This is Your Life

In this highly recommended podcast, publisher Michael Hyatt guides you through the maze of social media and helps you use it to build a platform, which in turn helps raise your visibility, income, and influence.

• 22 May 2013: #055: How to Read a Non-Fiction Book [Podcast] - It’s been said “leaders read and readers lead.” If that’s true, then reading is one of the most important things you can do to grow your leadership. But how do you get better at it and retain more of what you read? Recently, my wife, Gail, and I had dinner with some close, neighborhood friends. As we always do with this group, we soon began discussing books. Click to Listen A few minutes into the discussion, Gail asked, “So how do each of you read a book? What are your practices?” What a great question. For the next forty-five minutes everyone shared their best practices. I picked up some great tips. Since that time, I’ve had a chance to think about this a little more. I have developed a list of ten best practices for better reading. I think these can help you make your reading even more valuable. Here they are: Don't feel that you need to finish. Start with the author bio. Read the table of contents. Quickly scan the whole book. Highlight important passages. Take notes in front or in the margin. Use a set of note-taking symbols. Dog-ear (or bookmark) pages you want to revisit. Review the book and transfer actions to a to-do list. Share the book's message. If you are convinced reading is important, then be intentional. Like everything else in life, the more thoughtful and deliberate you are with your approach, the more you will get out of it. Listener Questions Andrew Mason asked, “How do you retain all the stuff you are learning?” Brad Blackman asked, “Do you use post-it notes to flag important passages?” Brent Dumler asked, “What would recommend for someone with dyslexia who has trouble finishing books?” Christian Monzon asked, “Am I doing myself a disservice by not making time for more fiction?” Christopher Scott asked, “How can I read college textbooks faster and with better retention?” Esther Aspling asked, “Can you recommend a site for good reviews that will help me find better non-fiction books?” Jim Chandler asked, “What system do you use to queue and read books?” Joshua Beck asked, “How do you decide what books to read? Les Kerr asked, “Is there a happy medium between reading fiction and non-fiction?” Matt McWilliams asked, “How do you thoroughly digest the content to make sure you get everything you can out of it?” Pete Dahlem asked, “What do you do to help the people you mentor to grow and get to the next level?” Travis Dommert asked, “How much of an author’s content can I use in a book summary without violating his or her copyright?” Special Announcements If you are considering launching your own platform, you need to start with a self-hosted WordPress blog. This is not as complicated as it sounds. I have put together a step-by-step screencast on exactly how to do it. I also include a special discount code just for my podcast listeners and blog readers. It will enable you to get a hosting account for just $3.95 a month. Registration is now open for the Launch Conference, September 16–19 at the beautiful Sebastian Hotel in Vail, Colorado. Whether you are a professional speaker—or just want to be—this conference will teach you how to start where you are and take your speaking business to the next level. Register now and get in on the “Early Bird discount,” which will be expiring soon. My next podcast will be on the topic of “Who Are Your ‘Trusted Advisors’?” If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote your blog or website, because I will link to it—just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources In this episode I mentioned several resources, including: Conference: The Launch Conference Podcast: Episode 47: The Lost Art of Note-Taking Post: Five Insights from My 2011 Reader Survey Post: How to Retain More of What You Read Post: The Lost Art of Note-Taking Reading List: My Personal Reading List Site: BookSneeze.com
• 15 May 2013: #054: So You’re Overcommitted. Now What? [Podcast] - You swore you would never do it again. But you did it anyway. You said yes to far too many things. Now you find yourself overcommitted. What do you do now? We’ve all been there. You may be there now. In this episode we’ll look at some strategies for dealing with this common problem. Click to Listen As I write this to you, I have been and continue to be in the middle of a very busy season in my life. There is just a lot going on. Surprisingly, even in this hectic time, I have not felt overwhelmed. I’ve had plenty of time for my family and my own personal development. In this podcast, I want to share with you eight strategies I’ve used to reduce my commitments, create more margin, and feel like I am in control of my life. Strategy #1: Accept responsibility. Strategy #2: Confront my fears. Strategy #3: Reduce the drama. Strategy #4: Keep it in perspective. Strategy #5: Triage my calendar. Strategy #6: Do the next most important task. Strategy #7: Get sufficient rest. Strategy #8: Decide to change. I really believe these strategies can make a difference in your life. Adopting them doesn’t mean you won’t get overcommitted from time to time (I still do), but you will better understand the dynamics and what to do about it when it happens. Listener Questions Adam Rico asked, “How can you manage the stress of your commitments without damaging your own well-being?” Caleb Suko asked, “How do you deal with overcommitment when you are in a corporate culture that values busyness as a sign of success?” Eddie Cliff asked, “If I decide to quit an organization because I’m overwhelmed, how can I ensure the best possible outcome for them?” Jason J. Nicholas asked, “Should I step away from a major commitment in order to free up resources to apply elsewhere?” K.C. Procter asked, “How do you endure a season where are really having to hustle without getting burned out?” Mike Burn asked, “What percentage of your day do you actually plan vs. how much time you leave open for unplanned activities?” Mike Kim asked, “How do you accomplish all the things you love without getting overcommitted?” Peg Doyle asked, “How do you get the long-range, important stuff done when you feel so overwhelmed with the day-to-day activities?” Tor Constantino asked, “What do you do when you overcommit by double-booking your time?” Special Announcements If you are considering launching your own platform, you need to start with a self-hosted WordPress blog. This is not as complicated as it sounds. In fact, I have put together a step-by-step screencast on exactly how to do it. I also include a special discount code just for my podcast listeners and blog readers. It will enable you to get a hosting account for just $3.95 a month. We have just opened registration for the Launch Conference,  September 16–19 at the beautiful Sebastian Hotel in Vail, Colorado. Whether you are a professional speaker—or just want to be—this conference will teach you how to start where you are and take your speaking business to the next level. Register now and get in on the “Early Bird discount,” which will be expiring soon. My next podcast will be on the topic of “How to Read a Non-Fiction Book.” If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote your blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources In this episode I mentioned several resources, including: Book: Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend Book: Boundaries for Leaders by Henry Cloud Book: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber Book: Getting Things Done by David Allen Conference: The Launch Conference e-Book: Creating Your Personal Life Plan Membership: Platform University Podcast: Episode 41: 7 Actions to Take Before You Quit Your Job Post: How to Create More Margin in Your Life
• 8 May 2013: #053: How to Become a Morning Person [Podcast] - Recently, I did a podcast about how to be more productive by re-engineering your morning ritual. The response was astounding. But many asked, “What if I’m just not a morning person?” Well, you can be. It may not be easy, but it’s definitely possible. You can do it if you are intentional. Click to Listen Here are nine steps you can take to become a morning person, beginning today. Change your story. What would happen if you changed the story and began telling yourself, “I am a morning person.” Determine what’s at stake Whenever I want to change anything in my life or accomplish a significant goal, I start by articulating why it’s important. Plan your sleep. Like changing any other habit, you have to set yourself up for success. Use an alarm. If you haven’t been a morning person until now, you will likely need to use an alarm. It’s part of training yourself mentally and physically. Turn on all the lights. This may sound obvious, but your environment provides subtle clues to your body, so it knows how to respond. Set out your clothes. When you get up, the fewer decisions you need to make the better. Drink a cup of coffee. After considerable research, I’m convinced coffee is fine in moderation. In fact, it’s probably beneficial. Enlist an accountability partner. Whether it’s a mentor or a peer, find someone who understands the value of accountability. Commit to twenty-one days. According to many psychologists, this is how long it takes to form a habit. What I really want to communicate in this episode is you have more power than you think. You don’t have to be held hostage by a label. (“I’m not a morning person.”) If you are intentional, you can build the habits necessary to accomplish your goals—even if it means becoming a morning person. Listener Questions Christopher Scott asked, “It typically takes me ten to fifteen minutes to wakeup after I get up. What do you do to be alert more quickly?” Egil Ellingsen asked, “How do you have a consistent start to your morning when you have small children in the house?” Evan Moffic asked, “What is it about the morning that makes it such an important time?” Ian Harber asked, “I’m a college student. The culture of the dorm is to stay up late. How can I become a morning person when the environment is against me?” Jack Callender asked, “I’d really like to be a morning person. However, I am very sore in the morning, and it’s hard to get out of bed. What do you recommend?” Jonathan Harrison asked, “If you go to bed late, what do you do the next morning? Skip it, compress it, or keep your commitment no matter what?” Linda Kuhar asked, “I’m already a morning person, but I need to add some more things to my schedule (like exercise). Do you have any recommendations?” Pete Ashby asked, “Is it possible to be both a morning and an evening person?” Theresa Pobee-Mensah asked, “How can mothers of young children establish a consistent morning routine?” Wayne Stiles asked, “I don’t think we are morning or evening people by nature. The ability to adjust to different time zones seems to prove this. What do you think?” Special Announcements I am at the SCORRE Conference this week in Orlando, Florida. This conference is sold out, but we just opened registration for our conference this fall in beautiful Vail, Colorado. If you are a professional speaker—or want to be—or if you just want to improve your public speaking, this conference is for you. It is designed to teach you how to prepare with focus, deliver with confidence, and speak with power. I will be keynoting the Biola Digital Conference in La Mirada, California on June 4th. This conference is focused on theology, strategy, and education in a digital world. I will be speaking on “Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World.” My next podcast will be on the topic of “So You’re Overcommitted. Now What?” If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message.
