The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

Ed Latimore, a best-selling author and former heavyweight boxer, shares wisdom on self-improvement and stoic philosophy. He emphasizes the importance of likability and emotional control, recounting how his character helped him succeed in tough scenarios. Ed discusses the necessity of taking responsibility for one's life and delivering value to others. He believes that with time and persistence, anyone can learn anything, contrasting this with the swift nature of setbacks. His journey highlights resilience, authenticity, and the transformative power of self-control.

Patrick Lencioni, a best-selling author renowned for 'The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,' introduces the transformative concept of the six types of working genius. He explains how identifying our unique strengths can significantly enhance workplace collaboration and productivity. Lencioni discusses the balance between innate talents and developed skills and the impact of recognizing diverse talents in leadership roles. Listeners will discover how aligning work with personal strengths can lead to greater fulfillment and improved team dynamics.

Arthur Blank, co-founder of The Home Depot and owner of the Atlanta Falcons, shares insights on values-driven leadership. He emphasizes that principles matter, shaped by lessons from his mother. Blank discusses the challenges of maintaining company culture during rapid growth, advocating for promoting values-driven leaders. His negotiation experience for the Falcons highlights win-win scenarios. He reflects on the importance of resilience, service, and fostering loyalty among team members, all while committed to continuous improvement in both business and community.

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com IG/Twitter: @RyanHawk12 Notes: The Learning Leader Show "Life is on the wire. The rest is just waiting." -- Karl Wallenda (Nik's grandfather)  “Fear of Feathers” -- One of the greatest fears of our current age: uncertainty. On March 4, 2020, Nik completed his greatest accomplishment to date, walking over the lava lake of the active Masaya Volcano.  On June 4, 2011, Nik Wallenda successfully completed the high wire walk in San Juan that took his grandfather’s life -- a 135-foot-long high-wire crossing between the two towers of the ten-story Condado Plaza Hotel. John Maxwell saw Nik speak at an event and encouraged him to write a book. Nik shares how his worst fear came true when five family members fell while doing a stunt. He thought, should I get back up on the wire? He learned from his family that they always fulfill their contracts. "I get goosebumps telling this story... My dad said, 'I'll always be there for you.'" "It's my job as the leader to figure out who's shaky and be there for them." Work to counter negativity with positivity and preparation. Nik's mother walked the wire when she was six months pregnant with him. "This is the way I came into the world. This is the way I want to go out." "One day you eat the chicken. The next day, you eat the feathers." "What you would call fear, I would call respect." "The worst thing you can do for a wild animal is show it fear. Show respect instead." "I never wear a harness unless my network partner makes me." The preparation process for a big event is meticulous and intense. He wears an oxygen deprivation mask to feel what it's like to not have a lot of oxygen. "It's all about building mental confidence." Make training much harder than the event "You cannot ever train enough." "If you think you should practice 5 times, do it 50 times." Excellence = A passion about being good at what you do Too many people are miserable at what they do. It's fear. "Even if you hate your job, do it with excellence." "You have to show up at work every single day." "Be positive, force yourself to smile." What is Nik thinking while walking over an active volcano? "I'm free, I'm excited, I have every emotion you can imagine." Alex Honold and David Blaine have become great friends and are very helpful.

