Take Flight – Business Growth Strategies with Business Coach Dan Holstein

Do you know what it's like to buy from your business?  Do you understand your customer's buying journey? Do you know what hoops you make your customer jump through in order to do business with you? Is it possible that your buying process is annoying your customer?Regardless of whether you run a large enterprise or a small business, your customer's experience of you will attract them to come back again and again - or frustrate them until they are lured away by your competition.  If they think you don't care, they'll happily go somewhere else.This week we focus on common things business owners do to drive customers away, and what to do about it!Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

With everything you have on your plate, starting a new initiative might seem like an overwhelming task. Thinking something is going to be harder than it is, might lead you to procrastinate, leading to time constraints and making that task seem ever more difficult.Sound familiar? I think we've all been there at one point or another - I know I have. In this week's video, I share a simple strategy you can put to work today to help you get some of those daunting tasks off of your ToDo list, and on to your Done list!Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Are you Driven or Ambitious? And why does it matter?  The first female NFL coach, Dr. Jen Welter, was the keynote speaker at a conference I attended a few years ago where she put this question to us all in the audience. It made us pause and most of us were not sure!  She explained how these words define our outlook and what is really motivating us all.  In this week's video, we discuss the difference in out attitudes and work / life enjoyment depending on whether we are driven, or ambitious - or a little bit of both!Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Do you ever feel like you need to babysit your team because they have trouble completing some tasks successfully and consistently? I know many business owners who feel that way. And it is usually because they don't have an effective framework to train their team members, or they just don't invest enough time training them to be effective.In this week's video, I share with you a 5 step training framework I learned from my flight instructors while getting my pilot's license. Using this 5 step process to train your team will result in more effective team members, better execution, and free you up to focus on what's most important in your business.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with mewww.kaizenperformance.com 

This is a critical question for you: How much are you personally needed every day in your business?  How much is reliant on you, your decisions, and your experience? Are you so important that it keeps you from taking a few days off or take a holiday and completely disconnect? In this week's video I share a practical strategy for HOW to become less important in your day-to-day operations, so you can have more time off, as well as focus on leading the strategic growth of your enterprise.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

As the CEO of your business, your responsibilities over time have likely increased in both number and volume.  There comes a time when you need to make a critical hire to take many of those vital responsibilities off your plate.  Once you do that, you can focus on the strategic areas of your business, and grow your enterprise.  In this week's video, I'll be sharing what the responsibilities of this critical hire would be, the attributes of an ideal person, and how to know if it's time to bring them on.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

I was at the airport recently and I got thinking about the windsock as it was blowing around in the gusting winds. A windsock is a simple yet critical tool for pilots, as it tells them what direction the wind is blowing and at what speed, which is extremely important when you're taking off or landing a plane.What areas of your business do you need to know the velocity and direction?Cash flow?Lead flow?Sales?In today's episode, I share how to choose what to measure in order to make effective decisions, take the right action, manage your business well, and most importantly, be able to scale.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Have you ever been in a state of thinking that a particular situation can't change, nothing is going to work, and become resigned to the fact that this is just kinda how it is? Watch to learn the simple process to getting unstuck and achieve different and better outcomes.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Whenever we interact with our customers, we are having an impact on them. The impact is rarely neutral, and usually either positive or negative. When we have a positive impact, its like making a little deposit into their emotional bank account. Having a negative impact on a customer is like making a withdrawal from their emotional bank account. Whether we are making a deposit or withdrawal is based on how our customer feels after interacting with you or your team.Here's a little story to illustrate the concept. My son and I were flying cross country and I had paid extra to get a window seat. We're big airplane fans and we wanted to see the sights as we were flying across the country. We get to our row, and there's actually no window! Just the bulkhead! So frustrating!--Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

I find that when talking with business owners that they find it's difficult to get and stay consistent on their most important tasks because life just gets in the way. So I want to share with you a little story and a technique so that you can gain and maintain your consistency in doing the successful things that you need to do to achieve your goals.Jerry Seinfeld, one of the most successful comics ever was asked by an up-and-coming comic “How did you become so successful?” And Jerry answered “I just don't break the chain.” And the young comic says “What chain? Watch to learn Jerry's simple strategy to help you execute consistently.Connect with me on LinkedIn Watch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com 

Do you find meetings a waste of time and energy? Most business owners do too, because meetings are plagued with some of these chronic challenges:They never start on time.People don't come prepared.You feel like the changes discussed in the meetings don't actually happen.Participants are distracted and not paying attention.The consultation rambles. You never get through the agenda.In this weeks video I share a lot of simple, easy to implement strategies to turn your meetings from time wasters to productivity makers.  Take notes!0:00 Introduction0:15 Rev Up Your Business with Dan Holstein1:24 Timed Agenda3:07 Progress3:38 RED Yellow Green5:19 Challenges Offline5:45 Mindset Check-inConnect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

This week I want to talk to you about personality styles and behavioural styles.Think about this: on your team do you have anybody that kind of drives you nuts?Are you looking at their difference as a weakness?If you are, I'd like to challenge you to  look at their difference as a strength.For example, if you're high energy a lot of motion person, you're getting out there making things happen, and you've got someone on your team that's a little bit slower paced and reserved, they're looking out for your best interest so they might just be checking those balances that you're not seeing.Conversely, if you're a little bit of a slower paced individual maybe a little bit conflict avoidant, maybe not as "out there" having somebody on your team that's got a lot of great energy and is willing to get out there and shake things up might be a real strength as well although you might find it a little intimidating.We want to make sure we've got a well-rounded team.  A solid team, whether you're individual and it's the contractors or support people you have, we want to have a lot of variety in our personality styles and behavioural styles on the team.When we see them as a strength we can be a lot stronger together. If we see our differences as challenges we're going to be nitpicking and feeling frustrated all the time. So this week my challenge to you is look at the people you're working with.  If you find some differences in their style that is sometimes frustrating for you, try to find the strength in it.  Find out, why did you bring them on board in the first place? Why are you guys working together? What was the amazing thing you saw in them that made you want them on board in the first place? What is that strength? Try to get around those differences, look for the strengths.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Have you ever said that you wanted to be, do, or have something and then immediately or shortly thereafter you decided that you couldn't be, do, or have that thing.And then you talked yourself out of it.What happens there? You're inspired with the idea of something that you could do, but then you made a decision that it wasn't possible for you.  Something I want you to think about is when that happens, is that a logical or an emotional response?It's emotional right?Logically if there's something that you want to be do or have why couldn't you do it?If it's been done before, I'm sure it's possible for you.  We have these emotional responses sometimes that talk us out of taking any action at all towards something that we're excited about. That eliminates the possibility that we can ever achieve what we want to achieve.In this episode, learn how to move through the negative "can't do it" so you can achieve what you want to achieve!As you grow, as your identity develops, as a business owner, you're achieving new things, you'll have new ideas on what's possible for you, new negative responses that you need to get through, new ways of getting started, more consistencies to increase your probability more profitability, and guess what? Now we think we can do something else as well.So this is the whole loop:  Possibility leading to probability, leading to profitability.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Hear the story of entrepreneur Juliet Aurora who started her enterprise out of pure necessity in the spare bedroom of her house 20 years ago, and how she and her husband Steve Loates grew it into a national bookkeeping firm that has earned Intuit's highest Accolade: Firm of the Future.Along the way, Juliet and Steve had a lot of ups and downs - and eventually grew not only their company, but wrote a book, started a bookkeeping training company, a podcast - and launched a charitable foundation! Theirs is an incredible story, full of learnings and lessons that will resonate with the journey many entrepreneurs have taken. Enjoy! www.aissolutions.caConnect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with mewww.kaizenperformance.com 

Do you ever feel nervous about trying something new in business or life? This week, my daughter Megan and I discuss strategies to push through the nervousness, jitters and limiting beliefs that can keep us from trying new things and achieving what we want to accomplish!If you've ever thought:- Can I even do it?- What will happen if I fail?- What if I don't do a good enough job?- What's going to happen if I DO succeed?--- You're going to want to watch this week's video!And call us at 905-876-2234 for a conversation about your unique business situation!"Our limitations are just our imagination" - unknownConnect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Are you hard on yourself? Are ya? You…I'm talkin to you.Yeah, maybe not all the time but sometimes…a little bit of that negative self-talk kickin in there about this, that, or the other thing. Maybe it's how much money you've made, or didn't. How much time you're working in your business or not, or that thing that you didn't do just quite right or perfect enough. I work with a lot of business owners and talk to a lot of business owners and I find that they can be positive, optimistic individuals on the outside, and then when we dig in a little bit, we realize they're not actually that happy with their performance.  Despite all the outward signs that they're doing a great job.Connect with me on LinkedIn Watch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Have you ever had one of those days where you'd prefer to just stay home, and not go into your business and deal with all the stress? I think we've all been there at one point or another. As business owners, we are subject to a lot of pressure, stress and challenges on a daily basis: Meeting client expectations, handling cashflow issues, staffing issues, competition, marketing, sales, finance - the list goes on. Running a business can be tough, and can take a toll on a business owner. In this week's video, I interview psychotherapist Brian Janes who works with and helps a lot of business owners. In our chat, Brian shares strategies for business owners on how to manage and reduce stress, regain balance, recognize the signs of mental health challenges and how to get help if things get really challenging. I learned a lot in my conversation with Brian, and I'm sure you will too. If you ever struggle with stress in your business or life, please watch this video. And if you want to talk to Brian, you can reach him at: Brian JanesImpact Counselling Serviceshttps://www.impactcounselling.com (905) 746-7428Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

The effectiveness and quality of your team is a significant factor in the valuation of your business. In addition to the amazing people on your team, you might have some staff that you regard as a consistent headache but continue to keep them on. Maybe they've got some key relationships with customers, or they've been with the business for a long time.  Perhaps you feel it will be difficult - or impossible -  to replace them and “it's a tough job market right now.” Whatever your reasons, watch this week's episode to find out exactly how they are negatively impacting your business valuation, and how to take a frank assessment of your team to identify the toxic employees who may need to be replaced.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Many business owners are great at solving problems but don't put enough trust in the team. In order to allow your company to grow to its full potential, managing people at work is essential. In this video, I go through a strategy that you can use in order to gauge your level of personal involvement in your business.When first starting a company, there are a multitude of things that arise and need to be dealt with right away. However, it's as the business grows that you need to learn how to step back a little bit. Too many people become addicted to the fast-paced problem solving environment and remain there instead of learning to trust the team and pass along some responsibility to their team members.One thing you can do is to draw out a simple chart that has your position on one level and the other positions within the organization in a row underneath. Fill in each position with the names of the people who perform that function. How many areas did you write your name in? This is a good indicator of how you're managing people at work and whether or not you're taking on too much.If you do realize that you're too involved in business operations, it's important to find a reliable  resource to take over the roles that you yourself were performing. It can be a very difficult thing for a business owner to relinquish some control, so finding a highly qualified person will help ensure a smooth transition.Ultimately, learning to trust the team will give your business a higher valuation because it won't be reliant on one person. Work on managing people at work effectively so that your business can take flight.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Does your business have an 'X-Factor' that makes it really stand out from your competition?  This week, in episode 2 of 10 in our Driving Business Value series, we discuss how to determine what your X-Factor is, and how it sets you apart from your competitors, and keeps your customers coming back to you. Knowing and developing what makes your business unique and valued in your marketplace will increase the value of your business when you're ready to exit!  Check out this week's video to find out why, and how to make the most of your X Factor!Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with mewww.kaizenperformance.com 

In business, are you a "sapper," or are you a "zapper"?The difference between a sapper and zapper is the energy they bring to the table. Zappers tend to have negative energy, whether it's through complaining or general demeanour, and people notice this, even subconsciously.You can probably think of a sapper (or a few) that you've come across in life, and they tend to bring everyone's general energy down. A zapper does the opposite, they bring their A-game and have a positive aura that helps motivate their teams.See, the problem is that many people become sappers without even being aware of it, and they end up bringing their teams down because of it. In this video, I talk about how you can avoid that negative energy and bring your best to every day.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

If you are considering exiting your business in the next few years, NOW is the time to get to work on increasing the value of your business. This week's video is episode 1 of 10 in my Driving Business Value series, and is all about Key Person Reliance. Key Person Reliance or Dependency is where any one person is too important to the business, which can cause your business value to diminish. Check out this week's video to learn about the  4 main areas of Key Person Dependency, and if any one of them may be impacting the value of your business - and what to do about it!Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

You know effective execution is what keeps your business moving forward quickly and profitably, but sometimes getting the entire organization to execute well is a challenge. In today's video I share the three key things to have in mind for effective execution: 1. Clear priorities for everyone 2. Measurement of progress on priorities 3. Effective meeting rhythms. Not just meetings that everyone hates and could have been done by email, but “effective meetings”. Regularly, to make sure we're all staying focused and uncovering challenge areas before they turn into problems. And most importantly, a culture of execution is fostered by you as leadership, staying focused and doing what you say you're going to do.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Did you know that most business owners think their business is worth more than it is? The reality is your business is only worth what someone will pay for it - not necessarily what you think they should pay.If you are making decisions about business succession or transition based on guessing - you could be setting yourself up for disappointment.In this week's video, I share two common reasons why owners overvalue their businesses, and an action step for you to take to eliminate the guesswork about your business's value.You've poured a lot of blood, sweat and tears into building your business - let's make sure that when it's time to move on from your business, it really pays off for you!Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

