active CEO Podcast #96 Christian Boucousis Leading Out Of The Danger Zone

active CEO Podcast #96 Christian Boucousis Leading Out Of The Danger Zone

active CEO Podcast #96 Christian Boucousis Leading Out Of The Danger Zone
Christian Boucousis – High Performance Coach and Speaker

On this episode of the active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Christian Boucousis about Leading Out Of The Danger Zone, fighter pilot emotions, the Afterburner FLEX flawless execution method, and  how leaders can execute like a fighter pilot.

We also deep dive into high performing teams, why the debrief is more important than the mission, optimising the peak stress curve and why people aren’t the best versions of ourselves.

Christian Boucousis – Leading Out Of The Danger Zone

Christian Boucousis is a high performing leader, who was born to fly fighter jets, thrives on highly complex and demanding environments, and is the co-author of “On Time On Target”. He is a high achiever who focuses on flawless execution, successfully transferred high-level skills of flying at over 1500km/hr to the business world and is a thriving entrepreneur.

His career started as a fighter pilot for the Royal Australian Air Force; before founding the Christian Thomas Group, which provides humanitarian support to developing nations; and directing W E Johns & sons. His current roles include founder and CEO of Mode Developments property company, Publisher of Australian Aviation, and High Performance Coach & Speaker of Afterburner Australia and New Zealand.

Christian talks about:

  • A lifetime obsession with being a fighter pilot.
  • Why a fighter pilot execution rate is about 98%
  • A high performing team is about individual accountability
  • How to get into a battle “execution” rhythm.
  • Situational awareness is the clarity that allows you to make better decisions.
  • Using the Uder loop from the top gun academy.
  • Maneuvering ourselves into another position to take advantage of it
  • Utilizing the peak stress curve to optimize performance.
  • Plan – Brief – Execute – Debrief
  • Leading out of the danger zone.
  • Why fighter pilots are the most emotionless robots on the planet.
  • Preventing burnout and stress as a fighter pilot.
  • The huge potential of the debrief for teams and organisations
  • Taking accountability for our own actions while leading teams.
  • Why humans as highly complex individuals and go off on a tangent.
  • You are always investigating, you are doing your analysis on the run.
  • Analysis and decision making is in perpetual motion
  • Why people spend little time debriefing a goal and the 3 simple questions of a debrief
  • What’s one thing you can say that can enable hundreds of people to do their job?
  • The habits and routines he does every day that allow him to execute flawlessly

Active CEO Performance Tip

Create A Ripple Effect With PURPOSE – Have you become too focused on yourself and you don’t feel fulfilled. Focus on something bigger than just yourself. Determine what your companies or your own real purpose is in life. Your why or your companies why? What work can you do to serve that purpose and leave a positive mark or dent on the world? 3 questions to ask yourself – 1. What makes you come alive? 2. What are your innate strengths? 3. Where do you add greatest value? NOW IF YOU ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO IDENTIFY YOUR WHY here are 3 more questions to ask yourself: 1. What do people come to ask for help on and thank you for? 2. What would do you love doing that you would do everyday without a paycheck? 3. If you found out that you only had one year left, what would you imagine yourself doing? Its time for you to do some self reflection and find clarity on your why!

Tweets

“80% of what we did is mapped out, whereas the 20% we had to make decisions, we were able to do that, because the basics were all looked after.” The precision of a fighter pilot with Christian Boucousis, on the active CEO Podcast.

“Everyday we don’t come together as a team, we are diverging away from that goal.” Christian Boucousis talks about team alignment, on the active CEO Podcast.

Resources Mentioned in this show:

Christian Boucousis LinkedIn
Christian Boucousis Facebook
Christian Boucousis Twitter
Afterburner www.afterburner.com.au
NRG2Perform www.nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns www.craigjohnsspeaker.com
Craig Johns craig@nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns LinkedIn

Recommended Reading:

BOOK – On Time On Target Christian Boucousis

Fuel Your Body For Leadership Performance Read Article
How Exercise Enhances A Leaders Performance Read Article
Four Basic Fundamentals Of Being A High Performing Leader Read Article
How To Be A High Performing Leader In 2020 Read Article
Four Ways To Overcome CEO Loneliness In 2020 Read Article

Recent active CEO Podcast Episodes

#96 – Christian Boucousis Leading Out Of The Danger Zone Link
#95 – Live Your OWN STORY Link
#94 – Mike Nishi (Chicago Event Management) Chicago Marathon Beyond The Race Link
#93 – OWN Your OWN FREEDOM Link
#92 – Lisa Tamati (Author of Relentless) Relentless Leadership In Life Link
#91 – 8 Ways To OWN Your OWN Influence Link
#90 – Jason Treu (Unstoppable Workplaces) Building Trust For Transformation Link
#89 – How Many CEO Performance Habits Link
#88 – Kate Maree O’Brien (SHE Conference) Tenacious Spirit Of An Entrepreneur Link
#87 – Have You Got CEO Presence Link
#86 – Chris Tabish (Comediology) Leadership Effectiveness With Comediology Link

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active CEO Podcast Mike Nishi Chicago Event Management Chicago Marathon Beyond The Race Craig Johns Speaker

active CEO Podcast #94 Mike Nishi Chicago Marathon Beyond The Race

active CEO Podcast Mike Nishi Chicago Event Management Chicago Marathon Beyond The Race Craig Johns Speaker
Mike Nishi – General Manager Bank of America Chicago Marathon

On this episode of the active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Mike Nishi about Chicago Marathon Beyond The Race, risk and crisis management in mass participation events, closed loop environmental sustainability strategies and the power of collaboration.

We also discuss the Nike Breaking2 Project, partnering with Abbotts World Marathons, why he ran the Bank of America Chicago Marathon at the age of 13 years old, and why placing community at the center of event management decisions is so crucial.

Mike Nishi – Chicago Marathon Beyond The Race

Mike Nishi is the General Manager of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, a global leader in environmentally sustainable events, and is described as professional, highly organised and forward thinking leader. A dedicated family man, he is an avid runner and cyclist, completed his first ever Chicago marathon at the tender age of 13 years old, and is a board member for Girls on the Run Chicago

He started out as an intern, while at school, before becoming an employee for the Chicago Event Management company in 1989. Currently, his role is Executive Vice President of Business Development and Operations looking after the organisation of the Chicago Marathon, J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge, Girls on the Run and the Nike Breaking2 project in 2017.

His role oversees the production of all Chicago Event Management events with a particular focus in event operations, emergency response and sustainability logistics. Over a decade a go he founded the Race Management Program, ten years ago, to provide an intimate forum for race organiser’s to share ideas and find solutions to create unforgettable event experiences.

Mike talks about:

  • Running my first Chicago Marathon in 4hr 25min, as a 13 year old.
  • 3 decades working with Carey Pinkowski at Chicago Event Management.
  • Growing the Chicago Marathon from 5,000 to 45,963 finishers.
  • Safety and security being the number one priority following 9/11.
  • Planning for the unknown and unexpected is very challenging.
  • Creating a forward command facility to protect the safety of athletes and the community.
  • Chicago Marathon Beyond The Race.
  • Creating sustainable partnerships with Abbott World Marathons.
  • The Bank of America Chicago Marathon environmental initiatives.
  • Closed loop sustainability program with compostable cups.
  • Using storytelling to share the journey of recyclable products.
  • Bamboo cups and Nike t-shirts made out of recycled plastic bottles.
  • Nike Breaking2 project to break the 2hr marathon mark in 2017.
  • Sponsorships Nike, Gatorade, American Airlines & Bank of America.
  • Aligning partner’s values in a collaborative arrangement.
  • Race Management Program to support the event industry.
  • Celebrating mistakes not on the outcome, but what you learnt
  • Incorporating Pilates and mediation in his daily routine.

Active CEO Performance Tip

SINGLE-task Not Multi-task For Productivity – If you try and multi-task, our brains move too fast, we lose focus and take on too much. In fact, the brain can’t actually multi-task and what it actually does is task switching. If you are task switching to often or too quickly, it slows down your response time and prevents you from completing tasks quickly, if at all. Break down your work into single tasks and block your time accordingly to the highest priority tasks. First, write down all your tasks. Second, prioritise your tasks according to low, medium and high priority. Third, schedule time specifically for high priority tasks first, in your calendar. Then delegate all medium and low priorities where possible. Plan your day so that you can single task to get the best productivity and performance as a leader.

Tweets

“It is hard to plan for things that might not happen and things that you just don’t like to think about, but have to do, whether you initiate or not.” Mike Nishi talks about crisis management, on the active CEO Podcast.

Resources Mentioned in this show:

Michael Nishi LinkedIn
Michael Nishi Instagram
Michael Nishi Twitter
Michael Nishi Facebook
Chicago Event Management www.cemevent.com
Bank of America Chicago Marathon www.chicagomarathon.com
NRG2Perform www.nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns www.craigjohnsspeaker.com
Craig Johns craig@nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns LinkedIn

Recommended Reading:

Fuel Your Body For Leadership Performance Read Article
How Exercise Enhances A Leaders Performance Read Article
Four Basic Fundamentals Of Being A High Performing Leader Read Article
How To Be A High Performing Leader In 2020 Read Article
active CEO Lessons In 2019 Read Article
Four Ways To Overcome CEO Loneliness In 2020 Read Article

Recent active CEO Podcast Episodes

#94 – Mike Nishi (Chicago Event Management) Chicago Marathon Beyond The Race Link
#93 – OWN Your OWN FREEDOM Link
#92 – Lisa Tamati (Author of Relentless) Relentless Leadership In Life Link
#91 – 8 Ways To OWN Your OWN Influence Link
#90 – Jason Treu (Unstoppable Workplaces) Building Trust For Transformation Link
#89 – How Many CEO Performance Habits Link
#88 – Kate Maree O’Brien (SHE Conference) Tenacious Spirit Of An Entrepreneur Link
#87 – Have You Got CEO Presence Link
#86 – Chris Tabish (Comediology) Leadership Effectiveness With Comediology Link
#85 – Raise Your Energy Bar With CEO Periodization Link
#84 – Catherine Molloy (Auspac Business Advantage) The Conscious Leader Link

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active CEO Podcast 92 Lisa Tamati Relentless Leadership In Life Craig Johns NRG2Perform Podcast Speaker Coach

active CEO Podcast #92 Lisa Tamati Relentless Leadership In Life

active CEO Podcast 92 Lisa Tamati Relentless Leadership In Life Craig Johns NRG2Perform Podcast Speaker Coach
Lisa Tamati – Author of RELENTLESS

On this episode of the active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Lisa Tamati about relentless leadership in life as we go all in on saving her mums life, overcoming the toughest ultra-marathon races in the world, the GRIT to overcome adversity, and going above and beyond medical advice to find a solution for her mum. We also talk about imposter syndrome, the importance of hope, optimising your DNA, and learning how to pivot and change direction in life.

Lisa Tamati – Relentless Leadership In Life

Lisa Tamati is a professional adventure athlete, best author, crazy super human being, motivational speaker and mindset coach, who goes beyond the human limits. Over the past 25 plus years, she has taken on and conquered the world’s toughest endurance events and expeditions including the Sahara and Gobi deserts, Himalayas and Niger, however none of those extreme events even come close to her greatest life challenge, where it took a relentless approach to saving her mums life. She is an absolute force of nature and true warrior leader, in every essence of human kind, who loves to put the body armour on and take GRIT and a Relentless approach to life to a whole nuther level.

Her education includes a Bachelor of Applied Management in sports Management from Otago Polytechnic, National Certificate in Business Studies for Carrington Polytechnic Auckland and a Certificate in Counselling & Human Relations (social work) from Western Institute of Technology.

Imagine the University of life you gain when you cover over 70,000 km of running across some of the poorest, most dangerous and challenging stretches of earth including a life-changing argument with your partner while illegally in the Lybian desert, losing your mind in Death Valley one of the hottest places on earth, running the length of New Zealand, that’s 2,200km, and pushing your mind and body beyond belief every single day.

Lisa talks about:

  • Growing up as a curious kiwi in Taranaki, New Zealand.
  • Why she became an Ultra-marathon runner?
  • 1997 Libyan Desert illegal crossing, 250km four-person expedition.
  • Importance of learning the skill of situational compartmentalisation.
  • Why attempt the toughest race on the earth, Marathon De Sables.
  • Developing Relentless Leadership In Life.
  • The battle of the lion and the snake in your head.
  • Running Death Valley in 57 Degrees Celsius, Badwater Ultramarathon.
  • Being tackled to avoid a rattlesnake, in the coolest race on the planet.
  • Why is it that what you believe dictates your destiny?
  • We cannot control all the variables in the world.
  • Relentless, the story about bringing her mum back.
  • Why check for sleep apnea during a severe neurological event.
  • Studying functional neurology, neutrophics and epigenomics.
  • We live in the time we have access to the greatest minds on the planet.
  • When you have no hope, you take weak action, because you don’t think it will be useful anyway.
  • The challenges of self-publishing a book.
  • Pushing The Limits Podcast

Active CEO Performance Tip

Own The CHOICES You MakeThe world is constantly challenging us through disruption, competing priorities and competition for our attention; therefore we must take control of our own story and influence. Your have to own your own life and realize that life is not a dress rehearsal. How much of your life do you really own and take full responsibility for? You are the sum total of your decisions. You own the choices that you make.

Tweets

“All that I can control is my reactions to it and the decisions I make from here on in.” Managing fear and hysteria, with Lisa Tamati, on the active CEO Podcast.

“It’s not about Talent, it’s about GRIT, determination and an ability to suffer a lot. When times are tough the ability to keep hurting and keep moving forward.” Lisa Tamati talks about her RELENTLESS approach to life, on the active CEO Podcast.

“If we crashed in a jungle in an aeroplane and I had to run 200km to save their life, would you stop, would you quit right now, if there life depended on it?” Creating the right mental state with Lisa Tamati, on the active CEO Podcast.

Resources Mentioned in this show:

Lisa Tamati www.lisatamati.com
Lisa Tamati LinkedIn
Lisa Tamati Jewelry www.LTJewellery.co.nz
Lisa Tamati Instagram
Lisa Tamati Twitter
NRG2Perform www.nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns craig@nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns LinkedIn

Recommended Reading:

Relentless Lisa Tamati Buy Online
Running Hot Lisa Tamati Purchase
Running To Extremes Lisa Tamati Buy here

Fuel Your Body For Leadership Performance Read Article
How Exercise Enhances A Leaders Performance Read Article
Four Basic Fundamentals Of Being A High Performing Leader Read Article
How To Be A High Performing Leader In 2020 Read Article
active CEO Lessons In 2019 Read Article
Four Ways To Overcome CEO Loneliness In 2020 Read Article

Recent active CEO Podcast Episodes

#92 – Lisa Tamati (Author of Relentless) Relentless Leadership In Life Link
#91 – 8 Ways To OWN Your OWN Influence Link
#90 – Jason Treu (Unstoppable Workplaces) Building Trust For Transformation Link
#89 – How Many CEO Performance Habits Link
#88 – Kate Maree O’Brien (SHE Conference) Tenacious Spirit Of An Entrepreneur Link
#87 – Have You Got CEO Presence Link
#86 – Chris Tabish (Comediology) Leadership Effectiveness With Comediology Link
#85 – Raise Your Energy Bar With CEO Periodization Link
#84 – Catherine Molloy (Auspac Business Advantage) The Conscious Leader Link
#83 – 3 P’s Of The Leadership Performance Formula Link
#82 – Revital Golan (Anemone Ventures) Entrepreneur State Of Mind Link

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active CEO Podcast #90 Jason Treu Building Trust For Transformation Craig Johns Breaking The CEO Code NRG2Perform CEO Leadership Trust

active CEO Podcast #90 Jason Treu Building Trust For Transformation

active CEO Podcast #90 Jason Treu Building Trust For Transformation Craig Johns Breaking The CEO Code NRG2Perform CEO Leadership Trust

On this episode of the active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Jason Treu about building trust for transformation, vulnerability and leadership, and why all leaders should provide psychological safety in their organisation, team or community.

We also discuss Unstoppable Workplaces, Cards Against Mundanity, why the Dallas Cowboys and Mavericks are the heart and soul of the city, and leading high performing teams.

Jason Treu – Building Trust For Transformation

Jason is a best-selling author of Social Wealth, TEDx Wilmington Speaker, and Executive Coach who has worked with transformational leaders such as Steve Jobs, Mark Cuban and Reed Hastings. He is host of the Executive Breakthroughs Podcast, Keynote Speaker on Unstoppable Workplaces, Dallas Cowboys and Mavericks fan, and supporter of charities such as the American Cancer Society.

His education includes a BA History from Indiana University Bloomington, a Law degree and Masters in Communications from Syracuse University, and has a completed a leadership program at the Harvard Business School. Jason has held roles in Communications and Investor Relations at RightNow, Hewlett Packard, American Heart Foundation, Blockbuster and ReachLegal. As an entrepreneur he co-founded Visual Arts Reimagined and company culture expert at Unstoppable workplaces.

Jason talks about:

  • Why the Dallas Cowboys and Mavericks are the heart and soul of the city.
  • Self awareness is paramount for you to prevent sabotaging your success.
  • The catalyst that led to focusing on company culture and leadership growth.
  • We all have fears and fears control us.
  • Why so many talented and productive teams struggle.
  • Building trust for transformation.
  • How successful leaders build psychological safety.
  • How people can identify their blindspots and use them to their advantage.
  • Your brain is wired for survival, it is wired to keep us safe.
  • Leadership skills that set the worlds most influential leaders apart from good leaders.
  • You have to be humble, because you cant be right all the time.
  • The three secrets to speeding up the relationship building process.
  • As you scale its always a challenge as you have to let go of parts of the business.
  • The most important ingredients in being a high performing leader.
  • How do you bring people together and make them feel connected and belonging

Active CEO Performance Tip

Leadership Overwhelm – As a leader, have you ever felt completely overcome in mind or emotion, where you feel a stress or combination of stressors are too big for you to manage? This is the feeling of overwhelm. Everyone experiences some level of overwhelm and the important thing to remember, is that it is all manageable. Rather than fighting your feelings of overwhelm you can accept that anxiety is like riding a wave and it will be easier; learn to turn overwhelming thoughts into helpful thoughts; shift your thoughts from having to complete everything right now to focusing on one thing at a time; identify what you need to be present with right now; take a deep breath to relax the body; and most importantly engage in an action that you enjoy before rushing into solve the trigger of overwhelm. Start taking control of your overwhelm today.

Tweets

“To build psychological safety, admit your own failings and vulnerabilities and things that you are not good at. Thank people, stay open to try and do other things, doing risks and things differently, have the tough conversations and get to the core of the issue.” Jason Treu talks about the importance of psychological safety for building trust, on the active CEO Podcast.

“Before you can start to move things forward, you must have high level of trust.” Building trust with Jason Treu, on the active CEO Podcast.

Resources Mentioned in this show:

Jason Treu: www.JasonTreu.com
Cards Against Mundanity www.Cardsagainstmundanity.com
Executive Breakthroughs Podcast
Jason Treu Facebook
Jason Treu YouTube
Jason Treu Instagram
Jason Treu Twitter
NRG2Perform www.nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns craig@nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns LinkedIn

Recommended Reading:

Social Wealth Jason Treu
4 Day Week – Andrew Barnes Order Now

Fuel Your Body For Leadership Performance Read Article
How Exercise Enhances A Leaders Performance Read Article
Four Basic Fundamentals Of Being A High Performing Leader Read Article
How To Be A High Performing Leader In 2020 Read Article
active CEO Lessons In 2019 Read Article
Four Ways To Overcome CEO Loneliness In 2020 Read Article

Recent active CEO Podcast Episodes

#90 – Jason Treu (Unstoppable Workplaces) Building Trust For Transformation Link
#89 – How Many CEO Performance Habits Link
#88 – Kate Maree O’Brien (SHE Conference) Tenacious Spirit Of An Entrepreneur Link
#87 – Have You Got CEO Presence Link
#86 – Chris Tabish (Comediology) Leadership Effectiveness With Comediology Link
#85 – Raise Your Energy Bar With CEO Periodization Link
#84 – Catherine Molloy (Auspac Business Advantage) The Conscious Leader Link
#83 – 3 P’s Of The Leadership Performance Formula Link
#82 – Revital Golan (Anemone Ventures) Entrepreneur State Of Mind Link
#81 – How A Leader Can Recover With Purpose Link
#80 – Jonathan Rake Launchpad To Go Beyond Borders Link

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Mark Turner – Coaching Saved My Life

active CEO Podcast #61 Mark Turner Coaching Saved My Life

Mark Turner – Coaching Saved My Life
Mark Turner – Lead Performance Coach Triathlon Scotland

On this episode of the active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Mark Turner about how coaching saved my life, losing humility, being vulnerable and establishing a high performance environment.

