Provoking Your Greatness - Misti Burmeister

Get a view into the insights of the most influential and progressive leaders who have inspired greatness. These people are change-agents and catalysts. They have started movements, built thriving businesses, written best-selling books, and created insanely powerful brands. Provoking Your Greatness is a weekly business podcast that highlights unique stories and strategies to provoking greatness, both within yourself and in others. Each week, we discuss simple actions to increasing your ability to influence… Greatness.

The Real Magic Needed To Provoke Greatness in Your Team: An Interview with Lee Cockerell, former Executive Vice President (Retired & Inspired) Walt Disney World® Resort 04/23/2017

A Simple Strategy to Get What You Want Out of Your Career 03/08/2017

A Simple Strategy to Get What You Want Out of Your Career “Why don’t they put more time and attention to that client? If they don’t, they might lose them.” “Can’t they see I would be excellent in that position? Why don’t they consider me?” “Don’t they understand that if they’d just have more team building activities throughout the year everyone would work better together? Collaboration clearly improved after our yearly retreat.” “Why don’t they spend a little extra money on the furniture in our waiting area? At least they could provide fresh tea/coffee and relaxing (or energizing) music for guests! Seriously, don’t they understand that we’ll have a better reputation, and therefore more customers, if we did?” Ever find yourself saying or thinking any of the above statements? They, of course, are the responsible ones—the Owner, CEO, Executive in charge. And if they’d simply listen to you, then everyone would be better off, including them. This is the way many of us think when faced with subpar performance, communities, election results, and even our workplaces. We see and hear a clear problem, even life-threatening, and chose to pass the buck, saying, “It’s not my responsibility.” Those were almost the exact words Jackie said after I shared my concern about a slick spot on the pool deck where I narrowly avoided a serious injury. Concerned for others, I brought it to the attention of a long-term employee, Jackie, who casually said, “Yeah, we know about that spot.” “You know that spot is there and you’re doing nothing to repair it?” I thought, loudly while desperately wanting to shake her and the entire leadership team. Recognizing such an action (or even a complaint to the manager) would do no good, I’ve begun thinking about how I can help. Not because I have to—indeed, I’m a paying member—but because I love swimming there. The idea of asking myself how I can help fix that slick spot was inspired by , a chiropractor in Baltimore, Maryland. As the only employee in a new office space in Towson, Marc wanted the waiting area to be inviting, peaceful and filled with inspiration. Rather than wait for the Owner’s approval to outfit the waiting room, he bought the furniture, painted the walls and ensures cleanliness. “Wait, what—you paid for this furniture out of your own pocket? It’s not your business—you’re his employee. Is he going to reimburse you at least?” I asked. “Yes, I did pay for it, and without asking for permission to be reimbursed. If he can’t see the value of this furniture, then I’ll eat the cost to ensure I get to work in a space I’m proud of,” he responded almost as if everyone should behave in the same way. Indeed, such thinking aids greatly in getting the results we want. In fact, it prompted me to send a message to the manager asking how I can help remedy the situation. Not that I know a thing about pool decks, but I’d certainly be happy to sand it down if that would help. What do you find yourself irritated with or complaining about? What can you do today to be a part of the solution? Here’s to Your Greatness, Misti Burmeister P.S. Need more focus and energy in your work? Check out our brand new package today. /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/5150988

Developing a Healthy Sense of Self-Worth is Imperative to Success 02/16/2017

Developing a Healthy Sense of Self-Worth is Imperative to Success Running beneath the surface of our conscious awareness is a set of beliefs—sort of an autopilot of assumptions and expectations. The role models we’re exposed to as children, along with the stories we consistently hear, instruct our belief system and set us up to repeat patterns that create the results we see every day. Do you know the beliefs you bought into as a child that continue to create your current reality? I thought I did, and then I came face-to-face with the reality of an undesirable result I’ve recreated too many times to count. Frustrated and angry, I’ve found myself lamenting to friends and colleagues about how inappropriate some men have been, particularly in a business setting. “The guy’s a jerk,” they’d say, fully supporting my irritation at the situation. Which is true—some men are jerks, though none of them have the ability to impact me without my permission. Rather than waste any more time pointing a finger outward, I looked inward and asked myself, “How am I behaving that’s causing such interactions? Why do they think it’s acceptable to speak or act in such a way toward me?” Over the years, I’ve asked this question dozens of times and come to the realization it was something I said or did, giving the wrong impression. I sought to adjust my behaviors and set stronger boundaries after each instance, which ultimately never worked. I was fighting inertia—a deep-rooted set of beliefs that were instructing my behaviors. As a result, I continually found new behaviors to elicit the same result and ended up increasingly frustrated. When I looked deeper, what I discovered was sobering and empowering at the same time. Somewhere along my journey, I bought into the belief that I lacked inherent value as a person. For a whole variety of reasons, I never developed a healthy sense of self-worth. Though, until this moment, I thought my confidence and esteem were quite strong! Beneath the surface of my consciousness is a little voice that fears inadequacy, loss and rejection. It’s the little voice that grabs a hold of me and instructs me to use “proven” (learned) strategies to ensure I’m liked, valuable and worthwhile. Said simply, that strategy was flirting. I understand that the only way to shift this result is to get clear about two things: the value I bring and the challenges potential clients are facing. Today, I don’t go into a meeting without having a conversation with myself about my own value, read some testimonials and plug into my own sense of worth. This clarity has given me the ability to focus on the business at hand and avoid the energy and time sink of such negative interactions. Rather than being caught up in a game of trying to be liked, I’m finding enjoyment in uncovering real opportunities to help leaders who want more focus, energy and greater impact in the work they do. Now I have the time and energy to focus on helping the ones who want the value I bring to the table. What results do you find yourself continually experiencing? What part do your beliefs play in these results? Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/5089882

Leadership: Here’s How Simple it is to Promote Team Cohesion 02/09/2017

Leadership: Here’s How Simple it is to Promote Team Cohesion Why do leaders struggle to create collaborative work environments where team members step up and do whatever it takes to create remarkable results? Is it because they haven’t set a vision that is compelling enough? Maybe. Is it because they haven’t counseled their team enough about the importance of working together, despite the weekly—no daily—reminders? Probably not. Is it because the team hasn’t decided on a shared set of values? I doubt it. The biggest reason leaders struggle to rally a team is less about what they’re doing and more about what they’re allowing. While enjoying a delicious scoop of ice cream at my favorite shop in Baltimore, MD (The Charmery), I listened to Lauren, a recently minted lawyer, share about Waffle Wednesdays, a tradition she started at the small district court where she works. “I love to bake,” she said, as she went into great deal about the pumpkin waffles she made in November, and then the stuffing waffles with cranberry sauce and gravy she made in December. “What’s your address?” I asked, “I’m coming over for breakfast!” A smile graced her face as she shared about how nice it is that the judge lets her bake the most exquisite breakfast for the entire team once a month. “He sits there with us for a full hour as we all get to have fun and enjoy non-work related conversations,” Lauren shared. “Let you?” I thought, as I wondered how many leaders miss out on the cohesion that’s created from these kinds of joyful experiences. They’re so busy preaching teamwork instead of allowing their team’s natural interests and passions to strengthen the kinds of connections that bolster results and benefit everyone. Of course, it’s the connection that makes work easier and more enjoyable. It’s the connection that breeds compassion and encourages team members to pick up the slack when someone is struggling. It’s also the connection that encourages colleagues to challenge each other to dream bigger and act braver, netting better results for everyone involved. As you begin thinking about how to get your team working more collaboratively throughout 2017, consider how to allow non-work related passions and interests to forge depth in connection. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/5069990

Why Establishing Core Values is a Waste of Time and Money 02/02/2017

Why Establishing Core Values is a Waste of Time and Money Company culture experts urge leaders to establish clearly defined values to serve as a guide for decisions and behaviors throughout an organization. To ensure they have the best representation of the values shared among those in leadership, companies often spend gobs of cash and time on experts who ultimately produce a document aligning the most common ideals. Mounted on the wall, and often on the website, these key words or phrases are meant to ensure everyone is on the same page about what’s expected and acceptable. While these values are typically inspiring and alluring, they often fail to produce the intended result—a strong team environment. In many cases, these key phrases wind up serving to weaken trust, accountability, collaboration and productivity. Stopping into Best Buy to exchange a gift I received for store credit, I headed to the customer service line. Fortunately, the line was quick and I was walking toward the exit in less than 10 minutes. As I made my way toward the exit, I noticed a security guard patting down the jacket of a guy leaving the store and found myself concerned—“Did that guy steel something? Are they worried he stole something? Are they going to pat down my jacket before I can leave the store?” As I approached the exit discomfort took over and I wound up doing what I typically do in situations like this—say something ridiculous. “Can I be next? Do I get this same level of attention?” “No, no…” both of them responded, with a sincere discomfort that was palpable. Moments later, the young man who was patted down caught up to me and I asked him, “What is that all about?” “All employees have to be patted down before they can exit the store,” he said, and continued with, “Which is stupid because if I wanted to steel something I certainly wouldn’t put it in my jacket.” “Why do they do that then?” I asked, seriously needing to understand why any company would come to the conclusion that such a practice was a good idea. “I have no idea,” he said as he threw his jacket on and headed off, “but it’s stupid.” Later, I looked up Best Buy’s — Unleash the Power of Our People Learn from Challenge and Change Show Respect, Humility, and Integrity Have Fun While Being the Best —and found myself wondering: How does such a lack of trust allow the power of their people to be unleashed? Have they thought about identifying theft as a cultural challenge and enlisting employees to uncover the necessary change? Does this practice show respect, or encourage humility and integrity? Does the executive team think such a practice is fun for anyone involved, including customers? How is anyone supposed to be their best with such a significant lack of trust? While getting on the same page regarding values is important, what’s more important is consistently asking, “How do we know we’re living our values?” And, especially for those in leadership, “Are my behaviors in alignment with our values? How do I know they are?” The key indicator to discovering the truth behind each question is looking at employee behaviors, along with customer feedback. If they aren’t living the values, perhaps it’s because the leadership is confused about where the real values are born and die. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/5046847

5 Questions That Will Truly Impact Your Life in 2017 01/26/2017

5 Questions That Will Truly Impact Your Life in 2017 The greatest teachers in life are rarely the ones with great advice. They are remarkable role models who consistently show the way, while asking the kind of questions that stop us in our tracks. Their questions infect us with the kind of curiosity that leads us in the direction of our own answers. You know the kind of person I’m talking about. Their question pierces through our internal chatter and commands the truth we’ve been searching for. In November of 2016, I witnessed a teacher so committed to his craft that he not only showed the way, but provoked questions in me in a way that has changed me forever. On day two of a three-day business retreat, Mark LeBlanc dropped to his knees in front of fifteen highly ambitious business owners. With his hands clasped in prayer, he opted to forgo asking us to begin tracking specific business numbers every day, and he full out begged. Mark is a remarkably successful businessman, speaker and business coach. He doesn’t need to beg anyone to buy from him. In fact, he gives away valuable content and turns away business until he sees a perfect fit, both energetically and practically. Yet—he stood on that stage, dropped to his knees and sincerely begged us to take action immediately and consistently, citing specific success stories from those who followed his advice. But I’d heard many business coaches recite such facts, and make similar suggestions. So, what made Mark different? He got down on his knees and begged us. Sincerely begged us. He wasn’t begging to get something from us. He was begging because he’s desperately committed to our long-term success. Of course, he also knows our success is his success. His passion and commitment to learning and sharing was infectious and instructive. It conjured up in me a set of questions that has radically altered my focus for 2017. Here are the top 5 Questions To Add Impact to Your Life in 2017: What result is worthy of my begging? What result do I believe so strongly in that I would literally drop to my knees with sincere commitment of creating? This question is worth sitting with for a few days, even weeks. When I’m not concerned with money, status, achievement or survival, what do I most enjoy doing? What nags at me, begs for my attention and feeds my curiosity in a way that I cannot seem to shake? (Special note: Some of us have ignored our curiosity so long that it has gone dormant. The great news is it’s still there… it simply needs a little coaxing, which question 3 addresses.) What topic(s) most intrigues me? How much time do I devote to feeding my curiosity? Without realizing it, we often put our curiosities to the side and force ourselves to focus (as best we can) on doing the work we should and abandon the work that feeds our soul. Fortunately, we can do both—feed our families and our curiosity. In fact, Elizabeth Gilbert wrote an exceptional book about this very topic called . Who do I most enjoy sharing time with? By creating an ever-expanding list of people we enjoy sharing time with, we naturally begin looking for ways to spend more time with them. The more time we spend with them, the less time we have for those we don’t. Who can I focus on helping to reach their goals/dreams? It’s entirely too easy to become obsessed with and exhausted by our own success. By balancing our goals with giving, we release the pressure while increasing our impact. The key here is to focus on helping them, rather than serving our unconscious agenda. True service is serene regardless of outcome. Speaking of giving—I would love to hear about your goals and dreams. If I can play even a small part in making them a reality, I would be honored. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister P.S. A very special “Thank you” goes to for leading the way to greatness. /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/5025298

The Truth About Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone 01/19/2017

The Truth About Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone We shy away from sharing or expanding into what we have to offer in the most obscure ways. We think that getting out of our comfort zone means doing something big, which is exactly what keeps us trapped and doing what we’ve always done. Finishing up lunch with a client at a nice restaurant in Baltimore, Maryland, I kept thinking about that beautiful basket of bread (that we didn’t even touch) going into the trash. While a business lunch is perhaps not the right environment to request a to-go box for the bread, I found myself imagining the delight of handing it off to a homeless person on my drive home. Fortunately, my image of giving outweighed my concerns about perception and I asked them to package it. Excited to hand over this generous helping of deliciousness, I started my drive home. Of course, as fate would have it, I didn’t see a single homeless person on my 20-minute drive home. Not one… dozens on the way there, and not one on the way home. Five minutes from home, I realized this bread was about to go into my trash—or maybe to the birds, but still. My vision of giving was squashed and no one was going to have a chance to enjoy it. Just as I was thinking about where I could go to find someone in need, I passed under a bridge where three men were doing construction work and thought, “They might enjoy the bread.” Concerned about offending them, I immediately dismissed the idea and drove right past them. My car decided not to dismiss the idea, though. At the roundabout just ahead, my car (or God, if you prefer) took me all the way around the circle and back in the direction of the construction workers. Pulling over onto the shoulder, I said to myself, “Just give them the bread and go.” “Umm… excuse me guys,” I got their attention, “I was just at a restaurant… where they put gobs of yummy bread on the table… they were just going to throw it away, even though no one touched it. Would you like it?” “We would love it,” they said, taking the bread from my hands and immediately tearing into it. “Just so you guys know, I talk a big game about doing stuff that makes you uncomfortable. I just did mine for today—thank you for helping me out!” They laughed—I laughed, and then I drove home. That was it. And that is it. It’s the simple little steps we take in the direction of our goals and dreams that matter most. Sure, sometimes we have to ratchet up our courage to make significant progress, but it’s mostly tiny doses of discomfort that lead to greatness emerging. Giving doesn’t have to be grandiose, and progress can be easily passed over when we get caught up in perfection. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/5004743

A Simple Strategy for Increasing Your Impact 01/11/2017

A Simple Strategy for Increasing Your Impact In a rush to get from one experience to the next, we may miss the simple and seemingly superfluous opportunities to inspire greatness. Believing that inspiration only comes in oversized packages, we may forget to look for the tiny (barely noticeable, really) opportunities to inspire others into action. Having an “off” day and needing a shift in scenery, I headed to the pool for a workout. The moment I pulled into the parking lot, I started talking myself out of swimming—“It’s been a rough day… I could just go across the street and grab a hot tea, read and relax,” I thought. Has this ever happened to you? Before putting my car into reverse and heading over to grab that tea, I made a promise to myself—“Just do a short workout… Get in and get out… a little something is better than nothing,” I thought, “and it might make me feel better.” Just as I finished my short workout, the lady I had been sharing a lane with stopped and asked me, “What team are you training for?” Considering I had unintentionally swum up on her back during that workout, I thought maybe she was trying to figure out why I had encroached on her space. “No, I don’t train with any team,” I said, “I’m still new to this swimming thing… sorry I swam onto your back.” “Your new? You look like you’ve been swimming all your life. You’re a very good swimmer,” she said, and then turned and walked away. After I yelled out “Thank you,” suddenly I had an extra burst of energy, which I promptly used to add an extra thousand meters to my workout that day. Those words, from that stranger, fueled an extra thousand meters, plus a significant shift in my attitude. Image if she was someone I knew well and respected. On my drive back from the pool that day, I saw a billboard— See Something, Say Something. While the intention behind the billboard is to get you to look for and call out negative behaviors, I’d like to suggest we use the same billboards as reminders to look for and acknowledge the good qualities we see in others. In fact, why not print off the graphic I’ve attached for you here and put it somewhere you’ll see everyday? The simple act of witnessing and acknowledging excellence in others is one of the most powerful (and under used) ways to increase your impact. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4983404

Energy, Enthusiasm and Economic Downturns 01/05/2017

How Stagnation Leads to Poaching…With Customers and Employees 12/29/2016

How Stagnation Leads to Poaching…With Customers and Employees Greatness chases greatness. Companies and leaders in continuous pursuit of evolution (personal/company brand), worry more about keeping up with demand then poaching. On the flipside, those who hoard resources and acknowledgment wind up losing their most precious assets to the competition. Sitting in one of the nicest business clubs in Washington, DC, just before the start of an event, Lena, a fellow businesswoman, peeked over her computer and asked, “Excuse me, are you familiar with LinkedIn?” “I’m no expert,” I said, “but what do you need?” “If I accept a connection request, can they see my list of connections?” “I think they can see who you’re connected to regardless,” I said, “But I’m not certain. Why?” “The person trying to connect with me is a competitor, and I don’t want her marketing to my list. Should I accept the invitation to connect?” Lena’s question reminded me of the one I’d heard just the day before, from a CEO of a company with a little more than 100 employees—“How do I praise (or even acknowledge) my team publicly when doing so gives my competitors access to the names of my best employees?” There seems to be two valid perspectives on ‘competition’— Beat them. Use them as fuel to step up your game. One is focused on winning for you while the other is focused on helping others win. One tends to come from a limited mindset while the other assumes an abundance… of people, resources, and opportunities. Whether we’re talking about customers or employees, the philosophy shared by the Lena and the CEO is the same—if I share, I’ll have less. This is technically true, if you’re planning to stagnate. If you plan to stop challenging yourself to develop skills, strengthen your team culture, build relationships and learn, then you should be concerned. Not about them, though. “Progress always involves risk; you can’t progress to second base and also keep your foot on first.” –Christie Manson By focusing on becoming more valuable in any profession, you naturally attract more customers and opportunities to share your talents. By focusing on improving your ability to serve and generously serving those who show up, you keep the wheels in motion for growth. Through their consistent pursuit of excellence in company culture and leadership, Honest Tea, Zappos, Google, Menlo Innovations and others have become magnets to some of the world’s greatest talent. They could have hoarded talent and protected their secret recipes; instead, these leaders opened their doors and said, “Come learn about what we’re doing.” As a leader, sales professional, entrepreneur, barista or even a mechanic, what mindset have you adopted as your own? How are you ensuring consistent evolution? Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister P.S. Ready to step into your greatness… to uncover your purpose and figure out how to cash in on your talents? Book your session today. /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4926204

10 Daily Steps to Increasing Self-Confidence at Work 12/22/2016

10 Daily Steps to Increasing Self-Confidence at Work Confidence in nearly every endeavor comes with a sense of knowing or familiarity. In sports, strengthening the fundamentals is key to making critical decisions in a split second. The same thing is true when it comes to gaining confidence in yourself. Confidence in yourself increases in direct portion to self-awareness. The more experience you have with self-talk, the more confidence you’ll have. Self-awareness leads to self-confidence. By becoming aware of the results you’re creating every day, you have the power to change them. Here are 10 daily habits to strengthening your self-confidence: Review. At the end of every day, carve out 10-20 minutes to review the day. Write about what worked well and what didn’t work so well. At the end of the month, review what you wrote and watch as patterns begin emerging. Challenge. Set a specific, tangible, measurable and meaningful goal. The more challenging it is, the greater the wisdom you gain. The lessons learned in pursuit of any goal effects our confidence in every other area of life. Athletics, learning new skills, academics, adventure, career, etc.—each one impacts the others. Meditate. Begin by sitting comfortably for five undisrupted minutes every day. Close your eyes and notice the thoughts running through your mind, the pace of your heart, the sounds around you, the areas of your body that feel tense and relaxed. The key: simply notice—no positive or negative judgments. Feedback. Ask people to help you understand how you come across, what works well and what simple adjustments can be made to get even better results. Learn. Read a chapter or two of an instructional book, watch a TED Talk, attend a lecture or simply observe a colleague, boss, employee, or even a child. Take note of what others do/don’t do that works, or works against them. Write about this during your daily review time. Share. Teach, mentor or coach others on the lessons you’ve learned and/or the skills you’ve gained. Doing so is a great way to deepen your understanding, while strengthening relationships and encouraging collaboration. Laugh. Watch a funny video on YouTube, look up your favorite comedian (or find one—Ellen Degeneres is one of my favs!), or call a buddy who always seems to have a joke or funny experience to share. Get Inspired. Expose yourself to people and experiences that inspire you. TED Talks, podcasts, spiritual teachers, courageous memoirs, listening to another persons’ story, and noticing kindness in action are all excellent ways get inspired. Give. Foster a meaningful introduction, acknowledge/appreciate others, smile, hug, send a notecard in the mail, contribute to someone’s fundraising goal, listen generously, or even give your favorite shirt to the person admiring it. The gift is for the giver. Exercise. Get your heart rate up for 30 minutes every day. A brisk walk, running, weight lifting, push-ups, air squats, lunges, tennis, yoga, kick boxing, swimming, biking, and even Wii Fit are all excellent ways to get your heart rate up. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4925418

#1 Key to Success in Any Profession: An Interview with Kara DelVecchio, Vice President of Sales, WeddingWire 12/20/2016

Intendaware: How to Systematically Increase Your Self-Confidence 12/15/2016

Intendaware: How to Systematically Increase Your Self-Confidence Confidence comes from the Latin word confide, which means to entrust. Self-confidence, then, is about learning to trust yourself with yourself. Just as it takes experiences over time to trust others, trusting in your own experience of life requires that same kind of intention and attention. Remember the first time you sat behind the steering wheel of a car to drive? With your heart pumping, you tried to remember all the critical elements of driving, like gas! Too focused on adjusting the mirrors, getting your seat just right and thinking through all the rules of the road, you completely forgot to look at the gas gauge. Caught up in the busyness of traffic five minutes into your lesson, your instructor asks, “Without looking at the gauge, how much gas do we have?” Clueless, you add check gas gauge to your mental checklist for your next excursion. After several months, you start getting the hang of this driving thing, pass your test and venture out on the road alone for the first time, loving the freedom. Before you know it, you’re flying down the road, blaring music, while eating a burger and joking with friends. How did you go from gripping the steering wheel to grabbing a bite, while effortlessly shifting in and out of lanes? The obvious answer is intendaware. Intendaware: To intentionally become aware of the beliefs and behaviors that enable results you want. (I’ll be sure to add the word to Wikipedia soon.) By intentionally becoming aware of the various elements of driving, you shifted your critical checklist over to automatic behaviors. Gaining self-confidence works the same way. By intentionally becoming aware of your behaviors and results, you increase self-awareness. Such awareness, along with a heavy dose of compassion, leads to an increase in self-confidence. The better you understand and like yourself, the greater your self-confidence will be. The challenge comes in when you discover behaviors or beliefs you dislike, which almost always leads to criticism—self-inflicted, mostly. Just as you quickly discovered that you forgot to look at the gas gauge, you will undoubtedly begin finding areas for improvement in your own behaviors. While such mistakes are acceptable (expected, really) when learning to drive, we do not naturally grant ourselves permission to not know in most areas of life, ourselves included. It’s actually this lack of permission that leads to defending the very behaviors that produce results we don’t want. Thus, as Carl Young once said, “What you resist persists.” By giving yourself permission to not know yourself, you give yourself a chance to discover. The great news is that discovery (awareness) itself is the most important element to shifting behaviors, and therefore results. Once you are aware of the fact, for example, that your opinions are not being taken seriously in the boardroom, you can begin investigating the beliefs and behaviors that may be causing this result. With such authentic curiosity, you may quickly find that you have unintentionally avoided taking a seat at the table while simultaneously increasing your pitch when sharing ideas. Without recognizing it, you may have set yourself up for being glossed over or ignored. By remaining focused on discovery (awareness), you can gain insights without fighting (resisting) and begin experimenting with new behaviors and beliefs. You may find that certain behaviors challenge your belief system and then need time to sort out what beliefs will most closely support the evolution of your spirit, along with the attainment of your goals. While this is not the easiest work on the planet, it is the most reliable way to systematically increase your confidence. Confidence comes with knowing, knowing comes with discovery and discovery is a lifelong process that commands heaps of humor, hugs and hustle. So sit back, grab a cup of tea, open your notebook and get ready to begin incorporating the top 10 daily habits to increased confidence—up next week. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4914042

Why It’s Important To Waste Time 12/07/2016

Why It’s Important To Waste Time When asked what it was like to be blind, Helen Keller said, “It's much better to have no sight than it is not to have a vision.” While some people seem to be born with a clear vision for their life that naturally morphs into their career and inspires their team, most of us have to take the time to allow our vision to emerge. Interestingly, the difficulty in creating a vision isn’t what we think it is. Creating a clear picture of a desired future that inspires us requires a two-pronged approach: being and doing. We’re very good at doing, and lack intensely in being and noticing. Few allow themselves the time to do the mundane tasks that provoke awareness and cause (day)dreaming, critical elements in the visioning process. (Day)dreaming feels like a waste of time because it lacks a sense of accomplishment. And, being present to our thoughts is almost always anxiety producing and uncomfortable. In a community that almost exclusively celebrates doing over being, such a focus is both foreign and uncomfortable. While doing leaves us with a clear sense of accomplishment, noticing what triggers emotion inside of us does not. Yet, it’s noticing what triggers our emotions that gives us the fuel necessary to not only create a vision, but see it through to completion. Twelve years ago, I was angry with seasoned professionals, who clearly did not understand that my intention was to do a good job, contribute, and help the team succeed. Instead, I came across as needy, unwilling to pay my dues, and entitled. That last one really irritated me. “Why shouldn’t we all be entitled to give every ounce of what we have to offer,” I thought, soon after I quit my job and started researching. It was anger that fueled my research, curiosity, and passion. Had I ignored or suppressed my anger, I doubt I would have helped dozens of leaders to bridge the gap between generations. It was my realization that every person, regardless of generation, wants to contribute and feel the joy that comes from a sense of accomplishment that lead me to provoking greatness. When I see blinders to greatness, I want to shatter them. This irritation (passion) probably also has to do with going from standing in front of a judge in juvenile court as a youngster, to breaking recorders in sports, and ultimately finishing three degrees before starting this business. We all have greatness inside of us, and many of us are waiting for permission (provocation) to share/live it. It’s this realization that leads me to being purposeful and intentional with where I spend my time every day. When the ego gives way to greatness, and a whole team courageously steps into their passion (upping their game), waves of joy wash over me—it’s the reason I do this work. And there’s no way I would have ever gotten to such clarity had I ignored my irritation and stayed in that job. Considering our comfort with doing, I want to offer a few, seemingly mundane, activities that lend themselves to noticing, being and daydreaming. Here they are: Make a commitment of going once or twice a week, and then get yourself there. Just do it. Grab a coloring book and give yourself a few hours to color. Go someplace you’ve never gone, and have an experience you’ve never had. Doing so will give you new perspective on yourself and the world. This does not need to include an airplane or hotel stay, though it’s fun when it does! are a great way to experience a variety of trails with others. You can always do the trails on your own later, if flying solo on a new trail isn’t comfortable. For some (often men), this looks like messing around with projects in the garage. For others (often women), this looks like cooking, crocheting, or making stuff. The key is to pick an activity that is meditative, and allows you to do while noticing your thoughts. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister P.S. If you’d like to attract the NFL players of your industry and aren’t sure where to begin, . /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4895668

Finding Courage in The Midst of Our Political Climate: An Interview with Margie Warrell, best selling author, speaker, media commentator. 12/04/2016

Finding Courage in The Midst of Our Political Climate: An Interview with Margie Warrell, best selling author, speaker, media commentator. Margie Warrell has inspired millions of people around the globe to use their courage as a weapon to combat fear. As an avid follower of Margie’s work, I was excited to have a chance to learn about her journey, along with her perspective on the current state of the world during these political times. Throughout the interview, we talk about how she went from being the oldest of seven, growing up on a dairy farm, to interviewing and working with respected leaders including Sir Richard Branson, Kathy Calvin, Bill Marriott, and Marianne Williamson. We also dive into the specifics of how Margie helps leaders set the stage for greatness to emerge, both through her seminars and coaching. More about Margie Warrell and how to get in touch— Margie is the host of RawCourage.TV and a certified master coach. An acclaimed keynote speaker and guest lecturer at Columbia and Georgetown University, Margie’s also a sought after expert commentator with leading media such as the Wall Street Journal, Redbook, Psychology Today, Fox News, Today Show and Al Jazeera. Her Forbes Courage Works column has been read by millions. A passionate advocate for gender equality, Margie founded Global Courage in 2010 to empower women to be braver leaders across all sectors of society. She’s since been appointed by the Australian government as the first Ambassador for Women in Global Business and is a Women’s Economic Forum honoree. She’s also an Ambassador for Beyond Blue committed to removing the stigma around mental illness that amplifies suffering for those affected by it (Margie’s family members among them.) Gain access to Margie’s newest tools and resources by subscribing to her blog at . Additional resources mentioned during the podcast: . Margie, you are a blessing—Thank you for the work you do every day! Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4869587

If I’m Not a Successful Business Person, Then Who am I? 12/01/2016

If I’m Not a Successful Business Person, Then Who am I? Just nine years away from what he referred to as the socially acceptable date for retirement, Sam shared about the fear of filling his time—“I need to keep my brain active, and I’m not sure what I’ll do without people needing my help, or the excitement of winning the deal. My work brings purpose and structure to my days.” When work provides such a strong sense of identity, belonging and accolades, letting go of the known for what’s next can be terrifying. The feeling of being needed, having a sense of belonging, and the adrenaline of accomplishment can stop us from disconnecting on vacation, spending quality time with friends/family, relaxing or even retiring. When habits are deeply rooted in accomplishment, it’s difficult to trust the stillness, especially when the accomplishments are netting accolades that stir cravings for more. These cravings can easily keep us hustling even when we’re ready to step into our next greatest area of contribution. Experience () has continuously demonstrated that the greatest way to see the path striving to reveal itself is by getting quiet, unplugging and listening intently. Through silence and authentically connecting with ourselves, we gain the capacity to hear and see our greatness. The silence grants us access to seeing our path, along with the grit (courage) to step onto it. “I want to know God’s thoughts, the rest are details.” –Albert Einstein Once there, the peace and freedom from incessant nagging to maintain a certain level of success diminishes. We begin to experience the truth of our inherent worthiness in the silence, and cease to need the adrenaline shots provided by external validation. Such stillness grants us the access we need to hear our next direction. So, how do we explore such stillness in a way that is sustainable and enriching, rather than ? Start small, notice what’s helpful and then build on it. Here’s a great way to get started: Grab a timer and set it for five minutes. Sit in a comfortable position with your hands resting on your knees, facing toward the sky, and then push the start button on the timer. Close your eyes and notice the thoughts running through your mind, the pace of your heart, the sounds around you, the areas of your body that feel tense, and relaxed. The key: simply notice. Becoming the observer of your own experiences is a natural and kind way of helping yourself see what you may be missing during the busyness of the day. This approach is far easier to incorporate and build upon then throwing ourselves into a multi-week silent meditation retreat. Getting started and staying consistent are two critical elements to getting the most value out of meditation. Said simply, comfort and clarity don’t tend to come in one session, though the compound effect will aid greatly in gaining the clarity you seek. When entering a new phase in life, it's natural to go through an "identity crisis" of sorts. After existing one way for a prolonged period of time, "flipping a switch" and living a different way feels unnatural and like a complete waste of time. It's important to waste your time, though! Doing so allows us to realize things about ourselves that we never thought about until now. There are ways to use everyday (and even mundane) activities to gain the clarity you crave. It seems impossible, but once you have the roadmap for getting there, it won't seem so daunting. Check back next week to find out why it's important to "waste" your time and what you can do to help carve the path you desire for your future. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister P.S. Been meditating for a while? Ready to add to your practice? The following are a few helpful additions: —Add another five-minute session at a different time during the day. —Put a pen and paper next to your meditation spot and give yourself a couple of extra minutes to write down any thoughts or ideas. —Add breathing exercises or to your meditation. —Keeping your eyes closed, add stretching/movement. Doing so gives you a chance to feel where you may be holding tension. Pick one or two from to get started, and then trust your body to add in additional moves. —Increase from five minutes to ten minutes. /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4869798

