Lead with Coffee Leadership Podcast: Recent Episodes
David and Sara Suter
David and Sara Suter are married and run a family-owned project management business in San Diego, CA. They blend leadership with their love of coffee in this fun and honest podcast as they share their leadership journey. Oh and did we mention that their retirement plan is to own a coffee farm in Hawaii! Join the conversation. Proverbs 3: 5 - 6
We made it to Episode 100! Thanks for following along the journey of Lead with Coffee as we share our story of owning a small business through a pandemic, leading out of crisis, building relationships in business, and maintaining strong family values. Listen in as we reflect back on the last few years and the exciting things that are ahead.
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Can we have an honest conversation together today as being owners and leaders of an organization in the season post pandemic? In today's episode we are going to share what we are learning from our journey and the reality that so many of our colleagues are feeling as well. Let's pull down the curtain and have an honest conversation about the challenges of business in 2023.
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We did it! We set out years ago to dream big about our future and that included one day owning a coffee farm in Hawaii. Today we can official say that we are shareholders in Heavenly Hawaiian Coffee. Follow along on the journey as we talk through how looking at our big dream differently helped us take one step forward to making it happen.
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Feedspot recently voted the Lead with Coffee Podcast as one of the top podcasts for the catagory of family and business. We are excited for the recognition. Check it out - https://blog.feedspot.com/family_business_podcasts/
On today's episode catch back up with David & Sara as they talk about how they are chasing their big dreams while running a multi-million dollar construction company and raising their 3 boys. Follow along the journey from leadership, relationship building, and the trials of holding it all together in a season that is challenging.
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Feedspot recently voted the Lead with Coffee Podcast as one of the top podcasts for the catagory of family and business. We are excited for the recognition. Check it out - https://blog.feedspot.com/family_business_podcasts/
On this week's episode we are guests to our friend Ed Franklin on his No Limits Podcasts. We talk about marriage, business, culture, family and how it all mixes together in our lives.
No Limits Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/edfranklin-nolimits/id1553490805
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Do you ever have those moments where you know God is in the story that is unfolding for you? In this weeks podcast we sit down to talk about the presence of God in our everyday moments and the people he is using to influence you through the power of their story. We are influenced daily through social media, podcast, audio books, and the endless marketing for our time and attention. It's time to filter through and see God's vision for our life versus what the world is trying to dictate.
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It's a new year and if you haven't already, it's time to start setting the goals you want to accomplish in 2023. We have been talking about dreaming big since we first attended Bob Goff's Dream Big Conference in February of 2020. What we learned at the conference was to think outside of our comfort zones and go after things that are seem impossible.
The only way to go from impossible to reachable is to take the first step. That first step could be writing down the dream. Or if you have it written down already then decide what is the first thing you can do to move toward that goal? It could be as easy as watching a YouTube video on how to do something. It could be making a phone call to someone that can help you. Or it could be updating your resume and submitting it to that company you want to work for.
Accomplishing our goals doesn't happen in a day. It takes time to get to where we want to be. If you take a small step toward them each day, you will be able to look back to see how far you have some.
So get out there and starting dreaming, and then step into it!
2022 was hard for a lot of us for so many different reasons. If we are not careful, we can get stuck on all of the bad things happening around us. Things that we can't even control like politics, cost of living, and sometimes its unexpected health issues or problems at work. It takes a conscious determination to focus on all of the good that we experienced throughout the year. It takes a shift in our mentality to decide how we are going to react.
So instead of focusing on the bad, what if we close out last year by reflecting on all the growth that happened.
If you journal, take notes, or have a To Do List, spend some time going through them to help remember all of the experiences you had. I use the Full Focus Journal for this. Write a list of your wins from 2022. You can even use social media and review your posts from last year. We usually only post the good stuff anyway! Spend some time reflecting on those wins. Keep the list and look at it daily as you begin to plan your goals for 2023.
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Full Focus Journal - https://fullfocusstore.com/
Today we are pulling an episode from the vault. This discussion is related to something we listened to in the middle of 2020. Donald Miller was discussing the difference between being a hero and being a guide. One goes for all of the glory and the other helps someone else get the glory. As a leader, which role do you play?
CBSI is launching one of our most exciting projects to date with the release of our online learning academy. As an educational based leadership team we have been working with clients for years to help them navigate the changes in their organization. The Corporate Relocation Masterclass is the most comprehensive program available for organizational leaders, HR and Facility Management teams to successfully relocate or restack an organization.
Learn More -
https://lead-with-coffee-academy.teachable.com/
Free Relocation Planning Resources - www.cbsisandiego.com
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Everyone has natural, God-given talents when it comes to work. As it turns out, there are six different types of
talents, or geniuses, and each of them is required for accomplishing any kind of endeavor. - Patrick Lencioni
In today's episode we are discussing the 6 Types of Working Genius and sharing the results from our team. We will spend some time talking about how having an understanding of each employees working genius and working frustration can impact our team roles and recruiting.
https://www.workinggenius.com/
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Last week we took our team to a locally hosted leadership conference and today we are breaking down some of the most important things we learned.
Live2Lead is a John Maxwell conference that is held live each year in Altanta and rebroadcast all around the world. Here is San Diego the conference was hosted by leadership expert Tom Kereszti.
The line up of incredible speakers were as follows: John Maxwell, Eric Thomas, Patrick Lencioni, Dr. Tim Elmore, and Doris Kearns Goodwin.
https://www.johnmaxwellacademy.com/live2lead-2022-atl
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Today we are reaching back into the vault from an episode just over a year ago that is just as on point now as it was then. Going through hard times are the best opportunities to learn, grow, and reset your mindset. With the twists and turns we face every day, we have to hold on and enjoy the ride.
In this week's podcast we are pulling a very popular episode from the vault as we believe that 18 months and 50 episodes later this topic is more relevant than ever. With real world stories of both personal and professional experience, we hope this motivates you to keep leading your teams or your families through these unpredictable times.
Go back to Episode 35 (Navigating Discomfort) for our original episode notes.
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In today's episode we want to continue the conversation from last episode around the contradictory qualities of exceptional leaders. In last week's episode we discussed three areas of contradiction that successful leaders carry. What is a leadership paradox? Contradictory leadership qualities that together create a synergy of undeniable leadership impact. Join in the conversation to see which qualities you can relate to and which ones you need to work on.
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We are often encouraged by learning and growing from other leaders. One of those influential leaders that has had tremendous impact on us is Craig Groeschel with his Leadership Podcast. In today's episode we want to dive into a topic that Craig brought up recently around how great leaders can seem enigmatic and unpredictable, but it's often because they're operating in key talents and skills that don't naturally coexist.
Check out Craig Groeschel's Podcast where we got our inspiration for this episode. https://www.life.church/leadershippodcast/lead-like-it-matters-part-1/
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On our last episode we shared the story of how we launched our new small business and turned it into a revenue generating operation in 6 months. On the podcast we shared key tips for launching which include the following:
- Understanding the Market
- Setting up your business model the right way in the beginning
- Developing your marketing strategy
- Implementing a successful launch
The feedback was so strong that we decided to expand out in this episode on resources we use for setting up your business model. These will include how we secured the name of the company, purchased the domain name, setup the website and commerce channel, identified our licensing requirements, and setup the financial systems. We are including links to some resources below to help you to have a successful launch.
Fictitious Business Name (Sample for San Diego) - https://arcc.sdcounty.ca.gov/pages/fbn-info.aspx
- Required if you are not using your legal name as the business name
- Found through your Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk Office website
- Required to be filed in San Diego within 40 days of first transacting business
Business License Requirements (Sample for San Diego) - https://www.calgold.ca.gov/
- Governors Office of Business & Economic Development to search for permit information for your specific region and business type.
- Sales & Use Permit (businesses selling or leasing tangible property)
- Employment Development Department (Required once you pay wages over $100)
- Employer Identification Number (EIN or SSN) - US Department of Treasury
- Required if you have employees, business partnerships or are a corporation
Domain Name - https://www.namecheap.com/
Website Hosting - https://www.squarespace.com/
Financial Systems - https://www.freshbooks.com/ or https://quickbooks.intuit.com/
It's official! The Barn San Diego has officially launched into a revenue generating business in less than 6 months. God plants a seed in all of us to sow to impact the lives of others. The BIG dream for The Barn is to create a place for people to gather with food and fellowship while surrounded by the beauty of nature. We believe a dream is just a dream until it is spoken out loud. We remember the day so clearly sitting at a Dream Big Conference in San Diego when God spoke so clearly that The Barn was a space we were meant to create and share with others. We didn’t have the full vision, but a calling on our life that was so strong it could not be avoided.
On today's episode we will talk about the steps we took to take The Barn from a dream to a revenue generating business in less than 6 months.
Key Tips for Launching a New Venture:
- Understanding the Market
- The flower and garden industry exploded during COVID as we all learned to find peace in the chaos of the world.
- Setup your business model the right way in the beginning
- Business License/Reseller Certificate
- Independent Banking
- Financial system
- Develop your marketing strategy
- Utilizing social media to help build your brand while you build your business
- What is your specific niche
- Don't get caught in the comparison trap
- Launching
- Don't wait until it is perfect to launch. Start small and gain momentum
- Trusting nature to do its part, rather than over engineering what we think the plants need to be successful.
- FIRST EVENT - Mimosa's & Mixed Bouquets
www.thebarnsandiego.com
Years ago as we started our adventures to Hawaii our friend Kevin recommended his favorite travel guide which shows you all the best locations and hidden places to visit on the island. Since our first trip together back in 2011 to Kauai, we have since bought a book for Maui & Big Island to capture our adventures. The books are called The Ultimate Guide to Kauai, Maui Revealed & The Big Island Revealed. The books travel with us all of the island taking us to the most beautiful of places. As part of the fun, we share the book with friends as family as they set out to adventure and tell them to mark it up. It's fun to see what each of us loves and if there is something new to discover on the next adventure.
Sharing our adventures is fun and it's a great way to discover the road less traveled. Share some of your own!
