Welcome to episode 271 of Monday Morning Pep Talk. Today, we’re diving into one of the most misunderstood aspects of high-performance real estate—the battle between vision and ego.

Vision vs. Ego: The Real Battle
Your vision is the promise you’ve made to yourself—the life you want, the impact you seek. Your ego is the external fuel—rankings, recognition, competition—that pushes you forward.

📌 When ego leads, you lose sight of your purpose.
📌 When vision lacks drive, you struggle to take action.

I’ve lived both sides—from my real estate heart attack in 2008 to rebuilding my career and redefining success. Today, I’ll show you how to turn ego into fuel and ensure every step aligns with your true purpose.

Are You Letting Ego Lead?
Many advisors fall into ego-driven thoughts:
🔹 I need to be #1 to feel successful.
🔹 If I don’t beat my competitor, I’ve failed.
🔹 I must prove something to others.
🔹 I have to dominate at my age.
🔹 I need a comeback to silence doubters.
🔹 I’ll just grind—I don’t need a vision.

If these thoughts drive you, you’re chasing an empty scoreboard. The game changes when ego fuels vision—not the other way around.

Winning the Internal Battle
Ask yourself:
❓ Are you focused on your progress or distracted by others?
❓ Are you making daily commitments or searching for excuses?
❓ Are you surrounding yourself with people who elevate you?

Your mindset, habits, and strategy determine your results. If you wake up chasing external validation, you’re in a losing game. But if you’re committed to becoming the highest version of yourself, you’re on the right path.

The Commitment to You vs. You
This is why I created Take Flight—to help advisors win their battle. But here’s the truth:

➡️ The commitment must come from YOU.

If you don’t commit to competing against yourself, you’ll eventually hit your own version of a real estate heart attack.

💡 The battle is won in your mind. It lasts years, not weeks.
💡 When you push past doubt and distraction, your life transforms.

Lifting Others as You Climb
As real estate award season begins, achievements are recognized, rankings are posted. But true success isn’t just about winning your battle—it’s about helping others win theirs.

➡️ Be the mentor.
➡️ Be the encouragement.
➡️ Be the inspiration.

Take Flight: Your Next Level
At Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, 50 advisors are beginning their Take Flight journey—the coaching program I created to help advisors reach new heights.

Personal and professional growth is a continuous journey. Now is the time to commit to your next level.

🏡 That house I thought I built in 2008? Looking back, I realize the truth—That house built me.

Team, have a great week. I’ll talk to you next Monday.

🚀 Stay Connected with Jim Miller
📩 Join My Monday Morning Pep Talk Weekly Email → www.askjimmiller.com
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🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/jimmillerchicago

The Journey to 'You vs You' | Monday Morning Pep Talk #271

Prof. Christian Busch, a business professor at USC Marshall School of Business and an affiliate researcher at the London School of Economics, shares key insights from his widely acclaimed book, The Serendipity Mindset: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck.

In this episode, Dr. Christian Busch reveals how unexpected encounters can shape our lives, expand our networks, and create new opportunities. Drawing from a decade of research across industries and cultures, he uncovers the secrets behind turning unpredictability into advantage. From social mobility in Africa to accidental business breakthroughs, he shows how people from all walks of life have leveraged chance moments for success. This episode offers a practical guide to developing serendipity as a life skill - helping us navigate uncertainty with purpose, joy, and opportunity.

Prof. Christian Busch's research focuses on purpose-driven leadership, sustainable innovation, and serendipity. His work has been published in esteemed journals such as the Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Management Studies, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, Journal of Business Venturing, Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, and MIT Sloan Management Review. His insights have also been featured by leading media outlets, including the Financial Times, Forbes, and the BBC. Previously, Prof. Busch taught at New York University and the London School of Economics (LSE).

Prof. Busch has received multiple "Best Paper Awards" from the Academy of Management, along with the Masini Award for Innovative Scholarship. He serves on the Editorial Review Board of Academy of Management Perspectives and is a Guest Editor for a Strategic Management Journal Special Issue on "Serendipity, Chance, and Luck in Management and Strategy." Additionally, he is a blogger for Psychology Today, and a recognized "Subject Matter Expert" for the Academy of Management. He is the bestselling author of The Serendipity Mindset, a book praised by Arianna Huffington as “wise, exciting, and life-changing” and endorsed by Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever, as providing “excellent practical guidance for all.” The book has been translated into 12 languages.

Prof. Christian Busch co-founded Leaders on Purpose and Sandbox Network, served as co-director of LSE's Innovation Lab, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Recognized in CAPITAL’s "Top 40 under 40" and the Thinkers50 Radar list, he won LSE’s Teaching Excellence Award in 2018. His experience spans business and consulting across multiple countries, and he has guest-lectured at top universities. A sought-after keynote speaker, he has spoken at the World Economic Forum, TED, and the Financial Times Summit, and collaborated with global firms like MasterCard, Siemens, and BCG. Prof. Busch holds a PhD and MSc in Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. For more information, please visit www.globalmanagementconsultancy.com.

Disclaimer:

A. The background music used in this video is the property of its respective developer and is protected by Copyright. Although it is a free version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy and Deepak Bhatt do not hold the rights to this music.

B. Prof. Christian Busch graciously shared deep insights from his book, “The Serendipity Mindset: The Art and Science of Creating Good Luck,” during his appearance on the Business Talk Podcast Channel. The uploaded video contains copyrighted material; therefore, any modifications to graphics, music, or the presence of the author or host are strictly prohibited.

All content is © 2025. All rights reserved.

How to Create Your Own Luck: Prof. Christian Busch on Turning Chance into Opportunity

Most real estate advisors never actually take flight. They stay stuck on the runway, burning energy without ever reaching cruising altitude. Why? Because they never optimize their business for predictable, sustainable success.

In this episode of Monday Morning Pep Talk, I take you behind the Take Flight framework—how I developed it and why it remains the foundation of building a successful, scalable real estate business.

📌 If your real estate business feels unpredictable, exhausting, or like you're constantly starting over, this episode is for you. The key is to break free from the stop-and-start cycle and create a business that runs efficiently, attracts high-quality clients, and supports the life you want to live.

🚀 This is the Take Flight philosophy. It’s not about just working harder—it’s about working smarter, implementing the right systems, and reaching 30,000 feet, where your business becomes self-sustaining.

✈️ Where Are You in Your Business Journey?

🔹 Still on the runway? → You’re working hard but not gaining momentum. It’s time to simplify your strategies, focus on the right clients, and build consistency.
🔹 Climbing but struggling? → You’re getting traction but still feel turbulence. This means it’s time to optimize your CRM, improve branding, build your referral network, and systematize marketing.
🔹 At 30,000 feet? → Your business is running efficiently. Now, the focus shifts to scaling your relationships, optimizing time management, and positioning yourself as a market leader.

📌 Most advisors get stuck in a cycle of constant takeoff. They start and stop, never reaching a level where business is predictable, sustainable, and truly enjoyable.

🚀 In this episode, I’ll help you identify where you are in your business and what you need to focus on next.

🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✔️ How to transition from an unpredictable, reactive business to a strategic, sustainable one
✔️ The 3 phases of growth (Runway, Climb, and Cruising Altitude) and how to move from one to the next
✔️ Why most advisors stay stuck in the takeoff phase for years and how to break free
✔️ The biggest mistakes real estate professionals make that keep them in constant struggle mode
✔️ How to use CRM, branding, and relationship marketing to create an inbound pipeline of high-quality clients
✔️ What it really takes to build a real estate business that supports your lifestyle—not one that drains your time and energy

📌 If you want to create a business that is predictable, sustainable, and aligned with your personal and professional goals, this episode will show you the path.

📩 Subscribe & Watch New Episodes Every Monday

Join my Monday Morning Pep Talk Weekly Email and get:
✅ Exclusive coaching strategies to optimize your real estate business
✅ Actionable systems to create predictable success
✅ Proven frameworks that top advisors use to scale
📩 Sign up here → www.askjimmiller.com

📺 Watch More Monday Morning Pep Talks

🔹 Catch all past episodes & subscribe on YouTube → www.youtube.com/@askjimmiller

📲 Stay Connected for More Real Estate Coaching

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🔹 LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/jimmillerchicago

🔔 Don’t Forget to:

👍 Like this episode if it resonated with you!
💬 Comment below—Where are YOU in your business journey?
📢 Share this episode with a fellow real estate professional.

💡 Jim’s Mission Statement

"My professional purpose is to help you, the full-service, full-fee advisor, optimize your productivity and become the best version of yourself. Why? Because happy advisors sell more real estate."

🚀 If you can effectively manage the challenges and opportunities in your business, you will create a sustainable, scalable career that supports the life you want to live.


Why Most Advisors Never Take Flight 🚀 | Monday Morning Pep Talk #272

✔️ The Basics Work Every Time | Monday Morning Pep Talk #273

In this episode, I walk you through one of the most powerful stories I’ve ever heard about mastery, consistency, and elite performance — told by keynote speaker and performance coach Alan Stein Jr.

Alan was invited to the first-ever Kobe Bryant Skills Academy in 2007. What he witnessed at 4:00 a.m. in a quiet Los Angeles gym changed his view of high performance forever. Kobe wasn’t doing anything flashy — he was locked in on the basics. Footwork. Jab steps. Pivots. The kind of drills most athletes leave behind early in their career. But true masters? They repeat what works.

That’s the essence of this message: Success lives in the fundamentals.

✔️ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why basic ≠ easy — and why most people confuse the two
What separates elite performers from average ones
Why the shiny new tactic is often a distraction
How to apply the principle that “success leaves clues”
A weekly challenge to double down on your fundamentals
🔁 Key Takeaways:

Success leaves clues. Study those who’ve done what you want to do.
Mastery lives in the basics. Complexity is not a requirement.
Discipline and repetition are your competitive edge.
Shortcuts feel good now but cost you later.
If the best in the world aren’t bored with the fundamentals, you shouldn’t be either.
🛠️ This Week’s Challenge:

Look around your business, your market, your industry. Who is doing what you want to do — and doing it at a high level?

What do their daily habits look like? What are they committed to doing behind the scenes that no one sees?

Pick 2–3 core fundamentals in your business. Then commit to them. Not just when it’s convenient — every single day. The blueprint is out there. It’s waiting for those who are willing to put in the work.

👉 Subscribe & turn on notifications so you never miss a Monday Morning Pep Talk or The Weekly Flight Path!

💬 Drop a comment — I’d love to hear your thoughts!

📩 Get More Coaching & Resources

📬 Join My Weekly Email List: www.askjimmiller.com
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🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jimmillerchicago



✔️ The Basics Work Every Time | Monday Morning Pep Talk #273

Discover the key skills every consultant needs to succeed with expert insights from Joshua Patrick Lawley. Learn how Joshua Patrick Lawley, Shelby County, Alabama, helps businesses thrive with strategic thinking, problem-solving, leadership, and financial expertise. Click here: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/joshua-patrick-lawley-on-key-skills-every-consultant-needs--65332160


Joshua Patrick Lawley on Key Skills Every Consultant Needs

Welcome back to the McCoy Leadership Podcast! In this episode, we dive deep with John F. Hillen, an accomplished leader with an extraordinary career spanning military, business, and academia. John shares how strategic thinking is crucial for navigating an ever-changing world, highlighting its role as a mindset rather than just a plan. He emphasizes the art of connecting diverse elements, staying adaptable, and the importance of strategic thinking at all levels. Whether you're in charge or just starting out, you'll learn how to position yourself and your organization for sustainable success. Don't miss this insightful conversation!

johnhillen.com

The Strategy Dialogues: 
https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Dialogues-Business-Strategic-Management/dp/3903386316/ref=asc_df_3903386316?mcid=99a5c126a49932d7b91920aacf279dfe&hvocijid=17040717259531209095-3903386316-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17040717259531209095&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9006691&hvtargid=pla-2281435177818&psc=1

linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohnhillen/

John F. Hillen: From Soldier to CEO to Strategy Expert

Welcome to Episode 279 of Monday Morning Pep Talk.

In this episode, we are talking about time optimization — and why the best way to manage your time is the way that actually works for you.

There is no universal perfect system. True optimization is about building a rhythm that matches your style, protects your time, and ensures you stay productive and consistent without burning out. Elite advisors do not waste time chasing perfection — they simplify, eliminate, automate, and protect their most valuable resource.

👉 What You Will Learn in This Real Estate Productivity Training:

📌 The Myth of the Perfect System:
Success comes from consistency, not complexity. Learn why your approach should fit your natural workflow — not someone else’s formula.

📌 10 Essential Time Optimization Strategies:
From eliminating low-value activities to upgrading tech, automating tasks, and delegating wisely — these principles keep you in control of your time.

📌 Analog Meets Digital:
Hear why even top producers use simple, analog tools to execute their daily plans — and why this balance helps maintain focus.

📌 Breaking the Scroll and Setting Boundaries:
Social media, streaming, and interruptions can hijack your focus. Learn how to stop distractions and guard your calendar.

