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#Leadership : 35 Killer Quotes From the Stars of Shark Tank…Need Some Inspiration? These Lessons From the Sharks Will Motivate You.

September 23, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Over the past seven years, the savvy moguls at the helm of ABC’s Shark Tank — Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John and Kevin O’Leary — have heard countless pitches and offered more than $66 million to help aspiring entrepreneurs around the country turn their visions into reality.

The eighth season of the hit series will premiere on Sept. 23, so we’ve gathered some of the sharks’ most motivational insights about building a business, making mistakes, managing money, finding your passion and being a great boss.

1. Don’t let failures get you down.
“It’s only when you put yourself in charge that you have a shot at becoming rich. … if you’re competitive and pigheaded enough to get over the failures without wasting time feeling sorry for yourself, and if you can inspire enough good people to join you, you can pretty much become as rich as you want.” — Barbara Corcoran

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2. Success is nothing without passion.

“I get this all the time, which is crazy: ‘I want to be rich. What kind of company should I start?’ You can’t do that. It doesn’t work like that. You’ve got to be good at something and not only be good at it, but you’ve got to love it, and then you’re willing to work and do whatever it takes.” — Mark Cuban

3. You’re in charge of your destiny.
“If you can afford to take a risk and you’re young enough, either start your own company or be involved with one where you’re racking up equity. There’s no other path to becoming a millionaire. No employer is going to let you make a million dollars off of their business. They don’t have to. Realize that if you want that path, that journey to becoming a millionaire, you have to sacrifice a lot and work like a dog. I did. There was no balance in my life. I wasn’t even around when my kids were young. But today, I can afford to gather them with me every weekend anywhere on Earth I want to.” — Kevin O’Leary

4. Save as much money as you can.
“If you learn to live pretty simply and well, well under your means, you feel incredibly, incredibly rich and that frees you up and gives you the option to start something new, to leave the job you’re not excited about, where there might be a glass ceiling on you.” — Chris Sacca
Read more: All 7 Shark Tank Stars Share Tips on How to Become a Millionaire

5. Meet your customers where they are.
“With Facebook and other social platforms, you can have highly targeted marketing campaigns to attract customers who are interested in the product or service that you have. Find the user groups they meet up in on social and win them over there.” — Robert Herjavec

6. Learn to delegate.
“I always say, if you’re not a marketing person, you didn’t start the businesses to do marketing, so don’t do it.” — Robert Herjavec
Read more: ‘Shark Tank’ Star Robert Herjavec’s Top 5 Small-Business Marketing Tips

7. Listen to your customer — up to a point.
“Your customers can tell you the things that are broken and how they want to be made happy. Listen to them. Make them happy. But don’t rely on them to create the future road map for your product or service. That’s your job.” — Mark Cuban
Read more: Mark Cuban on Why You Should Never Listen to Your Customers

8. Perceived weaknesses can be valuable strengths.
“You have to put it in your own mind that this is not an affliction that will negatively impact your future. It shouldn’t in any way diminish your self-esteem or be considered something that is going to hurt your chances to be successful at work or in life.” — Kevin O’Leary
Read more: Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary: Having Dyslexia Is a ‘Superpower’ in Business

9. There is always a solution.
“There are no ‘nos,’ just ‘how can I?’” — Lori Greiner

10. Brands need to tell a story.
“It’s very important that it catches your eye, it tells you exactly what it is instantaneously and it makes you want to pick it up.” — Lori Greiner

11. Protect your intellectual property.
“If you put it online, it can go around the world in a second, and someone will knock it off.” — Lori Greiner
Read more: Shark Tank Star Lori Greiner’s 10 Tips for Entrepreneurs

12. Nothing is a sure thing.
“I can’t tell you how many times people have tried to scam me, and, unfortunately, they have pulled it off a few times. But I have learned that usually the easier someone says something will be, the more likely my scam alert goes off. Nothing is ever guaranteed. The people who are full of shit tend to try and make you think they have a sure thing. When you hear that, run away.” — Mark Cuban
Read more: Mark Cuban on Giving Back, Boredom and Sniffing Out Bullshit

13. Don’t overthink.
“Building a business is little more than a series of quick opportunities followed by a big a series of big obstacles. The opportunities arrive and leave so quickly that they’re way too easy to miss. If I hadn’t quit my job on a stranger’s suggestion the moment I heard it, I would have probably thought about it and not done it. Every great decision I’ve made in business since was made exactly that way — quickly without any thought. I’ve learned that thought gets in the way.” — Barbara Corcoran
Read more: Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran: ‘All the Best Things Happened to Me on the Heels of Rejection’

14. Sacrifice in service of success.
“Be honest with yourself. What price are you willing to pay to make the business work and be successful? Would you sacrifice your time, your family, your friends, your golf game, your entire social life? I am not advocating that you should, but you have to ask yourself if you are prepared to.” — Robert Herjavec
Read more: Shark Tank Star Robert Herjavec’s Top 10 Tips for Entrepreneurs

15. Keep meetings to a minimum.
“I don’t like to do a lot of meetings and phone calls because of the productivity hit. Only if you’re writing me a check, I’ll do a meeting. If there’s a problem and we need to solve it, I’ll do a call. Other than that, I keep communication limited to email. It’s more efficient.” — Mark Cuban
Read more: How Mark Cuban ‘Gets Shit Done’ and Stays Productive

16. Tell yourself you deserve a seat at the table.
“I have just as much right to be here as you, I’m just as smart as you are. You might not think I’m smart, but I know I’m smart. Guess what, I’ve done a lot. Don’t you dare look down on me.” — Barbara Corcoran
Read more: What This ‘Shark Tank’ Star Tells Herself When She Needs a Jolt of Confidence

17. Learn from your mistakes.
“If you can’t come clean and tell investors how and why you failed, that raises a red flag. They need to see that you learned from it and came back stronger.” — Daymond John
Read more: Shark Tank Star Daymond John Says Never Make This Common Mistake When Pitching Investors

18. Money won’t solve your problems.
“To me, success isn’t defined by your wallet. It’s defined by waking up with a smile on your face, knowing it’s going to be a great day. But, sure, money can make your life a whole lot easier.” — Mark Cuban
Read more: Shark Tank Star Mark Cuban: ‘Money Can’t Buy Happiness’

19. Be resilient
“The difference between the real winners is how long they take to feel sorry for themselves. My winners feel it … but they come back up and say ‘hit me again.’” — Barbara Corcoran
Read more: Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran: Real Winners Say ‘Hit Me Again’

