Unlocking Personal Transformation: Lessons on Mentorship, Leadership, and Intentional Growth

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hey, uncommon Leaders, welcome back. This is the Uncommon Leader Podcast and I'm your host, john Gallagher. Well, today I'm a guest and a host, but mostly a guest. I've got something a little bit different store for you that I think you're really going to like. Recently, I was interviewed on the Inspiring Possible podcast hosted by Kristi Penison, but she was gracious enough to allow me to share this story with you, the Uncommon Leader Podcast Nation. In this interview, you'll get to hear a different side of me, as I share my personal development journey and the impactful experiences that have shaped me into the leader I am today. It's always enlightening to hear someone's story from a different perspective, and I wanted to provide you, the loyal listeners, with that same opportunity. So join me as we dive into this captivating conversation, exploring personal growth, positive thinking, the power of taking action and intentional living. Let's get started.

Speaker 2: 0:56

So thank you for coming on Inspiring Possible today, John.

Speaker 1: 0:59

Kristi, thank you for having me on the show. It's an honor to be here and I look forward to having a conversation with you, because I think you and I are well aligned.

Speaker 2: 1:07

So tell me a little bit about growing champions, because I think a lot of the listeners that are tuning in right now. I think they have a desire to maybe do something different with their life or do something more or get unstuck, and I really am passionate about helping people grow into becoming their own champions and champions for other people. But where would you say people should start in this whole development journey?

Speaker 1: 1:33

Yeah. So let me share a story with you how I ended up getting started. But first I appreciate your comment about the growing champions organization. That in and of itself is a funny story as I go forward, but for me the genesis of growing champions really started for me in my journey about 20 years ago my own personal leadership journey when I was sitting through a performance review with my mentor, who's still my mentor today different role, but as a mentor today and boss and he was giving me a very truthful performance review. That was one of those that, as I was sitting there, I just kept sitting back in my chair just a little bit more here in the feedback.

Speaker 2: 2:09

It was something I was clenching it, I was, I was very clenching the shirt.

Speaker 1: 2:12

Well, I mean, the really bad part about clenching it ultimately is that it led to when we were finished. First of all, there was nothing that he said was wrong and it was an opportunity for me to receive feedback. That was really good. I was new in a position, I was a young leader for the role that I was in. I remember sitting there after the performance review was completed and he says what do you, what do you think, what'd you hear? And I really couldn't talk and I actually found myself as a young, grown man, two tears rolling down my cheeks and I'm like why is this happening in terms of the feeling that I'm having. But ultimately I got to him and said I need help and it was something that he was absolutely willing to invest in At that point in time. I had gotten an executive coach again 20 years ago who started me on my personal development journey, and I didn't even know when the executive coach was 20 years ago that probably wasn't as well known as it is today. It certainly wasn't. Certainly the language there wasn't there. I mean, I had heard about it a little bit but I didn't know. And once I had a chance to have an executive coach and appreciated the process that this individual took me through to really grow me on my business skills and oddly enough he started with me personally in terms of going through that journey that I knew that that was the methodology that I really wanted to think about coaching helping to develop others, both help that person that was receiving that performance review and also be the leader that my mentor was in being truthful at giving heartfelt performance reviews so that people could grow and grow others. That's ultimately leading to the organization called growing champions that I started about two and a half years ago.

Speaker 2: 3:44

Wow, and we can dive into this because I think it is a key point in creating anything in your life, and that is mentors. So tell me a little bit about what you feel your mentor did for you that you couldn't do for yourself, and you kind of alluded to it. But also, why are mentors important?

Speaker 1: 4:02

Sure, and I think they're different as well. Mentors and coaches are different. In this case, as he mentors me today, I find that those mentors have significant experience in the space that I'm working as well. So not only could he share opportunities for me to grow as a leader, he could give me books or he could send me to a workshop or whatever that was, but as a mentor he had those experiences, he had those tough times in going through that. He had learned, really through making mistakes on his own, to help me not make the same mistakes going on in the future. But again, what I really think when you look at the overlap between mentoring and coach, is he was able to help me identify the blind spots that I had as a leader Very early on. When you get a title of a leader, I think it can be easy from an ego standpoint to say well, I'm the boss.

Speaker 2: 4:49

I'm a leader now because I had the title too, right.

Speaker 1: 4:52

Exactly right. The title makes it that way, but little do we know that that's only the first part of the process in terms of that level, and so those blind spots are in. How I build relationships, how I hold other people accountable on their journey, is very important. So I think one of the other things that he really and I touched on a little bit that I just found powerful I did, was the truth in that he gave me tough feedback, had the ability to deliver that in a way that I know he cared about me in that feedback and I wanted to be able to give feedback like that, and it's hence again starting this company. How do I make sure that those leaders see the importance in receiving feedback and be able to do something like that, but also being able to give feedback in a truthful way? Oftentimes I have a current client that I work with. They talk about the difference in being kind and being nice. Being kind is something that really is. The truth starts to come out, but being nice is making sure you don't upset somebody. We've got to be able to teach and coach, and those are the mentors that can make you really understand what you need to do to get better.

Speaker 2: 5:51

Yeah, and I love that. I've heard before and I'm sure you've heard this before too, john, but like clarity is kindness, right, and I would even substitute what you just said truth is kindness. And I think sometimes we are afraid of either seeking feedback for ourselves or giving feedback right, because right, you want to be nice, but being nice is not being kind. And to help people grow, or even for ourselves to grow, we need truth. If we don't know what it is that's holding us back, I can even think about it as a leader, or even if it's a goal that you're going towards. If you don't know that stuck place you keep hitting and nobody is being honest with you and you keep repeating that same pattern, then it's not helping you and it's not helping the people that you are doing things with.

Speaker 1: 6:45

Absolutely, and it's a skill that even a friend talks about candor inside of that space as well carrying candor in such a way that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. It's one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite authors, john Maxwell. But ultimately, delivering truth in a way that people know you care about them is a lot different than delivering truth that ends up hurting somebody, and I think that in other sense, in terms of the growing as a leader, is important to know as well. You touch on this. We don't want to upset anybody, and the fact is that others have to choose to be upset. But if we can deliver it in such a way that they accept that feedback and realize they can grow and get better, versus being stark and having it come across as a hammer to get things done, it can be so lasting in terms of that feedback.

Speaker 2: 7:31

Well, think about it, you wouldn't be here right now if somebody hadn't given you that truth right, absolutely, I wouldn't be. Maybe you would have. No, I don't think I would have been.

Speaker 1: 7:38

There's no doubt I would not have been and I think about that, you know. And going back, ultimately at the highest level, growing champions. One of the methodologies or the ultimate output that I talk about is the greatest story ever told. And if we can build a story inside of our leadership where years from now, some people call it legacy, I call it the greatest story ever told. But years from now, somebody's asked you know who has made a positive difference in their life, a lasting difference in their life, and they write your name on that list, even when you don't know that they're doing that. To me, that's the greatest story ever told. And you can be truthful and be rude and obnoxious as a leader and they're not going to write your name as a positive difference. But when you can be truthful and be a mentor and show that you care about people, that gives you the opportunity to make that happen in the future and you've given them opportunities to get better.

Speaker 2: 8:23

Yeah, I think I honestly just got a little bit of goosebumps right, because, I mean, you think about it, especially if you are wanting to create impact, not only for your own life but for the lives of others, in any industry that you're in, in any kind of segment of life, whether it's your family, or whether it's your career, or whether it's your friends, your faith, whatever that is, and somebody can say, hey, this person is the one that helped me unlock my potential, create things for my life. I mean, I feel like there's no greater, greater story or greater honor than to be somebody's, I guess, light or guide along this journey.

Speaker 1: 9:04

Absolutely. There you go, Christy. I'm going to have you write it for me again because you just to find what is really. You know, the light that you talk about is there. I mean, one of the core values that I have as an individual is hope, and I know that's part of you know the positivity inside of your podcast, and I actually put a definition to that hope. It's an enduring flame that lights the way for us through a power that is our own that no one can ever take away. Okay, and that's that light that exists, and when you can be that light to someone else that can be really powerful Absolutely, and when you can live that out in your modeling of life. You touch on many things in your faith how you handle your finances, your friendships, where you have fun, and those are all things that are very important, not just your career or your vocational choice, but in all the areas of life.

Speaker 2: 9:48

Yeah, well, look, I have a question for you, because I know not only have you developed growing champions, but I know this has been a journey for you as well. What do you think has helped you become the greatest agent of change, or or as I would call, as we're talking about, a hope dealer?

Speaker 1: 10:04

Right Hope dealer.

Speaker 2: 10:05

What has helped you the most get to where you can be the greatest agent of change with the people that you're either serving or working with, or just honestly, even for your, for your own life.

Speaker 1: 10:16

Well, I didn't know it. I'm going to go back to that same mentor, because obviously he would. He would end up with his name on my list. But I was going back further. In my very first leadership opportunity that he gave me, he sat down with me in a room and he put a book across the desk from me and said, hey, we're going to review this book chapter by chapter. It was the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. It was a book that I didn't realize at the time but ultimately it was going to lead me down a path and many opportunities, many different books and those that are watching you look at that shelf up there that that specific shelf is about everyone John Maxwell's books that he's written. The investment that that leader made in me made a huge difference. So it's been primarily the people in my life that have given me opportunities that have poured into me to make a difference. And again, whether that's my family and friends outside of work that are given those at church and church leadership, they've given me opportunities to serve at church as well. And those mentors and bosses that have been in my life Look, there's other ones that I've had that I would say that I learned how not to be as well. They weren't all perfect.

Speaker 2: 11:14

And so I was going through that journey.

Speaker 1: 11:16

There's no doubt about it there have been leaders that I've we could probably write a book on those folks, no doubt about it. So you know, being intentional, though, with that personal growth journey and that choice I made after that first book I have given has been the biggest difference to me, and I think it manifests itself inside of me in this what I sometimes refer to as a healthy discontent for the status quo. I'm just not really settled with where I am today, that I do want to always grow, and I've got people in my life that make a difference. I've got a small accountability group with several of my friends that are in that. That helped to hold me accountable in my growth journey. I've got a coach myself the coach of a coach, if you would. That just says that you know need to make things happen. I've had a fitness trainer that's helped to teach me what I need to do from a nutrition and from a training standpoint to be the healthy person that I need to in my life as well. So, understanding those people that I and then again, being intentional of choosing those the Jim Rohn quote that's really powerful is you're the average of the five people that you hang around with the most. I mean that is stuck around. We've named our small accountability group Raise the Average. That really is making sure that I'm working to intentionally grow on a regular basis.

Speaker 2: 12:27

And, as we're talking about this, I'm curious about what's your thoughts on this, because what you said was that one of the things that really helped you grow was having these mentors that spoke truth to you but then also invested in your growth essentially. But I know that you had to be a person that was open to that investment of that person and I know you said the first thing that you did when you're given that performance review was ask and say, hey, I need help, and I think that is hard for a lot of people, for most people, even for myself at times. I'll go ahead and put myself on that continuum. But what would you say when people are trying to seek out and be intentional about having these five people that are going to average and level you up and elevate you as a person? What do you think a person needs to have so they can be coachable and be able to be invested in? Because I'm sure your mentor could have. If you would have reacted differently, they might have been like, nope, not taking my time to address.

Speaker 1: 13:30

If I look at some of the model that I teach with regards to my coaching model, the first step is making a choice, having a desire to grow, and so, early on in the journey, it's understanding where you want to be in the future, and for me, that was very important. Let me use a story example from my fitness journey as well. You have to get to the point where you're sick and tired of being sick and tired, and I had a health scare about six or seven years ago and it was something that I said. I really need to make a choice to be different. If I'm going to watch my adult children grow up, potentially have grandchildren in the future, and I want to be able to roll around on the ground with them, and if I have a granddaughter, having a tea party with her or being able to shoot basketball with a grandson, however that works out, I need to make a change in my life, and it wasn't something that it was going to be through a magazine or something else. I had absolutely needed to understand that if I was going to grow and where I needed to be, that I was going to need somebody else that was better than me in that journey to help me get there. I think it's very important as leaders and it's always a challenge. I get caught up in a lot of John isms, but if you find yourself in a room all the time and you're the smartest person in the room all the time, you're probably in the wrong room. I don't know if you're wrong.

Speaker 2: 14:43

Yeah, get a different room, get a different room.

Speaker 1: 14:47

I don't always do a good job of that. I would have to say that I have to choose to be that way. I like the success that goes along with some of the things that are going there, but I have to realize that there's no point that retirement is in my vocabulary or what that means, and so if I'm going to continuously grow, then I have to seek out people that are better than me at what they do so that I can continuously grow.

Speaker 2: 15:11

Yeah, and that is true. I think sometimes we often stay in our rooms, right, that we're familiar with, because it's comfortable. And getting in a room with other people that may be five, 10 steps ahead of you in this certain area that you're seeking their guidance on, it can be a little unsettling or, you know, it can cause discomfort at times because you're like am I supposed to be here? I don't know if you've ever had that experience where you've went into a room. I know I have a people that I just in my mind perceive have like figured out something that I want to figure out. And I'm in there and I'm like this is amazing to be here, but at the same time I am scared as all get out. But I'm just going to go ask some good questions and hopefully I'll learn some stuff in the process.

Speaker 1: 15:58

I don't know if you ever had that experience or not, but absolutely, I mean, I think again, if those who are committing to growth, if they're not feeling that, then they're probably lying to you in terms of what they're doing. But I would say this there have been opportunities for me, and I've listened to your other podcast and I appreciate what you're doing in terms of inspiring possible. That's in there, that there's a mindset that we have to have as leaders. That is positive, because we do have that inner critic that will exist, or whatever. It is the little one that sits on our shoulder that tells us we're not worthy, and that's just not true. And one of the favorite books that I've read is called the four eight principle, and it focuses right from Philippians four eight, where it talks about whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy. Think on those things. So we have to have a positive mindset. Oftentimes, though, folks stop at that point in time, and it's verse four nine where the excellence really happens, though, in that space, and that's when we talks about now. Go out there and use what you've learned. Go out there and use what you've thought about. Okay, do not rest on what you're thinking. It's much easier to act your way into a new way of thinking than it is to think your way a new way of acting. And if we get caught just sitting there thinking positive thoughts thinking positive thoughts is a very good thing, but if we don't act on that and make a difference, then we're going to be in the same spot, and that includes being in that room that you're talking about, with people like do I really need to be here? But no, it's understanding that I am on a growth trajectory and I need to go, build relationships with these individuals and think positive that I do belong in this room and I'm going to get better so I can do some of the things that they do. Absolutely.

Speaker 2: 17:37

Yeah, and I think we have to be brave enough. Kind of what I'm hearing you talk about is we have to be brave enough to ask the questions and put ourselves in the room. I love how you brought up that verse, because I've thought of that verse very often and even in my work as a therapist. You know there's a lot of interchange in that verse because it really what you think on and dwell on and allow into your head or who you surround yourself with, really does shape a lot of the narrative of what you believe about yourself, other people, the world around you. And it can be very limiting if you don't put action. So you can work on shifting the thoughts and thinking positive. But I love how you said that if you don't go and take some action that's aligned with that thinking, then it's so easy to fall right back in to those old ways of thinking that we are just so familiar with.

Speaker 1: 18:32

Right and I think there's two really most called disciplines that I teach on a regular basis that make that happen. So once we've made the choice, once we understand, we made the mindset and we've drawn the path, when our thoughts and in our design what we need to do, then it's a matter of executing that or deploying that and saying what are the daily disciplines I need to do? Weekly disciplines, monthly disciplines to get things done, and are they on my calendar? And then finally, at the end of some time period, am I reflecting and saying am I actually doing those? What's going well and what isn't going well? So, dwelling or reflecting on those activities intentionally and saying what do I need to do differently to make this happen, because I believe that these actions are going to make me better? But if I'm not actually making those happen whether there's distraction that's getting my way or I've just chosen not to do them because I'm lazy, that's all on us. That's not on a coach, it's not on a leader, it's not on a therapist to make something or counselor to make things happen. That's on us as individuals to take responsibility for our actions and do those things.

Speaker 2: 19:30

Speaking of distractions, I feel that when people are trying to create this positive change in their life or they're going towards something I know for even me personally, it is very easy to get distracted. I used to always say that I have the real bad squirrel.

Speaker 1: 19:50

They're going to squirrel Right gone done.

Speaker 2: 19:54

Like squirrel right over there. I don't know what you'd call it squirrel distraction. I'm like big on the squirrel.

Speaker 1: 19:58

This is one of the biggest squirrels in the world. There's no doubt about it. Is this little thing that we carry around in our pockets all the time? Yes, the voice, Hello.

Speaker 2: 20:04

I know I remember growing up. I'm so thankful I grew up in the generation where these weren't there until I got to about college. But then some days I'm like I love it but I also wish it wouldn't be here, this lovely little device we carry around in our pocket. But how do people Let go of some of these distractions or find ways to still be able to stay intentional when we live in a world full of distractions? Wow.

Speaker 1: 20:32

What a great question. I mean, I think about this, you know. Going back to your thoughts, okay, and if you truly are thinking positive thoughts, then that's and that drives your behaviors. If your thoughts are driving your behaviors, look, we are what we consume. Take a look at what we have the potential to consume on a daily basis on the Squawk box television set. That is really not a good thing for us to go forward through that. For the books that we tend to read, again, what are we reading? You mentioned already the people that we hang out with. Oh, frankly, again this little phone right here and tracking how much time we end up spending on this, looking down rather than looking up at the people that we're talking to. Those distractions are not. They're easy to get into the bad habits and unfortunately, our brain doesn't know the difference between a bad habit and a good habit. It just knows it's a habit. We've got to replace that bad habit with something else. We've got to take that time on our calendar to again to intentionally plan something else that can be positive. So, rather than investing time going to sit down in front of the TV, I need to put the keys in my hand and get in my car and drive to the gym to make that happen. But that's why you need that accountability person to help you. I mean, certainly, as individuals we should be able to do certain things on our own. And you know, I mean the fitness industry or the nutrition industry and the number of diets that are out there where people lose a lot of weight and then they put twice the weight back on again. It's because we're not changing our lifestyle to make those things happen. So they have to move toward lifestyle changes, both in the way we study, the way we read, the way we eat, the way we exercise. That becomes part of who they are. It's the moving from the doing into being. It's what I do versus who I am. And if we're not moving in that direction and having someone help to tell us that we need to grow, that we need to get better, back to that whole truth statement says and I don't like where you're hanging out, we're going to fall back into those bad habits again. So I don't. I think the distractions are always there. I mean the challenge is to not put them in the room. I've heard folks talk about putting their remote control, you know, in the bedroom so they can't turn this EV on on a regular basis, or you know you don't buy the food and put it in your house, or you only buy single servings amounts. There's so many different things. We can make it a lifestyle to make those things easier for us. But let's, let's be truthful, it's really as a simple equation to go forward in a nutrition world. If I burn more calories than I take in, I'm probably going to lose weight. Simple equation, but don't mistake simple with easy.

Speaker 2: 22:58

With easy, exactly. So that's where I guess, when you're talking about accountability, that's where accountability is so valuable. I know for me, and I'm hearing from you, that that's something that's been transformative for you. For me, I had to get to a point to realize that, yes, my, I have some willpower, but my willpower is sometime limited by my feelings. Sure Right, so if I wake up in the morning and I'm not feeling like going to the gym or I can think about the place that I go work out pretty much most of the days, the five days a week, and every time I see the workout I'm like I don't feel like doing any of this. They want me to run, like today. They wanted me to jump over this box, they wanted me to lift this thing over my head. I mean, it was kind of crazy stuff. I'm like do I pay these people? But you know what I pay them for? Accountability.

Speaker 1: 23:50

Yeah, so you put that. You put some skin in the game. Absolutely.

Speaker 2: 23:53

If you didn't pay them and they do that teaching.

Speaker 1: 23:54

You say I don't need to be there for that. I mean I can sleep in a little bit longer, hit the snooze two or three more times, absolutely. So you got to have skin in the game, and that's part of the accountability side as well. Often think, though I love the analogy inside of the fitness, but I would have, I would have hashtags with my friends that say I hate doing it, love having done it. Okay In terms of when I'm done. I know when I'm done I'm going to feel better, and so motivation is so hard to measure. Okay, but discipline isn't Discipline. You can measure. Did I do the exercise five times a week or not, whether or not I was motivated. You know I often talk about my leadership, standard work as I teach. It's doing what I need to do when I need to do it, even when I don't feel like doing it. But there's an output so that I can do what I want to do when I want to do it with who I want to do it with. I mean so if we keep that why in front of us and that's so that statement that I like to refer to pretty often then it's not about motivation. Once again, if there are 90% of the human beings in the country say that I love to work out, I love to go to the gym, they're lying to you, but they know that they lie. Yeah, they absolutely lie to you, and so that's okay. But you show me on your calendar where you were using the discipline to create what you want to create with regards to that story, that, so that you can accomplish something that you want to accomplish.

Speaker 2: 25:11

Yeah, and like you said, it's that simple, but it's not that easy, but it is worth it right, absolutely. And when you do have that ability that you can do that, so that I can, and you've shown up consistently then there's no greater in my mind, sometimes feeling I might not feel like doing all the things that are in the input, but then when I get the output I'm like this is where it's at, but so many times we want to not have as much input and we want the output.

Speaker 1: 25:50

Yes, but it's the same thing what you put in comes out.

Speaker 2: 25:54

Yeah, yeah, disclaimer I'm sorry if you're listening today and you were hoping to find a silver bullet in this episode. Yeah, that, we are not giving it to you.

Speaker 1: 26:04

I'm guilty of it with books. Okay, in terms of man, I see the title of that book. I'm like that's the one, that's the one that's going to change me right now. And I read it I'm like, yeah, there's probably some good things there, but frankly, that's just another way to talk about the seven habits of highly effective people. You know, it's just another way that says I have to do something about it to make something good happen.

Speaker 2: 26:25

Yes, thank you, john. Thank you for staying that, because do you know how many books you can't see it right now that I have sitting in front of me and I'm like man, that sounds so good. Strategy, the common path to uncommon success. Greatness, my son.

Speaker 1: 26:41

You read that one the common path to uncommon success. That's a good one. I have it sitting up here right now. I just used it to help teach a class.

Speaker 2: 26:45

Do you? I haven't. Well, let me tell you how I read, john, and I'm going to normalize this for anybody else who reads like this, that's listening. I read in stages and phases, so I'll read part of it and then I'll go about my life and then I'll pick it up again another part. But it's funny because my friends will always say, christy, you're always reading a book and I'm like, yeah, the first two chapters. But I get the concept and then I come back when I need it and I know what it's about. I think I got halfway through that two summers ago, but I put it in front of me because I want to read it. Finish reading.

Speaker 1: 27:20

Well, let me give you that. You don't need any unsolicited advice, I'm sure, but the method that I use and it isn't for everybody. There's two things that I have. One is accountability again. So we have our guys' group. There's five of us in the group and we'll text each other every day whether or not we did a reading for the day. So it's just a picture oh, I love that. It's just an emoji of a book or whatever it is, and we know if we got one guy that's falling off for three or four days, we just check in with him, say, hey, what's going on? I have a goal to read 24 books this year. It would be double the number of books that I read last year. And it's not the number of books, it is, it's the. I believe it's the discipline that really goes into it. And again, creating that habit but I'll read 10 pages a day is what my goal is in the morning, 10 pages in the evening of a separate book. Most books I don't know how many are in John Lee Dumas' book there I'm a comment path, I'm common success are around 220 to 250 pages. So if I can read 10 pages a day, which usually takes me somewhere in the neighborhood of eight to 10 minutes. Then I can accomplish that goal by reading two books a month. It's worked well so far this year as a discipline. Now the other side of that again, as you know this, and even when you put them back down is if that book's not driving me to action, then it's really just checking a box and saying I'm reading a book, but what is different when I'm done reading the book, what is different about what I'll do? I will undertake one of those suggestions in that book and make it part of my run as an experiment and make it part of my leader's stand to work. So that's really important as you read through books as well. So what are?

Speaker 2: 28:44

those. Yeah, I like that Well and I know the why behind reading books for me, but even though I read it very scatter. But, john, what is the why behind reading books for you and why do you think it's important?

Speaker 1: 28:54

to read. Well again, if I have intentional growth. One of the methodologies in which I do that intentional growth is investing in reading from authors that are a lot smarter than I am. There's no doubt about it. So I have folks, friends, who suggest books to me to really grow. One of the ones that I've appreciated the most, that I never thought I would like and I finished up and I'm going through again is Think Like a Rocket Scientist from and I don't even know how to say it was that, but I'll say it was that last name. But a fascinating book that I went through changed my thinking in a big way in terms of how I go into facilitate consulting sessions that I do. So I think there's experiments that I've used from that book. So for me, going back to that healthy discontent with the status quo is I have a continuous learning mindset. I will have books that I won't finish. I'll put them down. If it's not clicking with me, I will put one of those books down and I may try it again later on. But I have to admit I'm a bit of a book snob and if it's not resonating with me I won't painstakingly take myself through the book. I'll start another one.

