Retrospective Special - Part 2 - Vision

12/18/24 • 15 min

In this special retrospective episode, Tim Sweet takes listeners on a journey through the most profound moments shared by past guests, all centered around the transformative power of "vision" in leadership. Through inspiring clips, guests reveal how they discovered their vision, how it shaped their leadership decisions, and why having a clear vision is vital for success in both business and life. Whether you're seeking inspiration or looking to craft a roadmap for the future, this episode is a compelling guide to creating clarity and purpose.

Tim Sweet delves into the importance of aligning it with one's values and experiences. He highlights insights from 11 guests, including Teresa Waddington, who bridges past and future through her vision; Ryan and Shane Pegg, who value innovation and helping others; and Debbie Potts, who found strength in a vision of a little red house in her dream country. Erin Ashbacher stresses the link between physical health and vision, while Erin Lydon draws parallels between poker and leadership. Tim ends the episode with an inspiring call to listeners to define their vision and share it boldly!

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Transcript

Tim Sweet 00:00

Over 42 episodes I’ve have had the privilege of conversing with incredible guests. One thing stands out, vision is deeply personal. It’s shaped by our experiences, values and our willingness to embrace vulnerability. Vision isn’t just about what we see, but why we see it. In this episode, I’ll share insights from 11 remarkable guests who have illuminated what it means to craft, nurture and live your vision. Their stories showcase authenticity, courage, the joy of discovering brilliance and exploring unexpected places.

Tim Sweet 00:35

I'd like to ask you some questions. Do you consider yourself the kind of person that gets things done? Are you able to take a vision and transform that into action? Are you able to align others towards that vision and get them moving to create something truly remarkable? If any of these describe you, then you, my friend, are a leader, and this show is all about and all for you. I'm Tim Sweet. Welcome to Episode 46 of the Sweet on Leadership Podcast. Today we're diving deep into the concept of vision. It's more than just setting goals or dreaming big. It's about clarity and knowing where you're headed, and the courage to take steps to get there. And authenticity ensuring that your vision aligns with who you truly are.

Tim Sweet 01:20

So let's begin. Vision begins with purpose. It's not about ambition for its own sake. It's about what truly matters to you. When I spoke with Teresa Waddington, an engineer and Vice President of Corporate Relations, in Episode 28, her story struck me. Teresa's vision bridges generations. It's shaped by her father's legacy and her aspirations for her daughter and the world she lives in. She beautifully illustrated how vision connects the past and the future. It's why I sought her out; because it's just such a compelling picture. Here she is.

Teresa Waddington 01:54

I'm on a mission to turn my dad's oil patch into my daughter's energy garden, and when I think about that future energy garden. I really do think it is a whole host of things. It's a whole host of technologies, and couplings of those technologies between kind of old and new that'll really drive us forward.

Tim Sweet 02:12

The idea of legacy can deepen and strengthen our vision. Teresa reminds us that its purpose that gives our vision its resilience. In episode 26, I spoke with Ryan and Shane Pegg. Ryan, a grade eight student and an inspiring entrepreneur, a triathlete and a wearable technology ambassador, had a keen eye for innovation and a desire to make an impact. His dad, Shane leads business incubators in their community, where he fosters creativity and collaboration. Their conversation covered the origins and purpose of how visions evolve and create value beyond ourselves. Here's Ryan.

Ryan Pegg 02:51

I feel like business is not only about the money side of things, like you're not only trying to make money, you're trying to build new things, you're trying to help people. And that really changed the way that I thought about it.

Tim Sweet 03:08

Ryan's clarity and focus stem from values that he's seen modeled and experience that he's been allowed to have. Shane shared how cultivating an others-first mentality has shaped not only his approach to business, but also his family's outlook on life.

Shane Peg...

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Transcript

Tim Sweet 00:00

Tim Sweet 00:35

Tim Sweet 01:20

Teresa Waddington 01:54

Tim Sweet 02:12

Ryan Pegg 02:51

Tim Sweet 03:08

Shane Peg...

Previous Episode

Retrospective Special - Part 1 - Arriving

In this special retrospective episode, Tim Sweet revisits past guests' most profound moments to explore the idea of “arriving” — that deep sense of alignment when purpose, values, and actions converge. Through compelling anecdotes from leaders across diverse fields, this episode sheds light on how moments of arrival are not endpoints but significant milestones that shape our journey. From navigating authenticity to redefining success, Tim unpacks how leaders grow into their roles and discover their impact.

Listeners will hear insights on combating imposter syndrome, fostering self-trust, and staying true to personal values. This episode celebrates growth, resilience, and purpose by featuring wisdom from figures like Tracy Borreson on avoiding burnout, Tim Beissinger on non-traditional career paths, and Aaron McConnell on leading through challenges. Tune in to learn why arrival is not just a destination but an evolving state of being.

