Mark's’ Post

As I celebrate a year at Liberty Life Botswana 🥰 This has been both exciting and challenging. Transitioning from the role of an individual contributor to a leader managing a team of 50 direct sales agents has brought valuable insights. Here are the 5 things I learned throughout the journey 1. Sales is Sales -Sales is a numbers game, whether you’re managing a team or doing it yourself. The measurable nature of sales means that performance is objective. Numbers don't lie, and non-performance is evident regardless of whether you are a leader or an individual contributor. 2. Lead with Clarity and intentionality - As a leader, it's crucial to ensure your salespeople understand their contributions clearly. They need to see how their efforts contribute to the overall ecosystem and its sustainability. Helping them structure their day and understand key levers is essential. There is no mastery without understanding these fundamentals. My boss would say be Deliberate and Intentional 🏹 3. Your Boss is Always at Work -Transitioning to a leadership role has revealed that bosses are indeed focused on improving conditions and making decisions that benefit the organization. What might have seemed like favoritism towards management is actually about enhancing work conditions and making strategic decisions, even if it takes time to see the impact. 4. Leadership Requires Professional Interaction, Not Friendships -Friendships can blur the lines of leadership and diminish accountability. It's important to maintain professional interactions to uphold clear leadership boundaries and ensure accountability. 5. Culture … a topic for another day 🫶🏾

Perspective drives performance 🏎️ How you view what you do, impacts how you do what you - Inky Johnson In any situation, your perspective is all that matters. You can see things as a challenge or as an opportunity, depending on what your mindset is. In my role as a Partner, I view what I do through the lens of a college football coach. With two key job functions - recruit top-tier talent and development. Nick Saban and Alabama were as great as they were bc Nick knew how to recruit top talent, year in and year out. When you are selective, you want to bring people in who you feel can add value to the team while also fostering a place where they can reach their individual potential. Once you bring someone in, you have to be able to develop talent to prepare them for the pros. Under Saban’s tenure, there were 133 draft picks - 47 in the first round! So today and everyday, remember to key in on your perspective in any situation. _________________________ New York Life Northern California Be good @ life 💙

Picture this - You’re a sports manager with the world's top talent on your team. You’ve got the skills, the drive, the potential for greatness. But, you don’t set aside enough time for practice. How do you think your team will stack up against the competition? Not so well, right? Now, let's bring this back to your business. Some business leaders fall into the same trap – not investing enough in their team's growth. They simply let their people do what they do and hope it forms into some kind of extraordinary team. And that’s where the real problems start to creep in. For your organisation to succeed, your team has to design, build and maintain a complex system and without a team that fires on all cylinders, that's tough to do.

What is “Magical Moments” and Why is it important?? 2 months ago we had a few top performers from our remote team visit us here in GoldCoast, Australia. This was a part of the yearly incentive we ran for the entire company! I was always intrigued by the CULTURE some companies build and was always curious how the heck do they do it? And one of the KEY components of having a great culture is “Creating Magical Moments” for the team members. Here’s what we got to do as a part of this experience: ↳ We went to Sea World Theme Park as a team and did some crazy rides ↳ Hired a LIMO to go to dinner in a fine dine restaurant ↳ We also hosted a dinner for the team members in our house And now you may think why is this needed, why go to such great lengths with all these things. Here's WHY: ↳ For many team members its a once in a life time opportunity(for a lot of them this was their 1st international trip). ↳ Helps you as a leader to build deeper connections with your team members. ↳ Build camaraderie & trust with each other.  ↳ Helps you RETAIN top talent(its very competitive market out there). ↳Attract great talent who wants to be part of a company that VALUES people and really cares for them. Tell me, what do you do to create such magical moments in your team and company? #leadership #business #motivation #positive #values

🌟 𝗦𝗮𝗺 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺: 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 🌟 Reflecting on the wise words of Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, it's clear that the bedrock of any successful company is its people. 👥 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲-𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: - Walton believed, and so do we, that the achievements of a company are directly linked to the people who work there. - From the outset, it's been about more than just roles; it's about creating a community of partners who are invested in shared success. 🤝 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: - Treating team members as partners, not just employees, is a philosophy we embrace wholeheartedly. - This approach isn't just about fairness; it's about sincerity in sharing success and profits, recognising that every contribution matters. 💡 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: - 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗟𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆: When people feel valued and part of something bigger, they bring their best selves to work. - 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀: This creates a unified vision, where everyone is working towards common objectives, not just individual targets. 🙏 𝗔 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲: To all our team members, your dedication, creativity, and spirit are the engines of our success. Together, we are more than just a company; we are a family striving towards a common dream. #Leadership #SamWalton #PeopleFirst #Teamwork #BusinessSuccess

This holiday season, I embarked on a unique journey with my team. Instead of the usual festive rituals, I decided to personalize it - by gifting each of my 21 team members a T-shirt that resonates with them. It could be a nod to their role or a light-hearted memory shared over the year. The process was not just about choosing shirts; it was about reflecting on each individual's contribution and personality. However, life often has its plans. The shirts, meticulously selected and sent, didn't arrive in time for the holidays. But this minor setback turned into a delightful experience. My team spread across Canada from Nova Scotia to Vancouver Island, started receiving their shirts and cards this week. The joy was palpable in their posts, showcasing their unique shirts. This experience reaffirmed a belief I hold dear: fun and work are not mutually exclusive. We spend a significant part of our lives at work; why not make it a source of joy? The highlight of this journey came through a message from a team member who had just received their T-shirt and card: "I don't know what the future holds. But if I ever ascend to a position like yours, I am grateful for all the lessons and examples you have given me of what being a great leader is." This message was more than just words; it was a testament to the impact of leadership grounded in empathy and connection. Such moments are a powerful reminder and validation for any leader. They signify that amidst the myriad responsibilities, you are making a positive difference in someone's life. I am grateful for the opportunity to be the leader I always wished to have. Each day with my team is a chance to grow, learn, and create an environment where everyone feels valued and inspired. Some of my inspiration as a leader comes from 2 People: The first one is not Linkedin, My old boss Paul Thompson. The other one is Neal Foard. Thank you both for helping me be the leader I am... And a special thank you to my boss Elisha Elliott for allowing me to be myself at work (most of the time) :P #funatwork #leadership #leadershipgoals #leadershipgrowth #dreamteam

🌟 𝗦𝗮𝗺 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻'𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺: 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 🌟 Reflecting on the wise words of Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, it's clear that the bedrock of any successful company is its people. 👥 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲-𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: - Walton believed, and so do we, that the achievements of a company are directly linked to the people who work there. - From the outset, it's been about more than just roles; it's about creating a community of partners who are invested in shared success. 🤝 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: - Treating team members as partners, not just employees, is a philosophy we embrace wholeheartedly. - This approach isn't just about fairness; it's about sincerity in sharing success and profits, recognising that every contribution matters. 💡 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: - 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗟𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆: When people feel valued and part of something bigger, they bring their best selves to work. - 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀: This creates a unified vision, where everyone is working towards common objectives, not just individual targets. 🙏 𝗔 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲: To all our team members, your dedication, creativity, and spirit are the engines of our success. Together, we are more than just a company; we are a family striving towards a common dream. #Leadership #SamWalton #PeopleFirst #Teamwork #BusinessSuccess

My leadership role isn't confined to just one department like dec home, domestics, or tech; it extends across the entire store's operation. This means more than just being deeply involved in areas like fulfillment and GM – it means guiding them as well. Take Thomasz and Ethan from GM, for instance. Ensuring they grasp the importance of communication and keeping me in the loop on their progress. It's about instilling a culture of transparency and accountability. Furthermore, when their direct team leads aren't available, I step in to maintain smooth operations. Whether overseeing fulfillment or GM or responding to guest service calls promptly, my aim is to ensure both our team and our guests are well cared for. These moments of collaboration and shared success fuel my drive. It's not solely about completing tasks; it's about cultivating a cohesive team working toward a common goal. So here's to teamwork, open communication, and celebrating every victory – big and small – as a unified force. Together, let's continue breaking barriers and achieving greatness. ⭐ #T1100

**Embracing the Weight of Leadership** Being in a position where my decisions impact the lives of others is the most awakening experience. Every choice I make affects real people—their families, their income, their happiness, their sense of security, and their sense of accomplishment. This realization makes every decision profoundly important. I’ve learned to think deeply about each individual and what they need to thrive. It’s about creating a mutual benefit where the company grows and our team members excel, providing for their families and achieving their dreams. Sometimes, the decisions are tough. Choosing not to hire someone or making a call that might not be popular can be challenging. But I believe these decisions, guided by moral integrity and the Holy Spirit, are often what’s best for the individual and the team. I also understand the importance of allowing people to make their own decisions, even if they might be wrong. It's through these experiences that we all learn and grow. Supporting my team in their journey, even when mistakes happen, is crucial for their development and our collective success. I am committed to growing people with a foundation of strong values, led by Jesus, and treating every team member like family. I don’t take these decisions lightly, and I am dedicated to valuing each person’s unique journey. Together, we can build something incredible, where everyone has the opportunity to grow and succeed. 🌱✨