/read/podcast listening, time with family/friends. Carry a book to help keep track "Sometimes I fail, sometimes I crush it" Read The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy Read Legacy Learning Leader - I was first turned on to the show because of the title. Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant - "Their ability to learn was what I was impressed with most about them. LeBron remembered everything you said." "How"Their ability to learn was what I was impressed with most. LeBron remembered everything you said." -- Wojo discussing his time coaching Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant

Oct 1, 2017

Episode 225: Dan Heath - The Power Of Defining Moments Dan Heath is a Senior Fellow at Duke University's CASE center, which supports social entrepreneurs. At CASE, he founded the Change Academy, a program designed to boost the impact of social sector leaders. Dan is the co-author, along with his brother Chip, of three New York Times bestsellers: Decisive , Switch , and Made to Stick . Amazon.com's editors named Switch one of the Best Nonfiction Books of the Year, and it spent 47 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list. Made to Stick was named the Best Business Book of the Year and spent 24 months on the BusinessWeek bestseller list. Their books have been translated into over 30 languages. Previously, Dan worked as a researcher and case writer for Harvard Business School. In 1997, Dan co-founded an innovative publishing company called Thinkwell, which continues to produce a radically reinvented line of college textbooks. Dan has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from the Plan II Honors Program from the University of Texas at Austin. One proud geeky moment for Dan was his victory in the 2005 New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest, beating out 13,000 other entrants. He lives in Durham, NC. What have you failed at this week?" "There's no such thing as a good mentor who doesn't push you." Show Notes: Sustained Excellence. Common Themes of Leaders who Sustain Excellence: Decision making - The ability to make a string of good decisions Avoid traps Narrow framing -- Cannot just think of 1 option Decisions are often made because of political reasons, persuasive people, or PowerPoint... They should be made through experiments instead The process of writing with his brother Chip Heath 10 year age gap (54-44) They are different people. The work is the glue for their relationship Chip is a professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business The life changing effect of their book Switch. They hit the jackpot --> Time magazine, The Today Show What is it that allows change to happen? Our brains are wired with two independent systems: Rational Emotional What makes change difficult is when those 2 disagree... The same forces are at place within organizations. The heart of Switch -- The emotional side is stronger than the rational side. We must get that in order to change. How do we make an experience better? -- We must take the reins to make a moment better The John Deere new hire experience -- You leave your first day thinking "Wow, I belong here." They intentionally take care of their people. Transition moments are so important. We need to pay attention to them and be aware. --> Graduation, weddings, retirement, first day at a new job, etc "Cultures pay attention to big moments" Sara Blakely story growing up... The question her Dad asked her and her siblings at the dinner table -- "What have you failed at this week?" We need to get comfortable with trying new things... And failing sometimes. It builds resilience, GRIT David Scott Yaeger 2 part formula for mentors and mentees High Standards + Assurance -- "I have high expectations for you... And I know you can do it." "There's no such thing as a good mentor who doesn't push you." -- STRETCH The powerful story of Eugene O'Kelly and how he chose to live his life when he found out he had 3 months left to live "I experienced more Perfect moments and Perfect days in two weeks than I had in the last 5 years or than I probably would have in the next 5 years had my life continued without the diagnosis." Look at your own calendar, do you see perfect days ahead? Could you create 30 perfect days? What would it take to motivate you to create a Perfect Moment? "How Look at your own calendar, do you see perfect days ahead? Could you create 30 perfect days? What would it take to motivate you to create a Perfect Moment?" Social Media: Read: Switch Read: The Power Of Moments Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Callaway Golf . We have partnered to give away The #1 selling Driver in 2017. The Callaway GBB Epic Driver. This club is valued at $499 and we are giving one away to a loyal listener of the show. To enter the drawing: Tweet (or post on Instagram ) a favorite leadership quote from an episode of The Learning Leader Show and tag/@ me on Twitter or Instagram .

Sep 24, 2017

Mike McDerment is the co-founder and CEO of FreshBooks, the world's #1 cloud accounting software for self-employed professionals. Built in 2003 after he accidentally saved over an invoice, Mike spent 3.5 years growing FreshBooks from his parents' basement. Since then, over 10 million people have used FreshBooks to save time billing, and collect billions of dollars. The Learning Leader Show "We give trust to earn trust. Lead with trust. That's the world I want to live in." Show Notes: Sustained Excellence. Common Themes of Leaders who Sustain Excellence: Been through something hard Strong morals - set of values, make upstanding decisions, believe in people, don't compromise Creative Surround self with great people Strong desire to grow Default Trust to "ON" First Principles -- Distill things down to underlying system: The act of taking a problem and breaking it down Building FreshBooks -- "I didn't know anything about anything." The #1 place to work -- have won awards for their culture What do you do? "We are in the business of saving people time." Moving to his parents basement to start the business... Running lean Culture takes deliberate thought Must have people who are diverse but share your values Need guidelines/rule sets The 9 Values: Passion - Love your craft Ownership Results Change - Bring learning and growth Honesty Fun - Deliberately make it fun Empathy Strive - Stretch Trust Secrecy - Open inside, but nothing leaves from inside Values/Culture used in 2 ways Publicly recognize people living the values Swiftly eliminate people who don't embody those values - Listen, hear, be open. Recognize that cultures need to be hacked, evolve, change. Inner office dating? Why is that promoted? What does it mean? Everyone spends the first month in customer service. All build that foundation -- Why they prolong onboarding and how that leads to long term success Make decisions today to win in 3-5 years Decided to re-platform even though the rule is to "never re-write or re-platform" "How do you minimize risk, but maximize impact?" "Something that no one had ever done before. Create a new company in secret." Lead with trust: "We give trust to earn trust. Lead with trust. That's the world I want to live in." Imposter Syndrome and FEAR. Embracing it "Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable" -- It's the path to growth. Nobody has all of the answers Advice to 20 year old -- He was lost, not doing well. Realize that everyone else is too. Nobody knows what they are doing even if it looks like they do." Read -- E Myth (Michael Gerber), Idea Virus (Seth Godin), Execution (Ram Charan) Learning Leader -- Per Mike, "That's me." The challenge & personal growth. "How do you minimize risk and maximize impact?" Social Media: Read: Execution - Ram Charan Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeMcDerment Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell

Sep 17, 2017

The Learning Leader Show 223: Kim Malone Scott - Using Radical Candor To Be A Great Boss "It is important for leaders to be learners, not tellers." Show Notes: Sustained Excellence. Common Themes of Leaders who Sustain Excellence: They care about their people as humans, they care personally They are honest, not worried about being liked all the time, they are willing to challenge directly Can you be both liked and respected? Yes, but you shouldn't strive to be popular Jony Ive and Steve Jobs story -- Steve told them the team their work was of poor quality. Jony said, "Why were you so harsh Steve?" Steve asked, "Why didn't you tell them the work was bad? It's your job to do that." Jony replied, "I didn't want them to be upset or distraught." Steve said, "You are vain. You just want to be liked." The biggest mistake new bosses make is trying to be liked by everyone and NOT being direct. Your employees should never have to say, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" -- A great boss gives directly feedback in a timely manner A great boss creates an environment where everyone can tell the truth (up, down, and sideways in an organization) Understand the framework How to created this culture? Start by asking for feedback. You can't give feedback if you're not willing to take it. Go to question: "What could I be doing to make it better for you?" Use a "Start, Stop, Continue" exercise Create a "Speak Truth To Power" environment Embrace the discomfort "Listen with the intent to understand... Not just waiting to talk." Must reward the candor -- When you receive good feedback, you must implement it. You must fix the problem. Google/Sheryl Sandberg story Sheryl's feedback: "You said "um" a lot during that presentation, would you like a speech coach?" -- "No, I'm fine, thanks." -- "Kim, when you say "um" every third word, it makes you sound stupid." Sheryl knew she need to be very direct with Kim and they built a relationship of trust and care. That's the only way she was able to get through to Kim and help her Hiring is the most important decision you will make as a leader "If you're not dying to work with that person, don't hire them" Steve Jobs - "It's better to have a hole than an asshole" Dick Costolo - "You can't just hire great people and get out of their way. You must invest time in helping them, develop them even more." Jony Ive - "New ideas are fragile. You must create space to talk about them." "Your job as the boss isn't to be the decider, it's to make sure everyone knows who the decider is." The Wright Brothers -- Watching birds for hours --> Learning how to build wings for human airplane flight Dick Costolo -- Build in 2 hours of "think time" per day in your calendar Career advice: "Quit talk of building a great resume, build a great life" Find people to have career talks with... Recount your life story with them. Zero in on changes you've made. Think "What motivates you about work?" Understand what drives you, what matters, why? -- Think about your dreams... Make sure your dreams and values are in alignment. Create a plan "It is important for leaders to be learners, not tellers." "When you say "Um" every third word, it makes you sound stupid." -- Sheryl Sandberg's direct feedback to Kim after a presentation to Larry & Sergei Social Media: Read: Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity Follow Kim on Twitter: @kimballscott Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Callaway Golf . We have partnered to give away The #1 selling Driver in 2017. The Callaway GBB Epic Driver. This club is valued at $499 and we are giving one away to a loyal listener of the show. To enter the drawing: Tweet (or post on Instagram ) a favorite leadership quote from an episode of The Learning Leader Show and tag/@ me on Twitter or Instagram .

Sep 10, 2017

Jon Acuff is back for a second time on The Learning Leader Show! JON ACUFF is the author of five books, including the New York Times Bestseller Do Over. For nineteen years he's helped companies like the Home Depot, Bose, Staples, and AutoTrader.com tell their stories. He's a well-known public speaker, and his blogs have been read by millions of fans. His most recent book is: Finish - Give Yourself The Gift of Done. If you'd like to listen to the first conversation Jon and I had on January 27, 2016, CLICK HERE . Episode 222: Jon Acuff Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show Want to write a book? "What question are you willing to spend two years answering?" Show Notes: Why Jon dedicated this new book to his parents and their belief in him as a writer His Dad was a pastor, a communicator. Have to learn how to shape ideas and be a speaker What took so long for Jon to believe he was a writer? "I'm a writer. When you do it enough, it becomes possible. I've written six books." Why this book? "People say, I like your book Start , but I never finish, how do I finish?" Like Jim Collins, Jon says, "What is a question I'm willing to spend two years answering?" 91% of Americans want to write a book and less than 1% of them do it "I want this thing to be part of my life... This has multiple applications." James Clear says it's the friction at the start... Lacing up the shoes and beginning the run. Jon reply "Is it harder to buy a treadmill or use the treadmill?" This is built on research. 900 participants. It is a data driven book How to mix in humor... Why to study stand up comedians? "I've watched 100 stand up comedians for every 1 business leader" "If you want to enjoy the internet more, you must know it's not about you. It never is." -- People are thinking about themselves (Tracy McGrady & JR Smith) Goal Setting: Cut them in half, make the goals smaller Test principles -- Look to be 5%-10% better "Before I set a goal, I make sure it is the right size" How this relates to setting sales goals/quotas in a big company Need a culture of honesty and realistic goals in order to thrive, grow, and survive "A goal is a promise to yourself" "Make it fun if you want it done" Satisfaction goes up Performance goes up How to get something done? Reward Fear Which one do you better respond to? You need to know. How about the people that work for you? You need to know How Jon will read 156 books this year What is the story you want to tell your kids? Are you proud of what you do everyday? "The old rules don't apply anymore... The faucet of freelance money can turn on." Why do some have "the fear of success?" Fear of money Fear of high expectations Self sabotage Fear of "what's next?"

Sep 3, 2017

Episode 221: Phil Jones - What To Say To Influence And Impact Others (Magic Words) Phil's passion to "Teach The World To Sell", now sees him traveling the globe speaking to a breadth of audiences, from small business owners to workforces and mass organizations, spreading his message and sharing his highly credited teachings. To date he's spoken in 56 different countries across five continents and with his growing popularity, he's expected to add many more to his roster. Episode 221: Phil Jones - What To Say To Influence And Impact Others (Magic Words) Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "I Learned That Success Leaves Clues." Show Notes: Sustained Excellence: Dogged determination Curiosity - Continue to demand improvement from self Detach self of the outcome - be of service to your customer. Celebrate quietly in the background when the client wins How he learned to hustle: Came from a home without much money... Learned to sell his mom's sandwiches at lunch. Then started a business going door to door offering to wash cars for money He grew to make more money than his teachers when he was 15 "How much money are you making sire?" -- Phil would say to teachers when they criticized him for missing class By 18, he was named the youngest sales manager in fashion retailer Debenhams, history Day to Day Phil delivers 100 keynote presentations a year "Respect is something that is to be earned" Ridiculous goal -- "Get my book in front of one million people" Using Magic words "I'm not sure if it's for you, but..." "Magic words are words that speak right to the subconscious of our brain" If you change 1 or 2 words, it can change everything. You must learn, train, and prepare... Write a script "You still cry at movies... But the actor is reading a script. It's not real. You need to learn to read scripts." Magic Word/Phrase "You wouldn't happen to know..." -- Create a path of least resistance for a referral How has Phil learned what he teaches? "120,000 negotiations. Messing up. Being brave enough to say what works and what doesn't." Magic Word/Phrase "How open minded are you?" -- When you're trying to internally sell a new idea, this works. Everyone wants to see themselves as open minded. This phrase primes the brain to be more open minded to a new idea. It helps people opt in to your idea. How to open a keynote speech? Ask questions of the audience... "Change one word to change everything" (Listen for more in depth story. This was a really good part. Around the 26:30 mark) "Questions start conversations, conversations lead to relationships, relationships lead to opportunities." Methods for prospecting: You don't need to knock on every door A great story on what you would do if you lost a child at a department store (again... must listen) "Go look for who you really want." You must identify those people Define who they are... "You wouldn't happen to know?" How he runs/manages his business and prospects Franchises, MLMs, Healthcare space Referrals, gifts, emails, calls Utilizing Robert Cialdini's method for reciprocity... "They end up thanking ME!" 3rd party credibility and permission Magic Word/Phrase: "Just one more thing..." -- TV detectives in the 80's and 90's This helps both upsells AND downsells (sometimes you won't get the huge deal initially... Must work your way in to build the relationship starting small) Magic Word/Phrase: "Most People..." -- "This helps you tell people what to do without telling them what to do." People love to be led. Example: Yelp reviews When people are stuck being indecisive... "Look, what most people do..." Learning Leader = Leaders are always learning. "You've never arrived. You're always becoming." Good, Better, or Best: What do you want? You want to be better... Always striving to improve "Questions start conversations. Conversations lead to relationships. Relationships lead to opportunities." Social Media: Read: Exactly What To Say Follow Phil on Twitter: @philmjonesuk Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Callaway Golf . We have partnered to give away The #1 selling Driver in 2017. The Callaway GBB Epic Driver. This club is valued at $499 and we are giving one away to a loyal listener of the show. To enter the drawing: Tweet (or post on Instagram ) a favorite leadership quote from an episode of The Learning Leader Show and tag/@ me on Twitter or Instagram .

Aug 27, 2017

The Learning Leader Show Episode 220: Robert Greene - The Laws Of Power & Mastery Robert Greene is an American author and speaker known for his books on strategy, power and seduction. He has written five international bestsellers: The 48 Laws of Power , The Art of Seduction , The 33 Strategies of War , The 50th Law and Mastery . In addition to having a strong following within the business world and a deep following in Washington, DC, Greene's books are hailed by everyone from war historians to the biggest musicians in the industry (including Jay-Z and 50 Cent). "Do Not Speak Unless You Can Improve Upon The Silence." Show Notes: Sustained Excellence: Self Mastery Self Control -- "We are emotional animals, governed by emotions. It can get you in trouble." Self Discipline Flexibility -- Ability to adapt Why Napoleon was successful? He had a front line obsession Writing a book with 50 Cent "Never let your guard down" Law 4 - Always say less than necessary. "Do not speak unless you can improve upon the silence." Learn the power of being quiet If you're upset about an email, do not respond emotionally. Wait 24 hours and then respond with a level head Law 9 - Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument. "Demonstrate, do not explicate." Commit to action. Words are devalued "Show them. Don't talk." Law 10 - Infection: Avoid The Unhappy and Unlucky You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with "We absorb the energy of other people." Look to "level up" your peer group at all time" How to deal with a person in a power position who you do not like or respect? Do not let them see you upset. Do not show them emotion (when they try to rile you up) Did President Trump read The 48 Laws of Power? He appears to have used some of the laws to help get elected: Law 6 - Court attention at all cost Law 17 - Keep others in suspended terror. Cultivate an air of unpredictability Law 27 - Play on people's need to believe to create a cult like following Very common in business for an "aggressive, loud yeller" to push people around and somehow get promoted... But once they have to actually lead and manage people, they fail miserably Rappers, movie stars, athletes quoting (even tattooing) The 48 Laws . How has that impacted you? Great satisfaction, but even more from "regular" people who email him and said his work helped them start a business or quit a bad job. "Sometimes you don't know what you're intended to do. It pays to have an open mind." -- Robert didn't write The 48 Laws of Power until he was 38 years old "The human brain does not learn unless it is excited" Cesar Rodriguez -- "Trust The Process" -- You must get reps, reps, reps in order to achieve any level of excellence Think long term and put in the necessary work to be great Advice: "You were born with a purpose. Tap into what makes you different and unique. There is tremendous pressure to fit in. You will have success if you dig deep, be adventurous, try things out. Respect your unique-ness, something great will happen." "The Human Brain Does Not Learn Unless It Is Excited." Social Media: Read: T he 48 Laws Of Power Read: Mastery Follow Robert on Twitter: @RobertGreene Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

Aug 20, 2017

219: Eric Barker - Everything You Know About Success Is (Mostly) Wrong Eric Barker is a thought leader in the field of success. His humorous, practical blog, "Barking Up the Wrong Tree", presents science-based answers and expert insight on how to be awesome at life. Over 300,000 people subscribe to his weekly newsletter and his content is syndicated by Time Magazine, The Week, and Business Insider. He has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic Monthly, and the Financial Times. Eric is also a sought-after speaker and interview subject, and has been invited to speak at MIT, Yale, West Point, the University of Pennsylvania, NPR affiliates, and on morning television. To Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: www.RyanHawk.net www.LearningLeader.com Show Notes: Sustained Excellence: Consistent habits and routines Experiment Evolve Learn/Grow Create a feedback loop Steve Martin -- "Being great isn't hard. Being consistent is." -- (Note: Watch the Steve Martin MasterClass) -- Meta principal for how people do things "Hit the ball every time. It's hard." Eric started the blog in 2009 -- He read abstracts, academic research He wanted to focus on things that were applicable to being awesome at life "The future is already here, it's just not evenly distributed." How he went from unemployed --> MBA in 2009 --> Screenwriter in Hollywood for Disney, Fox --> Successful blog/book Advice to people who have a side hustle: "It's a hard road. Give 1 hour per day to it. If you really want to do it, there will be trade offs. You have to measure how you will spend your time and what's important to you." Book writing vs Blog writing -- Book = 5 days per week working on. Blog = 2 days per week. How can we find work life balance? -- "It did not previously exist for me." How to say NO like Warren Buffett Networking -- Who you know is very important... However there is a tradeoff and extroverts waste time "at the water cooler" Nice guys, Givers... There is a tight rope between confidence and delusion There is a problem: "Nobody likes narcissism and hubris, but some confident people have those qualities." When is it a good idea to quit? "It's unrealistic to never quit. We quit things all the time. Show GRIT on the things that are important to you." Make little bets -- Read Little Bets by Peter Sims Learning Leader = Humility "People love having choices... But people hate making choices." Social Media: Read: Barking Up The Wrong Tree Follow Eric on Twitter: @bakadesuyo Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 216: Jim Collins -- How To Go From Good To Great Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why

Aug 13, 2017

Episode #218: David Hornik - Why Givers Win Show Notes: Sustained Excellence: Great story-tellers -- Every message is better told as a story Great sales people Why generous people win in the long run -- David is naturally generous He answers every email VC's invest in people more than investing in a product The story of Danny Shader and their daughters' soccer team The many conversations which led to working together after Danny initially turned David down because he thought he was "too nice" -- Why he was wrong The aspect of the job that David doesn't like -- Narcissistic people - "You don't have to be that way" "In the long run, doing the things you like, with the people you like, will be better" What percentage of your job do you love? -- "North of 80% of it. I've been doing this for 17 years. You have to do it with people you enjoy. If not, it's terrible." Do you have a boss? -- "Not really" How to handle a bad loss? -- "We lost $35m at one point. A lot of sleepless nights. It was very hard. This business is not all about succeeding." Why doesn't David use hard end dates on his term sheets like all other VC's? "Investing is a big decision." How to differentiate from other VC's? Money is all the same, does not differentiate "It's about help, guidance. I tell them to speak with every person I've ever worked with. Ask them what they think." "I genuinely care about people I work with" "The Lobby" -- David's annual conference -- "The best values from conferences are the relationships with other attendees." Do work outside at a table in Hawaii -- It promotes better work Best advice for hosting and event? "Maniacally curate the guest list. It has to be full of givers. If takers are there, it won't work." Start the conference with a fun game Do NOT gather in conference rooms (Hence the name "The Lobby") - The best conversations happen during the breaks in the lobby Goal is to break even on the event. The budget is more than $1m -- Get sponsors, the guests all pay "The goal in life is to have a good time... To have a good life. What's the point otherwise?" "My goal is to surround myself with great people and enjoy my life. See what's out there if you don't like what you're doing." Making a lot of money... Impact? "If I make more, I can give more away."

Aug 6, 2017

217: JJ Redick - "You've Never Arrived. You're Always Becoming." Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio JJ Redick is an iconic and legendary basketball player from Duke University. He is their all time leading scorer. JJ was the 11th overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft (Orlando Magic). He's going in to his 12th NBA season. He recently signed a 1 year, $23 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. He graduated from Duke with a major in history and a minor in cultural anthropology. He is an extremely thoughtful leader and someone I loved talking to... The Learning Leader Show "There was never any sense that I was done accomplishing things. You've never arrived. You're always becoming." Show Notes: Sustained Excellence: Passion for what they do Coach K has this at Duke, Steve Ballmer has this with Microsoft as well They master the small stuff -- Read The Carrot Seed Being in the weeds everyday Diligence to be in the weeds Adaptability Coach K doesn't have a system. He adapts to his current players. It changes every year. Same is true for Bill Belichick and Greg Popovich "How do I maximize this team's personnel?" "Each year you have to adapt" The power of receiving a daily devotional "There was never any sense that I was done accomplishing things." The importance of coaches, parents, and friends to never let JJ feel entitled. They would call him out if needed 2nd half of the ACC championship when he was acting like a brat. Chris Collins called him out How do we develop GRIT in our children if we're able to provide anything they could ever want? "The biggest thing I learned from my Dad was he went to work everyday. Then he came home and would work on the house, the yard, and work more. He showed me how to work." Live under your means "Stuff doesn't matter, we care more about having great experiences as a family" Falling Upward - "to reach the second half of your journey, you need to fail" -- It's necessary Working in an imperfect environment -- "Mastering mechanics in an imperfect environment" "You can't master it unless you've done it over and over and over" "It's very rare that anyone works in a perfect environment" -- You must be able to adapt Mindset going in to free agency? "Wanted stability. Had 15 minutes to decide on the 76ers offer." Being an "over thinker." "Addicted to information" -- How does that impact him as a shooter? "I am addicted to information. I am a deep dive person." How to handle a slump? --"You have to enjoy the mundane. I love going in the gym and shooting over and over." (Angela Duckworth -- GRIT ) Goal setting process -- Each year, write down a list of what you want to accomplish Some examples: Win an NBA championship, get a sleeve (arm) tattoo, have a son, go on a great European vacation. Setting life goals every year -- "How do we include other people on this journey?" A "Words of Wisdom" file on his phone Life after basketball General Manager in front office or creating a media company to tell interesting stories. Building something. Anthony Bourdain is the blueprint. He uses food to tell interesting stories OR the idea of completely reinventing himself. "That idea is both terrifying and exciting at the same time." "The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." Building relationships and networks in a variety of places Working with and learning from LeBron James and Maverick Carter "The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." Social Media: Read: Th e Carrot Seed See why over 280,000 people follow JJ on Twitter: @JJRedick Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 078: Kat Cole - From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Callaway Golf . We have partnered to give away The #1 selling Driver in 2017. The Callaway GBB Epic Driver. This club is valued at $499 and we are giving one away to a loyal listener of the show. To enter the drawing: Tweet (or post on Instagram ) a favorite leadership quote from an episode of The Learning Leader Show and tag/@ me on Twitter or Instagram .

