Absolute Advantage Podcast

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The Absolute Advantage Podcast is about learning from some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, leaders, and achievers at the top of their game. When chasing your dreams, a lot of times there isn’t a need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, shorten your path to success by learning from the s…

Kelly Hatfield


    • May 5, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 42m AVG DURATION
    • 217 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Absolute Advantage Podcast

    Episode 217: Finding the Courage to Let Go with Kute Blackson

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2021 55:05


    Author of the national bestselling book You.Are.The.One. and widely considered the next generation leader in the field of personal development by everyone ranging from Larry King, Jack Canfield, Marianne Williamson and more. He has been featured on Larry King Now, Fox and Friends, Dr. Drew, as well, Inc magazine calls him ‘The Mindfulness Guru Billionaires Go To For Advice’. He recently received a Walden Award in the New Thought Wisdom category that Unity honors once a year to recognize socially conscious leaders who are making the world a better place, past winners in the same category have been Oprah Winfrey and Michael Bernard Beckwith. A charismatic visionary and transformational teacher, he offers a fresh, bold look at spiritual awareness for a whole new generation. Born in Ghana, West Africa, Coot’s multi-cultural upbringing as the child of a Japanese mother and a Ghanaian father has spanned four different continents. His unique lineage lay the foundation for his approach to breaking down barriers and unlocking an individual’s true gifts and greatness. His mission is simple: To awaken and inspire people across the planet to access inner freedom, live authentically and fulfill their true life’s purpose. In this episode, we talk about his new book, “Magic of Surrender – Finding the Courage to let go”. What you will learn: Kute’s journey to live into his truth How do determine whether it is your instinct or an unlimiting belief that is holding you back How to move you past inner struggle to discover the power of letting go of control and how letting go leads to more Allowing life to lead us instead of needing to KNOW The lies we tell ourselves and how they hold us back What does it mean to “surrender” Why surrender is the most powerful thing you can do The stages in the process of surrendering Ways to contact Kute Blackson: Website: kuteblackson.com New Book – “The Magic of Surrender – Finding the Courage to Let Go” Facebook: @kuteblacksonlovenow Twitter: @kuteblackson

    Episode 216: Lead on All Fronts, with Doug Ward

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2020 24:32


    Doug is a retired military veteran of over 24 years. During his time in the military, he held numerous leadership positions to include instructor and manager of 500 personnel to Troop Chief of a hand-selected group of special communicators tasked with supporting and deploying into austere environments with Special Operations Forces. Upon retirement, he supported numerous government agencies as a subject matter expert in non-standard communications and as a business development executive. These experiences have enabled him to pass on the knowledge and lessons of leadership under extreme conditions for companies needing management team building. Pulling from his past experience as an executive-level technology leader, he has built numerous successful teams based on building a common vision that is understood and predicated upon impact and purpose. What You Will Learn: Doug Ward’s leadership journey How Doug tapped into his leadership abilities by observing his peers Why self-awareness is such an important trait for effective leaders to have How to earn your team’s trust from a position of authority How to find a balance between your leadership position with your team and your leadership position with your family How Doug navigated the transition from military to civilian life The steps Doug takes to combat toxicity in a work environment Ways to contact Doug Ward: Upcoming Podcast: “The Truth with Danger Doug” Website: https://www.anchorstrategiesllc.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-ward45/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/anchor-strategies-llc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/douglas.ward.501 Twitter: @Truth_DangerD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthwithdangerdoug/

    Episode 215: Everyday Courage, with Kelly Hatfield and April Taylor

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2020 22:29


    Kelly Hatfield and April Taylor are leaders and entrepreneurs at heart. They believe fully in the power of the ripple effect and the opportunity that each of us has to create meaningful, positive and long-lasting impact in the lives of our teams, our clients and all who we serve. They consistently focus on ensuring that this amazing opportunity is realized. Kelly and April have built several successful companies directly connected to helping others live into their opportunity to make a greater impact. They have been in the recruiting and HR field for over 25 years and love serving others. Kelly and April, along with their amazing teams, have created 4 successful businesses aimed at matching exceptional talent with top organizations. Through Kelly and April’s passion for service and people, their reach has organically expanded into the area of coaching and consulting. With a focus on high-performance, they partner with companies to support and develop their leadership teams and design recruiting and retention strategies. Additionally, their work as hosts of Absolute Advantage Podcast offers a conduit to deep discussions with successful entrepreneurs, executives, and thought leaders across a variety of industries. This has provided them a unique perspective and deep connection to leadership, people, entrepreneurship and high-achieving practices from all viewpoints. What You Will Learn: The meaning of courage at the Absolute Advantage Why many of us are actually more courageous than we might think How to “put on your damn shoes” and overcome fear, resistance, or friction Why focusing on delivering value will make you more courageous than focusing on yourself How acts of courage are presented in everyday life How to get involved in the discussion on our private Facebook group and our All Access group How to move past the negative connotations associated with failure Ways to contact us: Website: https://www.absoluteadvantageleadership.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/absolute-advantage-leadership/ Twitter: @kellyhatfield11 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/absoluteadvantageleadership

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    Episode 214: Health, Energy, and Leadership, with Thom King

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2020 31:14


    Part CEO, part personal development wonk, and part biohacker info geek, Thom King is a self-confessed serial entrepreneur. While his favorite book list contains many success-oriented and personal-development classics, the traditional definition of achieving success (e.g. make a lot of money) is not what inspires or motivates King. He follows more of a ‘you aren’t doing well unless you’re also doing some good’ line of thinking. King’s company has been built around the simple principle of ‘do the right thing.’ In 1999, Thom’s personal passion for food and his concern over the explosion of metabolic disease led him to found Steviva Brands, now known as Icon Foods, with a mission to help food manufacturers replace unhealthy sugars in their products with natural options. With 20 years of R&D work, Thom has helped hundreds of manufacturers improve the quality of their products. In recent years, his passion for food and optimal health have intersected with his embrace of a ketogenic (low carb, high fat) diet. — Thom King is the founder of Icon Foods and the author of “Guy Gone Keto: How to Lose Weight, Feel Great, and Achieve Lifelong Fitness.” As you can imagine, health and fitness are at the core of everything Thom has built. But he did not develop a health-conscious mentality until much later in his life. He started to question the effects of sugar on our bodies, then sought out a viable alternative with zero calories and no negative effects. It was a pivotal moment that paved the way for Steviva and eventually Icon Foods, enabling Thom to make an impact on manufacturers, consumers, friends, and family to this day. Thom joins us in the latest episode of the Absolute Advantage to share his journey and bring us full circle with the concepts of health and energy. They are intertwined, and our health has a significant impact on how we show up in the world. Diet and exercise are directly tied to our ability to operate as effective leaders, and they can shape our organizations as a whole. To learn more about the relationship between health, energy, and leadership, listen to the latest episode of the Absolute Advantage. Click here to listen to the episode, and make sure to visit www.absoluteadvantagepodcast.com for more content that inspires, encourages and helps you grow and make an impact QUICKLY both professionally and personally. Ways to contact Thom King: Book: Guy Gone Keto: How to Lose Weight, Feel Great, and Achieve Lifelong Fitness Website: http://iconfoods.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guygoneketo/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steviva/ Twitter: @steviva

    Episode 213: Energy Management and Self-Leadership, with Kelly Hatfield and April Taylor

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2020 41:48


    Kelly Hatfield and April Taylor are leaders and entrepreneurs at heart. They believe fully in the power of the ripple effect and the opportunity that each of us has to create meaningful, positive and long-lasting impact in the lives of our teams, our clients and all who we serve. They consistently focus on ensuring that this amazing opportunity is realized. Kelly and April have built several successful companies directly connected to helping others live into their opportunity to make a greater impact. They have been in the recruiting and HR field for over 25 years and love serving others. Kelly and April, along with their amazing teams, have created 4 successful businesses aimed at matching exceptional talent with top organizations. Through Kelly and April’s passion for service and people, their reach has organically expanded into the area of coaching and consulting. With a focus on high-performance, they partner with companies to support and develop their leadership teams and design recruiting and retention strategies. Additionally, their work as hosts of Absolute Advantage Podcast offers a conduit to deep discussions with successful entrepreneurs, executives, and thought leaders across a variety of industries. This has provided them a unique perspective and deep connection to leadership, people, entrepreneurship and high-achieving practices from all viewpoints. — Our mental, emotional, and physical energies are directly tied to how we show up in the world. And when we get intentional with our energy—when we are actively managing it—we make a greater impact in everything we do. Like attracts like, so energy management connects us with opportunities and people who will propel us forward. Whether you are leading a team or not, energy is about self-leadership, and self-leadership is something that every single one of us can benefit from! Energy is reciprocated, and the energy we put out is the energy we will get in return. But it is not possible to operate at 100% capacity 100% of the time. Energy management is about setting ourselves up for success so we can bring the best version of ourselves to the table when it counts most. In this episode of the Absolute Advantage podcast, we dive into the topic of energy management, explore energy from a leadership perspective, and discuss some of the tactics we use to change how we show up in the world. Click here to listen to the episode, and make sure to visit www.absoluteadvantagepodcast.com for more content that inspires, encourages and helps you grow and make an impact QUICKLY both professionally and personally. Ways to contact us: Website: https://www.absoluteadvantageleadership.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/absolute-advantage-leadership/ Twitter: @kellyhatfield11 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/absoluteadvantageleadership

    Episode 212: Real Estate Investing for Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs, with Chris Prefontaine

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2020 28:22


    Chris is the best-selling author of Real Estate on Your Terms: Create Continuous Cash Flow Now, Without Using Your Cash or Credit. He’s also the founder of SmartRealEstateCoach.com and the Smart Real Estate Coach Podcast. Chris has been in real estate for over 25 years. His experience includes the construction of over 100 single-family and duplex homes (mostly in the 1990s and selectively to date), has owned a Realty Executives Franchise (Massachusetts 1994-2000) as broker/owner which maintained high per-agent standards and eventually sold to Coldwell Banker in 2000. The 2000s included coaching ½ million and higher REALTORs® in order to scale & automate their business throughout the US and Canada. He also participated (and still does selectively) in doing condo conversions (multi-family homes to condos) and “raise the roof” projects (converting single family ranches to colonials in growth neighborhoods). Chris has been a big advocate of constant education and participates regularly in high-end mastermind groups, as well as consults with private mentors. He runs his own buying and selling businesses with his family team, which buys 2-5 properties monthly, so they’re in the trenches every single week. They also help clients do the same thing around the country. Chris and his family team have done over 80 million in real estate transactions. They mentor, coach, consult, and actually partner with students around the country (by application only) to do exactly what they do. — Chris Prefontaine and his family mentor, coach, consult, and partner with students across the country to do real estate deals on terms. Between his associates and his own deals, Chris is still acquiring 5-10 properties each month. He controls $20-30M in real estate deals that are all done without using his own cash, credit, or signing for loans. And in this episode of the Absolute Advantage podcast, Chris explains how business leaders and established entrepreneurs can get into real estate with minimal exposure. Smart Real Estate Coach is all about values mission and purpose because Chris recognizes the common misperceptions surrounding real estate education. There are a lot of programs out there with a significant gap between the time you take the course and the time you see revenue—sometimes it never happens at all. But Chris has built an unbelievable support network to guide his associates through deals using owner-financing and lease-purchase arrangements. If you are interested in getting into real estate so you can build wealth with a community of likeminded business leaders, this episode is you. Click here to listen to the episode, and make sure to visit www.absoluteadvantagepodcast.com for more content that inspires, encourages and helps you grow and make an impact QUICKLY both professionally and personally. Ways to contact Eric Kapitulik: Books: Amazon Author Profile Website: https://smartrealestatecoach.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHRISPRE/ https://www.facebook.com/smartrealestatecoach LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisprefontaine/ Twitter: @SmartRECoach Free Webinar: www.smartrealestatecoach.com/webinar/ Podcast: https://www.smartrealestatecoachpodcast.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/smartrealestatecoach Email: support@smartrealestatecoach.com

    Episode 211: Reflection, Correction, Progression, with Kelly Hatfield and April Taylor

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2020 20:22


    Kelly Hatfield and April Taylor are leaders and entrepreneurs at heart. They believe fully in the power of the ripple effect and the opportunity that each of us has to create meaningful, positive and long-lasting impact in the lives of our teams, our clients and all who we serve. They consistently focus on ensuring that this amazing opportunity is realized. Kelly and April have built several successful companies directly connected to helping others live into their opportunity to make a greater impact. They have been in the recruiting and HR field for over 25 years and love serving others. Kelly and April, along with their amazing teams, have created 4 successful businesses aimed at matching exceptional talent with top organizations. Through Kelly and April’s passion for service and people, their reach has organically expanded into the area of coaching and consulting. With a focus on high-performance, they partner with companies to support and develop their leadership teams and design recruiting and retention strategies. Additionally, their work as hosts of Absolute Advantage Podcast offers a conduit to deep discussions with successful entrepreneurs, executives, and thought leaders across a variety of industries. This has provided them a unique perspective and deep connection to leadership, people, entrepreneurship and high-achieving practices from all viewpoints. — 2020 has arrived and it is ripe with opportunity. But as time moves forward, many of us fall further and further out of touch with the entrepreneurial spirit that led us down this path in the first place. How can we bring more fun and more joy into the work we are doing? How will our reinvigoration impact our teams and businesses as a whole? These are questions we should be asking ourselves—not just at the turn of each decade—but every single day! There are tons of resources and strategies out there to help us set our goals for the new year, but a lot of the content we consume is sugar-coated. Since 2016, April and I have striven to bring you along for the ride in our journey with full-transparency. Being a leader is extremely difficult and sometimes we fall flat on our faces, but even the smallest victories make it all worth while. Think about what has held you back in the last year, what helped you move forward, and why you are doing this. Let’s hit the ground running. Click here to listen to the episode, and make sure to visit www.absoluteadvantagepodcast.com for more content that inspires, encourages and helps you grow and make an impact QUICKLY both professionally and personally. Ways to contact us: Website: https://www.absoluteadvantageleadership.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/absolute-advantage-leadership/ Twitter: @kellyhatfield11 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/absoluteadvantageleadership

