Your Champions Brew for Friday, September 2, 2022

Welcome back brew nation!  It’s the “Friday Coffee Guy” coming to you with The Champion’s Brew, a weekly assembly of material I am reading, listening to, watching, or thinking about that is designed to equip and call you to uncommon leadership.  I often add my own little spin based on my takeaways and would love your input as well.  Any of the points especially impact you?  Drop me a note at [email protected], or comment on the blog to keep the conversation going!  I believe you will discover that the format is not only useful, but also that you can consume it within the time it takes you to enjoy your daily ‘brew’!  Become a member of the Champions Brew Nation by subscribing here!!

Here is your weekly sip of what I have been reading, listening to or watching to equip me to:

• Read More – So… Do You Know What You’re For?  I just finished this book by Jeff Henderson and it was another winner.  This was #9 for me this year on my way to a goal of 12 this year.  The author uses the premise that you CAN grow your business by growing the people in your business.  To get there, he states that for an organization to grow, there are four (4) groups to be FOR:
  • The customer
  • The team
  • The community
  • And You

The title of the book gives a good hint as to the main content of the book.  The book ultimately focuses on two questions:

1. What do we want to be known FOR?

2. What are we known FOR?

When what you want to be known FOR is equal to what you are known for, growth happens.  It’s that simple and it’s that hard!

A few key takeaways for me from this book:

• Winning organizations of tomorrow will me more concerned with becoming fans of their customers instead of convincing customers to become fans of the organization.
• The handwritten note is by far one of the best ways to show someone on your team that you are FOR them – I agree.  Have any of you ever received a handwritten note?  It is a great feeling.  The author challenges the reader to write three thank you notes a day, five days a week.  That is 750 per year!  Sound overwhelming?  It does to me, too.  But, former Home Depot CEO frank Blake estimates that he wrote 100 per week!  My challenge to you is below in the call to action!!  Hint – Start small!!
• The Road map on how to design a FOR culture is five (5) steps:
  • Believe abundantly
  • Appreciate consistently
  • Develop intentionally
  • Listen actively
  • Live repeatedly
• Be FOR you! – Success is measuring yourself against other people.  Excellence is measuring yourself against your own potential.  When you choose excellence, you move closer to your potential.  And when it comes to excellence, it is so important to ASK BIG, which is one of seven ways the author outlines that we can improve.  The author suggests that the worst that can happen is we can hear ‘no’.  So, I decided to ASK BIG and write to the author (he shared his mobile number in the Acknowledgments).  I asked him to be a guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast and guess what, he said YES!  So, I am excited to have Jeff on the podcast soon!!

• Think Positively – There are certain Instagram posts, or quotes I come across that are shareworthy real time and I send to my family or friends as words of inspiration and encouragement.  This week, a post from Ed Mylett inspired me to share with my family via text and I am sharing it with you as well:

It’s easy to get stuff done when you’re MOTIVATED.

But it’s more important to get stuff done when you’re not.

DISCIPLINE is the key.

Motivation will help you START THE RACE.

Discipline will ensure you CROSS THE FINISH LINE.

• Eat Healthy – Looking for something fun to throw on the grill with your burgers this Labor Day weekend?  Here’s a fun recipe for grilled corn on the cob that will make your mouth water and puts a little spin on the old standard:

Grilled Parmesan & Garlic Corn on the Cob

4 Tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

2 garlic cloves, minced

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

6-8 ears of fresh corn, unshucked

1/2 Cup shaved Parmesan cheese

1 Tablespoon fresh chopped parsley

1. In a small bowl, mix the butter, garlic, salt, and pepper until well-combined.

2. Peel back the corn husks (do not remove entirely) and remove the silk. Rub the corn with half of the garlic butter mixture, then close the husks.

3. Arrange the corn directly on the grill grates. Close the lid and cook, turning occasionally, until the corn is tender, 25-30 minutes.

4. Remove the corn from the grill and peel off the husks. Place the corn on serving platter, drizzle with the remaining garlic butter, and top with the Parmesan and parsley. Enjoy!

5.  Works fine on the charcoal grill but works even BETTER on the Traeger pellet grill at 450 degrees!  #gallaghertraegernation

• Quote – “Growing, improving organizations are filled with growing, improving people.” – Truett Cathy

What you need to do:

Call to Action:  Stop now, take 5 minutes and write a handwritten note to someone who you have been thinking about lately!  Then, challenge yourself to write one a week for the next 5 weeks.   

I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you did, I would appreciate it if you would share it with someone who might enjoy it as well and ask them to subscribe! I will make sure they automatically get this email every week.

Until next time eat healthy, read more, be a light and Grow Champions!

P.S. – Are you a podcast fan?  Maybe the Uncommon Leader podcast is for you.    Are you interested in being a guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast?  Do you have a story to tell?  Email me [email protected] and let’s have a chat and set something up!!