Jul 30, 2017

Episode 216: Jim Collins – How To Go From Good To Great Show Notes: Sustained Excellence: Never go to a meeting without writing down 5 questions prior to the meeting Always follow up the meeting with at least a page of notes -- Share those with your mentor What made you say yes to The Learning Leader Show after 2 1/2 years? It requires intense focus to prepare This is a teaching moment Only say yes if it's going to be impactful. The team determined this show was the right place to do that Always ask yourself -- "How can I make myself useful to the world?" This was advice originally given to him by Peter Drucker A great teacher can change your life in 30 seconds -- Peter Drucker did that for Jim "I am constitutionally unemployable" -- Why Jim feels this about himself His curiosity has led to the success and most importantly... Great questions like: How to turn something into an enduring great company? How someone or a company can go from Good To Great? Jim most admired Peter Drucker when he was 35 years old... The story of their first meeting and how Peter was the curious one... Kept peppering Jim with questions to start the conversation (much like Jim did to me to start this conversation) "The ultimate zen master with bamboo stick" Drucker - "It seems to me that you spend a lot of time worrying if you will survive. You probably will survive. You seem to focus a lot on the question, "how to be successful?" That is the wrong question. The right question is "How to be useful?" What would it have cost Jim to not publish Good To Great after he finished the manuscript? -- More than $100m. He had to get it out in the world. He felt it was his responsibility to do so... Another great mentor said to Jim... "When seeking an entrepreneurial path... Cut off all other options and GO." "Everything is driven by by questions" Can a good company become a great company? How? Level 5 Leader Starts with confronting the brutal facts Personal humility and professional will Not what, but who -- Get the right people on the bus Does not happen in one fell swoop or a leap. It happens over time. Flywheel -- Create momentum Understand the hedgehog concept -- An expert in one thing... Knows it very well 3 Parts of the Hedgehog concept Deeply passionate about it Encoded for it... You're really good at it. An expert Economically, you can make money from it Level 5 Leaders: What cause do I serve? Humility to serve... It's not about them Willful -- Able to make difficult decisions For the best Level 5 Leaders... How do they sustain it? It's easier for them because they understand their personal hedgehog -- It helps them remain renewed after many years "Measured Risk" vs. "Burn The Boats" Fire Bullets... Then Cannon Balls For Jim, this was his first two books + his time as a professor at Stanford before he decided to leave to start his own company You must navigate your path. It doesn't mean you take unfounded risk... Fire bullets first, then cannonballs "If you never fire a cannonball, you'll never make it. "BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) How to write a good one? Take calibrated, calculated risk -- Have things to keep you alive even if everything goes wrong Productive Paranoia Validation - What are points of success you can look to? Jim's wife Joann committing to winning an Ironman race... She was a consultant at the time. She was also a runner. She tried biking and was very good at it. Eventually she practiced, took measured risks, and won the Ironman race "If you were a trial attorney and had to win the case, what evidence would you use?" The Flywheel principle and putting it to use for Jeff Bezos and the Amazon team -- How could they build momentum? After Jim met with Jeff Bezos and his leadership team in 2001, Amazon executives were elated; according to several members of the team at the time, they felt that, after five years, they finally understood their own business.Most important for young leaders -- Jim's advice "FIRST WHO, THEN WHAT?" Who do you want to mentor you? Who do you want to mentor? Who do you want to be your friends? Who do you want to work with? Who do you want to spend time with? The most important question is WHO You don't need to answer WHAT until you answer WHO "The most important question is WHO. First WHO, then WHAT. Who will be your mentor? Who will be your friends? Who will you help? Who will you spend time with? You don't need to answer what until well after you've answered WHO." Social Media: Read: Good To Great Read: Great By Choice Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: NateBoyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Callaway Golf . We have partnered to give away The #1 selling Driver in 2017. The Callaway GBB Epic Driver. This club is valued at $499 and we are giving one away to a loyal listener of the show. To enter the drawing: Tweet (or post on Instagram ) a favorite leadership quote from an episode of The Learning Leader Show and tag/@ me on Twitter or Instagram . To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 Jim Collins is a student and teacher of leadership and what makes great companies tick. Having invested a quarter century of research into the topic, he has authored or co-authored six books that have sold in total more than ten million copies worldwide. They include: GOOD TO GREAT , the #1 bestseller, which examines why some companies and leaders make the leap to superior results, along with its companion work GOOD TO GREAT AND THE SOCIAL SECTORS; the enduring classic BUILT TO LAST , which explores how some leaders build companies that remain visionary for generations; HOW THE MIGHTY FALL, which delves into how once-great companies can self-destruct; and most recently, GREAT BY CHOICE , which is about thriving in chaos – why some do, and others don't – and the leadership behaviors needed in a world beset by turbulence, disruption, uncertainty, and dramatic change.

Jul 23, 2017

Episode 215: Chris Fussell -- How To Build A Team of Teams (One Mission) Chris Fussell is a Partner at the McChrystal Group Leadership Institute. He is the author of One Mission: How Leaders Build a Team of Teams , and a co-author of the New York Times bestseller Team of Teams , the first book in the series. He was commissioned as a Naval Officer in 1997 and spent the next 15 years on U.S. Navy SEAL Teams around the globe. He then served as Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal during McChrystal's final year commanding a Joint Special Operations Task Force fighting Al Qaeda around the globe. Since leaving active duty in 2012, Fussell has also served as a Senior Fellow for National Security at New America, sits on the Board of Directors for the Navy SEAL Foundation, is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and teaches at Yale University's Jackson Institute. Episode 215: Chris Fussell -- How To Build A Team of Teams (One Mission) Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Remember, your position has little formal authority but massive reach. For many of the organizations we interact with, their entire opinion of our organization will be shaped off the tone of your emails, the courtesy you give their staff, and the respect you show for their Mission." -- General Stanley McChrystal speaking to Chris Fussell immediately following him becoming his Aide-De-Camp Show Notes: Sustained Excellence: A constant intellectual curiosity The interview process to become General McChrystal's Aide-De-Camp A unique window to get that exposure McChrystal trusted that if Chris wasn't qualified, then he wouldn't have been nominated Career goals --> Family situation (could it handle Chris working 24/7 for a year? --> What would Chris enjoy about it? What sealed Chris earning the job? Chris being incredibly curious about wanting to fully understand how the organization runs at a high level. General McChrystal loved that about Chris "It was one of the hardest years of my career" It was intense but the exposure was phenomenal "If we've hit a point for 24 hours where we aren't questioning something, or there is no friction, then something is wrong" How to handle issues at UBER? "The issue is putting too much on to 1 person. It's not about 1 heroic leader. There needs to be a cultural shift. They need to create a leadership culture." Operating Rhythm -- John Heisman 1899: The hurry up offense. Just because you have a 40 second play clock, doesn't mean you have to use all of it. Chris and team were on a 24 hour operating rhythm. They re-synchronized every 24 hours. Had to have a flexible approach to handle the enemy. A sense of shaped consciousness Chris Zook An aversion to bureaucracy Front line obsession Transparency of communication model Senior leaders remain in close contact with issues on the ground without having to put out all of the fires Hybrid model layered into it --> Interconnected model McChrystal's advice to Chris when he first got the job: "Remember, your position has little formal authority but massive reach. For many of the organizations we interact with, their entire opinion of our organization will be shaped off the tone of your emails, the courtesy you give their staff, and the respect you show for their Mission." Chris's career advice: Don't think about money/industry -- Think what matters most to you? Lifestyle -- Coaching little league or being a high level CEO? Where do you want to be in 5 years? Where do you want to live? Do you want to raise a family? Important to map all of that out and build a profession around those goals. Chris also teaches at Yale and does this exercise Write a letter to yourself -- What type of leader do you want to be in 5 years? Map out your goals "It's a cultural shift. A development of a leadership culture is needed." -- Chris Fussell discussing the changes he would make at UBER Social Media: Follow Chris on Twitter: @FussellChris Read: One Mission: How Leaders Build A Team Of Teams Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: NateBoyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Callaway Golf . We have partnered to give away The #1 selling Driver in 2017. The Callaway GBB Epic Driver. This club is valued at $499 and we are giving one away to a loyal listener of the show. To enter the drawing: Tweet (or post on Instagram ) a favorite leadership quote from an episode of The Learning Leader Show and tag/@ me on Twitter or Instagram .

Jul 16, 2017

Episode 214: Jason Calacanis - How To Turn $100,000 Into $100,000,000 (Angel Investing) Jason Calacanis is a technology entrepreneur and an angel investor. The founder of a series of conferences that bring entrepreneurs together with potentials investors, he was a scout for top-tier Silicon Valley venture capital firm Sequoia Capital and frequently appears in the media. He is the author of a new book, Angel: How To Invest In Technology Startups - Timeless Advice From An Angel Investor Who Turned $100,000 into $100,000,000 . Episode 214: Jason Calacanis - How To Turn $100,000 Into $100,000,000 (Angel Investing) Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "I don't need to know if your product will succeed. I need to know if you will succeed." Show Notes: Sustained Excellence/Key Traits in the greatest Founders Craftsmanship -- Making something, having attention to detail, understanding the why Passion Intentionality Thoughtful - Do they know why they do what they do As an investor, you need to ask short questions "Small Mouth, Big Ears" -- LISTEN. Let the founder talk Are they a missionary or a mercenary? Need to know Why are they doing this? They need to understand that it is really hard Self awareness is a must -- Jason knows that he is a compulsive gambler. He has a risk taking approach. He likes having an edge. But he also has "tilt control." He knows when to lay down a big hand (poker speak for when you have a big hand but still know it's not enough) You need to know who you are and what you enjoy "I love being the guy cutting a check for a founder that nobody else believes in" "I win about once in every 40 investments. I was a poor kid from Brooklyn and now I'm extremely wealthy" "I found a casino called Silicon Valley" "There are a lot of really dumb people who are fabulously wealthy in Silicon Valley" "Investing in this market is like being dealt the Ace of Spades" Winning big poker hands against Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth Jason covered Travis Kalanick while he was at Scour When Travis showed him Uber, Jason immediately said, "Can I invest?" Were some of the qualities that led to Travis and Uber's success also what led to the problems? He has a fighter mentality. That's why he's been so successful. It's a fair question to ask if that's what has led to these problems as well... Sometimes you have to take a step back and analyze what's happening Getting from A to B, you need to fight. Going from B to C, you need empathy How do you get paid as an Angel Investor? Go public -- IPO Secondary Shares -- Company buys back shares from early investors (this happened for Jason with Facebook) Company is bought -- WhatsApp, Oculus, Instagram -- Get cash/stock Investing practices How much of your bankroll do you put in play? Build a network -- Technology is the future Ways that everyone can invest Syndicates Angel List Seed Invest Social Media: See why over 286,000 people follow Jason on Twitter: @Jason Read: Angel - How To Invest In Technology Startups - Timeless Advice From An Angel Investor Who Turned $100,000 Into $100,000,000 Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: NateBoyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Rhone . Use the code "Leader" for 15% off. Rhone... premium activewear engineered with principle, performance and progress for the modern man. Rhone builds clothing around 3 main tenants: Cutting-edge Performance, Premium Comfort, and Simplistic Style.

Jul 9, 2017

Episode 213: Ryan Holiday - How To Make Work That Lasts (Perennial Seller) This is Round 3 with best-selling author, entrepreneur, and renowned marketing strategist, Ryan Holiday. If you'd like to listen to our first conversation, go HERE . If you'd like to check out the second one, go HERE . Brian Koppelman (screenwriter & director: Rounders, Ocean's Thirteen and Billions) once said, "I don't have many rules in life, but one I never break is: If Ryan Holiday writes a book, I read it as soon as I can get my hands on it." I agree. And I love every opportunity I have to speak with and learn from Ryan Holiday. I'm thankful that he sent me an advanced copy of his newest book, Perennial Seller . And if you care about making work that lasts, I urge you to read it. Episode 213: Ryan Holiday - How To Make Work That Lasts (Perennial Seller) Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Give, Give, Give, Give... Build Karmic Debt." Show Notes: Sustained Excellence = Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick embracing Obstacle Is The Way and Ego Is The Enemy How to build something that is "timeless" When you build your home, are you thinking about how it will look in 10 years When you cut your hair or wear an outfit, do you think about how it will look years later in pictures? Why write Perennial Seller ? It's important not to dive in until you have a path Always think, "How do I make this last?" "Literary greatness is 10 years or more" "I have to follow my own advice" Platform How Kevin Hart built his platform (and email list) every night while on stage People need to think about how they are building their platform long before they launch Kevin Kelly -- 1,000 true fans Who are you launching to? "Kevin Hart was knocked on his ass. He would go to cities where he didn't have fans to build up his platform and email list. This was before he was famous." "People want to have a platform, but they don't want to build a platform." You must build it through giving Ryan Holiday built his email list to 81,000 by recommending books. He recommended 1,000 books before he asked anyone to buy one of his. "Give, Give, Give, Give... Build Karmic Debt." -- The world is not zero sum The success of Eric Barker and his book Barking Up The Wrong Tree. He built his email list up to 300,000 people by blogging/writing regularly for years. He gave for free, provided value. His book sold many and became a best seller because he built his platform. Jeff Bezos -- "Focus on the things that do not change." - Zoom in on something timeless. "It starts by wanting to create a classic." -- Robert Greene How do we avoid falling for the seduction of short term notability to focus on long term success? The "Lindy Effect" -- Nasim Taleb The Obstacle Is The Way sold 3,000 books the first week, then steadily sold more. Now it sells about 1,000 a week. "What are you making and who are you making it for?" "Marketing is not separate, it's part of the puzzle." Ryan discusses still receiving "hate" for Trust Me I'm Lying Idea --> Execution. Casey Neistat " I don't want to hear about your best idea. The idea is the easy part ." Writing Routines -- Why Ryan started studying the routines of other great writers "You have to have a routine. You must treat this creative profession like a profession" Being very descriptive with the work Why being in great physical shape is "part of the job" You should do some form of strenuous exercise every single day Seinfeld -- Chain method. Put an X on the calendar every day for exercise Discipline: Doing it even when you don't feel good. You have to get up and do it "People want to have a platform, but they don't want to build it." Social Media: See why over 190,000 people follow Ryan on Twitter: @RyanHoliday Read: Perennial Seller Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: NateBoyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Rhone . Use the code "Leader" for 15% off. Rhone... premium activewear engineered with principle, performance and progress for the modern man. Rhone builds clothing around 3 main tenants: Cutting-edge Performance, Premium Comfort, and Simplistic Style.

Jul 2, 2017

Episode 212: Max Joseph - Catfish, Leadership, Making It Count, & Pete Berg Max Joseph is one of the creative minds behind MTV's Catfish and the director of the indie film We Are Your Friends , has teamed up with the social media app Vero to launch a new documentary series, Charismatic Thinker. He started as an editor, then become a director. He has written, directed, or produced over 64 short films including commercials and web videos. He worked with Casey Nesitat for his famous video for Nike titled, "Make It Count." It has received more than 25,000,000 views. Recently, he released his latest documentary, DICKS: Do you need to be one to be a successful leader? It has received critical acclaim and I highly recommend it. (We discussed "the making" of that film during this conversation). Show Notes: Sustained Excellence = Understanding the importance of leading and managing Why make the film about leadership? Max is a nice guy, not a bully... Was one of the bullied He thought, "If I were a dick, would I be more popular?" "Do I need to be a dick to be a good leader?" As the director it is sink or swim... "You're thrown into it. I did not learn how to lead or manage." Sports can be an education in leadership -- If you don't have that growing up, how do you learn how to lead? A Disagreeable Giver -- (Adam Grant) -- Most reduced form of the film. As a protective measure, that is the lesson in being a great leader "I do think you need to, not be a dick, but turn off the empathy meter some..." A leader must Prioritize the greater vision Why he wanted to talk to Pete Berg ("I thought he would say, "You need to be a dick to be a good leader.") Most people said you didn't need to be one to be successful. Max was looking for someone who said the opposite. His paradigm -- "You need to be a good coach" "All great leaders have a very strong backbone" Max's parents were too supportive "Being a dick is about ego... You're a dick if you're putting people down just to do it." How to make a living as a smart creative: "I've always wanted to do this. I love all aspects of filmmaking. I went to Hollywood after college to do this." First job was cutting reels for directors -- "Look you're not the next Spielberg, but can you make this DVD?" "I was a curious, excited, young filmmaker" How did he get the job on Catfish? He emailed Neev after the movie came out... The other guy who was supposed to film and be on the TV show dropped out at the last second. Max said yes and the rest is history (6 seasons, 99 episodes) Read the book: The Surrender Experiment "Every time I surrender to my passion, something amazing happens" "Editing is like being a doctor. You need to put things back together after tearing them apart." "I've had to get better at not being a hero" The famous Nike "Make It Count" video with Casey Neistat Max got to LA 13 years ago. Initially he was unhappy. He hated it. He took a vacation backpacking through Europe and thought, "I love editing, there is real passion there" "Just focus on enjoying one thing I love and that will be enough to sustain happiness" Casey called him and asked him to be his first editor He asked him to fly to New York and then travel the world for the Nike video Casey got a tattoo during it... "Do More" Embrace the adventure... Let the project grow from it Advice: "Everyone has a gift... Has a genius for something. I get really unhappy if I don't do what I love for at least an hour a day" Read Big Magic by Liz Gilbert Look up Max on YouTube and Vero Social Media: See why over 468,000 people follow Max on Twitter: @maxjoseph Watch: Make It Count Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: NateBoyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Rhone . Use the code "Leader" for 15% off. Rhone... premium activewear engineered with principle, performance and progress for the modern man. Rhone builds clothing around 3 main tenants: Cutting-edge Performance, Premium Comfort, and Simplistic Style.

Jun 25, 2017

Episode 211: Vanessa Van Edwards - How To Be Instantly Irresistible Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio "Vulnerability is sexy. There is science to prove it." Show Notes: Sustained Excellence = Being a people reader (not a mind reader) Try to listen to others more than anyone else Get to KNOW the person 3 Skills Decoding - Leaders who are able to read others accurately Encoding - Your ability to send accurate signals to others... What can I do to excite others? Self-Regulation The art/science of inspiring others We decide if someone is a winner or a loser... Do they feel pride or shame? If we feel pride, we take up more space, shame = less space Charisma -- How to be instantly irresistible? The most charismatic people High Warmth High Competence Must have both Lucille Ball is a great example. I Love Lucy Do you need high levels of charisma to be an effective leader? You do not need to be extroverted... Or a booming leader Quiet, contemplative types can be phenomenal leaders How to handle a room with a lot of people networking if you're an introvert? Your key in this room is to try and create 1 on 1 conversations. Play to your strengths Don't stand in the center of the room Stand at a high bar table Low light areas Conversation hacks: Sparks - The brain looks for hits, not misses "Anything good happen lately? "Working on anything exciting?" Ask soft yes/no questions... "A really skilled decoder is a better listener than anyone else" "Vulnerability is sexy. There is science to prove it." "Relatability comes down to ties." -- Saying "Oh, me too" creates a tie with that person. "You want this, I want this..." type speeches The 7 micro-expressions "The most charismatic people have: high warmth and high competence." Social Media: Follow Noah on Twitter: @vvanedwards Read: Captivate Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: NateBoyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why The Learning Leader Show is supported by Rhone . Use the code "Hawk" for 15% off. Rhone... premium activewear engineered with principle, performance and progress for the modern man. Rhone builds clothing around 3 main tenants: Cutting-edge Performance, Premium Comfort, and Simplistic Style.

Jun 18, 2017

Episode 210: Noah Kagan - How To Start A Business Noah Kagan was the #30 employee at Facebook (started there in 2005), and the #4 employee at Mint.com. He came up with the idea of real-time updates and executed with one engineer (Mark Slee) at Facebook. He is now the Chief Sumo at Sumo.com (A domain in which he paid $1.5m to own. We discussed why on this episode). This episode is different than most in that it was more conversational, and less interview. There was real-time coaching, and off the cuff conversation about how I should progress The Learning Leader. If you are uncomfortable with creative use of the English Language (re: use of curse words), then skip this episode. If not, I think you'll really like it. "You shouldn't get a job... You should get a career." Show Notes: Sustained Excellence = Getting feedback from professionals Noah hired pros from NPR to review his interview transcripts. "Most of the time we have too much. Need to edit it down." How to create a narrative -- The NPA producer changed his life Employees -- "They are not my people. They are people I work with. I don't like the word employee." How do you hold others accountable? -- Autonomy, coaching, help when needed. Hire correctly. "What I'm great at is starting..." How the quest to India changed Noah's life "You'll almost always push hard on the last lap." The impact Mark Zuckerberg had on him when he worked for him at Facebook "When I was at Facebook, there was a singular focus: Growth." "You shouldn't get a job, get a career." -- "I was a cubicle monkey at Intel" Using a journal to plan your day/week/month "Here is a story I've never shared before..." Why you should always ask yourself..."What's exciting for me?" Why you should go on walks with your spouse/significant other Instead of building something in a month, why not build it by Monday? -- Do it quicker than you think possible You need to constantly try and test it out... Don't overthink it. Will people pay me for this? Keep evolving Keys to building your audience "Art of The Deal" is a helpful book Noah's salary? Low 6 figures "Good people don't work for cheap rates" The two ways to scale a business Technology People What Noah learned about vision -- Initially didn't believe in it... But he has matured and fully believes in it. "As I've gotten older..." "It's much easier to get what you want when you know what you want." The impact of Noah's Dad dying had on him "I'm much more protective of my time" "Good people don't ask for cheap rates." Social Media: Follow Noah on Twitter: @noahkagan Go to: Sumo.com Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: NateBoyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Rhone . Use the code "Hawk" for 15% off. Rhone... premium activewear engineered with principle, performance and progress for the modern man. Rhone builds clothing around 3 main tenants: Cutting-edge Performance, Premium Comfort, and Simplistic Style.

