Podcast appearances and mentions of misti burmeister

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg Koleno sits down with Misti Burmeister —author, speaker, and coach—to discuss the power of personal growth, leadership, and intentional kindness. Misty shares her inspiring journey, from unexpected career shifts to becoming an accidental entrepreneur, and how embracing difficult conversations and setting daily intentions have shaped her success. Tune in to hear Misti's actionable advice on fostering positivity, overcoming challenges, and finding your true potential by starting with self-reflection. This is an episode full of insight, motivation, and heartfelt encouragement!misti@mistiburmeister.com

I am honored today to be chatting with Misti Burmeister – an UNO Soul.  She is an author, speaker, and an executive coach. Washington Business Journal named Misti among the top women who mean business. She has served as an executive coach and trainer to such major organizations as Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business, Marriott, Johnson & Johnson, AT&T, the United States Navy, and the Environmental Protection Agency.Misti is a serial disruptor who has worked with leaders across industries to drive engagement across generations. Comfort, complacency, and fear thwart growth—it is for this reason leaders look to Misti for her fresh perspective and ability to instigate enthusiasm, engagement and growth. Her 4th book, Provoking Greatness, offers a unique approach to revealing the talent hidden within your team.

Creating a healthy work environment starts with the tone set by leadership. In this episode of Erasing the Stigma, Misti Burmeister, author and executive coach, discusses with Mark Yacano the importance of leaning in, listening and asking questions to connect commonalities. Using her personal experiences, Misti explains how we all need to get in touch with the emotional and accept that vulnerability in order to truly understand your people and create a safe space.

Misti Burmeister, award-winning author, speaker, and entrepreneur shares key areas that inspire leaders and employees to work together toward a common goal. Listen as Misti guides us through how to disrupt the status quo, facilitate difficult conversations, and instigate collaboration, innovation, and growth among our teams.

Want employees who care greatly about creating remarkable results? Listen to this interview! Lee Cockerell is one of the most down-to-earth and transparent leaders I’ve been privileged to interview. Far beyond management and leadership, Lee got to the heart of what’s needed to provoke greatness in yourself and your team.   Enjoy!   Resources from the interview: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Zero to One   Learn more about Lee Cockerell’s speaking and online courses here.   Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister

“Why don’t they put more time and attention to that client? If they don’t, they might lose them.”   “Can’t they see I would be excellent in that position? Why don’t they consider me?”   “Don’t they understand that if they’d just have more team building activities throughout the year everyone would work better together? Collaboration clearly improved after our yearly retreat.”   “Why don’t they spend a little extra money on the furniture in our waiting area? At least they could provide fresh tea/coffee and relaxing (or energizing) music for guests! Seriously, don’t they understand that we’ll have a better reputation, and therefore more customers, if we did?”   Ever find yourself saying or thinking any of the above statements?   They, of course, are the responsible ones—the Owner, CEO, Executive in charge. And if they’d simply listen to you, then everyone would be better off, including them.   This is the way many of us think when faced with subpar performance, communities, election results, and even our workplaces. We see and hear a clear problem, even life-threatening, and chose to pass the buck, saying, “It’s not my responsibility.”   Those were almost the exact words Jackie said after I shared my concern about a slick spot on the pool deck where I narrowly avoided a serious injury. Concerned for others, I brought it to the attention of a long-term employee, Jackie, who casually said, “Yeah, we know about that spot.”   “You know that spot is there and you’re doing nothing to repair it?” I thought, loudly while desperately wanting to shake her and the entire leadership team.   Recognizing such an action (or even a complaint to the manager) would do no good, I’ve begun thinking about how I can help. Not because I have to—indeed, I’m a paying member—but because I love swimming there.   The idea of asking myself how I can help fix that slick spot was inspired by Dr. Marc Cesari, a chiropractor in Baltimore, Maryland. As the only employee in a new office space in Towson, Marc wanted the waiting area to be inviting, peaceful and filled with inspiration. Rather than wait for the Owner’s approval to outfit the waiting room, he bought the furniture, painted the walls and ensures cleanliness.   “Wait, what—you paid for this furniture out of your own pocket? It’s not your business—you’re his employee. Is he going to reimburse you at least?” I asked.   “Yes, I did pay for it, and without asking for permission to be reimbursed. If he can’t see the value of this furniture, then I’ll eat the cost to ensure I get to work in a space I’m proud of,” he responded almost as if everyone should behave in the same way.   Indeed, such thinking aids greatly in getting the results we want. In fact, it prompted me to send a message to the manager asking how I can help remedy the situation. Not that I know a thing about pool decks, but I’d certainly be happy to sand it down if that would help.   What do you find yourself irritated with or complaining about? What can you do today to be a part of the solution?     Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   P.S. Need more focus and energy in your work? Check out our brand new Gearing for Greatness package today.  

Running beneath the surface of our conscious awareness is a set of beliefs—sort of an autopilot of assumptions and expectations. The role models we’re exposed to as children, along with the stories we consistently hear, instruct our belief system and set us up to repeat patterns that create the results we see every day. Do you know the beliefs you bought into as a child that continue to create your current reality? I thought I did, and then I came face-to-face with the reality of an undesirable result I’ve recreated too many times to count. Frustrated and angry, I’ve found myself lamenting to friends and colleagues about how inappropriate some men have been, particularly in a business setting. “The guy’s a jerk,” they’d say, fully supporting my irritation at the situation. Which is true—some men are jerks, though none of them have the ability to impact me without my permission. Rather than waste any more time pointing a finger outward, I looked inward and asked myself, “How am I behaving that’s causing such interactions? Why do they think it’s acceptable to speak or act in such a way toward me?” Over the years, I’ve asked this question dozens of times and come to the realization it was something I said or did, giving the wrong impression. I sought to adjust my behaviors and set stronger boundaries after each instance, which ultimately never worked. I was fighting inertia—a deep-rooted set of beliefs that were instructing my behaviors. As a result, I continually found new behaviors to elicit the same result and ended up increasingly frustrated.   When I looked deeper, what I discovered was sobering and empowering at the same time. Somewhere along my journey, I bought into the belief that I lacked inherent value as a person. For a whole variety of reasons, I never developed a healthy sense of self-worth. Though, until this moment, I thought my confidence and esteem were quite strong! Beneath the surface of my consciousness is a little voice that fears inadequacy, loss and rejection. It’s the little voice that grabs a hold of me and instructs me to use “proven” (learned) strategies to ensure I’m liked, valuable and worthwhile. Said simply, that strategy was flirting. I understand that the only way to shift this result is to get clear about two things: the value I bring and the challenges potential clients are facing. Today, I don’t go into a meeting without having a conversation with myself about my own value, read some testimonials and plug into my own sense of worth. This clarity has given me the ability to focus on the business at hand and avoid the energy and time sink of such negative interactions. Rather than being caught up in a game of trying to be liked, I’m finding enjoyment in uncovering real opportunities to help leaders who want more focus, energy and greater impact in the work they do. Now I have the time and energy to focus on helping the ones who want the value I bring to the table. What results do you find yourself continually experiencing? What part do your beliefs play in these results? Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister  

Why do leaders struggle to create collaborative work environments where team members step up and do whatever it takes to create remarkable results? Is it because they haven’t set a vision that is compelling enough? Maybe. Is it because they haven’t counseled their team enough about the importance of working together, despite the weekly—no daily—reminders? Probably not. Is it because the team hasn’t decided on a shared set of values? I doubt it. The biggest reason leaders struggle to rally a team is less about what they’re doing and more about what they’re allowing. While enjoying a delicious scoop of ice cream at my favorite shop in Baltimore, MD (The Charmery), I listened to Lauren, a recently minted lawyer, share about Waffle Wednesdays, a tradition she started at the small district court where she works. “I love to bake,” she said, as she went into great deal about the pumpkin waffles she made in November, and then the stuffing waffles with cranberry sauce and gravy she made in December. “What’s your address?” I asked, “I’m coming over for breakfast!” A smile graced her face as she shared about how nice it is that the judge lets her bake the most exquisite breakfast for the entire team once a month. “He sits there with us for a full hour as we all get to have fun and enjoy non-work related conversations,” Lauren shared. “Let you?” I thought, as I wondered how many leaders miss out on the cohesion that’s created from these kinds of joyful experiences. They’re so busy preaching teamwork instead of allowing their team’s natural interests and passions to strengthen the kinds of connections that bolster results and benefit everyone. Of course, it’s the connection that makes work easier and more enjoyable. It’s the connection that breeds compassion and encourages team members to pick up the slack when someone is struggling. It’s also the connection that encourages colleagues to challenge each other to dream bigger and act braver, netting better results for everyone involved. As you begin thinking about how to get your team working more collaboratively throughout 2017, consider how to allow non-work related passions and interests to forge depth in connection. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister

Company culture experts urge leaders to establish clearly defined values to serve as a guide for decisions and behaviors throughout an organization.    To ensure they have the best representation of the values shared among those in leadership, companies often spend gobs of cash and time on experts who ultimately produce a document aligning the most common ideals.    Mounted on the wall, and often on the website, these key words or phrases are meant to ensure everyone is on the same page about what’s expected and acceptable.   While these values are typically inspiring and alluring, they often fail to produce the intended result—a strong team environment. In many cases, these key phrases wind up serving to weaken trust, accountability, collaboration and productivity.   Stopping into Best Buy to exchange a gift I received for store credit, I headed to the customer service line. Fortunately, the line was quick and I was walking toward the exit in less than 10 minutes.   As I made my way toward the exit, I noticed a security guard patting down the jacket of a guy leaving the store and found myself concerned—“Did that guy steel something? Are they worried he stole something? Are they going to pat down my jacket before I can leave the store?”   As I approached the exit discomfort took over and I wound up doing what I typically do in situations like this—say something ridiculous.   “Can I be next? Do I get this same level of attention?”   “No, no…” both of them responded, with a sincere discomfort that was palpable.   Moments later, the young man who was patted down caught up to me and I asked him, “What is that all about?”   “All employees have to be patted down before they can exit the store,” he said, and continued with, “Which is stupid because if I wanted to steel something I certainly wouldn’t put it in my jacket.”   “Why do they do that then?” I asked, seriously needing to understand why any company would come to the conclusion that such a practice was a good idea.   “I have no idea,” he said as he threw his jacket on and headed off, “but it’s stupid.”   Later, I looked up Best Buy’s core values—   Unleash the Power of Our People Learn from Challenge and Change Show Respect, Humility, and Integrity Have Fun While Being the Best   —and found myself wondering:   How does such a lack of trust allow the power of their people to be unleashed? Have they thought about identifying theft as a cultural challenge and enlisting employees to uncover the necessary change? Does this practice show respect, or encourage humility and integrity? Does the executive team think such a practice is fun for anyone involved, including customers? How is anyone supposed to be their best with such a significant lack of trust?   While getting on the same page regarding values is important, what’s more important is consistently asking, “How do we know we’re living our values?” And, especially for those in leadership, “Are my behaviors in alignment with our values? How do I know they are?”   The key indicator to discovering the truth behind each question is looking at employee behaviors, along with customer feedback. If they aren’t living the values, perhaps it’s because the leadership is confused about where the real values are born and die.    Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister  

  The greatest teachers in life are rarely the ones with great advice. They are remarkable role models who consistently show the way, while asking the kind of questions that stop us in our tracks. Their questions infect us with the kind of curiosity that leads us in the direction of our own answers.   You know the kind of person I’m talking about. Their question pierces through our internal chatter and commands the truth we’ve been searching for.   In November of 2016, I witnessed a teacher so committed to his craft that he not only showed the way, but provoked questions in me in a way that has changed me forever.   On day two of a three-day business retreat, Mark LeBlanc dropped to his knees in front of fifteen highly ambitious business owners. With his hands clasped in prayer, he opted to forgo asking us to begin tracking specific business numbers every day, and he full out begged.   Mark is a remarkably successful businessman, speaker and business coach. He doesn’t need to beg anyone to buy from him. In fact, he gives away valuable content and turns away business until he sees a perfect fit, both energetically and practically.   Yet—he stood on that stage, dropped to his knees and sincerely begged us to take action immediately and consistently, citing specific success stories from those who followed his advice. But I’d heard many business coaches recite such facts, and make similar suggestions. So, what made Mark different?   He got down on his knees and begged us. Sincerely begged us.    He wasn’t begging to get something from us. He was begging because he’s desperately committed to our long-term success. Of course, he also knows our success is his success.   His passion and commitment to learning and sharing was infectious and instructive. It conjured up in me a set of questions that has radically altered my focus for 2017.   Here are the top 5 Questions To Add Impact to Your Life in 2017:   What result is worthy of my begging?   What result do I believe so strongly in that I would literally drop to my knees with sincere commitment of creating? This question is worth sitting with for a few days, even weeks.   When I’m not concerned with money, status, achievement or survival, what do I most enjoy doing?   What nags at me, begs for my attention and feeds my curiosity in a way that I cannot seem to shake? (Special note: Some of us have ignored our curiosity so long that it has gone dormant. The great news is it’s still there… it simply needs a little coaxing, which question 3 addresses.)   What topic(s) most intrigues me? How much time do I devote to feeding my curiosity?   Without realizing it, we often put our curiosities to the side and force ourselves to focus (as best we can) on doing the work we should and abandon the work that feeds our soul.   Fortunately, we can do both—feed our families and our curiosity. In fact, Elizabeth Gilbert wrote an exceptional book about this very topic called Big Magic.   Who do I most enjoy sharing time with?   By creating an ever-expanding list of people we enjoy sharing time with, we naturally begin looking for ways to spend more time with them. The more time we spend with them, the less time we have for those we don’t.    Who can I focus on helping to reach their goals/dreams?   It’s entirely too easy to become obsessed with and exhausted by our own success. By balancing our goals with giving, we release the pressure while increasing our impact. The key here is to focus on helping them, rather than serving our unconscious agenda. True service is serene regardless of outcome.   Speaking of giving—I would love to hear about your goals and dreams. If I can play even a small part in making them a reality, I would be honored.   Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister   P.S. A very special “Thank you” goes to Mark LeBlanc for leading the way to greatness.    

We shy away from sharing or expanding into what we have to offer in the most obscure ways. We think that getting out of our comfort zone means doing something big, which is exactly what keeps us trapped and doing what we’ve always done.   Finishing up lunch with a client at a nice restaurant in Baltimore, Maryland, I kept thinking about that beautiful basket of bread (that we didn’t even touch) going into the trash. While a business lunch is perhaps not the right environment to request a to-go box for the bread, I found myself imagining the delight of handing it off to a homeless person on my drive home.   Fortunately, my image of giving outweighed my concerns about perception and I asked them to package it. Excited to hand over this generous helping of deliciousness, I started my drive home.   Of course, as fate would have it, I didn’t see a single homeless person on my 20-minute drive home. Not one… dozens on the way there, and not one on the way home. Five minutes from home, I realized this bread was about to go into my trash—or maybe to the birds, but still. My vision of giving was squashed and no one was going to have a chance to enjoy it.   Just as I was thinking about where I could go to find someone in need, I passed under a bridge where three men were doing construction work and thought, “They might enjoy the bread.” Concerned about offending them, I immediately dismissed the idea and drove right past them.   My car decided not to dismiss the idea, though.   At the roundabout just ahead, my car (or God, if you prefer) took me all the way around the circle and back in the direction of the construction workers. Pulling over onto the shoulder, I said to myself, “Just give them the bread and go.”   “Umm… excuse me guys,” I got their attention, “I was just at a restaurant… where they put gobs of yummy bread on the table… they were just going to throw it away, even though no one touched it. Would you like it?”   “We would love it,” they said, taking the bread from my hands and immediately tearing into it.   “Just so you guys know, I talk a big game about doing stuff that makes you uncomfortable. I just did mine for today—thank you for helping me out!”   They laughed—I laughed, and then I drove home. That was it. And that is it. It’s the simple little steps we take in the direction of our goals and dreams that matter most. Sure, sometimes we have to ratchet up our courage to make significant progress, but it’s mostly tiny doses of discomfort that lead to greatness emerging.   Giving doesn’t have to be grandiose, and progress can be easily passed over when we get caught up in perfection.   Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister  

In a rush to get from one experience to the next, we may miss the simple and seemingly superfluous opportunities to inspire greatness. Believing that inspiration only comes in oversized packages, we may forget to look for the tiny (barely noticeable, really) opportunities to inspire others into action.   Having an “off” day and needing a shift in scenery, I headed to the pool for a workout. The moment I pulled into the parking lot, I started talking myself out of swimming—“It’s been a rough day… I could just go across the street and grab a hot tea, read and relax,” I thought.   Has this ever happened to you?   Before putting my car into reverse and heading over to grab that tea, I made a promise to myself—“Just do a short workout… Get in and get out… a little something is better than nothing,” I thought, “and it might make me feel better.”   Just as I finished my short workout, the lady I had been sharing a lane with stopped and asked me, “What team are you training for?”   Considering I had unintentionally swum up on her back during that workout, I thought maybe she was trying to figure out why I had encroached on her space.   “No, I don’t train with any team,” I said, “I’m still new to this swimming thing… sorry I swam onto your back.”   “Your new? You look like you’ve been swimming all your life. You’re a very good swimmer,” she said, and then turned and walked away.   After I yelled out “Thank you,” suddenly I had an extra burst of energy, which I promptly used to add an extra thousand meters to my workout that day. Those words, from that stranger, fueled an extra thousand meters, plus a significant shift in my attitude. Image if she was someone I knew well and respected.   On my drive back from the pool that day, I saw a billboard—   See Something, Say Something.   While the intention behind the billboard is to get you to look for and call out negative behaviors, I’d like to suggest we use the same billboards as reminders to look for and acknowledge the good qualities we see in others. In fact, why not print off the graphic I’ve attached for you here and put it somewhere you’ll see everyday?   The simple act of witnessing and acknowledging excellence in others is one of the most powerful (and under used) ways to increase your impact.   Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister  

They should is a trap that kills enthusiasm and growth faster than any economic downturn ever could.   When you catch yourself thinking, “They should or shouldn’t,” stop and ask yourself, “How can I help them reach their goals?”   Consider letting go of the shoulds (work harder, pay their dues, respect me) and shouldn’ts (go above me, think so highly of themselves, be so lazy), and instead focus on communicating your vision while helping them reach their goals.   Their success is your success, regardless of whether you’re the boss or the employee. Embrace this truth, and watch your reputation and your results grow stronger.    Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! Gain clarity on what’s preventing your growth, along with what will inspire it – get your Gearing for Greatness session Today: http://mistiburmeister.com/gearingforgreatness/    

Greatness chases greatness. Companies and leaders in continuous pursuit of evolution (personal/company brand), worry more about keeping up with demand then poaching.   On the flipside, those who hoard resources and acknowledgment wind up losing their most precious assets to the competition.   Sitting in one of the nicest business clubs in Washington, DC, just before the start of an event, Lena, a fellow businesswoman, peeked over her computer and asked, “Excuse me, are you familiar with LinkedIn?”   “I’m no expert,” I said, “but what do you need?”   “If I accept a connection request, can they see my list of connections?”   “I think they can see who you’re connected to regardless,” I said, “But I’m not certain. Why?”   “The person trying to connect with me is a competitor, and I don’t want her marketing to my list. Should I accept the invitation to connect?”   Lena’s question reminded me of the one I’d heard just the day before, from a CEO of a company with a little more than 100 employees—“How do I praise (or even acknowledge) my team publicly when doing so gives my competitors access to the names of my best employees?”   There seems to be two valid perspectives on ‘competition’—   Beat them. Use them as fuel to step up your game.   One is focused on winning for you while the other is focused on helping others win. One tends to come from a limited mindset while the other assumes an abundance… of people, resources, and opportunities.   Whether we’re talking about customers or employees, the philosophy shared by the Lena and the CEO is the same—if I share, I’ll have less. This is technically true, if you’re planning to stagnate.   If you plan to stop challenging yourself to develop skills, strengthen your team culture, build relationships and learn, then you should be concerned. Not about them, though.   “Progress always involves risk; you can’t progress to second base and also keep your foot on first.” –Christie Manson   By focusing on becoming more valuable in any profession, you naturally attract more customers and opportunities to share your talents. By focusing on improving your ability to serve and generously serving those who show up, you keep the wheels in motion for growth.   Through their consistent pursuit of excellence in company culture and leadership, Honest Tea, Zappos, Google, Menlo Innovations and others have become magnets to some of the world’s greatest talent. They could have hoarded talent and protected their secret recipes; instead, these leaders opened their doors and said, “Come learn about what we’re doing.”   As a leader, sales professional, entrepreneur, barista or even a mechanic, what mindset have you adopted as your own? How are you ensuring consistent evolution?     Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister   P.S. Ready to step into your greatness… to uncover your purpose and figure out how to cash in on your talents? Book your Gearing For Greatness session today.

Confidence in nearly every endeavor comes with a sense of knowing or familiarity. In sports, strengthening the fundamentals is key to making critical decisions in a split second.   The same thing is true when it comes to gaining confidence in yourself.    Confidence in yourself increases in direct portion to self-awareness. The more experience you have with self-talk, the more confidence you’ll have. Self-awareness leads to self-confidence. By becoming aware of the results you’re creating every day, you have the power to change them.   Here are 10 daily habits to strengthening your self-confidence:   Review. At the end of every day, carve out 10-20 minutes to review the day. Write about what worked well and what didn’t work so well. At the end of the month, review what you wrote and watch as patterns begin emerging.         Challenge. Set a specific, tangible, measurable and meaningful goal. The more challenging it is, the greater the wisdom you gain. The lessons learned in pursuit of any goal effects our confidence in every other area of life. Athletics, learning new skills, academics, adventure, career, etc.—each one impacts the others.   Meditate. Begin by sitting comfortably for five undisrupted minutes every day. Close your eyes and notice the thoughts running through your mind, the pace of your heart, the sounds around you, the areas of your body that feel tense and relaxed. The key: simply notice—no positive or negative judgments.   Feedback. Ask people to help you understand how you come across, what works well and what simple adjustments can be made to get even better results.   Learn. Read a chapter or two of an instructional book, watch a TED Talk, attend a lecture or simply observe a colleague, boss, employee, or even a child. Take note of what others do/don’t do that works, or works against them. Write about this during your daily review time.   Share. Teach, mentor or coach others on the lessons you’ve learned and/or the skills you’ve gained. Doing so is a great way to deepen your understanding, while strengthening relationships and encouraging collaboration.   Laugh. Watch a funny video on YouTube, look up your favorite comedian (or find one—Ellen Degeneres is one of my favs!), or call a buddy who always seems to have a joke or funny experience to share.   Get Inspired. Expose yourself to people and experiences that inspire you. TED Talks, podcasts, spiritual teachers, courageous memoirs, listening to another persons’ story, and noticing kindness in action are all excellent ways get inspired.   Give. Foster a meaningful introduction, acknowledge/appreciate others, smile, hug, send a notecard in the mail, contribute to someone’s fundraising goal, listen generously, or even give your favorite shirt to the person admiring it. The gift is for the giver.   Exercise. Get your heart rate up for 30 minutes every day. A brisk walk, running, weight lifting, push-ups, air squats, lunges, tennis, yoga, kick boxing, swimming, biking, and even Wii Fit are all excellent ways to get your heart rate up.   Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister  

I had the great privilege of being in Kara DelVecchio’s audience at a recent conference focused on women in leadership in the Washington, DC area. Her stories and passion were enough to capture my attention for well over an hour—in fact, I was nearly late getting set up for a session I was responsible for because I was so intrigued.   When she agreed to let me interview her for this podcast, my fingers couldn’t type my questions quickly enough. Her journey, curiosity, courage and compassion are enlivening and inspiring—so was this interview. Enjoy!   Resources from the interview:   --Willful Blindness by Margret Heffernan --The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer --Kara on LinkedIn   About Kara:   Kara DelVecchio is the Vice President of Sales, responsible for North American revenue for WeddingWire. She oversees an inside sales team of more than 150 sales professionals and is focused on delivering profitable growth and scaling the organization for future success.   Prior to joining WeddingWire, Kara held a variety of roles at Corporate Executive Board, and most recently served as Executive Director of North American sales overseeing a $400m revenue line. Kara has more than 15 years of experience leading complex sales organizations in a fast paced environment and managing client relationships with Fortune 500 executives.   Kara holds a Bachelors Degree from Florida Atlantic University and a Masters Degree from the University of Virginia.  She lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband Robert and three children.   Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister

Confidence comes from the Latin word confide, which means to entrust. Self-confidence, then, is about learning to trust yourself with yourself. Just as it takes experiences over time to trust others, trusting in your own experience of life requires that same kind of intention and attention.   Remember the first time you sat behind the steering wheel of a car to drive? With your heart pumping, you tried to remember all the critical elements of driving, like gas! Too focused on adjusting the mirrors, getting your seat just right and thinking through all the rules of the road, you completely forgot to look at the gas gauge.   Caught up in the busyness of traffic five minutes into your lesson, your instructor asks, “Without looking at the gauge, how much gas do we have?”   Clueless, you add check gas gauge to your mental checklist for your next excursion. After several months, you start getting the hang of this driving thing, pass your test and venture out on the road alone for the first time, loving the freedom. Before you know it, you’re flying down the road, blaring music, while eating a burger and joking with friends.   How did you go from gripping the steering wheel to grabbing a bite, while effortlessly shifting in and out of lanes? The obvious answer is intendaware.   Intendaware: To intentionally become aware of the beliefs and behaviors that enable results you want. (I’ll be sure to add the word to Wikipedia soon.)   By intentionally becoming aware of the various elements of driving, you shifted your critical checklist over to automatic behaviors.   Gaining self-confidence works the same way. By intentionally becoming aware of your behaviors and results, you increase self-awareness. Such awareness, along with a heavy dose of compassion, leads to an increase in self-confidence.   The better you understand and like yourself, the greater your self-confidence will be. The challenge comes in when you discover behaviors or beliefs you dislike, which almost always leads to criticism—self-inflicted, mostly.   Just as you quickly discovered that you forgot to look at the gas gauge, you will undoubtedly begin finding areas for improvement in your own behaviors. While such mistakes are acceptable (expected, really) when learning to drive, we do not naturally grant ourselves permission to not know in most areas of life, ourselves included.   It’s actually this lack of permission that leads to defending the very behaviors that produce results we don’t want. Thus, as Carl Young once said, “What you resist persists.”   By giving yourself permission to not know yourself, you give yourself a chance to discover. The great news is that discovery (awareness) itself is the most important element to shifting behaviors, and therefore results. Once you are aware of the fact, for example, that your opinions are not being taken seriously in the boardroom, you can begin investigating the beliefs and behaviors that may be causing this result.   With such authentic curiosity, you may quickly find that you have unintentionally avoided taking a seat at the table while simultaneously increasing your pitch when sharing ideas. Without recognizing it, you may have set yourself up for being glossed over or ignored. By remaining focused on discovery (awareness), you can gain insights without fighting (resisting) and begin experimenting with new behaviors and beliefs.   You may find that certain behaviors challenge your belief system and then need time to sort out what beliefs will most closely support the evolution of your spirit, along with the attainment of your goals.   While this is not the easiest work on the planet, it is the most reliable way to systematically increase your confidence.   Confidence comes with knowing, knowing comes with discovery and discovery is a lifelong process that commands heaps of humor, hugs and hustle. So sit back, grab a cup of tea, open your notebook and get ready to begin incorporating the top 10 daily habits to increased confidence—up next week.   Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister      

When asked what it was like to be blind, Helen Keller said, “It's much better to have no sight than it is not to have a vision.”   While some people seem to be born with a clear vision for their life that naturally morphs into their career and inspires their team, most of us have to take the time to allow our vision to emerge. Interestingly, the difficulty in creating a vision isn’t what we think it is.   Creating a clear picture of a desired future that inspires us requires a two-pronged approach: being and doing. We’re very good at doing, and lack intensely in being and noticing. Few allow themselves the time to do the mundane tasks that provoke awareness and cause (day)dreaming, critical elements in the visioning process.   (Day)dreaming feels like a waste of time because it lacks a sense of accomplishment. And, being present to our thoughts is almost always anxiety producing and uncomfortable. In a community that almost exclusively celebrates doing over being, such a focus is both foreign and uncomfortable.   While doing leaves us with a clear sense of accomplishment, noticing what triggers emotion inside of us does not. Yet, it’s noticing what triggers our emotions that gives us the fuel necessary to not only create a vision, but see it through to completion.   Twelve years ago, I was angry with seasoned professionals, who clearly did not understand that my intention was to do a good job, contribute, and help the team succeed. Instead, I came across as needy, unwilling to pay my dues, and entitled. That last one really irritated me.   “Why shouldn’t we all be entitled to give every ounce of what we have to offer,” I thought, soon after I quit my job and started researching. It was anger that fueled my research, curiosity, and passion. Had I ignored or suppressed my anger, I doubt I would have helped dozens of leaders to bridge the gap between generations.   It was my realization that every person, regardless of generation, wants to contribute and feel the joy that comes from a sense of accomplishment that lead me to provoking greatness. When I see blinders to greatness, I want to shatter them.   This irritation (passion) probably also has to do with going from standing in front of a judge in juvenile court as a youngster, to breaking recorders in sports, and ultimately finishing three degrees before starting this business. We all have greatness inside of us, and many of us are waiting for permission (provocation) to share/live it.   It’s this realization that leads me to being purposeful and intentional with where I spend my time every day. When the ego gives way to greatness, and a whole team courageously steps into their passion (upping their game), waves of joy wash over me—it’s the reason I do this work. And there’s no way I would have ever gotten to such clarity had I ignored my irritation and stayed in that job.   Considering our comfort with doing, I want to offer a few, seemingly mundane, activities that lend themselves to noticing, being and daydreaming. Here they are:   Make a commitment of going once or twice a week, and then get yourself there. Just do it. Grab a coloring book and give yourself a few hours to color. Go someplace you’ve never gone, and have an experience you’ve never had. Doing so will give you new perspective on yourself and the world. This does not need to include an airplane or hotel stay, though it’s fun when it does! Meet up groups are a great way to experience a variety of trails with others. You can always do the trails on your own later, if flying solo on a new trail isn’t comfortable. For some (often men), this looks like messing around with projects in the garage. For others (often women), this looks like cooking, crocheting, or making stuff.   The key is to pick an activity that is meditative, and allows you to do while noticing your thoughts.    Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister   P.S. If you’d like to attract the NFL players of your industry and aren’t sure where to begin, check out my latest book.  

Margie Warrell  has inspired millions of people around the globe to use their courage as a weapon to combat fear. As an avid follower of Margie’s work, I was excited to have a chance to learn about her journey, along with her perspective on the current state of the world during these political times.   Throughout the interview, we talk about how she went from being the oldest of seven, growing up on a dairy farm, to interviewing and working with respected leaders including Sir Richard Branson, Kathy Calvin, Bill Marriott, and Marianne Williamson. We also dive into the specifics of how Margie helps leaders set the stage for greatness to emerge, both through her seminars and coaching.   More about Margie Warrell and how to get in touch—   Margie is the host of RawCourage.TV and a certified master coach. An acclaimed keynote speaker and guest lecturer at Columbia and Georgetown University, Margie’s also a sought after expert commentator with leading media such as the Wall Street Journal, Redbook, Psychology Today, Fox News, Today Show and Al Jazeera. Her Forbes Courage Works column has been read by millions.   A passionate advocate for gender equality, Margie founded Global Courage in 2010 to empower women to be braver leaders across all sectors of society. She’s since been appointed by the Australian government as the first Ambassador for Women in Global Business and is a Women’s Economic Forum honoree. She’s also an Ambassador for Beyond Blue committed to removing the stigma around mental illness that amplifies suffering for those affected by it (Margie’s family members among them.)   Gain access to Margie’s newest tools and resources by subscribing to her blog at www.MargieWarrell.com.   Additional resources mentioned during the podcast: Byron Katie.     Margie, you are a blessing—Thank you for the work you do every day!   Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister

Just nine years away from what he referred to as the socially acceptable date for retirement, Sam shared about the fear of filling his time—“I need to keep my brain active, and I’m not sure what I’ll do without people needing my help, or the excitement of winning the deal. My work brings purpose and structure to my days.”   When work provides such a strong sense of identity, belonging and accolades, letting go of the known for what’s next can be terrifying. The feeling of being needed, having a sense of belonging, and the adrenaline of accomplishment can stop us from disconnecting on vacation, spending quality time with friends/family, relaxing or even retiring.   When habits are deeply rooted in accomplishment, it’s difficult to trust the stillness, especially when the accomplishments are netting accolades that stir cravings for more. These cravings can easily keep us hustling even when we’re ready to step into our next greatest area of contribution.   Experience (and research) has continuously demonstrated that the greatest way to see the path striving to reveal itself is by getting quiet, unplugging and listening intently.  Through silence and authentically connecting with ourselves, we gain the capacity to hear and see our greatness.   The silence grants us access to seeing our path, along with the grit (courage) to step onto it.   “I want to know God’s thoughts, the rest are details.” –Albert Einstein   Once there, the peace and freedom from incessant nagging to maintain a certain level of success diminishes. We begin to experience the truth of our inherent worthiness in the silence, and cease to need the adrenaline shots provided by external validation. Such stillness grants us the access we need to hear our next direction.   So, how do we explore such stillness in a way that is sustainable and enriching, rather than consuming and overwhelming? Start small, notice what’s helpful and then build on it.   Here’s a great way to get started:   Grab a timer and set it for five minutes. Sit in a comfortable position with your hands resting on your knees, facing toward the sky, and then push the start button on the timer. Close your eyes and notice the thoughts running through your mind, the pace of your heart, the sounds around you, the areas of your body that feel tense, and relaxed. The key: simply notice.   Becoming the observer of your own experiences is a natural and kind way of helping yourself see what you may be missing during the busyness of the day. This approach is far easier to incorporate and build upon then throwing ourselves into a multi-week silent meditation retreat.   Getting started and staying consistent are two critical elements to getting the most value out of meditation. Said simply, comfort and clarity don’t tend to come in one session, though the compound effect will aid greatly in gaining the clarity you seek.   When entering a new phase in life, it's natural to go through an "identity crisis" of sorts. After existing one way for a prolonged period of time, "flipping a switch" and living a different way feels unnatural and like a complete waste of time.   It's important to waste your time, though! Doing so allows us to realize things about ourselves that we never thought about until now. There are ways to use everyday (and even mundane) activities to gain the clarity you crave. It seems impossible, but once you have the roadmap for getting there, it won't seem so daunting.   Check back next week to find out why it's important to "waste" your time and what you can do to help carve the path you desire for your future.   Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister     P.S. Been meditating for a while? Ready to add to your practice? The following are a few helpful additions:   —Add another five-minute session at a different time during the day. —Put a pen and paper next to your meditation spot and give yourself a couple of extra minutes to write down any thoughts or ideas. —Add breathing exercises or chanting to your meditation. —Keeping your eyes closed, add stretching/movement. Doing so gives you a chance to feel where you may be holding tension. Pick one or two from this list to get started, and then trust your body to add in additional moves.      —Increase from five minutes to ten minutes.    

There are tons of articles out there that discuss advancing your career—about seven million, to be exact. It shouldn’t be surprising to see why it’s a confusing topic. While there is no magic bullet, simple strategies can be taken to land the opportunities you want.   As I enjoyed a delicious breakfast with Stacey, a talented leader in the tech industry, I marveled at a story she shared about a young man, Keith, who has gone from being brand new in the industry to vying for a producer position in less than two years.   “He may just get it too, Misti,” Stacey shared, “And he’s up against well-established, credentialed producers who have a clear understanding of how to communicate across teams.”   Intrigued, I asked about what Keith had done to become one of the top two candidates vying for this position.   “If I didn’t know better, Misti, I would think he was being coached directly by you—seriously!” Stacey said, and then began listing the following actions he’d taken:   Took it upon himself (time and money) to get scrum master certified after he found out the training was critical to the position. Reached out to a few producers and asked for a meeting to learn about what they do every day. He even job-shadowed them several times, helping out where he could. Sent follow up emails to those producers, thanking them for their time and explaining what he’d learned. Found out the position was coming available, and applied. Demonstrated both passion and interest as we went through the interview process—“His enthusiasm is infectious,” Stacey said. Sent “Thank you” emails to every person who was part of the interview process. In fact, here’s one of the emails he sent…   “I appreciate having had the opportunity to speak with you about the open Producer position. I am eager to apply the experience I’ve gained and help facilitate the needs of our teams while ensuring we deliver a product that our players will enjoy. I would also like to thank you again for the time you’ve spent giving me an inside look into how you work as a Producer and sharing your experiences with me that I can learn from. I’m looking forward to hearing the results of the interview and would be thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of the Production team.”   After learning all this, I asked Stacey to compare these two candidates, along with her thought process for both.   “The veteran employee knows our processes, making it far easier to transition him into the position, immediately alleviating the burden to our extra load. Initially, Keith will take more effort to get going, but he may also bring fresh ideas, and help strengthen our processes,” Stacey said.   “Which one do you think your team will pick?” I asked, secretly hoping she’d say Keith. Okay, maybe it wasn’t so secret. ;)   “Probably the veteran employee, but I’m just not sure yet,” she said.   “Even if we pick the veteran this go round, I will personally meet with Keith and let him know that all his work has not gone unnoticed. I will keep my eyes and ears open for future opportunities, both within our company and elsewhere. I want to see him succeed,” Stacey said.   While they may need to go for the short-term benefits of experience this time, Keith will walk away with the bare minimum of interviewing experience, a team of producers who have been inspired by his hustle, and at least one career advocate.    Which candidate would you pick?   “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou   Get inspired, share your enthusiasm, invest in yourself, say “thank you,” and apply for the position. Do this over and over again, and watch as you naturally progress into the opportunities you crave.   Find this information valuable? Please share the wealth! Forward it to your friends, colleagues, and bosses… and be sure to share on social media.   Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister        P.S. Imagine the difference it could make for the veteran employee if he found a way to keep his enthusiasm high and his perspective fresh. Just as consistent exercise is critical to long-term health, exposure and inspiration are critical to enthusiasm and a fresh perspective.   P.P.S. If you’d like to attract the NFL players of your industry and aren’t sure where to begin, check out my latest book.  

Being interviewed by such a powerfully present spiritual leader was one of the most special experiences of my career—Thank you, Sister Jenna.   During this short interview, we talked about how this year’s presidential election has the potential to instigate in U.S. citizens. We discussed how we can use these time to move us closer to our individual and collective greatness.     The energy being produced from this election is powerful and valuable—are you getting full use of it to move your team, business, family and career forward? Listen in to learn how.   Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister

Misti Burmeister is an award-winning author, speaker, and entrepreneur. Her passion, humor, and direct approach has inspired audiences from coast to coast - from convention halls to C-suites. With a blend of humor, heart, wisdom, and grit, Misti makes audiences laugh, while connecting to the heart of what creates high-performing team members. Her approach has consistently proven to measurably increase productivity by 20-30% in less than a year. Misti is also the host of the Provoking Your Greatness Podcast and has authored several books including "Provoking Greatness - Unleashing Hidden Potential." Visit www.MistiBurmeister.com.   Get the Off the Grid Into the Heart CD by Sister Jenna. Like America Meditating & on Twitter.  Download Pause for Peace App for Apple or Android.

Seeking understanding is the last thing we want to do when someone has offended us, tainted our reputation, or put us in harm’s way. It’s far easier to hold tightly to our beliefs, keep our anger, and strengthen our story by gathering all the necessary data and buy-in from others.   It’s risky to seek their perspective and listen openly and authentically to their thought process, particularly when they might not demonstrate such concern in return. They may never ask about our experience, or even appreciate our interest in understanding theirs, making it far easier to keep our animosity and find a way to punish them.   “He’s my boss’s, boss’s, boss,” Brad said, “And I have no idea how to write the letter to his boss explaining how his poor choices put my life in danger. What do I do?”   “Do you have a way of contacting the man you’re upset with directly?” I asked.   “No. I mean… I know his name, but I don’t know his contact information.”   “Could you find it?”   “Well, maybe… but if I do talk to him then I can no longer anonymously submit a formal letter of complaint without the potential of losing my job.”   Considering his brush up against death while fighting a wild fire, I could appreciate his anger. I can also see what he might be giving up by going directly to a formal letter of complaint. By seeking to punish before seeking to understand their perspective, we lose our ability to—   a.) Challenge our own stories and grow in awareness, b.) Learn the truth behind their decisions, and c.) Offer insights that may very well save others from the same experience.    By consistently giving ourselves a chance to understand another person’s perspective (especially when anger is present), we stretch our heart, develop compassion, and strengthen relationships. Such actions create a sense of safety in our presence and serve to strengthen trust.    If it’s true that most of us are doing the best we can with the information we have in the moment, does it make sense to risk our tightly held beliefs in service of growth? Is it possible that by assuming well of others and seeking to understand them, we attract the same kind of understanding in our life?   While learning to listen in the face of pain (anger, sadness, and even grief) is far from easy, practicing cannot help but strengthen our own courage while deepening trust.    Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister   P.S. If you’d like to attract the NFL players of your industry and aren’t sure where to begin, check out my latest book.  

