Read to Lead Podcast

This week’s episode marks a first. It’s the very first time I interview two authors at the same time. Dueling banjos? No! More like two members of an orchestra, one gracefully complimenting the other.

I’m talking about Ken Blanchard, New York Times bestselling co-author of The One Minute Manager and the book we talk about today – Fit at Last: Look and Feel Better Once and for All, and his co-author and fitness coach extraordinaire, Tim Kearin. Together, they want to take you from being interested in in life change to committed to it.

Hear Our Conversation Now

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If you’re anything like me, you’ve made your share of fitness-related resolutions. Maybe you even called them goals because someone said you were supposed to. Either way, despite your good intentions, they never quite went according to plan. Believe it or not, you can break that cycle.

In today’s episode, Ken and Tim share:

* How to finally make lasting improvements in health and fitness

* The importance of shifting your mindset from interest to commitment

* How applying the leadership lessons Ken has taught for years can help you achieve your fitness goals

* Why you must determine which of the four leadership styles is the best fit for your attitudes about health and fitness

* And much, much more!

Tweet and Win!

Click the link below then click “Tweet” and you’re automatically entered to win a free copy of Fit at Last (Note: This contest has now ended. Congrats to our winner, Kelly Christopherson).

Win a FREE copy of Fit at Last by @KenBlanchard & @TimKearin from the #ReadtoLead #Podcast w/ @thejeffbrown: https://readtoleadpodcast.com/031

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Sponsor – Only 4 Slots Remain for Podcaster Academy! – Sponsor

If you or someone you know is – or soon will be – among the podcasting ranks, then I’d like to extend to you a personal invitation to my upcoming online podcasting course.

For less than $75 per week, you will get up to 2 hours of personal podcast coaching from me every week in February. For more, just visit the Podcaster Academy website.

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The Fit at Last Book Concept

Books and Resources from Ken and Tim

Ken’s Amazon Author Page

The Ken Blanchard Companies’ website

Ken’s How We Lead Blog

Fitness programs by Tim Kearin are available at FitatLastByDesign.com

Though I wouldn’t discover it until 2013, author Liz Wiseman would release one of my favorite books of the year…way back in 2010.

And ever since I launched the Read to Lead Podcast in July 2013, one of my goals has been to have her on. That’s one more item to cross off the bucket list.

Hear Our Conversation Now

In the Wall Street Journal bestseller, Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter, Liz and co-author Greg McKeown, share about the two dramatically different types of leaders we’ve all had experience with.

On one end of the spectrum are the Diminishers. These are the idea killers or the energy sappers. On the other end are the Multipliers, the kind of leaders who inspire employees to stretch themselves to deliver results and surpass expectations.

In today’s episode, Liz shares:

The five key areas where Multipliers and Diminishers differ

How Multipliers manage to get so much brain power from their people

Confirmation that Multipliers come from all walks of life

How to learn to become and develop yourself into a Multiplier

And much, much more!

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Only 9 Slots Remain for Podcaster Academy!

If you or someone you know is – or soon will be – among the podcasting ranks, then I’d like to extend to you a personal invitation to my upcoming online podcasting course.

For less than $75 per week, you will get up to 2 hours of personal podcast coaching from me every week in February. For more, just visit the Podcaster Academy website.

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The Multipliers Book Trailer

Books and Resources from Liz

Liz is currently working on her third book. We discuss some of the specifics in this episode. At present it is set to release in October 2014. Liz’s other books, including the one we talked about today are:

Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter

The Multiplier Effect: Tapping the Genius Inside Our Schools

Also, check here for more Multipliers book resources.

Books Liz Recommends

Liz is a huge fan of Brene Brown. Two of Liz’s favorite books from Brene are:

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

If you’ve ever struggled financially, or sometimes worry about how you’re going to make ends meet long term, then there is a great deal you can learn from Kimberly Palmer.

She is a young woman who, several years ago, recognized the lack of job stability within her chosen field (journalism) and, with a baby on the way, realized it was up to her to do something about it.

Hear our Conversation Now

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In her new book, The Economy of You: Discover Your Inner Entrepreneur and Recession-Proof Your Life, she shares her personal journey, and that of over 100 others, of jumping into arguably what is now the biggest trend in business today – the microbusiness.

In this episode, Kimberly shares:

* Why we all need more than one income or side-gig

* The impact a side-gig can have on your happiness and over all satisfaction

* Some of the common traits shared among successful side-giggers

* Many of the big picture questions to ask yourself if you’re struggling choosing a side-gig

* And a lot more!

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Get 40% Off Podcasters’ Paradise from John Lee Dumas

PLUS My Podcaster Academy Course FREE!

I’d like to invite you to a special webinar on January 15 that I will be co-hosting with John Lee Dumas, host of EOF.

When you sign up for John’s Podcaster’s Paradise membership community during the webinar, you’ll get my month-long course and one-on-one personalized sessions absolutely FREE! Plus, you’ll get a special promo code during the webinar good for 40% off Podcasters’ Paradise.

I hope you’ll agree this is a great deal. And whether you’ve recently launched a podcast or are going to soon, I think this is the perfect combo for you. Podcasters’ Paradise and Podcaster Academy: two programs for one low price.

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The Economy of You Book Trailer

Resources from Kimberly

We talked about a number of different website resources that can serve as great idea starters in the event you’re struggling with determining your side-gig. They include:

Craigslist

Fiverr

Etsy

Freelancer

Elance

Books Kimberly Recommends

Kimberly is a big fan of last week’s guest, Dan Pink, and mentioned that reading his book

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, one in nine Americans works in sales. But dig deeper and a startling truth emerges: so do the other eight.

So argues Daniel Pink in his new book To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others. Whether you’re an employee pitching colleagues on a new idea, an entrepreneur trying to sway potential funders, or a parent or teacher trying to convince children to study, you spend much of you day trying to move others.

Like it or not, Dan says, we’re all in sales now.

Hear Our Conversation Now

Daniel Pink is one of my all-time favorite authors, and having him on the show has been a goal of mine from the very beginning. Two of my favorites from Dan, in addition to his latest, are Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us and A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future.

In today’s episode, Dan shares with us:

* The new ABCs of moving others

* Why extraverts don’t make the best salespeople

* The successors to the elevator pitch

* The three rules for understanding another’s perspectives

* And a lot more!

Get 40% Off Podcasters’ Paradise from John Lee Dumas PLUS My Podcaster Academy Course FREE!

I’d like to invite you to a special webinar on January 15 that I will be co-hosting with John Lee Dumas, host of EOF.

When you sign up for John’s Podcaster’s Paradise membership community during the webinar, you’ll get my month-long course and one-on-one personalized sessions absolutely FREE! Plus, you’ll get a special promo code during the webinar good for 40% off Podcasters’ Paradise.

I hope you’ll agree this is a great deal. And whether you’ve recently launched a podcast or are going to soon, I think this is the perfect combo for you. Podcasters’ Paradise and Podcaster Academy: two programs for one low price.

Dan in Action

Resources from Dan

From the Flip Manifesto to a 6 New Pitches of the 21st Century infographic, check out Dan’s resources page.

Books Dan Recommends (Tons)

It was all Dan could do to stop listing books. He finally trailed off after about nine titles. We’ve included them all here…because we like you.

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In this episode, we pick up where we left off last week with some of my favorite moments from episodes 13 through 24.

The Read to Lead Podcast saw another three New York Times bestselling authors stop in for a visit: Andy Andrews, Chris Brogan and Gary Vaynerchuk.

In addition to these gentlemen, we hear from our first female guests, Lisa B. Marshall and Natalie Sisson, along with author and speaker Ken Davis, and the author of my favorite book of 2013, Todd Henry.

Hear Our Conversations Now

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Much like last week’s Vol. 1 edition, it was very hard to narrow the list down to the seven authors you’ll hear from today. Having said that, it was fun going back through the conversations to cherry pick my favorite moments.

