Start With A Win

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How to Lead with Vision with Mick Hunt Apr 02, 2025

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

In this compelling episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos is joined by leadership coach and keynote speaker Mick Hunt, who shares a deeply personal journey of transformation that started with a childhood promise. If you've ever felt stuck—whether in your career, finances, or personal life—this conversation is packed with insights to help you break through. Mick challenges conventional wisdom by advocating for a "because" statement over traditional mission and vision statements, offering a bold perspective on purpose-driven leadership. With engaging stories, thought-provoking questions, and actionable strategies, this episode will inspire you to embrace discipline, redefine success, and take charge of your leadership journey. Tune in now—you won’t want to miss this!

Mick Hunt is a transformative leader and the force behind Mick Unplugged, a movement that goes beyond motivation to drive real change. His top-ranked Mick Unplugged podcast, consistently in Apple’s top 10 for Self-Improvement, features thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and high achievers exploring ambition, resilience, and character. Mick’s signature Mick Factor—Mastery, Imagination, Character, and perseverance—guides his work in keynote speaking, executive coaching, and custom training programs. His actionable insights make him a sought-after mentor for business leaders, athletes, and anyone striving to unlock their full potential.

Why Mick?
Because he embodies transformation. He’ll inspire change, foster growth, and guide you to personal and professional fulfillment. In a world hungry for authentic leadership, he’s a beacon, empowering you to transcend limits, unlock your true potential and discover your true "because.”
00:00 Intro
01:50 Is success an athlete, entertainer, doctor or lawyer?
04:10 Leadership is not that!
06:18 Growth is boring, but this is overwhelming!
08:28 Mick’s concept…
11:40 Leaders should look at this to grow… it’s not judgement.
14:13 Bad Leaders do this…
18:02 We have this gap, not just a leadership gap.
23:40 Not in the morning, I start at this time!

https://mickunplugged.com/

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The Secret to Building High-Performing Teams / Mike Robbins Mar 05, 2025

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In this episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos sits down with leadership expert and former pro baseball player Mike Robbins to explore the essence of high-performing teams. From the boardroom to the playing field, they discuss the power of culture, chemistry, and commitment in building winning organizations. With insights from Mike’s experience working with top companies like Google and Microsoft, this conversation unpacks what it truly means to be a team, how great leaders foster trust and accountability, and why positive competition elevates everyone. Don't miss this deep dive into leadership, mindset, and teamwork!

Mike Robbins is a renowned keynote speaker, author, and leadership expert known for captivating audiences with his insights on team performance and company culture. His five books, including his latest, We’re All In This Together, have made him a leading voice in the field, while his dynamic approach to public speaking has earned him accolades from some of the biggest organizations in the world.

A former star baseball player, Mike transitioned from the sports field to the corporate world after an injury ended his career. He quickly rose through the ranks in sales and business development, eventually founding his own consulting firm in 2001. Since then, he has delivered keynote speeches and seminars to Google, Microsoft, Airbnb, and Harvard University, among others, showcasing his ability to resonate with everyone from corporate executives to college students. Mike blends relatable stories with actionable advice, making complex concepts accessible and inspiring for diverse audiences. His work has been featured on NPR, ABC News, Fast Company, and The New York Times, and he is a regular contributor to Forbes.

His passion for helping people and teams thrive, combined with his energetic style and sense of humor, ensures a lively and inspiring discussion.

00:00 Intro
01:50 What does it take to call ourselves this…
03:45 If you have this then you have a chance to have this!
06:45 How to maintain cultural integrity?
09:45 Can imposter syndrome be positive?
12:20 This can really mess with you however it really is exciting…
16:28 There is a billion people that don’t care!
18:18 Difference between appreciation and recognition.
21:09 A coach/leader needs to ask this…
25:19 A series of things…

https://mike-robbins.com/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

STOP Letting Imposter Syndrome Hold You Back / Jenna Capozzi Feb 05, 2025

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Overwhelmed? Listen To This / Jan Rutherford Jan 15, 2025

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In this episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos dives into the depths of leadership with Jan Rutherford, a former Green Beret turned executive coach and entrepreneur. Together, they explore the profound parallels between leading in the wilderness and leading in the boardroom, uncovering the traits that define exceptional leaders. With vivid stories from battlefields and boardrooms alike, Jan shares insights on resilience, decision-making under pressure, and the delicate balance between self-reliance and team accountability. If you've ever faced overwhelm or wondered how to lead with clarity and purpose in the face of adversity, this episode is a must-listen. Don't miss the chance to discover the secrets to building unshakable teams and unlocking your full leadership potential.

Jan Rutherford is an executive coach, keynote speaker and a former Green Beret. He is the founder of Self-Reliant Leadership® where he leads Crucible® wilderness expeditions with executives and veterans. He’s the co-host of The Leadership Podcast, has online courses on LinkedIn, Skillsoft, and Udemy, and is the author of “The Littlest Green Beret: On Self-Reliant Leadership.” His next book, “Becoming a Self-Reliant Leader: How Grit and Disciplined Duty Forge Indomitable Teams,” will be out in the Summer of 2024.

00:00 Intro
01:27 Does a leader have the highest rank?
03:16 Factors that always come up
04:40 What is the biggest problem out there today?
09:02 Where is the duty of accountability?
12:57 This didn’t matter, all that matter is this!
18:02 Take the leadership opportunity and help people understand this!
20:01 What is performance?
23:24 Four levers of how employees produce results!
28:05 A long this and the amazing this can be the best start of the day!

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

BECOME a Confident Leader with These Proven Strategies / Kelli Thompson Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos dives into the journey of building confidence, navigating systemic challenges, and redefining leadership from a personal and professional perspective with guest Kelli Thompson. Kelli an award-winning executive coach and author of Closing the Confidence Gap, explores the tools and mindset shifts necessary for women—and everyone else—to lead with clarity and self-assurance. Kelli shares her inspiring story of resilience and transformation, from corporate America to entrepreneurship, and how her groundbreaking programs empower leaders to thrive in challenging environments. Tune in for an insightful discussion about finding purpose, advocating for yourself, and creating impactful change in leadership spaces.

Kelli Thompson is an executive coach and speaker who is on a mission to advance women to the rooms where decisions are made. She has coached and trained thousands of women to trust themselves, lead with more confidence, and create a career they love. She is the founder of the Clarity & Confidence Women's Leadership Program, and a Stevie Award winner for Women in Business—Coach of the Year. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book, Closing The Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck.
Kelli holds an MBA, has served as an adjunct management professor, and has more than ten years of senior leadership experience in financial services and technology organizations. Her thought leadership has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, MarketWatch, Quartz @ Work, HuffPost, and FastCompany. Kelli is from Omaha, Nebraska, and her favorite roles are wife to Jason and mom to Hailey.

00:00 Intro
01:35 An aha moment, really think about what you want to be when you grow up!
05:20 The moment when it hit, anyone can overcome
08:20 The program every (woman) leadership person needs
11:16 The three Ps
12:54 If you don’t know what you this, then you don’t know what you will this!
16:01 What are the blockers?
20:17 To be a good leader you need to do this first!
22:59 In order to develop your team you need to do this…
27:13 Always move this…

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

The Shocking Truth About Building Business Systems Most Entrepreneurs Don't Know Nov 20, 2024

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In this captivating episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos welcomes franchise innovator Sam Ballas, founder and CEO of East Coast Wings & Grill. Sam shares his fascinating journey from Wall Street executive to thriving restaurateur and franchising expert, recounting how a single restaurant venture sparked a transformative career. Together, they delve into building enduring business systems, scaling horizontally and vertically, and what it truly takes to create and sustain a successful brand in the competitive restaurant and franchise industry. Alongside insightful personal stories and leadership lessons, listeners get an inside look at the strategies that set Sam apart in franchise innovation. Don't miss this deep dive into how vision, resilience, and the right systems can lead to sustained success.

Sam Ballas is the founder and CEO of East Coast Wings + Grill (ECW+G), founder of ZorAbility, Inc., and co-founder of Sammy’s Sliders. With over 40 years of experience in the restaurant industry and 30+ years in financial markets and real estate development, Sam has pioneered innovative franchise strategies centered on Unit Level Economics (ULE). His leadership has earned ECW+G accolades such as Franchise Business Review’s Top 50 Restaurant Franchises and Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 500 Franchise Systems. Sam serves on the International Franchise Association's Board of Directors and holds certifications as a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) and Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM).

00:00 Intro
01:20 Came from Wall Street to Franchising…
06:05 Horizontal scale?
07:20 Can you franchise that?
11:05 What does the after look like?
12:15 If you think this, it is a huge mistake!
14:20 You have to have these pillars…
17:23 Biggest advice!
19:46 Founders Syndrome…
24:55 You have to take this and look through it in a different lens…
27:40 Key piece of advice…

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

The Fundamentals of Leadership Development with a Public Company CEO Oct 16, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos is on The Inspiring Leadership podcast with Scott Comey. Scott interviews Adam about the leadership lessons he learned from his military and SWAT days, all the way through being CEO of RE/MAX Holdings and other ventures. Adam shares the importance of Emotional Intelligence and offers the 3 A's of Awareness. He also offers his best tips on the importance of personal development and how your people rely on YOU learning and growing. This is a leadership masterclass that cannot be missed!

The Best Leaders Are VULNERABLE And Here's Why Oct 02, 2024

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Listen up leaders, this is an episode, well two you do not want to miss. In this Part 1 episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos, welcomes Blair LaCorte. A seasoned leader with experience across industries from aviation to AI, he shares insights on leadership, innovation, and the value of humility in driving success. Blair talks about his diverse experiences, from leading startups to IPOs, and how his childhood shaped his ability to manage change. He explains that listening to others and showing vulnerability builds trust. Blair also discusses navigating leadership transitions, overcoming initial skepticism, and fostering a collaborative culture. Throughout, he advocates for a balance of humility, learning, and confident decision-making in both growth and restructuring environments, stressing the need to treat people with respect, even when making difficult decisions like firing. His stories of learning from others, building teams, and handling challenges offer a deeply personal perspective on effective leadership.

Blair LaCorte is a dynamic business executive whose career spans the entertainment, aviation, AI, technology, aerospace, and supply chain sectors. Renowned for his insatiable curiosity, collaborative spirit, and competitive drive, Blair has successfully steered companies like Lumos Technologies, XOJET, and Vertical Networks from startup phases to IPOs.

Blair's exceptional talent for engaging and motivating teams to achieve strategic and operational excellence sets him apart. His knack for transferring best practices across diverse industries has driven remarkable growth and substantial investor returns. Beyond his executive roles, Blair's dedication to mentorship and team building shines through his support for over a hundred companies and nonprofits as an investor and adviser.

A Dartmouth Tuck School MBA, recipient of the prestigious Leibowitz Award, and a participant in Stanford's executive coursework, Blair's academic credentials bolster his impressive career. His journey is a powerful testament to the impact of innovative thinking and transformational leadership in achieving extraordinary business success.

⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

The Most Important Part of Being an Entrepreneur - Sarah Williams Sep 25, 2024

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In this episode of Start With a Win, host, Adam Contos sits down with Sarah Williams, a leading entrepreneur in the subscription box industry, to unpack key leadership insights on business growth and innovation. Sarah shares her transformative journey from corporate layoffs to creating a thriving multi-million-dollar enterprise through personalized subscription boxes. With an emphasis on courage, adaptability, and customer-centric leadership, Sarah reveals how she scaled her business, built a loyal audience, and overcame challenges in logistics, marketing, and e-commerce. Aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders will gain valuable lessons in resilience, leadership through service, and how to turn passion into a profitable, sustainable business.

Welcome to the world of Sarah Williams, widely recognized as The Subscription Box Queen, where entrepreneurship meets innovation, and success is cultivated one box at a time. Sarah is a dynamic force in the subscription box industry, guiding aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business owners alike through the intricacies of launching and growing thriving subscription box businesses. Her book, "One Box at a Time," published by Hay House, distills her proven strategies. Sarah's expertise shines through her commitment to teaching, coaching, and actively managing her own successful subscription box business on a daily basis. Unlike many in her industry, she is not just a teacher — she is a practitioner, facing and overcoming the challenges that her students encounter. Join her community at LaunchYourBox.com to unlock the secrets of sustainable, profitable ventures.

00:00 Intro
02:12 Do you have control of your future?
05:10 Treat your on-line customers like this…
06:50 Do you need many followers?
10:42 Answers to how…
15:30 What does walk into every door that is open to you, mean?
16:35 Community, Community, Community!
18:41 How do you pick a niche?
20:41 Get started by doing it, how!
22:58 Coffee is a must and then…

https://www.framedbysarah.com/product/monogram-box-product/

https://www.launchyourboxwithsarah.com/

https://www.launchyourboxwithsarah.com/one-box-at-a-time

⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

How Happiness Transforms Leadership and Growth Sep 04, 2024

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Host, Adam Contos is joined by Dr. Elia Gourgouris, known as America’s Happiness Doctor in this compelling episode of Start With a Win! Their discussion dives deep into the transformative power of happiness in leadership. Dr. Elia shares insights from his journey as a clinical psychologist and executive coach, revealing how happiness can be both this and that (listen to the episode to find out). Discover how embracing happiness not only boosts personal well-being but also drives team success and organizational growth. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to unlock the full potential of their leadership and personal life through the lens of happiness.

Dr. Elia Gourgouris, Ph.D. in psychology, is an America's Happiness Doctor and the author of the #1 Amazon best-selling books '7 Paths to Lasting Happiness' and '7 Keys to Navigating a Crisis: A Practical Guide to Emotionally Dealing with Pandemics & Other Disasters'. He is the President of The Happiness Center and a Founding Partner at The Global Institute of Thought Leadership. His motto “Happiness is a choice!” has led him to become a leading authority in Happiness and Corporate Wellness and a highly in-demand Speaker at conferences and Universities worldwide. Over the last 25 years, he has helped thousands of people achieve happiness and fulfillment, both in their professional and personal relationships through his coaching and keynotes.

https://www.dreliagourgouris.com/

⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

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