2120 Podcast: Recent Episodes
James Mayhew and Matt Phippen
Each week we take one topic that we are passionate about and dive into it for 20 minutes: leadership, hustle, customer experience, building strong teams... We are James Mayhew and Matt Phippen and we first connected over bicycles and beer. It's our desire to make a difference in the lives of others by sharing stories, experiences and lessons we’ve learned. We're at our best early in the morning as we hang out at local establishments and bring our coffee conversations to you. Two guys.One topic.Twenty minutes
The more you communicate the better people understand what's going on. In episode 115, Matt and Jim dive into these two vital parts to getting things done.
Cobra Kai won't be celebrated for it's acting, it's writing, it's direction... but it does make for some good mindless TV.
It's also good for discussing the concept of 'the villain' and that's the topic of episode 114 of the 2120 podcast.
Spoiler Alert
If you're a fan of Cobra Kai and haven't watched all of the seasons yet, you might not want to listen carefully. We might spoil a plot twist.
Do opportunities fall in your lap, or are they something you create?
Matt and Jim explore this topic through the lens of a major life decision for Matt.
Defense mechanisms. We all have them. It's a way of dealing with hurt, stress, and fear.
In this episode Matt and Jim take a look at the idea of defense mechanisms from a unique perspective.
On episode 11, Matt and Jim talk about Christmas traditions and favorite memories.
Merry Christmas to you and yours !
Do you think, communicate and take action at a fast... or slow pace?
Are you more task-oriented, or more people-oriented?
In episode 110, Beth joins Jim on the podcast to discuss differences in pace and priority. After nearly 30 years of marriage, we talk about our differences and how we've worked through them.
And what we've learned might just help you be less frustrated with a co-worker or your significant other.
Danielle takes over for Jim for episode 109 to discuss her bucket list goal of running a full marathon.
Madison, WI in November. 35 degrees. Snow, sleet, rain and wind.
She crazy!
What are some of your favorite traditions when it comes to holidays and family get togethers?
On episode 108, Matt and Jim discuss their Thanksgiving traditions and times they broke the mold and did things a little different.
How you bounce back from a setback is vital to your growth. In episode 107, Matt and Jim explore resilience, second chances and learning from missed opportunities.
Summer or Winter? Favorite restaurant? Chocolate or Vanilla?
In Episode 106 we tackle some of these timeless debates.
Do you have a favorite scary movie?
It's Halloween 2021 (we recorded this episode on Friday, October 29) and for fun we discuss all time great scary movies.
In episode 104, we get on the subject of tools, starting with Matt's podcast recording gear.... The question we ponder is what is the value of having quality tools and how you accumulate them over the years.
Power. Greed. Money. Legacy.
Sometimes a story comes along that you just can't get enough of. In episode 103, Matt and Jim discuss one of their favorite stories, Yellowstone.
*spoiler alerts
Is it true that if you have a bucket full of crabs, that when one tries to climb out, the others pull it back down?
If you watch a couple of youtube videos, it seems like it is.
The idea of holding others down out of insecurity, immaturity and/or inexperience is the topic for this episode of the 2120 podcast.
2 guys. 1 conversation. 20 minutes.
Is it possible to place unfair expectations on others? That's the question that Matt and Jim tackle on this episode of 2120.
The wives join the show for this special edition of the 2120 podcast. Hear the real stories about the best parts of Jim and Matt (hint, their names are Beth and Danielle).
Sometimes people push our buttons. They may do it for fun, or they may do it unknowingly. Either way, we have a reaction to it.
Sometimes technology is a stressor... like trying to fix your internet when it goes down (GRR!!)
In episode 99, Jim and Matt talk about stressors and how to cope with them.
What is the significance of 86,400?
Is it how much money professional athletes make per game?
Is it how many downloads this podcast has?
Is it days you have to live?
Or is it something entirely different?
Find out what Jim and Matt have to say about 86,400 on this episode of 2120.
What do you think of when you think about misdirection?
Sleight of hand like a magician?
Do you think of it as an offensive strategy for a football team?
How does the concept of misdirection fit into business?
In episode 97 of the 2120 Podcast, Matt and Jim discuss the topic of misdirection.
Business is about staying in the lead, and in order to stay leading your competition you have to continuously try new things and innovate your systems, your products and your service.
In episode 96, Jim and Matt share their perspectives on how to create a culture that innovates.
Can most people be trusted?
What is meant by most? How far do you trust someone with your wallet? To watch your 10 year old child?
This conversation was driven by a LinkedIn poll that asked the same question. As of this morning (Aug 16, 2021) with 180+ respondents, 62% responded YES while 38% responded NO.
So what do you think? Can most people be trusted? And is trust earned...
or is mistrust earned?
Have you ever said something that didn't 'land' right with another person?
Perhaps you said something that came across as rude or insensitive but it's actually 180 degrees opposite of what you intended to say...
That's the topic of this episode. Jim opens the 'cast with a quick story of how he sorta stuck his foot in his mouth... Uh oh.
It leaves you feeling embarrassed, but even worse, you may actually damage a relationship for a long time. Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think.
Life doesn't just pause, it's constantly going.
All too often people wait until a day off, a vacation, or even retirement, before they decide that it's time to start living. That could be too late.
In episode 93, Matt and I share our perspectives on what it means to be fully present and living in the moment.
Special Guest Alert
Matt and Jim talk to Andrew Hanscom. In this episode they break down what it takes to complete a Diesel Day in Colorado. How far can you push yourself and finish what you started and not QUIT!
