Steve Lover’s Post

I wish I could recategorize the idea of leadership. It is over-used that people roll their eyes when hearing about the topic. In this video, I share the hard truth about you, yoru business and leadership.

The Entrepreneur's Trap You started off with a dream of freedom. - freedom of time - freedom of money - freedom of choice   You built your business from the ground up, pouring sweat and soul into every moment. Finally, sweet success! Profits roll in, comfort settles. Then it hits. Growth demands hiring. Suddenly, you're not crafting widgets – - you're juggling chaos.  - fires erupt.  - cats need herding. That anticipated freedom? Evaporating like morning mist. Your dream has become a prison of your own making. Sound familiar? You're not alone. Most entrepreneurs fall into this trap, watching their passion wither under the weight of management hell. But here's the kicker: It's not your employees. It's you. The Cold Hard Truth: You're in a New Game You thought you were in the widget business. Wake up! Your business is the widget business, but now YOU are in the leadership business, like it or not! The Path Forward: From Lousy to Amazing Here's the hard to hear truth: Just as you didn't master your widget business overnight, You won't become an amazing leadership overnight. It's not one-size-fits-all. Your leadership style will be as unique as you and your business, tailored to your personality and your team's needs. Remember: - You were lousy before you were good - Good before you were great - And great before you became amazing at widgets The same applies to leadership.  - Embrace the journey.  - Expect stumbles.  - Celebrate small victories.  - Each day, each interaction, is a chance to grow. Start now. Be patient. Be persistent. Your future self – the one with time, money, and choices restored – is counting on you. Leadership isn't just another skill. It's the key to unlocking the freedom you've always dreamed about. You can try to figure it out, or you can get direction. How much time do you wnat to allocate to figuring it out? I am giving a two day virtual masterclass “Lead with Confidence, not with Chaos”. Interested in learning more? Comment with the word “leader”

There is an important skill that will change everything about your business. Making this shift will change everything.

I learned an important lesson in 2013. I was working with a business owner that was having untold problems with his team. I held back judgement until I saw for myself. In this video, I share the story. Even though it is a little long for Linkedin, it is a great lesson for business owners.

Sometimes a business owner needs to refocus what their main business is. Most financial people make a mistake thinking they are in the financial business when in reality they are in the MARKETING if financial services business. My video today relates to every business owner and the problem of understanding what business you are in. Your thoughts?

The Magnetism of Exceptional Leaders Great leaders don't just manage. They captivate. They transform. Here's how: Vision Casting: Paint a future so vivid, people can't help but follow. Make your vision their vision. Authenticity Amplified: Drop the corporate mask. Be refreshingly real. Vulnerability is your superpower. Continuous Growth: Learn publicly. Evolve constantly. Your growth inspires their growth. Empowerment Engine: Don't just delegate tasks. Delegate authority. Watch your team soar. Recognition Mastery: Celebrate wins, big and small. Make your people feel like the heroes they are. Communication Wizardry: Listen intently. Speak clearly. Overcommunicate your vision until it echoes. Culture Cultivation: Build an environment people fight to be part of. Culture eats strategy for breakfast. Action Challenge: Pick ONE area. Commit to mastering it this month. What's your focus? Share below and let's elevate leadership together!

10 Behaviors that differentiate Great Leaders 1. Although they have very high standards, you don't feel judged by them. 2. You are happier with yourself when you are in their presence. 3. They know when you need a little space and understanding 4. They always give it to you straight, even if it uncomfortable 5. They create a tremendous amount of loyalty 6. They inspire you to step up to new levels 7. They know how to celebrate your wins 8. The give you opportunities to fail 9. They care about you personally 10. They are encouraging Action: Take a minute, think about the people in your life that own at least 6 of these traits and notice the warmth you feel towards them. Ask yourself who would think of you while reading this list? What kind of leader do you want to be? I am conducting a 2 day masterclass “Lead with Confidence, not with Chaos” in the next few weeks. If you would like to get an invite when it goes live, DM me “masterclass” and I will get you the information.

Help we’ve been hijacked by the marketing department!!!!!! Today’s post will cause many to roll their eyes and not even finish reading it. That would be a mistake. The topic is what I like to call cornerstone documents. There are three of them - Mission Statement: Defining what your company is doing for humanity. - Vision Statement: What path are you on to get there? - Values Statement: What defines what you are willing to do or not do to make them happen. The idea started with the great management guru Peter Drucker in 1974. He suggested that business owner make a document to define the purpose and mission of their businesses as a kind of strategic imperative. A reason of existence in the cosmic world. But every time you talk about them people roll their eyes. And it is for good reason. THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT HIJACKED THE MISSION STATEMENT It was no longer about who the company was or why they were in business. It became a marketing ploy to grow business - Put it on the wall of the reception room - Put it on the brochure - Put it on the website But when the marketing department grabbed it, it lost its’ practicality and purpose. The original idea was not to attract customers. - It was to steady the internal ship and keep people on focus and target. - It should be a rally point for the employees, leadership and stake holders. - It provides clarity and direction - It keeps eveyrone engaged - It ensures continuity and relevance. So instead of rolling your eyes. Take it back from the marketing department. Use it to build your team and your business. If you are a small business owner and are new to creating a team or you struggle to get high performance out of your team, I am conducting a 2 day masterclass “Lead with Confidence, not with Chaos” in the next few weeks. If you would like to get an invite when it goes live, DM me “masterclass” and I will get you the information.

A hard reality for most (business)people What truly separates the great ones from the rest of the pact? It is true in every endeavor. - Building businesses. - Being a sales manager. - Being a salesperson or Entrepreneur. - Politician. - Engineer. - Parent, teacher or spouse. In all of these there are three words that are difficult for most people to speak. The three words are “I own it!” - You need to own your business success or failure. - You need to own the results of your sales team. - You need to own your results building your practice or business. - You need to own things that happen on your watch. - You need to own how things were done. - You need to own the status of your relationships. I once read a quote from Dan Sullivan, founder of The Strategic Coach. “Honesty is the beginning of all progress.” When you own your situation, you can do something about it. The owner that says he has a bunch of idiots working for him, will NEVER work it out. He plays the victim. He has no control. The minute he says I was not clear enough, that is why we underperformed, he can turn it around. BECAUSE He owns it. If your team is underperforming. There could be a lot of pieces at play. - Maybe you weren’t clear enough. - Maybe they misunderstood. - Maybe they never bought in - Maybe they don’t understand the importance. - Maybe there is an Accountability problem in the organization. The minute you own it is the minute you can fix it. If you are struggling getting your team to world-class performance, you will benefit form my new masterclass “Lead with Confidence, not with Chaos” DM me “masterclass” to get a personal invitation and notification of the upcoming class date.

The 3 truths about growing your business that no one wants to discuss. 3 Truths: 1. “What got you here wont get you there” is only half true. Sometimes, “What got you here, will get in the way of getting you there.” 2. When you start hiring people, you are no longer just in your stated business. You are now in the leadership and development business. It is a different business and needs the same focus to excel as your regular business did when you first started. 3. There are no such things as lousy teams, just ineffective leaders. Let’s illustrate: A young entrepreneur opens a convenience store. He does everything. - Inventory - Purchasing - Bookkeeping - Marketing - Cleaning His finger is literally in every aspect of the business. He becomes very successful, and decides to open three other branches. Big Question: What will happen if he tries running 4 locations in the same manner? HE WILL FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!! The flexibility and scope of his work got him to the place that he could open other locations. But it is impossible to run 4 locations this way. Truth #1, what got you here will get in the way of getting you there. Not only does he need to learn new skills, he must be willing to stop doing things that he always has done. Things that actually made him successful. As he starts to hire managers and employees for the stores, truth #2 will kick in. He is in a new business (Leadership) and it is foreign to him. He has never taught anyone to do what he does. He probably doesn’t even know how he does it. He probably has no written Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) that he can plug people into. He needs to think differently and Inspire, Encourage and Celebrate with his team members. Being that he is new at the leadership game, he will probably not be great at it. There is a lot to learn. He probably won’t get it right on the first try. This is where truth #3 comes in. If the team isn’t performing, you need to look at the leader. There are no bad teams, just ineffective leaders. As the leader you have to own everything that happens in the business. no exceptions. They will follow you and mirror your example. If you are a small business owner and are new to creating a team or you struggle to get high performance out of your team, I am conducting a 2 day masterclass “Lead with Confidence, not with Chaos” in the next few weeks. If you would like to get an invite when it goes live, DM me “masterclass” and I will get you the information. PS. What was most valuable to you?