The Double Win

You know a good coach can help you grow your business. But it’s not as easy as paying the fee. Not all programs deliver what they promise. Maybe you’ve already come away from a coaching experience feeling it was a waste of time.

How can you be sure this will work?

Based on years of both coaching and being coached, we know that what you get from the experience is largely up to you. It’s possible to gain great value from any coaching relationship by making three basic commitments about how you engage the process.

Do this, and you’ll find coaching truly transformative. You’ll grow, your business will grow, and you’ll look back on this as one of the best decisions you ever made.

Here’s what’s coming up inside this episode.

• What coaching looks like when it’s done right.
• What a coach can—and can’t—do to keep you accountable.
• The person who is most responsible for the success of coaching.
• Why being “hungry” is a prerequisite for a positive coaching experience.
• What a coach can do to help you have a breakthrough.
• Sure signs that you won’t benefit from coaching.
• What it looks like when a leader is taking coaching seriously.
• How to prepare for coaching before you arrive.
• The one thing necessary to learn from coaching.
• What it means to play “full out.”
• Two attitudes that help you benefit from coaching.
• How comparing yourself to others kills the value of coaching.
• What it means to “suspend disbelief” how that fuels growth.
• Behaviors that set you up for success in a coaching experience.
• The one behavior most critical to learning at a coaching intensive.
• The most obvious mark of a good leader—and a good learner.
• The final step to squeezing value from a coaching intensive.
• A simple formula to decide how long it will take to execute on your learning.
• How to guarantee you have the time to apply what you’ve learned.
• How to ensure that your learning and enthusiasm doesn’t overwhelm your team.
• How to frame new learning in a way that will align your team.

After you hear this episode, you’ll probably be eager to get some coaching for yourself. The easiest way to gauge your need for coaching is to take the free Business Health Assessment. It will evaluate your business based on 7 key metrics. You’ll get a personalized score on strengths and weaknesses. And that will give you instant clarity on where your business needs to grow.

Pay It Forward

If you’re benefiting from this podcast, share it on social media! Drop a link into your favorite channel with the hashtag #leadtowin.

And if you’re not already following us on Instagram, don’t miss the opportunity. We both post frequently, and we do read all your comments. It’s a great way to keep up on what’s happening in our lives. And you’ll get the inside track on new products and special offers. Follow @michaelhyatt and @meganhyattmiller.

Resources from This Episode

• Business Health Assessment
• BusinessAccelerator
• 25 Things You Can Delegate to an Assistant,” free download from BELAY. Text “LEADTOWIN” (all one word) to 31996

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You’re a high achiever, and you want it to stay that way. That means you need some coaching. But these days, it seems like everybody with a laptop and a website is a business coach. How do you know if you’ll be getting solid advice? Based on over a decade of experience with business coaches, we’ve developed a successful coaching framework that’s producing real-world results for our clients—both at work and in life. We’ll give you three key questions that will instantly evaluate any prospective business coach.  Answer three questions, and you’ll gain instant clarity on your decision. You’ll be free from the worry that you’re taking the wrong advice. And you’ll start seeing fresh results in your business and your personal life. Here’s a sneak peek inside this episode— Why you need to choose carefully when selecting a business coach. The dirty little secret of the business coaching industry.  Why business coaching is now a “wild west” environment.  Our worst experience with a business coach.  The first thing you need to look for in a business coach.  The difference between a great talent and a great coach.  Questions you can ask to uncover a coach’s experience level.  Does it matter if the coach has experience in your particular industry? How to tell if a coach is taking their own advice. Why it’s vital to see that your coach’s strategies have been used in other businesses.  The best question to ask a coach about their methods and outcomes. How to know for sure that a coach can help you.  Tips for finding out how effective a coach really is. The difference between the two major coaching formats.  Why you should absolutely start with a group coaching format. How group coaching builds your skill set faster than one-on-one coaching. The hidden benefit of participating in a coaching group.  Why coaching groups are often better at accountability than a one-on-one coach. The final question to ask a prospective coach. Now that you’ve got some perspective on how to evaluate a prospective business coach, here’s your next step. Take the free Business Health Assessment. It will evaluate your business based on 7 key metrics. You’ll get a personalized score on strengths and weaknesses. And that will give you instant clarity on where your business needs to grow.  Resources from This Episode Business Health Assessment BusinessAccelerator

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You’ve worked hard and achieved a lot. But success brings a new problem: What to do next. That brings a whole new pressure from your team, your customers, and yourself. You may feel like you’ve used all your best ideas. From here on out, you’re faking it. That can be super stressful.