Jun 11, 2017

Episode 209: Jason Redman - The Power Of Being Humble: From A Wounded Navy SEAL Sustained Excellence = Humility... Re-learning how to humble yourself. Arrogance can ruin you The story of Jay being "ripped in to" by a leader after he made a mistake that could have costs lives... And how that impacted him "Great leaders take a step back... To analyze what happened" "There are no bad teams, just bad leaders" "You have to allow the situation around you to develop before making a decision" How Ranger school helped him stop being selfish, humbled him. Forced to lead in adverse situations, and stop thinking about just himself Story: "I am bleeding out. I can feel my life ebbing away as blood seeps from my body into the Iraqi soil..." "I was hit in the face and my left arm..." How the preparation and training saved his life "If facing death, you won't be thinking about material things" The sign Jay hung up outside his hospital room The Key Tenants Lead Always Overcome All "That journey in the hospital taught me... If you are a leader, lead always" Building mental resiliency, must build an overcome mindset "The woman behind The Trident" -- How his wife Erica acted was heroic (and still is) "She never batted an eye" "When they sent me home, I was a mess, and Erica cared for me. She was never negative, never questioned me for going to war." The greatest natural leader Jay ever met -- Vince Peterson He always led by example, would never ask you to do something he wouldn't do He lost his leg below his knee "Selfless, servant leader, humble" -- Motivated and inspired you to be better Always remained calculated -- Had the ability to drive the team where it needed to go Took ideas from members of the team, dynamic leadership at it's best Listen as Jay describes how Dave Michaels was shot 27 times, fought back... And then said, "Come get me... They're all dead." The Overcome Academy A way for us to give back to veterans www.OvercomeAcademy.org Social Media: Follow David on Twitter: @JasonRedmanWW Read: The Trident Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

Jun 4, 2017

David Novak is Co-Founder, Retired Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, Inc. (Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell), one of the world's largest restaurant companies with nearly 43,000 restaurants in more than 130 countries and territories. He stepped down as CEO on January 1, 2015 and retired from Yum! and Yum!'s Board in May 2016. During his time as CEO, Yum! doubled in size and became a global powerhouse going from approximately 20% of its profits coming from outside the U.S. in 1997 to nearly 70% in 2014. David is also the best-selling author of multiple books including Taking People With You: The Only Way To Make Big Things Happen . In May 2016, he founded OGO (O Great One!) a consumer lifestyle brand on a mission to turn the world on to the awesome power of recognition and remedy what he calls the "global recognition deficit." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Sustained Excellence = "You must be passionate about what you do." Warren Buffet said he "tap dances to work everyday." You should strive to do that. Must also be a constant learner/grower. Have a healthy dissatisfaction for the status quo When people struggle at work, it's typically because they don't like the job What do you say to skeptics about the "do what you love" advice: "Colonel Sanders started KFC late in life with his social security check. It's never too late." Must be self reflective. Develop a strategy for yourself. Do a needs assessment. Dig hard at understanding yourself. The impact of moving his entire childhood. Living in 23 states by the 7th grade. Moved 3 times per year. Lived in trailer parks most of his childhood. Advice to people early in their career: "Don't wait until you have a management job to lead. Start doing it immediately." "I tried to learn everything I could from the people above me." "The minute I stopped learning, I asked for another job." "I looked at my boss as my coach. A good boss should be a coach." The manage 2 up plus 2 down strategy: Make your boss very successful and make his/her boss very successful Help the people directly working for you successful and directly help the people that work for them to be great "Every time I met with the CEO, I always brought 3-5 ideas every time we met. I always brought value to those meetings." "When a good opportunity came up, he thought of me" Coaching is an "AND" job -- Tell them what you like AND how they can improve. Must do both. The 3X5 note card exercise: Write a strength and a developmental area for yourself and share it with others so they know what you're working on. How can CEOs get people to trust them and tell the truth? -- Ask people what they would do if they had your role. LISTEN. "You have to be vulnerable enough to want to know the truth" The power of recognition -- "The secret weapon I had as a leader was to recognize great performance to drive the behaviors we valued" Why people quit their jobs: Their boss They don't feel appreciated Utilize the digital leadership platform

May 28, 2017

In This Episode, You Will Learn: Liz asks... What makes a great podcast episode? A host is listens , asks good follow up questions... And a guest who understands why they've sustained excellence and can intelligently share quality stories. The great leadership on her son's football team. Selflessness, diverse... They all made sacrifices. "We've noticed a shift fueled by technology "It's not about having the answer, it's about helping the team find the answer." How should we deal with diminishers? Diminishers don't realize they lack self-awareness -- "Accidental Diminishers" The 5 most prevalent strategies to people use to deal with diminishers: Confront Avoid Quit Quit and Stay Ignore Dimishing behavior If you are being micro-managed, don't judge or exclude -- Instead, be curious, ask why that person is a micro-manager? Think "I wonder why they need to do this?" -- This can change your mindset and create empathy for that person. It will help you be less upset "Choose to respond with curiosity. I wonder how they got like that?" -- Be empathetic Google's 5 hiring criteria for leaders: Leaders who can move in and out of leadership roles (one day they are in charge, they next day someone else is... Must be fluid) Impacting cultural change -- Share common language, behavior, belief, norms, legends, heroes, rituals Creating a culture of trust -- In low trust environments, people retreat and regroup. The best leaders are great listeners -- FULLY PRESENT with each person they speak with. "Great executives have a buffer between the stimulus and their response." -- They are measured and know when to take emotion out of their decision making process. Need a container to create space and focus How to create an environment where people do their best work..

May 24, 2017

Episode 206: Sam Walker - The Hidden Force That Creates The World's Greatest Teams: Captains Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The 7 Traits of Elite Captains: Extreme doggedness and focus in competition, often to the point of madness A tendency to play aggressively up to, and often beyond, the limits of the rules A willingness to do thankless jobs in the shadow of more acclaimed teammates A bias against making big speeches in favor of continuous practical communication A talent for displaying their commitment and motivating teammates through aggressive nonverbal means An unwavering commitment to defend their principles and speak truth to power The presence of a "kill switch" for shutting off emotion when it's not useful Studying the moment when teams went from good to great Why LeBron James is a unicorn "His model of leadership is completely new." Relation to the business world -- Some of the greatest leaders don't think they deserve the title (job title or to be captain) -- Tim Duncan & Yogi Berra The rituals of Tim Duncan Short conversations with each teammate Great facial expressions Effective messaging Never giving big speeches How to be a charismatic connector like Tim Duncan Great captains (and leaders) are not "yes men." They defend their principles and speak truth to power Jack Lambert purposely left blood on his jersey as a message to his team -- Great captains have a talent for displaying their commitment and motivating teammates through aggressive nonverbal means The ability to develop "emotional maturity." A measured approach As Liz Wiseman said "Great leaders have a buffer between the stimulus and their response" They are able to build resilience Social Media: Follow David on Twitter: @SamWalkers Read: The Captain Class Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 More Learning: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Rhone . Use the code "Hawk" for 15% off. Rhone... premium activewear engineered with principle, performance and progress for the modern man. Rhone builds clothing around 3 main tenants: Cutting-edge Performance, Premium Comfort, and Simplistic Style.

May 21, 2017

Go To www.LearningLeader.com For more information on DHH and this episode Common themes of leaders who sustain excellence: "For me it's falling in love with the work itself..." Being excited to do the actual work everyday... The actual day to day work "I don't have a need to think "What's Next?" -- "I'm thrilled to do the thing I've fallen in love with." How did he become DHH? What percentage of your job do you love and what percent do you dislike? DHH works to minimize the parts he doesn't like Managing others is low on his list of what he loves. "The thought that you can't be innovative if you aren't in the same room is bullshit." -- You can do that remotely, in fact better in most cases. DHH shares why the open office concept is horrible for creative people who like to "get shit done." Remote work gives peace, tranquility, quality Commuting to work can be a wasteful, drain on your life The future of work -- More remote work, more contractors, less full time employees "The office is something you choose to have, you don't need to have it." "The Day I Became A Millionaire" What DHH learned that day... What changed? What didn't "The things that brought happiness were the things I was already doing. I love writing, programming, reading." Will a certain amount of money ever be enough? Ray Kroc said "No." "The human condition does not end because you get rich." You'll still have problems. Best advice to give to people early in their careers? "Be careful what you wish for. Managing other people is not in my top 5 things I like to do." "Prove you can execute. That's the way to get to the executive level. Just simply make shit happen, you get shit done." You have to weigh shipping vs quality Take measured risks, and don't be afraid to make mistakes David "DHH" Heinemeier Hansson is the creator of Ruby on Rails, founder & CTO at Basecamp(formerly 37signals), best-selling author, Le Mans class-winning racing driver, public speaker, hobbyist photographer, and family man. He is the best selling author of ReWork and Remote: Office Note Required . You can also read his wildly popular writings on Medium.com/@dhh

May 14, 2017

Episode 204: Dr. Tasha Eurich - How To Become More Self-Aware Common themes of leaders who sustain excellence: Self Awareness - "I scientifically studied this." "People who work on their Self-Awareness are happier, get more promotions, and lead better lives" It's become a national sport to point out that someone is self-aware -- "I wanted to do the research behind this to truly learn about it" 95% of people think they're self aware -- But only 10%-15% are actually self aware It's vitally important to regularly question your assumptions to become more aware Don't wait for a life event or someone else to tell you to do this. You must work on it daily. The gains will be incremental (The Compound Effect) "We cannot own other people's journeys, we must own ours." You will work with people who lack awareness. Don't put it on yourself to fix it. Tasha previously worked within a company in the "Wendy Rhoades" role from Billions The Mary Tyler Moore Show -- Her boss -- Picture a "laugh track" behind what someone says to help deal with their lack of awareness Practical ways leaders build self-aware teams and organizations Alan Mulally story of how he gained self-awareness despite starting with very little of it "It shows that anyone can become self-aware" A great leader goes out of their way to build a culture where people can tell the truth." It's vital that the leader is vulnerable -- shares weaknesses and mistakes made Implementing a Business Process Review on a weekly basis Doing this at home with family as well -- Every Sunday, each family member provides updates The Speed of Trust -- Why everything is much faster when built upon the foundation of trust Pixar is the model of Trust. Ed Catmull shares how they built this. No leaks to the press. The "Selfie Syndrome" -- "There is a direct impact on social media & narcissism" "Resist the pull of the cult of self" How to promote your own work you're proud of without becoming a self-promoter? -- It's about the work and positively impacting people. Mindfulness practice = Doesn't always have to involve meditation. "Actively noticing the present" Continue Learning: Follow Tasha on Twitter: @tashaeurich Read: Insight Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

May 7, 2017

Common themes of leaders who sustain excellence: They know why they're there "They always have their eye on the why" "They think about success often" They understand their strengths and weaknesses "Surround yourself with people who compliment your strengths/weaknesses" How did Todd make a quick ascent to CEO? There must be an opportunity and then you "must go like hell when that happens" "I love the outcome, I love the impact we have" "When coming up through the company, I always kept an eye on the overall strategy" "Don't focus on getting credit for the project." "Make sure your personal goals and company goals are aligned." How he does two separate CEO roles? — "Must surround yourself with people you trust" "A strong WE" Calendar/Time Management All meetings are 15 minutes in length — This forces people to get to the point immediately Week unfolds: Front load all staff meetings by 1:00 Monday. Must be done by Monday afternoon — "What are the goals for the week?" Having a chief of staff is important Todd is an introvert and does not do back to back meetings all day. Needs 30 minutes breaks every 3 meetings to think "You said an important word… And that word is THINK" "As a manager you are responsible for the success of people." — Management means you have a responsibility for them Must give feedback. Feedback is a gift. It's generous to give feedback. "There's nothing easier than sharing credit." "Management is around understanding the differences in people, and getting the best out of them" "Leadership is about painting a vision" Lead with trust Todd's story of his first client engagement – FAILED… How his boss responded with trust was powerful — "I trust you" When managing through a crisis… BE: Clear Calm Credible How sketch comedy can help you be a better leader Bring your whole self to your job Build emotional intelligence Paying employees to take a class that has nothing to do with work (Learn a second language, guitar lessons, etc) Hiring process: "What are the first 5 things you read everyday?" — "Okay, now tell me the real answer. I want to learn about you, not what you think I want to hear" "I want to hear them defend or support an argument. It doesn't matter what it's about Books to read: The Enders Game — Incredible story about getting the best out of people and creating teams To be a Learning Leader? — "A process of building. It's a thing you do." "Time is a really expensive leader." "Must always evolve and pick up lessons"

Apr 30, 2017

Episode 202: Jenny Blake - Pivot - What Do You Do When Your Back Is Against The Wall? Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "What do you do when your back is against the wall?" In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes of leaders who sustain excellence: Great listeners -- Not just doing Getting the right people in the right seats on the bus Design thinking -- Empathy interviews Common problem with CEO's? -- They surround themselves with people who only agree with them and fear disagreeing with them Requires listening and a culture shift Why Jenny left Google Taking a leave of absence to write a book -- The impact that had on Jenny FONT - "Fear Of Not Trying" The process of uprooting her life and moving to NYC What do you do when your back is up against the wall? Think of a basketball player -- "It's not a 180... it's a pivot." "High Net Growth Individuals" -- People always looking to improve, grow, learn... Advice to others -- Don't worry too much on a formal business plan or thinking too far in advance. You can't predict it. 4 Stage Pivot Method: Plant - Strengths Scan - People, Skills, Projects, Target Pilot - Test. Like a pilot episode of a TV show -- 3 E's - Enjoy, Expert, Expand Launch Taking measured risks -- Great originals take measured risks (don't have to "burn the boats") Mentors -- "Friend-tors" Don't ask a mentor, "How can I help you?" -- Come up with a list of ideas for them and give them away. Proactively help without them asking "You can navigate uncertainty. We're always doing this." Dealing with Imposter Syndrome "Befriend your fear. It's trying to help you based on old scripts." What % of your job do you dislike? The importance of mediation -- Headspace App Gamification -- Daily To Do List "What does success look like a year from now?" Continue Learning: Follow Jenny on Twitter: @jenny_blake Read: Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Jenny Blake on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Rhone . Use the code "Hawk" for 15% off. Rhone... premium activewear engineered with principle, performance and progress for the modern man. Rhone builds clothing around 3 main tenants: Cutting-edge Performance, Premium Comfort, and Simplistic Style.

Apr 23, 2017

Episode 201: Peter Mallouk - #1 Financial Advisor In America: Tony Robbins Business Partner Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "I was not the greatest student, but I loved learning." - Peter Mallouk on why he earned 4 undergrad degrees, an MBA, a JD, and a CFP In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes of leaders who sustain excellence: Realize there is a recipe: Like baking a cake Bring incremental value Energy Discipline to do it over and over and over Why start his business? Was uncomfortable just doing Estate planning and working with unethical people Key to success Great early hires helped propel Creative Planning Time management tips Focuses on doing what he enjoys most - Spending time with clients and employees, not pointless meetings "My #1 job is to be the best option for our clients as an advisor. I spend 99% of my time with clients and employees." "I loathe meetings and seminars" Key to all of the awards? "Money follows value" -- In 2008/2009, people started looking for another financial advisor "We are very good at taking someone good and help make them great" Interview process: They receive over 100 job applications per week Resume screen all Pick the 5 best and do a phone screen Bring the best of those 100 (1 person typically) for an in person interview Meet with 6 different people Within the first 30 days, it still feels like an interview "We throw the ball and they better catch it, it's hard." Qualities needed: Education Ability to be detail oriented Great communicator Must be task oriented ("We can't make them be this, they need to have it") Make sure they can meet the clients needs How the Tony Robbins relationship started -- Peter informed Tony that he didn't fully understand what he was talking about (in regards to money) "Tony got pissed off and wrote Money: Master The Game ..." What to look for in a business? "Find something that is idiot proof because at some point an idiot will be running the company" The keys to look for in a financial advisor Independent - Gets paid the same on every investment no matter what What response has Peter received from other financial advisors? "It has been negative. I'm okay if they don't like me. I'm competing against them, I don't expect us to all get along." Continue Learning: Follow Peter on Twitter: @PeterMallouk Read: Unshakeable - Your Financial Freedom Playbook Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Peter Mallouk on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Rhone . Use the code "Hawk" for 15% off. Rhone... premium activewear engineered with principle, performance and progress for the modern man. Rhone builds clothing around 3 main tenants: Cutting-edge Performance, Premium Comfort, and Simplistic Style.

Apr 16, 2017

Episode 200: AJ Hawk & Keith Hawk - Showing Up, Doing The Work, Earning Trust, Helping Others, Winning The Super Bowl, Celebrating #200 Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "I've always been obsessed with being accountable to the people around me. I have to be there for them." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes of great coaches/leaders: A vividly clear picture of what success looks like Mission/Vision -- Habits built Give coaching feedback Look to help them "My success can only follow the success of others" Show up -- Be there (AJ) They are authentic Clearly communicate -- Jim Tressel was great at this, never had to yell Bad bosses/coaches: When they don't know what to do, they just yell They lose the principle that their job is to help people They only focus on numbers and not their people Being retired "It doesn't mean what it used to" "I now have the freedom to work on only what I want to..." "I like not being on someone else's schedule" Key to quickly earning respect from peers? "Be seen, not heard." "Be accountable to your peers/teammates. Always show up, be consistent." Must find a way to do the important "people" things and not just get caught up in the day to day tasks What do you miss? All of the people used to see daily Micro-Coaching The act of coaching others on the small details that lead to sustained excellence. The importance of doing this on a regular basis. Make it a habit Thoughts as a parent "My job to take you to the door, but it's up to you to go through it and thrive." "You need to compete as much as possible... That creates adversity, which is healthy for a kid." (AJ) "I almost feel like we have to create adversity... We don't want our kids to be spoiled." (To AJ) How will you handle it when your daughter Googles you and sees that you signed a 36 million dollar contract? Creating appreciation for your kids -- Making them earn what they get Recommend your kids spend time around those are who less fortunate so they know how lucky they are What do you hope others say about you? (Keith) - "That I helped them." "My success can only follow the success of others." "That I was full of integrity, honest, trustworthy." (AJ) - "Accountable to others, that I was a guy who made other people feel good. That they never had to question me and whether I would be where I was supposed to be. That I showed up." When people say "Man, it must be sad that AJ is done with football!" -- Not the case at all. So grateful that it happened. "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." "Always be there. Show up. Don't delegate important tasks, be there. Don't say no if you can say yes. You have to earn trust." Continue Learning: Follow AJ on Twitter: @OfficialAJHawk Read: Get Real Selling by Keith Hawk Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing AJ Hawk and Keith Hawk on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Rhone . Use the code "Hawk" for 15% off. Rhone... premium activewear engineered with principle, performance and progress for the modern man. Rhone builds clothing around 3 main tenants: Cutting-edge Performance, Premium Comfort, and Simplistic Style.

Apr 9, 2017

Episode 199: John Kralik - The Power of Gratitude (A Simple Act of Gratitude) Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Until you are grateful for what you have, you won't get what you want." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes of leaders who sustain excellence: Being grateful for what you have will lead to continued excellence How his second divorce impacted him: "The second time around, it's your fault" The power of writing thank you notes -- Learned from his grandfather "Until you are grateful for what you have, you won't get what you want." Writing one thank you note per day for one year "When you're negative, you're angry." His thank you note to his son prompted his son to take him out to lunch... What happened next? Life changing "He took out an envelope and paid me back $4,000 that he owed me." - Writing all of your employees thank you notes: Why you should do this but most don't "Instead of being mad about my bad clients, I started thanking my good ones." -- The impact this had on John's business was immense "It turns out the one thing I had to be grateful for was my 8 year old daughter." -- "She loved this awful little apartment we lived in" "There are so many things to be grateful for" "When things don't go well, stay positive, stay grateful... Good things WILL happen" How to shift a negative mindset? -- Use a pen, write it out. Write thank you notes. Use gratitude journals. Trying to find out the person's address without asking them is part of the fun and the surprise. John has written over 1,100 thank you notes since starting this process Focus on the people supporting you everyday. Say thank you How to write a great thank you note? -- John describes: 4 Sentences Always start with "thank you" Recognize the gift (or whatever they've done that's created your gratitude) Write one true sentence -- Why you're grateful Tell that person what they mean to you Listen as John reads a thank you note he wrote to his daughter (you might cry). Continue Learning: Read: A Simple Act of Gratitude Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing John Kralik on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Rhone . Use the code "Hawk" for 15% off. Rhone... premium activewear engineered with principle, performance and progress for the modern man. Rhone builds clothing around 3 main tenants: Cutting-edge Performance, Premium Comfort, and Simplistic Style.

Apr 2, 2017

Episode 198: Ian Robertson - The Winner Effect AND How Stress Can Make You Better Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Success breeds success. The mere act of winning makes it more likely you'll win again." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes of leaders who sustain excellence: Ability to set goals -- Not too big but not too easy Self belief -- Self Confidence Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic motivation There will always be someone better than you. The focus should be on improving your own self Why Elon Musk and Steve Jobs transcend the norms "A lot of people suffered in Steve Jobs desire to build those products" Steve and Elon are anomalies, not the norm "To be #1 in the industry is NOT a good goal" What happens to lottery winners a year later? -- "Ashes in your mouth" How the brain is complex What it means to be a bad dad -- Pablo Picasso "Success conveys power... Power changes your brain. It creates narcissism" Bad Dad's "hide the ladder." They get up the tree, then do not show others how they got there. "Keep a ladder down for others" "They must see that it's not God Like... That they can do it" Study: Kids -- Those who believe they can do better and influence their IQ, do better in school. With fixed mindset, failure hurts the ego How can stress make you stronger? Tiger Woods example -- Being nervous before a competition is a good thing (with the right mindset) If you have a big presentation and you say to yourself, "I'm nervous." You'll do worse than if you say "I'm really excited." Adopting a challenge mindset, visualizing the reward "Create a challenge mindset" If you're nervous, don't say "I feel calm." That's not true and your brain knows it. Instead, say "I'm excited." Use that energy for good. Using the Joe Buck "So What" method -- It can help with irrational fear of disapproval Can too much happiness be bad for you? -- Yes, over protecting our children can be bad. They need to experience adversity. "Leaders by definition have to have a vision." "Success conveys power... Power changes your brain." Continue Learning: Follow Ian on Twitter: @ihrobertson Read: The Winner Effect Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Ian Robertson on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Mar 26, 2017

Episode 197: Linda Rottenberg - Why Crazy Is A Compliment Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "The Greatest Risk Today Is Not Taking A Risk At All." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes of leaders who sustain excellence: Cannot rely too much on assumptions/success of the past Can't stop taking risks Must continually challenge yourself Start "Stealth" Women at Cholorox started testing on the playground. After proving it worked, they went to their bosses to implement "It's the best time ever to test ideas." Why Linda was called the "Chica Loca" -- "The Crazy Girl" "If you're not called crazy at the beginning of something, you're not thinking big enough" "The greatest risk today is not taking a risk at all" "People have to give themselves permission" "One of the most famous spin offs was Amazon Cloud Services" "The hardest person to convince to do something new is yourself" Lin Manuel Miranda - Hamilton. Think... "Can I afford to not do my idea?" "Don't burn the boats, but you do need to close some doors." The Paradox of Choice The problem with hollow mission statements -- Uber Culture can shift based on the leaders -- Satya Nadella leading Microsoft GE - Beth Comstock MTV - How they found the best secrets through breaking corporate molds "Stop focusing on your PowerPoint... Test, figure it out, then share." Jeff Bezos - 2 Pizza Rule Zig when everyone else zags. Learn to see the world differently The power of being vulnerability to build trust "We'll follow you anywhere Linda" "If You're Not Called Crazy At The Beginning Of Something, You're Not Thinking Big Enough" Continue Learning: Follow Linda on Twitter: @lindarottenberg Read: Crazy Is A Compliment: The Power of Zigging When Everyone Else Zags Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Linda Rottenberg on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Mar 19, 2017

Episode 196: Anthony Iannarino - The Only Sales Podcast You'll Ever Need Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Who you are matters more than what you do." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Good vs. Great. What separates the two? Self Discipline - "Me Management" Prospecting - Opportunity Creation "If your dream client could already get the result they wanted, they wouldn't need you" Qualities of the best: Caring Other Oriented Leading with insight "The skill set doesn't matter until the mindset is there" Competitive Is selling an art or a science? Creation of The Sales Blog Consistent processes "I decided I'm a writer... So I write everyday." Asked to do his first keynote after writing everyday for 10 months "The more you work, the more opportunity finds you" EEA for every keynote: Engage & Entertain Educate - Mindset shift Actionable Ideas - Know how to do something different Interview people from the audience before every keynote. Get to know them, their goals "The best leaders don't look at the scoreboard, they look at the players" Winston Churchill leadership Learn from both the good and the bad leaders -- Take notes "Leadership is the decision to be accountable for a result" "You need to lead NOW. You can decide to lead whenever you want, wherever you are." "Leadership is a decision. A choice." "Leadership is the decision to be accountable for a result" Continue Learning: Follow Anthony on Twitter: @iannarino Read: The Only Sales Guide You'll Ever Need Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Anthony Iannarino on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Mar 12, 2017

Episode 195: Derek Thompson - What Makes Something A Hit? (Hit Makers) Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Think of speechwriting like a music composer. Use repetition and choruses." In This Episode, You Will Learn: What makes something a hit? Is there a formula? No, there is not a formula... People think there is and that's a mistake Bottom line: "Distribution beats content" -- "This is an unsentimental book" There is power in distribution How did Simon Sinek's TED Talk go viral? It was shared by people with millions of followers on multiple platforms like Reddit Think: Who is my audience? Broadcast your content to the right audience Why do we always watch Dumber and Dumber and Shawshank Redemption ? There is nostalgia in art We are always trying to recover existential love How did Bumble spread? Injected into mainstream consciousness through celebrity -- Start with one very attractive sorority and continue to repeat How did Facebook spread? Piggy backed off of other networks (Harvard) How Jon Favreau and President Barack Obama write speeches: They think like musicians Using choruses and repetition The best speeches connect with people where they are -- "The power of repetition in song is remarkable" How has Derek made his book a best-seller? Familiarity and repartition followed by surprise Familiar surprises throughout Great distribution "We don't like pure originality that much. We like familiarity." Continue Learning: Follow Derek on Twitter: @DKThomp Read: Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Derek Thompson on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Mar 6, 2017

Episode 194: Nate Checketts - CEO Of Rhone: Leaving Comfort To Make An Impact Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "If I didn't think people could change, then I think life would be less meaningful." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes of leaders who sustain excellence: It's easy to say someone "got lucky" but that is almost never the case Routine - The best have a routine for long term success. Need good years, need good months, need good weeks, need good days. You must plan for that success. Create routines Advice from Jack Dorsey: How to stay focused? Focus on one thing at a time Set specific days for certain meetings and do not deviate. Take ownership of your calendar and schedule Nate's Routine Wake up at 5 am Spritual time, meditation Write in The 5 Minute Journal Exercise, Yoga, Running Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - At his desk by 7:30 "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of." - Ben Franklin "Be the dentist of your own calendar" The story of getting Rhone started in 2011 Nobody was doing premium menswear Feb. 2013 incorporated Spent an hour each way on the train commuting to his job working on Rhone "Why does it feel like taboo to talk about inspiring men? It shouldn't" Describing the fund raising process "Raising capital is much more art than science" "The biggest key for us was photography. People needed to see it" Why Shane Battier is a Rhone guy After raising $8M, how do you decide where to spend that money? Speaking about the success of his Dad, Dave Checketts (CEO of Madison Square Garden, New York Knicks) How to instill a work ethic in your children? What it was like growing up with ultra successful parents and how that impacted him How Nate and his wife parent their children How the quote "He was born on third base and convinced he hit a triple" has motivated Nate How he made money creating a sports camp in his backyard growing up "You can't teach effort" Books to read: 7 Habits (Covey) How Habits Work (Duhigg) Red Rising (Fiction) Learning Leader = "I love the idea of being an eternal student." "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of." - Benjamin Franklin Continue Learning: Follow Rhone on Twitter: @rhone Follow Nate on Twitter: @natechecketts Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Nate Checketts on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Feb 27, 2017

Episode 193: Erik Wahl - How To Rediscover Your Creative Genius Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Performing is not an act of extroversion, it's an act of connection." In This Episode, You Will Learn: The fascination with "live theatre" -- Erik is a performer on stage (art, speaking, message, theatrical) "Transport so the molecules in the room change" How to reverse engineer what we love What happened after Erik was told that "Art was not his strength" Relationship with money and success -- how it can be unhealthy Why artists have a different take on life... A life of philosophical gratitude "I built this plane as I flew it" Pursue mastery... Be insatiably curious on how to connect with audiences The power of vulnerability and why you should share more of yourself First paid gig? $1,000 in LA -- "I probably sucked." The tipping point to kick off his speaking/performing career The definition of being introverted... Erik is an introvert. He gains energy from alone time... Stage time is where the energy is spent Erik's writing process -- "Verbal Vomit" -- Fortunate to have great team of editors Why we should all study acting and stand up comedians Thinking, "What will fascinate the audience?" Pre speech routine -- Stretching, meditation. Taking energy from "Me and giving it to them" Decluttering of the mind. Meditate. Think at a higher level "Art is about producing... Thinking... Expanding consciousness" Understanding the value of being uncomfortable "Money is not important to us, we do not sell my paintings" Why audiences are drawn to authenticity and trust Why we should rehearse creativity on a regular basis How much does Erik get paid per speech now? $40,000 New ideas? Holographs, Drones, Cirque Du Soleil "Pursue excellence, pursue mastery... Let the money come where it may" "Creativity is a muscle that must face resistance to create more... Be stronger." Continue Learning: Follow Erik on Twitter: @ErikWahl Read: The Spark and The Grind Read: Unthink: Rediscover Your Creative Genius Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Erik Wahl on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Feb 20, 2017

� Episode 192: Carey Lohrenz - The 1st Female F-14 Tomcat Pilot: Fearless Leadership, Top Gun, Courage Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "The best have the courage to step up. Don't ever think others are better than you or they have advantages that you don't. Step up. Do the work." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes of leaders who sustain excellence: Mindset about how they view setbacks Have a comfort in the uncomfortable They are always learning, constantly striving for more How JJ Watt seems to embrace "the suck" Carey answers the question... "Why was she the first female F-14 Tomcat pilot?" Going to Miramar to train as a fighter pilot -- The experience of it... Some of Carey's classmates flew in the movie Top Gun Call sign: Vixen Where was Carey deployed? World wide on aircraft carriers. Discreet missions Carey has landed over 150 times on an aircraft carrier and many times at night Listen to her detailed description of what it's like to fly at night over the ocean (pitch black) An aircraft carrier = "Looks like a postage stamp... I have to land in 1.2 seconds on it" How does Carey overcome the palpable fear? Constant repetition Why write the book Fearless Leadership? The 3 Fundamentals of Fearless Leadership Courage Tenacity Integrity Courage -- You will be filled with self doubt. "The best have the courage to step up. The ability to go for it even when they're afraid." "The most successful people I've seen do what they need to do even when they don't want to do it." Keys to building a great culture Be a great wingman Trust Get help with your blind spots - have open lines of communication built on trust Must hold each other accountable What is the military's secret weapon to improvement? Debriefs: What was supposed to happen? What did happen? Why was it different? What can we learn from this? How do we incorporate this next time? The military has the ability and processes in place to learn faster than the competition. Businesses can do this too, but most don't. It starts with the Leader -- "This is what I did wrong... And how I will fix my mistake." "I went from Mach 2 to pre-school." Continue Learning: Follow Carey on Twitter: @CareyLohrenz Read: Fearless Leadership Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Carey Lohrenz on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Feb 16, 2017

Episode 191: Robert Herjavec - Shark Tank Investor + Listener Q & A Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "You don't have to be born in this country to have success in this country." - Robert Herjavec In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes of leaders who sustain excellence: Have a deep passion for their craft They bring a unique value proposition You don't have to come from a big city to make something happen Leadership: People don't want to be managed, they want to be led... You must provide value to the company Robert's thoughts on immigration and the fact that you don't need to be born in this country to be successful "It's a testament to hope... and it's really hard." "You Don't Have To Be A Shark" "You don't have to be mean to be effective. Some sharks aren't nice. Be yourself, be real..." Questions from YOU (the listeners) answered as part of the Q & A portion "What is it that inspired you to start The Learning Leader Show ?" -- Mauricio Dulon from La Paz, Bolivia "How do you coach for disciplined execution when all you get from your client are excuses? -- Norma Scott Garrell from Olive Branch, Mississippi "How do you add value as the mentee in a mentor/mentee relationship? -- Ben Arwine from Chicago, IL "What benchmarks do you use to gauge how you're doing in your leadership journey?" -- Brian Westerfield from Troy, OH "Is there any one guest whose advice or experience haunts you (in a good way)? -- Shawn Fuller from Ontario, Canada "What has been the biggest surprise for you in this journey?" -- Ryan Jacobs Continue Learning: Follow Robert on Twitter: @robertherjavec Read: You Don't Have To Be A Shark Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Robert Herjavec on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Feb 13, 2017

Episode 190: Roger Martin - Playing To Win: Strategy Is A Choice Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Strategy is about making specific choices to win in the marketplace. It requires making explicit choices to do some things and not others." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes of leaders who sustain excellence: Relentlessly look at the future They have a curious mindset... Always asking questions They ask: "Is what we're doing sustainable?" Why A.G. Lafley was such a great strategic leader You should always ask the question, "How can I put myself out of business? And think to innovate based on that answer Marrying innovation and strategic thinking: the dangers of doing this What era does all of our data come from? The past... Think carefully about that You cannot always "prove" innovation. You can't always base the future on the past. Aristotle -- Brought us analysis... How to prove/demonstrate something is true You can't ever analyze how to change the world... Steve Jobs would say "Imagine the possibilities." "Strategy is a choice. Where to play and how to win." Roger explains how to test if you have a real strategy Best advice he's received and given: 1) "Don't start on the easy stuff. Do the hard tasks first. If you work on the hardest problems, you'll find that the easier ones seem to disappear 2) Less is more. Figure out one thing you do really well and focus on it. 3) "Don't intellectualize people." "Don't try to fool them, treat them as people... As you would want to be treated." Highly successful people make a list of the Top 10 things to do that day and tackle the toughest problems first Managing what matters most -- Must have a strategy to know what's most important Peter Drucker's work -- The Effective Executive "Too often CEO's will allow what's urgent to crowd out what's really important. It's wrong to define strategy as following best practices. This creates sameness and sameness is not a strategy. It's a recipe for mediocrity." Continue Learning: Follow Carey on Twitter: @RogerLMartin Read: Playing To Win: How Strategy Really Works Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Roger Martin on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Feb 6, 2017

Episode 189: Jennifer Mueller - Why Leaders Should Embrace Creative Change Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "If you're calculating risk, then it's not creative." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes of leaders who sustain excellence: Mindset to learn Curiosity is the most important Thinking like an inventor... Curious by asking "What does this mean?" Why is their pressure to perform immediately? It's a followers mindset -- Anchor to the competitors and play the rat race game This does not allow you to break away from the competition If you want to change the status quo, you cannot think this way There are no shortcuts... Why write the book? Studied how people generated ideas Was cynical at first, but what Jen learned is that leaders don't know how to manage for innovation Why do ideas get rejected? "If you're calculating risk, then it's not creative." How to give yourself a better shot for the idea to get traction? Give a feedback pitch and not a selling pitch... Ask for feedback and advice Her famous study -- "The Bias Against Creativity" Overcoming the bias against creative leadership Backlash against the people who generate the idea -- It's not good Might be promoting people on out of date measures Mis-reading skill set "Creative Leaders have to ask questions and be curious" "Stop generating ideas, start making impact" Have a change circle... Talk about how you can push your idea through "Creative leaders must ask questions... And be curious." Continue Learning: Follow Jen on Twitter: @JennSMueller Read: Creative Change Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Jennifer Mueller on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Jan 30, 2017

Professor Finkelstein is a consultant and speaker to senior executives around the globe, as well as an executive coach, focusing on leadership, talent development, corporate governance, learning from mistakes, and strategies for growth. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Management and listed on the "Thinkers 50", the world's most prestigious ranking of leadership gurus. He has been featured in the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Harvard Business Review, Business Week, the London Times, Toronto Globe and Mail, Inc , Fast Company, and CNBC, and is a regular columnist for the BBC. Episode 188: Sydney Finkelstein - How To Be A SuperBoss Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Confidence is the prerequisite to greatness." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes of the best sales professionals: Curiosity - Always looking for answers Courage to go after opportunities They understand in order to be successful, you must help others be successful People who are unconsciously incompetent Not curious - They think they have all the answers Unwillingness to learn Superboss = Someone who helps others Bill Walsh - A bigger coaching tree than any other coach... Why? 1st coach to understand talent well Created a development program for African American coaches He would call other owners and tell them to hire one of his assistants... He helped his people leave him for bigger jobs The best people seek these types of leaders Why is this so rare? Most think of ways to retain their talent instead of help promote them. This is wrong. You cannot control what other people do. Create an environment that makes people want to work for you. Help them. The difference between a male and female boss What do Superbosses do? They create master-apprentice relationships -- Leonardo DaVinci 1 on 1 conversations with your boss Find someone who will invest time in you and your career. Be that person if you are a boss Create opportunities for your people When you delegate, be hands on with the feedback. Be direct and involved to help Encourage collegiality and simultaneously drive internal competition: Sydney describes how to do this Lorne Michaels creates this at Saturday Night Live Think about the best bossses you've worked for... Why were they the best? What worked for them? For you? Then ask... Am I doing those things? How am I making it work for those who work for me? Each person is unique. Understand that Learn from your own personal experience Using a "Get To Know You" document every year. Personally invest in getting to know your people Continue Learning: Follow Sydney on Twitter: @sydfinkelstein Read: Superbosses Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Sydney Finkelstein on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Jan 23, 2017

Episode 187: Jeb Blount - How To Never Have An Empty Pipeline (Fanatical Prospecting) Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Repetition is the mother of learning." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes of the best sales professionals: They have high Emotional Intelligence AND Sales Intelligence A full pipeline The #1 Reason for failure is an empty pipeline Ultra High Performers: They prospect constantly -- driven to keep the pipeline full: it builds confidence Focus on deals they can win -- they are a good judge of win probability Have the luxury to choose the deals they work on High EQ -- they have the ability to manage their emotions Average sales people focus on a linear sales cycle... The ultra successful focus on the buying process, they shape the buying process, decision making process, and they are masters at influencing decision makers You CAN move from great to ultra performer -- with work Hiring process: The culture must support ultra high performers Using Sales Drive -- An assessment to learn if people will hunt. Must have intelligence/competitiveness, an optimism to hunt 4 Parts -- Interview process 1) Intelligence - must be able to connect the dots that don't seem connectable 2) Acquired Knowledge - desire to build knowledge, growing, learning, curious 3) Technology Intelligence - have to build new technology into your life 4) Emotional Intelligence - management of emotions, situational awareness Why the average sales person is good in an interview Examples of great "Turnaround Statements" A live discussion of the cold email I sent Jeb to get him on my show (really interesting part) You have 2 seconds to get their attention Hook in the subject line 1st sentence -- talk to them, not you. Relate to them. Don't write "Hey Jeb," write "Jeb" Situation -- bridge -- connect the dots, then ask Social selling Must have a great social profile Monitor what you say DO NOT tweet about politics or religion Connect with people in your industry on LinkedIn Continue Learning: Follow Jeb on Twitter: @SalesGravy Read: Fanatical Prospecting Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Jeb Blount on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Jan 16, 2017

Jason Van Camp is what Malcolm Gladwell would refer to as an Outlier; an exceptional person who is successful not just because of his personal accomplishments but his will to win and unique ability and willingness to unlock the potential of others. A decorated Green Beret, world traveler, and loyal friend, Jason has mastered the art of storytelling that reflect many of his own life adventures. Jason is honored to be the Founder and Chairman of Mission 6 Zero. Jason was born in Washington D.C. and raised across the Potomac River in Springfield, Virginia. In 1995, Jason was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. While at West Point, Jason played Linebacker for the Army Black Knights football team, served a two year LDS-Mormon mission to Russia, and, upon graduation, won the prestigious General Loeffke Award for Excellence in Foreign Languages. After graduating from West Point, Jason volunteered to attend U.S. Army Ranger School in Fort Benning, GA where he earned his Ranger tab (2002). Jason then began a one year tour to Korea serving a few miles from the Demilitarized zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea. Immediately after serving in Korea, Jason was deployed with the 101st Airborne Division in the invasion of Iraq (2003). In 2006, Jason won the coveted Green Beret and began serving as a Detachment Commander with 10th Special Forces Group in Fort Carson, Colorado. As a Detachment Commander, Jason led his team on close to 300 combat missions to kill/capture high value targets as well as created and commanded one of the largest Foreign Internal Defense Force in U.S. history, training nearly 4000 Iraqi and Kurdish soldiers in hand to hand combat, raid and patrolling techniques, unconventional warfare and personal security detail tactics as well as deploying these forces on the battlefield. During his 14 years in the U.S. Army, Jason has won numerous awards, notably the Bronze Star with V device for Valor as well as two additional Bronze Stars during numerous combat rotations as a Special Forces Detachment Commander in the Middle East and Africa. In 2013, Jason earned his MBA from Brigham Young University and it was there that he developed a passion for entrepreneurship. Jason believes in servant leadership, the art of determination, and the power of storytelling. This philosophy has served him well in his life and has made him an experienced speaker and proponent of Mission 6 Zero's six-domained Total Warrior Intelligence model. Jason is passionate about his experiences and his stories resonate with any audience; students, athletes, businesspersons that wants to be "passionate about passion." Episode 186: Jason Van Camp - Green Beret: 300 Kill/Capture Combat Missions - Comfort In The Uncomfortable Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Repetition is the mother of learning." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes to sustain excellence: Understand the importance of simplicity They know who they are High level of self-awareness The process for Army Special Forces Selection The situational awareness training done in the military -- how that helped Jason You must understand why you made the decision you made -- Must be thoughtful Graduating from West Point -- Progressing to Special Forces (why did he do this?) What life is like as a football player at West Point Becoming a Ranger and taking the next step to become a Green Beret 3 Deployments to Iraq - actions taken and what was learned Leading 300 Kill/Capture combat missions Being promoted within the military Speaking with Nate Boyer -- "The difference between the success last year and the failure this year is Leadership" Securing the very first Consultant deal with his new company with the New York Jets for $60,000 The strategy to create a meaningful leadership training session with an NFL team "After 5 seconds on stage, you better have something to say" Keys to earning laughs from the audience Absolute confidence Handling bad situations Gather information from people in the audience before your speech Use names/examples of people in the crowd Ask for hecklers (be careful with this and make sure you've planned well) 7 Ways to get comfortable with being uncomfortable Start Don't quit Push yourself past your comfort zone Embrace the suck Be around like minded people Recognize your improvements Rinse. Repeat The Thayer method of learning employed at West Point Continue Learning: Go to Jason's website: mission6zero.com Read: How to Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable (According to a Green Beret) Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Jan 9, 2017

Episode 185: Haben Girma - The First Deafblind Harvard Law Graduate, Champion Of Change An internationally acclaimed accessibility leader, Haben Girma has earned recognition as a White House "Champion of Change", Forbes 30 under 30 leader, and BBC Women of Africa Hero. The first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, Haben champions equal access to information for people with disabilities. She has been honored by President Barack Obama, President Bill Clinton, and many others. People with disabilities represent the largest minority group, numbering one billion worldwide. Reaching a group of this scale creates value for everyone. Organizations that prioritize accessibility benefit by gaining access to a much larger user base, improving the experience for both disabled and non-disabled users, and facilitating further innovation. Watch Haben teach 4,000 developers the connection between Disability & Innovation at Apple's 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference. Haben has been featured extensively in media round the world, including the BBC, CBS, Forbes, the Washington Post, MTV, NPR, and many more. Haben grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where she currently lives. She holds a B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology from Lewis & Clark College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. In addition to her accessibility work, she enjoys salsa dancing, surfing, and traveling the world. Episode 185: Haben Girma - The First Deafblind Harvard Law Graduate, Champion Of Change Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Excellent leaders are honest about their strengths and weaknesses." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes to sustain excellence: Honest about strengths and weaknesses Great problem solvers High level of self-awareness Haben is Deafblind - she understands her strengths and weaknesses very well Her TED Talk - Advocating for others -- How and why she champions equal access to information for people with disabilities Communicating and hugging President Barack Obama How she communicates -- The use of braille. For our talk on this podcast, she had an interpreter listen to what I said and then type it out for her to read in braille What are the best ways to communicate with people who are deaf -- Haben helps me understand Why you should never tell her that her story inspires you How chocolate cake played a role in her becoming an advocacy attorney What advice given to others who want to go into advocacy? Start with yourself. Maybe there is a gender bias, religious, or racial. Build up from there... Haben describes how she experiences movies The best piece of advice she's received: Don't insist on doing something by yourself. Ask for help. Work smart. Sometimes it's better to be helped by others What she hopes people learn from her speeches? That she continually adds value to others Haben's thoughts on Helen Keller - She's brilliant Haben's brother is also Deafblind -- He works in technology How she actively makes a choice to ignore fear Why Uber denied her a ride 3 times and what happened Her Goals: Change our culture -- Disability adds value... Trainings & Workshops Continue Learning: Go to Haben's website: habengirma.com Follow Haben on Twitter: @HabenGirma Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers From 178 Questions Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Haben Girma on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Jan 2, 2017

Episode 184: Scott Harrison - CEO of Charity Water "The Power of Storytelling" Scott Harrison is the founder and CEO of charity : water. With virtually no experience outside of throwing parties, Scott founded Charity Water by charging $20 cover for his 31st birthday party. 10 years later, they've turned that $20 into $240 million, and brought clean water to 6.4 million people. Scott believes in: Radical Transparency, Technology & Innovation For Good, and The Power of Storytelling. charity: water is a non profit organization that works to bring clean and safe water to people in developing nations. charity: water uses all public donations to directly fund water projects such as building wells and sanitation facilities. Since its founding, charity: water has established 25 local partnerships, funded approximately 17,673 projects in 24 countries and provided roughly 6.4 million people with clean water. charity: water tackles the water crisis by working with local experts and community members to find the best sustainable solution in each place where they work, whether it's a well, a piped system, a BioSand filter, or a system for harvesting rainwater. And with every water point they fund, their partners coordinate sanitation and hygiene training, and establish a local Water Committee to help keep water flowing for years to come. The organization's goal is to bring clean water to 100 million people by 2020. Episode 184: Scott Harrison - CEO of Charity Water "The Power of Storytelling" Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Human Beings Are Creatures Of Stories." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes to sustain excellence: Why it's vital that you first value excellence before sustaining it -- Unfortunately not everyone values it Then you must have integrity and generosity The "ism's" created at Charity Water Design is vital in everything they do They care deeply about details There must be no typo's All PowerPoint presentations must be designed (no exceptions). Internal and external presentations are treated with equal importance Always asking the question, "Was that excellent?" What it means to be radically transparent Telling and showing people exactly where their money is being spent (using GoPro's to help tell this story) Why Scott wanted to reinvent charity... How to build trust Scott's hiring process -- The need for creative people that are likable and smart Note: They had 500 people interview to be their receptionist Using technology to improve donations (use of VR) The power of story-telling In hiring -- "It's either a Hell Yeah! or a No" Favorite interview question -- "What are the most important values you live by?" He wants to know that they actually have values and have taken the time to think about what they are Dan Pink - Autonomy, Mastery, Purpose Scott will read their last 500 tweets to see if they are a happy person or if they are cynical and "hate" on others Scott's advice on giving and why we should do it "What Are The Most Important Values You Live By?" Continue Learning: Go to charity water to donate: charitywater.org See why over 84,000 people follow Scott on Twitter: @scottharrison Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Scott Harrison on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Dec 29, 2016