7 Quick Tips to Make Performance Reviews Effective 11/23/2016

7 Quick Tips to Make Performance Reviews Effective Imagine standing inside a giant jar of jellybeans, minus the beans and delicious smell. Looking through the glass, you can see there is a label, but you cannot figure out what it says. You can also see dozens of other people, all within their respective jars, none of whom can see what’s written on their own label. You can see their label and they can see yours, but no one can see their own. This is exactly where most of us find ourselves when it comes to understanding our own greatness and how to improve. We want growth, but it’s difficult to know how without gaining insight from others. Since we think we’re supposed to know what’s on the label, we end up with a recipe for insanity and stalled performance. “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” –Albert Einstein Creating a systematic approach to giving and receiving feedback ensures consistency in having a chance to gain perspective, share our own and evolve in the process. Here are seven quick tips to make performance reviews effective: Set Specific Goals. When you know what goals are important to each of your team members, performance reviews become a vehicle for helping them succeed. Purposeful. When you tie feedback to meaningful and specific results (individual or team), incorporating your feedback becomes worthwhile. Railroad Approach. By helping your team recognize how their professional goals contribute to your team goals, you set yourself up to provide helpful feedback for both parties. Deliberate Distress. By consistently (daily, when possible) creating opportunities for giving and receiving feedback, you train your team to let their guards down while remaining open to feedback. Take note. When you see an opportunity for improvement, or a chance to acknowledge a job well done, share in the moment (when appropriate and helpful). Take note of the experience so that you can easily highlight behavior patterns during more formal reviews. Reflective. Good performance reviews require reflection. By allowing yourself time to reflect on your team’s individual performances, you arm yourself with thoughtful and specific feedback that’s actionable and growth provoking. Keep it Real. By consistently seeking feedback, you keep yourself tapped into the challenge of receiving difficult feedback along with the joy of hearing what a great job you’ve done. Both are helpful in adjusting your approach to have the greatest impact on others. Find your way toward consistency in this area of your leadership and watch as you become a magnet for greatness. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister P.S. If you’d like to attract the NFL players of your industry and aren’t sure where to begin, . /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4855830

Is Advancing in Your Career Really That Simple? 11/17/2016

Is Advancing in Your Career Really That Simple? There are tons of articles out there that discuss advancing your career—, to be exact. It shouldn’t be surprising to see why it’s a confusing topic. While there is no magic bullet, simple strategies can be taken to land the opportunities you want. As I enjoyed a delicious breakfast with Stacey, a talented leader in the tech industry, I marveled at a story she shared about a young man, Keith, who has gone from being brand new in the industry to vying for a producer position in less than two years. “He may just get it too, Misti,” Stacey shared, “And he’s up against well-established, credentialed producers who have a clear understanding of how to communicate across teams.” Intrigued, I asked about what Keith had done to become one of the top two candidates vying for this position. “If I didn’t know better, Misti, I would think he was being coached directly by you—seriously!” Stacey said, and then began listing the following actions he’d taken: Took it upon himself (time and money) to get scrum master certified after he found out the training was critical to the position. Reached out to a few producers and asked for a meeting to learn about what they do every day. He even job-shadowed them several times, helping out where he could. Sent follow up emails to those producers, thanking them for their time and explaining what he’d learned. Found out the position was coming available, and applied. Demonstrated both passion and interest as we went through the interview process—“His enthusiasm is infectious,” Stacey said. Sent “Thank you” emails to every person who was part of the interview process. In fact, here’s one of the emails he sent… “I appreciate having had the opportunity to speak with you about the open Producer position. I am eager to apply the experience I’ve gained and help facilitate the needs of our teams while ensuring we deliver a product that our players will enjoy. I would also like to thank you again for the time you’ve spent giving me an inside look into how you work as a Producer and sharing your experiences with me that I can learn from. I’m looking forward to hearing the results of the interview and would be thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of the Production team.” After learning all this, I asked Stacey to compare these two candidates, along with her thought process for both. “The veteran employee knows our processes, making it far easier to transition him into the position, immediately alleviating the burden to our extra load. Initially, Keith will take more effort to get going, but he may also bring fresh ideas, and help strengthen our processes,” Stacey said. “Which one do you think your team will pick?” I asked, secretly hoping she’d say Keith. Okay, maybe it wasn’t so secret. ;) “Probably the veteran employee, but I’m just not sure yet,” she said. “Even if we pick the veteran this go round, I will personally meet with Keith and let him know that all his work has not gone unnoticed. I will keep my eyes and ears open for future opportunities, both within our company and elsewhere. I want to see him succeed,” Stacey said. While they may need to go for the short-term benefits of experience this time, Keith will walk away with the bare minimum of interviewing experience, a team of producers who have been inspired by his hustle, and at least one career advocate. Which candidate would you pick? “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou Get inspired, share your enthusiasm, invest in yourself, say “thank you,” and apply for the position. Do this over and over again, and watch as you naturally progress into the opportunities you crave. Find this information valuable? Please share the wealth! Forward it to your friends, colleagues, and bosses… and be sure to share on social media. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister P.S. Imagine the difference it could make for the veteran employee if he found a way to and his perspective fresh. Just as consistent exercise is critical to long-term health, exposure and inspiration are critical to enthusiasm and a fresh perspective. P.P.S. If you’d like to attract the NFL players of your industry and aren’t sure where to begin, . /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4838170

What’s being provoked in us at this time? Sister Jenna of America Meditating Radio Interviews Misti Burmeister 11/09/2016

How To Use Anger To Strengthen Trust 11/03/2016

How To Use Anger To Strengthen Trust Seeking understanding is the last thing we want to do when someone has offended us, tainted our reputation, or put us in harm’s way. It’s far easier to hold tightly to our beliefs, keep our anger, and strengthen our story by gathering all the necessary data and buy-in from others. It’s risky to seek their perspective and listen openly and authentically to their thought process, particularly when they might not demonstrate such concern in return. They may never ask about our experience, or even appreciate our interest in understanding theirs, making it far easier to keep our animosity and find a way to punish them. “He’s my boss’s, boss’s, boss,” Brad said, “And I have no idea how to write the letter to his boss explaining how his poor choices put my life in danger. What do I do?” “Do you have a way of contacting the man you’re upset with directly?” I asked. “No. I mean… I know his name, but I don’t know his contact information.” “Could you find it?” “Well, maybe… but if I do talk to him then I can no longer anonymously submit a formal letter of complaint without the potential of losing my job.” Considering his brush up against death while fighting a wild fire, I could appreciate his anger. I can also see what he might be giving up by going directly to a formal letter of complaint. By seeking to punish before seeking to understand their perspective, we lose our ability to— a.) Challenge our own stories and grow in awareness, b.) Learn the truth behind their decisions, and c.) Offer insights that may very well save others from the same experience. By consistently giving ourselves a chance to understand another person’s perspective (especially when anger is present), we stretch our heart, develop compassion, and strengthen relationships. Such actions create a sense of safety in our presence and serve to strengthen trust. If it’s true that most of us are doing the best we can with the information we have in the moment, does it make sense to risk our tightly held beliefs in service of growth? Is it possible that by assuming well of others and seeking to understand them, we attract the same kind of understanding in our life? While learning to listen in the face of pain (anger, sadness, and even grief) is far from easy, practicing cannot help but strengthen our own courage while deepening trust. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister P.S. If you’d like to attract the NFL players of your industry and aren’t sure where to begin, . /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4799119

3 Critical Steps Leaders Need To Achieve More with Less Staff 10/26/2016

3 Critical Steps Leaders Need To Achieve More with Less Staff Struggling with a small staff? Need to find a way to get the ones you have fully engaged? Here are three key steps to take: Clarify Outcomes Beyond shareholder value, bonuses and becoming “the best,” consider gaining clarity and communicating consistently these three elements: How does your product/service contribute to your customers’ needs? And, how does your company/team deliver the product/service that adds great value to your customers’ lives? Why do you personally care about the outcomes of your work? Why does your team care about the outcomes of their work? What are they striving to achieve in their career? Employees who are passionate, driven and highly engaged seek leaders (often subconsciously) with such clarity. Vulnerability People in positions of authority often think they’re supposed to be the ones with all the answers. So, they bark orders under the guise of, “I pay you to do a job,” without realizing their team will most strongly support the ideas they help to create. Consider sharing your challenges openly (to the extent possible) with your team and ask for their ideas/suggestions. As you listen and take notes, request help in achieving success. Focus on and reward the ones who step up, and watch as others begin following suit. Build Trust While autonomy requires accountability, the simple act of trusting your team to do their best work is empowering. As you build trust, find your balance between keeping a close eye, anticipating pitfalls and giving them the freedom to learn from their failures. Communication is critical as specific outcomes are clarified and trust is built. Focus your time and attention on clarifying milestones, celebrating achievements and rewarding engagement. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister Ready for clarity of direction? Sign up today: http://mistiburmeister.com/gearingforgreatness/ /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4774846

Becoming a Magnet To Greatness: An Interview Yogi Roth, college football analyst, media personality, actor, and best-selling author 10/23/2016

