The FRONT: A Leadership Podcast

While you don't necessarily have to be the first person to do something in business. You don't even have to execute on a particular idea, product or endorsement before anyone else. You do have to be good at the product, service or task that you are speaking about. Good or better anyway.

You may not even need to be an expert to start - but once you start, it is important to remain teachable and open to new ideas. Don't shut down. You have to continue educating yourself while you are educating others. Keep in mind, being first and being #1 are clearly two different subjects. Being first is being the first to accomplish a  task. Being number one at a task or job is based on results and performance. To gain expert or #1 status, you MUST do the right things, and do them right (correctly). After all, there is a right way in coaching and handling people, implementing processes and certainly your product. There are a right and wrong to the product. If or when you decide to start, generally ideas don't have to be unique, they just have to be executed. It's even better if the idea that is executed on is done well.

1. Follow through. This is quite simply, personal fortitude. It's doing what you say you will do.
2. Keep it simple. We tend to over-complicate success. Sometimes ideas are better executed on quickly than with a perfect plan.
3. Know your target. Know your market, and know where you are headed to get the results that you want. This takes some work.
4. Know your product! You must study and have a clear definition of what it is you sell. Whether it is a tangible product or a service, CARE enough to learn so you can accurately portray benefits to your consumer.
5. CHANGE THE WORLD! (Or, at least your industry). You must be willing to remain unique and stay yourself in a world of copycats. So many industry experts have become teachers of old world rhetoric, the teaching has become lethargic and mundane.

There is it is... proof... You don't have to be first to be excellent!

You can check out of the video blog episodes on YouTube on The FRONT Playlist

My inspiration today is brought to you by our kickboxing coach. Mr. Russ (Ruselis). He is out of this world and inspires many people every day with his smile and upbeat attitude. When inspiration hits (like it did me this morning in class...) you have to take it and run with it!

Watch the video above to get the #IMPACT. My wife and I take a kickboxing class on Wednesdays and we run drills; one minute on the heavy bag, one minute off the heavy bag (workout and calisthenics). While a minute may seem like a short period of time, in business, and in life, we often take our minutes for granted. In a workout drill, one minute can seem like an eternity... sweat, wearing out, pain, shaking. Our coach was on fire this morning (as were my legs). He made this simple, yet profound statement. "Don't Give Up! Never Give Up! When you stop... you only get good at one thing... giving up. So, just keep going!"  That simple statement struck a chord and got me all fired up and allowed me to persevere... until...  Your life, our lives, they are quite similar to that ONE MINUTE. It feels like an eternity, a long ride. But, when you look back on it all, those minutes they all stack up. NEVER GIVE UP!

You can check out of the video blog episodes on YouTube on The FRONT Playlist

Today I'm talking about what I do in the first 30 minutes of my day. I'm giving advice on what you can do in the first 30 minutes of your day to be positive, have more energy and get fired up!

SO... here they are:

1. Say, "Good morning" & "I love you" to my wife!
2. Take 10 deep clearing breaths
3. Watch (YouTube) or read (in a book!) something positive or inspiring
4. Start to clear your mind and think about what will be brought on during your day.
5. Do your "morning" stuff (regular rituals)
6. SMILE!
7. Take several more deep cleansing breaths
8. Think of 3 things you are grateful for
9. Narrow down to 3 things you MUST accomplish on that day.
10. Think of 3 things you are looking forward to! So go do it! Set your daily tone! Have some energy!

You can check out of the video blog episodes on YouTube on The FRONT Playlist

When it comes to leadership, there are fundamentals. I jump right into it in the video below. Here are three key (and fundamental in my opinion) rules on leadership.

1. Know the job and content better than the people doing the task for you. AND - you have to be able to articulate what you want to be done, and demonstrate it if necessary.
2. Investigate any resistances personally. "Manage from your feet, not from your seat!" Check out the info without opinion.
3. Follow the evidence and outcomes wherever they lead you. Just follow it. Great leaders seek the truth. They also understand that truth and honesty do not ALWAYS coincide.

Seek out facts. Share them. Teach them. Groom others to succeed and surpass you!

You can check out of the video blog episodes on YouTube on The FRONT Playlist