Welcome to the Inspired To Greatness podcast, where we share insights and inspiration for entrepreneurs, business owners, and salespeople to be their best selves. In today's episode, we'll talk about accountability, a crucial component of success in business and life.

As an entrepreneur, you have to take responsibility for your actions and the outcomes they produce. Being accountable means acknowledging your mistakes, taking corrective action, and holding yourself and others accountable for achieving your goals.

Whether you're working solo or managing a team, accountability is essential for building trust, improving performance, and achieving results. In this episode, we'll explore what accountability means, why it matters, and how to cultivate it in yourself and your team.

“It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable." - Moliere

"Responsibility equals accountability, accountability equals ownership, and a sense of ownership is the most powerful thing a team or organization can have." - Pat Summit

"Accountability feels like an attack when you're not ready to acknowledge how your behaviors harm others." - Tamara Renaye

Here are some key points to consider when implementing this concept into business for success:

1. Approach accountability with empathy
2. Focus on the behavior, not the person
3. Use "I" statements
4. Provide clear expectations and consequences
5. Recognize the benefits of accountability

"It is wrong and immoral to seek to escape the consequences of one's acts." ― Mahatma Gandhi

“The reason people blame things on the previous generation is that there's only one other choice." -- Doug Larson

“Take accountability... Blame is the water in which many dreams and relationships drown." ― Steve Maraboli

Thanks for joining us on Inspired to Greatness, please check back with us each and every week for fresh tips and new guests. Visit our website at ITGPodcst.com and Look for us on Spreaker, iTunes, iHeart, Amazon Podcasts, and Spotify….
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Welcome to Inspired to Greatness... the show all about spreading inspiration, motivation, and being great., I am your host, I hope you are having an amazing day, my friends! Today we are talking about Kindness!

“You cannot do kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” —Princess Diana

"Always be a little kinder than necessary.” —James M. Barrie

We live in a world that can often be harsh and unforgiving. It's easy to get caught up in our own problems and forget about the needs and struggles of others. But kindness has the power to break through the noise and bring light to even the darkest of situations.


Five key tips for cultivating kindness in your daily interactions as a business owner:

1. Lead by Example:
2. Listen actively:
3. Practice Gratitude:
4. Prioritize Flexibility:
5. Be Generous:

“Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.” —Harold S. Kushner

“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.” —Jackie Chan

“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind." -Henry James

Thank you for joining us today on this episode of the podcast, where we have been discussing the importance of kindness in our businesses and our lives. I hope this conversation has inspired you to make kindness a core value in your business and in your daily interactions.

Thanks for joining us on Inspired to Greatness, please check back with us each and every week for fresh tips and new guests. Visit our website at ITGPodcst.com and Look for us on Spreaker, iTunes, iHeart, Amazon Podcasts, and Spotify….
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Welcome to Inspired To Greatness, where we empower entrepreneurs on their journey to greatness. In this episode, we delve into the essential ingredient of success - self-confidence. Join us as we explore the power of self-belief and how it can help you overcome obstacles, reach your goals and ultimately achieve success in all areas of your life. So sit back, relax, and get ready to be inspired to be your best self.

*** SHOW NOTE ***About 22 mintues into this show the power went down to my whole area, stopping the show and the stream dead in it's tracks. I later came back and tried to record that section and add it back in, so if you notice some weird disconnect in there, that is what happened!

Believe you can and you're halfway there.”―Theodore Roosevelt

“When you're different, sometimes you don't see the millions of people who accept you for what you are. All you notice is the person who doesn't.”―Jodi Picoult

To overcome fear is the quickest way to gain your self-confidence.”―Roy T. Bennett

4 keys to building confidence in business:

1. Know your strengths and play to them.
2. Set achievable goals.
3. Seek out positive feedback.
4. Learn from failures.

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Don't let fear hold you back from reaching your full potential. Embrace the power within you to overcome fear and gain self-confidence. This is the quickest way to unlock your inner strength and achieve greatness. Believe in yourself and take bold steps towards your goals. Remember, fear is just a barrier created by your mind, and it's up to you to break through it. So rise up, conquer your fears, and watch your self-confidence soar to new heights. You got this!

The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.”―J. M. Barrie

Public opinion is a weak tyrant compared with our own private opinion.”―Henry David Thoreau

“Always be yourself–express yourself, have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.” –Bruce Lee

Thanks for joining us on Inspired to Greatness, please check back with us each and every week for fresh tips and new guests. Visit our website at ITGPodcst.com and Look for us on Spreaker, iTunes, iHeart, Amazon Podcasts, and Spotify….
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Welcome to today's episode of the Inspired To Greatness podcast. Today we're going to be talking about taking chances and embracing the unknown. We often hear the saying, "I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done," and this quote perfectly captures the spirit of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs are known for their willingness to take risks, to venture into uncharted territory, and to forge their own path in the face of uncertainty. But what drives this boldness, and how can we embrace it in our own lives? Join us today as we explore the power of taking chances and the importance of embracing the unknown in the pursuit of success.

“I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” —Lucille Ball

I've found that luck is quite predictable. If you want more luck, take more chances. — Brian Tracy

Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. — Dale Carnegie

6 ways to effectively take business risks!

1. Define your goals:
2. Conduct thorough research:
3. Build a support system:
4. Have a plan B:
5. Embrace failure:
6. Stay flexible:

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Go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is. – Jimmy Carter

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain

The successful man is the one who had the chance and took it. – Roger Babson

In the business world, opportunities come and go, and it's up to us to be ready and willing to take them. Whether it's a new market, a partnership, or a new product, it's important to be open to new ideas and opportunities.

Thanks for joining us on Inspired to Greatness, please check back with us each and every week for fresh tips and new guests. Visit our website at ITGPodcst.com and Look for us on Spreaker, iTunes, iHeart, Amazon Podcasts, and Spotify….
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Welcome to Inspired to Greatness... the show all about spreading inspiration, motivation, and being great., I am your host, I hope you are having an amazing day, my friends! Today we are talking about Having a happy life!

"You do not find the happy life. You make it." — Camilla Eyring Kimball

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” —Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

“If someone bases his/her happiness on major events like a great job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris, that person isn’t going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness.” —Andy Rooney

4 Steps to build a Happy Life:

1. Stop chasing happiness.
2. Remove your own barriers to happiness.
3. Build your self-esteem.
4. Be present.

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"Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get." —Dale Carnegie

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” ―J.R.R. Tolkien

“The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it's all that matters.” ―Audrey Hepburn

The God who CREATED each and every one of us has designed things so that we have access to the unending JOY of Jesus all the time, and that we can be secure and happy in our life.
When you love what you have, you have everything you need… Gratitude and thankfulness are HUGE keys to finding happiness inside yourself. Understand that finding a way to do the things you love everyday, connecting with others in a positive way, and understanding that you and your efforts matter in this world… and you just might find a way to capture happiness every day!

Thanks for joining us on Inspired to Greatness, please check back with us each and every week for fresh tips and new guests. Visit our website at ITGPodcst.com and Look for us on Spreaker, iTunes, iHeart, and Spotify….
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Welcome to Inspired to Greatness... the show all about spreading inspiration, motivation, and being great., I am your host, I hope you are having an amazing day, my friends! Today we are talking about Owning Your LIFE!

"There is nothing impossible to they who will try." — Alexander the Great

"Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you." — Walt Whitman

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." — Michael Altshuler

Tool to Try: Headway app - easily consume lots of content quickly.

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"You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script." — Oprah Winfrey

"We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us." — Joseph Campbell

"Our lives are stories in which we write, direct and star in the leading role. Some chapters are happy while others bring lessons to learn, but we always have the power to be the heroes of our own adventures." — Joelle Speranza

Thanks for joining us on Inspired to Greatness, please check back with us each and every week for fresh tips and new guests. Visit our website at ITGPodcst.com and Look for us on Spreaker, iTunes, iHeart, Amazon Podcasts, and Spotify….
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Welcome to Inspired to Greatness... the show all about spreading inspiration, motivation, and being great., I am your host Matt Freakin Blake, I hope you are having an amazing day, my friends! Today we are talking about settling! Never settle for less! Less n your self, less in your business, less than you are capable of… never settle!!

If you’ll not settle for anything less than your best, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in your lives.” – Vince Lombardi

“Don’t settle for less just because it’s available.” ― Dionne Neo Nkosazana Sithole

Make the most of the best and best of the worst, and keep your standards high. Never settle for anything less than you deserve or are capable of achieving.”
Roy T. Bennett

Stability is an illusion so we don’t have to be responsible for growth or decay.

The comfort zone is where greatness goes to die.

TOOL LINKS:
Business Tip: Get a Co-working space if you don’t have an officeCenterNTX - https://thecenterntx.com/

This is where my Podcast Masterclass is going to be held, July 21st, that’s a Thursday, and you can register at www.mattfreakinblake.com - you will see a blue button that says “Register For The Podcast Masterclass”


Tool to Try: Canva… I know I’ve talked about this before, but it keeps getting better and better.

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This episode is powered by PodDecks - Pod Decks are unique interview questions and episode starting prompts in the palm of your hand. So whether you are a new podcaster or existing broadcaster looking to grow your audience or get more engagement you’re going to want to check out poddecks.com - use code DJMATT for 10% off your first order!

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Don’t live down to expectations. Go out there and do something remarkable.”
Wendy Wasserstein

Don’t settle for good when you were destined to be great.”
Charles F Glassman

“Don’t downgrade your dream just to fit your reality. Upgrade your conviction to match your destiny.”
Stuart Scott

Thanks for joining us on Inspired to Greatness, please check back with us each and every week for fresh tips and new guests. Visit our website at ITGPodcst.com and Look for us on Spreaker, iTunes, iHeart, Amazon Podcasts, and Spotify….

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Hello everyone, welcome to Inspired To Greatness… Today we are talking about, JEDI MIND TRICKS… sort of, we are talking about first impressions and setting expectations.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. - Will Rogers

A good first impression can work wonders
- J. K. Rowling

“If people are failing, they look inept. If people are succeeding, they look strong and good and competent. That’s the ‘halo effect.’ Your first impression of a thing sets up your subsequent beliefs. If the company looks inept to you, you may assume everything else they do is inept.” ~ Daniel Kahneman

SETTING EXPECTATIONS:
“Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be.”
― Stephen R. Covey,

“Set the standard! Stop expecting others to show you love, acceptance, commitment, & respect when you don’t even show that to yourself.” ― Steve Maraboli

Everything hinges on how you relate to your brain. By setting higher expectations, you enter a phase of higher functioning. One of the unique things about the human brain is that it can do only what it thinks it can do. -  Deepak Chopra

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Business Tip: NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK

Book to Read: Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People”

Tool to Try: www.10to8.com

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This episode is powered by PodDecks - Pod Decks are unique interview questions and episode starting prompts in the palm of your hand. So whether you are a new podcaster or existing broadcaster looking to grow your audience or get more engagement you’re going to want to check out poddecks.com - use code DJMATT for 10% off your first order!

Pod Decks are the hottest new tool for podcasters looking to have more meaningful conversations or gamify their podcast. Simply shuffle up, ask a question, and let the content roll! Get yours today at poddecks.com and use code DJMATT for 10% off your order!

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Exceptional leaders are fearless in setting expectations in clear language. : Alan Willett

Some people claim that expectations are the reason for unhappiness. However, I can assure you from personal experience that you'll suffer greatly by setting subpar targets. : Grant Cardone

High expectations and belief in people leads to high performance so very often belief creates fact. Paul Hersey

Our first impressions are generated by our experiences and our environment, which means that we can change our first impressions... by changing the experiences that comprise those impressions. Malcolm Gladwell

"You will never been surprised by success." - Matt Blake

"Who will you show the world YOU are today?" - Matt Blake

Thanks for joining us on Inspired to Greatness, please check back with us each and every week for fresh tips and new guests. Visit our website at ITGPodcst.com and Look for us on Spreaker, iTunes, iHeart, Amazon Podcasts, and Spotify….

See you next time!

Welcome to Inspired to Greatness... the show all about spreading inspiration, motivation, and being great., I am your host, I hope you are having an amazing day, my friends! Today we are talking about Entrepreneurship & Business!

We are going to discuss a little about how we run our businesses, how owning and growing a business works into our life, and give some tips about how we succeed at the whole thing.

"Selling is not a pushy, winner-takes-all, macho act. It is an empathy-led, process-driven, and knowledge-intensive discipline. Because, in the end, people buy from people." -Subroto Bagchi, Co-founder of Mindtree

"Be nicer to your customers than your competitors." -Richard Reed, Co-Founder of Innocent Drinks

“Tough times never last, but tough people do.” - Robert H. Schuller

Some things you do in your business or in your life that make your business better or that produce results for you?
* Sales Presentation, 98% close rate.
* Study successful people in my industry.
* Expose my personality.
* Develop relationships with others in my industry.
* Put myself out there, a LOT!
* Podcast, Networking, Facebook Live, Etc.

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This episode is powered by PodDecks - Pod Decks are unique interview questions and episode starting prompts in the palm of your hand. So whether you are a new podcaster or existing broadcaster looking to grow your audience or get more engagement you’re going to want to check out poddecks.com - use code DJMATT for 10% off your first order!

Pod Decks are the hottest new tool for podcasters looking to have more meaningful conversations or gamify their podcast. Simply shuffle up, ask a question, and let the content roll! Get yours today at poddecks.com and use code DJMATT for 10% off your order!

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Business Tips:

A few quick tips on making your business stand-out
1. Don’t sell products, provide solutions
2. Give something for nothing (or very little)
3. Support your local community
4. Focus on leads, not sales

John A. Shedd: “A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”

Drew Houston: “Don’t worry about failure; you only have to be right once.”

"There is only one way to avoid criticism: Do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing." - Aristotle

Thanks for joining us on Inspired to Greatness, please check back with us each and every week for fresh tips and new guests. Visit our website at ITGPodcst.com and Look for us on Spreaker, iTunes, iHeart, Amazon Podcasts, and Spotify….

See you next time!

Hello Everyone... Welcome to Inspired to Greatness... the show all about spreading inspiration, motivation, and being great. I hope you are having an amazing day, my friends! Today is a special show… it’s kind of a random hodge lodge of topics and questions from the PodDecks!

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”
— Michael Altshuler

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't know it well enough." - Albert Einstein

“If you can't fly then run. If you can't run, then walk. If you can't walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

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This episode is powered by PodDecks - Pod Decks are unique interview questions and episode starting prompts in the palm of your hand. So whether you are a new podcaster or existing broadcaster looking to grow your audience or get more engagement you’re going to want to check out poddecks.com - use code DJMATT for 10% off your first order!

Pod Decks are the hottest new tool for podcasters looking to have more meaningful conversations or gamify their podcast. Simply shuffle up, ask a question, and let the content roll! Get yours today at poddecks.com and use code DJMATT for 10% off your order!

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POD DECKS FLASH ROUND:

1. Before you make a phone call do you rehearse what you’re going to say? Why?
2. What do you consider yourself an expert at?
3. Would you travel to space if possible?
4. What would be your dream car?
5. If you were obscenely wealthy, what weird eccentricities would you indulge in?

Inspiration can be found… but Motivation comes from within yourself. One has to be positive. When you’re positive, good things happen.

The greatness muscle... if you want to grow greatness you have to work it like a muscle in the gym.

Thanks for joining us on Inspired to Greatness, please check back with us each and every week for fresh tips and new guests. Visit our website at ITGPodcst.com and Look for us on Spreaker, iTunes, iHeart, Amazon Podcasts, and Spotify….

See you next time!

Welcome to Inspired to Greatness... the show all about spreading inspiration, motivation, and being great., I am your host, I hope you are having an amazing day, my friends! It has been quite a while since we've done a show... but today we are talking about priorities!


To change your life, you need to change your priorities.” Mark Twain

“There is no one busy in this world, it’s always about priorities. You will always find time for the things you feel important.” Nishan Panwar

“If it’s a priority you’ll find a way. If it isn’t, you’ll find an excuse.” Jim Rohn
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Tips for prioritizing:
1. Set goals and stick to them. - Goals are your road map.
2. Do what you dread first. - As Mark Twain famously said, “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning.”
3. Don't over commit... learn to say 'NO' sometimes.
4. Lists. There are a million ways to make and use task lists, but you can't prioritize your tasks until you know them all.
5. Learn to Delegate.
6. Learn to Outsource.

Ask questions to help you set your priorities:
* Does this task directly support the goals we set for this time period?
* What do I absolutely have to accomplish today?
* When does this need to get done by?
* Am I excited about this?
* Do I have the energy and brainpower required to do this effectively today/right now?

Book to Read: "Goals" by Brian Tracy

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Pod Decks are the hottest new tool for podcasters looking to have more meaningful conversations or gamify their podcast. Simply shuffle up, ask a question, and let the content roll! Get yours today at poddecks.com and use code DJMATT for 10% off your order!

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“When you have too many top priorities, you effectively have no top priorities.” Stephen Covey

“Instead of saying “I don’t have time” try saying “it’s not a priority,” and see how that feels.” Laura Vanderkam

Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.” Stephen R. Covey


Thanks for joining us on Inspired to Greatness, please check back with us each and every week for fresh tips and new guests. Visit our website at ITGPodcst.com and Look for us on Spreaker, iTunes, iHeart, Amazon Podcasts, and Spotify….

See you next time!