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My guest for Episode #246 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is JM Ryerson, co-founder and CEO of Let's Go Win. He's an author, leadership & performance coach, international speaker, and host of the Let’s Go Win podcast.
JM Ryerson founded and sold three businesses and is now helping leadership teams do the same. He’s the Best Selling Author of the books “Let's Go Win,” “Champion's Daily Playbook,” and his latest, “Upgrade.” JM has been building companies and leading sales teams for over 20 years. He is the co-founder and CEO of Let's Go Win whose mission is to increase leadership, enhance culture, and help teams achieve peak performance.
In this episode, Ryerson recounts his initial ventures in the financial world, not as a numbers guru, but as a skilled salesman with the innate ability to motivate teams. He discusses his mindset switch from traditional roles to leading and expanding businesses, driven by a passion for nurturing growth and creating value for all involved.
He delves into how he navigated setbacks, transforming them into life-changing growth opportunities, and the importance of maintaining a positive mindset amidst adversity. Highlighting his journey, Ryerson guides us through how he discovered his true calling of motivating teams, which ultimately brought unparalleled fulfillment and success.
Questions and Topics:
- First to get to know you a little better — what were those three businesses?
- What’s your favorite mistake?
- Did you have a coach or did you coach yourself out of it?
- Mistake to be in financial businesses? To stay there?
- How to help others bounce back — remembering your WHY, connecting it back to your why
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: “It's not a failure. It's steps to success.”
- Coaching leaders — when to let the setback go… and to look forward
- Talk about your leadership coaching – helping people process and work through mistakes
- What are the fastest changes facing the leaders you coach?
- 3 focus areas: Performance, leadership, and mindset — Which mindsets most often need upgrading?
- How to upgrade mindsets? To not get stuck in a mindset
- Carol Dweck – Mindset
- Mark was a guest on the “Let's Go Win” podcast
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- Full transcript
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Episode Summary & Article
The Art of Leadership and Entrepreneurial Success: Insights from JM Ryerson
JM Ryerson is a notable figure when it comes to leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal development. Over a career spanning two decades, Ryerson has founded and sold three successful companies, primarily in the financial services industry. His experiences have not only shaped his expertise in leading high-performance teams but have also led to a prolific career as an author, coach, and speaker.
The Journey of a Serial Entrepreneur
From the onset of his career, Ryerson recognized his penchant for leadership and team-building above his interests in the financial intricacies of his businesses. This pivotal realization paved the way for his future endeavors, allowing him to leverage his strengths effectively.
Starting in the competitive realm of financial services, Ryerson's early experiences formed the backbone for his later pursuits. Despite his self-professed lack of passion for finance, he excelled at sales and quickly moved on to more significant challenges. With an intuitive grasp on the importance of scalability and distribution, he transitioned from success in sales to spearheading the expansion of his business endeavors across the nation.
The entrepreneurial spirit drove Ryerson to not just achieve but to build firms that mattered, creating value not just for clients but for every individual involved in the process. His leadership style was one that focused on nurturing and growth, reflective of his passion for team-building and his belief in the potential of collective effort.
Embracing Mistakes and Opportunities
For JM Ryerson, what some might consider setbacks or mistakes, he sees as opportunities for growth and life lessons. His “favorite mistake,” as he terms it, was a move from Montana to California which indirectly catalyzed some of the most significant changes in his life.
After graduating from college, Ryerson embarked on what was supposed to be a short visit to California and ended up never leaving. Despite the move being unplanned and initially perceived as a mistake, it led to profound personal and professional growth. He met his wife in California, started a family, and laid down the roots for future entrepreneurial success.
However, not every aspect of Ryerson's journey was easy. He candidly shares the struggles he faced – from an initial focus on the drawbacks of his new environment to personal challenges that left him contemplating what truly mattered in life. These reflective moments brought about a transformation, one where Ryerson embraced positive thinking and an optimistic outlook that would eventually become integral to both his personal life and professional philosophy.
A Refined Focus on Leadership and Mindset
Ryerson's greatest realization came when his life reached a critical turning point. Despite external business successes, personal challenges forced him to introspect and redefine his focus, which culminated in an enduring passion for leadership and team building.
At one point, despite a seven-figure income and seemingly flourishing life, Ryerson faced personal crises that led him to reassess his situation. It was during this time that he identified his true calling – guiding and motivating teams. This period of self-discovery and adjustment allowed Ryerson to fine-tune his approach to entrepreneurship, placing an emphasis on effective leadership and the power of a positive mindset.
Through his experiences in the various roles he held within his companies, including CFO and COO, Ryerson realized that while he was capable in these positions, they didn't provide him with the fulfillment he sought. His transition to focusing on leadership and mindset not only propelled his businesses to new heights but also brought him immense personal satisfaction.
Translating Experience into Thought Leadership
Today, JM Ryerson shares his insights with a wider audience as a bestselling author and international speaker. His podcast, Let's Go Win, underscores his philosophy of winning not only in business but in life as well.
Ryerson's books, including ‘Let's Go Win', ‘Champions Daily Playbook', and ‘Upgrade', distill the essence of his learnings over the years. They offer frameworks for success that are rooted in optimism and actionable strategies. By contextualizing his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons learned along the way, Ryerson has become a role model and mentor for aspiring leaders.
By embracing both successes and failures, Ryerson exemplifies the ethos of a modern leader – resilient, reflective, and ever-willing to grow. His story serves as a testament to the transformative power of leadership and the profound impact it can have on both a personal and professional level.
Cultivating Growth Through Failures
In the realm of entrepreneurship and leadership, the intrinsic value of failures and setbacks becomes a pivotal point of discussion. Ryerson, with his rich history of ups and downs, brings a practical and refreshing perspective to dealing with losses. Fostering a professional environment where individuals are not deterred by failure, but rather, are encouraged to learn from it, becomes an integral part of a winning culture.
Encouraging a mindset where each mistake is a step toward success, Ryerson emphasizes how every stumbling block is a potential learning curve. By adopting a viewpoint that celebrates the process of learning as much as the success itself, a leader can transform the way a team perceives and reacts to setbacks.
For Ryerson and other thought leaders like him, resilience is not about the absence of failure but the persistent effort to rise above it. This resilience is key to inspiring and motivating teams across all domains, from young athletes to seasoned business executives.
The Role of Purpose and Health in Success
A powerful tool in Ryerson's leadership toolkit is the ‘why'—a strong sense of purpose. This foundational element is what springs individuals back into action after a setback. It is about understanding and connecting with the deeper motivations that drive one's work and perseverance.
Within the scope of business and personal life, Ryerson believes that aligning actions with one's purpose can be transformative. This alignment not only ensures resilience in times of hardship but it also enforces a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that transcends monetary gains.
Ryerson also sheds light on the often-overlooked aspect of health in the pursuit of success. The maxim that health is wealth stands true, especially when personal well-being directly impacts professional performance. By maintaining good health, leaders can model the importance of balance for their teams and families.
Sport, Competition, and Life Lessons
Another layer to Ryerson's philosophy is drawn from his rich history in sports. The lessons learned on the court or field are as applicable to the boardroom as they are to personal life.
The discipline, teamwork, and competitive spirit cultivated in sports translate seamlessly into business and leadership. Ryerson's own experiences in basketball and the profound reflection on the journey of professional athletes like Giannis Antetokounmpo reinforce the importance of a growth mindset.
Celebrating wins is easy, but acknowledging that losses are “steps to success” requires courage and confidence. This sportsmanship spirit dovetails perfectly with the entrepreneurial journey, where bouncing back from defeat with renewed vigor is tantamount to success.
Staying Present and Forward-Looking
Leaders like Ryerson advocate for the importance of living in the present moment and focusing on moving forward. Lingering on setbacks can be debilitating, hindering growth and innovation.
By recognizing the past's lessons without allowing them to overshadow the present, leaders can guide their teams through challenges. They strive to instill an ability within their teams to acknowledge setbacks but not be defined by them.
As Ryerson's journey continues to evolve, the theme of positivity, resilience, and growth remains at the forefront of his teachings. Whether through his books, podcast, or speaking engagements, the message is clear: learning to let go of losses and embracing each day with the intent to improve creates a path to enduring success.
Embracing Change as an Upgrade for Success
Leaders like JM Ryerson understand the dynamics of motivation and the resistance that often accompanies the notion of change. Identifying this resistance to change is crucial for effective leadership, especially in a world that is constantly evolving at an unprecedented pace.
To persuade teams to embrace change, it's fundamental for leaders to reframe change as an upgrade—a concept that inherently implies improvement and progress.
Navigating Resistance to Change
It's not unusual for individuals or teams to exhibit resistance when faced with change. The unknown can indeed evoke feelings of discomfort and anxiety. Leaders must recognize that this resistance often comes from a lack of understanding of the benefits that change can bring. Here are practical steps leaders can take to alleviate such concerns:
- Illustrate the Benefits: Clearly articulate how the proposed change will benefit the individual and the collective. By demonstrating the advantages, team members are more likely to view change as an opportunity rather than a threat.
- Create Alignment with the Why: Understanding the reasons behind change can be a powerful motivator. When team members are aligned with the organization's vision and how change plays into that, their buy-in naturally increases.
- Foster Open Communication: Ensure that there is an open line of communication where team members can express their concerns or seek clarifications. This transparency can build trust and make the transition smoother.
The Significance of a Growth Mindset
At the core of Ryerson's teachings is the concept of a growth mindset, a term popularized by Carol Dweck. A growth mindset enables individuals and organizations to perceive challenges as opportunities to learn and develop, rather than as insurmountable barriers.
- Encourage Lifelong Learning: Cultivate an environment where learning is continuous and valued. By doing so, leaders encourage a growth mindset where improvement is constantly sought out.
- Challenge Limiting Beliefs: Leaders must challenge the fixed mindsets that can stunt personal and organizational growth. When members of a team learn to overcome self-imposed limitations, the potential for innovation and advancement greatly increases.
- Model the Behavior: Leaders should exemplify a growth mindset in their actions and decisions, reinforcing the idea that everyone can evolve and improve regardless of their starting point.
The Power of Present-Centered Leadership
A constant theme in Ryerson's approach is the power of being present. Effective leaders anchor themselves in the present moment, which allows them to impart a sense of focus and urgency in their teams, fostering a culture of mindfulness and engagement.
- Prioritize Mindfulness: Teach and practice mindfulness in the workplace to help team members focus on the task at hand, reducing stress and increasing productivity.
- Acknowledge, Learn, and Move On: When failures occur, leaders should encourage their teams to acknowledge the lessons learned quickly and then promptly refocus on present goals and future strategies.
- Celebrate the Now: Encourage teams to celebrate current achievements and milestones, reinforcing positive behaviors and outcomes that are happening in the moment, which in turn can build momentum.
Continuous Improvement as a Leadership Mantra
Ryerson's new book “Upgrade” serves as a timely reminder that continuous improvement is not indicative of inadequacy but is a relentless pursuit of excellence. His views on the subject can guide leaders in their processes:
- Perception of Improvement: Remind teams that seeking improvement is not an indictment of their current abilities but a commitment to being the best they can be.
- Communicate the Path to Upgrade: When proposing changes, explain how these changes are indeed upgrades that will facilitate better performance, satisfaction, and results.
- Embrace Adaptability: Encourage an organizational culture that not only accepts change but thrives on it. Stress the importance of adaptability as a survival skill in the fast-paced, ever-changing business landscape.
To reiterate, the underlying message of Ryerson's philosophy is that embracing the present, nurturing a growth mindset, and positioning change as an upgrade are essential ingredients for sustained success in both personal and professional realms. These principles lead to a resilient, adaptable, and high-performing culture which is indispensable in today's fast-moving world.
The Importance of Vulnerability in Leadership
One of the most significant themes in JM Ryerson's approach to leadership is vulnerability. Opening up about personal challenges, uncertainties, and fears can be an exceptionally powerful practice for leaders who wish to connect genuinely with their teams.
- Promote Authentic Connections: Vulnerability fosters trust and inspires others to share their truth. When leaders are transparent about their journey, it encourages a more authentic team dynamic.
- A Safe Space for Dialogue: Create an environment where it is safe to discuss the “good, bad, and ugly.” This openness is essential for a team to thrive and adapt in the long term.
- Reflection of Reality: Being candid about both successes and failures provides a realistic picture of what to expect in an organizational landscape, preparing the team to handle diverse situations.
Leveraging Podcasts to Spread Inspiration
Podcasts have become an instrumental medium for leaders like JM Ryerson to disseminate their message of positive change and continuous improvement. The ‘Let's Go Win' podcast stands as an example of utilizing technology to connect with a broader audience while promoting a message of optimism and growth.
- Inspiring Stories: Sharing inspirational stories via podcasting can motivate listeners to pursue their personal and professional dreams with renewed vigor.
- Sharing Insight and Experience: Guests from various walks of life provide a rich tapestry of knowledge, offering valuable insights and learnings.
- Accessibility and Convenience: Podcasts allow listeners to engage with content anywhere, anytime, which is essential for continuous learning and self-improvement.
The Journey of Continuous Growth
JM Ryerson's insights shed light on the importance of acknowledging and even celebrating mistakes, recognizing them as integral steps in the journey toward success. By treating setbacks as a natural part of the improvement process, leaders can instill a culture of resilience.
- Normalize the Learning Curve: Accept that setbacks happen and emphasize that they are part of a larger growth trajectory.
- Recovery and Resilience: Train teams to bounce back from failures by analyzing what went wrong and devising strategies to improve.
- Energy and Enthusiasm: Maintain a high level of energy and enthusiasm even in the face of challenges. Showing how to navigate lows with optimism can be incredibly inspiring for team members.
Winning in a World Moving at Light Speed
As posited in Ryerson's recent book “Upgrade,” leaders can only truly thrive in today's swiftly changing environment by embodying the principles of adaptability, continuous improvement, and present-centered focus.
- Embrace Speed and Efficiency: Equip the team with tools and techniques to handle swift changes and capitalize on the moment's opportunities.
- Technology as an Ally: Utilize technology and digital platforms not just for efficiency, but also for staying connected and fostering a sense of community.
- Commit to Continuous Learning: Ensure that the team is always ready to learn new skills, adopt new ideas, and evolve with the changing times.
In conclusion, JM Ryerson's philosophies on vulnerability, podcasting as an educational platform, recognizing mistakes as growth opportunities, and being adaptable in a fast-paced environment, offer invaluable guidance to leaders aiming to succeed and inspire their teams in an increasingly dynamic world.
Automated Transcript (May Contain Mistakes)
Mark Graban:
Well, hi, everybody. Welcome back to my favorite mistake. I'm Mark Graban. Our guest today is JM Ryerson. He's an author, leadership and performance coach, an international speaker, and the host of a podcast called Let's Go Win.
Mark Graban:
He is the co-founder and CEO of a company of that same name, Let's Go Win. JM founded and sold three businesses. He's now helping leadership teams succeed. He's the best-selling author of the books Let's Go, Win, Champions Daily Playbook, and his latest book, Upgrade. So JM has been building companies and leading sales teams for over 20 years.
Mark Graban:
So, JM, thank you for joining us here today.
JM Ryerson:
How are you, brother? I'm great. And thanks for having me, man. I'm looking forward to it. We had a great conversation prior, so this is going to be a lot of fun, man.
Mark Graban:
There's no mistake to have you here. I don't think you'll find it a mistake to be here either. I'm looking forward to having a chance to continue the conversation on your show, on your home court, if you will. One quick question, though, in terms of getting to know you a little bit better, what were those three businesses like? What industry?
Mark Graban:
What types of businesses were those?
