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My guest for Episode #146 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is John Saunders, the founder of Forward Advisory Solutions.
He is the author of the book The Optimizer: Building and Leading a Team of Serial Innovators, which is now also available as an audiobook. Scroll down or click here to enter to win a copy of each.
John spent more than two decades as a Wall Street Senior Vice President, sales team leader, and award-winning sales executive. Followed his passion for helping others grow and founded a coaching and consulting company, Forward Advisory Solutions.
As a lifelong learner, Saunders asserts that change is necessary in today’s business world and believes in empowering those with whom he works. Holds a BS from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from Georgetown University.
He is also the host of a podcast called “New Degree Press – The Creator Community.”
In today's episode, John shares his “favorite mistake” story about becoming a new leader and trying to “turn everybody into me.” Why did he do that and what did John learn about what you need to give up as a leader, compared to being an individual contributor?
We also talk about questions and topics including:
- He was introduced to me by Lynn Yap, my guest in Episode #117.
- What was the “whoa” recognition moment?
- “The worst thing you can do…” is ask and not respond
- About your book, The Optimizer: Building and Leading a Team of Serial Innovators – tell us about the title.
- The word “optimizer” and what that suggests?
- Efficiency vs. effectiveness
- How to build and lead a team of “serial innovators”?
- “Constant incremental improvement” vs. big leaps??
- “Saunders asserts that we should celebrate and learn from failures instead of condemning them.” – How can we create that culture?
- Negative history of the word “innovator”?
- Chapter titled “Resistance is Futile” — you probably mean a more positive connotation from that phrase?
- How to address “resistance” and fear?
Scroll down to find:
- Enter to win
- Video of the episode
- Quotes
- How to subscribe
- Full transcript
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Quotes:
!["And as I moved into that [leadership]role, it began to start. I'm going to attempt to impose my process, my systems, the way I thought about things on my team, I quickly realized or felt this resistance and realized, whoa, this isn't working out here."](https://www.markgraban.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/John-Saunders-My-Favorite-Mistake-1.jpg)
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