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# GROW GREAT

A City Government Leadership Podcast

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://bulanetwork.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [How Do You Measure Leadership Success?](https://bulanetwork.com/how-do-you-measure-leadership-success/) - Others will attempt to get you to lower your standards, to compromise performance and lower your expectations because that's where you'll find the crowd.
- [Leadership Resilience](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-resilience/) - to be successful...you need to be bad, then you need to be good. Then when you're good, you need to fail. And then when you fail, you're going to figure it out.
- [The High Value Of Saying It Out Loud](https://bulanetwork.com/the-high-value-of-saying-it-out-loud/) - I heard Herminia Ibarra, a Yale-educated Ph.D. in organizational behavior, talk about the value of saying it out loud.
- [The Courage to Tell the Truth](https://bulanetwork.com/the-courage-to-tell-the-truth/) - Great leaders need the courage to tell the truth—and trusted teammates willing to tell them the truth. Honest feedback builds stronger organizations.
- [The Obstacle Is the Way: Leadership Through Resistance](https://bulanetwork.com/the-obstacle-is-the-way-leadership-through-resistance/) - Every leader faces obstacles. Discover how setbacks, resistance, and unexpected challenges can become the very things that move us forward.
- [Just Start. Why It's Urgent To Begin, Then Finish](https://bulanetwork.com/just-start-why-its-urgent-to-begin-then-finish/) - Just start. Waiting for perfect is costly. Learn why 85% is enough to begin, build momentum, and finish what matters most.
- [Just Be Happy? Why That Advice Fails Leaders](https://bulanetwork.com/just-be-happy-why-that-advice-fails-leaders/) - “Just be happy” sounds good—but fails leaders. Discover why toxic positivity hurts performance and what real leadership requires.
- [Culture Is What You Won’t Compromise](https://bulanetwork.com/culture-is-what-you-wont-compromise/) - Culture is what you won’t compromise. Discover why actions—not words—define leadership and build strong, accountable teams.
- [Time & Attention](https://bulanetwork.com/time-attention/) - First, THANK YOU for your time and attention to our podcast. We know how busy you are. It means a lot to Lisa and me that we're part of your leadership journey. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With
- [A Lawyer With A Leadership Recipe](https://bulanetwork.com/a-lawyer-with-a-leadership-recipe/) - Alan Bojorquez is an attorney and Managing Partner/Founder serving Texas municipalities at TexasMunicipalLawyers.com. He created a leadership recipe for his 20+-year-old law firm after realizing he wanted to up his own leadership game. We discuss his leadership journey and his recipe. Download Alan's PDF here. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the
- [The Art of Showcasing In Our Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/the-art-of-showcasing-in-our-leadership/) - We learn (and teach) effectively by telling and sharing stories. Back in 2021, I started a podcast and a YouTube channel called Hot Springs Village Inside Out. The best episodes - in my opinion - are the ones where I showcase others. That's today's leadership lesson - a focus on others! Be well. Do
- [The Cost of Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/the-cost-of-leadership/) - Kirby Smart is the head football coach for the University of Georgia. He's also among the elite college football coaches because he's an excellent leader. Smart knows and accepts the 3 costs of leadership. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect
- [Three Things Determine Your Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/three-things-determine-your-leadership/) - Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin We encourage you to contact us. Feedback, suggestions, criticisms, insights, and experiences are welcome. Thank you for watching and listening!
- [Executive Coaching Is About Helping Leaders Figure It Out](https://bulanetwork.com/executive-coaching-is-about-helping-leaders-figure-it-out/) - It's for high-performers. It's free of judgment with a focus on helping the client figure out what they most want (ideal outcome) and how to achieve it.
- [On Being A Good Human](https://bulanetwork.com/on-being-a-good-human/) - The leadership recipe demands an accurate view of leadership: influence (not power), a focus on others and doing for others what they can't do for themselves.
- [The Situation Never Changed, The Leader Did](https://bulanetwork.com/the-situation-never-changed-the-leader-did/) - When the mind is weak, situation is a problem. When the mind is balanced, situation is a challenge. When the mind is strong, situation becomes an opportunity.
- [How To Encourage Your Team Through The Storm](https://bulanetwork.com/how-to-encourage-your-team-through-the-storm/) - Today, Lisa and I discuss some things you may want to consider as you guide your team through a storm.
- [Leading With Purpose And Intention Today](https://bulanetwork.com/leading-with-purpose-and-intention-today/) - Randomness surrounds us. I don't know anybody whose life or career has been a straight line of achievement. It's more of a zig-zag, ranging from colossal failures to extraordinary accomplishments. On any given day, something "might" happen. It may be good or bad. But this much is true: our lives will be what
- [Being Ready Is A Myth](https://bulanetwork.com/being-ready-is-a-myth/) - So get on with it. Learn to fail faster so you can adapt and adjust more quickly as you figure out how to succeed.
- [Happy New Year 2026](https://bulanetwork.com/happy-new-year-2026/) - Nuff said. Happy New Year! Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin We encourage you to contact us. Feedback, suggestions, criticisms, insights, and experiences are welcome. Thank you for watching and listening!
- [Merry Christmas 2025](https://bulanetwork.com/merry-christmas-2025/) - Lisa and I wish you and your family a safe, merry holiday season! Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin We encourage you to contact us. Feedback, suggestions, criticisms, insights, and experiences are welcome. Thank you for watching
- [Project: YOU!](https://bulanetwork.com/project-you/) - Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin We encourage you to contact us. Feedback, suggestions, criticisms, insights, and experiences are welcome. Thank you for watching and listening!
- [No Complaining Zone (Solutions Only, Please!)](https://bulanetwork.com/no-complaining-zone-solutions-only-please/) - We came across this rule that Arnold Schwarzenegger had about complaining. It sparked the conversation. Hopefully, you can benefit from our discussion. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin We encourage you to contact us. Feedback, suggestions, criticisms,
- [Happy Thanksgiving 2025](https://bulanetwork.com/happy-thanksgiving-2025/) - Happy Thanksgiving 2025!
- [Making A Difference For Somebody](https://bulanetwork.com/making-a-difference-for-somebody/) - Leadership is: a. Influence b. A focus on others c. Doing for others what they can't do for themselves It's the belief in the power of one person to make a difference. For somebody. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect
- [Pick Your Pain: Discipline or Regret?](https://bulanetwork.com/pick-your-pain-discipline-or-regret/) - We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret or disappointment. -Jim Rohn Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin We encourage you to contact us. Feedback, suggestions, criticisms, insights,
- [Artificial Intelligence In City Government](https://bulanetwork.com/artificial-intelligence-in-city-government/) - Robert Hiett is the Executive Director of the Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments. He's also an expert at helping municipalities leverage A.I.
- [See Opportunities, Not Obstacles](https://bulanetwork.com/see-opportunities-not-obstacles/) - Your greatest weapon is your mind. Train it to see opportunities, not obstacles. That quote prompted today's conversation. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin We encourage you to contact us. Feedback, suggestions, criticisms, insights, and experiences are
- [Micah Gaudet: Levering Artificial Intelligence](https://bulanetwork.com/micah-gaudet-levering-artificial-intelligence/) - Micah Gaudet is the Deputy City Manager for the City of Maricopa, Arizona. He's also an expert in the use of AI for municipal government. He joins us today to deepen our understanding of the potential of artificial intelligence in our daily work. Find Micah in Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micahgaudet/ Here are the links to
- [Be Thankful Every Day](https://bulanetwork.com/be-thankful-every-day/) - Your normal day is someone's dream...so be thankful every day! Gratitude is always the path forward. Ships That Don't Come In is a song Lisa mentions in today's show. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin We
- [Leaders Are Complacency Disrupters](https://bulanetwork.com/leaders-are-complacency-disrupters/) - Lisa shares how Don, her husband, reminded her of one role leaders fulfill. Enjoy! Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin We encourage you to contact us. Feedback, suggestions, criticisms, insights, and experiences are welcomed. Thank you for
- [Leading Well: The Power of Self-Care](https://bulanetwork.com/leading-well-the-power-of-self-care/) - In this episode of Grow Great, we explore why self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s leadership fuel. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin We encourage you to contact us. Feedback, suggestions, criticisms, insights, and experiences are welcomed. Thank you
- [Goal Setting Your Way Toward High-Performance: What's Your Ideal Outcome?](https://bulanetwork.com/goal-setting-your-way-toward-high-performance-whats-your-ideal-outcome/) - Goal setting, as Lisa and I define it, relies on crafting a plan, then executing it. Along the way, we have to make adjustments while remaining patient enough to be comfortable not knowing every step necessary. This is all part of the quest to be high performers. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check
- [The Calmness of Great Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/the-calmness-of-great-leadership/) - Lisa texted me this image the other day. It prompted us to have an offline conversation about leaders who create chaos instead of helping organizations better handle it. Eventually, we took the conversation to this recording. In our experience, great leaders instill a calmness—a trust and security—in the organization. Be well. Do good. Grow
- [Defining The Promise Of Your Leadership - Part Two](https://bulanetwork.com/defining-the-promise-of-your-leadership-part-two/) - Defining the promise of your leadership asks: What's your main objective? What do you most want to accomplish? What will you deliver as a leader?
- [Defining The Promise Of Your Leadership - Part One](https://bulanetwork.com/defining-the-promise-of-your-leadership-part-one/) - Defining the promise of your leadership - We focus on tthree questions
- [Opposites Do Attract](https://bulanetwork.com/opposites-do-attract/) - Opposites Do Attract + A Leadership Lesson
- [The Only Person You Are Destined To Become Is The Person You Decide To Be](https://bulanetwork.com/the-only-person-you-are-destined-to-become-is-the-person-you-decide-to-be/) - "The Only Person You Are Destined To Become Is The Person You Decide To Be" -Ralph Waldo Emerson
- [Cohort For City HR Directors - Accepting Applications Now](https://bulanetwork.com/cohort-for-city-hr-directors-accepting-applications-now/) - ATTN: CITY GOVERNMENT HR DIRECTORS (Nationwide) Are you a U.S. Municipal HR DIRECTOR interested in surrounding yourself with peers who are willing and anxious to serve each other? This is a unique opportunity to grow you, strengthen service to your city and its leadership, and create high(er) performing teams. If you are a CITY
- [When You're Back Is Up Against The Wall, Move Forward](https://bulanetwork.com/when-youre-back-is-up-against-the-wall-move-forward/) - Lisa got a text that prompted a conversation about what to do when failure appears to be the only option.
- [If You Don't Know You Can't, You Can](https://bulanetwork.com/if-you-dont-know-you-cant-you-can/) - Few things are more powerful than a mind made up. I regularly ask audiences, "Raise your hand if you feel like you've mostly achieved what you set out to achieve." Almost every hand goes up. I've never encountered an audience where that wasn't the case. Then I say, "It makes you wonder if we're
- [Managing Changes In The Team](https://bulanetwork.com/managing-changes-in-the-team/) - Rosters change. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes not. How do you navigate the loss of a great teammate? How do you handle the addition of a new teammate? Adaptability may be chief among the leadership skills needed in our organization. The faster you can figure out how to manage your team's changes, the better.
- [Recharging Yourself](https://bulanetwork.com/recharging-yourself/) - Hopefully, today's discussion can fuel you to invest more in yourself to be more valuable and impactful in your leadership.
- [Great Leaders Conduct Great Meetings](https://bulanetwork.com/great-leaders-conduct-great-meetings/) - Wrecking meetings happens daily. Probably hourly. Bosses often struggle to conduct effective meetings. Many people fail to put in the effort to improve their skills. A disastrous meeting lacks an agenda, a clear purpose, a desired outcome, and adequate preparation. They're not merely a waste of time, but they're detrimental to culture and the
- [3 Things That Determine Your Life & Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/3-things-that-determine-your-life-leadership/) - I saw this quote float through one of my social media feeds. I had to Google who said it, but no matter - I *mostly* agree with it. Be wise in what you're running from. Be even wiser in what you're running to. Be even wiser still in who you surround yourself with. Are
- [A Bad System Will Beat A Good Person Every Time](https://bulanetwork.com/a-bad-system-will-beat-a-good-person-every-time/) - The headline is a quote from W. Edwards Deming. Let's consider the powerful truth of this quote. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin We encourage you to contact us. Feedback, suggestions, criticisms, insights, and experiences are welcomed.
- [Great Leaders Mediate Disagreements](https://bulanetwork.com/great-leaders-mediate-disagreements/) - Heated disagreements don't need to escalate to strife. Great leaders manage disagreements to foster innovation and growth and navigate them to avoid letting them become destructive. Lisa suggested a book, 212 The Extra Degree. It's the difference between disagreement boiling over or not. We must help our team and organization navigate these situations. It
- [Leaders Can't Perform Well Without Feedback](https://bulanetwork.com/leaders-cant-perform-well-without-feedback/) - Foolish leaders make decisions in isolation. Go to a live music concert. Every band member will have in-ear monitors to hear the part they play. If the lead singer isn't monitoring his singing and getting feedback on how well he's doing, he'll be off-key and off the tempo. Likewise, great leaders constantly foster feedback
- [Fear Of Losing Authority (Part 7)](https://bulanetwork.com/fear-of-losing-authority-part-7/) - We're at the end of this series. In part 7, Lisa and I discuss the seven dangerous enemies of leadership: the fear of losing authority.
- [Lack of Self-Development (Part 6)](https://bulanetwork.com/lack-of-self-development-part-6/) - Lisa and I discuss the seven dangerous enemies of leadership in part 6, the lack of self-development.
- [Need For Control (Part 5)](https://bulanetwork.com/need-for-control-part-5/) - Lisa and I discuss the seven dangerous enemies of leadership in part 5, the need for control.
- [Ego (Part 4)](https://bulanetwork.com/ego-part-4/) - Lisa and I discuss the seven dangerous enemies of leadership with part 4, ego.
- [Poor Understanding of People (Part 3)](https://bulanetwork.com/poor-understanding-of-people-part-3/) - Let's continue our discussions on the seven dangerous enemies of leadership. Today, in part 3, Lisa and I discuss poor understanding of people. This 7-part series is based on this chart. Victoria Repa is the one we saw share this chart. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our
- [He Who Hesitates Is Lost (Part 2)](https://bulanetwork.com/he-who-hesitates-is-lost-part-2/) - Let's continue our discussions on the seven dangerous enemies of leadership. Today, in part 2, we'll wrestle with hesitation.
- [If You Don't Know Where You Are Going, Any Road Will Get You There (Part 1)](https://bulanetwork.com/if-you-dont-know-where-you-are-going-any-road-will-get-you-there-part-1/) - We're embarking on a short 7-part series based on this chart. Victoria Repa is the one we saw share this chart.
- [Do You Have Any Holiday Traditions?](https://bulanetwork.com/do-you-have-any-holiday-traditions/) - Lisa and I wish all of you the happiest of holidays. Thank you for letting us share our leadership insights. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin We encourage you to contact us. Feedback, suggestions, criticisms, insights, and
- [Handling Moments Of Adversity](https://bulanetwork.com/handling-moments-of-adversity/) - Everybody is battling something. The holiday season is especially vexing for some. Personally. Professionally. Today, Lisa and I discuss how we handle our moments of adversity. We hope to encourage you and caringly challenge you to keep at it. Press on. The adage I love is, "I may quit. But not today!" Be well.
- [Happy Thanksgiving 2024](https://bulanetwork.com/happy-thanksgiving-2024/) - Without you, there is no Grow Great podcast. Lisa and I are both grateful for your time and attention. Hopefully, we bring you value (maybe a smile). Thank you!
- [Leading Through Bad News](https://bulanetwork.com/leading-through-bad-news/) - Today we're coming to you "live" from The Epic in Grand Prairie, Texas. At the invitation of Deputy City Manager Megan Mahan, we utilized the Podcast Booth at The Epic. It's a wonderful facility with a wide array of activities and services. We owe a special shout-out to Daniel Cauthen, Assistant Manager who produced
- [High Performance Organizations Embrace A.I. (Always Improving)](https://bulanetwork.com/high-performance-organizations-embrace-a-i-always-improving/) - Every high-performing organization I've encountered embraces innovation and improvement. They find a way to execute their strategies better. Always better!
- [3 Important Questions For Improved Team Communications](https://bulanetwork.com/3-important-questions-for-improved-team-communications/) - The volunteer leader of this session, a retired Marine, focused his session on these three questions first posed by retired Marine Corps General Mattis.
- [Pay More Attention To High-Performers](https://bulanetwork.com/pay-more-attention-to-high-performers/) - Today, I'm going to suggest leaders devote more time to the high-performers by embracing a few common components of high-performing organizations
- [Mindful Leadership: Don't Over-Burden Your High-Performers](https://bulanetwork.com/mindful-leadership-dont-over-burden-your-high-performers/) - High performers tend to take on more and more...because they have a high degree of willingness, they want more responsibility and we know they'll get it done.
- [The Legacy of Great Leadership: Who Will Stand On Your Shoulders?](https://bulanetwork.com/the-legacy-of-great-leadership-who-will-stand-on-your-shoulders/) - Every great leader quickly recognizes people who make a difference in their lives.
- [Everyone You Meet Is Fighting A Battle](https://bulanetwork.com/everyone-you-meet-is-fighting-a-battle/) - Author Brad Meltzer said... "Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always." Today, we're pulling back the curtain to demonstrate Meltzer's quote is correct. The point? Compassion. "A focus on others." Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa
- [No Excuses Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/no-excuses-leadership/) - Great city government leadership leans heavily on a culture where excuses are unacceptable. As Harold Geneen said, "Managers must manage." Find a way.
- [Great Leaders Don't Misplace Their Empathy](https://bulanetwork.com/great-leaders-dont-misplace-their-empathy/) - High performance doesn't just happen. Today, we discuss one requirement - directing our empathy appropriately to foster high performance!
- [Get Uncomfortable, Grow Great](https://bulanetwork.com/get-uncomfortable-grow-great/) - Be scared and do it anyway. Comfort is the enemy of growth. Get uncomfortable.
- [Earning The Trust Of Your Boss](https://bulanetwork.com/earning-the-trust-of-your-boss/) - Lisa pulls the curtain back to share a part of her journey as a new Managing Director, being part of the CMO, that involves earning the trust of your boss(es)
- [Listening Like That Wise Old Owl](https://bulanetwork.com/listening-like-that-wise-old-owl/) - There was an owl liv'd in an oak The more he heard, the less he spoke The less he spoke, the more he heard. O, if men were all like that wise bird.
- [Are You Courageous Enough To Stand Alone?](https://bulanetwork.com/are-you-courageous-enough-to-stand-alone/) - Join us today as we discuss courage, cowardice, competence and credibility. See if you can apply the conversation to your own leadership journey.
- [Time Will Often Tell The Stories You Can't](https://bulanetwork.com/time-will-often-tell-the-stories-you-cant/) - You don't always have to tell your side of the story because time will. Leaders can be honest without being completely open with all the details. Sometimes we must deliver a deeper service by protecting others. It's part of the loneliness of leadership - the knowledge we have that would serve no useful purpose
- [Self-Improvement For City Government Leaders](https://bulanetwork.com/self-improvement-for-city-government-leaders/) - Join me and Lisa today as we talk about self-awareness and self-improvement in our leadership and how it's so easy to be (and remain) stuck.
- [Don't Let Distractions Kill Your Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/dont-let-distractions-kill-your-leadership/) - Shiny object syndrome. Dogs (or cats) chasing laser pointers. Running around like squirrels. Chasing our tails. We use all kinds of language to describe being distracted. It's increasingly easy to be distracted. Electronically. Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. What if we could discipline ourselves to limit the distractions? What if we were in better tune with
- [Focus: Be Present](https://bulanetwork.com/focus-be-present/) - The challenge for our focus (our attention) is real. The solution is equally real, and possible. Do not give up hope.
- [Wrestling With Ourselves](https://bulanetwork.com/wrestling-with-ourselves/) - Join me and Lisa as we discuss overcoming the things about ourselves that drives us crazy (and probably drives others crazy, too).
- [Is Your Best Skill Being Coachable?](https://bulanetwork.com/is-your-best-skill-being-coachable/) - High performers are the most coachable people on the planet. They're driven to get better. Always improving. High performers want to shoulder high expectations. They crave the responsibility and accountability. They remain curious - wondering how they might get better. It never crosses their mind to stop learning because all of life is an
- [Pride Destroys Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/pride-destroys-leadership/) - Pride doesn't hinder leadership. It destroys it.
- [Randy Is Circling The Drain](https://bulanetwork.com/randy-is-circling-the-drain/) - Lisa and I talk about our age, being married, being empty nesters and more.
- [Don't Be Like Eeyore](https://bulanetwork.com/dont-be-like-eeyore/) - They're always down and out. They complain incessantly. They're adept at seeing the dark side of every challenge. Or opportunity. You don't dare ask them how they're doing because they'll tell you. Complaining is their main source of vibrancy. Eeyore wasn't a leader. That behavior won't help us become leaders either. Be well. Do
- [Great Leaders Know It's Hard, But Worth It](https://bulanetwork.com/great-leaders-know-its-hard-but-worth-it/) - "It shouldn't be this hard," said the young bride speaking about her first year of married life. "What makes you think so?" I asked. "Because we're in love." Whether it's love, life or work...many people are confused about how much work is required to achieve greatness. It's hard, but it's worth it. Be well.
- [Where's Your Focus?](https://bulanetwork.com/wheres-your-focus/) - "You get what you inspect." - a trite management maxim "You get what you expect." - a slightly less trite maxim "You see where you focus." - the topic of today's show Ask yourself these questions: a. What am I constantly looking at? b. What am I constantly looking for? c. Why? Optimism pays
- [Great Leaders Can Make It Simple](https://bulanetwork.com/great-leaders-can-make-it-simple/) - Simplify Your Way To Better Solutions - putting in the work to be succinct in stating a problem clearly in the simplest terms to get to the crux of the matter
- [I May Quit, But Not Today](https://bulanetwork.com/i-may-quit-but-not-today/) - No matter what knocks you down in life, get back up and keep going. Never give up. Great blessings are a result of great perservance.
- [We'll Sleep When We're Dead](https://bulanetwork.com/well-sleep-when-were-dead/) - I'm a lifelong insomniac who doesn't require much sleep. Occasionally I go on spurts of sleeping even less (which normally results in sleeping 12 hours at some point in the future). Lisa knows this about me, recently prompting her to ask, "Have you been getting sleep?" I responded sarcastically with the title used for
- [Leaders Go First By Putting Themselves Last](https://bulanetwork.com/leaders-go-first-by-putting-themselves-last/) - The Holy Grail of leadership is a person's ability to assemble a team, train a team, grow and develop a team to high performance standards consistently.
- [Listening Your Way To Better Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/listening-your-way-to-better-leadership/) - A wise man speaks because he has something to say, a fool speaks because he has to say something. Listening has a direct correlation with leadership. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin We encourage you to contact
- [Twist & Shout Your Way To Growth](https://bulanetwork.com/twist-shout-your-way-to-growth/) - "Shake it up, baby. Twist and shout." Sometimes our lives have to be completely shaken up, changed and rearranged to relocate us to the place we're meant to be. Most often our changes - which includes our growth and improvement - result from some shake up in our life. If we respond well,
- [Improving Ourselves For The Highest Return](https://bulanetwork.com/improving-ourselves-for-the-highest-return/) - For things to change for you...you must change! Work harder on yourself than your job. These wise words speaks to our topic today - improving ourselves so we can garner the highest return possible on our careers and our leadership. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles.
- [Perspective's Role In Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/perspectives-role-in-leadership/) - Perspective. If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities. —Maya Angelou Viewpoint. Outlook. Philosophy. That all refer to similar things when it comes to those inner drivers behind our leadership journey. How do you see the world? How do you view your part in it? Mostly, I have found
- [The Stories We Can (and should) Tell](https://bulanetwork.com/the-stories-we-can-and-should-tell/) - John Sebastian wrote the classic song that's been covered by the likes of Tom Petty, Jimmy Buffet and others. Today, join me and Lisa as we discuss narrative and the stories we can - and often should - tell. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect
- [Developing & Increasing Trust](https://bulanetwork.com/developing-increasing-trust/) - Trust. It's the bedrock foundation for all high performing teams. Excellent leaders figure out how to form it, grow and foster it. Today, we discuss the necessity to insure trust is always highly prized in our organizations. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With
- [High Performing Teams Know How To Execute](https://bulanetwork.com/high-performing-teams-know-how-to-execute/) - Today, Lisa and I talk about the importance of proper planning and execution. It's the practice of high-performing teams.
- [Becoming A More Strategic Leader](https://bulanetwork.com/becoming-a-more-strategic-leader/) - Promotions come to us because we're good at our job. We're able to accomplish things in a specific area like HR, public works, finance or economic development. The skill to operate well in micro areas doesn't mean we're equipped to operate well in macro areas. The higher up the food chain we ascend, the
- [The Responsibility Of Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/the-responsibility-of-leadership/) - Adult children often find themselves needing to take care of their aging parents. It's a responsibility we take on because it's the right thing to do. But there's more. Today, join me and Lisa as we talk about the responsibility of leadership. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for
- [Happy Holidays 2023!](https://bulanetwork.com/happy-holidays-2023/) - Thank you for giving us your time and attention. We appreciate it. Lisa and I hope you and your family enjoy a safe, happy, and fun holiday season.
- [Leadership Is Measured In How Well You Serve Others](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-is-measured-in-how-well-you-serve-others/) - The true measurement of effective leadership is how well we serve others.
- [Do You Have Leadership Growth Goals For 2024?](https://bulanetwork.com/do-you-have-leadership-growth-goals-for-2024/) - The only magical thing about the end of one year and the beginning of a new one is in our heads. Well, okay, it's not all in our heads. It's also in our body because we're another year older. But we can establish and pursue new goals at any time. We can make up
- [Be The Best YOU](https://bulanetwork.com/be-the-best-you/) - While too many seem to be craving to be like somebody else, we encourage you to be more of yourself.
- [Happy Thanksgiving 2023!](https://bulanetwork.com/happy-thanksgiving-2023/) - From me and Lisa to all of you, HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
- [If Everything Is Important, Then Nothing Is Important – Focus & Leverage (Part 2)](https://bulanetwork.com/if-everything-is-important-then-nothing-is-important-focus-leverage-part-2/) - Let's finish up our conversation on FOCUS & LEVERAGE - the notion that high-performance requires saying "no" to some things so we can say "yes" to other things.
- [Are You A Tortoise Or A Hare? - Focus & Leverage (Part 1)](https://bulanetwork.com/are-you-a-tortoise-or-a-hare-focus-leverage-part-1/) - It's the beginning of a two part conversation Lisa and I had because both of us are going through our own individual transitions, professionally and personally.
- [Investing In Leadership Development & Growth](https://bulanetwork.com/investing-in-leadership-development-growth/) - Grand Prairie, Texas Deputy City Manager Cheryl De Leon spearheads an initiative to develop high-performing leaders in the city.
- [When Your Boots Don't Match The Map, Trust Your Boots](https://bulanetwork.com/when-your-boots-dont-match-the-map-trust-your-boots/) - Sometimes leaders need to be boots on the ground. Other times, we need to be the eye in the sky. Navigating between the 2 spots is a big part of the game.
- [Being A Likable Leader](https://bulanetwork.com/being-a-likable-leader/) - Great people who are likable have a leadership leg up.
- [Lessons From Lisa: Early Stage Leadership Transition](https://bulanetwork.com/lessons-from-lisa-early-stage-leadership-transition/) - Lisa is transitioning away from being the longtime Director of HR while transitioning into a broader leadership role supervising multiple departments.
- [Compassion's Role In Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/compassions-role-in-leadership/) - Today, our show includes Lisa, the recipient of compassion and Cheryl De Leon, Lisa's boss, the deliverer of that compassion. Let's learn from their story.
- [Update: Lisa Gets A Promotion](https://bulanetwork.com/update-lisa-gets-a-promotion/) - Today we go public with news of Lisa's recent promotion to Managing Director. There are lessons for all of us. Who matters. Be valuable so you're a who for others. Relationships matter. Focus on others and be helpful. To get permission, grow where you're planted. Be grateful. Be optimistic. Be well. Do good. Grow
- [Figuring Out Hybrid Work – Part 3](https://bulanetwork.com/figuring-out-hybrid-work-part-3/) - We're up to part 3 of our hybrid work series. Previously we introduced the benefits and challenges of hybrid work, then we discussed culture. Today we're going to discuss eligibility for hybrid work. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With
- [Figuring Out Hybrid Work – Part 2](https://bulanetwork.com/figuring-out-hybrid-work-part-2/) - Today in part 2 of our series we're going to discuss the impact of culture on hybrid work. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin We encourage you to contact us. Feedback, suggestions, criticisms, insights, and experiences are
- [Figuring Out Hybrid Work - Part 1](https://bulanetwork.com/figuring-out-hybrid-work-part-1/) - Since the disruption of the Pandemic organizations have wrestled with redefining what work looks like.
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 1, 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-1-2021/) - Wednesday, September 1, 2021. Today is the first micro session in this leadership course designed to provide bite-sized nuggets of wisdom you can use beginning right now! Leadership is a) influence and b) the ability to do for others what they can't do for themselves. It doesn't have anything to do with a title or
- [Leading Through The Churn (Part 2)](https://bulanetwork.com/leading-through-the-churn-part-2/) - Lisa and I continue part 2 of our 3-part series on leading through the personnel churn.
- [Leading Through The Churn (Part 3)](https://bulanetwork.com/leading-through-the-churn-part-3/) - Today we wrap up our 3-part series on leading through the churn.
- [Leading Through The Churn (Part 1)](https://bulanetwork.com/leading-through-the-churn-part-1/) - Today we begin a 3-part series on leading through the churn.
- [3 Things You Must Do To Build A High Performing Team](https://bulanetwork.com/3-things-you-must-do-to-build-a-high-performing-team/) - Here are 3 things you must do if you're going to build a high performing team. High performing teams aren't ordinary. Or average. They're special.
- [Focus On Others To Improve Yourself](https://bulanetwork.com/focus-on-others-to-improve-yourself/) - How can we improve ourselves and achieve greater success? One major contributor is our willingness and ability to focus on others...and how we can help them.
- [You Can't Grow If You're Planted In The Wrong Place](https://bulanetwork.com/you-cant-grow-if-youre-planted-in-the-wrong-place/) - If the forest of high-performing people isn't flourishing, look at what you can do to improve the conditions - for yourself and for others.
- [I Don't Have Time To Grow My People](https://bulanetwork.com/i-dont-have-time-to-grow-my-people/) - It's the battle cry in every city. Managers lament, "I don't have time to grow my people. We've got too much work to do."
- [Own It: Individual Responsibility For The Outcome](https://bulanetwork.com/own-it-individual-responsibility-for-the-outcome/) - Everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you have made. If you want a different result, make a different choice. – Unknown Regularly I challenge my coaching clients with this question, "What would happen if you made up your mind to own it? All of it?" Everybody responds with a
- [Leadership Is Doing What You Say You'll Do](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-is-doing-what-you-say-youll-do/) - As consumer we've all experienced that awful time when people don’t do what they say. It's frustrating. Sometimes infuriating.
- [How Do You Know If Your Performance Is High?](https://bulanetwork.com/how-do-you-know-if-your-performance-is-high/) - How can we know we're high performing individually and collectively?
- [The Value Of Being Uncomfortable](https://bulanetwork.com/the-value-of-being-uncomfortable/) - If I hear the trite phrase, "comfort zone," my eyes roll up into the back of my head. But my eyes do that when I hear any number of trite phrases. Besides, I rather enjoy being comfortable. Like now that summer has arrived, here in Texas, it means you can go outside and sweat
- [What Can I Do If Leadership Doesn't Seem Interested?](https://bulanetwork.com/what-can-i-do-if-leadership-doesnt-seem-interested/) - One of the most frequently asked questions I'm asked is, "What can I do if my organization has no formal leadership development program?"
- [Talent Is Overrated](https://bulanetwork.com/talent-is-overrated/) - Is talent THE determining factor in success and high performance? Or are there other characteristics that may matter more?
- [Don't Just Find A Job. Find A Purpose.](https://bulanetwork.com/dont-just-find-a-job-find-a-purpose/) - Lisa texted me this quote, which prompted today's show. Sir Ken Robinson wrote a book a few years ago entitled, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything. He defined "the element" as the intersection where our natural aptitude and what we love meet. This is one of - if not THE
- [How Do You Know When It's Time For A Change?](https://bulanetwork.com/how-do-you-know-when-its-time-for-a-change/) - Sometimes we're faced with situations where we wonder if it's time for us to make a change. Many things can drive those feelings. There is no one size fits all.
- [How Can You Better Handle Transitions?](https://bulanetwork.com/how-can-you-better-handle-transitions/) - Let's talk about how we can better handle fears, angst and worry - especially when those are caused by a transition in our organization, or our career.
- [How Do You React To Your Team's Mistakes?](https://bulanetwork.com/how-do-you-react-to-your-teams-mistakes/) - A member of your team commits an error - an honest mistake. It negatively impacts somebody in your organization.
- [Say "NO" To The Right Things](https://bulanetwork.com/say-no-to-the-right-things/) - Everything is hard until it's easy. Everything is slow until it's fast.
- [Answering Why Helps Us Understand Ourselves & Others](https://bulanetwork.com/answering-why-helps-us-understand-ourselves-others/) - Why isn't merely a great question to suss out purpose, but it helps us better understand ourselves - and others.
- [Wait A Minute, What?](https://bulanetwork.com/wait-a-minute-what/) - Randy's computer died. So we're going to take a break since we really have no other choice...as we await the arrival of his new machine. We'll be back in April. Catch up on episodes you may have missed and we'll be back before you know it. Thanks for watching and listening. Be well. Do good.
- [Is Today Really The Worst Day Ever?](https://bulanetwork.com/is-today-really-the-worst-day-ever/) - Life is largely a matter of perspective. When you find yourself struggling, shift your thinking to focus on the things that are going well.
- [James Brandon Chief Of Police Southlake, Texas](https://bulanetwork.com/james-brandon-chief-of-police-southlake-texas/) - Chief James Brandon of Southlake, Texas joins us today.
- [Jason Little: City Manager Melissa, Texas](https://bulanetwork.com/jason-little-city-manager-melissa-texas/) - Jason Little is our guest today. Jason is the City Manager for Melissa, Texas, a growing smaller community in the DFW Metroplex.
- [Courtney Runnels Leading A Charge For Improved Mental Health](https://bulanetwork.com/courtney-runnels-leading-a-charge-for-improved-mental-health/) - Courtney Runnels joins us to discuss growing her impact to help her employer, and other cities, provide mental health services for employees and the community.
- [Personal Challenges In Professional Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/personal-challenges-in-professional-leadership/) - Compassion is defined as "a focus on others." You can't be a true leader without it because compassion and leadership are so focused on the same thing - others!
- [Ben Thatcher, City Manager - Boerne, Texas](https://bulanetwork.com/ben-thatcher-city-manager-boerne-texas/) - Ben Thatcher, City Manager for Boerne, Texas discusses leadership and change management. Ben is experienced in building high-performance organizations.
- [Dealing With Saboteurs](https://bulanetwork.com/dealing-with-saboteurs/) - What do you do with a team leader or team member who is undermining the work and the culture?
- [Grand Prairie Police Chief Daniel Scesney on Influence](https://bulanetwork.com/grand-prairie-police-chief-daniel-scesney-on-influence/) - Today we're joined by Grand Prairie Chief of Police Daniel Scesney. Daniel (he prefers to not be called 'Chief') has an extensive background in police work and leadership. A former Marine, Daniel spent years in police investigative work, including major crimes. He was promoted from being a police sergeant to assistant chief, something his
- [Facing The Uncertainty of a New Year With Optimism](https://bulanetwork.com/facing-the-uncertainty-of-a-new-year-with-optimism/) - A positive attitude brings much gratitude. Think positive, be positive, speak positive. Do it every day, make it a HABIT."
- [There Is A Purpose For Everyone You Meet](https://bulanetwork.com/there-is-a-purpose-for-everyone-you-meet/) - Lisa texted me the image below and asked, "What do you think about this quote as a show topic?" I read it quickly, then I read it more carefully. There is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some people come into your life to test you, some to teach you, some to use you,
- [To Share Or Not To Share, That Is The Question](https://bulanetwork.com/to-share-or-not-to-share-that-is-the-question/) - You're in a quandary. You're privy to some information but you're just not sure if you should share the information.
- [Stop Giving Them The Straw](https://bulanetwork.com/stop-giving-them-the-straw/) - "You can't keep getting mad at people for sucking the life out of you if you keep giving them the straw." Today's conversation focuses on accountability.
- [Happy Thanksgiving 2022](https://bulanetwork.com/happy-thanksgiving-2022/) - It's our first Thanksgiving Day week here at Grow Great and we're thankful to share it with you. Lisa and I have been honored to have your time and attention.
- [Don Norris, Empathy In Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/don-norris-empathy-in-leadership/) - Don Norris is Lisa's husband and a natural, empathetic leader. He's our guest today sharing his experience, insights, and wisdom.
- [Lean Into Being Yourself](https://bulanetwork.com/lean-into-being-yourself/) - Today's discussion isn't about telling the world to shove off (or something even less polite). It's about leaning into becoming the best version of YOU. Comparing ourselves to others is a fool's game, but wildly popular. Wishing we were like somebody else or wishing we were somebody different isn't the ideal path forward. Instead,
- [Be A Spark Plug](https://bulanetwork.com/be-a-spark-plug/) - It begins with you, the leader. The spark to build a high-performing team, and a high-performing culture...hinges on having a leader willing to be a spark plug.
- [7 Sentences You May Wish You Had Read Sooner](https://bulanetwork.com/7-sentences-you-may-wish-you-had-read-sooner/) - Weeks ago Lisa came across this social media post by Steven Bartlett, a UK-based entrepreneur/podcaster. We decided to do an episode about each one. Mostly, it provoked us to think about what sentences we would write - things we wish we had known sooner. Jokingly, I told Lisa that my list would be much
- [How Do You Reinvent Yourself?](https://bulanetwork.com/how-do-you-reinvent-yourself/) - As a Director of HR Lisa Norris, my co-host, regularly encounters professionals searching for insights about how they might reinvent themselves professionally.
- [You Can Control The Way You Respond](https://bulanetwork.com/you-can-control-the-way-you-respond/) - When you can't control what's happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what's happening. That's where your power is.
- [Giving Your Team A Story (Individually & Collectively)](https://bulanetwork.com/giving-your-team-a-story-individually-collectively/) - Today, we're going to focus on your job to provide a story for your team so they can understand where they fit and how they can make a positive difference.
- [A Chapter Doesn't Tell Your Whole Story](https://bulanetwork.com/a-chapter-doesnt-tell-your-whole-story/) - "Just because someone came in on this chapter of your life doesn't mean they know your whole story."
- [Retired City Manager Leonard Martin On Hiring Tall](https://bulanetwork.com/retired-city-manager-leonard-martin-on-hiring-tall/) - Leonard Martin enjoyed a 42-year career in city government. Well, he enjoyed much of it. ;) His career began with a paid internship in his hometown of Wichita Falls, Texas. Along the way, he worked at Malvern (Arkansas), Rollo (Missouri), Joplin (Missouri), and Edmond (Oklahoma). Leonard finished his career as the City Manager of
- [Leadership: How Can You Know If You're Good?](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-how-can-you-know-if-youre-good/) - Watching a grandson play in a junior high football game can teach many lessons, including whether or not you're as good as you think.
- [Great Leaders Don't Blame Others](https://bulanetwork.com/great-leaders-dont-blame-others/) - It speaks to the excuse-making that is so easy to do, and shows how blaming others (or anything really) isn't the path toward growing great.
- [Great Leaders Find People Who Are Best At Different Things](https://bulanetwork.com/great-leaders-find-people-who-are-best-at-different-things/) - Lisa and I define leadership in a few simple terms: a focus on others, doing for others what they can't do for themselves and positive influence
- [When Leaders Lose A Valued Team Member](https://bulanetwork.com/when-leaders-lose-a-valued-team-member/) - He drives to work calculating all the things on his to-do list. It's a never-ending stream of activities. His calendar is packed making him wonder when he's going to get any actual work done. "It is what it is," he thinks to himself. Coffee in hand, he enters the building and heads straight to
- [Leaders Encourage, Appreciate & Celebrate](https://bulanetwork.com/leaders-encourage-appreciate-celebrate/) - Today we're going to discuss the positive impact leaders have in encouraging higher performance.
- [Was Theodore Roosevelt Right About Leadership?](https://bulanetwork.com/was-theodore-roosevelt-right-about-leadership/) - Lisa and I discuss this quote by Theodore Roosevelt, "I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers."
- [Leadership Challenges](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-challenges/) - Leadership challenges persist, but they're not all created equally. Join us today as we discuss leadership challenges - and focus on the opportunities.
- [Personal Responsibility & Accountability In Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/personal-responsibility-accountability-in-leadership/) - Sometimes we urge people to "own it," meaning "accept responsibility for it." What do you think of when you hear that?
- [Humanity In Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/humanity-in-leadership/) - Connections are most easily made with people we can relate to. Trust only follows connection. That's why displays of humanity matter.
- [How To Have Crucial Conversations: Be A Buffalo](https://bulanetwork.com/how-to-have-crucial-conversations-be-a-buffalo/) - Procrastination. Hesitation. Dread. Fear. They're all employed whenever managers don't want to have the difficult - we're calling them - crucial conversations.
- [Leadership Insights: Deputy City Manager Cheryl De Leon (Grand Prairie, Texas)](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-insights-deputy-city-manager-cheryl-de-leon-grand-prairie-texas/) - Cheryl De Leon serves as Deputy City Manager over Airport, Audit Services, Budget, Communications and Marketing, Downtown, Community Services, Finance/ Human Resources, Information Technology, Library, Parks Arts and Recreation. She joins us today to discuss the art of mentoring, a topic she's passionate about to help grow leaders in city government in Grand Prairie,
- [#2213 Building & Fostering Relationships](https://bulanetwork.com/2213-building-fostering-relationships/) - Great leaders see the future first. When it comes to relationships, it means leaders see potential in others perhaps before they even see it themselves.
- [#2212 Trust: The Foundation of Your Leadership Effectiveness](https://bulanetwork.com/2212-trust-the-foundation-of-your-leadership-effectiveness/) - A lack of trust is very evident. Nothing serves as a more solid footing for effective leadership. What does it mean to trust? In a word, “confidence.”
- [#2206 - Five Leadership Recipe Ingredients](https://bulanetwork.com/2206-five-leadership-recipe-ingredients/) - Today Lisa and I introduce to you the five leadership recipe ingredients. They belong in a specific order, but you can adapt them to fit your situation best.
- [#2211 – Leadership Ingredient: Compassion](https://bulanetwork.com/2211-leadership-ingredient-compassion/) - Compassion is the high point in our leadership recipe. Simply put, compassion is a focus on others. Great leadership demands compassion.
- [#2210 – Leadership Ingredient: Understanding](https://bulanetwork.com/2210-leadership-ingredient-understanding/) - A lack of understanding is never an advantage. Now armed with facts, figures, and other forms of knowledge, leaders need to use it to make wiser decisions.
- [#2209 – Leadership Ingredient: Knowledge](https://bulanetwork.com/2209-leadership-ingredient-knowledge/) - The 3rd leadership ingredient is knowledge. Leaders face unprecedented challenges - smothered with data, numbers, intel & other forms of knowledge.
- [#2208 – Leadership Ingredient: Curiosity](https://bulanetwork.com/2208-leadership-ingredient-curiosity/) - Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it built the extraordinary leader.
- [#2207 - Leadership Ingredient: Humility](https://bulanetwork.com/2207-leadership-ingredient-humility/) - Humility is the first and most essential leadership ingredient. Without it, everything else fails. Pretense. Pride. Ego. They're killers to our leadership.
- [#2205 - Why A Focus On Others Is Great...For You!](https://bulanetwork.com/2205-why-a-focus-on-others-is-great-for-you/) - Quote: "Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence."
