Archives for November 2021

Learn From Yourself First…

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Before you blame someone else. Before you blame the market. Before you blame the economy. Before you give all the reasons why someone or something else was at fault, blame yourself first. One of the best traits of top leaders is their ability and willingness to blame themselves first before anything else.

The question is, why?

The Value of Introspection

Introspection is the examination of your own contribution to the problem. It’s one of the most valuable skills anyone, but especially leaders, can have. Through introspection, you can begin to learn from yourself and learn how to improve and fix things.

Introspection can be difficult. You need to be willing to see and accept your flaws and be strategic about them. You have to be willing to learn from them and fix them. Only then, can you be the greatest leader you can be for your company.

“When leaders lead by crisis management, often a root cause is a lack of introspection–an absence of personal and strategic think time. […] One way executives can explore this phenomenon is by reviewing their calendar. When do they think? Do they have time, their most precious commodity, blocked on their calendar for introspection?” – Key Step Media

The Problem With Passing Blame First

It can seem instinctual to blame others for a problem. It’s certainly far easier, but a good leader knows that they’re not always blameless. Passing blame prematurely will just harm your relationship with your employees and waste your chance to learn from yourself.

The next time you lose a customer, or a project doesn’t get done on time, or you’ve frustrated a team member, or you’ve missed a goal, before you blame anyone else or something else, see how you could have done better yourself. Dig in. What could you have done differently?

It’s not always going to be your fault. Often it isn’t, but it doesn’t do anyone any harm to inspect yourself first. It does much more harm to accidentally blame someone or something else when it truly is your fault.

A good leader knows how to give and take feedback, especially feedback about themselves from themselves.

“Whoever is receiving feedback needs to want that feedback and have a desire to learn from it if it’s going to be of any use. Communicating feedback to employees is all about learning, but the receiver controls the learning environment. This means that they have to want to learn how to take feedback in order to be successful.” – Cameron Herold

The Greatest Tool You Have

Knowing how to learn from yourself is one of the most useful tools a leader can have. A great leader takes advantage of that tool. It’s free, so why not!

Imagine how much stronger you’d be in business if you regularly examined your successes and failures and tried to learn from yourself first. You don’t only need to read business books and listen to podcasts. You need to learn more from yourself more than anyone or anything else.

Do you learn from yourself? What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned from yourself? Let us know in the comments below.

If you have questions or would like more information, I’d be happy to help. Please send an email, and my team will get in touch with you!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2016 and has been edited for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Learn to React… Fast

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As a leader, you need to react fast to the information you receive. The trick to reacting fast is that you don’t overreact. It’s that delicate balance, but you’ve got to do it if you want your company and your employees to be the best that they can be.

Reacting Slowly Stifles Change

People will sit on information without making the appropriate changes, losing growth and advantages they could have gained from it. They react too slowly that they lose leverage from new information and ideas.

A great leader wants to gain the most that they can out of new opportunities, which means reacting to things quickly to push change. The greatest changes come from opportunities that are acted upon quickly and efficiently. That means, as a leader, you need to reach them fast.

Reacting Slowly Hurts Your Employees

Employees who look to you for guidance, inspiration, and leadership get frustrated when they give you real information and you’re too paralyzed to do anything about it.

‘Race to the conflict’ is a great management phrase to know. When something bugs you, it’s important to act on it right away and address it with the person. Note that you should never do it in writing.

It was always better to confront the matter in person. Employees respected me for handling situations this way; it built trust and meant nothing was left to fester. Also, addressing the matter in person allowed them to give their thoughts on the matter, too. Sometimes their perspective can give you a lot of additional information.

Reacting Slowly Worsens a Crisis

As a leader, you’re bound to run into crises. Not knowing how to react and act upon these quickly can make the problem worse and be detrimental to your business.

Crisis can involve something inside the business, or something outside such as the press. In every crisis, but especially one involving a customer or the press, you need to respond as quickly as possible. Without a solution, things keep snowballing.

“When news is transmitted around the globe in a nanosecond over social media, featuring real-time pictures and videos, there is little to no time to position, posture or even understand the facts before you are pressed to make a statement. Because, if you do not speak for yourself quickly, or if you do so poorly, someone else – antagonist, police, government, competitor or anonymous hater – will speak for you. And in the world of public perception, the first mover has the advantage.” – Forbes

Reacting fast as a leader is essential in many different situations, be it business opportunities, employee problems, or full on crises.

Strife causes confusion, and confusion comes when leaders don’t react fast to potential problems. Just be careful that when you react fast, you also react well. Don’t react with emotion, but react with eagerness to take things on and fix things.

Do you react fast to opportunities and problems? How did you learn to do this well? Let us know in the comments below.

