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ambitiousadulting101

Leadership Specialist | Business & Process Optimization | Helping Teams Build Confidence and Deliver Results
Great post from @addiction.motivation for today. Great post from @addiction.motivation for today.
The @ambitiousadulting101 Newsletter just dropped! The @ambitiousadulting101 Newsletter just dropped! If you’ve ever watched two Little Leaguers run for the same pop fly… …you already understand how most teams handle accountability. 😅⚾️ This week’s edition of the Ambitious Adulting 101 newsletter dives into “The Pop Fly Principle” — a fun (and painfully true) look at how the best teams communicate, cover, and win together through joint accountability. 👉 Head over to my Newsletter page (in my bio) and give it a read/subscribe #LeadershipDevelopment #Teamwork #NewsletterDrop #JointAccountability #ProfessionalGrowth #LinkedInReads #WorkplaceCulture
You never forget your first… …management book You never forget your first… …management book. The Oz Principle was mine. Handed to me by my manager at @guitarcenter, @andyrecipe right before he moved on to become the District Manager. His message? “You’ve got more in you—start here.” Not long after, another manager— @dude_bro_dude117 —handed me “Good to Great” and said: “Now you’re ready for the big boy books…” And just like that, the course of my career shifted. Those two books weren’t just suggestions. They were invitations to step into leadership. Without their mentorship, I don’t know if I’d be coaching today. Or writing this post. Or even thinking this way. So I’ll ask you: What was your first leadership or management book? Who gave it to you? Tag them. Say thanks. Or just let them know they lit the spark. (Also… it helps my @instagram algorithm. Hook a rookie coach out!!! 😉) You never forget your first. #Leadership #Mentorship #GoodToGreat #TheOzPrinciple #CareerGrowth #AmbitiousAdulting #CoachingLife #Gratitude #IGLeadership
One minute can change everything. Before every on One minute can change everything. Before every one-on-one coaching session… We. Just. Breathe. One full minute. No talking. No distractions. Just presence. I got the idea from surgeons—they pause before every major procedure. If it works for them… why not for us? Truth is: That moment of breath has become one of the best parts of my day. It slows me down. It sharpens my focus. It brings me back to myself. And it’s something we all have access to—anytime. Want to lead better? Think clearer? Feel grounded? Start with the breath. #pause #mindset #leadership #coaching #emotionalintelligence #breathe #ambitiousadulting101 #reset #presence
Hit pause before you hit send. (Your future self w Hit pause before you hit send. (Your future self will thank you.) In this week’s post: 👉 The difference between reacting and responding 👉 Why slowing down is a power move 👉 A 5-question Timeout Checklist that every ambitious adult needs in their toolkit Let’s normalize the pause. That’s where real leadership lives. (Link to read more in my Bio) #AmbitiousAdulting #MindfulLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipTips #CareerGrowth #Adulting101 #PauseAndReflect #RespondNotReact
This is the way. Theres the mood you have and the This is the way. Theres the mood you have and the mood you choose. It is worth the work. 💪
Emotional Intelligence ≠ Being Nice (No more “ Emotional Intelligence ≠ Being Nice (No more “Mr. Nice Guy…”) I don’t know how it goes in your city, but in my home in Ventura, I’ve seen and heard people say blatantly false things at public meetings. I’ve seen social media “influencers” spread misinformation/disinformation for clout. And I’ve heard this same response over and over: “Yeah, but they mean well.” “But they’re so nice…” Let’s clear something up. Emotional Intelligence isn’t about being “agreeable”. It’s not some tactic or strategy that HR managers use to de-escalate all problems all the time and get people to “play nice.” It’s about being aware—and choosing an appropriate response in words, feelings, and actions. EQ doesn’t mean you nod along with nonsense. It means you have the ability to call out ridiculousness—without losing your cool. It means you stay calm in the face of lunacy. It means you stop mistaking “politeness” for integrity. Authority doesn’t come from what you accept. It comes from what you decline. (And we are remembered much more for what we decline than what we accept.) Kindness ≠ passivity. Civility ≠ silence. If your EQ doesn’t come with backbone, it’s not EQ—it’s performative people-pleasing. One more time, in case you missed it… Emotional Intelligence ≠ Being Nice (No more “Mr. Nice Guy…”) ⸻ This week’s newsletter is all about emotional intelligence—and why it’s the skill that I teach that will get you ahead. (Read and subscribe in the bio.)
