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Effective Personal Development Plans for Startup Founders
Discover how startup founders can create effective personal development plans to achieve success in their professional and personal lives.
Tactical Business Scaling for Emerging Markets: A Comprehensive Guide
Discover the strategic steps and proven tactics for successfully scaling your business in emerging markets with this comprehensive guide.
Strategies for Achieving Peak Performance in High-Stress Roles
Discover effective strategies for excelling in high-stress roles with our insightful article.
Videos
Rediscovering energy, surplus and joy in your life
3 simple things you can do to change if you need more energy, mental capacity, and joy...
How To Find 30 Minutes a Day For Yourself In a Busy Schedule
I’ve always stressed the importance of spending time by yourself to support your mental health...
The number one mistake founders make in the early days is this.
They do not consistently make the world aware of who they are and what they are selling...
4 Signs of Stress and Burnout and What To Do
While the signs are individual, there are patterns to look out for...
My Favorite 4 Pieces of Advice to First-time Founders
Includes dealing with the ups and downs, getting the word out, taking care of yourself, and learning to deal with conflict...
Are You a Visionary or an Executioner?
A CEOs and Founders you are both in the early days and over time less of an executioner, focusing on the longer vision of the company.
3 Must-Dos for Starting Off Your Co-Founder Relationship Right
Many co-founders get into conflict with each other along the way.
Eating for Excellence: Some Ideas for Making Sure Your Body Gets What it Needs
As founders and CEOs, nutrition plays an integral part in creating peak performance.
3 Things You Should Do To Get Your Day More Structured
Every founder I meet struggles with getting the stuff done they need to get done.
Lost Yourself in Building the Perfect Life and Company?
Most people occasionally feel like they have lost who they are in the pursuit of building the perfect life and company.
Feedback for Growth: Nailing the Give-and-Take of Feedback
“What do you mean I’m not doing a good job!?”
Finding Space For Yourself
How do you find that mental and physical space for yourself?
How to stay Calm & Focused during Turbulent Times
Key strategies to help manage energy levels so you can have the strength to thrive in challenging times...
It's Not Them, it's You!
The largest barrier often isn’t our clients or colleagues… it’s ourselves
3 Things You Can Do to Strengthen Your Communication
A few simple tips to ensure you are heard and understood as you intend.
Managing your board as a CEO
In this video I discuss two critical facets of board relationships: composition and preparation.
How to get your startup funded
There are no shortage of hurdles when you’re starting a company...
How Does it Work to Work With Somebody Like Me?
One question that I am often asked is, "How does it work to work with somebody like me?"
How to Create Company Culture
What are the most important elements of a culture where people feel valued, motivated and committed?
Start Hiring GREAT People for your Company
I discuss the process I’ve developed over the course of hiring more than 200 people over my career.
What Type of Leader Are You?
How you can discover the type of leader you are?
How do you know when to fire someone?
Firing someone sucks. But the only thing worse than that is not firing someone who needs to go...
The Importance of sleep for Founders and CEOs
Quantity and quality of sleep are two of the biggest challenges I hear from my clients...
International clients and what it does for me as a coach
I currently work with a number of international founders...
How Do You Transition From Not Making Money to Break Even?
Few weeks ago I was asked that question...
Finding the Balance between your Personal & Professional Life
Work-life balance is impossible...
Finding The Thing That Gets Your Mind off Things
What's your thing?
When you’re hiring, it’s all about the operating system.
Who you build your company with is just as important as what you build...
Going from CEO to doer
As your company grows, you goes from being a doer to becoming a CEO...
Dealing with Founder conflict
Not many of us enjoy conflict, and it only gets even more difficult when the conflict is between co-founders of a company...
Don’t ignore the symptoms of stress
Our bodies are outstanding in the ways they give us signals that something’s wrong...
How Being Vulnerable Helps You Build a Better Company
Want to grow? Say “I don’t know.”
Trust your gut!
I got a call from a client yesterday that confirmed one thing I believe in...
Why I take my clients to museums
I know, it's an unusual thing to do with clients. But here's why...
Start Doing These 5 Things as a Founder / CEO
They are activities that you can gradually add into your daily routines and build over time...
5 Things You Should Stop Doing as a CEO / Founder
In this video, I go through five things I recommend to founders and CEOs that they put a stop to… immediately...
3 Common Misconceptions about Entrepreneurship
There are a lot of misconceptions in the world of founding a business...
Unplugging: Why It's Important to Become a Whole Human
From time to time I unplug completely...
Weekly Self-Review Framework
A weekly self-review is one of the most important habits I help my clients build...
3 steps to better delegation
Delegation is one of the trickiest hurdles for managers, and it’s even more critical as you get closer to the top...
Meditation To Go
I'm breaking down some preconceived notions about meditation...
It's not them, it's you!
The largest barrier to unplug? Often times isn’t our clients or colleagues...
How to be a Whole Human at Home
Here’s a sobering stat: 75% of the time we spend with our children over their lives is before they turn 12...
Fewer meetings leads to better communication
Why do I say so?
3 stages of Founders' and CEOs' mental challenges
I've gone through all the stages myself...
How do you get to the Opera?
Making it to the top of the game requires sacrifices...
In case you were wondering...
Introduction: Peter Sorgenfrei
What a let-down!
Letting people down is one of the worst feelings any of us can have.
Finding a Co-Founder & Your First Hires
As a first-time founder, there’s no shortage of critical decisions you will need to make...
4 Common Mistakes CEO's Make
I’ve been fortunate enough to be a CEO several times, but I was far from perfect.
Not too fast
I haven’t done one in a little while, but I used to love running races...
A guideline for how to live life in a modern world.
Seneca wrote: “Each day acquire something that will fortify you against poverty...
When is it appropriate to hire additional staff?
And when is it time to open a new office or branch?
Giving and receiving compliments
Are you aware of the big difference a compliment can make in someone else's day?
Credibility
Credibility is not just subject matter expertise...
Bake more pie!
There are two kinds of people and organizations in the world: eaters and bakers.
Owners vs. Others
We all need to think like owners of our company. How can you do that?
Keep your focus on what you actually can do!
Keep your focus on what you actually can do!
How can you relinquish control with your team?
How can you relinquish control with your team and why is it important?
Showing appreciation
Do you remember to show appreciation to those standing by you?
What a day in silence does to you
I'm used to having people around me most of the time...
Navigating uncertainty
Most companies make plans. But what is a good plan?
Five minutes can make all the difference.
A founder was struggling with how he dealt with a thorny personnel situation in the office...
Urgent vs. important
Eisenhower utilized a matrix with important on one axis and urgent on the other...
Being let go, yet feeling more secure.
Someone who recently was laid off, said something I found inspiring...
Blame <=> failure
What did John Wooden mean when he said this?
At lege sig igennem livet
Hvordan tager man det gode humør og festen med på arbejdspladsen?
Sense of mission → Success
Many founders chase trends, but it is the ones with a sense of mission that succeeds.
It is not about the size of the dog
What does this saying apply in business life?
Balance
Den seneste episode af Samtaler blev virkelig personlig, virkelig hurtigt...
Proving vs. improving
Have you found the balance between proving and improving?
Time management
Time - what is it and how do we learn to manage it?
Knowing yourself
Do you really know yourself?
Bad ideas > good ideas
Early in my career, I had to unlearn only trying to get great ideas...
Don’t take things personally
If you don't take things personally, you avoid many upsets in your life.
Specialist vs generalist
Which will become more important in the future?
At finde sit kald
Hvornår har man fundet sit kald? Og hvad betyder det egentligt?
Two sentences that have carried me when things were tough:
What can help you when people don't believe in you and what you are doing?
Fear
How can we leverage the fear we all have in life and in business?
Feelings vs. analysis
Do you trust analysis or your feelings more?
Hvad vil det sige at være menneske?
Det spørgsmål taler jeg med Signe Kolmos om i første episode af Samtaler.
Remember to keep an eye up, judge the wind and waves, and know which port you're heading to…
A little reminder to be careful not getting a myopic view...
Self-talk
How can you change the conversations you have within yourself?
The worry about the unknown
Worrying about the unknown and how not to...
Life is not the problem
Learning to calm your mind will 10x your happiness...
Head-nodding vs. head-shaking
Will people nod or shake their heads?
Internal vs. external scorecard
Something that matters more than what others think of you...
Yes or no
A simple way to get more mental headspace...
Limit for high-growth firms
3 things that limit the growth and success of high-growth firms.
When the CEO burns out
I’ve been there, so this is personal...
Motivational posters
Motivational posters are used at many offices, but not all. I found out why...
Starting a business
The best argument to start a business? Yours!
Office embarrassment
My first company was started in Brooklyn 16 years ago...
Change vs. Progress
Things around you change. Things within you change...
Style vs. Substance
A few thoughts on how to deal with style vs. substance
Working remotely
5 communication best practices for remote teams...
Great operators vs. good board members
There is something about the quiet ones. Especially board members...
Good days and bad days
There will always be good days and bad days. How you can handle both better?
Looking back
How to best encourage younger entrepreneurs to follow their courage
Good board members
3 things good board members do...
SHORT FORM
A client struggled with being content.
Like many, she chases more and more...
I saved three marriages in the last two years.
Here's how I did it...
It ain't that hard.
You just need to start.
3 simple tricks to build empathy through self-awareness.
Secret ways to connect better with others
5 quotes that sum up what a great leader is
What can we learn from fx Ronald Reagan, Simon Sinek & Steve Jobs
Of everything you do, what fulfills you the most?
For me, it is the following things
Do you feel stuck?
Here's a secret: Your success could lie in mastering one simple concept... Emotional Intelligence
It doesn't matter
Late last night, a client called, distraught about something that had happened this week.
"Pay transparency leads to resentment among employees."
Here's why you are wrong:
Yes to everything
Years ago I said yes to everything for a week as an experiment. Without announcing it.
Getting kicked in the teeth
Recently, I sparred with a four-time world champion, Muay Thai Fighter.
Avoid getting lost in meetings
Have you ever been in a meeting where nothing got accomplished?
Your reality
Your reality is someone else’s past.
What is focus?
You think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on.
Escaping the 24/7 Work Cycle
Jennifer recently approached me, overwhelmed by her workload...
What corporate culture and society tell you wealth and success look like
And what I've realized wealth and success truly look like...
In 2019, I got sick from working.
It was a stress-induced condition.
Avoid competition
If you can't, ignore it
"But, I can't...."
A founder recently talked about making challenging choices in the business.
Your success as a founder depends on this 1 core skill
The number of difficult conversations you are willing to have...
A question for you before entering your office as a CEO today
It will help you build a culture where people are engaged and happy.
In 1998 Tim Cook made an absurd bet
Today, it has helped him become one of the most successful CEOs and build a $1.9 billion net worth...
The founder advice I wish I’d heard sooner (to take your company to new heights):
Make sure 5 new people know what you do every single day...
Do you wanna go fast or further?
7 popular practices that are slowly killing your startup...
The #1 killer of a funded startup
What it's not, and what it is
An uncomfortable (yet powerful) question to consider as a CEO
If your company was hiring for your role today, would they hire you?
If you want something, ask for it.
I often share this advice while coaching founders and CEOs in a tough spot...
Turning off auto pilot
We all go through life through the motions...
Control
When you see that word, does it bring up a negative or positive connotation for you?
It’s not conflict, it’s context
You’d be surprised to know how many top leaders are conflict-avoidant...
Good swing, bad aim
When I was at Toyota, we had a really interesting compensation model...
When you're hiring, it's all about the operating system
The people you hire are the largest determinants of your success.
I asked you what time it was... don't build me a watch
We’ve all been there...
Managing self-doubt
Most of the founders I work with experience periods of self-doubt...
AI can be the wall for your ideas.
I was recently asked about the role AI can play for generating ideas for entrepreneurs...
A client quote that hit me hard
After finishing our initial three month engagement, a client quoted John Wooden...
The fundamentals always win.
The reality is that the best companies will continue to get funded...
5 things I never regret doing
And I am pretty sure you won't regret them either...
Comparison vs. Compassion
The other day, I compared my life to someone else’s...
Experiencing peak motivation
Think about when you have been the most motivated...
Constraints
We are really good at seeing constraints...
Someone comes to you with a complaint
You have 2 options...
Don't look at the trees
If you do, you are more likely to hit them...
Don't take things personally
Not everyone is going to love you or what you do...
Life is not about intention
It is about action
Matthew McConaughey and Marcus Aurelius
They have more in common than you might think
Do you want to win now or win later?
You can’t have both...
Shanti shanti shanti
Great things come from meditating...
Turning off auto pilot
Real breakthroughs become available in your life when you interrupt yourself and your automatic ways...
The details make the moment.
How can you find your negative space in places you wouldn’t normally expect?
Fall down seven times, get up eight.
When I worked at Toyota, I really latched onto this Japanese proverb.
I didn’t have someone like me.
This is the answer I give when I get the question: “Why did you get into coaching?”
Sixty minutes
If your charge indicator said 5km left - would you keep driving your car?
The perils of positive feedback.
It is surprisingly hard to give positive feedback...
CEOs and Founders can make mistakes.
I’ve made so many, I lost count.
How do you manage your mental health?
Here are a few strategies that have helped me to manage my mental health..
“When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” - Yogi Berra
I was at my own personal crossroads some years ago...
No
This tiny word can be our best defense against the insidious problem of burnout...
Finding a new role after being laid off.
My piece of advice...
Applying what you know
"I know that," you might hear yourself utter from time to time when confronted by others...
Happiness is like a muscle
You can choose to build it, use it and flex it, or not...
Strength and power
When I take full responsibility for everything I experience...
Sense of mission → Success
Many founders chase trends, but it is the ones with a sense of mission that succeeds.
The importance of understanding behaviour..
Why is it essential in order for you to help people grow?
Most people don't even know themselves.
So why take it so to heart when they think poorly of you for no reason?
Head-nodding vs. head-shaking
Using technology you can choose one of two paths for your startup...
New hires are a gift in perspective.
After working with someone for a few months, I ask them the following...
And > but
Two small words, yet with so much impact...
A short exercise that leads to better meetings
Make this short exercise before your next meeting...
Your feelings or analysis - What counts more in decision making?
Arguments could be made for analysis being superior to feelings in business, but...
"He who has begun has half done." — Horace
Will you start?
A poor student
Learning doesn't just happen automatically...
Pretending vs. not
Have you ever felt the need to pretend to be someone else?
Where you could be
Take a few seconds and try the following out...
Everybody has to rebuild
Don’t get discouraged or shortsighted...
Saying no is a superpower
Something more powerful than knowing what you want to do...
Are you available?
I don't mean physically. I mean emotionally...
Breaking bad news to your board
My best advice on breaking bad news to her board...
Navigating uncertainty
What is a good plan in uncertain times?
Self-talk
You might have to change the conversations you have with yourself...
Vitamins for the brain
Social interactions are like vitamins and minerals for brains...
Looking outward or inward
Competitor-obsessed startups rarely win...
How's your mood?
Moods can spread like viruses...
Reason vs. Emotion
Should you reason through your options or listen to your emotions?
The CEO weekly self-review
I'll share 4 questions that should be part of your self-review...
New hires and their first focus
I give new hires 3 things to work on as they start...
Music happens between the notes
In the same way, relationships happen between the meetings...
Knowing what you want is not enough
You need to use your compass and set direction...
Creating culture - how?
In my belief hiring creates culture, so my suggestion is the following...
Do you feel like you have the full control of your time?
Very likely not, but there are times during your day where you can be in control...
Topics I wish were taught in school
And no, not business school, but in high school, or earlier...
Rest and restitution
One of the main reasons startups fail is burnout.
Can you make yourself more independent-minded?
Don't just do what everyone agrees is a good idea...
Are you feeling stressed, full of doubt or burned out?
A great CEO coach can be the biggest game-changer
Dependent <> Independent <> Interdependent
Core differences...
Thinking about my past roles as Founder/CEO
There were typically four stages...
Everybody has to rebuild.
So don’t get discouraged or shortsighted...
When things are tough
Two sentences that have carried me through tough times...
Doing everything
Many new CEO's don't know what not to do...
How I think about planning personal and professional activities
It can be applied daily to decision making...