20. Trust your gut.
“You have to have a senseless belief in your idea and yourself — almost to the point of being delusional. Remember that everyone has advice but no one knows what you have to go through to start, grow and scale a business until they live it! Talk is cheap, but action speaks volumes.” — Robert Herjavec
Read more: Shark Tank Star Robert Herjavec’s Top 10 Tips for Entrepreneurs

21. Embrace self-reliance.
“You have to be willing to do as much as possible by yourself up until you simply have no choice but to hire someone; and even then, you will have to stay intimately involved in the day-to-day operations, because even the best employee will never be as vigilant as you will.” — Lori Greiner
Read more: Shark Tank Star Lori Greiner’s 4 Money Rules for New Entrepreneurs

22. Be optimistic.
“You have to see everything as half-full even though everyone is saying you have nothing in your glass.” — Barbara Corcoran

23. Don’t wait for the right moment to begin.
“You can’t study to be an entrepreneur. Sometimes, you just have to jump.” — Barbara Corcoran
Read more: Shark Tank’s Barbara Corcoran: 4 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Do

24. Monitor your money.
“What I find so remarkable, and this includes very wealthy people I know, is nobody knows what they’re monthly nut is. Whether you’re single, married, a single parent or otherwise, most people don’t know what it costs them to live every 30 days, and that’s living on the edge.”– Kevin O’Leary
Read more: The 4 Dumbest Money Mistakes People Make and How to Stop Making Them, According to Shark Tank’s ‘Mr. Wonderful’

25. Don’t just ride the wave. Chart your own path.
“I think it’s harder if you’re a ‘me too’ business or you’re one of many. I think if you really have an innovative idea and you’re first to market, there’s no shortage in money.” — Robert Herjavec
Read more: What ‘Shark Tank’s’ Robert Herjavec Looks for in a Startup

26. Be thorough.
“To get people who will truly love your product and spread the word, make them proud of it and make sure you don’t embarrass them by putting something out there that isn’t 100 percent.” — Daymond John
Read more: Daymond John’s Top 7 Tips on How to Launch Your Product Like a Shark

27. Lead by example.
“Whatever you do, don’t stay up in a stuffy office away from your people. Get right in there, side by side with your employees. Get hands-on and show them there’s no task beneath you.” — Lori Greiner

28. Set your standards.
“I’m a great guy to work for 98 percent of the time, but the other 2 percent of the time, you’re going to do it my way and that’s it. A great boss is kind, but you have to strong, too. You can’t be a pushover.” — Robert Herjavec
Read more: Shark Tank’s Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec on What Makes a Great Boss

29. Don’t underestimate the power of your network.
“We’re talking tapping into other people’s marketing, mind power and momentum, even other people’s manpower. Cross-promote with others’ in the industry you operate in. It goes both ways. You promote them and they promote you. It’s mutually beneficial and it doesn’t cost a thing.” — Daymond John
Read more: 3 Free Things Shark Tank’s Daymond John Says You Must Do to Help Your Startup Survive

30. Don’t let anxiety hold you back.
“I think when you get old like me, you realize the sun really does rise the next day. I think the other thing is fear. If you let your fear dictate how you feel about others or things that are going on, it can paralyze you.” — Robert Herjavec
Read more: Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec: In Business, Don’t Forget That ‘The Sun Always Rises Tomorrow’

31. Have all the information before making a decision.
“I always think it’s a smart move to have your eyes on everything in your business, everywhere. Go see your factory with your own eyes when you’re in a position to. No one knows your business better than you do and you have to see every aspect of it for yourself.” — Lori Greiner
Read more: Shark Tank’s Lori Greiner on the No. 1 Mistake to Avoid When Manufacturing Your Product Overseas

32. Mistakes help forge who you are.
“I would say almost two-thirds of all of my best entrepreneurs had some injury coming out of their earlier life that they’re getting over, and I love it. Because if they have something to prove, I feel like I’ve got an insurance policy on my investment in my back pocket.” — Barbara Corcoran
Read more: How Persistence Paid Off for This ‘Shark Tank’ Star

33. You will never be completely balanced.
“Work-life balance is one of the biggest misconceptions people have. It’s not reality. I’m laser-like focused and driven and you just gotta keep going. You have to figure out what’s important to you, realize that everything has a price and make sacrifices.” — Robert Herjavec
Read more: Shark Tank Star Robert Herjavec: Don’t Ever Expect a ‘Balanced Life’

34. You can find a wonderful mentor where you least expect it.
“Mentors don’t have to be the Daymond Johns or the Mark Cubans. A person running a successful bodega or a tax firm in your community for the last 20 years, that person is working just as much as the individual who’s running General Mills.” — Daymond John
Read more: Daymond John of ‘Shark Tank’ on the No. 1 Thing Entrepreneurs Need

35. Discover what motivates you.
“Find something you are good at and do what it takes to be great at it. We all have something special about us. The hard and exciting part is figuring out what it is.” — Mark Cuban
Read more: Mark Cuban on Giving Back, Boredom and Sniffing Out Bullshit

Entrepreneur.com | September 23, 2016 | Nina Zipkin

#Leadership : 15 Things Your Boss Is Tired of Hearing…Communication is Essential to Career Success. When you’re Trying to Impress your Boss, it’s Important to Know the Right Words to Use. Even a Small, Offhand Statement Could Send the Wrong Message, Damaging your Career for Years.

September 23, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

The boss-employee relationship can be a precarious one. Even the best managers may have difficulty communicating at times, especially if anemployee’s behavior is frustrating. Whether you’ve been at your job for a few months or more than a decade, it’s important to realize that your words make a big difference in how your boss perceives you.

Here are a few phrases you should avoid.

1. “That isn’t my job.”

You may have a very specific job description, but employees excel by doing whatever it takes to make an employer succeed. Always be ready to do more than expected or learn how to do something new. The result could be more job stability.

2. “I’ll quit if…”

Ultimatums tend to come across as threats, which likely won’t get the results you want. You may even find your boss calling your bluff, sending you straight to the unemployment line.

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3.“I can’t come in today.”

An occasional sick day is to be expected but over time, a pattern of calling in can become a problem, whether it’s due to childcare issues, your own ongoing illnesses or just because you don’t feel like it.

4. “I can’t afford to pay my bills.”

Frankly, it’s not your boss’s problem that you can afford things or not. When you accepted your position, you agreed to a salary, which may or may not have increased over time. Your employer’s sole responsibility is to issue that salary in the form of a paycheck.

5. “I’m just here to earn a paycheck.”

It really isn’t smart to mention this, whether it’s true or not. Employees who go the extra mile and put the needs of the business first will be at the front of the line for raises or promotions. Also, get a hold of yourself and go find a job that you have some passion for, if you find that you are always “phoning it in” at work.

6. “It’s not my fault.”

When something goes wrong, avoid playing the blame game and instead focus on how you can work as part of a team to make things right.

7. “My last boss did it differently.”

Whether you’re talking about your previous employer or your boss’s predecessor, this information is irrelevant. Your current boss has every right to come up with a new approach.

8. “I can’t.”

In general, you should strike the word “can’t” from your vocabulary, but this is especially true when your boss asks you to do something. Always show a willingness to give your best effort.

9. “You didn’t tell me to do that.”

Even if your boss neglected to mention something, pointing that out won’t win you any points. Instead take the high road and promise to get right on whatever task needs to be done.

10. “I’m so sleepy.”

Even if you’ve been up all night working or caring for your infant, your boss doesn’t need to know about it.

11. “It’s unfair.”

Comparing yourself to coworkers only makes you look petty and jealous. Instead highlight your own attributes and impress your boss by executing your duties well. Avoid pointing out any preferential treatment you believe others may be getting.

12. “Sorry I’m late — I had a job interview.”

It may seem crazy, but this happens more than you might think. No matter how strong your relationship is with a supervisor, there’s no need to mention this. If you choose to look for a job, do so behind the scenes, during lunch breaks or after hours.

13. “I’m bored.”

Instead of complaining about your empty to-do list, look around for ways you can help others lighten their workload. If you’re ready for more responsibility, let your boss know you want to tackle additional challenges and name specific things you’d like to learn.

14. “You’re wrong.”

At some point in your working relationship, your superior will be wrong. When that happens, point it out diplomatically, using words like, “I might be mistaken, but I thought…” instead of bluntly insulting your boss. If you correct your boss the right way, they may end up respecting and trusting you more.

15. “I quit.”

No matter how hard things get, never utter those two words in the heat of the moment. Always resign with two-weeks’ notice and only after you have a plan for replacing your income. More than that, look for a job or a team of people that won’t leave you on the edge of quitting so easily.

Communication is essential to career success. When you’re trying to impress your boss, it’s important to know the right words to use. Even a small, offhand statement could send the wrong message, damaging your career for years. Remember, if you’re not sure whether what you’re about to say may be received well, give it a second thought. You may just need to rephrase it, or keep your mouth shut.

Entrepreneur.com | September 20, 2016 | John Boitnott

Your #Career : 7 Ways to Make Extra Income Even With a Full-Time Job…Is Your Dwindling Bank Account Impacting your Health?

September 20, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

The American Psychological Association (APA) released a survey showing that money stress impacts Americans’ health nationwide. And, as it turns out, the wealthy are also stressed about money — not just those in lower-income households.

So, get out there. Use your imagination to start a flow of extra income today.

You can eliminate some of that financial stress by earning extra income, even if you have a full-time job. Steve Chou ofMyWifeQuitHerJob famously started two six-figure businesses while continuing to work at his day job.

Whether you’re looking for cash to launch your startup or make new investments with, or dig out from mounting debt, a few hundred to a few thousand dollars a month can change your life. Here’s how to get started.

1. Start a service business.

Launching a service business can be done without a large network, an online presence or much overhead. The easiest way to start is by telling people in your existing network what you’re offering and asking them to spread the word.

Noah Kagan from AppSumo nailed this concept. He decided to see if he could earn $1,000 in 24 hours, starting from scratch. He ended up founding a successful beef jerky subscription business that he gave to one of his students to run.

You can steal his concept, with a business like dinner catering, freelance writing or online marketing. Start by crafting a killeroutreach email to get yourself up and running in just a few days.

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2. Invest in real estate.

Becoming a landlord isn’t always practical for those who are employed full-time and already strapped for cash. But you can look at buying a condo or small property in another country as a vacation getaway instead. The price tag is typically cheaper, even when you hire a local property management group to manage renters while you’re away.

Commercial real estate can also be a lucrative way to invest and earn passive income, even without a large down payment. Get started with a site like Realty Mogul, and invest in commercial real estate for as little as $5,000. You’ll get vetted deals and access to high-end listings you wouldn’t otherwise find.

Read This: The Book on Investing In Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down by Brandon Turner | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

3. Launch an online resource.

Share your expertise by launching an online ebook or course to help others while you earn passive income. My own ebook, 100 Days of Growth, ended up generating more income than my day job. It was a ton of up-front work, but once it was ready to go, it took minimal effort to maintain and to keep up with sales.

If writing ebooks isn’t your strong suit, launch a video course or bootcamp instead. I didn’t stop at books — I also launched a content marketing bootcamp through ContentMarketer.io to help my clients master content-marketing abilities in 10 weeks.

Read This: Start Your Own eLearning or Training Business by The Staff at Entrepreneur Media and Ciree Linsenmann | Amazon | eBooks.com |Barnes & Noble

4. Leverage the power of Amazon.

It’s always an admirable goal to launch your own online store and build a customer base, but you’re also talking about wearing many different hats. You need to research products, find a manufacturer, market your site and figure out how to fulfill orders. Don’t forget about customer service and refund requests.

Instead, you could sell a product and develop a presence directly on Amazon without the need to take on so many roles. Some sellers even have their products shipped directly to Amazon’s fulfillment center and never touch the product itself.

Read This: amazon FBA: Step-By-Step Instruction To Start A Fulfillment By Amazon Business by Robert C. Hawthorn

5. Join the sharing economy.

It’s not hard to nail down a few hundred to thousands of dollars a month by leveraging the sharing economy. But it’s not just about renting out your spare bedroom or basement on Airbnb. Rent out your car on Turo and bike to work or carpool instead. Rent out your camera equipment lying around your house on Cameralends, your snowboard or bike on Spinlister or your sailboat on Sailo.

And if you are going to rent on Airbnb, consider helping your revenue skyrocket by renting out your entire house instead, and using the opportunity to visit family or go on vacation.

6. Host an event.

You can make money hosting events without aiming for thousands of sign-ups, vendors and high-profile guest speakers. Instead, form a free MeetUp group on a topic you’re knowledgeable about, like growth hacking, and run free events.

After you secure a loyal following, charge for an event with a reputable guest speaker. Rent out a small, upscale conference room at a nearby hotel, and grow your new MeetUp by hosting exclusive, sought-after events that charge a premium for fantastic content.

7. Get paid to do what you’re already doing

Take inventory of what you’re doing in your free time. People who love skydiving (like me!) can get certified to teach and do jumps on the weekend. You get to do what you love while earning extra money at the same time. Ask your local bar if you can help run its trivia night, or bartend a few nights a week while hanging out and getting to talk to interesting people.

