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Chief Erich Becker—Leadership and Life Lessons From The Chief of Ocean City Beach Patrol

One of the best interviews from almost 200 episodes of the show!

Key Takeaways 

-Start your day with an attitude of gratitude 

-Set clear expectations and standards with all of your team

-Always listen to people first 

-If you’re going to do it, do it right or don’t do it all 

Erich Becker is the Chief of Operations and responsible for overseeing all aspects of operations for the Ocean City Beach Patrol, one of the largest seasonal lifeguard organizations in the country. He was promoted to Chief of Operations in 2023 and leads more than 190 staff, including lifeguards, EMTs, and administrative personnel.  

Chief Becker began his Ocean City Beach Patrol career in 1983, serving for three summers before pursuing a successful career in the private sector as an owner of Becker’s School Supplies, employing 150 people. 

In 2013, he returned to the Beach Patrol, bringing decades of leadership and management experience that continue to guide the organization today.  

A lifelong connection to Ocean City has shaped Becker’s service. He spent all of his childhood in town with his 12 siblings and is a graduate of Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, NJ. Married with four children, he is committed to building a safe, professional, and community-focused Beach Patrol while honoring the legacy and traditions of OCBP.

https://www.ocnj.us/ocbp

Comment below with your number-one takeaway.

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I am a high-performance specialist and 7x author who helps ultra-successful people dramatically elevate their career and life. My clients include CEOs, entrepreneurs, executives, doctors, law enforcement leaders, professional athletes and professional entertainers.

To work with me to dramatically improve your performance and transform your life, message me here or go to coachajmadden.com. 

#mindset #business #leadership #success #confidence #coaching #ceo 

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The 1/50 Law:  One Action Creates 50-100% Of Your Results

“Take a simple idea and take it seriously.” -Charlie Munger

The 50x Question:  What is the ONE thing I can do that will get me 50 to 100% of my desired results? 

The 1/50 Law

1.  The 80/20 principle reveals that a minority of actions generate the majority of results.  20% of your efforts produce 80% of your results.

2.  When applied repeatedly, 20% of your efforts produce 80% of results, 4% produce 64%, and just 1% can drive 50% of all outcomes. 

3.  While not exact, the insight is powerful: not all work carries equal value. A small set of high-impact actions far outweighs hours of low-value activity. 

4.  True productivity isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters most. Identifying and consistently executing your highest-leverage actions is what separates average performers from elite results.

Famous Examples

Kobe Bryant — shot 1300 three-pointers a day

Warren Buffett — read 6 to 8 hours a day

Navy SEAL Jocko Willink —4:30 AM wake up time

Jerry Rice — Running hills daily

Michael Phelps — Swimming every single day (no days off)

Tiger Woods — 1,000+ putts per day

Stephen King — Writing 2,000 words every day

Jerry Seinfeld — Writing jokes every single day

 Eminem — Writing lyrics constantly

Tom Brady — Film study + recovery routine daily

Sam Walton — Store visits every week 

Ray Kroc — Enforcing standards daily

David Goggins — Daily 12 mile runs

Quentin Tarantino — Writing + studying film daily

Book recommendation:  One Thing by Gary Keller

Comment below with your number-one takeaway.

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I am a high-performance specialist and 7x author who helps successful people dramatically elevate their performance and achieve life-changing goals. My clients include CEOs, entrepreneurs, executives, doctors, law enforcement leaders, professional athletes and professional entertainers.

To work with me to dramatically improve your performance and transform your life, message me here or go to coachajmadden.com. 

#mindset #business #leadership #success #confidence #coaching #ceo 

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The Dream Team Audit™—How To Make The Most Important Decisions You’ll Ever Make

A top service provider might cost a little more, but the return on investment will be tremendous in terms of: 
1.  Better results. 
2.  Time saved.  
3.  Reduced unnecessary stress.

The Mediocrity Tax™
1.  Mediocre results.
2.  Wasted time.
3.  Unnecessary stress.

Your Dream Team:
⭐️1. Doctor
2. Medical Specialist
3. Dentist
4. Eye Doctor
5. Physical Therapist
⭐️6. Therapist
7. Personal Trainer
8. Nutritionist
9. Spiritual Advisor
10. Childcare Provider
11. Sitter
12. Lawyer
13. Tax Accountant
⭐️14. Financial Advisor
15. Auto Mechanic
16. Handyman
17. Landscaper
18. Plumber
19. HVAC Specialist
⭐️20. Career Mentor
21. Career Coach

Your life gets dramatically better when you stop settling for average and start building a world-class personal dream team. The right doctor, therapist, lawyer, financial advisor, mentor, or mechanic can save you massive amounts of time, stress, money—and in some cases, even save your life. 

In this episode, I’ll show you how to identify the rare true experts using my T.R.U.S.T. framework, why only one in a hundred providers are truly exceptional, and how the right people can completely change the trajectory of your health, happiness, career, and future.

The Sourcing Protocol
1.  Referrals 
2.  Local “Best Of” lists 
3.  Google reviews

The "No 7s" Rule ™
On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely are you to recommend their services to friends, family members, and  coworkers?  No 7’s.  

The True Expert 
1.  THOROUGH QUESTIONING.  Ask the right QUESTIONS. 
2.  RESULTS.  Be solely focused on creating positive RESULTS. 
3.  UTMOST CERTAINTY.  Speak with certainty and conviction.
4.  SIMPLICITY.  Make the complex SIMPLE to understand and do.  
5.  TRUTH.  Give the direct and honest TRUTH.  

Comment below with your number-one takeaway.

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I am a high-performance specialist and 7x author who helps successful people dramatically elevate their performance and achieve life-changing goals. My clients include CEOs, entrepreneurs, executives, doctors, law enforcement leaders, professional athletes and professional entertainers.

To work with me to dramatically improve your performance and transform your life, message me here or go to coachajmadden.com. 

#mindset #business #leadership #success #confidence #coaching #ceo 

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I Am The Cause 

Take 100% Responsibility for everything that happens with your team, your organization and your life.

As a leader, your results organizational results and your people are your mirror.  They are the reflection of you as a leader.  The mirror never lies. Their failure is your feedback.

Your life and results are your mirror. They are a reflection of all your thoughts and actions.  Nine times out of 10, we get what we deserve in life.

Who hired them?  Who trained them or didn’t train them?  Who held back the brutally honest assessment of their performance?  Who didn’t give them sincere praise when they were doing things right?  Who kept them on the team if they weren’t coachable, committed, and capable of greatness in their role?

I believe that everything that happens in our life, 2% are acts of God or the equivalent. Things we have no control over.  Tsunami‘s, birth defects, etc.  98% of the good or the bad are the result of actions we take or don’t, decisions we make or we don’t. A lot of times we think we have done everything we can, when in fact, we have done almost nothing. Factors, forces, predictable elements that are immutable that we either fail to recognize, or recognize and fail to harness.  Change your strategy, and you change your results.  Jay Abraham

If you want to be successful, you have to take 100% responsibility for everything that you experience in your life. This includes the level of your achievements, the results you produce, the quality of your relationships, the state of your health and physical fitness, your income, your debts, your feelings—everything!  Jack Canfield

When the excuses go away, and people can actually confront the fact that “this is all because of me”… it hurts, but it is also unbelievably empowering because if these problems are because of me, then I am capable of fixing these problems. Extreme Ownership hurts and it’s painful, and it is also liberating because now you have control over your fate and over your destiny.  And that is a glorious thing. -Jocko Willink, retired Navy SEAL commander

Book Recommendation:  The Success Principles by Jack Canfield

Comment below with your number-one takeaway.

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I am a high-performance specialist and 7x author who helps successful people dramatically elevate their performance and achieve life-changing goals. My clients include CEOs, entrepreneurs, executives, doctors, law enforcement leaders, professional athletes and professional entertainers.

To work with me to dramatically improve your performance and transform your life, message me here or go to coachajmadden.com. 

#mindset #business #leadership #success #confidence #coaching #ceo 

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Navy SEAL Stew Smith: How To Build Elite Fitness & Mental Toughness For Anything Life Throws At You

“We all could be tactical athletes.  Your fitness can be the difference between living or dying or saving a friend.” 

-Stew Smith, ret. Navy SEAL

One of my all-time favorite episodes in five years of the show!

Key Takeaways 

1.  Your fitness will determine whether you are an asset or a liability in any situation 

2.  A goal is two habits:  one habit you have to create and one habit you have to drop.

3.  Confidence = positive self talk + previous victories 

4.  Don’t listen to yourself, talk to yourself 

5.  Never quit mindset:  you never think about quitting when you think about winning 

6.  Just keep moving 

Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and renowned Spec Ops Swimming Coach. His programming is built on real-life experience, providing you with access to insider knowledge and tested methods that distinguish successful candidates.

Stew has specific programs for FBI, SWAT, Navy SEAL, Ranger, Special Forces, Marines, RECON, Rescue Swimmer and many, many others.

https://www.stewsmithfitness.com

Tactical Strength book

https://a.co/d/087SNeVv

Comment below with your number-one takeaway.

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I am a high-performance specialist and 7x author who helps ultra-successful people dramatically elevate their career and life. My clients include CEOs, entrepreneurs, executives, doctors, law enforcement leaders, professional athletes and professional entertainers.

To work with me to dramatically improve your performance and transform your life, message me here or go to coachajmadden.com. 

#mindset #business #leadership #success #confidence #coaching #ceo 

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Lise Bruynooghe—Master Certified Coach

Key takeaways 

-Fear will show up regardless, so just do it

-Slow down to be fully present for the person you are serving 

-Do something, then feel confident (don’t wait to feel confident)

A Master Certified Coach and former Senior Executive at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Lise has spent her career leading complex transformations in dynamic, international environments. 

She holds degrees in Finance and Strategy from Sciences Po Paris, as well as International Relations from MGIMO University in Moscow. 

Today, she coaches senior leaders and executive teams outdoors in the Swiss mountains and globally online.

https://lisebruynooghe.com/

Comment below with your number-one takeaway.

Listen now on YouTube, Spotify or iTunes.

Please like, share and subscribe if you find it useful!

I am a high-performance specialist and 7x author who helps ultra-successful people dramatically elevate their career and life. My clients include CEOs, entrepreneurs, executives, doctors, law enforcement leaders, professional athletes and professional entertainers.

To work with me to dramatically improve your performance and transform your life, message me here or go to coachajmadden.com. 

#mindset #business #leadership #success #confidence #coaching #ceo 

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Michael Serwa—The Highest Paid Personal Coach in the UK

Key Takeaways 

-Become the most fearless person you know

-Action is always the answer

-You must become a “purple cow” (find a way to stand out in your career)

-Find the best coaches and mentors you can

-Always leave people better than you found them

Michael Serwa coaches the elite using his signature no-BS approach.

Since 2011, he has built the most successful personal coaching practice in the UK.

He is the author of From Good to Amazing and has been featured in numerous media outlets, including GQ, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Times, BBC, and Sky.

Website: https://michaelserwa.com

Comment below with your number-one takeaway.

Listen now on YouTube, Spotify or iTunes.

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I am a high-performance specialist and 7x author who helps ultra-successful people dramatically elevate their career and life. My clients include CEOs, entrepreneurs, executives, doctors, law enforcement leaders, professional athletes and professional entertainers.

To work with me to dramatically improve your performance and transform your life, message me here or go to coachajmadden.com. 

#mindset #business #leadership #success #confidence #coaching #ceo 

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Your Friends and Family Aren’t Your Therapist (Plus The 3-Step Process Guaranteed To Solve Almost Any Problem)

1.  Everyone has problems, no one needs to hear yours through venting.

2.  Psychology studies tell us venting is bad for both parties.

3.  There was a huge difference between venting versus going to someone with the problem you have with the sole purpose of seeking a solution/improvement of your situation

“To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second, what could I read? And third, who could I ask?”  -Jim Rohn 

1.  The Relentless Solution Focus Mental Chalkboard exercise with an accountability partner 

2.  Read a book like Relentless Solution Focus 

3.  Form a Personal Board of Directors and ask for help!

1.  The Relentless Solution Focus Mental Chalkboard exercise with an accountability partner 

Relentless Solution Focus (RSF) is simply defined as within 60 seconds, replacing all negative thoughts with solution-focused thinking.  -Dr. Jason Selk