Episode 183: Barry Schwartz - The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less Barry Schwartz studies the link between economics and psychology, offering startling insights into modern life. Lately, working with Ken Sharpe, he's studying wisdom. In his 2004 book The Paradox of Choice , Barry Schwartz tackles one of the great mysteries of modern life: Why is it that societies of great abundance — where individuals are offered more freedom and choice (personal, professional, material) than ever before — are now witnessing a near-epidemic of depression? Conventional wisdom tells us that greater choice is for the greater good, but Schwartz argues the opposite: He makes a compelling case that the abundance of choice in today's western world is actually making us miserable. Infinite choice is paralyzing, Schwartz argues, and exhausting to the human psyche.It leads us to set unreasonably high expectations, question our choices before we even make them and blame our failures entirely on ourselves. His relatable examples, from consumer products (jeans, TVs, salad dressings) to lifestyle choices (where to live, what job to take, who and when to marry), underscore this central point: Too much choice undermines happiness. Episode 183: Barry Schwartz - The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "When you have infinite choice... Instead of being liberate, you get paralyzed." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes to sustain excellence: People really care about what they're trying to achieve They want to change people's lives Why the leaders of organizations must give their employees opportunities to stretch, and demonstrate mastery Why Barry wore shorts during his legendary TED Talk People think the more choices we have, the better we'll be. It has limits... The consequences with ease of communication -- "People are thinking less, and talking more." Why Twitter is bad Daniel Kahneman's work -- System 1 and System 2 Why are movies on an airplane better? The proper way to set expectations The secret to happiness How to manage expectations: Make the rare not common - ie: Deliberately drink great win infrequently Why are people affiliated with organized religion happier? -- Less to do with religion and more to do with community. Most religions are full of constraints "Why We Work" -- Dan Pink's work on this is fantastic The future of work -- A world full of contractors "The secret to happiness is low expectations." -- Barry Schwartz Continue Learning: Watch Barry give a TED Talk Wearing Shorts (9m+ views): The Paradox of Choice Follow Barry on Twitter: @barrysch Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Barry Schwartz on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Dec 26, 2016

Episode 182: Vinh Giang - Why You Should Make The Leap Vinh Giang is a motivational/ inspirational keynote speaker and he uses magic as his metaphor when he speaks (He's found a way to make the medicine taste good!). He's built a successful online business that teaches magic to over 41,000 students from all over the world. His business won South Australian young entrepreneur of the year in 2013. In 2016, his online business has just combined forces with 52Kards which is one of America's leading online magic schools, after combining our schools together and many years of hard work they now teach over 500,000 students from all over the world. Vinh's other area of expertise is performance, being a magician and speaker he's spent 80% of the year on stage performing and presenting to people all over the world. Episode 182: Vinh Giang - Why You Should Make The Leap Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "It took millions of years of serendipitous events for you to be here, and now that you are here, you are alive for 80 years on average. When you compare how long it took for you to get here versus how long you are her for... It's like you are alive for 1 minute. It's a privilege to be alive." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes to sustain excellence: The ability to face your fears head on Not avoiding difficult conversations Why Vinh stopped trying to live up to others expectations How David Blaine helped is business The importance of having a speaker reel/highlight video Why you should work with documentary makers -- They are story-tellers The 3 Elements to a great speaker Educate Inspire Entertain You must have a relentless belief that it can be done The power of magic -- It brings out the inner child in everyone You're alive for 1 minute and you've already lived 20 seconds of it... What will you do for the remaining 40 seconds? Why are people so scared to take chances? "Happiness is progress" "We all have the right ingredients... We just need the recipe." Goal Setting -- We need to take time to recalibrate "You're like a glass of muddy water... Until you're still, you won't have clarity." Public speaking -- Why this should be taught in schools from a young age "I've realized the beauty in the unknown. Magic lives in the unknown. The most beautiful things in life are the unknown." Why 5 year plans are not helpful "Don't you think the most addictive thing in the world is comfort?" Continue Learning: Watch Vinh's Speaker Reel: vinhgiang.com Follow Vinh on Twitter: @AskVinh Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Vinh Giang on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by FreshBooks : FreshBooks is offering a 30 day, unrestricted free trial to my listeners. To claim it, just go to FreshBooks.com/Learning and enter LEARNING LEADER in the "How Did You Hear About Us?" section.

Dec 18, 2016

Episode 181: Srini Rao - How To Be Unmistakably Creative Srini Rao is the host and founder of The Unmistakable Creative podcast where he's conducted over 600 interviews with thought leaders and people from all walks of life. This has given him an incredibly distinctive view into branding, storytelling, and marketing. Srini has also written multiple books including the Wall Street Journal bestseller The Art of Being Unmistakable ; created,planned, and executed a 60-person conference called the Instigator Experience;and am publishing the forthcoming Unmistakable book with Penguin Portfolio. Somewhere along the way his compass led him in the direction of an economics degree from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from Pepperdine University. Extracting unmistakable stories out of people is his superpower. And in his spare time he's usually chasing waves. Episode 181: Srini Rao - How To Be Unmistakably Creative Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "All change is proceeded by crisis." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes to sustain excellence: A pathological inability to accept the status quo Resilience A disciplined work ethic Why the path is never linear Reading 100 books a year How to turn disadvantages into disproportionate advantages The Pepperdine MBA - How it impacted Srini "Most people like the idea of leaping, but not executing on it" How to make "micro-changes" Creating multiple streams of revenue: Author (book deals) Speaking Sponsors Projects Why you should write 1,000 words per day "Systems vs. Goals" Stephen Pressfield - "The Resistance" The "8 Step Daily Routine" Why surfing helps Srini Having the ability to navigate and weave in and out of relationships Learning Leader = A lifelong commitment to becoming better on a daily basis "Is what you're doing today leading to what you want to do five years from now?" Continue Learning: Srini's best selling book: Unmistakable: Why Only Is Better Than Best Follow Srini on Twitter: @UnmistakableCEO Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Srini Rao on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Mizzen and Main : Performance fabric menswear. The most comfortable/durable dress shirts you will find on the market. I personally own 22 of them. To get free shipping, use the code "ryanhawk" -- To get $50 off when you purchase three shirts, use the code "ryanhawk3" -- Thank you for your support!

Dec 12, 2016

Episode 180: Michael Watkins - The First 90 Days: How To Ensure Success In Your New Role Dr. Michael Watkins is the author of Your Next Move: The Leader's Guide to Navigating Major Career Transitions , and the international bestseller The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at all Levels , which The Economist called "the on-boarding bible." With more than 750,000 copies sold in English, and translations in 27 languages, The First 90 Days has become the standard reference for leaders in transition. Recently The First 90 Days was named one of the best 100 business books of all time. Drawing on the perfect combination of research and hand-on experience, he has spent the last two decades working with leaders – both corporate and public — as they transition to new roles, negotiate the future of their organizations, and craft their legacy as leaders. Episode 180: Michael Watkins - The First 90 Days: How To Ensure Success In Your New Role Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "I help leaders and their teams make good career transitions." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes to sustain excellence: Learning Agility - Not shy about learning, and they don't expect themselves to have all the answers Diversity of Experience - Multiple functions, multiple companies Delicate balance between humility and ego Jeff Immelt from GE is a good example Confidence vs. Ego -- Desire to achieve, but cannot create echo chambers. The First 90 Days -- Michael's world-wide best selling book on how to transition to a leadership role The Leadership Pipeline - Another book to help make the transition from individual contributor to management. It's a completely different skill set The toughest move/promotion is the very first one The common traps leaders fall in to -- Relying only on what they're good at. Must broaden skills. You have to be a force multiplier. Common Issues and problems leaders run in to: "Coming in with the answer. Not building lateral relationships. Engaging on the wrong side of learning." Why you must re-learn how to learn How is the culture different? Politically Technically Who is the "dream team?" The five people you must meet immediately upon taking a new role The importance of the boss and the role she plays in helping Momentum -- Creating early wins. Why you must make this happen Look for little irritants to remove Secure a win by thinking differently Your first public address to the group -- Prepare, Prepare, Prepare. The first impression is vital How to prepare for a management (role) interview Why a "One Sheet" of your core beliefs is better than a 30-60-90 day plan "You have to be a force multiplier. You can't be a super-rep." Continue Learning: Michael's best selling book: The First 90 Days Follow Michael on Twitter: @MichaelDWatkins Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Michael Watkins on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Mizzen and Main : Performance fabric menswear. The most comfortable/durable dress shirts you will find on the market. I personally own 22 of them. To get free shipping, use the code "ryanhawk" -- To get $50 off when you purchase three shirts, use the code "ryanhawk3" -- Thank you for your support!

Dec 8, 2016

Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers from 178 Conversations This is an episode unlike any other... I've listened through some of the best answers to the question: "What are the common characteristics/themes amongst those who have sustained excellence over an extended period of time?" We (my editor, Scott Donnell and me) pulled out some of the best, most useful answers and created an "all-star" Sustaining Excellence episode. I think you'll like it. I welcome all feedback via Twitter or you can send me an e-mail . Episode 179: How To Sustain Excellence - The Best Answers from 178 Conversations Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show In This Episode, You Will Learn #78 Kat Cole - A scale, a balance of 2 buckets: Courage & Confidence + Curiosity & Humility. "They are productive achievers vs destructive achievers" #127 Adam Grant - "They are dedicated learners. What's fascinating by them is no matter how much excellence they achieve, they are always raising the bar. The more they accomplish the more they expect of themselves. Curiosity is the starting point for all originality" #107 Simon Sinek - "They have vision, they have charisma? I'm not so sure that's true. They don't need a Steve Jobs vision. One thing I'm comfortable saying is courage. It takes tremendous courage to stick to your values." #117 Tim Urban - "The impact you make is the level of measurement for a leader. It's different than what's normal" #86 Seth Godin - "They've made a choice" #114 Cal Newport - "The leader respects how hard everything is that's worth doing." Everything's harder than you think. Impactful contribution is really hard." #115 Amy Porterfield - "The first word that comes to mind is consistency… Followed mentors. All create consistent content and show up consistently. Have a drive to follow up #42 Rob DeMartini - "To measure success you have to look at more aspects of their lives. What was I seeing that was consistent? 4 things: Naturally curious, do they want to see how things are working? Could it be different? If you're curious, it opens up so much. Energy & Optimism. Personal Awareness #105 David Burkus - "I think there is a consistent dissatisfaction… I need to be proud of what I've done, but constantly frustrated that I'm not further along. That balance." #82 Dan Pink - "Curiosity, they follow their noses, especially if they know a lot of stuff. Generosity, I love the way you put it, sustaining excellence. Reasonably generous people. They don't pull up the ladder when they get to the top. They are hardworking and conscientious, grit. Peter Drucker comes to mind" #74 Tim Kight - "People who consistently perform. Intentional, purposeful, and constantly building skill." #77 Adam Braun - "3 things: Tremendously intrinsically motivated, integrity, surround themselves with people who play a level above them." #48 Cameron Herold - "Sense of vulnerability… Checked ego at the door. Realize they aren't the smartest person in the room. Sense of curiosity." #122 Sarah Robb O'Hagan - "One of the biggest single things is curiosity, goes hand in hand with humility. They don't ever feel like they've reached the top of the mountain." #98 Alison Levine - "Resilience more than anything else. Resilient about putting one foot in front of the other." #68 Joey Coleman - "I think all leaders have 3 general things in common. 1) A growth and learning mindset. Constantly thirsting for knowledge and learning. 2) Gratitude, they recognize how lucky and blessed they are. Take time to appreciate the gifts and blessings in their lives. 3) Gentle with themselves #108 Steven Kotler - "Ferocious about forward progress. Nothing mild about how they attack life. Level of commitment. The day to day." #43 Philip McKernan - "The eyes, peace of mind. I can see that. Use the eyes as a gateway to see their bullshit." Continue Learning: Connect with me on LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing a compilation episode like this, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Mizzen and Main : Performance fabric menswear. The most comfortable/durable dress shirts you will find on the market. I personally own 22 of them. To get free shipping, use the code "ryanhawk" -- To get $50 off when you purchase three shirts, use the code "ryanhawk3" -- Thank you for your support!

Dec 5, 2016

Episode 178: Sol Orwell - CEO, Digital Nomad, Vulnerability As A Leader Sol Orwell is an entrepreneur and business developer, most known for his work as the co-founder of Examine.com. He was recognized as a 2014 Game Changer by Men's Fitness and profiled by Forbes as a seven-figure entrepreneur. Sol describes himself as semi-retired, which allows him to travel three to four months out of the year. He does not take investment money to retain control of his companies and free time. He has stepped back from an active role in Examine.com to focus on other projects. He blogs about business development in the context of making money online on SJO.com and serves on the advisory board for Schwarzenegger.com as a health and fitness expert. Episode 178: Sol Orwell - CEO, Digital Nomad, Vulnerability As A Leader Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "I did what any normal person would do – I gave the company to my #2 to run, paid him more than I paid myself, and basically became a digital nomad." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes to sustain excellence = "A deep level for creating creativity." Why Deep Work is so critical to Sol's success A typical day: 2 minute cold shower The 5 Minute Journal A 10-15 minute walk -- "Get the brain started" Get to work Done with work by 2:30 every single day Friday's are always no work days... Just "reading days" The specific process Sol has taken to build a life around "creating businesses around my interests" The process of purchasing Examine.com for $41,000 (and why he did it) Putting his #2 in charge so he could travel the world and be a "digital nomad" The Picasso Principle How to create this lifestyle: Have no ego, create a blueprint, execute, trust others Creating a "Side Hustle" -- A how to Why you must "Get Started" The #cookielife Vulnerability is "when you don't know what the response will be when you put yourself out there." 1,000 true fans Why Sol does not take VC money Changing his name to Sol Orwell... Why? How travel can create empathy and why that's so important for a leader... Being grateful Learning Leader = Constantly learning. Have self-awareness. Take criticism, and foster the spirit to accept it "Luck is a function of observation" "I think a big part of entrepreneurship is to realize that you can trust other people. You can be rewarded for trusting other people. You don't have to necessarily look over their shoulder." Continue Learning: Sol's website: Examine.com Follow Sol on Twitter: @sol_orwell To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Sol Orwell on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Mizzen and Main : Performance fabric menswear. The most comfortable/durable dress shirts you will find on the market. I personally own 22 of them. To get free shipping, use the code "ryanhawk" -- To get $50 off when you purchase three shirts, use the code "ryanhawk3" -- Thank you for your support!

Nov 27, 2016

Episode 177: Michael Gerber - "The World's #1 Small Business Guru" (The E-Myth Revisited) Michael E. Gerber is a true legend of entrepreneurship. Inc. Magazine calls him "the World's #1 Small Business Guru" — the entrepreneurial and small business thought leader who has impacted the lives of millions of individuals and hundreds of thousands of companies worldwide for over 40 years. Michael is the author of the mega-bestseller "The E-Myth Revisited" and five other E-Myth books concerning small business and entrepreneurship. The Wall Street Journal named the E-Myth the #1 business book of all time (November 2011) having sold millions of copies and has now been applied in 145 countries, in 29 languages and is taught in 118 universities. The originator, in 1977, of the small business coaching industry, with his founding of The Michael Thomas Corporation, The E-Myth Academy, E-Myth Worldwide, Michael E. Gerber Companies, since that time having served over 100,000 small business clients. And today launching "Beyond The E-Myth: The Evolution of an Enterprise: From a Company of One to a Company of 1,000!: The Course – The Program – The Book" – a revolutionary process to prepare a small company for acquisition by readying it to scale (Scale to Sale). Episode 177: Michael Gerber - "The World's #1 Small Business Guru" (The E-Myth Revisited) Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "You must work ON the company to perfect the system IN the company." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes within the best performers: They don't think about "me" They think about the puzzle... And what's missing from it Steve Jobs, Apple. Tom Watson, IBM. The importance on learning how to play the saxophone and having the desire to be the best in the world -- how that translated to success later in Michael's life "I only teach people that want to become the best saxophone player in the world." Practice, Practice, Practice -- Doing it the right way. Having a plan The most important aspects for Michael's early success: Vision - You must believe that you can do something beyond what seems possible initially Discipline - You must practice A great coach - The importance of great mentors in our lives The agreement between coach/mentor and mentee at the beginning of the relationship is critical to the long term success Why McDonald's is the most successful small business on the planet Working ON the store to perfect the system IN the store Lesson: So can you. Go to work to prepare you company to scale and sell just like Ray Crock did The focus should be on the system (Starbucks, McDonald's) The eight steps to grow and scale Beyond the "E-myth" "If you can't scale it, you can't sell it." Continue Learning: Michael's best selling book: The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It Follow Michael on Twitter: @MichaelEGerber To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Michael Gerber on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Mizzen and Main : Performance fabric menswear. The most comfortable/durable dress shirts you will find on the market. I personally own 22 of them. To get free shipping, use the code "ryanhawk" -- To get $50 off when you purchase three shirts, use the code "ryanhawk3" -- Thank you for your support!

Nov 21, 2016

Episode 176: Jeffrey Gitomer - Why Sales Is The Greatest Profession In The World Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of The New York Times best sellers The Sales Bible, The Little Red Book of Selling, The Little Black Book of Connections , and The Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude . All of his books have been number one best sellers on Amazon.com, including Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless , The Little Red Book of Sales Answers, The Little Green Book of Getting Your Way , The Little Platinum Book of Cha-Ching! , The Little Teal Book of Trust , Social BOOM! , and The Little Book of Leadership , and 21.5 Unbreakable Laws of Selling . Jeffrey's books have appeared on best-seller lists more than 850 times and have sold millions of copies worldwide. Episode 176: Jeffrey Gitomer - Why Sales Is The Greatest Profession In The World Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Most sales are made after the 7th NO." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes within the best performers: Great attitude Deep belief in themselves Approachable and good sense of humor You like to hang out with them How to judge a great sales professional: Will you do business with them again? Will you refer them to friends/family Understanding the ethics of a sales professional Why sales is the greatest profession in the world The duty of the sales leader The Wells Fargo Fiasco Why Jeffrey was banned from USAir A live role play -- How Jeffrey sells books on a plane (he sells to me) Keys to successful cold-calling: Engaging, approachable, having a good time Why Jeffrey believes he's the greatest sales professional in the world Why new managers need to be trained/coached (A LOT) Jeffrey's process for speaking to large audiences Why Jeffrey prefers to drive a Lexus Using creativity to differentiate and dominate Saying thank you like John Ruhlin The process of learning from customers: Why it's absolutely vital to your success "People don't like to be sold, but they love to buy." Continue Learning: Jeffrey's best-selling book: Little Red Book of Selling Jeffrey's book: Sales Bible See why over 110,000 people follow Jeffrey on Twitter: @gitomer To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Jeffrey Gitomer on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Mizzen and Main : Performance fabric menswear. The most comfortable/durable dress shirts you will find on the market. I personally own 22 of them. To get free shipping, use the code "ryanhawk" -- To get $50 off when you purchase three shirts, use the code "ryanhawk3" -- Thank you for your support!

Nov 14, 2016

Episode 175: Michael Hyatt - How To Get Noticed In A Noisy World For years, Michael Hyatt had people write and refer to him as their virtual mentor. His mission is to help high achievers win at work and succeed at life. Michael writes on personal development, leadership, productivity, and public influence. He is the author of the New York Times best seller, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. It is also a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller. In addition, I am the founder of Platform University. Michael is also the co-author of the Wall Street Journal and USA Today best seller, Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want. He is the founder and CEO of Michael Hyatt & Company, an online leadership development company. They help overwhelmed high achievers get the clarity, confidence, and tools they need to win at work and succeed at life. Episode 175: Michael Hyatt - How To Get Noticed In A Noisy World Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Being present at work is a strategic advantage." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Sustained excellence = People who have the ability to "lead themselves" and are disciplined in all aspects of life The power of taking a 2 week hiatus - Unplugged, reading novels, cognitive input, relationship building with family, sets the tank to FULL when you get back Doing 4 big launches per year -- all hands on deck, Being present at work and being present at home. Being present is a strategic advantage. Having 5 daughters -- "The goal of parenting is to de-parent to help your child self-actualize" Studying James Altucher and Bill Murray and their approach to life Goal Setting -- Too many people set goals within their comfort zone. We need to challenge our imagination Michael's book Platform: Get Noticed In A Noisy World and the impact it's had on so many His blog: Started in 2004. The first 4 years it only received 1,000 visitors/month. Now it gets 1,000,000/month Platform = "Deconstructs how to get heard" How he's built his company from 1 to 21 employees Having multiple revenue streams -- Speaking, Writing, Online Courses, Membership Site 5,000 members a month paying $37/month Why you need to "get started" "5 Days To Your Best Year Ever" Start a blog, podcast, vlog, newsletter Career advice: Be hyper responsive to people, have a "courage to act." Always keep your word even when it's expensive. How his new book helps people get clarity about where they are going "Tension is the enemy of performance." Continue Learning: Read Michael's book: Platform: Get Noticed In A Noisy World Newest book: Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want See why over 280,000 people follow Michael on Twitter: @MichaelHyatt To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Michael Hyatt on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Mizzen and Main : Performance fabric menswear. The most comfortable/durable dress shirts you will find on the market. I personally own 22 of them. To get free shipping, use the code "ryanhawk" -- To get $50 off when you purchase three shirts, use the code "ryanhawk3" -- Thank you for your support!

Nov 10, 2016

Episode 174: Jessica Tracy - Pride: The Secret To Human Success Jessica Tracy is a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, where she also directs the Emotion and Self Lab. Her research focuses on emotions and emotion expression, and especially on the self-conscious emotions of pride and shame. She has published over 80 journal articles, book chapters, edited volumes, and reviews, and her groundbreaking work on pride has been covered by hundreds of media outlets, including ABC's Good Morning America, NPR's All Things Considered, the New York Times, the Economist, and Scientific American. Tracy was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and now lives in Vancouver with her daughter and her partner. Her book is: Take Pride: Why the Deadliest Sin Holds the Secret to Human Success. It has received rave reviews by some of the brightest minds in the world Episode 174: Jessica Tracy - Pride: The Secret To Human Success Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Good pride = Authentic. Bad pride = Hubristic." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Jessica's initial interest in Pride - Started studying in grad school in 1999. Managing the challenge of others caring about us -- At an evolutionary level. We need authentic pride Sharing on social media - Pride in "likes" -- only posting the 5% best aspect of our lives It's a slippery slope caring too much what others think The "over sharers" on social media -- what it really means Lance Armstrong initially had authentic pride -- an incredible work ethic... Then is grew to hubristic pride and he doped/cheated JJ Watt -- Hubristic pride? The "log cabin" story Pride in the workplace - Power and Leadership Authentic Pride -- Leads to prestige Bosses: The "do what I tell you or you'll be fired" are bosses who have hubristic pride. Insecure, people dislike them and typically will quit. Prestigious leaders are well-liked and respected bosses. Secure in themselves Donald Trump = Hubristic pride The story of Dean Karnazes - successful businessman -- At 30 realized something was missing. Became a runner Good pride = Authentic. Bad pride = Hubristic. Execution Common themes of excellence = Growth mindset -- Intrinsic goals vs money/fame Continue Learning: Read Jessica's book: Take Pride: Why The Deadliest Sin Holds The Secret To Human Success Follow Jessica on Twitter: @ProfJessTracy To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Jessica Tracy on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Mizzen and Main : Performance fabric menswear. The most comfortable/durable dress shirts you will find on the market. I personally own 22 of them. To get free shipping, use the code "ryanhawk" -- To get $50 off when you purchase three shirts, use the code "ryanhawk3" -- Thank you for your support!