Even if you’re not interested in doing much but relaxing and surfing online, you can earn money by testing websites and recording your opinion with a site like UserTesting.

So, get out there. Use your imagination to start a flow of extra income today.

Entrepreneur.com | SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 | Sujan Patel

#Leadership : 6 Habits Of Trustworthy Leaders…The People in your Office May Not Trust you as Much as you Think they Do. Here’s How to Win them Over.

September 19, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Do the people in your office trust you? Maybe not as much as you think they do.

Consulting firm EY released its Global Generations 3.0 research which found that less than half of full-time workers between the ages of 19 and 68 place a “great deal of trust” in their employer, boss, or colleagues. Another recent survey from Globoforce’s WorkHuman Research Institute found that 80% of employees trust their colleagues, but only 65% trust senior leaders in their companies.

That’s a problem. EY’s research also found that low levels of trust majorly influences employees to look for another job (42%), work the minimum number of hours required (30%), and be less engaged and productive (28%).

“People are forgiving if they know that their leaders—particularly their senior leaders—are trying,” he says. “If they know that their senior leaders are being straight with them and they have [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][the employees’] as well as the company’s best interest in mind, they’re more likely to trust.”

Earning the trust of your team has real bottom-line benefits, says Dennis Reina, cofounder of Reina, a trust-building consultancy and author ofRebuilding Trust in the Workplace: Seven Steps to Renew Confidence, Commitment and Energy. He points to one of his clients: an airline with a troubled operations team. Lack of trust, marked by infighting and poor communication, was making the team ineffective. In a year, Reina’s team raised the level of trust in the department by 51 points, according to a post-test they did. The department saved $1 million in strategic planning costs because they were able to work well together and cut the planning time down to one-third of previous requirements, he says.

There are a number of simple, straightforward actions that build trust, Reina says. Here are six simple tactics that work.

KEEP YOUR AGREEMENTS

Few actions ruin your trustworthiness faster than breaking your word, Reina says. Doing what you say you’re going to do reinforces the perception of your character. If circumstances change and you’re unable to do so, explain why with as much detail and context as possible so all parties understand the reason for the change. When you’re consistent with your word, people know they can depend on you.

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GIVE CONTEXT

Leaders are often counseled to give specific direction and communicate clearly, but context is also important, Reina says. When people understand why you’re asking them to take on a difficult challenge or a task they’d rather not do, help them understand the importance of what you’re asking. Seeing how their role fits into a bigger picture and is valued helps them understand and trust the organizational vision, which can help foster greater trust in both the company and its leaders. Plus, transparent cultures are good for business.

BE PRESENT

When you’re interacting with your team members, pay attention and focus on the conversations and dynamics, says Tara A. Goodfellow, managing director of Athena Educational Consultants, Inc. Listen to what matters to your employees and let them know that you are actually hearing and considering what they’re saying. If you’re distracted or unfocused, you risk making them feel like you’re insincere, which will erode trust.

“If you don’t get to know your employees and what motivates them, it’s really hard to build that trust,” she says.

WELCOME DIVERSITY

Leaders and organizations that welcome varied input and feedback are more trustworthy. The EY study found that 38% of respondents say that a diverse environment is a “very important” determinant of trust. In this context, diverse environment means that it “strives to recruit, retain, and promote diverse people with all differences including gender, country of origin, and thinking style,” according to the survey results.

BE HUMAN

You’re going to make mistakes and there are going to be things you don’t know, so ask questions, admit when you’re wrong, and, when appropriate, make amends, says Timothy G. Wiedman, a former corporate manager and associate professor of management and human resources at Doane University. By showing a measure of vulnerability and willingness to admit when you’re wrong or need help shows that you’re human and helps people more easily relate to you, he says.

“A question that should have been asked—but wasn’t—may have catastrophic consequences that will not soon be forgotten,” he says. But when people know that you’re willing to get the answers you need instead of faking it, they’ll trust you more, he says.

HAVE THEIR BACKS

Employees will trust you most when they feel you’re looking out for them, Reina says. Encourage feedback—even when it’s difficult to hear—and create an environment where they feel secure. When they are having challenges at work, provide the support, training, or resources they need to improve. And if they’re facing an unfair or otherwise disruptive situation, go to bat for them to make it right.

“People are forgiving if they know that their leaders—particularly their senior leaders—are trying,” he says. “If they know that their senior leaders are being straight with them and they have [the employees’] as well as the company’s best interest in mind, they’re more likely to trust.”

FastCompany.com | GWEN MORAN | 09.19.16 5:18 AM

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#Leadership : Transform Dark Days into Opportunity…The Day that you Find you are Doubting Yourself, Take Private Time to Consider Why that Is.

September 19, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Your reaction to particularly awful days can make or break future success. The better action to take is to remain as calm as possible. Take quiet time to analyze how far you have come. Think about the twists and turns, and what currently has you stopped in your tracks.

Numerous conversations revealed that many almost quit their current endeavors. But one common factor as to why they did not quit helped them to prevail: They enjoy what they do too much! Ironically, it has become their way of life.

As uncertainty hits, follow these two suggestions:

Take the time needed to uncover the better route.
Convert a negative frame of mind into a positive.

Reframe the situation

One sales technique referred to as “Reframing” applies very well to difficult situations. Whether personal or trying to work with a client, the first step is to figure out where the discontent originates. Upon recognizing the misstep, it becomes easier to work together to find the better solution. By asking a series of questions such as, “What if…” the improved path begins to reveal itself.

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On the personal side, moving from negative to positive thought is the beginning step for improvement. The change in attitude makes an enormous difference in providing increased opportunity to save the day.

The day that you find you are doubting yourself, take private time to consider “the why” that is. Most likely, one of your peers will have had a similar experience. Have a conversation about how they dealt with it and ask for recommendations on how to handle. Their insights won’t necessarily apply or even matter. It’s more about the conversation itself. Just by unleashing the dilemma is all it takes to get back to full steam ahead. As others see you meeting negativity and obstacles head on, they come to admire your steadfast personal brand.

Tips:

When negativity hits, stop to examine the origin.
Decide whether changes need to be made.
Should changes be in order, decide whether they are minor or major.
Begin the process by eliminating the no longer needed.
Create a list of what needs to be fixed.
Prioritize the list in order of immediate need.
Re-energize yourself and/or business by communicating.

Entrepreneur.com| September 19, 2016 | ELINOR STUTZ, FROM PERSONAL BRANDING BLOG

Your #Career : 7 Science-Backed Steps To Take Before Quitting A Job That’s Burning You Out…Here’s the Latest Research on the Small Tweaks you can Make to Fall Back in Love with a Job that’s Getting the Better of You.

September 19, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

When you first moved your things into your office, you couldn’t wait to put your talents to use and impress your new colleagues with your dedication and drive. But at some point, that passion to succeed did a slow fade. Instead of killing it on projects, you found yourself going through the motions, bored and uninspired.

You’re not the only one who spends the workday feeling this way. A 2014 Gallup report determined that 51% of employees were “not engaged” at the office—in other words, they don’t feel invested in their work, and they’re not getting anything meaningful out of it. Another 17.5% of employees described themselves as “actively disengaged.”

Tackling fresh challenges stretches your comfort zone and forces you to learn to grow.

“It’s normal to have times when work just doesn’t seem fun anymore,” says Beverly E. Jones, an executive consultant and author of Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO. “But there’s a lot you can do to become more engaged.”

Before you decide it’s time to jump ship, hang tight—there are less drastic ways to rekindle your excitement. These seven tactics can help you discover the joy in your job and make your nine-to-five meaningful again.

1. REBOOT YOUR DAILY DUTIES

It sounds counterintuitive: If you’re not enthusiastic about your job, why would piling more work onto your plate crank your motivation?

That’s the genius behind a concept called job crafting: taking on new and different responsibilities to expand the boundaries of your job. It’s a new term for something career experts have long advised. Tackling fresh challenges stretches your comfort zone and forces you to learn to grow. That kick-starts your drive and makes your work more interesting, says Kerry Hannon, career and finance expert and author of Love Your Job.

While it’s great to volunteer for projects you hear about in meetings, you’ll get more out of it by coming up with something that’s your own and presenting it to your manager. Since it’s your idea, you’ll be more invested in it, says Hannon. Plus, taking initiative shows that you’re thinking bold, and that can improve your professional rep and help you move higher up in the company.

To brainstorm boundary-pushing ideas, Hannon recommends reading trade websites and setting up Google alerts, which will notify you of the latest news in your industry. “Being in the know can inspire you to think of projects you might be able to nominate yourself for—or start on your own,” she says.

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2. BUILD MOOD-BOOSTING MOVEMENT INTO YOUR WORK SCHEDULE

Hunched over a screen or sitting in a conference room most of the day means that energizing oxygen doesn’t circulate through your body. What registers to you as disinterest in and unhappiness with your work might actually be signs that your body craves activity, like a post-lunch walk.

Even a 10-minute stretch session in an empty conference room can make you feel alert again.

Science backs up the benefits of a midday reboot: A 2015 study found that a 30-minute lunchtime stroll three times a week for 10 weeks boosts enthusiasm, increases relaxation, and tames on-the-job tension. Additional researchshows that walking during the workday ignites creativity and the flow of ideas.

Can’t get away for a half hour? Ask your manager or team members if you can schedule a walking meeting, suggests Jones. Even a 10-minute stretch session in an empty conference room can make you feel alert again.

Keep your energy cranked by resisting coffee refills (caffeine can make it hard to sleep later) and vending machine trips, as sugar typically causes blood sugar levels to spike—then plunge. Instead, fuel up with foods that contain lean protein and complex carbs. Office-friendly sources include yogurt, nuts, peanut butter packets, hummus, air-popped popcorn, and of course, fruits and veggies.

3. MAX OUT YOUR COMPANY BENEFITS

It’s common for workers to think about employee benefits strictly in terms of health coverage and vacation days, says Sarah Flaherty, LearnVest HR business partner, but that would be a mistake. Benefits are key pieces of your compensation, and you should make sure you are maximizing what you get out of them. “Your employment package often goes well beyond base salary,” says Flaherty.

Some perks offered these days include different types of insurance, gym subsidies, cut-rate tickets for shows and travel, profit sharing, and a 401(k) match program.

“There are often little-known benefits that employees may not be familiar with, such as programs that provide confidential professional counseling services or tuition reimbursement,” says Flaherty. “Another example that I’ve seen is an extension of health care benefits such as covering the cost of IVF or an adoption assistance program that covers the costs associated with adoption—such as agency or legal fees.”

Taking advantage of these benefits can help you see your job in a different light—instead of a gig that’s become a bit uninspiring and routine, your nine-to-five life actually opens up opportunities for you that help you and your family grow and stretch your boundaries, not to mention save money.

Feeling more fulfilled during your workday again may simply be a matter of investigating all the benefits you have access to. “Employees should be sure to pay attention to communications about benefits all year round—not just during benefits season. It is also helpful to leverage the benefits expert in their company if they have any questions about what is being offered,” suggests Flaherty.

4. PRACTICE POSITIVITY

It’s hard to resist listening in on a gripe session about higher-ups or swapping war stories concerning difficult clients. Gossip helps bond you to your coworkers, and it feels pretty harmless (when it’s not about you, of course).

But there’s a downside. Too much gossip can be negative and toxic, sapping your emotional energy and lowering morale without you realizing it. If you’re already feeling blah about work, hearing about backstabbing coworkers or company infractions “makes you feel worse,” says Jones. Research also showsthat badmouthing can leave employees more cynical about their jobs, which further sinks your happiness and sense of fulfillment.

A Princeton University study shows that excessive clutter competes for your attention, which makes you more distracted and less productive.

Though it can be hard to resist, try to keep the negativity to a minimum. You’re not powerless against the office gossip machine: One recent study demonstrates that you can neutralize it by changing the subject or by preemptively making positive comments.

For example, if a coworker starts bashing another staffer, interrupt her by voicing a positive comment about him, or change the subject entirely by asking about her weekend plans.

5. REFRESH YOUR DESK

You might boast to colleagues that you know exactly where everything is on your desk despite the fact that it’s covered in piles of paper. While a little clutter can actually boost your performance by helping your brain zero in on what needs to get done, that mess can also be a motivation suck. A Princeton University study shows that excessive clutter competes for your attention, which makes you more distracted and less productive. The more visuals your brain has to sort through, the more overwhelmed and fatigued you become.

While you don’t need a totally pristine desk, the fact is, reducing most of the loose papers, folders, and objects in your visual field keeps you more organized and focused, which helps you do better at your job and feel more in control. “When you get rid of old papers or emails that are hanging around, it’s very liberating,” notes Jones. Clearing clutter from your workspace also clears it from your brain, and that can clarify your goals and motivate you to dive back into your work and accomplish more.

6. TACKLE TOUGH OFFICE RELATIONSHIPS

Sometimes it’s not the job itself that’s the problem but the people you spend your workday with: the complainers, the scarily ambitious, the petty-minded staffers who make a big deal out of things that don’t matter. Navigate too many difficult personalities day after day, and no wonder you’re unhappy.

If a colleague is genuinely causing you grief on a regular basis, Hannon recommends inviting her for a one-on-one talk. “You’ll need some backbone here, but be positive and do your best to be polite,” she says. “Calmly explain that it’s not okay to treat you this way or act the way he or she does. It’s possible the person is unaware that what he or she is doing is upsetting you, and will apologize and back off.”

Even the worst job can offer benefits that fill you with real purpose and meaning.

If that doesn’t work, or if the person making your work life miserable is a higher-up, talk to your manager or human resources about the situation. Be careful about asking if you can be reassigned. “It’s not always easy for your manager to rearrange work assignments,” says Jones, and inadvertently, you might be branded difficult yourself. “Unless there’s a crisis, I’d start by asking your manager for guidance about how to work more effectively with that person,” she adds. “Then, as a next step, ask if it is possible to modify your assignments so that you work with them less frequently.”

Above all, Hannon suggests framing the situation as something solvable. “Describe what’s been happening in detail, and explain how the situation is taking a toll on your ability to do your work,” she says. “Focus on the potential solution rather than dwelling on the problem.”

7. PURSUE PURPOSE IN YOUR JOB

Maybe your work lends much-needed help to others. Perhaps the money you earn allows you to afford a nicer life for your family. Or your job taps into skills you’ve worked hard to develop, and you feel proud when you are asked to use them. Whatever it is, even the worst job can offer benefits that fill you with real purpose and meaning. Keeping this in mind will lift your spirits, making you more invested.

It’s not as hokey as it sounds. Research shows that people who feel that their work is meaningful are happier than those who have a high income. If you truly can’t think of something uplifting you get from your gig, take it upon yourself to create that meaning—say, by starting a mentoring program, making yourself available to younger employees who are just finding their footing, or organizing an office blood drive.

“It’s easy to lose track of what the point is or how you’re contributing or helping people, but if you’re actually providing a service or doing some good, that’s a contribution,” says Jones. “Focus on the meaning, on the contribution.”

FastCompany.com | RACHEL GRUMMAN BENDER | 09.17.16 5:00 AM

#Leadership : 4 Truths You Need to Know About Millennial Job Hopping…Employers are Failing to Create a Supportive Work Environment that Considers the Unique Needs of Millennials.

September 18, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

It’s time to stop blaming millennial job hopping for poor employee retention. Especially when employers are failing to create a supportive work environment that takes into consideration their unique needs.

It’s no secret: millennials are job hoppers. A 2016 Jobvite survey of 2,305 Americans found that while only 18 percent of the total workforce changes jobs every one-to three-years, 42 percent of millennials do.

That’s made employee retention a nightmare for employers in recent years. There’s constant chatter about how the millennial job hopping tendency makes them difficult to work with. Older generations go on and on about how they wish they’d leave their wandering ways and just settle down.

But what if the root of the problem isn’t millennials? What if it’s actually employers who are failing to create a workplace that meets the needs of the generation? So they go from one company to the next looking for an organization that can fulfill them professionally.

Here are four reasons it’s employers, not millennials, who are behind the job-hopping phenomenon:

1. Lack of career advancement.

Employee engagement is an issue with employees of all ages, but it’s particularly bad with millennials. My company, Quantum Workplace, recently released its “2016 Employee Engagement Trends” report. It surveyed more than a half million employees from more than 8,700 organizations and found that employees between 26 and 35 are the least engaged age group at just 67.3 percent engaged.

The report also found that seeing a chance to develop professionally was one of the top drivers of engagement for millennials. This suggests that one of the main reasons the generation is becoming disengaged at work is because they aren’t getting the career advancement and development they want. Eventually, that causes them to look for a job elsewhere, creating a job-hopping cycle.

The only way to end the pattern is to provide millennials with clear career paths and development opportunities. Talk with them to find out what their goals are and how they can meet those goals with the company. Show a willingness to invest in their future in order to keep them around.

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2. They can’t use their best skills.

Looking at the millennials who do stay with one company for a long time shows they have something interesting in common. The 2016 Deloitte Millennial Survey of 7,700 millennials from around the world found that 86 percent of millennials who worked with a company for more than five years felt they were able to make good use of their skills in that job. Only 62 percent of millennials who left a company within two years agreed.

Regularly doing what an employee is good at gives them a better connection with the work. It shows that all the hard work they did to develop their skills was not for naught. Unfortunately, most entry or lower-level jobs don’t give employees the opportunity to dig deep and use all of their skills. It’s less clear how what they’re doing contributes to the company as a whole.

Challenge millennials. Give them a chance to show what they can really do. Ask them for their ideas and input on a variety of projects so they can stay engaged and feel of value, rather than like a paper-pusher.

3. The benefits package doesn’t interest them.

Aside from job hopping, something else that has defined the millennial generation is crushing student debt. A 2016 Citizens Bank survey of 501 American millennials found that 60 percent of adults under 35 don’t believe they’ll be able to pay off their loans until well into their 40s. Thirty-six percent said if they had known how much college was really going to cost them, they never would’ve attended a university.

Student loan debt therefore becomes a huge weight for millennials when it comes to choosing a job. And one that can help them tackle their educational debt is a huge draw. A 2015 Peanut Butter survey of 400 respondents between 20 and 35 years old found that, on average, millennials with college loans would stay with a company 36 percent longer if it offered repayment assistance.

By making loan repayment assistance part of the organization’s benefits package, it becomes a lot more appealing to younger professionals. It gives them a reason to stick around, resulting in improved millennial employee retention.

4. Their hard work isn’t being recognized.

Nobody likes feeling under-appreciated. Yet it seems like millennials’ hard work in particular is being ignored. In a 2015 LeadershipIQ surveyof more than 3,000 employees, only 33 percent of employees under 30 were confident that their performance was at the level it should be.

There is clearly a major lack of feedback and recognition for so many young professionals to be unsure of how they’re doing in their role. And that lack of communication makes them feel less important to the organization. Without that connection, it’s easier for them to leave in hopes of being appreciated elsewhere.

Make sure all employees, but especially millennials, are acknowledged for their hard work. Start having regular one-on-one meetings with employees so their performance can be discussed. That way, millennials will be confident in the fact that they are doing a great job and their work is of value to the organization.

