Carson V. Heady's Blog, page 47

New to Management? Congratulations! Here’s how to Guarantee Success

Taking on a new team can be both exciting and overwhelming. It is essential to remember that every team is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing them. However, there are some things you can do to set yourself up for success.

First and foremost, spend time getting to know your team. Understand what motivates them, what their goals are, and what they expect from you. Ask them what is working and what is not working in their current process. Then work with them proactively to fix those things. You want to build consensus with your team and get their buy-in on the course of action you set out on together. Knowing their why, helping them form a path to their goals and working together to get there sets the right foundation of trust and transparency.

Avoid the temptation to come in and make immediate changes. Although you may have a wealth of experience to bring to the table, your team may not be ready to embrace your ideas yet. Take the time to build trust and earn their respect before implementing any major changes. They earned the right to their seat; know their superpowers, how you and they complement each other and what help should look like.

To influence positive change with your team, use available metrics and processes to help diagnose potential gaps in their current methods – with them. It’s best to articulate the nuances of the process and have them draw the conclusion, while also realizing what positive change could mean as they work towards their goals. Explain to them why change is necessary and how it will benefit them in the long run. Find out what motivates them, whether it is a promotion, more money, or the desire to retire from the company. Use their motivation as the driving force to help them see why they should change.

Remember that your job as a leader is to help your team be successful. Figure out exactly what is keeping them from being successful and remove those variables from the equation. Take action on the items that they give you, do it quickly, and you will gain their respect and trust. They will see you as a person of action and someone who is there to serve and protect them.

Be communicative and responsive. Hold each other accountable for what you agree to do for each other. This is the only way the relationship works.

Finally, recognize your team and get them promoted! You are paid to be the advocate and evangelist of your people. The more diverse and dynamic of a team you build and coach, the more you will get them promoted and people will want to work for you.

Don’t be afraid to help your team members get promoted, even if it means your top players leave the team. Your job is to prepare them for the next level, help them be promoted from within, remove their barriers to success, and make them better. By doing this, you are not only helping your team be successful, but you are also building a strong foundation for the future of the company.

In conclusion, being a manager is an exciting and challenging role. By spending time getting to know your team, building trust and consensus, and using their motivation to sell change, you can set yourself up for success. Remember, your job is to help your team be successful, and by doing so, you are also building a better future for your company. Good luck!

So You Want a Promotion, Now What?

If you feel like you’re ready for the next step in your career, a promotion may be just what you need. However, it’s important to understand that getting a promotion requires more than just good results. In this post, we’ll explore some tips for how to prepare for a promotion and increase your chances of success.

Reflect on your body of work

The first step in preparing for a promotion is to reflect on your body of work. Make sure that it’s consistent with the narrative you want to project. Have you consistently performed at a high level? Do your results demonstrate your readiness for the next level? It’s important to be honest with yourself and assess whether your work aligns with the expectations of the next level.

Communicate your intentions and desires

Once you’ve assessed your readiness, it’s important to communicate your intentions and desires to the people that matter. This includes your manager, who will likely be a key player in your promotion. Make sure that they understand your goals and are supportive of your desire to move to the next level. Ask for their feedback and guidance on what you need to focus on in order to increase your chances of success.

Identify areas for improvement

In order to increase your chances of success, it’s important to identify areas for improvement. What are the skills or competencies that you need to develop in order to be successful at the next level? Make a plan for how you will develop these skills and seek out opportunities to gain experience in these areas.

Build relationships

Building relationships is critical for success in any organization. Take the time to build relationships with key players in the organization, including people who have done the role before, your boss’s boss, and others who may be part of the decision-making process. Reach out and ask for feedback and guidance, and be open to learning from their experiences.

Control the controllables

Finally, it’s important to focus on what you can control. There may be factors outside of your control that impact your chances of success, but focusing on what you can control will help you feel empowered and increase your chances of success. This includes your attitude, your work ethic, and your willingness to learn and grow.

In conclusion, getting a promotion requires more than just good results. It’s important to assess your readiness, communicate your intentions and desires, identify areas for improvement, build relationships, and focus on what you can control. By following these tips, you can increase your chances of success and achieve the promotion you desire.

Embracing Change: The Key to Resilience and Success in Life and Career

Circumstances can significantly change in an instant, and it’s easy to feel lost or overwhelmed. But I’ve learned that the key to success is adapting quickly to new situations and focusing on what we can control in the new landscape.

In the last few years, we have all found new ways to be connected and work.

We can’t replicate the past or bring back old jobs or lost friends or relationships. But we can take our key learnings and experiences and parlay them into progress.

It’s like hiking up a mountain that looks daunting as can be from the ground; we can only focus on landing one step at a time and moving forward. When we look back, we’ll see how far we’ve come, but we can’t stand still.

Resilience is key in both life and career. Remember, we can’t always control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond to it.

#resilience #adaptability #change #successmindset #growthmindset #professionaldevelopment #careeradvice #mindfulness #selfimprovement #newopportunities #keepmovingforward #nevergiveup #positivity #personaldevelopment #embracethejourney #mindsetshift #learnfromexperience #progressnotperfection #inspiration #career #sales #salespeople #leadership #management #growthmindset #lifelonglearner

Bringing Your A-Game: How to Perform at Your Peak During Times of Change and Uncertainty

We’ve all been there – struggling to bring our A-game to work every single day, especially during times of change, turmoil, and uncertainty. The truth is, it’s not always easy to perform at our best, especially when we’re facing challenges that are outside of our control. But, with the right mindset and approach, it’s possible to bring our best selves to work, day after day. In this post, we’ll explore some tips and strategies to help you perform at your peak, even during times of change and uncertainty.

Be Present and Mindful

One of the keys to performing at your peak is to be present and mindful in the moment. This means letting go of the baggage of the past, whether it’s a crushing defeat or a resounding victory, and focusing solely on the task at hand. This is easier said than done, of course, but with practice, it’s possible to develop a mindfulness practice that helps you stay focused and present in each moment.

Phil Jackson, the legendary NBA coach, espouses this approach in his coaching philosophy. He emphasizes the importance of being present in each moment, not letting past wins or losses cloud your judgment, and focusing solely on the task at hand. By being mindful and present, you can bring your best self to every moment, and perform at your peak.

Let Go of the Past, But Keep the Learnings

While it’s important to let go of the past and be present in the moment, it’s also important to keep the learnings from past experiences. Every experience, whether it’s a success or a failure, provides an opportunity to learn and grow. By taking the lessons learned from past experiences and applying them to future activities, you can continuously improve and refine your approach, and perform at an even higher level.

Do It for the Love of the Game

Finally, one of the keys to performing at your peak is to do it for the love of the game. Whether you’re a basketball player, a musician, or a salesperson, it’s important to infuse your passions into your work. When you do what you love, you’ll find that you’re more motivated, more engaged, and more likely to bring your best self to work every day.

In conclusion, performing at your peak during times of change and uncertainty requires a combination of mindfulness, focus, and passion. By being present in each moment, letting go of the past but keeping the learnings, and doing it for the love of the game, you can bring your A-game to work every day. Remember, nothing good or bad lasts forever, and with the right approach, you can weather any storm and come out stronger on the other side.

Finding Your Way Back: Steps to Overcoming Burnout and Rediscovering Yourself

Feeling burnout? Here are some steps I take to get back to the fundamentals and back to who I am.

Step 1: Acknowledge and express how you feel to trusted people.
Step 2: Prioritize non-negotiables. Focus on the big rocks and shift or pivot things that are not mission critical.
Step 3: Infuse your day with your passions and what refuels you. Reading, exercise, music.
Step 4: Be mindful of your overall wellbeing and don’t be afraid to ask for help if needed.

As leaders, we also need to set the tone for our organization’s culture by creating a safe space for employees to communicate about burnout.

Remember, it always gets better. Nothing good or bad lasts.

#BurnoutRecovery #BackToBasics #SelfCare #PrioritizeYourself #HealthyMindset #MentalHealthAwareness #PassionFuel #AskForHelp #SafeWorkplace #LeadershipByExample #WorkLifeBalance #HealthyWorkCulture #BetterDaysAhead #Wellbeing #Culture #Leadership #Management

All I Had to Do Was Ask: My Dream Interview with Heywood Gould, Author of ‘Cocktail’

All I had to do was ask.

