October 2023 – Dan Greer

Build Your Habits To Build Your Life

Posted on October 30, 2023April 22, 2024 by dan_adm

“Your life won’t change unless you change something you do every day.”

I’m reading a book that’s new to me. Many people around me are talking excitedly about it.

I thought, Why not give it a try? “Atomic Habits” by James Clear was really popular then. I wanted to find out why everyone was so excited about it. We all have habits, right?

Many of us likely have habits that we think are good for our mental or physical health, and some habits that we know aren’t the healthiest choices.

Usually, when I come across popular books and advice from self-help experts, I just brush it off and continue with my usual routine.

I realized that I often judge a book by its cover (no pun intended). Looking back, it’s probably not the healthiest habit to be stuck in.

I thought if there’s anything to this habit-building stuff, I might as well start now and hold off on judging this book until I actually have something to judge!

Shortly after buying and reading this book, I had a chat with my good friend, Daniel Greer. Dan and I usually chat while taking breaks from CDL testing and training sessions.

I asked Dan about what he does every day that’s crucial for reaching his goals and growing his company, which is not only liked by the community but also expanding quickly every day.

Dan basically told me something surprisingly similar to what my new book was saying. He asked me about my habits. He asked about my morning habits and how I relax after a hectic day. We realized my schedule lacked structure, and I lived spontaneously, taking each moment as it came. Being in the moment is good, but too much of it is not. It’s like having too much of a good thing—not great. We should enjoy the present, but too many good moments can turn into a bad thing. That’s the catch.

Then, we talked about areas where I thought I needed more organization. I suggested that forming some good habits could make me more productive and improve my attitude.

Even in my craziest dreams, I never thought that making small changes could have such a big impact on my life. I used to hate waking up and beginning my day, but now I’m as excited for a regular Tuesday as your dog is when you come home after a long day at work. A task list that usually took two days got done in just half the time.

This made me feel more sure of myself, more motivated, and more productive. It wasn’t only at work but also in my personal life. This positive change boosted my confidence and sense of value, bringing improvement in both my professional and personal aspects.

Remembering that the first step is the toughest is something many find challenging, cliché as it may sound. Creating healthy habits is tricky, but breaking them might be even tougher. It’s a common struggle we face—starting is tough, and sticking to good habits is no piece of cake either.

Building habits is hard because it depends on self-control. How strong is your willpower? Will you have another slice of chocolate cake? Will you skip the gym due to a ‘long day’? Are you staying up late to catch up on your favorite show? It’s all about making choices and sticking to them. Or…

Can you resist dessert tonight to build healthier eating habits? Can you manage a workout despite extra work and a stressful day? Can you hit the hay on time and save the binge-watching for the weekend? Well, here’s a news flash… It’s about making choices that contribute to your well-being and sticking to them.

There’s plenty of chocolate cake around. If you make a habit of going to the gym every day, there will come a time when you won’t want to miss it, no matter how ‘long’ your day feels. And that favorite Netflix show? It’ll be there for you on Saturday evening. Prioritizing healthy routines ensures there’s always time for things you enjoy.

Making these changes may seem really hard, and sometimes it feels like you’re being tough on yourself. But you’re not. You’re actually growing, and they call it growing pains for a reason. So, let’s shift our perspective a bit and see things differently.

Take a look at where you might be picking up not-so-healthy habits and see how they’re impacting you. Now, consider how things could get better if you focused on turning that not-so-healthy habit into one that boosts not just your health and happiness but your success too.

Someone once said, “Important things aren’t simple.” This is one of those important things. Trust me. So, no, it won’t be easy at first. But soon, it will be more than easy. What used to be hard will become your strongest habit. Stick with it, and you’ll see how it gets better. Developing healthy habits becomes your most powerful tool, propelling you forward as you work towards your goals.

So, I’ll leave you with two questions to think about:

Identify the habit you think is most harmful to your success.
Consider how you can reshape that habit to support you instead of working against you.

Enhance your faith-led leadership journey with God First Life Next. Explore empowering insights at “God Wants You to Succeed.” Let faith guide your leadership. Click for purposeful living at GodFirstLifeNext.org.

Building A GREAT Company Culture

Posted on October 23, 2023April 23, 2024 by dan_adm

Building a Great Company Culture

Every company I’ve encountered wants a culture that attracts people to work for them. The issue is that many aren’t ready to put in the actual hard work needed to become that kind of company.

They concentrate too much on making more money and calculating the profit they could get without offering these benefits. Take a moment to consider it.

How can a really good company take care of its workers?

I understand some of you might mention things like getting a personal-use vehicle, having free lunch every day, or having the flexibility to choose my work hours and earn a lot of money.

Actually, none of those things mentioned above define a company’s culture. In reality, they detract from the culture and let employees take advantage of the company.

True culture begins with the leaders and spreads all the way down. Culture is about how you treat people. One saying I really like is “Treat the janitor like the CEO,” and I follow that principle in my life.

It simply means you shouldn’t ever think less of anyone, no matter the reason. They might not have a fancy job title or work as many hours as you do, but everyone on the team is equally important.

This connects directly to being respectful. When you respect everyone around you, things begin to change.

We had a coworker who was really friendly and polite when the boss was present. But, oh boy, once the boss left, everything went haywire.

As a company, you shouldn’t allow rudeness towards customers, leaders, or team members. Instead of rewarding someone for losing their temper, address the problem.

Keep in mind that folks don’t leave lousy jobs; they leave lousy bosses, and that hurts the company. As a leader, you have to take big steps to fix these problems.

It doesn’t mean you should just fire everyone. It means you should sit down with each person one-on-one, let them know there’s a problem, and if it’s not fixed quickly, you may have to take other steps.

Training your team is really crucial for the company culture. Without training, we won’t know what’s expected or how to treat everyone.

In today’s world, it’s tough to find good people to work with. So, when we do find someone fantastic, we often leave them on their own because they’re such a good employee that they can figure things out.

That’s the quickest way to lose a great person from the team. Training is one of the essential keys to success.

When we spend time helping others understand more than just their job, we show that the company’s success isn’t our only focus.

Moreover, if we provide them with opportunities to “move up the ladder,” it demonstrates that we care about more than just making money. I’m not suggesting that if your company earns $1 million in revenue annually, you should be spending the entire $1 million on people.

What I mean is that you should focus on what truly helps your people grow and succeed in their roles. When we only think about money, we tend to forget the things that really matter.

Consider a new business owner, for instance. It’s common for them to work more than 80 hours a week to establish the business. What happens to their family during that initial “startup” phase? They often get overlooked amid all the progress.

Take a few moments each day to think about the people around you. When you trust your colleagues, it’s easier to be more productive. That’s where an open-door policy is really helpful. Every leader must have an open-door policy and stick to it.

The greatest company I’ve worked for, no doubt. The owner was always open to inviting you into his office for a chat. He’d listen to your concerns and discuss them, and by the time you left, you’d have talked about things unrelated to work. Like how your kids are doing, what you think of the new truck, or the best books to read.

What I’m saying is that, unless he was in a meeting, you could talk to him anytime. Also, he cared so much about his people that he would fight for each one of them.

And that connected directly to his values. He was a firm believer in Christianity and didn’t hesitate to let everyone know about it. We prayed before safety meetings, and he openly discussed his faith.

He consistently stuck to his values. As we go through life, we may forget what it was like to start from scratch. To create a great culture, we shouldn’t forget our roots.

A good saying for this is “Humble Beginnings.” Basically, it means never forget where you started. Every company began with nothing. Every person started not knowing much, except how to breathe and sleep. In fact, most of us had to be taught how to eat by our mothers.

Always be down-to-earth and kind.

In short, creating a great company culture is challenging, and it doesn’t happen just by giving the company a guide on how to build it.

In fact, it’s quite straightforward.

Treat everyone with respect.
Do not tolerate bad employees.
Take time to train.
Make your people a priority, not just the bottom line.
Have an open-door policy.
Stick to your values, even when it’s tough.
Remember your early days and what you liked or disliked the most.
Stay positive.

Now is a good time to pause and consider your company’s culture. How can you make it better (every company can improve)? Where are you doing well?

Grab a piece of paper and jot down what you think your company culture should be like.

Here, I’ll begin, so you can get an idea of what ours looks like.

Here at Eclipse DOT, we’re more than just a business; we’re a family. Sure, we may have disagreements at times, but in the end, we all feel fortunate to have this family. We watch out for each other and collaborate to achieve big things. Everyone here has an open mind, and we listen to each other’s ideas without dismissing them. We appreciate that others care about our family’s growth and bring innovative ideas to the table. We listen not just to respond but to truly understand what others are saying. It’s not just about getting the job done for us; it’s about enjoying life. We all make choices, and we choose to be part of this incredible family. After work, we spend time together, and when someone needs help, we come together to support them through tough times. Our success is because we are a family. At Eclipse DOT, we are more than a business—we are a family!

Ready to Transform Your Leadership Approach? Delve into ‘Core Values and how to find what yours are.‘ and enhance your skills. Follow our expert insights on this transformative journey. Explore more now at eclipse dot

Carefrontation vs Confrontation

Posted on October 16, 2023April 23, 2024 by dan_adm

Carefrontation vs. Confrontation

You might be wondering, what in the world is Carefrontation?

Carefrontation is when you must face a situation, but you approach it with care and compassion.

Recently, I was at a work site, and the company requested my opinion on whether someone might be using drugs.

When I walked up to the person, I could tell they were down. Their faces looked sad, and their body language clearly showed they were going through a tough time.

To make things worse, this new guy was heading over to talk to her. She had noticed me talking to the company leaders, so she thought I was there to fire her, even though that wasn’t the case.

Anyway…

As I walked up to her, my goal was to find out what was going on with her and just get close enough to see if I could spot any signs of possible drug use.

After chatting with her for about 5 minutes, I got her to open up. Then I realized she wasn’t using drugs but was going through a tough time in her life.

She shared everything that was going on, and honestly, I would have felt down too. She was dealing with a lot, and none of it was easy.

I recommended that they don’t send her home. Instead, they should pair her up with someone she can connect with and trust for the next few days.

After around 3 days, they called me and said she was totally different from when I first met her.

What fantastic news!

I had two choices when I went to talk to her to see if she might be using something.

Option one: act defensively and be cautious, which will make them defensive too. Avoid personal topics, and don’t care about their feelings or what’s happening in their life.

When we approach someone like this, it makes them defensive right away and more likely to do something they might regret later.

It also makes them shut down and not say anything because they’re afraid it might be misunderstood.

I don’t like saying it, but this is how most managers handle situations.

They get right in the employee’s face and insist on an answer immediately! (We’ve all had a boss like that before; in fact, I’ve had several.)

Option 2: When you face any situation, try to understand why it’s happening. Look for the reasons rather than just searching for a solution.

Often, we can’t fix a problem until we figure out what caused it in the first place. I’m quite handy with mechanics (thanks to my dad, lol). So, let’s think of this as fixing a car issue.

If someone says, “I don’t know what happened, but my car suddenly stopped and won’t start again!” does that give you enough information to figure out the problem?

Nope! But if they came and said, “I was driving down the road the other day, going about 120 mph in 3rd gear, the tachometer was up around 6,000 RPM, and then suddenly I heard this huge BAM under the hood. So, I pulled over, and there was a ton of oil coming out of my exhaust.”

Learning what happened before the problem occurred gives you a better understanding of the situation and how to handle it.

That’s why I use Carefrontation in every situation. It helps me genuinely understand what’s causing the problem, so I can get to the root of the issue and fix it, rather than just dealing with surface-level things that won’t really solve the whole problem.

Sure, it might take a bit more time, but in the end, it makes a big difference in how the situation is managed.

Here are a few tips to make sure you always opt for confrontation instead of confrontation in the future.

Tip 1: When you’re dealing with a situation, pause and ask yourself, What’s the real cause of this problem?

By trying to find the main cause of the problem, you’re less likely to overreact. Instead of just looking for a quick fix, you’re genuinely trying to solve the issue. Remember, the only way to truly heal sick oak trees is to treat the roots.

Tip 2: Before accusing anyone, take time to have a conversation.

Making accusations only creates bad feelings and makes people silent. Just like us, others shut down when someone tries to accuse them of something they didn’t do or didn’t understand.

So, before jumping to accusing someone of something, take a few moments to talk with everyone involved.

A good example is the other day when we made a small mistake with one of our accounts. We rushed and pressed the wrong button, and suddenly, our account got deleted!

I had two choices. The first one was to get upset and scold the person who made the mistake. Or, I could just smile, look at him, and say, “Well, how do we fix it?” The second option is always the better one.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Don’t cry over spilled milk.” Why let the past bother you? Stop overthinking it and start looking forward.

Tip 3: This is likely the most crucial tip for using carefrontation. The third tip is to always leave your ego behind.

What do you mean, Dan? I don’t have an EGO!

Guess what?

We all have egos. If you truly want to start using this carefrontation approach, you have to set aside your ego before you go and talk to anyone about a situation or issue.

If you have an ego, they’ll let theirs show too. Then, things escalate, and I’m sure you know what happens next.

Next time you face a situation, try dealing with it using carefrontation. Take time to understand the real problem and find the root cause.

Ready to Transform Your Leadership Approach? Delve into ‘SPEAKING UP‘ and enhance your skills. Follow our expert insights on this transformative journey. Explore more now at eclipse dot

Closed mouth don’t get fed.

Posted on October 9, 2023April 23, 2024 by dan_adm

Closed Mouth Don’t Get Fed

That’s what they say, right? And it’s so true. Have you ever received something you wanted without asking for it?

Maybe. But the likelihood of it happening again is low. So, why don’t we speak up?

I might be young, but I’ve experienced enough to realize that as people, we’re often scared of what others might think, afraid to ask for help, and just plain scared.

Period.

For the sake of conversation, let’s consider me as an example. I used to be extremely afraid of asking for help.

As a kid, I wanted to be a “grown-up.” Kids see adults as independent, brave, and able to handle everything on their own.

When we were kids, we would ask grownups for help.

We sometimes need help with things like opening a peanut butter jar or grabbing something from a high shelf because our bodies are still growing, and we find it hard to do these tasks. (Wondering about the quotes around ‘adults’? Keep reading, and it will make sense, I promise!)

As we get older, our bodies grow—like, we become physically bigger. Suddenly, we can reach high shelves, our hands get strong enough to open peanut butter jars, and we start feeling independent.

And just like that, we stop needing help. But why? Is it because we’ve become so able that we think we can handle everything on our own?

Some might not like the idea.

“I can manage it.”

“I’ll figure it out.”

We often say these things when we’re upset or frustrated with our situation or ourselves. But, deep down, we might not believe it. It’s like we’re annoyed that we haven’t “figured it out” yet.

When we use these phrases, what we’re saying is, “I’m too scared to ask for help, so I’ll act like everything’s okay, even though I need support with this problem.”

What happened to that openness you had as a child? The readiness to say you need help and that you don’t have all the answers.

I won’t act like I know everything, but I’m glad to share my opinion.

We hid it.

We’re scared to admit that we’re scared. How ironic!

Once upon a time, we couldn’t open that peanut butter jar or reach the high shelf. But we asked for help until we learned how to do it ourselves.

As “grown-ups,” we’ve formed opinions about who we are and who we’re not. But we’re mistaken. I’d go as far as to say that our idea of what an “adult” is doesn’t exist!

Being a “grown-up” isn’t some superior level of being human, like we think when we’re young. “Adults” are simply humans. And being human means being part of a community, working together, collaborating, and, yes, sometimes asking for help.

We’re scared to ask for help at work because we worry people might think we can’t handle a task. In our relationships, we hesitate to ask for help because we don’t want to admit that we might not fully understand the needs of our loved ones.

And we’re scared to ask for help in our personal lives because we worry people might see us as someone who doesn’t have it all together, even though we try to show a different image to the world.

Do you see a repeating theme? Is there a word that stands out as important here?

Life and everything in it can be tough and scary. And it’s okay to feel afraid at times.

It is like a time of joy when everything feels just right, smoothly running like a well-oiled machine or a brand-new high-performance sports car.

Do we ignore the happy times? Haha.

Who would be silly enough to do that?

I want you to think about it. Why do we ignore it when we’re in a time of fear?

Accept it.

Put aside your pride and seek the help you insist you don’t need. There’s no such thing as “adults.” It’s all about being “adults.”

What does that mean exactly? Adults.

Add yourself. Expand your skills. If knowledge is power and progress, why don’t we keep adding new information to our understanding?

We shouldn’t fear asking for help.

Whether it’s about a new task at work, in our personal lives, or with our spirituality… Even Jesus sought help.

What makes us think we’re so able to not do what he did?

Psalm 107:28–30 says, “When they were in trouble, they called to the Lord, and He rescued them from their troubles.

He calmed the storm, so the sea became quiet.

They were happy because it was calm, and He guided them to where they wanted to go.” Now, you might not be someone who has faith.

That’s okay.

You don’t need to be a Jesus follower to pick up a few lessons and use them in the storms of your life.

Ask for help, and let the advice of a mentor, friend, the Lord, or anyone else guide you to where you want to be.

Be an adult and keep adding to yourself. Don’t be scared to admit you don’t have everything figured out because, whether people say it or not, none of us has it all figured out.

James 1:5 says, “If any of you need wisdom, ask God, who gives to everyone generously and without finding fault, and you will receive it.”

Samuel H. Martinez

Enhance your faith-led leadership journey with God First Life Next. Explore empowering insights at “Encouragement in Daily Life: Small Acts, Big Effects” Let faith guide your leadership. Click for purposeful living at GodFirstLifeNext.org.

Core Values and how to find what yours are.

Posted on October 2, 2023April 23, 2024 by dan_adm

Core Values and How to Find What Yours Are

Lately, I have had the fantastic chance to be part of a mastermind group in Cancun, Mexico.

When I say it was fantastic, I’m not kidding. We spent around 4–6 hours a day learning from experts in various industries. After that, we had the rest of the day to explore the area and the resort.

During our time there, I filled over 19 pages with notes!

WOW!

And on top of that, we did some fantastic exercises that helped me see things differently and prepared me to reach the next goals I had already set.

Before, I used to look at those goals, and I had some big personal and external beliefs that made it seem impossible to achieve them.

We could delve into those beliefs, but we don’t have that much time. LOL. One of the most important things I learned from this week-long experience is that you have to dream big!

But before dreaming big, you need to identify your core values. Russell Brunson had us do an exercise that made figuring out my core values simple.

Do you want to know what it was? Okay, I’ll tell you, but you have to promise to do it. Right now!

Here’s the deal. Grab a pad of sticky notes and clear your desk. If you don’t have sticky notes, it’s fine. Just cut some paper into small squares or rectangles (the shape doesn’t matter).

Alright, now what I want you to do is write down everything you enjoy. Use one sticky note for each thing.

Here are some of mine to give you some ideas:

Embarking on epic family board game battles, savoring succulent steaks that melt in your mouth, spontaneous trips to the vibrant beaches of San Diego, catching thrilling waves while surfing the ocean’s rhythm, indulging in nightly shows with Jenna that whisk you away before sleep takes over, soaring through the skies with the wind in your hair, nurturing personal growth like a well-tended garden, getting lost in the pages of captivating books, joyfully aiding others in their quest for knowledge, cultivating flourishing businesses, extending a helping hand to fellow entrepreneurs, and proudly investing in the future by supporting 4-H animals at the fair – these are the vibrant threads that weave the tapestry of our extraordinary life.

I believe you understand. Now, set a timer for 3 minutes and jot down as many as you can. Pro Tip: Instead of using a timer, pick a motivational song and write until the song is over.

Here’s a description of how mine turned out:

Great work! Now, organize those sticky notes into groups, aiming for about 5–6 groups. These are your core values—the things that bring you the most joy.

Here’s what makes me happy:

Family Fun: Having a blast with family adventures!
Wanderlust Moments: Exploring new places and making travel stories.
Mastermind Builder: Creating amazing things in the business world.
Community Cheers: Sharing and caring with the people around.
Wellness Wonderland: Keeping the mind and body in great shape.
Divine Connection: Taking care of the soul and enjoying the journey with the divine.

I bet some of those surprised me too! I had no clue I was into health! Russell Brunson calls these “hall of fame goals,” but I prefer to call them my core values.

They’re my core values because, when someone looks at my life, I want these things to stand out more than anything else. If you go back and check my Facebook profile, I bet you can see this. I’d also wager that you can notice how my core values have shifted in the last 10+ years. So, here’s what I want you to do!

After you complete the exercise, think about your life. Consider what a total stranger would see when they stumble upon your profile and don’t know anything about you.

Here are the core values of my company, written out.

Our company is based on five core values that are at the heart of everything we do: extreme ownership, community, hard work, integrity, and personal and professional growth!
Eclipse DOT leads the transportation community. We assist people in building, growing, and expanding their businesses to levels they’ve only dreamed of.

At Eclipse DOT, family is important to us. We care about our team’s families and the families in our community! We understand that, without the support of those close to us, real growth is not possible. Communities are vital in our lives. Eclipse DOT supports the development and growth of communities. We promote community growth through networking and building new connections.

At Eclipse DOT, we promote not just a healthy lifestyle but also a healthy mindset for everyone on our team. Why? Because our mind is our most powerful tool. Here’s a fun fact: Your brain is only 2% of your body weight but gobbles up 20% of your daily calories. So, eat well and get your daily exercise!
Travel brings excitement to our lives. We motivate our entire team to travel several times a year. We also encourage our community to embark on adventures, not just to our events but also to enjoyable and thrilling destinations. At Eclipse DOT, we believe that God is the reason for everything. He provides us with ideas, guidance, and the strength to persevere. God is a significant part of our company, influencing our culture and values. We also respect that it’s okay if you don’t share the same beliefs as us. Can you see how these connect directly to my core values? Now, go out there, discover your values, and share them with the world!

PS: If you ever need help getting something done, just start writing a blog. You’ll have to finish it then! That’s what happened to me.

LOL. Keep the rubber side down and have a great week!

Dan Greer

Enhance your faith-led leadership journey with God First Life Next. Explore empowering insights at “Core Values & How To Get Yours.”. Let faith guide your leadership. Click for purposeful living at GodFirstLifeNext.org.

Month: October 2023