Start With A Win

Latest Episodes:

Quick Win – Why People Really Quit (And How to Stop It) Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

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

People don’t quit jobs — they quit feeling unseen.
Only 1 in 3 employees say they feel like they belong at work. That’s not a retention issue. It’s a culture issue.

Recognition is your responsibility, not just your HR department’s.
Presence beats policy every time. Make people feel seen — daily.

How do you make sure your team feels seen before they sign off each day?

===========================
Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱
===========================
YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO
Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347
Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT

===========================
Connect with Adam:
===========================
Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/
Facebook ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO
Twitter ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO
Instagram ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

Quick Win - Increase Productivity and Positivity Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

Start your day with gratitude. Write down 3 things you're thankful for. This simple practice sets your brain in the right place. Studies show employees are 78% more effective when they practice gratitude daily. Why? A positive attitude helps you see opportunities, not just challenges. So, practicing gratitude puts you in an opportunistic mindset from the start, leading to better performance.

#GratitudeWorks #PositiveMindset #QuickWin

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

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

How to Create Trust as a Leader | Adam Contos Mar 27, 2024

Show notes

Today on Start With a Win, Adam joins Jason Doran on his podcast. Listen in as Adam shares his journey and insights on The Culture Matters, diving deep into the crucial elements of leadership, trust-building, and content creation. Experience firsthand the passion and expertise of Adam as he discusses the importance of presence in leadership and the impact of consistent content creation on building trust and relationships. Discover the power of relationships and how they can transform your connection with your audience, whether you are a seasoned leader, starting to lead a team or a business, or content creator. With Adam's practical advice and inspiring anecdotes from his own experiences, this podcast episode offers a personal and relatable perspective on starting with a win in every aspect of life and business.

00:00 Intro
02:05 Lessons of 2020, what did we lose?
06:29 Available vs Accessible?
08:02 Here is how to do it….
11:08 This builds your cultural!
12:25 In office or remote?
16:22 Should I start a podcast?
22:01 Here are the best tips...

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-culture-matters-podcast/id1489191695

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

#adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory

No Excuses - How to stop making excuses and TAKE YOUR LIFE BACK! Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

Do you make excuses? Excuses are what kill dreams! They prevent us from doing the things we know we need to do but somehow rationalize a way around not doing.

On this episode, Adam discusses the top excuse people use and how to avoid that. He talks about the emotions behind making excuses as well as about the most common excuses and three things leaders should never say.

Also, how do you know someone is going to make an excuse as well as how to overcome excuses.

Once you eliminate excuses, this is what you gain...

Main Topics

01:38 #1 Excuse

01:51 People operate off of these two emotions

05:20 Most common excuses

06:44 Three things leaders should never say

09:25 How you know a person is going to make an excuse

11:15 Overcome excuses

13:54 Can others help you

15:25 Eliminate excuses and this is what you gain

No excuses, business coaching, unlock freedom, I don't have time, I didn't know, no one told me, it wasn't my fault
How to grow your business, how to live a productive life

Connect with Adam

http://www.startwithawin.com

https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEO

https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamcontos/

https://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipFactory

http://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Franchise Marketing with Madeleine Zook May 31, 2023

Show notes

Marketing is incredibly important in business and franchising. Madeleine Zook dives deep in to how franchises market, key points on customer experience, and other fun franchise conversations on this episode of Start With a Win. Madeleine Zook is a multi-unit, multi-brand franchisee, former franchisor, and current marketing supplier. She's the host of the award-winning franchise podcast, The Art of Franchise Marketing, and has landed coverage in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Fortune, and INC. She is also the founder of a 501(c)3 nonprofit called Together She Can, which strives to help homeless communities with hygiene care.
Main Topics

02:36 Give Back to your Community/Charities
05:38 Biggest Challenge in Home Service Franchisees
07:32 Three components of business
08:24 What do people want, a paycheck, NO!
13:00 Number #1 thing people want
15:00 Is good enough, ok?
17:39 Need a wow factor, an unexpected gift, a gesture!
19:44 The BIG AH HA moment
21:00 Lead generation success today
23:50 How many times does a customer need to see your ad before they say YES?
Connect with Madeleine Zook:

www.togethershecan.org
www.linkedin.com/in/mpark141/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-franchise-marketing/id1651430743
www.netsertive.com
Connect with Adam:
http://www.startwithawin.com
https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEO
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamcontos/
https://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/
https://www.youtube.com/@LeadershipFactory
http://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO
Listen, rate, and subscribe!

Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Podcasts

5 Trends Business Leaders Need to Follow in 2023 Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

This might surprise you, but the priorities of successful leaders in 2023 aren’t simply increasing revenue and productivity. While these are certainly important goals for any business owner, this year leaders are focusing on building relationships and practicing clear communication. Here are the top trends for feeding the momentum of growth and expansion in the new year.

Be Present: In order to retain loyal employees, bosses need to be actively involved in the day-to-day environment. When people feel seen and heard, they are more likely to stay with a company and work with higher levels of productivity. (02:40)
Use Video: To enhance virtual correspondence and build a more authentic online presence, utilize visual forms of communication rather than simply using text. (04:55)
Create Valuable Content: Offer something of value to those you influence and lead. This builds branding and creates a relationship of reciprocity. When you provide what someone needs, they are more likely to do business with you. (09:55)
Use Extreme Clarity: Embrace the power of the word “because.” When leaders take the time to explain their reasoning, employees are more likely to acquiesce to requests or expectations. (12:43)
Communicate Regularly: Create a routine of checking in with clients and employees on a consistent basis to invest in relationships and address any issues. (16:00)

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEO

https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO

https://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Fuel Yourself With Joy with Amanda Gore part 2 Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

In part 2 with dynamic speaker and business leadership coach Amanda Gore, she offers heart-centered advice for building impactful relationships in business. In a climate where half the workforce is considering moving to a new job, leaders of organizations seek to make meaningful changes to keep team members on board. Amanda takes the approach of doing her inner work first. She is able to create a culture that values each individual for their unique gifts by first uncovering her authentic self. Once she is able to show up as the most genuine version of herself, she can empower those working with her by acknowledging their gifts and placing them in roles that set them up for success. By connecting human to human, heart to heart, leaders invest in the wellness of their employees and thus receive massive margins of return.

Main Topics

Keep employees happy by creating a human-to-human environment (03:00)
What leaders can do to be present and create a culture that nurtures joy (06:20)
The value of feelings and authenticity in business (10:28)
We are not our stories (13:00)
Cultivating presence in every moment by slowing down (14:05)
Effects of intentional leadership flow from the top down (17:20)

Episode Links

https://amandagore.com

Connect with Amanda:

https://www.facebook.com/thejoyproject.amandagore/

https://twitter.com/amandagore_joy

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandalgore/

https://www.youtube.com/user/amandagoretv

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AdamContosCEO

https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO

https://www.instagram.com/adamcontosceo/

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google Podcasts

Leadership is a Relay Race Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

After nearly 20 years with RE/MAX, and four years as the CEO, Adam Contos is turning the page on a successful chapter of his life. In this very special episode of Start With A Win, Adam is joined by Producer Mark and another very special guest, Kelly Contos—his wife!

The three talk about Adam’s time with RE/MAX and the lessons he’s learned and the company’s achievements over the years.

One of the things Adam has taken from his time around the RE/MAX agent family is that hunger causes success. You can achieve anything you want to achieve if you put forth the effort on a daily basis. The agents who are growing their businesses are doing it because they’re intentional—which is true no matter what business you’re in! To continue to grow, you have to continue to take risks. And that means doing the habits every day to see the long-term success.

Mark asks Adam the question that everyone seems to be asking: Why leave now? After a record-breaking 2021 for RE/MAX Holdings, LLC, most people would never expect the CEO of the company to choose to leave. But another thing Adam has learned over the years is that life and leadership is a relay race. In a relay race, the runner with the baton doesn’t pass the baton as they’re slowing down, they speed up to pass it on to their teammate! Adam’s job as the CEO is to create a succession plan that is beneficial to everyone within and around the organization. Running his fastest—at the top of his game—he’s is ready to hand off the baton to the next season of leadership.

What’s next for Adam? He’s ready to take his leadership experience and knowledge to develop the next generation of leaders through coaching and consulting. He has a passion for helping other people and helping them find success.

But no need to fear! Your favorite podcast, Start With A Win, will live on! We will continue to bring you encouraging, motivational, winning content from Adam and other ground-breaking thought leaders.

Order your copy of Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success:

https://www.startwithawin.com/book

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContos

https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos

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

Leave us a voicemail:

888-581-4430

How Facebook Uses Community to Navigate Crisis with Nada Stirratt May 13, 2020

Show notes

We are honored to welcome to this episode of the Start with a Win podcast Nada Stirratt, VP Global Business Group for North America at Facebook. Nada has had a prolific and storied career in the technology and marketing industries, and her efforts continue as she leads her team at Facebook to accomplish the mission of building communities and bringing people closer together. Their unwavering commitment to that mission has led them to innovations that have changed the way people connect, which is especially important during times like the current pandemic.

Facebook has specifically outlined its four key objectives for helping people navigate this crisis:

Build community
Provide accurate information
Use data for good
Help businesses and the economy recover

Integral to these efforts is an understanding of the needs, wants, and behaviors of Facebook’s users, which trickles down to the advertisers that Facebooks works with to best serve those populations. This knowledge also informs the marketing efforts of individual businesses and organizations, who are increasingly using video to connect with their consumers. Nada recommends that all businesses look into free resources and course content if they have not yet engaged with their customers through video. In this challenging business environment, many businesses are quickly adjusting their operations and marketing efforts to “meet people where they are,” while others are unsure of how to move forward. Nada emphasizes the importance of being resourceful and in touch with the communities your business serves to know how best to continue to work with them.

Connect with Nada:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadastirratt

https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/FB/company-people/executive-profile/81869227

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContos

https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos

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

Leave us a voicemail:

888-581-4430

Serving Diverse Communities with Lisa Nguyen May 06, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of Start With A Win, Adam is joined by Lisa Nguyen, RE/MAX Professionals agent, current Greater Denver Chapter President of AREAA, and regionally-acclaimed business leader. The daughter of Vietnamese refugees, Lisa was taught early on the value of hard work and determination in setting and reaching goals. She first got her real estate license in 2005, and after weathering the recession in the industry, she spent 5 years in the corporate world before returning to real estate in 2016 and she has never looked back.

Lisa has committed her career to reaching out to Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders who want to understand the real estate industry and own homes of their own. Through her involvement with Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) and her participation in a metro-area real estate task force focusing on serving minority populations well, Lisa has had the opportunity to educate and guide agents and organizations in fair housing practices. Many people are unaware that they are violating fair housing regulations regarding protected classes, but by providing these resources Lisa and her colleagues are working together for the greater good among this rapidly growing minority population.

Her humble demeanor is a direct result of her daily mindset of gratitude and her commitment to continually learning from those around her and through reading topical books that keep her focus sharp and her motivation on point.

Links:

“Think and Grow Rich” book: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Landmark-Bestseller/dp/1585424331

Connect with Lisa:

https://www.remax.com/real-estate-agents/lisa-nguyen-lakewood-co/100698453

https://areaa.org/greaterdenver/leadership-board/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-nguyen-remax/

https://www.facebook.com/lisanguyenremax

Connect with Adam:

https://www.startwithawin.com/

https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContos

https://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos

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