The Double Win

Leaders love to see progress. But growth brings a whole new set of problems. You may find yourself stuck in reaction mode, feeling more like a fireman than a leader. Dealing with problems all day can drain your mental energy. After awhile, you may have no bandwidth left for vision and strategy.

After more than 40 years in business, we’ve learned how to lead a fast-growing business and maintain time for critical thinking. We call it staying mentally FFIT.

With this simple system, you’ll have greater mental clarity than ever before. You will stay out of reaction mode and keep your focus on innovation. Rather than feeling exhausted when you think about work, you’ll be energized by new possibilities. Try it, and get back in front of the change curve again!

Here’s a preview of this episode.

• Why you must have a regular practice of intentional thought.
• Why scheduled “think time” doesn’t always work.
• Why your business demands a shift from doing to thinking.
• One solid way to bake think time into your life.
• How thought time gives your business an edge.
• The kinds of questions you should be asking of yourself and business.
• Why you need to be uninterrupted during your focused thought time.
• Can focused thought be done with others, or only alone?
• How outside input fuels your thought life.
• The value of physical activity in activating your thought life.
• Why serendipitous breakthroughs are not enough to fuel your business.
• The simple practice that will help you think more intentionally.
• Practical advice for people who have trouble writing down their thoughts.
• The difference between reflective thinking and reactive thinking.
• How the Hustle Fallacy inhibits your ability to think critically.
• What critical thinking is and why it matters in your business.
• The cause-and-effect chain from a leader’s thoughts to business results.
• How asking different questions can transform your business results.

Once you’ve listened to this episode, here’s your next step. Ask yourself this simple question: What is my biggest obstacle to frequent, focused, intentional thinking, and what can I do about it?

You’ll be well on your way to solving that—and many other—problems.

Tell Us What You Think

We love reading your reactions to Lead to Win on iTunes. If you haven’t left a review yet, would you do that now? That also helps keep the show visible to other leaders. Need help? Click here.

We also love getting feedback through Instagram. You can follow us at @michaelhyatt and @meganhyattmiller. We think you’ll enjoy our posts there as well.

Resources from This Episode

• Deep Work by Cal Newport

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Leaders are expected to have the answers. But sometimes they need to get insight from other leaders to stay on top of their game. In this episode, we reached out to our Instagram audience for their most pressing questions for Michael and Megan. They bring practical solutions to the problems many leaders face, based on more than 30 years of business experience. In this episode you’ll discover— The one significant change Michael and Megan would make in their work life if they could go back and do it over again. Suggestions for finding a job at a place like Michael Hyatt and Company. How to stand out in the workplace and rise in your organization. Tips for adjusting your morning and evening rituals when you’re traveling or on an alternate schedule. Whether or not you should ask your employer for a different position that you are more passionate about. How to determine if you should fire a toxic client. Advice on giving difficult feedback and maintaining mutual respect. This episode of Lead to Win is brought to you by our new tool, The Ideal Work and Life Designer. Download it for free at michaelhyatt.com/designer.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Has this ever happened to you? You’re excited about a new project or initiative, and you can’t wait to share it with your team. But when you do, you see nothing but crossed arms and blank stares. They’re not hostile. But they’re not sharing your enthusiasm either.

What gives?

Based on our experience in several businesses—large and small—we’ve learned some things about introducing change. There are three distinct challenges you must overcome to enroll your team in the future. In this episode, we’ll show you what they are, and how to blow past them. You’ll go from wondering if you’re really on the right track to feeling confident and empowered about the future.

