How to Keep Growing In my last blog post, I provided practical steps for resurrecting your curiosity. Inflow and Outflow are two critical elements to I discussed at the end of that post. To keep the inflow of ideas surging through you, follow your curiosity. And, remember that sharing what you’re learning is an excellent way to keep the full cycle in motion. When you share (outflow), you learn (inflow). It’s the reason I write blogs like this, coach, and speak. Since we know that what gets measu...
Mar 03, 2016•3 min
Joel Boggess is an incredibly generous author, coach, and podcaster who loves his two Golden Retrievers. Throughout the podcast, he not only shared simple techniques for getting unstuck, and increasing your confidence, he also gave a personal example of a challenge he’s addressing right now. It has to do with his belief about being an entreprenuer. Thinking of yourself as an entrepreneur, a leader, or simply someone with influence can be overwhelming for those who didn’t grow up around entrepren...
Feb 28, 2016•52 min
Happiness and relevancy are made from the same material: Awareosity + tenacity. Several years ago, I fell into the trap of believing that hunkering down and working harder would alleviate the fear and anxiety I was feeling and bring purpose to my life. Plugging away at my computer for hours every day, I struggled to understand why these emotions raged inside of me. “Keep focused. Keep working,” I said to myself, embarrassed by my lack of focus, goals or direction. And—get this—at the time, I was...
Feb 25, 2016•8 min
Loving your customers makes good business sense. Show them some love, and they’ll reward you by purchasing more and raving about you, which hopefully leads to more love affairs, purchases, and ultimately growth. Loving on your boss makes good business sense too. Do remarkable work, and thank her for entrusting you with the project, and she’s likely to give you even more opportunities. Take those two actions consistently, and before you know it, you’ll be the boss. Loving on your colleagues and y...
Feb 17, 2016•8 min
A pioneer in website development for big business, winner of numerous awards for his work in marketing, Bill Carmody simplifies marketing and makes his strategies available and easy to understand . During the interview, Bill talked about the critical steps to gaining clarity in your marketing: Congratulate yourself when/if you recognize that you don’t know the “why” behind your business. Reconnect (or connect) to real reason (why) behind your business. Understand why anyone (beside obvious stake...
Feb 14, 2016•41 min
I pray every day, several times a time sometimes. I pray for clarity and opportunity—to speak, coach, and elicit meaningful conversations—to share the gifts God has given me. I’m not a religious person, but I am spiritual, and the word God works for me. My one request of God: “Open the door.” My promise: “I’ll walk through it.” Recently, I got a request to submit a video explaining what I would speak about, given the opportunity, to a group of small business owners that teacher insurance sales p...
Feb 11, 2016•4 min
“How old are you?” John asked, after I had shared a bit about my history, why I do this work, and a few of the results I’ve helped leaders create. “Why does it matter?” I asked, wondering if he’d been listening to me. “It lets me know how much experience you’ve had on this planet.” Having met several wise teenagers, and at least as many 70- and 80-year-olds who are the opposite, I cringed at such thinking. “Ask me about my results—they speak louder than my years on this planet,” I replied, irrit...
Feb 04, 2016•4 min
his was quite possibly the most fun interview I’ve done. Dawnna’s approach to innovation is refreshing and practical. Throughout the interview, Dawnna give’s practical steps for companies—large and small—to remain relevant, to innovate, and to do so within budget. The following are 4 areas of innovation are covered within the interview (listen in to get the details): Routine. Disruptive. Radical. Architectural. Also, Dawnna gave practical (and hugely valuable) advice to those of you who want to ...
Jan 31, 2016•48 min
Advancing, or getting different results than you’re currently getting, requires doing something different, which isn’t always comfortable. How many people do you know who keep doing the same things and hoping for different results? We’ve all done it. Why? Because it’s easier, and more comfortable, to do what you know. But we learn—and grow more effective—during periods of discomfort, which is exactly why we need to train in discomfort. Here’s how I unintentionally trained in discomfort recently....
Jan 28, 2016•8 min
Pam, a mentor cautioned me from the day I started doing this work nearly eleven years ago, “Misti, you’re going to need to expand on what you’re doing. You’ll get bored with speaking about generational differences at some point.” At the time, I thought she was crazy, and so I ignored her advice. Instead, I kept my head down in my work, and stayed comfortable in what I knew, failing expand my service offerings. A couple of years later, remembering Pam’s words stung as I struggled to learn two imp...