When you're asked, "How's business?" Do you answer “Busy!”Is busy something that happens to us or are we busy by choice?Often I see business owners over-commit out of a sense of service, and responsibility and obligation. As well, we are often the only ones who are able to execute on many areas of the business and we haven't been successful at delegating and handing off many of those responsibilities to our team. In today's video, I share with you a strategy I've helped my clients with, to help you move away from “busy” and get some time off. Full disclosure – it's not an overnight strategy, but with commitment on your part, you can have a plan to get some time off and at the same time, get leverage for yourself.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Video can be used to communicate with your customers, your staff, and even improve your sales processes. This week I sat down with Raymond Tuquero - filmmaker, videographer and the owner of Creative Crunch Productions to discuss how to effectively use video to grow your business.We had a wide ranging conversation that included Raymond sharing insights on:Why an effective strategy is critical to successfully using videoCommon mistakes people make when using video in their businessHow to pick the best video production company for your unique business needWe had a lot of fun, and I learned a lot from Raymond. I hope you will get as much out this conversation as I did!We're always looking to bring you great content - please leave us a comment if this has been a valuable interview for you.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Would you like to get an accurate idea of your business performance but don't know what exactly to look at? In this video, I go over important metrics for measuring success in your business and how you can identify the changes that you need to make in order to scale.

If you have been in business for a while, you've most likely experienced a situation where a long time team member is no longer able to keep up - and their performance is having a negative effect on the business.It could be their role has become more complex, or requires a different skillset, or a new way of thinking - and the team member is unable to evolve.This is a challenging situation, and I often see business owners procrastinate on doing anything about it - usually because of the long term relationship they have with the team member. So, what do you do with a long time team member that used to be a high performer? Fire them? Train them? Redeploy them?Check out this week's video where I share some thoughts on how to handle a situation like this, so that your business can continue to grow.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Today I'd like to share some tips on how to deal with underperforming employees. You know the ones I mean... They're probably doing just enough to scrape by, but they definitely aren't operating at the level you expect. If you find this episode helpful,  SUBSCRIBE

In this video, I discuss the importance of identifying your business weaknesses so that you can fix them before getting “shot down.” You see, often the areas of improvement that make businesses most vulnerable are, in fact, ones that we wouldn't necessarily think of. The reason I talk about getting “shot down” is because during WWII, when planes would come back from seeing action, they'd be all shot up. Chunks would be missing, and holes would be left in the wings from flak or other debris. There were naturally people who wanted to focus on fixing these damaged parts. However, somebody else pointed out that these planes could still fly. Although they weren't perfect, they still worked. This person reasoned that perhaps it was the untouched parts that should be examined. Clearly, the parts that were shot could withstand quite a bit of damage. But maybe it was the untouched sections that were the true areas of improvement, and the reason why other planes were being destroyed. It's important to think of your own business weaknesses in the same way. An example of this way of thinking is if a local competitor shows up near you. You'll have to address this problem because it's very apparent and directly impacts your business. However, what if Amazon begins selling your products online? That's a problem that might not be as obvious, but could lead to your business being “shot down.” When you only focus on the most obvious deficiencies in your business, it's easy to overlook other areas that may not be prepared to withstand a challenge. These areas of improvement can ultimately make all the difference in terms of your business success. By identifying and shoring up these business weaknesses, your business can become more resilient and ultimately more profitable.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

How is your To-Do list looking? Is it ever shrinking... or ever growing?If you are like many leaders of growth businesses, your To-Do list is likely growing. However, the most effective leaders have short To-Do lists, and instead focus their time on their To-Achieve list.In this week's video, I share a simple 3 part strategy to shrink your To-Do list, free up time for your To-Achieve items, and get more of your important objectives realized.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

In this video I'd like to share my tips for recruiting top talent to your business.  Talented employees (the ‘A Players') can elevate your business to the next level. We all want them, but what can we do to attract them to join us rather than our competitors?PLEASE SUBSCRIBE

When you're in high growth mode, a time will come when things start to get sloppy. Deadlines start getting missed, mistakes begin to happen more often in the office and in the field - and everyone is getting a little stressed. This is when we run into Execution Drift - when things just don't work the way they used to - and you as the business leader get distracted from the strategic, and pulled into the day to day tactical problem solving. In other words, you are getting stuck in the weeds.In this week's video, I share a strategy to get you and your team out of the weeds and executing on the strategic initiatives that are key to managing your growth.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube ChannelWatch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel  Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