In this episode you will—

• Understand why change is necessary in any growing business.
• Learn the top three things people fear when encountering change.
• Find out the two (competing) needs that all of your team members have.
• Gain a powerful strategy for rolling out change in an organization.
• See the very best way to handle pushback on change proposals.
• Be empowered to introduce change in a way that brings acceptance and builds momentum.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As a leader, you know you should be developing a consistent reading habit, but you struggle to prioritize reading. Here’s the good news—the problem isn’t what you’re reading, it’s how and why you’re reading. In today’s episode, Michael and Megan identify four purposes for reading. If you adopt them, you’ll fall in love with reading again. You’ll be swimming in new ideas and feel on top of your game.  In this episode, you’ll discover:   Why comprehension and retention are not the most important goals when reading How many books Michael, Megan, & Larry read each year (you might be surprised!) Suggestions for capturing ideas when you’re listening to audiobooks The impact of reading on your social life and relationships Why you need to read books that you may not necessarily agree with Pros and cons of physical, ebook, and audio formats One thing leaders absolutely must have (that reading provides) For full show notes, visit https://michaelhyatt.com/4-ways-to-make-reading-fun-again/. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2021 has arrived—and we’re still navigating the prolonged effects of the pandemic. You’ve probably seen the impact on your team. But their productivity feels more important than ever. How can you do what’s best for your team and your company? The answer might surprise you. Taking care of your team isn’t just an exercise in integrity and altruism. It’s a smart business strategy. As Megan and Michael make the case for why caring well for your team builds your business, you’ll be challenged to lead from a place of greater empathy and intentionality. In this episode, you’ll discover— An experiment undertaken at Michael Hyatt &Co. The power of benefits to communicate care How company culture shapes retention and recruitment Why you’re probably measuring productivity the wrong way A reminder that we care when people care about us This episode of Lead to Win is brought to you by our goal-setting course, Your Best Year Ever. Discover how you can create a better 2021 no matter what. Claim your copy today at bestyearever.me. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2020 is coming to an end. Before us is a year full of possibility and opportunity, and we have agency to influence what happens. But if you want 2021 to be your best year ever, follow this advice: Don’t create resolutions. Set goals instead.

As Michael and Megan unpack why goals, not resolutions, are what your year needs, you’ll discover how to move from good intentions to effective action. They’ve helped thousands of people achieve their goals, but it’s their personal stories that drive the lessons home.

Don’t drift to where you didn’t intend to go. Design 2021 to be your best year ever.

In this episode, you’ll discover—

• The power of the “fresh-start” effect
• The differences between resolutions and goals
• A brief overview of the SMARTER framework
• Why you shouldn’t “settle” as you create your goals for 2021
• The unexpected way Michael and Megan discovered their spouses

This episode of Lead to Win is brought to you by Your Best Year Ever Live, a virtual event to help you set powerful goals for the new year. Claim your seat today at bestyearever.me.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s the time of year we look around and remember what matters most—and look ahead and decide where we want to go next. That means it’s time to talk about goals.

Most people set goals surrounding work and money. But we’re more than what we do or what we earn. We’re whole people, and we’re at our best when our growth is well-rounded. As you prepare to set goals in multiple life domains, Megan and Michal will offer tips for avoiding common mistakes, tools you can leverage, and an encouragement to dream bigger.

In this episode, you’ll discover—

• A challenge to focus on your agency instead of what’s outside your control
• The power of asking yourself a simple question: “What do I want?”
• How to know where to focus your energy
• A good rule of thumb to ensure you’re not doing too much
• How you can give the gift of transformation this year

Want to take the LifeScore Assessment? You’ll find it at bestyearever.me/lifescore.

This episode of Lead to Win is brought to you by Your Best Year Ever Live, a virtual event to help you set powerful goals for the new year. Claim your seat today at bestyearever.me.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When the tasks before us are too big, we tend to procrastinate until we give up or hustle until we burn out. Either way, it’s discouraging. It can be tempting to play it safe and set “more manageable” goals. But when we do, we undermine our motivation and our success. The solution? Breaking bigger goals into smaller steps.

Michael and Megan’s exploration of this counterintuitive approach is rich with real-life examples and practical insight. They’ll reveal why small steps are so essential and how to leverage the power of incremental change.

In this episode, you’ll discover—

• Why little actions take you further
• The importance of progress to your sense of confidence
• How you know a task is small enough
• The relationship between instant gratification and procrastination
• Why we could all benefit from being like a tortoise

This episode of Lead to Win is brought to you by our goal-setting course, Your Best Year Ever. Discover how you can create a better 2021 no matter what. Claim your copy today at bestyearever.me.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When we’re living with purpose, we experience greater meaning. But how can we discover our purpose? It’s a flawed question. Because purpose isn’t discovered. It’s cultivated. That means you have the power to take actions that lead to a more meaningful life.

In this episode, Michael and Megan reflect on the sources of meaning in their own lives, taking a cue from Victor Frankl’s Man’s Search For Meaning. Vulnerable and insightful, this conversation will prompt you to think differently about where you’ve been and where you want to go.

In this episode, you’ll discover—

• Why your situation doesn’t have to change for you to experience more meaning
• How suffering can be redeemed to shape who you become
• A Finding Nemo quote that will change the way you view parenting
• An invitation to connect the mundane to a meaningful big picture
• Why difficult goals elevate your sense of purpose and change who you become

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you have a message, you need a platform. We'll cover why—and how to get started. Joining Michael & Megan is Pete Vargas, the CEO of Advance Your Reach and the new owner of Platform University. For more information, visit www.platformuniversity.com. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.