• 1 May 2013: #052: The Power in Choosing Your Response [Podcast] - When bad things happen, it’s natural to ask questions like, "Why did this happen to me?" or "What did I do to deserve this?" The problem with these questions is that they are unproductive and disempowering. The bottom line is this: you can’t always choose what happens to you, but you can choose how you respond to those situations. This is where our real power—and our real freedom—is found. Click to Listen Here are four steps—the ABCDs—for becoming more intentional with your response when you experience pain or setback. A: Acknowledge the pain. B: Be with it. C: Have compassion on yourself. D: Do something different. As difficult as the pain or the setback might be, if we look back on our lives, most of us would admit that these times are often followed by tremendous growth and blessing. Listener Questions Chris Christensen asked, “What do you think about the question, ‘How do we keep this from happening again?” Don Suess asked, “How can see with the eye of faith when you become shipwrecked by a catastrophic loss?” Joan Harrison asked, “What do you think about the question, ‘Why have I attracted this into my life?’” John Richardson asked, “How can you tell when something bad happens if it is really good?” Mike Skiff asked, “When someone close to you experiences pain or heartache, how can you respond graciously in a way that is truly helpful?” Special Announcements Next week, I will be speaking at the SCORRE Conference in Orlando, Florida. This conference is already sold out, but you can register for the next one in October. Registration officially opens on Monday, May 6th. We always sell out, so if you are thinking about coming, I suggest you register sooner rather than later. If you are considering launching your own platform, you need to start with a self-hosted WordPress blog. This is not as complicated as it sounds. In fact, I have put together an absolutely free, step-by-step screencast on exactly how to do it. You don’t need any technical knowledge. I walk you through the entire process in exactly 20 minutes, My next podcast will be on the topic of “How To Become A Morning Person.” If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote your blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Show Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here, courtesy of Ginger Schell, a professional transcriptionist, who handles all my transcription needs. Subscription Links If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe: Your Feedback If you have an idea for a podcast you would like to see or a question about an upcoming episode, e-mail me. Also, if you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks.
• 24 April 2013: #051: How to Build (or Rebuild) Trust [Podcast] - Trust is so crucial in every relationship and every situation. If you don’t have it, it make it very difficult to move things forward. If you’ve lost it, things can go south very fast. Trust is not something you can take for granted. It takes months—sometimes years—to build. Unfortunately, you can lose it overnight. Click to Listen If you are in a situation where you need to build trust—or even rebuild it—here are four specific steps you can take. These will work with your employees, your colleagues, your customers, your vendor or even your spouse. Keep your word. Tell the truth. Be transparent. Give without any strings attached. Trust can always be rebuilt. Granted, in some situations, it can take years. It takes doing the right things over a long period of time. But in most cases, it won’t take that long. Relationships can be turned around quickly if you own the problem and take the steps I’ve outlined above. Listener Questions Alan Williams asked, “How do you allow someone to regain their trust with you when they have done something to cause you to distrust them or their leadership?” Chip Hutcheson asked, “How can I tell if a client or a prospective client has the ability to trust me?” Evan Umberger asked, “What methods do you suggest for building your trust momentum?” Jane Graham asked, “How can you rebuild trust with people when doing so might require you to betray someone else’s privacy?” Kimberley Wiggins asked, “When you are trying to build or rebuild trust I know it is important to be transparent. Is it possible to be too transparent and share too much?” Kristine Canavan asked, “When you are your own boss, should you let your clients know when you have been unhappy with your performance and given yourself a reprimand?” Matt Coachran asked, “How do I help someone I lead rebuild trust with those they lead?”  Mike Burns asked, “How do you discuss sensitive performance issues with someone without out betraying the trust of the person you are discussing?” Nicky Nics Cahill asked, “How do you rebuild trust with a person who has lied to your face and spread spiteful lies about you to other people, especially when it is someone with whom you have to work on a daily basis?” Special Announcements I am speaking tomorrow in Palm Springs, California at the INVEST Financial Corporation’s annual Leaders’ Conference. I will be talking about “Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World,” specifically tailored for people in the financial services industry. On Friday, I will be speaking at the CEO Summit in Dallas, Texas, along with my friends, Bob Goff and Francis Chan. I will be doing two keynote sessions: “Why Vision Is More Important Than Strategy” and “Platform.” I’ll be off the road the next week and then I’m headed to the SCORRE Conference in Orlando, Florida. We are sold out. But we do have a waiting list. If you are considering launching your own platform, you need to start with a self-hosted WordPress blog. This is not as complicated as it sounds. In fact, I have put together a step-by-step screencast on exactly who to do it. You don’t need any technical knowledge. I walk you through the entire process in exactly 20 minutes. The screencast is absolutely free! My next podcast will be on the topic of “The Single Most Important Question You Can Ask When Bad Things Happen.” If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote YOUR blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources In this episode I mentioned several resources, including: Book: Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends by Tim Sanders Book: Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone by Mark Goulston, M.D. Show Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here,
• 17 April 2013: #050: 8 Leadership Lessons from a Symphony Conductor [Podcast] - Not long ago, I sat in Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center watching Hugh Wolff, a world renowned conductor, lead the Nashville Symphony in a performance of Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances, Op. 45. It was fascinating! Toward the end of the e...
• 10 April 2013: #049: The 3 Components of Job Satisfaction [Podcast] - You and I spend more time at work than any other single activity. Yet, I meet so many people who are unhappy in their job. If we are going to experience true job satisfaction, we need to understand the components that make it possible. We’ll talk about this plus what to do if you hate your job. Click to Listen Here are the three components that must be present for you to experience job satisfaction. Component #1: You must have passion. Component #2: You must be competent. Component #3: You must have a market. If you have all three of these components—passion, competence, and a market—you experience satisfaction. Few things in life are more rewarding. However, you have to be wary of having only two. Passion + Competence - Market = A Hobby Passion + Market - Competence = Failure Competence + Market - Passion = Boredom So, what do you do if you are in a job you hate? Many people feel trapped in a job they hate but don’t believe they can quit. They feel stuck and, as a result, their life is miserable. If this describes you, here are seven strategies for making work more tolerable: Strategy #1: Be thankful you are employed. Strategy #2: Put your work in context. Strategy #3: Determine the source of your dissatisfaction. Strategy #4: Find someone to talk to. Strategy #5: Fix what you can fix. Strategy #6: Use your job to polish your character. Strategy #7: Encourage a co-worker If you really can’t stand your job, and you have done through the above steps, you need to make plans for a graceful exit. Life is too short to stay stuck in a situation that makes you miserable. Sometimes you don’t have a choice. But often, you do. You just need a plan and the courage to take the first steps. Listener Questions Brad Blackman asked, "How can you have a better attitude about the work you are doing” Brent Dumler asked, “What would you say to a 20-something church leader who finds him or herself in the midst of an unhealthy church? When would you advise them to start looking for something else?” Chandler Milligan asked, “How do I keep my job satisfaction high when I am striving for a position I am not even being considered for?” Cindy Finley asked, “I love my work but feel the tension between job satisfaction and mommy guilt. What advice do you have for me and for other working moms?” Mark Gredler asked, “How can I increase job satisfaction and influence things for the better without being perceived as a negative complainer?” Raisa Lardie asked “How does debt relate to job satisfaction?” Special Announcements My business partner Ken Davis and I will be hosting the SCORRE Conference, May 6–9 at the beautiful Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida. We only have about a dozen tickets left. Whether you are a professional speaker—or just want to be—this conference will teach you how to prepare with focus, deliver with confidence, and speak with power. Bottom line: it’s a conference designed to maximize the impact of your speeches. If you are serious about becoming a better speaker, you simply must attend. You can get a $200 discount by entering the discount code HYATT when you register. If you are considering launching your own platform, you need to start with a self-hosted WordPress blog. This is not as complicated as it sounds. I have put together a step-by-step screencast on exactly how to do it. You don’t need any technical knowledge. I walk you through the entire process in exactly 20 minutes. And, for a limited time, Bluehost—the hosting company I personally recommend—is offering an amazing deal to my listeners. You can get web hosting for as little as $3.95 a month. My next podcast will be on the topic of “8 Leadership Lessons from a Symphony Conductor.” If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This will be my 50th episode, so I want to do something a little bit special.