For 20+ years, I’ve been a fan of the movie “Cocktail” written by Heywood Gould. It’s been my happy place. I love the soundtrack, the story, the acting, the silly one-liners and the characters. Watching the film often with my friend Jason Smith over the years, quoting it (and its infamous “Coughlin’s Laws”) has become a pastime. My wife Amy Heady has gotten me countless pieces of memorabilia from the film – the script, the Care Bear and dinosaur behind the bar, and even the books Tom Cruise’s character reads throughout.

Recently, I asked Heywood to be on my Salesman on Fire podcast. He said yes, and you can find the recording here: https://lnkd.in/etNDMjr6

Yes, dreams really do come true.

Heywood Gould is an author, screenwriter, and film director. Gould has written and directed nine films, including “One Good Cop” and “Fort Apache the Bronx,” and wrote the book and script for the film “Cocktail.” Gould initially had no plan for his career and wanted to write the Great American Novel. However, he met a story editor who took him to the producer of a TV show, which led to him writing episodes. Gould’s story shows how his career progressed without a plan, and how he ended up in the movie industry by accident.

Relationships and saying yes to opportunities and taking risks led to a successful career.

Heywood started working as a bartender and eventually wrote a novel about the world of bartending, “Cocktail.”

I wrote an article a few years ago about why Cocktail is one of the greatest sales films of all time: https://lnkd.in/eY5kpMtk

In the interview, Heywood speculates on what would be the Coughlin’s Laws of the 21st century, talks about potential themes of the long-awaited “Cocktail 2” (where Brian Flanagan has a son who is a bartender) and
how much of his success came down to coincidence and luck and that he still aspires to write the great American novel.

He tells numerous stories about his time with luminaries like Paul Newman, Tom Cruise and Bryan Brown.

We can learn a lot from the story and stories of Heywood Gould: life is a long series of choices and chances; putting value into the world, making good relationships and saying YES to opportunities.

#CocktailMovie #HeywoodGould #SalesmanOnFire #Opportunities #Relationships #Success #CareerGoals #Author #Screenwriter #FilmDirector #PaulNewman #TomCruise #Bartending #MovieSoundtrack #CoughlinsLaws #Storytelling #DreamsComeTrue #Luck #Coincidence #TheGreatAmericanNovel #BarTender #EntertainmentIndustry #CareerProgression #Writing #Sales #Podcast #Career #Lifelonglearner

Heywood Gould: An Unexpected Career & The Story of Cocktail – Salesman on Fire w/ Carson Heady

Sometimes, dreams come true. For years, I have loved the film Cocktail, written by Heywood Gould. Today, he is my guest on Salesman on Fire talking about an unexpected career, life lessons from Cocktail & amazing stories.

Check it out here: https://youtu.be/DyxK57zAvKc

Heywood is an author, screenwriter, and film director who has created, written and directed some iconic films, including One Good Cop, Fort Apache, The Bronx, and of course, Cocktail!

I wrote an article a few years ago about why Cocktail is one of the greatest sales films of all time: https://carsonvheady.wordpress.com/…/why-cocktail-is…/

In our conversation, Heywood shared some fascinating insights into his career, including how he stumbled into writing for the big screen, and what Cocktail really meant to him. We talked about the enduring legacy of the film, and how its themes and characters continue to resonate with audiences today.

He shares stories about working with Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown, and the legendary Paul Newman.

We also discussed some of the famous “Coughlin’s Laws” from the film, and Heywood even shared some new ones that he thinks Doug Coughlin might have added if he were still around today.

And for all you Cocktail fans out there, we also got a sneak peek into the much-anticipated sequel that Heywood has been working on!

If you’re a fan of Heywood’s work, or just love a good story about following your passions, you won’t want to miss this episode. Tune in now on Salesman on Fire!

#Cocktail #HeywoodGould #SalesmanOnFire #Screenwriting #FilmDirecting #TomCruise #PaulNewman #CareerJourney #LifeLessons #CoughlinsLaws #SequelTeaser #PassionProjects #FollowingYourDreams #LegacyFilms #MovieMaking #ArtOfScreenwriting #HollywoodInsider #BehindTheScenes #Sales #Career

Trusting in Your Preparation: Lessons from Running a Marathon & Sales – Jeff Kirchick & Carson Heady

Preparing for a marathon and sales have a lot in common. In a recent conversation between Jeff Kirchick and Carson Heady, the topic of “trust in your preparation” was discussed, and how it is crucial for both marathon runners and sales professionals to trust in their preparation.

Jeff, who is preparing for yet another Boston Marathon, talked about the importance of the tapering phase in marathon training. This is the period of time leading up to the race where runners start to reduce their mileage and allow their bodies to recover from the intense training they have done leading up to the race. Mentally, this can be challenging because runners may start to doubt whether they are ready for the race because they haven’t run a long distance in a while. However, Jeff emphasizes that this tapering phase is intentional and necessary, as runners need to trust in the preparation they have done leading up to the race.

Similarly, in sales, professionals need to trust in the little things they do every day to get them to where they need to be. When things get tough, it’s easy to panic and start pushing too hard, trying to force deals to close or customers to buy. However, this often backfires because it’s unnatural and can come across as pushy and desperate.

Instead, sales professionals need to remember what has made them successful historically and trust in their preparation. They need to have confidence in the process and the steps they take every day to build relationships, uncover needs, and provide solutions. This doesn’t mean they can’t make adjustments or pivot when necessary, but it does mean they don’t need to radically rewrite their process just because things aren’t going their way.

What’s also important is resilience and character. Like Jeff, who has faced unexpected challenges during his marathon training, sales professionals need to be prepared to face the unexpected and adapt to changing circumstances. This means being able to recalibrate and set new goals, even in the face of setbacks.

In summary, trusting in your preparation is crucial for both marathon runners and sales professionals. It’s important to have confidence in the process, trust in the little things you do every day, and be prepared to face the unexpected. By doing so, you’ll be better equipped to handle the pressure and achieve your goals.

Embrace the Truth: Challenging Limiting Beliefs for Leadership Growth – Taming Your Crocodiles

For whatever reasons, we may feel that we need to be perfect or constantly active in pursuit of results or we won’t be loved or appreciated. It’s important to challenge these beliefs and lead from a place of truth.

Author, leadership coach and speaker Hylke Faber joins Carson V. Heady on The Crocodile School Podcast to discuss. Check out the full discussion here: https://lnkd.in/efqc4DVt

Taming your crocodiles is all about challenging limiting beliefs and unlearned fears to unlock our leadership potential.

Is it true that we won’t be appreciated without results?

Is it true that what others say is impossible is truly so?

Our crocodiles – those negative voices that tell us we can’t achieve our goals – can be challenged or disected as we lean in to the voices of our owls, or internal wisdom. But we have to slow down or shrink our bubbles sometimes to drown out the noise to find space to do so.

Hylke tells us that the capital T truth is like a corkscrew – it helps to free ourselves from those things that are not true about ourselves, so that what is true can come to the foreground. We all have this universal capacity for truth, and we know when we think or say something that is true or not true.

We all have the capacity for truth, and it’s up to us to embrace it amidst what our crocodiles tell us and use it to become our best selves.

Taming Your Sales Crocodiles
Rick Gage
Olena Sergeeva

#LeadershipPotential #ChallengingBeliefs #TamingYourCrocodiles #InternalWisdom #CapitalTTruth #EmbraceTheTruth #PersonalGrowth #LimitingBeliefs #SelfImprovement #MindsetShift #LeadershipDevelopment #PositiveThinking #PodcastDiscussion #SelfDiscovery #SelfAwareness #Podcast #Leadership

Why Failure – and Failing Faster – are Important for Success – Jeff Kirchick & Carson Heady

Failure is often seen as a negative, but failing – and failing faster – is the best path to sustainable, long-term success.

Sales VP and author Jeff Kirchick joins Microsoft’s Carson V. Heady, author of Salesman on Fire to discuss.

Failure helps you learn when and how to pivot; Jeff and Carson share personal and career stories of how their greatest successes emerged from devastating losses at the time.

You cannot grow or learn unless you fail. Those with growth mindset view failure as an opportunity to become better.

Failing or getting to “no” faster means you spend more time on the solution, learning and growth than on proceeding toward blockers and obstacles.

Don’t be afraid to try new things and fail. Embrace failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. Take strategic risks and reach new heights!

#FailFast #GrowthMindset #OpportunityInFailure #StrategicRisk #LearnAndGrow #SuccessFromFailure #PivotToSuccess #SalesSuccess #AuthorTalks #EmbraceFailure #Sales #Growth #GrowthMindset #LifelongLearner #Success #Career #Learning #Mindset