Dan and Jeffrey reveal the psychological complexities behind why some people feel like frauds despite their achievements, and how self-doubt can be a significant hurdle for entrepreneurs. If you’ve ever had the nagging suspicion you were fooling everybody into thinking you’re more competent than you are, this episode is for you.

In This Episode:

• Jeffrey and Dan define imposter syndrome and discuss how common it is among entrepreneurs and other successful individuals.
• Most entrepreneurs will struggle to recognize their own journey of self-creation.
• Jeffrey and Dan explore the role of ambition and self-measurement in perpetuating imposter syndrome, distinguishing between internal growth driven by ambition and external validation sought through imitation.
• They also share the importance of cultivating self-confidence over self-esteem, emphasizing the need to embrace your past achievements as stepping stones toward a healthier mindset.
• Drawing from personal anecdotes and philosophical insights, they offer a refreshing perspective on navigating imposter syndrome and overcoming societal pressures fueled by social media.

Resources:

More about Jeffrey Madoff

Dan Sullivan and Strategic Coach®

What makes a movie great? And why are some movies timeless, while others are forgotten? Jeffrey and Dan delve into the essence of what makes a great movie story, discussing the magical and timeless qualities that allow characters and narratives to resonate across generations.

In This Episode:

• They discuss the timeless allure of classic stories and the underlying magic that makes them perennial favorites.
• They explore the intricate process of creating compelling characters and weaving them into captivating narratives.
• Insightful discussions on the balance of courage and commitment necessary in good storytelling and its impact on audience reception.
• They navigate the tension between creativity and profit, uncovering the unpredictable nature of crafting timeless tales and the courage it demands.
• The conversation touches on the storytelling legacy of movies like Casablanca, highlighting the unexpected success of some films and the distinction between stories that resonate and those that are soon forgotten.
• Jeffrey and Dan also explore the significant impact that casting has on a story and the challenge of breaking out of being typecast, referencing actors like Sean Connery and Johnny Weissmuller.
• The dialogue expands to discuss the influence of Canada in the film industry, highlighting the significance of certain cities like Toronto and Montreal and the dollar-driven nature of film production.
• Jeffrey and Dan share insights into the mysterious nature of creativity, discussing the impact of commitment and courage in pursuing new projects and facing public reception.

Resources:

Personality: The Lloyd Price Musical

Learn more about Jeffrey Madoff

Dan Sullivan and Strategic Coach®

While a great many things are different than they were, there are certain principles and ideals that people are always striving for. Dan Sullivan and Jeffrey Madoff explain what’s changed since they were kids, and share some new tricks and strategies they use to achieve their goals.

In This Episode:

Decades of live experience create an ease of performance and an ability to create on the spot.

Having fewer choices meant you ended up paying attention to something instead of flicking through the channels.

When you’re in front of a live audience and it's not going well, you’ve got to be agile enough to both take the hits and be able to come back on top and recover.

Your strongest permanent impressions are made when you’re young.

It’s hard for a fan to get really attached to a team when any player can suddenly be gone.

Being an entrepreneur is a life sentence.

An entrepreneur’s career can last as long as they want it to.

A lot of companies end up losing the pride of the family mission.

Quality is the smartest business plan.

Resources:

Learn more about Dan Sullivan and Strategic Coach

Jeffrey Madoff’s production company Madoff Productions

Creative Careers by Jeffrey Madoff

Thinking About Your Thinking by Dan Sullivan

While customers and clients don’t need to know what goes on behind the scenes of an organization, they will know if there’s a lack of consistency between a company’s “front stage” and “backstage.” Dan Sullivan and Jeffrey Madoff delve into the reasons why there can’t be a gap between how a business operates internally and how it operates externally, and how an entrepreneur can foster a high level of dedication from their clients and team members through their behavior.

In This Episode:

A sign of a company’s consistency is how long team members stay.

If you’re being yourself in the way you grow your business, it suggests your front stage and backstage are consistent with each other.

Your Unique Ability is something you cannot not do.

Strategic Coach team members are expected to increasingly only do what they love doing.

A backstage isn’t just an event; it’s the day-to-day behaviors in a business.

Consistency in behavior from a company doesn’t mean that everybody working there is the same.

You shouldn’t treat your best client any differently than you treat your newest employee.

There are entrepreneurs who are very famous but who have no growth potential.

You can be fantastically bright, talented, and successful in one area of activity, and a complete idiot when you're delving into another area.

If you have consistency between your front stage and your backstage, you don’t have to worry about people seeing your backstage.

A personal brand is your reputation.

Resources:

Article: Your Business Is A Theater Production: Your Back Stage Shouldn’t Show On The Front Stage

Unique Ability®

Personality: The Lloyd Price Musical

Dan Sullivan and Strategic Coach®

Jeffrey Madoff’s production company is Madoff Productions

Creative Careers by Jeffrey Madoff

Jeffrey and Dan discuss the importance of following your passion. How do you identify it and then what do you do? They share their experiences and the challenges involved in pursuing passions, particularly in creative entrepreneurial careers.

In This Episode:

• The safe careers of the past—the ones people might choose over their passion—aren’t so safe anymore.
• The role of The 4 C’s Formula®: Commitment, Courage, Capability, and Confidence.
• What is “Impostor Syndrome”?
• Who are the real impostors today?
• What happens when you don’t follow your passion or listen too much to others’ opinions?
• Being yourself is a fast-forward button to the result you’re searching for

Resources:

Nyad (movie)

The 4 C’s Formula by Dan Sullivan

Dan Sullivan and Strategic Coach

Jeffrey Madoff’s production company is Madoff Productions

Creative Careers by Jeffrey Madoff

Jeffrey and Dan dive into the power of saying no and the valuable lessons this word holds for entrepreneurs. They discuss how saying no can open doors to bigger and better opportunities. With insightful anecdotes and practical advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to harness the power of saying no in their entrepreneurial journey.

In This Episode:

• “No is a complete sentence” and a powerful tool for entrepreneurs.
• How do you decide whether to say yes or no? Consider your time, energy, and priorities.
• What about the fear of missing out? You can’t miss out if you make a priority of yourself, your thinking, and your experiences.
• Show gratitude when declining an opportunity.
• Saying no can be challenging, especially when you’re starting out and hungry, but it gets easier with practice.
• Knowing your core values makes decision-making a lot easier and ensures that the opportunities you take will be true to who you are and what you’re about.
• Giving or receiving a “no” doesn’t have to be a personal rejection.
• A solid yes or no is always better than a limbo of maybes.
• Jimi Hendrix: “Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.”

Resources:

Dan Sullivan and Strategic Coach

Jeffrey Madoff’s production company Madoff Productions

Creative Careers by Jeffrey Madoff

Thinking About Your Thinking by Dan Sullivan

Jeffrey and Dan discuss the importance of community in overcoming the isolation of being an entrepreneur, and the pitfalls of being obsessed with productivity. Discover how these two highly successful entrepreneurs focus only on their interests and strengths, and learn how to achieve your greatest successes well after your 70th birthday.

In This Episode:

• Jeffrey and Dan discuss finding new excitement in their work through their seventies and beyond.
• Turning 70, along with the COVID lockdowns, made Jeffrey realize that time is limited, and it’s essential to focus on what matters most.
• Dan describes a company meeting in which he asked his team to consider what they would do if he and Babs were suddenly gone. What was their answer?
• They discuss the dangers of comparing oneself to others, fear's influence on childhood behavior, and the foolishness of working on your weaknesses.
• They explore the cultural aspects of growing up in the 1940s and 1950s and the influence of media.
• Dan explains the “Your Best Decade Ever” exercise he’s using with clients, emphasizing the importance of health and fitness in sustaining creativity and productivity.
• They discuss the balance between isolation and community, and the need for learning and understanding rather than blindly emulating successful entrepreneurs.

Resources:

Unique Ability®

Dan Sullivan and Strategic Coach

Jeff Madoff’s production company Madoff Productions

Jeff Madoff’s book Creative Careers

How entrepreneurial can you be if you’re creating art? The answer is, entirely entrepreneurial. Dan Sullivan and Jeffrey Madoff discuss the challenges and opportunities encountered in putting together a new stage musical.

In This Episode:

Failure is giving up something that’s important to you.

Perseverance is probably the biggest part of being an entrepreneur.

The way to get the best out of people is to work with them, listen to them, and show them respect.

The number one bet that people make in their lives is on other people.

Whenever you’re dealing with money, people figure out all the loopholes and tricks to try to game the system.

You have to go through the stages of commitment and courage before you gain capability and confidence.

The situations that require the most courage are when you have no control over the outcome.

As you get older, you can become more suited to risk because you’ve been through more.

The difference between confidence and courage is that confidence feels good.

Resources:

The 4 C’s Formula by Dan Sullivan

The Capability Amplifier Podcast with Dan Sullivan and Mike Koenigs

Article about The Front Stage/Back Stage® Model

Unique Ability®