The RSF Billion Dollar Question:  “What is one thing you can do right now to make this better?”-Dr. Jason Selk

“Keep moving forward. When you have problems, keep moving forward. Stay in the fight. Don’t ever let those problems win. Because there is always a solution. Always.”  -Dr. Jason Selk

2.  Read a book like Relentless Solution Focus 

Relentless Solution Focus book 

https://a.co/d/09HDb6of

3.  Form a Personal Board of Directors and ask for help!

Dr. Eric Potterat, clinical psychologist, high performance psychologist for the U.S. Navy SEALS, the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the World Cup champion U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, and author of “Learned Excellence”:

You are in charge of your own life and your own career. Who is on your personal board of directors? It’s important to surround ourselves with three or four trusted advisors. They can give you honest and clear feedback about what they see. 

Personal Board of Directors

-Trusted and respected friend or family member

-Doctor 

-Therapist 

-Mentor

-Coach 

No one can do your push-ups for you. You have to do the work yourself to improve your situation.

Comment below with your number-one takeaway.

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I am a high-performance specialist and 7x author who helps successful people dramatically elevate their performance and achieve life-changing goals. My clients include CEOs, entrepreneurs, executives, doctors, law enforcement leaders, professional athletes and professional entertainers.

To work with me to dramatically improve your performance and transform your life, message me here or go to coachajmadden.com. 

#mindset #business #leadership #success #confidence #coaching #ceo 

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The Ultimate Leadership Questions™️

1.  What’s the hard choice? Do that.

2.  What would love do?  Do that.

3.  Who can I ask?  Ask them.

Being in the top leadership position is really hard.  I’ve lived it/watched it for two decades now.  What I’ve seen the best of the best leaders do over and over:

1) Do the hardest thing.  What’s the hard choice?

2) Lead from love not fear (and sometimes that’s tough love).  What would love do?

3) Surround yourself with the best trusted advisors to help you organize you thoughts and make the best decision, teach you, challenge you, and cheer you on.  Who can I ask?

Comment below with your number-one takeaway.

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I am a high-performance specialist and 7x author who helps successful people dramatically elevate their performance and achieve life-changing goals. My clients include CEOs, entrepreneurs, executives, doctors, law enforcement leaders, professional athletes and professional entertainers.

To work with me to dramatically improve your performance and transform your life, message me here or go to coachajmadden.com. 

#mindset #business #leadership #success #confidence #coaching #ceo 

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The Three Forever Leadership Moves

1.  Avoid stupidity.

2.  Just do the ONE next right obvious thing.

3.  When you learn an incredibly useful idea, execute on it over and over again, forever. 

Don’t procrastinate on it. Don’t overthink it. Just do it.

⭐️Avoid stupidity.

It’s not just enough to get things right; you also must avoid getting things wrong.

Wisdom is prevention.  -Charlie Munger

Book Recommendation:  Poor Charlie’s Almanac by Charlie Munger 

⭐️Just do the ONE next right obvious thing.

The greats always do the next ONE right obvious thing.  They don’t procrastinate on it. They don’t overthink it. They just do it.

One of the greatest ways to avoid trouble is to keep it simple.  -Charlie Munger 

Book Recommendation:  Relentless Solution Focus by Dr. Jason Selk

⭐️When you learn an incredibly useful idea, execute on it over and over again, forever. 

When they learn an incredible idea, they execute on it over and over again, forever.  They don’t procrastinate on it. They don’t overthink it. They just do it.

I believe in the discipline of mastering the best that other people have ever figured out. I don’t believe in just sitting down and trying to dream it all up yourself. Nobody’s that smart.  -Charlie Munger

Book Recommendation:  The Success Principles 20th Anniversary Edition by Jack Canfield 

Comment below with your number-one takeaway.

Listen now on YouTube, Spotify or iTunes.

Please like, share and subscribe if you find it useful!

I am a high-performance specialist and 7x author who helps successful people dramatically elevate their performance and achieve life-changing goals. My clients include CEOs, entrepreneurs, executives, doctors, law enforcement leaders, professional athletes and professional entertainers.

To work with me to dramatically improve your performance and transform your life, message me here or go to coachajmadden.com. 

#mindset #business #leadership #success #confidence #coaching #ceo