Speaker 2: 29:56

Well, listen, john, if I ever write a book, I'm going to send it to you and you need to be honest with me with that truth, and if you have to put it down, you just say, christy, no you need to go back.

Speaker 1: 30:07

So get it to me before you print all those books out and make all the choices.

Speaker 2: 30:11

I like what you said about how to take something and then, after you read it, at least find one action step that you could implement, because I love reading, because I just get such a different we're talking about what you fix your mind on right, and when you get different perspectives, opinions, thoughts, ideas that you've never considered in ways that you've never considered, it really can help you move the needle forward and back to what we were talking about being in the room. It is the cheapest way to get in the room with somebody that you want to learn from, absolutely.

Speaker 1: 30:45

Right, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 30:46

I mean, you may not be able to dialogue with them, but you get so much from their thought processes, their experiences and then what's worked for them in whatever they're writing on to help move the needle forward for whatever it is that you're trying to create.

Speaker 1: 31:00

One of the podcasts I listened to on a regular basis is Ed Mylet's podcast, and he wrote the book. I think it was last year, the Power of One More that I went through, but he talks about become friends with the author of the book that you're reading, because you and then I had another coach Again.

Speaker 2: 31:17

I'm full of.

Speaker 1: 31:18

I have very little original stuff inside of my coaching. I have compiled and aggregated many things that I've been taught over the years, but my first executive coach said John, I want to challenge you Don't read a book to agree or disagree with what that book says, but just read the book to learn and to find somebody's different perspective. And I tell you that was life changing for me, and I was 15 years ago when he told me that because I would. I don't agree with anything this person says. This author says I'm putting this book down and not learn again. That was selfish on my part as I, and again it's been. A transformation for me is to really just just read. To learn Doesn't mean I go out there and read biographies of people. I don't want to know anything about this, not what I do. There are topics that I focus on in leadership that are aligned with the coaching model that I teach or the core values that I have, and so I don't. I don't choose books that aren't generally aligned with that, but I try to read to learn a different perspective as well, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 32:14

Yeah, well, it's just taking that one nugget because it's interesting that you brought up Ed and my let the power of one more. I actually haven't read the book, but I've heard him speak on it a few times when he was interviewing for it and just today as I was in the gym as we were talking about it. It just that one thing stuck with me like one more, because I really wanted to quit at one point, that I was like no, what does Ed say?

Speaker 1: 32:38

Yep, just one more One more, just do one more. Just do one more rep or whatever it is. One more page.

Speaker 2: 32:43

One more, whatever Don't sell, and really what he talks about I remember in the interview and I hope this is what he said in the book, but it was, you know, do it's more for you to push yourself to do that one more and most people they'll go to what's expected. Right, if they come in and say this is what's expected of you, most people can say, okay, well, I'll try to meet that expectation. But just being able to say okay, I'm going to meet that expectation and I'm going to do one more, it really does pay off in the end with developing a mindset that helps you go the distance and whatever you're trying to do in life.

Speaker 1: 33:20

Chris, you're spot on, and he did say that in the book. Absolutely so if you do get a, chance.

Speaker 2: 33:24

Oh, he had an even bigger book.

Speaker 1: 33:25

Look most of his. He did some podcast interviews when he was on that book tour and it was spot on in terms of, you know, understanding what was inside the book, what I love about listening to it and I'm a podcast fan as well I love about listening to the podcast or listening to a speaker and then when I read the book, like I'm reading the book in their voice. I really appreciate that, and if I've seen them speak before, then I see them talking as well when I'm reading the words, and that's part of that making a friend with the author. But I think it can be pretty powerful when you've had a chance to hear them also. I mean a good podcast and I, christy you got to stick with this one. at least one more, it's going to be good podcast.

Speaker 2: 34:03

People need your message. Speaking of another good podcast, there is this other podcast I heard about called the Uncommon Leader podcast.

Speaker 1: 34:11

Yes, that is one that I think is pretty good that folks should take a look at or listen to.

Speaker 2: 34:17

Yeah, that's right. Well, I have one more question for you, john, before we wrap up today. But I'm curious if you were to go back and give advice or tell your younger self some words of wisdom, to say, hey, this is what I think you should do, or this is what advice I'd give you, so that you can create possibilities for your life, but also grow champions. What would you tell a younger?

Speaker 1: 34:46

How far back do I go to my younger? You?

