🎯 Stop Talking. Start Listening: The Skill Every Leader Needs 👂💡

🛑 Communication isn’t just about talking—it’s a two-way street. But how often do we actually slow down and listen?

💼 As leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers, we’re trained to speak: to pitch, persuade, and lead.
 But the real power? It’s in the listening. 👂❤️

✨ In this clip, I break down: 1️⃣ Why intentional listening can be a game-changer
2️⃣ The 3️⃣ levels of listening—and how to know which one to use
3️⃣ Real stories, including the wake-up moment I realized I wasn’t the great listener I thought I was 😬

🚨 Have you ever been told, “You’re not really listening”?
 🤔 Not sure how to fully tune in during high-stakes conversations?

👉 Hit play to uncover the simple shifts that will transform how you connect, lead, and communicate.

 🎥 Let's upgrade from just hearing… to truly listening.

#Listening #Communication #ActiveListening #ListenUp #LeadershipSkills #IntentionalListening #EntrepreneurMindset

#PublicSpeakingTips #TalkLikeAPro #SpeakBetter

Tired of filler words? Ever catch yourself saying uhhh mid-sentence and think, “Why do I do that?” You’re not alone. Filler words like um, uh, and like can weaken your message and reduce your impact. In this short video, learn why we use them, the downsides they bring, and actionable tips to reduce or eliminate them for more polished, powerful communication.

🚀 Unlock Your Potential in Commercial Real Estate & Business Investments! 🚀

Are you looking to buy, sell, or invest in commercial properties or businesses—now or in the future? Let us help you achieve your goals faster while saving you tons of time, energy, and resources.

📽️ Listen this clip to discover:
✅ How we provide all inclusive (A to Z services), and what sets us apart from other brokers.
✅ A unique opportunity and competitive advantage available only to U.S. residents, which you can leverage to become the next investor.
✅ The story of someone who missed out on the above opportunity, costing him and the people who gave him hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest and produce high return for their money. 

💡 Why listen?
Learn how we can be your ally to meet your CRE and Business Brokerage goals with minimal vessel and without wasting your scarce time, energy, and resources. Plus, learn how our expert team and vetted strategic partners (CPAs, attorneys, loan brokers, and more) create seamless wins for our clients.

🔗 Ready to take action?
👉 Listen the short clip now.
👉 Comment “INTERESTED” below, or DM me to start a conversation.

Let’s turn your goals into reality—together.

#CommercialRealEstate #BusinessInvesting #CREInsights #InvestorEducate #StrategicGrowth #BusinessBrokerage 

🚨 Attention Business Owners: The Exit Strategies You Can’t Afford to Ignore 

Did you know 41% of U.S. small businesses are owned by baby boomers—and many are unprepared for what comes next? Whether you’re part of the 13.6 million boomer-owned companies or not, exit planning is non-negotiable. Life’s curveballs—health crises, partnerships gone sour, or unforeseen events—don’t wait for your timeline.

🔥 3 Pillars of a Smart Exit Strategy:

1️⃣ Succession Planning | Avoid instability with a clear roadmap for leadership.

2️⃣ Financial Prep & Valuation | Don’t guess your business’s worth—know it (and maximize it!).

3️⃣ Tax & Legal Strategy | Protect your profits with expert guidance.

⏳ The Harsh Truth: Waiting until the last minute could mean selling for pennies on the dollar. The best time to plan your exit? Yesterday. The next best? NOW.

💡 Even if you’re not exiting soon, preparation = power. Build value, reduce risk, and sleep soundly knowing you’re ready for whatever comes next.

📖 Don’t gamble with your legacy. Tap the link below to learn how to secure your business’s future—before life decides for you. 👇

https://drazhabtewold.com/three-top-considerations-for-baby-boomer-business-owners-to-exit-successfully/

#ExitStrategy #BusinessPlanning #BabyBoomers #SmallBusinessOwners #TaxEfficiency #SuccessionPlanning

P.S. The #1 mistake owners make? Thinking “it won’t happen to me.” Spoiler: Life doesn’t care about your timeline. 🔗 Listen now—or regret later.

In this clip, I shared 3 lessons professionals, leaders, & entrepreneurs may consider from the recent podcast launch of California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, who invited, in his first episode, someone from the opposition, Charlie Kirk, Executive Director of Turning Points USA. 

I'd not have been surprised if that conversation happened on a third-party platform. I'd not have been astonished if Gavin Newsom is not a sitting governor of California, a state with the largest GDP.

I'd not have been amazed if the governor had invited another governor of a Democratic Party-run state or even an independent one. No! He crossed over and welcomed Charlie, who is known as one of the top debaters in the conservative circle. 

I was elated when I witnessed these two gentlemen coming together to have a candid conversation on a platform by one of them because tolerance is one of my most important values. I honor it. I believe in it.

Besides, even if I'm an independent, after losing the 2024 election badly, I hoped the Democratic Party would regroup to recover as soon as possible. And I took this bold move by Gavin, one of its top faces and 2028 hopeful, as a first step toward REINVENTING itself. I firmly believe that when we've strong opposition, it's excellent for the GREATER GOOD. And also for a healthy DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.

That said, here are the 3 lessons:
1. Creating and nurturing a culture that encourages disagreement. I shared my own upbringing in such a culture and referenced two exemplary companies that have DEBATE as a core value: Bridgewater Associates & Valuetainment

2. Putting in place the necessary conditions to reinvent oneself effectively. Showed how there must be a GRAND STRATEGY behind why a sitting Governor launched a personal podcast as one of the strategy’s INITIATIVES. Compared the strategies of Walmart and Apple to simplify what strategy is & isn’t. You won’t believe how many interexchange STRATEGY with mere intention, vision, goal… No wonder why many strategic plans EAT DUST…

3. Adopting the principle of mastery. Explained why many, unlike Charlie, who mastered debate, either don’t believe they can or, even if they do, they drop the ball before they become world-class in what they do.

Postscript: In the clip, I predicted that Gavin may experience, at least in the short term, some setbacks and backlashes for launching such a bold INITIATIVE. I was wrong! At least for now, his popularity increased after inviting conservatives to his podcast. We’ll see what will happen in the future…

Check it out and let me know which one you liked the most...

Which one is hard to strive for, SURVIVAL or THRIVING? Which one should we opt for?

In yesterday's "Talk on the Beach with AZ, I answered this question using an interesting (confrontational) conversation I had last year in VA with a passionate person. 

I was schooled by this person when I opened my mouth and talked BIG GAME. I also shared one technique we share with our participants and coachees on how to speak your truth to power diplomatically. That is what I did in this conversation when the person smashed my idea...

Please let me know your feedback on these casual 'Talk on the Beach with AZ' talks. What kind of topics would you like me to address next? 

Check it out and let me know your thoughts. Who do you support? Tell me in the chat your vote...

To watch this talk, click here: https://youtu.be/VAwfyw1QAmQ

Leaders who don’t get along with their superiors are ineffective. They can’t get things done and are liabilities to the people they lead. Effective leaders are RESOURCEFUL and go beyond their backyard to attract resources, support, and form alliances that advance the mission of their teams, organizations, and countries.

Regardless of the attached risks, I coach and train emerging and middle leaders to be proactive and go the extra mile to influence their superiors. Some push back and complain that this doesn’t feel authentic. Others protest saying they don’t want to suck up to the boss. 

My answer is always simple: This isn’t about you. If you want to serve the greater good and the people who depend on you, you MUST MANAGE UP and bring resources, opportunities, support, approvals, and other needs of your team, organization, or community.

I always strive to draw some leadership lessons from significant events, one of which happened a few weeks ago at the White House where the Presidents of the US and Ukraine had a televised debate. Using this episode, I came up with 5 DON’Ts if you desire to influence your superior or, for that matter, anyone who has more leverage.

A couple of quick disclaimers:

1. I’m not a political analyst. I’m a leadership expert who uses such major events to share leadership lessons.

2. I didn’t take sides. I refrained from making any political statements in favor of anyone.

3. Discussing the lessons on “What not to do if you’re the boss” is beyond the scope of this clip. I didn’t talk about what Trump and Vance, who had more leverage, should have done to make the engagement successful.

4. I refused to lecture you. For each lesson, I shared my personal and other relevant stories and examples, some of which you may find interesting. For instance, under the “Don’t violate the protocol” lesson, I shared how Winston Churchill, who visited the White House during World War II, dressed up. I also mentioned the dress code that Billionaires follow when they are invited to high places. Under “Don’t misalign with your boss”, I explained, for comparison purposes, how Zelensky, Starmer, Macron, and Putin fared when it comes to influencing Trump.

Listen to this clip to recognize the 5 WHAT NOT TO DO from the episode, and customize and apply those that resonate with you to take your influencing upward competency to the next level.

There are new developments after I recorded the clip, such as lifting the Military Aid and Intelligence Exchange. If you're interested in reading the postscript, go to the bottom of this blog: https://drazhabtewold.com/5-what-not-to-do-if-you-desire-to-influence-your-boss/

By the way, there is talk about Zelensky REVISITING the White House. I’ll watch whether it’ll be a rerun or an improvement. In the former case, things will worsen. In the latter case, I will watch which of the five Don’t Zelensky will honor to turn around the struggling bilateral relationship.

There is no debate among high performers and successful people concerning the importance of growth. It looks like they grow HOLISTICALLY in 3 common development areas.

Of course, they may not grow uniformly in all three growth areas at a given time. They may not also have the same development plan...

Each may adopt different development strategies, approaches, and plans unique to their specific personal preferences and growth goals.

I've seen many courses that neglect one or more of these development areas, failing to help attendees grow holistically.

For both my personal development plan and when we design our programs at The A to Z Institute, we're always mindful during the design phase to ensure that our programs consider these three growth areas. 

Here is a clip where I shared the three common growth areas for growing holistically while taking a walk next to a water body...

Check it out when you get a chance, and let me know your thoughts. 

1. Which areas have you been growing? 

2. Which area is most important to you at this stage of your life, career, and business? 

3. Which growth area is challenging for you and your team to develop?

4. What kind of growth initiatives are you currently engaged in in these three areas?

5. How can we help?

If you prefer to watch the clip: https://youtu.be/A4EPEA64Yjg

I am taking walk in South Tampa, a beautiful place to take walk- On one side blue ocean water, on the other beautiful homes, and on the horizon, beautiful skyscrapers. 

In this short clip, I shared the place while narrating the main points of my recent blog where I shared the importance of investing in ourselves based on a conversation I had with one of my coavhees who is working on his public speaking skills.

If you follow the news, the recent gestures of Elon Musk have drawn fierce criticism from many around the world.

In this audio, I shared my perspective as an African immigrant and Cultural Sensitivity Expert.

Watch it and let me know your take...

Don't forget to check our blogs, videos, and other updates. Follow us also on social media. Go to www.TheAtoZInstitute.com to connect...