Start With A Win

Don't focus on looking for positive or negative—look for results! You will actually discover more positives when you are looking for results.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Even as a child, Heath Evans knew what his future was going to look like—he believed in his dreams of becoming an NFL player and eventually being on TV. Having fulfilled those dreams, Heath now uses the experiences from his decade-long career in the NFL, the lessons taught by his parents, and his faith in God to coach men on mastering their manhood from a Biblical perspective.As the son of a marine, Heath learned early on that believing in his dreams would only take him so far. To make them a reality, he had to work hard every day toward his goals. He learned to continually raise the bar on his own definition of excellence. When NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick told him with brutal honesty that he needed to create his own position with the New England Patriots or be dropped from the team, Heath accepted the challenge. Instead of dissolving into a victim mindset, he prioritized the needs of his team over his own. He worked hard to improve his skill set, thus earning his place alongside some of the greatest athletes in the game. Main TopicsHeath’s journey to his career in the NFL (03:06)Battling fear and self doubt (06:30)How Coach Bill Belichick helped shape Heath’s success as a player (09:30)Advice for those who receive tough feedback (13:45)Facing honest reflection with courage (17:20)Enterprise leadership: putting the business first (20:07) Episode Links:https://www.builtready.comConnect with Heath:https://twitter.com/heathevans44https://www.facebook.com/HeathEvans44/https://www.instagram.com/heathevans44/?hl=enConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

Raised by immigrants who came to America to pursue the dream, Daphne received one message at home and a very different message in school. In school, she was told that as a black woman, she would not be successful in business. But at home, her mother taught her the importance of embracing a mindset that broke through limitations imposed on her by other people and broken systems. Daphne chose to reject seeds of misdirection and believed she could do anything she set her mind to. She built her own success story by learning from each experience and honing her skills for optimum performance. Through her own experiences of breaking through type casting and prejudice in the world of technology and business, Daphne now coaches women to serve on executive boards and excel in leadership, despite the challenges of inequality they face daily. She takes a communal approach, teaching that prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion is best for all people and businesses. When one person succeeds, everyone succeeds. In this way, Daphne’s leadership is a powerful reminder that the work being done today leaves an impact for those who come after. Transformation is a result of shifting to a mindset that embraces challenges and uses them as fuel for building a life of influence.Main TopicsDaphne’s humble beginnings as an administrative assistant (02:50)Daphne credits her success to lessons from her mother (05:24)Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset (07:35)The role of giving back in leadership (09:58)Daphne’s experience being a black woman in the technology industry (12:20)Improving equality for people in organizations (16:50)Four steps for changing your life as outlined in Daphne’s book (20:15) Connect with Daphne:https://www.daphneejones.com/https://www.instagram.com/destinysdoor/https://twitter.com/DaphneEJonesConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

What is willpower? Focus + Energy = Willpower! It's focusing on the task at hand without getting distracted and how engaged and excited you are about the task.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Hamza Khan believes the hardest months of the pandemic, March through May of 2020, were a portal into a new world—one that required leaders and managers to reassess old systems and start making foundational changes from the top down. As many businesses failed and others thrived, conscientious leaders began to ask hard questions about the efficacy of a leadership structure that remained disconnected from human needs. What successful leaders like Khan have found is that productivity increases when employees are encouraged to prioritize holistic wellness. In a world of constant change, leaders must learn to accept chaos and work within it. This requires frequent, structured opportunities for employees to provide feedback about their work environment. Leaders have to ask the hard questions to which they may not want the answers and also foster a culture that encourages honesty and vulnerability. A lack of emotional safety in the workplace has led to global burnout and mass resignations. Maintaining calm within a work environment requires conscious management of time, energy, and attention. Encouraging employees to practice wellness at home and at work is an important step in building resiliency and increasing productivity.Main Topics:A brief overview of Hamza’s professional journey from education to entrepreneurship to empowerment coach (02:50)How the pandemic forced reassessment of leadership culture (05:55)Increasing levels of engagement from employees (09:26)Advice to leaders about accepting chaos and creating an emotionally safe work environment (13:55)Creating a culture of peace through intention and attention (19:17) Episode LinksHamzakhan.caHamza Khan's TedTalk "Stop Managing, Start Leading”Connect with Hamza:https://www.instagram.com/hamzakhttps://twitter.com/hamzakhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/khanhamzahttps://www.facebook.com/HamzaKhanAuthorConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

On this episode of the Start With A Win podcast, we are joined by Kelly Contos, which gave Mark the perfect opportunity to practice his game show host skills during a lightning round of the Newlywed Game. You may be surprised to find out who looks better in glasses and who is the better singer!When it comes to supporting Adam as the CEO of such a large and prominent company, Kelly says that her main objective is to be there for whatever he needs. Sometimes that means making sure he stays on schedule and gets from place to place, and sometimes that means noticing when he needs some human interaction and sending him to the office. Kelly knows how important Adam’s work is to him, but most important are the people around him, so she encourages him to lean into his team.Adam and Kelly are both thankful for their health, the people they choose to spend life with, their freedoms, opportunities, and the successes that have resulted from those opportunities and hard work. Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

Physical energy comes from three places: nutrition, hydration and movement. If we want to show up and continue to be our best self both in our professional and personal lives, it's important that we prioritize all three!Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Business school classrooms and boardrooms alike are stacked with strategies for maximizing business success. But truly effective business models move beyond powerful planning into efficient execution. Franklin Covey—a global company that trains businesses in leadership development and individual effectiveness—teaches four major disciplines that help companies maximize execution. The first discipline is about focusing on what is most important. Narrowing the focus allows people to set achievable goals and delegate specific tasks. The second discipline is utilizing leverage to determine which tasks will produce the most desirable results. The third discipline of engagement is based on the premise that people will work to their maximum potential when they are part of the process of keeping score. Finally, the fourth discipline is focused on accountability. A regular system of vulnerable reflection and feedback builds an environment where all three previous disciplines are made possible. Implementing this intentional methodology to achieve personal and professional goals leads to lasting changes that build cultures of greatness. Main TopicsDiscipline 1: Narrow the focus (03:13)Discipline 2: Use leverage to determine lead measures (06:03)Discipline 3: Individual engagement (09:45)Discipline 4: Create a cadence of accountability (12:26) Episode LinksAdam’s Fool-Proof Time Management SystemThe Four Disciplines of Execution from Franklin Covey Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

