Are you clear about what you really want?
Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
Grab your favorite coffee cup, sit back, relax, and get ready to sip on some enriching and thought-provoking content that will equip you to thrive in all areas of your life:
- Read More – I recently completed Uncommon Leadership, written byperformance coach and motivational consultant Ben Newman who takes you inside the minds and hearts of eleven exceptional individuals including athletes, coaches, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and others whose unrelentingly high performance has made them the best in their fields and in life. Ben breaks it down by honing in on the core qualities that drive these trailblazers to push for the best in themselves and others, every single day. Here are a few of the key takeaways I had from this quick read:
- Nick Saban on Process – Focusing on the process becomes the standard by which you hold yourself accountable. One of the better known quotes from Nick Saban is “We do things right until we can’t do them wrong.”
- Jon Gordon on Faith – Jon Gordon is the author of 27 books. I am currently a member of his book launch team for his soon to be released book, The One Truth, coming out June 26. Jon is also unapologetic about his personal faith and I admire that. Instead of trying to jump over preconceived walls about Jesus and Christianity, Jon walks through doors and delivers messages about leadership.
- Will Compton on Believing in Self – Will’s story was especially encouraging. He was an undrafted player out of college who went on to start in his second year with the Washington Redskins. Compton says that “You must continue to believe in what you’re doing, especially on days when you don’t feel like it.” – Amen to that!!
- Jerry Rice on Intentionality – Jerry Rice was another professional player who overcame great odds to become arguably the best wide receiver in NFL history. His mantra was “Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t.” After 20 seasons in the NFL, Rice retired in 2005 and I would say that his intentionality worked. He was a 3-time Super Bowl Champion, a Super Bowl MVP, 10-time First-team all Pro, and 13-time Pro Bowl selection. Oh, and as far as accomplishing what others can’t? These are the records that still stand for him: NFL record holder in career receptions, career receiving yards, career receiving touchdowns, and career all-purpose yards. The only thing that would have made me like him more is if he played for my Steelers!
- Another of the 11 that were was the author’s mother, Janet Fishman Newman, who said, “It’s not how long you live; it’s how you live life while you’re here.”
An Uncommon mindset is a choice. It requires a total belief in yourself SO THAT you can produce results that are unimaginable to many others. If you are looking to learn how other leaders overcame big odds to achieve seismic impact, Uncommon Leadership would be a good read for you. If you comment on today’s Champions Brew blog post, I will choose one random winner to receive a copy of the book.
.
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!
- Discipline – I came across another gem this week from Clayton King in his book, One Minute Prayers for Busy People. In a snippet this week, Clayton asks. “How do you usually get something you really want?”
Hard work pays off, but to me, getting what you want is birthed in a decision. You have to make a choice that you have a problem you are sick and tired of, or an opportunity that inspires you enough to go after it. After you choose, the next step is setting a goal and creating a dashboard to track your progress toward that goal, followed by designing a plan to get you there and THEN, you put in the hard work through disciplines or habits that will get you there. The process really is simple and straightforward but is not easy. Keep Proverbs 16:26 in mind which says, “The appetite of laborers works for them; the hunger drives them on.”
- Read More –Each week I have been sharing my takeaways with you as I read The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication – Apply Them and Make the Most of Your Message. This week I review Law # 11 of 16:
Law # 11 – The Law of Visual Expression
Show and Tell Is Better Than Just Tell
When you hear the word pineapple or fire truck, we don’t ‘think’ of those words. Instead, a mental picture of the item comes to mind. Admit it, you saw the fruit… you saw the truck!! That’s because we are visual thinkers. In fact, according to a study by Eric Jensen and Liesl McConchie, about 80 percent of our sensory inputs are visual in nature. So, if you want to connect and become a better communicator, it seems obvious that we should use visuals. I must admit that early on in my career, I was guilty of death by ‘bullet point’ in my presentations and I have worked diligently to reduce the number of words on slides when I present and increase the use of visuals.
Maxwell outlines three ways, as communicators, we can improve our ability to communicate visually:
- Body movements, Gestures, and Facial Expressions – Are you someone who tends to present with only your neck up, preferring to hide behind a podium and simply speak the words? If so, it’s time to step out of your comfort zone and learn a new skill. You must break free from that podium and engage with your audience. When I give a presentation, I like to have a bar stool available with a small table, which creates a more informal, “town hall” atmosphere. At times, standing over people to speak can be intimidating, so the stool allows me to get closer to those I am teaching. Additionally, if I’m presenting for an extended period, it provides some much-needed back relief. And let’s not forget the power of facial expressions – don’t be afraid to smile and connect with your audience.
- Word Pictures – “If a picture is worth a thousand words, a metaphor is worth a thousand pictures.” – Daniel Pink – This is one of my favorite approaches to use. I love having a flip chart and some new Sharpie chisel tip markers available to draw word pictures as I present. It gives me a chance to make fun of myself a bit as well, because I do get a few good chuckles with some of the rather poor artwork that I put on those charts!
- Pictures, Props & Videos – Let’s start with this: I LOVE using movie clips to illustrate leadership points. Pictures can be powerful as well. I choose a different picture each week for the Champions Brew artwork that is related to the topics I discuss. WARNING: When you use technology as a part of your presentation, there is always a chance that your media won’t be compatible with their system (be sure to get there early to test your technology!), or a computer crashes, OR the power goes out!!!
People want to be engaged and entertained as well as being inspired, encouraged and equipped. Effective use of visual expression can make a powerful message even more powerful and enhance the stickiness, or the ability for the listener to retain the information you presented even longer. That is the Law of Visual Expression.
Quote of the week:
“Culture is the living breathing essence of what an organization values, believes, thinks, says, and does.” – Jon Gordon
What You Need to Do:
Call to Action: Consider how you can make a conscious decision to pursue your goals. Share with the readers one goal you are currently pursuing and one daily discipline or habit you have put in place to help you reach that goal.
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!!