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Do you have those days, weeks or even years in your business when it feels like everything that could go wrong is? What do you do to stay resilient and to try to break the cycle? In today's episode we want to talk about how we take on big challenges and then learn from the lessons that each one brings us. Some challenges help us refine our systems, tweak our teams, or look outside of our box to serve the client better the next time.
Tips
- Going through hard things takes resilience and part of that is knowing that you are growing through the process - good or bad
- Take time to reflect and discuss
- Don't repeat failures
- Do the hard work to become better
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There is a prestige in working for a large company with all the perks and benefits. For those of us in small business we know what it is like to compete against "the big dogs" and sometimes feel like it would be great to just glean some of their knowledge and implement it in our systems. But the reality is the lure of the big business can leave us wondering what is going on in there as you quickly realize they have challenges and dysfunctional processes like all other businesses.
In this episode we discuss our experience working with big businesses and how the security of a large company can lure away some of your small business team members.
In today's episode David discusses what hiring a coach has done to help with his leadership journey this year and how it has changed his vision and outlook on leadership.
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On today's podcast we have some fun discussing the difference between living life with a plan or just winging it. For some of us, just winging it gives us anxiety. The thought of starting a project or traveling without some basic plan in place seems unheard of. We strategically plan how our business is run, create detailed schedules for our projects, and even make a plan for our personal goals. But for some, detailed planning is not how they are wired. We recently saw a sign that said, 'I wake up, have coffee, and hope for the best'! There are certainly days we wake up and wish we felt that way! As leaders we always need to have a plan. Our team, our spouse, families, or whoever you are leading are looking to us to show them the next step. They are looking to understand the big picture and how they play a part in it. It is our responsibility and honor to have a plan in place for them. It is time to stop letting no plan be the plan.
Today we are diving into another recap from the Entreleadership Summit and a talk that was given by Dave Ramsey. The basis of the conversation was about client relationships and how we have traded connections for convenience. We have spent that last few decades using technology to become more efficient but at the same time have lost that human connection. As business owners and leaders, it is up to us to continue to seek those relationships with our clients and find ways to connect through common interests and personal service.
As you journey through life it's easy to look back and see the failures, but what if we change our perspective to look back and see the detours that led us to who we are today. Life is a journey and all our previous experiences are shaping us for who we are meant to be. Doors closing today may mean that you are stepping into your future calling. "Sometimes the most scenic roads in life are the detours you don't mean to take." Our journey has been full of twist and turns neither of us could have imagined, but today we look back for perspective and areas where we knew God was molding us. We aren't meant to have a perfect life with no pain, failure or loss. We are meant to grow through each of those moments so we can help others walk through them later in life. As servant leaders, we understand that we have a heart for helping others grow and sharing our experience can build trust and relationships. "The past is like using your rear-view mirror in the car, it’s good to glance back and see how far you've come, but if you stay too long you miss what's right in front of you."
50 is a number that most people dread when it comes to age but in todays episode we are going to flip the script as Sara interviews David on the lessons learned and opportunities gained over the last 10 years. Join in as David reflects on the last 10 years of leadership; family and life.
As we head back to the Big Island this week to celebrate David's 50th Birthday, we thought it would be a great time to replay this conversation with Lee and Karen from Hula Daddy Coffee. It was a visit to their coffee farm in 2019 that inspired us to create Lead with Coffee and start the short video clips called "Coffee Talk Tuesday".
This is a great story about a couple that had a big dream to move out of California in 2002 and buy a plot of land to start a coffee farm out of a cow pasture. A few years later, their coffee was one of Forbes Top 10.
Enjoy this recap and we will give you an update on how they are doing as we plan to visit them while we are there.
Check out www.huladaddy.com
Today we reach into the vault and pull out a popular podcast from 2020 about giving and receiving feedback. As we all know, we typically don't want to hear it. However it is important to not only receive feedback, but to also know how to given feedback in a professional and loving manner.
Feedback needs to be immediate for it to be effective
- Don't let time pass before you address the situation
- Feedback should be from the heart and given with the intention of growth, not of selfishness.
Consider the intent of the person giving the feedback
- Are they invested in your personal growth or is there a hidden agenda
- Feedback is an opinion
- When giving feedback, make sure you know where you stand in the relationship. Is trust already established?
How should we process feedback?
- Give it 24 hours to let it process
- Use wisdom to discern especially if this is the first time you have heard it
- You typically know deep down if the feedback is spot on. What are you going to do about it?
- Your not perfect so don't let the feedback bring you down, grow from it.
- If you truly learned something from the feedback, make the effort to thank the one giving it.
We spent the last week of May in Orlando, Florida at the Entreleadership Summit with 3000 small business owners and leaders. This was an amazing experience that we will never forget and we can't wait until next years Summit.
Today we talk about our conference experience and some of the highlights from the speakers that we really enjoyed. That list includes Dave Ramsey of course, but also Ken Coleman, Jamie Kern-Lima, Dr. john Delony, Patrick Lencioni, Jocko Willink and more.
Over the next few episodes we will take a deeper dive into some of the content that these amazing leaders shared with this small business community.
Tune in and enjoy.
We have been fascinated by what it takes to create a high performance team where everyone is hitting on all cylinders and the business is running like a fine-tuned machine. However it seems that the reality is, this is typically the exception and not the rule. Our experience over the last couple of years is that even the companies that strive to be high performance still struggle with consistency at times. It is a good reminder that we are all human and even under the best working conditions and companies with great culture, there are still going to be mistakes and bad days. The key is to keep moving forward.
There is a difference between trying to create perfection and high performance. Perfection is never going to be achieved but high performance is a goal that can be continually strived for.
Our company tag line is Navigating Change, Delivering Excellence. What we tell our team is to strive for excellence. Always have the mindset of excellence when serving a client or each other.
One of the most important aspects of creating high performance teams is allowing failure. We learn more from failures than we do from wins. The important part is to use those failure as learning experiences and move forward with the wisdom learned from the past.
One thing that will happen when setting a goal for a high achieving, high performance team is that not everyone is going to be on board.
You may discover team members that just don't have the momentum in them to perform at a high level. Some of those members may even end up leaving your organization. You may even have to ask them to go.
We all have a voice inside of us that is continually either building us up with confidence or breaking us down with doubt and the feeling of inadequacy.
I would say that most of the time it is the voice of doubt that dominates our thoughts. Whether it is trying something new, preparing for a presentation, writing a blog, reaching out to a potential client….. the list goes on and on.
Why is it that we default to doubt? Is it that 10 year old inside of us that remembers trying to fit in because if we were different we would get teased or made fun of? And even if we were teased as a kid, why does that still dominate our thoughts? I think it does have a lot to do with how we were raised and if our parents taught us how to be confident and try new things. However I also think that kids that had very supportive parents still have that voice of doubt in their heads.
That inner voice most likely started from one of four experiences in life. Those are trauma, drama, daddy, or momma. Can you name yours? Makes you think for a second, doesn't it? Spend some time on your own digging into that and there may be some freedom in there.
So now that we are accepting that we all have voices in our heads, what are we going to do about it? How about we name it and call it out when it starts to get loud?
What if we used it for motivation to move forward? What if we could take the power of those doubts and turn it into the fuel to try bold things?
I think that when we are afraid but move forward anyway, there is a huge pay off and boost of confidence in the end.
Today Sara and Sandy sit down for a quick conversation about a situation they experienced recently that is all to common for women in leadership positions, especially in the construction industry.
What one person meant to be demining actually brought a group of high level leaders closer together.
How do we dare greatly? How do we have courage to step into new adventures, opportunities or careers? How do we handle the critic who wants to remind us that failure is likely so don't take the risk? Today we will talk about these questions brought about by Brene Brown in her book 'Daring Greatly' and break down how we can have courage and dare greatly to get the life we want.
Teddy Roosevelt: The Man in the Arena
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”
Brene Brown - Daring Greatly TED Talk
3 Key Elements
Open communication
- Servant Leadership Model - If you need something, ask for it. If you have something, share it.
- Don't hold your cards too close for the false sense of having control over the situation
- Be transparent, don't wait to share critical information as it can blow up in your face in the end
Give up your need to control
- Delegate tasks - everyone that has a seat at the table has the ability to produce results, allow them the opportunity
- Empower others - Allow team members to own a piece of the project and help them succeed in their responsibilities
- The only way to build up other leaders is by giving them the chance to lead
No blame game
- We win as a team and we fail as a team. Don't lay the blame on a single individual, especially if you are the leader. They failure may have come because you didn't set them up well enough to succeed. You need to own it.
- People don't remember how you started a project, they remember how you finished. The last 5% matters.
Ask for a seat at the table when you see a gap that you can fill. Offer a seat at the table to others that may fill gaps that you have.
Be open, truthful and clear.
Have you found yourself staying up late, joylessly bingeing TV shows and doomscrolling through the news, or simply navigating your day uninspired and aimless? Chances are you're languishing, says organizational psychologist Adam Grant -- a practice that has become all too common after many months of the pandemic. He breaks down the key indicators of languishing and presents three ways to escape that "meh" feeling and start finding your flow.
We need to rethink the way we work. The global pandemic has made it strikingly clear that working longer hours does not lead to greater impact. In fact, it leads to burned out, unhappy, and unproductive employees.
- According to the Anatomy of Work Index, 76% of workers are struggling to disconnect from work. And, in the last year, 7 in 10 workers experienced burnout.
Adam is an organizational psychologist, bestselling author, and professor at Wharton focusing on how we can find motivation and meaning, and live more generous and creative lives.
Here’s what Adam had to say about that blah feeling we’ve all experienced during the pandemic and how we can shift into a state of flourishing. These insights can help us achieve greater focus and flow in our personal and professional lives.
Adam Grant TED Talk
Side Hustle became a buzz word over the last couple of years as people were stuck at home learning how to work in this new digital world.
Whether it started as just a hobby or maybe even a second business that you launched, having a side hustle is so much more common in 2021 than it was just a few years prior. A report in 2017 stated that 44 million Americans had one. A new report from 2021 estimates it has close to doubled to 70 million.
It appears that most of the change came from the millennials not wanting to jump into the typical 9-5 job and at the same time realizing this powerful electronic device glued to their hands 24/7 was the key to unlocking the money stream potential.
Personally I think it is great and love the fact that people are thinking outside of the box when it comes to building wealth and creating more freedom in their lives.
Why Hustle?
Why not!! Most of us have some sort of hobby that we have a passion for and are actually really good at. Millions have figured out how to turn that passion into a stream of steady income. Many have been so successful that they quit their 9-5 and took up the new endeavor full time. Some have even figured out how to run multiple side hustles. The opportunities are limitless.
We have seen a significant shift in how companies and individuals work over the last 2 years. We have seen companies that demanded that all employees be in their buildings 8 hours a day, 40 hours per week. Over the last decades the demand for office space has risen continually because of this mindset.
Did you know that the 40 hour work week was developed by Henry Ford around 1926 to cut down the actual amount of hours that employees were working at factories? Prior to this change, it was normal to work 10 - 16 hour days. With all of that time working, no one would have time to spend with their family or feel that they needed the cars they were building.
Now almost 100 years later, a new shift is occurring. People are working less hours and focusing more on work completed and less on actual hours worked. Technology has skyrocketed this shift in efficiency. People can now produce the same or better results working from home or from Starbucks in less time than it would take to drive to an office, greet coworkers on the way in, get their coffee and finally settle into their desks.
In our own company we have seen the efficiencies in online meetings compared to all of the driving time it once took to get to physical meetings. The saved travel time allows more actual work to be accomplished.
Implementing a Shorter Workweek - How we did it!
- Shift to 36 hour work with w/ 4 hours on Fridays
- Trial for 3 months
- Focus on work completed vs. hours worked
- Being more efficient - 45 minute meetings or less
- Time does not equal efficiency
2 Month Mark - What's Working & What's Not
- WORKING
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- Flexibility it has provided the team
- Team engagement is up
- Less time off for staff for personal appointments
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NOT WORKING
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- Not all staff onboard for less hours
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- Generational
- Clients demanding more attention on Friday afternoons
- Realizing not all staff can flex the same day
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POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
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- Consider 36 hours where the 1/2 day varies by employee on what works best for them to meet client needs
- Mentoring for those that are working at the 40 hour pace to streamline their business practices (less time on email and more time on direct client services)
With so much going on in our daily lives we thought we would just go off script for this Podcast and talk about what's on our mind. From business, side hustles, politics, and personal we will take a look into how it is impacting us today.
We discuss 3 points of why it is important to be driven to be successful.
- It's more important to be first than to be perfect
- You have to have a passion for something in order to be driven to be the best at it.
- Be so good at what you do, that you can't be ignored
This week we are replaying one of our most popular episodes from 2020. We discuss how good leaders take responsibility for their actions, are able to have difficult conversations with being defensive, and take the blame if their team made a mistake.
Answer these questions for yourself:
- Can you be humble and apologize?
- Can you admit your mistakes in front of your clients without being dismissive?
- Do your actions match your words?
- Do you always start with excuses and blame everyone around you?
Find more from us at www.leadwithcoffee.com
A year ago we bought a new house; which was our first major purchase together after 10 years of marriage as a blended family.
This has been one of our most listened to podcasts so we thought we would rebroadcast it for those that missed it.
WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!
The story of David and Sara's journey to buying and selling their home in 30 days. Join in to listen to their 10 year journey of dreaming about this season of life for their family.
Our Big Dreams
The process
- Trusting in God's timing and having faith in the process
Taking back the microphone
- Turning down the volume on the doubters and haters
What the future holds for the Suter's in our new home
Retaining employees in a small business is a unique challenge that not all leaders are ready for. It's harder to attract and retain staff in a small business unless you differentiate yourself from the larger corporations, and that differentiation is not just tied to a salary. You have to think out of the box and create a culture that is employee centered which includes a strong focus on Health & Wellness. We run a company that has sustained 35 years in business with employees going back 20+ years due to the continual focus on how we create an environment that draws our team members to feel like this place is different and I don't want to leave for big business.
As leaders and business owners, we have to ask ourselves what can we do this year to be different and offer to our teams more than just a reasonable salary and health benefits? What if we gave them something more tangible that could be used for something they decide will be good for their mind, body and souls? What if doing this helped to keep your team healthy and mentally present while working?
Do you ever had that resounding feeling that there is a calling on your life that you are meant to step into but don't know how? How do you know if it's you truly being "called out" vs. "running from" something that you have lost passion in or is challenging.
We believe this is something that we all struggle with in our lives, especially if you are a dreamer. Having those goals, desires, and vision for you future is exciting, but knowing when to take the leap of faith and pursue it can paralyze individuals.
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Are you called or running from something?
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Is there a resounding voice in your head or urging in your heart that keeps pulling you towards something new?
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Is there peace about it when you envision this new journey?
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Is God waiting for you to step into something he has for you while fear of failure holds you back?
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Is there a narrative that keeps showing you that you are being called?
We recently heard that if you complain about the same thing to 3 people in one day that you are not looking to change, you are looking for sympathy or attention. You want the illusion that you want to change but you don't want to do what it takes to make the change.
Ask yourself if you really want to become better or are you just too bitter to make those necessary changes.
