Mastering Your Mindset

[00:00:18] Hello everybody, I am one of your hosts coming to you today from Toronto where we are experiencing

[00:00:26] London weather

[00:00:28] And

[00:00:30] Hello, I'm Andy the other host coming to you from the United Kingdom where we are experiencing desert weather

[00:00:37] And boy, I'm boiling away here in the studio, but I'm loving it. It's very good. I'd much rather be outside though

[00:00:44] Very good. Good to see you again Andy and welcome everybody to another episode of tea and Timbits a podcast about business development to help you prosper

[00:00:54] We are going to get into a conversation about mindset

[00:00:58] Today and we've actually got a few episodes lined up. We'll explain more detail in a moment. So

[00:01:05] I think it was your turn or at least you said you had a story that was worth sharing Andy. So I do I do

[00:01:11] I'm quite excited to tell this story. Actually, it's the first story I've shared from my new work life

[00:01:18] So I thought I would bring it into the podcast and now I have a few months behind me of

[00:01:24] Experience and stories and and something that the listeners may find interesting

[00:01:29] this story is

[00:01:33] It's from a

[00:01:34] I'm gonna be a little bit vague about the specifics, but the the the principle will be applicable

[00:01:40] So bear with me. I was doing some work with this this punk band and and they are

[00:01:47] Going on a big tour

[00:01:49] They're still on the tour

[00:01:51] but they they wanted some help with their sort of tour merchandise and planning and things like that and

[00:02:01] And one of the things that

[00:02:03] That the band wanted to do was actually have this very

[00:02:07] High priced item on the on the tour merchandise and and it was a leather jacket

[00:02:13] Well, you know proper classic old-school studied leather jacket with the big spikes and everything, you know band logo and everything and all

[00:02:21] So proper classic, you know full on but the problem is they're very expensive items

[00:02:26] Right. So even if you buy them cheap we say we're able to do they're still expensive and still expensive compared to what people are used

[00:02:33] To paying on the normal, you know merchandise tour tour table so I

[00:02:41] Kind of advised them that this was not really a smart approach to go for because they're not a big band

[00:02:45] They've got a dedicated following but they're not big then that you know, they're not one of the the big names

[00:02:51] So they have a small but dedicated following. I

[00:02:55] Thought it was a bit of a risk to go off and buy and get get prepared and printed and

[00:03:00] Embroidered some of these jackets and and it is true that the first ten events they didn't sell any

[00:03:08] Because they were just too expensive. Nobody wanted to buy them. They thought they were cool

[00:03:11] You know that fans would go no, they're really cool. And then they saw how much they were and they didn't want to buy them

[00:03:16] So what we did is

[00:03:19] We came up with an idea

[00:03:21] The idea was that we would do a social media campaign

[00:03:25] Where we would get the fans to tell a story about their experience with the band

[00:03:31] With accompanying with a photo of them wearing some of the merchandise

[00:03:36] and

[00:03:37] Then we explained that as part of this part of this story thing if you were wearing

[00:03:42] One of the leather jackets in your story and your story was selected

[00:03:47] Then you would also win a backstage pass to meet the band at the next gig in your hometown

[00:03:53] Right. So all of a sudden everybody wanted to buy one of these leather jackets because like I say, it's a dedicated following

[00:04:00] They're very passionate about the band and then we started getting a lot of inquiries through the web shop

[00:04:04] Can we buy this can we buy this and we were like, well, it's a limited number

[00:04:08] You're only supposed to buy them at this

[00:04:10] The at the show

[00:04:11] but if you combine it if you commit to buying combining it with the social media interaction and

[00:04:16] You link in to the band then then we'll be willing to sell it to you

[00:04:19] They actually sold out on the jackets and

[00:04:23] They went from having jackets that we're not selling at all to jackets that were sold out

[00:04:28] And then there's a demand for those jackets because people want to get those backstage passes to meet with the band and to do

[00:04:33] This stuff the reason I'm selling telling you telling you this story is not just because you know

[00:04:38] It's a it's a success story from you know a failure to a success

[00:04:41] It's because it doesn't matter what it is that you're selling

[00:04:46] It's about the experience that you give the customer when they buy that product

[00:04:53] Yes

[00:04:55] And that is so applicable across the board

[00:04:58] Correct. Yeah, which is why I thought it was a relevant story to share. Yeah, awesome. Love it. Thank you, Andy

[00:05:05] So as I as I mentioned off the top we're going to transition into doing sort of a

[00:05:12] Few episodes that are around the same theme

[00:05:15] The last episode we did was on change management and we got some good feedback on that

[00:05:20] We're gonna put those together and come back with that theme in a few months

[00:05:26] for the month of June

[00:05:28] We're going to focus on some concepts around mindset

[00:05:34] We're going to talk about abundance and scarcity. We're going to talk about

[00:05:39] being mindful and

[00:05:41] and knowing when to

[00:05:44] ask it to to

[00:05:47] Accept some humilial humility and ask for help

[00:05:50] and and how you need to

[00:05:54] Be a good sort of student of process, but be nimble and agile at the same time

[00:06:01] So to tee all that up this episode is going to be a little bit more about the general concept of mindset

[00:06:07] What do we mean by that and why is it important and how do you practice it and and

[00:06:13] Is it really something that's gonna add add value?

[00:06:17] Anything to add that Andy I

[00:06:21] Think it's a really great idea to do this series

[00:06:24] thing and and I won't take credit for it because it was your idea that we

[00:06:29] Should do a series on a focus topic and and I think it's really good because it allows us

[00:06:33] You know

[00:06:34] I know we got a little bit inspired by the whole change thing and there was opportunities to roll that into something else

[00:06:40] but I think the concept of

[00:06:42] Creating a series around this allows us to drive a little bit deeper and focus on a topic

[00:06:47] Which is something that we haven't been able to do we've been trying to squeeze things into into just 15 to 20 minutes

[00:06:52] previously

[00:06:53] And I think when it comes to mindset that is a really important

[00:06:58] Topic when it comes to sales and business as a whole

[00:07:02] That your mindset does need to be right and it does affect what you do and it does affect your success

[00:07:08] It does affect your interaction with the customers with your staff with your teams with your colleagues with your co-workers and at home

[00:07:15] So so before you just roll right into the topic there. What do you want people to sort of take away from this preliminary conversation?

[00:07:21] I

[00:07:22] think it's about

[00:07:25] understanding the value of mindset and how to

[00:07:29] Keep it front of mind

[00:07:31] As something that is is important and I want people to think about actually dedicating some time

[00:07:38] Yeah to being

[00:07:41] mindful

[00:07:43] This is not necessarily about mindfulness although that comes into into play

[00:07:48] but I think that the that the energy that you are able to embody that you

[00:07:54] That you generate for yourself has a huge impact on the business your colleagues your clients

[00:08:01] Your adherence to process your success in the moment your

[00:08:05] acceptance of

[00:08:07] Of I won't the word. I want to say is defeat, but but but setbacks or challenges

[00:08:14] and even

[00:08:16] Your appreciation for for success as it as it comes

[00:08:20] As it as it comes so how does in your mind mindset

[00:08:29] Compliment and contrast

[00:08:32] strategy tactics process

[00:08:34] It precedes all of those things

[00:08:37] Yeah, that's the first thing that you would it's absolutely the first thing if your mind is in a wrong place

[00:08:42] Then your everything else that you do is is not gonna work as well as it could do

[00:08:47] It's not going to give you the

[00:08:50] opportunities or results or

[00:08:52] Outcomes that you are looking for in the same way as it could be if you had your mindset in the right place

[00:08:57] So then our our our topics I think in the coming weeks are gonna get into some of those specifics more so so

[00:09:05] Avoiding going there just yet. What is your advice when when you haven't got your mindset, right?

[00:09:12] It's being aware that you haven't got your mind set right it's being aware of the circumstance that you're in

[00:09:17] That something there's an external factor affecting how you're thinking how you're approaching it. You're rushing into it

[00:09:23] You haven't prepared, you know, it's like, you know, if you're going into a sales presentation, you wouldn't go into it

[00:09:30] Well, hopefully the listeners wouldn't go into it having not you know been

[00:09:36] Very familiar about the circumstances that they're going into that time

[00:09:41] They're going into that discussion about you know, they should understand the customers needs and challenges

[00:09:45] They should understand the reason that they are there to talk to them

[00:09:48] they should understand the potential value or they should be going there with the mindset of

[00:09:53] You know, I want to help these people or I want to see if I can help these people

[00:09:58] I want to see if they have a problem. I can help them with whatever it may be but it's being aware

[00:10:02] What is your mindset going into that meeting going into that event going into that strategy planning session going into that discussion?

[00:10:08] Going into dinner with your family

[00:10:10] You know

[00:10:11] it's important if you've just had a really stressful email and then you sit down at the dinner table with your family that

[00:10:17] Stress the anxiety that is going to come across and it's going to impact your day-to-day life

[00:10:23] And so being aware of your mindset being able to control your mindset being able to focus on your mindset and

[00:10:30] Have that self reflection will improve not only your business life, but your personal life as well

[00:10:35] Couldn't agree more love the fact that you've said it that way I was in a

[00:10:40] moment yesterday where it was a very tense business situation and then I immediately had to

[00:10:46] switch gears within minutes to a

[00:10:49] personal errand and an appointment and

[00:10:51] And I and I and I I actually said to the person I was about to meet with like I'll be there in five

[00:10:57] Minutes, I'm just running late. I wasn't but I needed

[00:11:01] Just that time to

[00:11:03] Refocus and it's I didn't want to set that aside or ignore it or dismiss it or

[00:11:08] To quickly move on from it. I know I have to come back to some unresolved situation there

[00:11:14] But it's not the energy that I want for myself to be productive in the next moment

[00:11:21] Oddly enough it involved picking up my kids and

[00:11:25] And my who's teenager was like dad you okay?

[00:11:28] Like he could just sense that there wasn't it wasn't quite sort of normal dad in the moment, right?

[00:11:34] So it was clearly I had not done a good enough job of refocusing

[00:11:40] Or maybe it didn't I I had refocused enough but you know

[00:11:43] It was not so much that it was it was not enough that he had noticed

[00:11:47] I

[00:11:48] Was going to ask you some follow-up question, which has now

[00:11:51] Left my my my train of thought here

[00:11:56] in terms of

[00:11:59] Mindset

[00:12:01] How do you how do you get yourself into the right mindset for oh, I it's coming back to me now. Sorry

[00:12:08] Culture and I think even another sort of theme

[00:12:12] You said you preempt all of these other sort of activities with the right mindset and that made me think about

[00:12:19] actually

[00:12:20] Actually acknowledging that it needs to be part of your culture

[00:12:23] That it needs to be woven into the way that we work what we expect of ourselves and each other and it is part

[00:12:31] of our brand

[00:12:32] And if if you can do that, then it just makes it that much easier to support each other

[00:12:39] I think it strengthens

[00:12:42] What what you've what you've got on offer yeah, I think you're right it is very hard though

[00:12:48] I mean for people to

[00:12:51] To just switch off, you know your

[00:12:55] Bombarded with I don't know with

[00:12:58] challenges at home that the kids aren't getting ready in time that you know that the

[00:13:04] Suddenly the the the electricity bill was four times what it was supposed to be because of inflation or bad management

[00:13:10] All the kids left the vacuum cleaner on for two months or something. Whatever it may be right?

