Nate Blackburn’s Post

Many Leaders operate like this: So focused on their domain. Not networking properly. Not seeing the shifts coming. Then something hits them, A change in the market. A huge loss for their team. A reduction in force. To be proactive and look towards what may be coming, Be sure to consistently learn Analyze what is working Create a game plan for the next challenge Operating with your head in the sand by being overly focused, It won't prepare you for the next stage of growth. Keep Striving!! #sales #management #startups

You want to build a truly powerful team? Practice Joint Leadership. Where you are not the king of the castle. Many smart founders and Leaders feel pressure. Pressure to live up to the lofty standards that have been built for them. Many times they are exceptionally talented and innovative. This can create a flaw - needing to constantly prove that greatness. Bumpy roads come, they dig in, become the savior, dictate the way, And take things over. There is a better way.. Jointly Lead, when things go south admit the challenge and fallibility. Empower the team to use it's collective skills. To truly stay on course: -Get transparent feedback -Don't believe you're that smart -Constantly change your assessment -Seed control That will get the team to greatness. Have a productive week Keep Striving!! #management #sales #founder

Clarity, hard to plan for but obvious when achieved You ever experienced fog? Fog blocking decisions, Fog hindering understanding, Fog obscuring when to move, Then, you have it move away. You're like, I've got it!! That's gaining clarity. It's illusive in communication and Leadership. When someone can guide us towards clarity, they become invaluable. That's the goal, create lines of dialog, guidance and expertise that doesn't just show how good we are, but enables clarity. Help remove the fog today, For better results. Keep Striving!! #sales #management #founders

I used to complain about not getting mentorship. Then I became one. Very humbling experience. Now I think like a mentor, and I'm not afraid to ask. On the road to true Leadership, mentorship is along the way. -Mentor those who may be afraid to ask -Mentor those who are eager to learn They may just need a little guidance. Mentor to become a true Leader. Mentor someone this week. Keep Striving!! #sales #leadership #management Follow me on thoughts on Leadership, Sales and Communication for better results.

Saw the new CTA Green Line Damen stop. Elegant design, Form, function, message. It is a rebuild of a long demolished station from 1948 on the near west side of Chicago. Filling in a 1.5 mile hole in transit. It was remarkable. Elegant, welcoming and the embodiment of a message: The past looks towards a brighter future. The station is a pathway to a new perfect state for a community's rebirth. That's just it a perfect state. Perfect states don't exist. They are ideals to aspire to, work towards. In Leadership, how do we communicate the perfect state? Does it have form, function and a clear message? Probably not. Many times we are changing our message and lack a clear vision. As Leaders we have to develop a method for understanding the perfect state and guiding people there. In client calls In sales motions In team dynamics Design a form, function and a message, For better results. Keep Striving!! #sales #management #cta

"What I'd really like to do" The prospect doesn't care Alarm 🔔 's They shut down How many sales calls start just like that. And afterwards how many times is there true alignment? How many times do they ghost us and give surface level responses? Many salespeople have been trained to: Convince Overpower Take control Dominate Yes, sheer domination, Though you may need to have confidence, surety and lead, when necessary, Clients don't want that usual "sales guy" tactic. "What I want..what I say...what I'd love to do.." Should be a thing of the past. Remembering it's not about you in sales and maybe saying; "What would provide the most value, is.." Could build better trust in your sales interactions. Just a reminder. For better results. Keep Striving!! #sales #management ##founders

Went to an engaging exhibit, Really loved this message. It's simple but hard to do. It's easy to say you bet on yourself, But what about when you're going against the grain? When you have people actively opposing you. I was reminded of this by the great Georgia O'Keefe. Standing against the wind and convention is hard. It's human nature to be part of the crowd. However, when you get the inclination to bet on yourself, even when everyone says it's folly, it may be the best the thing you can do. Believe in what you can do, take that step even if others my be against you, For better results this week. Keep Striving!! #sales #management #founders

We talk about haters. Those who want us to lose The biggest hater is... Ourselves. We tell ourselves alot. Tell ourselves how hard "it" is, Tell ourselves we can't, Tell ourselves, why? Yeah, why we shouldn't. As they would say, "Hate'n" on our selves. It's true, we can do more damage by that internal "hate", Then any mean faced external jealousy. There's enough haters out there Don't be the biggest one. Just a little reminder. Keep Striving!! #sales #management #founders

Standing tall as a beacon. Those are who we follow... Beat down Shut out Grinded... It doesn't matter; Those we follow, Stand tall, seaming as a beacon Overcoming Withstanding Prospering... Helping us find our will to pull through, Ever so humbly, But resolute. Stand tall this week, The rest will follow. Keep Striving!! #sales #management #founders

Is your need to be liked holding you back? From asking the hard question From being yourself From being respected From being effective From being more than a buddy Many times as people pleasers, We think: "I will make them like me.." "I know I can win them over.." Only to be surprised later on. Don't make your goal to be liked. Work towards being respected. It will enable you to be a consultant more the a salesperson It will enable you to be a Leader more than a title, It will help you be a trusted advisor more than just a buddy. Yeah, more then a buddy. Remove your need to be liked as to free yourself towards true objectivity, And better results. Keep Striving!! #sales #management #founders