Monday Morning Mojo

We are far too often consumed by the aspects of our daily lives that we fail to spend time thinking about and checking in on the people most important to us. We owe it to these people to ensure that they know we are there for them in times of triumph and times of adversity.

This week, we challenge you to make it a priority to call five people you genuinely care about and ask, "How are you doing?" Ask real, authentic questions and really listen to their answers in order to help them think through a course of action. Through this act of affirming that you care, you are bound to see growth in your personal relationships and feel more fulfilled as a result.

Resources:

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"The Goal" by Eliyahu Goldratt: http://ht.ly/sJgN30jr5Q4

Failures may seem like just that at the time they occur—failures. However, if viewed and responded to properly, they have the potential to act as great learning opportunities. Recognize failures as chances to grow as an individual and a professional and the outcome may just become more rewarding than detrimental.

One instance of doing the right thing does not always guarantee success as a result. More importantly, we must learn from the failures we are sure to experience until we develop a consistent pattern of success. Join us today as Phil shares narratives of failures and the knowledge gained from them.

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Freakonomics Radio- Ray Dalio Interview: http://freakonomics.com/podcast/ray-dalio/

Referencing "The Goal", a novel by Eliyahou Goldratt, Phil acknowledges that when working to make improvements in your business, sometimes the most important plan of action is to simply refocus on the basics. Desired outcomes are only attainable if the root causes are identified and polished first.

Today's episode highlights four vital areas of concentration that every leader must focus on in order to push a company towards success: culture, connections, operations, and financials. Perfect these, and the rest will follow.

References:

"The Goal" by Eliyahou Goldratt: http://ht.ly/sJgN30jr5Q4

Resources:

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Please send First Friday Feedback submissions to: [email protected]

Today, we highlight the often-unrecognized value of employing interns. From their youthful energy, creativity and technological skills, as well as, their eagerness to work, interns provide increased capacity to ultimately strengthen your firm.

However, the value doesn't end there. By hiring interns, you provide them with the experience and knowledge to grow as professionals and leaders, which in turn, betters the industry as a whole. If executed properly, an internship program at your company will not only offer personal benefits for each party but will also allow you the opportunity to groom the future of your industry.

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Upon first glance, flying a kite and running a business may seem like activities that have nothing in common. Upon further consideration, however, we realize that the same fundamentals are consistent in both.

For one, you must have high quality, durable resources, and a proper design. For another, you must be a quick learner and understand your limits. And perhaps most importantly, you must be capable of adapting to wherever the wind takes you. Today, we use this seemingly simple parallel to provide insight on the more complex topics of leadership and business management and highlight some of the basic tools for success.

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Annual traditions mark the passing of time—the beginning of a new season. The opening games of the MLB season, the end of March Madness, and the Masters Golf Tournament are all traditions indicating that Spring has sprung, and it is time to turn over to a new chapter.

As we enter this season of renewal, we challenge all of you to take time away from your busy schedule to slow down and truly appreciate your surroundings. Downtime is essential to sustainability, and this is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of it.

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2018 Masters Tournament - http://www.masters.com/en_US/index.html

2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - https://www.ncaa.com/march-madness

Major League Baseball - https://www.mlb.com/

We all have our individual perspectives shaped by our personal experiences. Within each of these perspectives are blind spots that can impede our success, which we cannot entirely eliminate, but we can work to minimize.

Today, we stress the importance of utilizing routines and other people to counter-balance our own perspectives. Being open to perspectives different from our own allows us to evolve our own thinking or otherwise sharpen our original ideas in order to maximize growth and ensure that the best plans of action are implemented.

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When we get on a roll, we tend to stress less about the outcome of an upcoming event. With less stress, the results tend to be more positive.

On this week's episode, Phil narrows down two terms that can change the way we view, understand, and tackle success in our everyday lives: perspective and confidence. By not only understanding confidence but also applying it to the tasks at hand, we are more likely to develop a positive mental perspective that can elevate our accomplishments to new heights.

Join us as we discuss tactics to increase confidence and strengthen positive perspectives, apply these to your own life, and watch your personal and professional selves soar as a result.

References:

Perspective definition: https://goo.gl/ON1twh

Resources:

Please send comments, questions, and feedback to: [email protected]

Please send First Friday Feedback submissions to: [email protected]

Think about a friend or family member who is going through a tough time. How engaged are you in communicating to that person that you are there for them during this hardship?

In this week's episode, we challenge you to connect with this individual. Communicate to them that you know they are hurting, that you care about them, and that you want to be there for them throughout this journey.

We understand that by doing this you will be expending personal effort and energy; however, by being that person, you will find your own personal joy and fulfillment.

Resources:

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The adage, "two heads are better than one," is almost always true. If this is the case, why do most businesses struggle with teaming and collaboration?

In this episode, we explore the five challenges or dysfunctions, as determined by Patrick Lencioni, that every team MUST tackle head-on in order to be successful. The ability to collaborate, to leverage resources and team across multiple specialists is a requirement and skill essential for success.

We challenge you to evaluate your team but more importantly evaluate your teaming skills and abilities. What dysfunctions are present in the team and how can you lead the way forward?

References:

"The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni: https://goo.gl/Uk7mHB

Resources:

Please send comments, questions, and feedback to [email protected]

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