Excellence is the culmination of thousands of details executed perfectly
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 – In one recent episode of The Uncommon Leader Podcast, guest Markus Kaulius shared profound wisdom and actionable principles that can help us all elevate our lives. Here are three key takeaways from my conversation with Markus:
- The Power of Positive Self-Talk: Markus highlighted the transformative impact of how we talk to ourselves. He emphasized the importance of changing our self-talk from negative to positive to shape our self-perception. For instance, instead of identifying as an undisciplined person, frame your thoughts around being disciplined—“I am a disciplined person.” This shift in language affects your mindset and gradually ingrains discipline into everyday activities. By recognizing the small acts of discipline we already engage in, we can build a stronger, more positive self-image and, ultimately, achieve greater consistency in our efforts.
- The Power of a Positive Diet: Another significant insight Markus shared was about the critical role of diet in achieving mental and physical health. Our food choices directly impact our energy levels, sleep patterns, and overall well-being. Markus’s book provides straightforward principles for adopting a “rock star” diet and lifestyle. By making mindful dietary choices, we can enhance our capacity to perform at our best, both mentally and physically, setting a firm foundation for all other areas of personal growth.
- The Power of Positive Faith: A profound takeaway was Markus’s emphasis on finding peace through faith. Recognizing something bigger than oneself, such as a belief in God, can provide solace and reduce the burden of stress. According to Markus, this spiritual anchor can significantly improve our health and relationships. It’s about understanding that success is not just about personal achievements but also about embracing a higher purpose that brings peace and fulfillment.
Undoubtedly, Markus’s insights resonate strongly with the journeys many of us are on. It’s about making those conscious choices every day to better ourselves, adopting principles that uplift us, and finding a deeper sense of peace and purpose.
You can also catch the entire conversation I had with Markus here. 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.
Are you aware that The Champions Brew explores various topics that I frequently coach and consult on with other leaders and organizations? If you or someone you know is seeking to elevate their business or personal life from underperforming to uncommon, I would love to connect with you and discuss 1:1 or group coaching, as well as performance consulting. In fact, click the following link to schedule a FREE CALL to explore how coaching could benefit you and your team. Let’s work together to unleash your full potential and achieve your goals
- Work Hard – Life is full of challenges. Nick Saban is arguably the most successful football coach in NCAA history with 7 national championships. He suggests that it comes down the choice between feelings and discipline. If I feel like doing something that I know I am not supposed to do, can I choose not to do it? If I DON’T feel like doing something that I DO need to do, can I overcome the feeling and do it? The concept of “choosing your hard” encourages us to proactively select the difficulties that will lead to meaningful growth and fulfillment over our feelings.
Consider these scenarios:
- Finances: Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard.
- Relationships: Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard.
- Health: Being overweight is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard.
In each case, there are difficult choices to be made. But by consciously choosing the “hard” that will lead to positive outcomes, we can shape our lives in meaningful ways. Remember, choosing your hard doesn’t mean life will be easy. On the contrary, by definition, it will be hard. But it CAN make it more fulfilling and rewarding.
- Read More – I recently completed Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality. It is a captivating exploration of leadership, teamwork, and the art of exceptional service. Through his personal journey of transforming Eleven Madison Park into one of the world’s finest restaurants, Guidara offers invaluable insights into creating a truly extraordinary customer experience. Here are some of my key takeaways from this great book:
- Leaders need to be vulnerable – His willingness to admit mistakes and apologize publicly demonstrates his commitment to building trust and fostering a strong team culture. This approach fosters a sense of accountability and openness that is essential for growth and development.
- Leaders need to step outside their comfort zone – Guidara’s personal experience with a black diamone ski slope was a great metaphor for the challenges and rewards of pushing your limits. I had a similar challenge when approaching a rock wall with a group of leaders some 20 years ago and found myself backing up in the line to avoid climbing due to fear of heights. (Something I still regret to this day) By embracing discomfort and taking calculated risks, leaders can unlock their full potential and inspire their teams to do the same.
- Leaders need to be intentional – Guidara emphasizes the importance of knowing your goals and ensuring that every action aligns with that vision. By paying meticulous attention to every aspect of the customer experience, from the food to the ambiance, Guidara was able to create a truly unforgettable dining experience. Excellence only happens on purpose.
- Leadership is Simple… Simple is Hard – Take the word leadership and replace it with words like ‘change’, or ‘relationships’, or ‘communication’. The fact is that for each of these things, there are 100 frameworks to help, but don’t mistake simple with easy. Changing a culture is hard work that requires perseverance as a leader.
While the book is primarily focused on the hospitality industry, its lessons are applicable to leaders in any field. Guidara’s insights into teamwork, leadership, and customer service offer valuable guidance for anyone seeking to create a high-performing organization. Unreasonable Hospitality is a thought-provoking and inspiring read that will leave you motivated to strive for excellence in your own work.
Quote of the week:
“Don’t practice until you get it right. Practice until you can’t get it wrong.” – Nick Saban
What You Need to Do:
Call to Action: What “hard” are you choosing today? Share it with the readers of the Champions Brew in the comments.
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!!