Jan 21, 2016•7 min
The Truth About Leadership (Executive) Presence: An Interview With John Baldoni I came across John Baldoni’s work through social media . His passion, knowledge, and first-hand experience with leadership is inspiring… and immediately useful. John is the author of more than a dozen books, including MOXIE: The Secret to Bold and Gutsy Leadership, Lead with Purpose, Lead Your Boss… and so many more . He’s an internationally recognized leadership educator, executive coach and speaks throughout North ...
Jan 16, 2016•40 min
Imagine the power inherent in knowing how to cash in on the value of your life experiences. While I did buy a lottery ticket ($1.5 billion—who wouldn’t), the greatest winnings I’ve accumulated have little to do with paper (tickets or Benjamin’s). In reality, the odds are stacked heavily against the $1.5 billion Powerball winner . And unfortunately, no dollar amount can buy a deep seeded belief in oneself, nor the courage to risk the vulnerability necessary to reach for your greatness. How To Sto...
Jan 14, 2016•18 min
The first time I met Ari was through his book, Zingerman's Guide to Good Leading, Part 2; A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to Being a Better Leader . After underlining, circling, and writing all over the inside of his book, I couldn’t help but reach out and personally thank him for writing such an exceptional book. I wanted to hug him then, but alas I had to wait a couple of years before I could give him a virtual hug through this podcast. Throughout this podcast interview, Ari outlines critical el...
Jan 02, 2016•53 min
From kid programmer in 1971 to Forbes cover story in 2003, Richard Sheridan, author of Joy, Inc., has gone beyond creating a joyful company culture to teaching leaders around the globe how to do it. While it’s easy to think such valuable company environments are created through a simple step-by-step process, Rich shares the real story behind Menlo Innovations, a company he co-founded along with James Goebel. The foundation to this great story lies in the challenge of releasing the need to be the...
Dec 20, 2015•46 min
Nearly everyone wants to achieve greatness—results they care deeply about. Few do. Why? There is no simple answer to that question, but there is a simple 4-step formula that is certain to set you up for the best year of your life. Here are the top 4 elements I discuss in the video above: Go for Greatness. Avoid “familiarity” and go for “Meaningful.” Get specific. How do you know when you’ve reached your goal? Know Often, we set goals that don’t really matter to us—focus all your energy and atten...
Dec 16, 2015•13 min
Should you fire talented employees who frequently turn work in late and call in sick? If you could just get them to start working on projects sooner, they wouldn’t have to overexert themselves, wind up sick, and miss another deadline . How about the ones who hoard information and don’t play well with others? Don’t they understand that the company’s success depends on a team effort? Of course, there are many reasons to fire an employee, but don’t make the same mistake Gale almost did. Sitting acr...
Dec 09, 2015•6 min
Moments after I hung up the phone, my mind started racing, my stomach tightened, and I had to go for a walk. “You just threw that opportunity away, Misti! And—it was perfect,” the voice inside my head screamed. One week earlier, I had received a phone call from Bill, a guy in charge of booking speakers at an event for executives of a company that values professional development. They had already interviewed several speakers, and they offered the opportunity to me. Every element of this opportuni...
Dec 02, 2015•5 min
I had the rare chance to listen to Dr. Mario Livio speak at TEDx Midatlantic. His message was inspiring and interesting – check it out here . After his speech, I met him in the hallway, grabbed coffee with Mario and his wonderful wife, and learned that he lives right around the corner from me. Since then, I devoured his most recent New York Times best selling book, Brilliant Blunders . It’s excellent – grab your copy today! I was delighted when he agreed to be on your Provoking Your Greatness po...
Nov 29, 2015•35 min
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. Of course, that’s not because of the story of the Pilgrims and Indians. In fact, I’m embarrassed to tell you that I didn’t know what a Pilgrim was until roughly ten years ago. “Misti, I slept through most of social studies class in school, but over the years and repetition, I at least picked up some history,” one friend said, after I honestly asked, “What’s a Pilgrim?” Truthfully, I’d heard the word, and I even had visuals of a giant table with lo...
Nov 26, 2015•4 min
The following are 7 simple ways to say Thank You to your team this year, and all throughout 2016: Pause, and write your list of the specific qualities you’re authentically grateful for in each team member. Are they excellent with excel, public speaking, or maybe negotiating? Rather than simply say, “I appreciate you, or Thank you,” get specific. Gift cards are made even more special when the card you give has meaning. One of my teammates loves the outdoors, talks about shopping at REI , and so a...
Nov 22, 2015•6 min
Walking down the streets of Bethesda more than a decade ago, hearing the loud beeps of impatient drivers, and seeing a pedestrian nearly get run over, I thought to myself, “I’ve gotta get out of here. I don’t want to be like these people.” I had quit my job a week prior, unaware of my financial situation when I resigned, and as a result had $37 to my name . I was filled with anxiety, desperate to find a sense of belonging and wondering how I would pay my rent in a couple of weeks. It was soon af...
Nov 18, 2015•7 min
Dr. Michelle May was one of the highlights of my trip to the National Speakers Association’s Annual Convention this year. Her passion—born out of her own struggle with yo-yo dieting—is infectious. Through this interview, Michelle shares the most critical element of successful eating: Mindfulness. Of course, that’s a loaded word! Through the interview, you’ll gain a clear understanding of her systematic approach to learning how to eating what you love and loving what you eat. Michelle has trained...
Nov 15, 2015•48 min
The hardest part about going after anything that’s meaningful is the conversation that goes on inside your head. What do you tell yourself when you set an important goal, and then start to work toward it? Listen in – what do you hear? You will know how important your goals are based on how difficult it is to hear what the critic inside your head is saying. If you have zero struggle with self-talk as you reach for your goals, you’re either not going big enough, or you simply don’t care enough. Th...
Nov 12, 2015•4 min
You’re more talented than you know. The key to reaching greatness lies in focusing on improving your PR (personal record). Personal: You. Record: Marker of success. PR: Your marker for success. One of the greatest killers of greatness lies in comparison. It’s easy to look at someone who’s perceivably more successful than you and beat yourself up because you’re, “not as good as them, so why even bother?” Throughout this podcast, I share specific strategies for overcoming fear and self-doubt, whic...
Nov 04, 2015•13 min
When Lynn Rose opened up for the National Speakers Association’s National Conference this year, all my worries disappeared and I felt more present than I had in months. She was remarkable! The next morning I had a chance to thank Lynn when she told me, “And to think I walked away from this industry because I just didn’t think I had what it took.” I was floored! How in the world could someone as talented as Lynn Rose lose sight of her greatness? Suddenly I felt less alone, and more connected to m...
Nov 01, 2015•1 hr 5 min
Many people have accidently provoked greatness, but most leaders want to know what it takes to get others to live into their potential, on purpose. “Misti, if I could take a wire, insert it into your mouth, travel it down your arms to your finger tips, we’d have a writer on our hands today,” Ms. Cays, my high school English teacher said to me. “I do talk a lot,” I thought, “I wonder if I could talk with my fingers?” A writer was born that day. But, that was on accident . Believe, I know – I call...
Oct 29, 2015•8 min
Ever met an impatient employee, who wants to “do meaningful work?” Or, “Work they enjoy doing?” What did you do with them? The CEO at the first company I worked for responded to my pleas with, “Misti, what did your parents do to deal with you? It’s clear you have problems with anxiety. Do you take medication for that?” It worked! I quit. And then I became insanely curious. I needed to understand what I said, or did, that was getting me the opposite of the result I wanted. 150 informational inter...
Oct 21, 2015•8 min
Jane Atkinson is a powerful person, with a mission to help speakers elevate their game and transform the lives of those their audiences. She’s so good that I hired her myself! She’s down-to-earth, practical, and vulnerable at the same time. She brought that same level of excellence to this interview. Jane has been helping speakers catapult their careers for over 20 years. She started as an agent representing speakers and when several of them quickly went from 0 to 80 engagements per year, she be...
Oct 17, 2015•44 min
My heart was pounding as we pulled into the parking lot where they had just begun setting up for the big event at High Tide Farm , located directly across the bay from Gibson Island in Maryland. As the aroma of horse dung hit my nose, I took a deep breath and said a silent prayer. I felt the breeze and remembered the email I received the night before: Conditions will be a factor; see the below latest forecast from NOAA. (North winds 10 to 15 KT, with gusts to 25 KT. Waves 3 foot.) Please call or...
Oct 14, 2015•8 min
The real secret to being a great leader is dating your employees. The best leaders on the planet sell us on their ideas. We flock to great brands, and the awesome leaders behind them, because we believe them when they tell us how their products will make our life (and the world) better. Of course, they could never seduce us if they didn’t already know what we want. By learning what makes us tick, they position their product to solve our problems. Yes, this is basically Marketing 101. But, what d...
Oct 07, 2015•7 min
