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2 Minutes to Reset Your Whole Week

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This Is The Mindset Tip That Will Help You
Win The War

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Walter here, 

I want to talk about why you should choose to do less.   

Turn off the news. 

Stop sending emails. 

Take a deep breath. 

Now let me ask you….have you taken a minute to choose your main focus during the current crisis? 

Do you know EXACTLY what’s most important to your success right now – and in the post-Covid future? 

If not….. 

Watch this 2-minute video and see why choosing your focus (and keeping it simple) could be your greatest ally right now. 

[WATCH – 2 min] 

Once you’ve seen this, I think you’ll understand why I made this Step #1 in the Shark Mindset Action Plan. 

If you don’t already have the Shark Mindset Action Plan, you’ll want to download it here. It’s possibly the best starting point I can give you to reshape your life for success.  

Give it a try. I’m looking forward to hearing your future success story.

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Happy Labor Day

“Let us realize that: the privilege to work is a gift,
the power to work is a blessing,
the love of work is success!”
-David O McKay

All too often we are guilty of assuming people can read our minds. We notice an employee or colleague does something helpful or impressive and we think to ourselves how much we appreciate them, but we rarely vocalize it. I know I’m guilty of this. Labor Day, a day set aside to honor the American worker, is a time to reflect on the hard work the people around you put into their jobs every day. It’s also a time to reflect on how much work you’ve done this year and celebrate your victories and accomplishments.

As a business leader, we need to make our employees feel seen, heard, appreciated and validated. We can do this in a number of ways. Showing gratitude for their labor does not have to be a grand ordeal. Simply popping into their office to let them know you appreciate them can really change their day and shift the culture of the workspace. Employees are much more likely to work hard when they know their efforts are seen and appreciated.

You can take them to lunch, give them a shout on social media, offer time off, or host a team event just to show your appreciation. There are many ways you can let your employees know that they matter. 

Today, maybe you’re celebrating  Labor Day on the beach, or at a backyard picnic with friends. Maybe you’re still in the office, because you’re a hustler and things have to get done. However you are choosing to spend this Labor Day, remember to take time to reflect on all of the hard work you’ve put into your business so far. Use this upcoming week to remind those around you that their contributions to the company matter. That they matter. When we put people above profits, big things happen. 

My challenge for you this week: 

#1: Be intentional about showing gratitude to those around you.
#2: Use today to rest, but hustle hard this week to not only meet your personal and professional goals but crush them. 

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5 Ways To Reach The Next Level In Your Career Through Mentorship

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When a young, eager entrepreneur approached me at a speaking engagement and asked how I got to this point in my career, I looked right at her and said. “I found a mentor.” I think she was expecting me to say that I took a bunch of classes or got some fancy degrees or started public speaking on a street corner and got picked up by an agent. “Finding a mentor helped me get to where I am today in five important ways,” I told her. I explained that:

Mentors point out your weaknesses

Many times, we surround ourselves with people who tell us how great we are. And all this can be great for our self-esteem; it leaves no room for growth. To reach the next level in your career through mentorship, you need to find a mentor who is going to tell you the truth. Someone who will be able to identify your weaknesses and present them to you with grace and courtesy. Successful business leaders don’t hang out with people who tell them what they want to hear. Successful business leaders hang out with people who can carefully and tactfully address their weaknesses and create a plan to work on them.

Mentors build on your strengths

Just like addressing your weaknesses is crucial in getting to the next level, so is building on your strengths. You probably already have a pretty good idea of what your strengths are, but a mentor can help you see them in a new perspective. A mentor’s job is to identify your strengths and continue building on them. When a mentor can identify your strengths and give you ideas and guidance on how to improve upon them, you are next level bound. 

Mentors teach you something new

One of the most obvious advantages of working with a mentor is learning from their experiences. You will get the most out of your mentorship experience when you acknowledge that there will always be someone who knows more than you do. Being a good listener and being willing and able to learn from their mistakes can be priceless in advancing your career. 

Mentors offer outside perspective 

Sometimes being too close to a problem or decision makes it difficult to come up with a solution. Your mentor can serve as an extra set of eyes and ears on an important issue or decision. When it is time to make an important decision that may impact the trajectory of your career, having a mentor to offer outside perspective is extremely valuable. 

