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Speech Transcript

Unknown Speaker 0:00
Hey this is Michael Penner with credible leader calm and if you really

Unknown Speaker 0:04
want to learn how to level up your life

Unknown Speaker 0:07
you should be listening to the time to shine today podcast with my friend, Scott bird. Time to shine today varsity squad it is Scott Ferguson and welcome to Episode 109. It’s funny, I’d be back to back episodes who went away one or nine I have another Marine, Michael Tanner from credible leaders calm, just a fantastic man, a true gentleman, someone who leads the way he would want to be led. He talks about some of his stumbles some things that tumbled him and he reminds himself every time he goes into help teams level up that the team is more important than me. So sit back, relax. He’s going to drop serious knowledge nuggets on you make sure you have your notebook out because here comes my good friend Michael Tanner from credible leaders

Unknown Speaker 1:05
Hey, time to shine today podcast why this is Scott Ferguson and I got my guy Michael Tanner from credible leaders. So even before you listen to the rest of this interview, go to four enemies camera credible leaders slash forums anyways, I’ll put that in the show notes. Go there and take the quiz is 20 questions. If you’re a company that’s really looking to level up maybe the team players aren’t doing their job. Michael is the guy so I’ve been waiting probably a month to be able to get Michael on and he’s graciously is going to give us this time. He’s a leadership veteran more 27 years of highly engaged and practical experience through successful leadership positions of increasing scope ranging from the US Marine Corps infantry rock to C suite executive Michael is constantly evolving his knowledge and experiences leadership practitioner Michael earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in leadership. So he’s a smarty. All right, cool. He prides himself on leveraging his unique combination of education skills, and experience to harness the greatness within his clients and unleash possibilities with their leadership potential. And so Michael, welcome to time to shine today. Please come on, introduce yourself to the squad. But first, what’s your favorite color? And why? Oh, man, Scott, thanks so much for having me. And color. What is my favorite color? You know, I would say that my favorite color is green. Okay. And that’s because in my world, I’m in software development, engineering. And we tend to track projects by red light colors, red, yellow, or green. And therefore my favorite status for any kind of project is green. So green would be my favorite code. It’s all about go and then growth right? back the other year, so nobody was red or yellow. Nobody actually they’re always slowing you down. Love that love that. So, Mike, tell us a little bit origin story about credible leaders and how you because we know that that you’re fantastic what you do you help build team frameworks that give us the origin of that? Yeah, sure. So thanks for giving me the opportunity, Scott. And first of all, you know, reading the bio there and you talk about the Marine Corps. I know you are a Navy guy. So I’m proud to be a Department of the Navy. A lot of people don’t know that. But the Marines are a department of Navy. I’m not going to finish that joke. You’ve probably heard

Unknown Speaker 3:31
of them. Right?

Unknown Speaker 3:35
Man, I really appreciate your service and all that the the Navy do. It’s It’s incredible. So thank you for that. But But yeah, my leadership experience started back in 1993. In the United States Marine Corps, that’s the first position that I call a professional leadership position, where I actually got paid to serve in some type of leadership capacity. And ever since then, I’ve been in leadership. capacities I left the Marine Corps, got a computer science degree got into the corporate world as a software developer and immediately got into leadership there and grew through the ranks of corporate leadership as well to the point of being within the C suite now. And what, what started for me as I started watching the passion shift in my, in my own self from, for instance, in my software development, I just wanted to solve a bigger problem for the company. Sure. And I eventually I got to the point where those problems are so large, I needed a team. And then the company gave me a team and I started leading a team to solve those big problems. But that’s when, for me personally, my energy shifted, and my motivation shifted to I just love watching those people. I love watching that team, solve those big problems instead of me solving the big problem now. I like watching those teams solve the big problem and so that’s why I leave Leadership became a huge emphasis for me. And I went in and got a master’s degree in leadership there as well. And so what we built out here at credible leaders calm is just the the coaching the support the equipping necessary for for those that want to lead, and more specifically right now those that want to build good, highly effective teams, right. It’s all about teamwork. I believe. Teamwork is your only real competitive advantage against the competitors. Whatever industry, you’re in your teamwork is the only real competitive advantage. So we’re really about building teams these days. Excellent. Yeah, teamwork makes the dream work. Right. That’s the bit it does. JOHN Maxwell made that famous years ago. Yes. Big, big cliche. So being in that what do you think makes a great leader? Oh, there’s so many things that makes a great leader. I mean, that is such a good question. I believe first and foremost, though, a leader has to be humble. Right? I believe the ego probably trips up more leaders than you would expect. And oftentimes, I believe ego trips up those leaders and they don’t even recognize that it’s ego, that’s tripping them up. Maybe it’s a, you know, a frustrated or angry reaction to a team member or whatever. And that’s driven by ego. And an ego is an emotion that sneaks up on us to the point that we don’t even you know, we just don’t recognize that it’s sneaking up on us. So I think as a leader, you got to go in humble, right? You got to lead those people with humility, and not leave them with this air of title or position, right? You don’t lead by saying, hey, look, I’m the Vice President. You’re not let me lead you know, you lead with a with an element and an attitude of humility. Because I again, I think ego trips up more leaders than you would love that. So like, you know, I’m a man of faith myself, and I’m not afraid Talk about it. The ego we always say edging God out, you know? Yes, yes. That’s what we always kind of say about that. So trust me, I been in South Florida, in the squad out there that listens knows that like in real estate business, it’s like you’re dealing with a lot of those. Imagine Oh, it’s like, and I have to keep mine in check, and I don’t always do it. But is there a, you know, a secret sauce that you pass on to maybe egotistical leaders to help them kind of get over that?

Unknown Speaker 7:30
Well, I would, I tend to start the same place you do with with my faith. And I would say that that’s where my humility is rooted. It’s rooted in my faith. It’s rooted in the recognition of, I don’t even understand how wicked I can be. And so that makes me humble within myself and then and then I take that to my team. I take that to work with me if you will. But you know what I what I coach people, especially as it relates to how do you overcome your ego. I teach this Actions precede feelings or emotions. You know, a lot of times, I’ll hear people say to me as I’m working with them and coaching them, when I, you know, I have some team members that I just, I don’t know that I like them, I don’t know that I have these good feelings about them. Well, okay. First start with the actions, and then those feelings will follow that. And so, the key is, especially for ego, find out what are the triggers, what are the actions that you can take that then create the feeling or the emotion and so if you’re trying to feel humble, right, I do this on a regular basis. When I get out of my vehicle to go into the office. In some people have actually caught me doing this out loud, I will say out loud to myself, that team is more important than me. And I’ll just kind of in To me, that’s a mental trigger, if you will. For me when I say that the team is more important than me. That’s a mental trigger for me to set myself aside. My ego in check, and go in to the team and work with the team cooperate with the team lead the team with humility. So I would say, you know, you just got to figure out what that trigger is what is that action you can do that then creates that feeling or the emotion of, you know, removing the ego. And for me, it’s just reminding myself the team’s more important than me. Great reminders right there, Michael. And so if I’m out at a networking event, which we’re kind of able to start doing a little bit by little like the listeners here will be, we might be in you know, by the time this episode drops, we might be in stage three or two or three of COVID-19 releasing back into society. But if I’m out at a networking event, present some flash meeting some people and I’m, you know, I’m a big proponent of like listening, and someone’s talking to me, what kind of what are they saying it’s gonna make me think that they’re a great prospect, someone to refer to credible leaders. Yeah, so, you know, I would say, what I’m looking for, if you will, in terms of my ideal audience is that that individual or that group of people, especially with a team that just wants better, they’re hungry for more, they’re hungry for better. I’m a big fan of Pat lencioni. In his book, The ideal team player, and in that book, he talks about people that are humble. The ideal team player is humble, hungry, and smart and smart. He means self aware, he understands how their interactions, you know, play with one another. But what I’m looking for especially early on, is that hungry, are you hungry? Do you want better for your team? Do you want more for your team? Are you willing to you know, work through change and, and things like that to become better. If you’re not happy with the status quo and you’re not complacent? Then I love hanging out with those types of individuals and coaching them to create the change They’re looking for awesome. You help those people level up. So you’re bringing in these people and you find out that you’re, they’re the right fit. They’re hungry, underlying the hungry, they’re humble, they’re smart. Reach out to you. But you got them, you’re starting to work with them, if you don’t mind sharing some of your secret sauce at the start that you help them to find their blind spot. And in level up from there,

Unknown Speaker 11:27
yeah, certainly. So, you know, first of all, if I’m working with an individual, and they’re, you know, their intention is to increase their leadership. One of the first and foremost things that I want to do is I want to make sure that they’re in leadership for the right reasons, and they understand leadership from the, you know, proper perspective. Unfortunately, a lot of people are in leadership because they were just promoted to that point. You’ve heard the cliche, you get promoted to the point that you’re, you know, incapable. So maybe they’re a wonderful salesman, and they get promoted to a sales manager. I have no idea what to do there. Right, right. And so I just want to first start with let’s make sure you’re you’re, you’re in leadership for the right reasons. And it’s not about as we just talked about earlier, it’s not about your ego or it’s not about attaining a title or a position. Really, leadership is about relationship with your people. And so that’s where I want to start as I start with just the teaching that leadership is about relationship with your people. It’s not about title or position or compensation, or any of those other things. Well, that’s, you know, that’s kind of a revelation that I really haven’t had any other coaches, if you will come on and say it’s like, you know, you It’s true, you could take somebody that you see probably a lot in car sales, you know, I mean, I did it, I tried it. My mentor made me do it for a summer. I was really not that great, but you know, you have a car salesman that can sell the heck out of a lot, you know, but then all sudden, he does Numbers, they want to promote them. And he’s kind of like a fish out of water because he was competing against all these other salesmen. Now it’s time to build a team. So I see what you’re saying with that, that. That’s fantastic. That’s great. So, Michael, tell us about a fail. Tell us about something that you learning experience? Have you kind of failed forward? Oh, man, that’s a great question. But unfortunately, for me, it’s hard to narrow it down. If you’re only going to give me time to name one because that, you know, I failed many, many times. But I’ll go back to one of my earliest failures really quickly, just because we’re two military guys, I can tell you a quick story. My first position as a squad leader in the Marine Corps, it was just about six months before I was going to get out. And we got a new battalion commander. And every time you get a new battalion commander, one of the first things that he wants to do is come around and, and to inspect, you know, all the barracks and all the Marines and their uniforms and all that and I was already Really really new squad leader in a head this this young Lance Corporal that really just uh you know we called him you know problem children in the Marine Corps he had lost his a military ID oh and during an inspection you’re supposed to have the military ID in your left breast pocket No sir. Well he did. So I told him to go out in the pray deck and find the largest rock that he could find. Now I thought he was going to find because he was going out on the pray deck. I thought he’d find a little pebble right. And for all you listeners, afraid decks really just a big old grinder of cement. Yeah, I used a big asphalt area. Yes. And he came back with a baseball sized rock. I was shocked that he found anything. Well, I couldn’t turn back at that point. But I told him I said you’re going to put that rock in your in your pocket. And when the battalion commander comes through, and he asked you what that is, you’re going to tell him that’s your ID card because you’re a Rock right and I was just all over this guy’s and I just you know The tank commander comes in and, and this guy’s actually in my squad. He’s the last guy to get inspected. And wouldn’t you know I mean, first thing he sees is this huge rock, right? So he asked the guy Hey, what is that? And he tells him, that’s my ID card. You know, Rob because I lost my car. Well, who, who told you to put, you know, Corporal Tanner told me to put it in there. So then the battalion commander comes to, you know, looks at me, and just makes a smart remark about me, turns and leave the room, never inspected the rest of this Lance Corporal or his room or anything like that. And I realized in that moment, I had screwed up royally right with this guy. And in fact, what I had done is I had, I had mimicked God, I had continued the leadership that this guy had before me. I really just kind of fell in line with trying to lead this guy. The same way the previous squad leader had led him and I knew It was ineffective, because I had watched it time and time again. But yet I fell into that same trap. And ultimately, you know, I had to go back to the guy afterwards and say, Look, I’m sorry, I overreacted. That was silly. I mean, what are the chances he would have caught the fact that the guy didn’t have his ID card in his left breast pump? Right?

Unknown Speaker 16:18
Probably No, probably not. I’m trying to remember those inspects? I don’t think I ever got asked that. But let me ask you. So when you’re bringing new prospects in? Michael, is there any good question that you wish they would ask you, but never do? Oh, man. That’s a really, really good question. Yeah, you know, again, I think it comes down to those. Maybe it’s philosophical type questions about leadership and about teamwork. You know, oftentimes, people just, they want to know what are the tips and the tricks and the tactics? No, they want to kind of know, and it almost feels like shortcuts. Right. They want to know what the shortcuts are, what are the hacks, that that I can just do to be a good leader? But I really want everybody to kind of take a step back and think about what’s the proper reason to be a leader? What’s the proper reason to come together as a team love that and just be more philosophical about it rather than just give me some tips and tricks to shortcut this thing? Yeah, that’s awesome. say let’s happen are with Marty McFly here, I always say and let’s get our DeLorean. Let’s go back to the 2324 year old Mr. Michael Tanner, what kind of knowledge nuggets and you drop in on him with the experience that you’ve gained through the years to help him maybe shorten his learning curve or level up? Man? that’s a that’s a really, really good question. No, I think one of the first things I would tell the 23 year old me is that you’ve got to, you’ve got to invest your time and your money. And in your your energy into the relationships that are going to help you as an individual grow. If someone at my 23 would have said, hey, go find a mentor, I would have laughed out. If they hadn’t said, hey, go find a coach, you know, spend time and spend money on a coach to advance yourself. I would have laughed out of my mouth. Yeah, whatever. You know, I get in a sporting sense I get you know, I’m a love basketball. Sure. And I get the idea that a basketball team needs a coach. But why do I need a coach to help me advance in my career or level up my leadership or I never would have connected the dots back then and really believed in the value of that I love I would just say invest in yourself. Find those people that can lead you and guide you. Right? I love that. Yeah, take take a percentage of that income and put it towards love. Luckily, I was kind of forced to do that at 25 but shorten the learning curve is Still fell on my face quite a bit, you know, because I thought then I knew everything when I was taught by mentors. And but you know, we all live and we learn, we fail forward and we learn from that. But that’s a fantastic advice to give to the young man or woman, for that matter. So we talked about the dash here at time to shine today. And I want to know how you want that dash remembered, you know, that little line in between your life date and death date? How do you want your epitaph to read about Michael Tanner? Man? You know, I think that’s a really important question for all of us to pause and think about from time to time. You know, I think that in two parts, first of all, first and foremost here on this earth, my family is everything. To me. I have a wife of 26 years and three teenagers, seniors, children, and it’s all about them, right? And so I would certainly want people to in that dash see my devotion, my love for my family, my willing To do anything and everything for my family, but then secondly, to that, I would want people to just see that I am a servant. You know, as you think about leadership and the different types of leadership, I call myself a servant coach. That’s a cross between servant leadership and coaching. And I would just want people to see that I was a servant that I gave as much as I possibly could

Unknown Speaker 20:25
to to

Unknown Speaker 20:26
bring value and advancement to other people. I’m a big believer, and I think it was Zig Ziglar. That said, you know, to get whatever you want, help enough people get what they want. Absolutely. And I’m a I’m a big believer in that. So I just want to be a servant. I love that everyone that is gonna make you immortal. That’s a side of me is you know, my mentor always said, you know, the more people that you mentor, the more immortal you’ll become, you know, and again, not being immortal, like for egotistical, but I mean, we all want to be remembered for something and like, right being a servant coach, that’s a huge first step in that direction. Thank You’re saying that so what is your definition of a life well lived? Gosh, great question again. You know, I believe I was asked in a in another podcast interview one time. How do you define success? And, and I answered it this way I said, I believe success is serving other people. And then the operational side of me came out serving other people in the most efficient way possible, or most efficient manner possible, right. And so I think a life well lived is one that is, is lived for the purpose of serving others with the maximum capacity that you can, whether those others are your family, which is super important, obviously, or it’s even strangers that you’re going to meet in your business or in your work day. Or just out right to me, life. Well, Leah is serving others. Beautiful. We have I believe that I don’t know if you read the go giver. by Bob Berg have

Unknown Speaker 22:00
loved the book. He’s my neighbor

Unknown Speaker 22:02
here. Oh really? So yeah. Wow. So yeah, he’s like kind of pushed me through my business parable that I’m that I’m writing right now. So like you have to write a book if you haven’t already you have to because the stuff that you could spill on the pages is amazing. Excellent. So we’re gonna, as we wind things down just a little bit here, we’d like to have our leveling up lightning round. Okay, so you and I could talk 1520 minutes on each one of these questions. Just five seconds,

Unknown Speaker 22:28
five seconds. All right,

Unknown Speaker 22:30
top of your head. What comes out, and we’ll just rapid fire to the next question. All right, you’re ready. Let’s do it. Let’s do it. Right.

Unknown Speaker 22:39
What is the best leveling up advice you’ve ever received?

Unknown Speaker 22:43
Find a mentor or coach.

Unknown Speaker 22:44
share one of your personal habits that contributes to your success. a morning routine. A great morning routine. I follow the Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. Great, great read by the way. Yes. So speaking of reading Not Not a good book at the flavor of the week, not one that’s out there something you’re reading novel what’s your go to book if someone says, you know what I’m really looking to level up I’m kind of in the doldrums like mine’s Andy Andrews he’s a Christian is called the travelers gift he’s a Christian comedian and he wrote that book really turned a lot of things wrong for me but what’s your go to book well for definitely for individual my go book go to book I mentioned it earlier is the ideal team player by Pat Lynch. Yes, fabulous book. I’m gonna put that in the show notes for everybody. If you’d be one age for the rest of your life, what would it be? Oh my goodness. I loved 29 Isn’t it crazy? Yes.

Unknown Speaker 23:41
What what emoji to use the most when you’re texting people?

Unknown Speaker 23:44
Oh, I think it’s the I don’t know what the the official title is it but it’s the shocked one. It’s the the one with the round mouth. You know, the big wide eyes love it. Yes. favorite charity and organization you’d like to give your time or money to So I’m with you. I love veterans. And so I love the Semper Fi fund. Beautiful. Beautiful. And all right, last question. What’s the best decade of music? 60s 70s 80s or 90s? Oh, I gotta go with 80s big hair don’t care, right? Yes.

Unknown Speaker 24:16
Yes. All right. So

Unknown Speaker 24:18
how can we find you, Michael? So So the best place to find me and everything that I’m doing is at credible leaders calm. You can find links to everything I do. I do podcasts, I do videos, blog, articles, and so forth. But as I mentioned earlier, right now, a big focus for us is teamwork in building your team into the effective team that you need, and so you can find it that quiz that you alluded to earlier, you can find it at four enemies.com. That’s the number four for enemies calm. Love that love that. Leave us, Michael, please with one last Knowledge Nugget that you want us to take with us internalize and put into action. So I would give you this especially from a leadership standpoint. You will certainly appreciate this. I call it the golden rule of leadership. And a lot of folks understand and know what the golden rule is the golden rule estates this treat others the way you would want to be treated. And my encouragement to you. Yes. My encouragement to you would be this apply the golden rule to your leadership. lead others the way you would want to be lit. Wow, you hear that squad? I mean, this is the gentleman I mean, I can’t believe I’m talking to a marine that just made me take a whole page full of notes here. You know, rock into this guy, you know, not my leather neck buddy here but no, no, seriously peeps. Michael really brings a ton to the table. You know, he he talked about teamwork. You know, the cliche of teamwork makes a dream work. But being a leader of that team needs to be humble Drop, drop the ego, lead with humility. In his humility is really rooted deep in his faith which makes A servant coach, which why you successful, and why people flock to him. You know, we talked about actions, and feelings and how all that is really proceed with thoughts and actions and feelings. Really stay presence in any situation you’re in which will not let the ego come out. When those actions and the way you’re going to make people feel it’s going to help them level up. And make sure that if you are a leader, remember that the team is more important than me. And Michael talked about sitting in this car before he goes in. He reminded himself that on a daily basis, and that’s something I’m going to move into my repertoire as I meet with my team. Always be hungry for better be hungry, underscore that hungry, humble and smart. Leadership is about relationships. And if you’re a young buck or even if you’re not a young buck, and you’re getting a late start, invest your time and money and leveling up your life and find a mentor in basketball like we just started this little ramble that I just have the ends I’m blown away with the knowledge Scientists he’s dropped. Remember the golden rule rule Do unto others as you would want to have done to you. And Michael, you’re hungry, yet you’re humble. You love enough, you’re healthy. You’re leveling up your wealth. You know, we always say we don’t want anyone to feel like they have no one in there. There’s teams out there that is looking to level up. Michael is your guy, please look in the shownotes and find out how to get in contact or get in contact with me and I’ll personally make an introduction. So Michael, thank you for coming on. We’re blasts we’re grateful you’re proud of the time to shine today varsity squad. You can’t go anywhere, brother.

Unknown Speaker 27:35
Thank you, Scott. Thanks so much for the opportunity.

Unknown Speaker 27:37
Absolutely. Hey, thanks so much for listening to this episode of time to shine today podcast, proudly brought to you by southern New Jersey real estate real estate excellence, who can be reached at 561-249-7266 and online at www dot Sutter and nugent.com if you’re a business owner or professional who would like to be interviewed on time to shine today Please visit time to shine today.com slash guest. If you liked this episode, please subscribe on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, I Heart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts. There’s a link in the show notes for a website. Also there you will see a recommended resources. We hope that you will support our show by supporting them. If you like what you’ve been listening to, it’d be great if you could just give us a five star rating until your friends have subscribed while you’re at it. I’m your host, Scott Ferguson. And until next time, let’s level up. It’s our time to shine.

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