Becoming Your Best | The Principles of Highly Successful Leaders

The cultural changes we've seen in recent years might make us think that 21st-century etiquette is utterly different than the 20th century’s. Yet the only difference is that when Gen Xers and Baby Boomers were growing up, it was okay to ignore or even ridicule certain groups of people. Etiquette remains the same; what has changed is the acknowledgment and recognition of those whom society used to push to the margins.And at the center of this revolution, just like every human revolution, is language.In this episode, Dr. Suzanne Wertheim joins us to share her expertise in inclusive language and its impact on both personal and professional relationships, how to learn it, use it properly, and correct ourselves when making mistakes. Suzanne Wertheim is a Keynote Speaker, Workshop leader, Anti-bias Consultant, CEO of Worthwhile Research & Consulting, and the Author of "The Inclusive Language Field Guide." She specialized in her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley, in theories of language endangerment, sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology, and post-Soviet studies.Throughout our conversation, you'll hear Dr. Suzanne's thoughts on inclusive language and pronoun presentation at the workplace, proper use of language in highly productive environments, and language bias and how it affects communication. You'll also hear about Dr. Suzanne's book and why she decided to write it, why she states that words can cost tons of money, how to address people according to their gender identity, and much more.Tune in to Episode 407 and learn more about the massive difference little words can make in someone's life.Some Questions I Ask:What are the biggest minefields or things that should be more inclusive that you see might trip people up? (7:50)Why are people putting their pronouns next to their names in their bios, and what's the benefit of it? (17:20)In This Episode, You Will Learn:Dr. Suzanne talks about the moment she realized the importance of inclusive language (3:50)Language is the most complicated skill (10:40)How do we repair things when we make an inappropriate use of language (21:00)Dr. Suzanne talks about the link between inclusive language and productivity (23:20)Connect with Dr. Suzanne:WebsiteLinkedInGet Dr. Suzanne's book, "The Inclusive Language Field Guide"Becoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety

Executive coaching is about being courageous enough to raise and have tough conversations, show vulnerability to your coachees, and make it clear that as a coach, you come from humility, kind directness, and a learning mindset.To our guest, Antonia Bowring, excellence in leading leaders has more to do with internal work than accumulating qualifications, or, in her words, it requires more "mesearch" than research.In this episode, Antonia Bowring joins us to talk about transformational coaching, leadership, and personal and professional growth. Antonia is a Highly Credentialed Consultant, elected Top NY Coach in 2021, Strategic Facilitator, Sought-after Speaker, and Author of "Coach Yourself! Increase Awareness, Change Behaviors, and Thrive."Throughout our conversation, you'll hear Antonia's thoughts on executive coaching as a two-way learning experience, what inspired her to write her book, the C.O.I.N. framework, and her work supporting leaders with A.D.H.D. You'll also hear about self-coaching, the importance of conducting tons of "mesearch" to become a great leader, and much more.Tune in to Episode 406 of and learn how to coach yourself up, and improve your leadership and management skills.  Some Questions I Ask: Please tell us about your book, Antonia. How did it come about? Why did you write it? (5:00)What is C.O.I.N.? What's its purpose? How is it helpful to a person or a team? (13:20)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Antonia's background and her first steps in coaching (3:30)Antonia talks about her real mission as a coach (7:40)Can someone coach themselves (18:50)Why do leading leaders require tons of "mesearch" (22:20)Antonia's final words of wisdom (27:10) Resources: Book: Antonia Bowring - Coach Yourself! Increase Awareness, Change Behaviors, and ThriveConnect with Antonia: Website LinkedIn Instagram TikTok  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety

There are two ways of looking at the pain of doing something hard; you either see it as a cave that you get into and laid down in a fetal position in the darkness, coming out the same entrance you got in, or as a tunnel, a transformative journey that sees your evolution as you get out of it on the other end a changed person, a victor.   In this episode, you'll get inspired by the extraordinary Rebecca Rusch, Adventure Athlete, World Champion, two-time Hall of Fame Inductee, Speaker, Best-selling Author, and Emmy Award Winner. Among the many accolades of "The Queen of Pain," Rebecca is a 7x world champion in the ultra-adventure/endurance MTB (Mountain Bike), was recognized by Outside Magazine among the Top 40 Women Who've Made the Biggest Impact, set the FKT (Fastest Known Time) on the Arkansas High Country Route, clocking 1,041 miles in 8 straight days of pedaling 12-15 hours per day, wrote "Rusch to Glory: Adventure, Risk & Triumph on the Path Less Traveled," and got an Emmy Award for her film Blood Road, which documents her pedaling of the 1,200-mile Ho Chi Minh trail in search of the crash site that claimed my father's life in the Vietnam War.   Throughout our conversation, you'll hear Rebecca's thoughts on how aiming for peak performance in physical activities motivates us to find our best version in other areas of our lives and how being a high-performance athlete impacted her leadership abilities. We also talk about her nickname, "The Queen of Pain," her unique view of pain's transformational power, her funniest experiences on the bike, the Be Good Foundation, and much more.   Tune in to Episode 405 and get the inspiration you need to, regardless of the mountain you're about to climb, just take the first step.   Some Questions I Ask: As a world-class, ultra-endurance athlete, what have you learned in all your outdoor endeavors around the world? (7:30) How have you navigated your career in sports and leadership? How do you combine those all to balance essential areas in your life? (16:00)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Rebecca's background and accolades (3:00) Rebecca's realization she was training for life, not only the competitions (8:20) Rebecca explains her nickname's meaning (11:00) 4 simple steps to live like a high-performing athlete (19:20) Rebecca talks about the funniest experiences she had as an ultra-endurance athlete (21:10) Connect with Rebecca: Website LinkedIn Instagram Twitter YouTube FacebookBook: Rusch to Glory: Adventure, Risk & Triumph on the Path Less Traveled  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website

Understanding their values and living in unity with them is one of the smartest moves a leader can make. That will help them identify those values in others with ease and get clarity on why they do what they do.   Leading groups of like-minded people who share core values create the perfect environment for every leader to stay motivated and ask themselves the same question: what does my best look like? In this episode, I'm joined by the Executive Coach, Speaker, Author, and Leadership Development Expert, Debbie Collard, to talk about excellence in leadership, personal growth, and self-awareness. The oldest of five children born in rural poverty, Debbie had to figure out her path to getting a college education since her parents couldn't afford to pay for it. She figured a military career would open a few doors, so she joined the Air Force. Fast forward many years, Debbie built an astonishing leadership career at Boeing for over 30 years, and after "graduating" from it (retirement), she knew she had more to give, so she started Season Leadership alongside her partner, Susan Ireland.Throughout this episode, you'll hear about Debbie's fantastic story of resilience, personal growth, and almost obsessive pursuit of excellence throughout her professional life. Debbie shares her thoughts on what becoming her best version means, how accepting jobs no one wanted to take helped her, and what kept her motivated to constantly improve herself throughout her career. Additionally, you'll learn how to achieve excellence in leadership, Debbie's top leadership tips, what inspired her to write her book "The Making of a World-Class Organization," and much more.Tune in to Episode 404 and learn how to reach excellence in leadership and transform yours into a world-class organization.   Some Questions I Ask: Please tell us, what does becoming your best look like to you? (5:00) What are some of the most important things that make a world-class organization? (13:30)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Debbie's upbringing and background (3:20) Challenges are opportunities to shine (8:20) How to reach excellence in leadership (18:00) Two things every leader should focus on (20:50)  Resources: Book: Debbie Collard, David Spong - The Making of a World-Class Organization  Connect with Debbie: Website LinkedIn  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance

Caring for our health becomes much easier when we make it an enjoyable, non-restrictive, conscious choice; it's about romanticizing our lives. It's understanding that health is a lot more than the absence of disease; it's who we surround ourselves with, the quality of the thoughts we ruminate on, the food we choose to eat, and the time we schedule for rest and recreation.   This week, the inspiring Renée Marie Joyal joins us to share her unique approach to physical and mental health, wellness, and nutrition. Renée is a Keynote Speaker, Coach, and the Author of the Amazon #1 Best-seller, "Live Beautiful: A Compassionate, Balanced Guide to Everyday Wellness & Well-being." Two near-death experiences marked Renée's life: a life-threatening illness in early adolescence and a drunk-driving accident in her mid-20s. The radical change Renée created in her life as an answer to her autoimmune disease brought her health back and prepared her mentally and physically to recover from the accident.   Throughout this episode, you'll hear Renée's inspiring story of resilience, self-love, and commitment to making her body a temple of health where her mind can rest and expand. We talk about the health issues that put her on her knees and the adjustments she made in her diet, daily routines, and thought processing to reach peak health.   Additionally, Renée talks about her book and what inspired her to write it, and she shares dozens of tips to improve mental and physical health, change eating habits, and more.   Tune in to Episode 403 and let Renée show you the path to living a beautiful life and enjoying your best physical, mental, and emotional health.   Some Questions I Ask: What's your passion in life? What are the things that really get you excited? (9:00) What are some of the things that people can do to create optimal health and happiness? (20:30)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: About Renée's two near-death experiences (3:00) What inspired Renée to write her book (12:10) Why creating sustainability is crucial for improving your health (22:20) Don't do everything at once. Focus on improving 1% every day (28:30)  Connect with Renée: Website InstagramBook: Live Beautiful: A Compassionate, Balanced Guide to Everyday Wellness & Well-Being  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety 

Statistics show that one in two veterans struggle to rejoin civilian life. Some fight silent battles against anxiety, depression, or PTSD; others don't even realize or admit they are struggling. For all of them, there are resources, answers, thousands of ears willing to listen, and hundreds of hands ready to help. It's our job to clear the path and spread the voice so this help can get to those who need it. Today, Bob Taylor joins us to raise awareness of veterans' mental health, spread an optimistic message for those transitioning from military to civilian life, and explain his service to success formula. Bob is the CEO and Founder of Alliant Healthcare and the Author of "From Service To Success: New Mission, New Purpose, and a New Journey to a Great Life." He served in the US Air Force for 21 years as a B-52 navigator, KC-135 navigator, and an Air Force Academy liaison officer. Bob's civilian life after service turned quite bumpy after a few years, which led him to develop mental health issues and deprived him and his family of his best version for almost 16 years. In understanding his struggle was the struggle of thousands of veterans, Bob found a new meaning and purpose for his life. Throughout this episode, you'll learn about Bob's inspiring story, the issues he had to deal with, and how he repurposed them into a whole new meaning in his life. You'll also hear about why Bob decided to join the Air Force, the values he learned there that helped him develop as an inspirational leader, the six years of research that birthed his book, his thoughts on the power of gratitude, and more. Tune in to Episode 402 and learn how to stretch a helping hand for those who put their lives on the line for the rest of us.   Some Questions I Ask: Can you share your experiences navigating the gigantic B-52? (5:50) What are your findings as the primary reasons veterans struggle to transition to civilian life? (16:40)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: Bob talks about what inspired him to write his book (9:20) Why finding your passion outside the military life can literally save lives (19:00) Bob talks about the importance of finding hobbies (22:50) Why having a clear vision is crucial to live your best life (26:00) It is darkest before it is lightest (29:20) Connect with Bob: WebsiteLinkedInBook: From Service To Success Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders

Willpower is the catalyst to starting healthy habits, yet it's not enough to substantially change our health, fitness, and longevity. We must spice it up with other ingredients, like discipline, commitment, and a clear goal.In this episode, Ron Williams visits us to unravel the secrets to longevity, staying healthy, and enjoying the perks of an active life. Ron is a 21 times natural bodybuilding world champion, served as a Master Fitness Trainer for the US Army, was awarded the Natural Bodybuilder of the Decade distinction, is a former Professor of Exercise Physiology and Nutrition, and has been a Life and Fitness Coach for over 35 years. Life hit him hard right from the get-go. Dropped at a babysitting house at age three, Ron went through over 20 houses before he was 15, suffering all kinds of abuse and the devastating sensation of not being loved. But he never stopped believing in himself, and a few years later, he found in a mindset change the secret ingredient of the success formula.Throughout this episode, you'll hear about Ron's impressive life story, bulletproof resilience, and the immense self-love that rescued him from the darkest places. Ron also shares golden nuggets on improving fitness and overall health, the secrets to longevity, and the benefits of resistance training. Ron also explains the benefits of stress reduction, proper nutrition, and much more. Tune in to Episode 401 of Becoming Your Best and learn Ron's secrets to improve your health and fitness, enjoy an active life, and maximize your longevity.Some Questions I Ask:What changes did you make in your mindset to overcome the challenges in your youth? (9:20)Can you talk about the importance of the right nutrition program? (19:40)In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Ron's rough start in life (4:30)From illiterate to professor (8:20)Ron's advice for optimal overall health and longevity (12:30)Turning willpower into lifestyle (25:40)How to become successful (33:00)Resources:Iron Chest MasterBook: Ron Williams – Faith and Fat LossConnect with Ron:WebsiteLinkedInYouTubeBecoming Your Best Resources:Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group

