My Takes

What does 'Grit' really mean? For years, I thought it meant working late, hitting every goal, and pushing through no matter the cost. My health paid the price. On today's ride through Stuart State Forest, my Garmin reminded me of this powerful word, and I realized my definition had to change. Are you confusing determination with self-destruction? Tune in for my take on how to truly build sustainable grit—the kind that lets you show up better tomorrow.

Show Highlights/Timestamps:

0:00 - What is 'Grit' on a Garmin watch? Rethinking a core metric.

0:25 - Defining grit: Determination, digging your heels in, and taking a challenge head-on.

0:55 - The "Stupidity" of Early Grit: Why pushing too hard can be counterproductive.

1:35 - Health Nosedive: Was my hustle culture just stupidity in disguise?

2:08 - True Grit Defined: Prioritizing health for better performance and clarity.

2:35 - Postponing a Call: The "Grit" to step away and hit the gym.

2:56 - Sustainable Grit: How to keep showing up strong every single day.

Hey everyone, Jonathan Saar here! I'm sharing a quick take from the beautiful Stewart State Forest. We're always pushing, always tracking, but when was the last time you actually paused to enjoy the view? 

Today, I’m talking about why stopping to reflect on your hard work—whether it's your Q4 goals or just today’s achievements—is the most crucial thing you can do for yourself and your team. We'll dive into the importance of basking in the moment before rushing to the next project. Watch the full episode and ask yourself: Are you truly enjoying the view of your success?

Show Highlights/Timestamps

0:00 - Opening in Stewart State Forest: Why I had to stop the ride.

0:35 - The "Beat Records" trap: The danger of constant tracking and stats.

0:50 - Realizing the Importance of the View: A lesson learned from friends.

1:05 - The Work Parallel: From project to project—do we ever stop?

1:20 - Enjoy the View: A challenge to reflect on your year, quarter, and day.

1:35 - Reflection: Why basking in the accomplishment is vital for team morale.

Hey everyone, Jonathan Saar here! Ever feel lost on the trail... or in your business?

I recently had a ride on a beautiful but unmarked path, and it was a huge reminder about the power of a clear direction. 

In this episode, we're talking about roadmaps—why I've changed my mind about them and why your company needs one, like, yesterday. Are you keeping your team focused? Do your customers know what's coming next? Tune in to find out how a simple roadmap can completely change your perspective and drive growth!

Highlights/Timestamps

0:00 - The Unmarked Trail: Why Getting Lost Reminded Me of Business Roadmaps

1:30 - You Can't Go Wrong: The Universal Benefit of a Company Roadmap

2:05 - Internal Focus: How Roadmaps Keep Your Team Laser-Focused

2:45 - External Transparency: Why Software Companies Share Customer Roadmaps

3:15 - My Takeaways: The Driver's Seat Position on Planning for Success

[powerepress]

Hey everyone, Jonathan Saar with My Takes! Ever been totally thrown off course? I was on an "awesome ride" in the Poconos that turned into a muddy, bike-carrying trek through the unknown. Today, I'm sharing what that unexpected challenge taught me about facing the "unknown" in business—from economic shifts to campaign risks. Are you ready to steer into the wave? Let's talk about the fortitude it takes to navigate those unfamiliar waters, both on the trail and in the boardroom.

Show Highlights & Timestamps

(0:00) The Poconos Plot Twist: When an "awesome ride" turns into an unexpected survival trek (and what I learned from lifting my bike over creeks).

(0:47) Navigating the Unpassable Terrain: The moment I realized my research wasn't enough, and how to deal with overwhelming obstacles.

(1:18) Business Unknowns: Economy, Campaigns & Consumer Decisions: Shifting the focus from the trail to the boardroom—what keeps us up at night?

(1:45) Steer Into the Wave (Star Trek Nexus Analogy): Why running from the unknown isn't an option, and the courage it takes to face it head-on.

(2:10) Fortitude and Team Courage: The key leadership move when entering uncertain territory: making sure your team is with you.

Hey everyone, Jonathan Saar here! Ever found yourself staring down an uncharted trail with a storm on the way? That's exactly where I was today, biking through Iroquois Heights right here in Hamilton, Ontario. It got me thinking: are you riding the storm of new business territory, like AI, or watching from the sidelines? Tune in as I share my thoughts on why embracing the unknown is the only way to keep your business from being left out in the cold. Let's talk trailblazing, tech, and tackling those tricky obstacles!