JM Ryerson:
Yeah, I was in the financial service world, and what I quickly realized, Mark, is I don't really have a lot of knowledge when it comes to financial services, nor am I passionate about it. What I am passionate about is leadership and building teams. And I figured that out pretty early in my career, and that's where I focused my time. So if you have any financial questions, please don't ask me because I'm just going to refer you to someone else. But what I did learn is I figured out what I really enjoyed doing, what I was good at, and maybe more importantly, what I didn't like.
JM Ryerson:
But it was a cool ride and built some cool companies with some good people.
Mark Graban:
All right, so we will talk about leadership. I will not make the mistake of peppering you with finance questions, and I hope I didn't step on your favorite mistake story. I feel like we got a little bit of a Mini mistake, bonus mistake there. Not mini, but bonus mistake, mini story. So, JM, the different things you've done, the different things you continue to do, I'll throw the main question at you here.
Mark Graban:
Now, what would you say is your favorite mistake?
JM Ryerson:
Yeah, it was funny. When I first got this, I was like, man, what is that? And there's no question. It was when I moved to California from Montana. I graduated college and my brother graduated high school, took a vacation down to I have an uncle in northern California.
JM Ryerson:
Then we did southern California, Lake Havasu. And on the way back, I decided to crash on my uncle's couch in northern California. And I never left, so literally moved with a backpack and my truck. And it was a place that I never expected to move, I would say was never on my radar. And it ended up completely being one of the greatest decisions I've ever made.
JM Ryerson:
And I guess my favorite mistake, and it's funny, I never thought of it necessarily that way, but my life is forever altered in an amazing way because of that mistake of leaving my favorite place, which is Montana, to go to California, which wasn't my ideal spot. But I met my wife and my kids, and so many great things came from that feel.
Mark Graban:
When you say it was both the greatest decision and a favorite mistake, I mean, was there a period maybe before you got settled, established building companies? I mean, did it feel like a mistake at some point, or what was that balance and kind of thinking back how you felt about that over time?
JM Ryerson:
Yeah, for, I would say, almost a decade. Mark, I literally talked about how I was going back home, I was going back to Montana. And one of the things that I regretfully say that I didn't embrace everything that I had in California, because, look, everywhere you live, there's going to be really positive and there's going to be some drawbacks, and that's everywhere. I don't care if it's Montana or California or. I live in Florida now.
JM Ryerson:
But I focused in the beginning so much on what I didn't love about it, instead of embracing some of the things that I had at my disposal, starting these companies, meeting my wife. And so it was one of the best lessons I've learned and that I really try to always look for the positive, for the amazing things that are at each place that we go to or each relationship that we have. And it's one of those ideas that I coach on now. Whatever you focus on expands. And there was a period where I focus on just the negative side.
JM Ryerson:
And it's funny, because if you know me now, that sounds crazy, because everything I look at is full and optimistic, and I always look at it. But there was a period of time where I really didn't embrace some of what California had to offer.
Mark Graban:
Did you get some coaching or mentoring around some of that mindset? Was it your uncle, was it others in business? Or did you kind of coach yourself through some of that to start seeing.
JM Ryerson:
The positive that's a good question. I think ultimately, what happened is when my wife and I had married and we had our two kids at the time, and now I still only have two kids, but we had our two kiddos, and they were really young, and I was hit basically rock bottom, where my business was crushing. Like, from the outside looking in, I'm making seven figures plus a year, and the family looks good. But the truth is, I was separated from my wife for a year. I was overweight and really unhealthy in terms of physically at a very young age.
JM Ryerson:
And I think that's when I finally said, all right, enough is enough. There's clearly where I need to look in the mirror and see what's really broken. And it wasn't the outside, it was inside. It was the way I was approaching it. So everything looks so good, business is crushing it, right?
JM Ryerson:
But the truth was, it was a mess. And my wife and I, the love of my life, were separated, and I only had my kids 50% of the time. And if you know me, that doesn't work, man, that is not okay. And that's when I finally said, you know what? Let's really start living and embracing all the beauty that life has to offer.
JM Ryerson:
And it's been that way for quite some time now.
Mark Graban:
Yeah. Well, I'm glad to hear that things got back on that path. Thank you for sharing all of that jam. I'd be curious. We alluded to this.
Mark Graban:
Maybe we can dig a little deeper. When I asked about, well, what were the three businesses that you launched and sold, would you tell us a little bit of the origin even of that first business? I'd be curious, sort of the what and the why and the how.
JM Ryerson:
Yeah. So I started working for enterprise rent a car right out of college, and I did that for about three years. That's where I met my wife. She also worked there. And there was a point in time where I decided I didn't love being told when I had to be somewhere how much money I could make.
JM Ryerson:
That didn't work for me, so I knew it was time for me to move on. When I met my soon to be business partner, when he hired me, he basically said two things. He's like, look, you don't have to work on Fridays. You can go golf, and there's no limit to how much money you can make. Well, I couldn't sign up quick enough.
JM Ryerson:
I mean, this sounds amazing. And so I went into financial services right out of the gate with life insurance, some annuities, and I was actually very solid at sales, and I jokingly say, I don't know anything about financial services, but I know just enough to be dangerous. And what I realized is, his name is rich. He was a business partner for 17 years, three companies that we did together. And I looked at him, I said, brother, why aren't you doing this all across the nation?