Becoming a Magnet To Greatness: An Interview Yogi Roth, college football analyst, media personality, actor, and best-selling author Yogi Roth is a Pac-12 Networks college football analyst, Filmmaker, Scholar, New York Times Best-Selling Author, accomplished Coach, Motivational Speaker, Media Personality, Host and World-Traveler who has been studying human potential for over a decade. Most recently, Roth made his directorial debut with the documentary feature film, LIFE IN A WALK, which took home the Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. LIFE IN A WALK follows Roth and his father, Will, on their trek along the Camino De Santiago, a famous pilgrimage through Portugal and Spain, where he listens to, learns from and discovers more about his hero than he ever imagined. He is also the co-founder of Win Forever, LLC with Pete Carroll, which is an applied mindset training program for corporate leaders to develop a culture of high performance for individuals and teams to become the very best in their fields. Throughout his career, Yogi has been exposed to some of the best coaches, thinkers and leaders. Such exposure has given him a chance to see first-hand what it takes to become a magnet to greatness. When I asked him to share some of their secrets, I was expecting to hear about teamwork, focus and hard work. In truth, his answer was far simpler, incredibly power and instructive. During this interview, Yogi also shares about some of his greatest life challenges, along with the habits that have allowed him to gain the most value from each. Enjoy! to learn more about Yogi Roth. Yogi, a special thank you for generously sharing your time, stories and techniques for living with our listeners—your dedication to greatness is inspirational, and I’m grateful to know you! Resources mentioned during the interview: Here’s to Your Greatness, Misti Burmeister P.S. If you’d like to attract the NFL players of your industry and aren’t sure where to begin, . “Through the power of listening and summarizing situations, Misti has an uncanny way of motivating not just you but your whole team!” – Susan Malone, Executive Director at Wide Angle Youth Media /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4753840

Here’s the One Big Difference Between Begging and Magnetizing 10/20/2016

Here’s the One Big Difference Between Begging and Magnetizing Ever been in a touristy area where you were bombarded with restaurant staff doing their best dance to get your into their establishment? Often, they start with their own version of “hello,” and then quickly make their way to, “Come eat?” The first couple of times, saying, “No, thank you,” is no big deal. But after a while it gets annoying, and you start avoiding their side of the road. Even still, one lady in Sorrento, Italy, called out across the road to us, “Hey girls, what are you doing?” Apparently, she thought this approach would work better than her usual of, “Come and eat girls?” “We’re going for a walk,” I responded, avoiding eye contact and continuing in the direction of the shops. “Well, stop walking and come eat,” she commanded, as if such a tactic might actually work. And it did, just not to her advantage. It literally made me stop and think—If you have to beg us to eat there, your food probably isn’t very good. From that moment forward, we avoided any restaurant with staff trying to lure us in, and used Trip Advisor as our guide. Interestingly, the restaurants we found through our searches were so busy making delicious food and taking care of their customers that they didn’t need someone on the streets luring people in. The reality of this experience got me thinking—Where do I spend time begging in my life, and why? It didn’t take long to begin seeing where I have unknowingly begged—friendships, customers, appreciation, opportunities and even love. There’s a distinct difference between asking and begging. The artist painting in the middle of the piazza in Aci Castello—a small town just outside of Catania, Italy—demonstrated the art of asking when she put the painting I was eyeing into my hands. Not ready to buy yet, I thanked her, put it down and walked away. Unable to get her passionate energy and beautiful artwork out of my mind, I found my way back to the piazza the next night and joyfully watched as she painted the picture I took home. Beyond the painting, I bought her confidence, passion, and love of the craft. She’s in business to make money, but ultimately it was her unbridled love for her work that lured me back out late into the evening as I watched her masterpiece come to life. It was an experience I will remember for a lifetime and a lesson that will stay with me forever. Customers, friends, and moments of appreciation come and go, but our passion and love for our craft (and ourselves) grows in proportion to the attention we give it. While we’ll never be able to control whether or not people like, appreciate, or pick us for the opportunity, we get to control the time and effort put into sharing our passion, while learning to trust that the right people will come and the wrong ones will go. As one social media expert once said, “The people who want your stuff, want your stuff.” The idea is simple and incredibly instructive. Rather than waste time begging people to pick you, focus, focus, focus on strengthening your confidence as you share your passion. People buy confidence because it’s unique and tasty. By focusing on making delicious dishes and creating a unique eating experience, these restaurants wind up with excellent reviews and attracting even more customers who want the very experience they love to offer. The best chefs, artists, sales professionals, speakers, engineers and the like, love their craft and they want to share it with the world. Do you? Consider joining me in taking on this challenge for 1 year: focus your time and energy on loving the work you do and asking for opportunities to do more of the work you love. Show up, give your best, acknowledge yourself, appreciate the lessons you’ll undoubtedly encounter, and watch as you become the one with rave reviews and a line up of opportunities knocking on your door. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister P.S. If you’d like to attract the NFL players of your industry and aren’t sure where to begin, check out my latest book. /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4753374

The Real Reason You Cannot Say No 10/13/2016

The Real Reason You Cannot Say No Busy, overwhelmed “Yeser’s” listen up. Yes, there’s a reason we keep getting asked to take on more—we say “Yes,” and we are the one’s who will make sure the job gets done, even if our other projects suffer and we wind up sick from exhaustion. Why do we keep getting picked to do the project? Because we are driven doers. We’ll run through fire to honor our word, and we’re the first to admit it. In fact, it’s a badge of honor we wear. In our quest to get it all in, we say, “Yes!” It’s an honorable and awesome quality, and I love us for it! The problem comes in when our badge of honor is not tempered with focus and freedom… to say “no.” When our inability to say “no,” or “not now,” leads to illness, exhaustion, anxiety, sleepless nights, or, worse yet, passing out at an event where we’re in charge (yes, I witnessed this happen just a couple of weeks ago), it’s time to investigate the story we tell ourselves that leads to saying “Yes” at every chance. Fear—of… … missing out, … letting people down, … being seen as weak (admitting I can’t handle it, which leads to cockiness), … an imperfect result that anyone, but you, would create, … losing opportunities, and … disappointing others —are the biggest culprits of biting off more than we can chew, and they wind up robbing us of the chance to do our best work. Can you imagine the results we could create if we’d simply focus our “Yeses” on the right projects, and become a steward of opportunity for additional projects? Instead of spending every moment of our days rushing—to work, through emails, the first pot of coffee, every meeting—what if we could enjoy our work, and wind up energized at the end of the day? The following are three steps that have helped me learn to identify and enjoy my right “yeses”: Step One: Clarity of focus. Start by giving yourself 10 minutes (preferably an hour) to think about the results you’re most committed to (i.e. customer satisfaction on project X, helping my team advance, gaining opportunities to share my message from the platform). If you serve on multiple boards, run a business, and have a family, think about the most important outcome for each area. What are you striving to accomplish, and why does it matter to you? for mapping your career. While saying no to big projects may not be your area of struggle, consider investigating your greatest time sinks. Eager to strengthen relationships, I typically spend a great deal of time in one-on-one’s, even if I’m unsure of the purpose behind the meeting. A quick 15-20 minute phone conversation has become my new saving grace to bringing focus and clarity to these meetings. Step Two: Forty-eight hour rule. When you get that ego-boosting request to take on another project, simply say, “Thank you for thinking of me—I love being a part of great projects. Do you mind giving me until the end of the day tomorrow to give you a decision on this? With so many balls in the air right now, I want to make sure I can devote the time and energy to this project.” Step Three: Help them find someone. It is an honor to be asked to take on projects, and if your plate is full, you get to steward opportunity—the greatest leadership quality of all. Taking time to learn about the goals and future aspirations of the folks around you will give you the information you need to know who would appreciate the exposure and opportunity. Note, I did not say, “Find someone who can do the job as well as you.” That thinking will trap you into doing the work yourself. Instead, focus on connecting the ones who want opportunity with those who need the help. Identifying the direction you want to take your career, and recognizing the greater contribution you want to make, is the hardest part. But, once you’ve got it (and it’s always evolving, so consider coming back to step one at least once a quarter), doing your best work, and stewarding opportunity, becomes much easier. Here’s to Your Greatness, Misti Burmeister NEW! Ready to reconnect to the excitement of— —Your work/career —Leading your team —Growing your bottom line, along with your people? Grab your 40 minute Gearing for Greatness session with Misti today—http://mistiburmeister.com/GearingForGreatness “Working with Misti Burmeister will be one of the best decisions you have ever made as a leader. She helped me integrate new behaviors and thought processes to bolster my overall leadership presence.” –Kevin Frick, Professor and Dean, Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4740972

Reaching Your Potential: Know Yourself—Daily Journal Prompts 10/06/2016

Reaching Your Potential: Know Yourself—Daily Journal Prompts We don’t bat an eye at spending countless hours researching and figuring out how to use our new cell phone and all the awesome applications we’ve downloaded. We invest our time, money, and resources in getting the best gadgets on the planet, forgetting that we are our most valuable resource. Imagine the difference you could make for yourself if you stopped to notice what’s working (and not working) in your life by consistently carving out time to reflect. Such information aids greatly in overall energy, enthusiasm and excitement for work, team members, and life. Your surroundings are consistently providing feedback—the challenge is in stopping long enough to benefit from the wisdom you receive. The following are four topics you can use for daily journaling. Pick one or two to get started, commit to writing every day, and build from there. Gratitude—what are you most grateful for and why? (i.e. I get to swim at an awesome facility, I have wonderful friends, and awesome cats. I’m grateful for , , , and many others for putting their wisdom in books I get to read.) Learning—what did you learn about yourself, the world, or your surroundings in this day? (i.e. I laugh loudly when I’m at a networking event where no one knows me, and coal and charcoal are derived from different substances.) My qualities—what positive qualities did you demonstrate in this day? (i.e. I’m a good listener, joyful, and patient.) Contribution—whose life did you contribute to today? (i.e. Karen got a listening ear, Mike got ice cream and a meaningful conversation, complete strangers got to hear authentically kind words about themselves.) The key here is to focus on what others are getting, rather than what you’re giving. Now, let’s take studying yourself to a whole new level. The following are specific questions to answer if your having problems getting going. Pick one or two and explore your answers as you reflect quietly with yourself, pen to paper. What most inspired (or frustrated) me in this day, or during this time in my life, and why? When do I most feel joyful, happy, and filled with positive energy (or irritable, anger, or frustrated)? What’s happening, and what’s going through my mind during these times? Who do I most enjoy sharing time with, and why? If I could go back to school and push the restart button on my career, what would I study, and why? If I could build a life I never needed a vacation from, how would I structure my days? What are some of the elements I know I’d want to include? What am I most proud of and why? Who are the top three most inspirational people I’ve experienced in my life, and why? Where do I most want to forgive myself? In a year from now, I will be… Describe someone who is a hero and describe why. Describe the culture of your work environment. What kind of a day did you have and why? What is a book, movie, song, or television program that has influenced you, and how? Your answers to these questions may change over time, so be sure to come back to this list periodically, review your answers, and make changes and updates where appropriate. Ready to take this process to yet another valuable level? Once you’ve written for a couple of weeks, conclude your writing time by going back and reading one or two journal entries. Overtime time you’ll begin to notice patterns, empowering you with the information you need to make important adjustments. “Don’t just get through the day, get from the day.” – Get from each day by reflecting, processing, and discovering your greatness every day. Here’s to Your Greatness, Misti Burmeister NEW! Grab your 40 minute Gearing for Greatness session with Misti today—http://mistiburmeister.com/GearingForGreatness “Working with Misti Burmeister will be one of the best decisions you have ever made as a leader. She helped me integrate new behaviors and thought processes to bolster my overall leadership presence.” –Kevin Frick, Professor and Dean, Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4723027

How to Use Anger to Strengthen Trust 09/29/2016

How to Use Anger to Strengthen Trust Seeking understanding is the last thing we want to do when someone has offended us, tainted our reputation, or put us in harm’s way. It’s far easier to hold tightly to our beliefs, keep our anger, and strengthen our story by gathering all the necessary data and buy-in from others. It’s risky to seek their perspective and listen openly and authentically to their thought process, particularly when they might not demonstrate such concern in return. They may never ask about our experience, or even appreciate our interest in understanding theirs, making it far easier to keep our animosity and find a way to punish them. “He’s my boss’s, boss’s, boss,” Brad said, “And I have no idea how to write the letter to his boss explaining how his poor choices put my life in danger. What do I do?” “Do you have a way of contacting the man you’re upset with directly?” I asked. “No. I mean… I know his name, but I don’t know his contact information.” “Could you find it?” “Well, maybe… but if I do talk to him then I can no longer anonymously submit a formal letter of complaint without the potential of losing my job.” Considering his brush up against death while fighting a wild fire, I could appreciate his anger. I can also see what he might be giving up by going directly to a formal letter of complaint. By seeking to punish before seeking to understand their perspective, we lose our ability to— a.) Challenge our own stories and grow in awareness, b.) Learn the truth behind their decisions, and c.) Offer insights that may very well save others from the same experience. By consistently giving ourselves a chance to understand another person’s perspective (especially when anger is present), we stretch our heart, develop compassion, and strengthen relationships. Such actions create a sense of safety in our presence and serve to strengthen trust. If it’s true that most of us are doing the best we can with the information we have in the moment, does it make sense to risk our tightly held beliefs in service of growth? Is it possible that by assuming well of others and seeking to understand them, we attract the same kind of understanding in our life? While learning to listen in the face of pain (anger, sadness, and even grief) is far from easy, practicing cannot help but strengthen our own courage while deepening trust. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4703829

Check out These 9 Daily Habits of Successful People 09/22/2016

Check out These 9 Daily Habits of Successful People While sitting in a plush conference room, staring out at a beautiful lake, and sipping the green tea that was automatically dispensed for me at the push of a button, I found myself eager to get to know the gentleman responsible for building this empire. He was a handsome man in his late forties, wearing a sharp-looking suit, and walked with an air of confidence almost expected with such success. I found myself wondering if he understood just how intimidating his demeanor and words could come across. “Yes, I’ve gotten that feedback several times throughout my career,” he said. By the end of the meeting, I learned that nearly every relationship that was not strictly business related had disappeared, and he was struggling with loneliness and isolation in a profound and disturbing way. Success has very little to do with the dollar amount in your bank account, and everything to do with the way you spend your resources—time, money, etc. A joyful experience of life, most days, has become my barometer of success. The more often one feels and shares joy, the more successful they are. From this context, the following are the top 9 habits successful people practice every day: Gratitude By choosing to focus on what there is to be grateful for, successful people naturally look for and attract more of the same. Try this: Before a meal, share one thing you’re grateful for that happened in that day. If you’re eating with someone, consider sharing one attribute you’re grateful for in them—it’s a great way to strengthen relationships and focuses your attention on the goodness in others. Give – time and resources The act of giving is in itself a gift to oneself. Giving is receiving—helping others is helping yourself. Try this: Focus on giving (time and resources) every day, without the expectation of receiving something in return. Appreciate others By appreciating and acknowledging others, successful people get to feel both connected and appreciated. Try this: Intentionally look for reasons to appreciate others, and point out the specific act/behavior/attitude you appreciate in them. Focus on this every day for six weeks and notice how you feel at the end of the six weeks. Provoke (challenge) themselves and others By focusing on challenging themselves, being vulnerable and going for greatness, successful people naturally inspire others to do the same. Try this: Identify a specific outcome important to you, gain clarity about why it’s important, share it with your team and then go make it happen. Authentically share your struggles (fears) and your triumphs, ask for their support and encourage (challenge) them to do the same. Reflect Successful people figure out what’s working (and not working) by consistently carving out time to reflect. Try this: at the end of each day, grab a notebook and write about what went well and what didn’t go so well. What would you do differently, and why? Your surroundings are consistently providing feedback—the challenge is in stopping long enough to benefit from the wisdom you receive. Self-Affirmation It is natural to want to hear how great you are. When you learn to validate yourself, freedom is the outcome. Being able to experience external kindness as so-nice-to-have, but not critical to your joy in work or life, is liberating. Try this: At the end of each day, write down three good qualities you demonstrated. In a couple of weeks, go back over and read what you’ve written about yourself. If you see the same qualities repeated, challenge yourself to look for new ones, while appreciating the ones you’ve noted. Exercise Whether you go for a brisk walk, lift weights, swim or play a game of tennis, the key is to elevate your heart rate, connect with your body and release joy-inducing hormones. Try this: Block time every day for exercise and treat it like one of the most important meetings of your day. Doing a little bit (20-30 minutes) every day is a great way to begin building the foundation for your fitness. Learn Whether in the mind or body, stagnation leads to stench. Successful people keep their mind/brain vibrant by carving out time every day for learning. Try this: Grab that handy notebook and take note of what you learn each day. Consider writing a list of all the thought-provoking activities you engage in each week. These two exercises will help you see the truth about the time you spend learning and they’ll keep you on your toes, learning and growing. Contribute Finding ways to contribute to the career and life of those around them makes perfect sense to successful people. Beyond recognizing that giving is receiving, they understand that your success is their success. Try this: Make it a habit to take note of at least one way you contributed to someone else’s career/life at the end of every day. The key to each of these habits is to do them every day. As you slowly add in new habits, you may notice you don’t have enough time to do everything you’ve been doing and your new habits. This tension is a natural part of change. Slowly, over time, you will weed out the activities that provide less benefit so that you can focus on the ones that bring joy to your life. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister NEW! Gain clarity on what’s preventing your growth, along with what will inspire it – get your Gearing for Greatness session Today: /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4686741

