Building With Purpose 2021: Overcomers Conference

Posted on March 15, 2021 by admin

Justin relaxed on a couch, smiling with overlay text to win a $2,000 coaching package when enrolling in the conference before April 1st.

The Building With Purpose 2021 Overcomers Conference is just over two weeks away!

Behind the scenes, we have been busy preparing a fantastic conference and ensuring that you get the most out of it.

Now, I’m thrilled to share some of the amazing quotes and insights that have come out of the conference so far. Which one is your favorite?

All conferece attendes gain access to all four tracks of the conference. This year, we are covering:

The Personal Health of the Leader
Business Growth
Business Operations
Executive Leadership and Coaching.

Read below to find out more information on each track.

The Personal Health of the Leader

The Personal Health of the leader track focuses on ways to keep your body, mind and finances healthy.

We talk with Dr. Hugh Beatty (The Wellness Doc) about his five pillars of health.
Next, we speak with Ryan Wookey (The Sports Medicine Guy) about his life as the personal trainer for Korn and how to eat and move well, even when life gets crazy (like living on a tour bus for nine weeks).
Finally, we talk to Dr. Scott Thor (Cornerstone Financial) about the blend between personal financial health, employee engagement, and process improvement. Scott has saved his clients more than $150 million dollars and can help you do the same.

Building With Purpose 2021: Overcomers Conference

The Personal Health of the Leader

Business Growth

In the Business Growth section, we talk about what you need to do to tap into new markets and sources of funding.

Vikram Deol talks about how to use your personal story and times of adversity to sell millions of dollars of product by connecting with people.
Michael Roberts shares how he grew his business into new markets, even during the pandemic, by offering a service no one else was.
Dr. Chris Brooks shares his story and how he went from prison to the head of a venture capital firm that is closing $50 million in funding this quarter.

Building With Purpose 2021: Overcomers Conference

Business Growth

Business Operations

In the Business Operations section, we talk about the people side of the business.

Dr. Juanita Webb walks us through everything you need to know about HR, and why compliance matters.
Leah Zimmerman helps family run businesses work through problems of succession and conflict through clear communication. She’ll do the same for you and demonstrate how you can transform conflict into your greatest opportunity.
Sally Thoun talks about web design, compliance, and accessibility. Having an ADA compliant website is a $490 Billion dollar a year opportunity (that most businesses are missing out on). Learn why (and how!) to stay compliant and relevant to all your customers.

Building With Purpose 2021: Overcomers Conference

Business Operations

Executive Coaching and Leadership

We wrap up the conference with our Executive Coaching and Leadrship track.

Mark Heydt talks about burnout in high achievers and why NOW is the time to invest in their full potential (and what happens when you don’t!).
Micaeh Tice talks about self-care. You can only care for others when you first care for yourself.

I’ll wrap up the conference talking about sustained high-performance and give you the tips and tricks you need to stay at your best.

Building With Purpose 2021: Overcomers Conference

Executive Coaching and Leadership

Building With Purpose 2021: Overcomers Conference

Attending the Conference is simple.

Simply click this link.

The conference goes live on April 1st, so don’t delay. All pre-registrants are automatically entered into a drawing to win a $2,000 coaching program with me.

Have questions? Email me directly.

The Spiritual and Emotional Health of Leaders

Posted on December 2, 2019December 28, 2019 by admin

Blog Post Title: Leadership Health and Integrity Part 2

Spiritual and Emotional Health in Leaders

The spiritual and emotional health of leaders is a necessary component of holistic health.

We’re in the middle of a series on leadership health. Want to catch up? Part 1 is here.

Spiritual Health

Healthy leaders engage in ancient practices of development, often called spiritual disciplines. Times of quiet reflection, meditation, prayer, rest, and community discernment are a few examples.

An example of leadership spiritual growth is a hobby. Hobbies are those life-giving activities that serve as a reflection of our unique personality. Hunting, fishing, reading, flying drones, calligraphy.

Need help? I did. Go here.

In fact, I found that is often the case for high performing leaders. Engrossed in work and personal development (for the sake of further accomplishment), high performing leaders have a hard time unplugging and engaging in activities with no real goal or purpose other than enjoyment.

I’ve used comments like, “I have fun when I’m winning.” That’s enormously frustrating to people who are playing to have fun. (And vice versa).

Other similar phrases include:

I don’t know what to do with downtime.
I’m not bringing too much work with me, I’m on vacation.
My hobbies include winning and getting better.

(I may or may not have said all of these….) 😬

But spiritual health is rooted in calling and it is about the full development of a person’s humanity. Below, is a partial list of spiritual practices and disciplines to help you grow.

Practices for Spiritual Development:

Prayer
Journaling
Meditation
Scripture Reading
Gratitude and Thankfulness
Fasting
Sabbath Rest
Singing
Silence
Solitude

Have others? Leave a comment and let others know how to grow in spiritual health.

Emotional Health in leaders

Emotional health is the next step to fruitful and productive leadership. In my experience, this is the most neglected area of health. The emotional health of a person sits in the unique field of being almost completely internal in nature through past experiences, while also being almost completely externally visible through actions, perceptions, and relationships.

Peter Scazzeo notes the concerns of emotional health:

Emotional health is concerned with such things as: naming, recognizing, and managing our own feelings identifying and having active compassion for others initiating and maintaining close and meaningful relationships breaking free from self-destructive patterns being aware of how our past impacts our present developing the capacity to clearly express our thoughts and feelings respecting and loving others without having to change them clearly, directly, and respectfully asking for what we need, want, or prefer accurately assessing our own strengths, limits, and weaknesses, and freely sharing them with others developing the capacity to maturely resolve.

For the emotionally healthy leader, effective emotional health requires a previous recognition and engagement with the emotional traps, snares, and shortcomings at earlier stages of life. Family dynamics, addiction triggers, and shortcomings all need to be worked through and reflected upon.

But it is important to remember that emotional health may start internal, but presents external.

Snappy comebacks.

Biting remarks.

Constant criticism.

These are a few outward signs that something is wrong internally. Healthy leaders, by contrast, are generous. With their praise, with their affirmation, with their encouragement and desire to see others succeed and grow.

Because this is such an important topic, we are going to examine how to grow in emotional health and intelligence next week.

For now, take this test if you want to know where you’re overall health is.

Morning Rituals

Posted on August 6, 2019 by admin

Eye-Opening

The jarring blare of the alarm pries your eye-lids open and rips you into the land of the living.

What’s your first instinct?

The snooze button or the bounding first leap of a new baby gazelle?

Is your first thought, “Why me?” or “Why wait any longer?”

The way we set our mind first thing determines the much of the rest of the day.

Richard Whatley once said, “Lose an hour in the morning, and you will spend all day looking for it.”

Our mindset at the outset of the day determines our outcome. Whether we choose to attack the day or begrudgingly back into it determines how much we will get done.

And this has nothing to do with being a morning person or a night owl (but shout out to all my fellow morning people!).

Instead, it has everything to do with what we purpose in our hearts as valuable and worth investing in.

Our morning rituals have the chance to shape our souls, our character, our potential, and our enjoyment in life.

Habits on Purpose

Anyone who has worked with me knows we spend a lot of time talking about “habits on purpose.” Our morning rituals are no exception. Many of us waste large sections of our mornings instead of intentionally crafting them to serve us and help us reach our goals.

Two scenarios, which sounds more like you (be honest!):

“Lose an hour in the morning, and you will spend all day looking for it.” – Richard Whatley

Option 1:

The alarm goes off. After snoozing the alarm a time or two, you begrudgingly get out of bed. Saunter down to the kitchen and make a cup of coffee. After waiting for it to brew, you put on the television, drink the cup of coffee, and pray for “a few moments of quiet.” The (real) problem is not that these moments aren’t quiet. Instead, it’s that they aren’t productive or stimulating. After an hour of television and another cup of coffee (or two), you manage to scrounge up a quick (and mostly unhealthy) breakfast, rush out the door, only to wait in traffic on the way to work. You spend the rest of the morning wondering how you’re going to fit in everything you have to do.

After work, you might rush off to the gym, if you’re feeling up to it, stagger in the door, and eat a quick bite of dinner with your family. Some more television, and on the good days a few pages of light reading before a late-night Netflix series as you pass out into bed.

The weekends, only somewhat different. Instead of filling your days with work, it’s full of a week’s worth of overlooked errands and obligations. By the time Sunday ends, you dread the thought of going back to work, still tired, still behind, and still wondering where all your time went.

Option 2:

The alarm goes off, but you were already stirring. Gently awakening from a good nights sleep, you quietly make your way to the kitchen. After drinking twenty ounces of water to rehydrate your body, you then make a small cup of coffee and tip-toe into the den. Here, you engage in thirty minutes of intentionally designed habits that give you life and direction. Scripture reading and prayer, meditation, yoga, and a good personal development book are frequent habits. After that, you sneak off to the gym for a good thirty-minute sweat session. You return home just as the rest of the family is waking up. You’re fully awake, charged up, and ready to attack the day. You enjoy a good, nutritious breakfast with your family before heading off to work with purpose and conviction.

After work, you are still awake enough to get a few critical errands done, work on your side hustle, and enjoy another meal with your family. After dinner, you enjoy a myriad of activities together: movies, books, chess, or sports. Whatever it is, you’re excited by the purpose and direction you’ve given your life.

The weekends are similar. They are intentionally designed, purpose-driven, and leave you excited for another week to grow, learn, and serve new people.

Morning Rituals

I’m guessing you identify with one of these stories.

I identify with both.

For years, I would have firmly placed myself in option one. My life was chaotic, disorganized, and I was “average” (at best).

After intentionally taking steps to counter this drift, seeking out some great coaches, and getting a grip on my life and my purpose, I now find myself firmly in option two.

The difference along the way for me has been a lot of intentional habits and disciplines, specifically and most importantly, my morning rituals.

Now, they’re far from perfect. Right now, my morning habits are really broken up into to separate blocks. That’s the status of my work life right now. Eventually, it will happen in one chunk as I sense that will work the best for me.

So while I may not have my “ideal” calendar of morning rituals in place, I do have a target. I know what I’m aiming for. Otherwise, I’m like the boy learning archery who shot an arrow and then ran over to pain the bullseye around it. Instead, I want to know what the target is and then put all of my effort and talent into hitting it every time.

Below are the habits of my morning ritual and roughly how much time I spend on each one.

20oz of water within ten minutes of waking up
1 cup of coffee
Bible Reading and Prayer (10-15 Minutes)
Personal Development Book (15-20 Minutes)
Exercise (45 minutes)

Within the first 90 minutes of my day, I have exercised my body, brain, and spiritual muscles. I have found that this gives me focus, intensity, and purpose to my days. I’m still tweaking exactly how to flow from one activity to the next more smoothly but would love to hear from you.

What are your morning rituals?

What are your daily habits and routines?

How are you using your time to intentionally invest in bettering yourself at the start of the day?

Comment below!

C.A.L.L.

Posted on July 29, 2019 by admin

The Call

History is full of call stories. Ever since Abraham was called by God to form a nation that sought after God, histories, peoples, and cultures have created a series of call stories to help us understand how we seek after our creator.

Moses had his burning bush.

David had his giant.

Jonah had his whale.

Jesus had the wilderness.

Those are a few ancient examples.

But the tradition continues.

Gandhi fought peacefully for a free India.

Martin Luther King waged war on the unjust Jim Crow laws.

Nelson Mandela overthrew the apartheid government of South Africa.

In each case, deep within these leaders, was a blossoming call story, a realization that they were called to accomplish something in their life.

C.A.L.L.

Often, we can overcomplicate the idea of a call story. We think they need to be grandiose and spectacular.

Maybe they are.

Or they might just feel that way to the person being called.

If you feel like you’re having trouble figuring out why you’re here, think through the C.A.L.L. acronym. Once you’re clear on these four points, you’re well on your way to living your call.

C – Cause

The first part of your C.A.L.L. is always about a cause.

It’s the why of your mission. The aspect of you as a unique creation that is urging you to make a difference in the world.

Michael Hyatt has said, “People lose their way when they lose their why.”

Your unique call story is no different. Find the cause of justice in the world that is burning so deep inside of you that it cannot be stopped.

One ancient prophet once said that his message was, “a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”

“People lose their way when they lose their why.”

To find your C.A.L.L. you must first find that message of fire shut up in your bones.

A – Attitude

The second part of your C.A.L.L. is your attitude.

Far too many of us derail here. We may know our why but we then allow our circumstances to dictate how we feel about it.

Our goal was to make a difference in three years but it’s taken five (or more).

We thought we would have experienced freedom or transformation long before this moment in our life.

You will never get where you want to go if you always allow outside circumstances to dictate internal characteristics.

When your attitude is fixed on your destination, not on the circumstance, you’ll transform your life and increase your sphere of influence.

Instead of success, you’ll end up like the negative farmer. When it rains, the negative farmer complains that too much rain will wash away the soil and deplete the crops of necessary nutrients. When it stops raining, the negative farmer complains that too much sun will dry out the crop and kill off the harvest.

Don’t look at what is going wrong, but find ways to look at what is going right and create momentum in that direction.

When your attitude is fixed on your destination, not on the circumstance, you’ll transform your life and increase your sphere of influence.

L- Location

The third part of your C.A.L.L. is about a location. It is always at a particular time and place, for particular people.

Think the “longitude and latitude” metric. For Moses, it was Egypt. For Mandela, South Africa.

What is it for you?

Once you know the cause and have committed your attitude, identify the place where your message will reside.

For the homeless in your city?

Abandoned orphans from a country you visited on vacation?

Neglected retirees who have been forgotten by their family?

Whatever it is, the more specific you can be, the more action you can take.

Get clear on your cause.

Fix your attitude.

Reside in a location.

L – Legacy

Ultimately, a life well-lived and a call fully embraced outlives the person.

There’s a reason we resonate with the aforementioned heroes. We are inspired not only by their commitment to change the world, but their belief that we could do it too. Martin Luther King once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” His firm conviction was that each of us has a part to play in bettering the world.

He’s right.

Throughout history, men and women have listened to that voice inside of them urging them to be and do more for humanity.

You also have that call.

And the capability.

Discover your cause.

Fix your attitude.

Reside in a location.

Leave a legacy.

Answer your C.A.L.L.

This part three on a series on calling.

Read Part 1

Read Part 2

Book a free session:

D-Day Leadership

Posted on June 6, 2019 by admin

“So much of the progress that would define the 20th century, on both sides of the Atlantic, came down to the battle for a slice of beach only 6 miles long and 2 miles wide.” – President Barack Obama

D-Day Leadership

Today marks the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, a series of events and heroic actions that changed the course of the war in Europe, and ultimately the direction of the modern world.

For good reason, this has been one of the most chronicled stories of the modern era.

With that in mind, I want to give you three great quotes from this day in history and how these can shape and increase your influence in your world today.

1.) Major Richard Winters

“I cherish the memories of a question my grandson asked me the other day when he said, ‘Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?’ Grandpa said ‘No… but I served in a company of heroes.'”

One of the defining characteristics of great leadership, and often the hardest to maintain, is that of humility. Staying grounded in the disciplines and morality that led to success is often difficult.

What is great about this quote from Major Winters is the clear humility in his voice. By his admission, he was not a hero, but he was lucky enough to know and serve with them.

Many of us would likely tell a different tale of his story. A hero to us, and a great leader, he reminds us of the need for humility.

2.) Winston Churchill

“And what a plan! This vast operation is undoubtedly the most complicated and difficult that has ever occurred.”

Leadership is difficult work. There are thrilling emotional highs and devastating lows.

It requires sacrifice, commitment, and foresight.

And it requires the group to buy into the vision that they may not be able to see. That’s a hallmark of great leadership.

Churchill, along with other military leaders, was able to accomplish that in D-Day.

The plan was difficult. Would require great commitment and even greater sacrifice. Lives, countries, ideologies, and futures were on the line.

Yet, as we see with great leadership, the vision is communicated and the heart is conveyed with it. People from the Allied forces bought in, stormed the beaches and secured a future free from Hitler’s reign of terror.

Was it easy? No.

Was it costly? Absolutely.

Did the commitment of the leadership increase the commitment of the followers? Without a doubt.

May our leadership be as bold, as influential, and as rewarding (but not as bloody!).

3.) General Dwight D. Eisenhower

“Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely…..I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.”

Leaders are often tasked with seeing a vision that others can’t. Their goal, to recruit others to pursue the dream with them.

In this particular case, the stakes were high. The fate of the world rested on the hands of general and soldiers, men and boys, who were committed to fighting for what they knew was right.

And publicly, they were committed, bold, and daring.

But what I also find highly fascinating is the letter General Eisenhower wrote: “In Case of Failure.” In part, it reads, “My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that Bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”

It the great course of this war, he was willing to accept full blame for its failure. No excuses. No wavering. No lack of integrity. A man full of valor, grit, and resolve. He knew what was right, and he was committed to doing it.

He was also committed to his men and protecting them. On the battlefield and in life.

He was also committed to his own morals.

Truly outstanding leaders own every decision and every outcome. Eisenhower showed his commitment to the plan in the preparation, the action, and the follow through.

(For a great modern read on this, check out Jocko Willink’s book Extreme Ownership).

Conclusion

As a history fan, particularly World War II, I enjoy studying and learning the lessons of history. This day especially is one that can teach us a great many lessons.

D-Day Leadership is something that we should all strive for. Commitment. Honesty. Integrity. A willingness to sacrifice. Humility. This is leadership at it’s finest.

To the men and women did far something greater today than blogging about this great event, I say thank you.

My hope is that my leadership may one day emulate yours.

Sources:

https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/17-inspiring-d-day-quotes-to-remember-75th-anniversary-of-d-day.html

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/d-day-quotes-history-ww2-normandy-landing-obama-reagan-eisenhower-anniversary-a8946281.html

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/general-dwight-d-eisenhower-launches-operation-overlord