Contact Tim Sweet | Team Work Excellence:

Transcript

Tim 00:00

Tim 00:31

Today's episode is a little bit different. It's a reflective one. Over the past 42 episodes, we've been exploring leadership growth, transformation with some incredible guests, but one theme has stood out across many of these conversations, and that's the theme I want to bring you today. Today is all about arriving. So, for this episode, I'm diving back into some of our favourite guest contributions. You'll hear short quotes; you'll hear more in-depth stories and anecdotes. Each will add to our understanding of what it means to arrive. When I say, arrive, what I mean is that moment that you know you're enough, that moment that you know you are exactly where you belong. You are fulfilling a purpose. It's a special thing, and when it happens, you know it. But what brings it about? Is it an age or experience thing? Is it a moment? Is it a milestone or maybe just a feeling that we stumble upon when we least expect it? Let's start with the basics. What does it mean to arrive? In episode five, one of my good friends and guests, Paul Farmer, a leadership coach in Australia who specializes in guiding others toward alignment and purpose, captured it so well-

Paul Famer 01:50

Depending on the way that the conversations happen with the owners, then choosing to bring that feeling into the business allows the business to grow in a deliberate way, whereby the business feels good for all of those that are involved in it.

Tim 02:08

That's it, right? It's the feeling of alignment when your actions and your purpose, and your values all click. It's not always about what you accomplish, but how it feels when you're in sync with yourself and when you're in sync with yourself, you can be in sync with others. I remember a moment in my own journey when this clicked. Early in my career, I leaned on quotes and research and experts to validate my own ideas, but a mentor told me, You're making great points, but you're not willing to own them. It stung, but it planted a seed, and a few months later, I stood up in a high-stakes meeting and delivered my perspective without quoting anyone else. And in that moment, standing on my own two feet, facing senior executives, I knew I had arrived, not because of what I had said, but because I knew I belonged at the table. To the newer leaders out there, I know how hard it can be to wait for this to happen. You spend your days dealing with imposter syndrome. You spend your days wanting to know why you're not being accepted, wrestling with feelings that you might not be good enough. You're looking ahead and wondering, When am I going to start to feel confident? When am I going to feel like I am where I belong? Here's the thing: arrival isn't something you can rush. It's not something you can force. It's something that you literally have to grow into. It's not based on some predetermined plan, and most importantly, it's not someone else's plan. My good friend, Tracy Borreson, who helps entrepreneurs and business owners really figure out how they belong, talked about avoiding burnout and how to discover au...

Next Episode

Retrospective Special - Part 3 - Capacity

In this final retrospective episode of the year, Tim Sweet delves into the concept of capacity, exploring how it extends beyond time and energy to include personal priorities, relationships, and intentional choices. Drawing on insights from guests, including Renee Miller and Anna Morgan, Tim underscores the importance of leaders prioritizing themselves to avoid burnout and make space for personal and professional growth.

Additional clips from past guests, including Richard Young, highlight the power of evidence over hope in decision-making, while Dan Löfquist and Julie Friedman Smith discuss the rewards of stepping out of comfort zones to embrace challenges and foster adaptability. Jeff Massone emphasizes the transformative role of positive relationships, and Tim Beissinger shares how focusing on key goals can lead to significant achievements. These conversations provide a holistic view of capacity as a critical leadership tool.

Tim concludes the episode with a call to action, encouraging listeners to evaluate their current state, identify areas of over-commitment, and align their choices with their goals and values. By creating space for what matters and surrounding themselves with supportive relationships, leaders can build capacity for success. Tune in to discover actionable strategies for intentional living and leadership.

Contact Tim Sweet | Team Work Excellence:

Tim 00:00

Tim 00:31

Today we're diving into the critical topic of capacity. Capacity is about more than just having enough time or energy. It's about making room for growth, prioritizing what matters and understanding how we lead ourselves and others sustainably. We'll be drawing on insights from nine incredible guests to explore this theme. These are leaders, thinkers, experts, who have all shared authentic, surprising and fearless perspectives on how we can unlock our own potential while creating environments where others can do the same. They've been my guests over the last year with Sweet on Leadership podcast. So I'm eager to dive in. Capacity begins with prioritizing yourself. As leaders, we often focus so much on serving others that we forget to check in with our own needs and aspirations. But here's one truth, you cannot pour from an empty cup and a well that gives no water is just a hole. When I spoke to Renee Miller in Episode 42 her perspective on this was both authentic and actionable. Renee one of two intrepid thru hikers that join me, challenges us to see how easy it is to get caught up in daily demands while sidelining our professional and personal dreams.

Renee Miller 01:42

You get so caught up into your daily lives, and the tasks that you, you know, you go to work and have to get all these tasks done and come home and have responsibilities at home, but yeah, you kind of forget about yourself. And you know, what about that professional engineering license that would be really good for my career? Oh, I don't have time for that, because I'm busy working and, yeah, just talking with people and reminding them to prioritize themselves and their resumes, and it'll probably be good for their company as well.

Tim 02:20

Prioritizing yourself is not selfish. It's essential for sustainable leadership. Anna Morgan, a career coach and speaker, added another layer to this. In episode 31. Anna spoke powerfully about the importance of balancing your professional identity with the things that bring you joy outside of work.

Anna Morgan 02:37

Care about yourself enough, and this is the other thing I see, especially at the manager to executive level, is people get so wrapped up in their identity as a small company CEO or as an executive, and it takes me so much time to unwire and alchemize a lot of that identity that if I don't have that I am less than or I'm not enough, and it's balancing out and making sure that you have hobbies and side hustles and things that bring you joy outside of that 40-45, plus hour work week, so that you are just not in that rabbit hole of you know work which, and then you look at your life, because nobody on their deathbed...