» Performance Collection

Steve Jobs and his impact on our world

JT — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:59:33 +0000

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 the world bid farewell to one of its innovating leaders, Steve Jobs. Whether you are a “Mac person” or not, it is hard to step outside the rays f light cast by Steve and his amazing innovations. Calling him simply an “Apple co-founder” or “CEO of Pixar Animation” does no justice to the impact he has made on our lives. To collect a list of the innovations he birthed in his 56 years of life on Earth would be a travesty to the impact he made on countless people who never held an iPod or iPhone in their hands.

Steve Jobs was much more than a leader of the tech world, he was a leader of the real world. He was much more than a man with a Vision, he was a Visionary. There will never be another Steve Jobs in the world, ever. But the kind of genius he exuded, the Vision he developed and shared with the world and the passion he had for a life well-lived exists in all of us. Right now.

Below, I embedded a video of the commencement speech he gave at Stanford University. I first saw it in 2008 when I was going through a particularly tough time in life. To me, his message was–and still is–so powerful because he nails down the TRUE essence of life. It’s not about making money, accumulating “stuff” or having hordes adoring fans, it is about happiness.

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. Everything else is secondary.”
~ Steve Jobs

Thank you, Steve. While you are already dearly missed, your legacy and influence live on for eternity.

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Building rapport in business

JT — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:23:57 +0000

My dear friend and coach Rene Kamstra and I had a great conversation recently about some of the differentiating qualities of great entrepreneurs. One quality we discussed was the ability to build rapport. Check out this video from a recent news interview I did where I share just a few of the points Rene and I discussed.

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Why social networking is dead and SOULful Networking is the answer

JT — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 08:27:50 +0000

So you have 25,000 followers on Twitter and 5,000 “friends” on Facebook. Who cares? It is about connecting, and not just for the sake of making a buck. Success in business is about making an impact and connecting from the soul. I’m shocked how many entrepreneurs in my small business coaching practice miss this essential point. Watch this video for the skills you need to be a SOULful networker (including a tip from the great Larry Benet) and take your business and your life to a high altitude.

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How to turn 4 minutes into millions

JT — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 16:26:04 +0000

When I left the US Navy in September of 2008, I walked away from a childhood dream.

Ever since I was a kid, all I wanted to was to fly in the Blue Angels. At the age of 16, I was at an air show in Boise, Idaho and I was invited to go “backstage” with the Blues after one of their demonstrations. The lead pilot, Commander Gil Rud, made it a point to come straight up to me and thank me for being at his show.

He thanked me.

Why would he thank me? After all, I was the kid that grew up hearing from seemingly every person in my life that I was “not cut out for flying”, that my dream of becoming a Naval Aviator was a fantasy, and that I should be “more realistic” in my desires for my life.

But Commander Rud changed that. For four minutes, he talked directly to me. Didn’t look way for one second. Listened to me, soaked in my enthusiasm, and told me that one day I’d wear the Wings of Gold that only Naval Aviators earn.

And he was right.

I tell you this story because that short conversation was more than just a “pump up” speech. It was more than an autograph session and a way to get closer to a hero. It provided so much more.

It provided hope. It provided inspiration. It set the example.

When I flew to air shows, or even stopped to pump gas after a long day of flying, I would sometimes get asked by mothers and fathers if I would say hello to their sons or daughters. Those kids, they’d say, “dream of growing up to fly just like you do”. It was the best part of my job.

Today, I take my message of mission accomplishment and use it as a vehicle to help people feel like I felt that spring afternoon of my 16th year. My mission these days is to turn four minutes into millions. Not just in money; but in dreams. And I don’t mean dreams in some sort of “woo-woo” sense. I mean your TRUE calling–your mission.

I hope you take the opportunities in life to be inspired by people you look to for such energy. I hope that you take the opportunities to inspire others. You have that ability every single day just by deciding to be excellent in all you do. And when you do, you set the tone for the future of not only the people you touch, but also the tone you set for yourself.

Inspire someone or be inspired by someone today. The four minutes you spend doing so can turn into millions.

~JT

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Starting out and starting over in business (and life)

JT — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 23:08:39 +0000

When entrepreneurs first start out in business, they are full of hope and open to possibility. I love this phase of the entrepreneurial pursuit! It is one of the reasons I got into small business coaching in the first place; to help new entrepreneurs get started on the right foot. Whether you are beginning your journey or are a seasoned business pro looking to begin a new venture, check out this video. I share some insight from my business consulting services and offer a free strategy session as well!

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Taking a stand for what you believe in business (and in life)

JT — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:31:42 +0000

A big part of small business coaching involves helping entrepreneurs and start-ups define their mission and construct a solid strategy for accomplishing that mission. But one of the most important things any leader can do–in life and in business–is take a stand for what they believe in. Whether it be your company’s mission statement or the core values of life, having the guts and the backbone to stand up for what you believe in can and should be a guiding principle to how you do business. Check out this short video on the importance of standing up for what you believe and learn a key tenet of success that I reenforce in my business consulting services.

I look forward to your comments!
~JT

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Single vs. Engaged–Who is more successful?

JT — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 05:56:13 +0000

Are you single or engaged? Entrepreneurs, your success in business has little to do with your relationship status EXCEPT as it applies to your relationship with your clients and customers. A big part of small business coaching is helping entrepreneurs connect at the heart-level with their customers. Check out this short video to learn some strategies I employ in my business consulting services.

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The Waiting Game of Success

JT — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 07:13:07 +0000

“The waiting is the hardest part
Ever day you get one more yard
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part…”
from The Waiting, by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers

Sometimes it seems like we get caught up waiting. Waiting for the phone to ring, waiting for the check to arrive in the mail and waiting for the perfect time to launch. Or waiting for the results to show up.

We work hard. We prepare. We put in extra time. We focus. We discipline ourselves. We believe–we take it on faith–and yet still, nothing.

Entrepreneurs, business leaders, athletes, artists…High Altitude People all wait from time to time. But it is what we do in the waiting times that make the difference.

Thomas Edison once said, “Success comes to he who hustles while he waits.”

The champions of life don’t actually wait for anything to happen; they are too busy sowing to focus on the wait. They work hard to perfect their craft. To nail that tricky part of their presentation. To tighten up the sales copy. To solidify their mission, and to extend gratitude to their team and their clients.

The waiting, yes, can be the hardest part. But only for the idle mind. Take it on faith and take it to the heart, the results WILL come. But only to those who hustle while they wait.

Fly High. Fly Fast. Fly Far.
~JT

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How Green Bay Won Super Bowl XLV

JT — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 06:35:25 +0000

Winning at the highest level requires commitment, persistence and focus on the mission. Small business coaching is predicated on the tenets of success. Watch this video and learn how the Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV by doing the foundational work. This is the stuff I present in my business consulting services. As always, I look forward to your comments.
~JT

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The Science Of Going Big

JT — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:38:12 +0000

We see people do it all the time. We watch them in the movies, buy tickets to see their
shows, read about them in magazines…even watch them on TV (Super Bowl, anyone?)…

These people–who not only have the vision to think big, but the audacity to PLAY
big–are the champions of life. The difference between dreamers and doers is that
dreams sit on the couch and watch while the doers sit in the lap of luxury and conquer
the world.

It is one thing to watch and admire the champions of life; its an entirely different thing
to work at becoming one. It is easy to admire from afar and think, “Yeah…but that’s them.
I don’t have the time/money/assets/people/etc in my life to do what they do.”

But that’s a lie and you know it.

You have everything you need right now to accomplish anything you want. But it takes
belief. It takes commitment. And it takes work.

It takes blocking out the people rolling their eyes, laughing at your ideas, telling you
it can’t be done. It takes what it takes. And you have everything you need right now
to make it happen.

The difference between thinking big and going big is in the actions. Take the action
today and everyday.

GO BIG. Today.
~JT

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