But there is a way to keep the momentum going. We’ve learned the simple secret to keeping yourself one step ahead of the growth curve—and the competition. You need a coach! And we’ll show you why.

Make this investment in yourself, and you’ll be energized, in the know, and more successful than ever been before. You can finally break out of the imposter syndrome and feel focused, relaxed, and in control of your business again.

Here’s a preview of this episode.

• When we decided it was imperative to have a coach for ourselves.
• The main thing a coach can help you do.
• How a coach gives you an edge against the competition.
• How a coach keeps you from getting in your own way. [6:01]
• How the image of coaching has changed from “remedial” to “performance enhancing.” [6:55]
• Signs that you might need a coach to get to the next level.
• One fallacy that keeps leaders from seeking outside help or advice.
• What a coach can show you that they don’t teach in business school.
• How a coach’s “outside” point of view helps you process failure.
• Why your own team can’t help you in ways a coach can.
• How to “outsource” your mistakes using a coach.
• Why it’s valuable to have a coach with experience outside your industry.
• Two things you need to grow your business that a coach provides.
• How coaching provides breakthrough moments in your thinking.
• Why a coaching session is better than personal “thinking time.”
• The essential presupposition that makes a coach incredibly helpful.
• Key questions a coach will force you to think about.
• How having a coach will help you build a stronger team.
• Why you should block time after coaching sessions for further thought.
• The very best reason why you should hire a coach.

Once you’ve listened to the episode, take the free Business Health Assessment. It’ll evaluate your business based on seven metrics. You’ll receive a personalized score on your strengths and weaknesses, and gain real clarity on where a coach can help you most. Try it!

Text a Friend

Chances are good that you have a friend or business associate who could benefit from this episode of Lead to Win. Why not text them a link right now?

And if you haven’t yet reviewed the podcast on iTunes, would you do that today? Your ratings and reviews are one of the key ways we keep this podcast visible to other leaders. Please help them find this great content.

Resources from This Episode

• Business Health Assessment

• The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

• The War for Talent by Ed Michaels, Helen Handfield-Jones, and Beth Axelrod

• BusinessAccelerator

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Good leaders can handle a lot of responsibility. In fact, they thrive on it. But that can lead to the most under-diagnosed condition in our culture: workaholism. Often, this goes undetected until it results in a personal or relational crisis.   We don’t believe you should have to sacrifice your personal life to succeed at work. We’ve identified the three reasons you’re probably working too much, and the three simple steps that will fix the problem.    Try it! You’ll go from working away your family time to having a full, balanced life. You really can win at work and succeed at life.    This episode of Focus on This is brought to you by Michael Hyatt & Company's new book, Your World-Class Assistant. Find out more at focusonthispodcast.com/assistant.   Here’s a preview of this episode:   We share our own history of working way too much.  The fallacy that keeps us stuck in the habit of overworking.  Why it’s often psychologically easier to overwork than to spend time at home.  Why boundary setting is critical to escaping the trap of workaholism.  Three simple boundaries that will keep in perspective.  The reason you may be sabotaging your own attempts to set boundaries on work.  How “secondary gain” may be driving your work habits.  How hard boundaries make you more productive.  Why you must determine where you add the most value to your business in order to get your work under control.  Why it’s critical to prune your calendar, and a simple guideline for doing it.  The single biggest threat to your success after a promotion.  Why play is vital for productivity and well-being.  How mastering your calendar helps you cultivate personal interests.  Why having a hobby boosts your creativity and productivity at work.  The false idea that may be keeping your from developing your interests.  How trying new things in your personal life makes you innovative at work.     After you’ve listened to the episode, try this simple next step. Set one hard boundary on your work time. That could be leaving the office at 5:00 p.m., refusing to check email at home, or not working on Saturdays. Just pick one. We think it’ll give you enough clarity (and relief) that you’ll never go back to 60-plus hours again.    Better than Starbucks?   Here’s a big thank-you to iTunes user “brh1965,” who left us this review: “I love the encouraging, not guilt-ridden, challenges!” And to René Nelson who writes, “When I need a mental break or a power shot, I skip Starbucks and listen to Lead to Win instead. Super helpful. Thank you!”Thanks to you both. We appreciate the feedback. And we’d love to hear from you too. Good, bad, or indifferent, tell us what you think of the show by leaving an iTunes review. We really do read them! 

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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

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Every leader needs a full and balanced life to be fully effective. But when you leave work, it can feel like you’re going to your second job—home. Managing a household and family take tons of time and energy. It’s exhausting, and it leaves you with no gas in the tank for family or personal interests.    We’ve found a solution. Be applying the same goal achievement techniques to your home that you use at work, you really can free yourself to focus on the things that matter most in your personal and family life.    When you do, you’ll escape that feeling of overwhelm that strikes every time you think about home. And you’ll free up tons of time for rest, relationships, and rejuvenation. We’ll show you how, inside this episode.    Here’s a preview—  Why you absolutely need to eliminate, automate, and delegate at home, just like at work.  How to get out of “reaction mode” in managing your home.  Why not every household task should be done by you.  What matters most to us in home life.  How the Desire Zone™ applies to your household responsibilities.  Where to start in targeting items for elimination or delegation at home.  Examples of household tasks that can be eliminated.  How to automate housework without hiring staff.  Why it’s worth the time to set up automation of food prep and other tasks.  Michael’s latest favorite tool for home automation.  How automated purchasing can save you a ton of time.  How to determine whether it’s worth it for you to hire housekeepers or landscapers.  How a babysitter can do double duty to help with automation.  A next-level strategy for home management.  How investing in home delegation has improved our family life and business success.    Ready to make this system work for you? Here’s your next step. Choose just one task connected with your home to eliminate, automate, or delegate. Try it as an experiment. We think you’ll be so happy with your ability to refocus on what matters that you’ll never go back.    Your Friends Need This!   This episode is too valuable to keep to yourself. Drop a link in your favorite social channel and tag all your friends. Lots of overwhelmed moms and dads will thank you! Don’t forget the hashtag #leadtowin.    Also, if you’re not already a subscriber to this podcast, do that today. You’ll never miss a new episode packed with practical advice you can use right away. Not sure how to subscribe? Click here.    Resources Mentioned in This Episode     Cook Once, Eat All Week    Mint  You Need a Budget  InstaCart  Amazon Prime  Kroger Ship  Yoshi  PillPack  FilterEasy  Amazon Subscribe & Save  Roomba  Amazon Home Devices  Google Home  Lutron  LaundryCare 

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Michael continues his conversation with Ian Cron, author of The Road Back to You and an expert on the Enneagram. Ian shares valuable insights on the essential characteristics of each type. He also shares how they influence productivity both positively and negatively. Best of all, we’ll hear important tips for maximizing productivity by majoring on the strengths of your type and minimizing the weaknesses.

When we’re done, you’ll have a basic idea of how to improve your productivity based on your unique personality!

(Make sure to listen to Part 1 if you haven't heard it!)

Share with a Friend

This episode is so valuable you won’t want to keep it to yourself! We’re certain your friends will love learning more about their personalities and how they affect productivity. Please drop a link to this episode in your favorite social channel and tag the universe! Remember the hashtag #leadtowin.

Resources from This Episode

• The Road Back to You by Ian Cron
• Ian Cron's website

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

Leaders all want to achieve. But sometimes it feels like you’re your own worst enemy. Either you’re too perfectionistic, or too much of a people pleaser, or so much of a conflict avoider that you have trouble getting things done. It’s frustrating and discouraging to fall into the same old traps over and over.

