🎙️43. Promises Kept Under Fire: Trust, Integrity, and Leading Through Crisis

Episode Description:

In this episode, host Michael Devous reflects on the importance of trust, integrity, and keeping promises in the face of adversity, drawing from his own experience with wildfires. He explores the significance of personal integrity, especially during challenging times, and shares practical steps for navigating crises with unwavering values. Michael emphasizes the power of realistic expectations, transparent communication, clear expectations, and taking responsibility. He also discusses how The Ascend Hub can provide support and resources for entrepreneurs facing adversity.

Key Highlights:

• Personal Reflection on Integrity: Michael shares how his recent experience with wildfires tested his commitment to integrity and keeping promises.
• The Importance of Trust: He discusses trust as the currency of success in business and personal relationships.
• Personal Integrity and Promises Kept: Michael explores the connection between personal integrity and the ability to follow through on commitments.
• 4 Steps for Keeping Promises Under Pressure: He provides actionable steps for maintaining integrity during challenging times:
  1. Be Realistic
  2. Communicate Transparently
  3. Set Clear Expectations
  4. Take Responsibility
• Building a Reputation of Trustworthiness: Michael emphasizes the importance of building a reputation for reliability and trust in all aspects of life.
• The Ascend Hub: He discusses how The Ascend Hub can support entrepreneurs in developing skills and resources for navigating crises and upholding integrity.

Impactful Quotes:

• "Trust is very important. Personal integrity, trust is important. And when the world feels like it's crumbling down around you or it's on fire, the promises that we make to ourselves and others become really important."
• "As entrepreneurs, keeping our word is almost as essential and valuable as paying our bills."
• "If you're going to make a promise... be realistic about what that means... and be fair to yourself."
• "Communicate transparently, be honest about the challenges and the delays that are coming."
• "Take responsibility... owning up to the potential mistakes, delays, or the work, the extra work that might need to get done in order to make things right."

Key Takeaways:

• Maintaining integrity is crucial during challenging times.
• Trust is the foundation of successful relationships and businesses.
• Realistic expectations and transparent communication are key to navigating crises.
• Taking responsibility for our actions builds trust and credibility.
• The Ascend Hub can provide valuable support and resources for entrepreneurs facing adversity.

https://theascendhub.com/
Current Promotion: https://r1.theascendhub.com/

Transcript

1

00:00:09,476 --> 00:00:10,110

Hey there everybody. 

2

00:00:10,410 --> 00:00:14,280

And welcome to Fearless Thinking, a 

podcast designed to help you navigate

3

00:00:14,581 --> 00:00:16,816

authentic leadership and the 

entrepreneurial journey. 

4

00:00:17,50 --> 00:00:18,284

I'm your host, Michael Devous.

5

00:00:18,518 --> 00:00:21,154

And these are my thoughts, lessons and 

insights from my entrepreneurial 

6

00:00:21,788 --> 00:00:24,758

journey into coaching workshops, 

motivational speaking. 

7

00:00:24,991 --> 00:00:28,661

And of course, what I picked up from 

interviews with inspiring leaders and 

8

00:00:28,661 --> 00:00:30,96

entrepreneurs along the way.

9

00:00:31,131 --> 00:00:36,36

My mission is to help people unlock 

their untapped potential by using fear 

10

00:00:36,169 --> 00:00:38,672

as a catalyst for powerful change and 

growth,

11

00:00:39,773 --> 00:00:43,143

so they can step into the greatest 

version of their most authentic selves.

12

00:00:44,344 --> 00:00:46,513

All right, let's get into some fearless 

thinking.

13

00:01:03,697 --> 00:01:03,997

14

00:01:04,264 --> 00:01:07,233

Hey fearless thinkiners, welcome back to the 

Fearless Thinking podcast.

15

00:01:07,634 --> 00:01:10,737

I'm your host, Michael Devous, re-

recording episodes 42,43,44

16

00:01:12,439 --> 00:01:15,75

and 45, which is why I'm going to be in 

the same shirt for each one of these.

17

00:01:17,143 --> 00:01:18,812

I came back from being evacuated

18

00:01:20,513 --> 00:01:23,883

due to forest fires, trying to get things set 

back up again, started recording, and

19

00:01:23,950 --> 00:01:24,351

for some reason

20

00:01:26,186 --> 00:01:28,488

I don't know, sound was not working and 

I didn't. 

21

00:01:28,488 --> 00:01:30,256

And I recorded all the episodes during 

the week

22

00:01:32,359 --> 00:01:32,826

without sound.

23

00:01:34,828 --> 00:01:36,196

So unless you can read lips,

24

00:01:37,530 --> 00:01:39,232

that will be of no Bueno to you. 

25

00:01:40,333 --> 00:01:45,538

yeah, anyway, this week, obviously, 

we're talking about how the effects of

26

00:01:45,538 --> 00:01:48,575

being evacuated from a forest fire have 

had their impact

27

00:01:50,10 --> 00:01:51,211

on me during this time period,

28

00:01:52,278 --> 00:01:52,679

on my thinking,

29

00:01:54,514 --> 00:01:56,583

my emotions, my life, my business.

30

00:01:58,918 --> 00:02:03,56

And I'm, I'm a lot calmer now, and I'm 

lot more like getting back into the 

31

00:02:03,289 --> 00:02:04,24

swing of things. 

32

00:02:04,491 --> 00:02:05,792

But I do want to share with you

33

00:02:07,227 --> 00:02:08,728

my thoughts and my

34

00:02:11,398 --> 00:02:14,901

the challenges that we face, you know, 

when we're going through these things.

35

00:02:16,736 --> 00:02:17,704

And it can be.

36

00:02:21,74 --> 00:02:23,710

Well, this week we're talking about 

integrity, and we're talking about 

37

00:02:23,777 --> 00:02:25,879

resiliency, and we're talking about 

crises.

38

00:02:27,781 --> 00:02:28,982

When we face these things,

39

00:02:30,917 --> 00:02:32,118

how do we manage them? 

40

00:02:32,352 --> 00:02:35,789

Where do we, when we fall to our 

training and we fall to our habits, are 

41

00:02:35,855 --> 00:02:38,825

they enough to support us and hold us 

up during the middle of these things? 

42

00:02:38,892 --> 00:02:40,93

And one of the things I've learned is

43

00:02:41,227 --> 00:02:44,898

a lot of truth to that, yall. A lot of 

truth to making sure that your foundation,

44

00:02:45,932 --> 00:02:50,170

of your habits and your training are 

good enough, so that if you falter, if

45

00:02:50,170 --> 00:02:55,8

you fall, if something knocks you 

off your game, where you fall, too, is

46

00:02:55,141 --> 00:02:57,711

at the highest place it possibly can 

be. 

47

00:02:57,944 --> 00:02:59,546

So when you need to get back up and 

running,

48

00:03:00,814 --> 00:03:04,184

you're prepared to do so well and do so 

fast, right? 

49

00:03:05,618 --> 00:03:10,423

episode 43, promises kept under fire, 

trust integrity and leading through 

50

00:03:10,657 --> 00:03:11,791

crises or crisis.

51

00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:15,228

The crucial topic of fulfilling your 

promises

52

00:03:19,65 --> 00:03:19,866

while facing

53

00:03:22,435 --> 00:03:24,104

a big obstacle, like a forest fire

54

00:03:30,176 --> 00:03:31,945

I felt a lot of guilt,

55

00:03:33,213 --> 00:03:34,180

not getting my

56

00:03:35,849 --> 00:03:39,152

done, you know, and maybe the stuff 

done, not getting my work done, not 

57

00:03:39,152 --> 00:03:43,223

getting my podcasts produced, not 

getting my posts out there.

58

00:03:44,491 --> 00:03:46,526

I carried a lot of guilt with that, you 

know. 

59

00:03:46,593 --> 00:03:48,895

And as I mentioned, previously, my 

family and I faced

60

00:03:49,929 --> 00:03:51,231

a terrifying ordeal where

61

00:03:53,66 --> 00:03:56,36

our Ranch was threatened by forest fires, 

and we had to evacuate.

62

00:03:56,436 --> 00:03:58,505

In the midst of this chaos, I was 

reminded

63

00:03:59,939 --> 00:04:01,474

of a very fundamental truth,

64

00:04:04,10 --> 00:04:04,344

that trust

65

00:04:05,879 --> 00:04:06,680

is very important.

66

00:04:07,881 --> 00:04:10,417

Personal integrity, trust is important.

67

00:04:11,785 --> 00:04:14,821

And when the world feels like it's 

crumbling down around you or it's on 

68

00:04:14,921 --> 00:04:17,457

fire, you know, the promises that we 

make to ourselves

69

00:04:18,825 --> 00:04:20,493

and others become really important.

70

00:04:22,195 --> 00:04:22,729

They become very distilled,

71

00:04:24,497 --> 00:04:26,666

and you start to realize, oh, I've made 

all these commitments,

72

00:04:27,867 --> 00:04:29,636

not only to myself, but to other 

people. 

73

00:04:29,869 --> 00:04:34,674

And those commitments are like the glue 

that holds together our dreams and our 

74

00:04:34,674 --> 00:04:37,610

passions and our journeys and our 

strategies that we have created in 

75

00:04:37,610 --> 00:04:41,648

order to bring our passions partly, to 

bring our passions to life. 

76

00:04:41,948 --> 00:04:42,182

As entrepreneurs

77

00:04:43,316 --> 00:04:47,320

it's the foundation upon which we build 

who we are as we move forward.

78

00:04:50,90 --> 00:04:52,25

excuse me, building our businesses

79

00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,530

on a foundation that is set with really 

solid commitments.

80

00:04:59,232 --> 00:05:01,234

And follow through is crucial and 

important. 

81

00:05:01,401 --> 00:05:02,836

And as entrepreneurs, keeping our word

82

00:05:04,671 --> 00:05:07,140

it's almost as essential and valuable 

as pain or bills. 

83

00:05:07,941 --> 00:05:09,376

You know, it is the currency of trust.

84

00:05:10,410 --> 00:05:13,880

The trust between you and your clients, 

your you and your teams, your partners,

85

00:05:14,914 --> 00:05:17,150

making sure that you're delivering 

every single time you say you're going 

86

00:05:17,150 --> 00:05:21,321

to deliver, it's also the trust that 

you have in yourself to follow through 

87

00:05:21,454 --> 00:05:22,122

on those commitments.

88

00:05:25,558 --> 00:05:27,961

spoke about this to think in another 

episode or whatever. 

89

00:05:28,261 --> 00:05:30,263

But Tom Bilyeu, who did a

90

00:05:34,334 --> 00:05:37,70

fear, motivational speaking thing, 

talks about

91

00:05:38,672 --> 00:05:40,340

personal integrity from the sense that

92

00:05:41,775 --> 00:05:43,877

if you are changing your schedule

93

00:05:45,211 --> 00:05:48,982

constantly, if you are not meeting your 

goals, meaning, if you are saying to 

94

00:05:48,982 --> 00:05:52,252

yourself, I'm going to be working out 

Tuesdays and Thursdays, I'm going to be 

95

00:05:52,252 --> 00:05:55,789

doing yoga on Wednesdays and Fridays, 

I'm going to make sure that I go to 

96

00:05:55,789 --> 00:05:59,559

lunch with my friends every third 

Tuesday of the month I'm going to be, 

97

00:05:59,626 --> 00:06:02,595

you name it, all those personal 

meetings and things that you have with 

98

00:06:02,595 --> 00:06:05,231

yourself to strategize, to organize, to 

plan whatever.

99

00:06:06,666 --> 00:06:11,137

If you keep moving those around, if you 

keep adjusting your personal schedule 

100

00:06:11,471 --> 00:06:15,141

to accommodate other people and other 

opportunities, what you're doing is 

101

00:06:15,141 --> 00:06:16,843

chipping away at your own personal 

integrity. 

102

00:06:17,610 --> 00:06:21,314

You're telling yourself you're not 

worthy of my time and my attention, 

103

00:06:21,848 --> 00:06:24,918

you're not worthy of being first, 

you're not worthy of being a priority, 

104

00:06:25,318 --> 00:06:28,521

you're not worthy of the things and the 

goals you say you are. 

105

00:06:28,588 --> 00:06:31,624

And you cannot commit to me and commit 

to us. 

106

00:06:32,192 --> 00:06:35,862

So what makes you think you can commit 

to the future, or let it, let alone any 

107

00:06:35,862 --> 00:06:37,564

other big project coming down the line? 

108

00:06:37,931 --> 00:06:41,234

And guess what, when you decide you 

want to do, have, or become something 

109

00:06:41,468 --> 00:06:44,204

Greater than you are to day, what does 

the universe do? 

110

00:06:44,270 --> 00:06:45,405

What does your mind start doing? 

111

00:06:45,472 --> 00:06:48,808

That starts putting ideas of self 

doubt, I'm not worthy, I'm not good 

112

00:06:48,808 --> 00:06:49,776

enough, I may not have enough. 

113

00:06:50,276 --> 00:06:50,577

All the fears,

114

00:06:51,711 --> 00:06:54,514

you know, the fears of failure, fears 

of the unknown, fears of success, fear 

115

00:06:54,581 --> 00:06:56,416

of whatever, all come bubbling up. 

116

00:06:56,516 --> 00:06:56,683

Why? 

117

00:06:56,816 --> 00:06:59,452

Because your personal integrity is at 

risk

118

00:07:00,653 --> 00:07:04,357

because you did not follow through on 

the promises you made to yourself. 

119

00:07:04,758 --> 00:07:06,126

And your brain knows this. 

120

00:07:06,359 --> 00:07:07,961

Your person knows that's your inner. 

121

00:07:08,94 --> 00:07:10,430

You knows this, and it's bringing up 

those. 

122

00:07:10,597 --> 00:07:13,533

Not because it's trying to dissuade 

you, not because it's trying to tell 

123

00:07:13,533 --> 00:07:14,367

you you're not worthy. 

124

00:07:14,668 --> 00:07:18,672

It's trying to point out a discrepancy 

between what you think you deserve and 

125

00:07:18,672 --> 00:07:20,340

at want and the practices. 

126

00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:23,376

You've got to show that you deserve it.

127

00:07:24,911 --> 00:07:25,545

Now that's important. 

128

00:07:25,945 --> 00:07:30,183

So, but billing our promises, not only 

to other people, but to ourselves, it's 

129

00:07:30,183 --> 00:07:30,583

not always easy.

130

00:07:32,18 --> 00:07:34,988

There are always going to be unexpected 

challenges, especially setbacks

131

00:07:36,189 --> 00:07:36,756

in our lives. 

132

00:07:37,223 --> 00:07:38,825

We've decided we want to be an 

entrepreneur. 

133

00:07:39,225 --> 00:07:41,695

We decided we want to launch a 

business, and we want to bring our 

134

00:07:41,695 --> 00:07:42,996

dreams and passions into the world. 

135

00:07:42,996 --> 00:07:44,264

Of course there's going to be 

obstacles. 

136

00:07:44,831 --> 00:07:49,369

You just told the universe that you 

want to do this, that you want to have

137

00:07:49,369 --> 00:07:52,272

this, that you want to become this next 

amazing thing. 

138

00:07:53,73 --> 00:07:56,109

The universe goes, "hey, welcome to the 

Gold's Gym of life dude"

139

00:07:56,276 --> 00:07:56,443

140

00:07:56,743 --> 00:08:00,46

Get and get into the racks. Start 

pumping some iron and do the exercises

141

00:08:00,580 --> 00:08:02,582

to grow. That's what you've got to do.

142

00:08:03,49 --> 00:08:03,717

You've got to grow. 

143

00:08:03,950 --> 00:08:05,452

And in order to grow, you have to face 

resistance.

144

00:08:06,586 --> 00:08:10,890

And in order to face resistance, you 

have to face challenges that build your resiliency

145

00:08:11,958 --> 00:08:12,659

for that very purpose.

146

00:08:14,27 --> 00:08:18,998

This is where integrity comes in, in 

the unwavering it's, the unwavering commitment

147

00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:20,834

to our values,

148

00:08:21,935 --> 00:08:23,403

even in the face of adversity. 

149

00:08:23,870 --> 00:08:26,506

And this is where I think I failed, or 

least

150

00:08:26,573 --> 00:08:29,876

that is why I feel like I failed in the 

face of adversity.

151

00:08:30,176 --> 00:08:33,380

As the forest fires were raging and we 

were evacuating our home,

152

00:08:34,514 --> 00:08:38,418

I didn't get my podcast out, I didn't 

get my work done, I didn't get anything 

153

00:08:38,918 --> 00:08:41,955

really accomplished for nearly three to 

four weeks because I was just so 

154

00:08:42,22 --> 00:08:43,223

distraught with anxiety,

155

00:08:44,357 --> 00:08:47,327

frantic, I couldn't think, couldn't 

focus, you name it. 

156

00:08:47,460 --> 00:08:51,231

And I fell to the best of my habits and 

my abilities and my training. 

157

00:08:51,464 --> 00:08:54,901

And quite frankly, you know, in 

retrospect, I'm not sure they were good enough

158

00:08:56,169 --> 00:08:58,38

for where I need to be and what I want 

to be doing.

159

00:08:58,672 --> 00:09:01,875

And I began to examine that, right? 

160

00:09:05,211 --> 00:09:10,583

Question: How do we maintain integrity and 

keep our promises even when we're under

161

00:09:10,650 --> 00:09:10,817

pressure. 

162

00:09:11,384 --> 00:09:14,421

I'm not, I'll talk in every day 

pressure, all that exists, and it's

163

00:09:14,521 --> 00:09:16,523

real for everybody, that kind of 

pressure. 

164

00:09:16,756 --> 00:09:18,658

But I'm talking about, when big

165

00:09:19,859 --> 00:09:22,996

sh*t hits the fan, how do we do this?

166

00:09:22,996 --> 00:09:25,565

And so there's a couple of steps I want 

to talk about here. 

167

00:09:25,865 --> 00:09:26,433

Four of them.

168

00:09:26,499 --> 00:09:27,534

1. One is, Be Realistic.

169

00:09:29,235 --> 00:09:31,137

My, I heard this from so many friends. 

170

00:09:31,304 --> 00:09:32,339

Michael, you gotta be realistic. 

171

00:09:32,672 --> 00:09:33,73

Um, my gosh.

172

00:09:34,507 --> 00:09:37,310

Your branch was threatened by fire. 

173

00:09:37,544 --> 00:09:40,513

And, you know, you had to evacuate, 

come on, give yourself a break. 

174

00:09:40,747 --> 00:09:41,948

Well, being realistic,

175

00:09:43,550 --> 00:09:46,586

you know, which is, they always say 

don't overcome under promise.

176

00:09:46,820 --> 00:09:47,53

Over deliver,

177

00:09:49,289 --> 00:09:51,558

I'm not sure you can do that with a 

sense of integrity,

178

00:09:52,826 --> 00:09:53,793

because it feels disingenuous. 

179

00:09:54,494 --> 00:09:58,264

If you were to tell yourself, like, I'm 

going, I'm going to under promise this 

180

00:09:58,331 --> 00:09:58,498

dude. 

181

00:09:58,732 --> 00:10:01,768

But over deliver, that feels a bit like 

you're cheating,

182

00:10:02,969 --> 00:10:03,136

right? 

183

00:10:03,536 --> 00:10:05,705

Like, I'm not going to tell you what I 

can deliver,

184

00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:10,510

because I'm going to underpromise you, 

and then I'm an overdeliver on that 

185

00:10:10,510 --> 00:10:10,677

promise. 

186

00:10:10,810 --> 00:10:13,613

Making it look like I could have done 

more like that just feels it 

187

00:10:13,613 --> 00:10:13,780

disingenuous. 

188

00:10:14,514 --> 00:10:14,681

To me,

189

00:10:15,715 --> 00:10:18,818

being realistic means understanding 

what you are capable of delivering,

190

00:10:20,353 --> 00:10:24,357

not only for yourself and other people, 

but what you're capable of delivering, 

191

00:10:24,657 --> 00:10:28,361

giving your timeline kind constraints 

resources, all of it. 

192

00:10:28,728 --> 00:10:30,830

And in the face of a real crisis,

193

00:10:32,98 --> 00:10:35,535

understanding what it means to a, take 

care of yourself and your family, first,

194

00:10:36,670 --> 00:10:43,143

be what you can set aside and see how 

you can make sure that you can get back 

195

00:10:43,209 --> 00:10:43,476

on track.

196

00:10:44,678 --> 00:10:46,179

Is this the challenge you're facing

197

00:10:47,380 --> 00:10:47,547

really? 

198

00:10:47,714 --> 00:10:50,350

Is it so big that you have to put a 

pause on things? 

199

00:10:50,750 --> 00:10:53,787

Is it so big that you need to check in 

with your emotional and psychological 

200

00:10:54,354 --> 00:10:54,688

well being? 

201

00:10:54,921 --> 00:10:58,358

Is it so large that you need to check 

in with your doctor or your family?

202

00:10:59,693 --> 00:11:00,660

Have you done that? 

203

00:11:01,61 --> 00:11:04,30

So be realistic about what that 

challenge looks likes, and be fair to 

204

00:11:04,30 --> 00:11:04,197

yourself. 

205

00:11:04,431 --> 00:11:05,465

But also remember,

206

00:11:07,801 --> 00:11:10,737

if you're going to, if you're going to 

make a promise, and I don't feel like 

207

00:11:10,737 --> 00:11:12,38

we should be promising anybody 

anything. 

208

00:11:12,172 --> 00:11:13,640

We don't make promises. 

209

00:11:13,940 --> 00:11:15,709

We might make a guarantee of delivery, 

of services. 

210

00:11:16,176 --> 00:11:17,544

You might make a guarantee of 

satisfaction.

211

00:11:19,946 --> 00:11:22,182

You can't promise anyone anything. 

212

00:11:22,816 --> 00:11:24,184

The world doesn't work that way. 

213

00:11:24,250 --> 00:11:25,218

And there are no guarantees. 

214

00:11:25,719 --> 00:11:27,620

And tomorrow is promised to no one. 

215

00:11:28,121 --> 00:11:30,824

What you can do is be consistent with 

your word and your delivery. 

216

00:11:31,57 --> 00:11:32,659

We are quality of your product and your 

services. 

217

00:11:32,992 --> 00:11:35,528

And ensure your clients and your 

customers that they're going to get the

218

00:11:35,528 --> 00:11:35,695

best. 

219

00:11:37,797 --> 00:11:40,100

The best on time in the timeline 

mentioned.

220

00:11:41,634 --> 00:11:41,935

Under promising

221

00:11:43,136 --> 00:11:44,437

and overdelivering just suggests

222

00:11:45,472 --> 00:11:48,842

to me that you could have done more, 

and your brain knows that. 

223

00:11:48,908 --> 00:11:49,943

Your mind knows that. 

224

00:11:50,10 --> 00:11:53,480

And now your integrity is now 

compromised because you did less than

225

00:11:53,546 --> 00:11:54,280

you could have done.

226

00:11:55,315 --> 00:11:57,550

And your brain knows this it's keeping 

score dude.

227

00:11:57,717 --> 00:12:00,920

That's why it's going to come up with 

these ideas and these thoughts of self 

228

00:12:00,987 --> 00:12:04,591

worth and self value that suggests 

you're not worthy because you don't 

229

00:12:04,891 --> 00:12:06,126

live up to your best. 

230

00:12:06,259 --> 00:12:07,160

You're living up to your

231

00:12:09,62 --> 00:12:10,830

sub par right here. 

232

00:12:11,398 --> 00:12:14,434

Because it's easier to under promise 

and over deliver on that promise than 

233

00:12:14,434 --> 00:12:17,771

it is to actually over deliver on a 

bigger promise, to overpromise,

234

00:12:18,838 --> 00:12:19,873

to try to do more. 

235

00:12:20,273 --> 00:12:21,941

I don't think there's any need to do 

more. 

236

00:12:22,409 --> 00:12:24,44

Just deliver what you say you're going 

to deliver. 

237

00:12:24,577 --> 00:12:28,581

Just give the customer what they need, 

where they need it, when they need it.

238

00:12:30,250 --> 00:12:32,919

Your client, your customer, your team, 

whatever it is.

239

00:12:34,354 --> 00:12:37,857

If you can't deliver, be honest and be 

realistic about what that means

240

00:12:39,59 --> 00:12:39,459

it's ok. 

241

00:12:39,859 --> 00:12:43,463

If you can't do it all it's ok that it 

can't all be done right now. 

242

00:12:44,264 --> 00:12:45,398

But be realistic about that.

243

00:12:45,632 --> 00:12:46,599

2. Communicate Transparently,

244

00:12:48,335 --> 00:12:51,304

be honest about the challenges and the 

delays that are coming. 

245

00:12:51,705 --> 00:12:52,739

If you're faced with a super

246

00:12:54,441 --> 00:12:59,79

big challenge, if you're faced with a 

skies me, a crisis that you have to 

247

00:12:59,79 --> 00:13:03,83

overcome, that you have to deal with, 

then you need to be honest with your 

248

00:13:03,149 --> 00:13:06,19

clients, your customers, your teams, 

your families, your people. 

249

00:13:06,419 --> 00:13:07,320

You need to let them know. 

250

00:13:07,554 --> 00:13:11,224

I started a huge chat group for my 

entire family because I couldn't 

251

00:13:11,391 --> 00:13:12,92

contact every individual

252

00:13:13,293 --> 00:13:14,661

separately to talk about this. 

253

00:13:14,994 --> 00:13:16,196

In fact, I didn't want to. 

254

00:13:16,663 --> 00:13:18,198

I just like, do here's the information. 

255

00:13:18,998 --> 00:13:19,866

You know that I'm safe. 

256

00:13:20,100 --> 00:13:21,67

Please keep up with it. 

257

00:13:21,234 --> 00:13:22,435

Don't ask me any more questions. 

258

00:13:22,569 --> 00:13:25,538

I'm overwhelmed, and it's good to be 

clear. 

259

00:13:25,705 --> 00:13:28,441

You've got to be clear with people what 

you need and where you are. 

260

00:13:28,575 --> 00:13:30,176

And that comes in the form of

261

00:13:31,378 --> 00:13:34,514

making sure that if you're being 

realistic about the challenges and the 

262

00:13:34,748 --> 00:13:36,516

delivery of those promises that you've 

made,

263

00:13:38,184 --> 00:13:41,855

then you're also being realistic about 

how you can communicate this through to 

264

00:13:41,855 --> 00:13:44,824

your team, your clients and your 

customers about what's happening right 

265

00:13:44,991 --> 00:13:49,62

now in the face of a current crisis or 

dilemma, so that they can be prepared 

266

00:13:49,295 --> 00:13:51,931

and understand there could be a delay 

in the delivery of these services

267

00:13:53,66 --> 00:13:53,400

or these products,

268

00:13:54,501 --> 00:13:56,269

these promises that were kept,

269

00:13:57,303 --> 00:13:58,738

they will understand if they know you

270

00:13:59,873 --> 00:14:01,7

3. Set Clear Expectations.

271

00:14:01,708 --> 00:14:04,577

You cannot set clear expectations 

without being realistic. 

272

00:14:05,311 --> 00:14:07,781

Make sure everyone on your team is on 

the same page. 

273

00:14:07,947 --> 00:14:11,51

Make sure your customers and your 

clients are on the same page, makes so 

274

00:14:11,51 --> 00:14:15,622

they all understand exactly where you 

are, and set a new set of expectations, 

275

00:14:16,356 --> 00:14:19,959

create a new set of clear expectations 

about what is being delivered, when 

276

00:14:19,959 --> 00:14:23,229

it's being delivered, what the delay 

looks like, how long you think it 

277

00:14:23,229 --> 00:14:25,298

should be, and when you can get back on 

your feet

278

00:14:26,499 --> 00:14:27,701

or get things back up and running.

279

00:14:29,235 --> 00:14:29,469

If it's

280

00:14:30,737 --> 00:14:32,439

five days, give yourself seven. 

281

00:14:32,839 --> 00:14:35,475

If it's ten days, give yourself 

thirteen.

282

00:14:36,576 --> 00:14:40,814

Like you gotta be realistic and create 

the same buffer we create in there for 

283

00:14:40,814 --> 00:14:44,184

delivering on timelines, the same 

buffer we create for margins of 

284

00:14:44,184 --> 00:14:46,286

excellence and production and services 

and efficiency. 

285

00:14:47,53 --> 00:14:51,725

You need to offer yourself that same 

margin of performance when coming out 

286

00:14:51,958 --> 00:14:53,960

of and on to the other side. 

287

00:14:54,260 --> 00:14:54,661

Of a crisis.

288

00:14:56,262 --> 00:15:00,100

So many things, unexpected, variables 

can happen as a result of getting to 

289

00:15:00,100 --> 00:15:04,738

the other side, that you thought five 

days was enough, clearly not, it was eight,

290

00:15:05,872 --> 00:15:07,640

or I thought ten days would be plenty. 

291

00:15:07,941 --> 00:15:08,908

Clearly not, it was 15.

292

00:15:10,176 --> 00:15:14,114

And if you don't give yourself that 

buffer, you might find yourself stuck 

293

00:15:14,347 --> 00:15:17,717

in a situation where you're going to 

fumble and fall, and it could set you 

294

00:15:17,717 --> 00:15:18,251

back even further.

295

00:15:19,719 --> 00:15:20,20

Number 4.

