Monday Morning Mojo

First Friday Feedback: December 2017

Today, Phil is joined by Cannon Executive Vice President and Director of R&D, Bill Trigleth. The two share their unique perspectives on the integration of new technology, joint projects with upper management, and coping with an open workspace environment.   In this episode of First Friday Feedback we encourage you to think about technology from a new perspective; instead of simply accepting it, understand its significance in your business processes. We also advise you to thoroughly analy...

Episode 308: Separating Yourself

 It’s the season of Christmas trees and menorahs, eggnog and candy canes, where we, as business professionals, traditionally send holiday cards, nuts, and chocolates to our clients and influencers. But will these small gifts make a significant impact? We believe the answer is no.     Although these standard gifts are kind tokens of appreciation, they won’t necessarily be memorable or set your practice apart from the rest. Thus, this Monday morning, we explore the ways in which you can ma...

Episode 307: I'm Thankful

What are you thankful for? A game of golf or a Saturday spent watching your favorite college football team? Is it a glass of bourbon enjoyed by a fire? Perhaps you are thankful for the change in seasons – for the mountains in winter or the sandy beaches of summer.   In memory of Atlanta Journal Constitution Sports Columnist, Furman Bisher, Phil takes time this Monday morning to reflect on the people, experiences, and places for which he is grateful. We encourage you to begin this week by...

Episode 306: Garth Was Right

From the sounds of Patsy Cline to the tunes of Cane Brown, country music often tells compelling stories or shares lessons learned. Whether you are a fan of country music, rock n’ roll, or pop, you can most likely relate to the narratives that many of the great country music artists tell in their lyrics.   Last week, Garth Brooks took home the Country Music Award for Entertainer of the Year, and today we reflect on the valuable lesson he shares with us in his song “Unanswered Prayers.”  I...

Episode 305: I Made a Mistake

We, as humans, are subject to our own biases. Even the most self-aware individual can limit themselves by unconsciously acting on pre-conceived stereotypes or judgments. Biases are unfortunately built into society and our psychological nature; how do we keep them from turning into mistakes? In this episode, Phil recounts and analyzes an eye-opening experience that brought him back to a lesson most of us learned in grade school: don’t to judge a book by its cover. Although we all know this ...

First Friday Feedback: November 2017

Cultural fit and the internal relationships we develop with our colleagues are essential to success and happiness. Whether we like it or not, the actions and behaviors of other individuals will impact our ability, confidence, and willingness to work in an environment.  In this episode, we hear from two of our listeners, both of whom share issues they are currently facing with the dynamic of their team: the first with upper management and the second with a new business partner. Despite thei...

Episode 304: It’s Not Hard

Richard Thaler, acclaimed American economist, professor of Behavioral Science and Economics at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and founding father of the “nudge” theory has been awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. His research in behavioral science has not only defied traditional economic theory but has re-shaped public policy and influenced politicians world-wide. We conclude today that his theories can benefit the wealth management industry as well. In ...

Episode 303: Why The Hubris?

For some reason, our failures always seem to resonate deeper than our successes. Why is that? Why are we more agitated by a loss than excited by a win? Why the Hubris? In a practice that has achieved an elevated level of sustained success, one can unwittingly and somewhat irrationally acquire a more heightened expectation to close every deal. This regrettably is not reality. In today’s episode, we discuss why this mindset will hinder our long-term growth. Regardless of how talented any one...

Episode 302: Reason, Season, and Life

Have you ever had an experience while working with someone where you ask yourself, “Why do I have to deal with this person?” Well today we answer that question for you. In this episode, we examine the reality of our interactions with others and assert that those encounters have a purpose beyond their face value. We can often discover the specific purpose of our interactions upon reflection; however, in the moment we need to recognize that when individuals come into our lives it’s either fo...

It's The Experience

In today’s episode, we evaluate our practice from the client’s perspective. What does the prospect see? What opinions do they form? When a client chooses your firm, do they feel confident that they’ve made the right decision? When one studies highly successful companies such as Disneyworld, Starbucks or Four Seasons, he or she finds that they have differentiated themselves from their competition through a process of defining what a superior experience for their customers looks like. This m...

First Friday Feedback: October 2017

Today, Cannon Financial Institute is excited to announce the launch of First Friday Feedback, a sister podcast to Monday Morning Mojo and the Cannon Curve. In this series, our host, Phil Buchanan, will be addressing questions specifically proposed by you, our listeners. Our aim is to focus on the issues and circumstances relevant to our audience. Thus, we invite you to steer the content and ask questions that you believe could help improve a dilemma you may be facing in your professional lif...

Episode 300: 300 Lessons Learned

300 Monday mornings ago we launched the pilot episode of this podcast series. Our mission? To begin each week by providing insight and new perspectives deliberately designed to help motivate and inspire our listeners. Together, we have tackled numerous issues, discussed strategies for success, evaluated our relationships, elevated our professional performance, and continuously challenged ourselves to be a force for good. Over the last two weeks, we have invited you to reveal the episodes t...

Episode 299: Getting Unstuck

Has there ever been a time in your life where you felt stuck? Although you may have a stable family life and your career is secure, you feel as though your life has become repetitive – a set of traditions and routines. Thus, you reflect; you think back on the “glory days” of college, high school, your first exciting professional opportunity, or perhaps your first love, and have an unrequited desire to revisit those past moments and experiences. In today’s episode, we discuss why exactly th...

Episode 298: Keep Chopping Wood

Imagine this scenario: you are working with a group/team and have a vision or idea of the correct path for you all to take to accomplish your goal – whatever that may be. Yet, those around are not able to see what you see, either because they can’t or don’t want to. The majority of us have had at least one of these moments in our lifetime, and in this episode, we discuss the correct approach to take should this occur. Big visions are like large trees – you need to swing the axe more than o...

Episode 297: Courage

How do you define courage? Is it overcoming adversity? Maybe it is overcoming fear?   Webster’s defines courage as a “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty,” and in this episode, we dissect and develop our own understanding of what it means to be courageous. Courage can appear in a multitude of states: physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual. On one end of the spectrum, courage can be a mechanism for survival; yet on the other e...

Episode 296: The Season of Energy

Think about your work environment. What energy do you and your co-workers bring to the office every day? Is it lively? Dull? What motivates you and your team to engage whole-heartedly in a project? In this episode, we discuss how to bring a jolt of fresh energy to your company culture in honor of the start of a new season. The weather is turning cool and crisp, football stadiums are filling up on the weekends, the school-year has just begun, and now is the best possible time to re-instill ...

It's Not About The Goal

What if we told you that goal based planning is failing for many firms and also many advisors. On more than one occasion, we have noticed that when a firm or advisor is asked to identify specific metrics for their various goals, they often struggle. In this morning’s episode we dive into why that may be, and as it turns out, the solution is quite simple. There are two key elements that can cause goal-based planning to fail, and they both revolve around not having a tangible vision to base ...

Episode 294: Change

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed when confronted with the idea of a life change – big or small? It is fairly human to fear the unknown, to fear failure, to fear disappointment, to fear stepping away from a comfort zone; and for many of us, the idea of change generally carries at least one, if not most, of these fears with it.   In this episode, we outline four steps to pragmatically asses whatever change you may be contemplating. By following these four steps, we hope that you ca...

Episode 293: Conversations

Is society losing its grip on good, deep, solid conversations? Yes, we are more connected on a macro level through technology and social media, but have we lost some of our face-to-face communication skills because of our digitally evolving world? In this episode, we talk conversations. We discuss the importance of seeking to understand rather than seeking to be heard when conversing with one another, and Phil shares three questions he typically asks during a conversation with a new acquai...

Episode 292: Time Is Going To Pass

After 10 days off the grid, away from phones, email, wifi, television, etc., Phil returns with key insights he gained while conversing with a gentleman who had also used those ten days to abstain from technology. This particular gentleman has managed to maintain an impressive number of accomplishments, which brought up two questions: Why do you do the things you do? And, how do you find the time? In this episode we discuss the importance of taking advantage of the time we are given. Time ...

Episode 291: Higher Responsibilities... and Accountability

What does “just doing the job” mean to you? When you ask those who have served, fought and received the Congressional Medal of Honor, “just doing the job” means demonstrating unparalleled valor and courage against enemy forces. Talking to these men and discovering the humble way in which they speak of their experiences and accomplishments is inspiring. On the battlefield, men learn brotherhood and the importance of putting the fate of the whole above the fate of one’s self. And off the ba...

Episode 290: Cousins - Success & Failure

“See I believe life is an influenced journey. Based on certain Circumstances, we are all put into situations that at times empower us and at other times restrain us. The key is appreciating the lessons in all circumstances.” - Words from Chief Justice John G. Roberts’ commencement address (2017) Failure is not permanent, but neither is success. How will you choose to embrace success and failure? How will you choose to relate to them? How will you choose to learn from them? And finally, how...

Episode 289: Who Has Said?

The hypothesis: Monday Morning Mojo listeners are likely leaders in various forms or fashions. Now, you may be asking yourself, “Why would they think this?” Well, we came to this conclusion based on our research which shows most of you to be active learners – listening to three or more podcasts a week and reading voraciously. We realize that leaders come in many forms, and when you invest in yourself by seeking knowledge, perspective, and understanding, you grow in your capacity to influen...

Episode 288: Getting the Thoughts Down

What great thoughts are locked in your brain? Have you ever thought to write them down? For Spanx founder and entrepreneur extraordinaire, Sara Blakely, writing down her thoughts and ideas about a seamless, body-slimming undergarment helped to solidify her business plan for her now multi-billion dollar company. In this episode of Monday Morning Mojo, we discuss the importance of taking time each day to reflect on your day’s journey, the people with whom you interacted, as well as any inspi...

Episode 287: Who Are Your 5?

Who are the five people with whom you spend the most time? Looking at the past and present relationships you have cultivated and the individuals that you have chosen to surround yourself with, can you specifically identify those who have influenced you in some way? As Jim Rohn famously stated, “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with,” and this Monday morning, we challenge you to examine your relationships and consider what traits you admire most in your closest...

Episode 286: Enough...

When did we lose our capacity to respectfully engage with those who hold a different opinion than our own? Have we forgotten how to disagree without being disagreeable? It’s astounding how today, society is quick to reject perspectives that align perpendicular to our own, and quick to judge one another based solely on our differences.  Life is too short to live this way, and in this morning’s episode, we challenge you to consciously remain open to other perspectives and acknowledge that so...

Episode 285: When Success Fails

All successful leaders fail.  The key to great leadership is not a 100% success rate; the key to great leadership is the ability to step up and adjust or pivot our initial course of action despite the feeling of failure. Many of us are afraid of the unknown or a lack of a plan B, which greatly inhibits our willingness to seize opportunities. However, if we get comfortable in life with ambiguity, and acknowledge that not every deal, job, or project will work as planned, we set ourselves on ...

Episode 284: Service and Disruption

Netflix has replaced Blockbuster, Spotify replaced Apple, Uber replaced taxis, and it seems technology continues to disrupt old-school business models... Or does it? This Monday Morning, we discuss the biggest threat to any firm, and it just so happens, it is not technology. Yes, there are competitive robo-platforms, but instead of being threatened by them, we should simply respond by integrating technology into our own business model while focusing the majority of our energy on our time w...

Episode 283: Trust And Character

  On June 9th, 2017 – only four short days from today – is a day many believe will live in infamy. This Friday is the DOL Fiduciary Rule implementation day, and it is a day making headlines in the financial news – carrying a multitude of questions for advisors and financial firms alike.   How will the Fiduciary Rule evolve business practices? What impact will the rule have on our future and current relationships with clients? These are excellent questions many of us are asking, but per...

Episode 282: Engage Or Exit

We have heard it before – the story of a toxic corporate culture or the tale of a not-so-fabulous boss. This is a challenging situation to find yourself in, but in the event that you do, you have two options: exit or engage.   This Monday morning, Phil defines the importance of establishing and maintaining a healthy relationship with one’s colleagues, clients, and supervisors. It’s no surprise that corporate culture matters. Those you surround yourself with matter. A healthy, inviting co...

Episode 281: Overcoming Inertia

What mindset do leaders indoctrinate into the backbone of their failures and successes that enables them to achieve the extraordinary? As Dr. Chuck Swindoll correctly stated, “life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you react to it.” This is just one of the key realizations successful leaders must program into their mind’s framework in order to fully accelerate their career.   In this episode, Phil outlines three courses of thought leaders must actively engage in to ...

Episode 280: Leaders Act

If you were to take a look into the minds, routines, and character traits of today’s leaders, what would you find? Phil begins to answer this question in his new podcast series – The Cannon Curve. Coming in June, this new series features interviews with many of the nation’s top leaders, CEO’s, and thought provocateurs in the business world, providing insight into the mechanics of modern day leaders. This Monday morning, Phil shares seven pivotal lessons he has learned from the first of th...

Man and Machine

Instead of viewing technology as man vs. machine, what if we saw it as man and machine?   In the financial industry, the value of genuine human interaction is irreplaceable. There is great value in genuine communication and established relationships – a simple reality unlikely to change. Yet, if we can successfully blend technology into our work, we have the opportunity to build even stronger connections with our clients and make our practice even more efficient.   This Monday morning, P...

Acknowledge

Have you ever been in a relationship (work, social, personal) where you felt unappreciated or that you didn’t belong? What caused you to feel this way? You’re probably no longer in this relationship, right.   Now, let’s think. Upon first meeting with you, would your clients feel a connection? What do you do to create that connection? How do you show them that you appreciate their business? In this episode, Phil challenges us to do some research and background on our clients. Find a commo...

Simple Problems Need Simple Solutions

Do you know how to change a flat tire? This once simple task has now become an overly complicated process that takes up more time than warranted. Simple problems need simple solutions, and this concept applies to more than just flat tires.   Now switch gears and think about your clients and their experiences with you. Is there a way to simplify your interactions with them? How can you make their experience straightforward and effortless? In this episode, Phil challenges you to stay away ...

Solver, Not A Seller

You have a dilemma, who are you going to call? The expert sales person or the known problem solver?     Most would choose the problem solver, and in this episode, Phil explains the significance of that choice. The way others perceive you and your personal narrative can either have a positive or negative impact on your personal and professional relationships. How will you present yours?

Quality Endures

Think about an experience (good or bad) that has left a lasting impression. Have you shared your experience? That experience that left a lasting impression on you; has left a legacy. You spread that legacy, by telling people about your experience. What legacy will you leave? In this episode, Phil challenges you to take a look around and consider ways in which you can ensure your legacy.    Phil’s Favorite Springtime Activities Augusta National Golf Course - http://www.augusta.com/ ...

The Greatest 9 Days...

How much happiness can you stand? What if I told you that the next nine days will be the greatest nine days in American sports this spring? But how are sports and Spring connected? Spring is the season of new life and new beginnings. It marks the end of many seasons, be it winter or basketball, equally it invokes new beginnings for things like baseball and outdoor activities. In this episode, Phil challenges you to build and expand your relationships by taking advantage of the longer days,...

Giving More Than Money

Your Impact Power

Perhaps No Greater Compliment…

Part IV - Leveraging Technology

Part III - Innovation And Business Modeling

Learn More www.AlexOsterwalder.com https://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Osterwalder/e/B0037M2W0E

Part II - Behavioral Coaching

Resources assessment and training Assessments:   Meyers Brigg http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/ DNA Financial  http://dnabehavior.com/  DISC http://www.thediscpersonalitytest.com/?view=Assessments_disc&gclid=CPDFst6MldICFUw7gQodE6APwA Training:   IMCA Behavioral Economics   http://www.imca.org/pages/IMCA-Applied-Behavioral-Finance-Certificate-Program Kinder Institute of Life Planning  https://www.kinderinstitute.com/ Kansas City http://catalog.k...

Disruption Cometh - Part I

Learn More at: http://www.cannonfinancial.com/advisor-relevance

It’s The Action, Not The Argument

That Doesn't Make Sense

Be "For" Something

Connections

Entrepreneurial Thinking