JM Ryerson:
He said, well, I don't know. Why do I need to? I was like, because you can. And so we went from being that one office in northern California, I said, let me go show you. And I went and opened up the first remote location in Portland, Oregon.
JM Ryerson:
And from there, he's like, oh, cool, we could do this. And so we just started building offices around the country. And so, yeah, man, I figured out early on that this is just distribution. This is a great product. It's a great process.
JM Ryerson:
You can do it anywhere. And so that really launched my entrepreneurial career where it's like, not only am I okay, I was good at sales, but that wasn't what I want to do. I love building teams. I'm passionate about it, and I found out that I'm pretty decent at it. And we did that with one company.
JM Ryerson:
Then we merged with another to create a nationwide, and then for a third time, we created another one. So it was just a fun ride, man. And we helped a lot of people for 20 years in that world. We helped a lot of people improve their lifestyle. Yeah.
Mark Graban:
All right. So it's a mistake for any of us to believe JM when he says he doesn't know anything about the financial piece. It sounds like you just don't want to ask. You don't want to answer a lot of questions about. Right.
JM Ryerson:
I'm just not the best resource. There's so many smart people that are much brighter in that regard. Yeah.
Mark Graban:
So how long did it take then, through those other businesses, to really kind of zero in then on that passion, as you described it, for building teams? You had these different companies and imagine there were similarities, but different things that you learned through each of those, would you say?
JM Ryerson:
Yeah, I think after that period where I really started to embrace who I was and my wife and my relationship got whole, that's when I really honed in on the fact that I love working with teams and performance and leadership and mindset. In the first company, I was actually our CFO because we were a small company, and I am not an accountant by any means. That's not the right guy. But as many entrepreneurs, when you're new in business, sometimes you wear many hats, and in the second company, I was actually coo in the beginning, which I was really doing operations. And while I can do that, it doesn't fill my bucket.
JM Ryerson:
And once I really dug deep, did a lot of personal development, self development, and figured out, what do you love to do? I love teams. I love performance. I love building the teams. That's where my career absolutely took off.
JM Ryerson:
And what I will say, mark, that what I realized is how much more fulfilled I was every single day. I wasn't just making good money, but in helping people. I was actually filling my bucket because now I'm recruiting other leaders and really working on their leadership development, and it's just something I'm passionate about. So, yeah, about a company and a half, it took me to figure out my spot, but once I did, I haven't looked back since.
Mark Graban:
Yeah. So the fourth company, let's go win. I'd love to hear some of the origin story of deciding to go that direction and how that came to be.
JM Ryerson:
Yeah, it somewhat haphazardly happened. And I say that because the first book, let's go win, I actually wrote for my two boys, and I wanted them to not skin their knees as many times as I did growing up. As in most parents, you want what's best for them. And I was writing this book, and the gal I was working with looked at me and she goes, man, you are selfish. And I said, whoa, I'm sorry.
JM Ryerson:
She said, if you only share this book with two human beings, you're selfish. Cool. Published the book, and it just started me on this path of what let's go win is, which the entire purpose is to inspire people to live their best lives. And that's been a couple of books now that I've done, and then the podcast, which I can't wait to have you on. I'm passionate about podcasts.
JM Ryerson:
I think it's an amazing forum. And then, of course, the speaking and working with the various companies around the country that I work with, and it keeps evolving, it keeps changing. The one thing I committed to with this company, and this sounds funny, most people are like, I don't get it. I won't do anything I don't absolutely love doing. And what I mean by that is, do I have to do emails that I don't love?
JM Ryerson:
Yeah, of course, everyone has to. But if I'm building something and it's not working or I don't enjoy it, I don't see the value. I'm going to stop because I've noticed, I'm really clear on the fact that I'm not on this earth very long, and I want to inspire others to live their best life. That's what fills my bucket way more than any zeros added to my bank account. When I get to work with somebody, they're like, you transform my life.
JM Ryerson:
You change my life. There's nothing greater in this world. And so let's go win has just continued to evolve that way where whether it's doing speaking gigs or doing the podcast, the whole idea is I'm going to give everything I have and we're going to transform some lives in the process. People are going to get better every day, which is the mantra of let's go win. So that's our purpose as let's go win is to help people get better every day.
Mark Graban:
Yeah, so we want to win, but whether it's school stuff, kids are going through sports again. That could be kids, that could be pro athletes, that could be business leaders. How much of winning is based on learning how to bounce back from a loss? I'm curious your thoughts or how you coach people in those different categories? Kids, business leaders, athletes?
JM Ryerson:
Yes, great question. I am a professional failer, as in I love failing and I learn way more by failing all the time. And so it's funny because with having the terminology of win in your company's name, so people are like, so it's all about wins and no losses. I'm like, not exactly. The whole idea of let's go win is setting yourself up to win every single day.
JM Ryerson:
Does that mean you're going to. No, I stub my toe all the time. I make mistakes all the time. And we actually learn far more from our losses than we ever do from our wins because you have to look in the mirror and you have to look for that feedback. And I've coached some professional athletes on this concept where it's like, look, you failed.
JM Ryerson:
Congratulations. You're literally growing because we don't grow when we're comfortable. We grow when we're uncomfortable. And when you lose, that's not a great feeling. That's pretty uncomfortable.
JM Ryerson:
So typically we're in that growing period. So it is one of those things where I do have to explain that, look, that doesn't mean we're going to win every single day. Nobody does. I don't know anybody with an undefeated record, but I know a lot of people that continue to get up. And that's probably the one thing when people ask, what makes you successful?
JM Ryerson:
I'm like, I don't know how to quit. I don't know how to quit, man. I just keep going.
Mark Graban:
So what do you think is the key to help somebody else bounce back? Better to be more resilient after a mistake, a loss, a setback, a failure.
JM Ryerson:
However you might label know, there's an amazing book that Simon Sinek wrote called start with why. And that simple three letter word, why. That's what gets you out. Back off the canvas when you get knocked down. To use a boxing analogy, my kids and my wife are my why.
JM Ryerson:
So every single day, if I'm not performing at the top of my level, if I'm not giving 100%, I'm not letting myself down, I'm letting my kids and my wife down. Now, as a parent, as someone that loves those kids with all of my heart, that's not going to happen very long where I'm going to continue to not give 100%. So my why is very clear, and there's nothing that can knock me down, so much so that I would ever give up on my wife and kids. It's just nothing exists. So always tying it back to what is your why?
JM Ryerson:
Why are you doing this? And if it's just to make money, very few people that I've ever met are that money motivated. And it's interesting, when I'm coaching a lot of executives, there's two reasons that they're not truly happy, is their relationships are failing or their health is failing, and why I can speak so well to it because I went through it myself. I had a early 30s, was almost 300 pounds, and I'm a former athlete that loves to work out. It seems crazy to think that happened, but how fast it is.
JM Ryerson:
And health truly is our wealth. Without health, you have nothing. And that's tying it back to my why. I work out as actively as I do for my kids, for my wife. So everything ties back to my why.
JM Ryerson:
And so when you get knocked down, you can easily go, well, why am I getting back up? Because I can see those three faces.
Mark Graban:
That's a great reminder. I love the way you put that. And to think through something like exercise of not just doing it for yourself, but doing it for your loved ones, that's a different level of inspiration. I love how you say that.
JM Ryerson:
Thank you. No, it's an easier way to go about it, for sure.
Mark Graban:
Yeah. So when it comes to sport, like what sports or sports? And at what level of competition did you pursue that?
JM Ryerson:
I played basketball in college. I played most sports growing up. Literally everything, basically, but hockey, it's the one sport I didn't really play the ice skating.
Mark Graban:
Tough. Yeah.
JM Ryerson:
I never found my legs on the ice for sure, but, yeah, I ended up playing basketball in college. My wife played tennis in college, and now we have our son that is about to go play. He's a senior in high school. He'll play tennis in college. So sports is a huge part of our life.
JM Ryerson:
I love sports. I think we learn so much about ourselves, about life. But pickleball is what I love to play now. But as I told you, I'm having my shoulder actually replaced. So my pickleball game is not great right now.
JM Ryerson:
I'm not playing a whole lot, but just being active. I love being active and being competitive. It's just fun. Yeah.
Mark Graban:
So you mentioned basketball and this idea of athletes bouncing back. Nobody wins every game. No one hits every shot. When the heavily favored Milwaukee Bucks were bounced from the playoffs this year, a lot of people would say they underperformed compared to the regular season record. It was an upset that they lost and Giannis Antetokounmpo, and I'm surprised I didn't make a mistake.
Mark Graban:
I think I got through the name there. I won't try again. We'll just say, yanis, one of the best basketball players in the world, and he was asked by a reporter, do you consider this to be a failure? And you probably know the quote, and I'd love to hear your reaction and thoughts to it. Janice said, it's not a failure, it's steps to success.
JM Ryerson:
So I did a video on that. And by the way, great job saying his name. I was never going for that. But, yes, Janice, I immediately did a video on that because I thought it was amazing, a, how vulnerable he was willing to be and just say, look, we didn't get it done. He didn't make excuses.
JM Ryerson:
We just didn't get it done. But that doesn't mean it was a failure. It was a learning block. It was something, and that's truly having a growth mindset. You know, that Giannis is going to succeed not only in his basketball career because he's a freak athlete, but also in life because of that mentality.
JM Ryerson:
And most people forget when he was trying to win that championship, he was having a real mindset issue. He couldn't hit free throws. And if you watch, he continued to put in the work. He didn't cry about it. He didn't make mistakes about it or, excuse me, excuses about it.
JM Ryerson:
He literally said, look, I need to get better. And I just thought it was, I love that you brought this up because I shared this immediately with all my social media like this is truly a man that knows who he is, knows that he is going to win another championship or ten, who knows how many. He's ridiculously not only talented, but he works so hard. And I thought it was a really cool moment from the sports world for people to say, look, this is the top of the top, and he's showing you. Yeah, we failed.
JM Ryerson:
No excuses, but we learned from it.
Mark Graban:
Yeah. And there's no sugar coating the fact that they lost a game, they lost a series, their season was over. But then that word failure, that becomes a fairly subjective evaluation. And what happened, happened. And one of my takeaways from it was just admiring that focus on moving forward.
Mark Graban:
And a friend of mine on the podcast a while back now was retired NFL football player, and he used that exact same phrase when we were talking, like, what? You make a mistake as an athlete, millions of people see it. What do you do? And he used that phrase, stepping stones to success. It's a powerful idea of not beating yourself up, not dwelling on the setback, but focusing on the learning.
Mark Graban:
So let me turn that back to you, though, as a question. Let's say, for a business leader, thoughts on coaching somebody? Maybe easier said than done of, like, at what point do you put the setback in the past to be able to focus on moving forward?
JM Ryerson:
Yeah. So you have to stay in the present moment. Whatever happened in the past, unless you know of a time machine, you can't go back and change it. So any amount of time you dwell on what happened, it's just wasted energy. And so I have a saying.
JM Ryerson:
I've taken what Lao Zhu said, and I just simplified it. Past is pain. Future is anxiety. Present is everything. Now, does that mean everything in the past is painful?
JM Ryerson:
No. Giannis has won a championship. Those are great memories. Right. But if you're constantly sitting in the past, if he's kept looking back, what is he telling himself about his present moment?
JM Ryerson:
He's saying that it's not as good now as it was back then. That's pain. And if we constantly are just looking forward, that creates anxiety, and people start really feeling anxious. So the more that you can stay in the present moment, learn from whatever mistake or failure that you had. Build on it, but get focused in the present moment.
JM Ryerson:
It is truly, in my opinion, one of the most important equations to success is being able to truly stay present. That's for relationships. That's for business. That's for anything you're trying to accomplish. If you can stay present, you get to create an amazing reality into your future, but constantly dwelling on mistakes.
JM Ryerson:
No, you don't need to do that. What did you do? How can we get better and move forward? And it truly is one of those things when you meet people that have seen modicum of success, it's because they're able to stay present. Not that they live in the past, not that they live in the future, but right in this moment.
JM Ryerson:
They truly give everything to the present moment.
Mark Graban:
Wow. So our guest again today, JM Ryerson. We're going to talk about the present book, I guess your most recent book, least in the past. Upgrade. The subtitle I love.
Mark Graban:
This is the only way leaders can win in a world moving at light speed. So I always love to ask an author coming up with a title, coming up with a subtitle, was that easy? Or sometimes ideas percolate for a while. How did you come up with the title and the subtitle?
JM Ryerson:
The title was easy for me because people don't love change, but people love to upgrade. And the example I give is like, you go to the airport, they're, hey, Mr. Ryerson, we're going to put you in first class. It's a change, but I'm fired up, brother. I'm like, yes, I just got upgraded, right?
JM Ryerson:
So I knew that one. The subtitle I have to give all credit to Steve Carlis is his name from my media firm. He was like, I love the title, but we got to really give what the purpose of the book is. And the truth is the world is changing incredibly fast. And if we're not willing to upgrade, if we're not willing to really evolve, we're going to get left behind.
JM Ryerson:
And I think he just said it so beautifully and I was writing voraciously and I'm like, yes, we nailed it. Upgrade. And that whole idea of it doesn't mean that there's anything wrong or broken with you if you're looking to upgrade. But we can always upgrade. We can always get better.
JM Ryerson:
And so that was the whole idea of the book.
Mark Graban:
There might be something wrong with that economy class seat. It could be a middle seat. It could be crack.
JM Ryerson:
Well, I'm 65, brother. The economy doesn't work very well for me. So first class or the exit road, a minimum is pretty important, right?
Mark Graban:
But I joke about what's wrong with those other seats. But I do love your point, though. Back to the more important thing about recognizing that we can upgrade or we can improve doesn't mean we have to say, well, what's wrong with me? We focus on better. And I think that's a really helpful mindset.
Mark Graban:
And I love the way you put it about people like to upgrade. There's a phrase I've heard a lot in different businesses I'm sure you and the listeners have, too. Leaders like to say people are resistant to change or they'll blame my people are resistant to change, using a slightly different word I've never heard anyone say, to your point, people here, they're resistant to improvement because a lot of times that resistance is change. That's not an upgrade. And leaders are trying to force people to come along and well, of course they're not going to like that.
Mark Graban:
So I think there's that layer of not liking change, but I think people don't like to be told what to do. They don't like to be forced to do something that's not an upgrade. Curious, what are your thoughts on some of that dynamic of how we can help people find motivation to accept change as an upgrade?
JM Ryerson:
Yeah, those leaders that say that, I know what they're saying, but they haven't got buy in. That's the challenge. If you ask somebody to upgrade or change, let's just use that word, but you don't tell them how it's going to benefit what they're doing. Of course they're going to resist. And here's why.
JM Ryerson:
The unknown is what people don't like. I'm comfortable here. I know my job. We're performing at a decent level. Why would we shift away?
JM Ryerson:
The unknown is scary. So as leaders, if you can say, look, here's the upgrade or here's the change that we're doing, but more importantly, back to that, why, here's why we're doing it. Here's how it can benefit you. When people see the benefit for themselves, they absolutely will buy in. But if you just say, hey, this is what we're doing, and get on board, nobody likes to be told what to do that way, especially if they don't see the value.
JM Ryerson:
And now let's say you're increasing how many responsibilities they have at their job. But if you say, here's what we're doing and why, okay, cool, I can get on board with that. That's where leaders need to make sure, take that extra time to get the buy in, show them why we're doing it, and people will follow through.
Mark Graban:
I think that's key is taking that extra step. If you're a leader and you're detecting pushback, lack of buy in resistance, you can't just label people and stop. You've got to lean in to kind of understand what's the concern or how do we get on board, because, like you said, it could be the why and the understanding. And then there is, I think, the fear factor of, like, well, I'm comfortable doing it the old way. The new way sounds better, but I don't know if I can do it.
Mark Graban:
How would you coach a leader through that situation around some of the. I don't mean these are not your rational fears. I think this is reality of just change being scary.
JM Ryerson:
Yeah, you said something in there that I hope every leader and everybody hears. Look, labels are meant for boxes. They're not meant for people. And when we label anybody anything, it's a mistake. Like, stop.
JM Ryerson:
And I know we do it as human beings to simplify, like, my people are this way. That's just not true. And actually, as leaders, look in the mirror. If your team hasn't really bought into something that you've done, there should be no blame being pointed any other place but in the mirror, looking at yourself to say, how could I have rolled this out better? How could I have done a better job of explaining what we're doing?
JM Ryerson:
And when you take that true accountability, there's a great book called Extreme Accountability. I think Leaf and Jocko killed it, where it's like, look, it starts with you. And the faster as a leader you can say, this is on me, the faster your leadership lid just explodes, because people don't want to hear how it's not your fault, even if it's not, even if something out of the outside just take, you know what, guys? I didn't foresee that. That's on me.
JM Ryerson:
It won't happen again. Here's where we're going and here's why people can rally behind that. But you got to take full responsibility. You cannot be blaming anyone for any challenges. Look in the mirror first.
Mark Graban:
Yeah. Well said. JM Ryerson again is our guest links to his book, podcast, book. All of that will be in the show notes as we start to wrap up here. I know there's three focus areas that you have in your coaching, performance, leadership, and mindset.
Mark Graban:
I'd love to hear. I might be making a mistake of asking two questions, all intertwined here, but what is a common mindset that you see that needs upgrading? And how can somebody better upgrade a mindset instead of being stuck in an old one?
JM Ryerson:
Yeah. Carol Dweck wrote an incredible book called Mindset. It's one of my favorites. I give it out like candy in terms of presence. Because what she did is say, look, there's a fixed mindset, and then there's a growth mindset.
JM Ryerson:
And if at any point you say, I am this, and this is the way I've done it, you're losing. You're going the wrong way.
Mark Graban:
Well, there's that label. Sorry to interrupt, but if you're labeling yourself 100%, that's a problem, too, right?
JM Ryerson:
Yeah. And it's just ever putting limiting beliefs on yourself or someone else. It's like the beauty of having a growth mindset is to say, look, even if I've never done this before, this is an opportunity. I get to learn. I get to do something brand new.
JM Ryerson:
So I don't know if it's a fix. It's really just something. Every day I look in my bathroom mirror and it says, have a growth mindset. Always. Now do I?
JM Ryerson:
Always? No. There's times when I fail. And I have to say, you're having a fixed mindset right now, jm, let's get better, right? You can be better than saying that.
JM Ryerson:
I don't know. It usually happens when I'm driving and somebody slow is in the fast lane. That's my fixed mindset where I'm like, I'm going to be a victim right now. No, man. Look, this person just.
JM Ryerson:
They're in their own world. It's not a big deal. Have a growth mindset about everything. And when you do that, when you truly apply that, there's no problems that we can't find a solution for. And it's probably the biggest thing, mark, that I try to strive for is just having that growth mindset in every facet of my life.
JM Ryerson:
And it's not easy. Right? Because genetically we want to say I'm this way because mom or dad was this way, or we say these things, and again, those are those labels. But the truth is you get to determine everything in your, you are truly responsible for your destiny. And having that growth mindset is going to bring you a really positive one.
JM Ryerson:
But if you have a fixed mindset, man, it's just a tough road. Yeah.
Mark Graban:
And we've got to have a growth mindset about our growth mindset. I think that's key, too. Right? So, JM, this has been fun. Give everyone the pitch for the podcast.
Mark Graban:
People listening to this podcast, I hope they will listen to yours in addition to this one, not instead of, but tell us, why should they go find the let's go in podcast?
JM Ryerson:
Well, a mark's going to be on. He's going to be awesome. So go check that out. You know what it is, brother? The first chapter of my book, let's go win, is being vulnerable.
JM Ryerson:
And there's no subject that is taboo on my show. And we get vulnerable, we talk about the good, the bad and the ugly, and there's nothing off that we can't talk about. And so the whole idea is to inspire people, live their best lives. So that's why I love that form. I have been so blessed by podcasts, both meeting people like yourself and others that inspire me.
JM Ryerson:
And that's really what let's go in podcast all about is just inspiring people to get better every day. Be happy, healthy, wealthy, and you're going to definitely be a huge part of that. And so I would just say, go check it out, you guys. It's a lot of fun.
Mark Graban:
Yeah, go check it out. Go put it in yours. I've listened a little bit. I'm going to listen more because I want to thank you, JM, for being here. It's like a boost of energy talking with you.
Mark Graban:
It's mid afternoon. If I had any sort of mid afternoon post lunch, should I have a cup of coffee? Sluggishness. You got me out of that. So thank you for sharing your story, your thoughts, your insights, even some of the mistakes, and more importantly, how we bounce back.
Mark Graban:
So JM Ryerson, the book, the most recent book, again, upgrade. The only way leaders can win in world. Moving at light speed. Thank you. Thank you so much.
Mark Graban:
This has been fun.
JM Ryerson:
Thank you, brother. I appreciate you. Yeah, thanks. Bye.