As business leaders, we all get stuck from time to time. In this video I'd like to share a problem solving framework that you can use to move through stuck points in your business.If you find this video helpful, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE

Want to know how to build momentum in your business? Well, the key is consistent effort. When you take action day after day despite not seeing results, that work will pay off for you.--

Back when you started your business, your intelligence and ability to think of everything, take care of everything, and solve problems quickly was absolutely critical, and helped you get where you are now.But, is this the way forward, now that you have a team? Could you be hanging on to too much, and getting bogged down?In order to get into serious growth mode, you need to start doing less, and getting your team to do more - more problem solving, and more decision making, and more execution.It can be challenging to let go and trust your team to do things as well as you would -  especially if you've trained them to come to you with problems to solve for them.Check out this week's video for some strategies on how to let go and empower your team to grow your business for you!--Connect with me on LinkedIn Watch episodes on our YouTube ChannelWatch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

When addressing problems in the workplace, it's important to make sure that the business changes you implement are truly getting to the root of the problem.

Are you finding that the more your business grows, the more stretched you become?

Do you feel like your business is lacking employee accountability? Well, in this video, I share some tips on how to facilitate team building so that you can always depend on your employees to perform the tasks that are assigned to them. Have you ever held a team meeting where everyone agrees to do a portion of the allotted tasks but then at the next meeting you realize that no one has actually completed what they were supposed to do? Has this happened to you even when there is clear communication between team members? Well, here's an exercise that can prevent this from happening. By doing this regularly, you'll be able to encourage both employee accountability and team building. How it works is that during a team meeting when you issue a request or expectation, have a scribe write down who is going to do each task and in what timeframe. At the end of the meeting, review the recorded list with everyone just to make sure that there's no confusion. One benefit of this exercise is that it allows people to really absorb the fact that they have a given task and it often leads them to realize that they don't actually have enough time or resources to complete it. By helping people reflect on their tasks early, it allows them to reach out for the necessary support that will allow them to successfully complete their job. When you write down exactly who will do each task and in what period of time, it creates employee accountability because there is no room for confusion about the allocation of jobs. If you want to improve accountability and team building, try this method and see how it works for you.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with mewww.kaizenperformance.com 

A major challenge faced by leaders of high growth businesses is the recruiting, onboarding and retaining of great team members.One of the most critical phases here is the onboarding process. This is what the new team member experiences from their first day onward, and we need to get this right. If we don't (and maybe you have experienced this), we risk losing a great hire, or having issues with performance or morale.So, what are some of the key aspects of an effective onboarding process? Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Wanting to be liked can cause problems. If you're more interested in being liked than in gaining respect in the workplace, it'll interfere with your ability to make hard decisions and have tough conversations.

It seems to me that 2021 went by in an instant, and we are already looking at 2022 arriving in just a few short weeks! How has your year gone? I hope you've had a good one and are ready for a strong finish to 2021.Ending the year strong means being ready to jump into the new year with a clear vision, goals that excite you, and strategies for accelerated growth. In this week's video, I share three steps to make the most out of December and get 2022 off to a really strong start for you and your team.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch THIS episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Earlier this week I received a message on LinkedIn that was clearly an inauthentic, boilerplate, copy/paste script - you probably receive them all the time too. You know the type I mean... "Hi Dan, would you be interested in exploring the joys of business ownership..."But here's the thing. Authentic marketing requires authentic communication. It needs to be customer centric.If you enjoy this video, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE

Are you frustrated with the same irritating situations that keep recurring in your business? Do you perhaps grudgingly accept and believe that “that's just the way it is” even though you really want to figure it out? Very often, what is keeping us stuck is actually our personal beliefs about what we can change and what we can't. In this week's video, I share a powerful question you can ask yourself to determine if you're harbouring a self-limiting belief that's keeping you stuck - and what to do about it!--Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch this episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Do you have days where you simply have too many tasks? In this video, I offer five simple task management tips that can help you avoid that feeling of overwhelm.