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    Episode 210: The New Standard of Leadership, with Eric Kapitulik

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2020 39:55


    Eric Kapitulik was born and raised in Thompson, CT and attended Pomfret Preparatory School where he was a three-sport varsity athlete. Upon graduating, he attended the United States Naval Academy. While there, he was a 4-year varsity letter winner and played on three NCAA Division I Lacrosse Tournament teams. During his junior year, Eric received the Lt. JG Frank McKeone Award, given to the Navy player who most demonstrated spirit and sportsmanship and who served as the unsung hero. Eric was also named Navy’s Most Outstanding Defenseman and received North-South All-Star honors his senior year at the Academy. He graduated in 1995 and went on to serve as both an Infantry Officer and Special Operations Officer with 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, 1st Marine Division. As a Force Reconnaissance Platoon Commander, Eric led 20 covert operations specialists in Special Forces related missions including long-range reconnaissance patrols, hostage rescue, high altitude jump exercises, ship takeovers, and gas-oil platform takedowns. He left active duty after eight years of service and graduated from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 2005. Eric has been extensively involved with the Force Reconnaissance Scholarship Fund, which he established for the children of six Marines who died in a helicopter crash while serving under his command. Since 1999, he has been helping to raise funds and has done so through public speaking engagements covering Leadership and Attacking Adversity and through participation in Iron Man Triathlons and other ultra-endurance races around the world. In addition to finishing 8 Iron Man triathlons, Eric has competed in numerous marathons, the Canadian Death Race Ultra Marathon, the Eco Challenge, the American Birkebeiner Ski Marathon and was a competitor on The Outdoor Life Networks Global Extremes Challenge. Eric is also an avid high altitude mountaineer. He has summited five of the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on the seven continents); Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. McKinley, Mt. Aconcagua, Mt.Elbrus and most recently Mt. Everest. Eric sits on the board of directors for the Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy Fund and is the Founder and President of The Program LLC, a team-building and leadership development company for high school and collegiate student-athletes and corporate teams. — As a former D1 lacrosse player and Special Operations Officer with 1st Force Reconnaissance Company, Eric Kapitulik maintains a standard of excellence in every facet of his life. The lessons he took away from those experiences are invaluable, so Eric is paying it forward by teaching structure, discipline, and an unrivaled leadership methodology to athletes and executives who want to take their teams to the next level. Eric’s program has one mission: to develop better leaders and create more cohesive teams—that’s all they do. He facilitates personal development, leadership development, and team building through shared adversity, and helps individuals and teams grow by stepping outside of their comfort zones. Eric works with collegiate and professional athletic programs and corporations across North America to reinvent their standards of leadership. Then, they commit the lessons to memory through experiential training. Click here to listen to the episode, and make sure to visit www.absoluteadvantagepodcast.com for more content that inspires, encourages and helps you grow and make an impact QUICKLY both professionally and personally. Ways to contact Eric Kapitulik: Book: The Program: Lessons From Elite Military Units for Creating and Sustaining High-Performance Leaders and Teams Website: www.TheProgram.org The Program’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeDoOneMore/ Eric’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-kapitulik-6996a048/ The Program’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-program-llc/ Eric’s Twitter: @erickapitulik6 The Program’s Twitter: @theprogramorg

    Episode 209: Forge Your Own Path to Success and Happiness, with Mike Kitko

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2019 51:44


    Mike Kitko is an Executive Self- Mastery Coach, Speaker, and Author. He found external success in the world through attaining powerful titles, incomes, and material possessions. His family only focused on material wealth as the primary means of trying to find happiness. He ultimately fell into depression, alcoholism, and the near-collapse of his family before he began a journey of internal happiness. Mike now coaches Executive Leaders to feel as powerful on the inside as they appear to those they lead – which creates a fulfilled person and powerful family. — Early in Mike Kitko’s career, he found himself running from fear, inadequacy, and insecurity no matter what he accomplished. His life was crumbling around him and he struggled to maintain a facade of strength and composure. But when Mike took a step back and sought out a path of authenticity, he no longer felt like an imposter. He became the master of his own life and is now helping other leaders to do the same. Mike and his wife pulled themselves out of the depths and started living the life they always wanted. But it is important to note the relatively short time frame in which the Kitkos’ transformation took place. We are only one decision away from changing our lives for the better and it starts with identifying everything that serves your vision and cutting out the things that don’t. Mike Kitko wants to help you create a life of your own dreams, not a life someone else designed. It all starts with an internal journey and the ‘right’ path is the path that suits you! Click here to listen to the episode, and make sure to visit www.absoluteadvantagepodcast.com for more content that inspires, encourages and helps you grow and make an impact QUICKLY both professionally and personally. Ways to contact Mike Kitko: New Book: The Imposter In Charge Website: https://mikekitko.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikekitkocoaching/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikekitko/ Twitter: @mike_kitko

    Episode 208: The Nine Emeralds, with Peter Guzzardi

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2019 40:04


    Peter Guzzardi has worked in publishing for more than forty years. Prominent books he has edited include Stephen Hawkings A Brief History of Time, Deepak Chopras Ageless Body, Timeless Mind, Queen Noors Leap of Faith, Arianna Huffington’s Fanatics and Fools, and Paula Poundstone’s There’s Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say. Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons from Over the Rainbow was published by HarperCollins in May 2019 and marks Peter’s debut as an author. An independent editor and writer, he lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Peter’s book, “Emeralds of Oz: Life Lessons From Over the Rainbow,” is available for purchase now where books are sold. You can see his upcoming events by going to peterguzzardi.com and clicking on “Events.” — Peter Guzzardi stumbled upon a spectacular 75th-anniversary edition of The Wizard of Oz and it sparked an epiphany. It occurred to him that, throughout his forty-year career in publishing, all the lessons he learned from the brilliant minds of his industry were presented in the film. Peter shaped the lessons into sixty-two insights that parallel events in the Wizard of Oz. Then, he distilled the insights into nine substantial takeaways dubbed the “nine emeralds.” The nine emeralds can be used to address particular issues in your life and work through them. They are extremely useful in a leadership position, especially as you learn to speak the language. Each emerald is linked to an iconic moment in the film because Peter’s goal is to take you through an emerald circuit similar to Dorothy’s. The emeralds are intended to facilitate a transformation and help you step into the best version of yourself. Being your best self is not just about improving your own experience; it is about creating a richer and more rewarding experience for your employees as well. You will make a tremendous difference just by showing up that way. Click here to listen to the episode, and make sure to visit www.absoluteadvantagepodcast.com for more content that inspires, encourages and helps you grow and make an impact QUICKLY both professionally and personally. Ways to contact Peter Guzzardi: Website: www.peterguzzardi.com Twitter: @peterguzzardi

    Episode 207: Optimize Your Personal Life, with David Hauser

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2019 40:43


    David Hauser has built a number of successful companies in the startup space, both organically and inorganically. He is the founder of Grasshopper, which was acquired by Citrix after he bootstrapped the company to $30M+. David founded Chargify and made it profitable, securing a Mark Cuban investment. He founded ReturnPath and is a founding member of National Entrepreneurs’ Day (http://entrepreneursday.org). David is an angel investor in Intercom, Unbounce, Munchery, Groove and more. He is a public speaker at FOWA, Big Omaha, LessConf, SuperConf, Entrepreneurs Organization, and has received major media coverage by CNN, Fox, Inc. Magazine, Fortune, Entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Inc. 30 Under 30. — As leaders and business owners, we prioritize other people’s needs. It is part of what makes us great leaders in the first place. You signed up for long days and late nights when you entered this world, but you can only operate at full capacity when you put your oxygen mask on first. Sometimes, to help others, you have to help yourself. David Hauser explores that notion and more in his new book, Unstoppable. We preach the importance of health and wellness, but we don’t always practice it ourselves. David Hauser struggled to prioritize self-care in the hustle-hard culture of modern entrepreneurship—a position that many of us are in right now. You have to recognize that there is no ‘right’ time to start practicing self-care and stop putting it off. When you achieve balance and become the best version of yourself, your business will reflect that. Health and wellness is a great place to start. In this episode of the Absolute Advantage podcast, David Hauser joins us to share his journey of personal development. He discusses the key principles in his book, “Unstoppable,” such as the optimization mindset, the myths surrounding diet and exercise, and the top things you should be paying attention to on your own journey. Click here to listen to the episode, and make sure to visit www.absoluteadvantagepodcast.com for more content that inspires, encourages and helps you grow and make an impact QUICKLY both professionally and personally. Ways to contact David Hauser: Website: https://www.unstoppablebook.com/ Twitter: @dh

    Episode 206: A Culture of Diversity and Inclusivity in the Workplace, with Jennifer Brown

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2019 42:03


    Jennifer Brown is an award-winning entrepreneur, dynamic speaker and diversity and inclusion expert. She is the founder, president, and CEO of Jennifer Brown Consulting (JBC), a strategic leadership and diversity consulting firm that coaches business leaders worldwide on critical issues of talent and workplace strategy. Brown is a passionate advocate for social equality who helps businesses foster healthier, more productive workplace cultures. Her book Inclusion: Diversity, the New Workplace & the Will to Change (2016) will inspire leadership to embrace the opportunity that diversity represents and empower advocates to drive change that resonates in today’s world. Jennifer’s second book, How to Be an Inclusive Leader, is available everywhere! — Many of us look at leadership and say, “I don’t see anyone that looks like me or shares my story.” We leave parts of ourselves at home for fear of not being accepted. Jennifer Brown has been a member of the LGBTQ community for 22 years, and she struggled with her self-image in almost every role. Today, she is working with businesses and leaders across the country to eradicate that fear. As a consultant and speaker, Jennifer has worked with Fortune 500 corporations like Wal-Mart and Microsoft to help them integrate strategies of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. But small businesses are starting to adopt these practices as well. Companies need a culture that promotes inclusivity because they will only recruit and retain the top talent if people can bring their full selves to work. It is a significant competitive differentiator. In this episode of the Absolute Advantage, Jennifer Brown discusses the “full self” and the advantages of bringing it to work. She explains the impact that building a culture of inclusivity has on small businesses and Fortune 500 companies alike. Click here to listen to the episode, and make sure to visit www.absoluteadvantagepodcast.com for more content that inspires, encourages and helps you grow and make an impact QUICKLY both professionally and personally. Ways to contact Jennifer Brown: Website: jenniferbrownspeaks.com Twitter: @jenniferbrown

    Episode 205: Leadership, Culture, and Growth, with John Waid

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2019 48:20


    John Waid has thirty years of sales and sales leadership experience in Fortune 500 companies and twelve years of senior consulting experience in the learning and development field. John earned his MBA in International Business from a top program and is fluent in three languages which has allowed him to work in Europe, North, Central and South America. He started his own firm, C3—Corporate Culture Consulting, to work with leaders and their companies on their cultures. — John Waid is the founder and CEO of C3, a firm that specializes in aligning an organization’s culture with its strategic goals. In his experience, culture represents the relationship of values and behaviors within an organization. When your organization’s values are well-defined, employee behavior is the best indicator of how the values are being exemplified. Values are implemented by profound leaders, and leaders are people that others follow voluntarily. Leaders are responsible for the culture, coaches are responsible for the growth, and managers are responsible for operational excellence. Although all of those components play a role in the organization’s success, you cannot achieve growth and operational excellence with a frail culture. The most well-run companies put their employees first, their customers second, and their profits third. At the top of the pyramid is your leader or the ambassador of your culture, and at the base is your results. Everything in between determines how much you are going to grow. However, many organizations do not have a structure like that in place. In this episode of the Absolute Advantage, John Waid explains the direct link between a company’s culture and its performance. He shares his methodology and talks about the role of culture in recruiting, growth, and ultimately, profit. Click here to listen to the episode, and make sure to visit www.absoluteadvantagepodcast.com for more content that inspires, encourages and helps you grow and make an impact QUICKLY both professionally and personally. Ways to contact John Waid: Website: https://corporatecultureconsulting.com/ Share this episode on:

    Episode 204: Becoming the Best Version of Yourself, with Erik Salzenstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2019 39:45


    Erik Salzenstein’s story is one that truly shows the power of change and what’s possible. From greed and addiction to purpose and fulfillment. Erik found himself facing life in prison, with his back against the wall where he finally had to face his worst enemy up until that point…himself. What stands out that he had to go to prison to find freedom and realized he was in his own prison long before actually being behind bars. He then went on to spend 4 years relentlessly pursuing personal growth, coaching, speaking, running workshops and even being published in a newspaper all while in prison. He developed a 4 step process using the acronym ROCK that allowed him to tap into his full potential and develop the ROCK solid foundation needed to transform and build his life on. He’s since used this process with much success to his clients lives. Erik is a powerful and sought out speaker and transformational coach who shares his signature talk “From Prison to Prosperity” and takes people through his ROCK process and helps them break free from the constructs of their own prison. — Erik Salzenstein was facing life in prison at just 23 years old, but as his freedom was being ripped away, Erik realized that he was never free in the first place. None of his decisions were made in a heightened state of mind because fear, doubt, and insecurity fueled his M.O. The deeper he crawled into that hole, the higher the stakes became, and Erik finally realized that to grow as a human being, he had to believe that he could achieve something more. At that point, he was able to embark on a journey of personal transformation, bringing as many others as he could along with him. By tapping into his own experience of self-discovery, Erik could help others step into their greater selves by making choices that align with their core values and beliefs. In this episode of the Absolute Advantage podcast, Erik Salzenstein joins host Kelly Hatfield to share his story and talk about helping people understand who they really are so they can make decisions that embody the best version of that. Click here to listen to the episode, and make sure to visit www.absoluteadvantagepodcast.com for more content that inspires, encourages and helps you grow and make an impact QUICKLY both professionally and personally. Ways to contact Erik Salzenstein: Website: www.eriksalzenstein.com