296

00:15:21,388 --> 00:15:21,688

Take Responsibility,

297

00:15:25,859 --> 00:15:26,92

this is

298

00:15:28,28 --> 00:15:28,328

ours, our responsibility,

299

00:15:29,629 --> 00:15:30,30

all of it,

300

00:15:31,297 --> 00:15:31,798

all of it. 

301

00:15:32,265 --> 00:15:35,702

Like Alex Hormozi says, you can 

eliminate everything in the world when

302

00:15:35,702 --> 00:15:39,472

it comes down to it, have you done 

everything you can? 

303

00:15:39,773 --> 00:15:40,440

Have you taken responsibility,

304

00:15:41,541 --> 00:15:46,46

every single aspect of every single 

part of this that you possibly can, and 

305

00:15:46,112 --> 00:15:49,616

then owning up to the potential 

mistakes, delays, or the work, the 

306

00:15:49,616 --> 00:15:52,352

extra work that might need to get done 

in order to make things right.

307

00:15:53,620 --> 00:15:54,821

Owning and taking responsibility

308

00:15:56,489 --> 00:15:59,59

and accountability is what we have to 

do as leaders.

309

00:16:00,93 --> 00:16:02,996

It doesn't mean that we have all the 

answers, and it doesn't mean that it's 

310

00:16:03,63 --> 00:16:03,463

our fault. 

311

00:16:03,930 --> 00:16:07,801

But it does mean we're the ones capable 

and responsible enough to step up to 

312

00:16:07,801 --> 00:16:12,272

find the solution to get us to the next 

stage to get us past this moment of 

313

00:16:12,272 --> 00:16:14,441

delay and crisis and on to the other 

side. 

314

00:16:14,741 --> 00:16:17,711

That's what great leaders can do, 

right? 

315

00:16:18,511 --> 00:16:19,546

And you can help find solutions.

316

00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:22,816

Let people know that you're taking 

responsibility in accountability. 

317

00:16:23,49 --> 00:16:26,119

You put things into place in order to 

make sure that we can get to the other 

318

00:16:26,119 --> 00:16:27,153

side and you're going to move through.

319

00:16:28,988 --> 00:16:30,357

So take responsibility, right? 

320

00:16:30,423 --> 00:16:32,192

Those are the four steps when you keep 

your promises,

321

00:16:34,494 --> 00:16:35,962

both to yourself and other people. 

322

00:16:36,96 --> 00:16:39,866

By the way, you build a reputation of 

reliability, trustworthiness and 

323

00:16:39,933 --> 00:16:40,100

loyalty. 

324

00:16:40,667 --> 00:16:44,270

This, this attracts loyal customers and 

strengthens your brand and your team 

325

00:16:44,437 --> 00:16:48,41

cohesion and creates a culture of 

mutual respect and accountability.

326

00:16:49,476 --> 00:16:52,846

By being realistic, communicating, 

transparently, setting clear 

327

00:16:52,979 --> 00:16:54,14

expectations and taking responsibility,

328

00:16:55,615 --> 00:16:55,949

you can,

329

00:16:59,52 --> 00:17:02,489

you can help overcome the biggest 

crisis, the large crises that are 

330

00:17:02,489 --> 00:17:05,859

coming down the road, the big fires 

that we're facing, both virtually and 

331

00:17:05,859 --> 00:17:07,560

figuratively, and well, realistically.

332

00:17:10,597 --> 00:17:10,830

You can

333

00:17:13,233 --> 00:17:15,769

practice how to address crisis 

management

334

00:17:17,704 --> 00:17:21,541

in a way that says, we are always going 

to be prepared to answer these, fully, 

335

00:17:22,275 --> 00:17:23,710

account it with accountability and 

realistically.

336

00:17:25,211 --> 00:17:28,14

And we will, of course, make sure that 

everybody knows what's coming down the 

337

00:17:28,14 --> 00:17:28,181

road. 

338

00:17:28,815 --> 00:17:29,849

You know the

339

00:17:31,217 --> 00:17:35,155

part of building not only what I do 

with motivational speaking and "Making

340

00:17:35,288 --> 00:17:36,823

Fear Your Friend", but also with the 

coaching and consulting

341

00:17:38,191 --> 00:17:43,396

at the Ascend Hub, when I bring in the 

leaders and coaches and mentors, they

342

00:17:43,463 --> 00:17:49,135

will help us learn how to set clear 

expectations, take responsibility, be 

343

00:17:49,235 --> 00:17:50,270

realistic and communicate transparently.

344

00:17:51,371 --> 00:17:53,6

We will talk about crisis management. 

345

00:17:53,373 --> 00:17:55,141

We will talk about adversity, 

preparation. 

346

00:17:55,775 --> 00:17:56,576

We will talk about

347

00:17:57,777 --> 00:18:00,747

personal integrity and promises 

kept and promises

348

00:18:01,848 --> 00:18:02,415

not kept. 

349

00:18:02,582 --> 00:18:05,318

We will look at those things in our 

workshops and our classes and our 

350

00:18:05,318 --> 00:18:08,188

coaching sessions to talk about how we 

can be better to ourselves.

351

00:18:10,423 --> 00:18:12,525

Now I'm not saying better to other 

people.

352

00:18:12,592 --> 00:18:16,262

Because when you're better to yourself, 

when you work on doing that for 

353

00:18:16,329 --> 00:18:20,266

yourself, when you can learn to operate 

from this side of the fence, keeping 

354

00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,703

true to your own integrity and your own 

self values, in your word, to yourself

355

00:18:24,904 --> 00:18:26,673

first before everything else,

356

00:18:27,774 --> 00:18:29,476

then every one else benefits

357

00:18:30,677 --> 00:18:35,48

with the same results, with the same 

outcomes, with the same delivery.

358

00:18:36,816 --> 00:18:38,985

You don't have to make promises to 

other people. 

359

00:18:39,152 --> 00:18:42,255

Because if you've done it to yourself, 

if you've made sure that you're 

360

00:18:42,355 --> 00:18:45,458

realistic, if you've made sure you 

communicate transparently, if you set 

361

00:18:45,558 --> 00:18:49,295

clear expectations and take 

responsibility, and you adhere to the 

362

00:18:49,295 --> 00:18:53,466

promises you kept for yourself, your 

own personal integrity, everything else 

363

00:18:53,633 --> 00:18:55,1

Falls perfectly into place. 

364

00:18:55,68 --> 00:18:56,436

And you don't have to

365

00:18:58,271 --> 00:18:59,305

under promise and over deliver. 

366

00:18:59,639 --> 00:19:00,440

You don't have to do that

367

00:19:01,541 --> 00:19:01,708

right? 

368

00:19:01,941 --> 00:19:02,509

You just deliver. 

369

00:19:03,209 --> 00:19:06,346

And you deliver every time, because 

that's who you are, that's what you do.

370

00:19:06,513 --> 00:19:10,250

And people know it, and they know that 

if there's a problem, you're going to 

371

00:19:10,250 --> 00:19:12,352

let them know, and you're going to be 

transparent about it.

372

00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:15,622

So at the Ascend Hub we're going to 

bring that.

373

00:19:16,256 --> 00:19:20,26

We're going to try to create workshops 

and coaching classes and live 

374

00:19:20,360 --> 00:19:23,296

discussion forums where we get to talk 

about these things. 

375

00:19:23,697 --> 00:19:26,599

If you're in a place of crisis, you 

need support in the community. 

376

00:19:27,233 --> 00:19:28,501

We believe in the power of integrity,

377

00:19:29,869 --> 00:19:32,839

building on that community 

collaboration where entrepreneurs, 

378

00:19:33,373 --> 00:19:36,176

leaders and executives and mentors can 

come together to support one another 

379

00:19:36,509 --> 00:19:37,944

and uphold our commitments,

380

00:19:38,978 --> 00:19:42,282

navigating our personal and our 

professional challenges together and 

381

00:19:42,515 --> 00:19:44,17

leading with unwavering values. 

382

00:19:44,751 --> 00:19:45,719

That's what we're going to do. 

383

00:19:45,785 --> 00:19:47,721

That's what's coming, special are going 

on. 

384

00:19:47,721 --> 00:19:50,523

Now make sure you check out all the 

links and stuff in the bio, or whatever 

385

00:19:50,657 --> 00:19:51,157

the show notes.

386

00:19:53,226 --> 00:19:56,996

I check us out at the AscendHub.com 

to find out more, because I really

387

00:19:56,996 --> 00:19:58,431

think this going to be a big game 

changer. 

388

00:19:58,431 --> 00:20:02,168

I think it can be incredible for a lot 

of people join us on this journey to 

389

00:20:02,168 --> 00:20:03,870

create a world where trust

390

00:20:05,138 --> 00:20:06,573

is our currency of success.

391

00:20:07,941 --> 00:20:09,142

When we talk about defining success

392

00:20:10,510 --> 00:20:14,981

together, we can ascend to new 

heights, both professionally and personally.

393

00:20:16,116 --> 00:20:18,184

And we can get their faster farther 

together. 

394

00:20:18,818 --> 00:20:20,820

The stand hub me to the power of we

395

00:20:23,456 --> 00:20:25,158

know where every ambition finds its 

spark. 

396

00:20:25,625 --> 00:20:27,327

So thank you for joining me. 

397

00:20:27,460 --> 00:20:28,94

Episode 43,

398

00:20:29,396 --> 00:20:34,200

promises kept under fire, rerecording 

all these episodes this week in this 

399

00:20:34,267 --> 00:20:34,668

same shirt. 

400

00:20:35,235 --> 00:20:37,70

It's, ok, we'll get better. 

401

00:20:37,771 --> 00:20:38,171

We will improve.

402

00:20:40,507 --> 00:20:42,676

Do some fearless thinking this week. 

403

00:20:42,909 --> 00:20:43,877

Be good to one another. 

404

00:20:44,577 --> 00:20:45,378

I'll see you in the next episode.

405

00:20:45,712 --> 00:20:45,879

Ok, Bye!

406

00:20:46,513 --> 00:20:46,579