Nov 7, 2016

Episode 173: Jon Levy - The Science Of Adventure (The 2 AM Principle) Jon Levy is a behavior scientist, consultant, writer and keynote speaker best known for his work in the fields of Influence and Social Experience. He created The "Influencers", a private community and dining experience for tastemakers and industry leaders. Members range across all industries from well-known actors and Olympians, to executives at major companies and royalty. Influencers has received a fair share of media including stories in The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, The Observer, to name a few. Combining years of experience running Influencers and research, Jon has developed a deep understanding in designing social experiences and creating influencer programs for brands. After years of studying what has become known as "The Science of Adventure", Jon was able to discern that every adventurous experience follows a predictable four stage processes. Each stage has specific characteristics that, when applied, make the experience exciting. His newest book is titled The 2 Am Principle: Discover The Science of Adventure . Episode 173: Jon Levy - The Science Of Adventure (The 2 AM Principle) Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Your brain responds to novelty. If you want to have an exciting life, you need to get outside of your comfort zone." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Update on "The Influencers" -- In 8 cities, 2 countries, over 800 people hosted Why Jon visited every continent in 2015 Novelty - Your brain responds to it. How to create it... Why it's great to travel alone Travel - Do something remarkable with a level of perceived risk. It will bring growth How to live this lifestyle if you are married with kids... An example of an introvert traveling to Europe for the first time -- A "How To" guide to have a great time The Ben Franklin Effect... Stacking Favors The "IKEA" effect -- What it means and how it impacts all of us The "science of optimal anxiety" -- AKA Productive Discomfort. Say yes to a lot of things to have a wealth of experiences E.P.I.C. Model of Adventure Establish - Put the right people and elements in place Push Boundaries - Growth, talk to strangers Increase - More Continue - End in style... Close the keynote with something memorable. Humans remember the peak and how it ends New ways to introduce yourself at conference - "I convince people to cook me dinner" George Lowenstein and his impact on Jon How to travel the world with little money "Routine is the enemy of excitement." - Jon Levy Continue Learning: Read Jon's new book: The 2 AM Principle Follow Jon on Twitter: @JonLevyTLB To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Jon Levy on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Mizzen and Main : Performance fabric menswear. The most comfortable/durable dress shirts you will find on the market. I personally own 22 of them. To get free shipping, use the code "ryanhawk" -- To get $50 off when you purchase three shirts, use the code "ryanhawk3" -- Thank you for your support!

Nov 2, 2016

Episode 172: Sarah Knight - The Life Changing Magic Of... Warning: This episode contains a lot of graphic language. If you prefer episodes with only clean language, please skip this one. Per Amazon.com: Sarah in her own words: "I'm a writer, editor, and recovering perfectionist. I spent fifteen years working in the New York publishing industry where I was privileged to edit talented authors such as Jessica Knoll, Gillian Flynn, Emily Nagoski, James Lee Burke, Chris Cleave, and many, many more. In 2015 I left it all behind in pursuit of more sunshine, less stress, and a daily abundance of pina coladas - moving with my husband from Brooklyn to the Dominican Republic. My first book, THE LIFE-CHANGING MAGIC OF NOT GIVING A F*CK, is an international bestseller. My new book - another fun, profane guide to mental decluttering - is called GET YOUR SH*T TOGETHER. It will be published on December 27, 2016." Episode 172: Sarah Knight - The Life Changing Magic Of... Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "If you don't take care of yourself first, then you won't be any good for others." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Work ethic, dedication to the goal, and "Getting up and doing the work" will lead to sustained excellence Why Sarah left an incredible career where she was "climbing the ladder" The year Sarah spent preparing to leave her corporate job Her work life at the moment: ghost write, edit, live in Dominican Republic Why it's important to have a long term plan if you're planning on leaving your current job How "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" inspired her The art of "mental decluttering" How to decide what matters most to you People Pleasing -- The "not sorry" method. Use honesty and be polite. "You must stop caring about what others think" Why "selfish" has become a 4 letter word The career checklist - Why Sarah dislikes it Street smarts vs. Book smarts -- Can be a false dichotomy Why she decided to move to the Dominican Republic with her husband How do you prioritize what's truly important? -- The "must-do" method Tim Urban's article: Why You Should Stop Caring What Other People Think The fine line of being a friend and "not wanting to go to baby showers" -- Again, say No with honesty and be polite. "You can't control what others think of you." Continue Learning: Read Sarah's book: The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck Follow Sarah on Twitter: @MCSnugz To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Sarah Knight on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Mizzen and Main : Performance fabric menswear. The most comfortable/durable dress shirts you will find on the market. I personally own 22 of them. To get free shipping, use the code "ryanhawk" -- To get $50 off when you purchase three shirts, use the code "ryanhawk3" -- Thank you for your support!

Oct 30, 2016

Episode 171: Scott Berkun - Big Ideas For Curious Minds Scott Berkun is a bestselling author and popular speaker on creativity, philosophy, culture, business and many other subjects. He's the author of six books, including The Myths of Innovation, Confessions of a Public Speaker, and The Year Without Pants. His work has appeared, or been mentioned, in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Guardian, Wired magazine, Forbes, USA Today, Wired, Fast Company, National Public Radio, The Huffington Post and other media. Born and raised in Queens, NYC, he studied philosophy, computer science and design at CMU, was a manager at Microsoft ('94-'03) and WordPress.com ('10-'12), taught creativity at the University of Washington, was a co-host of CNBC's The Business of Innovation TV show, is named on 5 U.S. patents, blogs for Harvard Business and BusinessWeek, and has appeared as an expert on various subjects on CNN, CNBC, NPR and MSNBC. He's also the MC and speaker coach for Ignite Seattle, a finalist in the Amtrak 2014 writer's residency program and the director of the short film We Make Seattle. Episode 171: Scott Berkun - Big Ideas For Curious Minds Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "The first tip to pitching well: Learn about the other persons environment" In This Episode, You Will Learn: Having a sports background to learn a work ethic and set goals can lead to sustained excellence The process for Scott to quit his job at Microsoft to become a full time writer/author -- And why he did it Writing process #1 Don't chase headlines - Don't chase traffic... Write good content Write about evergreen topics that people will always want to read Consistently write and produce content -- Stick to a rigorous schedule (he released work Tuesday & Thursday) Understand your habits over time -- Plan your day (when to wake up, eat, workout, write) The topics he covers when he gives a keynote speech: Innovation and creative thinking Management/Leadership Why he likes to prepare and not give the same speech over and over Time spent on preparing vs. delivering = 10x1... Meaning he spends 10 hours to give a 1 hour talk Teaching a creative thinking class at a University The importance of "combining ideas" "Passion is self perception of your interests... There is a need for self awareness" Self discovery --> You need to try different things/ideas Street smarts vs. Book smarts -- Can be a false dichotomy "How to call BS on a Guru" Have higher expectations How you read - Every chapter stop and plan for situations. Apply what would I do differently Read with a different intent Have a willingness to experiment Why Scott hates speed reading "How to pitch an idea" "How to run a brainstorming meeting" -- It's about volume. You must be very clear about intended results and action plans Have a good facilitator who says "Yes, and..." "It's very important to understand that all ideas are made up of other ideas... We need to combine ideas like "Uber for Laundry."" Continue Learning: Read Scott's book: Mindfire: Big Ideas for Curious Minds Read Scott's book: Confessions of a Public Speaker Follow Scott on Twitter: @berkun To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Scott Berkun on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients.

Oct 23, 2016

Episode 170: Simon Sinek - Why "Together Is Better" Simon Sinek sparked a movement with his bestsellers START WITH WHY and LEADERS EAT LAST. His newest book, Together Is Better, will inspire more readers to ask for help, help others, and discover their own courage through a charming story about change. Simon Sinek is an optimist. He teaches leaders and organizations how to inspire people. From members of Congress to foreign ambassadors, from small businesses to corporations like Microsoft and 3M, from Hollywood to the Pentagon, he has presented his ideas about the power of why. He has written two books, Leaders Eat Last and Start With Why and is quoted frequently by national publications. He was previously a guest on The Learning Leader Show, Episode #107 which remains one of the most popular episodes in the show's history... This one is even better. Episode 170: Simon Sinek - Why "Together Is Better" Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Most people live their lives by accident as it happens. Fulfillment comes when we live our lives on purpose." In This Episode, You Will Learn: "We're social animals and we need each other" The goal is to find ourselves in a place that we dream to go to "Joy comes from relationships we form when we feel someone cares about us" Why The Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas is incredible (the people) Their employees love their jobs -- Why? Their managers constantly work to make the employees lives better Why you must be a student of leadership Often times someone gets promoted based on current performance, but they are rarely trained on how to lead. Leaders must take time off to regularly train on leading others. Most don't unfortunately. "All the best leaders I know are students of leadership." Execution: The leaders are responsible for the people who are responsible for the results. It's a human job. Consistency and intensity. Daily practice of little things (ie. ban phones in meetings, instead of people texting and email, they will talk) Need to know what we stand for and what we are against Why Jack Welch is a bad leader "Jack Welch is a blight on the business world. GE needed a $300B bailout." - Simon Sinek Being willing to say "I don't know." Having the courage to speak up when you don't know. Ask questions. "Courage is not a deep internal fortitude. When we feel someone cares about us, we're able to make courageous decisions." How Simon started his business as a consultant How his TEDx Talk changed his life Why successful athletes suffer from depression "People come first... Winning is second." - John Wooden Why you must know your "why." What you're a part of... "Leadership: It's a human job. The daily practice of little things. Consistency and intensity." Continue Learning: Read Simon's newest Book: Together Is Better Follow Simon on Twitter: @simonsinek To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Simon Sinek on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients.

Oct 19, 2016

Episode 169: Amelia Boone - How The Best Obstacle Racer In The World Embraces Pain Amelia Boone is a full-time corporate attorney and probably the world's most decorated obstacle racer. Since the sport's inception five years ago, she's amassed more than 30 victories and 50 podiums. Career highlights include: • 3x winner of the World's Toughest Mudder (2012, 2014, 2015) • Spartan Race World Champion 2013 • Spartan Race Points Series Champion (2013 & 2015) • 3x Death Race Finisher (Winter 2012, Summer 2012, Summer 2013) When Amelia's not out on an obstacle course, you'll find her nurturing a budding ultra running obsession, working as a full-time attorney, or watching wrestling pay-per-views. Most likely with a box of Pop-Tarts or a bag of ketchup chips in hand. (Bio from AmeliaBooneRacing.com) Episode 169: Amelia Boone - How The Best Obstacle Racer In The World Embraces Pain Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "For me, pain is something we shouldn't be afraid of. I feel most alive doing that." In This Episode, You Will Learn: High level performers have an innate drive, self-motivated, constantly striving to get better Can it be learned? Yes. Need to find what it is inside of you that drives you. Cultivate it. Create routines and schedules to sustain excellence How Amelia is able to be a full time attorney working for Apple AND the best obstacle racer in the world The importance of prioritizing and eliminating what doesn't matter. Set your life up to eliminate time wasters -- (ie. She moved very close to her office at Apple in order to avoid wasting time with a long commute) Her morning routine - Wake up at 4:00 am and train: "If I don't train, then nothing feels right." How has racing impacted life as an attorney: Why having a full schedule helps her. Creates the need for focus and forces Amelia to do it How Amelia creates the best version of herself The difference between competing with yourself vs competing with others What her relationship is like with other racers? She is friendly but knows she is the target that everyone wants to beat How she's able to regularly beat everyone in a race (men and women) Dealing with an injury from over-training (broken femur) How the injury has changed her -- Creating her ability to be happy for the success of others Dealing with Identity issues Prior to the injury, she found herself caught in the cycle of "What happens if I don't win?" She's learned there is more to life than winning and losing How does Amelia deal with the immense pain during a 24 hour race? Compartmentalize ("Make it to the next obstacle... then the next"). If "you're really in the pain cave, then focus on others. Talk to other racers, volunteers. Get your mind off of it." People who have sustained excellence have a remarkable ability to pivot. They always find a way to be successful regardless of what they are doing. "What can you be the best at right now?" What is success? What is happiness? What's the best? The Barkley Marathons - Why Amelia will be the first female to finish the race Why you should not avoid pain. "For me, pain is something we shouldn't be afraid of. I feel most alive doing that." We've created a world we there is no pain. That's not healthy." Her pre race process - Night before there are nerves. The day of: logical and methodical approach to planning everything for the race. Then zone out, be by herself and think. Be thankful, humble, and fortunate to be there. How to enjoy the process and not just focus on the results "There has never been a better time to start something than right now." Adding something new can make you more efficient. Amelia became a racer at age 28. "The key to life is being a lifelong learner" "I've always wanted to be the best version of myself. If I don't train, nothing seems right." Continue Learning: Watch documentary that featured Amelia: Rise Of The Sufferfests Follow Amelia on Twitter: @ameliaboone To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 055: Joe DeSena - Spartan Race CEO, Delayed Gratification, & Helping 1 Million People Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Amelia Boone on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients.

Oct 16, 2016

Episode 168: Mark Sisson - How To Become A Fat Burning Beast Mark Sisson is a former elite endurance athlete who has made health and fitness his life's work. In his younger days, he was on the track toward medical school for a while , but he got detoured by a different track—literally—and a dream of making the US Olympic team for the marathon. As the decades passed, he realized that his calling was as an independent researcher, critical thinker, motivator, and communicator—to get people to take responsibility for their health and fitness. Mark's mission is to change the lives of 100 million people with his Primal Blueprint movement and where he blogs at Mark's Daily Apple. Episode 168: Mark Sisson - How To Become A Fat Burning Beast Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Your body will learn to burn fat if the glucose (sugar) is not there. Your body doesn't know if it's eaten bread or skittles." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes in people who sustain excellence: Their ability to deal with stress Mark's health philosophy: Fresh, nutrient dense, high antioxidant, preferably locally grown/naturally raised food choices Daily activity—whether it's the gym or a walk along the beach, it all counts Plenty of quality sleep, sun exposure, play, and intellectual stimulation Avoid all sweets and sweetened beverages. Once you break free, they lose their allure Time for fun—don't take anything too seriously Ethical behavior—because what goes around comes around Taking responsibility for yourself and your life—openness to new things and ideas The importance of gaining muscle mass How we screw up our diet at birth We must get away from a sugar based life Eat meat, fish, seeds, nuts -- You'll be better at burning fat Have walking meetings, use a stand up desk, use a treadmill desk It is imperative that we get sunlight on a regular basis How do you become a fat burning beast? Carbohydrates create glucose, body burns it and stores fat. Don't eat pasta, cereal, bread, or crackers The body will burn fat if glucose is not there Why Mark is never hungry for breakfast Why you should get rid of grains Sugar is evil Mark's thought on "cheat days" The NY Times story discussing the scientist who were paid to say that fat was bad and sugar was okay How to maintain this lifestyle if you regularly travel Discussing vegans -- The success comes from what you give up more than what you eat A typical day in the life of Mark - Food eaten, workouts done, business meetings The 10 Primal Blueprint Laws "I will teach you how to become a fat burning beast." Continue Learning: Read Mark's Book: The Primal Blueprint Follow Mark on Twitter: @Mark_Sisson To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Mark Sisson on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients.

Oct 12, 2016

Episode 167: Robert Cialdini - The Godfather of Influence Harvard Business Review lists Dr. Cialdini's research in "Breakthrough Ideas for Today's Business Agenda." Influence has been listed on the "New York Times Business Best Seller List." Fortune Magazine lists Influence in their "75 Smartest Business Books." CEO Read lists Influence in their "100 Best Business Books of All Time." Dr. Robert Cialdini has spent his entire career researching the science of influence earning him an international reputation as an expert in the fields of persuasion, compliance, and negotiation. His books including, Influence: Science & Practice , are the result of decades of peer-reviewed research on why people comply with requests. Influence has sold over 3 million copies, is a New York Times Bestseller and has been published in over 30 languages. His new book, Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade, published by Simon & Schuster, quickly became a Wall Street Journal and a New York Times Bestseller. Because of the world-wide recognition of Dr. Cialdini's cutting edge scientific research and his ethical business and policy applications, he is frequently regarded as the "Godfather of influence." Episode 167: Robert Cialdini - The Godfather of Influence Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Give people a reputation to live up to." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Empathy is one of the most important characteristics of a great leader (Warren Buffett & Charlie Munger) A 20 year gap in books written... Why? Dr. Cialdini wanted to have sufficient research for Pre-Suasion How the process of "Pre-Suading" happens -- A story shared Story of a business partner who screwed up -- How he primed him by saying "I hate when this happens to nice guys like you" When you receive a job offer, ask for advice from your mentors -- Their response might surprise you When you ask for advice, you develop a partnership and you collaborate. That person becomes part of your and your success The proper way to start every interview (when you are being interviewed): "I would like for you to answer a couple questions for me before we start... Why did you want me here? Why am I great for this role?" This will prime the interviewer to share positives about you. They will work to prove themselves right (about what they said of you) throughout the rest of the interview. The art of priming -- People want to prove themselves right How to get a raise or a promotion? When people are uncertain or fear they will lose you (assuming you provide value), they likely fear losses more than achieving gains. It benefits the organization to hold on to (and it's cheaper) great talent. Reciprocity - Why should a man give flowers at the beginning of a date? Unity - Donald Trump claims to be an outsider -- "We're in this together as outsiders. We are the same group." It resonates with people and creates unity. The Beijing Restaurant experiment The profession of selling -- The new way of thinking: How to create trust = Start with a weakness of your product. Warren Buffett does this better than anyone Great leaders need to be effective inside an organization Learnt the power of asking for advice "We are in this together. We are of the same group." Continue Learning: Read Dr. Cialdini's classic book: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion Read Dr. Cialdini's newest book: Pre-Suasion Follow Bob on Twitter: @RobertCialdini To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Dr. Robert Cialdini on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients.

Oct 9, 2016

Episode 166: Charles Duhigg - How To Create Habits Using Mental Models Charles Duhigg, is a reporter for The New York Times, and the best selling author of multiple books, including The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better. They about the science of habit formation in our lives, companies and societies. He's worked at the Times since 2006. His latest series focused on Apple and was named "The iEconomy." It won a Pulitzer prize for explanatory reporting in 2013. He studied history at Yale and received an MBA from Harvard Business School. He's appeared on This American Life, N.P.R., The Newshour with Jim Lehrer, and Frontline. Details on his newest book, Smarter Faster Better: a fascinating book that explores the science of productivity, and why managing how you think is more important than what you think—with an appendix of real-world lessons to apply to your life. At the core of Smarter Faster Better are eight key productivity concepts—from motivation and goal setting to focus and decision making—that explain why some people and companies get so much done. Drawing on the latest findings in neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics—as well as the experiences of CEOs, educational reformers, four-star generals, FBI agents, airplane pilots, and Broadway songwriters—this painstakingly researched book explains that the most productive people, companies, and organizations don't merely act differently. Episode 166: Charles Duhigg - How To Create Habits Using Mental Models Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Lorne Michaels creates psychological safety." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Common themes of sustained excellence = Creating a habit of thinking deeply It's possible to be busy all the time and never accomplish anything Having "contemplative routines" -- Habits, priorities. Michael Lewis is a great example -- He's always finding great stories There is a diversity in how people succeed It's very easy to be reactive -- The brain prefers this The most successful people take time to think -- Needs in life change The art of pairing stretch goals with SMART goals. Structure. Write this down Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Timeline Every morning creates a new to do list -- Stretch goals are most important There are practices in order to be productive and practices to be happy 2 Categories What you have What is going to happen Mentals Models -- The stories we tell ourselves prior to the event happening "what are all the things that could possibly go wrong on this flight?" Nurses in a NICU -- Very easy to be overcome with details Saturday Night Live Everyone gets to speak in equal proportion People show each other who is listening There is a psychological safety in their approach Lorne Michaels forces this safety The power of story telling "There is a diversity in how people succeed. That's why thinking is so important." Continue Learning: Read Chris's Book: Smarter Faster Better Follow Charles on Twitter: @cduhigg To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Charles Duhigg on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients.

Oct 5, 2016

Episode 165: Chris Voss - Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It Chris Voss is the Founder and CEO of the Black Swan Group Ltd and author of Never Split The Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It . He has used his many years of experience in international crisis and high-stakes negotiations to develop a unique program and team that applies these globally proven techniques to the business world. Prior to 2008, Chris was the lead international kidnapping negotiator for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the FBI's hostage negotiation representative for the National Security Council's Hostage Working Group. During his government career, he also represented the U.S. Government at two international conferences sponsored by the G-8 as an expert in kidnapping. He was the case agent on such cases as TERRSTOP (the Blind Sheikh Case – Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman), the TWA Flight 800 catastrophe and negotiated the surrender of the first hostage taker to give up in the Chase Manhattan bank robbery hostage taking. During Chris's 24 year tenure in the Bureau, he was trained in the art of negotiation by not only the FBI but Scotland Yard and Harvard Law School. He is also a recipient of the Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement and the FBI Agents Association Award for Distinguished and Exemplary Service. Chris currently teaches business negotiation in the MBA program as an adjunct professor at University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business and at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. He has taught business negotiation at Harvard University, guest lectured at The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, The IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland and The Goethe School of Business in Frankfurt, Germany. Since 2009 Christopher has also worked with Insite Security as their Managing Director of the Kidnapping Resolution Practice. Episode 165: Chris Voss - Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Every single question you ask will trigger an emotional response on the other side." In This Episode, You Will Learn: "Active Listening" leads to being a great negotiator "In a 2 hour conversation, there will be solid gold" There is always a difference in the literal truth and the actual truth Why you cannot be scared to look stupid by not asking clarifying questions How spending 24 years in the FBI, and negotiating over 150 kidnappings have developed his incredible ability International kidnappings are bargaining... Commodities "Leaders and Learners ask and they follow through" When closing a big business deal, terms and conditions are typically more important than the price: Try not to talk dollars until the very end. Satisfaction and peace of mind is what closes most deals How to develop trust and peace of mind -- Predictability with trust "Be a mirror" -- How to quickly establish rapport: 1 to 3 words repeating with the other says Why Howard Stern is one of the best interviewers in the world... He gets people to share things they would never normally say How to negotiate better terms when discussing a job offer -- Thinking long term vs. short term -- Insist on being part of projects that help the long term success of the company. Create your value "What makes you ask?" What's the question behind the question? The Jeff Schilling kidnapping -- A $10m pricetage -- Using "That's right" to create a bonding moment and get Jeff back The D.C. Snipers - Chris shares his involvement with that negotiation How to spot liars... How to guarantee execution, what questions to use at what times Liars use more words (typically) than people telling the truth to justify their story (their lie) The 7-38-55 percent rule When should you use the other persons first name and when it's too much How to coach emotional intelligence skills "Leaders and Learners ask and they follow through" Continue Learning: Read Chris's Book: Never Split The Difference Follow Chris on Twitter: @VossNegotiation To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Chris Voss on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients.

Oct 2, 2016

Episode 164: Jonathan Fields - How To Live A Good Life Jonathan Fields currently runs mission-driven media and education venture, Good Life Project®, where he and his team lead a global community in the quest to live more meaningful, connected and vital lives. They produce a top-rated podcast and video-series with millions of listens and views in more than 150 countries, where Jonathan regularly shares conversations with the world's leading voices, like Sir Ken Robinson, Elizabeth Gilbert, Milton Glaser, Brene Brown, Gretchen Rubin and hundreds more. He's also a best-selling author. His latest book is titled How To Live A Good Life: Soulful Stories, Surprising Science, and Practical Wisdom Jonathan is regularly featured in the media, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, FastCompany, Inc., Entrepreneur, USA Today, Real Simple, HOW, O Magazine, Self, Outside, Slate, Vogue, Elle, Allure, SELF, Yoga Journal, CNBC, Fox News, Today Show, PBS Nightly Business Report. Episode 164: Jonathan Fields - How To Live A Good Life Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "A leader is someone who is willing to own not just the result, but the process." In This Episode, You Will Learn: What does it mean to live a good life? Being completely unique Immersing self with activities that fill you up A sense of connection How do you "help people live better lives?" The origin story of "Good Life Project" -- The manifestation of what it means to live a good life A conscious entrepreneur -- Launch, build, sold multiple companies Key blog post - Year in reflection of 2011. 40 pages: 10 Commandments of Epic Business How do you do something you love for a living? Just starting... Run experiments. The key is starting. Having an annual gathering -- Camp GLP What it's like working full time with your spouse on your business Going to law school --> Being an entrepreneur --> Sold first business while in college Being a lawyer for the government vs. life as an entrepreneur A leader is someone who is willing to own now just the result, but the process. WOOP = Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Process Newest book... Why write it? What is it? A distillation of years of incredible conversations with teachers who are living it. Learning from those teachers sharing extremely actionable advice. The ideal person to read "How To Live A Good Life" -- Someone who is in their middle years of their life, busy people who are ready to take more control "Living Creed" -- "What do I believe is possible?" "What do I believe is important?" "Tell your story... Not someone else's" "What do I believe is possible? What do I believe is important?" Continue Learning: Read Jonathan's Book: " How To Live A Good Life " See why over 60,000 people follow Jonathan on Twitter: @jonathanfields To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Jonathan Fields on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients.

Sep 28, 2016

Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "No matter your industry, don't build walls: Communicate, Cooperate, Collaborate, Coordinate." In This Episode, You Will Learn: "To thine own self be true" -- Be yourself, focus on working hard and forging your own path As a graduate student, Amy cold called the Raiders asking for an unpaid internship 14 years later, she was hired as the CEO of the team The key was looking for projects to be part of (even if she wasn't initially chosen to do it) and add value to it Approaching work with an intense curiosity - Amy learned every role within the Raiders -- Even stuffing envelopes the proper way Learn about all parts of the overall business, not just what you do Amy was hired to work on contracts, but she ended up doing many different roles "Don't ever view something as "Not My Responsibility" - If you see it's a problem, then fix it" The day to day life of a CEO of an NFL team The Four C's To A Successful Career - Communicate, Cooperate, Collaborate, Coordinate "The only people not making mistakes are the ones who aren't trying" "You Negotiate Like A Girl" - Why use that title? Amy has operated without regard to gender her entire career The original title for her book was "Without Regard" Keys to being a great negotiator: You must find out what's important to each party... Some of the issues will be of no importance (let the opposing party have what is important to them if it's not important to you) "The best deals were forged when sitting alongside someone collaborating." No posturing, no lying -- Tell the truth Openly share what's important -- Create transparency "To thine own self be true" Continue Learning: Read Amy's Book: You Negotiate Like A Girl To Follow Amy on Twitter: @AmyTrask To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 073: Jay Bilas - World Class ESPN Basketball Broadcaster, Toughness, Fixing The NCAA Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Amy Trask on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients.

Sep 25, 2016

Episode 162: Adnan Virk - ESPN Broadcaster: Why You Should Always Say Yes Adnan Virk works for ESPN. He is the first Muslim Sports anchor to be hired by ESPN. Adnan is one of the most versatile talents in all of ESPN. He is one of three main anchors for Baseball Tonight . In the baseball off-season, he has hosted SportsCenter and Outside the Lines . He is known as someone who will always say "yes" when a leader calls and asks him to fill in. He has filled in for Keith Olbermann, Mike and Mike, SVP & Russilo, and many others. He is a "cinephile." Adnan has an immense love for film, regularly picks the Oscars, and does movie reviews on radio and TV. Recently, he started his own podcast titled, "Cinephile - The Adnan Virk Movie Podcast." He interviews actors and reviews movies. Some of his guests have been: Robert DeNiro (that story is discussed in depth on this episode), Viggo Mortensen, Denis Leary, Will Arnett, and more. His love (and knowledge) of movies is evident during this conversation. Episode 162: Adnan Virk - ESPN Broadcaster: Why You Should Always Say Yes Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "You will always have a job if you can do a lot of things. But you REALLY get paid if you can do one thing extremely well." - Mike Greenberg In This Episode, You Will Learn: The Top 5 Tom Hanks movies (we respectfully disagree but had fun discussing) The reason he became a sportscaster How he got his job at ESPN Why he chose to study Broadcasting in college Where his love of film came from Originally wanting to be a director and the moment when he realized he should do something else (and why) What he learned writing his first script -- "You have to be economical with your words" The impact his movie knowledge had on his co-workers at ESPN -- And opportunities it created for him Being a "generalist" -- How and why it's helped him Movie Reviews - Big , Top Gun , Rounders , Cast Away "You will always have a job if you can do a lot of things. But you really get paid if you can do one thing extremely well." His interview preparation process A great Robert DeNiro story - Meeting him, interviewing him, and what happened after it was over The greatest part about having a podcast Understanding the goals you have for each interview -- Having a plan Have to be prepared Research (a lot) Be prepared to go anywhere "Whenever there is an opening, always show up. Always be there for your boss. Be known as the person who says yes when your boss calls. Don't tell them about the trouble it takes you to say yes, just do it. Show up." "Whatever your passion is... You have to find it. And do it. You need new challenges and goals to be entertained." Continue Learning: To Listen to his podcast: Cinephile: The Adnan Virk Movie Podcast To Follow Adnan on Twitter: @adnanESPN To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 047: David Marquet - "Turn The Ship Around" Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Adnan Virk on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients.

Sep 21, 2016

Episode 161: Hank Fortener - "The 5 Chapters Of Your Life" Hank Fortener saw the transformational power of adoption when his parents gave forever homes to eight kids from eight different countries and fostered 36 children while he was a boy. Because of this, Hank created Adopt Together. AdoptTogether.org is the world's first crowd funding site for adoption. In the first 4 years, AdoptTogether.org has helped over 2,000 families raise over $8.5M to cover adoption expenses and bring their children home. Hank also speaks on the topics of leadership and teaming. He has spoken to companies such as: Sony Entertainment, Cardinal Health, Cornerstone On Demand, and a host of others. He has a podcast titled, "Typically Hazardous." Hank lives in Los Angeles with his wife Sueann and two daughters Cora and Charlotte. Hank also loves two dollar bills, great ideas, and good coffee. He currently is on tour with Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato. Had had the privilege of speaking at TEDx on "How To Use The Internet To Solve World Problems." Episode 161: Hank Fortener - "The 5 Chapters Of Your Life" Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "What are the five chapters you want in your life?" In This Episode, You Will Learn: A person who is "drunk in everything about their life" who has great, healthy relationships will lead to sustaining excellence The importance of consistency -- "It's the only thing that has emerged to help me be successful" How to be more consistent - Set up tools (Evernote), Write 10 ideas per day (via James Altucher) Balancing his four main points of emphasis right now: Writing a book, podcast, running his non-profit, World Adoption Day Most excited about? Building a one of a kind type of platform -- "Creating the life I want" Currently hosting a pre-show on Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato's tour -- How it came about What are the 5 chapters you want in you life? -- Write them out Write previous chapters in your life that you liked and didn't liked Why he doesn't do well with a boss, but also why he is not a good solo entrepreneur -- He needs a team 3 Keys To Being a Fantastic Leader Generous - Volunteer connections, energy, and compliments Trust - Character, and Honesty Overwhelmingly accessible - You must be there for those that you lead "You must show up" How "World Adoption Day" came about Scott Harrison - Charity Water CEO is involved The "Seth Godin" approach - Pitch 10 people - If it comes back, it's good. The significance of a hand with a smiley face The process for "creating a day" with the United Nations Why adoption? His family fostered 36 children. 19 million children don't have lead parents. He grew up with 8 adopted brothers and sisters Why as the lead you must be "the first in and last out" "Ultimately, being consistent has led to long term success." Continue Learning: Read About: World Adoption Day Follow Hank on Twitter: @HankFortener To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 047: David Marquet - "Turn The Ship Around" Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Hank Fortener on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients.

Sep 18, 2016

Episode 160: Liz Wiseman - Why Lack Of Experience Is Your Advantage Liz Wiseman teaches leadership to executives and emerging leaders around the world. She is the President of The Wiseman Group, a leadership research and development firm headquartered in Silicon Valley. Some of her recent clients include: Apple, Disney, eBay/PayPal, Facebook, GAP, Google, Microsoft, Nike, Roche, Salesforce.com, and Twitter. Liz has been listed on the Thinkers50 ranking and named as one of the top 10 leadership thinkers in the world and recipient of the 2016 ATD Champion of Talent Award . She is the author of three best-selling books: Rookie Smarts: Why Learning Beats Knowing in the New Game of Work, Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter and The Multiplier Effect: Tapping the Genius Inside Our Schools . She has conducted significant research in the field of leadership and collective intelligence and writes for Harvard Business Review and Fortune and her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Inc. and Time magazines. She is a frequent guest lecturer at BYU, and Stanford University. A former executive at Oracle Corporation, she worked over the course of 17 years as the Vice President of Oracle University and as the global leader for Human Resource Development. During her tenure at Oracle, she led several major global initiatives and has worked and traveled in over 40 countries. Liz holds a Bachelors degree in Business Management and a Masters of Organizational Behavior from Brigham Young University. Liz lives in Menlo Park, California with her husband and four children who share her over-active curiosity and sense of adventure. (Bio from thewisemangroup.com) (Picture from thinkers50.com) Episode 160: Liz Wiseman - Why Lack Of Experience Is Your Advantage Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "The leaders job is to pull out the greatness around them." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Having an outward orientation and thinking beyond yourself will lead to sustained excellence Liz describes a "genius vs a genius maker" "The leaders job is to pull out greatness around them. They are past themselves." Larry Ellison is a prime example of a leader who pulls out the greatness in others How to earn the trust of the CEO Why learning beats knowing Only 15% of what we know today will be relevant 5 years from now Why lack of experience is your advantage Career advice to younger workers: "Don't try to replicate someone else. Don't be a "Steve Jobs wannabe" -- Be yourself Managers need to understand the value of rookies The disciplines of a "multiplier vs a diminsher" Signs you've reached a plateau in your career: Things are running smoothly You have "ready answers" You're getting positive feedback all the time You're the mentor You're busy but bored You start to play it safe Diminisher = Energy killer, puts a blanket on new ideas Multiplier = They use their own intelligence to amplify and help others grow and succeed A Diminsher is A trophy collector... Treats talented employees like trophies (until they leave) A tyrant... A creator of stress A "know it all" A Multiplier is A talent magnet... People grow around multipliers and other great leaders flow to them A liberator... They give space A challenger... They invite people to do hard things. They get comfortable inviting others to be uncomfortable. They create a warm environment. Someone who creates a safe environment for intellectual curiosity and creates stretch "Don't be intimidated by what you don't know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else." - Sara Blakely Continue Learning: Read: Rookie Smarts: Why Learning Beats Knowing In The New Game Of Work Read: Multipliers: How The Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter To Follow Henry on Twitter: @LizWiseman To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 047: David Marquet - "Turn The Ship Around" Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Liz Wiseman on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients.

Sep 14, 2016

Episode 159: Henry Ward & Josh Merrill - CEO of eShares: How To Hire, Manage, & Lead Henry Ward is the CEO of eShares. Josh Merrill leads product and Marketing at eShares Hiring Principles: Hiring means we failed to execute and need help Startup employee effectiveness follows a power law False Positives are okay, False Negatives are not Culture is defined by who we hire Hiring Heuristics: Hire for Strength vs Lack of Weakness Hire for Trajectory vs Experience Hire Doers vs Tellers Hire Learners vs Experts Hire Different vs Similar Always pass on ego Episode 159: Henry Ward & Josh Merrill - CEO of eShares: How To Hire, Manage, & Lead Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "The success of a company is the sum of the people in it." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Patience, long term thinking, and understanding that your success will be determined by the people you surround yourself with will lead to sustained excellence Product focused and understanding "The Artist's Dilemma" The best produce it for themselves How eShares was created Why their partnership works so well What Josh feels Henry doesn't do well (Interesting moment!) Why don't more companies publicly share what they believe in? eShares hiring process Why you shouldn't hire someone because they are a "culture fit" Why you shouldn't have performance plans -- Once you've deemed the person is not working, then fire them immediately Hiring for trajectory vs. experience How it's similar to the LA Rams drafting Jared Goff with their #1 pick... Being patient to develop him How should you grade employees? Don't... Teach them to grade themselves. Don't give people a number grade -- "How am I doing?" "You're doing a 2." How to fire someone: Give sincere explanation for why Don't make it one-sided Help them with what's next Be intrigued about what you do -- "eShares is a learning experience for me. I'm doing things I've never done before" "False positives are okay. False negatives are not." Continue Learning: Read his Henry's posts on Medium: medium.com/@henrysward To Follow Henry on Twitter: @henrysward To Follow Josh on Twitter: @josh_io To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 047: David Marquet - "Turn The Ship Around" Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Henry Ward and Josh Merrill on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients.

Sep 11, 2016

Episode 158: Amy Jo Martin - How To Build Engagement, Trust, & Serotonin Amy Jo Martin, author of New York Times best-seller Renegades Write the Rules, founded Digital Royalty in 2009 to help corporations, celebrities and sports entities humanize their brands online through social communication channels. Amy Jo has worked closely with world-renowned brands such as Hilton Worldwide, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal to successfully humanize their presence. Her motto: humans connect with humans, not logos. Amy Jo herself has a social media following of more than a 1.1 million people and was named the third most powerful woman on Twitter by Forbes. Amy Jo believes the future of technology is the future of humanity. She conducts clinical research studies and travels the world to speak about this topic and many other topics. She recently spoke an audience of 10,000 people. In 2012 Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, and Baron Davis, NBA player, invested in Amy Jo and her company. After a successful seven-year run as the Founder & CEO of Digital Royalty and growing the business globally into ten different countries, Amy Jo recently exited the company. As a young female building her career in male-centric industries, Amy Jo has developed a passion for helping women thrive in business leadership. She is currently spending her time researching the relationship between technology and humanity. She is also investing in other female entrepreneurs so they can reach their full potential. Amy Jo is also a contributor to news outlets including the Harvard Business Review and Sports Business Journal. She has been featured in top-tier media outlets including Vanity Fair, TIME, Forbes, The New York Times, Fast Company , ESPN SportsCenter, USA Today , MSNBC and Newsweek . Client portfolio includes: Hilton Worldwide, Shaquille O'Neal, Motorola, FOX Sports, The X-Factor, Chicago White Sox, UFC and Dana White, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Los Angeles Kings, Jabbawockeeez, Doubletree by Hilton, Tony Hsieh CEO of Zappos.com, Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, KC Royals and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Episode 158: Amy Jo Martin - How To Build Engagement, Trust, & Serotonin Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Don't focus on the number of followers... Focus on the connection you are making with your followers." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Having an innate curiosity and learning from failure will lead to sustained excellence How Tony Hseih and "The Rock" have helped Amy Jo learn about leadership The art of asking questions -- The Tony Hseih approach Creating an online business -- How she did it and how to grow it Not focusing on the number of followers, but the manner in which Amy Jo engages with them Listening more than talking How to figure out your value The power of a positive outlook How to boost serotonin (it's contagious) The importance of mindfulness "The unfollow exercise" How she built her large Twitter following -- engagement Why she wanted to start her own podcast "Why Not Now?" Definition of her success? Identifying your purpose, passion, and skill A series of experiments including living on a boat "Serotonin is contagious" Continue Learning: READ her book: Renegades Write The Rules See why over 1.15 million people follow Amy Jo on Twitter: @AmyJoMartin To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 047: David Marquet - "Turn The Ship Around" Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Amy Jo Martin on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients.

Sep 7, 2016

Episode 157: Chris Zook - The Founders Mentality: A Bias For Action & Front Line Obsession Chris Zook is a partner in Bain & Company's Boston office. He was co-head of the Global Strategy practice for 20 years. During his more than 25 years at Bain, Chris has specialized in helping companies find new sources of profitable growth. A best-selling author, Chris published his fifth book, The Founder's Mentality in 2016. Based on a decade-long study of companies in more than 40 countries, The Founder's Mentality shows how leaders can overcome the predictable crises of growth and set their companies on a path of sustainable growth. Chris has been a featured broadcast guest, including NPR, CNBC, Fox News and Bloomberg TV. He has been a keynote speaker at a wide range of international and business forums including the World Economic Forum, the World Knowledge Forum, the Forbes' CEO Conference, the BusinessWeek CEO Conference, the Economist Summit and Endeavour's entrepreneur summits. In the last five years, he has done over 500 talks and workshops across more than 35 different countries. Episode 157: Chris Zook - The Founders Mentality: A Bias For Action & Front Line Obsession Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "The leaders who have a deep intellectual curiosity to continuously learn" will sustain excellence over an extended period of time" In This Episode, You Will Learn: Having a burning intensity and passion around a topic/cause and a love of the details will lead to sustained excellence Walter Chrysler was a great example of this.. -- Also Phil Knight (Nike), Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX) The importance of a "deep intellectual curiosity to learn" Front Line Obsession - Do you treat your front line sales and customer service employees as the heroes of the business? Do you do whatever it takes to support them? Customer Advocacy - Do you relentlessly try to create loyalty with your customers? Is the voice of the customer fully represented in all important meetings? An Owner's mindset: A bias for action - Making decisions with speed. Quick to take on personal responsibility and risk to do the right thing An aversion to bureaucracy - Have you simplified your initiatives to focus on the biggest priorities? Are your planning and review processes the best in the industry and do you reallocate resources to make your front line more competitive? The amount of time spent on the preparation for quarterly meetings (building PowerPoint decks, etc...) is immense -- However, it's not focused on customers, which is a problem How Home Depot went from great to poor to great again... The 9 Nike Maxims -- Make sure you celebrate your front line employees How can a company deal with cost reductions? "Train the guns on thet thinkers, not the doers" -- The bureaucracy has to go The importance of mindfulness Have a bias for action... Be a doer, not a talker 85% of a companies issues stem from internal issues Why a company needs one dedicated person to owning the customer experience The hero of WWII - General James Gavin New Leaders - Spend the first 6 weeks in the field. Learn what is happening and why. See it for yourself Send an email to every person in your organization and take the time to thoughtfully respond to every email How Chris helped build Bain from 100 employees to 5,000+ Thought of "Learning Leader" as an academic term originally, but after being a guest on the show views it as a way to bring ideas from an outside audience and share with others "Complexity is the silent killer of growth" Continue Learning: READ his book: The Founders Mentality Follow Bain on Twitter: @BainInsights To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 047: David Marquet - "Turn The Ship Around" Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Chris Zook on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell Bio From Bain.com Chris has authored numerous additional books with Harvard Business Review Press, including Repeatability: Build Enduring Businesses for a World of Constant Change (2012), an argument for simple, great repeatable models to realize enduring, profitable growth. In 2010, he published Profit from the Core: A Return to Growth in Turbulent Times , an updated edition of his 2001 best-selling business book, Profit from the Core: Growth Strategy in an Era of Turbulence , which offers an approach to assessing and making the most of core business opportunities. Chris's sequel, Beyond the Core: Expand your Market without Abandoning your Roots ( 2004) examines how companies that have fully exploited their core businesses can systematically and successfully expand into related, or "adjacent" areas. Unstoppable: Finding Hidden Assets to Renew the Core and Fuel Profitable Growth (2007) completes the series and examines what to do when your growth formula of the past begins to approach its limits, demanding that your company change its strategic focus and redefine its core. These "growth trilogy" books have received widespread critical support. Beyond the Core was recognized by The Economist as one of the top five business and economic books in the year it was published, and it was also voted one of the top 100 business books ever written. Unstoppable was identified by The Financial Times as one of the notable business books of the year. Based on his work on how companies grow, Chris was included by the Times of London in its biannual list of the 50 Most Influential Global Business Thinkers. He has written dozens of articles with Harvard Business Review Press and other business publications, such as The Wall Street Journal , The Financial Times , The New York Times , Fortune , Forbes and BusinessWeek . He received a bachelor of arts in mathematics and economics from Williams College, an M.Phil. in economics from Exeter College, Oxford University, and earned master's and doctorate degrees from Harvard University.

Sep 4, 2016

Episode 156: Greg Wittstock – The CEO Must Guide The Culture Greg Wittstock has been dabbling in water gardens since the age of 12. He began with a concrete creation and evolved to the naturally balanced, #1 contractor-installed ecosystem ponds that Aquascape is well known for. After graduating from Ohio State University with a degree in Interpersonal Communications, Greg founded Aquascape Inc., which experienced incredible growth during its early years. The company appeared on Inc Magazine's coveted list of 500 Fastest-Growing, Privately-Held Companies in North America from 1999-2002. Greg later appeared on the cover of Inc Magazine, along with a feature article about his leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. Episode 156: Greg Wittstock – The CEO Must Guide The Culture Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "The first job of the CEO is to guide the culture" In This Episode, You Will Learn: Most excited about: The 25th anniversary of his company, Aquascape Growing a business from college hobby to 120 employees and over $60m in revenue at one point "Those who sweat together stay together" Values of Aquascape Character Team Winning Fun The importance of playing football and how they taught Greg about teamwork How The Chicago Tribune story launched his business to another level Why he didn't speak with his Dad for 9 years The average pond they build is $15,000 Overall philosophy to the profession of sales: Help those who have had a bad experience, sell the lifestyle, share statistics about how a pond can change your life Find someone who has done what you want to do and learn directly from them "The greatest satisfaction in life is helping other people succeed" "Find someone who does what you want to do and learn directly from them." Continue Learning: READ: Forbes Feature on Greg Follow Greg on Twitter: @ThePondGuy To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 047: David Marquet - "Turn The Ship Around" Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Greg Wittstock on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell The Learning Leader Show is supported by Daor Design - Daor Design will help you build your brand like nobody's business. Most of their work falls into one of four categories: Logo Design, Print Design, Web Design or Digital Marketing. They pride themselves in being a trusted, valued resource for their growing family of clients. Bio From Aquascapeinc.com In 2004, Greg was nominated for Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year award. Greg also received the Best Boss' award from Fortune's Small Business Magazine and Winning Workplaces in 2005, and earned the University of Chicago's Entrepreneur Hall of Fame award in 2007. At the end of 2005, Wittstock's dream of a workplace utopia came true as the company moved to Aqualand, a 256,000 square foot office and warehouse facility that boasts the largest sloping green roof in North America. Aqualand received Silver Level recognition in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating system. Greg has been interviewed and featured in numerous publications, including The New York Times in 2009, and has appeared on a variety of television shows over the years including Good Morning America, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, and cable home improvement shows.

Aug 31, 2016

Episode 155: Russ Roberts - A Guide To Human Nature & Happiness Russell Roberts is the John and Jean De Nault Research Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. Roberts hosts the weekly podcast EconTalk–hour-long conversations with authors, economists, and business leaders. Past guests include Milton Friedman, Nassim Taleb, Christopher Hitchens, Marc Andreessen, Joseph Stiglitz, and John Bogle. EconTalk was named podcast of the year in the 2008 Weblog Awards. Over 425 episodes are available at EconTalk.org and on iTunes at no charge. His two rap videos on the ideas of John Maynard Keynes and F.A. Hayek, created with filmmaker John Papola, have had more than seven million views on YouTube, been subtitled in eleven languages, and are used in high school and college classrooms around the world. His latest book is How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness . It takes the lessons from Adam Smith's little-known masterpiece, The Theory of Moral Sentiments and applies them to modern life—lessons for work, family, friendship, and how to live the good life. Episode 155: Russ Roberts - A Guide To Human Nature & Happiness Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Man naturally desires, not only to be loved, but to be lovely" -- "The right way to be loved is to be wise and virtuous" In This Episode, You Will Learn: "Being intellectually alive" and having a passion about learning will help you sustain excellence The importance of being open to people outside of the box Adam Smith was an 18th Century Scottish Economist - Great writer, entertaining He wrote "The Wealth of Nations" and "The Theory of Moral Sentiments" What we all naturally desire = To be loved and to be lovely Why do we care so deeply about what others think of us? We want to be praised, BUT we want to earn that praise. We want to be praised for doing it the "right way" How do you know what is right? Step outside of yourself -- you're prone to delusion. View it in the spectrum of an impartial spectator Meditation and mindfulness is helpful "A prudent man is sincere and honest. Also though he doesn't volunteer everything he knows, he is reserved and cautious in his speech and his action. He doesn't stick his opinion into every discussion." -- Be measured. "Say little, do much." Create a beneficent rule about parenting -- Always take your child's hand when offered. It means holding their hand more often and also helps you remember to savor the moment. How to live? Seek wisdom and virtue. Behave as if an impartial spectator is watching you. Use the idea of an impartial spectator to step outside yourself as others see you. Use that vision to know yourself. Avoid the seductions of money and fame, for they will never satisfy. "These are the days to remember. They will not last forever." The story of Pyrrhus - The kind of Epirus - Why Cinneas thinks it's a bad idea. -- "What hinders your majestry from doing so now?" -- You don't have to conquer Italy to enjoy the fundamental pleasures of life. The Mexican fishing story = Bigger is not always better. Listen as this relates to so many people trying to check off boxes from a career perspectiveThe story of Pyrrhus - The kind of Epirus - Why Cinneas thinks it's a bad idea. -- "What hinders your majestry from doing so now?" -- You don't have to conquer Italy to enjoy the fundamental pleasures of life. "A prudent man is sincere and honest. Also though he doesn't volunteer everything he knows, he is reserved and cautious in his speech and his action. He doesn't stick his opinion into every discussion." -- Be measured. "Say little, do much." Continue Learning: READ his book: How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life Follow Russ on Twitter: @EconTalker To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 047: David Marquet - "Turn The Ship Around" Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Russ Roberts on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell Bio From RussRoberts.info Russell Roberts is the John and Jean De Nault Research Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. Roberts hosts the weekly podcast EconTalk–hour-long conversations with authors, economists, and business leaders. Past guests include Milton Friedman, Nassim Taleb, Christopher Hitchens, Marc Andreessen, Joseph Stiglitz, and John Bogle. EconTalk was named podcast of the year in the 2008 Weblog Awards. Over 425 episodes are available at EconTalk.org and on iTunes at no charge. His two rap videos on the ideas of John Maynard Keynes and F.A. Hayek, created with filmmaker John Papola, have had more than seven million views on YouTube, been subtitled in eleven languages, and are used in high school and college classrooms around the world. His latest book is How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness . It takes the lessons from Adam Smith's little-known masterpiece, The Theory of Moral Sentiments and applies them to modern life—lessons for work, family, friendship, and how to live the good life.

Aug 28, 2016

Episode 154: Lewis Howes - How To Acknowledge Greatness Lewis Howes is an online marketing expert, sought after business coach, author, podcaster, USA Men's National Team Handball Player, and Lifestyle Entrepreneur. In 3 years, Howes went from sleeping on his sister's couch to running a seven figure online education business. A former pro football player, and two sport All American, Howes experienced a career ending wrist injury that forever changed the trajectory of his business career. He has spoken to thousands at conferences, educated entrepreneurs and professionals around the world on how to make a living doing what they love. Howes has developed multiple educational online courses for entrepreneurs and business owners. His latest book, "The School of Greatness" is a New York Times Best-Seller. The Learning Leader Show "Do I have permission to make this the best interview you've ever done?" In This Episode, You Will Learn: Being passionate and obsessed with your craft combined with a commitment to being great will help you sustain excellence Lewis sharing the painful moments about being sexually abused as a kid and how that impacted him The things that hold us back from being a true leader The power of vulnerability Let's change our conversation style... Instead of asking, "What do you do?" Let's ask, "What are you most excited about in your life? What are you most grateful for in your life?" His vision = Serve 100 million people Dealing with depression when a wrist injury ended his football career "Follow your curiosity" Master a skill to serve others - Be challenged -- Look at your life in 6 month seasons Why Lewis transferred back and forth multiple times in college Focusing on your strengths and how it helps How to prime someone you are about to interview Why we all should acknowledge the positive attributes of a person and most importantly TELL them "I want to acknowledge you for..." A true leader is always learning "When you're a startup, you have to be willing to take a lot of risks." Continue Learning: His book: The School of Greatness See why over 109,000 people follow Lewis on Twitter: @LewisHowes To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 047: David Marquet - "Turn The Ship Around" Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Lewis Howes on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell

Aug 24, 2016

Episode 153: Brian Halligan, CEO of HubSpot: How To Make Them Come To You (Bio in first person from Amazon.com) My day job is as co-founder and CEO of HubSpot, an inbound marketing company started in 2006. Most business market their products by "interrupting" their potential customers with advertisements, cold calls, email blasts, etc. We humans have gotten sick of being interrupted by marketers and have gotten better-and-better at blocking them out with new technology such as caller ID, spam protection, TIVO, etc. HubSpot helps businesses transform they way they market from interrupting potential customers to helping them "get found" by them in the natural course of the way they work today in Google, in blogs, and in social media sites. In other words, we help companies transform from "outbound marketing" to "inbound marketing." Despite only starting the company a few years ago, we have over 1700 paying customers who on average increase their leadflow by 6x within 6 months of buying our product. In addition to working at HubSpot, I am an EIR at MIT where I lecture on startups and marketing as well as help students when I can. Prior to HubSpot I was a venture capitalist. It was in working with small startups that I realized that the fundamental way in which marketing has worked for the last several decades was simply broken. Prior to being a vc, I was a student at MIT where I was a Sloan Fellow. I spent a lot of time at MIT studying web2.0, business model transformation, and innovation. In the early part of this decade, I spent four years running sales at Groove Networks prior to it being acquired by Microsoft. I spent the first 10 years of my career in sales and marketing roles at Parametric Technology Corporation where I joined in startup mode and helped it grow to be over $1billion in revenue. In my spare time, I like to read books by folks like David Meerman Scott, Seth Godin, Clayton Christensen, Geoffrey Moore, etc. I also play guitar poorly. I enjoy all kinds of sports like tennis, squash, running, and golf. I can often be found in summertime enjoying a Red Sox game in Fenway Park. Episode 153: Brian Halligan, CEO of HubSpot: How To Make Them Come To You Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "It looks like a rocket ship from the outside, but in reality it is slow and steady growth." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Having a willingness to embrace change will help you sustain excellence Understanding "The Inbound Methodology" How HubSpot was born The importance of finding a great co-founder who compliments your strengths What's advice would he give to others who are starting their own business? Must have product/market fit -- Look to improve someone's life with something that is unique. For the first 6 months spend 100% of your time getting that right Specific notes about the product from a current user The Inbound Methodology - Much more effective than cold calling The traditional playbook is broken... How do you do "Inbound Marketing?" Create a blog, start a podcast -- Find a way to attract people to you. Hubspot does a fantastic job of getting people to come to them "I don't have a phone on my desk" -- "Sales is changing everyday" -- His co-founder just bought a Tesla and did the entire transaction online "If I was an outside sales person, I would choose an industry with a very complex product. If it's not complex, then the buyer doesn't need anyone to explain it to them. They can just read about it online." HubSpot sells a great deal completely through eCommerce Why they publish their "Culture Code" and how it's helped them recruit the best talent How they responded to Dan Lyons very critical book discussing his time of employment at HubSpot Dealing with negative publicity -- How to handle a crisis -- Agreeing that some of what was written was true ("We are way too white male and we are too young.") The dramatic rise of their stock price from when they went public to today (132% increase) Why they have an "Inbound" conference every year and what takes place at the event The importance of having healthy debates prior to "sailing the ships." - Once the ship is sailing, everyone must be on board Most important quality for Brian to hire you? They must know why they were successful in their prior work. He doesn't only care about what happened, he wants to make sure they fully understand why they were successful Read the book "Shoe Dog" by Phil Knight (Nike) "I like the name Learning Leader a lot. I like leaders who are constantly learning and evolving." "When you're a startup, you have to be willing to take a lot of risks." Continue Learning: Read: Inbound Marketing, Revised and Updated: Attract, Engage, and Delight Customers Online Read: HubSpot - Culture Code See why over 58,000 people follow Brian on Twitter: @bhalligan To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 047: David Marquet - "Turn The Ship Around" Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Kris "Tanto" Paronto on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell Bio From Amazon.com (Bio in first person from Amazon.com) My day job is as co-founder and CEO of HubSpot, an inbound marketing company started in 2006. Most business market their products by "interrupting" their potential customers with advertisements, cold calls, email blasts, etc. We humans have gotten sick of being interrupted by marketers and have gotten better-and-better at blocking them out with new technology such as caller ID, spam protection, TIVO, etc. HubSpot helps businesses transform they way they market from interrupting potential customers to helping them "get found" by them in the natural course of the way they work today in Google, in blogs, and in social media sites. In other words, we help companies transform from "outbound marketing" to "inbound marketing." Despite only starting the company a few years ago, we have over 1700 paying customers who on average increase their leadflow by 6x within 6 months of buying our product. In addition to working at HubSpot, I am an EIR at MIT where I lecture on startups and marketing as well as help students when I can. Prior to HubSpot I was a venture capitalist. It was in working with small startups that I realized that the fundamental way in which marketing has worked for the last several decades was simply broken. Prior to being a vc, I was a student at MIT where I was a Sloan Fellow. I spent a lot of time at MIT studying web2.0, business model transformation, and innovation. In the early part of this decade, I spent four years running sales at Groove Networks prior to it being acquired by Microsoft. I spent the first 10 years of my career in sales and marketing roles at Parametric Technology Corporation where I joined in startup mode and helped it grow to be over $1billion in revenue. In my spare time, I like to read books by folks like David Meerman Scott, Seth Godin, Clayton Christensen, Geoffrey Moore, etc. I also play guitar poorly. I enjoy all kinds of sports like tennis, squash, running, and golf. I can often be found in summertime enjoying a Red Sox game in Fenway Park.

Aug 21, 2016

Episode 152: Dave Dameshek: NFL Network Star, Comedy Writer, Working With Jimmy Kimmel Dave Dameshek is a TV writer and TV/Podcast personality. Dameshek is currently a football analyst and writer for NFL.com, appearing on NFL Fantasy Live and hosting the Dave Dameshek Football Program . He also regularly appears on the NFL Network. His past: The Adam Carolla Show debuted in January 2006, recorded in Los Angeles and airing in syndication on stations across the western United States. Dameshek was a regular cast member on the show from the beginning, serving as the show's official sports reporter. He received his first big break in 2001 when he was hired as a writer on Comedy Central's The Man Show , hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla. In 2002, he began writing for Kimmel's new late-night talk show on ABC, Jimmy Kimmel Live! , where he made several appearances in addition to his main responsibility of working on the show's nightly monologue. Episode 152: Dave Dameshek: NFL Network Star, Comedy Writer, Working With Jimmy Kimmel Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "If you outwork everybody, nobody can accuse you of being given anything." In This Episode, You Will Learn: The specific advice Jimmy Kimmel gave to him on how to have a successful career (work ethic) Super resilient and self confident leaders sustain excellence Best piece of advice for future broadcasters: "BE EXACTLY WHO YOU ARE" When it comes to Dameshek's feelings towards obnoxious TV personalities - Be yourself and always tell the truth Going from bartender to corporate sales to a career in entertainment Dameshek responds to the Reddit thread, "Does anyone actually like Dave Dameshek?" How he was able to earn Adam Corolla's respect (hard to do) A great story about one of his first "LA" experiences with Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla What "No Jive" means and why he believes in it How has Roger Goddell been as a leader? Why Dave gets nervous to speak with comedians but not anyone else Why people will tell you terrible things about themselves but no one will admit they aren't funny How to impress CEO's? "Don't kiss their butts" -- They are used to everyone doing that "If you always tell the truth, you never have to remember anything." Continue Learning: Read Dameshek's blog for NFL.com: davedameshek.nfl.com Follow Tanto on Twitter: @Dameshek To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 145 : AJ Hawk - Life In The NFL, Awareness, Consistency Episode 047: David Marquet - "Turn The Ship Around" Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Dave Dameshek on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell Bio Dave Dameshek Dr. Funny Dave Dameshek is a TV writer and TV/Podcast personality. Dameshek is currently a football analyst and writer for NFL.com, appearing on NFL Fantasy Live and hosting the Dave Dameshek Football Program . The Adam Carolla Show debuted in January 2006, recorded in Los Angeles and airing in syndication on stations across the western United States. Dameshek was a regular cast member on the show from the beginning, serving as the show's official sports reporter. He received his first big break in 2001 when he was hired as a writer on Comedy Central's The Man Show , hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and Adam Carolla. In 2002, he began writing for Kimmel's new late-night talk show on ABC, Jimmy Kimmel Live! , where he made several appearances in addition to his main responsibility of working on the show's nightly monologue.

Aug 17, 2016

Episode 151: Kris "Tanto" Paronto - 13 Hours: A Secret Soldier Of Benghazi Kris Paronto - "Tanto" as he is affectionately known in security contracting circles - is a former Army Ranger from 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment and private security contractor who has deployed throughout South America, Central America, the Middle East and North Africa. He also worked with the US Government's Global Response Staff conducting low profile security in high threat environments throughout the world. Mr. Paronto was part of the CIA annex security team that responded to the terrorist attack on the US Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya, September 11th, 2012, helping to save over 20 lives while fighting off terrorists from the CIA Annex for over 13 hours. Mr. Paronto's story is told in the book "13 Hours" written by Mitchell Zuckoff and his five surviving annex security team members. Michael Bay directed the movie (based on the book) titled " 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi" Episode 151: Kris "Tanto" Paronto - 13 Hours: A Secret Soldier Of Benghazi Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "I Will Never Ask You To Do Something I wouldn't Do Myself" In This Episode, You Will Learn: Being selfless, of service to others, and sacrificing will help you sustain excellence Humility, strength, and faith have led to Tanto's success and his ability to stay alive "The best leaders continually learn" All of the death he saw in Iraq and other war zones helped prepare him for the Benghazi attacks How accurate the movie " 13 Hours " was to what happened in real life How often he still speaks with the other soldiers from that night Did he really wear shorts (like the movie portrays) that night? If so, why? "Rangers are experts at belt fed weapons" Why they were forced to wait 25 minutes at the annex prior to leaving What it was like hearing on the radio, "GRS (his group), where are you? We are going to F'n die" Tanto's thoughts Hillary Clinton's leadership (not good) Why there were forced to sign 2 non-disclosures -- including one at the memorials The amount of money you can make in 9 months as a security contractor What happens when you come home from a job over seas and how it negatively impacts your life How PTSD has impacted him The CIA fired him for telling his story publicly -- telling the truth Tanto and his teammates voted... They all chose to tell the truth -- And it got them fired What it's like to be in the audience for one of Tanto's speeches "Hillary Clinton is a failed leader. This is not a political statement. She is a sociopath." - Kris "Tanto" Paronto Continue Learning: Read: 13 Hours Watch: 13 Hours - The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Follow Tanto on Twitter: @KrisParonto To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 071: Nate Boyer - Green Beret, Texas Football, The NFL Episode 047: David Marquet - "Turn The Ship Around" Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Kris "Tanto" Paronto on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell Bio From kristantoparonto.com Kris Paronto - "Tanto" as he is affectionately known in security contracting circles - is a former Army Ranger from 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment and private security contractor who has deployed throughout South America, Central America, the Middle East and North Africa. He also worked with the US Government's Global Response Staff conducting low profile security in high threat environments throughout the world. Mr. Paronto was part of the CIA annex security team that responded to the terrorist attack on the US Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya, September 11th, 2012, helping to save over 20 lives while fighting off terrorists from the CIA Annex for over 13 hours. Mr. Paronto's story is told in the book "13 Hours" written by Mitchell Zuckoff and his five surviving annex security team members. Michael Bay directed the movie (based on the book) titled " 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi"

Aug 14, 2016

Episode 150: Forbes Contributor Omaid Homayun Interviews Me - Learning From Failure, Creating A Hit Podcast, Sustaining Excellence A few months ago I received a great email from Omaid Homayun. He shared how The Learning Leader Show has helped him grow as a leader. He mentioned that he had his own podcast ( To The Top ) and he was also a writer for Forbes. After a few conversations, Omaid decided that he wanted to write a story on how my show as created and has sustained excellence. This episode is the recording of the official interview we did for what became this Forbes article . I'm sharing this conversation specifically because I appreciate the approach Omaid brought to this interview. He came to it with a curious mind (as Lin Wood would say ). He also was able to get me to share information about myself that I've never discussed publicly. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope you do too. Thank YOU all again for being great supporters of The Learning Leader Show . Episode 150: Forbes Contributor Omaid Homayun Interviews Me - Learning From Failure, Creating A Hit Podcast, Sustaining Excellence Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "Sometimes you can do absolutely everything within your power," Hawk said of his time at Miami (OH), "and yet it still won't be enough to accomplish your goals. It's served me well to handle failure at a young age. I draw from that experience on a daily basis." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Why I decided against a PhD and started this show instead The process for creating the show -- And the work done prior to launching How to improve as an interviewer The most important I learned from my football career A detailed description of "what happens" from play to play as a quarterback (I've never discussed it in this detail before) What it was like competing with Ben Roethlisberger for 2 years at Miami University How to balance time at work and time with family The specific breakdown (by % of time) for how I spend my 168 hours per week How to get your family involved and excited about a new project The most memorable lessons learned from speaking with over 150 world class leaders "It will spread because I'm going to work like crazy for it to be great." Continue Learning: Read: Forbes Feature: How To Maximize Your Time To Achieve Sustained Success: An Interview With Ryan Hawk Read: Omaid's Forbes Feature on Simon Sinek To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 082: Dan Pink – The Science of Motivation, Legendary Writer & Ted Talk Episode 086: Seth Godin – How To Become Indispensable & Build Your Tribe Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed how we flipped the script on this episode, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell Bio From www.LearningLeader.com Ryan Hawk is the creator and host of The Learning Leader Show, a top rated iTunes business podcast that focuses on learning from the smartest, most creative leaders in the world (including such luminaries as Simon Sinek, Seth Godin, Kat Cole and Adam Grant). Hawk's podcast has exploded on a global scale with listeners in 112 countries world-wide. Forbes has called The Learning Leader Show "The most dynamic leadership podcast out there." And Inc magazine listed The Learning Leader Show as one of the top 5 podcasts to "help you lead smarter." Ryan also writes for The Huffington Post on the topics of leading and empowering others. His background is in the profession of selling where he's won multiple awards for his production. Prior to his professional business pursuits Hawk was a decorated college football quarterback (at Miami University and Ohio University).

Aug 10, 2016

Episode 149: Marcus Sheridan - The Sales Lion: "They Ask, We Answer" Marcus Sheridan has coached multiple businesses of all types from around the globe in an effort to help them achieve world-class communication in all its forms, online and offline. Specifically, he has become known for: Content Marketing, HubSpot Training, Keynote Speeches. In 2015 alone, award-winning speaker Marcus Sheridan has traveled the globe, giving multiple sales, marketing, and leadership keynotes in a total of 8 different countries and 24 states. Sheridan, along with team member George Thomas, can be counted on to teach, inspire, and move audiences of all sizes to action while embracing today's digital consumer and new way of doing business. Episode 149: Marcus Sheridan - The Sales Lion: "They Ask, We Answer" Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio The Learning Leader Show "I teach companies how to become the most trusted source in their industry." In This Episode, You Will Learn: Having an obsession with continuing to learn will help you sustain excellence. A mindset that says "I have not figured it all out yet." His core philosophy is: "They ask. We answer." How Jim Rohn helped him fall in love with learning The process in which Marcus teaches companies to be the most trusted source in their industry "The reason why people buy from you is TRUST." When people go to your website, they want to know how much it costs... So tell them Talking openly about your competitors is a wise way to go about your business What's the most important part of the sales cycle? 70% of people decide what they're going to do before talking to a sales professional The magic happens before they talk to someone (this is why your website is critical) If someone read 30 pages on his website, they bought 80% of the time 80% of the questions are the same... Answer them on your website Why it's required at his company for each employee to build their personal brand Why is Marcus a great public speaker? "He knows how to explain things so that people can actually understand them." "When we tell stories, the audience can see it." Think, Feel, Act - Your speech can hopefully change all three Why he took his daughter on the road with him for an entire semester A learning leader is curious.. Constantly learning "If you're going to be ultra successful in sales, you need a personal brand." Continue Learning: Go to: TtheSalesLion.com Follow Marcuson Twitter: @TheSalesLion To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12 You may also like these episodes: Episode 078: Kat Cole – From Hooters Waitress To President of Cinnabon Episode 082: Dan Pink – The Science of Motivation, Legendary Writer & Ted Talk Episode 086: Seth Godin – How To Become Indispensable & Build Your Tribe Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why Did you enjoy the podcast? If you enjoyed hearing Marcus Sheridan on the show, please don't hesitate to send me a note on Twitter or email me. Episode edited by the great J Scott Donnell Bio From TheSalesLion.com Marcus Sheridan has coached multiple businesses of all types from around the globe in an effort to help them achieve world-class communication in all its forms, online and offline. Specifically, he has become known for: Content Marketing, HubSpot Training, Keynote Speeches. In 2015 alone, award-winning speaker Marcus Sheridan has traveled the globe, giving multiple sales, marketing, and leadership keynotes in a total of 8 different countries and 24 states. Sheridan, along with team member George Thomas, can be counted on to teach, inspire, and move audiences of all sizes to action while embracing today's digital consumer and new way of doing business.