Struggling with a small staff? Need to find a way to get the ones you have fully engaged? Here are three key steps to take:   Clarify Outcomes   Beyond shareholder value, bonuses and becoming “the best,” consider gaining clarity and communicating consistently these three elements:   How does your product/service contribute to your customers’ needs? And, how does your company/team deliver the product/service that adds great value to your customers’ lives? Why do you personally care about the outcomes of your work? Why does your team care about the outcomes of their work? What are they striving to achieve in their career?   Employees who are passionate, driven and highly engaged seek leaders (often subconsciously) with such clarity.   Vulnerability   People in positions of authority often think they’re supposed to be the ones with all the answers. So, they bark orders under the guise of, “I pay you to do a job,” without realizing their team will most strongly support the ideas they help to create.   Consider sharing your challenges openly (to the extent possible) with your team and ask for their ideas/suggestions. As you listen and take notes, request help in achieving success. Focus on and reward the ones who step up, and watch as others begin following suit.   Build Trust   While autonomy requires accountability, the simple act of trusting your team to do their best work is empowering. As you build trust, find your balance between keeping a close eye, anticipating pitfalls and giving them the freedom to learn from their failures.   Communication is critical as specific outcomes are clarified and trust is built. Focus your time and attention on clarifying milestones, celebrating achievements and rewarding engagement.    Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister   Ready for clarity of direction? Sign up today: http://mistiburmeister.com/gearingforgreatness/

Yogi Roth is a Pac-12 Networks college football analyst, Filmmaker, Scholar, New York Times Best-Selling Author, accomplished Coach, Motivational Speaker, Media Personality, Host and World-Traveler who has been studying human potential for over a decade.   Most recently, Roth made his directorial debut with the documentary feature film, LIFE IN A WALK, which took home the Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. LIFE IN A WALK follows Roth and his father, Will, on their trek along the Camino De Santiago, a famous pilgrimage through Portugal and Spain, where he listens to, learns from and discovers more about his hero than he ever imagined.   He is also the co-founder of Win Forever, LLC with Pete Carroll, which is an applied mindset training program for corporate leaders to develop a culture of high performance for individuals and teams to become the very best in their fields.   Throughout his career, Yogi has been exposed to some of the best coaches, thinkers and leaders. Such exposure has given him a chance to see first-hand what it takes to become a magnet to greatness. When I asked him to share some of their secrets, I was expecting to hear about teamwork, focus and hard work. In truth, his answer was far simpler, incredibly power and instructive.   During this interview, Yogi also shares about some of his greatest life challenges, along with the habits that have allowed him to gain the most value from each.   Enjoy!   Click here to learn more about Yogi Roth.   Yogi, a special thank you for generously sharing your time, stories and techniques for living with our listeners—your dedication to greatness is inspirational, and I’m grateful to know you!     Resources mentioned during the interview: The Alchemist The Road to Character The Rise of Superman   Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   P.S. If you’d like to attract the NFL players of your industry and aren’t sure where to begin, check out my lastest book.   “Through the power of listening and summarizing situations, Misti has an uncanny way of motivating not just you but your whole team!” – Susan Malone, Executive Director at Wide Angle Youth Media  

Busy, overwhelmed “Yeser’s” listen up. Yes, there’s a reason we keep getting asked to take on more—we say “Yes,” and we are the one’s who will make sure the job gets done, even if our other projects suffer and we wind up sick from exhaustion.   Why do we keep getting picked to do the project? Because we are driven doers. We’ll run through fire to honor our word, and we’re the first to admit it. In fact, it’s a badge of honor we wear. In our quest to get it all in, we say, “Yes!” It’s an honorable and awesome quality, and I love us for it!   The problem comes in when our badge of honor is not tempered with focus and freedom… to say “no.” When our inability to say “no,” or “not now,” leads to illness, exhaustion, anxiety, sleepless nights, or, worse yet, passing out at an event where we’re in charge (yes, I witnessed this happen just a couple of weeks ago), it’s time to investigate the story we tell ourselves that leads to saying “Yes” at every chance.   Fear—of…   … missing out, … letting people down, … being seen as weak (admitting I can’t handle it, which leads to cockiness), … an imperfect result that anyone, but you, would create, … losing opportunities, and … disappointing others   —are the biggest culprits of biting off more than we can chew, and they wind up robbing us of the chance to do our best work. Can you imagine the results we could create if we’d simply focus our “Yeses” on the right projects, and become a steward of opportunity for additional projects?   Instead of spending every moment of our days rushing—to work, through emails, the first pot of coffee, every meeting—what if we could enjoy our work, and wind up energized at the end of the day?   The following are three steps that have helped me learn to identify and enjoy my right “yeses”:   Step One: Clarity of focus. Start by giving yourself 10 minutes (preferably an hour) to think about the results you’re most committed to (i.e. customer satisfaction on project X, helping my team advance, gaining opportunities to share my message from the platform). If you serve on multiple boards, run a business, and have a family, think about the most important outcome for each area. What are you striving to accomplish, and why does it matter to you? Here’s a great resource for mapping your career.   While saying no to big projects may not be your area of struggle, consider investigating your greatest time sinks. Eager to strengthen relationships, I typically spend a great deal of time in one-on-one’s, even if I’m unsure of the purpose behind the meeting. A quick 15-20 minute phone conversation has become my new saving grace to bringing focus and clarity to these meetings.    Step Two: Forty-eight hour rule. When you get that ego-boosting request to take on another project, simply say, “Thank you for thinking of me—I love being a part of great projects. Do you mind giving me until the end of the day tomorrow to give you a decision on this? With so many balls in the air right now, I want to make sure I can devote the time and energy to this project.”   Step Three: Help them find someone. It is an honor to be asked to take on projects, and if your plate is full, you get to steward opportunity—the greatest leadership quality of all. Taking time to learn about the goals and future aspirations of the folks around you will give you the information you need to know who would appreciate the exposure and opportunity. Note, I did not say, “Find someone who can do the job as well as you.” That thinking will trap you into doing the work yourself. Instead, focus on connecting the ones who want opportunity with those who need the help.   Identifying the direction you want to take your career, and recognizing the greater contribution you want to make, is the hardest part. But, once you’ve got it (and it’s always evolving, so consider coming back to step one at least once a quarter), doing your best work, and stewarding opportunity, becomes much easier.   Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! Ready to reconnect to the excitement of—   —Your work/career —Leading your team —Growing your bottom line, along with your people?   Grab your 40 minute Gearing for Greatness session with Misti today—http://mistiburmeister.com/GearingForGreatness   “Working with Misti Burmeister will be one of the best decisions you have ever made as a leader. She helped me integrate new behaviors and thought processes to bolster my overall leadership presence.” –Kevin Frick, Professor and Dean, Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business  

We don’t bat an eye at spending countless hours researching and figuring out how to use our new cell phone and all the awesome applications we’ve downloaded. We invest our time, money, and resources in getting the best gadgets on the planet, forgetting that we are our most valuable resource.   Imagine the difference you could make for yourself if you stopped to notice what’s working (and not working) in your life by consistently carving out time to reflect. Such information aids greatly in overall energy, enthusiasm and excitement for work, team members, and life. Your surroundings are consistently providing feedback—the challenge is in stopping long enough to benefit from the wisdom you receive.   The following are four topics you can use for daily journaling. Pick one or two to get started, commit to writing every day, and build from there.   Gratitude—what are you most grateful for and why? (i.e. I get to swim at an awesome facility, I have wonderful friends, and awesome cats. I’m grateful for Byron Katie, Michael Singer, Rachel Naomi Remen, and many others for putting their wisdom in books I get to read.)   Learning—what did you learn about yourself, the world, or your surroundings in this day? (i.e. I laugh loudly when I’m at a networking event where no one knows me, and coal and charcoal are derived from different substances.)   My qualities—what positive qualities did you demonstrate in this day? (i.e. I’m a good listener, joyful, and patient.)   Contribution—whose life did you contribute to today? (i.e. Karen got a listening ear, Mike got ice cream and a meaningful conversation, complete strangers got to hear authentically kind words about themselves.) The key here is to focus on what others are getting, rather than what you’re giving.   Now, let’s take studying yourself to a whole new level. The following are specific questions to answer if your having problems getting going. Pick one or two and explore your answers as you reflect quietly with yourself, pen to paper.   What most inspired (or frustrated) me in this day, or during this time in my life, and why? When do I most feel joyful, happy, and filled with positive energy (or irritable, anger, or frustrated)? What’s happening, and what’s going through my mind during these times? Who do I most enjoy sharing time with, and why? If I could go back to school and push the restart button on my career, what would I study, and why? If I could build a life I never needed a vacation from, how would I structure my days? What are some of the elements I know I’d want to include? What am I most proud of and why? Who are the top three most inspirational people I’ve experienced in my life, and why? Where do I most want to forgive myself? In a year from now, I will be… Describe someone who is a hero and describe why. Describe the culture of your work environment. What kind of a day did you have and why? What is a book, movie, song, or television program that has influenced you, and how?   Your answers to these questions may change over time, so be sure to come back to this list periodically, review your answers, and make changes and updates where appropriate.   Ready to take this process to yet another valuable level? Once you’ve written for a couple of weeks, conclude your writing time by going back and reading one or two journal entries. Overtime time you’ll begin to notice patterns, empowering you with the information you need to make important adjustments.   “Don’t just get through the day, get from the day.” –Jim Rohn   Get from each day by reflecting, processing, and discovering your greatness every day.   Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! Grab your 40 minute Gearing for Greatness session with Misti today—http://mistiburmeister.com/GearingForGreatness   “Working with Misti Burmeister will be one of the best decisions you have ever made as a leader. She helped me integrate new behaviors and thought processes to bolster my overall leadership presence.” –Kevin Frick, Professor and Dean, Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business    

Seeking understanding is the last thing we want to do when someone has offended us, tainted our reputation, or put us in harm’s way. It’s far easier to hold tightly to our beliefs, keep our anger, and strengthen our story by gathering all the necessary data and buy-in from others. It’s risky to seek their perspective and listen openly and authentically to their thought process, particularly when they might not demonstrate such concern in return. They may never ask about our experience, or even appreciate our interest in understanding theirs, making it far easier to keep our animosity and find a way to punish them. “He’s my boss’s, boss’s, boss,” Brad said, “And I have no idea how to write the letter to his boss explaining how his poor choices put my life in danger. What do I do?” “Do you have a way of contacting the man you’re upset with directly?” I asked. “No. I mean… I know his name, but I don’t know his contact information.” “Could you find it?” “Well, maybe… but if I do talk to him then I can no longer anonymously submit a formal letter of complaint without the potential of losing my job.” Considering his brush up against death while fighting a wild fire, I could appreciate his anger. I can also see what he might be giving up by going directly to a formal letter of complaint. By seeking to punish before seeking to understand their perspective, we lose our ability to— a.) Challenge our own stories and grow in awareness, b.) Learn the truth behind their decisions, and c.) Offer insights that may very well save others from the same experience.  By consistently giving ourselves a chance to understand another person’s perspective (especially when anger is present), we stretch our heart, develop compassion, and strengthen relationships. Such actions create a sense of safety in our presence and serve to strengthen trust.  If it’s true that most of us are doing the best we can with the information we have in the moment, does it make sense to risk our tightly held beliefs in service of growth? Is it possible that by assuming well of others and seeking to understand them, we attract the same kind of understanding in our life? While learning to listen in the face of pain (anger, sadness, and even grief) is far from easy, practicing cannot help but strengthen our own courage while deepening trust.  Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister  

Have you ever found yourself reading the comments section for a restaurant you found on Yelp (or another similar application) and thought to yourself, “How is this place even in business?” Or, “Wow, I’ve got to try this place!”   While restaurant owners reap many benefits from Yelp, few cash in on one of the most valuable elements of these online tools. Coincidentally, it’s the same element most of us avoid regardless of success, position, industry, or experience.   Hungry for authentic Greek food in Baltimore, I grabbed my phone and did a quick search. It a matter of moments, I saw which ones were highly rated, read through a few comments, and then made my choice.   After thoroughly enjoying the food, I found myself chatting it up with the owner, who is thinking about opening another location in DC. During our conversation, I learned about his love/hate relationship with Yelp and the painstaking process they continue to go through as they work toward simplifying their menu and ordering process.      “It’s clear to me what you like about Yelp,” I said, “It’s actually what got me here today! Help me understand what you dislike about it so much.”   “The negative comments,” he said. “You can’t please everyone, and some people like to take their bad day out on you there.”   Considering his interest in strengthening his current processes before expanding to the DC market, I wondered if perhaps the criticisms were actually the most valuable aspect of Yelp for his business.   “Most people will not come in here and tell you what they don’t like,” I suggested, and he agreed. “Instead, they’ll tell everyone they know about their bad experience, and silently destroy your reputation without you even having a chance to make improvements. Through Yelp, you get an insiders view of what’s working well, and what needs improving.”    As he slowly nodded his head up and down, I wondered out loud, “Has anyone complained about the confusion of your ordering process?”   “Yes, and it doesn’t make any sense—it’s simple. You come in, order, and take your seat. We bring the food to you,” he said.   Nervously, I said, “Really, because I find it confusing,” and began explaining why. Listening intently, he kept nodding, almost as if the comments on Yelp were starting to make sense.   With a renewed perspective of the criticisms, the negative comments are now serving as the foundation for his growth, rather than the bane of his existence. Actually, that’s the purpose of all criticism—Growth, though some people are clueless when it comes to word choice and tone of voice when offering their critique.    No matter your position, title, or business, it’s far more enjoyable to read or listen to positive feedback then it is to carefully consider criticism and make adjustments based on your goals. Improvement (growth!) requires a different/better approach, which we discover by listening and adjusting to critique.   This week, consider pausing and asking more questions when you feel yourself getting defensive. Additionally, you may consider asking a colleague, boss, or even a close friend to help you see where you may be getting in your own way. When they offer ideas, repeat them back to make sure you understood them correctly, and then thank them. Keep doing this, and watch as your career, company, and reputation take off.   Beware: as you do this, others will be inspired by your courage, and begin the process themselves. As you step into your greatness, so will they!   Here’s to your greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! Gain clarity on what’s preventing your growth, along with what will inspire it – get your Gearing for Greatness session Today: http://mistiburmeister.com/gearingforgreatness/  

During this fun and lively interview, Lisa Rosenthal shares the story that lead to her passion for building a powerful brand and company culture. Considering the turbulent nature of the government contracting industry, I was deeply interested in learning how Mayvin has successfully reached 90% employee retention, particularly considering the all-too-common threat of poaching. Lisa shared her secret strategies for driving retention through innovation, engagement, and collaboration. Listen in!   About Lisa Rosenthal: she is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of The Mayvin Consulting Group, a dynamic women-owned small business. In less than 4 years, her team doubled the firm’s revenues annually making the Inc 5000 list of fastest growing firms 3 years in a row.  Their two-fold specialty in supporting both Program Management and Mission Support projects for the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense has resulted in revenues exceeding $15M/year. Lisa also sits on the Board of Directors for the American University/Entrepreneurship Council, My Sister’s Place, and QSMI, as well as several committees throughout DoD and the local Washington, D.C. community. To learn more about Lisa, click here.   Interested in learning more about Mayvin? Check them out here.     Enjoy!   Lisa, a special thank you for the joy of interviewing you! I had a lot of fun, and I’m grateful to your dedication to serving greatness—Thank you!     Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   Grab your 40 minute Gearing for Greatness session with Misti today—http://mistiburmeister.com/GearingForGreatness   “Through the power of listening and summarizing situations, Misti has an uncanny way of motivating not just you but your whole team!” – Susan Malone, Executive Director at Wide Angle Youth Media  

Whether you invest your time, energy and capital in raising cows, pigs, and chickens, or in entrepreneurial ideas, advancing your mission, strengthening your team, or developing your career, it seems the process for healthy and sustainable growth is the same.   A few weeks ago, the Washington Business Journal hosted Steve Case, co-founder of America Online (AOL) and current Chairman/CEO of Revolution LLC, an investment firm that is funneling cash into businesses, people, and ideas that are changing the world.   “Innovation,” Case said, “isn’t happening only in Silicon Valley—it’s happening all around the country, and Revolution LLC is looking for the visionaries, ideas and communities to invest in.”   Curious, I asked Mr. Case, “What are some of the characteristics you look for in a community where innovation is likely to happen?”   “Communities in which collaboration is high. We tend to see this more often in areas that have come through difficulty—Detroit and New Orleans are great examples,” Case said, and went on to describe the start up community in New Orleans.   “In New Orleans, one business might be doing well, and have good reason to celebrate, but they don’t see it that way. The success of each start up in the community is critical to the success of the whole,” Case said. Turns out, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina not only strengthened the bond of the community members, but it created the perfect environment for innovation and growth.   Curious about the critical nature of disruption for growth, I grabbed my copy of The Third Wave and approached Mr. Case for his signature. While signing it, I asked him, “Do you think it’s the difficulty of the disruption in these communities that creates ripe environments for innovation?”   “Yes, absolutely,” Case responded, which took me back my recent tour of Polyface Farms in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia. During the tour, Joel Salatin, the farmer in charge of this revolutionary farm, talked about the importance of disrupting his animals and the land continuously in order to keep them healthy and vibrant.   “Disruption is critical to growth,” Salatin said as he described his system for rotating his animals in a specific pattern. In essence, he seeks to significantly disrupt the grass by allowing the cows, chickens, geese, and turkeys to pick away at it until there is very little grass left. Meanwhile, by consistently moving his animals, he keeps them healthy and growing.   Recognizing that, when given a choice, the vast majority of us seek comfort over discomfort, the known over the mysterious, permission over risk-taking, and approval over rejection or elimination, how can we ensure continual growth/advancement? The answer lies in intentionality. By intentionally—   --Exposing yourself to different industries (and the people in them), --Developing new friendships, --Taking on a project you know little about,  --Learning new skills (biking, swimming, programming, public speaking, etc), and --Opening yourself up to noticing/experiencing the full range of emotions that surface, and then dissolve—   You effectively train yourself in discomfort, the critical element for growth, advancement, and innovation in your industry, on your team, and in your career.   The idea behind this concept is the reason I love to swim in the rain. Since I’m already wet, I enjoy the feeling of each drop (even if it’s cold) as it hits my skin. Just as rain is no big deal when you’re already wet, experiencing discomfort when you first start learning a new industry isn’t as daunting when you’ve continuously exposed yourself to new and different people and experiences along the way.   Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! Ready to reconnect to the excitement of—   —Your work/career —Leading your team —Growing your bottom line, along with your people?   Grab your 40 minute Gearing for Greatness session with Misti today—http://mistiburmeister.com/GearingForGreatness   “Misti’s approach and directness are what make her exceedingly valuable. She cut through the noise and got right to the heart of what’s necessary for growth.” –Alvin Katz, CPA Chair/Co-Founder, Katz/Abosch.

Career Advice for Aspiring Leaders: Hustle & the Perils of “Busy” Misti Burmeister explains why and how to hustle to get to know yourself; find your passion; and advance your career. She shares a model for personal development and advises aspiring leaders to develop people the same way you mine for gold. She draws from those who have inspired her. Her energy and advice will leave you ready to hustle to advance your career. Download show notes at: http://www.ajoconnor.com/HRstudio/podcasts/Misti_Burmeister

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” —Theodore Roosevelt   Your decision is clear—you’re going make your imprint in your industry. You work hard, do your research, and put yourself out there. Feeling great, you think, “I’ve got this!” Then, you watch as someone else brilliantly outshines you, and think, “I could never be that good, so why bother.” Deflated, you begin questioning your goals, and start wondering if you should try a different route to success.   Has this happened to you? It happens to me nearly every time I watch someone deliver (what looks like) a flawless speech. It doesn’t matter whether I’m watching them on YouTube, in a small gathering, or on a giant stage. In fact, it doesn’t even matter if they speak on a totally different topic.   Watching his ridiculously powerful stage presence, I found it difficult to stop analyzing the way he told his stories long enough to even appreciate how Dan Barber fell in love with a fish. Fortunately, I caught myself and was able to appreciate both his content and soak up his story-telling brilliance.      It’s a love-hate relationship I have with talented speakers. I love their talent, passion, and dedication to the craft, but I also hate dealing with the inner monologue they prompt. Before I get a chance to appreciate their perspective, my internal monologue starts convincing me…   "They’re already doing everything you want to do—and so much better—so what’s the point? Quit now. Go find something to focus on, where you can be the best." Of course, that doesn’t exist, and fortunately there will always be someone whose brilliance can help us develop and improve.   Seriously though, why should I bother stirring up enthusiasm, productivity, and provoking greatness… across generations, when Eric Chester and Jason Dorsey are kicking some major butt out there? Seriously, their dedication, commitment, passion, and performance are top-notch. Hire them, and your audience will walk away not only more knowledgeable, but motivated.     Here are a few other remarkable speakers who have prompted my “Why bother” monologue: Dr. Nido Qubein, Brené Brown, Seth Godin, Mark Scharenbroich, Lou Heckler. Of course, it’s not like we pick mediocre people to compare ourselves to—No, we chose award-winning superstars who consistently and courageously work at their craft.   Ready to break free of the debilitating effect of such paralyzing comparisons, the following five steps aid greatly in remaining focused on moving your own ball forward:    Notice and Acknowledge your thoughts. Please, do yourself a favor and avoid trying to hide, fade, or fix them. What we resist, persists. Simply begin to notice what you’re telling yourself. Get Curious. With the curiosity of a 5-year-old that has to know why, why, why, become curious about the nature of the conversation going on inside your head. Defuse your storyline. Rather than allow yourself to get caught up in self-judgment, consider literally saying to yourself, “Isn’t that interesting. I wonder where that thought comes from.” This allows you to remove the "good/bad, right/wrong" of the stories you're telling yourself. Remember where you started (or, are starting) and keep perspective on YOUR growth. Or, as Brene Brown suggested, “Stay in your own lane,” when she shared about her competitive nature in swimming. Act anyway. Keep practicing, keep learning, and keep sharing your passions, especially when that voice creeps in. Otherwise, we risk the possibility of allowing our fears to ruin our dreams.   Repeat these steps over and over again as you bare silent witness to the magic of the process. And, remember: it's never about being the best, but giving your best every single day. As don Miguel Ruiz says, "Your best is different every day." Honor YOUR journey, listen, be curious, and keep moving your ball forward.   "To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself."   ― Thich Nhat Hanh   Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! Ready to reconnect to the excitement of—   —Your work/career —Leading your team —Growing your bottom line, along with your people?   Grab your 40 minute Gearing for Greatness session with Misti today—http://mistiburmeister.com/GearingForGreatness   “Working with Misti Burmeister will be one of the best decisions you have ever made as a leader. She helped me integrate new behaviors and thought processes to bolster my overall leadership presence.” –Kevin Frick, Professor and Dean, Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business  

With a touch of desperation and a tone of sincerity, she took the microphone during the Q&A section of my speech, and asked, “How do I get the very best human resource leaders to put their time and energy into helping me become one of the best?”   Her question, along with the desperation, felt incredibly familiar to me, as I remembered back to the days I pleaded with several talented speakers and messaging experts to help me find and share my message. In fact, I remember snapping a photo of this quote—   “Give me a place to stand, and I will change the world.”   —and sending it to Dawn, a gifted speaker and my former coach, secretly hoping she would tell me exactly what I believe in and how to package it so that I would gain traction in my career.    “I feel like a Lamborghini… inches off the ground. Help me get my wheels to touch the pavement, and I’ll take off,” I’d say, hoping that someone would take pity on me and devote their time and resources to providing me with the exact opportunities and experiences I needed to become one of the best.   Too afraid to take any chances on myself, I secretly hoped they would step up to the plate and do it for me. Of course, it doesn’t work that way, but I couldn’t see the truth back then. I couldn’t see that I had to be the one to give myself a place to stand, nor did I understand that standing in that place would change the world—my world—the only world I can ever change.    Asking others to give you a place to stand in the world is akin to asking a fitness trainer to burn calories for you, which would be awesome and ridiculously profitable if it were possible. It’s not. They can—and the best trainers do—create custom exercise programs, and hold their clients accountable to their goals. But—they cannot do the work for you.    When you invest (time, energy, and money) in the results you care about (being one of the most valuable human resource professionals in the market, as an example), you send a clear signal to the Universe (and everyone around you) that you are committed to doing whatever is necessary to reach success. Please note: there are three critical pieces at play here—time, energy, and money/resources.   While you can pay a trainer (and even a leadership coach) thousands of dollars to create the plan, and hold you accountable to it, you cannot pay them to feel the frustration or the pain for you. You get to be the one to experience fear, frustration, and the freedom that comes when you get to the other side of it. Showing up and putting yourself through the workout is critical to crafting your best body, and career.   Only you can lower yourself to the ground, and you do this by picking yourself—to get curious about, take risks on, to invest in, and to develop. When you decide to pick yourself, you’ll find a way to get the training you need, to introduce yourself to the people you need to meet, and to take on that project you know will get you the experience and exposure you need to fuel your career.   Don’t waste another minute waiting for someone else to pick you and decide on the direction of your career, or of your ability to contribute to your community. Start taking risks on yourself—invest time, money, and energy in strengthening key relationships, advancing skills, gaining experiences, and sharing every bit of what you learn along the way. Get involved in projects you care about. Don’t know what projects you care about? Listen intently for the people/experiences that intrigue you—then, invest.   Avoid worrying about perfection, and simply do the best you can with the information and skills you have. You will never have all the right training, nor will you ever get it exactly right. That’s okay. The feeling of progress far outweighs the pain of postponing your desire to advance.   You already have everything you need to do the work that matters to you—put yourself in the game, experience the difficulty of getting knocked down, along with the thrill of scoring. Recognize that neither of those two experiences (getting knocked down or scoring) is better than the other—they’re both simply giving you feedback.   Follow Pema Chodran’s advice and start where you are, in this moment, not where you think you should be. There is never a better place or time to start picking yourself then where you are right now. Trust me, I started at rock bottom—void of opportunity and suffering greatly from anxiety and fear of worthlessness.   There wasn’t enough training on this planet—or a good enough teacher—to rid me of my fears. My saving grace: picking myself. Investing nearly every bit of energy, money and time I had in getting the training I needed, building relationships, and finding opportunities to share my talents have put the right balls in motion to get my wheels to touch the pavement. And, while it feels great in this moment, I know that the investment is never done.   There is no, “there, I did it.” Well, maybe there is, but it must be followed up with, “Next!” Many years ago, Edie, a mentor, irritated me with her constant, “Next!” I wanted to take my time celebrating, meanwhile the world moved on, and I wound up in the fetal position praying for my life.   So, yes, celebrate your successes, and then ask yourself what’s needed to continue evolving your spirit, relationships, and career. Keep putting forth the time, energy, and resources necessary for advancing your own mind, body, spirit, and successes—no one else can do it for you.   Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! Ready to reconnect to the excitement of—   —Your work/career —Leading your team —Growing your bottom line, along with your people?   Grab your 40 minute Gearing for Greatness session with Misti today—http://mistiburmeister.com/GearingForGreatness   “Through the power of listening and summarizing situations, Misti has an uncanny way of motivating not just you but your whole team!” – Susan Malone, Executive Director at Wide Angle Youth Media        

Last week, I took a trip out to Spooks, Virginia. It’s located in Shenandoah Valley, and man is it beautiful there! It also happens to be where Polyface Farms is located.   For those of you who follow the sustainable farming movement, or watched Food Inc—a documentary on sustainable solutions to food production—you might remember Joel Salatin. He’s the man behind Polyface Farms, and one heck of a passionate believer in creating the best possible system for both the environment and his livestock.   Cozying up on bails of hay thrown on top of a flat bed trailer, which was pulled by a big tractor, we took our tour of the farm. A few times throughout the tour, they stopped the tractors and Joel answer questions as he explained his system for rotating animals. As we weaved around his property, you could not help but be taken in by the beauty of the lush green pastures and rolling hills.   On our second stop, Joel explained how he keeps his soil and grass healthy, along with ensuring his animals get proper nourishment. Essentially, they rotate various animals in a specific sequence on the same field. If they aren’t able to get enough animals through the fields in time before the grass becomes too mature, they cut it and save the clippings as feed for the winter months.   “The pasture and the animals need the disruption (continuous grazing/clipping and movement) to remain healthy,” he said, “the disturbance is what allows for healthy growth.”   His words captivated me, particularly as I started thinking about the importance of disruption in all areas of life. Whether we’re talking about moving animals out of their comfort zone, disrupting the fields with grazing/cutting, or having difficult conversations, we need disruption to create the fertile ground for growth.   While Joel was initially talking about his farming practices, he was really hitting on a much bigger idea that is critical for all growth. Whether we’re talking about the bottom line, innovation, career growth, or professional advancement, disruption, disturbance, or discomfort are critical elements of the process.   By getting attached to current systems, skills, and colleagues, we might be missing out on tremendous opportunities for growth. To avoid such stagnation, consider intentionally disrupting your own status quo. You can do this by:   —Advancing your skillsets continuously —Rotating the venues in which you spend time networking/building relationships —Address elephants as they surface and open the floor for difficult conversations —Test out new ideas continuously, with the expectation that they might fail.   There is no success without failure—train yourself and your team to appreciate failure and disruption as you move toward growth and advancement. Keep rotating, learning, and disrupting your comfort zone—in time your pastures (team, career, balance statement) will be the same kind of luscious green of Joel Salatin’s farm.    Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! Ready to reconnect to the excitement of—   —Your work/career —Leading your team —Growing your bottom line, along with your people?   Grab your 40 minute Gearing for Greatness session with Misti today—http://mistiburmeister.com/GearingForGreatness   “Working with Misti Burmeister will be one of the best decisions you have ever made as a leader. She helped me integrate new behaviors and thought processes to bolster my overall leadership presence.” –Kevin Frick, Professor and Dean, Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business      

During the Q&A session of a panel discussion I was a part of recently, a woman stood up and asked, “Is it okay to cry at work?”   Previous to that moment, I would have said, “Of course, it’s okay to cry.” But I held my tongue because of the words I’d heard Freeman Hrabowski, President of UMBC, say during a speech just a few months before.   “We teach our female students not to cry at work,” he said.   At the time, I remember thinking, “You’re a guy—what do you know about women and emotions?” I found myself irritated with the fact a man of great influence was actively teaching women to hold back their emotions.   Clearly, he didn’t get it. Or, did he? Am I blind to something that he, along with several prominent women in history, sees?   Waiting for my panel-mates to share their own version of, “I’m a crier,” my mind went back to a few years ago when I listened to a speaker share about his mothers approach to emotions. “I watched her,” he said, “in the heat of difficult business conversations. She held her emotions until we got behind closed doors and then she’d let it out. ‘Don’t let them see you sweat,’ she’d say.”   Back then, the idea of hiding your emotions felt foreign and wrong to me. In fact, it felt wrong until the moment the woman in the audience asked the question. Imagining what it might be like to be on the receiving end of her emotional release, it occurred to me that the impact could easily become overwhelming and exhausting.    Depending on the capacity of the person receiving her emotion, it could also be no big deal. But, considering how few people know how to handle even the smallest amount of emotion, releasing the pressure valve on your boss, employees, or those looking to you for leadership is probably not the best option.   Let’s be honest, most of us want to believe that the person leading us is strong, can handle the pressure, and will communicate their needs. In the same vein, most leaders want to be able to hand off a project, trusting their employees will give their best and ask for the help when needed.     Large amounts of emotion on either side consume energy and take time to process regardless of whether you’re the boss or the employee. When it comes to progress (and profitability) in business, reducing the expense of difficult emotions makes sense.   Of course, this conversation about tears at the office would be incomplete without addressing the tremendous benefits vulnerability brings to high performing individuals and teams. In fact, Brene Brown travels the world teaching on this very topic, leading companies and teams to breakthroughs in innovation, collaboration, and profitability.   While there’s no question that difficult emotions have a place at work, the critical questions to consider before releasing are;   —Do I respect and trust them? —Do they trust and respect me?   If there is trust and respect in the relationship, you probably have a sense of the impact your emotional release will have on them. While their ability (or inability) to handle emotions are not your responsibility, recognizing your potential impact may give you just the nudge you need to process in a safe environment first.  Giving yourself the resources (time with a trusted friend, advisor, or therapist) necessary to process emotions could mean the difference between destroying opportunities and distinguishing yourself as worthy of trust.   The following are three great exercises to strengthen your ability to distinguish the most effective use of your emotions in the moment:   Reflect and Recharge. Let’s face it, irritation, frustration, and even anger are a natural part of being alive, though few of us give ourselves the time and support we need to understand and grow from these emotions. Set aside fifteen minutes every day to reflect. The key here is to do it every Use Difficulty. When someone says or does something that triggers emotion (anger, fear, sadness, frustration, etc), pause, focus on your breath, and stay present. Recognize where your discomfort is really coming from—the stories you tell yourself, take mental note, and then use your reflection time to go over your stories. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. Wiggle Your Toes. My comedic yogi friend, Kelly Harman, suggests that if you feel like you are going to cry, wiggle your toes really hard. Your brain for some reason, cannot process crying and toe wiggling together and it will help keep you from crying.   With such divergent opinions on this topic, it’s easy to jump to criticism, rather than appreciate the gift of being human—we make up stories. Rather than spend time criticizing, consider giving yourself the time and space necessary to understand and relate to your own needs.   Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! You can now gain easy access to discovering your blind spots and the solutions to your greatest leadership challenges through a Gearing for Greatness session. Check it out: http://mistiburmeister.com/gearing-for-greatness/

Do you remember when you were a kid and really wanted a bowl of delicious ice cream for desert? Yes, a bowl. Several scoops, with gobs of toppings. And, you wanted it as your main course, not just desert.   But, you knew your parents wouldn’t go for that, so you pushed your carrots around, ate your potatoes, and had a few bites of protein before you proclaimed yourself as ready for that mint chocolate chip yummy goodness.   “You need to eat a few more bites of your carrots and chicken, and then we can talk desert,” your parents would say. (For the record, my parents never had to use this technique on any of us… we ate everything, and always had extra room for desert, so you have to forgive me if I don’t get this game exactly right.)   Cutting your chicken into the tiniest pieces, you took a few extra bites, showed your progress, as you prepared your pallet for that vanilla bean delicious goodness.   “You can eat a few more of those carrots,” your dad would say, “And then you can have your cookies n’ cream with a little extra chocolate sauce.”   “Chocolate sauce?” you thought in yummy anticipation, before you swallowed three carrots practically whole. But, hey, they were off your plate, and finally you got your ice cream. Excitement rippled through you, and a giant smile strung across your face, as you instructed your mom, “A little more chocolate topping, please.”   All that anticipation made the chocolate sweeter and the ice cream creamier. So delicious! It was worth the torture of getting through your broccoli and spinach. The system worked, and you wound up eating balanced meals.   Thank you, mom and dad!   Now, skip forward a couple of decades. Not only is ice cream plentiful and well within reach, but emails, text messages, and additional projects keep coming to you in droves. You want to feel that sense of accomplishment of finishing, but for some reason you can’t seem to focus.   It’s not that you don’t have the time. You do. In fact, you’ve sat in front of your computer, with every intention of completing the project, but somehow a couple of hours go by and you walk away empty handed, angry at yourself for not finishing.   Your anger and irritation with yourself leads you to avoiding the very project you want very much to complete. You want that feeling that comes from finishing, yet you’re tired of dealing with the self-beatings for not getting it done. At this point you refuse to even sit down and work on the project… leading you to calling yourself a terrible procrastinator.   You are not a terrible procrastinator. In fact, procrastination is not your problem in the least. Your real problem is lack of parentals to make you wait for your ice cream.   I mean, let’s be real. Just as ice cream dances on your taste buds, emails, texts, and special requests push at your “I’m needed, special, important” buttons. Ice cream tastes good, and affirmations feel good. And, staying focused (carrots and protein) are necessary to a healthy mind, body, and spirit.   So, rather than beating yourself up for being a procrastinator, call your mom.   No, I’m kidding. Well, kinda. You’re mom may very well have some ideas to help you stay focused. Here are a few I’ve uncovered…   Turn off automatic send/receive on your email. Silence your phone. Discover your prop of silence.   One executive told me about the sheer number of interruptions he dealt with every day in the office. In order to address important issues in a timely manor, he shared his frustration with his team, and then asked them not to interrupt him when he had his Orioles cap on. “If it’s truly an emergency, interrupt me,” he said.   Interestingly, his team has almost never had to disturb his focused time because ultimately very, very little of what distracts us is truly an emergency. Figure out what you need to put in place to ensure emergencies are handled appropriately, and then focus.   Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! You can now gain easy access to discovering your blind spots and the solutions to your greatest leadership challenges through a Gearing for Greatness session. Check it out: http://mistiburmeister.com/gearing-for-greatness/  

Joel Salatin is a disruptor, entrepreneur, revolutionary farmer, and one heck of a leader. His work through Polyface Inc. (“The Farm of Many Faces”) has been featured in SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, GOURMET and countless other radio, television and print media. Profiled on the Lives of the 21st Century series with Peter Jennings on ABC World News, his after-broadcast chat room fielded more hits than any other segment to date. It achieved iconic status as the grass farm featured in the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller OMNIVORE’S DILEMMA by food writer guru Michael Pollan and the award-winning film documentary, FOOD INC.   Recently, I had a chance to visit the farm and was blown away by Joel’s perspective on innovation. “Disruption is critical for growth,” Joel said, as he explained his systematic approach for rotating his animals on the farm. Beyond farming, he talked about the importance of having difficult conversations and learning through disagreement.   As you can imagine, I had SO many questions! I joyful the moment I got an immediate response from Joel, agreeing to let me interview him for this podcast.   Not only will you learn a bit about farming and the industry in general, but you’ll walk away with tactical strategies for intentionally prompting innovation/growth in your career, on your team, and within your organization.   Enjoy!   Joel, a special thank you for generously sharing your time and your stories with our listeners—your dedication to greatness is incredible, and I’m grateful to know you!     Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! Ready to reconnect to the excitement of—   —Your work/career —Leading your team —Growing your bottom line, along with your people?   Grab your 40 minute Gearing for Greatness session with Misti today—http://mistiburmeister.com/GearingForGreatness   “Through the power of listening and summarizing situations, Misti has an uncanny way of motivating not just you but your whole team!” – Susan Malone, Executive Director at Wide Angle Youth Media  

"The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off." —Gloria Steinem Freedom is delicious—intoxicating, really. It tastes like ice cream, and feels like abs of steel. It sounds like seagulls, crashing waves, laughter… adventure, and looks like an overflowing bank account. It sounds like generous and peaceful conversations with family and colleagues, and it feels like a million kindhearted hugs. Who wouldn’t want that kind of freedom? Freedom to be who you are unapologetically, to buy what you want, to travel where you want without concern for a budget, to do work that’s meaningful to you, and to take all the time you want to think, process, and recharge as needed. Yes, freedom is yummy. And, such a delightful taste is made possible by the combination of specific ingredients… not all of which taste good in isolation. If freedom is one side of the coin, responsibility is the other. Responsibility for a specific result puts us on the hook, and leaves us vulnerable to the possibility of failure. It’s easier to avoid responsibility, and then complain that we don’t get to do work that’s important to our soul. It’s easy to complain about politics, and it’s a whole other thing to get involved in making a difference. —We want to feel peaceful, but then we fail to include peace-inducing activities in our everyday lives. (Meditation, yoga, laughter, prayer, and chanting, just to name a few.) —We want a President who embodies the values this great nation was built upon, but then we fail to find a way to get involved. (Bashing the system or people who are stepping up to the plate is hardly a way to build toward a political infrastructure that holds our values.) —We want to buy food that has been grown/raised with a focus on nurturing our bodies and strengthening our environment, yet don’t want to go out of our way (or spend more) to get it, or to strengthen the people who are producing it. —We want to support the people who are doing work we believe in, but we avoid making promises when it comes to raising funds or awareness. —We want them to like us, but then we fail to uncover the many reasons to like them. —We want our family to accept and appreciate us for who we are, but then we hold tightly to our negative opinions of their decisions and actions. —We want a healthy body, yet we fail to discover the motivating factors for our eating and exercise decisions. —We want to be wealthy, though many of us don’t even know what that means, or what we’d do with the money. In fact, few of us have taken the time to understand our relationship with/story around money. —We want our employees to bring their A game consistently, to work hard, and demonstrate enthusiasm, but then we rest on our laurels when it comes to sharing an inspiring vision, learning about the hopes, dreams, and future aspirations of our team, and finding ways to help them grow. "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others." —Nelson Mandela Freedom is free, so long as we step up and own responsibility for the results that matter to our soul. Freedom will always be an inside-out game. The greater the responsibility we take for connecting to our own joy, the freer we are to see and seize the opportunities that present themselves, and create freedom in our lives. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister NEW! Ready to reconnect to the excitement of— • Your work/career • Leading your team • Growing your bottom line, along with your people? Grab your 40 minute Gearing for Greatness session with Misti today—http://mistiburmeister.com/GearingForGreatness “Working with Misti Burmeister will be one of the best decisions you have ever made as a leader. She helped me integrate new behaviors and thought processes to bolster my overall leadership presence.” –Kevin Frick, Professor and Dean, Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business  

Not in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined that a young man, in a hoodie, talking hoodlum to his buddies through his wrist phone at a local coffee shop, could ever turn me into a hustler for his business.   But—it happened, and here’s how…   With 17% battery, he squeezed in right beside me at the tall table facing the lake at a local coffee shop, and plugged in his computer. His hoody covered most of his head, though his headphones, resting on his cheekbones, poked out, and left me wondering what project he was working on.   Watching him bring his wrist up to his mouth, I listened as he rattled off a few sentences before refocusing on his computer. “Nah bro, not now…” he said in a deep tone with a bit of inner city youth.   Curious, I asked, “What project are you working on?”   “I’m starting a tee shirt business,” he said, “I’m going to be taking people’s vacation pics and printing them on a shirt.”   “Very cool. Do you have a website I can check out?”   “No, I just came up with the idea this morning… Wouldn’t you want a shirt with a favorite picture from your recent vacation on it?” He asked.   “That’s not really my thing, but I’m sure plenty of people would want that.”   “Really, you wouldn’t want this?” he asked, as he pointed to the screen and showed me a recent picture he took of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.   “I’m getting that printed on a shirt for my mom,” he continued.   “That’s cool!”   “What do you do?” he asked.   “I work with executives…”   “—I’m an executive,” he cut me off, “Maybe I can use your help.”   You can imagine the story my mind created about this perfectly nice young man, wearing a hoodie, talking hoodlum to his buddies through his smart watch, and making a tee shirt for his mom in a coffee shop.   “You have a team of people helping you with your new tee shirt business?” I asked.   “Nah, that’s a new thing. Carry Out Menu is my main focus right now.”   Turns out, Carry Out Menu is a business that delivers a vast array of restaurant foods to local businesses, and he just happened to drop off an order to a financial services business that I’ve worked with.   I was both inspired and embarrassed at the same time.   He was an executive, and as it turned out, he had a great deal more to teach me than I could have ever imagined. Fortunately, he couldn’t hear my initial thoughts, and I had a chance to learn from this incredibly authentic, humble executive.   Deeply curious, I leaned in as he talked about his competitors, their target market, and how a couple of them had recently been purchased for millions. In the same chill demeanor he spoke about his new tee shirt business, he told me about the six other guys hustling right alongside him at Carry Out Menu.   Beyond an executive, I wondered if he was also a reader.   “Certain books, yes,” he responded as he pulled up The Laws of Success by Napoleon Hill on his iPhone, where he does most of his reading.   “Well, I was going to give you a hard copy of my book, but maybe you’d prefer an e-copy for your phone?” I asked, and he accepted.   “How much is it?” he asked.   “It’s my pleasure to gift you with this copy,” I said.   Pulling out some cash, he asked, “Twenty? Twenty-five?”   “Not for an ecopy. You can get it cheaper on Amazon. But, please… let this be a gift from me,” I said, as I pushed his money back toward him.   “I’ll just stick the money in your backpack then,” he said, and proceeded to look for a convenient place to stuff it in.   “Why won’t you accept my gift?”   “Do you sell these books?” he asked.   “Yes, I do,” I said, suddenly awkwardly shy about that fact.   “I want to buy it, then.”   There was no reasoning with that logic. Not only was he right, but he was silently teaching me again. I stood there dumbfounded, speechless (can you imagine? That, my friends, is rare).   “Do you have a business card?” I asked, knowing my lessons with this wonderful young man were just beginning.   “Yes, they’re in my car.”   Along with three business cards, he handed me a dozen or so booklets, with several hundred restaurants that Carry Out Menu partners with in order to ensure local businesses have options when deciding where to order food for their next meeting.     Not only did he inspire me, he left me wanting to find a way to help his business succeed.   The very next day, I handed one of the booklets to John, a friend and the manager of a local business. “I met one of the executives at this company yesterday,” I said to John, “He is a hustler and awesome. Order from them for your next meeting.”   Who would have thought that a young man, in a hoodie, starting a new tee shirt company would wind up getting me to keep his booklets on my passenger seat, as I found the perfect business owners to help him grow his business? You can’t pay for that kind of marketing, nor can you manufacture it!   Whether you’re selling a product, a service, or a vision to your team, imagine the kind of raving fans (and hustlers) you can create by genuinely looking for ways to help them succeed first. Watch what happens as you shift your focus from getting others to do more for you, onto hustling to help them reach their goals, meet their heroes, and continue advancing their skills.       Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! You can now gain easy access to discovering your blind spots and the solutions to your greatest leadership challenges through a Gearing for Greatness session. Check it out: http://mistiburmeister.com/gearing-for-greatness/

In preparation for my interview with Anese Cavanaugh, I reviewed her website and watched this speech she gave at the Inc. Women’s Summit. Her message resonated with the mission of the Provoking Your Greatness podcast, and I was excited for this interview.   Our forty minutes together felt more like catching up with a good friend than interviewing an expert, author, and successful businesswoman. With that kind of chemistry, I knew we had to work together on a project.   A few weeks after the interview, we jumped on a Skype call to record a conversation about love, vulnerability, and leadership. For nearly an hour, we tossed ideas back and forth, got vulnerable, and shared strategies we use (and teach) for loving your work and your team. While the conversation was valuable and fun, the most valuable part for me came after we shut off the recording.   Just before we hung up, I asked Anese, “If you hear of anyone looking for a speaker, would you put my name in the hat?” As an expert receiving requests to speak, she could suggest me for events requiring more than one speaker.   Within seconds, she pasted a link to a website where a couple dozen business conferences are listed, and suggested I reach out and submit myself as a speaker for the various events. Not realizing why, I felt of twinge of irritation and caught myself thinking, “If I’m a good enough speaker, I shouldn’t need to submit myself—they should come to me.”   I asked, “How did you get the opportunity to speak at the Inc. conference,” fully expecting to hear some form of, “Word of mouth.”   “Some were by referral, but many of them were by submitting myself and putting myself out there to speak at their venues. One venue I submitted to for two years before I got the opportunity,” she said, as if such an activity was normal for talented speakers. “Sometimes when I submitted my name for a conference,” she continued, “I’d get an email encouraging me to keep submitting. Other times—radio silence. So, I kept submitting. ”   “Keep submitting? I don’t want to submit at all, much less keep submitting,” I thought, not understanding why I was irritated.    Before I could figure out what all my agitation was about, Anese added, “And while it seemed like they were ignoring me, or didn’t want me, it turned out they were very good people, and well intended, just busy and sometimes a bit disorganized.”   While I wasn’t aware of it in the moment, those words freed me—to start submitting, keep submitting, and put myself out there in a big way. Until Anese said the words, “they weren’t ignoring me,” I unknowingly believed that any response short of, “We’d love to have you,” meant they thought I wasn’t good enough.   “Misti,” Anese continued, “I had been trying to get the opportunity to publish an article in Inc. for years. At the end of one of my speaking events, an editor from Inc came up to me and asked if I’d like to have my own column with them.”   Deeply inspired by her tenacity, I made a decision in that moment, and have been submitting my name to speak at various events ever since. Recognizing this may take some time, I created a spreadsheet to keep track of my march toward my dreams.   Interestingly, before that conversation with Anese, I believed I was doing everything I could to get opportunities to speak. Now, I’m left wondering if I am unknowingly “playing small” in other areas of my life in order to avoid feelings of rejection.   When you’re open and trusting of all emotions, you’ll see the signs pointing you in the direction you need to go. While we do not typically think of anger, irritation, or frustration this way, they are excellent clues to help us see where we need to pay attention.   What agitates you? The answer may point you to a deeply ingrained behavior that needs to change. Happiness and joy are easier to tap into, while irritation is inherently repulsive. Use frustrating moments to listen to the thoughts you’re thinking, and the beliefs they create. Ask yourself if those thoughts are adding to your courage, or robbing you of the opportunities you crave.   While it’s easy to think in terms of “good/bad or right/wrong,” consider saying to yourself, “Isn’t that interesting?” when you uncover truths about yourself that are uncomfortable. Having a gentle curiosity provides the strongest foundation for growth.   “Your limitations are your invitations.”—Beth House Graham.   Rather than resisting the reality of self-limiting thoughts and beliefs, meet them with an open, curious, mind. From this vantage point, new beliefs can make their way into your consciousness.   Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! You can now gain easy access to discovering your blind spots and the solutions to your greatest leadership challenges through a Gearing for Greatness session. Check it out: http://mistiburmeister.com/gearing-for-greatness/  

As the author of Provoking Greatness: Unleashing Hidden Potential (Which Seth Godin says is “a generous book about stepping up to make art, to matter, and to contribute,” I’m often asked to coach progressive and passionate leaders.   In fact, I’ve had the chance to work with and speak for leaders at Johns Hopkins, NASA, and Johnson & Johnson, just to name a few.   Following my presentations, I often conduct on-the-spot coaching for those seeking to go beyond pushing for performance, onto provoking greatness. Many of these leaders have found themselves trapped in busy work, and are ready to free their time to focus on bigger projects.   Based on feedback from several leaders, they found the following tips particularly helpful in helping them free up their time to go bigger, while getting their team to step up.   These tips work whether you’re the CEO, mid-level manager, or requesting resources for a project. As one client told me, "They actually work ANYTIME you need to get stuff done through others."   Provoke Their Greatness Tip #1   Identify your end zone. No football player ever trained hard, practiced hard, or played hard without an end zone. Where are you taking your team, and why does it matter? Less than 10% of leaders ever identify a worthy goal (other than to make more money), and it’s the reason that 70% of employees lack confidence in the abilities of senior leadership according to the Dale Carnegie Employee Engagement Study. Increase confidence, increase engagement, and increase your free time… establish a worthy goal.   Provoke Their Greatness Tip #2   Know what’s fueling the machine. There are a variety of reasons people work hard. Here are a few:   —Make money —A worthy goal/vision —Make a difference/contribution —Advance their skills —Gain experiences —Be appreciated —Keep learning —Achieve a particular title —Lead a team   Just like regular fuel may destroy a car that’s meant to burn diesel, many leaders hamper motivation by assuming the that what motivates one person will motivate everyone. Know your team, and focus on helping them gain the success that’s meaningful to them.     Provoke Their Greatness Tip #3   Their success is your success. Many people wind up in leadership positions because they got stuff done—they took the reins, worked hard, and produced results. The problem is the drive that earned them the title is not the same kind of drive needed to get results through people. Frustrated, these awesome people resort to, “I have more experience, I’m the boss, now do what I’m telling you to do.” Annoyed with mediocre work, these same remarkable people wind up staying late, working harder, and wasting time complaining about their team. They—their team—are not the problem. Instead, the opportunities lies in reframing their new position, and learning how to get results through others.   Rather than outshining others to move ahead, you have to intentionally be outshone by your team to continue advancing. Make their success your main focus and watch as your results soar.   Be on the lookout—Tips 4-7 coming next week.   Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! You can now gain easy access to discovering your blind spots and the solutions to your greatest leadership challenges through a Gearing for Greatness session. Check it out: http://mistiburmeister.com/gearing-for-greatness/   P.S. For instant access to interviews, and to get your 3 Practical Tips for Building a Motivated Team, click here, type in your email address where it says “Subscribe”, and press “Submit.”

Two of the greatest lies destroying our workforce today are: we can’t earn a living using our God-given talents & my employees don’t care.   In reality, we all want to use our natural talents to help our team, company, community, country, and our world—we just don’t always believe we can, and so we unconsciously sabotage ourselves in the process. Great leaders see this, and seek to provoke greatness in spite of insecurities.   The leaders who experience the greatest results from their team are the ones dedicated to looking beyond the dirt (lack of experience, inability to communicate effectively, impatience, etc) as they mine for gold (the natural talent within their team, fully expressed).   Here’s what believing in your team looks like:   Access to the full range of talents, passion and energy on your team. We always find what we’re looking for, so remember to stay focused on and nurturing of their talents. You get the benefit of their creative and innovative minds. When your vision (goals) are clear, mistakes are an expected part of the process, team members care about each other and your customers, they will go to the end of the earth to create new solutions… netting greater profits. You reach for goals together. Seeking to achieve meaningful outcomes brings with it the possibility of failure, which can easily provoke fear and stop us in our tracks. In the context of a supportive team, the burden of risk is well distributed. You get to challenge (provoke) each other to reach for your dreams, individually and collectively. Success in one part of our life infects every other part of our lives, driving energy, passion, and commitment deeper into every other aspect of our lives. Leaders who focus on the whole package and seek to help their team reach their goals, will always wind up with a more dedicated and committed team. You reach further, with less effort. Trust and tolerance of failure bring with them the possibility of empowering others to step up and do the work that scares them. When perfection gives way to learning and advancing, time is freed to stretch ourselves to reach for bigger dreams. You enjoy the benefits of a team who cares about their results. When you care enough to believe in them, they’ll care enough to believe in you, your vision, and your results. You get to keep growing and advancing in your career. When you hand over the exciting and rewarding work you do, you create time and space for new opportunities to be dreamed up and executed on. Horde the wealth, and you’ll stop the inflow; share it, and you’ll expand into it. You sleep peacefully, trusting your team has the ball. Everyone wants to play their part; it’s just that some leaders rob them of the opportunity. When you allow your team to do their best work, you free yourself to rest peacefully. You wake up happy to go to work. Who doesn’t want to go play (I mean work) with people who believe in, challenge, and support them? You dream bigger, and have the time to make it all happen. Courageous leaders who believe in greatness are willing to share their dreams and disappointments, all the while allowing their team to step up and help make it happen. You disconnect as often as you want, and feel comfortable going on vacations. When you no longer have to be the hero (needed one), your team gets to raise to the occasion, make decisions, and experience the thrill of success (and sometimes gain the lessons from failure).   Belief is powerful, and fortunately adjustable. Ready for more of the benefits of believing in your team? Perhaps it’s time to evolve your thinking, and thus your beliefs.   Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! You can now gain easy access to discovering your blind spots and the solutions to your greatest leadership challenges through a Gearing for Greatness session. Check it out: http://mistiburmeister.com/gearing-for-greatness/   P.S. For instant access to interviews, and to get your 3 Practical Tips for Building a Motivated Team, click here, type in your email address where it says “Subscribe”, and press “Submit.”    

Last week, I talked about how to give yourself permission to struggle (evolve). In this post, I share what I think of as the most important element to our personal growth.   Acknowledging the difficulty of evolution is the perfect place to begin. Recognizing the sheer challenge of our own evolution gives us permission to struggle. Sounds crazy—who wants permission to struggle? You do, that’s who. Difficulty can never be used to mold you into a stronger, more authentic, version of yourself if you never experience it.   When we welcome such difficulties, we train ourselves to hold the space for our own evolution to occur on the inside—the only place real change happens. What we see on the outside is a reflection of what we’ve accomplished on the inside. Our reaction to others acceptance, or lack thereof, cues us into our progress and perhaps our opportunity.   Such an intimate experience with our own evolution gives us the insight and compassion to hold the space for others to evolve. The greatest friendships are made from the depth of conversations and struggle inherent in such change. It’s rarely an easy process for either person, and yet both people come out stronger because of it.   Whether you opt for new friends and colleagues, or test out your current ones, remember the difficulty inherent in evolution is worth it. The value of such growth is at the source of life.    Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! You can now gain easy access to discovering your blind spots and the solutions to your greatest leadership challenges through a Gearing for Greatness session. Check it out: http://mistiburmeister.com/gearingforgreatness/   P.S. For instant access to interviews, and to get your 3 Practical Tips for Building a Motivated Team, click here, type in your email address where it says “Subscribe”, and press “Submit.”

Jennifer R. Lieberman’s passion is not only infectious… it is literally transforming the way an entire industry thinks about health care and leadership.   If you want to gain access to truth behind what it takes to create collaboration and innovation, listen to this podcast!   Jennifer Liebermann is a Kaiser Permanente “intrapraneur” who is passionate about shaping the future of health.  In 2006, she launched Kaiser Permanente’s Garfield Health Care Innovation Center, the first of its kind. The Garfield Center enables patients and clinicians to envision the future of health care and create it in a safe, simulated environment.  Described as a “giant Montessori school for adults”, the Garfield Center draws on design thinking principles to ideate, prototype and spread innovation.   Throughout the podcast, you will hear candid answers to following questions:   How do you get people inside an organization as big as Kaiser Permanente to collaborate? How do you get buy-in at all levels? If innovation and collaboration are critical to a leaders success, what is the first step any organization must take to begin the process? How do you get people to feel empowered and take action? How do you get people to shift their behaviors when they’re used to working in a certain way?     To learn more about Jennifer, click here. You can learn more about Garfield Health Care Innovation Center by clicking here.   I hope that one day all leaders adopt your philosophy and commitment, Jennifer—Thank you for being a powerful force for innovation in our health care industry!   Here’s to Your Greatness, Misti Burmeister  

Having moved many times in my life, I’d grown accustomed to the (hidden) benefit of starting over—zero expectations. When you’re brand new to a community, they don’t know what to expect, and so you have a chance to try on new behaviors and beliefs.   Changing the way we show up for people who have come to expect certain behaviors and beliefs is far more challenging then starting fresh. Having relationships that are deep and meaningful can create expectations that may easily halt our growth, lest we lose the people we hold dear to us.   When expectations are deeply rooted, and any deviation from the norm causes discomfort, our tendency is to hold tightly to worn out patterns. It’s easier to let the urge to evolve pass than it is to risk the possibility of losing the people we love.   Yet, change is the only real constant, and it’s necessary for living life. I suppose that’s why they say that some people show up in our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. The problem is that we get attached to the people we call friends, and often seek to force “a lifetime” onto those who were really meant for a reason or a season.   Unable to understand what’s really happening, we hold tightly to our friendships and unconsciously smash the flower of change braving its way to the surface. Unaware that acceptance begins on the inside, we search for approval on the outside. Their confused and uncomfortable expressions taunt us back into old patterns.   This is why moving helps us grow. Moving allows us to create ourselves anew, with much less fear of loss. New friends, colleagues, and bosses are void of expectations, freeing us to try on new behaviors and beliefs—ones more fitting for our own evolution.   Of course the problem with too much “new” is the lack of depth offered by time and experiences. Fortunately, for most of us, the potential for change on the inside is far greater than change in location. So, the real question becomes, how do we graciously allow for evolution in our own minds, bodies, and spirits?   In next weeks post, we are going to discuss this very topic: how to evolve, graciously.   Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister   NEW! You can now gain easy access to discovering your blind spots and the solutions to your greatest leadership challenges through a Gearing for Greatness session. Check it out: http://mistiburmeister.com/gearingforgreatness/   P.S. For instant access to interviews, and to get your 3 Practical Tips for Building a Motivated Team, click here, type in your email address where it says “Subscribe”, and press “Submit.”

