I am THANKFUL for...wait minute, I mean Happy Easter!

Okay, okay so I knew it wasn't Thanksgiving the whole time BUT being thankful is a notion and a blessing I think we should indulge in as much as possible! For me the holidays always seem to magnify this concept. Every year, every holiday makes me more and more appreciative of my family and friends. They provide me a platform to be who I am, support me in times of weakness, and INSPIRE me to be great.

Maybe your feelings aren't the same and that's okay! However if you put two feet on the ground this morning (which if you're reading this I know you did) and rolled out of bed then you surely have SOMETHING to be thankful for. Consider that something - whatever it is - today, tomorrow, and everyday! 

Being thankful is honest, honesty is vulnerable, and vulnerability is the first step on the bridge to greatness.

DV

PS - This Easter joke never gets old to me. Love it, ha.

The TOP Way to Earn Trust from Your Team

Head coach of the New York Giants Ben McAdoo recently got drilled in the media for his terrible fitting suit at his inaugural press conference as the new head coach. So what does he do? He enlists former player Michael Strahan and current star wide receiver Victor Cruz to help him with his wardrobe - hilarious! "You have to know your strengths and weaknesses," McAdoo said.

Extreme, maybe. However being humble enough to understand your weaknesses and have the humility to ask for help is true leadership. A great way to earn the trust of your team! 

Vulnerability is engaging.

DV

PS - The suit was pretty atrocious, check it out, ha. Sorry Ben.

Ben McAdoo, New York Giants Head Coach

The Friday DV Freebie #2

Okay, okay so I changed the title of the weekly review from "The Friday Media Review." I thought it sounded it cooler. I hope you like it. Who knows? I may change it again. Anyway let's get on with this week's review. 

Purple Cow by Seth Godin

What I like best: This book is super approachable for anyone and everyone. It takes a simple idea - be remarkable - and brings it to life with tremendous insight rooted with real examples. Be a purple cow. Why? Because purple cows standout. "Your either remarkable or invisible," says Godin. For all you millennials out there Jay Z labeled this book as one of the 6 most influential he's ever read. Notably saying it forever validated his marketing strategy.

Best Quote: "In your career, even more than for a brand, safe is risky. The path to lifetime job security is to be remarkable."

DV

How to Make Your Cake Taste Homemade

Don't know how to bake? Me neither. Fret no more! Next time your tasked with the job of bringing something to the party simply remember to swap out the water with coffee. Box cake + plus coffee? Hm, interesting. Check out this article by Heather Yamada-Hosley, lifehacker.com.

Being creative with your work is a never ending process. Simply changing one thing in your typical process can have a HUGE difference in your end result. Try it today!

Identify. Change. Witness. 

DV

***Disclaimer - This post does not apply to you mom, sorry. You still have to make homemade cakes. :)

Mom's "Chocolate/Chocolate" Cake (w/ Coffee Ice Cream)

Apple Introduces the New iPhone SE

Something looks familiar? Hmm. Yup - iPhone has gone back to the iPhone 5 design. It packs pretty much all the specs from the iPhone 6s but with the smaller 4 inch screen. It's set for pre-orders March 24th. For more info checkout apple.com/iphone-se.

This is a great example of Apple listening to their customers. An idea you will hear me discuss and build on in my upcoming audio groundupSALES.

DV

How to Find Your Competitive Advantage

Another great morning post by marketing guru Seth Godin. "What is your edge? In a hypercompetitive world, whatever you're competing on is going to become your focus," says Godin. Clink the link above to check it out!

He suggests that understanding precisely what you compete on is critical for you to thrive in your market. For example if it's price focus on pennies, if it's smarts then get smarter, if it's getting picked then audition more, if it's hustling then look for shortcuts, etc. "In any competitive market, be prepared to invest your heart and soul and focus on the thing you compete on," says Godin. So hone in! Strong, strong insight - love it!

What are you competing on?

Define. Focus. Execute.

DV

The BIG List of Inspiring Quotes from NCAA Basketballs Greatest Coaches

As I watched the NCAA Basketball Tournament over the weekend CBS continually showed snippets of coaches in the locker room's giving speeches to their players. I thought to myself - WOW - this is one of the highest degrees of emotional displays you're ever going to see. A leader trying to motivate his men in a complete "do or die" situation.

So in honor of March Madness this is a compilation of great quotes by equally great NCAA basketball coaches. Boost your morale to start the week with this list of 19 motivational quotes provided by Cecilia Meis, SUCCESS.com. 

“Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.” - John Wooden

**Wooden's work is timeless and I highly suggest reading any of his books on leadership. 

DV

The Friday Media Review #1

Every Friday I will do a short review (more like recommendation, ha) on a book, album, or movie/tv show. There is simply to much negativity already in the world to waste your time telling you something stinks! Like bestselling author Darren Hardy says, "Garbage in, garbage out. Don't turn your head into a trash can." 

The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

What I liked best: It's easy for me to suggest this book because of the large IMPACT it had on me personally. I picked this book up on a whim prior to a cross country flight last August. Little did I know it would set a course of events that would change (albeit slowly but surely) my outlook on life - forever. This book is an EASY read and will outline EXACTLY what it takes to jump start your success.

Best Quote: "What's simple to do is also simple not to do therefore the magic is not in the complexity of the task but the magic is in doing the simple things repeatedly."

***It should be no surprise this quote also makes an appearance in my flagship audio groundupSALES!

DV

The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

It starts with ONE

I had a minor epiphany last night. My father always says, "Doug, a good song draws out some distinct emotion. It may be sadness, joy, excitement, anger, just something BUT that's how you know it's a good song." For some reason as I laid in bed I thought about this and said to myself "Doug, a good quote draws out..."

I've always been intrigued by a good quote perhaps now I know why. The cleverness and ease in which they draw out an emotion. Below is good one by famed Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. 

Indulge in quotes. Enjoy emotions.

DV

How to BREAK the Habit of Assumptive Thinking

If I was to tell you this 13 yr old was going to KILL this Megadeth guitar solo before he stepped on the stage, your response would probably be "yeah, okay, well see."  Well, guess what? He absolutely kills the guitar solo. Watch the video below. 

This made me think of the maxim "don't judge a book by it's cover." It should be a reminder to always "read" the book. If we are curious then take the time to find out. Take the time to understand. 

"Be curious, not judgemental." - Walt Whitman

DV