We also delve into the lessons he learnt working in the Queensland Police Force, being an agent for change, losing it all after selling a highly successful Shapland Swim School franchise, establishing Triathlon Nation and being recruited as the Lead Performance Coach at Triathlon Scotland.

Mark Turner – Coaching Saved My Life

Mark Turner is a leader who focuses on developing people to maximize their potential athletically, unlock their true why and purpose, and creating a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. He is a passionate, driven and humble leader who has raised over $100,000 for Epilepsy Queensland and Special Olympics, Mark Turner.

His education includes an Advanced Certificate in Policing from the Queensland University of Technology; and Management Development Post-graduate Program at Queensland Police Service.

He has a passion for serving the community with 13 years in the Queensland Police Service, a business owner of the Shapland Swim School Everton Park, Head Coach for the Brisbane Girls Grammar School athletics team, General Manager of Healthstream Aquatic and Fitness Queensland, State Manager and Elite Programs Manager AFL Umpiring Queensland and Coaching Director of Tri Nation Triathlon. Earlier this year our guest was recruited as the Lead Performance Coach for Triathlon Scotland.

Mark talks about:

  • Being a shy child, who lacked confidence, growing up in a socially minded family.
  • Key lessons from a thirteen-year career in the Queensland Police Force.
  • Learning how to read people, listen to people and look at behaviours.
  • Switching from serving the community to building your own community.
  • How a lack of humility, meant losing it all.
  • Not being able to pay rent, and not have a job or a business.
  • Putting a peg in the ground and starting again, when he lost it all.
  • Making the decision to go full-time coaching.
  • Living in a mate’s garage and the struggles behind the scenes.
  • Coaching Saved My Life.
  • Excepting he had depression in 2014 after a full breakdown.
  • What he had been through was significant and didn’t need to battle alone.
  • The power of vulnerability is amazing.
  • As humans we are designed to live in communities and be connected.
  • Chasing the dream of being a high performance coach.
  • Lead Performance Coach for Triathlon Scotland.
  • Building open and honest relationships, having a genuine care for the athletes and having the technical expertise.
  • What causes people to react in two different ways emotionally?

Active CEO Performance Tip

Playing the Long Game – It’s so easy to get caught up in the detail of the business and forget to look after the health and wealth of your company long term. Focus on long game and put things in place so that in the future your company is thriving, growing and stepping up the game so you can stay one step ahead of the game in the market place.

Tweets

“We need to be at our best for the athletes that we coach to get them to be at their best. It’s is the same for us. If we are not at our best, how do we expect the athletes to be at their best?” Being a high performing leader with Mark Turner on the active CEO Podcast.

“Getting the basics right. Getting all the things right that don’t require talent and holding each other to account.  Having environments where there is psychological safety where you can have open and honest challenging and candid conversations between coaches, support staff, athletes-to-coaches.” Mark Turner discusses a high performance environment, on the active CEO Podcast.

“Anyone in a position of leadership whether it is a coach, a teacher, an educator, politician or anyone in a position of influence, the more that they can say, I have had my struggles to and it was really hard.” Mark Turner talks about a real sense of power for being vulnerable, on the active CEO Podcast.

Resources Mentioned in this show:

Mark Turner LinkedIn
Mark Turner Twitter
Mark Turner Instagram
Mark Turner Facebook
NRG2Perform www.nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns craig@nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns LinkedIn

Recommended Reading:

Mark Turner – Triathlon Secrets For The Age Grouper (E-Book, Coming Soon)

December NRGizer Newsletter

IMG_8193The NRGizer by NRG2Perform December newsletter is now available – Be the Best Version of Yourself – In this issue we discuss Changing the Game with Kate Palmer of Sport Australia; quietening the mind before going to sleep; parking the ego in a co-CEO environment with Michael Sewards SkyBus, and take a look at whether you are seeing the big picture.

Ben Gathercole and Craig Johns also delve into disrupting the energy sector with Christopher Dean, you can’t stop rotting wood; leading from the mountain tops with Jamin Heppell and Jen Ziegner on Mountains and Marathons; and are you working out with a purpose.

View the Newsletter

Jamin Heppell & Jen Ziegner (Mountains & Marathons) – Leading From the Mountain Tops

active CEO Podcast #14 Jamin Heppell & Jen Ziegner Leading From the Mountain Tops

Jamin Heppell & Jen Ziegner – Founders Mountains and Marathons

On this episode of the active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns and Ben Gathercole speak with Jamin Heppell and Jen Ziegner about how they are transforming not only their clients, but also their own lives; being the best version of yourself; connecting with the community; purpose driven businesses; aligning personal and business values; and the catalyst for Mountains & Marathons.

Background

Jamin Heppell and Jen Ziegner are a dynamic duo, who combine their passions and purpose in life with other people all around the world. They maybe young, but are very wise when it comes to human development. Their lives involve finding some amazing physical challenges and combining it with helping people improve their mental, emotional and leadership performance.

As Founders of Mountains & Marathons, they have had quite different careers. Jamin was a strength & conditioning coach at Essendon Football Club and is a serial entrepreneur founding 5 companies in the last ten years. Jen is passionate about personal development, having spent time with Tony Robbins and the Robbins-Madanes Training as a strategic intervention coach. She loves consulting, coaching and advising people on how to unlock and optimise their potential.

Mountains & Marathons, the most adventurous leadership program, is a 6-month leadership program that develops courage, clarity and confidence. Every program finishes with an epic physical challenge: Running a marathon or climbing a mountain in one of the world’s most extraordinary locations, such as Patagonia, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Blanc, San Francisco and the Everest Basecamp.

Jamin & Jen talks about:

  • Getting off the hamster wheel of the entrepreneurial game
  • If I could be doing anything in the world right now, what could I be doing?
  • Running marathons and climbing mountains all around the world
  • We are in control of the choices we make.
  • Taking on challenges that put me out of my comfort zone.
  • Having a deeper sense of connectedness with people and recognising the value of bringing community, bringing people together had on ones greater sense of health and wellbeing.
  • Leveraging the power of sport to be a greater transformative agent in grass-root communities.
  • The passion for entrepreneurship and purpose driven businesses.
  • Being agile, coping with a life of uncertainty and being a risk-taker.
  • How an Impact Investment Australia event at Street Coffee led to Jamin and Jen meeting for the first time.
  • Taking the bold move and “doing it my way”.
  • The catalyst to Mountains & Marathons.
  • Supporting people to gain greater clarity, courage and confidence through taking on a 6-month leadership program that centres around an epic physical challenge such as running a marathon or climbing a mountain.
  • How do you level up in all areas of life that are important to you, including health, family life, mental and emotional wellbeing and ultimately developing the whole person.
  • How the more you give leads to the more you get.
  • Their core values of courage, adventure, integrity and contribution.
  • The power of serving people to transform their lives.
  • How can you leverage an epic physical challenge and doing something that you didn’t think you could do, to transform other aspects of your life.
  • Some of the incredible transformational stories from the Mountains and Marathons program, including bouncing back from divorce, taking the brave step to change careers in the pursuit of happiness and weight loss through rising to the roof of Africa.
  • Showing up every day in alignment with what we are asking our clients to do in their programs.
  • Being along on stage with two left feet when doing the Bachata Latin dance in front of highly experienced dancers.

Tweets

“Feeling trapped inside, thinking I have to keep doing this, my community needs me, what will people say if I stop.” Jamin Heppell on the active CEO Podcast.

Active CEO Wellness Tip

Ben and Craig talk about how to deal with limited time and changing up your commute to and from work. They discuss walking, riding or running to work, rather than getting frustrated while sitting in traffic or waiting for public transport. They unveil the fitness commute as a great way for CEO’s and leaders to fit exercise into their busy schedule. They mention that your training can be completed by the time your walk into the office and the value of de-cluttering and clearing your mind before your step inside the house.

 

Resources Mentioned in this show:

Jen Zeigner LinkedIn

Jamin Heppell LinkedIn

Mountains & Marathons website

Robbins –Madanes Training Centre Link

Game Changers Australia Link

Impact Investing Australia Link

www.nrg2perform.com

craig@nrg2perform.com

Craig Johns LinkedIn

Ben Gathercole LinkedIn

Ben Gathercole Performance Coaching www.bengathercole.com.au

Recommended Reading:

Better Than Winning – Ben’s best selling book

www.nrg2perform.com/portfolio/book

Previous active CEO Podcast Episodes:

#13 – Chris Dean (Choice Energy) – Disrupting the Energy Spectrum link
#12 – Kate Palmer (Sport Australia) – Changing the Game link
#11 – Tim Cosulich (Fratelli Cosulich Group) – Navigating the Global Family Business link
#10
– Dr Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien (Rising Tide Africa) – Magic Happens Outside the Comfort Zone link
#9 – Mike DeNoma (KBZ Bank) Part #2 – Creating an Earthquake link
#8 – Mike DeNoma (KBZ Bank) Part #1 – Your Strengths are What Energise You link
#7 –
Trina Gordon (Boyden World Corporation) – Recruiting World Leaders link
#6 – Indiran Padayachee (RentCorp) – Winning Only Matters link
#5 – Suzie Hoitink (Clear Complexions) – Enemy of a Great Life is a Good One link
#4 – Rene Zondag (PBI) – People Are Our Greatest Asset link
#3 – Anne Gripper (NSW Office of Sport) – 6 C’s of Leadership link 
#2 – active CEO Intro (NRG2Perform) Part 2 link
#1 – active CEO Intro (NRG2Perform) Part 1 link

Why Curiosity is so Important

Curiosity leads to breakthrough discoveries and remarkable inventions. So why do we see companies stifling curiosity in the workplace?

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It is normal for humans to seek new information and experiences. By cultivating curiosity and the promotion of exploring novel possibilities throughout a company, employees will think deeper and more rationally about decisions.

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. 

ALBERT EINSTEIN

If we step back in time, when we were a child, we had an insatiable need to explore and understand the world around us. We were not afraid to challenge the status quo by asking lots of questions, tasting things we probably shouldn’t or doing something for the first time, without the worry of whether we were wrong or offending anyone.

As we grew older we become more self-conscious, try to appear more confident and show that we know what we are doing. By the time we arrive as adults, our curiosity is quite suppressed as fear of being judged and not living up to other people’s expectations creeps in.

The future belongs to the curious. The ones who are not afraid to try it, explore it, poke at it, question it and turn it inside out.”

UNKNOWN

Curiosity leads to creativity and innovation, which is important for you and your company to adapt to uncertain market conditions and external pressures. It creates an environment that inspires employees to improve their collaborative relationships, trust and more respect of their leader.

Leaders can fall into the trap of thinking that curiosity will increase risk and inefficiency. They stumble with the conundrum faced between the now and the future. How do we meet budget, sales targets, membership numbers and deadlines, when we know that we need to allow time where employees have the freedom to create new products, services, processes and business lines?

“Curiosity, especially intellectual inquisitiveness, is what separates the truly alive with those who are merely going through the motions. 

TOM ROBBINS

Finding the balance of exploration versus efficiency is an important component of a leader. Employees, who are under pressure to complete tasks quickly, tend to avoid asking questions about how they can improve their output and enhance the possible outcomes. When we question the status quo, we may not always produce useful information or solutions, but we also may prevent a decision being made that is catastrophic for your role and your company.

We perform better when we are curious because we view the tough situations more creatively. High performing employees, who are curious, seek more information from their colleagues, which helps improve the work that they do. They perform better because information is openly shared and they listen more carefully. New ideas are created, job satisfaction is improved, motivation increases and innovation flourishes as curiosity leads to a high performance environment.

“Around here, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward opening up new doors and doing new things, because we are curious and curiosity leads us down new paths. 

WALT DISNEY

The power of solving problems together and looking at suitable alternatives, brings teams closer together. It allows employees to step into another employees shoes, look at it from another perspective and allows them to work together in a more effective manner.

In the next active CEO article we will look at ways in which leaders can enhance curiosity in their workplace.

Looking for More?

Keep up-to-date on the latest membership information, research and ideas by signing up the the NRGizer Newsletter. SIGN UP NOW

Are you looking for more insights and ideas? Then read the following inspiring and thought-provoking articles and podcasts:

active CEO Podcast Suzie Hoitink Clear Complexions

active CEO Podcast #5 Suzie Hoitink Enemy of a Great Life is a Good One

PCB Vol 5- Suzie Hoitink
Suzie Hoitink – Founder Clear Complexions

On this episode of the active CEO Podcast, Craig Johns and Ben Gathercole speak with Suzie Hoitink, enjoying an insightful and thought-provoking discussion about leading an active and healthy lifestyle by example, successfully taking a new idea to market, the impact Rob de Castella has recently had on her life, finding the confidence to step out of a comfortable life, managing a successful partnership with her husband and how she leads an active CEO lifestyle.

Suzie Hoitink

Suzie Hoitink is a wonderful mother, leader, business owner and someone who really cares about people. She founded Clear Complexions, the undisputed leader in the skin rejuvenation industry, in 2005 and has gone on to build it into a multimillion-dollar business. Suzie was recognised as the 2012 Telstra Business Women of the Year. As a teenager she was shy and had low self-esteem. You wouldn’t recognise that now, as she is alive with charisma, belief, authenticity and the desire to positively change people’s lives.

Suzie talks about:

  • Exercise being crucial to keeping the balance
  • Needing something to terrify her to get out of bed in the morning
  • How her family brought out a competitive spirit in her
  • Why she adores triathlon and loves the structure of having a coach
  • Exercise being a non-negotiable in the mornings
  • Her role being an emotionally giving role to her staff and especially the clients
  • Being a corporate runner for the Indigenous Marathon Foundation and running the New York Marathon being one of the most significant events of her life
  • How leading an active and healthy lifestyle, by example, has had a positive impact on her staff
  • To bring an active CEO lifestyle into an organisation you need to be an inspirational leader sharing the achievements and most importantly the journey
  • Correlation between exercise, and self-esteem and confidence
  • “The enemy of a great life is a good one.”
  • A problem that I had that wasn’t being solved
  • Why nurses have the advantage in the skin care industry
  • Finding confidence in herself and leaving a comfortable life
  • The challenges of being acquired by a publicly listed company in 2017
  • Building something like a sculpture
  • Taking on a new CEO
  • Standing outside the square rather than in it
  • The importance of a mentor
  • Leading by example, being inclusive, setting high standards and sharing the vision
  • Dealing with travelling on a weekly basis
  • Why her mum and dad have had such a major influence on her life

Tweets

The enemy of a great life is a good one with Suzie Hoitink. You can listen here

When you start a new business, you only see forward, you see no barriers, so focused on your great idea. Listen to Suzie Hoitink and gain an insight into leading by example on the active CEO Podcast.

Resources Mentioned in this show:

Suzie Hoitink LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/suziehoitink/

Suzie Hoitink Website www.suziehoitink.com/

Clear Complexions www.clearcomplexions.com

Indigenous Marathon Foundation http://www.imf.org.au/

Robert de Castella https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_de_Castella

www.nrg2perform.com

craig@nrg2perform.com

www.linkedin.com/in/ceo-corporate-wellness-perform

Recommended Reading:

Better Than Winning – Ben’s best selling book https://nrg2perform.com/portfolio/book

Previous active CEO Podcast Episodes:

#4 – Rene Zondag (PBI) – People Are Our Greatest Asset link
#3 – Anne Gripper (NSW Office of Sport) – 6 C’s of Leadership link 
#2 – active CEO Intro (NRG2Perform) Part 2 link
#1 – active CEO Intro (NRG2Perform) Part 1 link

Secret to Success – People Are Our Greatest Asset

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Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash

There is nothing more beautiful than teaching and coaching people. The immense pride and enjoyment you get out of seeing someone grow is supported by the benefits you receive by teaching and coaching. You learn more about yourself, you tend to reflect on your own habits and routines, and you provide an opportunity to learn new ways of doing things.

“People learn the most when teaching others.”

PETER DRUCKER

As a CEO or leader you have a huge responsibility to not only prepare your people for their work, but also prepare them for life. More than just teaching skills, you have an obligation to teach them to find and understand their purpose. Once people understand their purpose, you then have to work with them to connect it with the purpose of the company and the work they are completing.

People are the only sustainable thing in an organization or a team. The New Zealand All Black Rugby Team’s win-rate over the last 100 years is over 75 per cent. It’s a phenomenal record, and an achievement matched by no other elite team, in any code, around the globe. However, in 2004 the All Blacks weren’t in a great place with team culture issues, low morale, disjointed purpose and declining performance.

“Better people make better All Blacks – but they also make better doctors and lawyers, bankers and businessmen, fathers, brothers, and friends.”

JAMES KERR

The team management and senior players came together and decided that they needed a fresh culture, where individual character and personal leadership were emphasized. They developed a new mantra, ‘Better People Make Better All Blacks’. This resulted in a remarkable turnaround with the team achieving a win-rate of just over 90%, and two Rugby World Cup’s, since 2004. They literally ‘swept the sheds’ and turned the focus to ‘leaving the jersey in a better place’.

There is nothing more rewarding than teaching people to become better than ourselves. Many CEO’s and leaders are afraid of the people they work with becoming better skilled, better leaders and better people than they are. It’s all about ego, and they need to realize that way of thinking is hindering the progress of both the company and themselves. As a CEO and leader, you need to learn how to create a mindset where you are proud of people growing above you, rather than being afraid of it.

“Understanding this responsibility creates a compelling sense of higher purpose. It’s a good lesson for us all: if we play a bigger game, we play a more effective game.”

JAMES KERR

When people are buying a product, they are looking for an emotional connection, rather than a material connection. Your people are at the heart of creating the emotional connection the buyers crave. It is important that you create an environment where your people are passionate about selling an experience, a new way of doing something, a feeling or a dream. As they say, ‘people sell, not products’.

People are more interested in the ‘why you are doing’ rather than ‘what you are doing’ when it comes to joining your community, purchasing a product or doing a deal with you. Why did the company begin, why does it act and interact in the way it does, and why do your people turn up every day? Your people need to be aligned in the collective purpose of the company, be passionate about the purpose, and live and breathe it every day.

“Give a man a fish; feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish; feed him for a lifetime.”

LAO TZU

Enjoyment and happiness are the number one retention tools in the world. For people to enjoy their work and be happy in the workplace, they need positive relationships, purposeful work, opportunities to learn and grow, and have some ‘skin in the game’. Forget a tunnel-vision focus on the bottom line and profit aligned productivity, and begin focusing on creating an enjoyable and happy place, that people love turning up to every day.

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Appreciation and recognition drive the human spirit. Confidence and self-esteem are some of the most vulnerable human characteristics. We often look for the negative things, those that aren’t going right and focus on them, rather than emphasizing the great things people are doing. If you are always focusing on the negative aspects of your companies or peoples work, you are not going to develop trust and the loyalty of your people.

“Tell me and I forget,
teach me and I will remember,
involve me and I will learn.”

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Look at ways you can reward and recognize the efforts of your people, more often. This helps to build confidence and self-esteem, especially if you can create an environment where people feel appreciated for their work, while also learning how to improve in areas that need attention. Remember, without confidence it is impossible for people to perform at their best. Just watch a tennis tournament.

Your people are your greatest asset. Take the time to communicate with your people, listen to them, and ask questions that improve their understanding, and bring them closer to the purpose of the company and what they want to achieve in life. Find ways to reflect on how you interact with your people and seek new ways to communicate more effectively. You have a great responsibility!

“If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed;
If in terms of ten years, plant trees;
If in terms of 100 years, teach the people.”

CONFUSCIOUS

Looking for More?

Keep up-to-date on the latest membership information, research and ideas by signing up the the NRGizer Newsletter. SIGN UP NOW

Are you looking for more insights and ideas? Then read the following inspiring and thought-provoking articles: