In this special episode of Start With A Win, there is a lot to celebrate! Adam and Producer Mark return to the brand new recording studio on the 12th floor of the RE/MAX World Headquarters in Denver, Colorado. And, with the new digs comes a fresh look and feel for the SWAW podcast along with a new website. Be sure to check it out!Adam and Mark also chat about the long-anticipated release of Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success. Adam shares that one of the biggest things he’s learned as a new author is the importance of carrying around a Sharpie at all times. You never know when you may need to sign an autograph, right?They take a walk down memory lane as they review listener submissions about their favorite SWAW episodes. And last but certainly not least, Mark announces the winner of the free signed copy of Adam’s book. (See? We told you, Sharpies are important!)Pre-order your copy of Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success:https://www.amazon.com/Start-Win-Lessons-Personal-Business/dp/1119807077https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/start-with-a-win-adam-contos/1138838681https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/start-with-a-win-tools-and-lessons-to-create-personal-and-business-success_adam-contos/28078881/#edition=58850831&idiq=46017298Episode Links:The Influence of Transparent Leadership with Gary VaynerchukAudio: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-influence-of-transparent-leadership/id1438598347?i=1000488542270Video: https://youtu.be/UwdPUNkwXoAHow To Set Yourself Up For Success in 2021 with Jon CheplakAudio: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-set-yourself-up-for-success-in-2021-with-jon-cheplak/id1438598347?i=1000504496469Video:https://youtu.be/uOl8xF3w634Investing in Long-Term Success with Maggie ContosAudio: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/investing-in-long-term-success-with-maggie-contos/id1438598347?i=1000513387984Video: https://youtu.be/dlFO0-LV6FYInterview With Geoff McLennanAudio:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interview-with-geoff-mclennan/id1438598347?i=1000431347098Get Social Smart with Katie LanceAudio:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-social-smart-with-katie-lance/id1438598347?i=1000501821442Video:https://youtu.be/D_ndYIGSJeoBefriending the Inner Beast to Overcome Fear and Create SuccessAudio:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/befriending-the-inner-beast-to-overcome-fear-and/id1438598347?i=1000535406692Video:https://youtu.be/kk60tfDf7FoSharpies: https://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-30001-Permanent-Markers-Point/dp/B00006IFHD/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=sharpies&qid=1634077688&sr=8-2&th=1Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

Start With A Win

Start With A Celebration!

In this episode of Start With A Win, Adam and SWAW producer Mark pick up the conversation about Adam's first book, Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success. Adam discusses the final chapters—chapters eight, nine, and ten. He discusses the role of the ego and how it has the potential to destroy humility. Adam elaborates the ego as the manifestation of insecurity, creating an emotional response triggered to protect vulnerabilities. Good leaders maintain emotional control by recognizing and acknowledging their egos and maintain transparency with themselves. Controlling your ego enables you to be vulnerable and accept others' mistakes, harnessing your abilities for positive attributes like confidence and decision-making. Adam discusses three keys to accountability and growth—mentors, coaches, and masterminds. Find a mentor who will challenge your thoughts and inspire you to take action with newfound perspectives. A mentor is someone willing to share time and wisdom in exchange for your attention and deliberate action to be the best version of yourself. A coach is someone who will unlock your potential and help you attain your goals and other pursuits. Ask yourself—are you coachable? What do you hope to accomplish with new insights? Mastermind groups provide peer accountability (challenging you and pushing you to be vulnerable) and establish the power of association—you are the average of the five people you accompany most. Adam emphasizes the importance of celebrating your wins, no matter how big or small. When leaders celebrate the wins of their team members, they instill hope, give appreciation, and provide recognition. Celebrating wins creates opportunities to surpass goals, build motivation, and exceed the maximum thought process in all endeavors. Uphold a transparent dynamic of analyzing, communicating, and celebrating wins to lead your team to maximize their potential and produce consistent results. Pre-order your copy of Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success:https://www.amazon.com/Start-Win-Lessons-Personal-Business/dp/1119807077https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/start-with-a-win-adam-contos/1138838681https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/start-with-a-win-tools-and-lessons-to-create-personal-and-business-success_adam-contos/28078881/#edition=58850831&idiq=46017298Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

Lose the Ego and Celebrate the Wins

How do you end your days daily? Instead of going home and turning on the TV first thing after working all day, begin writing what you’re grateful for on a piece of paper. This habit will take away your desire to watch TV and align you to be happy for the rest of the evening. When you are proactively grateful, you will gain more energy. You will also become motivated in the mornings as your first thoughts will focus on your gratitude. Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

Quick Win: End Each Day Expressing Gratitude

In this episode of Start With A Win, Adam introduces President and Chief Storytelling Officer at Steller Collective, Kindra Hall. Steller Collective is a consulting firm “focused on the strategic application of storytelling to today’s communication challenges.” Kindra’s interest in storytelling sparked at a young age during a family vacation road trip after listening to a storytelling tape by the National Storytelling Festival. She reflects how this experience unified her family, despite different age gaps and interests. Since then, she transformed her passion for storytelling into a career. Kindra explains how storytelling is co-creative, differentiating it from other forms of communication. This co-creative process enables people to create their own versions of relatability, creating a shared experience with the interpersonal connection. She elaborates how this applies in business—people say yes to the story of the products or services rather than its features. Kindra’s book, Stories That Stick: How Storytelling Can Captivate Customers, Influence Audiences, and Transform Your Business, provides insights into why storytelling is an effective business strategy, including a framework for creating compelling stories. Kindra addresses the #1 common mistake for storytelling in business—people try to convey big concepts, resulting in vague stories. This approach prevents opportunities to connect with others emotionally. Instead of persuasive language, Kindra suggests focusing on one moment. This moment should address a person’s hopes, struggles, or fears, producing a story that reveals a solution people can resonate with and understand. Paying attention to your audience is key. Consider what you want your audience to think, feel, know, or act after engaging with your story. Having clarity of the objective and understanding your audience will guide you into the story you should tell. Links:Stories That Stick: How Storytelling Can Captivate Customers, Influence Audiences, and Transform Your Businesshttps://www.storiesthatstick.com/Connect with Kindra:https://www.kindrahall.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kindrahall/https://twitter.com/kindramhallhttps://www.instagram.com/kindrahall/https://www.stellercollective.com/Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

How Storytelling Transforms Your Business with Kindra Hall

In this episode of Start With A Win, Adam and SWAW producer Mark pick up the conversation about Adam's first book, Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success. Adam covers takeaways from chapters five, six, and seven. He explains how success takes time and does not occur overnight. Adam elaborates the core differences between managers and leaders—managers tell people how to do things, leaders provide direction and inspiration. Good leaders work to make other people great leaders rather than devote entirely to self-improvement. Adam breaks down the concept of accountability—witnessing without judgment. Accountability is the first step of understanding but is often mistaken for the beginning of condemnation. Accountability enables people to evaluate processes and goals and adjust as needed. Adam addresses fear and overwhelm, revealing a leadership spin-off from the VUCA concept (traditionally an acronym signifying volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity)—vision, understanding, clarity, and action. This concept focuses on creating a plan to overcome overwhelm, accomplished with a concrete action plan. Otherwise, overwhelming feelings will spiral if not addressed and resolved. Leading is about creating teams with a shared vision and direction. Adam emphasizes the importance of presence and passion for people and your work. Implementing this mindset enables better relationships with your employees and customers. Lack of communication is often the leading cause of issues within teams and businesses. Adam recommends connecting with your team and customers at least twice a week face-to-face, if possible, to maintain relationships. Two communication takeaways: Ask yourself: If you are your customer, would you choose you?  Don’t center all communication about your business or selling.  Pre-order your copy of Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success:https://www.amazon.com/Start-Win-Lessons-Personal-Business/dp/1119807077https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/start-with-a-win-adam-contos/1138838681https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/start-with-a-win-tools-and-lessons-to-create-personal-and-business-success_adam-contos/28078881/#edition=58850831&idiq=46017298Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

