David Martin & Company

Work Smarter. Dream Bigger.

Kate is guaranteed a life-changing outcome if she endures this. So are you.

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There she stood, exposed like few humans ever are.
On September 16, Kate Flannery was of the 12 contestants who began Dancing with the Stars latest season. Kate, best known as Meredith from The Office, is a friend of Brenda’s and mine, so we’ve been lucky to witness her experience up close.

Kate’s previous dance experience is mostly at wedding receptions. Yet, with 8 MILLION people watching on live TV and with only a few weeks of dance lessons under her belt, she stood ready to dance a very intricate cha-cha routine on an enormous ballroom stage. 8 million self-appointed dance experts waited, ready to judge her.

To add to the pressure, three professional dance judges would evaluate her dancing while the entire audience listened in. And one of those judges is known for crushing people with extremely harsh, critical feedback.…[Continue Reading]

Leadership 201: He didn’t hate the dog. It just wasn’t his.

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Underdogs: sometimes it’s not just a metaphor.
A few weeks ago, our dog, Lulu, got puppy-shamed…if there is such a thing. Don’t worry. She’s still as joyful as ever.

But the incident actually says as much about the leaders around you (and about you) as it says about dogs. It serves as a humorous but cautionary tale of how we unintentionally squelch each others’ voices. This one’s not immediately obvious, so it’s a 201 level idea.

Understanding what happened to Lulu will help you better take life by the leash and build your leadership pedigree. (Sorry, but when a puppy pun presents itself, you have to grab it by the collar.)…[Continue Reading]

He imitated his way to the top. And so can you.

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Willson Contreras, the 26-year-old catcher for the Chicago Cubs will play in his first All-Star game tonight. That’s one of the biggest honors in his profession. When he found out he’d made the team, he cried.

You probably would have too if you’d have worked that hard — especially if one of your idols had tried to hold you in place, telling you to “respect the ranks” as you started gaining ground.

Regardless, you can steal his path to all-star status starting today. And perhaps your success will threaten some of your idols, as well.

Playing in the All-Star game was a predictable outcome.
Contreras used a method that almost every superstar or uber performer in any field, including business, has used since the beginning of humanity. …[Continue Reading]

Her window of opportunity closed in 3.9 seconds

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Last Friday night, Morgan William from Mississippi State caught the basketball at mid-court with 3.9 seconds left in a tie game. Her window of opportunity opened and closed in less time than it took you to read this paragraph.

Her story is one that can inspire and instruct every one of us who wants to make our dent in the Universe.…[Continue Reading]

He didn’t know any better, and he paid for it.

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Cooper (aka, Coop) is a strapping 16 year-old kid who just didn’t know any better.

His ONE DREAM is to play college basketball. Okay, in full disclosure, he also seems to dream about Mexican food pretty often.

He knew the first step to his big dream was to play high school basketball. And he wanted to be ready.

He logged thousands of hours of practice and play through 8th grade. Thousands.…[Continue Reading]

He wins championships by picking losers

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The Chicago Cubs’ success carries great news for you. What can you gain? More wins and a larger fan base.

But it might appear too risky. You decide.

The Cubs haven’t won a World Series since 1908. This year, they’re the favorites to win it all.

Full disclosure: I’m a lifelong Cubs fan, but this post is written for you, even if you don’t like the Cubs or baseball…[Continue Reading]

Her Path to #1 — She lost more than the rest

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On Sunday, Angelique Kerber won her first US Open Title and earned her first-ever #1 world tennis ranking. At 28, she’s the oldest woman to ever achieve the #1 ranking for the first time.

Ever worry your ship already sailed without you?
Kerber’s path to the top reminds us that there is always another ship to catch. That is, if you keep playing.

She shows us that late bloomers aren’t just slow or lucky. They’ve been preparing for years, readying for their opportunities.…[Continue Reading]

What would you have done if you’d gotten the call?

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Last week, Gwen Jorgensen won her first Olympic Gold medal in the women’s triathlon. In 2009, she was a 23-year old tax accountant for a Big 6 accounting firm. Her Olympic journey began with an unexpected phone call at work.

It’s a story of hope for anyone with a dream.
As the story goes, the US Olympic committee was frustrated the US hadn’t had more success in the triathlon and went searching for candidates to recruit into their program.

The ideal candidates were runners and swimmers. Jorgensen had been a swimmer and runner at the University of Wisconsin, so her profile was a perfect match.

The Olympics was not in her career plan.…[Continue Reading]

Legalized mind control that keeps you watching the Olympics

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For 10, 15, and 20 years, elite athletes have been preparing to win Gold in Rio. But for much longer, TV network executives have been preparing in a different way to guarantee you’ll stay tuned in.

Their secret is 100% relevant if YOU want to win Gold in the areas that matter to you.

How do the TV networks keep you coming back?
It’s hidden in plain sight: Storytelling.…[Continue Reading]