There’s a better way. We’ve got expert advice on a proven, helpful system for understanding your unique stressors and motivations, and those of the people around you. When you understand yourself, you’ll finally start working with yourself instead of against yourself. You’ll escape that nagging regret of falling prey to your own foibles, and your productivity will skyrocket.

In this double episode (listen to Part 2 here) we’re joined by Ian Morgan Cron, author of The Road Back to You and an expert on the Enneagram. Ian shares valuable insights on the essential characteristics of each type. He also shares how they influence productivity both positively and negatively. Best of all, we’ll hear important tips for maximizing productivity by majoring on the strengths of your type and minimizing the weaknesses.

When we’re done, you’ll have a basic idea of how to improve your productivity based on your unique personality!

Share with a Friend

This episode is so valuable you won’t want to keep it to yourself! We’re certain your friends will love learning more about their personalities and how they affect productivity. Please drop a link to this episode in your favorite social channel and tag the universe! Remember the hashtag #leadtowin.

Resources from This Episode

• The Road Back to You by Ian Cron
• Ian Cron's website

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

To scale yourself, you need to delegate your work to others. But delegating tasks isn’t as easy as it sounds. No matter how hard you try, the results often don’t meet your expectation. It’s frustrating, and it feels like a waste of time.

Good news: Delegation is a skill, and you can learn to do it well. Having risen through the ranks in a number of businesses, we’ve learned the secret to delegating like a pro. By communicating four key pieces of information, you’ll get a stellar result every time. You’ll avoid having to re-do tasks. And you’ll gain tons of time to spend on your high-leverage projects.

Are you ready to delegate like a pro? Grab a copy of our 5 Levels of Delegation Cheat Sheet and you’ll have all the information you need, right at your fingertips. You can do this!

Be the Friend You’d Like to Have

We’re betting you have a friend or two who could really benefit from all this great advice on delegation. Drop a link to this episode in your favorite social channel and tag your delegation-challenged friends. I guarantee they’ll thank you for it. Don’t forget the hashtag #leadtowin.

Resources from This Episode

• Your World-Class Assistant by Michael Hyatt
• 5 Levels of Delegation Cheat Sheet

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“Sure, I’d love to have an executive assistant. But I can’t afford one!” You’ve probably said that before. Or maybe you don’t know where to find one. Or you’ve had a bad experience with an assistant and are reluctant to try again. In the meantime, you’re stuck in multitask-mode, essentially doing the job of two people.

There’s got to be an easier way to find and hire an executive assistant, doesn’t there?

Yes, there is! We’ve got some simple steps for hiring and onboarding the world-class helper you need. Our own HR manager, Daneille Rogers, joins us on the podcast to empower you to make the most important hire of your career. When we’re through you’ll have the confidence to take your first step toward ending the overwhelm and getting the help you need.

Here’s a preview of this episode:

• Why you’re not done with a hire when you sign the contract.
• Three strategy choices to make before you hire.
• Pros and cons of hiring a full-time employee.
• Why a contract assistant often makes the most sense.
• When a remote assistant may serve you best.
• Why you should hire no one before creating a job description.
• Must-have elements in a great job description.
• How a Careers page on your site works like a screening tool when hiring.
• Why attitude trumps skill in hiring.
• The very best (and easiest) way to search for candidates.
• How to motivate your team to search for your new assistant.
• Six ways to find candidates that you may not have tried before.
• Two reasons you might consider using a corporate recruiter.
• A simple tip for getting interviewees to be totally candid about their history.
• The very first step in onboarding an executive assistant.
• TTTT things you must communicate at the outset of your EA relationship.
• Why you must over-communicate with your EA during the first 90 days.
• Elements of a good communication rhythm with your EA.

Are you tired of the overwhelm? The help you need could be here soon. Don’t overthink this! You know you need the help. Take the next right step and begin drafting your EA’s job description. That will give you the momentum you need to make this vital hire.

Resources from This Episode

• Your World-Class Assistant by Michael Hyatt
• Careers at Michael Hyatt & Co.
• The Kolbe A Index

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