Most entrepreneurs struggle from the "Lone Ranger Syndrome" in that they try to carry all of their company's challenges on their own shoulders. Yet, it doesn't take too long for most business owners to realize this is a recipe for burnout and poor leadership performance. Still, you can get yourself in big trouble if you share your troubles with the wrong people. So what do you do? Well...you listen to Michael and Jim in this important episode detailing key strategies around lifting your leadersh...
Jan 24, 2020•43 min•Ep. 74
One of the most important leadership capabilities an entrepreneur can have is knowing the right times to make changes in their organizations. Too often, we act too quickly or too slowly. Skilled, experienced leaders are instinctively strong when it comes knowing exactly when to pull the trigger on decisions large and small. Join Michael and Jim as they share insights into developing this critical skillset for the benefit of your organization.
Jan 13, 2020•22 min•Ep. 73
There is so much that can go wrong in owning a business, and too often it all goes wrong at the same time. Sometimes, all you can do is laugh. And, this is not a bad thing. That is, if you are using the strategic leadership skill of having a sense of humor. So often, the entrepreneurial stress can get overwhelming and if you don't face your challenges with some humility and levity, then they will consume you. Join Michael and Jim as they share the infrequently discussed, yet highly important, le...
Jan 03, 2020•34 min•Ep. 72
One of the single most important traits of a successful entrepreneur is perseverance. You can't reach the prize, if you're too quick to quit when times get tough. But, actually the pathway to success is much more complicated than just having perseverance. You need to know how to use it properly. This is because there is a thin line between perseverance and delusion. Get this wrong, and you're going to end up leaving a path of destruction. Join Michael and Jim as they discuss the finer, and highl...
Dec 28, 2019•34 min•Ep. 71
All leaders make mistakes. And, because we are so stubborn and persistent, oftentimes these mistakes turn into huge messes. Just like mistakes, messes can turn into learning opportunities with the chance to ultimately move our organizations forward in a multitude of positive ways. Yet, there is still the initial the problem of cleaning up these messes. And, it's easily one of the least enjoyable and most costly exercises an entrepreneur has to face. Join Michael and Jim as they pass out the shov...
Dec 23, 2019•30 min•Ep. 70
To most normal human beings, taking vacations is pure pleasure. Not so for us entrepreneurs. It can be expensive in terms of lost productivity, missed opportunities and a slowdown of our business momentum. And, that's all before we pay for the airline tickets. Still, vacations are important for spending time with family, clearing our heads and being refreshed for the next stage of the journey. Join Michael and Jim as they share ideas for accomplishing the impossible leadership task of taking vac...
Dec 16, 2019•42 min•Ep. 69
If you've been a leader for any length of time, then one thing is for certain: you've had to deal with your fair share of bad news. Bad news comes in many forms and from all directions as you're responsible for people, money and performance. Obviously, it's the goal of every entrepreneur to minimize the amount of bad news occurring in the business on a daily basis, but much of it is difficult to avoid. Join Michael and Jim as they reveal valuable strategies in how good leaders can best handle ba...
Dec 10, 2019•38 min•Ep. 68
Confrontation is inevitable if you're a leader. In fact, it's an important part of your job description. If there is a critical issue in your organization you can't just ignore it and hope it will go away. You will be expected by your team and clients to take it on with skill and professionalism. Good leaders shouldn't seek out confrontation, but they shouldn't back down from it either. Join Michael and Jim as they discuss the best ways to handle confrontation and how to use it to grow your peop...
Dec 04, 2019•21 min•Ep. 67
Being a leader is a big deal. It comes with big responsibilities and big risks and rewards. Yet, most experienced entrepreneurs and leaders will share with you that it's the little things that make a big difference when it comes to success or failure. This attention to detail is often what sets leaders apart. Join Michael and Jim as they discuss the keys to winning big with the little things of business.
Nov 26, 2019•23 min•Ep. 66
Negotiation is one of the most significant skills required for successful leadership. If you're an entrepreneur, your ability to negotiate with expertise and integrity will make or break your business. Many people mistakenly believe that negotiation skills are something you're born with and you either "have it" or "you don't". The truth is, any leader can develop themselves into a fine negotiator with some strong foundations and practice. Join Michael and Jim as they share the art of negotiation...
Nov 20, 2019•37 min•Ep. 65
It's always a challenge when you are the boss of yourself. Who is going to hold you accountable? Who is going to make sure you perform your duties with excellence? So many entrepreneurs launch a business without really working this dilemma out properly. And, that can lead to disaster for the business. Self-discipline is an extraordinarily important skill for entrepreneurs and one that needs to constantly be developed. Join Michael and Jim as they discuss strategies for self-discipline and share ...
Nov 12, 2019•36 min•Ep. 64
It's the biggest question an entrepreneur will face. Or at least it should be. That is, "What is the appropriate level of risk for me and this organization?" This question should be wrestled with at every phase of the entrepreneurial journey starting with the launch and continuing through every subsequent business milestone. Most business owners fail to realize just how complicated and layered the level of risk is in their enterprise. Join Michael and Jim as they plunge to the depths of one of t...
Nov 06, 2019•43 min•Ep. 63
Let's face it. As leaders, we are among the world's worst control freaks. Although we are blessed with the gift of leadership, it often comes attached to an unrelenting desire to have everything go exactly the way we want it go. This leads to an unhealthy and unattainable goal of controlling everything around us, including our best people. It's proven to be the downfall of many great visions and many excellent organizations. Join Michael and Jim as they share the secret to replacing the illusion...
Oct 30, 2019•18 min•Ep. 62
Most leaders and entrepreneurs excel at being focused, clear visioned and persistent. Which is exactly why we often struggle the most when it comes to making a change. Change gets in the way of our momentum. Still, great leaders know that people, markets, and the world itself are in a constant state of change, and if we aren't adapting, we'll rapidly fall behind. The hardest things for a leader to change are those personality traits and character flaws that are holding us back. Yet, these change...
Oct 23, 2019•25 min•Ep. 61
For entrepreneurs, there is joy in the pursuit of success. Unfortunately, another common emotion experienced by business owners is the fear of failure. In small measures, it can provide a high level of focus and a healthy drive for achieving goals. Yet, when it reaches toxic levels, this fear of failure can be crippling and cause profound stress and sleeplessness. Join Michael and Jim as they discuss the fear of failure while offering powerful ways to overcome it....
Oct 10, 2019•25 min•Ep. 60
Everybody loves winning a deal. It's even exciting when you get to put that shovel in the dirt on that new project. Yet, this is not where the money is really made. It's in the final stages of a project or in the delivery of a product when the contract is fulfilled. It's only then when you get fully paid. Cleaning up isn't fun. It isn't glamorous. But, it may be the most important requirement of effective leadership. Join Michael and Jim as they discuss this unique, and surprisingly critical top...
Sep 27, 2019•23 min•Ep. 59
Everyone wants a highly motivated team. Few find this objective easy to accomplish. Don't be hard on yourself. It's not just you. The external challenges you're facing make your task more difficult than this was in the past. And, even the best leaders are constantly having to innovate new ways to keep the fires burning in the hearts of their people. It's difficult to inspire their teams to excel day in and day out. Join Michael and Jim as they share some unique insights into how to motivate your...
Sep 24, 2019•38 min•Ep. 58
It's one of the hot buzzwords today. Leaders should be transparent, they say. But, what does this really mean? And who exactly should these leaders be transparent with? In these times of social media, one thing said wrong can sink an entrepreneurial ship overnight. At the same time, these days you can't operate in a cave and hope to be successful. Join Michael and Jim as they explore in significant detail the leadership boundaries of transparency.
Sep 15, 2019•42 min•Ep. 57
When you start a business, you need to take on just about any job or opportunity that comes your way. Yet, before long, as your capacity fills, this approach can rapidly get you into trouble. Pretty soon, you'll be knee deep in profit killing activity and your reputation will start to decline. The word "no" is one of the most powerful ones in an entrepreneur's toolkit, yet it's rarely used to its maximum effectiveness. Join Michael and Jim as they share their own hard knocks and hard earned less...
Sep 10, 2019•32 min•Ep. 56
If you've been hiring employees for a while, then you've certainly discovered some real gems. And, most likely, you've probably picked a few bad apples as well. It's truly just part of running a business. You'll never get it right all of the time. What exactly do you do with that problem employee? What kind of leadership tactics can you use to turn things around? Join Michael and Jim as they discuss the issue from the perspective of their combined sixty plus years of experience in hiring....
Sep 04, 2019•32 min•Ep. 55
Rarely a day goes by when leaders aren't under some sort of pressure. There is pressure to keep up with the bills. Pressure to keep your clients, employees and vendors happy. On top of this, there is the pressure of meeting the expectations of your family, friends and your harshest critic...yourself. With all of this stress, why do leaders get themselves in this mess in the first place? The simple answer? It because it's who we are. Join Michael and Jim as they explore strategies for dealing wit...
Aug 28, 2019•40 min•Ep. 54
There is strength in humility. Many people would agree with this statement, but when it comes to leadership, how does this really play out? No one wants to follow someone without any confidence in themselves or the vision they are pursuing. Yet, it's also clear that few members of your team are going to be excited about following you if you're arrogant and always taking all of the credit. Join Michael and Jim as they explain how leaders can and should be both strong...and humble....
Aug 20, 2019•29 min•Ep. 53
This is a confusing time for leaders. Many of us strive to be individuals who care about the people on our team. At the same time, you never want to cross any boundaries in terms of the privacy of your staff. After all, they are responsible to you during their work hours, but for the most part, what they choose to do on their own time is their own business. Join Michael and Jim as they discuss this tricky area of leadership and offer solid suggestions on how to navigate it wisely and with care....
Aug 17, 2019•29 min•Ep. 52
Do you ever feel like you're on a losing streak in your business? When you can't seem to win a big sale...or any at all? Or when you're seemingly hit with more bad news every day? Maybe you're experiencing those hard times right now. The challenge is not only trying to snap yourself back into the win column, but you have to do it why leading others. No simple task! Join Michael and Jim as they offer advice on how to get the sun shining back in your leadership role.
Aug 10, 2019•30 min•Ep. 51
You NEED to trust you people. Every leader embraces this concept on an intellectual basis. However; it's the application of it that takes many a lifetime to master. The challenge is a leader's individual trust, reputation and fiscal health is on the line every moment of every day. Trusting this responsibility to others with less at stake can be a challenge. Albeit a necessary one if you're going to be victorious. Join Michael and Jim as they share both their struggles and secrets to success in t...
Aug 02, 2019•28 min•Ep. 50
Time. It is a leader's most precious commodity because it's typically the resource which is the scarcest in supply. In order to build a more profitable, more productive company, a leader needs to acquire the productivity mindset. You need to be more efficient in order for your team to be more efficient. Join Michael and Jim as they share unique tactics for enhancing your productivity.
Jul 30, 2019•39 min•Ep. 49
One of the greatest challenges in making the leap to becoming an entrepreneur is figuring out how you'll be able to replace your current paycheck. Unless you are independently wealthy and don't need to worry about generating income from your business, you're going to need to solve this problem early on in your entrepreneurial journey. Should you pay yourself when you're launching your business...and if so, how much? Then, once the business is up and running and stable, what should be your long-t...
Jul 24, 2019•27 min•Ep. 48
Just because you wear the title of business owner, doesn't necessarily mean you're a good leader. And, in almost all cases, if you want to win on your bottom line, you've got to win with your people. The good news is that although some are more innately gifted at leadership than others, everyone can take their performance to a higher level. Join Michael and Jim as they lay down some priceless guidance on what it takes to be the great leader your business desperately needs....
Jul 19, 2019•25 min•Ep. 47
If you aren't managing your clients...then they most certainly will be managing you. Once that happens, you'll be miserable, your team will be unhappy and the business relationship will rapidly start losing money. You don't need more clients. You need more GOOD clients. Ones who want you to lead and who respect what you do. Join Michael and Jim as they explain how to manage your clients in a way they'll appreciate and that will make your company more profitable...and more enjoyable....
Jul 15, 2019•33 min•Ep. 46
There is a prevailing sentiment among business consultants that most leaders hurt their team by micromanaging every person and every process. However; there is a flipside to this and it often is even more damaging to a company. That is, when the entrepreneur is rarely to be seen. Do you tend to be overly heavy handed in your leadership style? Or do you lean toward being too absent when your presence is needed? Join Michael and Jim as they offer their take on this as they share the story of the "...
Jul 09, 2019•33 min•Ep. 45