- [#2203 - Leading Versus Managing](https://bulanetwork.com/2203-leading-versus-managing/) - We lead people. We manage the work. Leadership is a focus on others. It's about influence and doing for others what they can't do for themselves.
- [#2204 - The Power Of Painting Yourself Into A Corner](https://bulanetwork.com/2204-the-power-of-painting-yourself-into-a-corner/) - There's a specific place where each of us can find our greatest growth. It's the corner.
- [#2202 - Getting To Know More About Lisa & Randy](https://bulanetwork.com/2202-getting-to-know-more-about-lisa-randy/) - Today we'll share a bit more about who we are and why you may want to listen to our leadership podcast. A podcast about city government leadership.
- [#2201 - Grow Great: A Podcast About City Government Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/2201-grow-great-a-podcast-about-city-government-leadership/) - It's been months in the works...a reboot of the Grow Great podcast. Lisa Norris joins me as a co-host. The podcast is now focused on city government leadership.
- [6-Month Program For Executives/Leaders & Small Business Owners Beginning 2022](https://bulanetwork.com/6-month-program-for-executives-leaders-small-business-owners-beginning-2022/) - NOTE: As of February 1, 2022 I've made an adjustment based on feedback from prospective clients. "I'm interested in starting this program, but a March start is better for me. Can I apply?" Go here for an update to this post and my pivot. Matt owned and operated a small manufacturing company (annual revenue $45M+).
- [How Can You Reboot Yourself?](https://bulanetwork.com/how-can-you-reboot-yourself/) - Thank you for clicking play on the Grow Great podcast. Warning - some sports analogies ahead! ;) I'm an OU Sooner football fan, the hazards of being born in Oklahoma. Sooner fans were shocked over a month ago when head coach, Lincoln Riley, resigned to take his talents to USC. Within weeks a new head
- [Simplify, Simplify, Simplify](https://bulanetwork.com/simplify-simplify-simplify/) - That's right. Returning to my roots and a simpler way to go. After all, the short way here to the website is GrowGreat.com. It's a terrific URL because it's short, simple and easy to remember. During the Holiday season, I engaged in a few conversations with friends about how I was craving a simpler life.
- [Thank You, Happy Holidays & Good-Bye 2021](https://bulanetwork.com/thank-you-happy-holidays-good-bye-2021/) - My work continues all the way deep into Christmas week. I guess it's the hazards of operating retail companies for so many years. I struggle to wind things down and do my best to serve clients up to and for as long as they need my help. The week between Christmas and New Year's -
- [The Power Of Scenario Questions (for hiring, management & leadership)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-power-of-scenario-questions-for-hiring-management-leadership/) - What if? It was the foundational question behind spreadsheet analysis when LOTUS and other tools were around before Microsoft brought us the defacto standard, Excel. The name Excel is a dead giveaway of the power of asking and answering "What if?" questions. It's what we all hope to accomplish. Many years ago I was heavily
- [Clients Who Demand My Best](https://bulanetwork.com/clients-who-demand-my-best/) - Those of us in the helping business - as our friends in the UK refer to it - are defined by our clients. That's why we seek out high-performing clients who demand our best. They want us to push and challenge them to get better - which means we have to get better ourselves. Birds
- [If It Is To Be...It's Up To Me (doing the hard work of improving yourself)](https://bulanetwork.com/if-it-is-to-be-its-up-to-me-doing-the-hard-work-of-improving-yourself/) - Business owners hit some point early in the process of building their business where they lament being unable to replicate themselves. This is even more so when the business owner has some innate skill that helped propel the business forward. Executives hit the same point, many because they struggle to control their control freakishness. "Give
- [How Do You Find Your Way Back?](https://bulanetwork.com/how-do-you-find-your-way-back/) - The question assumes you were once there - wherever there may be. I'm a hockey fan. Through the years I've watched countless NHL players battle injuries to get back into the lineup. Each year after one team lifts the Stanley Cup you then hear about all the off-season surgeries. Players sometimes play in every game
- [Breaking Through Your Own Resistance To Accept Help](https://bulanetwork.com/breaking-through-your-own-resistance-to-accept-help/) - It doesn’t' happen often. In fact, I've gone on record that in all my years of serving leaders I've only encountered one client who was utterly disagreeable to be helped. But that doesn’t mean all of us don't encounter times - perhaps just moments - where we're resistant to asking for, or accepting help even
- [Bula Business Builders: Helping Small Business Owners Hit The Trifecta](https://bulanetwork.com/bula-business-builders-helping-small-business-owners-hit-the-trifecta/) - Every night while sitting in the front of the TV I'd open a large accordion file where I kept manufacturers' literature on high-fidelity stereo gear. The file was alphabetized with a slot for every letter. Advent speaker literature went into the A. Thorens turntables into the T slot. I started this habit while in junior
- [Rest & Rejuvenation: How Stepping Away Can Improve Perspective and Performance](https://bulanetwork.com/rest-rejuvenation-how-stepping-away-can-improve-perspective-and-performance/) - Now that the 30-Day Micro Leadership Course is complete I'm going to keep my word and step away for a bit. As I prepare to shut things down for a while I've been thinking about rest, rejuvenation, revival, recreation, and all the various things we can do to help ourselves improve. Last week I was
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 30th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-30th-2021/) - Session 30. We're completing this short 30-Day Micro Leadership Course. My goal when we began was to provoke thoughts, beliefs, and actions. Mostly, I wanted to help you challenge yourself and your enterprise to higher human performance! My role isn't to tell you what to do, or how to do it. My role is to
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 29th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-29th-2021/) - Session 29 in our 30-Day Micro Leadership Course. Let's keep the ideas flowing about being excellent - not just in our leadership but for our team, group, or organization. Let's talk about it context of connection, collaboration, and communication. These three C's are crucial for high-performance and your leadership. By now you've figured out how
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 28th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-28th-2021/) - Day 28 of our 30-Day Micro Leadership Course. Let's continue our conversation about keeping score, measurements. About 15 years ago I decided to get more intentional about my physical health and fitness so I signed up at a gym. From the get-go I went five days a week for about 45 minutes to an hour.
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 27th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-27th-2021/) - Day 27. Four more sessions including today and then we're have completed our 30-Day Micro Leadership Course, a series of about 5 hours of real-world leadership coaching. You're doing the work. I'm only here to help spur you on to do the work by showing you a few things you may not have considered, by
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 26th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-26th-2021/) - Session 26. These are the last five sessions. But don't zone out because these are going to be important lessons for your leadership journey. Back on day 15, we talked about writing your story. Let's circle back around to that today with a context you may not have considered. To keep things simple, let's consider
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 25th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-25th-2021/) - Day 25. The countdown begins as we're winding our way down in this 30-Day Micro Leadership Course, but we're going to finish strong with some pivotal lessons. The vertical pressures every leader must manage are "boots in the dirt" versus "eye in the sky." Now we're going to consider the horizontal pressures, "YOU" versus "a
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 24th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-24th-2021/) - Day 24. There are four distinct pressures I always cover in my leadership coaching. These are in contrast to the trite subject of "balance." Somebody may have figured out balance, that perfect mixture of business and personal. Work-life and personal life. It's an impossible feat as far as I know. Instead, there are priorities...which are
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 23rd 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-23rd-2021/) - Day 23 of our 30-Day Micro Leadership Course. Difficult conversations. How do you handle these? How does your culture deal with them? Hiding is pretty common. Maybe not physically, but sometimes it could be. Avoiding is hiding. Does that describe how you react to tough conversations? It's a common way of handling things. Ignore it
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 22nd 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-22nd-2021/) - September 22, 2021. Day 22 of our 30-Day Micro Leadership Course. Daily communication. Yesterday we focused on the DNA kind of message - the communication that tells everybody why we're here together, what we're doing and how we're doing it. In my experience, conciseness and candor pay. Bigtime. Before we go further about any kind
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 21st 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-21st-2021/) - Ten more days until we're done with this short 30-Day Micro Leadership Course. The course is micro, but not your leadership. ;) Let's get busy concentrating on creating and sustaining a high-performance culture. I likely could have devoted every session of this course to one topic: communication. Communication is the easy scapegoat for all that
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 20th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-20th-2021/) - Day 20. Monday, September 20, 2021. Pride. And I'm not talking about the pride we take in doing great work. I'm talking about pride as in our ego. Our quest and desire to have power and authority. Every leadership failure you experience will occur or be worsened because of your pride. We can lose our
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 19th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-19th-2021/) - Day 19. September 19, 2021. While most of the things contained in this 30-Day Micro Leadership Course are timeless, there is a current disruption that may last for years - the great resignation. Google it and you'll be overwhelmed with search results. There are millions of people who, thanks to the Pandemic and other reasons,
- [How To Get The Most Out Of Executive Coaching (And How To Sabotage Your Own Coaching Experience)](https://bulanetwork.com/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-executive-coaching-and-how-to-sabotage-your-own-coaching-experience/) - Since 2007 I've successfully coached a variety of clients from business owners, CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CTOs, Directors, City Managers, Deputy or Assistant City Managers, HR Directors, attorneys, and entrepreneurs. So far I've only had one - that's right, one single exception - where the client experience (and my own) wasn't as fruitful as it should
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 16th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-16th-2021/) - Day 16. September 16, 2021. Writing your story means architecting your life. Living the life you most want to live. Hopefully, that means being as good as you can be. Today, we're thinking about telling our story. We want to pursue our ideal outcome and give high effort to growing and improving. We also want
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 18th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-18th-2021/) - Happy Saturday. It's day 18 of our 30-Day Micro Leadership Course. We're now leaning heavily toward a discussion about elevating our leadership in order to establish a high-performance culture inside our organizations. Before we dive more deeply into that I think we need to make a distinction between management and leadership. We lead people. We
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 17th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-17th-2021/) - Day 17. September 17, 2021. Employment has been disrupted more in the past 18 months than at any other time in my lifetime. The Pandemic, government economic incentives (or whatever else you'd like to call them), and people migrating from one place to another - it's all led to major problems for employers all over
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 15th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-15th-2021/) - Here we are at the halfway point in our 30 Day Micro Leadership Course. Day 15, September 15, 2021. Writing Your Story View your life like a book comprised of many chapters. Your name is on the cover. You alone are writing the story. There may be many characters who are part of your story,
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 14th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-14th-2021/) - Welcome to day 14 of our 30 Day Micro Leadership Course. We've covered an awful lot of ground and I hope you're finding the course helpful so far. Just remember, there's a vast difference between knowing and doing. Make sure you put things into practice. We want this information to benefit you in real life.
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 13th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-13th-2021/) - Day 13. September 13, 2021. Welcome back to our 30-Day Micro Leadership Course. "A change will do you good," sings Sheryl Crow. She's right. ? That doesn't make it popular or easy. Transforming ourselves is arduous work. I suspect many people rather enjoy being stuck because it's comfortable. "The devil you know" and all that.
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 12th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-12th-2021/) - Day 12. Sunday, September 12, 2021. Today we're talking about creating! Specifically, I'm talking about you creating your own ideas, philosophies, beliefs, and courses of action rather than relying on experts, thought leaders, authors, or even podcasters. ;) Research has shown the powerful impact teaching or coaching can have on the person doing the teaching
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 11th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-11th-2021/) - Twenty years ago today. It was a Tuesday morning. We had the NBC Today Show on the TV as we were getting ready. Sometime after 7:30 am Central the news hit. Something horrific was happening in NYC at the World Trade Center towers. It was - and still is - surreal. And the phrase, Nine-Eleven,
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 10th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-10th-2021/) - Day 10. After today we're one-third of the way through this micro leadership course. I hope you've been ruminating on your leadership and working to figure out how to improve. Today, let's talk about decluttering, consuming, and creating. Decluttering is ridiculously powerful. Hard, but powerful. No, I'm not talking about going through your office and
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 5th & 6th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-5th-6th-2021/) - Welcome to days 5 and 6 of our 30-Day Micro Leadership Course...for Sunday, September 5th and 6th. Labor Day Weekend and out-of-town company, coupled with just too much stuff going on derailed my continuity briefly. Hey, it happens. So we adapt, right? So today let's compress two days into a single episode. We're going to
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 9th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-9th-2021/) - Happy 70th birthday to my sister! Hard to believe we've both grown old, but here we are. Her name is Lexie. So I'm giving her a shout out today. We're on day 9 of our 30 day micro course and today we're going to talk about potential. What could be so we avoid what might
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 8th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-8th-2021/) - Day 8. Session 8 of our 30-Day Micro Leadership Course. Yesterday I mentioned management theory X and Y. These are important because how you choose to see the world and your place in it matters greatly to your leadership potential. Theory X basically puts forth that people will not do work - much less good
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 7th 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-7th-2021/) - Influence. Doing for others what they're unable to do for themselves. That's leadership. It's not power. Or authority. Or being in charge. It's not about being the boss. We're so fixated on titles, positions, and power that we often overlook or discount leadership. We think authority is the key to it all. But it's not.
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 2, 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-2-2021/) - Let's single out the component of the progression of leadership. First, let's discuss how it's not just a progression, but it's more of an ongoing recipe. If we think of these components as check-the-box things, we'll miss the point. Like a recipe, sometimes we may need to lean more on one of them more heavily.
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 3, 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-3-2021/) - Day 3. September 3rd, 2021. Welcome to the 30 Day Micro Leadership Course. Yesterday we began talking about the leadership recipes - the components that makeup what I've long called the "leadership progression." Humility is the foundation. Until we make sure we're on the firm footing of humility, nothing else can be built. So let's
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course (September 4, 2021)](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course-september-4-2021/) - Day 4. September 4, 2021. Let's continue where we left off yesterday with our next ingredient or component, knowledge. Some folks think this should go first, but I've intentionally placed humility and curiosity in front of it because without those knowledge acquisition is impossible. Just log onto any social media platform and find a post
- [What's Your Ideal Outcome? (Why Optimism Fuels Higher Performance)](https://bulanetwork.com/whats-your-ideal-outcome-why-optimism-fuels-higher-performance/) - Transcript of today's special episode where I pull back the curtain on my coaching process. Welcome to high-impact influence the podcast. The website is Grow Great dot com, you can also get there by going to High Impact Influence dot com, but Grow Great dot com is just easier to remember. I'm your host Randy
- [The 6 Components of Leadership Influence](https://bulanetwork.com/the-6-components-of-leadership-influence/) - How do you elevate your performance so you can add value to your team? How do you make a bigger difference? It's not about you, but it begins with you because we've already defined leadership as influence. Namely, your influence! But how? There are six components of effective leadership influence. Don't look at these as
- [A Leadership Primer: What's Your Point Of View?](https://bulanetwork.com/a-leadership-primer-whats-your-point-of-view/) - Perspective matters. How we see the world and our place in it largely determines our behavior. Take some time today and think about that more deeply. Here are some questions that can help get you started. Why am I doing what I'm doing? How would you describe what you do? If you were one of
- [Grow Great Becomes High-Impact Influence](https://bulanetwork.com/grow-great-becomes-high-impact-influence/) - To say yes, first we have to say no. No to the other things that would require our time and attention. Yes to the things we want to pursue. This podcast has morphed as my life and career have morphed. It's never been a drastic change, but over time a change in just a few
- [Greg Jones: Leadership Insights (From Georgia Tech To The Startup World To Restauranteur)](https://bulanetwork.com/greg-jones-leadership-insights-from-georgia-tech-to-the-startup-world-to-restauranteur/) - ? Greg Jones is currently the owner of the Beehive Neighborhood Hangout, Xplore family of restaurants, and Co-Owner of Artfully Baked and Brewed in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. But his roots are in hi-tech. Armed with a computer science degree from Georgia Tech, Greg entered the real world by way of startups. Eventually, he found
- [Traction & Momentum: Pursuing The Things That Work After Killing The Things That Don't](https://bulanetwork.com/traction-momentum-pursuing-the-things-that-work-after-killing-the-things-that-dont/) - Do more of what works. Do less of what doesn't. But that sounds easy. Empty even. Kind of like urging people who want to be rich with an admonition, "Get a million dollars!" Great advice. But how? Today's show is going to be full of vulnerability. Not whining or complaining, but explaining. Experience and insight
- [Progression of Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/progression-of-leadership/) - I don't remember when I sketched out this progression. It was many years ago, sparked by my frequent witness of too many people who were all the smartest people in the room. I knew that wasn't possible. There were simply too many of them. My teen years working for various tyrants had a big
- [The Role of Safety In High-Performance Cultures (Season 2021, Episode 13)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-role-of-safety-in-high-performance-cultures-season-2021-episode-13/) - First, a definition. Psychological Safety. That's the common label for the kind of safety we're speaking of today. Of course, physical safety is equally paramount. Even in the brutal training of military special forces, safety during the training is stressed. Participants may feel as though they're going to die as they push to never-before-experienced extremes.
- [Persistent Learning (Season 2021, Episode 12)](https://bulanetwork.com/persistent-learning-season-2021-episode-12/) - Persistence is defined as: • continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition • continuing to exist or endure over a prolonged period Learning is defined as: the acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, study, or by being taught High-performing organizations have a superior commitment to persistent
- [43 Years Of City Leadership: Tom Hart, City Manager of Grand Prairie, Texas (Season 2021, Episode 11)](https://bulanetwork.com/43-years-of-city-leadership-tom-hart-city-manager-of-grand-prairie-texas-season-2021-episode-11/) - Tom Hart has served as Grand Prairie City Manager since 1999. Prior to that, Hart was Assistant City Manager and later City Manager in Euless for 16 years. He was one of the youngest city managers in the history of Texas when he served as City Manager in The Colony from 1978-1981. Known for his
- [Dr. David Childs On Level 5 Leadership Traits - Part 1 (Season 2021, Episode 10)](https://bulanetwork.com/dr-david-childs-on-level-5-leadership-traits-part-1-season-2021-episode-10/) - Today, I'm rejoining Dr. David Childs, Ph.D. for a conversation about what Jim Collins referred to in his books as Level 5 Leadership. David is highly qualified in high-performance leadership. In 2015 he published a book, The Organization Whisperer: 12 Core Actions That Ripple Excellence Through Your Organization. I encourage you to connect with him
- [Where Are Your Guaranteed Lifetime Benefits? (Season 2021, Episode 9)](https://bulanetwork.com/where-are-your-guaranteed-lifetime-benefits-season-2021-episode-9/) - This photograph was taken sometime in 1982. Today's episode is from the now unpublished archives. It was recorded on Friday, May 11, 2012. I resurrected it because recent client work went where it always seems to go sooner than later. Personal. Struggles. Sorrows. Challenges. Opportunities. It made me think about how we're human, all of
- [Sheri Chaney Jones: Measuring High-Performance Impact In The Public Sector (Season 2021, Episode 7)](https://bulanetwork.com/sheri-chaney-jones-measuring-high-performance-impact-in-the-public-sector-season-2021-episode-7/) - ? Joining me today via Zoom is Sheri Chaney Jones. She is an expert on public sector evaluation and applied organizational research. Sheri is the President and Founder of Measurement Resources, a consulting company dedicated to helping the social sector with performance management, evaluation, and organizational behavior. She is also the author of Impact &
- [Camille Neyhouser: Repassionate Your Organization (Season 2021, Episode 8)](https://bulanetwork.com/camille-neyhouser-repassionate-your-organization-season-2021-episode-8/) - ? Camille Neyhouser is the Owner and Founder of Repassionate Your Organization (RYO). Camille helps organizations revolutionize their vision, employee motivation & engagement, productivity, and income. She helps leaders build/rebuild their organizations with passion, purpose & inner power. Prior to founding her own company, Camille had a 14-year career with the most reputable international development
- [Lessons In Time Management As Taught By The Movie, Groundhog Day (Season 2021, Episode 6)](https://bulanetwork.com/lessons-in-time-management-as-taught-by-the-movie-groundhog-day-season-2021-episode-6/) - Last Tuesday was February 2nd, 2021 - Groundhog Day. AMC played the movie staring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell on constant repeat all day that day. I know 'cause I watched it twice. Rotten Tomatoes gives the movie a 96% on the Tomatometer. Here's how they summarize the movie, for you slackards who have never
- [A Conversation With High-Performing Leader Tommy Gonzalez, El Paso's City Manager (Season 2021, Episode 5)](https://bulanetwork.com/a-conversation-with-high-performing-leader-tommy-gonzalez-el-pasos-city-manager-season-2021-episode-5/) - Tommy Gonzalez is an impressively high performing leader with a vast and varied experience that includes a 22-year career in military service where he was a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army. In 2014 he was appointed the City Manager of El Paso, Texas, the 21st largest city in America with an annual budget of
- [This May Be The Key To Being More Adaptive (Season 2021, Episode 4)](https://bulanetwork.com/this-may-be-the-key-to-being-more-adaptive-season-2021-episode-4/) - Being adaptive is innate in all of us. Human beings have power no other animal has - the ability to adapt quickly! Because of our brainpower, we can adjust and adapt fast! Faster than any creatures on the planet. Humans have the ability to project and consider various outcomes. We're able to think about what
- [Are These 7 Things As Effective As I Think? (Season 2021, Episode 03)](https://bulanetwork.com/are-these-7-things-as-effective-as-i-think-season-2021-episode-03/) - I'm a solopreneur. In 1994 I read my first book (I think) about being a one-person business. It was a book by Terri Lonier entitled, Working Solo. I'm not even sure why I bought the book because I was leading a fairly sized company at the time. Working solo wasn't even on my radar. At
- [This Is Always The Path To Improvement (Season 2021, Episode 02)](https://bulanetwork.com/this-is-always-the-path-to-improvement-season-2021-episode-02/) - Yesterday's Know-How May Not Answer Today's Challenges. That was my original title for today's show but I changed it. I have the following quote on my About page... Do not assume I'm going to take issue with the late, great Peter Drucker because I'm not. I believe he was right. However, I'm not terribly anxious
- [Two Important Questions Every Leader Must Ask & Answer (Season 2021, Episode 01)](https://bulanetwork.com/two-important-questions-every-leader-must-ask-answer-season-2021-episode-01/) - During the early stages of morphing yourself into a high-performing culture, you can embrace a new level of creativity (aka innovation) when you commit to taking a harder look at what you're doing. That means you individually and you collectively. Being too close to things is problematic because it robs us of the ability to
- [Grow Yourself, Grow Others & Make A Difference – Season 2020, Episode 40](https://bulanetwork.com/grow-yourself-grow-others-make-a-difference-season-2020-episode-40/) - Van is a manager. Experienced. Being a boss is important to Van. He enjoys having people answer to him. Beth is a manager. Inexperienced. She never thinks about being "the boss." She's busy helping her direct reports do better. Based only on this information, which one do you think is making a difference - a
- [A Conversation With The Organization Whisperer, David Childs, PhD – Season 2020, Episode 39](https://bulanetwork.com/a-conversation-with-the-organization-whisperer-david-childs-phd-season-2020-episode-39/) - Serendipity happened. I was traveling. Part business, part pleasure. I walked into a place to get some information and came face to face with a man who had spent decades in Texas. The fact was, he lived in the DFW area for many years - the place I had driven from for this trip. He
- [Anticipate & Pursue The Ideal Outcome (Creating High-Performing Cultures) – Season 2020, Episode 38](https://bulanetwork.com/anticipate-pursue-the-ideal-outcome-creating-high-performing-cultures-season-2020-episode-38/) - The Peer Advantage by Bula Network is a new initiative that I've been working on this year. Like most things, I've gotten it wrong until I could figure out how to get it right. And I have a client to thank for helping me figure it out. NOTE: If you want to dig through my
- [Giving Thanks, Greeting Winter & Making Plans – Season 2020, Episode 37](https://bulanetwork.com/giving-thanks-greeting-winter-making-plans-season-2020-episode-37/) - The air is clear but cool. It's about 40 degrees. I'm staring at some woods, watching chipmunks, squirrels and all kinds of birds flitter around. Chilling out means exhaling. Inhaling, too. Slowly. Deliberately. But naturally. The kind of breathing that helps melt away whatever may be vexing a person's emotions or thoughts. And I'm thankful.
- [Finding & Forging Safe, Profitable Relationships – Season 2020, Episode 36](https://bulanetwork.com/finding-forging-safe-profitable-relationships-season-2020-episode-36/) - We're approaching Thanksgiving Day here in America. One week away. Our personal growth is significantly impacted by other people. Within the past few weeks, I've conducted a few leadership workshops. I regularly illustrate our ability to help each other by telling stories of people - particularly older men - who influenced me. These were men
- [Multiple Opinions: Using The Insight Of Others To Reach Our Ideal Outcome – Season 2020, Episode 35](https://bulanetwork.com/multiple-opinions-using-the-insight-of-others-to-reach-our-ideal-outcome-season-2020-episode-35/) - Sometimes we do. Sometimes we don't. He's had some problems and he knows something isn't right, but he's scared to find out. Eventually, he goes to the doctor. Tests are run. Then he waits. Anxious, fearful, but working hard to convince himself that it's not going to be anything serious he's contacted by the doctor's
- [Grow Great with Randy Cantrell (Returning To My Roots To Fuel Greater Growth) - Season 2020, Episode 34](https://bulanetwork.com/grow-great-with-randy-cantrell-returning-to-my-roots-to-fuel-greater-growth-season-2020-episode-34/) - I won't bury the lead. I'm going back to the long-used podcast show title, Grow Great with Randy Cantrell because it's always been and will always be about leadership. And true leadership starts with us, our determination to lead our lives in ways where we have the most positive impact on others. It still involves
- [Investing In Yourself, Training Yourself – Season 2020, Episode 33](https://bulanetwork.com/investing-in-yourself-training-yourself-season-2020-episode-33/) - I don't know anybody who relishes getting up in the morning to attack the day in hopes of achieving a mediocre outcome. But that happens in the lives of too many people. They lumber out of bed, prepare for the day with a quick stop by their favorite coffee joint in a mindless routine of
- [The Human Side Of Enterprise, Douglas McGregor and The Quest For The Ideal Outcome – Season 2020, Episode 32](https://bulanetwork.com/the-human-side-of-enterprise-douglas-mcgregor-and-the-quest-for-the-ideal-outcome-season-2020-episode-32/) - Douglas McGregor was a founding faculty member of MIT's Sloan School of Management. In 1960 he published, "The Human Side Of Enterprise." The book is most noted for introducing the world to Theory X and Y. Simply put, Theory X assumes workers are lazy and unambitious while Theory Y assumes workers are internally motivated, want
- [A Conversation With Leo Bottary, Author of PEERNOVATION – Season 2020, Episode 31](https://bulanetwork.com/a-conversation-with-leo-bottary-author-of-peernovation-season-2020-episode-31/) - I first met Leo Bottary via an email I sent him. A cold email. He had no clue who or what I was. I had read his first book (co-authored with Leon Shapiro, CEO of Vistage) - THE POWER OF PEERS. I wanted to see if Leo had any interest in starting a podcast. I
- [Changing Your Point-Of-View – Season 2020, Episode 30](https://bulanetwork.com/changing-your-point-of-view-season-2020-episode-30/) - I'm like Picasso. No, I'm not great at art, but I'm not great at math, either. Neither was he evidently. During his early school years when the teacher asked him to write the number 4 on the board, he'd see it as a nose, then proceed to draw the rest of the face. The other
- [Anticipating The Desired Outcome: Why It's Fun To Aim For The Ideal – Season 2020, Episode 29](https://bulanetwork.com/anticipating-the-desired-outcome-why-its-fun-to-aim-for-the-ideal-season-2020-episode-29/) - Perfectionism seems to be a thing that people enjoy claiming. Others enjoy pointing out the futility of it and how it can provoke procrastination. We've talked in the past about how if you're going to do something, it's worth putting in the effort to do it well. Today's show smacks of a similar theme -
- [I'm Not The Sharpest Knife In The Drawer, But I Am A Knife (The Power Of Curiosity) – Season 2020, Episode 28](https://bulanetwork.com/im-not-the-sharpest-knife-in-the-drawer-but-i-am-a-knife-the-power-of-curiosity-season-2020-episode-28/) - When it comes to understanding people and situations I've not found anything more powerful than curiosity. Curiosity drives understanding. When our curiosity is low, our quest to understand is low, too. How do we know? We stop asking questions. Mostly because we either lack curiosity, we don't care or we think we know enough already.
- [If It's Worth Doing, It's Worth Doing It Well – Season 2020, Episode 27](https://bulanetwork.com/if-its-worth-doing-its-worth-doing-it-well-season-2020-episode-27/) - Business folks know the old maxim, "If you don't have time to do it right, then when will you have time to do it over?" Experience has proven how true it is. Still, it's often harder to figure out how to do it right the first time. Sometimes we don't know how to do it
- [The Questions That Make All The Difference In Your Leadership (and your life) – Season 2020, Episode 26](https://bulanetwork.com/the-questions-that-make-all-the-difference-in-your-leadership-and-your-life-season-2020-episode-26/) - Today's show is about two areas where we exercise our point of view and four questions that can make all the difference in our lives and our leadership. First off, you should know I don't fancy myself as a thought leader. I abhor that title, especially when people ascribe it to themselves. Even on my
- [Triage & Post-Mortem Your Actions – Season 2020, Episode 25](https://bulanetwork.com/triage-post-mortem-your-actions-season-2020-episode-25/) - Robert woke up around 5:30 in the morning, more tired than when he went to bed. Back in mid-March, his company was outpacing their projections so significantly his team was wondering how they had failed to more accurately project revenues and profits. At the time, back in the fall of 2019, Robert's team was skittish
- [Humility Is The Path Forward – Season 2020, Episode 24](https://bulanetwork.com/humility-is-the-path-forward-season-2020-episode-24/) - Admittedly, humility is a trite topic when we're talking about leadership. It gets lots of lip service, but less practice. Humility sounds wonderful as a characteristic, but many people disbelieve it has real power. And real power is largely what folks clamor to obtain. Those who have it can be desperate to hang onto it.
- [The Destructive Power Of Restlessness – Season 2020, Episode 23](https://bulanetwork.com/the-destructive-power-of-restlessness-season-2020-episode-23/) - Since I wasn't alive during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, this is my first pandemic experience. But I have experienced disruption. My working life really began during major disruption in the 1970s because of the oil crisis. Thankfully, I was a teen and didn't know any better (or different). From then until now I've
- [In Memory Of The Man Who Gave Me Scars](https://bulanetwork.com/in-memory-of-the-man-who-gave-me-scars/) - Dr. James Vincent Bonnet , MD was an orthopedic surgeon who practiced in Grapevine, Texas. Last night news of his death arrived via text message. He was my doctor of choice for the past decade plus. If Dr. Bonnet had been a general physician, I'd have gone to see him more often. As it turned out,
- [What Do We Have In Common? – Season 2020, Episode 22](https://bulanetwork.com/what-do-we-have-in-common-season-2020-episode-22/) - Two extremes. One is our tendency to notice things just like the things we own. If you drive Limerock Edition of a BMW M3 you'll quickly notice anybody else driving the same car. That flashy orange is easy to spot. But you don't have to drive something quite so exotic. You'll notice every car on
- [Profitable Disagreement – Season 2020, Episode 21](https://bulanetwork.com/profitable-disagreement-season-2020-episode-21/) - Is the ideal really full compliance and cooperation? I suppose it depends on the situation. What's the context of the group or team? What's the purpose of their coming together? Lots of factors might influence how we approach things...and will influence our expectations, too. First, we ought to define what we mean by compliance and
- [The Litmus Test Questions – Season 2020, Episode 20](https://bulanetwork.com/the-litmus-test-questions-season-2020-episode-20/) - Technically, a litmus test is used to test the acidity or alkaline content of something, but we often use it more generically to mean a decisively indicative test. Some means of determining the validity of something. Eight or nine weeks into this global pandemic have shown us the best of us and the worst of
- [Opportunities In Leadership – Season 2020, Episode 19](https://bulanetwork.com/opportunities-in-leadership-season-2020-episode-19/) - During the past seven weeks as we've mostly been sequestered to stay-at-home due to the Covid19 pandemic, my conversations have organically focused on one big question. Where are the opportunities? As I've worked with business owners and other executives who are part of larger leadership teams, it was understandable that everybody - including me -
- [Create Smart Rooms - Emotional Health: A Leadership Necessity – Season 2020, Episode 18](https://bulanetwork.com/create-smart-rooms-emotional-health-a-leadership-necessity-season-2020-episode-18/) - The trifecta of business building that I consistently talk about culminates in the third leg of "not going crazy in the process." Get new customers Serve existing customers better Don’t go crazy in the process I'm not a mental health professional, nor do I claim any expertise in the area. However, I'm very accomplished in
- [Overcoming The Shock Of Global Disruption – Season 2020, Episode 17](https://bulanetwork.com/overcoming-the-shock-of-global-disruption-season-2020-episode-17/) - Here in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, we began to be safe at home five weeks ago. Many Americans didn't think March would ever end. Now it seems like April won't either. Just today Dallas County's city council voted to keep the stay at home order in place until May 15th. This global coronavirus pandemic has
- [Bula! Doing My Small Part To Help Small Business Owners – Season 2020, Episode 16](https://bulanetwork.com/bula-doing-my-small-part-to-help-small-business-owners-season-2020-episode-16/) - Last week I made the decision to open up The Peer Advantage by Bula Network to SMB owners without any financial cost to members. I also decided to open it up globally to English speaking SMB owners. Those major changes were made due to the current coronavirus pandemic. I want to be a valuable resource
- [Quiet Time & And A Big Announcement - Season 2020, Episode 15](https://bulanetwork.com/quiet-time-and-a-big-announcement-season-2020-episode-15/) - Bula! No, I don't have a coronavirus. Or any other physical malady. Just an urge. To be quiet for a bit. Which includes being more careful about what I consume. Catching up on some much-needed reading, polishing some workshops I've been working on, writing and avoiding the panic-driven hysteria as much as possible. I'll be
- [Are You Morally Flexible? – Season 2020, Episode 14](https://bulanetwork.com/are-you-morally-flexible-season-2020-episode-14/) - Mike Ehrmantraut, the cleanup guy in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, asks soon-to-be-known as Saul Goodman attorney, Jimmy McGill... "Are you still morally flexible?" I'm not including the word "still" because I'm going to assume the best. That you're morally inflexible, unwilling to do just anything for a buck. Jimmy became Saul Goodman because
- [Attracting & Hiring Willing People – Season 2020, Episode 13](https://bulanetwork.com/attracting-hiring-willing-people-season-2020-episode-13/) - I officially entered the workforce when I was 16. Unofficially I had been working summers for at least 3 years prior. I'd hear managers and business owners complain about how hard it was to find "good people." Initially, I understood "good people" to mean people who were reliable. That was about it. Would they show
- [Speaking To Your Team For Higher Performance – Season 2020, Episode 12](https://bulanetwork.com/speaking-to-your-team-for-higher-performance-season-2020-episode-12/) - “A good speech should be like a woman's skirt; long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest.” - Winston S. Churchill Sir Winston had a way with words. That's for sure. Many bosses and leaders regularly address their team. Most of the time, these presentations or speeches are delivered during rather
- [Your Fears Don't Care – Season 2020, Episode 11](https://bulanetwork.com/your-fears-dont-care-season-2020-episode-11/) - “When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Age and experience have taught me
- [Make It So Easy You Can't Avoid Doing It – Season 2020, Episode 9](https://bulanetwork.com/make-it-so-easy-you-cant-avoid-doing-it-season-2020-episode-9/) - As much as I love the anonymous quote --- "Everything is hard until it's easy" --- there's a powerful way to move forward toward an accomplishment. Make it so easy you can't avoid doing it. There's lots of ancient wisdom about tackling a task by breaking it down into smaller tasks. Hence the idea expressed
- [True Confessions: A Conversation With Me – Season 2020, Episode 10](https://bulanetwork.com/true-confessions-a-conversation-with-me-season-2020-episode-10/) - Earlier in the week, I had a conversation with somebody and I recorded my side of it because it felt like the conversation was going in a direction where I thought you could benefit. I edited it into some material that I hope encourages and inspires you. Enjoy this special Friday episode of the podcast.
- [Make Friends Of People Who Want Your Best (And People For Whom You Want What's Best) – Season 2020, Episode 8](https://bulanetwork.com/make-friends-of-people-who-want-your-best-and-people-for-whom-you-want-whats-best-season-2020-episode-8/) - Look around. At your friends. At the people who surround you. The people with whom you interact the most. These people who influence your life. These people with whom you spend much or most of your time. Echoing the law of averages, motivational speaker Jim Rohn said that we're the average of our 5 closest
- [Valentine's Day: Heart Stuff Isn't Just For Romance – Season 2020, Episode 7](https://bulanetwork.com/valentines-day-heart-stuff-isnt-just-for-romance-season-2020-episode-7/) - Happy Valentine's Day. I know. An odd thing for business. But not really. All business is comprised of both head and heart. Well, to be fair and accurate --- it's all head stuff. Brain stuff. That's where all the heart stuff happens. We tend to think of it in more simplistic terms though. Head is
- [Compassion: The Missing Link – Season 2020, Episode 6](https://bulanetwork.com/compassion-the-missing-link-season-2020-episode-6/) - “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” - Aesop The return we get - let's start out thinking about ourselves because that's what we tend to do anyway (put ourselves first) - from kindness is immeasurable. Never mind the benefit we can provide to others. Then why is compassion so rare?
