• Home
  • Episodes
  • Books for Leaders
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • Our Sponsors
  • Blog
  • Our Newsletter
The Leadership Podcast

The Leadership Podcast

We Study Leaders

April 10, 2019

TLP145: Strategy is Overrated

http://traffic.libsyn.com/theleadershippodcast/TLP_145.mp3
Play in New Window Download
Alan Weiss

Alan Weiss is a consultant, speaker, and author who has published over 60 books and 500 articles. Marshall Goldsmith calls him “the finest entrepreneurial coach in the world.” He discusses how “attracters” attract success, why trying means failing, why marketing trumps strategy, and which of his Hot Tips are most popular..

Key Takeaways

[2:50] Alan helps “attractors” attract even more success both personally and professionally.

[4:03] While Alan used to think the secret sauce to his work as marketing, he now finds that it’s providing others with validation and verification.

[5:23] Much like the S-Curve model, it is times that we grow and leap to the next level where the real shift occurs.

[6:43] If you aren’t failing, you aren’t trying. Alan sees leaders protect their ego and in turn, lose out on true vulnerability and learning from the experience of failing publicly.

[10:22] A solo practitioner doesn’t need a strategy, they need a marketing plan.

[11:29] The Michelangelo Factor means we have to carve away everything that doesn’t look like our personal work of art. Focus on what you are passionate about and what you are great at.

[14:02] Great leaders see coaching as a sign of improvement, and they pick a coach that has already been in the trenches.

[16:02] Alan feels a large part of his success due to his ability to pump value in his community and help others reach their highest potential.

[19:08] Of all word of mouth influence, only 4% is on the internet. This shows us that in a world of hi-tech, we greatly still need hi-touch.

[21:14] In a blended life, there is no guilt or shame in working while you relax/vacation, and relaxing/vacationing while you work.

[22:54] Great leaders realize that there will be external things that happen to us that are out of our internal control, but it is how we deal with them that is so important.

[23:55] Ask yourself: what do you do for others, what is the result, and what is it worth?

[27:01] Leaders can have different personalities, but flexibility and ability to match the current environment sets the top ones apart.

[28:52] Lead from the front, and be sincere.

[31:15] It’s important to keep your client relationships strictly business.

[33:02] Your legacy is built every day, and you create your legacy while you are still living. To Alan, his legacy is his community.  

How to Contact Alan:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Quotes

  • “People don’t trust their own judgement”
  • “You can only coast in life going downhill.”
  • “Keep energy suckers away from you.”
  • “Who do you want to be, and how do you convince people that’s who you are?”
  • “You want a friend? Get a dog.”

Additional Episode References:

  • Jordan Peterson
Alan Weiss

These are the books mentioned in Alan’s podcast.

Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces that Shape Behavior

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces that Shape Behavior
Buy now!
Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces that Shape Behavior

The Celestine Prophecy: An Adventure

Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
The Celestine Prophecy: An Adventure
Buy now!
The Celestine Prophecy: An Adventure

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: business, coaching, consulting, leadership, strategy, success

TLP144: Don’t Wait
TLP146: Seeing Greatness Amidst Despair

Related Posts

  • TLP029: DECIDE: Applying the Right Efforts for the Right Priorities
  • TLP112: The ‘V’ Word – Vulnerability
  • TLP283: How to Be Sure You are Prepared for 2030
  • Long overdue article on Assumptions
  • TLP162: Radical Inclusion (give up some control already)
iTunes
Spotify
Audible
SoundCloud
iHeartRADIO

Instagram Feed

westudyleaders

#leadership #leadershiptraining #leader #westudyleaders

There's a difference between trying to win an argu There's a difference between trying to win an argument and trying to solve a problem.Debate can turn a conversation into a contest, where changing your mind feels like losing. Discussion asks something different of us: listen carefully, challenge assumptions, and stay open to the possibility that someone else sees something we don't.For leaders, this distinction matters. Teams need room to disagree without turning every difference of opinion into a battle.The question isn't, Who is right? What is the best solution we can find together?#Leadership #Communication #Collaboration #TheLeadershipPodcast
One question. Ask it every day. Tom Rath says the One question. Ask it every day.Tom Rath says the best leaders track one thing: what conversation did I start today that helped someone grow?It sounds small but it builds a career of impact.And Tom's reminder hits hard. You don't always get tomorrow.Listen to the full episode with Tom Rath now. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-523?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#tomrath #leadershippodcast #leadershipmindset #dailyhabits #peopledevelopment #executivecoaching #purposeatwork #leadershipdevelopment
Most companies reward CEOs for riding good markets Most companies reward CEOs for riding good markets and punish them for bad timing. Patrick Ryan says that's backwards. If the boom isn't your doing, the credit isn't yours. If the crash isn't your fault, the blame isn't either. Judge leaders on what they actually controlled. On the value they built. Not on the luck they rode. That changes how you hire, promote, and evaluate performance.Hear the full conversation. https://bit.ly/TLP-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #ethics #performance #accountability #executiveleadership #moralcapitalism #leadershippodcast #businessethics
What if the beliefs you hold about yourself are sh What if the beliefs you hold about yourself are shaping what happens next?In our conversation with @shawnachor, we explored how beliefs influence behavior, happiness, success, and the way we experience difficult situations. That your behavior matters and can be the difference between moving forward, giving up, or stagnating.We also talk about FOMO, social connection, burnout, stress, and why success doesn't necessarily create happiness.This is a thoughtful conversation about something we rarely stop to examine - what we believe, and what those beliefs make possible.Listen to the latest episode of The Leadership Podcast.#Leadership #Leadershipdevelopment #PositivePsychology #LeadershipMindset #HappinessAndSuccess #LeadershipPodcast #ShawnAchor #TeamCulture #Mindset #WorkplaceLeadership
Steve Jobs is often remembered for his vision. Bu Steve Jobs is often remembered for his vision.But vision was not enough.After being pushed out of Apple, Jobs had to learn something he had not fully understood before: building a great product and building a successful business are two different things.He had to learn to listen to people who disagreed with him. To understand the market. To trust people with responsibilities outside his own expertise. And to recognize when persistence was becoming stubbornness.That period of failure and uncertainty may have been just as important to his leadership as the successes that came later.In this episode of The Leadership Podcast, Geoffrey Cain joins us to explore what Steve Jobs learned during those wilderness years, and why the lessons extend well beyond one famous leader.Sometimes the wall in front of us isn't failure. It's information about what needs to change.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #SteveJobs #LeadershipLessons #VisionaryLeadership #LeadershipMindset #BusinessLeadership #Adversity #DecisionMaking #TheLeadershipPodcast
Patrick Ryan reframes the entire capitalism conver Patrick Ryan reframes the entire capitalism conversation in one sentence. Most leaders see ethics as a constraint. A tax on profit. But that's the opposite of how markets actually work. Without moral foundation, there's no trust. No enforceable contracts. No real market. Just extraction dressed up as business. This changes how you think about your next decision.Listen to Episode 519. https://bit.ly/TLP-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#capitalism #ethics #leadership #adamsmith #businessethics #moralcapitalism #leadershippodcast #virtuouscapitalism
Great leadership doesn't require charisma. David Great leadership doesn't require charisma.David Robson points to two qualities that matter when influencing other people: warmth and competence.Can people trust you? Do they believe you know what you're talking about?That combination matters more than being naturally charismatic, entertaining, or a great orator.And unlike charisma, these are qualities leaders can deliberately develop.#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #influence #executiveleadership #trust #communication #leadershippsychology #davidrobson #leadershippodcast
Patrick Ryan names the practice most leaders never Patrick Ryan names the practice most leaders never do. Before you decide. Before you send that email. Before you justify it to yourself. Take a step back. Ask: What would a knowledgeable, impartial observer think of this? That's the impartial spectator. It's not philosophy. It's a daily tool. One question. Applied consistently. It changes everything.Watch the full episode. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #ethics #decisionmaking #adamsmith #leadershippodcast #corporateethics #executiveleadership #virtuouscapitalism
A leader's mindset doesn't always stay with the le A leader's mindset doesn't always stay with the leader.David Robson explains how negative expectations can spread through an organization. When leaders signal that they don't have much faith in someone's capability, that person can begin to internalize the message. Anxiety rises. Confidence falls. And the mental space that should be used for creativity and problem-solving gets consumed by doubt.Sometimes leadership isn't about what you say to someone.It's about what your behavior tells them you believe they are capable of.#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #leadershippsychology #teamculture #employeeengagement #selfefficacy #davidrobson #leadershippodcast
Most leaders spend years perfecting self-awareness Most leaders spend years perfecting self-awareness and almost no time on other-awareness.Tom Rath, #1 New York Times bestselling author of StrengthsFinder 2.0 and How Full Is Your Bucket, joins the show to talk about his newest book, What's the Point?In this episode, Tom breaks down why purpose isn't a big moment you find once, it's a question you ask five times a day.Listen now to rethink how you spend your next hour. https://bit.ly/TLP-523?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-523?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #purposedriven #strengthsfinder #tomrath #leadershipdevelopment #workplaceculture #findingpurpose #leadershipmindset #executivecoaching #meaningfulwork
A good leader needs conviction. But conviction can A good leader needs conviction. But conviction can become a liability when it makes you stop listening.Ron Johnson learned this in very different ways at Apple and J.C. Penney.At Apple, he and Steve Jobs were willing to hit rewind after six months of work on the first Apple Store because they realized the concept was wrong. At J.C. Penney, Ron moved too quickly, relied too heavily on his own conviction, and later recognized that he needed to slow down, get more input, and bring people along.We also talk about kindness, and why Ron sees it not as softness, but as a way of creating the conditions for people to do their best work.That combination of conviction, humility, and kindness makes for an interesting way Ron approaches leadership.Link to the full episode in the comments.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipLessons #VisionaryLeadership #TheLeadershipPodcast
Titles and achievements can create distance betwee Titles and achievements can create distance between people, even when they have much in common.Through You Are What's Next, Bouchra Danwra creates opportunities for young graduates and experienced leaders to connect through personal stories and honest conversations. By stepping away from their professional identities and sharing experiences from earlier in life, leaders become more relatable, and younger people can see the human being behind the position.Sometimes, building a bridge between generations begins with a simple conversation.#TheLeadershipPodcast #LeadershipCommunication #HumanConnection #AuthenticLeadership #IntergenerationalLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment
What happens when a leader stops trying to convinc What happens when a leader stops trying to convince people and starts listening to them?George Couros, author of The Innovator's Mindset and Forward, Together, joins The Leadership Podcast to discuss what it takes to bring people along through change.The conversation explores the value of listening to skeptics, making room for disagreement, and building enough trust for people to challenge ideas. When people have a hand in shaping a solution, they have a reason to take ownership of it.Leadership isn't just about getting people to follow your vision. It's also about creating the conditions for them to shape it.🎧 Listen to the conversation with George Couros. Link in the first comment.#TheLeadershipPodcast #Leadership #GeorgeCouros #LeadershipDevelopment
Digital content can give us information, but perso Digital content can give us information, but personal stories offer something more. They let us hear the emotion behind an experience, understand the circumstances that shaped someone, and connect with lessons that might otherwise be lost.Bouchra Danwra believes younger generations need opportunities to hear older generations share their experiences and wisdom directly. That kind of learning requires more than information. It requires people willing to listen, stories worth sharing, and time spent together.#TheLeadershipPodcast #IntergenerationalLearning #GenerationalWisdom #LeadershipLessons #Storytelling #Mentorship #HumanConnection
Leadership can make competition look different. G Leadership can make competition look different.George Couros reflects on a lesson he learned early in leadership: being better than everyone else may feel good, but it is not the measure of success.The better measure is whether the people around you become more capable because of your leadership.The goal is not to be the strongest person in the room. It is to help others grow stronger.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamLeadership #TheLeadershipPodcast
Here's a framework worth borrowing from David Crai Here's a framework worth borrowing from David Craig, former CEO of Refinitiv.Meeting overload isn't the actual problem. It's a symptom of unclear ownership.When it isn't obvious who owns a decision or a budget, people default to scheduling a meeting to sort it out. David solved this at Refinitiv by documenting exactly who owns what, a reference guide his team nicknamed the Blue Book.He also questioned a habit most companies never examine: why every meeting defaults to 60 minutes. His team ran 25-minute meetings instead, built around what the meeting actually needed.Two practical ideas any leader can apply this week.Full conversation is live now https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-525?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #davidcraig #meetingculture #businessefficiency #leadershippodcast #organizationalculture #executiveleadership #productivitytips
Give first to gain everything sounds noble. Donnie Give first to gain everything sounds noble. Donnie Boivin says it's a trap. One-sided giving just trains people to take advantage of you. His fix: give, give, get, give — mutual respect over martyrdom. It changes how you should be showing up in every relationship you're building. Catch the full breakdown on this week's episode. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-521?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#networking #leadershipmindset #businessstrategy #relationshipbuilding #salesleadership #entrepreneurmindset #leadershippodcast #businessgrowth
She was running a $1B P&L. She was also miserable. She was running a $1B P&L. She was also miserable.Kim Svoboda is founder of Aspiration Catalyst, author of Bold Leadership, 20+ years leading sales orgs before walking away from it all.This week: what happens when you finally measure your life against your own values, and it doesn't add up.Listen to the full episode now. https://bit.ly/TLP-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #boldleadership #executiveburnout #leadershipdevelopment #highperformingteams #employeeengagement #intentionalleadership #careertransition
Leaders often absorb the blame when things stall. Leaders often absorb the blame when things stall.David Craig learned the hard way that grinding harder inside a broken system doesn't fix anything. Sometimes the people are working exactly as hard as they should, and the structure around them is what's failing.That single reframe is what led him to walk away and rebuild Refinitiv from the outside in.New episode with David Craig is live now. https://bit.ly/TLP-525?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #davidcraig #organizationalculture #leadershippodcast #executiveleadership #businesstransformation #systemsthinking #leadershipmindset
Strong conviction can help a leader make bold deci Strong conviction can help a leader make bold decisions. But conviction can also make it harder to recognize when an idea needs to change.Ron Johnson reflects on his experience at J.C. Penney and acknowledges that he held too tightly to his original vision.Leadership isn't about being right every time. It also requires the humility to recognize when you were wrong and learn from it.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipLessons #LeadershipMindset #DecisionMaking #HumilityInLeadership #TheLeadershipPodcast
Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • TLP535: The Benevolent Monarch: Leading with Authority, Not Ego
  • TLP534: What If You’re Wrong?
  • TLP533: What CEOs and Young Graduates Can Teach Each Other
  • TLP532: Sheer Will: The Unlikely Path from Cuba to the Cabinet
  • TLP531: Tribalism, Belonging, and the Leader’s Role

Recent Comments

  • Anonymous on TLP519: The Leadership Idea We Missed for 250 Years
  • Anonymous on TLP513: The Leadership Cost of Isolation with Nick Black
  • Anonymous on TLP511: What 500 Top Leaders Taught Us — And Why It’s Not What You Think
  • Anonymous on TLP508: Your Scars Are Your Resume
  • Anonymous on TLP505: Why Leadership Coaching So Often Fails

Tags

adaptability assumptions athletics business change coaching communication corporate crucible culture Curiosity decision making education emotional intelligence entrepreneur financial history humor innovation interview Jan Rutherford Jim & Jan Jim Vaselopulos leader leadership leadership development Leadership Podcast military neuroscience Personal Growth philosophy practitioner productivity relationships resilience speaker sports stories team development teamwork The Leadership Podcast thought leader trust veterans workplace culture

Copyright © 2026 Rafti Advisors, LLC & Self-Reliant Leadership, LLC - All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy