The FRONT: A Leadership Podcast

Inspiration came from my kickboxing class this morning. I had one of the gal's hollers at me, "COME ON MIKE, KEEP GOING!" My immediate reply was, "Just because I am not going as fast as you, does not mean I've stopped." I think that is so relevant and important to acknowledge in business, management, and leadership. It's okay for people to move at a different speed or take different approaches to get a task completed. You just don't want to allow them to stop or stagnate.

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You want people to complete tasks, and you want them to complete them well. You also, want people that work for you to have an opportunity to grow at their pace. Just remember be a positive influence. Encourage people. Push them to keep going! Keep people moving forward, it's easier to keep them going than it is to get them started again from a complete stop!  

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When people are learning and growing, it makes them more valuable. More valuable to themselves in the form of self-confidence and self-worth and upgraded intra-personal skills. It makes them more valuable to their families, improves interpersonal skills and their relationships. And certainly, makes them more valuable in business, because when you are growing as an individual, and as a manager or a leader in an organization, it brings other people along that growth pattern with you - AND – helps the organization to grow!

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So, here are my 5 tips on learning effectively.

1. Know how you learn. Are you primarily - visual, auditory, kinesthetic. Do you learn better in a classroom, or by watching someone else? Do you learn with someone guiding you, and just going after it, taking action. These methods are all valuable. To be effective at teaching others, you must know what your areas of strength are and be an effective student first. You cannot teach what you don’t know, and it’s certainly more difficult to teach in a method that you are not good at.
2. Learn completely, versus learning everything you can as quickly as possible. Spaced reputation is a learning technique that means you study your subject matter and then take a break. You have to have time in between. There are many experts that state it takes 26 spaced repetitions to learn a skill. So for example: Learning a new sales process will take a new salesperson repeating the skill, 26 days or times in a row. There is that time gap, break and sleep in between. But, if practiced daily that is how over time you repeat the result that you want. You’ve heard the saying, “Nothing worth doing comes quickly and easily.” Knowledge and growth are valuable… so it’s going to take time to be effective and certainly to become an expert.
3. Teach yourself to ignore other people’s agendas and approval. If you are more worried about what other people think than what is the right thing for you right now, you may as well stop reading. Other people want to push their opinions and agendas on you to keep you at a similar level to what they are at. If you are growing and they are not, then they may realize it is a problem with themselves. They will openly share their agenda or disproval with you to try and keep you in an area that is comfortable for them. This may not be what is right for you!
4. Learn from mistakes. Your mistakes, other people’s mistakes. All mistakes have value and you can learn from them. The key is that when you make a mistake, acknowledge that it is a mistake – and DON’T REPEAT it! If you continue to repeat a mistake or to do something incorrectly, it’s no longer a mistake, it’s a choice. Study your mistakes, embrace them, and make certain that you perform the skill differently in the future if you want a different result.
5. Know that your brain changes over time. Scientific studies on the brain show that the human brain is constantly changing. New pathways are constantly created or recreated. As your brain changes, so does your mindset. Many things will change throughout your life, even the ways you learn and communicate. As you grow you can likely see the changes and upgrades you have made in your own life. You think differently in your 40’s versus in your teens. You think differently and learn as a single person, versus married. As a couple versus parents, your brain and yourself are constantly being recreated. Let it happen, embrace the constant of change for yourself.

As always, thank you for watching, reading or listening! Tune in each Wednesday and Sunday for new episodes of "The FRONT."  

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It's very difficult to have the wherewithal to both DO great things and TALK ABOUT DOING GREAT THINGS at the same time. So if you have to do just one, which is better?

I personally believe it is better to take action, to do. Talking about accomplishment, planning and being strategic is great, and they are necessary. But, execution on tasks is a real key to success!

https://youtu.be/cxqTic0VwWA

Action.It truly does speak louder than words. So sometimes it's necessary to just be quiet and get on your game and execute. It's not necessary to brag, or speak heavily on the subject. People will see what you are doing with their own eyes, and then they will believe in it.

You must trust that you are ready. So take action... go, go, go - wherever you are, it's important to START.  

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These are business principles that I have learned throughout my time in business, as a youth sports coach, and in leadership. So tune in and check them out!

https://youtu.be/IVfIya8hneQ

1. Success will not depend on your education, but on your attitude and the actions you take.
2. You are either rich or you are poor. It’s a mentality. There is no in between.
3. True freedom comes from more than a 40-hour work-week. Entrepreneurs understand this. Real success is that you work while you are awake.
4. No one else truly cares if you succeed or fail. Your view of success and someone else’s view of failure may be much closer together than you think.
5. You must learn how to sell, whether you like it or not, you will always be selling, yourself, your product, your company.
6. You will never get paid what you deserve unless you sell. You must negotiate it. Be confident in yourself and what you have to offer.
7. You'll get paid the most to do what others refuse to do. Be an expert in simplicity. Nike has built their whole company on this slogan. “JUST DO IT.”

Thanks for watching or listening! If you have principles that you would like to share, please leave them in the comments down below.  

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This is an international celebration of podcasting power! Spread the word and tell, friends, family and all of your social connections! Please tune in and check it out, and make sure to share on your Facebook, Twitter and other networks. Use #InternationalPodcastDay as your hashtag! As always, thank you for tuning in and checking out episodes of my podcast, "The FRONT." You can check out all of the episodes fo my podcast at http://leadtheteam.libsyn.com Join the celebration. Please SUBSCRIBE! And as always, thank you for tuning in!  

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After watching the video, do you have some additional things that work for you? Leave them in the comments below! https://youtu.be/r4Hx-jPzWzo

https://youtu.be/r4Hx-jPzWzo

1. Work with the people that you already have in your database or already know. Call them back when you say you will! Only about half of salespeople (in any industry) follow-up even one time. So if you simply call people back you are better than the other 50%. Customers will appreciate a salesperson that does what they say they will do. This is the first step.
2. Ask everyone that you meet for referrals. With 85% of the American population owning or buying a vehicle. In fact, I have heard that somewhere between 25% and 30% of people have referrals. You must ask the question! "Who do you know that may be in the market for a new or used car, truck, van or SUV?"
3. Social Media. Brand yourself, become the local resource for people to reach out with questions.
4. Online Video. I include this separate from social media in general because some will like it and some will hate it, some people are very uncomfortable doing video. You must get comfortable with video because this can have a high impact. It is a great way for people to feel more comfortable working with you because they have already seen how you carry yourself.
5. Networking groups – join one. Be the resource for the group in automotive. When you become connected to other professionals you can become their “go to” person. You will start to generate more customers. Use meetup.com to find local people you can connect with!
6. Hook up with a good Realtor (start with yours!). When people move into a new home, they are in buy mode. Often, when people move from out of the area, their current vehicle is not equipped with the new area they have moved into. Colorado for example, maybe someone is coming here from Georgia, and now they need a 4x4 or AWD, you get the idea.
   • ALSO - Hook up with a good Insurance Agent. Same idea as the realtors. Since they insure peoples cars, you would like them to mention you when someone mentions needing a car to them. Return the favor, to be top of mind, make sure you use their insurance services for your customers as it’s may be needed.
7. Create company purchase programs. Everyone wants a deal, they want the coupon. What can you offer to a business that will allow their people to feel special, do you have a value-add that you can include if someone in their company purchases from you? Create a proposal and then find the right person. Offer something without asking in return, other than the advertising to the employees. I have always had a high rate of being included in programs like this.
8. Use business cards the right way. Business cards in a lot of cases are just a, “Get off the lot free” card. You should be using these proactively to promote your business.
9. Volunteer in the local community for things you believe in. This is not to be self-serving. It is a way to show the content of your character. Volunteering is a great way to get into and give back to your local community. By doing so, people will learn about who you are. And often you may learn a little about yourself also.
10. Be responsive. Once you have done one or more of these activities. Be responsive to the people that reach out to you. If you aren’t people will quickly figure out that you are a fake. Your efforts can be crushed very quickly because even though your potential customers may not say anything to you, you can be certain that they are saying things to other people.

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If you want your life to be meaningful and have a strong purpose, you must have goals! You should have lots of goals. Business goals, family goals, personal goals, each of these will move you to a successful and purposeful life! You should always have multiple goals to pursue at any given time, but you shouldn't be afraid to change them if you think that's what they need. Outside influences will try to derail your goals. People will try to change your mind. People will get jealous and will tell you that your goals are too big, or too unrealistic. They are your goals, your dreams, and you should hold onto the goal no matter what. Just be aware that there is more than one way to accomplish your goal or goals. SO don't fall in love with your approach. The method may change. For example, weight loss. You may have a goal to lose 20 pounds. But, there are several different methods to lose weight. You can diet, you can work out, or run, do cardio all of these are viable methods. More extreme would be diet pills or surgery. Those methods work too (though not my recommendation). Any one of those can get you to your goal of 20 pounds lost. Just keep in mind, as times change your methods may need to change. Your approach or the path may swerve or move in a method that you didn't anticipate when you started. It's ok to adjust. That doesn't mean the end-game or the goal changes. Just the path. Over time, as you age, as you grow in experience and expertise, your goals will change also. They will evolve. That's ok, once you have a new set of goals, create new methods. ALWAYS KEEP MOVING FORWARD!  

Outside influences will try to derail your goals. People will try to change your mind. People will get jealous and will tell you that your goals are too big, or too unrealistic. They are your goals, your dreams, and you should hold onto the goal no matter what. Just be aware that there is more than one way to accomplish your goal or goals. SO don't fall in love with your approach. The method may change. For example, weight loss. You may have a goal to lose 20 pounds. But, there are several different methods to lose weight. You can diet, you can work out, or run, do cardio all of these are viable methods. More extreme would be diet pills or surgery. Those methods work too (though not my recommendation). Any one of those can get you to your goal of 20 pounds lost. Just keep in mind, as times change your methods may need to change. Your approach or the path may swerve or move in a method that you didn't anticipate when you started. It's ok to adjust. That doesn't mean the end-game or the goal changes. Just the path. Over time, as you age, as you grow in experience and expertise, your goals will change also. They will evolve. That's ok, once you have a new set of goals, create new methods. ALWAYS KEEP MOVING FORWARD!  

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Our perceptions affect our beliefs and belief systems. In fact, you can be looking at the same item, or in the same situation with a different person and you can each see two completely different outcomes. Let me start with a few definitions of things I'm going to talk about in the podcast/video.

• per·cep·tion - the state of being aware of or process of becoming aware of something through the senses.
• goal - the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.
• a·chieve - successfully bring about or reach (a desired objective, level, or result) by effort, skill, or courage.

When it comes to perception, I learned some time ago to eliminate the word failure from my vocabulary. When you have a goal, measure successes, celebrate wins, the more you wire your brain this way, the more wins you will have to celebrate! So Measure each success along the way, all of them, no matter how small. Every sale can be a win. here is my spin. For example, if you are a car salesperson and you have a goal of 30 units sold. If you end up finishing at 29, there is a significant success in the 29. And when you can dissect and repeat those 29 successes they turn into 30 successful sales, then 35, and so on. In the video or audio make sure you listen through the parables of the two brothers and the two salesmen! It may help you in understanding the perceptions of others!  

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This show is a repeat. It's about Purpose. “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” ~ Mark Twain

https://youtu.be/ZOJtvxO-EFw

Like the quote says, I used to think that I was searching for my purpose. And for a brief time, I thought that the one reason I was put here was to make an impact on others, help train and grow people. I thought that was my purpose… if you listen to Tony Robbins, that was my driving, “WHY.”

But, what if you had more than one reason… what if I told you that you need to let go of the ONE. What if there wasn’t only one “current” purpose that you should be working on for the next 5, 10 or 15 years before you can work on what you REALLY want to do? Here is a (maybe) harsh reality for some of you. God did not whisper to you and tell you to do this for only the time being, it isn’t to just pass the time. You are supposed to be excellent and be GREAT at today! Your today could be to make an impact on your team, your staff, your network… it could easily be all those things. However, what if today is the day you are supposed to be a kick-ass husband, father, wife, or mother? What if today your one sole purpose for today is to be a best friend? Not a superficial best friend, but the kind that listens without opinion and offers no judgment… Even later. This is me sharing a heavy opinion and insight right now. Each day may bring a new purpose.

Once you understand that there is more than just one thing. You may start to look at what you are doing each day differently. You will look at the world differently and in-turn, the world will smile and look back differently on you. That’s God at work. The purpose is NOT the gold watch. Let me ask you if money was no object, would you be doing (for work) what you are doing right now?

If you have ever tuned into Mike P (me) before, I had a radio show for a time, that grew to around 5000 listeners each week. I’ve coached thousands of youth sports competitors, I’ve worked with hundreds of people in business; you have heard me say that there are two primary things that YOU can control in your life – ACTIONS and ATTITUDE (AA’s) If you have ever looked up purpose in the dictionary – PURPOSE is a verb. A noun is a thing, a verb is an action. What?! Purpose is defined as – “to have as one’s intention or objective.” Regardless of what you think your PURPOSE is in this life. Why God put you here. You can never think your way into purpose. It’s not possible to only have a great attitude and think it will happen. You must DO your way into purpose – you must have your dream, and take a little piece of action towards that belief and towards your purpose every day, for that day. Thank you for everyone and anyone who took the time to either tune into the video or read through the blog! I hope you have a fantastic and purpose-filled day!  

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If you engage actively in these three things, you can increase your influence and your leadership aptitude.

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1. Know yourself and your team. You must play to your strengths as well as your team's strengths. Making sure to address and develop weak areas to minimize or eliminate shortcomings in a business environment. If you know yourself well you can lead others to success. If you know your team well, then you can drive them to greatness, and they will feel confident and help to build your vision along the way.
2. Be an open and authentic positive influence. Leadership is influence, it’s not a title. Leadership is similar but not the same as a management role. The reason is because influence can come from anyone at any level and in any role. Therefore leadership can come from any level in an organization.  Leadership has to do with lifting other people up and working towards a common goal. When you work together and especially when you achieve together it builds greater influence.
   *** The cleanest and best leadership comes when those around you are influenced by who you are and your life in a positive way. “Who you are speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you are saying.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
3. Active Listening. Leadership has three key factors: to listen, to inspire and to empower. Over time, I've had to learn to do a much better job of listening - actively listening – meaning I am making sure I really understand the other person's point of view. I’m not listening to respond, but listening to understand. I learn from them, and I use that as leverage to grow, and inspire the people I am working with.

Leaders have clarity of purpose and they communicate well to get their ideas across to others. They have confidence, not arrogance. They are confident in themselves, their abilities and how they can groom others to have a high level of confidence. And they have the courage to tackle the unknown. They can leap and lead in the darkness, knowing that they can shine their own light to see enough to guide other people no matter what.  

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