Key Highlights/Timestamps:

0:00 - Riding into the Storm: The unique challenge of mountain biking uncharted territory in Canada.

0:45 - Business Parallels: Why facing a cold front on the trail is like navigating AI and new tech in business.

1:10 - Don't Sit on the Sidelines: The critical need to adopt new business models and get "into it."

1:35 - Iroquois Heights Trail: Quick thoughts on the beautiful, technical trails and the Hamilton, Ontario location.

2:00 - Trailblazing Business Security: Thoughts on content management, AI's role, and protecting proprietary intellectual property.

Ever been on a roll, only to have something fly down your throat—literally or figuratively—and make you choke? Join me, Jonathan Saar, for a quick My Take inspired by a beautiful mountain bike ride and a near-miss with a bug. 

We all plan for success, but what happens when a project, a campaign, or a big moment goes sideways? How do good leaders react when they realize they've choked? Tune in for the hard truth about making mistakes and why admitting failure is the first step to keeping your momentum.

Key Timestamps/Show Highlights

0:00 - The Word of the Day: Choke (Bike Ride Inspiration)

0:45 - The Uncomfortable Truth: When I've totally choked in my career and marketing

1:15 - Career Mistakes & Project Plans: Why unexpected failures happen

1:30 - It's Okay to Admit Failure: The leader's necessary confession

1:55 - Keep Going: Why you can't wallow in a mistake

2:10 - Good Leadership Defined: Standing up and saying, "I choked."

Hey everyone, Jonathan Saar here! Just finished a killer ride and it got me thinking: In the rush for data, are we missing the bigger picture—the relevance? We all want that top search ranking, but what happens when customers immediately bail? In this episode, I dive into why focusing too narrowly on one metric can sink your entire marketing effort and how looking at the whole customer journey is the key to real success. Don't skip the data, but make sure it matters!

Show Highlights

 0:00 - Fresh off the bike: Why relevance is my new focus.

0:35 - The SEO Trap: What happens when a customer converts, then immediately leaves?

1:15 - Beyond the search ranking: Analyzing the full customer journey data.

1:45 - The Digital Marketer's Dilemma: Why I insist on seeing the whole picture.

2:05 - My Takeaway: Every data point is relevant, but only if you use it for retention.

Hey everyone, Jonathan Saar here with 'My Takes'! Ever feel like you're staring at the scoreboard instead of playing the game? I almost crashed my personal best bike ride because I was too obsessed with my watch—and that got me thinking about data analytics in marketing. Are the metrics you're tracking actually slowing you down? Tune in to hear my quick take on when to check the data, and when to just RIDE!

Key Takeaways & Timestamps

0:00 Riding & Reflection: My end-of-summer bike ride revelation.

0:25 Data Trap: Why checking metrics too often slows your progress.

0:40 Marketing Takeaway: The surprising connection between cycling and marketing analytics.

0:55 Best Practices: When should you actually look at your data? (Hint: Not during the 'ride').

1:15 Final Thought: Don't let data analysis ruin your marketing project momentum!

Are your research methods giving you tunnel vision? I'll share a crucial lesson I learned this week about opening up possibilities, and how AI tools like Copilot are asking the questions I never thought to ask. It's time to redefine "research." What are your thoughts?

Highlights

0:00 - Intro: Research Revolution (Old school vs. AI)

0:35 - Tunnel Vision Trap (Why your current research might be too narrow)

1:05 - A Colleague's Crucial Lesson (The power of different perspectives)

1:40 - AI for Open Possibilities (How tools like Copilot expand your thinking)

2:05 - Prompt Engineering is Key (Get better results with better questions)

2:30 - My Takeaway: Redefine Research (The final thought on expanding your definition)

Are you a veteran in your field? Be careful—your hard-earned experience could be working against you!  I share a personal moment that served as a powerful reminder: the need to guard your objectivity against the bias of your own history.

Highlights

0:00 - Intro & The Thought for the Day

0:30 - A Conversation That Made Me Stop and Think

1:05 - Experience vs. Objective Approach

1:35 - The Takeaway: A Personal Reminder

Don't let your history become a barrier to innovation and great ideas. Keep that objective mindset sharp—it's the key to making your next project your best one yet!