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The high achiever’s worst nightmare. Plus, will you help me finish this post?

April 8, 2021 by David Martin Leave a Comment

There’s an invitation to help me finish today’s post below. I can’t wait to hear your ideas.

High achievers (like you) often possess some extreme qualities. Some of their traits fall far out on the tail of the bell curve. That’s why they’re exceptional.

Strength or Achilles heel?
The traits that fall in the Spectacular end of the bell curve often vary greatly from person to person.

But there’s one trait in the opposite tail that many high achievers share. It’s simply a success strategy unconsciously over-used. But, it can be a real drag.

…[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Confidence, Courage, Goals, High Performance, Impact Player, Influence, Mastery, New Thinking, Resilience, Success Tagged With: Leadership

How has life changed you? Your invisible shifts of 2020

April 1, 2021 by David Martin Leave a Comment

Sometimes life shapes us like a chisel cutting stone. Sometimes it changes us more subtly like a smooth running stream.

Unless you were living UNDER that stone, you’ve been changed by your experiences since March of 2020. You’ve probably been both chiseled and steadily smoothed into a new human.

Even if it was a difficult year, that doesn’t mean you’re not better for it. In fact, perhaps because it WAS a difficult year, your evolution was guaranteed.

But how are you different? And what have you learned?

…[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Confidence, Courage, Goals, High Performance, Impact Player, Influence, Mastery, New Thinking, Resilience, Success Tagged With: Leadership

One bottle of root beer started the whole thing

February 10, 2021 by David Martin Leave a Comment

Back before the coronavirus shutdown, I took Brenda to dinner at a treasured restaurant in Cincinnati. Let’s call it Fancy Place. It started as a birthday celebration, but before we had our entrees, things took a surprising turn.

Our waiter was incredibly welcoming and professional, obviously well trained. The management of Fancy Place has a reputation for schooling their staff meticulously in how to treat every guest so that each person experiences their visit as a special moment.

…[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Confidence, Courage, Goals, High Performance, Impact Player, Influence, Mastery, New Thinking, Resilience, Success Tagged With: Leadership

Leadership 401: Turning to jerks for wisdom

January 26, 2021 by David Martin Leave a Comment

The squeaky wheel may get the grease, but the skilled driver reaches their destination.

Whether you’re trying to upgrade your business results or you’re a new President of the United States (leaning left or right), you need to understand a secret of why many fail and a few succeed to lead change.

…[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Confidence, Courage, Goals, High Performance, Impact Player, Influence, Mastery, New Thinking, Resilience, Success Tagged With: Leadership

Who would you rather be in 2021?

January 12, 2021 by David Martin Leave a Comment

Choose the best option for your 2021.

…[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Confidence, Courage, Goals, Impact Player, Influence, New Thinking, Resilience, Success

I heard a voice in my head and it wasn’t mine

March 17, 2020 by David Martin 2 Comments

A respite from the many coronavirus messages you’ll read today…

My Uncle Andy was one of those larger than life characters. Everyone knew him. And as far as I could tell, pretty much everyone loved him.

I had great experiences with him while he was living. Yet, there’s something I learned from him after he died that I lean on most often.
…[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Courage, Goals, New Thinking, Success

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

October 7, 2019 by David Martin Leave a Comment

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]

Filed Under: Competition, Confidence, Courage, Goals, High Performance, New Thinking, Success

5 rules to prevent your “big next” from becoming a big mess.

April 16, 2019 by David Martin Leave a Comment

The recent launch of my new book, Free the Genius, was a tutorial for me in how to stretch beyond old limits to my own “big next.”

If you’re building something new and different, let these universal rules-of-the-road help you stay on track and in motion.

What is a “big next”? It’s that idea, dream, or contribution that you must bring to life. It may feel impractical and difficult to achieve . . . yet, it won’t leave you alone until you begin. It’s your big next.

Here are five principles I just learned and re-learned that you can apply to bring your big next to life:…[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Confidence, Courage, Goals, High Performance, Influence, Mastery, New Thinking, Success

This virtuoso gave a better answer than my question warranted. So worth it!

November 14, 2018 by David Martin Leave a Comment

I had the chance to have a brief conversation with celebrated, Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Ron Chernow, recently.

While we spoke, he made a comment that rang a bell in my head that will no doubt be valuable for you, too, if you intend to make a meaningful impact in your world.

He’s a true virtuoso.
Chernow is best known for writing the book, Hamilton but every book he writes is an award winner. Chernow’s biography, Hamilton, inspired Lin Manuel-Miranda to write the earth-shaking musical of the same title.…[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Confidence, Goals, High Performance, Mastery, New Thinking, Success

If a client tells you they’re going crazy, should you call 911?

October 3, 2018 by David Martin Leave a Comment

Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash

Mel asked me to meet him for a drink at an out-of-the-way dive bar. He wanted to talk away from the office where people wouldn’t overhear us.

After a quick hello, he jumped right into why he wanted to talk.

“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Do you think I’m losing it? I’m beginning to think I must be crazy.”…[Continue Reading]

Filed Under: Confidence, Influence, New Thinking, Resilience, Success

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Free the Genius

Free the Genius by David MartinMy new book released and is an Amazon #1 international bestseller! It’s called Free the Genius: How the Very Best Grow Their Meaning, Mission, and Contribution. Read more here.

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