Start With A Win

Latest Episodes:

Quick Win - Don't Think Big Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

Ever had a big goal looming over you, wondering how on earth you'll reach it? Well, here's a little secret: don't think big. Yep, you heard me right. Think small. It's not about the grandiose end game; it's about the tiny steps you take every day that add up to something huge. Focus on those small tasks, the ones that are simple and doable right now. They're the key to unlocking that big dream. Trust me, thinking small leads to big wins. That's your quick win for today! #SmallSteps #BigGoals #AchievementUnlocked #ProgressEveryDay

Rich Horwath: Stop Wasting Time on Business Strategy That Doesn't Work Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

In a world where “strategy” has become a buzzword and busywork often masquerades as progress, host Adam Contos sits down with renowned strategic thinking expert Rich Horwath, today on Start With a Win, to cut through the noise and get to what really drives results. This conversation dives into the hidden habits, mindsets, and decision filters that separate reactive leaders from truly intentional ones - those who create clarity, focus their teams, and win on purpose instead of by accident. Packed with sharp insights, real-world stories, and practical wisdom, this episode challenges you to rethink how you spend your time, set priorities, and lead with direction. If you’re ready to trade chaos for clarity and turn strategy into a daily advantage, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Rich Horwath is the Founder and CEO of the Strategic Thinking Institute, where he helps leadership teams think, plan, and act more strategically to drive direction, advantage, and results. A strategy workshop facilitator, executive coach, and keynote speaker, he has helped more than 250,000 leaders worldwide strengthen their strategic capabilities. Rich is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of eight books, has been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, and Harvard Business Review, and is recognized by Chief Executive Magazine as “the world’s foremost expert on strategic thinking.”
A former chief strategy officer and top-ranked graduate professor of strategy, Rich combines real-world experience with practical tools executives can apply immediately. Inspired by a leader’s question - “How can I become more strategic?” - he built a roadmap to help leaders move from tactical to strategic thinking and continues his mission to teach the world to be strategic.
00:00 Intro
03:04 Define it…only three words!
05:10 Biggest mistake that leaders make…
08:30 A two-page plan, goals (what) and how, is that really all I need!
11:50 This needs to happen every 90 days!
14:30 How do we fix middle management?
17:28 How to think about strategy and culture?
19:07 The three As!
22:24 A golden insight, write that down…
25:02 A habit that will help stick to your strategy!
28:05 A what workout…

www.StrategySkills.com
https://www.strategyskills.com/strategic-book/

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Connect with Adam:
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Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/
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#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

Anne & Frances: This 5-Day Leadership Framework Will Change Your Business Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

This episode of Start With a Win brings together two of the most dynamic voices in leadership, Anne Morriss and Frances Frei, for a conversation that challenges outdated business mantras and replaces them with a powerful alternative. With wit, clarity, and decades of experience guiding organizations and leaders at the highest levels, they reveal how true impact is created - not by choosing between speed and care, but by mastering both. From Harvard classrooms to global boardrooms, their insights cut through the noise and inspire a fresh way of thinking about trust, momentum, and solving big problems. If you’ve ever wondered how great leaders accelerate results without sacrificing integrity, this conversation with host Adm Contos is one you won’t want to miss.

Anne and Frances are best-selling authors, influential leadership experts, and the founders of The Leadership Consortium—a pioneering accelerator focused on building inclusive executive teams and preparing the next generation of senior leaders. Frances is a Harvard Business School professor and former SVP of Leadership and Strategy at Uber, where she led efforts during a time of massive transformation. Anne is a serial entrepreneur and sought-after leadership coach. Together, they advise top companies—from startups to Fortune 10s—on strategy, operations, and culture, helping leaders navigate complex change. They’ve co-authored three acclaimed books, including Move Fast & Fix Things, and co-host Fixable, a TED Audio Collective podcast. Their work and insights have been featured in viral TED Talks and recognized by Thinkers50 as among the world’s top management thinkers.

00:00 Intro
02:01 Moving fast gave this a bad name…
05:20 Great leaders do this!
08:20 Here is the secret sauce!
12:25 What is Monday-Friday?
17:01 Look at problem through this lense – 3 key words…
22:30 Talk to stake people?...celebrity the uncommon.
34:16 Empower AND Delegate and two other Fridays…
39:18 Always on the beach and the night before?
https://anneandfrances.com/
https://anneandfrances.com/fixable
https://anneandfrances.com/fix-things
https://tlcleaders.com/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

How Ken Schmidt Saved Harley-Davidson Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

This episode of Start With a Win dives into the remarkable story of how a motorcycle brand transformed from the brink of collapse to becoming an iconic global powerhouse. Host Adam Contos sits down with Ken Schmidt, the former head of communications at Harley-Davidson, who reveals how shifting focus from simply selling products to creating authentic human connections reshaped the brand’s destiny. Packed with powerful lessons on leadership, loyalty, and the psychology of consumer behavior, this conversation is a masterclass in standing out and building unshakable emotional bonds with customers.

Ken Schmidt is one of the business world’s most demanded executive advisors and speakers, driven by the acclaim he earned leading Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s against-all-odds turnaround in the 1990s from the brink of financial ruin to global dominance. He’s the author of Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance, the host of the Tailgating with Geniuses podcast, and co-founder of Torque Sessions Leadership Training. Ken’s success, unconventional business approach, and playful outspokenness led him to consulting assignments with household-name brands and transformed him into a highly requested speaker with more than 1,200 keynotes presented globally to date.

00:00 Intro
01:52 What is fun about a company at it’s worst point?
05:01 What should you be known for to get this?
11:36 Can you find glorious discoveries by an accident?
16:08 What are your five pillars?
21:01 Great businesspeople never talk about what they sell…
22:06 What is noise of a business?
28:10 Is efficiency the key?
31:37 What are your three to five words as a leader?
34:40 I do this over coffee…
https://kenspeaks.com/
https://www.torquesessions.com/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

Candy Valentino: Why 91% of Businesses Fail Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

In this mastermind episode of Start With a Win, bestselling author and trailblazing entrepreneur Candy Valentino joins Adam Contos in sharing a raw and riveting journey - from humble beginnings in a trailer to building and selling multiple thriving businesses. With hard-earned wisdom and unapologetic honesty, Candy breaks down the myths of modern entrepreneurship, challenges the glamorized “four-hour workweek” mindset, and reveals the truth about discipline, sacrifice, and resilience. If you’re ready to confront the real road to success - and unlock practical insights to elevate your financial future - this episode will shake your perspective and spark your ambition.

Candy Valentino is a highly sought-after expert in business leadership, finance and investing. Candy was born in a trailer on government assistance, but went on to build, scale and exit companies in service, retail, manufacturing and real estate investing. Her 26 years of business and finance experience, coupled with the way she breaks down and teaches complex business and finance topics, has earned her notable speaking engagements, viral video content, national media placement, and international recognition. She is the author of Wealth Habits, an instant Wall Street Journal Bestseller, and The 9% Edge.

00:00 Intro
02:30 This is here for you too…
04:20 We have the ability to be hungry because we are this…
08:50 What should you look for as an entrepreneur?
12:06 Key factor that will make a business fail!
16:35 This habit you weren’t taught is keeping you stuck!
21:02 Make friends with this.
23:40 Shocking statement, need to relisten a few times to this!
26:15 If I can control this…it will set up my day, week and even month.

https://www.candyvalentino.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCigB0JiMAnkyrN5auGcsVVA
https://www.facebook.com/candyvalentinoofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/candyvalentino/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/candyvalentino/
Book: https://9percentedge.com/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

Quick Win – Your First Customer Is Your Team Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

Your most important customer isn’t external — it’s your team.
If your employees don’t feel valued, supported, or seen, it’s only a matter of time before that shows up in your customer experience.

Engaged employees are 21% more productive and 22% more profitable.
Map their journey just like you would for your clients — from onboarding to ongoing development.

How are you designing your employee experience with the same care as your customer experience?

⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership
Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

Anne Marie Anderson: Achieve More & Overcome Failure May 21, 2025

Show notes

In this electrifying episode of Start With a Win, Adam Contos sits down with three-time Emmy Award-winning sports broadcaster, keynote speaker, and author Anne Marie Anderson. With decades of experience covering the world’s biggest sporting events, Anne Marie shares hard-earned wisdom on high performance, resilience, and the bold risks that separate top achievers from the rest. From her nerve-wracking first time on live television to redefining failure as nothing more than data, she unveils the secrets behind audacity—the key to unlocking true success. If you’ve ever wrestled with fear, self-doubt, or the weight of public opinion, this conversation is your roadmap to stepping into your most courageous self. Don’t miss this inspiring deep dive into what it takes to win—on and off the field.

Anne Marie Anderson is a three-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, keynote speaker, and author. Starting her career at ESPN, she gained unparalleled access to the boardrooms and locker rooms of elite sports franchises, observing the bold decision-making of top coaches, athletes, and executives. Applying these lessons to her own life, she became one of the most experienced female play-by-play announcers in the country. In Cultivating Audacity, she shares her system for overcoming hesitation and breaking barriers to create the life you want. A sought-after keynote speaker and emcee, Anne Marie captivates audiences with her powerful storytelling, blending humor and heart.

00:00 Intro
02:40 Why write a book on this topic?
03:45 Difference between that and confidence!
06:40 What can we learn from athletes!
10:20 Four barriers…
14:45 Another barrier…
18:30 Last two barriers…
20:45 Everything can wait this amount of time to do what you want to do!
21:40 Most important part of this book is this!
25:09 Don’t hear no hear this…
28:10 Don’t let the smallest saying change your world!
31:58 The simplest thing…

https://annemarieanderson.com/
https://annemarieanderson.com/book/
https://www.instagram.com/annemarieandersontv/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

Top 10 Motivational Quotes Apr 03, 2019

Show notes

During this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, Adam shares is top 10 quotes, plus Mark’s bonus quote:

“People seem to think that they lack motivation when in fact what they lack is clarity.”
1. Clarity creates action. Take the time to hone in on your goals, seek counsel, come up with an action plan, and then execute.
“Burn your boats, not your bridges.”
1. Find a way to commit to a new thing without ruining your relationships associated with the old thing. Be able to gracefully walk away from an employer so that the door remains open for you to go back in the future.
“The largest decision you will make will be to choose between fear and confidence.”
1. When you are faced with a big decision, you will likely have to choose between the known (confidence) and the unknown (fear). Either choice is good; just don’t turn around and go backwards.
“The most important asset you can own in your business is the attention of your customer. If you don’t own it, someone else does.”
1. So much of your success depends on your ability to build relationships and provide value to your customers.
“The quietly successful laugh behind the backs of the critics.”
1. Critics are noisy, but happy people know how to be quietly successful.
“Do common things uncommonly well.”
1. The brain recognizes perfection and sloppiness. The way your customers are greeted and taken care of, the appearance of your facility, and the gratitude your employees express to customers could be the key differentiators between you and your competitors.
“The level of your success will be in direct proportion to the level of discomfort you are willing to tolerate.”
1. Learning a new skill is uncomfortable, but you will not earn the benefits without putting in the effort.
“At the end of the day, your priorities should reflect the time that you spent during the day.”
1. Intentionally plan your day based on your goals, and then assess how your actual day compared to your plans.
“You really only have three things to choose from in life: give up, give in, or give it everything you’ve got.”
1. Giving up is not an option. Giving in is not productive. So giving it everything you’ve got is really the only choice.
“The noise you almost always hear in life and business is the scream of the urgent drowning out the whisper of the important.”
1. Important things are those that make the biggest difference. Urgent things get in the way and distract you from the important. Don’t try to make everybody happy by responding to their urgent requests; just stay focused on the important.
“If you’re committed to it, you’ll find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.”
1. If you want a refresher on this idea, listen to the two previous episodes about commitment.

Links:

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/

https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos

https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

The Original Disruptor: Interview with RE/MAX Co-Founder Dave Liniger (Part 1 of 3) Jan 25, 2019

Show notes

Our guest on this episode of the Start with a Win podcast is RE/MAX Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Dave Liniger. Dave got his start in real estate by flipping houses to earn some extra money while he was stationed with the military in Arizona. He soon decided to get his real estate license in order to save some money on his house flipping, and he observed the activity of the other agents. When his time with the military was completed, he moved to Denver and applied for real estate jobs. He worked with agencies that used the 50%/50% concept and the 100% concept, and he realized that he liked elements of both setups.

He soon decided to create his own company with the goal of becoming a worldwide real estate agency which would combine the freedom of a 100% agency and the stability of a 50%/50% agency in the best possible way, and in January 1973, his dream was born. Most real estate agents at that time were white-haired men, but Dave was an advocate for recruiting women to be agents, despite the prejudices of the industry. This model worked very well for RE/MAX, and by the end of the 5th year, 80% of the agents were women and RE/MAX was #1 in Colorado in listings, sales, and commissions.

When it came to naming the company, Dave didn’t like the idea of using his own name. The idea of “real estate maximums” came up during a brainstorming session, and the team decided to shorten it to RE/MAX to be more catchy while still keeping the heart of the concept. In those early years, there were many sleepless nights and very few days off, but their hard work paid off and they were able to meet their goals.

Dave’s main challenges of lack of management ability and resistance to the basis of the company from the rest of the industry were overcome by the institution of effective systems and processes. Dave also surrounded himself with the best team he could and made sure that they all focused on being persistent and purposeful.

Links:

Dave Liniger’s Bio: https://www.remax.com/newsroom/company-info/officer-bios/board-of-directors-of-remax-holdings-inc/dave-liniger-chairman-and-co-founder.htm

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/

https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos

https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Why Would Anyone Want To Buy A Franchise? Nov 16, 2018

Show notes

On this episode of the Start with a Win podcast, our guest is Ward Morrison, president of Motto Franchising, a US mortgage brokerage franchise brand. RE/MAX created Motto Mortgage in response to the increased consumer protections regulations established after the financial crash of 2008 requiring the mortgage brokers stop using marketing service agreements (MSAs) with customers. This caused a shake-up in the industry while opening the door to more forward-facing business operations between consumers and loan originators under the new compliance and legal guidelines.

Motto Mortgage surpassed the 100-franchise mark within 23 months of the company’s beginning, confirming that industry professionals see the start-up resources and coaching available to them through the Motto franchise setup as a huge benefit over starting their own small business. It could be referred to as a “mortgage brokerage in a box”, which eliminates blind spots and surprises from the entrepreneurial journey and provides franchisees with a network of colleagues to whom they can reach out.

Ward also spoke about the challenges Motto has encountered along the way, namely recruiting and retaining personal and professional loan originators who can stay up-to-date on changes in the industry and maintain fruitful client relationships. Motto helps set realistic expectations and benchmarks for franchisees to meet that will hopefully allow them to be productive, well-staffed, and engaged with their customers and communities. In fact, Motto is committed to corporate social responsibility, and they are very involved in feeding the hungry in every community that is home to one of their franchises.

Ward’s way of starting with a win is being sure to surround himself with the right team: individuals who are customer-focused and committed to the organization. He always tries to hire people who are smarter than him in complimentary areas of business and have a social and emotional intelligence that makes everyone around them better.

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/adamcontosREMAXCEO/

https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos

https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

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