TLP022: Harness Time and Engage Your Employees for Maximum Impact

Co-hosts Jan Rutherford and Jim Vaselopulos interview Kevin Kruse, a keynote speaker, leadership expert, entrepreneur, NYT bestselling author of six books, and host of the very popular Extreme Productivity podcast. Kevin is one of the most read leadership columnists on Forbes. As a keynote speaker and performance coach, Kevin has worked with fortune 500 CEOs, start-up founders, the United States Marine Corps, and nonprofit leaders. Jan and Jim talk with Kevin about his mentors, his development, his mission to provide life-changing hope and knowledge so that other people can fulfill their potential, and his methods of success. Listen in to learn how to transform your focus from chasing money to providing effective service. Key Takeaways [6:39] You have to get through a bunch of noes to get to a yes. [8:40] Most people aren't even able or willing to make the extra commitment to follow up and establish a meaningful connection. [9:19] Which famous billionaire lives by a to-do list, and said he just didn't have the time to learn to use a calendar? [14:15] Kevin tells of his transition from chasing and achieving monetary goals that disappointed, to choosing and accomplishing purposeful objectives that fulfilled. [18:04] The simple secret Ken Blanchard shared with Kevin that changed his life. [18:48] How every day, Kevin wants to make sure he's providing life-changing hope and knowledge, so that other people can fulfill their potential. [23:20] Kevin praises his mentors — from a seventh grade teacher to a CEO who carefully and effectively mentored him. [28:03] Kevin usually encounters leaders at the top of the organization that have always had and continue to have a lot of flaws — they just play to their strengths. [30:44] Why slowing down and doing less will make you more effective. [35:15] Whatever the metric is, be clear on that standard and don't waver. But at the same time, don't be rude, mean, inconsiderate or authoritarian in your workplace style. Books Mentioned on the Show 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management: The Productivity Habits of 7 Billionaires, 13 Olympic Athletes, 29 Straight-A Students, and 239 Entrepreneurs, by Kevin Kruse Employee Engagement 2.0: How to Motivate Your Team for High Performance (A Real-World Guide for Busy Managers), by Kevin Kruse Why is Everyone Smiling? The Secret Behind Passion, Productivity, and Profit, by Paul Spiegelman What Got You Here Won't Get You There: A Round Table Comic: How Successful People Become Even More Successful, book by Marshall Goldsmith Slow Down to Speed Up: How to manage your time and rebalance your life, by Lothar J. Seiwert and Anne McGee-Cooper The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich, by Timothy Ferriss TouchPoints: Creating Powerful Leadership Connections in the Smallest of Moments, by Doug Conant and Mette Norgaard Bio Kevin Kruse is a keynote speaker, leadership expert, entrepreneur, podcast host dispensing nuggets of pure wisdom, and NYT bestselling author of six books, including 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management, and Employee Engagement 2.0. Over the last 20 years, he has started and co-founded several multi-million dollar companies, which have won awards from the Inc. 500, as well as Employee Engagement being the Number 4 Best Place to Work in PA. Website: Productivity-podcast.com Website: Kevinkruse.com