The Intentional Advantage

Forming and fostering strong relationships is invaluable. In fact, partnerships with other entrepreneurs have been one of the biggest keys to my success in business. In this episode, I'm talking about why you need to be networking (and engaging in online networking, too!). It's these groups that can help you make contacts that will serve you for years to come! Networking is about connecting with people who understand your struggles, who want to help celebrate your wins, and who are there to offer advice and tips when needed. You'll hear why you should change the way you think about networking, why it's critical to build relationships, and why having accountability partners will get you closer to your business (and personal!) goals.

What's In This Episode:

Engaging with networking groups and online networks

Reframing how you look at networking and thinking of it as relationship-building instead

How to view networking as an investment

Aligning with other people who are like-minded

Ways to rely on your network to help keep you accountable for your goals

Women have the ability to really shift the way that we're perceived in the world of business. Sometimes we face obstacles and stumbling blocks, whether they're from our own head or something we've picked up from those around us. It happens, and that's why in this episode, I brought on someone who has had an enormous impact on my own career. She's my personal mentor and coach, Ali Brown. Ali shares so many truth bombs as we dive into what it's really like to be a woman stepping into leadership. She discusses stereotypes that women face in business and symptoms that women show when they aren't quite ready to step into their power. You'll also hear why NOW is the time for women to reinvent themselves and step into leadership.

What's In This Episode:

Why Ali ended up building her business to serve mostly women

The symptom that many women show when they don't want to own their power

Why now is the time for women to reinvent and step into leadership

Ali's advice on networking with women in higher positions of success

What does it mean to lead with vision, and why is it important for not only you but those around you as well? That's what you'll discover in this episode as we dive into using your purpose statement to guide you toward your vision. I discuss how you can use your vision to help you stay on the right path toward your goals and why you should use both nearsightedness and farsightedness to guide you along the way. Not only that, but I'll also share tips for inviting others to be a part of your vision, and why doing so can make your future and the success you want more attainable.

What's In This Episode:

The importance of having a greater, more impactful vision of the future in mind (and how it can help you stay on track toward your goals)

Incorporating the elements of farsightedness and nearsightedness into your life in a harmonious way, and how switching between different perspectives as a leader is important

How to communicate your vision to others and invite them to be a part of the journey

How to share ideas with your team to make your vision for your business or career more attainable

Are you running a company that can thrive without you there? If not, it's time to start thinking about how to make this a reality. That's precisely why I invited Mike Michalowicz on the show. Mike is the author of several books, including his latest release, Fix This Next. By his 35th birthday, Mike had already founded and sold two companies. Today, he is running his third multi-million dollar company. In this episode, Mike shares some of his biggest tips for creating a business with a lasting legacy, and how he's able to take a FOUR-WEEK vacation every year. Together, we also discuss Mike's framework for the business hierarchy of needs. So, if you're wondering what to fix next in your business, you're in for a treat!

What's In This Episode:

What the survival trap looks like (and how to get out of it)

Why Mike takes a four-week vacation every year

Mike's framework for the business hierarchy of needs

The number one mistake people make when trying to make an impact

How do you prioritize when everything feels like a priority? It's nearly impossible when you're not using the right system. This is why you need to ditch the tired, old to-do list and upgrade to a priority list instead. In this episode, I'll be exploring why a priority list will help you become a better leader and more intentional with your time. You'll learn how to decide what's urgent and what's important, and how a priority list can help you manage it effectively. If you've been having a hard time making room for your priorities, then you'll want to hear this episode.

What's In This Episode:

How to connect to your North Star

How to determine what's urgent and what's important

How to hold yourself accountable

Doing the things that nourish your soul

How to remove distractions

We need more women in leadership. It's about time that more women join the ranks of women-owned businesses and begin to own up to their greatness in corporate spaces. That's why in this episode, I am going to share the four simple habits of effective leaders. It is my hope that this episode will inspire women and help them realize that being an effective leader is within their reach. You'll hear about how to reframe your mindset (because you already have what it takes to be an effective leader!), and I'll also share why you need to set up your habits with intention. Plus, I'll give you a few resources from my book, The Joy of Missing Out, and share some past episodes on building solid habits for you to check out.

What's In This Episode:

Reframing your mindset to believe you have what it takes to be an effective leader

Setting your habits with intention

Four simple habits of effective leaders

Four steps of solid, intentional habits

During these uncertain times, leaders must step up and help counterbalance all of the fear-mongering occurring in our world. For those with a calling, the critical moment to learn how to embrace their leadership abilities and lead effectively has arrived. In this episode, I'm explaining exactly how you can start getting more comfortable with embracing your inner leader. It's a lesson that my dad began instilling in me from a young age, but I believe that anyone can be a leader. All it takes is the courage to believe in yourself and the confidence to start guiding those around you.

What's In This Episode:

Getting more comfortable with embracing your inner leader

Leveraging the success you want and empowering those around you to do the same

Learning to believe in yourself and becoming confident in your leadership abilities

Three things to keep in mind when embracing yourself as a leader

Three tips for becoming a more effective leader

Rituals are the things that help you find your center and keep you grounded, especially during times of crisis and uncertainty. In this episode, I'm breaking down how rituals differ from habits and routines and how to use them to align your day. I discuss the state of unconscious competence and how to use it to get more in tune with who you are at your core, so you can genuinely feel good about where you are as your day unfolds.

What's In This Episode:

The differences between habits, routines, and rituals

What is the State of Unconscious Competence

How to use rituals to yourself up for success

Stacking habits to build meaningful routines

There is no magic button or one single ingredient in the recipe for success. So often, grit has been attributed to much of the success that the elite in our society has experienced. But what if I told you that there was something else that could be key in the pursuit of your goals and dreams? What I am hinting at is this thing called willpower. Willpower is the yin to grit's yang. In this episode, I'm sharing how focusing too much on one thing can increase your risk of stress and anxiety, and the three simple things you can do to start flexing your willpower muscle.

What's In This Episode:

Avoiding getting caught up in the vicious cycle of grit

Using willpower to help you recover quickly from setbacks and maintain motivation in pursuit of your goals

Building up your willpower and grit without burning them out

3 simple ways to flex your willpower muscle

Have you ever thought about choosing your goal for the day from the very get-go when you wake up? Think about this for a second, what if you started your day by planning what you want to be the highlight, and then worked backward to make sure it happened? That's one of the things that today's guest, John Zeratsky, shared in this episode. John is the co-author of Make Time: How to Focus on What Matters Every Day. He shares his wisdom on not living our life by default, and how things, like the busy bandwagon and infinity pulls, are tugging away at our attention. He explores what he's learned over the years about productivity optimization, and how he uses the four-step structure of Highlights, Laser, Energy, and Reflect to help build his day.

What's In This Episode:

The negative consequences of the busy bandwagon

John's four-step structure of Highlights, Laser, Energy and Reflect

Three strategies for selecting a highlight to concentrate on