- [Questions: The Key To Improved Group (and individual) Understanding – Season 2020, Episode 5](https://bulanetwork.com/questions-the-key-to-improved-group-and-individual-understanding-season-2020-episode-5/) - High-performing groups and teams are fixated on one big thing - understanding! The key to understanding is one simple, but not always easy activity - asking questions. Being high-performing isn't easy. Ever. It takes hard work, dedication and know-how. It also requires discipline to engage in continuous activities that will foster high-performance. Most teams or
- [One Chapter Does Not Tell Your Whole Story – Season 2020, Episode 4](https://bulanetwork.com/one-chapter-does-not-tell-your-whole-story-season-2020-episode-4/) - The power of others is most evident when we get into trouble. The trouble that we create through our own foolishness, negligence or stupidity. I know you don't want to admit it, but we've all experienced it. Nobody is immune. All of us have written awful chapters in our lives. Hopefully, we didn't make them
- [The High Value Of Caring Challenges – Season 2020, Episode 3](https://bulanetwork.com/the-high-value-of-caring-challenges-season-2020-episode-3/) - Last week I read yet another article about the dangers of executive coaching. One of the dangers listed was the morphing of the relationship into a friendship where the coach is no longer pushing or challenging the client. Over time they've become friends and now things are different. It prompted me to go back and
- [Leverage Others To Be More Creative In Solving Problems – Season 2020, Episode 2](https://bulanetwork.com/leverage-others-to-be-more-creative-in-solving-problems-season-2020-episode-2/) - Making decisions. Solving problems. It's THE job of top-level executives and business owners. The higher up the food chain, the more critical the decisions and solutions. Lower level or mid-level decisions have an impact, but they're not as high risk as those made in the C-suite. Even so, it's important for an organization to help
- [Introducing The Power Of Others Podcast - Season 2020, Episode 1](https://bulanetwork.com/introducing-the-power-of-others-podcast-season-2020-episode-1/) - 2020 is getting a lot of appropriate buzz as a year for clearer vision. It remains to be seen if we can leverage it the way we hope. According to U.S. News & World Report, 80% of New Year's resolutions fail by mid-January. Other surveys report that well over 90% of all resolutions fail somewhere
- [Happy Friday The 13th: Good-Bye! (352)](https://bulanetwork.com/happy-friday-the-13th-good-bye-352/) - Cue Tom Petty's classic hit song from his fabulous Wildflowers' album, Time To Move On. ? Tom's singing about divorce, but if I were singing the song it'd be about my long-last professional shift. Today, I hope you get some value as I rehearse with you the general angst and execution (or lack) of the
- [Customer Attraction: What's Your One Big Brand Advantage? (351)](https://bulanetwork.com/customer-attraction-whats-your-one-big-brand-advantage-351/) - Dig out that SWOT analysis. It'll come in handy. Part of figuring out your best moves to ratchet up your branding is to figure out what customers really want, what you're really good at and what weaknesses exist in the competition. There's no magic to it. It's a basic formula to help you create the
- [Customer Attraction: Building A Brand (350)](https://bulanetwork.com/customer-attraction-building-a-brand-350/) - What do your sales conversations sound like? What do they look and feel like? You may think that brand building isn't even a third cousin to sales conversations. Positioning your brand has much to do with the sales conversation. "Everybody knows our brand. We've spent millions through the years getting our name out there." There
- [Customer Attraction: Be Genuine (349)](https://bulanetwork.com/customer-attraction-be-genuine-349/) - Let's get something out of the way. If you're genuinely a jerk, then this won't work well. ;) Genuine means you're real, not hypocritical. It means you're YOU. Whatever that is. I can explain using myself (as always, it's easier to pick on myself than to pick on somebody else). Here are a few bullet-point
- [Losing A Who (348)](https://bulanetwork.com/losing-a-who-348/) - After today I'll be away the rest of the week because I lost another WHO in my life. Who you surround yourself with matters! I've surrounded myself with some important WHOs. Over the weekend I lost one of them, a very close family friend I've known all my life. His son, Stanley, was my lifelong
- [Thanksgiving Is The Enemy Of Discontent And Dissatisfaction (347)](https://bulanetwork.com/thanksgiving-is-the-enemy-of-discontent-and-dissatisfaction-347/) - “We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” - Harry A. Ironside Harry was a preacher in Chicago. Anybody familiar with the Bible has to have an awareness of gratitude and being thankful. Mostly to God, but also for each other and whatever we've
- [Marketing In The Moment: Multiply Your Marketing (346)](https://bulanetwork.com/marketing-in-the-moment-multiply-your-marketing-346/) - We wrap up this week's series on Marketing In The Moment with some thoughts about multiplying our marketing. One obvious way to do that is with money, but writing checks isn't my point today. If you can write bigger checks and effectively drive business growth, then by all means...write the checks. Most of us don't
- [Marketing In The Moment: Measure Your Marketing (345)](https://bulanetwork.com/marketing-in-the-moment-measure-your-marketing-345/) - A UK business guy produced a brilliant little video about how 1 in 8 men in the UK have NO FRIENDS. Entrepreneurship is lonely. Extremely so. The Peer Advantage by Bula Network doesn't promise to provide you lifelong friends, but the value proposition does include removing the loneliness of owning and operating your business. It's
- [Marketing In The Moment: Monitor Your Marketing (344)](https://bulanetwork.com/marketing-in-the-moment-monitor-your-marketing-344/) - Marketing In The Moment - A 3-Part Series This week I plan to briefly discuss marketing. Today we start things off with monitoring your marketing. Wednesday we'll talk about measuring your marketing and on Friday we'll discuss multiplying your marketing. By monitoring I mean you take a good, hard look at your marketing. So many
- [The Speed Of Small Adjustments (343)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-speed-of-small-adjustments-343/) - This week the focus has been on details and seemingly small things. Because they can make all the difference. Let's end this week with a focus on speed. Especially the speed with which we can make small adjustments. I wish I were a guitar player, but I'm not. I've just dreamed about it since I
- [Details Make The Difference (And Make Your Business Better) (342)](https://bulanetwork.com/details-make-the-difference-and-make-your-business-better-342/) - I grew up in retailing, which is closely related to the hospitality business. Little things matter. "The devil is in the details." This is why small percentages of improvement can garner big differences in performance. It's the 80/20 rule or maybe better yet the 95/5 rule. There seems to be statistical evidence behind the 80/20
- [Make Being Different Better (341)](https://bulanetwork.com/make-being-different-better-341/) - Be different. We mean, "Be different in a good way." One of the very first marketing and advertising lessons I learned was the power of zigging when everybody else was zagging. The point was simple, but not easy. You have to stand out from the crowd. Separating yourself from the competition may be easier in
- [Gotta Learn To Hit The Curveball (340)](https://bulanetwork.com/gotta-learn-to-hit-the-curveball-340/) - I watch just enough baseball to be dangerous. When Pudge Rodriguez was catching for the Texas Rangers I remember going to a few games. His arm at throwing out runners attempting to steal a base was spectacular. Much more so in person than on TV. Since I was young I was probably more fascinated at
- [Failure Is Always An Option (339)](https://bulanetwork.com/failure-is-always-an-option-339/) - "Failure is not an option." Another platitude that sounds good, but is colossally wrong. Failure is possible in everything. And probable, too. That's just the truth. Fact. Does that mean you should fear it? Not necessarily. More importantly, you should likely prepare for it. Not by bracing for it, but by planning worst-case-scenario. So often
- [Making Your Systems Employee & Customer Friendly (338)](https://bulanetwork.com/making-your-systems-employee-customer-friendly-338/) - Oklahoma Sooner's head football coach Lincoln Riley has a reputation as a quarterback whisperer. His two previous QB's are Heisman Trophy winners. Part of his claim to fame is the ability to simplify the position. He installs game plans and plays that QB's can more easily execute. It's what he should do as a head
- [Amplify Relationships (337)](https://bulanetwork.com/amplify-relationships-337/) - "The central economic imperative of the network economy is to amplify relationships." That's what Kevin Kelly wrote in New Rules For The New Economy. Self-awareness is hard. VERY hard. Schools don't help. I know better than to do what I did, but I did it anyway. Because sometimes I'm a ninnie. My 12-year-old grandson is
- [Creating Conditions For Success (336)](https://bulanetwork.com/creating-conditions-for-success-336/) - No, it's not a secret. There are no secrets to success. It requires hard work, preparation, skill, talent, timing, serendipity, and good luck. I'm probably leaving something out, but you get the idea. I live in Tornado Alley. Tornado activity is highest in the Spring, but within the last month, we had extensive damage from
- [How To Interview Job Candidates (335)](https://bulanetwork.com/how-to-interview-job-candidates-335/) - Small business owners often struggle to recruit, hire, train and retain people. For good reason, most don't have a formal HR department headed with a professional equipped to navigate the modern personnel landscape. There are a few things every small business owner can do to make the interview part of the process more impactful. Many
- [They Know How To Listen (334)](https://bulanetwork.com/they-know-how-to-listen-334/) - A few years ago I stumbled onto a group - a non-profit based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It wasn't because I qualified to join their ranks. But it was because I read some heartbreaking story of a father whose daughter was murdered. His pain was obvious and he mentioned how people disappeared on him in his
- [Should You Tell Them, Or Ask Them? (333)](https://bulanetwork.com/should-you-tell-them-or-ask-them-333/) - Earlier this year I lost a lifelong mentor. He had battled health problems for a number of years, but his death came quite unexpectedly. Last week I was speaking with a buddy about mentors and surrounding yourself with people who can ideally serve you. Mostly we were talking about how rare and important it is
- [The Answer To "What's Important?" Is The Name Of Somebody You Love (332)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-answer-to-whats-important-is-the-name-of-somebody-you-love-332/) - "What's important?" The answer can vary from hour to hour. Sometimes, minute to minute. But that's business. And while it can consume our life, it's not our life. Not really. I missed recording a show Monday because life got in the way. It happens. It's happened to you. It happens to everybody. Matt Kearney is
- [Alone (331)](https://bulanetwork.com/alone-331/) - Feeling all alone is a serious ailment. It's not fatal. Not necessarily. But it can be if you don't get unstuck from it. Leaders too often get stuck in loneliness because the team isn't a team any more. Maybe they never were. Not as much as they should be. They may have once been but
- [Surviving Success (330)](https://bulanetwork.com/surviving-success-330/) - Dog chases car. Dog catches car. Dog has no idea what to do with car. Success can be like that. We spend so much time pursuing it that once we achieve it, we're not sure what to do next. Yeah, I know - it's a great problem to have. But it seems that no sooner
- [A Definite Plan, A Burning Desire (329)](https://bulanetwork.com/a-definite-plan-a-burning-desire-329/) - It's ancient advice for earning wealth. And I use the term "wealth" very loosely. Financial gain. It's effective advice for accomplishing most things. Just about anything. A definite plan. A burning desire. "Anybody can wish for riches, and most people do, but only a few know that a definite plan, plus a burning desire for
- [Once You Find It, Follow It (328)](https://bulanetwork.com/once-you-find-it-follow-it-328/) - No, it's not passion. No, it's not some willy-nilly dream. No, it's not some mythical north star. It's who and what you are. It's the essence of YOU. Lately one of the most common conversations I have is about what Donald O. Clifton, the father of the StrengthsFinder movement, called "soaring with your strengths." Simply
- [Understanding How People Really Buy - Part 2 (327)](https://bulanetwork.com/understanding-how-people-really-buy-part-2-327/) - Curiosity and common ground. Those are two ingredients for helping prospects break their autopilot behavior. How? Storytelling. Help them imagine what your product or service will do for them. You put them into the story and have them experience it. We're all able to project ourselves into some future circumstance. As we imagine it, we
- [Understanding How People Really Buy - Part 1 (326)](https://bulanetwork.com/understanding-how-people-really-buy-part-1-326/) - Salespeople tend to think features will make a difference. If only their product or service included something it doesn't yet have...then their sales success would be possible. "Customers want _________ (they'll talk about something specific that's missing from their current offer)." Disruption is the order of the day. It's not new and it's here to
- [Don't Fence Me In (325)](https://bulanetwork.com/dont-fence-me-in-325/) - In 1945 Gene Autry released a recording of the song that hit #4 on the charts. By then the song was about 10 years old. Through the years it's been covered by lots of people from Harry Connick, Jr. to The Killers to Willie Nelson. It's a country and western song that depicts the yearning
- [The Genius Of Being Bold (324)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-genius-of-being-bold-324/) - Genius gets more freely thrown around than hero. Both are grossly overused. But I'm still going to use genius when it comes to today's topic of boldness. Bold has some terrific synonyms. Daring Fearlessness Bravery Courage Audacity Confidence Enterprise Grit Guts Moxie I rather like them all. Now you can better understand why I'm going
- [Metcalfe's Law: The Value Of A Network (323)](https://bulanetwork.com/metcalfes-law-the-value-of-a-network-323/) - Metcalfe's Law was originally about telecommunications networks. The value of a network grows in proportion to the square of the number of users, which means once a network reaches a certain size, it becomes somewhat irresistibly attractive. Tim Sanders in his classic book, LOVE IS THE KILLER APP, wrote this: "Someday this will be true
- [The Quickest Way To Improve? Change Your Inner Circle](https://bulanetwork.com/the-quickest-way-to-improve-change-your-inner-circle/) - Today I want to share with you an irresistible offer for entrepreneurs craving to grow their business, their leadership, and their life. The aim is to hit two business building trifectas: Getting new customers Serving existing customers better Not going crazy in the process That's the first trifecta that we all hope to hit. But
- [Being A Better You: Be Reflective (322)](https://bulanetwork.com/being-a-better-you-be-reflective-322/) - Some famous people are famously impolite. Coach Bob Knight. Billy Bob Thorton. Justin Bieber. But to be fair these people have a disadvantage. Fame. Fortune. People clamoring to be close to them. What's your excuse? ;) Some leaders are miserable human beings. They're unpleasant, impolite and rude much of the time. I know that's not
- [Conversations: They're About Heart & Meaning (321)](https://bulanetwork.com/conversations-theyre-about-heart-meaning-321/) - Conversations have bound humans since the beginning. Yes, the VERY beginning. Talking with one another. Talking with God. Conversations are about expressions of our heart. Quite literally, conversations answer the question, "What's on your mind?" Society stopped listening. I'm not sure when it happened, but the Internet isn't the culprit. Digital technology may have contributed
- [The Basic Ingredients of Leadership According To Warren Bennis (320)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-basic-ingredients-of-leadership-according-to-warren-bennis-320/) - Back in episode 318 we talked about the first basic ingredient of leadership according to famed leadership expert Warren Bennis - GUIDING VISION. Let's kick this week off with a brief discussion on the other ingredients Mr. Bennis found foundational to effective leadership. Guiding Vision (see episode 318) Passion - Bennis felt this was next
- [You Have To Understand Why You're Winning And Why You're Losing (319)](https://bulanetwork.com/you-have-to-understand-why-youre-winning-and-why-youre-losing-319/) - True confession: I'm not a baseball fan. I only watch it when the league championship finals begin. But I recently heard a radio interview with the manager of the Texas Rangers, Chris "Woody" Woodward. While answering a question about what being a first-year major league manager he uttered that quote. You have to understand why
- [Guiding Vision: The First Basic Ingredient Of Leadership (318)](https://bulanetwork.com/guiding-vision-the-first-basic-ingredient-of-leadership-318/) - Warren Bennis, the brilliant, but reluctant expert on leadership believed a guiding vision was the first ingredient of leadership. Leaders need to have a clear vision of what they want to do. They also have to possess the determination and resolve to persist through setbacks, even failures. Where are you going? Personally and professionally? It
- [Create A Movement: The Best Way To Implement Change (317)](https://bulanetwork.com/create-a-movement-the-best-way-to-implement-change-317/) - Transformative change. It's been a popular business phrase for a very long time. Transformative means... causing a marked change in someone or something I guess folks mean something substantial. Something that sticks and has a big impact. One reason this podcast is entitled Grow Great is that I view growth as the goal. Maybe it
- [Building Your Ideal Team (316)](https://bulanetwork.com/building-your-ideal-team-316/) - NFL pundits claim this year's Dallas Cowboys' roster is Super Bowl quality. Time will tell. They've got to play the games. They're certainly throwing big dollars around. Time will tell. I can't remember the last time I passed an entire week without talking with a business owner or CEO about constructing a better team. The
- [Technology, Future-Proofing & Efficiency (315)](https://bulanetwork.com/technology-future-proofing-efficiency-315/) - One of my first big technology projects involved custom programming for a point-of-sale (POS - and you thought it stood for something else ;) ) system. Programmers were on site almost round the clock for months and the cost was out of control. Nightmare doesn't begin to describe it. Disaster doesn't either. It was a
- [The Three Holiday R's - Rest, Recovery, Rejuvenation (314)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-three-holiday-rs-rest-recovery-rejuvenation-314/) - Today in America we're heading into a holiday weekend, Labor Day. Monday will be a holiday for many folks, providing a 3-day weekend. This is typically considered the last holiday of the summer or the first holiday of autumn. After this weekend we'll hit a dry spell until THE holiday season with Thanksgiving in late
- [Are You In Touch With Your Business's Touchpoints? (313)](https://bulanetwork.com/are-you-in-touch-with-your-businesss-touchpoints-313/) - One of the more memorable books in my library was published in the summer of 1987. It was written by the Jan Carlzon, CEO of SAS Group, owner of the airlines Scandinavian Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines Ireland. I had been reading of him in the business press so I was anxious to read the book
- [Nights Spent Around The Table (312)](https://bulanetwork.com/nights-spent-around-the-table-312/) - If you were King Arthur you'd have knights to gather at the roundtable. But you're not a king. Much less King Arthur. But you spend nights around the table. Likely fretting about decisions. Trying to figure out what to do. Searching for the best answers to your perplexing questions. Leadership is hard. It taxes the
- [13 Weeks To Change Your Life (311)](https://bulanetwork.com/13-weeks-to-change-your-life-311/) - The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin was first published in 1793. In the 1916 edition editor, Frank Woodworth Pine wrote this in the introduction... Franklin is a good type of our American manhood. Although not the wealthiest or the most powerful, he is undoubtedly, in the versatility of his genius and achievements, the greatest of our
- [The Power Of Yet (310)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-power-of-yet-310/) - "In a minute," maybe a teenager's favorite phrase when asked to do something by their parents. As parents, we understand that if we don't continue to insist, the proverbial minute will never arrive. Our kids will never get around to taking out the trash, or whatever other chores we're asking them to do. Yet is
- [You Know What You Need To Do, Then Why Don't You Do It? (309)](https://bulanetwork.com/you-know-what-you-need-to-do-then-why-dont-you-do-it-309/) - This is going to help you because I'm going to pull the curtain back and walk you through why I changed the name and strategy of the podcast not that long ago...and why I'm now changing it again. First, let me tell you about my experience in completely changing - and I mean COMPLETELY CHANGING
- [Make Something Good Happen (308)](https://bulanetwork.com/make-something-good-happen-308/) - Everything good is sales. Everything bad is lack of sales. Go ahead. Argue against it. Push back. But I know what I'm talking about. I've experienced dreadful lease negotiations. I've participated in tense and uncomfortable vendor negotiations. I've experienced fires and break-ins. I know what it is to lose a good key employee. I know
- [Ruts Are Habits With More Polite Labels (307)](https://bulanetwork.com/ruts-are-habits-with-more-polite-labels-307/) - Getting your vehicle stuck in a rut ain't fun. And it can be difficult to get yourself out. Which is why sometimes we have to get somebody to pull or tow us out of a rut. In life, our ruts are just our habits. Sometimes we call them what they truly are, but more polite
- [How CEOs Can Better Leverage The Power Of Others (306)](https://bulanetwork.com/how-ceos-can-better-leverage-the-power-of-others-306/) - For the past few years, I've worked with and alongside Leo Bottary. We do a podcast together - WHAT ANYONE CAN DO PODCAST (the title is taken after Leo's latest book). On Wednesday we recorded an episode centering around an article Leo wrote for CEO WORLD Magazine entitled, How Great CEOs Maximize Peer Relationships. Today
- [The Power Of Friendship On A Career (305)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-power-of-friendship-on-a-career-305/) - It was one of the first business books I ever read. I can't be sure, but I think my grandfather (my mother's father) had a copy. The book was published in 1949. It's the classic book on selling by Frank Bettger, "How I Raised Myself From A Failure To Success In Selling." There's been a
- [Strength To Open Up: The 18th Rare Element (304)](https://bulanetwork.com/strength-to-open-up-the-18th-rare-element-304/) - I'm an introvert who can often appear like an extrovert. I follow a few social media accounts dealing with introversion. Just because. I chuckled over the weekend when I saw an Instagram post by IntrovertDear. Dentist: Open up, please. Me: Sometimes I get sad. (Oh, you meant my mouth) There seem to be three basic
- [The Power Of Being Pushed Forward (303)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-power-of-being-pushed-forward-303/) - Was Magic Johnson pushed by the likes of Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas? Were they benefited by competing against him? Did Phil Mickelson push Tiger Woods? And vice versa? People playing the same sport, but competing. Peers, but competitors. Each likely benefiting from the sheer presence of the other, knowing if they didn't do their
- [Hypotheticals To Help Us Improve Our Business Realities (302)](https://bulanetwork.com/hypotheticals-to-help-us-improve-our-business-realities-302/) - A group of business owners is gathered. They're from different industries and different markets. But they're all safe with one another because they share a common existence. They're business owners. Each well acquainted with the strains, struggles, and joys of running their own enterprise. This isn't some good 'ol boys network club. Fact is, almost
- [Safety & The Right Kind Of Emotional Energy (301)](https://bulanetwork.com/safety-the-right-kind-of-emotional-energy-301/) - Safety and encouragement. They're vital to our ability to grow, overcome adversity and battle whatever life is tossing our way. Here's a worthwhile daily admonishment... Help somebody feel safe today. The topic had a genesis over at my hobby podcast, LeaningTowardWisdom.com, which I've dubbed #CravingEncouragement. The idea took form out of the professional conversations I
- [Helping People Find Smarter Rooms: The Power Of Peers (300)](https://bulanetwork.com/helping-people-find-smarter-rooms-the-power-of-peers-300/) - Let's start with a press release that came out on Tuesday, July 16, 2019. It could be found at Yahoo! Finance, among other places. Since this is a podcast permit me to share it with you. It’s not terribly long. Leo Bottary Announces the Launch of Peernovation July 16, 2019 New company will help business
- [Asking & Answering Tough Questions - Grow Great Daily Brief #241 – July 8, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/asking-answering-tough-questions-grow-great-daily-brief-241-july-8-2019/) - When I was about 27 I uttered a statement one afternoon while my team was wrestling with some customer service challenges. "The quality of our questions determines the quality of our business." The statement was provoked by our company's inability to consistently deliver the experience I wanted. Dumb problems were frustrating me. Problems I felt
- [Why You Should Join A Peer Advantage Group (But Not Mine) – Grow Great Daily Brief #240 – July 2, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/why-you-should-join-a-peer-advantage-group-but-not-mine-grow-great-daily-brief-240-july-2-2019/) - Small business owners. CEOs. Executives. Leaders. Whether you're a #1 or a #2 or a team leader...surrounding yourself with others who are like you is one of THE most powerful learning, understanding and growing tools you can find. Business people in every role, up and down the authority chain, benefit from being around others who
- [Happy Birthday, Second Half Of 2019 – Grow Great Daily Brief #239 – July 1, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/happy-birthday-second-half-of-2019-grow-great-daily-brief-239-july-1-2019/) - Today I want to provoke you to take a quantum leap forward. It may be uncomfortable. Maybe it'll be exciting. Let's just give it our best to make it profitable. Learning. Understanding. Growing. Let's start with a word. An important word. One that should remain at the forefront for you the rest of this year
- [Making Failure Temporary – Grow Great Daily Brief #238 – June 28, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/making-failure-temporary-grow-great-daily-brief-238-june-28-2019/) - Increasingly I'm convinced there is one factor that is far superior to all others in determining our success. Some of my favorite terms are... Tenacity Resilience Ferocity They speak to a person's refusal to quit. And I'm not talking about quitting things that aren't working. Or quitting things that we discover we don't want to
- [Small Business Is A Description, Not A Condition – Grow Great Daily Brief #237 – June 27, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-is-a-description-not-a-condition-grow-great-daily-brief-237-june-27-2019/) - Almost 30 years ago I had a conversation with an owner of a small business who was lamenting the smallness of his business (which wasn't so small really since he was generating multi-millions in annual revenue). "I'm not a neighborhood store, " he complained. "They want to make me a neighborhood store." I reminded him
- [I Hate To Lose, But I Hate Not Playing More – Grow Great Daily Brief #236 – June 26, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/i-hate-to-lose-but-i-hate-not-playing-more-grow-great-daily-brief-236-june-26-2019/) - Growing up in the era where business was considered a zero-sum game - meaning, I win at your expense or you win at my expense - competition was fostered. Prized. You wanted to dominate and ruin the competition. The object, which never happened in my experience, was to have the market all to yourself. In
- [7X7 Fast Start Small Business Coaching – Grow Great Daily Brief #235 – June 25, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/7x7-fast-start-small-business-coaching-grow-great-daily-brief-235-june-25-2019/) - “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” —Viktor Frankl Speed is a crucial component when it comes to making meaningful change. The sooner we begin the
- [Who You Surround Yourself With Matters - Grow Great Daily Brief #234 - June 24, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/who-you-surround-yourself-with-matters-grow-great-daily-brief-special-episode-june-22-2019/) - The Peer Advantage by Bula Network is now enrolling charter members. Today's show is a brief outline of why you may want to consider applying today. This is a paid, professional peer advantage group (a mastermind group, if you please) where we collectively work to help each other grow our business, our leadership and our
- [Three Leadership Shortages: Stewardship – Grow Great Daily Brief #233 – June 21, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/three-leadership-shortages-stewardship-grow-great-daily-brief-233-june-21-2019/) - Stewardship is the last of the 3 leadership shortages I've focused on this week. There are so many more, but it can be like grabbing a porcupine. You just don't know where to start so you may as well start somewhere. Service was the first one. It's a focus on doing what's right by your
- [Three Leadership Shortages: Servitude - Grow Great Daily Brief #232 – June 20, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/three-leadership-shortages-servitude-grow-great-daily-brief-232-june-20-2019/) - We continue our conversation about the 3 leadership shortages I see regularly. Today's topic will seem identical to yesterday's. SERVITUDE. the state of being a slave or completely subject to someone more powerful Yesterday we focused on serving your people. It's about putting the needs of your people ahead of your own. Today it's about
- [Three Leadership Shortages: Service - Grow Great Daily Brief #231 – June 19, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/three-leadership-shortages-service-grow-great-daily-brief-231-june-19-2019/) - Starting today we're going to get our toes in the water on the three shortages I regularly see in leadership: service, servitude, and stewardship. Honestly, there are MANY leadership shortages. I'm just looking at these 3 over the next three days. You should know my bias. Leadership isn't about position. It's about service. Let's frame
- [Forgiveness: It's Good For Business (and your employees) – Grow Great Daily Brief #230 – June 18, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/forgiveness-its-good-for-business-and-your-employees-grow-great-daily-brief-230-june-18-2019/) - Touchy feely fru fru alert! Forgiveness is a quality of the highest character. Something we should all aspire to incorporate into our lives, something we should elevate and increase as much as possible. I know revenge and getting even is deemed more fulfilling, but that's a lie. They're not. They damage us more deeply. Forgiveness
- [Rewards & Consequences: Getting The Performance You Need From Employees – Grow Great Daily Brief #229 – June 17, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/rewards-consequences-getting-the-performance-you-need-from-employees-grow-great-daily-brief-229-june-17-2019/) - All of us learned the proverbial truth that what you reward gets done. And that what gets measured can be improved. The tougher lesson learned - and one I talked about a bit in the previous show - is that we sometimes get the rewards wrong. Which means we get the wrong outcomes. Who among
- [Let's Solve The Problem By Stop Making It Worse (Listening Matters) – Grow Great Daily Brief #228 – June 14, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/lets-solve-the-problem-by-stop-making-it-worse-listening-matters-grow-great-daily-brief-228-june-14-2019/) - It's comically effective. Very much so. "Is there anything you've tried that has worked better than anything else you've tried?" They answer, "Yes." I respond with, "Then do more of that and stop doing all that other stuff." At which point I'll smile and say, "Good night, everybody!" If it goes well (and it always
- [The Value Of People Who Know Something You Don't – Grow Great Daily Brief #227 – June 13, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/the-value-of-people-who-know-something-you-dont-grow-great-daily-brief-227-june-13-2019/) - Listening is learning. Choosing to learn is superior to choosing to be the smartest person in every room you enter. It's born of our curiosity. How curious are you? To learn and understand things you don't yet know...or understand? Have you ever stumbled down a rabbit hole to learn something that suddenly jumped onto your
- [People Who Want What's Best For You – Grow Great Daily Brief #226 – June 12, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/people-who-want-whats-best-for-you-grow-great-daily-brief-226-june-12-2019/) - We can be a miserable lot. Humans. History has proven our capacity to treat one another poorly. The first children ever born demonstrate it. Cain killed his brother Abel. According to the FBI, 24.8% of homicides are committed by family members. Just imagine how horrific we can behave toward people we don't even care about.
- [People Aiming Higher vs. People Aiming Lower – Grow Great Daily Brief #225 – June 11, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/people-aiming-higher-vs-people-aiming-lower-grow-great-daily-brief-225-june-11-2019/) - Recently I've been leveraging the power of character strengths to help leaders and business owners figure out improved team alignment. It begins with leaders having an enlightened awareness of their own character. This isn't a talent or skill based strength. Rather, it's character. It's much more geared toward the essences of who you are at
- [Why You Should Ignore The Power Of Others – Grow Great Daily Brief #224 – June 10, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/why-you-should-ignore-the-power-of-others-grow-great-daily-brief-224-june-10-2019/) - Happy Monday! I'm picking on today's topic because today is my wife's birthday. And she's living proof - at least to me - of the power of others. We began dating as teenagers and have been married for over 41 years. To imagine going through this life without her power is beyond what I'm able
- [Let's Pursue The Impractical (And Be Unreasonable) – Grow Great Daily Brief #223 – June 7, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/lets-pursue-the-impractical-and-be-unreasonable-grow-great-daily-brief-223-june-7-2019/) - I'm a practical person. And rather proud of it. But the strength can be a weakness when it's deployed too much. Or in the wrong way. For instance, it can prevent me from thinking big enough. But it never prevents me from idealism - so I can be a walking contradiction much of the time.
- [How I See It: The Value Of Outside Perspectives – Grow Great Daily Brief #222 – June 6, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/how-i-see-it-the-value-of-outside-perspectives-grow-great-daily-brief-222-june-6-2019/) - "That's not how I see it." We've all used that sentence. Some more than others. Question: how open are you to understand another perspective? About anything. But let's keep this business related. In the past few weeks, my work has revolved heavily around helping CEOs deal with roster issues. In some cases, the CEO doesn't
- [The Slaughterhouse Of Failure Is Not My Destiny – Grow Great Daily Brief #221 – June 5, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/the-slaughterhouse-of-failure-is-not-my-destiny-grow-great-daily-brief-221-june-5-2019/) - That line is part of the first page of Og Mandino's book, The Greatest Salesman In The World. I will persist until I succeed. That's another line from the same passage. Both lines address something other than a positive affirmation of the desire to achieve something, but they speak to one of our greatest challenges
- [Why Wait For Something Bad To Happen Before We Change? – Grow Great Daily Brief #220 – June 4, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/why-wait-for-something-bad-to-happen-before-we-change-grow-great-daily-brief-220-june-4-2019/) - It's true in our lives and in our businesses. We make adjustments - changes and improvements - when something isn't working very well. Usually, when things aren't working at all or when something is truly broken. Within an hour of arriving at the office, Jeff has Katherine sitting across from him. She's been his executive
- [You Need Something Better – Grow Great Daily Brief #219 – June 3, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/you-need-something-better-grow-great-daily-brief-219-june-3-2019/) - Last week I watched an interview with Dr. Jordan Peterson. The conversation turned toward alcohol. Particularly, getting off of it - breaking the addiction to it. Said Peterson, "Alcohol is a really good drug. It's effective. But you need something better." He went on to extol the virtues of finding things more productive, valuable and
- [Freedom To Decide Who Impacts Us – Grow Great Daily Brief #218 – May 31, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/freedom-to-decide-who-impacts-us-grow-great-daily-brief-218-may-31-2019/) - We'll wrap up this week's freedom theme with some thoughts about the freedom to decide the people who we'll allow to impact our lives. It's the idea Leo Bottary and I concentrate on in our podcast, WHAT ANYONE CAN DO. Who you surround yourself with matters! YourLifeCounts.org is the website for a suicide prevention organization.
- [Freedom To Grow – Grow Great Daily Brief #217 – May 30, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/freedom-to-grow-grow-great-daily-brief-217-may-30-2019/) - Let's put the G on the end of LUG - learn, understand, grow. Today we continue this series on freedom since Monday was Memorial Day here in the United States. The freedom to grow! Growth has pains. But that doesn't make it bad. When I was young I had leg aches. My dad would come
- [Freedom To Understand – Grow Great Daily Brief #216 – May 29, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/freedom-to-understand-grow-great-daily-brief-216-may-29-2019/) - LUG = learning, understanding, growing Today's let think about appreciating and taking advantage of our freedom to understand. Life is about leadership if only in the sense that every one of us is responsible for leading our own lives. As business owners, executives and entrepreneurs we're also responsible for leading our organizations. The spectacular thing
- [Freedom To Learn – Grow Great Daily Brief #215 – May 28, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/freedom-to-learn-grow-great-daily-brief-215-may-28-2019/) - Yesterday was Memorial Day here in America. That makes it a fitting week to focus on freedom. Today let's consider our freedom to learn. As entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, and leaders we should be on the frontline of learning. Daily in our organizations, we're challenging people to improve so it only makes sense that we
- [I'm Thankful To Live In A Free Country – Grow Great Daily Brief #214 – May 27, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/im-thankful-to-live-in-a-free-country-grow-great-daily-brief-214-may-27-2019/) - Today is a national holiday here in the States. It's Memorial Day. It's a day for remembering and honoring people who have died while serving in the military. I'm not thankful for wars or the politics and emotions that foster them. But I am thankful to have been born in a free country. American citizenship
- [Creating A Culture Intent On Delivering Customer Happiness – Grow Great Daily Brief #213 – May 24, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/creating-a-culture-intent-on-delivering-customer-happiness-grow-great-daily-brief-213-may-24-2019/) - Let's wrap up this week's theme on customer happiness with some discussion on creating a culture that is intent on delivering it. It's not overly complicated, but making the decision can be. I'll jump right in and tell you why a fanatical customer happiness culture is hard. Math. That's right. Math gets in the way.
- [Do For One What You'd Like To Do For The Many – Grow Great Daily Brief #212 – May 23, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/do-for-one-what-youd-like-to-do-for-the-many-grow-great-daily-brief-212-may-23-2019/) - I'm a big fan of this customer happiness strategy. My wiring is such that I look for opportunities to do it. But I love terms like dazzle and remarkable. Better yet I love to deliver those kinds of experiences. Let me illustrate what it looks like. I once had a customer of a retailing company
- [The Peer Advantage: Intentionally Leveraging The Power Of Others (Special May 21, 2019 Episode)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-peer-advantage-intentionally-leveraging-the-power-of-others-special-may-21-2019-episode/) - New information is invigorating. Especially if you're curious. You ARE curious, aren't you? Curious enough to figure out what you may not know? Or to figure out something a bit better that you thought you may have already figured out? The other day I was discussing books with a friend. We were challenging each other
- [Flush The Systems: It's Time To Make Things Simpler – Grow Great Daily Brief #211 – May 22, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/flush-the-systems-its-time-to-make-things-simpler-grow-great-daily-brief-211-may-22-2019/) - How old is your business? It's only relative to how bloated your systems may be. But maybe not. I've seen start-ups with bloated systems, too. Over time things tend to get more complex, not simpler. We have to be very intentional to keep things simple, clean and straight-forward. I once took leadership of a company
- [Stop Looking At The Competition – Grow Great Daily Brief #210 – May 21, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/stop-looking-at-the-competition-grow-great-daily-brief-210-may-21-2019/) - How do you measure up as a business owner? How do you measure up as a leader? How does your business stack up? People mostly gauge such things by looking externally, not internally. We look around at other people and other businesses. Then we mentally (mostly emotionally) compare ourselves and our business. We don't feel
- [How's The User Interface Of Your Business? – Grow Great Daily Brief #209 – May 20, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/hows-the-user-interface-of-your-business-grow-great-daily-brief-209-may-20-2019/) - This week's theme is the customer experience. Namely, customer happiness! Today let's focus on the user interface of your business. The easy way to think of this is touchpoints. Sit down and make a note of every touchpoint your business has with a prospect or customer. Over the past few weeks, you've heard me talk
- [Figuring Out Where You Want To Go – Grow Great Daily Brief #208 – May 17, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/figuring-out-where-you-want-to-go-grow-great-daily-brief-208-may-17-2019/) - Yesterday we talked about figuring out what you want to change about yourself. Today let's focus on where you want to go. I'm not assuming that where you are currently isn't where you want to be, but I will assume it's not where you want to stay. I'm not advocating feeling dissatisfied, discontented or unhappy
- [Figuring Out How To Own Your Stuff – Grow Great Daily Brief #207 – May 16, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/figuring-out-how-to-own-your-stuff-grow-great-daily-brief-207-may-16-2019/) - Today's show is brought to you by The Peer Advantage by Bula Network, a professional paid peer advisory group - a mastermind group - for small business owners from around the United States. Find out all the details at ThePeerAdvantage.com. Today we're continuing our series on self-awareness by focusing on accepting responsibility for ourselves. All
- [Figuring Out What You Need To Change – Grow Great Daily Brief #206 – May 15, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/figuring-out-what-you-need-to-change-grow-great-daily-brief-206-may-15-2019/) - This week’s theme is self-awareness. I landed on this theme due to the many people I encounter who spend way too much time comparing themselves. It’s why I intentionally built the foundation last week focused on your mental health. Now we’re going to work at getting very real with ourselves. It’s not about who or what
- [Figuring Out What You Believe – Grow Great Daily Brief #205 – May 14, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/figuring-out-what-you-believe-grow-great-daily-brief-205-may-14-2019/) - This week’s theme is self-awareness. I landed on this theme due to the many people I encounter who spend way too much time comparing themselves. It’s why I intentionally built the foundation last week focused on your mental health. Now we’re going to work at getting very real with ourselves. It’s not about who or
- [Figuring Out What You Love – Grow Great Daily Brief #204 – May 13, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/figuring-out-what-you-love-grow-great-daily-brief-204-may-13-2019/) - This week's theme is self-awareness. I landed on this theme due to the many people I encounter who spend way too much time comparing themselves. It's why I intentionally built the foundation last week focused on your mental health. Now we're going to work at getting very real with ourselves. It's not about who or
- [Feelings Follow Behavior – Grow Great Daily Brief #203 – May 10, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/feelings-follow-behavior-grow-great-daily-brief-203-may-10-2019/) - Back in 2010 I saw an online article entitled, "Action Creates Emotion: Want to change how you're feeling? Change what you're doing." In the summer of 1971, a team of researchers led by Psychology professor Phillips Zimbardo divided a group of undergraduates randomly into two groups, prisoners and prison guards, and arranged for them to
- [Happiness: Should It Be Our Goal? – Grow Great Daily Brief #202 – May 9, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/happiness-should-it-be-our-goal-grow-great-daily-brief-202-may-9-2019/) - Today, let's continue this week's focus on our mental health. Unlike physical health, we tend to think mental health is for other people, not us. We're not unhealthy mentally. Or so we think (even though we give it hardly any considerations). We don't always take care of ourselves like we should. Few topics get as
- [Stop Lying To Yourself – Grow Great Daily Brief #201 – May 8, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/stop-lying-to-yourself-grow-great-daily-brief-201-may-8-2019/) - This week’s theme is your mental health. Each week we’ll explore a single topic that impacts the lives of small business owners. Usually, the topics apply to executives and leaders in most any arena. You’re smart. You can make the application as it suits you. I’m just here to help you figure it out. Randy
- [Resisting The Daily Promotion Of Fear – Grow Great Daily Brief #200 – May 7, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/resisting-the-daily-promotion-of-fear-grow-great-daily-brief-200-may-7-2019/) - This week’s theme is your mental health. Each week we’ll explore a single topic that impacts the lives of small business owners. Usually, the topics apply to executives and leaders in most any arena. You’re smart. You can make the application as it suits you. I’m just here to help you figure it out. Randy
- [Laughing As A Form Of Courage – Grow Great Daily Brief #199 – May 6, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/laughing-as-a-form-of-courage-grow-great-daily-brief-199-may-6-2019/) - This week's theme is your mental health. Each week we'll explore a single topic that impacts the lives of small business owners. Usually, the topics apply to executives and leaders in most any arena. You're smart. You can make the application as it suits you. I'm just here to help you figure it out. Randy
- [Transformational Leadership: Culture – Grow Great Daily Brief #198 – April 26, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/transformational-leadership-culture-grow-great-daily-brief-198-april-26-2019/) - Culture is defined like this... the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group Investopedia offers this definition of corporate culture... Corporate culture refers to the beliefs and behaviors that determine how a company's employees and management interact and handle outside business transactions. It'd be easy to take
- [Transformational Leadership: Collaboration – Grow Great Daily Brief #197 – April 25, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/transformational-leadership-collaboration-grow-great-daily-brief-197-april-25-2019/) - Collaboration defined - the action of working with someone to produce or create something In short, it's high-level teamwork. In our context of leadership, it's vital for you to have successfully built the foundations necessary to foster this. If you've not yet listened to the 3 earlier episodes on compassion, connection, and communication, then do
- [Transformational Leadership: Communication – Grow Great Daily Brief #196 – April 24, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/transformational-leadership-communication-grow-great-daily-brief-196-april-24-2019/) - Five C’s comprise the work – and the progress – of transformational leadership. In this series, we’ll briefly go through these: Compassion Connection Communication Collaboration Culture Today, we’re focusing on communication. Let's start with a dictionary definition: the imparting or exchanging of information or news Again, I'm going to redefine it with a more practical
- [Transformational Leadership: Connection – Grow Great Daily Brief #195 – April 23, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/transformational-leadership-connection-grow-great-daily-brief-195-april-23-2019/) - Five C’s comprise the work – and the progress – of transformational leadership. In this series, we’ll briefly go through these: Compassion Connection Communication Collaboration Culture Today, we're diving into connection. Once again, let's begin with defining the term so we all understand. Here's the dictionary definition: a relationship in which a person, thing, or
- [Transformational Leadership: Compassion – Grow Great Daily Brief #194 – April 22, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/transformational-leadership-compassion-grow-great-daily-brief-194-april-22-2019/) - Five C's comprise the work - and the progress - of transformational leadership. In this series, we'll briefly go through these: Compassion Connection Communication Collaboration Culture I put them in this order intentionally. We'll explain as we go along this week. Today we begin with compassion. Transformational leadership is defined by the Business Dictionary like
- [Building Confidence Among Your Team With A Plan – Grow Great Daily Brief #193 – April 19, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/building-confidence-among-your-team-with-a-plan-grow-great-daily-brief-193-april-19-2019/) - Confidence doesn't always stem from competence. A little kid jumps on a bicycle for the first time. He is incompetent at riding a bike because he's never done it. But that temporary incompetence doesn't hinder him from holding a strong belief (and desire) to master it. Gauge the frustration of your organization or team. There
- [A Chapter-By-Chapter Audio Summary Of THE POWER OF PEERS (Interview with co-author Leo Bottary) #5014](https://bulanetwork.com/a-chapter-by-chapter-audio-summary-of-the-power-of-peers-interview-with-co-author-leo-bottary-5014/) - Today, we wrap up this series of our chapter-by-chapter audio summary of the book THE POWER OF PEERS with a conversation recorded with co-author Leo Bottary. The interview was recorded using a video conferencing platform and the video is available at YouTube (or obviously here below). In the conversation we talk to Leo to get
- [What Would Google Do? – Grow Great Daily Brief #192 – April 18, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/what-would-google-do-grow-great-daily-brief-192-april-18-2019/) - On Tuesday Inc. magazine published an article by columnist Betsy Mikel (I'm a fan of her work) about what Google discovered about high achieving teams. Google's manager of the People Innovation Lab conducted a 2-year study involving 5,600 Google employees. She also conducted focus groups with about 100 employees. On April 4, 2019 Veronica Gilrane,
- [What's Your Big Obstacle? – Grow Great Daily Brief #191 – April 17, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/whats-your-big-obstacle-grow-great-daily-brief-191-april-17-2019/) - I walk for about an hour every day. Some days I'll take multiple walks. A portion of my route is walking around a couple of baseball fields. Unless teams are practicing or playing, the gates are always locked. There's fencing around the whole complex, including a pitching area and batting practice area. The city doesn't
- [Who Do You Need? – Grow Great Daily Brief #190 – April 16, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/who-do-you-need-grow-great-daily-brief-190-april-16-2019/) - Long-standing conventional wisdom among performance gurus tells us that the super achievers ask WHO not HOW. When facing an opportunity or challenge, I see the high value of asking who, but I also know the high value of asking how! Gurus love absolutes. Just more proof I suppose that I am NOT a guru! Although
- [Visions Of Leadership: How Do You Show Up? – Grow Great Daily Brief #189 – April 15, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/visions-of-leadership-how-do-you-show-up-grow-great-daily-brief-189-april-15-2019/) - It's among one of the most underrated elements of leadership. Underrated in that not enough leaders give it the full attention it deserves. It's very difficult to keep it at the forefront of our intentional behavior, but surely most of us can do better. How do you show up? When I was growing up -
- [30 Seconds To Decide – Grow Great Daily Brief #188 – April 12, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/30-seconds-to-decide-grow-great-daily-brief-188-april-12-2019/) - We're kids. Somebody has a basketball in their hands. Without warning they use both arms to shove a pass toward me shouting, "Think fast!" If I did (think fast enough), then I'd extend my arms and catch the ball before it hit me in the chest. If I failed (to think fast enough), then I
- [What's Your Habitual Way Of Explaining Bad Events? – Grow Great Daily Brief #187 – April 11, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/whats-your-habitual-way-of-explaining-bad-events-grow-great-daily-brief-187-april-11-2019/) - In 1990 a paperback book's title captured my attention while browsing through a bookstore (I frequently haunted bookstores; I miss it). Learned Optimism: How To Change Your Mind And Your Life It was written by one Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D. I knew I had to read it 'cause the author had TWO middle initials. E.P.
- [Mine The System Every Day – Grow Great Daily Brief #186 – April 10, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/mine-the-system-every-day-grow-great-daily-brief-186-april-10-2019/) - The other day I saw an online story about Henry Winkler reinventing himself from "The Fonz" on Happy Days to the comedic acting coach on HBO's Barry. His wife of 40 years talked about how important working is to Henry. And how sad she was for him going to audition after audition without being hired.
- [Does It Take A Bad Guy To Beat Complacency? – Grow Great Daily Brief #185 – April 9, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/does-it-take-a-bad-guy-to-beat-complacency-grow-great-daily-brief-185-april-9-2019/) - Jimmy Johnson is still missed in Dallas. The infamous split with Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones wrecked what most feel would have been prime opportunities for at least a couple of more Super Bowls. We'll never know. What we do know is that Jimmy was tired of being the bad guy. And he wanted to
- [Empathy: The Value Of An Historical Perspective (But In Real Time)  – Grow Great Daily Brief #184 – April 8, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/empathy-the-value-of-an-historical-perspective-but-in-real-time-grow-great-daily-brief-184-april-8-2019/) - I remember sitting in a college history class, The History Of Western Civilization and thinking about these ancient characters of the past. Here I am surrounded by hundreds of my not-so-close college friends, sitting in a class that should be anything but boring (why are so many college history professors boring?) wondering how many kids
- [Don't Dance With Invisibility (Get Involved) – Grow Great Daily Brief #183 – April 5, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/dont-dance-with-invisibility-get-involved-grow-great-daily-brief-183-april-5-2019/) - The line came from a bit of dialogue in a 2009 movie featuring George Clooney, The Men Who Stare At Goats. Clooney plays Lyn Cassady. Bob is a reporter friend inquiring about Lyn's life. Lyn Cassady: Once you understand the linkage between observation and reality then you begin to dance with invisibility. Bob Wilton: Like
- [Mentors, Trusted Advisors & Confidants – Grow Great Daily Brief #182 – April 4, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/mentors-trusted-advisors-confidants-grow-great-daily-brief-182-april-4-2019/) - On February 20th I lost a man who had been a lifelong mentor. His name was Barney. Whenever people would ask about my relationship with him, I'd always say the same thing, "a lifelong friend, confidant, and mentor." Barney was about a decade and a half further up the trail, which gave me valuable benefits
- [Praise: The Fuel For Confidence – Grow Great Daily Brief #181 – April 3, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/praise-the-fuel-for-confidence-grow-great-daily-brief-181-april-3-2019/) - "It was just what I needed," she told me. She wasn't talking about a scolding. She was talking about being called into the sales manager's office where her work was soundly praised. She was an account executive with an aviation parts manufacturer. At the time she confesses how fearful she was. "You're called into the
- [Culture Building: Performance or Growth? – Grow Great Daily Brief #180 – April 2, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/culture-building-performance-or-growth-grow-great-daily-brief-180-april-2-2019/) - I first heard the phrase "learning organization" in Peter Senge's 1990 book, The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. Well, to be fair, at that point in my career I noticed the term. Perhaps it was around long before that, but since I was steeped in small business and not global
- [You Only Get What You're Big Enough To Take – Grow Great Daily Brief #179 – April 1, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/you-only-get-what-youre-big-enough-to-take-grow-great-daily-brief-179-april-1-2019/) - Jimmy Hoffa Jr. supposed said it. He the radical attorney son of an infamous mobster boss. There is no "I" in team. So they say. But there's no "we" in there either. As for leadership, you either take it or you don't get it. Because the word for today does begin with an "i." IMPOSE.