- It all starts with losing the victim mentality and not being driven by the drama. Or even thriving when there is drama.
- Have you been a victim or did you make yourself a victim?
- Are you asking for other to help you more than you are willing to help yourself?
It’s January which most likely means that you have either started a new diet, joined the gym, or made resolutions to be better than you were last year. But odds are that you most likely haven't really seen the huge transformation your hoping for in the last 30 days! And how could you? With the mass marketing of diet plans, personal health coaches, products and services that offer the quick fix to a new you it's impossible to ever feel like you have succeeded if you are modeling "their" version of success.
Our challenge to you this year is to not try to become someone else but to take the approach of "New Year, same you, just elevated". Elevated to a healthier version, a happier version, or even a more mindful version of who you were last year. These are goals that don't have a measurement set by anyone other than you! And those are the goals we believe you can achieve.
- So stop trying transformation and just try elevation and see if you find small victories that build momentum to the larger ones. Set smaller goals that are achievable.
- Social media should not set the marker for "your" personal success
- Your journey is unique to you and will never look the same as someone else's.
- God made you unique, thrive with that mindset.
Join us as we look back on big life changes, kids back in school, leadership growth, and finding our voices. We also discuss new big opportunities that happened in 2021 and big audacious goals for 2022.
We headed to Hawaii for a family vacation and to find the perfect cup of coffee. The good news is that there is a lot of 100% grown coffee on the islands.
Although this was a shorter trip than we usually take, we did get to spend time with the 18 family members that traveled with us and also with the few that live in Maui.
Join us on this podcast to hear about our adventures not only to get there but what we experienced while on island. Aloha!
It's pretty common to hear people say that we need to plan out every detail in order for a project to go smoothly. We don't disagree with that statement. However, most of the time our plans don't work out exactly how we would like them to. What if we shifted our focus a bit and instead of just focusing on the plan, we actually spend some time focusing on how to adapt if things don’t go as planned? This shift in thinking will change us from being so rigid in our planning and allow us to work out the problems when they present themselves.
Do you ever have those defining moments in your career where you thought this is it, I'm done! That’s often how it feels when we fail at something whether in business or in your personal life. But what if that failure was setting you up to launch into something new. It’s the old saying when one door closes another door opens.
Listen in as we talk about how failures can actually be the launching point into new opportunities.
Our business tagline is Navigating Change, Delivering Excellence but what does that really mean and how can everyone apply it? Our business is to lead customers through construction and relocation projects. In both cases we are navigating the changes their organizations are going through. Delivering excellence is not perfection but a mindset to always do the best you can and to go above and beyond what's expected. Join us as we discuss how we strive for excellence in real world situations.
As we inch closer and closer to the close of 2021, how you are strategizing as a team to finish strong in the last 90 days? In today's episode we will talk about our strategy to maximize our time and focus in the last quarter of 2021.
Topics
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Team Burnout
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Mental & Physical Health
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Celebrations
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Prepare for a Reset
Feeling overwhelmed, overworked or overcommitted? It may be time to learn about your "thrive" zone as described by leadership expert Carey Nieuwhof. Join in to the discussion as David and Sara talk about how they implement this practice to successfully run their business.
What path did you take to get to where you are today? Was it the straight line from dream to inception to success or were there twists and turns along the way that changed your trajectory that you could never have imaged.
How many false starts, rewrites, edits, and occasional fire drills did you go through to get to where you are today? All of those experiences have made you who you are today. Join us for this fun conversation about the detours in life that prepare you for the next journey.
There is a lot going on in the world today and for leaders we are constantly having to pivot and adjust to keep our business moving forward. For this conversation David & Sara talk about some of the big issues affecting their lives and business.
Over the last 18 months we have had to pivot and change how we attend and run meetings. Most of our meetings are done through a screen; which has many challenges of it's own. We are going to discuss some ways to run better meetings, keep your attendees attention and be respectful with everyone's time. We also have a list the types of people that are in all of our meetings. Can you put a name next to these titles? Which one are you? The Hype Man/Woman, The Hijacker, The Skeptic, The Challenger, The Deep Thinker, The Sleeper. Tune in as we break down how to deal with each type.
After this last year we need to take time to assess how we are doing with our relationships with those who are important in our lives. Having to be separated for so long its easy to assume we will get back together and things will be as they were, but are they really?
The world is full of entrepreneurs longing to make their mark but what happens when everything you worked so hard to obtain starts to feel more like a burden than a blessing. Join in as we talk about what it takes to have longevity in your small business.
Dive in as we talk about the unique perspective on Work Life Balance between David and Sara as they breakdown what works for their home, their marriage and their business.
Why we feel out of balance
- We are doing to many things
- We aren't doing enough things
- We are doing the wrong things
- We aren't doing the right things
The Path to Balance
- What matters most in this season?
- Who do you want to be in your life?
- Stop doing what doesn’t matter
- Random phone scrolling
- Create a calendar that reflects what matters most
- Anniversary, kids events, family vacations (even a year out!)
As leaders we have to deal with all kinds of challenges in our organizations, but how we do that can differ greatly for each of us. On this Podcast we will talk about ways to "Lean In" to the challenge to get to the resolution you are seeking.
Topic Points:
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Lean In to Conflict
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Lean In to Disruption
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Lean In to Growth & Development
Today we are joined by our long time friend and Real Estate Agent Dawn Lee-Schlieder. Dawn shared her experience in navigating this crazy real estate market over the last year and shares how she has been inspired to DREAM BIG with her family as they transition to their new home and life in Idaho.
https://www.coldwellbanker.com/Coldwell-Banker-West-1187c/Dawn-Lee_Schlieder-5056783a
It's David's birthday so we are taking some time to celebrate and update you on how we are adjusting to our house move. We will share some lessons learned that are essential to anyone considering moving in this crazy real estate season.
We all want to obtain big things or be popular or have the biggest success in our lives but most of the time we don’t want to go through what it takes to make it.
On this podcast we discuss what is takes to get better on the inside in order to be better on the outside.
In this episode we discuss how important it is to start your day with the right mindset. Feeding your mind, body, and spirit with goodness will set the pace for the rest of your day. There are 3 topics we discuss:
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Prayer/Meditate/Devotional
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Journal - From planning your day to recording your deepest thoughts
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Moving your body for 30 minutes
As you journey through life it's easy to look back and see the failures, but what if we change our perspective to look back and see the detours that led us to who we are today. Life is a journey and all our previous experiences are shaping us for who we are meant to be. Doors closing today may mean that you are stepping into your future calling.
We have a new title/responsibility that has come out of the Covid Era and that is Chaos Coordinator. Between moving, kids going back to school and running a successful small business all at the same time, life seems pretty chaotic. We know many of you out there are going through the same stage in life, even if your responsibilities are different than what we are going through. Sometimes you can control the chaos, and sometimes you have to let it just happen.
On this episode, David & Sara discuss best practices on navigating discomfort both personally and professionally. Through practical examples and personal stories they will define the heart of stepping into discomfort for growth.
The story of David and Sara's journey to buying and selling their home in 30 days. Join in to listen to their 10 year journey of dreaming about this season of life for their family.
Shout out to @dawn_leeschlieder of Coldwell Banker West for leading us through this journey. https://www.coldwellbanker.com/Coldwell-Banker-West-1187c/Dawn-Lee_Schlieder-5056783a
While the world looks different, our resolve to keep our business and family strong has never been more important. As leaders we learned to rise up to the challenges thrown our way daily over the last year as we learned to pivot our lives and business'. But what we know as leaders is that even through our darkest times we can rise strong together.
KELLY CARDENAS is a FORBES contributor, Author, Podcaster, Founder-CEO of a National multi-million dollar Brand, and a Cultural efficiency Coach. Join us as he shares life lessons learned from his parents on the pursuit of a life filled with purpose.
www.kellycardenas.com
www.leadwithcoffee.com
Dealing with the loss of a key player in your organization can be devastating. However, with strong leadership strategies including open communication, cross training, and a Never Give Up attitude you can make it through those tough times. Listen in on how we are currently navigating through this issue.
This episode we are checking out of the daily grind and into and Winery and Resort, literally. We have taken the podcast on the road to talk about how important it is to create moments with your loved ones. We are recording from our room overlooking the vineyard and reflecting why moments are more important than just time spent together. There is a difference, tune in and check it out!
Sandy Snyder has spent the last 28 years in various leadership roles in the Construction Industry ranging from Office Manager to VP of Operations. Sandy has a diverse background in Business Operations, Administration, Project Management and Risk Management.
On this Podcast Sara & Sandy's will discuss their unique perspective on the advancement of women in construction as well as how they have navigated the challenges that female leaders face in the workplace.
On this episode we had a chance to chat with Lee and Karen Paterson from Hula Daddy Coffee in Kona, Hawaii. We first met Karen when we visited their coffee farm in February 2019. That experience helped us launch Lead with Coffee. Join us as we talk about what it takes to turn an idea into a world class coffee farm.
Join David & Sara as they pull the curtain back to give you a glimpse into what it is like to own and operate a small business. You will glean knowledge if you are just starting or if you are years into running a business as they provide guidance through each stage of business.
Kevin Williams is a Chick-fil-A franchisee who started his career volunteering at different Chick-fil-A’s on Saturdays and now has the rare privilege of running three restaurants in the city of Canton, GA. Kevin is a husband, father, community leader, friend and waffle fry cook that has a passion for inspiring the next generation and providing his team with the most amazing place to work. Kevin has a passion for seeing other’s dreams come true while he provides them a place to learn and fail and launch into their future.
On this episode of Lead with Coffee we sit down for a conversation with our friends Ricky & Nova Page to talk about marriage_ing, work life balance and leadership in and out of the home. It’s a candid conversation as we dive into practical ways you can work on your marriage and work through challenges in this unique season of life. As a married couple owning a business the number one question we get is how do you spend 24/7 together and still stay married. Join in to hear about both our journeys and ways we make it work.
A conversation with David and Sara on their focus towards a fresh start in 2021 with a new perspective on what truly matters. Join in as they talk about Gods promises and what a revival in 2021 can look like as we focus on the blessings and not the losses from 2020.
An engaging conversation with Pastor Greg Hendricks talking about his journey from professional basketball to an influential community leader paving the way for unity. During our conversation Greg opens up about how this season of divide on politics, race, health and religion have opens doors for difficult conversations with the goal to find our common ground rather than focus on our differences. As we close out 2020, it is apparent to Greg that this year God brought us clarity on what truly matters which are family, faith and health.
We are officially in season 2 and our first interview of season 2 is a friend of ours James Martin.
James is a purpose-driven coach and fractional integrator who works with clients to implement systems and processes to scale marketing, sales, and operations.
Welcome to Season 2 of the Lead with Coffee Podcast. In this episode we discuss finishing 2020 strong and striving for Purpose & Meaning as we enter into 2021.
This season we will continue to encourage you on your leadership journeys but we also have some great people joining the conversation to tell their stories and Big Dreams!
Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy.
Hang out with us as we discuss our story on launching a podcast at the beginning of Covid. Every episode was a different story of what we were going through and how we used our leadership skills to lead not only our team at work but also our family at home. We had a few great interviews in there too. Come join us and let us know what you think!
We discuss 3 points of why it is important to be driven to be successful.
- It's more important to be first than to be perfect
- You have to have a passion for something in order to be driven to be the best at it.
- Be so good at what you do, that you can't be ignored
A look back at what we have learned from COVID over the last six months. We take a deeper dive into 3 key areas of growth including our resiliency to navigate change, the power of pivoting to innovate, and our drive to fail forward.
To successfully navigate change in your organization it is critical to understand the difference in change vs. transition management. Change is something that happens to us, like the move to a new facility. Transition focuses on the human factor and what's going through peoples minds as the go through the change. Navigating this process requires and investment of time to build trust, clear communication, and support for our team members.
The Stoplight Effect
Feedback needs to be immediate for it to be effective
- Don't let time pass before you address the situation
- Feedback should be from the heart and given with the intention of growth, not of selfishness.
Consider the intent of the person giving the feedback
- Are they invested in your personal growth or is there a hidden agenda
- Feedback is an opinion
- When giving feedback, make sure you know where you stand in the relationship. Is trust already established?
How should we process feedback?
- Give it 24 hours to let it process
- Use wisdom to discern especially if this is the first time you have heard it
- You typically know deep down if the feedback is spot on. What are you going to do about it?
- Your not perfect so don't let the feedback bring you down, grow from it.
- If you truly learned something from the feedback, make the effort to thank the one giving it.
Today we had the opportunity to Chat with Bob Goff and Talk about dreaming big, inspiration, and Wilson the Volleyball. Take a listen.
Bob Goff is the author of the New York Times bestselling Love Does, Everybody Always, and Dream Big. He is the Honorary Consul to the Republic of Uganda, an attorney, and the founder of Love Does—a nonprofit human rights organization operating in Uganda, India, Nepal, Iraq, and Somalia. He's a lover of balloons, cake pops, and helping people pursue their big dreams. Bob's greatest ambitions in life are to love others, do stuff, and, most importantly, to hold hands with his wife, Sweet Maria Goff, and spend time with their amazing kids. For more, check out BobGoff.com and LoveDoes.org.
This week we are discussing how good leaders take responsibility for their actions, are able to have difficult conversations without being defensive, and take the blame if their team made a mistake.
Answer these questions for yourself.
Can you be humble and apologize? Can you admit your mistakes in front of your clients without being dismissive? Do your actions match your words? Do you always start with excuses and blame everyone around you?
How do you run a small business in 2020? Did you prepare last year for the unknowns in 2020? We did for the first time in our 34 year old business. We had no idea back in November in December how important it was going to be. Regardless of what is going on in the world and the country, what are you doing to meet your business strategy and your quarterly goals? The world is changing but you have to shift your thinking to determine how you can serve the new economy. What can you do that your competitors are not doing?
Spend the time pouring into your staff. Building up the team, encourage them and empower them. You must show trust in your staff and be vulnerable with them. Ask them what you can do to help them be successful.
Sometime you just don't realize your attitude and demeanor and it takes someone else to call you out. Most of the time it is your spouse or another leader. Listen to the signs, self reflect, and take some time off. It may be just what you needed!
We sit down with our fourteen year old son Jacob to discuss what it is like to have a birthday on Easter, not able to hang out with friends or play sports and probably miss his 8th grade graduation.
Leadership is hard, especially during the current Covid-19 situation we are all dealing with. It is up to us leaders to step in and step up to lead our families and teams with joy and confidence. Listen to how we are handling life through this.
David and Sara Suter are married and run a family-owned project management business in San Diego, CA. They blend leadership with their love of coffee in this fun and honest podcast as they share their leadership journey. Oh and did we mention that their retirement plan is to own a coffee farm in Hawaii! Join the conversation.
David and Sara Suter are married and run a family-owned project management business in San Diego, CA. They blend leadership with their love of coffee in this fun and honest podcast as they share their leadership journey. Oh and did we mention that their retirement plan is to own a coffee farm in Hawaii! Join the conversation.