What is Diesel Day, Check out the website below.
https://www.crookedbutterfly.com/
Who Brian ‘tosh’ Chontosh:
Brian “Tosh” Chontosh is a retired Marine having served as an enlisted and commissioned infantryman. He has received multiple decorations for valor and recognized for his dynamic leadership capacities. His pursuits in the ultra endurance arena challenge the limits of his comfort zone to where he continually re-negotiates the question “Who Am I?” Tosh’s skill and passion for the outdoors, coupled with his empathy and curious knack for leadership, presents a special talent in creating opportunities for others toward self-discovery and personal enrichment.
Agree and commit.
The secret sauce of accountability in great teams. In episode 91, Jim and Matt talk through what it means to get buy-in from other leaders and people on the team... as well as what happens after the meeting.
What does it mean to have clearly defined roles in leadership?
In episode 90, Matt and Jim take an example of a specific role in cycling from the Tour de France to discuss what it means to have defined roles and how it translates into business.
From winless to undefeated and a berth at State on the line... this is the story of the Vinton-Shellsburg Boys Soccer team told from their head coach, Kyle McAbee.
After enduring multiple winless seasons, the 2021 season was filled with hope and determination as they won the conference outright with an undefeated season and a trip to State on the line.
This incredible story of resilience and persevering through tragedy is still being written.
Think back to when you were young. Your summers were filled with fun, friends and food... but most of all FREEDOM.
In episode 88, Jim and Matt record on-location from 'Party in the Park' from the trailer of his girls' axe-throwing business, 4 Girls Axe Throwing.
Inspired by the memory legendary high school coach, Ed Thomas of Parkersburg, Iowa, Matt and James discuss what it means to give away your 'playbook.'
In episode 86, Matt and Jim talk about everything from seeing things differently to becoming comfortable with who you are and being 'you.'
In episode 85, Matt and Jim discuss what it means to stay on the path... in business and in life.
Principles Matt shared are:
- Thumbs Up
- Pointing blame
- Eff it
- What am I married to
- The little things
Each of these represent a finger on your hand. So what does it mean in your life to "stay on the path?"
What does it mean to stay in your lane? Is that a good thing?
That's exactly what we Matt and Jim discuss on this episode of the 2120 podcast. We set it up through the lens of a basketball team and quickly transition to how 'staying in your lane' works – or doesn't work – in the business world.
Cast a compelling vision and watch how that inspires excellence around you.
In Episode 83 we take the famous quote by French philosopher Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, "If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea," to inspire our conversation.
The reality is that it's hard to bring 100% effort every day. That might happen because you're distracted, sick, under prepared... or because you've consciously (or unconsciously) decided to just 'show up'. As a result, you're not bringing your A-game.
In episode 82, Matt and Jim share their thoughts on what happens when you take your foot off the gas.
What if you had a goal to receive a letter in the future from someone who worked for you where they expressed their gratitude for helping them find greater success?
In episode 81, Matt and Jim break down what it takes to build into another person and why "it's all about people."
This episode was a lot of fun and we hope you enjoy the twists and turns.
Before we hit record we were discussing retirement and the different perspectives people have on it. But, as with all of our episodes, the conversation turns to what preparing for the future, working towards goals, and the value of a decision...
This episode ends on a powerful realization that power of one decision has a ripple effect forward that we can't begin to understand today.
What happens when we're on guy-movie overload? We talk about it on the podcast, of course!
So what would happen when 8 superstar action heroes get into a free-for-all match? Who would come out on top?
Listen in as we take a different approach on episode 79 of the 2120 podcast with this controversial debate as part of our I'm Right, You're Wrong series.
Jim and Matt launch into episode 78 by discussing great performances – specifically the 2018 film, Bohemian Rhapsody, the story of legendary British rock band, Queen and lead singer, Freddie Mercury.
We discuss brainstorming, active listening, "Wow! (not how)", and why you have to understand what makes people around you exceptional.
In part 2 with our friend and guest, Josh Erickson, we talk about our families, what it means to have an inner circle, and most importantly, what it means to build a lifelong friendship and the benefits from it.
Our good friend, Josh Erickson finally joins us for a podcast... and he had so much fun, we got him to do another.
We talk with Josh about seeing abilities in others and how others see the talents, strengths and gifts in us long before we're able... or even ready.
In this episode we get into the question of creating a culture that makes it acceptable to make a mistake, but also where it's unacceptable not to learn from them.
Join Matt and Jim for episode 75. Two guys. One conversation. 20 minutes.
Is it possible to empower an employee, volunteer or staff member in such a way they have too much power?
As a leader, your job is to get the best out of people, but could you empower them too far? What happens as a result? And, how do you know when you've created a 'monster?'
That's the topic that James Mayhew and Matt Phippen tackle in this episode of the 2120 podcast.
Have you tapped into your extra gear, or are you cruising around in 3rd thinking your car isn’t fast enough for the interstate?
In episode 73, we discuss what it means to be confident, to be the best, and why helping others tap into their strengths is so rewarding.
In episode 72, Jim and Matt break down how easily conflict can occur over differences with pace and priority.
Pace determines how we think, make decisions, and act... fast or slow.
Priority determines whether we're task-focused or people focused... the source of almost all conflict between people.
The call comes in.
"Can I speak with a manager?"
If you've ever received that call, you probably are bracing yourself for an unpleasant experience. It's easy to jump into the mindset of, Now what?
But what if that call is something else?
That's the topic for episode 71 of the 21020 podcast.
In episode 70, we discuss what happens when corners get cut in business and sloppiness and laziness become the norm.
In episode 69, Matt shares his 10 keys to success in life.
So, what do you think about Matt's list? Do you agree? What keys have you found that have helped you achieve success?
In Episode 68, Jim introduces Mr. Patrilla to the 2120 family. Matt and Jim discuss the power of having a great teacher/coach/mentor in your life and reflect on lessons they were taught from perfectionism to remembering why you teach.
What do you talk about with your friends at 8:30PM on a Friday night over beer while watching a kickass sporting event...?
What annoys you, of course.
In episode 67 Jim shares a piece from his leadership training about what makes us exceptional – the way we think, communicate, relate and work – could be what annoys someone else.
We hope you find as much enjoyment by listening to this episode as we had recording it.
Cheers.
In episode 66, Matt and Jim discuss the difference between advice and feedback.
How to seek it...
Who to seek it from...
And the ability to discern great feedback and advice without compromising your goals or vision.
In this episode, Matt and Jim discuss things that get in the way of goals and stupid things we do that waste time.
Recorded on 12/28/20, Matt and Jim reflect on the Christmas that was... or wasn't in 2020.
We are grateful that you choose to spend part of your day with us. We want to wish all of you a prosperous, healthy and blessed New Year!
Here's to 2021!
In this episode right before Christmas 2020 we look to the future, talk about paying it forward, and why the little things matter in business and in life.
Merry Christmas from Matt and Jim!
Who you partner with – in this case, a delivery service company – is a direct reflection of your brand. What happens when weather forces a delay of 3 weeks?! You have to ask the question, Do you even want my business??
In Episode 62, we discuss the impact of dealing with a box store purchase and in-home delivery of a new piece of furniture.
From work responsibilities to "honey-do" lists, life can be busy. In Episode 61, Jim and Matt how to recharge your batteries and keep your energy tank filled.
Great leaders know how to speak to everyone in the room. They communicate in such a way that the seasoned veterans don't feel bored, and where new people don't feel left behind.
In this episode we talk about situations where you take the anxiety out of the room by being smart about people.
In episode 59, Matt and Jim discuss the idea of being the best vs. being the favorite. What's the difference? Which is more important?
Sometimes life happens. We've been gone a few weeks but we're back. This little break has also given us some clarity about the podcast, too.
We love to pass on knowledge and even a little wisdom through our experiences at work and in life in general. Experiences that we feel would benefit someone else and help them be a better leader at work, a better soccer coach, a better parent, a better spouse...
That's the TwentyOneTwenty podcast. Thanks for listening.
Integrity isn't a label you get to give yourself. It's what others say because of what others SEE you do – or don't do.
Episode 57 is a conscious stream of our experiences, beliefs and perception around what it means to have integrity.
Enjoy.
Connie Barnes joins the 2120 podcast to talk about a teachable moment after taking a spill in... human vomit.
In episode 56 we get into the nuances of strong relationships, knowing the timing and setting of giving/receiving feedback, which of The Four Agreements are the hardest to follow, and how a falling into a pool of vomit reinforced a culture shift.
Connie is a clinic administrator for a large hospital network as well as building a successful real estate career with her husband, Mike.
In episode 55, we discuss the nuances of developing someone to take over for you after you're gone.
Miogi vs. Cobra Kai.
Surely a battle for the ages. But what leadership insights do the 80's Karate Kid movies and the current Netflix series, Cobra Kai give us?
That's the topic for Episode 54 of the 2120 podcast.
Cheat days. What are you opinions on building in a 'cheat day' when you're on a diet or working toward a goal?
Burn out... is that a real thing, or is it just an excuse you're buying into?
Matt and Jim talk about cheat days and feeling burnout on episode 53.
The customer experience comes down to two things:
- Do you want my business, and
- Do you have what I want when I want it?
In episode 52, Matt shares his disdain for stores that fail at presentation and how the "four by four" is a strategy he uses to deliver a better customer experience.
Matt and Jim welcome #themostinterestingmaninleasing and the creator of One Minute Wednesday's, Kyle Steele, to the show.
Your organizational culture determines "how stuff gets done around here."
Your culture creates expectations for both the customer experience and the employee experience.
In episode 50, Jim and Matt discuss their views on how important this is to business.
Ok, who had "Hurricane in Iowa?"
Just when you think 2020 couldn't get any more stupid, Iowa takes a direct hit from Category 4 level winds from an inland hurricane.
Matt and Jim share their experiences after a devastating storm hit their community on Monday, August 10, 2020.
Natural selection.
No, Jim. It's not Marlin Perkins sending his trusty companion to face the might lion while he hunkers down behind the rock...
Natural section happens in the business world.
You're either get better and stay ahead of the pack, or you settle for 'good enough' and slide to the back of the pack.
Happy employees = Happy customers.
Jim and Matt discuss how to elevate your culture beyond perks & fun by creating an environment that gives people skills and training that they can use throughout their life.
We recently received a flyer by mail for a new business opening in our hometown. In big block letters, it asks, "Are you awesome?"
The implication is that we're awesome because we only hire awesome people.
That's a lofty standard. One that we admire. But...
If you're place of business isn't awesome, then you've created a massive gap between perception and reality.
That's the topic for discussion on this episode of the 2120 podcast.
Trust. What does it take to build trust between people?
And, Jim and Matt make their cases for whether trust is earned, or...
trust is given and mistrust is earned.
What's does a centered leader do differently than an uncentered leader? When you think of being centered, what comes to mind?
Balanced. Prepared. Aware. Approachable. Consistent.
That's the topic of conversation in episode 44 of the Twenty-one Twenty podcast.
Mindset. How do you overcome it?
Step 1: Listen to this episode where we work it over pretty hard.
Step 2: Take massive action.