The majority of challenges business owners face can be boiled down to a lack of communication surrounding expectations. One way to troubleshoot issues in business and personal relationships is by setting the stage with clear expectations for time commitments, scenarios, outcomes and goals. By providing clarity through helpful boundaries, business leaders can give their employees and customers more confidence and direction when it comes to production, collaboration, and the overall success of a project. Expectations prevent surprises. They make potentially difficult conversations easier because there are previous, foundational conversations to which people can refer. If people are given clear expectations from the beginning, they are less likely to feel defensive when it comes time to evaluate efficiency and productivity. Setting expectations for customers also gives them a sense of your own expertise, which in turn relays trust through transparency. This communication tool applies not only in business, but also in personal relationships and parenting. It’s important to set clear expectations, communicate often, and revisit those expectations again and again. Practicing this process for success eliminates many miscommunication issues so that time and energy can be spent elsewhere in more productive ways. Main TopicsSetting the expectations to prevent confusion, lack of direction, and miscommunication (02:00)How setting the expectations helps us have potentially hard conversations (06:43)Establishing yourself as the expert (11:15)Appropriate expectations support long term goals (13:00)Kelly’s experience training for a fitness competition with a coach who helped her manage her expectations (15:20)A consistent communication regimen provides accountability (18:20)Apply the strategy to parenting (21:30)Connect with Kelly:https://www.facebook.com/kelly.contos.3https://twitter.com/kellycontoshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kellycontos/Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

Want better results? Here's the secret: Get accountable! Accountability causes action with intention, and that creates results.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Many popular self-help books promote the use of affirmations to help people change unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. Dr. Noah St. John has spent the last 25 years teaching a different and more effective approach. Instead of using a disempowering “I am” statement that the brain immediately recognizes as false, he directs people to ask an empowering question that exemplifies who they want to be. By asking a question, the brain becomes engaged in finding the answer, thus creating a plan of action to achieve a specific goal. Noah’s strategy pushes people beyond magical thinking. The first step someone must take in order to live an empowered life is to gain clarity on what they actually want. Once the goal is clear, ask a question that confirms the goal has already been met. It is important to accept the truth of this new reality; in doing so, neural pathways in the brain are rewired towards a different end. Finally, the most important step is to take action based on the new reality created through powerful afformations. When people take responsibility for establishing new patterns of thinking and behaving, nothing can stand in their way on the path to a successful and fulfilling life. Main Topics:The difference between AFFORMATIONS vs. affirmationsWorking with the law of sowing and reapingNoah’s success with a client who lost over 200 poundsLying to ourselves or rewiring neural pathways to create new realities?The Four A’s of Noah’s Afformations strategy Episode LinksMillionaire Afformations: The Magic Formula That Will Make You Rich by Dr. Noah St. JohnNoah's FREE training program for making more in 12 weeks than you made in the last 12 monthsConnect with Noah:https://www.youtube.com/user/noahstjohnhttps://www.facebook.com/noahstjohnfanhttps://www.instagram.com/noahstjohn/https://twitter.com/noahstjohnConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

Everyone is busy, but not everyone is productive. Time is a precious resource that many squander away on social media or mindless entertainment. Rather than being the victim of time, successful people view time as a currency which can be used intentionally to accomplish daily goals.In order to gain clarity on how to most effectively use time, leaders and entrepreneurs must learn the value of saying no. Saying no to some opportunities frees up resources so that people can say yes to the things that matter. Adam encourages listeners to document their use of time each day to create accountability. Use this data to reflect on how time is currently being used and set goals for increasing production. This is also a helpful tool for tracking an individual’s circadian rhythm, which is the internal clock that helps the body carry out its daily functions. Working with the body’s ebb and flow of energy allows people to make informed decisions for scheduling activities throughout the day. Establishing a schedule fuels productivity for those willing to consistently practice focus and willpower. Main TopicsThe difference between busy and productive (02:10)Harnessing the power of saying “No” (03:30)Utilizing a time audit system to evaluate daily time management (8:00)The importance of reflection and gratitude at the end of the day (13:34)Using your circadian rhythm to build an effective daily schedule (15:12)Episode Links:Adam’s Fool-Proof Time Management System Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

How can we get to the results we want? It's simple. Better choices lead to better choices! And the more good choices you make, the better your results will be!Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

A lifetime of dedication to greatness has earned Army Veteran and entrepreneur Rick Hogg a multitude of accolades. As owner of War Hogg Tactical, Inc., co-author of The Firearms Training Notebook: 1% Better Everyday, and founder of In Honor of Duco Project, Rick proves himself a superachiever by setting an example of excellence.Instead of being defined by his rank or position, Rick defines himself by his core values and encourages those in leadership positions to do the same. He has achieved his success through a daily commitment to setting goals and establishing a plan to accomplish them. In leadership, Rick teaches the power of repetition and the importance of fully supporting his team. In this way, they achieve greatness together through a common vision. But business isn’t the only area of life to which these principles apply. In order to be successful in one area, achievement must be a motivating factor at all levels, including physical fitness, family, and spirituality. One of the greatest lessons Rick has gleaned from a life of challenging, life-threatening situations is that each day is a gift and should be lived to the fullest. Main TopicsThe mindset of a superachiever (02:40)Using failure as an impetus for growth (05:55)Rick’s transition from soldier to entrepreneur (08:46)Building incremental gains into life and business (11:40)The importance of writing a daily plan of action (14:50)The Wheel of Life and the need for growth in all areas of life (21:38) Episode LinksFirearms Training Notebook: 1% Better EverydayIn Honor of Duco ProjectConnect with Rick:https://www.warhogg.com/https://www.instagram.com/warhoggtactical/https://www.facebook.com/warhoggtacticalhttps://twitter.com/warhoggtacticalConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

As CEO of a 4th generation family business, elite triathlete and author Adam Hill has led his century-old family company through economic, cultural, and leadership changes on the path to long term sustainability. After overcoming more than a decade of alcoholism and unhealthy life habits, Adam transformed his inner fear and anxiety disorder into a superpower. Today he is a highly sought after international speaker and Amazon bestselling author of Shifting Gears: From Anxiety and Addiction to a Triathlon World Championship.How can a crippling anxiety disorder actually be a superpower? Adam Hill has proven that his greatest weakness isn’t actually a weakness. Instead, he sees it as a launching pad into a life of inner healing and dynamic leadership. After years of using alcohol to cope with debilitating fear and anxiety, Adam bravely pursued recovery by asking himself how he could turn his inner enemy into his friend. By shifting his mindset, he now recognizes the value in using fear as an encouragement to lean into challenges. Constantly pushing himself out of his comfort zone, Adam is able to have hard conversations with compassion and has built a team that transcends fear of the unknown into clarity in business. He encourages leaders and entrepreneurs to accept personal struggles as gifts. This shift from judgment to acceptance leads to growth and big wins, allowing people to achieve more than they ever dreamed possible. Main TopicsCoping with the cultural norms of anxiety and overstimulation (03:38)Using anxiety as a superpower and learning to “party with the beast” (05:40)How facing fears in leadership positively impacts business (09:26)Having difficult conversations with care increases confidence in leadership. (13:30)In his book, Adam uses his story to encourage others to courageously step into their power. (17:48) Episode Linkshttps://adamhilltri.com/Shifting Gears: From Anxiety and Addiction to a Triathlon World Championship by Adam Hill Connect with Adam Hill:https://www.youtube.com/user/TriFundracinghttps://www.facebook.com/adam.hill.39982https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamchill/Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

Never miss an opportunity to celebrate wins with your teams! Studies show the top thing employees want from their employers is to feel appreciated. So be sure to give a few shoutouts during your next team meeting!Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

The journey of life is made up of highs and lows, pain and joy, challenges and triumphs. Even at a young age, Steven Izen came to understand this truth that connects all humans. The key to success is figuring out how to find balance in all of life’s extremes. Out of this concept, Steven created his brand Lokai. Lokai bracelets serve as a reminder to stay humble on the mountain peaks of life and hopeful in the valleys. More than simply offering consumers an excellent product, Lokai’s mission extends beyond retail into mindfulness and active participation in the global community. Izen attributes much of his success to staying focused on his values— fitness, family, and business. As a young leader in a quickly changing world of business, Izen builds relationships with his team with intentionality and isn’t afraid to have the hard conversations. Company values are woven into the fabric of every day operations, primarily open communication, work/life balance, and giving back to the community. This is how businesses maintain integrity and support a growth mindset within a company’s culture. Main TopicsHow Izen developed the concept, values, and brand for Lokai and the meaning behind the name (02:16)Izen’s personal exploration of mindfulness in leadership (06:30)Current shifts in employer/employee relationships and the importance of balance in the workplace (10:36)How entrepreneurs can be growth-oriented by giving back to community (14:40)Special offer for listeners! (16:54) Episode Linkshttps://lokai.com/Use code PODCAST15 to get 15% off on any purchases made on elementsdrinks.io or lokai.comConnect with Steven:https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-izen-5620323b/https://www.instagram.com/stevenizen/https://www.facebook.com/steven.izenhttps://twitter.com/StevenIzenConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

The world is changing at lightning speed. The media seems to only offer discouraging news about the current economic situation. While it is natural for some businesses to suffer during these times, many will actually thrive. Adam discusses strategies for achieving health and happiness in the midst of challenging shifts in the economic cycle. First and foremost, people need to take care of their own wellbeing before they can engage in positive relationships with others. When personal health is top priority, only then can someone create meaningful friendships and strong familial bonds. The ego must take a back seat. When people’s relationships to themselves and others are in order, they can bring positivity and problem-solving skills to their business. Fostering a thriving business in the midst of an economic recession means making yourself as valuable as possible to your clients, employees, shareholders, and your community. Personally connecting with a targeted audience on a human level is now more important than ever. And never underestimate the power of hope. So instead of believing the news and assuming the worst about the future, expect good things to come out of tough situations.Main Topics:In a recession, people tend to hide, suffer, or thrive. Tips for being one who thrives (03:17)Becoming the most valuable version of yourself (05:57)How physical health can literally save your life (10:25)Applying strategies for health and happiness in business (14:30)Big picture overview for direction of the economy and what to do with your cash (18:40) Episode LinksI Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons by Kevin Hart Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

Next play.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Why are up to 70% of the world’s CEOs considering quitting their jobs? According to Caren Kenney, CEO and Founder of Evolve Leadership and co-author of the book Leading with Character: 10 Minutes a Day to a Brilliant Legacy, most of the world’s C-Suite executives are not trained in sustainable practices for overall wellness. Observing this need, Caren combined her passion for leadership and mental health to create developmental programs that support all aspects of the individual’s needs. Her holistic approach addresses physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, and asks leaders to get clear on their purpose. By prioritizing character development within a company’s culture, leaders build a strong foundation for purpose-driven lives.Main TopicsThe “why” behind Caren’s personal and professional journey developing wellness in executive leadership (02:38)Trends emerging as a result of recent global events that have impacted mental health in the executive realm (05:14)Holistic approaches to creating sustainable work environments (06:10)Predominant challenges for executives in the evolving world (09:57)How to train the next generation of CEOs and what it will take for them to thrive (13:21)Leadership qualities that build thriving workplace cultures (15:52)Action points for creating resilient leaders who invest in human relationships and overall well-being (18:30) Episode LinksLeading with Character: 10 Minutes a Day to a Brilliant LegacyThe C-Suite's Role in Well-Being Connect with Caren:https://evolveleadership.comhttps://www.instagram.com/carenkenneyhttps://twitter.com/carenkenneyhttps://www.facebook.com/caren.kenneyConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

Kurt Wilkin is a trusted advisor for high-growth, middle-market companies as founder and managing partner of Bee Cave Capital and Co-Founder of HireBetter. With a passion for growth and a hard-earned, proven set of tools in his toolbox, Wilkin works with other entrepreneurs and CEOs to help them escape the start-up mindset and achieve next-level success. His debut book, Who’s Your Mike? A No-Bullshit Guide to the People You’ll Meet on Your Entrepreneurial Journey, Kurt reveals how entrepreneurs can transform their companies by minimizing hiring mistakes, investing in high potentials and making the difficult decisions to drop dead weight from their team.Main TopicsKurt’s professional journey, from becoming a CPA to launching his own firm to buying the company HireBetter (2:13)Why Kurt believes The Great Resignation is a myth and how to find employees who are dedicated to making an impact rather than just a paycheck (5:25)Are employees looking for more money or more fulfillment? (9:07)How to hire people beyond just what you can see on a resume and how to hire “A-players” (11:00)Kurt’s book Who’s Your Mike? and how to know when it’s time to move on from an employee (15:10)Episode LinksLeadership Tactics with Sergeant Major Kyle LambEpisode 203: Part 1Episode 204: Part 2https://whosyourmike.comhttps://whosyourmike.com/quiz/Connect with Kurt:https://www.kurtwilkin.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-wilkin-7345255/https://twitter.com/kurtwilkinConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts

Be a sponge!Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Patrick Thean is an international speaker, CEO coach and serial entrepreneur—and a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. With his book Rhythm: How to Achieve Breakthrough Execution and Accelerate Growth, Thean shares a simple system for encouraging teams to execute better and faster.Main TopicsPatrick’s journey as a young entrepreneur, leading his first company to #151 on the Inc. 5000 list and how to avoid failing as a CEO (2:25)Patrick’s system for measuring KPIs and the frameworks to put in place to build your business (5:27)Training the next generation of leaders to not just look for short-term, overnight success and instead committing to consistency and rhythms to build long-term success (11:15) Defining your goals and committing to them (15:25)The importance of employees taking ownership in their own growth (21:08)Patrick’s book Rhythm: How to Achieve Breakthrough Execution and Accelerate Growth (22:30) Episode LinksEpisode 201: Building a Life of Consistency with Mike O’HearnPatrick’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/GazellessystemsHow to Communicate with Extreme Clarity with Debra Jasper The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey Rhythm: How to Achieve Breakthrough Execution and Accelerate GrowthConnect with Patrick:https://www.patrickthean.com/https://twitter.com/ptheanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickthean/Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts

Brendan P. Keegan is CEO of Merchants, a company that provides customized fleet management and fleet leasing solutions to a wide range of businesses. He is an award-winning six-time president and chief executive officer, leading companies ranging from 500 to 10,000 employees. Brendan is currently leading Merchants to be an industry disruptor in the transportation industry, making a string of bold commitments toward sustainabilityMain TopicsThe everyday life and role of a CEO and focusing on the vision, values, people, culture and goals of the company (2:20)How to keep company values top of mind for your employees (6:25) Turning goals into habits and how to create goals in an organization (10:55)How goals lead to results and evaluating leading and lagging indicators in your business (15:15)How to inspire as the leader of the company through helping people recognizing success in themselves (18:39)Establishing a disciplined morning routine (22:00) Connect with Brendan:https://www.merchantsfleet.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanpkeegan/https://www.instagram.com/bpkfearless/Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts

As a leader, what are you doing to build yourself—meaning your health, happiness, sleep, hydration, etc.? You are the one who fuels your leadership, so you have to be sure to take care of you!Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Leaders are not born, they are built through ongoing leadership development and learning the soft skills of leadership. Adam explores how this looks both in the corporate world as well as entrepreneur leaders. Main TopicsThe evolution of the Mark and Adam’s facial hair (0:30)How the economy boom of 2015-2020 impacted leadership development and how money flow hides the need for leadership (3:39) The definition of a leader and how to develop yourself as a leader (9:55)The three perspectives of leadership—leading yourself, leading others, leading your business—and how Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs influences each of these perspectives (17:00) Episode Links"3 Key Leadership Secrets to Leading Your Business Like the CEO of a Multimillion-Dollar Corporation”: https://adamcontos.com/leadership Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts

Sergeant Major Kyle Lamb spent over 21 years in the United States Army, with 15 years of that time with Delta Force. He has participated in many conflicts, including Desert Storm, Bosnia, Iraq, as well as in the battle made famous by the movie Black Hawk Down in Somalia. Sergeant Major Lamb is the Founder and President of Viking Tactics, a tactical training and tactical gear business. He has also written a number of books, including his latest Leadership in the Shadows.Main TopicsWhy COVID was the best thing to happen to Kyle’s family, his business and his leadership (1:12)Our country was founded by business leaders and entrepreneurs. (7:12)How Viking Tactics began with shooting classes and grew into into tactical gear sales and leadership resources (9:06)Leadership and entrepreneurship tactics needed in seasons of change (11:32)How to live every day with a mission (16:30)Episode LinksLeadership in the Shadows: https://www.vikingtactics.com/product-p/vtac-lits.htmSig Sauer Academy: https://www.sigsaueracademy.com/instructors/kyle-lambConnect with Kyle:https://www.vikingtactics.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Viking-Tactics-Inc-170871879632771Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts

If you're tired of average results, you have to go above and beyond in order to achieve the above average results you're seeking!Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Sergeant Major Kyle Lamb spent over 21 years in the United States Army, with 15 years of that time with Delta Force. He has participated in many conflicts, including Desert Storm, Bosnia, Iraq, as well as in the battle made famous by the movie Black Hawk Down in Somalia. Sergeant Major Lamb is the Founder and President of Viking Tactics, a tactical training and tactical gear business. He has also written a number of books, including his latest Leadership in the Shadows.Main TopicsKyle’s journey from his childhood in South Dakota to a career in the United States Army Special Forces (2:45)Leaders are built, not born (7:35) How negativity can inspire your leadership and the importance of meritocracy in leadership (11:54)Pulling leadership inspiration from everybody, even if you don’t agree with them (15:56)Teaching leadership tactics across different sectors (18:40) Episode LinksLeadership in the Shadows: https://www.vikingtactics.com/product-p/vtac-lits.htm Connect with Kyle:https://www.vikingtactics.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Viking-Tactics-Inc-170871879632771Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts

International speaker, Debra Jasper, is the founder of Mindset Digital, which is a digital transformation company that provides in-depth training, strategy and consulting to companies around the world. She serves as a Faculty Fellow at Ohio State University and has been named one of the top 12 Winning Women entrepreneurs in North America by Ernst & Young.Main TopicsHow COVID-19 impacted our work in the digital world and the need for extreme clarity in our communication (02:00)The formula for extreme clarity: write for action, deliver powerful presentations, deliver a powerful online presence (6:48)How to build a great LinkedIn profile (10:00) Write for attention by using strong copywriting skills (11:38)Debra’s upcoming book, Extreme Clarity: Break Through in a Hyper-Distracted Hybrid World (16:08)Rapid Visual Storytelling and how it applies to doing business (19:00) Connect with Debra:https://www.mindsetdigital.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/debrajasper/https://twitter.com/debrajasperConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts

No easy button for business or life, however the EASIER button is to deploy leadership for yourself and for others.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Mike O’Hearn is a bodybuilder, personal trainer, actor, model and community ambassador. He holds four Mr. Universe titles and was voted one of the twelve greatest physiques of all time by the fitness industry. Mike is a true champion and well-rounded athlete who has graced over 500 fitness covers.Main TopicsHow Mike got the title “The Titan” and what it means to him (01:24)The importance of living with intentionality and being all in on what you’re doing in order to achieve your goals (02:38) Mike’s community called The Titan Crew—a group of people around the world who want to get healthier and understand how the body functions (07:50)Setting goals and living life as a slow journey and not a race to a quick result and how Mike viewed competitions as something for himself and not to gain the approval of others (11:19)Avoiding distractions while you’re on your journey (14:13)Planning a weekly schedule and how it will set you up for success (18:35) Connect with Mike:https://mikeohearn.comhttps://twitter.com/mikeohearnhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mikeohearnhttps://www.youtube.com/mikeohearntitanConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts

Happy 200th Episode, Win Nation! Join Adam and Producer Mark as they reminisce on some of their favorite moments and favorite guests of the last couple of years!Adam’s Top 3 Favorites:Ep. 183 Excuses are the Killers of Leaders with Don YaegerEp. 163 Life is Not a Spectator Sport with General Martin E. DempseyEp. 129 The Journey to Self-Awareness with Dr. Tasha EurichProducer Mark’s Top 3 Favorites:Ep. 165 Transform Overthinking From a Super Problem to a Superpower with Jon AcuffEp. 114 Real Talk and Thankfulness with Adam and Kelly ContosEp. 111 Prioritizing the Process Over the Prize with Apolo OhnoHonorable Mentions:Ep. 155 How to Lead Your Team During Uncertainty with Seth MattisonEp. 146 You Have Permission to Dream Big with Bob GoffEp. 180 Developing Habits to Achieve Your Dreams with Colonel Chris HadfieldEp. 182 Leveling Up with Vernice “FlyGirl” ArmourEp. 197 How Technology is Driving the Future of Franchising with Dave LinigerEpisode Links:Download Adam’s free guide: 3 Key Leadership Secrets to Leading Your Business Like the CEO of a Multimillion-Dollar CorporationConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts

What are people really buying? It's not just a product or service—it's a desired outcome! So when thinking about your customers, sell to them with their desired outcome in mind.Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Jennifer Cassetta is a nationally recognized motivational speaker and empowerment coach with a third-degree black belt in Hapkido and a master’s degree in nutrition. Over the past two decades, she has helped tens of thousands of women feel strong, safe, and powerful from college campuses to corporations. Her keynotes and trainings guide women to tap into their innate power, speak up against predatory behavior, and level up their mind, body, and spiritual well-being.Main TopicsHow Jennifer discovered strength, confidence and peace through martial arts after surviving the 9/11 attacks in New York City (03:29)Making your “Greatest Shifts List” and uncovering moments of learning and personal growth (8:55) Everyone has it inside themselves to be a badass (12:40)How to get back up and fight back after life knocks you down (14:11)Why Jennifer wrote her upcoming book and her desire to create something that will give people the tools to stand up for themselves and for others (16:59)Becoming a black belt in leadership (18:08)The Art of Realtor Safety program (21:38) Episode LinksPreorder The Art of Badassery: Awakening to Your Power, Peace, and PurposeConnect with Jennifer:https://jennifercassetta.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-cassetta/https://www.instagram.com/jenncassetta/https://www.facebook.com/JenniferCassetta/Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts

Adam is joined by Gary Mauris the co-founder, president and CEO of Dominion Lending Centres, the leading mortgage company in Canada. Gary shares about his entrepreneurial journey to starting DLC through building relationships, humility and creating a loyal customer base.Gary Mauris is the co-founder and President & CEO of Dominion Lending Centres; CEO of Mortgage Centre Canada; and Chairman of Mortgage Architects. Together, these companies account for almost 40% of all broker originated mortgages in Canada. He is a serial entrepreneur, having sold two prior companies to the public market. Gary has also led multiple social initiatives as the co-founder and President of the I AM SOMEONE Ending Bullying Society and recently co-founded “Bikes for Kids”, a National program that collects new bicycles for underprivileged children across Canada.Main TopicsThe beginning of Dominion Lending Centres—Canada’s leading mortgage company (03:06)Growing the business through retention and ongoing recruiting (05:20)How Dominion Lending Centres modeled their business model and model for growth after RE/MAX and the leadership tactics of Dave Liniger (09:11)Growing a business and creating a loyal customer base through executive presence, developing relationships, being humble, building up others and creating an environment of success (11:01)The three things that kill a relationship and how to overcome them (15:00)Balancing multi-intentional goals and maintaining a healthy work-life balance (19:28) Episode LinksDominion Lending CentresEverybody Wins: The Story and Lessons Behind RE/MAXConnect with Gary Mauris:https://garymauris.cahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/garymauris/?originalSubdomain=cahttps://www.facebook.com/gary.maurishttps://twitter.com/garymaurisConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Listen, rate, and subscribe!Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts

Leaders create other leaders. They lead with presence and with clarity. Leading isn't a title—it's the action that you are taking to lead people and create new leaders!Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

There are more than 750,000 franchises in the United States, meaning that more than 10% of American businesses are part of the franchise model.Adam welcomes back Dave Liniger to talk all about franchising and how technology is likely to be one of the biggest drivers of the industry moving forward.Dave Liniger started RE/MAX in 1973, and it has become the largest real estate company in the world with a record year in 2021. He also runs a private equity company, Area15 Ventures, focused on emerging franchisors and high-growth businesses and franchise concepts.Dave tells story of beginning of RE/MAX and selling his very first franchise in Kansas City. Over the course of the next two years, Dave sold more than 100 franchises across North America.Dave explains the concept of a franchise as a system of methods, training, advertising and more that can be imparted on franchisee. The franchisee pays a fee to buy into the concept and pays the cost of opening a business, making the franchise model a great way to rapidly expand a business concept without it being cost-prohibitive. Dave shares the four key elements of franchising:Unique product or serviceBrand, advertising and market sharePurchasingTraining Technology and SystemsDave shares the story of the success of the McDonald’s franchise and how it transformed the fast food franchise industry.One of the biggest benefits of owning a franchise is the access you receive to a network of peers. You get to learn from each other and share ideas and insights to grow businesses. Dave also shares that every significant, good idea for RE/MAX came from his franchisees. He tells the story of how breakfast, the filet o’ fish and the Big Mac started at McDonald’s thanks to the ideas of franchisees. Adam and Dave talk about a new franchise concept they have acquired through Area15 Ventures called Daddy’s Chicken Shack. This business is a great example of how technology is driving the future of franchising. As a walk-up concept, the restaurant blew up during COVID, generating over $1 million in revenue. The owners designed a prototype with curbside pickup and limited seating, and featured technology that enables guests to order food via their phone, on the app and through food delivery services. The technology tracks the order and geo-targets the customer, and when they are 8-minutes away from the restaurant, they begin preparing the food. The drive-thru is also only for pick-up orders. This technology is eliminating the need for waiting in lines for pickup. The restaurant also features in-person ordering via artificial intelligence.Episode Links:DaddysFranchising.com Area15Ventures.comGet Adam's “3 Key Leadership Secrets” Guide!Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Scott Parker is a former professional ice hockey right winger who played for the San Jose Sharks and the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL. Scott earned his nickname, "The Sheriff,” from his reputation as a feared fighter and enforcer. In 2006, Parker and his wife Francesca, started a charity called "Parker's Platoon.” Parker’s Platoon is dedicated to helping military veterans and retired professional athletes who deal with PTSD and traumatic brain and body injuries.The conversation kicks off with Scott’s story about growing up in Alaska and discovering hockey—a sport he new nothing about. But in the second grade, after seeing a flyer for hockey tryouts, he learned to skate with the family, and his love for the game was born. Scott also shares about some of the leadership lessons and skills he learned as an enforcer in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks and the Colorado Avalanche. One important skill he developed was how to have a mindset of always learning through studying opponents. Scott had to spend hours studying his opponent, learning their tendencies and their weaknesses. “And if you didn’t, you got your head kicked in. …The sport is 80% mental and 20% physical." Scott and Adam chat about the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals between the Colorado Avalanche and the Tampa Bay Lightning.The two round out the conversation with the story and heart behind Parker’s Platoon, the nonprofit organization started by Scott and his wife, Francesca. The Parkers have a passion for helping our military veterans, as Scott’s father-in-law served as a Marine and his father was a gunner in the U.S. Army. Following his own diagnosis with a traumatic brain injury, he saw the need for mental, emotional and physical support for veterans who might be suffering from injuries like TBIs and PTSD. And since his retirement from the NHL, Scott found that he really missed that locker room dynamic and the way he and his teammates bonded through shared experiences. So, through Parker’s Platoon, the organization is able to partner wounded veterans with wounded athletes so they can grow in relationship and go through the healing process together. From meeting physical needs through meals and health access to meeting emotional needs through retreats and mountain getaways, Parker’s Platoon provides an avenue for holistic care and support. Episode Links:ParkersPlatoon.orgJoin the Leadership Factory and get early access to courses and exclusive content from Adam!Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

The two most important hours of your day are actually the two most important things you can work on in your business: Client Hour and Content Hour. So build these into your calendar, and stick to it!Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Lindsay Pinchuk is a former high-powered magazine publishing executive turned business owner and leader. She is the founder of Bump Club and Beyond --- a community of resources, support, and educational tools for millions of parents and parents-to-be across the country. In year one, she turned a profit, and then grew her company to a 7-figure revenue each year and her community to over 3 million users. Less than a decade later, she led her company through the acquisition of a large agency holding company.Lindsay shares about the origins of Bump Club and Beyond, which began out of her need for community and resources as an expectant mother. Through the organic promotion of prenatal workouts, shopping events and workshops, the community continued to grow and expand. Soon, Lindsay left her job in Corporate America and took the company national and partnered with major brands, growing into a 7-figure company. And, after nine years, she sold her very successful company and stayed on to run Bump Club. In 2021, she made the decision to leave Bump Club and Beyond and now she owns and runs Lindsay Pinchuk Marketing & Consulting where she helps female solo entrepreneurs and large female-founded brands through coaching, consulting and courses. Through her transition from the corporate world to becoming an entrepreneur, Lindsay took a couple key principles with her: networking and the sales process. She shares with Adam how she took these skills that she had learned as a magazine sales executive and plugged them directly into her new endeavor. Lindsay also talks about the importance of being willing to ask for help. And she gives listeners some practical ways to be creative in getting help as a beginning entrepreneur with a small amount of revenue. And to round out the episode, Lindsay shares the best leadership lesson she has learned is to know when to say no and to be able to actually say no when it’s not the right opportunity or the best place to spend your time.Episode Links:Lindsay Pinchuk Marketing & ConsultingDear FoundHer podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk/Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/Join the Leadership Factory and get early access to courses and exclusive content from Adam!

Misty Lown is the founder, president, and energized force behind More Than Just Great Dancing, a licensed dance studio affiliation program that has a positive impact on over 100,000 dance students around the globe each week. She is a sought-after speaker and business leader. She has been recognized as “Teacher of the Year” by Eclipse, “Outstanding Businesswoman of the Year” by the YWCA, as well as many others. She is also the author of One Small Yes an Amazon #1 Bestseller.Misty shares her story of how her dream of teaching dance began with one small studio and grew to what it is today with 296 studios around the world. She was a talented dancer in high school and was accepted into a prestigious dance program. But, in her heart, she knew the classroom was going to be her stage. Even when people questioned why she would give up performing for teaching, she felt called to it and knew it was the path for her. Misty shares with Adam about some of the pivots she made in her business to take it to the next level. She knew it had to be about more than just dance. She wanted to teach dance as a vehicle for life lessons and to have an impact on her community. Internally, she started to referring to the program as “more than just great dancing.” And that name just stuck. And as she looked to grow, she considered many options like multiple studios or franchising. But she landed on licensing which would enable her to equip existing studios and teachers with personalized tools and resources and coaches.Misty and Adam dive into creating systems and how they empower leaders to win in business. Misty shares that the idea that we need to build everything for ourselves seems to be uniquely American. And rather than trying to do everything and create everything for themselves, businesses need to be more willing to take advantage of the wonderful resources that have already been created. Through MTJGD, Misty uses her ability to create business systems and to train people into that system and helps studios around the world. Stop searching, start executing. There’s some level of discomfort in some area. Until someone gets to that level, Misty also shares about the importance of getting small wins. Business owners and leaders tend to struggle in certain areas that prevent them from growing their business. Misty’s goal is to show them how to get a win in that area and getting them some breathing room to start working on the next things in their business. Then, it becomes a domino effect as they choose the next thing to work on to get another small win. We’re in a time of intellectual obesity where we’re consuming so much content online but not exercising what we’re learning. So Misty’s last piece of advice to business owners and leaders is to find one or two voices that you trust and go deep with those.Episode Links:https://mistylown.comhttps://morethanjustgreatdancing.comhttps://www.instagram.com/mistylown/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mistylown/Order your copy of Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success:https://www.startwithawin.com/bookConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Are you an order taker or a deal maker? If you're always in business and always waiting for something to happen, you're an order taker. But those who are out there, growing their business and making things happen—they're the deal makers! It's up to you to decide if you're going to be an order taker or a deal maker!Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

In this episode of Start With A Win, Adam is joined by Producer Mark to talk about the two most important hours in the day for any business owner or entrepreneur: Client Hour and Content Hour. When it comes to sales, there are two types of people: order takers and order makers. An order taker is someone who expects the business to happen and to have sales dropped in their lap. They often get their sales leads from those “lead fairies” like web forms and lead-generating companies. But the truth is, less than 1% of leads close and generate actual revenue!So, in this episode, Adam talks to the order makers. The ones go out and make the business happen!The two most important hours of your day are actually the two most important things you can work on in your business. Client Hour This is obviously best done during business hours. It’s the time that you spend talking to your current and future customers. Pull out that contact list of your current and potential customers, and look for ways to talk to them. Send an email, pick up the phone, shoot them a text—whatever you need to do! But this isn’t cold-calling hour. This is relationship-building hour!In his small, boutique agency, Producer Mark has a network of relationships that he checks in on periodically, nurturing those relationships so they develop into new and repeat business. Adam shares the three ways we get business: Get new clientsGet more deals per clientGet more money per sale per clientContent HourJust like it sounds, this is the time to write content! Think about the challenges your customers have, and write about it. This content can be for a variety of purposes, whether it’s a blog post, video, podcast or social post.Here is a great format you can use to guide your writing:Get their attention with a problemAgitate the problemBring in your value piece that solves that problemAccentuate that value pieceServe up the call to action. But during content hour, the key is to just write, don’t edit! Step away when you’re finished, and then go back and review.Client Hour and Content Hour should be what you do first thing in the morning, because that’s when you have the most clarity and the greatest attitude in the day. If you do these things in the morning, your day is going to change. So build these into your calendar, and stick to it!Episode Links:Ryan Stewman’s Episodes on Start With A Win:Part 1Part 2Order your copy of Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success:https://www.startwithawin.com/bookConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Dave Liniger started RE/MAX in 1973, and it has become the largest real estate company in the world with a record year in 2021. He also runs a private equity company, Area15 Ventures, focused on emerging franchisors and high-growth businesses.Dave and Adam pick up their conversation from last week by talking about the importance of being a lifelong learner. Dave shares how the early days of building RE/MAX began a pattern of lifelong learning that he’s carried on throughout his entire career.The only constant is change, and the world is changing faster and faster as we’re sitting here. And Dave believes that one of the worst things a leader can do when a learning opportunity comes their way is to assume they already know everything they need to know on that topic.Another aspect of becoming a lifelong learner is taking full advantage of personal experience. Dave shares that no one is born a leader. It comes from a cumulated lifetime of experience. And getting a college degree gives you a great head start, but that can really only give you theoretical knowledge, not practical experience with people. Leadership comes down to how you influence and control and encourage the team. And you can only learn that through personal experience. Dave addresses the importance of having a coach in your professional life. The purpose of a coach is to get more out of you than you can get out of yourself. Using their wisdom, their job is to analyze you and make suggestions on how you can improve. And the money spent on a coach almost always will multiply your financial benefit. Dave recalls that nearly all of the most successful RE/MAX agents utilized professional coaching.Lastly, Dave and Adam discuss the benefits of participating in masterminds. Dave defines a mastermind as a group of people that support you in where you want to go and are going in the same direction themselves. Masterminds are an incredible opportunity for like-minded people from different backgrounds to encourage each other.The two round out the conversation by talking about the importance of establishing good habits in your life in order to achieve your goals. One of the best ways to develop good habits is by establishing the right systems in your life. These are systems and processes that set you up for the best chance of sticking to your habits. And, if you have the right systems, the goal will accomplish itself.Episode Links:http://www.daveliniger.comhttps://www.area15ventures.comThink and Grow Rich by Napoleon HillAtomic Habits by James ClearOrder your copy of Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success:https://www.startwithawin.com/bookConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

When facing a challenge, the enemy is not what's actually in front of us, it's how we FEEL about what we have to overcome. What is the solution? Make a plan, execute that plan, and overcome that enemy!Connect with Adam:startwithawin.com/facebook.com/REMAXAdamContostwitter.com/REMAXAdamContosinstagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Dave Liniger started RE/MAX in 1973, and it has become the largest real estate company in the world with a record year in 2021. He also runs a private equity company, Area15 Ventures, focused on emerging franchisors and high-growth businesses.Dave’s experience in business and leadership is extensive and diverse—from four tours in Vietnam to owning and running a NASCAR team to building dozens of companies over the years. So he understands what it takes to start and grow a successful business. He believes that may leaders are arrogant, believing that they were the ones to create the success. But the truth is that it’s nonsense. Success isn’t about “me,” it’s about “we.” It wasn’t just Dave who made RE/MAX happen, it was the many people around him and in the company who made it was it is today.Dave shares about the mistakes he’s also made along the way and how he overcame them. You can make mistakes, but don’t let mistakes make you. And he believes that a leader has to be transparent to his or her team. If you make a mistake, you should own up to it and commit to not doing it again. “We’re human beings, and we make mistakes. Just don’t make the same mistake over and over again.”Dave provides insight on the importance of creating the right environment in a company. He shares that one of the major functions of a great leader is to create an environment where the individuals on the team can collectively succeed better than they can by themselves—and to achieve their personal goals as well as team goals. And it’s more than just being a good motivator. He believes that motivation is superficial and doesn’t work in the long-term. Instead, create an environment of self-motivation where people can achieve what they want to achieve. Because not everyone has the same goals. The conversation shifts to cultivating confidence and courage in the people you lead. Courage comes from experience, and experience comes from confidence—or vice-versa. Dave shares stories of how he learned to cultivate that confidence in the leaders around him, and part of that came by being an encourager. Part of the job of leading is encouraging and praising others. You lead by example, but also by heaping praise on your people. If your employees know they have someone who cares for them personally, they pick up on that.“I wish I could buy people for what they think they’re worth, and work with them for a while, and then sell them for what I know they’re worth,” said Dave.Adam and Dave round out this part of the conversation by talking about the difference between a family environment and a team environment in a company. RE/MAX was built as a team, with people relying on each other and their leaders to contribute and make the team better. But Dave shares that you can have team accomplishments with family values. A team that’s accountable to each other but also there for each other when it’s needed most.Episode Links:http://www.daveliniger.comhttps://www.area15ventures.comOrder your copy of Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success:https://www.startwithawin.com/bookConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Monty Moran is the former co-CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Prior to joining Chipotle, he was head of litigation and CEO at a Denver-based law firm for ten years. Most recently, Monty realized his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot, and flies his airplane throughout the United States to pursue his interest in better understanding and serving Americans, a quest he documents through his startup, Old Tale Productions. He is also the author of the book Love is Free. Guac is Extra: How Vulnerability, Empowerment, and Curiosity Built an Unstoppable Team.In our world, most people are uncomfortable with using the word “love” when it comes to business. Monty helps us understand that love doesn’t have to just be a “fluff” word but that it can mean truly caring about your people, empowering them, and bringing the best out in them. Monty shares about his time at Chipotle and how he worked to build a culture of empowerment. We all know what it’s like to feel disappointed after a lack-luster retail experience where the staff appear less than enthusiastic to be there. Monty believes that often comes from a culture where the employees are not empowered. He defines empowerment as feeling confident in your ability, encouraged by your circumstances, such that you feel motivated and at liberty to fully devote your talents to a purpose. And when you have a culture of empowered people, you can then feel that energy across the counter.In order to create that culture, Monty knew he couldn’t spend all of (or most of) his time in the corporate office. As the CEO, he spend most of his time in the restaurants in one-on-one conversations with employees. In this conversations, he got to know who they were as people as well as how they felt about the company and what was going well—and what wasn’t so great.Monty also shares about the importance of vulnerability in leadership and being your real, genuine self. Because he believes the only source of power for a leader is the people who choose to follow that leader. So we have to ask ourselves as leaders: Why would someone follow me? People won’t follow you if you’re not worthy of being followed—or if they don’t believe you’re being real or genuine. He shares the story of leading his first meeting at Chipotle and how a moment of true vulnerability set the tone for how he was perceived as a leader.Monty and Adam round out the conversation by talking about Monty’s “controversial” view of work-life balance: He doesn’t believe in it! Work-life balance implies that life and work are completely separate, but we don’t stop living when we go to work. Everyone wants something different from our work and our life, and the key is to determine what amount of overlap is going to fulfill us.Episode Links:Order your copy of Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success:https://www.startwithawin.com/bookConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Why are some people terrible at sales? The truth is they skip the first, and maybe most important step: Building relationships. People don't want to do business with someone they don't trust. And relationships are the conduits to trust. So build those bridges, build those relationships, and the sales will happen.Connect with Adam:startwithawin.com/facebook.com/REMAXAdamContostwitter.com/REMAXAdamContosinstagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Tony Giordano is a top real estate agent, business consultant, renowned international speaker and owner of four successful businesses. He is a national and international best-selling author of the books 'the social agent,’ which teaches clients, and sales professionals the correct ways to integrate online presence and grow their business. Tony is also passionate about helping others find success through his company, R.I.S.E. Coaching.Adam and Tony talk about overcoming adversity and why we should even welcome setbacks in life. Because extraordinary success doesn’t come without a lot of failure. Tony even says, “I hope you fail so much in your life because that means you tried." Tony encourages listeners to not become the people who never try because they’re afraid of failing—or who immediately quit after a setback. “You just have to be willing to get back up and take the hit.”Overcoming adversity begins with mindset. You must always have the mindset of being willing to accept setbacks. Having a positive mindset like that is what gets us through the setback. Tony also warns of the “naysayers” in our lives. Most people are afraid because they have people in their life who are always telling them they can’t or shouldn’t do something because it’s too risky. When we let these voices live in our minds, they compete against that positive mindset we’ve worked so hard to cultivate. “Anyone who tells you you can’t succeed in something is never anyone who has succeeded,” says Tony. He encourages us to surround ourselves with people who have succeeded and who will propel us toward our own success.Tony walks listeners through his method to overcoming adversity called the Five Rounds to Success. The same way a UFC or MMA fighter faces an opponent in the octagon, we face adversity in life.Size Up: How we’re testedMind Set: How we respondAccountability: How we learn Heart: How we overcomeFinish: How we succeed and winEvery day we get another opponent—or three. If you follow these steps, you will succeed.Episode Links:RiseMastery.com Discount code: TGVIPhttps://www.giordano.globalhttps://www.facebook.com/GiordanoIntlhttps://www.instagram.com/tony_giordano/Order your copy of Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success:https://www.startwithawin.com/bookConnect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://twitter.com/AdamContosCEOhttps://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/