Lead Now is an Excellent Leadership Training Opportunity by Focus 3
I recently had the honor and privilege to participate in an elite leadership training program titled Lead Now by the Focus 3 Team, founded by Tim Kight.
The Lead Now training I participated in was facilitated by Master Training Specialist and veteran of the United States Navy SEAL Teams, Scott Daly. Scott was excellent. He has spent a good portion of his life training people to perform at elite levels and become better leaders. I loved how Scott was able to take his life experiences, combine it with the Lead Now system, and apply it to situations each of us face every day. I found the training beneficial on so many levels. I highly recommend it, and I will share a few highlights from my notes that really helped me.
A prerequisite for the training was the completion of a DISC personality inventory. This was very enlightening. It was helpful for me to see areas to improve upon, how others may view me, and most importantly how to work with and lead other personality types.
Focus 3 helps organizations with culture work in a way that is unlike anything I have ever experienced. It is an elite system used by Fortune 100 Companies, professional and collegiate sports, and some of the top school districts in the world. Tim Kight, the founder of Focus 3, was the Leadership Coach for The Ohio State University Football Team, and the system was used here with Urban Meyer and his teams. It is a system that helps people become better leaders, and trains people to better deal with the events we encounter in life. The program centers around working on your RESPONSE to the events that come at you, so you can help influence a possible, better outcome. Click to Read More
The heart of the training, not mentioned in my notes below, centered around: character, competence, and connection to build trust, and accountability, support, and clarity to achieve results. You cannot achieve elite results however without building trust and you need all six traits. Focus 3 provides excellent training materials.
Here are some of my highlighted takeaways from my notes:
Trust is paramount in leadership. Leaders need to build trust. Trust is a repeated experience of you, over time. How do you build trust with people? You spend time with them. So many leaders fail to do this.
Most people lead as needed and without discipline and intention. Don’t be like that.
Love is free. Give it often. Trust is earned.
Your organization cannot have divisions. Leaders MUST get everyone on the same page. Everyone MUST get together and interact with each other.
Strength in one area of leadership will not make up for a weakness in another.
Talent is a gift. Character is a choice.
Elite leaders don’t rely on motivation, or quotes; they have a system.
Great leaders need to build emotional agility.
Caring is an action, not an emotion.
Your focus, self talk, and how you feel, determines how you behave. You have more control over these than you think. Get intentional about each.
As a leader, you have a responsibility to be clear. Ask others to let you know if you are not being clear.
Leaders take ownership of their organization’s struggles and challenges, and they pass the accomplishments and recognition on to the team.
I loved Scott’s story about how he helped a young SEAL make rank. From a very small conversation about monster trucks, he made an impact and built an incredible level of trust. Have lots of conversations with your team about anything.
You can’t be trained beyond the edge until you discover your limitations. Find new edges to overcome. Grow BEYOND your current level of skill.
Know exactly what you stand for.
The day you think you know it all — get out.
Lead at the next level.
Your beliefs, behaviors and desired outcomes must move from your head to your heart and actions.
How to have an accountability conversation:
1) State the observation.
2) Describe the impact it is having.
3) Ask what they think they can do to fix it.
4) Tell them what you want them to do.
5) How will they respond?
6) How will you respond to their response?
I highly recommend you learn more about Focus 3, R-Factor, and Lead Now on the Focus 3 website and podcast. This is excellent training for businesses, schools and well… everyone. I am very proud and thankful ofPort Clinton City Schools and Pat Adkins for this training.
In this episode of the Future Focused Podcast I caution you to be careful what you label a weakness. Labels don’t help us and most of them are wrong. Labels often program us with incorrect, limiting mindsets.
When I was young my teacher’s feedback on my work in school focused on two areas that were presented as weaknesses. They would report: “Kelly talks too much. Kelly draws pictures on his paper and during class.” What was once a negative is now my livelihood; I am hired by organizations around the world as a speaker and artist.
We need to be careful of what we allow others to label as a weakness and what we label for ourselves. I often hear people say they have anxiety or attention issues like ADD. I have these, but rather than view them as negatives, I see them as super powers. My anxiety helps me to prepare for possible problems in presentations and consulting work. It allows me to analyze scenarios and issues others cannot even conceive. If you can’t identify potential problems, how can you prepare to stop them before they happen? My anxiety, when managed is a super power. My perceived weakness with attention disorder is also a super power. I come up with the most creative ideas and solutions. Without a busy mind bouncy around thinking of a hundred possibilities my creativity would be severely limited. Yes, my attention issues are a super power.
Listen to this podcast. It will give you a new perspective on your life. You are going to love this episode of The Future Focused Podcast. This episode will help you become even more successful.
Looking for a dynamic speaker for your event? • Kelly Croy is an author, speaker and educator. Want to learn more? Send me an email. • Sign-up for Kelly’s Newsletter. Listen to Kelly’s other podcast The Wired Educator Podcast with over 121 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook. • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter. • Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram
In this episode of the Future Focused Podcast I discuss the call to action, “Become the Best Version of You,” and how to really go about it. What does it mean? Why does this virtuous call to action inspire some and insult others. Most importantly, how do we actually become the best version of ourselves? These are all great questions I address in this episode.
I first heard the phrase, “Become the Best Version of Yourself” in Matthew Kelly’s book, The Rhythm of Life. It inspired me ten or more years ago, and it still inspires me now. I do not know if Matthew coined the phrase, but I am hearing it a lot more recently with other inspirational writers and speakers, and its concept in 2000 year old Stoic philosophy I am studying.
This episode will help you on the path to becoming your best you.
I hope you will leave a comment below or ask a question by selecting the ‘Ask Kelly’ tab at the top of the webpage or the ‘Send Voicemail’ tab along the side of the webpage. It would be great to hear from you. I may use your question on a future episode.
One thing that clearly separates us from our best self… excuses.
Looking for a dynamic speaker for your event? • Kelly Croy is an author, speaker and educator. Want to learn more? Send me an email. • Sign-up for Kelly’s Newsletter. Listen to Kelly’s other podcast The Wired Educator Podcast with over 121 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook. • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter. • Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram
In this episode of The Future Focused Podcast, I take a close look at the choice of being a manager, a boss, or a leader. Believe it or not, the choice is your’s! Your title doesn’t define you, it’s your actions. What are the actions of leadership? I will teach you in this episode. Hit ‘play’.
This is a great 15 minute podcast that will challenge your thinking, level-up your leadership, and give you direction in designing a dynamic life, both personally and professionally.
Please record a voicemail question using the button on the right of your screen, or the Ask Kelly tab at the top. I want to hear from you, and I may use your question on the podcast.
I hope you will consider leaving a review of this podcast on iTunes and a comment below. Please sign up for my newsletter and subscribe to this blog. I would love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram; I’ve added links to my accounts below.
Best to you! Get after it.
Have a great week!
Kelly
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Looking for a dynamic speaker for your event? • Kelly Croy is an author, speaker and educator. Want to learn more? Send me an email. • Sign-up for Kelly’s Newsletter. Listen to Kelly’s other podcast The Wired Educator Podcast with over 121 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook. • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter. • Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram
In this episode of The Future Focused Podcast, I tackle the problem so many people face, being adrift in life without a plan. Everybody needs a plan of action and direction.
Do you know what you want to accomplish? Where will you end up over the next year or years without a plan? Without intention? Find out why our best ideas come while we are in the shower, in the car, or right before bed! Learn how mindfulness can pull you out of being adrift.
This episode will help you brainstorm the plan for your year and help you figure out what is next. This episode will kickstart a what if brainstorming session for you.
Gain a new perspective on why you should be wary of contentment and satisfaction.
The next book I will be reading is by David Goggins titled: Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds. I am so excited to start this book. I have been listening to Goggins on several YouTube videos and podcasts and he fascinates me. Several of my friends are also very into his message. If you’d like to read this book along with me, add it to cart, and let’s talk about it on Twitter. I am always trying to gain an edge. This book is edgy and Goggins vernacular is explicit, but his message is powerful and unforgettable.
I hope you will consider leaving a review of this podcast on iTunes and a comment below. Please sign up for my newsletter and subscribe to this blog. I would love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram; I’ve added links to my accounts below.
Best to you! Get after it.
Kelly
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Looking for a dynamic speaker for your event? • Kelly Croy is an author, speaker and educator. Want to learn more? Send me an email. • Sign-up for Kelly’s Newsletter. Listen to Kelly’s other podcast The Wired Educator Podcast with over 121 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook. • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter. • Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram
In this episode of The Future Focused Podcast, I explain why consistency is either our greatest skill or our most challenging obstacle to achieving the success we seek.
Consistency is in fact the most significant difference-maker in determining our success in any given area. In this podcast I will show you many powerful ways you can become more consistent in completing what needs to be done to make a difference in your life. I will outline the strategies, techniques, pathways and apps that will help you build lifelong habits to your accomplishments.
Crush that feeling of overwhelm and frustration by getting focused, simplifying, and building consistent habits to level-up your leadership, designing a dynamic life, and executing proven pathways to achievement.
What apps can you use to build better habits and be more consistent? I will tell you.
How can improve my accountability for the actions I know I need to take. I will teach you.
What tools can I employ to accomplish more and get focused? It’s in this episode.
What is the most important action I can take to get results? It’s in here.
The bigger your dream in life, the more you need consistency.
I know you will enjoy and benefit from this podcast. Send me an email and let me know what you think.
My best to you,
Kelly
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Looking for a dynamic speaker for your event? • Kelly Croy is an author, speaker and educator. Want to learn more? Send me an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast The Wired Educator Podcast with over 115 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook. • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter. • Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram
Everyone knows breathing is vital to life, but few understand how they can control their breathing to live better and even gain a competitive edge.
Most of our breathing is done with little or no thought. We just do it. Unfortunately, most of us are doing it wrong. Improper or unintentional breathing can lead to fatigue, anxiety, and even poor health. Everyone needs to realize that breathing is a variable in our lives which we can manipulate. With understanding, practice and greater intention, we can actually use our breathing to benefit our lives.
As a speaker I have learned how to manipulate my voice for greater impact. I have had to learn a great deal about breathing to change my volume, inflection, intensity, tone and more. I’ve even had to learn how to control my breathing to reduce anxiety and stress. (Still working on both, but I am a work in progress.) I know professional entertainers and athletes who also use breathing techniques in similar ways. Professionals face the same concerns and fears everyone has, they just find solutions to solve them. Believe me, breathing is something everyone needs to learn more about and control.
I wanted to learn more about breathing, so I did some research and found the best videos about breathing and ordered the best book I could find on the subject of breathing.
Navy Seal Commander, Mark Devine showed me the importance of breathing and how to get started, in his videos and posts. I recommend you watch this video and read this blog post about breathing. Both helped me immensely and put me on the journey to better breathing. Mark’s SEAL Fit videos and contributions are worth checking out. I follow them on Instagram as well. Great daily reminders. Breathing is important to everyone, especially Navy Seals who repeatedly put themselves in high-stress situations. They don’t just survive, they thrive. Do you think they could teach us something about breathing? Heck, yes! Want to be elite? Breathe elite. It is the starting point of everything.
We can modify our breathing by changing its intensity, duration, depth, and speed. With practice, we can even recall breathing formulas to assist us in certain situations to gain an edge.
Athletes and performers know the importance of breathing, and you should too. Take some time to first become aware of the importance of your breathing. Next, become more intentional with your breathing. Doing nothing else, and learning nothing else, but just taking some time to focus on breathing and breathing deeper from time to time and adjusting your speed and duration, will go a long way.
I recommend reading the short and insightful book, Breathe: The Simple Revolutionary 14 Day Program Improve Your Mental & Physical Healthby Belisa Vranich. This book was extremely helpful to me. Great exercises for real results. I know… I know… it sounds crazy placing such a priority on breathing, but you will be amazed at how your life improves.
I also recommend trying Box Breathing.
Here’s how to employ the Box Breathing technique:
1) Breathe in through your nose slowly, counting to 3. (If possible, close your eyes.)
2) Hold that breath, counting to 3.
3) Exhale that same breath, counting to 3.
4) Repeat the above steps 3 times in a row.
You can graduate to a four second hold once you get some reps in. This is just one of many, many exercises.
Better breathing can lead to better: mental state, digestion, blood pressure, heart function, blood flow, and overall health. Good breathing can also reduce headaches, anxiety, and a host of other ailments.
Learn more about breathing. Practice breathing better.
Here’s one of Mark’s videos that I think will help you out:
Thank you Mark and all who serve in The United States Armed Forces and all who serve in our local emergency services.
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Looking for a dynamic speaker for your event? • Kelly Croy is an author, speaker and educator. Want to learn more? Send me an email. • Listen to Kelly’s other podcast The Wired Educator Podcast with over 115 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook. • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter. • Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram
Email me if you would like to join my exclusive launch team for my new book, Unthink Before Bed. Big news coming soon!
In this sixteenth episode of The Future Focused Podcast, I explain the importance of minimizing, and I get you started putting minimizing into action.
Not enough time in the day? Too many items on the to-do list? Not sure where to focus? Disorganized desk? Cluttered house?
It’s time to minimize!
Minimizing is a gift you give yourself and those you love. In this episode I will help you get started on getting rid of what is cluttering up your life and holding you back from greatness. Minimizing is a critical act that leaders need to take to gain clarity, get more accomplished, and add value to their lives.
Thank you for subscribing to The Future Focused Podcast. I hope you will send me a message and let me know your thoughts on the podcast. I also hope you will share this podcast with your friends and family.
Please consider booking Kelly for your next event. • www.kellycroy.com • info@kellycroy.com • 1-800-831-4825
Kelly Croy is an inspirational speaker, author, and artist. Kelly’s program includes an amazing art performance brought to life with computer animation.
I recently had the honor and privilege to participate in an elite leadership training program titled Lead Now by the Focus 3 Team, founded by Tim Kight.
Trust is paramount in leadership. Leaders need to build trust. Trust is a repeated experience of you, over time. How do you build trust with people? You spend time with them. So many leaders fail to do this.
n this episode of The Future Focused Podcast, I explain why consistency is either our greatest skill or our most challenging obstacle to achieving the success we seek.