Sometimes, the golden brass ring in front of us is so shiny that it can block the sight of better things coming our way. Learning to let go of it might open new possibilities we didn't even imagine or help us achieve new goals, and it will always make us grow and improve ourselves.   In today's special episode, Randal K. Quarles joins us to share some golden nuggets on leadership, teamwork, and task prioritization and showcase irrefutable evidence that you are never too old to become your best. Randal is a seasoned leader with broad experience leading financial services in the United States, who has been involved in a number of the largest financial mergers ever completed, was a partner of the Carlyle Group, and held senior financial policy positions in four different presidential administrations over the last 35 years. In 2014, Randal brought together the group that founded The Cynosure Group, where he is currently an Executive Chairman.   Throughout our conversation, you'll hear about lessons that helped Randal in his prolific leadership and management career, his experiences as a Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve, and his thoughts on teamwork and self-development. You'll also hear Randal's tips and advice to become better leaders, learn to prioritize important things in life, and more.   Tune in to Episode 400 of Becoming Your Best and learn self-development tools from Randal Quarles that are worth more than the world's biggest treasure.   Some Questions I Ask: Randal, tell us a bit about your background (4:50) What would be one or two things that you would say about what it means to be a great team member? (11:30)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: Randal shares lessons that helped him improve in his personal and professional life (6:50) Focus on "what can I contribute" instead of "what will I obtain" (12:20) Randal talks about how it is to work in the Federal Reserve (14:40) Why getting good at prioritization is so important (18:50)  Connect with Randal: The Cynosure Group TeamLinkedIn Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best WebsiteBecoming Your Best University WebsiteBecoming Your Best LibraryEmail: support@becomingyourbest.comBook: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful LeadersBook: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your PerformanceFacebook Group – Conquer Anxiety

"Without discipline, you live with your commitment as words. With discipline, you live with your commitment as conviction, and that conviction is what takes you beyond where other people stop."    In this episode, the inspiring Richard Flint shares his extraordinary life story. We learn about his exceptional mental strength to overcome childhood trauma while rediscovering his self-worth and the transformational power of discipline, commitment, accountability, and integrity. Richard is a Keynote Speaker, Podcaster, Trainer, Coach, Mentor, the CEO of Richard Flint Seminars, and the Author of 19 books.   Throughout our conversation, Richard talks about his childhood traumas, how he dealt with rejection, and his decision on a seventh-floor window ledge that transformed his life. Richard also shares his thoughts on confronting what we refuse to validate, the transformational power of discipline, the four questions you must answer to be successful, and much more.   Tune in to Episode 399 of Becoming Your Best and let your behavior be the guide toward the kind of success you never thought possible.  Some Questions I Ask: What are some of the lessons learned that would help our listeners be successful and happy? (13:20) How do you define an exceptional leader? (22:40)  In This Episode, You Will Learn: A bit about Richard's traumatic childhood (4:10) Somebody is going to need me today (9:40) What you don't confront, you validate (14:30) Four questions you must answer to be successful (17:20) Every choice we make creates a direction (25:50)  Connect with Richard: Website LinkedIn Listen to the Let's Talk Human Behavior podcast Success House website  Becoming Your Best Resources: Becoming Your Best Website Becoming Your Best University Website Becoming Your Best Library Email: support@becomingyourbest.com  Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety