Hunger: Your Force MultiplierWhat’s the true potential of developing an unstoppable drive to keep going, no matter what gets thrown at you? INSPIRING QUOTE:“The hungrier you are, the more you get back, the more you engage, the more you network, the more you give— and not because there’s an expectation that you’re going to get something back. It naturally happens when you have this voracity for life, for work, for relationships, everything that you can give yourself to. It’s impossible to not see it as just an amplifier of all things good.” —Michele KajiwaraGUEST BIO:Michele Kajiwara is the Senior Vice President of Premium Sales and Service at STAPLES Center/AEG. She began her career with the company as a Service Manager and innovated her way up and is now responsible for four consecutive years of $100+ million in revenue for her team. Like any great Playmaker, Michele truly knows what it means to get up off the mat and keep fighting.Follow Michele Kajiwara on LinkedInProfile on Michele’s WorkOPENING MONOLOGUE SUMMARY:The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly been unprecedented when it comes to the medical and economic impact on human lives. But the fear, risk, uncertainty, and anxiety? Are those feelings unprecedented, or have we all felt all those things before? There’s power in realizing that you’ve been in a place emotionally before, and in times like this it’s time to self-assess and ask yourself— How did I get off the mat last time? And how am I going to do the same this time? These questions are the beginnings of grit and resilience.CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:[8:08]The Origins of HungerAre hunger and drive something we’re born with or can they be cultivated?Both Paul and Michele share how their hunger, drive and willingness to be humbled weren’t there at the start of their lives or even their careers. They had to be grown over time, deliberately and with great effort. But they can be grown.[11:13]How to Build HungerUnlocking the secrets to growing hunger and resilienceIf you want to spark hunger, you have to spark joy. You have to tap into that little burning ember that makes you want to wake up before the sun and get to work, excited by what you might accomplish. That’s where you’ll find the resilience to overcome absolutely anything.[13:03]Sustaining Momentum Through ChallengesWhen the worst happens, how do we sustain our drive to succeed?You’re cruising. You’ve got the hunger. You’re powering up and making plays. Then a major block happens— let’s say, oh, a global pandemic, for example. How do you sustain that hunger through these challenges? You stay humble. You remember that nothing is just handed out, even in the best of times. You have to earn it now just as you did when things were flowing. Soon, they’ll start flowing again.[22:59]Tapping into Human PotentialBringing the best out of the people around usWhether you have 2 employees, 20, or 2,000, how do you tap into their potential? By taking the time to genuinely get to know them. Check in with your team members, not just professionally but personally. The trust you build will quickly become priceless.[29:49]Talking Speed and Thinking SpeedWhy it’s so easy to zone out, and how to zone back inWe think more quickly than we speak, which means that it’s often easy for us to zone out when someone is saying or teaching us something. So how do we fix this? The key is to start from a clean slate, without assumptions, and truly listen to each word and what meaning it has for you. You’ll be surprised by how much more you get out of meaningful conversations.[40:05]Vacation Benefits Without the VacationRefreshing yourself from right where you areHow do you refresh your perspective and momentum without taking an actual vacation? By remembering to love the things you spend your time doing. You may not currently be in your dream job, but you can certainly find some aspect of it that you can wake up and feel excited about each day.[49:42]The Power of GiversWe remember the givers, not the takersThe curious people and the ones who give of themselves without expecting anything in return are the ones we remember most. What can we learn from them? To be genuine, curious, and giving ourselves.[51:28]The Peaks and ValleysAsk what you can learn from your highest highs and lowest lowsA powerful exercise: Look back on the expanse of your life and identify your highest peak and lowest valley. This could be in your career specifically or in life generally. Then identify the way that those two opposite points have shaped you for the better.[54:53]When You FailHow to grow from failuresWhen you don’t get the gig, the dream job, the opportunity that passes you by, what next? Michele says to look at who does get hired. Be self-aware. Don’t sit and cry and say, poor me. Ask what you can improve so that next time you are the one who gets the opportunity.SHOW RESOURCES:[00:28] Purpose Labs[1:13] Staples Center/AEG[05:37] Success...
