Inside Strategic Coach: Connecting Entrepreneurs With What Really Matters

Inside Strategic Coach: Connecting Entrepreneurs With What Really Matters Podcast

Inside Strategic Coach is a practical resource for entrepreneurs, or anyone with a growth mindset. Hosts Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller share breakthrough insights, educational success stories, and insider know-how, gained from working with thousands of successful business owners, worldwide.

  1. 16 SEPT

    The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint For Inspiring Leadership Over Management

    What’s the difference between being in charge and being in control? In this episode, Dan Sullivan shares his surprising insights on managing teams and creating a productive work environment, offering practical strategies for empowering team members, fostering independence, and creating a thriving organizational culture. Tune in to discover Dan's proven approach to entrepreneurial leadership! Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:* Why self-managing has to be built in from the very beginning.* What gives Dan confidence in his concepts and tools.* What people rely on entrepreneurs for as leaders.* Why Dan doesn’t intervene when a team member might fail on a project.* The difference between leadership and management—and being in charge versus being in control.* How Strategic Coach® makes sure their team members don’t get burned out.* Why Dan doesn’t even think about anyone who might be competing with Strategic Coach.  Show Notes: * The number one skill for having a Self-Managing Company® is profound ignorance. The number one structure is Unique Ability Teamwork®.* If you don’t get everyone’s roles right, you won’t get anything else right.* It’s hard to correct a mistake you’ve made from the beginning.* Confidence in your concepts and team is more crucial than trust.* Confidence can come from knowing that you’ll always transform when you fail.* A truly Self-Managing Company operates successfully independent of your constant oversight.* Giving your team members the freedom to innovate, contribute, and pursue their Unique Ability® is essential to long-term business growth and success.* Many entrepreneurs pride themselves on being hands-on with everything that happens at their company, but it’s important to resist the urge to rescue struggling teams.* Being hands-off means allowing your team to learn from failures and trusting that they’ll develop problem-solving skills.* Trust means that you’re taking a risk, and entrepreneurship is founded on risk.* Everything that Strategic Coach needs to be is organized on teamwork.* Strategic Coach has great institutional habits and institutional wisdom.* In science, the experiment cannot depend upon the experimenter. The same applies to business.* Being in control is management; being in charge is leadership.* Make sure the little things that have to be there every day are right—the freedoms and supports that allow team members to thrive—and everything else will fall into place.  Resources: Unique Ability® Blog: What Is A Self-Managing Company®? Blog: Your Business Is A Theater Production: Your Back Stage Shouldn’t Show On The Front Stage (https://resources.strategiccoach.com/the-multiplier-mindset-blog/your-business-is-a-theater-production-your-back-stage-shouldnt-show-on-the-front-stage) Blog: Time Management Strategies For Entrepreneurs (Effective Strategies Only) (https://resources.strategiccoach.com/the-multiplier-mindset-blog/time-management-strategies-for-entrepreneurs-effective-strategies-only) Blog: Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers (https://resources.strategiccoach.com/the-multiplier-mindset-blog/transforming-experiences-into-multipliers)

    21 min
  2. 3 SEPT

    Why Does Structure Equal Freedom In Every Entrepreneur’s Life?

    A Free Day™ is a 24-hour period with no work-related activity whatsoever. A great many entrepreneurs struggle with taking true Free Days™. In this episode, business coaches Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller talk about The Entrepreneurial Time System®—which consists of Free Days, Focus Days™, and Buffer Days™—and why it’s essential for you to provide structure to your Free Days if you want the greatest business success. Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:* The purpose of each of the three types of days in The Entrepreneurial Time System.* Some non-work activities you can use to structure your days.* Why it can be much easier to work than to take a day off.* Why entrepreneurs are so resistant to taking days off entirely without work.* Why you shouldn’t have an unplanned Free Day. Show Notes: You gravitate to the part of your life that has the most structure. Taking a day as if it were a Free Day, but structuring it with activities that are business activities, means that you're not going to be rejuvenated by the day. You can have a lot of structure to your days even when you’re not working. You can do activities on Free Days that you would never touch on a workday. Structure means that you’ll be supported by things that are already planned. If you have an idea on a Free Day, wait to see if it sticks with you until a workday. It’s a lot easier to set out to write 100 books than to set out to write only one book. An idea that is really great bothers you because it wants to be born into the world. You can still use all your strengths when you’re on a Free Day. Profitability means you’re not only making money, you’re keeping money. Your plans regarding retirement affect how you take your Free Days. Resources: Article: What Free Days Are, And How To Know When You Need Them (https://resources.strategiccoach.com/the-multiplier-mindset-blog/what-free-days-are-and-how-to-know-when-you-need-them) Perplexity app (https://www.perplexity.ai/) Article: Your Business Is A Theater Production: Your Back Stage Shouldn’t Show On The Front Stage (https://resources.strategiccoach.com/the-multiplier-mindset-blog/your-business-is-a-theater-production-your-back-stage-shouldnt-show-on-the-front-stage) The Impact Filter™

    26 min
  3. 20 AUG

    Unlocking The Secrets To Entrepreneurial Freedom, with Ben Laws

    In this episode, Shannon Waller interviews Associate Coach Ben Laws, exploring his entrepreneurial journey and insights on self-discovery. Ben shares how intentional structures and relationships have fueled his success across multiple businesses and offers a unique perspective on business, life, and family. Tune in to uncover the mindset that drives impactful entrepreneurship and personal growth! Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode: ·     How Strategic Coach®has influenced much of how Ben’s personal life functions.·     What Ben considers to be the ultimate freedom.·     How Ben demonstrated an entrepreneurial attitude at just four years old. ·     The key to Ben’s exponential growth. ·     Why setting out as an entrepreneur didn’t seem that risky to Ben.·     What to do if you’re considering becoming part of the Strategic Coach community. Show Notes Our eyes only see and our ears only hear what our brain is looking for. Forming connections and helping people solve problems are entrepreneurial social skills.  Entrepreneurs seek to innovate and drive change. Business owners try to maintain the status quo. If you name the game, you own the game. The further your company gets from where you started, the greater the risk of diluting what made your company great. Experience is the one thing that can’t be commoditized. Entrepreneurs are always discovering who they want to be. There's no greater call to loving your neighbor than being an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs are always being challenged. Entrepreneurs are exponentially more self-aware than other people.  People often think that life is happening to them rather than for them. As an entrepreneur, your number one job is to protect your confidence. Resources Unique Ability® Book: The Team Success Handbook by Shannon Waller Book: Who Not How by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy  Book: The Wealth Of Nations by Adam Smith Perplexity (http://perplexity.ai) Blog: Time Management Strategies For Entrepreneurs (https://resources.strategiccoach.com/the-multiplier-mindset-blog/time-management-strategies-for-entrepreneurs-effective-strategies-only) Blog: The 4 Freedoms That Motivate Successful Entrepreneurs  (https://resources.strategiccoach.com/the-multiplier-mindset-blog/the-4-freedoms-that-motivate-successful-entrepreneurs) Blog: What Is A Self-Managing Company®? The Six Ds Of Exponentials (https://www.diamandis.com/blog/6-ds-exponentials)

    38 min
  4. 22 JUL

    The Impact Of Intentional Thinking For Entrepreneurs

    In this episode, Dan Sullivan reveals his secret weapon for entrepreneurial success: The Impact Filter™. Learn how this powerful tool can boost your confidence, sharpen your focus, and dramatically increase your productivity. Also, discover how Dan uses it to clarify his thoughts, set intentions, and make decisions rapidly—all while reducing meetings by two-thirds!Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:* How Dan Sullivan uses Fast Filters (the “sprint” version of The Impact Filter) to have focused conversations with himself before important events.* The importance of being in teamwork with yourself first to enhance collaboration and productivity with others.* How the Fast Filter can help you decide which ideas are worth pursuing (and which aren’t).* The value of clarifying your thoughts and setting context before meetings, leading to more efficient and productive interactions.* Dan's practice of reviewing five major life goals daily and aligning his actions to support these long-term objectives.Show Notes:* Dan uses Fast Filters to have focused conversations with himself before important events, boosting his confidence and intentionality.* Engaging in self-conversations can also improve focus and productivity. By defining goals and action steps, you can prioritize tasks, eliminate distractions, and make progress toward your goals.* Being in teamwork with yourself leads to better collaboration and productivity with others.* It can also lead to more intentional decision making in entrepreneurship. By aligning your thoughts, actions, and goals, you can make informed choices that support your long-term vision.* Fast Filters provide mental focus and energy and help you decide which ideas are worth scheduling meetings for.* Clarifying thoughts and setting context before meetings leads to more efficient and productive interactions—and reduces the number of meetings you end up having!* Dan’s approach has reduced his meetings by two-thirds over the past 10 years.* There’s a difference between your "thinking brain" and your "acting brain," and Coach tools help you get them in teamwork with each other.* Focused thinking time directly impacts entrepreneurial success.* Fixating on an unpredictable future limits your productivity in the present, similar to being trapped in the past. Resources: Perplexity (https://www.perplexity.ai/)The Kolbe A™ IndexThe Impact Filter™

    28 min
  5. 9 JUL

    The Power Of Context Over Content For Entrepreneurs

    In this episode of Inside Strategic Coach, Shannon and Dan discuss the profound impact of setting context over focusing on content. Renowned for his ability to create powerful contexts in coaching, Dan shares insights on how this approach shapes thinking and decision making among entrepreneurs. Through real-life examples and coaching strategies, they explore how clarity of context not only simplifies complexities but also enhances community building, personal growth, and self-confidence.Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:* The distinction between context and content in coaching and communication.* How setting a clear context enhances decision making and clarity.* Examples of powerful contextual frameworks in history and technology.* The impact of context on community building and personal growth.* Practical applications of context-setting in everyday communication.Show Notes:* Setting context empowers people to think independently.* Context allows you to focus on what's most important to you rather than conforming to external influences.* Content is what is discussed or shared, while context defines why it matters and how it relates to personal experience.* Dan offers the example of Steve Jobs, whose ability to redefine contexts, such as with iTunes, simplified music consumption.* Context also simplifies decision making and reduces mental clutter by providing a clear framework for action.* Context ensures clarity in communication by explaining the purpose or relevance of information.* Community building and productive conversations are a natural result of context-setting.* Macro contexts, like demographic shifts and geopolitical factors, significantly impact daily experiences, such as economic decisions made at grocery stores or reactions to political messaging.* Demographic shifts, such as the retirement of the Baby Boomer generation, are altering economic landscapes globally, and understanding demographic changes can help anticipate shifts in consumer behavior, workforce dynamics, and economic policies.* Understanding both these contexts helps individuals and businesses navigate uncertainties and make informed decisions that align with broader trends and changes.* Thinking about your thinking and focusing on context leads to more confidence and independence in all areas of your life.* Contextual understanding also empowers people to resist manipulation and make informed decisions. Resources: Unique Ability®The Strategy Circle®The CliftonStrengths® AssessmentThe Entrepreneur’s Guide To Time Management (https://now.strategiccoach.com/timemanagement)

    26 min
  6. 25 JUN

    An Entrepreneur's Playbook For Building Trust And Collaboration, with Colleen Bowler

    In this episode of Inside Strategic Coach, Shannon Waller interviews Colleen Bowler, a Strategic Coach Associate Coach with over 20 years of experience. Colleen shares her journey from an early entrepreneurial mindset, influenced by her family, to becoming a leader in the financial planning industry. They discuss Colleen's current company, C&J Innovations, and her leadership in the industry, as well as her passion project, Generous Kids. Tune in to learn how Colleen's early entrepreneurial mindset shaped her career and the impact of Strategic Coach on her journey.Here’s some of what you’ll learn in this episode:The power of collaboration and identifying individual strengths in an entrepreneurial journey.Strategies for personal and professional growth, emphasizing continuous learning and development.Insight into building successful firms and the impact of empowering others.Practical examples and applications of concepts such as Unique Ability® and strategic growth.The importance of quick assessments in empowering individuals and advisors for success.Show Notes:* Colleen shares her journey and early exposure to an entrepreneurial mindset, emphasizing the value of hard work, earning opportunities, and the importance of translating this mindset two her own parenting.* She also highlights the importance of systematizing the predictable to focus on connecting with clients—a key strength for entrepreneurs.*  Colleen explains how she built a top financial planning firm by empowering her team and avoiding the "I" mentality, instead using "we" to serve clients.* Colleen talks about how Strategic Coach® helped her achieve real work-life balance, going from not taking any time off to taking a week's vacation within two years.* Colleen referred 10 people to Strategic Coach before even qualifying herself because she saw how the Program helped people achieve an extraordinary quality of life.* One thing that makes Strategic Coach workshops so valuable is that they’re led by other entrepreneurs who understand firsthand the challenges members face.* Colleen highlights the value of being around like-minded people and getting her "butt in the chair" every quarter for creativity and growth.* Colleen talks about selling her firm and starting her new venture, C&J Innovations, where she creates assessments for financial advisors.* These assessments help advisors align with clients' future goals and mindsets for better relationships and growth.* She also promotes her passion project Generous Kids, teaching the habit of giving to children. ResourcesThe Experience Transformer®More about Colleen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-bowler-cfp%C2%AE-09576796/)C&J Innovations (https://candjinnovations.com/)Unique Ability®

    35 min

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Inside Strategic Coach is a practical resource for entrepreneurs, or anyone with a growth mindset. Hosts Dan Sullivan and Shannon Waller share breakthrough insights, educational success stories, and insider know-how, gained from working with thousands of successful business owners, worldwide.

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