Behind The Billboard

“This is about humanity, not business. Now is the time to Be Generous.”Kris delivers an impassioned message about how we all need to step up in this unprecedented time of need. He talks specifics on the actions that he and KLRE have already taken, including hiring Uber drivers to deliver groceries to people and donating existing ad space to organizations who need it more. Priority #1 is to change the way we treat each other personally, change the way we view our businesses, and use our personal platforms for the greater good. We all need to donate our Time, Talents and Treasures as people and business experts like never before. Success isn’t about money, and it never has been. Having integrity and giving back are what’s important right now. So let’s do this!Summary: Kris Lindahl delivers his take on how challenging times require everyone to stay together, step up and Be Generous. We’re all in the businesses helping others. Period.

Draw a picture in your mind of a great leader. Do you see someone who’s charismatic, extroverted and full of energy? Some leaders fit that description, but a surprising number don’t match the stereotype. On this edition of “The Kris Lindahl Show,” Minnesota Wild president Matt Majka talks about his improbable journey to sports nirvana and what he’s learned about leadership along the way. Key among his insights: Great leaders never put themselves first. Instead, they’re quick to prioritize others’ needs and celebrate others’ achievements. Learn more about Matt’s leadership philosophy, his journey from Rollerblade to promoting the State of Hockey, why he thinks you can learn as much from a bad leader as you can from a good one, why he sees profitability as an outcome rather than a goal, why you should never use a loss as an excuse, and why his advice to his younger self would be “Have a plan, but be ready for life to happen, too.”

Are you hoping that a single secret to success is going to put everything into place for you and change your life? Then you’re probably not thinking about leadership the right way. EideCom and Forever Bride founder Charles Eide talks about what he’s learned about leadership, acknowledging that he still learns something new every day. On this episode of "The Kris Lindahl Show", you’ll hear what Charles and Kris have to say about focus vs. expansion, learning vs. execution, saying yes vs. saying no, skills vs. passion, the heart vs. the mind, accountability vs. blame, and preaching vs. coaching. Bottom line: As someone whose company plans up to 100 massive events a year, Charles still believes in changing the world one event at a time.

When you talk to leaders who are struggling or frustrated, there’s one phrase that crops up often: “You don’t understand.” You don’t understand my industry. You don’t understand how hard it is to get leads. You don’t understand how competitive it is out there. In this One on One episode, Kris talks about the fact that most challenges are the same across all industries and among all human beings. If you find yourself saying “you don’t understand” often (along with its cousin, “if I do that, this is going to happen”), then you might need to take a look in the mirror. Are your challenges really that unique, or are you just afraid to address them?

What’s keeping you from living up to your true potential as a leader? Hint: It has nothing to do with how talented you are, or even how hard you work. — TKLS #27 One on OneHave you ever heard or thought something along the lines of, “S/he has a lot of talent, but they’re not living up to their potential”? Maybe you’ve thought the same thing about yourself. In this One on One episode, Kris talks about the single biggest hurdle that keeps so many people from fully realizing their talents. Find out what it is, what you can do right now to position yourself for greater success, and why a quote about wolves says everything you need to know about life and leadership.

Have you ever been in a meeting where nobody’s paying attention? Where the laptops are open, the phone notifications are pouring in, everyone’s interrupting everyone else, and some people are even answering their texts and emails? Now be honest: Have you ever been that person? Most people who want to be great leaders make the mistake of talking too much and not being fully present. In this One on One episode, Kris talks about the power of listening. Yes, talking about listening is a bit ironic, but the message is important: Listening isn’t just “polite.” It’s absolutely critical to good leadership. If you’re not paying attention, you’re constantly distracted or you’re usually the one doing all the talking, then are you the kind of person that people want to follow?

Sometimes the best examples of good leadership come from the most unexpected places. In this one-on-one episode, Kris shares a recent experience with two different Uber drivers who made a huge impact on him on a recent speaking trip. Especially if you work in a highly commoditized industry, what makes you different? How do you stand out? And do you sometimes fall into the trap of asking for validation without trying to earn it first? In work and in life, we have so many chances to make an impact that sometimes we stop seeing the opportunities right in front of us. This episode is a reminder to be creative, not complacent.

If there’s one truism about life, it’s this: Nobody follows a quitter. Good leaders are persistent to the point of being relentless. Their single-mindedness may drive some people crazy, but it drives even more to follow them. In this One on One podcast, Kris shares his own story of persistence (hint: it has to do with being a fan of a certain team that still hasn’t won a Super Bowl) and talks about how sometimes even when you think you’ve reached a dead end, the next breakthrough is right around the corner. Are you willing to outwork everybody around you, and scratch and claw for solutions instead of falling back on excuses? Then maybe, just maybe, you have what it takes to lead.

Would you follow a coach who didn’t think your team could win the championship? How about a general who thought you’d probably lose the war? Confidence is the most important trait in a leader, because people follow passion, period. So as a leader, you need to be 100% confident in what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. In this One on One episode, Kris reveals the secrets of leadership confidence: what it is and what it isn’t, why people gravitate toward confident leaders and avoid wishy-washy ones, and what to do in those moments when your confidence isn’t as high as it could be. Kris also shares why it’s important to strive for respect over likability, and why failure is often confidence’s greatest ally.

Do you experience more loneliness the higher the climb the leadership ladder? Do you feel like the more responsibilities you have, the less people understand what you’re going through? In this One on One episode, Kris opens up about his own struggles with loneliness and offers useful tips on how you can manage it. The first thing to understand is that loneliness is part of leadership and completely normal. In fact, it can actually be a sign that you’re on the right track. As your organization and your responsibilities grow, you can’t always share what’s happening, what’s on your mind or what’s in the works with your organization. But if you feel like loneliness is getting the better of you, there are steps you can take to regain your vital sense of happiness and connection.

What are the special traits that effective leaders share—not the leaders of 20 or 30 years ago, but today’s leaders? From leading his own business and talking to other leaders across all kinds of organizations, Kris has noticed that it comes down to 8 vital traits. Find out what they are and why they’re so important in this special One on One “The Kris Lindahl Show” episode. The list may surprise you …

Are you one of those leaders who constantly thinks, “I could let someone else handle this, but it’ll be easier if I just do it myself”? It’s a common trait among CEOs, especially entrepreneurs who start their businesses from scratch. Recognizing that she was one of those people, Media Bridge founder and CEO Tracy Call did a radical thing: For an entire month, she completely disconnected from her business and traveled with her family. The intent was to empower her team and train her clients not to depend on her. What she didn’t expect was how the experience would dramatically affect her personal life. In this provocative “The Kris Lindahl Show” episode, hear about Tracy’s fascinating business journey and learn about her against-the-grain approaches to hiring, goal-setting, handling client relationships, separating your personal identity from your business identity, being transparent, leading with the heart, and just plain having fun.

What do you struggle with? It’s a hard question to ask, and sometimes it’s an even harder question to answer. In this One on One podcast, Kris shares his own challenges and offers some advice for leaders on slowing down, truly being in the moment, showing empathy and being generous with recognizing others. He also shares a personal anecdote on how his daughter helps him remember to slow down. Bottom line: Sometimes leaders avoid asking people how they’re doing. Sometimes we feel like we’re always chasing. And sometimes we need to do a better job recognizing the growth and success of the people we’re leading.

Has anyone ever asked you what advice you would give to your younger self? This happened to Kris recently when a friend asked him what he saw clearly now that he wishes he had seen earlier in his life. Kris offers six areas of wisdom that he wishes he had been quicker to realize. The point isn’t to beat yourself up that you didn’t know things sooner; it’s to share your insights to help others on their leadership journeys. Too often leaders think they have it all figured out. This One on One episode is a tangible reminder about the importance of always examining, always remaining a student, and always growing. Hey, by listening to this podcast, you’re already on the right track!

What’s the secret to improving someone’s health and fitness? If you listen to Chuck Runyon, it sounds a lot like the secret to good leadership: listening, empathizing, being generous with your attention, and seeing your job as helping people unlock their full potential. As the co-founder of Self Esteem Brands and the CEO of Anytime Fitness, Chuck makes all of this happen every day. It’s impressive that his company has now opened over 4,000 gyms on all seven continents (they just announced a new gym in Antarctica!). What’s even more impressive is the leadership mantra he writes about in his book “Love Work”: the 4Ps of People, Purpose, Profits and Play. In this wide-ranging interview, you’ll learn how Chuck and his business partner have built an award-winning culture that has changed the lives of his members, employees, franchisees and communities throughout the world.

Do you set huge goals for yourself at the beginning of the year, then find yourself getting increasingly depressed about your inability to meet them? Join the club! Traditional goal-setting is not only ineffective; it actually puts yours farther away from achieving what you want. In this special “One on One” episode of The Kris Lindahl Show, Kris shares his own struggles with goal-setting, then reveals his two secrets to building momentum, feeling good about yourself and actually reaching your goals. Bottom line: The path to achieving your life and career ambitions is smaller, simpler and more doable than you think.

Want proof that phenomenal success starts with finding your true passion? Look no farther than Rachel Mairose. Rachel started a small dog rescue out of her apartment in 2009. Less than a decade later, Secondhand Hounds is the largest animal rescue operation in the Midwest, with over 17,000 animals saved. In this fascinating interview, Rachel talks about why you should “keep going until you find your passion and feel like you don’t think you could live without doing it,” why industry taboos are made to be broken, why storytelling is more important than ever, the importance of constantly communicating your values and expectations, and how you can deal with the trolls and bullies so they don’t derail your mission. Even though Rachel works with animals, she knows that it’s still about people. For every animal her organization has rescued, she has improved—and in some cases saved—countless human lives.