5 Pitfalls To Growth, And What To Do About Them 09/15/2016

5 Pitfalls To Growth, And What To Do About Them Without growth, companies, teams, leaders, and careers stagnate. Stagnation leads to hording, silos, distrust, conflict, and tension. Without a growth-provoking intervention, such stagnation quickly causes complacency, hording of resources, turnover, or worse yet, . Disengaged employees not only fail to do their best work, but they actively share their negativity with colleagues and customers alike, sabotaging your reputation and halting growth. To avoid the stench of stagnation, consider stepping up to the challenges associated with each the following 5 pitfalls to growth: Failure to continue learning “I don’t have time to read, listen, watch… to master a new skill, to learn about a new industry, or focus on building new relationships… I am busy!” In fairness, I get it—you are busy. And, considering your commitment to growth, here are a few questions to provoke clarity of direction. Challenge: Ask yourself, “What am I (or my team) so busy striving to achieve, specifically? And, why does success matter to me?” Be honest with yourself before you move to the next question—“If I had extra time and plenty of resources, what would I want to learn about, who would I want to meet, and what event would I attend?” Exposing yourself to new industries, topics, sports, and conferences that fuel passion, enthusiasm, and growth. Refuse to share The prevailing thought is—if I share what I know, I’ll be replaced by younger and cheaper labor. In truth, the more you share, the more trusted and respected you become. The more you share what you know, the more time you’ll have to keep advancing, making you even more valuable. Challenge: Ask yourself, “What project could I bring others into right now, or in the next three months? Who needs to be introduced to whom? Who might be interested in learning and contributing to this project, or attending important meetings with me? What skills/experiences would I like to gain in the next six months, and how can I begin sharing what I know so that I have the time and energy for growth? Failure to continuously communicate “I told them the goal… why do they need constant reminders? I hired them to get the job done… they should focus on doing their job.” They should is a trap that kills enthusiasm and growth faster than any economic downturn ever could. Challenge: Ask yourself, “Do I know my specific goal and why it matters to me? Do I authentically care about the goal? When was the last time I shared my passion, our progress and encouraged others to do the same? How do I keep my vision, enthusiasm, passion, direction, and progress out in the open consistently?” Avoid difficult conversations “I would rather get a root canal than have that conversation,” a senior executive at a Fortune 500 company said after I encouraged him to address a vastly underperforming senior leader with truth and accountability. Joel Salatin of said, “Disruption is critical to growth.” This is true whether we’re talking about growing grass, livestock, relationships, or the bottom line. Challenge: Ask yourself, “What conversation am I avoiding, and what are the costs associated? What are the positive (and negative) outcomes associated with having an open and honest conversation?” Failure to pause/reflect We don’t bat an eye at spending countless hours researching and figuring out how to use our new cell phone and all the awesome applications. We invest our time, money, and resources in getting the best gadgets on the planet, forgetting that we are our most valuable resource. Imagine the difference you could make for yourself if you stopped to notice the moments you feel joyful or irritable. Such information could greatly aid your overall energy, enthusiasm and excitement for your work, your team, and your life. Challenge: Open your calendar and ask yourself, “Where can I block off 20 minutes each day for silence/reflection?” No distractions. Be with yourself, journal about your thoughts, notice and watch as your life transforms in the coming weeks. Your 20-minute time block might shift from one day to the next, but the key is to do it every day. When you intentionally put your focus on growth, challenging yourself to communicate, share and reflect, opportunities will continually present themselves, allowing not only for your growth, but for everyone around you, and your bottom line. Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister NEW! Gain clarity on what’s preventing your growth, along with what will inspire it – get your Gearing for Greatness session Today: /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4668980

What’s The Yelp In Your Life? 09/01/2016

What’s The Yelp In Your Life? Have you ever found yourself reading the comments section for a restaurant you found on (or another similar application) and thought to yourself, “How is this place even in business?” Or, “Wow, I’ve got to try this place!” While restaurant owners reap many benefits from Yelp, few cash in on one of the most valuable elements of these online tools. Coincidentally, it’s the same element most of us avoid regardless of success, position, industry, or experience. Hungry for authentic Greek food in Baltimore, I grabbed my phone and did a quick search. It a matter of moments, I saw which ones were highly rated, read through a few comments, and then . After thoroughly enjoying the food, I found myself chatting it up with the owner, who is thinking about opening another location in DC. During our conversation, I learned about his love/hate relationship with Yelp and the painstaking process they continue to go through as they work toward simplifying their menu and ordering process. “It’s clear to me what you like about Yelp,” I said, “It’s actually what got me here today! Help me understand what you dislike about it so much.” “The negative comments,” he said. “You can’t please everyone, and some people like to take their bad day out on you there.” Considering his interest in strengthening his current processes before expanding to the DC market, I wondered if perhaps the criticisms were actually the most valuable aspect of Yelp for his business. “Most people will not come in here and tell you what they don’t like,” I suggested, and he agreed. “Instead, they’ll tell everyone they know about their bad experience, and silently destroy your reputation without you even having a chance to make improvements. Through Yelp, you get an insiders view of what’s working well, and what needs improving.” As he slowly nodded his head up and down, I wondered out loud, “Has anyone complained about the confusion of your ordering process?” “Yes, and it doesn’t make any sense—it’s simple. You come in, order, and take your seat. We bring the food to you,” he said. Nervously, I said, “Really, because I find it confusing,” and began explaining why. Listening intently, he kept nodding, almost as if the comments on Yelp were starting to make sense. With a renewed perspective of the criticisms, the negative comments are now serving as the foundation for his growth, rather than the bane of his existence. Actually, that’s the purpose of all criticism—Growth, though some people are clueless when it comes to word choice and tone of voice when offering their critique. No matter your position, title, or business, it’s far more enjoyable to read or listen to positive feedback then it is to carefully consider criticism and make adjustments based on your goals. Improvement (growth!) requires a different/better approach, which we discover by listening and adjusting to critique. This week, consider pausing and asking more questions when you feel yourself getting defensive. Additionally, you may consider asking a colleague, boss, or even a close friend to help you see where you may be getting in your own way. When they offer ideas, repeat them back to make sure you understood them correctly, and then thank them. Keep doing this, and watch as your career, company, and reputation take off. Beware: as you do this, others will be inspired by your courage, and begin the process themselves. As you step into your greatness, so will they! Here’s to your greatness, Misti Burmeister NEW! Gain clarity on what’s preventing your growth, along with what will inspire it – get your Gearing for Greatness session Today: http://mistiburmeister.com/gearingforgreatness/ /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4635049

What To Do When Poaching is A Problem: An Interview Ms. Lisa Rosenthal, CEO and co-founder of The Mayvin Consulting Group 08/28/2016

What To Do When Poaching is A Problem: An Interview Ms. Lisa Rosenthal, CEO and co-founder of The Mayvin Consulting Group During this fun and lively interview, Lisa Rosenthal shares the story that lead to her passion for building a powerful brand and company culture. Considering the turbulent nature of the government contracting industry, I was deeply interested in learning how Mayvin has successfully reached 90% employee retention, particularly considering the all-too-common threat of poaching. Lisa shared her secret strategies for driving retention through innovation, engagement, and collaboration. Listen in! About Lisa Rosenthal: she is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of The Mayvin Consulting Group, a dynamic women-owned small business. In less than 4 years, her team doubled the firm’s revenues annually making the Inc 5000 list of fastest growing firms 3 years in a row. Their two-fold specialty in supporting both Program Management and Mission Support projects for the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense has resulted in revenues exceeding $15M/year. Lisa also sits on the Board of Directors for the American University/Entrepreneurship Council, My Sister’s Place, and QSMI, as well as several committees throughout DoD and the local Washington, D.C. community. To learn more about Lisa, . Interested in learning more about Mayvin? Check them out . Enjoy! Lisa, a special thank you for the joy of interviewing you! I had a lot of fun, and I’m grateful to your dedication to serving greatness—Thank you! Here’s to Your Greatness, Misti Burmeister Grab your 40 minute Gearing for Greatness session with Misti today—http://mistiburmeister.com/GearingForGreatness “Through the power of listening and summarizing situations, Misti has an uncanny way of motivating not just you but your whole team!” – Susan Malone, Executive Director at Wide Angle Youth Media /episode/index/show/provokingyourgreatness/id/4620657

Provoking Your Greatness - Misti Burmeister

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