Launch Youniversity

Turning Good Intentions into Reality in Your Career, Business and Life

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095: How To Be A Life-Giving Leader — An Interview with Tyler Reagin of Catalyst

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The Launch Youniversity Podcast
The Launch Youniversity Podcast
095: How To Be A Life-Giving Leader — An Interview with Tyler Reagin of Catalyst
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Summary:

According to a Gallup study, only 51 percent of employees say they’re engaged at work. Another 16 percent are considered “actively disengaged,” they’re unhappy, they complain about their work circumstances, and are overall disinterested in the company they work for and the work they do. In a Randstad study, only 53 percent of workers believe their boss values their opinion, and only 35 percent of workers feel inspired by their boss.

As leaders, we often see how much improvement is needed on our teams, but we often don’t look within ourselves for the changes we need to make. In today’s episode, Tyler Reagin, president of leadership conference, Catalyst, shares how leaders and launchers can avoid being a part of the majority of lackluster leaders and transform into leaders who serve their people well.  

Welcome to episode 95 of the Launch Youniversity Podcast.

Links + Resources:

Tyler Reagin

Catalyst Leader

The Life-Giving Leader: Learning to Lead from Your Truest Self

John Maxwell

Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t

Taylor Guitars

028: Brad Lomenick on Launching Catalyst, Scaling Success and Being the Right Kind of Leader

Three Takeaways:

1. Take care of your people. Good leaders love well those they lead. When you don’t care for those you lead, turnover rates are higher, thus decreasing productivity and tainting the overall mission. Spend time getting to know those on your team and nurture a culture that will be hard to leave.

2. Be comfortable in who you are. So many people spend their lives feeling a tension between who they want to be and who they are right now. If you want to be an effective leader and overall happier person, you need to operate from your truest self.

3. Have confidence in your calling. Whether you’re launching a book or a new idea, remember your passion and why you’re doing what you’re doing. Outline your boundaries and stick to them, remaining true to your mission the entire time. The result will be an authentic launch you can be proud of.

Thank you for listening to the Launch Youniversity Podcast! If you have a question that you want to be answered on the podcast… ask us here!

093: The X-Factor In Your Professional Development

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The Launch Youniversity Podcast
The Launch Youniversity Podcast
093: The X-Factor In Your Professional Development
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Summary:

Whether you’re an entrepreneur or an intrapreneur, you’ve likely placed a lot of emphasis on the hard skills — those concrete, measurable skills — to get your business or team on the path they’re on today. But as automation continues to be a personal favorite from an efficiency standpoint, neglecting the soft skills — the ones that make you human — can have a negative impact on your personal brand and ultimately, your business. In today’s episode, mentors Jeff Henderson, Shane Benson, and David Farmer discuss how to balance the two essential skills with practical tips you can start doing today.

Welcome to episode 93 of the Launch Youniversity Podcast.

Links + Resources:

Danny Meyer

Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People

Simon Sinek’s TED Talks

The Revenge of Analog: Real Things and Why They Matter

Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else In Business

Three Takeaways:

1. Don’t neglect the personal touches. Yes, technology is faster and more efficient, but it’s more meaningful when you take time to send a handwritten letter or some other personalized gesture. These personalized actions say a lot more about your personal brand than you may realize.

2. Be sure to balance both soft skills and hard skills. The leader who can effectively manage both hard skills (these are the skills that are learned) and soft skills (intangible, interpersonal skills) will be the one who has a stronger team and lasting legacy. People crave human interaction, and too much automation can be a downfall to your business if it’s not paired with solid interpersonal skills.

3. Remember the 10 Foot Rule. Here’s something small you can do every day to leave a lasting impact on those you come in contact with: If a person is within 10 feet of you, acknowledge them with eye contact, a smile, and even a handshake. It may seem small, but these gestures mean a lot to people and often go undone.

Thank you for listening to the Launch Youniversity Podcast! If you have a question that you want to be answered on the podcast… ask us here!

092: 5 Ways to Overcome Your Blind Spots as a Leader

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The Launch Youniversity Podcast
The Launch Youniversity Podcast
092: 5 Ways to Overcome Your Blind Spots as a Leader
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Summary:

Leadership doesn’t come without its share of missteps, that’s for sure. But approached the correct way, those mistakes you make — whether as a business owner or someone who works inside an organization — can lead to opportunities for growth. Today, mentors Jeff Henderson, Shane Benson, and David Farmer share what they’ve learned about leadership through years of setbacks, triumphs, and having the right people around them who offered candid feedback. In this episode, you’ll learn five ways to overcome the common roadblocks that might be a barrier to successful leadership.

Welcome to episode 92 of the Launch Youniversity Podcast.

Links + Resources:

Personal Brand Assessment

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup

Dr. Henry Cloud

Five Takeaways:

1. Embrace self awareness. It’s impossible to keep up a constantly fast pace. If you try, you’re well on your way to burnout. Take some time to pause and reflect about where you are and where you’re headed. Whether you journal or take personal assessments, your growth depends on your ability to rest and reflect.

2. Seek feedback immediately. A lack of feedback on your performance is a breeding ground for blind spots in your leadership. Sure, some feedback will feel critical and tough to hear, but the only way you can improve your work and relationships is when you stop and listen to what others have to say about them.

3. Acknowledge your struggles. No one is perfect and no rational person expects you to be. Find some people you can be honest with about the challenges you’re experiencing. If you don’t acknowledge your struggles, your self awareness will most definitely take a hit.

4. Invite accountability. It’s one thing to ask for advice, but it’s a totally different thing when you trust the advice you’ve been given and act on it appropriately. Surround yourself with people who will tell you the truth and who want to see you succeed no matter how tough the feedback.

5. Don’t hide behind your brand. Transparency builds trust. When you show people who you really are and what values you stand by, your product or business will reap the benefits.

Thank you for listening to the Launch Youniversity Podcast! If you have a question that you want to be answered on the podcast… ask us here!

090: Turning Pain into Purpose

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The Launch Youniversity Podcast
The Launch Youniversity Podcast
090: Turning Pain into Purpose
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Summary:

For many people looking to start a business, most of their ideas come from a place of need or desire. But sometimes, in the most unfortunate cases, the idea is born from an experience of pain.

After losing her daughter, Skylar, to a terminal illness when Skylar was three months shy of her second birthday, Ashley Jones created Love Not Lost, a non-profit organization that photographs people facing a terminal diagnosis to help preserve the memory of their loved ones. In today’s episode, Ashley shares with hosts Shane Benson and Kevin Jennings how she went from a painful idea to a successfully-launched non-profit organization that helps spread love to people during life’s darkest times.

Welcome to episode 90 of the Launch Youniversity Podcast.

Links + Resources:

Love Not Lost | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Plywood Presents

Dana Spinola of fab’rik

Headspace app

Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine documentary

Three Takeaways:

  • Do your research. Most people have an idea, but not sure where to start. The first step to any successful launch is seeing what’s out there. Find someone who’s doing something similar to your idea and take notes. What are they doing well? What are they doing that could use a bit of improvement? Then, apply what you’ve learned to your idea.
  • Tap into strategic resources. Feeling stuck? Reach out to people for help — most won’t turn you down for a coffee date to discuss your idea and answer any questions you may have.
  • Take breaks to be mindful. Whether you’re doing emotional work like Ashley or something else altogether, our bodies are meant to handle only so much. Check in with yourself regularly. How are you doing mentally, emotionally, and physically? Listen to what your body is telling you and make sure you’re being intentional about breaks and boundaries in your personal life and work.

Thank you for listening to the Launch Youniversity Podcast! If you have a question that you want to be answered on the podcast… ask us here!

082: Leading People with Passion and Purpose

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Laura Whitaker of ESP on The Launch Youniversity Podcast
The Launch Youniversity Podcast
082: Leading People with Passion and Purpose
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Summary:

If you had been chosen to run an organization at 19-years-old, how would you have managed? Scary for most of us to think about, right? But that’s what happened to Laura Whitaker when she became the Executive Director of Extra Special People, Inc.

13 years later, Laura is still ESP’s Executive Director. Today on the podcast, she’s sitting down with Kevin and sharing her greatest lessons and advice from her years in the trenches.

Welcome to episode 82 of the Launch Youniversity Podcast.

Links + Resources:

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

ExtraSpecialPeople.com

Laura’s Blog HopeSweetHome.com

Ask us a question! 

Three Takeaways:

1. Hope Dealers + Priority Givers

As the leader of a team, company or organization… your job is to be a hope dealer and priority giver. Being a hope dealer means constantly reminding people of the vision, the why, and how it’s possible. People rally around passion. Being a priority giver means guiding your team on what they should be working on, when. If you come to work each day with a plan to provide hope and clarify priorities, you might be the best leader they’ll ever have.

2. View your organization as its own person

Leading people is hard, hard work. And finding the balance between serving your team well and serving the company well can feel like a perpetual tightrope walk. One piece of advice Laura shared was: View your organization like it’s a person. It’s a person who has the highest value of anyone on your team. So when you make decisions about the team, think: Does this positively or negatively impact our highest value person?

3. You are not your organization

You have unique value outside of who you are at work. You are more than a people leader, entrepreneur, intrapreneur, director, etc. To be the best leader you can be, you need to know that you are much more than just a leader.

Thank you for listening to the Launch Youniversity Podcast! If you have a question that you want to be answered on the podcast… ask us here!  

036: How to Turn Your Idea Into a Business with Courtney DeFeo

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How to Turn Your Idea Into a Business with Courtney DeFeo
The Launch Youniversity Podcast
036: How to Turn Your Idea Into a Business with Courtney DeFeo
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Summary:

The Launch Youniversity is a community of entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs who want to turn their big ideas into reality. Courtney DeFeo is an expert on doing just that.

As an intrapreneur, Courtney refined her process for bringing ideas to life for a company. As an entrepreneur, Courtney dreams of new ways to grow her business each day.

On today’s episode, Courtney is sharing her experience and advice on growing an idea, presenting it to others and turning it into a thriving business.

Welcome to episode 36 of the Launch Youniversity Podcast.

Links + Resources:

CourtneyDefeo.com

Pathway to Launch: Imagine

Pathway to Launch: Validate

ABC Scripture Cards

Three Takeaways:

1. Not every idea is a good idea. And that’s okay.
Courtney has come up with some incredible ideas, both for her business and for companies she’s worked for. But for every great idea, there were a bunch that didn’t work.

As launchers (and really… just humans), our ideas feel like our babies. We want everyone to love every idea and for it to be wildly successful. But that’s not realistic. You will have ideas that never get off the ground, but it’s okay and normal. It doesn’t mean you’re a failure. And it certainly doesn’t mean you should stop dreaming of ideas. Keep pressing forward, the right idea will come at the right moment.

2. Collaboration over competition.
Courtney had to actively seek (and be open to) collaboration over competition in when she was an intrapreneur. When Courtney worked in a corporate setting, she often had to pitch her ideas. If you’ve done this, you know how vulnerable of a position this is to be in. You’re not only sharing your idea, but you’re giving other people the power to change it. But, nine times out of ten, when people speak into your idea, their feedback will elevate it. So don’t shy away from the “That won’t work, but this will…” or “That’s great, what if we add…” conversations. The collaboration might be exactly what your idea needs to be successful.

This applies to entrepreneurs as well. You might not be competing for a boss’ attention, but you’re competing with other forces in the marketplace. When Courtney created her ABC Scripture cards, she noticed that Pinterest was driving a ton of traffic to her site… but not converting to sales. After a little investigation, she realized that her cards were wildly popular on Pinterest, but every post was about how to make the cards yourself.

Instead of trying to shut down bloggers who were giving DIY tutorials on her product–or pretending they didn’t exist–Courtney leaned into the marketplace desire and released her own DIY tutorial. By serving her potential customers well, her web traffic jumped and she was able to get more eyeballs on the other resources and tools she had available on her site.

3. Waiting now will pay off later.
When you’re passionate about your idea, you want to shout its success from the rooftop. That happened to Courtney when she landed her first celebrity client.

When the order came through, she wanted to post it everywhere. But Courtney’s husband reminded her to wait and that the celebrity didn’t ask for that. So she waited. And because she waited, the celebrity later talked about how much she loved the product on massive, national platform. Had Courtney bragged to the marketplace about having this celebrity client, she might have missed the better opportunity.