Do good things. You may find out years later what they meant to someone. At this past week’s Horse Racing Women's Summit, I got to witness the power of small acts made into big meaning during a conversation between Gayle Van Leer and Jessica Pacquette. Jessica is a young race announcer at parx casino . Gayle is a respected bloodstock agent with a long history of impactful jobs in racing in California. One of those was as a farm manager for Golden Eagle Farm. As part of Gayle’s tenure at Golden Eagle, they used to give out keychains with names of their important horse, Event Of The Year. This gift was as part of Trudy McCaffery’s program called Kids to The Cup, intended to send young kids to important races. As Gayle mentioned Golden Eagle Farm, Jessica lit up with so much passion and said that she got one of those Event of the Year keychains as part of her participation in Kids to the Cup. Jessica said that she has had the keychain for I think 13 years. She was one of the horse crazy girls without an opportunity to be around horses who benefited from the Kids to the Cup program. She said that she still keeps in touch with the other kids from the Kids to the Cup program. Apparently, out of the 15 in her cohort, at least 7 she knows of are still part of the Thoroughbred industry. We may not always know the immediate impact and consequence of a small kind act or a program designed to do good. Golden Eagle Farm no longer runs and it isn’t clear to me whether Kids to the Cup still does. A 2016 press release said that another bloodstock agent, Sean Feld , was working on getting it revived. But regardless of whether the original organizations exist, their legacy lives on through people like Jessica who now have a positive impact on others watching her career rise up. Never doubt the power of a small act to have a large ripple effect. PS: Was there a time when a small act changed your life trajectory? #WomenInRacing #KidsToTheCup #LegacyAndLeadership #InspiringStories #HorseRacingLegacy
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When my Mom was in management, at some point she took the time to compare project financial and time projections to actual. The factor was a consistent 2.5x. Yep. It’s always harder, takes longer, and costs more than you expect. The good old 80/20 Pareto’s principle at work. We tend to plan for the well for the first 80% that takes the first 20% of the time and money, and not so well for the remaining 20% that takes the remaining 80% of the time and money.
Sharing the systems I used to build a $100M+ business | ADHD is my superpower | Bestselling Author | Keynote Speaker | Business Coach
My top-10 favorite tools to boost productivity: (beware: things will probably still take longer than you want) 1. Superhuman Email Answering emails has never been so much fun. Seriously. There's something magical about this user experience. Yes, it's just email. Yes, it's like $30/month. Yes, it is absolutely worth it. I have never loved a software more. 2. News Feed Eradicator Simple free Chrome plugin that "eradicates" the news feed on any social platform. Twitter is a great tool for creators. But the feed is designed to suck you into doomscrolling. Not anymore. 3. Boom Boom If you aren't leveraging the power of "smell" to get into hyperfocus/flow state, then you're missing out on one of the most powerful tools in the box. BoomBoom are scent sticks (I use Peppermint and Cinnamon) that prime your brain for "doing" in an instant. 4. 8 Sleep Mattress Productivity stems from Focus. Focus stems from Energy. Energy stems from Nutrition and Sleep. Want to get more done? Get better Sleep. (Besides, it feels good). **this mattress is the best investment I've ever made** 5. Brain.FM Binaural Beats > White Noise Music designed to prime the brain for deep work. I'm listening to binaural beats as we speak. 6. Standing Desk We all sit too much. If you're constantly stiff and achy, with terrible posture... then do yourself a favor and get a variable desk so you can stand up every hour or so. Great for bloodflow and overall energy levels. 7. Daily Meditation We've all heard the benefits of meditation. Let's not beat that dead-horse. Instead, just find an app that'll guide you through a daily meditation and get to it,. Two of my favorites: 1. Calm 2. Headspace 8. Alter Ego If you want to be your most productive self, then tap into this trick o[f top-performing athletes.. Create an Alter Ego. The book The Alter Ego Effect by Todd Herman will show you how to do just that. 9. Noise Canceling Headphones I can't imagine working without a good pair of noise canceling headphones. *I'm wearing the Sony WH1000XM3 as we speak* This is the best $200 you'll ever spend. 10. Implementation Intention Set an alarm to go off randomly throughout the day. Have it ping you with the question: What's my outcome? This is a pattern interrupt that'll often catch you in the middle of a time-wasting task. Reassert your intention and get back to work.
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A timely post. I woke up this morning to our horse trainer texting me that he was scratching our horse out of a graded stakes race because he was concerned about things not setting up right for his wellbeing. My first reaction was a bit of an annoyance as I thought we were set up well, I was looking forward to it, and I had concerns about waiting with further time between races. It is rare for us to have a horse in a graded stakes race and so it is special. But doing the right thing by the horse is paramount to me. It is part of the trainer’s brand and it is part of our brand as a stable. Part of having a brand is saying yes to the things that align with it. But also no to the things that don’t. Sometimes those are tough and painful decisions. This post was a good reminder of why those decisions matter.
A founder helping founders unlock potential. Follow for posts about Inflections in business and life. 10x founder, 3 exits.
A logo doesn’t make people care. This does: I keep seeing leaders make a killer mistake. A brand isn’t something you see—it’s something you feel. Your logo doesn’t make people care. Your brand does. But real brands cut deeper: ↳It’s the reputation that speaks when you’re not in the room. ↳It’s the emotional connection you create with people. ↳It’s the unforgettable experiences you help shape. ↳It’s the trust you earn + the promises you keep. ↳It’s the culture that thrives within your team. ↳It’s the values and principles you live by. ↳It’s the identity that sets you apart. Your brand is the heartbeat of everything you do. And that’s far more powerful than just a logo. Thank you Kevin Russell for this amazing visualization 🎯 ♻️ Repost to share with anyone doing work that makes people feel something. And follow Matt Schnuck for more!
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We sponsor the RRP Silent Auction to value retired Thoroughbreds beyond the racetrack. This week, the Thoroughbred Makeover is in full swing in Lexington, where talented horses are showing the world their versatility beyond racing. It’s not just about the competitions, though, it’s about the future these horses have once their racing careers are over. Our stable, Thor-Bred Stables LLC, is proud to sponsor the Retired Racehorse Project Silent Auction because we believe in the importance of valuing retired Thoroughbreds enough to give them a meaningful second career. Our motivation is simple: we want to see these horses retire sound, find their next partner, and enjoy long, happy lives. Too often, a Thoroughbred’s journey ends without the care and attention they deserve. The Silent Auction is more than just an event, it’s a way to create a market where Thoroughbreds are valued for their potential beyond racing. When we support initiatives like this, we help drive the change needed to ensure that these athletes are treated as more than just racehorses; they become cherished partners in new disciplines. The Thoroughbred Makeover competition is underway, featuring a variety of events that showcase the incredible talent of these retired racehorses, from Dressage to Barrel Racing, Eventing to Polo. Visit the Silent Auction, there’s something for everyone, and every bid goes toward a brighter future for retired Thoroughbreds: https://lnkd.in/gYXS-DNY. Your support helps create a lasting impact. Let’s work together to ensure these horses have the opportunity to thrive long after their racing days are over.
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Comparison is great when it carries the energy of inspiration and gratitude, and it helps us realize the areas we want to work on for ourselves. But comparison kills dreams when we beat up on ourselves or feel resentment towards others for where they are at. Also, more often than not, the comparison we think we are making is not real. Many of the wealthy Instagram smiles and lives come with sacrifices that most wouldn’t want to make. Financial wealth doesn’t necessarily mean freedom, happy relationships or inner peace. It’s healthy to have goals from what we see out in the world. But they need to be our own goals for our own reasons. And then the pace and measurements are against ourselves, not to anyone else “better” or “worse” than us.
A founder helping founders unlock potential. Follow for posts about Inflections in business and life. 10x founder, 3 exits.
Comparison is the thief of joy. Play your own game. 5 reasons comparison is detrimental: 1. Erodes Self-Esteem ↳You focus on your flaws instead of your strengths. 2. Sets Unrealistic Expectations ↳Comparing to curated lives leads to disappointment. 3.Breeds Jealousy and Resentment ↳Comparison often turns admiration into bitterness. 4. Distracts from Personal Growth ↳It shifts focus away from your own goals and progress. 5. Harms Mental Health ↳Constant comparison fuels anxiety and depression. Healthy comparison? Compare yourself to yesterday. Aim to get 1% better every day. After one year, that’s a 37x improvement. (1.01)^365 = 37.78 “The only person you should try to be better than is who you were yesterday.” - James Clear What do you do when you catch yourself comparing? ♻️ Repost to help others escape a comparison mindset And follow Matt Schnuck for more.
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Beautiful. Love these reminders of some concepts and the introduction of some new ones.
CEO, Epic Entrepreneur Media | Founder, Epic Biz Launch© | Business Strategist | Linkedin Trainer | Speaker | Follow for posts on Business & Life Mastery
Struggling to balance the chaos in your life? These 10 Japanese techniques hold the key.🔥 🈹 Kaizen (改善) Continuous improvement through small, steady changes. Why it works: ↳ Easy to start. ↳ Builds long-term progress. How to do it: → Focus on tiny daily improvements. 🈯 Ikigai (生き甲斐) Purpose found at the intersection of what you love, are good at, the world needs, and pays for. Why it works: ↳ Provides direction. ↳ Aligns passion with value. How to do it: → Explore what fulfills you and matches your skills. 🈷️ Wabi-Sabi (侘寂) Embrace imperfection and impermanence to find beauty in flaws. Why it works: ↳ Cultivates acceptance. ↳ Encourages mindfulness. How to do it: → Practice gratitude for life's imperfections. 🈵 Shinrin-Yoku (森林浴) "Forest bathing" for stress reduction and mindfulness by immersing in nature. Why it works: ↳ Lowers stress. ↳ Boosts mental clarity. How to do it: → Spend quiet time in natural surroundings. 🈚 Osoji (大掃除) Big cleaning to declutter and clear mental and physical space. Why it works: ↳ Refreshes mind and environment. ↳ Promotes focus. How to do it: → Declutter regularly, especially yearly. 🈳 Nemawashi (根回し) Lay the groundwork for change by gaining support in advance. Why it works: ↳ Builds consensus. ↳ Minimizes resistance. How to do it: → Start small conversations before major decisions. 🈲 Kintsugi (金継ぎ) Repair with gold, symbolizing the beauty in healing and flaws. Why it works: ↳ Teaches resilience. ↳ Finds value in adversity. How to do it: → Reflect on how setbacks make you stronger. 🈂️ Hara Hachi Bu (腹八分目) Eat until 80% full to promote mindful eating and longevity. Why it works: ↳ Prevents overeating. ↳ Improves health. How to do it: → Stop eating when you're comfortably satisfied. 🈯 Zanshin (残心) Mindfulness and focus during and after an activity. Why it works: ↳ Sharpens attention. ↳ Enhances present-moment awareness. How to do it: → Practice mindful concentration in everyday tasks. 🈸 Mono no Aware (物の哀れ) Appreciate life's impermanence and cherish fleeting moments. Why it works: ↳ Deepens emotional awareness. ↳ Fosters gratitude. How to do it: → Reflect on the beauty of passing moments. These Japanese concepts offer simple, practical methods for personal growth and mindfulness. How do you balance the chaos in your life❓ --------------- ♻️ Repost to help your network grow 🔔 Follow me for daily strategies #leadership #entrepreneurship #successtips
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I feel this. As a woman in mostly male dominated fields in my life. It is very much possible being a woman respected for creating positive results, and the methods matter less than the results as long as the methods come with integrity. It may still take a woman to work twice as hard for half the reward, and that may be unfair. I don’t have nearly all the answers and I wish it was easier on women and for women, but I have found that investing my energy and resources into becoming better while knowing I have to work harder at it than someone with a different gender or other advantages has tended to produce better results and sense of fulfillment than complaining about lack of access or unfairness. I hope we do better over time, but in the meantime it’s about the women out there wielding their machetes and cutting through the thick forest, and those men who join along in the efforts, that still have to continue paving the way.
Organizational psychologist at Wharton, #1 NYT bestselling author of HIDDEN POTENTIAL and THINK AGAIN, and host of the TED podcasts WorkLife and Re:Thinking
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Great post. So true. What I have found is that the dragon doesn’t need to actually be slayed for the winning feeling to occur. Although a slayed dragon is the best outcome, just stepping into the arena even if the dragon is still alive at the end of the day gets plenty of confidence as well. We tend to avoid fear because we are concerned about the result. When we are more concerned with just being in the arena, we get further.
Sharing the systems I used to build a $100M+ business | ADHD is my superpower | Bestselling Author | Keynote Speaker | Business Coach
3 habits that will fix 87% of your problems: (dialing these in transformed my life) 1. Define Winning the day Imagine sitting down to play a game for the first time... Your friend tells you all the rules, but they leave out one vital piece of information: They don't tell you what will determine who has actually WON the game. It doesn't matter how smart, creative, or hardworking you are... without knowing how to WIN the game your strategies are useless. Success will ultimately be a matter of luck. Obviously this is a bad strategy... And yet, this is the strategy the majority of people employ in their day-to-day lives. Most people never define what Winning the Day actually looks like... As a result, they go through the motions of life just hoping they somehow get lucky and stumble into a Win. But that's not what ends up happening. Here's what does: You go through the game of life always feeling as though you're losing. Not only does this suck, but it's entirely avoidable if you just take a few moments to define what Winning the Day looks like... Now, at the end of a long hard day, you can look back and say with certainty whether or not you actually won. 2. Fight the Biggest Dragon First The dragon isn’t getting any smaller or any weaker. So you might as well stop preparing for it… Stop tiring yourself out by first fighting smaller monsters. Get up in the morning (when you said you would), define Winning the Day, and then go fight the biggest, baddest dragon as early as you possibly can. **Dragon is a metaphor for the hard things in life standing between you and your goals** 3. Review The Game Day Footage Defining what Winning the Day looks like is only half the battle… The other half occurs when we review our performance for the day. Improving at any skill requires three things: 1. Feedback 2. Reflection 3. Iteration Now, here’s the crazy concept that really changed how I move through the world: I started thinking about Living Life as a skill… Something that could be improved to achieve my desired goals. Whenever my life starts getting off-kilter, I just go back to these 6 basic habits... And wouldn’t ya know it, things miraculously start improving
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I used to have a tutoring agency in Vancouver a couple of decades ago. The great majority of my clients were Korean, Chinese and from Hong Kong. They were not taking tutoring because they were behind, they were doing it to get ahead. It is possible to get “good” on talent. It is impossible to get to mastery without putting in many, many hours. In America, the popular solution is to want to pull down those who work harder and smarter so those who don’t want to do that don’t feel badly about themselves. This works for a while and it can be manipulated with protectionist policies, but in the end individual as well as global results are a complete meritocracy. Results are not given, they are earned.
Charlie Munger: Don’t be surprised when you lose to people like this
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Insightful and profound in its simplicity. There is so much value in the increased focus on us taking care of ourselves and not putting ourselves in toxic situations. But one downside of that focus is that it can become difficult to differentiate between self-care vs. not stepping up where and when we should. Self care is nurturing and regenerating. It helps us be more effective and be happier doing it. Not stepping up causes us to shrink our comfort zones. The results of that are not good and don’t feel good. Alex’s example of watching a friend leapfrog us is one of those types of results of not stepping up. It is a fine balance between rushing out of FOMO and creating out of vision and inner drive, while having the wisdom to recharge along the way.
Day Job: I invest and scale companies at Acquisition.com | Co-Owner, Skool.com Side Hustle: I make free content showing how we do it ⬇️
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Now you tell me to focus on no more than 2 areas? 😂 I have used the Wheel of Life from Tony’s teachings and it is very powerful. I agree that a round wheel works much better than a misshaped one. I don’t know anyone who started with a round wheel when they first looked at this exercise. And a large wheel gets us further than a little one. This tool works to the extent of our ability to tell the truth. As Tony says, not worse than it is and not better than it is. Like with GPS, we get better directions to a desired destination when we tell the accurate starting point. I love the idea of subdividing an area of focus, as certainly we can be doing great in some subparts of an area and have a ton of room to improve in another.
A founder helping founders unlock potential. Follow for posts about Inflections in business and life. 10x founder, 3 exits.
The tool Tony Robbins uses to design his life. Fortune 500 CEOs swear by it: Want the technique Tony Robbins uses to design his life? It’s taught by the most expensive executive coaches in the world. Here’s how it works (and how you can use it): The closer life feels like to play, the more we feel we are thriving. To get into flow in all aspects of your life, you need a good scorecard. ➡️ Enter the Wheel of Life. How to use it: Step 1️⃣ Rename any section to the word that best describes that part of your life. Step 2️⃣ Subdivide any section to more granular categories that are meaningful to you Step 3️⃣ Consider the outer edge of the wheel 10/10 - shade each section to your level of satisfaction. Step 4️⃣ At this stage, most people do not have a round wheel. But round wheels roll best. So… Step 5️⃣ Pick no more than 2 areas to focus on. Visualize greatness. What does 10 of 10 look like? Remember: 💡 ”Life punishes the vague wish but rewards the specific ask.” - Tim Ferriss Step 6️⃣ Treat getting to a 10 in each area like a game. 🚀 Go play! 📌 If you want a high-res Wheel of Life template to complete in Google Docs: 1. Follow Matt Schnuck 2. Like the post 3. Repost to your network 4. Subscribe to: https://lnkd.in/gGSxMD_B You'll get the Wheel of Life and other great resources for free.
