The Inside Man With Tim Martinez: Recent Episodes
Tim Martinez - The Inside Man
Seasoned entrepreneur and advisor Tim Martinez (a.k.a. The Inside Man) shares simple and useful lessons that moved him from the streets to the boardroom.
In business nothing is ever the same as in life. Employees come and go. Clients and customer come and go. Partnerships are built and they dissolve, etc.
It has been my experience that successful people are those that are comfortable being uncomfortable. They are willing to meet challenges heads on because they look at challenges as opportunities to become better. And if nothing else they know that if they don’t meet the challenges head on the consequences could be severe.
The ability to step into challenges and PERSEVERE on through to the other side is a trait required to be successful in business.
Your brand in business is defined by your ability to follow through on your word and your commitments. Be of your word always. Show the marketplace that you're consistent and worth doing business with. Deliver at all costs. Lead with truth and always be transparent especially when things get tough.
Be mindful of who you work with and how you present yourself in the marketplace. Be found spotless and blameless. Keep your hands clean. Focus on providing value to the marketplace. Associate with positivity.
Giving "Thanks" is a foundational component of being a successful individual. Create opportunities throughout the day to reflect on what you are thankful for.
Go far by surrounding yourself with "good people" and seek to be a good person in return.
We all have limitations. The go further, faster you must focus on your strengths. That means you need to build a team of people that can off set your limitations for you so you can spend your time on what you do best.
Knock on every door, ring every door bell and be ready to go when the door opens. Never quit!
If you want to ensure quality across the board then get clear on what your "standards" are. Make them known, then live by them.
Leaders exemplify similar qualities. If you're a leader or looking to move into a leadership position then ask yourself which of these qualities you posses and which to need to work on.
Life is short. If you don't take the time out to celebrate your wins, they will lose meaning over time. It's not all grind and hustle. There comes a time where you need to step back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Not every investment needs to be held on to. Something are better walked away from. Having the knowledge and wherewithal of knowing when to hold or when to fold will serve you immensely.
The goal is to maximize the capacity within ourselves and cultivate the best in others. This can only be accomplished if we treat each other like equals.
Do you have a "North Star" that guides your steps and decision? Get clear on what your north star is and then follow the path.
Respect is the name of the game. Give it, earn it, maintain it. Respect the game. Respect others. Respect yourself.
Approach you tasks, work, life with the north star of "Finishing Well". It's easy to get started but requires grit and determination to finish well.
We all can use someone who has treaded down the path before us. Find a guide to learn from. Leverage the experience of others to make you stronger, smarter and more strategic on your path to success.
There is power in the circle. Who you let into your circle will determine how far you go. Be intentional and make a choice about who you let into your circle. #mentorship #leadership #entrepreneurship #entrepowerment
The name of the game in business is "ethics". Use your internal moral compass as a guide through your entrepreneurial journey. Take the high road. If something seems off and you don't feel right about the situation, then find a situation that does feel right and step into that 100%.
Health is WEALTH. Health is a critical component to enjoying life and staying focused. Be intentional with taking care of your mind, body and spirit and they will take care of you.
Push "No People" out of your orbit. Adopt a "yes" attitude in life. Step into challenges and opportunities and be better for it.
Always go above and beyond of what is being asked of you. If you want to grow and achieve success you must be prepared to give more than you take.
It's never a true Loss if you can gain a valuable Lesson. In business, you can't Win them all but you can try. In the process you become better, smarter, sharper and wiser. Entrepreneurship is a long game full of learning lessons.
Can you hear it? If you listen closely you can. It's your calling... Are you answering?
Do you have a vocation? Something that draws you in deeply? It should feel a bit scary because callings are often larger than ourselves and it may require more than we think we have to give - Thats the sweet spot! Step into your calling and enjoy the rewards of personal satisfaction... and in turn you will be giving the world a gift.
The average millionaire has 7 streams of income.
If you want to become wealthy you need to be mindful of building multiple streams of income which may include some of the following (and more):
- Passive Income
- Diversification
- Earned Income
- Profit Income
- Interest Income
- Dividend Income
- Rental Income
Follow the three step rule:
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Earn income
-
Save a portion of your earnings
-
Invest your savings
And always seek professional help when making investment decisions.
You are more of a leader than you think. Whether or not you are the leader of an organization. You may be the leader of a department, or of a small team. Maybe you're an independent contractor who leads your clients. You may be the leader of your children or a leader amongst your friends. If nothing else you are the leader of your own life simply because you make your own choices.
So my question is where are you headed as a leader? In which direction are you shepherding the flock? How much thought do you give this?
