080: Ryan Estis – From Rock Star Sales Professional To World Class Speaker & Entrepreneur

Dec 14, 2015

Ryan Estis, former chief strategy officer for McCann Worldgroup and a renowned keynote speaker, shares his journey from top sales professional to influential educator. He discusses how external events can spur personal growth and the traits that foster sustained excellence. Ryan emphasizes continuous learning, the significance of strategic financial management, and actionable strategies for aspiring speakers. He also highlights the challenges of balancing travel and leadership while maintaining meaningful connections in the industry.

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INSIGHT

Key Traits of High Achievers

High achievers stay curious and constantly seek to learn and improve.
They also carefully choose the five people they spend the most time with to influence their success.

ANECDOTE

Jim Rohn Seminar Changed Career

At 23, Ryan Estis was on the verge of getting fired from his first sales job.
Attending a Jim Rohn seminar sparked his passion for self-education and catapulted his career growth.

ANECDOTE

Leaving Security During Recession

Ryan left a secure Fortune 500 job during the Great Recession to start his own business.
Despite financial uncertainty and skepticism from others, he views it as one of his best decisions ever.

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Wealthy Speaker 2. 0

Catherine Leek

Jane Atkinson

In 'The Wealthy Speaker 2.0', Jane Atkinson and Catherine Leek provide a detailed framework for speakers to establish and grow a successful speaking business. The book offers practical advice on marketing, networking, and financial management tailored for professional speakers.

Steal the Show

From Speeches to Job Interviews to Deal-Closing Pitches, How to Guarantee a Standing Ovation for All the Performances in Your Life

Michael Port

Michael Port's "Steal the Show" is a comprehensive guide to delivering captivating presentations. The book emphasizes the importance of storytelling, authenticity, and connecting with the audience on an emotional level. It provides practical techniques for structuring presentations, managing nerves, and handling unexpected situations. Port's approach focuses on transforming presentations from mere information delivery into engaging experiences that resonate with the audience. The book is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their presentation skills, whether in business, education, or any other field.

Think and Grow Rich

Napoleon Hill

Published in 1937, 'Think and Grow Rich' is a seminal work in the self-help genre. The book is the result of over twenty years of research by Napoleon Hill, who studied the habits and achievements of more than 500 successful individuals, including Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford. Hill distills their wisdom into thirteen principles that, when practiced with persistence and faith, can transform dreams into reality. These principles include the power of desire, faith, specialized knowledge, organized planning, and the role of the subconscious mind. The book emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive mental attitude, setting clear and specific goals, and taking consistent action to achieve success. It also explores the concept of the 'Master Mind' alliance and the need to overcome fears and doubts to achieve one's objectives.

The Richest Man in Babylon

George Clason

This book, written by George S. Clason, uses a series of parables to convey fundamental principles of personal finance and wealth accumulation. Published in 1926, it remains highly relevant today, offering practical advice on saving, investing, budgeting, and financial discipline. The parables are engaging and easy to understand, making complex financial concepts accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Key principles include paying yourself first, living within your means, and making money work for you through wise investments. Despite its historical setting, the book's core lessons are adaptable to modern financial practices and have had a profound impact on countless readers worldwide.

The Greatest Salesman in the World

Og Mandino

The book tells the story of Hafid, a young man living in ancient Jerusalem, who learns the secrets of success from a wealthy trader through 10 ancient scrolls. These scrolls contain principles such as forming good habits, persisting until success, controlling emotions, and acting now. The book emphasizes that becoming a better person is key to achieving success in sales and life. It is known for its inspiring and motivating principles, which are relevant even today, and has been credited with changing the lives of many readers.

The 4 Hour Workweek

Timothy Ferriss

In 'The 4-Hour Workweek', Timothy Ferriss presents a step-by-step guide to 'lifestyle design', encouraging readers to question the traditional notion of retirement and instead create a lifestyle that prioritizes freedom, adventure, and personal growth. The book teaches how to outsource life tasks, automate income, and eliminate unnecessary work using principles like the 80/20 rule and Parkinson’s Law. Ferriss shares his personal journey from a corporate workaholic to a location-independent entrepreneur and provides practical tips and case studies to help readers achieve similar results. The book emphasizes the importance of focusing on high-value activities, taking 'mini-retirements', and living life to the fullest in the present rather than deferring enjoyment until retirement.

Episode 080: Ryan Estis – From Rock Star Sales Professional To World Class Speaker & Entrepreneur

Ryan Estis has that “It” factor. He’s a leader who you just feel compelled to listen to. This conversation/interview was extremely enjoyable for me. Ryan brought value the entire time and has a knack for sharing actionable content throughout all of his conversations. We are fortunate to have him as our featured leader on this episode of The Learning Leader Show.

Ryan Estis has more than 20 years of experience as a top-performing sales professional and leader. As the former chief strategy officer for the McCann Worldgroup advertising agency NAS, he brings a fresh perspective to business events. As a keynote speaker, Ryan is known for his innovative ideas on leading change, improving sales effectiveness and preparing for the future of work. He was recently recognized as one of “the best keynote speakers ever heard” by Meetings & Conventions magazine alongside Tony Robbins, Bill Gates, Colin Powell and Mike Ditka.

Ryan supports the world’s leading brands, including Liberty Mutual, Darden Restaurants, Goodyear, the Dallas Cowboys, Medtronic, ECCO USA and Blue Cross Blue Shield. He is a faculty member for the Institute of Management Studies, a member of the SmartBrief on Workforce Advisory Board and a certified Human Capital Strategist.

Episode 080: Ryan Estis – From Rock Star Sales Professional To World Class Speaker & Entrepreneur

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“Be Careful About Getting Too Good At The Wrong Things.”

The Learning Leader Show

Some Questions I Ask:

What are the common characteristics of high achievers?
What is your origin story?
How were you able to leave your “rocket ship” type career to be an entrepreneur?
Discuss the importance of leaping outside your comfort zone…
What’s the process to become a paid speaker?
How do we implement and execute on our learnings?
What are 3 things I could do within 30 days to help build out my speaking business?
What are some of the key life lessons you’ve learned from your experiences?
How do you define a “Learning Leader?”

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

The importance of curiosity and focus on self-improvement
You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with
Great books: Think and Grow Rich & The Richest Man In Babylon
Hitting Reset and how that can help you grow
Implementation of coaching you receive
Specific tips to create a speaking business
Being willing and able to adapt on a daily basis

“Leaders are learners. They are constantly looking to level shift and improve.”

Continue Learning:

Go To Ryan’s website: RyanEstis.com
Read his Washington Speaker’s Bureau Page: Washington Speakers
Follow Ryan on Twitter: @RyanEstis