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full notes at www.LearningLeader.com IG/Twitter: @RyanHawk12 Notes: Community — In Rome, Panaetius met a fellow student of Diogenes named Gaius Laelius, and later in a naval contingent, met and served with Scipio Aemilianus, one of Rome’s great Generals. These three men formed a kind of philosophical club — known to historians today as the Scipionic Club (like Ben Franklin’s Junto’s) — they would meet you discuss and debate the stoic philosophy they all pursued. Plutarch wrote in Moralia: Precepts of Stagecraft “it is a fine thing also, when we gain advantage from the friendship of great men, to turn welfare of our community, as Polybius and Panaetius, thru Scipio’s goodwill towards them, conferred great benefits upon their native states” Ryan participates in off site adventures with other top authors in the world like James Clear and Mark Manson. They go there to share ideas and help one another. He experienced another example of this as he was asked to speak to a group of the top athletic directors in collegiate sports. All of them are very competitive with each other, yet they still meet regularly to share ideas and help one another. Zeno had little patience for idlers or big egos on his porch -- "Stoa is the Greek word for porch." Zeno said “better to trip with the feet than with the tongue” He was the first to express the four virtues of stoicism Courage Temperance/Moderation Justice Wisdom Consistency -- “His work was not defined by some single epiphany or discovery but instead by hard work. He inched his way there, through years of study and training as we all must.” Zeno said “well being is realized by small steps, but is truly no small thing.” Cleanthes — he not only continued his labors but actively turned down large financial gifts to help him retire to his studies — to him labor and philosophy were not rivals. They were pursuits that furthered and enabled each other. The ancients used to describe his industriousness: philoponia - a love of work. Chrysippus, the third Leader is the stoic school. He was introduced to running and it changed his life. The same is true for Ryan... "A marathon doesn't care that you're tired at mile 20. You have to get to 26.2 to be done. Your mind wants to quit much earlier than your body has to." "When you think you're done, you're at 40%." - David Goggins The stoic idea of Oikeiosis - that we share something and our interests are naturally connected to those of our fellow humans — is as pressing in the ancient world as it is today. “Being poor is not having too little, it is wanting more.” Seneca Stay a Student -- The Maxim For Every Successful Person; ‘Always Stay A Student’ -- “Every man I meet is my master in some point, and in that I learn of him.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson. Genghis Khan one of the greatest military minds who ever lived, he was a perpetual student. How to find stillness? Stop watching the news Journal - Anne Frank wrote when she struggled: “Paper,” she said, “has more patience than people.” Go for a walk or run Seek solitude -- Bill Gates “think weeks” How to balance temperance and justice? Start by being better ourselves As a citizen, where do you draw the line? Particularly when it's not in your interest to do so... What are you willing to sacrifice to insist on your standard?   Epictetus’ instructions: Separate things into what you control and what you don’t Choose not to be complicit in getting offended Prep for adversity in advance Realize every situation has 2 handles—grab the right one Memento Mori—let death put everything in perspective “Writer’s block is a phony, made up BS excuse for not doing your work.” Jerry Seinfeld Life advice -- "Don't send me an email asking if you can ask me a question. Just ask the question." -- Ryan Holiday Be worthy of a great mentor... Do work that impresses them. Gets their attention. "Writing forces you to clarify your thinking..."

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #384: Les Brown - You've Got To Be Hungry Notes: "If you want to be successful in life, do these three things..." Change your mindset - “You don’t get in life what you want, you get in life what you are.” Practice OQP - “Only Quality People” Develop your communication skills - “Once you open your mouth, you tell the world who you are. Sidney Poitier wrote a book called The Measure of a Man and she said, “When you go for a walk with someone, something happens without being spoken. He said, “either you adjust to their pace or they adjust to your pace.” Think “Whose pace have you adjusted to? Les needed to disrupt the vision he had of himself in order to change... Distract Dispute Inspire Expand the vision of what's possible for life Mike Williams -- "The Road To Your Best Stuff" Keys to growth: Hire a coach Use your story to create an experience for your audience "Be transformed by the renewing of their minds." "You can't fit a big dream into a small mind." "We are here to live a life that will out live us." "The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why." - Mark Twain Les has battled cancer for 27 years... The beginning: When Les's mom worked for a white family, they would make her clap her hands regularly when she was alone in a different room to ensure she wasn't stealing anything. When Les learned why his mom always had to clap her hands together, he made it his mission to ensure that he would buy her a house one day... And eventually that's exactly what he did. Negative thoughts are like weeds. They'll keep coming back. You have to keep at it and have a positive mind. Every morning, Les takes the following action: Has a verbal (positive) affirmation Writes seven things he wants to do that day Reads 20-30 pages "There is power in pursuit... Set goals beyond your comfort zone." Have a perpetual plan of action "You're never too old to learn" "You're never too young to teach" "Don't ever stop raising the bar on yourself." There are three kinds of people: Millionaires, Billionaires, and Witnesses "You gotta be hungry." Thoreau - "Go where there's no path and leave a trail." What does Les think immediately before going on stage with 80,000 people in the crowd? "More of THE, less of ME." "When you wax a floor, you need to strip it first. The same is true with coaching." "Cancer Conquerors" -- "I don't have time to die, I've got too much work to do." Excellence: Durable, sustainable advantage. "I will not fail." All accomplishments happen in the mind first... And then in practice.

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #383: Guy Raz - How I Built This Excellence = Ambition Desire to produce for the sake of personal fulfillment -- "It's oxygen" Bill Gates is constantly challenging himself... Having a growth mindset. "To survive means to grow." How has Guy become one of the greatest interviewers in the world? "I've been shooting free throws for 25 years. I've gotten a lot of reps." To be great, you have to be bad at the beginning... And keep going. How to connect with others? "I interpret the non-verbal feedback." Purposeful Practice: It's a team effort -- "I've worked with my team for twenty years. There is a strong bond and connection. They are very honest with their feedback. Constructive criticism is essential. We need outsiders to assess us." Guy thanks his mom and dad in the acknowledgement section of his book: They came to America in the 1970's. "Being courageous requires resilience." Guy has covered four wars, but he still doesn't feel he's as courageous as his parents. "Without taking a risk there is no reward." When Guy is afraid to take a risk, he thinks of his parents. How his fellowship year at Harvard impacted him: They teach through case studies and stories. It helped him understand business and storytelling. Guy is inspired by Joseph Campbell's hero's journey... His 'Must-Have' qualities to get hired to work on his team: Kindness - "We filter for kindness" They have to "want to improve" How Guy prepares to interview someone for one of his shows: Contact them well ahead of the interview date Do a deep dive on them and people around them (read, watch videos, listen to podcasts) Do a background check "All of us are imperfect... That's what make someone relatable. We all have flaws. You need to hear the failures." "The interviewee must be generous with their emotions. "The idea that I can learn from someone excites me." "I love transmitting the story." The idea for How I Built This came to him in 2008 when he took a class at Harvard Business School during a sabbatical year as a Nieman journalism fellow after nearly eight years as a foreign correspondent. Guy demands that those who sit for an interview with him are completely open. “I ask them, ‘Are you willing to come to this interview and surrender?’” Guy stared as an NPR intern and didn't get the initial jobs he wanted... I asked... "How much of your success can be attributed to luck and how much skill/hard work?" Life advice: Get a job in sales -- All jobs have a selling component. Learn this crucial skill. Be methodical about your experiences. Keep your eyes open for problems all around you... Look for problems to solve. All businesses are built on solving a problem.

Text LEARNERS to 44222 for more details Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #382: Morgan Housel - Timeless Lessons On Wealth, Greed, & Happiness Notes: "Writing helps crystallize vague thoughts in your mind." It helps clarify your thoughts. Writing is an art. When you publish your own work, you own the success or failure. Public speaking is a great tool to learn how to communicate succinctly. It's a skill worth building. The Psychology of Money is a study in understanding why people do what they do... "Use money to control your time. That's the highest dividend money can do for you." Why work with Collaboration Fund: You need more than just a check: values, philosophies, get your thoughts out into the world. Stories are more powerful than statistics. And most statistics are incomplete props to justify a story. Stories are easier to remember, easier to relate to, and emotionally persuasive. "Stop telling kids they can be whatever they want to be. You can be whatever you're good at, as long as they're hiring. And even then it helps to know someone." -- Chris Rock Excellence = Patience - Stick with it. Continue to go during down periods. That's how compounding works. Success Laws -- "Strong beliefs, weakly held." Storytelling: "The prize goes to the person who can explain something well... Stories move the needle. You convince someone something is true through stories." How to become a better storyteller? READ a lot. And practice. "If you’re going to try to predict the future — whether it’s where the market is heading, or what the economy is going to do, or whether you’ll be promoted — think in terms of probabilities, not certainties. Death and taxes, as they say, are the only exceptions to this rule." Some quotes (thanks to RightAttitudes.com) "Two things make an economy grow: population growth and productivity growth. Everything else is a function of one of those two drivers." "Changing your mind is one of the most difficult things we do. It is far easier to fool yourself into believing a falsehood than admit a mistake." "Study successful investors, and you’ll notice a common denominator: they are masters of psychology. They can’t control the market, but they have complete control over the gray matter between their ears." "There’s a strong correlation between knowledge and humility. People who spend 10 minutes on Google studying monetary policy think they have it all figured out, while people with PhD's and decades of experience throw up their hands in frustration. The more you study economics, the more you realize how little we know about it." "When you think you have a great idea, go out of your way to talk with someone who disagrees with it. At worst, you continue to disagree with them. More often, you’ll gain valuable perspective. Fight confirmation bias like the plague." "Short-term thinking is at the root of most of our problems, whether it’s in business, politics, investing, or work."

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk Text LEARNERS to 44222 IG/Twitter: @RyanHawk12 Full notes at www.LearningLeader.com #381: John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Notes: Excellence: Energy - Vitality -- "You cannot be lazy" "You need a strong desire to be excellent" Excellent leaders strive for excellence in everything they choose to do Good physical and mental health Honor - "Hold yourself to high standards" John and Rene Lawson raised $45,000 from family and friends and borrowed $10,000 in 1978 to open a small natural foods store called SaferWay in Austin, Texas. When the couple were evicted from their apartment for storing food products in it, they decided to live at the store. Because it was zoned for commercial use, there was no shower stall, so they bathed using a water hose attached to their dishwasher.  Two years later they brought on partners who owned another grocery store and formed Whole Foods Markets. Having high expectations: As a younger person in his early 20's, John was curious about learning... He loved organic, natural food before it was popular. Revolutions: The running revolution happened in the 1970's - He got into that. The long runs made him feel fantastic. He became a vegetarian. It helped him feel better, be more alive. He is now a vegan. In 1981, they had to deal with a 100 year flood in Austin. "Renee had to swim out of the store that day." "Whole Foods should have died that day. That was when I learned about stakeholders." --> Many people helped them stay in business. "A banker co-signed on the loan without approval because he trusted me. I didn't find out until later." He moved to Boulder in 1999 to run WholePeople.com -- Then the internet bubble popped and it failed. When he moved back to Austin, TX, a coup was afoot... One of his trusted senior leaders was trying to get John fired. John walked through the nearest Whole Foods while preparing to tell the board why he should keep his job... "I get a super high touring that store." Touring the stores helps you feel the pulse of the company. John thought, "Oh my God, this is the love of my life. This is my purpose." That's what he told the board and senior execs and convinced them to let him keep his job. He learned to cultivate and build relationships with his board through that... A "Conscious Leader" = Vision & Virtue – Put purpose first, lead with love Mindset & Strategy – Find win-win solutions. Innovate and create value People & Culture – Constantly evolve the team. Regularly revitalize, continually learn and grow John has elected to take a $1 yearly salary and to forgo any bonus or stock grants since 2007. Hiring: "You're no better than your team." "Excellence is continued growth." "When you stop growing you begin to die." You need to constantly revitalize yourself: Sleep well Eat healthy food Exercise People are addicted to bad food... But you can change this habit if you're willing to go through some pain for a month or two. You can teach yourself to enjoy healthy foods. It needs to become a habit. Hiring: Do group interviews - Don't rely on just one person Looks for: Intelligence ('that's the ante to get in') Emotional Intelligence -- "Steve Jobs would not have gotten hired at Whole Foods" Need to work well with others Take responsibility High integrity Chemistry with others and high character Ask, "Who have you helped get promoted?" "Who have you developed?" "How?" The sale to Amazon "We took a plane up to Seattle and met in Jeff's (Bezos) house. It was very secretive. There was a lot of security around." "The conversation was like falling in love. They were just regular guys who were very smart." "Jeff (Bezos) is unpretentious, has a great sense of humor, and is a genius. He's brilliant." “It’s like marriage, I love them 98% of the time.” Advice: "Life is an adventure. Go for it."

Text LEARNERS to 44222 Full show notes at www.LearningLeader.com The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk #380: Jay Hennessey - How To Build A Learning Organization Shared Adversity - "That's what creates the foundation for teams. It's the glue that builds trust." MOFO - Mandatory Optional Fitness Opportunity SEAL training - The shared adversity among trainees creates camaraderie. Evolutions are team based. "Lock arms laying the surf" "Great teams aren't created by happenstance" -- You must be intentional and deliberate. What is the culture you want to create? - "You must be deliberate about that up front." "The language you use is so important." Dan Coyle is the ultimate connector "When people are asking you questions, it's super energizing" -- Approach each conversation with a curious mind Foster "Organization Humility" The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge: The discipline of team learning starts with ‘dialogue’, the capacity of members of a team to suspend assumptions and enter into a genuine ‘thinking together’. To the Greeks dia-logos meant a free-flowing of meaning through a group, allowing the group to discover insights not attainable individually…. [It] also involves learning how to recognize the patterns of interaction in teams that undermine learning. Dialog vs. Discussion Dialog = Strong convictions loosely held. Starting with, "I may be wrong..." Discussion = Trying to convince others you're right The Learning Organization Get reps - Read with someone else and share Engage the learner: Just in time Just for you Just in case Building a learning organization creates a competitive advantage: Great teams are always learning, evolving, and changing. What you know now will be extinct in five years. Must keep learning. "Nobody that we hire wants to be stagnant." There is no mandatory compliance. Book: Practice Perfect -- "Whoever is doing the talking is doing the learning." When building a learning organization, stress that it's about active participation. Not passively watching lectures, but actively participating in them. Being a "Yes, And..." leader -- Build off the ideas of others. Lift them up. A "Yes, And..." leader doesn't need the credit. They bring energy to the group. "Leadership is about making something better than it was when you found it and doing so by developing people along the way. Leaders cannot be energy neutral. They are either adding energy or taking energy." - Tom Ogburn Don't be a "Mr. Poopy Pants" -- "Oh, well that will never work." Nobody wants to work with Mr. Poopy Pants. How to develop awareness: Started as the second youngest guy on the seam when he went to SEAL team 5. He was 2nd in charge of his platoon. "Show up with humility and think, 'where can I add value?' Ask for help from mentors -- Hitch yourself to a strong chief. "Have a strong burden to add value" A stay ready mindset -- Have a 'never peak' attitude. Always ready to go. No excuses. "In every aspect of your life, no one cares what you used to be able to do, they care what you can do today." What type of leader do you want to be? -- Write it down. Leaders need to think deeply. Writing forces that to happen. Write your command philosophy Be deliberate Be a connector: What is the difference between Connecting and Networking – Networking is looking for people who you can help; networking is looking for people who can help you. Be a connector. How to build comfort in your own skin? Do hard things -- Progress turns into confidence It's a self-efficacy model -- It's okay to fail. Overcome it and keep going. Be part of something bigger than you. Excellence -- "Humility is the enabler for curiosity." Here is WHY joining a Learning Leader Circle is a good idea... Jay's “Leadership Philosophy” Mission: To execute at my fullest potential and to serve as a resource to help my Family and Teammates continuously improve at every stage of their personal and professional development. Vision:  to lead a healthy and happy family where we all strive to become the best version of ourselves. Professionally, my vision is to be a contributing member of a learning organization with a culture that encourages learning and development at every level. Core Attributes: Humility, curiosity, empathy, trust, followership, generosity, competition, health & fitness, gratitude Guiding Leadership Principles: Exude positivity, communicate effectively, learn and adapt in all areas of personal and professional life, be creative, iterate & execute quickly, be aggressive, have fun, show initiative toward opportunities and problems, challenge self, solitude/mindfulness, be deliberate (set goals, reflect) Leadership Statement: Make the most of everything I do – be positive, have fun, learn, adapt, and push / pull / drag or chase my teammates toward our goals.