The more you step into leadership roles the more responsibility you should expect to take on. Ultimately your responsibility is to create an environment where others can flourish. Leaders are the keepers of the missions and vision of an organization. They set the tone.
So whether you are a Captain or a soldier, never settle for lack luster leadership. This may mean you need to challenge the status, you may need to find a new team, you may need to step up into leadership, thats for you to determine.
Just remember that leaders lead, inspire, motivate and hold themselves accountable first. If you are a leader take a hard look at your qualities and ask where are you leading your team? There are many leaders in the world but there are only a handful of great leaders - go be great.
Brutal honesty is the foundation to build a successful business. Get honest with yourself then work your way throughout your entire organization. See things as they are - not worse or better, then build from there. There is no time to sugarcoat situations. Get real and be definitive. The truth will set you free.
To be successful in business you need a strong team, but not just any team, you need the A-Team. Great companies are built on great teams. No "man/woman" is an island. You need great people to create something great. Either build a team or join a team but don't go it alone.
Life is too short not to purse that which you are passionate about, regardless of how rich or famous you may become. The world needs more passionate people. Answer the calling and go after it.
There is nothing new under the sun. Study successful businesses and apply those findings to your business. Recycle, repurpose and reuse - respectfully. Movement and traction are more important than the perfect idea. Seek wise counsel along the way.
In business, the name of the game is speed. The world moves fast. Look for opportunities to help others increase their time. Be mindful and specific on how much time you assign to tasks within your life and business. You can make more money you can't make more time. Use it wisely.
If you want growth in your personal and professional life look at the metrics at the will move the needle for you. Do more of the right things and drop the wrong ones. Increase your activity and frequency of the right activities. Track your progress and look for ways to improve what you're doing right. Start with the numbers and get real with yourself.
No one is coming to save you. They can come to help, guide, aid, open doors, but no one is going to save you.
- When you ask someone for help - ask first what you can do for the other person
- Study the person you’re asking
- Don’t be or sound desperate - that can scare people away
- Be mindful of who you’re talking to and how much you share.
- Ask specifically and in detail
- Be willing to earn what you are asking for and not expect a handout.
If the person you’re asking is unwilling to help, no hard feelings but you need to move on. Don’t linger, don’t hold grudges. Ask what they need to see from you in the future to get onboard.
The key here is that you have everything it takes within you to be successful. YOU are the calvary that needs to come to your aid.
Do Serious people take you serious? Why or why not? Are you clear on this? What is it about you that makes others take your seriously?
Always put your best foot forward when approaching your work. If you produce great work intentionally, more great work will come from you. When you're not in the room do people talk about how awesome your work is? Great work is within your control. Get in the power position and be mindful that the goal is great work!
Write down what a perfect day looks like to you. What are you wearing, who are you waking up next to, what house do you live in? What are you driving? What time do you start work? What do you do for work? What time do you eat lunch? Where and with whom? When do you wrap it up for the day? What do you do in the evenings? What value did you add to the world in your day? What time do you go to bed?
The lesson in this exercise is simple… live your life intentionally or risk it being lived unintentionally. Life is full of surprises, setbacks and heartbreaks, we all know this. The opposition exists and it's real. Therefore the only way to combat the inevitable curveballs that life will throw at you is to forge ahead each day knowing what you intend for the day to bring, how you intend for the day to go, how you intend to live your life and how you intend to add value to the lives of others. Life has a funny way of parting the seas for those individuals that have a plan. Think of individuals in your life who are dead set on their goals. Then think of those in your life who have no goals. And if you can't think of goal focused people in your life, get a new circle.
Welcome to The Inside Man podcast.
Lesson #1 - Here, I made this for you...
To truly be great in any endeavor you must set out to improve the lives of others. Make something for someone else. This is Empathy. Where we can share emotion through our creations. Empathy is saying, “here, I made this for you", because I believe what you believe and I know we will both enjoy this. And how can you be so certain we will both enjoy this? Because even though I don’t know you personally, I am like you. I have similar tastes, I have been where you have been. I come from what you come from. We share similar experiences. We have suffered similarly. We may even laugh at the same things and I’m sure that if/when I get the chance to meet you we will be friends instantly. Therefore, I present to you this gift that was made with you in mind. Ingrained in the DNA of this offering is a bit of you and I.
This applies to the local baker to the silicon valley software developer. If you’re a rapper or a painter, a consultant or a graphic designer, a comedian or a youtuber, etc we all have the ability to enhance the lives of others through the connections we make. Think of the great filmmaker, Quentin Tarantino. Where would he be if he only made films for himself and never shared his creations with the world?
I challenge you to make something for your tribe and share it...