Do you ever find yourself questioning the goals you've set for yourself?  Maybe they aren't as meaningful or exciting to you as when you set them? As we grow and evolve personally, our reasons for setting particular goals naturally changes as well, and the long term goals we set in the past, may no longer be relevant to us. In this week's video, I break down the three different types of goals, and why they may no longer feel relevant to us after a while. I also share a story of a goal that I set, just about achieved, then no longer wanted. It was quite the learning experience.--Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch this episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

What's the “Yes And” strategy and what's it got to do with your business? Well, in this video I explain how the principles of improv comedy can enhance creativity in business.A comedy troupe is a team of performers. The group agrees to set the stage and situation. In your business, you similarly share a situation -- COVID, the economy, etc. -- and you work through it together. There are also rules to the game that you all create together, and these are your core values. One of the rules of the game for an improv comedy group is to always say “yes” to ideas. When one performer says or does something, the next person to interact with them has to think “Yes And.” In other words, they have to take what the previous person has done and build on it. So how does this pertain to your business? Well, right now we have a lot of challenging situations going on, all of which create uncertainty. If we resist what's going on, we're going to have a tough time getting any creativity in business. It will be difficult to come up with new ideas. When we say “yes,” it's a positive thing. We accept things as they are, and open ourselves up to new possibilities. Another important parallel to the sketch comedy group is the use of the whole team. Rely on everyone. Don't just leave it to one person to come up with all of the ideas. When everyone is involved it enhances creativity.So, as funny as it may sound, think of your team as a sketch comedy group. Let the ideas come from everyone, and say “Yes And” before judging an idea. With everyone playing by the same rules, creativity in business is bound to take off.Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch this episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Do you ever feel like you're carrying around a negative view on what's going on in your business? It's a trap I have seen a lot of ambitious business owners fall into - they don't see the amazing progress that they're making – instead they focus on the problems and perceived short-falls of themselves and their team. But the truth is often that you're doing better than you think you are - you just aren't paying attention to your successes with the same intensity you pay to your challenges. This week I share some thoughts on how to track your progress and wins, so you can keep yourself and your team energized to take positive action to grow your business!--Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch this episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Many business owners tend to get their self identity entangled with their work identity. And it's completely understandable. In order to build a business, it takes a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears. There's a certain amount of pride and attachment that naturally goes along with that kind of effort. This is what's known as performance based esteem. Your self worth becomes tied to the success of your company. When that happens, you lose control of your own identity. The thing is, in this situation, when the business does well, you can feel good about yourself; however, when it does poorly, you end up feeling low. That's the problem with having a self identity that is the same as your work identity. When combined, your ability to be happy becomes reliant on your business. Another damaging byproduct of performance based esteem is that you lose your identity outside of business. This is a challenge for many business owners who eventually sell their company. When your company is your identity, selling means losing yourself. Meanwhile, the degree to which you're consumed by the necessities of running a business means that your relationships weaken and atrophy. It's vitally important to nourish your relationships outside of your business. Take time to meet up with friends, and to be with your family; take up hobbies, and join organizations that interest you. That way, your business doesn't have to be who you are. By creating balance in your life through healthy relationships, you can avoid losing your self identity to the business. Keep your work identity separate from the rest of your life. That way, you can be you, no matter what.See more business tips at https://www.kaizenperformance.com. And make sure you click to subscribe!--Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch this episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

How do you celebrate success in your business? Do you have a system for team recognition?If not, you're missing out on a great opportunity to boost staff morale and keep everyone aligned with your company's core values.There's a great book on team recognition called Whale Done by Ken Blanchard. It's all about incentivizing the behaviour that you want to see by recognizing good work.Imagine trying to get a whale to do something. You can't possibly make it do anything since it's so big. But you can use rewards to coax it into doing what you want.Clearly, your team members aren't whales. But team recognition uses the same principles. When you celebrate success, you're essentially rewarding your team members for something that you'd like them to keep doing. That reward will make them more likely to repeat the behaviour in the future and boost staff morale.So, how do you systematize recognition and tie it to your core values? First, make sure you have time every week where people are being recognized. Schedule it in. They can be recognized by the leadership team or by their peers. Then, tie that recognition into one of your core values. When you connect the two together, it makes clear what you want your team to be focused on. Plus, it provides extra incentive for those who weren't recognized to follow suit to those who were.Team recognition feels good, helps boost staff morale, and brings people together. If you don't have a systematized way to celebrate success in your business, it's time to start NOW!Connect with me on LinkedInWatch episodes on our YouTube Channel Watch this episode on our YouTube Channel Schedule a Discovery Call with me www.kaizenperformance.com

Have you and your leadership team ever stepped out of a quarterly meeting feeling more defocused or demotivated rather than pumped for next quarter's business action plans?