Mentors connect you with people

Chances are, your mentor knows a lot of people who could be instrumental in the next step in your career. Building a professional relationship with a mentor is the link between you and other valuable impact players in your industry. One of the most significant advantages of finding a mentor is stepping into their network and having access to their connections.

This week, my challenge for you is to:

  1. Order SWIM! If you haven’t already
  2. Connect with your mentor and ask them to identify your top 3 strengths and top 3 weaknesses

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The 1 Question You Need To Ask Yourself During Your Off Season (And 3 Resources To Help)

A productive and powerful off season will involve you addressing things that are challenging, that require you to do some serious self-reflecting, identify your weaknesses and inspire you to take risks. But there’s one question you need to be asking yourself to ensure that your off season is taking you in the direction you want to go.

“Will this advance me to the next level?”

If done correctly, your off season will help you strengthen your foundation and identify weaknesses that could be holding you back from success. If, before you made a change or decision regarding your next steps in business, you asked yourself “will this advance me to the next level?” you’d be surprised at how many things you think you need to be doing that aren’t actively pushing you towards the next level. There are three  ways to ensure your off season stays on track and that your focus is consistently on things that will launch you to the next level:

The 1 Page Planning Sheet

This easy to use, single page resource is designed with your off season in mind. The simple yet dynamic layout allows you to write down an visualize your goals, your game plan and the gaps in your life that you will need to eliminate in order to achieve your goals. This page can be tucked away in your planner or posted to your refrigerator, either way, it keeps your mind on the things that will get you to the next level.

Studies show that there is power in writing things down. Writing down your goals and your action steps makes them more tangible and therefore makes you more inclined to work towards them. If you find yourself writing things down on napkins or on the back of cereal boxes, you may want to level up to a more professional and dynamic resource that will allow you to track your progress and hold you accountable. Dreams are just dreams until you write them down, then they become goals.

The Off Season Audio Download

This resource offers insightful and relatable action steps to help push you forward to the next level. This audio download can be played in the car, while you’re working out, or as you make dinner for your family. It takes an in-depth look at the reason an off season is so important, a step by step guide to planning your off season, and the results you can expect from your off season if done correctly. The easy-to-listen-to guide will get you excited for what you can accomplish in your off season, and will inspire you to keep asking yourself “will this advance me to the next level?”

If the answer is no, you’ll learn practical yet powerful ways to let go of the things that aren’t contributing to your success.

The Off Season Training Course

For those serious about maximizing their off season results, the full Off Season Training Course is your next right step. This comprehensive training course comes with a detailed workbook, 24/7 access to exclusive off season videos, a detox plan for your business and so much more. Equipped with this course along with the other two resources mentioned above, you are destined for an off season packed with purpose and power!

Have you planned your off season for this year yet? Have you blocked out a window of time specifically for working on your business, your mental and physical health, and your relationships? If not, you are doing your business a disservice. Decide today to implement an off season into your business plan and when you ask yourself “will this advance me to the next level?” the answer will be 100% yes!

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3 Ways To Make Sure You New Year’s Resolutions Stick This Year

If you’re looking for another feel-good article about easy ways to keep New Year’s Resolutions and a list of the most popular resolutions, this isn’t it. We’re excited about the new year, as you should be because it means limitless options for wealth, success strengthened relationships and reaching the next level. But we are also realistic and know that a significant percentage of goals and commitments made in the excitement of the new year fizzle out by mid-march. Why? Because without a plan, without calculated action steps, without deadlines and accountability, new year’s resolutions are just wishes. So this year, why not decide to be intentional about your growth and success instead of hoping that it happens simply because you said it on January 1st?

One of the ways to ensure that your new year’s resolution sticks and doesn’t fade away once the excitement of the new year is gone is by planning an off season that allows you to plan, analyze, strategize, refocus and recharge. While you may plan to charge full steam ahead into the new year, make sure part of your business plan for 2019 includes an off season. We’ve discussed the many different benefits of the implementing an off season and all the things an off season is not, but one of the biggest moves you can make is implementing the Off Season Training Course into your business plan. If you are going to be intentional about creating a powerful off season, the best way to do it is to completely immerse yourself in the resources, planning pages, workbooks and audio downloads we’ve created to help you maximize your off season results.

Another way to ensure your goals become a reality is by connecting with people who will hold you accountable. Finding a mentor is a powerful way to get a fresh perspective on your ideas and learn new ways to reach the next level. By sharing your dreams and aspirations with someone who is passionate about your success, you are arming yourself with someone who will push you to keep going, even when you don’t feel like it. Especially when you don’t feel like it. Attend networking events, participate in a mastemind class, or simply seek out the guidance of someone who has “been there, done that” to keep yourself accountable.

One final way to make sure you are next level bound in 2019 is to make sure you put habits and rituals in place that will set you up for success. Decide what your absolutes are and stick with them. What are some things you can commit to doing that will benefit you in the long run? What are some temptations that you know will set you back and what can you do to avoid them? This may mean saying no to happy hour with coworkers to stay committed to your habits or distancing yourself from a less-than-supportive friend who often sidetracks you from your commitments and plans. Let a few trusted friends know about the habits and rituals you’re trying to establish so they can help you stick with it.

January 1st is a great time for fresh starts and new beginnings, and we strongly encourage you to use this new chapter as a time to set big goals. By planning a powerful off season, finding a mentor and establishing habits and rituals that will keep you focused, you can make sure your 2019 starts with purpose!

 

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4 Ways to respond to the haters when it comes to your off season

They say that when the haters start popping up out of the darkness, you know you are on the right track. But the assumptions and opinions of others can still create doubt and uncertainty in even the most confident business leaders. Here are 4 things they’ll probably say and a few ways to handle it.

You’re Tired

An off season is not a result of being overworked and depleted. It is actually a proactive step to make sure you don’t get that way. Of course, there is no shame in being tired; it happens to the most successful and hardworking industry leaders. But an off season is not a sign that you can’t keep up or that you’re unfit for the amount of work it takes to be successful.

People often deflect their own insecurities onto others, so when the haters assume that your off season means you easily get burnt out, it could be a reflection of their own fear of not being able to keep up with the fast-paced lifestyle of business.  

You’re Overwhelmed

An off season is not a result of being overwhelmed or in over your head. It does not mean you are incapable of the job you have set out to do, or that you bit off more than you can chew. An off season is an intentional time to look at where you’ve been and where you are going. It gives you time to plan, reorganize, re-work and rethink how you are running your business so you can work smarter, not harder. An off season allows you to let go of the things that aren’t working and strengthen the things that can send your business to the next level.

The people close to you might give you a hard time for taking an off season and assume it is because you’re overwhelmed and overworked. If this happens, remind them, and yourself, that your off season is to prevent professional fatigue. It’s a planning session, brainstorming session, a way to realign your business so that you can stay in control and focused on what you need to do next.

The haters who tell you an off season must be a sign that you’re overwhelmed may be seeing your momentum and your progress as a threat. They may be hoping that this is a sign that you aren’t doing as well as you look. They’re wrong.

You’re Stuck

An off season is not a result of being stuck, confused or lost. It is not throwing your hands up and giving up when things are hard. Your off season is a way to get a fresh look at what you’ve built and see new pathways that will launch you to the next level. Your off season is your time to look at your business and your relationships in a new light that allows you to keep moving forward.

A lot of the time, your haters won’t look like haters at all. They will be well-meaning family members who don’t understand your passion or your dreams and feel intimidated or uncomfortable with your courage to step out of the box. Don’t let their fears become your fears. You’re taking an off season because you’re not okay with being stuck in a rut or settling for mediocre. Your off season is what separates your future from theirs.

You’re Failing

Your off season does not mean you’re failing. It does not mean you’re not good at this, that it’s too much or too hard. You deciding to take an off season gives you time to look at the times when you didn’t make the right decisions, to look at the setbacks and mistakes that you’ve learned along the way, and learn from them. You have failed before and you will 100% fail again. But you get back up and you keep going, which is why you are next level bound.

