Your Champions Brew for Friday, January 14, 2022

The  Champion’s Brew is 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 drink of what I have been reading and experimenting with to help me to:

• Worry Less: It seems like data and identify theft are something that we read about in the news on a daily basis.  Will all the other things going on right now, one of the things we don’t want to worry about is our identity.  My accountant who helps me with my personal and business taxes recently shared an article with me that outlined “10 Things to Leave at Home” to help reduce the likelihood that your identity will be stolen.  While the list may seem like common sense, a reminder can’t hurt!  Here are the 10 things:
  • Social security card
  • Multiple credit cards
  • Gift cards
  • Spare keys
  • USB Drives
  • Password cheat sheet
  • Checks
  • Receipts
  • Passport AND
  • Business cards – I found this one unique, but do you really want a thief to know where you work? If you can’t leave them behind, at least keep them in a separate place than your wallet or purse…
• Work Hard:  I like to listen to podcasts and most of them are leadership podcasts.  I listen to them while on a long commute, while walking in the neighborhood, or while exercising at the gym.  The problem with those times is that when I hear something I might normally ‘highlight’ in a book, or ‘bookmark’ to Evernote or on a website, I find it difficult to do and I will surely ‘forget’ to go back and listen again.  So, what are the ways to capture those ideas or notes?  I do a few things.  They aren’t perfect, but they help:
  • Photo – I will take a screenshot on my phone of the moment in the podcast so that I can go back later while in my office and review it again and take notes on it
  • Audio note – I make myself an audio note on my phone.  This is better while driving.  I can ask Siri to take a note and I can record that, save the note and review at a later time
  • Manual note – I will open up my notes while walking and type in the point that I heard and make note of when it was said in the podcast.  Again, I rely on going back later to review.
  • ‘Like’ the podcast – On Spotify, I can like the episode and this places the entire podcast in the ‘Your episodes’ playlist.  I do this when I have found the entire episode to be one that I want to share with a friend who would enjoy it.  You might do this often with the Uncommon Leader podcast (shameless plug).  I will be launching ‘Season 2’in February with some more great guests and a few new twists.  You may want to subscribe to receive the podcast(Spotify or Apple Podcasts) automatically when it comes out.

None of these ways is perfect in and of itself and as I type this, I realize that I need to add a discipline to my Monday morning Leader SW of reviewing each of these areas and capturing the nuggets!  Another method I will be experimenting with in the next couple months is an app called Airr.  I have read a few reviews and this could also be a good method for capturing important points on podcasts or audiobooks.  I will let you know!  Do you have any other ways that YOU are able to capture notes when you listen to podcasts or audiobooks?  Share them with me at [email protected], or in the blog comments.  I would love to learn from you as well!!

• Quote:

“Are you willing to be uncomfortable for 5 minutes?

Exercising is easier once you’ve started the workout.

Conversation is easier once you’re already talking.

Writing is easier once you’re in the middle of it.

But many rewards in life will elude you if you’re not willing to be a little uncomfortable at first.” – James Clear

What you need to do:

Call to Action:  What do you need to ‘start’ today that you have been avoiding because you are unwilling to step outside your comfort zone?  Reflect on that… pray on it… then ACT! 

I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you enjoyed it, I would appreciate it if you would share it with a friend 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!