3 questions for high-performers

#TalkingAboutGrowth is an ongoing series of interviews with high-performing business executives discussing growth in career, business, and personal life.

Today's episode features an interview with Dave McLaughlin , a hyper-growth operator, entrepreneur and former Hollywood screenwriter and playwright.

What’s been the most impactful role, person or lesson in?your career growth?and why?

You want to be in the action and sort of above it at the same time, like an?athlete?that's in the game but makes time to watch film and see what they need to adjust. These days you see people mid-game going back to the bench looking at an iPad of the previous?shift or whatever. You have to give the work your whole focus, because if you want to be great you're going to be in an incredibly competitive environment, but you also have to make space for reflection and learning. You need both intense focus and structured?reflection. If you're systematic about this, the benefits start to pile up very fast. When you're succeeding, this will help you to replicate your success. And when you're not succeeding, it will help you identify where you should iterate and what lessons you should apply on the next rep -- whether that's a sales call, a product pitch, an investor meeting, a job interview, etc. Most?people do some of this intuitively. Our brains and our bodies are always taking in feedback. But I've found it's much more valuable if you're more intentional about it. It's also good to find someone who you trust to be honest with you, who you can ask to be a sounding board from time to time.?

What are the biggest opportunities for?revenue growth?in your current business and why?

We're getting ready to launch a new business where we are focused on giving?aspirational brands a new channel to engage and acquire very qualified, very sticky, very valuable customers. This is a big deal in a world where so much power is concentrated with Meta and 谷歌 , and so many exceptional brands are being strangled by them. Great operators need alternative ways to grow because the digital ad platforms just have too much leverage in how they set price. We've built the solution, and the biggest opportunity for us at this stage is about always listening more closely to our brand partners. The more precisely we can understand their needs and their goals, the better we can refine how we serve them and how we partner with them. That's what we want to be -- an amazing partner for exceptional brands that are looking to drive growth in a smart, sustainable way.?

How do you set?personal growth?goals for yourself?

I try to get very clear on what's most important in a given timeframe and on what behaviors I believe will get me there, and then I just try to lean into those behaviors with as much energy as I can find and I try to maintain a certain balance of urgency and patience. I have a few inputs to how I do this.?First, I started my career as a screenwriter and a playwright, so I have this very long standing habit of writing in the mornings before?other people get up and messages start pouring in. That's my method for getting clarity in terms of how to focus my time and energy. Second, I need some sort of intense exercise to shed stress and help my mind be clear. I like Peloton Interactive for this. It's a pretty simple path to a pretty great sweat. Finally, I'm fortunate in that I have a good number of very trusted friends that I can share my thinking with and get the benefit of their?perspective, and also a little encouragement which we need sometimes. "The best mirror is an old friend." That's a line I like from George Herbert.?

_____________________________________________________________________

Chris Woods is a growth expert, helping companies and people grow.

#growth, #talkingaboutgrowth, #personaldevelopment, #revenuegrowth