- [The Peer Advantage: Why It's The Greatest Opportunity For You To Grow – Grow Great Daily Brief #178 – March 30, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/the-peer-advantage-why-its-the-greatest-opportunity-for-you-to-grow-grow-great-daily-brief-178-march-30-2019/) - Yesterday my partner Leo Bottary posted an article about how a peer group can be a gym for leaders. Many years ago Jack Welch was responsible for introducing to me the concept of a business "workout." Not that I know Jack personally, but I was honored to meet him once! I talked about it in
- [The Important Voices In Your Life – Grow Great Daily Brief #177 – March 29, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/the-important-voices-in-your-life-grow-great-daily-brief-177-march-29-2019/) - Do you own a small business in the United States? Are you a US-based entrepreneur? I invite you to check out The Peer Advantage by Bula Network, a forum where 7 entrepreneurs and I come together to elevate your business, leadership and life. All our meetings will be conveniently conducted online via a video conferencing
- [Don't Drain, Add Energy! – Grow Great Daily Brief #176 – March 28, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/dont-drain-add-energy-grow-great-daily-brief-176-march-28-2019/) - Look at your life right now. Look at yourself. Look at the folks who surround you, the ones you spend the most time with. Who do you fuel? Who fuels you? Who do you drain? Who drains you? You know the answer. We all do. I suppose there are people in our lives who are
- [The Reward Of Suffering Is Experience – Grow Great Daily Brief #175 – March 27, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/the-reward-of-suffering-is-experience-grow-great-daily-brief-175-march-27-2019/) - Harry Truman said that. The reward of suffering is experience. He was right, of course. Failure, pain, and suffering can be our best teachers. It's up to us to leverage them properly. Not an easy thing to do. Figuring it out involves time - often times extended time - when we don't have it figured
- [Moving The Comma On Your Checks – Grow Great Daily Brief #174 – March 26, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/moving-the-comma-on-your-checks-grow-great-daily-brief-174-march-26-2019/) - On Sunday's CBS 60 Minutes' show, there was a profile on Samuel L. Jackson. During the interview, reminiscing about winning movie awards, he said, "Winning an award won't move the comma on your checks. Only putting butts in seats will do that." What does the audience want to see? That's his approach to his work.
- [We've Got To Win The Next 10 Minutes By Just 4 Points – Grow Great Daily Brief #173 – March 25, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/weve-got-to-win-the-next-10-minutes-by-just-4-points-grow-great-daily-brief-173-march-25-2019/) - Friday night during the halftime studio show of the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament on CBS (a game between Duke and North Dakota), Kenny "The Jet" Smith made a comment. He said he'd commonly say something to the teams he played on. We just need to win the next ten minutes by 4 points. If we
- [Believe In Me And I Will Win – Grow Great Daily Brief #172 – March 22, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/believe-in-me-and-i-will-win-grow-great-daily-brief-172-march-22-2019/) - ? (Yikes! Look! A video version. Don't get used to this. It's a one-off because a few of you asked. Your wish is my command. -Randy) "Coach me and I will learn; challenge me and I will grow; believe in me and I will win" is the quote from Dr. Robert Halgren, Michigan Science Olympiad
- [Two Sides Of A Business Coin: The Haves & The Have Nots – Grow Great Daily Brief #171 – March 21, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/two-sides-of-a-business-coin-the-haves-the-have-nots-grow-great-daily-brief-171-march-21-2019/) - A problem prospects have and don't want A result prospects want and don't have Most businesses operate in one or the other. A few may operate in both ways. Over time we often get complacent and stop looking at such basic things. Big mistake. Fundamentals are often where the real power is found. Over time
- [Don't Let Someone Have The Upper Hand – Grow Great Daily Brief #170 – March 20, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/dont-let-someone-have-the-upper-hand-grow-great-daily-brief-170-march-20-2019/) - Tap the brakes. I'm not talking about you domineering everybody in your life. And I'm not talking about how wonderful people are who refuse to submit to anybody over anything at any time. I'm talking about the most dreaded factor in our daily lives. FEAR Business owners - excuse me, entrepreneurs - often feel like
- [Track It, Improve It – Grow Great Daily Brief #169 – March 19, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/track-it-improve-it-grow-great-daily-brief-169-march-19-2019/) - One of the first rules of personal finance is to keep track of your expenses and income. That's how you know where the money is. And where it's going. Knowing isn't enough though. Nothing changes simply because you know that 18% of your money is going toward dining out. But without knowing that...you're powerless to
- [Let's Unplug In Order To Connect – Grow Great Daily Brief #168 – March 18, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/lets-unplug-in-order-to-connect-grow-great-daily-brief-168-march-18-2019/) - Spring break was last week here in DFW. While I don't have school-age kids I do have school-age grandkids. More importantly, I have clients who have school-age kids and many of them (check that, almost all of them) took last week off to get in one last vacation before the end of the school year.
- [Even Winners Need Encouragement – Grow Great Daily Brief #167 – March 8, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/even-winners-need-encouragement-grow-great-daily-brief-167-march-8-2019/) - A couple of days ago there was a UFC fight in Las Vegas for the welterweight title. Tyron Woodley was the defending champion. Kamaru Usman was the opponent. The champ lost. Badly. But it was what happened after the fight that got all the press. Tyron's mom, Deborah, a 66-year-old who raised Tyron all by
- [Fix It As You Go – Grow Great Daily Brief #166 – March 7, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/fix-it-as-you-go-grow-great-daily-brief-166-march-7-2019/) - "I'm not sure it's ever going to be right," he tells me. He's spent the last few minutes telling me about a project that is very important to him. A project he's as passionate about as anything he's done in a long time. I ask some questions to make sure I'm seeing and hearing things
- [Championships Are Won On The Bus – Grow Great Daily Brief #165 – March 6, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/championships-are-won-on-the-bus-grow-great-daily-brief-165-march-6-2019/) - Last Friday NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke with at the MIT Sports Analytics Conference. The topic? The mental health of the players. Silver reported that social media and headphones are impacting the professional athletes, sometimes making them feel more anxious and isolated. Players fly or board buses with headphones affixed and interactions aren't what they
- [Helping People Understand The Consequences & Rewards – Grow Great Daily Brief #164 – March 5, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/helping-people-understand-the-consequences-rewards-grow-great-daily-brief-164-march-5-2019/) - A young man aspiring to get into the big state university neglects high school homework. Weeks before graduation he gets a rejection letter. The University doesn't grant him admission because his grades aren't good enough. He failed to understand the consequences of not taking high school as seriously as he could have. The epidemic of
- [Forgiveness Makes Sense (yes! business sense, too)  – Grow Great Daily Brief #163 – March 4, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/forgiveness-makes-sense-yes-business-sense-too-grow-great-daily-brief-163-march-4-2019/) - “Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.” - Oscar Wilde It's funny. And likely very true. But cynical. Here's a nobler quote. “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” - C.S. Lewis I'm a Christian and what Mr. Lewis wrote is congruent with
- [Instant Improvements: Operational Efficiencies – Grow Great Daily Brief #162 – March 1, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/instant-improvements-operational-efficiencies-grow-great-daily-brief-162-march-1-2019/) - Two months down, ten to go. If you're like me, you feel like 2019 is a rocket ride...going super fast. Speaking of fast, instant is about as fast as you can get. Small business owners lean into their core strength - being nimble. It's why so many giants have been disrupted by little guys who
- [Saving Steps: Operational Efficiencies – Grow Great Daily Brief #161 – February 28, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/saving-steps-operational-efficiencies-grow-great-daily-brief-161-february-28-2019/) - I'm an operator. I've never shied away from that title. A VP of a supplier first called me that when I was about 23. He meant it as a compliment. And I took it that way. It's not as sexy as being called an "entrepreneur," but I think it's more indicative of the work. The
- [It's Not Who You Know, Or Who Knows You. It's Who You Know Who Knows Who You Need To Know! – Grow Great Daily Brief #160 – February 27, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/its-not-who-you-know-or-who-knows-you-its-who-you-know-who-knows-who-you-need-to-know-grow-great-daily-brief-160-february-27-2019/) - Do you hate networking? I do. Always have. I'm the guy who happily admits that if faced with two doors from which to choose - one that leads to a room with 300 very interesting people (all strangers) with whom I can spend 3 hours and the other that leads to a room with 6
- [Full Opinion, Half Facts – Grow Great Daily Brief #159 – February 26, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/full-opinion-half-facts-grow-great-daily-brief-159-february-26-2019/) - "To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions." -Benjamin Franklin Judgment is easy. Jumping to conclusions. Making assumptions. Evidence is hard. Curiosity often difficult to satisfy. When people have a problem with somebody it's just easier to tell everybody but the person you have a problem with. Over the weekend I
- [Tell Me Something Good – Grow Great Daily Brief #158 – February 25, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/tell-me-something-good-grow-great-daily-brief-158-february-25-2019/) - ? Think about the last time you got some good news. Some REALLY good news. How did it make you feel? Did it make the rest of your day even better? Or worse? I'm betting it made the entire day better. Success breeds success, and all that. Years ago I'm watching a sales guy attempt
- [How’s Your Relationship With The Truth? (Part 2) – Grow Great Daily Brief #157 – February 22, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/hows-your-relationship-with-the-truth-part-2-grow-great-daily-brief-157-february-22-2019/) - Communication. Connection. Collaboration. Culture. These four C's are a vital part of my work in helping entrepreneurs and leaders. The need is great. Higher human performance in the workplace is stymied by people's inability or unwillingness to accurately read each other and situations. We used to simply refer to these things as "soft skills," even
- [How's Your Relationship With The Truth? (Part 1) – Grow Great Daily Brief #156 – February 21, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/hows-your-relationship-with-the-truth-part-1-grow-great-daily-brief-156-february-21-2019/) - Ronald W. Pies is a professor of psychiatry in New York. He wrote an article in The Conversation back in March of 2017 entitled, ‘Alternative facts’: A psychiatrist’s guide to twisted relationships to truth. It's a timely topic for any time, but increasingly timely given how little culture seems to care about truth or facts. Opinions
- [Disagree Without Being Disagreeable – Grow Great Daily Brief #155 – February 20, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/disagree-without-being-disagreeable-grow-great-daily-brief-155-february-20-2019/) - Strife doesn't build a stronger organization. Conflict won't deepen a leader's influence. Confrontation is commonplace leadership topic. I often hear managers lament how they hate it and work hard to avoid it. Frequently they feel that confrontation is synonymous with strife and conflict. It's not. Well, it doesn't have to be. Let's talk about this
- [You've Got To Get Excited – Grow Great Daily Brief #154 – February 19, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/youve-got-to-get-excited-grow-great-daily-brief-154-february-19-2019/) - "You've got to get excited. That's how innovation happens." - Stephen Sanger, CEO, General Mills Enthusiasm is energy. Well, at least it's one form of energy. A form of energy you're going to need to reach new heights in your business (and in your leadership). Somebody said to me, "You can't manufacturer enthusiasm." I didn't
- [Site Update Underway: Stay Tuned](https://bulanetwork.com/site-update-underway-stay-tuned/) - I’m going to blow things up and reassemble them, hopefully with a much faster design with an intense focus on mobile experiences. My hosting service – purchased from MapleGrove Partners – is crazy fast and great. I love it. You should buy it if you’re looking for a rock solid, inexpensive hosting that is ridiculously secure. I
- [Tight, Tough & Together – Grow Great Daily Brief #99 – November 7, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/tight-tough-together-grow-great-daily-brief-99-november-7-2018/) - I've coached my fair share of teams. And people. Some in sports. Some kids. Some college kids. Some in business. Some kids. Some not. The most engaged times I've ever spent were leading teams best described as TIGHT, TOUGH and TOGETHER. Listen to any sports team coach and you'll hear the importance of these things.
- [A Constant State Of Dissatisfaction – Grow Great Daily Brief #100 – November 8, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/a-constant-state-of-dissatisfaction-grow-great-daily-brief-100-november-8-2018/) - Episode 100 of the Grow Great Daily Brief was preceded by hundreds of other episodes through the years, but it's a milestone of the new format...and I want to thank everybody who listens and subscribes. I hope you find value here as together we work to grow, improve and transform our companies and our leadership.
- [Pouring Emotion Into And Out Of Your Business – Grow Great Daily Brief #101 – November 9, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/pouring-emotion-into-and-out-of-your-business-grow-great-daily-brief-101-november-9-2018/) - We have hot buttons. All of us. Things we're just overly zealous about. For some reason that maybe we don't even know. Some business owners are fanatical about employee honesty. They're paranoid that people are always stealing. They lead and manage based on that assumption. Some are fanatical about inventory refusing to discount it quickly
- [The World’s Best Opportunity For Entrepreneurs To Grow - Grow Great Daily Brief - November 10, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/the-worlds-best-opportunity-for-entrepreneurs-to-grow-grow-great-daily-brief-november-10-2018/) - Happy Saturday! Warning: I'm fixing to make you an offer. Well, it may be an offer for you. It depends on who you are. Along the way, I'm going to provoke you to think and perhaps consider some new ideas. I hope you find it useful. I'm currently looking for U.S. based business owners who
- [The Last Thing You Need Is Another Person Telling You What To Do – Grow Great Daily Brief #102 – November 12, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/the-last-thing-you-need-is-another-person-telling-you-what-to-do-grow-great-daily-brief-102-november-12-2018/) - Happy Monday! This may be a short week for the podcast. I've got a hectic schedule starting Wednesday morning - through the rest of the week. But we'll see how it goes. I'm just forwarning you so you don't panic if you don't hear from me after tomorrow. But for now, let's kick this week
- [Selling: Don't Let Your Impatience Ruin The Opportunity – Grow Great Daily Brief #103 – November 13, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/selling-dont-let-your-impatience-ruin-the-opportunity-grow-great-daily-brief-103-november-13-2018/) - Dissect anything and you'll discover some important things and many insignificant things. That includes selling. I don't necessarily have sales DNA, but I've got a lifetime of sales experience so it sometimes feels like it's DNA. Oh, and I'm naturally introverted. And there's this - I do not think "salesman" is a derogatory label. I
- [Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! Delighting Customers – Grow Great Daily Brief #104 – November 14, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/surprise-surprise-surprise-delighting-customers-grow-great-daily-brief-104-november-14-2018/) - You didn't think you'd hear from me today, did you? Well, in the words of Gomer Pyle, "Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!" Let's talk about delighting customers. By now you know me well enough to know how fanatical I am about customer service or experience. I use words like extraordinary, remarkable and verbs like dazzle and delight.
- [What Do Your Employees Really Think? – Grow Great Daily Brief #105 – November 19, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/what-do-your-employees-really-think-grow-great-daily-brief-105-november-19-2018/) - On Monday night, October 29th, some Senators NHL hockey players were taking an Uber ride in Phoenix. The driver's onboard video captured the conversation of the players mocking how poorly they're being coached. The driver pushed the video to YouTube and that's when the trouble began. For starters, this father of 6 was fired by Uber.
- [The Value Of A Third Opinion – Grow Great Daily Brief #106 – November 20, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/the-value-of-a-third-opinion-grow-great-daily-brief-106-november-20-2018/) - I did a 5-part summary of the book - The Third Opinion: How Successful Leaders Use Outside Insight To Create Superior Results by Saj-Nicole A. Joni, PhD. You can find each episode here: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Three years of research by the author has led to two insights
- [Giving Thanks & Counting Blessings – Grow Great Daily Brief #107 – November 21, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/giving-thanks-counting-blessings-grow-great-daily-brief-107-november-21-2018/) - How serious have you been about them? Have you ever done it so well you remember doing it? Or... Do you give it just a quick drive-by? Be honest. Mostly, we're too busy living to do much of either one - counting blessings or giving thanks. Let's get to the real crux of it. How
- [Are You Able To Tell The Truth And Act On It? – Grow Great Daily Brief #108 – November 26, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/are-you-able-to-tell-the-truth-and-act-on-it-grow-great-daily-brief-108-november-26-2018/) - The CEO makes an admission. Maybe a declaration. Maybe a regret. I'm not sure. "We know what to do, but it's virtually impossible for us to do it." When asked about the constraint, or hurdle for getting it done he begins to lament all the difficulties. He mentions all the senseless meetings where debates rage
- [The Competition Isn't Stopping You From Growing Your Business – Grow Great Daily Brief #109 – November 27, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/the-competition-isnt-stopping-you-from-growing-your-business-grow-great-daily-brief-109-november-27-2018/) - Here's what Wikipedia has to say about "Zero Sum Game" - In game theory and economic theory, a zero-sum game is a mathematical representation of a situation in which each participant's gain or loss of utility is exactly balanced by the losses or gains of the utility of the other participants. If the total gains of the participants are added up and the total
- [Future Proofing – Grow Great Daily Brief #110 – November 28, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/future-proofing-grow-great-daily-brief-110-november-28-2018/) - I'm not talking about block-chain technology, or AI or VR. I'm talking about what we can do - what we need to do - as business people to future-proof our careers and our companies. Should you be learning about those technologies? Of course, but unless those are at the heart of your business then you
- [Core Competencies (are you sure about them?) – Grow Great Daily Brief #111 – November 29, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/core-competencies-are-you-sure-about-them-grow-great-daily-brief-111-november-29-2018/) - Simply put, core competencies are what you do best. A more detailed view might be the things you need to do best in order to thrive. It's the practical side of business building that relies on focusing more on your strengths, and less on your weaknesses. Soar with your strengths. What would your answer be
- [Pre-Think, Pre-Determine & Prepare – Grow Great Daily Brief #112 – November 30, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/pre-think-pre-determine-prepare-grow-great-daily-brief-112-november-30-2018/) - Wise parents begin to instill into their elementary school kids how to behave and react to influences they may have yet to encounter. We want our kids to be prepared for dealing with things like drugs, alcohol and sex. And it's not just a fear-driven agenda we're fulfilling. It's practical. As parents, we know the
- [Hello, December. Good-Bye, 2018! – Grow Great Daily Brief #113 – December 3, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/hello-december-good-bye-2018-grow-great-daily-brief-113-december-3-2018/) - Here we are. The final month of the year. For many of us, it's the end of our fiscal year, too. For others, it's the end of your 3rd quarter (or something else). There's a paradox of saying hello to the end. It's also hello to the start of a new week and a new
- [Excelling At The Next Level - Grow Great Daily Brief #114 - December 4, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/excelling-at-the-next-level-grow-great-daily-brief-114-december-4-2018/) - I live in Dallas/Ft. Worth. This is a pro sports town. This season it's a pro sports town with 3 sensational rookies, representing 3 different sports. Dallas Cowboys rookie linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. Age 22. The National Football League. Dallas Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic. Age 19. The National Basketball Association. Dallas Stars rookie Miro Heiskanen. Age 19.
- [Innovate For Simplicity – Grow Great Daily Brief #115 – December 5, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/innovate-for-simplicity-grow-great-daily-brief-115-december-5-2018/) - I've been putting audio online since 1997. Podcasting since it first began. Over a decade ago I created The Yellow Studio, a home office and podcasting studio. When I assembled the studio I had two options of workflow: recording or broadcasting. I choose to go the broadcasting route because I didn't want to do a bunch
- [Leadership Involves Finding A Parade - Grow Great Daily Brief #116 - December 6, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-involves-finding-a-parade-grow-great-daily-brief-116-december-6-2018/) - "Leadership involves finding a parade and getting in front of it." -John Naisbitt You may not know who John is. In 1982 he wrote a phenomenally successful book, Megatrends: Ten New Directions Transforming Our Lives. He's 89 years old now. The book sold over 14 million copies. He was among the first futurists I followed. We weren't quite
- [Best Practices vs. Your Best Practices – Grow Great Daily Brief #117 – December 7, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/best-practices-vs-your-best-practices-grow-great-daily-brief-117-december-7-2018/) - Benchmarking began to be popular business jargon back in the 80's. At least that's when I first began to hear about it. Wikipedia has some interesting history on the term. The term benchmark, originates from the history of guns and ammunition, and with the same aim as for the business term; comparison and improved performance.
- [2019, The Year Of Intentional & Purposeful Connections – Grow Great Daily Brief #118 – December 8, 2018 (Special Saturday Episode)](https://bulanetwork.com/2019-the-year-of-intentional-purposeful-connections-grow-great-daily-brief-118-december-8-2018-special-saturday-episode/) - Entrepreneurs, business owners - Bula Network is proud to be launching THE PEER ADVANTAGE, a professional peer advisory group exclusively for U.S.-based business owners. We're now just 23 days away from 2019, a year I'm dubbing, "The year of intentional and purposeful connections." Bula Network began almost 10 years ago as mostly a consulting company
- [Fun With Budgeting (Part 1) – Grow Great Daily Brief #119 – December 10, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/fun-with-budgeting-part-1-grow-great-daily-brief-119-december-10-2018/) - Yes, I'm being sarcastic. Sorta. Budgeting can be fun when our coffers are full. It sucks when they're not. Challenging. There are just a few principles that I've been devoted to throughout my career. Things that seem to serve as kind of "north star" for the operational challenges I've faced. One of them is to
- [Fun With Budgeting (Part 2) – Grow Great Daily Brief #120 – December 11, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/fun-with-budgeting-part-2-grow-great-daily-brief-120-december-11-2018/) - Yesterday we talked about how as the CEO or business owner you may want to hole up and do four quick passes through the budget with some hi-liters. RED is NO. GREEN is GO. YELLOW is I Don't Know. It's a good idea to have your leadership team follow suit with whatever you do. In
- [Monkey, Monkey, Who's Got The Monkey? – Grow Great Daily Brief #121 – December 12, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/monkey-monkey-whos-got-the-monkey-grow-great-daily-brief-121-december-12-2018/) - Back in the 1970's a Dallas consultant, Bill Oncken, created a seminar entitled, "Managing Management Time." In 1984 I bought the book. It revolutionized my thinking. Mr. Oncken asked the powerful question, "Who's got the monkey?" It was at the heart of how managers manage their time. Leaders lead people. Managers manage the work. These
- [How Can The Peer Advantage by Bula Network Help You?](https://bulanetwork.com/how-can-the-peer-advantage-by-bula-network-help-you/) - Entrepreneurship is lonely. Some days you feel like you are in a cave where all you do is put out one fire after another. You end the day exhausted, sometimes frustrated. And often wishing you had somebody to talk to. Somebody who really understands. Your business is running you ragged. You love it, but you're constantly
- [You Can't Talk Yourself Out Of Overthinking – Grow Great Daily Brief #122 – December 13, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/you-cant-talk-yourself-out-of-overthinking-grow-great-daily-brief-122-december-13-2018/) - "Stop overthinking it," is empty advice. And it's given every second of every single day. It doesn't matter if somebody says it to you or if you say it to yourself. It's not specifically about overthinking, but it includes it. Some of it is hardwired. Some of it is learned. And like many traits, there
- [Naturally Occurring Peer Support – Grow Great Daily Brief #123 – December 14, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/naturally-occurring-peer-support-grow-great-daily-brief-123-december-14-2018/) - We talk quite a lot about being intentional and purposeful in who you surround yourself with, but today let's fairly consider naturally occurring peer support. Professional (intentional and purposeful) peer advantage isn't something everybody wants. And unless or until somebody wants to lean into the advantage of being surrounded by others who can help...they won't
- [5 Days To A High Growth Way Of Thinking: Day One – Grow Great Daily Brief #124 – December 17, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/5-days-to-a-high-growth-way-of-thinking-day-one-grow-great-daily-brief-124-december-17-2018/) - Let's start this final week of the Grow Great podcast - well, the final week for 2018 - by talking about a way of thinking. Mindset, attitude, mentality. Call it whatever you'd prefer, but I'm calling it exactly what it is - a way of thinking. Depending on the topic, we all have a way
- [5 Days To A High Growth Way Of Thinking: Day Two – Grow Great Daily Brief #125 – December 18, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/5-days-to-a-high-growth-way-of-thinking-day-two-grow-great-daily-brief-125-december-18-2018/) - Strategies. Tactics. People are drawn to find out specific answers. While we don't want people telling us what to do, we sometimes crave it secretly wishing people would just tell us what to do. We crave it because we're smart. Easy is way better than hard. It's hard to figure it out for ourselves. Better, but
- [5 Days To A High Growth Way Of Thinking: Day Three – Grow Great Daily Brief #126 – December 19, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/5-days-to-a-high-growth-way-of-thinking-day-three-grow-great-daily-brief-126-december-19-2018/) - Expanding your business. It's the point. The goal. And it can happen. If you've put in the work the last two days, then you're beginning to more fully understand that YOU are the constraint. Your business growth is largely limited by one roadblock. YOU. Today, I hope you'll start seeing the crack in the door
- [5 Days To A High Growth Way Of Thinking: Day Four – Grow Great Daily Brief #127 – December 20, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/5-days-to-a-high-growth-way-of-thinking-day-four-grow-great-daily-brief-127-december-20-2018/) - You're inside the grand ballroom of abundance, right? You should have entered yesterday, but if you're still outside, then you need to go back to day 1, 2 and 3. You think you need courage, but you really don't. Courage is required when fear is present. Well, I suppose there is fear present. That's why
- [5 Days To A High Growth Way Of Thinking: Day Five – Grow Great Daily Brief #128 – December 21, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/5-days-to-a-high-growth-way-of-thinking-day-five-grow-great-daily-brief-128-december-21-2018/) - It's here. The last day of the year for the GROW GREAT PODCAST. I hope you've found this 5-day journey a profitable way to end the year. I knew of no more powerful way to end the year. You're now in the Grand Ballroom of Abundance. You were outside with the masses who lamented all
- [Creating & Finding The Good Luck – Grow Great Daily Brief #129 – January 7, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/creating-finding-the-good-luck-grow-great-daily-brief-129-january-7-2019/) - In 2004 a little book was published that captured my attention as I strolled through the bookstore on my weekly pilgrimage. The book was entitled, "Good Luck: Creating the Conditions for Success in Life and Business" by Alex Rovira and Fernando Trias de Bes. In spite of the fact that I'm not terribly fond of
- [What's Your Biggest Leadership Challenge?](https://bulanetwork.com/whats-your-biggest-leadership-challenge/) - Tell me your current leadership challenge. I'm working on a leadership series for next week's episodes of the Grow Great Daily Brief podcast. I need your help. Tell me the one big leadership challenge you currently face. I won't be quoting anybody or using any names. I'm only looking for information to help me create
- [It's Time To Aim Higher – Grow Great Daily Brief #130 – January 8, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/its-time-to-aim-higher-grow-great-daily-brief-130-january-8-2019/) - Here's the thing about aiming higher. It's always time. Why not? And why not now? Over the holidays I was watching the grandkids running on a Florida beach while I was reading and listening to the waves. It dawned on me that I needed to aim higher. The question I asked myself was, "Why not?"
- [There's Power In Our Differences – Grow Great Daily Brief #131 – January 9, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/theres-power-in-our-differences-grow-great-daily-brief-131-january-9-2019/) - Gender. Age. Geography. Education. There are so many variables that make us who we are, and how we view the world (and our place in it). This isn't about figuring out if one way is right and another wrong. Culture is too busy doing that nasty work. No, this is about leveraging the power of
- [Curiosity Killed The Cat, But It Fuels The Entrepreneur – Grow Great Daily Brief #132 – January 10, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/curiosity-killed-the-cat-but-it-fuels-the-entrepreneur-grow-great-daily-brief-132-january-10-2019/) - Dr. Diane Hamilton has a new book coming out, Cracking The Curiosity Code. "Curiosity is important in all aspects of our lives because it opens us up to our desire to experience things. As we become more curious, we find things that make us happy, energize us, and create new opportunities and experiences at home
- [Leadership Mandate: First, Do No Harm! – Grow Great Daily Brief #133 – January 11, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-mandate-first-do-no-harm-grow-great-daily-brief-133-january-11-2019/) - Powerful Leadership: How To Unleash The Potential In Others And Simplify Your Own Life was published in 2002. It was written by two professors of the business school at BYU. Early in the book, there's a little section subtitled, "Managers Have Huge Blind Spots." The authors write... "One of the most distressing patterns in modern
- [Leadership: Expressions Of Belief – Grow Great Daily Brief #134 – January 14, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-expressions-of-belief-grow-great-daily-brief-134-january-14-2019/) - If you haven't yet emailed me your biggest leadership challenge, then do it right now. Just email me at RandyCantrell@gmail.com. It'll be anonymous. It'll help me deliver more valuable content, especially this week while we're focusing on leadership. Let's begin the week focused on how we think. Our leadership begins in our head. With what
- [Celebrate Victories! – Grow Great Daily Brief #140 – January 22, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/celebrate-victories-grow-great-daily-brief-140-january-22-2019/) - Faith is a female entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry, drywall. She comes from a long line of tradesmen. Both grandfathers. And her own dad. She's accomplished in the trade specializing in high-end residential construction, but she's also an accomplished business operator. She knows her stuff. But she's struggling with something she thinks should come more
- [How Can You Fix A Broken Culture? – Grow Great Daily Brief #139 – January 21, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/how-can-you-fix-a-broken-culture-grow-great-daily-brief-139-january-21-2019/) - I've been asked versions of this question, and this direct question, many times. Other than employee engagement I don't think another topic dominates leadership conversations. But they're very related. When employees are disengaged, culture isn't going to be highly productive. Not for long. Let's begin with the fact that culture can be broken and it
- [Leadership: Engaging Employees With Engaging Work (Part 3) – Grow Great Daily Brief #138 – January 18, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-engaging-employees-with-engaging-work-part-3-grow-great-daily-brief-138-january-18-2019/) - Today let's talk about the things that can ruin higher human performance inside your organization. These aren't in any particular order. And it's only a few things to get you focused on what may be hindering your organization from reaching new levels of higher performance. As leaders, it's highly likely we could keep adding to the
- [Leadership: Engaging Employees With Engaging Work (Part 2) – Grow Great Daily Brief #137 – January 17, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-engaging-employees-with-engaging-work-part-2-grow-great-daily-brief-137-january-17-2019/) - Yesterday we left off talking about congruency. It's a very important topic because it's a major disruptor of employee engagement. The story we tell ourselves - and the stories your employee are telling themselves - focus on trying to find agreement or congruency between what is said and what is done. It has a direct
- [Leadership: Engaging Employees With Engaging Work (Part 1) – Grow Great Daily Brief #136 – January 16, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-engaging-employees-with-engaging-work-part-1-grow-great-daily-brief-136-january-16-2019/) - I know of no leadership topic more popular than "employee engagement." Across every sector leaders give some focus or lip service to it. Organizations spend extraordinary amounts of money attempting to accurately measure employee engagement. Mostly, I see folks spend stupid money on finding out how engaged (or disengaged) employees are, then play darts trying
- [Leadership: Dealing With Change – Grow Great Daily Brief #135 – January 15, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-dealing-with-change-grow-great-daily-brief-135-january-15-2019/) - Thanks to all the listeners who emailed me their biggest leadership challenge. Quite a few sent me stories of dealing with change and helping their team members deal with it. So today, let's mull this over. The big component with dealing with change is TIME. It gives us binary options - we can deal with
- [Marketing: Your Most Important Job? – Grow Great Daily Brief #141 – January 23, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/marketing-your-most-important-job-grow-great-daily-brief-141-january-23-2019/) - "All of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You." – Tom Peters Do you agree? That marketing is your most important job as a CEO/entrepreneur? "A
- [Has The Loneliness Epidemic Hit YOU? – Grow Great Daily Brief #142 – January 24, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/has-the-loneliness-epidemic-hit-you-grow-great-daily-brief-142-january-24-2019/) - Confession: I'm really tired of hearing people bally-hoo happiness. "I wanna be happy. Don't you wanna be happy?" Don't get me wrong. Yes, we all want to be happy. But happiness is such a short-term objective. Nobody is happy all the time. Happiness isn't even appropriate all the time. The quest for happiness presupposes that
- [Fix Your Loneliness Epidemic  – Grow Great Daily Brief #143 – January 25, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/fix-your-loneliness-epidemic-grow-great-daily-brief-143-january-25-2019/) - Not everything can be fixed. Some problems have to be endured. Thankfully, loneliness doesn't have to fall into that category. I believe it can be fixed. Better yet, I believe it should be fixed. We owe it to ourselves and the people who care about us to avoid falling into the abyss of hopelessness prompted by
- [How Deep Is Your Bench? – Grow Great Daily Brief #144 – January 28, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/how-deep-is-your-bench-grow-great-daily-brief-144-january-28-2019/) - "Next man up" is a commonly used phrase in team sports and the military. A variety of implications are in play. For starters, everybody is replaceable. But more importantly, the success of the team, the unit or the organization hinges on having people ready and capable of filling a space once occupied by a contributor.
- [Even Though It's Good, Can It Be Better? – Grow Great Daily Brief #145 – January 29, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/even-though-its-good-can-it-be-better-grow-great-daily-brief-145-january-29-2019/) - Beliefs drive actions. Some choose to believe that when something is working good enough, then it's alright. Leave it alone. No need to improve it. Others of us (my hand is in the air) choose to believe that everything can be improved. I have an additional belief - it's way more fun to pursue making
- [What Core Beliefs Are You Devoted To? – Grow Great Daily Brief #146 – January 30, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/what-core-beliefs-are-you-devoted-to-grow-great-daily-brief-146-january-30-2019/) - Yesterday morning our local sports talk radio station, 1310 The Ticket, had Troy Aikman on. When asked about the competitiveness of the NFL he said the Dallas Cowboys, with the same owner and GM for a few decades now, are puzzling because it's unclear what they believe. A few years ago it was defense. Then
- [Compassion: You Can't Lead Without It – Grow Great Daily Brief #147 – January 31, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/compassion-you-cant-lead-without-it-grow-great-daily-brief-147-january-31-2019/) - The following screen-shot is taken from the online definition at the Merriam-Webster website. Without empathy, you can't get to compassion. And without understanding, you can't get to empathy. You can be the boss without any of these, but you can't be a leader. The formula is pretty straightforward. Be open and curious to learn because
- [Knowledge Makes Things Simpler – Grow Great Daily Brief #148 – February 1, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/knowledge-makes-things-simpler-grow-great-daily-brief-148-february-1-2019/) - By now you've certainly figured out that leadership and entrepreneurial success rely on LEARNING. Achievement, accomplishment and success don't happen immediately. They take time. Largely because we have to figure out what works. That means we spend time doing things that don't work. No way to know until you try. As we push forward to
- [Hugging Out Your Struggle – Grow Great Daily Brief #149 – February 4, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/hugging-out-your-struggle-grow-great-daily-brief-149-february-4-2019/) - Let me drop the bottom line on you: you're going to become better because of the struggle. It's going to serve you better than anything else. That's why it deserves a hug when most people want to push it aside. Look at the stories we're attracted to. Whether true or fiction. The most compelling stories
- [Chasing Customers – Grow Great Daily Brief #150 – February 5, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/chasing-customers-grow-great-daily-brief-150-february-5-2019/) - As a business operator, you can chase any number of things. Each pursuit is different and you should know the risks and rewards. Some entrepreneurs are chasing fame. They want celebrity. Well, I'm not talking about that kind of pursuit. Instead, I'm talking about the things necessary to build and grow your business. Things like
- [Make Your Mind Your Strongest Muscle – Grow Great Daily Brief #151 – February 6, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/make-your-mind-your-strongest-muscle-grow-great-daily-brief-151-february-6-2019/) - Do you workout? Maybe take walks? Lift a few weights? Or do you ignore all that stuff and neglect your fitness? Don't. Commit to improved health right now. Just a little bit every day until you make it a positive habit. But I don't care if you get 6-pack abs or not. I'm more interested
- [Listening Your Way To Growth – Grow Great Daily Brief #152 – February 7, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/listening-your-way-to-growth-grow-great-daily-brief-152-february-7-2019/) - “I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.” - Ernest Hemingway Hemingway was right. Most people don't listen. At least, not well enough. Or often enough. My son owns and operates his own home inspection business. Here in Texas, that's a licensed occupation requiring substantial training
- [Opening A Closed Mind – Grow Great Daily Brief #153 – February 8, 2019](https://bulanetwork.com/opening-a-closed-mind-grow-great-daily-brief-153-february-8-2019/) - Few things are more closed than a closed mind. Somebody smarter than me will have to teach us why we close our minds, but I've been fortunate enough to have experienced a few epiphanies in my life that forced my previously closed mind to OPEN. Each time I feel like reenacting that old V8 drink
- [The Power of Simplicity – Grow Great Daily Brief #98 – November 6, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/the-power-of-simplicity-grow-great-daily-brief-98-november-6-2018/) - I'm fixing to make some college football fans angry. Because I'm going to take a stand as a fan myself. I was born in Ada, Oklahoma. I grew up in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas. My grandparents were always in Oklahoma. That makes me a Sooner football fan. I've been an OU fan since I was
- [Upgrading & Topgrading (Improving Your Workforce) – Grow Great Daily Brief #97 – November 5, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/upgrading-topgrading-improving-your-workforce-grow-great-daily-brief-97-november-5-2018/) - Last week a new Gallop Poll reported the number of employed Americans has never been higher. The unemployment rate is 3.7 percent, the lowest since 1969. Yet CEO's and business owners continue to lament how difficult it is to find "good people." Said one CEO, "I just need people who know how to work." He wasn't
- [Knowing When To Turn Back (So You Can Move Forward) – Grow Great Daily Brief #96 – November 2, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/knowing-when-to-turn-back-so-you-can-move-forward-grow-great-daily-brief-96-november-2-2018/) - One step forward, two steps back. A better strategy is one step back, two steps forward. But that's not how the cliché goes. I think we should change it. Take a step back so you can move forward further, faster! I'm not talking about regressing. Not far from where I live there are two sweet
- [Candor = Sincere Honesty – Grow Great Daily Brief #95 – November 1, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/candor-sincere-honesty-grow-great-daily-brief-95-november-1-2018/) - Sincere honesty should come more easily, but I understand why it's often tough. We live with masks mostly permanently affixed to our face. Showing the world what we want them to see. Saying things we know the world wants to hear. Fooling ourselves into claiming we're being polite. Or positive. Candor is tough because of
- [Do For A Few What You're Unable To Do For Everybody – Grow Great Daily Brief #94 – October 31, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/do-for-a-few-what-youre-unable-to-do-for-everybody-grow-great-daily-brief-94-october-31-2018/) - Funny how some things you learn when you're young in business stick with you. This is one of those lessons I learned when I was still a teenager selling stereo gear. Sometimes you can really dazzle somebody by doing something extraordinary. Do it. There's no hard fast rule for knowing when to do this, but
- [Rest Can Sometimes Be The Best Form Of Hustle – Grow Great Daily Brief #93 – October 30, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/rest-can-sometimes-be-the-best-form-of-hustle-grow-great-daily-brief-93-october-30-2018/) - Hustle. It's the battle cry of the modern entrepreneur. It means work hard, work long...put in more hours, make more sacrifices than the next guy. Or than anybody else. The notion is that talent and skill are largely what they are. And that the big variable is the effort, which is quantified by what you
- [It's Not People. It's The Person! – Grow Great Daily Brief #92 – October 29, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/its-not-people-its-the-person-grow-great-daily-brief-92-october-29-2018/) - Oh, the uproar is continuous. The collective yelling is deafening. People seem to enjoy being offended, always prowling the universe for something with which to disagree --- and find offensive. Most recently headlines are filled with strong opinions about Megyn Kelly. Specifically, the outrage at her reportedly getting the full payout of her contract, $69M.
- [Everybody Needs A Helping Hand – Grow Great Daily Brief #91 – October 26, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/everybody-needs-a-helping-hand-grow-great-daily-brief-91-october-26-2018/) - Are you an American entrepreneur operating a business that generates at least $3M annually AND you intuitively know how valuable other people can be your growth and success? Are you optimistic and driven to put in the work to make your ambitions come true? Then I'm going to invite you to apply for membership into The
- [Skills to Help Heal – Grow Great Daily Brief #90 – October 25, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/skills-to-help-heal-grow-great-daily-brief-90-october-25-2018/) - I was watching a YouTube video the other night and a pre-roll ad came on. I usually hit that SKIP button as soon as possible, but this one got my attention because the subject interested me. Opioid addiction. The opioid epidemic. This has been in the news quite a lot in recent years sparked in
- [Success Takes Time, But Failure Takes More – Grow Great Daily Brief #89 – October 24, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/success-takes-time-but-failure-takes-more-grow-great-daily-brief-89-october-24-2018/) - Work smarter, not harder. Or longer. Bull. It's bull because you're competing against people who are working smarter, harder and longer. It's also bull because you're not on control of your innate talents, but you're in complete control of how smart you become, how hard you work and how much time you devote to it.
- [Is Entrepreneurship A Birthright Or Is It Learned? – Grow Great Daily Brief #88 – October 23, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/is-entrepreneurship-a-birthright-or-is-it-learned-grow-great-daily-brief-88-october-23-2018/) - Let me get one thing out of the way. I can't remember the first time I heard the word, "entrepreneur." We were "business people." Period. Or "merchants," those of us who operated in retailing. We were anything, but cool. Musicians, writers, and artists were cool. I spent my entire teens, 20's and 30's being anything,
- ["I Can't Think Long-Term Because I Need Cash Flow Now" – Grow Great Daily Brief #87 – October 22, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/i-cant-think-long-term-because-i-need-cash-flow-now-grow-great-daily-brief-87-october-22-2018/) - We understand cash-flow pinches. We're entrepreneurs. And most of us don't have major funding. Some of us don't have any outside funding. We bootstrap every step of the way. There's no judgment here against or for outside funding. To each her own. Business owners have to chase business. That means we have to pursue customers.
- [The Peer Advantage by Bula Network - Grow Great Daily Brief Special Episode - October 20, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/the-peer-advantage-by-bula-network-grow-great-daily-brief-special-episode-october-20-2018/) - Give me about 18 minutes and I'll explain The Peer Advantage by Bula Network and why you may want to enroll. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Listen to the podcast
- [What Chaos Do You Create? – Grow Great Daily Brief #86 – October 19, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/what-chaos-do-you-create-grow-great-daily-brief-86-october-19-2018/) - This week an Inc. article about how Jeff Bezos will often forward a customer complaint to an appropriate department head with a single keystroke added to the end of it. A question mark. ? That's it. One keystroke. But it's a keystroke from The Man. The article points out how when these leaders get such
- [Don't Compare Somebody's Past To The Future You Hope For - Grow Great Daily Brief #85 – October 18, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/dont-compare-somebodys-past-to-the-future-you-hope-for-grow-great-daily-brief-85-october-18-2018/) - Yesterday we asked the question: "Do You Really Have To Find Somebody Who Has Already Done What You Want To Do?" The answer is, "No." Today, let's talk about the temptation to compare somebody's past accomplishment with what we hope to accomplish in our future. Hint: it's not likely the best way to spend our
- [Do You Really Have To Find Somebody Who Has Already Done What You Want To Do? – Grow Great Daily Brief #84 – October 17, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/do-you-really-have-to-find-somebody-who-has-already-done-what-you-want-to-do-grow-great-daily-brief-84-october-17-2018/) - Common (but foolish) wisdom says, "Find somebody who has already done what you want to do to help you." It's likely the result of a human trait we've all got. Laziness. We want a shortcut. To copycat somebody else so we don't have to put in the work. Why machete our way through the jungle
- [Ask The Questions You Honestly Want To Know The Answers To – Grow Great Daily Brief #83 – October 16, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/ask-the-questions-you-honestly-want-to-know-the-answers-to-grow-great-daily-brief-83-october-16-2018/) - I'm fascinated that too often people don't ask. We don't ask the question that seems obvious to us. We don't ask for help even though we know we could use it, or we need it. Additionally, that we sometimes - perhaps often - don't ask questions to feed or satisfy our curiosity or desire to
- [What If You Were Just One Decision Away From Changing Everything? – Grow Great Daily Brief #82 – October 15, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/what-if-you-were-just-one-decision-away-from-changing-everything-grow-great-daily-brief-82-october-15-2018/) - Decisions aren't created equally. Risk and reward vary. Size and magnitude do, too. Owning the joint doesn't mean you make all the decisions. You've already learned the value of pushing some decisions off your plate by letting people super close to the work do it. Let's play a quick game. Off the top of your
- [Flip It Around For An Improved View – Grow Great Daily Brief #81 – October 12, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/flip-it-around-for-an-improved-view-grow-great-daily-brief-81-october-12-2018/) - Leo Bottary and I were enjoying lunch and conversation this week. We don't get to see each other in person very often, the hazards of me living in Texas and him living in California. We do a podcast together - What Anyone Can Do (titled after Leo's latest book by the same title). Buy a
- [Let's Start, Then Figure It Out – Grow Great Daily Brief #80 – October 11, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/lets-start-then-figure-it-out-grow-great-daily-brief-80-october-11-2018/) - It's the reverse of what makes people feel comfortable. Or confident. We want to figure it all out first, then start. But that doesn't work. It's not how we do anything, or how we've done anything. There is no realized ROI on thinking. The ROI is in the action taken, which is certainly impacted by
- [Your Life, Your Fault – Grow Great Daily Brief #79 – October 10, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/your-life-your-fault-grow-great-daily-brief-79-october-10-2018/) - "Play the hand you're dealt." Even non-poker players like me understand the meaning. It's the only strategy worth deploying. That doesn't mean we people don't react in other ways. They often do. For starters, they whine and complain. Cause it's fun to enjoy the sympathy of others. The root of complaining is envy and jealousy.
- [Avoid Stagnation In Your Small Business – Grow Great Daily Brief #78 – October 9, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/avoid-stagnation-in-your-small-business-grow-great-daily-brief-78-october-9-2018/) - Soar with your strengths. It's valid. I believe in it. Strongly. But... Every small business is prone to stagnation. And it's not restricted to businesses that have been around for a very long time. Stagnation can happen more quickly than we think. Small business ownership isn't just mom 'n pop shops. It's the $50M manufacturing
- [Helping Small Business Owners & Entrepreneurs Leverage The Power Of Others – Grow Great Daily Brief #77 – October 8, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/helping-small-business-owners-entrepreneurs-leverage-the-power-of-others-grow-great-daily-brief-77-october-8-2018/) - Let's talk about OTHER PEOPLE. During the early years of my career OPM entered every business person's vocabulary. It stood for "Other People's Money." This was long before business people were the heroes. And it was really before VC's (venture capitalists) were legendary. The goal of business owners who had a business that seemed scalable
- [Fake Is Fun, But Fatal – Grow Great Daily Brief #76 – October 5, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/fake-is-fun-but-fatal-grow-great-daily-brief-76-october-5-2018/) - Acting & Feeling Your Age/Experience I don't feel much different than I did when I was a teenager. Kids don't realize that in 20 years they're not going to feel much different. And today, a 40-year-old or 60-year-old doesn't look remotely like they did when I was a kid. Google pictures of the 1960's compared
- [Surrounding Ourselves With People Who Can Help Us Figure It Out – Grow Great Daily Brief #75 – September 20, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/surrounding-ourselves-with-people-who-can-help-us-figure-it-out-grow-great-daily-brief-75-september-20-2018/) - Mastermind groups. Think tanks. Peer groups. Support groups. It doesn't matter what you call them...they're opportunities for us to surround ourselves with like-minded people who are peers. Peers are people who are in the same boat we're in. In the case of THE PEER ADVANTAGE by Bula Network, they're all business owners! Folks who share
- [Fasting For Improved Fitness  – Grow Great Daily Brief #74 – September 4, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/fasting-for-improved-fitness-grow-great-daily-brief-74-september-4-2018/) - The benefits of physical fasting are widely researched and documented. The benefits of social media fasting might not as widely researched or documented, but I think they're valuable, too. Which is why I'm doing both. And it's why I do it every now and again. I do this a couple of times a year ---
- [Intentions Matter – Grow Great Daily Brief #73 – August 31, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/intentions-matter-grow-great-daily-brief-73-august-31-2018/) - Intentions matter. Senator John McCain will lie in state at the Capitol in Washington today. However you may have felt about him, or his politics, you have to tip your hat to the man's intentions. By almost all accounts, he was a man of principles and integrity. Maybe the biggest proof was when he was
- [Thoughtful Speed, Not Thoughtless Impulse – Grow Great Daily Brief #72 – August 30, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/thoughtful-speed-not-thoughtless-impulse-grow-great-daily-brief-72-august-30-2018/) - Small businesses have many advantages. Being highly maneuverable is chief among them. Speed kills competition and wins in the market. Not recklessness. Speed. Not impulsiveness. Speed. As an operator, my mantra has long been to make sure the company was highly maneuverable and viciously competitive. Both involve the factor we all care most about, TIME.
- [Getting Our Costs Down – Grow Great Daily Brief #71 – August 29, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/getting-our-costs-down-grow-great-daily-brief-71-august-29-2018/) - Some people think you just sell your way out of every problem. More sales equal more money. More money means less trouble. Fewer problems. It doesn't always work that way though. You know if you're more driven by the top line (revenue) or by the bottom line (profits). You can be top line driven and
- [Daring To Innovate (adventurous courage) – Grow Great Daily Brief #70 – August 28, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/daring-to-innovate-adventurous-courage-grow-great-daily-brief-70-august-28-2018/) - Is it really daring to innovate? Absolutely. Proof was apparent here in Dallas Sunday night during a pre-season NFL game between the Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals. Late Sunday night Yahoo sports writer Jason Owens wrote a piece entitled, Viewers not impressed with NBC's 'green zone' innovation for 'Sunday Night Football.' He wrote... The yellow
- [Do You Have To Be Angry, Yell & Cuss To Get Improved Performance? – Grow Great Daily Brief #69 – August 27, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/do-you-have-to-be-angry-yell-cuss-to-get-improved-performance-grow-great-daily-brief-69-august-27-2018/) - I'd been thinking about this for a good long while. Many private conversations have been had in recent years about it, too. Language and demeanor. Retired NFL head coach and current NBC Sports football commentator Tony Dungy was on a local sports talk radio station here in Dallas this past Friday. I've read quite a
- [Scaling Communications With People Inside Your Organization – Grow Great Daily Brief #68 – August 24, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/scaling-communications-with-people-inside-your-organization-grow-great-daily-brief-68-august-24-2018/) - These days scaling is all the rage. And talk. Start-up's focus on scaling as quickly as possible as they struggle to escape the gravitational pull of business failure. When we're not trying to scale, then we're trying to hack, implement something lean, strategize something agile and all the while we're honing our storytelling chops. Earlier
- [Making All The Right Assumptions – Grow Great Daily Brief #67 – August 23, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/making-all-the-right-assumptions-grow-great-daily-brief-67-august-23-2018/) - Okay, we can't possibly make all the right assumptions, but we can improve making our assumptions serve us better. For today's show we could use "expectations" and "assumptions" interchangeably. I'd sum it up like this: be convinced you can instead of being convinced you can't. It's another one of those dreaded formulas. You can't grow
- [Growing Your Leadership With Caring – Grow Great Daily Brief #65 – August 21, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/growing-your-leadership-with-caring-grow-great-daily-brief-65-august-21-2018/) - Today is as good a day as any to simplify the name of the podcast. The focus is still aimed at helping leaders, particularly small business owners, but let's just go by "Daily Brief" shall we? It's easier to say. And to remember. The Grow Great Daily Brief. Proof that I'm embracing minimalism and simplicity
- [Problem Solving Innovations: The Answer May Be Where You're Not Even Looking – Grow Great Daily Brief #66 – August 22, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/problem-solving-innovations-the-answer-may-be-where-youre-not-even-looking-grow-great-daily-brief-66-august-22-2018/) - Everybody gets stuck every now and again. For some, it's a chronic condition they may not even be aware of. It happens often when we're entrenched in our industry and our business. Nobody understands our industry like we do, and those of us in the space. The opportunities and challenges we face are ideally going
- [You Want More! – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #59 – August 13, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/you-want-more-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-59-august-13-2018/) - Last Friday we ended the week talking about the real power - the negative power - of our self-limiting beliefs. Today, let's kick the week off talking about what you want. And what you want more of. Over 30 years ago I developed what I termed "the trifecta of business building." I'm not a gambler.
- [The Power Of Not Quitting – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #64 – August 20, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/the-power-of-not-quitting-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-64-august-20-2018/) - There's a little documentary on Netflix called, "Long Shot." Here's how Sports Illustrated teased the release of the documentary. The case dates back to August 2003. Los Angeles Dodgers fan Juan Catalan was arrested for the murder of 16-year-old Martha Puebla, who was fatally shot outside her home in Sun Valley, California. It was believed that
- [Avoiding Life's Biggest Regrets – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #63 – August 17, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/avoiding-lifes-biggest-regrets-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-63-august-17-2018/) - On Monday Today.com posted an article entitled, "How to avoid life's biggest regrets, enjoy the best years: Advice from 90-year-olds." A 34-year-old United Methodist minister, Lydia Sohn, not a researcher, wanted to know what older people regretted most. She wondered if people in their 90's regretted not achieving more. What she discovered was their regrets
- [You Have To Help Yourself (Before You Can Help Others) – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #62 – August 16, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/you-have-to-help-yourself-before-you-can-help-others-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-62-august-16-2018/) - Selfishness is not a leadership trait. But some other "self" traits are very much necessary. Self-awareness Self-confidence Self-control Self-help What do you think of when you hear the term "self-help?" I think of all the hours spent in brick and mortar bookstores through the years, browsing through that section called, "SELF-HELP." Whatever you think of,
- [Hiding Prolongs The Agony (be a buffalo) – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #61 – August 15, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/hiding-prolongs-the-agony-be-a-buffalo-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-61-august-15-2018/) - We don't want to admit it, but sometimes we hide. Everybody does it. Sometimes. Some people do it often. I've even known people who appeared to do it all the time! We don't call it hiding. We're just waiting for the right time to handle it. Something else came up that requires our immediate attention.
- [Less Might Make You Happier! (and more profitable) – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #60 – August 14, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/less-might-make-you-happier-and-more-profitable-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-60-august-14-2018/) - Yesterday's show was about our ongoing desire for more. And better. Today, let's flip that idea on its head and talk about why less might make us happier. No, I'm not contradicting myself. Less is a path we should likely embrace more fully. I'm a broken record in urging people to stop cheerleading that old
- [Accepting (Applications) Nominations For Admission Into The Peer Advantage By Bula Network - Special Podcast Episode](https://bulanetwork.com/accepting-applications-nominations-for-admission-into-the-peer-advantage-by-bula-network-special-podcast-episode/) - Small business owners are a special breed. We come from all walks of life. All sorts of backgrounds and educations. Small business owners share many things. No matter our differences, we can all instantly "get it," when we're around each other. Today's special episode is 10 minutes to help you better understand the powerful advantage
- [Self-Limiting Beliefs Are Real (and really limiting) – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #58 – August 10, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/self-limiting-beliefs-are-real-and-really-limiting-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-58-august-10-2018/) - Founders, CEO's, Entrepreneurs. People think we're among the most squared away people on the planet. We're human. That means we're good at some things and we suck at other things. We succeed at some things and we fail at other things. Some things are easy for us. Other things are insanely difficult, seemingly downright impossible.
- [I'm Sick And Tired Of These Customer Complaints!  – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #57 – August 9, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/im-sick-and-tired-of-these-customer-complaints-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-57-august-9-2018/) - The owner is angry. Extremely. Business is good. Revenues are up. That's usually what we mean when we say, "Business is good." But if we look at the whole thing - the big picture - business is in trouble. And this owner knows it. "I've never seen this in 26 years," he says. "It's incredible.
- [Growing Great Isn't For Wimps – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #56 – August 8, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/growing-great-isnt-for-wimps-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-56-august-8-2018/) - Great is the descriptive term I use because other terms like "best" are comparison terms. Comparison to others. Or something else. Great, in the context I mostly use, is only in comparison to yourself. It's your greatness. And your greatness has nothing to do with anybody else. Or anything else. It belongs to you. It's
- [Being Likable Is Marketable – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #55 – August 7, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/being-likable-is-marketable-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-55-august-7-2018/) - Likable is powerful. And it's so ridiculously easy. Or should be. Back when dinosaurs roamed the planet and I got my first real #1 job running a company - a retailing company - I knew something that didn't seem apparent to my competitors. For that matter, it didn't seem it was being practiced by hardly
- [Resentment Is NOT A Leadership Quality – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #54 – August 6, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/resentment-is-not-a-leadership-quality-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-54-august-6-2018/) - Deb Calvert named her company People First Productivity Solutions. Angela Maiers centers her work in education and business around the premise that you matter. No matter who you are. Claude Silver is the Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia, a title she crafted to replace what most folks would call "HR." Three highly successful female achievers
- [The Peace Of High Integrity – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #53 – August 3, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/the-peace-of-high-integrity-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-53-august-3-2018/) - If you're new to the podcast, welcome. For businesses, I focus on helping entrepreneurs hit the trifecta of business building: 1) getting new customers, 2) serving existing customers better and 3) not going crazy in the process. Today's show is about that third leg of the trifecta. In the last 48 hours or so
- [What Are You Willing To Do To Survive? (or to grow great?) – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #51 – August 1, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/what-are-you-willing-to-do-to-survive-or-to-grow-great-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-51-august-1-2018/) - Werner Herzog plays a terrific villain in the movie, Jack Reacher. His character survived a Siberian prison camp because he was willing to do what others weren't. Here's 2: 34-minute clip just in case you're not familiar with the scene. ? Business survival is largely based on determination. It's why you hear me regularly encourage
- [The Myth Of Super Human Business Leaders – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #52 – August 2, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/the-myth-of-super-human-business-leaders-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-52-august-2-2018/) - Daily I see headlines (click bait) and posts declaring why high achievers aren't like the rest of us. I don't argue that high achiever, of whom I like I think I'm sometimes among, behave differently in some important, but perhaps subtle ways. But there are so many myths being foisted on us daily I felt
- [How To Accept Criticism – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #50 – July 31, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/how-to-accept-criticism-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-50-july-31-2018/) - I thought about first diving into how to deliver criticism, but getting criticism is much more universal. Not all of us are prone to give it. All of us are experienced in getting it though. Here are 3 critical considerations: Who gives it. Do we respect this person? Do we trust them? Do they have
- [Foster Disagreement (it's highly valuable) – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #49 – July 30, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/foster-disagreement-its-highly-valuable-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-49-july-30-2018/) - "Gentlemen, I take it we are all in complete agreement on the decision here. Then, I propose we postpone further discussion of this matter until the next meeting to give ourselves time to develop disagreement, and perhaps gain some understanding of what the decision is all about." -Alfred P. Sloan Our culture hates disagreement. We
- [How Executive Coaching Works (Bula Network Style)](https://bulanetwork.com/how-executive-coaching-works-bula-network-style/) - There has to be a first time for everything. And it's almost always difficult. Everything is hard before it's easy. Personal and professional growth is no exception. Like most worthwhile things, it's worth it. But it takes work. Fear and trepidation are common at the start. Observe the little kids who may be in your
- [When You Can't Fire Them Up, Fire Them! – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #48 – July 27, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/when-you-cant-fire-them-up-fire-them-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-48-july-27-2018/) - Yesterday we talked about hiring so it's fitting that we'll end the week today talking about firing. Terminating employment is a tough subject for many leaders and business owners. I certainly don't propose to make it enjoyable or pleasant. These are lives being impacted. The employee. Their family. Their co-workers. And then there's our reputation.
- [Build A Remarkable Team With Extraordinary Hiring Strategies – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #47 – July 26, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/build-a-remarkable-team-with-extraordinary-hiring-strategies-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-47-july-26-2018/) - Education and credentials might matter. But for most of us, they're mostly overrated. My son-in-law is a master chemist with a global company. His level of knowledge in science and math is vital to his work. It's not a "we'll show you what you need to know" kind of a career. I've got friends who
- [Key Ingredient For Improvement & Growth Is A Culture Of Accountability  – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #46 – July 25, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/key-ingredient-for-improvement-growth-is-a-culture-of-accountability-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-46-july-25-2018/) - Culture and communication continue to be key conversations with business owners and leaders. For good reason. They're vital in establishing accountability. Every experienced leader knows without accountability there can be no sustainable improvement or growth. Our growth and improvement individually hinge on our willingness to be accountable to others, and our willingness to let others
- [Passionately Woo Customers – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #45 – July 24, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/passionately-woo-customers-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-45-july-24-2018/) - A group of startup sales managers are sitting around swapping stories and sharing experiences. Some of the startups are mere months old while others are a couple of years old. At some point, the conversation turns to pipelines, funnels, ideal prospects, customer acquisition and all the other components of selling. Some of the companies are B2B
- [The Value Of Strange Connections – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #44 – July 23, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/the-value-of-strange-connections-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-44-july-23-2018/) - Read With Aubrey is an online platform based in the U.K. that connects complete strangers with each other so they can read a book together. It's not like a 2-person reading circle though. There's a twist. You connect and spend just a few minutes reading the book aloud to each other. People are reporting solid
- [Why You Should Enroll In The Peer Advantage By Bula Network – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #43 – July 21, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/why-you-should-enroll-in-the-peer-advantage-by-bula-network-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-43-july-21-2018/) - You can read all the details by visiting ThePeerAdvantage.com. Today I want to take a few minutes to share how I got here and why YOU should enroll. I'm also going to give you some value as you embark on your own growth journey. People provide the power. We began our businesses to serve people,
- [Be Good, Then Become Better (Your Leadership Includes Your Behavior) – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #42 – July 20, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/be-good-then-become-better-your-leadership-includes-your-behavior-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-42-july-20-2018/) - Texas Instruments said Tuesday afternoon that CEO Brian Crutcher resigned for violating the company's code of conduct related to personal behavior. I'm sure in the coming days we'll learn more. Crutcher had been with the company for 22 years when he was just recently appointed CEO effective June 1st. Chairman and previous CEO, Richard Templeton will
- [How To Tackle Performance & Growth Problems – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #41 – July 19, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/how-to-tackle-performance-growth-problems-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-41-july-19-2018/) - First of all, don't ignore and hope things will improve. Avoiding a problem isn't a wise way to solve it. The sooner you jump on it, the better. Speed is key. This means you have to see reality quickly. Your measurements - whatever dashboard you have - need to be speedy and accurate. There's no
- [B2B Sales, Evangelism Style – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #40 – July 18, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/b2b-sales-evangelism-style-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-40-july-18-2018/) - B2B isn't necessarily so different from B2C, but today let's talk about selling in the business-to-business space. One major distinction between B2C and B2B is the sales cycle and the need for relationship building. B2B is usually far less transactional than B2C. It takes longer to close the deal. There may be many more influencers
- [The Crazy Value Of Timely Encouragement – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #39 – July 17, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/the-crazy-value-of-timely-encouragement-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-39-july-17-2018/) - Watch or read almost any biography of high achievers and you're going to hear a story of somebody in their life who expressed extraordinary confidence in them. And not the stereotypical parents who tell their child, "You can do this." Something more precise. More powerful. John McEnroe was recently on Joe Buck's TV show, Undeniable
- [Why Are Soft Skills So Hard? – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #38 – July 16, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/why-are-soft-skills-so-hard-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-38-july-16-2018/) - Two interconnected topics have been the focal point of most of my conversations - culture and leadership. People, communication, emotional intelligence. These are at the heart of "soft skills." I was speaking with a young leader about some of his challenges. After half an hour or so he blurted out, "I don't know they're called
- [Are You Superstitious? – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #37 – July 13, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/are-you-superstitious-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-37-july-13-2018/) - Happy Friday the 13th! Are you superstitious? You believe stuff just because? Today is a great day to take an inventory and re-evaluate your superstitions if you have any. I'll tell you why it's important --- because you've got some assumptions, too. They're not classified as superstitions, but they're just as dangerous. Or more so.
- [Health Before Wealth? Try 2 Things! – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief #36 – July 12, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/health-before-wealth-try-2-things-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-36-july-12-2018/) - Benjamin Franklin is quoted to have said: "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Did Ben mention these in order of importance? Or was it merely alphabetical? I don't know. But I do know health is primary because, without it, wealth (at least the financial kind) is fairly useless. To be fair,
- [Finding Money To Fuel Growth – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief – July 11, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/finding-money-to-fuel-growth-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-july-11-2018/) - Bootstraping. You take no debt and fund it all yourself. Some way. Some how. Family and friends. You take on debt from the people closest to you. The people who believe in you and are willing to help you. Angels. They've got money to invest and are willing to bet on you, or your idea
- [Protecting Your A Players – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief – July 10, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/protecting-your-a-players-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-july-10-2018/) - I don't know what your roster looks like, but I'm guessing that if you've got at least 10 employees the 80/20 rule applies. Not that 20% of your employees are doing 80% of the work, but I'm guessing that no more than 20% of your team are real stars. A Players. It may be less,
- [Accountability: The Most Powerful Ingredient For Growth & Improvement – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief – July 9, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/accountability-the-most-powerful-ingredient-for-growth-improvement-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-july-9-2018/) - If Lt. Joe Kenda were my accountability partner, I'd likely either be too scared to do anything, or I'd get off my butt and get it all done! The police, our laws, and the government are one major form of accountability. Every society needs them. Otherwise, nobody is safe. It's mayhem and chaos without them.
- [Speed, Convenience & Effectiveness – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief – July 7, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/speed-convenience-effectiveness-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-july-7-2018/) - You're chasing hard. Like everybody else, you wish you had more time. To be fair, you also wish you had more customers. More revenue. More profit. More great employees. Lower costs. More sanity in the work, and your schedule. Time the deal. It's always the deal. My granddaughter will start second grade in the fall.
- [Attracting New Customers By Being Attractive – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief – July 6, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/attracting-new-customers-by-being-attractive-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-july-6-2018/) - I know, I know. It sounds idiotic. Until you stop long enough to think about the truth of it. Got any young single adults in your life? Maybe your kids? We were kids once. On the dating scene. Like most young people we were focused on what we wanted. Or what we hoped for. An
- [Embracing Gratitude & Optimism – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief – July 5, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/embracing-gratitude-optimism-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-july-5-2018/) - You're blessed. Here's the thing about blessings. They're real and they exist even if you don't recognize them. But I hope you do - recognize them. Yesterday was Independence Day here in America. It's one of those holidays where Americans celebrate with fireworks, cookouts and family get-togethers. Some of us take time to be thankful for
- [Watch The Tone You're Setting – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief – July 3, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/watch-the-tone-youre-setting-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-july-3-2018/) - Whenever I'd sass my mom, I'd likely hear, "I don't care for that tone!" Or, "Don’t take that tone with me, young man!" Tone matters. But tone can be a lot more than how we sound when we speak. As business owners and leaders, it's everything. It's our demeanor when we walk into the office. It's
- [Your Perspective Is Your Reality (Good, Bad or Ugly) – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief – July 2, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/your-perspective-is-your-reality-good-bad-or-ugly-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-july-2-2018/) - What you think. How you feel. Thoughts, emotions, beliefs. They belong to you. I've got my own. Mine don't matter to you. But they could. Just not as much as yours. It's up to you to protect yours. It's also up to you to expand yours. Grow yours. Maybe even correct yours. If you're wrong.
- [Having Fun Is Part Of Not Going Crazy In The Process – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief – July 1, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/having-fun-is-part-of-not-going-crazy-in-the-process-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-july-1-2018/) - Many years ago I began a podcast called LEANING TOWARD WISDOM. Yep, the URL is the same thing, LeaningTowardWisdom.com. I'm not hawking it because I don't care if you check it out or not. What I do care is that you know it's FUN. Every Saturday I create a post and share it. It's called,
- [Candor With Compassion: Your Communication Is Everything – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief – June 30, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/candor-with-compassion-your-communication-is-everything-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-june-30-2018/) - Here's a secret. Okay, not so much as secret as a little known and little-deployed truth among business owners. Congruency is central to communication. In a word, congruency is about agreement. It's about things making sense. For your business it's about your employees finding agreement between what you say and what you do. They're just
- [Leveraging The Influence Of Every Customer – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief – June 29, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/leveraging-the-influence-of-every-customer-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-june-29-2018/) - Much of my career was spent in the world of retailing where transactions are a valued metric. But I was never transactional. Philosophically. Or practically. That is, I'd measure the average sale, the average number of items per sale, but my focus was always on the individual customer or shopper. The lifetime value of a
- [Has Your Website Copy Been Stolen? - Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief – June 28, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/has-your-website-copy-been-stolen-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-june-28-2018/) - I first shared these thoughts over on Facebook. Just a day ago. Plagiarizing website copy is stealing. It's always a curious thing to me when I see a company or so-called "professional" take the copy (almost word for word) from a competitor's website and use it as their own. I've seen so much of it
- [Creating A Culture Of Commitment – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief – June 27, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/creating-a-culture-of-commitment-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-june-27-2018/) - Enthusiasm is defined as intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval. I suppose people can be committed without it. But that's not much of a life! Companies and organizations have been focused on culture for the past 50 years. Before that, nobody much cared. Show up, do your job or get fired. Don't speak up.
- [Seek Insights, Avoid Judgment – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief – June 26, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/seek-insights-avoid-judgment-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-june-26-2018/) - It's one of the hardest things to accomplish. To get insights without the judgment. You're surrounded by lots of people willing to tell you what you ought to do. Should-ing people is easy. "You should do this. Or that. But not this other." It's judgment. Second guessing. People who want to own telling you what
- [Managing Your First Growth Spurt – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief - June 25, 2018](https://bulanetwork.com/managing-your-first-growth-spurt-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief-june-25-2018/) - Managing first growth is different than later stage growth. Or it *can* be. Recently, I've encountered a few folks who have started up. They're early stage. Some are 2-3 years in, and others are less than a year in. They range from solopreneurs to companies with 3-5 people. Growth is challenging, but it's a lot
- [Small Business Owners Wanted: To Share (Their) Your Story](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-owners-wanted-to-share-their-your-story/) - The Grow Great podcast will bring you some conversations with small business owners from around the world. Yes, I'm going to focus on the U.S., but entrepreneurship is global (and so is our audience). I've reached out to a few, but I'm putting the call out to YOU, too. The premise is simple: there's big
- [June 23, 2018 – Family Success Formula – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief](https://bulanetwork.com/june-23-2018-family-success-formula-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief/) - Happy Saturday. I tire of hearing about business owners experiencing exploding marriages and families. More than that, I get really sick of hearing folks chant, "Hustle! Hustle! Hustle!" inferring that success requires complete devotion to career, business building or whatever other achievements we chase. Hard work is required. That's for sure. But to assume that
- [June 22, 2018 – Small Business Is A Description, Not A Condition - Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief](https://bulanetwork.com/june-22-2018-small-business-is-a-description-not-a-condition-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief/) - Culture glorifies the unicorn. A unicorn is a company that started, scaled up and broke the BILLION dollar annual revenue barrier. Back in 2015 it was calculated that your startup had a 1.28% chance of becoming a unicorn. I don't know if that has improved over the last few years or not. Mostly, I don't
- [June 20, 2018 – They're Your Feelings, And They're Your Fault – Grow Great Daily Brief](https://bulanetwork.com/june-20-2018-theyre-your-feelings-and-theyre-your-fault-grow-great-daily-brief/) - The other day my podcast partner Leo Bottary and I recorded a conversation with Dr. Larry Senn, the godfather of company culture. He wrote his doctoral dissertation, Organizational Character as a Tool in the Analysis of Business Organizations, in 1970. You know the guy is early in the game when he predates the term, company
- [June 21, 2018 – How To Avoid Taking Customers For Granted – Grow Great Small Business Daily Brief](https://bulanetwork.com/june-21-2018-how-to-avoid-taking-customers-for-granted-grow-great-small-business-daily-brief/) - The first leg of winning the business trifecta is getting new customers. Every small business needs them. The problem comes after we get them. We tend to think, "Well, that's done!" --- and we quickly move on to get the next customer. Like dating the girl we hope to marry, once we get a ring
- [June 19, 2018 – Does It Pay To Break The Rules? – Grow Great Daily Brief](https://bulanetwork.com/june-19-2018-does-it-pay-to-break-the-rules-grow-great-daily-brief/) - Full disclosure: I'm not a golfer. I've played twice in my life. I have watched it on TV some. I'm aware of the big names in the sport, including Phil Mickelson. This past weekend Phil became a hot topic for violating a rule of the game. Striking a moving ball. Seems the conditions at this
- [June 18, 2018 – Guarantee Failure: Overthink It – Grow Great Daily Brief](https://bulanetwork.com/june-18-2018-guarantee-failure-overthink-it-grow-great-daily-brief/) - I've learned quite a lot since I became a grandfather. If you want to learn some valuable things, pay close attention to the little kids in your life. They're learning everything. Lots of firsts. No experience. It's interesting to see how their personalities impact their actions. You can watch them approach something they've never done
- [June 16, 2018 – Do You Have Support To Help You Do Your Job Better? - Grow Great Daily Brief](https://bulanetwork.com/june-16-2018-do-you-have-support-to-help-you-do-your-job-better-grow-great-daily-brief/) - Yesterday four university professors published an article in the Harvard Business Review entitled, "In Interviews, Female CEOs Say They Don’t Expect Much Support — at Home or at Work." The female leaders we spoke to expected little outside support, either at home or in work." That one sentence just made me sad. I kept thinking
- [Small Business Leadership Daily Brief: June 15, 2018 – Quit Putting It Off Just Because You're Dreading It](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-leadership-daily-brief-june-15-2018-quit-putting-it-off-just-because-youre-dreading-it/) - You know you need to do it. You've been needing to do it for days. Maybe weeks. But you're dreading it. So you keep putting it off. Without any idea what you're waiting for. It's not like it's going to miraculously go away. You convince yourself that now isn't the time. Besides, there are other
- [Small Business Leadership Daily Brief: June 14, 2018 – Culture, Make Sure Yours Isn't The Cultivation Of Bacteria!](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-leadership-daily-brief-june-14-2018-culture-make-sure-yours-isnt-the-cultivation-of-bacteria/) - Culture defined: (biology) "the cultivation of bacteria, tissue cells, etc., in an artificial medium containing nutrients" Too frequently that defines the culture inside our organizations. It's like a bacteria-filled petri dish. Not like a sports team locker room where everybody is doing their part so the entire team can hoist the championship trophy! We're going to use
- [Small Business Leadership Daily Brief: June 13, 2018 – Plain Talk, Clear Understanding](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-leadership-daily-brief-june-13-2018-plain-talk-clear-understanding/) - I was listening to a conversation between some folks the other day. Smart people. I found myself making mental notes of phrases, acronyms, and other terms that just seemed overly complicated. I'm watching facial expressions and body language. Looking for signs of any engagement, which is impossible if you're unclear what's being communicated. At some
- [Small Business Leadership Daily Brief: June 12, 2018 – Avoiding The Blame Game](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-leadership-daily-brief-june-12-2018-avoiding-the-blame-game/) - Yesterday we talked about avoiding being stupid. Let's stick with this theme of avoidance. Today, let's figure out better alternatives - and a way to avoid playing the blame game. William James McAuley III is better known as Bleu. He should likely be a household name. He's a musician, artist, songwriter and producer from Boston
- [Small Business Leadership Daily Brief: June 11, 2018 – Let's Avoid Being Stupid This Week](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-leadership-daily-brief-june-11-2018-lets-avoid-being-stupid-this-week/) - On Saturday at Bonnaroo in Tennessee rap artist, Eminem ended his show with sound effects of realistic gunshots. As you'd imagine, panic rolled through the crowd. It's just another example of something that I guess seemed like a good idea to somebody, at some point. But turned out to be pretty foolish. As we begin
- [Small Business Leadership Daily Brief: June 9, 2018 – You Matter! (Yes, I know Angela Maiers and I like her)](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-leadership-daily-brief-june-9-2018-you-matter-yes-i-know-angela-maiers-and-i-like-her/) - Angela Maiers is leading a charge in education. Her mantra is simple but profoundly powerful. Just two words: You Matter! I know Angela and like her. She won't mind me using her 2-word tagline to make today's point. Pushing her message forward is just a side benefit to today's brief. I hope you'll check out
- [Small Business Leadership Daily Brief: June 8, 2018 – Leading With Your Heart (Helping Your Employees Achieve More)](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-leadership-daily-brief-june-8-2018-leading-with-your-heart-helping-your-employees-achieve-more/) - In the neverending debate between head and heart, I declare, "No contest!" Well, to be fair...I declare there is no debate or fight. They can't be separated. Mostly we think of heart representing feelings and emotions. Those reside in your head. Your brain. They're formed based on what you think and believe. Debate over! To
- [Small Business Leadership Daily Brief: June 6, 2018 – If Everything Is Important, Then Nothing Is Important!](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-leadership-daily-brief-june-6-2018-if-everything-is-important-then-nothing-is-important/) - I first remember uttering this phrase as a teenager working for an autocratic, micromanager of a stereo shop who loved to preach, "Everything is important." He would traipse around picking nits. Quite often we'd find ourselves doing things to appease him while other things that are far more critical went undone. For example, I remember
- [Small Business Leadership Daily Brief: June 7, 2018 – Not Going Crazy In The Process Is A Big Part Of Hitting The Trifecta Of Successful Business Building](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-leadership-daily-brief-june-7-2018-not-going-crazy-in-the-process-is-a-big-part-of-hitting-the-trifecta-of-successful-business-building/) - Don't get your britches in a bunch because I use the word "crazy." You get it. We all use it in a slang sense, not in a judgmental sense. And as business people, we're driven crazy daily by something. Frustrated. Annoyed. Riddled with anxiety. Fretful. Worried. The emotions are all over the place when we're
- [Small Business Leadership Daily Brief: June 5, 2018 – We Manage The Work. We Lead The People.](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-leadership-daily-brief-june-5-2018-we-manage-the-work-we-lead-the-people/) - At the beginning, we may be actually doing much of the work. But as our business grows things change. Necessarily. Our role changes, too. We hire people. The business grows and expansion requires additional help. Perhaps even new skills. Over time we realize that our role, as the owner, transitions away from doing the actual
- [Small Business Leadership Daily Brief: June 4, 2018 – Go Slow, Lose. Go Fast, Win!](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-leadership-daily-brief-june-4-2018-go-slow-lose-go-fast-win/) - Speed kills...the competition. It dazzles customers and clients. It's remarkable. Curiosity fuels it. Don't keep wondering if it'll work. Find out. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Subscribe to the podcast To subscribe, please use the links below: Click Here to Subscribe via iTunes Click Here to Subscribe via RSS (non-iTunes feed) Click Here to
- [Small Business Leadership Daily Brief: June 2, 2018 - Failure & Success](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-leadership-daily-brief-june-2-2018-failure-success/) - The Small Business Leadership Daily Brief is a short, under 5-minute podcast produced Monday through Saturday. Subscribe to the Grow Great podcast and you'll get every podcast episode, including the daily briefs. Be well. Do good. Grow great! Subscribe to the podcast To subscribe, please use the links below: Click Here to Subscribe via iTunes
- [Small Business Leadership Daily Brief: June 1, 2018 - The Value Of Cleaning Up](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-leadership-daily-brief-june-1-2018-the-value-of-cleaning-up/) - When you feel like you need to reboot or shake things up it may be time for a cleanup. Don't wait for Spring. Do it today! Every business experiences the clutter that comes with not paying attention to details. Sometimes that clutter is physical, but it also takes form in other areas. Processes and systems
- [Why I'm A Fan Of Fear: Small Business Owners Can Leverage Their Fear For Greater Success 5057](https://bulanetwork.com/why-im-a-fan-of-fear-small-business-owners-can-leverage-their-fear-for-greater-success-5057/) - “I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” - Mark Twain No Fear is a company founded in 1971 producing t-shirts and other apparel aimed at extreme sports. The "No Fear" slogan was popular back in the 90's. Back in 2011, they filed chapter 11 bankruptcy. They're still around,
- [The Peer Advantage by Bula Network Explained  (A Special Memorial Day Weekend Episode)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-peer-advantage-by-bula-network-explained-a-special-memorial-day-weekend-episode/) - I was asked to explain The Peer Advantage by Bula Network. We had a digital recorder in the middle of the table recording the conversation...so I was able to capture this part of it. Where I offered about 15 minutes worth of explanation. This was NOT a sale pitch, but an answer to the question,
- [Let A 3-Year-Old Show You How To Figure Things Out 5056](https://bulanetwork.com/let-a-3-year-old-show-you-how-to-figure-things-out-5056/) - You don't want anybody to tell you what to do. But sometimes you may secretly wish they would. Tell you what to do. How to fix something. Running a business can be daunting some days. Especially when we're up against something unfamiliar. But in the last few years, I've learned quite a lot from my
- [Stop Thinking About What Other People Think 5055](https://bulanetwork.com/stop-thinking-about-what-other-people-think-5055/) - I checked today's Ballard Street daily cartoon and here it is. Fitting. Given that this weekend I've been thinking of how sometimes people think our vision of the future is nonsense. We come up with ideas, plans, and strategies that we'd like to execute only to find somebody (maybe a whole bunch of somebodies) who
- [The Reason For Living Was To Get Ready To Stay Dead A Long Time 5054](https://bulanetwork.com/the-reason-for-living-was-to-get-ready-to-stay-dead-a-long-time-5054/) - The title is a line from William Faulkner's 1930 novel, As I Lay Dying. I don't know if you believe in an afterlife or not. But the line Faulkner wrote during the 168 or so odd hours he spent writing this story, from the hours of midnight to 4 am over the course of six
- [On Being Human: A Leadership Key 5053](https://bulanetwork.com/on-being-human-a-leadership-key-5053/) - A large part of effective leadership is being a good human. Which may explain why some people don't get it right. Subscribe to the podcast To subscribe, please use the links below: Click Here to Subscribe via iTunes Click Here to Subscribe via RSS (non-iTunes feed) Click Here to Subscribe via Stitcher If you have
- [So What? 5052](https://bulanetwork.com/so-what-5052/) - Maybe the most powerful 2-word question you can ask. Or be asked. Also maybe the most painful for many entrepreneurs. And certainly, one that is sure to make some folks angry. So what? ;) It's among the most universally applicable questions. Test it. "We're not hitting our sales projections." So what? "We've got to find
- [IDK: Not Knowing Provides Enormous Value Called "Learning" 5051](https://bulanetwork.com/idk-not-knowing-provides-enormous-value-called-learning-5051/) - IDK is digital shorthand for "I don't know." I get it a lot. From young people. From older people. In response to a question. And it's okay. Truth is, it's better than okay to not know. It's not better if you're willing to stay there though. The value is in the quest to find out.
- [Papa Is Afraid, Too! 5050](https://bulanetwork.com/papa-is-afraid-too-5050/) - Five little kids call me, "Papa." They're my grandchildren. This summer the oldest will turn 11 and the youngest will turn 3. When Max, the oldest, joined a soccer team when he was very young...he was paralyzed with fear. That was 7 years ago. I talked about it at the time so I'm not going
- [Put In The Work, No Matter What! 5049](https://bulanetwork.com/put-in-the-work-no-matter-what-5049/) - The world no longer cares about who you are, where you came from or whatever has (or hasn't) happened to you. ZZ Top sang, "I'm bad, I'm nationwide." Well, the good news is we're all bad and global (if we want to be) now...thanks to mobile technology. The bad news is, we can't hide anymore.
- [What To Do When Trouble Hits 5048](https://bulanetwork.com/what-to-do-when-trouble-hits-5048/) - I'm a longtime fan of the music of Ry Cooder. In 1979 he released a record entitled, Bop 'Til You Drop. One of the great songs on that record is, "Trouble, You Can't Fool Me." ? Here's the first lyrics of that song... Trouble you
- [Are Your KPI's Killing Your Chances To Be Remarkable?  5047](https://bulanetwork.com/are-your-kpis-killing-your-chances-to-be-remarkable-5047/) - What's driving your KPI's? Why do they exist? How are you managing them? Let's chat about how KPI's can kill our chances to be remarkable. Subscribe to the podcast To subscribe, please use the links below: Click Here to Subscribe via iTunes Click Here to Subscribe via RSS (non-iTunes feed) Click Here to Subscribe via
- [What You Can't See Will Hurt You. Badly. - The Peer Advantage by Bula Network](https://bulanetwork.com/what-you-cant-see-will-hurt-you-badly-the-peer-advantage-by-bula-network/) - The mental and emotional health of today's entrepreneur is a real thing. A very real danger. But very few people talk about it. Or even acknowledge it exists. I'm more afraid to not talk about it, than I am to talk about it. Because it doesn't have to cripple us as CEO's and business owners.
- [The Trifecta Of Business Building - 5046](https://bulanetwork.com/the-trifecta-of-business-building-5046/) - Three intersecting circles with a single spot where they all overlap. The sweet spot. That ideal place where the magic happens! For our business, it's a place we may not often reach, but we aim for it. And sometimes we hit it. When we don't, we're like surfers always looking for that perfect wave. It's
- [I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - 5045](https://bulanetwork.com/im-so-lonesome-i-could-cry-5045/) - Hank Williams wrote the song in 1949 due to the troubled marriage he had. It's a sad refrain and I suspect it grew popular (even though it was a B-side record, meaning it wasn't intended to be the song it became) because it's such a universal feeling. Loneliness. In recent years more and more research
- [CEO's Can Be Wrong, Even When We're Convinced We're Right (What Marc Benioff Learned From Another Person's Experience & Perspective) - 5044](https://bulanetwork.com/ceos-can-be-wrong-even-when-were-convinced-were-right-what-marc-benioff-learned-from-another-persons-experience-perspective-5044/) - Last night on CBS' 60 Minutes, Lesley Stahl did a piece on Salesforce about gender pay equality. During the segment, she spoke with Salesforce founder and CEO Marc Benioff who was remarkably candid about his company's failings. Salesforce employs 30,000 people and generates $10 billion in annual revenue. I'm suspecting that Benioff has access to
- [The Ethics of Leadership - 5043](https://bulanetwork.com/the-ethics-of-leadership-5043/) - This week Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been appearing before a Senate committee on privacy, data breaches and the ethics of using customer data. Volkswagen appointed a new CEO to replace a leader who had the awful task of navigating the company past an emissions scandal in which the company admitted to
- [Learning To Lead Begins With Learning To Follow - 5042](https://bulanetwork.com/learning-to-lead-begins-with-learning-to-follow-5042/) - My generation was raised by the World War II or Korean War generation (I only use that to give context to our parents' generation). Old school. Just the other morning Twitter was somewhat buzzing about a little video clip of Alabama's football coach, Nick Saban, ripping into a defensive back. We often associate "old school"
- [Advantages Of Being Hit In The Mouth - 5041](https://bulanetwork.com/advantages-of-being-hit-in-the-mouth-5041/) - If the market doesn't hit you in the mouth, then the economy will. You may think Mike Tyson is an idiot, but he did say something very smart. Everyone has a plan 'til they get punched in the mouth. Here's the list of recessions I've experienced since I began working: November 1973 to March 1975
- [What Are You Thinking? - 5040](https://bulanetwork.com/what-are-you-thinking-5040/) - I'm old so I've encountered my fair share of dumb ideas. Many of them were my own. I own my stupidity. Why not? It's hard to hide from it, so you may as well lean into it. And hopefully, learn from it. Do you have any recurring dreams? Or nightmares? I'm not sure if I
- [Even Smart Leaders Can Make Stupid Choices - 5039](https://bulanetwork.com/even-smart-leaders-can-make-stupid-choices-5039/) - Stupidity and foolishness know no bounds. They don't respect any of us. The other day I was doing some computer work and the ID channel was on. It's the channel crime mystery lovers watch. A show about the murder of a woman was on. Turns out her husband, an MIT educated guy with a Ph.D.
- [There Are Only 2 Reasons Why You'll Do Anything (But There's 1 Answer To Help You Innovate) - 5038](https://bulanetwork.com/there-are-only-2-reasons-why-youll-do-anything-but-theres-1-answer-to-help-you-innovate-5038/) - People are supposedly driven by only 2 things: our attraction to pleasure and our fear of pain. Sadly, the fear of pain is usually the stronger of the two. Which means, we'll work harder to avoid pain than we will to gain pleasure. These are big, broad and sweeping generalizations that can encompass many things.
- [Grow Great: It's Still About Your Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/grow-great-its-still-about-your-leadership/) - Over 20 years ago I distilled business building into what I called the "trifecta" of business building: Getting new customers Serving existing customers better Not going crazy in the process It's always been about growing, improving and transforming. Mostly my own leadership. And boy did it sometimes need heavy doses of all three. While my
- [TPA5037 - Putting Your Company In The Best Position For Success](https://bulanetwork.com/tpa5037-putting-your-company-in-the-best-position-for-success/) - As the owner you're the #1. And you wouldn't have it any other way. But sometimes you don't treat yourself like you're the #1. Every business owner has one basic - but very big - job: to obtain and deploy the necessary resources to make the company successful. That's why you invest in the things
- [TPA5036 - "They Don't Know What We Do!"](https://bulanetwork.com/tpa5036-they-dont-know-what-we-do/) - The sales team laments how harshly they feel judged by the VP. This morning's meeting wasn't exactly joyful. The team has four days left in the month, but more importantly, they're a few hundred thousand dollars away from hitting their number. Laurie, the VP, challenged them to hit it hard, reinforcing the importance of achieving
- [TPA5035 - Listening: Leadership Job #1](https://bulanetwork.com/tpa5035-listening-leadership-job-1/) - The owner was pompous. He relished being "the boss." He was middle-aged. I was in college. This was retail. I was selling stereo gear and going to school. He was just another boss teaching me how NOT to lead and manage. Fact was, in my opinion, he wasn't good (or effective) at either. But thankfully
- [TPA5034 - Grow Your Business: Managing The Changes By Improving Your Decision-Making](https://bulanetwork.com/tpa5034-grow-your-business-managing-the-changes-by-improving-your-decision-making/) - Business is summed up in the trifecta of business building: getting new customers, serving existing customers better and not going crazy in the process. You've owned and operated your business for almost a decade now. Like most, those first years were touch 'n go. Moments of exhilaration followed by periods of...well, near despair. You didn't care.
- [TPA5033 - How Diversity Provides Leadership Insight ( What We Have In Common, What We Don't)](https://bulanetwork.com/tpa5033-how-diversity-provides-leadership-insight-what-we-have-in-common-what-we-dont/) - This story appeared last night on CBS' 60 Minutes. Oprah Winfrey did the story. One year into Donald Trump's presidency, Americans remain divided, often unwilling to listen to what the other side has to say. It's happening in families, among friends and at the workplace. We witnessed that schism first-hand last fall when we went to
- [TPA5032 - Small Business, Big Impact: The Power Of The Collective](https://bulanetwork.com/tpa5032-small-business-big-impact-the-power-of-the-collective/) - The U.S. Small Business Administration defines a small business as “an organization with fewer than 500 employees.” The majority of small businesses employ fewer than 100 employees. One and two-person companies make up most small businesses in America. So it's a very broad definition of "small business." There's an enormous difference in running a one-man
- [How Fit Are You To Lead Your Company?](https://bulanetwork.com/how-fit-are-you-to-lead-your-company/) - GE's Jack Welch created "workouts" while he was Chairman and CEO. That was long before I devoted myself to my own physical workouts, sparked by watching older men in my life fall into ill health (sometimes due to their own neglect). It was an intriguing notion. Leaders of a company gathering together to work out
- [CEO, Owner, Founder: Those Are Your Roles, But They're Not Entirely Who You Are](https://bulanetwork.com/ceo-owner-founder-those-are-your-roles-but-theyre-not-entirely-who-you-are/) - Bernard (Bernie) started his company in 1989. He'll readily tell you that it wasn't easy. Many years were spent feeling "more married" to the business than his wife, Ruth. Ruth confirms it. But they managed to endure the hardships, long hours and mad scrambles to make payroll. By 1993 the business was generating a few
- [TPA5031 - Lessons From An Early 1900's Patron](https://bulanetwork.com/tpa5031-lessons-from-an-early-1900s-patron/) - Melrose Plantation is located just outside of Natchitoches, Louisiana. Construction on the main house began in 1832. John Hampton Henry and Carmelite (Cammie) Garrett Henry, bought the property from their heirs in 1899. John Henry died suddenly in 1918. Cammie led the plantation into one of it's most glorious periods. She was a committed preservationist and
- [TPA5030 – The Third Opinion: How Successful Leaders Use Outside Insight To Create Superior Results By Saj-Nicole A. Joni, Ph.D. (A Book Summary, Part 5)](https://bulanetwork.com/tpa5030-the-third-opinion-how-successful-leaders-use-outside-insight-to-create-superior-results-by-saj-nicole-a-joni-ph-d-a-book-summary-part-5/) - Chapter 7, "Early Leaders." Again, if you're a CEO or business owner don't skip over this thinking, "This doesn't apply to me. I'm not an early leader." You've got early leaders on your team. Challenge yourself to become a better leader. Serve early leaders well. Early leaders tend to be immersed in mastering the basics
- [TPA5029 – The Third Opinion: How Successful Leaders Use Outside Insight To Create Superior Results By Saj-Nicole A. Joni, Ph.D. (A Book Summary, Part 4)](https://bulanetwork.com/tpa5029-the-third-opinion-how-successful-leaders-use-outside-insight-to-create-superior-results-by-saj-nicole-a-joni-ph-d-a-book-summary-part-4/) - Chapter 5 is entitled, Habit Of Focus. Buy and read the book. You'll get value from reading the stories that illustrate Ms. Joni's points. And you'll be able to more deeply dive into the nuances of how the third opinion can improve your leadership (and decision-making). Let's talk about the highlights of this chapter. The
- [TPA5028 – The Third Opinion: How Successful Leaders Use Outside Insight To Create Superior Results By Saj-Nicole A. Joni, Ph.D. (A Book Summary, Part 3)](https://bulanetwork.com/tpa5028-the-third-opinion-how-successful-leaders-use-outside-insight-to-create-superior-results-by-saj-nicole-a-joni-ph-d-a-book-summary-part-3/) - We're now up to chapter 4, "Habit Of Relationship." Leaders need external and disinterested people who can help them explore sensitive issues and uncertainties. Otherwise, they become isolated. With power and responsibility comes isolation. Every leader is surrounded by people who have an agenda. There is a difference between allies and confidants. Allies provide the
- [TPA5027 – The Third Opinion: How Successful Leaders Use Outside Insight To Create Superior Results By Saj-Nicole A. Joni, Ph.D. (A Book Summary, Part 2)](https://bulanetwork.com/tpa5027-the-third-opinion-how-successful-leaders-use-outside-insight-to-create-superior-results-by-saj-nicole-a-joni-ph-d-a-book-summary-part-2/) - Today we're continuing a chapter-by-chapter summary of the book, THE THIRD OPINION. Last time we discussed chapter 1. If you missed it, click here to go listen to it. It's about 30-minutes long. Chapter 2 is entitled, "The Three Habits." Ms. Joni introduced us to these in the first chapter. The book began with the
- [TPA5026 - The Third Opinion: How Successful Leaders Use Outside Insight To Create Superior Results By Saj-Nicole A. Joni, Ph.D. (A Book Summary, Part 1)](https://bulanetwork.com/tpa5026-the-third-opinion-how-successful-leaders-use-outside-insight-to-create-superior-results-by-saj-nicole-a-joni-ph-d-a-book-summary-part-1/) - Saj-Nicole A. Joni is the founder of Cambridge International Group, Ltd., a high-level advisory services firm. She has written three books dealing with the power of connection and collaboration, especially as it relates to C-level leadership. This book is the first of the three, published in 2004. The subtitle gives you the best summary of
- [TPA5025 - Getting The Value Proposition Correct: Wisdom's Return On Investment](https://bulanetwork.com/tpa5025-getting-the-value-proposition-correct-wisdoms-return-on-investment/) - Inside a conference room sits a 14 seat conference table. The furnishings are simple, tasteful and expensive. There's a large whiteboard along one of the longest walls. Filling the board are half a dozen initiatives that the executive team has been tasked to complete during the first quarter of the new year. Six things that were distilled
- [The Peer Advantage End-Of-Year Finale with Leo Bottary #5024](https://bulanetwork.com/the-peer-advantage-end-of-year-finale-with-leo-bottary-5024/) - About 4 years ago I began to grow seriously interested in the notion of business people gathering in formal groups - peer advisory groups - expressly to help each other grow their businesses and their lives. It resonated with me on many fronts, mostly because I saw how powerful it was in helping business people
- [Goal Oriented Groups: Information, Learning And Energy For Growth #5023](https://bulanetwork.com/goal-oriented-groups-information-learning-and-energy-for-growth-5023/) - Being part of a group for personal and professional growth hinges on being part of a goal-oriented group. It's not a new concept. It's been proven time and again in lots of spaces. Weight Watchers and other weight loss companies incorporate peer group power. Parents of Murdered Children (pomc.org) and other groups who share a
- [It's About Sharing Experiences (Not Finding People Smarter Than You) #5022](https://bulanetwork.com/its-about-sharing-experiences-not-finding-people-smarter-than-you-5022/) - As Leo Bottary's podcast (and upcoming book) declares, "Who you surround yourself with matters!" Unfortunately, too many people mistakingly feel they can only learn from people as smart, or smarter than them. "Why would I want to hear anything from that guy?" may be an unspoken refrain. Or not. Sometimes people say it. Most often
- [Sixty Days To Finish, Sixty Days To Start #5021](https://bulanetwork.com/sixty-days-to-finish-sixty-days-to-start-5021/) - Today is November 1, 2017. We've got about 60 days left in the year to finish strong. Or not. We've also got about 60 days left to plan a solid start to 2018. Or not. CEOs and business owners started thinking about 2018 months ago. You likely were formulating plans for 2018 this past summer.
- [The Masks We Wear (and why you should follow Dr. Henry Cloud) #5020](https://bulanetwork.com/the-masks-we-wear-and-why-you-should-follow-dr-henry-cloud-5020/) - My buddy Leo Bottary gifted me a book by one of my favorite authors, Dr. Henry Cloud. It was late last year and my stack of books in the reading queue was high so I didn't get around to reading it until recently. It's entitled, The Power Of The Other. The book is about the
- [Smart Leaders, Stupid Rules #5019](https://bulanetwork.com/smart-leaders-stupid-rules-5019/) - The new director gathered his staff of direct reports. Four people. All of them with over 2 years tenure and extensive experience in their respective roles. He hadn't been hired to perform a turnaround, but instead had been tapped for his vast experience as a solid technology expert. The CTO had heard terrific things about
- [Change Your Mind, Change Your Life #5018](https://bulanetwork.com/change-your-mind-change-your-life-5018/) - Mental health is woefully silent in business conversations. Entrepreneurship is cool. Mental health challenges are not. According to the National Alliance On Mental Illness 1 in 5 American adults will experience mental illness in any given year. The numbers, both raw and percentages, are staggering when you stop to carefully consider them. Suicide is
- [The Extraordinarily High Value Of Pondering #5017](https://bulanetwork.com/the-extraordinarily-high-value-of-pondering-5017/) - ponder (verb) - to spend time thinking carefully and seriously about a problem, a difficult question, or something that has happened But it's really broader than that. It also includes spending time carefully considering things you may have learned, or things you're trying to learn. Activating things we've learned often requires a certain degree of pondering.
- [The Business/Career Value Of Quiet & Stillness #5016](https://bulanetwork.com/the-businesscareer-value-of-quiet-stillness-5016/) - Consumerism isn't just about buying products. It's also about buying ideas, notions, suggestions and advice. I know. Because I'm in what some call "the advice giving" business. But that's not at all what I do. Most of us are surrounded by people who should us. "You should," is very often the beginning of the sentence
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#21 The Law Of Legacy)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-21-the-law-of-legacy/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#20 The Law Of Explosive Growth)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-20-the-law-of-explosive-growth/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#19 The Law Of Timing)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-19-the-law-of-timing/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#18 The Law Of Sacrifice)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-18-the-law-of-sacrifice/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#17 The Law Of Priorities)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-17-the-law-of-priorities/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#16 The Law Of The Big Mo)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-16-the-law-of-the-big-mo/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#15 The Law Of Victory)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-15-the-law-of-victory/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#14 The Law Of Buy-In)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-14-the-law-of-buy-in/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#13 The Law Of The Picture)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-13-the-law-of-the-picture/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#12 The Law Of Empowerment)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-12-the-law-of-empowerment/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#11 The Law Of The Inner Circle)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-11-the-law-of-the-inner-circle/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#10 The Law Of Connection)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-10-the-law-of-connection/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#9 The Law Of Magnetism)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-9-the-law-of-magnetism/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#8 The Law Of Intuition)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-8-the-law-of-intuition/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#7 The Law Of Respect)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-7-the-law-of-respect/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#6 The Law Of Solid Ground)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-6-the-law-of-solid-ground/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#5 The Law Of Addition)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-5-the-law-of-addition/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#4 The Law Of Navigation)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-4-the-law-of-navigation/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#3 The Law Of Process)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-3-the-law-of-process/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#2 The Law Of Influence)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-2-the-law-of-influence/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. The book contains a variety of exercises that will help you not only plant the ideas firmly into your life, but they'll help you improve your awareness and identify your needs. You'll
- [The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell (#1 The Law Of the Lid)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-21-irrefutable-laws-of-leadership-by-john-c-maxwell-1-the-law-of-the-lid/) - First published in September 1998, The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership by John C. Maxwell put Maxwell at the forefront of leadership experts. After my audio summary of The Power of Peers by Leon Shapiro and Leo Bottary I got requests to provide a summary of this book. I'm doing this in short episodes -
- [What YOU Should Expect To Gain From The Peer Advantage #5015](https://bulanetwork.com/what-you-should-expect-to-gain-from-the-peer-advantage-5015/) - For the last month or so I've been asked one question more than any other, "What's this pivot you're doing...and why?" I had already spent time in serious reflection and contemplation. Self-awareness, empathy and intuition are my three core super powers. Jokingly I'll tell people (but it's entirely true), "I don't have many so I
- [A Chapter-By-Chapter Audio Summary Of THE POWER OF PEERS (Chapter 11) #5013](https://bulanetwork.com/a-chapter-by-chapter-audio-summary-of-the-power-of-peers-chapter-11-5013/) - We're at the end. Today is chapter 11, The Power Of Peer Advantage. Over the last 10 episodes of the podcast we've been taking a look - chapter-by-chapter - at the book, THE POWER OF PEERS by Leon Shapiro and Leo Bottary. This final chapter ties it all together and discusses the power we can
- [A Chapter-By-Chapter Audio Summary Of THE POWER OF PEERS (Chapter 10) #5012](https://bulanetwork.com/a-chapter-by-chapter-audio-summary-of-the-power-of-peers-chapter-10-5012/) - Chapter 10 is entitled, The 20/20 Vision Advantage. We've rounded the final quarter pole of the book, THE POWER OF PEERS by Leon Shapiro and Leo Bottary. By now we've come to understand how powerfully true the subtitle of the book is, "How the company you keep drives leadership, growth and success." The authors have
- [Owning A Business Requires Superior Fire Fighting Skills](https://bulanetwork.com/owning-a-business-requires-superior-fire-fighting-skills/) - There are owners who don't operate, but at some point every company has an owner who does. Operate. Operating the business isn't about thinking. It's not as high brow as some may think. It's the grunt work done every hour of every day when we're faced with another flame that pops up unexpectedly. It's the
- [A Chapter-By-Chapter Audio Summary Of THE POWER OF PEERS (Chapter 9) #5011](https://bulanetwork.com/a-chapter-by-chapter-audio-summary-of-the-power-of-peers-chapter-9-5011/) - We're coming toward the end of the book, THE POWER OF PEERS by Leon Shapiro and Leo Bottary. Today we'll summarize chapter 9, "The Advantage Of Individual Growth." There are just 3 chapters remaining, including chapter 9. The chapter begins with the sad, but hopeful story of Jay Steinfeld, the founder and owner of Blinds.com.
- [A Chapter-By-Chapter Audio Summary Of THE POWER OF PEERS (Chapter 8) #5010](https://bulanetwork.com/a-chapter-by-chapter-audio-summary-of-the-power-of-peers-chapter-8-5010/) - Chapter 8 is "Be Accountable." The chapter begins with a story of Pete, a cofounder and CEO of InstaViser and also a member of the 2000 and 2004 Olympic U.S. Men's eight rowing team. He knows about winning and accountability. In his sport the team members are literally in the same boat. Pete told the
- [A Chapter-By-Chapter Audio Summary Of THE POWER OF PEERS (Chapter 7) #5009](https://bulanetwork.com/a-chapter-by-chapter-audio-summary-of-the-power-of-peers-chapter-7-5009/) - Chapter 7 is entitled, "Foster Valuable Interaction." The book has already chronicled some stories of CEOs and business owners sharing their story with a peer group. In each case, the group provided support and encouragement. Members of a peer advisory group must believe that sharing their issues - sharing their story - will result in
- [A Chapter-By-Chapter Audio Summary Of THE POWER OF PEERS (Chapter 6) #5008](https://bulanetwork.com/a-chapter-by-chapter-audio-summary-of-the-power-of-peers-chapter-6-5008/) - Chapter 6 is Utilize A Smart Guide. The authors admit they struggled to come up with a neutral, all-encompassing term for the person who is charged with leading a peer advisory group. The leader of an effective peer advisory group needs to be smart and seek the guide the group so they came up with
- [A Chapter-By-Chapter Audio Summary Of THE POWER OF PEERS (Chapter 5) #5007](https://bulanetwork.com/a-chapter-by-chapter-audio-summary-of-the-power-of-peers-chapter-5-5007/) - Chapter 5 is CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. Today's episode is brought to you by THE PEER ADVANTAGE, peer advisory groups by Bula Network. The Peer Advantage is a group of just 7 SMB owners from around the United States coming together regularly by way of an online video conferencing platform. It's convenient, easy and cost
- [A Chapter-By-Chapter Audio Summary Of THE POWER OF PEERS (Chapter 4) #5006](https://bulanetwork.com/a-chapter-by-chapter-audio-summary-of-the-power-of-peers-chapter-4-5006/) - Chapter 4 of THE POWER OF PEERS begins Part 2 of the book, The Five Factors For Peer Advantage. Chapter 4 is on the first of these, "Select The Right Peers." Surrounding yourself with the right people is essential to peer advantage. Peer advantage doesn't come cheaply, but if you're in the right group where
- [A Chapter-By-Chapter Audio Summary Of THE POWER OF PEERS (Chapter 3) #5005](https://bulanetwork.com/a-chapter-by-chapter-audio-summary-of-the-power-of-peers-chapter-3-5005/) - Today let's talk about chapter 3 of the book, THE POWER OF PEERS by Leon Shapiro and Leo Bottary. This chapter is entitled - THE PATH TO PEER ADVANTAGE. This chapter is far deeper than the first two so there's quite a lot to get to. I want you to listen carefully and make some
- [A Chapter-By-Chapter Audio Summary Of THE POWER OF PEERS (Chapter 2) #5004](https://bulanetwork.com/a-chapter-by-chapter-audio-summary-of-the-power-of-peers-chapter-2-5004/) - Today we're going to summarize chapter 2 of THE POWER OF PEERS by Leon Shapiro and Leo Bottary. This chapter is entitled, "The Pervasive Nature Of Peer Influence." Birds of a feather flock together. We're all in the same boat. Great minds think alike. We have a number of phrases and sayings that speak to
- [Let's Dig Into The Book: A Chapter-By-Chapter Audio Summary Of THE POWER OF PEERS  #5003](https://bulanetwork.com/lets-dig-into-the-book-a-chapter-by-chapter-audio-summary-of-the-power-of-peers-5003/) - Full disclosure: I produce the podcast for Leo Bottary, co-author of the book THE POWER OF PEERS. Maybe it produces a bias. Mostly it produces insights and enthusiasm around the topic as indicated by the subtitle, "How the company you keep drives leadership, growth and success." Chapter 1 "CEOs are faced with a singular reality:
- [The Peer Advantage | Some Myths, Misconceptions & False Notions](https://bulanetwork.com/the-peer-advantage-some-myths-misconceptions-false-notions/) - Most Small Owners Have No Idea What Peer Advantage Looks & Feels Like And it's not their fault. I'm about to embark on showing you how professional peer advantage works. I've invited 3 business people to surround me and help me illustrate. Additionally, they're going to help me with this pivot, making Bula Network a
- [Battling Misery & Dread: Find Your Friends #5002](https://bulanetwork.com/battling-misery-dread-find-your-friends-5002/) - My Biggest Challenge Is Battling Misery Business owners are almost always candid when I ask, "What's THE big challenge facing you today?" Even though they've never talked with me before, it's rare for a business owner to avoid engaging with me in an honest conversation about their life. For starters, within seconds they can spot
- [Changing The World One Small Business Owner At A Time](https://bulanetwork.com/changing-the-world-one-small-business-owner-at-a-time/) - Once upon a time, there was an old man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach every morning before he began his work. Early one morning, he was walking along the shore after a big storm had passed and found the vast
- [GROW GREAT Becomes The Peer Advantage Podcast  #5001](https://bulanetwork.com/grow-great-becomes-the-peer-advantage-podcast-5001/) - NOTE: For more context, go back and listen to the previous episode labeled #TPA001 You can't say you're all in until you're ALL IN. This completes the wager. Every last chip has now been shoved into the middle of the table because I like the hand I've got. Strong talk for a non-gambler, huh? Well,
- [The Peer Advantage: A New Domain & A New Podcast Series (and more Bula! news)  #TPA001](https://bulanetwork.com/the-peer-advantage-a-new-domain-a-new-podcast-series-and-more-bula-news-tpa001/) - Big news. Well, it's not breaking news if you've been paying attention, but I'm hopeful that some of you are brand new around here. Welcome! BULA!* You've likely already noticed that this episode has a special designation, TPA001. This is episode 1 of The Peer Advantage series. I'll explain. What Brought Me Here Will Get
- [Tuesday Happens (A Quick Hit)](https://bulanetwork.com/tuesday-happens-a-quick-hit/) - Over the weekend you made a decision. Maybe it was a solution to a problem. Something you think will work. Or something you're dead solid certain will work. Or maybe you spotted an opportunity you plan to exploit. You can see it working. In your head it's a game changer. You've managed to elevate your
- [What Are You Chasing In Your Small Business? Part 3 #4065](https://bulanetwork.com/what-are-you-chasing-in-your-small-business-part-3-4065/) - In episode 4063, part 1 of this little series, we talked about pursuing confidence. Then in part 2, episode 4064, we talked about chasing delusions. Today, I want to wrap up this series with a conversation about chasing the things that will propel you forward while simultaneously ditching the things that will drag you down.
- [What Are You Chasing In Your Small Business? Part 2 #4064](https://bulanetwork.com/what-are-you-chasing-in-your-small-business-part-2-4064/) - Business owners can pursue whatever they'd like. Sometimes our businesses are the outgrowth of a pursuit. Maybe it's fortune. Or fame. Or freedom. Or flexibility. Lots of F things to pursue. But it could be most anything. It's the same with our careers. When we begin our career we may want certain things. Over time,
- [What Are You Chasing In Your Small Business? Part 1 #4063](https://bulanetwork.com/what-are-you-chasing-in-your-small-business-part-1-4063/) - Let me give you some context. As small business owners we're constantly chasing some things. What we chase may differ depending on where we are in our business at the time. What we chased last year may not be exactly what we chased last year. Some small business owners chase cash, but they chase it
- [215 - 6 Lessons I Learned In A Year Of Suffering  (Reflections On Losing A Lifelong Friend)](https://bulanetwork.com/215/) - Stanley was born on April 11, 1957. He left this life on May 12, 2013. On the day of his death I published this post and podcast. It was the most painful post and podcast I've ever produced. No, it has nothing to do with business, management, leadership or building an organization/business. It's intensely personal.
- [Small Business, Big Impact #4062](https://bulanetwork.com/small-business-big-impact-4062/) - According to the U.S. Small Business Administration small business is BIG. Here's what their website says: The 28 million small businesses in America account for 54% of all U.S. sales. Small businesses provide 55% of all jobs and 66% of all net new jobs since the 1970s. The 600,000 plus franchised small businesses in the U.S. account
- [Salesmanship: You Have To Let Your Prospects Feel The Pain](https://bulanetwork.com/salesmanship-you-have-to-let-your-prospects-feel-the-pain/) - Too many salespeople charge headlong into the benefits of their thing. Subscribe to the podcast To subscribe, please use the links below: Click Here to Subscribe via iTunes Click Here to Subscribe via RSS (non-iTunes feed) Click Here to Subscribe via Stitcher If you have a chance, please leave me an honest rating and review on iTunes
- [A Client Phone Conversation About Selling, Manipulation & The Importance Of A Customer Base #4061](https://bulanetwork.com/a-client-phone-conversation-about-selling-manipulation-the-importance-of-a-customer-base-4061/) - It was a 90 minute conversation where I asked to record my side of the conversation for possible publication. The reason? We were discussing sales philosophy and how that might impact strategy, execution and building a business to reach higher levels of success. Some hi-lights of the conversation and other key points: Don't lean toward
- [National Small Business Week: Why Small Business Matters #4060](https://bulanetwork.com/national-small-business-week-why-small-business-matters-4060/) - We're smack dab in the middle of it. National Small Business Week. Sure, it's a PR move to draw attention to an important community that fuels a big chuck of the economy. This event started in 1963 when the business landscape looked very different. But today there are over 28 million businesses around our country.
- [Bula! Life Is Good (Why Optimism Is Your Best Choice) #4059](https://bulanetwork.com/bula-life-is-good-why-optimism-is-your-best-choice-4059/) - Over 30 years ago I ran across the term - Bula. I don't remember where. I do remember instant fondness for the term because it carried the connotation that "life is good." How can you not like that? I was so smitten with the term that I began to use it as the greeting on
- [Business Owners Sometimes Find Themselves In The Dark](https://bulanetwork.com/business-owners-sometimes-find-themselves-in-the-dark/) - The darkness overtakes all of us. Some of us remain in the dark for a long time. Others are able to climb out of it more quickly. Get up in the middle of the night when your house is pitch black. One small light (of any color) can make all the difference in the world
- [Serving Others (And Yourself) By Sharing Your Story](https://bulanetwork.com/serving-others-and-yourself-by-sharing-your-story/) - Some people are more open than others. We're not all driven by our natural wiring to share. I am, but even guys like me have a reservation sometimes. It's appropriate. Today's video is less than 7 minutes long, but it can help you better understand how valuable it can be for you to open up
- [The Heart Is The Engine Behind Small Business Owner Success](https://bulanetwork.com/the-heart-is-the-engine-behind-small-business-owner-success/) - When a business owner tells me, "Sometimes, I speak from my heart," then my radar sounds a warning. Well, not a warning as much as an alert. It gets my attention. You can't separate your head from your heart so stop all this foolishness of something either being head or heart. It's not an either/or
- [People In Your Life Matter: The Difference Maker](https://bulanetwork.com/people-in-your-life-matter-the-difference-maker/) - You see it in all sorts of places and spaces. I'm a hockey fan. I've seen it prominently in the last week or so. The Dallas Stars re-hired head coach Ken Hitchcock, their 1999 Stanley Cup winning coach. Hitch was most recently fired from the St. Louis Blues in a move he said was very
- [What Should You Do If You Work For An Autocrat?](https://bulanetwork.com/what-should-you-do-if-you-work-for-an-autocrat/) - Too many people work for autocrats. And we've got too many autocrats. There should be an open season on them to reduce their population, but sadly that's against the law. Unless the autocrat comes to herself or himself...nothing will improve it. Here's my advice to you if you find yourself working for an autocrat. autocrat
- [Effort & Speed: 2 Things You Can Control (A Grow Great Quick Hit)](https://bulanetwork.com/effort-speed-2-things-you-can-control-a-grow-great-quick-hit/) - I don't care who the President of the U.S. is. I don't care what the weather is like either. I don't even care what the economy is doing. You shouldn't care either because none of those things (and many more) have no impact on the two things you control most in your business. Today's quick
- [The Best Decision-Making Tool On The Planet Is Not A Computer #4058](https://bulanetwork.com/the-best-decision-making-tool-on-the-planet-is-not-a-computer-4058/) - I've now spent over 40 years in the business world. Small business owners are my people. Some operate companies that do under $5 million. Others are at the helm of companies that generate well over $100 million. Every single one of them have paid some prices to be where they are. We all do. As
- [How To Establish Your Leadership Legacy By Influencing What Your People Say Most About You #4057](https://bulanetwork.com/your-leadership-legacy-what-your-people-say-most-about-you-4057/) - The fast path to the truth is your employees. It's something that every business owner must understand. Leaders who don't roam around their company are wasting their most valuable asset - people. Grow Great is all about higher human performance. Namely, YOURS. By extension, your people...all the employees who do the work! Jeffrey Gitomer is
- [Striving To Survive vs. Striving To Thrive (How Changing Your Mind Can Change Your Outcome) #4056](https://bulanetwork.com/striving-to-survive-vs-striving-to-thrive-how-changing-your-mind-can-change-your-outcome-4056/) - For the last 7 years or so things have been mostly good for business. Generally, things have been on a solid roll since the crash of 2008. If you believe in the economic cycles - and I do because there's historical precedent - then we're due for a hum dinger of a downturn. Wait for it.
- [The Practicalities Of Leadership #4055](https://bulanetwork.com/the-practicalities-of-leadership-4055/) - Today's show mentions: • Jim Collison's TheAverageGuy.tv • Meet or exceed the market demands or pay the price. Your choice. • You need to be practical as an employer. • Your employees have practical needs, too. • Don't step over dollars to pick up nickels. And if you do, don't complain about the results. You reap
- [Bula Network Owners' Alliance: Week 3 Of The Process #4054](https://bulanetwork.com/bula-network-owners-alliance-week-3-of-the-process-4054/) - Week 3 was a week I knew would happen...other things leaped to the forefront. This happens when you've got ongoing work and you're now working to add a service, or in my case, you're really working toward morphing your consulting/coaching practice. Business owners have long likened it to operating on a moving patient, working on
- [Afraid: The Art Of Making Things Harder Than They Need To Be #4053](https://bulanetwork.com/afraid-the-art-of-making-things-harder-than-they-need-to-be-4053/) - Business takes courage. You've got that. Courage is not the absence of fear because you've got that, too. Courage and fear can occupy our minds at the same time. Mostly, that's exactly what's happening with us. We're confident about some things. Fearful about other things. It's not static. Courage and confidence can shift faster than
- [Magic Screen: This Is How Your Mind Should Work (To Help You Find Success) #4052](https://bulanetwork.com/magic-screen-this-is-how-your-mind-should-work-to-help-you-find-success-4052/) - A few podcasts ago - on another show I produce - I commented that I felt like I needed to hold my brain upside down, like an Etch A Sketch®. After you've created something on an Etch A Sketch® you may want to create something completely different. Easy. Just turn it upside down with the screen
- [Bula Network Owners' Alliance: Week 2 Of The Process #4051](https://bulanetwork.com/bula-network-owners-alliance-week-2-of-the-process-4051/) - I refer to this video in today's show. It's an important lesson. Week 2 went about as planned. Here are the highlights: • I'm using Linkedin to reach prospect either by requesting connection, with an explanation of why (I'm not using bait 'n switch - I'm completely candid with them about why I'm trying to
- [Solving Your Biggest Problem: It May Not Be What You Think #4050](https://bulanetwork.com/solving-your-biggest-problem-it-may-not-be-what-you-think-4050/) - Interview 10 business owners and you may get 10 different answers. Or 8. Maybe 5. You won't get one. Owners talk of cash flow, sales slumps, competitive pressures, shortages in finding qualified employees, price pressures, government regulations, industry disruptions, profit margin erosion and more. Dive a bit deeper and every owner will likely tell you
- [The Mental Wellness Revolution In The Entrepreneur Empire #4049](https://bulanetwork.com/the-mental-wellness-revolution-in-the-entrepreneur-empire-4049/) - In 2004 my wife and I went to visit an elderly gentleman friend in the hospital. He had suffered ill health for a few years and once again found himself in the hospital. His wife had served him well, battling the healthcare system of the Veterans Administration. Her health was beginning to show the signs
- [Q&A: Am I Too Old To Start Something New? #4048](https://bulanetwork.com/qa-am-i-too-old-to-start-something-new-4048/) - A common thought is that our scope of knowledge, experience and wisdom is commonplace. We can easily discount our assets, especially as we grow older. According to a Government Accountability Office report, "Older Workers: Demographic Trends Post Challenges for Employers and Workers" - The term baby boomer describes people born between 1946 and 1964. The baby boomers were
- [Bula Network Owners' Group: Week 1 Of The Process #4047](https://bulanetwork.com/bula-network-owners-group-week-1-of-the-process-4047/) - When you develop an idea it's worth nothing until you take some action. That's the primary thing that separates achievers from the rest of the population. It's why NDA's are mostly useless. The odds of anybody stealing your idea are remote. Most people aren't acting on their own ideas...much less yours. Doing is the key.
- [Not Going Crazy In The Process (owners helping each other exercise real-time wisdom) #4046](https://bulanetwork.com/not-going-crazy-in-the-process-owners-helping-each-other-exercise-real-time-wisdom-4046/) - Over 15 years ago I distilled business building into three basic activities that I've since labeled "the trifecta of business building" - Getting new customers Serving existing customers better Not going crazy in the process During the past 4 years or so I've increasingly shoved more focus on that last one because the need is
- [Don't Just Think Like A Media Company, Act Like A Successful One #4045](https://bulanetwork.com/dont-just-think-like-a-media-company-act-like-a-successful-one-4045/) - Content marketing isn't magic. Or quick. For too many, it's not even effective. That's because too many small business owners struggle to view themselves as a media company. CEO's and business owners will happily recite what they've repeatedly heard, "Act like a media company." But they don't know what that truly means. They think it
- [People Power: Reaching A Higher Altitude #4044](https://bulanetwork.com/people-power-reaching-a-higher-altitude-4044/) - Years ago when I founded Bula Network it was a very informal side project that I felt warranted a name, even though it wasn't really a business. It was a service enterprise spawned by the CEO's, founders and business owners who reached out to me to get my perspective on a variety of issues they were
- [Q&A #4043 - How Do You Know When To Quit Doing Something, Or How To Do Something Different?](https://bulanetwork.com/qa-4043-how-do-you-know-when-to-quit-doing-something-or-how-to-do-something-different/) - Today's show is a quick 9 minute answer to a question I get fairly often. It's quite a few questions rolled up into one. How do I know when to quit something? How do I know when I should do something different? How do I know if what I'm doing is working? And there are
- [Q&A #4042 - Handling Rejection](https://bulanetwork.com/qa-4042-handling-rejection/) - Today I'm resurrecting the Q&A, something I did back in the early days of the podcast. It was provoked by a question I got on rejection and naysayers. I hope it helps you keep moving forward. Don't be deterred by people who live to throw cold water on others. Go forth. Conquer. Subscribe to the
- [Quadrant 1: The Trifecta Of Business Building  #4040](https://bulanetwork.com/quadrant-1-the-trifecta-of-business-building-4040/) - Getting new clients or customers is listed first because until that happens, you don't have a business. Or an organization. Maybe you don't call them clients or customers. You might be a non-profit, a local government, or a some other service organization that isn't directly involved in commerce. No matter...there are people you serve. People
- [4 Quadrants Of Growing Great Businesses & Careers #4039](https://bulanetwork.com/4-quadrants-of-growing-great-businesses-careers-4039/) - Today's show is about the four quadrants of how I approach serving people to grow their businesses and careers. They're quadrants, not in the mathematical sense, but only in the sense that there are four of them and I don't prioritize them. Well, that's not actually true because I do intensely focus on quadrant 1
- [Dialogue, Not Monologue #4038](https://bulanetwork.com/dialogue-not-monologue-4038/) - Educating prospective clients is a necessary process for most of us. We need to explain what we do and how we do it. And sometimes we have to show our clients why it matters. Teaching has long been a component of effective selling, but what's often forgotten is that it's teaching with a purpose. This
- [Two Powerful Forces Of Successful Business (And Career) Building – Part Two #4037](https://bulanetwork.com/two-powerful-forces-of-successful-business-and-career-building-part-two-4037/) - Last week - on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 (actually around 3am Eastern on the morning of Wednesday, November 9th) - America elected a new President, Donald Trump. Every presidential election results in many people who are crushed by the defeat, pessimistic about the future and quite often dug in with a resolve to combat the
- [Niching Down: The Key To Effective Marketing (Part 3) #4034](https://bulanetwork.com/niching-down-the-key-to-effective-marketing-part-3-4034/) - We're going to close out this series with some things we can learn to hold our ground with ourselves, while simultaneously reaching some new heights we may have thought impossible. It focuses on us becoming the best version of ourselves so we can lead our companies more effectively. A big part of that is to keep
- [Niching Down: The Key To Effective Marketing (Part 2) #4033](https://bulanetwork.com/niching-down-the-key-to-effective-marketing-part-2-4033/) - Get mad. Get even. No, I'm not encouraging you to go bully all the people who may be getting in your way. I'm urging you to embrace your inner anger. Until you get angry enough things aren't likely going to improve. This isn't some temper tantrum, kicking and screaming fit. It's much more quiet -
- [Niching Down: The Key To Effective Marketing (Part 1) #4032](https://bulanetwork.com/niching-down-the-key-to-effective-marketing-part-1-4032/) - One of the most common challenges I encounter with businesses is their inability to accurately identify their ideal prospect. And I'm not talking about start ups. Companies ranging in age from a few years to a few decades seem to suffer this malady. Mostly, I think they just haven't taken the time to think seriously
- [Gratitude's Role On Leadership  #4030](https://bulanetwork.com/gratitudes-role-on-leadership-4030/) - Leadership is never identical because people are all different. Even identical twins aren't identical in how they think, or how they communicate, or how they view the world. There's no telling how many books I've read on leadership, or how many hours of conversation (and lots of questions) I've engaged in to learn more about
- [292 Leadership: Should You Be A Lone Wolf Or Part Of A Pack?](https://bulanetwork.com/292-leadership-should-you-be-a-lone-wolf-or-part-of-a-pack/) - Leaders, like followers, come in a variety of personalities, styles, philosophies, tendencies, experiences and aptitudes. Too many variables to lump people into simple, easy categories. People grow, adapt and change, too. I'm not quite the same leader I am today as I was a few decades ago. Truth is, I've made some significant changes (improvements)
- [4001 Happy New Year! Two Words To Define 2016](https://bulanetwork.com/4001-happy-new-year-two-words-to-define-2016/) - What's Going On? It's what we ask when we pick up the phone, or when we greet a friend. Today is January 1, 2016 and it's an appropriate question to begin this new year. I'm not going to bore you with the details except to tell you that it's been a long time coming. Led
- [4005 The Power Of Leverage: For Clients, Employees, Sales & Profits](https://bulanetwork.com/4005-the-power-of-leverage-for-clients-employees-sales-profits/) - Today's show as sparked by somebody desiring to start up a new enterprise and wondering what I thought about it. Talk turned to leverage and how to gain momentum, especially with a new venture. I don't necessarily serve the start up niche, but it was a valid conversation any way. It's easier to put your
- [Leadership Challenges 003: Coming To Grips With Ourselves](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-challenges-003-coming-to-grips-with-ourselves/) - Energy. That's what it boils down to. What gives you energy? What robs you of energy? Coming to grips with ourselves may come down to being able to accurately answer those two questions. Two other questions have been barometers for me in recent years. One, how do you want to spend your days? Two, who
- [4014 My BIG Mistake (I Thought It Mattered, But It Didn't)](https://bulanetwork.com/4014-my-big-mistake-i-thought-it-mattered-but-it-didnt/) - I don't have enough time, bandwidth or storage to tell you about all the mistakes I've made so I'll just focus today on a BIG mistake I've made. I'm sharing this one because I think it's probably one you've made, too. Maybe you're still making it. Today's show has just one objective - to help
- [4015 Will You Make A Better Decision Today? (Refuse To Stay Stuck)](https://bulanetwork.com/4015-will-you-make-a-better-decision-today-refuse-to-stay-stuck/) - CEOs and business owners, and every other kind of top leader, suffer losses. Businesses win and businesses lose. Some idea work. Others don't. It's easy to gloat over the wins. Maybe it's easier to get depressed about the losses. It can sure be easy to dwell on the losses and grow angrier at the world. Cynicism
- [Overcoming Loneliness In The C-Suite #4017](https://bulanetwork.com/overcoming-loneliness-in-the-c-suite-4017/) - Late one night he sits in his office staring out of his 6th floor window. Only the cleaning crews remain. And the security guard posted at the desk downstairs. Plus all the thoughts and concerns that accompany the CEO peering out into the night sky and the surrounding buildings. Three years into the job he
- [Pain: It Doesn't Care If It's Work Or Personal #4026](https://bulanetwork.com/pain-it-doesnt-care-if-its-work-or-personal-4026/) - When I read Dustin McKissen's article on Inc. I was already filled with a fistful of stories of top executives and business owners. Dustin's article, entitled "3 Things I Did to Come Back from Career Failure" resonated with me because I knew how true it was. Not because I know Dustin personally, although he's totally
- [Do The Work: Influencing Your Destiny #4029](https://bulanetwork.com/do-the-work-influencing-your-destiny-4029/) - It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go. - Jim Rohn Truth is, you still need wind. Fuel of some kind. Every engine - your career, your business - needs to be fed. Now before we get too deep in allegories let's
- [Book Review: "You Can Negotiate Anything" by Herb Cohen](https://bulanetwork.com/book-review-you-can-negotiate-anything-by-herb-cohen/) - WARNING: This book is not new. In fact, it's crazy old. My original copy is still sitting on my closest bookshelf. I have loved this book for over 35 years. Mr. Cohen's style is straight-forward, engaging and sometimes funny. Cohen is from an era where the Cold War was in full swing. Some of his
- [Leadership Challenges 005: The Road To Success Is Not Paved With Misery And Dread](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-challenges-005-the-road-to-success-is-not-paved-with-misery-and-dread/) - Today's short episode (about 15 minutes) is about a common problem I encounter with business owners and top leaders. Misery and dread. Unhappiness. People who buy into the false idea that unless you're suffering misery and dread then you're not on the road toward greater success. Let me talk you off the ledge today. Let
- [YOU Are The Reason People Are Quitting Their Jobs #4021](https://bulanetwork.com/you-are-the-reason-people-are-quitting-their-jobs-4021/) - It's not me. It's YOU. That's not what people say when they break up. Or when they quit their job. Well, not often. Mostly, people aren't confrontational. They just want to get away with little fuss. So when people quit they're prone to forego candor. Instead, they may blame quitting on all kinds of things.
- [Maverick Moxie: An Important Leadership Quality #4028](https://bulanetwork.com/maverick-moxie-an-important-leadership-quality-4028/) - Full Definition of moxie 1: energy, pep 2: courage, determination 3: know-how I'm using the word by incorporating all three definitions of the word moxie. I'm also choosing to focus on the order used by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definitions, but first --- a back story for today's show. There have been times in your life
- [When People Behave Badly #4027](https://bulanetwork.com/when-people-behave-badly-4027/) - He ambles to the front of the room, clicker in hand. Up on the projector is some nondescript slide with too many words. It's evident that he's not had a Red Bull this morning. I suspect he may have taken a fist full of tranquilizers within the last hour, but I can't be sure. Surely
- [272 The Art Of Being Unique (Leaders Determine Culture)](https://bulanetwork.com/272-the-art-of-being-unique-leaders-determine-culture/) - unique - defined –adjective 1. Existing as the only one or as the sole example; single; solitary in type or characteristics 2. Having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable 3. Limited in occurrence to a given class, situation, or area 4. Limited to a single outcome or result; without alternative possibilities 5. Not typical; unusual
- [Integration: It's Not Just A Tech Problem, It's A People Issue, Too #4025](https://bulanetwork.com/integration-its-not-just-a-tech-problem-its-a-people-issue-too-4025/) - Business executives regularly consider API (application program interface). We have to. Our enterprise software has to play nice with a variety of other products we use to operate our businesses. Even on our work computers and tablets we need all the apps we use to work together with each other. We're frustrated when that
- [Customer Base: The Foundation Of Any Business #4024](https://bulanetwork.com/customer-base-the-foundation-of-any-business-4024/) - I'm too old to remember my first repeat customer, but I'm not so old that I can't remember how powerful it was to have customers who'd come back and buy from me again, and again. Like most people with a sales background I was basically lazy. Repeat business fueled my inner passion to not work
- [Momentum: How To Get It, How To Keep It #4023](https://bulanetwork.com/momentum-how-to-get-it-how-to-keep-it-4023/) - Momentum Monday. Is that how you view Mondays? Most don't. It's time for you to stand apart from the crowd. Today's show is a quick 15 minute episode recorded while out and about hustling. Pardon the less than studio-like sound quality, but hopefully the message is one to spark inspiration as you start a new
- [Leadership Challenges 004: Giving People A Story (Congruency)](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-challenges-004-giving-people-a-story-congruency/) - Today's fictionalized story is real. These things really happen all over the world in every industry. People woke up this morning, got ready to go to work and arrived without knowing how their work matters --- or fits. Too many offices need a sign warning employees that... the talk may not match the walk Few
- [What's Killing Leadership Growth? Isolation In The C-Suite #4022](https://bulanetwork.com/whats-killing-leadership-growth-isolation-in-the-c-suite-4022/) - Few things are worse than not knowing. Maybe not knowing the truth? Or not seeing things as they really are? Thoreau said, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” Maybe he was right. He certainly had a point worth thinking about. Lately I've encountered frustrated business owners and CEOs who
- [You Can't Offer A Solution Without Asking Questions #4020](https://bulanetwork.com/you-cant-offer-a-solution-without-asking-questions-4020/) - Thousands of salespeople have sat across from me throughout my career. Some were very good. Most weren't. Not because they lacked ability, but most lacked what I valued most while leading a company - somebody who really wanted to help me grow my business. Self-interest is what drives far too many salespeople - and others,
- [Lip Service, Customer Service & Employee Happiness (People Determine Your Profits) #4019](https://bulanetwork.com/lip-service-customer-service-employee-happiness-people-determine-your-profits-4019/) - In the summer of 1998 one of my all-time favorite sales gurus, Jeffrey Gitomer, published a book that would become my chief "most gifted" book - Customer Satisfaction Is Worthless, Customer Loyalty Is Priceless: How to Make Customers Love You, Keep Them Coming Back and Tell Everyone They Know. I've given that book to employees, friends,
- [Managing The Energy Of The Workplace #4018](https://bulanetwork.com/managing-the-energy-of-the-workplace-4018/) - If this is your first foray into BulaNetwork.com or the Grow Great podcast - it's important that you know my world-view and philosophy of leadership. People matter! I don't mean in some lip-service way. I mean people really do matter. They make all the difference. For good. Or bad. Let me bullet-point it for you
- [The Power Of Peers](https://bulanetwork.com/the-power-of-peers/) - The Power Of Peers: How The Company You Keep Drives Leadership, Growth and Success by Leo Bottary and Leon Shapiro is a new book extolling the virtues of surrounding yourself with people willing and able to help you. Peers with no other agenda, other than to help you succeed. It's an experience most CEOs and
- [4013 This Is A Swing Business](https://bulanetwork.com/4013-this-is-a-swing-business/) - "This is a job you have to keep swinging at. So, it's just about the next swing really." - Adam Levine, lead singer for Maroon 5 Season 9 contestant Natalie Yacovazzi returned to NBC's The Voice stage next, hoping to turn a chair around. Nobody turned around for her last year, but Adam gave her that big
- [4012 Yoda's An Idiot. Attempts Do Matter!](https://bulanetwork.com/4012-yodas-an-idiot-attempts-do-matter/) - "Good things come to those who wait." Many of us have heard that phrase all our lives. It extols the value of patience, but it may also send a subliminal message that overvalues sitting still. And hoping something good comes our way. Millions of people wake up every day hoping something good might happen to
- [4011 Protecting Your Space Vs. Expanding Your Connections](https://bulanetwork.com/4011-protecting-your-space-vs-expanding-your-connections/) - CEOs and other executives spend a lot of time in their office. Or conference rooms. Top leaders largely live in spaces they own, if not literally, then figuratively. These are spaces we protect. The term "gatekeeper" speaks to how protective we are of our professional space. We guard it. Protect it. If we could, we'd
- [4010 Execution Matters](https://bulanetwork.com/4010-execution-matters/) - 'Mean to' don't pick no cotton. - southern saying I'm a process guy. Systems. Because it's about the results. Not because I'm a fan of the gears, cogs and funnels. It's about paying customers. Nothing else. Everything else is details. "We intend to take our business to $60 million by the end of 2017,"
- [4009 Tenacious & Snarly (The Art Of Being Tough To Compete Against)](https://bulanetwork.com/4009-tenacious-snarly-the-art-of-being-tough-to-compete-against/) - Years of being a hockey fan (and coaching a bit of it) provoked me more and more toward tenacity. It also incorporated the word "snarly" into my vocabulary. Back in the 1980's while running a retailing company I first sat down and wrote this fragmented sentence as a mission statement to create the culture I
- [4008 This One Word Ruins Your Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/4008-this-one-word-ruins-your-leadership/) - He's the guy at the front of the room. Leading the meeting. Around the room sit all his direct reports. All eleven of them. It's a half-day meeting that's been planned for months. It happens about three times a year --- a meeting whose sole aim is to "get down to it," according to the
- [Leadership Challenges 002: Trust](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-challenges-002-trust/) - If you've not listened to the first episode of Leadership Challenges (a narrowed-down sub-series of the Grow Great podcast), go do that first. It's on safety and the importance of establishing that before you can grow into a more effective, impactful leader. Today's subject is trust. Safety is first because if our people don't feel
- [Be In The Moment](https://bulanetwork.com/be-in-the-moment/) - During my years of running luxury retailing companies I was constantly urging employees to "be present" and "be in the moment" with shoppers and customers. How can you deliver remarkable customer experiences if you're not paying close attention to the customer? You can't. But neither can you deliver a remarkable experience to employees, friends or
- [Leadership Challenges 001: Safety First](https://bulanetwork.com/leadership-challenges-001-safety-first/) - People aren't always honest with the CEO. His people. His trusted advisors. They're not dishonest. They're just not always candid. It was magnified the other day when the CEO dispatched a small group of people to survey the troops. He'd read a book about employee engagement and culture. It prompted him to find out how his culture was faring.
- [4007 The Good Intentions Of Your Inner Critic](https://bulanetwork.com/4007-the-good-intentions-of-your-inner-critic/) - Sometimes people need professional therapy. Our pain sometimes demands it. Our ability or capacity to process our pain often needs some shoring up. I'm not a professional therapist. I'm just a business guy with a lifetime of striving toward higher self-awareness. Spend your lifetime studying people - including yourself - and you learn a few
- [4006 Get Out From Under Failure](https://bulanetwork.com/4006-get-out-from-under-failure/) - I've got REM playing in the headphones while I catch up on some paperwork. At some point their hit, Everybody Hurts begins to play. It's a beautiful, but haunting song that admonishes the listener to "hang on." Misery loves company and everybody hurts. Sometime. Leaders regularly wear masks, hiding their fears, insecurities and challenges. It's part
- [4004 Don't Be Offensive: IBM's White Shirt Strategy](https://bulanetwork.com/4004-dont-be-offensive-ibms-white-shirt-strategy/) - Our next door neighbor was an IBM'er. She traveled a lot. She was single so she said she didn't mind it much. We had 2 rug rats running loose on the neighborhood. She drove a BMW. We did NOT. It was the early 1980's and life inside IBM was assumed to be about as good
- [229 A Conversation With Paul Spiegelman](https://bulanetwork.com/229/) - Meet Paul Spiegelman. He's another Dallas/Ft. Worth guy with some noteworthy accomplishments. Find out how Paul started a business that involved spending nights on a cot to serve customers 24 hours a day...and ultimately became a best selling author, speaker and culture enthusiast. Paul Spiegelman is Chief Culture Officer of Stericycle, a NASDAQ listed global
- [4003 What Business Problem Is Keeping You Up At Night?](https://bulanetwork.com/4003-what-business-problem-is-keeping-you-up-at-night/) - In the morning the bed looks like we've been wrestling a bear. We tossed and turned until we finally got up. We read a bit. Browsed the web some. Even tried to watch something on Netflix, hoping sleep would eventually come. It didn't. Not much of it anyway. In spite of connections, sometimes found all
- [4002 The CEO & Professional Development](https://bulanetwork.com/4002-the-ceo-professional-development/) - To be more specific, the CEO and her own professional development. Or his. Some of the most spectacular CEO's I've ever known were like great fathers --- they sacrifice for their people like a dad sacrifices for the family. Or should. There are a few basic philosophies that I often encounter as I roam about
- [CEO Leadership: What Are You?](https://bulanetwork.com/ceo-leadership-what-are-you/) - I'm not talking about your title. You worked hard to get the big chair and have CEO or President after your name. That's your role or function or authority, but that doesn't tell us what you are. Harold Geneen (ITT) was a tyrant. Brilliant, but still a tyrant. Donald Trump (TRUMP) is an autocrat. He's
- [293 Leadership: The Cost Of Complacency](https://bulanetwork.com/293-leadership-the-cost-of-complacency/) - That poor proverbial frog in the pan of water that is growing hotter and hotter. All the while the frog is unaware of his fatal decision to sit put. It's a universal story of the dangers of lethargy and complacency. I'm rather sure that a frog's brain is mostly based on instincts and not thoughtful
- [291 Group Power: Clarity, Feedback & Accountability](https://bulanetwork.com/291-group-power-clarity-feedback-accountability/) - That's a photograph of my first grade class. An extremely bright group. ;) Look at us. All bright, young and shiny. Solid potential all around. Nineteen kids. One teacher. That's her at the back, Mrs. Arnold. And the Principal who appears to be wearing bunny ears thanks to that bunny on the bulletin board behind
- [290 The Power Of Asking Better Questions](https://bulanetwork.com/290-the-power-of-asking-better-questions/) - Spend enough time in sales and you'll soon realize the power of questions. They serve to help you find out if you're a suitable solution for a prospect. They also help you serve clients better. One of the first things I learned was how powerful questions are to learn more. Namely, about the people I
- [287 What's Your Leadership In A Sentence?](https://bulanetwork.com/287-whats-your-leadership-in-a-sentence/) - During a sales training session one day back in the 1980's I uttered a sentence that I hadn't prepared. It just popped into my mind after a sales person wanted to know what he could do to better qualify prospects. The conversation turned to the challenges of not only qualifying, but delivering happiness. That's when
- [286 Leadership: Think, But Don't Over-Think](https://bulanetwork.com/286-leadership-think-but-dont-over-think/) - Data. It's the business strategy road map for every organization. Every organization. What's your business? Who are you serving? How are you serving them? What do they want? How and when do they want it? Today's high performing organizations aren't merely reviewing past performance, they're focused on predicting their own future - but maybe better
- [285 Leading With Collaboration](https://bulanetwork.com/285-leading-with-collaboration/) - Novice leaders are often tempted to overestimate their own value and importance. They may incorrectly think they need to have the answers. Believing that our worth is determined by our own sole abilities is commonplace. And wrong! History shows us that many strong and productive leaders behaved that way. "Impose your will," was more than
- [Special Episode 001 - The Stress Of Leadership Growth](https://bulanetwork.com/special-episode-001-the-stress-of-leadership-growth/) - I've called it a special Q&A Friday because today's show addresses a conversation I had not long ago with an executive who had successfully endured the stress of leadership growth (and some questions he asked). It's a very real pain that every leader will feel if they're pushing toward improvement. I see in every client. For
- [284 Leadership Reality Check](https://bulanetwork.com/284-leadership-reality-check/) - Employee engagement. Team feedback. Peer review. There are many tools for workplace reality checks. Three important questions for every leader are: How do I see myself? How do others see me? How do I want to be seen? This is the stuff of leadership reality check. Now some leaders (I'm thinking of you, Donald
- [283 Leadership Communication: Don't Talk, Teach](https://bulanetwork.com/283-leadership-communication-dont-talk-teach/) - Leadership communication is the responsibility of the leader. Sounds basic and fundamental, but it has caused grief with some clients of mine in the past. People can be quick to point out how the receiver has a responsibility to get it right. I know, I know. But communication is not a 50-50 proposition. Ever. The
- [282 Performance Metrics For Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/282-performance-metrics-for-leadership/) - You want what you want. There are traits and characteristics that matter to you. And there are some other qualities you don't much care about one way or the other. Every top leader has preferences. Sometimes it's personality. It may be a certain communication style. It could even be a specific university credential you find
- [281 Evidence-Based Leadership: The Only Fair Way To Lead](https://bulanetwork.com/281-evidence-based-leadership-the-only-fair-way-to-lead/) - I sub-titled today's show, "The Only Fair Way To Lead" because it's fair for YOU, the leader and for your team, too. I want you to be fair to yourself. That's important as you work to be fair to your team. Any leader who won't face their own reality will find it tough to face
- [280 Overestimating Management, Underestimating Leadership (Time To Take A Quantum Leap)](https://bulanetwork.com/280-overestimating-management-underestimating-leadership-time-to-take-a-quantum-leap/) - Quantum Leap was a TV series in the late 80's and early 90's staring Scott Bakula who is now the star on NCIS: New Orleans. I didn't watch it, but I know people who acknowledge that it was their introduction to the phrase, "quantum leap." My earliest recollection of the idea came when a business owner I
- [Leadership's Mandate: Serve Them Anyway](https://bulanetwork.com/leaderships-mandate-serve-them-anyway/) - Leaders often get punched in the face. They suffer abuse from every corner. It goes with the territory of being on the front line of the action. Decisions will be criticized. Directives will be second-guessed. Ideas will be sabotaged. Others may even be jealous. It's lonely at the top. It can also be painful. Especially
- [279 Embracing The Gray: Taking Leadership A Step Closer Toward Truth](https://bulanetwork.com/279-embracing-the-gray-taking-leadership-a-step-closer-toward-truth/) - Digital technology introduced even non-mathematicians and engineers to the term, binary. Ones or zeroes. On or off. In 1987 Jeremy Rifkin wrote a book entitled Time Wars. He observed the difference in digital watches and analog, and the impact they have in our sense of time. It's bigger than that though. It speaks to the
- [278 Improve Your Leadership By Turning The Knob (4 Benefits)](https://bulanetwork.com/278-improve-your-leadership-by-turning-the-knob/) - F. Scott Fitzgerald was quoted in a 1936 Esquire article. The test of a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function." First rate leadership certainly demands the ability to see a variety of perspectives and viewpoints. If
- [277 Empathy: Leadership's Top Ingredient](https://bulanetwork.com/277-empathy-leaderships-top-ingredient/) - I was a young leader when it first happened. An employee was going through a divorce. Not just any divorce (is there such a thing?), but an especially hurtful one. His wife had been having an affair. She didn't want him anymore. He was crushed. Everybody felt awful for him, but nobody knew what to
- [276 Leadership & The Stories You Tell](https://bulanetwork.com/276-leadership-the-stories-you-tell/) - Didn't we all grow up hearing stories? I did. Parents read stories to us. Teachers did, too. At church we heard preachers tell us stories, too. The Bible has lots of great stories. Parents, teacher and preachers aren't the only people in our lives who tell stories though. Leaders do, too. You're a leader. You
- [275 Leading Under Duress](https://bulanetwork.com/275-leading-under-duress/) - Duress. It's stress. A constraint. A real challenge. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin met at Yalta in February 1945 to discuss their joint occupation of Germany and plans for postwar Europe. Leadership in time of war is among the highest stress leadership anybody can experience. I
- [274 Stop, Look And Listen: 3 Steps To Improve Your Leadership This Week](https://bulanetwork.com/274-stop-look-and-listen-3-leadership-skills-we-can-all-improve/) - What a difference a day makes? Think of the difference an entire week can make! Leadership requires many skills. People who work in leadership development or coaching often approach the topic from various angles. I mostly focus on the aim of leadership --- namely, the people being served by leaders. It may not be the
- [273 Doing What Needs To Be Done (Be Good At What You Do And Keep Getting Better)](https://bulanetwork.com/273-be-good-at-what-you-do-and-get-better-every-year/) - It's one of those common motivational phrases, "It never gets easy, you just get better." It's not necessarily true though. Sometimes it does get easier. It just depends... - On how good you are at it - On how naturally gifted you may be at it - On how long you've been at it -
- [271 Service & Value: The No-Matter-What Approach To Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/271-service-value-the-no-matter-what-approach-to-leadership/) - Leadership is learned. Whether it's by experience, trial and error, books, mentors, bosses or coaches --- we all have to learn it. There may be natural born skills and qualities that are befitting leadership, but we've still got to learn it. I don't believe in managing people. Maybe it's just a semantical annoyance to me,
- [Episode 196 - Why All This Racket Is Making It Hard To Get Anything Done](https://bulanetwork.com/196/) - When all is said and done, much more is said than done." Much more is heard than done, too. The noise takes on many forms. It's text, audio, video. It's news, articles, blog posts or entertainment. From books to movies, to personal conversations --- our lives have a pretty high noise floor. True story. A
- [Episode 197 - Lessons Learned From A Casual Comment By A Very Wounded Veteran](https://bulanetwork.com/197/) - 60 Minutes Sports just did a segment on sled hockey, that version of ice hockey played by disabled people who strap themselves onto a sled with two blades underneath. The game is fast and physical. Just like regular ice hockey. Part of the segment was about men who returned from war torn regions of the
- [Episode 198 - No Cash, No Customers, No Hope](https://bulanetwork.com/198/) - You hear it pretty regularly. An entrepreneur tells the horror story of their humble beginnings. They had no money and no investors. So they apply for as many credit cards as they can and max them all out. Whether it's hundreds or thousands, it's runway they need to get up to speed so they can
- [201 Time Shrinks Big Disappointments (So Think Big)](https://bulanetwork.com/201/) - About 10 years ago I was working hard to pull off a buyout. I had a well-crafted plan, a solid strategy and a 20 year plus track record. It was as though the circumstances of my life converged to make this opportunity to possible. It was a multi-million dollar deal that I was trying to
- [200 - 2014, The Year Of Finding Your Element](https://bulanetwork.com/200/) - It's about time to put a bow on 2013. "Wrap it up, I'll take it." -The Fabulous Thunderbirds If we're talking about 2013 (and we are), the question is, "Where are we gonna take it?" Some people want to take it and flush it down the toilet. Others want to take it and replicate it.
- [199 Servant Leadership: Is There Really Any Other Kind?](https://bulanetwork.com/199-servant-leadership-is-there-really-any-other-kind/) - I don’t view business-building success like most. Jim Collins, famed business author of “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't” gave people the metaphor I hear almost weekly. Put the right people on the bus in the right seat and you’ll achieve success. No, you won’t. You’ll end up chasing your
- [How Can I Get My Work Done And Still Develop My People? - Free Form Friday January 30, 2015](https://bulanetwork.com/how-can-i-get-my-work-done-and-still-develop-my-people-free-form-friday-january-30-2015/) - Some managers are intently focused on getting the work done. Nothing else matters. Not how it's done, or what lessons can taught along the way. They approach their day as a to-do-list, working hard to put a check mark by as many items as possible. Other managers are more focused on developing people. They
- [202 - The Top 3 Excuses For Not Using Content Marketing](https://bulanetwork.com/202/) - Companies, organizations and small businesses all have the same excuses for failing to incorporate content marketing strategies into their plans. It's 2014, people. It's time to wake up and figure things out. Today's show is a closer examination of the real-world excuses I've heard through the years as I've attempted to convince business owners that
- [203 - When My Greed For Your Money Exceeds My Need For Your Trust (Why 2014 Is Going To Be A New Start)](https://bulanetwork.com/203/) - January 12, 2012 around 11 o'clock in the morning. Epiphany time. They don't happen often. When they do you have to make note of them. Well, you don't have to, but it's a fun thing to do. Thirty seven years earlier, to the month, I entered my first college classroom. Already armed with a few
- [205 - This Is How I Podcast (Inside The Yellow Studio Circa 2014)](https://bulanetwork.com/205/) - Welcome to Episode 205, an inside look to the audio engine here in the Land of Bula. That Zoom H6 (pictured above) is the latest addition to the studio. It's an incredible piece of equipment, capable of more than a single digital recorder ought to be capable of. Thanks to Patrick (my rep) at Sweetwater
- [206 - 5 Tips For Service Professionals To Attract More Clients Using Content Marketing (Part 2)](https://bulanetwork.com/206/) - Teachers don't earn nearly as much as entertainers. Here in Texas, the average teacher earns $48,638 a year. Snooki, the reality TV star of MTV's Jersey Shore earns $150,000 an episode. According to some reports, she's worth $4 million. The first season she earned about $2000 an episode. The next season it jumped to $30,000 an
- [207 - Free Form Friday, January 31, 2014](https://bulanetwork.com/207/) - Today is the last Friday of January. I'm thinking of doing this bit of riffing on the last Friday of each month. I call it "free form" because I'm just going from some bullet-point notes based on a few thoughts from this first month of a new year. Here are a few hi-lights: - This
- [208 - 5 Benefits Of Content Marketing For Clients Of Service Professionals](https://bulanetwork.com/208/) - It's not about being everywhere. It's about being where your prospects and clients are. It's about attracting paying clients you can dazzle! "I don't have time to blog," he tells me. "Do you have time to answer your phones?" I ask. "Of course I do," he replied with extreme indignation. "How would you characterize most
- [209 - 5 Steps To Fix Your Business Problems](https://bulanetwork.com/209/) - For many, it's the American Dream to start your own business. Okay, if you're in Europe, Asia, Australia or other countries besides the USA, maybe it's your dream, too. Sadly, for too many the dream turns into a nightmare from which there seems no escape. The HELP WANTED sign may not indicate the need for
- [210 - 3 Keys To Create Big, Audacious, Hairy Goals (Why There's Nothing Wrong With Using Pencils)](https://bulanetwork.com/210/) - It's time to take aim. No time like the present and all that. Wait a minute, it's already February...far too late to plan for 2014, right? Not necessarily. I'm a compulsive planner. It goes with writing things down. One jot here triggers another thought...there. Before you know it I've filled a notebook full of gibberish.
- [211 - Leadership Lessons: 3 Reasons Why Your Team Is Miserable (And Planning To Stop Following You)](https://bulanetwork.com/211/) - "I've just about got all my ducks in a row," he says. He's a COO/GM of a $30M small business with about 75 people. He's got half a dozen direct reports who appear to be doing good work. They're hitting their numbers. Sales are solid. Profits are heading in the right direction. Life is good.
- [212 - Climbing Up The Corporate Food Chain: "You're Either A Money-Maker Or A Killer!"](https://bulanetwork.com/212/) - Kurt Sutter is the guy behind "Sons of Anarchy." Back in 2012 he did a documentary on the Aryan Brotherhood for the Discovery Channel series, Outlaw Empires. The Aryan Brotherhood was born in the 1960's and grew from a prison system based band of criminals to one of the most feared groups in history. One
- [213 - Free Form Friday, March 28, 2014](https://bulanetwork.com/213/) - Well, here we are. It's the last Friday of March. Due to my sickness I missed the last Friday of February. But thankfully, March brings with it another opportunity. Another chance to riff on about whatever I'd like. Here's a few of the points of today's Free Form Friday - they're mostly questions I'm asking
- [214 - Maybe You Have An Undiagnosed Resistance To Self-Improvement](https://bulanetwork.com/214/) - NOTE: Today's show was recorded live on a Google Hangout On Air that I kept unlisted because it just a test run for me to see how that platform might work during a live podcast. I'm considering doing some live podcasting. I'm not happy with the sound quality, but realized (too late) that there are
- [216 - People, Performance & Purpose: Making Your Business Relevant](https://bulanetwork.com/216/) - The Yellow Pages and the hard copy phone book are no longer relevant. Neither is TV Guide. What does relevancy mean? How did these (and countless other businesses) lose theirs? What Relevancy Means In a word, it means "useful." Maybe a better word is "valuable." Some enterprises never quite reach a high state of relevancy.
- [217 - What Matters Is What Happens Every Day](https://bulanetwork.com/217/) - Daily habits can seem ridiculously simple and insignificant. Like brushing your teeth. Stop doing it and you'll soon realize it's not so insignificant. There's high value in daily brushing. The cost of a toothbrush and toothpaste is a fraction of what dental work might cost. Back in the 80's I developed an awful, but delightful
- [218 - Free Form Friday, April 25, 2014](https://bulanetwork.com/218/) - Today is the last Friday of the month...so it's time for Free Form Friday! Here are today's talking points: Are you willing to help me rebrand this podcast? If so, I'd greatly appreciate your input. Just go here to help: BulaNetwork.com/helpme Podcasting talk (it doesn't have to be expensive or done like I do it,
- [219 Your Business Bench Strength: How Critical Is It To Your Success?](https://bulanetwork.com/219/) - When I'm commissioned to coach teams, helping organizations develop bench strength is often a major driver. Organizations have a variety of bench strength concerns. Some worry about succession. Others about just getting the work done. Still others worry about gaps in knowledge, competence or leadership. Not all teams are created with equal needs. What's Your
- [220 Hustling Means Selling: You Gotta Deliver!](https://bulanetwork.com/220/) - The United States Postal Service (USPS) has the motto, "We Deliver For You." You can't outsource results in your career. Nobody can deliver for you. It's all up to you. Time is the single biggest component of delivery. Fail to get it there on time and you're toast. It's not enough to get it there.
- [221 The Secret Rule For Business Success](https://bulanetwork.com/221/) - business success hinges on sacrificing some things for more important things
- [222 You Don't Have To Go Undercover To Become A Better Boss](https://bulanetwork.com/222/) - become a better boss
- [223 A Conversation With Sean Jackson, CFO of CopyBlogger Media](https://bulanetwork.com/223/) - Today's show is a departure because it's an interview with a Sean Jackson, the CFO of Copyblogger Media. Sean is a fellow Texan living here in Dallas. I initially did this interview for a new project - Chasing DFW Cool. That's a project I'm still planning to launch, but the conversation with Sean is too good
- [224 A Conversation With V. Scott Ellis](https://bulanetwork.com/224/) - V. Scott Ellis was my first interview last September for a new project I was planning to launch, Chasing DFW Cool (DFW = Dallas/Ft. Worth for you non-Texans). Scott was my first interview for the project. After I told him that, Scott said I clearly had my finger on the pulse of what was cool in Dallas. :D
- [225 Success, Squirrel-Style](https://bulanetwork.com/225/) - Yesterday I pulled into the driveway and noticed, for the umpteenth time, a squirrel darting from the house across the driveway to the large bushes on the opposite side. I see this all the time from Spring time throughout the Summer. But yesterday it was different. I saw where the squirrel was before I startled
- [226 Why There Is Always Room For Another Weight-Loss Book (And Anything Else You Can Think Of)](https://bulanetwork.com/226/) - It's estimated that the weight loss industry in America - just the United States - exceeds $60 billion. Sixty BILLION dollars a year! That's an enormous market. It's a marketer's dream. Like the old gold rush days of the wild west, it's also very crowded. Anywhere there's a a large appetite for something, there's going
- [227 A Conversation With Author/Speaker Mary DeMuth](https://bulanetwork.com/227/) - Last September I connected with Mary DeMuth, a DFW-based author/speaker. Our conversation was originally recorded for an upcoming project, ChasingDFWCool.com (a project that has suffered delay). Today, I'm releasing this episode because there are some terrific insights provided by Mary. We talk about writing, speaking, overcoming difficulties and connecting with people who can support us.
- [228  Free Form Friday, June 27, 2014](https://bulanetwork.com/228/) - When obstacles arise you change your direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there." -Zig Ziglar Halfway through the year and it's time to triage some things. Do you triage your career? Your business? Your life? What's working? What's not working? Why isn't it working? Why is
- [230 Home, Habits & Happiness: Why It's Time To Kill This Podcast](https://bulanetwork.com/230/) - Optimism. For some, it comes easy. For others, it's anything but. However, when a new year arrives almost everybody has some sense of it. I don't know why a calendar can have such a powerful impact. We're 6 months into 2014 and by now, most of the folks I knew what were optimistic in early January,
- [231 The Big Bang Podcast Rebranding: Higher Human Performance (Part 1)](https://bulanetwork.com/231/) - Rebranding is hard work. I wanted to rebrand almost since I started this podcast. I should have made a greater effort to brand the podcast at the very beginning, but I didn't. Instead, I just went with the name of the website and my company, Bula Network. Over the past year it has bugged me
- [232 Free Form Friday,  July 25, 2014 (and part 2 of the big bang podcast rebranding, too)](https://bulanetwork.com/232/) - Oh, the serious issues of the day are indeed becoming less troublesome. Or I'm just losing interest. Today is the last Friday of the month. That means it's Free Form Friday. Well, actually many days are free form days 'cause that's how I roll. Somebody sent me to a website that gives you a personality
- [233 6 Steps To Create Delighted Customers By Protecting Them From Themselves (Without Becoming A Dung Slinger)](https://bulanetwork.com/233/) - There's a strong, but perhaps subtle difference between a customer and a client. A customer buys one time. A client is a repeat customer. Loyalty programs are designed to convert customers into clients. They don't always work, but we can applaud companies for trying I guess. Ideally, what we all want are what Ken Blanchard called
- [234 Cervical Fusion Isn't Some New Form Of Music](https://bulanetwork.com/234/) - NOTE: Today's episode doesn't sound as great as I'd like, or up to my normal audio standards. I'll use surgery as my excuse. This horse collar doesn't help much either. It sounds musical, but I promise you there's nothing musical about it. I think the technical term for it is ACDF: Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.
- [235 The Magic Of Subtle Marketing For The Professional Services Firm](https://bulanetwork.com/235-the-magic-of-subtle-marketing-for-the-professional-services-firm/) - I'm not bashful to ask for the sale, or to encourage people to buy from me if I believe I've got just the thing to help them. But I am bashful to be presumptuous and I think you should be, too. For years I sat at desks where I was responsible for the outcome of
- [236 You Know It's Time To Quit](https://bulanetwork.com/236/) - Do more of what works. Stop doing what isn't working. Sound advice. Unfortunately, not always easy. And sometimes we're stymied with the riddle, "How do I know if I've given it a fair chance?" You don't. It's a crap shoot. Sometimes you get a face full of crap. Sometimes you don't. You'll know it when
- [237 Those Who Help Leaders Lead](https://bulanetwork.com/237/) - The Lone Ranger had Tonto. Johnny had Ed. Tom Petty has Mike Campbell. Leaders need supporters to help them lead. I'm not talking about followers. I'm talking about the #1 follower. That someone special who the leader can't do without. That person whose identity is so joined to the leader that they're considered more like
- [239 Strategic Partnerships: The Key To Effective Business Development](https://bulanetwork.com/239/) - A local dentist advertises for a marketing person who will develop "referral partners." Financial planners, attorneys, chiropractors and many other service professionals do the same thing. They chase referral partners. Many geographically dependent businesses think it's an effective way to build business. Connect with another business, let them know what you do, then ask them,
- [240 Higher Human Performance, The Podcast ReBranded](https://bulanetwork.com/240/) - I'm 1583 miles away from Madison Avenue in New York City, but I'm only 9 minutes from Madison Avenue in Hurst, Texas. If I were closer to NYC I'd have handled up on this rebranding long ago. But that's not how I roll. I'm a street fighter and hustler. Sometimes more the former than the
- [241 Why Plus-Minus Works In Business (Maybe Better Than It Does In Hockey)](https://bulanetwork.com/241/) - Hockey folks argue like any other sports fanatics. They second guess coaches and general managers. They fuss about who deserves to be called "the best" at any position. Even though they're not as stat driven as baseball people, they do enjoy a good conversation about how some stats are determined. Plus-minus is one of the
- [242 Q&A Friday - October 3, 2014](https://bulanetwork.com/242-qa-friday-october-3-2014/) - Every Friday I'll be answering 2 questions. Do you have a question? Use the CONTACT form or send me a voicemail to ask your question. Give me as many details as you care to share. 1. Can you teach executive behavior? We've got a very capable woman on our team who is proficient technically. However,
- [243 I May Not Be The Best Fork In The Drawer, But I'm Your Favorite Fork](https://bulanetwork.com/243-i-may-not-be-the-best-fork-in-the-drawer-but-im-your-favorite-fork/) - I've been helping small business owners with content marketing for over 5 years now. I've written "thousands, consequently millions" (thanks Deion Sanders) of words on behalf of clients. Video, podcasting, using Google Hangouts On Air, blogging, email marketing, social media marketing - it's all that and more. I've yet to meet a small business owner
- [244 The Boss Determines What's Important](https://bulanetwork.com/244-the-boss-determines-whats-important/) - NOTE: I'm intentionally going to bring you some shorter episodes designed to address topics that I think might be more impactful if they're kept short. Today's show is a perfect example. I hope you find it helpful. - Randy ............................................................................ Sit down with any group of people working for a boss and
- [245 Doing The Wrong Work, Doing The Work Wrong](https://bulanetwork.com/245-doing-the-wrong-work-doing-the-work-wrong/) - See that blur? You may be that blur. Scurrying around frantically trying to get things done. When somebody shouts, "Hey, what are you workin' on?" You stop momentarily. You think about it and realize you don't know what you're working on. You just know you're going as fast as you can. Today's show is a
- [246 Guarding The Dreams of Children: Finding Passion, Excitement, Exuberance](https://bulanetwork.com/246-guarding-the-dreams-of-children-finding-passion-excitement-exuberance/) - Can you remember the last time you were extremely excited? Euphoric? I don't mean moderately happy or contented. I mean really, truly, genuinely thrilled. Can't remember it? Me neither. The search for joy, passion, excitement or exuberance doesn't often result in a good find. Contentment is a more likely result of the search. Not that
- [247 It's Never Too Late (Or Too Soon) To Focus](https://bulanetwork.com/247/) - Skilled photographers prefer manual focus over auto-focus. It's because they trust their eyes more than they trust a microchip. It's also because they have better control over the quality of the picture, or the outcome. The thing about focus is that it changes with even the slightest movement. Move one inch in any direction and
- [248 Q&A Friday - November 28, 2014](https://bulanetwork.com/248-qa-friday-november-28-2014/) - Here are today's questions: 1. I've got to figure out how to serve clients without being face-to-face because it's growing increasingly impractical and too expensive. How can I learn it and maybe more importantly, how can I transition clients to embrace it? Let's start with the last part, transitioning clients to a new way
- [249 How To Be A Deliberate Person Without Being Stupid](https://bulanetwork.com/249-how-to-be-a-deliberate-person-without-being-stupid/) - If you use ink to complete a crossword puzzle - you're a deliberate person. How can you be a pen user instead of a pencil user...with a fat eraser handy? Frequently I'm engaged in a conversation with people who are on a quest to make an improvement. Maybe they're trying to elevate their sales or
- [250 Business Books That Helped Define Me As A Business Guy (Part 1)](https://bulanetwork.com/250-business-books-that-helped-define-me-as-a-business-guy-part-1/) - In 1984 I read a book about somebody I had never heard of. A business titan with a reputation for making senior leaders cry publicly as he questioned them about their numbers in an open forum. He'd made the cover of Time magazine back in 1967, but that preceded my business career so it escaped
- [251 Business Books That Helped Define Me As A Business Guy (Part 2)](https://bulanetwork.com/251-business-books-that-helped-define-me-as-a-business-guy-part-2/) - In part 1 I talked about the leader of ITT, Harold Geneen. His book, Managing by Harold Geneen with Alvin Moscow had a big impact on me. Ironically, Geneen's ITT bought the company led by another author and business leader who may have had an even bigger impact on my business philosophies and techniques. And
- [252 Business Books That Helped Define Me As A Business Guy (Part 3)](https://bulanetwork.com/252-business-books-that-helped-define-me-as-a-business-guy-part-3/) - You're gonna think I'm stuck in a 1984 time warp because this 3rd book was also published in 1984. William Oncken, Jr. wrote the book, Managing Management Time™ and created a proprietary training system by the same name. He was born in Buffalo, New York and graduated from Princeton in physics. During World War II
- [253 Business Books That Helped Define Me As A Business Guy (Part 4)](https://bulanetwork.com/253-business-books-that-helped-define-me-as-a-business-guy-part-4/) - I wrestled with this episode because I knew I wanted to focus on a book or books about General Electric's spectacular leader Jack Welch. I didn't struggle about my opinions of Mr. Welch, but rather the vast number of books I've read about him and about how GE operated during his regime. I could have
- [254 I Hate It When I Do That!](https://bulanetwork.com/254-i-hate-it-when-i-do-that/) - We all do things that drive us crazy. You know the kind of things I'm talking about. Those things we do, and immediately think or say, "I hate it when I do that." This is the year to fix those things. There's no reason to stymie our success by letting our weaknesses distract our efforts.
- [255 Leadership: Always Be Straight With People (Part 1)](https://bulanetwork.com/255-leadership-always-be-straight-with-people-part-1/) - Let's begin by making a distinction between MANAGEMENT and LEADERSHIP. We manage processes, workflows and systems. We lead people. Effective business or organization building requires both. That doesn't mean one person - the same person - has to provide both. We celebrate the leader who is an equally capable manager, but quite often the skill
- [256 Leadership: Always Be Straight With People (Part 2)](https://bulanetwork.com/256-leadership-always-be-straight-with-people-part-2/) - It's about four-thirty on an ordinary work day afternoon. I sit down at a computer terminal on a desk of an office worker. It's not my desk, but it's the closest unoccupied computer terminal. I need to check something in the system. The system is already logged on by a user so there's no need for
- [257 Free Form Friday: Smack Down Your Competition](https://bulanetwork.com/257-free-form-friday-smack-down-your-competition/) - Can you be too friendly with your competition? Today's episode is a "free form" discussion about competition. I'm preparing a full-blown episode on the topic, but today I wanted to dive in, give you a taste and solicit your feedback. Let me know what you think. Thanks for listening!
- [258 Creativity Lost, Creativity Found](https://bulanetwork.com/258-creativity-lost-creativity-found/) - The most mundane businesses can exemplify high creativity. A plumber dispatches immaculately clean trucks, with crisply uniformed technicians (plumbers) who don booties before entering your house. Two hours earlier you called them - or maybe you visited their website. Your choice. After briefly describing your problem and giving them your location, you provided them with your
- [259 Avoiding The Loneliness Of Leadership](https://bulanetwork.com/259-avoiding-the-loneliness-of-leadership/) - There you sit. Alone. Pondering the problems of the day. And the week. To say nothing of the quarterly performance worries. Your organization's performance hinges on lots of people. You stare at the ceiling tiles in your office and think of the various functions in your organization. Finance. Marketing. HR. Operations. Sales. Most days you never
- [261 Is Innovation Valuable In Our Personal Lives?](https://bulanetwork.com/261-is-innovation-valuable-in-our-personal-lives/) - Innovation in the workplace has been a hot topic during my entire career. It accelerated when the digital age arrived, but it was present long before that. Some of us are old enough to remember a time when our businesses operated with manual, handwritten spreadsheets, telephones and postal service mail. Facsimile machines arrived and suddenly
- [262 Every Significant Pay Raise Is Sparked By These Strong Desires](https://bulanetwork.com/262-every-significant-pay-raise-is-sparked-by-these-strong-desires/) - I've negotiated countless deals in my career. Some of them have involved my own pay and terms of employment. Those negotiations are personal with stakes that run deep. Each time I've done it I've thought about the representatives of professional athletes and others who rely on professional representation. I never reached altitudes that required it,
- [263 Who Do You Listen To? (And Who Listens To You?)](https://bulanetwork.com/263-who-do-you-listen-to-and-who-listens-to-you/) - How do you determine who gets your time and attention? Who do you read? Who do you listen to? Who listens to you? There are three distinct groups who occupy your life - in terms of people who you're willing to pay attention to - with one major caveat, these are people who know
- [264 Unforgettable: The Value Of Sequential Marketing](https://bulanetwork.com/264-unforgettable-the-value-of-sequential-marketing/) - People stop buying from you for the following reasons: a) They had a poor experience the last time they bought from you, so they don't come back. b) They don't need your products or services any more. c) They moved. d) They shop price and have gone to a new lower priced provider. e) They
- [265 Nothing Changes Until You're Fed Up](https://bulanetwork.com/265-nothing-changes-until-youre-fed-up/) - Gentry (not his real name) was complaining to me how he hated his business life. It was ruining his personal life. He hadn't considered how we really just have one life, intertwined into a variety of roles. Marci Alboher calls them "slashes" - as in those slashes behind our name. He started his business about
- [266 Time To Amputate: Your Organization Won't Win With A Loser Attached](https://bulanetwork.com/266-time-to-amputate-your-organization-wont-win-with-a-loser-attached/) - Pictured is a Civil War era surgical kit. It includes the implements used for amputation. Soldiers with horrible wounds often lost limbs in order to save their life. Sometimes we have to cut off things that would otherwise kill us. My consulting and coaching has always involved helping organizations (mostly businesses) morph and adapt. I started
- [267 "We're Not Smart Enough About That Yet"](https://bulanetwork.com/267-were-not-smart-enough-about-that-yet/) - Knowledge makes everything simpler. That doesn't mean it makes things easy. Some years ago I'm visiting with a business owner. The topic? Finding other streams of revenue. It's more than a brainstorming session. It's strategic based on the current revenue sources. A few ideas leap to my mind and I toss them out for consideration.
- [268 What Would A One-Week Work-Flow Diary Reveal About You? (A Powerful Tool To Improve Your Productivity)](https://bulanetwork.com/268-what-would-a-one-week-work-flow-diary-reveal-about-you-a-powerful-tool-to-improve-your-productivity/) - People who desperately need to lose weight are often asked by a nutritionist or physician to keep a food diary. Daily they write down everything they put in their mouth. It's a powerful tool to show them the truth about how many calories they're consuming. Most overweight people don't realize how many calories they're
- [269 How To Work For a Jerk](https://bulanetwork.com/269-how-to-work-for-a-jerk/) - You think you've got a jerk for a boss? It's all relative. From 1957 to 1969 you could have been employed by this guy, Vito Genovese, head of the Genovese crime family. I'm betting he was worse than any boss you've ever had. I know that doesn't make you feel any better about your mean
- [270 Refusing Help](https://bulanetwork.com/270-refusing-help/) - It was years ago when I was first called, "Coach." It was a group of kids playing hockey. I've had 6 year olds call me coach, and college guys do the same. It's a pretty good feeling actually. Knowing that you're helping players learn, develop and compete. But it's really cool to help players improve
- [Episode 148 - Lessons From The TV Show, The Voice](https://bulanetwork.com/148/) - Four celebrity singers. Each with his own team of 6 singers. Now, they'll compete for top honors on NBC's hit TV show, The Voice. During Tuesday night's show the competition completed the "Battle Round" or "KnockOut Round." Each coach pits two team members against each other. The coach decides a winner, who will advance, leaving
- [The Word: Control](https://bulanetwork.com/the-word-control/) - Yes, I said, "delusioned." LOL The minute I said it I knew it wasn't quite right. Deluded is right. But did I acknowledge it? No. Go with it. It's the control I managed to exercise during the recording. See, everything has a purpose. Thanks for watching.
- [The Enormous Power of Expectation](https://bulanetwork.com/the-enormous-power-of-expectation/) - Tom Rath's book, Vital Friends, was published in 2006. It was a profound book for me. I have re-read it a number of times because it's about the importance of relationships and friendships. I think about it more and more as I grow older. I consider the impact it has on our children. As parents.