Stop “Checking In.” Start Connecting. “I ho Stop “Checking In.” Start Connecting. “I hope this email finds you well…” 🤖 “I just wanted to check in…” 🥴 “How are you, really?” 😬 We’ve all heard them. We’ve all used them. But here’s the truth: Relational fluff creates distance—not connection. Even when you do care, scripted openers can make you sound robotic and make the other person feel like a task on your to-do list. If you’re using your task list to check in with people… You’re doing it wrong. ✅ Emotional Intelligence helps you lead with presence, not pretense. ✅ It helps you show up with clarity, calm, and care—especially when it’s uncomfortable. Drop the script. Be direct. Be warm. Be human. Real connection doesn’t come from checking in. It comes from actually connecting. 📩 Missed yesterday’s Ambitious Adulting 101 newsletter? You’ll want to catch it. [link in bio]
We’ve been taught that the smartest person wins. We’ve been taught that the smartest person wins. Get the degrees. Collect the certifications. Stack the systems. Sharpen the skills. I’ve learned that the people with the most credentials aren’t always the ones we follow. It’s the ones who stay calm in chaos, make others feel seen, and lead with humanity. In this week’s edition of the Ambitious Adulting 101 newsletter, I explore why emotional intelligence still beats raw intellect— and why it’s the one skill no AI course can replace. (Link in Bio) #EmotionalIntelligence #LeadershipDevelopment #FutureOfWork #HumanSkills #IsUsingHashtagsWhyImGettingSoMuchSpam
MID-YEAR CHECK-IN!!! ::Everyone groans:: No hype. MID-YEAR CHECK-IN!!! ::Everyone groans:: No hype. No guilt trip. Just an honest look in the mirror. Halfway through the year is the perfect time to pause and ask: 👉 What’s still working? 👉 What needs to go? 👉 What needs to be retired—not just repeated? This week I updated my agreements with myself—not affirmations, but real commitments that shape how I show up. Here are a few I’m adding: • I model clarity, calm, and competence. • I speak to empower, not impress. • I use humor to connect, not deflect. • I act with integrity and reinvent when needed. • I walk away from relationships that don’t share my values. • And: “Don’t put it down, put it away.” Success doesn’t come from motivation. It comes from maintenance. So I’ll ask you: What agreements do you need to upgrade? Sometimes the boldest move isn’t charging ahead— It’s pausing to rewrite the rules you’re living by.
The best mentors aren’t the smartest—they’re The best mentors aren’t the smartest—they’re the most consistent. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from my mentors isn’t about “brilliance or breakthrough strategies”. It’s about dependability. The ability to hold my commitments. Showing up. Following through. Next commitment. 🔁 Sounds simple, right? But in a world full of “inspiration junkies” and “calendar chaos”/“apologetic ‘they’ll-understand-rescheduled meetings” showing up consistently is a novel superpower. (SHAME ON US!) In studying “The Elements of Mentoring” by Johnson and Ridley this morning, this line stuck out: “Refusing to shortchange a protégé may be one of the most salient traits of an excellent mentor.” ::mic drop:: Many of us want to mentor others but we’re tired. We’re busy. We’re overcommitted. (Guilty… who’s with me on this one?) Here’s what I’ve learned: I don’t commit unless I know I’ll show up. (And my friends know that if it’s not “in my calendar” it doesn’t exist- I didn’t commit.) That frustrates people sometimes, but it’s intentional. (I’m sorry AND you’re welcome… 😇😈) I’d rather be known for being dependable than for spreading myself too thin and breaking promises. Today, I’m celebrating the mentors who: -Answer the text -Show up when it’s inconvenient -Return the promised work with thoughtful comments -Say, “I’ll be there”—and are Because the world doesn’t just need smarter leaders. It needs steadier ones. Don’t allow your only consistency to be that you’re inconsistent.
“Everybody loves a hero… not so much when they “Everybody loves a hero… not so much when they fall short. Try to keep your cape on underneath…” – Butch Walker, from his song “Be Good Until Then” In the world of mentorship or coaching, we often think we need to show up with our cape on. Flawless. Confident. Certain. A model of “mastery”. I believe that mentorship isn’t about conquering every fear or erasing every flaw. As Johnson and Ridley put it in “The Elements of Mentoring”, exceptional mentors aren’t models of “mastery”—they’re models of “coping”. They don’t pretend they’ve outgrown struggle. They show how to walk through it—to face it with courage, reflection, and resilience. That’s the kind of mentor I want to be. (And the kind of mentor I’m still learning to become.) I think that’s why I write the way I do- it felt especially true as I wrote yesterday’s newsletter on receiving feedback. I aim to help others grow while still be figuring things out. After all, I’m much closer to Clark Kent than Superman… 😉 #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #AmbitiousAdulting101 #EmotionalIntelligence #ResilientLeadership #LifelongLearning
Ever feel like feedback is a personal attack—eve Ever feel like feedback is a personal attack—even when it isn’t? This week’s edition of the Ambitious Adulting 101 newsletter, I talk about one of the toughest skills high achievers must master: how to take feedback without falling apart. If you’ve ever spiraled after a “this needs work” comment or obsessed over the one person who didn’t clap, I feel you... Feel free to forward it to someone who’s still recovering from their last performance review... 😅 (Link to read, in bio) #LeadershipDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #AmbitiousAdulting #CareerGrowth #FeedbackMatters #SelfAwareness #ProfessionalDevelopment #ThanksForTheFeedback #GrowthMindset #HighAchievers
What is mentorship? I’ve been reading every boo What is mentorship? I’ve been reading every book I can find on the topic lately (yes, there’s a whole folder in my Notes app…), and I think I finally found a definition worth sharing. From The Elements of Mentoring by W. Brad Johnson & Charles Ridley: “Mentorship is a dynamic, reciprocal relationship where a more experienced person acts as a guide, role model, teacher, and sponsor.” Not just advice. Not just check-ins. Legacy work. Mentorship isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about showing up, being real, and slowing down long enough to actually listen. And yeah—sometimes your protégé teaches you just as much. Here’s what I’ve learned: • Great mentors start as great protégés. • Leading often looks like following. • Mentorship is built on mutual trust and a willingness to say, “Let’s figure it out together.” When it works? Everyone wins: ✅ Protégés gain confidence and clarity ✅ Mentors rediscover purpose and perspective ✅ Organizations retain top talent and grow stronger teams And for the record: the word “mentor” comes from Homer’s Odyssey—Mentor was the trusted guide for Telemachus while Odysseus was off doing Odysseus things… So if you’re asking yourself, “Am I ready to be a mentor?” You probably already are. Just remember: You don’t have to be the hero. You just have to help them become theirs. #MentorshipMatters #LeadershipDevelopment #LifelongLearning #CareerAdvice #PersonalGrowth
Leadership Isn’t a Lecture. It’s a Liftoff. E Leadership Isn’t a Lecture. It’s a Liftoff. Ever try mentoring someone and think, “Why aren’t they getting it?” Most of us were taught to teach like we were taught to learn—talk, listen, quiz, repeat. That works for computers. Not for people. Humans need mentorship. Not monologues. John C. Maxwell says it best: 1. I do it. 2. I do it — you watch. 3. You do it — I watch. 4. You do it. It’s simple, but most people don’t have the patience for that. We give vague direction, throw in some busywork, and wonder why they fail. Want to be a great mentor? Don’t just help someone grow—teach them how to help others grow. That’s not just leadership. That’s legacy. Don’t hand them the manual. Fly with them until they’re ready to soar. #LeadershipIsALiftoff #MentorshipMatters #PeopleDevelopment #LeadByExample #HumanFirstLeadership #OnTheJobTraining #TransformationalLeadership
I had to be humbled… again. I started reading e I had to be humbled… again. I started reading every book I could on mentorship to write a great book. But somewhere along the way, I realized… I wasn’t just researching. I was being corrected. I’ve always prided myself on being a strong leader—but I often rush in thinking I know a better way, instead of really listening. So lately, I’ve been practicing something harder than leadership: Followership. Slowing down. Holding my opinions. Letting myself be taught. Mentorship, at its best, is a reciprocal relationship—built on trust, curiosity, and a willingness to grow together. As John Maxwell says, some leaders spend time with people. Great leaders invest it. This journey isn’t just about writing a book. It’s about becoming someone worth learning from—because I’m still learning, too. You’re not as smart as you think you are, Josh. (But you’re still pretty smart.) 😉
Who Are You Listening To? When I was touring as a Who Are You Listening To? When I was touring as a musician, 99 people could say they loved the show—but I’d obsess over the 1 who didn’t. It still happens. Last night I was at a mixer surrounded by support… But I saw the one guy who doesn’t like me. Tried to include him. He rolled his eyes. Guess what I’ve been thinking about all morning? (Yup. “The Social Mixer Scrooge”.) Why does one dismissive moment outweigh a room full of connection? It’s not just insecurity. It’s biology—we’re wired to spot threats. But we can rewire. Here’s what I’m practicing: 1. Decide who gets to give you feedback. Not everyone’s earned that right. 2. Keep a highlight reel. Save kind messages. I carry a coin. It holds proof that I’m not an imposter. 3. Train your focus. Every thought isn’t worth listening to. Every eye-roll doesn’t deserve your energy. So I’ll ask again… Who are you listening to? (And yes, that is Mookie Betts watching me sing the National Anthem…)
Midweek Check-In!!! By Wednesday, most people fal Midweek Check-In!!! By Wednesday, most people fall into one of two camps: 1. “How is it already Wednesday?” (And…) 2. “It’s ONLY Wednesday?” (There’s also a third camp… but mostly if York’s a Vulcan…) 3. “It’s Wednesday.” -Spock 🖖🏻 All are fair…. but here’s the question I think we should all be asking: “Is what I’m doing RIGHT NOW moving me closer to the life I want?” Not in a dramatic, “overhaul-your-entire-life” way. In a tiny, measurable, decision-by-decision way. That email you avoided sending? That feedback you brushed off? That boundary you didn’t set (again)? Each of these shape your trajectory. And isn’t about having every step planned out perfectly—it’s about course-correcting early when we notice that we’re beginning to drift. Today’s a great day to check your compass. After all, every move we make (or don’t) moves us towards or away from the actual life we want… What’s one small move you can make today to get back on track? After all… it’s already, only… Wednesday. (Good luck… 😉) #LeadershipDevelopment #MidweekMotivation #Coaching #PersonalGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment
Feeling stuck? It might not be you. It might be th Feeling stuck? It might not be you. It might be the system you’re in. This week’s newsletter breaks down why high-achievers can struggle with “fun,” how feedback (even imagined) can boost performance, and what to do when motivation goes missing. Spoiler: You’re not lazy. You’re just running on someone else’s playbook. Read or subscribe to the newsletter by following the link in the bio. #MotivationHacks #LeadershipTips #NewsletterDrop #WorkSmarter #GrowthMindset
Spent the morning with the @venturachamber and ov Spent the morning with the @venturachamber and over 125 reps from different businesses across Ventura. Thanks to @jenncaldwell33 for snagging these bad larrys… ☺️ If you’re tired of repeating yourself 59 times and need someone who can finally get your team to listen, learn, and take action—let’s talk. #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamTraining #EmployeeEngagement #BusinessGrowth #WorkplaceCulture #ProfessionalDevelopment #CommunicationSkills
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