Entrepreneur.com | September 16, 2016 | Greg Harris

#Leadership : This FlowChart can Help you Figure Out If you’re a Horrible Boss, or a Great One…Follow the FlowChart to Figure Out If you’re a Great Manager, or a Horrible One

September 16, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Most people like the idea of being the boss — but not everyone has what it takes to lead effectively.

It can be difficult to determine whether or not you’re manager material, even if you’re being honest with yourself. What’s more, once you are in a leadership role, it’s hard to reckon whether or not you’re doing a great job — or failing miserably.

It’s important to determine what your strengths and weaknesses are when it comes to leading. Otherwise, you might be unprepared once an opportunity to rise up comes around. Or, if you are already a boss, you might flounder in your management role.

For anyone who’s considering whether or not they have any leadership chops, Headway Capitalcompiled this infographic breaking down what it takes to be a great boss.

Follow the flowchart to figure out if you’re a great manager, or a horrible one:

Businessinsider.com | September 16, 2016 | Áine Cain

#Leadership : How You Justify Sticking With Bad Work Habits (And How To Stop)…The more Effort People Put into Something, the More they’ll Tend to Believe in It—Even If that Effort is Misplaced.

September 16, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

You don’t always work as efficiently or productively as you could, and you know it. Chances are you can even identify which ways of doing things you could probably do better if you were to do them differently—but you don’t want to. That’s just the way you do it.

It’s normal to have some habits or practices you prefer and others you don’t, and some managers have found that giving employees control over the “how” as long as they accomplish the “what” is a powerful productivity strategy in its own right. But sometimes we fall into routines at work that not only do weknow to be less than ideal, but we also find ways to convince ourselves they’re worth sticking to anyway. That can be a problem.

HOW YOU COME UP WITH REASONS FOR BAD HABITS

In the 1950s, the psychologist Leon Festinger coined the term “cognitive dissonance” to describe the uneasiness we feel when we hold two conflicting ideas simultaneously. Festinger realized that this discomfort isn’t just an inert feeling—it influences our behavior in surprising ways.

Make sure image matches reality, and no one will waste mental energy straining to match the unmatchable.

Cognitive dissonance is so unpleasant that it motivates us to make changes in order to avoid experiencing it. But since we don’t always recognize why we’re uncomfortable (the source of our cognitive dissonance), we can often wind up making the wrong changes—or holding onto habits we should probably abandon.

I once worked with an organization that sent out sensitive documents. Because of the nature of the work, when mail was returned, it couldn’t just be thrown away and the recipient removed from the mailing list. We had to make every effort to contact the person.

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The procedure to do this was created before email and social media were widespread. So those tools—even after they came on the scene—still played little part in our process for contacting recipients. Our staff found themselves using a process they knew was unwieldy and old-fashioned, and that created cognitive dissonance. They valued the efficiency of shooting off a quick email over mailing physical documents, and taking that analog approach anyway (in other words, behaving contrary to a belief) subconsciously caused distress.

For a long time, they weren’t able to change the process. So to avoid cognitive dissonance, employees came up with ways to make sense of what they were doing. By the time they were given the freedom to change course, they’d convinced themselves they had a legal obligation (which they didn’t) to act in the way that they did. Dislodging this idea became a stumbling block to improvement for the business.

Cognitive dissonance can motivate people to change the way they work. But if they aren’t aware of what’s going on, it can instead lead to irrational behavior and the invention of justifications for things that should be changed. If it’s consciously recognized, though, these inconsistencies can motivate change for the better.

You can never entirely avoid cognitive dissonance—it’s part of how we think. But you can reduce it. Here are a few steps to take to do that.

1. WALK THE WALK

People are pretty good hypocrisy detectors. Any inconsistency between your company’s stated values and its behaviors will create dissonance for employees who are asked to follow procedures that conflict with the values they’re told to uphold. So if you’re going to say you value creativity, then let people be creative; if you say you value diversity, then be diverse; if you say you value quality over speed, then don’t rush people. This isn’t rocket science, but the gap between values and action is the first thing to look for.

Same goes for your brand. Examine the relationship between your organization’s public image and the reality of your work. Don’t pretend to the world that you’re a fun-loving company if your ethos is really about serious work, or that you value customer feedback if you’re already set on a specific course. Make sure image matches reality, and no one will waste mental energy straining to match the unmatchable.

2. MAKE AN EFFORT IN THE RIGHT AREA

The more effort people put into something, the more they’ll tend to believe in it. So make sure that your employees are focused, as far as possible, on core tasks and values that express the purpose of your business. This way their work and the supposed purpose of it will correspond, and that work will make them comfortably more committed to those values. A great deal of misplaced effort usually leads to a great deal of justifications for sticking with it.

3. RESEARCH, DON’T EXPLAIN IT AWAY

Anytime someone asks why you do something, there’s a risk that you’ll give a knee-jerk response, looking for the most obvious way to make sense of what you do already—instead of really thinking about why you do it. The worst part is, you won’t even realize you may be inventing after-the-fact justifications for a less-than-ideal process.

So don’t give the first answer that comes into your head. Press pause, step away, check the facts, and then come back with the real explanation. If that explanation—the truthful one, backed by research—isn’t so hot, then maybe it’s time to change.

4. ACCEPT A LITTLE INCONSISTENCY

Avoiding cognitive dissonance is all about creating consistency, but that doesn’t mean that you should go into denial about what’s inconsistent. Circumstances change, and so do businesses. Sometimes inconsistencies will develop, and we can get defensive about them—explaining them away instead of fixing them. So be on the lookout for those inconsistencies, but keep in mind that they’re normal and, in many cases, fixable.

It’s a good goal to try and work as rationally as possible. But we don’t always think that way, and recognizing that is the first step toward scrapping your worse habits and hanging onto your better ones.

FastCompany.com | MARK LUKENS | 09.15.16 5:00 AM

#Leadership : What Coach K Can Teach You About Leadership and the Morning Habits of NBA Stars…The most Winningest Coach in NCAA Division I Basketball History Wants to Show you How to Be a Better Leader. He’s Qualified to Do That, Don’t you Think?

September 15, 2016/in First Sun Blog/by First Sun Team

Mike Krzyzewski, or Coach K as he’s more commonly called, is much taller in person than he looks on TV.

I guess that’s because the coach of Duke’s multiple champion men’s basketball team and Team USA’s gold medal men’s basketball team wasn’t surrounded by 6-foot-11-inch super athletes at the time I met him in a midtown New York office. Instead, Coach K was sitting with his business partner Chrissie Gorman, CEO of PowerForward, a new startup digital subscription service that will deliver interactive leadership and team-building videos to users.

He’s got trophies, medals and the respect and admiration of millions, so why start a business? “I don’t know how many more years I will continue to coach, but I wanted to be able to teach for the rest of my life,” Coach K told me. “And this platform will allow me to do so.”

I had the pleasure of speaking with Gorman and Coach K about their venture and the parallels between leading on the court and in business. I walked out of the room feeling energized, inspired and ready to throw down a vicious dunk on my opponents … if only I could figure out a way to grow a foot and a half on my way to the gym.

Last time I saw you, Coach, you had a big hunk of gold around your neck.

Coach K: I wish! They don’t give coaches the actual medals, we get replicas — but that’s OK, the main thing is we won!

How does PowerForward work?

Coach K: It is a video service a company would subscribe to. People from all walks of life — sports, business, military — tell a story about how they have adapted or how they have shown leadership. And as you watch the 20-minute video, the viewer is asked if they would have made the same decisions, if they would have done things differently and why. It is interactive. So you’re not just reading or watching — you’re able to feel it. And if you feel it, you might own it. And that’s how you get better.

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How did your partnership come together?

Coach K: Chrissie and CAA had the vision to put this startup together, which has been two years in the works. And they were able to help me understand the vision, because this isn’t a world that I am in. Just like she doesn’t understand the vision of attacking a zone or full-court pressing. And now it is a shared vision. I love what she and our team have be able to do.

Chrissie Gorman: We had an incredible opportunity to work with a man who has this amazing legacy of leadership. I came in to look at it and see if there was a need we could fill. I looked at the $10 billion B2B leadership market, and we saw a gap in focusing on emerging leaders. Who better to fill that role than Coach K?

Your ability to lead spans between athletes fresh out of high school to athletes who are seasoned NBA All-Stars. What are the similarities and differences leading groups like that?

Coach K: It is completely different. There’s a big difference in maturity: age, physical and experience. So when I’m coaching the USA team in the Olympics, those guys are professionals, they’ve crossed bridges of experience. The quickest way of explaining it is that we adapt to each other. Then we find the best practices that that group can adapt to.

When I’m coaching the young guys in college, they pretty much have to adapt to me. The lessons I’ve learned in adapting to the pro players have been unbelievable. How you train, how they are able to be successful in certain situations — I’ve learned more in the past 10 years from these guys than I knew before.

Who surprised you most?

Coach K: Almost all of them, quite frankly. In some respect, that’s not the world I live in. In college, we have to train our guys. These professionals have their routines. What we do as a group we do as a group. But I have to allow them time to follow the routines that work for them.

Demar DeRozan is getting up at 6 a.m. to do his routine, Klay Thompson is going back to the gym and shooting at night. Kyle Lowry is one of the top scorers in the league, and he came to me and said, “What do you need coach? I don’t care how many minutes I play.” It is called selfless.

People always ask “How do you get these big egos together?” If you have a good common cause — to play for your country and win a gold medal — that’s a pretty good common cause. Like we say inPowerForward, they make a commitment to being part of something that is bigger than you.

Do you love to win or hate to lose?

Coach K: Both! I would say for me, the thought of losing is a bigger motivator than the thought of winning. But the hatred of losing causes you to prepare to win. Everybody wants to win, not everybody wants to prepare to win. You have to love the process of preparing to achieve that goal of winning. People who are less talented can beat you if they are more together, tougher and more unselfish.

My kids play little league, and there is a mercy rule that stops better teams from running up the score too high. Are you able to take your foot off the gas during a game?

Coach K: I would hope that I am faced with the opportunity in every game that I coach! A lot of people ask if I prefer a close exciting game or a blowout — as long as we’re the ones blowing out the other team, the sooner the better.

Does that competitiveness carry through in business? Do you look to crush your competition?

Gorman: In business, you have to be agile. You have to be open to someone coming in and disrupting you. You can’t rest on your laurels. It is always competitive, but in the end, it is all about your investors and your customers. You are working to make their investment of time and money worthwhile, that’s where your focus needs to be.

Coach K: I think your focus should always be on yourself, being the best that you can be. Your competition shows your flaws, your weakness. I’m into beating my opponents, not crushing them. Without competition, you don’t know how people are looking to beat you. So you welcome that. To “crush” someone means that you feel like you won. But if you’re committed to excellence, it’s not about one game, you have to be there all the time. You’re never at the end, you’re always “becoming.”

When you are recruiting new players for Duke, you have statistics that show how talented a player is, but are there any tells that you look for to see if you want them on your team?

Coach K: We look for three things: talent, academic ability and character. Are they easy to coach? Is it all about them or is it all about us? We give those equal weight, and if one is missing, we won’t try to recruit that player.

Do those three pillars line up with recruiting employees in business?

Gorman: Yes, particularly when it come to character. I look for people who say “we” more than “I.” When someone says “we” that means that they feel a part of something being built.

Coach K: I ask every kid I’m visiting, “What are your goals?” I visited two this weekend who said, “I want to be part of a national championship team.” And you love to hear an answer like that. If they start asking how many shots they’ll take or minutes they’ll play, that’ll all shake itself out — most likely as you are playing for another team. The “we” concept is huge for us.

Gorman: It’s funny, as I’m building this team for PowerForward, if someone’s first question is “what will the salary be?” it’s not the right fit. This is a startup, this is about building something together and about the experience. You can go somewhere else if all you’re looking for is a comfortable salary.

Part of being a leader is dealing with the good and the bad. The NCAA just announced that they are pulling all championship games from North Carolina due to its controversial transgender bathroom law. How do you feel about that?

Coach K: I was asked about this law when we were preparing for theOlympics in Las Vegas. It was a very short answer: It’s embarrassing. And I still feel it is embarrassing because it is discriminatory. I’m all in on what the NCAA has done and I am proud that Duke AD Kevin White has stepped forward on behalf of our university to say that we are against discrimination, and to express our sorrow that it has hurt our great state.

You coached all of these guys on Team USA, and now they’re all back in the NBA. So going into this season, who do you want to win?

Coach K: First off, I want them all to be healthy. I want them to be taken care of contractually. In 11 years, in the last five competitions we’ve won, we’ve coached 39 NBA players and they’ve all won gold medals. Some multiple times. I have anywhere from 16 to 20 former Duke players in the NBA. I want good things to happen for them all.

On Christmas, I’ll be watching the NBA games with my grandsons and I’ll be able to say, “On the court right now, there are six guys I’ve coached.” Then the next game will have four or seven. I just want them to do well. And I keep in contact with a lot of them. Relationships are another keyword that we teach in PowerForward. We want people to take these words, make them their own and be better for it.

Entrepreneur.com | September 15, 2016 | Dan Bova