One of the scary aspects of leaving my job as VP of North American Sales at a multibillion-dollar international company was the uncertainty. How would we build a business from a base of podcast fans? How would we create revenue from something that is free to listen to? How would I productize myself? Now that it’s been three years, we are starting to get some of these answers.
December 31st marked the end of my third full year of dedicating 100% of my professional time to building the Learning Leader business and the Leadership Advisory practice at Brixey & Meyer.
This essay is my way of reflecting publicly on what we’ve accomplished together, my excitement about the trajectory of the business, and my continued gratitude for you. As you read below and reflect on your aspirations for 2021 (and beyond), I urge you to publish your own accomplishments and thoughts on the future. Writing provides mental clarity that will help you to prioritize and stay on track. Sharing it publicly creates accountability and provides your network with insights on how you can work together.
2020 was a year of uncertainty, unknowns, and a lot of questions. How long will the pandemic last? When will we be able to gather safely with large groups of people? Prior to writing this, I looked back on my 2019 year-in-review post. Wow. What a difference a year makes!
While I’m aware of the tragic death and destruction COVID-19 has caused to so many, here I’ll focus mostly on the positives in 2020.
COOL MOMENTS OF 2020
-- I published my first book! After securing a book deal from one of the premier publishers in the world, McGraw-Hill, my book came out on January 28, 2020. Forbes called WELCOME TO MANAGEMENT, “the best leadership book of 2020.” It was named one of the “100 best audio management books of all time” (#25) by Book Authority. It quickly became a profitable book for McGraw-Hill (they have earned more than the advance they paid me), and I am working now on book #2.
We hosted a book-launch party at our Brixey & Meyer office in Dayton, OH
-- I published 53 episodes of The Learning Leader Show. Apple Podcasts once again named The Learning Leader Show as one of the “All Time Best-Sellers” in the Management category.
-- In January, I recorded a live podcast in front of 150 clients, colleagues, and friends with the founder of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Jeni Britton Bauer. We did this in the same location where we had previously recorded a live show with the noted author of Atomic Habits, James Clear. I miss live events very much and am excited to (hopefully) do them again soon.
Our live show with the founder of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, Jeni Britton Bauer
Check out the full article that goes into more detail about:
- THE CLEVELAND INDIANS
- MINDUL MONDAY
- KEYNOTE SPEECHES
- LEARNING LEADER CIRCLES
- THE LEARNING LEADER ACADEMY
- 1:1 CLIENTS
- PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
CONCLUSION
Though 2020 was a year wrought with challenges for all of us, I am thankful for the opportunity to serve what has grown to be a broad expanse of faithful people who have found value in The Learning Leader Show and the many projects it has spawned. We have learned great lessons together this past year, and I can assuredly say that I’m looking forward to all of the discoveries we will make together in 2021!