326. How to Maximize Your Legacy: Insights from Marshall Goldsmith (Part 1)

The Greg McKeown Podcast

About the Guest:

Marshall Goldsmith is the world-renowned leadership thinker and executive coach recognized as the only two-time Thinkers 50 #1 Leadership Thinker in the world. Over a celebrated career spanning decades, he has guided over 150 major CEOs and their management teams to reach new heights of effectiveness. Marshall has authored 56 books, including acclaimed titles such as "What Got You Here Won't Get You There," "Mojo," "Triggers," and "The Earned Life," selling over 3 million copies. He is currently pioneering MarshallGoldsmith AI, an initiative aimed at democratizing leadership learning through AI technology, a venture started even before the advent of ChatGPT.

Episode Summary:

Greg speaks with the celebrated executive coach, Marshall Goldsmith. The episode explores Marshall's journey from his modest beginnings in Valley Station, Kentucky, to becoming a preeminent executive coach and thought leader in leadership principles. The discussion captures the breadth of his experience, including coaching top-tier CEOs, authoring multiple bestsellers, and his latest innovative endeavor of integrating AI into leadership development. The conversation also explores common barriers leaders face in prioritizing what matters most and the indispensable value of creating a structure for continuous self-improvement.

Key Takeaways:

Courage, Humility, and Discipline: Successful leaders require these three qualities to enact meaningful change in their behavior.

Daily Self-Assessment: Regularly asking oneself, "Did I do my best to…" can significantly improve personal and professional development.

Impact of AI on Leadership: Marshall Goldsmith AI aims to make leadership training accessible globally, leveraging the latest in AI technology.

Prioritizing Relationships: Improving team dynamics starts with individuals seeking betterment within themselves.

Managing Overcommitment: Leaders often fall into the trap of believing things will calm down in the future, which can hinder immediate action on what truly matters.

Notable Quotes:

“Winners love winning. My whole coaching is not fixing losers. I’m in the helping winners business.”

“If I have a coach, I’ve had someone call me on the phone almost every day for 27 years to try to help me.”

“I thought when I got older, worrying about my health would be less important...actually it's sort of more important.”

“Everyone I coach gets confidential feedback, picks important areas to improve, apologizes, and does rigorous follow-up.”

“If you get rid of the mistakes you made, you get rid of everything you learned from the mistakes.”

Resources:

MarshallGoldsmith AI

Books by Marshall Goldsmith:

"What Got You Here Won't Get You There"

"Triggers"

"The Earned Life"

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