If you’ve ever spent a day at a Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) food-packing center, you know it’s an experience you’ll never forget—remarkably consistent and uplifting for the 1.4 million volunteers across 40 states who participate every year. In this episode, Kris talks to Feed My Starving Children CEO Mark Crea to unearth the secrets on how this once-small organization has grown from 1 site packing 3 million meals for kids in 17 countries annually, to having 8 permanent sites in the Twin Cities, Chicago, Dallas and Phoenix preparing and shipping 365 million meals to kids in 70 countries. No matter what industry you’re in, Mark’s story reveals some incredible insights on leadership, process, culture, partnership, and purpose. If you’re as inspired by this interview as Kris was, we’ve got good news: If you reach out to Kris through thekrislindahlshow.com, he’ll join your group at an FMSC packing session. And for every comment or like that this episode gets, Kris Lindahl Real Estate will donate a dollar to Feed My Starving Children!

How are you feeling about 2019? Better than last year? Worse? About the same? As we enter a new year, it’s time to wipe the slate clean and take a fresh look at where we’re at in our lives and careers. Looking back on 2018, Kris sees both the successes and the challenges in starting and growing a business, and the pitfalls and rewards of trying to do things differently and better. In this one-on-one episode, he shares his four areas of advice for anyone who wants to improve their leadership abilities in the new year. Hint: Even when others try to crush you, you can still crush it!

Are you a successful leader who’s secretly burned out and unhealthy? Is what you’re doing bringing you success but not joy? Are you especially attuned to the leadership challenges that teenagers face today? Then the incredible story of youth worker, speaker, trainer and preacher Cesar Castillejos will definitely resonate with you. Learn about Cesar’s challenges growing up as an of-color kid in a Minnesota suburb, hear the two questions his mentor told him to ask himself, and discover how the answers steered him toward a life of serving vulnerable youth. Cesar’s work with Young Life and the Student Leadership Project is creating the leaders of tomorrow, and we’re pitching in to help. In this podcast, you’ll learn the amazing story of how an experience with one teen inspired Cesar to start a free clothing store for disadvantaged youth. For everyone who listens to this podcast and gives us a like or a comment on The Kris Lindahl Facebook page, we’ll donate to that store!

It’s natural to compare yourself to other people, but is it healthy—and are you comparing yourself to something real or fake? In this special “One on One” podcast, Kris talks about the growing dangers of comparing yourself to someone else’s social media-produced life.

Have you ever had the rug pulled out from under you when you thought you were at the peak of success? Do you still wonder what you want to be when you grow up? Media Minefield founder and CEO Kristi Piehl has been there and done that. After being a successful reporter with a couple of Emmys on her shelf, she suddenly found herself unemployed in her mid-30s, trying to raise a family while figuring out a new career. The results speak for themselves, as Media Minefield has quickly become one of the country’s most innovative and fastest-growing PR firms. In this episode, learn the process Kristi used to arrive on her big idea, how she invented the term “newsability,” how she learned to get (and become) a mentor, and the one question she thinks you need to ask the people closest to you—even though the answer might scare you. Along the way, she also learned the importance of helping other women advance their careers, as well as how to deal with common insecurities like “Mom Guilt” and “Imposter Syndrome.” It’s a fascinating tale that applies to leadership no matter who you are or what industry you’re in. And you’ll learn the specific tactics Media Minefield uses to engage and energize its employees.

Think you work hard? Chances are, Business Journal Market President Kathy Robideau has you beat. Starting with her days slinging breadsticks at the Olive Garden as a kid, Kathy has always been willing to outwork people and earn everything she gets. But she’s also the type of leader who knows it’s about teamwork, not the individual. In this episode, you’ll hear Kathy’s amazing story of succeeding by always learning, creating groups of supportive like-minded people, and always gravitating toward the people you want to be. You’ll also get her insights on why she helped start the Women’s Leadership Council and the Women to Know Group, the importance of not surrounding yourself with “yes men” or “yes women,” the art of being calm in the storm, and how her father taught her a valuable lesson in accountability with one simple note.

Do you want your eulogy to say you “made a lot of money” or “made a dent in the universe”? Do you think not having a college degree and coming from humble roots means you can’t succeed or lead? BombBomb President and Co-founder Darin Dawson explodes every myth about leadership, success, and culture in this fascinating interview. Learn how BombBomb’s incredible success actually started with a small painting business. Learn how Darin and his business partner take a bottom-up approach to leadership where no one is above doing any job, and how they actually look for failure as fuel. You’ll also learn about the difference between “cockroaches” and “unicorns,” the joy of helping other people win, and—most importantly—how BombBomb got its name! The Money Interview Quote: “What do you want your kids to think about you in the long run? I don’t want them to be like, ‘He founded a software company.’ I want them to say, ‘He cared about people and made an impact.’”

Is your life more about making money or making an impact? Do we all have a platform to change the world, or just the politicians and celebrities? African Community & Conservation Foundation CEO Brady Forseth joins us to talk about his amazing work with the ACCF, as well as the Starkey Foundation and other nonprofits he’s led and been a part of. In this episode, Brady talks about why he calls fundraising “friend-raising,” why he prefers “co-opetition” to competition, and why he believes that the best way to help people is to teach them how to fish instead of giving them a fish. You learn the power of being purposeful with the people you surround yourself with, approaching life with a team vs. individual mindset, and doing the right things for the right reasons. You’ll also hear the amazing story of how Brady helped bring peace to the Middle East, as well as how you can help support his efforts through this podcast!

What are you thankful for? How have you been blessed in your life? Kris expresses his gratitude to everyone that has supported him and the The Kris Lindahl Show podcast. Without the listeners, this podcast would be nothing. Happy Thanksgiving!

Does risk scare or excite you? When a crisis hits, is your instinct to panic or to look for opportunities? Innovative Office Solutions CEO Jennifer Smith and her husband, CFO Brooks Smith, have some amazing stories to tell about embracing risk and going against the grain. A key quote: “When you can’t provide the customer the experience you envision, then you know you’re in the wrong place.” In this episode, you’ll learn a ton of practical knowledge about hiring for culture, staying in a state of both learning and teaching, constantly reinventing yourself and your business, “inspiring smiles” and achieving ROL: Return on Luck. You’ll learn about the unique way that Jennifer and Brooks give back to the community and help young students. And you’ll learn the role tanning beds and toilet paper have played into their success. How’s that for a teaser? : )

Is there really a better way to sell T-shirts and mortgage titles? Yes! Starting with the T-shirt business he started in his college dorm room, rock star speaker and CloseSimple co-founder Bill Svoboda has learned that the secret to success is all about people. Learn about his “$150 Rule,” how he used chocolate to win a huge client, and why it was so important for him to “make time for Carl.” Bill’s story is a huge reminder that leadership is all about how you treat your neighbors, that the best leaders stay curious and never think they’ve got it all figured out, and that the best way to learn about yourself is to step outside your own ego and make a point of learning about others.

What do you do when you’re successful but not fulfilled? What’s it like when a moment of inspiration takes on a life of its own? And how can (literally) opening doors for other people also open doors of opportunity for you? Josh Neumann reveals the fascinating story behind his lip balm product Kind Lips, and how a simple idea he had in a moment of self-reflection is now changing behavior, changing culture and changing lives every day. For anyone struggling to figure out what they’re passionate about and how to translate those passions into action, Josh is the perfect example of someone following their dream wherever it leads (even if he doesn’t always feel like he knows what he’s doing). Go “behind the lip balm” on this fascinating story of great leadership and entrepreneurship.

If you’re really honest with yourself, do you blame others or take responsibility when things go wrong? If you do take responsibility, how do you turn things around? In this episode, Kris goes deep with Justin Havre of Justin Havre & Associates, the #1 RE/MAX team in western Canada and #2 RE/MAX team in the entire country. Justin is basically the introverted Canadian version of Kris, and he’s a great example of someone who stood on the precipice of failure before learning how to make the right decisions, dig himself out of the ditch and kick some serious butt in the marketplace. Learn the surprising thing that Justin spends six figures on in his business. Hear the one piece of advice he would give to his younger self. And learn what in the world whitewater rafting has to do with positive culture—all in this special north-of-the-border “The Kris Lindahl Show.”

Hear Kris’s impassioned 7-minute hot take on the most critical question you can ask yourself as a person and as a leader. It might sound basic, but it is most definitely not. And as Kris knows from personal experience, when you can answer this question—truly answer it—then suddenly everything gets clearer, more fulfilling and more fun.

What secret do good leaders know about getting people to make a choice or a change? What’s the thing that most leaders say they’re going to be, but then almost never are? What’s the #1 thing a leader should ask him or herself when they wake up in the morning? Learn the surprising answers to these and many other questions in this fascinating conversation between Kris and renowned speaker and mentor Jon Cheplak, one of the most sought after real estate leadership and productivity consultants on the planet. What is culture? What is leadership? Why is “vulnerability” such a scary word for people? And what’s the absolute best thing you can do when you or your business are struggling? It’s all in our flagship “The Kris Lindahl Show” podcast. And the answers start right now…

Is successful entrepreneurship about promoting the hell out of yourself, or building a killer culture and focusing on relentless personal development? Find the surprising answers as real estate rock star Kris Lindahl interviews business leaders from all walks of life.