“Four score and seven year ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal…”
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:
- Uncommon Leader Insights – In the latest captivating episode of the Uncommon Leader podcast, Episode 105, featuring the inspiring Terri Savelle Foy, we dove into the significance of daily habits in attaining uncommon success. Terri’s newly released bestseller, The Alone Advantage – Ten Behind the Scenes Habits that Drive Crazy Success, proved to be a true gem, and our conversation was nothing short of powerful. While a comprehensive review of the book is in the works for the future, allow me to share some key takeaways from this extraordinary episode:
- Requirements – Terri Savelle Foy emphasized the transformative power of solitude in personal development and leadership. She defined excellence as the commitment to executing ordinary, everyday tasks behind the scenes in an extraordinary manner. The quote that resonated deeply with me was, “Becoming a person of excellence in private is a requirement for promotion in public.” This profound statement underscores the importance of solitude in nurturing personal growth. A significant realization emerged: successful individuals not only spend time alone, but they deliberately schedule and safeguard this time. This revelation underscores the immense value of intentional quiet time in both personal and professional development.
- Reframing – Positive mindset is a key. Throughout our conversation, the strong correlation between faith, discipline, and success became evident. Terri Savelle Foy shared how faith plays a central role in shaping one’s mindset and actions.
- Responsibility – Terri highlighted the significance of taking initiative and responsibility for our goals and dreams. The habit of getting started and taking action is paramount on the journey. It is easier to act your way into a new way of thinking than it is to think your way into a new way of acting. Take the first step!
Terri’s insights highlighted that these daily habits, coupled with intentional alone time and faith, and taking responsibility for one’s actions, have a profound impact on personal and professional growth. By integrating discipline and intentional solitude into our daily routines, we establish a framework for achieving remarkable outcomes.
This episode not only serves as a catalog of simple yet powerful habits—such as waking up, growing up and cleaning up—but also provides an actionable guide to pursuing excellence. I strongly urge you to listen to the full episode to discover more of Terri’s insightful habits. Additionally, you can connect with her on her website for further inspiration.
Stay tuned for more engaging episodes of the Uncommon Leader Podcast, where we continue to unlock the wisdom of exceptional leaders and empower you on your personal leadership journey!
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
- Worry Less – Public speaking, often considered the number one fear among Americans, surpassing even the fear of death. Jerry Seinfeld humorously pointed out that people would rather be in the casket than delivering a eulogy at a funeral. As a consultant, speaking in front of groups is an integral part of my work, yet I still experience those familiar butterflies before every presentation. My fear of forgetting the words goes back to my sixth-grade recitation of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, where I painstakingly memorized each word with the help of my mom. Although I can recall only about 20% of it to this day, I often rely on slides or index cards as a safety net to prevent memory lapses. However, I am constantly seeking improvement.
Enter Jim Kwik’s enlightening book, “Limitless,” specifically the chapter on memory improvement titled and section titled “Delivering a Great Deal of Information Without Notes.” Kwik introduces the Loci method, a memory tool with fascinating origins. Legend has it that Simonides of Ceos, a Greek poet, survived a building collapse that claimed the lives of all others present. When officials sought his help in identifying the victims, Simonides remembered where each person had stood at the time of the collapse. Loci, the plural of locus (meaning “a particular point or place”), represents a memory technique that associates information with familiar locations or points. Here’s a high-level overview of how it works for presentations:
- Identify the ten key talking points from your presentation, focusing on keywords or phrases, assuming you possess a deep understanding of the topic.
- Visualize a familiar location, such as a room in your home or a frequently walked street, as the mental landscape for this method. Oh, how I wish I had known this in sixth grade!
- Envision a path through that location and select ten distinct spots within it that can easily be visualized in your mind.
- Assign each major talking point to a corresponding location, ensuring the order matches the sequence in which you would walk through the room.
- Practice the presentation by mentally walking through the location, using each spot as a cue to recall the associated talking point.
Believe me, it works! I recently used this methodology to master Psalm 23 in just a couple of brief sessions. Oh, the wonders of this method had it been available during my sixth-grade recitation!
For a more comprehensive training on the Loci method, I highly recommend obtaining a copy of Limitless or watching the YouTube video provided here.
- Read More – I am thrilled to continue the journey through “The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader” by the esteemed John Maxwell. This classic work is sure to equip and inspire you for uncommon leadership! Have you grabbed your copy to read along with me?
Quality #19 – Servanthood
To Get Ahead, Put Others First
In this week’s edition, we delve into Quality #19 – Servanthood: To Get Ahead, Put Others First. Servanthood goes beyond position or skill; it’s about attitude. It’s the mark of a true leader to prioritize the needs and desires of others above oneself. Here are a few takeaways:
- To have a servant’s heart, you must serve yourself first – Reflecting on the chapter, I appreciated the quote by philosopher and poet Eric Hoffer: “It is not love of self but hatred of self which is at the root of the troubles that afflict our world.” This quote implies that how we treat others reflects how we think about ourselves. For me, this does come back to mindset and security in our role. It also stresses the importance of positive self-talk. How often do you find yourself being overly critical of yourself. I know I can think of many times I have been less than complimentary of myself when I make mistakes, or I have a lack of self-worth. A regular discipline of retraining our minds with positive statements rather than self-belief will help us to be more selfless and put us in a position to care for others first.
- Seize the Day – Great leaders are those who recognize needs, seize opportunities, and serve without expecting anything in return. Their focus is on making a positive impact.
- Redefine the traditional org structure – In a world where traditional organizational structures often prioritize hierarchical dominance, it is time to redefine our approach. Let us draw inspiration from the ultimate model of servant leadership—Jesus. Matthew 20:28 beautifully captures this essence: “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” In embracing the spirit of servanthood, we discover that true greatness lies in our ability to serve others. To dive deeper into this concept, we can turn to Simon Sinek’s enlightening book, “Leaders Eat Last.” Sinek highlights that servant leadership fosters empathy and protection. It challenges the traditional viewpoint of leadership as a position of authority and instead emphasizes the importance of putting others’ needs before our own.
If an attitude of servanthood is absent from your life, the best way to change it is to start serving. Take action and make a difference. Remember, if you aspire to lead at the highest level, be willing to serve at the lowest.
Next week, we eagerly anticipate exploring the power of Teachability. Stay tuned for more insightful lessons on leadership and personal growth!
Quote of the week: “You need goals that give you goosebumps. Friends that give you energy. Lovers that give you butterflies. And a mission that makes it impossible to sleep, and irresistible to wake up. It feels like fireworks inside your mind.” – Author unknown
What You Need to Do:
Call to Action: Leaders, is your fear of public speaking preventing you from growing? Pick a topic you daydream about and use the Loci method to help you to develop a ‘notes-free’ presentation you can confidently share with others.
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!!