Your success is a threat to other people. If it wasn’t, they’d be cheering you on instead of finding ways to knock at your confidence. They may not say it, and they may not even know it, but your failure would help them feel better about their own. So they assume, or hope, that you taking an off season means you’re down for the count. That this big dream that makes them feel insecure and small is a no-go. Prove them wrong.

There are a million things small minds will say to discredit or discourage you from doing big things. And it can be hard not to take what they have to say as truth, especially if they are close to you. But when you know the reason and purpose for your off season, you can walk into this strategy session with confidence. You will know it doesn’t mean you’re tired, overwhelmed, stuck or failing. It means you are making a smart business decision that is going to set you apart from the rest.

Hater’s gonna hate. It means you’re doing something right.

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10 reasons your business needs an off season

Your off season is a time to reflect and recharge. It doesn’t mean you put a halt on all of your responsibilities or go on vacation. Your off season is intentional and deliberate. It is a part of your game plan, not a detour from it. Here are 10 ways an off season will significantly improve your performance when you’re back in.

Honest Assessment Of You And Your Business

A step back from the everyday grind of your business allows you to do some serious self-reflection. An off season enables you to get out of your own way and see your business and your role within the company in a new light. This fresh perspective can help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of both the company and your leadership style and serve as a starting point for improvement.

Planned Time To Focus On Strategic Growth

An off season allows you to analyze where you started, where you are, and where you want to go. This time gives you the opportunity to focus on how you can grow as a leader and how your company can get to the next level. As you hone in on building your business, make sure you’re investing in each of the four primary growth strategies:

  • Diversification
  • Product Development
  • Market Development
  • Market Penetration

When you have a handle on these four growth strategies, you’ll be on your way towards future growth.

Get Bigger, Faster, Stronger

An off season allows you to get stronger in other aspects of your life that will ultimately improve your performance in business. Whether you use this time to learn a new skill, focus on your physical health, develop your relationships, or get more connected with your faith, this intentional time of rest and reflection allows you to pour into areas of your life that may have been neglected in the hustle and bustle of growing your business. Athletes don’t sit around and eat bonbons on their off season; they find different ways to build the muscles they need to be an impact player during the regular season. You need to do the same.

Action Plan Creation

Sometimes a new action plan is all you need to feel motivated and excited to move forward in your professional life. Creating a revised action plan will refocus your attention on your goals and give you practical steps to achieve them. If you’ve been working off of the same action plan for a while, your off season is a great time to revisit it and make sure it’s the best course of action for where you are at this moment.

Business Plan Refresh

When was the last time you looked at your business plan? For many business owners and entrepreneurs, it was the day they wrote it. Go back and find that business plan and see if it aligns with your core values and practices now. You’ve learned a lot since you wrote it, and it may need an upgrade. An off season is the perfect time to give your business plan a facelift and make it relevant to the current trajectory of your business.

Strategy To Boost Sales

Once your business plan has been refreshed, you can start to critically think about a strategy that will help improve sales. This could mean getting honest feedback from past clients, asking for referrals, revamping your social media, holding a special sale or promotion, or consider adjusting your prices. Your off season gives you the chance to crunch the numbers and see where you could make changes to boost sales.

Improved Vision and Culture

What does it feel like to work for your company? Are people excited to come to work? Are YOU excited to go to work? Are people there for a paycheck or because they believe in the vision of the company? What can you do to boost office morale, build professional relationships and create a team of people who feel valued and appreciated? Use your off season as a time to improve the culture of your company and make sure everything you are doing aligns with the vision of your company.

Analyze And Implement New Marketing Strategy

Is your marketing plan the best it could be? Have you made any changes or tried anything new recently to reach your target audience? If not, now is a great time to look carefully at your marketing strategy and make adjustments.

Determine New Habits And Rituals

Think of your off season as a fresh start right in the middle of the game. It’s a time to develop new habits and rituals that will make you a better leader. You don’t have to wait until January 1st to make a commitment to self improvement. Use your off season to work towards quitting a habit that is holding you back or starting one that will help you feel better, look better and be better. During your off season you could:

  • Start exercising every day
  • Quit smoking
  • Start going to church again
  • Stop checking your phone during dinner
  • Work on being on time/early
  • Stop interrupting people
  • Be more patient
  • Start a journal

There is no better time to develop a new habit or rituals than during a time made specifically for self-reflection and self-improvement.

