David Martin & Company

Work Smarter. Dream Bigger.

First, I lost my cool. Then, I lost my power.

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Today, I’m re-sharing one of my most popular posts. With just a couple of edits, it seems highly fitting for these COVID19 times. 

If you are feeling any additional stress these days, this could be very useful….I hope you’ll share this with the people you care about.

A few years ago, I witnessed a dear friend (let’s call him Todd) living through the most difficult experience of his life. Over many months, his situation got so bad it seemed almost inescapable to him. The challenges he faced would make even the toughest among us blanch.…[Continue Reading]

What’s the leadership equivalent of don’t touch your face?

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Things can go from hopeful to hateful in no time.
You’ve been watching it unfold in front of you. It just takes one person to show they’re anxious, to worry out loud, to take a hard line, or to lose their cool.

When they do, it’s easy for others to join them in a downward spiral. You’ve probably been on both sides of this lately. So have I.…[Continue Reading]

Leading through chaos — from someone I trust deeply

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I don’t know about you, but I’ve felt the emotional temperature of the world elevating daily. In the US, things have changed rapidly in the past 10 days. I’ve definitely been grabbed by my own emotions a few times.

What are you doing to stay at your best? Are you comfortable leading through change of this unprecedented speed and magnitude?…[Continue Reading]

First, I lost my cool. Then, I lost my power.

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A few years ago, I witnessed a dear friend (let’s call him Todd) living through the most difficult experience of his life. Over many months, his situation got so bad it seemed almost inescapable to him. The challenges he faced would make even the toughest among us blanch.

At one point, he was ready to just check out, not in a healthy way. Standing in his shoes, I could understand why.…[Continue Reading]

An essential skill to freak out a bartender or lead a revolution.

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On Sunday morning, I had a seemingly ordinary brunch in New York City. I didn’t think I was doing anything strange until I realized I was freaking out the bartender.

I was just trying to chill.
I’d just left a pretty intense training session. My teacher suggested I keep my mobile phone turned off to help integrate the learning. I did.

At the restaurant, I sat down at the bar in one of 20 or so empty barstools. The bartender chatted me up and took my order.

Then he and the restaurant manager started hustling behind the bar to fill a large drink order for a table of impatient guests.

I just watched.
With no phone to hold, I propped my elbows on the bar and looked around . . . at the displays of liquor on the shelves . . . at the industrial design features of the room . . . at the two people rushing to make the drinks.…[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]

One important question to ask yourself at New Year’s

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Something small but important happened to me this weekend. It could help you change the way you think about 2018 and beyond for yourself.

On Friday, I drove back to my hometown in Illinois to spend some time with family. My parents’ old house is for sale, so I stopped by the house to check it out.

I was locked out.
I usually enter through the garage door but the door opener had a dead battery. No luck. And all of the doors were locked.…[Continue Reading]

There’s a first responder in all of us

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In the last month in the US, we’ve been reminded that we cannot go it alone. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have put many people in danger and turned their worlds upside down.

In both situations, people are stepping up to support each other. They’re making sacrifices and taking risks often for total strangers they’ll never see again.…[Continue Reading]

Rethinking your sources of wisdom

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I sat and listened intently as my mentor shared with me some pretty amazing wisdom. His perspective and experiences were so different than mine that I needed to stop him every few minutes and ask for clarification.

Not everything he said made sense, but parts of what he shared was exploding in my brain. I’d just never thought of things the way he was describing them.…[Continue Reading]