    Episode 203: From Perfectionist to Progressionist, with John Livesay

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2019 34:08


    John Livesay, aka The Pitch Whisperer, is a sales keynote speaker and shares the lessons learned from his award-winning sales career at Conde Nast. In his keynote Better Selling Through Storytelling, he shows companies sales teams how to become irresistible so they are magnetic to their ideal clients. After John speaks, the sales team becomes revenue rock stars who know how to form an emotional connection and a compelling sales story with clients. His TEDx talk: Be The Lifeguard of your own life has over 1,000,000 views. His best selling book is Better Selling Through Storytelling. He is also the host of The Successful Pitch podcast, which is heard in over 60 countries. These interviews make him a sales keynote speaker with fresh and relevant content. Audiences love him because they know hes been in their shoes. John has been interviewed by Larry King and appeared on TV as an expert on How To Ask For What You Want And Get A Yes. John currently lives in Los Angeles with his King Charles Spaniel, Pepe, who welcomes him home after he returns from being a sales keynote speaker, reminding him of the importance of belly rubs. — As a leader, the right direction is not always clear, but establishing a personal brand will give you parameters that you can always fall back on. John Livesay taps into his background in advertising to provide strategic insights for building your brand and communicating it through the art of storytelling. Storytelling is what makes us memorable, and whether you are making the first touchpoint or trying to close, creating an emotional connection is the key to playing the long game. Crafting a compelling narrative is one of the most effective methods to accomplish this, and with the proper strategy, your sales team will be able to attract key prospects at a point in the sales cycle when they are ready to spend. In this episode of the Absolute Advantage podcast, John Livesay joins host Kelly Hatfield to share his story and talk about the fundamental components that make storytelling an effective pitch strategy. If you tell the best story, you’re going to get the ‘yes,’ so find out how to move “from invisible to irresistible,” with John Livesay. Ways to contact John Livesay: Book: Better Selling Through Storytelling Website: www.johnlivesay.com Twitter: @john_livesay LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlivesay/

    Episode 202: The Power of Mentorship and Vulnerability, with Ric Lindberg

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2019 39:29


    Ric Lindberg is a freelancer who helps global organizations with business intelligence and team development based on coaching, metrics and KPIs. He is a deep technical data-nerd who understand the desire to replace tools and processes for better results, but having worked within business intelligence for 24 years, Ric learned that it’s never about the tool. The path to better and lasting change requires leadership way more than tools. He’s been podcasting for more than 5 years about self-leadership, focus and relationship building on the show Relationship Power at work and has now turned into a beginner YouTuber helping parents better connect to their computer gamer children. Ric helps you Connect and Levelup. — By helping businesses harness the power of advanced analytics and team development, Ric Lindberg works with his clients to build a stronger connection between the employees and their work. Lindberg’s process combines a technical background in computers with intra-organizational analysis to create custom strategies based on the unique business problems of each client. As a freelance consultant, Lindberg has spent years refining the skill of empathic listening which allows him to construct metrics-based solutions with a deep understanding of a business’s functionality. His approach is very data-centric, but software and tools are only a small part of the work he does. When leaders become more vulnerable and start to understand the worldview of others, it opens a pathway for connection that yields higher productivity and better team chemistry. Ric Lindberg is helping leaders tap into that by eliminating the traditional power dynamic and coaching them to unlock the full extent of their teams’ capabilities. Ways to contact Ric Lindberg: Website: www.RicLindberg.com Twitter: @RicLindberg LinkedIn: https://se.linkedin.com/in/riclindberg?trk=people-guest_profile-result-card_result-card_full-click Share this episode on:

    Episode 201: Communicating Your Message with Determination, with Joe Williams

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2019 40:27


    Joe Williams helps coaches, consultants and entrepreneurs become world-class communicators! Joe is the Founder of Creative Performance Group, where he helps people get their message out to the world in the most powerful way possible. He created the Master Your Message Bootcamp, an intensive training that has created hundreds of other successful speakers, coaches, consultants, and authors. In addition to live events, consulting, and corporate programs, Joe lead the Impact Entrepreneur group a high-end mentorship program for professional speakers, coaches, and consultants. His new book “The Impact Awakening: How to go from having a calling to changing lives”, focuses on how to master your message, communicate it powerfully, and scale it into an Impact Business. Joe is a passionate student and trainer of personal and professional development techniques he has worked with and spoken for peak performance coach Anthony Robbins for over 20 years. Joe’s work has led him to consult with companies in a number of fields such as financial services, aerospace, retail business, internet and software, direct sales, publishing, entertainment, and the federal government. Joe is professionally responsible for helping his clients create over $50 Billion in new business. — Both of Joe Williams’ parents went to prison for tax evasion when he was just a teenager, and his drive to produce results was born almost instantaneously. Williams had a knack for entrepreneurship and managed to take his company public at only twenty-six, but it didn’t take long before he realized that shuffling around an office was not his passion. Williams developed a friendship with Tony Robbins in the late 90s who gave him the opportunity to discover his true passion; public speaking, mentorship, and coaching. Now, Williams works with people who are trying to reinvent themselves and helps them take their calling, story, message, or gift, and create an action plan to bring it to the world. In this episode of the Absolute Advantage Podcast, Williams joins host Kelly Hatfield to share his story and discuss the methodology he uses to make transformational strides with his clients’ endeavors. Click here to listen to the episode, and make sure to visit www.impactawakeningbook.com for a free pdf of Williams’ new book. Ways to contact Joe Williams: Website: www.creativeperformancegroup.com Free ebook: www.impactawakeningbook.com Twitter: @joebwilliams LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joebwilliams

    Episode 200: Success Through Selfless Service, with Jonathan Keyser

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2019 39:51


    Jonathan Keyser is the founder and thought leader behind Keyser, the largest tenant rep commercial real estate brokerage/consulting firm in Arizona. Through his disruptive focus on selfless service, Jonathan is re-shaping the commercial real estate industry, and his firm has quickly become one of the fastest-growing CRE firms in the country, representing companies globally across multiple industries. Jonathan is thrilled to share his journey and mission of selfless service through his highly-anticipated book, You Dont Have to Be Ruthless to Win (hitting bookshelves in mid 2019). A strong supporter of the Conscious Capitalism movement, Jonathan is eagerly working toward the upcoming launch of The Keyser Institute to inspire and equip the next generation of selfless leaders. Jonathan is passionate about helping and empowering others, and has been involved in many different executive and nonprofit organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Phoenix and several business leadership organizations in Arizona. He is also spearheading an initiative to connect Arizona business leaders, alongside Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (www.arizonabusinesscommunity.com). On the personal side, Jonathan prioritizes family. He is a loving and devoted father to wife and four children. Jonathan is extremely committed to personal development and self-improvement, and he stays active with mountain/water sports, spin, and hiking. — With a background that instilled concrete values and a strong moral compass, Jonathan Keyser had a difficult decision to make when he entered the world of commercial real estate. It wasn’t necessarily that Keyser had ill will, he just didn’t know how else to succeed in that industry other than to become a ruthless prick. After years of clawing his way up the food chain with one self-serving act after another, Keyser eventually attended a conference that flipped his perspective on building relationships by revealing the success that can result from helping people. Keyser is not hustling an instant-gratification, get-rich-quick scheme. His methodology focuses on creating long-term, sustainable success by nurturing relationships through selfless service. It was a grueling transition for him to make, but Keyser is a completely different person now. He is the founder of a commercial real estate brokerage that is built on the principle of succeeding by helping others succeed, and he trains all of his team members to live out that value in all facets of their lives. In this episode of the Absolute Advantage podcast, Jonathan Keyser joins host Kelly Hatfield to share his journey and discuss the challenges and successes he experienced on the path of selfless service. Keyser breaks down his philosophy and highlights all of the key principles that business leaders can follow to reach a higher level of happiness and success. Click here to listen to the episode, and make sure to visit www.absoluteadvantagepodcast.com for more informative episodes about pushing the boundaries of your leadership potential. Ways to contact Jonathan Keyser: Website: www.keyserco.com Twitter: @KeyserWay

    Episode 199: Identifying Opportunity in Disguise, with Carey Jenkins

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2019 44:02


    Carey Jenkins had an unconventional path to CEO of Substantial, a Seattle-based digital product studio that has worked with companies like Amazon, Mercedes Benz, and the Wall Street Journal. In 2012, Carey joined the client services team, and six short years later she became the CEO. As the sixth female employee and first mother hired at Substantial, Carey is proud that Substantial has grown the female employee base to 37% overall and 40% on the leadership team, and she is committed to empowering other women to seize more leadership opportunities. — Beyond the excitement of graduating from college, many students wander out of the auditorium as lost souls. Their failure to recognize opportunity in disguise creates a void of purpose, but it is important to acknowledge that no one in history had a road map to success. Carey Jenkins’ story emphasizes the importance of framing adverse situations differently to become more resilient. Ironically, her success story is more of a collection of failures than successes, but in this episode of Absolute Advantage, she explains how a will to learn from them will only tear you down and rebuild you stronger. Jenkins’ toolbox as a CEO includes project management, people management, writing, and public speaking, but not a single one of those skills came from her experience in one role or industry. They are the culmination of all her past experiences and failures, which led to greater opportunities that she was already prepared for. Jenkins faced many challenges climbing the ranks to become a female executive, but she made it to the top because of her capacity to lead and adapt to adversity—any one is capable when they start asking “why not me” instead of “why me.” Throughout her journey, Jenkins was always hungry for feedback and coaching, but what set her apart was the ability to step into really uncomfortable situations and recognize her value to the company. This relentless mindset drove her to fight tooth and nail for the CEO position when the opportunity presented itself, and it proved that you can always pull yourself up if you’re prepared to do so. Ways to contact Carey Jenkins: Website: https://substantial.com/ Twitter: @Substantial LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/careyvjenkins

    Episode 198: The Democratization of Education, with Joeel and Natalie Rivera

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2019 47:03


    After their business crumbled due to a sudden illness that had Joeel bedridden for a year, Joeel (jo-ELL) and Natalie Rivera (ri-VAIR-uh) decided they never wanted to be in that situation again. So they dedicated themselves to converting their training and speaking programs into online courses that would outlive them and would provide passive income. They reached over 100,000 students from 191 countries in only 3 years. They believe that entrepreneurship is the ultimate form of empowerment. Today they teach INDIEpreneurs how to create a purpose-driven business in this new economy so they can monetize their passion and live life on their terms. — Joeel and Natalie Rivera both had entrepreneurial dreams early on, but what brought them together was their desire to help others, create a legacy, and make an impact on the community. After their paths merged, Joeel and Natalie found a collective calling to establish a multitude of platforms that would help business leaders in the community grow. As fate would have it, their devotion to the cause quickly caught up with them and Joeel fell severely ill, completely incapacitated and unable to work. The adversity Joeel faced culminated a desire to build something that would outlive him, so Joeel and Natalie began converting all of their content into videos that were accessible to a much larger audience. All of their students have an expertise that they haven’t acknowledged yet, so the Riveras thrive on helping students identify their passions in order to monetize and share them with the world. The courses are not necessarily complex and a lot of them are built around simple skills that other people are hungry to learn; if it is something you can teach, it is something you can turn into a passive income and anything is possible. For the most part, a lot of the information being taught is already out there, but the reason people pay for these courses is because Joeel and Natalie’s students provide packaged content that is taught step by step. A lot of changes are taking place as the capacity to do business online grows, so people are searching for more niche information as they develop new skills to keep up with the shift. That demand is only growing with people looking to make a greater impact in this world, by stepping into themselves and assuming a growth mindset. In this episode of Absolute Advantage, Joeel and Natalie explain how you can accomplish that by uncovering your passions and sharing them with others. Click here to listen to the episode. Ways to contact Joeel and Natalie Rivera: Website: http://www.transformation-academy.com Special Link: onlinecourserevolution.com/absolute LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/transformation-services-inc-  

    Episode 197: Finding Your Fit, with Kathleen Trotter

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2019 49:27


    Kathleen Trotter is a fitness expert, media personality, personal trainer, writer, life coach, certified Pilates and ELDOA instructor, and overall health enthusiast. Her passion is motivating others to find their fit. Kathleen does this through writing, regular TV and media appearances, working with clients (ranging from athletes of all ages to individuals living with Parkinson’s disease and osteoporosis), and speaking engagements. Kathleen holds an M.Sc. in Exercise Science from the University of Toronto and a nutrition diploma from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. She is a C.H.E.K. Level 3 trainer, a Level 2 Fascial Stretch Therapist, Level 1 ELDOA practitioner, and a certified Pilates Equipment Specialist. Kathleen started her work as a fitness writer at Chatelaine in 2010. Shortly after, she started blogging for the Huffington Post and filming and writing for the Globe and Mail. Kathleen has published articles in magazines, such as Canadian Running, Glow, Todays Parent, Healthy Directions, and Impact Magazine. Kathleen is regularly interviewed as a fitness expert for multiple news outlets including Global News and the Toronto Star. She also makes regular TV and media appearances on Breakfast Television Montreal, Rogers Ottawa, CTV News, CHCH Morning Live Hamilton, the CBC, ABC News 7, and many others. Kathleen has been a guest on numerous radio shows, podcasts, and is a regular on Zoomer Radios The Tonic. Her new-found passion is motivational speaking. Kathleen’s speaking engagements have included a series of motivational lectures at the Toronto Public Library, guest lectures at the University of Toronto and Concordia University, Lunch and Learns at the University of Toronto, and corporate presentations, including her recent Cisco Women of Influence keynote talk. Kathleen loves her job. Her mission is to inspire as many people as possible to adopt (in an intelligent way) a healthier lifestyle and to make healthier choices because they love themselves, not because they hate themselves. Kathleen does not believe in body shame. Kathleen does believe in goals and results. She does not believe in being easy on yourself or letting negative brain propaganda win. She does believe in self-compassion and holding yourself accountable. Kathleen does not believe in being active to create a whole new you. Kathleen does believe in being you, but working toward creating a you who has more healthy habits. She believes in learning and growing, passion, gratitude, and actively finding pockets of joy. Most important, Kathleen believes in actively creating the version of yourself that you want to be, and that the key to health success is finding YOUR fit hence the name of her first book, Finding Your Fit. — Kathleen Trotter is a speaker, author, and media personality set out to help people ‘find their fit,’ but this process requires a lot more involvement than starting a diet or getting a gym membership. Unless you are willing to act to change, your future self is just going to be a version of your current self. Trotter’s approach focuses on making fundamental changes to your mindset in order to prioritize self-care and become the best possible version of yourself. It is all about small wins because your health and well being is just an aggregate of every decision you make in the moment. If you can assign more value to health and exercise, you will be able to make small adjustments in real-time that make a significant difference in the long run. You cannot effectively lead others if you are not leading yourself first, and by taking Trotter’s initiative you can start to replenish your energy, self-confidence, and overall happiness that will see a major shift at work and in the household. The growth mindset assumes that there is no experience good or bad as long as you learn from it. In this episode of Absolute Advantage, Trotter joins host Kelly Hatfield to talk about creating a system to hold yourself accountable and grow as an individual in your pursuit of better health. Learn some of the strategies that Kathleen has used to successfully transform the lives of her clients’ lives. Ways to contact Kathleen Trotter: Website: kathleentrotter.com Twitter: KTrotterFitness Instagram: KathleenTrotterFitness New Book: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Fittest-Future-Self-Healthier/dp/1459741285

    Episode 196: Humor as a Science, with Drew Tarvin

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2019 33:23


    Drew Tarvin is the world’s first Humor Engineer teaching people how to get better results while having more fun. He has worked with thousands of people at 200+ organizations, including Microsoft, the FBI, and the International Association for Canine Professionals. He is a best-selling author, has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and TEDx, and has delivered programs in 50 states, 20+ countries, and 6 continents. He loves the color orange and is obsessed with chocolate. — The term ‘humor engineer’ might seem completely foreign, because Drew Tarvin coined it himself. His work focuses on becoming effective with humans, and he is driven by the discovery that similar skills are needed to be successful in both comedy and leadership. In this episode of The Absolute Advantage, Andrew Tarvin discusses a powerful shift in mentality that can generate positive momentum in the workplace and the direct benefits of integrating humor into your communication. You can use humor to get your team to pay attention, and if you do that consistently people want to experience it in your meetings. But, although it is not a perfect strategy in every situation, humor can be used more than we realized to change perspectives and get people to experience a change of state. Tune in to this week’s episode of The Absolute Advantage podcast to learn how you can start implementing strategic humor to make a difference in the workplace. Ways to contact Drew Tarvin: Website: https://www.humorthatworks.com Twitter: @drewtarvin Book: http://gethumor.org/buybook

    Episode 195: A Foundation of Trust and Authenticity, with Tevis Trower

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2019 41:57


    Tevis Trower is the founder and CEO of Balance Integration Corporation, focused on helping build corporate cultures that allow employees to thrive. Their remarkable client list includes companies like Google, Yahoo, Disney, Viacom, AOL, Soros, Bloomberg, Morgan Stanley and more. Tevis is considered a pioneer and leader in the field of cultural transformation at work, with significant expertise in imposter syndrome, trust, innovation, emotionally sustainable leadership, and fostering an environment of resilience. She has been featured in prominent media outlets such as Forbes, Business Week, Fortune CIO, The New York Post, Yoga Journal and many more. Early in Tevis’s business career, she recognized that there is a need for more human-focused leadership in today’s business world. Many companies say “people are their most valuable asset”, but not enough companies focus on creating powerful people-focused cultures that allow their employees to shine. Tevis believes that the key to being a stronger, more effective and empowering leader is to recognize and embrace the reality that you bring your whole self to work, both your strengths and your weaknesses. Tevis sees imposter syndrome as a sort of “default human state” that we all experience, created by our fear of failure and our strong need for success. She believes that what pushes many high performers to succeed is not a desire to win but a drive to avoid failure and the stigma associated with it. In her work, she helps people recognize their focus on the things that create discontent rather than the things that bring them joy, and she helps them reconnect with their heart and with the things they love. — There is a tremendous amount of pressure that every leader has to face, but the reality is that much of that pressure comes from within. From imposter syndrome to fear of failure, from being honest about our weaknesses to the constant need to bring our best selves to work every day, we often create our own obstacles that get in the way of stepping into our potential as great leaders. How can we face these challenges in an emotionally honest and authentic way? For this episode of Absolute Advantage, I invited Tevis Trower to speak with me about these very challenges. Tevis is the founder and CEO of Balance Integration Corporation, an organization that helps top companies like Google, Yahoo, Disney, Viacom, and many others build great cultures and empower their executives to thrive. Tevis is an expert in imposter syndrome, trust, innovation, emotionally sustainable leadership, and fostering an environment of resilience. She has been featured in prominent media outlets such as Forbes, Business Week, Fortune CIO, The New York Post, Yoga Journal and many more. During the episode, Tevis discusses the mental and emotional challenges that leaders have to deal with, and she shares some surprising statistics about the expectations employees have for their leaders. She discusses the importance of authenticity and the vital skill of allowing ourselves to admit our weaknesses, and she offers smart strategies for coping with the pressure of being a great leader. I hope you enjoy our conversation and learn much from Tevis Trower’s wisdom. Ways to contact Tevis Trower: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tevistrower/ Website: www.balanceintegration.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/BalanceIntegration/ Free Download of The Game-Changer’s Guide to Radical Success by Tevis Trower: www.balanceintegration.com/e-book

    Episode 194: Finding Clarity in a Chaotic World, with Tommy Baker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2019 41:36


    Tommy Baker is a writer, speaker, author, coach, consultant, and the host of the Resist Average Academy. He is the CEO of Tommy Baker Fitness and an entrepreneur who believes in people’s endless potential and whose goal is to help them achieve their purpose and potential. After beginning his career in the financial services sector, Tommy had an awakening during the 2008 economic crash and realized that his life was on a path he didn’t want to follow. Tommy realized that he was “in it” for the wrong reasons, and so he made major life changes, took on a new mindset, and began a journey of self-discovery and growth that led him to his current work. This clarity and willingness to listen to his own internal voice were transformational for Tommy, pushing him to create the life he truly wanted for himself and achieve his personal and professional goals. Tommy believes that developing the right mindset is the key to making a change, especially for ambitious and driven high-performing leaders. In his work, Tommy teaches skills related to mindset, intentionality, and emotional intelligence and resilience to create transformation, strengthen leadership and help business leaders and entrepreneurs make a greater impact. — Mindset is such an important factor for strong leadership, and having the right foundation and habits is the key to developing a powerful mindset. However, with a world full of chaos and distractions constantly pulling for our attention, it can be difficult to develop the right practices to strengthen our mindset. It can often be too easy to shrug off meditation or to say we don’t have time for journaling, yet these activities can be transformative tools if we are willing to invest in ourselves. For this episode of Absolute Advantage, my guest is Tommy Baker. Tommy is a writer, keynote speaker, coach, and author. He is the host of the Resist Average Academy and the companion podcast of the same name, and he is the CEO of Tommy Baker Fitness. His goal is to help empower others by setting them on a more mindful, purpose-driven path. Tommy believes in limitless human potential and in the long-term transformational power of emotional intelligence and emotional resilience. During the episode, Tommy shares how he realized that his own life was on a path he didn’t want, and he discusses the steps he took to change his mindset. He offers strategies to help you find clarity of purpose, and he explains why clarity is one of the true keys to being a more effective leader or entrepreneur. I hope you are engaged and enlightened by Tommy Baker’s wisdom and that you are able to implement his strategies into your own life. Ways to contact Tommy Baker: Website: https://resistaverageacademy.com The Leap of Your Life by Tommy Baker: https://amzn.to/2XQeIiX The 1% Rule by Tommy Baker: https://amzn.to/2XKUV4L

    Episode 193: Investing in Stronger Teams, with Juliana Stancampiano

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2019 34:18


    Juliana Stancampiano is the CEO of Oxygen, business leader, and strategist whose work involves helping business leaders and their teams modernize workplace education. With more than 15 years of experience, Juliana has helped leaders translate their company’s sales and business strategy into tangible achievements for people in sales, service and delivery, and retail channels. Juliana is the author of Radical Outcomes: How to Create Extraordinary Teams that Get Tangible Results. In her role as CEO, she and her teams partner with clients in large companies including Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft, Sony, Big Fish Games, Starbucks, Expedia, Western Digital, and many more. As a business development and strategy expert, Juliana believes in helping unburden themselves of distractions and challenges so that they can better focus, excel in their jobs, and create success for themselves and their organizations. Juliana believes that building and supporting great teams and giving them the resources and support they need to thrive is the key to business success. Part of her work involves helping organizations find ways to maximize the potential of their teams while making the workplace be an enjoyable experience rather than a grind. — Many companies say “our people are our greatest resource”, but the sad fact is that too few companies behave that way. Strong, cohesive, effective teams can accomplish incredible things, but many companies don’t give enough thought to how to best support their employees and structure their teams to maximize their success. For this episode of Absolute Advantage, I was joined by Juliana Stancampiano. Juliana is the CEO of Oxygen, a consultancy that helps Fortune 500 businesses strategize, modernize, and enable their employees for success. Juliana is also the author of Radical Outcomes: How to Create Extraordinary Teams that Get Tangible Results, where she offers readers a blueprint for a new way of collaborative, fast-paced and highly effective working using modern tools and strategies. On this episode of Absolute Advantage, Juliana shares why the modern workplace has changed and collaborative team efforts will be the key to business success and innovation going forward. She shares why the “old” way of doing things can’t keep up with today’s highly stressful, distracted, competitive environment, and she offers strategies for creating camaraderie and a supportive environment where teams can flourish. I hope you find tremendous value from Juliana’s knowledge that you can implement into your own teams. Ways to contact Juliana Stancampiano: Website: www.oxygenexp.com Radical outcomes by Juliana Stancampiano: https://amzn.to/2XkPPrB  

    Episode 192: Leading with a Powerful Voice, with Arthur Joseph

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2019 44:30


    Arthur Joseph is the founder and chairman of the Vocal Awareness Institute, and he is widely considered to be one of the world’s foremost communication strategists and authorities on the human voice. Arthur’s stated mission is to “Change the World Through Voice”. His trademarked, proprietary voice and leadership training program, Vocal Awareness,™ is a program to teach a mastery of communication skills to enhance a student’s leadership and personal presence. Arthur’s Vocal Awareness uses body language techniques, vocal warm-ups, and storytelling. Arthur’s clients are leaders in politics, business, entertainment and broadcasting, hospitality, athletes, motivational speakers, life coaches, actors, and singers including globally recognized talents such as Angelina Jolie, Sean Connery, Tony Robbins, Stephen Covey, Jerry Rice, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and more. Prior to founding the Vocal Awareness Institute, Arthur served as faculty at the University of Southern California School of Theatre, a visiting professor at the New York University Graduate Extension program, and a visiting artist at Yale and George Washington Universities. At a young age, Arthur recognized that he had a talent for hearing and interpreting tonal and non-verbal cues in the spoken word, and he also recognized the power of speaking with awareness of these cues. Arthur was able to cultivate this talent and teach others to be more aware of their speech. Much of leadership is convincing others to see things the way you see them, and a clear, confident and powerful voice can be an incredible tool that any leader can take advantage of. — Most of us speak automatically, using our words to convey our intent. Few of us give much consideration to how we deliver those words. Or worse, we confuse having a powerful voice with having a loud one. The truth is that how we deliver our message is just as important to our leadership as what the message contains. For this episode of Absolute Advantage, I was delighted to be joined by Arthur Joseph. Arthur is the founder and chairman of the Vocal Awareness Institute, and he is widely considered to be one of the world’s foremost communication strategists and authorities on the human voice. Arthur works to teach others how to deliver powerful and effective messages by being more aware of the way they speak. Through his Vocal Awareness program, he helps leaders and influencers from all walks of life become more effective communicators. On this episode of Absolute Advantage, Arthur demonstrated some of the powerful exercises he teaches, and he shows how speaking with awareness and intentionality can amplify the message in the words you speak. He explains how altering the way you speak can help empower you and give you a tremendous sense of confidence. And he explains how speech plays a profound role in effective leadership. I hope you are as surprised and enlightened by Arthur Joseph’s wisdom as I was during our conversation. Ways to contact Arthur Joseph: Website: https://vocalawareness.com/ Email: support@vocalawareness.com

    Episode 191: Marketing for a Service-Based Firm, with Steve Gordon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2019 46:15


    Steve Gordon became CEO of an engineering consulting firm at age 28, and he grew the firm's revenue by ten times in just twelve years. He's invested the last twenty years in the study and application of selling high-ticket services. He is the editor of four business newsletters read by thousands of CEOs, professional practitioners, entrepreneurs and sales pros around the world. Steve consults with businesses in thirty different industries, all selling high-ticket products and services in high-trust selling environments. He is a bestselling author, the founder of The Unstoppable CEO, and the host of the podcast of the same name. When Steve began his role as CEO of his engineering consulting firm, he knew nothing about marketing or selling services. Steve quickly recognized the need to study sales and marketing as a way to attract new clients and keep his business thriving. Steve now shares the hard-won lessons he learned with other CEOs and growth-minded professionals through his consulting business. Steve recognized that the same "sales" skills that work so well for product-based businesses tend to be detrimental to selling a service. Sales pitches are fine for getting a customer interested in your product, but they won't help you become someone's trusted advisor. That's why Steve developed the Unstoppable CEO and fine-tuned his marketing strategies to be tailored solutions for service firms. --- As the leader of a service-based business, the challenges you face are often very different from those of a product-based company. Growing your business has added layers of complexity because you and your team are your company's product. Marketing yourselves can be challenging, but your business can't grow or thrive without leads and without new clients. For this episode of Absolute Advantage, my guest is Steve Gordon. Steve knows firsthand the challenge of leading and growing a service-based organization; when he was just 28 years old, he became the CEO of the engineering consulting firm he had worked at since college. One of the biggest challenges Steve faced as CEO was that he had gone to school for engineering, not marketing. He didn't know how to effectively sell his company's services, so he began studying. Thanks to his hard work and dedication to learning effective marketing processes, he was able to grow his firm's revenue by ten times in his twelve years as CEO. Today, Steve and his team work with other business leaders to help them achieve those same remarkable results. On this episode of Absolute Advantage, Steven shares the major marketing challenges service-based firms face, and he outlines the strategies he and his team employ to help them overcome these challenges. He discusses the importance of narrowing your focus to marketing to the right clients rather than to anyone with "a heartbeat and a wallet". He talks about why improving your offer and being more valuable to your clients matters. And he shares organic and engaging marketing strategies that your prospective clients will actually appreciate. I hope Steve Gordon’s wisdom helps you supercharge your marketing. Ways to contact Steve Gordon: Website: www.unstoppableceo.net/absolute

    Episode 190: Learning the Language of Leadership, with Krister Ungerböck

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2019 41:04


    Krister Ungerböck is a keynote speaker, CEO coach, and global expert in the Language of Leadership. Krister served as CEO of one of the largest family-owned software companies in the world before he retired at age 42. As a global CEO, Krister did business in 40 countries around the world and led hundreds of employees across 8 countries. With truly remarkable employee engagement rates of 99.3%, Krister won five consecutive annual Top Workplace Awards. As a keynote presenter, Krister's highly sought and engaging wisdom addresses today's most pressing topics such as employee engagement, winning the war for talent, retaining high-potential employees, developing leaders, and business growth. He shares the hard-won skills he developed through his time as a CEO, with a particular focus on the importance of emotional intelligence. Krister’s upcoming book The Language of Leadership: Words to Transform How We Lead, Live and Love offers business leaders a way to learn a powerful new language of leadership that allows them to speak in a more impactful and emotionally intelligent way. Krister’s methods can help maximize employee engagement, productivity, business growth, and talent retention. The Language of Leadership gives business leaders a simple, straight-forward and practical way to become a better boss. --- “It’s not what you say, but how you say it.” Think about it, how many times have you heard that expression in your life? Even so, how often do you stop to consider not just your message but how you are communicating it? Are your words being received as you intended them? My guest for this episode of Absolute Advantage is Krister Ungerböck. Kirster is an award-winning leader, keynote speaker, CEO coach, and a true expert in the Language of Leadership. Kirster believes that one of the most powerful ways we can level up our leadership is through emotional intelligence and in learning to understand how our choice of language impacts and sometimes alters the message we are communicating to our teams. In Krister’s upcoming book The Language of Leadership: Words to Transform How We Lead, Live and Love, he outlines many of the techniques he has used himself to become more aware of his own language and how it impacts those around him, both personally and professionally. On this episode of Absolute Advantage, Krister shares smart tips and strategies for identifying and altering the language you are using as a leader, and he explains why emotional intelligence and language choice matters so much for employee engagement and morale. He discusses how the language skills he teaches others can be applied to all aspects of our lives, both professionally and personally. And he shares wisdom from his upcoming book on steps we can take to become more conscious of the language we are using in our interactions with others. I hope you learn much from our conversation that you can implement into your own leadership. Ways to contact Krister Ungerböck: Website: www.krister.com/absolute/

    Episode 189: Conquering Every Challenge on the Path to Success, with Johnny Wimbrey

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2019 34:46


    Johnny Wimbrey is an internationally-acclaimed talk show host, motivational speaker, and the bestselling author of From the Hood to Doing Good and co-author of several volumes of Multiple Streams of Inspiration and Conversations on Success. His mantra, "Say Increase!" is repeated all around the world by dedicated and enthusiastic audiences, and his remarkable rags-to-riches story has inspired people from countless countries around the world. Johnny's early life consisted of living in a battered women's shelter with his single mother. He was first exposed to illegal drugs at eight years old, and by the time he was fourteen, he was selling them. However, despite this incredibly difficult childhood, Johnny decided he was meant for a better life. He completely turned his life around and, starting from rock bottom, he was able to build an immensely successful life for himself and others. Today he is a celebrated and inspiring speaker and, along with his wife, founded Wimbrey Worldwide Ministries, a nonprofit organization that has built six schools in Central America and has helped to fund water purification systems to provide clean drinking water for communities in Africa. Johnny’s life story is one of truly overcoming adversity to achieve greatness, and now he works to share his message that it doesn’t matter what race, religion, background or economic situation, everyone can find true success, wealth and happiness. --- As you know, my goal with the Absolute Advantage podcast is to help you become the best leader you can be, to help you create a powerful Ripple Effect that positively impacts those around you, and to inspire you with stories of great leaders who have overcome their own challenges and found true success. That’s why I’m so delighted to introduce you to Johnny Wimbrey. Johnny is the very definition of a rags-to-riches story; he started life with no advantages and many obstacles, but he was able to turn his life around through optimism, determination, and force of will. Today, he shares his profound story with the goal of inspiring others to realize that they aren’t limited by their surroundings and situation. Johnny is a speaker, author and thought leader who overcame some of life’s most significant difficulties to rise into his own success. On this episode of Absolute Advantage, Johnny shares his deeply personal story of overcoming adversity and achieving greatness. He lives his life as an example that your past doesn’t dictate where you are going and that you can change the course of your own destiny. He shares how the first step on his journey was personal forgiveness, and he discusses how he managed to change his entire mindset to focus on his potential rather than his limitations. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Johnny Wimbrey and that you are as inspired by his powerful story and the Ripple Effect it has created as I am! Ways to contact Johnny Wimbrey: Website: www.costarauthor.com Website: www.coachjohnny.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/wimbrey

    Episode 188: Shifting Your Mindset, with Regan Hillyer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2019 34:17


    Regan Hillyer is a multimillionaire global changemaker, thought leader, entrepreneur, philanthropist, global speaker, and mindset coach. Regan is the founder of Regan Hillyer International, a company that offers clients personal development and business training. Regan has helped thousands of clients and has impacted millions using her unique mindset tools. She is also the author and co-author of several books, including The Abundance Codes: Fifty-Two Codes to Unlock Abundance in Every Area of Your Life. Regan strongly believes in the power of mindset changes as a catalyst for incredible personal, professional and financial growth. Regan’s specialty is in helping experts uncover their true message and launch powerful personal brands that both make an impact and leave a lasting legacy. After originally preparing to be an architect, Regan had a powerful “aha!” moment and realized that she was on the wrong path in her life. Her second “aha!” moment came when she realized that to become truly successful she would need to invest in herself and evolve her own mindset. Today, she has helped thousands of people build multiple six- and seven-figure businesses, location free, using the incredible mindset tools and strategies she developed for herself. Regan is an incredible thought leader and is living proof that her methods work. She has been able to turn her company, Regan Hillyer International, into a thriving multi-million dollar business using the very principles that she teaches others. She believes that 80% of the work you need to do to find true success is internal, and only 20% involves external strategic action. — Do you ever feel like you keep running into a wall, no matter what you do? Have you tried to work on personal development but feel you’ve made little progress? Or have you ever wondered if your life is on the wrong path and that you are meant to be doing something else, something more impactful and meaningful? Regan Hillyer knows what that feels like. Regan grew up in Auckland, New Zealand and was fully prepared to become an architect… until a lecturer had the class envision what their lives as architects would look like in 20 years. Suddenly, Regan realized she was on the wrong path, so she left school and began searching for a greater purpose. However, through all of her attempts, nothing seemed to work, and now she was $100,000 in personal debt for mentors, coaches, seminars, and programs with little to show for it. It all changed when a coach told her that 80% of her success was related to mindset and only 20% was related to actions she was taking externally. Today, Regan is leading a multiple seven-figure business that teaches others to reshape their mindsets in the same way she did. On this episode of Absolute Advantage, Regan shares her powerful personal story and discusses the methods, tools, and processes she uses to help her clients “rewire” their mindsets, release their personal limitations, and step into a life of true abundance and success. Regan shows us that our mindset can either elevate us and help us break through to the next level, or hold us back with (usually false) internal limiting beliefs. I hope you will listen to the episode and embrace Regan’s remarkable wisdom in your own life! Ways to contact Regan Hillyer: Website: www.reganhillyer.com Website: www.abundancecodes.com 5 Crucial Steps to Conditioning Your Mindset by Regan Hillyer: www.reganhillyer.com/5-crucial-steps-to-conditioning-your-mindset/

    Episode 187: Spending Your Time Wisely, with Matt Sandrini

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2019 36:18


    Matt Sandrini is a high-performance and business coach, Amazon bestselling author, and an expert in time management and productivity. His coaching helps entrepreneurs find the results they are looking for through clarity, structure and accountability. He helps his clients reduce their stress, improve the productivity of their workday, and get more accomplished in less time. Matt is the founder of Time Zillionaire, a website and program designed to help entrepreneurs and business leaders cut through the endless minutia we tend to get trapped by, and instead learn to focus on those few activities that will actually benefit our quest for success and happiness. Quick weekly emails provide actionable tips and strategies and offer readers easy access to Matt’s wisdom. Matt is also the author of Invest Your Time: Work Less, Achieve More, Master Your Life, where he outlines many of the strategies he teaches to his clients. Matt learned early in his own entrepreneurial career to question the value of his time and the activities he was spending it on. When he began his first business, he recognized that he was focusing on the wrong activities and putting in too much time for too little value. That was when he began learning to refocus his priorities and better manage his time, and today he shares those valuable practices and habits he developed for himself with other business leaders and entrepreneurs. — It takes a mix of many different ingredients to find success as a business leader: money, the support of your team, professional and social connections, the list goes on and on. But there is one precious resource that could be said to be more valuable than the others. This particular resource is always in short supply, and there is really no way to get more when you run out. Of course, I’m talking about time. Balancing your time can easily be a constant struggle and source of stress for any business leader. It seems that there are always countless things jostling for your attention, so how do you know where you can best spend this precious resource? Meet Matt Sandrini. Matt is a business coach, Amazon bestselling author, and a time management expert. Matt believes that the key to finding true success as a business leader or entrepreneur is learning to cut through the static and focus on the activities that truly matter and best contribute to your happiness and success. In his own entrepreneurial career, Matt had to learn to refocus his efforts and make the most of the time available to him, and now he teaches others the valuable skills he developed. In this episode of Absolute Advantage, Matt shares his strategies for determining where you are spending your time and discovering all the places you are losing it to unhelpful, unnecessary activities. He offers up sensible strategies and insights for maximizing the amount of time available to you and accomplishing as much as possible in as short an amount of time as you can. Your time is incredibly valuable, and I hope you’ll spend a little of it listening to my conversation with Matt Sandrini and learning from his incredible time-saving wisdom! Ways to contact Matt Sandrini: Invest Your Time: Work Less, Achieve More, Master Your Life by Matt Sandrini: https://amzn.to/2WveD0p Website: www.timezillionaire.com/advantage

    Episode 186: Creating Connections and Strengthening Relationships, with Michelle Tillis-Lederman

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2019 35:46


    Michelle Tillis-Lederman is a recognized speaker, trainer, leadership coach and consultant, and author. She was named by Forbes on their list of “25 Professional Networking Experts to Watch.” Through her company, Executive Essentials, Michelle works to help national and global businesses, organizations and individuals build stronger relationships. Michelle has been featured on NBC, CBS, the New York Times, Forbes, Working Mother Magazine and many other high profile publications and news outlets. Prior to her current work, Michelle served as an NYU professor, financial executive and CPA. Michelle’s newest book, The Connector’s Advantage: 7 Mindsets to Grow Your Influence and Impact, seeks to help readers learn to more effectively communicate, form and cultivate relationships, and ensure that their voices are heard, through smart strategies and sage advice from more than two dozen experts in the area of communication and relationship-building. Michelle Tillis-Lederman is truly an expert in the art and science of building better relationships and becoming a Connector, and I hope that you will listen to her wisdom and apply it to your own role as a business leader. — As business leaders, we live and die by our relationships to the people around us. Whether they are our clients, our peers, or the teams we lead, our relationships to the people we work with professionally can either drag us down or elevate our leadership to new levels of success. I want to introduce you to Michelle Tillis-Lederman. Michelle is an expert in strengthening those key relationships that are so important to our role as business leaders. Through extensive professional experience and research, Michelle has mastered the art of creating, growing and strengthening relationships, and she has helped many high-profile organizations create more successful, impactful and effective teams. In this week’s episode of Absolute Advantage, Michelle discusses her background in every aspect of the finance industry and her interest in creating stronger connections between members of organizations. She explains why anyone can become a Connector, someone who serves as the catalyst for stronger relationships in everyone around them. She describes the different types of connectors and their various strengths, and she shares tips and strategies for strengthening your own relationships with others and becoming a true Connector. How to connect with Michelle Tillis-Lederman: Website: www.executiveessentials.org Website: www.michelletillislederman.com Website: www.theconnectorsadvantage.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/communicationexpertspeaker/ Twitter: @mtlederman The Connector’s Advantage by Michelle Tillis-Lederman: https://amzn.to/2ZQrP1N

    Episode 185: The Power of Storytelling, with Harry Maziar

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2019 28:52


    Harry Maziar’s career as a business leader has been long, successful, and storied. Harry served as the President of Zep Manufacturing Company, a division of National Service Industries, for 27 years. Prior to his role as President, Harry served as the company’s first director of sales, where his leadership helped to create double-digit growth consistently for two and a half decades. In recent years, Harry has served on a number of business and community boards for both for-profit and charitable organizations. He is also the author of Story Selling: Sage Advice and Common Sense About Sales and Success, where he offers a collection of entertaining and informative stories as a mechanism to teach the key principles of sales in a memorable and engaging way. Harry’s passion is to inspire and empower others to pursue their life’s purpose and find true success. Harry Maziar’s wisdom, experience and talent for sales and leadership can be valuable tools for your own pursuit of being the most effective leader you can be. I hope you will listen to the episode and absorb Harry’s teachings. — As leaders, we’re always looking to better ourselves, strengthen our leadership, and inspire those around us. That focus and drive to constantly be improving is a key ingredient in becoming a great leader. And one of the many ways that we can learn important lessons is through stories Today I’d like to introduce you to master storyteller Harry Maziar. Harry is a business leader and salesperson with a proven track record of success. As both director of sales and, later, President of Zep Manufacturing Company, Harry led his company through an incredible period of growth and prosperity over the span of his career. Harry is also the author of Story Selling, in which he shares powerful, entertaining and inspiring stories of sales and leadership. In this episode of Absolute Advantage, Harry discusses the importance of storytelling as a way to transfer knowledge in a memorable way. He talks about the qualities of a leader and the critical role that clear communication serves in leading others and bringing them to your way of thinking. And he shares his thoughts on mentorship and the importance of paying it forward. Harry Maziar is a thoughtful, genuine and entertaining storyteller and a truly exceptional leader. Additional Resources: Story Selling by Harry Maziar: https://amzn.to/2VxzjaO

    Episode 184: Rising Up Through Adversity, with Petra Velzeboer

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2019 37:32


    Petra Velzeboer is an international keynote speaker, psychotherapist, mental health consultant, executive coach, and podcast host who is dedicated to helping others through developing empathy in the workplace to create stronger connections with our teammates and improve the productivity of our organizations. Petra’s own remarkable story is one of triumph in spite of the odds being stacked against her. Having been raised in a cult, Petra experienced a level of abuse and control that led her to develop addiction problems and ultimately consider suicide as her only way out. However, Petra was able to overcome these incredible challenges, conquer her addiction issues, and attain an education that was denied to her as a child growing up within a religious cult. Petra shares her powerful and inspiring story in an effort to help lift others up and promote kindness and compassion. She believes greatly that empathy, authenticity and connection are the keys to making the world a better place and to allow us, both individually and as a society, to achieve our full potential. — Inspiration, motivation and empathy can come from many sources. These sources can be uplifting stories of human love and compassion, or they can come from a darker place of overcoming the most difficult of life’s challenges. But, no matter the source, we can draw on these stories to lift ourselves up, inspire ourselves, and better understand ourselves and the world around us. I want to introduce you to Petra Velzeboer. Petra is a psychotherapist and mental health consultant, and she also works as an internationally respected keynote speaker and executive coach, as well as hosting her own podcast, Adversity to Advantage. Petra’s story is a remarkable tale of falling all the way to rock bottom and then climbing back up again through perseverance, willpower and hope. In this episode of the Absolute Advantage podcast, Petra shares her emotional story of growing up in a religious cult, being subjected to brainwashing and intense punishment, turning to substance abuse to deal with the internal hurt and turmoil, and eventually overcoming all of these obstacles to find true success and happiness. Petra’s story is deeply personal, powerful, and inspiring. Petra also discusses her role as a mental health professional and the vital importance of mental health and self-care as a leader. Ways to contact Petra Velzeboer: Website: www.petravelzeboer.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/petra-velzeboer/

    Episode 183: Thoughts, Feeling, and Enabling Success, with Daphne Scott

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2019 45:35


    Dr. Daphne Scott is a leadership coach and corporate development expert with more than two decades of experience working with organizations. In addition to her own extensive coaching and leadership training and her degrees in Applied Positive Psychology and Physical Therapy, Daphne leans on her background in theater with the Second City Improvisational Conservatory Program to strengthen and diversify her coaching. Daphne is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, certified Hendricks Coach, a founding member of the Conscious Leadership Group, as well as a member of the International Coaching Federation. She has also studied with top-level executive coaches, consciousness experts and organizational psychologists. Daphne believes that one of our key roles as leaders is to equip and enable the people around us to succeed. This involves spending the time and effort necessary to help them identify their natural abilities, and it also involves putting them in positions that best leverage those abilities. It requires us to recognize and appropriately respond to the thoughts, feelings, fears and questions our team may experience. — A goal we all have in common is our ongoing work to become better, stronger leaders. It’s why I created the Absolute Advantage podcast, to help you obtain the skills and wisdom of other great leaders so that you can achieve your maximum potential. That’s why I want to introduce you to Dr. Daphne Scott. Daphne is a leadership coach and corporate development expert par excellence. Daphne believes that we have the ability to equip our teams with the skills and motivation needed to truly excel in their roles… but only if we ourselves step into our own potential as leaders. In this episode, Daphne discusses the importance of understanding the thoughts and feelings our team members experience, and she shares her five key relationships that we as leaders should develop: our relationship to time, to money, to ourselves, to our friendships, and to the unknown. By strengthening those relationships and by taking proper care of ourselves, we can then create that all-important Ripple Effect in our team. I hope you will listen to the episode and embrace the remarkable insights Daphne Scott shares during our conversation. Daphne’s wisdom is an amazing road map you can follow in your quest to become an unstoppable leader of an incredible team! Ways to contact Daphne Scott: Website: www.daphne-scott.com/absolute/

    Episode 182: Live Limitless, with Laura Gassner Otting

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2019 38:52


    Laura Gassner Otting is a professional keynote speaker, respected author, and successful entrepreneur. She helps innovators, idealists, and iconoclasts get “unstuck” by providing the extra push they need to achieve extraordinary results. Laura is the founder of Limitless Possibility and a founding board member of the Boston-based philanthropic group SheGives. Prior to her current work, she served as the founder and president of the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group for more than thirteen years. She also served as a Presidential Appointee in the Clinton White House, helping guide and shape AmeriCorps. Laura is the author of several successful books including Mission Driven and Transitioning to the Nonprofit Sector, and her latest book is called Limitless: How to Ignore Everybody, Carve Your Own Path, and Live Your Best Life. Laura is a strong believer in not letting others put you in a box and hold you back. She believes that we all have limitless potential within ourselves to set our own definition of success and then achieve that success by breaking through walls and finding our own path through life. Limiting thoughts, whether from ourselves or others, have no place in Laura’s philosophy. She truly believes that self-empowerment is the key to unlocking our true potential and becoming limitless. — All of us have certain limits and expectations placed upon us from the time we come into this world. Whether it’s the parent that pushes us to go to medical school, or the teacher who tells us we aren’t capable, or the well-intentioned family member who warns us against pursuing our dreams, outside pressures are a constant anchor that too often weighs us down. Laura Gassner Otting wants to free us from that weight. Laura is a professional keynote speaker, author and entrepreneur who believes in the hidden potential present in every person. Laura believes in helping people achieve consonance, the state of aligning what they do with who they are. Through her four C’s (calling, connection, contribution, control), Laura helps people break through their limits and achieve success, no matter how they define it for themselves. In this episode, Laura discusses her career journey and shares how she “accidentally” became a keynote speaker. She shares strategies and insights from her new book, Limitless, with the goal of helping her readers get “unstuck” from the roadblocks they face and break through to a new level of success, prosperity and empowerment. She teaches people that success is not a list of boxes someone else creates for you to check off, success is however you define it. As business leaders, from time to time we can all use a reminder that our limitations are illusions and that our goals are within our reach. I hope you’ll listen to the episode and share in Laura Gassner Otting’s remarkable wisdom. Ways to contact Laura Gassner Otting: Website: www.limitlessassessment.com Website: www.heylgo.com Twitter: @heylgo Limitless by Laura Gassner Otting: https://amzn.to/2FRFRY0

    Episode 181: Committing to Culture, with Tristan White

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2019 36:44


    Tristan White is the founder and CEO of The Physio Co., a unique healthcare business focused on delivering exceptional physical therapy for seniors that ranked number one on BRW’s list of Australia’s 50 Best Places to Work in 2014, and has consistently been placed on the list for ten consecutive years. He is also the author of the book Culture is Everything: The Story, Secrets & Systems of a Startup That Became Australia’s Best Place to Work. Tristan is a qualified physical therapist who began his career working in a nursing home. He had originally hoped to work in athletic physical therapy, but after his experience at the nursing home he recognized an immediate and urgent need for a service that could help senior citizens stay mobile, safe and happy. Tristan built his business from the ground up on a foundation of strong culture, and his own experiences have evolved into his “Culture is Everything” system that helps other business leaders develop a world-class culture in their organizations. The four pillars of Tristan’s system can help any business become a great place to work, and that can lead to increased team efficiency, motivation and morale. — One of the primary things that can elevate your business into a great business is its culture. A strong culture and clear values provide many different benefits to an organization, and it is often the starting point for the Ripple Effect that you’ve heard me speak about so many times. But a great culture is more than a plaque on the wall. It’s something that is found deep within the DNA of the business and its leadership. Tristan White knows the importance of culture. Tristan is the founder and CEO of The Physio Co., an Australian business that helps bring effective physical therapy to elders and helps them maintain their mobility, safety and independence. The Physio Co. has been rated among the best places to work in Australia for ten consecutive years and even topped the list in 2014, and the main reason is its powerful culture and values. In this episode, Tristan shares why he founded The Physio Co. and why he realized early on that the best way to grow his organization was through culture-focused and values-focused leadership. Through this commitment to culture, Tristan was able to grow his business from a one-person operation to a large and thriving team that is able to deliver over 200,000 consultations every hear. I hope that you can derive great wisdom from the story Tristan shares during our conversation. His dedication to culture is something that can benefit every business in every industry. By making your culture an inextricable part of your business, you can begin a powerful Ripple Effect of your own. Please enjoy the episode. Ways to contact Tristan White: Website: www.tristanwhite.com.au/absolute/ Think Big, Act Small Podcast: www.tristanwhite.com.au/podcast-page/001-podcast-welcome/ Culture is Everything by Tristan White: https://amzn.to/2FKyIc0

    Episode 37: Hospitable Leadership, with Terry A. Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2019 36:47


    Terry A. Smith is the Lead Pastor of The Life Christian Church (TLCC) in West Orange, New Jersey. TLCC has grown from a small 54-member congregation to nearly 3,000 members over the course of 27 years. TLCC is widely recognized for the diversity of its membership as well as its powerful leadership culture. Terry is also the co-founder of the New York City Leadership Center and has served as a board member or leader for many organizations. He is also a respected national and international speaker and the bestselling author of “Live 10: Jumpstart the Best Version of Your Life” and “The Hospitable Leader”. Terry believes in the idea of hospitable leadership, defined as creating an environment of welcome that embraces diversity and inclusivity. In Terry’s opinion, hospitable leadership is the foundation of every other leadership style and structure. After all, if you don’t invite people in, you can’t hope to lead them. — There are many different styles of leadership, and there are countless leadership methodologies, courses, books, and seminars that each promise to teach you the secrets of becoming an effective leader. But you can’t be a leader if you have no one to lead, and that’s where hospitable leadership comes in. Terry Smith understands this. Terry serves as the Lead Pastor of The Life Christian Church in New Jersey, and he is an expert in leadership. Terry practices hospitable leadership, which is the idea of creating a diverse and welcoming space for people, allowing them to be open and receptive to your message. Hospitable leadership is closely related to servant leadership, but it also serves as the necessary first step to fostering communication and building trust. In this episode, Terry shares his thoughts on hospitable leadership and the profound effect it can have on your organization and your team. Hospitable leadership creates an empowering and safe environment that allows the Ripple Effect to flourish and work its magic. I hope that you will listen to my conversation with Pastor Terry Smith and are able to absorb the incredibly valuable information and strategies he shares. Terry’s thoughts on hospitable leadership will allow you to lay the foundation of openness and trust that is critical for any business leader to be able to more effectively guide their teams. Please enjoy the episode. Ways to contact Terry A. Smith: Website: www.terryasmith.com/advantage/ Live 10 by Terry A. Smith: https://amzn.to/2WyQm9q The Hospitable Leader by Terry A. Smith: https://amzn.to/2V2RkKt  

    Episode 179: Positivity, Vision and Giving Back, with Lila Stewart

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2019 31:26


    Lila Stewart is the co-founder of Hari Mari, a high-end flip flop brand sold in stores like Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Zappos, and by hundreds of other retailers as well as through the company’s own website. These flip flops are made with high-quality materials and feature bold, bright colors and extreme comfort. They have been featured in Forbes Magazine, Vogue Paris and Business Insider among other global media outlets. Hari Mari believes in the Ripple Effect, donating 1% of their sales to the fight against pediatric cancer. Lila’s journey began in Jakarta, Indonesia, where she and her husband lived for three years. During her time there, Lila volunteered for human rights organization American Women’s Organization of Jakarta. Upon returning to the United States, Lila and her husband realized how stale and low-quality the flip flops available here were, so they set about revitalizing the market with their own high-quality brand. Lila’s philanthropic roots continue today with Hari Mari’s donations to pediatric cancer research. Lila believes that great leadership stems from lifting up the people around her, treating everyone with fairness, and tackling every challenge with a positive outlook. Lila Stewart is a phenomenal example of how the Ripple Effect can bring lasting, positive changes that go far beyond the profitability of a business and extend outward to the community at large. — What makes a strong business leader? Certainly, guiding the organization toward success is a factor, but an exceptional leader is also a champion for positive company culture, employee engagement and satisfaction, and a sense of family and community. An exceptional leader uses the Ripple Effect to not just run a business but to make lasting positive changes to everyone around them. Lila Stewart understands that the role a leader plays goes far beyond the bottom line of the business. Lila and her husband co-founded Hari Mari in an effort to bring a quality product to a stagnant and uninspired market. In doing so, they have built a strong organization that offers great value to its customers, takes care of its employees, and gives back to its community through giving a portion of its sales to the fight against pediatric cancer. In this episode, Lila shares how the idea for Hari Mari came about, and how her philanthropic spirit became interwoven in the company’s culture from its beginning. Lila discusses how her gratitude, mindfulness and passion have all contributed to her success as a leader and to the success of Hari Mari itself. As you know, I deeply believe in the tremendous power of the Ripple Effect. It is one of the guiding principles of my own work and one of the main themes of the Absolute Advantage podcast. Lila’s story is an excellent example of why the Ripple Effect is such an incredible force and how it can enrich our organizations and our lives. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Lila and are inspired to allow the Ripple Effect to work its magic for you. Ways to contact Lila Stewart: Website: www.harimari.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/harimarishoes/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/harimarishoes/  

    Episode 178: Reclaiming Wasted Time, with Steven Griffith

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2019 31:31


    Steven Griffith is a respected author and speaker, researcher, performance expert, and a leading authority on the connection between time, productivity and performance. In his work, he recognizes that our use of time is a major indicator (and driver) of our success as business leaders. Steven is also the author of the new book The Time Cleanse: A Proven System to Eliminate Wasted Time, Realize Your Full Potential, and Reinvest In What Matters Most. In the book, Steven teaches valuable time management skills and helps readers reframe their relationship with time, maximizing the potential of the time they spend. For more than 20 years, Steven has worked with CEOs, entrepreneurs, athletes, business executives, celebrities and other high-profile clientele across the globe. Steven believes that we are wasting tremendous, reclaimable amounts of time without even realizing it. His own work with his clients has shown that the average person can reclaim ten, twenty, even up to forty hours a week from pointless activities, distractions, unnecessary conversations and other insidious “time toxins” that don’t reward us for the time we spend on them. We can save those wasted moments and channel them into things that matter, making us happier and more productive. — How many times in your week do you find yourself wishing you had more time in your day to be more productive? How often do you say “I don’t have time for that right now”? How often do you catch yourself wishing you had more leisure time or more time to focus on the things you enjoy? Steven Griffith has the solution that will allow you to reclaim more precious time in your week. Steven is an expert in time management, and he has helped high-profile clients all over the world recover time that would otherwise be wasted. Steven has identified “time toxins,” distractions and other unproductive wastes of time that we can easily sacrifice hours of our week too, without even realizing that we’re doing it. In this episode, Steven shares valuable strategies for identifying your unnecessary time sinks and then reclaiming your time from them. You are going to be shocked when you realize exactly how much of your valuable time is being wasted on time toxins throughout your life. Learn from Steven’s wisdom and, instead of asking yourself where the time has gone, start asking yourself what you’re going to do with all those reclaimed hours! Ways to contact Steven Griffith: Website: www.stevengriffith.com/absolute/ The Time Cleanse by Steven Griffith: https://amzn.to/2Y1PZFP “Get Steven’s Master Class on Time Free When You Order The Time Cleanse!” www.stevengriffith.com/master-class https://www.stevengriffith.com/absolute/

    Episode 177: Time Management and Meetings, with Elise Keith

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2019 41:41


    Elise Keith is the self-described “Meeting Maven” and the author of Where the Action Is: The Meetings That Make or Break Your Organization. She is the co-founder of Lucid Meetings, a consultancy that helps organizations develop and scale effective meeting habits. Elise is also the “Ask the Meeting Maven” columnist for Inc. Magazine, where she has written numerous articles on holding more effective and productive meetings. Prior to co-founding her company, Elise worked in the software industry for more than a decade. Elise believes that it is possible to conduct business meetings that are engaging, enjoyable and productive. She has dedicated herself to helping other organizations turn their meetings from boring-but-mandatory workday intrusions into dynamic, energetic and useful tools to help simplify communications and get things done. — Meetings. We all know them as a “necessary evil” that we are forced to endure during our work week. The broadly-held consensus is that they are disruptive, pointless, tedious and only serve to interrupt us. No one is ever excited about a meeting… right? Elise Keith loves meetings. Elise is the “Meeting Maven” and co-founder of Lucid Meetings, where she helps her clients conduct better, more engaging, and more useful meetings. Elise believes that well-structured and well-conducted meetings can be a valuable communication tool for businesses of all kinds. In this episode, Elise discusses some of the common complaints about business meetings and offers solutions that can transform meetings into powerful opportunities for engagement. Elise is also an advocate for the Ripple Effect, and she believes that with appropriate time-management skills and proper direction from leadership, meetings can become strong cornerstones of company cultures and values. Listen to the episode and learn from Elise’s remarkable insights into what business meetings too often are and what they can become through effective leadership. Ways to contact Elise Keith: Website: www.lucidmeetings.com Email: elise@lucidmeetings.com  

    Episode 176: Gender Bias in the Workplace, with Andie Kramer and Al Harris

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2019 39:57


    Andie Kramer is a partner at international legal firm McDermott Will & Emery LLP, where she serves as the head of the Financial Products, Trading and Derivatives Group. She is also the founding chair and current co-chair of the firm’s Gender Diversity Committee. She has previously served on the Management Committee and Compensation Committee at McDermott Will & Emery. Outside of her practice, Andie is a nationally recognized advocate for the advancement of women, having helped countless women navigate obvious and subtle gender biases in their careers. Al Harris was a founding partner of the law firm Ungaretti & Harris, which later merged into the national law firm of Nixon Peabody LLP. All served as managing partner and as a member of the firm’s Executive and Compensation Committees. Al recognizes the barriers that women often are forced to navigate in male-dominated settings. Together with Andie, Al co-authored “Taking Control: Women, Gender Stereotypes, and Impression Management”. Together, Andie and Al feel strongly that the visible and invisible gender biases in today’s workplace culture can be overcome, and they believe that education and mentorship are the key to doing so. Especially in today’s #MeToo environment, it is more important than ever that organizations be prepared to reflect on their company cultures and bring gender equity to their workplaces. — It is a fact that our modern society is more aware of the prevalence of gender bias and workplace discrimination than ever before. But are we, as leaders, doing all we can to tear down gender barriers and recognize our own biases, whether external or internalized? Andie Kramer and Al Harris are subject-matter experts with two very different perspectives on gender bias, but they share the same conclusions and beliefs on how to make workplaces be more fair, open, and equitable. Both are legal professionals, but while Andie has had to personally experience gender bias in her career journey, Al has recognized the problem as an outsider looking in. Despite their different viewpoints, they are both dedicated to raising awareness and educating organizations on how to handle these challenging issues. In this episode, Andie and Al share their own points of view on gender bias and its detrimental effects on workplace health, culture and morale. From obvious and blatant discriminatory statements to more subtle microaggressions, from pay inequities to gender differences in mentorship opportunities, our “enlightened” modern society still struggles with the specter of workplace discrimination. The ripple effect of leadership is a powerful tool, and Andie and Al believe it can be used to bridge the gender gap in the workplace. But gender bias is a systemic habit that has a way of embedding itself deeply into organizations, and the true challenge comes from doing the necessary self-reflection to break out of the cycle of bias. Listen to the episode, and learn how to recognize and respond to gender bias in the most effective way possible. Ways to contact Andie Kramer and Al Harris: Website: www.andieandal.com 10-Question Assessment: www.andieandal.com//the-assessment

    Episode 175: Energy, Influence and Leadership, with Elise Auxier

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2019 44:46


    Elise Auxier is an expert in leadership development. Elise helps her clients transform their limiting beliefs, reduce stress and gain clarity, and channel their passion and energy into their work in powerful new ways. Elise is the owner of Gulfcoast Coaching and an International Coach Federation-certified professional executive and life coach. Elise is a certified master practitioner of the “Energy Leadership Index”, which she uses to help her clients better understand themselves and how their perceptions, attitudes, behaviors and beliefs either enhance or detract from their leadership abilities. Elise believes that when we are under stress, we feel powerless and lethargic or angry and trapped in conflict. These emotions can follow us into our roles as leaders… if we allow these thoughts to dominate our behavior. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case. If we take the time to understand ourselves and where we are in the “seven levels of energy”, we can reframe our stress into a more positive thought process that can aid us in our roles as leaders rather than limit us. ————— We all have stressful periods of our lives. Stress, in addition to its many well-documented effects on our health and wellbeing, can also reduce our energy levels. As business leaders, the last thing we need is a reduction in energy. But when we are feeling overwhelmed, what can we really do about it? Elise Auxier has the solution. Elise is a life coach and expert in executive development, and she believes that we can learn to control our energy levels by deliberate internal awareness and action. We can reframe those stressors into positive motivators instead of anchors weighing us down. And as leaders, we can do the same for our team… if we know how to empower and support them. In this episode, Elise shares the seven levels of energy that we move between throughout our day, and she explains how we can learn to control our thoughts to keep ourselves in the more productive higher levels, rather than being mired in powerlessness or anger over our frustrations. The energy we bring to our roles as leaders is critically important to our effectiveness, and another cup of coffee isn’t the solution when our energy levels begin waning. You know how powerful the ripple effect can be, so it is incredibly important to break out of your old patterns and thought processes and bring high-energy focus to your interactions with your team. Listen to the episode and learn how to energize yourself and everyone around you! Ways to contact Elise Auxier: Free gifts, discounts and more: www.gulfcoastcoaching.com/absolute/ Website: www.gulfcoastcoaching.com

    Episode 174: Training Your Subconscious to Unlimit Your Beliefs, with Karen Brown

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2019 44:40


    Karen Brown is an executive-level business and leadership coach, motivational speaker, author, and CEO. Her company, Velocity Leadership Consulting, brings exceptional leadership training to the C-suite with their high performance results-driven methods. Karen knows a lot about performance. For almost thirty years, she dreamed of competing in the Ironman World Championships triathlon. Her internal voice kept telling her she couldn’t hope to compete, and so she continually set her dream aside… until the day she overcame her own limiting beliefs and challenged herself. She hired a coach and began training in earnest, and through passion and tenacity she crossed the finish line two years after she started her training. In her journey from recreational athlete to world-class competitor, Karen was able to transform her limiting beliefs into “unlimiting beliefs” and unleash her potential by tapping into her subconscious mind. This became the foundation of Karen’s book, Unlimiting Your Beliefs: 7 Keys to Greater Success in Your Personal and Professional Life; Told Through My Journey to the Toughest Race in the World. ————— What are you capable of? Do you know your own limitations, or do you believe you can break through them and achieve the seemingly impossible? How much does your internal monologue hold you back? Is that little internal voice helping you, or hindering you? Karen Brown allowed her little voice in her head to hold her back, through limiting beliefs about herself and her capabilities. Karen’s business career was on a great trajectory but she kept finding herself wondering if she was capable of more. Watching the Ironman triathlon was profound for Karen, and she had a burning desire to become a competitor herself. But, as her little voice reminded her, surely she couldn’t hope to race against world-class athletes… After 28 years of listening to her internal voice tell her she couldn’t, Karen had enough. She stepped out of her comfort zone, hired a coach to help her go from recreational athlete to true competitor, began tapping into her subconscious mind to change her internal voice, and turned her limiting beliefs into “unlimiting beliefs”. And two years later, she was crossing the finish line of the Ironman triathlon. In this episode, Karen gives us a firsthand account of how she conquered her limiting beliefs and ultimately did the thing she had once thought impossible. She explains the control our subconscious minds have over us, and she outlines how she reprogrammed her little internal voice to support instead of hinder. I hope you’ll listen to Karen’s awe-inspiring journey of physical and emotional self-awareness and allow it to help you conquer your own “I could never do that” limiting beliefs! How to connect with Karen Brown: Website: www.velocityleadershipconsulting.com/absolute/ Unlimiting Your Beliefs by Karen Brown: https://amzn.to/2WMQz9D

    Episode 173: The Leadership Ripple Effect, with Paresh Shah

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2019 63:37


    Paresh Shah is a remarkable person. He is the CEO and co-founder of Lifters, an organization promoting a new model of business leadership that seeks to strength leaders and their teams, promote employee engagement, value diversity, and develop purpose and social responsibility. He is the co-founder and Chief Strategist of the Non-Obvious company, an organization specializing in innovation and out-of-the-box thinking. Paresh is a global thought leader, having conducted business in 30 countries across the world. He is a keynote speaker, and has spoken at TedX Hong Kong, SXSW and an extensive list of other impressive venues. His work has been published in Inc. Magazine and Forbes, and he has been recognized by both the United Nations and His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a true force for international peace and compassion. Additionally, Paresh is a trained and respected mindfulness yogi. A cornerstone of Paresh’s work lies in the belief that business leaders are uniquely positioned to make a lasting, positive impact on their organizations, teams, customers, and communities. Through compassion, mindfulness, and purpose, we can become stronger in every aspect of our lives. ————— “Lifter Leadership” is a fascinating business leadership model developed by Paresh Shah, that seeks to bring an enlightened attitude of mindfulness, purpose and happiness to organizations, strengthening them from the inside out. Lifter Leadership can apply to everyone in an organization whether they are a part of the C-suite or not. From the CEO to the receptionist, everyone can benefit. Paresh Shah developed his Lifter Leadership model after integrating his business and engineering background with his meditative philosophies as an experienced yogi. This multifaceted leadership program addresses many of the most common problems found in the existing force-driven and control-oriented model of today. In this episode, Paresh shares his unique and personal journey and how he came to integrate his engineering background and love of business with his mindfulness training and spiritual philosophies. Paresh discusses how his Lifter Leadership can be a positive force for change in any business. The ripple effect is a powerful catalyst for touching the lives of those around you, and Paresh Shah’s Lifter Leadership is a fantastic example of the ripple effect at work. Listen to the episode and see how you can invoke the transformative powers of the ripple effect to strengthen your own leadership! Additional Resources from Paresh Shah: Website: www.iamalifter.com/absoluteadvantage/ Website: www.nonobviouscompany.com

    Episode 172: Rising Beyond Mediocrity, with Adam Hergenrother

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2019 45:32


    Adam Hergenrother is a widely respected speaker and business coach, as well as the founder and CEO of Hergenrother Realty Group and co-owner and CEO of BlackRock Construction, both companies he turned into thriving enterprises within just 10 years. Adam is an expert in helping business leaders chart a path to success. Success for Adam means more than just wealth, it means going beyond mediocrity in all aspects of his life. At the age of 15, Adam decided that he didn’t want to live a life of mediocrity. He turned his life around and made the conscious decision to excel. Adam made half a million dollars at age 26, but he decided the corporate grind wasn’t for him, so he changed his lifestyle yet again. Adam is a living example of the transformative power of dedication, passion and drive, and his strong focus on his family life serves as the cornerstone for everything he does. Through daily activities like meditation, exercise and journaling, Adam works to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a clear mind. These important rituals help him build momentum and maintain the energy he needs to tackle every challenge… with the goal of exceeding his own high expectations. ————— Are you satisfied with the status quo, or do you hunger for more? More success in your career, more quality time with your family, more balance in your life, a more healthy lifestyle, and more energy and focus? In short, are you satisfied with mediocrity or do you want to break out and excel in every aspect of your life? Adam Hergenrother learned very early on that he wasn’t meant for a mediocre life. At fifteen, Adam was struggling with poor grades, was taking recreational drugs, and was hanging out with the wrong kinds of friends. But Adam realized the path he was on would lead to a life he didn’t want, and so he hit the reset button. He got rid of the bad influences, straightened out his grades, dumped the drugs, and turned to athletics as an outlet (dropping over a hundred pounds in the process). This dedication to personal excellence is the same energy and focus Adam brings to his real estate business. Adam realized he wanted more from his life, and he took the steps needed to achieve his goals. He practices daily rituals like meditation and journaling, so that by the time he starts his workday at 8 a.m., he is energized and ready to conquer. In this episode, Adam shares his personal journey out of mediocrity, as well as key tips, strategies and philosophies that can help other business leaders rise to their potential. Listen and be inspired by Adam’s infectious optimism and drive! Ways to contact Adam: Blog: www.herglife.com Website: www.adamhergenrother.com

    Episode 171: The Storyteller, with Rey Ybarra

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2019 38:36


    Rey Ybarra is a mediapreneur and the author and producer of the multimedia digital book Conversations With Shark Tank Winners, featuring written, audio and video interviews with 14 carefully selected entrepreneurs from the hit television series Shark Tank. He has toured the nation with some of the former contestants with his Sharks & Stripes Conference and Expo, engaging audiences from the main stage of the Small Business Expo, Network After Work, the University of Phoenix School of Business, Broward College School of Business, and the Santa Monica College Entrepreneur Program. In 2005, Rey was diagnosed with severe and incurable rheumatoid arthritis. As a result of the diagnosis, this year he is launching a program to help other entrepreneurs suffering from the debilitating disease combat the stigma and prejudices associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Rey is passionate about the power and inspirational stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Through his work with entrepreneurs and business owners, Rey has had the opportunity to share incredible journeys of perseverance, tenacity and passion; all qualities that can be found in every successful business leader. ————— Each entrepreneur’s journey is unique, but the passion we feel and the goals we set for ourselves are universal. Every great business started with an idea and a spark of inspiration and spirit, and though the stories may be unique, they’re all connected by the same thread of hard work, passion and a desire to create something incredible. Rey Ybarra is fascinated by those stories. For the last seven years, he’s been working on an engaging multimedia book project titled Conversations with Shark Tank Winners, in which he interviews contestants from TV’s Shark Tank. In his book, Rey explores the unique and fascinating journey each entrepreneur took that ultimately led to their appearance on the show. In this episode, Rey shares valuable lessons he learned through those inspirational stories of overcoming hardships and challenges. Rey also tells his own deeply personal and powerful story of transformation, acceptance and motivation after being diagnosed with severe and incurable rheumatoid arthritis, and how that diagnosis led him to develop a program for other entrepreneurs suffering from the painful disease, helping them overcome the associated stigma of their autoimmune disease and its visible effects on their bodies. These stories of adversity, persistence, dedication and passion will hopefully help you become even more motivated and energized in your own work! Ways to contact Rey Ybarra: Email: info@sharktankeffect.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/ry_media/

    tv university business expo small business expo rey ybarra phoenix school network after work shark tank winners
    Episode 170: Clarity and Leadership, with John Murphy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2019 49:43


    John Murphy is an expert in leadership development, a podcast host, bestselling author, and renowned mentor and coach. His global clients include giants like Pfizer, Airbus, Great West Life Co., State Street Bank, Vodafone and Johnson & Johnson. He is also the founder and CEO of John Murphy International, a global consulting agency. John started his career as a door-to-door life insurance salesman, and he rose through the ranks to CEO. At the pinnacle of his executive career, John ultimately decided to make a major life change and left the C-suite, choosing instead to channel his talents into helping other executives reach the top of their potential. John is the author of the bestselling book 10 Key Traits Of Top Business Leaders, where he walks readers through the most important skills and qualities that all successful business owners use to develop and grow their businesses. He is an expert in teaching the skills needed to lead corporate teams to greatness. He takes pride in sharing his wisdom, strategies and experience with today’s top executives across the globe. ————— Do you know what really makes a leader? Having an executive title doesn’t necessarily grant you the qualities of a great leader. It’s about the skills, qualities, traits and guidance you bring to your team. It’s about having the passion to lead and the wisdom to recognize and confront new opportunities and challenges. Leadership isn’t a title, it’s a mindset. John Murphy knows leadership. John has worked with global brands like Pfizer, Airbus, Johnson & Johnson and others, teaching corporate leaders the key traits they need to excel. Rising from door-to-door insurance salesman to CEO, John learned firsthand what it takes to guide a team to greatness. Now he works to coach others on their own journeys to leadership. In this episode, John shares the qualities he feels are absolutely necessary for anyone who wants to embrace effective leadership. John believes that leadership is a personal journey of self-awareness and learning, and he is passionate about sharing his knowledge and helping organizations further their excellence. John is here to share with you his wisdom, insights, and philosophy of leadership. I hope you’ll find his guidance useful in your own growth and development, so please enjoy our conversation! Ways to contact John Murphy: Website: www.johnmurphyinternational.com/absolute LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/johnmurphyinternational Facebook: www.facebook.com/JohnMurphyInternational

    Episode 169: The Science of Teamwork, with Dr. Rachel Headley and Meg Manke

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2019 60:59


    Dr. Rachel MK Headley is a Mensa PhD scientist and expert in project management. Her impressive resume includes a decade spent in the scientific field of satellite imaging, and another decade as a geologist and the operational science officer at the Landsat satellite mission for the U.S. Geological Survey. Meg Manke is an expert in the field of human resources, and she has worked extensively in talent management, safety, organizational psychology, and communications. Meg has an extensive background in strategic leadership within the business world. Together, these incredible women are the co-founders of Rose Group International (RGI). They have also co-authored an insightful and important book titled iX Leadership: Create High-Five Cultures and Guide Transformations. Through their guidance, organizations can create a lasting vision and culture and develop the behaviors necessary to achieve greatness. Dr. Rachel Headley’s Bio: High Intellect CEOs, Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Investors – ensure critical new IP, strategies, and tech gets implemented quickly & effectively by leveraging the energy of your team’s creativity and passion. Developing big, complicated culture and process opportunities is her passion – from across the org chart to internal teams to executive one-on-one coaching. Dr. Rachel Headley applies her experience and lessons from a decade of satellite science research and a decade of satellite operational management. She is a professional keynote speaker, with a TEDx and TED-esque talk in front of a 10,000-plus live audiences. She is also an author, having written on topics ranging from technical complexities of satellite systems, to satellite data use in conservation, to change strategy. She is a global citizen, and she has been known to blog about the more ridiculous travel situations in which she occasionally find herself. Dr. Meg Manke’s Bio: Meg has years of experience in leading through transition. From major changes in highly-regulated industries to managing through $100M acquisition, Meg has refined skills in understanding people through change. Her studies in organizational psychology and mastery in leadership concepts ensure that your people are taken care of. Period. Meg has a passion for helping other realize their full potential – breaking down social and personal barriers – changing their story. Her innate ability to recognize opportunity in weakness and present a strategic solution is unprecedented in today’s business world. Meg is a ranch kid from western South Dakota, where she still puts in a hard day’s work on the family place. Ranch life gave her sticktoittiveness, passion for family and outdoors, and maybe a touch of stubbornness. Meg is an avid runner, an advocate of the well-rounded education of youth, and a major supporter of finding humor in all things. ————— Whether you know it or not, the members of your team fall under four distinct types, based on the ways they interact with each other. Your fixers are very team-focused and thrive in chaos, while your organizers are independent and prefer order. Stabilizers prefer teamwork and the clarity of organization, while independents prefer to work alone on the big, difficult problems. Meg Manke and Dr. Rachel Headley’s work focuses on helping organizations better understand and accommodate these four distinct types of team members. They believe that the keys to effective leadership and communication lie in understanding how your team interacts and integrating that knowledge into your culture… and the results can be profound. In this episode, Rachel and Meg share the eye-opening principles that serve as the foundation of their work, and they give practical advice for how to apply this knowledge to your own teams. Unlike systems like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Color Code Personality Profile, Rachel and Meg’s iX system isn’t based on an individual’s personality, but rather how that person prefers to work with others as part of a team. This visionary perspective will give you some incredible insights into your own team, and I’m confident you’ll find a lot of fascinating information to take away from this episode! How to contact Dr. Rachel Headley and Meg Manke: Website: www.rosegroupintl.com Website: www.ixleadership.com Rachel’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rachel-mk-headley Meg’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/megmanke Rachel and Meg’s book “iX Leadership”: https://amzn.to/2Rxm2hd

    Episode 168: $5 Million - The Science of Success, with John Mitchell

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2019 51:16


    Think and Grow Rich explains the "science of success". It changed John Mitchell's life. It allowed him to alter a 20 year history of earning low six figures a year, as an entrepreneur, to earning over $5 million a year. John's 12-minute-a-day technique is recognized as the top practical application in the world of this legendary book. Think and Grow Rich worldwide has sold over 100 million copies, whereas the next best selling book on success has sold under 10 million copies. So clearly, it is the top book ever written on success and achievement. Listen in as John talks about applying this book to your life using a simple and practical technique called Think It Be It, which only takes 12 minutes a day.  John’s technique doubles your control of yourself, triples your daily personal growth, and helps you to focus on and advance your career. The science behind the technique was profiled in a TIME Magazine cover story. Today, John serves as a faculty member of the nationally top-rated McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, where he teaches his “Think It Be It” technique. John previously appeared in episode 121 of my podcast a year ago, and I encourage you to go back and listen to that episode as well. Implementing John’s 12-minute-a-day methodology has honestly changed my life. It’s an honor to have John back on Absolute Advantage. ————— Did you know that there’s an actual science that determines what makes someone successful? By far the biggest driver of your own personal success lies in your daily thoughts and actions. Luckily, John Mitchell returns to Absolute Advantage to explain how 12 minutes a day and the application of brain science can completely change the course of your life. John is living proof of the power of his methods; in his 50s he realized he wasn’t where he wanted to be, but after applying his methods to his own life he’s now making more than $5 million a year. John has appeared on Absolute Advantage before to discuss his “Think It Be It” strategy, and after a year of practicing his methods I can’t even begin to tell you how much of a difference it has made in my own life. I’m so convinced of the science behind John’s methods that I actually became a partner in his business. In this episode, John returns to further discuss “Think It Be It” and how it can benefit you in all aspects of your life. John shares some eye-opening statistics as well as the brain science that serves as the foundation of his methodology. We’ve also got a free five-day email introduction to our course so that you can try out John’s principles firsthand. Your brain is the most powerful tool you have at your disposal to turn your hopes and dreams into real action that can benefit your entire life. I really hope you’ll get some amazing, life-changing information from this episode! Additional resources: Free 5-day Email Course: Text the word genius to 44222

    Episode 167: Exploring the Ripple Effect, with Kelly Hatfield

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2019 27:39


    My name is Kelly Hatfield, and I’ve been a business leader and part of the recruiting industry for more than 25 years. If this is your first time listening to the Absolute Advantage podcast, welcome! My goal with Absolute Advantage is to bring you valuable wisdom from some of the world’s most successful business leaders and entrepreneurs. Each episode is all about sharing fresh visions and new perspectives from many top voices in the business world, helping you to shorten your path to success. I’d like to share a little more of my background with you. I’m a successful entrepreneur several times over, as well as a certified speaker, certified coach and trainer for the John Maxwell Team, and certified High-Performance Coach. I have dedicated myself to helping others succeed, and I believe strongly in making a positive impact on the people around me. It’s this goal of having a positive ripple effect that brought about the Absolute Advantage podcast in the first place. This podcast is for business leaders who want to level-up your skills and further your own personal growth so that you can maximize your potential… and become your best self. Thank you so much for joining me. ————— Long-time listeners have heard me mention my profound belief in the ripple effect in many previous episodes of Absolute Advantage. So, today I wanted to really take a deep dive into the transformative power of the ripple effect and how it has touched my own life. This is an incredibly important topic for me, and so I’ve decided that for this episode I’ll be speaking with you about my own experiences and thoughts rather than inviting a guest to join me. I can’t stress enough how closely I hold this topic to my heart; it truly is the catalyst behind so much of what I do. The ripple effect is a guiding light that has been present throughout my life, informing my choices and helping to keep me grounded. From my personal life to my professional work, the ripple effect has helped me maintain focus on the things that matter. In this episode of Absolute Advantage, I want to share with you how the ripple effect can be a force for positivity in your own life. I believe that the more good we put into the world, the more we get back in return. This has proven to be true time and time again in my life, as you’ll hear in the episode. As always, thank you for spending time with me today. I truly hope the ripple effect from this episode will help bring wonderful things into your own life and the lives of those around you. Resources: Website & Free Download: https://khatfield.com

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