You defeat stinkin' thinkin' by doing. Action. Execution. Creating wins. Building momentum.
This is our 2-step cure for changing your outlook.
Just don't ask us to explain our take on motivation vs. inspiration again.
✅ 2 guys
✅ 20 minutes (pretty close, anyway)
❌ 1 topic
This is actually a pretty awesome episode. It took us about 18 minutes to get to "psychological ownership to commit to excellence."
Sometimes it takes a while for the plane to land. We took a couple of scenic routes through customer service, communication, and training to get to excellence.
It's always a fun ride on Flight 2120.
Can't see it?
Or are you just frickin' lazy, boss?
Get in the wayback machine as Jim talks about some of his early work experiences and lessons to take away from them.
Every great story begins with a phrase...
I've got an idea...
Hang on, I want to try something...
In Matt's case, the phrase was, I'm sure I'll be fine.
Will he? Check out episode 39 of the 2120 podcast to find out.
In episode 38, Matt and Jim discuss how the podcast came to be and where we hope to go.
Being a leader can bring out the best in a person. But, it can also be the path to the dark side.
In this episode, Matt and Jim discuss how leaders can be seduced by the dark side and we identify 5 different negative attributes of leaders.
Behind every great leader is another great leader.
Developing people is one of your top priorities any time you're in a leadership role. In episode 36, Matt and Jim reflect about what it means to get out of the way and let someone else build on where you left off.
You either have excuses or execution.
I’m afraid…
I’m not ready…
I don’t have time…
I don’t know how…
These are all examples of excuses.
Fear of failing and fear of success are both drivers for why you make an excuse.
People who will hold you capable to your goals love you more than those who allow you to settle for mediocrity.
There’s a feeling that goes through your body when you’re not prepared. There’s nothing positive that you feel when you’re not prepared.
Do whatever you can to prevent that feeling by not making excuses and do the work. Others are counting on you.
There’s always something more you can do to improve. The best way to know how is to listen to feedback from others.
Confidence is best when it’s covered by humility.
"Just living the dream, brother."
In this episode of the 2120 podcast, Matt and Jim discuss their views on why it frustrates them to hear people play small.
In this episode Matt and Jim trade some stories from the good ol' days about sports, coaches and the lessons we learned from all of it.
Positivity is a mindset and builds momentum with finding ways to win.
Being around positive people is contagious.
Happy vs. Joy:
- Happy is due to external influences.
- Joy is a mindset - a choice you make.
Joyful people find reasons to be positive in the midst of negative things.
Affirmations: “I am” vs. “I will try”
- “I am…” is empowering. It changes your mindset from potential fail to achievement.
Life is all about small victories every day.
Accountability is the key to removing negativity in your workplace.
Hold others to a high standard and establish expectations for your culture.
Culture is constantly shifting, so you must pay attention to it.
Leaders must be vigilant around protecting culture.
High performing cultures create energy, create momentum.
Culture must stay ahead of the complexity of your business.
The goal is to keep as many people at 100% as possible.
Have you ever limited possibilities because you simply weren't thinking big enough? I
Some beliefs you hold onto can limit your business.
The slow down we’re experiencing is a challenge, but free time allows you to look at your business with new eyes; see how you can improve.
Use this time to hit the reset button and change things you’ve been waiting on.
It’s ironic that it took a virus and isolation to remind us that we need to look for – and expect to find – the good that’s all around us, both people and situations.
Rallying together to figure out this new normal… that’s the topic for this episode of the 2120 podcast.
Thinking different leads to breakthroughs in perspective.
On this podcast, we discuss what it means to think differently and how it drives innovation within your team.
Thinking leads to breakthroughs in perspective.
What does it mean to think differently?
When others think differently than you, it leads to new ideas, new perspectives.
What’s next… what could be… these are strategies for new approaches, new methods, new solutions.
If you have a team that appears to lack creative thinking, look for ways to tap into their creative thinking.
Teams can develop a ‘collective brain’ and begin to think alike, not differently that leads to stagnation because no one is challenging the status quo.
If you lack creative thinking you’re missing something incredible.
What if is a powerful question.
What if leads to broader perspectives… “What if we had to 10X this? 100X? What would we do differently?
What if can be a reflective question - where you look back and see how your life could be different.
What if can also be a future forward question - what if we did this? How would that look in 5 or 10 years?
Can you live in a world of what if’s?
What If vs. What’s Possible
When you challenge your team to think differently, there are unlimited possibilities.
Is it wiser to think outside the box - or think inside the box and expand the size of the box?
Thinking about possibilities is fun and energizing!
The Brilliant Jerk vs. The Ideal Team Player
Is the ambition to be the top performer, the #1 sales person, the ‘best person on the team’ actually limiting your potential?
In this episode, we compare the ideal team player with the brilliant jerk through our own experiences in our places of business and where we volunteer.
The brilliant jerk vs. the ideal team player.
That’s the topic for this edition of the 2120 podcast.
- The ideal team player has a will to win, they’re a great teammate. They see the bigger purpose and how We will get there Together.
- What’s the difference between a brilliant jerk and a maverick?
- Can you be a great asset for your organization and not be a great team player?
- Are you willing to cut the star when they’re disrupting your team chemistry?
- Is this person going to be a good investment in our organization over the long term?
- Is the drive to be the best actually limiting your potential growth?
Everyone is talking about Engagement.
It’s a popular word in the business world.
But what does engagement mean?
And can you measure it with surveys, or do you create ways to observe engaged behaviors in action?
Pride. Ownership. Execution.
- Pride: I love my job, I love being part of the team.
- Ownership: I am part of something bigger.
- Execution: I see something that needs done and I’ll do it.
- Engagement vs “All In”
- Being “all in” is to be part of a high performing team, being part of something bigger.
- People who have entrusted you to lead others deserve for you to be all-in.
- Engagement surveys don’t measure engagement accurately. You can measure engagement through observing behaviors.
- The best companies identify the ideal behaviors that positively impact culture.
- As a leader, learn to look for something good and recognize it. That’s a form of feedback.
- During hiring can you identify if someone will take pride in their work, take ownership and follow through with execution?
Can You Take It Too Far? A CXP Bedtime Story...
When was the last time your mind was blown by an exceptional customer experience?
In this episode, Matt sets the table for an energetic discussion around what it takes to deliver exceptional customer service with a story about his recent experience at a local auto dealership …
And it leads us to the question, can you take customer experiencetoo far?
For those of us whose lives revolve around delivering an incredible experience, this is a great bedtime story with a happy ending... LOL
OUTATIME
If you could jump in a time machine with Marty McFly and Doc Brown and go back and see yourself in high school, what’s one piece of advice you would give yourself?
In episode 24, we reflect on what we know now, but wish we knew then.
Winged doors. Flux capacitors. gigawatts Hang on as we hit 88mph.
Jim: Believe in yourself
Matt: Get after it!
Are people following you because they like you, or because they respect you? And, can you be popular and be a good leader?
In this episode Jim and Matt discuss the nuances of being liked versus being respected and why being competent and committed to excellence is far more important than trying to be popular.
Show notes:
What does being popular mean to you?
Do people follow popular leaders?
As a leader, is it more important to be liked or to be respected?
If you’re more concerned with being liked than respected as a leader, your leadership will always be limited.
You can be a good leader and have fun; it doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk.
People want to know the leader is competent, wants accountability, is committed to excellence and doesn’t let things slide.
Are people following you because they like you or want something for you?
Popularity can be fake… some people will make you feel popular because they have their own agenda.
The goal is to get past the idea that you have to be popular to be a good leader.
Be you. Be genuinely, authentically you.
Be the kind of player on the team that builds the chemistry, not tears it down.
Fulfillment. Experiences. Joy. Memories.
So what do you want?
In this episode, Matt and I talk about safety nets and taking risks, and the importance of living in the moment.
- Safety nets are good — except when the safety net holds limits your growth
- [ Check out episode #2 on August 29, 2019 on the topic of Hustle ]
- Sometimes those closest to us want to protect us… they don’t want to see us risk too much.
- We need people who will speak truth into our lives… help to back us off from the ledge.
- A great coaching question: Tell me more about that!
- Sometimes we have crazy ideas and we make them happen by surrounding ourselves with others to make them happen.
- The difference between living for the long term vs. living in the moment.
- We remember how others made us feel — and others remember how we made them feel — more than we remember the details.
- Surround yourself with good emotion, not negative emotion.
- What we all want is to find joy and fulfillment, have great experiences and create lasting memories.
There’s a quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin that says, Some people die at 25 and aren’t buried until 75.
In episode #21, Matt and Jim talk about the greatness that’s inside of every person, and why some people are able to fully tap into it while others never do.
- Some people are held back by their conditioning and their beliefs about themselves
- But when you pour into another person and help them activate their talents, you see them start to emerge.
- As their confidence grows, look out — it’s a beautiful thing.
- When you can show someone a different truth about themselves, it’s a very powerful thing to witness.
- Marianne Williamson wrote, it’s our light that scares us, not our darkness.
- Your beliefs and mindset either trap you or set you free.
- Your past doesn’t have to dictate your future.
Video: Dove Beauty Sketch (click to view)
- We see ourselves differently. We see our flaws. Others see the beauty and potential within you.
- Sometimes the people closest to us want to protect us from being hurt. So when we share a big dream with them, they may not support it.
- The best investment you’ll ever make is in another person because they are eternal. (Mark Moyer)
Questions or comments for Matt or Jim? Idea for subjects? Email us at twentyone20podcast@gmail.com
Thanks for listening! Please like, review and share it!
Do you feel like you push yourself pretty hard?
The reality is that when you have someone with you – someone who pushes you past your barriers & limits – you can go much further than when you're just on your own.
It’s true during a workout...
Working on a home project...
Even in business...
When you work with other highly motivated, driven people, you willbreakthrough barriers
AND build strong bonds that last a long time.
In in to win it. Together.
That’s the topic for this edition of the 2120 podcast.
Got something you want to tell us? Send James and Matt an email: twentyone20podcast@gmail.com
Do you ever struggle with staying motivated?
What happens when you don’t want to do something such as get out of bed, go to work, or hit the gym?
Do you have someone who will show up with you?
Showing up for someone. That’s the topic for episode #19 of the 2120 podcast.
We want to hear from you. Send us an email: twentyone20podcast@gmail.com
Questions? Comments? Want to call BS? Email your hosts at TwentyOne20podcast@gmail.com
Why, at times, does it seem hard to get good ideas from your team?
If you’re frustrated that you’re not getting input from your team, you need to look to yourself first.
Have you squashed ideas? Failed to set context? Or, have you unintentionally created a status quo culture?
Ideas & innovation… that’s the topic for this edition fo the 2120 podcast.
- It’s the leader’s responsibility to set the table for ideas… You need the right people with the right talents around the table.
- Set the table by having a dialogue before the meeting to help others prepare for the idea meeting.
- Most leaders fail to create intentional space for ideas to happen.
- Think time is undervalued in most workplaces.
- What can you do to help make meetings where ideas are needed more productive?
- Look for ways that you, as a leader, create a spark where ideas will occur.
- Ideas are thrown around all the time…
- If I believe that people aren’t bringing ideas to me, I have to look at myself first.
- People are frustrated when they’ve given ideas but nothing happens with them.
- You have to show people why — or why not — an idea is worth pursuing.
- Squashing ideas causes people to feel deflated. It leads to them feeling disempowered.
- When someone brings an idea, don’t kill it by asking “How?” They say, “Wow! Tell me more.”
- Asking how automatically creates limits and kills further ideation.
- Even if it’s not the right idea… it may lead to other powerful ideas that lead to a better solution.
- You can’t halt progress. Let others run with the idea.
- It’s valuable to understand each other’s Strengths and gifts.
- The best leaders build teams with people who complement each other.
- It’s not OK with just being OK… status quo is easy to fall into.
- One of the greatest threats to success is success. You can lose the edge.
- If you have a leader that isn’t a driving force to excellence, your team will always be limited.
- When you hire someone with mad potential, but you don’t push them to greatness, they’ll either become complacent or leave to go somewhere else.
Email your thoughts to Matt and Jim: TwentyOne20podcast@gmail.com
Do you feel frustrated with communication in your workplace?
It’s easy to say, My team just doesn’t listen to me, or get frustrated that you have to keep saying it.
Communication is one of the hardest things to do well, whether you’re in leadership or not.
That’s why we’re talking about it in this episode of the 2120 podcast.
- Leaders need to understand that communication is always going to be missed.
- When you review why things weren’t communicated well, you have to look at every angle and assume responsibility for failing to communicate well.
- Average leaders say, “My team just won’t listen to me…”
- Excellent leaders know how to break through the noise and distractions of the day by making time to craft a message with all of the information.
- They anticipate questions that others may have.
- They know how to communicate in both small settings and large settings — they require different formats — in order to have a consistent message.
- Face to face communication is much more powerful than email or even virtual meetings.
- You must have follow up conversations to make sure everyone is clear on the message.
- Be aware of your body language… it can communicate disinterest or that you’re not paying attention.
- Also, be mindful that while others give great body language, they may be missing the core of the message.
- Be mindful not to unfairly apply your personal thoughts about what it means to be a good listener on others.
- Conversations that sound good in your head, may not be received well.
- It’s easy to forget that you’ve spent dozens, hundreds or even thousands of hours thinking; and then we get frustrated that others don’t grab it when you spend 30 minutes telling them about it.
- It’s important to share information consistently and frequently; about the time we’re sick and tired of hearing it, this is when others are just catching on.
- Tip: write down the details of your communication to help you keep track of sharing your message.
- When giving feedback, don’t soften the message by saying “we” when you really mean “you.” It leads to confusion and isn’t effective.
- Tell people what is — or isn’t — happening. It makes it easier when you have a relationship established with the person.
Send your comments, questions or ideas for topics for Matt and Jim to discuss to twentyone20podcast@gmail.com. Thank you for reviewing and sharing!
Matt tells us about the 365 Challenge, his year-long will power challenge.
Could I really give up something I truly enjoy for an entire year?
Year one, I gave up craft beer.
Year two, I gave up sweets.
When I first started doing this with my coworkers, they were doing it because I was doing it…
But a month in, they had already given up.
I told them, don’t do it for me, do it for you!
The benefit was the question, could I really do this?
I didn’t tell people at first, but when more people knew it became easier because I didn’t want to fail.
The first two years, it was about eliminating something from my life. Removing sweets was really hard… candy and treats are always around you.
I could have cheated and no one would ever know. But that’s not what I wanted.
Year 3 it became about miles on a bicycle.
I failed this year. In 2019, my goal was to stop swearing. I failed on day 2 watching a bowl game!
The Challenge has to be for you… not for anyone else.
I had a guy commit to doing 10 pushups every day, but two months in he had given up. It just wasn’t important enough to him.
If you set a goal to do something it’s more about the commitment, will power and discipline than the actual action.
There are happy results of staying with the discipline. It has ripple effects.
In the last episode of 2019, Matt and Jim talk about our perspectives on time, growing older, and the importance of having our eyes fixed on what’s to come.
The countdown to New Year’s Eve and looking forward to 2020 is the topic for this year-end episode of the 2120 podcast.
We want take a moment and thank you for tuning in. We wish you a prosperous, healthy and joy-filled New Year!
Comments on what we talk about? Have a question or an idea for a future podcast? We'd love to hear from you. Email us at twentyone20podcast@gmail.com. Thank you for listening!
Send questions, comments or ideas for topics to James and Matt by email at
twentyone20podcast@gmail.com
When you are first appointed to a leadership role, it’s important to understand and accept that you aren’t fully qualified; in fact, often times you’re terrified.
New leaders: seek input, ask questions. Fall on your sword when its necessary.
Two mistakes new leaders make:
- Thinking you are expected to have all the answers
- Not asking for help
You build trust with your team when you lead with humility.
Accelerate new leaders by passing on leadership lessons you’ve learned.
New leaders need to experience failures and setbacks — but not catastrophic.
Training for leaders must be an ongoing process.
Mentoring vs. Training
Structured training — procedures, rules, etc. is necessary. But training that includes mentoring is most effective.
Mentoring as a program provides a platform for the leader to bring challenges, issues and questions.
Training is destination-based. It has a start and end. Upon completion, the result is you are done.
Mentoring is direction-based; ongoing.
Choose a mentor wisely… The best mentors openly admit they don’t have all the answers. They listen and provide perspective, not just spew knowledge that they think that you, the mentee, needs or wants. It should be a conversation.