Lead Your Team with Accountability, Presence, and Passion

How do you approach daily obstacles and challenges? Your attitude determines the reality and outcome of any situation. Your attitude determines your behavior, and behavior dictates your actions. If you want to create success in any circumstance, reflect on your mindset and adjust as needed. Ask yourself: What attitude do I need to overcome and succeed in the best possible way? Positive attitudes result in flourishing behavior. Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

Quick Win: Attitude Determines Behavior, Behavior Dictates Actions

In this episode of Start With A Win, Adam welcomes Jia Jiang, CEO of Rejection Therapy and CEO and Founder of Wuju Learning. Jia discusses how he transitioned from the corporate world into a career dedicated to rejection. Jia initially experienced failure in the early stages of his entrepreneurial endeavors after leaving the corporate world. Instead of giving up, he decided to document his failed experiences via blogging, which led to the concept of rejection therapy. Jia discusses how innovation and entrepreneurship require taking risks, which can lead to rejection. He explains that people must learn to convert rejection into personal fuel to stay motivated and persevere after rejection. This technique requires practice, which entails intentionally pursuing rejection. For example, Jia committed 100 days to experience daily rejection. This exercise trained his mind to become accustomed to rejection, removing the fears associated with it. He performed unusual tasks such as asking for burger refills at restaurants and requesting a haircut at a pet store. He advises to start small and focus on daily habits—if you are not comfortable with solely asking for things in return, approach by asking to give acts of service. The more you face rejection from “silly” things, the more you can overcome any rejection, no matter the significance. Fear of rejection creates internal conflict, causing regrets and missed opportunities. He explains people often experience the most remorse when they prioritize living up to other people’s expectations instead of their own. Once you incorporate rejection into daily interactions, you will feel more prepared and confident in business endeavors. He explains how the fear of rejection can cause people to prefer a path with the least resistance in hopes of remaining in their comfort zones to achieve success. Jia emphasizes that the most successful people have experienced challenging decisions and situations, ultimately shaping who they are and contributing to their success because they chose to take risks.Links:TED Talk - What I Learned From 100 Days of Rejectionhttps://www.ted.com/talks/jia_jiang_what_i_learned_from_100_days_of_rejectionConnect with Jia:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiajiang/https://twitter.com/jiajianghttps://www.rejectiontherapy.com/https://www.loveinvestor.com/Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

Overcoming Fear of Rejection Creates a More Fulfilling Life with Jia Jiang

In this episode of Start With A Win, Adam and SWAW producer Mark pick up the conversation about Adam's first authored book, Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success. Adam covers the main takeaways from chapters two, three, and four. He explains how experiencing both successes and failures is necessary for personal and professional growth. Failures serve as learning opportunities, while challenges develop opportunities to create success or learning moments. Adam outlines the two questions you should always ask yourself as a leader:1) How do we create an environment in which people want to perform at their highest levels?Tip: Create a trusting environment where it’s okay to fail. 2) How do you unlock potential instead of pushing others to barely get by?Tip: When it comes to performance and earning wins, pushing others creates resistance. Encouragement and enthusiasm result in increased drive, efforts, and performance. Adam discusses how fear is the reason why people do not try to pursue new endeavors or challenges. This mental roadblock creates self-limiting beliefs, hesitation, self-doubt, often resulting in imposter syndrome. Adam breaks down the concept of fear as an inner beast that resides in everyone. The first step to overcoming fear requires acknowledging and befriending the beast, which requires self-love and acceptance. As a leader, it is crucial to be a sponge for knowledge—learn from others, nurture your mind—and reciprocate that wisdom to others.Pre-order your copy of Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success:https://www.amazon.com/Start-Win-Lessons-Personal-Business/dp/1119807077https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/start-with-a-win-adam-contos/1138838681https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/start-with-a-win-tools-and-lessons-to-create-personal-and-business-success_adam-contos/28078881/#edition=58850831&idiq=46017298Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

Befriending the Inner Beast to Overcome Fear and Create Success

How empathetic are you? Adam defines empathy as your feelings understanding someone else’s feelings. And it’s an important key to living well in relationship with those around you. Because if you don’t understand how someone else is feeling in a specific situation, then you’re not going into that situation with their best in mind. So be sure to ask yourself this simple question each time you’re in contact with someone: How do they feel?Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

