Business Development & Training Day

 

We spent the day in Ventura County with some of the top performers in our industry! Our team heard speakers discuss a variety of topics-- everything from priority management to mental toughness. Can't wait for the next time we meet up! 

 

The Law of Contribution: 7 Tips to Cultivate an Attitude of Growing Others

By The John Maxwell Company

“Out of what I had received in my development, I was also able to give. The confidence I gained from personal growth gave me credibility and made me believe I could start developing others. And in that, I found life’s greatest joy and reward.” 

Isn’t one of the most satisfying things seeing the success and growth of those you invested in at one point? John Maxwell explains in The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth that by growing yourself, you’re enabled to grow others.

However, even when you are generous with your knowledge and skill, you must be intentional in your efforts to add value to others. Positive qualities we possess can be multiplied when we cultivate an attitude of contribution.

Check out this list of 7 ways to develop a mind-set dedicated to growing others:

1. Be Grateful
“I am the recipient of many benefits that I do not deserve and did not earn. Someone else paid for them. I am grateful! How do I show my gratitude? By daily pouring into others and passing on to them the things that will allow them to run far and achieve beyond what I have done.”

Something we know and believe is that no one succeeds alone. It is our calling to pass along the development and influence we have received over our lifetime. In paying it forward, we can multiply our efforts, trusting that those we lead will also work to grow others.

2. Put People First
“People continue on. What you give to help others builds them up enough that they are able to give to others. It’s a cycle that can continue on long after you’re dead and gone.”

When you think of successes in your life, what do you remember? Likely you remember the people with whom you shared those wins. People are a huge part of our lives, and as leaders, our actions impact so many. By building our people up and putting them first, we show that they are valuable and worthy of great growth.

3. Don’t Let Stuff Own You
“Contributors take the stuff they own and use it as an asset to make this world a better place to live. And they do this regardless of how much or how little they have.”

So many people pride themselves in what they own. This doesn’t bring joy or benefit to anyone. Instead, we must let go of what we have and give it to others. Time, attention, money and resources – all can benefit others in great ways.

4. Don’t Let People Own You
“It’s hard to give yourself away when someone else owns you. I wanted to be able to value people with no strings attached.”

Although we consistently benefit from others, we can’t become indebted to them. When we are “owned” by others, we don’t have the chance to give what and when we want. Instead, we must aim to be on the giving side of every relationship.

5. Define Success as Sowing, Not Reaping
“If you live life with the intention of making a difference in others’ lives, your life will be full, not empty.”

So often people sow with the expectation of quick returns and are disappointed when that is not the case. Instead, we must sow and be prepared to wait for the harvest in due time. During that time, take a step back and recognize the immense impact you have on others. That is the true reason for living.

Read the full article online...

15 Best Leadership Books Every Young Leader Needs To Read

by Joe Vennare

Reading is an essential life skill. It’s how we record our history and share stories. Sure, there are countless books jam-packed from cover to cover with valuable facts. But there are also limitless volumes containing invaluable insights on the human experience. Generations of people have scribed their experiences and struggles, their emotions and confessions onto blank pages, thereby transforming them into rich resources. Given this truth, it’s disheartening to report that global literacy rates are in decline. Individuals young and old all around the world are reading less, less absorbedly.

According to author John Coleman, this lack of literature extends into the business world and all the way up the corporate ladder. In his experience, “business people seem to be reading less.” Which is bad news considering the fact that “broad reading habits are often a defining characteristic of our greatest leaders.” Perhaps it’s because reading has been shown to improve communication, emotional intelligence, organizational effectiveness, and to reduce stress. All of which are critical requirements for an effective leader.

Now that you’ve been sufficiently convinced of the importance of reading, especially for would-be leaders, you’re probably wondering what you should be reading. You might also be thinking that you don’t have the time. Well, the truth is that you do have the time:
“reading must become as natural as eating and breathing to you.” You don’t have to read 52 books in a year, but you do have to make time for more reading. And when you do, this list of the 15 best leadership books will inform and inspire young leaders.

Lead yourself.

Before you can lead someone else, a group, or a company, you must be able to lead yourself. That means discipline, self-actualization, sense of purpose, and humility.
  
1. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Gregory Hays translation)
Although Aurelius was writing for himself, the surviving text is a road map to living a better life. By removing the excess, Aurelius shows us all how to rise above distractions to maintain our principles. Rooted in Stoic philosophy, Meditations is practical advice for controlling your thoughts, emotions, and actions to remove stress from your life.

2. Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankel

This book recounts Viktor Frankel’s experience in Auschwitz, the Nazi prison camp, during the Holocaust. Through all the pain and suffering Frankel was able to maintain perspective and conclude that there “must be meaning in suffering.” He reminds us that the meaning of life is to define that meaning for ourselves through action.

3. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Life is a journey. Each one of us should be trying to follow our own personal legend (that is, what you have always wanted to accomplish). The tale of Santiago, a shepherd boy, reveals what happens when we pursue our own legend: “the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

Define leadership.

After building your foundation from which to lead, it’s important to understand exactly what leadership is and how it’s applied. It’s also helpful to study other successful leaders and businesses.

Read the full article online.

10 Great Tips for Success in Both Life and Business

by Robert Chen IN Lifestyle, Lifehack.org
Sometimes what helps us to be successful in our professional lives is not such a great idea in our personal lives — competition is a quality that comes to mind. At the same time, we all have a limited amount of time each day to do the things that we want to do.

So for the sake of saving time and energy, I’m sharing a list of tips that will help you be successful in both life and in business.

1. Add Value

No matter what you do and where you go, you can’t go wrong with adding value. Simply put value is anything that people are willing to pay for. In your professional life, the more value you can offer the more money you can make. In your personal life, more value translates to closer relationships and strong personal growth. The best way to add value is to find the intersection between what people are willing to pay for and what service or product you can offer that is aligned with your values, strengths and goals.

How are you adding value to your employers and loved ones today? What can you do to increase your ability to add value?

2. Follow Your Passion

Reading numerous biographies on great people and from my own personal observations and encounters, I’ve realized that those who achieve greatness professional and personally follow their passion. The reason why great people are few and far in-between is because most people don’t even know what their passion is. For those that do figure out their passion, most of them don’t follow their passion consistently. This is one of the main reasons why people don’t reach their goals.

Do you know what your passion is? If not, what are you going to do to find out? If  you do know what you passion is, are you following it?

3. Be Extraordinary

If you do the same thing as everyone else, it’s hard to be successful. It is important to find the edge and then push past it. That is how you become noticed and get what you want. Whether it is money, meaningful relationships and/or a sense of personal accomplishment, the extraordinary person attracts them all.

How are you extraordinary?  If you feel just ordinary, what are you going to do to become extraordinary? For those who don’t know, you may want to check out articles on my blog and also How to go from Ordinary to Extraordinary.

Read the full article online...