Execute A Plan Of Attack

Your off season is your time to get as excited and pumped up about your business you were the day you created it. Use all of the things you’ve learned in your analysis of your business to create a new plan of attack to launch your business to the next level. When you come back to work after your off season period, you will have a fresh perspective and new tools and strategies to implement to make your business the best it’s ever been.

An off season is not a sign of weakness. It’s not time off because it’s too much or you’re overwhelmed or you can’t handle it. It is a strategic part of running a business that results in growth, progress and productivity.

So when is your off season?

 

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What is Executive Presence?

Executive presence is all about “it.” Do you have the “it” factor working for you? Professionals with executive presence can command a room; when they walk into a room, people notice and listen. Do people stop to listen to you?

The key to EP is being perceived as leadership material. EP is a combination of perception and reality. In other words, you look and play the part. If you have the desire or have been frustrated with your lack of advancement, you need to consider improving your executive presence. Look at it this way: about 25% of your job is to master the perception that you are executive material. Here are the 4 keys to executive presence.

1. Communication
Your speaking skills are paramount to mastering EP. Get to Toastmasters as soon as you can and practice. Speak slowly and use big words, but most importantly, speak as an expert in your field. Know your stuff.

2. Assertiveness
Leaders with executive presence know what they want. Not to be confused with being controlling or bossy, lead confidently and adapt to your team. You can’t be flaky or non-committal. You must be decisive.

3. Social Awareness
Social awareness is the ability to read an audience or situation and act accordingly. You know how to handle all types of people in a smooth and delicate manner to keep morale high and conflict low. In each interaction, people respect how you handle yourself and each situation.

4. Appearance
Look like success, look like money. Human nature is powerful; appearance contributes to a person’s perceived executive presence. If you look good, studies show you will make more money. Why? People give you the benefit of the doubt when you pass the eyeball test.

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All Leadership Trainings are Incomplete

I’m going to make a bold statement, and I am sure you will agree with me. The reason we have had so much success with our teamwork program is because we have opened some eyes. I had an epiphany recently regarding leadership: how can you offer leadership training and never teach teamwork? How have most business leaders missed it? The very word leader implies you are in charge of a group of people focused on a common goal. Here is my bold statement: all leadership trainings that don’t include a teamwork strategy or technique are incomplete, shallow, and lack substance. If you’re going to be a leader in today’s marketplace, your whole challenge is leading a team effectively. Your respect doesn’t come from your Armani suit and your success doesn’t come from your haircut, slicked back hair, or St. John outfit. If you want to be respected and admired, you had better become an expert on teamwork because that is what your career hinges on. It is more challenging to lead a business today than it was five years ago. Don’t lose your lunch because you don’t know what you don’t know.

Your greatest leadership skill will require you to do two things: recruit, develop, and retain top talent. Once your team is stacked with talent, your second job is to work as a unit to grow the business together.

Success is a team sport, so your team is more important than anything you have—including you. It takes teamwork to make innovation a reality. It takes teamwork to deliver excellence to your clients consistently. It takes teamwork to solve problems, build capacity, and launch new products. Everything you want to accomplish in business and in life will require you to become an expert on teams. You can learn how to build an amazing culture by instilling pride and loyalty into your team. We all want to reach our potential according to Maslow’s hierarchy, but self-actualization requires the right environment, the right fit, and the right team. Your self-actualization will require you to become an expert on teamwork. Success is a team sport, and you are the coach. Let’s get to work. In our leadership training and programs, we don’t just teach leaders about teamwork—that is where we start because we believe any leadership training that doesn’t cover teamwork is incomplete.

Click the button below to receive a complimentary iTeam Audio Download where I teach you how to:

    • Build trust and respect between team members.
    • Collaborate and best use of each team member’s talents.
    • Ignite mutual understanding and respect.
    • Delegate tasks in a way that magnifies strength.
    • Build micro-teams and how to fix dysfunctional teams.
    • Boost employee engagement and job satisfaction.

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