Quick Win: The Power of Empathy

In this episode of Start With A Win, Seth Mattison, CEO of FutureSight Labs, joins Win Nation to discuss how leadership has evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic. FutureSight Labs is an organization dedicated to helping leaders and their organizations navigate challenging moments of inevitable transformation and build a future-ready framework. Seth has studied leadership and the ongoing future of work for 15 years. Seth opens the conversation by reflecting on some of his key leadership takeaways during the early weeks of the initial COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. He emphasizes how keeping yourself grounded during uncertainty enhances your adaptability, enabling you to lead with more confidence and devote energy to others. Seth explains the concept of a leader’s role to “normalize the struggle”—how leaders confront challenging situations and implement a plan to resolve them. He elaborates how the transition of the workplace structure (remote, hybrid, in-office) will vary for each organization—dependent on organizational values and goals—and how it will require intentional and strategic planning regarding its future framework.Seth addresses how the pandemic has impacted mental health. Studies have shown that many individuals are experiencing languish—a mental state between depression and flourishing. He further discusses how others have begun to reflect on who they are and their sense of purpose personally and professionally. Seth outlines two fundamental skills that significantly impact how people navigate challenges:1) Learning agility: Knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do; how you navigate uncertainty and challenging situations2) Maintain your agency: Believe you have control over your life; simply believing in your actions and claiming your path will lead to higher performance and improve quality of life.Seth explains the concept of psychological safety—creating an environment where people feel safe enough to show up and express their true selves while confidently asking questions and asking for help. Genuine curiosity creates understanding and unity, which is crucial in multi-generational workplaces. He emphasizes how love creates an essential foundation in leadership dynamics and workplace satisfaction. Leaders must have solid self-love as it enhances self-awareness and love for other people. Connect with Seth:https://www.sethmattison.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethmattison/https://twitter.com/sethmattisonhttps://www.instagram.com/sethmattison/Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

How to Lead Your Team During Uncertainty with Seth Mattison

In this episode of Start With A Win, Adam and SWAW Producer Mark pick up the conversation about Adam's first authored book, Start With A Win: Tools and Lessons to Create Personal and Business Success. Adam announces he will be donating all book proceeds to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Adam initiates the conversation by addressing two common questions that determine life approaches: “Do I get to?” Or “Do I have to?”These questions not only shape your mindset but force you to stop and reflect on how you think about yourself. Once people become conscious of their attitude and choices, it can potentially create doubt. Doubt generates from fear and overwhelm, challenging people to push beyond capabilities. Confront challenges with an “I can” attitude—rather than “I can’t.” Adam explains how lacking the proper attitude/mindset will create barriers to seek and overcome daily challenges. Without seeking challenges, people will never experience victories—victories power, educate, and inspire us. Adam always asks himself three questions in every situation:1) What is the challenge?2) What is the necessary attitude to get started? 3) What actions are needed to overcome the challenge?Adam outlines the significance of appreciating micro-wins/moments. Enjoying the tiny actions and commitments will enable your thoughts to build momentum as you navigate daily life. He shares the concept of falling forward in life and how it teaches us how to create wins as people are consistently psychologically training to respond to future situations. Life is a compilation of missions—experiences and interactions that shape who we are and how we respond. Start With A Win provides insights to turn mindsets into actions, which create successes and ultimately build upon each other. Pre-order your copy of Start With A Win:https://www.amazon.com/Start-Win-Lessons-Personal-Business/dp/1119807077https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/start-with-a-win-adam-contos/1138838681https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/start-with-a-win-tools-and-lessons-to-create-personal-and-business-success_adam-contos/28078881/#edition=58850831&idiq=46017298Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

How to Shape Your Mindset with One Simple Question

What happens to you in life is important. But the truth is, your choices are more important and they shape who you are! You are a product of your decisions, not your circumstances. While you can’t always change what happens to you, you can change your choices. Take control of your decisions and let your own choices be what change you. Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ 

Quick Win: You Are A Product Of Your Decisions

In this episode of Start With A Win, Adam introduces Christine Riordan, President of Adelphi University and RE/MAX board member. She is the 10th President of the university and the first woman to serve in the role. Christine developed a strategic plan for Adelphi University, known as Momentum. She is also an internationally recognized expert in leadership, career success, and diversity and inclusion.Christine explains the purpose behind the strategic plan—Momentum—and how every organization will benefit from developing strategic initiatives. She emphasizes how strategic plans provide efficient foundations for defining clear organization goals, aligning jobs, and providing language depth. This structure enables people to focus on a collective objective, creating consistency and direction within organizations. In an ever-changing workplace, Christine reveals that by 2030, a prediction of 375 million employees will have to transition jobs due to automation, technology, and business changes. Her book, Shift Happens: How to Adapt and Thrive in a Rapidly Changing World of Work, helps people successfully navigate through any change in personal and professional endeavors while explaining the different types of change and how it impacts how people adjust and transition. Christine provides an overview of her TED Talk, “Dare to Be Extraordinary,” which presents three key attributes of extraordinary people—passion, courage, and resilience. 1) Passion for what you do2) Courage to make hard decisions and do the right thing3) Resilience to not give up and get back up when something doesn’t go well  Links:Shift Happens: How to Adapt and Thrive in a Rapidly Changing World of Workhttps://www.shifthappensbook.com/Dare to Be Extraordinary | Dr. Christine Riordan | TEDxAdelphiUniversityhttps://youtu.be/FnUo4D-TaqcConnect with Christine:https://www.linkedin.com/in/christineriordan/https://christineriordan.com/Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

How Strategic Planning Creates Unity with Christine Riordan

In this episode of Start With A Win, Adam, and SWAW producer Mark, discuss Adam's first authored book, Start With A Win. Adam shares his inspiration and process for creating the book, referring to the project as a compilation of the SWAW podcast and a reflection of his “why” in business and leadership. Adam emphasizes the impact of having a firm grasp on understanding yourself, as it determines the effectiveness of your pursuits in business, leadership, and life. He explains how he views life as a series of missions. Everything we do in life is a mission—working towards goals and executing them. Adam describes how he reflects on every experience to measure and make an intentional effort to make improvements. Consider these questions in your experiences—how is your attitude? What challenges have you overcome? What actions did you take to overcome obstacles? Attitude plays a significant variant in defining the outcomes in all life and business endeavors. It is a matter of choosing between a positive or negative mindset. Adam reveals the book is divided into two parts, with the first section focused on the reader and the second part delivers tools to succeed. He outlines the topics per chapter: Chapter 1: Attitude  Chapter 2: Our Mission Sets the Playbook Chapter 3: Party with the Beast Chapter 4: Be a sponge Chapter 5: Leadership Learnings Chapter 6: From Chaos to Calm Chapter 7: Presence and Passion Chapter 8: Lose the Ego Chapter 9: Coach, Mentor, & Mastermind Chapter 10: Celebrate the Wins The book is available to pre-order, with the official release date set for October 19. Links:https://www.amazon.com/Start-Win-Lessons-Personal-Business/dp/1119807077https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/start-with-a-win-adam-contos/1138838681https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/start-with-a-win-tools-and-lessons-to-create-personal-and-business-success_adam-contos/28078881/#edition=58850831&idiq=46017298Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/ Leave us a voicemail:888-581-4430

The Journey Behind Writing the Start With A Win Book

Want more success? Who doesn’t? Here’s how to increase your success: fail. That’s right! Getting to victory requires trying and failing. Be willing to fail enough and you’ll find success. Connect with Adam:https://www.startwithawin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/REMAXAdamContoshttps://twitter.com/REMAXAdamContos https://www.instagram.com/REMAXadamcontos/

Quick Win: If You Fail Enough, You’ll Eventually Find Victory

Every day you have a choice. You can wake up and choose to give in to mediocrity and complacency, you can choose bad habits and poor choices, and you can do the bare minimum to get by and fly under the radar. Or you can choose to make today the day that sets you apart from the crowd, you can choose to start doing the right things, the things that will set you up for success. You can choose to create a life that is worth living, worth waking up to, and worth sharing with the world around you. Today You can choose to start with a win.

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Start With A Win

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