Speaker 2: 34:48

You can pick.

Speaker 1: 34:49

Personality.

Speaker 2: 34:50

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 34:52

So you know, there was a time when I sat through, I was having a pizza dinner with one of my bosses and I took him through this idea I had and I didn't have growing champions in the title at the time, but I had this picture of a tree. It was an event I had gone to back in 2009 and started to codify some of the what I would call frameworks today I didn't know what to call them back then, but some of my thoughts and ideas about who I was as a leader and who I wanted to make an impact on. So let's go back 15 years in terms of that person, and I sat down with my boss and took him through that presentation, if you will, in terms of what my thoughts were. I was working for a large company at the time and I said look, these are the types of things that I'd like to teach inside of the organization. Would it be possible for me to teach some of that? He said, John, I think these are some great things. There's no doubt about it and I don't think you can teach them here. It just wasn't part of that company. That was there, and I really regret the strong word, but I tucked that away and you've talked about this before in terms of limiting beliefs because I was nervous to get things started on my own to really make that happen. I didn't know 15 years ago what it meant really to be an entrepreneur. I had two young children they were coming up through school and was just nervous about it. I had that fear. But I would say that if I had advice to that younger person 15 years ago and I still wasn't young at that point in time would be to trust your heart, because I knew it was right and I've started 10 years later, so I have some catch up to do but just trust your heart in terms of following where you are and not settle. That's that limiting belief that exists. I mean, I had that mantra I told you about that in a note that I sent to you before a mantra in 2021, not to have any limiting beliefs, and that's a muscle that I always have to exercise, Going back to when I was a kid. You wouldn't necessarily have a lot. I had this conversation with my mom just a couple of nights ago. We talked about when we got our summer clothes. We laid them away at the Hills Department Store in Wintersville, Ohio. We didn't go out and buy things, like we did today, any time we wanted to. It was like getting ready for the summer. You get your four pair of shorts and your four shirts for the summer and that was what you got, and so there was that mindset of scarcity that existed for me. That really was. Now this is an abundance mindset. I got to learn to have confidence in myself and move forward, and there's a lot of opportunity out there, so trust your heart.

Speaker 2: 37:17

Yeah Well, john, I wanted to just acknowledge you and appreciate you for trusting your heart. I know it might have not been as soon as you, in hindsight, wish you would have, but you did end up trusting your heart, which is why you're here today. But appreciate you coming on and just talking about how encouraging all of us not to settle in a lot of ways and then be able to lean into truth so that we can grow and become not only effective and transformed of leaders, but that, hopefully, will all be a part of that greatest what did you call it? The greatest story.

Speaker 1: 37:55

Greatest story ever told, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 37:57

Greatest story ever told, and so well, if people want to connect with you or find out more about you or listen to this cool podcast we were talking about, where can they find you at, John?

Speaker 1: 38:10

Christie, thank you so much for the opportunity to be on your podcast today. You're doing well and do one more. Whatever you got to do to go there, you're doing some good things. Folks need to hear this message and don't let any inner critic tell you that there's already too many other podcasts like this out there, because your audience needs to hear it, and I appreciate having the opportunity to just share just a little bit about who I am. Having said that, if individuals who are listening want to learn a little bit more about me, then go to my website at coachjohngallaghercom and there's a few things they can do. They can find the blog that I write, a weekly newsletter called the Champion's Brew, a link to the Uncommon Leader podcast that's on there as well, and then, finally, if they have any interest in the coaching model that I use, feel free to set up a free call with me that they can go a 30-minute call and learn a little bit more about what we can do from a coaching and consulting standpoint.

Speaker 2: 38:56

All right, well, awesome. Thank you, john for being on today, and I'm excited about us. I'll go on to write our greatest story ever told. And so, guys, I hope you took some valuable things from our conversation today and if there was something that stood out to you, definitely reach out to John. Let him know what kind of hit you, or reach out to me and let me know what kind of inspired you.

Speaker 1: 39:27

Well, that's all for today's episode of the Uncommon Leader podcast. Thanks for listening in. Please take just a minute to share this podcast with that someone you know that you thought of when you heard this episode. One of the most valuable things you can do is to rate the podcast and leave a review. You can do that on Apple Podcasts or you can rate the podcast on Spotify or any other platform you listen. Until next time, go and grow champions.