Motivation is worthless without discipline.
Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
Grab your favorite coffee cup and get ready to embark on a transformative journey. The Champions Brew Newsletter is here to invigorate your mornings and ignite your drive for personal growth and impact! Fuel your mornings with motivation and purpose. As you savor your first cup of the day, let the Champions Brew infuse you with the insights and strategies you need to make each day a stepping stone towards your aspirations. Let’s Go!
- Uncommon Leader Insights – When I think about personal growth and leadership, reading is one of the top hacks there are for personal development. That is why I loved my recent conversation with Nick Hutchison CEO of BookThinkers, and author of the best-selling book, The Rise of the Reader. Here are my three biggest takeaways from our conversation that might just ignite your passion for turning pages and unlocking potential:
- Prioritize Your Reading Time – One of the most compelling points Nick brought up was how common it is for people to claim they lack time to read. The challenge isn’t really about time; it’s about priorities. Nick’s simple yet powerful suggestion: replace 15 minutes of social media or Netflix with reading. By doing this consistently, you can read one to two books a month. This shift in priorities can significantly impact your personal and professional growth. Remember, leaders are readers, and a small daily commitment can compound into substantial knowledge gains over time.
- Embrace the “Rule of 100” – Have you ever felt stuck reading a book that just doesn’t resonate? Nick shared the “Rule of 100,” introduced by Ryan Holiday: subtract your age from 100—this number determines the minimum pages you should read before deciding to continue or stop. This approach respects your time and ensures you’re not investing precious reading hours in books that don’t deliver value. It’s a practical strategy to keep your reading journey both enjoyable and purposeful.
- Start with Intentional Reading Goals – Before diving into a book, Nick recommends setting a clear purpose or smart goal—using the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound). This practice helps maintain an emotional connection to the material and encourages consistent engagement. By understanding what you aim to achieve with each book, you transform reading from a passive pastime into an active pursuit of specific improvements in your life.
Wherever you are in your reading journey, these key takeaways from our conversation with Nick Hudson serve as a compass. Prioritize your reading time, adopt mindful reading strategies, and approach each book with clear, intentional goals to maximize the impact of your reading habit. Remember, each page turned is a step towards becoming a more enlightened, effective leader.
You can also catch the entire conversation I had with Nick here. It really would be worth your time to tune in. AND, while you are there, go ahead and subscribe to my YouTube page so that you can receive new episodes when they come out each week. Most importantly, share the episode with someone you think of while listening.
Being successful as a leader requires intentional leadership habits. That’s why I developed the Ideal Week template – a tool that helps me identify areas for success and allocate the necessary time. It guides you through planning your ideal week, ensuring you dedicate time to the activities that bring you closer to your goals.
Want to give it a try? Subscribe to my YouTube channel (click here) and take a screenshot that confirms you are subscribed. Email the screenshot to [email protected] and I’ll send you a copy of the Ideal Week template complete with a sample to get you started!
- Be Intentional – Leadership isn’t just about the titles or accolades; it’s about intentional actions and consistent growth. I was a guest recently on the “Win at Home First” podcast with Cory Carlson, and I shared some insights from my journey that have been pivotal. One of the first questions Cory asked me was “What one word comes to mind for a leader to Win at Home First?” For me, it was an easy answer: INTENTIONAL. Here are a few points from that conversation on being Intentional:
- Intentional Reflection – A turning point in my life was a heartfelt conversation with my son that underscored the power of intentional reflection. Taking deliberate time to reflect on your experiences helps in nurturing personal and professional growth. This practice extends beyond personal relationships into the professional realm. Reflecting weekly not only helps in correcting your course but also in reinforcing what works. I’ve made it a habit to reflect on my week on Fridays, which has significantly impacted my ability to lead effectively both at home and at work.
- Intentional Decision-making – Career transitions often come through intentional decision-making. My journey from engineering to leadership roles in manufacturing, and later into real estate and healthcare consulting, was heavily influenced by decisive, intentional choices and a mentor’s guidance. For me, defining my direction with clarity and purpose has been essential. Intentional decisions have led to substantial and rewarding changes in my life. Each step brought new challenges, but also tremendous growth and satisfaction.
- Intentional Personal Development – Developing leadership capacities involves constant care and commitment. I’ve learned to never be content with my current state. Continuous improvement is a non-negotiable part of my leadership practice. Whether it’s diving deeper into my faith or applying new professional tools to personal challenges, staying committed to lifelong learning and growth has been crucial. I use tools like the “Ideal Week” Spreadsheet to break down and visualize my actions, ensuring they align with my growth objectives.
I share these insights not merely as personal anecdotes but as actionable habits that I’ve found transformative. My story invites leaders to be intentional about their growth, balanced in their life’s commitments, and unyielding in their pursuit of improvement. The journey to uncommon performance requires daily, weekly and monthly habits repeated over and over. Do you want to listen to the entire episode? CLICK HERE
- Read More, Build Faith, Think Positive – While I eagerly await my copy of “Jesus the High Road Leader,”(Amazon sold out on the release date and it hasn’t been restocked as of yet!) I’ve recently finished up another inspiring faith-based read: “The Gospeler” by Willie Robertson(yes, that Willie of Duck Dynasty fame!). Attending his recent speech he did at a LifeSurge event in Raleigh, NC, I was captivated by his journey of sharing the Gospel and found his suggestions to become a Gospeler(rhymes with Storyteller), or “one who zealously teaches or professes faith in the Gospel” .
Here are some key takeaways that resonated with me:
Our Salvation is a Gift to Be Shared: Our faith isn’t meant to be kept private; it’s meant to be shared with others.
The Good Flows Out: It’s not our own goodness that we share, but the goodness of God that flows through us.
Focus on Others: Life is short, so let’s prioritize sharing our faith with others rather than dwelling on ourselves.
Anyone Can Be a Gospeler: No special skills or qualifications are needed to share the Gospel.
Robertson’s relatable storytelling and practical advice make “The Gospeler” a valuable resource for anyone seeking to deepen their faith and share it with others. While this book might not appeal to everyone, it’s a must-read for those who desire to become more effective in sharing the story of the Bible.
- Quote of the week:
“The more focused you stay on what matters most, the less distracted and burned out you will be.” – Penny Zenker – Author of The Reset Mindset
What You Need to Do:
Call to Action: Sharing the Champions Brew is like sharing a cup of inspiration. Pass it along to someone who needs a dose of motivation and encouragement.
It’s an honor to be your trusted “Friday Coffee Guy”. Each week, I’m excited to provide yet another round of curated content that I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, or thinking over. The purpose of the Champions Brew is to inspire, equip and encourage you to become the uncommon leader you were designed to be. I am so grateful for your decision to invest a few moments with me! 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, Go 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!!