For a list of each author highlighted, along with a link to their original episode and a link to their latest book, simply scroll down to the bottom of this post. But, before you do, be sure to enter for your chance to win one of three free books!

Win an Autographed Book!

Today’s episode also brings with it a chance to win one of three different books! They include:

Difference You Make, The: Changing Your World through the Impact of Your Influence

by Pat Williams

REPLY ALL…And Other Ways to Tank Your Career: A Guide to Workplace Etiquette

by Richie Frieman

Business Secrets of the Trappist Monks: One CEO’s Quest for Meaning and Authenticity (Columbia Business School Publishing)

by August Turak

To win one of these gems, you need to take ALL of the following three actions:

Even though the Read to Lead Podcast is less than six months old, we’ve already been fortunate to welcome as many as eight New York Times bestselling authors into the guest chair.

It seemed fitting then, on this Christmas Eve edition, to take a look back at what we’ve learned and the ground we’ve been able to cover. The Best of 2013 Volume 1 spans the first twelve episodes of the show.

Hear The Conversations Now

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Today, I get to share with you some of my favorite moments from these first few months and, I gotta say, it was extremely difficult to narrow down. For a list of each author highlighted, along with a link to their original episode and a link to the latest book, just scroll down to the bottom of this post. But, before you do, be sure to enter for your chance to win one of three free books!

Win an Autographed Book!

Today’s episode also brings with it a chance to win one of three different books! They include:

Wisdom Meets Passion: When Generations Collide and Collaborate (autographed) by Dan Miller and his son Jared Angaza

Discover Your Sweet Spot: The 7 Steps to Create a Life of Success and Significance (autographed) by Scott M. Fay

Fire Your Excuses (personalized autograph: especially appropriate if your name is also Jeff) by Dr. Bill Dyment and Dr. Marcus Dayhoff

To win one of these gems, you need to take ALL of the following three actions:

* Leave a comment on this post stating which book you hope to win and why (scroll down to comment). Be creative!

* Fill out this special form with your name and address (if you don’t hear from me, you can assume you didn’t win)

* Tweet this sentence (just click on it): Win 1 of 3 books from the #ReadtoLead Podcast with @THEjeffbrown! Find out more here: http://ctt.ec/I5Non+

Yes, I realize tweeting this lessens your chances of winning – as more people are likely to enter – but I hope you’ll agree that potentially providing you with a free book is a fair exchange. I will choose the winners and notify each via e-mail by Saturday morning, December 28th.

I hope you win. Good luck!

Attend Podcaster Academy FREE When You Join Podcasters’ Paradise

I’d like to invite you to a special webinar on January 15 that I will be co-hosting with John Lee Dumas, host of EOF.

John has recently launched Podcasters’ Paradise, an online community for podcasters complete with tutorial videos, various templates and other how-tos. In fact, right now there are over 300 hundred podcasters already participating.

If you’ve listened to my podcast recently, you might be saying to yourself, “But wait Jeff. Don’t you offer an online course for podcasters yourself called

August Turak is a successful entrepreneur, corporate executive, award winning writer, and author of Business Secrets of the Trappist Monks: One CEO’s Quest for Meaning and Authenticity (Columbia Business School Publishing).

He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Selling Magazine, the New York Times, and Business Week, and is a popular leadership contributor at Forbes. And, he rocks! Just ask my friend Jeff Sanders.

Hear Our Conversation Now

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Augie, as his friends call him, shares how he defines career, leadership, and business success. Simply put, at the center of a great business and a great life is service and selflessness.

In today’s episode, August shares:

* What the monastic tradition brings to the table that 21st century businesses need to examine

* What applying the monastic model looks like for organizations and the importance of satisfying your customers’ and employees’ desire for transformation

* How even when you think someone is un-coachable, you’re probably wrong

* Why and how selflessness should be at the heart of your organization and life

* The three kinds of Transformation and the distinction between each

Some of my takeaways from our conversation include:

* The task of leadership is not to make me successful but to make other people successful

* It is in my self-interest to forget my self interest

* The less I worry about money, the more money I make

* Great leaders share values and attitudes, as opposed to skills and knowledge

Have You Heard About Podcaster Academy?

Podcaster Academy, a new online course taught by Read to Lead Podcast creator and host Jeff Brown, launches in February 2014. It has been especially created to enable you to learn the key insights, techniques and habits Jeff has spent the last 25-plus years mastering. Weekly modules will include:

* Crafting an Effective Open and Close for your Podcast

* Interviewing the Pros like a Pro

* Taking your Listener from “Fly on the Wall” to Conversation Participant

*  Monetizing Your Podcast: The Pretty Good, The Good and The Really Good

Plus, each student will participate in up to four, 30-minute one-on-one coaching sessions with Jeff. These sessions alone are worth the cost of the course ($497), but when you’re one of the first 25 students to register, you get all this and more for just $297.

You must act fast though, as we have no idea how long these 25 spots will be available. Just visit the Podcaster Academy website to learn more and to register now.

Resources from August

Pick up a copy of Business Secrets of the Trappist Monks: One CEO’s Quest for Meaning and Authenticity (Columbia Business School Publishing) today (affiliate link). If you just can’t wait to get it, it’s available for the Kindle as well.

It’s that time of year again when many of us will make a list of those areas of our lives we’d like to see change for the better in 2014. However, as we well know, more than a few of us will fail to achieve any of the lifestyle changes on our list.

The reason for this, according to today’s guest Dr. Bill Dyment – author of the book Fire Your Excuses– is that we too often make “trying harder” and “getting more disciplined” the goal. These strategies, says Dr. Dyment, are almost always ineffective. Simple solutions will not eliminate behaviors that have persisted in our lives for years.

Dr. Dyment demonstrates that the process of changing permanently is won and lost at a much deeper level.

Hear Our Conversation Now

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His new book promises to help you discover the “secrets” of the unique 8 – 10% who are able to achieve lasting, permanent changes to destructive habits and behaviors.

In our conversation, Dr. Dyment shares:

* Why the US as a nation has grown fond of making excuses

* The 8 Life Areas where our excuses tend to do the most damage

* Why understanding Blind Spots and Weaknesses is foundational to the other areas

* Why so many of us grossly overestimate how long we are likely to live

* What we can do to ensure we maintain key social connections as we grow older

* Some of the most common excuses related to Finances

* The techniques Drs. Dyment and Dayhoff recommend to help you permanently fire your excuses

Have You Heard About Podcaster Academy?

Podcaster Academy, a new online course taught by Read to Lead Podcast creator and host Jeff Brown, launches in February 2014. It has been especially created to enable you to learn the key insights, techniques and habits Jeff has spent the last 25-plus years mastering. Weekly modules will include:

* Crafting an Effective Open and Close for your Podcast

* Interviewing the Pros like a Pro

* Taking your Listener from “Fly on the Wall” to Conversation Participant

*  Monetizing Your Podcast: The Pretty Good, The Good and The Really Good

Plus, each student will participate in up to four, 30-minute one-on-one coaching sessions with Jeff. These sessions alone are worth the cost of the course ($497), but when you’re one of the first 25 students to register, you get all this and more for just $297.

You must act fast though, as we have no idea how long these 25 spots will be available. Just visit the Podcaster Academy website to learn more and to register now.

Resources from Dr. Bill Dyment

Pick up a copy of Fire Your Excuses today (affiliate link). If you just can’t wait to get it, it’s available for the Kindle as well.

Take the Fire Your Excuses self-assessment. It only takes about 15 minutes.

Books Dr. Dyment Recommends

It’s hard not to admire Natalie Sisson. After 8 years working her way up the corporate ladder and succeeding in nearly everything she put her hand to, she decided it was time to leave.

Needless to say, many of her friends said she was nuts. Who does that after all? Well, Natalie does. And she hasn’t regretted it once.

Natalie has since developed a knack for doing what she loves from wherever she wants to do it. And now she specializes in helping other people do that as well.

Hear Our Conversation Now

I’m loving Natalie’s new book The Suitcase Entrepreneur: Create freedom in business and adventure in life. If you’re at a place in your life where you desire to step out on your own and start you own business, then this is your book. Even if you’re an established entrepreneur, but maybe desire to take more of it online, you’ll find Natalie’s new book quite helpful.

In this conversation with Natalie you’ll learn:

* Why stepping out of your comfort zone is so critical to your success

* How to know if you’re ready to “monetize me”

* The only 4 things you need to be free and why the last one is key

* Why there is no better time than right now to begin building your business

* Specific steps you can take today if you’re struggling to find your sweet spot

* Natalie’s favorite tools for staying productive no matter where you are

* And a lot more!

Have You Heard About Podcaster Academy?

Podcaster Academy, a new online course taught by Read to Lead Podcast creator and host Jeff Brown, launches in February 2014. It has been especially created to enable you to learn the key insights, techniques and habits Jeff has spent the last 25-plus years mastering. Weekly modules will include:

* Crafting an Effective Open and Close for your Podcast

* Interviewing the Pros like a Pro

* Taking your Listener from “Fly on the Wall” to Conversation Participant

*  Monetizing Your Podcast: The Pretty Good, The Good and The Really Good

Plus, each student will participate in up to four, 30-minute one-on-one coaching sessions with Jeff. These sessions alone are worth the cost of the course ($497), but when you’re one of the first 25 students to register, you get all this and more for just $297.

You must act fast though, as we have no idea how long these 25 spots will be available. Just visit the Podcaster Academy website to learn more and to register now.

Books Written by Natalie

Pick up a copy of The Suitcase Entrepreneur: Create freedom in business and adventure in life today (affiliate link). If you’ve got the entrepreneurial bug, do yourself a favor and pull the trigger on this one. It’s available for the Kindle as well.

It’s been a real treat to, in back-to-back weeks, feature two authors I’ve learned more from in the last five years than just about anyone else. Last week it was Chris Brogan. This week on the podcast it is my pleasure to welcome Gary Vaynerchuk into the hot seat.

 

Hear Our Conversation

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While Chris is all about sharing ways to help spread your message whether social media is involved or not, Gary’s latest book, Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World,is all about the social media tools and how to use them well.

I believe you’ll find it to be a great resource on understanding the psychology of various social media platforms and what makes each one unique. In fact, Gary argues understanding that concept and the others he lays out is key if you have any plans of succeeding on these platforms.

In Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World Gary holds nothing back, and shows a lot of bravery by outing a number of major brands who are leisurely waltzing their way through their use of social media. Make no mistake, Gary is also sure to include numerous examples of brands and businesses who totally get it. For that reason, this new book is sure to be a valuable resource for years to come.

In my conversation with Gary Vaynerchuk, you’ll learn:

* How  each social media platform is unique and why you need to treat them as such

* Why Gary had reservations about writing this book

* How he feels about calling out in his new book a number of well-known brands to the carpet for doing a lousy job of leveraging social media platforms

* Why many big brands continue to question the value of social media

* Gary’s picks for SuperBowl XLVIII

* And much more!

Please Help Us Welcome The Snippet App as a Sponsor

We’re really excited to welcome the Snippet App as a sponsor for this week’s episode. The Snippet App is an awesomely dynamic ebook platform for iOS.

* The Snippet App re-imagines the way we publish and read.

* For writers, Snippet means no more waiting to get published or wondering what the best way is to capture and share stories, ideas and experiences.

* For readers, Snippet means short, engaging, and beautiful reading. A Snippet’s length and multimedia content grabs and holds the reader’s attention to the end.

* Amazing writers like Pat Flynn, Jeff Goins, Natalie Sisson, and Paul Jarvis choose Snippet.

* Bottom-line: