Monday Morning Mojo

Today, Phil is joined by Cannon Executive Vice President and Director of R&D, Bill Trigleth. The two share their unique perspectives on the integration of new technology, joint projects with upper management, and coping with an open workspace environment.   In this episode of First Friday Feedback we encourage you to think about technology from a new perspective; instead of simply accepting it, un...

 It's the season of Christmas trees and menorahs, eggnog and candy canes, where we, as business professionals, traditionally send holiday cards, nuts, and chocolates to our clients and influencers. But will these small gifts make a significant impact? We believe the answer is no.     Although these standard gifts are kind tokens of appreciation, they won't necessarily be memorable or set your prac...

What are you thankful for? A game of golf or a Saturday spent watching your favorite college football team? Is it a glass of bourbon enjoyed by a fire? Perhaps you are thankful for the change in seasons – for the mountains in winter or the sandy beaches of summer.   In memory of Atlanta Journal Constitution Sports Columnist, Furman Bisher, Phil takes time this Monday morning to reflect on the peop...

From the sounds of Patsy Cline to the tunes of Cane Brown, country music often tells compelling stories or shares lessons learned. Whether you are a fan of country music, rock n' roll, or pop, you can most likely relate to the narratives that many of the great country music artists tell in their lyrics.   Last week, Garth Brooks took home the Country Music Award for Entertainer of the Year, and to...

We, as humans, are subject to our own biases. Even the most self-aware individual can limit themselves by unconsciously acting on pre-conceived stereotypes or judgments. Biases are unfortunately built into society and our psychological nature; how do we keep them from turning into mistakes? In this episode, Phil recounts and analyzes an eye-opening experience that brought him back to a lesson most...

Cultural fit and the internal relationships we develop with our colleagues are essential to success and happiness. Whether we like it or not, the actions and behaviors of other individuals will impact our ability, confidence, and willingness to work in an environment.  In this episode, we hear from two of our listeners, both of whom share issues they are currently facing with the dynamic of their...

Richard Thaler, acclaimed American economist, professor of Behavioral Science and Economics at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and founding father of the "nudge" theory has been awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. His research in behavioral science has not only defied traditional economic theory but has re-shaped public policy and influenced politicians world-wid...

For some reason, our failures always seem to resonate deeper than our successes. Why is that? Why are we more agitated by a loss than excited by a win? Why the Hubris? In a practice that has achieved an elevated level of sustained success, one can unwittingly and somewhat irrationally acquire a more heightened expectation to close every deal. This regrettably is not reality. In today's episode, we...

Have you ever had an experience while working with someone where you ask yourself, "Why do I have to deal with this person?" Well today we answer that question for you. In this episode, we examine the reality of our interactions with others and assert that those encounters have a purpose beyond their face value. We can often discover the specific purpose of our interactions upon reflection; howeve...

In today's episode, we evaluate our practice from the client's perspective. What does the prospect see? What opinions do they form? When a client chooses your firm, do they feel confident that they've made the right decision? When one studies highly successful companies such as Disneyworld, Starbucks or Four Seasons, he or she finds that they have differentiated themselves from their competition t...

Today, Cannon Financial Institute is excited to announce the launch of First Friday Feedback, a sister podcast to Monday Morning Mojo and the Cannon Curve. In this series, our host, Phil Buchanan, will be addressing questions specifically proposed by you, our listeners. Our aim is to focus on the issues and circumstances relevant to our audience. Thus, we invite you to steer the content and ask qu...

300 Monday mornings ago we launched the pilot episode of this podcast series. Our mission? To begin each week by providing insight and new perspectives deliberately designed to help motivate and inspire our listeners. Together, we have tackled numerous issues, discussed strategies for success, evaluated our relationships, elevated our professional performance, and continuously challenged ourselves...

Has there ever been a time in your life where you felt stuck? Although you may have a stable family life and your career is secure, you feel as though your life has become repetitive – a set of traditions and routines. Thus, you reflect; you think back on the "glory days" of college, high school, your first exciting professional opportunity, or perhaps your first love, and have an unrequited desir...

Imagine this scenario: you are working with a group/team and have a vision or idea of the correct path for you all to take to accomplish your goal – whatever that may be. Yet, those around are not able to see what you see, either because they can't or don't want to. The majority of us have had at least one of these moments in our lifetime, and in this episode, we discuss the correct approach to ta...

How do you define courage? Is it overcoming adversity? Maybe it is overcoming fear?   Webster's defines courage as a "mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty," and in this episode, we dissect and develop our own understanding of what it means to be courageous. Courage can appear in a multitude of states: physical, mental, emotional, and even spirit...

Think about your work environment. What energy do you and your co-workers bring to the office every day? Is it lively? Dull? What motivates you and your team to engage whole-heartedly in a project? In this episode, we discuss how to bring a jolt of fresh energy to your company culture in honor of the start of a new season. The weather is turning cool and crisp, football stadiums are filling up on...

What if we told you that goal based planning is failing for many firms and also many advisors. On more than one occasion, we have noticed that when a firm or advisor is asked to identify specific metrics for their various goals, they often struggle. In this morning's episode we dive into why that may be, and as it turns out, the solution is quite simple. There are two key elements that can cause g...

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed when confronted with the idea of a life change – big or small? It is fairly human to fear the unknown, to fear failure, to fear disappointment, to fear stepping away from a comfort zone; and for many of us, the idea of change generally carries at least one, if not most, of these fears with it.   In this episode, we outline four steps to pragmatically asses...

Is society losing its grip on good, deep, solid conversations? Yes, we are more connected on a macro level through technology and social media, but have we lost some of our face-to-face communication skills because of our digitally evolving world? In this episode, we talk conversations. We discuss the importance of seeking to understand rather than seeking to be heard when conversing with one anot...

After 10 days off the grid, away from phones, email, wifi, television, etc., Phil returns with key insights he gained while conversing with a gentleman who had also used those ten days to abstain from technology. This particular gentleman has managed to maintain an impressive number of accomplishments, which brought up two questions: Why do you do the things you do? And, how do you find the time?...

What does "just doing the job" mean to you? When you ask those who have served, fought and received the Congressional Medal of Honor, "just doing the job" means demonstrating unparalleled valor and courage against enemy forces. Talking to these men and discovering the humble way in which they speak of their experiences and accomplishments is inspiring. On the battlefield, men learn brotherhood and...

"See I believe life is an influenced journey. Based on certain Circumstances, we are all put into situations that at times empower us and at other times restrain us. The key is appreciating the lessons in all circumstances." - Words from Chief Justice John G. Roberts' commencement address (2017) Failure is not permanent, but neither is success. How will you choose to embrace success and failure? H...

The hypothesis:  Monday Morning  Mojo  listeners are likely leaders in various forms or fashions. Now, you may be asking yourself, "Why would they think this?" Well, we came to this conclusion based on our research which shows most of you to be active learners – listening to three or more podcasts a week and reading voraciously. We realize that leaders come in many forms, and when you invest in yo...

What great thoughts are locked in your brain? Have you ever thought to write them down? For  Spanx  founder and entrepreneur extraordinaire, Sara  Blakely , writing down her thoughts and ideas about a seamless, body-slimming undergarment helped to solidify her business plan for her now multi-billion dollar company. In this episode of Monday Morning  Mojo , we discuss the importance of taking time...

Who are the five people with whom you spend the most time? Looking at the past and present relationships you have cultivated and the individuals that you have chosen to surround yourself with, can you specifically identify those who have influenced you in some way? As Jim  Rohn  famously stated, "you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with," and this Monday morning, we chal...