Every day you have a choice. You can wake up and choose to give in to mediocrity and complacency, you can choose bad habits and poor choices, and you can do the bare minimum to get by and fly under the radar. Or you can choose to make today the day that sets you apart from the crowd, you can choose to start doing the right things, the things that will set you up for success. You can choose to create a life that is worth living, worth waking up to, and worth sharing with the world around you. Today You can choose to start with a win.
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October 30, 20260 min
Quick Win - Give Recognition
Recognition isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential! =========================== Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 =========================== YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347 Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT =========================== Connect with Adam: =========================== Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/ Facebook ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO Twitter ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO Instagram ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/ #adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory
October 23, 20260 min
Quick Win – The $8.8 Trillion Problem You’re Overlooking
Disengagement isn’t just a culture problem — it’s an $8.8 trillion leak. That’s the global cost of people mentally checking out while still on the clock. Engagement isn’t just about morale. It’s your competitive edge. Start small: ask your team what’s working for them this week — and what’s not. That clarity creates energy. That energy drives results. When’s the last time you checked in with intention? ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com =========================== Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 =========================== YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347 Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT =========================== Connect with Adam: =========================== Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/ Facebook ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO Twitter ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO Instagram ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/ #adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory
October 2, 20260 min
Quick Win – Turning Stress Into Strength
Stress is a signal, not a stop sign. Great leaders don’t ignore tension — they notice it, name it, and guide through it. Try this: when pressure rises, pause and use the “one-two-three” rule. One deep breath. Two clarifying questions. Three focused steps forward. You can’t eliminate stress, but you can lead through it. How do you help your team navigate stress when it hits? ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com =========================== Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 =========================== YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347 Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT =========================== Connect with Adam: =========================== Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/ Facebook ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO Twitter ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO Instagram ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/ #adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory
September 25, 20260 min
Quick Win - Leadership Starts With Your Attitude
Unlock the essence of leadership with a single guiding force: Attitude! 🌟 The journey of leadership commences with the energy you bring to the table. Whether it's a conversation, a statement, or an action, your attitude sets the tone. Start with the right attitude, and watch the magic unfold! ✨ A positive, can-do approach filled with optimism and good spirit not only influences your perspective but also inspires those you lead. It's a ripple effect that shapes the dynamics of the entire team. Leadership is, at its core, an attitude game. Begin with the intention of fostering a great attitude within yourself, and that positivity will resonate with your team. 🚀 Your quick win for today: embrace the power of attitude in leadership. Reflect on your approach, infuse it with positivity, and witness the transformation in your leadership journey. Share your thoughts on how attitude plays a role in your leadership style! 💬 #LeadershipAttitude #PositiveLeadership #AttitudeMatters ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership =========================== Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 =========================== YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347 Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT =========================== Connect with Adam: =========================== Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/ Facebook ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO Twitter ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO Instagram ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/ #adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory
September 18, 20260 min
Quick Win - Mastering the Art of First Impressions
Mastering first impressions isn't just about the handshake and smile—it's about genuine interest and leaving a lasting positive impact. Start with warmth and curiosity, ask great questions, and end with gratitude and a smile. These steps build relationships that last. #FirstImpressions #RelationshipBuilding #PositiveImpact ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership =========================== Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 =========================== YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347 Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT =========================== Connect with Adam: =========================== Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/ Facebook ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO Twitter ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO Instagram ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/ #adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory
October 21, 202625 min
Tara May: Your Business is Missing this ONE THING
Can kindness actually be a competitive advantage? Tara May, CEO of Aspiritech - a tech company where over 90% of the team is autistic - has built a thriving business by proving that empathy and performance go hand in hand. Join host, Adam Contos as he sits down with Tara to explore her path from driving major revenue growth at Winsight and working with brands like Disney, Hershey's, and Wells Fargo, to founding a company centered on neurodiversity. You'll discover the "ROI of kindness," why clarity is one of the most underrated tools in leadership, and how accountability and compassion can coexist even in the toughest workplace decisions. As a champion for neurodiversity and a mom of an autistic child, Tara brings a powerful perspective on what it really means to lead with both heart and results in this episode of Start With a Win. 00:00 Intro 02:50 Cultural Transformation? 05:08 ROI of this, what does it mean! 08:40 This is what is needed for engagement in the workplace. 12:10 Built environment to thrive and if you don’t have it, it could cost you! 14:33 Can you have both accountability and this in a business? 19:55 Key tips when you hold up a mirror. 23:45 Be great if it was a triple shot of espresso however it is this! https://www.roiofkindness.live/ https://aspiritech.org/ =========================== Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 =========================== YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347 Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT =========================== Connect with Adam: =========================== Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/ Facebook ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO Twitter ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO Instagram ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/ #adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory
October 7, 2026Episode 38226 min
Chip Higgins: Why Friction is Your Business's Best Friend
Have you ever thought about your business the way a physicist thinks about motion? Our guest, Chip Higgins, banking veteran and founder of Bizzics, has spent over 35 years helping entrepreneurs find the momentum that turns small businesses into massive ones. In this Start With a Win episode, you'll discover why bigness and greatness aren't the same thing, how to pinpoint the mass at the core of your company, and why friction - done right - is your business's best friend. Learn how narrowing your focus can widen your growth, and why the smartest leadership shift you can make is putting the power in your team's hands. If you're ready to rethink what drives your business forward, this episode will change how you see momentum for good. Chip’s Bio: I’ve spent over 35 years helping small business owners build momentum, strengthen leadership, and create lasting impact. As the founder of Bizzics and author of The Bizzics Way: Powering Your Small Business to Maximum Momentum, I equip entrepreneurs with practical strategies to thrive in competitive markets. During my decades in banking and executive leadership, I realized that small businesses often lack access to the same strategic insights and resources available to larger companies. That inspired me to develop The Bizzics Way, a framework that blends the laws of physics with proven business practices to help leaders generate energy, velocity, and sustainable momentum. I’m passionate about teaching entrepreneurs how to build high-performing, purpose-driven organizations — businesses that don’t need to be large to be massive. As a founding member of the John C. Maxwell Team, I enjoy speaking, coaching, and sharing actionable strategies that deliver real-world results with clarity and inspiration. 00:00 Intro 05:13 How to make sense of it all when there is so much out there! 06:38 This is the holy grail of business… 09:27 If you haven’t figured out this then you will have a rough go at it! 12:40 Which should be considered? 16:03 It’s mutual understanding… 18:17 What is the biggest source that slows businesses? 21:25 Leadership mindset shift that will change your company’s trajectory. 24:21 It’s a John Maxwell finish… =========================== Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 =========================== YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347 Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT =========================== Connect with Adam: =========================== Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/ Facebook ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO Twitter ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO Instagram ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/ #adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory
September 16, 2026Episode 38225 min
Jill Reilly: Your AI Strategy Isn’t Enough
In this Start With a Win episode, you'll meet Jill Riley, a global change strategist who's spent decades helping people break free from outdated systems. Discover the power of the '10 Permissions' and learn how to navigate profound change in your life and business. Join host, Adam Contos for a conversation that challenges you to unlearn the old rules and give yourself permission to write new ones. Get ready to step into transformation and reinvention with Jill's insights from post-apartheid South Africa to AI-era classrooms. Jillian Reilly - author, global change strategist, and creator of The Ten Permissions. She works at the intersection of personal development, social disruption, and future readiness - helping people rethink what it means to live, work, and thrive in a world that’s rewriting its rules in real time. For 30 years she worked on the frontlines of change - from post-apartheid South Africa to AI-era classrooms. Jillian helped people across generations break out of outdated systems and write new scripts for their lives. Now bringing that expertise to leaders, students, educators, and parents navigating an unpredictable future. 00:00 Intro 02:27 Thinking it was a six-month trip! 04:10 Unlearn to give yourself permission to learn the new 06:30 If you don’t embrace this way, you will miss out! 09:47 No, leaders are not ready…they need to own this! 14:28 Thought on AI and how to build into culture 18:35 Four great questions to frame the conversations… 23:58 It is as simple as this… Website: https://tenpermissions.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillianreilly/ =========================== Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 =========================== YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347 Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT =========================== Connect with Adam: =========================== Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/ Facebook ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO Twitter ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO Instagram ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/ #adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory
February 19, 2025Episode 34426 min
Coach JV Shares His TOP Secrets For Creating Freedom in Business
⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com In this episode of Start With a Win, host Adam Contos dives into the power of holistic freedom with his guest, Coach JV. Coach JV shares his remarkable journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, overcoming adversity, and building a thriving ecosystem of businesses. He reveals what is required to achieve true success and why taking control of your life is the key to lasting fulfillment. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on mindset, resilience, and creating the life you truly want! Coach JV woke up from an attempted suicide on December 18th, 2006, to a book called “The Secret.” From that day forth, the next 17 years of his life would never be the same. After his attempted suicide, JV pursued a bachelor’s degree and graduated from CBA executive banking school and soon scaled himself up to vice president at a large bank. After years of dedication to the corporation, he went through a great spiritual awaking and started to see the system for what it was. He decided to leave the high-paid VP job and with his business partner Cesar Jeremy Quintanilla, created a million-dollar FREEDOM company called 3T Warrior Academy. 3T Warrior Academy has helped thousands of warriors worldwide break free from the job just over broke system and learn how to journey to freedom in mindset, in health, and in generational wealth building. Co-founder of 3T Warrior Academy, a million-dollar business, and Freedom Asset Management Company; Co-creator of Merlin, a cutting-edge crypto tracker; Social media powerhouse with over 2 million combined followers; Featured in IrishTechNews, Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Apple News, and NewsNationUSA 00:00 Intro 01:35 the secret…where my journey began! 04:10 There was no plan B and this is how I built my resilience! 06:10 Knowledge without this is deadly… 07:57 Our motto… 11:17 This saying may be cliché however is soooo true! 12:55 Holistic what? 16:50 You need this for your fitness, your business, your finances… 19:10 There are three people… 21:25 When you find this or remember this, this will happen! 25:15 All this is for me not against me! 3twarrioracademy https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-coach-jv-podcast/id1265657533 https://www.youtube.com/@3TWarriorAcademy =========================== Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 =========================== YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347 Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT =========================== Connect with Adam: =========================== Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/ Facebook ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO Twitter ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO Instagram ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/ #adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory
December 11, 2024Episode 33837 min
How To Grow a Business with Leadership
Some people want to start a business but are overwhelmed to the point of inaction. Yet strategic action offsets overwhelm. How can you propel yourself to move forward in your career? Today on Start With a Win, host Adam Contos joins Pat on his podcast: In the latest episode of Destination Business Freedom, Pat Mancuso invites Adam Contos, a Partner at Area 15 Ventures, to speak about building ventures through effective leadership. Adam shares some of his favorite books and most influential mentors, his leadership philosophy and personal wisdom, and how he began franchising businesses with RE/MAX Holdings. Former real estate CEO and leadership coach Adam Contos maintains that you must be held accountable for taking action on your vision. However, less than 1% of people can hold themselves accountable regularly for their entrepreneurial endeavors, leading small businesses to fail in the first year. Instead, you should acquire a coach or leader to develop an accountability system. Exceptional leaders influence and guide you to accomplish a task or vision by building trust and practicing what they preach. With an inspirational leader, you can identify the mental gaps in your personal and professional life and take action for future growth. ⚡️FREE RESOURCE: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘞𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱? ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/myleadership Want weekly leadership content? Go here ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com Quotable Moments: "Ultimately, it comes down to, ‘how can you be accountable for taking that action?’ If there's no accountability, there's no action." "Leaders influence and guide somebody in order to accomplish a task or change a vision or establish values within an organization." "People will give way more than that 40% effort if they are so engaged and so inspired by the leadership in that organization." "We looked for people, systems, and products, and we found it at Port of Subs. It was rock solid." "Stay hungry and stay humble. There is no job that is too small for a key leader to go and do." Action Steps: 1. Define your destination in entrepreneurial ventures: It's crucial for business owners to have a clear objective; mapping a destination helps bridge the gap between their current state and future success. 2. Embrace change and lead through transformation: Change is inevitable in all industries; by adapting and leading effectively through it, a business can stay relevant and competitive. 3. Establish a system of accountability: To ensure action and avoid stagnation, accountability keeps individuals on track with their entrepreneurial goals. 4. Focus on relationship-building within organizations: Strong interpersonal connections can elevate employee experiences and translate to enhanced customer interaction and retention. 5. Stay informed and educated about industry developments: Ongoing learning about tools, trends, and changes, such as in AI, enables leaders to anticipate shifts and harness opportunities for growth. Sponsor for the Destination Business Freedom episode... This episode is brought to you by the Mancuso Consulting Group, a go-to resource for entrepreneurs, CEOs, and business owners dedicated to personal and business growth. Our team of experts has coached, consulted, and trained over 15,000 entrepreneurs, C-suite leaders, and business owners in areas of sales, leadership, organizational development, and personal growth. Additionally, Pat Mancuso has launched multiple multimillion-dollar business ventures, giving him a firsthand understanding of entrepreneurs' daily challenges. At the Mancuso Consulting Group, we are committed to exploring innovative ways to help businesses and leaders grow their people and improve their bottom lines. To learn how the Mancuso Consulting Group can help you unlock your full potential, visit www.themancusomethod.com, email us at pat@themancusomethod.com, or call 651-503-7355. =========================== Subscribe and Listen to the Start With a Win Podcast HERE:📱 =========================== YT ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@AdamContosCEO Apple ➡︎ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-with-a-win/id1438598347 Spotify ➡︎ https://open.spotify.com/show/4w1qmb90KZOKoisbwj6cqT =========================== Connect with Adam: =========================== Website ➡︎ https://adamcontos.com/ Facebook ➡︎ https://facebook.com/AdamContosCEO Twitter ➡︎ https://twitter.com/AdamContosCEO Instagram ➡︎ https://instagram.com/adamcontosceo/ #adamcontos #startwithawin #leadershipfactory
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