- [Trust People, But Always Cut The Deck](https://bulanetwork.com/trust-people-but-always-cut-the-deck/) - Recent discussions about the FTC crackdown on testimonials for Internet marketers have brought to light the fine arts of deception, lying and fraud. Enron and Bernie Madoff preceded this news - so it's not quite the newsflash it might otherwise be. Cheating is commonplace. Pick any area of human endeavor and you'll find deception and
- [Episode 77 - Fighting With Knives, Running With Footballs And Quitting The Gurus](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-77-fighting-with-knives-running-with-footballs-and-quitting-the-gurus/) - Most people are followers. You enjoy going with the pack. You want to fit in. Be like everybody else. The paradox is, you don't want to be like everybody else. You want to be like the best. The famous. The rich. The well-known. You don't want to be - Average. By definition "average" is common,
- [Episode 76 - Inside The Yellow Studio (The Little Engine That Could)](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-76-inside-the-yellow-studio-the-little-engine-that-could/) - Here it is, kids! It's the technical show that some of you have been clamoring for - this is the engine behind what goes on inside The Yellow Studio. The studio is a 2-mic studio that can be expanded to three if necessary. It never is. The studio desk seats three people. The pictures don't
- [My Grandson, Soccer And Paralyzing Fear](https://bulanetwork.com/my-grandson-soccer-and-paralyzing-fear/) - Max is my oldest grandson. A few years ago he thought he'd like to give soccer a try. He thought wrong. I recorded the story of his fear and some lessons I learned back in April 2011. I'm posting it here today because fear is a timeless subject. For a good long while Max's dad
- [13 Lessons For Your Business Provided By AC/DC](https://bulanetwork.com/13-lessons-for-your-business-provided-by-acdc/) - Here are 13 AC/DC song titles that provide some solid lessons for your small business. 1. Back In Black Assume debt with great care. If you can avoid taking on debt, do so. Debt-free is not only a great personal goal, it's a terrific goal for your business, too. 2. Moneytalks Yes, it does. Cash
- [Episode 171 - 3 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Worry About Competition When You Tell Your Story](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-171-3-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-worry-about-competition-when-you-tell-your-story/) - I don't have time to blog or produce online content. There are millions of websites. Hundreds of millions actually! There are no official numbers posted, but some estimate there are over 1 billion YouTube channels. What about podcasts? Again, official numbers are tough, but estimates are around 200,000 different podcasts. They likely represent millions of
- [Taking Advantage Of The Disgruntled Customer](https://bulanetwork.com/taking-advantage-of-the-disgruntled-customer/) - Do you know how much it costs to get a new customer? Figure that out. Then, take a new look at your customer recovery/retention practices. You may find that the money you think you're saving is costing you valued customers. Another video that I recorded 5 years ago for the retailing space focuses on a
- [Finding The Shortcut To Customer Loyalty](https://bulanetwork.com/finding-the-shortcut-to-customer-loyalty/) - Five years ago I recorded this video. It was primarily for people in the retailing or online selling space, but the message is true no matter what space you're in, and no matter what you're selling. Customer experience is still at the heart of the matter. Some thing never change. Namely, my philosophy that outstanding
- [The Word: Evidence](https://bulanetwork.com/the-word-evidence/) - The dictionary definition of "evidence" is: the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid" My first blush take on the word deals with careers and organizations. Today's video is based on using the word as it relates to interpersonal relationships at work.
- [Serving Your Number One Customer: Leadership Pixie Dust](https://bulanetwork.com/serving-your-number-one-customer-leadership-pixie-dust/) - The CEO was describing a person - a leader in his organization. "He's got pixie dust," said the CEO. I inquired, "What does that mean?" Thinking I knew, I still wanted to hear this chief executive verbalize it. And he did. "He just handles things more remarkably than anybody else on my team. It's almost
- [What Can You Learn From Bill Parcells' 11 Quarterback Commandments?](https://bulanetwork.com/what-can-you-learn-from-bill-parcells-11-quarterback-commandments/) - Bill Parcells once coached the Dallas Cowboys. Around here it was a pretty fun time. I enjoyed the coach's press conferences. Here in Dallas talk about the Cowboys is a year-round sport. During Bill Parcells' time here there was much discussion about the commandments that Parcells' created for the quarterback position. Tony Romo struggled with many
- [Can Nice Guys Finish First? Noah Everett Did.](https://bulanetwork.com/can-nice-guys-finish-first-noah-everett-did/) - You've seen signs like this one before. Why ask nicely? People would just ignore this request if it were worded nicely, wouldn't they? So, let's go ahead and insult them knowing they're going to ignore our request. We'll just call them pigs right off the bat. Welcome to a world that often struggles with being
- [The Myth Of Business Failure (And Success)](https://bulanetwork.com/the-myth-of-business-failure-and-success/) - This video is now 5 years old.* Hard to believe I recorded this back in 2009. Yes, the economy was a bit different when I recorded this, but I'm putting it out there today because I still believe in the message. As this was recorded I was in the midst of coaching some people who had fallen
- [Chump Change](https://bulanetwork.com/chump-change/) - Chump change is laying all around The Yellow Studio. Small, insignificant, trivial amounts of money. I've got a piggy bank with nothing but pennies inside. I've got a bank bag with nickels and dimes. There might be a stray quarter or two. Hard money. That's the literal meaning of chump change. But if you have
- [New Technology Explained By An Old Hippie](https://bulanetwork.com/new-technology-explained-by-an-old-hippie/) - Kevin Kelly is among the brighter people on the planet. Google his name you'll find tons of presentations. I'm exposing you to just a snippet of him today because I've found quite a few business people who've never heard of him. Proof that people we think are widely known all over the world by all kinds
- [What You Can Learn About Marketing From Nachos](https://bulanetwork.com/what-you-can-learn-about-marketing-from-nachos/) - About 9 o'clock and I got hungry, again. I sprint to the kitchen, catch my breath - and begin the quest. A hunt really. It didn't last long. One glance in the pantry and I immediately knew what I wanted. NACHOS. Simple. Tasty. Memorable. What's not to like? Start with a great chip. Here in
- [On Being Extraordinary: Get My Name Right](https://bulanetwork.com/on-being-extraordinary-get-my-name-right/) - It's a new feature, On Being Extraordinary. Today's installment is fundamental. Then again, most acts of being extraordinary are actually quite simple. This story proves the point. A lady from Europe reaches out to a North American prospect in hopes of selling her services. She's had some email communication with the prospect through her assistant. The
- [What Exactly Is Business Development?](https://bulanetwork.com/what-exactly-is-business-development/) - The practice has been around for as long as I can remember, but it's only had a name for the past 20 years or so. Biz Dev. Business Development. Businesses used to be focused on being independent. It was a badge of honor to do everything yourself. That was especially true of small business. A
- [Coaching The Disagreeable Employee](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-the-disagreeable-employee/) - Braxton Bragg was an Army guy. Career Army. He was also a Confederate General responsible for the western campaign of the American Civil War. But he was mostly a sour puss who easily blamed others. Ulysses S. Grant's memoirs tell a story about Bragg as a company commander at a frontier post where he also
- [August 2, 2014 - Saturday's Smile ](https://bulanetwork.com/august-2-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [July 26, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/july-26-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [July 19, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/july-19-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [July 12, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/july-12-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [What You Really Need Is A Customer (and some blinders)](https://bulanetwork.com/what-you-really-need-is-a-customer/) - A prospect calls. That's almost always a good thing. Almost. The first thing he said to me was, "I need a better website." "Why?" I asked. "Just look at the site I have now. It looks awful," he drones. His site is plain, but far from awful. It's the typical small business website done by
- [Success Is Determined By Your Whack Quotient](https://bulanetwork.com/success-is-determined-by-your-whack-quotient/) - Winston Churchill once said, "If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack." Don't give up too soon. Read Seth Godin's book, The Dip,
- [Rebranding The Podcast: Will You Help Me?](https://bulanetwork.com/rebranding-the-podcast-will-you-help-me/) - I need your help. It's past time for me to rebrand and refocus the podcast. What started out as mostly a legacy project (I began recording things I wanted to pass onto my grown children...and my grandchildren). It was mostly business oriented with a smattering of self-improvement stuff. Sprinkled in have been some personal things
- [July 5, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/july-5-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [The Coach's Halftime Speech](https://bulanetwork.com/the-coachs-halftime-speech/) - It's the end of June, the end of the first half of another year. Did you play well in the first half? Are you behind on the scoreboard, or ahead? It's time to jog into the locker room and prepare for the second half of 2014. Meanwhile, the band hits the field and the
- [June 28, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/june-28-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [June 21, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/june-21-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [Time In The Water Determines Your Ability To Surf Big Waves](https://bulanetwork.com/time-in-the-water-determines-your-ability-to-surf-big-waves/) - Learning to surf by listening to a guy in Dallas, Texas? Sure, why not? I have distilled this information from the world's best surfers. You've got to learn to surf small waves first. Time in the water is key. Learning to balance in relatively slow moving water is where it all begins. From there, it's practice,
- [June 14, 2014 - Saturday's Smile (Happy Father's Day To All Good* Dads)](https://bulanetwork.com/june-14-2014-saturdays-smile-happy-fathers-day-to-all-good-dads/) - * If you're not a good dad, then you're blowing it.
- [Special Episode - Blue Is The Color Of Melancholy, But What Does It Sound Like? (Finding Profit In Setbacks And Disappointments)](https://bulanetwork.com/special-episode-blue-is-the-color-of-melancholy-but-what-does-it-sound-like-finding-profit-in-setbacks-and-disappointments/) - Melancholy Noun: A deep, pensive, and long-lasting sadness. Adjective: Sad, gloomy, or depressed. How long is long-lasting? From my experience, it's always too long. But I can be given to feeling melancholy. A friend recently described his own family as being prone to feeling blue. Instantly, I could relate. Amazement is the only word to describe my
- [Open Mumford Procedure On My Right Shoulder And I Still Can't Play The Mandolin](https://bulanetwork.com/open-mumford-procedure-on-my-right-shoulder-and-i-still-cant-play-the-mandolin/) - I had surgery on my right shoulder yesterday. See, I don't always intentionally bury the lead. Pain killers are likely responsible though so don't get used to it, Jon Buscall. ;) I had a severe shoulder episode back in February that sent me to the emergency room of a local hospital. Pain like I've never
- [FTV001 He Endured 4 Years Of Solitary Confinement In A POW Camp...What Can YOU Endure To Achieve Your Success? ](https://bulanetwork.com/ftv001/) - I had shoulder surgery on Monday so this week I'm a bit out of commission. I'm sure you understand. This podcast is from the vault of Leaning Toward Wisdom, dated March 28, 2014. Leaning Toward Wisdom is another podcast I produce. This episode, FTV (from the vault) is the first of these episodes I'm going
- [What Words Do You Use In Serving Your Customers?](https://bulanetwork.com/what-words-do-you-use-in-serving-your-customers/) - get creative in how you speak with your customers
- ["I Taught You Everything You Know!"](https://bulanetwork.com/i-taught-you-everything-you-know/) - Today's "quick hit" is 10:49 minutes long. A student ends up competing with the teacher. The teacher is sore about it, but he shouldn't be. Consider the real estate business. A rookie agent goes to work for a broker. Fresh from getting her license she's got to hang her shingle somewhere to get started. She
- [June 7, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/june-7-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [May 31, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/may-31-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [May 24, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/may-24-2014-saturdays-smile/) - cartoon smiles by Ballard Street
- [Episode 164 - Show 'N Tell Your Way To Success](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-164-show-n-tell-your-way-to-success/) - In 2nd grade I used an opportunity afforded during "show 'n tell" to tattle on my neighbor. We lived on some acreage with horses, ducks, a cat and a dog. Our neighbor would ride his lawn mower around - not mowing necessarily, but using the mower like you might an ATV - drinking beer and
- [May 17, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/may-17-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [May 10, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/may-10-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [May 3, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/may-3-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [April 26, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/april-26-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [April 19, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/april-19-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [April 12, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/april-12-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [It's Great To Hack Learning, But How About We Hacking Doing Instead?](https://bulanetwork.com/its-great-to-hack-learning-but-how-about-we-hacking-doing-instead/) - Yep, change this format to HD if you like. Red and Splotchy are even more vivid in HD. It's only 8:38. I think you can stand me that long in HD. Mentioned in today's video: • The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything . . . Fast! by Josh Kaufman • Josh appears to be
- [April 5, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/april-5-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [March 29, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/march-29-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [March 22, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/march-22-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [March 15, 2014 - Saturday's Smiles](https://bulanetwork.com/march-15-2014-saturdays-smiles/)
- [March 8, 2014 - Saturday's Smile (A Day Late, A Dollar Short)](https://bulanetwork.com/march-8-2014-saturdays-smile-a-day-late-a-dollar-short/) - I missed getting Saturday's Smile posted yesterday, on Saturday. About 2 weeks ago I fell ill - very ill. That's the reason for my absence (and tardiness for these "smiles"). Hopefully, I'll be back sooner than later.
- [March 1, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/march-1-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [February 22, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/february-22-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [3 Components of Leadership: Vision, Recognition & Communication](https://bulanetwork.com/3-components-of-leadership-vision-recognition-communication/) - There are many aspects of leadership. Today's videocast focuses on just three: vision, recognition and communication. In my work helping people become more effective leaders, I'm often challenged to provide tools and processes that will enable leaders to improve accountability of team members. Just about every organization cries out, "We need stronger accountability of our
- [February 15, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/february-15-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [February 8, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/february-8-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [February 1, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/february-1-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [How I Lost $50,900 (and my pride), But Kept My Wife](https://bulanetwork.com/how-i-lost-50900/) - Allow me to tell two stories of my own stupidity and foolishness. Both cost me a lot of money, but they may have cost me more in embarrassment and vulnerability. I certainly lost some pride over the deals. Thankfully, my wife stood by me - all without scolding me about how stupid or crazy I was. As
- [Episode 133 - Take Responsibility For How Your Customers Feel: Communication](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-133/) - "Let me tell you what this $#@! just said." He was telling me about a customer who was complaining. The complaint, according to the business owner, was unfounded and unfair. I listened. He explained - from his point of view - the circumstances leading up to the complaint. He was fuming about it. As
- [Episode 183 - Are You Stuck? Maybe You Need A Professional Business Plunger!](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-183-are-you-stuck-maybe-you-need-a-professional-business-plunger/) - Is your toilet clogged? Or maybe a sink? Hey, it happens. Drains get clogged and we're suddenly stuck. I'm not a professional (or even an amateur) plumber, but I am a professional plunger! For business owners. Being stuck is a universal problem. It happens to everybody...sometimes. Business problems are like most problems. They vary. Sometimes
- [Episode 184 - An Empty Tank Gives You The Chance To Fill Up With Better Fuel](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-184-an-empty-tank-gives-you-the-chance-to-fill-up-with-better-fuel/) - I quit. Again. Not my first time. Doubtful my last. I'd invested 40 years sharpening my business building skills. You don't survive four decades doing something if you suck at it. Of course, surviving it doesn't mean you're great at it either. But I was both a survivor and great (tongue firmly in cheek). Careers
- [September 7, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/september-7-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [Episode 185 - "I'd Buy From You If You'd Just Call Me Back" (80% Of Success Is Just Showing Up)](https://bulanetwork.com/185/) - "Eighty percent of success is showing up." - Woody Allen It's the Pareto principle. Everywhere you look it turns up. The 80/20 rule. Wait a minute, what? If 80% of success is showing up, does that mean we just need to show up 20% of the time? That's about right. Seems like lately I've had
- [A Little Less Talk, A Little More Action Please!](https://bulanetwork.com/a-little-less-talk-a-little-more-action-please/) - I love the Elvis song, but picking up chicks isn't quite what I've got in mind today. Or any other day for that matter. I'm happily married. How do you feel about these topics? • Work flow • Systems • Processes • Schedules • Calendars • Deadlines • Standard Operating Procedures I confess. Some days
- [Episode 186 - When In Doubt Use A Pile Driver, Or Mumble](https://bulanetwork.com/186/) - Winston Churchill once said, If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack. In 1972 I stumbled onto a terrifically dry, witty book by
- [A Moment Of Decision: The Lesson I Learn From Their Lies](https://bulanetwork.com/a-moment-of-decision-the-lesson-i-learn-from-their-lies/) - I have lots of conversations about stories. Late last week I was talking with somebody about rags to riches stories. They certainly do happen. In fact, I had commented about that terrific series of TV programs on the Men Who Built America. Some of those men went from rags to riches. A few of them
- [Episode 187 - Taking Permission Is Killing Us](https://bulanetwork.com/187/) - Apprenticeship is said to have begun in the 1300's, but I don't buy that. It's much older than that. Okay, maybe it wasn't so structured until then, but didn't it really begin when a skilled, experienced person decided to teach somebody else - probably a younger person? If you look at the Bible you read
- [Episode 188 - It Doesn't Matter How Prepared You Are If The Room Is Empty](https://bulanetwork.com/188/) - How Being Unintentional Leads To Unintentional Failure "I thought we'd sign up more people," he said. A haphazard, ill-planned, even more ill-planned execution of a marketing effort have left him depressed. Hundreds of dollars spent in in a direct mail campaign hardly qualified him as a big spender, but for his small business it was
- [Choosing To Be Meaningful](https://bulanetwork.com/choosing-to-be-meaningful/) - Life can be a period...or an exclamation point! We decide our own direction. Perhaps some have more opportunities. Or better circumstances. But still, we all make choices. It's our life. It's our choice. We can decide to be victims who are "unlucky" or we can decide that in spite of our challenges we're going to
- [What's In A Business Name?](https://bulanetwork.com/whats-in-a-business-name/) - We've all done it. We go to our favorite domain registry outfit and search for some trick domain name we think might have potential for some future project. We are drawn to clever domain names. Of course, in the real business world most of our clever ideas never see the light of day. I dare
- [Episode 189 - "For some reason, they said yes!”](https://bulanetwork.com/189/) - Last Thursday Sir Richard Branson posted on Linkedin a letter he wrote to a 12 year old female fan who had written inquiring about the key enterprising skills he used when first starting out. Here's what he wrote: Dear Olivia, Many thanks for getting in touch. I’m honoured you have chosen yours truly as the subject
- [Great Leaders Face The People They Serve, And Turn Their Backs On Everybody Else](https://bulanetwork.com/great-leaders-face-the-people-they-serve-and-turn-their-backs-on-everybody-else/) - The Only Way To Put Customers First Is By Putting The People Who Serve Them First Back in the early 1990's a book was published, The Customer Comes Second: Put Your People First And Watch 'Em Kick Butt. The authors, Hal Rosenbluth and Diane McFerrin Peters, weren't the first to put forth the idea that
- [Episode 190 - Sell Something And Get Happy, Happy, Happy!](https://bulanetwork.com/190/) - Sell something! As I exit, I regularly exhort a guy who works at my gym with those two simple words. It's admonition from one old salesman to a much, much younger salesman. It's encouragement many salespeople give other salespeople. Because we all learned the same truth... Nothing happens until somebody sells something. Businesses fail for
- [Episode 192 - You buttered your bread. Now sleep in it!](https://bulanetwork.com/192/) - Your struggle is different. Different from the struggles others have. "Why is this so hard for me?" you ask. Other people don't seem to struggle like this. You're not stupid. Of course, you know everybody has a hard time, some times. It just seems like they can fight through their problems easier than you. You
- [Episode 191 - The Influence Of Feedback On Your Direction](https://bulanetwork.com/191/) - A blog post is written by an A-list blogger with tens of thousands of daily readers. Quite often the comment ice will be broken by a reader whose feedback is nothing more than fan adoration. Fandom is a form of positive feedback, but how helpful is it to the blogger. Can the blogger gain any
- [Episode 193 - The Enormous Benefits Of A Clean, Organized Environment](https://bulanetwork.com/193/) - Do teachers still say this? "Neatness counts." They almost always said it when I was young. I knew why. Kids didn't always write legibly. I figured the teachers were looking to make their lives easier. Perfectly fine. It's hard to grade a test when you can read what the student wrote. But... My viewpoint was
- [Special Episode - 3 Women Who Prove That You May Not Always Know Why People Are Driven To Achieve Success](https://bulanetwork.com/special-episode-3-women-who-prove-that-you-may-not-always-know-why-people-are-driven-to-achieve-success/) - Rae Hoffman is Sugarrae. It was about 8 to 10 years ago when I first encountered her online. I didn't know her. Still don't. But I found out she was brassy and candid with her opinions. I liked that. She was and still is in the affiliate marketing space. I wasn't terribly interested in operating
- [Episode 195 - The Gunfighter's Mentality: How Speed And Hitting Your Target Can Kill The Competition](https://bulanetwork.com/195/) - Professional Gunfighters Shoot From The Hip (But Only After Lots Of Preparation & Practice) Have Gun - Will Travel was more than a TV show. It was a perfect marketing message. It told you everything you needed to know about the man's business. His name was Paladin. He was a gunfighter, but he was a
- [Perry Marshall's Marketing DNA Test (My Results)](https://bulanetwork.com/perry-marshalls-marketing-dna-test-my-results/) - I've been on Perry Marshall's list for years. He's a Google Adwords and PPC brainiac. I'd also describe him as a terrific marketing guy. Oh, and he's very likable. You should check him out at PerryMarshall.com Since I'm on his list I got the email he sent out telling about his new Marketing DNA Test.
- [Saturday's Smile - January 25, 2014](https://bulanetwork.com/saturdays-smile-january-25-2014/)
- [January 18, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/january-18-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [January 11, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/january-11-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [January 4, 2014 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/january-4-2014-saturdays-smile/)
- [December 28, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/december-28-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [December 21, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/december-21-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [December 14, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/december-14-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [December 7, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/december-7-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [November 30, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/november-30-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [October 26, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/october-26-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [November 9, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/november-9-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [November 16, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/november-16-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [November 23, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/november-23-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [November 2, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/november-2-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [October 19, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/october-19-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [October 12, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/october-12-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [October 5, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/october-5-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [September 28, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/september-28-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [September 21, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/september-21-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [September 14, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/september-14-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [August 31, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/august-31-2013-saturdays-smile/) - If you've not listened to episode 183, do it. This cartoon will illustrate my point made about halfway through the show. Have a safe, happy Labor Day weekend!
- [Episode 182 - Entrepreneurship: Give Value First And Help People Change Their World](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-182-entrepreneurship-give-value-first-and-help-people-change-their-world/) - Small Is The New Big Five years ago I was winding down a 35 plus year career spent in retailing. Becky McCray, a small town entrepreneur maven, mentioned a terrific blog post. I wasn't terribly familiar with Becky at the time, much less the fella who wrote the post, Jon Swanson. The post dealt with
- [August 24, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/august-24-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [Episode 181 - Our Son Was Born In The Hottest Summer On Record](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-181-our-son-was-born-in-the-hottest-summer-on-record/) - August, 1980. It was a record setting summer. 42 straight days of triple digit heat in Dallas, Texas. No matter that we lived in Oklahoma at the time. It was no cooler "up north." Records were set all across this part of America in the summer of my son's birth. Rhonda and I were married
- [August 17, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/august-17-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [Special Episode - The Only Thing That Matters In Building Your Business](https://bulanetwork.com/special-episode-the-only-thing-that-matters-in-building-your-business/) - Business is tough all over. I'm not talking about the economy. I'm talking about the work necessary for business success. But if you think success is tough, try failure! Today's especial episode has one goal - to help you achieve success, or a greater degree of success in your business. It's about forward focus. Some
- [August 10, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/august-10-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [Episode 180 - Avoid Embarrassment. Do Nothing!](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-180-avoid-embarrassment-do-nothing/) - I heard a new phrase the other day. Social Embarrassment I had never heard that before. I'm supposing it needs capitalization, but I'm not sure. Lately, I've been chasing people to get things done. To take action. Yes, it's a common problem, but when I stumbled onto the notion that people sometimes don't take action
- [August 3, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/august-3-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [July 27, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/july-27-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [Episode 179 - Self-Sacrifice: Maybe There Is More To Life Than Chasing Your Passion](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-179-self-sacrifice-maybe-there-is-more-to-life-than-chasing-your-passion/) - The Despicable Me franchise is more than imaginative. And cute. It's real. In the original story, Gru epitomizes lots of people. The minions aren't the only ones he views as existing only for his purposes. He owns them. He's the consummate autocrat. Despicable? Hardly. He's doing what countless people exhort us all to do - fulfill
- [Episode 178 - How I'm Preparing To Launch A New Podcast, ChasingDFWCool (Part 2)](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-178-how-im-preparing-to-launch-a-new-podcast-chasingdfwcool-part-2/) - I probably should have sub-titled these episodes, "How You Can Launch Your Own Podcast...Or Anything Else!" Did you miss Part 1? Click here. It's much shorter than this one. The next episode will absolutely, positively be shorter! I had a lot of ground to cover in today's show, but I didn't want to drag this out
- [July 20, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/july-20-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [July 13, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/july-13-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [Episode 177 - How I'm Preparing To Launch A New Podcast, ChasingDFWCool (Part 1)](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-177-how-im-preparing-to-launch-a-new-podcast-chasingdfwcool-part-1/) - Quite some time ago I had an idea to start a new podcast, an interview-based show. The idea was mostly born of loneliness. Business loneliness. Isolation is common among solopreneurs. Since 2008 I've been on my own solopreneur journey. About a year into it, the isolation hit me fairly hard, but it was profitable because
- [Your Life As An Unrestricted Free Agent](https://bulanetwork.com/your-life-as-an-unrestricted-free-agent/) - What if many companies or people were clamoring for your services? What if nobody wanted you? Free agency in the NHL began at noon today. Prior to that hour NHL teams could only interview potential unrestricted free agents. No offers could be made. I don't pretend to understand all the intricate nuances of NHL free
- [July 6, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/july-6-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [June 29, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/june-29-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [Day 20,503 Won't Be Nearly As Great As Day 20,504](https://bulanetwork.com/day-20503-wont-be-nearly-as-great-as-day-20504/) - I've done the calculation before, but it was years ago. I think I was in my 30's but I'm not sure. Then, the other day I was wondering around the interwebs and visited the site of Robert D. You know Robert D, don't you? Well, I do. He doesn't know me, of course, but that's
- [June 22, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/june-22-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [Episode 176 - Turning A New Life Over](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-176-turning-a-new-life-over/) - I feel the hiatus coming to an end. It's time to turn a new life over. Here's what that means... • Checking Facebook no more than twice daily. Think 10am and 7pm. • Checking Twitter no more than twice daily. Yep, think 10am and 7am again. • Checking email no more than three times daily.
- [June 15, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/june-15-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [Still On Hiatus, But It's Working!](https://bulanetwork.com/still-on-hiatus-but-its-working/) - Update: June 10, 2013 Today is my wife's birthday. We're now both 56. Hooray! This video update is short, but I wanted to thank everybody for their emails and social media connections during a tough time. Thanks much. I'll be in touch soon. P.S. I'm in the final "planning" stages of launching ChasingDFWCool.com
- [June 8, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/june-8-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [May 18, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/may-18-2013-saturdays-smile/) - Because this week I needed a 4-some. Enjoy!
- [Top 10 Ways To Prepare For The Funeral Of Your Best Friend](https://bulanetwork.com/top-10-ways-to-prepare-for-the-funeral-of-your-best-friend/) - The funeral for my friend, Stanley, is tomorrow morning at 10am. It remains to be seen if this strategy works. I'll let you know. 10. Watch "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World." Twice. 9. Look at cartoons of Ballard Street and Herman...almost constantly. 8. Watch the Bathroom Sessions with Ed and Steven (yes, it can
- [June 1, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/june-1-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [May 25, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/may-25-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [May 11, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/may-11-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [Episode 175 - The Blind Pig Strategy To Remarkable Content Creation](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-175-the-blind-pig-strategy-to-remarkable-content-creation/) - It's hard to believe that One-A-Day vitamins are older than me. Miles Labs introduced them in 1940, making them 73 years old. I've been a customer and I know the value of taking daily vitamins. But vitamins and podcast content aren't the same thing. Podcasts are so much more valuable. ;-) I am not being
- [May 4, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/may-4-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [Special Episode - So Broke I Didn't Have $1.25 To Get Through The Tollbooth](https://bulanetwork.com/special-episode-so-broke-i-didnt-have-1-25-to-get-through-the-tollbooth/) - I was following people in another car. We were headed to a gentleman's office. It was business. I didn't know a toll road was involved, but I was faithfully following along in my own car. Alone. As we entered the toll road I was desperately looking for signs to tell me how much the toll
- [Episode 174 - Three Questions To Help You Make Wiser Business Decisions](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-174-three-questions-to-help-you-make-wiser-business-decisions/) - A friend of mine has a wife who is very inquisitive. Her name is Patsy. No question is too foolish, or too embarrassing for her to ask. He'll say, "Patsy has questions. Lots of questions." And we'll laugh. Because it's true, and funny. We all need to be more like Patsy I suppose whenever we're
- [April 27, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/april-27-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [Leaning Toward Wisdom: Why I'm ReLaunching A Podcast You Likely Have Never Heard Before](https://bulanetwork.com/leaning-toward-wisdom-why-im-relaunching-a-podcast-you-likely-have-never-heard-before/) - On May 28, 2010 I released the first episode of a podcast called Leaning Toward Wisdom. As you'd imagine, it was at LeaningTowardWisdom.com. I registered that domain on February 1, 2005. Years earlier, in 1999, I had started my first blog - we called them "journals" back then - at RandyCantrell.com. Podcasting was yet to come.
- [April 20, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/april-20-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [Episode 173 - Loving Our Own Team, Hating To Lose & Besting Our Opponent](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-173-loving-our-own-team-hating-to-lose-besting-our-opponent/) - Today's show was sparked by a sporting incident. A major league baseball incident. Ironic since I'm not a baseball fan at all. LA Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke threw a 3-2 pitch in a one-run game that hit the shoulder of the batter, Carlos Quentin. A bench-clearing brawl ensued resulting in a broken collar bone for
- [Special Episode - Say No More! How I Tried To Warm Up A Cool, Curt Businessman Who Actually Wanted To Talk To Me](https://bulanetwork.com/special-episode-say-no-more-how-i-tried-to-warm-up-a-cool-curt-businessman-who-actually-wanted-to-talk-to-me/) - Those of us with the "heart of a teacher" have an innate urge to explain so we can foster understanding. Or greater understanding. Especially when we're asked a question. The other day I was talking with a gentleman and attempting to answer his question. It was a question I had been asked before so I
- [Episode 172 - You Can't Win A Chess Game By Protecting Every Piece](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-172-you-cant-win-a-chess-game-by-protecting-every-piece/) - "You can't win a chess game by protecting every piece on your side of the board." I read it. Or heard it. Years ago. Somewhere. I never was much of a chess player, but I understood the comment. It resonated with me and I thought, "That's brilliant." The point was about business. It was just
- [Bula! Minute 003 - You Are The Message](https://bulanetwork.com/bula-minute-003-you-are-the-message/) - Long before he was the grand poopah over at Fox News, Roger Ailes ran his own communications company in New York City. He was the executive producer of The Mike Douglas Show back in the day. He's coached and counseled executives, celebrities and politicians. In 1988 he headed up the advertising for the campaign of
- [Changes In Digital Platforms](https://bulanetwork.com/changes-in-digital-platforms/) - This month Edison Research released a new study entitled, "The Infinite Dial 2013: Navigating Digital Platforms." Click here to download the PDF of the entire report, but I'll give you a bird's eye view. • 24% of American homes have 3 or more working computers • 67% have Internet and a Wi-Fi network • 24%
- [Inside Randy's Book Bag: Homer Simpson & Mr. Potato Head Carry My Knowledge](https://bulanetwork.com/inside-randys-book-bag-homer-simpson-mr-potato-head-carry-my-knowledge/) - My Ambidextrous Book Bag Will Soon Turn 8 I'd like to introduce you to my book bag. Rhonda (my wife) made it for me in 2005 (as you can see). It's an ambidextrous book bag. Depending on how you want to look at it - it's got neither a front nor a back OR it's
- [April 13, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/april-13-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [April 6, 2013 - Saturday's Smile (A Final Four Tribute)](https://bulanetwork.com/april-6-2013-saturdays-smile/)
- [Get Real. Stay Real.](https://bulanetwork.com/get-real/) - I don't visit the gym. I go there and workout. I'm not angling for 6-pack abs or a 30" waistline. And my pecs aren't worthy of flexing. But that's not why I go to the gym. At 55 (almost 56) vanity left me long ago! 7 years ago I got real about my fitness. Driven
- [4 Things You Can Do When Things Go Wrong, As They Often Do](https://bulanetwork.com/4-things-you-can-do-when-things-go-wrong-as-they-often-do/) - You want to scream. Things have not gone well. In fact, they've gone very, very wrong. You're desperately trying to figure out so many things - all at the same time. You know it's not how you should do it, but emotions are high and you're not in control. Of anything. Including your thoughts. "Why
- [An Ideal Client: Service Professionals Who Serve Local Markets](https://bulanetwork.com/an-ideal-client-service-professionals-who-serve-local-markets/) - Service professionals are among the highest touch business owners on the planet. They connect to one person at a time. They have transactions that are often face-to-face. They often deliver their services in person. Service pros tend to be people skillful in physical, in person communication. They also tend to be people with a very
- [Episode 108 - Go Small, But Go!](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-108/) - The proverb is true. The journey of 1000 miles does begin with a single step. The first step is often tough though. You consider everything that can go wrong. You question yourself about every little detail of the journey. "What if I screw up?" "What if it doesn't work out?" "What if I blow it?"
- [Special Episode - Your Success May Just Be One Little Tweak Away](https://bulanetwork.com/special-episode-your-success-may-just-be-one-little-tweak-away/) - Special Episode - Your Success May Just Be One Little Tweak Away
- [Episode 134 - We're All Fighting Battles (Time And Chance Happeneth To Them All)](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-134/) - Ecclesiastes 9:11 " I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." Our recent health scare put
- [Episode 143 - Tons Of Pain Without A Chance Of Gain](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-143/) - When I began to hit the gym - regularly - about 7 years ago, I heard and read the phrase alot, "No pain, no gain." An even better phrase was, "Pain is the weakness leaving your body." We want to lose weight. And we want it to be easy. And fast. We want to launch
- [Episode 170 - Communicating Appreciation](https://bulanetwork.com/episode-170-communicating-appreciation/) - A grown man tells me, "My father never said, 'I love you.'" "Really? Never?" I reply. "Never," he says. The pain in his eyes is real. And evident. The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated. Williams James is credited with that quote. I don't know who he was, but he
- [March 30, 2013 - Saturday's Smile](https://bulanetwork.com/march-30-2013-saturdays-smile/)

## Pages

- [Hosts](https://bulanetwork.com/hosts/) - Grow Great, a city government podcast is hosted by Lisa Norris and Randy Cantrell. Connect with them.
- [About](https://bulanetwork.com/about/) - The work isn't about telling you what to do, or what you should do. It's about helping you achieve what you most want. High performers crave coaching.
- [Ask Randy & Lisa](https://bulanetwork.com/ask/) - Check out the Hosts page for our profiles. Connect With Lisa On Linkedin • Connect With Randy On Linkedin Ask us your questions. Some of the most profitable conversations (and insights) come from questions. So let us encourage your curiosity by urging you to ASK.
- [About The Podcast](https://bulanetwork.com/about-the-podcast/) - Leadership is about influence. It's about doing for others what they can't do for themselves. That's what the Grow Great podcast is all about.
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- [](https://bulanetwork.com/almost/) - Hold Up, Wait a Minute! There’s good news and bad news… Bad news first. Before I complete your registration, you MUST confirm your email. It’s easy: Step 1: Check your email for a message from Bula Network with the subject “Please Confirm Subscription.” Make sure you mark it as NOT JUNK, too. Step 2: Click the
- [Welcome 2023 TAGITM Attendees](https://bulanetwork.com/tagitm/) - Click here to download the slide deck as a PDF. Feel free to reach out. I appreciate the work you folks do. As I told you, I never take paper on stage with me. But this event was different. It was, as are all moments, a moment of TRUTH. Full transparency - here's the piece
- [Subscribe to Podcast](https://bulanetwork.com/subscribe-to-podcast/) - By subscribing to this podcast, you will automatically receive the latest episodes downloaded to your computer or portable device. Select the subscription method below that best fits your lifestyle. IOS (iPhone, iPad, and iPod) To subscribe, select the "Subscribe on iTunes" button above. Google Play To listen on Google Play Music click here. Mac and
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- [Bula Business Builders](https://bulanetwork.com/bula-business-builders/) - We help small business owners hit the trifecta of successful business building. The trifecta? Getting new customers Serving existing customers better Not going crazy in the process This is the objective of every successful business. It's especially true of small businesses. Cash flow management, staffing, sales, marketing, merchandising, promotion, inventory control, cost control, profit margins
- [30-Day Micro Leadership Course](https://bulanetwork.com/30-day-micro-leadership-course/) - In September 2021 I created some brief (my aim was 10-15 minutes) audio sessions dubbed, 30-Day Micro Leadership Course. The total course is over 5 hours (5:13:32 to be exact). Here are the links to each session, plus links to the entire course in a single MP3 file. I hope you find it helpful. I'd
- [Work With Me](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching/) - ? How about a fresh start? "I need her to be more strategic. She's in the weeds and I need her to see the bigger picture." "He's stuck. In the past 6 months, he's had some unexpected turnover and it's disrupted his team. He's struggling right now." "She's making excuses instead of making a difference.
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- [Bula Network Coaching Assessment - A Deeper Dive - City Management](https://bulanetwork.com/bula-network-coaching-assessment-a-deeper-dive-city-management/)
- [Coaching Session 31](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-31/) - Today's audio is 5:31 minutes long. Getting to the work is often the hard part, but not the hardest. The work is always hard before it's easy. Will it get easier? Maybe. But it'll likely get harder first. I'm disruptive. Not because I enjoy it, but because the work demands it. Convenient and comfortable aren't
- [Coaching Session 30](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-30/) - Today's audio is 9:42 minutes long. We all have to manage up and down the corporate food chain. Today, I want to talk with you about how you can help your employees manage you. Few things are more important to organizational success. Besides, as a leader you need to serve your people better. What better
- [Coaching Session 29](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-29/) - Today's aduio is 16:22 minutes long. Speed. We can't get enough of it. We want faster computers. Faster cell phone service. Faster Wi-Fi. Patience is a relative thing. We can adjust our expectations based on a single experience. If you're old enough to remember dial up Internet when we had to connect to the web
- [Coaching Session 28](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-28/) - Today's audio is 6:54 minutes long. Much of what goes on here could be categorized as "leadership." Remember, leadership involves people. Management involves processes, or the work people do. You need both to have a highly effective organization. Today, let's talk a bit about leadership presence. It's a broad and deep subject so today I
- [Coaching Session 27](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-27/) - Today's session is 15:19 minutes long. There's just one ingredient necessary for somebody to excel as a member of your team. It's quite literally the key to success. Being willing makes you able." Yep, it's willingness. Willingness is defined as the quality or state of being prepared to do something; readiness. Here are a few synonyms: readiness,
- [Coaching Session 26](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-26/) - This audio is 17:10 minutes long. Eccl. 7:8 "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof..." Business 101 teaches us to reverse engineer our desired outcome. Business books are filled with verbiage aiming to convey the same message of beginning with the end in mind. It seems so easy, concise and straight-forward.
- [Coaching Session 25](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-25/) - Today's audio is 13:17 minutes long. We've spent a considerable time focused on point-of-view, perspective and other areas of mental gymnastics. And for good reason, much of what ails us is inside our own head. Quite a lot of it is the result of our past, too. When I was in college an economics professor
- [Coaching Session 24](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-24/) - Today's audio is 14:41 minutes long. Vision. It's something every elite athlete has. Observers consistently remark about a superstar athlete, "He's got tremendous vision. He can see the field better than anybody." It's not eye test kind of vision. It's awareness. It's seeing angles, possibilities and obstacles better and faster than others. And it gives
- [Coaching Session 23](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-23/) - Gary Turk is a spoken artist from the UK. In the Spring of 2014 he released this short film below. It became a viral phenomenon, a major paradox that you'll understand after you watch it. It's 4:58 minutes long. It stands alone as today's coaching session.
- [Coaching Session 22](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-22/) - Today's audio is 5:56 minutes long. Family. Integrity. In 2010 I got a book in the mail. Out of the blue. It was a book by somebody I'd never heard of. Stan Slap. The title of the book was, Bury My Heart In Conference Room B: The Unbeatable Impact of Truly Committed Managers. I knew
- [Coaching Session 21](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-21/) - Today's audio is 8:57 minutes long. Push. Pull. It's the daily grind of things. Sometimes we push when we ought to pull. Or we pull when pushing is required. We often resist doing the thing that would open the door. Stubbornness. Strong-willed beliefs that are wrong. False assumptions. Our lives are filled with things that
- [Coaching Session 20](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-20/) - Today's audio is 9:13 minutes long. I don't care about these anymore. You shouldn't either. Forget 'em. Books abound on the topics. Bloggers love to write more drivel about them. "What's your why?" "Find your purpose." "Chase your passion." VOMIT. I didn't always feel this way. Maybe you're still where I once was. Laboring over
- [Coaching Session 18](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-18/) - Today's audio is 10:32 minutes long. Spring cleaning rejuvenates us, even if we do it in the dead of winter. It gives us a sense of accomplishment and pride. We feel good about ourselves and about our newly cleaned space! A clean car affects us the same way. We feel better about ourselves and our
- [Coaching Session 19](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-19/) - Today's audio is 10:44 minutes long. Leadership isn't just for leaders. We've got to get over ourselves. Our title doesn't miraculous imbue us with skills. It merely gives us a degree of authority that others in our organization may lack. It puts up higher up the org chart. What is leadership? In a world filled
- [Coaching Session 17](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-17/) - We're about 90 days or so into the process. So far, I've purposefully done some scatter-shooting (throwing out a few hot topics to provoke your thought). It's been designed to make you think. Mainly, to make you consider some alternatives to how you've always done things and how you've always looked at things. Today, it's
- [Coaching Session 16](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-16/) - Today's audio is 23:29 minutes long. Managers who micromanage never admit it. They prefer euphemisms. I'm kind of a control freak. I'm picky. I have strong preferences. I know what I want. I know how I like it done. I know what I have to have. You'd never get a conviction if you had to
- [Coaching Session 15](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-15/) - Today's audio is 11:23 minutes long. We start from the presumption that our people are talented and want to contribute. We accept that, without meaning to, our company is stifling that talent in myriad unseen ways. Finally, we try to identify those impediments and fix them." I'm betting that's not how it works in your
- [Coaching Session 14](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-14/) - Today's audio is 19:04 minutes long. True confession. Some years ago I was tempted to attend (perhaps to join regularly) an improv MeetUp. It's one of those "you'd better do it now" kind of things. But I didn't. And the moment passed. No, I wasn't interested in being a comedian. I was interested in it from
- [Coaching Session 13](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-13/) - Today's audio is 19:03 minutes long. Some people don't recognize boundaries. You may remember that Seinfeld episode about the "close talker" - a guy who didn't understand the personal boundaries and stood too close when he talked with you. Many bosses and employees could use some lessons in boundary recognition and boundary management. What seems obvious to
- [Coaching Session 12](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-12/) - Today's audio is 11:10 minutes long. NOTE: I released a podcast episode that you may find helpful - You Don't Have To Go Undercover To Be A Better Boss In the last session we talked about moments of truth with your boss. Today, let's talk about your moments of truth with your employees. Whether you ever
- [Coaching Session - 2nd Intermission](https://bulanetwork.com/coaching-session-2nd-intermission/) - Okay, it's time to catch your breath again. It's time for more reflection..."to think quietly and calmly." By now we've developed some objectives and action items. Hopefully, we've accomplished a few of them, too. But our work is only approaching the first quarter pole (we're about 90 days in so far). I'm a speed freak, but in order
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- [Higher Human Performance Short Course](https://bulanetwork.com/higher-human-performance-short-course/) - On Becoming A (Better) Learning Executive In late 1999 a couple of my favorite "academic" authors - Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert I. Sutton - (both guys are professors at Stanford) published a book entitled, The Knowing-Doing Gap: How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge into Action. The title became a big part of my management philosophy because it resonated
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- [Doing Yourself Proud As A Podcast Guest](https://bulanetwork.com/guest/) - Basic items you will need (and some you may want to consider) A Webcam – built-in webcams in older laptops aren't very high quality, but newer ones are. If you have an older laptop or PC, using a Logitec C920 is currently the best option. It's best if the camera is placed at an angle that
- [Work With Me](https://bulanetwork.com/work/) - What you are will show in what you do. -Thomas Edison Grow Stronger By Working Out For your career. For your organization. For your team. For all those you serve. Careers and organizations experience challenges, constraints or roadblocks. They happen to all of us! You have choices: a) stick your head in the sand and ignore the situation,
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- [Podcast Guest Preparation](https://bulanetwork.com/podcast-guest-preparation/) - I've prepared the following guide to help guests prepare for their appearance, make the experience fun and ensure a quality podcast. (Special thanks to Jim Collison of TheAverageGuy.tv and Mike Howard from jpeg2RAW.com for assembling this list) Stuff You'll Need Webcam – Older laptops have poor webcams, but if you're computer is a 2013 model or newer, it likely has
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