Back in December, I had the great privilege of capturing Rich’s simple system for building a life, company, and career that spreads joy across the globe. For more on that interview, click here. This time around I wanted to get Rich’s perspective on why it’s lonely at the top, and some strategies for increasing connection and joy from the top. Without realizing it, I tapped right into one of his greatest struggles as an executive within a large company, before co-founding Menlo Innovations. Throughout this interview, Rich shares exactly what he continues to do every day to ensure he eliminates loneliness and has a real feeling on joy in his work. Here are the links to the books both Rich and I talk about during the interview: The Highest Goal The 5th Discipline Peter Drucker’s Books Mega Trends The Untethered Soul The Surrender Experiment Bury My Heart Rich’s cure to loneliness at the top: Build meaningful relationships. A key question to ask during any meeting that fosters depth in relationships: “Tell me your life story.” Invest in yourself. (i.e. get and devour books like the ones listed above). Ask yourself, “Why did I get into this line of work in the first place? And, how do I get back to that?” Just before we completed the interview, Rich said something that inspired me greatly, and while I did not write down his exact words, it went something like this…The further you get from the truth of who you are, the more isolated and lonely you’ll be—the closer you are to that same truth, the more joy you’ll experience. How often are you to doing the work you care deeply about? How close are you to aligning your work with the core of who you are? To learn more about Rich, and Menlo Innovations, click here. I hope that one day all leaders adopt your philosophy, Rich—Thank you for sharing the gift of you! Here’s to Your Greatness,Misti Burmeister  

Love is a strong word that many reserve for close friends and family. But what results can love offer in a leadership context? What does love at the office even mean?How To Let Love Inspire Your Leadership: A Raw Conversation between Anese Cavanaugh and Misti Burmeister These are the questions that drove this unique conversation between two women who have worked with hundreds of leaders in corporations throughout the globe. Listen in. Here’s to Your Greatness, Misti Burmeister

MGosh, Anese Cavanaugh is amazing. She’s authentic, passionate, and deeply committed to helping you show up, powerfully. Whether you’re seeking to strengthen your leadership presence, increase your energy, or improve confidence throughout your team, listen to this interview! Top innovators and executives in companies like IDEO, Zingerman’s, Cooper, Joie de Vivre, Fitbit, and others have engaged with Anese to strengthen team health, maximize leadership impact, and optimize company culture. In addition to appearing in publications like The Huffington Post, CEO.com, and the NY Times, Anese writes regularly for Inc.com in her column “Showing Up”. Follow her @AneseCavanaugh. Anese is the creator of the IEP Method® (Intentional Energetic Presence), an advisor and thinking partner to leaders and organizations around the world, and author of Contagious Culture: Show Up, Set the Tone, and Intentionally Create an Organization That Thrives (McGraw Hill). During the interview, Anese provided a simple strategy to discovering your core values. Knowing, and staying true to, your values, increase confidence. Here’s a part of the process to get you started—Take note: What pisses you off, irritates, or angers you? Why? Where you do tend to spend your money? What’s most important to you? To show up powerfully, Reboot your presence in the moment—get intentional about the impact you want to make and how you want to feel. Set intentional outcomes for your meeting, day, month, year, etc. Take good care of yourself—mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Here are a few more helpful links, courteously of the superstar herself, Anese. Thank you! IEP QuickStart Toolkit, Presence Guide, and additional resources. Anese’s site (with her blog, articles, interviews, goods galore, and more!) Here’s to Your Greatness,Misti Burmeister    

Provoking Greatness: Unleashing Hidden Potential by Misti Burmeister This on demand audio series is a part of the Executive Girlfriends' Group Vignette Series. Chicke Fitzgerald interviews Misti Burmeister. The original live interview was 2/19/16. When complacency and survival have overtaken a thriving and effective team, you have three choices: ignore their gifts, address them poorly, or leverage the gifts that are shared in Provoking Greatness and discover how to unleash the hidden potential in your team when it matters most. A greatness coach for leaders, business motivational keynote speaker, and author, Misti has dedicated her life to helping leaders find and strengthen their V.O.I.C.E., improving communication, collaboration, and commitment. Misti also serves on the board for MissionFit, a non-profit dedicated to creating a safe space for at-risk youth to discover their greatness through weightlifting and community. Her website is  http://mistiburmeister.com/ To order the book click HERE For more information about the Executive Girlfriends' Group see: http://www.executivegirlfriendsgroup.com

Unleashing Hidden Potential Interview by Chicke Fitzgerald of the Game Changer Network as a part of the Vintage: Executive Girlfriends Group series, showcased on C-Suite Network. This on demand audio series is a part of the Executive Girlfriends' Group Vignette Series. Chicke Fitzgerald interviews Misti Burmeister. The original live interview was 2/19/16, but the topic is timeless.  When complacency and survival have overtaken a thriving and effective team, you have three choices: ignore their gifts, address them poorly, or leverage the gifts that are shared in Provoking Greatness and discover how to unleash the hidden potential in your team when it matters most. Inspired by her discovery that people of all generations want to be of service through their work, and achieve remarkable results, Misti Burmeister quickly became one of the most highly sought after experts in the area of employee engagement.  The Game Changer is featured on C-Suite Network. Chicke is a philanthropreneur • she zigs where others zag, creating value, growth and bringing to life crazy good ideas that will leave a legacy

The Truth About Leadership (Executive) Presence: An Interview With John Baldoni   I came across John Baldoni’s work through social media. His passion, knowledge, and first-hand experience with leadership is inspiring… and immediately useful.   John is the author of more than a dozen books, including MOXIE: The Secret to Bold and Gutsy Leadership, Lead with Purpose, Lead Your Boss… and so many more. He’s an internationally recognized leadership educator, executive coach and speaks throughout North America and Europe.   In 2015 Trust Across America named him to its list of top 100 most trustworthy business experts for the second consecutive year. In 2014 Inc.com listed John as a Top 50 leadership expert and Top 100 leadership speaker.   During this interview, John shares valuable insights and specific steps to addressing the following topics:    Driving fear out of the organization  Strengthening your leadership (executive) presence  Increasing your self-confidence and instilling it in others  And, finally, he shares the #1 challenge he has helped leaders overcome in the 20+ years he’s been doing this work. Hint: Time.   You can learn more about John, and gain access to his videos, blogs, newsletter, etc, here.   Thank you, John! You are remarkable, and I’m grateful I had the chance to learn from you!   Here’s to Your Greatness, Misti Burmeister

The first time I met Ari was through his book, Zingerman's Guide to Good Leading, Part 2; A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to Being a Better Leader.    After underlining, circling, and writing all over the inside of his book, I couldn’t help but reach out and personally thank him for writing such an exceptional book.   I wanted to hug him then, but alas I had to wait a couple of years before I could give him a virtual hug through this podcast.   Throughout this podcast interview, Ari outlines critical elements to gaining the diversity and creativity that comes with a fully engaged team. He distinguishes between “shaming” your staff, and providing “creative consequences.”   His approach is simple and incredibly powerful. Naturally, they also require discipline, which Ari and I talk about during this interview.   The basic concept of discipline that we’re referring to is not much different from the daily decision to go for an apple verses a Hershey’s bar for nutrients. The obvious choice for health purposes is an apple, but for many of us (myself included) that chocolate is more tasty.   Ari also talks about the 12 Natural Laws of Business, which he agreed to share with you here, for free. They are also in his book on leadership mentioned above – get the book, you’ll be so glad you did!   Many (and more) of the stats Ari referenced during our interview are both in the book, and noted below. Enjoy!   Thank you for giving me the great privilege of interviewing you, Ari. I hope to do so again in the near future!   About Ari Weinzweig:   He is CEO and co-founding partner of Zingerman's Community of Businesses, which includes Zingerman's Delicatessen, Bakehouse, Creamery, Catering, Mail Order, ZingTrain, Coffee Company, Roadhouse, Candy Manufactory and the newest business—Cornman Farms. To learn more about Ari and Zingerman’s history, go here.   To order some of the most delicious food on the planet (the holiday are upon us), go here.   Stats (taken from, Zingerman's Guide to Good Leading, Part 2; A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to Being a Better Leader):   Take a look at this data from a Harris Poll cited in Dean Tucker’s great book, Using the Power of Purpose. Of those surveyed:   Only 37 percent of employees clearly knew the company’s goals; Only 20 percent were enthusiastic about those goals; Only 20 percent saw how they could support those goals; Only 15 percent felt enabled to work towards them; Only 20 percent fully trusted the company they worked for.   Thank you, Ari! You are remarkable, and I’m grateful I had the chance to learn from you!   Here’s to Your Greatness, Misti Burmeister  

The real secret to being a great leader is dating your employees.   The best leaders on the planet sell us on their ideas. We flock to great brands, and the awesome leaders behind them, because we believe them when they tell us how their products will make our life (and the world) better.   Of course, they could never seduce us if they didn’t already know what we want. By learning what makes us tick, they position their product to solve our problems.   Yes, this is basically Marketing 101. But, what does it have to do with dating your employees?   Just like the greatest sales professionals understand the magic inherent in knowing their customers, the best leaders know their employees.   Great sales professionals keep a file on all their customers, and so do great leaders. They know the names of children, spouses, favorite meals, interests, and their underlying motivations. Some even know their favorite color, deep-seated fears, and their shoe size. Yes, their shoe size!   But why? And, seriously, what does this have to do with dating your employees?   By seeking to understand each individual’s aspirations, fears, and interests, great leaders position their big ideas so that their employees can overcome fears, reach their goals, and contribute to the greater vision of the team.   Just as world-class sales professionals go to great lengths to learn about their customers, great leaders know their team, and intentionally look for ways to help them reach their goals.   Great leaders understand that good employees, as with good customers, have a choice. They can choose to take their skillset and passion elsewhere, or even worse, turn in mediocre work, and speak poorly of the company and you, their boss.   Gallup calls these people “disengaged.” And a full 68% of the global workforce is either “not engaged” or “actively disengaged.” That’s a huge opportunity for leaders who are ready to date their employees.   Romantic relationships require an emotional investment—an authentic concern for the other person’s happiness. If you want them to care about you, you have to show that you care about them.   Pretty simple, right?   Then why don’t more leaders date their employees? That is, why don’t they treat the relationship as if it’s valuable, worthwhile—even cherished?   Building real, caring relationships means being vulnerable, which is not something we’re used to on the job. It’s easier to remain emotionally detached, simply bark orders, and ignore issues until it’s time for annual reviews.   Remarkable leaders sell their ideas to people they care about, in much the same way that top sales professionals connect with customers on a personal level. Just as inspiring a customer to buy from you demands a connection with the customer, getting your team to buy into your idea requires a connection.   Of course, it’s about more than buying into your idea. It’s about trusting that you have what it takes to lead them to a worthy goal.   Most leaders don’t know where they’re going (the idea they’re selling), but they want you to trust them to do the driving. Can you imagine selling a $1 billion piece of software to a company without knowing the impact it will have?   No way! Yet, most leaders expect their employees to give every ounce of dedication and commitment to a project without knowing why they’re working so hard. They make demands like, “Do what I’ve paid you to do,” use fear as leverage, and then wonder why the best keep leaving.   Consider the following questions before dating (leading) anyone:   Do I have a big idea? Does my big idea inspire me? Do I care about my (my teams) goals? What does success look like? How will you know when we’ve reached success? Do I understand the bigger impact on my career, my team, and my customers? Do I care about the people I hope to motivate? Do I know what drives them?   If you’re already in a leadership position, and lack the answers to any of these questions, get them. Fast! The answers will undoubtedly yield you the loving relationships that will catapult your business to the next level.   Here’s to Your Greatness, Misti Burmeister        

Leaders want to be effective, and employees want to succeed, so why what gets in the way? Why do challenges like generational differences (and other differences) impede performance, wreck havoc on innovation, and cause unnecessary revenue loss?   Better yet, what are the most effective leaders and companies doing to increase passion, performance, innovation, and collaboration?   Throughout this interview, I share strategic shifts leaders can make to increase:   ·         Productivity ·         Communication ·         Collaboration ·         Retention ·         Personal Ownership, or responsibility ·         And so much more…   Listen in.   Here’s to Your Greatness,   Misti Burmeister     P.S. Get your 3 Practical Strategies for Building a Motivated Team – Today – click here, put your email in the bottom right corner, and push the Download Now button. 

Misti is a bestselling author, lover of the outdoors, an award winning entrepreneur and she is committed to your greatness. Misti is responsible for helping dozens of leaders uncover their inner drive for greatness. She shows you how to do the same for your team, eliciting profound dedication, commitment to excellence, and unparalleled innovation.

Join me for a fun and stimulating conversation with the insightful and irrepressible Misti Burmeister - speaker, trainer and author - on the topic of World Class Leadership. What is it, how do we do it, and most challengingly, how do we lead powerfully across generations?

There are cultural differences between the Baby Boom generation and Gen X and Gen Y -- differences big enough to make leading these groups a challenge. Guests are Misti Burmeister, author of "From Boomers to Bloggers: Success Strategies Across Generati...Read more ›

There are cultural differences between the Baby Boom generation and Gen X and Gen Y -- differences big enough to make leading these groups a challenge. Guests are Misti Burmeister, author of "From Boomers to Bloggers: Success Strategies Across Generati...Read more ›