“Definite speech means clarity of mind” Quote from Cecil and the Shark by Mark Twain
The above quote is just one of the many powerful principles shared in the book Hard Truths by author and trainer Michael Tomlin.  I was fortunate enough to get an advance screening of the book and loved it.  I reached out to the PR firm for Michael to see if he would be willing to join me on the podcast and he graciously accepted.
In our 25 minutes we cover:

* Balance and when to let distractions get in your way and when to have firmer boundaries. 
* The power of intentionality as a leader.
* Power and how to use it correctly.
* The importance of a belief system in your leadership journey.
* Handling conflict.

Leaders.  These are the topics that keep us up at night as we lead teams.  Check out the interview by clicking the player above.  If you haven't subscribed in iTunes, you can do so here.

The biggest challenge in a growing business is to encourage the owners of the business to rid themselves of good things so that they can do better things.  When you have been successful doing business a certain way, it's hard to let go of the things you know to embrace the things you don't. Travelling down the dark, murky road of business scalability will shake even the bravest business owner to their core. Embracing scale and changing your focus allows you to create a deeper impact in your business for yourself as well as your community.
This challenge exists for every business owner but it's especially true of service based, professional business owners.  If this is you, then you know that you are not only the business owner but you are also the product.  To embrace the business owner role is to commit to the big picture vision of your business.
As you try and work on high leverage activities, clients, employees and others will try and suck you into low level work. It's time to resist this temptation and know that on the other side of low leverage work is freedom and growth.
This week's podcast is on embracing four, specific high leverage activities in your business.  Check out the podcast by clicking the player above and make sure you subscribe in iTunes for regular updates.

If you aren't getting the results that you want in your business, you can do one of two things.  You can look at what didn't work and make corrections for the next time.  Or, you can make excuses.  The dangerous thing about the latter is that there are plenty of reasons to go around that can keep you from being successful.
Ever heard these:

* The market sucks
* I'm too old or too young
* Nobody listens to me
* Nobody cares
* Millenials are ruining my business.
* I don't know how to do X.
* I only went to school for Y.

You get the idea. If you aren't careful you will always have a reason for falling short in your efforts.  You end up like this and you don't learn this.
Check out this week's podcast on overcoming reasons to get results.  If you haven't subscribed yet in iTunes, you can do so here.
 

If leadership were easy then we wouldn't have the scarcity of great leadership that we have today.  Leadership can be challenging as well as rewarding.  It can feel thankful and thankless.  For some leaders, the wide range of emotions and issues that come with leadership is surprising.  They don't expect leadership to be messy.
The abilty to handle and deal with issues in a productive way is what separates leaders from the other people in the organization.  If you can't handle issues, you have no business being a leader.
This week's podcast is about how to productively interact with the different issues that are bound to come up in your leadership journey.
Listen to the podcast by clicking the player above and subscribe in iTunes to get regular show updates.
 

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 NIV
I wasn't planning on recording this week's episode but, in light of recent events, I feel called to lay this message of personal responsbility and value creation out there on today's podcast.
Last week I shared my thoughts on where great accountability starts.  I don't want to completely spoil it for you but it starts with you.  If you don't accept personal responsibility, then everyone around you will show up the same way.
Recent events in Charlottesville demonstrated how far people will go to feel victimized and disenfranchised even if the reasons don't make any sense.
This is a little more vulnerable than I typically am on a podcast as I share some thoughts and feelings on a deeply personal level.
I hope you enjoy this week's departure from my normal format and my hope is that it inspires and encourages you to be a value creator for those around you as you work to change the world through entrepreneurship.
Listen to the episode by clicking the player above and don't forget to spread some love in iTunes with a shout out as well.