Steve Jobs knew how to inspire people. So did Howard Schultz when he rescued Starbucks. What did these two men have that so many other leaders don’t? Inspired leadership.
They understand that there is a greater arc of story in their businesses, one that is instinctively felt and driven not just by them, but also by their employees. They understand that story, ceremony, and symbolism are important for the growth of an organization.
Today on Business Reimagined, Nancy Duarte talks to all types of leaders. It doesn’t matter if you’re leading a small group or global powerhouse. You’ve got to be a torchbearer, the type of leader who can shed light on an organization’s journey, even if it’s into unfamiliar and risky territory.
Do you measure up to what it really takes to be a leader?
Key Points:
At 6:00 – Nancy describes the 5-act structure an organization goes through as they collectively strive for a goal, and the warning indicators that accompany each phase.
At 10:00 – Nancy discusses how moments become ‘movements’ that your employees, or travelers, can get behind, and it all has to do with staying tuned in with each other.
At 14:00 – Nancy goes into more details about that 5-act structure and how it can help you as a leader know what to do to inspire your employees. She also talks about what happens when you have to repeat steps.
At 19:00 – Manufacturing movements or creating insincere moments is the quickest way to invite resentment and distrust among your employees, and Nancy discusses the pitfalls and how NOT to do that.
What do you think of when you hear the words ‘urban monk?’ Do you picture some guy in a robe meditating on top of a skyscraper? Maybe you’re thinking of meditation 2.0 and some guru’s new, flowery method of finding inner peace.
Not even close.
Today’s guest, Pedram Shojai, is anything but flowery. While his knowledge is ancient and comes from his time with kung fu masters, ascetic monks, and even the Dali Lama, Pedram is a dad. He’s an entrepreneur and a realist.
And he wants you to be well.
It starts with three minutes at a time, and they type of meditation you can do while driving. Then, take a look at your schedule. Do you suffer from ‘time compression?’ Have you scheduled in the things you need to be well, things like family?
What is all your busyness really doing to your energy level, and how do you get more of it?
Pedram answers these questions and more on today’s Business Reimagined.
At 4:00 – Pedram talks about the average person, and his motivation for writing the book, Urban Monk.
At 9:00 – These are the questions you need to answer as an entrepreneur, and a practical way to increase your energy levels. Pedram calls it energy profit, and explains where to reinvest it.
At 12:00 – The real secret to meditation, and it’s not nearly as complicated or flowery as you’ve been led to believe by other gurus.
At 14:00 – The best word you can learn to say is ‘no.’ Pedram talks about the concept of time compression, and what it does to your mind. There is a formula for directing your attention, and Pedram explains what it is.
At 20:00 - Pedram explains one simple way to feel more present and connected without the lure of the entire world at your dinner table.
There’s a big misconception going around about business. Either you climb the corporate ladder as fast as you can and retire, or you become an entrepreneur trying to hit a homerun, and you work yourself into oblivion to get there.
Corbett Barr of Fizzle used to believe the same thing, but a trip to Mexico completely changed his perspective of what business is, specifically entrepreneurship, and how people really CAN put their lives in front of their businesses.
What’s more, they can build something that’s not just big, but great, the type of company to truly makes a positive impact on the world around it. There might be growing pains along the way, but Corbett talks about how to avoid as many of them as you can, and how to remain sane during the scaling up process.
At 5:00 – Corbett talks about his amazing experience in Mexico that reshaped his entire way of thinking about entrepreneurship and his future.
At 9:00 – Scaling up is daunting, especially when you’re used to operating alone, and Corbett talks about the transition from a company of one to where he is now. He also describes what TYPE of people he hired.
At 12:00 – Corbett explains what his benchmarks are for business. The first one has NOTHING to do with money but EVERYTHING to do with how and why you build your business. He also points out that Airbnb and Uber may be huge, but aren’t necessarily great.
At 19:00 – Even though he disliked just about everything about the consulting company he worked for, Corbett brought one highly important concept with him, a metric that measured something other than company profit. He shares that thoughtful way to look at your employees.
At 21:00 – Corbett digs into exactly how he sees business differently than other people, from start up to scaling up, and the very first thing you can do to avoid a lot of trouble and heartache in YOUR business.
Imagine a place where everyone was on the same playing field when it comes to marketing skills and know-how. In this place, ideas would be standing out based on their own merit.
It’s a fantastic idea we can get behind, and today’s guest, Dorie Clark, is making it her mission to teach people who have great ideas how to put them out into the world.
Dorie can’t stand the thought of ideas that can truly make a difference languishing or dying.
Her strategy is simple: build a brain trust, build your audience, and make your audience into a community.
If you have a great idea that can change the world for the better, you don’t want to miss this episode.
At 4:00 – Dorie talks about her difficult experience trying to get her first book published, even though she did everything to guarantee her success, including getting an agent.
At 8:00 – Dorie shares the two key factors to her success, and how you can implement them in your life.
At 15:00 – Dorie gives her thoughts on where good ideas come from, including mixing disciplines.
At 19:00 – What happens when people have great ideas but don’t know how to get them out there? Coaches often experience this, and Dorie talks about their struggles and how they can get past them.
At 24:00 – Dorie explains what happens when the marketing playing field is leveled: those who truly deserve to stand out.