The CEOs Power Play

First off, I’m not a financial planner so don’t construe these ideas as financial advice or counsel. What I wanted to do on this episode of the CEOs Power Play is share the ideas and practices that I have used and learned from various CEOs and Executives over the years who have either retired or were preparing for retirement. [Tweet "Create a financial buffer in your plan to support a comfortable lifestyle during retirement."] One thing I’ve noticed that they've all had in common is that the very idea of successful retirement has been a challenging and stressful event to consider. It’s not the idea of retiring that’s stressful per-say, but more so the idea of what they will do with their time when they retire, and how they will continue to fund a comfortable lifestyle once they’ve officially stopped working. These questions are even more important when you consider the unpredictable fluctuations in the markets and the lack of reliability of most funds and 401Ks. In this episode I share: • Why we need to think differently about what retirement really is • Three questions that you can use to create a plan for successful retirement • Ways to ensure you have a financial buffer in your plan to support a very comfortable lifestyle [Tweet "Preparing for what’s next is a skill that all effective CEOs and Executives possess."] Preparing for what’s next is a skill that all effective CEOs and Executives possess. Unfortunately when it comes to aligning teams around taking action on what’s next, most CEOs struggle to create engagement and speed amongst their teams. We help CEOs create strategies that deploy quickly, take hold and achieve results. Get started now by with a copy of our latest e-book “The Strategy Booklet.” What are the steps you’ve taken to prepare for retirement or create sustained residual income? Send me a note to shawn@casemoreandco.com, I’d love to hear from you! © Shawn Casemore 2017. All rights reserved.

In this week's episode I discuss a study conducted by Microsoft that in essence demonstrates the continuing degradation technology is having on our attention span. If you are like many of the CEOs or Executives that I coach and advise, you are constantly inundated with emails, phone calls and text messages, all that serve a purpose of consuming our time through various distractions. These distractions only grow over time (hence the diminishing attention span) unless we take specific actions to improve our focus and in essence counteract the influence of the distractions.    [Tweet "Our attention span is degrading and has a negative impact on our health and performance."]   What do we discuss? We’ll here are a few of the key points Why our attention span is degrading and the impacts this has on our health and performance Five ways in which you can counteract the influence of technology and increase your focus The health and wellness benefits that result from focusing on improving our focus What I’ve found are the simplest and most effective means to improve focus [Tweet "Find a time to put your phone away, you do not need to be connected 24 hours a day. NO EXCUSES"] © Shawn Casemore 2017. All rights reserved.

Are you stuck on the hamster wheel of life? Unfortunately I know a lot of CEOs who are. You see it’s one thing to stay busy all the time, focusing on getting work done, running kids to events and entertaining friends, but at the end of it all, are you living a fulfilled life? [Tweet "Those who are most fulfilled are the most successful."] For years I’ve been helping many of my advisory clients create more focus on building a fulfilling and rewarding life. It’s those who are most fulfilled that are the most successful. Put differently, you can work hard every day to make more money, but when you’re 80 years old and in your twilight the time you spent on working and not with family and friends will likely result in having very few people to share your life with. A sad existence, but one I’ve seen many hard working CEOs and executives fall prey too. Fortunately there is a way to remain focused on performing at your highest level, while still building a more fulfilling life. In this episode I’ll share: How to define what is fulfilling and rewarding for you. Key questions to ask in order to focus on what’s important. What to do if the answer’s your receiving are not creating the fulfillment you seek. ©Shawn Casemore 2017. All rights reserved.

It was only recently that I spoke with a group of CEOs about how to improve the performance of their team in order to improve their profitability when one of the participants stood up and said “Shawn, this has been great. In all the years I’ve been running my business I don’t know the last time I was told to actually write down my priorities.” Ah yes, the power of putting pen to paper. It’s likely an understatement to suggest that you are busy, yet if we spend all of our time “doing” and no time reflecting on and considering “what we should be doing” then we end up spinning our wheels. Just like creating a powerful strategy, the only way to move from ideas to outcomes is to in effect write down our goals. In doing so it’s been scientifically proven that we have a greater than 60% chance of actually achieving those goals. In addition to discussing the power of putting pen to paper, in this episode we also discuss: How to find the time to invest in setting your goals The 5-3-1 method of goal setting that will keep you focused and progressing What to do if you find that your goal setting has fallen off track   When we write something down we make a commitment and a priority. The power of putting pen to paper. - Click To Tweet   ©Shawn Casemore 2017. All rights reserved.

Regardless of where I travel, the time of year or the industry impacted, I’ve found that virtually every CEO is mired in the day-to-day challenges of running and leading their business. Any attempt to make predictions is saved until the 36 month mark where the executive team comes together to assess and identify the strategy for the business. The problem with this approach is that there is simply too many things that can change in a very short period of time. My bias is that every CEO should be considering the future state of their business on a daily if not weekly basis. I call this the Think Forward Strategy. In this episode of the CEOs Power Play I share with you a simple exercise you can do in order to remain in tune with and take action towards your desired future for the organization. The approach doesn’t require a formal strategy formulation, nor does it come with the costs associated with the boondoggle that often follows. Specifically I discuss: Why thinking forward is missing for most CEOs How to institute a simple practice to collect intelligence that will support your Think Forward Strategy Engaging others in the approach The benefits of continuously taking action and making assumptions for Thinking Forward © Shawn Casemore 2017. All rights reserved.

Many of the CEOs I meet are overly stressed, burned out, working long hours and taking little time for their family or themselves. It would be easy to say that this is simply right of passage to being a successful CEO, however I don’t believe this to be true. It's critical to recognize that our personal well-being and success represents the degree to which our organization will achieve success. In this week's episode of the CEOs PowerPlay I share three key questions you can ask yourself that are crucial to ensuring the longevity of not only your company, but also of you. Specifically I’ll discuss: How to measure the strength of your leadership team Taking control over your schedule Living the values you expect others to accept [Tweet "Always focus on building strength in your leadership team."] © Shawn Casemore 2017. All rights reserved.

After working with dozens of sales teams across North America, I’ve found that most under performing teams can be attributed to one thing. Compensation.   I’m not suggesting that Sales teams are motivated by money, however I am suggesting that most compensation systems for sales teams are not structured correctly.   In this podcast I’ll discuss why this is and what to do about it, specifically: The biggest problem with sales compensation plans How to structure the plan for better results The critical areas to include in structuring the compensation plan [Tweet "Most under performing teams can be attributed to one thing. Compensation."] © Shawn Casemore 2017. All rights reserved.

It’s no secret that younger generations today are seeking a less formal and structured working environment. Rather than this create chaos as it pertains to finding new ways to motivate, inspire and lead, CEOs need to be looking more closely at how to shift from being a Leader to a Mentor. In this podcast I share an example of an organization that is heavily focused on the mentorship model, and how CEOs can make this shift quickly without restructuring or retraining their entire leadership team. Specifically I discuss: The key distinctions between a leader and a mentor Why mentorship will be the new model for supporting employees in the coming decade How to shift from being a leader to a mentor [Tweet "Why every CEO needs to become a mentor:"] © Shawn Casemore 2017. All rights reserved.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve likely realized that there are literally dozens of distinctions between the needs of the different generations in today’s workforce. As Gen Z enter the workforce in the next decade, these distinctions will increase which poses the question of how to ensure your workforce is set for and supportive of your future business needs? To answer this question we must begin not by looking at the distinctions of each generation, but instead considering how to shape our workforce to support the needs of our customers in the coming decade. In this weeks episode of the CEOs PowerPlay I discuss three critical questions you need to be asking your people in order to ensure your organization is sustained in the coming years. Specifically I’ll discuss: Why you should start by considering your customer How to integrate feedback from employees to structure your workforce plan Ideas to satisfy employees needs that will in turn satisfy your customer needs [Tweet "There are dozens of distinctions between the needs of generations in today’s workforce."] © Shawn Casemore 2017. All rights reserve

I meet dozens of highly driven and motivated people each and every week. Many of these people are at the helm of a highly successful business, yet when I spend time with them it becomes clear that despite their success and drive, they truly are out of touch with those around them, and often feeling isolated and even depressed as a result. Success in any business at any level is the result of being able to enjoy the rewards of your hard earned success. What’s the point after all if you can’t sit back to share and enjoy in your achievements with those around you?   In this podcast I share with you the very questions that will help you determine if you are out of touch, and more importantly some simple strategies to assist you in re-engaging, specifically: Why you might be out of touch The downfalls of being in an “out of touch” state of mind How to re-ignite your passion and relationships Methods to take action immediately © Shawn Casemore 2016. All rights reserved.

Every CEO or Executive that I’ve ever met is not only focused on their career, but also on their family and their health. I call this the pyramid of success. When it comes to playing at optimum levels and being in the Power Play, it’s crucial to sustain a continued focus on your health, as without it you can’t enjoy or perform in the other areas of the pyramid. In this week's podcast I discuss findings of a recent study that links nutrition to cognitive brain performance, specifically: Why you should be carrying a water bottle with you Vitamins that have been linked to higher levels of cognitive performance Simple ways to fuel up and stay focused Enjoy and make sure to also check out our new podcast at www.growthinspired.com in which I interview CEOs and Executives as well as those who advise them on how to grow their business. © Shawn Casemore 2016. All rights reserved.

I’m here to admit that being a CEO or Executive in today’s business climate is not an easy job, in fact in some instances it can be downright thankless. This said however it’s critical to ensure that despite all odds you remain positive and optimistic. Now I know what you’re thinking…“But Shawn I am always optimistic,” and that may be true, but chances are you may be giving off signals that suggest otherwise. In this week’s podcast I share some of those areas to watch out for, and more importantly some simple strategies that will help you remain optimistic despite all odds. For more information on the techniques I discuss feel free to reach out to me directly, shawn@casemoreandco.com. What you’ll hear in this episode: How a positive attitude can empower your employees Strategies to help you remain optimistic Areas of focus to help you think and be positive Why a CEO or Executive needs to be aware of their attitude and how it impacts their business © Shawn Casemore 2016. All rights reserved.

When the CEOs or Executives that I advise across North America tell me they’re burnt-out, I tell them they’re dead wrong. You see there is no such thing as burnout, but rather a specific issue that is underlying all others. In this week’s episode of the CEOs Power Play I discuss what the typical causes are of being “burnt-out” and how to resolve them. This is one episode you don’t want to miss, particularly this time of year! What you’ll hear in this episode: • Three main causes of being burnt-out • Tips for prioritizing tasks in your personal life and professional life to reduce feelings of frustration • How generalizing burnout will not help you come to a solution – you need to get specific   What does burnout mean to you? Get specific on what the problem is then take action! - CLICK TO TWEET   © Shawn Casemore 2016. All rights reserved.

Having the right mindset is critical to the success of any CEO, Executive or Business Owner. Generally I come across two, with one (the growth mindset) being the most valuable as it pertains to being successful in business and having the ability to motivate and inspire others. The good news however is that you can build a growth mindset, whether you have one today and want to improve upon it, or you don’t and recognize the value to having such. What you’ll hear in this episode:  The distinctions between a growth and fixed mindset Several techniques for building and enhancing a growth mindset Why a growth mindset builds a stronger and more passionate team   A growth mindset will be helpful to your business, your life, and of course, you yourself. -CLICK TO TWEET   © Shawn Casemore 2016. All rights reserved.

As a CEO or Executive, our beliefs have a significant influence on the beliefs and ideals of our team and the people around us. If you believe for example that “next year is going to be a down year due to the loss of some customers,” that in effect will be the message you portray to your people, either directly or indirectly. Either way my guess is you are in for a down year. Do you see the impact? In this week’s episode I share some techniques you can use that I help many of my advisory clients with on how to ensure our beliefs are positive and optimistic, so as to motivate, inspire and ensure our people are in the right state of mind. What you’ll hear in this episode: How our individual beliefs have an impact on those around us, specifically on our employees Why CEOs have to be aware of what their personal beliefs are and manage them appropriately I’ll provide an exercise you can do to help show how your beliefs are impacting your business   The beliefs you hold tend to be the beliefs that those around you hold -CLICK TO TWEET   © Shawn Casemore 2016. All rights reserved.

In this episode of the CEOs PowerPlay, I discuss a creative method to assess your competition in order to determine how best to create new opportunities in your market and for your business. This isn’t for the faint of heart (actually nothing I recommend is!!), but provides you with a simple method of identifying what you and your team needs to do in order to achieve dramatic growth, specifically: How to assess your competition Who should be involved Suppliers as your competitive ally What you’ll hear in this episode: How to deal with your competition How to plan for growth by assessing your competition I’ll explain what I mean by 360 degrees of competition and give you a task you can do to better understand the competition   If you know what your customers want, the other aspect to know is what are your competitors doing? -CLICK TO TWEET   © Shawn Casemore 2016. All rights reserved.

Why is it that we often know what we should be doing, but we just don’t do it? We can blame it on the sheer amount of work we have to do, or the overwhelming demands of others. But at the end of the day there is only one thing holding us back. Listen to hear me share some ideas on how to change your focus to be only that which needs to be done. Be damned everything else! What you’ll hear in this episode: What’s stopping you from acheiving your goals How you can set yourself up for success with your goals I’ll provide common examples of goals we all often don’t follow through on   If we can get past the barriers that we create ourselves, we set up our time the way we want to -CLICK TO TWEET   Join me every Monday at 10am EST on Periscope (you can find me @shawncasemore) for more great live tips on growing your business. © Shawn Casemore 2016. All rights reserved.

I’ve discussed frequently the differences in generations such as Gen X, Baby Boomers and Millennials on previous episodes as it pertains to attracting and retaining talented employees, but have you ever stopped to consider the age of your “future” customers and how you can adjust and adapt your marketing and selling process to satisfy their needs? In this week’s episode, I share a few ideas on how to ensure you retain and even grow your market share by aligning with the age demographics with your key customer accounts. What you’ll hear in this episode: What is the largest population in the U.S. and how does this affect the buying experience Why engaging through technology is so important What is the single best advantage you can create when selling a product      You want to align the generations in your workforce with your customers’ generation-CLICK TO TWEET   Join me every Monday at 10am EST on Periscope (you can find me @shawncasemore) for more great live tips on growing your business. © Shawn Casemore 2016. All rights reserved.

I know what you’re thinking… To obliterate the competition and be the “go to source” in your market requires a great sales system, and great marketing… Don’t forget about a recognizable brand, but is that it? What’s behind all of these tools? In this week’s broadcast, I discuss the single most important thing to consider when it comes to growing your business and being #1 in your market. What you’ll hear in this episode: How your growth has affected your customers’ experience Why it is important to invest in your employees How individuality affects your policies, systems, and procedures I’ll provide you an exercise that you can give to your employees that will help you gain insight about your employees and customer interaction   We need to invest in our people understanding the customer. -CLICK TO TWEET   Join me every Monday at 10am EST on Periscope (you can find me @shawncasemore) for more great live tips on growing your business. © Shawn Casemore 2016. All rights reserved.  

In my business, I advise dozens of CEOs each year, and hands down, the greatest issue they face when it comes to progressing and growing is fear. Fortunately, overcoming our fears is not that difficult if you know the approach to take and are diligent in its application. In this podcast, I share with you a simple approach to overcoming your fears, why it works and how it might have helped me salvage my first date! Invest a few minutes in your own development and take a listen! What you’ll hear in this episode: The steps you need to take when you encounter a fear How and why these steps will reduce your fears and help you succeed An example of using the given steps in a fictional scenario Why positive thinking is important for success  When we get consumed with something we worry about, we do not perform at the optimal level- CLICK TO TWEET   Join me every Monday at 10am EST on Periscope (you can find me @shawncasemore) for more great live tips on growing your business. © Shawn Casemore 2016. All rights reserved.