📌 The Power of AI and Delegation:
Use AI and smart delegation to eliminate tasks below your profit per hour — buying back time to focus on what matters most.

📌 Reinvesting Saved Time:
Understand how to take the time you save and pour it back into your personal well-being and high-value business activities.

👉 This Episode Will Help You:

✅ Stop chasing rigid routines and do what works for you
✅ Build a sustainable, repeatable rhythm for your day and week
✅ Eliminate busywork and increase time for revenue-generating activities
✅ Avoid burnout and maintain control of your time and priorities
✅ Reinforce that consistency — not perfection — is the key to scaling your business

💬 Ask Yourself:

• Am I forcing a time management system that does not fit how I work?
• Am I protecting my time — or letting distractions control my day?
• Am I reinvesting saved time into what matters most?

📌 If you are uncertain, this episode will give you a better way forward.

🔗 Stay Connected with Jim Miller — Real Estate Coaching for Advisors:

📩 Join My Weekly Email → www.askjimmiller.com
📺 Subscribe on YouTube → www.youtube.com/@AskJimMiller
📲 Follow on Instagram → www.instagram.com/askjimmiller
🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/jimmillerchicago

Time Optimization — Do What Works For You | Monday Morning Pep Talk Episode #279

Sangeet Paul Choudary, globally recognised Platform Strategist and author, joins back on the Boundaryless Conversations Podcast for the 4th time. In this episode, the closing one for Season 6, we unpack how AI radically transforms the system of work.
Together, we explore how organisations can stay relevant as value is being redefined (intrinsic, economic, contextual), and how systemic design choices shape who benefits in a rapidly fragmenting economy. 
Drawing a powerful parallel to the shipping container revolution, Sangeet shows how AI’s impact operates at multiple levels, from simple task automation up to systemic change, urging us to think bigger than just isolated productivity gains.
He challenges the Techno-Optimist and Luddite narratives for assuming that competition rules and value distribution remain static in an AI world. Instead, Sangeet urges us to think about how the “pie” gets sliced.

Sangeet is a globally renowned author and has an upcoming book, “Reshuffle”. He is known for his deep systems thinking and sharp analysis of digital ecosystems.
In this episode, he explored how organisations must fundamentally rethink value (and their role) in an AI-transformed world and unpacks the often-overlooked link between constraints and value. 
He helps us distinguish local and systemic effects, urging leaders to stop optimising for short-term efficiencies, and challenges the outdated assumption that markets are uniform and competition is static.
If you’re curious to learn how your perception of innovation needs to shift, tune in.


Key Highlights
👉 In an AI-driven economy, organisations must redefine value in context, not just by markets, but by their unique purpose, position, and impact.
👉 Both techno-optimists and Luddites fall into the same trap: they assume the rules of competition stay the same. But as AI reshapes how the “pie” is sliced
👉 Traditional frameworks fall short - leaders must now navigate systems thinking, modularity, and multi-dimensional trade-offs.
👉 Strategic advantage lies in judgment, where decision-makers are directly impacted by their choices.
👉 Organisations must shift from task-level automation to system-level redesign.
👉 The future of leadership demands a long-term appetite for long-term planning - helping us thrive through uncertainty and systemic adaptation.
 
Topics /chapters
(00:00) How AI Restacks the System of Work - Intro 
(01:38) Introducing Sangeet Paul Choudary
(03:34) New Framing for assessing the impact of AI
(11:03) Deeper Impacts of AI on the System
(16:52) AI affecting Value Economics
(22:16) How is Value Impacted in the System of Work
(31:08) Shift of Role Requirements in Organiations
(35:13) Individual responsibility in defining value
(50:09) Pace of Technology
(56:49) Breadcrumbs and Suggestions
(01:01:05) Closing of Season 6

Remember that you can always find transcripts and key highlights of the episode on our website: https://www.boundaryless.io/podcast/sangeet-choudary-4/

Episode recorded on May 15, 2025

To pre-order Sangeet's Book: "Reshuffle: Who wins when AI restacks the knowledge economy" check out this link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTKW6NQV?ref_=pe_93986420_775043100

Find out more about the show and the research at Boundaryless at https://boundaryless.io/resources/podcast/

Get in touch with Boundaryless:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/boundaryless_
Website: https://boundaryless.io/contacts
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boundaryless-pdt-3eo

Music
Music from Liosound / Walter Mobilio. Find his portfolio here: https://blss.io/Podcast-Music

#124 – How AI Restacks the System of Work with Sangeet Paul Choudary | Closing of Season 6

Lisa Kay Solomon, Designer in Residence at the Stanford d.school, shares powerful insights from her acclaimed national bestseller, Moments of Impact: How to Design Strategic Conversations that Accelerate Change and Create Better Businesses - a book that has been translated into over a dozen languages.

Moments of Impact is a practical guide for leaders who need to drive meaningful change through better strategic conversations. Co-authored by innovation strategists Chris Ertel and Lisa Kay Solomon, the book tackles the problem of ineffective meetings in a fast-moving world. Designed for leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and changemakers, it offers clear principles, real-world cases, and a 60-page Starter Kit to help you design conversations that accelerate impact and shape the future.

A leading educator, futurist, and design strategist, Lisa helps individuals and institutions navigate complexity and shape a more resilient, equitable future through futures thinking and design. She leads groundbreaking initiatives like Vote by Design and The Future’s Happening, and teaches visionary courses like Inventing the Future. Her work spans K-12 education, executive leadership, and global platforms. Recognized by Thinkers50 and ixDA, Lisa’s impact extends through her teaching, speaking, and widely viewed LinkedIn Learning courses.

This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. For more information, please visit www.globalmanagementconsultancy.com.

Disclaimer:

A. The background music used in this video is the property of its respective developer and is protected by Copyright. Although it is a free version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy and Deepak Bhatt do not hold the rights to this music.

B. Lisa Kay Solomon generously shared profound insights from her book, “Moments of Impact: How to Design Strategic Conversations that Accelerate Change and Create Better Businesses,” during her appearance on the Business Talk podcast channel. The uploaded video contains copyrighted material; therefore, any modifications to graphics, music, or the presence of the author or host are strictly prohibited.

All content is © 2025. All rights reserved.

Stanford d.school’s Lisa Kay Solomon on Designing Strategic Conversations

Joseph Lamar Simmons is a dedicated Intelligence Officer whose career at the Department of Defence showcases precision, teamwork, and strategic thinking. His efforts help shape decisions that protect the nation while upholding the highest standards of integrity and service.


Joseph Lamar Simmons Shares His Insights on Life as an Intelligence Officer

Joshua Patrick Lawley  began his career as a state auditor, gaining expertise across industries like automotive, healthcare, and manufacturing. After five transformative years, he transitioned to the private sector, traveling extensively to assess financial systems nationwide. Leveraging his experience, Joshua Patrick Lawley founded the MOSOM Group, a property investment firm in Nevada, where his strategic vision drives success in real estate investment.

Joseph Lamar Simmons is an accomplished Intelligence Officer at the Department of Defence. With a strong background in national security and intelligence operations, he plays a critical role in safeguarding the country’s security interests. His expertise in analysis, risk management, and strategic planning has earned him recognition as a valuable asset in his field.

Jim Miller is a success mentor and life coach who guides top real estate brokers from around the country while managing 2.3B+ in sales production as Designated Managing Broker with Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty in Chicago, Illinois.  He is also recognized as a top real estate coach to top Sotheby's International Realty brokers in 35 luxury markets.

Welcome to Business Talk, your go-to podcast for the latest trends, insights, and thought-provoking discussions in the business world. Whether you're a business professional, entrepreneur, researcher, or academic, our episodes will challenge you to rethink conventional wisdom and inspire actionable ideas.

Brought to you by Global Management Consultancy, we are committed to driving innovation and excellence in the business community. All content Copyrighted 2024 by Global Management Consultancy.

For more information about our past and upcoming podcasts, please click here:https://www.deepakbbhatt.com/businesstalk

Boundaryless helps global customers with Business Strategy and Organization Design for the age of Ecosystems.
We do it by creating openly accessible frameworks and by supporting a community of organizations, institutions, and individuals through workshops, training, and consulting services. 

In this space we host all our audio recordings, including the Boundaryless Conversations podcast, a show focused on exploring the future of large scale organising by leveraging on technology, network effects and shaping narratives. We explore how platforms can help us play with a world in turmoil, change, and transformation: a world that is at the same time more interconnected and interdependent than ever but also more conflictual and rivalrous. 

We used to be online at platformdesigntoolkit.com... now find us on our new website: www.boundaryless.io!

Email: hello@boundaryless.io

New tracks tagged #StrategicThinking