[00:13:15] Whatever it may be right so to be random things there

[00:13:18] But my point is there's always external factors that will challenge you we will put pressure on you will make you

[00:13:26] Focus on the wrong things that will put you in a mindset that is negative

[00:13:30] It's stressful that is short-tempered and you're panicking about all these things very often as well

[00:13:35] There are a lot of us in you know in this industry

[00:13:39] We like to be in control of things. We like to plan things

[00:13:42] Know what we're doing how we're doing it when an external factor comes in and challenges that

[00:13:48] If we're not able to clear our mind and focus our mindset to allow ourselves to adapt to that

[00:13:55] Change and that challenge when it comes in

[00:13:57] It will end up becoming a much bigger thing than it needed to be and so it's very important to be

[00:14:04] Self-aware and it's very hard. It's very very hard. It takes a lot of practice

[00:14:09] But the sooner you start the sooner you'll get better at it and it's the same with anything

[00:14:13] you know, if you don't practice it then you won't be good at it, but if you do practice it you will and

[00:14:19] Same with mindset got to take that time got to breathe. You got to focus

[00:14:24] You've got to allow yourself the opportunity to recognize that you're in a bad place that you're in a challenging place and give

[00:14:30] You that self that space that time necessary to refocus

[00:14:34] Now I want to qualify

[00:14:36] Everything I completely agree with everything that you just said

[00:14:39] I think we've we've kind of inadvertently gone down this path where mindset is about addressing challenge

[00:14:45] but I think just as important to

[00:14:49] properly

[00:14:50] That this is the context for each moment the context for each appointment the context for each

[00:14:58] Call or conversation that you're having the context for each day

[00:15:02] Is are we are we celebrating something do I need to

[00:15:06] Consciously go you know what my mindset right now needs to detach from

[00:15:11] One of those challenges and conflicts because we're here to celebrate. We're here to acknowledge. We're here to be grateful

[00:15:17] We're here to be welcoming

[00:15:19] And so it I think that's the message that I want to make sure comes comes through is is

[00:15:26] really intentionally

[00:15:28] Thinking about where do I need to be?

[00:15:32] mentally for to be the best self I can be and contribute and

[00:15:37] And sometimes it's not to be a leader

[00:15:40] It's to it's to be open-minded and be and be

[00:15:44] The sponge and be ready to listen and not be the the loudest voice in the room

[00:15:50] I don't know you ever done that I've never done that. What does that like?

[00:15:53] You're completely right the key is become

[00:15:58] aware of your own mindset and get in control of your mindset so that you can

[00:16:04] Be aware where you are

[00:16:06] And get yourself to where you need to be

[00:16:10] my point with the challenge side of things and introducing that is very much on the basis of

[00:16:15] If you can be aware of your mindset if you can be conscious of your mindset then no matter what

[00:16:21] The challenges are that come in you can recognize it

[00:16:23] You can recognize where you are and you can much better deal with it than you would do if you were not focusing on mindset

[00:16:31] I think that's a great summary of where we've um where this conversation has gone and

[00:16:36] Just to bring it back to my uh initial point. It's like, you know

[00:16:41] Put some space in your day for these

[00:16:44] shifts in

[00:16:45] For these um shifts in energy that you need to know you need to bring forward as as

[00:16:52] Sort of the sequence of events in your day changes and if it's you have them

[00:16:56] Like, you know my calendar's

[00:16:58] Bounces all over the place but other people it's it's one thing at home. It's one thing at work or it's

[00:17:03] Less dynamic, but I think it's really important

[00:17:06] Um, thanks Andy great chat. We'll get in the specificity. I think we're going to get into abundance and scarcity

[00:17:13] next those are two really

[00:17:15] powerful

[00:17:16] Mindsets that will will um, we'll explore a lot more on the next episode. So yeah a very important place to start

[00:17:23] I think that's going to be great and uh looking forward to uh exploring this a bit further with you

[00:17:29] We continue in the month of june

[00:17:31] Thanks everybody, uh

[00:17:32] Drop us a note at t and timbits.com

[00:17:35] Check us out there. You can listen all the episodes subscribe and all the rest. Thanks. Andy. We'll talk to you soon

[00:17:41] Cheers