Start With A Win

Do you have a lot of complainers in your life? Is it preventing you from getting stuff done? Take a moment and don't consider them as complaints—instead, turn them into opportunities that lead to solutions that lead to forward progress!

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Systems engineer Ernesto Mandowsky is the CEO of CPD Advisors where he helps founders and leaders scale their organizations. His passion is in working with early-stage founders and entrepreneurs to transform their operations by utilizing his proprietary 6P Playbook. Drawing on his experience in management systems and the hospitality industry, he developed his powerful playbook for business growth and sustainability by focusing time and attention on the following six principles: priorities, people, projects, promotion, playbooks, and planning. 

When working with founders, Ernesto found that many people actually set goals incorrectly. Instead of focusing on the results they want to see, he helps leaders visualize effective goals that put plans into action. Establishing procedures for each cycle a business goes through on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis ensures efficient time management and clear feedback for moving forward. Playbooks also provide concise training and professional development programs that promote the bigger vision of a company. Working within systems specifically designed for your business supports growth in the implementation of both internal and external operations.

Main Topics

• Applying systems engineering in the hospitality industry (02:00)
• Ernesto’s 6P Playbook (04:00)
• Identifying priorities in business (06:27)
• Maintaining relationships for business success (08:53)
• Managing projects so they don’t take over your day (12:26)
• Benefits of video email to build connection (15:27)
• Promotion strategies for sharing the mission of your business (17:11)
• Playbooks are repeated, coordinated sets of actions (18:50)
• Different levels of planning (20:13) 

Episode Links

• www.freesystemscall.com
• www.ernestomandowsky.com

Connect with Ernesto:

https://twitter.com/emandowsky

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernestomandowsky/

https://www.instagram.com/ernesto_cpd/

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

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For many people, conflict in the workplace is something to avoid at all costs. For Dr. Zach Schaefer, he sees an opportunity to grow. Zach has honed his career around the people problem in business. As a founder, CEO, entrepreneur, and executive mediator and coach, he spends much of his time helping people navigate conflict in their professional and personal lives. On average, companies spend very little time and attention on strategies for conflict resolution. Without a game plan, small issues can fester into big problems that harm businesses and relationships when they explode. 

Zach believes that when a company has conflict confidence, they are able to adjust to unexpected changes and are more resilient in challenging scenarios. His coaching program encourages leaders to expect disagreements among team members and therefore create a strategic plan for resolving conflicts when they come up. Rather than avoiding hard conversations or addressing them via text or email, he encourages face-to-face interaction. It’s also important to be proactive when issues arise. Successful leaders practice their sensitivity to conflict by anticipating where the disagreements will occur and making a plan for how to address them with grace and clarity. One of the best tools for using conflict in a positive way is by creating space between the trigger and the response. When conflict is treated as an opportunity to grow, teams strengthen their individual and collective impact.  

Main Topics

• Redirecting how we view conflict (01:50)
• Avoid passive aggression in difficult situations (04:05)
• Definition of conflict confidence (06:35)
• 3 levels of conflict to address (07:50)
• Establishing rules around conflict management (09:24)
• Biggest mistakes a leader can make in conflict management (11:55)
• Conflict resolution strategies during seasons of change (13:15)
• Including conflict resolution coaching in professional development (15:55)
• Zach’s Conflict RADAR (17:40)

Episode Links

• https://www.sparkthediscussion.com

Connect with Zach:

https://www.youtube.com/@ZachSchaefer

https://www.facebook.com/SparkSolver/

https://twitter.com/SparkSolver

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zschaefer/

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEO

https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO

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Internal fear, which I like to call "the beast," is what often stops people from accomplishing their goals. This beast's goal is to create fear, doubt and overwhelm in us and keep us from reaching our potential. The key to fighting it is to "party with the beast" and learn to embrace it and grow with it!

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

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Americans today encounter up to 10,000 advertisements per day. With limitless information and endless options for distractions at our fingertips, many people experience the negative effects of information overload. Especially for entrepreneurs, too much information can lead to procrastination, decision fatigue, analysis paralysis, and burnout. Since the world will only keep expanding, it is important for business owners to learn coping skills that help them focus in a world where everyone is vying for attention. Adam suggests three tools to assist entrepreneurs in this opportunity for growth:

1. Prioritize the things that need your immediate attention. Think about what actions you can take to grow your business. Then remove anything that may distract you from those tasks. 
2. Limit your exposure to irrelevant information. It can be helpful to use apps or other tools for managing your time, setting intentions, and choosing the best sources from which to receive your information.
3. Schedule time to unplug from information and technology. The brain needs time to rest, even during waking hours. Spending time in meditation, nature, engaged in a favorite activity, or being with loved ones resets and refreshes the brain.

By being proactive in regards to information input, business leaders take daily, necessary steps to avoid burnout. Building a healthy relationship with our exposure to information is one of the best ways to increase productivity and overall quality of life. 

Main Topics

• Information overload impacts entrepreneurs (02:45)
• Consequences of too much information (04:15)
• “Get your ass to market” (06:40)
• Overcoming information overload (07:17)
• Limiting exposure to irrelevant information (10:11)
• Using research time with intention (15:30)
• Unplug and allow the brain to rest (16:25)
• Allowing the subconscious mind to solve problems (18:35)

Episode Links

• https://www.thesocialdilemma.com

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEO

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https://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

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Former All Pro Linebacker for the Denver Broncos Karl Mecklenburg applies the lessons he learned from football to all areas of life. As an inspirational speaker, author, and podcast host, Karl uses his winning mentality to guide leaders and team members to function as an efficient unit. He helps founders identify and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their team so that everyone is placed in a position that sets them up for optimal performance. Karl uses his 6 Keys to Success to practice clarity and consistency in personal relationships and business. He sets the example of what it means to live life with the courage to evaluate himself honestly. One of the biggest challenges in overcoming obstacles to success is offering forgiveness for ourselves and others. Once we give ourselves permission to move forward despite perceived failures, we can experience explosive growth as individuals and a team. On and off the field, honesty and dedication help us set goals that are both reasonable and attainable on our path to success. 

Main Topics

• Converting sports principles to all areas of life (02:13)
• Maintaining leadership in the face of criticism (05:03)
• The power of positive feedback from leadership (07:50)
• Working with strengths and weaknesses on a team (11:20)
• Using vulnerability as a tool for problem solving (13:30)
• 6 keys to success (16:25)
• Clarity and consistency in setting goals and achieving them with deliberate practice (17:30)

Episode Links

• https://karlmecklenburg.com

Connect with Karl:

https://www.facebook.com/KarlMecklenburg

https://twitter.com/KarlMecklenburg

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlmecklenburg/

https://www.instagram.com/karlmecklenburg/

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEO

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Want to fix your business? You've got to fix everything else first! Our lives are interconnected—personal, financial, health, relationships—so in order to experience success in business, you must have success in your life. It starts with building micro routines and wins that turn into macro wins! Build the habits that create successes in your life, and watch your business thrive!

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEO

https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO

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Think positive. Seems simple enough. Best-selling author and speaker Jon Gordon champions the power of positive thinking in his numerous books and leadership training programs. But he wants to be clear; he’s not talking about seeing the world through rose-colored glasses and ignoring reality. He’s referring to the power every individual has to choose resilience and faith in the face of challenges in order to create the life they want.

Jon considers himself a naturally negative person, so he’s worked diligently throughout his life to choose positivity and see the potential in each day. Living out the truths he’s teaching is what makes his message so powerful. He trains leaders to work from the roots of their organizations upward, enjoying the fruits of their labor later. In this way, strong leaders seek to serve their employees and clients by choosing to be a source of love rather than fear. Change can trigger a fear response, which might lead to making excuses or jumping ship when things get hard. But Jon teaches that the way leaders view change determines their ability to succeed or fail. Embracing the highs and lows of life and business equally leads to deeper levels of integrity that allow a company to flourish when others fail.  

Main Topics

• Jon’s personal journey to becoming an expert in positivity (02:15)
• Rewiring the brain to choose positivity  (04:51)
• Love vs. fear to manifest your dreams (09:11)
• Relationship to change determines success (14:00)
• Avoiding pitfalls in leadership (17:40)
• Jon’s upcoming book The One Truth about oneness vs. separateness (20:00)

Episode Links

• https://jongordon.com

Connect with Jon:

https://www.facebook.com/jongordonpage

https://twitter.com/jongordon11

https://www.instagram.com/jongordon11/

https://www.youtube.com/jongordonselects

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEO

https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO

https://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

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Former star pitcher, competitive bull rider, and combat veteran Wylie McGraw lives every day in peak performance mode. By intentionally putting himself in situations that pushed him to his limit, he discovered his superpower: exposing negative beliefs and behaviors that prevent people from tapping into their greatest potential. Now he works with powerful CEOs and business leaders to radically accelerate growth and promote optimal performance.

Many people are plagued by their own personal demons created by stress, trauma, and setbacks seen as failures. Instead of facing them head-on and learning to pivot, most give up. Wylie’s approach may seem countercultural in that he challenges people to push themselves outside of their comfort zones. Rather than simply touting this theory as the next self-help hot topic, he expects clients to actually put it into practice by doing the things that scare them the most. This is where real growth occurs. Self mastery demands a willingness and tenacity to show up every day ready to push life to the limits. With discipline and accountability, leaders hone themselves into the best version they can be in order to powerfully impact their relationships and communities. 

Main Topics

• How Wylie discovered his superpower (02:14)
• Practicing awareness through stressful situations in combat, baseball, and bull riding (05:20)
• Excuses for quitting vs. learning to pivot (10:11)
• Maximizing potential by getting uncomfortable (13:44)
• Accountability is freedom (17:20)

Episode Links

• https://www.wyliemcgraw.com
• “Wise Words and Whiskey” podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wise-words-whisky-with-wylie-mcgraw/id1649548407

Connect with Wylie:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5eB02vV_S78ryDCra7BnZw

https://twitter.com/WylieMcGraw

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wyliemcgraw/

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEO

https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO

https://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

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Food is energy and power for your brain and focus to get things done. Get some protein-packed snacks and plug them in between meals. This will power your brain to be more focused and more successful in your day! And, don't forget to hydrate!

Connect with Adam:

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