• 3 April 2013: #048: The 5 Characteristics of Weak Leaders [Podcast] - I have worked for more weak leaders than strong. I’ll bet you may have, too. However, I believe you can learn just as much from a weak leader—maybe more. I was reminded of this again when I read Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It is a page-turning account of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency and his political genius. Click to Listen Though Lincoln was a strong leader, he wasn’t perfect. He occasionally selected men for public service who were unworthy of his trust. One such individual was General George B. McClellan, commander of the “Army of the Potomac” and, eventually, first general-in-chief of the Union Army. General McClellan had significant character flaws. The good news for us is that they serve as warning signs to us. Ultimately, these flaws cost him dearly. He lost Lincoln's confidence, he lost his job, and he later lost a run for the White House (against Lincoln). McClellan's weakness as a leader can be attributed to five fundamental flaws, and these are flaws that appear consistently in weak leaders. Flaw #1: Weak leaders hesitate to take definitive action. Flaw #2: Weak leaders complain about a lack of resources. Flaw #3: Weak leaders refuse to take responsibility. Flaw #4: Weak leaders abuse the privileges of leadership. Flaw #5: Weak leaders engage in acts of insubordination. President Lincoln had the patience of Job. He gave General McClellan numerous opportunities to correct his behavior and redeem himself. But in the end, McClellan either could not or would not do so. He left the President no choice but to relieve him of his duties. In this episode, I also talk about how to deal with those flaws in yourself and in those who are leading you. Listener Questions Alan Williams asked, “How do I know if I'm doing a good job as a leader?” Blessing Mpofu asked, “How do you lead people who are smarter and stronger than you in areas you are not?” Brandon W. Jones asked, “How do you deal with a leader who has a Jekyll and Hyde personality?” James Divine asked, “How can I influence other leaders who have a difficult time being courageous?” Jonathan Lazar asked, “How do I know if the problem is me as a leader who needs to grow or if the problem is an employee who needs to go?” Joseph Iliff asked, “Have you had any experience with leaders who are quick to blame and slow to accept responsibility?” Kent Lapp asked, “What do you do if you feel you are working for a weak leader and you are actually a better leader?” Robert Farrington asked, “Do you have any tips in giving feedback to new leaders—perhaps someone you work for or someone external to the company?” Special Announcements My business partner, Ken Davis, and I will be hosting the SCORRE Conference, May 6–9 at the beautiful Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Whether you are a professional speaker—or just want to be—this conference will teach you how to prepare with focus, deliver with confidence, and speak with power. Bottom line: it’s a conference designed to maximize the impact of your speeches. Honestly, this conference has had a bigger impact on my career than any conference I have ever attended. It revolutionized my speaking and his influenced every aspect of my communication, including my blogging and podcasting. If you are serious about becoming a better speaking, you simply must attend. You can find out more at SCORREConference.tv. If you are considering launching your own platform, you need to start with a self-hosted WordPress blog. This is not as complicated as it sounds. In fact, I have put together a step-by-step screencast on exactly how to do it. You don’t need any technical knowledge. I walk you through the entire process in exactly 20 minutes. And, for a limited time, Bluehost—the hosting company I personally recommend—is offering an amazing deal to my listeners. You can get web hosting for as little as $3.95 a month.
• 27 March 2013: #047: The Lost Art of Note-Taking [Podcast] - I don’t recall anyone ever teaching me how to take notes. I didn’t learn it in school—not even college. Nor did I learn it on the job. It was something I had to pick up on my own. Maybe this is why so few people bother to take notes during meetings or presentations. No one has ever told them why it is important or how to do it. In this episode, I do both. Click to Listen So let’s start with why. Why is note-taking important? Here are five reasons you should take notes in every meeting your attend: Note-taking enables you to stay engaged. Note-taking provides a mechanism for capturing ideas, insights and questions. Note-taking helps you track assignments–yours and others. Note-taking provides a handy reference weeks and months later. Note-taking communicates the right things to the other attendees. So, those are some reasons why note-taking is important. How, then, can you take better notes? Don't get hung up on the tool. Record whatever you find interesting. Give your notes structure, even if the meeting or presenter is unstructured. Use symbols so you can quickly scan your notes later. Schedule time to review your notes. The method you use is secondary to the importance of doing it. Feel free to experiment. The key thing is to be intentional. Listener Questions Brandon Jones asked, “How can you effectively take notes and still be an active participant in the meeting?" Cary Branscum asked, “What is the one favorite pen or pencil you have that you most enjoy using?” Deborah Owen asked, “How can we teach students to take notes in a way that will ultimately be useful in the workplace?” Erick Rheam asked, “How do you capture ideas and follow-up items on podcasts and audiobooks?” Jared Easley asked, “What's your advice on taking mental notes, when you don't have a pen and taking notes on a cell phone is inappropriate?” Jeremy Jones asked, “Do you have a regular process or system for making sure the notes you take get into your life?” John Brubaker asked, “How do you get buy-in from people who work for you to become note-takers themselves without forcing it on them?” Jordan Collier asked, “Can you recommend a system for reviewing or reflecting on your notes?” Paula Gibson asked, “How can we encourage students, who are using digital devices, to take notes?” Scott McFaddin asked, “How can we use digital devices in a corporate setting without making people wonder if we are taking notes or doing something else?” Tom McFarland asked, “What do you do with your notes after you finish processing them?”  Victor H. Manzanilla asked, “How do you create a notes archive that is indexed and searchable?” Special Announcements I am speaking at Dan Miller’s Innovate Conference on Friday, March 29th, here in Franklin, TN. I am speaking on the topic of “Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World” with special emphasis on finding your voice. Next week, April 2nd, I will be speaking at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusettes. It’s about a half hour north of Boston. I will be speaking on the topic of “Platform.” Previous speakers have included John C. Maxwell and Sir Ken Robinson. Finally, on April 26th, I will be speaking at the CEO Summit in Frisco, TX on the topic of “Platform.” I’ll be there with my friends Bob Goff and Francis Chan. Platform University continues to thrive! This week, I hosted our monthly Q&A call. Our members submitted hundreds of questions. My staff went through and collected the most often asked ones, and then we took several calls live. My next podcast will be on the topic of “The 5 Characteristics of Weak Leaders.” I'll talk about how not to be that guy and what to do if you work for that guy. If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote YOUR blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources
• 20 March 2013: #046: How To Get More Twitter Followers–Legitimately [Podcast] - I joined Twitter on April 6, 2008 at the urging of my friend, Randy. I quickly came to discover that Twitter is one of the most powerful communication tools ever invented. But the power of Twitter is greatly impacted by the extent of your reach, and that means the number of followers you have. In this episode, I talk about how to get more followers–without gaming the system. Click to Listen First, let's look at three reasons you might want more Twitter followers: Reason #1: More followers provide social authority. Reason #2: More followers extend your influence. Reason #3: More followers lead to more sales. So, here are twelve steps you can take now to legitimately gain more Twitter followers: Show your Face. Create an interesting bio. Use a custom About page. Make your Twitter presence visible. Share valuable content. Post frequently, but don’t flood your followers. Keep your posts short enough to retweet. Reply to others publicly. Practice strategic, not aggressive, following. Be generous in linking and retweeting others. Avoid too much promotion. Don’t use an auto-responder. Ultimately, you shouldn’t worry too much about the numbers. If you follow the advice I have given above, the numbers will take care of themselves. Like most things in life, slow and steady wins the race. Don’t underestimate the power of incremental growth over time. I didn’t build my following overnight and neither will you. Listener Questions Christopher Scott asked, “What is the difference between HootSuite’s auto-schedule feature and Buffer app?” Cory Nikkel asked, “What can I do outside of speaking to gain more Twitter followers?” Dustin Dauenhauer asked, “What is the purpose of Twitter, especially as compared to Facebook?” Erik Fisher asked, “Have you tried tweeting fewer but higher quality tweets?” Jake Hower asked, “How do you move Twitter followers to e-mail subscribers to your blog?” Jeff Keady asked, “Do you know of a resource similar to Brett Kelly’s Evernote Essentials e-book that is designed to help people learn the advanced features of Twitter?” and “Is Twitter your number one social media network and, if not, what is?” Kerry-Ann Powell asked, “How do you engage your Twitter followers and how do you get them to follow you on your blog?” Mark Jordan asked, “What is your strategy for following people, especially as your follower count grows?” Mike Samboy asked, “What do you think about following a large number of people in the hope that they will follow you back?” Scot Longyear asked, “Can you change your Twitter name on your current account?” Shalon Palmer asked, "How do you go about sharing your new blog post on all the different social media networks?" Special Announcements If you are considering launching your own platform, you need to start with a self-hosted WordPress blog. This is not as complicated as it sounds. In fact, I have put together a completely free, step-by-step screencast on exactly how to do it. I walk you through the entire process in 20 minutes or less. If you have ever thought about writing a book, but didn't know where to start or if you already have a book, but want to do everything you can to make the biggest splash you can in the marketplace, then I urge you to get my 21-session audio course, “Get Published.” I cover everything I have learned about publishing in my thirty years in the industry as a publisher, literary agent, and two-time New York Times best-selling author. My next podcast will be on the topic of “The Lost Art of Note-Taking.” If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote your blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources In this episode I mentioned several resources, including: Book: Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt
• 13 March 2013: #045: A Peek Inside My Toolbox [Podcast] - In this episode, I give all of you a peek inside my toolbox. These are "tools" that I use virtually every day in my professional and personal life. I am often asked about my tools. I hope that this episode gives you some insights and ideas about tools you might use to help with your own workflow. The podcast is a little long, but I didn’t want to leave anything out. Click to Listen I want to look at my tools in six different areas: Hardware, Startup Software, Blogging, Writing, Speaking, and Podcasting Hardware 13" MacBook Air 27" Apple Thunderbolt Display Fujitsu ScanSnap 1300 Scanner HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 Big Jambox by Jawbone Time Capsule iPad Mini iPhone 5 Startup Software Startupizer Alfred iKey Typinator Crashplan Stay DropBox PathFinder SnagIt Cobook Messages Apple Mail Hootsuite Evernote Google Calendar Google Chrome Nozbe Blogging WordPress BlueHost Get Noticed! Theme Feedburner Disqus MailChimp Akismet Google Analytics ScribeSEO VaultPress iStockPhoto Evernote Writing Byword Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Edition MarsEdit Pages Word Scrivener Fast, Effective Copywriting How to Write Bestselling Fiction by Dean R. Koontz On Writing by Stephen King The War of Art by Steven Pressfield Writing a Winning Book Proposal by Michael Hyatt Speaking Keynote KeySpan Remote OmniOutliner Photoshop Evernote Launch Conference SCORRE Conference Podcasting Cliff Ravenscraft, The Podcast Answerman Adobe Audition BluBrry PowerPress BroadVoice SpeakPipe Ginger Schell (transcriptionist) ID3 Editor LibSyn OmniOutliner SoundByte Timer Utility Listener Questions Chris Jeub asked, “In addition to a toolbox, do you have a toy box? In other words, are there programs you are experimenting with that you are not quite ready to add to your toolbox” Christelle Donaldson asked, “How do you organize Evernote for blogging?” Derek Olsen asked, “Do you do any kind of split testing on your website?” Erick Rheam asked, “Have you tried other note-taking apps besides Moleskine, like PenUltimate?” Erik Fisher asked, “What do you do to make sure you spend enough time investigating an app without spending too much time?” Peder Aadahl asked, “How do you keep your personal and work tasks separate?” Rene Ferret asked, “What tools would you recommend to a beginning blogger who doesn't have a lot of money to spend?” Robert Kennedy III asked, “Do you use Evernote Business or just Evernote Premium?” Spence Smith asked, “What do you use to write your posts offline and then post them afterwards?” Special Announcements I have a number of speaking engagements in the next few weeks. If you are interested in having me speak to your organization or at your event, you can find out more on my speaking page. I have a list of my most requested speaking topics, some video clips of me speaking in front of a live audience, numerous endorsements, and, of course, a calendar of all my upcoming engagements. Platform University continues to thrive. This week we posted a new Member Makeover screencast evaluating Ryan Jenkins' platform. Every month we post four new sessions. You can read about it and join here. My next podcast will be on the topic of “How to Get More Twitter Followers Legitimately.” I currently get 800–1,000 a week. If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote YOUR blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources In this episode I mentioned several additional resources, including: Post: “10 WordPress Plugins for AB/Split Testing” Screencast: “How to Launch a Self-Hosted WordPress Blog in 20 Minutes or Less” Service: AWeber Software: Fluid Software: ScreenFlow Software: SuperDuper
• 6 March 2013: #044: How to Overcome the Resistance [Podcast] - In this episode, I talk about how to overcome the Resistance. Steven Pressfield coined this phrase to describe that invisible, destructive force that opposes you any time you try to start a new project or make an improvement in any area of your life. I spoke on this topic at the recent Platform Conference, and the response was tremendous. So I wanted to share some practical counter-measures for dealing with the Resistance in your own life and work. Click to Listen In order to deal with the Resistance, you have to first understand what it is. It has four attributes. Attribute #1: It is invisible. Attribute #2: It is internal. Attribute #3: It is insidious. Attribute #4: It is infallible. But what can you do about it? You can only defeat the Resistance by understanding its three primary strategies and applying appropriate countermeasures. Strategy #1: Fear. The typical response to this strategy is procrastination. The countermeasure is to START. Strategy #2: Uncertainty. The typical response is distraction. The countermeasure is to FOCUS. Strategy #3: Doubt. This usually occurs at the end of a project, and the typical response is to quit and leave the work unfinished. The countermeasure is to FINISH. Defeating the Resistance is essential to your growth, but more importantly it is essential to your transformation. Who you are becoming is more important than what you are doing. Listener Questions Jeff Sanders asked, “How do you keep your own creativity from becoming another form of the Resistance?” Jen McDonough asked, “What kinds of outside things do you bring into your life to help fight the resistance? Joanna Holman asked, “How do you know what you are facing is Resistance rather than a sign that what you are doing is not the right thing for you or you are doing too much and need to back off?” Marc Schelske asked, “What has helped you to stop the cycle of perfectionism and get the product out the door?” Sue Detweiler asked, “What are ways that we personally create Resistance and sabotage our own progress?” Travis Dommert asked, “How does the Resistance work in the presence of a group?” Special Announcements I want to remind you about my 21-session audio course, entitled "Get Published."  It's everything I learned about publishing in my thirty years in the publishing industry, most recently CEO of Thomas Nelson, a literary agent, and two-time New York Times bestselling author. If you've ever thought about writing a book but don't know where to start, or if you already have a book but want to do everything you can to make the biggest splash you can in the marketplace, this course is for you. Platform University continues to do amazingly well. Yesterday, we posted a killer Master Class with Jeff Goins. It’s all about “Going Pro.” Jeff has just recently done this with his own platform. It is now supporting him full-time, and he explains in the class how he did it in only two years. In my next podcast, I'll be taking you “Inside My Toolbox.” I'm going to share with you all the tools I use on a daily basis. If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote YOUR blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources In this episode I mentioned several resources, including: Book: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield Book: Do the Work by Steven Pressfield Book: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller Book: The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) by Seth Godin Course: Get Published Membership: Platform University Podcast: Episode 28, “Reengineer Your Morning Ritual” Software: Evernote Quote: W.H. Murray on Commitment Show Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here, courtesy of Ginger Schell,
• 27 February 2013: #043: How to Delegate Even If You Don’t Have a Staff [Podcast] - Delegation truly is a fine art and a necessary skill. In this episode, I talk about how you can delegate even if you don't have a staff. Whenever I write or speak on the topic of delegation, I always get a question from someone who says, “But what if you don’t have a staff? How can you delegate?” As you increase your impact in the world, you will, inevitably, encounter situations where delegation is not only helpful but essential to growth. Click to Listen This episode is Part 2 of Episode 42: The Fine Art of Delegation.  Before proceeding, it would be beneficial for you to go back and reexamine some important principles covered in that episode.  In this episode I want to recommend seven strategies for those who want to delegate but don’t have anyone to whom you can delegate. Strategy #1: Triage your “To-Do List.” Strategy #2: Use technology more effectively. Strategy #3: Negotiate out of previous assignments. Strategy #4: Ask for volunteer help. Strategy #5: Use variable cost alternatives. Strategy #6: Appeal for more resources. Strategy #7: Muster the courage to say no. I know this just scratches the surface, but I firmly believe in the principle that “he who is faithful in little is also faithful in much” (see Luke 16:10). If you are a good steward with what you have been given, you will eventually be given more. Listener Questions Celeste Vaughn asked, “How do you know when it’s time to let go and trust someone else to do the job right?” Daniel J. Lewis asked, “How can I ensure quality control when I am delegating tasks to volunteers who may not have much experience with the tools and techniques I need them to use?” Dr. Bill Dyment asked, “When it comes to social media, what portion can you delegate to others and what part should you continue to do yourself?” Gary Morland asked, “How do you track and follow-up on tasks you delegate?” Jeremiah Crane asked, “How do I get my supervisor to delegate more important work to me without coming across as power hungry?” Julie Sunne asked, “What kinds of business-related tasks can I delegate to my teen children?” Paul Jolicoeur asked, “When do you know it’s time to delegate a task to someone else to free you up for new opportunities?” Phil Darke asked, “How do you demand excellence from those to whom you delegate and not appear to be micromanaging them in the process?” Richella Parham asked, “How do you decide whether a task should be delegated or simply eliminated?” Samson Varughese asked, “How do I keep from trusting too much and not exercising enough oversight?” Victor H. Manzanilla asked, “What is the best way to get your boss to trust you more and advance you through the five levels of delegation?” Special Announcements We have just opened registration for the Launch Conference, April 8–11, 2013 at the beautiful WinShape Retreat Center in Rome Georgia. Whether you are a professional speaker—or just want to be—this conference will teach you how to start where you are and take your business to the next level Platform University continues to do well. We migrated to a different server this past weekend in order to solve some of the technical problems some of our members were experiencing. Last week, we posted the first “Backstage Pass” video, where I took our members on a tour of my home office and my new downtown office. I explained how I carefully designed these environments to maximize my creativity and productivity. I shared my tools and the rationale of why I do what I do. Yesterday, we posted the first “Member Makeover.” We picked one member, and then I recorded a screencast of me walking through the various components of their platform and offering suggestions for how they could improve and see immediate results. If you are serious about building a platform, please check out Platform University. It’s only $25.00 a month—less than a dollar a day. I don’t know of a faster,
• 20 February 2013: #042: The Fine Art of Delegation [Podcast] - In this episode, I talk about the fine art of delegation. I also share the five levels of delegation. If you want to succeed as a leader, it is imperative that you learn to delegate and delegate well. My first year as marketing director, I vacillated between micro-managing everything and completely abdicating my role. It would be years before I would learn the art of delegation. However, the techniques I cover in this episode can help you go further, faster. Click to Listen One of the first recorded examples of delegation occurs in the book of Exodus, chapter 18. In leading the children of Israel, Moses was wearing himself out. His father-in-law, Jethro, gave him some very specific imperatives. These are as relevant today as they were then. Imperative #1: Admit that working non-stop is unsustainable. Imperative #2: Understand your unique calling Imperative #3: Select qualified leaders to assist you Imperative #4: Give these leaders responsibility and authority Level 1: Do exactly what I have asked you to do. Level 2: Research the topic and report back Level 3: Research the topic, outline the options and make a recommendation. Level 4: Make a decision and then tell me what you did. Level 5: Make whatever decision you think is best. Imperative #5: Only do those things which others cannot do. Listener Questions Adam Rico asked, “How do you avoid the feeling that you are adding another burden to an already overwhelmed team member when you delegate a task to them?” Gary Morland asked, “What is the biggest mistake you can make when delegating?” James Randorff asked, “What process do you have for checking your own heart to make sure you aren’t shirking your responsibilities when delegating?” Jeff Sanders asked, “Currently, I don’t have anyone to delegate to. How do you know when it’s time to hire a virtual assistant?” Laurie Coombs asked, “What does it look like practically for a leader to delegate?” Nate Buckwater asked, “How do you overcome the challenges of delegating to people who are older than you are?” Paolo Sini asked, “I have a hard time delegating. Can you give me any advice on changing this behavior?” Phil Mershon asked, “I often have a difficult time trusting those to whom I delegate. What strategies can you suggest for overcoming these trust issues?” Rabbi Evan Moffic asked, “What should I keep and what should I pass on?” Special Announcements The Platform Conference was a huge success. We held the two-day event at the Sound Kitchen here in Franklin, Tennessee. The speakers were awesome! The thing that made this conference different from most was the total engagement of our speakers. All but one stayed the entire time. They sat with the other attendees, took copious notes, and networked with everyone present. I am pleased to announce that the next Platform Conference will be held November 3–5, 2013 in Dallas at the Omni Hotel at Park West. You can find out more and register on our website. Platform University is going great. After the Platform Conference last week, I spent two very long days filming content with our video crew. We shot four Master Classes, five Backstage Pass segments, and a slew of Platform Tips. We will be rolling all of this out to our members in the coming months. So far, We have more than 1,300 members. if you haven’t done so yet, please check it out at PlatformUniversity.com. It’s only $25 a month—less than a dollar a day. I don’t know of a faster, cheaper way to launch your platform or take it to the next level. My next podcast will be part 2 of “The Fine Art of Delegation.” If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote your blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources In this episode I mentioned several resources, including:
• 13 February 2013: #041: 7 Actions to Take Before You Quit Your Job [Podcast] - You know it will eventually happen. You’ll quit your job to take another one. Maybe you’re in the midst of this right now—or considering it. Regardless, in this episode I discuss how to finish well and setup yourself up for success. The time will eventually come that you have to quit your job.  The only real question is how to do it in a way that doesn't burn your bridges. So what I want to share in this episode is this: before you turn in your resignation—or even begin looking for another job—let me suggest that you consider the following seven actions: Click to Listen Action #1: Determine to exit with dignity and honor Action #2: Count the cost of leavening your present job Action #3: Give your employer a chance to address your issues Action #4: Honor your commitments to your current employer Action #5: Don’t look for another job on company time or with company email Action #6: Don’t share proprietary information with prospective employers Action #7: Don’t conspire with others to leave the company With a little planning, anyone can make a graceful exit. Life is short. The world is small—and cold. You don’t need to create any unnecessary enemies. You’ve already made an investment in your job. Now make one in your career. Think of the future and keep the end in mind. Listener Questions Amy Anderson asked, “I have rarely left a job without another one waiting … How do you feel about leaving a difficult situation even if you don’t have something else lined up?” Christopher Scott asked, “Should you give your current employer a heads up if you are planning to quit or just wait and give them the perfunctory two weeks notice?” Heman Smith asked, “I want to leave my present company, enter a non-competitive industry, and use the concepts I use now. How do I do that without causing concerns about intellectual property?” Jeff Jones asked, “When I left my position as a drummer in a band, I found that I really needed to focus on where I was headed and not on the past. How did that play out in your recent transition from Thomas Nelson?” Wayne Henderson asked, “I really want to be a full-time voice actor, but I am concerned about those in management knowing where my true passions are? Should I be wary of posting too much on Twitter and Facebook about this?” Special Announcements Platform University is going great. We now have about 1,300 members. If you haven’t done so yet, please check it out. It’s only $25 a month—less than a dollar a day. We have lots of great content coming. You don’t want to miss this. The Get Noticed! Theme is still in private beta. Things are progressing well, albeit a little slower than we had hoped. We have not announced a release date. Thank you for your patience. I really wish we could get this to market faster, but I promise, it will be worth the wait. The Platform Conference for this year is wrapping up. We were completely sold out. The good news is that we have just put tickets on sale for the next Platform Conference. It will be November 3–5, 2013 in Dallas. While we haven’t officially announced a speaker lineup, many of this year’s speakers will be returning, and we are in dialog with a few others as well. If you are thinking about coming, I urge you to decide quickly, especially if you are interested in a Masters Level ticket. This is open to just ten people. You will eat every group meal with me while at the conference. You’ll also participate in a special reception with just you, the speakers, and your fellow masters level students. My next podcast will be on the topic of “The Fine Art of Delegation.” If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote YOUR blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources In this episode I mentioned several resources, including:
• 6 February 2013: #040: Get Out of That Funk [Podcast] - In this episode, I talk about how to get out of that funk. I discuss the winter blues, also known as “Seasonal Affective Disorder” or SAD, and how to keep your energy up regardless of the time of year. Many people get depressed during this time of year. Sometimes there are legitimate medical or psychological issues that must be addressed. However, some people resort to medication prematurely, before making sure they have the basics covered. Click to Listen So, if you are experiencing the winter blues or you are finding that your energy is lower than usual, I suggest you ask yourself seven questions before scheduling a visit to a professional: Question #1: Am I getting plenty of rest? Question #2: Am I exercising three to four times a week? Question #3: Am I eating high-energy foods? Question #4: Am I staying hydrated? Question #5: Am I getting enough sunshine? Question #6: Am I focusing on the positive? Question #7: Am I hanging out with energetic people? Listener Questions Jon Stallings asked, “How do you deal with a project or a goal that saps your energy?” David Kirkaldy asked, “How do you keep your energy up when the pace and energy of your life is not dictated by your surroundings?” Chip Dizard asked, “How do you keep your momentum going throughout the year?” Andrew Mason asked, “Do you have any suggestions for being consistent with your exercise in the winter?” Noah Coley asked, “I am constantly pouring out to others. I need someone to pour into me. How do you found those kind of people?” Matt McWilliams asked, “What tips do you have for creating a more uplifting environment indoors?” Special Announcements Platform University is going great. We now have in excess of 1,200 members.  If you haven't checked in yet, please do so today. It's only $25.00 a month—less than a dollar a day! The Platform Conference is next week.  I am pleased to report that we are technically sold out. However, my manager, Joy, was able to rearrange the seating and create space for another ten people. If you’d still like to come, it’s not too late. You can go to platformconference.tv to learn more. I have several speaking engagements coming up. However, I still have some availability this spring. If you are interested in having me speak to your group, check out my speaking page. My next podcast will be on the topic of “7 Steps to Take Before You Quit Your Job.” I have seen this done badly, and I've seen it done well. It’s important to do it right so that you can leave with dignity and set yourself up for future success. If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote your blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources In this episode I mentioned several resources, including: Book: Wheat Belly Essential Oils: DoTERRA Essential Oils (You can also email my daughter Marissa for more information.  She can tell you how to buy these products at wholesale prices.) Light: Philips goLITE BLU Light Therapy Device Playlist: Music for an Outstanding Day Software: Lift Show Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here, courtesy of Ginger Schell, a professional transcriptionist, who handles all my transcription needs. Subscription Links If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe: Your Feedback If you have an idea for a podcast you would like to see or a question about an upcoming episode, e-mail me. Also, if you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks.
• 30 January 2013: #039: The 7 Benefits of Keeping a Journal [Podcast] - In this episode, I talk about the benefits of keeping a journal. I also share my own practice and offer a few tips. Whether you have never journaled, need a little motivation to keep going, or are just curious about what others do, I think you will find this episode helpful. Click to Listen Between blog posts, podcast show prep, courses, speeches, and books, I typically write several thousand words a week. However, I have never been a consistent journaler. I tried. I had friends who swore by it. It just never worked for me, until recently. On our vacation last summer, my wife, Gail, challenged me to give it another try. I reluctantly agreed and fell in love with it. I have now journaled daily for more than six months. If I had to sum it up, I would say journaling has afforded me seven benefits. Process previous events Clarify my thinking Understand the context Notice my feelings Connect with my heart Record significant lessons Ask important questions When I started journaling, I did it the old fashioned way. I kept my journal in a physical notebook. I happen to use an EcoSystems Journal. However, I am not the best at writing lots of text by hand. The legibility of my writing deteriorates quickly. On day three of my journaling experience, I stumbled upon a software program called DayOne. This is a beautiful minimalist writing tool that reminds me a lot of ByWord, the program I use to do much of my blog writing. About a month ago, I started using Evernote for my journaling. Several people had suggested this from the beginning, and I finally saw the wisdom of it. It makes all my journal entries readily available when I search for a topic, making my notes available for blog posts, speeches, books, etc. Regardless, there are a thousand different ways to keep a journal. Don’t get hung up on the method or the software. The most important thing to do is just to start. Listener Questions Aaron Johnson asked, “Some people just can’t seem to journal. Are there other ways people can engage in the process of self-reflection?” Bud Brown asked, “How do you flag pages in your journal, so you can get back to the important stuff?” Christopher Scott asked, “How do you catalog or keep track of previous journal entries?” Lynn Morrissey asked, “Is journaling scriptural or should Christians be wary of it as a New Age practice for self-exploration?” Jackie Ulmer asked, “Is your journal more of a Cliff Notes summary of the events of your life or is it super-detailed?” Jason Jones asked, “Is there a benefit to paper journaling?” Kwin Peterson asked, “For whom do you Journal? Who is the audience you envision?” Linda Kuhar asked, “When you are journaling, how do you keep yourself from lapsing into performance-mode and writing for an audience?” Sam Lytle asked, “What are the benefits of keeping a private journal as compared to a public one, like writing a blog or engaging in social media?” Special Announcements Platform University is going great! We now have in excess of a thousand members. If you haven't done so yet, please check it out. If you are serious about building your platform this year, you couldn't make a better investment. Each month, we offer four significant content components: Master Class—This is where I or another expert take you through some key aspect of platform-building. This month, for example, I discuss the importance of starting with wow and how to build that into your platform. We make this available in video and audio, along with a study guide. Q&A Teleseminar—This is where I host a one-hour live teleconference and answer your specific questions about building a platform. We just had our first Q&A last night. We had hundreds of people on the call, and I got very, very specific in my answers. Member Critiques—Each month, our members volunteer to have me critique their site. I pick one and tell them the good, the bad, and the ugly.
• 23 January 2013: #038: Change Your Story, Change Your Life [Podcast] - Inside your head and mine, there is a narrator. He or she is constantly telling us stories. These stories shape how we perceive reality. In fact, if we don’t intervene, these stories can shape our destiny for the worse. Or, if we are intentional...
• 16 January 2013: #037: 8 Leadership Lessons from Martin Luther King, Jr. [Podcast] - On the third Monday of each January in the U.S., we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. As you know, he was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Dr. King was an eloquent preacher and gave a famous speech, “I Have a Dream,” that defined the aspirations of that movement, not only for his generation but for generations to come. I think it is particularly appropriate, in view of the upcoming holiday, to devote a podcast episode to the this speech. I urge you to take time to watch this speech and experience what Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is all about. While the speech is a masterpiece of rhetoric—one of the top ten best speeches ever given, in my opinion—I believe it also provides eight key insights into what it takes to be a truly great leader. Click to Listen Insight 1: Great leaders do not sugar-coat reality. Insight 2: Great leaders engage the heart. Insight 3: Great leaders refuse to accept the status quo. Insight 4: Great leaders create a sense of urgency. Insight 5: Great leaders call people to act in accord with their highest values. Insight 6: Great leaders refuse to settle. Insight 7: Great leaders acknowledge the sacrifice of their followers. Insight 8: Great leaders paint a vivid picture of a better tomorrow. Listener Questions Alex Barker asked, “What do you think Dr. King would want to teach us if he were alive today?” Christopher Scott asked, “How do you cast vision for volunteers?” Cor Chmieleski asked, “How do you pursue a vision undeterred while remaining receptive to the input of those you are leading? Kim Goad asked, “What if you are fresh out of a vision and need inspiration?” Matthew Green “How important do you think it is for leaders to work on character, integrity, and discipline—something that no one may ever see?” Phil Mershon asked "How can you lead team members to perform at their best without micro-managing them Rob Still asked, “What does Dr. King have to teach us about overcoming discouragement, especially when our ideas are rejected by those in power and authority” Special Announcements On Thursday, January 17, we will be opening the membership to Platform University. This is a project I and my team have been working on for months. My book, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World, only scratched the surface. Platform University is going to pick up where that left off and dive deeper, bringing you the insights and tools you need to build a platform that gets you, your brand, your cause noticed. I strongly encourage you to visit Platformuniversity.com to learn more. We have already posted two videos that will give you some important background and a sense of what is to come. And tomorrow, we will be posting the third video there that explains it all. We still have a few tickets left for the Platform Conference, which will be held here in Nashville on February 11–13, 2013—just about a month away. This conference is for anyone who wants to jump start their platform or take it to the next level. If you are an author, public speaker, blogger, recording artist, business owner, entrepreneur, sales person, mortgage broker, pastor, or corporate brand manager, this conference is for you! My next podcast will be on the topic of “taking control of your inner story.” If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote YOUR blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources In this episode I mentioned several resources, including: Book: Good to Great by Jim Collins Podcast: Episode #26, "How To Lead In Turbulent Times" Post: “Four Things Your People Need in Tough Times” Post: "Two Things Great Leaders Must Do in Turbulent Times” Video: "I Have A Dream" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Audio: "I Have A Dream" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• 9 January 2013: #036: How to Develop More Discipline [Podcast] - Discipline is a particularly relevant topic this time of year, since most of us are struggling to maintain our New Year’s resolutions. In this podcast, I share five specific steps to developing more of it. If you’re like me, your resolve has alr...
• 5 December 2012: #035: The Importance of the Leader’s Heart [Podcast] - We live in a very externally-focused culture. However, there is an internal issue which is largely ignored: the condition of your heart. Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Johan63 The corporate world is increasingly aware of the fact that you can’t improve productivity without increasing engagement. In other words, people have to show up at work with more than their education, experience, and skills. They have to come with their heart. Click to Listen In this podcast I share five truths about your heart. If you understand these truths—and apply them—you will maximize your influence as a leader. Truth #1: Your heart is the essence of your identity. Truth #2: Your heart is the most valuable leadership tool you have. Truth #3: Your heart directly impacts your influence. Truth #4: Your heart is either healthy or unhealthy. Truth #5: Your heart is under constant attack. It's important that you keep your heart healthy.  There are four disciplines that can help you do that. Discipline #1: The Discipline of Reflection Discipline #2: The Discipline of Rest Discipline #3: The Discipline of Recreation Discipline #4: The Discipline of Relationships Listener Questions Victor Manzanilla asked, “What is the biggest temptation a leader faces after he becomes successful?” Nellie Felipe asked, “As a leader, how do you maintain a fresh vision, fresh hope, fresh energy, so your people will be renewed daily?” Heather Boggini asked, “What advice do I have for the female entrepreneur who is reentering the workforce after staying out to raise a family?” Special Announcements If you are looking for a Christmas gift for an author, entrepreneur, or sales person, let me suggest that you get them a copy of my newest book, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. It has been on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller lists. It has a 4.8 reader review rating (out of 5.0) on Amazon. It is the perfect gift for anyone trying to build a personal brand or gain visibility for a product, service, or cause. I am off the road until January. However, I do have some speaking slots still available for the spring. If you are interested in having me come speak to your company or organization, you can learn more at my speaking page. My next podcast will be on the topic of “How to Develop More Discipline.” If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote YOUR blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources In this episode I mentioned several resources, including: Book: Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World Conference: Platform Conference Essay: C.S. Lewis, “On the Value of Old Books,” an introduction to On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius Podcast #28: Become More Productive by Reengineering Your Morning Ritual Post: The Importance of a Leader’s Heart Post: Three Reasons Why You Must Guard Your Heart Post: The Four Disciplines of the Heart Post: The Practice of Stillness Speech: The Leader’s Heart: Unleashing the Most Important Leadership Tool You Have Show Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here, courtesy of Ginger Schell, a professional transcriptionist, who handles all my transcription needs. Subscription Links If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe: Your Feedback If you have an idea for a podcast you would like to see or a question about an upcoming episode, e-mail me. Also, if you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks. Question: What are you doing to cultivate and protect your heart? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
• 28 November 2012: #034: Make Your E-mail Messages More Effective and Professional [Podcast] - In this episode, I’ll be talking about e-mail, particularly e-mail etiquette. If you’re at all like me, most of your communication—most of your work!—involves composing and reading e-mail. Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/frender} And, if you’re also like me, there are probably things other people do in their e-mail messages that drive you crazy. Well—news flash—there might be things you are doing that drive others crazy too! I usually get about two hundred emails a day. You might get even more than that. Dealing with email can take a lot of time that would be better spent pursuing the creative aspect of our work. In this episode, I share eighteen guidelines that I believe will help you make e-mail a more civilized and effective form of communication. Click to Listen Just a quick reminder that tickets for the Platform Conference 2013 will go fast. We are already sold out of Master Level tickets, but we still have Signature and Connector tickets available. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to take your platform to the next level. Suggestion 1: Understand the difference between the “To” and the “CC” fields. Suggestion 2: Keep messages brief and to the point. Suggestion 3: Don’t discuss multiple subjects in a single message. Suggestion 4: Reply in a timely manner. Suggestion 5: Be mindful of your tone. Suggestion 6: Don’t use e-mail to criticize others. Suggestion 7: Don’t reply in anger. Suggestion 8: Don’t overuse “reply to all.” Suggestion 9: Don’t forward chain letters. Suggestion 10: Don’t “copy up” as a means of coercion. Suggestion 11: Don’t overuse the “high priority” flag. Suggestion 12: Don’t write in ALL CAPS. Suggestion 13: Don’t send or forward emails containing libelous, defamatory, offensive, racist, or obscene remarks. Suggestion 14: Remember that company e-mail isn’t private. Suggestion 15: Use a signature with your contact information. Suggestion 16: Provide “if-then” options. Suggestion 17: Use your spell-checker. Suggestion 18: Re-read your e-mail before you send it. Listener Questions Becky Caldwell asked, “Where is the line between projecting fun and still being professional?” Bobby Zaki asked, “How can you reduce your e-mail processing time?” Kieley Best asked, “Do I need to notify my clients when I have completed a task?” Tehila Gonen asked, “What is the best way to emphasize a word in an e-mail? bold? all caps? underline?” Tom Dickson asked, “Isn’t it sometimes more productive to forget e-mail and just go have a conversation?” Special Announcements I am speaking at the F&M Bank Mortgage Group in Tulsa, OK on Tuesday, December 4th. My topic will be “Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World,” and especially how building a platform can be helpful to loan originators and realtors. On Wednesday, December 5th, I will be speaking for Strata Leadership at an event they call Stratagy [sic] Circle. My topic will be “Shift: Leading Well in Challenging Times.” On Thursday, I’m attending a board meeting for ReThink Books in Dallas, Texas and then on Friday evening and Saturday, I’ll be hosting the year-end retreat for my Mentoring Group. We’ll be discussing finishing well. My next podcast will be on the topic of “The Importance of the Leader's Heart.” If you have a question on this subject, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote YOUR blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources In this episode I mentioned several resources, including: Book: The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss Book: Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World Conference: Platform Conference Post: Breaking E-mail Addiction Post: Yes, You Can Stay on Top of E-mail Website: Snopes Show Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here, courtesy of Ginger Schell, a professional transcriptionist,
• 21 November 2012: #033: My Answers to Listener Questions [Podcast] - I get lots of voice mail questions every week. Many of them don’t neatly fit into a single topic, so I thought I’d deal with them in this episode. I have grouped them around my standard categories: platform, personal development, publishing, and leadership. Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/[Photographer] I start this episode with a very exciting announcement: Beginning today, we are taking registrations for the Platform Conference which will be held in Nashville February 11–13, 2013. We only have 135 seats available. They will go quickly. Click to Listen If you are a public speaker, blogger, recording artist, business owner, entrepreneur, sales person, mortgage broker, pastor, or corporate brand manager, this conference is for you! We have a terrific line up of speakers, including Ken Davis, Pat Flynn, Jeff Goins, Stu McLaren, Cliff Ravenscraft, John Saddington, Carrie Wilkerson, Andrew Buckman, and Michele Cushatt. (See the bios here.) The venue for the conference will be the the famous Sound Kitchen music studio in Nashville, regarded by many to be the best recording studio in Nashville. It will provide an incredible atmosphere of professionalism and intimacy. Again, these tickets will go fast. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to take your platform to the next level. You can find the details on the Platform Conference website. Listener Questions As I mentioned I have grouped these questions around my major topics. Alex Ferrero asked, “What are some of the hobbies you enjoy?” Aaron Meyers asked, “How important is networking with other bloggers for growing a blog platform? Brad Blackman asked, “What were the deciding factors in changing from one subject matter focus to another?” David Specht asked, “How did you stay motivated to keep blogging in the early days?” Emily Ryan asked, “Is it better to blog with others and reach as many people as possible, build a brand with your own name, or pursue a third option?” Jason Gardner asked, “How do I get people to my site? Scott Moore asked, “What advice do you have for people who want to build a platform but are stuck in the corporate world?” Chelsea asked, “Where should my boyfriend fit into my life plan priorities?” Jen McDonough asked, “Who do you let speak into your life? Who are some of your favorite podcasters, authors, etc.?” Keven Quinley asked, “Would I consider doing an end-of-day ritual podcast?” Otis Henderson asked, “What recommendation do you have for a self-leadership plan for someone who is not a new leader?” Robbie Kleinburg asked, “What kind of advice do you have for people living in different decades of their life?” Mark S. R. Peterson asked, “Does your book, Platform, apply to fiction writers as well as non-fiction writers?” Mike Hansen asked, “Did I have to go through the book proposal process with your book, Platform, or any of your other books?” Matt McWilliams asked, “What were your biggest fears and doubts when you became the CEO of Thomas Nelson? How did you overcome them?” Special Announcements Last week I passed a major milestone: my podcast episodes have now been downloaded more than one million times. I couldn’t have done this without you, so thank you so much for your support. Just a quick update on the GetNoticed! WordPress Theme. We are making steady progress, but it has turned out to be a lot more work than we anticipated (shocking, I know). But this is going to be a killer theme. We really are giving this our best effort. I are hoping to ship the beta before December 1. I will announce next week how you can be part of that, so stay tuned. We have not finalized the final shipping date. That is really going to depend on how the beta test goes. My next podcast will be on the topic of “E-mail Etiquette.” If you have a question on any topic, please leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote YOUR blog or website, because I will link to it,
• 14 November 2012: #032: How to Create a Life Plan [Podcast] - As you may know, I wrote an e-book called, Creating Your Personal Life Plan. It has been downloaded more than 170,000 times. In this episode, I share what a life plan is, why you need one, and how to begin creating one.
• 7 November 2012: #031: My Advice to Beginning Bloggers [Podcast] - As a result of my book, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World, and my speaking, I get a lot of e-mail about blogging. People want to know what I advise about getting started. In this episode of the podcast, I answer this question. Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Petegar In my book, I share a social media framework. It consists of three parts: Home base. This is a place in cyberspace that you own and control. For most people, this will be a blog. It could also be a podcast or a video podcast. It is a place where you have 100 percent control of the design and the content—in other words, the branding and the message. Embassies. These are places in cyberspace you don’t own and control, but where you have a presence. Examples would include Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, etc. Don’t confuse these with a home base. You don’t want to use these as the primary means of delivering your content to the marketplace. Outposts. These are places in cyberspace you monitor using a tool like Google Alerts. Click to Listen So, for most people wanting to build a platform, a blog will be their homebase. It is the foundation of everything else they do. But how do you get started? You can launch a successful blog by taking eight steps. Determine your blog’s focus. For example: My blog is about intentional leadership. My friend, John Saddington, has a blog about entrepreneurship and startups. My daughter, Mary Crimmins, has a blog about fresh, seasonal, and local food. My friends at Gap International have a blog about exceptional business performance and growth. Before determining your focus, answer these two questions: Can you generate high-quality content with this focus on a regular basis. By “regular” I mean at least once a week. (This is the minimum standard.) Will your content attract a loyal and growing audience? Select a service. There are scores of options—WordPress, TypePad, Blogger—but I only recommend WordPress. However, it comes in two flavors: WordPress.com—the hosted version WordPress.org—the self-hosted version To decide which one, answer these questions: What is your ultimate goal? Is this just a hobby or will this be the basis of your personal or professional platform? If the former, choose WordPress.com. If the latter, choose WordPress.org. How much control do you want? Self-hosted WordPress provides an unlimited number of themes and plugins. Hosted WordPress provides a more limited set of options. What is your level of technical proficiency? If you are technologically challenged, choose WordPress.com. If you are a bit of a power-user, choose WordPress.org. Note: You don’t have to be a Geek or a programmer. If in doubt, start with WordPress.com. You can always upgrade later. Set up your blog. If you are going the self-hosted route, watch my screencast, “How to Launch a Self-Hosted WordPress Blog in 20 Minutes or Less.” Then select a theme. With WordPress, you can select from thousands of pre-designed themes and then adjust the details. Chose from one of the major theme providers: WooThemes.com, ElegantThemes.com, StudioPress, or StandardTheme. I am also developing a premium WordPress theme called GetNoticed!, that will be available in a few months. Remember: a blog is never really done. It is a work in process. Don’t get stuck here. “Perfectionism is the mother of procrastination.” Write your first post. If you haven’t done a lot of writing, this may prove to be the most difficult part. Keep your posts short if you don’t have a lot of experience. (I recommend less than five hundred words.) Develop momentum. Get the hang of it. Stick to what you know. And you most certainly know more than you think you know! If you don’t know where else to start, begin with a “Welcome to My Blog” post. Tell your prospective readers why you have started your blog and what kinds of things you intend to write about.
• 31 October 2012: #030: 9 Rules for Leading More Productive Meetings [Podcast] - I have attended hundreds of meetings—maybe a few thousand—and led a few hundred, too. Often, meetings seem like a waste of time. Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/francisblack There have been some notable exceptions, and in this episode I talk about what made these meetings different. Click to Listen The good news is that most meetings can be improved. Here is my list of nine rules for leading more productive meetings. Rule 1: Be fully engaged. Rule 2: Establish hard edges. Rule 3: Create a written agenda. Rule 4: State the desired outcome. Rule 5: Lead the conversation. Rule 6: Review the minutes and action items. Rule 7: Take written minutes. Rule 8: Clarify action items. Start each action item with a verb. Specify the deliverable. Assign a single owner to each action. Agree on a due date. Rule 9: Determine the next meeting date. Look, improving the quality of meetings takes work. Meetings don’t get better or more productive on their own. Every once in a while we need to step back from the meeting itself and ask, “How can we make our time together more productive?” We need to be honest. Meetings consume a lot of resources. The more efficient they are, the better the return on our investment. Listener Questions Chris Pilon asked, “How can I make conference calls with my team more productive?” Eric Rheam, “How do I get out of meetings I should not attend?” Jayson Feltner, “What kind of system do you use for note-taking in meetings?” John Wilkerson, “What do you do when you are scheduled at the end of a meeting and nothing before really applies?” Ryan Parker, “How do I hear people but keep the meeting from turning into one long gripe session?” Scott Reynolds, “How do you take good meetings notes? and How do you process those notes when you get back to your desk?” Chris Jeub asked, “Is there any progress on your WordPress theme?” Special Announcements I created My Tools page in response to the numerous questions I get every week about what hardware, software, and other tools I use to do specific tasks. It is a comprehensive resource page with links to all my tools. If nothing else, it might just stimulate your thinking process. My next podcast will be on the topic of “My Advice to Beginning Bloggers.” If you have a question about this topic—and want a chance to get on the show—leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote YOUR blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources In this episode I mentioned several resources, including: Screencast: How to Launch a Self-Hosted WordPress Blog in 20 Minutes or Less Podcast: “How to Become a Happy Person Others Want to Be Around” Post: “3 Actions You Can Take Now to Shift Your Emotional State” Post: Recovering the Lost Art of Note Taking Show Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript of this episode here, courtesy of Ginger Schell, a professional transcriptionist, who handles all my transcription needs. Subscription Links If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe: Your Feedback If you have an idea for a podcast you would like to see or a question about an upcoming episode, e-mail me. Also, if you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out! Thanks. Question: What meeting tips do you have to offer that I haven’t covered? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
• 24 October 2012: #029: 7 Rules for More Effective Slide Presentations [Podcast] - Whether you are a professional speaker or someone who only makes the occasional presentation, you could be more effective with better slides. In this podcast, I share my seven rules for better presentations. Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Arand I have sat through hundreds of slide presentations, maybe thousands. Some of them were stunning; most of them mind-numbing. I will also share with you from my experience as a professional speaker, who doesn’t have it all figured out but who is committed to never-ending improvement. Click to Listen I originally created slideshows the old-fashioned way—with cardboard-framed, 35mm slides inserted into a slide carousel. In May 1990, Microsoft revolutionized the business world by releasing PowerPoint. It totally changed the way presentations were made. In 2004, my friend, Joel Smith of Comprehensive Media, first introduced me to Apple’s Keynote program, a competitor to PowerPoint. I was blown away. But unfortunately, slide presentation software has not improved the quality of speeches. In fact, often it gets in the way. In this episode I share my seven rules for making your slide presentations more effective. Make sure you start with a solid presentation. Don’t give your presentation center stage. Use big, compelling images. Stick to one point per slide. Make your slides readable. Eliminate clutter. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said. “A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” Have a backup plan. Listener Questions DJ Wade-O asked, “Do you believe there should be a correlation between the length of your presentation and the length of your slide deck?” He also asked, “Do you think you should use the same background and design for every slide deck?” Dwayne Morris, “Do you agree with Guy Kawasaki that decks should be five slides or less?” Matt McMoore, “How do you handle main points and sub points?” Mike Hansen, “What does a bad slide look like?” Ryan Parker, “What do you use for Skype interviews?” Scott Kantner, “What kind of pre-flight checklist do you use to address the technical details?” Special Announcements I am excited to announce the publication of my new audio course entitled, “Everything You Need to Know to Get Published.” If you have ever thought about writing a book (or even if you have written a book) this course is for you. In 21 audio sessions, I cover everything I have learned about publishing in my thirty-plus years in the industry as a publisher, former literary agent, and two-time New York Times bestselling author. I am offering a special $100 discount to my blog readers and podcast listeners. If you order now, I’ll also throw in four FREE bonus products worth more than $150.00. Click here to find out more. My next podcast will be on the topic of “How Get the Most Out of the Meetings You Attend.” If you have a question about this topic—and want a chance to get on the show—leave me a voicemail message. This is a terrific way to cross-promote YOUR blog or website, because I will link to it, just like I did with the callers in this episode. Episode Resources In this episode I mentioned several resources, including: Conference: The SCORRE Conference Web Service: iStockPhoto.com Web Service: Flickr.com Web Service: ShutterStock.com Book: Slide:ology by Nancy Duarte Book: Resonate by Nancy Duarte Book: Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds Book: Presentation Zen Design by Garr Reynolds Book: How to Be a Presentation God by Scott Schwertly Speech: Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World Font: Myriad Pro Post: How to Record a Video Interview in Eight Steps Software: Call Recorder for Skype Hardware: Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910 Hardware: Mac Mini Displayport to VGA Hardware: Mac Mini Displayport to HDMI Hardware: Mac Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter Show Transcript You can download a complete,
• 10 October 2012: #028: Become More Productive by Reengineering Your Morning Ritual [Podcast] - In this episode of my podcast, I explore how you can reengineer your morning ritual to become more productive and set yourself up for success.
• 3 October 2012: #027: How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty [Podcast] - If you’re like me, you have a tough time saying, “No.” As a recovering people-pleaser, I want to be helpful to people. I just hate disappointing them. Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/mattjeacock In this episode, I share some practical strategies I’ve learned—and am learning—for saying, “No,” in away that honors the person making the request and keeps me free to focus on what matters most. Click to Listen If we are going to accomplish our goals, we must learn to say no to those requests that threaten to take us off task and consume our resources. If we don’t get better at saying, “No,” here’s what we risk: Other people’s priorities will take precedence over ours. Mere acquaintances—people we barely know!—will crowd out time with family and close friends. We will not have the time we need for rest and recovery. We will end up frustrated and stressed. We won’t be able to say, “Yes,” to the really important things. I recently heard Andy Stanley talking about this topic on his leadership podcast. He said, The harsh reality of leadership is that the more successful we are, the less accessible we become. As things grow and as more people become involved, a leader can’t be equally accessible to all people. So then we are faced with the dilemma of who gets my time and who doesn’t, when do they get it, and and how much of it do they get.” Your time is a zero sum game. When you say yes to one thing, you are simultaneously saying no to something else. The more successful you get, the more difficult this becomes. You find yourself saying no to good things—worthy things—in order to say yes to your most important priorities. Here are eight practical suggestions for saying no without feeling guilty: Acknowledge your resources are finite. Determine who needs access to you and who doesn’t. Take practical steps to limit your accessibility. Make a list of common requests. Adopt a strategy for responding to these requests. William Ury outlines four strategies in his book, The Power of a Positive No: Accommodation: We say Yes when we want to say No. This happens when we value the relationship of the person making the request above the importance of our own interests. Attack: We say no poorly. This is a result of valuing our own interests above the importance of the relationship. Sometimes we are fearful or resentful of the request and overreact to the person asking. Avoidance: We say nothing at all. Because we are afraid of offending the other party, we say nothing, hoping the problem will go away. It rarely does. Affirmation: We use a formula of “Yes-No-Yes.” This is contrast to the ordinary “No” which begins with a No and ends with a No. A positive No begins with a “Yes” and ends with a “Yes.” Use e-mail templates to say no with grace. Delegate to people you trust. Accept the fact that you will be misunderstood. Listener Questions Kevin Quinley asked, “How do you say no without coming across as a prima donna or doing something that is career-limiting like saying no to the boss or a key client?” Michele Cushatt asked, “Do I need to provide a long explanation for why I am saying ‘no’?” Michele also asked, “How do you maintain your resolve when you are dealing with someone pushy?” Special Announcements I am excited to announce the publication of my brand new audio course entitled, “Everything You Need to Know to Get Published.” If you have ever thought about writing a book (or even if you have written a book) this course is for you. In 21 audio sessions, I cover everything I have learned about publishing in my thirty-plus years in the industry as a publisher, former literary agent, and two-time New York Times bestselling author. I am offering a special $100 discount to my blog readers and podcast listeners. If you order now, I’ll also throw in four FREE bonus products worth more than $150.00. Click here to find out more.
• 26 September 2012: #026: How to Lead in Turbulent Times [Podcast] - It’s no secret that the last four or five years have been challenging from an economic, technological, and global perspective. In this episode, I discuss five actions leaders must take in order to lead well in turbulent times. When I speak publicly on this topic, I call this presentation, “Shift: Leading in Turbulent Times.” I use the word “shift” for two reasons: The world seems to be shifting under our feet. We must also shift if we are going to lead well. Click to Listen While I was the CEO of Thomas Nelson (2005–2011), we experienced three significant changes: Change #1: The Great Recession Change #2: The Digital Revolution Change #3: The Social Media Revolution o Your industry has probably gone through massive change as well. Over the last few months, I have spoken to a variety of groups representing several different industries: The Telecommunications Industry has gone through a massive shift to smart phones and wireless communications. The Mortgage Industry has gone through a massive shift in federal regulation and lending practices. The Media Industry has gone through a massive shift to digital delivery and direct-to-consumer marketing. And, of course, the phenomenon of social media has impacted every industry. And, if that weren’t enough, you are probably experiencing massive change in your own life. Maybe you’re going through a tough time in your marriage or dealing with the aftermath of a divorce or even the death of a spouse. Maybe you’ve been laid off and are struggling to find work. Perhaps you are under-employed or just launching a business. Maybe you had a health crisis and are dealing with the impact on your family and career. Or maybe it's not quite so massive but still change—perhaps you are newly married, just had a baby, or received a promotion. Regardless, we are living in a world of unprecedented change. To lead well in this kind of environment, you must take five specific actions. Action #1: Shift your perception. You must acknowledge reality. This is the new normal. We’re not going back. At the same time, you must remain confident that you will ultimately prevail. In his book, Good to Great, Jim Collins refers to this as “The Stockdale Paradox.” Action #2: Shift your intention. You can’t resist change; you must embrace it. This means taking the initiative—going first—and leaning into it. How you approach change as a leader will determine how your organization approaches it. Action #3: Shift your direction. In turbulent times, it is easy to lose your vision. You just stop talking about the future. However, your people need to know there is a future and their actions matter. Action #4: Shift your acceleration. You must recover a sense of urgency. Your responsiveness can be a competitive advantage, particularly if you are a small organization with big competitors. Action #5: Shift your allocation. Unlike the federal government, you can’t fund new programs without defunding old ones. You have to shift your resources away from unprofitable programs to profitable ones. Real leaders thrive in turbulent times. They come alive. Why? Because it requires them to grow. They discover abilities and resources they never knew they had. Listener Questions Tom Eggebrecht asked, ”How do you lead people who don’t want to be led?” John Bergquist asked, “How do you handle the stress of change in a healthy way?” DJ Wade-O asked, “How do you deal with change in an organization when you don’t agree with it?” Dean Brown asked, “How do you manage well at work when your personal life is rapidly changing and things seem overwhelming?” Special Announcements I am excited to announce the publication of my brand new audio course entitled, “Everything You Need to Know to Get Published.” If you have ever thought about writing a book (or even if you have written a book) this course is for you. In 21 audio sessions,