The best leaders surround themselves with multiple mentors.
Find mentors who don’t think like you. They bring an entirely different perspective to your life.
Tips for new leaders:
- You were chosen by someone saw your potential and talent and they want you to lead.
- You have to be OK with making mistakes, falling on your face. But you have to get back up.
- Be humble. When you’re in over your head, don’t try to figure it out on your own. Reach out to your peers and ask for help.
- Lead with confidence. Confidence builds confidence, but always cover it with humility.
Send your questions, comments and ideas to James and Matt to
twentyone20podcast@gmail.com
Keeping your facility in top notch condition, especially bathrooms. Don’t make customers question your integrity with anything less than a spectacularly clean bathroom.
Servers: know your foods… be ready to recommend your favorite as well as complementary sides, drink and dessert. Don’t ask if you’d like dessert when you bring the check… sell it with the meal selection… make the customer's mouth water then, not when they’re already done with the meal.
Create a consistent, high level training program for your entire staff. Give them samples of your items. Show them why they customer will love your food!
If you provide a great experience, great training for the people who work for you, they will be loyal, as well as great advocates for your business.
Owners and managers: Invest in teaching the business to your staff. You'll generate higher engagement from your employees and that will increase your bottom line.
New email to contact Matt and James: twentyone20podcast@gmail.com
The best coaches create breakthrough moments and experiences for their clients.
But what makes a coach, a consultant, or a speaker qualified to do what they do?
That's the topic for this edition of the 2120 podcast.
- What makes you qualified to coach or speak to others?
- You gain confidence through your past experiences and a track record of performance
- Coaching is a hot topic right now - it seems like everyone wants to be a coach
- The best coaches create breakthrough experiences
- Most businesses are too busy working in their business to work ON their business
- The best consultants and coaches learn abut your your brand, your strengths and your struggles, and convey your message back to the team in familiar language that is aligned to the company’s strategy.
- Consultants have to know their expertise, but enter with a perspective of humility - ask the right questions, listen and tailor the training to their needs.
- Coaching is different than consulting… coaching draws out the ideas instead of giving directives and actions
- Consultants enter with the mentality to fix or introduce systems.
Being approachable means that you're almost always involved in a conversation with others.
But if you're in a leadership role and you aren't approachable, it's very likely that you're missing out on critical information.
So, how are you doing with being approachable? That's the topic for this edition of the 2120 Podcast.
Questions? Comments? Ideas?
Send them to 'coach(@)jamesmayhew(dot)com' and we may feature your question, comment or topic idea on a future episode.
Notes:
- If you’re not approachable, people will hold out critical information from you.
- Being overly busy prevents you from being approachable because you don’t listen or communicate well.
- Making time for others is a vital leadership attribute.
- Pay attention to the how people come to you with information. Some people need to ease into conversations; being too abrupt or ‘to the point’ will limit people’s interaction with you.
- Intense personalities can be off-putting to some, causing others to not want to approach you.
- Ways to be more approachable:
- Keep it top of mind
- Force yourself to slow down
- Help others to hold us accountable
- Work to be more inviting and welcoming with others
- Practice building relationships with others
- People won’t approach you when they don’t TRUST you.
- Commit to listening to others when you ask them questions.
- Be more concerned with being interested, than being interesting.
Leadership has never been more important than it is today.
And a vital component to your growth as a leader is learning to recognize and cultivate the leadership qualities in others.
Becoming the leader your team needs... that's the topic for this edition of the 2120 podcast.
- I was asked the question… Do you want to be a leader here?
- Natural born leaders - are they for real, or is that a learned skill?
- Some of the best leadership attributes are talents; things you’re born with, such as the ability to communicate effectively.
- Surround yourself with great leaders and observe how they do things.
- Some people need to be encouraged while others need a little more kick in the rear.
- When you reach a certain level of maturity in your leadership potential, you become good at spotting leadership talents.
- There are different levels of experience when it comes to leadership.
- Leaders find talent, recruit talent and integrate talent.
- The best leaders know how to activate the talent, passion and skill of their teams; you have to be able to see it first.
- The best leaders know their strengths and their weaknesses, and choose to surround themselves with people who complement your strengths and weaknesses.
Dreams. Most people love to dream.
So do you have a big dream? What do you plan to do with it… or, maybe the question is what have you done with it already?
Imagine if you shared your dream with another person…
Imagine if you acted on it with a sense of urgency
Imagine if you gave yourself permission to relentlessly pursue your dreams.
Dreams and dreaming, that’s the topic for this edition of the 2120 podcast
Talking points
- Schedule time to dream.
- Too often we dismiss dreams as ‘someday.’
- Write down your ideas and dreams.
- Challenge yourself to record at least 10 ideas every day.
- Create a Dream Journal — a collection of dreams that you can reflect on.
- You can make a dream come to life by telling someone — it makes you accountable.
- Leaders — what if you became a dream coach?
- Trust is key to people sharing dreams and goals.
- Helping others make their dreams come to life is fulfilling.
- Be willing to invest in the life of others — they will
- Our biggest fear is looking back on dreams they never pursued.
- Get clear about what it means to ‘live life’ every day.
- Act on your dreams with a sense of urgency.
- You don’t need permission to pursue your dreams.
- In business, there must be someone to fill your role when you move on.
- You will never achieve ‘Someday’ by living the ‘sameday’ over and over.
Do you consider yourself to be a good listener? Have you ever given thought about what makes a good listener and what your actions might actually convey to others?
One thing is true… we need to focus on listening to learn, not just to respond.
The art of listening… That’s the topic for this edition of the 2120 podcast.
Episode Talking Points
- Listen to learn, not to respond.
- Those closest to us (ie, our spouses) see us at our best, and at our worst - especially when it’s listening.
- Avoid the temptation to be a conversation stealer or being a “one-upper”.
- When we steal a conversation, it conveys the other person isn’t important.
- Be an active listener… listen with your ears AND your eyes.
- Listening is the most important aspect of communication. We learn that at a young age.
- Get feedback about your listening skill helps you become a better listener.
- Strive to be the person that makes the other person feel as if they’re the most important part of your day.
- If we convey that we’re too busy to listen, others will stop talking to you.
- Be careful about being distracted… your eyes and body language can be deceiving.
- When you fail to listen well, apologize and ask for forgiveness.
- Minimize distractions: put your phone/tablet/device away…
- Sometimes the best conversations are rapid-fire of give and take…
Life is about small victories every day.
But in order to experience victories, we often have to make mistakes and experience setbacks.
If we allow it, the fear of failure can stop us dead in our tracks. Or, we can face the fear, embrace the challenge and let it motivate us.
Fear of failure is the topic for this edition of the 2120 podcast.
Talking points from the podcast
- Fear of failure either motivates you or it stops you dead in your tracks
- Failure IS an option
- Giving up because of fear ISN’T an option
- Failing is a big part of life
- We learn from our mistakes and our failures
- Let the joys life overcome your fear of failure
- Life is about small victories every day
- Sometimes we have to let others experience setbacks
- If we rescue someone from a setback, it’s possible that we’re limiting their growth
- Never let the fear of failure be your excuse… I don’t know how, I’m not ready yet…
- Don’t get in your own way
- Give people permission to fail, learn from their mistakes
- The only time we ever truly fail is when we give up
Not everyone has an inner circle.
But having an inner circle can set you up for success.
We live in a world where things often get sugar coated…
But what we really need are people who have your best interest at heart.
People who will be honest with you.
People who know you so well they naturally know when you need a kick in the rear
or when you need some encouragement.
- It's important to have people who will be honest with you. Sometimes brutally honest.
- Inner circles are tight; small.
- Gut punches make you better when they're motivated by love, not criticism.
- Surround yourself with people who will make you better.
- Inner circle people are people you can trust and count on.
- The world needs more people who are willing to be honest with us.
- People love to give advice.
- Outer circle people offer opinions.
- Inner circle people give us advice.
- Be careful with advice – it might be misguided.
- You really know people in your inner circle; they know how hard to push you and when you need a kick in the rear, or when you need encouragement.
- People who have your best interest at heart, don't have a hidden agenda.
Opportunities…
They are around us all the time and it’s our responsibility to not only see them, but to seize them.
Sometimes, we create opportunties through our intentions, our choices, and our actions.
So, what does it take to seize an opportunity? What are some ways we miss them? And, why do some people see to have more than others?
This is the topic for this week’s 2120 podcast.
Talking points:
- Confidence, courage, belief
- Enlisting others
- The importance of awareness about what's going on around you
- Busyness limits your awareness which could mean you're missing out
- We need margin time to think, to see, to breathe.
- Priorities v. Commitments
- When we over commit to something, it’s almost always at the expense of a priority
- What we miss out on will be what haunts us in the future
- Stretching yourself too thin causes you miss to opportunities
Becoming a great leader doesn't happen by accident.
Great leadership is a result of a relentless pursuit to grow and improve. A vital component to your leadership success is learning from other successful leaders.
That's the driving force behind Elevate Leadership University.
In this special edition of the 2120 Podcast, hear from Elevate founder, James Mayhew, and 3 of the other Elevate speakers – Matt Phippen, Arica Ohloff and Mark Moyer as they discuss the power of building into people.
Elevate Leadership University 2019 is coming to Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, September 27, 2019.
Tickets and information can be found at http://ElevateLeadershipU.com.
The experience you create for your customer and clients is what differentiates you from your competition.
Do it poorly and it could cost you more than a customer... it could put you out of business.
But, if you'll commit to creating an exceptional customer experience, you'll create a competitive edge that your competition cannot match.
Matt Phippen is passionate about creating a world class customer experience and the 24/7/365 commitment it takes. He will be speaking about it at Elevate Leadership University 2019 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on September 27.
That's the topic for this special edition of the 2120 podcast.
Have you ever met that person who is always hustling? They're always moving, always contributing. And no matter what, they create positive energy and movement all around them.
We love these people! That's why those who hustle are the subject of this week's 2120 Podcast.
- What are the qualities of people who hustle?
- People with hustle have ambition.
- Leaders who hustle attract and develop others who hustle.
- Hustle can be part of your core values and your workplace culture.
- Hustle isn't always about the work; it's about relationships with people.
- Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work.
What's been your experience with feedback? Has it been mainly positive or negative? And, has your personal experience with feedback shaped how you give feedback?
We don't mess around. That's why this is our opening topic for Episode #1 of the 2120 podcast.
How not to suck at feedback:
- Your attitude and beliefs about feedback are likely shaped by how you've received feedback. Bad experience? That may explain why you suck at it.
- Your unwillingness to give feedback ensures your inability to achieve true success.
- Giving feedback isn't only critical. Feedback can and should be positive and appreciative.
- Leader: let the win be a clear win. Make feedback specific - especially when recognizing something good.
- Don't accept excuses when giving feedback.
- Create systems for formal feedback to occur and for informal feedback to be daily.
- Feedback shouldn't be once a year during the annual review.
- Feedback should always be honest and direct.
- Be mindful when giving feedback about how it's going to be received.
- You must give performance feedback based on your organization's core values.