This episode of Start With a Win dives into the remarkable story of how a motorcycle brand transformed from the brink of collapse to becoming an iconic global powerhouse. Host Adam Contos sits down with Ken Schmidt, the former head of communications at Harley-Davidson, who reveals how shifting focus from simply selling products to creating authentic human connections reshaped the brand’s destiny. Packed with powerful lessons on leadership, loyalty, and the psychology of consumer behavior, this c...
Aug 20, 2025•36 min•Ep. 357
⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Trust starts with consistency. Be predictable in your words and actions to build the foundation of any great team. 🛠️ #Leadership #Trust #TeamBuilding =========================== Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 =========================== YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1...
Aug 15, 2025•20 sec
The best leaders don’t just think about their own growth — they think about the growth of the leaders around them. Leadership development is retention strategy. It’s culture strategy. It’s future-proofing. What are you doing right now to grow the leadership capacity of your team? ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com =========================== Subscr...
Aug 08, 2025•16 sec
In this episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos is joined by leadership strategist and author Dr. Vijay Pendakur to explore what it really takes to lead through disruption. Drawing from his experience at top tech companies and Cornell University, Vijay unpacks the secret to building high-performing teams when the ground is constantly shifting beneath you. From the invisible forces of trust and belonging to the raw challenges of leading through crisis, this conversation offers a bold refram...
Aug 06, 2025•31 min•Ep. 355
The biggest business shift starts with a mindset shift. Growth stops the moment we stop growing ourselves and our people. You don’t need a radical change — you need a daily one. Grow your mindset. Grow your team. And your business will follow. What’s one way you’re helping your team grow this week? ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com ===============...
Aug 01, 2025•38 sec
Every day as a leader is a chance to realign. Ask yourself: Did I serve someone today? Did I stretch myself? Did I truly see someone for who they are? Leadership isn’t about having a title — it’s about being a daily touchpoint for impact. Try journaling your answers to those three S’s at the end of each day: Serve. Stretch. See. How do you check in with yourself to stay aligned as a leader? ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/...
Jul 25, 2025•42 sec
Stress is a signal, not a stop sign. Great leaders don’t ignore tension — they notice it, name it, and guide through it. Try this: when pressure rises, pause and use the “one-two-three” rule. One deep breath. Two clarifying questions. Three focused steps forward. You can’t eliminate stress, but you can lead through it. How do you help your team navigate stress when it hits? ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want...
Jul 18, 2025•32 sec
In this mastermind episode of Start With a Win, bestselling author and trailblazing entrepreneur Candy Valentino joins Adam Contos in sharing a raw and riveting journey - from humble beginnings in a trailer to building and selling multiple thriving businesses. With hard-earned wisdom and unapologetic honesty, Candy breaks down the myths of modern entrepreneurship, challenges the glamorized “four-hour workweek” mindset, and reveals the truth about discipline, sacrifice, and resilience. If you’re ...
Jul 16, 2025•28 min•Ep. 354
Your team isn’t overworked — they’re overwhelmed. 44% of employees say they feel stressed. But here’s the fix: stress drops fast when expectations are clear and communication is strong. Ask your team one simple question this week: “What’s your number one priority?” Then support them in it. Clarity creates capacity. How are you making sure every person on your team knows what matters most this week? ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcon...
Jul 04, 2025•33 sec
In this powerful episode of Start With a Win, Adam Contos sits down with organizational psychologist Dr. Laura Gallaher to uncover the surprising root of leadership stress and how radical self-acceptance plays a transformative role in professional growth. With decades of experience helping elite organizations—from NASA to Fortune 500 companies—Dr. Laura challenges conventional thinking around chaos, culture, and control. This conversation is an eye-opening exploration of how leaders unintentiona...
Jul 02, 2025•27 min•Ep. 352
A single 15-minute conversation can be the reason someone stays — or the reason they leave. Weekly, meaningful check-ins aren’t a “nice to have.” They’re the leadership game changer. Gallup found that frequent, intentional conversations drive the highest levels of engagement. Block time this week. Ask. Appreciate. Align. How do you create space for meaningful connection with your team each week? ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos...
Jun 27, 2025•37 sec
⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com People don’t quit jobs — they quit feeling unseen. Only 1 in 3 employees say they feel like they belong at work. That’s not a retention issue. It’s a culture issue. Recognition is your responsibility, not just your HR department’s. Presence beats policy every time. Make people feel seen — daily. How do you make su...
Jun 20, 2025•36 sec
In this insightful episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos welcomes leadership advisor and author Tony Martignetti for a deeply human conversation on unlocking true leadership potential. With a compelling mix of personal storytelling, artistic reflection, and seasoned business insight, Tony peels back the layers of what makes a leader truly impactful. From his unexpected path to leadership to the emotional undercurrents of the three C’s in his book, this episode dives beneath surface-level...
Jun 18, 2025•26 min•Ep. 353
Your most important customer isn’t external — it’s your team. If your employees don’t feel valued, supported, or seen, it’s only a matter of time before that shows up in your customer experience. Engaged employees are 21% more productive and 22% more profitable. Map their journey just like you would for your clients — from onboarding to ongoing development. How are you designing your employee experience with the same care as your customer experience? ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪�...
Jun 13, 2025•42 sec
Middle managers are often the most underdeveloped layer in your business — and it’s costing you. 42% of employee exits could’ve been prevented with better management. We train the front line. We invest in executives. But we leave managers to figure it out alone. Spend 30 minutes this week mentoring a manager — not to fix them, but to equip them. How are you intentionally developing your managers right now? =========================== Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 =...
Jun 06, 2025•37 sec
In this episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos welcomes leadership expert and combat veteran Mike Erwin for a compelling conversation on what truly separates great leaders from failing ones—often without them even realizing it. With a rich background spanning military service, Fortune 500 consulting, and in-depth research on leadership psychology, Mike dives into the game-changing power of relationships in leadership. He challenges the transactional mindset, emphasizing the need for conne...
Jun 04, 2025•29 min•Ep. 350
Remote work didn’t break your culture — silence did. Only 28% of fully remote employees feel connected to their company’s mission. That’s not just a gap. That’s a fracture. Start every virtual meeting by connecting the agenda to a greater purpose. Remind your team who they’re serving — not just what they’re doing. People don’t need more tasks. They need more meaning. ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly...
May 30, 2025•45 sec
Recognition isn’t optional — it’s essential. The most powerful leadership tool you have costs nothing, but most leaders were never taught how to use it. Organizations that prioritize recognition save millions in turnover. And it starts with one sentence. Tell someone what they did that made a difference — and why it mattered. ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://ad...
May 23, 2025•40 sec
In this electrifying episode of Start With a Win, Adam Contos sits down with three-time Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster, keynote speaker, and author Anne Marie Anderson. With decades of experience covering the world’s biggest sporting events, Anne Marie shares hard-earned wisdom on high performance, resilience, and the bold risks that separate top achievers from the rest. From her nerve-wracking first time on live television to redefining failure as nothing more than data, she unveils the ...
May 21, 2025•34 min•Ep. 351
Disengagement isn’t just a culture problem — it’s an $8.8 trillion leak. That’s the global cost of people mentally checking out while still on the clock. Engagement isn’t just about morale. It’s your competitive edge. Start small: ask your team what’s working for them this week — and what’s not. That clarity creates energy. That energy drives results. When’s the last time you checked in with intention? ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://ada...
May 16, 2025•40 sec
Managers are under more pressure than ever — not just leading teams, but picking up the slack. That weight is burning people out. And burnout spreads fast. Take 15 minutes this week with no meetings, no noise — just space to reset. You can’t pour into your team if your own cup is empty. What would it look like to protect that space this week? ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go h...
May 09, 2025•37 sec
⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com In this engaging episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos sits down with image and brand consultant Lee Hayward to unpack the undeniable power of personal branding. If you think branding is just about logos and colors, think again. Lee dives deep into the psychology of perception, trust, and the ripple effect...
May 07, 2025•29 min•Ep. 348
Most people aren’t disengaged because they’re lazy — they’re disengaged because they feel pushed, not led. Only 23% of employees worldwide are truly engaged at work. That means most are just going through the motions… or worse, quietly quitting. Leadership isn’t about control — it’s about lifting people up. Ask one person on your team today: What would make your work more meaningful this week? That one question might be the unlock. What’s stopping you from asking it? ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴...
May 02, 2025•36 sec
Unlock the essence of leadership with a single guiding force: Attitude! 🌟 The journey of leadership commences with the energy you bring to the table. Whether it's a conversation, a statement, or an action, your attitude sets the tone. Start with the right attitude, and watch the magic unfold! ✨ A positive, can-do approach filled with optimism and good spirit not only influences your perspective but also inspires those you lead. It's a ripple effect that shapes the dynamics of the entire team. L...
Apr 25, 2025•28 sec
Ever feel like your day is off to a rocky start? It might be your mindset at play. Believe it or not, our thoughts shape our actions. Are you approaching each day with abundance or scarcity in mind? Trust me, an abundance mindset opens doors to opportunities, while scarcity holds you back. So, what's in your stinking thinking? Let's shift to abundance and unlock your potential. That's your quick win for today! #MindsetShift #AbundanceMindset #QuickWins ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸�...
Apr 18, 2025•51 sec
⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com In this powerful episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos sits down with leadership expert and bestselling author Coach Kon to uncover the secret to unlocking true employee engagement. With decades of experience transforming workplaces, Kon shares eye-opening insights on why businesses—big and small—struggle ...
Apr 16, 2025•28 min•Ep. 349
Choose one action today that demonstrates the behavior you want your team to emulate. Ready to lead by example? Start now. ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com =========================== Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 =========================== YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.appl...
Apr 04, 2025•35 sec
⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com In this compelling episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos is joined by leadership coach and keynote speaker Mick Hunt, who shares a deeply personal journey of transformation that started with a childhood promise. If you've ever felt stuck—whether in your career, finances, or personal life—this conversation ...
Apr 02, 2025•25 min•Ep. 347
Clarity is king in communication. Make sure your team understands the what and the why behind every action. Pick one key message today, make it crystal clear, and confirm understanding. Ready to lead with clarity? Start now. #Leadership #ClearCommunication #TeamSuccess ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com =========================== Subscribe and Lis...
Mar 28, 2025•46 sec
You can’t lead others if you’re running on empty. Leadership demands energy, focus, and resilience, but you can’t give your best if you’re burned out. Invest in self-care—it’s a necessity, not a luxury Take 10 minutes today for yourself to recharge. What will you do to reset? #Leadership #SelfCare #MentalWellness ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com ...
Mar 21, 2025•45 sec
