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What would you do?
Last night I was at a party of speaker industry people. A speaker who is a paraplegic wheeled up to the four seat table where a friend and I were seated and asked if there was a spot for him. Of course there was. During our lively conversation, the subject of disability came up and…
Are the rules always important?
I was sitting next to a woman on a four and a half hour flight the other day. Turns out she was 80 years old. Not a withering little old lady 80, but rather a smart, well-dressed, very healthy 80. She got on the plane with a very unhappy little 10lb dog in a carryon.…
How do you make decisions?
There are two factors in most decision making. Fact and Gut, when used together, lead to the best decisions. Sometimes they are in conflict, or one seems to be louder than the other. While many people seem to say, “just go with your gut”, others want all decisions to ‘make sense’. Which is better, smarter…
Why should a pharmacy chain’s decision matter to you?
This week CVS Pharmacy made a decision to stop selling all tobacco products in their stores by October 2014. I posted to Facebook that I thought it was a courageous decision for leaders to make. My point was NOT about tobacco. I don’t really care if CVS was doing it for publicity. It was courageous…
Do you make good decisions?
The National Speakers Association decided to change their name and brand to PLATFORM recently. The decision stirred up so much anger that the President of the Association decided to put the change (two years in the making) on hold. Why so much anger, you ask? Three reasons: a perception by the membership that is was…
How smart are you?
Most coaches (executive, athletic, etc.) will tell you that playing up is necessary for real performance improvement. Playing up is how willing you are to spend time around those that are smarter, more talented or further along their development path than you are. Doing that stimulates you to play up to the higher level of…
How do you make difficult decisions?
All of us have times when we are faced with difficult decisions. The reasons for the difficulty are as varied as the decisions each of us faces. Perhaps the difficulty is because it might have financial consequences or maybe someone’s feelings are going to get hurt. Maybe the difficulty is because, regardless of the choice…
Sale or customer – what’s more important?
Seems like an obvious enough question, doesn’t it? My buddy called a Harley Davidson store to find out if they have a leather jacket exactly like the one he has (his has worn out.) The salesperson at the Harley store says, “We don’t have it in stock, but I would be happy to call around…
Are you creating a world-class customer experience?
Please read the headline carefully. Then read it again. When all extraneous issues are stripped away, the customer experience is the single most critical factor in determining your success. In a very real sense, nothing else matters. How that experience is defined is your key to continuing to prosper. I sometimes hesitate to speak of…
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MONDAYS WITH MIKE POST ARCHIVE
Work-Life Balance
Episode Summary: In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike discusses the concept of work-life balance and why he believes it’s largely a myth. He introduces the idea of work-life focus, emphasizing the importance of being present and focused in whatever you’re doing, whether it’s work or personal life. Mike also addresses the seeming…
Habits of Successful People
Episode Summary: In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike discusses one habit successful people have that most people overlook: persistence and the ability to tolerate failure. Mike emphasizes the importance of not giving up on your goals and pushing past obstacles. He also shares a personal story about a business venture he regrets…
Honest Feedback for Your Boss
Episode Summary: In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike addresses a viewer question about how to give honest feedback to a boss who can’t handle criticism. Mike advises viewers to ask clarifying questions and avoid criticizing their boss’s character or behavior. Instead, he suggests framing feedback in terms of improvement and offering specific…
When to Leave a Well-Paying Job
Episode Summary: In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike addresses a viewer question about deciding when to leave a well-paying but miserable job. Mike advises viewers to take an inventory of what makes them unhappy in their current role. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing that you always have a choice, even if…
Impossible Clients
Episode Summary: In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike answers a viewer question about how to respond to a client who’s impossible to please without losing your mind. Mike emphasizes the importance of taking a “fearless inventory” of your own actions and responsibilities before jumping to conclusions about the client. He suggests evaluating…
Advice For Our Younger Selves
Episode Summary: In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver answers the thought-provoking question: What’s one piece of advice you wish someone had given you in your 20s? His answer is straightforward—invest and save money, no matter how little. He reflects on his younger years when he believed he didn’t have enough money…
Politics & Family
Episode Summary: In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver tackles a common dilemma: dealing with a family member who constantly brings up politics at gatherings. His approach is simple—do not engage. He shares his personal strategy of staying neutral, avoiding the discussion entirely, and not reacting emotionally. Instead of debating or arguing,…
Office Politics
Episode Summary: In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver tackles a tough workplace dilemma: How can you get ahead in a company where office politics seem more important than performance? He acknowledges that succeeding in such an environment is extremely difficult and even questions whether staying in such a company long-term is…
Feeling Like You’re Too Old
Episode Summary: In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses a fun yet relatable question: What’s a polite way to say, “I’m too old for this” when declining a party invite? Mike emphasizes that age should never be the excuse—plenty of older individuals still enjoy late-night socializing. Instead, he encourages people to…
Nice Guy Managers
Episode Summary: In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver answers a question about balancing being “too nice” and “being the hammer” as a boss or manager. He explains that the key lies in adjusting leadership behavior to the performance needs of employees. By being more directive when performance falters and more supportive…
Embracing Change
Episode Summary: In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver addresses a leader’s struggle to adapt to organizational changes and how their resistance is affecting their team. He offers practical advice on embracing change, from understanding personal resistance to conducting behavioral experiments with the team. With humor and empathy, Mike emphasizes the inevitability…
Identifying True Company Culture
Episode Summary: In this episode of Mondays with Mike, Mike Staver answers a question about identifying a company’s true culture, whether as an investor, prospective employee, or vendor. He emphasizes the importance of going beyond a company’s marketing materials and mission statements to understand their genuine values and practices. By reviewing public documents, engaging directly…
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