If you have questions or would like more information, I’d be happy to help. Please send an email, and my team will get in touch with you!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in November 2010 and has been edited for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Top 3 Reasons To Use a Retained Search Firm

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With the influx of technology today, finding the right candidates and talents for your company is easier than ever. Despite these advances in technology, many job postings, whether in print or on the Internet, are barely noticed. When they do get noticed, though, they really get noticed, meaning you’ll have to spend a lot of time sorting through countless resumes and screening several applicants yourself.

That’s where retained search firms come in.

But, first of all, what is a retained search firm? Why should you utilize the service of a search firm when you can do it by yourself or have your HR head do the work for you? Let’s start with one question at a time…

What is a Retained Search Firm?

A retained search firm is one of the main categories of an executive search firm. Retained search firms are paid for the process which earns them a recruiting fee in three stages based on the anticipated compensation of an executive.

While you (or your HR head) can take care of recruiting and screening potential candidates, it will take you far more time than you need to waste, especially when you’re trying to find the right people for an executive or senior-level job. Imagine what you could do with that time instead!

So, now that you know what a retained search firm is, here are three reasons why you should use one.

They’ll Find Credible Candidates

When using a retained search firm, the recruiting team can establish a higher level of credibility with passive candidates. Not only that, but because retained searches receive high priority, candidates will take a call far more seriously.

Since retained searches are more appealing to high-profile candidates, it’s guaranteed that you’ll get a high level of service and performance from the search firm and the candidates they find. They’ll be no more searching for that proverbial needle in a haystack!

There is a Higher Level of Commitment

Since most high-level executives tend to only work with retained search firms, this creates a connection of trust and commitment between the candidate and the search firm. Candidates the search firm has brought to you will be thoroughly committed to the job if they are hired. They trust that the job the search firm has found is something they’d excel at and, if they’re from a good search firm, they will!

This amount of commitment shows a level of seriousness and goes well beyond the typical contingency effort. It will drive amazing results.

There is a Competitive Edge

When you utilize the help of a retained search firm, the hiring team places value on finding the “best of the best” talent for their organization, which will take their business to the next level.

Highly successful professionals are not actively looking to make a change in their work lives. Instead, change finds them. When an executive recruiter from a good retained search firm calls these candidates with a job, they listen! Top performers only want to work for companies that take their hiring process seriously. They’re not looking to work with someone who posts their job opening on every job board. It seems like a sign of a desperate company, not a strong, successful one.

So, sit back, relax, and let a retained search firm take care of the recruiting. They’ll find you the best candidates for your executive jobs.

Do you have trouble finding good candidates for your job openings? Let us know in the comments below!

If you have questions or would like more information, I’d be happy to help. Please send an email, and my team will get in touch with you!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in January 2017 and has been edited for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

The Key to Good Communication

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A good leader needs to be good at communicating, but sometimes that can be difficult. Sometimes, you trying to be understood can come out seeming like arguing. Other times, you might feel like your ideas aren’t getting understood properly.

So, what is the key to good communication and how do you do it?

Good Communication Requires Good Listening

The key to good communication is listening to what people have to say, not telling them what you need or think you need to say.

But what does listening have to do with you being heard and understood?

Good communication isn’t a one-way street. You can’t bark orders and commands and expect all employees to follow that system. In fact, that technique may even be wildly detrimental to what you’re trying to accomplish with your business. 

Value Other People’s Time to Speak

When you value the time other people have to speak, they’ll value yours. This means avoiding interrupting at all costs. If you have something you need to say, save it until it’s your turn to speak. Put simply, treat others how you’d like to be treated.

“It can be tempting to want to speed up the conversation when you think you know where the speaker is going. However, active listening requires that you let the speaker keep talking uninterrupted—regardless if you think you can speed up the pace by finishing their sentence.” – Cameron Herold

Hear the Meaning Behind Words

Good communication requires you to understand the meaning behind each word you’re saying and how tones and inflection can affect that. Try reading this sentence six times while putting the emphasis on a different word each time: “I didn’t say you were beautiful.”

Could you hear how the meaning of the sentence changed each time? If six words can mean so many different things, it’s no wonder that communication within a company can be so confusing and frustrating at times. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to listen carefully to not just the words people are saying, but how they’re saying them, what they’re emphasizing. 

There is no end to learning good communication. Good communication requires you to never stop passionately pursuing better communication with everything around you. Good leaders are constantly learning in every aspect of the job.

What do you find is most important when it comes to good communication? Let us know in the comments below.

If you have questions or would like more information, I’d be happy to help. Please send an email, and my team will get in touch with you!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2010 and has been edited for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Meetings Suck: Turning One Of The Most Loathed Elements Of Business Into One Of The Most Valuable

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We all know that meetings suck, right?

You hear it all the time. It’s the one thing that almost everyone in business can agree on.

Except it’s not actually true… 

Meetings don’t suck.

We just suck at running meetings.   

When done right, meetings not only work, they make people and companies better.

In Meetings Suck, world renowned business expert and growth guru Cameron Herold teaches you how to use focused, time effective meetings to help you and your company soar.

This book shows you immediately actionable, step-by-step systems that ensure that you and everyone in your organization improves your meetings, right away.

In the process, you’ll turn meetings that suck into meetings that work. 

In life, we always hear about people who’ve made huge decisions from their gut – without data.Today, I want you to make a decision, not only from your gut, but also from some data.  A decision that is only $12 per employee but will be priceless for your business.

Right now, your gut is telling you something is wrong with your company’s meetings.  You KNOW everyone complains about meetings.

People HATE going to them, they HATE running them, and they really have NO idea which meetings are truly necessary but they hold meetings simply because they think that is what they SHOULD do.

Even some of the smartest CEOs in the world complain about meetings – Elon Musk publicly told employees at Tesla & SpaceX to walk out of meetings if they weren’t being run properly.

I sent Elon a message saying that wasn’t going to fix anything – the key is to fix the root of the problem – NOT continue to ignore why meetings suck.

A Meeting is – Any phone call, video call or occasion where 2 or more people meet to discuss or work-through office topics.

Most employees on average spend 1-2 hours per day in meetings.

And likely, none of those employees – front-line staff or leaders – have had any training on how to attend meetings or participate in them, LET ALONE How to RUN THEM.

Consider this…

If the Average employee spends just 1 Hour per day in meetings – that’s 1/8th of their time.

If the Average employee earns $50,000 per year.

And they’re spending 1/8th of their time in meetings, that means you’re paying $6,250 dollars per year for just ONE employee to attend meetings.

The reality is, employees spend 1/8th of their time – and 1/8th of your company’s payroll – doing something they have literally NO idea how to do.

The Reality is…

95% of employees are booking & leading meetings – and they have NEVER been trained on how to run them.

95% of employees have had NO training on how to show up and participate in the meetings they attend daily.

And 95% of employees and companies have no idea what meetings are even necessary to hold.

Meetings CAN be hugely effective – IF you know how to run them

Meetings don’t SUCK, we just SUCK at running meetings. 

Investing $15 per employee – to help ensure the $50,000 a year you spend on them is an obvious and easy choice.

This could be the most impactful $15 you’ll ever spend and will save the company’s money, time and resources instantly.

Buying a copy of Meetings Suck for 100% of your employees and having them read it this month will have a huge impact on your company’s success.

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Free PR: How To Get Chased By The Press Without Hiring A PR Firm

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Public relations has always been an essential part of doing business which is probably why you’re shelling out big money to an outside PR firm. But the truth is that you don’t need them. You already have all the necessary tools in-house to do as good a job as the so-called experts. 

Cameron Herold and Adrian Salamunovic have taught thousands of company execs how to exploit free media coverage and ditch these expensive, often ineffective outsiders. 

Cameron & Adrian have also built in-house PR teams, spent decades learning how to generate Free PR and how to leverage public relations to complement their sales and marketing strategy. 

In Free PR, you’ll learn how the media world operates while you gain invaluable insider knowledge and actionable advice on how to: 

  • Build your own in-house PR team
  • Provide effective interviews
  • Score great media coverage for free with just a few easy steps 

Landing public relations coverage for yourself and your company is a powerful tool to help elevate your personal brand. PR is easier to generate than marketing, PR is easier to leverage than marketing and PR is more cost effective than marketing. In other words, Public Relations is more critical than ever in growing your brand and your business. 

You’ve got more passion, commitment, a larger stake, and a deeper understanding of your business than any outside PR firm could ever have. So stop wasting money and take the reins yourself.  Learn the secrets to landing TONS of Free PR for your company.

What they’re saying:

“I think PR is the core for promoting any business. Public relations acquires customers! That’s what’s cool about this book.”

– Kevin O’Leary,  Shark on ABC’s Shark Tank

“The ultimate guidebook for those looking to get press, grow their brand, and get in front of the masses. Free PR is the roadmap you’ve been looking for.”

– Peter Shankman, Founder, Help a Reporter Out (HARO)

“Adrian and Cameron will show you the secrets of getting massive exposure for your business. This book is packed with actionable insights from two guys that actually know how to to do it.”

– Dan Martell,  Serial Entrepreneur & Investor (Intercom.io, Unbounce)

“I told Cameron to write the book on generating free PR. I’m excited to see that he’s finally sharing his secrets with the world. This is a must read for any entrepreneurial company and marketing team.”

– Verne Harnish, Founder of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and author of Scaling Up (Rockefeller Habits 2.0)

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Vivid Vision: A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around a Shared Vision of the Future

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Many corporations have slick, flashy mission statements that ultimately do little to motivate employees and less to impress customers, investors, and partners. 

But there is a way to share your excitement for the future of your company in a clear, compelling, and powerful way and entrepreneur and business growth expert Cameron Herold can show you how. 

Vivid Vision is a revolutionary tool that will help owners, CEOs, and senior managers create inspirational, detailed, and actionable three-year mission statements for their companies. In this easy-to-follow guide, Herold walks organization leaders through the simple steps to creating their own Vivid Vision, from brainstorming to sharing the ideas to using the document to drive progress in the years to come. 

By focusing on mapping out how you see your company looking and feeling in every category of business, without getting bogged down by data and numbers or how it will happen, Vivid Vision creates a holistic road map to success that will get all of your teammates passionate about the big picture. 

Your company is your dream, one that you want to share with your staff, clients, and stakeholders. Vivid Vision is the tool you need to make that dream a reality.

miracle-morning

The Miracle Morning for
Entrepreneurs: Elevate Your SELF to
Elevate Your BUSINESS

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READY FOR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH AS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND ACCELERATED SUCCESS IN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

A step-by-step guide to enjoying the roller-coaster ride of growth — while getting the most out of life as an entrepreneur. A growth-focused approach: The book is divided into three sections, which cover planning for fast growth, building a company for fast growth, and leading for fast growth. Each topic the author covers — from creating a vision for the company’s future to learning how to generate free PR for a developing company — is squarely focused on the end goal: doubling the size of the entrepreneur’s company in three years or less. A down-to-earth action plan: Herold’s experienced-based advice never gets bogged down in generalities or theory. Instead, he offers a wealth of practical tips, including: How to design meetings for maximum efficiency; How to hire top-quality talent; How to grow in particularly tough markets; How to put together a board of advisors — even for a smaller company; How even the busy entrepreneur can achieve a work/life balance.

READY FOR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH AS AN ENTREPRENEUR AND ACCELERATED SUCCESS IN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?

Hal Elrod’sThe Miracle Morning has helped redefine the mornings and the lives of millions of readers since 2012. Since then, careers have been launched, goals have been met, and dreams have been realized, all through the power of the Miracle Morning’s six Life S.A.V.E.R.S.

THESE SIX DAILY PRACTICES WILL FUEL YOUR EFFORTS TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN POSITIVE CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE.

Now The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs brings you these principles in a whole new light—alongside the Entrepreneurial Elevation Principles and the Entrepreneur’s Elevation Skills. These are essential skills that you need to create a successful business and personal life. Cameron Herold— Bestselling Author and a widely-respected expert on entrepreneurial mindset—brings his wisdom and insight to you using Hal Elrod’s powerful Miracle Morning framework.

DEVELOP A VISION FOR YOUR BUSINESS, AND BECOME THE INFLUENTIAL AND INSPIRING LEADER YOU WERE ALWAYS MEANT TO BE.

The principles and skills you’ll find in this book will help you to channel your passion and achieve balance in a remarkable new way. – Learn why mornings matter more than you think – Learn how to master your own self-leadership and accelerate your personal development – Learn how to manage your energy—physical, mental, and emotional – Learn how to implement Hal Elrod’s invaluable Life S.A.V.E.R.S. in your daily routine – And much more… You’re already an entrepreneur. Now discover how to take your success to the next level by first taking yourself to the next level. The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs is your roadmap to masterfully building an empire with a powerful vision, utilizing your areas of personal genius, with the right team at your side.

Start giving your business and your life the very best opportunities for success, right now.

double-double

Double Double: How To Double Your Revenue And Profit In 3 Years Or Less​

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A step-by-step guide to enjoying the roller-coaster ride of growth — while getting the most out of life as an entrepreneur. A growth-focused approach: The book is divided into three sections, which cover planning for fast growth, building a company for fast growth, and leading for fast growth. Each topic the author covers — from creating a vision for the company’s future to learning how to generate free PR for a developing company — is squarely focused on the end goal: doubling the size of the entrepreneur’s company in three years or less. A down-to-earth action plan: Herold’s experienced-based advice never gets bogged down in generalities or theory. Instead, he offers a wealth of practical tips, including: How to design meetings for maximum efficiency; How to hire top-quality talent; How to grow in particularly tough markets; How to put together a board of advisors — even for a smaller company; How even the busy entrepreneur can achieve a work/life balance.